One of my players wants to find a lightsaber crystal, and the question was raised whether there were any 'crystal mines' or other such things not too far away. We're currently on Ryloth.
I suggested two possibilities off the top of my head: krayt dragon pearl from Tatooine, and Jedi academy ruins on Socorro. Yes, I could just make up a planet, but does anyone have other ideas?
Walmart.
From the cold dead hands of your enemies... Or call them to a cave filled with mystery and danger with a single gem between a stalagmite and a stalactite just waiting to be plucked. Give a vision of a uncertain future as he or she touches the precious gem letting them know with such a weapon come great responsibility for others as well for themselves.
Dantooine had crystal caves too in KotOR.
ETA: I just looked at a map of the galaxy and Dantooine is pretty much on the other side of the galaxy so it's not "close" at all to Ryloth. 
Geonosis is close, and it was known to have many mines, maybe there's an undiscovered lightsaber crystal cave among them. Also, the asteroids surrounding the planet are rich in minerals, and the Empire tried to mine them (unsuccessfully) and the asteroids occasionally fall down to the planet. Maybe a recently-fallen asteroid has lightsaber crystals in it?
Wait, there's an abandoned Jedi temple on Socorro?
I JUST read the entire WEG book on Socorro and I did not see that, but you're the second person I know to mention it, which cannot be a coincidence.
Where is this given? I keep thinking I've got everything about this planet and then I find out there's more!
Rrraarrgggle-Blllarrgle!*
* It's a technical term...
One other possibility is the planet Lothal which was introduced in Star Wars: Rebels. It is known to have lightsaber crystals and also has a Jedi temple hidden on it.
Since it's new, there is nothing official (or even unofficial) stating where it is. So you can put it near Ryloth if you want. All that is known is that it's somewhere in the Outer Rim so it's totally consistent to put it there.
Of course, we could later get official info stating that it's on the other side of the galaxy but that's the risk you take.
Tassedar pin nailed it
You can find a crystal any where you want it to be:
a sunken tempel, a cave full of mysterie, in a raptorbird nest, in the stomach of any beast, in the necklace of a fine Lady, between the glass stones of a streetkids treasure, behind an Ice wall (ok this one not on ryloth but you get the idea)
There is no reason that those guided by the force are bound to find there super-rare personal item in place were once long ago als the mainstream jedis found them... Just give the player a hint (forci-vision) and start the quest of mighty loot right of the spot.
Illum has some too.
I'm fairly certain that Ilum doesn't qualify as "near Ryloth," seeing as it's on the complete other side of the galaxy and all.
Also, reiterating question: Jedi Temple? Socorro? Says who?
Edited by Absol197Also, reiterating question: Jedi Temple? Socorro? Says who?
...Holy cow, I thought I read all of that! I'm seriously beginning to doubt my researching abilities. Lando's even from Socorro, supposedly!
...Okay, now that I have my answer, hows abouts I participant in the actual point of the thread, hmm?
Lothal could be an option. It's likely on the same side of the galaxy, at least, because it was part of Grand Moff Tarkin's jurisdiction, which includes Eriadu. It's also probably close to Ryloth because of the Ghost's crew's trip to Ryloth. Not saying they can't go for a long-haul road trip sometimes, but they probably stick in one general area, or at least it sounds like it from the way the Imperials talk.
An abandoned temple is a good one, too, although that won't have fresh crystals to harvest and make your own, it'll likely only have really old lightsabers hidden away that contain crystals. Good for getting your team some 'sabers to start off with, but they'll still need to find a time and place to harvest some fresh kyber if they really want to make it their own.
I would caution against Krayt Dragon hunting on Tatooine, if only because of the obvious poaching undertones. Plus fighting giant monsters is a good way to lose a party member or two.
Note that Upari crystals are apparently found in the orbit of forest worlds, but there are no specific worlds mentioned at http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Upari
So, you could pick your favorite forest world near Ryloth, and be done with it.
There’s a complete list of all known lightsaber crystals at http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Lightsaber_crystal
From there, you can track down where each type of crystal is found.
On other option to consider is that of synthetic crystals.
Mechanically, I'd treat them the same as Ilum crystals. As for constructing them, I posted one possible approach over on my blog (link to which can be found in my signature), though I've since tweaked things a bit, notably reducing the difficulty from Daunting to Hard.
So it's possible to use raw materials found around/near Ryloth to create a synthetic kyber crystal.
Eh, just send 'em to Tatooine to get a pearl. I mean they're relatively easy to find. It's just that little matter of extracting it. . . .
Tatooine is the closest, but as others have mentioned, killing a Krayt Dragon is fraught with perils. I'd only suggest that if the character is really high XP already. The next closest source of lightsaber crystals is the Adegan System where Ossus is located. It's the source of Mephite and other Adegan Crystals, considered the best crystals for lightsabers during the time of the ancient Jedi circa 4000 BBY. While not exactly "next door", the Adegan System is certainly a lot closer than either Dantooine or Ilum, and Mephite Crystals are a lot more powerful than Ilum Crystals to boot, and much safer to hunt for than trying to kill a Krayt Dragon.
If you’re going for Adegan crystals, then Halm (at grid coordinates J-16) is closer than the Adegan system (R-6).
The Cularin system is in P-14, and closer still. In fact, it’s almost directly on the Corellian Run.
There are plenty of others, but I have not found any that are closer than Socorro at Q-17 or Tatooine at R-16.
Wookieepedia entries:
Adega system: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Adega_system
Cularin: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Cularin_system_asteroid_belt
Halm: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Halm
One other thing to consider is the definition of "closer." Bear with me...
Traveling from Coruscant/Imperial Center to Corellia takes a comparatively long time. Although the two planets are relatively close in terms of physical distance (i.e. a straight line), hyperlanes travel around the Deep Core and add days to the travel time. Due to the locations of the hyperlanes, your PCs could either take minor routes through Khubeaie and Vor Deo to get to Tattoine, or travel to Arkanis down the Corellian Run and reorient onto the Triellus Trade Route to get to Tatooine. It would be just as easy to continue down the Corellian Run to Christophsis (surely a good place to find a crystal?) or points further west.
I'd definitely suggest this site for all your mapping needs. It's an unsanctioned works, so accuracy is debatable, but I've found it quite useful.
Thanks all! Especially for the links. I find the sheer noise of Star Wars tends to drown out a lot of the signal; it's very easy to miss a useful website. Lots to consider here.
The plot may take us to Geonosis already -- mines there would be convenient. ...Almost too convenient.
Synthetic crystals were considered -- in fact it has been brought up as part of running joke about "ways to corrupt our Jedi", since said Jedi is surprisingly upright (and uptight) for having fallen in with a crew of smugglers and bounty hunters. I like the idea (and your blog has lots of great stuff!) but I suspect he's going to kneejerk away from it because of the Sith connection. Though Luke did made his...
Upari crystals are an intriguing idea. We've already had some adventures in asteroid belts, and I suspect we're not following the rules correctly, but it has been fun.
Speaking of asteroid belts, Cularin looks like a good candidate, especially being on the Corellian Run. Our pilot wants to try his luck at smuggling, so it'd be much easier to convince him to take this route than an odd journey all the way to Halm or Adega.
Thanks for the map resource link! I hadn't found that one -- I like the routes.