Episode 3.08: Kanter’s War, Chapter 14

Star Wars

Shards of Exploration

Episode 3.08: Kanter’s War, Chapter 14

The heroes left the defense screen in place to block the attacking BT-16s droids. It also sealed off the only route back to the surface. Corrupted droids blasted at the shield, and each other, in a mindless attempt to reach the heroes.

Several meters away, the heroes enter the ancient research and control center of the ruin. Once a place of great learning, it was now twisted and evil. Dozens of dark obsidian columns glow with an ominous sapphire light. Inside those crystals, the trapped minds of failed B’omarr initiates combine to form the computing power of the complex.

At the entrance, the heroes plan their next steps against the mysterious twisted Mentat hive mind known as the CONCORD. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ruin, Almon D’Joy enters a similar corrupted research center. There he duels an ancient Force ghost of the ruin builders. If he succeeds, the ancient Sith compass or its location may be his for the taking…

Components

Goals

The attacks against the Freedworlds have subsided into a full system war. Black Sun and their allies launch surgical strikes against the rag-tag forces of the Freedworlds Republic. In return, the ingenuity of the Republic has kept the conflict at a dangerous stalemate.

On Chalcedon, the heroes regroup to get their bearing. Looming over them are the ghosts of problem’s past:

The assassination of most of the Crimson Knight Order.

Theft and disappearance of what few Jedi Order artifacts remain in the galaxy.

The kidnapping of Ivan Vorpatril, the secret consort of Imperial Princess, High Lady of Melantha Province, Katianna Vortapani.

The kidnapping of the famous Jem Vandos, known as “The Gamesman”, to gain access to his wealth and fleet of ships.

Almon D’Joy’s obsession with something to do with Chalcedon. An obsession that reeks of the Dark Side and suggests it may result in something dire. An outcome that could harm countless lives.

The possible contamination of Chalcedon of Tau Ceti worm creatures, thanks to the Tleilaxu Mentat, Almon D'Joy

Warlords and pirate clans on Chalcedon have taken the sudden outbreak of fighting to pursue their own interests. These run counter to Black Sun and the Freedworlds, hurting the latter more than the former.

They have recently returned from a successful mission to broker an alliance between the Vorbaize Pirate clan and the Freedworlds Republic. A mission that sent them hurtling head-first against the secret operations of the Tilles pirate clan to sabotage the Republic’s weapons donated by the Freedworlds’ ally, the Bareesh Kajidic from Hutt Space.

Once derailing Clan Tilles operation to sabotage weapons using enslaved moisture farmers, the heroes returned to Port Etmar wher they hoped to get some rest. Meanwhile, Sir Davish Tam and one of former member so Clan Tilles fly the freed moisture farmers back home.

But another problem surfaced…

Information reached Port Etmar that the far flung settlement of Chausid Station on the coast of the Piterra Wastes dust ocean has been overrun. The Killian Pirate Clan, long time allies to Clan Tilles, captured the town and the Freedworlds forces there. All due to the defender’s weapons having been sabotaged by Clan Tilles.

To prevent the Freedworlds from having to stretch their thin resources to the breaking point, the heroes join forces with their long time allies, Razak’s Roughnecks, to free Chausid Station. Together, they flew to Chausid Station to sneak into the town and capture the pirate raid leader.

Things weren’t as described once they arrived…

The Killian pirate clan had not overrun Chausid Station but only part of it. An armed force of locals, with an allied pirate gang, held the other half of town. It was a deadly stalemate with the heroes in the middle.

With some work, and quick alliances, the heroes smoked out the Killian Pirate Clan from the Station’s Council Chamber and the primary maintenance shop. In the process, they uncovered that the Killian Pirate Clan possibly had dealings with a mysterious person who gave them plans to altered Sith battle armor and Sith war machines.

Despite that and more, the heroes managed to subdue the pirate raid leaders and free Chausid Station. They returned to Port Etmar for two weeks of rest and recuperation.

But now, something unusual has happened…

The pirate turned commander of the Freedworlds, Erenn Baize, contacts the heroes about an unusual find: previously lost and damaged Jedi holocrons in a hidden room under the estate. This happened as part of clearing out the warren of tunnels beneath the Estate with help from the Sisters of the Steel Rose.

Inspecting the holocrons revealed they had been damaged by being struck repeatedly with an energy weapon. Vanya, after she used her skills in the Force, looked back into the past and saw that Almon D’Joy was the one responsible!

But, along with that, D’Joy executed the couriers; anyone who knew D’Joy was connected with the theft. The bodies, and a page from the Tenocron Codex, were left with the B’omarr monks who assisted D’Joy.

Meanwhile, So’zen, Reese, Vance, and Arena made their own discoveries about the ruin. First, the B’omarr may not have carved the tunnels but taken over even older ruins! Next was the statue in the middle of the room of Jedi Master Shal Artak. Inside was half a data chip of the legendary Jedi general’s journals from the Jedi-Sith War and his duel against Darth Tenock.

The other half, and the reason why his journals were hidden, is still missing. Though they found two clues: a kyber crystal that can read the Jedi Master’s journal and a series of mysterious numbers etched inside the lens for a pair of monoculars.

Deeper into the ruin, the heroes uncovered an ancient meditation chamber; one corrupted by the B’omarr order. After a series of ‘keys’, the heroes deciphered the puzzle to unlock a series of crystals that seem to be a means to access a vast storehouse of knowledge.

This drew the attention of the deranged BT-16 droids used by the B’omarr. A swarm of the ‘zombie’ droids attacked in a rush. The fight was harsh, but quick thinking and skill won the battle.

From there, the heroes pressed on, deeper into the catacombs after the answers.

After scrutiny, they discover why the B’omarr are so interested in the lost meditation chamber. It is the resting place of an ancient device created by the ruin builders. This device, once unlocked, can open one of the lost Infinity Gates. But unlike a full Infinity Gate, this one only grants access to the mysterious Atheneum; a lost library floating in hyperspace.

The danger is obvious. If the B’omarr gets access to the Atheneum, knowledge from thousands of cultures across a million years would be open to them. Knowledge the B’omarr could use to their own devious ends.

This brings more questions than answers…

Where is Almon D’Joy?

What is so important in this corrupted research and control center they’ve located? What is so important that the B’omarr need to join tens of thousands of minds into a computing hive mind to calculate?

The heroes have encountered B’marr droids lacking any of the traditional monk brains; effectively ‘zombie’ droids. But are there B’omarr monks? If so, where?

Almon D’joy had the jedi artifacts brought into the catacombs, how did he get access if the door under the Stiydear estate was sealed off?

How does the Tenocron Codex fit into this? Where is the rest of Jedi Master Shal Artak’s journal?

Relations

Protagonists

Jedi Knight VN Ysadora

Jedi Knight So'Zen Al Saba

Alliance of Worlds Captain Aerena Kolene

Tapani Imperium agent, Danar Vorpadaran (in one of his many cover identities)

Crimson Knight Sir Davish Tam

KitKat the Mentat in one of his many disguses as the Mentat "Reese Pieces"

Sabine Tri'elle, exiled leader of the Shalent Aw'akeen.

Allies

Kal Holst ( field technician and slicer ), former Bloodsmith Raider. His anger and rage over his past lead him to the Bloodsmith Raiders. However, Jedi Knight VN Ysadora showed him there was another way. Now with silicon antibodies from Sabine Tri'elle freeing him from Almon D'Joy's influence, the young man has made his choice: to work with the heroes and the Aw'akeen exiled leader to stop the Slave Lords and the Eborrean threat.

Chancellor Nalerine Kanter. A female Human outlaw mechanic who kept herself to a cautiously confined life as a starship repair facilitator until she met the passengers of the Kylo's Star.

Sent from the Tapani Imperium: Beskar Aran

Doc. A male Clone Trooper of the now infamous 257th Clone Detachment that survived over 30 years in stasis. Doc loves it when any complicated system works at peak efficiency, whether that is heavy power armor or a person's biology or a government system. He is easy to pigeonhole as "the soldier who deals with medical stuff" but believe that he studies, analyzes, and judges the crosscurrents of power dynamics in the social situation around him. What will he do with his conclusions? That's on a need-to-know basis, and frankly, Doc is the only one who gets to see that particular list!

Goss. A male Clone Trooper of the now infamous 257th Clone Detachment that survived over 30 years in stasis. Goss would feel better about this planet if he were in heavy armor. He wants to poke around at one of those "Variwalkers" from the inside as soon as Salbur and Kal Holst confirm that the things will neither fold nor spindle a near-human in the pilot seat.

Hicks. A male Clone Trooper of the now infamous 257th Clone Detachment that survived over 30 years in stasis. Hicks tried to take a vacation, but fell into his lifelong habit of recognizing danger to civilians and then taking firm action in regard to it.

Jenkins. A male Clone Trooper of the now infamous 257th Clone Detachment that survived over 30 years in stasis. Jenkins is the highest-regarded expert among the Beskar Aran at communications, encryption or decryption, and tactical organization. He was the leading officer of the original squad sent to Chalcedon with orders to find out what had gone wrong in this distant region -- orders he received and obeyed before his Commander-in-Chief had any reports that the Beskar Aran might be needed. Since Jenkins still prefers to operate away from the spotlight, he was glad to have Bureau of Ships and Services representatives arrive in-system along with Captain Rico and Corporal Goss.

Rico. A male Clone Trooper of the now infamous 257th Clone Detachment that survived over 30 years in stasis. Rico likes to get his information directly from a trained observer when he can. He is polite to everyone around him, even when administering a dressing-down. The sheer indisputable fact of his presence on Chalcedon means that managing the chaos on Chalcedon was assigned to the Beskar Aran by Emperor Gregor Vortapani in a personal, private, closely held conversation.

Sir Saphor Kronn. A male Knight Errant of the Crimson Knights order. Perhaps he survived the recent wave of assassinations because he was cargo in a Nightsister slave ship?

Talow Kit'Sedda. A male elderly Aildae who is likely to be the last surviving member of his reclusive Force Order. He spent a long time in hiding, living as a hermit in a subterranean region of the dark planet Nar Shaddaa. Within the past two weeks, he has seen stars and sunlight in greater quantities than even most surface-dwellers of Nar Shaddaa experience in a year.

Kerplocken's Brigade. A feudal militaristic society of Chalcedonian residents, mostly noghri, who saw in Space Pirate Vance Kerplocken the messianic cause that elevated them from "mostly desert raiders" to a noble force.

The Ragnar Syndicate. A pirate clan with a regional headquarters in Port Nevermore. Thus far they have mostly gotten along with the Explorers, trading assistance back and forth on various problems.

Captain Jerrod Quantas. A male Human originally from the Tapani Sector. Captain of the Razorback. He was originally hired to steal any information the Explorers had already gathered. He wound up allied with them, even escorting the Kylo's Star from Thyferra to a safe landing at Port Nevermore on Chalcedon.

Quanor Al Fayed. A male senior pilot and pirate. He is the second in command at Port Nevermore.

Felnir Jax. A resident of Port Nevermore with more energy at his disposal than any three of his seniors. He is one of the youngest full-fledged bounty hunters in Ragnar Syndicate.

Erenn Baize. Leader of the Baize pirate clan and self-appointed defender of the northern expanse of Chalcedon's Strosis Continent. Despite an initial bad impression, the pirate willing to take up the alliance with the Freedworlds Republic to root out the rampant corruption in the region.

Jula Brisina. Palatine of the Sisters of Battle mission to bodyguard and escort the Galactic Star Empire’s royal consort, Yeager Lexics while on Chalcedon. Taking two of her Battle-Sisters, they are investigating the potential of a B’omarr monk infestation under the Stiydear estate.

Derma the Hutt. He thought he would contract the passengers of the Kylo's Star to transport him, his household, and his beloved orchids away from his sister Rogga the Hutt's ever-constricting prison. Suddenly he is a critical leader in Chancellor Kanter's government of the Freedworlds Republic -- how did that sneak up on him?

Neutrals/Bystanders

Mistress Belshanna. A female Rancor, elderly, grandmotherly, and a Bendu priestess.

Dr. Bengala. A male Devaronian staff member at Port Nevermore Hospital. If he can profit from events around the Explorers, he probably will.

Gelvin. Chief of staff at The WAVE Pirate Radio in Port Nevermore. If he can create exciting news broadcasts out of events around the Explorers, he certainly will!

Salbur. A male Noxarin in the Eborrean starfighter forces. Freshly cleared of a puppetmaster parasite, incredibly confused about the Galaxy around him and the course of events that led him up to a meeting with the Kylo's Star. Has his people's entire history been a ruse? Are these strange short-faced aliens to be trusted, and to what extent?

The Mand’alor Asajj Ventress. A female Dathomirian warrior who earned her place in Mando'a culture. She became a spouse and mother. Enemies of the previous Mand'alor killed him in a critical battle near the end of the Tapani Civil war. Lady Ventress hunted the authors of that attack down and dispensed with them personally. She thus won ultimate authority in her adopted warrior society as the current Mand'alor. In her position of strength she can occasionally afford to be kind -- but in all considerations, she will put the needs of her people first.

The Armorer, Anatoli Cuylin. A male Mando'a probable human who lives by the stricter version of the cultural armor code. While he traveled aboard the Kylo's Star he was absolutely an Ally of his fellow passengers, even while he was careful to study them for strengths and weaknesses. He may have picked up on the similarity of family names in regard to warrior pilot Aerena Kolene. He certainly developed a friendship with Hicks. Now that Jedi Knight So'Zen Al Saba has completed the formal introduction to The Mand’alor, The Armorer's priorities will align with his own culture's current needs.

Zaye Grakkus Kerplocken. A female noghri whose husband died in defense of Vance Kerplocken. By her people's custom, that sacrifice immediately made her bond-wife of Vance Kerplocken himself, as her children become his heirs and dependents. Lady Zaye is calm; reserved; formal; and deadly, She could be a great ally of Lord Danar Vorpaderan, if such an individual ever trusted her enough to create a true friendship. But why is she a relatively impoverished Chalcedonian at the mercy of the bondwife custom when her adopted father is the great Grakkus the Hutt of the Ponua Kajidic?

Arthal Kale. Former Jedi hunter for the Galactic Empire's Inquistorium during the Galactic Civil War. Now a bounty hunter willing to work with the heroes against the rising pirate threat.

Heth G'vanek. Master practitioner of the ancient arts of Zama-shiwo. For reasons unknown he was willing to work with the heroes and travel with them at least to Port Etmar. Perhaps farther.

Zam Ello. Former member of Clan Tilles. Now working as a retainer for Sir Davish Tam and Jedi Knight Vanya Ysadora

Kunla, the Wookiee. Former pit fighter named 'Iron Kunla' now retired and running an inn at Chausid Station.

Void Wolves Pirate Clan. A rival of Clan Killian and allies to the citizens of Chausid Station. They act as the station's defenders and peacekeepers, working with the locals.

Competitors

Caressa Drakon. A female Human (probably!) disciple of a Dark Side philosophy. She is in favor of using cybernetic implants to control megafauna. She has a special rage regarding elderly Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. She is not particularly insightful!

The Corellian Intelligence Agency. They seek information that is connected to Tapani High Vor House Vormecetti and to the genetically mutable creatures from Tor Ceti.

Ferrin the Collector and his employee Illiana Turosin seek artifacts from the Church of the Force. Ferrin described "Immortal Emperor Sargon" as a direct enemy of both Ferrin the Collector and the Explorers. Contrary to Ferrin's words, however, his actions hint that he may not see the enemies of Sargon as the allies of the Collector.

The Spartan Imperium has its own ideas on what is moral, what is true, and what is urgent. Some of those ideas may be compatible with the Alliance of Worlds' plans. Others may not be!

Adversaries

Bloodsmith Raiders. One of the most fanatical pirate organizations in the galaxy that are obsessed with wiping out the coming threat of an Eborrean from Wild Space. They will use any means, any method necessary to accomplish this goal. No matter how high, or lethal, the cost.

Almon D'Joy, rogue Mentat and Dark Side practitioner. A brilliant, mad, genius who sought to overthrow the Tapani Imperium for his own gains. Now he has new, mysterious plans in motion that could cost billions of lives, all for his own personal gain.

Piotr Sparaval, a male human who works with Almon D'Joy for his own plans. The smuggler-pirate maintains his own batch of cybernetically linked clones, effectively making him both near-immortal and an 'army of one'. He bears a grudge against the heroes that they have yet to understand.

Elvera Hayley. Member of the Tilles Pirate clan and rumored former member of the nefarious Crimson Dawn crime syndicate. Humiliated by the heroes, she is looking for payback.

Crimson Nova. A pirate clan that operates on a rule of "Might Makes Right". They profit from smuggling, looting, slavery, gambling, and bounty hunting. Some of them specialize as "Jedi Hunters". Until recently, they had a fine guildhouse in Port Nevermore with close proximity to a small fighting pit and planetary tunnel connections to Undercity.

Aurra Sing led the three pirate team to steal the Kylo's Star from a parking apron on Nar Shaddaa, search and disable the ship, and recover their missing credits -- stolen from the Crimson Nova's own bank in Port Nevermore a month ago.

Madalitso Cardea, a male human working for the Crimson Nova bounty hunter guild. The heroes raided the Crimson Nova and ruined their contracts with the Slave Lords. The guild now wants their blood as repayment. Madalitso looks to take on that bounty.

Nassha Tomesta, bounty hunter working for Almon D'Joy. What is her stake in all this? Is it only credits?

Tilles pirate clan, a local pirate clan on Chalcedon that may have connections that run deep, such as with Black Sun, Grakkus the Hutt, or worse.

Killian pirate clan, a local pirate clan on Chalcedon and close allies with Clan Tilles.

Hutt "Slave Lords", a syndicate of Hutt Kajidics that are the main foundation of slavery in many parts of the galaxy ... who are in league with an Eborrean invasion force!

Plot type

Chapter

Parent Plot

Episode 3.08: Kanter’s War

Related Characters

• Aerena Kolene
• Bishop
• Danar Vorpadaran
• Davish Tam
• KitKat the Mentat
• So'Zen Al Saba
• Spukamas
• VN Ysadora

Related Organizations

• Black Sun
• Freedworlds Republic

Related Locations

• Chalcedon
• Stiydear Estate