This confrontation unfolded within the walls of Set Harth's residence, situated on Nal Hutta, during the year 980 BBY. The participants were Darth Zannah, a Sith apprentice, and Set Harth, a Dark Jedi. Having located Harth at his Nal Hutta abode, Zannah's intention was to recruit him as her apprentice. Her ultimate goal was to challenge Darth Bane, her Master, for the title of Dark Lord of the Sith. A duel ensued, during which Zannah, impressed by Harth's combat prowess, opted to employ Sith sorcery to subdue him. This was intended as his final test; should he awaken from the coma induced by her powers, she would accept him as her apprentice. Initially hesitant, Harth, recognizing the fatal consequences of refusal, acquiesced to her proposition.
In the year 980 BBY, Darth Zannah, a Sith apprentice, was dispatched on a mission to the planet of Doan. Her objective was to identify the perpetrator behind the murder of a Jedi Knight named Medd Tandar. While on Doan, she unearthed evidence indicating the presence of a Dark Jedi who had been searching for Sith artifacts. Aware that the time for confronting her Master, Darth Bane, was approaching, Zannah sought to evaluate this Dark Jedi as a potential apprentice. After consulting with Quano and Pommat, she leveraged her network of contacts to trace the Dark Jedi, identified as Set Harth, to his mansion located on Nal Hutta.
Upon Zannah's arrival at his mansion, Harth was attending a social gathering. She confronted him as he returned, and he feigned ignorance, suggesting she was merely an admirer from the party. Without warning, Harth ignited his lightsaber and hurled it at Zannah, who narrowly avoided the attack. Subsequently, Harth unleashed a wave of dark side energy at Zannah, who erected a protective barrier to deflect the blast. Harth then engaged her with his lightsaber, and she activated her own, parrying his strikes. Harth launched a Force-based assault, but Zannah effortlessly deflected it along with his subsequent physical attack.
Harth persisted in his offensive, employing a variation of the lightsaber combat form known as Ataru. As Harth's anger escalated, Zannah, demonstrating her mastery of the Soresu form, consistently repelled his attacks with ease. During the brief exchange, she identified numerous opportunities to kill Harth, but her purpose was to assess his suitability as an apprentice, not to eliminate him. Zannah was impressed by his creativity, cunning, unpredictability, and undeniable connection to the dark side.
As Harth's stamina waned, Zannah delivered a kick to his chin. She demanded his surrender, but he continued to attack. As he approached, Zannah invoked a spell of fear and assailed Harth's mind. He attempted to defend himself with a Force barrier, but his defenses proved insufficient to withstand Zannah's assault. Rather than unleashing her full power, she enveloped him in despair and hopelessness, causing him to lapse into a coma-like state. Zannah resolved that if Harth possessed the strength to recover, she would accept him as her apprentice.
Upon regaining consciousness, Harth contemplated his next move, considering a surprise attack on Zannah. However, Zannah, having read his thoughts, cautioned him against such an action. Zannah informed the Dark Jedi that three nights had passed since their confrontation. Harth claimed ignorance of her intentions, prompting Zannah to reveal her search for an apprentice. She extended an invitation for him to join her, and although Harth was hesitant—lacking interest in the Sith or the defeat of the Jedi—he recognized the fatal consequences of refusal. Conversely, he acknowledged that serving as Zannah's apprentice could lead him to greater personal power. Succumbing to this temptation, he agreed to join Zannah. However, upon returning to Bane and Zannah's home on Ciutric IV, they discovered that Bane had been captured by the Doan Royal House.