I am running an email based RPG for a friend who lives out of state. we combine elements of RPGs with the mechanics of the X-wing Miniatures game (over facetime).
I am posting the GM notes in this thread with the hope that it will inspire creative thought among others interested in this concept.
Any feedback is appreciated. I would like to run the best campaign that I can. (all updates will be posted in this main Post.)
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy it.
-Shisno
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You were born on the planet Mandalore, the third son of a merchant family. Your family dealt mostly in off world antiquities and catered to high end clientele. This was often a risky and tenuous business, but your family was adept at avoiding “complications” and developed a reputation for delivering quality merchandise in a timely fashion at reasonable rates. On your 6th birthday your father was visited by a robed figure. A relatively brief conversation took place. You observed the robed figure place a small pouch in your father’s hand. Without looking back to acknowledge you, your father stepped aside as the robed figure lead you out of your family home and on to a small shuttle craft. You remember trying to fight against the grasp of this figure and as the door to the shuttle closed you can remember your mother’s screaming cries.
You often reflect on this day…
The shuttle took off into orbit. You recall watching your home world speeding away through a port hole. You sat peaceably in the shuttle, realizing there was nowhere to go and not completely understanding what was happening to you, apart from the fact that your father just gave you away to a stranger..
The shuttle docked with a CR-90 Corvette transport ship in orbit and you were lead to a holding area. The holding area was pre constructed to cater to the ideal environment for a 6 year old. There were various toys and puzzles, games and athletic equipment and most importantly other children. There were several other children. More than 10, but less than 20. The children seemed confused, but in generally good spirits. The robed figure left you in the holding area and the door closed behind him. Shortly after something happened with the ship.. a lurch, you’re not sure.. you were only 6.. and had never been in a space ship.. but you got the feeling you were traveling very fast.. You chose a bunk and settled in.
It couldn’t have been very long after a claxon warning went off.. alarms and flashing lights.. the lights went out in the room and were replaced by a soft red glow. Some children were screaming, running around, or huddling together. You just sat on your bunk processing.. observing the chaos.. you did not feel afraid, or even concerned.. just curious as to why this alarm was going off.
The ship shook violently. You thought you could smell smoke.. the door to the room opened and the robed figure entered and quickly scanned counting the children. You could hear blaster fire in the hall way. A stasis grenade rolled into the room at the robed figures feet. The robed figure, obviously distressed, was frozen with a flash and the concussion wave that followed. The figure that came through the door next will become known to you as Vail. A roughly human looking man with powder white flesh little to no body hair, and an additional segment in each finger. (you couldn’t see any of this now as he is covered in environmental body armor). Vail moved quickly past the robed figure and scanned the room until his eyes settled on you. Vail moved with a quickness and grace that your young mind could not appreciate at the time.. he picked you up like a rag doll threw you over his shoulder and moved with purpose out of the room and down the hallway. The corridor was filling with smoke and flame. Vail placed a mask with a hose over your face that was somehow attached to his suit. It was very disorienting, bouncing in his arms with the claxon and the flashes and heat all around you, but you were aware of the continuous blaster fire and the rocking and jarring of the ship around you. Through all of this you were not afraid. Even the bodies on the floor around you were not cause for unease. Vail carried you onto the waiting docking ramp of a ship you would come to know as Dragon VII. A D-5 Mantis. At the top of the loading ramp Vail was greeted by a protocol droid: (Statement: The Dragon VII is ready for departure Master) Vail opened the face shield on his armor and chastised the droid. “I told you to knock it off with that Statement, Observation, Query crap HK-45.” (Query: Is this the child we have been looking for Master ? Is this Bravo ?) “I hope so.”
As the Dragon VII separated from the CR-90 you remember seeing a space battle happening all around. Vail took the helm while HK-45 manned the turret. Vail deftly maneuvered the Dragon VII and you could hear HK-45 saying (Observation: I got another one Master) and (Exclamation: The Transport has been destroyed !) you were rocked with the feeling again, of intense speed and the travel through hyperspace.
You arrived on Trandosha, the planet that you now call home. Trandosha is a lush jungle paradise and a planet with little to no contact from the political factions of the galaxy. Vail took on the parental role for you while HK-45 became your confidant and sounding board. Though your given name was Metzen, Vail and HK-45 always referred to you as Bravo. Vail quickly realized your need for additional companionship and brought you two Kath Hound puppies who you named Spanner and Crescent. The life that Vail provided for you was good. He brought in tutors who you would refer to as master. These “Masters” would teach you in all things like Commerce, Language, Law, Etiquette, Hunting, Tracking, Piloting, Customs, History, and the like. They would stay with you for undefined lengths of time until they were satisfied with your knowledge and retention. When you were not under the tutelage of a master you would wander into the jungles near your home with Spanner and Crescent, sometimes for a week or more at a time. When you got older you would catch HK-45 following you on these adventures, but never let on that you knew he was there. As you aged the trainings became more exciting, you learned Military tactics, and about all of the ships that fly until you could name every ship and its capabilities. As you got stronger you were taught self-defense and conditioning and the proper usage of common weapons. You began with rocks and sticks and when you were proficient with sticks you moved to spears. When you could throw a spear with deadly accuracy they took you hunting and you made your first kill, a day in Vail’s traditions that made you a man. He presented you with a vibro-whip as a symbolic gesture and challenged you to master it.
When you reached manhood Vail began taking you off world in the Dragon VII. He never allowed you to get off of the ship in the many ports that you went to, (he said it was too dangerous) but these strange places were exciting to you and when you heard the local languages you realized that you could understand the people speaking outside. You could identify planets and peoples based on your training
When you reached your 20th year, Vail presented you with a star fighter. A modified V-19 Torrent. This Torrent was a trainer model with a rear seat for an additional crew member and a hyperdrive which was unusual in that model of ship. The weapons systems had been deactivated but it would allow you the freedom to explore the reaches of space that would be unattainable without it. You spent months in a simulator before Vail would allow you to fly it, but every day you would sit in the pilot seat and imagine what it would be like to fly.
When you became a proficient pilot, Vail taught you ship vs ship combat. Though Vail never impressed upon you ideals about taking life unnecessarily, you felt he was an honorable man. Vail always allowed you to choose your own path.
One morning in your 24th year you awoke to the sounds of blaster fire and explosions. You quickly dressed grabbed your gear bag, your vibro-whip and headed out to investigate. Spanner and Crescent, now fully grown and massive beasts leapt to your side. As you made your way through your home you found Vail in the kitchen, still in his morning clothes lying in a pool of blood on the floor. From down the hallway you saw HK-45 he gestures to you yelling (Observation: We are under attack from an unknown adversary Master) (Suggestion: We should eliminate this threat in your V-19 Torrent. I have removed the weapons restrictions). You note the oddness in this situation, you are under attack, Vail is dead and HK-45 is calling you Master.... Time to make some decisions
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There are no signs of struggle in the room, and the exterior of the building is intact so whatever killed Vail either happend inside his body or from this room. You can hear the sounds of a star ship flying overhead and shooting at this structure. The Hounds are barking and snarling at the sounds and plastecrete that is shaking loose from the ceiling
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The cockpit in the V-17 was originally designed for 1 pilot, your modified fighter barely squeezes in a copilot/gunner.
Only 1 of the 3 of them can join you
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You run to the underground hanger and climb into the pilot seat. HK-45 lifts into the gunner position behind you.
You instinctively go through your pre flight checks flipping levers and pulling switches.
The engines on the V-19 fire to life and the hanger glows a fiery yellow.
HK-45 confirms the concussion missiles are on line and active
The readout on the panel in front of you shows all systems are online and in the green
This whole process takes seconds.
You give HK-45 the thumbs up and the ceiling above you begins to separate. Daylight floods into the hanger and you activate the vertical takeoff sequence.
In moments you are airborne. The airfoils move into flight position and you scan the horizon.
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The offending fighter shows itself on your scope and is visible at your 3'o clock.
You immediately recognize the craft as a Sith Fighter made by the Rakatan Corp. though you never thought you would see one in person. You think back on you studies recalling the capabilities and schematics of your adversary.. Small.. Combat star fighter.. Minimal life support, minimal structure, no shields, very maneuverable, top speed 1250 km/h, twin laser cannons... The list scrolls through your mind as you move into attack position.
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The Sith Fighter is strafing your home and appears to be oblivious of your takeoff. You can see the green cannon fire impacting your home over and over.. You hear in your headset (Observation: It is time for payback Master)
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You are in combat. You have just fired missiles and laser cannons in anger and with hostile intentions. The Sith fighter is erratic in its flight path and the concussion missiles do not have a guidance system. The missiles sail off toward the enemy vessel as your lasers begin impacting on its hull. The Enemy pilot begins to take evasive maneuvers but your cannon fire is already overwhelming his craft.. The concussion missiles miss their mark and continue past their target in a disappointing and then concerning fashion as their new impact site is realized. The Sith fighter accelerates to maximum velocity, a smoky trail in its wake. You push the V-19 to stay in range but have little hope of matching its superior in-atmo speed. You can hear a string of cursing in your headset as HK-45 chastises you for letting him get away.
"Solemn Query" Master did you have some plan that i am not aware of when you let him get away ?
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"Evident response" Master as you can see there are ground troops invading the compound. There are three vessels closing quickly on this location. Unless you feel that you can vanquish three enemy space craft and what appears to be a platoon sized force on the ground i suggest we withdraw from this area.
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"Critical Observation". Master, as you are a meat bag i will present you with a limited number of options given an extended dalliance will likely result in the destruction of this vessel and our continued existence.
You are piloting an unregistered star fighter in the company of an unregistered droid.
Operating an unregistered star fighter carries a minimum penalty of one year in a galactic prison and the impounding of the star fighter. An unregistered droid will be confiscated and its memory will be wiped and then it will be sold at auction. My programming dictates that I must serve and protect you in the best way that my circuits will allow.
The apparent penalty for remaining in this area is death and your death would make me sad if i were capable of experiencing sadness.
You can crash the star fighter in an attempt to simulate our destruction, however that would lose us the benefit of our mobile conveyance and i do not enjoy walking Master.
We can set course for a local mercenary encampment and attempt to join their ranks. I quite enjoy terminating meat bags and would enjoy the opportunity to terminate more of them however they may just kill you and take the ship.
There is a bounty hunters guild on the far side of this planet. You do not have to embrace the ethos of the bounty hunters, but by joining you will legitimize the use of your star fighter and be able to pilot it lawfully. You will also be lawfully permitted to carry a blaster in public and have the political backing of the guild and the use of their vast intelligence network.
Finally Master you can attempt to stealthily land the star fighter by avoiding detection from the at least three incoming enemy vessels who likely have you on their radar and then risk detection by the troops on the ground in order to ascertain who has been shooting at us which will likely result in your ultimate demise and my memory being wiped. I am very fond of my memories Master.
I estimate you have 20 seconds to decide.
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You accelerate into a sub-orbit position 1340 miles over the surface of Trandosha. From here the planet is mostly varying shades of green..
Hk-45 programs the V-19s Nav Computer and a simple blue dot appears on your heads up display.
"Statement" Master, the blue dot represents the location of Fierce Company's supply depot on Trandosha. The Supply depot is not a recruiting station, however there should be members of Fierce Company present there. The location will likely be heavily guarded against both ground and air assault. Hailing them on the radio may give our location away to our unknown adversary. Not hailing them may result in a less graceful landing than you had originally intended.
"Rhetorical Alternative" Master, we could forgo this plan to pursue a career in space piracy. While our chances of survival in either instance are strikingly similar, i have often considered the use of an eye patch as very dapper.
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"Statement" Master. I cannot program "get the hell out of here" into the nav computer.
Where is our next destination ?
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"Statement" Master, as i said you are piloting an unregistered star fighter. Trandosha is free of an imperial presence. If we leave the planet we will almost definitely encounter imperial troops.
"Observation" this vessel requires fuel in order to maintain course and direction for any length of time. I will plot a course to land far from known populated areas if that is what you wish. It will be difficult to find a location visually from this altitude.
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The blue dot quickly approaches on your nav computer. As you enter visual range of the supply depot there is no radio chatter. There is no anti-aircraft response. There is no acknowledgement of any kind as you fly by the installation. Installation is a gross overstatement from what you you had envisioned. The jungle canopy is thick in the area and probably a hundred feet high as it is on nearly all of Trandosha. If you didnt know where you were going you probably would have missed the landing area completely. Fortunately with the V-tol capabilities of the V-19 you have no trouble landing on what is now clearly a landing pad.
Near the landing pad is a pyramid shaped building about 15 feet wide at the base, made of plastecrete. There are no identifying markings on the structure. Facing the landing pad are double doors that you would recognize as elevator doors if you had ever seen one. There is a callbox near the entrance to the structure.
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You press the call button.. a few moments later you hear mechanical sounds coming from the pyramid shaped building. Several minutes pass as the mechanical sounds gradually increase until finally the double doors in front of you open. Inside the room is a simple box. the walls and ceiling are all polished metal tarnished with time. The floor is also metal in a crisscross pattern to provide traction.
As you step into the box the doors slowly begin to close. HK-45 does not have facial expressions, but looks at you, then looks back at the closing doors, then looks back at you as if waiting for you to say something, then watches the doors completely close.
The room begins to hum and you feel a lurch and then the sensation of descent. You experience the feeling of descent for some time.. and then it stops.
the doors slowly open into a room that looks like a reception area. about 20x20, lined with chairs and a door on the far side of the room. there is a large window adjacent to the door on the far side of the room. through the window you can see a large hanger and a platform with your V-19 being lowered into this facility. your ship passes through your view in the window and then moves out of site.
Standing in front of you is a Trandoshan male. He is well muscled and battle scarred. Wearing military garb common to the area, well used, older equipment but in well cared for condition. Your initial impression of him is that he has ended many lives and sleeps well at night.
The Trandoshan addresses you in his native language. (Dosh)
Hatcherd.
sham ba lu mi lo
(He then offers you a fist salute)..
Kren'ef res Ug Sa luk grien forek.
It becomes apparent to the Trandoshan that you do not understand Dosh, and HK-45 is not a protocol droid. He pushes a button on his wrist com and a few moments later a droid enters through the automatic door at the end of the room. (The droid bears a likeness to C-3P0, but is painted with a camouflage that would be impressive on the jungle surface and looks a bit silly in this reception area.) the droid also has thick armor plating over its arms and torso moving up to its head so that its head is in a fixed position and the droid must turn at the waist in order to look around.
"Hello" says the droid.
My Designation is X-5YQ. you may call me -X-. My associate is Ug Sa (Ug Sa nods to you)
How may we be of service ?
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Ug Sa looks over to -X- an then back to you. He offers a nod and then turns and heads out the door at the back of the room.
-X- addresses your question.
We are members of Fierce Company, this facility is a staging area for our operations. As we are an outfit that is for hire to any who can afford our services, we find it useful to maintain a low profile with our comings and goings. We took over this facility from the group that held it previously some time ago. Also, the jungle climate of Trandosha is very unfavorable for maintaining equipment.
How may we be of service ?
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while this is not our official recruiting site, it seems that you bring a lot to the table with your HK- Series Droid and your Star Fighter.
what kind of role do you see yourself fulfilling in our organization ?
do you have much experience in Mercenary work ?
The standard pay rate for soldiers is 75 credits per day. that includes meals, equipment, limited access to our armory, and a bunk in the bunk house. Most soldiers don't show up with their own star fighter though. I believe we could double the base pay for you, and include refueling and rearming of your vessel as well as general maintenance and upkeep.
If you find this arrangement agreeable, I will need you to place your hand on this palm scanner.
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Of course your possessions are yours to keep. We would however like to remark your vessel in service of Fierce Company. We would not house you in this facility our barracks are located at the Training camp. We do not recognize any rank structure. All members of Fierce Company are in equal standing, we do however have planners and members assigned to leadership roles. You are free to come and go as you please. We have a secure holonet feed which we will grant you access to. From there you can participate in operations of your choosing. This is of course assuming you complete our indoctrination process.
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you put your hand on the palm scanner. there is a wire going from the scanner directly into a port on -X-'s cerebral area.
a soft green scanning line moves up and down over your palm, and then there appears to be some form of information transferred to -X-.
"This is very interesting"
Mitzen of the planet Mandalore. You have an open contract with the Bounty Hunters Guild. The contract is prepaid for your return to any guild chapter. This contract is 20 years, 7 months, 3 days, 9 hours, 34 minutes, and 4 seconds old. The payout for the contract is 4000 credits.
As you are an initiate into Fierce Company, we are not inclined to collect on this Bounty.
How have you managed to avoid apprehension for so long ?
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-X- leads you on a brief tour of the underground facility, as you are not a vetted member of the team it would not be prudent to show you all of our secrets.
you spend two days at this facility before the freighter arrives that will bring you to the training center. You are anxious and excited as the platform comes down and you see a Loronar B-7 light freighter. You thoughtfully recall the specs of this vessel. 19 meters in length, one pilot, one gunner position for a single laser cannon, passenger room for 8 and one ton of cargo, no shields..
you are surprised upon closer inspection as the ship is lowered into view. This B-7 has undergone extensive retrofit to include double laser cannons, a rear facing Ion cannon, extra armor plating, and military grade ray-shielding. Until this moment you had accepted that everything you had ever been taught was an undeniable truth. While not overly consequential, you recognize that what you have been taught is only a starting point for the way things can be, and not necessarily the way things are.
The Pilot of the B-7 steps onto the loading ramp and waves you onto the ship. "I'm already behind schedule." You say your good-byes to HK-45, who will be staying behind with The V-19 until you return.
You settle into the cargo are of the B-7, the pilot yells to you from the cockpit, "strap in kid, next stop Nar Shaddaa."
At some point shortly after leaving Trandosha you fell asleep.. being in a cargo hold with nothing else going on has that effect on space travelers..
You awake to a large human man standing before you. This man exudes confidence and leadership in a similar way that Ug sa looked like a capable warrior. Imposing and battle scarred, he says “You are Mitzen, I am Darca, it looks like we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
I have been assigned as your mentor here. If you fail it reflects poorly on me and I have never had an initiate fail. Don’t be the first. Darca leads you off of the B-7 and the first thing you see is a Weequay chained to the ground. These chains are attached to his torso in front and behind. The front chains appear to be attached to his collar bone area with D rings that pierce his flesh. There are crusty wound marks where the D-rings enter his body. On the back side the D rings are piercing his scapula area and the opposite end of each chain is then driven into the ground with a spike. The chains are only long enough for the Weequay to kneel, and too short in any direction for the Weequay to reach the ground spikes. Solemn and defeated in appearance, the Weequay does not acknowledge you. As you bring your focus away from this individual, you realize there is an entire row of these individuals spread out across the entrance to the Fierce Company training grounds entrance. The others are in varying states of exposure and decomposition. The ones on the furthest end have obviously been there for months and only skeletons and clothing remain.
Darca walks you by this grotesque scene with an ease and lack of compassion that you understand you too will feel in time. Darca looks back at you an says “Pirates” as if that is the only explanation that is needed and leads you into the facility.
Darca gives you the tour, makes idle conversation about your experiences and what brought you to Fierce Company. He tells you the proud history of their organization and regales you with war stories that sound like they are on the far side of honesty, but also quite possible given the presence that you feel from him. “Look Kid” “I’ll let you in on something, you are already a member of Fierce Company, it really doesn’t matter how well you do in the training, we will find a job for you, but if you want to be a leader and given any kind of responsibility in this organization you are going to have to impress us.”
The next eleven weeks are spent in Fierce Company In-doc training. During this process you become familiar and proficient with the twenty most common blasters and rifles that are available to modern infantry. You receive training on triage and the application and usage of battlefield medicine, small unit tactics, how to efficiently engage targets from a turret during space combat as well as an extensive physical fitness regimen.
For your final evaluation you participate in three different exercises.
You play a game of Djarik against Darca.
You then compete against Darca in “the game of the small circle” where both contestants begin the game standing inside a roughly 10ft circle that is drawn on the ground with a stick. Whomever touches any part of their body on the ground outside of the circle loses. (there are no rules)
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You set traps around the board for your game of Djarik. The game is tense, and well contested on each side. Both sides remove the minor pieces first, the Molator, the K’lor and the Ng’ok from Darca’s side, The Houjix and the Ghhhk from your side. In the final turn of the contest, your Monnok and Strider are able to take out Darca’s Savrip winning you the match and the respect of your fellow Merc’s.
As you step outside into the courtyard you find Darca already waiting for you. He is dragging a stick around the circumference of his body on the ground. As he completes the circle he looks up at you smiling. “You may have beaten me at Djarik Mitzen, but this is my circle.” You face off against Darca in the center. There is no referee and no official indicator as to when the contest begins. As you suspected Darca lunges at you with all of his considerable mass. You attempt to side step him but he is on to your tactics. As you move out of the way he grabs your shoulder and begins spinning you off of your feet. You crouch into a ball and throw your weight downward in an attempt to break free of Darca’s grasp. Darca is strong. As you throw your body away from him you find yourself being lifted anyway. Still spinning around Darca is building momentum and you are certain he will toss you some distance clear of the ring. You focus all of your energy into a single push, exerting your will to make the impossible a reality. This push is like nothing you have ever experienced, and it sends both you and Darca flying and spinning in opposite directions. Both of you are airborne. Both of you are outside of the circle. In slow motion you see the confusion on Darca’s face while he is processing what is happening.
The crowd that had gathered around you to bear witness to the contest is at first silent. As you both fall toward the ground you are probably twenty feet apart at the time of impact. The crowd erupts into cheer as you both quickly attempt to recover from the fall. No one is sure who hit the ground first because no one could watch both of you at the same time.
Darca joins you back in the center of the ring. He extends an arm to you. “I’m not sure what you did back there, but that is the first time I have ever landed outside the circle” Darca raises your arm and proclaims you the Champion. The crowd again erupts in cheer and begins chanting your name.
Darca leads you out of the courtyard, back through the main complex and finally to the entrance to the training facility. There you find another sentient being chained to the ground. (the Weequay you had seen when you entered is nowhere to be seen.)
"Your path to becoming one of us is nearly complete Mitzen. Your final task is pathetically simple for some, and impossible for others." Darca directs you to the helpless being. “You just have to kill him. I don’t care how you do it, points for creativity. I will be waiting inside with the others. Just come inside when it is done.” Darca walks off and the doors close behind him.
Edited by Lazyshisno
