The Black Knights of the Sith, a mercenary band, hunted down and nearly destroyed the Jedi Bendu of Ashla, the defenders of the old Republica. The Sith, originally pirates, had been taught the powers of the Bogan by a fallen Jedi named Darklighter. The Sith became the Imperial bodyguard and grew to dominate the Empire. Kane Starkiller was one of the last Jedi survivors of the rebellion.