OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Add some flavour to the Shadow Knights.
Image Credit: Here. Original source for necklace here.
Role: Paramilitary exploration corps.
Canon: N/A.
Permissions: Can use Firemane stuff because I own the company.
Links: Vashyada, To Hell and Back, Eldorai Exodus, Twin Exiles, Eldorai, Xioquo, Kar'zun, Qadiri, Eldorai Exodus, Twin Exiles.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Organization Name: Starstriders.
Classification: Exploration corps.
Affiliation: Court of the Shadows, Shadow Knights, Asuran Star Combine.
Organization Symbol: A black circle with stars randomly dotting it.
Description: The Starstriders are a Shadow Knight organisation tasked with finding new resources for the nomad fleet to exploit and a new home for their people to settle on. It is their mission to explore strange new worlds and go boldly where no elf has gone before. However, this is not done purely for the sake of it. Nor do they adhere to a Prime Directive that prohibits them from interfering with the internal developments of alien civilisations.
Rather they are a branch of the Shadow Knight military and are charged with seeking out resources and possible planetary habitats. In that regard they work closely with the Hierophants of the Void, a guild of Qadiri navigators who use their preternatural abilities to guide the migrant fleet. They often act on the basis of predictions the Hierophants have made. Due to the nature of their tasks, the backgrounds of the Starstriders are rather diverse. They include soldiers, scientists, pilots, linguists, scouts and so on. Because hostile encounters can never be ruled out, every Starstrider is expected to be proficient with a weapon to some degree. After all, if they come across an inhabited world, the natives might take offence to being explored. Especially if the Shadow Knights decide that the planet has resources the nomad fleet requires.
The Starstriders can help with political negotiations by gathering intelligence about the locals, their mind set, customs and capabilities. The Starseeker is empowered to negotiate in first contact situations, though they obviously have to confer with their superiors. The nature of their work means that the Starstriders may have to operate without support from the fleet for an extended period of time. Thus they are required to be self-reliant and independent. A significant number of the Starstriders are Qadiri. The prospect of exploring alien worlds seem to hold a particular fascination for the desert elves. Quite a few are also Vashyada.
The Starstriders receive funding the Court of Shadows, but special interest groups in the movement often make 'charitable donations'. This helps the group pay the bills, but naturally its backers expect something in return. The Starstriders work closely with the Young Squires, the Shadow Knight youth movement. It is tradition among the Squires to go on a Journey; a quest where they leave the fleet for a while to learn more about the Galaxy and acquire something of value for their people. The Starstriders are obviously particularly interested in star charts or intelligence on celestial bodies that would merit further investigation. For the same reason, they work with the Chapter of the Black Trade. This organisation is part espionage group, part smuggling network. Quite a few Squires earn their spures by working for the Starstriders. One could liken it to an apprenticeship.
The political ideology espoused by the Shadows can be likened to corporatism. This is a belief that advocates the organisation of society by corporate groups, such as agricultural, labour, military, scientific, or guild associations, on the basis of their common interests. There is also an element of guild socialism. Corporatism involves the incorporation of distinct spheres of all public life, including economic activity, into bodies which join the disparate interests with those of the state. This is supposed to transcend centrifugal tendencies like class warfare. Overcoming the danger posed by racial or religious strife is also pertinent.
Within this context, the Starstriders are part of the Court of War, the body for soldiers, pilots, marines, naval personnel and other war related persons. However, the Court of the Mind is also involved. This group oversees scientists, researchers, scholars etc. This can make things a bit awkward since the Magisters of both bodies dislike each other, but then the Courts have to work together. The Starstriders have Force-Sensitive members, whose skill and abilities vary. Many are gifted in astrogation, Life Sense, Comprehend Speech and similar abilities that can be useful for space exploration and first contact situations. Of course, some have more combat-based powers.
GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Headquarters: The Holy Traveller, a Vigilance Class Frigate. It is named after Vashana's old sailship.
Domain: The Starstriders do not control any planetary domains. They are part of the Shadow Knights' nomad fleet and thus integrated into the nomadic community of elf exiles.
Notable Assets: No industrial facilities or similar, but they operate a number of scouting and exploration ships as well as freighters. They also have some corvettes such as the CR90 and a few old Frontier Class Corvettes. Examples for ships available to them are the MRX-BR Pacifier, Vaya Class Scouts, Imperial Patrol Frigates, A-24 Sleuth, the Prowler Class Reconnaissance Vessel, E76 Nebulon-B Escort Frigates and the Far*Reach IV PQR. Starfighters are also used for patrolling, recon and escort.
SOCIAL INFORMATION
Hierarchy: The Starstriders have a rather shallow but wide hierarchy. Several teams - usually ten members each - report to two senior Starstriders. These in turn answer to the Starseeker, who is the overall leader of the group and has a personal staff to assist with the management of the group. The Starseeker does not operate in a vacuum, but is responsible to the Court of Shadows, as the group receives most of its funding from the Shadow Knight junta. While the Starstriders have a looser organisational structure, military discipline still applies to them, though some conservative officers claim that they are too lax about enforcing it as rigidly as they should. Under the practice of secondment, a Shadow Knight officer can be released from normal duties to take an assignment elswhere, such as among the Starstriders.
Membership: Must be a member of the Shadow Knights in good health and with no criminal record. Must pass a test of physical endurance and mental capabilities. Because hostile first contact scenarios or clashes with pirates cannot be ruled out, Starstriders must have some ability to defend themselves. Scouts, linguists and researchers with a background in fields such as geology or biology are particularly favoured, though the Starstriders maintain a school and there is plenty of on the job training. There is a strong Vashyada and Qadiri presence in the group. Qadiri are almost all extremely good navigators. They seem to have an instinctual internal compass, meaning they are great sailors and travellers. Vashyada meanwhile have a strong connection to nature, make good scouts and healers. While Eldorai occupy many senior positions in the organisation, the Starstriders are one of the few Shadow Knight groups not led by them. The present Starseeker is a Qadiri.
Climate: Life in the Starstriders is quite militarised, though less regimented than in a frontline military force. However, individuals assigned to the corps must be able to pull their weight. There is little room for idleness or being a layabout. Starstriders must adhere to proper security protocols and follow the orders of their superiors. Starstriders are expected to be good improvisers who can think on their feet. They are out on their own for an extended duration of time, which means they can only rely on themselves.
Some of the most adventurous and curious Shadow Knights end up here. Membership in the Starstriders is particularly glamorous for elves who are very new to space, such as Tygarans. Though their technology was more advanced, the Eldorai have only recently come to understand that space is more than a void populated by ghosts and demons. For some, seeing space is akin to a religious experience.
However, the more romantic attitude of these Starstriders is balanced by more cynical or realistic spirits. Exploration may be fascinating, but the galaxy is also a big, scary place. Roaming the frontier is a harsh life and requires tough characters. In the end, the Starstriders do not pursue endless exploration for the sake of it, but to find new worlds for their people to inhabit and discover resources they can use. Several of their members have served in the military, though one also finds scientists from the Court of the Mind.
Reputation: They have a good reputation among the Shadow Knights. The Starstriders perform a useful function and are quite respected there. Tales of their adventures are a favourite of many young people. The Shadows are a rather insulated movement, so the group is mostly unknown to outsiders. Firemane and the Eldorai Matriarchy have some superficial knowledge of them, but largely ignore them unless they intrude upon their spheres of interest. Both are poorly disposed to the Shadows.
Curios: Items with stellar symbology such as this necklace are common curios. Their uniforms have embroidered patches that display the symbol of the group.
Rules: The Starstriders' beliefs are based on Shadow Knight philosophy. The guiding principles of the nomadic movement are self-reliance, meritocracy, discipline and pan-Asuran nationalism. They strive to build a society based on merit and service - especially military service. Service guarantees citizenship. Conveniently, due to the danges involved and the importance of their work, service in the Starstriders is seen as equal to military service.
The Starstriders have a strong espirit de corps and take pride in their work, regarding it as crucial for the survival and prosperity of the fleet. Of course, many members join because it gives them a chance to see the Galaxy and experience things they would be unable to within the confines of the nomad fleet. Wanderlust and a desire for adventure are common motivations. As mentioned above, the Starstriders do not have an equivalent of the Prime Directive. A rag-tag fleet led by an oligarchic rebel junta cannot afford the same luxuries as an interstellar government with a post-scarcity economy. Their activities have also helped facilitate Shadow Knight raiding operations.
The main directive is not do anything that would endanger their people. The Shadow Knights consider heinous practices such as slavery to be abhorrent. But while not malevolent, they are definitely self-interested. The Starstriders are explorers, but also scouts and thus in a way spies. When they come across a world, they look for resources the Shadow Knights require or could make use of. Assuming the planet is inhabited, they would prefer to make peaceful contact with the natives and trade with them. But if this is not seen as possible the Shadow Knights prioritise their own needs. This has sometimes caused diplomatic incidents or dragged the Shadow Knights into local conflicts.
Conquistadore type behaviour is generally looked down upon. After all, there was a time when they were the 'primitives' at the mercy of 'sky people'. Some Starstriders may exercise a moderating influence. However, different cells may pursue divergent strategies. Like many organisations, the Shadow Knights have discovered that the principal-agent problem is a real one. It is often a bit difficult to control the actions of plenipotentiaries who are light years away. Nonetheless, violations of Shadow Knight laws, if they come to light, are punished harshly.
Goals: To go boldly where no elf has gone before, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out resources, allies and habitats for the Shadow Knights.
MEMBERS
Vashana Jai Garama: The present Starseeker is a Qadiri explorer from Khajwar called Vashana Jai Garama. As she put it, she joined to explore the stars after having explored everything on Tygara. This is undoubtedly a bit of hyperbole. Vashana was born into a family of minor nobility. Her mother was a Cataphract in the household of a Nawab and belonged to a knightly order. She eventually rose to the position of governor.
As a child, Vashana learned mathematics and navigation, and studied under an astronomer and astrologer. At an early age she served in her country's fleet, fighting against pirate ships. She was drawn to the sea at an early age and was charged with leading expeditions to discover new trade routes that would allow the Qadiri to bypass Xioquo and Khaimari corsairs. She ended up circumnavigating all of Tygara with her three sailships, bringing back booty and tales of adventure.
Vashana is an able sea and space commander, but also coarse, relentless and with a fierce temper. Though her people are new to space, she has adapted well to it. She is simply exploring the sky-ocean, after all. Moreover, her people's inherent talent for navigation is just as applicable in space as it is on the sea. Needless to say she would find the idea of a 'prime directive' bizarre. Vashana is not a Force-User, but still an extremely talented navigator and astrogator. She has brought most of her old crew over and recruited heavily among her fellow Khajwari.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Like many organisations and subgroups of the Shadow Knight movement, the Starstriders are fairly young. To be precise, they came into being after the Shadow Knights and their followers were forced to evacuate Kaeshana in the aftermath of the failed Kaeshana Rebellion. Having been deprived of their homeworld, the Eldorai exiles were at a crossroads. For the time being, liberating Kaeshana was not feasible. It was a good rallying cry, but they lacked the means to achieve it on their own. However, there was no desire to go to Tygara and submit to the Eldorai Matriarchy.
True, the Crown had extended a hand to the Forsaken, as the Eldorai who had been left behind on Kaeshana during the Exodus called themselves. It had sent a humanitarian fleet to Kaeshana to help the survivors of the cataclysm and make amends for abandoning them. Eldorai Matriarchy and Firemane troops had battled the First Order forces during the Rebellion. However, much bitterness remained and would not vanish within a few days. There were also ideological reasons, for the Shadow Knights were opposed to the monarchy and regarded their cousins as foreign vassals.
As a result, they made the decision to maintain their independence. For the time being, they would live a nomadic existence. The ships they had been able to acquire during the Long Night would form the basis of a nomad fleet. It would be a hard, frugal life that would require every member of the group to give their all. Conditions would be cramped, there would be rationing and few luxuries, even for their leaders. But it would also ensure their independence from the tides of galactic politics and enable them to seek out a better future in the stars. However, they still intended to found colonies on suitable worlds. Moreover, they would require resources. Resource-rich worlds, asteroids and gas giants would be discovered and mined.
The Hierophants of the Void were created to provide the nomad fleet with a group of expert navigators. The Starstriders, on the other hand, came into being as a body of dedicated explorers and pathfinders. They were tasked with exploring distant regions of the Galaxy that could be colonised or economically exploited by the Shadow Knights. Moreover, they would set up listening posts and fuel depots in regions the fleet operated in. To fulfil its mission, the exploration corps was staffed with researchers and scouts. Perennial manpower shortages proved an issue, especially for jobs that required scientific qualifications. After all, the 'best and brightest' of Eldorai society had been prioritised during the evacuation to Tygara.
Thus in its first years the Starstriders record was mixed at best, but over time the group became more professional and an important component of Shadow Knight society. The fact that good work in the group was a valid way to attain citizenship attracted new recruits and the Starstriders founded a school to teach them. To entice new recruits, the Starstriders initiated a professional propaganda campaign, depicting themselves as a progressive force that played a vital role in building a new future for the free Eldorai. Their numbers increased, as Eldorai with a lust for adventure and a desire to escape the regimented life in the fleet signed up. They were taught skills of navigation, survival and survey. However, their more independent attitude also caused some disciplinary issues.
The Starstriders were able to use their increased prominence to acquire suitable vessels for their work, such as the MRX-BR Pacifier and the Far*Reach IV PQR, two old Imperial scout ship classes. Compared to the starships used by present-day galactic governments and corporations, their ships tend to be fairly old. The Shadow Knights are not rich and so what they are able to use is often limited to what they can build themselves, steal or acquire on the black market. However, it gets the job down. They also acquired some decommissioned Firemane corvettes, frigates and starfighters, but overall they are not a martial organisation.
With fresh ships and recruits, the Starstriders were able to make a contribution to the fleet. They set up mining facilities and listening posts, charted myriad stars and planets. However, their work remained dangerous and success was accompanied by setbacks. A Starstrider scout ship that had wandered too far into Wild Space ended up being seized by Kraal. Its crew was dragged to Karakorum and enslaved. This constituted first contact between the barbaric lizardmen and the Shadow Knights, who would clash with the reptilian raiders frequently and develop a strong antipathy too them.
There were also disagreements about how contact with more primitive alien races should be handled. Some Starstriders argued that only Eldorai interests mattered and that the elves should take whatever they need. However, others pointed out that this would make them no better than the 'foreign devils' who had menaced Kaeshana for so long. Of course, even those who advocate a more benign approach were not free of xenophobia. When it came to light that some Shadow Knight explorers had been enslaving primitive aliens in the Rishi Maze, Archon Naesala Faethyra responded by sentencing them to death by hanging. After that the group received stricter guidelines.
In the aftermath of a Shadow Knight recruitment drive on Tygara, the Starstriders received an influx of new members. Some of these were Tygaran natives, who were eager to see the stars like the 'sky people' did. Racial strife between the ethnicities caused some issues, though. Many Qadiri proved themselves as navigators and pilots though. While new to spaceflight, the Qadiri have always produced the best sailors, navigators and ship builders on their homeworld. Now that they had access to modern technology, they transplanted these skills to traversing the 'void-ocean'. Some were even able to use the Force to instinctively find their way in the most treacherous of conditions. The Starstriders also received a sister organisation, the Hierophants of the Void, led by the enigmatic Qadiri mystic and seer Lady Ashkala.
Other new members were Vashyada. They were among the most adventurous of the wood elves. Though many Eldorai regarded the 'forestlings' as primitives, they turned out to be a genuine asset for the Starstriders. They were also used to living off the land and produced great scouts and healers. Vashyada scouts assumed a prominent role in the expeditions and the more scientifically inclined shown proved their value as biologists and geologists once they had been brought up to speed.
Naesala feels little kinship with the Tygaran natives. She does not dismiss the Eldorai's 'cousins' as primitives, but does not feel obligated to 'enlighten' or advance them either. Affirmative action programmes strike her as absurd. However, she recognised their competence and gave the new leadership her stamp of approval. While the start has been difficult, over time the Starstriders have become a vital component of the Shadow Knight movement.
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