Darth Ceive and the City of Massu

There once was a Sith apprentice named Darth Ceive. After he was born into society, he returned to a small desert city called Massu. He watched his fellow citizens and grew disgusted with their ways. Stretching out his hand, he proclaimed, "Look at me, the one who carries all of you within me, yet I am in none of you. Believe in me, and you shall live on in me." He then used his mind to strike down a young boy for everyone to see. The crowd saw the boy as dead after some time, with Ceive standing behind the body, facing them. When the boy twitched, Ceive cried, "The child is with me, and now I return him to you!" The boy moaned, awoke, and continued his work. The crowd gasped, murmured, and began to exalt the Sith apprentice.

A man with a furrowed brow emerged from the crowd, gained order, and said, "You fools, do you so willingly deceive yourselves! Can't you see you are being preyed upon? This stranger from afar simply knocked the boy out, and when he woke up, he claimed to raise him from the dead. Nay, send this scammer from Massu and back into the wastelands!"

Darth Ceive smiled and spoke, "Though you speak truth, you do so for selfish reasons. You usually exploit the people, caring only for yourself, and speak against me not because of a lie, but a threat to your power. Here is your reward, you animal!"

The crowd defended Ceive, starting with a small shove that turned into an execution by beating, tearing the man to pieces. Many were hurt in the process, and two others died as well.

Darth Ceive left Massu during the chaos and muttered to himself, "Surely, truth is of convenience to society… and so they must ultimately beat every part—and no part—of themselves."

The Old Man and the Dead Man

A wise and cautious preacher in a medium-sized city took pride in his thoughtful advice and spirituality, both selling and sharing it. From childhood, he was revered as touched by the spirits, avoiding mirrors and labor. Growing up poor, his family sent him to work in the gardens of the wealthy. His patrons immediately fell under his spell and charisma. During a famine, the boy joined the jobless. When the famine ended, suspicion grew, and although the boy's parents were still poor, they sent him to work as a courier. Once again, the famine returned and stayed until a wealthy woman took him in and forbade him to work. Prosperity returned to the land. The community, now superstitious, hid mirrors from him and raised him at the local religious institute, protecting him from toil, suffering, and ugliness.

"Love yourself!" Aman preached to a small crowd, along a busy street. "Toil not, lest your soul be toiled," he said. Resentment grew towards his arrogance, as they knew his sermons were mostly gloating. "What must we do to be like you, free from toil?" asked the students. "Have faith. Yet seeing you incapable, I shall show you the way to faith. Give unto me all excess of your toil rewards, to see it without prejudice." A cloaked man approached, gathered a crowd, and cried, "Who will receive a thousand silver pieces to butcher my donkey and prepare it for me?" The crowd rumbled with offers. Turning to Aman, the man said, "Shall you, O man of god?" Aman, lustful yet cautious, saw the crowd turn silent. "Well, what say you!" said the man, "Will you not do one task to feed yourself for life?" Questioning themselves, a voice from the crowd defended Aman, "He must not toil; he is too pure, and god punishes us for not heeding him." "The famine was caused by me, not god!" laughed the man, "But if he explains himself, I shall reassert my offer."

The crowd, eager for an explanation, turned to Aman, who replied, "Let us walk into the wilderness, and I shall speak."

Three times Aman tried to flee, but each time he was found. The man stopped at the burial grounds, looking at Aman, "Rise above yourself, parasite." Aman stuttered, "My good sir, as you seek odd deeds for yourself, so do we. Do not question what needs no questioning." The man replied, "Rise above yourself, liar." Aman continued, "It is my wise motto to say, 'love yourself.' There is no need for questioning." "Rise above yourself, portrayer of an old man," said the man. "I just wanted a bit of fun! I…" Aman stopped, as the man dropped his hood revealing a dead face, pulling a mirror from the graveyard soil. In horror, Aman saw the same face as the man's in the mirror. "Rise above yourself, by toiling for your profit, by taking what you desire," said the dead man. "Seize the day, for what you love passes away if unclaimed!" The mirror showed "Love yourself," as Aman's face died. The mirror dropped, and Aman lay dead beside it. The city never suffered a famine again.

Seize the day, for what you love passes away.

The Hermit and the Serpent

A hermit lived in the jungle, wise but lonely, longing for his past and the woman he once loved. He could not return her love due to his vow of chastity in pursuit of wisdom. One day, while talking to his flowers, a serpent observed him, tasting his scent. She decided to speak to him, longing for company herself.

"Who do you speak to?" asked the serpent. Surprised, the hermit prepared to strike but quickly smiled and said, "I speak to my flowers, as all life blooms, and they are my brothers and sisters." The serpent replied, "Do they answer you? Have you been reconciled by their counsel? Do they profess their commitment? No, they speak not, and they wilt, leaving your care unthanked. Wouldn't you rather bless another human with your presence?"

The hermit looked at the serpent, admitting, "You are right. Flower companionship is trivial. Earthly wisdom has taught you well. I long for human company, but I am forbidden to love another human."

The serpent, genuinely wise, and detecting no lie, said, "You must have loved another, for creation desires others." The man didn't respond, feeling awkward. "I ask as a friend, not with curiosity. My kin live everywhere; I may tell you her fate or reconcile her for you."

The hermit whispered, "I would like that, but I can't ask such a labor of you. What price do you speak?"

Feigning indignance, the serpent replied, "You insult me as a thief. I offer friendship and you give insults. I would do this for no fee, but your gratitude would be selfish." The hermit begged for pardon, "Forgive me, noble beast. My heart is dry, and I speak to flowers. My master taught me suspicion of life for protection and guidance." The serpent smiled, "I too am suspicious. Let us bridge this flaw; friendship is our purpose. Come, let me coil upon your arm and we shall talk of your lost love."

The hermit hesitated but trusted the serpent, coiling her on his arm, and revealed the name of his past love. The serpent lied, claiming she knew the woman, trying to gain control over the hermit. The hermit knew of her plot, remained composed, and her attachment to him persisted. They spent their lives together, the serpent vainly trying to regain control, granting the hermit his companionship.

Loneliness is taken advantage of, or is ended.

The Traveler and the Mummy

One day, a man traveling in the desert found a tomb of an ancient Sith Lord. Captivated, he entered and took a guardian symbol, determined to take the greatest value possible. The traveler reached the sarcophagus, where the dead lord spoke, "Who disturbs my solitude?"

The traveler replied, "I am living, and I desire acquisition." He thought the dead lord wanted his body to live again. The dead lord growled, "Expose my corpse and let's commune." The traveler refused, knowing possession was the goal, "I'll call a servant, but he will need compensation."

"Take coin from the mantle and fetch your servant," said the lord. The traveler demanded compensation first. Laughing, the lord promised wisdom and food if he joined him.

The traveler threatened to sell the guardian symbol, but the dead lord urged patience and insight.

Refusing wisdom, the traveler continued, "I desire nothing of yours. Not even as a sage, hungry, and friendless would I befriend you."

The dead lord closed the tomb, "The way is shut." Believing he won, the traveler realized the exit was blocked.

Condemned to eternity with a vengeful Sith Lord, he regretted his choices.

The Swan and the Duck

A vain swan, thinking itself the most beautiful in the lake, approached a lady duck. "Is there no beauty here?" The duck saw beauty in everything and said so. The swan didn't understand her voice yet continued searching for flattery. "Your eyes are lovely, but everything else is ugly."

The flattered duck thought of her kind's beauty and remarked similarly. The swan didn’t comprehend and carried on. "We all bear the lake's ugliness."

Offended, the duck knew the swan's failure to flatter. She held high, claiming all things have beauty in some form. The swan was horrified, "Am I not beautiful?"

Seeing him cruel, the duck responded loudly, splashing water. Indignant, the swan flew away, hiding in seclusion.

Vanity breeds doubt and denial at the sound of quietness.

The Cat and the Scarab

A sharp-witted scarab disavowed power and attachments, accepting nothingness. One day, a cat approached, asking, "Are you wise?"

The scarab humbly replied, "I am and I am not; wisdom is within all life."

Recognizing the beetle, the cat said, "I shall help you achieve wisdom. Let's observe your colony."

A clan of scorpions, instructed by the cat, attacked the scarabs. The cat offered to halt them, but the beetle remained unattached. The birds, elephant, and lionesses followed, each causing chaos, yet the beetle was unaffected.

The cat then turned the scarab on its back, threatening, "I shall destroy you unless you ask me not to." The scarab, seeking survival, complied.

Satisfied with the scarab’s hypocrisy, the cat killed it and moved on, leaving content.

All seek power.

The Lord, the Lady, and the Prince

In a modern kingdom, Sith Master Darth Amplectus visited the capital city during a royal ball. Disguised, he observed Prince Insons, burdened and uneasy. Through his spells, Amplectus influenced groups, bringing Prince Insons and Lady Matrona together.

Despite initial interests, misunderstandings arose, pushing them apart. With further manipulation, the Prince and Lady were prompted on an adventure to rescue the kidnapped King, their journey fostering a deeper connection.

Amplectus concluded, "Man makes himself available, woman selects, within community. Closer communities foster stronger bonds, leading to the dance of love." Leaving unseen, he was content with his observations.

The Sith Lord and the Parasite

Sith Lord Gregarius met a parasite, remarking the fine day. The parasite, miserable and helpless, shared his struggle, craving blood from good people.

Enraged, Lord Gregarius called the parasite apathetic and weak, smiting it painfully, cleansing it from the Sun’s sight.

Power taken for oneself is life taken for oneself. Apathy is death.

The Dark Lord and the False Apostles

When the Moon crossed the Sun, seven false apostles sought the Dark Lord’s audience. Darth Silus the Just judged them one by one, exposing their flaws and falsehoods. Each died, empowering Silus further.

He decreed his apprentice to learn these flaws, subjugating their power. Silus set his apprentices free, ensuring the false apostles were forever defeated.

The Apprentice and the Tyrant

In a distant empire ruled by Despot the Awful, apprentice Darth Insurrectus sneaked into the capital and attracted attention through good citizenship. Brought before Despot, Insurrectus cleverly played submission, instilling fear of his Sith Master, and entered the tyrant’s service.

Threatening his master’s arrival, Insurrectus eventually left, gaining authority over Despot. Reporting to his Master, Insurrectus concluded, "Those who seek control must also be controlled."

The Journeyer and Old Man Death

A journeyer sought the Golden Truth in a barren land, ultimately meeting the Keeper at the Valley of the Lifeless Lords. Misguided, he asked the Keeper about the strange land. The Keeper revealed it as the land of death, explaining the afterlife mirrors dreams, shaped by one's purity and high path.

The journeyer, understanding but afraid, perished, becoming an example of the common truth: there is nothing in life that there isn’t in death.

The Crazed Vampire

Sith Master Mulare Praetum encountered vampire Atrox. Sparing him, they agreed to meet in ten years. Upon return, now Darth Mulare Silus, the Sith observed Atrox’s progress. After a fierce battle, Silus spared and acknowledged Atrox as a friend and equal, naming him Darth Atrox.

To come of age and sanity, one must earn it.

The Foolish Predator

A fierce hawk spared some young buzzards. Later, during a famine, Hawk found them stripping her land and eating her prey. Outraged, she attacked, only for the buzzards to retaliate and kill her.

Suffer others’ justice, or suffer yourself.