Before the Empire, before the Republic:

Since the invention of the Hyperdrive mankind has spread from his homeland, the cradle of his existance, out into the void.

Over the past 500 years conflict, chace and disaster have reduced the number of factions down to four. With the Death of Xem the Despot a large portion of the galaxy is up for grabs. Now the four remaining ruling houses must divide up this last area of contested space, or face another intergalactic war!

Okay, here's how I figure, this portion of SW history is pretty vague. So why not muck around. There are however rules about tech:

No Light Sabers

No Blasters, there are beam tubes but they way 15Kg including backpack and they are really unreliable.

No Proton Torps etc. just explosive missiles.

Cap ships have no Turbo Lasers, just "real lasers" and rockets.

No vibro blades.

So basically hand weapons are swords, knives and guns.

No Starfighters, atmopheric fighters that can be ferried from a Cap but no space worthy versions.

The Jedi are just a group of philosiphers.

No planets beyond the Inner Rim.

Sorry if thats long winded, but as near as I can tell, that how it is.

-------------------------------------

RPG Rules:

No God Moding.

No One post Kills.

Post a Bio.

Charecter must be an Inner Rim species, if in doupt go Human.

You must be affiliated to the one of the four ruling houses.

First three replies get to create the houses.

-------------------------------------

*Malken Flax watched his father, the old man was getting more agitated by the moment, Malken briefly considerd having the BattleDogs escort his father out before he killed someone. That, unfortunatly would be a terrible loss of face, so Malken let him rant.*

Draslo Flax: The Alcerpati system is on our border, it should be seeded to us!

*The other three lords present frowned.*

*The chamber they were in was a high, vaulted room, in the main tower of the "Galactic Central Goverment Palace" A title someone came up with to describe the quarterd castle, with the tower at its centre., that acted as the meeting place for the four ruling houses.*

*Malken sighed, it was going to be a long day.*

Charecter Bios

Name: Draslo Flax

Position: Leader of the House Flax, head of the Order of the BattleDogs.

General Description: An old man with white hair and a bad temper. He was once a great warrior, however he is far from his youth. This makes him bitter.

Age: 85

--------------------------------------------------

Name: Malken Flax

Position: Future Leader of the House Flax

General Description: A young man, of vision. He has a political mind however he is also a great General, Warrior and Pilot, despite this he hates war. He wishes to find a way to unite the houses and end the bloodshed.

Age: 26

((OOS: Very nice idea, BD. One question: Is this Cantina-verse related? [or allowing for the non-Star Wars ideas introduced in that group of RPGs]))

((It would be interesting... Although if im not mistaken, bs would have to ask Deac right ^_^))

((*Wonders how he will begin with what to call his house...

"History is writen in the sands..." Crap! That was already dune... I mean, done! ^___^))

((OSS: Redwing, well Cantina-Verse? *Shrugs.* I am bending the cannon a bit already, so why not. Try not create a mess of crossing Vampires and Demons in the first 4 pages though.

I actaully thought it would be interesting to see the roots of some of the modern charecter's families.))

((Well that means the hosue of palpatine it out :P (Cracken's and my main characters)))

Well Palpy isn't from a dynasty. As opposed to Flax or Deac.

(Kinda hoping for house Starkiller to pop up here.)

Go for the Mother's side.

Call is House Cracken. Although in that case you should probably speak to Cracken.

((Its Cracken's basis for his character, Irvine is just a son of Cracken. So techincally Cracken controlls the bloodline, how ever the true history of palpatine's family would dictate otherwise))

What true history, there is no history.

((Interesing. You had to mention swords to catch my attention. although by keeping it to the inner rim planets you elimante the Aesir, (which doesn't matter since I probably wouldn't have included them in for this paticular rpg).

My question is would there be any alliances to start out with. Say I create House A, could the be allied with your house?))

[The Old Republic was actually formed 25K years BBY. Never mind though...here it is, by popular demand...]

House Starkiller
It is a legend on the Mid-Rim world of Atredis that it was an Angel, carrying a second Angel that came to Atredis. It married with one of the local princesses, and formed the great House Starkiller.

A house founded on the principles of equality and justice. However, the galaxy was soon plunged into war, and the Atredians have found that if they do not fight, they will die...

Name: Lord Ulverom Starkiller
Age: 44
Race: Human
Bio: Ulveron clings to the old ways, but hyperspace has opened up new opportunites that he both fears and longs for.

Name: Koravan
Age: 35
Race: Human
Bio: The Lord's Aide and the head of the Atredian Paladins, Koravan seeks to make Atredis safe for it's people.

--------------------------------------

Ulverom: Any news from our diplomats?

Koravan: Nothing sir. However, we have managed to reach the furthest planet in the system, but it's uninhabited.

((Actually Deac I think that was the first Republic and it colapsed. At any rate I don't care.

Admiral, not exactly allied, since if it was it would be counted as part of the Flax block. However, the houses can be on good terms. As to the Inner Rim, well that is very flexable.))

((Deac, remember you need deligates at the council meeting))

House Omegain Zulus:

Rich Industralists, controling a large sum of the space ship manufacturing businesses. They seem to be competive to one another, but only but a mere cartel on the galatic proportions.

To the eyes of everyone, those companies are ran buy rich entrepreneurists, but behind the certains the ture leaders run the show...


Name: Von Duke Cortal
Age: Late thirties to earily fourties
Bio: A man of mystery, relitively peaceful, but his ideals make him someone to be afrid of...

Name: Col. Relena Dolton
Age: 39
Bio: Von Duke's right hand lady, she can be ruthless and cunning.

((Gah. Stupid forum-eating post. Er...post-eating forum. It's 5 AM. I shouldn't be typing. I can do the um house thingy in the morning. Or maybe later from the morning from the lookyness of it. @_@

*dies*))

[Council meeting]

*A younger man, Torm Ilmater wears the robes of his house and stands in his seat*

Torm: Please! Let's calm down! Each House can have as many worlds as it can cope with...let's not start squabbling here! Lord Dralso, as that world is closest to your homeworld, House Starkiller makes no claim to it. However, we do wish to stake claim to the newly discovered world of Upsilok, one of the worlds close to the border...


---------------------
Bio:

Name: Torm Ilmater
Race: Human
Age: 38
Bio: Torm is the Lord's chief Diplomat and Master of Intelligence. He is a believer in the common good, and that the ends justify the means.

----------------------------------------

*Dralso nods.*

Dralso: That is reasonable

*Malken highlights the map of Xem's territory.*

Malken: These worlds are rich is metal ores, including Plutonium and urainium There ar three planets, I suggest we make these worlds nuetral territory.

((Scar, you need to have delegates at the meeting as well. Having a "secret" house defeats the object and the mechanics of the rpg.*

((Okay, I'm alive again! :D

BD: Deac's right, this whole thing is 25K BBY if Xem just died and we still have beam tubes. [ see: http://www.theforce.net/timetales/tt1-1/sect1-1.shtml) ]

Not that it matters :)

Also you don't need to worry about vampires. Except perhaps for the ancient Lelan, the galaxy as we know it is empty of magic, vampires, and the like. (i.e. stuff from Mrear) The world of magic is hidden away.

Scar: Remember you can't control Cracken's characters, even dead ones. Also, didn't I tell you a billion times that there was no bloodline? Why do you keep insisting there must be a bloodline?))


House Darkholme

House Darkholme is a sly and crafty one. It has two main divisions, or sub-houses: House Raven and House Slythen. House Slythen, the older house, has a reputation underhanded dealings and a hidden ruthlessness, and to be dealt with more warily. House Raven has a reputation of cleverness, and is the youngest of the houses. Together the two form House Darkholme. Their symbol is that of a raven and a serpent.



((BD, before I post bios, I have a question: Can you give some examples of Inner Rim species? I'm a little at a loss, and I don't want the RPG to be only populated with humans))

(( Scar: Remember you can't control Cracken's characters, even dead ones. Also, didn't I tell you a billion times that there was no bloodline? Why do you keep insisting there must be a bloodline?

I never stated that I was. and in case that i mentioned anything, it was only being either sarcastic or jokingly ^_^))

*A delegate dressed in blue formaly militant clothing, swooshes around his borbon in his glass, keeping quiet letting the other delegates argue...*

------

Name: Minsku Dorcon
Age: Late thirties
Pos: Delegate for House 'OZ', but is remained not to decuss the 'sensitive' details and plans of his House to others...

Torm: *Looks over manifesto* Excellent...now as for this metal-rich system, I say it would be fair to give each house equal...

*Lord Ulverom suddenly appears on a Holoproj*

Ulverom: This is Lord Ulverom Starkiller. About thirty minutes ago by the time this message is played, an atempt on the life of my heir was made. I challenge those responsable to come forward! I await the reply of the council.

Torm: Forgive me, gentlemen, I had no idea of this event.

*A voice whispers in Torm's ear from an electronic infolink*

Gennadi: Neither did I. And that's worrying. You're on your own now, lad. I'm going back to Atredis at once.

---------------------------------

Name: Gennadi Isotov
Race: Human
Age: 52
Bio: Lord Ulverom's master of assassins. Works closely and shares many personality traits with Torm. Has served the family since birth.

*Another voice whispers, but in this time in Minsku's ear piece.*

Voice: "If anyone questions OZ of commiting such, deny it. And say if it was something it was only but a politcal stunt."

Torm: That message will have been sent to all the known worlds. I personally believe it to be the work of a group of seditious Atredians.

Gennadi:Don't tell them, but I'm thinking Darkholme or House OZ. However, keep negotiating. Anyone tries anything and I snipe them...

Minsku: *After being so quiet, pus glass down.* "Atredians, what filth. I send my personal grief, and I'm sure that Von Duke's shall also sends his on the assasination attempt. May your officers find those reponsible." *slight bow*

Torm: I wouldn't think it wise to start calling MY people, and the race of House Starkiller filth, you facistic mouthpiece.

Gennadi: I'm gonna snipe him, I'm gonna snipe him...

Minksu: "Appologies, how ever if 'your' people like to put out 'hits' on political leaders, there would have to had been a reason. And seeing is that your superiors are good individuals, these 'seditious Atredians' are filth, becuase in my personal opinion, good individuals don't need to be killed now do they?"

((*Waits for BD to answer :D*))

Torm: House Starkiller believe you judge people as individuals. Therefore, not all of your lot are facisitc mouthpieces, just you

Gennadi *Relishing*: Ohhhh, you're hard, Torm.

*Torm scowls, giving him a hawkish look*

Minsku: *smiling* "Touche, Torm Ilmater, touche... Obviously we aren't here to 'judge' one another, but to make business between each house." *sigh* "Let's get on with it shall we?"

Gennadi: *humming smugly* Da da de da da, de de daa...

Torm: So what further proposals are there?

Minsku: "How about a minor, and when I mean minor only up to a very minute point, build up of some arms. Becuase as years shall pass, there will be need for some possible defence agenst any hostile species that we may encounter. Of course this 'Council' would regulate each house to a limit, becuase we wouldn't want a war between houses do we?"

Torm: Isn't the point here to discuss peace?

Minsku: "Of course, but why would our houses, no, our 'race' wouldn't want to have to defend agenst any hostile races in the universe when we hardly have to defences to do so, becuase of tentions agenst each other?"

((Sorry, Right, I conceed the time point.))

((Redwing, You have the Duros, and actually thats it. Come up with something. The Inner Rim is almost total human.))

Malken: We all have our own Armies. Most recently to defend ourselves from, shall we say rather well funded pirates. Do you know who I mean Minsku?

*Dralso waits a moment and then slams his gloved hand down on the table.* Enough! This bickering is pointless.

*Torm stands*

Torm: Does this mean I should return to Atredis and tell my Lord that this council has disbanded and we should operate independantly?

*Malken regains his composure.* Not at all Torm, however, we need to be above board with every thing. I'm not sure all of us are. *Meaningful glance at OZ and Darkholme.*

((And now for my belated entrance ;)))

Bios:

Aeriv Darkholme
Race: Human
Age: 28
Bio: Aeriv represents House Raven. With new advances in technology such as the Coruscanti hyperdrives, Aeriv sees this as a good time to be in a position of power in the galaxy.

Quiv Set
Race: Genetically Engineered Human
Bio: Quiv comes from a group of genetically altered humans who colonized a planet after the creator of the experiment had died. His skin is covered in faint scales, which shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow in right lighting. His not-quite-human slitted eyes contribute even more to his eerieness. He represents House Slythen.

----------

*Aeriv simply smiles, looking round at the other delegates. The overdramatism coming from all sides amused him greatly, and he could tell from the expression of his companion that it amused him too, but annoyed him as well. Quiv stands*

Quiv: The Houses of Darkholme agreed to attend this meeting because we expected that the other houses had something besides petty internal arguments to bring to the table. Am I to understand that I was...mislead?

Torm: It would help if someone scowls at Quiv wasn't trying to assassinate my Lord's children.

*Sits back down. Gennadi sighs*

Dralso: This is pointless, Darkholme and OZ have no honour. We cannot negotiate if we cannot trust you. House Flax refuses to recogzize the houses of OZ or Darkholme. I have spoken with King Solo and he has aggreed that not more Correlian Hyperdrives will by supplied to either of you. Any ship of yours entering our space will be destroyed and we will declare open war.

*Dralso stands and storms out, flamnked by his BattleDogs. Malken walks over to Torm and wispers in his ear.*

Malken: Things may go badly between our houses if you do not break also. Just a warning my friend.

*Malkens sighs and follows his father.*

Minsku: "No, honour, who is he to saw that agenst us..." *turns slightly to the two houses of Darkholme, and peers his eyes at the two members*

*Quiv looks angry. Aeriv pats him on the shoulder*

Aeriv: It's perfectly alright. His bitterness and rage will destroy him, quickly. He will find himself quite unable to act upon his threats. *Both rise* House Darkholme came here to work with the rest of the galaxy as a whole; but House Flax, despite its protestations of a desire to end bloodshed and unite the galaxy in peace, instead demonstrates that its only desire is to quarrel and divide. If this is how it is to be, than so shall it be...

*Minsku riases*

Minsku: "Well if that has to be... He insulted both of our houses... If that house tried to attack you, I'm sure my house will most likey too. Your house being the most likey a better 'interest' to my superiors of course..."

*Torm stands*

Torm: I'm afraid that due to the recent attempt, all personell have been recalled to Atredis.

*Leaves*

Gennadi: So much for peace.

*Moves toward ship*

*Malken heads towards his sleek Sabre class fighter. His father heads, with his ontorarge to his personnal transport.*

*A man watches from overhead Dralso's hangar. As his transport takes off, he turns on his comm*

Man: The payload is in place, the targets on board. Awaiting signal.

[I thought we didn't have fighters yet...]

*Torm runs into the hangar*

Torm: Wait! I would speak with you. It is clear that if we do not unite now Houses Oz and Darkholme will unite and destroy us both...

*Minsku gets to his shuttle, and takes off.*

Minsku: "I appologise for my actions in there my lady..."

*Col. Relena Dolton walks in taking off a head set, clearly inicating that she was the voice in Minsku's earpiece.*

Relena: *Pulls out a handgun* "Appology accepted."

*Minsku panics.*
*Bang!*

Relena: *Over comm.* "My lord, the 'trader' was removed from his position..."

*Later the body is ejected into space half way back towards House OZ's capital planet.*

*Malken stops and turns to Torm.* I agree, it would appear war is on the agenda again. *Just then Draslo's transport explodes, knocking Torm and Malken to the ground.*

Malken: *dazed.* What? *Sees buning reckage.* Nooooooooooo!

*Gennadi drops in from the rafters.*

Gennadi: By the Hells, I had no idea...Torm

*Torm shakes his head. Gennadi draws out a sub-machine gun*

Gennadi: Stay down, I've got a spec force evac on the way...

Torm: So much for peace...

*Malken regains his feet and sees the Darkholme operative running, he pulls out a .40 Caliber pistol and fires, the bullet catches the assassin in the knee. Malken runs toward him.*

*The assassin turns on one knee, drawing an automatic*

Assassin: For House Darkholme!

*He fires point-blank at Malken*

----------

*Aeriv hears the explosion, and the alarms following. A bodyguard runs up to him*

Guard: Time to go, sir...

*Aeriv and Quiv are caught up in the evacuation melee as they hurridly leave*

Gennadi: *$Ј&! *He leaps toward Malken. Meanwhile Torm ducks to the floor*

-------------------------------------

*Atredis*

Aide: Lord Ulverom! We are recieving reports of a dangerous situation after the peace talks collapsed...!

Ulverom: Then war is coming...

*OZ's capitial planet*

Relena: "My Lord, we have begining reports of conflicts between the other houses..."

Von Duke: "Fools, really. I think we will wait til each side becomes weakend, and side with a house whom is severely weakened by the other houses. Then in their opened arms, we shall kill them, with their vitals unprotected. With them gone, the other houses shall be already weakened, and our forces will have barely any trouble finishing off the remaining houses..."