|
The Force has two aspects, one light and one dark. The dark side lurks in the shadows, whispering to Force-users, tempting them with quick and easy access to power. While seemingly stronger, the dark side is only easier. It consists of the destructive impulses of all living beings. Anger, fear, hatred, and aggression are expressions of the dark side, and such emotions can quickly lead a Force-user down the dark side's corrupting path. Early on in her training, a Force-user finds that the dark side greatly enhances her abilities. After a time, the dark side fails to respond as quickly, and it demands more and more of those in its embrace.
Unlike the Light Side of the Force, which embraces the whole, the entire focus of the Dark Side is the self. The appeal of the Dark Side is its very destructiveness and its isolation. Those who seek power for selfish reasons ind comfort in its narcissistic gaze. The Dark Side emphasizes aggrandizement of self to the exclusion of others.
The natural order encompasses balance. Day and night, life and death, light and dark-each pair represents a different kind of balance. As a part of the natural order, the Force follows the same rules. The light side embodies peace, knowledge, and serenity. The dark side encompasses fear, anger, and aggression.
Evil is not always easy to recognize. An innocent act may ultimately result in great suffering. An act of revenge may save the lives of millions of people. The pure at heart can lash out in anger. Evil may lurk beneath a mask of virtue. Whether an act is evil or not often boils down to a question of motivation, and motivations can be hard to identify.
There are four stages that Force-users experience when stepping onto the dark path: Temptation, imperilment, submission, and atonement or redemption. Every Force-user eventually goes through at least one stage of the dark side in his efforts to become one with the Force.
While the Force makes a powerful ally - and the dark side a vicious one - no dark side devotee relies entirely on the Force alone. Arms, armor, transports, poisons, and even droids can be tainted in some fashion by the power of the dark side, lending a wicked edge to the abilities of anyone trained in their use. Dark Side Creatures
Some areas, like some beings, are strong in the dark side. They resonate with corrupt energy. These places emanate evil and darkness, creating cold spots in the Force that disturb those who draw upon the dark side, these spots serve as wells of power that can sometimes be tapped for greater effect. |
