Kissai

Sharing traits with most members of the Sith species, the Kissai exhibited red skin and a humanoid form, further characterized by sharp, predatory features and distinctive tendrils adorning their chins.

It is believed that the Kissai, as a subspecies of the Sith species, originated on the planet Korriban. Considering that Sith society existed for many centuries—beginning around 100,000 BBY, it is likely the Kissai also possess a long and rich history. Within the Sith, the Kissai rose to prominence as priests and spiritual guides, tasked with imparting the Sith teachings to others.

With the exception of a brief period when their species was unified under King Adas and his empire, Sith society was largely fractured, with numerous Sith Lords ruling independent territories and vying for Adas's title of Sith'ari in an attempt to unite their people. Following Adas' death during the Rakata Invasion of Korriban, the Massassi and Kissai relocated from Korriban to Ziost, with the Kissai taking charge of the reconstruction efforts.

Certain Kissai priests interpreted the death of their Sith'ari during the Invasion of Korriban as an indication to turn away from the Sith perspective on the dark side of the Force. These individuals were exiled from the Sith homeworld, guided by their instincts to the Force-rich world of Tund.

In the aftermath of the Great Hyperspace War, this pure-blooded Sith society evolved into the Sorcerers of Tund, blending science, ontology, and magic. Influenced by their interactions with the Rakata, they came to believe that all sentients possess Force-sensitivity, rejecting the Siths' interpretation of the Force. The Sorcerers of Tund asserted that the omnipresence of the Force, or "the Unity," reveals the illusion of dualities and multiplicity. Their cosmology posited that life is inherently harmonious and that the existence of true opposites is merely an illusion.

The sorcerers engaged with early Jedi, who initially viewed them as simply another Force sect, akin to the Jal Shey or Zeison Sha. However, following the Restoration—and Karnak Tetsu's reign of terror after the Great Sith War—the Jedi deemed the sorcerers' beliefs as absolute heresy. The sorcerers were hesitant to welcome outsiders, believing that only true Sith could comprehend their truth. On one occasion, however, they extended hospitality to the remaining Massassi and Kissai, descendants of outcasts much like themselves.

These descendants of the Kissai who sought refuge on Tund continued their existence for many centuries, until 5 BBY, when the Croke Rokur Gepta extracted all possible knowledge from the Sorcerers before exterminating them using the electromagnetic torpedo. The energies released by the torpedo resulted in the death of every living being on the planet.

Conversely, those Kissai who did not face exile but instead fled to Ziost after Adas's death were eventually enslaved and integrated into the Sith Empire following the arrival of Dark Jedi Exiles on Korriban in 6900 BBY. They believed Ajunta Pall to be a manifestation of Typhojem. Unlike the Massassi, who were transformed into soldiers for various Sith Lords, the Kissai within the Sith Empire were primarily stationed on Ziost as servants to other Sith Lords, with some individuals, such as Marka Ragnos and Naga Sadow, attaining high positions within the Empire due to their priestly status.

Following the conclusion of the Great Hyperspace War and the collapse of the Sith Empire, Kissai and Massassi were rarely encountered in Republic space. Should any members of these subspecies venture into Republic territory, most beings in the galaxy would struggle to identify them at first glance, despite their generally distinctive appearances.

Since the acceptance of the Kissai and Massassi into the Sorcerers of Tund after the Great Sith War, the Kissai have largely faded into obscurity, with only scattered reports of isolated villages of both Kissai and Massassi on Korriban and Tund, although there is no evidence to suggest that they, or any other members of the Sith species, have become extinct.

The Kissai were reliable and competent allies who preferred collaboration, making them effective aides and assistants. They were receptive to instruction and demonstrated adaptability in the face of adversity. While sharing the ruthlessness of the Massassi, the Kissai possessed greater intelligence and observational skills. Their rigid cultural norms dictated that they serve their masters diligently, a trait instilled in them by the Dark Jedi who initially enslaved them.