Apr 17
Since I saw their dynamic I couldn't stop thinking about this:
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Since I saw their dynamic I couldn't stop thinking about this:
It's interesting how much Sidious' betrayal of Maul is a matter of perspective
Like I'm not trying to defend Sidious here, but from the way Maul (and the Maul stans) talk about it, you'd think Sidious intended all along to get rid of Maul, that it was all a plan, that Sidious deliberately sent Maul to Naboo with the hope that he'd die, that Sidious backstabbed Maul or kicked him aside in Phantom Menace
He didn't, Maul's defeat and presumed death was not part of the plan, this was a genuine loss for Sidious, he was not counting on this, and speaking of presumed death, that's another important detail, Sidious really thought Maul was dead, he took Dooku on as his new apprentice under the very reasonable assumption that Maul was truly dead and gone, this wasn't a case of "you failed me so I'm replacing you with someone better", this was "my best agent is dead (as far as I or anyone else is aware) and I need someone who can pick up the slack", and based off the fact that Sidious did take the time to rescue and rebuild Vader despite the latter's horrific injuries, Sidious probably would have repaired Maul and kept him as his apprentice (until someone who was better came along) had Maul managed to make it back to Sidious quickly enough
Really it's only after Maul comes back, after Dooku has been Sidious' apprentice for 12 years, and the plan is in the final stages, nearing it's culmination, (and while Maul is working independently to undermine Sidious and has taken on his own apprentice, creating a violation of the rule of two and de facto starting a sith civil war) that Sidious outright declares to Maul "you are replaced, I no longer need you"
What's my point in all this? Well like I said, not trying to defend Sidious, I think this all says more about Maul than it does Sidious
Sith Apprentice dies (or seems to die)? Their Master finds a new one. That's standard procedure for the sith, even before the rule of two, Maul would have known this from sith history and the tutelage he received from Sidious
Maul almost seems to have this... expectation that Sidious and the sith's grand thousand year plan was going to wait for him, that it would have been put on hold for his sake, that he was special, important, an exception, or unique in the sith's grand design, that he was one of a kind among sith, better than all that came before, unmatched by any that would follow
In other words, a very typical sith belief in self importance, arrogant and egotistical in their view of themselves in the galaxy
Asajj Ventress - sith asassin, night sister and nounty hunter.
"I'm here..."
😔💔
Crazy to me that this of all things is what makes me type out a post when I have so many in drafts just waiting to be completed but hey. Gotta vent. Here goes.
Everyone was commenting in bad faith, in the comments and X is where intelligent discourse goes to perish, so taking this seriously (or as seriously as a "who would win" debate can allow):
This could go either way!
On the one hand, yes, Maul is the more skilled fighter.
Sure, technique-wise, Qimir is very skilled... but he fights like "a mean Jedi who cheats in a fight."
Maul-- *Darth Maul fights like a Sith Lord. He's been trained the old fashioned Sith way from a very early age.
From a narrative POV too, this tracks.
Qimir's master is Plagueis, essentially a Sith whose interest and focus is in science and the occult. He taught Sidious just enough for the latter to master the seven forms, then went back to his research.
Sidious, on the other hand, was a political animal who NEEDED a more fighting-savvy apprentice to do the dirty work in the shadows, and thus molded Maul to be such a weapon.
And you see this too in how either fighter maintains control of a duel.
I'd rank Sol and Qui-Gon at a comparable level.
We see that when Sol gets either angry OR focused, Qimir finds himself at a disadvantage and begins to falter, either retreating or drastically changing tactics. Qimir loses both those fights.
Compare with how Maul handled Qui-Gon in either of those states. He lets Qui-Gon rush at him, then resorts to dirty tricks when Qui-Gon is in a more defensive state. That's how a Sith does it. That's why Maul wins.
HOWEVER! Maul has a flaw that he never, ever outgrows.
In a situation where he's superior, he gets arrogant. He gets cocky. He takes his sweet time to gloat and do the flips and whirl the saber and taunt his prey.
It's why Obi-Wan almost always beats him. It's why Ahsoka, an inferior fighter, beats him too. It's why he didn't see Sidious coming.
Like a true Sith, Maul's overconfidence is his weakness.
You know who doesn't have that weakness?
The guy who does have Jedi training. Who put in the work and already outgrew his own ego and arrogance.
Friggin' Qimir.
Who is seen pulling off no-bullshit kill after no-bullshit kill. Screw the pageantry, screw a clean win.
Padawan breaks his mask? Stabbed in the heart.
Jedi attacks him by surprise? Breaks his neck.
Multiple Jedi attack him? Trakata moves left and right until they're all dead.
So Qimir is a more calculating and focused fighter.
Which means that what a duel between the two comes down to is external circumstances. Their levels aren't so distant that Maul would blitz the Stranger, this would be a long duel.
That said, Qimir is more likely to die in the heat of battle.
But if Maul merely wounds him? Then 9 times out of 10 he'll hang around and gloat, which is something Qimir would capitalize on to deliver a killing blow.
Procrastination over, venting complete.
How the tables turn. Now, Maul is the tall one. Anddddd-
Couldn't leave out his apprentice Dani (my friend @honeybeeglory 's oc).
Credit to @shyranno for the Maul base. It's so cutieful and I love the way you draw him sm. Thank yew for sharing.<333
The devil’s apprentice ❤️🔥
I’m so excited to finally share first sith apprentice!Ahsoka piece from my AU. I worked sooo hard on her design and I’m really happy with how she turned out!!! I tried to match her outfit’s color palette with Obi-Wan’s cuz they are supposed to be the most stylish sith duo in the galaxy 😎
You can also take a look at my sith!Obi-Wan design post
"And just what do you think you will do with this 'saber, little jedi?"