Friday, April 28, 2023

Veridian Prime
The Clone Wars & Clone Protocol 66
The current year for our homebrewed Clone Wars era campaign is set during 19 BBY.
Inspired By George Lucas

Veridian Prime, commonly known as Veridian, is a planet once defined by its stubborn independence, was a two-tiered society built around the singular beacon of Capital City. Within its fortified walls, a technologically sophisticated metropolis thrived, a monument to the resourceful pioneers who built it.

For centuries, its citizens enjoyed a peaceful, prosperous existence, powered by a steady flow of interstellar trade and a government that, for all its isolation, was a source of stability. The city's sleek, automated transport systems and towering hydroelectric generators spoke to a culture of progress and order, a stark contrast to the vast, untamed wilderness outside. Yet, beyond the city's gleaming towers lay a rugged frontier, home to scattered settlements of miners and farmers who eked out a living from the harsh land.

While they benefited from Capital City's trade, a cultural and geographical chasm separated them, fostering a resilient, self-reliant spirit that often regarded the city's sheltered populace with a mix of dependency and quiet resentment.

This fragile equilibrium was violently shattered during the final years of the Clone Wars by the marauding Crimson Scourge, a coalition of pirates and marauders who emerged from the lawless depths of the Outer Rim. The Scourge, known for their brutal and indiscriminate tactics, systematically plundered the outlying settlements, turning once-thriving communities into burned-out husks. Their attacks on Capital City's vital trade routes slowly strangled the city's economy, replacing prosperity with a growing sense of desperation and fear.

In their hour of need, the government pleaded with the Galactic Republic for aid, only to have their pleas ignored, lost in the bureaucratic apathy of a larger, dying war. This abandonment was a profound and unforgivable betrayal that bred a deep-seated resentment toward the galaxy at large, making the populace vulnerable to a new kind of salvation.

As the smoke of the Clone Wars cleared and the First Galactic Empire emerged, a new promise was delivered to Veridian. An Imperial fleet, led by the charismatic Commandant Valen Kael, arrived not as a conquering force but as a deliverer, their swift and decisive action against the Crimson Scourge a stark contrast to the Republic’s inaction. They established a permanent and highly visible presence, converting a major government building into a central Imperial Garrison and setting up numerous outposts to secure the once-lawless frontier.

Under the Empire’s rigid new rules—which include a planet-wide curfew and constant stormtrooper patrols—trade is once again secure, and a fragile peace has settled over the world. But this security has come at the cost of personal liberty, as the Empire's iron grip tightens around every facet of Veridian life. For now, many citizens, particularly in Capital City, are grateful for the end of the marauder threat, seeing Commandant Kael and his forces as true saviors.

However, the campaign begins in this moment of fragile calm, as your characters explore a planet whose deepest divisions and greatest danger may have only just arrived. The old wounds of betrayal still run deep, and the price of this newfound order is a debt that has yet to be fully paid. The uneasy peace is merely a veneer, and below the surface, the whispers of dissent and the machinations of Imperial ambition are already beginning to stir.

Notable Locations
Capital City
Jalanth
Dorrack
Trekar
Shantytown

Imperial Installations
Outpost 24
Outpost 25
Communications Center
Imperial Spire Dam & Logistics Hub
Power Relay Station

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Capital City
The Clone Wars & Clone Protocol 66
The current year for our homebrewed Clone Wars era campaign is set during 19 BBY.
Inspired By George Lucas

For centuries, Capital City stood as a monument to defiance, a self-sufficient metropolis that thrived despite its isolation in the lawless Outer Rim. Its founders had intentionally carved out their own destiny, far from the bureaucracy and entanglements of the Galactic Core, and their culture was defined by this fierce independence.

Citizens lived in a society built on orderly innovation, where clean energy from massive geothermal reactors powered efficient transport and pristine public spaces. But that cherished peace was violently shattered by the arrival of the Crimson Scourge, transforming their sanctuary into a beleaguered fortress. Trade routes were severed, prosperity withered, and Capital City, once a symbol of ingenuity, began to decay.

The city's bustling Grand Concourse grew sparse, and a gnawing fear replaced the population's quiet pride. The government’s desperate, ignored plea to the Galactic Republic was a profound betrayal, leaving a lingering, bitter fatalism in the collective psyche. The city’s inhabitants were weary survivors, clinging to the faint hope of a future they no longer truly believed in.

Then, the Empire arrived. A charismatic Imperial Commandant, Valen Kael, and his fleet swept into orbit, promising security where the Republic had failed. For a populace broken by years of constant threat, the Empire wasn't an occupying force, but an army of saviors. The stormtroopers, with their clean, intimidating armor, represented decisive action and competence, a stark contrast to the old, ineffective planetary militia. Within weeks, the pirates were gone, their marauding gangs systematically eliminated by Imperial forces with breathtaking efficiency.

Trade, under the watchful eye of the Imperial Navy, was re-established, and the city's main government building, a hub of the old regime's impotence, was swiftly repurposed into a formidable Imperial Garrison, a new and powerful symbol of order. The planetary curfew and increased patrols were not seen as infringements on liberty, but as the necessary medicine for a sick and lawless world.

The markets once again filled with goods, the streets felt safer than they had in years, and the citizens, for the first time since the raids began, felt a genuine sense of gratitude and hope. The Empire had delivered on its promise, and Capital City breathed a collective, grateful sigh of relief.

But now, as weeks bleed into months, the initial euphoria is beginning to fade. Small, almost imperceptible changes are taking place, visible only to those who are truly paying attention. The Imperial patrols, once a reassuring presence, now feel more like an ever-present watch. The propaganda on public comms, once subtle, now constantly reminds citizens to "be productive" and "contribute to the New Order." The celebrated efficiency starts to feel more like an inflexible, unforgiving system. Incidents once handled by local arbitration are now met with a disproportionate Imperial response: a merchant’s transport confiscated for outdated paperwork, a neighbor's beloved trinket seized during a "contraband inspection".

This quiet, creeping unease is slowly seeping into the populace, replacing the initial hope with a subtle sense of dread. The realization is beginning to dawn on some that the price for their peace may be far higher than they ever imagined, and that the true danger to their freedom was not the marauders they vanquished, but the powerful force they welcomed with open arms. The city's free spirit is being systematically suppressed, its past as an independent beacon erased, replaced by the cold, unfeeling machinery of Imperial control. The city is safer, yes, but no longer truly their own.

Notable Locations
• The Undercity

Friday, March 31, 2023

Outpost 24
The Clone Wars & Clone Protocol 66
The current year for our homebrewed Clone Wars era campaign is set during 19 BBY.
Inspired By George Lucas

This outpost is located in a less populated, wilder region of Veridian, far from Capital City. It is strategically placed near a new, fledgling mining operation and simply acts as a monitoring station in the remote countryside. It is positioned on a plateau overlooking a stretch of grasslands near small gorge near a mineral-rich vein.

It is a prefabricated, structure and compound designed for quick deployment. The primary structure is the main building, a single story, with reinforced durasteel plating. It houses the command room, sleeping quarters, a small mess area, and the outpost's power generator. The main building, a single story structure, with reinforced durasteel plating.

It houses the command room, sleeping quarters, a small mess area, and the outpost's power generator. It has a small, open-air landing pad just outside the parimeter, sufficient for a small shuttle or a patrol skiff. It has a single commanding Imperial officer, a Lieutenant who is in charge. This officer is experienced enough to lead but not high-ranking enough to be in Capital City. The outpost has a small squad of Imperial Army troopers (12), that serves as the garrison. They wear the standard Imperial Army uniform, which is less protective than stormtrooper armor. They are typically seen as less disciplined than stormtroopers. One or two technicians and maintenance staff are also stationed at the outpost to maintain the equipment and power supply.

A handful of speeder bikes are stored at the outpost for quick patrols and reconnaissance. Two small Imperial armored transports are also available for transporting supplies or larger patrol groups. A series of motion sensors are scattered around the outpost's immediate perimeter to detect unauthorized movement. The outpost is equipped with a long-range communications array to report back to Capital City, though this is only monitored intermittently.

The troopers, bored and isolated, likely have a very predictable patrol schedule. The troops, lacking discipline and ambition, have low morale, making them easier to outwit or bribe. The outpost relies heavily on its power generator and communication array, both of which are vulnerable targets for sabotage.

Monday, March 27, 2023

Outpost 25
The Clone Wars & Clone Protocol 66
The current year for our homebrewed Clone Wars era campaign is set during 19 BBY.
Inspired By George Lucas

Outpost 25 is strategically placed near a remote, but newly established, Imperial mining quarry on Veridian. It's not built to be a fortress, but rather a functional, low-profile facility to monitor the mining operations and ensure the local workers—mostly displaced Veridians—don't cause trouble. The site is in a rocky, sparsely vegetated area on the outskirts of the farming communities, just where the terrain turns into scrubland and rocky outcroppings.

Unlike the more fortified Outpost 24, Outpost 25 is a series of scattered, utilitarian structures. A small, prefabricated durasteel structure serves as the command post. It houses a basic operations center, the communications console, and a small armory. Two other separate barracks modules provide sleeping quarters for the Army troopers. They are simple, unfortified, and relatively exposed. Two large, open-air, but fenced-in, pens hold a couple of dewbacks. A small shed attached to the pen stores feed and equipment.

A simple, open-sided canopy with a blast-resistant roof offers a covered parking area for the outpost's vehicles, protecting them from the elements. A self-contained power generator is housed in a small, separate shed, making it an easy target for sabotage.

An Imperial Sergeant commands this compound, a grizzled veteran who has seen action in the Clone Wars and has been passed over for promotion. He is loyal to the Empire but more focused on a quiet life and a steady paycheck than on ideological fervor. He trusts his instincts over Imperial protocols. Six Imperial Army Troopers, standard, relatively low-skilled infantry are stationed here. They are bored, isolated, and their morale is not the highest. They spend most of their time watching the quarry and carrying out routine patrols. A dedicated mechanic/driver keeps the outpost's vehicles and equipment running. He is a skilled individual but has little combat experience.

Two speeder bikes are used for quick patrols around the quarry perimeter. Three dewbacks are kept in the pens for longer patrols, especially in rough terrain where repulsorlift vehicles might struggle. They are reliable and well-adapted to the arid environment.

Each trooper and the Sergeant have a short-range comlink, primarily for communicating within the immediate area of the outpost. The Command Shack has a long-range transmitter for communicating with Capital City. It's a standard model, but it's not well-protected and its signal is not heavily encrypted. Patrols are frequent but predictable, making it easy for a savvy rebel group to avoid or ambush them. Imperial military personnel do not oversee the day-to-day mining, only the security. Their duties are limited to observation and reporting, making them susceptible to boredom and complacency.