Church of the Dark Side The Church of the Dark Side was a charade - religion made by the Imperial Intelligence in mockery of the Prophets of the Dark Side . History . Just prior to the Battle of Endor , a rift occurred in the ranks of the Secret Order of the Emperor , the collective body the members of which held the title Prophets of the Dark Side . Some of the Prophets sided with Supreme Prophet Kadann , who warned of potential catastrophe at the upcoming Battle ; some joined Emperor Palpatine in rejecting Kadann ' s warnings . Kadann ' s followers withdrew to Bosthirda , whereas defectors such as Lord Cronal , Sariss , and Merili remained with the Empire . After the Battle of Endor , Imperial Intelligence , under the direction of the Emperor ' s Hand " Blackhole " ( alter ego of the former Prophet Cronal ) , formed a propaganda machine known as the Church of the Dark Side . The Church was sanctioned on Imperial Center as the official Imperial religion by acting - Emperor Sate Pestage and secretly patronized by the resurrected Emperor in hiding on Byss . The Church established branches throughout the galaxy . Former Prophets such as Cronal , Sariss , and Merili claimed devotion to the quasi - religion , using it as a means to manipulate converted trade barons and military officers , such as Grand Admirals Ishin - Il - Raz and Peccati Syn . Ultimately , the purpose of the Church was to sow dissension amongst the various rival Imperial Remnant warlords , preventing any one individual from rising to power over the entire Empire , thus ensuring that , when the time came , the Imperial throne would remain empty and waiting for the return of Palpatine . The Church even included a supposed " holy place " , Scardia Station , where a number of Imperial Intelligence agents , none really Force - sensitive , publicly posed as the Prophets of the Dark Side . These false Prophets included impersonators of Kadann , Jedgar , and Gornash , individuals hiding on Bosthirda at this time . These Prophets were sponsored by Sate Pestage , himself ordered to be murdered at the instigation of Intelligence Director Ysanne Isard . Although the Church was started by Imperial Intelligence , the false Prophets refused to support Isard as legitimate Empress . They declared the rightful heir of Palpatine would wield the Glove of Darth Vader , and the apparent fulfiller of this prophecy was the mutant Trioculus , a slavemaster backed by the Central Committee of Grand Moffs , which claimed he was the son of Palpatine . Isard ' s claim to the Imperial throne , despite her hold on Imperial Center , was rejected by many warlords , who instead were persuaded by the false Prophets to swear allegiance to Trioculus , whose capital was the city of Kessendra on Kessel . The false Prophets continually labored to manipulate events so that their own prophecies would come true . The " prophecies " of the pseudo - Kadann , gathered by the pseudo - Jedgar in the holy book " Secrets of the Dark Side " , failed one after another , however , and they ended up at odds with both the Grand Moffs and the warlords . Their phony claims about Trioculus ' heritage were exposed as lies when the existence of Palpatine ' s true son , Triclops , was revealed . At last , the imitator of Supreme Prophet Kadann attempted to take over Imperial Center , but Ysanne Isard successfully defended the planet . His attempt largely failed because of lack of support from the warlords , many of whom held grudges against him - - for the most part , actual grudges against the true Prophet the con man was imitating . The success of pseudo - Kadann ' s imitation was his downfall . He deceived Grand Admiral Afsheen Makati into thinking he was the real Kadann , whom Makati hated . Using intelligence given him by Azrakel , who also sought to gain revenge on the real Kadann , Makati brought every ship at his disposal to destroy Scardia Station , killing the impostor . As for other prominent members of the Church , Sariss met a violent end , while Merili faded into obscurity , and Cronal , the original Blackhole , was destroyed , with Sate Pestage taking over the role of Blackhole . In addition , the Church of the Dark Side had secretly been manipulated by Palpatine ( who had been revived after his death at Endor ) , with one of their decrees , pertaining to the Glove , actually being leaked to them specifically so Palpatine could use Vader ' s glove to restore his Force abilities . Following the destruction of Byss , the Church of the Dark Side presumably ceased to exist .