Rebel Sworn: Chapter 4, Part 2, Imprisoned - A Star Wars Inspired Starforged Solo Campaign
With Zhar gone from their prison cell, what lengths will Keer go to find his friend in the Imperial compound?
Will Keer ever find Zhar? Hard to say at this point, everything in the galaxy is standing between Keer and Zhar. Let's see if this is the chapter where they are finally united.
And stay tuned to the end of the chapter where I'll have an update on the Rebel Sworn campaign.
If this is the first chapter of Rebel Sworn you've read, be sure to check out the chapter list for the campaign.
Let's Play.
---
Zhar is gone, taken somewhere by the Imps. I must not despair. Instead, I’ll need to forge onward to find them. Damn the Imps, the Pykes, and this womp-infested planet! I take a deep breath, excitement and fear won’t do me any good. What is it those rebel diehards always say? The force is with you. I don’t believe in hokey religions but I calm myself and think about my next steps.
The Imps love to record everything. Half the empire is designed to record what is happening in the other half. All I need to do is find the records and that will lead me straight to Zhar. Simple and easy. I look around and see a terminal. I wish R5 was here to help out, without that annoying droid this won’t be as easy.
The explosions and fighting from the outside seem to be dying down. That means the Imps will be back soon to check on their execution. They will surely come looking if I’m not dead or in my cell. I run to the terminal and start trying to access any prisoner transfers.
Gather Information +3 with Wits
Challenge 8,3 Vs Action 1+3=4, Weak Hit
+1 Momentum (9), Finds information but complicates my quest.
Reach a Milestone, +1 Progress for finding Zhar now 7 boxes
I’ll roll on the action and theme for where Zhar is and I get Construct Strategy. That feels like an Imperial Command Post to me.
The report says Zhar was transferred to the Imperial Command post on this base. Alright, so they aren’t too far, just in the most heavily defended place in the whole entire city, great. But if there is one thing I’m good at, it's cracking open imperial compounds. Now, I’ll just need something that can make a big boom and I’ll have a plan.
The terminal points to where I can find my equipment and what do you know, the Imps have catalogued it and stored it away safely. But have they left my explosives?
Check your Gear +4 with Supply
Challenge 6,3 Vs Action4+4=8 Strong Hit
+1 Momentum, I have the Item
Ah, my second and last Nova detonator. I love this one, sometimes I stare at it when I can’t sleep. I’m going to miss it but it needs to be done. The first step in the plan is to free all the prisoners in this compound. If the Imps have them, they can’t be that bad. Then I’ll blow a hole in the Command post and bust out Zhar. Sounds easy, the trick will be to not get myself blown up. Now I’m not much for hacking security doors so I’ll cut power and hope that triggers them all to open.
Secure an Advantage +3 with Wits
Challenge 3,4 Vs 1+3=4, Weak hit
+1 to my next move
Reach a Milestone, +1 Progress for finding Zhar now 8 boxes
Finding the closest power terminal, I rip it open and look at all the wires. Blue, green, red wires. I don’t know which is what, so I just start tearing them all out. I figure one of them will shut the power off. And I’m right! The power goes out and the red emergency lights turn on. Then I hear the beautiful sounds of the prison doors opening and the hooting and hollering of prisoners rushing to freedom. That will give me the distraction I need.
I rush down with the prisoners, hiding among them. There are Imps guards firing into the crowd but there are far too many prisoners. Kark, how many people have they arrested in their short time occupying Boz City? As a seething mass, we run past the command post and I take a detour into the shadows to get nova ready.
 |
| Too many for the Imps to handle. Made by me using Nightcafe. |
The command post has thick walls carved from the rock of Boz Pity itself. I dial nova up to max settings and place it next to the wall. I pray to the gods that it is enough, but not too much.
Face Danger +3 with its, Explosion strength = 3
Challenge 1,4 Vs 2+3=5, Challenge Die under explosion strength score, Strong hit!
+1 momentum (at max)
Reach a Milestone, +1 Progress for finding Zhar now 9 boxes
I set it to a short timer and run like mad. Before I get to cover the concussion of the blast knocks me off my feet. Debris goes flying, as do a few Mud troopers. I look back at a cloud of dust and hope I haven’t taken down the whole building.
A gust of wind blows the dust and smoke away and I see a hole large enough to fly an X-Wing through. No Imp troopers in sight, no guards, no Storm Troopers. I sprint in yelling Zhar’s name.
Fulfill Your Vow
Challenge 5,6 Vs Progress of 9, Strong hit
Vow completed, Finding Zhar. 1 Box on Quests track.
Reach a Milestone, +1 Progress for Activating the Dreadnaught - 1 box
In the dust and confusion of the compound, a voice calls back, “E Chu Ta Keer! You are a karking stupid lizard blowing up a building I’m in. Are you out of your snarking mind? What druk do you have between your ears? Do you even have ears? Kark, that was a bad explosion.”
I am stunned! “Zhar? Is that you finally? Of course, it is, nobody has a mouth like you. Stop laying around, get up because we have to get out of here before the Imps come back in force. And I got a job for you.”
Zhar pushes rubble off themselves and stands up. A big Twi’lek grin crosses their face. “A job? For me? Thanks for thinking about me, you really do care. Now, get me the kark out of here, I need a drink!”
Zhar and I dash off into Boz City. I’m shocked at what I see. Destruction everywhere. There was a battle in this city or a large riot. Or both. Maybe the Imps stepped down with their boots a little too hard and the people of Boz City said 'enough'? It’s happening all over the mid-rim, people who’ve had enough of the Empire's rules and oppression. Up ahead I see a squad of Storm Troopers on patrol. I don’t want them to spot us so I motion Zhar to follow me into an alley. We need to find Verse and get off these streets.
 |
| Another 'Imperial Peace Keeping Operation". Made by me using Nightcafe |
We wind through the back alleys of Boz City, avoiding Imp patrols and angry locals alike. We aim for the starport. I need to check on my ship and pick up R5. Verse’s hang-out is close by so hopefully we can find her too.
The Obsidian Wrath is still tucked away in the sheltered starport, thank the gods, or the Force, or whatever. R5 comes rushing out of the Obsidian in a whirl of beeps and boops. I can’t help but think how much the little droid missed me, even if it's telling me how stupid I was for trying to boost the Pyke’s shipment.
“R5 calm down!” I yell at it. “What in the two suns happened here? A riot? An imperial crackdown? What?”
R5’s text readout states that several local gangs have been engaging with the Imperial forces for the last day, but for the last couple of hours there seems to be a lull. If the gangs threw down with the Imps, it's only a matter of time before the Imps come back in strength with walkers and tanks and destruction.
I look at Zhar, who seems a bit out of it and still shaken up from a few days of being roughed up by the Pykes and then the Imps.
Time to find out a bit more about Zhar. Since they are already established as a character, it will be less random rolls. The first look is Hagggard. Their initial disposition is desperate. Role is shipwright, which explains why Keer needs them. And the character goal I’ll roll for, solve a mystery, we will see how that comes about. Now let’s try to make a connection with Zhar.
“Zhar, you need some rest and then we need to talk. I need your help to stop the Imps from taking over this whole sector. I know you’ve been through hell and back but you are the only person on this stinking planet who can help me out!”
Make a Connection, +1 with Heart
Challenge 6,3 Vs Action 6+1=7, Strong Hit
+1 momentum (at max) and Zhar'seca is now a Dangerous-level connection
Zhar looks at the ground for a moment then looks up and stares directly into my eyes, “I’ll kill every farking Imp I get my hands on for how they treated me. And those karking Pykes too. Just tell me what I need to do.”
I laugh, Zhar never changes, not a bit. “Great to have you on board Zhar, but first we need to see a friend and you need to rest a bit.
We leave the spaceport and pick our way through the rubble of the city, and I thought it looked bad before this street battle. Verse’s cantina is still intact, with multiple levels of barricades up between it and the main street. Union gangsters wave us in, knowing both Zhar and me. We step into the Cantina, affectionately known as the Bantha Lounge.
Verse is huddled over a holo of the city with some of her lieutenants. Her head is bandaged and I see carbon scaring all over her left hand. She looks at me and glowers “Keer, the second you flew into this city everything has gone to poodoo. I don’t think it's a coincidence. What do you have to say for yourself?”
 |
| You can always find Verse at the Bantha Lounge. Made by me using Nightcafe. |
Test your Relationship +1 with Heart
Challenge 7,5 Vs 2+1=3, Miss
Burn Momentum, Change Action die to 10, Strong Hit! Momentum reset to 2
Develop Relationship with Verse, now 2 boxes of progress.
“Verse, you know I wouldn’t bring this to Boz City. The Imps destroy everything they touch. They desire nothing but complete control over every planet, city, and being in this galaxy. You’ve seen it out there on the streets. They have to be fought!”
Verse closes her eyes and makes a deep sigh. “I know Keer, but we lost a lot of good people today and while the Imps were forced out, I know they will be back soon. We have to do something.”
I smile, “I know exactly what will give us an advantage, and Zhar here can help us. What do you know about Separatist Dreadnaughts? But first, we need to rest and recover.”
Sojourn, + 1 with Heart
Challenge, 10,5 Vs Action 5+1=6, Weak hit
Can take one recovery move.
“Sure, take a quick break but our scouts around the city say the Imps are coming back soon. Take what rest you can and then whatever your plan is, I need to hear it.”
Hearten +1 with Heart
Challenge, 10,10 Vs 5+1=6, Miss with Matching 10s
Pay the price, Something of value is lost or destroyed
I sit down to have a drink with some of Verse’s folk, hoping to forget the past couple of days and invigorate my spirit. But then I hear it, the unmistakable sound of Tiebombers. Those karking Imps are going to bomb the city! We all put our drinks down and dive for cover.
---
Update on the Rebel Sworn Campaign:
What a cliffhanger to end the chapter on. And I’m sorry to say, we will be sitting on this cliffhanger for a few months at least. I’m taking a break from Starforged for the next few months. Think of it like a TV show going on break between seasons. We will definitely come back to Keer and Rebel Sworn, so don’t worry about that.
Keep an eye out for a review of Starforged in the next few weeks and a start to a new Campaign next week. It's something completely different. I think you’ll like it.
Support the Blog
Are you on Twitter? Follow me at @croakersrpg. I talk about the blog, chat with other TTRPG creators, and have interesting conversations.
All RPG links to DrivethruRPG are affiliate links and if you click through and purchase something it will cost you nothing extra and help support the blog.
RPG Books I Use
These are the books I used to write this blog. These are affiliate links, if you click any links on this blog and buy something from Drive Thru RPG, I get a small cut of the price at no extra cost to you. It will help support the blog and allow me to buy new and interesting books!
Starforged: Ironsworn
- Croaker
Comments
Post a Comment