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This was the last session of the story-arc which pitted the PCs against Purity First for control of the planet Mongui. It was also the deadliest session of the campaign, as half of the group was killed in the final battle. The set-up "Turn yourselves in or the planet gets it!" was a classic dilemma, and the internal dissension amongst the PCs about what to do contributed to the carnage. Krevlax and Aaray were willing to risk their lives to save the civilians on Mongui, while Arresta and Doxen seemed genuinely concerned but ultimately too selfish to take the risk. This led to an odd, almost single-file attack on the Purity First Grand Chancellor: Aaray went in first and got killed, and then Krevlax went in and got killed, and then Doxen and Arresta arrived to clean everything up. So the two more heroic PCs died, while the two more craven ones survived! The fun and interesting thing about RPG stories is that the good guys don't always win . . .
A few other things that were interesting about this session:
* Daal's encounter with his dad. After playing it cool in their first encounters, the player running Daal really brought the quality role-playing this time around and it led to a moving moment.
* This session was shortly after we instituted a new house rule: natural 1s on skill checks are critical fumbles. Thus, Arresta's attempt to perform first aid on the guard ended up killing the poor bastard because she rolled a natural 1.
* Several adventure hooks were dangled in this session: Tarn's location, A'tel's trap, and Doxen's missing Senator friend. The last one evolved out of a desire of Doxen's player to have a story-line where his character could learn the ways of the Force and become a shaman. I like to lay out several possible hooks so that the players don't feel rail-roaded, but it of course does lead to some logistical difficulties if the PCs split up and try to follow multiple hooks simultaneously. Throughout the campaign, I handled this by either following both groups, with players who don't have their main characters present running NPCs or back-up characters, or by saying off the bat "we'll go wherever the majority of PCs go, and everything else will happen off-camera in the background."
* More classic Stefan Cassadine. Not only does he engineer the destruction of the city's food and water supply, he basically forces Arresta to forgive him for the attempted mindwipe in exchange for permission for her to go fight Purity First. By any objective standards he's a diabolical villain, but somehow became one of the most admired NPCs in our campaign.
With a resounding crash, the massive broadcast tower of the Mongui communications centre has been destroyed. As its assailants escape into the night, the deserted streets and powerless homes of Mongui are lit only by the reflected light of the massive gas giant Korvalis, around which Mongui orbits. But, as the sounds of battle from the direction of the starport begin to subside, a new star in the night sky begins to descend: The Purity First flagship, damaged and sluggish, makes its way to the Palace, bringing a very angry Grand Inquisitor….
Light years away, in the Corporate Sector, Daal Mordo, still travelling in the life boat from the Sun Runner II, arrives to find a long line of ships waiting to begin the lengthy arrival process on Etti IV. However, thanks to an altered transponder signal which recognizes his ship as belonging to an “ambassador,” he receives priority clearance to land at the Anomaly Research Centre (ARC). He finds the facility full of busy technicians, rushing about with great excitement. One of his own Computer Science Department technicians welcomes him back and informs him that the “signal analysis” is now complete, but that his team is curious about what the other departments are up to because there’s been an unusual amount of activity recently.
Once he is alone, Daal seeks out his father and, advising caution, takes the elder Duro across town to a park where they can speak privately. Daal advises his father that he wants to send his parents to a safe place, but to do so, he needs to find where Jocasta has been keeping his mother. Unfortunately, his father has no leads to share. Still, father and son are able to enjoy some quality time together after years of painful separation.
Meanwhile, on Mongui, Arresta and Doxen contact Array and Krevlax and each pair updates the other on their success at the communications tower. After hearing about how their comrades captured a tank, Arresta and Doxen encounter a strange sight: a conscript, covered in blood and muttering that everything has been destroyed and “we’re all going to starve” collapses nearby. Arresta recognizes the man as a kindly former palace guard who used to help the D’Avilos sisters sneak out of the palace from time to time. She tries to help him, but he has an allergic reaction to the medical stimulant and suffers a fatal heart attack. Suddenly, an announcement is broadcast through the dead conscript’s comlink, as well as the communications system in the purloined tank. “Immediate retreat – withdrawal plan number four”. Array convinces the others to give him thirty minutes to see if he can track down some Purity First soldiers to question.
While they are waiting, Arresta receives a text message on Stefan’s frequency: “Complete success. Starport secured. Rendezvous at Knife’s Edge, Starbay 37”. Arresta and Doxen are cautious, concerned as to the validity of the message. They begin the trek towards the starport but plan to send a request for validation as they get closer. While Krevlax guards the tank, Array stalks two members of Purity First, but his noticeable armour makes stealth difficult and he is spotted. He chases after the fleeing guards but they are able to evade him by splitting up and then taking cover.
With Doxen advising her to avoid using proper names or any mention of her daughter (for fear Purity First will recognize Allegra as potential leverage), Arresta sends Stefan a text that only he would be able to answer: “Name the hotel where we broke the bed”. As they wait for a response, they observe more departing Purity First conscripts and even several retreating Phalanx formations. Many of the conscripts have taken to abandoning their armour. Arresta and Doxen pick up two abandoned helmets in case the protective eye gear will come in handy…
A response is retrieved which confirms the original text did come from Stefan and, moreover, that he is in a jovial mood: “Why Pet, you flatter me. After this is over, we’ll return to the Crystal Hotel on Ord Mantell and try to do it again.”
The reason for Stefan’s good mood is obvious as Arresta and Doxen approach Starbay 37. Utter devastation is everywhere – piles of rubble, smoking wreckage and body after body wearing the armour of Purity First. Even worse, for the citizens of Mongui, is the fact that the massive tankers which store the city's imported food and water have been destroyed. Taken aback at the carnage, Arresta and Doxen realize that there is little chance of helping any of the wounded – the nearest hospitals are without power and they lack vehicles to provide transport. Doxen mentions that he continues to be somewhat surprised by the more compassionate side of his personality that is emerging . . . he is unused to such feelings of concern and guilt.
Arriving at The Knife’s Edge, Arresta is relieved to see it is still intact, if somewhat scorched. Miklos is hard at work with a spanner, while Siege Commander Korg can be heard rejoicing at the enjoyment he took in destroying the spaceport. Stefan, whose voice also sounds quite pleased, assures him that more opportunities for destruction are sure to be in the offering. Spotting his wife, Stefan embraces her and kisses her soundly. He is pleased at the progress of his plan and delighted that they are one step closer to completing this mission and fulfilling his obligation to Jocasta. He hands Arresta a communiqué that was received before the ship landed on the planet. He advises her that there are separate messages for Doxen and for Array. The Princess opens her message: “Arresta – I have received disturbing news. I need you, your husband, Daal and Doxen to meet me at a secure location. Please meet me at the Green Wookiee Fruit & Vegetable Shipping Co. warehouse on Coruscant. Co-ordinates included in the attachment.” The message is formally signed from “General A’tel Por’ten of the GAR”.
The Princess is confused by the cryptic and, in her opinion, strangely formal, message. She shows it to Stefan who agrees it appears somewhat suspicious. He advises though, that he is in a mood to indulge her and if she wishes to go to Coruscant, they can scout the location in advance to ensure that it is safe. Arresta seeks out Doxen and Stefan passes along his message, the contents of which upsets the Ewok greatly. Arresta and Doxen trade messages and she sees that he has received a holo-transmission which indicates that his friend, Senator Orelus, has been kidnapped by a band of Rodian pirates who have made a cryptic (or poorly translated) demand that “the furry little freak come rescue him before his furry freak friends get even worse where he came from.” Doxen is anxious to leave the planet but, even when he finds a shuttle (with a pilot he is able to bully), Array reminds him that with the orbital platforms in place, it will be difficult for him to leave safely. Array is unable to open his own message (finding it heavily encrypted) and he also ends up with a strange rash on his hand after he touches the message cylinder. Arresta receives a message that Korkoth has emerged from the sewers and is amusing himself at a local bar. She sends members of the resistance to pick him up.
Arresta and Doxen use the holotranceiver on The Knife’s Edge and although they are unable to reach A’tel, they are able to reach Daal, who rather grumpily informs them that he is too busy to do much to help them. He refuses to share any information with Arresta about Tarn, advising her that it would be better if they spoke in person. He does agree to pass along instructions from the Princess to various aid organizations so that they can get a jump start on sending food and water to Mongui. Daal, Arresta, and Doxen discuss the message from A’tel and decide that Daal will keep trying to reach their Jedi friend, while the others wrap up the situation on Mongui before returning to Etti IV for an in-person conference. Leaving the cockpit, they are in a corridor when a door opens and Horelius Creen emerges. He announces to Arresta that is it time for them to finish their conversation. Doxen waits until she assures him that she is safe, before heading off to find Array.
Inside Creen’s cabin, the Jedi Master asks point blank if Arresta knows the location of Tarn Tamarand. When Arresta coolly asks him if he is referring “ to the Tarn Tamarand that she is meant to have forgotten” he is amused at her strength of mind. They discuss his desire to track down both Jocasta and Tarn to make certain that they will not interfere with his plans. Arresta finally admits to Creen that although she does not know his location, that Tarn has been contacting her through her dreams and more recently, when she was awake. Creen appears impressed, commenting that Tarn has become “much stronger than he expected”. Arresta agrees to allow Creen access to her mind, in exchange for allowing her to journey with him when he goes to seek out Tarn’s location. She suggests that they will require a ship, which may take time to secure, as she will not rob Stefan of The Knife’s Edge. Creen suggests that he could over-power Stefan’s mind and could even “modify” him to secure compliance. Recognizing the irony, Arresta insists that she prefers her husband exactly as he is and does not want him “altered”. Creen touches Arresta’s forehead and, with a feeling of intense pain, her life begins to flash before her eyes, the moments with Tarn standing out in stark contrast. In what seems like both an eternity and bare seconds later, she finds herself in the corridor, cheeks wet with tears, but with the certain knowledge of Tarn’s most recent location.
Shortly thereafter, a broadcast booms across the various communication frequencies open on Mongui. The voice of the Grand Inquisitor announces that Mongui is a corrupt society which has sunk low and that he means to eliminate the rebellion and guarantee victory for Purity First. To that end, he announces a one hour deadline after which, if the ringleaders of the rebellion do not surrender themselves, he will destroy the atmospheric shield generator by orbital bombardment, condemning most of the population of Mongui to death by suffocation.
After a momentary silence as the stunned rebels stare at one another, Stefan begins to laugh. In his opinion, Purity First has admitted defeat and over-played their hand. The rebels are more than able to ride out the lack of atmosphere by staying inside the Knife’s Edge and the condition of the planet is immaterial to his plans. The others, including Arresta, desperately attempt to strategize any way to stop Purity First from carrying out this threat. A quick brainstorming session does not yield any strong solutions: Seige Commander Korg could not stand up to the artillery on the capital ship, even suicide attacks are unlikely to do enough damage and it would be extremely difficult to successfully compromise the ship’s own atmosphere generators to the point that Purity First would hesitate to carry out their plan.
Across town, Krevlax attempts to rally the now-freed prisoners to join the cause of the resistance. Although he inspires a few of them to gather arms, the rest choose instead to flee. Corinne and her supporters journey towards the spaceport, hoping to convince her sister and brother-in-law to surrender themselves in order to save the populace.
Aboard The Knife’s Edge, the situation is escalating: Stefan sees no upside to surrendering – Purity First will then retain control of the planet and will have a toehold to spread to other worlds – and, moreover, he refuses to allow his wife to participate in any of the plans the others are trying to conceive. As the couple argues, Array’s frustration mounts, to the point where he approaches and draws a gun, demanding that Stefan surrender himself. Further, he accuses Cassadine of being the cause of both the encryption of his personal message, as well as the cause of the injury to his hand. While Arresta draws her own weapons, firmly standing at her husband’s side, Stefan contemptuously disarms the clone and suggests that Array is free to turn himself in if he so desires. Arresta adds that as far as she is concerned, Array is in no position to pass judgement as he has willingly supported and followed all of Stefan’s orders. Doxen argues loudly that they do not have the time for this, just as Corinne arrives. She comes aboard and asks Arresta and Stefan to join her in surrender. They advise that doing so will not achieve her goals, but perhaps, if she and Array pretend to surrender, it could act as some kind of diversion. Corinne suggests that instead, they challenge the Grand Inquisitor to a duel, with a selection of his best men, in exchange for the planet. Array has reached his limit and he departs, calling back that he will give them twenty-nine minutes – after that, he will surrender himself in hopes of gaining more time.
Arresta pulls her husband aside and passionately declares to him that she wants to participate in the attempt to save the populace. He remarks that her philanthropic side is something he finds amusing, if impractical, but he is unwilling to risk her life. She tells him in no uncertain terms that she cannot look her daughter in the eye if she does not try to save these people. Reluctantly, Stefan agrees to allow her to participate on the condition that she forgives him for what “may or may not have” happened with Master Creen. With little time remaining, Arresta is quick to agree. As they return to the others, Stefan warns her that if she is seriously hurt, he will take revenge on anyone who talked her into what he still believes is a foolishly risky plan. Arresta contacts the Grand Inquisitor and questions his courage in a bid to goad him into allowing a group duel for the planet; however, he bristles at the insult and not only refuses, but also has the Purity First flagship bombard a Mongui residential area in retaliation.
Outside the palace, Array tries a different tactic, respectfully challenging the Grand Inquisitor to a one on one contest with no stakes other than their own lives. Over the comlink, Array spits one last insult at Stefan before closing the channel and contacting his fellow Null Arc, advising that he may be about to die – and that if he does revenge should be taken against the crime lord Stefan Cassadine. He heads for the throne room, where he finds the Grand Inquisitor (an imposing, red-cloaked figure wearing a strange facemask) flanked by two of his elite bodyguards. Array and the Grand Inquisitor quickly square off. The Clone fires blaster bolts and throws grenades, while the Grand Inquisitor wields strange, elongating chains attached to each wrist. The chains flail about as if alive themselves, lashing Array from seemingly every direction. Broken and bloodied, the Clone is wrapped up in the chains and pulled close to the Grand Inquisitor. Summoning the last of his strength, and realizing he is about to die, Array manages to activate one last grenade and reach out towards his enemy’s face. The explosion literally rips off half of the Grand Inquisitor’s jaws, revealing servos and circuit boards—the Grand Inquisitor is a droid! With an outraged screech, the Grand Inquisitor tenses his mechanical arms and then pulls them sharply in opposite directions, ripping the dying Clone in half.
Krevlax, meanwhile, has heard the various conversations via comlink and has decided to head toward the palace as well. He arrives outside the palace just seconds after Array’s death to find his ally’s body and the Grand Inquisitor attempting to cover his face with his cloak, waving his bodyguards back. The enraged Anx charges the Grand Inquisitor and wraps his massive arms around his chest, trying to squeeze his enemy into pulp. However, Purity First has heard about their foe’s tactics and have prepared themselves by wearing deadly stun cloaks: even as Krevlax holds on with the last of his strength, electricity courses through his body.
With two of their companions already having placed themselves in mortal danger, Arresta and Doxen finally decide to take action. Doxen hotwires a speeder, Arresta gives her husband a parting kiss good-bye, and the two head toward the palace. Before they leave, Stefan promises to have their escape route ready.
Krevlax, roaring in anger, uses his powerful arms to slowly crush the Grand Inquisitor. Even as his skin begins to char from the coruscating electricity, Krevlax’s adrenaline and thirst for vengeance against Purity First allows him tighten his grip until the body of the Grand Inquisitor crumples and the head of the droid pops off in a shower of sparks, shocking the watching Purity First guards who are aghast as their leader both falls and is revealed as a fraud.
The guards, unwilling to believe they have followed a non-human, being shouting of trickery and attack the wounded Anx just as Arresta and Doxen finally arrive. Taking in the scene, Doxen draws his rifle and takes aim at the guards battling Krevlax, while the Princess dashes over to the body of the fallen Inquisitor. Transmitting a visual signal to the Purity First flagship, Arresta persuades them that they have been following a lie. She asks if they are willing to kill men, women and children – human lives – following the orders of a droid. She calls on them to abandon Mongui and, with this shock piled on to the catastrophic defeat of the past days, they comply. The capital ship lifts off, and Mongui is free.
Victory comes at price however, as a Purity First bayonet strikes home and Krevlax falls, fatally wounded. Arresta and Doxen engage in a furious blaster battle with the remaining bodyguards. Arresta suffers serious bayonet wounds before Doxen’s deadly accuracy finishes off their foes.
Doxen approaches the body of the fallen Array and, recalling what he observed during the battle for the Joriander Beacon, he removes the clone’s ID tag, and for good measure, his weaponry. Arresta wearily sits on the dais below the throne and observes to Doxen that it is strange to be back in the home she grew up in, and to see the throne that her father once sat on. She notes that she never wanted to return to Mongui. As Corinne arrives and the sisters are reunited, Arresta advises Corinne that Mongui is now her responsibility and she hopes it was worth the cost paid in blood.
Stefan arrives with The Knife’s Edge and the sisters bid one another farewell. Doxen extracts a promise from Corinne that she will honour Array and Krevlax with statues memorializing their sacrifices. Arresta reunites with husband and, along with Doxen, they depart for Etti IV. Arresta keeps her promise to Stefan and they celebrate their success on Mongui. She hides the good-bye letter she has encrypted in their bedroom on the Knife’s Edge and devotes herself to making him happy, knowing that at some point, she will be forced to betray him by going with Creen to rescue Tarn.
[A.G. 1021]
When The Knife’s Edge arrives on Mongui, they find that the ARC is in “wrap-up” mode, with preparations under way to shut down the facility and to move on to the next “phase” of the project. Arresta and Stefan are reunited with their daughter and arrange to take up residence for a time in the rented home where their bodyguard and the nanny droid have been looking after the baby. Arresta seeks out Daal and they discuss what has been happening. Daal takes the Princess aside and informs her that, although his memories are sketchy, he believes Tarn (and Jocasta) to be prisoners on an unknown planet. Arresta informs him that she has the location and that she will be seeking Tarn out, along with Master Creen. Daal agrees to help her, if she is willing to help him. He needs assistance to provide him with the time required to hack into the ARC computer system (upgraded before her departure by Sunset Cassandra). Arresta is happy to do whatever she can to help her friend, but comments that his attitude seems unusually despondent. She suggests that Doxen would also be of great use to them. Daal suggests that they can use this opportunity to destroy the ARC. He also provides Arresta a copy of his team’s analysis of the anomaly signal. Arresta, recalling her promise to Jocasta to use her influence to persuade her friends, family, and associates not to interfere with the corsair’s plans, suggests to him that there is no need for that – it will not help him find his mother and may anger Jocasta (even if she is currently missing). They exchange differing opinions of Jocasta – with Arresta noting that Jocasta usually keeps her word, while Daal notes her habit of blackmail and coercion.
Doxen is also seeking assistance in his own mission. He contacts Ms. Prentiss and asks her to investigate what information is available regarding the investigation into the kidnapping of Senator Orelius. In time, she is able to tell him that authorities in the Republic are baffled and have few leads. Turning to Arresta, Doxen asks her to task her intelligence network to help him track down the whereabouts of the Rodian pirates. When he speaks with Daal, the Duro also agrees to help, but asks Doxen too to assist in his plan to access the computers in order to find his mother.
Arresta fears that Stefan will discover her plans to leave with Creen and asks Daal to assist her in finding a ship. He finds a potential pilot and a ship which could be of use. Citing his employers’ need for privacy and discretion, he advises the pilot that he will be in touch to set up a meeting.
Daal, Doxen and Arresta make a last ditch effort to reach A’tel, and this time, after re-routing through several channels, they are successful. Arresta advises him that they will be unable to meet him on Coruscant and inquire as to his “disturbing news”. He says he cannot tell them over this channel, but suggests an alternate meeting site. They ask him to join them on Etti IV and suggest that after they resolve some other issues, they may be free to help him with whatever problem he has encountered.
On board the Majestic, A’tel confers with Admiral Wav about the plan to lure his former comrades into Republic custody. The two decide that A’tel will proceed to Etti IV and, once he rejoins his former comrades and learns where they are headed, he will radio ahead so that the G.A.R. can be waiting.
After a brief pause, A’tel agrees to journey to the Corporate Sector, but warns that the journey may take some time. Arresta tells him that if they are unable to wait for him, hopefully they will all live to meet again. She tells him that after everything the Jedi Council and Tarn put her through, which turned her against the Order, he has somewhat restored her faith in the Jedi and she would feel much reassured if he were able to make it.
Arresta, Doxen and Daal discuss how they will distract the employees of the ARC during the length of time required for Daal to hack the system. Doxen suggests that they throw an enormous party, supposedly to celebrate the success of the venture, but in reality to distract and incapacitate the ARC employees. Arresta declines to secure the “booze and hookers” that Doxen requests, but the Princess does agree that his party suggestion has merit and agrees to take on the role of event planner.
And, across the galaxy, a fleet of freighters sent from the ARC arrive on Mongui and begin the construction of something enormous…..
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