The Almas Academy, situated on the planet Almas, which deviated from typical Jedi training norms, was established in 177 BBY. The Almas Council served as its governing body.
The Jedi Order dispatched an investigative group in 188 BBY following the rediscovery of Almas and the remnants of Darth Rivan's Sith fortress in 232 BBY. Regrettably, Kibh Jeen, a member of the research team, succumbed to the dark side, initiating a seven-year period of widespread destruction throughout the system. This reign of terror concluded when the Jedi, in collaboration with local factions, eliminated their former ally.
A modest Jedi school was founded on Almas four years after the Dark Jedi Conflict, specifically to monitor the Sith fortress. As enrollment increased, the school evolved into a comprehensive Jedi academy, with Nerra Ziveri, a Twi'lek Jedi Master, appointed as its headmaster starting in 119 BBY. In 56 BBY, Lanius Qel-Bertuk, his former Padawan, took over the role.
This academy adopted an unconventional approach. It admitted older students, a practice that originated with the local Tarasin population. Eventually, adults were also accepted for Jedi training, although they underwent rigorous screening. The Almas Academy maintained a strict policy of not accepting applicants who had been previously rejected by another praxeum.
Due to its experimental nature, the Jedi Council on Coruscant closely monitored the Almas Academy. The Council annually approved the academy's student body, occasionally sent Jedi Knights to serve as instructors, and maintained a vigilant watch over the potentially hazardous situation posed by the Fortress. Ziveri, however, held the belief that proximity to the dark side provided the most conducive environment for its study, viewing the nearby Fortress as an advantage rather than a liability.
Given the Cularin system's relative isolation, the Academy attracted Jedi who excelled in practices of meditation and introspection.
The Tarasins, possessing their own distinct customs, expressed apprehension regarding their younger members studying far from their local tribes, or irstats, despite Ziveri's implementation of significant modifications to the study methodologies. Initially, they predicted that Tarasin Padawans would fail to graduate and that the "Jedi fad" would eventually fade away. However, when this did not occur, they made the decision to dispatch Mother Missira, a Force adept and Tarasin religious leader, to serve as the resident irstat leader on Almas. She ultimately assumed the role of the Academy's chef as well.
Sometime between 56 BBY and 32 BBY, Qel-Bertuk, then headmaster, acquired the droid E1-6RA to function as the Academy's administrator.
In 31 BBY, the Metatheran Cartel, a business conglomerate, engaged in illicit activities within Cularin, which were subsequently uncovered by local inhabitants. The Cartel attributed the crimes to a single manager, Velin Wir, and dispatched Thurm Loogg, a new envoy, to seek permission to maintain their presence on the planet. Barnab Chistor, the Governor of Gadrin, delegated the decision to a vote. Several Padawans from the Almas Academy, along with E1-6RA, attended the celebration but abstained from voting, despite widespread expectations that the Jedi Order would vote as a unified bloc.
Later that year, the Almas Academy sent representatives to the SoroSuub Anniversary celebration on Genarius. During the event, numerous diplomats and Jedi consuls were requested to mediate a dispute between Miim Te'Suub of the SoroSuub Corporation and Thurm Loogg of the Metatheran Cartel.
During the early years of the Clone Wars, the Jedi of Almas Academy took control of Darth Rivan's ancient Almas Sith fortress, situated in the planet's opposite hemisphere. Approximately 20 Jedi were dispatched to the Fortress with the dual purpose of investigating the perilous site and preventing its exploitation by the dark side sect known as the Believers. Treibeiu, a Jedi illusionist, was assigned to the Fortress.
During this period, a team led by the slaver Phylus Mon raided the Fortress, resulting in the deaths of four Jedi and the abduction of two others. In response to the disappearance of three individuals, the Almas Academy organized a search operation that included non-Jedi personnel to mitigate the risk of a trap designed to lure the Academy's more powerful Jedi. The search proved successful, leading to the discovery of the two abducted Jedi alive but devoid of their Force essence. Five additional individuals, including the Dark Jedi Karae Nalvas, were found in a similar condition.
The Almas Academy served as the primary research facility for investigating this phenomenon and seeking a solution. In an unforeseen incident, Oden Malksch, the Almas Academy librarian, came into contact with a piece of jewelry found on Nalvas's body, resulting in the possession of his body. Malksch/Nalvas was then able to guide one of the search teams to the location where the victims' Force essences were being held, enabling their liberation.
Following the successful conclusion of this mission, the Almas Academy also hosted a celebration to honor the heroes involved.
Towards the end of the Clone Wars, the Dark Jedi Garth Ezzar orchestrated an attack on the Academy, resulting in its extensive destruction. The surprise assault was executed by three starships, with only one managing to escape the attack. Ashka Boda and Halagad Ventor coordinated a clandestine network of Academy survivors. Unfortunately, most of them were killed when Ventor, during interrogation, revealed their secret location to Darth Vader.
The academy's destruction amplified the planet's malevolent energies, causing residents of the nearby city of Forard to exhibit violent behavior and, in some cases, to suddenly die. The academy site transformed into a nexus of evil, leading to the abandonment of the city of Forard.
Shortly after the destruction, Valin Draco, an Inquisitor, and his protégé Raik Muun explored the deep ruins of the academy in pursuit of Darth Rivan's holocron. They successfully located the holocron, and its Gatekeeper imparted ancient Sith secrets to them, also guiding them to the Qornah Holocron concealed within the academy. This newly formed dark alliance attracted numerous other malevolent entities to the ruins, including Dark lizards, a t'salak, a Nighthunter, Believers, Force illusions, and Force parasites.
Vhiin Thorla, an Almas instructor who was absent during the destruction, returned to the ruined academy with his Padawan Dorv'Tilsta to search for survivors after escaping Order 66. Deep within the ruins, he engaged in a duel with Valin Draco. Raik Muun, utilizing the t'salak, induced Dorv into a state of uncontrollable rage, turning him against his Master Thorla. In self-defense, Thorla was compelled to kill his own Padawan. Devastated, Thorla was imprisoned in a Universal Energy Cage.
A task force of Jedi sympathizers was dispatched to the academy ruins by Jedi Master Denia to retrieve the Qornah Holocron. They successfully liberated Vhiin Thorla, defeated Draco and Muun in the lower levels, evaded an ancient k'kayeh dragon, and delivered the Qornah Holocron to Master Denia. During this encounter, the academy ruins sustained further damage, resulting in the collapse of the lower levels.
The original academy building was a circular structure reminiscent of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. In the decades following its establishment, eight rectangular buildings were gradually constructed around the central structure to accommodate the growing student population, particularly after the influx of Tarasin students. As with all buildings on Almas, each structure was sealed to protect against the planet's atmosphere. Sealed walkways connected each outbuilding to the central building, as well as to the two buildings on either side of it in the octagon. Contemplative gardens featuring stone, sand, and kaluthin were arranged in the inner courtyards, along with kitchens, classrooms, and the sites of trials.
The outbuildings served as residences, while the central building was dedicated to teaching and utilitarian purposes. Student dorms were organized by age, proceeding clockwise around the octagon. Jedi instructors also had quarters in the outbuildings, and accommodations were provided for visitors and, since Qel-Bertuk's tenure, spaces for studying skills not directly related to the Force.
Forard, the sole city on Almas, was established around the academy. It was initially founded to support the academy, but it expanded to the point where many of its residents had no connection to the Jedi.
The Almas Academy's curriculum incorporated several modifications compared to that of Coruscant. Due to a lower teacher-to-student ratio at Almas, Nerra Ziveri extended the duration of students' time in the group learning environment. All of the Masters dedicated time to the younglings. Upon becoming a [Padawan](/article/padawan-legends], students did not immediately apprentice with a single Master. Instead, they spent time learning from a mentor within the academy, alongside other students. After a minimum of three years with a mentor, the Padawan "graduated" and could choose to continue their studies at the academy or apprentice with a Master from outside the academy.
Given the Almas Academy's highly secluded environment and the fact that students did not embark on missions with their Masters as Coruscanti Padawans did (especially Tarasins, who were reluctant to leave their system for extended periods), Ziveri initiated a program known as Jedi quests. During their time at the academy, students were required to leave the Cularin system at least three times. These were typically simple errands assigned by Master Lanius or the student's mentor. Depending on the task's complexity or danger, the mentor might accompany the student. Each student undertook a Jedi quest annually from the age of twelve. Students who had graduated but remained at the academy were required to bring a younger student with them on their quests.
The Almas Academy's location on the same planet as a Sith fortress served as a constant reminder of the dark side. A component of the academy's curriculum was the annual Ritual Tale of Kibh Jeen. Initiated by Nerra Ziveri, the Ritual involved a yearly recounting of the story of the Dark Jedi Conflict, which also discouraged students from exploring the nearby Sith Fortress. Over time, Ziveri began having one of the oldest students tell the story, and it eventually evolved into the elder students reenacting it as a drama, with one of the Masters portraying Jeen.
The differences between Almas and Coruscant were implemented to provide more flexibility for Living Force players. To enable players to multiclass into a Jedi class after 1st level, the Almas Academy accepted adults. Group learning and Jedi quests served to explain why Padawans might be having adventures without their Masters present.