Duel on Kuar

"I'm offering you a chance to deal with me simply, with one stroke of your vaunted lightsaber. Meet me on my own world&hellip;on the plains of Harkul, where you and I will battle to the death."

- Mandalore the Indomitable, to Ulic Qel-Droma

The Battle of Kuar occurred during the Great Sith War, in the months following the alliance between Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma. Attempting to begin a new crusade in 3,996 BBY, the Mandalorian clans commanded by Mandalore the Indomitable believed that they would be able to gain control over the Empress Teta system while the Krath forces' attention was focused elsewhere.

Using several small raids to test the strength of the Krath, Mandalore eventually caught the attention of Ulic Qel-Droma by destroying an important carbonite smelting station in the Empress Teta system. Wanting to crush the threat that the Mandalorians presented as soon as possible, Qel-Droma agreed to a challenge of one-on-one combat extended by Mandalore. The battle, he explained, would be fought between Qel-Droma and himself, and the victor would receive full command over their foes' forces, as well as the seven worlds of Empress Teta. Qel-Droma managed to best Mandalore during the course of the fight, but refused to kill his defeated enemy. Having experienced the fighting ability of Mandalore firsthand, Qel-Droma believed that Mandalore was of more use to him alive. Seeing that his reputation had been preserved, Mandalore pledged his life, honor, and troops to Qel-Droma's cause.

Prelude
"He wants the seven worlds of Teta. He wants to conquer. I believe he feels a burning need even he doesn't understand."

- Aleema Keto, speaking to Ulic Qel-Droma of Mandalore the Indomitable



Following the Second Battle of Empress Teta, where Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar Kun were anointed Sith Lords, the two warlords made a plan through which they would expand their forces in an effort to eventually topple the Galactic Republic and destroy the Jedi Order. Part of the plan was for Qel-Droma to begin asserting his control, by using his Krath armies, into the systems neighboring Empress Teta. With the Krath military attempting to fulfill their commander's orders, the seven worlds of Empress Teta appeared to be overstretched by their campaigns. This, however, did not cause Qel-Droma or Aleema Keto any concern, for they believed that no enemy, other than perhaps a joint Republic-Jedi force, could threaten them. Nonetheless, their overconfidence in their own power allowed for another, less likely, enemy to attack them&mdash;the Mandalorians.

The Mandalorians were a warrior society whose beliefs were firmly ingrained with their sense of honor. Attempting to gain both territory and honor by attacking the seven worlds of Empress Teta, the Mandalorian leader, Mandalore the Indomitable, led his soldiers on several raids inside of Krath space. Eventually, these raids managed to attract the personal attention of Ulic Qel-Droma, following a raid on an important carbonite smelting station under Krath control. Believing that he did not have time to deal with mercenaries the likes of the Mandalorians, Qel-Droma contacted Mandalore and demanded he and his armies surrender immediately. Mandalore, however, refused Qel-Droma's demands, choosing instead to challenge Qel-Droma to a one-on-one fight that would decide the fate of the seven worlds of Empress Teta. Qel-Droma agreed to Mandalore's demand for a fight, but also offered up his own terms should he win the fight&mdash;if he could defeat Mandalore, then the Mandalorian clans would pledge their allegiance to him, and thus fight under his war standards. Not wanting his honor to be tarnished, Mandalore agreed to Qel-Droma's terms.

The battle
"Your defeat is at hand, Jedi!"

- Mandalore the Indomitable

As part of Mandalore's terms, both he and Qel-Droma, and their respective armies, were to meet on the Deep Core world of Kuar, on the Plains of Harkul. Believing that he could stunt Qel-Droma's use of the Force, Mandalore waited until before the fight to advise the Sith that the duel would not take place on the ground&mdash;instead, it would take place far above the plains of Harkul on a network of linked chains. Likewise, Mandalore advised those listening that to even the odds against a Jedi, Mandalore would be allowed to use his customized Basilisk war droid, while Qel-Droma would not be allowed any type of mount.



The duel began with Mandalore attacking Qel-Droma from above, using the advantage afforded to him by his Basilisk mount. Qel-Droma, however, was able to use his lightsaber and Force abilities to destroy Mandalore's mount, thus forcing the Mandalorian chieftain to fight hand-to-hand. Realizing that Qel-Droma still held an advantage over him by being allowed the use of his lightsaber, Mandalore challenged Qel-Droma to put away his lightsaber and fight with the traditional bladed weapon of the Mandalorian forefathers. Believing that he could defeat Mandalore regardless of the weapon he used, Qel-Droma accepted the Mandarlorian weapon. The fight continued until, ultimately, Qel-Droma was able to knock Mandalore off of the chain linking, thus defeating the Mandalorian leader. Realizing that he was defeated, Mandalore asked Qel-Droma to kill him, thus putting a proper end to the fight.

Aftermath
"I am not interested in your death, Mandalore. I have a better fate in mind for you. A much better fate."

- Ulic Qel-Droma, to Mandalore

Qel-Droma, however, had a different plan for the defeated chieftain&mdash;realizing that he would need a trustworthy and combat-capable lieutenant to lead his newly acquired Mandalorian soldiers, Qel-Droma advised Mandalore that he would act as his personal warlord. Thus, with the Mandalorian armies under his command, Qel-Droma began preparations to further his and Kun's plans for galactic domination.

Behind the scenes
The Battle of Kuar first appeared in the issue The Sith War 1: Edge of the Whirlwind of the Tales of the Jedi series of comics. The battle was conceived and written by author Kevin J. Anderson, and was drawn by artist Dario Carrasco, Jr. Anderson used the comic Edge of the Whirlwind, along with the Battle of Kuar, to re-introduce the Mandalorian clans to the Star Wars universe.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War 1: Edge of the Whirlwind