Star Wars: The Acolyte - Secret Power of the Sith Assassin
The newest Star Wars book, The Acolyte, set in the High Republic era, has unveiled an intriguing new character: Mae, a Sith assassin with a lethal Force power. Emperor Palpatine also used this ability—which lets her hide her presence in the Force from Jedi—which begs issues regarding its frequency among the Sith.
Mae shows in the second Acolyte episode using this ability to enter the Jedi Temple on Olega. Her mastery of this ability—which was vital for Palpatine's effectiveness in keeping hidden while operating inside the Jedi Order itself—is demonstrated by her ability to maneuver undetectably among the Jedi. The Jedi's sense of the Force would have rapidly revealed the darkness of Palpatine, so this capacity was crucial for his strategic control. This begs the issue: Among the Sith, how often did this talent exist?
Was this common Sith power?
Though there aren't many, if any, particular references in canon (or even Star Wars Legends) of other Sith using this Force strength, this does not indicate that this is an impossibility of a conclusion. Following the Jedi-Sith War, the Sith had to hide for thousands of years; even now, she followed Darth Bane's Rule of Two to keep herself under cover until just the appropriate moment. Since secrecy was practically their survival, it makes sense to assume that this was a capability the Sith regularly possessed as well as knowledge of.
Although there isn't any concrete evidence of this, the facts most definitely support this view. First of all, Mae and Palpatine would have had to learn this Force capability somehow; hence, their masters most certainly already have the capacity to hide their presences inside the Force. The sheer fact the Sith were able to operate in secret for so long also contributes to this conclusion; the Jedi would have been able to find them if they lacked this skill, particularly during the High Republic period when the Jedi had outposts on several different worlds.
Mae's Force Power: A Possible Transformational Agent
Mae, the former Padawan of Jedi Master Sol, finds herself enmeshed in a dark secret that unexpectedly centers her in a struggle. Mae is a very lethal and elusive assassin since the second Acolyte episode shows her mastery at cloaking her presence in the Force. Her quiet motions and ability to hide her dark side presence make her a dangerous enemy to the Jedi. Further adding to the mystery and strength of this old order is the possibility that this capacity was more common among the Sith than first thought.
Mae's Force strength introduced by The Acolyte gives the Sith's past and mythology fresh level of mystery. With its capacity to hide Sith presence in the Force, this power could have had a major influence on the Jedi-Sith confrontations over eons. Knowing this strong approach, the Sith might have been able to enter Jedi ranks and control events from inside, therefore changing the path of history.
Maybe The Sith Have Been Undercovering In Plain Sight For Generations.
It's quite likely the Sith didn't have to hide themselves very much if this Force power was truly utilized by them during their millennium or so of alleged extinction. To go up close and scrutinize every and every defect of the Order over time, the Sith could have been functioning in plain sight, maybe even personally conversing with the Jedi. This would have let each master and student pass on their wisdom until Palpatine could gather it all and create his ideal strategy to bring the Sith back to power once more.
Given that the Sith's continuous downfall is an insatiable thirst for power, it is simple to assume they would have completely loved using this Force skill to confront their foes without their knowledge ever known. It would have given them authority over the Jedi, therefore feeding their hubris. Once Palpatine had this skill, they would have been able to close-manage the Jedi and advance the illusion of the Sith's annihilation until the ideal moment. Now exhibiting this in motion with Mae, The Acolyte fully circles out this bit of Star Wars history and mythology.
The Acolyte: An Other View on the Sith's Rising Profile
Set in the Star Wars world during the conclusion of the High Republic Era, the television series The Acolyte follows the Jedi and the Galactic Empire as they were most powerful. Investigating various crimes, this sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they uncover events all pointing to darkness bursting from beneath the surface and ready to bring about the death of the High Republic.
The Star Wars universe gains fresh dimension from the Acolyte's investigation of the history of the Sith and their part in The High Republic Era. Though the show takes place in a period of peace and wealth, evil seeds are already being sowed. With its emphasis on the Sith's covert entry and the truths hiding under the surface, the Acolyte's fascinating story promises to be a powerful and provocative contribution to the Star Wars universe.
