Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic/Shyrack Caves

Valley
The entrance from the Valley of Dark Lords is on the west side of the caves. The passage to the east forks to the north and south, where you'll have your first shyrack encounter to the southeast, the composition of which depends on your character level:

They all look alike, but while Shyrack and Raptors actually inflict slightly more damage than Wyrms, they have significantly less vitality.

The passage to the left leads to a cave to the northeast, and another shyrack encounter:

There's a chewed corpse in the northeast corner, to the left of the passage exiting the cave to the east:

The south passage beyond the first shyrack encounter leads past the entrance to another passage to the south, where the renegade Sith are camped, to a cave to the east where you'll encounter more shyrack:

There's a Sith corpse in the northeast corner, to the left of the passage exiting the cave to the east:

Beyond these caves to the east is a passage linking the north and south passages which contains a tuk'ata encounter, the composition of which depends on your character level:

The high innate of tuk'ata means that even a level 20 Jedi's Force powers will only breach it 45% of the time, so Force users are advised to use (Advanced)  against them.

The north passage continues to the north end of a path along the edge of a chasm, while the south passage continues to the middle of this path, where there's another shyrack encounter:

The path also continues to the south, and there's a narrow bridge over the chasm to the east...

Renegade Sith
The southernmost passage is mined:

Beyond is another cave to the east, with a corpse in the southwest corner to the right of the west entrance:

Thalia May and two Twi'lek Sith rebels stand by a campfire on the south side, and you're challenged as you approach:


 * }

It's easy to persuade her that you can help her, and a light side character (alignment > 60) always does so:


 * }

However, in the unlikely event you fail, or you say you'll leave them be or won't help, they attack:


 * }

They do likewise if you indicate you're going to kill them, which moves you closer to the dark side of the Force:


 * }

More experience is received for killing rather than helping them at level < 18, but at the expense of an opportunity to move (much) closer to the light side of the Force. They receive bonuses depending on your character level:

Thus at character level > 14:

The advanced medpac is only received if it wasn't used. Otherwise, if you agree to help them and speak to either of the Sith rebels:


 * You should really talk to Thalia. We'll... go wherever she does.

You need to continue to the east to get rid of the creature before telling Thalia May that the passage is clear:

Otherwise:


 * }

Either way, you can return to the academy and report to Uthar Wynn to gain prestige.

Creature
The passage exiting the renegade Sith's cave to the east is also mined at both ends:

It leads to the southern end of the path alongside the chasm to the east. To the north is a shyrack encounter and a narrow bridge crossing the chasm to the east. On the opposite side, the way is blocked by the creature: a terentatek! It receives bonuses depending on your character level:

Thus at character level > 14:

Any level > 8 Jedi in your party should use Improved Energy Resistance or Knight or Master Valor to make your party immune to its poisoned claws. It in turn is immune to Force Push and Whirlwind and cannot be knocked back and down, but Force Wave can still damage and stun it (although its high innate and saves make this unlikely at lower levels, a level 20 Jedi whose Force powers have DC > 35 should breach its defenses 75% of the time). Conversely, its own Slam Attack can be a nuisance for melee attackers, knocking them back and down even when they save against it.

One or two melee attackers should block the bridge to protect any ranged attackers or Force users using (or persevering with other powers). Alternatively, it can be led away from the bridge to be attacked and obstructed by shyrack and tuk'ata, or mines can be set (although normally it saves 100% of the time against Minor mines, 75% of the time against Average mines and 50% of the time against most Deadly mines).

When the terentatek is killed, a Shyrack Wyrm appears from the cave opposite the bridge to the east, while others appear at the north and south end of the rock shelf on the east side of the bridge.

If you enter the cave to the east:


 * [This cave exit leads to the inhospitable surface of the planet. There is nothing for you to see there.]

However, there's a corpse at the north end of the shelf, and what turn out to be the skeletal remains of Duron Qel-Droma:


 * This data pad appears to be the personal journal of the Jedi Duron Qel-Droma. The last entry reveals what he was doing on this world :


 * Korriban is everything I imagined - and feared. I can feel the power of the dark side here, I can sense the terentatek hiding in this evil place.


 * Shaela and I have decided to venture forth into the Valley of the Sith Lords in search of the creatures. I only wish Guun Han was still with us.


 * Why couldn't he just accept that Shaela and I are in love? He claims our passion for each other will lead us down the dark side, but he can't even see how his own pride and arrogance are leading him away from the light.


 * Maybe it is good that he left, after all. Even as dangerous as the terentatek are, I'm certain Shaela and I can defeat one without his help.
 * }