Star Wars: the Great Divide

[Rhinocera]

Star Wars: The Great Divide

Thanks for coming, the following RP is intended to be a blend of star wars canon, fan fiction, and legends. In this RP you will play as virtually who ever you want, with minimal exceptions, and will work to attain whatever you wish. Choose to be an Imperial Remnant warlord, set on piecing the empire back together despite the ever present factions that wish to attain the same. Choose to be a New Republic Senator, set on reaffirming the fruits of democracy while furthering the interests of their own home planet. Choose to be a bounty hunter whose only loyalty resides with their own interests and credit pool, hunting down whoever they are paid to hunt by whomever offers the greatest sum. It doesn’t really matter, the choice is yours.

The obvious goal of this RP is for everyone to enjoy themselves. I’ll review apps, obviously, and accept them (or deny them) but as long as you don’t make an absolutely ridiculous character with unlimited power (no rancor jedi) and resources you should be good. Feel free to app for existing characters as well, after all, what fun would this be if no one was controlling Snoke, Thrawn, Luke, and all the other delightful folks that are fighting over the galaxy. As is obvious, I’m taking liberties with who is dead and not dead. If you wish to RP a deceased individual, just telegram me who it is and we can discuss it. History went relatively according to canon until the Battle For Endor, but exceptions can be made. Characters like Jabba the Hutt can be saved from their canon demise, though you’ll be expected to explain why they are still alive. I’ll also be wanting apps for a sith apprentice, but I’ll expect a high quality application for that role along with the roles of major faction leaders. Thrawn, Snoke, Luke, and other important characters. Essentially, the more critical the character, the better the expected app. I’m not saying you need to write mini books, just a solid and detailed application. I’ll also be appointing a co-op or two, depending on who i think is best suited for the role. Feel free to volunteer though.

Long Ago, in a galaxy far far away...

It has been thirty years since the Battle of Endor decided the fate of the galaxy. Palpatine’s death devastated the Empire, with no individual surfacing who possessed the gravity of character to reign in the fractured remains of a once terrifying entity. The New Republic, the grand climactic culmination of the Rebellion’s efforts, has assumed position as the major power within the known galaxy. Peace through democracy has spread throughout the galaxy like wildfire. Good has finally triumphed, with the champions of evil, namedly the Sith, having been vanquished. Or so we thought…

Among the galactic warlords that have run rampant throughout the galaxy, none have coherently organized to the degree necessary in order to realistically challenge the New Republic. However, a new figure has emerged. A mysterious, ruthless, and cunning individual, one who’s origins remain unknown by any aside from himself. This enigmatic individual has reigned in a significant element of the Imperial Remnant and reforged it into a new faction under his own iron rule. This faction is the first order.

The First Order’s emergence onto the galactic scene was an inherently violent one, with Snoke set on a galactic conquest. Militarily, having pursued rearmament in secrecy, the First Order far exceeded any expectations held by the New Republic. For a time, First Order fleets ransacked republic space, piercing through the outer rim and wreaking havoc upon the mid rim. Fortunately for the New Republic, a masterful counteroffensive orchestrated by the legendary Admiral Ackbar forced back the onslaught and struck a stalemate. The conflict was then supposedly resolved upon the agreement to a treaty by both the Republic and First Order. Snoke, having little intention of abandoning his schemes, has covertly spurned the agreed upon terms and continues to build his arsenal.

Over the course of all of this, however, the greatest victory that the self appointed Supreme Leader Snoke had achieved, was the defection of the Skywalker blooded Ben Solo. Ben Solo, after nearly being killed by his former master and uncle, Luke, had practically leaped into Snoke’s grasp. He is now known as Kylo Ren and has become a dangerous figure who reaps death and destruction upon the galaxy as Snoke wills it, perhaps having become Snoke’s grandest instrument of destruction.

Snoke is not the only figure that has recently emerged to challenge the status quo. A mysterious figure, at least claiming to be one of Palpatine’s appointed Grand Admirals, has also emerged from the unknown reasons. Less blunt and direct, this blue skinned alien has carved out a space for himself along the outer rim, having rallied a significant force of the Imperial Remnant himself. This mysterious, blue skinned Chiss is none other than the venerable Grand Admiral Thrawn. Presently, a tenuous peace exists with Thrawn, who has reformed the Galactic Empire in name, and the New Republic. Of even more importance, however, is the ever fragile “alliance” between Thrawn and Snoke. Thrawn is no fool, however, and knows this alliance is only stable as long as it is of great benefit to Snoke, for he is fully aware that Snoke’s ambitions of galactic domination makes no exception for Thrawn’s own autonomy. The alliance, being more akin to a treaty of non-aggression and limited cooperation, could devolve into a duel of Imperialesque successor states at a moment's notice.

While Thrawn and Snoke manipulate and orchestrate their schemes, a third party with Imperial lineage observes from afar. This man has watched for decades, nourishing his own considerable skill with the force as well as other skills that he has deemed valuable, growing more and more powerful day after day. Having also deemed it necessary, in order to preserve the rule of two, he has taken an apprentice. Now, as an individual, he is virtually peerless. No known individual could successfully stand against him. Still, the galaxy is a place where no amount of individual power could hope to defeat the amassed power of millions, so he waits. The time for his resurgence is approaching, but it has not quite arrived. Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, is very much alive, and he fully intends on acquiring the grand, galactic power that he long ago set out to grasp.

Only time shall tell the fate of the galaxies impending fate, for powers both remembered and long forgotten vie to alter the balance. What part shall you play in this never ending game? Only you can determine that, for now it begins…

Application:

Code: Select all

Name:
Race:
Gender:
Age:
Appearance: (include height and weight with a photo if you elect to use one, or simply describe the character in detail if you don’t)
Force Sensitive: Yes/No
Faction Alignment:
Occupation: (Include rank if applicable)
Personality:
Skills/Abilities:
Equipment:
Bio:
Three Rp Samples: (please either simply link me to them or place them in spoilers, to conserve space on the page)


[Rhinocera]

Needed Characters
Imperial/First Order
Grand Admiral Thrawn
Supreme Leader Snoke
Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
Vader’s Apprentice (you can make one from scratch): reserves - ormata

New Republic
Luke Skywalker
Han Solo
Leia
The Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic (you get to make one from scratch)
The Legendary Admiral Ackbar

[Rhinocera]

Reserved

[Rhinocera]

Name: Darth Vader
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 76
Appearance: 6’8” (with armor) Approximately 300 pounds (with armor)


Force Sensitive: Yes
Faction Alignment:Independent/Sith
Occupation: Sith Lord (Master)
Personality: Darth Vader is a complicated individual. His ambition is matched by his ruthlessness and his intolerance for incompetence. He is morally conflicted, for despite his efforts to save Luke serving as “redemption”, his repentance was not complete to the degree many believed.
Skills/Abilities: He is a true master of the darkside of the force, as well as a master of the lightsaber. He's also a skilled pilot, though he hasn't drawn upon this skill in many years.
Equipment: He possesses his infamous armor and lightsaber, as well as numerous other that have enabled him to operate in secrecy for all of these years.
Bio: (As we all know the history prior to the Battle of Endor in this scenario, I’ll be focusing on what happened during and after the conflict for Darth Vader’s biography)

The Battle of Endor sent shockwaves that forever changed galactic history. One of the chief among these shockwaves, was that the legendary Darth Vader did not die as many had believed, instead surviving the ordeal. The battle itself proceeded as many will recall. Luke Skywalker surrendered himself to the Empire, being taken to the Emperor himself by Lord Vader. As the Rebel fleet arrived at the scene, it became apparent that a trap had been laid. The battle was intense, though the Imperial fleet failed to take advantage of their unprepared foe, as Sidious wanted to use his new battlestation to make an example of the Rebel capital ships. Eventually, to the surprise of all Imperial personnel, the battle was lost and the death star destroyed. Many fled, with some, such as Admiral Piett onboard the Executor, vanishing into the depths of space, to live in secrecy and hiding from the rest of the Galaxy. Lando Calrissian, Han Solo, and many others were anointed heroes of the Rebellion and became champions of the New Republic. Imperials either fled into isolation (such as Admiral Piett, whose dreadnought did not face the fiery fate that many recall) or gathered what forces they could and fashioned themselves warlords.

While the battle itself may have went as many remember, the events aboard the Death Star differ from what some may have heard. Luke Skywalker, having been taken before the Emperor by Darth Vader, watched his comrades become ensnared in the trap laid by the Emperor. The young Skywalker, after being goaded by the Emperor, drew his weapon and dueled his father, besting the Sith Lord after drawing upon his inner rage, all in accordance with the conflicting plans of both Darth Vader and Darth Sidious. While Vader aimed to seduce his son to the dark side and usurp the Emperor, the Emperor had aimed to replace Lord Vader with a new, more suitable apprentice, as he knew it would be only a matter of time before Vader would move to replace him as master, an event Darth Sidious had no intention of allowing to come to fruition. The Emperor’s plans were torn asunder upon the younger Skywalker’s refusal to strike down his father, the source of much of his torment, as he believed there was a salvageable good within Vader. The Emperor’s rage was incredible, as was the barrage of lightning that he cast upon the younger Skywalker. If Sidious could not bring him to the dark side, then his death was the only viable option, in the Emperor’s eyes. However, Darth Vader, who had recovered, despite the missing hand, had a different view of the situation. Watching his son suffer excruciating agony awoke something within Darth Vader, the same emotion that drove him into Sidious’ grasp many years ago, love. Vader, a menacing figure who embodied despair in the eyes of many, could not bear to endure his son’s suffering. There was no thought, no adrenaline, no tell tale roar of rage. Vader simply angled his crimson saber and ignited it, watching it pierce through palpatine’s chest. Realizing he had been ended, the Emperor scathed his former apprentice in his deadly lightning, though much of the damage was averted through Vader’s own force defenses, much, but not all.

Even a fraction of the Emperor’s lethally intended lightning was enough to gravely wound Vader, who fell to his knees after seizing and hurling his mortally wounded master into the core of the battlestation, who’s body gave off a tremendous pulse of force energy, rattling the walkway they stood on. Believing his father to be redeemed, Luke carried him to the hangar bay, where they exchanged what Luke believed to be the last words between a reunited father and son. After speaking with his son and gazing upon him with his own eyes, Vader instructed Luke to leave the station and never look back. Vader himself stood, weakly, and walked towards the center of the Death Star, seemingly embracing his impending death. Luke, believing his father to be mortally wounded, left the station and, in line with his father’s “final request” never looked back.

Unbeknownst to the younger Skywalker, Vader had no intention of dying aboard the station. He was gravely wounded, not mortally wounded. Emerging from the corridor that he had concealed himself within from his son, Vader reentered the hangar. Boarding a shuttle, he took flight towards the Executor, docking aboard the mammoth vessel, which had long served as his flagship. Concealing his presence from all aboard aside from the Admiral himself, a difficult and taxing task that spent much of his remaining energy as he was forced to manipulate the minds of those who observed him, he instructed the Admiral to flee into the unknown regions and begin to consolidate what power he could in utter and complete secrecy, forbidden to reveal himself to the rest of the galaxy until the time had come. After his instructions had been given, Darth Vader, onboard a small transport properly equipped for his own survival, embarked on his journey, leaping to hyperspace and never being seen again, for many years.

Vader retreated into isolation, basing himself upon an isolated and desolate planet in the unknown regions, one which he had erased from the charts years ago in preparation should he ever need to disappear. The desert planet Daikun was far from civilized space, and far from the gaze of anyone. It was here that Vader initiated his recovery, which was no small task. Making use of numerous medical droids that were onboard his transport, he repaired his armor and tended his wounds, though his full physical “recovery” would take months. During his recovery, he was relatively vulnerable and weak, relying on a few droids to handle menial tasks and to protect him from any wildlife, though even in his weakened state he was more than a match for the primitive creatures that wandered upon him.

After his recovery, Vader truly began what he had came to accomplish. He delved into the force, completely and undistracted. Through meditation and intense training, he continued his pursuit of dark side mastery. Without Darth Sidious, the Rebellion, or even the Empire to distract from his efforts, his self-training progressed considerably. For years this continued, until approximately seven years after the Battle of Endor. He had succumbed to the issue that plagued many who isolated themselves, not madness, but boredom.

Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, left his isolation to a degree, in pursuit of an apprentice. He traveled the galaxy as a shadow, slipping in and out of many a star system in his search. Sometimes he would simply land in desolate areas, deploying recon droids to search for potential candidates. Other scenarios included the employment of bounty hunters, unaware of their employer’s identity, and often disposed of at the conclusion of their services. It took years, but eventually Vader tracked down his preferred apprentice.


With his apprentice at his side, Vader began training the newest Sith, imparting lessons harshly, cruelly, and effectively. For Vader, this apprentice was, at least for the time being, a mere tool in his machinations. An instrument that he could use to enact his will upon the galaxy.

All the while, Darth Vader never ceased his quest for more power, delving into the holocrons and texts left by the deceased Sidious. These were assets that Vader attained at great costs, costs primarily shouldered by those who interfered with his attempts to seize them. It was in these quests that Vader encountered a number of Dark Jedi. Many of them had become enamored with the knowledge within Sidious’s archives and had delved into their depths to further their own abilities, to varying degrees of success. It was an exercise of futility, however. As Vader sought the holocrons, texts, archives, and artifacts, he encountered these self proclaimed guardians of them. With extreme prejudice, he killed them all. It took years, as they were spread throughout the galaxy in isolated locations. On occasion, when he deemed it appropriate, Vader’s apprentice was tasked with retrieval of such assets. Other times, Vader attended to the retrieval personally. The end result was the annihilation of many of the former Emperor’s agents, as well as Vader’s own access to essential knowledge being amplified.

As he gathered this tremendous library of Sith knowledge, he realized that his apprentice had reaped the benefits. No longer a mere tool, the apprentice had accrued enough power through his teachings and his access to Sith knowledge that he believed himself to be capable of eliminating his master. Not waiting for his apprentice to attempt to usurp him, Darth Vader confronted him. The duel that followed was violent, brief, and decidedly one sided. Darth Vader had held back in his teachings, never intending the apprentice to ever surpass the role of mere pawn. While the apprentice’s efforts were valiant, the true Sith Lord dispatched him with little issue, severing his head from his shoulders.

After slaying his apprentice, Vader continued his efforts to improve his own mastery of the force, particularly in pursuit of means to slow the toll of aging, if not reverse it. While he was unsuccessful in an effort to secure the means of genuine immortality, he did succeed in finding uses of his dark side mastery that would enable him to extend his own life significantly. While not immortal, he was no longer an aging sith on the edge of passing into history.

As the years moved on, Darth Vader watched from afar as the galaxy continued on. He observed the rise of the First Order under Supreme Leader Snoke, a being powerful in the dark side of the force, but not one who Vader deemed a genuine challenge to his own powers. However, the threat was still potent, and Darth Vader fully understood that if he were to reenter the galactic stage, Snoke would not be one who he could coexist with. Snoke’s ambition was to great, to total in its nature. He would not be one that would capitulate. An undoubtable foe, perhaps even a relatively worthy one. Snoke’s efforts against the New Republic were impressive, placing a strain on the reigning galactic power. A shameful waste, as in Vader’s eyes Snoke was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with and could have made an excellent tool, if not for his totalitarian ambition.

Thrawn’s reappearance was more pleasing to Darth Vader, as the ingenious Grand Admiral was one who could be invaluable, if the lure of grand authority didn’t overly tempt the Chiss mastermind. His tactical and strategic genius had been valuable to the Empire prior to its collapse, and Vader presumed it could be of use once more.

Luke Skywalker remains Vader’s greatest focus, as he is both the Dark Lord’s greatest accomplishment and greatest failure. Having failed to seduce his son to the dark side many years ago, he laments failure. Seeing his son ascend to grand heights, he takes a sense of pride, as had he not struck down sidious many years ago, Luke would have died, a sacrifice the conflicted father was not eager to make. Luke Skywalker’s mere existence is a source of great conflict for Darth Vader. His son never fully escaping his thoughts.

Still, not ready to reenter the galactic stage, Vader bides his time and remains hidden, shielding his force presence from all who may seek it, and in the eyes of the galaxy at large, he is but a legend of the past who is but dust. Having taken a new apprentice, perhaps one who Vader has far greater aspirations for than the former, he simply waits till the proper opportunity presents itself, for soon the galaxy will remember why it feared the name Darth Vader.

Three Rp Samples: (please either simply link me to them or place them in spoilers, to conserve space on the page) I’m the OP, I’ll pass on this part.

[Ormata]

I am interested.

I reserve the Apprentice.

[Rhinocera]

I am interested.

I reserve the Apprentice.

Consider him/her reserved.

[Danceria]

Snag me for Grand Admiral Thrawn.

[Rhinocera]

Snag me for Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Consider him reserved.