This campaign is set shortly after the events of the Star Wars
Trilogy, simultaneously with the novels. It is set at an edge of
known space, and will be little effected by the events of the
novels.
Setting:
The campaign is set in the Yaeger sector, an area of space on
the outside of the Correlian route, between the Expansion area, and
the Mid Rim. The Yaeger sector contain 372 solar systems, and a
pair of small nebulae, the Thorain and the Specter nebula. The
Yaeger is inhabited by seventeen major spacefaring species of
aliens, and nearly two thousand non -spacefaring intelligent races.
History:
The Yaeger Sector was first discovered by human settlers
during one of the periods of expansion that the Old Republic went
through, about 10,000 years ago (Y 0) The first human settlement
in the sector was on the planet of Cothoria, now called Yaeger Prime. The settlers gradually lost
contact with the old Republic due to a pair of factors. One was
the remote nature of the sector, as it was nearly eight weeks
travel from the nearest outpost of the Republic, and the second was
a local hyperspace anomaly that prevented any form of radio
communication over hyperspace. The last ship that left to the Old
Republic left in Y 230, and by Y 3,000 the Old Republic had become
nothing more than a shadowy myth.
During this time, the humans of Cothoria began to expand out
across the planet, and soon came into contact with the other
sapient creatures of the planet, the Huthor and the Dimmamyuk. Highly influenced by the
predatory, catlike Huthor, the humans began to refer to themselves
as Ien Yaeger, a term meaning "the hunters" in the local language.
After several years of brutal warfare among the three races, the
Treaty of Miranon was signed in Y 450, and has stood until the
present day, regulating the interaction between the three races.
Inter-stellar travel, a secret that had been lost around Y
350, during the three races war, was rediscovered in Y 1,215. The
Yaeger humans quickly expanded from their homeworld, renamed Yaeger
Prime in Y 1,307. By Y 4,012, the Yaeger humans had built an
empire of 70 worlds. Then, they were attacked by an alien
spacegoing species, the Yrotha. The attack was sudden and
unexpected, and the Ien Yaeger were driven back to about half their
former territory. In order to combat the Yrotha, the Yaeger began
concentrating on military spacecraft, and as a result of several
remarkable innovations, pushed the Yrotha back. By Y 4,550, the
Yaeger had reconquered all of their previously held territory, and
by Y 4,710 they had expanded deeply into the Yrotha's home
territory. The war with the Yrotha ended in Y 4,834 with the
destruction of the last of the Yrotha.
Many of the planets that had been under the rule of the Yrotha
wanted complete independence, and the Yaeger did not have
sufficient resources to maintain control of unwilling colonies.
The Yaeger maintained control of 84 planets and habitable moons
from Y 4,843 to Y 6,721. Then the Yaeger began a war with the Skathelon, another alien race that had began
expanding into the territory formerly held by the Yrotha. The
Skathelon War lasted for 2,450 years, until Y 9,171. The treaty of
Dar Umak ended that war, with the Skathelons agreeing to leave the
area formerly held by the Yrotha. That area was now known as the
Yrotha protectorate, and fell under the nominal control of the
Yaeger.
This situation remained fairly stable until the year Y 9,784.
That year, an 500 capital ship Imperial fleet arrived in the Yaeger
sector. Following old records, the Empire had decided to unify all
the outlying sectors of the Old Republic. This fleet, under the
command of Moff Doran proceeded to 'unify' the Yaeger sector by use
of traditional Imperial methods. After first gaining a number of
client races by promises of future benefits and revenge against
hated enemies, the Imperial fleet began to crush all resistance
against their rule.
Realizing the danger posed by the Imperials, the Yaeger Nation
began pouring all their funds into their already formidable space
navy. In Y 9,811 the Empire set out to destroy the Yaeger Nation.
The Imperial fleet had 487 capital ships remaining from it's
original fleet, and 102 capital ships recruited from the fleets of
client races. The Yaeger nation was able to field only 315 capital
ships, nearly half of which were outdated and under-armed.
As could be expected, the Imperial fleet won all battles
between massed groups of ships. However, despite their outdated
hardware, the Yaeger had been fighting battles in this territory
for over three thousand years, and their tactical knowledge enabled
them to inflict massive damage to the Imperial fleet. By Y 9,843
the Yaeger war had disintegrated into a series of raids by the
Yaeger against the Imperial fleet. Remarkably, the Yaeger managed
to maintain complete control of 35 worlds, including their major
ship yards, and their largest agricultural worlds, and maintain at
least a partial presence on 22 others, including the Yaeger home
world. Moff Doran could never muster enough ships to attack the
Yaeger core, because of the constant raids on the edge of the
Imperial space. In Y 9,853 45 Star Destroyers were sent to aid
Moff Doran's cause.
Again, the Yaeger managed to avoid certain defeat, producing
20 capital ships of their own at that time. The Imperial
reinforcements were forced to be deployed in response to the new
Yaeger ships. Unknown to the Imperials, the Yaeger ships were
little more than shells with hyperdrives, and were no threat
whatsoever. Finally, Moff Doran forced a conflict. In Y 9,858 he
mobilized all available ships, and headed for the Yaeger core. The
Yaeger fleet met him at the Oth'Lenar system. The battle of
Oth'Lenar was technically a victory for the Empire, as they held
the field of battle, and destroyed great numbers of Yaeger ships.
However, in all other ways the Yaeger won the conflict.
During the absence of the main Imperial fleet, Yaeger raiders
were able to completely overcome the planetary defence of sixteen
systems, and land troops on twenty others. In addition, the Yaeger
had developed a weapon that they used to great effect against the
imperial navy. On one of the moonlets of the Oth'Lenar system, the
Yaeger had constructed a super laser, near the power of that on the
Imperial Death Star. That laser took out thirteen Star Destroyers
before the Imperials destroyed it. One of those ships was the
Imperiator, the Super Star Destroyer that was Moff Doran's
flagship. Because of the paranoia of Moff Doran, nobody who had
any great abilities of command was allowed out of his sight, and
all those that could have replaced him died on the Imperiator.
The resulting state of chaos was ideal for the Yaeger raiders
who were able to prey off of Imperial traders with impunity. In
the year Y 9,876 the Death Star was destroyed near Endor. Refugee
ships began to flood the outer sectors of the settled galaxy. The
Yaeger suffered as a result, and were forced back to thirty two
systems, not including Yaeger Prime, which was restored to a state
of war. However, the Imperial disorder worked in the Yaeger's
favor, and by Y 9,895 the Yaeger had taken control of twenty four
more systems, but still could not regain Yaeger Prime. In the year
Y 9,901, the New Republic began expanding into the Yaeger sector.
This is where the campaign begins.
Major Forces:
The Yaeger:
Currently in control of fifty six planets, the Yaeger nation
has the best knowledge of the region, and the second largest space
fleet, after the empire. The Yaeger ships are well made and battle
tested, and the fleet is organized under strong and independent
commanders.
Organization:
The Yaeger are governed by two legislative bodies. The first
is the Gii Yaeg (great hunt) in Exile, is a democratically elected
council, whose members must pass stringent tests of skill, ability,
loyalty and honesty before they can stand for election. The Gii
Yaeg is nominally in control of all aspects of the domestic life of
the Yaeger, and has control over such matters as conscription and
taxation. The Second, the Yaeger High Command, is nominally under
the control of the Gii Yaeg. However, it's leaders are selected
through promotion rather than election, with a Supreme commander
being appointed for a ten year term by the Gii Yaeg. The Yaeger
High Command has complete control over military matters once war is
declared by the Gii Yaeg. Many members of the Gii Yaeg are drawn
from the military, and many who have served on the Yaeg return to
the military, so the bond between the two bodies is a very close
one.
Factions:
Most of the Yaeger are firm believers in the Yaeger system of
government. However, the libertarian nature of the Yaeger culture
has allowed for a fairly well established splinter groups. The
major groups are the Space Gund, the Society of Erebaind, and the
Black Serpents.
The Space Gund:
7,000 members. Despite their sparse numbers, the Space Gund
are one of the most influential and accepted of the splinter
groups. Composed exclusively of combat veterans, the Space Gund is
an organization who do not respect the limitations that the Yaeger
High Command has placed on combat. They believe that the Gund, the
traditional right of free hunting, extends into space combat.
During the Yaeger war the Space Gund proved remarkably effective,
capturing and destroying thousands of Imperial Transports. Now,
they are less useful but more numerous, and their raids on ships
flying New Republic colors could strain the relationships between
the Yaeger and the New Republic.
The Society of Erebaind:
3.4 million members. The Society of Erebaind is what remains
of the animist Yaeger religion. Erebaind was a legendary Yaeger
hunter who died in unarmed combat with Krein'Kath'Katar, a Huthor
renegade who violated the treaty of Miramon. The Society of
Erebaind is dedicated to preserving the virtues that defined that
hero. In a sense, the society can be described as Yaeger
freemasons, with arcane rules and hierarchies, and very little real
purpose. However, the Society is very comfortable with violence,
and have been known to overthrow planetary governments that strayed
too far from the Yaeger ideal.
The Black Serpents:
43,000 members. This most sinister of the Yaeger splinters is
the only one that is openly suppressed by the Yaeger government.
The Black Serpents take the Yaeger hunter ethic to the extreme.
They hunt men. The Black Serpents have perfected the arts of
stealth and cunning, and begin training at a very young age.
Unknown to the rest of the Yaeger, a Black Serpent assassin killed
several Imperial officers that tried to replace Moff Doran after
the battle of Oth'Lenar. In addition, Black Serpent saboteurs
destroyed several Star Destroyers during the Yaeger War. Black
Serpents are employed as assassins, spies, saboteurs, and
underworld enforcers by many of the less savory elements of the
sector, and have an iron grasp on much of the crime on Yaeger held
worlds.
Most of the Black Serpents are nothing more than well trained
and well equipped criminals with a fanatical devotion to their
cause. Those in charge of the order are more than that. The Inner
Circle of the Order of the Black Serpent, or the Shadow Dragons, are a group of evil force
users. The Shadow Dragons are a remnant of a break-off Jedi
faction, the Jhemadan, who accompanied the original settlers into
Yaeger space. The Shadow Dragon's order of spies and informers
enables them to capture and train all those force sensitive born in
Yaeger space, and turn them to the Dark Side. Those that can not
be turned are killed, often by classmates. The Shadow Dragons want
the Yaeger to ally with the empire, and then seize control of that
alliance themselves, and are using the Black Serpents to accomplish
that alliance.
Relationships with the other powers:
The Yaeger have long been sworn enemies of the Empire, and are
still at a state of war with them. However, Black Serpent
operatives have made it seem as though the aggressiveness of the
Empire was the result of Moff Doran's personal viciousness. Many
of the Yaeger now merely wish to reestablish the borders that they
held before the Imperial attack, and may be willing to negotiate
with the Empire after they achieve that goal. The Yaeger's
relationship with the New Republic is rather tense, as many of the
Yaeger believe that it was the New Republic's victory at Endor that
led to the increased imperial presence in their sector, and the
second loss of their homeworld. In addition, the New Republic's
initial overtures of piece and alliance are in many ways similar to
those of the empire, leading to the fear that they are just another
group of would-be conquerors.
The New Republic:
As the New Republic attempts to expand into the Mid Rim areas,
it tries to push out pockets of Imperial influence, so as not to
have an enemy army within their borders. The Yaeger sector is one
of those areas. The empire had long tried to keep what was going
on in the Yaeger sector a secret: After all, if word got out that
there was an area that was resisting Imperial control, others might
begin considering their own resistance. In addition, Yaeger ships
were equipped with weapons, plasma guns that were marginally
superior to the blasters that had been standard since before the
Clone Wars. Until they learned how to construct them, they didn't
want them in anyone else's hands. It was an outlying sector, far
from the usual spacelanes, and word did not get out.
After the New Republic captured many of the Imperial Records
on Coruscant, they discovered the existence of the Imperial venture
in the Yaeger sector, but most of the details were lost. General Caggfyn McCrain, a veteran of the
Rebellion, was assigned to the Yaeger Sector. He has been given a
fairly large amount of resources to rid the area of Imperial
control, and to bring it under the banner of the New Republic if
possible. General McCrain had liberated fourteen worlds from
imperial control, and incorporated them into the New Republic
before he encountered the Yaeger. Five of the Worlds he liberated,
Dumak, Al'Geneb,
Thoria, Shellshaar, and Griant were formerly Yaeger worlds, and the
Yaeger nation wants them back.
Organization:
The New Republic forces in the region are bound by the
decisions of the central command.
Relationship with the other powers:
The New Republic is not yet sure that the Yaeger are all that
they claim. Black Serpent agents that have infiltrated the chain
of command of the New Republic, have raised the possibility that
the Yaeger nation never really existed, and that it is merely a
front by Imperial planetary governors that are looking for a way to
maintain control of a region of space during the New Republic era.
What the Black Serpents hope to accomplish through this course
remains unclear. It is entirely possible that the Shadow Dragons
are working to force war against the New Republic, and then an
alliance with the Empire, an alliance that they intend to control.
The Empire:
After the battle of Oth'Lenar, the Imperial forces in the
region underwent a period of chaos. Planetary governors and
various minor Moffs set up their own private kingdoms, each
composed of two or three worlds. The Imperials did realize that
without some central organization they would soon be destroyed.
Many of these petty rulers attempted to unite these fragmentary
states. Within the last few years there have been eighteen self
appointed Grand Moffs of the Yaeger sector, four Grand Imperial
Warlords, and a pair of Emperors. All of these failed in their
aspirations, destroyed by others that feared their ambitions. In
Y 9,901, An ex-planetary governor by the name of Alhedrin Rulduk succeeded in reuniting the
majority of the imperial fragments, with him as Moff of the Yaeger
sector. Moff Rulduk's mixture of diplomacy, threats, and
assassination have not left him without enemies, and now, at the
beginning of his rule, he is in a very vulnerable position. It
should be noted that the Black Serpents have been influential in
his rise to power. It should also be noted that many of Moff
Rulduk's initial victories were against petty rulers that thought
that they were using him against their own opponents.
Organization:
Moff Rulduk has set up a strict hierarchy of control
throughout his area of control. Other splinters will be discussed
below. It should be noted that Moff Rulduk lacks Moff Doran's
paranoia in regard to his underlings, and has placed many
intelligent individuals in positions of great responsibility.
Factions:
Independent Imperial Worlds:
Moff Rulduk has control of around two thirds of the Imperial
worlds of the Yaeger sector. Many of those worlds that have not
yet incorporated into his empire are controlled by various petty
warlords, similar to the situation that existed before his rise to
power. These worlds have united into an uneasy alliance, hoping to
avoid his control. This alliance in unstable, and will probably
shatter as soon as Moff Rulduk turns his attention toward them.
Core World Refugees:
Heavily armed convoys of Imperial troops have been arriving in
the Yaeger sector ever since the Rebels victory at Endor. These
convoys vary greatly among themselves, but most of them are loyal
to the empire, believing that the Emperor somehow survived the
destruction of the Death Star, and will ally themselves with
whomever seems most loyal to the Emperor. The flow of refugees has
slackened lately, but a convoy large enough to affect the balance
of power could arrive at any point of the campaign.
Dark Lords of the Sith:
One of the two self declared Emperors of the Yaeger sector
survived his loss of power. Always unstable, this "Black Emperor"
went completely insane. He now believes that he was imbued with
the wandering spirit of the Emperor, and he is essentially the
Emperor reincarnated. Regardless of the truth of his claim, the
Black Emperor is a dark jedi of great power, and has been raising
a dedicated cadre of followers known as the Dark Lords of the Sith,
several of whom are dark jedi in their own right. Moff Rulduk sees
this group as a threat to his own power, but the Black Emperor and
his followers have always been able to avoid or destroy those
forces that Moff Rulduk has sent after him. It is entirely
possible that the Black Emperor would be able to unite the Core
World refugees under his own banner, where he to regain some
measure of coherent thought.
Minor Forces:
The Yaeger Nations, the New Republic, and the Empire are the
three strongest military forces in the area. In addition to these
three, the following other groups also can affect the course of the
campaign:
Imperial Clients:
These races acted on behalf of the Empire during the
occupation of the Yaeger sector. Moff Doran had carefully bled off
their most powerful ships, their best technical products, and their
most talented individuals, both to strengthen the Empire and to
weaken the clients. Viewed with distrust and anger by those who
were forced into the Imperial yoke, the Imperial Clients have
formed a loose alliance. Known as the Chakh Empire, they control
fifty eight worlds, but their fleets are much weaker than those of
the major players.
Unaligned worlds:
Formerly held by the Empire, many planets have rose up in
rebellion against the Empire, backed either by the Yaeger or the
New Republic. One of the most successful of these rebellions was
the Shuumar, who not only took complete
control of their planets, but also managed to commandeer 3 Star
Destroyers. Using this fleet, the Shuumar managed to aid fourteen
other planets in throwing off Imperial control.
Fearing domination by the Yaeger or the New Republic, the
Shuumar and their allies formed a Confederation of Unaligned
Worlds. Their ranks have been swelled by other planets with
similar goals, the Confederation now controls thirty four worlds.
However, the Confederation's fleet is pitifully small, despite the superior quality of the Shuumar's Wulfen fighter, and it is only the fear of a Yaeger or New Republic
retaliation that keeps the Empire from crushing them.
The Ulfgar were once imperial clients, who later rebelled
against the Empire. Not having a place with either the Chakh or
the Confederation, the Ulfgar have become close allies of the
Yaeger, and provide them with specialist and technology. As such
the Ulfgar can be considered a major factor, though they themselves
are quite unmilitary.
This reclusive race has lived in the Thorain Nebula for
hundreds of thousands of years. Technologically advanced beyond
most of the rest of the galaxy, the Brennai
just want to be left alone. After losing twelve Star Destroyers to
unknown causes, Moff Doran was more than happy to agree. The Brenaai
have no interest in conquest, and their weapons only function within
the special conditions in the Nebula, or they would be a major force
in the region.
Campaign:
The Yaeger sector is in flux, and player characters can easily
change the course and tenor of the campaign. An Alliance between
the Yaeger and Rulduk's forces could prove quite threatening. They
would quickly dominate that sector, and begin expanding outward,
toward the Core Worlds. The characters don't have to die for this
to happen, and they could be given opportunities to fracture that
alliance, or stand and fight against the Yaeger/Imperial fleet.
In my campaign, the "Black Emperor" is quite strong in the
dark side, but is a deluded madman controlled by a Black Serpent
force user. However, he could become a more powerful force. After
all, Obi Wan and Yoda became ghostly advisors after they died. The
Emperor could have become a more ominous spirit, capable of finding
willing host bodies... (note: in case you have not noticed, I have
not read the books.)
The Brenaii have not played an important part of this campaign
yet, but there is no reason that this has to stay that way. They
have no regard for the life of non-Brenaii, and a technological
breakthrough could cause them to threaten the entire galaxy.
The Yaeger sector is a fertile ground for the actions of
smugglers and legitimate traders of various sorts, as many of the
goods of the core worlds (such as Kessel spice and ion cannons) are
virtually unknown in the Yaeger sector, and many of the goods of
the Yaeger sector (plasma guns, Ulfgar technicians, etc.) would
find a wide market among the worlds of the rest of the galaxy.
Intrigue and counter-intrigue have reached a fever pitch in
the Yaeger sector in the last few years, as the future of the
sector (and perhaps the galaxy) is undecided. If the Yaeger and
the Empire form an alliance, they would immediately push the New
Republic out of the Yaeger sector, and might threaten the core
worlds. A Yaeger/New Republic alliance might eliminate the
remaining Imperial forces, and provide a base of experienced
warriors for the fledgling New Republic Navy. The other powers in
the sector are all working to push their own aims forward, and
almost all of them are looking to hire trained operatives of
various sorts. Finally, the Shadow Dragons have become aware of
the New Jedi Academy, and seeing the relative weakness of the only
other organization of force users, have become interested in
destroying the Jedi while they are still weak. A failed attempt
would almost certainly bring Jedi into the sector to investigate.
All in all, the Yaeger sector is a fertile ground for adventurers
of all types.