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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Star Wars OPEN Star Wars: Kain's Heroes (Always Accepting New Players)

Discussion in 'Role Playing Forum' started by Bardan_Jusik, Nov 21, 2019.

  1. Bardan_Jusik

    Bardan_Jusik Former Manager star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2009
    Star Wars: Kain's Heroes

    A Story of the Rebellion


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    The recruit sat down at the end of the bar and ordered a local ale. The bartender looked the newcomer over slowly, wordlessly, before bringing the ordered drink in a large dirty glass mug. Strangers were a rare thing in the valley, and looked upon with suspicion. Meeting an Imperial Loyalist this deep into the central highlands was rather unlikely, though over the course of the last decade stranger things had happened. So even though the patrons of the small unnamed pub were in what they considered safe territory, few chances were taken.

    The recruit took the drink, sniffing at it suspiciously. Most valleys had their own local brews, and this one was no different. The color and smell was different than the recruit's home valley, but the being took a small sip anyway. It was warm, and tasted much different than homebrew too the recruit thought, but it would do. The newcomer looked to the left, noting that a small bowl of spicy warra nuts had been set down on the bar next to the drink. "Do you have anything else?" The bartender looked at the recruit with derision, and barely concealed surprise.

    "What you don't like nuts?" It was the trigger phrase the recruit had been told to expect.

    "The spice makes my nose itch." The recruit replied with the counter sign. The bartender responded by taking away the bowl, placing it back behind the bar, and pointing to a table in the back corner of the pub. With a simple nod of thanks, the recruit stood up and walked to the corner table quickly, hoping to avoid any undue attention, though none was given the newcomer. Sitting at the table was an elderly man.

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    "I knew it was you the moment you came in," the man delivered with a smile through his thick accent. "Sit, and read." He pushed a sheaf of flimsi across the table as the recruit took a seat across from the kindly old man.




    Office of Imperial Intelligence

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    Subject: Skarn familiarization report.
    Classification: Confidential
    Clearance level: Echo-1

    Planet: Skarn
    Classification: Base line habitable
    Location: Sector O-17/Naboo sector/Outer rim
    Capital City: Grad. Pre invasion population of of roughly half a million beings No census taken in last ten years, population now is likely less than half that.
    Space port: Port is located on the other side of the continent. Transportation between the port and the capital is mostly by water craft/seaborne speeders or rail speeder. Suborbital air speeder service is possible, but unavailable for anything other than military traffic due to Imperial No Fly Zone Enforcement
    Planetary Population: Roughly 900,000 human, twi'lek, assorted other species

    Skarn is a little known world in the outer rim of no importance to the galaxy around it. Settled roughly 500 years ago by a band of three dozen human and twi'lek settlers. These settlers had but one thing in common, the desire to be left alone by everyone else. As time went on, and others seeking the same solitude came, the population grew. At it's height, towards the beginning of the Clone Wars, Skarn's population had risen to just over one million settlers. Skarn is a harsh world, with lower than average mean temperatures, and freezing winters. A young planet geologically, the single landmass of Skarn (shaped roughly like a tadpole) is covered in rugged mountains that are virtually uninhabitable (aside from small single family dwellings). Most settlement occurred in the valleys between mountain ranges, these settlements are connected only by rough hewn roads through mountain passes. Transport from valley to valley is impossible during the winter months as these passes are typically choked by heavy snow. Only after the spring thaw is travel from valley to valley possible by foot, mount or speeder. The remainder of the world is covered in a shallow and salty sea. The high salinity level of the Skarn sea prevents it from being frozen in even the harshest of winters (except for the polar regions which remain frozen and impassible year round). This also makes the Skarn Sea totally non potable. The only source of local water is from the mountain rivers which pass through each valley.

    Many of Skarn's valleys are home to their own village. While some have populations numbering in the thousands, most contain only a few hundred. On the far eastern side of the continent (the head of the tadpole) is the largest settlement, the world's only true city, and it's capital. Grad. Grad is positioned where three large valley's meet. Just west of Grad, the juncture of the three valleys, is the world's largest arable land area. Here there are small settlements containing mostly farmers who provide much of the food available to the urban citizens of Grad. East of the city is the Skarn sea.

    The opposite end of the continent (the tail of the tadpole) is home to Skarn's second largest settlement, the planet's spaceport. Located high on a plateau on the continent's far west, the space port is the world's primary link to the rest of the galaxy. Once on world, Transport between Port and Grad through the central highlands is available via cargo/transport rail speeder. There are two lines, one that skirts along the north coast and one along the south coast, generally these go in a clockwise direction allowing for constant line use, though passage can be interrupted at times during the winter months.

    The center of the continent is dominated by rugged mountains and deep valleys. Collectively known as the central highlands, this area is home to the third most densely populated area of Skarn, a settlement called the Township. The population of Township is in the 6,000-7,000 range and surrounded by multiple small villages and single family dwellings in the adjoining mountains. Hit and fade attacks from the mountains on either the north or south portions of the rail line are frequent. This militia enjoys large scale support in the central highlands and surrounding areas, making it difficult to pin down their members for counter attack.

    Transport between Port and Grad is also possible using seaborne speeders and ships across the Skarn Sea. Several steep roads (and a third short rail speeder line called the spur) make their way down the plateau from Port towards the sea. This area is known as the Docks. Transport may be arranged year round across the sea from the Docks to the city of Grad. This is cheaper than the rail lines, but takes twice as long, even during the summer months.

    Passage may also be possible by foot/speeder/mount across the continent through the Central Highlands, but only during the summer months. This is accomplished via travel through the various river valleys and passes through the mountains. Such a journey takes on the order of weeks for even the fittest individual, and is likely to take months for others. Travel times may be sped up via the use of landspeeder craft should they be available and able to navigate the oft times narrow passes. The geography of the planet has led to isolated pockets of population, many of whom are at odds with one another. Feuds escalating to violence were not unknown in the pre Imperial era, though violence escalating to the levels now gripping this world had yet to be seen.

    Local wildlife: Indigenous species to Skarn are few and far between, mostly insect and invertebrate life forms. However over the centuries settlers have brought in all forms of other lesser life forms including but not limited to blurrgs (used as mounts for travel), eopie, kaadu and even bantha among others. Some small predators have also been imported for pest control. Porg colonies line the coastlines around the continent now. There are also rumors of large predatory species brought in from Naboo inhabiting the Skarn Sea, though these appear to be just rumor. Vegetation is varied, with coniferous woodlands dominating the mountains (up unto the tree line) while the valleys have for the most part been cleared for agriculture.

    History: Settled roughly 500 years ago, the planet's population grew steadily, if barely, until the early days of the Clone Wars. Convinced by a Trade Federation representative that the Republic would eventually encroach on their world, and that the CIS only wanted to be left alone, the government of the planet (based in Grad, an oligarchy led by the landed gentry) joined the CIS and allowed for the construction of a droid factory on the outskirts of Grad (displacing several less well thought of families in the process, killing two Porgs with one stone). The factory concentrated on the the construction of B-1 battle droids throughout the war. Towards the end of the war clone infantry units, along with attached naval units, invaded the planet in an effort to take the factory. These were led by a Jedi Knight Tak-ne (human male) and his padawan, a twi'lek female. Their attack was a success, and resulted in a Republic capture of the factory. However within hours, Order 66 was issued and both the Jedi and his padawan were killed by members of the 54th Clone Infantry regiment. After a new provisional government was established (filled by local technocrats), the Clone troopers withdrew and the planet began to make peace with itself. However, soon there after the Empire was formed.

    Skarn remained mostly at peace for most of the next decade. Though there were attacks by Separatist sympathizers these were little more than a nuisance, especially on a world of such little import to the Empire. Indeed, Imperial presence was kept to a small contingent of stormtroopers which policed the Port and Grad. That changed ten years ago when the Empire announced plans to reactivate the old droid factory and increased their presence. Violence and riots erupted planet wide and the Empire sent in a legion of stormtroopers to quell the rebellion. This invading force overthrew the local government and replaced it with an Imperial Governor.

    Since then the world has been in a state of near constant war. Grad is a mostly wrecked city, where street fighting between rival militas and the Empire is an everyday occurrence. The country side is little better, as local miltias contest Imperial control there as well. Only the Port is under total Imperial control, and that can be described as tenuous at best. Local partisan groups have little to no contact with the so called Rebel Alliance, though whether this is due to the fractious nature of the local partisan groups, or the world's relative unimportance is unknown.

    Major Known Skarn Resistance Movements:

    • Boog Valley Irregulars (numbers unknown) This small but effective partisan cell operates in the tri-valley region near Grad and is one of the few resistance movements that has demonstrated a functioning heavy weapons capability. Despite this they are highly unpredictable.
    • Immortals (6-12 members): The Immortals are a highly organized and effective cell operating out of the central highlands. They specialize in hit and fade attacks on Imperial patrols and other interests.
    • Kain's Heroes (numbers unknown): A relatively new cell. Aside from the name no further intelligence regarding this cell yet exists.
    • Separatist Remnant/the Remnant (unknown number of organic members/numerous droid facilitators): The oldest cell on Skarn, the Remnant began operations even before the conclusion of the Clone Wars. This is now believed to be the smallest of the most notorious miltias, but the most battle hardened and probably the best organized. Co-ordinated attacks worldwide (usually bombings) leads Imperial Intelligence to believe that this is a large operation with multiple bases around the globe. Imperial Intelligence further believes they are in possession of a T-Series Tactical Droid which helps facilitate their attacks.
    • Shining Path (Perhaps 50 total members worldwide organized in small cells of four or less): These terrorists allegedly follow the Jedi Tak-ne, whom they believe survived Order 66 (Imperial Intelligence discounts this theory). This group is one of the largest terrorist organizations on the planet and contains multiple individual cells. It is also the most violent group, routinely using bombings and other methods with no regard for collateral damage. Suicide bombings targeting Imperial and civilian targets, targeted assassinations of Imperial officials as well as hit and fade attacks on Imperial military units are all utilized by this group.
    • Wolfpack (4-8 members): A small but vicious group of partisans operating in the western end of the central highlands. Intelligence indicates it has been formed from local school children and is named for a local sports collective.

    Worse still, the city of Grad has seen the rise of numerous unaffiliated militia's and resistance cells. These militias tend to be named after the city streets over which they preside (Mainstreet Militia, First Street Freedom Fighters and so on). Violence between these various cells is the norm as they struggle to meet their survival needs. Splintering of these cells is just as common. The Empire continues to pour in troops and materiel to quell the uprising there, but thus far it has been to no avail.

    Imperial Troop Strength: Imperial strength is centered on the Port, which is largely pacified...




    The remainder of the flimsi sheaf was torn off at this point, the ragged edges showing evidence of charring, and perhaps a bit of blood. Having finished what was there, the recruit looked up to the smiling visage of the old man who had pushed it across the table.

    "Welcome to the resistance, what you've just read is what the Empire thinks of you, and your homeworld. Don't ask how we got it, you probably won't like the answer. Or maybe you would, and frankly, that might be worse." The elderly man paused for bit, taking stock of this new recruit. "I'm Lobos, Connor Lobos, but you already knew that or else you wouldn't be here." He let out a boisterous laugh. "Yes, I know, my reputation precedes me." He winked, and smiled a mysterious smile.

    "I'm head of the Immortals, a band whose feats are so legendary that they shall never die!" He laughed again before stopping abruptly. Staring intently at the new recruit, mulling things over for a bit. "But you're not here to see me at all are you? He sighed. "You're here to see Kain, and join his Heroes." The man nodded to himself knowingly and then shrugged. "They've made quite the name for themselves in recent months. Robbed a bank or some such in Port to fund themselves. That's why you're joining them I gather, you've heard the stories. Well let me tell you...they're all true..."

    "Except for the one's that aren't." A new voice entered the conversation as someone sidled up to their table and gave the Lobos a jaunty salute, an act that clearly irritated the elder partisan.

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    "I'm Kain, your new commander. Welcome to the Heroes."






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    About the game: Welcome to Kain's Heroes, an RPG set on the war torn world of Skarn. Set in 3ABY (shortly after the Battle of Hoth), you will have the chance to play the role of a partisan fighting to free that world from Imperial control. You are encouraged to create a "grounded" player, one that had a life before their involvement with the resistance, a life that influences your character, their abilities and their motivations now. There will be no professional soldiers or pilots in this game as indeed the entirety of this game will take place on Skarn, there will be no large space battles or traveling to other worlds, but not to worry, Skarn itself holds more than enough intrigue for our adventures.

    With regards to Skarn. I've tried to condense the setting down a bit for us while providing enough so that you can create characters familiar with the world. Hopefully that was accomplished without being too overwhelming while leaving enough room for you as players to fill in many of the gaps within the framework I've provided for the planet. If you have any questions/concerns while building character sheets, don't hesitate to PM me and I'll help as much as I can. Approved Character Sheets and other information pertaining to the game will be posted in on Rebellion Rock, our library thread for ease of access.

    This game will take place in the same "universe" as the Black Sheep RPG here on the RPF. However they are separate games and aside from a crossover event that will take place later on in the game, the two will have very little to do with one another. It will not be necessary to follow events of one game to know what is going on in the other, though the tone of each game will be similar. For those playing in just one of the two games, the crossover event (tentatively planned as the fifth mission we will encounter in this game, giving us ample time to get on our feet and stand on our own) will give you an opportunity to role play with other characters and meet new players you may not have played with before. For those that do play both games, it's a chance to have your characters in each game meet one another, setting up what will hopefully be some really fun posts for you. Any questions on this, or anything else regarding this game for that matter, may be PMed to me or can be asked/commented on around the Camp Fire, our OOC thread. Now of course, there are some rules that will need to be followed.




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    The Rules.

    1) Please follow the RPF Rules and be mindful of the Terms of Service and Rules of the Jedi Council Forums.

    2) No God modding or autohitting.

    3) Game Master's word is law.

    4) All character sheets must be PMed (Private Message) to the GM (Bardan_Jusik) for approval.

    5) As noted, this game is connected to the Star Wars: Black Sheep RPG located here in the RPF. A separate Kain's Hero's Resource thread will be set up in the Role Playing Resource Forum to act as our library thread. Likewise a separate OOC thread may be set up in the future to cover our OOC needs. Be forewarned, at the conclusion of this chapter of the game it will meld with Star Wars Black Sheep as a crossover mission will occur there. Upon completion of that mission, the games will part ways again and further missions will occur for the Heroes in this game thread (in which case I may copy and paste all relevant posts from the Black Sheep game here, or perhaps provide a direct link to where our exploits over there begin) or in a followup Heroes game thread.

    6) Posting expectations: Barring unforeseen circumstances all tags should be replied to within two weeks (14 days). I plan on GM updates for the game every two weeks. Real life always takes precedence over online happy online fun pretendy time though, so if something comes up and you're able, let the GM and other players know that you'll be absent (I know sometimes even that isn't possible though). If you miss any tags, I will continue to tag you and your character for the duration of your character's current assignment. However continued missing of TAGs will end up resulting in your character's death. So if you are expecting a long absence, please contact me so we can make alternative (rather than funeral) arrangements.

    7) All major storylines (a storyline that affects the game as a whole) must have prior approval by the GM via PM. If you have an idea, please PM it to me and we'll work together to flesh it out and get it into the game. I enjoy getting news ideas to add to the fabric we're weaving, so if you have them, send them.

    8) Please no Jedi/Sith characters. A character may be force sensitive if you wish, but totally untrained and uneducated in the ways of the Force and thus unable to harness it in any meaningful way. Also, please no professional pilot, soldier or mercenary characters (Mandalorians, ex stormtroopers, former rebel pilots, Clone troopers or the like). I want regular folks here in this game, regular folks called upon to do extraordinary things for freedom. Granted, some character may have become seasoned combat veterans in their own right prior to the start of this game, though characters new to combat are also acceptable. A character sheet template will be provided to help get you started if need be.

    9) Have fun, and may the force be with you.

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    Character Sheet Template

    The Character Sheet:

    General Information:

    Character's Name:
    Species:
    Gender:
    Rank/Affiliation:
    Role with the resistance (scout/sniper/demolitions etc.)
    Languages:
    Residence:
    Home Planet: This should always be Skarn
    Age:
    Approved Special Features:

    Character Traits:
    Personality:
    Habits/Mannerisms:
    Likes/Dislikes:
    Racial Traits:
    Strengths and Weaknesses:
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses:

    Looks:
    Appearance:
    Picture:

    Eye Color:
    Hair/Fur:
    Skin Color:
    Clothing:

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family:
    Spouse/Children:
    Former Occupation:
    Partisan Experience:

    Biography:

    Miscellaneous:


    Pets: Each character should have a riding mount of some kind. It's how the group will get from place to place.
    Weapons:




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    Many thanks to the players of the Black Sheep RPG and the X-Wing fanclub in the EUC who inspired me to create this game. Special thanks to @Sarge who discovered the theme video/music for this game and to @Vehn who helped me slim this game down some into something much more manageable. This game wouldn't be happening without you folks.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2019
  2. Bardan_Jusik

    Bardan_Jusik Former Manager star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2009
    The Character Sheet: GM Approved

    General Information:

    Character's Name: Elim Kain
    Species: Human
    Gender: Male
    Rank/Affiliation: Leader of Kain's Heroes
    Role with the resistance: Leader of Kain's Heroes
    Languages: Basic
    Residence: Eastwood Valley, Skarn
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 40
    Approved Special Features:

    Character Traits:
    Personality: Calm under pressure, is easily exasperated with those who say something cannot be done.
    Habits/Mannerisms:
    Likes/Dislikes: Has an intense dislike of authority and authority figures. Likes wide open spaces and being left alone.
    Racial Traits:

    Strengths and Weaknesses:
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: Possessing a wiry strength, he is physically strong for a human, though lacks stamina. He hates the winter time when it gets too cold. He is also claustrophobic.

    Looks:
    Appearance: Tall (1.93 meters) and slender with an athletic build
    Picture:

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    Eye Color: Grey
    Hair/Fur: Brown
    Skin Color: Fair
    Clothing: Combat fatigues.

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family: None
    Spouse/Children: None
    Former Occupation: Ranch hand
    Partisan Experience: 10 years.

    Biography:

    Kain grew up on an eopie ranch in the Eastwood valley, a region just east of the Central Highlands. Growing up he learned to hunt and fish and otherwise live off of the land in addition to his other duties. It was on the ranch that he acquired a great affinity with the land and nature and a disgust for "big cities." His mother had been household servant for one of the landed gentry, while his father remained unknown to him. His mother said it was the son of a wealthy landowner, but would never tell him which one. Later in life she admitted she had lied, and he was simply the result of a one night stand with a drifter, another ranch hand. Kain had just enough time to realize he was just like his father when the Empire moved in and invaded the planet.

    Wanting to do something with his life than beyond simply be another link in a chain of failure that started with his absent tee father, he joined one of the early militia bands. The group was horribly inept, most of their time being spent trying to just stay alive. It was here that Kain's skills in living off the land paid off, though he wasn't rewarded with leadership for his skills, but rather relegated to a minor status within the cell, keeping them fed. Eventually their ineptitude caught up with them and the cell was eliminated in a night time raid led by stormtroopers. Kain managed to evade and survive, the only one of this early cell to do so. Again putting his wilderness skills to good use Kain spent the next two weeks living off the land and evading capture. From there he joined and left several other partisan bands, participating in a raid or two before his impatience with the group's leadership would wear thin and he would move on.

    Several months ago, desperate for a change, he put out the word that he was creating his own partisan group. His name still held some weight in various bands who remembered his skills and soon partisans came to join his cause. They weren't fighting for freedom though, instead their goal was a simple robbery. Well, not quite as simple as he had let on. They were going to rob the Bank of Port, and the military payroll the Empire kept stored in their vault. With that money the participants in Kain's band could all afford passage off world, to start life anew somewhere else. Their plan worked, though not without problems, and the payroll was eventually stolen. However in the process Kain's group of "partisans" had inspired others, many others, to likewise join the resistance. After all, if a militia could steal the Empire's payroll, what couldn't they do?

    Seeing how his actions had inspired others, and now seeing his place as a leader of a partisan band, Kain used his portion of the stolen loot to help feed the civilian population in the central highlands. The excess he used to help equip his new formed cell with weapons and other equipment they would use in their fight for freedom. Now his group has taken on the mantle of Kain's Heroes, as they take the fight to the Empire.

    Miscellaneous:

    Pets: Riding Blurrg named Highway
    Weapons: E-22 Blaster rifle, WESTAR-34 blaster pistol which he wears in a holster on his right hip.
     
  3. galactic-vagabond422

    galactic-vagabond422 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 11, 2009
    @Bardan_Jusik Approved

    Character's Name: Connor Neil
    Species: Human
    Gender: Male
    Rank/Affiliation: 'Grunt' Kain's Heroes
    Role with the resistance: Close Quarter Specialist
    Languages: Basic
    Residence: Moy Valley, Skarn
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 19
    Approved Special Features: None

    Character Traits: Headstrong a little reckless, follows orders to a point, but is prone to stepping out and 'handling' issues.
    Personality: Bit of a hot head, willing to take on dangerous missions that get him right in the action. Out of combat is friendly willing to take a drink with his comrades, and boustrous once he gets drinking
    Habits/Mannerisms: Head always on a swivel, crosses his arms a lot.
    Likes/Dislikes: Likes: Good whisky, good friends, a good scrap,
    Dislikes: rules, structure, waiting
    Racial Traits: None

    Strengths and Weaknesses:
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: Physically strong able to go toe-to-toe with the strongest of the stormtroopers in hand-to-hand.

    Looks:
    Appearance: Tall, broad shouldered, tanned from working out in the sun. His dark blonde hair is somewhat unkempt from not cutting it for about a full year. Generally wears some stolen military fatigues.

    Eye Color: Brown
    Hair/Fur: hair: Dark Blonde
    Skin Color: tanned
    Clothing: Military Fatigues

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family: Mother and Father, Anne and David
    Spouse/Children: None
    Former Occupation: Farm Hand
    Partisan Experience: 1 year

    Biography: A young man born and raised on Skarn in a family that has been on the same scrap of land for the past 500 years, one of the first families to settle on the planet. Generations lived and died on the land, toiled, gave their blood sweat and tears to it. Only for it all to be taken away. The Empire came down and his family tried to just continue with their ways. For a time they were allowed to do so. They weren't bothering anyone and no one bothered them. A rare thing, an old family with no feuds, well, no active ones at least. Things were stable Connor learned some of the old ways, traditions in his family. Like using a basket hilted sword, hunting with a longbow, and other archaic things.

    Just as he turned 18, the Empire came to their farmstead, ordering them off so they could make some road or other. Connor's family wouldn't move not for any amount of money, or under any threat. The Empire didn't take no for an answer. They set the house on fire...His mother and father resisted, but were quickly stunned and left in the fields.

    His grandfather wasn't so lucky, they struck him sending him falling back and striking his head on the counter. He was dead before he hit the floor. Connor tried to fight back to at least recover his body, he was denied even that. The troopers threw him out of the house, setting it alight so that they had no reason to return to the land. Connor watched eyes burning with rage. His mother and father looked on despondent.

    They had lost, there was nothing left to do, but move on.

    But, Connor couldn't, he wouldn't move on, they had taken everything from him and his family. That farm was everything to him, everything to his family. The Empire took that form him and he wanted it back. There were no legal channels, so he would have to take it back by force.

    With a basket hilt sword on his hip, and a bow on his back he joined up with Kain's Heroes. He learned how to use a blaster, but preferred to get in close and handle things directly. This often left him at the front with a sword and blaster pistol in his hands every bit the rabble rouser he wanted to be.

    Miscellaneous:


    Pets:Riding Blurrg named Corsair

    Weapons: Basket Hilted Sword, Longbow with some arrows, and a SR-14C blaster pistol
     
    Bodhran777, Vehn, Sarge and 1 other person like this.
  4. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009
    @Bardan_Jusik approved!

    General Information:

    Character's Name: Thomas Ronaan
    Species: Human
    Gender: Male
    Rank/Affiliation: Sergeant, Kain's Heroes
    Role with the resistance (scout/sniper/demolitions etc.): Sniper
    Languages: Basic, Twi'lek,
    Residence: Grad
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 42
    Approved Special Features:

    Character Traits:
    Personality: Quiet, well intentioned, polite, not easy to anger, doesn't like small chat
    Habits/Mannerisms: Tends to over think things when stressed
    Likes/Dislikes: Likes Skarn, dislikes the war, misses his students
    Racial Traits:
    Strengths and Weaknesses:
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: Steady hands and good eyesight but isn't the strongest in the group

    Looks:
    Appearance: Average height, slender
    Picture:

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    Eye Color: Gray
    Hair/Fur: Brown
    Skin Color: Pale
    Clothing:
    Wears an eye patch over his bad eye. Combat fatigues with a ghillie suit

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family: Presumed dead due to the war
    Spouse/Children: Never Married
    Former Occupation: History Teacher at Grad Central High School
    Partisan Experience: A loner until recently when Thomas realized that it was better to fight with others than to be alone.

    Biography:

    Brief Biography:

    Thomas Ronaan grew up in a quiet suburb of Grad, the capital city of Skarn, in a middle class family with middle class aspirations. He led a quiet, normal, middle class life going to college and getting a teaching degree as had so many in his family before him. A bit shy with the ladies, Thomas turned most of his attention to his studies and his career.

    There, in the classrooms of Skarn, Thomas quickly learned that he had a passion for educating, for tutoring, for making a difference in the lives of those whose only aspirations seemed to be graduation and freedom. He developed powerful, lasting, friendships with his students and was even voted teacher of the year once. He was a man of principle, truth, and fierce loyalty to his lessons and his students.

    There were rumors he was in line to be principal of the school that he taught at but then the war came and changed everything....

    Miscellaneous:

    Pets: Riding Blurgg known as Jaws
    Weapons:

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    NT 242 Sniper Rifle, E-11 sidearm
     
  5. Sarge

    Sarge Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Oct 4, 1998
    GM approved

    Character's Name: Chrondarr Khargh Tchingahkuhk Zhubaiya
    Species: Coynite https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Coynite
    Gender: male
    Rank/Affiliation: not much for joining, but he'll work with Kain when it suits him
    Role with the resistance: wilderness scout, guide
    Languages: Coynite, Basic
    Residence: Highlands, Coynite enclave Zkar'n is home, but he's not there often
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 200ish? He stopped counting a long time ago.

    Character Traits:
    Personality: Spiritual, enjoys solitude, but can be persuaded to share with others
    Habits/Mannerisms: Communes with the spirits of the highlands, but does not worship them. Quotes ancient Coynite proverbs.
    Likes/Dislikes: Loves to travel the mountains, dislikes those who interfere with his travels. Prefers traditional "primitive" living to the conveniences of modern tech.

    Racial Traits:
    Strengths and Weaknesses: Upbringing and experience taught him not to get involved.
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: Redundant internal organs so he can survive damage fatal to humans, almost as strong as a Wookiee. Not so young as he once was, eyes and ears not so sharp any more.

    Looks:
    Appearance: 2 meters tall, 130 kg of muscle and bone, deep penetrating voice
    Picture:
    [​IMG]
    Eye Color: dark eyes
    Hair/Fur: graying hair
    Skin Color: dark tanned skin, fine dark fur on body and limbs
    Clothing: Hand knitted nerf wool, leather, and furs

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family: Born first in a litter of five, likes to spend Life Day with siblings and their children
    Spouse/Children: none
    Former Occupation: Professional mountaineer, wilderness guide, hunter, explorer, courier, trapper
    Partisan Experience: Occasionally works as a guide to help partisans hide and escape, but doesn't go looking for combat.

    Biography: Coynites are known as honorable and professional mercenaries, but centuries ago a few of them tired of bloodshed and death. They settled on an isolated mountain in the Skarn highlands and turned their backs on their old lives, choosing peace and tranquility... until the Empire intruded. Now, many of the Skarn Coynites are considering relearning the old ways, the ways of war.
    Chrondarr was a wanderer from his youth, always curious about what lay in the next valley and what he might see from the next hilltop. He always felt at home alone in the mountains and was content to live apart.

    Miscellaneous gear:
    herbs for seasoning, preserving, healing
    spine snake venom paste (natural knock-out drug)
    smoked meats
    canteen
    fish hooks and line
    flint & tinder
    magnetic compass
    rope, pitons, hammer
    traditional Coynite hunting knife and hand axe

    Pets: Chu'la, aka "The Beast", The tris was a species of six-legged animal that was native to the world of Coyn in the Elrood sector and employed by the Coynites as mounts. They can grow up to 3.5 meters long and 2 meters tall at the shoulder. From childhood, a Coynite is paired with a tris that becomes his companion and with which they were said to have a spiritual bond. The Coynite who rides the tris is called its kars'asruul which translates as "soulrider". The tris are headstrong and very difficult to ride by others that are not their kars'asruul. They are predatory animals with fangs and red pupilless eyes which make them an intimidating sight. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Tris_(creature)
    [​IMG]

    Weapons: The tro'har is a large traditional Coynite hunting knife/spear with flanged blade and circular handguard. A twist of the ring-shaped pommel causes the shaft to telescope up to 3 meters in length. The handgrip/guard slides freely up and down the shaft.
    [​IMG]

    Drum-fed crossbow. Normally he cocks it with a lever, but if he takes the time to use a hand-pump and pressurize the reservoir with air, it can operate pneumatically at semi- or full-auto.
    [​IMG]
     
    Bodhran777, Vehn and Bardan_Jusik like this.
  6. Adalia-Durron

    Adalia-Durron WNU/Costume/Props/EUC Mod. star 10 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jun 3, 2003
    GM APPROVED

    The Character Sheet:

    General Information:

    Character's Name: Tauriel Windsong.
    Species: Sephi
    Gender: Female
    Rank/Affiliation: Hates the Empire......so where ever that leads.
    Role with the resistance: Archer
    Languages: Basic
    Residence: None
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 80 standard Years.
    Approved Special Features: Highly Accurate Archer at close range and at distance.

    Character Traits:
    Personality: Cool and calm, sarcastic and tends to look down at others.
    Habits/Mannerisms: Likes to sharpen her vibro blade, makes her own arrows.
    Likes/Dislikes: getting dirty.
    Racial Traits:
    Strengths and Weaknesses: She often under estimates her team mates, but never her opponents.
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: Tall, lithe and agile

    Looks:
    Appearance:
    Picture:

    upload_2019-11-25_23-57-2.png

    Eye Color: Black
    Hair: White blonde
    Skin Color: Lavender
    Clothing: Leather, armour, boots, supplies in belt.

    Personal History: Her mother was human, her father Sephi, she was raised by her mother on Sas her father disappeared very early in her life. She was always the ‘odd’ child growing up and knew she was different. She became a loner and took to the ancient recreational sport of Archery, honing her skills as she was an outsider. She never felt less, instead assuming she was better than others hence her being ostracised. Her mother died of disease brought on by starvation when the empire invaded and she was unable hide her ‘special’ daughter much longer. She gave her last credits to get her daughter off the planet to safety on Coruscant where she’d fit in. It was there a young (by her species standards) met a Rebel, and soon after intrigued by their stance against the Empire decided to return home to Skarn and fight it there.

    Immediate Family: She believes her mother is dead, her last wish being for her daughter to leave and make something of her life.

    Spouse/Children: None.

    Former Occupation: She has never had one, other than working the small piece of land her mother owned and subsequently sold for her passage off world.

    Partisan Experience: Only hunting animals for food, she’s never hunted sentient beings.

    Miscellaneous: loves gold and sparkles.

    Pets: Orbak, she learned to ride as a child and shoot from said beast as below.
    upload_2019-11-25_23-57-23.png

    Weapons: Traditional Long bow, but can shoot any unsighted bow.
     
  7. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    Character's Name: Reva Cambrion
    Species: Human
    Gender: Female
    Rank/Affiliation: none
    Role with the resistance (scout/sniper/demolitions etc.) Medic
    Languages: Human, Ryl
    Residence: mostly lives with her grandmother in Market Square, in the Maravi district of Grad
    Home Planet: This should always be Skarn
    Age: 26

    Character Traits:
    Personality: a bit shy and guarded, she likes a quiet life and a few close friends
    Habits/Mannerisms: she twirls her hair when she’s anxious, always scanning the ground for useful herbs, reads whatever she can find
    Likes/Dislikes: Animals, gardening, dancing, swimming, fishing, music, art Dislikes: heights, cruelty, dongbeets
    Racial Traits: the same for humans her age
    Strengths and Weaknesses: She can be very focused and quick to learn new things. Witness cruelty can set off panic attacks
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: healthy, fairly athletic, good stamina. Occasional panic attacks.

    Looks: attractive girl-next-door type
    Eye Color: hazel
    Hair/Fur: dark, long and wavy. Usually worn in a braid or tied back in a knot
    Skin Color: fair
    Clothing: usually comfortable and durable. Prefers pants with lots of pockets and sturdy ankle boots.

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family: Her grandmother, her father (who lives on the other side of the continent)
    Spouse/Children: She’s had a few romantic relationships, but only one serious one. That ended when her sweetheart decided to join the Imperial Navy. She hasn’t heard from him for three years.
    Former Occupation: Medical technician, pharmacist and herbalist
    Partisan Experience: she has treated members of various partisan groups who have come to her clinic, and has made a few after hours calls to members of the Maravi Militia. She has encountered some of the Immortals on her foraging trips to the Ruins on the outskirts of Grad, and was kidnapped twice to treat their wounded members before she pointed out that they only need to ask her to come. She doesn’t feel a particular affiliation to any particular group, and joined Kain’s group only recently (probably a few days before the start).

    Biography:
    Reva was born before the start of the Clone Wars and spent her early years in well-off circumstances. The death of her great-grandfather led to a fall in the family fortunes. The arrival of the Empire meant the break-up of her parents’ marriage. Although her mother had primary custody, she spent a few months a year with her father on his farm, which is located near a small fishing village on the other side of the continent. He taught her trapping, fishing, and gardening, as well as how to ride (she had an eopie as a child). From her mother and grandmother she got her love of history, music, art and learning.

    When she was 18, she began training as a medical technician, hoping that she could earn a scholarship to complete her studies at Theed Medical College and become a doctor. After two years, however, her mother was killed by Stormtroopers suppressing protests in Market Square, and Reva came home. She spent two years living with her father, and working as a pharmacist/herbalist in the fishing village, since the family feared that they would be under suspicion of treasonous activities after her mother’s death. This is when Dilly began covertly learning as much about the Empire as she could.

    Reva returned to Grad, and turned her mother’s florist shop into a pharmacy/herbiary. It is an informal medical center as well, and she has covertly given medical treatment to various partisan members who have asked her for help. From Imperial propaganda broadcast through the city, she learned that other worlds had attempted rebellious acts and it gave her hope. Until she heard of Kain’s raid, she did not believe it was possible to strike back at the Empire. She was impressed at their selflessness in sharing the rewards of the raid with the populace, and after Dilly asked around, she found her way to the new partisan group. She has probably packed too much stuff.

    Miscellaneous: She has no illusions about Kain’s group being able to chase the Imps off Skarn by themselves. She feels that only if the various warring clans and partisan groups unite will anything be achieved. She doesn’t know much about the Rebellion, except that other worlds have tried to oppose the Emperor as well. She doesn’t know much about the Jedi, except that her grandmother told her not to believe the stories told by the Empire.

    Pets: She bought a Cracian Thumper when she planned to set out to join the partisans (it was the only sound animal in the pen). She doesn’t know much about it, and it doesn’t have a name yet. She is fond of her grandmother’s cats, and has a soft spot for pretty much any animal.

    Weapons: Her grandmother gave her a blaster from the Clone Wars. She’s never used it. She has a few medical tools, and a small, multi-use utility tool with a knife blade. She’s never been called on to engage in combat
     
  8. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    Character's Name: Cedilla Alta (“Dilly”)
    Species: Human
    Gender: Female
    Rank/Affiliation: unknown
    Role with the resistance (scout/sniper/demolitions etc.) Intelligence
    Languages: Basic, Ryl, old Naboo (speaks some, reads fluently), some Corellian (reads fluently), some Rodian (understands, but can’t speak; reads fluently)
    Residence: 14 Market Square (above the florist shop), Maravi district, Grad
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 69
    Approved Special Features:

    Character Traits: Inquisitive, always interested in learning new things, likes to keep busy
    Personality: Inquisitive, keen listener, social
    Habits/Mannerisms: light sleeper, goes to exercise classes 4 times a week, tries to keep her hair pulled up in a knot, but it often comes loose
    Likes: puttering in her garden, good tea or coffee, her cats, music (she plays the harp and has taught this skill to her granddaughter). Dislikes: snakes, Separatists, Imperials, loud noises
    Racial Traits: same for a human female of her age
    Strengths and Weaknesses: she has a good memory and a knack for putting people at ease. She is also an excellent actress and can make herself seem helpless or dotty, although in fact her mind is very sharp
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: Not as spry as she used to be, her hips stiffen up and she sometimes has back problems. Her hearing is starting to fade a bit in her left ear, but her eyesight is excellent

    Appearance: patrician (Maggie Smeith crossed with Zoe Wanamaker and Julia Blake)
    Eye Color: blue
    Hair/Fur: white
    Skin Color: pale
    Clothing: loose and comfortable, often in shades of blue or purple. Sensible walking shoes. She usually carries a large tote full of useful things.

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family: Dilly is one of the ‘36ers, a direct descendant of the original settlers on Skarn. Her father was a member of the Governing Council, and was one of three who opposed the building of the droid factory. He was found dead in his study a few weeks later, supposedly of a heart attack. His lands were among those seized by the Trade Federation. Dilly’s mother, Challine, moved in with her son in Grad. He owns a music store, and manufactures musical instruments. He is a widower, and has three sons and a daughter.
    Spouse/Children: Her husband was Gareth Alta, an administrator in the Planetary Agricultural Bureau. He was killed during the Clone Wars. She had two children, one died in infancy. Her daughter, Estera, married and had a daughter, Reva, then divorced her husband shortly after the takeover by the Empire. Estera opened a florist shop. She was killed in a protest a few years after when the Empire took power.
    Former Occupation: Librarian at the Planetary Archive on Grad, head of the Manuscripts and Special Collections Archive. She was forced into retirement when the Empire took over, and worked part time for her daughter.
    Partisan Experience: none

    Biography: Dilly grew up in one of the wealthier, more established families on Skarn. She loved to read and learn, and volunteered as an assistant at the local library. She married Gareth Alta, an administrator in the Planetary Agricultural Bureau, and was soon hired full time as a librarian. She had two children, one died in infancy. Her daughter, Estera, married and had a daughter, Reva, then divorced shortly after the Empire took power. Estera had a florist shop/greenhouse, and was killed in a non-violent street protest a few years ago. Dilly was transferred from the local library branch to the Planetary Archive, and was promoted quickly, becoming head of the Manuscripts and Special Collections division. When the Empire came to power, they took over the libraries and Dilly was forced into retirement. She earned a living giving harp lessons and occasionally performing at parties and other events. She also went to work part-time in her daughter’s florist shop. She has many friends, although she generally avoids those who supported the Separatists and who promoted the involvement of the Trade Federation.

    She now works as a researcher on commission, usually helping people track their genealogical background, but to all intents and purposes she is retired. She has a pension to draw upon, as well as that of her husband.

    Miscellaneous: People tend to talk when she is around, and often don’t even notice her even when she is sitting nearby. She has overheard many very interesting conversations. Her skills as a librarian enable her to dig up and fill in information.

    She has a lot of friends, including a former Clone trooper who is now a beggar in the Market Square, as well as the Madame of Grad’s most exclusive pleasure dome (they went to school together). She knows a bit about the Jedi and met Jedi Master Tak-Ne during the Clone Wars. She doesn’t believe the official Imperial propaganda about a Jedi takeover.

    Pets: She has 3 common cats. She rarely leaves the city and will rent or borrow a mount if she needs one

    Weapons:
    She had an old blaster from the Clone Wars, which she gave to her granddaughter. As far as she is concerned, knowledge is power. Her chief weapons are a quick wit and her apparent helplessness. She might be able to wield a knife or a frying pan if cornered.
     
  9. Sarge

    Sarge Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Oct 4, 1998
    IC: Chrondarr
    A long time ago...




    The mudhorn charged through the woods, brushing aside small trees, oblivious to the crossbow bolts pricking its hide, and to the spearheads that ripped great gouges in its flanks. The stocky four-legged creature was enormous, standing taller at the shoulder than the Coynite hunting party's heads, and most Coynites stand over two meters high. It smashed its way through the line of spearmen, tossing aside a full-grown hunter with its massive horn, and continued charging straight ahead. Its path would take it directly into the Coynites' village.

    Chrondarr was running, feet barely touching the ground, occasionally leaping from boulders and tree roots, seeming to nearly fly as his muscular young legs carried his slender and lithe frame through the woods. He quickly left the older and heavier hunters behind as he sprinted to get ahead of the mudhorn. Someone had to stop the rampaging monster before it reached their home. He leaped from a small bluff, caught a tree branch in his hands and swung himself forward, landing too fast, somersaulting twice and bruising his cranial ridges before he rolled to his feet and continued his headlong sprint.

    He had been so anxious to join the hunting party, desperate to prove he was strong enough to join the experienced hunters. His grandfather, Ba'tra Krondar Kharng Chorchroloth, had sat and quietly puffed on his pipe as he begged the old man to petition the elders to include him. As usual, Ba'tra was a solid rock, impervious to the passionate waves thrown at him by his grandson. Chrondarr frankly idolized his grandfather, who was one of the first Coynite settlers on Skarn, once a highly honored mercenary soldier and champion of the arena on Coyn.
    [​IMG]

    Chrondarr, as usual, had no idea if Ba'tra had any intention of presenting his petition to the elders. But the next day, the elders called a meeting to announce who would join the hunt. They named the twelve mightiest hunters in the village, all of them with at least three names, before coming to his grandfather. "... Ba'tra Krondar Kharng Chorchroloth… and Chrondarr." The thrill of being chosen was the highlight of his life. He could barely contain his glee. Surely this would be the day he would finally earn another name.

    Judging by the sounds of tree trunks falling behind him, he had managed to get ahead of the mudhorn. He swerved to put himself in its path, stopping suddenly on top of a small rise topped by a massive old iron oak tree. A twist of the pommel of his knife actuated its telescoping mechanism, extending it into a three meter spear with a flanged blade, an ancient Coynite hunting weapon known as the tro'har. Feeling properly armed and ready, he turned to face the mudhorn. And inadvertently took a step back.
    [​IMG]
    The mudhorn was charging straight at him, shaking the ground with its thunderous feet, barreling forward like the proverbial irresistible force, and Chrondarr knew instantly that he was no immovable object. Run, his mind told him. He stepped back, momentarily losing his balance, and bumped into the twisted trunk of the iron oak tree behind him. Still the mudhorn came on, seeming to move at blinding speed and nightmarish slow motion at the same time. Chrondarr's hands came up in a futile instinctive gesture to ward off the behemoth.

    His spear was still in his white-knuckled grip. Trained muscle memory was all that kept the spear head pointed forward. The tro'har seemed like little more than a twig to pit against a juggernaut. He screamed in terror, but somehow it came out sounding more like a roar of defiance. The mudhorn replied with a bellow of its own, great jaws agape as it rushed forward. The spearshaft moved slightly, seeming to draw Chrondarr's hands forward to plunge the spearhead straight down the monster's maw. The impact drove the tro'har back, until its pommel slammed into the tree, and the flanged blade ripped out the back of the creature's throat.

    The mudhorn's bellow died in an ugly choking sound and it fell to its knees. But it had far too much momentum to come to an abrupt stop, and its body slammed Chrondarr into the tree, hard enough to crack ribs and skull.

    He awoke to the feel of hard-nailed fingers exploring his cranium. Ba'tra had found him. He was alive. Alive and victorious! The recuperative powers of youth and the adrenal thrill of triumph brought him upright with alacrity, pain forgotten. He had slain the monster and proven his heroism!

    "Did you see me, grandfather? I faced the mudhorn, and I slew it! This is sure to be the deed of my second name!" He was nearly dancing with delight at his accomplishment.

    Ba'tra looked gravely at his grandson. "And what will you do with a second name?" he asked calmly.

    "Everyone will know what I did when I have a second name! I'll be somebody! Somebody respected!"

    "And will that keep your belly full in lean times, or your bones warm in winter?"

    "I... well, I... " he stammered incoherently.

    "What of the life of the mudhorn? What does that mean to you?"

    "It's... just a beast... "

    The older Coynite knelt by the mudhorn's body and touched its head. "Spirit of the mudhorn," he intoned, "your life has ended. Your blood is upon Chrondarr. Your life was not ended without purpose. Your hide will make saddles for the tris that we ride, and your bones will make tools for the people of our village. Spirit of the mudhorn, go now to join your ancestors. Spirit of the mudhorn, be at peace. Spirit of the mudhorn, trouble not the spirit of Chrondarr."

    Chrondarr was still, confused. Hadn't he been heroic, killing the monster?

    Ba'tra turned from the mudhorn and looked into Chrondarr's eyes with the same grave expression that he had just been directing at the mudhorn.
    [​IMG]
    "Do you feel the spirit passing? All spirits pass, it is the way of things. But first, spirits bring life to the world. And with every passing, there is less life, less light, more darkness, more death. We do not let a spirit pass lightly."

    A dozen questions came to Chrondarr's mind. As he struggled to choose which to ask first, his grandfather moved closer.

    "Chrondarr, you have grown strong and quick of body and sharp of mind. But a Coynite of Skarn is more than body and mind. We are spirit. You must grow strong in spirit, or you will not be balanced. You nearly died a few moments ago when your body lost balance. You may also die if your spirit loses balance. Let that be the lesson you learn today."

    Two Centuries Later

    The cave boar on the end of Chrondarr's spear quivered and died. He retracted the tro'har and knelt by the side of the dead animal, touching its head with his hand.

    "Spirit of the cave boar, your life has ended. Your blood is on Chrondarr Khargh Tchingahkuhk Zhubaiya. But your death is not without purpose. Your flesh will feed me and my tris. Your skin and your bones will make tools. Your body will keep life with me and my people. Spirit of the cave boar, go to join your ancestors. Spirit of the cave boar, be at peace. Spirit of the cave boar, trouble not the spirit of Chrondarr."


    TAG: The spirit of @Bardan_Jusik
     
  10. Mira Grau

    Mira Grau Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    May 11, 2016
    GM Approved:

    General Information:

    Character's Name: Corrin Skarnsson
    Species: Human
    Gender: Male
    Rank/Affiliation: No official rank as of yet
    Role with the resistance: Scout
    Languages: Basic
    Residence: Wherever he decides to camp for the night/day
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 23
    Approved Special Features: A bit force sensetive though of course completly untrained

    Character Traits:
    Personality: Introverted, collected and focused when on duty, shy in social interactions, somewhat superstitious
    Habits/Mannerisms: Checking the sharpness of his blades constantly
    Likes: Begin surrounded by nature, not having to talk to other people

    Dislikes: Begin in closed spaces/cities, begin mocked for his heritage
    Racial Traits: None
    Strengths and Weaknesses: Excellent survival skills, great knowledge of Skarn´s wilderness, absolutely incapable of using or understanding any modern tech like speeders, spaceships and the like, terrible shoot with blasters
    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: not very strong but fast in his movements, skilled in sneaking and climbing

    Looks:
    [​IMG]
    Appearance: Average high and build, dirty brown hair kept short, blue eyes

    Eye Color: blue
    Hair/Fur: brown
    Skin Color: tanned
    Clothing: usually dark clothes that allow him to hide in the wilderness

    Personal History:
    Immediate Family: Had one, but they are all gone now
    Spouse/Children:-
    Former Occupation: Hunter/Gatherer
    Partisan Experience: A few months directly, though much of his life has been spent in the wilderness


    Biography:

    Corrin was born into a tribe/clan of nomadic hunters who life in the wilderness of Skarn in total rejection of any sort of authority or ordered lifestyle. It was a free but somewhat primitive and harsh lifestyle, wandering though the dense forests, living of the land and only occasionally meeting with the settled inhabitants to exchange gathered resources for a few pieces of modern tech.

    Descendent from outcasts and rejects of Skarn´s population these hunters saw themselves as distant to the rest of the population, not trusting them at all and instead having formed closed bonds with each other. Living largely in the wilderness neither the CIS occupation, nor the eventual conquest by the republic changed their lifestyle and neither did for the longest time the empire. Though eventually both out of a distain for the "primitives" and the not completely unfunded believe that they were aiding the various partisan groups here or there the empire decided to wipe out these little tribes/communities. Begin caught fully unprepared by the assault of a TIE fighter squadron Corrin´s friends and family where slaughtered with himself only surviving through luck.

    Since then he has fully committed himself to fighting the empire, often aiding the partisan groups by acting as a scout/guide for them, though he does mostly shy away from any deeper interactions, at least so far.

    Pets: Equine Rih, once belonged to the girl Corrin had a crush on it was the only other survivor of his tribe and is now ridden by him. He is not just a mount though but also an emotional crutch for Corrin who often talks to him about his own fears/worries, due to this connection Corrin doesn´t use Rih in combat at all.
    Weapons: Throwing Spears, Hunting Blade
     
    Bodhran777, Vehn, Sarge and 1 other person like this.
  11. TheAdmiral

    TheAdmiral Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 28, 2004
    GM Approved

    General Information:

    Character's Name: Jori Atreus
    Species: Human
    Gender: Female
    Rank/Affiliation: Grunt in Kain’s Forces, Propaganda officer
    Role with the resistance: Support
    Languages: Basic, Twi’Lek, some Huttese
    Residence: Downtown Grad
    Home Planet: Skarn
    Age: 32
    Approved Special Features: None

    Character Traits:

    Personality: Curious (a bit too much for her own good), inquisitive, analytical, likes conspiracies
    Habits/Mannerisms: Bites her nails, gets too distracted when working on a case
    Likes/Dislikes: Likes books, conspiracies, data; Dislikes the Empire
    Racial Traits: She is a regular human, fit enough

    Strengths and Weaknesses:

    Physical Strengths and Weaknesses: She light and nimble, but not that strong in hand to hand combat. Had some basic training how to defend herself.

    Looks:

    Appearance: Not very tall (1.68, fit enough, 56 kg)
    Picture:

    [​IMG]

    Eye Color:
    grayish-blue
    Hair/Fur: Blond
    Skin Color: Fair
    Clothing: Standard civilian clothing, she kept an armored vest from her journalist years, her boyfriend made her buy a military uniform from a military surplus store

    Personal History:

    Immediate Family:
    Father Leto Atreus (former city councilor), mother Nevennah Atreus (political sciences professor)
    Spouse/Children: boyfriend Paulus (presumed dead)
    Former Occupation: investigative journalist, columnist
    Partisan Experience: 1 year

    Biography:
    Born in an affluent family Jori had access to excellent education. Ever since childhood she liked snooping around, looking for things of interest. Of course that got her in trouble. She had few friends growing up as she tended to uncover secrets or took part in intrigues in order to expose them.

    Jori managed to get to the biggest university on Skarn where she studied journalism. She managed to expose a corrupt professor who was handing out diplomas against credits. Her father managed to save her from being expelled. Of course she did not graduate with flying colors, due to being branded “black sheep”. Nevertheless she had talent for uncovering plots so she started her own blog on the HoloNet, which attracted the attention of a small news outlet.

    It was called “HoloGraph”, home to non-conformist journalists. It constantly pushed the boundaries of what was allowed under the Empire. Some colleagues of hers disappeared never to be heard again. Some managed to go off-world. Jori heard rumors that some even got into the fabled Rebellion. In the HoloGraph she met her boyfriend, the ruggedly handsome Paulus. He was her cameraman, as the outlet could not afford camdroids, so they ran around in the seedy parts of Skarn trying uncover one plot or another.

    Her father tried to protect her as best as possible, secretly supporting her choices. That had cost him his position in the City Council. Also her mother’s teaching position became problematic, but she managed to keep it. The harassment both from officials and criminals increased in intensity so Paulus convinced her to learn self-defense and even procured a DH-17 blaster pistol from the black market. Given that the shooting ranges were managed by the Empire he enlisted some of her friends and contacts from the underworld to help her teach how to shoot.

    One day they got a tip for a potentially scandalous story involving the Empire. Naturally they went to pursue it. The whole thing was a set up and Paulus got caught. Jori barely managed to run away. She could not return to the city as she was sure she had been put on the Wanted list. Trying to survive on her own she found a contact who was willing to help her and got her in touch with Kain’s Heroes, at least now she could fight the Empire...

    Miscellaneous:

    Pets:
    no pets, rides a Blurrg called “Veritas”
    Weapons: a DH-17 Blaster Pistol

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2019
    Bodhran777, Vehn, Sarge and 2 others like this.
  12. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009
    IC: Thomas Ronaan



    Prologue

    10 years earlier
    Grad
    Taungsday
    0745 AM Standard Time


    "Next stop Grad Central High School," the droid bus driver announced.

    Thomas looked up from grading papers as the city bus trundled along through the crowded streets of Grad. He checked his chrono and sighed. The lines were running late today due to traffic. He'd never make first period on time. Not at this rate.

    He was quietly kicking himself for moving to the suburbs and commuting into the inner city but the rent was astronomical in Grad. Supply was low and demand was high. Prices were up. The only place he could remotely afford on his teacher's salary was where he lived currently on the outskirts of the city. Still, he was blessed to have a job. That was more than most people could say at this point.

    Thomas returned his attention to his papers as the bus slipped through a military checkpoint. He hardly noticed them any longer. They were so standard, so normal, and such a nuisance that to even notice them was a waste of time. He could feel the bus come to a stop and knew he'd arrived at his destination.

    He quickly packed up his belongings and raced off the bus and in the direction of the high school which was still several blocks away. He could make out the domed ampitheater where pep rallies and sporting events were held. If he squinted hard enough he might have even made out his classroom on the second floor. He rounded a corner as the full sight of the school came into view and stopped briefly to buy the local paper, his usual custom.

    Thomas scanned the main article looking for anything of particular interest and then tucked the newspaper under his arm as he heard the bell ring indicating that students were seated and ready for their lesson. He knew his were always early. They were the over achievers. The dreamers. The future of Grad. He couldn't let them down now. He couldn't set a bad example for them.

    "I'm on my way," Thomas said to himself as he hurried along, "almost there."

    A bright flash, a fierce explosion, a concussive blast, knocked him to the ground. He lay there for several moments unable to hear a thing save for the eternal ringing in his ears. Slowly, cautiously, he got up on his knees and what he saw on that Taungsday morning changed his life forever.

    The high school was absolutely obliterated.

    Gone.

    Destroyed in a heinous act of violence.




    Not So Very Long Ago
    Downtown Grad


    "Contact, one klick, third window from the right, fourth floor, second building on the left," the spotter whispered.

    Thomas quietly sought out the target using the description provided and was rewarded with a silhouette of a figure. He steadied his breathing as the morning light lit up the face of the building, taking away the shadows, revealing the target to be none other than a teenager. The teenager wasn't even armed. He was sleeping. Out cold.

    "Are you sure that's our target?" Thomas questioned.

    "Positive," the spotter replied reviewing the briefing materials.

    "He's just a kid," Thomas observed.

    "Soon to be a dead kid," the spotter joked.

    Thomas pulled his finger away from the trigger of his NT 242 sniper rifle. A gift from the militia leader after his 50th kill. Something stirred deep inside him as he tore his eyes away from his scope to look directly at his spotter. Memories of a former life. A life he loved and missed greatly.

    "What? What's the problem, Teach?" the spotter questioned.

    "I don't kill children," Thomas replied.

    "You think that kid over there is innocent? You think he'd somehow a ray of goodness in this Maker awful shooting mess?" The spotter challenged, "He's probably one of the best bomb makers they have!"

    "I don't kill children," Thomas replied, "that's not what I signed up to do."

    "Since when did you grow a conscience?" the spotter asked, "oh, I see, this is about your past."

    "You don't know a thing about me," Thomas replied, "you don't know a damn thing."

    "I don't, you're right," the spotter said, "but I do know that if you don't take this target out we're both dead. Come on, take a shot and let's go home. You've done this a thousand times before."

    "Never to children," Thomas remarked, "and not like this. He's sleeping. Not even fighting."

    "That's the best time to kill them when they aren't expecting to be shot at," the spotter remarked.

    "I know," Thomas replied as he pulled out his E-11 and shot the spotter dead.

    The ozone was still smoldering in the spotter's chest as Thomas packed up his belongings and left. It was as if he was never there at all. He quietly slipped through the war torn streets of Grad disappearing for what seemed like the first time and the last time all in one.

    It was time for a change.

    Tag: @Bardan_Jusik
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2019
  13. Bardan_Jusik

    Bardan_Jusik Former Manager star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2009
    Kain's Heroes: Episode 1.01 The Rail

    [​IMG]

    IC: Elim Kain
    Kasey Valley, northern Skarn, 1725, Local Time


    [​IMG]

    Kain brought up his macrobinoculars as a soft spring rain began to mist around him. The target was there, just two kilometers distant, though even with the electronic aid he could barely make out the tracks through the mist. Still he knew they were there, winding their way along the coastal mountains. He knew because the pair of scouts beside him had told him so. He lowered the binos and glanced askance at the pair of them. Skarnsson was already a member of his newly formed cell, while the Coynite whose name Kain couldn't even begin to pronounce, was acting more as an additional guide. Kain had never been this far north before, so bringing on the guide had seemed a prudent decision. Just as he had never been this far north, Kain had never run into a Coynite before (not that the two were related), had never even heard of one, but he had been told they had been here for centuries. Whatever. In any case, he wasn't sure the being was in it for the long haul, though the others seemed to be true believers.

    Kain brought up the macrobinoculars again and looked through them catching sight of their target through the mist as he thought things over. He hadn't been a true believer himself even a few months ago. He wasn't even sure if he was now. The others, those that survived the bank heist, had all used their own portions of the loot to do what they had set out to do, they had gotten off this rock. Kain had intended the same, but after seeing how his actions had served as an inspiration, he decided instead to stay here and fight it out. Most of the money had been used to buy equipment and supplies for his own small cell. The only vanity he had allowed for himself was buying a brand new (well new to him) WESTAR-34 blaster pistol.

    The rain started coming down harder now, not a downpour, though it threatened to become one. For now it was just a steady rain, the kind that seemed to permeate everything after a short time. He thought back to the others back at the layup point. They had stayed back with the animals while Kain and the two scouts, along with the group's sniper, Ronaan, had moved a bit farther forward in an attempt to observe the target.

    "OK, yeah I see them now." He finally whispered to his compatriots. One of them, he forgot who, had pointed out the sensors and storage bays in the track support pylons for the Viper droids tasked to protect this stretch of railway. The other two had quickly identified the same sensor tripwires, it had taken Kain a bit longer to spot what they were looking at though. "All right, not to fret, those were expected." he said with confidence despite the frown on his face. He had led them here through the mountains (well, he was in charge, but he hadn't really led them, that had been done by the scout and guide) with the goal of destroying the northern repulsor tracks headed from Port to Grad. They had heard that a major troop movement was going on, probably in preparation for a major offensive in the Grad region. Their goal was to make sure those troops never arrived.

    He lowered the binocs again as he considered their plan. It was fairly straightforward, move on place their explosives and run away. The tracks were unguarded, well aside form the Viper droids, but if they didn't trip the sensor nets those wouldn't deploy, and the explosives, a homemade mix cooked up by their bomb maker Heisn, would be set off by a delayed detonator. That should give them ample time to make their get away before the rail was destroyed. Before they left though they would make sure to leave behind a number of other explosive devices. Their presence would slow down the Imperial repair crews work once they showed up to fix the broken track. With any luck it might be down for...

    Kain cocked his head to the side, listening intently. He thought he heard something, a low rhythmic sound reverberating off the mountain walls. "Down," he called out as they were overflown by a pair of low flying Imperial patrol gunships.

    Kain hated the things, with them Imps could cross vast distances unheard of by resistance cells, likewise they could rapidly insert troops into areas or search from the sky and rain down hell on the rebels. A reliable way to down them had yet to be found. The cells on Skarn had no air speeders to contend the airspace, and little in the way of launchers or missiles to take them out with any sort of regularity. The only good thing about them he thought, as the pair continued on their way, generally following the tracks, was their limited troop compliment and the fact that Empire didn't seem to have all that many of them here on Skarn. Not important enough he guessed. He waited until the gunships were well out of sight before turning to his comrades. "All right, that probably means the train is coming soon." He frowned again, it as early and he had hoped to bomb the tracks before the next train made it's way through. That was going to be a close thing now. Should they wait? No, he gave an imperceptible shake of his head answering his own question. The time to go was now, it would be dark soon and he didn't want to make his way over unknown ground in the dark. The rain would do well enough to conceal their movements.

    "I'll go back and tell the others, you three stay here and keep an eye on things. We'll go in and place the explosives while you watch our backs from here."

    TAG: @Vehn @Sarge @Anedon




    15 minutes later

    Kain took his time making his way around the mountain back to where the remainder of the cell was waiting for him. With the scout team back at what a professional would call an OP (observaton point) on the opposite face of the mountain still watching over their objective. Both groups were roughly halfway up the steep mountainside, though rather than go up and over and risk exposing himself to the open skyline he went around the mountain to where the others were waiting. It wasn't a difficult trip despite the terrain, the old growth forest made for very little underbrush to entangle him or slow him down, and so he found them there, just where he left them.

    "Listen up," he said his voice barely above a whisper. "Tracks are just a couple of klicks away. They're unguarded, but sensor nets around them will activate Viper droids stowed away in the main pylon." He paused. "That's the support pylon we're going to bomb," he paused again to let that sink in before reminding everyone, "so be careful not to trip those sensor nets." He looked at them all. "All right, from here on in we move by foot. Pathfinder," he looked to the dark skinned human wearing the grey katarn chestplate. The man looked back at him with a grim smile as he hoisted his rotary blaster cannon. "You're clumsy as hell, so you stay back with the mounts and keep them secured." The seasoned veteran looked like he wanted to argue, but there was no time. "If this goes as planned we won't be needing your expertise anyway." Of course if things didn't go as planned, having that kind of firepower in reserve might just come in handy as well.

    "Everyone else, with me."

    TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @Adalia-Durron @Mistress_Renata @TheAdmiral

    OOC: Quick rundown:

    • Kain, Neil, Windsong, Cambrion, Atreus, Heisn and Pathfinder were on the back slope of the mountain and all except Pathfinder will be moving towards the tracks (I'll describe those better in my next update, but expect it to be very similar to the "train heist" scene in Solo).
    • Ronaan, Chrondarr and Skarnsson are on the mountain's front slope and are continuing to watch the train tracks. They will provide overwatch for the rest of the cell when they finally get around to planting their explosives. The two groups are about 500 meters apart as the crow flies, but of course the mountain's peak is in the way between them so they can't see one another.

    This should help get us started with a bit of something to do, but not too much excitement that we can't get our feet under us with new characters. Any questions or concerns feel free to either PM me or ask in the OOC thread.
     
  14. Vehn

    Vehn Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 14, 2009


    IC: Thomas Ronaan
    Kasey Valley
    Northern Skarn
    1725 Local Time


    "Here's my paper, Mr. R. I think you'll like what I have to say about the Old Republic and its relationship with Skarn. I found some of the primary sources to be fascinating. The way they talk about the old times. The way they talk about how Skarn used to be. I'm curious to see what you think. Well, I better get going. See you tomorrow!"

    ~Kara Adonaas, sophomore, Grad Central High

    Thomas pulled himself out of the memories of the past as the present world colored in all around him. He took in the rugged wilderness, the cold, the mist, and the distant train tracks beyond. Slowly, cautiously, the voice of his student, Kara Adonaas began to fade away as the rains began to fall with greater intention and velocity slowly soaking his combat fatigues. The cloth he used to wrap his sniper rifle so that it wouldn't create glare and give his position away was equally wet on this miserable evening. All in all it was a typical weather system for the northern reaches of Skarn.

    Kara, Thomas thought, if you could see what your teacher has become. Would you still look upon me with that same wonder in your eyes? The respect? The admiration? Would you still care for my feedback on your paper? Would you even recognize the man before you?

    Thomas shook away the past but it wouldn't let go instead clinging to his soul like a bad dream. Kara had been barely fifteen years old when the bomb ended her life on that miserable Taungsday morning. Thomas had stayed up late grading papers the night before and had been absolutely captivated by what she had written. She'd scored the highest out of all her classmates on the assignment with a resounding "A". He'd been so excited to share in her success, so excited to share in her reaction to his review of her paper. He'd even prepared a message to send to her parents to show how proud he was of their daughter.

    Kara had been on the inside track to college. She was one of his honors students. She also was brilliant and had that great sense of humor that made him want to be around her all day long. She was so special. A rare breed in a sea full of disappointment. Profesionally, Thomas reminded himself, he hadn't been able to show favoritism but personally Kara Adonaas was the embodiment of an exemplary student and person. People liked her and people said she was going places.

    That was all gone now.

    His eyes cast skyward as the Imperial gunships flew overhead. Things like that didn't phase him any longer. He'd long since grown accustomed, and protected by the ghillie suit consisting of natural foliage from the surrounding area and season, to Imperial patrols and their probing ways to learn how to blend in and disappear. He quietly did some math in his head wondering if he could turn his rifle on the door gunner and take a shot. It would be difficult but not impossible.

    Another day, perhaps.

    Thomas returned his attention to the railway as the gunships passed. The train would be coming soon. The Imperials were always punctual. It was dangerously predictable. He flicked a glance over to the Coynite. He'd never met their kind but knew his history and knew they were a powerful species. He felt fortunate that the Coynite was fighting on their side. He didn't want to be at the end of their weapons or their wrath.

    Kain mentioned something about staying here and watching the tracks while he went back to the others. Thomas nodded and didn't reply. It wasn't his job to question the man. He was fortunate that Kain had taken him on and doubly fortunate that Kain seemed to have a conscience. Unlike his previous militia, Thomas noted, Kain's Heroes were a standard above the rest of the pack. That meant a lot to him. That would keep him loyal. That would also keep him lethal against their enemies.

    Thomas turned to the Coynite and the other person nearby and whispered, "I don't know you but I figured you need to know me if we're going to work together. My name is Thomas Ronaan. I'm the unit sniper. That's pretty obvious from the rifle I'm carrying. What's your name and I wanted to say I'm glad you're on our side."

    Tag: @Sarge; @Anedon
     
  15. Mira Grau

    Mira Grau Force Ghost star 5

    Registered:
    May 11, 2016
    IC: Thomas, Corrin, Chrondarr (combo with @Vehn and @Sarge)
    Kasey Valley


    "I'm not on your side," Corrin said, maybe a bit more agressive than he should have. "We have common enemies." He didn't know either of the two men, the partisan leader had assignent them to this poisition. They weren't his tribe, at least the man with the rifle seemed to be one of the "civilized" people who tended to look down on tribals like him. He wasn't sure about the other guy but the Coynite seemed to be old, older than anyone Corrin had ever met, the tribes occasionally traded with his people and they tended to be more honest than the settled humans. So Corrin gave the old warrior a polite nod, before pulling out his dagger and checking its sharpness once more.

    Chrondarr stared off into the distance, his eyes impassively tracking the distant gunships. The throbbing of the machines seemed like unnatural heartbeats. They didn't belong here. The presence of such things was an affront to the mountains. The highlands belonged to quiet and life, not to machines.

    The humans spoke, quietly enough that he decided not to shush them. They had impressed him with their ability to move stealthily as they hiked to this point; they would know when they needed to be silent.

    The younger one nodded at Chrondarr and checked the edge of his knife. He seemed like an aggressive one. Chrondarr knew the type. If he stretched his memory, he could remember being that type.

    Nodding back at the youth, he quoted an ancient Coynite proverb, "The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy, nothing more, nothing less."

    He looked to the elder human who had introduced himself. Sharing his own name would be the civilized thing to do. "I am Chrondarr Khargh Tchingahkuhk Zhubaiya. Call me Chrondarr."

    Thomas nodded to both his companions and pointed out the tracks in the distance. "Either of you gone up against a train like this before? Viper droids, sensors, it's all pretty deadly in my book. I suppose that's why I like to strike from a distance. A safety net so to speak."

    Killing from a distance, he words cut right through Corrin´s mind and he flinched for a second when he thought back to the imperials attack on their camp. From the safety of their flying machines it had been easy for the to massacre his kin, it had seemed more like sport to them than a battle. "Its a giant piece of metal, it fits the imperials," he said slowly trying to keep his voice low. "They hide in there, behind their metal warriors and mechanical eyes, would we need to get inside to cause damadge." That would allow them to loot the train but it was probably a better idea to just sabotage the tracks and let the train crash, like their commander had planned.

    Chrondarr imagined a trainwreck on the hillside. The havoc it caused would be an assault on the spirit of the mountain. But it might also be the beginning of the end of the rail line. The tracks were a scar on the landscape, a metal weapon thrusting itself through the highlands. Let the train crumble, and in time the land would reclaim the wreckage, and all would return to the way it should be. The pain would be momentary, and then healing would begin.

    "What's your name?" Thomas asked the younger human, "If you're willing to say that is after all in this political climate names as well as ideologies can be life or death."

    Corrin sighted, "Corrin," it was probably better if the others new at least that. "Corrin Skarnson," he added as the red markings and symbols on his armor had likley identified him as a tribal already. In his tribe males took the last name Skarnson while females where called Skarnsdoter.

    Thomas gave an accepting nod. He now knew the names of his two companions. That was, for right now, a good enough start. He returned his attention to the distant tracks, quietly scanning them with his scope, and feeling frustrated about only having one good eye. It had taken him years to adapt to his new life. People had stopped asking him questions about his perceived disability years ago but he could still feel their stares and almost hear their questions, "How did it happen?"

    That question was usually followed up with an equally charged, "Why didn't you get a replacement?"

    The simple answer, the easy answer, always centered around money. It was expensive to get an organ replacement. Thomas simply didn't have enough money. Not even when he'd been teaching would he have been able to afford such a procedure. Organ replacement was out of the questions. Skarn wasn't Bakura. There were no grand cities full of technological wonders and certainly no tech centers that could do the surgery. Skarn was so unlike some of he worlds Thomas had dreamed of traveling to once the war ended.

    Grad had been beautiful. A place of quiet respite and a good place to settle down and start a family. Then the war came and the quaintness of Grad was gone. Long gone. The skeletons of the past buried underneath its war torn rubble.

    "Skarn," Thomas whistled, "you wonder why the Empire even bothers."

    "Because that's what 'civilized' people do," Corrin spat out. "Because some people on some distant world want to point at a little dot on a map and proclaim 'that belongs to me', they don't care about the people they kill for that, the lives they destroy. For them we are just numbers."

    Chrondarr heard the bitterness in Corrin's spirit. Dwelling on that wouldn't do the youngster any good. Better to give him something else to focus on. He raised his head slightly. "Did you hear something?" That should quiet him for a time. And they all should be paying more attention to their lookout duties.

    Tag: Anyone
     
  16. TheAdmiral

    TheAdmiral Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 28, 2004
    IC: Jori Atreus
    Kasey Valley, Northern Skarn


    Jori shuddered from the crisp mountain air. Oh how she missed her cosy condo in the central part of Grad. She did not like mountain hiking before, for sure she did not like it now. She was a model city girl. Unfortunately the city of Grad was off-limits to her for the moment. She had to run away from the Empire and to avenge her boyfriend, Paulus, whom she did not believe to be dead.

    This resistance business was way above her paygrade. In the past year she had learned some of the ropes, but still she felt unsure. Jori was a decent shot, but could hardly compete against the military trained stormtroopers or other Imperial combatants. That was why she had to stay in the sidelines and shoot in the general direction, pinning the enemy and occasionally strike a hit.

    Being stuck in the wilderness with a group of misfits was not her first choice. But it was decided the day she saw those “Eyes Only” documents one of her sources had given her. Jori remembered the big Imperial logo on the manila folders. They were documents from the governor’s office, the secretary of Industry. The small cog in the Imperial bureaucracy was describing what was needed to restart the old droid factories from the Clone Wars.

    Of course that had gotten her fired up like a red rag to a Reek. It was going to be the perfect story. The Empire utilising former Confederate factories for a secret project. She knew the risks, that it would get her arrested or at least put her on the wanted list, but she had to do it. The irony was that even without publishing it, she was put there. Jori and Paulus liked to sneak into abandoned facilities looking for clues. It was not long until the ISB was on their trail.

    One by one their informants disappeared, had accidents, or were moved to other planets. In hindsight that should have been enough for them to stop and try to run for it, but they couldn’t let go. One day they were contacted by a potential informant. Paulus decided to go alone, that had saved her. The official report was that he was killed by a mugger, but she doubted it. She even doubted that her boyfriend was dead at all…

    While on the run she managed to get in contact with a former trusted informant. He knew people in the local resistance. This happened to be Kain’s group. He set up a meeting with Kain and she managed to convince him to join. Jori was not sure whether or not it was because she was an eye candy or he believed her story. Of course she did not reveal everything, but he seemed to understand the importance of it and that it could help them bring the Rebels to Skarn.

    So that brought her here… Jori hoped that she would be able to get through the things the train was carrying. Or at least what was left of. Hopefully it will add more information that she could pursue. She picked up her camera and took a couple of shots of the track. She tried to avoid the other resistance members, you never know who could get a hold of the pictures and identify them.

    She had interviewed some of them, trying to gauge whether or not they knew anything about the factories. She had a rough draft of a separate project, which was about their personal histories, what motivates them, what had driven them to the bushes.

    Jori gave a silent sigh. It was time to focus. She was scanning the area with the camera zoom. Trying to see if there was anything useful that she could report.

    TAG: @Bardan_Jusik , Anyone
     
  17. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    IC: Cedilla Alta
    Yesterday morning


    A lot of things stunk about getting old. Aches and pains in the joints that made her walk like her grandmother, people only a few years younger than her calling her ma’am, and the way that people who spoke to her slowed their speech down and shouted, as if she was a child who couldn’t understand them. And of course, there was the fact that she got tired and fell asleep at 2100 hours, or in the middle of a holovid broadcast. Well, all right, the last was understandable. The Imperial-approved pablum being passed off as ‘entertainment,’ endless soppy romances and heroic human soldiers battling hordes of slavering non-humans… anyone would sleep through those. But somehow, she’d gotten into a habit of waking up at 0300 hours, whether her bladder demanded it or not, and she could not get back to sleep.

    She had given in, for now. She made some of the tea that her granddaughter had blended for her, slung her tool basket over her shoulder, and went up to the little garden on the roof. Two of her cats followed her. The sky would be lightening and it was a good time for them to hunt. Big Bogo preferred to burrow into the warm spot in the bed. His old bones didn’t like the cold, either.

    Dilly fastened her padded jacket over her sleep gown, took an appreciative sip of the tea, and wandered around her garden. It was quite chilly, for it was still early spring. There wasn’t much to do, yet, although the ground was beginning to thaw. She sat down on one of the woven chairs, mentally reminding herself to find the cushions that she would put out for warmer weather, and looked up at the stars.

    There were quite a lot of them, and it seemed as if they were moving. She blinked hard, and rubbed her eyes. No, she wasn’t imagining it. Starships, high up in the atmosphere. Many more than usual. That was strange. She wished she had a pair of macrobinoculars. She only had an old pair of theater glasses that she used to take to concerts. She’d have to see if she could get some. She watched the moving stars, mentally counting them, looking at the formations. She was no expert, but it looked like two squadrons of fighters, escorting some larger ships, transports, maybe?

    A sound alerted her, and she turned her head, watching as six TIE fighters screamed by, taking off from the Imperial base to meet the incoming ships. There was a lot of Imperial activity up there, and it had to be Imperial. Reva had gone to the market last week to try to buy medications to stock the pharmacy, and had been told that there was an Imperial blockade in place. Only certain approved shipments were being permitted in, and as far as anyone knew, none of those supplies were getting to civilians.

    Dilly sipped her tea, watching the lights move. Reva had gone off to the new partisan group. But something big was happening. It might be something to look into, to ask about. When Reva next checked in, maybe she could pass along some useful information. She sat until the tea was gone and until she was beginning to shiver. Her granddaughter was going to try to contribute to the liberation of their world, maybe she could make a small contribution herself. Slowly she made her way downstairs and into the house, making sure to secure the door behind her.

    TAG: No one
     
  18. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    IC: Reva Cambrion
    Kasey Valley, Northern Skarn


    What am I doing here? Reva shivered in the fur-lined field coat, and looked apprehensively over the shoulder of the lavender-skinned woman in front of her. Four days ago, she was sitting in a tapcaf, enjoying a pastry and making a mental list of supplies to bring with her. She’d pictured herself in an encampment, ministering to the injured, not going out into the field. Her grandfather’s old blaster was strapped to her hip, but she didn’t really know how to use it. She was a little fuzzy about the mission, too…they were supposed to be blowing up the train tracks, although Reva wasn’t quite sure why and she sure as hell didn’t know how. She’d tried to follow the explanation of how the detonators were to be set, but she couldn’t see very well.

    But she was in it. Skarn had always been a difficult place, torn by factionalism and fighting. The decision of the council to bring in outsider influence at the start of the Clone Wars had precipitated this whole situation. The outsiders had used the squabbling of the native groups to their own advantage, setting one against another and now the entire world was ‘governed’ by off-worlders. Reva sighed. You’d think that the people of Skarn would unite to boot them out. But that hadn’t happened. Maybe it could. She’d seen on the Holonet that there were others in the Galaxy who were opposed to the Emperor, other places who had tried to kick them out. Of course, the Empire showed the horrific punishments meted out to such groups, those foolish enough to oppose them. And yet…there had been whispers, stories her grandmother had picked up, that some had been successful. The Empire only broadcast their victories, after all. Even Kain’s raid hadn’t made the news. His success had spread only by word of mouth. So, there was a chance. After all, these folks she was with hadn’t been part of the original raiders. Like her, they’d joined afterwards, hoping that they could make a difference. They came from all over the planet, from different clans and factions. If they could unite, maybe there was hope.

    She crouched low, waiting for a signal to move forward. She didn’t know what she was doing, so the smartest thing to do was to be as invisible as possible, follow directions and do what the others did. We have a common purpose. She took a deep breath of the cool mountain air, inhaling the scent of earth and early green. All around her, she felt the beginnings of life, renewal. Renewal. The thought gave her hope.

    TAG: @galactic-vagabond422, @Adalia-Durron, @TheAdmiral, @Bardan_Jusik
     
  19. galactic-vagabond422

    galactic-vagabond422 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 11, 2009
    Connor Neil
    Kasey Valley, northern Skarn

    Connor pulled his jacket a little tighter around his shoulder as the rain picked up. Taking a moment he pulled his bow off his back and unstringed it. The rain would cause the string to stretch out, and damage the wood just sitting in this rain. He put it away in a waterproof case to keep it safe from the elements. Looking around he noticed Tauriel and her bow.

    "Do ya' have your bow treated or somethin'?" He asked looking to the Sehpi woman that shared his love of archaic weaponry. Though he would be the first to admit that she was far better than him at the art of the bow. He was much better at close in fighting, where you can see the enemy, drive a blade into their sides and watch them slump to the ground. It was violent, messy and he loved it. Gave him some vengeance for the loss of his home, the death of his grandfather.

    He could still see the flames of his homestead when he closed his eyes, the body of his grandfather on the floor. Did this make him hot headed, make him reckless. Yes, the Empire took everything from him, it was only right that he take everything from them.

    Pulling out his blaster he checked the power pack. The blaster was something new to him. He wasn't the best with it, but when he was sending out bolts in a constant stream, aim was less necessary. Kain got onto him about his 'Spray and Pray' style but it got the job done. At the very least it kept the trooper's heads down while she closed the gap between him and them.

    His shoulders shifted uncomfortably he was use to roughing it so it wasn't the stone he was resting against that made him shift. It was his nerves, that jittery feeling he got before heading out to do some damage. He wrapped his hand around the hilt of his sword feeling the cold steel around his hand, though it didn't seem like he was going to get a chance to use it. His steel was strong, but not enough to cut through droids or their armor.

    "Everyone else, with me." Kain said moving towards the tracks. Connor smiled getting to his feet.

    "Thought you'd never ask boss."

    TAG: @Mistress_Renata, @Adalia-Durron, @TheAdmiral, @Bardan_Jusik
     
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  20. Bodhran777

    Bodhran777 Jedi Knight star 1

    Registered:
    Nov 1, 2019
    IC: Kell Lian

    Kasey Valley

    Of the wide assortment of people in this band of rebels, Kell felt that he was probably the least prepared for a raid on a railway. Sure, he had a pair of pistols, but he’d used them, what, once? Twice maybe, if he counted the getaway from his makeshift radio station? Even then, he hadn’t put down a Stormtrooper or anything. From the looks of some of the others, that was business as usual, considering some of the heavy weaponry they carried. His heavy gear was a backpack full of communications gear, which was on the ground in front of him and opened to reveal the gadgets inside.

    One hand was on radio dials, another on a keypad typing code, a third checking his holsters to make sure he had actually remembered the blasters, and the fourth was adjusting his collar to guard against the wind. Hacking Imperial comms was tough in this terrain, or anywhere on Skarn thanks to the mountains. Thankfully, for this job, it would be closer proximity, and his main battle would be with copying the “all-clear” signal to the Viper droids, in the event someone managed to trip a sensor net. He knew somewhere he had heard of someone trying a similar heist once, and the Empire had of course spun the story to show the Vipers getting them. Whether this was true or not, he didn’t like the idea of testing that narrative.

    As Kain came back to the group and rattled off the objective, Kell listened, while keeping his eyes on the string of code flashing across the small screen on his pack. With any luck, he’d have the signal overridden and the false signals transmitting to the droids soon. Once Kell finally looked up, he saw the teams splitting up, and scrambled to get his things and follow Kain. Once they were out into a more open area, he would be able to lock in the signal easier, but he knew that also meant they’d be closer to the danger.

    TAG:
    @Bardan_Jusik, everyone else.
     
  21. Bardan_Jusik

    Bardan_Jusik Former Manager star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2009
    GM Update
    IC: Elim Kain/Heisn (GM restricted use NPC)
    Kasey Valley, northern coast Skarn


    As the small band of freedom fighters began to move off into the mist towards their final objective Kain noticed that Windsong, the Sephi, wasn't preparing to move out with them. Likewise she was ignoring Neil's attempt at small talk. The Sephi hadn't done much to integrate herself with the rest of the crew so far, though to be fair, the group was newly brought together, there hadn't been a lot of time for anyone to get to know everyone else. However, this seemed she was now going out of her way to distance herself from the group. That impression was further strengthened when she quietly announced. "I'd like to stay back with the animals if I could."

    Kain looked at her quizzically before nodding his assent, an action that Pathfinder took to mean that he was off of animal husbandry duty. He stood up, ready to go along with the rest of the squad but Kain motioned him back to the animals. "You're staying here." He said sternly. "Clumsy, remember?" Pathfinder stood down, looking even more unhappy about it than before as the rest of the squad moved off, making their way towards the northern reaches of the continent.

    They moved quickly, but silently through the waning daylight down around the mountain and towards the coastline. After examining a series of maps very closely he had picked out this particular spot for their sabotage attempt. Not only was it close enough for them to ride from their previous camp and make it in time for their attack, but the local geography was perfect for what he had in mind. This was one of the places where the tracks, rather than going over or through a mountain in it's laid out path instead went around them. That in and of itself wasn't so unusual, more often than not the undulating tracks followed the terrain rather than blasting right through it. However, this was one of the few places where those tracks, rather than curving along the inside landlocked side, of a coastal mountain, instead hung out over the sea along the coastline. The train would be right out over the water, the tracks supported by anchor pylons attached to the mountain's face. Derailing the train here would send it, and all the troops and material it carried, plunging into the raging waters of the northern Skarn sea below. Salvaging anything from that would be near impossible for the Empire, and even any that survived the derailment itself would likely drown.

    Slowly, over time, they got closer and closer to their objective. As they did so Kain began feeling more and more uncertain of the mission before them. What if the train had a direct escort, one made up of patrol gunships or Viper droids? What if they detected the explosives the team was going to plant before they could be set off? What if they caught the rebels as they were planting the explosives? What would they do then? He fought to keep his emotions in check and appear calm for the newly assembled rebels under his command They had the right people for the job he told himself, people that could deal with those, and hopefully every other contingency. If not? Well he would go down fighting.

    His spirits were buoyed somewhat by least by tales he had heard in a pub recently. The Wolfpack, a group of kids really, operating near Port had pulled off a similar job on the spur line between the spaceport and the docks. If a bunch of kids could do it, then his outfit could too. At least that's what he told himself. He still had a bad feeling about this, a nagging sense that something was off. As they traveled around the last peak he realized what it was, the patrol gunships that had overflown the OP not long ago. Those had been following the tracks, not a close escort of the train, but certainly a scouting force for it. It seemed too early for that though, the troop train wasn't scheduled to pass through this stretch of track for several hours, and the last train, a passenger line carrying newly arrived immigrants to Skarn from the Port to the city of Grad, had gone through over half a day ago. So why had the patrol ships overflown them then? The Empire certainly made the trains run on time, but he had never heard of one being early. He was still wrestling with these questions when they finally came upon their destination.

    [​IMG]

    Halfway up the mountain, along a sheer cliff face, a series of over a dozen pylons jutted out from the rock face supporting the track which was laid several hundred meters over the raging waters of the Skarn Sea. In most places the seas was fairly calm, but not so here at the northern edges of the continent. It was here, just over the spot where the pylons were anchored that the rebels stood for a moment, taking in the scene.

    "All right. you all know what to do." Kain said quietly, they had discussed their plans and jobs earlier. "Lian," he motioned to the four armed Ardennian. "Set up your gear and get set to run interference on those Viper droids in case they get a scent of what we're up to." Right now those droids were stashed away in the main pylon set out over the cliff face, but if anyone tripped the sensor nets surrounding it they would activate in an instant. This was Kain's first sojourn with a specialist like Lian, and it had been the Ardennian's idea to try what he was now attempting. Kain hoped he was up to the task. "See if maybe you can't help dampen the sensor net too while you're at it." That was something he wasn't at all sure could be done, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Hopefully. "Jori, watch his back." He knew the propaganda officer would also take her time to document what they were doing, not only for posterity but to show others that the fight for Skarn was ongoing, and successful.

    "Neil, Cambrion." He called to them as they and he huddled alongside Professor Heisn. The former chemistry teacher reached into his rucksack and removed two circular devices, roughly the size of a small cooking pots. It took a moment for Kain to realize the bomb casing actually were old pots. "These have a mixture in them approximating the explosive force of thermal detonator." He explained. They were far more ungainly than the small military grade explosives Kain thought, but you couldn't get that kind of power into that small a size with homegrown explosives. "I decided upon a pressure switch detonator," he looked to Kain unapologetically. The cell leader had asked for a remote detonator so they could control the timing of the explosion. "Comm signals can sometimes set off remotes, and we wouldn't want these to go off prematurely because some kid with a walkie talkie got too close." Kain sighed in exasperation, the professor was right, but he wished he had been told earlier. "Now looking at this structure, even taking out a couple of those support pylons might not be enough." He looked back at Kain. "One of these will have to go on the main pylon there..." He pointed as Kain merely grumbled. "Yeah, where the Viper droids are housed." The professor nodded his head.

    "All right then," Kain's voice was low and gravelly. "You two," he pointed to Neil and Cambrion, "put your bomb on that support if these two go there is no way the the remainder can take the train's weight." He pointed to the one nearest the main pylon as Heisn showed them how to arm the explosive and attach it using a magnet on he had affixed bottom of the pressure cooker. "Set it just under the track." They would have to actually climb out onto the support strut, suspended high above the water, to place their explosive where it needed to be. he hoped neither had a fear of heights. "Professor, you and I will place ours on the main pylon." He took a deep breath. Sensor nets covers areas of both, but if they were creful they should avoid tripping any alarms.

    The two pairs split off with their explosive parcels, handling them with care so as to not set them off, something which caused Heisn to smirk. "They are quite safe, inert really until the detonating charge is applied." Kain was still careful, so as to not set off the detonator, which only further amused the professor. Kain handed their bomb back to the bomb maker at that. "Here, you carry it then," as they approached the main pylon slowly. Small spikes on the support, and similar ones on the support strut Neil and Cambrion were to climb out onto, made up the sensor net. Getting too close to any of the myriad of small antennae would trip the net and activate the Vipers. These were sensitive, but they couldn't be too sensitive. Other wise they would be tripped every time the vibrations of a passing train shook the structure. Still Kain hoped that Lian's efforts would deaden them even further.

    Far below them Kain could see waves crashing against the base of the mountain as he and Heisn slowly moved their way out onto the pylon, careful to avoid tripping the sensor net. Even now after the spring thaw, the water down there would be freezing cold, and the waves would dash anyone unfortunate to fall against the rocks. Of course a fall from this height would likely kill anyone upon impact, so none of that mattered, but the thoughts intruded upon Kian's mind nonetheless. Grasping tight onto the pylon then Kain was glad when they finally reached out to the track itself. The professor smiled as he again pulled the homemade bomb out from his rucksack.

    "The pressure switch will work better than a timer or remote detonator," he explained, though suspended out over the sea Kain wanted to hear none of it right now. "That way the arrival of the train itself will set sets off the explosives as the train passes over." He slowly placed the bomb into the low groove in the center of the track, affixing it there magnetically. It was an action that hopefully the other pair of rebels out on the strut were mirroring right now. "The whole thing will derail right off the tracks and..." he looked below them at the raging sea with a toothy smile and a shrug.

    "Whatever you say professor," Kain still had a nagging sense that there was something wrong with this. With the bomb in place he just wanted off this thing now. If the other two were done, they could head back to the layup point where the animals were being kept. It looked like they were going to pull this off, and easily too thought Kain when the track below him started to rattle slightly. Kain recoil back in fear expecting the newly planted explosives to go off in his face, and just barely managed to keep a hand on the pylon, catching himself from tumbling into the sea.

    "Train coming, probably thirty kilometers away," Heisn said in a know it all tone before noticing Kain's apprehension at the vibrating tracks. "Relax, we're in no danger, the train has to pass right over the pressure pad to set off the switch." The former chemistry professor yawned. Kain considered that for a moment before nodding apprehensively, "Okaaaaay, lets get off this thing then." Despite his earlier thought, it appeared that this train was indeed arriving early. The pair moved with more confidence now, and more swiftly as they clamored back to the rock face and off the pylon. As soon as they had solid rock under their feet Kain looked to Atreus and Lian to make sure they were all right before lifting a comm link to his face and contacting the OP team. If that was a train approaching they would have to clear the area quickly. "OP, we think we hear a train coming, you have eyes on the prize?"

    TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @Bodhran777 @Mistress_Renata @TheAdmiral

    OOC: Go ahead and post through your characters planting their own explosives GV and Renata. Make it as harrowing as you like so long as the sensor net isn't tripped yet. :p




    IC: Jaimie Pathfinder (NPC)
    Observation Post, Kasey Valley, northern highlands, Skarn


    From their perch two kilometers away the trio of rebels left there by Kain watched the progress made by their comrades as they made their way towards the objective. From here there was not much else to do but watch, and wait. Hearing a crash behind them, followed by an "I'm all right! Just tripped," however gave them a moment of excitement before the figure of Pathfinder, lugging his Z-6 rotary cannon with him, revealed himself as the "intruder."

    "Sorry, couldn't take hanging back there with the animals," he apologized. "Heisn's eopie is gassy and it kind of stinks." He let loose a short laugh. "Windsong is looking after them now," he moved up alongside them and went prone as he brought up his macrobinoculars. "They there yet?" he asked, scanning the horizon out in front of him, unsure of just where "they" had gone.

    "Uh oh," he said, looking more west than north. "Train..." he announced to the scouts and sniper. They could all see it now too, a train approaching, still some 20 klicks distant via tracks from where the squad was laying the explosives, but due to a series of switchbacks in the tracks, much nearer the OP they now occupied. Still it was a ways off and the group needed to use either macrobinoculars or their own weapon's optics to get a good look at the fast approaching train. Pathfinder was doing just that right now, observing the train through his macrobinoculars when he let out an "oh shabla". The others no doubt could see it too. The train wasn't nearly as long as they had expected, just a trio of cars behind the engine. Nor were were those cars the expected flatbeds with walkers tied down to them or sealed troop transport cars filled with stormtroopers. No instead those cars looked like standard passenger cars, window shutters opened wide so the passengers could view the surrounding scenery. That also allowed the rebels manning the OP to see inside, where men, women and children were sitting enjoying their trip, blissfully unaware of the danger ahead. It was then that Kain's voice sounded quietly from their comm links.

    "OP, we think we hear a train coming, you have eyes on the prize?"

    TAG: @Vehn @Sarge @Anedon

    OOC: Quick rundown:

    Kain and Heisn have just planted their bomb on the main support pylon jutting out from the cliff face. Neil and Cambrion have planted/are in the process of plating their own bomb on the adjoining support strut. Atreus, and Lian are on solid ground where the struts and pylons are anchored helping to blanket the sensor net and watching for alerts. Due to the terrain (tracks curving around mountains), none of them can actually see the approaching train.

    Ronaan, Chrondarr and Skarnsson have been joined by Pathfinder (NPC) on their mountain's front slope, two kilometers away as they provide over watch for the rest of the cell as they plant their explosives. They can all see the approaching train and can devise on their own that it is not a troop transport, though it's up to you if your characters actually make that determination or not.

    Sadly @Adalia-Durron has slightly overextended herself and won't be playing along with the rest of us any longer. So I'll be NPCing her character for the time being before the inevitable occurs.
     
  22. Bodhran777

    Bodhran777 Jedi Knight star 1

    Registered:
    Nov 1, 2019
    IC: Kell Lian
    Kasey Valley

    Kell followed Kain and the group to their staging area, doing his best not to slip and go tumbling. His spare hands were working overtime in some places to steady himself, while taking in the view of the valley.

    As soon as Kain gave him his instructions, he gave a quick salute to show he had heard, then found a spot of level ground to sling off his pack again. Immediately he began pulling out several pieces of gear, checking wires, and bringing the screen and keyboard back out. He then looked up at his new partner, offering her a small device with a stand and miniature satellite dish that unfolded.

    “Jori, right? You had that blog on the Holonet for a while before getting shut down?” He smiled. “Good stuff. I was hoping to do a segment on-air about it before the Imps came knocking on my door too.”

    He pressed a button on the side of the device, and the dish sprung open and locked into place.

    “Can you do me a favor and set this up? Just plant it somewhere so that the dish aims toward the main pylon. Should give us a straight line to the droids, and we might be able to skip a signal off their antenna if we need to reach further.”

    Once he had handed off the dish, he set back to working on his code, while another hand extended another antenna out the back of his pack. It was tall enough that it looked like a whip, and indeed flopped a bit in the breeze. As he was typing away, however, his brow furled a bit.

    “Huh, that’s weird. Normally these trains run a military transponder for location coordinates. This ID doesn’t follow the same format. It reads more like a civilian transponder, and those are only on passenger lines…”

    As he said it out loud, the realization hit him. This was definitely not the train they were expecting. In fact, it was far worse: passenger cars full of civilians. Looking up, he stuck an arm up in the air and tried to flag down Kain.

    TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @TheAdmiral
     
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  23. Sarge

    Sarge Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Oct 4, 1998
    IC: Thomas Ronaan, Corrin Skarnson, Chrondarr
    Skarn Highlands, Lookout Point


    Thomas sighted the train with his scope. He frowned slightly as the train looked different from what he imagined. What he saw next made his blood run cold. Instead of Imperial troops there were civilians. Lots of them. Women and children.
    “Not good,” Thomas groaned, “train is full of civilians. Maybe we made a mistake.”


    The empire didn´t have mercy on the civilians of my tribe,
    Corrin though grimly as he stared at the train. "They use them as human shields," he said coldly. "They hope we do not attack them to spare the civilians, and if we were to attack they can sell us as murderous beasts. No matter what happens we loose."


    Chrondarr frowned at their unexpected words. "Civilians? Innocents? I did not guide you here to take the lives of innocents. You have your commlinks. Warn the others."


    Thomas reached for his comlink and whispered, "Kain, Thomas here, we've got trouble. That train is full of civilians. I repeat the train is full of civilians. We might have the wrong target."

    He turned to the others, "I understand your feelings but we need to be wary. This could be a trap to draw us out. The Empire may be everywhere and over extended but they're not dumb. Keep your eyes peeled for additional problems. I need you two to bring your very best."


    Chrondarr tried to focus on the distant train, but he still couldn't make out any details. But in his soul, he felt the truth of the others' words. Even if Kain heeded the warning, would he be able to save the spirits of the innocents? Was it too late to remove the bombs from the track? The train needed to stop now. "They'll stop the train if the rail line comes under attack. Thomas, shoot at the track ahead of it."
    "This will draw the imperials here as moths to a flame," Corrin reminded them. "I suggest us heading into the wilderness once the train stopped."
    "Be ready to run. I'll lead us under cover. Take the shot." Chrondarr looked back the way they had come from, toward their mounts, fixing the path in his mind. Spirits of the highlands, bring more rain, let it wash away our tracks.

    "Would suggest us splitting up, three singular people are much harder to find than a group of three," Corrin suggested, disapointed that this day would likley see no combat with the imperials or at least none where he could fight back.

    Thomas nodded to his compatriots and sighted down the scope. The shot wasn't too terribly difficult. He made a few adjustments, steadied his breathing, and then gently applied pressure to the trigger. The blaster bolt flew from his rifle and slammed hard into the track.

    "That should do the trick. Time to go,"
    Thomas announced to the others as he packed up his gear and disappeared into the wilderness.


    Chrondarr moved about fifty paces from where the sniper had fired, then he paused to look back to the train. His grandfather had taught him that a good hunter should know the effect of every shot. There was no doubt it had hit where it was aimed, but would it stop the train?

    Corrin watched the train cursiouly, but uncaring if it would stop or not. Even before Thomas had shot he had left their position and moved a few hundred meters up the slope but had now turned around to watch the impact of their actions.


    TAG: @Vehn, @Anedon
     
  24. TheAdmiral

    TheAdmiral Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 28, 2004
    IC: Jori Atreus
    Kasey Valley, Northern Skarn


    Jori felt a bit uncomfortable having to work with a non-human. She was not a xenophobe, just wary. Skarn, like many worlds, had its fair share of aliens, but still he unnerved her. Maybe it was the fact that Kell did not closely resemble a human. It was something she had tried to eradicate as speciesism was an Imperial trait.

    She scoffed at the mention of the blog. Jori did not like being thought as a blogger. She was a journalist, a professional. Anyone, who is half-literate could write a blog. “It was not a...” she started to say, but decided against it. Now was not the time for chit-chat. Who was this guy? Maybe she would have to interview him, could be interesting. Maybe he could be useful for her private mission?

    Jori nodded and took the device. She was good at following instructions regarding the setting up of technology. She did not understand them completely, but she had experience from her past life. She and her boyfriend were the only crew walking around so they had to do everything by themselves.

    She carried the thing to the indicated place. Jori looked around, in a normal circumstance she would have taken some time to soak in the view, but there was work to be done. Hopefully it would deal some blow to the Empire. She was there to document it and then distribute illegally to help boost morale and maybe boost recruiting. After all if people like them could fight the Empire, then anyone could. At least that was the gist of it…

    Jori placed the device and followed the instructions. She then turned to the Ardennian and grinned giving him a thumbs up. Then rummaged through her stuff looking for her portable holocam. Hopefully she would be able to make some nice shots…

    The sound of the approaching train could be heard. Going through a short list in her mind, to see if everything was ready ’Battery… check… lens… check…’

    TAG: @Bardan_Jusik @Bodhran777
     
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  25. Bardan_Jusik

    Bardan_Jusik Former Manager star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2009
    GM Update


    IC: Tauriel Windsong (GM use NPC)
    Layup Point, Kasey Valley, northern highlands, Skarn


    Watching over the animals Windsong debated with herself over her decision not to join in the attack. There was just something not right about the situation, something she couldn't put her finger on. She didn't know why, but she just had a very bad feeling about all of this. One of the blurrgs she was watching over grunted, recoiling somewhat from her unexpectedly. Now why was it doing that? She wondered as she suddenly got the feeling she wasn't alone. She dropped low, calming the beast as she looked off into the woods. There seemed to be nothing there, though she remained still. There was something out there, she was sure of it, she just couldn't see what it was yet.

    A short time later her patience paid off as she spotted a being, a grey skinned and heavily tattooed male, moving quietly through the forest, up slope between her and the observation post on the other side of the mountain. He wasn't an Imperial, not dressed like that, and he appeared to be alone. Nor had he seen her, though it was possible the noise of the animals had drawn him towards her position. What was he if not an Imperial? She very much doubted he was just a local out for a stroll. Another rebel then? One of those "lone wolves" the local Imperial propaganda was always blathering on about? She didn't know, but if he came any closer, she planned on finding out.

    The sound of a lone blaster shot rang out from over the slope, that had to be fired by the observation team. But why? It didn't matter, they had fired and blown their cover. That meant that they and the assault team would be returning quickly for their mounts. Windsong took a moment to ensure they were ready to go, their harnesses not entangled with one another or herself, before looking to the lone shirtless grey skinned man wandering the woods. He had heard the shot too, and now was making his way swiftly to where the sound had come from...




    IC: Jaimie Pathfinder (NPC)
    Observation Post, Kasey Valley, northern highlands, Skarn


    “Not good,” Thomas groaned making the same connection Pathfinder did. “Train is full of civilians. Maybe we made a mistake.” For some reason that made Pathfinder feel better, at least he wasn't the only one feeling that way. Of course that still meant this was a huge problem for them. Pathfinder hadn't worked with these people long, some cells on Skarn he knew of wouldn't hesitate to stay on mission, even after such a revelation of women and children being in the crossfire. Was this that sort of cell? Normally it was something that was defined over time, after several exploits together. Not for this group though, this group was going to have to come to a decision, and fast.

    "They use them as human shields," Skarnsson said coldly, a little too coldly for Pathfinder's tastes. "They hope we do not attack them to spare the civilians, and if we were to attack they can sell us as murderous beasts. No matter what happens we lose." That Pathfinder couldn't argue with, but it still left them with a decision to make. The Coynite guide seemed to have made his already. "Civilians? Innocents? I did not guide you here to take the lives of innocents. You have your commlinks. Warn the others." Pathfinder nodded, that was the proper course, but what if Kain decided to go ahead with the bombing anyway? Would the others follow? Would he? The seasoned veteran of countless local campaigns still didn't have a good read on their new cell leader, or his new comrades in arms, just yet.

    Thomas turned to the others after comming out a warning to Kain, "I understand your feelings but we need to be wary. This could be a trap to draw us out. The Empire may be everywhere and over extended but they're not dumb. Keep your eyes peeled for additional problems. I need you two to bring your very best." Pathfinder hefted the Z-6 rotary cannon, slightly rotating the barrels ensuring it had good movement, it was all he could do as he had no idea what to do about the current situation except make sure his weapon was ready.

    Chrondarr meanwhile had an actual idea. "They'll stop the train if the rail line comes under attack. Thomas, shoot at the track ahead of it." Pathfinder smiled, he liked it. Simple and effective, those were the best kinds of plans because they were the most likely to actually work. "This will draw the imperials here as moths to a flame," Corrin reminded them. Pathfinder shrugged at that. He preferred a straight up fight to all this sneaking around. "I suggest us heading into the wilderness once the train stopped." Pathfinder wasn't sure that was a good idea, they needed their animals anyway, so they might as well stick together until they reached the layup point.

    "Be ready to run. I'll lead us under cover. Take the shot..." Just a moment later the bolt lanced out from Ronaan's weapon, impacting neatly on the rail line out ahead of the onrushing train. "That should do the trick. Time to go," he announced to the others as he quickly packed up his gear and disappeared into the wilderness. Pathfinder followed Chrondarr as he moved about fifty paces from where the sniper had fired, before the Coynote paused and looked back to the train. Corrin had moved even further away, up slope intent on going over the mountain instead of around it to get back to their steeds. However he too paused to look back to see the result of their handiwork. As one the jaws of the rebels dropped in horror. The train was doing the opposite of what they were expecting.

    Instead of stopping under the supposed attack, the train operator had poured on more speed, as much as he safely could. The blaster bolt was just the beginning of a rebel ambush he was sure, and the best way to not get caught was to ride through as fast as he could. Stopping was suicide, the best way to ensure they were all slaughtered by rebels who would kill all the men and do maker knew what with the women.**

    "umm guys." Pathfinder whispered indicating the situation, "that's not good." The situation soon got worse as the woods parted in front of Corrin to reveal a shirtless grey skinned man who looked nearly as surprised as the the rebels did at running into someone so nearby.

    [​IMG]

    TAG: @Vehn @Sarge @Anedon

    **Adapted from The Patriot




    IC: Elim Kain
    Kasey Valley, northern coast, Skarn


    "Kain, ....as here, ..'ve got troub... .... train ... full of ..vilians. .....peat ... train is .... .. civilians. .. mi... .... ... wrong target." It was Ronaan's voice, but the message was garbled badly. It took a moment for Kain to realize what the sniper was trying to tell him, and what it was saying made his blood run cold. They had the wrong target, the train was full of civilians. That supposition seemed to be confirmed by Lian a moment later as the Ardenian came rushing at Kain his four arms flailing about in an attempt to warn him. He must have cracked their comms and discovered the same thing, he clearly wasn't trying to tell him to hurry up. Kain looked back at the pylon where professor Heisn had just attached their bomb. They had to remove it. If they were careful they could retrieve it and then re attach it after the civilian train had passed. They could still salvage this mission he thought calmly, looking to Cambrion and Neil, ready to tell them they were going to have to retrieve their bomb as well. Others may disagree, but Kain hadn't started this cell to kill children.

    Just then a shot rang out from the OP, and then all hell broke loose. Immediately after the shot, the storage bays on the main pylon behind Kain opened up, revealing a half dozen Viper droids. The first two droids to emerge ignored the rebels completely, instead turning and rushing up the track towards the still oncoming train, either to escort it, or perhaps investigate where the blaster bolt had impacted. However, the next two that emerged immediately targeted Kain and Heisn, opening fire with their repeating blasters as the pair tried in earnest to find cover in the nearby trees. Kain managed a few return shots with his blaster, but failed in taking out either droid. "We have to get out of here," the professor turned bombmaker cried out to Kain's disgust. "We have to remove those bombs first!" the cell commander replied, getting a mouthful of dirt as a blaster bolt impacted the earth in front of him.

    Meanwhile, the last two droids split up, one heading for Cambrion and Neil while the other bracketed Lian and Atreus with blaster fire. Kain had enough time to raise the comm link to his lips and radio back to the OP. "We have a situation here!" That situation was even worse than Kain knew, for even under fire from the Viper droid, Lian could make out the distress call from the train operator, as well as the response to it.

    "This is train 1187," the engineers voice was panicked and rapid with heavy breathing. "We are under attack..." he followed up with their location beacon before he got an acknowledgement from local authorities as well as another comm signal back. "This is Hind-24," it was a signal from the patrol gunships that had passed overhead earlier. "We're on our way to you, eta less than five minutes."

    TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @Bodhran777 @Mistress_Renata @TheAdmiral




    OOC: Quick rundown:

    OK, so I know I've updated before vagabond and Renanta responded, but I want to get us moving here. You two can use whatever you were working on stil at the beginning of your posts as a kind of precursor to what is happening now. As to the current situation, it assumes the bombs are in place and now that all hell has broken loose, Kain wants the bombs removed so you don't all blow up a civilian train. Oh and by the way, your characters need to accomplish this while under attack by Viper droids. Just to make things worse, the patrol gunships are also on their way back and of course the train has picked up speed and is approaching the bomb site even faster than it was before. So...good luck! :p

    The Viper droids are free use for you all, engage/damage/destroy them as you see fit in your posts. Folks at the OP (vehn, sarge and anedon's, characters along with the Pathfinder NPC) can see what is going on with the so called assault team, but you're two kilometers away. You can affect things there, but they will be long range shots, so just a reminder. Of course you also have running into a stranger in the woods to deal with. That originally was going to be Jedi in the Pumas' character, but alas DRL has reared it's ugly head and delayed his entry into the game for a short time. In his place, we've got a new NPC to deal with instead. :p

    Any questions or concerns from anyone here, PM me or ask away in our OOC thread.
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2020