In the era of approximately 1750 BBY, amidst the tumultuous events of the New Sith Wars, a spirit steeped in the dark side and known as the "Dark Underlord" held the esteemed rank of Dark Lord of the Sith. A mysterious figure with an obscure history, whispers suggested he was conjured from a chaotic dimension. The Dark Underlord, a male Sith warlord, ascended to leadership within the revived Sith Empire, forging an allegiance under the banner of the Black Knights. Operating from the planet Malrev IV, the Underlord spearheaded a bloody campaign against both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order, terrorizing the Outer Rim Territories of the galaxy. These actions incited the fury of Murrtaggh, a Jedi Master who, with the assistance of Mandalorian mercenaries, orchestrated a surprise attack against the Underlord's stronghold, catching the Black Knights off guard. This maneuver led to a direct confrontation between the Dark Underlord and Murrtaggh, culminating in the Sith Lord's ultimate defeat at the hands of the Jedi Master.
Identified only as the "Dark Underlord," this male being existed as a spirit immersed in the dark side of the Force during the New Sith Wars, a galactic conflict initiated by the Sith Order in 2000 BBY. Throughout this period, the Dark Underlord's origins were shrouded in mystery, his true identity obscured by conjecture and Sith legends. One prevailing theory attributed his emergence to a Sith Acolyte, who purportedly summoned the Underlord from the dark, netherworldly realm of Chaos. Another story suggested that the Dark Underlord was the resurrected form of Xendor, a formidable darksider who, thousands of years prior, participated in the First Great Schism within the Jedi Order.
Despite his enigmatic nature, the Dark Underlord gained prominence around 1750 BBY, assuming leadership of the resurgent Sith Empire in a war against the Galactic Republic and its Jedi protectors. Having attained the title of Dark Lord of the Sith, he became notorious as a bloodthirsty combatant, engaging in battles and challenging the Jedi. Recognized as one of the most formidable Sith of his era, the Dark Underlord united his followers into the Black Knights alliance, establishing their base on the planet Malrev IV. Leading the Black Knights, the Dark Underlord launched incursions into the Outer Rim Territories of the galaxy, terrorizing various space stations along the Zona Miki hyperspace route.
Despised as a threat to the Jedi and the Republic, the Dark Underlord and his forces attracted the attention of Murrtaggh, a Jedi Master who planned to retaliate against the Dark Lord of the Sith. Secretly, Murrtaggh recruited Mandalorian mercenaries to launch a surprise assault on the Sith headquarters on Malrev IV. Deceived by Master Murrtaggh's diversionary attack, the Dark Underlord dispatched his Black Knights, commanded by the Sith Lord's leading general, to confront the Mandalorian invaders. This decision left the Underlord vulnerable, allowing the Jedi Master to infiltrate Sith territory, resulting in a confrontation between them. Despite his power and reputation, the Underlord was defeated by Murrtaggh, ending the Dark Lord's reign.
The death of the Dark Underlord had an immediate effect on Jedi Master Murrtaggh, who fell to the dark side after slaying the Dark Lord of the Sith. Despite the Underlord's demise, the Sith campaigns continued and intensified during the subsequent centuries of the New Sith Wars. Furthermore, the Black Knights, though defeated, regrouped on several occasions in the absence of their fallen leader. Even after the Sith defeat at the conclusion of the New Sith Wars, the Black Knights remained active during the Fluwhaka revolt. After 990 BBY, the Dark Underlord's exploits were mentioned in The Jedi Path, a guidebook for Jedi Initiates.
The Dark Underlord, an emotionless dark side spirit, was a mysterious figure during the New Sith Wars, leading to speculation about his origins. His reign as Dark Lord was marked by a penchant for carnage. The Underlord adopted a hands-on approach as a warlord, directly engaging the Jedi Order in battle.
The Dark Underlord was a powerful figure among the resurgent Sith of the Draggulch Period, which helped him dominate his Sith peers and made him a threat to the Jedi. As a combatant, the Underlord was a master of the dual-wielding Jar'Kai combat form, wielding a pair of Sith swords instead of the lightsabers of his time.
The Dark Underlord was first mentioned in Heroes & Rogues, a roleplaying supplement released in 1995 for the first edition of Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game. In 2001, The Dark Side Sourcebook featured an illustration by Ashley Wood depicting a "Dark Side Spirit". This image was later retconned as the Dark Underlord in "Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties," an article by Abel G. Peña in 2006. The article expanded on the Underlord's backstory in the New Sith Wars, particularly his ghostly presence, a role Peña originally intended for Blackhole.
- Heroes & Rogues (First mentioned)
- The Dark Side Sourcebook (Picture retcon)
- " The History of the Mandalorians " — Star Wars Insider 80
- "The Dark Forces Saga, Part 4" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Vader: The Ultimate Guide
- " Heritage of the Sith " — Star Wars Insider 88
- Evil Never Dies: The Sith Dynasties on Hyperspace (article) (content now obsolete; backup link)
- "The Emperor's Pawns Endnotes, Part 3: Blackhole and Revelations" — Only Sith Deal In Absolutes! — Abel G. Peña's StarWars.com Blog (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars Annual 2009
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Atlas
- The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force