Cronal traveled into the far reaches of the Unknown Regions via his Darksight vision, and visited such sites as the Gunninga Gap, Valtaullu Rift, and the Temple of Korman Lao. There, he discovered information and knowledge that led him to the tomb of Dathka Graush in the Valley of Golg on Korriban. The knowledge he acquired at the Temple allowed Cronal to access the spirit of Graush and learn of Sith alchemy that could create a device which would control a living crystal, Mindorese meltmassif. Cronal would form a larger structure of this substance, and in 5 ABY, Cronal chose Nick Rostu to wear the Shadow Crown and be his chief Pawn, "Shadowspawn." However, he soon decided that in order to restore the Empire under a new leader, he would need a far greater being to wear the crown, namely Luk