Darth Malak is hailed by Star Wars fans as a formidable Sith Lord who dominated the tumultuous era of the Jedi Civil War. Born as Alek on the war-torn planet Quelii, his transformation from a promising Jedi Knight to a dark and ominous figure is an unfortunate tale of wasted potential. In those early days, Malak's Jedi prowess inspired awe in all who witnessed it. His bond with another promising Jedi, Revan, bloomed into an inseparable friendship, promising greatness. But destiny, as it often does, had other plans for the two young Jedi.
The enthralling saga of Darth Malak unfolds within the captivating realm of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR), a video game that takes players back thousands of years before the iconic events of the original Star Wars trilogy. In this lore, Malak's rise as a Sith Lord paints a vivid picture of how darkness can seduce even the most promising of souls.
Revan's Apprentice
Once hailed as Jedi prodigies, Alek, who later took on the fearsome moniker of Darth Malak, and his close companion Revan, charted a remarkable course as influential leaders during the Mandalorian Wars. Their martial brilliance and audacity earned admiration from an unexpected observer: the Sith Emperor Darth Vitiate himself. Recognizing their strength and ambition, the Sith Emperor deftly manipulated events, enticing the two friends to uncover a hidden Sith empire in the mysterious Unknown Regions.
The Sith's dark teachings proved alluring, and the promise of unmatched power to vanquish the Mandalorian threat and impose their vision of galactic peace swayed Malak and Revan. Succumbing to the Emperor's manipulations, they pledged themselves to the Sith cause, assuming the title of Darth, signifying their new status as Sith Lords. Bound by their shared destiny, Darth Malak and Darth Revan led the Sith forces, thrusting the galaxy into the harrowing depths of the Jedi Civil War. The Dark Side's relentless grasp now held them firmly, shaping their fate as powerful figures of dread.
Yet, even within the Sith ranks, tensions arose between Malak and Revan, culminating in a bitter lightsaber duel. Revan's strike forever altered Malak's appearance, forcing him to don a metal prosthesis to replace his lost jaw. Despite this physical disfigurement, Malak's determination remained unyielding, and his voice, now tinged with a gruff electronic tone, echoed his unwavering commitment to the dark path.
Mandalorian Wars
Around four thousand years prior to the iconic Star Wars trilogy, the Mandalorian Wars erupted. The Mandalorians, a fierce and conqueror-driven society, sought to dominate the galaxy, pushing the Galactic Republic to its limits. Amidst the chaos, Revan and Malak emerged as pivotal figures in shaping the war's trajectory. However, it was also this conflict that would eventually tempt them both to the Dark Side.
The Jedi Knight duo defied the Jedi Council's non-intervention stance. United with like-minded Jedi, they resolved to defend the Republic at any cost. Under their guidance, the Jedi faction turned the tide of the war in the Republic's favor, but the prolonged conflict and the allure of the dark side began to corrode their principles. Driven by the pursuit of victory, they resorted to ruthless tactics and teetered dangerously close to embracing the Dark Side of the Force.
A pivotal moment arose when they encountered the Sith Emperor, who cunningly manipulated their vulnerabilities. Convinced that the path to triumph lay in the Dark Side's power, they broke away from the Jedi Council and encountered the Sith Empire hidden in the Unknown Regions. The Emperor claimed them as apprentices, and thus, Revan and Malak embraced their new identities as Darth Revan and Darth Malak, becoming Sith Lords. Returning with a formidable Sith fleet, they initiated the devastating Jedi Civil War against the very Republic they once vowed to protect.
Emperor Vitiate
Revan and Malak stumbled upon the Sith's involvement in the War while exploring the frozen world of Rekkiad. Inside Dramath's tomb, they unearthed a datacron containing crucial information about Emperor Vitiate’s dark past. Determined to investigate further, they ventured into the Unknown Regions, concealing their identities as mercenaries. Their months-long covert mission revealed the Emperor's sinister plans to invade the Republic.
In a risky move to thwart the Emperor's schemes, Revan and Malak sought entry into the Citadel with the aid of a seemingly cooperative member of the Imperial Guard. However, the Emperor's grip on the Guard proved unyielding, leading the Jedi into a treacherous trap. Despite their formidable wills, the Emperor's power overcame them, turning them into his pawns. Under his command, they set the stage for the Sith invasion, igniting the Jedi Civil War.
Yet, the Emperor underestimated the strength of Revan and Malak's minds. Though corrupted, the two Jedi managed to suppress their memories of him, granting them a degree of freedom from his control. When the Emperor failed to receive any communication from them, he assumed they had failed, returning to his original plans of patiently amassing power for a decisive invasion.
Revan, cunning and strategic, strategically preserved key Republic infrastructure on several planets, laying the groundwork for his own plan to confront the hidden faction led by the mysterious Emperor. However, Malak's betrayal shattered Revan's vision as his former ally claimed the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith, leaving a trail of destruction in pursuit of his ambitions. In the ensuing conflict, Revan's redemption at the hands of the Jedi Council put an end to the potential Sith vanguard, culminating in a fateful confrontation with his once-faithful apprentice, Malak. The epic saga drew to a close as Revan, now back on the path of the light, confronted and defeated his wayward disciple, marking the end of Malak's dark reign and the restoration of balance to the Force.
Legacy
Even after his duel with Revan, Darth Malak's legacy persisted. Years later, Jedi General Meetra Surik discovered the lost tomb of Sith Lord Ludo Kressh on Korriban. During her exploration, she encountered visions of Malak's past, witnessing how he lured several Jedi to the dark side. Despite the apparitions' attack, Surik emerged victorious. Revan, however, never returned from the Unknown Regions. Captured by the True Sith Empire, he remained absent for centuries. The Sith Empire eventually launched an attack on the Republic, sparking a prolonged war that lasted for decades.
Malak's image appeared in holographic records, studied by a Jedi archivist named Gnost-Dural. The records investigated Malak and Revan's significance to the Sith Emperor's forces, who had besieged the galaxy during Gnost-Dural's time. Additionally, a collection of Darth Malak's writings, known as the Morrigan Scrolls, survived after his death, holding valuable Sith knowledge and tactics from the Jedi Civil War.
Despite his earlier deeds as a Jedi Knight, Malak's heinous atrocities overshadowed any good he had done in Star Wars history. While Revan is revered as a brilliant hero for his tactical prowess, Malak will forever be known as a traitor who left the galaxy in disarray.