Although both Darth Sidious and Tyranus had there own fair share of pawns, perhaps these two were there most famous. Both Darth Maul and General Grievous played important but ultimately forgotten roles in Galactic history: Maul reviled the existence of the Sith for the first time in thousands of years, and Grievous lead the Separatist army to countless victories, leaving destroyed worlds in his wake. However, what would happen if history shifted ever so slightly and there roles were reversed? Lets see, shall we?
When Mother Talzin is killed by a Jedi strike team, Sidious is left without a prospective means of acquiring an apprentice. However, when a group of Republic delegates lead by Sheev Palpatine was sent to the war torn world of Kalee, Sidious discovered an orphaned Kaleesh with a strong conection to the Force. Snatching the young child right out from under the noses of the Jedi, Sidious began raising the Kaleesh, now dubbed Darth Grievous, as his personal assassin. Eventually, when the Sith's plans on Naboo go awry thanks to Jedi intervention, Sidious finally decides it is time to revile the Sith Orders existence. To this end, he send Darth Grievous to Naboo, which quickly turns the tide in favor of the Sith's plotting: Although he ultimately fails to secure a total victory, Grievous does manage to escape, killing a young Obi-wan Kenobi in the process. Despite the Jedi now being aware of his existence (With Qui-gon Jinn and Anakin in particular gunning for revenge) Darth Grievous managed to avoid capture for the next ten years, although he did decide to build a cybernetic exoskeleton, which he began to favor for use in combat. Eventually, he was assigned to protect Ex-Jedi Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatist movement. However, Sidious's treatment of Dooku convinces Grievous that the Dark Lord plans to eventually betray him. Before Grievous can put any serious effort into overthrowing Sidious, he becomes involved in the opening battle of the Clone Wars on Geonosis, where he has the misfortune of running into Mace Windu. Although the Sith apprentice if finally killed, Darth Grievous is not the last pawn to be played by the Sith.
After Mother Talzin's death, her youngest son is captured by a rival Nightsister clan on Dathomir. This, however, turns about to be a big mistake on there side. Growing up a slave, Maul's anger, and by extinction his Dark Side powers, were fostered from a young age. Finally, the young Zabrak begins a revolution, taking over the Nightsister clan and beginning a power base on the normally female dominated society. Taking on the name "Maul", he continued to attack and conquer Nightsister clans. Slowly but surely subjugating the entire planet. However, this bid for power was cut short when his actions brought him to the attention of Darth Grievous. Tricking the powerful Maul into a meting with the leaders of Black Sun to discus hiring the Nightsisters, Grievous engineered an accident that cost Maul his legs. Replacing the lower half of the heavily wounded Zabrak, Grievous managed to convince Maul to join the separatist cause, although he secretly planned to use Maul against Sidious. After Grievous's death on Geonosis, Maul become the servant of Count Dooku, being given command of the Separatists droid army. Over the course of the next three years, Maul proved himself to be a capable leader, securing many victories for the Confederacy and personally killing dozens of Jedi. Due to these actions, Maul was brought into conflict multiple times with the Jedi Master Qui-gon Jinn, the two matching wits and blades on more than one occasion. Eventually, the Penultimate, for both the Clone Wars and Maul, would arrive. After Count Dooku was killed in a botched attempt to invade Coruscant, Maul was placed in complete command of the Separatists. Before he could make any significant changes however, Maul was tracked down by Qui-gon Jinn for a final confrontation with the Jedi master. After a lengthy duel, the Zabrak general was felled by the Jedi, putting an end to his reign of terror.
Now of course, this is not the end of the story. Palpatine has not been reviled as the Sith Lord, the Clone Wars has not been ended and even under Qui-gon's instruction, Anakin still struggles with the Dark Side. However, this is not a story of a Galaxy, or even just the Jedi and Sith. This is the story of only two beings. Tools fordged by fire to be used against the Jedi. Raised in death and treachery, used by there Masters, filled with hate and a desire for revenge. Maul and Grievous, regardless of what Universe they come from, are more alike then they would probably like to admit and they both were as much victims of Palpatine's scheming as anyone else. Mere pawns of the Sith.
When Mother Talzin is killed by a Jedi strike team, Sidious is left without a prospective means of acquiring an apprentice. However, when a group of Republic delegates lead by Sheev Palpatine was sent to the war torn world of Kalee, Sidious discovered an orphaned Kaleesh with a strong conection to the Force. Snatching the young child right out from under the noses of the Jedi, Sidious began raising the Kaleesh, now dubbed Darth Grievous, as his personal assassin. Eventually, when the Sith's plans on Naboo go awry thanks to Jedi intervention, Sidious finally decides it is time to revile the Sith Orders existence. To this end, he send Darth Grievous to Naboo, which quickly turns the tide in favor of the Sith's plotting: Although he ultimately fails to secure a total victory, Grievous does manage to escape, killing a young Obi-wan Kenobi in the process. Despite the Jedi now being aware of his existence (With Qui-gon Jinn and Anakin in particular gunning for revenge) Darth Grievous managed to avoid capture for the next ten years, although he did decide to build a cybernetic exoskeleton, which he began to favor for use in combat. Eventually, he was assigned to protect Ex-Jedi Count Dooku, the leader of the Separatist movement. However, Sidious's treatment of Dooku convinces Grievous that the Dark Lord plans to eventually betray him. Before Grievous can put any serious effort into overthrowing Sidious, he becomes involved in the opening battle of the Clone Wars on Geonosis, where he has the misfortune of running into Mace Windu. Although the Sith apprentice if finally killed, Darth Grievous is not the last pawn to be played by the Sith.
After Mother Talzin's death, her youngest son is captured by a rival Nightsister clan on Dathomir. This, however, turns about to be a big mistake on there side. Growing up a slave, Maul's anger, and by extinction his Dark Side powers, were fostered from a young age. Finally, the young Zabrak begins a revolution, taking over the Nightsister clan and beginning a power base on the normally female dominated society. Taking on the name "Maul", he continued to attack and conquer Nightsister clans. Slowly but surely subjugating the entire planet. However, this bid for power was cut short when his actions brought him to the attention of Darth Grievous. Tricking the powerful Maul into a meting with the leaders of Black Sun to discus hiring the Nightsisters, Grievous engineered an accident that cost Maul his legs. Replacing the lower half of the heavily wounded Zabrak, Grievous managed to convince Maul to join the separatist cause, although he secretly planned to use Maul against Sidious. After Grievous's death on Geonosis, Maul become the servant of Count Dooku, being given command of the Separatists droid army. Over the course of the next three years, Maul proved himself to be a capable leader, securing many victories for the Confederacy and personally killing dozens of Jedi. Due to these actions, Maul was brought into conflict multiple times with the Jedi Master Qui-gon Jinn, the two matching wits and blades on more than one occasion. Eventually, the Penultimate, for both the Clone Wars and Maul, would arrive. After Count Dooku was killed in a botched attempt to invade Coruscant, Maul was placed in complete command of the Separatists. Before he could make any significant changes however, Maul was tracked down by Qui-gon Jinn for a final confrontation with the Jedi master. After a lengthy duel, the Zabrak general was felled by the Jedi, putting an end to his reign of terror.
Now of course, this is not the end of the story. Palpatine has not been reviled as the Sith Lord, the Clone Wars has not been ended and even under Qui-gon's instruction, Anakin still struggles with the Dark Side. However, this is not a story of a Galaxy, or even just the Jedi and Sith. This is the story of only two beings. Tools fordged by fire to be used against the Jedi. Raised in death and treachery, used by there Masters, filled with hate and a desire for revenge. Maul and Grievous, regardless of what Universe they come from, are more alike then they would probably like to admit and they both were as much victims of Palpatine's scheming as anyone else. Mere pawns of the Sith.
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