Emperor Shadow
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Who are The Watchers?Author's Note:
This glimpse provides explanation and reference to Life of Empress Saber and possible revelations into other works.
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Field Notes (Spoken aloud): Who are The Watchers?
Doctor Tadla Falan, Chief Scientist,
Byss
I’ve tracked his movements unnoticed for several weeks now. At least, I hope unnoticed. We’ve made several short hyperspace bursts and as far as I can tell, we’re visiting every major Core World. Why? What is so important that his benefactors are pouring incredible amounts of credits to keep secret? I can surmise that this boy, Jeridan Shesh, is indeed an Initiate of the Watcher Society.
But who are the Watchers?
This is a question that has taken nearly a lifetime to answer. Upon assuming my mother’s research, I dedicated part of my life to answering what my mother could not. Are they really all-powerful? Why don’t more people know about them? Where are they? Do its members live forever? My mother managed to answer one of these questions.
Her own research had taken her to the underbelly of Nar Shadda. She was tracking an arms merchant named Fyl Jaebran, a suspected Junior level Watcher with ties to influential Senators. A transaction took place between Jaebran and a cloaked figure who my mother believed was Miraluka. The Miraluka killed the merchant and simply left his body. My mother concluded failure within the organization was not tolerated.
The Watchers, I have gathered, are hierarchical, ruled by a central figure known as His Excellency. If anyone ever hears this, I’m sure they’ll wonder how I know so much. I simply made it my business to know. Anyway, His Excellency, or Eminence in some cases, leads through a series of Senior Members, who give orders to Junior Members and Initiates. Senior Members reside in the Centre- the headquarters per se- or discreet locations all over the galaxy monitoring children on the Ledger. I’m not sure if all Senior members know the identity of each other.
The Ledger is a quite unfathomable concept unto itself. Every child of privilege or a certain bloodline is automatically written into a massive databank in the Centre. On the child’s sixteenth birthday, they are informed if they have been selected among thousands of potential candidates. The Watchers adapt to include child genius or political figures such as queens of Naboo, or freedom fighters on Melida/Daan.
In what limited Watcher lore my mother compiled, she arrived at the conclusion that on the good graces of the Senior Watchers, an adult or someone past Notification Age, may be included in the society.
How long does it take to become a Junior Watcher? My mother surmised the Watchers have been about longer than the Jedi Order itself, and that some of the first Jedi were dissidents from the Watchers, taking their knowledge of rites and rituals with them. And so it goes. If it is true, nothing can happen in the galaxy without first being planed by the Watchers.
The Rite of Self-Actualization involved the recruiting Senior Watcher helping the Initiate realize the significance of their name to their identity. This can be done years or even minutes before the next Rite begins.
The Rite of Vision requires a different Senior Watcher test the survival skills and problem-solving abilities of the Initiate.
The Rite of Temptation is when an Initiate is promised the power and prestige of the recruiting Senior member if the Initiate can kill the Senior. I would imagine the only thing the society prizes more than loyalty is ambition.
The Rite of Stealth may be a month-long expedition to the far corners of the universe in search of something or someone to benefit the Watchers.
There are of course other Rites that come with the next level of advancement. What is the inner-makeup of the Watchers like? Do they have more intricate ranks? Or is everyone at each level equal apart from their mysterious leader? I don’t know. There are so many questions that I don’t feel qualified to answer.
The only link I have to this organization may be flying a hundred kilicks in front of me. A boy, no more than eighteen, with white blonde hair and a Sith protector. I cannot lose young Jeridan Shesh. If his path leads him to Kroprulu, how long will I have to wait before approaching him about the secrets of the Watchers?
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Personal Journal (Spoken aloud): In Response to “Who are The Watchers?”
Tuna’aa Dark, Senior Administrative Watcher,
The Centre
It is people like young Doctor Falan who come closest to prying our society from the jaws of secrecy, though that will never happen. Since no word can be uttered in this universe without the Watchers knowing it, it is no small surprised that I came about learning of Falan’s theories. How she and her mother have come so close to identifying our organization is unnerving, but there is historical precedent for this situation.
The night on Nar Shadda, I should have been more cautious. It was an error in judgment, certainly, but nothing than cannot be repaired with time. Doctor Falan must be made to forget what she has seen. Dude must be made to keep an evermore oppressive grip on her actions and drive her fleeing into the arms of her case study. Shadow- Shesh- will provide the necessary smokescreen to keep her silent.
The Sith and the Watchers have always had close ties. Falan was right; the first Jedi did splinter from our graces. And in response, we created the Sith. A galactic game has been in play ever since, and only we know the rules. The power of the Force is a dangerous and inspiring weapon, but true power is over the mind of the user.
Falan supposed we had four Rites to becoming a Junior Watcher. There are actually hundreds of requirements that must be achieved, sometimes taking years. There are some Senior Watchers who get so close to their charges, that they are on a first-name basis and still do not know the origins of their protector, mentor or friend. In this time, the potential is realized and one failure leads to death.
The secrecy of the Watchers must be preserved if we are to keep control over the galaxy. Everything hinges on the next generation.
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