The play Torphceris was both written and produced by Lorrdian playwright Pordi zet Chatc. Its title came from the final Argazdan Redoubt leader Torphceris, and it detailed his involvement in building the Slave Pits of Lorrd during the concluding years of the Kanz Disorders.
The tragedy's storyline centered around the legendary tales surrounding the Slave Pits of Lorrd's past. The setting was Lorrd, a world under the control of the Argazdan Redoubt, near the end of the Kanz Disorders around the year 3970 BBY. Three centuries prior, the Argazdan Myrialites had taken the native Lorrdians as slaves when they conquered the Kanz sector.
The last Argazdan Regent, Torphceris—a dedicated Myrialite—was facing increasing resistance to his leadership in the Kanz Sector from the Galactic Republic. In a desperate move, he went against his "beliefs" in Vianism and made an agreement with a demonic alien "artisan-shaper", who promised him the ability to summon a force of destruction. To use this "terrible" power, Torphceris worked alongside her to construct the Slave Pits of Lorrd using Lorrdian slaves. Rumor had it that she was working to create a "destructive force" within the pits.
The play showed leniency towards the Argazdans, portraying them as cowardly non-believers driven by power, instead of outright villains. The alien "artisan shaper," however, was presented as a demonic enemy. Being told from a Lorrdian point of view, the play condemned slavery.
Torphceris was initially performed hundreds of years before the rise of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY. During the Imperial Period, the unearthing of the Slave Pits of Lorrd close to Qatamer led to a resurgence of interest in historical sites, and many theaters showcased plays connected to them. To meet the high demand, the Performance Square put on a production of the play in 0 BBY for both local residents and visitors from other planets.