The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural

The initial chapter of this journal presents entries that are situated in the era when Gnost-Dural was an apprentice, a Padawan. Throughout this section, Dural expresses a deep fascination with the ancient Jedi Order that existed on Tython. He unveils the discoveries he made within the archives regarding the Force's initial discovery on Tython, along with the clash between the Tythonians, some of whom sought to harness the Force for benevolent purposes while others harbored malevolent intentions. Additionally, he conveys his disappointment upon learning about the devastation that befell Tython and articulates his aspirations for the Jedi to one day locate the long-lost planet, enabling him to delve into the writings of the Order's ancient forerunners. In a subsequent note appended to the journal, Satele Shan recounts how Gnost-Dural played a pivotal role in the eventual rediscovery of Tython. As the chapter draws to a close, Dural elucidates how his scholarly pursuits shifted toward the system of governance within the Republic.

This journal's second chapter recounts the comeback of the feared Sith Empire. The events described unfold after Dural had achieved the rank of Jedi Knight. Dural begins by detailing a news report covering an assault on a Republic vessel in the vicinity of the Tingel Arm. He notes that, initially, the identity and motives of the attackers remained unknown, leaving him deeply unsettled. In his subsequent entry, he reveals that the assailants were, in fact, the Sith, and the attack he witnessed was not an isolated incident. The Sith were systematically targeting Republic ships throughout the galaxy. He clarifies that these were not merely Fallen Jedi masquerading as Sith, but rather the surviving remnants of the original Sith species hailing from Korriban. He observes that these Sith were the descendants of those who had survived the Great Hyperspace War. Unsurprisingly, their initial strike, even before the attack near the Tingel Arm, was directed at a Republic space station orbiting Korriban. He recounts the remarkable tale of a Padawan who managed to escape this assault and return to Coruscant to inform the Jedi Council about the events that had transpired. Ironically, this young Padawan was none other than Satele Shan, the very Jedi who compiled and provided commentary within this journal. In a written addition adjacent to Dural's entry, she recounts her duel with Darth Malgus and the self-sacrificing act of her Master, Kao Cen Darach, which enabled her escape.

This collection of entries exhibits a fragmented and disjointed nature, mirroring the disarray that plagued the Republic military during that period. Dural was summoned to active duty and dispatched to the Minos Cluster to defend the Republic. He also recounts the valiant efforts of Belth Allusis during the Battle of Bothawui. Throughout these chapters, his entries remain somewhat ambiguous, and it becomes evident that certain details are being intentionally omitted.

Within these chapters, Dural recounts his assignment to neutralize the Dread Masters, a group of Sith who had achieved mastery over the art of Battle meditation, enabling them to inflict a debilitating and inexplicable terror upon the crew members of any Republic cruiser. To evade capture, they maintained constant mobility aboard an Imperial dreadnaught that traversed the galaxy. With the assistance of an elite Republic Special Forces Division team, Jedi Knight Jaric Kaedan infiltrated the dreadnaught and apprehended the Dread Masters. While they divulged no information regarding the enigmatic Sith Emperor, the data stored aboard their vessel did. The data revealed that even the Emperor's most loyal subjects were unaware of his true identity, with only the members of his Dark Council possessing this knowledge. The data also indicated that, despite the Imperials' ignorance of the Emperor's identity, they were aware that he had been a hero during the Great Hyperspace War and had employed the Dark side of the Force to extend his lifespan. He had been directing his armies from Dromund Kaas, the Empire's capital. After recovering the intelligence, Jaric destroyed the vessel and falsely reported to the public that the Dread Masters had been killed, in an attempt to conceal the actions of the Jedi Order. Dural compiled a report for the archives concerning the Sith Emperor, drawing upon the intelligence gathered from the Imperial dreadnaught. The Jedi Council not only reviewed and approved his report but also bestowed upon him the title of Jedi Master.

The concluding chapters of Dural's Journal chronicle the Battle of Alderaan, the Sacking of Coruscant, and the events that transpired following the Treaty of Coruscant. As is widely known, the Sacking of Coruscant resulted in the destruction of the Jedi Temple and the Jedi Archives housed within. This was particularly distressing for Dural, given his profound appreciation for knowledge. Unsurprisingly, he was chosen to oversee the establishment of the new Jedi Archives on the ancient world of Tython.

The physical version of this book was a bonus item included with the Collector's Edition of Star Wars: The Old Republic. It describes the events leading up to the game, setting the stage for the narrative. It was authored by Rob Chestney and released by Chronicle Books in 2011. The book features artwork from Sperasoft Studios, Roman Artamonov, Fedor Losev, Lorenz Hideyoshi Ruwwe, Clint Young, and Arnie Jorgensen, as well as maps and diagrams by Michael Voigt.