Before becoming the infamous Darth Sidious, Palpatine was just another figure in the vast galaxy, seemingly unremarkable.
However, his hidden potential caught the eye of Darth Plagueis, who saw in him the makings of a true Sith Lord.
Through rigorous and brutal training, Plagueis transformed Palpatine into one of the most dangerous Sith in history, destined to reshape the galaxy.
I’m excited to share that I’ve found a full audio version of the novel on YouTube. If you’d like to listen to the entire book, I’ll include the video link below for you.
Here is how Plagueis broke Palpatine from an ordinary person into a Sith Lord.
Table of Contents
Initiation into the Dark Side: The First Steps
Palpatine’s descent into the dark side started with a horrifying act of rage, the murder of his entire family.
The action was the catalyst that convinced Darth Plagueis to initiate Palpatine’s formal training as a Sith Lord.
After covering up the massacre, Plagueis took his new apprentice to Mygeeto, a planet notorious for its harsh, unforgiving climate.
This was Palpatine’s first test: to survive in the bitter cold with only a thin enviro-suit for protection.
Plagueis aimed to teach Palpatine the fundamental differences between the Sith and the Jedi, not just in their beliefs but in their approach to the Force.
While the Jedi sought peace and balance, the Sith thrived in adversity and discomfort.
Plagueis made Sidious endure the freezing temperatures, driving home the lesson that the dark side was a tool for survival—a means to dominate and control the elements.
This experience was not merely about physical endurance; it was a crucial lesson in embracing the dark side as a source of power, especially when faced with life-threatening situations.
Pushing Beyond Physical Limits: The Mountain Climb
Among the grueling trials Sidious faced was the challenge of climbing a sheer mountain slope on Mygeeto using only his bare hands.
Deprived of food, water, and sleep, he was forced to ascend while Plagueis observed from a comfortable perch above.
Each time Sidious fell and sustained injuries, he was made to start over.
As Sidious struggled, Plagueis taunted him, fueling his anger and teaching him about the Sith Rule of Two—the philosophy that there can only be one master and one apprentice.
Consumed by rage and growing hatred for his master, Sidious began to grasp that survival wasn’t just about physical strength but about channeling the dark side to sustain himself.
When he finally reached the summit, he was so overwhelmed with hatred that he attempted to attack Plagueis, only to be effortlessly repelled.
The Torture and the Lesson of Pain
The next stage of Sidious’s training was pure agony.
Plagueis subjected him to relentless physical and mental torment in the freezing tundra of Mygeeto.
Sidious endured constant, searing attacks from Plagueis’s lightsaber, designed not to kill but to inflict unbearable pain, pushing him to the very edge of collapse.
Plagueis taught that this suffering was vital for a Sith apprentice.
Unlike Jedi younglings, who were nurtured and protected, Sith apprentices were shaped by pain and adversity.
Plagueis wanted Sidious to become deeply acquainted with pain, to not just endure it but to draw strength from it.
This was a core tenet of Sith philosophy, the belief that true power comes from overcoming suffering and that the dark side is fueled by pain and anger.
As Sidious crawled through the harsh tundra, barely clinging to life, he was forced to confront his weaknesses.
The privileges of his former life were now useless. The only path to survival was to fully embrace the dark side, to let go of any remaining compassion or remorse.
The Hunt: Embracing the Predator Within
One of the most bizarre aspects of Sidious’s training occurred on the low-gravity world of Buoyant, where Plagueis and Sidious engaged in a primal hunt.
Armed with vibroblades, the two Sith Lords chased down a herd of animals, covered in blood from previous kills.
This was more than just a physical exercise; it was a ritualistic embodiment of the Sith’s predatory nature.
Plagueis taught Sidious how to use the dark side to dominate the minds of his prey, to draw them in and snuff out their lives with ease.