Iron_Chef
First Post
Okay, thanks to Rev R and some others responding to my threads here and at ENWorld asking for help, I've got a direction to go in and the campaign is starting to write itself again. 
One other possibility I had forgotten about, is that the Consular is on friendly terms with the Twi'Lek crime lord Cotaan (who represents the Exchange). He could convince Cotaan (for the right price) to dig up some dirt on Trago, (or, barring that, frame him) or provide some other aid. However, I had thought Cotaan was really Darth Omara's shapeshifting Dark Apprentice in disguise (the PCs are totally unaware of this, so I can still change it if necessary). The real Cotaan would therefore have been slain before ever meeting the PCs. So, if the PCs reach out to "Cotaan" now, they are really reaching out to Darth Omara, LOL. What kind of aid does she provide in this instance? The cut scene below might give you some insight.
Here is the cut scene to the start of the next session:
EXT. SITH INTERDICTOR CLASS BATTLE CRUISER BLACK REIGN.
The cold metal hulk of the starship drifts through a sea of endless night.
INT. PRIVATE STATE ROOM.
The Dark Apprentice turns away from the holo-news report and clicks a shiny black helmet into place. An alert bleeps. The holo-news report terminates as a black gloved hand slides over a panel and engages the holoprojector. The tiny figure of a hooded woman appears, flickering blue static.
DARK APPRENTICE (voice electronically distorted by mask)
“Greetings, my mistress. Have you seen the news?”
DARTH OMARA (vexed)
“I have indeed.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“And are you not pleased by what your hand has wrought? Darth Malak must be overjoyed---”
DARTH OMARA
“I care not for the opinions of Darth Malak. This was not the result I intended.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“But surely---surely you intended the destruction of the Jedi Council and the humiliating dishonor of Tegaris Ren?”
DARTH OMARA
“But the entire Council did not die. Trago still lives. Worse, he is now in control of the Order. How can I be pleased to see my greatest enemy risen to greatness?”
DARK APPRENTICE
“But I had thought---”
DARTH OMARA
“You are not fit to think! You are fit only to carry out what tasks I give you. Ren was either more clever than I thought, or Trago more stupid. Still… we can turn this to our advantage.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“I am yours to command.”
DARTH OMARA
“You will proceed to Taris, and from there to Dantooine. Be quick about it; Malak intends to mount a major offensive now that the Jedi are in disarray. Once there, you are to make sure the remainder of the Council dies, one by one. Save Trago for last; I want him to taste fear and know in the end that I am his death.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“What about Ren?”
DARTH OMARA
“Ren has suffered much. Speak to him. Perhaps he can be turned to the Dark Side now that he is an outcast and stripped of everything, as I once was.”
DARK APPRENTICE (warily)
“You would have him be your apprentice again?”
DARTH OMARA (chuckling)
“Have I said you have displeased me? No; I would have him be your apprentice. There is much you could teach him, as I have taught you. Ren is a bonus, my dear, but my old padawan is no longer of any great strategic value to me. Turn him or kill him, it matters not.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“How shall he be turned, mistress? He resisted the trap I laid for him on Naalol.”
DARTH OMARA
“If he can be turned, Trago is the key. It is Trago who has played him, Trago who has crushed and humiliated him. Revenge will be the key, as it was with me… Yes! If Ren would truly join us, HE is to kill Trago. Once he starts down this path, there will be no turning back… If he fails or refuses, slay him at once, for he will have proven his weakness. Then destroy Trago yourself.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“He will join us or die, my mistress.”
The holo-image of the hooded woman winks out.
INT. BRIDGE.
A young Sith naval officer sits in the command chair, lost in thought, gazing out at the thousand stars winking back at him from the main viewscreen. The Dark Apprentice glides up from behind and lays a black gloved hand on the officer’s shoulder.
DARK APPRENTICE
“The chair suits you, Captain Glaves.”
CAPTAIN GLAVES (startled)
“Oh! It’s you. Must you always be sneaking about?”
DARK APPRENTICE
“To be one with the Shadow is to be one with Sith.”
CAPTAIN GLAVES
“Yes… of course. How may I help you?”
DARK APPRENTICE
“I fear we must part ways. My mistress bids the Black Reign take me to the border.”
CAPTAIN GLAVES
“To Taris? But what good can you possibly do there? That’s light years out of my way. I need you here on the ship--- (whispers) Lt. Archer suspects foul play in the death of Captain Starkin…”
DARK APPRENTICE
“I must obey my mistress. If you had played your part as instructed, we would not be having this conversation now… Captain. Very well. Assign Lt. Archer to my shuttle crew and I will take care of him. When he is dead, your command will be secure. Then you will have nothing to fear except the displeasure of my mistress.”
CAPTAIN (gulps)
“I will not fail her.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“See that you do not. Darth Omara is not as forgiving as I am.”
The Dark Apprentice glides off the bridge. The Captain stares at the retreating figure swathed from head to toe in flowing black. He shivers. A bridge officer comes up to his side with a stack of reports and startles him.
BRIDGE OFFICER
“Sir?”
CAPTAIN GLAVES
“Set course for Taris. Maximum speed.”
The bridge officer nods, turns on his heel and departs to speak to the helmsman. Captain Glaves rubs his goatee thoughtfully and stares out into the inky depths of space. It is almost as if he regrets whatever bargain he made to assume command…
CUT TO: ?
One other possibility I had forgotten about, is that the Consular is on friendly terms with the Twi'Lek crime lord Cotaan (who represents the Exchange). He could convince Cotaan (for the right price) to dig up some dirt on Trago, (or, barring that, frame him) or provide some other aid. However, I had thought Cotaan was really Darth Omara's shapeshifting Dark Apprentice in disguise (the PCs are totally unaware of this, so I can still change it if necessary). The real Cotaan would therefore have been slain before ever meeting the PCs. So, if the PCs reach out to "Cotaan" now, they are really reaching out to Darth Omara, LOL. What kind of aid does she provide in this instance? The cut scene below might give you some insight.
Here is the cut scene to the start of the next session:
EXT. SITH INTERDICTOR CLASS BATTLE CRUISER BLACK REIGN.
The cold metal hulk of the starship drifts through a sea of endless night.
INT. PRIVATE STATE ROOM.
The Dark Apprentice turns away from the holo-news report and clicks a shiny black helmet into place. An alert bleeps. The holo-news report terminates as a black gloved hand slides over a panel and engages the holoprojector. The tiny figure of a hooded woman appears, flickering blue static.
DARK APPRENTICE (voice electronically distorted by mask)
“Greetings, my mistress. Have you seen the news?”
DARTH OMARA (vexed)
“I have indeed.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“And are you not pleased by what your hand has wrought? Darth Malak must be overjoyed---”
DARTH OMARA
“I care not for the opinions of Darth Malak. This was not the result I intended.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“But surely---surely you intended the destruction of the Jedi Council and the humiliating dishonor of Tegaris Ren?”
DARTH OMARA
“But the entire Council did not die. Trago still lives. Worse, he is now in control of the Order. How can I be pleased to see my greatest enemy risen to greatness?”
DARK APPRENTICE
“But I had thought---”
DARTH OMARA
“You are not fit to think! You are fit only to carry out what tasks I give you. Ren was either more clever than I thought, or Trago more stupid. Still… we can turn this to our advantage.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“I am yours to command.”
DARTH OMARA
“You will proceed to Taris, and from there to Dantooine. Be quick about it; Malak intends to mount a major offensive now that the Jedi are in disarray. Once there, you are to make sure the remainder of the Council dies, one by one. Save Trago for last; I want him to taste fear and know in the end that I am his death.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“What about Ren?”
DARTH OMARA
“Ren has suffered much. Speak to him. Perhaps he can be turned to the Dark Side now that he is an outcast and stripped of everything, as I once was.”
DARK APPRENTICE (warily)
“You would have him be your apprentice again?”
DARTH OMARA (chuckling)
“Have I said you have displeased me? No; I would have him be your apprentice. There is much you could teach him, as I have taught you. Ren is a bonus, my dear, but my old padawan is no longer of any great strategic value to me. Turn him or kill him, it matters not.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“How shall he be turned, mistress? He resisted the trap I laid for him on Naalol.”
DARTH OMARA
“If he can be turned, Trago is the key. It is Trago who has played him, Trago who has crushed and humiliated him. Revenge will be the key, as it was with me… Yes! If Ren would truly join us, HE is to kill Trago. Once he starts down this path, there will be no turning back… If he fails or refuses, slay him at once, for he will have proven his weakness. Then destroy Trago yourself.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“He will join us or die, my mistress.”
The holo-image of the hooded woman winks out.
INT. BRIDGE.
A young Sith naval officer sits in the command chair, lost in thought, gazing out at the thousand stars winking back at him from the main viewscreen. The Dark Apprentice glides up from behind and lays a black gloved hand on the officer’s shoulder.
DARK APPRENTICE
“The chair suits you, Captain Glaves.”
CAPTAIN GLAVES (startled)
“Oh! It’s you. Must you always be sneaking about?”
DARK APPRENTICE
“To be one with the Shadow is to be one with Sith.”
CAPTAIN GLAVES
“Yes… of course. How may I help you?”
DARK APPRENTICE
“I fear we must part ways. My mistress bids the Black Reign take me to the border.”
CAPTAIN GLAVES
“To Taris? But what good can you possibly do there? That’s light years out of my way. I need you here on the ship--- (whispers) Lt. Archer suspects foul play in the death of Captain Starkin…”
DARK APPRENTICE
“I must obey my mistress. If you had played your part as instructed, we would not be having this conversation now… Captain. Very well. Assign Lt. Archer to my shuttle crew and I will take care of him. When he is dead, your command will be secure. Then you will have nothing to fear except the displeasure of my mistress.”
CAPTAIN (gulps)
“I will not fail her.”
DARK APPRENTICE
“See that you do not. Darth Omara is not as forgiving as I am.”
The Dark Apprentice glides off the bridge. The Captain stares at the retreating figure swathed from head to toe in flowing black. He shivers. A bridge officer comes up to his side with a stack of reports and startles him.
BRIDGE OFFICER
“Sir?”
CAPTAIN GLAVES
“Set course for Taris. Maximum speed.”
The bridge officer nods, turns on his heel and departs to speak to the helmsman. Captain Glaves rubs his goatee thoughtfully and stares out into the inky depths of space. It is almost as if he regrets whatever bargain he made to assume command…
CUT TO: ?
