FUDGE Starwars: the Easiest Way ch. 11
by Jorge Arredondo

DISCLAIMER

This article is not authorized or supported by West End Games. This conversion is unofficial and has not been reviewed by anybody at West End Games or Lucasfilm, Ltd. Star Wars (R), TM, & (C) by Lucasfilm, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks of Lucasfilm, Ltd., used without authorization, that use isn't intended as a challenge to those trademarks.

ABOUT FUDGE

Fudge is a role-playing game written by Steffan O'Sullivan, with extensive input from the Usenet community of rec.games.design. The basic rules of Fudge are available on the internet at http://www.fudgerpg.com and in book form from Grey Ghost Games, P.O. Box 838, Randolph, MA 02368. They may be used with any gaming genre. While an individual work derived from Fudge may specify certain attributes and skills, many more are possible with Fudge. Every Game Master using Fudge is encouraged to add or ignore any character traits. Anyone who wishes to distribute such material for free may do so - merely include this ABOUT FUDGE notice and disclaimer (complete with Fudge copyright notice). If you wish to charge a fee for such material, other than as an article in a magazine or other periodical, you must first obtain a royalty-free license from the author of Fudge, Steffan O'Sullivan, P.O. Box 465, Plymouth, NH 03264.

DISCLAIMER

The following materials based on Fudge, entitled Fudge Starwars: the Easiest Way, are created by, made available by, and Copyright (C) 2006 by Jorge Arredondo, and are not necessarily endorsed in any way by Steffan O'Sullivan or any publisher of other Fudge materials. Neither Steffan O'Sullivan nor any publisher of other Fudge materials is in any way responsible for the content of these materials unless specifically credited. Original Fudge materials Copyright (C)1992-1995 by Steffan O'Sullivan, All Rights Reserved.

Note: if you are one of my players or intend to play this campaign, stop reading now!

Chapter 11: The Final Curtain

Introduction

[ Soundtrack music: The Phantom Menace, The Droid Invasion - The Appearance of Darth Maul ]

[ GM's note: this is the end of the campaign, and thus it depends a lot on the specific characters who have followed the story. For example, jedi characters should probably die in the first stages of the jedi purge, other characters with strong loyalties to the republic would also become enemies of the Empire and thus targets for elimination, etc. Even neutral characters might be considered dangerous by the conspirators at least at the rise of the Empire because they might bring information about the conspiracy. No statistics are given for Palpatine or Darth Vader, they're better than any PC can hope to be! In the worst case, they have more fudge points than they have. ]

As soon as the PCs return to Coruscant (after all, isn't the Falcon seen on Episode III?), the ship is seized by the republic courts with some old charges that ought to have solved by its owner's republic contacts. However, Valorun died in a terrorist attack months ago so he can't help the PCs now, the other minor houses who helped with the expenses of the mission refuse to talk with them, etc. The other houses, much more important, hadn't helped with that issue, however at least Chandrila would tell them that they'll try to help them (after a complete report of the mission), though it won't be easy; it seems the illegal modifications and a few broken trade laws have arisen again after the delay introduced by the other houses. At the very least they'll try to talk with the other houses, right now the PCs ought to pay a 25,000 dataries fine and the Falcon still will have to remain a long time till the trial is over.

A few weeks pass in which the PCs will probably do nothing but rest or return to their former activities (except the owners of the Falcon, of course!). Neelyx becomes a jedi knight, in this time. If any of the PCs worked for the republic intelligence they'll inform them that they think the jedi are up to something, and ask the PC to keep an eye on them if possible.

Other PCs may learn about the committee of the 2,000, created to ask the chancellor to resign to the special powers granted to him during the war, and may thus suspect of foul play related to one or both factions. However, this also means that at least Chandrila and Alderaan have decided to offer a low profile from now on till the dust settles.

In the end, the chancellor's office calls the PC who worked more closely with Neelyx (if this PC is a jedi, the non jedi who worked more closely with him) asking for a visit of the young knight appealing to the PC's connection to him; as excuse, the office tells the PC the chancellor wants to talk in person with the young knight, hero of the mission which brought to light the conspiracy of the separatists. Besides that, they tell the PC that republic intelligence has found out some information about his origin that the chancellor would like to discuss with him, as he is a bit worried that it could have a negative effect on the Republic though he is sure it won't. If needed the PC may lead Neelyx to the senate, where the chancellor red guards will lead them to a private study, in the depths of the huge building.

Thus Palpatine debates with Neelyx, as he's heard that he was missing for some days and that he might have found out about his origin during that time. Neelyx is surprised and scared at first, mainly because he's afraid that belonging to an assassin species like his' might harm his position as jedi, but the chancellor seems more interested into knowing if he found out about his past and destiny. Neelyx is a bit surprised and claims that he feels his destiny is with the jedi, however he also notices that some engravings on the walls of the office are clearly neelyx art... tying up the loose ends he realizes the chancellor ought to be the Sith Lord that the jedi masters warned him about... he concentrates to hide his thoughts from him but his facial masks betray him, as usual.

[ Soundtrack music: Return Of The Jedi, Final Duel - Into The Death Star ]

Palpatine quickly realizes it, and tells him he was going to be his apprentice 20 years ago, when Torunn kidnapped him forcing him to find a new one. Nocte, the heir of a powerful bloodline of neelyx assassins would have become under his guidance as powerful or more than the famous dark lord of the Sith of the Old Republic, Darth Pain. "However, my young neelyx, you still can forget your weak jedi masters who cling to the rotten corpse of a dying republic, and are plotting to get control of it in this very moment establishing a jedi tyranny, by killing me. You've seen what the republic has been doing during the months you looked for Torunn, the only way to restore the peace in the galaxy is through me. Join me, and I'll show you a power you'll never think possible!"

In the meantime Palpatine moves from his chair around Neelyx to cut off his exits, as he feels he's too deeply rooted in the Light Side to corrupt him. However he keeps trying: "Your lineage will end with your death, as your species'. While we're talking a separatist fleet has located your world "by chance" and as I think you've found out, they don't have proper planetary defenses. They always liked living in a dangerous environment".

Neelyx has to control himself strongly to avoid letting anger take control of him, after such terrible statement. Palpatine smiles dissapointed, seeing how the young knight resists the lure of the Dark Side with ease. Neelyx tries to use his comlink but to his chagrin he finds out the communications are jammed, and using the Force to call for help is also blocked as the presence of the Sith Lord clouds it all.

In the end Palpatine attacks Neelyx and he fight bravely against the dark lord, but the old man proves that besides fooling everyone with a masquerade of goodness he also possesses an incredible level of swordmanship, and as the camera moves away from the studio through the windows, we see a figure with two lightsabers crosses them and falls motionless to the death fifty meters at ground level. The sky at Coruscant this evening looks more reddish than normal...

Any PC who came with him (who probably had to stay outside the study), is attacked by clone troopers as soon as Palpatine fights Neelyx, trying to defeat or subdue him/her with the charge of homicide attempt against the chancellor. The PC may fight, flee or hide in the senate (if the PC has knowledge of the building, all the better), however let's remember the communications are jammed!

Any jedi PC should probably be at the temple when those ominous facts happen. As said, the Dark Side clouds all perceptions of the Force so besides feeling it growing stronger, no specific details like the death of the young knight can be felt. However, as the PC is meditating in a room or minding its own business at the temple, a short squib jedi approaches him/her and introduces himself as Nukari Nukameshi and requests the PC to follow him to a balcony where the assault of the clone troopers can be seen reaching the very doors of the temple. "Something wrong is happening, and I hadn't anticipated it. They've fooled even me" (he knows Neelyx went to the Chancellor's office -but didn't leave- and thus he expected something imminent, but he couldn't find the link clones-Sidious). "There is only one exit in the temple for the younger padawans, but we need time. We won't succeed if this attack isn't delayed".

"I have a ship which should cross the clone siege with ease, you can help me attracting the clone's attention or flee with us. The second alternative is hopeless".

If asked for help, the small squib tells the PC "Help you? Actually, I'm not a jedi!" (it can't be felt as a Force Sensitive, actually). "I'm just someone with good sources of information but whose information hasn't served for anything. I feel just like a piece in the gears set into motion for these events. However, I always have at least one escape route, help me to save those children, they are our last hope".

[ GM's note: of course, this fake jedi knight is the Shadow or someone working for it. After stealing the information from the separatists and selling it to Bakli, the Shadow heard about the mission to locate Torunn and decided to take a look at that mission, thrilled with the idea of a neelyx jedi. After noticing the master assassin tailing them, the Shadow took a personal interest on it, also for the chance to find the unknown neelyx world, etc etc. ]

If the PC agrees the squib leads him/her to some corridors near a landing platform where a gunship is stationed, with a clone escort. Actually, those troopers look slightly unnatural, moving a bit artificially. They're in fact droids disguised as clone troopers to reinforce the masquerade, the gunship is a real ship, stolen previously. According to the squib, the PC may make sure no clone trooper reaches the ship or they'd notice the bluff and they wouldn't be able to flee (even if flying away they would be shot down easily). Said and done, the squib runs out and leaves the PC alone, for a while; in a matter of second a platoon of clone troopers arrive and attack the jedi.

Clone troopers

Attributes: Strength Good, Dexterity Good

Skills: Blasters Great (ODF +4), Brawl Great, Dodge Great

Health levels: Ok, Hurt, Out of the fight.

Special: clone armor DDF +2

While the PC fights the troopers he can see the squib returning with three or four children dressed as padawans. They hide behind some pillars or debris then they run out to the ship while the troopers are distracted.

[ GM's note: repeat this scene while it is dramatically appropriate, then... ]

[ Soundtrack music: Revenge of the Sith, Anakin vs Obi-wan ]

The next squad of troopers is led by a cloaked figure armed by a lightsaber and who exudes a palpable aura of Dark Side. With a gesture he indicates the troopers to stay behind him and don't interfere with the combat, then with red anger filled eyes he attacks the PC to death...

While the PC dies heroically the gunship leaves unhindered by the clones, the masquerade working perfectly. If the PC follows any other course of action, improvise it accordingly. Before reaching it's destiny, however, the squib playing as a jedi knight explain the padawans they're now the last hope of the jedi, and that they'll travel to a secure place in a ship where some grownups allies of the former jedi order will take care of them; he, however, has to return to see if he can save someone else, so they may not meet again. He mounts a little swoop and dissapears into the dark night of Coruscant...

What about the other PCs? While the Order 66 is given, they're called by someone who claims to belong to one of the minor houses who sponsored them (a lie, in fact they work for Chandrilla). They tell them they aren't having any success with the Falcon though for now they've managed to get another freigther for them, though it's only a shadow of their former ship.

[ GM's note: the Shadow also contacted Chandrilla and forced them to provide a way for the padawans and the other PCs to flee. After all, the Shadow also had compromising information about them! ]

In the spaceport they'll be received by a Chandrilla agent who will lead them to a large YZ-775 freigther, a 52 meters long ship with a fake identity which is the best they've managed to find in such little time. When he's telling them that the republic is crumbling in this very moment and that they've probably become enemies of the new order, a 12 men squad of troopers reach them and try to arrest them for treason.

Clone troopers

Attributes: Strength Good, Dexterity Good

Skills: Blasters Great (ODF +4), Brawl Great, Dodge Great

Health levels: Ok, Hurt, Out of the fight.

Special: clone armor DDF +2

As soon as the the fight is over, a gunship lands near them, without shooting at them first... the PCs may be surprised when 6-8 children dressed as jedi leave the ship and run towards them. The agent tells the PCs they're probably the only surviving jedi, who will flee with them to some safe locations under their control, the PCs are free to follow their own destiny as soon as they leave Coruscant. Before leaving, one of the droids disguised as a clone trooper brings something to the ship under a synthetic blanket which looks like a corpse. "My master couldn't stay to properly give you the remains of your companion, so it asked me to bring his body to you. My master thinks he was the first victim of the new order, and that he'd deserve a proper jedi burial, so he programmed me to find him, and here it is". Under the blanket lie the remains of the young knight, killed by a lightsaber and with many broken bones after the fall. However, his face is filled with peace. His lightsabers are missing, the droid pretends to know nothing about it.

Recapitulation

[ Soundtrack music: Revenge of the Sith, A new hope and end credits ]

The surviving PCs are hiding in the world of Lamaredd, very very far away, a mining world in the outer rim. The PCs are living in a semispherical house when someone knocks at the door. When the PCs arrive to the door, they find in the other side a plastic basket with a neelyx baby inside it, two lightsabers (his father's weapons) and a datapad with a short audio log "It was very hard to get him, but his father would have liked it. After all, he is now the last of the neelyx".

Fade out to credits.

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Jorge Arredondo
Last update: 03/January/2007