During the battles, Hord employed his knowledge of Sith rituals, draining the strength from his opponents and feeding off of it. After Kallig's victory, Hord decided to accept him, and he led Hord's troops to numerous victories. Kallig refused to accept dismissal, however, and challenged Hord's best general and beat him. While on the campaign, Hord was approached by a Sith known as Aloysius Kallig who sought to serve him however, Hord dismissed him. Assembling a massive army of followers, Hord and Val led a campaign of terror against rebellious militants on the planets Yn and Chabosh, crushing them. During his early years, Hord fought an honorable duel against a Dashade named Khem Val, who later became his most faithful ally. Rising through the ranks, Hord was feared by his rivals even in his early days, having mastered the art of lightsaber combat and manipulation of the Force.
A Force-sensitive male, Tulak Hord was a student of the dark side of the Force and a pupil of the early Sith Empire.