Hapes: Birthright OOC

[TalRaimi]

To be honest most of my other legacy characters tended to be smugglers or Imperial aligned, that’s assuming the story got more than a few posts.

So I’m happy with either a blank slate or character of your choice.

[Halomek]

I posted this on the Discord channel too, but since everyone is still getting used us having a Discord channel, I'll post it here too:

We're about ready to bring in outside delegates to help with the story! I've got the Imperial delegation covered, but if anyone is interested in helping with the New Republic side of things, let us know! We're looking for a NR representative and/or a Jedi. Pryde and Mir, you two seem like the most likely to have a character that would work, but it's open for anyone who is interested.

[Mir]

I could be involved. Just need to know what you need

[Pryde]

I think Isis's diplomatic style is a bit too, um... explosive for Hapes. The NR would probably send someone with more... tact. >.>

[Halomek]

So to catch anyone up who hasn't read the thread, Hapes is facing trouble on multiple fronts.

There's a mysterious group of pirates that have found a way to bypass the Transitory Mists, and thus the established safe routes through the Mists, to raid worlds with impunity. There's also a growing civil unrest with Hapan traditionalists over Queen Mother Jenarvia Avori's new policies (more equality for males, less prejudice against Force-users, establishing diplomatic relations with outside governments). This unrest has grown so bad that there was recently an assassination attempt on the crown princess that she barely survived.

So Hapes will be reaching out to the NR and the Empire for help.

Light spoilers: The Imperial delegation will be headed up by Kalja's son, James. He'll actually be tackling the civil unrest side of things.

The NR delegate(s) can be anyone, but ideally someone with some skills to work on the pirate problem.

In either case, the delegates will be working with someone from the royal family, so either Tal or I can help guide the story along as needed. We're looking for characters that could provide fun or meaningful interactions with the royal family.

So, Pryde, Isis wouldn't be the worst choice. Hapan politics is such that they'd chew up a softer diplomat. They respect strength.

One last thing to note: if your characters are well informed, which they most likely will be, they'll know the royal consort to the Queen Mother is Arien Garix and that he used to be one of the more feared Dark Lords of the Cult of Shadow. However, since Arien is a member of the royal family and has seemed content to stay where he is and not cause trouble for the past twenty years, there's been an unofficial hand's off policy regarding him lest they provoke an intergalactic incident or even just provoke the man himself.

[Halomek]

Well, I know Mir is busy with a big case and Pryde seems to be occupied with RL too, so we might just want to press on without them for now.

Jag, are you interested perhaps?

[Jagtai]

What are you looking for, exactly? A Jedi?

[Pryde]

Well, I know Mir is busy with a big case and Pryde seems to be occupied with RL too, so we might just want to press on without them for now.

Jag, are you interested perhaps?

Sorry. ><

Working on stuff now, but don't wait up for me. >.>

[Halomek]

No worries, Pryde. If you want to join later after the delegations have been sent, we can always potentially bring in your character retroactively. Same goes for you, Mir.

Jag, either a Jedi or a NR character that would make a good ambassador.

[Jagtai]

I could send Aldar and Mira. It might be a little wonky timeline-wise, but I'll make it work Don't know if it will work with two Jedi masters, though?

I was considering Lucath, but he is not diplomat-material

[Halomek]

Honestly, with how cutthroat Hapan politics are, Lucath might be a better choice.

Keep in mind that the Queen Mother's consort is this guy: https://starwars-exodus.fandom.com/wiki/Arien_Garix

A Jedi Master like Lucath, who had a dark origin but chose to follow the Light Side, could be a good contrast to Arien.

I'm also a little worried that Aldar and Mira (and their Padawans) would be throwing too many characters into the story.

[Jagtai]

Maybe Lucath would be the better choice. And the story I'm working on with him takes place over a short period of time, and can be moved around as needed.

Lucath it is. Don't say I didn't warn you

[Halomek]

Don't say I didn't warn you.

What do you think, Tal? Does Lucath work for you?

[Jagtai]

Tal, I just realized that the BSC agreed to help Jenarvia in the Civil War. It's up to you if they did (and then returned home, and that Hapes and the BSC therefore are on good terms) or if they didn't.

And no, I'm not suggesting sending any BSC people, I just want clarification.

Lucath is the only one so far, assuming you're okay with it

[TalRaimi]

Hey, sorry for the radio silence.

Yes, Lucath works fine.

BSC wise I hoestly can't remember if we got that far into it, I don't remember them being mentioned in the Song of War thread that almost but not quite finished the civil war, so probably best to go with no involvement. At least offically We could always recon some black opps stuff if you wanted and have them be on good terms with Hapes.

[Halomek]

We could also say they were keeping the Crimson Empire forces occupied off-screen, or at least long enough for Jenarvia and Arien to launch their guerilla attack to take back the capital.

BTW, I think we're good to send out those delegation requests in the story. I don't have much for Arien or Elysia to do right now except maybe a filler post or two.

[Jagtai]

Okay, off-screen or no involvement it is

Let me know when Lucath is needed, I'll write him in.

[TalRaimi]

Okay, I'll start working on something to get the ball rolling for our guests.

[Halomek]

You're free to get the New Republic side rolling, Jag! I figure we'll just use the Hapes thread even if some of the action takes place elsewhere. It'll help to keep the story contained without having to rely on the progress of other threads.

James won't be taking too long on Tython. After he's done speaking with his mom, I'll be jumping him to Hapes.

Also, in case anyone is curious, the Procursator-class Star Destroyer falls somewhere between the Victory-class and the Imperial-class in terms of size and firepower.

[Jagtai]

You're free to get the New Republic side rolling, Jag!

Will do

[Halomek]

The writing bug was biting me all day, so I went ahead and wrapped up James' business on Tython.

The next time we'll see him will be when he arrives at Hapes.

[Jagtai]

I think that established Lucath very well...

[TalRaimi]

I think that established Lucath very well...

So very much in the Anakin Skywalker school of 'sand people diplomacy' then?

Arrival wise, I figure both delegations would be met at the edge of the transitory mists and escorted to Hapes proper, which we can skip over. Jenarvia would stagger their arrivla times, and probably have her daughters gree them initally, but I can't quite decide whether she would host them both at a state banquet at the same time, or keep them seperate? In terms of pacing and moving things along it would probably make more sense to host both delegations together. What do you think?

[Jagtai]

So very much in the Anakin Skywalker school of 'sand people diplomacy' then?

If the 'sand people' get him angry...yes...

Arrival wise, I figure both delegations would be met at the edge of the transitory mists and escorted to Hapes proper, which we can skip over. Jenarvia would stagger their arrivla times, and probably have her daughters gree them initally, but I can't quite decide whether she would host them both at a state banquet at the same time, or keep them seperate? In terms of pacing and moving things along it would probably make more sense to host both delegations together. What do you think?

Fine by me. Lucath has no real beef with the Empire, so he'll behave (trying this mysterious 'diplomacy' thing )

[Halomek]

I think both together would be the better way to go for story flow.

They also want the delegates to compete with each other as that's going to provide more benefit to Hapes as a result.

[Jagtai]

Wait, so Hapes will only accept help from one of the sides? Or are they just playing both sides to get as much help as possible?

[Halomek]

Basically playing both sides to get the best service possible from both of them.

[Jagtai]

Okay, good. Don't think Kalja would be very pleased if Lucath skewered James.

Skewering - I mean, crisis - avoided

[Halomek]

Lucky for Lucath and his family, stabbing James would be easier said than done.

[Jagtai]

Going after Lucath's family would get anyone killed, though, just saying.

But yeah, I'm sure that Lucath stabbing James would have a whole host of bad consequences. Let's not

(wasn't planning on stabbing anyone, least of all Kalja's son )

[Jagtai]

Okay, enough with the threats against various families

To clarify, Lucath will be trying very hard to be diplomatic. So there will be absolutely no stabbing anyone, except in self-defence

He'll be too busy worrying if the only reason he's there, is because he's a former Sith.

[Halomek]

Kya's confrontation with Arien dates back to a very early thread on this board, back when I was just calling him "Garix."

And hey, Tal, Arik Nevarr was part of it too! There's a nostalgia bomb for you.

Like so many other threads, it died from inactivity before it could be properly finished, so I had to embellish things a bit with Kya and Arien, but the history is there. I'm kinda excited to bring things full circle to see what happens with them.

[TalRaimi]

Ah, I thought Kyra's name was familiar, just couln't place it!

Also I figure Hapes as a language is as tricky as Polish is for me - my other half is Polish and I barely speak more than a few words. It just has sounds that we simply don't have in English.

[TalRaimi]

On a seperate note, I'm drafting up a post for an antagonist to bring into the thread. She could be a primary or secondary antagonist depending on what anyone else has planned, but she is not a Forcer. As such I need a way for her to remain undiscovered.

I'd say her mind is very controlled and calm, so Im hoping that coupled with her actions would keep her under the radar? I know you talked a bit bout power creep and OP characters on one of the other OOC threads, and the problem with Jedi is they can be written very OP if not careful, especially with the 'mind reading' that can happen.

[Jagtai]

Can't speak for Halomek, but Lucath would try NOT to read anyone unless he has no choice; he's trying to be diplomatic, after all, and 'cheating' like that is not very diplomatic.

So if she doesn't make much 'fuss' about herself, he would have no reason to break that rule

Besides, it would be boring. I've reached the (somewhat mature) point where the story is more important than showing how OP my characters are

[Halomek]

ALL MIND READING ALL THE TIME!

In all seriousness, James isn't going to be reading anyone's mind without permission or necessity. At best he might pick up on an unguarded surface thought, but that's iffy. Even if he did want to intrude on someone's mental privacy, he wouldn't be very proficient in it.

James' mind is shielded against being read - a skill his father taught him.

Likewise, Kya has protected her mind thanks to her training.

Damir has the disciplined thoughts of a military officer, but no special training to keep people out of his head.

[TalRaimi]

Cool, sounds good.

And I have a post up so Lucath is all good to set foot on Hapes. I figure the Star Destroyers will be anchored just out of range of the planet and carefully watched.

[Halomek]

I'll start on the Elysia/James post soon-ish, but no need to wait on me. Since I'm controlling all the characters in that one, I can progress it as far as I need to when I get to it.

[Jagtai]

I wasn't sure if I should let Nyalla greet them, so I opted for greeting her.

Let me know if you need me to change anything.

[Halomek]

The Imperials have likewise been greeted. I purposefully didn't go much further than that so Tal could have his chance to respond and move us forward.

Oh, I'll also make it clear here, Kya's name is pronounced "Kee-yah" like how you would pronounce "Kia." Not really that important, but still good to know.