From: George Aranda <tarc_say@xxxxx.xxx.xxx>
Date: Fri Jan 7, 2000 7:33am
Subject: Nefar Illes and his Force Worms [long]
The Tale of Nefar Illes and his Force Worms.
This is the story of Jedi Master and Healer, Nefar Iles and his Force Worms.
Master Iles was born several centuries after the Great Sith War. Taken into the Praxeum, he showed an affinity for the healing arts during his youth. As a Padawan he was the best healer the Praxeum had seen for centuries, excelling in healing through the Force as well as developing vaccines, antidotes and cures using natural remedies. Somehow the Force was able to guide him to treatments that might seem illogical or even dangerous at first, but ultimately proved curative.
His greatest challenge as a young Jedi Padawan was battling a deadly disease known as 'The Grey'. It was an insidious disease that attacked the nervous system, paralysing it before rotting it, leaving useless grey flesh behind. This disease was wiping out a small planet of Pitinkin 10. A small group of Jedi Healers led by Nefar's Master were sent to this planet to help the local populace find a cure. However, the Jedi had underestimated the spread of this disease and the Jedi themselves became infected. Soon after this the Republic quarantined the planet to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Jedi worked relentlessly, trying one possible cure, then another and another. The local populace continued to die, and eventually as the Jedi began to weaken and eventually several died. Quickly it became a race to save themselves as well the people of Pitinkin 10. Nefar and his Master were the only Jedi's remaining, the young Padawan having his left hand infected and quickly greying. Working with doctors of Pitikin 10 they finally found a cure, however, Nefar's Master had died only days before the cure was found. The Padawan had tried to cure his Master through the Force, but was unable to stop the disease. He himself lost his left eye to the insidious disease. The cure only stopped the disease, it did not cure the damage already done.
Nefar returned to Coruscant a hero. The Jedi Council bestowed the rank of Jedi Knight upon Nefar and granted him a sabattical to recover from his experience to meditate and mourn the loss of his Master. When offered a prosthetic limb, Nefar refused, choosing to keep his useless limb as a reminder of Pitinkin 10. A reminder of his success….and of his failure to save his Master and his fellow Jedi.
He ventured to Feltar, a retreat that many Jedi have sojourned. He remained there for several months. Meditating, contemplating what had happened and how it was the way of the Force. However, the Knight could not accept this. He felt that more lives could have been saved through the Force. However, healing by Transferring of the Force from the healer was very difficult and very limited when there were only a handful of Jedi. He needed an easier way to heal through the Force.
He did not return to the Jedi.
He remained on the planet for years, exploring the great forest world, finding new and exotic herbs that he sensed could be used as cures, but none were 'the one'. He was visited several times by the Council, but he could not be swayed from his quest. He KNEW the cure was on this world. He SENSED it, but could not find it.
After 13 years of searching he finally sensed a muted presence. But it was not human, not even that of an animal. Searching, he found a region of the forest where it was strongest. But it was all around him, in the ground, the trees, beneath the rocks. After hours he howled in frustration. He came this far and he was SO close. Where was it!?
After another hour he thumbed his lightsaber, the azure blade sprang into existence with a familiar hum. He sliced into one of the smaller trees. After it fell he examined the truck, it was swarming with small worms. Taking one of the worms and holding it, he sensed a muted Force energy coming from the creatures. Taking several as samples, he studied them for weeks. A midichorian scan showed extremely high levels, especially for a creature of this size.
He found they were like leeches of other worlds. They could be applied to wounds, to clean them and speed up the healing process. While he was happy with this new finding, he believed that the healing processes of these creatures could be increased through the Force. The midichlorians had to be the key. Another envoy of the Council arrived, and was very excited to find the Jedi Knight to be alive and with such an exciting find. The Council sent 2 Padawans to help Nefar, much to annoyance. But they helped his study, they provided ideas he would never have thought.
In time he learned that Force energy could be transferred into a group of worms. They glowed an incandescant blue and could retain the Force energy for up to a month, afterwhich they returned to their normal state. This could be extended by packing a box with their native wood. When glowing, the worms would greatly speed up the healing process, beyond that of a normal medpac. However, their efficacy was dependant on the strength of the user Transferring their Force Energy.
He realised that the creatures worked by realigning the flow of the Force throughout a wound or injury. This correction of the flow allowed for quicker regrowth and meant much reduced recovery times.
However, difficulties were encountered. Something particular about the wood in the trees meant they were difficult, if not impossible to breed away from the trees. The trees themselves (Keesa Trees) were difficult, but not impossible to grow off-world. If the worms returned to their normal state, it was much harder to Transfer Force energy into them.
In time, Nefar was able to transfer large amount of Force energy into the creatures. One night, while alone, he carefully sliced into his dead left arm. Pushing a pack of worms into the wound he yelled in pain as the creatures quickly travelled to different parts of his arm. Screaming, he fell into unconsciousness. Waking up a day later, in his tent, he found that they Grey in his arm was much reduced. Applying them again and again each day, he eventually healed his arm. Overjoyed, he tried to his heal his eye. Much to his disappointment, the structure of the eye proved to be too complicated to be repaired by the worms.
This did not deter the now middle aged Jedi Knight. As his arm was healed, so was his resolve. He returned to Coruscant to teach others of his findings, of the worms and how they could be used. At the age of 48 he was bestowed the rank of Jedi Master.
[The rest of this tale concluded in the next post…sometime next week! Now onto the worms themselves…]
Force Worms
A standard pack of Force Worms contains approximately 15 worms.
In their natural state they are a dull grey, approximately 4 centimeters long. The worms glow an incandescent blue when filled with Force energy. They can be applied on the flesh or inside of the body. They are found only in Keesa trees, eating the pulp and the bark.
Transferring Force Energy
Transferring Force Energy into the worms is done using 'Transfer Force'. However, the time to use is an hour and the Jedi must be physically touching the worms. Only one pack can be made at a time in this way.
Efficacy of the Force Worms
The efficacy is determined by subtracting the Alter Roll used in the Transfer Force from a moderate difficulty of 13.
- Failing the roll means the worms are unchanged. However, the difficulty of Transferring Force energy into them is increased on level of difficulty each time it is failed. - Beating the roll of 13 by 0-5 means that the Force Worms are as effective as using a medpac. - Beating the roll by 6-15 means that the Force Worms are one level of difficulty more effective than a medpac. (ie. Healing a person from a wounded level now is Very Easy) - Beating the roll by 16-25 means that the Force Worms are two levels of difficulty more effective than a medpac. (ie. Healing a person from an incapacitated level now is Very Easy) - Beating the roll by 25+ means that the Force Worms are two levels of difficulty more effective than a medpac. (ie. Healing a person from a Mortally Wounded level now is Very Easy)
Usage:
Force Worms are used in exactly the same manner as a medpac, although it's efficacy may vary (see above).
Limitations:
- Force Worms cannot heal brain or eye damage due to the complexity of the organs - They can only retain Force Energy for one month, two if kept within a Keesa tree, or a pack filled with Keesa bark. - Force Worms cannot reverse or stop the effects of poisons - They cannot heal inorganic material (ie. Conventional Droids) - (anyone got any other ideas?)
How do I use this in a game?
I simply designed this as a way a Jedi can be a more effective healer. While very useful, it is also limited in that a Jedi has to expend a Force Point in their creation and it will only last one or two months, with various levels of efficacy. They can be merely used as effective healing devices or WONDERFUL PLOT DEVICES.
Possible plots:
- Further research may indicate that if consumed in large quantities, the Force Worms can extend the life of someone that consumes them. Immortality perhaps? - Dark Side energy may have different effects on the worms and those healed with them. Imagine a person healed (?) with Dark Side Energy. - A Force Vampire (I am creating a new Force Vampire SB with Scott Stodsgill) craves Force Energy, what better way to carry some Force Energy? - The Force Worms were discovered after TOTJ, their secrets did not reach the time of TPM. Where did these secrets go? - Rumours circulate that a person claiming to be Nefar Illes has been found on a remote planet, alive, some 1500 years after he has been reported missing! - It has been found, that after exposure to ion radiation, the worms eat starship electronics, gorging themselves to the size of small dogs.
***
Anyway, I hope you guys like this idea. I sent this to the main list and got NO FEEDBACK, zero, zilch, nada. I find this list is more helpful, so if anyone out there can let me know what they think of this idea, I would really really appreciate it!!
Thanks
George Aranda
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For a Jedi-related SWRPG site, check out
Master Koman's Jedi Praxeum http://www.access.net.au/~garanda/
This year, Santa's bringing you Yahoo! Australia & NZ Shopping - http://au.shopping.yahoo.com
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