D&D Next - First Thoughts

First, a disclaimer. I'm an avid fan of D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder. I also enjoy many other game systems, including Savage Worlds, Eclipse Phase, and Shadowrun. I played D&D 4e for a few months but switched to Pathfinder when Paizo released the core book.

Why? I had two issues with 4e. First, it was more combat focused than I would have liked. I was particularly disappointed about the loss of non-combat spells from the Arcane and Divine Spell Lists. Second, classes lost some uniqueness. Every class had powers that did a certain amount of damage, sometimes imposing a condition and/or movement effect. In essence, the divine and arcane spells were downgraded to damage and movement/status effects. The martial class attacks were upgraded to include movement and/or status effects. The distinction between the classes, as such, was diminished

With that said, what I've written above and what you find below is just my opinion. I don't believe in the edition warfare many people seem to engage in. If you think 4e is the greatest thing since the invention of dice, please enjoy it. I don't wish to detract from your love of the game. Far from it. I'm glad that you've chosen to engage in the tabletop gaming hobby at a time when there are a myriad of other gaming options, most of which seem to isolate players on couches or in front of computer screens rather than bringing them together to share the experience face to face.

I downloaded the D&D Next Playtest earlier this week. I opened it with the cautious optimism of someone who wasn't enthralled with the last version of the game. My somewhat jaded attitude was quickly replaced by a need to actually play the game as soon as I could muster a group willing to go exploring with me. I like D&D Next. I really like it.

The first thing that caught my attention was the simplicity. I have nothing against crunchy system (as I said, I love Shadowrun), but there is something to be said for a game like Savage Worlds that is easy to learn and easy to teach. D&D Next is just such a system.

Skill checks have been simplified. Instead of having a list of skills, all skill checks are associated with a core ability (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma). You never need to be trained in a skill to make check. Want to research something or recall something you may know? Intelligence check. What if it has to do with religion? Intelligence check. What about arcane lore? Intelligence check. History, Geography, Nobility, Planes, Nature, Dungeoneering, Local? Intelligence check. It's that simple.

Now, you may have certain Backgrounds that give you situational bonuses for certain types of skill checks. The Knight background, for example, gives the player bonuses for Animal Handling, Diplomacy, Heraldic Lore and Religious Lore checks. So, while everyone can make a skill check to recognize the a message scrawled in blood as the maniacal ramblings of a cult of Urgathoa worshipers, someone with the Knight Background is just a little better at it.

So, what are Backgrounds? Well, it would seem that every character is now defined by 4 components. In earlier versions of D&D, a character was primarily defined by her Class and Race. D&D Next takes those two components and adds a couple more, Background and Theme. The two cleric playtest characters are a perfect example of how these concepts have a very real influence on the style of character being played.

The Cleric of Moradin has the Knight Background and the Guardian Theme. Because of her Background, she gains bonuses to the skill checks I've already mentioned. She also received free accommodations and food for her and her party whenever she's in a location where nobility would recognize her station as a Knight. I love the flavor of that!

As a Guardian, she puts herself between her and her allies. She has the ability to use her shield to protect an ally within 5 feet of her who is currently under attack. Doing so gives the attacker a disadvantage to hit her ally.

The Cleric of Pelor, on the other hand, has the Priest Background and the Healer Theme. The Priest Background grants her bonuses to Diplomacy, Insight, Religious Lore, and Wilderness Lore. In addition, she and her party receive free healing and religious services at temples, shrines, or any other locations associated with her faith. Again, I'm loving the flavor of the Backgrounds. The Healer theme gives her the ability to make healing potions, antitoxins, and healing kits.

So, while both characters are Dwarf Clerics, their Background and Themes round out the character concepts into two distinctly different styles.

I mentioned before that the Guardian Theme gives the Cleric the ability to grant a disadvantage to someone attacking an ally. What does that mean? It's very simple really. D&D Next introduces the advantage/disadvantage mechanic as such: If you are granted an advantage, roll two d20 and choose the highest; if you are granted a disadvantage, choose the lowest of the two rolls. You never roll more than two d20, ever, regardless of the number of advantages or disadvantages you have. Also, advantages and disadvantages can cancel each other out.

In theory, I think this is a great new mechanic. It allows for a multitude of situations to be handled with one core set of simple rules. I'd need to see it in practice before I can give it a thumbs up or thumbs down but I like the concept.

The last thing I'll discuss is the armor system. It's quite simple really. You have a choice between light armor, medium armor, and heavy armor. Light armor gives you an armor bonus plus your dexterity modifier. Medium armor gives your an armor bonus plus half your dexterity modifier. Heavy armor just gives you the armor bonus (albeit the bonus is usually higher than for medium or light armor).

At first this seemed odd. I didn't get it. A character with high dexterity in light armor could easily have a better Armor Class (AC) than a Fighter or Cleric in heavy armor. Odd. Then, it dawned on me. It was genius. Dexterity could now become a dump stat without negatively impacting AC. The Cleric has always suffered Multiple Ability Dependency (MAD). Intelligence (at least in Pathfinder) is really the only possible dump stat. The Cleric never uses Dex but always needs a 10 so as not to take a hit on AC. Well, the new armor system solves that problem quite eloquently. Dex can now be dumped!

So, that's my initial impression of D&D Next. I've got a first playtest scheduled this week and will post again with my thoughts after actually playing a game.

Once More into the Breach...

Two security guards walk down a dimly lit corridor at Veneth Industries. Along with Harry who was currently guarding the central systems area, Tom and Jerald comprised the entire night watch crew of the building. The job didn’t pay well (there wasn’t a lot to keep watch of at a low security fabrication center for machine parts) but it was steady enough and it was nice working with friends.

“Hey Tom, Lisa wanted me to ask if you and the kids were still coming over for the barbecue on Saturday.”

“Yeah, I think so. Little Jenny has been feeling ill this week but she was well enough to go to school today so I think the whole crew is coming.”

“Excellent. We always loving having you over and our little ones can’t get enough of Jeff and Jenny. Letting them play will give us some time to enjoy a few beers and watch the game.”

“Oh, I can’t wait. Are you still insisting on betting 20 credits on the Pulsars even with Simmons out on injury. I feel bad drinking your beers and taking your money like that.”

Jerald laughed. “Just you watch. My boys are gonna come through just fine. The Novas have no heart. Literally, they got that cyborg playing for them now.”

As they turned the corner, their flashlights trailed along the wall and something caught Jerald’s eye. Had the hallway always been this thin? He thought he could see some movement, like a shadow that was somehow behind the wall.

“Hey Tom, do you see tha...”. He turned to look at Tom just as a blue stream of energy caught Tom in the arm. Tom was screaming as the blue beam turned to ice and began spreading over his whole body.

“No! Tom!” screamed Jerald. In that instant, he suddenly felt his hair was on fire and oddly enough, his arms had turned to tentacles.

“What the fu... My arms Tom! What’s wrong with my arms?”

Jerald hardly had time to contemplate his current morphology or the reasons behind it. A shadowy figure leapt through the wall with quarterstaff in hand. It moved so fast. Jerald hardly had time to react.

A blow to the side doubled him over and a swift crack to the head ended Jerald’s life. The obituary the next day would read that Jerald left behind an adoring wife and three beautiful children.

Tom, unable to move, was still screaming, partly at the fact that he thought he was freezing to death and partly at the fact that his best friend was just killed right before his eyes. A shot to the head from behind the fictitious wall ended his terrified cries. Tom left behind a lovely wife and two loving children.

The communication device lying next to Jerald’s body crackled a bit and squawked to life. “Hey guys? What’s going on? I thought I heard something.” There was a brief pause. “Hey, are we still on for Saturday?”

Harry would leave behind a cat named Fluffetus Maximus. His obituary did not mention this.

6 hours earlier...

The crew of the Phoenix was ready for another mission. They had spent a few days of relaxation after their last recon job for Traish, more time than their captain would have liked to waste. After some discussion, they decided it was time to revisit Modock.

Modock was a regular supplier of opportunities and information for the group. He ran a bar called Treble in the Platinum district that was a front for a myriad of illegal activities. Lerys, Deckard, and Tobian approached the bar and were nodded in by the doorman. They were regulars.

On the way in, a droid bumps into Tobian, passing him something. Lerys doesn’t notice and Deckard doesn’t care. Tobian was a mysterious man and in Deckard’s experience solving mysteries is bad for one’s health.

The bar is an effigy to excess. Surprisingly clean for most establishments of it’s kind, the interior had a cold, metallic look to it. Behind the bar areas were drinks of every conceivable flavor and expense. Not as visible but equally as available were a candy store of drugs under the counters. Modock was a smart man and payed the authorities well enough to run his bar as he saw fit.

Deckard disliked the place. He was no stranger to bars but the club music and dancing was not his particular brand of entertainment. They entered the VIP area in the center of the bar. As they crossed the dampener threshold, the music was replaced by the gentle hum of electronic equipment in the area that served as Modock’s office and private entertainment lounge. Deckard was thankful to be rid of the awful noise.

“Well well well, if it isn’t my favorite crew. I take it you boys are looking for more work.”

“That would be correct,” responded Lerys.

“Excellent! Excellent!” bellowed the portly man behind the desk. “I’ve got just the thing. Pays well and you’d be doing Nexus a favor. One thing though. You’re gonna have to travel back to the UES system. I know you boys don’t like that.”

Deckard never liked when Modock called them boys. Deckard was fairly sure that he and Modock were about the same age or at the very least couldn’t be more than a couple years apart.

“Once more into the breach,” whispered Tobian.

“What’s that? Speak up boy.”

“It’s nothing,” said Lerys. “We recently made a trip back into UES space. Couldn’t avoid it forever I guess.”

“Wonderful, then there’s nothing stopping you. I need you to go to the McArthur system and infiltrate a chemical production facility there. They are testing high grade explosives, some fancy new compound called Cetaflex. I’m sure you’ve noticed the increase in UES activity around Nexus. I don’t have to tell you that we can use all the firepower we can get if things start going south.”

“Depends,” said Lerys. “If the price is right you’ve got yourself a deal.”

“Price? Don’t worry yourself about that El Cap-E-Tan. How’s about 10,000 credits per ton of Cetaflex?”

Tobian chimed in. “Twelve Five”.

“12,500 it is. It’s a deal?”

“Yes,” returned Lerys. “It’s a deal.”

“We need a cover,” added Deckard. “Do you know of any suppliers that make regular trips to the McArther system?”

“As a matter of fact I do. Placed called Veneth industries. They are a small time machine part manufacturer but they apparently do good work. Make all kinds of shipments to the UES systems and I know they make regular deliveries to that chemical plant in McArthur.”

Modock made a few motions at his desk and after a couple of auditory beeps he said, “Done. I’ve sent the drop off coordinates in an encrypted message to your ship. Don’t let me down boys. I’m counting on you.”

The group left and immediately began planning their incursion into Veneth Industries. If they could get a shipping manifest and find a vessel traveling to McArthur, they could hijack it and slip into the chemical plant unnoticed.

That night, they broke into Veneth Industries. Deckard had some trouble bypassing the security systems and a failed illusion by Lerys forced them to subdue a few guards (although the news the next day used the word murder). Nonetheless, they were able to find a shipment scheduled to depart on a ship called the Nomad the next day.

The group decided the best approach would be to plant a tracking device in the Nomad, follow it into UES space with their full dampeners engaged, and then take the vessel by force. Their plan began to break down a few jumps from the McArthur system.

Shortly after jumping into the system, Deckard noticed a spike in energy coming from somewhere in front of the Nomad. Three vessels approached and began firing. A message was sent to the Nomad.

“Forfeit your ship and your goods or forfeit your lives! You have one minute to decide.”

“Captain?” asked Deckard.

“We have no choice. Bring down the dampeners. Full power to weapons and shielding.”

The Phoenix swept into action. The pirate ships were older models either purchased for cheap or stolen from some ill-guarded space port. Under the commanding direction of Lerys, the crew performed admirably.

Tobian maneuvered the ship brilliantly and Deckard’s aim was true. They destroyed the first ship with a full barrage of the twin railguns. Then the next. The last ship managed to land a shot that caused minimal damage to the Phoenix. The Phoenix returned the favor with interest. The last ship erupted into a fireball of debris.

After a quick discussion on the bridge, Lerys hailed the Nomad.

“Nexus vessel Nomad, are you alright?”

Some static and then “Yes. By the gods yes. Thank you! Thank you! I don’t know what we would have done had you not showed up.”

“Just doing our jobs Nomad. We were actually patrolling this sector due to the increased pirate activity. The UES pays well to keep you all safe.”

“Well, paid or not, thank you again.”

“Say, it appears that the last shot hit our medical bay, killing our ship’s doctor and injuring a few of our crew. You wouldn’t be able to lend assistance, would you?”

“Of course,” returned the Nomad. “It’s the least we could do.”

The Nomad docked with the Phoenix. Lerys led the medical team towards sickbay where they were quickly subdued. Tobian and Deckard stormed the Nomad and took the rest of the crew hostage. After a few short minutes they disabled the ship, relieved it of it’s cargo, and stole the Nomad’s transponder.

They left the ship and crew of the Nomad floating helplessly in a region of space known to be heavily trafficked by pirates and slavers. The Phoenix, now emitting the Nomad’s transponder signal, set a jump course for the McArthur system.

The Fall of Isenmoor

Dairven surveyed the destruction all around him. His home, the only home he had ever known, was gone. It had come as quickly and suddenly as a thief in the night. The normally gentle banks of the Sellen River crested while the citizens of Isenmoor slept. It happened so fast most barely had time to scramble out of their homes to safety as the water swallowed their livelihood. The sounds of weeping could be heard all about as people took stock of the destruction.

The strong, proud people of Isenmoor were broken. He could see it in their eyes. His friends and neighbors wandered aimlessly through the town. They wept in the places their homes once stood. They wept at the drowned, bloated corpses of their livestock. And in some cases, they wept over the bodies of friends and loved ones.

They looked to him with questioning eyes. They didn’t speak. They didn’t have to.

Why had this happened? Had they not obeyed Hanspur’s rituals? Had they not continued to revere the old ways? Had they not been careful to respect the river region as he commanded? Had they not upheld “The Ritual” year after year in his honor?

He spoke. “People of Isenmoor! Hear my words! As I look around at the misfortune that has befallen us I grieve with you. For years I have been your faithful steward and emissary to the surrounding wilderness. I too have fed these lands with blood, sweat, and tears and my heart weighs heavy at our loss.”

“But good people, this was always the way it was to end. We knew this. We grew up hearing the stories of our elders about how we are guests in this land. This was not our home, it never was. It was merely a stepping stone in our journey. No, our true home was taken from us. Our true home was stolen from us by the bandits and barbarians that now inhabit it.”

“The prophecy of the cleansing foretold that one day Hanspur would take from us this borrowed river bank and so he has. Year after year we have staved off this inevitable cataclysm by currying favor with the old ways. Every fall, during the last harvest, we perform the ritual as Hanspur demands.”

The druid stopped speaking and lowered his eyes. The ritual. For how many years had he been custodian of this sacred right? For how many years has it been his duty to protect this now broken homestead? He stroked his beard as his mind wandered back beyond an ocean of time.

It was early morning, just before sunrise. There was a knocking at the door of his childhood home. He heard his mother answer. With a somber face she led Edwin to his room.

“Hello Dairven” said the soft spoken Druid.

“Father Edwin?” said the boy, somewhat shaken. He already knew why the Druid was here. “Have I... Have I been chosen?”

“Yes Dairven, you have.” The druid sat on the bed next to the boy. “Hanspur visited me in my dreams last night and whispered your name. He has chosen you as the next candidate. Do you know what this means Dairven?”

Dairven nodded.

“As much as anyone else does I guess. We are to travel along the shores of the Sellen River to Driftwood Temple. We are to enter the temple and give a prayer of thanks to Hanspur after which we are to wade into the river and I am to look upon the full moon.”

“Yes, very good Dairven. Please continue.”

“I shall say another prayer, the Prayer of the River. If Hanspur appears before me as I pray, I will be the Chosen One and you will be the Redeemer. If not, I am to be the Redeemer and you will remain the Chosen One.”

He looked at Edwin. Edwin nodded for him to go on.

“The Chosen One will return to town the next day as Druid of Isenmoor. The Redemer will be banished to the Stolen Lands until he either dies or can return having reclaimed our home.”

“Yes, Dairven. You know the old ways well. No doubt that is why Hanspur has chosen you. We will go now, leave everything behind. The forest and the river will provide.”

The man and the boy left Isenmoor as the ritual demanded. They travelled along the banks of the river and talked. Dairven always liked Edwin and enjoyed his stories and teachings of the old ways.

As it grew dark, Edwin muttered some strange incantations and his quarterstaff began to grow brilliantly, lighting their path. It was midnight before they reached Driftwood Temple, a chaotic shamble of stone and wood that leaned near the bank of the river.

The man and boy entered the temple, kneeled before the alter and prayed. After a few moments, Edwin looked at the boy.

“Are you ready Dairven?”

“I am Father.”

The two exited the temple and waded to the middle of the river. The boy once again knelt and looked upon the full moon with reverence. He began to recant the Prayer of the River. He searched the darkness for his god.

He felt one of the Druids hands on his shoulder and another on his head. It was comforting, like the reassuring embrace of a grandfather he had never known. The boy continued to pray, his eyes darting left and right for any sign of Hanspur.

Suddenly he found himself beneath water, the full weight of the Druid upon him. He could not move and began frantically kicking and flapping his arms. He was terrified. His lungs were burning. He desperately struggled against the Druid. Edwin was strong and had a commanding grip on Dairven’s hair and shoulder, forcing him deeper into the cold, unforgiving water.

Dairven managed to get his hand behind Edwin’s neck and calling upon a strength he had never before known, flipped the Druid into the water before him. He broke the surface of the water and gasped for air.

Screaming and crying he lunged for Edwin who looked at him with bewilderment. He was consumed with fear and betrayal, yelling curses and obscenities at Edwin. He grappled with Edwin and forced him underwater. The Druid struggled but Dairven held steadfast. After a minute or so, Edwin’s efforts subsided. Edwin offered a final few spasms before he went limp.

Dairven released him. The Redeemer floated into the cold, darkness of the night and Hanspur was satiated for another year. The Druid of Isenmoor returned home the next day.

The Druid looked up.

“The cleansing is behind us. We will mourn those Hanspur has taken from us. But do not abandon hope dear friends. This is a sign that we are to once again return to our ancestral lands and claim what was taken from us. It is a sign that I am to conduct the final ritual.”

There was no more crying. There was no talking. Even the forest itself seemed to go quiet.

“Isenmoor is no more. She no longer requires a Druid to watch over her. I am to be the Final Redeemer. There is nothing left for us here. Take what you can carry and follow me. I will guide you to Silverhall. I will see you to safety there and then I will take leave of you. I will travel to the Stolen Lands and I will restore our rightful home.

He raised his spear and muttered a few incantations. It glowed brilliantly, a shining beacon of hope in a ruined world.

“When I am done, I will return for you. I will light the way home.”

The Druid turned and walked west upon the Sellen River. The people of Isenmoor followed.

Peace is a lie. There is only passion.

The crew of the Turncoat prepared themselves for the sub-orbital jump. The three Sith champions approached the jump platform with the shock troopers following close behind. A'Suri Fatecaller, the frail, pale colored figure in black, reached out with her mind and sensed the death and dismay below her. She savored it like a fine wine and readied herself for the jump.

Without warning, the ship goes dark and then explodes around her. She is falling. She looks towards the ship she just disembarked from (if you could call it that) and sees nothing but smoke and fiery debris. With any luck, the other two Sith champions were a part of the wreckage. She clears her mind and once again reaches out only to find disappointment.

Jeran the LightSlayer was a few meters to her right. Kardan Hull was somewhere above them. The atmosphere is littered with the burning wreckage of a hundred dead starships. A huge metal hull fragment swerves into her and Jeran's path. With a fair amount of arial maneuvering they both manage to avoid it and continue the descent.

Kardan activates his lightsaber. A short moment later, the glowing red energy beams of a dozen or more shock troopers spring into existence. A'Suri, temporarily distracted by the spectacle, fails to notice another piece of hull coming from below. It strikes her, temporarily disorienting the Sith. The blow sends her spiraling into an erratic free-fall. She manages to steady herself as she pulls out her own lightsaber, determined not to embarrass herself again.

The ground approaches. Her helmet display shows the altitude quickly approaching zero. It begins flashing red and the jet fires, slowing her fall to a gentle descent. A meter or so from the ground, the shoulder straps automatically release and she falls prone.

Jaren and Kardan land a short moment later, followed by the shock troops. Two fall lifeless to the ground when released from their shoulder straps. A’Suri lets the anger consume her, calling for Flat’ira, the leader of her detachment.

“You disappoint me, captain. It would seem two of your troopers couldn’t even make landfall before failing me. See to it the others aren’t so eager to convey their weakness.”

The captain begins nervously shouting for the troops to group up.

The hill upon which they landed provides an impressive view of the battle waging on the planet. The red and green blaster fire lights up the sky like some sort of firework homage to war.

“Yes!”, yells Jaren. “The battle is before us. Let us join our brothers and destroy the Mandalorian scum who oppose us.

“Steady your resolve, Jaren!” whips A’Suri. “We have a mission to do. That battle is merely a distraction, hiding our true purpose here. We must find the artifact. Our master demands it.”

“Let Darth Bare wait a few more hours for his precious trinket. I smell Jedi. I feel their weakness. And my collection has demands of it’s own.”

“A’Suri is right,” adds Kardan. “There may be plenty of opportunity yet for you to satiate your need relieve them of their lightsabers. And when the time comes, have some sense about you. I want to question one. I want to... play with one.”

Jaren grunted but nodded in acknowledgement. He removed his data pad from his belt. It had been programmed with the location of the artifact. It would appear it lay in a temple, not far from the battle before them. With any luck, he may yet get a chance to join the fight.

A’Suri whispered, “Quiet you fools. We have company.”

A squad of Mandalorian crest the hill and begin firing. Jaren smiles. He activates the lightsaber. His is the only one that doesn’t glow red. The tranquil blue beam disguises the fury of the man who wields it. It shines brilliantly, a fitting effigy to it’s previous master, Jaren’s Jedi Teacher. It was the first lightsaber to enter his collection. And it was his favorite.

The battle didn’t last long. The Mandalorian were outnumbered and outmatched. The Sith showed them no mercy. Each one died, brutally and painfully.

Jaren began canvassing the bodies, grabbing vibroblades and assorted weaponry.

A’Suri eyed him with a certain amount of disgust. “You collect trophies as though you were proud of this battle. These things were weak. You are pathetic.”

Jaren glared at A’Suri. “You best hold your tongue lest I add your lightsaber to my collection.”

A’Suri simply smiled. “Might I suggest you add some lightning to your collection instead.” Sparks of electricity emanated from her fingers. Jaren was not scared but he did not push the matter further. The force was strong with her but he would have his chance.

The group began heading in the direction of the temple. The terrain was lush and hilly. All this greenery was unpleasant to Kardan. He preferred the reassuring feel of concrete or metal under his feet. He was a child of the streets. It was only recently that he saw his first tree. A pathetic thing. Unable to talk. Unable to protect itself. It was just there. Wasting the force that flowed through it. He doubted he would ever be fully comfortable with all this nature.

Just then, Kardan heard something. Something big. No, not something. Two somethings. Two scout walkers appear before them.

“Now that’s more like it”, uttered Jaren as he starts running towards the first, slicing its leg enough to give it a wobble but not enough to topple it over. Kardan went to attack the other but missed. A’Suri focused on the driver of the walker, using the force to fill his heart with terror while muttering something about feeding his soul to the dark side. The driver, gripped with fear, stopped the walker. His partner on the turret, however, began firing at them. A’Suri considered her actions and decided that perhaps it would have been better to target the man with the gun. A couple of shots from Kardan’s gun, however, remedied her mistake.

She turns on the other walker. Jaren is still trying to attack it’s legs with his lightsaber.

“You fool! Must I do everything myself?”

She raises her hands and the driver begins to levitate, but only for a moment. She hurls him at his partner on the turret with enough force to bring down a star destroyer. They explode raining blood onto every nearby surface. Even their bone is liquified to marrow at the force of the impact.

“Excellent,” says Jeran. “This should speed our travel.”

Given that both walkers were heavily damaged, A’Suri expresses reservations about traveling in them. After some discussion, she reluctantly agrees. They continue their progress towards the temple. They soon clear the wooded landscape and find themselves facing the ziggurat they seek.

Some movement in the shadows at the entrance draws their attention. Mandalorian figures cloaked in darkness draw back into the shadows as three Jedi make their presence known.

The Sith can sense the power of the Jedi Knight. The can also sense that the other two are merely Padawan learners. Jaren can barely contain his glee at the thought of teaching the younger ones the true power of the force. Kardan eyes the Twi’lek leader longingly, thoughts of slowly severing her brain-tails dance through his head.

“Leave now and we will not harm you”, yells the Twi’lek.

A’Suri draws her lightsaber. “Leave? No, I’m afraid there will be no escape here today. Not for you. And not for the two Padawan puppies who have yet to be weened from the teat of their Jedi bitch.”

A’Suri allows the force to flow through her, to consume her. She raises her hand and sends a furious arch of lightning at the Padawan closest to her. Surprisingly, the young Jedi raises his lightsaber and is able to negate the barrage. A’Suri, embarrassed at her apparent failure, is enfuriated.

Seeing the failed display, Jeran openly mocks her. “Your weakness betrays you A’Suri. But fear not. Keep practicing on the apprentice, I’ll take care of the Knight.” He runs forward, his eyes sternly set on the Twi’lek Jedi.

With a speed that both surprises and excites Jeran, the Twi’lek darts forward with lightsaber drawn. He allows the Dark Fury to consume him and strikes with the passion only a Sith knows. The weapon slashes her side, cutting and instantly cauterizing the wound. She is visibly shaken by the ordeal.

Kardan moves forward and draws his blaster, firing two shots at the other Padawan. The Padawan barely dodges the blaster fire and moves towards A’Suri to assist his Jedi brother. Drawing upon his limited knowledge of the dark side, he attempts to Force Grip her.

“Such a clumsy knowledge of the force. Allow me to teach you, young apprentice.”

She raisers her hand and he begins to lift slightly from the ground, clawing at his neck. He makes gurgling, choking noises as he gasps for breath. A’Suri listens to the melody of his pain, relishing every note.

The Jedi Knight feeling the suffering of the Padawan behind her calls upon the force and throws Jeran away from her. He feels the desperation in the way she wields her power. Her senses her resolve is beginning to shake and her training is beginning to wane. She isn’t fighting with the cool collective mind of a Jedi. She’s letting her fear and passion guide her actions. That is the realm of the dark side. That is the realm of the Sith.

Seeing his original target incapacitated by A’Suri’s hold on him, Kardan moves towards the other Padawan, firing his blaster. He snarls in rage as his shots miss their target yet again.

Jeran moves quickly, raising his lightsaber over his head, empowered by the fear of the Jedi Knight. As he approaches, she once again retains control over her emotions. A calm serenity washes over her as she accepts her coming death. Jeran senses this disgusting display of control and strikes with perfect hatred. The Knight falls dead before him.

The Padawan not slowly choking to death slashes at the Kardan. He quickly deflects the attack and plunges his own blade into her her chest. It lights her ribcage with a warm, orange glow. Only a Sith lightsaber can produce this effect. It pleases him greatly. He stares into the eyes of the dying Jedi, watching as the hints of life slowly drain away.

A’Suri slowly walks to the last remaining Jedi. “Your fumbling attempts at using the dark side have betrayed you. You can, however, be taught. I feel your fear. I feel your hatred. Draw upon your feelings. They will give you power. I will show you the way. Become my apprentice or you will know death.”

With foolish bravery, the young Jedi declares, “I will never walk beside you. I would rather die than be a slave to the dark side.”

“Fair enough,” smirks Jeran as he decapitates the boy.

“You incompetent fool!” screams A’Suri. She raises her hand and his lightsaber goes flying. “I was looking forward to watching Kardan break him!”

“I seems to have dropped my weapon,” snickers Jeran. “Oh look, he had a lightsaber. I’ll just take that one.” He smiles.

Suddenly, she senses a powerful presence invading her mind. She sees a faint, partial image of the lower half of a man’s face. He is speaking to her.

“Leave now. You will find only death inside”.

“If I leave now, I will find only death at the hands of Darth Bare.”

The other two look at her, puzzled. She dismisses their questions before they have a chance to be asked and walks into the temple. The other two look at each other and follow.

The interior of the temple is truly ancient. Strange markings and destroyed statues lay all around them. Before them stand a larger group of Jedi. A’Suri immediately recognizes the man standing near the back as the one in her vision. He is a Jedi master. She can sense his power. Before him are two Jedi Knights and 3 Padawan Apprentices. She feels fear but draws upon it.

“You should not have entered this place. Your mere existence is a desecration of the force. We will spare you but you may no longer leave of your own accord. Surrender and we will bring you before the Counsel to face your crimes.”

“Why of course, Jedi Master.” She had never before managed to convey the word Master in such a derogatory way. This pleased her.

“You mock me at your own peril, heretic. Drop your weapons and come forward.”

She smiles. Drops her weapon and walks forward. Jeran does the same. Kardan holds back.

When the two are within striking distance, Jeran tosses one of the many lightsabers he collected outside. A’Suri catches it as he pulls another from his belt. All three Sith activate their beams simultaneously.

“Have it your way,” says the Jedi Master.

A flash of lightsaber activity erupts as the groups engage each other. Jeran and Kardan both strike at one of the Jedi Knights, nearly incapacitating her. The Jedi Master focuses his attention on A’Suri and she feels her grip on the force loosening.

“No!” she screams. Her anger seems to re-establish her connection and she hurls the other Jedi Knight into him. He stands true against the blow but she senses it has caused a fair amount of pain. The Jedi Knight, on the other hand, screams in agony as her back breaks from the impact against his chest. She falls to the ground, nearly unconscious and moaning in pain.

He draws upon the force and A’Suri can feel that his knowledge of it is great indeed. The Jedi Knight rises, fully healed and advances upon her. She is able to deflect the volley of lightsaber attacks from the Jedi but one of the nearby Padawans seizes the opportunity to Force Stun her.

Seeing A’Suri outnumbered and sensing the struggle of the other group of Jedi, the master moves toward Jeran and Kardan. The two Sith are striking furiously at the Jedi and Padawan before them. The Jedi master enters the fray just as the Sith strike down the Jedi Knight. He is too late. She is dead and nothing can be done for her. Moments later, the first Padawan he is trying to protect is destroyed. Soon after the second falls as well.

The battle continues to unfold, the sound of lightsaber duels echoing through the cavernous temple. The remaining Knight continues to strike at A’Suri with the help of the last Padawan. A’Suri deftly dodges and deflects each blow. Instead of striking back, she continues to user her force powers to attack the master.

With all three Sith focusing on the Jedi Master, the battle begins to turn in their favor. A’Suri successfully holds him in place with a powerful Force Grip as the two Jedi strike at him with blow after lightsaber blow. The Jedi Master falls before their combined strength.

Without the more powerful Jedi, the remaining battle is a slaughter. A’Suri inflicts a serious wound on the Padawan, collapsing his lung with the power of the dark side. The remaining Jedi Knight fights valiantly but is no match for the combined power of Jaren and Kardan.

The Sith steady themselves, surveying their victory. A’Suri notices the artifact in the middle of the temple. She walks toward it and picks it up. She has no idea what it is but she knows it is powerful, perhaps the most powerful object she’s ever encountered.

Kardan walks to the rear of the temple, looking for any sign of the Mandalorians they noticed when first coming upon the temple. Jeran watches as Kardan walks into the shadows and turns on A’Suri who is mesmerized by the object before her.

She hears the lightsaber activate and senses the golden glow of the Jedi Master’s former light saber. She springs into action, dropping the artifact and flipping into the air behind her. She does not fly high enough and Jeran cuts her deeply. She is alive but she is badly injured.

She calls upon every last ounce of rage and hatred and funnels it into a furious burst of lightning that strikes Jeran in the chest. He flies across the room against a pillar near the entrance. He chokes up some blood and gazes at her, his face contorted in a mixture of surprise and anger.

His expression changes, his eyes widen, and he chuckles. In the same moment she watches hi die, she notices a sharp burning pain in her back and abdomen. She looks down and sees a red lightsaber beam protruding from her chest. For some reason, her final thoughts are of the orange glowing effect it produces in her ribcage and how much it disturbs her.

She falls to the ground with Kardan standing behind her. His lightsaber blade recedes and he picks up the artifact near A’Suri’s body. He takes one last look around the room, surveying the bodies strewn about the temple. He smiles and walks out.

The Phoenix Comes Home

The crew of the Phoenix milled around the bridge, watching the forward display as Tobian maneuvered the ship to it's designated docking station. The magnetic locks engaged with a resounding pulse that could be felt throughout the ship. Lerys, the odd but capable captain made the announcement. "Crew, we have arrived on Nexus. I invite everyone to enjoy some much needed shore leave but as always, check in frequently." Given that the entire crew was currently situated on the bridge, his use of the ship's comm system was unnecessary. Lerys had a flare for the dramatic and an air of self-importance, quirks his shipmates had become used to in their travels together.

"What do you say gentlemen? How about we see about collecting some payment for our troubles."

Deckard, not known for being incredibly verbose, simply nodded. Tobian offered an ambivalent "Alright." Syrel added an enthusiastic, "Agreed Sir!".

Lerys brought out his comm device and contacted Modock to setup a meeting. Modock suggests they meet in the Platinum district where he was conducting other business. They left Jax, the Phoenix's system officer, aboard to run diagnostics in preparation for their departure and made their way for the Platinum district. They find Modock accompanied by his two goons, one holding a parasol to shield his boss from the light drizzle.

"Welcome back, boys! It's good to see you in good health. I'm busy today and have much to attend to but needless to say you did what you said and so have I. The payment has been transferred. I'm sure you have need of some relaxation but come see me when you are ready for more work. You have proved to be men of your word and that's a commodity in and of itself."

Lerys thanked Modock for the payment and assured him they would contact him again soon. They talked amongst themselves and decided to give Traish a visit. In their line of work, keeping on frequent terms with willing clients ensured a steady stream of income for their burgeoning enterprise.

Upon arriving at Traish's habitat and exchanging pleasantries, the crew was all business, a quality Traish appreciated. He had several jobs for them but the conversation quickly gravitated towards a gig spying on a ship in the UES system. They had not been back in UES space since their daring prison break a year ago. As far as they knew, they were assumed dead, a status that afforded them some relief. Going back to UES space could mean attracting attention they didn't need.

What they did need was money and this job paid a lot. 50,000 credits to be exact. In the end, there wasn't much of a discussion. They agreed to take the job and Traish gave them the details. A client of his wanted them to track down and reckon the UES Harlow. The ship was to be found deep in UES space. The only information he had on the vessel was that it was last docked in the Juliard System and has since gone silent after traveling to the Osiris System.

Before the group left to prepare for their departure, Deckard took Traish aside to ask him to keep on the lookout for information on the Wayland-Yutani corporation. He was interested in BioWeapons research programs and in particular, the executives and senior staff responsible for overseeing them. Traish chuckled and said that if they returned safely from their current mission he would be happy to divulge any information he could manage to scramble up.

Since it was usually a good idea to have a reason for being in UES space, Deckard asked if there were any legitimate missions they could use as a cover. Deckard reciprocated saying that he did indeed have a number of workers that required transport to the Juliard system. Traish made a quick call and arranged for the workers to assemble for transport.

They again exchanged pleasantries and left as quickly as they arrived, again impressing Traish with their matter-of-fact attitude. Deckard made the suggestion that given the clandestine nature of their current operation, investing in some sensor dampening technology would be a wise upgrade. The group agreed and managed to purchase a reasonably priced system before leaving dock.

On route to the Juliard system, Tobian spent time getting to know their cargo. Deckard mostly kept to himself, experimenting with different power management strategies for the integrated dampening system. Lerys spent his time on the bridge, commanding Jax to perform various diagnostics and Syrel presumably passed the voyage in his quarters doing whatever it was Syrel did.

Upon arriving at the Juliard system, a quick scan revealed a massive space station in orbit of the yellow star. This was the last known dock the UES Harlow had been logged at and the destination for their cargo shipment. Deckard stared at the station as they approached, noting it's size and energy signature.

Deckard turned to face Lerys. "Captain, I don't think this is an observational station. It's far too large and it's consuming a lot of energy. If I were a betting -he was- I'd say this is some kind of weapons research platform."

"Agreed", quipped Lerys.

After docking and offloading the workers, Lerys asked the dockmaster if it would be permissible for the crew to stretch their legs and grab a drink. The dockmaster looked Lerys up and down. "Well, I'm not sure if it's, umm, modest enough for your comfort but there is a recreational area on deck 4 for station crew to unwind and have a drink." Lerys didn't like him but managed a smile and a nod.

In the rec area, Deckard spotted a terminal. A passing glance at his omni tool informed Deckard that hacking it would be trivial. Not wanting to alert whoever it was that was surely monitoring them, he instructed his comrades to engage the locals in conversation to direct as much attention from him as possible. Deckard pretended to engage in small talk between quick taps on his omni tool. He was able to bypass the security protocols quickly. Just as quickly, he was able to download a tremendous amount of data before eyeing Tobian, Lerys, and Syrel to let them know it was time to go.

Back on the ship and at a safe distance from the station, Deckard began probing his ill gotten files. Most had ridiculous amounts of encryption, another sure sign that the station was more than just an observational platform. He happened upon some sensor logs indicating the Harlow had been docked at the station for about a week and departed 14 days ago.

Continued research indicated the UES Harlow was a Frigate class military vessel, several times the size of the Phoenix with an equally large weapons compliment. It appears that it had been making regular trips into the Osiris system. After it's latest trip, several communications were sent but the station received no response. Deckard briefed the others on his findings and suggested caution was warranted.

They made several jumps and as they approached the jump gate to the Osiris system they received an automated message informing them that they were about to enter restricted space and should turn back immediately. They turned the ship around, engaged the sensor dampeners, and made another pass towards the gate. They received no message. Either a fleet of ships was en route to escort them to the nearest military facility or the dampeners worked. There was not reason to wait around.

They made the jump and began passive scans of the system. The were 4 star systems in the vicinity. They were in the furthest system around an A-Class star. The system consisted of 4 planets and as far as Deckard could tell, they were alone.

The Phoenix began making passes of the planets. There was nothing atypical about the first two except for the fact the second had pot marks all over the surface, a probable indication of mining activities. Around the third planet, however, they found a small debris field that had the signature of a small ship, probably UES given it's properties. The fourth planet was ringed and as they approached they noticed a Frigate class starship nestled within the ring of the planet.

A closer inspection revealed the ship to be the UES Harlow. With the go ahead from Lerys, Deckard activated a full scan of the ship. It was heavily damaged and missing a huge chunk of the hull. There were no indications of weapons damage. It appears a blast had originated from within the ship. The ship was emitting no energy signature and there were no life signs.

Tobian deftly maneuvered the Phoenix in parallel orbit with the Harlow. Deckard, Lerys, Syrel, and Tobian suited up in preparation to board the Harlow. Tobian suggested they bring the Plasma Cutter in case the power loss prevented entry to any areas of the ship. They boarded the ship and decided to head to engineering first. It was necessary to use the Plasma Cutter to gain access. What they found were several dead crew members and indications of weapons fire. The terminals were badly damaged but Deckard was able to restore power and life support.

They each lifted their visors, talked about their next move, and collectively decided to make their way to the bridge. Finding a nearby lift, the away crew instructed the computer to take them to the bridge. A moment later, the door opened, and a rush of air nearly pulled them out of the lift. Their visors slammed down to protect them from the vacuum. The front half of the bridge where the forward display would normally be found was gone leaving a hole that looked out upon open space. Half the bridge was gone.

Deckard walked to the nearest terminal (thanks to his grav boots enabling along with the visor). After a quick bypass of the security system, he had gained root access to the ship's systems and began downloading the data. Scanning the ships logs he found that the primary mission of the Harlow was as an exploratory mining vessel. It had been probing and mining the planets to determine if a larger mining operation would be fiscally viable for the UES.

He found several notes regarding strange and ancient looking archaeological sites on some of the planets in the system. About three weeks ago, the Harlow was attacked by an enormous ship of unknown origin. The ship appeared to have the same architectural properties of the planetary sites they discovered. As quickly and mysteriously as the ship appeared, it was gone and the Harlow was left heavily damaged. The crew was still making repairs when the mysterious vessel once again returned and opened fire. The last entry in the ship log was a mayday transmission.

As Deckard was looking over the data, Tobian caught a glimpse of something approaching from within the ring. An enormous ship that looked quite unlock anything he had seen before.

"Umm. Guys? That doesn't look good."

Lerys looked up and saw the vessel approaching. Jax's voice could be heard through his suit's comm system.

"Captain. It looks like…"

"Yeah, we see it," interrupted Lerys. "We're leaving now"

They quickly ran to their entry point on the ship and jumped to the side airlock of the Phoenix. They witnessed the vessel opening fire on the Harlow as the door closed and a pneumatic swoosh filled the room's atmosphere. Lerys quickly pulled out his comm device and yelled for Jax to "Get the hell out of here!"

The odd vessel (Lerys later named it the Enigma when retelling his stories of heroism and conquest) began pursuit. The Phoenix made it to the jump gate in record time. It did not appear as though the Enigma followed it through the gate. Nonetheless, the Phoenix maintained it's sense of urgency from jump gate to jump gate until it was back in the Nexus system.