Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Expand on Firemane and Vashyada.
Image Credit: Here.
Role: Rangers, scouts
Permission: Blanket permission for anything made by Val here. Can use Firemane stuff because I own the company. ARGH gear available per this thread. Permission for all ArmaTech gear and all other subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here.
Links: Vashyada, Tylania. Firemane.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Unit Name: Black Thorn Rangers.
Affiliation: Vashyada, Tylania.
Classification: Force Recon.
Description: The Black Thorn Rangers are an elite corps of Vashyada rangers and hunters. They trained in force reconnaissance, tracking and resistance operations. They make an ideal force multiplier when operating in tandem with more conventional infantry units. Moreover, every member of the Black Thorns is a Force-User. The wood elves have grown up in the dense forests of Yarkul. Here, danger is ever present and this life breeds a strong, hardy people. Vashyada have very well-developed senses of smell, hearing and sight. Being adapted to nature, they are excellent trackers, skilled at blending in with their environment, can navigate by signs and are good hunters. Even without high-tech equipment, they are masters of concealment, and the Void Stalkers have access to modern tech and specialise in stealthy Force powers. The Black Thorns are a small, tight-knit group. Only veteran rangers are accepted into the corps.
In the old days, the primary weapon of the Vashyada was a warbow. Practice over decades of hunting and fighting turned each archer into a supremely talented shot. Missile fire was the primary means of fighting, striking from cover and retreating. This means that combat between Vashyada generally took place at long range and from within cover. Melee combat, when it happened, generally took the form of ambushes or striking when the enemy was disorganised from missile fire. Melee weapons included javelins thrown before the charge, thrusting spears, tomahawk like axes or scimitars. To the Vashyada, archery was not just a tool for battle but vital for an elf's survival in the perilous forests. The Void Stalkers have adjusted their tactics and arsenal to fit the modern battlefield, though a preference for sniper fire, ambushes and hit-and-run tactics remains. To keep them grounded and remind them of their roots, new recruits still learn how to use the traditional warbow though.
They are also fond of using bowcasters and energy bows, having learned of these weapons through contact with Wookiees and Dathomiri Witches associated with Firemane. Stealthy weapons such as shatterguns, stealth carbines and Graphite bows are popular among the Black Thorns. Bolt-throwers are also popular since they possess the stopping power of a bowcaster, but are completely silent and thus a better fit for stealthy operations. The rangers also receive intense training in knife fighting and hand-to-hand combat. Transport is generally provided by speeder bike, should vehicles be required. If the terrain demands it, boats are available for use.
The Black Thorn Rangers have a long history of protecting the Vashyada people against the menaces of the Dark Heart and foreign invaders, chiefly the Qadiri and Xioquo but also offworlders who thought that being low tech made you primitive. As a result, they are very proud of their heritage and very independent-minded. Racialist individuals who dismiss Vashyada as 'forestlings' or 'gladies' get short shrift. Like the Wookiees, they understand how modern tech works, even if they choose not to use a lot of it. The rangers are devoted to Tylania, the Paragon of the Vashyada. Because she believes that taking the reins of power would be at odds with her Light Side beliefs, she instead acts as an oracle and counsellor to the Dual Monarchs of her people. Of course, there are those who say that the 'neutral arbiter' actually has more influence than the King and Queen. It was Tylania who negotiated the accord between the Vashyada and Firemane.
The group is composed of Force-Sensitive Vashyada who have displayed an aptitude for concealment, marksmanship and ambush tactics. Their stealthy prowess also makes them good for sabotage operations, assassinations of high-value targets, such as enemy officers and long-range combat. The nature of their work requires qualities such as patience, self-reliance and initiative. They are ideal for deep reconnaissance and direct action operations. Operating inside enemy-held territory, they can acquire vital intelligence for allied forces, lay traps or perform surgical attacks on key enemy targets.
The gender ratio in the unit is about even, which is how Vashyada used to fighting. Though there are still some gender barriers, on the whole Vashyada society is quite egalitarian, especially in comparison to the misandrist Xioquo or Eldorai. On average, the Black Thorns continue to revere the old deities of their people. Being exposed to the greater Galaxy has been a shocking experience for them, but they have largely been able to integrate these revelations into their belief system. Like many Tygarans, they refer to space as the sky-ocean and to every planet as an island within it. They receive spiritual guidance from the priestesses of Tylania, who can be compared to druids. Their beliefs are characterised by worship of the forces of nature and have a strong element of shamanism.
The Black Thorns are led by Sholhara Danus, a powerful Force-User and very experienced Ranger. Sholhara was one of the Vashyada tacticians who engineered Brahdok's defeat and is said to have personally slain the Qadiri general with an arrow. She is a master of concealment, beast control, sniping and good with tomahawks. Sholhara is a Light Sider, but has a strong commitment to justice and not letting crimes against the Vashyada people go unpunished. As a Ranger, she acquired a reputation for stealthily assassinating enemy officers and slavers and leaving behind a calling card of sorts so that her foes would know who had done the deed. Sholhara is a loyal follower of Tylania, but sceptical of the sky people. She has learned the hard way that few gifts are for free, and so she wants the Vashyada to find their way in the stars through their own efforts. She still insists on new Rangers familiarising themselves with the traditional weapons of their people.
This is not only out of traditionalism, but also so that they do not became enslaved to modern toys and find themselves helpless without them. Only once they have become proficient in them do they the new weapons the Vashyada have adapted. The recent revelations about Firemane abuses have made her incredibly suspicious of the sky people. She is too disciplined experienced to do anything rash, but she has minimised contact with human 'advisors'. At the same time she has sent messengers to various clans, bearing messages for chieftains and rangers she knows she can trust. Training has been intensified, and secret cachés of weapons and supplies have been set up. She has also begun closely watching Vashyada who have been swayed by the humans' gold. Here and there, sympathisers and the occasional Firemane representative have been...lost in the forest.
COMBAT INFORMATION:
Unit Size: Medium
Unit Availability: Unique
Unit Experience: Elite.
Equipment:
Armour:
- Scout Trooper Forest Camouflage Armour or Storm Commando Armour. They wear this with Camofibre for camouflage. Traditional Vashyada armour consists of scale or lamellar armour. This is being phased out in favour of more modern but still lightweight suits.
- DC-19 Stealth Carbine
- KV33 Pulse Cycler
- Verpine Shatter Rifle
- Graphite Bow
- Energy Bow
- Slugthrower Rifle
- M-110 Pulse-Wave Disruptor
- Magnetic Repeater
- Bobcaster
- Outland Rifle (with optional scope and silencer)
- Bolt-Thrower
- Dart Rifle (variable chemical payload).
- A280 CFE Blaster
- Sonic Stunner
- Adjudicator
- FWG-5 Flechette Pistol
- Verpine Shattergun
- Hold-out Bolter
Melee Weapons:
- Multi-Weapon
- Molecular Stiletto
- Talon Vibrodagger
- Vibroblade/Spears/Javelins and Tomahawks.
- Monofilament net.
- Grappling Hooks, digging and climbing tools.
- Grenades.
Having grown up in forests where danger is everywhere and carelessness gets you killed, the Vashyada have very well-developed senses of smell, hearing and sight. They excel in unconventional tactics and flexible defence. Being adapted to nature, they are excellent trackers, skilled at blending in with their environment, can navigate by signs and are good hunters. The Black Thorns are composed of Force-Sensitive Vashyada . However, they are specialists rather than generalists.
Their powers are centred on Force Cloak, Force Concealment, Force Blind, physical augmentation, plant surge and animal friendship. They are talented beast masters, able to tame and communicate with wild animals. This is a boon in the wilderness, or against enemies who deploy war beasts. Similar to Alema Rar, they can manifest an elusive Force presence, which enables them to slip from the memories of those whom they encounter moments after departing. They are also very good at detecting cloaked beings, including those who use the Force to conceal their presence. They are physically strong and robust.
However, they are light infantry. They suffer against heavy armour such as tanks or walkers, fortifications and heavy weapons. They are not suitable for pitched combat. They also lack heavy vehicles. They are trained for stealth, recon, hit and fade attacks and surgical operations, not head-on assaults on enemy forces and fortified positions. To stay mobile, the Black Thorns forego heavy weapons such as heavy repeating blasters, rotary cannons and missile launchers.
Many of their weapons also have a low rate of fire, being designed for precision rather than a high volume of shots. The Wayfarer patrol boat they have access to does have some heavy weapons, but being a rescue, patrol and investigation vessel, its armour is extremely weak and thus it will not last long in battle. Thus it is vulnerable against anything actually fitted for combat. The Black Thorns also do not carry lightsabres, lack obvious flashy powers or strong defensive abilities. Their strengths lie in concealment, agility and hit-and-run guerilla tactics, not in tanking and direct assault.
Force Abilities (Force User Units Only): Their powers are centred on Force Cloak, Force Concealment, Force Blind, Force-based physical augmentation powers, plant surge and animal friendship. They are strong beast masters, able to tame and communicate with wild animals. This is a boon in the wilderness, or against enemies who deploy war beasts. However, they often favour using this inherent talent in more subtle ways, such as communing with birds and and small spiders to scout. Similar to Alema Rar, they can manifest an elusive Force presence, which enables them to slip from the memories of those whom they encounter moments after departing. They can also utilise telekinesis, though they prefer fine manipulation to brute force applications.
Strengths:
- Elite scouts, snipers, trackers and guerilla fighters. They are the ideal unit for force reconnaissance, resistance, sabotage and assassination missions behind enemy lines. They are extremely attuned to nature and right at home in forests. They excel at blending in with their surroundings and using the local terrain to their advantage.
- Strong Force connection. They excel at concealment, mental protection and have a strong affinity for nature and animals.
- Lack of support forces and heavy weapons.
- They are partisans, scouts and sharpshooters, not assault troopers. At a disadvantage in protracted combat, especially in open fields. Their strength lies in surprise, stealth and precision, not raw Force power or numbers.
The Vashyada are one of the many Eldorai sub-races, and can be best described as Wood Elves. They are agile, tough by Eldorai standards, excellent hunters and trackers. Moreover, they have even better senses than the other elf races. Both the Qadiri and the Xioquo learned that the forests their cousins inhabit can easily become death traps, as the Vashyada repelled several attacks from both races, despite being the least technologically developed of the Tygaran natives. The discovery of Tygara by the Eldorai and Firemane had a profound effect on all races, including the Vashyada. Force visions had told Tylania that one day outsiders would visit her people and she had taken steps to prepare them for this day. Fortunately, the first contact was peaceful and the Lady Kerrigan and Tylania managed to establish a cordial working relationship.
Some Vashyada grew curious about the outside world and ventured from their forest. Some found their way into Firemane's scout corps, where they could put their skills as trackers, snipers and guerilla fighters to good use. Others remained independent, wishing to explore the stars on their own terms without being beholden to foreigners. Eventually the leaders of Tygara grew concerned about outside threats, for the planet lacked a great power to protect it after the Silver Sanctum Coalition's dissolution.
At the instigation of Tylania, a summit was convened, where it was decided that the natives should move into space. Firemane would assist with arkships and by providing technological know-how. n the process the Vashyada forged a closer partnership with Firemane. Though lacking in numbers and resources, the wood elves had a few things they could offer House Kerrigan-Alcori, such as healers, skilled illusionists, scouts and even some precious metals and crystals. For its part Firemane would be able to give the Vashyada the tools to uplift themselves on their terms. These developments produced profound changes for Vashyada society, including a group called the Void Stalkers.
It is said that the Black Thorns were founded by a Vashyada Ranger who had fought under Tylania in the great battle against the Xioquo and the Qadiri. He displayed great courage and skill in this battle, striking enemy leaders with arrows and using his affinity for animals to turn their war beasts on them. It was said that his arrows never missed, for the spirits guided them. After wounding her dark sister Myrou enough to force the primeval Xioquo to retreat to a tomb beneath the earth to recuperate, Tylania led her people to Yarkul.
The Ranger was one of those who urged Tylania to lead them on a campaign of conquest so that no one could threaten their freedom again. But Tylania declined, for she knew the strengths of her people better than they did. Instead she installed the dual monarchy and then went to rest in a stasis pod, for she did not wish to be an absolute ruler. Before she began her slumber, she declared that she would awaken when her people needed her guidance. She charged the Ranger with protecting her people and passing on what he had learned. Some claim that their minds melded for a brief moment. Regardless of whatever secrets were passed on to him, the Ranger kept his silence and bid as he was commanded. What this story does not say is that in the old days, when Tylania walked a darker path, the Black Thorn Rangers were her assassins. Back then she was in service to the Rakata, who had created the Eldorai and their Tygarans cousins as slave races. This has been mythologised as the Rangers receiving their gifts from Tylania and the spirits.
Originally the Black Thorns patrolled the furthest reaches of the forests of Yarkul and shielded Vashyada settlements from foreign incursions. They kept the beasts that lurked in the Dark Heart, a darkside nexus within the forest, at bay. In the heart of the forest, dark spirits and all manners of predatory creatures dwelt. Patrolling the border to this shadowy realm is a rite of passage for young Black Thorns. Highly skilled scouts and guerilla fighters, they fought bravely against Xioquo and Qadiri incursions. The Black Thorns' skills of stealth and concealment served them well on the battlefield. What they lacked in firepower they made up for in their ability to blend into their environment, strike unexpectedly and then vanish again.
When a Qadiri Mirza called Brahdok landed on the shores of Yarkul with an army and tried to subjugate the Vashyada, the Black Thorns played a vital role in thwarting her ambitions. The fortress she built was immune to Vashyada attacks, as they lacked siege weapons. However, together with other Rangers the Stalkers shadowed her forces as they marched into the dense forest. After the Vashyada priestesses summoned mists and illusions to deceive the Qadiri, the Black Thorns led the attack on their confused enemies, ambushing them in the forests with archers, traps and wild beasts. This battle, or more properly a massacre, is known as Brahdok’s Defeat, and is a well-known tale of folly to the Qadiri.
Some of the most adventurous and skilled Vashyada hunters and rangers joined their ranks. However, vainglorious ambitions are quickly flushed from their minds, for the life of a Black Thorn Ranger requires patience, self-discipline and commitment. From an early age they were trained to stalk their prey, hunt, forage and become one with the forest. The disciples of Tylania taught them how to wield the Force to protect their people. The Vashyada regard them as heroes and celebrate them in ballads and songs. While the wood elves are not especially warlike, unlike their cousins, they value individual martial prowess highly and can be ferocious in defending themselves against aggressors.
Now the Vashyada have decided to move into the stars and spread to other worlds. Firemane has helped provide them with starships that are modelled on Ithorian herdships. This has been a profound change for the wood elves. But many of the Black Thorns' tasks remain unchanged. Then as now, they are stealthy protectors of their people, though they have upgraded their arsenal. To familiarise themselves with their new environment and acquire greater know-how, the Black Thorns have participated in joint missions with Firemane, such as an expedition to Raevana,
Despite their people's affiliation with Firemane the Black Thorns are very independent-minded. The corporation has helped the Vashyada overcome some of their technological backwardness, but while they are respectful, they are not in awe of foreigners. Firemane soldiers such as Captain Glory, a Dahomian Ranger and commando, and Drassk Grobressk, an honourable Trandoshan big game hunter and mercenary, have provided training to help them adjust to modern warfare. However, storm clouds are gathering.
It has become all too clear that cooperation with the overbearing megacorp has come with too many strings attached - exploitative trade deals, environmental degradation and Vashyada being lured into indentured servitude. Firemane spoke of partnership, but in truth it sought the subjugation of the Tygarans beneath its iron heel. Among other things, a sacred river being polluted by Firemane mining upstream has sparked outrage. Not only has a sacred space been desecrated, many natives have been poisoned and suffer from health issues. The call to do something against such outrages grows louder among the Vashyada, and the Black Thorns have not remained untouched
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