Almas was a planet within the Cularin system that had undergone terraforming. Dorumaa, its moon, was a captured satellite which also was terraformed.
A peculiar celestial body, Almas was a terrestrial planet in a molten state, located farther from its star than typical for planets of its kind, resulting in minimal sunlight. Despite possessing a scorching core, Almas exhibited limited geological activity, evidenced by only two small mountain ranges. The atmosphere of the planet was initially composed of toxic gases such as methane and phosphorus, until Darth Rivan, a Sith Lord, with intentions of settling there, cultivated kaluthin grass to facilitate atmospheric transformation. Almas lacked surface water, but subterranean lakes existed, serving as a source for the kaluthin and later for wells constructed by settlers. The kaluthin proved successful, thriving for centuries in Almas's underground water sources. The leaves of the kaluthin exhibited phosphorus deposits that emitted a subtle glow. This gave the planet a distinct "aura" when the kaluthin covered the surface.
As time passed, the kaluthin spread across the planet, resulting in an atmosphere with a high concentration of oxygen. Nevertheless, the presence of trace amounts of phosphorus and methane could still pose harm to individuals spending prolonged periods outdoors without a breath mask. The plant's extensive root system, penetrating kilometers deep, also drew heat from the planet's core, contributing to surface warming. Furthermore, the purple-green grass imparted a characteristic aural glow to the planet, primarily due to the phosphorus it absorbed. This vibrant growth was curiously opposed by the dark-side energy present on the planet, originating from the desert region and gradually spreading. The Jedi determined the spread to be at a rate of one meter annually.
Before 1250 BBY, Darth Rivan constructed his Sith fortress on Almas. The fortress was situated on the desert side of the planet. Its construction was motivated by the desire to harness dark-side energy from the Force-rich Cularin system. Darth Rivan sought to establish a cadre of Sith battlelords there, but his apprentice betrayed him before he could accomplish this goal.
After residing there for several decades, Darth Rivan was ousted by the Jedi Knights during the New Sith Wars in the Battle of Almas. While parts of the fortress suffered destruction, its core remained resilient against blaster fire. The Jedi departed the planet, disregarding the remnants of the structure.
Even in Rivan's absence, the kaluthin continued to thrive, preventing Almas from becoming a viable mining location. It proliferated everywhere except near the Sith fortress, with its roots reaching deep into the ground. The limited mineral content of the planet did not justify the added expense of removing the kaluthin from potential mining sites. Instead, the planet evolved into a gardenlike environment, in stark contrast to its previous state, except in the vicinity of the Sith Fortress, where life could not flourish. The kaluthin also processed phosphorus, generating a glow that illuminated the planet from its surface rather than from the atmosphere.
After Reidi Artom rediscovered the system in 232 BBY, two Jedi, Master Qornah and his Padawan Kibh Jeen, journeyed to Almas to investigate Rivan's fortress. The Sith fortress corrupted Jeen, leading him to murder his master, seize control of the pirates in the asteroid belt, and initiate the Dark Jedi Conflict (188–181 BBY). Following the Conflict, a Jedi school was established, which later became the Almas Academy, under the leadership of Jedi Master Nerra Ziveri, and subsequently his former apprentice, Master Lanius Qel-Bertuk.
The town of Forard developed around the Academy. The Academy and Forard were constructed directly on the kaluthin, seemingly without any adverse effects on the plant. A Forard research station was also located near the town, dedicated to analyzing potential kaluthin transplants to other planets.
Almas stood alone as the only planet in the system not occupied by clone troopers during the Clone Wars.
Around 19 BBY, the Dark Jedi Garth Ezzar launched an attack on Almas and destroyed the Almas Academy, resulting in the deaths of most of the Jedi stationed there.
In the months following the Clone Wars, agents of Bail Prestor Organa infiltrated the ruined temple of the Almas Academy and discovered it was infested with dark-side spirits. They successfully retrieved a holocron through which Jedi Master Denia acquired Farseeing techniques, enabling her to identify the Nazren. The ruins and the surrounding area also served as a habitat for the Dark Lizards of the Sith, a species of Hssiss dragon thoroughly imbued with the dark side of the Force.
During the Galactic Civil War, the Rebel Alliance established a base on Almas, situated near the ruins of the Jedi Academy. Rumors of Alliance activity in the area reached the Galactic Empire, prompting Admiral Firmus Piett to dispatch a team of Imperial agents to Almas for investigation. Shortly after their arrival, the stormtrooper platoon assigned to protect them disappeared. The agents soon located the Rebel base, only to find it abandoned. It was concealed beneath dense foliage, and the Rebels had constructed barricades to defend against attacks from Dark Lizards, Believers and t'salaks. Subsequently, a rescue party sent by the Alliance arrived, assuming that the Imperials were responsible for the disappearance of their comrades at the base.
Time measurement on Almas and elsewhere in the Cularin system was based on the "After Artom" system.