[Star Wars] New Centurions, Episode I: "Graduation Exercises"

On Dantooine the new apprentices at the Jedi Academy settle into the training routine. They join others in observance of the Jedi ideals, and in service to bringing justice and light to the dark corners of the galaxy. 

Mastering new skills and the Jedi Code, they find the instruction challenging and rewarding. As the 1st year ends, they begin to learn the use of the iconic Jedi weapon, the lightsaber….

Jedi Academy

Planet: Dantooine

Location: Training Academy of the Jedi Order

Trainee Assessment

Compiled by: Jedi Knight Kin-Ya Dosun

The cohort now code-named Century Flight have completed a training skirmish on the training grounds, observed by Masters Grakon Del and Beq-Abig. 

Master Grakon Del

Master Beq-Abig

Trainee Ashretta has been observed exhibiting excessive anger and will spend additional time in meditation. Trainee Ouda has also offered to spar with Ashretta. I have been given responsibility for Century Flight.

Jedi Academy training ground

Location: Varvrona system

Mission Report compiled by Jedi Trainee Elashi Tanisho, Century Flight

We were in pursuit of  Ace of Flasks, a ship suspected of conducting slave transport activities on behalf of the Kazarac guild. We located the vessel in orbit near planet Varvrona. 

Ouda Secura sent a transmission to the Ace of Flasks instructing them to stand down. They responded by claiming they were traders but appeared to make little effort to be convincing. Weapons fire did not do any serious damage to their vessel. They also inflicted some minor damage on one of our starfighters. Dihan deployed the ion cannon, after which they stood down.

Century Flight boarded their vessel, finding that they were transporting the enslaved persons in carbonite. One member of their crew claimed they were merely transporters and were not responsible for enslaving those individuals or attempting to sell them as property. Dihan warned that this person was attempting to distract us. 

One individual attempted to fire a slug-thrower at our group. I stunned him with my blaster pistol. After a brief firefight we were able to subdue the slavers and place them under arrest before handing them over to the Rangers of the New Republic. Among the individuals preserved in carbonite were also several persons who had outstanding warrants from various law enforcement agencies. We also found Bivo Snuko, the individual we had previously rescued on Dantooine, among their prisoners.

Ace of Flasks

Jedi Starfighter

Slaver

We have been asked to review the tenets of the Jedi Order and meditate on the events of our mission after Trainee Yaz expressed romanticized views of fighting while we described our combat with the Kazarac slavers.

Jedi Trainee Elashi Tanisho - personal log

I have completed my Trial of Spirit, facing the Dark Side in the Mirror. I had always thought myself fearless, yet the Mirror held something to cause fear in me. I would not welcome experiencing that again, but I have passed through the trial. My fellow members of Century Flight have also succeeded in overcoming whatever fears the Mirror made them experience. We have not spoken of what we saw in the Mirror.

We traveled next to planet Illum to seek crystals for our personal lightsabers. Ouda did not go with us, as she has a lightsaber that once belonged to her grandfather. He was not a member of the Jedi Order, but there is no requirement that the possessor of a lightsaber be a Jedi.

Illum

The crystal I felt through the Force lay in a location that required me to leap across a crevasse in the ice and climb a stalacmite to reach it. I miscalculated the jump over the crevasse and fell to the bottom, suffering some painful bruises. I spent a few moments meditating to compose myself and I was able to resist the extreme cold enough to work my way along the bottom of the crevasse until I found a place where I could climb out safely.

Crystal cavern

Once I climbed up a stalacmite to the crystal I had intended to claim, I found it was still out of my reach. Then I realized that there was a second crystal that was closer, and this was the crystal the Force had actually been guiding me to. 

Personal journal - Jedi Knight Kin-Ya Dosun

While most of Century Flight were on Illum acquiring their crystals, trainee Ouda Secura was invited to a private visit with Master Taanar. Ouda has not spoken to me of what Master Taanar shared with her, but it's my understanding that Master Taanar told her stories about her grandfather and Choj's grandfather and certain events that occurred while they were members of the Antaran Rangers. 

They then began to meditate together, and Ouda then heard an unusual sound which caused her cease her meditation and look to see what had caused the sound. She found that Master Taanar was gone, but her robe and lightsaber lay on the ground where she had been sitting. Ouda stated that just prior to this occurrence, her sense of the Force became much more intense. 

Master Taanar Ryl has become one with the Force. 

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Jedi Master Taanar Ryl

[Star Wars] New Centurions: Introduction - "Jedi Academy"

 

One hundred years have passed since the end of the previous campaign. Many of the heroes have passed on. The Jedi Order has continued as an altruistic force, focusing on work in the Unknown Regions and unaligned worlds. The Order seeks out those who show sensitivity to the Force and invites them to join in this work, if they choose, no matter how old they are.

While it is a time of relative peace, the Jedi Order is still needed to bring light & justice to the dark corners of the Galaxy. 

The Outer Rim and Unknown Regions teem with threats ranging from pirates and slavers to warlords and dark cults. The overworked forces of the New Republic rely on the Jedi to assist them in patrolling the frontier. This has led to an increase in the size of the Order.

As new candidates are found to join the Order, they travel to the Jedi Academy on Dantooine to begin their training….

Planet: Dantooine

Location: Training Academy of the Jedi Order

Trainee Candidate Assessment

Compiled by: Jedi Knight Kin-Ya Dosun

Jedi Knight Kin-Ya Dosun

Dantooine

Jedi Academy

The new class of trainee candidates appear promising. I have detected no immediate issues with the inclusion of candidates Choj'davu Secura and Ouda Secura, who were accepted for training when the personal attachment guidelines were waived at the request of Master Taanar Ryl. 

Jedi Master Taanar Ryl

It is understood that Master Taanar knew both candidates' grandfathers, who were members of the Antarian Rangers during her early years with the Order. Their great-aunt Nima Secura was at one time Master Taanar's padawan learner. Master Taanar feels that the Force has a purpose for the cousins. 

Choj'davu Secura

Ouda Secura

These four candidates have been formed into a cohort: Choj'davu Secura, Ouda Secura, Elashi Tanisho, and Dihan Falil. Candidate Choj'davu comes to us from the Antarian Rangers Junior Reserves with skills in use of heavy blasters and spacecraft operation. Candidate Ouda's nature is directed more toward communication and social skills. Candidate Dihan Falil is a Bothan candidate skilled with computer technology. Candidate Elashi Tanisho is a native of Cathar who wishes to honor the memory of the ancient Jedi heroes venerated by her people. 

Dihan Falil

Elashi Tanisho

Our other candidates for this group have been formed into a separate cohort. These are Mirialan Yaz Yavos, Human Zakary Wellons from the Outer Rim, Virine candidate Bountiful In Spirit, and Trandoshan candidate Ashretta.

Ashretta

Bountiful In Spirit

Yaz Yavos

Zakary Wellons

Observations: Candidate Choj has an unhealthy attachment to kaf and has also brought her own heavy blaster rifle. Candidate Elashi prefers not to wear footgear and is very interested in acrobatics. Candidate Dihan is reticent but very skilled in computer operation. Candidate Ouda has evidenced interest in using her Force talents to influence the minds of other beings. 

I have heard that Master Taanar had a personal meeting with Candidates Choj and Ouda shortly after their arrival. They have shared that in their discussion with her she spoke to them about their relatives and reminded them that they are not required to join the Jedi Order should they wish not to do so. 

During training Candidate Dihan researched a new feeding regimen for the rockhoppers that has improved their condition. He also suggested an improvement to the Academy computer systems. Candidates Choj and Elashi have both excelled at piloting starfighters. Candidate Ouda was given a task of visiting planet Avanell in the Lesser Lantillan Run to extend the Order's invitation for candidacy to the a mother whose child has demonstrated Force sensitivity. Candidate Ouda performed admirably in allaying the mother's fears and disabusing her of the rumor that our Order removes young children from their parents against their will.  

Jedi starfighter

Rockhopper

Recently both cohorts of candidates made a visit to Rift City during a free period to listen to a musical group performance. They demonstrated their willingness to help others and combat criminals when they met a Human at the venue who appeared to be in distress. This Human was being harassed by by a group of Durros who proved to be members of the local Redfangs gang. The candidates were able to prevent the Redfangs from harming the Human without resorting to harmful violence. They reported that following this encounter they encouraged the Human to discontinue his relationship with the Redfangs and consider seeking a new life with the Antarian Rangers, which he declined. This incident provided an opportunity to teach the candidates about the importance of allowing others to choose their own paths in life. 

Jobu

Redfang thug

The first cohort were assigned as responders when the Academy received a signal from an escape pod that fell in the Rifts region. This pod had landed near a mangle beetle nest and aroused the beetles. The cohort members were able to use their airspeeder to distract the beetles, allowing Candidates Ouda and Dihan to enter the pod. They experienced some beetle bites, but were able to rescue the occupant of the pod and treat his injuries. 

Mangle beetle

The occupant of the escape pod, a Snivvian named Bivo Snuko, has reported that he was placed in involuntary indenture to a corporation and had escaped from a vessel by using the pod. The corporation is the Gaffner Corporation, which is located in independent space and is not subject to the legal restrictions enforced by Imperial or Republic law. This organization has been placed under observation. 

Wrecked escape pod

Bivo Snukko

Neither cohort has been put forward for the exchange program with the Imperial Knight Academy. They will remain as students of the Jedi Academy. All members of both cohorts have elected to continue with Jedi training and have been advanced to Jedi Trainee status. 

[Star Wars] Guardians of Peace, Episode 36: Broken Vows, part 2

As the RESISTANCE grows in strength, the FIRST ORDER moves to neutralize the gathering opposition. The First Order and their pirate lackeys search the borders of the Unknown Regions and Wild Space looking for agents of the Resistance. Any sign of their adversaries quickly leads to violent action.

Space pirates and mining droids attack the former Jedi Taanar Ryl and her companions in retaliation for freeing natives of Ta’amel III from slavery. During the fight the former Imperial Knight Vimma Montari lead the pirates in combat, only to be defeated and captured by the heroes. After making sure the miners and pirates wouldn’t harm the natives, the group returns to the core to hand over Montari to Imperial authorities….


In the aftermath of the fight on Ta'amul, the crew of the Dark Star found themselves in charge of a prisoner and ex-Jedi Tanaar Ryl had a moral dilemma. Their intent had been to rescue Vimma Montari from her kidnappers. But now the young woman they had aboard their ship appeared to be voluntarily working with the First Order. Tanaar had no desire to be a jailer. In this situation, returning Vimma to the Imperial Knights didn't seem like the ideal option. She didn't want to force Vimma to return to them if that wasn't her wish. But she did want to offer the young woman a chance to reconsider her support of the First Order.

                                 Imperial Knight Vimma Montari

When Ayja came to explain that she couldn't keep Vimma sedated indefinitely, Tanaar agreed that Vimma should be transferred to one of the Dark Star's small cabins. She also asked Ferb to plot a different course back to the Unknown Regions, in the event that the Dark Star was being tracked. After Vimma was moved to the cabin everyone aboard kept themselves armed out of caution and Ayja prepared a fast-acting sedative as a contingency.

But when Vimma asked to see Tanaar, her demeanor wasn't that of a fanatic determined to escape her captivity or destroy the enemies of the First Order. She was calm and self-possessed. She told Tanaar that she wanted to return to her masters. Tanaar took note of the fact that she used the plural, but couldn't elicit who those masters were. When Tanaar asked Vimma about the children she had been trying to protect, Vimma responded that they were better off where they were. Tanaar tried to gently plant seeds of doubt in her mind about this, but didn't linger on the subject. Then Vimma asked if she could be allowed out of the cabin, promising to do no harm and stay out of the cockpit and engine room. Tanaar told her she would consider the request.

After Tanaar left Vimma's cabin, she retreated to her own to meditate. Nima joined her, but both of them were troubled by a sense of unease. Tanaar realized that there was a malevolence emanating from the mysterious amulet Master Neri had given her. Nima sensed the malevolence also. Further examination of the amulet didn't provide any clues as to what was causing the sensation, but Tanaar decided to put the amulet in the secure weapon storage rather than keep it close by.

Later Tanaar met with the rest of the crew and told them of Vimma's request. After they discussed their concerns - the Secura brothers and Nima were all convinced that Vimma had been brainwashed - they agreed to grant the request.

Vimma's behavior seemed acceptable after she was permitted to move about the ship. The only unusual event was while she was dining with the crew one meal. Ferb mentioned a craving for food from the Biscuit Baron franchise, and almost immediately Den agreed with him with such enthusiasm that the two of them were soon planning how they could make a detour to a planet with a Biscuit Baron location. Ren didn't share his brother's craving and began to feel concerned by how focused Den and Ferb were on their plan. Vimma smiled a little at their conversation, but there was nothing obvious that hinted at any outside influence on their behavior.

When the Dark Star reached the Unknown Regions, Tanaar contacted Leia to tell her what happened with the Blazing Chain. She also asked Leia's advice regarding Vimma. She was still hesitant to take the young woman back to the Imperial Knights. Following her conversation with Leia, she seached her feelings and came to a decision. She contacted the Jedi Order and spoke with Master Kanan, asking him if the Order would be willing to allow her to bring Vimma to them. Kanan agreed.

                       Jedi Master Kanan Jarrus

Tanaar recognized that this decision might cause friction with the Imperial Knights. But she felt more comfortable taking Vimma to a neutral party, one where the young woman would be given support but wouldn't be pressured into choosing a particular path. Tanaar was confident that the Jedi Masters would be able to determine whether Vimma had been coerced or compelled to give her allegiance to the First Order.

When the Dark Star arrived at the Jedi Sanctuary, Tanaar was pleased to find the Skyriver Venture was present. She was greeted with a fierce hug from her old friend Lowarra and a slightly less fierce one from Dash. Even Master Neri was present for a change. Neri invited Vimma to stay at the sanctuary and find her center. Vimma didn't react to this request with anger or resentment, which Tanaar took as a favorable sign.

                         Jedi Master Niranya Repp

                                     Lowarra

                                Skyriver Venture

While the Dark Star had been in transit, Nima had been working on building her own lightsaber, an important rite of passage of every Jedi. She consulted with Master Kanan, who helped her settle herself and encouraged her to use the sanctuary's facilities to begin the final phase of construction.

Tanaar also had conversations with Neri and Kanan, and Kanan gave her a data disk of information about the Blazing Chain. It seemed that they might have originated as a group of Sith refugees, but the source of this information wasn't entirely reliable. Tanaar had a talk with Neri about the amulet's malevolent presence as well. It had never manifested such a sensation while in Neri's possession, and Neri apologized to Tanaar that she would never have given it to her if she had known. In the end Tanaar decided to keep it and continue learning about it.

The Dark Star crew remained at the Jedi Sanctuary for another day after delivering Vimma Montari. The Jedi opened their armory to the Secura brothers, allowing them to restock the Dark Star's armory from their supplies. But the time came for the team to leave, with the intention of going back out to the Unknown Regions to meet with the Blazing Chain again.

Just as the Dark Star exited the the minefield that protected the Sanctuary from intruders, they found themselves facing a disturbing sight: a Star Destroyer of unfamiliar design was approaching the Jedi Order's safe haven!

[Star Wars] Guardians of Peace, Episode 35: Broken Vows

Returning Guardians of Peace to my blog after a prolonged absence, we rejoin our heroes mid-adventure after they have parted from the New Jedi Order and the Antarian Rangers in order to serve under General Leia in the newly-formed Resistance. To learn more about what happened to them in the missing episodes, see this post.

As the RESISTANCE grows in strength, the FIRST ORDER moves to neutralize the gathering opposition. The First Order and their pirate lackeys search the borders of the Unknown Regions and Wild Space looking for agents of the Resistance. Any sign of their adversaries quickly leads to violent action.

 On the planet Ta’amel III, after an ambush by pirates, Taanar Ryl and her companions attempt to flee into a fierce storm raging above them. Assailed by First Order TIE fighters, launched from an orbiting Star Destroyer, the heroes nearly manage to break free from their pursuers before they crash land on a jungle island…

                            The Dark Star

                                      Taanar Ryl

                                       Nima Secura

                                  Denpoji Secura

                                    Renpoji Secura

                                             Ayja

As the crew of the Dark Star enjoyed the celebrations with the villagers, they observed freighters flying by overhead. Then Taanar's comm beeped. She stepped aside for a moment to take a message from Ferb, who had detected the ships and advised that another freighter was in orbit. Taanar advised him to keep the Dark Star where it had landed and power down to avoid detection.

After Taanar passed this information along to the rest of the group, Den observed that any transports on the way to the mine would reach the village first. Taanar reached out to the villagers to warn them and together with the Dark Star crew they began to plan an ambush for the expected mining transports.

Each member of the crew took on preparing for combat. Taanar used her lightsaber to fell trees across the path the transports were expected to take. Den suspended a line across the path to knock speeder bike riders off their bikes. Ayja persuaded the villagers who had acquired blaster carbines after they were freed from the mine to join in the ambush effort. Ren scouted for the approaching transports and helped Nima find a spot where she would be able to swing down from the treetops.

The pirates arrived soon enough. A procession of vehicles included several people on foot, an aircar and a skiff. Taanar used her Force power to grab the car and flip it upside down, then dropped it on top of the people who were on foot. After accomplishing this she retreated into the jungle foliage.
As Ren engaged with one of the pirate's who had fallen from the aircar, the sound of a lightsaber blade igniting could be heard. Vimma Montari had accompanied he pirates. She appeared to be enraged. Though she still wore her Imperial Knight armor, the insignia had been scraped off. She turned on Taanar and the two of them engaged with their lightsabers. While they fought, the rest of the team battled various pirates. Ren used his vibroknife to behead a Talz. The villagers joined in the battle.

But as Ayja provided encouragement, a native animal suddenly leaped out to attack her, disturbed by all of the noise and activity. The others were to occupied with the pirates to come to her aid. Nima attacked the skiff and damaged it, and it was destroyed when Ren hurled an ion grenade at it. The villagers swarmed over the pirates and one of them began to attack Vimma Montari. Sadly this villager was slain by one of the pirates. Vimma's frenzied attacks were taking a toll on Taanar, who had initially wanted to avoid harming the young woman but now had to fight back with deadly force.

Crashing noises issued from the jungle as a mining droid and a spider droid appeared. Nima ran to attack the spider droid. Den tossed an ion grenade at the mining droid, incapacitating it. His brother joined Nima in focusing on the spider droid, disabling one of its many legs. Nima destroyed the spider droid when she deflected one of its blasts back at it. Den continued to battle the mining droid. Taanar, aided by Ayja, struck a blow against Vimma Montari. Nima joined Taanar against Vimma as well, as did Den once the droid was eliminated. It was Ayja who's shot finally dropped Vimma Montari.

Ren and the surviving villagers finished off the remaining pirates. With the fighting over, Ayja rendered first aid. Taanar asked her to keep Vimma Montari sedated. The team said a gratefull farewell to the villagers and transported the unconscious former Imperial Knight back to the Dark Star. With the pirate group eliminated, the two freighters departed. As the Dark Star prepared to take off, the Resistance team planned to return her to the Empire.

Next: Episode 36, Broken Vows part 2

[Star Wars] Guardians of Peace: Update

Some folks who have been following my campaign journals may have noticed that I haven't posted anything about Star Wars for quite a while. I wanted to provide an update on this campaign.

First, the campaign is still ongoing. While there have been a few short dry spells during holidays or periods where the players were victims of colds, the campaign hasn't been cancelled or been on an extended hiatus.

The problem is me. My last post was for Episode 14, which took place in 2018. The campaign reached Episode 36 yesterday

I fell behind on my write-ups because I find that I'm most effective at doing these blog posts if I write them immediately after the session, when my memory of events is fresh. But we play on Saturday nights between 6 and 10 p.m., and when I get home I'm usually too tired to sit down and write up my notes into a coherent post. We also have a Pathfinder game on Sundays and what usually happens is when that game session is over I write up Pathfinder. Then I go back to work on Monday and for the rest of the week I don't take the time to write up the Star Wars session.

As a result of this dilemma, I fell farther and farther behind on my Star Wars posts. Then I misplaced the notebook where I keep my notes, and I couldn't find it for four months.

As a result of this huge disconnect between my blog and where we are now in the campaign, I've decided that I should stop waiting until I get caught up to write about the events in our current sessions. That's just going to make me fall farther behind. Instead, I'm going to start from Episode 36, and hope that someday I'll find the time and energy to write all the missing stuff.

I'll start out by filling in some details of what happened between Episode 14 and Episode 35.

The crew of the Fortune of Greepo were still trying to rescue the kidnapped Imperial Knight Vimma Montari, but as they pursued her they found themselves being drawn into deeper and darker territory. It became apparent that someone else was directing the Shadow Wing pirates and the mercenary Stellite Monks. They discovered that the Monks had Force users among their number. They encountered Vimma on several occasions, initially as a prisoner being forced to cooperate with her captors, but eventually it began to seem that she was voluntarily placing herself as their enemy.

During one encounter with Vimma Montari she gave Taanar Ryl a message: she was collaborating to protect children, which the Fortune crew assumed were the kidnapped children from the colony mentioned in Episode 14. They began working to find out what had become of the children. 

During a visit by the Fortune crew to Cloud City above the planet Bespin to pursue a lead, the city was attacked and completely destroyed by mystery ships that seemed to be trying to eliminate a possible informant the Fortune crew had been seeking. The team managed to escape the destruction, but they now had a mission to find out who their hidden enemies were.

This quest led them into the uncharted Unknown Regions, where they eventually found the planet Valdax 3. There they discovered evidence of an organization that had resources equivalent to those of the Empire or the New Republic, including new designs of Star Destroyers. This 'First Order' seemed to be dedicated to restoring the Empire as it was prior to the death of Emperor Palpatine. On Valdax 3 they encountered a resistance group led by Llando Calrissian. After escaping the planet with Llando's help, the New Jedi Order helped to broker a partnership between the Empire and the New Republic to send a joint military task force to Valdax 3 to rescue the kidnapped citizens of Cloud City. Although the rescue was successful, in the time between the team's departure from Valdax 3 and the task force's arrival, the First Order had packed up and disappeared.

In the aftermath, the partnership between the Empire and the New Republic fell apart. The testimony of Llando Calrissian was not enough to give both governments a shared purpose. Political turmoil had also seized the Republic. When Chancellor Mon Mothma stepped down, her expected successor was Senator Leia Organa, but that expectation failed when the secret that Leia was Emperor Skywalker's daughter was leaked. Leia had to abandon her plans to run for the Chancellorship, and the post was won by a representative of the conservative party that sought a harder line against the Empire. 

Leia suspected at that point that the First Order had infiltrated both the Empire and the New Republic, and the revelation about her family confirmed that for her. She decided to leave the political scene altogether and establish a secret Resistance organization to combat the machinations of the First Order. As she recruited like-minded people to help her, she asked a major sacrifice of the Fortune crew: leave the New Jedi Order and the Antarian Rangers behind and join the Resistance.

Following a short period of soul-searching and with full agreement from the Order, Taanar Ryl chose to part from the Jedi and join the Resistance. Nema, Den, Ren, Ayja, and Ferb all joined her. They kept the Fortune of Greepo, but to accentuate the significant change in their goals and affiliation they changed the ship's name to the Dark Star. 

The First Order's actual location was still unknown, and it was the Dark Star team's first Resistance mission to pursue clues to those coordinates. This led them back into the Unknown Regions, where they eventually ran into a band of Force-wielding pirates known as the Blazing Chain. After some initial trouble, the Dark Star team decided to partner with the Blazing Chain, who were opposed to the First Order's activities. 

During a visit to the planet Ta'amel for a rendezvous with the Blazing Chain's leader, the Dark Stars were attacked by First Order forces. They took refuge in the jungle with a tribe of native people whose males had all been enslaved to work in a mine. Nema followed a local ritual to free the slaves single-handed, then rejoined her teammates to take out the slavers. This event advanced her to graduate from her padawan status. 

Just as the Dark Stars were about to escape from Ta'amel, they encountered Vimma Montari again, this time utterly dedicated to service in the First Order. During the combat she was injured and knocked unconscious and the Dark Stars were able to take her prisoner. And that's where we were at the conclusion of Episode 35: Broken Vows, part 1. 

[Star Wars] Guardians of Peace, episode 14: "Chasing Shadows"

Hidden groups and dark forces are at work to undermine the centers of peace and order in the galaxy. They use extortion, blackmail, and bribery to destabilize and discredit the galactic governments. They work through criminals, pirates, and dark cults to achieve their evil ends.

Jedi Knight Taanar Ryl has thwarted an assassination attempt on a New Republic Senator, and captured the person behind the plot, Breena Alfassa. After questioning her and leaving her in custody on Taris, the Jedi and her companions learn that Breena Alfassa was killed by a mysterious figure.

Next they confer with allies in the New Republic and the Empire on a plan to unmask their hidden foes….

Back aboard the Stellar Flare, Taanar Ryl met in conversation via commlink with both Jedi Master Kanan Jarrus and Imperial Sector Ranger Magda Insco to tell them what her team had learned and what had happened on Taris. The planet that kidnapped Imperial Knight Vimma Montari had mentioned to Nema Secura, Valdax 3, was located in the Outer Rim and was unknown to either the Antarian Rangers or the Imperial Scouts. Sector Ranger Insco explained that the Star Destroyer Autocrat, which had been seen by the Stellar Flare, had been reported destroyed. The other two ships were unidentified.

After Taanar signed off, Den Secura suggested that perhaps the team should talk to their old friend and informant Dexter Vex to see if he'd ever heard of Valdax 3. Meanwhile Ayja analyzed the video the Stellar Flare had taken of the three Star Destroyers, observing that they were apparently doing some mining on an unknown planet and ore carriers were transporting something both to the destroyers and to the pirate vessel.

Some time passed as the team prepared for their next mission in pursuit of Vimma Montari. Ex-pirate Ferb Skywalker completed Ranger training and was assigned to the Fortune of Greepo as pilot. The team then planned to join with Ranger 17 and visit the unknown planet where the mining was taking place to find out what Shadow Wing and their mysterious allies were up to. In preparation for this journey the Secura brothers stocked the Fortune of Greepo with grenades and thermal detonators. Ayja also armed herself with a new weapon.

Taanar's team was joined by five other Rangers in addition to Ranger 17 as they set off for the unnamed planet. As they approached their destination they noted with concern that there were no ships in the vicinity and no signals coming from the planet. It was a Class M planet, habitable for oxygen-breathers. As they flew over the mine site they observed a shocking sight: the entire site had been destroyed by orbital bombardment over an area of 50 kilometers. The blast zone was still smoldering, causing local weather disruption. Visibility was poor due to the ashy rainfall.

Nema suddenly warned her comrades that she could feel someone in pain and fear near the blast zone. Despite the poor visibility, Ferb landed the ship perfectly. Once they exited the ship Ayja detected a lifeform. The party fanned our to search with Nema in the lead, following her Force sense. The terrain beyond the blasted area was jungle. The group made their way toward a sandbar in the river, where they spotted a crude lean-to hut. Nearby lay the carcass of a dead bipedal creature, resembling a tauntaun. Nema called out to the hut, attempting to sound non-threatening. Ayja followed by repeating the greeting in several languages in case the occupant didn't speak Basic, "We're here to help." Den worried that the being would be hostile after the bombardment and warned his cousin to stay back.

A bloodied humanoid emerged from the hut, limping on an injured leg. He shouted at the new arrivals, "Get away! You're here to kill me!" He had a simple spear in his hand, but Den gently disarmed him and Ayja approached to examine his wound. It had become infected. The other Rangers quickly assembled a stretcher to carry the injured man back to the Fortune. Realizing that the newcomers didn't mean to harm him, the man answered their questions. His name was Danton, and he had come there with a group of colonists who had declined to join either the New Empire or the New Republic. Their community had been attacked by pirates who enslaved all the colonists and forced them to work in the mines by holding their children hostage. They had named their planet New Sanmar. Danton was in very poor condition, and after he gave the Jedi group this information, he died despite all Ayja's efforts to save him.

After this sobering event, Ren suggested that perhaps Ferb should move the Fortune up on the bluff above where it would be less exposed in case the pirates returned. He spotted some prints going toward the hills and the group wondered if there might be other survivors. Then Den detected someone apparently watching them. The brothers split up and slipped into the forest to seek the spy. As they neared the watcher, Den created a diversion to allow his brother to get closer. But the watcher surprised him by waving. A figure in dark armor approached, removing a helmet to reveal that it was Sector Ranger Magda Insco! Ren crept up behind her unseen and greeted her, "Sector Ranger, it's good to see you again." He was gratified that this startled her. Then two companions joined her. One person they recognized as Imperial Knight Teemo Fallon, who they had met when Vimma Montari was abducted. The other was also an Imperial Knight, an older man named Alomar Ring.

Suddenly the two groups heard a distant explosion. An Imperial Scout appeared and provided details of the location where the explosion had occurred. The two groups joined and decided to hike there. The explosion had occurred in a cliffside across the blast zone from the sand bar where they had found Danton. When they neared they saw a Gungan, and a ship, which Ayja identified as an old YT-1760 light trader. The ship had been parked in a cave, but boulders had fallen and blocked it in. The explosion had presumably been the Gungan's attempt to free it.

Taanar approached and called out to the Gungan, asking if he would be willing to accept their aid in exchange for information. The Imperial Scouts and the other Rangers had all hidden themselves to avoid giving away their numbers in case the Gungan was hostile or had companions. The Gungan responded by introducing himself as Woo Rummers. He told Taanar that he had been hiding there before the colonists arrived, ever since the Clone War, but Ayja murmured to Taanar that it couldn't be true because his ship wasn't that old. Taanar decided to call Woo Rummers out on his lie. In response, Alomar Ring ignited his lightsaber and demanded to know what Woo knew about Vimma Montari.

Woo Rummers argued that he was only there to notify the pirates if anyone came to the planet and didn't know anything about Imperial Knights or kidnapped children. His answers to questions about whether the pirates would be returning were evasive. Den cautiously confiscated his inactive commlink. Then Alomar reported that their Scouts warned of two approaching shuttlecraft. Within moments the two shuttles arrived at the site where Rummers' ship was trapped, each disgorging ten people. The Ranger and Knight groups all took cover in the forest before the shuttles landed. Magda Insco remained with Woo Rummers, who she had put in binders.

As the pirates emerged from their shuttles, Den began to fire on them. Teemo Fallon shouted, "Light 'em up!" and a grenade launcher fired from the Imperial Scout group. Ren fired on the pirates and two figures fell from the ramp of one shuttle.

Taanar moved closer to the two shuttles, drawing her lightsaber. Two blaster bolts were reflected from her saber back at the pirates and one of the shooters fell. Despite the binders, Woo Rummers made a run for it. Ren shouted, "Surrender! Throw down your weapons!" but the pirates didn't comply. Taanar stunned one pirate and decided to draw her own blaster rather than get into hand-to-hand range with the pirates. Alomar lifted a huge boulder and used it to pin down the fleeing Woo Rummers.

As Den stunned another pirate and Taanar moved closer to Ren, the Imperial Scouts moved in to wipe out all of the pirates with their heavy weapons. In a few moments the fight was over. Taanar and Nema noticed that despite being crushed by a boulder, Woo was still moving. Taanar removed the rock. Alomar angrily choked the Gungan, but Taanar demanded, "How can he speak when you're choking him?" and Alomar relented. Taanar then questioned Woo again. He admitted that the pirates were waiting in the nearby asteroid belt, intending to capture the Jedi when they arrived. But they weren't pirates, they were mercenaries hired by the Stellite Monks. Taanar persuaded Woo to signal the mercenaries, and the combined Ranger and Scout groups decided to take one of the shuttles out to meet the mercenaries in the asteroid belt.

As the mercenary shuttle headed out toward the asteroids, Taanar searched her feelings and couldn't refrain from muttering, "I have a bad feeling about this."*

*The GM had given each player a quote on a slip of paper at the beginning of the game. When it was time to use the quote he prompted the player. My quote was "I have a bad feeling about this", which he prompted me to say just before the end of the session.

[Star Wars] Guardians of Peace, episode 13: The Rot Within, part 3

Dark forces are at play in the galaxy. Shadowy figures and cults move among the far-flung systems of the unknown regions. Growing ever more daring, they advance toward the bright centers of the New Republic and the Empire.
After discovering evidence of the missing Imperial Knight Vimma Montari in the abandoned Imperial Tower the Jedi move on to their next objective, finding a link between the SHADOW WING and Senator Valens. They make plans to attend the reception for the Senator in the prestigious Robb Tower...


In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Senator Jalaila Valens, Ranger Ayja had been knocked unconscious. She was transported to the local infirmary while the rest of the Jedi group were giving their statements to the senior constable who had secured the scene.


Once the mop-up at the Senator's office had been completed, the Jedi group went to the infirmary to check on Ayja's condition. Worried that someone in the constabulary might be in league with the terrorists or Shadow Wing, Ren surreptitiously took Ayja's datapad. The group then returned to their hotel except for Ren, who volunteered to remain and keep and eye on Ayja.


At the hotel, Taanar put Nema and Den in a Force trance so they could all recover from their injuries. Once he was fully recovered, Den decided to return to the infirmary to fetch the datapad from his brother. When he arrived he as spotted by a holonews crew and found himself struggling to answer questions from the reporter without giving away any information that might alert the Shadow Wing to the Jedi activities on the planet.


Once Den was able to get free of the reporter, he crept into the infirmary and tried to prank his brother, but Ren caught him. Assuming a more serious demeanor, the brothers decided that they should go together to take the datapad to FE for examination. They contacted the senior constable to ask that guards be placed in the infirmary to look after Ayja while they were gone. When Den told his brother about his encounter with the holonews crew outside, the Secura brothers decided to try to disguise themselves as maintenance workers to avoid being accosted again. Unfortunately for them, all maintenance at the hospital was performed by droids. Instead they had to disguise themselves as patients to slip out of the building.

Once the datapad was delivered to FE, the droid had some trouble extracting the data Ayja had acquired during the party. While the brothers were working with the faithful astromech droid, Taanar spoke with Senior Constable Zekman, who told her that Breena Alfasa hadn't been seen since the party. Afterward she and Nema went to the hospital and asked that Ayja be released into their care. They took her back to the hotel, where a few hours of Force trance allowed Ayja to fully recover from the injuries she had suffered.

By the time Ayja had recovered and could look at the data she had acquired, the team learned that Master Frowd, the Stellite monk leader they had encountered on Sathazaar, had been in contact with the Stellite monastery on Balthazaar. There was also information indicating that Breena had recently received an encrypted message from a disguised female humanoid asking for a progress update on their operation against Senator Valens. The team decided they would share this information with Senior Constable Zekman and sent him an invitation to meet them at their hotel. As they waited for Zekman, they were contacted by the business from which they had rented the speeder the Secura brothers had used. Taanar was told that the insurance coverage they had purchased would cover the damages to the vehicle, but the swoop bikes they had also rented had been stolen. Then Zekman arrived and they told him what they had learned from Ayja's datapad. In return, he shared with them some security cam footage that appeared to show Breena using a Force mind trick! After he showed them the video, Taanar told him about their entire mission to find the headquarters of Shadow Wing and locate the kidnapped Imperial Knight Vimma Montari. Zekman revealed that Shadow Wing had a relationship with a local swoop bike gang called the Flying 15. 

After Senior Constable Zekman parted from them, the team discussed trying to get information about Shadow Wing from the Flying 15 gang. Ren recalled that when he'd snuck into the pit area at the swoop bike racetrack he had seen a Herglic who looked very similar to the Herglic they had encountered previously in their contact with Shadow Wing pirates. He contacted the rental agency again and persuaded them to give him the information on the location were the stolen swoop bikes had been detected. Then they rented another speeder transport and set off for the Undercity.

While Taanar's team were on the way to the last known location of the stolen bikes, she received a message from the Stellar Flare informing her that reconnaissance telemetry of the three recently discovered unknown Star Destroyers showed them transferring goods to pirate ships. One of the Star Destroyers had been identified as a vessel that had broken away and disappeared ten years earlier during the Rebellion, but the other two ships were of an unknown design. Telemetry also indicated that there was some type of manufacturing or mining going on on the planet where the ships were detected. Taanar absorbed this information and continued on toward the stolen bikes.

Shortly after, the team arrived at the Ace Tap Cafe, a known hangout of the Flying 15s. They parked their transportation far enough away that it wouldn't be easily spotted and approached the cafe. Ren took point. Loud music issued from the cafe, conveniently drowning out the sound of their approach. A row of swoop bikes was parked out front. Ren took some liquid cable from his utility belt and used it to tie all the bikes together to prevent the gang members from using their bikes to flee. While he completed this activity, the rest of the group went inside the cafe to create a distraction. As they entered the music abruptly ceased. "What have we here?" one of the occupants of the cafe asked. 

Den responded, "You've got our bikes." He attempted to sound as intimidating as he could. The gang members all pretended innocence and claimed the bikes out front belonged to them. Suddenly the sound of bike engines revving could be heard from outside, followed by a crash as Ren's liquid cable prevented the bikes from taking off. The team hurried back outside to see who was trying to get away. 

They found Breena Alfasa just getting to her feet from the fallen bike. As Den moved toward her, she flipped out of his reach with a move that looked to Taanar very much like something a Force user would be able to perform. Den fired at her with his blaser and scored a definite hit. Breena shouted for the Flying 15s to stop the Jedi group. Ren then shot her in the head and she collapsed, clearly deceased. Taanar reached out with the Force and pulled Breena's body over toward Ayja so the Kaminoan medic could try to revive her. Ayja's medical skill was able to bring her back a moment later. The bikers began to fire on the team. Taanar used her lightsaber to deflect the blaster bolts from Ayja while she worked to stabilize Breena. Taanar attempted unsuccessfully to disarm the leader of the gang. Ren shouted, "Isn't the price of this job getting to high?" and fired on a female member of the gang, hitting her. Then Nema fired her blaster at the gang leader and dealt him a serious burn. Several of the gang members fled. Taanar turned to the remaining two and asked, "Would you like to join them?"

At that moment, the Herglic arrived. He carried a heavy blaster, which he fired at Nema. She hadn't yet noticed him, but fortunately for her he missed his aim and his bolt went wide. He was joined by a Gungan, a Klatoonian, and a Nikto. Den shot the Herglic. Suddenly Vimma Montari appeared, landing next to Taanar and attacking her! While Ren joined his brother against the Heglic, Taanar stunned Vimma . 

A second Gungan and another Klatoonian arrived to join the struggle. The second Gungan tossed a grenade toward Den but the blast was party blocked by a nearby heap of rubble. Vimma recovered from being stunned and murmured to Taanar, "I have to make it look good or they'll kill the children." Taanar released her, and Vimma used a Force power that knocked everyone but Den off their feet. Then she withdrew. Nema, who was unaware of what Vimma  had said, pursued and attacked with her lightsaber. Taanar attempted to disarm Vimma but the young Imperial Knight held on to her saber. Then the second Gungan threw another grenade, this time at Ren and Ayja. Ayja used her own body to protect the injured Breena from the detonation. One of the Klatoonians shot Nema and Den fired back, leaving the shooter staggered. Vimma swung back at Nema but her saber didn't connect. Ren took down the grenade-throwing Gungan. 

Taanar grabbed Vimma  and pushed her behind the rest of the group. One of the Nikto took cover behind the Herglic and fired at Den. The first Klatoonian fell after Den shot him, and his brother took out the second Klatoonian. Nema ran after Vimma , who had jumped up and run away from where Taanar had put her. As Nema ran after her, Vimma jumped on a swoop bike and called out to her, "The children are on Valdax 3 in the Outer Rim!" Then she sped away. The Nikto who had been trying to hide behind the Herglic tried to flee, but Ren shot him down. The battle was over.

The Jedi team took Breena and handed her over to the local constabulary. When she had recovered enough to be questioned, they interrogated her along with Senior Constable Zekman, but she revealed very little. 

After Breena was in custody, the group shared what they knew with Senator Valens. Then they received a call from Constable Zekman - Breena Alfasa had been killed. A disguised humanoid had infiltrated the detention facility, used a Force mind trick to evade the guards, and slain her. 

Next Episode: Episode 14: "Chasing Shadows"

[Star Wars] Guardians of Peace, episode 12: The Rot Within, part 2

Dark forces are at play in the galaxy. Shadowy figures and cults move among the far-flung systems of the unknown regions. Growing ever more daring, they advance toward the bright centers of the New Republic and the Empire.

On a data-gathering mission to the urban planet of Taris, the Jedi Taanar Ryl and her companions have discovered a link between the SHADOW WING pirates and a swoop bike gang, the Flying 15s. Following a clue leads them to the abandoned Imperial Tower...

A thermal detonator popped out of the wall and landed on the floor at the feet of the Jedi party. As it exploded, Nema threw up her personal shield to protect herself. Den backed away hurriedly and blocked for the Tunnel Snakes who had accompanied them into the abandoned Imperial tower. Taanar attempted to use the Force to grab the device and hurl it into some nearby rubble but failed to pick it up. Then Ren dived on top of it!

Nema quickly moved to her cousin's side to treat his injuries from the limited blast. There was no light it the corridor now, but that didn't prevent the Tunnel Snakes from fleeing the area. Den activated a light stick and began to examine the door they had been looking at before the thermal detonator appeared. It appeared to have been recently repaired. Den used his blaster to destroy the security camera beside it. 

Taanar ignited her lightsaber and began to cut through the door. Beyond it the small group found a second security door. Beyond that lay what appeared to be a detention block. Slime slugs crawled on the walls, consuming the slime slick that grew there. The group located the security office and determined that the computer systems there were in standby mode. The cell doors were not locked, and one cell showed signs of recent occupation. On the wall of that cell they found scratched into the wall by the bed "VM Imp Knight". They attempted to access the computers for more information, but were unsuccessful.

Having found all they could at the Imperial tower, they considered whether to follow up on the shipment Ren had overheard some people talking about while they were at the swoop bike race. Ayja contacted Taanar, indicating that she had been trying to get through for some time. The others waited for her to come to the Imperial tower as she was more skilled at computer use than the Jedi or the other two Rangers, but once she arrived she had no more success. Taanar felt they should leave soon, so they headed back to where they had left their rented swoop bikes. But when they arrived at that location they found the bikes missing. Annoyed by this event, they decided to walk back to their hotel. 

It was dark by the time they had walked half the distance to the hotel. Taanar heard the sound of a swoop bike engine in the distance. Abruptly a wamp rat lunged out of the shadows at her. Den, Ayja and Nema all drew their blasters The rat bit Taanar on the thigh and Ren stabbed it with his vibroknife. At the same time his brother blasted it and it died. Taanar drew her lightsaber and stabbed a second rat that appeared. As they dispensed with the rats, Taanar noticed that she could hear the swoop bike she had noticed earlier flying away from them. 

Once they had finally returned to their hotel hours later, the party found an invitation waiting for them. Senator Valens had invited Taanar and one guest to a reception at Roff Tower. Ayja recalled that in past times a padawan would always accompany her master, so Nema could go with Taanar and one other person could be her guest for the event. After some discussion over what their strategy should be, it was decided that Ayja should attend the reception with the Jedi, while the Secura brothers would remain outside the tower in a rented aircar and swoop bike, circling the building to watch for trouble. 

When the time for the reception arrived, the group traveled to Roff Tower in their rented aircar. Taanar and Nema wore formal Jedi robes and Ayja wore a formal gown. They were questioned by security guards, who weren't aware of Jedi tradition, but the senator's aide Breena agreed to admit Ayja as Taanar's guest. Senator Valens greeted the Jedi warmly and told them to ask Breena if they needed anything. Taanar noted that Breena appeared displeased by this statement. When they were alone Taanar advised Ayja and Nema to keep an eye on Breena. Ayja used her ever-present data pad to look up the plans for the building, determining that the reception was taking place on the floor above the senator's offices. They observed that Breena was watching them as they conversed.

Taanar then approached Breena to ask her what dignitaries and celebrities she should meet, but Breena ignored her question. Taanar found herself introduced to Valtino Rossi, a popular swoop bike racer. Meanwhile Ayja tried to find a way to sneak off to the offices below, but any attempt seemed to be too obvious. Noticing Ayja's dilemma, Nema began to ask Breena questions about swoop bike racing to distract her, which gave Ayja an opportunity to leave unnoticed. She contacted the brothers via a secure commlink and just managed to avoid encountering a security guard.

The senator was to make some prepared remarks during the reception. As the time for this event arrived and Senator Valens began her speech, Taanar and Nema noticed that Breena had left the party, but she didn't go in the same direction than Ayja had taken. Abruptly the public address system cut out, and the catering staff suddenly drew blasters and revealed that they were carrying thermal detonators. They announced that they were members of the terrorist Committee for the Restoration of the Empire. 

While the reception was being disrupted by the pro-Imperial terrorists, Ayja had found a computer she could hack into and was collecting some useful data. Nema contacted her surreptitiously to tell her about the terrorists. Ayja then contacted the brothers outside so they could notify city authorities and keep the public away from the tower.

One of the terrorists holding a detonator grabbed Senator Valens and threatened to set off the device if anyone moved. Quick-thinking Nema used the Force to snatch the detonator away from him, and then Taanar sent him flying backward. Several of the other terrorists fired on them, hitting Taanar. The reception room burst into chaos as other guests screamed and tried to flee. Tables overturned and dishware fell to the floor. Nema flung the detonator out onto the balcony where Taanar had tossed the man and it exploded outside the building. 

Outside, the Secura brothers had a near miss with a luxury speeder bearing several passengers armed with heavy blasters. Inside, Taanar disarmed one of the terrorists. Two more fired on her but she deflected their blasts and reflected the energy back at those who had shot at her. Nema disarmed another terrorist. Ayja rejoined them, then went after the absent Breena. 

The terrorists headed for the balcony, leaving Senator Valens behind. She took cover by a security guard who had been injured. Taanar hurled an ornate sculpture of ice that had been the centerpiece of the refreshment table at one of the fleeing terrorists. She was struck by another blaster bolt. Nema was wounded also. 

Den directed his brother to collide with the luxury speeder, then dived out of the aircar aboard the rented swoop bike. 

Security guards trained their blasters on Ayja. She told them she was with the Jedi party and there was trouble in the other room and they let her pass as she continued her search for Breena. 

On the balcony, Taanar spotted the same luxury speeder that the brothers had encountered. She also saw Den on his swoop bike diving after it. Ren positioned the aircar above the speeder. Taanar was distracted by another shot fired at her, which she failed to deflect. She reacted by stunning one of the attackers. Den landed on the balcony and ran into the reception room to join Nema in flanking some of the terrorists. 

Ayja heard someone running and began to pursue the runner. Inside the reception room, Taanar drew her saber and slashed a terrorist. Outside the building, Ren dropped his aircar toward the speeder but failed to collide with it because the speeder dodged away. The aircar hit the edge of the balcony instead. Chunks of concrete went flying with the impact. Two terrorists were knocked off their feet. The occupants of the luxury speeder fired on Ren. The terrorists who had fallen got to their feet and ran for the speeder. Both Taanar and Nema attacked them and Taanar's target fell. Den fired on an unarmed man, and one of the armed men shot at him. The fleeing men reached the speeder. 

Ayja found Breena trying to open a door and crept up on her to stun her with her blaster. Upstairs, Taanar stepped out onto the balcony and used the Force to grab hold of the luxury speeder containing the terrorists, preventing it from speeding away. Then Ren slammed the rented aricar into the speeder. His aircar's engine failed and it began to fall toward the distant ground.

Breena drew a holdout blaster and fired on Ayja, but missed. Some of the men in the speeder fired on Taanar. She pulled the speeder onto the balcony. In the falling aircar, Ren told FE t get the vehicle's thrusters back online and the droid did so, but the aircar was still out of control and plummeting. 

One of the terrorists drew a thermal detonator and set it off, blowing up the speeder. Ayja and Breena were still struggling and Breena managed to wound Ayja seriously. Ayja managed to send her location to the others and fire on Breena, but by this time both she and Breena were reeling from their injuries. 

Ren managed to slow the wild descent of the aircar, but then the engines failed once again. He and FE climbed aboard the second swoop bike stored inside the vehicle and dove out of the aircar. Breena wounded Ayja again, and Ayja fell unconscious.

Next Episode: Episdoe 13, "The Rot Within", part  3