Conclave at Deneba

"The Jedi are disturbed at how quickly Satal and Aleema have mastered the Sith powers. They've called an assembly of all the Jedi in the galaxy. We're on our way to Deneba."

- Nomi Sunrider

The Conclave on Deneba was a Jedi convocation during the Krath Holy Crusade of the Great Sith War, held on the planet Deneba in 3,997 BBY. The gathering of Jedi was called in response to the growing threat of the dark side that was previously thought to have been eliminated on Onderon. Nearly ten-thousand in number, the Jedi gathered in an amphitheater in the valley at the foot of Deneba's Mount Meru.

Trouble in Empress Teta


Jedi Master Arca Jeth, with his team of Jedi Knights, had recently emancipated the planet of Onderon of the dark side in what was known as the Freedon Nadd Uprising. In doing so, the Jedi believed that the dark side had been eradicated, but this was not the case. The sector of the galaxy known as the Empress Teta system had recently suffered a violent political uprising, staged by the heirs to the thrones of Empress Teta no less, Satal and Aleema Keto. The Ketos were also the leaders of the Krath, a recently established and secret society of Sith magicians. To solidify their rule over Empress Teta, they staged an assault on Koros Major, the last of the Tetan worlds to resist the coup.

Master Arca was suspicious that the unrest in Empress Teta was somehow connected to the uprising on Onderon, and so he and his Knights accepted guardianship of the Tetan sector. Again the Jedi waged war, this time on the Krath, with intentions of restoring peace in the Tetan star system. But when the Krath unleashed their newly acquired Sith powers, the joint Republic-Jedi effort was bewildered, and defeated. Because of how briskly the Krath managed to spread the dark side across the galaxy, the leaders of the Jedi Order became increasingly concerned that an ancient prophecy was on the verge of coming to pass. The result was something that had not happened in hundreds of years: a gathered assembly of all Jedi was to be called.

Arrival on Deneba


Because the dark side played an integral part in the Krath's rise to power, the Jedi Masters decided to meet and discuss whether the situation warranted a renewed war effort. Nearly every Jedi in the entire galaxy descended upon Deneba, some ten thousand in total. Among the first to arrive was Master Arca and the freshly injured Ulic Qel-Droma, Nomi Sunrider along with her daughter Vima, and Master Thon. Nomi and Ulic were recently returned from a failed relief mission to Empress Teta where in an attempt to drive the Republic Navy out of Tetan space, real Krath chaos fighters began making suicide attack runs in the midst of illusory ones. Ulic was injured during the assault, and the Republic fleet was forced to retreat and rethink their battle strategy.

His arm in a sling, Ulic Qel-Droma seemed distant while his fellow Jedi marvelled at the sight of so many of their Order gathered in one place. Nomi, being concerned for Ulic's lingering condition, suggested the use of a service droid to assist him to the Mount. Meanwhile, Masters Thon and Arca of Arkania discussed the growing darkness around the apprentice of one of their closest colleagues. Just then the group caught up with Ulic's brother, Cay Qel-Droma. Cay, who was concerned for his brother's well being after the battle at Koros Major, was relieved to see him doing fine and too suggested the assistance of a droid, since so many of them seemed to be around. Ulic refused their aid as he recounted the glorious moments of the battle, while Nomi presented a more matter-of-fact account of the events. She was more concerned with Ulic's war-wound, and how it still refused to heal, when Master Arca approached them. He explained that ancient Jedi holocrons tell stories of how in the past the Sith were able to twist nature, to the point of preventing the natural healing of wounds. But the conclave was about to begin, and so the Jedi took their places in the amphitheater.

Message to the masses
"Greetings, fellow Jedi. I am Odan-Urr, spokesman for the Council. Many of you have travelled a great distance, but it was necessary, for our need is great. It seems that an old prophecy is about to be fulfilled. The Dark Lords of the Sith, may rise again."

- Odan-Urr



The convocation of Jedi gathered in a massive hollowed valley at the center of Mount Meru. In the center of the mountain, was a great stage. Recognized as one of the oldest and wisest of the Jedi, the Draethos Jedi Master Odan-Urr sat on that stage, and acting as the spokesman for the Council, Odan-Urr was also chosen to preside over the convention. Just as the convocation was beginning, Master Arca warned Ulic and the others about the Draethos; humanoids that use telepathy as their natural form of speach, but before he could, their minds were filled with the voice of Odan-Urr. Though unnerved, the Jedi listened intently as Odan-Urr recounted the prophecy of the return of the Dark Lords, and also of the catastrophe at Empress Teta. The question he posed was whether the Jedi should send a mightier force to deal with the dark side threat, just as was done with Onderon. It was at this time Ulic Qel-Droma approached the stage.

Ulic's plan


Ulic was recognized by the Draethos Jedi, and through him Ulic's words were telepathically delivered into the minds of the attendees. He began by discussing the past events, and how the wrong approach was taken in respect to dealing with the Krath. Ulic felt that the Jedi were mistaken, that overwhelming military strength would never completely eliminate the dark side. He believed that even if the dark side was defeated in Tetan space, there was nothing preventing it from taking root elsewhere in the galaxy and spreading again. Qel-Droma's history was in question to his comrades; he just returned from a defeat, and the were unsure if he was capable of leading them to any sort of victory. This is when he unfurled his true plan: not one of direct confrontation, but infiltration. Ulic Qel-Droma was proposing that a Jedi be chosen to effectively become a double-agent, feigning allegiance to the Krath, while secretly plotting to destroy them.

The Jedi were appalled. Many of them, including Master Arca, warned Ulic against such foolishness saying that the only way to defeat the dark side was to face down the dark side. Knights Shoaneb Culu and Dace Diath, who fought with Ulic on Onderon, also spoke against his plan. the aged Master Shayoto spoke of the dangers of attempting to destroy the dark side from within. Master Arca agreed with Shayoto, and warned Ulic that he could not destroy the dark side entirely, but merely contain it as Master Thon had done on the planet of Ambria. Master Arca continued, stated that even though the Jedi could never hope to destroy the dark side, through their combined efforts they could create a wall of light to drive the dark side away.

The shadow of Freedon Nadd
"Vodo’s in great torment these days&hellip;one of his students left him to seek forbidden knowledge. No good will come of it, I’m sure."

- Arca Jeth speaking to Master Thon in regards to Exar Kun



Only a very small number of Jedi were not in attendance, though many arrived late as the distance they travelled was also great. One of those tardy was Master Vodo-Siosk Baas. Master Vodo was in terrible dismay; his greatest student Exar Kun left in search of dark side things, and this worried Vodo tremendously. He knew that Exar Kun would be swept up in the dark times that were coming. Vodo was looking for Master Arca, and as he advanced on he came across the Qel-Droma brothers, who pointed the Krevaaki Jedi in the direction of Master Arca. Greeting each other, the two Jedi Masters walked abreast discussing Exar Kun, and his fascination with the dark side. Suddenly, there was a call through the Force. Both Vodo and Arca felt it, and Vodo instantly recognized it as his fallen apprentice Exar Kun. Unknown to Master Vodo, Exar been tricked by the dark spirit of Freedon Nadd. At Arca's behest, Vodo reached out with the Force and meditated around his student. When Nadd's spirit realized that Exar Kun was receiving outside assistance, he set his attention on Vodo, and lashed out at him through the Force. Vodo was knocked back, and his connection to Exar Kun was lost. Knowing there was nothing else he could do for his student, Vodo and the other Jedi took their places in the arena as the convocation began.

Krath ambush


"I thought there was something wrong with these droids!"

- Cay Qel-Droma

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith
 * ''Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith (audio)
 * Champions of the Force

Notes and References


Konklawe na Denebie