Sunday, August 30, 2009

August 29 recap

•The party explores the city of Theed, which is held by the Mandalorians.
•Ras and Yvegeny make contact with a resistance movement.
•Kelif finds information about his dad.
•The party enters the heart of the Mandalorian movement on Naboo — the underwater war forge — and absconds with a Sith prisoner, as well as fresh supplies.

Ras Patul and Kelif Binks-Fett wake up from their medically induced naps, quite surprised to find that three days have passed and the Raraza has fallen into enemy hands. The party ponders where to go before deciding to set down in the city of Theed, which is occupied by the Mandalorians but facing heavy resistance from a group of colonists. The Capanata is commed by the Mandalorians, asking what they're doing there; Yvegeny replies that they need repairs.

Theed is similar to Deeja Peak — the signs have been painted over in Mando'a, the businesses have shut down in favor of Mandalorian-controlled ration centers, education camps have been set up to train conscripts in the Six Actions, those too weak to fight scurry around as second-class citizens, and blue-armored Neo-Crusaders patrol the streets. However, whereas Deeja Peak was mostly intact, Theed has seen signs of struggle — most of the buildings appear damaged or wrecked.

After convincing the landing party that they're here for repairs, Ras and Kelif don armor and begin to look around for the resistance movement. However, they're harassed by Mandalorian soldiers when they start asking questions — especially when the soldiers notice Ras doesn't speak Mando'a and threaten to ship her to an education camp — prompting Ras to mind-trick the soldiers into letting them escape. Yvegeny also asks around for information, but there's no computer terminals to run searches, so he's got to do it the old-fashioned way. He goes around the city looking for information, but forgets that he's still wearing the Mandalorian armor and nobody's particularly inclined to talk to him. He wises up, ditches the armor, and heads to the slums of Theed, where he spreads the word that he's got detonite for sale, hoping to lure out members of the resistance. Eventually, he's approached by a street urchin named Kyb, who tells him to meet him in the woods outside Theed later that night. Yvegeny calls up Ras and Kelif, telling them about the meeting that night.

Meanwhile, on the ship, Gobmush is thrilled about having a mess ship and has been hard at work in the kitchen. Lyta is training Oro in administrative tasks and how to set up a medical clinic in a war zone, a necessary skill for the organization she wants to set up. Marina, also staying on the ship, approaches Lyta and tells her and Gobmush that back in Deeja Peak, she overheard Yvegeny say to a Mandalorian Rally Master that he was actually Kazbich and provide corroborating evidence (having been conscripted into the Mandalorians on Taris). Gobmush says he already knows — Yvegeny smells exactly like Kazbich — but Lyta is surprised.

Kelif decides he wants some camouflage armor but is frustrated that he cannot buy it, as all of the stores in Theed are closed. Reasoning that the only way to acquire it would be to receive it from a superior officer, he approaches a Rally Master and asks about receiving camouflage armor. The Rally Master says he will provide it only if Kelif joins a reconnaissance unit, to which Kelif reluctantly agrees.

Yvegeny has a feeling that Kelif might betray them, and comms Kelif to say the meeting site has changed — it's now near the ship. However, Kelif doesn't tell Ras about the switch, so Ras shows up at the correct site with Yvegeny and Kyb. Kyb is starstruck by Ras, a Jedi Knight, and is filled with renewed hope they can drive away the Mandalorians. He leads the duo to a camouflaged tunnel, leading to the sewer system, where the rebels operate out of an old control station. They meet with Indar, an old man in his 50s who is the leader of the rebels; he is also quite happy to see that Ras is a Jedi Knight, though he admits he doesn't know of any other resistance groups on the planet. Yvegeny decides that he wants to help the rebels throw off the invading Mandalorians, and he decides to build a transmitter so they will be able to contact other resistance groups.

Kelif eventually realizes he's been ditched by Yvegeny, and also that he was never told where specifically the recon group was meeting up. Bored, he decides to hang out with a group of Mandalorian soldiers, first doing target practice (at which Kelif fails horribly) and then a stun duel, which ends with Kelif unconscious and the victors spray-painting graffiti on his armor.

Lyta and Oro eventually leave the ship to find people they can treat. There are no formal Mandalorian doctors, only combat medics, and so most of the medical care is reserved for the soldiers. The rations the Mandalorians provide are clean, so there's no diseases running rampant, but there are still injuries about, especially given the guerilla fighting going on. Lyta and Oro set up a clinic, treating just about all the poor citizens who are not fit to fight for the Mandalorians. Eventually, they tell Lyta about the resistance movement.

Overnight, Ras is visited by the spirit of her mentor, Mur Haddin, an Umbaran woman. Mur explains her absence by saying she has been speaking with other Force-sensitive members of the Patul family — cousins and such, as Ras' family is dead — and checks in on her progress, pointing out that Lyta was recently visited by the spirit of her old Master, Neyeria. Ras admits to not knowing what to do on Naboo, but Mur reassures her, and says that while the Force is a powerful ally, she should not discount her more "mundane" abilities — like her speaking ability. Mur says that Ras' ability to affect the hearts and minds of others will change the fate of the entire planet.

Ras asks around the rebels about any ships in the area lately; they say there was an escape pod that landed not far from Theed the same day the Raraza entered the system, but the Mandalorians snatched it pretty quickly and took it to their war forge. He also asks the few Gungans in the rebel group about Kelif's father, Gobar Binks; one of them recognizes the name and says he last saw him in the Gungan city Otoh Bokan.

The party reunites the next days on the Capanata. Ras shares her information about the escape pod, thinking it may be from a Sith ship, and also shares about Gobar Binks being in Otoh Bokan. Yvegeny is interested in going to the war forge because the Capanata was assigned togo there anyway, and he can requisition supplies and explosives for the rebel group there. The party debates between going to the war forge or Otoh Bokan, and Marina, exasperated, tells the entire party that Yvegeny is Kazbich. Ras tells the party that the fake Kazbich is safely in prison, and that it's in that man's best interest to stay there — his loved ones are being financially supported in exchange for his compliance. The party decides to go to the war forge.

The Mandalorian war forge is in a lake the size of Lake Michigan, where it sits on the lake floor. The airspace around it is heavily guarded by Mandalorian ships and Basilisk war droids of all kinds. It's the size of a small city and is a veritable fortress. As the Capanata has aquatic sealing, it can safely travel underwater, so Marina flies the ship into a docking bay. A Mandalorian greeting party immediately demands to know their purpose, so Yvegeny tells the truth: that they were sent there for supplies. The Mandalorians say they'll deliver the explosives and food supplies while Yvegeny stays at the nearby pilot quarters.

Ras and Kelif don Mandalorian armor and decide to find the Raraza and the escape pod. Kelif uses the computer terminal to find their locations; the Raraza was captured after a long siege against the security droids, and the escape pod's personnel are being held in the high-security brig. When they arrive at the brig, the Shock Troopers guarding the entrance demand a passcode — which they don't have. Ras mind-tricks the guard to let them pass. Inside they find several cells holding colonists, Gungans, unfortunate travelers who were shot down, and finally, Sith military personnel. The commanding officer is defiant in the face of Ras, the "Mandalorian," saying he'll never admit to anything under torture. Ras instead assured the Sith she'd get him out, not revealing her identity. The officer asks about his men, but when he learns she wouldn't be able to get them out, he is nonchalant about leaving them behind.

To get the Sith officer out, Ras puts him into a Force trance, then calls out for a doctor, saying the officer had suffered a heart attack. A triage unit arrives shortly, and a doctor gets ready to begin treatment when Ras mind-tricks him, saying the officer was dead (just before getting shot with adrenaline). Ras and Kelif load him onto the stretcher and say they'll carry him to the morgue. Ras ducks into a closet, and Kelif runs back to the Capanata to get an extra suit of Mandalorian armor. They outfit the officer in the armor, then carry him aboard the ship just as the Mandalorian dock crew finishes loading up supplies. The Capanata and crew promptly leave the war forge.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Where's Where on Naboo

Here are the Naboo locations mapped out by the Mandalorians on the Capanata's navicomputer. Not all Gungan cities are listed; most are currently held by the Mandalorians. Only those near Republic colonies or major trade centers are listed.

Deeja Peak colony
Status: Occupied. Resistance minimal. Isolated location and tight airspace control has ensured easy conversion to Resol'Nare (the Six Actions). Climate unacceptable for food production; output minimal.
Keren colony
Capital of Naboo. Status: Under siege. Colonists have organized armed resistance, but supplies and reinforcements running low. Governor has declared martial law and is unsuccessfully attempting to create alliance with Otoh Mandassa Gungans.
Theed colony
Status: Occupied. Resistance strong. Though Mandalorians control infrastructure, colonist rebels wage guerilla war against soldiers. Nearby Otoh Raban Gungans have forged non-aggression pact with local Mandalorians, some converted to Resol'Nare. Colonists have been conscripted into food production.
Harte Secur colony
Status: Abandoned. When Mandalorian fleet attacked the planet, the Langua Gungans stormed the settlement and slaughtered colonists. Feared by other Gungans, the Langua Gungans are bloodthirsty cannibals and have resisted all entreaties from Mandalore. Mandalorian military currently lacks personnel to seize Harte Secur.
War Forge
Underwater in Lake Kwilaan, has remained hidden since Mandalorian Wars. Functioning at 83% production capacity. Heavily guarded by Basilisk war droids. High-priority prisoners, spoils are to be shipped here for processing. Heart of Mandalore the Divider's empire.
Jedi Camp
Site of first Revanchist landing during Mandalorian Wars. All Jedi here eliminated. Now used as proving ground for new conscripts.
Eutix Lab
Abandoned science post near western coast. All equipment of value taken to war forge. No strategic value.
Otoh Bokan
Gungan city. Important trade center for Gungans due to location near four main channels. Repelled initial Mandalorian assault; has since agreed to terms, converted to Resol'Nare. Undergoing political upheaval between three factions.
Gung Slabs
Stone monoliths near Gungan "sacred place," ruins by "elder" species believed to predate Gungans. Includes engravings of cultural rituals in Gunganese and Old Corellian. Upon discovery by Republic anthropologists, was essential to deciphering their language and culture.
Arctic regions
Located at north and south poles. Though no sentients live there, have proven useful as training grounds for new conscripts.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Meet the new ship, the Capanata


The Quartermaster-class Supply Ship stolen by Yvegeny, Gobmush and Marina is ID'ed as the Capanata, named after a well-known dish in the Outer Rim. The Quartermaster ships are designed to take a lot of punishment so the cargo inside isn't breached, so it's got a reinforced duranium hull and significant shielding to be able to withstand punishment. The Mandalorians have forcibly grafted on some weaponry: a quad medium ion cannon and a double heavy laser cannon. They've also outfitted it with a fuel converter so they don't need to stock any particular type of fuel for it, and it's also received amphibious sealing so it can safely travel through Naboo's oceans and lakes — particularly so it can reach the underwater Mandalorian War Forge. It's also got huge cargo space, so it can fulfill its original duty — carrying supplies.

However, because of all the extra systems that have been added, the ship is a "hunk of junk" (as described in Scum and Villainy; when it goes down the condition track, a system randomly malfunctions or shorts out) and has the Used template from the core book (when the ship reaches -3 on the condition track, the condition becomes persistent until it can receive repairs).

The Capanata (with Marina piloting)

Corellia StarDrive Quartermaster-class Supply Carrier

Colossal space transport

Init +2; Senses +7

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Defenses: Ref 14 (flat-footed 14), Fort 31; +14 armor

HP 200; DR 20; SR 50; Threshold 81

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Speed: fly 12 squares (350 km/h), fly 2 squares (starship scale)

Base Atk (by weapons user); Grp +49

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Abilities Str 52, Dex 10, Con -, Int 14

Skills: Initiative +2, Mechanics +14, Perception +7, Pilot +2, Use Computer +7

Crew 2; Passengers 10

Cargo: 115 tons; Consumables 6 months; Carried Craft none

Hyperdrive x3 (backup x12); navicomputer

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Weapons

Quad medium ion cannon (user’s attack roll +2); 7d10x2 ion

Double heavy laser cannon (user’s attack roll +2); 6d10x2

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Additional emplacements beyond the basic model:

Amphibious seals

Fuel converter

Quad medium ion cannon

Double heavy laser cannon

Monday, August 17, 2009

August 16 recap

•With half the party out of commission because of the crash, the party struggles for direction.
•Gobmush returns, looking for an old enemy.
•Marina proves capable of handling herself, but takes offense at being treated like an NPC.
•Lyta speaks with an old mentor who surprisingly respects her independence.
•The party reaches the nearby settlement of Deeja Peak, only to find it's under new management.
•Yvegeny finds his past to be an asset.

Upon assessing the crash of the Raraza, Lyta, Oro, Marina and Yvegeny find that Ras Patul and Kelif Binks-Fett were injured in the rough landing and must undergo medical attention. Lyta dopes them up and provides treatment. With the two people who are most invested in coming to Naboo in the first place down for the count, however, Lyta and Yvegeny are unsure of what to do now — neither one of them really had any interest in the planet in the first place.

Meanwhile, a few weeks ago on Coruscant, Gobmush ran into an old friend, Pedric Graff, with whom he used to work while working security for Czerka. Gobmush related his experiences with Eutix on Myzil V, and Graff enlisted him to help with Czerka security again. Seeing as how on Coruscant most of the security is corporate-owned, having a lot of different corporations with heavily armed personnel has given a new meaning to "corporate espionage." While raiding a Eutix office on Coruscant, Gobmush learned that Eutix had something big going on on Naboo. Graff put together a group of security personnel and scientists, including Gobmush, to find and raid the Eutix facility on Naboo, but Mandalorian gunships shot down their ship, and Gobmush and Chuckles were the only survivors. Coincidentally, their crash site is only a half-hour walk from where the Raraza lands, and Gobmush sets out on foot to find his old friends. On the way, he spots humanoid footprints leading in the same direction.

Gobmush reunites with the party, and instantly recognizes Yvegeny as Kazbich, though because he speaks Gamorrese, nobody can understand his exclamation of surprise. Yvegeny and Marina have been trying to get the ship working again, but find that they need new parts to get airborne again. Gobmush suggests that they may be able to scavenge parts from the crashed Czerka ship, and so Lyta, Oro and Yvegeny join him to head out in the Republic landspeeder that Kazbich had taken from Myzil V and stowed aboard the ship.

While driving through the woods (which is difficult, because there's not a clear path), the speeder suddenly comes under fire as Mandalorian gunslingers decloak. Oro is nearly mortally wounded, while Yvegeny sustains grievous wounds and Gobmush is saved by his armor. As Yvegeny outshoots one Mandalorian and Gobmush dispatches two with his mighty arg'garok, Lyta and Oro use the speeder as cover and bolster their allies from inside. One Mandalorian tries to cloak using his stealth field generator and make an escape, but Yvegeny unloads with his autofire weapon, causing the Mandalorian to reveal himself just in time to connect with Gobmush's axe.

Yvegeny puts on the helmet of one of the Mandalorians in order to see if they can find some information, and the helmet crackles to life, as someone is trying to contact Rancor 1, asking for his status. Yvegeny bluffs his way through it, claiming that they killed the Raraza crew and plan to rendezvous with Sarlacc Squad, a group of Mandalorians that is apparently stripping Gobmush's Czerka ship. He also learns about Bantha Squad, a group that is converging on the Raraza. Yvegeny orders them to pull back from the ship, claiming he's got orders from Mandalore the Divider himself. Bantha 1 says they should rendezvous and attack the ship together, and it occurs to Yvegeny that Bantha 1 really plans to kill him instead.

On the way back to the Raraza, the party debates what to do at first, but Gobmush decides to just charge in and kill the Mandalorians; Lyta and Yvegeny, wearing armor stolen from the gunslingers, can either kill the soldiers or stun Gobmush, claiming to be true Mandalorians. Gobmush tragically drops his arg'garok mid-charge, and the Mandalorians draw two vibroblades apiece and begin slicing and dicing. Yvegeny and Lyta are unsure what to do, and Lyta, using a stealth field generator, tries to maneuver around the melee to get to the ship, but is spotted, so she loudly claims that Gobmush "won't get away this time," pretending to be a Mandalorian. Yvegeny then shoots Gobmush on stun, causing the Gamorrean to drop down and "pass out," but their ruse is compromised when Marina emerges from the Raraza with a blaster rifle in tow and opens fire. Lyta intimidates Marina into surrender, however, though Marina recognizes the Selkath under the armor. The Mandalorians immediately binder-cuff Marina to the landing ramp and cuff Gobmush, then head into the ship.

Two Mandalorians go to the med bay to see the doped-up Umbaran and Gungan (as they enter with Yvegeny, the security system is not activated) while the one remaining Mandalorian hauls Gobmush inside with Lyta. The soldiers speak to Yvegeny, trying to determine if he's actually a Mandalorian or a Raraza crew member who stole the armor, but Yvegeny passes their test by correctly remembering the six precepts of Mandalore. At the entrance, a Mandalorian tries to speak with Lyta in Mando'a, but she doesn't speak the language and fakes her helmet being shorted out to avoid communication.

As the party wonders what to do next — especially as the commandos tell Yvegeny that a ship is en route to the Raraza to pick up the prisoners to take them to the nearest settlement, Deeja Peak — everybody (except the un-perceptive Mandalorians) hears Marina escape from her binder cuffs. While the soldier near her fiddles with her helmet to get it working, Lyta tries to help Gobmush escape his binder cuffs, only to realize she doesn't know the code to get them open. Gobmush improvises and headbutts the Mandalorian. A melee ensues, and Yvegeny and the soldiers near him rush to the loading bay to intervene. Gobmush, unfortunately, while trying to headbutt the Mandalorian again, loses his balance and falls prone, and hoping to save face to their "captors," Lyta tackles him. Yvegeny shoots that Mandalorian, claiming it was an accident. The two remaining soldiers almost appear fooled, and attack Marina and Gobmush, before Lyta tries to intimidate them into surrendering, at which point they promptly cloak and beat a retreat.

Frustrated that the two Mandalorians escaped, and that their gig is up (as the soldiers now know that members of the Raraza are attempting to infiltrate using stolen armor), and that there's still a ship on its way to pick up the prisoners (and they don't know how big of a ship), the crew realizes it has no easy choice on what to do next. Gobmush has a good idea of where to find Deeja Peak, the nearest settlement, even though talking to Bantha Squad indicated that it's being held by the Mandalorians. After Lyta performs some quick surgery and Gobmush releases his snoruuk mushrooms and iriaz pups into the wild (except one snoruuk he keeps for himself), the crew leaves behind the Raraza in the care of its security droids. The entire party (unconscious Ras and Kelif included) loads up into the landspeeder, hoping to make the three-day journey to Deeja Peak and find some parts for the Raraza.

After the first day of driving, the party makes camp for the night. Lyta, still awake, hears her name being called, then sees the spirit of her old Jedi Master, Neyeria. Lyta goes off into the woods so nobody thinks she's talking to herself. Neyeria tells Lyta she shouldn't feel guilty about not being able to save her former Master, and Lyta apologizes that Cariaga Sin killed Neyeria looking for her. Neyeria tells Lyta that though she respects that the Selkath does not wish to be a Jedi, she should not turn aside help from others; there are other Force traditions out there that might help her, and even if she would not join them, she should not stubbornly refuse their aid. She also warns that the dark side is more than flashy displays of power; it's also moral rationalizations and quick, easy decisions, pointing out that Lyta has made some questionable calls. Neyeria also says that while Lyta doesn't know why she's on Naboo, parts of her destiny will come into focus while she's there. Lyta is flippant about the advice, to which Neyeria shows some disappointment about "relying on old defense mechanisms" and disappears.

Lyta has trouble sleeping that night and is groggy for the next day of driving, when the speeder finally breaks out of the woods and crosses the plains, heading for a mountain range in the distance. While passing a herd of wild shaaks (giant, fat herd animals), Yvegeny opens fire on them, and after Gobmush field-dresses them, the party discovers the deliciousness that is shaak meat. At the end of the second day, the party makes camp at the base of the mountains. Marina inquires with the party exactly what the plan was back at the ship, and is disgusted that she hadn't been informed of it (and that she almost got killed because of it). She insists on being included in future plans and groans that she was probably better off in her cell back on Myzil V.

On the third day, the party realizes it doesn't know precisely where Deeja Peak is. Yvegeny finds that the Mandalorian armor they've held on to are no longer connected to the Mandalorian computer network, though he is able to access it briefly and locate Deeja Peak before being shut out. The party drives through the mountains to get to the town.

About a half hour outside of town, the party decides to park the landspeeder; Lyta, Oro and Chuckles will stay with the still-out Ras and Kelif, while Marina, Yvegeny and Gobmush don Mandalorian helmets, try to blend in with the Mandalorians believed to be occupying the town, and see what they can find out. Deeja Peak is a walled city with surface-to-air turrets around it, and when the trio approaches, they see it's guarded heavily by Mandalorians, including a basilisk war droid. Yvegeny, being the only awake party member who speaks Mando'a, bluffs the guards, claiming they're the sole survivors of one of the gunships that the Raraza destroyed when it first entered the system (and Marina, not knowing the language, is a new recruit). The party gains entrance into the city.

The Deeja Peak colony has been repurposed as a Mandalorian fortress. Most of the Basic signs are rewritten in Mando'a; the stores have been closed and replaced with ration centers; the men and able women have been conscripted into Mandalorian service, while the weak and children are used for labor; Neo-Crusader soldiers, all wearing the familiar blue armor, heavily patrol the streets. Yvegeny inquires where he can get some of the red armor, and learns it belongs to the Rally Masters, essentially sergeants in the Mandalorian army. While wandering the town figuring out their next move, the party is approached by a Rally Master, who inquires about their mission. He tells them that the Republic is believed to have landed on Naboo, "with fifty Jedi Knights if there's only one," and so the base is at peak readiness. He orders them to man the wall, patrolling for signs of attack.

While patrolling the outer wall, Yvegeny strikes up a conversation with a conscript named Ceferi, saying he's a Republic contractor and he'll help free him and his family if he helps them bring down the Mandalorians. Ceferi is skeptical at first, but points out that the party could probably get Rally Master armor from the barracks, and that they should wear the full armor — wearing only the helmets is drawing too much suspicion. Yvegeny is relieved he doesn't turn them in.

Also while on the wall, the party can spot several landing platforms around town; they're all heavily guarded, as the Mandalorians don't want any citizens attempting to escape. Most of them are civilian ships retrofitted with heavy weaponry; there's a useable Neimoidian shuttle and Quartermaster-class supply ship visible from the wall. After stopping by the officer barracks in town and receiving Neo-Crusader armor (but rebuffed the Rally Master armor), the party decides to investigate the Quartermaster ship, which turns out to be a galley ship. A group of soldiers is unloading the ship under the direction of a Rally Master; while exploring the inside of the ship while unloading, they find it's too well-armed to simply steal right away.

While the party helps unload the ship, Yvegeny meets Deck, the ship's assigned pilot, and lures him into a dark alley with Gobmush, who promptly kills him so Yvegeny can steal the pilot insignia. (The party feels guilty for killing Deck, as he was a pretty enthusiastic guy, and didn't really seem like a bad guy despite being a Mandalorian.) The Rally Master wonders where Deck is, and inquires as to who Yvegeny is, as he's never seen him before. Yvegeny truthfully identifies himself as Kazbich, saying he fought with the Mandalorians during the Wars (also true). He says a Gungan named Kelif got him back into the Mandalorian ranks, but the Rally Master doesn't recognize the name. The Rally Master is willing to let Yvegeny fly the ship back to the supply post, but insists on sending his own men aboard as well.

Aboard the mess ship, Gobmush and Marina make quick work of the Mandalorian soldiers, and Yvegeny accesses the Mandalorian network, locating many points of interest on the planet, including a real find — the Mandalorian war forge, the factory where armor and weapons are mass-produced, which is underwater in one of the major lakes. The network reveals that the Raraza was towed there by a larger ship. Marina also reveals that she overheard Yvegeny refer to himself as Kazbich to the Rally Master, and she knows that he's Kazbich, though they'll wait to talk about it until later.

Yvegeny picks up Lyta, Oro, Chuckles, Ras and Kelif outside of Deeja Peak, then the party regroups to plan its next move.

(DM's note: I haven't fleshed out the "points of interest on the planet" yet beyond the war forge, but I plan to cover them in small-group sessions. Points would include Republic colonies, Gungan colonies, and other things the Mandalorians have found on the planet.)

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Galactic Gazetteer: Naboo

The planet Naboo was discovered in the past four decades by the unprecedented exploration boom of the Hyperspace Navigators Guild after the Great Sith War. With the reduction in use of hyperspace beacons and the introduction of more portable navicomputers, along with new routes recovered from Mandalorian ships, hyperspace exploration became the new frontier during the Republic's reconstruction. An intrepid explorer, Kwilaan, discovered the world and informed the Republic about its presence at the edge of the Mid Rim.

To call Naboo a beautiful world would be an understatement; the pastoral plains, lush forests and breathtaking rivers make the planet a veritable paradise. The planet is flush with natural resources, and while many mining companies have expressed an interest, Republic colonization protocol has first established several small colonies here to establish a local presence first. Small cities have been established at Theed, Dee'ja Peak, Harte Secur, and Keren; consult the Naboo METOSP for more information. While farming operations have commenced, the planet is not yet self-sufficient, and technology imports are shipped in every month.

There has been limited first contact with an amphibious species living underwater that calls itself "Gungans." These primitive creatures can be quite cunning and are believed to have a strong hunter culture; for this reason, civilian travel outside the cities is highly discouraged without an armed guard. For the most part, the Gungans seem unperturbed by Republic colonization; they have developed their own primitive technology and have been shown capable of learning Basic. While some isolated groups have attacked Republic settlements, most of the Gungans appear uninterested in the colonies, though their own settlements have yet to be discovered. Aerial reconnaissance has not yet determined where the Gungans live.

According to Jedi records, Mandalorians held the planet during the Mandalorian Wars before Revan and his followers liberated the planet. Several Gungans were spotted among the Mandalorian ranks during the war, but just as many appear to have deserted and can be found wandering former Mandalorian territory. Scouts have found wreckage of Mandalorian outposts dotting the planet, but recovered records indicate that the Gungans already knew some Basic before the Mandalorians arrived. A wide-ranging theory among Naboo anthropologists is that neither Kwilaan nor the Mandalorians were the first to discover the planet.

The planet is also home to fierce wildlife that has not yet learned to be afraid of hunters. Aside from large and fearsome varieties of marine life (as the loss of many oceanographers can attest to), powerful land predators include the tusk cat, the narglatch (a stealthy swamp hunter), the saw-tooth grank, and perhaps most fearsome of all, the gigantic simian veermok. Naboo has already seen an influx of hunters looking to make trophies of these big-game animals, and just as many hunters have brought home a grank pelt as have needed to be identified by dental records.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Force Points

Way back when Jedi Academy Training Manual came out, I expressed some interest in doing a daily Force Point system instead of a Points-by-level system. After giving it some thought, I'm going to keep the Points-by-level system as it is. I think we're leveling up at a fast enough rate that you players are actually getting more Force Points now than you would if we were doing daily Force Points.

However, NPCs will switch to a daily Force Points system, because that's just a whole lot easier bookkeeping for me.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Nerdgasm!

Season 1 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be on DVD and Blu-ray on November 3.

Even better, here's the new trailer for Season 2:


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Oh what a tangled web we weave

I was looking through old recaps and saw a comment from Andy saying, "Wow, we sure have a lot of subplots going on, don't we?" So I thought I would try to point out all the different subplots we have going on:

Major plots:
•Stopping the Sith and their conquest of the galaxy, led by Darth Revan and Darth Malak. Presently that involves tracking the Sith who attacked the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to the Chommell Sector, with Ras in particular assigned to Naboo.
•Stopping Alhu-Zun and his agents, including Wertsnik, who are committing acts of sabotage throughout the galaxy in an effort to help the Republic.
•Marina, now the Raraza's pilot, is searching for the "treasure planet" Iego, believing it holds untold billions in treasure.
•At present, the Raraza is landed in the wilderness of Naboo and requires new parts to get airborne again.

Minor plots:
•Aya Lim, the wayward Jedi apprentice of On-Warr Bistellion, is still out there. Ras was able to talk her down from the dark side a little after freeing On-Warr from her clutches on Myzil V, but she hasn't been seen since.
•Riga the Hutt is still out there, and he has incriminating information on Areta Luk, Rek's dad.
•Kazbich plans to kill Kelly.
•Kazbich is now Yvegeny Reminski. Ras is fully aware of this, and Kelif is only unconsciously aware, creating interparty tension. While Kazbich's old enemies are not aware of this, they really shouldn't be made to find out, either.
•Kazbich is now an agent of the Genoharadan, though they have not given him any assignments.
•When it arrived at Naboo, the Raraza was attacked by Mandalorians swearing allegiance to Mandalore the Divider. This Mandalore's identity is unknown.
•Kelif is seeking his father on Naboo.
•Gobmush has a bounty on his head from Globmulch, a Gamorrean he knows from his old days on Gamorr.
•Ras wants a krayt dragon pearl for one of her lightsabers.
•Lyta wants to create a galaxy-spanning medical organization akin to the Red Cross. She is training Oro for an administrative role.
•Lyta saved the life of Gaph, a Ryn crime boss on Coruscant, but Ras wants to bring him to justice.
•Gobmush went missing on Coruscant, and indicated before the Raraza left the planet that he would probably be seeing them again on Naboo.
•Kazbich wants to kill Zhen, the Zabrak commando who worked for Gorrak the Hutt and helped them on Ithor, for unspecified reasons.
•Mr. Skee told Kazbich that he owes him more for his legal help on Myzil V. However, as Kazbich is "in prison" now, that debt is null, unless Mr. Skee finds out Yvegeny's identity.
•Ras recently realized that Alhu-Zun, the Draethos Keetael master, was On-Warr's master before he joined the Jedi Order.
•Kelif is working to justify both his Mandalorian loyalty and his working with Jedi, with the help of Ras.
•Lyta is developing her own connection to the Force.
•The Eutix corporation is still out there, still doing whatever weird thing it is that they're doing.
•It is unclear why Kelly rescued Borlok, the Dug cutthroat, from Riga the Hutt's palace on Nal Hutta.
•Yvegeny was working on reprogramming the deactivated HK-48 droid back in the Jedi Temple.
•Lyta had Kelif sign a form saying she would be his personal physician for the rest of his life.
•Who knows what crazy adventures Rek Luk has been getting into as a bounty hunter?
•Ras mind-tricked Yvegeny into thinking he is violently allergic to death sticks.
•While R'vanna the Ryn mechanic was violently subdued by Yvegeny before being freed by Ras, he may still play a role in bringing Gaph to justice.
•Jazz Sharmista is still interested in getting "Kazbich" released from prison. "Kazbich" will soon be transferred to the spice mines of Kessel.

I think we can resolve all of these plotlines, plus whatever else I have coming down the line, by level 20, right?

New Species Feats

As the Gungan and Gamorrean get brand-new species feats in the Rebellion Era Campaign Guide, I thought it only fair to whip some up for the Selkath and Umbaran so that the whole party can get in on the action (none for Humans, though):

Kolto Master

You have trained extensively with the doctors and kolto technicians on Manaan, and in a pinch, you are capable of medical miracles.

Prerequisite: Selkath.

Benefit: You may spend a Force Point to use the First Aid function of the Treat Injury skill without expending a medpac.


Light Adaptation

While most Umbarans’ eyes are sensitive to bright light, you have lived away from the ultraviolet rays of the Ghost Nebula long enough for your eyes to adjust to a normal spectrum.

Prerequisites: Umbaran.

Benefit: You are not blinded by bright light. Once per encounter, you may reroll a Perception check to avoid surprise or notice targets, but you must take the second result, even if it is worse.


One with the Shadows

You use techniques developed by your people’s foremost cutthroats, the Shadow Assassins.

Prerequisites: Umbaran.

Benefit: You deal +1 die of damage with weapons during the surprise round.


Poisonous Claws

While the majority of Selkath refrain from using their claws, believing it to be a sign of savagery, you have embraced the use of your claws in combat.

Prerequisites: Selkath.

Benefit: You have natural weapons in the form of claws. Whenever you make an unarmed attack, you may use your claws, which deal 1d4 damage on a successful hit. In addition, if your attack roll also exceeds your target’s Fortitude Defense, the target takes an additional 1d6 damage at the start of its next turn. You are always considered armed with your claws.


Superior Negotiator

Having grown up in a society that revolves around aggressive politicking, you have developed an exceptionally silver tongue.

Prerequisite: Umbaran.

Benefit: Whenever you spend a Force Point to enhance a Persuasion check, increase the die type by two steps (d6 to d10, or d8 to d12).


Telepathic Shielding

Many Selkath are unusually sensitive to telepathic impulses, but through training and mental discipline, you have learned to shut out unwelcome influence.

Prerequisite: Selkath.

Benefit: Whenever an enemy attempts to use a mind-affecting effect against you, the enemy must roll twice and take the lower result.