Alfhedil

Star Wars: Knightfall, an interest check

@Athol@sly13@Sep@pandapolio@vietmyke@Fiber@Neziul@Paingodsson@Theyra@Queen Arya@Sir Lurksalot

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Star Wars Chapter 0: KNIGHTFALL

It is a galaxy teetering on the brink of civil war, twenty years after the violent close of the last. The Clone Wars, as the series of conflicts were called, was supposed to have only lasted a couple years, planned out in detail by the Dark Lord of the Sith. Yet the most minute of changes, deviations or miscalculations slowly resulted in an event that was beyond even the man who was purported to have been the most powerful of his kind in millennia. A man who lived when he was supposed to have died, an apprentice with doubts that led him to question his own motives, another who would not be swayed and instead stayed true to the order that raised him. One after another these small changes that would have otherwise just been footnotes in history would drastically change the outcome of a war that was supposed to have been decided.

Where it truly came undone was with the First Battle of Geonosis. Hundreds of Jedi and entire battalions of clone troopers descended upon the planet to liberate not three hostages set to die at the hands of the Trade Federation, but to rendezvous with Obi-Wan Kenobi and the recently turned Count Dooku. It set the stage of the entire war, as without a clear leader another took control of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. One who did not have the same ideals as its founder, or the desire for true reform in the galaxy. The one who inherited the revolution was one who despised the Republic for everything it stood for. One who had lost everything in a war that, without knowing the truth of the conflict, the Republic interfered with and punished his people dearly. General Grievous, more machine than Kaleesh at this point for the wounds he suffered during the Kalee-Huk war. With his leadership the conflict became far more than what his 'master' intended.

He played his part though, at least initially. Battles were fought in those beginning stages where Sidious planned them, including the First Battle of Coruscant. There Grievous began to understand the Sith lord's intentions and made his own plan. It was one that as the months turned to years, made Palpatine realize that he could no longer crush the 'rebellion' and simply seize control over the Republic to create his empire. More than that, Dooku had turned back to the Jedi and more suspicion than ever was upon him. He had been backed into a corner, a wolf no longer among sheep, but among the hunters. The Republic and CIS bled each other for every system, the Clone Wars ramping up with every passing year and invalidating his plan with each battle. Palpatine had shifted from planning to destroy the Jedi in one fell swoop, to being forced to rely on them until the very end.

Five years into the Clone Wars the plan Grievous had set into motion was finally coming into play. Since realizing Sidious' plan, his true identity and what that meant for the CIS, he had steadily ensured that certain assets remained out of reach from both the Republic and even his own allies. More and more the CIS drew upon the finances of the Banking Clan, the resources of the Trade Federation and Bactoid, as well as every planet under their sway. As the Separatist leaders bickered among themselves as to who was stealing what, Grievous assembled a fleet that would be unrivaled. Thousands of warships sequestered away in old Sith Space and preparing for one final assault. When it finally came, he hit the Republic without mercy. Kuat, Kamino, Balmorra, Ord Mantell and even Corellia came under siege from what they believed to be the entirety of the CIS fleet. Without question the Open Circle Fleet rallied to defend these key worlds, pulling assets away from the defenses of others. And that was when Grievous struck the true blow. In a single night the CIS shattered the defensive fleet of Coruscant, the planetary shield that protected it, and tore the heart of the Republic from its chest.

It became known as "Knightfall" to those who survived, partially for the last stand of the Jedi Knights who held the line against overwhelming odds, only to fail. Under the rain of turbolaser fire from orbit, Cortosis Battle Droids ransacked the capital, relentlessly hunting any who did not perish with the bombings of the Jedi Temple and the Senate Building. It was there that Palpatine himself met his end, an irony of sorts for the Sith Lord who planned out the Clone Wars so carefully, only to fall victim to another's and be buried beneath the glassed ruins of the Republic he tried to control. If things had gone another way, it would have been there that the Republic died to thunderous applause, instead it shattered into a dozen regional governments without the jewel of Coruscant to hold them. Without the clone armies to defend them though, many would fall to Grievous and his new Confederacy. Some would question where the Jedi and their army went, only ever hearing the desperate calls for retreat.

In the aftermath of such a traumatic event though, others did stand tall among the wreckage. After a valiant stand against the odds, those remnants who were unable to rejoin the main fleets settled where they had fought so hard to keep free. Corellia became a new beacon of hope in the galaxy, declaring itself the true inheritor of the Republic and standing firm against the Confederacy. With the Green Jedi lords to govern them, they would secure much of the Core Worlds south of Coruscant, claiming the ruins of Kuat and working to rebuild the rings after the traitorous attack that destroyed them. Yet many hold doubts towards the Corellians, noting how they denied the Republic in Exile when they were still on the run from the Confederacy, and worse yet how many of the worlds that have joined with them, did so without a choice. Regardless of how noble their intentions, the severity of their crimes or the accusations against them though, much of the southern galaxy flourishes under their control.

To the north others contest the Corellians, and foremost among them the nascent Galactic Empire. Much like their rivals, they too arose from the remnants of defenders who had nowhere else to go. With the CIS swallowing up former Republic territory across the entire Outer Rim, the Eight Fleet under the authority of admiral Jira Renkar quickly moved to secure as much as they could around Ord Mantell with the help of the shattered remnants of the Republic military. Surrounded by the enemy and hearing the call to surrender, they instead chose to keep fighting, swearing to defend those who had been left to suffer at the hands of countless such invasions throughout galactic history. Though they did not start with a strong industrial base like some, they had something more. They had the hearts of the people, the steadfast loyalty of their military and an Emperor who could be believed in. And so an empire was built in the smoldering embers of the Clone Wars, admiral turned Emperor clutching the galactic north in a fist of iron against the tyranny of the CIS and vowing to destroy the separatists once and for all. Some say that while the propaganda depicts the Empire as a force of righteousness and justice, there is an underlying culture of violence and tyranny, but while those very same people have come to accept the new status of the galaxy in their own way… For the Empire the Clone Wars never ended.

And then there is Mandalore. It was there that the Republic in Exile found themselves unlikely allies in the form of Duchess Satine and the new Mand'alor. Already the two had been working on securing the future of their people, of both the more pacifist Mandalorians and those who wished to carry on their warrior culture, and so when the Jedi and the Republic came seeking their aid, they gave it freely. That moment joined ancient enemies together, two sides who had fought each other almost since the founding of the Republic, having nearly ruined the other many times over the millennia. Jedi and Mandalorians united, all past grievances set aside in order to secure the future of both of their peoples. It was on that foundation that the legitimate Republic government "officially" relocated to Keldabe City, "elected" Satine as chancellor and ceded military powers to the Mand'alor. Since that moment their standing in the galaxy depends greatly upon from whose lips it is said, with the Corellians decrying them as little more than a band of looters and mercenaries with stolen Republic hardware. Certainly their assault on Kuat that left it little more than ruins lends credence to such, and with the Jedi assisting freely through the new Jedi Enclaves, it's harder than ever for the GRM to play public relations.

Yet, while the Corellians sabotage their image at every turn, historians call their rise the "Third Great Crusade" and warn of the impending invasion… Many look to them as the true inheritors of the Republic. Under the mythosaur skull banner, all are equal and all have the same chance to earn their place. To be Mandalorian is a choice, one that every world in their republic has made, and all have so far benefitted from their protection and lended their arms towards securing their space. No matter whether they be Miraluka, Twi'lek, Kaminoan, Devaronian or just a regular human, all are considered to be Mandalorian under their Mand'alor and afforded the same rights whether they fight for their republic or work for it.

But while the Republics fight and vie for supremacy against each other, they ignore the threat surrounding them. The Confederacy still lives, though it has bled key worlds and founders over the last twenty years. Muunilist broke free in order to join into the Corporate Sector Authority. Dozens of sectors have been lost to the steady advance of the Empire. Most of their core world sectors were found to be too rebellious to keep direct control, instead handed over to the puppet-Republic under Alsakan. More and more the Confederacy burns under the rule of Grievous, who still sees it as his duty to dismantle the Republic completely, but struggles to maintain control over his own systems, much less those under occupation. Even Kalee is no longer his to command, as the Empire seized it years ago. It is a rebellion that has stagnated long past achieving their goal, without the sense to lay down their arms. More than that though, with the general meeting any resistance with force, crushing any who dare to rise up against him, it is inspiring more and more to treat with their republic kin. And they can taste the blood in the water.

So it is that after twenty years, though the galaxy has changed much since the close of the Clone Wars, it is once again teetering on the brink of civil war...

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Star Wars Chapter 0: KNIGHTFALL

- Reserved for GM characters -

Solace

Jedi Sentinel // The Diplomat

| {Full Name} |

Miravera "Solace" Alleron

| {Age} |

25

| {Species} |

Arkanian Pureblood // 85% Arkanian, 10% Miraluka, 5% Unidentified Sephi

| {Gender} |

Female

---

| {Force Sensitive/Alignment} |

Yes - Gray with dark leanings

| {Appearance} |

Elegant and refined, ever the symbol of grace and poise, Miravera Alleron is a woman who at first glance seems not as far removed from her Arkanian heritage and those aristocratic leanings as she is in truth. Everything about her feels to be purpose driven, the delicately sculpted features of her face and the pointed ears hinting at Sephi genetics, her soft emerald hues quite uncommon to her species and her dark colored hair that is distinctly non-Arkanian. For the former features beyond her control, she plays it off as curiously imperious at times, a dignified air only put on when around those who necessitate such things. In those instances to display her more Arkanian features, the genetic tailoring that produced a woman sometimes seen as beyond others, can be a strong benefit even if distasteful. There is where she comes into her element, dressing in fine clothes curated delicately on a circumstantial basis in order to maximize effect with certain groups. Thin and refined silks, exquisite jewelry and just enough makeup to highlight her pale features with pastel colors or stark red lips.

Yet while she is quite keenly in her element in those times, where she is most comfortable is with a lightsaber clutched within her four-fingered hands and sometimes just a bit of athletic wear to highlight her more petite but fit frame. Without the pomp and fanfare of her more diplomatic lifestyle she is a toned fighter with few scars beyond places most people won't see, and even those clearly the barest of grazes. Despite being a more slight 5'4" she is fit and decently muscled for her size and quite capable of holding her own against most of her peers within the order. It is for that reason that few underestimate The Diplomat.

| {Equipment and Personal Belongings} |

- Lightsabers: Apparently considered elegant weapons from a more civilized age, there are few who have as much of a passion for saber combat as Solace and her personal lightsabers reflect not just her status but her personality in a distinct manner. First among these is her saberstaff, her preferred weapon and how she earned her Battlemaster classification the first time. Composed of a single log of banded greel wood as the staff component and a cap of Concordian basalt it at once evokes a more practical simplicity for its lack of excessive adornment, but also that luxury of high quality materials. That said, the silver blade still cuts as any other lightsaber and her own modification to the emitter allows her to change the length of the blade at will. More commonly though, she is seen with her pair of shoto lightsabers, the external casings both being crafted by artisans of the Enclaves to celebrate her nomination as a Jedi Diplomat. The first with the brilliant orange blade bears a gold corona about the emitter, rays of starlight cascading down towards the small black pyramid pommel and wrapped in muted black leather. The second though showcases a starfield from the emitter to the pommel, this time a silver pyramid and where the corona relief is set in silver, with a softer blue blade as contrast.

- Arkanian Grace: The starship assigned to her by the Jedi Enclaves for the purpose of diplomatic visits, and identified as such on all manifests. Not entirely a fan of the name personally, Solace has come to like the ship itself for the comforts it offers on the long trips between Mandalore, Ord Mantell, Corellia and other worlds besides. Staffed mostly by clones, it is like most other Nau'ur class ships from Kalevala, geared entirely towards the wealthy, the elite and those who tend to be flown places, rather than flying themselves.

- Beskar'ta: Gifted to her suspiciously with the assignment of The Arkanian Grace, at first Solace was a bit confused, concerned and insulted by the BD-3000 series droid. She was knowledgeable enough to know what such droids were used for, which is why it came as quite the surprise when she discovered that it was not only displeased with such an assignment, but also an assassin-droid. After a slight scuffle things were settled between her and the droid, the one who gifted the droid to her found himself a free stay in a Mandalorian political prison, and she found herself someone to talk to on those long journeys back and forth to Corellia. Considering the more independent nature of the droid, it ended up only fitting to give her a name, which came from a Mandalorian commenting on the nature of souls in their older traditions. Beskar'ta, or Steelheart as she came to be known found a welcome place among the Mandalorians and her diplomatic entourage, as well as much to Toryn's dismay a place on The Dog.

- Mopdeka: Fair and legal salvage from a brief run-in with CIS security forces, the Droideka ended up filling a much needed role aboard The Arkanian Grace as a cleaning droid. With some skilled work by a Twi'lek mechanic in Keldabe the blasters were replaced by dispenser bottles linking to a cleaning solution tank that replaced the shield generator, and the rather sharp tines the droid usually used to traverse deckplate were swapped with large heavy duty sponges. Solace was assured that the droid was wiped, but something about that HK's smug tone when describing the work and the few times she's found Mopdeka attempting to exit the ship in transit, or enter the reactor core makes her think otherwise.

- B2 Trash Compactor Droid: Another bit of salvage, and another job by the same Twi'lek, this time converting a once battle-ready Super Battledroid into a rolling trash can. The rubberized treads allow it to easily traverse both deckplating and the carpeted interiors of the ship, and the incinerator taking up much of the chassis ensures efficient collection and disposal. As opposed to the droideka though, "Bin-2" seems to always have a cheery disposition and warmly greets everyone on the ship. That could be because of the multiple blaster holes in the back of the head that had to be repaired though.

- Solace's Jedi Battle Armor: Despite being a diplomat first, and a battlemaster second, it is still quite the dangerous and tense galaxy. Commissioned by the Enclave and made by Mandalorian artisan armorers, it was entirely purpose-built for her and to suit her particular style of combat. At first glance it looks much the same as the kind of armor worn by Jedi Commanders during the Clone Wars, and the plates are in fact of the same material. Thin plasteel allows her more freedom of movement than beskar or durasteel, yet can still take a direct bolt in most instances, and for the others she's had a cortosis weave put in place. The weave is primarily focused along the gauntlets and forearms, as those are the places where it would be most common to be struck by a lightsaber. Meanwhile the joints and underlayer are an armorweave fabric bodyglove, meant to be put on first underneath the armored suit. Only once has that come in handy, and she's seen fit to make sure that when snagged or damaged the plates will release instead of drag her along with. The colors are of course in standard Enclave colors, an orange emblem of the mythosaur skull and Jedi wings over gray robes and white armor.

- Antique wheellock revolver blaster pistols: Okay, they aren't actually antique, nor are they mere blaster pistols. Started as something of a hobby, she had designed the pistols from the ground up over the course of a week, to the finest detail and when done presented the plans to Toryn to see if he could make them. Considering she had detailed them to the micrometer across almost a dozen sheets of blueprints it wasn't too hard to follow along, only some of the parts were a little more… Uncommon. Like red wood from Dantooine, or the two perfectly cut kyber crystals. At the core they still use tibanna gas, though in a different way. Each of the specially made cartridges slot into the revolver drum and discharge fully with a single pull of the trigger, resulting in something of a disruptor level firearm packed into pistol form. It all comes from the wheellock mechanism, where a striker comes down upon the cartridge with a kyber crystal tip that slots into a chamber where it will react with the tibanna gas. This results in a full discharge down the barrel and the chamber cycling. They are without a doubt potent weapons, though are also not nearly as powerful through prolonged fights. Or intense fights. Or close quarters. Or extreme environments. Or really anywhere except a pinch when absolutely necessary. This is because while undeniably potent enough to put a hole through a cortosis battledroid, each only has five shots before needing to be reloaded. That's also not to mention just how delicate they are, often spending more time in a case than on her hip where it was assumed they would be.

- The Diplomat: Another weapon of her own designing, this one came after a diplomatic incident with the Corellians of all people. Though she was quite sparse on the intimate details of why, and unwilling to be forthcoming on them any time soon, the need for it was explained as something utterly discreet and potent when necessary. At first glance it appears as any other ruby ring, the red jewel sitting flush in a setting of silver. Internally though, it is a rather devious weapon that if she was ever found to have would bring about accusations that Mandalore would prefer to avoid. Set within the actual setting is a small tibanna gas capsule, enough for a single overcharged shot at close-range through the lens that serves as the jewel. Anyone within ten feet or so that was to be shot with the ring would find themselves with a hole in their chest unless they were wearing armor, bringing a rather swift end to any unwanted advances. That said, it's good for one shot and one shot at close range. Anyone standing beyond ten feet may as well be on the other side of the room for how accurate it is trying to shoot with a ring, and even if they are hit it may not penetrate their clothes. The other massive downside is that single shot limit, as most of the time once a blaster is shot indoors there is quite a bit of panic and often the need for more than one.

- Holocron library: Considering her role within the Mandalorian Republic and the Enclaves as a diplomat, there is often the need to have an understanding of up to thousands of years of history. Her own personal Holocron library is devoted largely to that, with lengthy series on the history of over a thousand planets of the former Republic, entire volumes on the Jedi Order and her own family's history with them. Not to mention assorted cookbooks and engineering manuals to sate her boredom.

- Assorted dresses and clothes for attending diplomatic functions and daily life around the Enclaves
- Ashla medallion made of songsteel and Arkanian diamonds
- Holo-chess board
- Various vibro-knives of different lengths
- A pair of actual blaster pistols

| {Physical Abilities} |

- The Diplomat: For a dozen worlds there are a dozen definitions of what diplomacy is. Those with experience dealing with the former Republic would often say it is the ability to speak without saying anything of substance whatsoever. The Confederates would say it to be making promises with no intention of keeping them, all the while many Mandalorians regard it as speaking when you should be shooting. As a young girl Solace already knew that she wanted to be more than just a Jedi. She wanted to be someone who brokered peace in times of war, facilitated trade in times of peace, or when it became necessary to warn of the impending war. A diplomat. Through the years of lightsaber training, force aptitude tests and going around the Mandalorian and Neutral Worlds she has found herself most at ease when simply talking to people and finding that common ground. It has served her well too, for little by little she has come to be known among the Enclaves as "The Diplomat". A title once held by another, willingly ceded as a way of ushering in a new generation. She has taken it with grace of course, for she knows all too well the responsibility that such things bring. To speak calmly and flatteringly to the Corellians, firmly and politely with the Empire, openly and honestly with the Neutral Worlds, and of course to tell the Hutts and CIS exactly where they can go.

- Mesh'la'werda: Her primary lightsaber form, one of her own making that has taken years to refine and formalize. At its core Mesh'la'werda is an aggressively mobile form that relies entirely on defense through evasion. There are no hard counters or parries, instead any strikes that connect with an opponent's saber focus on redirecting momentum. It allows for a way to not only avoid being hit, but to also potentially put an opponent off balance. For basic users the focus should always be on recovery and retaining motion, as with how few defensive measures are within the form it would be easy to find ones' self overpowered by another duelist. Falls shifted into rolls, using the force to propel yourself from an opponent and slides are the most simple of motions, though Solace has a good number more. Combined with her skills in other forms, she fully implements her natural force powers Cloak of Shadow and Buried Presence, sometimes appearing as if mist swirling around her opponent until her sabers strike out. This is what gave her form the name, a passing Deathwatch commenting on her being as wisps of smoke given teeth.

- Battlemaster: It is not just her own form that she has gained a mastery over though, for in her years of study at the Enclaves there have only been two things that she has loved other than her sister. The first being the art of diplomacy for her desire to one day represent her world as a Senator, and the other being the Lightsaber. It was a skill that came as natural to her as breathing, from the very first moment she had a crystal in her hands. Within short order she not only outpaced her master in single combat, but also her entire class and the two ahead. At twelve she was dueling with the masters of the order and had an adept understanding of the five basic forms, already forming her own. In a few years from there she had mastered Juyo/Vaapad with the blessings of Mace Windu, and was being looked at as a serious candidate for Battlemaster of the Order. Since then and her rather destructive demonstration alongside then initiate Toryn Dral, she has taken a more reserved approach at lightsaber combat in the way of keeping her skills sharp as her blades. Daily training is more of a relaxation effort than avid pursuit, yet she still remains among the top of the Jedi Enclave's duelists and if not for her adamant insistence on diplomacy she would have been the order's primary Battlemaster for some time now. Instead she simply carries the certification as a small point of pride, especially for how she earned it, a feat that has yet to be replicated.

- Arkanian Mind: Both a blessing and a curse, her heritage has left her with some strange looks for how much she can stand out at times in the order. Known for their incredible intelligence compared to most, the Arkanians have a tendency to… Get too involved, and so have a need to take on various hobbies to keep their minds occupied. For Solace this has become both a strange gift for those closest to her and their bane. Whether it be spending her free time designing complex weapons, challenging herself to new recipes to cook or picking up the odd instrument, most minor skills come easily to her and serve only to occupy her mind. That is of little consequence to those she beats at holo-chess, or Toryn when she presents him with yet another outlandish schematic though.

| {Force Abilities} |

- Buried Presence
- Cloak of Shadow(Natural Affinity)
- Force Sight
- Thought Shield
- Clear Mind
- Comprehend Language(Natural Affinity)
- Minor Telekinetic Ability
- Vicious Mockery(Dun Moch)
- ???(Natural Affinity)

- Force Valor (Limited ability)
- Battlemind (Limited ability)
- Surge (Limited ability

| {Limitations} |

- Limited Force Powers: For all her skill with lightsaber combat, her quick wit and silver tongue, as a Jedi she falls into a rather limited category. Unlike her sister who turned out to be a prodigy with the force, Solace has a very shallow pool of abilities to pull from, with two of them being inherent to her family. Beyond those powers she is rather inept, lacking in the ability to lift and throw objects like some other knights, or even the most basic of mind tricks. She's made up for it of course, seeing the latter as a boon as she won't be tempted to just mind trick her way out of trouble. It does leave her a little more reliant on others though when it comes to the mysteries of the force, especially when things get weird.

- Duelist: A specialist in one on one combat, her entire skillset has been honed into a deadly art dedicated towards taking down equally skilled opponents. While this leads her to be supremely lethal in single fights against small numbers of other duelists, she will quickly find herself to be at a disadvantage when a brawl turns to a skirmish. With multiple angles of attack her defenses become harder and harder to execute, as each roll or flip can land herself at the leading edge of another blade or in front of a blaster. To that end she generally tends to leave the warfare and massed battles to those better trained for it, instead seeking out her own targets amid the chaos.

- Glass Daggers: Despite the years of training, honing her body into a weapon and dedicating herself to excellence in all things, she still has shortcomings that no amount of the former will overcome. She has a grace and speed that even without enhancing herself through the force can keep pace with assassin droids and echani battlemasters. Her precision with a blade has seen her shear a pendant from an ear without touching a single hair or singing the skin, though the master in question was not entirely pleased with that show of skill. What she cannot do though, is match strength with strength. It is one of the main reasons for the development of her own form, as even with force body she was unable to effectively duel with makashi against comparable opponents, struggling to keep her lightsaber in her hand. And that's nothing to say of those few times she has been put on her back in a sparring match. While Arkanians are famed for their intelligence, they are less so known for their endurance. Because most are not, and Solace especially.

- Arkanian Mind: Both a curse and a blessing, her heritage has left more than a few wary of her considering her people's history, especially the most recent of incidents. While they are known for their incredible intelligence compared to most other species, the Arkanians are also known to have a tendency towards… Experimentation. Her and her sister stand testament to this, for both were altered after birth with traits from other near humans. Solace's pointed ears are the only clear indication of this, a sign to all of the Arkanian way to meddle with the genes of anyone they can get their hands on, even their own. It is unknown though, if it actually is some form of genetic trait, their inherent arrogance and superiority leading them to believe it akin to experimenting on animals. Solace herself is unwilling to find out, pushing herself at all times to keep her mind occupied with this or that, dreading the moments of silence where she has only her own thoughts to keep her company.

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| {Personality} |

♦ Dignified/Refined ♦ Reserved ♦ Alluring/Charming ♦ Doubtful ♦

The Diplomat as she is called, a title that while at first was a joke made in relation to her preferred choice of profession within the order, has long since been embraced in almost every aspect. She had always been a bit more… Aloof, as it were though. Even as a young girl she had an eye for what was and wasn't proper and how to behave in certain situations. Not right and wrong mind you, but for the intricacies of etiquette. Everything had to be just so, dealt with in a certain way, in a certain order by certain people. The Jedi Enclaves and her master worked to gently break her of those habits, knowing that it wouldn't mesh too well beyond the order, but some remnants have always remained. Zentraedies was the one who helped introduce a little more eccentricity into what had before been all prim and proper, something that looking back she's more than a little grateful for. Life before had been all work, training, study and the prim and proper. Now she's a little less so, but cuts the image of a refined diplomat all the same. A woman who speaks clearly, directly and to the point when she has to, but also enjoys a little more open and winding talk here and there.

It's not for just everyone though, as while she is ever so alluring to some, charming to others and just the right amount of diplomatic with all the rest, she takes some getting used to when it's not strictly business. Around the order she finds it harder to connect with anyone other than those she has a bond with, a force bond to be specific before any ideas are formed. She can make do of course, but it's a little obvious that she has her own issues to work around, trying to be less reserved with friends in the order and be as casual as she can. Alcohol usually helps, as do mutual friends and simply being patient with her.

Deep down though, her reservations have a source. From an early age she has had some experience with the less idyllic side of the galaxy. By all rights her mother was a monstrous individual, purposefully engineering her daughters so that they were classified separately under Arkanian law with her as the one given full rights. It did little to change the love between sisters though, and she overcame that, but there have been doubts lingering since her youth that occasionally come up when it's least convenient. They can be anything and everything, from the smallest little thing that arises from a slight inability to complete a project on the first try, to a mis-step that led to consequences despite no way to have predicted or prevented it. A little part of her doubts herself and has called into question her ability on occasion.

| {Place of Origin} |

One of two, a set of twins that were to be like no other even despite the differences engineered between them. As an infant her family was given front row seats to the fall of the Republic and the chaos that followed. For her part, life before the fall was something more akin to the myth of the founding years or any other event in distant history. Adascopolis was a brief home until the scattering, and the Arkanian people struggling to survive the inevitable reprisals from their neighbors. The young twins never even knew of what their home world was like until years later, the Miralukan Jedi Zentraedies whisking them away to join the exodus fleet and eventually settle onto Mandalore.

| {Background} |

FOUNDATION

"The Republic has stumbled and every day is on the verge of falling, their enemy growing in strength with each world fallen to the tide of war. And with each planet despair sets in for not just the Republic, but the Jedi as well as they seem all but powerless to stem the bleed. A dark age looms upon the horizon, and we must be prepared to either weather this storm or benefit from it."

- Alariverra Alleron, 1960BRS

It was on the eve of Revolution that her force sensitivity first truly came into its own, Miraverra and her sister confirmed as such through blood tests by her parents and notarized by a local Jedi who had been stationed there to assist the Dominion. She was too young at the time to understand the significance of this, or the gathering crowds in the streets growing more and more agitated by the moment. All she had known is that the blind man who had been helping her parents was now taking her and her sister to his ship and leaving the planet behind. But even then she endured what would have otherwise been a traumatic event with an eerie stoicism, instead of breaking down as her sister Mirasena did, she simply held her and watched as the light of fires scattered across the city and slowly enveloped it from every side.

What followed was a journey of several weeks, the Jedi explaining that they had to be careful on the hyperlanes as they looked to join up with others like her. Later she would know the truth of it of course, that Knightfall had just happened mere hours before they had fled Arkania and not only was the Confederacy of Independent Systems attacking any Jedi they could find, but the political situation back home had escalated violently. Riots spread across the planet and quickly the nascent powers of the galaxy saw this as a chance to gain some leverage and contest the prominence of others. For her though, the focus was on what lay ahead on her path and of course her sister. The initial trauma had set aside and she was back to her aggressively bubbly self, constantly asking questions of the Jedi and trying to sate her curiousity in the way only a child did. It made for an interesting journey at least, and eventually after a full month had passed they found what would become home for the foreseeable future.

Mandalore. The planet of warriors. A planet of peace. It had been either of those at various times during its history, but now it was both and more. The Republic fleet lingered in orbit, fascinating the young girls as they watched formations of Venators in the distance on patrol, and the forms of two even more massive vessels disappearing behind the curve of the planet. As the old man explained, Mandalore was now sanctuary to those fleeing the fall of the Republic and looking for a place to at least recover. The generosity of the Mand'alor had been a boon to those with nowhere else to go it seemed, and soon they set down on the outskirts of Keldabe city where a large encampment of prefab shelters and tents was the home of the Jedi Order. It was there she was introduced to a number of masters of the order, all of whom seemed nice at first but she could see the concern lingering about them. All around her was not the legacy of a millennia old organization of good, but instead something slowly crumbling to despair and dismay.

It wouldn't last of course, and as she began to learn of herself, her sister and other initiates like them the Jedi steadily found their footing again. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months as the very basics of the force were taught to her, eventually shifting into more traditional schooling on things such as history and the essentials. Meanwhile she found herself drawn to the building of the new order and the Mandalorian republic. To the west where Keldabe sat, the city expanded with a focus on modernizing the ancient settlement into a true capital, including the form of a tower slowly rising on the skyline. And opposite that, operations had been underway for months to see to the excavation of the bottom of the cliff-face and the construction of cradles for those ships in orbit far too damaged to feasibly repair. Then, three years later the entire order gathered in the encampment to watch the descent of what was to be called The Citadel.

The years of construction and refitment of the Mandator and Venators ringing the crater coincided with Miraverra learning more of herself and her family, now spending more time with the old man she now knew as Zentraedies. Off and on there had been some concern among the masters regarding her force-bond with her sister and the difficulties both of them seemed to have in connecting to others. As young children it was a concern of course, but as they were growing older the bond was only strengthening to the point there were physical effects from their separation. Some enterprising master of the order had decided to test this, proclaiming it a benefit to the twins of course, and distanced them to opposite sides of the encampment. Almost as soon as a thousand meters separated them, her sister collapsed where she stood and for herself she felt an intense sickness washing over her that only subsided when a few others privy to their condition reunited them. The old man had some choice words while the girls were recovering, as did another master who happened to be a former padawan of his, a rather sizeable Togruta who was a lot less delicate with her commentary.

As the old man explained, the force bound them in a way where while they did instinctually understand each other and could speak to each other without saying a word, it was also harming them in keeping them close together. They had a choice then, to either accept that no matter what path either of them chose they would go down it together, or to slowly weaken to force bond until they could be their own selves. It wasn't an easy one for either of them, as while Miraverra thought on what life would be like as the two of them going forward, she couldn't help but think of how neither of them would be able to truly live. Maybe it was her own thoughts of how she wouldn't be able to pursue her own ambitions, or maybe it was her sister's thoughts, but eventually the two agreed that it would be best for both of them to at least have the option. And so under the supervision of Jedi masters Zatliazha and Zentraedies the two underwent several years of direct training to weaken the bond and allow them to pursue their own ambitions...

BLOOD DIAMOND

"Peace is always an option, and to work towards it, to leave it on the table is not a sign of weakness or defeat. It is a sign of strength, one that shows your enemy that you are strong enough to set aside your pride and willing to work towards compromise. Do not allow the Republic to suffer from the mistake of one man."

- Marisena Alleron, 3629BRS

Six years had passed since arriving on Mandalore and beginning the path of a Jedi, both girls coming to an understanding of not just the history of both peoples, but also the future ahead. It was difficult for them and others of their generation to see the blood that separated the two, but they knew day by day that the building of a new republic and a new order was what closed the gap. Her sister had started coming into her own, displaying an unrivaled gift with the force, manipulating it as easily as breathing and already learning more and more advanced techniques while she personally struggled with the basics. For Miraverra it felt as if she was working against the tide every time she focused on just trying to move simple objects. Yet still she had been selected by an experienced Jedi Master for apprenticeship, partly through the encouragement of her aunt Roka and the old man Zentraedies. Her gifts lay elsewhere, as they said, that she had simply yet to understand where she needed to go.

Easily enough said for those who had already found their path, she had thought at the time, though of course it was for the best when that moment did come. And it would start with the creation of her first lightsaber, something basic to use for initial training. She had shown some potential towards lightsaber combat with the basics over the years, proving adept enough with the training saber and scoring higher than average points. So it was that the older Miralukan guided her through the construction of a lightsaber, though not a traditional one by any means. Almost as tall as her, the lightsaber pike was not her first choice by far, concerned with how adept she would be with such an unwieldy weapon, and more so in how vulnerable it would be to other sabers. But all it took was a quick sparring session and she quickly found herself adjusting to the extended reach and flexibility in range of attack. It was the first step towards her own path, and she felt as if maybe now she was catching up with her sister at last.

At least until she heard the steady clapping from across the training room. An unexpected visitor had arrived, someone she hadn't seen in years and the last she did she was being handed over to start a new life across the galaxy with her sister who didn't understand why they had to leave home. Dressed in the stark white of the Dominion's military, her mother had been observing her sparring with Zentraedies, clearly amused with the progress that had been made. In the years since living on Mandalore she had not only come to understand the natives and the Jedi, but she had learned the practices of her own people as was Jedi tradition. That was when she knew the depths of what the Dominion was back home, and what her mother had done to her and her sister. Twins and siblings, yet genetically altered to the point where one was a second-class citizen and the other given full rights, both for circumstances beyond their control. But it was something that someone did have control over, and she was staring at the architect of such change.

While the Jedi Enclaves had not retained the old Order's policies on separation for families, Miraverra had never found the desire to reconnect even as young as she was. It because she felt the darkness in her own aura every time she thought of it, and the unpleasantness had driven her towards pursuing anything else to keep her mind busy. So she was left unsure on how to react to the woman before her, someone who had been a mother in name only for how little she had done for her and her sister. The latter of which stepped around the corner clearly uncomfortable and that immediately set her off, not the least for how she hadn't even felt it through the force bond. It was always a bit strange when she lost track of her sister, though since the weakening of the bond either of them could go silent of their own will. But this didn't feel right, and she knew what it was the moment her mother began to heap hollow praises upon her. She had been there for just a few moments and caught only the result of months of work, yet she spoke as if she was her pride and joy.

It was having an effect on her sister the more their mother spoke, and the more it affected her, the more Miraverra felt it as well eventually that darkness creeping in once more. That was when she felt the hand on her shoulder and the sudden presence of her aunt, who had established herself more than once as someone who didn't care much for decorum and would in fact knock a bitch out. Just such a threat was leveled at Soluvi Alleron, the Arkanian scoffing at both her own sister Roka and the twins, seemingly indifferent to such violence and leaving them to their studies. For as short as the visit was, it left her frustrated enough to seek out another confrontation and settle things, as she knew it would linger with her otherwise. Through the Citadel she moved through work crews still converting living and work quarters, finding more than one irate after running into her mother. Eventually she found her conversing with a group of Mandalorians from clan Nera, apparently seeking to hire their banner Aden'laka "Wrathful Mission." She was respectful enough to wait for them to conclude their business before stepping in to stop her mother before she left the Citadel proper.

There she vented all of her frustrations with her and what she had made them into, of the force bond that kept them from making any friends, how it had nearly crippled them both and left Sena weakening with each passing year, and how she had humiliated her right there in front of her. A part of her was expecting contrition of some kind from the woman who had given birth to them, or at least some kind of understanding on how her actions had affected her children. Maybe something as motherly as offering support, some kind words or even retracting what she had said. Instead when Miraverra looked up all she saw was the sneer of superiority she had come to associate with her people. Anger gripped her heart for a moment, that darkness threatening to overtake her until she heard those words further cementing what kind of person her mother was. The two parted ways once more, and again she felt that distaste for everything her family was, only her aunt Roka having treated her and her sister as more than just a means to an end. But while her mother had only taken the time to try and drive a division between her and her sister while hiring mercenaries to win the revolution back home, she had imparted a lesson upon a young girl. It was the first time she understood the adage of when someone shows you who they are, to believe them. And she now knew in her heart, that her mother was a monster.

THE DUELIST

"My pike against your double-blade, no matter how many times you attempt it dear sister, you know me to be the better duelist."

- Alariverra Alleron, 1951BRS

With the distaste heavy on her mind from the visit of her mother, even the usual support of her aunt and the old man were not enough to distract her from the self-doubt creeping in moment by moment. The only thing left to her was to withdraw within herself and double-down on her training with a renewed focus on lightsaber combat. It was at this time that she truly began to despise her heritage, both of the Arkanian side and her own family name. Those moments of silence in between sparring sessions started to turn towards anything and everything to occupy her mind. One day it was the game of holochess, the next it was sabacc, and the next it was the unannotated history of Alsakan. From one thing to the next she moved, sometimes leaving things unfinished as she became bored with them, fearing the distracted mind more than anything else.

Her training did eventually escalate though, and as the year carried on she more and more found herself putting her master on the backfoot with her quick understanding of lightsaber combat. The basics were almost innate to her, and it barely took any time at all to get a firm grasp of the first few forms. Shii-Cho formed the foundation of her training, and as she moved through the forms and demonstrated competency with the form, she moved through each one in sequence until at twelve she had spent several years steadily eclipsing her peers and even a few masters. Miraverra had slowly been acquiring a name for herself as a prodigy with the lightsaber, able to adequately duel with either her lightsaber pike or the two shoto blades she had constructed to expand her skillset. The Council of Swords had been watching her progress with equal parts interest and concern, some such as Dooku noting that she had a gift which should be allowed to flourish as much as possible, and others suggesting restraint for the focus she had put on such studies. Of course the Council of Iron took this personally, and it was with Windu's permission that she took on Vaapad in addition to the other six forms.

But it wasn't all slapping sabers and learning forms, for as she grew older and took on more responsibilities one of those ended up being the advancement into a proper padawan and going off on missions for the Enclaves. While the galaxy wasn't their jurisdiction anymore, the Jedi still had a duty to the people of the Mandalorian Republic and anywhere they were requested. Her skill with a lightsaber made her a competent choice for escort and other combat duties, and here is where she first picked up the name "Solace". She had for a good few years been rather withdrawn from most within the order, choosing the company of either her sister, her master, or the archives to focus her mind. So to some she seemed rather distant and cold, especially for how she chose to present herself around the order. Like many at this age, she was discovering herself and she showed it by starting to keep a more keen eye on her presentation, choosing finer robes and making sure she kept a more refined and dignified appearance. Something that was at odds with her hobby as it were, but like any coping mechanism it didn't need to make sense, and the old man understood it was a way to make peace with her perfectionism.

The name came when out on mission and needing to work with some clones who had come down with the initial stages of what was coming to be called "Homefront Disorder" by those still serving. It was one of many forms of psychosis that afflicted the Kaminoan clones, the cause of which was still under investigation but almost always manifested in those who had mustered out and effectively retired. At some point after being discharged, no matter if they had settled in comfortably and even settled down, or if they were one of those wandering from world to world certain clones ended up falling back to a mindset of being in the war. Civilians stopped being civilians and turned to either confused comrades who had forgotten their callsign, or in more severe cases... The enemy. Both her and Zatliazha had taken up the mission in order to gently talk these clones down and convince them into returning to one of the Kaminoan outposts for treatment. Her mentor took the name "Druid" for some obvious reasons, but she was hesitant on a name until the Togruta simply gave it to her. For the duration of that mission she was "Solace" working alongside the medical specialist "Druid", working to convince a squad of clones in a makeshift bunker in a Tarisian hab tower that their new orders required them to see the Kaminoans before deployment.

That was not just the first time she had routinely been called by that name, but also one of the first times she earned respect for something other than dueling. Her experience with Zatliazha in talking down the clones day by day helped her find an appreciation for talking through issues rather than just cutting straight to the violence. The mission stuck with her for some time even after coming back to Mandalore and continuing her training, and in a way helping her to focus down and finally set to developing her own form.

By this time she had learned a few proper force powers, including discovering a gift for simply disappearing. With just enough focus she seemed to vanish before the senses, visually dissipating into nothingness and her force aura thinning into the background. This combined with her grace and dexterity led her to slowly working out a form that focused largely on more fluid movements, one devoid of direct counters or actually dueling an opponent in a way, but instead wearing them down over the course of battle with precise and devastating strikes. And at fourteen she had worked it out enough that a Mandalorian of the Deathwatch gifted the name Mesh'la'werda, translating it as whisps of smoke with teeth and giving an awkward laugh before continuing on his way. Of course later a good friend tersely gave her the real translation of "Beautiful Shadow", but by then the name had stuck and she kind of liked it all the more.

Speaking of that good friend, it was in that same year that a newcomer arrived on Mandalore fresh from what would only be described as a "long journey". Clad in a bronze beskar'gam, the boy seemed not entirely comfortable among so many Jedi, or so many Mandalorians... Or really, just people in general. Yet still he watched the duels without protest, learning more of these Enclaves with each introduction. And then someone had the brilliant idea of having him spar with the most accomplished duelist of the Enclaves. Solace stood opposite him already having defeated a dozen before, and her training saber at the ready. For a moment he seemed hesitant on this entire thing, perhaps not quite sure about just jumping into the ring with someone, or maybe not used to fighting for sport. Whatever it was, it was something she would find out years later, but in that moment she took the initiative with some irritation, slapping him upside the helmet to the announcement of a point in her favor. That seemed to wake him up at least, drawing a bit of irritation from the Mandalorian that was rewarded with another slap to the other side of the helmet and another point to Solace. The third strike echoed around the Council of Swords chambers with the crackling of two training sabers locked together, and the battle was joined.

Blow after blow was matched with steadily increasing pace, one the premier duelist of the order, another a boy forged in battle by necessity. She had the precision and skill, gaining one point after the other. He had experience and physical prowess, taking just as many points once he truly got into the rhythm of their battle. Eventually Roka gave up counting their points, waving them off as kids blowing off steam as they started to move off the mats and a firm boot sent Solace into the hallway. Quickly she was finding herself off-balance here and there as he threw off the idea of playing by the rules. Yet while she took a couple strikes that would surely have been a disqualifier in normal dueling... She was feeling more challenged than she had in years. Even the simulations felt too scripted, felt too locked into a certain fighting style. She was having to adapt, to work outside the bounds of normal combat and even threw in a couple force-augmented punches that set her partner stumbling for a moment until recovering to press the attack.

Soon the sound of combat carried through the converted starship halls of the Citadel, Solace and her Mandalorian sparring partner taking turns chasing each other and launching a series of attacks with either training saber, boot or the classic fist. Countless passerby were sent scrambling for cover as the Arkanian and Mandalorian powered through floor by floor, and out the windows of the Hall of Heroes and across the scaffolding overlooking the new Jedi Gardens in front of the Citadel. There they battled across the barely secured scaffolding, working with the rocking motions to put more power into their strikes. It would end up being the final stage of their battle though, as it turned out. For as the boy swung upwards to disarm her, there was the ever so distinct scent of singed hair. His training saber had just barely brushed her hair and missed her cheek, but it was enough to scorch her long hair and that was when in a moment of poor judgement, Solace spear-tackled him off the scaffolding. Thirty feet above the ground.

Luckily for the boy, his armor and the recently completed and filled fountain cushioned his fall with a dramatic splash. And luckily for her, he cushioned her fall. With a rather soggy end to the battle and their training sabers shorted out by the water. It ended up being a good while before the two parted ways, taking a moment to actually enjoy themselves and have a bit of fun before going back to their own duties. Though not before some proper introductions, and that was where Solace and Toryn Dral came to know each other.

That meeting ended up being the catalyst to her completing her own form, and powering through a series of simulations in rapid succession. It was as if her passion for lightsaber combat was renewed after finding someone to properly challenge her, and she took full advantage of it. One by one she took down knights, masters of the order and former masters of the lightsaber in live combat with the Council of Swords and Iron observing and verifying each duel. Eventually she had powered through her trials and become a knight, now independent and able to choose her own path without oversight. But while she did have her sights set on joining the Enclave's diplomatic corps and was already in the process of making that move... There was one last task ahead of her. She had failed only one simulation each time she attempted, the most prominent duelist to have ever lived and a near-complete record of his accomplishments. Her mind was focused on victory though, and she had been learning new skills to accentuate her lightsaber prowess, but now she had the experience of fighting someone who had seen real life or death combat.

And so she once more entered into the Council of Swords with her lightsaber pike across her back, both shoto lightsabers at her hips and watching as the holographic form of Exar Kun began to solidify before her...

THREE MINUTES

"Roka Alleron supervising final trial for Miraverra Alleron in a live lightsaber combat simulation. Masters Zentraedies, Windu, Dooku and Wescra standing by for support and to certify. R30, at the consent of the five gathered masters of the Enclaves initiate restricted simulation... Good luck, may the force be with you and may Ashla watch over you."

- Roka Alleron, 3BRS

Simulation beginning in five...

The flickering of the hologram settling over the droid's form slowly and surely coalesced into the most dangerous foe she had faced yet, a darkness looming around the room as the man turned to regard his opponent. She had studied Exar Kun for months, maybe even a few years at this point, and knew him to be second to only one in all of Jedi and Sith history. He had invented the double-bladed lightsaber and was the most accomplished user of it. That showed in how the droid turned over the lightsaber in its hands, as if appraising the tool and determining how best to use it. All around her the collected observers were feeling uncomfortable with the sensation in the room, a chill coming from nowhere and everywhere at once, but she was focused.

Four...

An exhale and a shifting of her stance followed as she first employed Battlemind. It was part of a set of abilities that she had made a point to learn when dealing with the higher tiers of simulations, though she had only a limited time of use for it. But for those short moments her mind was sharper than ever and she could think through a battle with much more clarity than even normal for her. Immediately she ran through the first seven moves over and over again in the span of that single second. Over and over again the opening moves ran through her head until she found the best seven, then moved onto the next seven, and the next until she was confident she could adequately predict the cadence of battle. Solace knew better than to depend upon this though, as even Roka had explained to her that Battlemind was a double-edged sword. It made her incredibly focused, could allow her to see victory when only defeat was possible, but that was also the danger. Especially with...

Three...

Force Valor filled her with the confidence to tighten her grip on her lightsaber pike, lowering it so that the blade was directed at her opponent. She had practiced with not only her primary arms, but almost every variant of lightsaber the order had. She knew the advantages of both the lightsaber pike she wielded, and the double-bladed orange lightsaber that the shade of Exar Kun ignited before her. But she also knew the weaknesses and how to overcome them. Up close he would be murderously efficient and able to work within the range of her weapon, but she could strike from much farther away and with precision at that. Then again, as her mind worked through the motions of their battle, he could just as easily slap her away and close that distance. It was the greatest danger, but she had two shoto lightsabers that she could easily switch to if need be. The trouble would be in maintaining appropriate distance with him, both just outside his striking range but within hers.

Two...

As Valor set in she could feel a change to her own body as she lowered herself steadily into a battle-ready position across the room, just fifteen feet between her and the simulation now regarding her with an almost curious expression. If she were not focusing on the battle ahead she might have taken a moment to pause and contemplate that, but strength filled her as her physical attributes were greatly enhanced through the force. Battlemind focused her mind and increased her reaction times significantly, able to adjust within milliseconds to everything around her, an essential when facing off against much more competent opponents such as the masters of the orders and these types of simulation. The Valor would give her the strength to match against the more physical prowess of those like Exar Kun, who when faced against someone of equal skill would ruthlessly beat down upon them to widen that gap. She remembered well the recordings of his battle in the Senate and how he struck down his own master, as well as dozens of battles with vaunted masters of the old order. This was not someone to take lightly, even if just a simulation.

One...

More than strength, skill, determination of will and tactical focus though there was one more thing she needed and would be her greatest asset. She was already well known in the order for being among the quickest on her feet, able to shift and adjust to the flow of battle at a frenetic pace. That with her natural ability to simply slip away and re-engage from new directions made it harder to fight her for more traditional duelists. Exar Kun was not a traditional duelist by any means, and so she needed more. More strength. More tactical focus. More speed. Surge was the next ability she channeled, exhaling again as she could feel the muscles in her legs become spring-taut and lowered just a little more, leaning forward as she prepared herself once more. The pike was couched in against her right shoulder, one hand gripping it firmly close to the actual lightsaber part, and the other pressed against the ground as she steadied herself. There would be only one chance at this, one desperate play and she needed to do everything flawlessly. Solace knew she had natural skill, the kind that was spoken of by others as things like prodigy and gifted, but she had also worked for this. And now she as she felt the force empowering, she set the timer. She could only maintain these force abilities and her own high-pace fighting style for three minutes at most. After that the battle was up to the force, and she wasn't keen on her chances.

Begin.

Immediately she launched herself at high velocity at her opponent, the sheer speed of which causing the lightsaber pike's containment field to nearly buckle as she crossed the room in just over a millisecond, the surprise on the face of the hologram coming as they clashed blades with a shattering of sparks across the room. She had anticipating his parry, rolling the long blade off one end of the double-bladed lightsaber and beginning her assault. A flurry of strikes from every direction put the simulated Sith lord on the backfoot, surprise leading to frustration and finally as he returned the initiative something approaching exhilaration. The two clashed furiously over those first few seconds, her force-enhanced abilities allowing her to match the inhuman speeds of the droid even as it began to struggle to keep up. Just barely she could see the hologram moving faster than the droid, double-bladed lightsaber rapidly reacting to her every move. But this was the opening, and she had anticipated that she wouldn't be able to hold that initiative for too much longer.

And when he struck back it was with the kind of force and shock that she had been expecting. Even as her blade rolled off his and she started to set up with a follow-up, she was launched bodily across the room via droid-boot, impacting the durasteel wall hard enough to leave a dent in the plating and drawing a bloody breath as she had to struggle to quickly move out of the way from his own follow-up. The force of that strike was clear as a killing blow, the orange blade buried into the wall with enough force that the emitter had slammed into the wall. Yet Exar Kun did not allow her to recover, nor regain the momentum for as soon as the droid slid to a halt, he forcibly swung outwards towards her with the blade, forcing her to duck under a spray of molten durasteel that spattered across the shields keeping the spectators secure.

Twenty seconds. She increased the distance between them quickly, after being given the rather painful lesson of staying too close to a Sith lord. A few ribs had been broken for sure with that kick, but she didn't have the time or focus to heal that right now, especially as her opponent was once more on the attack. He brought the battle to her with the fury and ferocity that she had known very well from his historical battles, constantly on the move to roll away from each strike, to ensure that he didn't get too close once again else she might not be able to recover from the next blow. They moved across the room in the deadliest dance, her pike eventually knocked from her hands and skittering across the floor as she quickly drew her shoto and just barely kept one end of that double-bladed lightsaber from bisecting her.

In the stands each of the masters had suddenly stood as the battle tipped against her, concerned with the dark aura that had settled over the Council of Swords sparring room and one even motioning to cease this at once. But as Solace regained the momentum and began to press a furious attack against Exar Kun, her own master Zentraedies held up a hand to caution his fellows. The battle would continue even as it closed in on a full minute, the Arkanian now pushing her opponent back to the curious and surreal sound of laughter. The simulation was laughing, the expression on her opponent one now truly of joy as it apparently seemed to enjoy the battle at hand.

"Glorious! An opponent like no other! You fight as a Sith with no reservations, nothing held back, a ferocity unmatched by any Jedi, yet with that determination that only the Jedi could ever muster."

Those words had temporarily shocked her, but she quickly adjusted and fought back as Exar Kun took advantage of that momentary pause with a fresh assault. Blades locked, the two combatants barely a foot apart as they furiously sought any and all openings and struck at them only to be repulsed and sent back to try again and again. Her speed and strength had been stunted by that vicious boot in the opening, but she still held her own and as they locked again she felt something was off with the simulation as he closed in and she could feel a constriction around her throat. Force choke? At first she thought it was impossible, the repulsors in the room had always had trouble with minute actions like that, but the masters had said they were working to improve them. Her vision clouded for but a moment as she nearly succumbed, but she took the initiative again slipping free from his grasp with just a shift in the force to render her invisible. That left him surprised as he reached forward to strike at nothing, but another laugh came as he spun on his heel and blocked what would have surely been a killing strike.

"Skilled and cunning. Truly magnificent."

Once more they were at a standstill, status quo in the battle and holding a slight distance. She hadn't expected the use of a power, but she should have considering his reputation. At this point though she was thankful, as in a real battle things would have been a lot more desperate on her part. But it seemed that as a full minute had passed since the start, he was not going to let her rest on her laurels as it were. Again they launched at each other, sparks flying with every strike. This was not her forte by any means, but she worked with it as best she could, using the force as another weapon and assaulting him with what little ability she had to try and knock him off balance to set up for following strikes, only for him to do the same with significantly more force. For a moment Force Valor wavered and she felt for the first time well and truly out of her depth. This was one of the greatest Sith lords to have ever lived, and what was she? Some sixteen year old Arkanian Jedi high on her own skill. It was just a moment but it was long enough that she didn't see the strike in time and just barely rolled out of the way with a scorch mark across one shoulder and a burn on her cheek to show how close she had come to ending the duel right there.

"Steel your resolve, girl." At first she thought he was mocking her, but she watched as he paused for just a moment long enough for her to do just that. "I know your face, I know your lineage. Give me your name so that I may know my opponent." Solace hesitated as she focused back on herself, the second minute passing as she braced herself in a ready position with both shoto sabers and the lightsaber pike floating over her shoulder with telekinetic ability. She had worked through the battle up to this point with Battlemind, but it was far from the most ideal tactics, and she had tried to avoid getting to this stage. His ability with the force and that double-bladed lightsaber had forced her into a corner leaving her with little choice. But though a simulation he may be, she still inclined her head in respect to her opponent.

"Miraverra Alleron, but I go by Solace."

A wry chuckle followed as the Sith lord prepared himself as well, knowing the finale of this battle was at hand. One way or another the victor would be decided by these next few moves. She could see sparks from the droid inside the hologram and the image of Exar Kun was flickering as if struggling to hold onto coherence. "So be it Solace. I, Exar Kun, declare you to be the greatest lightsaber combatant to have ever lived! Now, let us rejoice in the glory of combat!" And both of them immediately launched at each other once more at a frenetic pace that left it difficult for most of the observers to fully follow. Blade struck blade, the force lashed out at each of them in attempts to gain advantage, and both of them battered at each other in between. Metal boot struck at her to try and knock her back, her force-imbued fist struck the side of his face, and the force clashed between them as their telekinetic abilities canceled each other out in pulses of energy that shorted the repulsors out around them in a shower of sparks and metal shrapnel.

But it had to end somehow, and as Solace came in for one more strike it seemed as if the pace of the battle had finally ended in Exar Kun's favor. She struck out with both shoto sabers towards his midsection, aiming to bisect the droid right then and there, but he had anticipated the strike and caught both blades with either side of his double-bladed lightsaber, knocking them upwards and leaving her completely open to attack. An attack that never came as a silver blade pierced straight through her chest and into the core of the droid. There was a look of initial surprise on Exar Kun's face as he looked down and realized the play. He had been distracted by the shotos and her frenetic pace that he hadn't noticed the pike constantly staying behind her and out of sight until that final moment. It was a killing blow, and on the field of battle a martyring strike. But then there was almost peace there, satisfaction at a battle unlike any other and slowly the hologram began to dissipate as all four lightsabers shut off. "Magnificent. Truly so, I will remember this battle." His words were distant but she couldn't tell if that was because of the fading simulation or the severe exhaustion settling in as finally her force abilities ran out and she felt the pain of her own desperate play catching up with her.

Off to the side Roka collapsed into her seat with relief, announcing that Solace had passed her final simulation and calling in the medics stationed just outside the room. As it turned out she had aimed that strike so precisely that she had avoided significant internal damage, but she would still need a few rounds of bacta especially to prevent scarring on her face and shoulder. The mark of the exit wound of the lightsaber would remain though, a scar to prove she had bested a Sith lord in mortal combat. But as the others began to file out, and some attended to Solace personally, Roka looked towards the control panel for the simulation and felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach as she saw the long screed of error messages ending with "Simulation fail. Reboot necessary." that had been logged as exactly three minutes prior to Solace's victory.

SHIFTING STANCE

"Diplomacy between nations is more than just trying to convince the other powers against war or to make amends for some misaligned deed. It is to rise above the rivalries between the powers and work towards minimizing the casualties that come of them, and to work towards the betterment of the lives of the common people. For me that is not just the Jedi Enclaves that I represent, but also everyone from the average Tarisian to whom the Mandalorian Republic is just another Republic to the Mandalorian clanner who doesn't understand or care for the need to work together with people like the Corellians or the Imperials. It is to ultimately understand where the pride of one nation ends, and the needs of the many begin."

- Miraverra Alleron, 4ARS

A few months passed after her duel with Exar Kun's simulation her status within the Enclaves had shifted quite dramatically. Where before she had certainly been regarded as a pre-eminent duelist and one of the foremost in the order, now it had been confirmed through her trial that had her graduate from just a knight and into one of the younger masters of the order. A few of those from the Council of Swords were now a fair bit more adamant in trying to recruit her into their council, and though she hadn't actually received the title people were already calling her "Battlemaster of the Enclaves". Which as nice as it was to be recognized for her ability, she felt a little off as she had finally reached that peak of skill. It was as if there was nowhere else to go now that she had defeated the last properly challenging opponent. Sure there was still Toryn who really gave her a run for it when he decided to channel more Mandalorian than Jedi, but there was a sense of emptiness now.

Over the weeks as she recovered she began to feel the melancholy creeping in, until a visit from Zatliazha had her reminded of something else that had driven her. There had been an offer in the Council of Unity and the main Enclave for a diplomat position, one that had been given first to the Togruta with the provision that if she declined she would be asked to nominate another. And that's what brought her to the Arkanian, a chance to walk a very different path. At first Solace was a little taken aback by the offer, questioning why Zatliazha didn't accept but she realized quickly that it really wasn't in her nature to be so shackled down. Eventually as they talked she would accept, though on a provision of her own that she be able to ask for help from time to time. It was an easily acceptable request and within the month she was attending a proper summit with some fellow Jedi under the tutelage of a more experienced master.

Like anything, she quickly picked up on the intricacies of diplomacy between major players, showing a propensity towards finding that middle ground that had her graduating to full-fledged diplomat. Initially she was assigned to Alsakan to foster better relations between the puppet-republic and Mandalore, but as she worked her way through Alsakani court with the refinement and grace that matched any of those with noble or aristocratic heritage, there was the idea that perhaps a better face towards the Corellians could be managed than what they had managed so far. Up until her assignment to Corellia, their relations had been bordering on openly hostile, the rivalry threatening to go hot at any moment due to the poor understanding of Corellian court and the Green Jedi. But Solace was a fairly quick study and though the Greens were rather intolerable, she found herself welcomed more and more into their noble circles.

Sair Halcyon himself ended up visiting Mandalore at her request, having suggested that regardless of the opposing stances between their orders it would go a long way to prevent conflict if the leaders of both orders met outside the Grand Councils. This moment in 1ARS ended up cooling the tension between the two states significantly, and it unfortunately ended up making Solace's appointment to the Corellians rather permanent. That said she did also become one of a very select few considered as the primary diplomats of Mandalore and the Enclaves, so it wasn't all bad news. The Corellians were quite pleased to have "Someone other than a savage brute" and made it a point to invite her to numerous functions normally reserved to just the Greens or various lords and ladies within the Hegemony. On the one hand she met those like the Lord Mertha who were genuinely decent people trying to make things work, but on the other were those who were a little more insistent on their superiority and nobility.

That ended up leading to the creation of her blaster ring after giving the schematics to Toryn, who while questioning the necessity for such a hidden weapon didn't pry after she dismissed his concern and crafted it up to typical Mandalorian excellence. Eventually though the reason became knowledge to a very select few, with the Shadow Council of all people providing a holorecording of a diplomatic meet that Solace had attended and a particular Corellian getting quite the handful along with some less than choice remarks. She of course, would never retaliate for such an action beyond giving some stern words, but during the next Grand Council meeting said Corellian ended up getting his as a particular Mandalorian beat him nearly to death without anyone bothering to stop him. The following months were a little tense, but soon enough Sair Halcyon would once more arrive on Mandalore, offering his most sincere apologies for the conduct of his son and that should he recover, that he would never be party to such meetings again.

Even with that incident in mind, Solace continued to work for the betterment of both nations, seeking amenable solutions to their rivalry and the issues that came of it. She fostered trade routes that had Corellian goods sold in Mandalorian markets and vice versa, helped get musicians from the Core venues on Mandalore and Taris, as well as put in a good word for a certain pop star of Clan Skirata. And in between she found herself more and more engrossed in the frustrations of high level galactic politics, as every move she made to ease tensions between Mandalore and one power, increased them with another. But she was resolute in finding the fine line, working to secure good relations with the Empire, a working relationship with Alsakan and eventually securing a way for all to enjoy the Founding celebrations as they do today. Yet while Corellians drink together with New Imperials, Alsakani and Mandalorians alike in Keldabe and it looks every bit like once more she has reached her peak, it feels far from it. There always feels like more to do, more that she can help with and more bridges to build between the people of the galaxy. So while she still spars on a weekly basis to keep her skills sharp, the Arkanian has set aside the lightsaber as her primary weapon and turned to words in the battle to keep the powers from going to war.

Star Wars Chapter 0: KNIGHTFALL

Dramatis Personae

The Grand Republic of Mandalore
- Mand'alor the Paladin: The Mand'alor, warchief of the Mandalorian clans
- Jaessih Suard: Secretary to the Mand'alor, official diplomatic liaison
- Satine Kryze: Duchess of Mandalore, head of the civilian government
- Wilhuff Tarkin: Grand Admiral of the Open Circle Fleet
- Atin Dral: Alor of Clan Dral, Sword of the Mand’alor
- Ash'ad: Mandalorian Intelligence Operative
- The Eternal Commando: Veteran of Mand'alor the Uniter's personal guard
- Crossfire: Clan Fett Clone Commando
- Kada Skirata: Clan Skirata, Pop Idol
- Alanna Blasaw: Heir to House Blasaw, Droid Wrangler
- HK Sable: HK Unit
- Tybren Kelborn: Clan Kelborn, Liaison to the Jedi Enclaves

The Jedi Enclaves
- Qui-Gon Jinn: Grandmaster of the Enclaves
- Obi-Wan Kenobi: Master of the Enclaves
- Dooku of Serenno: Master of the Council of Swords
- Mace Windu: Master of the Council of Iron
- Plo-Koon: Master of the Council of Unity
- Zatliazha: Master of the Council of Mercy
- Shaak-Ti: Master of the Council of Mercy
- Roja Amal: Master of the Council of Seekers
- Sirith Mov: Master of the Council of Origins
- Miraverra "Solace" Alleron: Jedi Diplomat
- Ro Nuul: Jedi Diplomat
- Rorwoorr: Jedi Knight

The Renkar Imperium/Galactic Empire
- Jira Renkar: Emperor
- Elara Renkar: Empress
- Ashra Safel: Royal Advisor
- Kit Fisto: Imperial Guard, First Circle
- Ral Karz: Imperial Guard, First Circle
- Hemok G'vakt: Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Cendassi Lenne: Minister of Imperial Truth
- Wildan Braste: Minister of Defense
- Lorn Alcyorr: Vice Admiral of the Seventh Fleet
- Rae Killian: Second Lieutenant, Classified Assignment

The Shadow Council
- Ki-Adi Mundi: Master of Shadows(Alleged)
- The High Inquisitor
- Braisto Haneddi: Guardian of the Order, Hero of the Empire
- Maraki Haneddi: Guardian of the Order, Hero of the Empire
- Vaem san Skaer: Guardian of the Order, "Walks Like Thunder"
- Karthus Ephren: Guardian of the Order
- Il-Lyo Sechero: Guardian of the Order
- Minah Saden: Imperial Diplomat, Guardian of the Order

The Alsakan Republic
- Hernath Letall: Chancellor
- Varimmi Rul: Secretary of Domestic Affairs
- Aracani Linsley: Pirate Queen of the Perlemian

Alsakani Judicial Branch
- Vresshek Nar: Chief Judiciary and Director of Alsakani Judicial Operations

Corellian Hegemony
- Hegemon Aeron fein Novar
- Garm bel Iblis: "The Corellian Wolf", Grand Admiral of the Army of Light

Council of the Green Jedi Order
- Sair Halcyon: Archon of House Halcyon, Master of the Order and Lord-Protector of Corellia
- Tormax Berethon: Lord of House Berethon, Duke of Balmorra
- Jenica myn Berethon: Lady of House Berethon, Duchess of Balmorra
- Melanah Graeff: Lady of House Graeff, Duchess of Neimoidia
- Jaster Erelen: Lord of House Erelen, Duke of Gatalenta
- Zailled Mertha: Lord of House Mertha, Duke of Humbarine
- Gil Rener: Lord of House Rener, Baron of Antar
- Shosat Irduk: Lord of House Irduk, "The Void Baron"
- Iseth Merr: Lady of House Merr, "The Desolation of Neimoidia"
- Kesana Vendrathin: The Dark Lady of House Vendrathin, Baroness of Balosar
- Lak Vonters: The Pirate-Prince of the Hundred Humble Houses

The Argent Order/Sanctuary
- Fay: Mistress of the Light
- Luminara Unduli: The Emissary of Light
- Barriss Offee: Lightwarden
- Tel Ada: Lightwarden

The Dark Path
- Jon Antilles: Traveler
- Asajj Ventress: Traveler
- Talle Intor: Archivist

Confederacy of Independent Systems
- General Grievous: Supreme Commander of the CIS

Independents
- Elam El-rud: Independent Mercenary
- Vorkro Olkzar: Captain of the Rathtar Rangers
- Talnel Beldwai: The Last Sorcerer of Tund
- Talik Gida: Liberator of Ryloth
- Urh'otrr'kur: Ambria Tusken Clan Leader
- Orh'ruruur: Ambria Tusken
- Koren Omi-Ren: Jedi Prince of Hapes, Consort to the Queen
- Cel O'Royal: Bureaucrat
- Rask Coburn: Space Cowboy

Star Wars Chapter 0: KNIGHTFALL

It is a galaxy teetering on the brink of civil war, twenty years after the violent close of the last. The Clone Wars, as the series of conflicts were called, was supposed to have only lasted a couple years, planned out in detail by the Dark Lord of the Sith. Yet the most minute of changes, deviations or miscalculations slowly resulted in an event that was beyond even the man who was purported to have been the most powerful of his kind in millennia. A man who lived when he was supposed to have died, an apprentice with doubts that led him to question his own motives, another who would not be swayed and instead stayed true to the order that raised him. One after another these small changes that would have otherwise just been footnotes in history would drastically change the outcome of a war that was supposed to have been decided.

Where it truly came undone was with the First Battle of Geonosis. Hundreds of Jedi and entire battalions of clone troopers descended upon the planet to liberate not three hostages set to die at the hands of the Trade Federation, but to rendezvous with Obi-Wan Kenobi and the recently turned Count Dooku. It set the stage of the entire war, as without a clear leader another took control of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. One who did not have the same ideals as its founder, or the desire for true reform in the galaxy. The one who inherited the revolution was one who despised the Republic for everything it stood for. One who had lost everything in a war that, without knowing the truth of the conflict, the Republic interfered with and punished his people dearly. General Grievous, more machine than Kaleesh at this point for the wounds he suffered during the Kalee-Huk war. With his leadership the conflict became far more than what his 'master' intended.

He played his part though, at least initially. Battles were fought in those beginning stages where Sidious planned them, including the First Battle of Coruscant. There Grievous began to understand the Sith lord's intentions and made his own plan. It was one that as the months turned to years, made Palpatine realize that he could no longer crush the 'rebellion' and simply seize control over the Republic to create his empire. More than that, Dooku had turned back to the Jedi and more suspicion than ever was upon him. He had been backed into a corner, a wolf no longer among sheep, but among the hunters. The Republic and CIS bled each other for every system, the Clone Wars ramping up with every passing year and invalidating his plan with each battle. Palpatine had shifted from planning to destroy the Jedi in one fell swoop, to being forced to rely on them until the very end.

Five years into the Clone Wars the plan Grievous had set into motion was finally coming into play. Since realizing Sidious' plan, his true identity and what that meant for the CIS, he had steadily ensured that certain assets remained out of reach from both the Republic and even his own allies. More and more the CIS drew upon the finances of the Banking Clan, the resources of the Trade Federation and Bactoid, as well as every planet under their sway. As the Separatist leaders bickered among themselves as to who was stealing what, Grievous assembled a fleet that would be unrivaled. Thousands of warships sequestered away in old Sith Space and preparing for one final assault. When it finally came, he hit the Republic without mercy. Kuat, Kamino, Balmorra, Ord Mantell and even Corellia came under siege from what they believed to be the entirety of the CIS fleet. Without question the Open Circle Fleet rallied to defend these key worlds, pulling assets away from the defenses of others. And that was when Grievous struck the true blow. In a single night the CIS shattered the defensive fleet of Coruscant, the planetary shield that protected it, and tore the heart of the Republic from its chest.

It became known as "Knightfall" to those who survived, partially for the last stand of the Jedi Knights who held the line against overwhelming odds, only to fail. Under the rain of turbolaser fire from orbit, Cortosis Battle Droids ransacked the capital, relentlessly hunting any who did not perish with the bombings of the Jedi Temple and the Senate Building. It was there that Palpatine himself met his end, an irony of sorts for the Sith Lord who planned out the Clone Wars so carefully, only to fall victim to another's and be buried beneath the glassed ruins of the Republic he tried to control. If things had gone another way, it would have been there that the Republic died to thunderous applause, instead it shattered into a dozen regional governments without the jewel of Coruscant to hold them. Without the clone armies to defend them though, many would fall to Grievous and his new Confederacy. Some would question where the Jedi and their army went, only ever hearing the desperate calls for retreat.

In the aftermath of such a traumatic event though, others did stand tall among the wreckage. After a valiant stand against the odds, those remnants who were unable to rejoin the main fleets settled where they had fought so hard to keep free. Corellia became a new beacon of hope in the galaxy, declaring itself the true inheritor of the Republic and standing firm against the Confederacy. With the Green Jedi lords to govern them, they would secure much of the Core Worlds south of Coruscant, claiming the ruins of Kuat and working to rebuild the rings after the traitorous attack that destroyed them. Yet many hold doubts towards the Corellians, noting how they denied the Republic in Exile when they were still on the run from the Confederacy, and worse yet how many of the worlds that have joined with them, did so without a choice. Regardless of how noble their intentions, the severity of their crimes or the accusations against them though, much of the southern galaxy flourishes under their control.

To the north others contest the Corellians, and foremost among them the nascent Galactic Empire. Much like their rivals, they too arose from the remnants of defenders who had nowhere else to go. With the CIS swallowing up former Republic territory across the entire Outer Rim, the Eight Fleet under the authority of admiral Jira Renkar quickly moved to secure as much as they could around Ord Mantell with the help of the shattered remnants of the Republic military. Surrounded by the enemy and hearing the call to surrender, they instead chose to keep fighting, swearing to defend those who had been left to suffer at the hands of countless such invasions throughout galactic history. Though they did not start with a strong industrial base like some, they had something more. They had the hearts of the people, the steadfast loyalty of their military and an Emperor who could be believed in. And so an empire was built in the smoldering embers of the Clone Wars, admiral turned Emperor clutching the galactic north in a fist of iron against the tyranny of the CIS and vowing to destroy the separatists once and for all. Some say that while the propaganda depicts the Empire as a force of righteousness and justice, there is an underlying culture of violence and tyranny, but while those very same people have come to accept the new status of the galaxy in their own way… For the Empire the Clone Wars never ended.

And then there is Mandalore. It was there that the Republic in Exile found themselves unlikely allies in the form of Duchess Satine and the new Mand'alor. Already the two had been working on securing the future of their people, of both the more pacifist Mandalorians and those who wished to carry on their warrior culture, and so when the Jedi and the Republic came seeking their aid, they gave it freely. That moment joined ancient enemies together, two sides who had fought each other almost since the founding of the Republic, having nearly ruined the other many times over the millennia. Jedi and Mandalorians united, all past grievances set aside in order to secure the future of both of their peoples. It was on that foundation that the legitimate Republic government "officially" relocated to Keldabe City, "elected" Satine as chancellor and ceded military powers to the Mand'alor. Since that moment their standing in the galaxy depends greatly upon from whose lips it is said, with the Corellians decrying them as little more than a band of looters and mercenaries with stolen Republic hardware. Certainly their assault on Kuat that left it little more than ruins lends credence to such, and with the Jedi assisting freely through the new Jedi Enclaves, it's harder than ever for the GRM to play public relations.

Yet, while the Corellians sabotage their image at every turn, historians call their rise the "Third Great Crusade" and warn of the impending invasion… Many look to them as the true inheritors of the Republic. Under the mythosaur skull banner, all are equal and all have the same chance to earn their place. To be Mandalorian is a choice, one that every world in their republic has made, and all have so far benefitted from their protection and lended their arms towards securing their space. No matter whether they be Miraluka, Twi'lek, Kaminoan, Devaronian or just a regular human, all are considered to be Mandalorian under their Mand'alor and afforded the same rights whether they fight for their republic or work for it.

But while the Republics fight and vie for supremacy against each other, they ignore the threat surrounding them. The Confederacy still lives, though it has bled key worlds and founders over the last twenty years. Muunilist broke free in order to join into the Corporate Sector Authority. Dozens of sectors have been lost to the steady advance of the Empire. Most of their core world sectors were found to be too rebellious to keep direct control, instead handed over to the puppet-Republic under Alsakan. More and more the Confederacy burns under the rule of Grievous, who still sees it as his duty to dismantle the Republic completely, but struggles to maintain control over his own systems, much less those under occupation. Even Kalee is no longer his to command, as the Empire seized it years ago. It is a rebellion that has stagnated long past achieving their goal, without the sense to lay down their arms. More than that though, with the general meeting any resistance with force, crushing any who dare to rise up against him, it is inspiring more and more to treat with their republic kin. And they can taste the blood in the water.

So it is that after twenty years, though the galaxy has changed much since the close of the Clone Wars, it is once again teetering on the brink of civil war...

---

Star Wars Chapter 0: KNIGHTFALL

As you might have guessed from the block of text above and the title, this is a Star Wars RP but not in the normal vein of things. While we are rooted in the Galactic Civil War era, where traditionally the Rebel Alliance fights tooth and nail against the Galactic Empire, before the RP even begins we have taken a departure. Instead of the classic story of good versus evil, of the underdog rising to defeat the goliath or the many different stories told across Legends of the era, a question was asked a while back, and this RP is the answer. What if the CIS had won the Clone Wars? What if Dooku had chosen to listen to Obi-wan? What if all of Palpatine's well-laid plans fell apart due to simple chance and probability?

Here in "After Knightfall" we no longer have a Republic just like Canon/Legends. The key difference though, is that the CIS under General Grievous sacked Coruscant in the second battle for the world, breaking the Republic up into a number of successor states that all vie against each other for the title of true inheritor, all the while contending with the Separatists. Corellia, Ord Mantell, Alsakan and Mandalore all head up their own independent nations, each with their own Jedi Order and their own ideals. We have a Galactic Empire in the north which rules through iron-fisted tyranny and continues to fight against the CIS, but ruled by an Emperor despondent from the means in which he has to employ to keep fighting the war and doing his best to help his people. The Corellians hold up themselves as paragons of justice and truth, all the while forcing planets to join their Hegemony and instigating against their rivals constantly seeking out some weakness. And the Alsakani are little better than a puppet state, controlled by an ailing one at best.

Where you come in though, is not on the grand galactic stage, but as one of many who has come of age during the interim period. You were there when the Republic fell. When the Jedi Order was shattered. When the CIS became the very thing it was fighting against. You were also there to witness the rise of Mand'alor the Paladin, a champion of the people. The restoration of Corellia as an independent power. To see a new era of innovation and progress come in the wake of such sorrow and destruction.

The galaxy is at a point the Grand Council of Jedi calls a "Shatterpoint", a point where a single choice can decide the future. A similar one years ago decided the fate of the galaxy now, where a single man surviving avoided the death of the order and the creation of what we see today. Only the few can determine what will come to pass, but for now they must gather. They must come together and take that first step…

Guidelines

With the foreword and the introduction out of the way, I would like to take a quick moment to set some expectations for the RP and let people know how I do things. First and foremost, I'm really not one for hard and fast rules. I don't like deadlines, and I don't like posting requirements. My primary goal in running an RP is the story and to see that everyone is having a good time with it. Because of that I'm pretty flexible and do my best to work with people so long as they communicate with me, and will always encourage such from all my players. But with all that said, I do have some guidelines that I would really appreciate people looking to for as long as they are part of the RP.

- Primarily let's touch upon the status of the RP as 18+. I have done this for good reason, as our setting will have us dealing with some things that normally is a bit more niche with Star Wars. Violence, death, drug-use and some sensual tones may be present at many points through the RP, as our focus will be in the Outer Rim at times, and others on the diplomatic circles between nations where we might get our GoT on. This is of course not an excuse or permission to sprinkle expletives all over your posts, or to get especially graphic, but more so as a warning. I will be watching posts to make sure that things don't get too excessive as there are more firm rules to abide by on Guild, but I have the hope that most of you who have come this far down the post will be mature enough to understand this and show restraint. That said, if the concept of mild sensuality, drug-use, violence or anything else of the post PG nature might be offensive to you, then I would kindly ask that you keep that in mind if you choose to apply anyways.

- Respect and communication. While I personally don't mind a little bit shown my way as the GM, I moreso ask this for your fellow players. We are all building a shared story with our characters, who I hope will be interacting with each other plentifully. To that end, keep your fellow players in mind when posting and planning posts or arcs. Communicate with them if ever there is the possibility of their character being affected by something you have planned.

- Post Requirements. I hate them. No really, I dislike the idea of saying that someone has to post x number of times in a certain period or they're out, and especially despise having to stick to that myself. In my experience, nothing drains the creativity more assuredly than deadlines. As such there isn't one for submitting a character to the RP, and I won't demand of anyone that they keep to a posting schedule. All I ask is that when interacting with other characters, that you not only be respectful as asked above, but also be mindful of your own times of posting.

- Don't be a dick. Really, don't do it. If you do it, I'll have to do it, and I promise you I can be an even bigger one. I prefer to be nice and have a good time, but if you decide not to be nice and to keep other people from having a good time, then I will ruin your time in this RP. [st]jk, I'll just ban you from the thread and have your character trip out an airlock.[/st]

Character Creation

No sliders, but there are plenty of options. Seriously, I don't quite like the idea of restricting people to this or that, saying that one thing is completely not allowed under any circumstance or whatever justification other GMs like to use. I've found that on occasion people can surprise me with a character that at first glance should have never been approved, but after a bit of one on one, can be a strong presence in the RP. With a setting as diverse as SW Legends and the AU we have created, there are so many possibilities to build off of, so many backgrounds for characters and ways to make something truly unique. To that end, before we get to the character sheet proper and I let you all go to await what wondrous possibilities you provide me with, I do have a few things I would like to comment on regarding characters.

- The Factions. As you may have noticed the galaxy is not quite the same as it is in 6ABY normally. There are multiple Republics, each claiming themselves to be the true one despite the Republic-In-Exile sitting on Mandalore wondering what the actual fuck. I'm not going to go out and say that you can or cannot play a character from one faction or the other, but please do keep in mind that these factions are not all on good terms with one another, and some are outright hostile if not in open conflict with others. A key point here is the Corellian Hegemony and Mandalorian Republic. Neither has any love for the other, and despite frequent diplomatic overtures, their relations are close to the US and Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. The Alsakani Republic are a much friendlier bunch, but are widely regarded as a paper tiger, as opposed to the actual tiger that is the Galactic Empire/Renkar Imperium to their north. The more attention you pay to factional differences and the more thought that is put into a character regarding those, the more likely I am to enjoy the CS and as such be more forgiving with it, so do keep that in mind.

- Jedi, Force Sensitives, and Force Sites. As an important note, just like the Republic there are multiple different Jedi Orders each with their own ethics, their own codes and of course their own objectives. Some like the Jedi Enclaves of Mandalore are close enough to the old order that there's not much to really consider. Others like the Argent Council have strayed quite far from what the Jedi Order was, to be something else new entirely. I advocate strongly to ask questions on these independent orders, their allegiances and what they specialize in. On another note, something I am firm on is the visitation of certain places in the galaxy. Please do not have your character have visited Korriban, Ziost, Dromund Kaas, Yavin 4 or any other place within Sith Space. Firstly these places are steeped in dark side energies, and that has an effect on Jedi with only some of the strongest of wills able to resist the corrupting effects without assistance. Secondly, there really is no reason for most to have gone there, and those who have wouldn't have come back anyways.

- Faces/Appearances. As you will note when looking over the CS, there is both a place for a picture and one for a detailed appearance. I would like both done, and encourage everyone to take that as an opportunity to go into greater detail about their characters. More important here, is the subject of pictures used in general. I've become rather partial to face-claims, and especially the use of gifs and such to show how my characters express themselves a little more… Viscerally. This is by no means a requirement for anyone, and I won't refuse a character on the basis of their CS using a particular art style. Just… Keep it presentable. You know what I mean.

- Characters in general. All that said, I would like to say that a well-structured and detailed sheet will always go over better than one that is essentially a somewhat expanded concept. The character sheet below is one adapted from another RP that I happened to like because not only is it innately structured better than something I could do on my own, but provides many places of opportunity for the player to add detail to their character. Just don't get too involved in creating a character that you may not be as enthused to play as the character once it's done. As someone who has done that before, I would hate to see someone put a lot of effort into a well-written character only to dislike it and not want to RP as it.

- Other people's characters. Right, so this became an issue in the prior iteration and this as well as another thing in particular I've lost all patience for. On the one hand, I strongly encourage prior relations with other characters, whether NPCs or actual player characters. This breathes a little more life into the world and builds connections between not just the characters but also the players. While our group does tend to have a habit of "talking an RP to death" there is a lot of fun involved in detailing out how our characters interact with each other and the shenanigans they can get up to. However. I really shouldn't have to say this, much less emphasize it, but make sure the other person is actually okay with those interactions. It doesn't matter if it's something major like maiming someone or minor like a bump in the hallway. But more than that, and honestly something that should be it's own point…

- Other people's characters(again). Say you're the kind of person that likes to read the other character sheets for whatever reason that may be. I encourage this in all honesty, I like when people actually take the effort to understand the other player characters in an RP, as it cuts down a lot on misunderstandings and can help with seeing the motivations and such. However, however, however. I do not want people playing Co-GM for me and using such moments to call out things within character sheets. While I encourage people to come to me with any concerns, we don't operate by mob rule here and if I see people attempting to call out another player's CS I will treat this as one of those "don't be a dick" moments.

- Your character. Just a closing note because I feel like if I don't say it, someone is just going to take that as the opportunity to feel like they can just go wild. If you deliberately make an over-powered character or a joke character, I will mock you and reject it. I'm not going to, and I'm not going to ask any potential Co-GM to spend three nights and a bottle of alcohol just to unravel some bullshit CS only for the author not to listen to a single word. Yes, we've been here before.

Finally, the timeline as of now, the map and the character sheet proper. You are free to post WiPs in the OOC, and I even encourage it so that we can all work together on things and help to ensure everyone gets as close to the type of character they want to play as possible. Just please do not post your character in the characters tab until approved.

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From the Interest Check

tl;dr - The CIS won the Clone Wars, everything's a bit fucked.

So, if you haven't read the block of text above and are wondering just what this is, or if you did and would prefer a more succinct description of the RP, here it is. "After Knightfall" is a Star Wars RP, but not like most others for the key principle of the setting. While most RPs that take place in a fandom setting like SW are quite open about the canonicity of the RP itself, and how once the RP begins it is effectively in an alternate universe, this RP starts out as such before characters are even created. It began initially as just a joke of a question a while back, a "what if" of sorts, and over the years the RP setting grew into more than just a concept and into a story of its own waiting to be told. What if the CIS won the Clone Wars?

The gist of what the setting is about is described above, but basically the Republic is gone, the CIS won and Grievous is a significant emotional event still. Like, we're talking not just Legends Grievous, but the Tartakovsky Grievous that took on six Jedi Masters with only two lightsabers and zero fucks to give. But it has also been just over twenty years since the fall of the Republic, and dude is getting old and even more crazy. Galaxy still uses the galactic credit because "IGBC" and it's easier on everyone, but there really is no central government or even Jedi Order. Warlordism has become prevalent in many regions, with entire swaths of the galaxy unaligned either by choice or because their political situation is too unstable. The rising powers of the galaxy all hate each other to varying degrees, and are building up in preparation for another potential galactic war. Except the Empire, who has continued the Clone Wars for twenty-two years only stopping to fight what they call "The Great Enemy". But I digress, much of this can be gleaned from the foreword above, and we have a searchable lore document that will be posted in the discord for the RP.

So really, in this fragmented and war-torn galaxy there is the question of who are you? Is your character a Corellian Green seeking to expand his house by any means, or simply survive the game of thrones in the Hegemon's shadow? An Imperial doing her part to secure freedom for the people of the galaxy, even if it means "liberating" them first? Or maybe just a Mando sitting there on Mandalore fishing and trying not to think about how the whole thing is a powderkeg waiting for that spark...

But all that aside, my rules are fair and simple as can be expected from any other GM on the forum and I'll do my best to work with everyone who shows interest to ensure that the story they want to tell of their own character is given the same chance as everyone else. I pride myself on being rather flexible and working with people to make sure their ideas fit with the setting, though I will kindly ask not to take advantage of that as I will yeet a bitch lmao. All in all, I am hoping for a good run on this, a lot of effort has been put towards rebuilding the setting from the original idea, and I've got a couple people heavily invested in seeing this happen. So to that end, I look forward to seeing what interest comes, and am giving a generous two weeks for everyone with a serious interest to ask their questions, pitch their characters and prepare for what will surely be a wild ride with no brakes.

The Timeline

With the significant events of the few decades surrounding the start of the setting here, there has been another re-synchronization set during what would have normally been "The Battle of Yavin". Considering there is no canonical battle of Yavin in this setting, instead it is simply a moment where most of the galaxy has come to agree upon a re-synchronization of the standardized calendar.

32BRS - SHATTERPOINT: During the Battle of Naboo a shift in the force resulted in a change in the flow of a battle that would decide the fate of the galaxy. Rather than pursuing ahead to face the Sith Darth Maul personally, Qui-Gon Jinn waited for his padawan so that they could face him together. With both Jedi working in unison, the Sith was cornered and quickly brought down, sent hurtling down the reactor tube. Following this the Jedi Order was forced to acknowledge that the Sith had in fact returned and were operating in the shadows, giving Qui-Gon leave to continue his pursuit of the truth and elevating Obi-Wan Kenobi to knighthood for his assistance in bringing down the darth.

28BRS - DISTURBANCES WITHIN THE GORDIAN REACH: Following the revelation of the Sith surviving into the modern era, the Jedi Order issue an investigation into the former heartlands of the ancient Sith Empire. For several years there is nothing but ash and dust turned over on the countless dead worlds, with only the specters of old haunting the region. So in 28BRS the Jedi Council declares the region off-limits to all but those of master rank, keeping a cautious eye as silence once more falls on the Sith Worlds. With such little traffic in the region and the Jedi and Republic soon finding other concerns to focus their attention on, those few who do venture there are those either foolishly seeking forbidden relics or attempting to circumvent patrolled sectors. So as these people disappear, most simply write it off as smugglers and pirates falling to one another, or the odd misjump.

22BRS - THE CLONE WARS: With the defection of Count Dooku of Serenno back to the Jedi Order, the Clone Wars officially begin following his information during the rescue on Geonosis. With the Grand Army of the Republic some four-hundred Jedi descend upon the planet to cover the extraction and crush the facilities there, resulting in the deaths of a few Jedi, but also Jango Fett and multiple figures within the Confederacy. This serves as but an early victory among precious few, as for six years the war rages across the galaxy turning once peaceful worlds into battlegrounds. The Republic bleeds worlds from the Outer Rim and into even the Core Worlds as without the tempered hand of people like Dooku or his former master, Grievous seizes control of the CIS with the intent to bring only ruin in his wake. During this time both the Republic and CIS mobilize ever increasing forces, with newer and more dangerous weapons deployed with each passing year. Cortosis Battledroids, Planet-Killers and even Dark Jedi are turned loose upon untold millions of clones desperately defending everything from the ecumenopoli of the Core to the desolate planets of the fringes. Yet while both powers wage total war, they both suffer from their own internal problems. The CIS sees more and more tyranny at the hands of Grievous as he consolidates power solely under him, executing the Separatist Council, driving entire populations into forced labor and crushing his own rebellions with ruthless efficiency. No stranger to dissent themselves, the Republic sees many worlds simply secede and struggle with their own independence separate from both powers, as well as the Jedi Order struggling with the knowledge of the Supreme Chancellor being a Sith. An issue soon resolved.

19BRS - RISE OF MANDALORE THE PALADIN: Appearing as "The Challenger" a Mandalorian in an older style of blue Crusader armor comes to directly challenge the Sith Darth Maul who had seized power during the ongoing crisis on Mandalore. There, in front of the Deathwatch, Satine Kryze and Obi-Wan Kenobi the unknown Mandalorian savagely beats Maul to death in a duel for the title of Mand'alor. No words were exchanged, only blows between the two as Maul's lightsaber proved to be utterly ineffective against the beskar of the challenger's armor. Briefly the Deathwatch sees this as a victory for all Mandalorians, a proper and true Mand'alor rising from the unknown to steer their people back onto the right path, but that crumbles away when Pre Viszla takes his chance and also challenges for the title. This bout proves to be far different, and in a way only proves to the Deathwatch their initial suspicions were true somewhat. Victory is inevitable for the Mand'alor, beating down Viszla repeatedly and demanding him to yield until finally the two share unknown words and Viszla dies of his wounds. In the aftermath of these two short and brutal battles the Mand'alor makes himself known to Satine and Obi-Wan, declaring his intentions to reform Mandalorian society into a blend of the old Crusader lifestyle but with Supercommando virtues. A true honorable warrior society, one that respects and rewards all who would call themselves Mandalorian, not just those who fight. And it is as Pre Viszla is honored as a true Mandalorian and given a funeral in the old rites that the Deathwatch kneels alongside True Mandalorians, New Mandalorians and all those between ideologies to welcome Mand'alor Besk'Cabur, otherwise known as Mand'alor The Paladin.

16BRS - KNIGHTFALL: At the height of the Clone Wars as much of the galaxy burns in the shifting of frontlines between the CIS and the Republic, General Grievous executes his most brilliant and ruthless plan yet. Across the galaxy multiple key Republic worlds are hit simultaneously by the Confederate fleet in force, calls for reinforcement lighting up the holonet as the Republic struggles to hold onto what they have. It is only when much of the Open Circle Fleet departs Coruscanti space when the true reality of Grievous' gambit is revealed though. As the Republic seeks to shore up their defenses across the galaxy, the largest fleet yet drops above Coruscant and decimates the defending fleet within hours and begins the bombardment of the planet's surface. Much of the Open Circle Fleet remains in hyperspace unable to immediately redirect, so they hear the calls for reinforcement even as turbolasers turn the senate and temple districts into sheets of glass. By the eighth hour Coruscant has fallen and the call to retreat and regroup is issued, the Republic abandoning the fight completely. It is on this day that after over twenty-five thousand years the Republic and Jedi Order have finally fallen.

16BRS - THE SECOND ARKANIAN REVOLUTION: Even as the glass still cools on Coruscant, the fall of the Republic reverberates across the galaxy. For Arkania, a world renowned for its scientists for millennia, the fall hits particularly hard. Nearly forty years prior a minority of the Dominion's intellectual caste took particular offense to the conduct of the Dominion towards a particular species, and when their dissatisfaction wasn't enough, an outright revolt seized hold of the planet. Now remnants of that movement who had remained silent for a generation once more seize their chance. In what later becomes known as The Great Adascopolis Riots, much of the city burns to the ground in rioting as the Dominion government is initially distracted by the events of Knightfall. This is but the beginning though, as once the Dominion understands the threat inherent in these riots, they immediately appeal to the CIS for assistance in dealing with rebels on their world. Counter to this, the primary group of Arkanian Rebels gain growing support from the Alsakani, who had long criticized the Republic's willing acceptance of the Arkanian Dominion and their crimes. Within a few months though, the Arkanian Revolution ignites fully with multiple warring factions emerging with everyone from the Corellians, to Mandalorian Clans providing support for their particular groups.

16BRS - A COUP ON CORELLIA, THE RISE OF THE HEGEMON: Coinciding with the bombardment of Coruscant and the defense of the Corellian system, a power play is made on the planet itself. It had been a plan decades in the making, merely awaiting the right time to execute, and there was no better time than in the chaos of this moment. Half of CorSec turned as the Novar house guards marched on the Diktat's residence, simply walking through the doors and seizing power within the hour. It was a coup of ruthless efficiency and nearly bloodless, only a few injuries across Corellia and only the Diktat as a true casualty. Yet addressing his people, Aeron Fein Novar declares this a just and righteous moment for not him, but all Corellians. To the cheers of millions he declares the end of the diktats, and the end to bowing to any other than Corellia itself. With the remaining highest powers of Corellia bowing before him, he declares himself Hegemon and the beginning of the Corellian Hegemony.

16BRS - OPERATIONS "LANCE OF THE REPUBLIC"/"STORMCALLER": Broken, demoralized and in desperate need of resupply the forces of the Republic find themselves only a brief reprieve in the shelter of Mandalore. A quarter of the Grand Army musters out to become Mandalorian, with the rest knowing that something must be done regardless of if they move to the next port or remain with the Mandalorians. So it is that a plan is made and two operations are drawn up that splits the Open Circle Fleet in half.

STORMCALLER sees the efforts to relieve the Kaminoans of the CIS siege, coming in with a devastating blow from behind and an all too short reprieve. The Clones work desperately to evacuate the Kaminoans to the fleet proper, promising them shelter on Mandalore and leaving behind several regiments to man the defenses of Kamino. As the Open Circle Fleet departs ahead of CIS reinforcements, they hear of the defense and of how those clones who stayed behind bleed the CIS of thousands of droids for every dead clone, until the supports for the floating cities are detonated and take the entire invading force to the bottom of the oceans.

LANCE OF THE REPUBLIC is undertaken simultaneously and while initially it was to be a mere resupply, a turn is taken which sees a battle erupting over Kuat. Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin begins the operation with negotiations with Kuat of Kuat to resupply his battered fleet in both repairs and replacement ships. Up until now Kuat had been independent of the squabbles among the remnants, holding out with the defensive fleet that remained after Knightfall. Thousands of ships mill about the space around the orbital ring, three of them Mandator Dreadnoughts and with two belonging to Kuat, it seems the negotiations were always destined to fail. But this had been accounted for by Tarkin, sending in ARC troopers ahead of the negotiations. These clones stormed the planet-side headquarters of KDY, with the sole objective of raiding the servers and stealing the blueprints for every ship in the fleet. In orbit the raid becomes known and a shot is fired, detonations ripple across the ring as saboteurs make themselves known and Tarkin now issues his ultimatum. If the Republic cannot have these ships, then he will not allow pretenders or the CIS to have them. In the chaos of the opening battle fully half of KDY's forces defect, including one of the Mandator Dreadnoughts, issuing out a broadside on the other still in its docking cradle. There, either from the damage sustained in the broadside or through saboteurs, or a shipboard mutiny, the reactors become damaged and hit criticality. The Open Circle Fleet collects their commandos and Tarkin, pulling back with the defecting portions of KDY and watching as the ring is broken from the reactor detonation, falling back to the surface leaving untold devastation.

15BRS - THE FALSE PEACE, THE TREATY OF ALSAKAN: It has been a year since the devastation of Knightfall, the Republic fracturing into warlordism and the ongoing fighting against the CIS leaving much of the industrial heart of the galaxy still smoldering. Grievous still sees the war yet won though, even as his own advisors plead for seeking a resolution. While before he would have killed them for their audacity to suggest peace, the rising power in the galactic north has been a more significant issue than at first thought, and there is logic in keeping some of the other powers from re-engaging. So on Alsakan the representatives of the major powers in the galaxy are brought together. Corellia, Mandalore, Alsakan itself and the Confederacy meet to discuss terms and come to sign what most call simply the Treaty of Alsakan. Yet for Ord Mantell and the nascent regime there, they call it for what it is. A false peace. It may have ensured that the CIS is no longer at war with the Republic Remnants, but to many even beyond the galactic north, it is merely a twenty-year armistice.

15BRS - A CROWN OF IRON, THE RENKAR IMPERIUM: Since first answering the calls to reinforce Ord Mantell and the galactic north, the battle has been raging across the breadbasket of the galaxy from one world to the next. Admiral Jira Renkar of the Eight Systems Army with a number of Jedi such as Ki-Adi Mundi and Kit Fisto continue the war and expand their defenses from the fortress world to create a ring of iron. World after world is liberated with the droid forces sent scattering and with each world a call is heard. It starts small, the mere suggestion of those liberated and finding the first person to actually honor the pledge to defend them. Then it grows as more join them, taking up arms to fight alongside the clones and Jedi committed to them. Finally as Jira Renkar refuses to attend the summit at Alsakan it becomes a deafening clamor. They call him Emperor, king of kings and defender of the galactic north. For the last year and a half he had refused to give credence to these calls, seeing himself as a liberator of those in need, not a sovereign. Yet as the ink dries on the Treaty of Alsakan, he finally answers the call. With a crown of iron made from the mines of Ord Mantell itself, he sits upon a throne bearing the icon of the Eighth Systems Fleet. The words echo around the galaxy as it is declared "Kneel for the last time as Admiral, and rise as a man who kneels before no other… Emperor Jira Renkar of the Renkar Imperium."

15BRS - THE RUIN KINGDOM, THE ALSAKANI REPUBLIC: In the ashes of the Clone Wars chaos reigns over much of the Core Worlds. Coruscant had been seen as the jewel of the galaxy for thousands of years and the uniting power, with only one other competing in dominance. It is that power that now as the rest of the galaxy pulls away to look to their own people, begins the slow and tedious effort of rebuilding. Alsakan the eternal rival of Coruscant had been given the broken corpse and left to their own devices. Ostensibly independent when it comes to rebuilding and expanding, the Provisional Governing Region carefully restores order and rule of law to each world left in the wake of the CIS. As the Republic finally gasps out its last dying breath, the Ruin Kingdom rises to piece it all back together as best it can.

14BRS - THE KASHYYK-TRANDOSHA EXCLUSION ZONE: While much of the galaxy either falls to the CIS, one of the Remnants or simply descends into chaos, the eternal rivals continue their intermittent battles against each other. Both of them have finally shaken off the droid attacks and retaken their own respective space, now looking to a galaxy without the Republic to fetter them and demand peace. Briefly it looks as if the two are finally to enter proper war against each other, but the CIS and Grievous proves to be a mutual enemy and interrupts their mobilization. Countless assaults slowly see Wookie and Trandoshan working together to repel the invaders, each one bringing a spirit of cooperation to the rivals until finally as the last warship is left a smoldering wreck, they declare their systems to be united against all invaders. Trandosha and Kashyyk with their guns pointed outwards and back to back.

14BRS - THE CALL TO RETURN: After five years of stabilizing Mandalore and forming the skeleton of the Mandalorian Republic, it is finally time for the Paladin to push towards the second stage of their grand ideal. A home for all Mandalorians has been created, and all that is left is for them to see it for themselves. Only a few times before had the Call to Return been made, and each one a moment of galactic significance. This time though the call would not usher in a great crusade or pitch the galaxy into endless war, it was a call to come home, to build a better Mandalore and honor the new Mand'alor. It starts small with a few coming home to announce their adherence to the Resol'nare. Then hundreds arrive by the day, then thousands and as word spreads Mandalorians across the galaxy come to see the first Mand'alor since the Uniter to truly bring their people together. Yet there are those who see this call as but a prelude to war, and others displeased at the loss of their most dangerous assets…

13BRS - THE PIRATE BLITZ: The Hutts, having seen the collapse of the Republic and Jedi Order as a boon for business see their first major loss since Knightfall. All those Mandalorians who had once been loyal mercenaries for the Hutts now look back home and see something new and greater for their clans. The mass desertion of Mandalorians leaves many of the Hutt Cartels weakened initially, with those who had never been able to afford their services taking advantage and chaos ruling over the cartel for a full year until order is restored. With order comes retribution as the surviving Hutts look towards Mandalore with vengeance. Credits flow like water into the coffers of every pirate across the galactic east, the Hutts gathering the single largest pirate armada to ever take to space. These pirates move on Mandalore thinking them to be weak and vulnerable due to taking in the shattered Republic-in-Exile and their efforts in rebuilding, taking away from their military. So they enter the Mandalore system and issue an ultimatum. Return to serving the Hutts, kneel before the Cartel or be destroyed. The Paladin's only response to releasing his people back to service is a simply and blunt retort. "Come and take them." The battle is short and brutal as the pirates are a disunified lot and they had not been counting on the Open Circle Fleet to actually reinforce the Mandalorian fleet above the planet. Entire tribes of pirates are annihilated in volleys of turbolaser fire from Venators, the Mandalorian Republic proving itself in a baptism of fire and molten durasteel. A few hours pass and the Pirate Blitz is broken, the Mandalorians emerging as a true power and a true Republic.

12BRS - GREAT JEDI SCHISM: Seeking unity among the Jedi a summit is called, the first of what would be a semi-regular "Grand Council". The foremost leaders of the Jedi Enclaves, the Shadow Council, Green Jedi, Alsakani Judicials, and the Argent come together to discuss the future of the Jedi Order. At first there is much to agree on with the state of the galaxy, most present feeling that unity is necessary to truly heal. Where things break down is exactly who should be united under, with each order declaring themselves the most suitable. The discourse becomes intense enough that the gathered break fully from the idea of the Jedi Order and a few of the more prominent unaligned Jedi go into isolation. The loss of faith in those like Master Yoda becomes the deathblow to the Jedi Order, the fragments each declaring themselves the true inheritors.

10BRS - THE DESOLATION OF NEIMOIDIA: Rumors begin circulating around the actions of Corellia against those refusing to join the Hegemony. For most they are dismissed both by Corellia and by those wanting more evidence before making a statement. Yet still there are those who escape from the Hegemony and describe blockade tactics, loosing pirates and smugglers onto helpless worlds and even bombardment of civilians to enforce joining. It is only when Neimoidians being fleeing Corellian space in mass that the greater galaxy learns that the gleam to the Corellian Hegemony hides the terror sown in their shadows. Tales are told of the bombing of the Neimoidian purse worlds, millions vaporized in turbolaser bombardment, nuclear weapons being loosed on the populace and the entirety of their assets seized by Corellia as the population is forced into indentured servitude. With the galaxy clamoring for answers, all Corellia offers is that one of their former great houses was responsible for the destruction of Neimoidia, that Iseth Merr had allowed the scars of her past to cloud her judgment and action had been taken.

10BRS - THE ARKANIAN REVOLUTION INTENSIFIES: Six years after the riots in Adascopolis the Second Arkanian Revolution continues with all the violence and destruction of the first. As the powers that be look towards Arkania as a proxy-war to fight their conflicts between each other, the actual revolutionaries and loyalists to the Dominion see drastically shifting support comparative to the war fronts. Initially supportive of the Revolutionaries, Alsakan has since taken several steps back after egregious violations of numerous Republic conventions on military conduct, particularly looking towards their own weaponization of unaligned sentients and chemical warfare attacks on non-military targets. On the other side, the Dominion has carefully spent years distancing itself from the CIS, only nominally acknowledging them as the ruling power in Alsakani space, and meanwhile courting Alsakan itself in a play for ensuring their continued power. This shift in support leads many to question if this is not just a repeat of the first Revolution, but while many in Alsakani space criticize the republic's growing relations with the Dominion, an agreement is struck behind closed doors that leads to a very sudden change in the power dynamics between the main fighting powers.

8BRS - THE IMPERIAL WEDDING: A question that had arisen at multiple points even before the Empire proper was established, succession became a greater concern as the Emperor himself was still taking part in battles. Nearing his forties the man had accrued his fair share of battle fatigue, and despite being still in his prime the Imperial Circle and the Shadow Council made an insistence on either choosing an heir or making one. After dealing with the harassing advisors, Jira finally relented and the Empire began to field offers from across the galactic north and beyond. For months an endless procession of candidates arrived on Ord Mantell to make their case, from minor nobles across the Empire itself to Corellians seeking Imperial ties, and even the Zygerrian queen. Eventually though a decision was reached, after a woman from beyond the borders of the Empire arrived with a noble house at her back and offers of more than just union between their families.

Within the year as the two became more prominent in the public spotlight, preparations had been made for an event equalling the declaration of the Empire itself. The palace had been renovated entirely, a public square opened for viewers of the event to watch the procession and prominent figures from across the galaxy in attendance as the holonet lit up with what would become known as The Imperial Wedding. Elara Safel, of the Great House Safel walked resplendent in white, and flanked by the blue-skinned family and friends of her house as Jira Renkar awaited upon the dais, behind him two thrones where once only one had stood, and his closest advisor Ral Karz holding a crown of iron. Corellian dignitaries watched in envy from the balconies alongside Alsakani and Mandalorians, each understanding the significance of this event beyond a simple union. And as the Emperor lifted the veil of his Empress and sealed the union, all of the Empire celebrated a dawning of a new era.

6BRS - THE BATTLE OF ILUM: With less than twelve hours notice, non-Imperial excavation teams on the surface of Ilum are promptly evacuated under the mechanisms of a treaty allowing the Empire to do so in case of ‘Emergency’, though no explicit reason is ever given. What little the wider Galaxy knows of the events that transpired there afterward comes from intel observing Imperial fleets suddenly taking a hard turn to the Galactic West across Imperial space, abandoned mining equipment sending out remote pings warning of erratic seismic activity and immense craters and damaged infrastructures observed by said teams when they were finally allowed back on the surface.

For their part, the Empire itself simply states it defeated a ‘Great Enemy’ there and refuses to elaborate further.

6BRS - THE DEVARONIAN CONSPIRACY: A curious discovery is made at Devaron's Astrological Survey Center, where numerous astronomers report a new celestial object and debate rages within the Hegemony as to what it may be and why. Multiple reports claim the object is in motion, yet known science doesn't support the idea of an object of that mass being capable of such speeds. Which leads into more physical debate and conflict between the intellectual community of the Corellian Hegemony at large. Beyond Corellia most simply feel that either the Corellians have become too confident with their legacy and have resorted to outlandish claims, or dismissed it outright in light of the Neimoidian Diaspora of four years prior.

5BRS - THE LAST TAUNG: To the stunned astonishment of near every living soul on Mandalore, the Paladin finds himself in the awkward position of having to personally answer an unusual call from Keldabe’s spaceport; namely that an old relic of a ship had touched down about an hour prior containing— among other things— two Humans, a Pantoran, another Pantoran with a rather unusual eye condition and a living, breathing Taung who claimed them all as his foundlings.

This was Atin Dral; once the sworn brother and general in service to Mandalore the Ultimate, who had broken faith with his sovereign over the conduct of the Mandalorian Wars millenia prior. A name that echoed no small amount of controversy in the Mandalorian psyche— vilified for his treason to his liege and the slaying of Cassus Fett just as much as he was venerated for being the first of all Alors to welcome non-Taung into his clan, not just as soldiers, but as his own sons, daughters and children. Birthing the notion that family was, indeed, more than just blood that would carry on through Mandalorian culture across generations and whose philosophical teachings— preserved by word of mouth across centuries— would be echoed by the likes of Mandalore the Uniter, Jaster Mareel and, perhaps unknowingly, The Paladin himself.

This immediately put the Paladin in an awkward position as certain elements among the Clans almost instantly began to agitate that a living Taung was an existential threat to the Paladin’s authority, while others actively encouraged it; seeing in the ancient Alor a way to finally be rid of the Paladin and his… eccentricities.

Atin himself, however, was chiefly concerned with the safety of his children, and was quickly put on guard by the atmosphere others seemed to be imposing between him and the Mandalore the longer they spoke, something the Paladin was quick to pick up and act on by offering to personally take the old general on a days-long tour of the world he’d missed for about four thousand years. Firstly, to ease the tension between the two men and secondly, to get him the hell away from that crowd at the spaceport.

Which proved to be quite fortuitous, as through visits to GAM High Command, an interesting little venture to the Jedi Enclaves and a hike through the forested highlands in the planet’s north where Atin grew up, the two became… actually quite close, realizing that they had more in common than not. Until finally Atin would suddenly challenge the Paladin after a moment of silent contemplation as they were walking right through the middle of Keldabe square. Not as a would-be usurper seeking to take command, but as one of the Mando’ade to another. To which the Paladin could only jovially agree.

Leading to a contest the Paladin would later remember as one of the toughest fights of his life. With both combatants seemingly evenly matched, but only one of whom was still young enough to reliably get to his feet after the second hour to offer his foe a hand up, which Atin accepted with a laugh as he swore his allegiance to the Mandalore on the spot, declaring:

“Aye, Mand’alor Besk’Cabur. I know your heart and I now know your mettle. Ye shall have my sword from this day, ‘til the day the last gasp of air leaves both of our bodies… so long as ye remain worthy of it.”

This statement alone sending shockwaves through not just Mandalorian Space, but the Galaxy as a whole. The approval of a Taung General doing much to legitimize the Paladin’s regime and be the final nail in the coffin to many doubters as well as causing a wave of trepidation to echo throughout the Galaxy, particularly in Corellia, where fears of a renewed Mandalorian Crusade had long been stoked by the Hegemony.

Atin, for his part, joined the Paladin’s inner circle, serving as his sword and senior military advisor. And being allowed to reform his clan in their ancestral homelands; in The Forge of Kad Ha’rangir, far to Keldabe’s north. Where thousands across the GRM would journey to serve under his banner and join his clan, warriors, artisans and average joes alike.

5BRS - THE RESTORATION: As the Mandalorian Republic solidifies their hold over the neighboring sectors and stabilizes their growing nation, more and more Mandalorians are found to be either clanless or among clans of one in the shadows of the founding clans. Herself being the last survivor of clan Suard, Jaessih sets in motion with the approval of the Paladin and Duchess Satine the "Restoration Acts". Under these acts long extinct clans were given new life via clanless Mandalorians taking up their banner, as well as entirely new clans to be formed. Some like Keldau who had been extinct for millennia suddenly rose to prominence and refound their purpose, seeking to make their forebears proud, and others like Awaud who had not yet been destroyed, were given new life through both True Mandalorians and the legions of clones mustering out.

4BRS - THE DESTRUCTION OF TUND: During the visit of the Provisional Governor in the Centrality, the CIS were made aware of a supposed celestial event on the far borders nearing Wild Space. According to the Centrans, there was only an isolated planet in the area, inhabitable nominally but known for harsh wildlife. What the CIS investigative force found however, was that the planet of Tund had been recently scoured by some event, the world now left a desolate scorched rock with only vague ruins to hint at a civilization having lived there. Some trace baradium signatures implied the use of a baradium fission device, but with the remote nature of the planet the investigation was closed and Tund was declared a dead world.

4BRS - DEPARTURE OF THE OUTBOUND FLIGHT: Twenty years after being canceled due to the increasing tensions in the galaxy and the Clone Wars that soon followed, Emperor Jira Renkar authorizes the first of what is supposed to be a series of multinational scientific endeavors. The original project outlines are brought back from old Republic archives, with some minor changes made to the crew roster and the intended goals of the expedition. While meant to be largely a secret, this ends up being the first time the Chiss as a species become known to the modern galaxy as it ends up a necessity to secure passage through the Ascendancy, something easily acquired thanks to the Empress. So with 12,500 representatives evenly from each of the four major splinter republics, the Emperor himself presents the captain of the Outbound Flight, Mitth'raw'nuruodo with the Imperial Circle award, promising him a position on his council at his return and wishing the project a safe voyage into the Unknown Regions.

0 - YEAR ZERO: In a rare moment of almost galactic unity, the major powers convene together to consider a re-synchronization of the Galactic Calendar. Those present accept the motion and year zero is declared. Only the Renkar Imperium refuses to change, having already established the Battle of Ilum as their own year zero.

3ARS - THE END OF THE SECOND ARKANIAN REVOLUTION: Almost twenty years after the first outbreak of the Second Arkanian Revolution and with significant portions of the planet devastated, the Arkanian Dominion announces an end to the fighting at last. Thousands of prisoners of the Revolutionary movement are paraded through Adascopolis flanked by stern-faced Judicials and cheering Arkanians relieved to finally see peace come to their world. Unlike the first revolution fifty years prior, the Dominion has declared that only the leadership of the revolution are to be sentenced to death, with the rest of their movement banished from their homeworld permanently. This Arkanian Diaspora leads to many thousands of skilled and bitter scientists, engineers and revolutionaries scattering across the galaxy and finding new homes. Some of these end up being the parties that backed them during the revolution, places like Corellia, Ord Mantell and Nal Hutta in particular. Others simply spread across Alsakani space, defeated and humiliated, content to live out their life in the shadows of the Dominion. Yet while the Arkanian Dominion declares peace, many note that the revolution rages on in abandoned mines and underground cities, where biological horrors are pitted against cybernetic monstrosities and rogue droid armies.

6ARS - TO BE DECIDED

The Map

The CS

[hider=Character name][center][h1][color=???]Character name/Title[/color][/h1]
[img]Image or gif of character[/img][/center]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Full Name} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]???[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Age} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]???[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Species} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]???[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Gender} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]Male/Female/Neither[/indent]
[hr.]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Force Sensitive/Alignment} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]Yes/No - Dark/Grey/Light(Can be more specific in the alignment, if not fully in one of the three categories.)[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Appearance} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]Self-explanatory, cover at least the basics to some detail.[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Equipment and Personal Belongings} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]All personal belongings, equipment or items of note that would be either on your character's person on a daily basis or in their quarters. Include as well anything that may be in storage in the cargo bays or hangar if applicable.[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Physical Abilities} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]Any and all strictly non-force abilities your character may have. This includes, but is not limited to combat skills, natural ability or learned skills.[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Force Abilities} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]Strictly force-abilities your character may have. Only include this section if your character is a force-user. Anything that may affect your character's ability to be influenced by the force would fall under the Physical Abilities section or the Limitations section, such as if your character was of a species naturally resistant, or was perhaps more susceptible to the mind trick power.[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Limitations} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]Any and all limitations that your character may possess.[/indent]
[hr.]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Personality} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]This, along with the Backstory section should be the more detailed areas of the CS.[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Place of Origin} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]Quite simply, where your character came from and a brief bit on their upbringing.[/indent]
[color=???][b]|[u] {Background} [/u]|[/b][/color]
[indent]A history of your character showing important events in their past.[/indent][/hider]

The Discord

Star Wars: Knightfall, an interest check

We're still open for sure, more people just means me needing to delegate to a co-gm a little more lol. Feel free to drop by the discord, it's pretty active with ideas.

Star Wars: Knightfall, an interest check

Ayyyyyyy, It's good to see more interest. Also just as an aside, while the discord is incredibly helpful for the planning out of things like characters and talking about ongoing arcs, it's not required to participate. It just helps significantly and I'm able to respond a lot quicker to things there lol.

Star Wars: Knightfall, an interest check

@Neziul By all means pop into the discord and pitch an idea, already got a few tumbling around in the channels.

As an aside, for anyone else lurking still got a good bit to actually work out character concepts and tune up character sheets, as I'm looking to get the OOC up on the second.

Star Wars: Knightfall, an interest check

Appreciate the interest from both those who have joined already and those who have taken a peek in the thread so far, and going to make a note in that I'm going to be continuing to add things as we get to them even up to the expected launch of the RP. At the moment looking at adding in The Imperial Wedding into the timeline and workshopping some minor events that have come up as well.