Star Wars

These Shattered Stars

Characters have access to various nodes of the HoloNet, and rumors are available from there. All rumors will be listed in this section; the newest rumors are listed at the top. Note that while the players may have heard these rumors, unless otherwise specified there is no official confirmation of any of them.

• This appears to be a good reason why Freyja hasn't received any word from Fafnir lately. News from Balmorra: The Stromvalt, Lord Odann Jotunsen, passed away one month ago in his sleep. His health had been failing for the past several months, and this came as no surprise. In a touching display of solidarity, Haus Rigg observed the period of mourning with the survivors of Haus Jotunsen. Under the terms of the betrothal contract, all titles and lands legally pass on to Haus Rigg. However, Baron Forsetti Rigg has declined taking up the title of Stromvalt, instead insisting that it be held for when the Arving Lady Freyja Rigg, a Jedi Knight, returns to take up the family titles. In the meantime, the former Arving Lord of Haus Jotunsen, Fafnir Leif-Kreil Jotunsen, betrothed to the Arving Lady Freyja, will begin undertaking his duties as viceroy of the former Jotunsen holdings, managing them in the name of Haus Rigg.
• The youngest daughter of the late Stromvalt has accepted a position within Cyteller Automaton as a special emmissary and direct representative of the Board of Directors. Helge Mirin Jotunsen has a strong background in performing fact-finding missions for her father. Baron Forsetti Rigg would not comment on what specific purpose he has appointed Lady Jotunsen for, though shortly after her appointment she attended the Sector Cabinet and the Balmorran offices of Senator Kallatis, reportedly with a huskarl and three armsbearers in tow in addition to a number of aides.
• The youngest of the surviving Jotunsen family, Lord Randaal Weiland Jotunsen, has reportedly entered the sector military academy under an alias. Prior to his departure, he was unavailable for comment.
• There was a minor incident not long after the Stromvalt's passing, in which what was apparently an assassination attempt on Count Mis Thullakazhan was intercepted by his Mandalorian bodyguard. Because the person was killed (some sources give more detail, with such words as 'mangled,' 'shredded,' and 'nearly disintegrated') in the attempt, their identity has not been determined. Count Mis's Mandalorian, however, has been noticably absent from the side of the Count of late, presumably seeking the identity of the assassin.
• The governor of Tannab was put in critical condition when his airspeeder exploded right as he was stepping from it at the capitol city.
• The Sith have begun advancing again, and as predicted their strategies have changed. In a series of blitzkreigen, Ithor has been retaken, and assaults are being undertaken upon Carratos, Ploo, Myrkr, Hapes, and Ambria. Republic forces were forced to withdraw from many positions but a recent rally has allowed them to take a stand and hold their ground. The ferocity of the renewed attack has taken many strategists by surprise. Curiously, the Sith are utterly ignoring that portion of the front facing Ossus; some have theorized that the Sith wish to avoid a cataclysmic confrontation with the Jedi there, while more pragmatic strategists point out that the Sith are poising themselves for a lance-thrust through Balmorra Sector straight through to Coruscant. Strategists estimate that, if the campaigns on worlds with fighting going on degenerates, within eight months the Sith could very well be threatening Balmorra or Commenor.
• Jedi Master Balin Khoud, Prior of Balmorra Sector, has vowed that the Sith shall not take the sector. "There is a wall," he said in a speech to one of the commanderies, "a rampart which we shall build, in the Force and in the stars. It is a rampart upon which we shall stand and say, 'No further! We rebuke ye, O darkness! We abjure thee, O shadows! You shall not pass!' The darkness will not reach to the heart of the Republic. We shall keep it free from this cancer, with the power of the pure and Bright Force." In a dramatic gesture, he drew and ignited his lightsabre, saying loudly and clearly, "Dark days it is when Jedi must draw blade against an enemy, but if we must then it shall be the Dark, not the Light, which is banished by the sabres in our hands and the sabres of our hearts!" His gesture was immediately mirrored by the one hundred Jedi guardians in attendance; holovid footage of the event is said to be quite awe-inspiring. A group of young Jedi in Balmorra Sector is already said to be calling themselves the Rampart Legion. [OOC: "Legion" is a damn odd name for a company of Jedi to be calling themselves.... This is the sound of a hint the size of Mighty Joe Young -- well, all right, maybe Mighty Mouse, being dropped.]
• In possibly related news, another commmandery, this one in the neighboring Yuris Sector, has been destroyed in a freak accident. There is no word on any casualties; like the previous one, this was a minor training center started following the start of the Great Hyperspace War. Prior Balin Khoud is reportedly 'mystified' and 'shocked.' Officially, both sector priories are cooperating in the investigations. (The response of the Prior of Yuris, Jiorre of Kalabash, was, according to rumor, 'Commandery? What commandery?')
• Senator Kallatis is apparently en route from Coruscant to Sedrak, where he will be establishing his offices. While aides have reportedly entreated him to remain on Coruscant, he has said, "My place is with the sector I represent. I must be responsive to the needs of the people of Balmorra Sector." His stated reason for making Sedrak the site of his new offices was that Sedrak offered the best position from which to monitor the strategic situation.
• The sector fleet has dispatched a number of Senatorial-class heavy destroyers to Sedrak to provide additional protection, as well as the Bloodeagle and the Ebon Raptor. The sector admiral was not available for comment when asked if this would affect defense plans for the sector.
• It is not widely-known, in fact only the seedier tabloids are reporting it, but it's a pretty sure bet this would catch Freyja's and Zero's attention. In a few selected areas, the Sith have begun to use something called, apparently, "shadowdroids." Somehow alchemically empowered with the darkside of the force, or using cybernetic components of fallen Sith Force-awakened, shadowdroids are remarkably similar to certain types of Republic special-operations and heavy combat (Viper and SD-series) battle droids. It is these, the rumors say, that are in part allowing the Sith to make such incredible gains in territory.
• While officially unrelated, Freyja and Zero will most certainly not see it as a coincidence that a large number of Republic Guard personnel have recently converged on Balmorra, and not just to the naval base on the moon, but to the cities and capitols of the various cantons. The shouting matches that are going on in the Moot and the Chamber of Commerce between the new personnel -- rumor has it they're very high brass, or Guard Intelligence -- and the aristoi are reportedly reaching decibel levels high enough to make the Rodians present bring hearing protection. In distantly related news, Macronainsberg's hotel industry has never done better in the past three thousand years.
• For the forseeable future, Syf Rigg will not be touring beyond Balmorra Sector. At the behest of her family and her managing agents, it is considered too dangerous for her to travel beyond the sector. When asked about her other daughter's safety, the Baroness Rigg said brusquely, "She is a Jedi, Sir." When asked how she felt about being kept from touring beyond Balmorra Sector, Syf Rigg replied [OOC: At this point, I have to simply refuse to write this part. Otherwise, my pancreas will commmit ritual self-defensive suicide and I'll collapse from the sugar-shock of the sheer fluff Syf can utter. I'm picturing something like a cross between Annette Funicello and Apollo Smile, on speed and with a bit of the morning fire, besides. Oh, the horror... the horror....]
• This just in from the front: a sudden Sith raid on Obroa-Skai, undertaken by a number of Force-aware persons under the command of a Darth Kurq, was soundly defeated by the sudden appearance of a very well-coordinated and well-trained company of Jedi. These Jedi disappeared after the confrontation, but local Guard forces firmly believe that they blunted a possible future assault on that world.
• Empress Teta is reportedly considering refusing a Senate order to place her sizable military under the command of the Republic Guard. She has repeatedly offered to set up, on her own resources, a liason office between Guard and Korosian forces. While a member of the Republic, and with Teta having been supported by the Republic in her efforts to unify the system, Koros is permitted a local defense force in much the same way as Corellia maintains CorSec. Many believe, however, that especially with the naval special forces units that Empress Teta has been sending on deeper and deeper incursions against the Sith supply lines, the Koros navy goes far beyond the provisions for a 'defensive' force.

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• With communication reestablished with Sedrak, much of what took place is still being investigated. But rumbles from the underworld says that the Black Wind Tong, formerly a planetary criminal organization on Sedrak, is starting to make more active inroads into interstellar criminal management. Some whispers have spoken of vendetta, though against whom is not known.
• The exact identity of who attempted to kidnap the Arving Lord Fafnir Jotunsen is still not known. However, Tatros Nel Balmorran Agriculture is rumored to have been the responsible party. An undisclosed settlement has allegedly been reached between Haus Jotunsen, Haus Rigg, and the Khavian House Purl'soma which owns Tatros Nel. This settlement apparently involved the transfer of 40% of Tatros Nel stock to various Rigg and Jotunsen officers; what is known is that Tatros Nel, which had been experiencing a slump in the markets, suddenly and unexpectedly found a large number of buyers for their stock. If true, this would place Jotunsen- and Rigg-owned stock in Tatros Nel to over 49.7%. Lord Purl'soma, the primary owner of Tatros Nel (former primary owner, if the rumors are true) was unavailable for comment, yet is reportedly fuming.
• More on the ships stolen from Ambria: one of them has turned up in a decaying orbit around Iktotch. Apparently abandoned, the ship's logs were physically destroyed and were not recoverable. The Jedi Order has apparently taken an interest in the matter.
• The body of a murdered Jedi was found on Xagobah. The Order was not immediately available for comment, but sources have said that the Jedi was investigating the darksider cult which had kiled Murgo Thurn Kaabas some time ago.
• In an unannounced and very private ceremony, seventeen Jedi knights formed a company to protect a small sect of Jedi in the hinterlands of Ossus. Citing only that the masters of the Ophidian Canticle were "venerable and in danger from the close proximity of Ossus to the front," the knights became an unofficial bodyguard for the Canticle. The Canticle, also known as the Ophics, is a sect of recluse masters in hermitage and commune. The Company of the Serpent's Song has not been officially recognized by the Council;no comment has been forthcoming from the Council.
• The Company of Bright Stars, stationed in the Deep Core, has reported encountering Sith forces. Republic Guard naval forces in the Deep Core are undergoing review to confirm if such an infiltration has taken place.
• More about Balmorran war droids in the hands of the Sith. A special forces company assigned to Ithor struck a "major intelligence victory" against the Sith when they captured one of the war droids used by Sith forces there. It was only last week, with the lull in fighting and continued Republic gains on Ithor, that the company was able to get off-planet. Republic Intelligence, Guard Naval Intelligence, and Guard Marine Intelligence have taken the war droid to an undisclosed location that is not Balmorra but "which has resources appropriate to our study" to examine the droid. In related news,an unofficial but indeterminate cease-fire has taken place on Balmorra, where hurled accusations between the various war droid manufacturers had reached alarming levels in recent weeks. Count Mis Thulkhazhan has expressed his hope for a peaceful resolution.
• The number of Mandalorians in the employ of the Royal House of Alderaan has increased to seven. While this has not been confirmed, neither has the rumor that one of these Mandalorians has been killed in a late-night assassination attempt upon Princess Tannia Jinn. In possibly related news, a dozen Jedi, the Company of the Pale Sabre, have arrived on Alderaan; there are rumors that their presence is not entirely welcomed by the Alderaanian Royal House.
• A Jedi commandery in Balmorra Sector was destroyed by a freak generator accident. Master Balin Khoud, Balmorra Sector Prior, has stated that an investigation is already underway. The commandery was one of the newer training centers for Jedi, established after the start of the Great Hyperspace War. No bodies were recovered; all Jedi at the commandery have been listed as deceased, as the explosion flattened the entire compound, which was fortunately established in an out-of-the-way area. The Sector Priory and the Council have neither confirmed nor denied that a weapons-related accident took place; rumors are abounding that the Jedi are training in the use of very heavy portable proton weapons. These are weapons which are supposedly able to take down war droids or landing craft in one shot, but which can (apparently) also level a square kilometer if handled incorrectly.
• A bomb went off in one of the industrial districts of Coruscant. Attributed to eco-sepratists, there were no casualties though the atmosphere processor for that district was severely damaged. Weather engineers predict high temperatures, humid weather, and low oxygen levels for that region, and recommend anyone working in that district carry breathers.
• The Korosian naval special forces units which up until now have remained unconfirmed have returned to Koros. While Empress Teta, the Human ruler of the Koros system, would not speak of their mission, she said that they had gathered important information regarding the Sith intelligence network in Republic space.
• Supposedly there has been some sort of bloody purge within the Sith government, which has since ended. Republic military analysts are noting that the Sith are likely to resume hostilities shortly, possibly with a completely different set of tactics. "Prepare for the Unexpected," was the cover article in the most recent Proceedings of the Strategic Institute of Kashyyyk.
• Balmorra Sector Cabinet officials have announced that they have discovered who the slicer who broke into the Sector government databanks some time ago. Unfortunately, the slicer was killed while resisting arrest, apparently by leaping from a building. No other information is available.
• Captain Brunnhilde van Buus il Jotunsen, sister to Stromvalt Jotunsen of Balmorra, has been recalled to duty to command her old ship, the Ebon Raptor. Her ship, a modified Block 8 Gyrfalcon-class heavy destroyer, and its escorts have been dispatched on an undisclosed mission towards the front.
• In an unusual move, Lord Methel'ssa of the Sith Empire appeared and addressed a rioting crowd on Dantooine. The crowd, who had been complaining of lack of food, were taken by surprise when Lord Methel'ssa announced that she had been named as charge d'affaires Dantooine, and pledged her support for the hungry people. While it remains to be seen what she can do about the food situation on Dantooine (damage done to the ecosystem by retreating Republic forces has been cited by the Sith) it is known that Methel'ssa's assignment to the world is recent. Dantooine, under the Lord Khon Shu Fan, is considered to be one of the most important holdings that the Sith have captured from the Republic, boasting a high population base, high quotient of development, and enough agriculture to remain not only self-sufficient, but supporting all in-system activities as well.

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• There is rumored to be growing unrest with the industrialist corporate nobles of Balmorra. With the betrothal of Freyja Rigg to the son of the Stromvalt Jotunsen, this consolidates not a little power in the hands of Haus Rigg; and Haus Jotunsen's traditional neutrality will evaporate as it hands over it's holdings to Haus Rigg. So far, however, Baron Forsetti Rigg has always shown himself to be an honorable man with no interest in the usual squabblings that adorn the political chambers of Balmorra, and this has staved off most of the objections to the merger of the two houses in the Chamber of Commerce. When asked if this was a prelude to putting in a bid for his house for the hereditary title of Count of Balmorra and the governorship of the world, Forsetti Rigg denied it categorically (and in no uncertain terms.) So far, Count Mis Thulkhazhan has expressed his support for the unification of Balmorra's two Human noble families.
• For the first time in a thousand years, it is said that a Jedi Master has turned down a seat on the Council. Master Mynas Mull of Sullust would refuse to give any reason for his declining of what is considered to be one of the greatest honors that can be accorded a Jedi.
• A slicer is reported to have gotten into the Balmorra Sector databanks. It is unknown if the slicer pilfered any sensitive information, but the databases were wrecked beyond repair. The databases were restored from multiple backup copies, however, and the sector cabinet noted that no data at all was lost. Local police authorities and the Republic Guard have no suspects in custody at this time. This marks the most serious intrusion into government computers in the past hundred and sixty years.
• The Senate passed another resolution barring the Jedi Order from deploying the Templars off of Coruscant.
• Republic forces have taken advantage of the lull in the fighting to gain the upper hand in fighting on Ithor. Wayland continues to be hotly contested.
• A vote of no confidence in the Supreme Chancellor was overwhelmingly defeated in the Senate.
• In other Jedi news, Watcher activity has apparently been stepped up significantly. The blacksashes (Watcher security) have been a little more prominent. Word is that the Watchers are extremely disturbed by whatever butting of heads is going on in the Council.
• In an unusual turn of events, in the more recent Council sessions the guards at the doors have supposedly not been Jedi Templars, but paladins, a distinction of knight that has not been seen in quite some time. They were apparently serving as guards for a short time before being again replaced by Templars. The reason for the presence of the paladins is unknown, but is believed to be indicative of some sort of conflict within the Council. The Jedi Temple officially denied any reports that anyone other than Templars were guarding the Council chambers.
• Apparently, the darkside cult that killed Murgo Thurn Kaabas has pulled up roots from Xabogah and is now on the move again. The Jedi Order has dispatched several Jedi in that region to hunt them down.

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• Rumor has it that the Fervor was destroying something that Sith troops had uncovered on Arkania. It is unknown what it was which was found, or why the Sith would destroy it.
• The Republic Guard is apparently warning all forces that the Sith are capable of an odd sort of cloaking technology. It has previously publically denied the existence of such in the hands of the Sith. The Republic Military General Staff would neither confirm nor deny that the Sith had such stealth technology.
• The death of Murgo Thurn Kaabas has caused something of a power vacuum on Xagobah, and the Hutts are supposedly making inroads there. Xagobah has requested "intervention and mediation" from the Jedi but the sector priory for that region is still deliberating who and what to send.
• A vid of several Jedi fighting Sith troops on Dantooine was obtained by several Outer Rim news agencies. The Jedi are fighting in a very odd style. One conspiracy theoriest on the HoloNet claims that they're Jedi Templars. Nobody has been able to actually produce the vid when requested by Core authorities and Mid Rim news agencies.
• Supposedly there's some sort of power struggle going on in the Jedi Council. A lot of heads are butting against each other over the Marnaas incident.
• A Republic Guard military unit, centered on the new strike cruiser-carrier Bloodeagle VI, was dispatched from the Balmorran Naval Base to Sedrak. No reason was announced; crews' world-leave was cancelled on short notice, and a number of soldiers actually missed the ships' departure, so strict and unexpected was the timetable for departure. The Jedi Order has supposedly sent knights to Sedrak as well.
• Everyone knows that the hottest fashion accessory on Alderaan this season is the hip-length cape, but it seems that the elite of the elite have an even more expensive accessory: a Mandalorian bodyguard. Three members of the Alderaanian Royal House of Jinn have been seen to have the distinctively-armored and -armed bodyguards at several functions. Rumors of attempts against the Royal House are rampant, but have been denied by Royal spokespersons. High Prince Obi-Tal Jinn denied that any threats had been made, but would not comment on the Mandalorian bodyguards, saying they were augmenting Royal security (of which two were in attendance to him, an estimated three million per week in expenditure.)
• The Korosians are rumored to be taking the fight to the Sith! With the lull in the fighting along the front, a Korosian Naval Special Forces unit is supposedly attempting a deep-penetration raid into Sith space.
• There is a lull in the fighting along the front. High-level Lords are returning to the core of the Empire. Some say that the Sith are re-thinking their strategy. Some say that there's some sort of purge going on. Some say that Naga Sadow's getting hitched. Some say there's a new Dark Lord. Some say that there's something fishy going on here.
• There are whispers of some sort of cabal of industrialists and senators who are the real power of the Republic, and they number twelve. These rumors would be much more intimidating if they didn't also say that the cabal numbers one hundred members, thirty-nine members, seventy-eight members, and/or fifty-one members; is made up completely of Gungans; and is trying to arrange a ryll trade deal with the Sith Empire.

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• Republic forces have lost track of the Fervor, Shen Ravos' flagship. It apparently participated in a raid on Arkania before disappearing back behind enemy lines. The nature of this raid is unknown, but some rumors suggest it was a single devastating orbital bombardment of a location near but not within one of the major population centers of Arkania. While the Republic Military General Staff is concerned, the Jedi Order is apparently really concerned.
• Korosian special forces managed to destroy a Sith listening post in the Ithor system. While this apparently helped turned the tide of battles there to the Republics' favor, the unsanctioned action has apparently ruffled more than a few feathers (and lekku) in the Rostrum, and a number of Senators are very quietly calling for Empress Teta to account for her actions.
• There is a cabal of Republic industrialists who have signed a secret alliance with the Moot of the Sith Empire, to perpetuate the war.
• The Republic has apparently issued a secret directive to all local (sector and planetary) law enforcement agencies, warning them that "ligthsabres do not Jedi make." The trademark weapon of the Order has apparently not only appeared in the hands of the Sith, but also in others', including persons employed by various underworld vigos. [DEFINITION: vigo, plural vigos, the typical title for a major crime boss, especially in regards to larger organizations; equivalent to the Earth colloquialism "godfather" in relation to the Mafia.] There is apparently growing concern that some officers will see a lightsabre and automatically assume the person wielding it is a Jedi. The Republic has neither confirmed nor denied such a directive was issued, and the Order has denied that it is concerned.
• Murgo Thurn Kaabas, a major tibanna gas broker for the client state of Xagobah, was found dead in his office of apparent strangulation, though the rumor says that the coroner could find no physical evidence of strangulation. Kaabas is believed to have been a supporter of various separatist and terrorist groups, and also had dealings, it is whispered, with a few darksider cults.
• On Rodia, residents of an alien ghetto had their midday business interrupted by what appeared to be several Jedi fighting with lightsabres. The battle -- apparently, two Jedi against four Jedi -- took place accross the rooftops of the marketplace area, before one of the Jedi was cut down and the combatants disappeared. Rodian security forces are (desultorilly) investigating, and the Jedi Order has claimed no knowledge of what was going on; Watchers are said to have been sent to Rodia, though the trip will take some time.
• Syf Rigg, the Balmorran Diamond, cut short her tour of Alderaan. While she announced that she was leaving to attend the betrothal ceremony of her sister, some believe that she is using this as an excuse to make a side-trip to Kuat, where she is believed to have a possible beau. Hundreds of male Humans are said to be heartbroken, or at least disappointed.
• A Balmorran war droid was spotted during a Sith raid... on the Sith troops' side. While it was destroyed, the Sith won the battle, and the droid's wreckage was not able to be retrieved to be evaluated.
• Rumor has it that a Senator's catspaw was killed on Kessel. Rumor has it that he was trying to meet with the Hutts. Then again, rumor also has it that he was smuggling spice or ryll. [OCC NOTE: The last is probably untrue; Zero would know Argent as someone who never touched any illicit drugs, nor would have anything to do with such. Things might have changed, though.]
• The official story says that a Jedi ship was pulled out of hyperspace by a Sith gravwell projector, on a run from Coruscant to Ossus. Some believe, however, that it was not Sith but someone else. One rumor expresses belief that the Senate is sponsoring an attempt at a rival tradition which will eventually supplant the Jedi as plenipotentiates of the Republic. This rumor points to the other rumors of increased Templar activity off of Coruscant as the reason why the Senate would sponsor such an otherwise outlandish concept.
• Jedi Derga Volc has a number of supporters amongst the masters of the Order; Master Roakkana of Kashyyyk is proving to not be one of them. When both complained recently of the others' actions, the Council showed apparently undue haste in arranging for a new master to take abbotage of the Marnaas monastery. The master's padawan was sent to Coruscant ahead of him at the Council's insistence. [OOC NOTE: This last is, of course, patently untrue. This is, however, a rumor that is floating around.]

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• Following a raid on the planet Cinnagar, in the Koros system (the deepest penetration of the Sith yet) there are rumors that the Sith are planning an attak on Ossus, one of the strongholds of the Jedi Academy.
• Empress Teta of Koros is reportedly distraught, and has ordered her special forces to begin operations against the Sith. While this is being done under the advice of her two Jedi advisors, Odan-Urr and Memit Nadill, it is not being endorsed by the Senate or the Jedi Order.
• A Sith battlegroup was spotted at Myrkr, containing the battleship Fervor. This is believed to be the personal flagship of Shen Ravos, one of Naga Sadow's warlords. Myrkr is well coreward of the front lines of the Sith fleets.
• In a statement after a Council meeting, a Council Master was heard to mutter something about "Grey Jedi" to the Master of the Watchers. There are no records in the Archives about Grey Jedi.
• Not all Sith act alike. Most seem to move in, defeat any local Jedi, and set up their rule. Some few, however, don't bother to take charge, instead going after Jedi directly and remorselessly. And those tend to travel in packs.
• The Council is discussing in closed sessions who the next Chancellor should be to lead the Republic against the Sith. A lot of knights are concerned that the Jedi Order is becoming the praetorians of the Senate.
• There is talk that some Jedi are taking matters regarding the Sith into their own hands. Some Jedi are also taking advantage of the chaos to pursue their own agendas.
• There are more Jedi converting to the Sith than vice-versa. Much more.

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