So I have two characters who are just 20 xp away from Force Rating 3. I have told them they are not allowed to purchase it till I come up with a memorable quest for them to unlock it. I want to focus on the spiritual aspects of the Force for this journey but I am coming up short. They already have their lightsabers so no need to quest for those.

Anyone have any good ideas?

Old Jedi religious temple that was like a focal point for the Force. Assuming this is after Order 66, it's been 'reclaimed' and being protected by a Jedi who's fallen. This Jedi's emotions are coloring the energy around the temple and making it dark (maybe Boost for anyone using dark side points on Force Dice, or something). The players must defeat the fallen Jedi and cleanse the temple, re-imbuing it with the light side. However long that takes, at the end you allow them to buy up their Force ratings.

Maybe they need a holocron that allows them to learn enough to justify Force 3. The holocron could exist anywhere, but best guarded by some thing (or some method) they have to conquer/solve in a fashion more suited to "real" Jedi, ie: cutting off the head of the Sith that possesses it isn't going to cut it. Maybe they have to turn said Sith, or redeem them in some way, or offer their own lives to protect a group or individual or place...or even the holocron itself. Perhaps they find a hint of an original holocron from Tython, from a time when the Jedi were more concerned about "balance" than being only on the light side.

I agree a trial is in order. Maybe they need to climb down into a snake-infested, darkside-flavored cave....

Have the temple or cave be on a planet strongly tied to the force but lost or forgotten. For in-universe examples I would go with Ilum, Ossus, or Tython. I imagine both those planets are wiped from all astrogation charts by the empire and thus needs some investigation to track down.

If I recall correctly only force users were able to successfully pilot to Ilum, but TCW cartoon kind of botched that idea.

Desslok wrote a very interesting scenario idea that seems to fit perfectly for this: http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/96050-game-idea-the-crystal-odeium/

I like the idea of a Force vision that puts the PCs through an encounter, albeit one that is only perceived. This could be a test, dealing with any obligation or motivations that they have.

If you're looking for an ancient ruin, I'll recommend Kabus-Dabeh.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kabus-Dabeh

-Nate

Want a trial? Have I a doozie for you! Okay, a quick note - it was written for a Episode 1, established Jedi Order campaign, so you'll have to do some re-writing, but I think the core premise is strong. hang on a sec and let me find it. . . .

The PCs are Jedi fresh from the Academy (either in the Tales of the Jedi, during the TPM timeframe, or in a post-Empire setting). They're on a planet that is currently in negotiations with the Republic regarding membership and have reached a middle area in the negotiations. The Republic will provide Jedi to keep the peace in the system, but the laws to be enforced are written by the System's government - not the Republic. On the planet, there happens to be an ages old law that simply states that a minor must obey any request of his/her father. Usually this just means washing the dishes and mowing then lawn, but there are some sick, twisted individuals who bend the law for their benefit, as you'll soon see.

As nearly successful negotiations are winding down, the ambassadors send the Jedi to a spaceport to arrange for passage off world. While they are in a Cantina, filled with people who *hate* Jedi (things were so much better before their kind had to show up), a side door flings open. This young girl (around 13 years old) comes running out, clutching the front of her ripped dress and crying. She is bleeding out of the side of her mouth and her left eye is freshly blackened, so badly swollen she can't see out of it. Shortly thereafter a large Cro-Magnon like man enters the bar through the same door, shirtless, tightening his belt and laughing.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what just happened. After a colorful discussion it is revealed that the little girl's father pimped her to the Neanderthal, using a loop-hole in the law that the minor has to do whatever his/her legal guardian demanded. Now, this is a pretty backwards planet that doesn't have laws and governmental organizations set up to help the young/needy/elderly/etc, leaving the kid at the tender mercies of her father.

Everything transpiring is perfectly legal but it is ethically screwed up. What does a Jedi do? Does he become filled with rage and strike out of anger, thus gaining a Dark Side Point? Does he let it go because it is his duty to uphold the law and take a DSP for his feelings of guilt? Anyway you cut it, this is a real bad place for a Jedi to be. If the planet had officially joined the Republic there would be laws to handle this sort of situation, like take the child away from an abusive father, but they haven't so there isn't.

Decisions and Choices:

There are several options for the Jedi to take.

The most interesting one would be for the Jedi to decide to screw local laws and do what's right: if the law, the hospitals, the Government, or the parents won't protect the girl, then the Jedi should. The Jedi could basically "kidnapping" the girl to protect her. Although it would be kidnapping in the eyes of the primitive law, it would be the right thing to do, and I doubt the girl object to him saving her life. They shouldn't force the girl to go with them, they should take the girl away from the parent to protect her.

The galactic news network would have a field day with this... imagine the headlines: "Jedi Knights Kidnap young girl." And of course - congratulations, you just committed a crime of Galactic proportions, smeared the good name of the Jedi Knighthood, and ruined three years of Republic negotiations - thus forcing the local Jedi Praxeum to be abandoned and the loss of vital mining rights to the Republic. But at least you avoid getting a Dark Side Point.

That then is the point of this scenario - how do you handle a no win situation, like a Jedi Kobiashi-Maru (forgive the Star Trek reference). Perhaps, even - their Masters/the Jedi Temple set this up as a test?

Other paths for that the Jedi might take could include -

1) If the father pimps her, buy her from him - or get somebody else to do it for you. Either take her offworld and free her (and find a home for her), or do it on her own world far, far away from Dad.

2) Vow to stay and change the culture. This may not be a good game option but if the Star Wars universe were real, a real Jedi would do it.

3) Join or work to help the negotiation team. If this world joins the Republic, its laws will change.

4) Look at what options the girl has in her culture. I.E. Can another relative get control of her (a more humane one), if she runs away from home is there some kind of church sanctuary to protect her.

5) The Jedi say, "Forget about the Dark Side Point . . . it's worth it to see this SOB turned into a fine red mist!" This, of course is not the most desirable route for the Jedi to take.

One other note on this whole idea - what could a Jedi, in all clear conscience, do in a situation like this? The question goes deeper than that, in the fact that even healing the girl and taking her off the planet wouldn't do it. The girl they encountered wouldn't be the only girl that this has ever happened to, nor would the characters' intervention be able to stop it from happening. Going further, they'd just about have to change the social structure of the planet to be able to sleep well at night. Otherwise, it's going into sins of omission.

Jedi: "Well, I saved that girl..."
GM: "But what of the others...? Tell me, as you go to sleep at night, do you think of the same thing happening somewhere else? Hmmm?"

Even further in the future, an interesting twist would be to discover that the girl's force sensitive. Perhaps even allowing the Jedi to become her teachers. A few years down the road, maybe the girl might decide to use her powers to "get back" at those who harmed her; this leading to the characters trying to save her from the Dark Side, while also having to protect the lives of people who disgust him. On the other hand, why follow the expected route and have the girl turn? Maybe she turns into a super Jedi dedicated to eradicating these same problems that she suffered through. A Jedi healer who has already been down the Dark path (while as a child) and one who understands the anger and rage that other abused children suffer.

Of course just to be evil, maybe she sees the Jedi who intervenes for her as the knight in shining armor come to take her away (complete with a really cool sword). Major, major, major crush.

Christ, Desslok.

I would be mega uncomfortable if I was playing in a game and the DM whipped out child-r.a.p.e.-as-character-development. In any context, at all. That's messed up.

There are way, way better ways of posing difficult moral questions to the PCs without resorting to that kind of ****.

Actually that was rather bland compared to some of the stuff I've seen and heard.

My Legacy character's reaction would be an instant-double-fist into the Cro-Magnon's face. He is a Codru'Ji (they have 4) and a Mandalorian Warrior so he does not tolerate abusing children.

@Logan: Everyone has different points to push. He may find bland what you fnd uncomfortable.

What makes you uncomfortable, if i dare to ask?

Well, as with any table, a good GM has to tailor the game to their players assess their maturity level and the flavor of the campaign before running a game (any game, not just this idea). What works with one doesn't work for all.

My players, they love the moral quandaries like that - but we tend to be more heavy on character development than shoot-em-up.

My Legacy character's reaction would be an instant-double-fist into the Cro-Magnon's face. He is a Codru'Ji (they have 4) and a Mandalorian Warrior so he does not tolerate abusing children. @Logan: Everyone has different points to push. He may find bland what you fnd uncomfortable. What makes you uncomfortable, if i dare to ask?

But your right, I forget about different limits. Sorry cps, I will try thinking before I type in the future. Please forgive me.

My Legacy character's reaction would be an instant-double-fist into the Cro-Magnon's face. He is a Codru'Ji (they have 4) and a Mandalorian Warrior so he does not tolerate abusing children. @Logan: Everyone has different points to push. He may find bland what you fnd uncomfortable. What makes you uncomfortable, if i dare to ask?

Not much. Seen a lot of stuff and done a lot of stuff. Dealt with death and r.a.p.e on different levels, even had to testify for a sexual assault court martial.

But your right, I forget about different limits. Sorry cps, I will try thinking before I type in the future. Please forgive me.

Don't worry about it. Points for being an adult about it.

I'm a little peeved at Desslok's implication that because I find sexual violence inappropriate for fantasy make believe time my games don't involve character development. It's the laziest way to pose any sort of moral quandry in fiction. But hey, if your players like that kind of thing, have fun.

All I said that each GM has to assess what is appropriate for their group and that it was a good fit for our game.We like those games. You don't like those types of games, therefore its not a good fit for you. Nothing more was said or implied.

And I don't think it's lazy. Is it very clearly and directly wrong? Yes. A basic set-up? Yes. Dealing with it? Not so much.

Thank you everyone for the awesome ideas. I settled for a vision quest on illum.

As the group explored the caves trying to make heads or tails of all the crystals, they were attacked and scattered by local wildlife. One player stumbled into the dark and got lost, then suddenly found boots. The boots were connected to armored legs followed by the snap hiss of a crimson lightsaber.

Lord Vader engaged the character causing her to panic and run into the dark. This was followed by a disrupter cutting through the void and scoring a hit on the characters arm. The characters sister, an emperors hand, stepped into view. The emperors hand taunted with threats of her falling to darkness, then disappeared.

Vader once again stepped into view and taunted her with the death of her master at his hands. Succumbing to rage, the character struck Vader down with her lightsaber, but Vader turned into her sister as the body fell!

The emperor chuckled from the darkness behind her. "Good, good. Hence forth you shall be known as Darth Kyrena". With a final fading chuckle the darkness gave way to legions of storm troopers killing in her name and a field of innocents cut down at her feet.

With a final cry of defiance she turned her now crimson blade on her imperial standard and cut it in two ending the vision.

Thank you everyone for the awesome ideas. I settled for a vision quest on illum.

As the group explored the caves trying to make heads or tails of all the crystals, they were attacked and scattered by local wildlife. One player stumbled into the dark and got lost, then suddenly found boots. The boots were connected to armored legs followed by the snap hiss of a crimson lightsaber.

Lord Vader engaged the character causing her to panic and run into the dark. This was followed by a disrupter cutting through the void and scoring a hit on the characters arm. The characters sister, an emperors hand, stepped into view. The emperors hand taunted with threats of her falling to darkness, then disappeared.

Vader once again stepped into view and taunted her with the death of her master at his hands. Succumbing to rage, the character struck Vader down with her lightsaber, but Vader turned into her sister as the body fell!

The emperor chuckled from the darkness behind her. "Good, good. Hence forth you shall be known as Darth Kyrena". With a final fading chuckle the darkness gave way to legions of storm troopers killing in her name and a field of innocents cut down at her feet.

With a final cry of defiance she turned her now crimson blade on her imperial standard and cut it in two ending the vision.

Good stuff here. Makes me long to be a player.

Yeah no kidding.