Shadow Tide [OOC]
At this horror I sank nearly to the lichened earth, transfixed with a dread not of this or any world, but only of the mad spaces between the stars.
-- H.P. Lovecraft, "The Festival"
This is the OOC thread for Shadow Tide: A Suspense Thriller Set in the Star Wars Universe. Below I've consolidated the ground rules previewed in the recruitment thread.
Primary CastFrom the recruitment thread
The Story
The characters begin as young researchers (graduate students, or young professor-types) commissioned to an Imperial research team. Now, because I am no big fan of metagaming, I will only go as far as to say that this shall be a suspense thriller, with horror and ghostly situations. I will try to keep things from going B-movie, or kitsch, though early on things might lean that way a tad.
The year is 12 BBY, and though set in the Star Wars universe, I intend to steer clear of Star Wars formulas. There are still clone troopers, and the ships and technology of the era will be remain consistent. Importantly, this will be a story about characters' transformations, their personal discoveries, and party choices will weigh heavily on plot trajectories. In fact, character backgrounds will even be essential to the opening situation.
Leveling
The characters will begin as level two non-heroics. These can be adapted from pp. 277-278 Saga Core, and will be limited to noncombat skills to start.
In exchange for this commoner start, I will give one level of Noble for free after the first waypoint. Players can also be expected to see their characters awarded for quality contributions.
System
Saga
The Research Team
Well, it is an Imperial project, so you might guess that, being grad student/assistant professor types, what you're told the facility is for (and the work you would be doing), may be a far less than what is actually going on there. You are told it is work "for the betterment of Imperial subjects and citizenry."
It would certainly make sense that you've been chosen because you've shown promise in the "right" field. Xenobiology/physiology, astrophysics/physics, and archaeology would each have a place in the projects. Please stick to one field per player.
The Research Facility
Your work will begin at an Imperial Research facility on Ando Prime. There shall be a light military presence at the facility, nonetheless. Your specific department will depend some on the characters' backgrounds.
The director of the operation is a human physiologist of some notoriety, Dr. Gregor Halkus. He began his academic career at the University of Corsucant in 40 BBY, where he excelled. He earned his doctorate at University of Sanbra, before serving as a surgeon in the Clone Wars. Most recently he has taught and published on surgical techniques from his offices at the Imperial University at Thené, on the planet Marngar III. For the past three years, approximately, his whereabouts have been unknown by the academic community.
Your immediate supervisor will be department specific, dependent on character background.
Transportation
A standard speeder license will be sufficient to start for the PCs.
Ability Scores
For ability scores, I'd like folks to start with 23 points on the planned generation table of p. 18 of the Saga book. I realize this is two shy what's on that page, but I'm trying to keep the whole non-heroic feel, especially at start.
These limits will be balanced as the characters grow, I promise!
Hit Points
Max at nonheroic levels one and two, then max -2 thereafter.
Calisia `Cali` Aramathus
Human Nonheroic 2
Destiny 1; Init +2; Senses Languages Basic
_________________________________
Defences Ref 11 (flat-footed 10), Fort 10, Will
HP 8; Threshold
_________________________________
Speed 6 sq
Melee unarmed +1 (1d4)Ranged per weapon +2
Base Atk +1; Grp +2
Atk Options none
Special Actions Burst of Speed
_________________________________
Abilities Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 10
Feats Burst of Speed*, Resurgence+, Skill Focus (Knowledge [physical sciences], Use Computer), Skill Training (Endurance).
Trained Skills Endurance +6, Gather Information +6, Knowledge (physical sciences) +13, Swim +6, Use Computer +13
Skills Acrobatics +2, Climb +1, Deception +1, Initiative +2, Jump +1, Knowledge (other) +3, Mechanics +3, Perception +3, Persuasion +1, Pilot +2, Ride +2, Stealth +2, Survival +3, Treat Injury +3
Possessions 2005 credits, commlink (short-range), datapad w/10 cards, glowrod, holorecorder
* from Scum and Villainy page 21.
+ from Scum and Villainy page 24.
Born in Keren city, Calisia `Cali` Aramathus was four years of age when the Trade Federation invaded his homeworld of Naboo. Keren had long been a major trade hub both on Naboo and for the Chommell Sector itself and the young boy had seen aliens coming and going, in fact he had seen more Duros than the Gungans he shared a homeworld with. He had always watched the non-humans with a sense of awe that only a shy child possesses, though this was soon replaced by terror as the Duros-like Neimoidians first blockaded then invaded his home with their skeletal battle droids. Keren was seized soon after Theed in order to prevent the Naboo from escaping off-world. Cali, his parents and his elder brother Thylas were captured as battle droids herded the Naboo into holding camps, where they spent the duration of the occupation in appalling conditions.
This experience traumatised the young Cali and for years afterwards he had nightmares about the skeletal droids and their rarely-glimpsed, blood-eyed Neimoidian masters. Meanwhile, in Thylas it fostered a hatred for them which bloomed with the ignition of the Clone Wars a decade later. While Naboo initially did not send armed forces to aid the conflict, despite Palpatine, a Naboo himself, being the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, Thylas asked -and received- his father's permission to enter the Academy of Carida. It was his brother's death in the war which turned the teen Calisia's childhood fear of aliens to hatred. Such feelings were stoked by the rising humanocentric feelings in the Republic and his parents gladly inducted him into proto-SAG, though insisted he focus on his studies, fearing they might lose their remaining child to the alien threat.
Filial piety saw him respect his parents' wishes and enter the University of Byblos, graduating with a degree in Astrophysics, Calisia Aramathus is a keen swimmer (though was never good enough for the U-of-B team) who spends time in the pool to clear his mind after a hard day in the lab.Originally posted by Vice Man
Just a few minor changes. here it is.
Richard "Rick" Johnson
Human Male Height:5'10'' Weight:170
Non-heroic 2
Destiny 1; Init +2; Senses +3
Languages Basic, Rodian,
Sulustese
__________________________________
Defences Ref 11 (flat-footed 10), Fort 10, Will 12, Ref 12
HP 8; Threshold 10
_________________________________
Speed 6sq
Melee unarmed +1 (1d4)Ranged per weapon: +2
Base Atk +1; Grp +2
Atk Options none
Special Actions None
__________________________________
Abilities Str 10, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 10
Feats: Skill Focus (Knowledge [Life Sciences], Skill Focus (Use Computer), Skill Training (Endurance), Skill Training (Swim), Skill Training (Mechanics)
Trained Skills: Endurance +6, Gather Information +6, Knowledge (Life Sciences[Archaeology]) +13, Knowledge (Galactic Lore[Galactic History]) +6, Swim +6, Use Computer +13, Mechanics +8.
Skills: Acrobatics +2, Climb +1, Deception +1, Initiative +2, Jump +1, Knowledge (technology) +3, Perception +3, Persuasion +1, Pilot +2, Ride +2, Stealth +2, Survival +3, Treat Injury +3
Possessions: 850 Credits, Datapad w/10 cards, Utility belt(Comes with tool kit, food capsules, medpac, power pack, energy cell, glow rod, com-link, liquid cable dispenser with grappling hook) Chronometer, 4 ration packs, Glow rod, 2 rolls mesh tape, audio recorder(three filled memory modules with recorded notes and thoughts are stored in a small shielded storage box along with the empty data cards) Video Recorder, Energy cell, Combat Knife, slugthrower pistol +3 magazines, Space rated, corrosive resistant watertight presentation box (metal), concealed holster, satchel. (also change of clothes,regular shoes.) music player with music.
Rick grew up helping his father in his repair shop that was located on the New Plympto edge of the Correlia System. Once when he was 10, Rick got lost in a forest on a family camping trip he stumbled upon a stone ruin with many artifacts inside. After many hours of looking around the ruin he found his way back to camp and telling his father what he had found. The finders fee from the find was enough to expand the shop and hire some more people helping the family immensely.
When Richard was 13 his Father told him he had to start getting outside more. This was after Ricks Father saw him do nothing but research on the net for a solid 24 hours. This got Rick into running and swimming for exercise. Which much to his astonishment he enjoyed it.
During Ricks teen years he got a job as a maintenance and repair tech at the star port part time. While he was there he talked to the many star ship captains that came into the port as they regaled him with tales of the places they had been and the things they had heard about weather true or not.
Just before he went off to the University of Duros which while in the same was still a long ways away, his father showed him his trusty back-up Slug thrower pistol and combat knife that had saved him many many times while he was in the Corelian Military. His father also told him of the history he had with these weapons and where he got them from. Ricks father Ben then gave him exact duplicates of these weapons and put them inside a presentation case. He then closed the presentation case and gave it to Rick. He then told Rick that he hoped that Ricks weapons would serve Rick as well as His had served Him. He also warned Rick that until he could use either effectively he was to only practice with it until such time he became proficient.
At the university with a major in archaeology and a minor in galactic history and lore he was busy. But a realization slowly seeped into his mind until his mind rubbed two neurons together and in a flash of understanding he came upon the fact that all past cultures had some sort of story about how the galaxy came to be. And while they differed in who, and how many which could be anywhere from 1 to 20 or more, there was always one that started things going. So although not religious, He often Talks to the "Almighty?" that created everything whenever he has privacy and even then its almost sub-vocal which he does becuase of what others may think of him.
Now after many years of school, which he has helped pay for by maintaining the university's computers and working at a repair shop, he is on one of the last steps he needs to do before graduation. To go out and find, explore a ruin or go help in a dig. And that is when Ricks dissertation adviser calls him into her office one day with an opportunity....
Rick likes to listen to music while doing research and often records thoughts and notes on his audio recorder when something that may be useful later comes up.Tayla Tagge CL 0
Medium Human nonheroic 2
Destiny 1; Init +2; Senses Perception +8
Languages Basic, Bothese, Durese, Huttese, Mon Calamarian, Sith
_________________________________
Defenses Ref 11 (flat-footed 10), Fort 10, Will 10
hp 2; Threshold 10
_________________________________
Speed 6 squares
Melee by weapon +1
Ranged by weapon +2
Base Atk +1; Grp +2
_________________________________
Abilities Str 10, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 14
Special Qualities Natural Leader (organization scale 2)
Feats Linguist, Natural Leader, Skill Focus (Persuasion), Skill Training (Knowledge [social sciences], Stealth)&
Skills Deception +8, Gather Information +8, Knowledge (social sciences) +8, Perception +8, Persuasion +13, Stealth +7
Talya was born to the sister of Baroness Sanya Tagge on Tepasi, where she was raised in the lap of luxury and the peak of prestigious life. Early in her childhood she learned to use her power and station to her advantage, and she became used to getting her way from the people around her. Quickly, though, she also was introduced to the fierce competition for favor from the family elders among her peers, her five cousins, children of Baroness Sanya. In her early years, she had hopes of becoming Baroness herself one day, but it wasn't long before her aunt put those aspirations to rest by declaring that all five of her children would come before Anneka in the succession, and after them, their children, leaving no chance that Anneka would ever be Baroness. Thus, she devoted her attention to sharpening her own skills, and while she enjoyed life in the lap of luxury, when it came to infighting among the nobility, she made sure to keep her head down and eyes wide open. She has done well for herself in recent years, and has actually become a leading student in the archaeology program at the University of Byblos. This came as a surprise to many, believing that, with her near-celebrity status, strings had been pulled just to get her admitted. That she was being successful suggested that perhaps she'd deserved the position.
Appearance: Tall and thin, with high cheek bones and smooth skin, Talya is a picture of human beauty (at least by typical galactic standards). Copper hair hangs to her upper back, and while naturally poker-straight, is usually in one of the latest styles. Bright green eyes complete the package.
Personality: Talya is calm, composed, poised, and above all, keeps her cool in most situations. Raised in the lap of luxury, she is totally out of touch with many of the challenges 'common folk' face every day. She's used to encountering situations of two extremes: people bending over backward to make her happy, and people using everything at their disposal to oppose her, and she's learned to handle both quite well. Random challenges, however, often flummox her, especially the common trials of day-to-day galactic life. For example, while she has no problem discussing terms at a business meeting or talking her way out of a citation, she's quite out of her element making friends at a local watering hole or even making a normal bank transaction or paying bills. Friendly enough, Talya is focused on amassing influence, above all.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks