A clash occurred at the Stronghold of the Morubas crime family on the planet Bahlah. This conflict involved Maul's Shadow Collective going up against the Morubas crime family. The criminal organization, under the leadership of Jjan, had previously captured Maul. Savage Opress, Maul's sibling and leader in his absence, brought the Shadow Collective to execute a rescue. However, Maul had deliberately let himself be captured to infiltrate the stronghold with ease. After freeing himself, Maul engaged the guards. Subsequently, Opress and his troops successfully entered the stronghold, eliminating the remaining guards and leaving Jjan to deal with the ruins of his once successful criminal enterprise.
Set in 19 BBY, amidst the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Maul, formerly a Dark Lord of the Sith, established the Shadow Collective. His goal was to undermine the schemes of his former Sith Master, Darth Sidious, and vie for control of the galaxy. During this period, Maul and his brother, Savage Opress, united the forces of several groups including the Death Watch, Black Sun, Pyke Syndicate, Hutt Clan, and Nightbrothers, before turning his attention to the Morubas crime family.
While in a cantina, Maul informed his brother of his intention to gain the favor of Jjan, the head of the Morubas crime family, by making him an irresistible offer. Once they had earned his trust, they planned to kill him and seize the family's soldiers and credits for their own use. However, a patron in the cantina betrayed Maul's plan to Jjan, who then prepared to poison him upon his arrival.
Soon after, at the Stronghold of the Morubas crime family, Jjan proposed a toast with Maul. Maul, after taking a drink, was poisoned. Jjan revealed that the drink contained a sedative and instructed his soldiers to restrain and disarm him.
Outside the stronghold, Opress led the Collective's fighters in an assault on the main gate. The fighters opened fire on the door, while Opress urged them to increase their firepower to break through the defenses.
As the assault intensified, Jjan gloated to Maul about his capture and the accomplishments of his family. Maul, however, was confident that Opress and his forces would breach the defenses that Jjan believed to be impenetrable. Maul pointed out that he had allowed himself to be captured. He then broke free from his restraints and used The Force to retrieve his lightsaber. He then eliminated all the soldiers sent to subdue him, revealing that he had intentionally allowed himself to be captured in order to gain entry to the stronghold.
After all the soldiers had been defeated, Opress arrived and informed Maul that they had broken through the defenses and were deploying their forces throughout the stronghold. The fighters were dealing with pockets of resistance and would have complete control within the hour. Maul then declared that he had seized the power of the Morubas crime family.
The Battle of Bahlah is depicted in the comic story, Tales of Villainy: The Hostage, featured in the third issue of the anthology comic series Star Wars Adventures. The story was penned by Shane McCarthy, with illustrations by Charlie Kirchoff, and released on February 3, 2021.