A Shren’threl Warrior Master has had a revelation. If the Empire continues the galactic balance will be destroyed. Evil will triumph. In a vision he sees himself along with the best monks in training standing victorious above the Empire. He must fulfil the vision, so he seeks permission from the commune’s elders and departs with the trainees. The adventure premise will be defeat the Empire, however this is much more direct. There aren’t any spy missions it is just straight out combat. Also just about all combat will be melee or hand to hand. This Document gives some the basic information needed for the campaign based on the Shren’threl monks. The majority of the characters will be members of a Shren’threl commune training in the ways of the warrior. The campaign takes place in the Kroutrak sector, and will hopefully be between 15-20 adventures long. The campaign should ideally have a kung fu movie/ comic book feel to it, while at the same time still feeling like you are immersed in the Star Wars universe. Now without further ado, A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
The Shren’threl Religion History: The Jedi Shren Krasdam established The Shren’threl religion approximately 17,000 years ago. During a jedi hibernation trance Shren had a vision of the true order of the galaxy. This vision was so powerful that it made him leave the jedi order and establish the order of Shren’threl monks. The religion never grew very big and only exists on a small number of worlds. Most of which are in the outer rim, where the followers have migrated to avoid religious persecution.
Beliefs: The Shren’threl believe in the “Circle of life”. However, they believe one has the power to change the fate given to them by the circle, not through technology, but through discipline and training. They don’t wish to aggressively raise there position, just protect it and live. The Shren’threl belief in a Supreme Being is unique. They believe that all living things were created by the Supreme Being, but at the same time the life force of all living things create the Supreme Being. Thus creating an unique circle of life. The Shren’threl believe that when all beings die they become a permanent part of the great circle, feeding life so that all may prosper. The Shren’threl believe that they are connected to certain individuals (especially family members) through the circle of life. Even though the majority of the followers do not have jedi powers, it seems that they can “see” these people they are connected to while they meditate. When one of the people they are connected to are unable to finish their task in life, the Shren’threl follower believes it is their responsibility to complete it for them so their part in the circle ma be completed. The Shren’threl see their part in the circle to be learners of the secrets of life though this is not always the case. The most important thing to a Shren’threl is to know their exact spot in the great circle, they do this by doing much soul searching in meditation. The Shren’threl also meditate to learn universal truths by discovering themselves, and thus getting closer to the Supreme Being that is the Great Circle.
Culture: The Shren’threl are not set up like a typical religion. All followers live in Monastery communes. There are several classes of Shren’threl. The highest are the teachers. These are elders who teach the younger followers what they know about the Circle of Life. The other three groups are on equal levels. The Shren’threl understand that it is the destiny of some to fight, so there are Shren’threl warriors. To become a full Shren’threl warrior requires years of training. The warriors provide security for the communes and they will go to local towns and cities to protect and help people being taken advantage of, so that they can reach their full place in the Circle. Due to the Shren’threl’s high reverence of nature they have a group called the Preservers. The Preservers see it as their duty to keep people from interfering and destroying nature. They understand some natural habitats must be destroyed so that others may survive, but they can not abide destruction for money. The third group is the Scholars. The Scholars are great philosophers who spend their life learning. They also will go to local cities to try and teach their knowledge to others. Many Shren’threl are at peace with themselves and content with life. Often this is what draws people to the religion, despite it’s great demands.
Special Abilities: MEDITATION: All Shren’threl are taught a form of meditation. While mediating the monk tries to see his/her part in the Circle and see the way the Circle works in the world. In game terms, A Shren’threl monk’s perception is +1D for as many hours as they spent meditating. A Shren’threl character starts with this ability. Another character can add it if they spend a month training and spend 10 character points. To enter meditation requires a difficult willpower roll, and for every hour spent meditating another moderate roll is required.
LIFE BOND: A Shren’threl has a “life bond” to another person. This could be a relative or a close friend. It is completely possible that the monk does not know who they are life bond to yet. If a monk does know, then while they are meditating, they can “see” the person no matter where they are, and know what they are doing. If someone that a monk has a life bond to dies, the monk will instantly know it.
Playing a Shren’threl Monk : Character interaction will have to be fairly in depth, because the characters already know each other. While it would be very easy to make a character with Dexterity and Strength of 4D, try to resist the temptation. It would be more than ok to have one of those attributes maxed out but not both. Try to make a characters more balanced. Also resist the temptation to have a character good at only one thing. While some need to do this, it will be kind of boring if everyone is a Ju Jitsu master or can fight with a quarterstaff. Some other alternatives are a character who is good with throwing weapons (javelins, slings, boa balls) or an archer. If you do not want to be a warrior monk for what ever reason, some other possibilities are a rebel operative who gets caught up with the monks (only one person can do this though), or a Shren’threl monk who is a medic.
MARTIAL ARTS: For those of you who do not know, how to do Martial Arts in Star Wars is fiercely debated. I do not really like any of the ideas I have seen so far, so here is my potpourri idea (that is probably over complicated): For simplicity, and because Dexterity already has to many skills in it, Martial Arts will remain under strength, and will be it’s own skill. Like the skill scholar, martial arts always has to have a specialization, though it advances at the normal rate. So for example, someone would have the skill Martial Arts: Tera Kasi. Each martial arts technique has a min. dexterity rating. So something like Tibetan kick boxing would require a Dexterity of 3D+2 to have the skill. Also, martial arts is a pseudo advanced skill, whereas the character as to have at least 1D of skill in Brawling and brawling parry. The skill martial arts can also be used to block as opposed to brawling parry. There is no standard damage chart for moves, because what damage should be can debated forever, so it is up the individual GM.
The Kroutrak Sector
The Kroutrack sector lies in the outer rim. The expansion of this sector has been fairly slow. Despite the fact that it has had a major trade route cut through it for quite some time: The Vaathkree Trade Loop. Exploration throughout the fairly cluttered sector was slow. That was until a Cha’wen’he scout charted a lane that connected the Trade Loop with the Rimma Run roughly 200 years ago. Exploration picked up, as the Cha’wen’he and Vaathkree set up colonies, but for the most part settlement has been slow. That has all changed in recent years. Due to great advertising and word of mouth, the Kroutrak sector is number fifteen on the fastest growing sector list. This has led to the rebellion and the Empire scrambling to for an advantage. The sector sports three native races: Esoomians, Anamin, and Setorites. None of these races are very advanced and do not figure into sector politics that much. However, on Seti IV, homeworld of the Setorites there have been some armed confrontations against slavers and the Empire.
The Rebellion : The Rebel Alliance has long had a presence in the Kroutrak sector. They use to have a safe world in the Yalnor system, but after Imperial activity picked up and a close run in with a probe droid it was deserted. The sector head quarters is rumored to be on Werster in the Wer system. It is also believed that there maybe a starfighter base somewhere in the Phantall system. Several planets in the sector are secretly aligned with the Rebel Alliance. Secretly, giving supplies, turning a blind eye, or helping with recruitment. However, due to recent Imperial hostilities on a few worlds, several planetary governments are rethinking and pulling out. This is a dangerous time for rebels in the Kroutrak sector. They are not quite strong enough to risk full engagements, but if they stand by they will witness the sector slip through their fingers.
The Empire : The Empire has turned it’s eye to the Kroutrak sector in light of its recent expansion. The Empire has begun to match the civilian expansion with one of its own. The most notable expansion being the strives that COMPNOR has made in the sector, especially on the planets of Corstoar, Fradall, and Veld. The Empire has also expanded its military presence within the sector, trying to maintain at least a half garrison on all “civilized planets (a civilized planet has to have at least 20,000 inhabitants). The sector has also been upped and it now sports an Imperial Class star destroyer, along with two victory class star destroyers, five Carrick cruisers, four strike cruisers, and several smaller custom cruisers. Since it’s inception the Ubiquorate (and subsequently the ISB) have had a great interest in the Kroutrak sector, especially in the area between Douch and Neree. Why there has been so much Imperial intelligence in the area is quite unknown. The current Governor is Rames Hoarahp. Rames did not get the job because of outstanding skills. Throughout his entire career in COMPforce, then the ISB, and then the Ubiquorate Rames has had an unassuming career, not really standing out. However, he did gain favors and blackmail information. When the time came he cashed them in and got the Governorship of a small out of the way sector. However, Rames surprise all and went from being an unassuming loyal Imperial, to a ruthlessly efficient ruler. Several upper ranking people in a variety of positions fear Rames as being to ambitious and want to see him gone. That will not be happening though, several officers under him are fiercely loyal, he is popular among COMPNOR, and due to his PR director, he is popular among the masses. On top of that he still has several favors to cash in and a lot of blackmail information. Needless to say, the Emperor is watching his career very closely. . .
Important Planets:
Corstoar: System: Corstoar; This is the sector’s capital. On top of housing a big bureaucracy, several major pharmaceutical companies have several facilities on the planet.
Ord Veldo: system : Veld: This planet has more commerce than any other planet in the sector. Several mega-corporations have district offices and warehouses on the planet. In adittion to that, the planetary government has imported many exotic (and docile) animals to create a nature preserve that attracts thousands of tourist a year.
Fradall: System: fradall: While Fradall is an important mining planet, it’s main industry is smuggling and illegal operations. Fradall is the home of the Yellow Moon syndicate, which has it’s hand spread through out the sector. Most everyone knows they are here, including the Governor. He just hasn’t done anything . . .yet.
Vathratk’hizrat: System: Vatkrathk: This is volcanic planet is the main base of location for the Vathkree. Naturally because of this, it is a huge trading planet. However it does not hold the most prime position in the sector (that would either be Veld, Opeeche, or Neree), because of this they are involved in a viscous trade war with the Che’when’he.
OpeeChe: system: OpeeChe; This is the main planet for the Che’when’he. Nearly all bacta that goes on to the trade lane passes through here. Because of this there is a strong Imperial presence.
Zkrale System: Zkralestork; originally the planet Tork was colonized by the Vathkree, but the colony never came to prominence. Instead, the world Zkrale did. The planet has no true industry, and very few resources. For being on a major shipping lane it has a small space port. The main drawing point is tourism. Lots of it. The planet has nearly every tourist attraction that one can imagine.
Neree: System: Neree: This planet was one of the first ones ever colonized in the sector. The humans have set up an unique and complex culture on this desert mining planet. A form of spice spiders imported to the planet, have helped make this mineral rich planet one of the richest in the sector.
Mitte’opop: This planet is mostly self sufficient, just exporting crops for use in the sector. The only thing that can be found on this planet is moss and tall, thin pine trees. That and a Shren’threl commune.
The Races: Another drawing point to the sector is the amount of racing tracks it sports. The Freighter marathon runs from Vathrathk’hizrak to Veld every year. There are professional swoop tracks on Lastor, Vensti, and Hoo-too. There are major tracks for two of the major speeder circuits in the sector on Vathratk’hizrak and Refnor respectably. There is also a pod racing track on Greskul IV. Another great track is the starfighter run in the Phantall asteroid belt. On top of that there are several beast-riding tracks throughout the sector.
