History
Vassan RokirShortly after the Third Great Jedi War, House Qel-Droma initiated an internal conflict to, essentially, "cull the herd" for those worthy to hold a place as the most valuable and honored of the Krath in the House. The conflict was long and arduous, with the two Krath Phyles (Prophecy and Dark Orb) fighting to become the favored denizens of the recently constructed House Qel-Droma Temple.
For over a month in the beginning of 20 ABY, one year after The Split, tyro fought tyro amid the stone hallways and jungle surrounding of the temple, all in an effort to impress their superiors, and themselves, of who was most worthy. When the haze of battle cleared, the results were indeed very, very close. But a winner was chosen, and that winner was the Dark Orb. Designed by Vassan Rokir, Aedile of Qel-Droma, who had also designed the Qel-Droma Temple itself, the monument rested near the entrance to the temple, displayed prominently for all who come and go. The base of the monument was carved from a block of solid, black rock mined from the nearby mountains. The plaque read "Dark Orb," the letters made from the durable golden glitterstone and set into a base of wrought durasteel. The base also housed a repulsor lift field generator, which leads to the rest of the design.
In 30 ABY, two years after the Dajorra System was conquered, Clan Arcona’s forces returned and retook the system. The Qel-Droma Temple, which had been located on Arconae Primus, was found to be completely destroyed. Forced to quickly relocate House Qel-Droma, Quaestor Legorii led the Dark Jedi into the tunnels that had been excavated in years past by spice miners.
The resistance movement on Arconae Primus had located its headquarters in a large cavern, already sparsely furnished by a small cult that had operated secretly in the tunnels before the resistance movement had found them. Declaring it the new Temple, the Qel-Dromans immediately began to spruce it up with intact monuments that had survived the destruction, restoring many of the functions of the former Temple.
Level one: Entrance
The formerly guarded gates of the Qel-Droman Temple now are broken open. The once sealed entrance is now silent of the sentries who once stood vigilant and proud against the building. The stonework has grown dark over time and vegetation grows along its cracks and bumps, ivy splitting the crack further and causing further entropy. A monument to the disbanded [Dark Orb] stands as a testament to the once proud Battleteam. It is rusted and weathered, various shades of mold and lichen forming a crust on its tarnished surface.
The interior of the temple entrance has fared better, having been protected from the harsh elements of nature that are known rage outside the temple cracked walls. The obsidian columns that bear the legacy of Qel-Droma's Quaestors still stands tall and, although no longer being illuminated by the many braziers that once lined the hallways. As one makes their way further into the structure the feeling of true emptiness is palpable, having no Dark Jedi roaming the halls and many of the conference rooms. The second floor has been stripped of what little furnishing was held within.
Level two: Main Hall
The true extent of the absence of life in the temple halls shows as you enter the corridor that leads down from the first level and into the labyrinth of level two. Dust permeates the air and covers the remainder of discarded junk and decorations, fluttering about the air as the building settles into its decay. Almost all rooms have been stripped of what furnishings, having been moved to some undisclosed location, for the time being, hopeful of the time when the temple is once more put back to use.
Darkness leads the way into the barracks of Prophecy Phyle. The barracks lay empty, its walls cracking and giving way to the vines which have crept into the room from the outside. The Aedile’s quarters nearby are in the same state of decay and disuse. On the same level, the guest quarters have fared poorly, time having taken its toll on the furnishings that were left simply forgotten. They have all but crumbled and broken into little more than scraps of wood and cloth. The once fragrant smelling rooms have now taken on a fouler scent of mold and mildew.
Lastly, the Quaestors quarters of the second floor has been largely untouched by other than dust and air. All that is left in the office is a lone table that has long since warped and bent. The room’s once lavish decorations having been taken away with its former occupant. Much of the Temple’s belongings that held any value were recovered and are
either being stored or hoarded by the greedy or protective.
Level three: Library And Training Rooms
Entering into the third level, the first thing one finds is the training rooms that once housed and trained the members of Prophecy Phyle. Its wooden floors and sparring mats have near to dissolved, having crumbled and cracked from the moist air. Puddles gather under thick cracks where water has worn down the stone and made its way inside. The medical wings that once bustled with life and fears of death now lies still and silent. The equipment was either taken for use or destroyed to discourage scavengers. Any weapons that once were housed in the training rooms and gun range have long since been taken away and were probably the first things to be removed from the temple when it was abandoned.Further into the temple lays the once great library, empty bookcases littering the room with broken boards and scattered scraps of paper. The stench of rot is prevalent in the as the wood long since begun it decomposing.
But there is something else here as well, unlike the rest of the temple, the Dark Side of the Force has gathered in this area. Most likely due to the Sith tomes and dark secrets once housed here. Not to mention the many deaths that occurred, many journeymen having met their end in the once great hall of knowledge.
Level four: Power Generators
The last level of the Temple is the power room. Not much has changed over time in the largely metallic complex that holds the generators. The enormous doors still stand to this day. Where they once stood closed they are now left bent open. Behind the steps that lead into the room still remain, untouched and smooth. The machines which once powered the entire Qel-Droman Temple have long since been shut down and scraped for parts where they could not be wholly moved from their positions.
Pools of water and algae have formed and grown large down in this cavern. Once, maintenance crews and builders made consistent repairs to the walls and structure, but now there is no one to prevent the extensive damage from expanding. Broken lights frequently drip water from where illumination was once cast. Only shadows, dust, and seething darkness now call the Temple their home.