Dathomir Magic

Progression of Life on Dathomir: a Brief History

The Jedi Knights reigned as the protectors of order for over a thousand generations.  Although the Jedi Order's practice of self-policing their ranks was very effective, it was not unknown for certain Knights to fall prey to the seductions of the Dark Side of the Force.
the most effective method for dealing with fallen Jedi was exile; the fallen Jedi was banished to an uninhabited world.  Such was the case with the Jedi known only as "Allya."
Allya was exiled to Dathomir, which had served as a prison in function for several generations.  When she arrived, Allya found that the prisoners, once great warriors and hunters, had become the hunted, providing an easy meal for the great beasts that roamed the planet.
Using her innate talent with the Force, Allya tamed the creatures loosely clasified as rancors.  Those prisoners that followed her lead were guaranteed safety.  Those who rebelled against her rule became fodder for the rancors.  Simply put, most of the prisoners fell into line, and Allya had a throng of willing slaves at her disposal.

Over the following years, Allya took many of her slaves as husbands.  Though she selected her husbands carefully, she allowed the slave to decide for themselves whether or not to marry her.  She outlined her requirements for marriage carefully.  Those that produced daughters would be lavished with gifts and power over the other slaves.  Those that yielded sons were served to the rancors.  It was a risky proposition, but Allya made certain that the reward was worth the risk.
Allya's sons were raised by other slaves, to become slaves themselves.  In turn, she raised each of her daughters herself, teaching each one to feel the Force around them, to control it and to obey it.
It was not until her granddaughters were born that she saw the error of her ways.  Using her great influence over ther children, Allya spent the rest of her days instructing her daughters in the ways of the Light Side.
On her deathbed, Allya admonished her daughters to follow the Book of Law, a tome of moral and ethical regulations Allya devised to make certain her offspring would never fall as she did.
Allya's final entry into the Book of Law was spoken in her last breath:  "Never concede to evil."

The Rise of the Witch Clans

After Allya's passing, there was a short struggle for power between the eldest daughters.  Before the conflict turned violent, it was decided that it was time for the immense family to break away from one another.  Each of the original daughters left the group, taking their extended families with them.
The generations that have passed since the time of Allya have had their toll on the ancient teachings of the Force.  The way of the Jedi has been replaced by a more primitive school.  The Force-users of Dathomir (who refer to themselves as "witches") use a variety of chanting, singing, dancing, and written words to access the Force.  Allya has become more of a figurehead to be worshipped than an infinitely removed grandmother.
Each clan began to grow, the sisters studying the "magic" of Allya and the man-slaves hunting for food, tending to the children and obeying the Witches.  Throughout this time each clan developed their own versions of Allya's magic, known now as "Allyan Magic."  The effects of these "spells" were primarily the same as Jedi powers, though the means by which each spell is cast differs from one clan to another.
This also changed the Book of Law a great deal.  Each clan holds a version of the Book.  Though they all contain the original teachings of Allya, each Book has been added to over time by each clan.  They all speak of similar lessons, but with different methods of attaining goals.
Generations passed and each clan continued to grow in numbers and in power.  Though territorial arguments sometimes broke out, the clans usually managed to keep their control and work things out without violence.  It was not until an immense ship, called Chu'unthor, crash-landed on Dathomir that violence was introduced to the Witch clans.
Female, male, and alien Witches came out of the Chu'unthor's ashes.  The sudden wave of pure energy that overtook the planet greatly disturbed the simple Witches of the planet.  In reaction, the Witch clans united and attacked the newcomers.  When news of this action reached Republic space, a group of Jedi were assigned to rescue the surviving acolytes.  Eventually the two sides gave up their battle, once again returning to their peaceful ways.

The Nightsisters

 Many of Dathomirs clan sisters broke with the teachings of the Book of Law.  These Witches were cast into the wilderness - an ironic reflection of Allya's exile - to atone for their wrongdoing.  After a period of three years, an offending Witch was allowed to petition for acceptance back into the clan, at which point the clans council would hold a hearing.  The Clan Mother had final say, but most clans accepted the suggestions of their sisters.
For many generations, outcast clan sisters would spend their exile alone, reaching deep inside themselves to cleanse the dark cloud within, hoping to one day return to their clan.  One such Witch, Gethzerion, never atoned for her cruelty; instead she reveled in evil.  During her time in exile, Gethzerion spent the years honing her shadowy craft.  She discovered that she was able to cast spells without the aid of chanting and other mroe primitive rituals.  Gethzerion used the newfound knowledge to gather the other outcasts.  While the clans looked on, Gethzerion used her "Shadow Magic" to form the Nightsisters.
Gethzerion and her clan of nightsisters quickly took over the Imperial prison that held the Empire's rogue scientists and designers.  using their Shadow Magic, the Nightsisters made the Imperials their slaves.  Those that resisted were promptly destroyed.
The growing "dark energy" emanating from Dathomir did not go unnoticed.  Emperor Palpatine felt the nightsisters' presence and realized that if they were to escape Dathomir, they could become a threat to his power.  he closed off all contact to the world, using atmospheric bombardments to destroy any space-going vessels on the planet and effectively stranding the people on Dathomir (whether Witch or Imperial).

The Book of Shadows

Gethzerion taught her pupils that the ancient text, the Book of Law, was created by Allya after she had become old and weak.  That Allya's power had always been of her own ends, and that when she began to lose control of senses, she fell into a world of self-pity and despair.  A place no self-respecting Witch would allow herself to stumble into.
Gethzerion began to compile her own tome of learning.  She created spells for her Nightsisters, and would make them practice their chants and songs until they were hoarse.  Only a very few of their kind were allowed to assist in the writing of the Book of Shadows.

Differences Between Dathomir Witches and the Jedi

Though very similar in most respects, there are subtle differences between the way Jedi use their powers and the Witches of Dathomir cast spells.  Not the least of which is that, while the Jedi access their powers predominantly through meditation, the Witches of Dathomir sing and chant to focus concentration on harnessing their talents.
The most glaring difference between the way of the Jedi and the teachings of the Witch clans is the way in which each is learned and executed.  While the Jedi possess the Force attributes (Control, Sense, and Alter) before they are able to use Force powers, the Dathomir Witches have a separate rank for each spell they know.
Not unlike the Jedi, Dathomir Witches must have a mentor to teach them their abilities.  The mentor can be for as long as it takes to learn one specific spell, or can impart seeral different spells to one initiate.  The big difference between the Dathomir mentor and the Jedi Master is that the Jedi Master is more powerful than their apprentice while the Dathomir mentor could be someone who has only just learned that spell they are about to teach.

Allyan Magic vs Shadow Magic

 Though some Dathomir spells are inherently evil, none of the spells cast by Witches have the ill effect of automatically gaining the caster Dark Side Points.  If a Witch casts a "gray area" spell in the defense of herself or others, or in some appropriately heroic manner, no Dark Side Points are given.  Likewise, a Nightsister may be able to twist a naturally heroic spell in such a way as to require that Dark Side Points are "awarded."