Korriban

Korriban is perhaps the most famous of the worlds which made up the former Sith Empire. Situated in the Outer Rim, far from any hyperspace routes, Korriban is the resting place of many of the greatest Sith ever to have lived, and the former site of the Korriban Academy, where many Sith apprentices have been trained for generations. Korriban is now under Republic occupation.

Geography

Korriban is a rocky, desert world that oscillates between scorching-hot days and cool nights. The planet is a relative monobiome with only relatively small seas and lakes dotting the landscape, with most of the planet's water being held in the upper atmosphere in its distinctive, rust-red clouds. Some areas of the planet, such as the Karath Desert, are wide open plains; though the world is mostly dominated by jagged, tall mountains creating a network of valleys which are difficult to navigate.

History

Korriban is the original homeworld of the Sith species, red-skinned aliens who first forged the Sith Empire. Korriban's brutal climate and landscape, and savage beasts, trained the Sith in survival and the Dark Side. The Sith built their civilisation in Korriban's deep valleys and canyons; the Valley of the Dark Lords remains one of the oldest records of Sith civilisation, well maintained even today.
As the Sith Empire began to take shape and more species joined the Empire, the Sith shifted their capital to Dromund Kaas, where the environment was more suitable to large-scale agriculture with room to shape the large cities needed to govern such a state. Korriban, relatively near to the Republic for the core Sith worlds, became focused as a temple world and a haven for Sith Acolytes. Following the construction of the Sith Academy at the Valley of the Dark Lords, it became common for most Sith trainees to learn at the Academy on Korriban. Their training was aided both by the excellent facilities on Korriban, but also by ready access to the tombs of fallen Sith lords, which gradually created a wave of Dark Side energy which engulfed the planet.
Korriban endured many invasions and counter-invasions during the Republic-Sith Wars, including and was visited by Darth Revan in his hunt for the Star Forge, and by Meetra Surik in her quest to defeat the Sith Triumvirate. During the Sith Collapse, it was the main base of Darth Keril, who was ultimately defeated by the Republic, leaving Korriban in their hands.
After the war, the Republic's military was shattered - but retaining control of Korriban has remained a top priority. A small Republic garrison maintains watch over Korriban from orbit and at key strategic locations planetside, ensuring that Sith forces are unable to re-establish a foothold. Notwithstanding this presence, it is known that Sith forces remain on Korriban, hidden through the world's deep valleys, tombs and cave systems. In private, Republic leadership hope that a sufficiently long blockade will eventually destroy the remaining Sith - though their hopes have not yet borne fruit.

Institutions

Korriban was historically the seat of many incarnations of the Sith Empire, each with their own institutions and governments. Today, Korriban is an occupied world without formal governance; control of the planet is managed by Republic Joint Command and the military governor for the Former Sith Sector.

Locations of interest

The most important settlements on Korriban are built around the Valley of the Dark Lords, including the Sith Academy built into the entrance to the valley, and the nearby capital settlement of Dreshdae.
Beyond the Valley, a range of minor settlements and varied tombs and temples are spread across the wider planet - many of which are unknown even to the Sith.

Environment

Only the hardiest of plants can live on Korriban with its low rainfall and steer, barren slops - including the thorny, twisted wrackgorse which covers many of the planet's valleys.
In stark contrast, a great diversity of fauna call Korriban home, most of which are savage predators. With a great deal of biodiversity, the world is something of a haven for desert creatures - ranging from tiny kaelmais to giant lokka. The most common fauna of Korriban include tuk'ata - hounds which draw on the planet's Dark Side energy - and shyracks, swooping, leathery beasts which hunt from the sky in packs. The world also hosts many Sith warbeasts from across the Galaxy, some contained and some not, including the savage terantatek.

Sith Academy

Region Sith Space / Outer Rim
Planet type Desert
Affiliation Galactic Republic (formerly Sith Empire)
Locations of interest Dreshdae; Sith Academy; Valley of the Dark Lords; Tomb of Darth Malak