Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Add some flavour to Firemane.
Image Credit: Here.
Permissions: Blanket permission for all subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here and and here. ARGH gear available to Firemane per this thread, where ARGH becomes a Firemane subsidiary. Permission for Vanir items here. Blanket permission for Tricks of the Trade items here.
Links: Tygara, Kaeshana, Gehenna, Tash-Taral, Netherworld Event, The Terror From Beyond, Ruusan Invasion, Mask of Madness Event, Akala, Atrisia Rebellion, Force Dead, Yuuzhan Vong.
CREW INFORMATION
Crew Name: Special Recovery Team 1 - SRT1. Nicknamed the Reclaimers.
Crew Type: Special investigators.
Base of Operations: Operate out of a Frontier Class Corvette called the Athenaeum. They also have a YT-1300 Light Freighter, which is called the Epsilon. The team is quite mobile and not bound to a single area.
Crew Size: 10
Loyalties: Firemane Industries, Siobhan, House Kerrigan-Alcori, Order of Fire.
Description: X never marks the spot. As everyone knows, the process of archeology is based on careful observation and recording. It does not at all involve having gunfights with archvillains in tombs full of zombies, lava pits and balrogs. No, that only happens in cheesy holovids that have no relation to reality. Except when it does, because Rakata, Gree and Sith temples and tombs tend to be filled with monsters, traps and bizarre puzzles that make the perceptive observer wonder how anyone was able to build them in the first place, let alone conduct rituals and the like. Many of the ancient tokens an explorer might uncover on a trip are safe enough to be put in a museum, though one can only wonder what the natives think about their ancestors' creations being stolen by foreigners. However, some do not belong in a museum because they are too dangerous to expose the public to them.
The remnants of an ancient civilisation might have practical use that extend beyond acquiring knowledge of the past and figuring out how their people lived their lives, how their society functioned and so on. The lost technology of precursor civilisations can be of use to present generations, especially if they find themselves at war with a rival. These devices must be found, studied, secured and harnessed.
But sometimes ancient artefacts are too dangerous to use and must be destroyed. Or malevolent spirits that cling to their tether in the material realm must be put to rest. This may require extreme measures, especially when the ghosts in question get the idea that they could return to corporeal existence and continue their quest for unlimited power by possessing the living.
Special Recovery Team 1 is a small group of agents, researchers and intrepid adventurers who investigate potential sites, study them and retrieve artefacts and other items that are of interest. None of them carry bullwhips though. They call in backup as needed. Each member of the small team brings their own skills to the table, but they specialise in understanding and dealing with Force arcana and artefacts. They are talented in research, artefact/site containment, banishing dark side spirits, Force demons and Force-related creatures. The group also has a chemist, physicist and mathematician to round out its skill set. The team has a lot of experience in excavation and research. This makes them well-equipped to deal with many of the oddities of the galaxy, especially if it relates to the occult.
They also serve as consultants when Firemane troops stumble upon an ancient site, a Force nexus or some form of supernatural creature or entity. Not all of their missions are as dramatic as holovids might imply. Indeed, they spend a lot of time gathering data and conducting actual scientific research. SRT1 often cooperates with Firemane's exploration corps, as the latter's expeditions often lead to new discoveries and thus gives them new sites to explore.
The members of SRT1 are nicknamed the Reclaimers. In terms of composition, the Reclaimers are a mix of Force-Users and specialised Non-Force-Users. They tend to have academic degrees - in some cases even multiple doctorates - and have the ego that comes with it. Some ivory towered academics turn up their nose at them, calling them grave robbers or alleging that they tend to blow up archaeological sites on their way to obtaining mystical items and the like. This is, of course, untrue.
The Reclaimers are one of Firemane's more obscure groups and thus not the most well-known in its military. More than a few soldiers have been baffled and reacted with bemusement when the Reclaimers suddenly show up. This is understandable, especially since the collection of egos can make them a bit awkward to work with. However, they back it up with martial and academic competence. Some Reclaimers work for the megacorp as independent contractors rather than full-time employees.
The Reclaimers have operated on worlds as far-flung as Tygara, Tash-Taral, Korriban, hellish Gehenna and remote worlds in the Unknown Regions. As a team, they are strong fighters and well-coordinated. However, they are specialists, not assault troops. Moreover, it is only a single team. Lacking the force of numbers, heavy weapons, armoured fighting vehicles and the like, they will not last long in conventional, frontline combat or against enemies with tanks, gunships and the like. In such a situation they would be best-advised to conduct a tactical retreat and radio for backup.
Siobhan takes an interest in their work, though she is probably more interested in how she can use their findings to promote her personal power or show off than in actual academia. While no philistine, she is not a scholar or someone who is interested in knowledge for the sake of it. However, she has an amateur's interest in history and spent a lot of time tomb raiding when she was younger. When Siobhan acquired an ancient, floating pyramid, the Reclaimers were brought in to study it and remove traps its long-dead builders had left behind. Some of the preternatural artefacts and tomes discovered by the Reclaimers have ended up in her collection.
The Reclaimers are not a frontline combat force, but investigators, researchers and, where needed, pest control and exorcists. Firemane troops often call them in when they come across ancient sites. Indeed, the Reclaimers are one of those teams that may follow in the wake of regular soldiers, taking advantage of the chaos to investigate ancient sites, temples, homes and museums suspected of holding holocrons, unnatural tomes and artefacts. It calls in the cavalry when it stumbles upon something that requires some heavy firepower to deal with. They also act on intelligence provided by the branch of Firemane's security forces responsible for cult watch. This refers to the monitoring of cults suspected of practices at variance with Firemane's laws. Obviously the Reclaimers are most interested in cults engaged in practices such as necromancy, eldritch sorcery, worship of Nether entities etc.
The Reclaimers are a strong group, but still only a small team and their talents would be wasted if they were sent to storm a trench or otherwise deployed in a frontline combat role. They are the type of group that has a special niche and fills it well, but should not be deployed outside of it. Force Imbued Blade are a common melee weapon, as they allow the wielder to damage and destroy dark side spirits and similar entities. They use Firemane Force Suppression Devices to restrain Force-Using prisoners.
CREW MEMBER 1
Name: Zant'kon
Age: Early 300s. Kar'zun grow and develop a lot slower than humans, not reaching full maturity until the age of 100 years old. As a tradeoff, they have an extremely long life span.
Species: Kar'zun
Role: Expert in palaeontology and excavations. Also uses a very large shotgun.
Description: A Kar'zun exile from the highest mountains of Kaeshana. Centuries ago, his people and the Eldorai fought a great war. It ended with the subjugation and near-extinction of the Kar'zun, who were confined to reservations far away from the lands of their ancestors. For centuries, they were only allowed to leave these 'preserves' to perform menial labour for the Eldorai, who both scorned and feared them. His father was interned by the Eldorai for being 'uppity'.
In defiance of the Eldorai Matriarchy's that stipulated the Kar'zun had to leave their ancestral homelands, Zant'kon spent a long time investigating an abandoned ancient city of his people. Kar'zun live long lives and he was determined to chronicle the past that the Eldorai were determined to stamp out. Kar’zun eat certain metals and ores, but can go without food and water for many days without suffering adversely, so he did not have to worry about dying from starvation.
During his time in seclusion, he discovered that the lost Kar'zun city had been built upon the ruins of a far older alien civilisation. He found out that these strange aliens were called the Rakata, though their advanced technology had long disappeared or been rendered inoperable, so he could not make use of it. His digs led him to find some recordings that gave him some knowledge of the Rakatan presence on the planet though.
When the sky people came and the Kar'zun were emancipated by a more liberal-minded Eldorai queen, he was able to eventually publish a work on the lost city. This aroused the ire of racist Eldorai reactionaries, who considered his publication 'offensive'. The lost city was destroyed in one of the many cataclysms that befell Kaeshana. Prior to the calamity, he was able to save some relics and other tokens. He gifted them to a museum on one of the worldships the humans of Firemane had built for the Kar'zun. His desire to learn more about the precursors is one of the reasons why he joined the Reclaimers.
Zant'kon spent a long time without any sentient contact and is thus not the most personable or big on socialising. In terms of personality he is quite laconic, though not antisocial. He gets very vexed when would-be treasure hunters, and archaeologists act carelessly during digs and care more about acquiring trinkets that look good in their collection than actually learning about ancient cultures. For this reason, he clashed with Corellia Jaina, a former member of the team who was dismissed after accidentally destroying a priceless archaeological temple while trying to extract an altar treasure.
Zan'tkon is a palaeontologist, an archaeologist and an expert in excavations. The long life span of his people has given him a lot of experience in this regard. He keeps very thorough records of every expedition. Moreover, the peculiar physiology of his species makes him incredibly strong and durable, albeit slow. He prefers to use a large, powerful weapons such a the Eradicator Disruptor or the Reaper Shotgun in combat. His impressive strength means he has no problem wielding such a heavy weapon without being impeded by it.
CREW MEMBER 2
Name: Janai Chapion
Age: Late twenties.
Species: Cathar
Role: Philologist. She is multilingual and is an expert in languages, ancient writing systems, cultures and sociology.
Description: A female Cathar expert in languages and sociology. She has an annoying protocol droid which despite boasting 6 million forms of communication...it often doesn't know what things say. Janai is no slouch in combat and wields a pair of vibro-daggers. Being a Cathar, she can also employ her retractable claws, which can deliver nasty injuries on unarmoured foes, though she prefers not to.
Janai is fluent in Basic, among other languages, but speaks it with a slight accent, with rolled "r"s and "w"s that sound like "v"s. Her people have a reputation as fierce warriors, but Janai chose a different path. The Cathar used to be a gifted, but otherwise unremarkable academic who grew up in the Republic, went to university and had a flair for languages such as Sith and Rakata. She lived on Empress Teta, a world in the heartland of the Republic, where she worked as a linguist.
But then the One Sith returned from the shadows. Coruscant fell to their armies, then Teta was conquered, too. Suddenly she found herself fighting to survive, reconnecting with the martial virtues of her people. Janai managed to get off world after many adventures and returned to academia. But she never quite forgot what happened or what she had to learn to fight to survive.
This is what eventually led her to the Reclaimers. The Cathar was one of the trillions who were raptured during the Netherworld Crisis. She and Karvaron encountered each other in the spirit world and worked together to get out. She helped him cope with his sudden loss of Force-Sensitivity. Janai is an expert on languages such as High Galactic, ur-Kittât, Rakata and Zandri. She is credited with deciphering many ancient scripts. This makes her an important participant in most of the excavations the team conducts, as well as the person who often studies tomes the group has been able to salvage. Moreover, she handles the team's communications gear. When the team is in the field, she tends to carry a portable Enlightenment Quantum Communicator. It is linked to a matching communicator of their handler, allowing them to communicate without any risk of their messages being tampered or blocked.
In contrast to Karvaron, exposure to the Netherworld has turned Janai Force-Dead. Being Force-Dead she is immune to direct applications of the Force, similar to the Yuuzhan Vong. Moreover, she cannot be sensed within the Force. These traits are particularly helpful when the team is investigating a Force nexus or a similarly cursed location. Being completely void in the Force is very beneficial, but also means that she cannot be aided by the Force either. Additionally she is not immune to Force Lightning, and can be indirectly affected by the Force.
CREW MEMBER 3
Name: Joresh Brucaran
Age: Late twenties
Species: Chagrian
Role: Telepath, expert in psychometry and Force effects. Always has a theory about the Force for everything that happens. He uses a lightsabre in combat.
Description: Joresh is the resident expert in psychometry, Force visions and Force-related phenomena. Moreover, he knows some Sith magic. He has a great interest in all things arcana and an obsession with studying the oddities of the galaxy. He is an avid collector of Force artefacts such as holocrons. Joresh has explored and studied many Force nexi and ruins.
He employs his skill in psychometry to acquire insights about past events by touching inanimate objects as well corpses. This has enabled him to view past events as if they are unfolding before his eyes, but the process is not infallible and he has at times risked being trapped in the past. Some view the process of using psychometry on a corpse as morbid, but he sees it as no different from other forms of research. In addition, Joresh has lost some of his own memories due to assimilating many of other people. So far the loss has been minor, but it can still be disconcerting.
Joresh used to be a Jedi Consular who specialised as a Jedi Researcher. His parents considered it an honour to have a son in the Jedi Order. Early on in his career, he was trapped on Dxun when the ship he was on with his master crashed. This occured shortly before the Netherworld Event, leaving him stranded. Thus he had to fend for himself. He discovered many strange Force phenomena during his time on Demon Moon, but also that he had the ability to pick up impressions and traces of information by touching inanimate objects as well as dead bodies.
Some of these visions were misleading. Indeed, experiencing intense emotion that the dead had felt in the last moments of their life opened him to the dark side. He learned that he could also use this talent on living beings. After a harrowing adventure, he managed to escape the blood-soaked moon. With the Republic crumbling, he heeded the call of the Galactic Alliance's New Jedi Order.
However, he wanted to push his studies in ways orthodox Jedi did not approve of. They discouraged using it on dead bodies and believed that excessive use would make the user vulnerable to the siren call of the dark side. So he drifted away from the Order, seeking out knowledge from teachers unconstrained by its code. Joresh and Karvaron can commiserate together about the flaws of the Jedi Order, but approach matters from different perspectives. If anything, Joresh's master was too liberal and pacifist, while Karvaron's went too far into the other direction.
CREW MEMBER 4
Name: Erkard Gri'bon
Age: Late forties.
Species: Caamasi
Role: Historian.
Description: Erkard, D.Phil., Ph.D., is a seasoned historian from Caamas with a distinguished career in academia. He received his first doctorate at the University of Alderaan. His dissertation was a well-regarded study on the decline and fall of the Old Repulic and the inherent flaws in the old Galactic Senate's decentralised system. However, it also caused controversy due to its scathing assessment of Mace Windu's attempt to unseat and arrest Chancellor Palpatine. While Palpatine was secretly a Sith Lord who had orchestrated the Clone War in order to seize power, the only evidence the Jedi had was the word of a mentally disturbed Jedi. Windu's plan to simply march into Palpatine's office and arrest him or, failing that, execute him and provisionally take power demonstrated a total lack of political savvy.
Erkard also takes a low view of the megacorps and the role they played in the Old Republic's downfall. This makes his present choice of employment a bit ironic since Firemane is a megacorp that is accountable only to itself. He argues that since there is no power that has come close to uniting the galaxy like the Old Republic did in its heyday, he is simply picking the most stable option on the table, no matter how flawed it is. Moreover, he is racist towards Neimoidians and Geonosians, though he has been admonished to rein in his bigotry because it is not productive. Erkard is a recipient of the Kerrigan Grant for History. He is one of the scholars of the Order of Fire. This makes him a bit of an odd man, as the Order is a very militaristic organisation. Erkard still writes articles for several academic journals and is a guest lecturer at a number of universities.
Erkard is a strong Force-User and a proficient lightsabre wielder, with a focus on Niman, Shii-Cho and Soresu. However, he prefers to operate defensively, supporting his colleagues with his defensive, buffing and healing abilities. His Force connection manifests in abilities such as Protection Bubble, Force healing, Force Valour and Stasis. He is adept in using the Force to boost his allies, making him a good support player.
Like all Caamasi, he can share memnii with other members of his species and Force-Sensitives. These memnii are a sort of stored memory. A memnis is as vivid to the one who receives it as it is to the one who participated in the event remembered. His people's pacifist nature is partly a result of their ability, as having a memory of killing someone would be particularly strong, becoming unbearable in time. For this reason, Erkard is reluctant to kill and prefers to incapacitate or maim, though he will use lethal force if needed.
CREW MEMBER 5
Name: Hy-pra-tia
Age: Thirties.
Species: Cerean
Role: Mathematician, sharpshooter.
Description: Hy-pra-tia is a Cerean mathematician, philosopher and astronomer. She has a habit of making in jokes about mathematics and can be a little condesceding to those who do not get them. Hy-pra-tia is a very precise, logical woman, having inherited the extraordinary thinking abilities common to her species.
This allows her to process information and find solutions to problems quickly. To those who do not know her well she might come across as a bit robotic or overly analytical. Her knack for analysis gives her an insight that comes close to precognition, though she is a Non-Force-User. She is a precision shooter and tends to use a sniper rifle in combat. Her preferred weapon is a VT-SI-19 Stealth Sniper Rifle or a Shatter Rifle, though she also uses other weapons. She is a good shot and excels at picking off targets from afar. Her patient nature also helps. Hy-pra-tia uses a Kasha crystal as a tool to help her focus. The Cerean mathematician is Force-Sensitive, though in a specialised manner, with a focus on Sense abilities and precognition. Her knack for analysis boosts her precognitive abilities.
Hy-pra-tia's homeworld Cerea lay in the Omega Neutral Zone, a buffer zone between the Lords of the Fringe and the Omega Protectorate. Small-scale skirmishes and espionage activities took place in this area, as both powers tried to tip the balance of power in their favour. The fact that neither of the great powers controlled the neutral zone also made it a haven for Rebel Alliance cells and other dissident groups. Hy-pra-tia was supposed to become the 'honour wife' of a Cerean luminary, who was also a Jedi Master. However, she had other aspirations that went beyond being fated to become someone's second wife. So she decided to head off-world and make her fortune on her own terms. She got involved in the conflict between the two blocs as an agent for the Protectorate.
Hy-pra-tia is not an archaeologist or a historian, but all excavations have people like her. Her understanding of mathematics makes her great for performing analysis of findings, determining probabilities of say where a pattern of settlement might be found. Her skills are also handy for determining behaviour through the use of game theory. It is also great for mundane things like preparing a proper grid, using trig to determine the relative strata depths and comparisons. Hy-pra-tia gets on well with Zan'tkon. She and the Kar'zun share a logical, methodical approach to problem-solving.
CREW MEMBER 6
Name: Mayre Curani
Age: Thirties.
Species: Zeltron
Role: Chemist. In addition, she is a gunslinger.
Description: Mayre is a female Zeltron chemistry and physics expert. In contrast to the stereotype, she is not sex-crazed, does not seduce or wear revealing clothes; she has several PHDs instead. Indeed, she regards using pheromones for the purpose of seduction as unethical. She has a low view of Zeltrons who conform to the stereotypes commonly associated with her species. The same applies to non-Zeltrons who expect her to embrace it. Mayre is quite excitable and very passionate about her work. She commonly wields a pair of blaster pistols in a combat situation. She favours an Renegade Model 557 or a Last Whisper. She is quick on her feet and a good shot, though not overly strong. Mayre was recruited for her knowledge of chemistry. Thus she is often the one studying rare and mysterious substances.
Her life was not an easy one. Mayre was orphaned at an early age, losing her mother, one of her sisters and her father in quick succession. Her father was a teacher of mathematics. Mayre had a great interest in science from an early age, especially physics. She got good marks at school and went into academia, despite the stigma she faced from xenophobic professors who thought her kind did not have a mind for academic work. As a result, she was often held back, her theories were disregarded or her teachers claimed that they had come up with them on their own. Eventually Mayre saved up enough money so that she could go to university on Fondor. There, she managed a breakthrough and got a degree in chemistry.
Mayre was part of a research project on Isotope-5, formulating several new theories on this rare substance. Among other things, she worked on synthesising the product more efficiently and helped create a hybrid fuel source that was capable of using less Isotope-5 while achieving similar results. She also worked on a Hjarna stone. Firemane has provided sponsorship for her research. However, she does not want to be limited to working in a lab all the time.
Mayre's skill set contributes to digs in various ways. It is combination of things ranging from the PH of the soil, determining the composition of artefacts, and carbon dating bones. It is also useful for determining the biology of any exotic or unusual creatures they uncover, which is why she often studies animals that might be of interest.
CREW MEMBER 7
Name: Verana Hieranbar
Age: 85.
Species: Eldorai
Role: Physics expert.
Description: Force and science are not a one or other. Physics is very useful for determining the actual function of ancient technology and Force abilities. Say you find an ancient power source from a precursor civilisation. How does it work? An engineer can tell you how the wires fit together, a physicist can tell you how it works. This is where Verana comes in. She uses a pistol - often a Renegade Model 557 - and a Sarix in combat. She is an Eldorai theoretical physicist with a great understanding of quantum physics. Moreover, she has acquired a lot of knowledge about crystallography, including the study of kyber crystals.
Her mother was a teacher of Eldorai classics at a local college on Kaeshana. Verana was raised as an Ashiran and displayed an interest in philosophy from her late teenage years. She studied physics and mathematics, receiving a doctorate. However, she displayed an interest in 'heretical studies' - namely the knowledge of the Kar'zun and the 'foreign devils'. The latter referred to the humans and other non-Eldorai from beyond Kaeshana. She published several academic papers that aroused controversy.
Moreover, her diary revealed that she was a follower of the renowned scientist and scholar Galliena Gallia, who had been imprisoned in this complex after proclaiming the heretical belief that planets other than Kaeshana held intelligent life. Galliena ended up being burnt at the stake. The isolationist Matriarchy abhorred innovation, for Ashira and the holy Church had given the Eldorai all the knowledge they needed. Tirathana VI rightly feared that exposure to foreign ideas would undermine the foundations of the Matriarchy and thus her power. Verana came under fire for her unsactioned investigations. The conservative press attacked her as a 'monkeigh lover' and 'heretic'. The attack was spearheaded by rivals in academia, who promoted the concept of 'Eldorai Physics'. Verana had some friends in the elite who found her insights useful. She was placed under surveillance by the Investigators of Ashira's Truth, the dreaded secret police.
One of the officers was a physicist who had studied under Verena. This gave her some protection. Nonetheless, she was arrested and interned on the Island of Fallen Angels, the secret prison of the Angelii. She was released from the detention after the accession of Silaqui III, who wanted to build ties with outsiders and, while no liberal, was a lot more moderate than her mother. Deciding to cut out the middleman, Verana eventually drifted to the humans of Firemane.
CREW MEMBER 8
Name: Georg Karvaron
Age: 38
Species: Human
Role: Team leader, pilot and gunslinger.
Description: Karvaron is the leader of the team and an expert in flying and shooting. However, rather than being a mere bruiser or hotshot pilot, he is in fact a diplomatic type. He puts this talent to good use to try and negotiate this prickly collection of highly armed academics as well as represent the team in dealings with their superiors, local authorities and the like.
The more academically minded - or plain snobbish - members of the team disparage his knowledge of antiquities as being that of an amateur. However, Karvaron is a level-headed, logical presence who can keep the team focused on the bigger picture and keep the clashing egoes in line. He commonly uses a Force Imbued Blade in melee combat. Not only is the weapon resistant to lightsabres, it allows him to damage and destroy dark side spirits and similar Force entities. He is a good shot with a blaster.
As used to be typical for Jedi, Karvaron was taken in by the Order at an early age after a standard Midichlorian test revealed he was Force-Sensitive. He was still an infant when he was brought to the crèche of the Jedi Temple. As a result, Karvaron only has very faint memories of his parents. Over time he came to believe they had been reluctant to give him to the Jedi Order and had caved in due to the use of Force persuasion and memory manipulation. This led to a rift.
His master was not a traitorous turncoat who fell to the dark side and betrayed the Order, but extremely orthodox and idealised the Jedi of Yoda's era. Thus he believed that having a relationship with his family would distract his Padawan from fulfilling his destiny. Karavaron's relationship with his Master was an uneasy one, as the young Jedi initially regarded him as a surrogate parent of sorts, but over time came to resent him.
Karvaron was trained as a Jedi Guardian, and fought in the One Sith War. However, he was raptured during the Netherworld Crisis, which had been orchestrated as Akala. He encountered many bizarre phenomena in the Netherworld, but was able to resist the siren call this time. He led a disparate group of trapped fugitives out of the Nether. However, this came at a cost, for his Force connection was drained. He has not let this deter him though and has adapted to being Force-blind. Now he wants to seek out more oddities of the Force. While he cannot use the Force anymore, he has a lot of knowledge about Force techniques, including more arcanic phenomena.
CREW MEMBER 9
Name: Kala Jai Mishra
Age: 102
Species: Qadiri
Role: Monster Hunter, reconnaissance specialist.
Description: Kala is a monster and big game hunter who has joined the crew for the opportunity to test herself against more dangerous game than she already hunted on Tygara. While a huntress, Saira is not cruel or sadistic. She follows a personal moral code, and has made a list of creatures she intends to hunt. Qadiri age and develop at a slower pace than humans, so Kala is well into middle age, but still sharp and skilled. She is a talented sharpshooter and tracker. Moreover, she is an expert in wilderness survival. She likes to use an archaic hunting rifle, but is talented in the use of most ranged and melee weapons such as a Boltgun.
She looks down on hunters who hide behind technology and use it to kill animals en masse, since she views hunting as a test of skill, and disdains cruelty. For a while she made a living out of killing predators that had turned into man-eaters and become a menace to local communities. For instance, she hunted down a pair of wild Yazgids which had acquired a taste for Qadiri from the slaves and travellers who died during a perilous river crossing. She also led a hunting party to kill a dragon.
Kala's mother was a former indentured mamluk. These slave soldiers were a curious, but comon feature of Qadiri culture. Her mother was one of the lucky few who managed to obtain their freedom. After being manumitted, she started her own business. Her daughter has pursued a martial vocation that is similar but different. Kala has written extensively about her hunts in various books. She has also been active as a treasure hunter and scout. Kala spent some time among the Vashyada and has some Vash tattoos. More 'refined' Qadiri, who turn up their nose at the 'wood elves', think she has gone native.
For a while, Kala led a travelling show that featured mock battles and staged Yazgid races. In short, it presented a romanticised version of 'wild Tygara'. However, she grew bored with playing a theme park version of herself in a 'circus', which she came to view as beneath her. So she returned to real hunting. One time she was hired by a genetics company for an expedition to an island filled exotic creatures that had been mutated by alchemy. The goal of the expedition was to retrieve some of the creatures and put them in a zoo on a Core World planet. The company was facing insolvency, so this was a last throw of the dice to recoup its losses.
While she did not respect her boss, Kala took charge of the hunting party. Under her leadership, they were able to successfully capture several creatures. Her goal was to hunt an alchemically mutated Rancor. However, a group of ecoterrorists meddled by infiltrating the camp and releasing the captured beasts. As a result, several hunters were killed and their communications gear was destroyed. This did the ecoterrorists no good, as some of them were eaten and their shuttle was wrecked.
With both groups stranded, Kala reluctantly teamed up with the would-be saboteurs in order to reach a communications tower so that they could send a distress signal. On the way they faced various beasts. Kala ended up crippling a rabid ecoterrorist who had sabotaged her hunting rifle. In the eyes of the fanatic, the lives of animals mattered more than those of people...even if the animal in question was a mutated Rancor that was attaclomg them. Kala disagreed and left him to be eaten. Sadly, her boss ignored her advice and got eaten by a beast. His family blamed her for it.
Kala joined Firemane to avoid a lawsuit. She would have probably won, but the cost would have been prohibitive for her. Kala is cunning, but focused on the task at hand and the problems that come with it rather than esoteric pursuits. She is responsible for security during excavations. Humans who dismiss Qadiri as 'sand babies' get short shrift from her.
CREW MEMBER 10
Name: Enaiah Paraawash
Age: 28
Species: Zabrak
Role: Soldier, assault specialist, demolitions expert.
Description: Enaiah is no ex-Jedi or mystical researcher. She is a career soldier who spent her formative years in Firemane's sphere of influence. At this stage, the megacorp has been around for so long and expanded to such an extent that, while still a for-profit corporation, it has assumed many of the functions normally associated with a government.
Enaiah spent her formative years in a Firemane mining colony. Her father was the supervisor of a mining crew, while her mother was first mate on a freighter that hauled cargo for Firemane. Thus Enaiah essentially grew up in space on the frontier. In order to get out of what looked like a mundane, uneventful life, Enaiah signed up to join the army at a Firemane recruitment centre. Technically, she was too young to serve, but she lied about her age and the overworked recruitment officer let her pass.
Back when she was a young Private in Firemane's ground forces, Enaiah participated in a combat mission on the hellish world of Gehenna. There her squad came across a cursed ring at a dark side nexus. The item was an ancient artefact and had been enchanted. It created mirages and filled the minds of the soldiers with visions of glory. In addition, it infected them with fear and paranoia. Members of the squad wanted to claim the beguiling ring for themselves, and turned on one another.
Enaiah fell under the influence, and stabbed one of her comrades, severely injuring him. He died of his injuries. However, she managed to regain control of her faculties long enough to toss the ring into a lava pit. The lava consumed the alchemised item, undoing its influence. This had the effect of destroying an ancient, malevolent spirit who had been tethered to the ring and was waiting for the next ringbearer to come along.
Her superiors set up a board of inquiry. Enaiah testified and was cleared of charges. Indeed, she received a commendation - which she suspected was politically motivated. She was left with feelings of shame since she had caused the death of a comrade. The incident also gave her a strong distrust of sorcery and alchemy. Enaiah remained with the Firemane military, serving on battlefields such as Kaeshana and Tephrike. She eventually underwent specialised training to better shield her mind against Force-based mental manipulation.
Enaiah is a professional soldier with experience in special operations. Her missions have taken her to many grim places in the galaxy. Thus she brings some military professionalism to the group. She has a knack for demolitions, which she employs strategically rather than just to satisfy a desire for big explosions. This is helpful when the team needs to carry out a controlled demolition in order to access a treasure or artefact without bringing the whole structure down on their heads.
However, she is also in the team to make sure that sensitive discoveries go through the proper channels. In order to uphold security and stability, certain forms of knowledge must be safeguarded from the public, just as the public must be protected from them. Enaiah is cynical about the idea of uncovering ancient knowledge, especially when it pertains to Force arcana. For this reason, she dislikes Joresh, whose motivations strike her as dubious. She does not like Jedi, but believes his reason for turning in his membership card had more to do with wanting to carry out his research and grow his power without oversight than with him being wronged by them. Enaiah often carries an ACS-205 as her assault rifle of choice, along with a Vornskr Revolver, but is proficient in the use of most melee and ranged weapons. Moreover, Enaiah can pilot a number of ground vehicles such as speeders or armoured personnel carriers.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Special Recovery Team 1 - SRT1 - came into being as part of a joint task force between Firemane's army and the Order of Fire. The latter constitutes Firemane's Force-using branch. It is a martial order that was created to organise, train and lead the cadre of Forcewielders employed by the megacorp. It is organised along military lines and thus has more in common with a group of soldiers trained to use the Force than an order of wizards. Members of the Order can be active in various branches of Firemane, though most serve in the military.
Although the Order is focused on martial pursuits, it understands that knowledge is power. Ancient artefacts can be a useful tool or a threat. Moreover, Firemane tends to operate on remote worlds on the galactic fringe. Many of them were disconnected from the rest of the galaxy due to the outbreak of the Gulag Virus many centuries ago, or were never part of the galactic community to begin with. As a result, these worlds often have ancient cultures and traditions worth exploring. It has also often encountered the ruins of precursor civilisations or had to deal with obscure Force phenomena.
This ties in with the activities of Firemane's exploration corps, which has a mandate to reconnect far-flung world and help them overcome the isolation caused by the Dark Age. Naturally, this is also a way to develop new markets, clients and vassals. Within this framework, SRT1 has been founded with a mandate that encompasses archaeological excavations, the study and containment of Force-related sites, artefacts and creatures. One catalyst for the foundation of the team was the summoning of an eldritch abomination called Lotek'k, the other were the machinations of Akala, a primordial Kwa princess.
In the First Akala Crisis, Akala trapped various beings from various species, including Masters of the Force and droids, in a prison on the artificial planet Ash, a Kwa planet. There they were put in a dream-like state, experiencing various illusionary worlds, including Akala's past and a dark future where she had conquered the galaxy. Siobhan was one of them. Eventually they were able to escape and put an end to Akala's schemes. However, the Force entity escaped. When she returned, she used her power to throw the Force out of balance, making it perilous for its wielders to call upon its power.
Moreover, billions of people disappeared in an instant, for they had been raptured. They found themselves in the Netherworld. Meanwhile, the galaxy they had left behind descended into chaos. Netherworld Rifts broke down the barriers between the material realm and the land of the dead. This allowed the living to enter the Nether, and vice versa. One portal had the effect of causing them to fall under Akala's sway. The mad goddess also transported a planet from the Yuuzhan Vong Galaxy into this one. It ended up occupying the same space as Corellia, creating 'Brokellia'. Eventually Akala's machinations were foiled by a party of intrepid heroes. Several galactic powers did not survive the Second Akala Crisis. Those that endured returned to business as usual.
Firemane had been gravely affected by the calamity. Siobhan Kerrigan was not raptured, but entered the Netherworld through a portal in order to rescue her wife and one of her daughters, who had been whisked away. She was aided by the spirit of her dead teacher Adril Tythorin. She succeeded in her quest, but encountered many strange phenomena. The effect of one of the portals also caused her to murder a servant, who had been teleported to. This disturbed her greatly.
She encountered two future members of the team, Janai Chapion and Georg Karvaron, during her escape from the Netherworld of the Force. They worked together to get out. Upon her return from the spirit realm, Siobhan obviously had other things to worry about, such as getting her company up and running again. Moreover, she had to organise the exodus of the Eldorai after learning that Kaeshana would be devastated by an enormous asteroid in less than a year.
However, the discovery of Tygara spurred her interest into the subject. As on Kaeshana, there was evidence that the Rakata had once been present on the planet. The planet also had manifold indigenous Force traditions. This applied to Wild Space in general. Siobhan wanted a body that could investigate the oddities of the Force, harnes them and, if needed, provide advanced warning of arcanic threats. Siobhan had often fought demons and powerful Force entities, having been part of two hunting parties that battled Lotek'k, the Terror from Beyond. Thus she deemed it prudent that Firemane should gather all the knowledge it could.
Due to the nature of their work, the members of the group had to be proficient in combat, but have the necessary academic qualifications. This obviously limited the pool of recruits, but led to a rather exotic composition. A Kar'zun palaentologist called Zant'kon was an early recruit to the team. Initially the was headed by Corellia Jaina, a flamboyant adventurer and archaeologist. Her style appealed to Siobhan. However, she was dismissed after accidentally destroying a priceless archaeological temple while trying to extract an altar treasure. She was given a job where her explosive tendencies would not cause harm.
Karvaron, who had joined Firemane, in the interim, was put in charge in her stead. He lacked strong academic credentials, but was considered prudent and reliable. A Firemane special forces operator called Enaiah Paraawash was inducted into the team to give it some military professionalism and keep an eye on researchers who might get a bit too enthusiastic about their work and forget security concerns.
The Reclaimers, as they came to be known, were supposed to ferret out the truth, but some truths could not be shared with the public and had to be locked away. Their first operation consisted of excavating some old Rakata ruins on Tygara. The Reclaimers found a lost city beneath the ocean. In the aftermath of the battle between the Galactic Alliance and the Dominion, the team was dispatched to Atrisia. There they investigated the Lotek'k summoning that had taken place in outer space.
The team conducted excavations on Sith tomb worlds such as Tash-Taral and Korriban. At the time Firemane was allied to the Silver Sanctum Coalition, which made access easy. It was supposed to be deployed to Ruusan, following in the wake of the Coalition troops. But the latter were defeated by the Sith Triumvirate. However, the Reclaimers studied the Valley of the Jedi after the Triumvirate dissolved. The nexus was of particular interest since there had been a Netherworld Rift event during the battle
Moreover, they investigated, Atrisia's former capital, which had been turned into a dark side nexus as a result of the high number of Sith Lords who had committed suicide during the battle in order to fuel powerful Force Storms. These had unleashed Dark Side energies that wreaked havoc across the planet, leaving the city in ruins. The Reclaimers operated as part of Firemane's containment and reconstruction efforts. They helped banish malevolent spirits and guided soldiers and civilians who had been trapped inside the nexus outside of the containment area.
Moreover, they recovered some items that had been touched by the dark side miasma. The Reclaimers spent some time studying the effect the nexus had had on the flora and fauna, as well as its mental effects. This went hand in hand with a comparative study of various Force nexi in order to acquire a better understanding of cause, and methods of containment. When Siobhan toured the ruins, the Reclaimers accompanied her. For a while the team maintained a resarch outpost on the planet. It was closed when Firemane withdrew its assets and personnel from the planet.
To facilitate cooperation with the military, the Reclaimers tended to be embedded in military formations when they were deployed into a combat zone. If the team was sent to a frontline area, it answered to the military command, which provided logistical support and security. The group fought zombies, cultists, Force demons and other preternatural entitites. Of course, the legality of some of their digs was dubious. It helped that several of the planets they performed digs on did not have a unified government. It was also dispatched to Kaeshana after Netherworld aftershocks caused the desolate Eldorai homeworld to be dragged through the warp and emerge on the other side of the galaxy. Local conditions made it ill-advised to set up an outpost, but the team brought back samples to study. Given the circumstances of the team's foundation, the Netherworld phenomena were of particular interest to the Reclaimers and Siobhan personally.
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