Keshtah Minor

Keshtah Minor was inhabited by a sizable population of Keshiri, a purple-skinned near-Human species native to Kesh, as early as the end of the Hundred-Year Darkness. At some point after 6900 BBY, Kesh was visited by two opposing groups of Force-users: Remulus Dreypa, a Sith Lord, with his Dark Jedi allies and their Jedi adversaries. The surviving Dark Jedi, including Dreypa, had been exiled to the Stygian Caldera after the Battle of Corbos. There, these Dark Jedi subjugated the Sith species on Korriban and Ziost, establishing the Sith Order and the first Sith Empire. At some point, Dreypa and other Dark Jedi of similar mind attempted to return to the wider galaxy. They put together a starship and attempted to depart the Stygian Caldera. However, a Jedi patrol quickly attacked them, pursuing them across the galaxy. Many of these Jedi were veterans of the Battle of Corbos. Eventually, these Dark Jedi and their Jedi enemies crash-landed on Kesh. Both sides became stranded on Kesh, and the planet's peculiar magnetic fields prevented the Jedi from requesting assistance. According to Adari Vaal, a Keshiri geologist, their arrival triggered the "Great Cataclysm" which cut off access between Keshtah Minor and the neighboring continent of Alanciar. The Dark Jedi and Jedi engaged in battle on Kesh, unleashing leviathans, "great weapons," which devastated the planet's surface and terrorized the Keshiri. Eventually, the Dark Jedi recognized the error of their ways and made peace with their Jedi opponents. To solidify this peace agreement, the Dark Jedi sealed their fanatical leader, Dreypa, within an oubliette, while the Jedi concealed their last remaining starship within the Keshiri catacombs beneath the Circle Eternal, a plaza in the town of Tahv. The Jedi and Dark Jedi journeyed to Kesh's south pole, Eshkrene where they founded a new community known as the Doomed, dedicated to discovering true neutrality in the Force. Later generations of Keshiri on both Keshtah and Alanciar would remember the arrival of these off-worlders as the "Great Calamity" or Great Battle. The Jedi would be remembered as the Protectors, while the Dark Jedi would be remembered as the Destructors. By 5000 BBY, the Neshtovar, an elite political and religious class, had unified Keshtah Minor under their authority. They utilized their uvak steeds, winged reptilian beasts of burden, to connect the various regions of Keshtah. The Neshtovar considered themselves the "Sons of the Skyborn," who had brought the knowledge of the Great Battle and Keshiri's creation to the oceanside mountains of Keshtah. They gradually replaced the earlier legends of the Protectors and Destructors with a new narrative centered around the Skyborn and the Otherside. The Skyborn were said to be giant humanoid beings who rode colossal uvak beasts and battled against the Otherside, malevolent entities associated with rebellion, sickness, and death. The blood shed by the Skyborn during this Great Battle was said to have formed Kesh's landmass. As of 5000 BBY, the Keshiri living on Keshtah believed that their continent was the only known world. The Neshtovar, leveraging their status as the "Sons of the Skyborn," dominated society on Keshtah. Dissenters like Adari Vaal, who challenged their creation account and argued that magma flow created Keshtah's landmass, were routinely harassed and persecuted. Geological events such as groundquakes and volcanic eruptions were also attributed to the Skyborn acting according to their wishes that the Keshiri honor them and hate the Otherside. Natural disasters were also regarded as a punishment from the Skyborn for an individual's lack of faith.

In 5000 BBY, the Sith dreadnaught Omen crash-landed on a mountain slope in the Cetajan Mountains, a rocky peninsula on the north-western coast of Keshtah Minor. This starship was transporting Lignan crystals from the Phaegon system when a Jedi starfighter attacked it. The Omen fled into hyperspace and crashed on Keshtah. The Omen carried a substantial number of Human Sith crew and miners, as well as a significant number of Red Sith personnel and Massassi warriors, and one Houk named Gloyd. The Massassi quickly succumbed to an unknown pathogen in Kesh's atmosphere. Meanwhile, the surviving Sith crew and passengers, led by the ship's captain, Yaru Korsin, established a camp below the mountain. After landing, he murdered his half-brother Devore Korsin and threw his body below the cliff near the crash site. The Omen's arrival triggered a massive explosion that was felt as far away as Tahv. At the time, the Neshtovar were trying Adari Vaal for "heresy." The explosion was interpreted as a sign of the Skyborn's anger at her alleged blasphemy. Vaal was forced to flee for her life, flying her uvak Nink to the site of the explosion. Shortly after, she encountered the Sith, who took her captive. After a few days, Adari learned to communicate with the off-worlders, who explained their predicament. After learning about the Skyborn from Adari, the Sith leader Yaru Korsin devised a plan to win over the Keshiri by claiming to be their "gods" who had returned. Using their Force powers, the Sith were able to supplant the Neshtovar as the new ruling elite on Keshtah. The Sith intended to repair their starship and return to the stars. To support these efforts, they built a temple on the site of the Omen. Due to a scarcity of natural metals on Keshtah, the Sith off-worlders were unable to repair the Omen and return to the galaxy. They also exhausted their remaining explosives attempting to locate metals. By 4985 BBY, tensions had arisen between the Human and Red Sith. Identifiable grievances included the failure of Sith efforts to return to the stars and the inability of Red Sith infants to survive for more than a day on their new world. These tensions led Ravilan Wroth, the Red Sith leader, to contaminate the water supply of the Keshiri city of Tetsubal with cyanogen silicate in an attempt to force the Sith to return to the stars. However, Seelah Korsin, Yaru's wife, discovered his plot and framed the entire Red Sith community for a series of mass poisoning deaths throughout the Ragnos Lakes region, resulting in the deaths of a hundred thousand Keshiri. The Ragnos Lakes affair culminated in a violent purge of all the Red Sith on Keshtah. As a result, the Sith off-worlders evolved into a purely Human Tribe over the next five millennia. Seelah also spearheaded efforts to destroy and distort all information relating to the "Other Fifty-Seven" non-Human Sith. Gloyd, the sole remaining non-Human Sith, survived due to his close friendship with Yaru Korsin. The Sith claimed that the mass deaths during the Ragnos Lakes affair resulted from their Keshiri inhabitants' lack of faith in the Sith. The Ragnos Lakes affair also triggered the emergence of an underground Keshiri resistance movement, led by Adari Vaal, dedicated to overthrowing the Sith.

By 4975 BBY, the Sith Tribe had finally accepted Kesh as their new homeworld and abandoned all efforts to return to the stars. They also evacuated the Kesh Sith Temple and relocated to Tahv, Keshtah's largest settlement. Korsin also organized the Human Sith into a hierarchical Tribe led by a Grand Lord and a Circle of Lords. During that period, Korsin and his allies thwarted an attempt led by Ermon Parrah, the Omen's former navigator, to steal the ship and return to the stars. As punishment, Parrah and his associates were condemned to generational slavery. Meanwhile, Seelah Korsin also began plotting to overthrow her husband, Yaru Korsin. She sought revenge for the murder of her late husband, Devore Korsin, and planned to install her elder son, Jariad Korsin, as the new Grand Lord. Thus, Yaru Korsin faced two main threats to the Tribe's domination of Keshtah: the Keshiri resistance and Seelah's faction. While Vaal had achieved a respectable status under Sith rule, she realized that they were not gods and hated them for causing the deaths of thousands of her fellow Keshiri through the Ragnos Lakes affair and various construction projects. Her elder son, Tona Vaal, had also died during a construction accident, and the "Skyborn" had failed to heal him. Several Neshtovar members, including the descendants of the late High Councilor Izri Dazh, also joined the resistance. Their grievances included their reduced political and religious influence, and a new law that barred all Keshiri from riding uvak. The Tribe had introduced this new law to control the circulation of information throughout the continent. The Keshiri rebels planned to steal the Tribe's uvak and fly them into the jet stream above the volcano Sessal Spire, which would send them to a watery grave in the oceans around Keshtah. Other elements of the resistance would then exploit the chaos by killing Sith with shikkar blades. Meanwhile, Seelah and Jariad raised a force of armed supporters known as the Sith Sabers, who claimed to be a hobby club specializing in lightsaber combat. The two anti-Korsin conspiracies eventually converged at the Kesh Sith Temple. However, the Grand Lord and his daughter, Nida Korsin, outmaneuvered and defeated both conspiracies. Due to a tip-off from Vaal's younger son, Tona Vaal, Nida's Skyborn Rangers, the Tribe's aerial force, learned of the planned Keshiri uprising and prevented the rebels from stealing the Tribe's uvak herd in Tahv. Later, Nida and her Skyborn Rangers flew to the Sith Temple, rescued Korsin, and defeated Seelah and Jariad's rebels. Jariad was thrown down the mountain cliff to his death, while his mother, Seelah, was banished to the Temple, where she spent the last years of her life. Seelah had also lost her legs during a suicide bombing by Gloyd during his final stand against the anti-Korsin rebels. While Korsin later succumbed to injuries inflicted during the battle, he delivered a testament designating Nida as his successor and outlining the basic political structures of the Tribe. Meanwhile, Vaal and the surviving rebels fled across the Western Sea and ended up in Alanciar. Over the following centuries, many Sith and Keshiri regarded the failed Keshiri uprising as a cautionary tale that only the Sith had the power to shape their own destiny.

Nida Korsin reigned as Grand Lord over Keshtah for seventy-nine years. Her reign was considered a robust, golden age in the Tribe's history. She outlived her son, Donellan, who waited too long to succeed his power. This ended the Korsin dynastic system. Nida's legacy was commemorated in a holiday called the Festival of Nida's Rise held every seventy-nine years. Meanwhile, Donellan's legacy was commemorated in a holiday called Donellan's Day, which served to warn the Sith not to hesitate to make their move towards power. In response, Nida instituted a succession system based on meritocracy. By 3960 BBY, four main social classes had developed on Keshtah: the high-born Force-sensitive Sith, a yeoman class of non-Force sensitive Human Sith, enslaved Sith outcasts and dissidents who had been condemned to generational slavery, and the native Keshiri, who formed a large serf underclass. By this stage, the Sith Sabers had evolved into the Tribe's equivalent of the Jedi Knights and were tasked with enforcing law and order on Keshtah. Two major political factions had also developed within the Tribe: the Red Faction, led by High Lord Dernas, and the Gold Faction, led by High Lord Pallima. These two factions competed for control of the Circle of Lords and the Grand Lordship. In 3961 BBY, the elderly Sith High Lord Lillia Venn ascended to the Grand Lordship. She had been elected as a compromise candidate to appease the Red and Gold Factions. Due to her old age, Venn was not expected to live long and was widely regarded as a weak candidate among the Sith ruling elite. However, Lillia was determined to hold on to the "pinnacle of power". Thus, in 3960 BBY, she staged her own assassination attempt to discredit her political rivals. Her agents manipulated Campion Dey, an uvak wrangler, into staging an assassination attempt during the rake-riding games on Donellan's Day. Campion was sponsored by High Lord Candra Kitai, who had recently ascended to the High Lordship the previous year to fill Lillia's former seat. As an independent, Candra held the strategic position of tiebreaker who would select Lillia's successor in the event that the Grand Lord died. Consequently, Lillia viewed Candra as a potential threat to her reign. Lillia's plot succeeded, enabling her to target Candra along with Dernas and Pallima. After outliving his usefulness, her bodyguards, the Sith Sabers Flen and Sawj Luzo, executed Campion Dey. To make an example of her enemies, Lillia ordered the immediate execution of Dernas and Pallima, accusing them of conspiring with Candra to assassinate the Grand Lord. As punishment, Lillia enslaved Candra and her daughter Orielle Kitai, a prominent Sith Saber, and the state expropriated or destroyed their lands, titles, and belongings. After "confessing" to her role in the conspiracy, Candra pledged her "eternal loyalty" to Lillia and was forced to shovel uvak manure at an uvak-exhibition facility in Tahv known as the zoo. Following the staged assassination attempt, Lillia appointed three of her own supporters as High Lords and promoted Flen and Sawj to the positions of Sith Lords, consolidating her support base in the Sith state. A dejected Orielle sought refuge with her friend Jelph of Marisota, who owned a farm on the banks of the Marisota River. During her time there, Orielle discovered that Jelph was actually a Jedi Shadow from the Galactic Republic and that he owned a starship, a technology that the Tribe had not possessed for centuries. Over time, the Tribe's descendants had largely forgotten how starships worked and no longer had access to common galactic technologies like blasters. Still, the Tribe aspired to return to the stars and rule the galaxy, regarding the discovery of any off-world technology as one of "Kesh-shaking" importance. Orielle saw this as an opportunity to restore her family's fortunes and reunite the Tribe with the galaxy. Jelph pursued her in an attempt to protect the galaxy and his secret from the Tribe. After arriving in Tahv, Orielle informed her mother about the discovery. Candra told her daughter to contact the four remaining Red and Gold High Lords through the architect Gadin Badolfa, providing her with the passcode to indicate a discovery of "Kesh-shaking importance." However, Candra did not believe her daughter's story and informed Grand Lord Lillia in return for "improved working conditions." Meanwhile, Orielle reconciled with Jelph, and the two returned to Jelph's farm to prevent the Sith from discovering his secret starship. However, Lillia and her supporters had already arrived at the farm and discovered Jelph's starship. However, Jelph had already rigged the starship with explosives. The ensuing explosion destroyed the starship along with Lillia and her entourage. This night was remembered in Keshiri history as the "Night of the Upside-Down Meteor" and triggered a millennium of chaos known as "the Time of the Rot." Meanwhile, Jelph and Ori survived the explosion and created a new home in the remote jungle highlands of the continent.

The death of Lillia Venn initiated a thousand-year power struggle within the Lost Tribe of Sith on Keshtah. The Red and Gold Factions attacked and killed her supporters before turning on each other. Over the next millennium, various Sith factions battled for control of the capital city of Tahv and the Grand Lordship. These factions recruited many disenfranchised Sith slaves and Keshiri into their forces. Over the centuries, the Sith factions would unite long enough to conquer Tahv and overthrow the ruling Grand Lord, only to immediately resume infighting. By 3000 BBY, the Tribe had fragmented into twenty warring factions, including the Sisters of Seelah, the Korsinite League, Force 57, and the Golden Destiny, each emulating different figures and aspects of the Tribe's history. As a result of the Time of the Rot, Keshtah's cities and infrastructure crumbled into ruins and disrepair. Southern Keshtah was also devastated by a series of powerful eruptions from Sessal Spire and its sister volcanoes, which caused extensive damage to cities and infrastructure, including Tahv's Korsinata arena. By this point, the Tribe had dwindled to a few thousand individuals, as they were unable to intermarry with the Keshiri. The only time the various Sith elements met peacefully was on Testament Day, a holiday held every twenty-five years when the Testament of Yaru Korsin was read to the Tribe's leadership. Due to his status as the Tribe's founder, Yaru was revered as a respected historical figure in the Tribe's history. Several factions, particularly the Korsinite League, which emulated Yaru and his daughter Nida, regarded Yaru Korsin's Testament as a "sacred scripture" and believed that the Tribe needed to adhere to the political structure and practices outlined by the first Grand Lord. The "Pantheon's Peace" was convened at the Kesh capitol building, which the various Sith factions considered a neutral meeting ground and a sacred place due to its association with the Grand Lordship. The capitol building also housed the Office of the Caretaker, responsible for safeguarding the Tribe's history and time-keeping. As of 3000 BBY, the Caretaker was one of the few institutions unaffected by the power struggle, and the current office-holder was Varner Hilts, a mild-mannered and wise scholar. That year, the Sisters of Seelah, a faction emulating the memory of Seelah Korsin, occupied the capitol building. Their leader, Iliana Merko, attempted to produce a fake testament favoring Seelah and her supporters. However, Hilts revealed that her plan would fail because the testament was read by a holographic recording of Yaru Korsin himself, stored in a holocron, an ancient Jedi and Sith technology used for storing knowledge and communications. The Sisters' presence attracted the attention of the other Sith factions, which had camped on the grounds of the Circle Eternal. Following a brief skirmish between the Sisters and two other factions, the Korsinite League and Force 57, Hilts mediated a truce by offering to read the Testament of Yaru Korsin. To obtain legal sanction for convening the "Pantheon's Peace" eight days earlier than scheduled, Jaye Vuhld, Hilts' Keshiri assistant, presented his findings that the Keshiri calendar was actually eight days behind the Galactic Standard Calendar. The reading of Yaru Korsin's Testament temporarily quelled the tensions between the Sith factions. However, it did little to resolve their divisions and instead exacerbated long-standing rivalries. The Sisters of Seelah and Force 57 objected to the exclusion of Seelah Korsin and the "Different Ones," the Red Sith, from the Tribe's

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The official narrative was challenged by the Golden Destiny, who opposed the Korsinite League's strict interpretation of Yaru Korsin's Testament. They advocated for an end to the fighting, the opening of the Temple, and a return to space. Varner Hilts, while trying to turn off the holocron, found that the testament was actually an overwrite of an older message. This older recording contained orders from the Sith Lord [Naga Sadow](/article/naga_sadow-legends) to Yaru Korsin, his slave captain. The Sith leadership then discovered that the Tribe's ancestors were not "divine conquerors," but rather slaves of the Red Sith. This revelation triggered the [Great Crisis](/article/great_crisis), a series of violent riots and killings that threatened the Tribe's very survival. The fighting resulted in the destruction of many of Kesh's cities and the deaths of numerous Sith. Despite this dire situation, Varner Hilts and Jaye managed to rescue the Tribe from its destructive path by uncovering a large map within a secret chamber in the Kesh Sith Temple. The map confirmed the existence of a second continent on Kesh called "Keshtah Major," proving that Keshtah was not the only landmass on the planet and that unexplored lands and seas existed. Hilts used this discovery to reunite the Tribe and prevent the destruction of the _Omen_ by stopping the other Sith from crashing the Temple's main tower onto its protective chamber. Consequently, the various Sith factions elected Hilts as their new Grand Lord and pledged to rebuild the old system and conquer "Keshtah Major." Hilts also [married](/article/wedding_of_varner_hilts_and_iliana_merko) Iliana Merko, who then became his [Grand Consort](/article/grand_consort). This marked the end of the Time of the Rot. ### The Hilts Restoration Under Grand Lord Hilts' leadership, Keshtah Minor's cities and infrastructure were rebuilt. The capitol building, the Grand Lord's residence, was restored to its former glory. Hilts named this new era the "Hilts Restoration" to symbolize the end of the Time of the Rot and the Tribe's dedication to rediscovering its past. Hilts left a significant legacy on the Tribe's history as Grand Lord. First, he allowed Force-sensitive Keshiri to join the Tribe, providing them with a path to social advancement. This policy honored the sacrifices of Jaye, who helped find the map of "Keshtah Major" but did not live to see its impact. Second, he reinstated Korsin's traditional power structure as described in the Founder's Testament. This system limited ambition and promoted advancement through merit rather than violence. As a symbolic gesture of meritocracy, Hilts chose not to appoint his daughter, Takara Hilts, as his successor. Instead, she became the [Prefect of Police](/article/prefect_of_police) of the [Tahv Constabulary](/article/tahv_constabulary). Third, Grand Lord Hilts commissioned a new Testament to replace Korsin's Testament, believing the ancient text was outdated. He and a team of scribes wrote a [new Testament](/article/testament_of_varner_hilts) that served as both a manifesto and a legal document. Unlike its predecessor, Hilts' Testament acknowledged the Tribe's Tapani origins and their enslavement to the Red Sith. However, it emphasized that the Tribe's ancestors overthrew their Sith overlords and subjugated the Keshiri people. While Hilts' Testament was read every Testament Day, the Keshiri were only allowed to read an edited version that concealed the Tribe's history as Sith slaves. Despite Grand Lord Hilts' progressive rule, slavery persisted. Generational slavery remained a punishment for Human Sith who violated the political order. The Tribe also continued to use the port town of [Eorm](/article/eorm) as a dumping ground for disenfranchised Human Sith, who were forced into slave labor. Many of these Human Sith were descendants of Ermon Parrah, who had unsuccessfully attempted to steal the crippled vessel _Omen_ and return to the stars long ago. Some Sith Lords, like Lord [Galathos](/article/galathos), were known to terrorize slaves who failed to meet their work quotas. Despite these injustices, the peaceful and stable nature of Hilts' rule convinced the Doomed, the descendants of stranded Jedi and Dark Jedi from the Hundred-Year Darkness, not to intervene on Keshtah. The Doomed respected Hilts as a wise leader who had protected the native Keshiri. Finally, Hilts' most significant achievement was the conquest of Alanciar. During the Hilts Restoration, the Tribe focused its efforts and resources on finding a way to conquer "Keshtah Major." This involved developing a technology that would enable the Tribe to make multiple trips to and from the continent. [Edell Vrai](/article/edell_vrai), a young and innovative member of the Golden Destiny, was appointed as the "chief engineer." After several unsuccessful experiments with long-distance uvak flights and sailing ships, Edell decided on [airships](/article/airship-legends), which were lifted by hydrogen gasbags and powered by uvak. By [2975 BBY](/article/2975_bby), the Tribe had assembled a substantial fleet of reconnaissance and military airships. High Lord Edell was also chosen to lead the reconnaissance mission to the new continent, while High Lord [Korsin Bentado](/article/korsin_bentado) was selected to lead the invasion force, the [Ebon Fleet](/article/ebon_fleet). Although Edell's expedition successfully crossed the Endless Sea and reached "Keshtah Major," they soon discovered that the Keshiri there, who called themselves the [Alanciari](/article/alanciari) and their homeland Alanciar, had evolved into a highly militaristic and industrialized society. Two millennia earlier, Adari Vaal had fled to Alanciar and warned the Keshiri there about the threat posed by the Sith. The Alanciari decimated Edell's scouting fleet and Bentado's invasion force. Despite these setbacks, the Tribe ultimately conquered Alanciar. Edell's expedition managed to capture two Alanciari: the soldier [Jogan Halder](/article/jogan_halder) and the [Wardmaster](/article/wardmaster) [Quarra Thayn](/article/quarra_thayn), who were forced to serve the Tribe. First, Hilts successfully convinced Jogan that the Tribe did not pose a threat but were actually benevolent Protectors. Second, Hilts used the Alanciari invasion as an opportunity to eliminate his rival, Bentado Korsin, the leader of the Korsinite League, who also aspired to become Grand Lord. Edell and Quarra foiled Bentado's attempt to create a "Second Tribe" on Alanciar and assassinate Grand Lord Hilts. By conquering "Keshtah Major," the Tribe achieved its goal of breaking free from the continent, which was the initial step towards galactic conquest. Following the "unification" of Keshtah Minor and Alanciar, maritime trade flourished between the two continents. Ports like Eorm and the port west of Berav became significant transoceanic trading centers. However, the Tribe's economy remained a command economy. Despite the relative peace, stability, and prosperity of the Hilts era, discontent persisted among the slave class, leading to rebellions against the Tribe's ruling elite. One threat to the Tribe was the brigand [Parlan Spinner](/article/parlan_spinner), a descendant of Ermon Parrah, who attempted to assassinate Grand Lord Hilts. After his failed assassination attempt, he was sentenced to servitude on the Alanciari sailing ship _Southern Star_. Under the command of the Alanciari captain [Chegg](/article/chegg), the _Southern Star_ discovered the frozen continent of Eshkrene in the South Pole. There, Spinner encountered the Doomed and freed the ancient Sith Lord Dreypa. Dreypa devastated Eorm and Tahv during a brief but violent [insurgency](/article/dreypa%27s_rebellion). However, Spinner and Takara, Varner and Iliana Hilts' daughter, destroyed the ancient Sith Lord. As a reward for his service, Spinner was admitted into the Tribe and became a [Grand Lord's Hand](/article/grand_lord%27s_hands), a secret agent of Hilts. During his final confrontation with Dreypa, Spinner also destroyed the Doomed's ancient Jedi starship, delaying the Tribe's return to the galaxy for another three millennia. During this time, the Tribe used Alanciari sailing ship technology to explore and circumnavigate the rest of Kesh, including its unexplored northern hemisphere. ### Return to the Stars In [41.5 ABY](/article/41_aby), Kesh's galactic isolation ended when a [Sith Meditation Sphere](/article/sith_meditation_sphere) known as [Ship](/article/ship_(sith_meditation_sphere)) landed at the Kesh Sith Temple on Keshtah. Ship contacted the [Sith Tyro](/article/sith_tyro) [Vestara Khai](/article/vestara_khai) and offered to teach her the ways of the dark side of the Force. Vestara later revealed Ship's existence to the Circle of Lords, informing them that they shared their thoughts as well. The Lords then decided to use Ship to learn more about the Sith and to [travel offworld](/article/lost_tribe_of_sith_emergence). Vestara was then made a [Sith apprentice](/article/sith_apprentice-legends) to [Lady Rhea](/article/olaris_rhea) and designated to be trained by Ship. Ship also revealed to the Lost Tribe that the Sith did not rule the galaxy and were actually few in number. This revelation shattered the Lost Tribe's long-held belief that the Sith had ruled the galaxy for millennia. Over the next two years, the tribe captured ships and created a [Sith armada](/article/sith_armada_(lost_tribe_of_the_sith)). As the Sith built their armada, a [spaceport](/article/spaceport-legends) was constructed in open land just outside of Tahv. [Within two years](/article/43_aby), the [fleet](/article/fleet-legends) consisted of several dozen ships, including the rebuilt _Omen_. After sensing the presence of [exiled](/article/exile_(punishment)-legends) Jedi [Grand Master](/article/grand_master-legends) [Luke Skywalker](/article/luke_skywalker-legends) through the Force, a [strike team](/article/lost_tribe_of_sith_strike_team) was assembled to hunt down and kill Skywalker. It was also at this time that Ship departed from Kesh. In response, the Circle of Lords decided to track down and recapture Ship, abandoning their plans to hunt Skywalker. This led the Lost Tribe into contact with both the Force entity known as [Abeloth](/article/abeloth) and the Jedi Master Skywalker and his son [Ben Skywalker](/article/ben_skywalker). Eventually, the Lost Tribe formed an alliance with the Skywalkers to stop Abeloth, who was responsible for causing a [Force psychosis](/article/force_psychosis) that was affecting Jedi in the [Galactic Alliance](/article/galactic_federation_of_free_alliances), one of the successor states to the former Galactic Republic, which had ended following the [Clone Wars](/article/clone_wars-legends). In [44 ABY](/article/44_aby), this temporary alliance ended when Abeloth approached the Sith Saber [Gavar Khai](/article/gavar_khai) with an offer to ally with the Lost Tribe in exchange for killing Skywalker and his allies. While the Circle of Lords was divided on this issue, Grand Lord [Darish Vol](/article/darish_vol) decided to side with Abeloth, believing she would benefit the Tribe's interests. Vol contacted Gavar Khai, who was returning to Kesh with his fleet, Abeloth, and Ship, and instructed him to delay Abeloth's arrival on the planet. The Grand Lord planned to host a celebration in Tahv for Abeloth, considering her a valuable asset in defeating the Lost Tribe's enemies. Although Abeloth distrusted Vol's motives, she accepted his offer and told Khai to instruct everyone in his fleet to return to Kesh with their friends and family members. Upon Abeloth's arrival in the Sith capital of Tahv, she was officially welcomed with a parade organized by the Sith authorities. The Grand Lord closely observed Abeloth to understand her intentions. Following the festivities, Abeloth visited Vol in his dreams. However, the Grand Lord lured Abeloth into a mental trap, which he used to attack the entity. In response, Abeloth unleashed a Force shockwave equivalent to a tsunami, destroying much of Tahv and killing thousands of citizens, including Sith and Keshiri. Khai's wife, [Lahka Khai](/article/lahka_khai), perished during this attack. Following the [Destruction of Tahv](/article/destruction_of_tahv), Ship departed with Abeloth and several Sith who remained loyal to the Force entity. These included Gavar Khai, still grieving the loss of his wife, and his forces, who had been influenced by Abeloth. Abeloth then "absorbed" the populist [Senator](/article/senator-legends) [Rokari Kem](/article/rokari_kem) and assumed her identity. Under the leadership of the new [Chief of State](/article/chief_of_state_(galactic_alliance)) "Kem," the Lost Tribe infiltrated the [Galactic Alliance Senate](/article/galactic_alliance_senate) and seized control of the galactic capital of [Coruscant](/article/coruscant-legends). However, the Lost Tribe and Abeloth were [defeated](/article/liberation_of_coruscant_(lost_tribe_of_sith_emergence)) by the [New Jedi Order](/article/new_jedi_order). ## Geography Keshtah, a relatively small landmass, occupied a position in Kesh's southern hemisphere. [Kesh](/article/kesh-legends) Its terrain was defined by elongated, ridged peninsulas that originated from plateaus, resulting in rugged coastlines and fjords. Notable [mountain](/article/mountain-legends) ranges were present within Keshtah, including the [Takara Mountains](/article/takara_mountains)—previously known as the Cetajan Mountains. These mountains were characterized by steep inclines and formed a peninsula bordering the [Sea of Flames](/article/sea_of_flames). At the extremity of this peninsula stood a Sith Temple, erected by the [Lost Tribe of Sith](/article/lost_tribe_of_sith) over the wreckage of the starship _Omen_, which had crashed in the mountains during the [Great Hyperspace War](/article/great_hyperspace_war-legends). Its isolated location meant that the Temple could only be accessed by air or by navigating a treacherous ascent up the mountain slopes. By [41 ABY](/article/41_aby), the Temple had gained recognition as a historically significant site on Kesh and was utilized for the training of Sith apprentices. Furthermore, Keshtah housed various settlements, with Tahv serving as its largest city and capital. Before 5000 BBY, Tahv began as a small Keshiri village, strategically built to protect the Keshiri from dangerous wildlife. By 4975 BBY, it had evolved into the capital of the Sith Tribe on Kesh, a status it would maintain for millennia. After the Lost Tribe of Sith assisted the Keshiri in either repelling or domesticating Kesh's indigenous creatures, Tahv became Keshtah's primary settlement and capital city. Known as the "Jewel of Kesh," Tahv was an aesthetically pleasing city, emphasizing artistic endeavors, often produced by Sith artists employing the Force. Notable structures within Tahv included the capitol building, situated atop a large plaza known as the Circle Eternal, the Korsinata stadium, and the city zoo. The city also featured an extensive aqueduct system that towered above the streets and buildings. Other settlements of note included Eorm, [Berav](/article/berav), Sharv, [Zandi](/article/zandi), [Glorim](/article/glorim), [Orreg](/article/orreg), [Rees](/article/rees), Ryav, [Elvarnos](/article/elvarnos), Roston, Cham, Kithar, and [Telmath](/article/telmath). Eorm, a port city in the southwest, served as a home for enslaved Humans who had been expelled from the Tribe for various offenses, including rebellion. Following the "Unification" of Keshtah and Alanciar, Eorm transformed into a production hub for sails used in the construction of wooden sailing vessels. Orreg, a city in northern Keshtah, housed the [Tribal Intelligence Depository](/article/tribal_intelligence_depository). By [2974 BBY](/article/2974_bby), a port had been established near Berav, overlooking the Sea of Flames, to accommodate ships arriving from Alanciar. The northeastern corner of Keshtah, which overlooked the Western Sea, was characterized by purple dunes. Additional prominent natural features included the Sessal Spire volcano, the [Marisota River](/article/marisota_river) and [floodplain](/article/marisota_floodplain), and the Ragnos Lakes. Sessal Spire was positioned on a peninsula along the southwestern coast of Keshtah, overlooking the Sea of Flames. The Marisota River, a substantial waterway, flowed from the jungle highlands and mountains of the central interior into the Ragnos Lakes. The Marisota floodplain consisted of flat grasslands that were used for farming and served as the location for numerous battles. The Ragnos Lakes were home to several Keshiri settlements, including Tetsubal, until 4985 BBY, when a mass poisoning event involving cyanogen silicate resulted in the deaths of thousands of Keshiri. Consequently, the Ragnos Lakes region was abandoned and populated only by ghost towns by 3960 BBY. Other known rivers on Keshtah included the [Tapani River](/article/tapani_river) and the [Eathcote River](/article/eathcote_river). ## Flora and Fauna Keshtah Minor supported a wide array of plant and animal species. Notable plant species found in Keshtah included [dalsa flowers](/article/dalsa_flower), [hejarbo](/article/hejarbo) shoots, and [vosso](/article/vosso) trees. The Marisota Floodplain was covered in grass and tussock. Keshtah lacked native trees with wood suitable for constructing long-distance oceanic vessels. Hejarbo shoots were frequently used in house construction but were susceptible to rainstorms. Vosso trees were too dense to float. Keshtah also had several jungles in its central highland region. This jungle region was home to various types plants which were ideal for making fertilizer. Keshtah was also home to several species of animals including the uvak, a species of winged dragon-like reptiles which was capable of traveling for long distances. Uvak were the only domesticated animal of burden that was native to this continent. Uvaks were also known for their intelligence and many developed close relationships with their owners. While Keshtah was home to several predator species including a [six-legged mammal](/article/unidentified_six-legged_mammal), most of these had become extinct by 3960 BBY due to the Sith Tribe's enthusiasm for blood sports. The Ragnos Lakes was also home to several species of [fluorescent algae](/article/fluorescent_algae). ## Society and culture Before Sith rule, the Keshiri on Keshtah Minor were governed by the Neshtovar, an elite political and religious aristocracy who rode uvak, domesticated beasts of burden. The Neshtovar used their uvak to develop an aerial circuit system which connected Keshtah's settlements. The Neshtovar regarded themselves as the "Sons of the Skyborn", a race of powerful gods who were believed to have created Kesh during a "Great Battle" with the malevolent Otherside. Until the Sith-takeover, the Neshtovar dominated every aspect of life in their settlements and persecuted dissenters like the geologist Adari Vaal who disagreed with their creation account. The Sith took over Keshtah Minor by claiming to be the Skyborn. For most of its history, Keshtah was dominated by the Lost Tribe of Sith who were responsible for shaping its society and culture. By 3960 BBY, Sith society on Keshtah Minor was divided into four main social groups: the Tribe, non-Force-sensitive Humans, disenfranchised Human slaves, and a large Keshiri serf class. Human members of the Tribe who fell out with the authorities were often condemned to generational slavery. Many of these slaves resided in the port town of Eorm where they were forced to serve as unskilled tailors, weavers, and laborers. Slavery continued even after the [Hilts Restoration](/article/hilts_restoration) and at least one slave uprising was known to have occurred in 2974 BBY. It was also possible for slaves to regain their place in the Tribe if they cooperated with the authorities or did heroic acts, as in the cases of Candra Kitai and Parlan Spinner. The most important social and political institution on Keshtah was the Sith Tribe. It was led by a Grand Lord who was supported by a Circle of Lords, which consisted of seven [High Lords](/article/high_lord_(circle_of_lords)) and thirteen Sith Lords. Other known ranks, from bottom to top, included Sith Tyros, Sith apprentices, Sith Sabers, Sith Masters, and the Grand Consort, the spouse of the Grand Lord. It was the most important institution for social mobility and was open to both Force-sensitive Humans and Keshiri by [3000 BBY](/article/3000_bby) due to the reforms of Grand Lord Varner Hilts. By [41 ABY](/article/41_aby), several Force-sensitive Keshiri served within prominent positions within the Tribe.
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