The comic book sub-series titled Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — The Golden Age of the Sith is a part of the larger Tales of the Jedi comic series. Its initial release spanned from July 31 of 1996 until February 12 of 1997. Later, it was brought together as a trade paperback on August 6 of 1997.
The narrative focuses on the events that precede the Great Hyperspace War and also the climactic battle within the Unification Wars of the Koros system.
The Old Republic's history has passed into legend. It tells of the daring explorations undertaken by the young Gav and Jori Daragon, which resulted in the collision of two galactic empires. It also tells of how Odan-Urr rose to become a formidable Jedi, and how the seven worlds comprising the Koros system were ultimately united under the wise and capable leadership of Empress Teta.
The story we are about to tell takes place five thousand years before the birth of Luke Skywalker and the downfall of Palpatine's Empire.
In the year 5000 BBY, Odan-Urr dedicates himself to studying the history of the exiled Dark Jedi who evolved into the Sith Lords. His master, Ooroo, then dispatches him to the Koros system. His mission is to aid Empress Teta in her fight during the Unification Wars and to bring unity to the seven worlds within the system. Upon his arrival on Cinnagar, he uses battle meditation, a technique from his studies, to conquer the last planet, Kirrek. Even with this technique, casualties occur, including two blockade runners, Hok and Timar Daragon. After their parents' death, Gav and Jori Daragon recover their ship, the Starbreaker 12, from Aarrba the Hutt. He had been holding it as collateral.
Using the ship, Gav and Jori become explorers of hyperspace. However, their most recent route proves challenging, and they barely survive. They return to Cinnagar to find their ship severely damaged. Aarrba the Hutt agrees to repair the ship, but demands full payment before returning it.
Ssk Kahorr dispatches a drone-ship along the route discovered by Gav and Jori, but it is destroyed when it gets too close to Primus Goluud, a red supergiant. Ssk Kahorr is displeased and sends a pair of bounty hunters after the hyperspace explorers. However, Odan-Urr and Memit Nadill, two Jedi, rescue them. They advise Gav and Jori to leave the Koros system for their safety. Gav and Jori then steal back the Starbreaker 12 and flee the system using random hyperspace coordinates.
On Korriban, a planet located on the far side of the galaxy, a funeral takes place for Marka Ragnos, the Dark Lord of the Sith. Ludo Kressh leads the procession, but Naga Sadow arrives just as the tomb is about to be sealed. A conflict arises between the two rivals over who will be the next Dark Lord, but Marka Ragnos' ghost intervenes, warning them of future events.
Meanwhile, Odan-Urr in the Koros system has a premonition regarding the evil Jedi who were banished centuries ago. He informs Empress Teta about his visions, and she pledges to address the matter at the Galactic Senate on Coruscant.
Back on Korriban, the Starbreaker 12 arrives, and the Sith capture Gav and Jori.
On Ziost, the capital of the Sith Empire, the Sith Lords deliberate on the fate of the prisoners. After a lengthy discussion, they decide to execute Gav and Jori. However, Naga Sadow, seeing an opportunity to expand the Sith Empire, refuses to give up. He sends a Massassi warrior to retrieve the weapons from the ship, planning to capture the prisoners and use them to re-establish contact with the Republic.
Sadow, along with his loyal Massassi warriors, frees the Daragons. To conceal his identity from the other Sith Lords, he slaughters everyone in his path, including his old mentor Simus. He leaves a Republic blaster behind, intending to make it appear as though the Republic launched an attack.
Gav and Jori are sent to his fortress on Khar Shian, and Sadow returns to Ziost, where a critical meeting is underway among the Sith Lords. The other Sith are unsure of what to do next, and Sadow seizes the opportunity to declare himself the new Dark Lord of the Sith. The other Sith Lords, with the exception of Ludo Kressh and his followers, endorse this plan. Sadow immediately orders the others to prepare their ships and warriors for a pre-emptive strike against the Republic before they can prepare for war.
Empress Teta and her Jedi advisors arrive at Coruscant, where she speaks to the Senate about Odan-Urr's premonition, but her warnings are dismissed. Undeterred, Teta resolves to prepare her own forces to confront the impending Sith threat.
In his hidden fortress on Khar Shian's dark side, Naga Sadow trains Gav Daragon in the ways of the Sith. He dispatches his Massassi warriors to retrieve the Starbreaker 12 from Ziost. Sadow then travels to his decoy fortress on Khar Delba, where Jori Daragon is held. On Ziost, Sadow's loyal Massassi steal the Starbreaker 12, leaving evidence of their Master's involvement. Ludo Kressh discovers this evidence and, along with his supporters, Horak-mul and Dor Gal-ram, prepares to attack Sadow's fortress on Khar Delba. Meanwhile, the Starbreaker 12 arrives there.
Ludo Kressh's forces arrive at Khar Delba and begin firing on Naga Sadow's seemingly defenseless fortress. Sadow persuades Jori Daragon to return to the Republic before the fortress is destroyed. Despite her reluctance to leave her brother, she agrees. After the Starbreaker 12 jumps into hyperspace, Sadow calls in his fleet, which he had hidden on the dark side of Khar Shian. Furthermore, Massassi warriors on the ships of Horak-mul and Dol Gal-ram kill the other Sith Lords and turn their fire on Ludo Kressh's ships, forcing him to retreat. Following this victory, Naga Sadow prepares his forces to invade the Galactic Republic, using the tracing beacon hidden on the Starbreaker 12.
- Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi — The Golden Age of the Sith TPB
- Star Wars Omnibus: Tales of the Jedi Volume 1
- Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Tales of the Jedi Vol. 2
- Star Wars Legends: Tales of the Jedi Omnibus