In the year 3996 BBY, as recorded in the galactic standard calendar, a confrontation unfolded on the world of Kuar. This clash pitted the Sith Lord known as Ulic Qel-Droma against Mandalore the Indomitable, the commanding figure of the Mandalorian Crusaders. After Exar Kun and Qel-Droma, both Dark Lords of the Sith, formed an alliance, the Mandalorian clans sought to launch a new campaign under their leader's banner. They believed they could seize control of the Empress Teta system while Qel-Droma and his Krath sect were preoccupied.
Mandalore initiated a series of minor incursions to assess the Krath's capabilities. Eventually, he drew Qel-Droma's attention by obliterating a crucial carbonite refinery within the Empress Teta system. Determined to neutralize the Mandalorian threat swiftly, Qel-Droma accepted Mandalore's challenge to a one-on-one battle on Kuar. As Mandalore stipulated, the duel would involve only Qel-Droma and himself, with the victor claiming command of the opposing forces and dominion over the seven worlds of Empress Teta. Qel-Droma ultimately triumphed over Mandalore in combat but chose not to eliminate his defeated adversary. Recognizing Mandalore's martial prowess, Qel-Droma deemed him more valuable alive. With his honor intact, Mandalore pledged his life, allegiance, and forces to Qel-Droma's cause.
In the year 3996 BBY, which followed the Second Battle of Empress Teta, a conflict that saw Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar Kun rise as Sith Lords, the two commanders formulated a strategy to expand their armies. Their ultimate goal was to overthrow the Galactic Republic and annihilate the Jedi Order. Qel-Droma's role involved leveraging the military of his Krath cult to establish dominance in the systems surrounding Empress Teta. As the Krath forces executed their leader's directives, the seven planets of Empress Teta appeared stretched thin by their campaigns. However, Qel-Droma and his co-leader, Aleema Keto, remained unconcerned, confident that only a combined Republic–Jedi force could pose a threat. This overconfidence allowed another adversary to emerge: the Mandalorians.
The Mandalorians, a warrior society deeply rooted in honor, sought both territory and glory by attacking the Tetan worlds. Mandalore the Indomitable, their chieftain, led his warriors in raids within Krath territory. These incursions eventually caught the attention of Ulic Qel-Droma, particularly after the destruction of a vital carbonite processing facility under Krath control. Deeming the mercenaries a distraction, Qel-Droma contacted Mandalore, demanding immediate surrender. Mandalore refused, instead challenging Qel-Droma to a duel to decide the fate of Empress Teta's seven worlds. Qel-Droma accepted, adding a condition: if he won, the Mandalorian clans would pledge allegiance to him and fight under his banner. Mandalore, unwilling to compromise his honor, agreed.
According to Mandalore's stipulations, both he and Qel-Droma, along with their respective armies, would gather on Kuar, specifically on the Plains of Harkul, a Deep Core world raided and settled by the Mandalorians years prior. Aiming to limit Qel-Droma's use of the Force, Mandalore revealed just before the battle that the duel would occur not on the ground, but high above the plains on a network of interconnected chains. To further even the odds against a Jedi, Mandalore would use his customized Basilisk war droid, while Qel-Droma would be denied any mount.
The duel began with Mandalore attacking Qel-Droma from above, exploiting the advantage of his Basilisk mount. However, Qel-Droma used his lightsaber and Force powers to destroy Mandalore's mount, forcing the Mandalorian leader into hand-to-hand combat. Recognizing Qel-Droma's continued advantage with his lightsaber, Mandalore challenged him to discard it and fight with a Mythosaur axe, the traditional weapon of Mandalorian ancestors. Confident in his ability to defeat Mandalore regardless of the weapon, Qel-Droma accepted the Mandalorian weapon. The fight continued until Qel-Droma knocked Mandalore off the chain network, securing his victory.
Acknowledging his defeat, Mandalore requested Qel-Droma to end his life, thus concluding the battle properly. However, Qel-Droma had other plans for the defeated leader. Needing a trustworthy and skilled officer to command his newly acquired Mandalorian troops, Qel-Droma offered Mandalore the position of his personal warlord. With the Mandalorian armies now under his control, Qel-Droma began preparations to advance his and Kun's plans for galactic domination, deploying his new allies to capture Republic ships from the ship-building facilities in orbit above the desolate planet Foerost.
While Mandalore accepted his defeat by Qel-Droma, some of his followers did not. Among them was Antos Wyrick, a young Mandalorian of the Zeltron race, who was distraught by his leader's defeat. Wyrick, who had learned combat directly from Mandalore, infiltrated Qel-Droma's cabin to discover the Jedi's tactical advantage. He found only a worn Jedi robe, which he took for later study, hoping to uncover a genetic secret to Qel-Droma's superiority. Unbeknownst to Wyrick, the stolen article of clothing belonged not to Qel-Droma, but to his deceased Jedi instructor, the Arkanian Jedi Arca Jeth.
The duel on Kuar was first depicted in the inaugural issue of the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi – The Sith War comic book series. It was written by Kevin J. Anderson, illustrated by Dario Carrasco, Jr., and released on August 15th, 1995.