Can the rule of two be bent?

[Jaepheth]

I was wondering, if the Emperor and Darth Vader decided that it'd be nice to have a bunch of force-using assistance. Could they train up force-users without training them in the ways of the sith?

Sort of like training them in some sort of Bushido/warrior code so that they're loyal to the Emperor, but also train them in the ways of the force so they could be as effective as jedi knights?

Or would simply training them to use the force open them to influences which would invariably guide them into future conflict with the Emperor and/or Vader?

[Petrosjko]

They can and did. Mara Jade is a prime example. During the Clone Wars, Dooku had a bunch of Jedi lackies as well.

[Ghost Rider]

Actually the interesting thought is that while Vader and Palpatine bent the rule of two...they had won for all intents and purposes, thus no point to be secret.

Also the rule was for Sith, just having the Force or being a former Jedi turned dark, a Sith does not make one.

[Illuminatus Primus]

The rule only ever met two officially trained and recognized Sith; Sith are suggested to have used dark Jedi and other Force sensitive underlings even before Sidious.

I suppose a Sith Master would have the right to "amend" the rules of the Sith Order from Lord Bane's original to include other Sith.

However, Lord Vader trained Lady Lumiya when he was just Sith Apprentice, and did so behind Palpatine's back. Lady Lumiya amounts to a supernumary bastard Sith. She is not part of Bane's order, in any case.

[Spartan]

Even as far back as the Sith Empire there was really only one master. They were all called lords of sith, but their was only one "Lord". The same thing applies after the Jedi Purge.

[Vympel]

Dooku's Jedi lackeys were not "Sith Lords". They were mere Dark Jedi. RotS novelization- it takes more than a red lightsabre and being evil to be a Sith.