abstract
| - The Society of Rhand was created in response to a pair of roughly concurrent stimuli: the Jedi Purge of 19 BBY, and Velok's second escape from the Nihil Retreat in 27 BBY. Though it moved carefully during the rise of the Empire, the Society of Rhand eventually dispersed its agents across the galaxy with the strictest of instructions: Listen. Do not act. For the first time in a thousand years, the galactic balance of power had shifted drastically. Also new was the idea that a powerful enemy might roam free in the outside galaxy; Darksight, and the Sorcerers' secrecy, normally precluded that. The Society was tasked with evaluating the state of the galaxy, and determining the place the Sorcerers might take with the Jedi Order dead and gone. "We foresaw the return of the Sith after a thousand years of oblivion. Nothing is beyond Darksight. Even this monstrous Imperial Navy only poses a threat when directed by the Gifted." — Blessed Kathmuur, 14 BBY As Palpatine filled the galaxy with his followers - Adepts, Inquisitors, Prophets - and as Cronal pursued his own agendas, the Society concluded a report indicating that the risks of significant involvement outweighed potential benefits. They revised that report four times: once in the aftermath of Palpatine's death, once following the rise of the Loris and Sith Empires, once after the accession of Damascus to the throne, and once at the end of the Xen'Chi War. The final report indicated that the time had come to make subtle inroads to the galaxy. "Between the Sith Empire and the Cult of Shadow, enough followers of the Dark exist that our operatives can act without fear of recognition." — Grecos, 17 ABY The Society kept itself utterly aloof from the events surrounding Sivter, approving of his goals but distrusting his megalomania. 18 ABY bore witness to the first major public breach of the Society's security. A shipment of Dark Side artifacts and a clandestine deal with Nightsisters were interrupted by Slade's Renegades, who approached the Jedi Order. An attempt to move against the leaders of Sable Dawn at Point Nadir failed when the Society was caught between Velok and a team composed of Slade, Boolon Murr and their associates. The battle spilled over to a major Society base in one of the Polis Massa asteroids, which was destroyed when the Red Dragon rammed it, killing hundreds of Pawns. The stationmaster, Grecos, was killed by Boolon Murr.
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