As you walk through the swampy jungle to the South, you enter the ancient ruins of the Dark Temple. Abandoned and forgotten, the temple has slowly succumbed to the erosion of time. Before you lies the central chamber—the walls have crumbled, the ceiling caved in, and the jungle now flourishes within the once pristine halls.

Green light filters itself through the temple, mixing eerily with the dark, violet hue of Dromund Kaas' sky. Lightning flickers overhead, the raw energy of the Force clashing high above. The floor is overgrown with flora, large plants and grasses that have swallowed the old stone. Wild creatures roam freely, skittering away from your presence, but your heightened senses can feel the brush of vicious predators, hiding just out of sight.

The main hall is lined on both sides by towering statues, heads bowed in supplication. They stand in deference to the sculpture of a pureblooded Sith, which towers over the chamber with outstretched arms. The sculpture has been split diagonally down the middle, as if cleaved in two by a rusted blade, but you can still feel the majesty in the stone.

On either side of the main hall, remnants of branches to inaccessible parts of the temple remain. Ignoring those, your head tilts to take in what is left of the mezzanine—the balcony overlooking the chamber—still held aloft by the great pillars standing behind the statues. Several of the pillars have fallen, providing a pathway up to the mezzanine for those willing to take the risk for higher ground.

You can feel the danger of the temple. Sense the spirits of the Sith that still haunt the grounds, waiting for poor, misguided fools to walk blindly into their domain. Now, they have two souls to consume… that is, if you and your opponent don't destroy each other first.

Samael stared in awe at the ancient stone, the structure rippled with vines and roots by nature retaking what was rightfully hers. Darkness oozed from the stone, giving the Krath a strange sense of peace when he basked in its glory. The shadows of the crumbling temple bathed him in their embrace, and the Umbaran felt comfortable in them. He could sense a beacon of light, an oddity amongst the evil that once took place within, and its presence piqued his curiosity.

He slithered amongst the inky shadows, creeping between crags of stone and gnarled roots until he came across his prize. An old Jedi, at least that is what the Krath perceived him to be. He reeked of a bygone age, a relic in a time that no longer needed his dogmatic ways. Samael tried to scan the Consular’s mind but was met with a wall. This, too, gave a large flare to the Umbaran’s curiosity. The attempt at reading the mind of the Jedi alerted him to the dark presence that watched him, the Cleric searching the shadows but finding nothing.

“Whatcha doing here?” said Samael loud enough for Liam to hear.

Liam didn’t answer at first, hoping his slow reaction to the voice would force its user to reveal itself. Samael, however, was more patient than that. A smile seemed to flash in the eyes of the Jedi who nodded at the voice.

“Someone was spotted fleeing my quarters earlier in the month. The only thing they had taken was a medium sized leather pouch gifted to me by a friend. It means very much to me and I would like it returned.” said Liam.

“Odd place to come, wouldn’t you say? How do you know this thief is here?” asked Samael.

“There was a tracking device in one of the items in the bag.” replied Liam, “There’s no need for bloodshed, stranger. Give me the bag and we can both go on our way.”

“I knew I should have just taken the holocron.” cursed Samael under his breath, “Fine.”
From the shadows came forth Samael, holding the bag that Liam requested.

“T-That is just the bag.” said Liam, “There is nothing in here.”

“You just asked for the bag. It had sentimental value, I kept the other stuff. Think of it as a reward for returning your bag.” said Samael, who turned and began to walk back into the shadows.

“Let me amend my earlier statement. Return the contents of the bag, as well as the bag, and we can both go on our way.” Liam punctuated this sentence with grabbing his lightsabers. He didn’t like violence, but something about the decayed visage of the Krath told him his new acquaintance may not be the type to talk things out.

“The holocron is mine, old man. Accept your losses and move on.” said Samael, taking his saber out and rubbing his thumb along its eye. Knowing the Jedi would not back down, Samael began to chuckle. “You Jedi always surprise me. Granny always told me stories of the Noble Jedi and their trials to destroy the Dark Sith. It made me laugh when I joined the ranks of the Krath and began working with the Sith. She told me how the Jedi would garner and hoard relics of the Dark Side to prevent their use from others. Maybe I’m trying to make my own stash of forbidden knowledge, Jedi. Maybe you don’t deserve the teachings of Tur’el Sokar as much as I.”

“You accessed the holocron?” snapped Liam, the outburst surprising Samael.

“I’ve had it for over a week, of course I have. It is far too interesting to let go.”

With those finals words, Samael lunged backward and disappeared into the shadows, the darkness washing over his form and leaving the Jedi alone. Liam could still feel Samael, his presence slithering inside his mind and gnawing at his eyes. The Cleric began hearing the sounds of nails clawing against stone and teeth gnawing on bone, seeing the decayed face of the Krath at every turn.

“If you can find me, you can have the holocron...well, after you earn it.” said the Krath, his laugh booming in the head of the Jedi.