Dark Acolyte was a ceremonial title within the Separatist Droid Army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, presented by the Sith Lords Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus to the latter's disciples, those Force-wielding operatives who did their bidding and became refined blades in their arsenal, having proven themselves against impossible odds in missions of assassination, espionage and overseeing the efforts on the front.
History[]
The Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress and Sora Bulq were the first and most noteworthy holders of the honorific, being counted among Darth Tyranus' most-trusted captains and main enforcers throughout the Clone Wars, often being dispatched to head the Separatist Droid Army's operations on multiple worlds against the Grand Army of the Republic or to fulfill assignments concerning Jedi Knights where a more stealthy and talented hand was needed. Another renowned brief bearer was the undercover Jedi Master Quinlan Vos, who while acting as a double agent seemingly became one of Darth Tyranus' helpers, advising him on matters related to supervising the conflict and accompanying him on the instances when the latter was required to personally intervene. But by that time, Asajj Ventress was no longer a Dark Acolyte, having been cast out at the insistence of the paranoid Darth Sidious to prevent his apprentice, Darth Tyranus, from training his own pawn to potentially overthrow him.
When Vos revealed his true colors on Chrystopsis, he engaged Sora Bulq in combat and successfully felled him, before trying to defeat Tyranus himself, who escaped yet again. By the end of the conflict, the remaining Dark Acolytes had found themselves among the many casualties of the Clone Wars, reducing the Confederacy effectiveness in the face of the Republic.
Powers and position[]
Though not a formal rank, the position of Dark Acolyte awarded its wearers a high degree of authority over the ground-based branch of the Confederate Military for it transcended distinctions of all standard personnel. As such, their command far outweighed that of any regular officer and allowed them to requisition any asset they deemed necessary for the accomplishing of their tasks.
In the secret Dark Side pyramid at the top of the Confederacy's hierarchy, the Dark Acolytes were only surpassed by the two reigning Sith Lords; unless stated by any of their Masters, they were the ultimate secondary powers, though on rare occasions they could be placed at the disposal of the executives on the Separatist Council board or at that of the Supreme Commander if their expertise in certain situations was grander than that of the Dark Acolytes.
Notable Dark Acolytes[]
