Ladies and Gentlemen,

The land is being set alight, storms wrack the skies, and what is not on fire is being drowned in floods. But that is enough about the UK for the past few weeks, so here’s your Star Wars related update.

We’re back for another month, and we actually have a full House summit this time. With Marl (he of many names, also known as Gui, now known as Juda) having heard the call and gone off crusading, I’m the one taking over Quaestor duties, while A'lora Kituri (or Morotheri) was good enough to take over the role of Aedile for the Guardians.

So, we’re the ones to hand out storylines, and then blame when things go horribly wrong.

And on that self-deprecating note, here’s the next part of Streets Painted Crimson!

Streets Painted Crimson - Chapter II

You’ll have a couple of days to get ready for the competitions. If you want to start subscribing and going over them, take a look right here!

Ithorian Gardens, Outskirts

Daleem

40 ABY

The night air buzzed with the constant hiss of insects. The normally docile animals were roused, weaving about the metallic skeleton of a building being hastily assembled. The small army of servants, operators, and workmen cursed and stumbled against the unending tide, yelling out as they attempted to coordinate their efforts. A growing pyramid of personal glow lamps lay discarded at the edge of the prefabricated structure, abandoned by all but a brave few, as the bugs swarmed any light source that sparked out against the near total blackness of their surroundings.

The scene was illuminated momentarily as a ship, the latest of many, swung over the site. The blue fire of its four ion engines scattered the swarms, and sent the thick fabric of the nearby tends billowing in their downwash. One, established on the fringes of the landing site, fell inward with the crash of heavy crates being upended.

Ilthei Vun paid little heed to the accident, or the pained yells that emanated from the tent. Waving a hand before him as a stream of curses escaped his lips, the sallow-skinned Sephi stalked toward one of the larger tents, both of his bodyguards racing after him in a light jog. Workmen parted at his approach, a few offering momentary bows in their work as he passed among them, before reaching the tend and sweeping aside what passed for a door.

“They asked for a price increase at the last second,” Vun said, making no effort to disguise his irritation as he stepped within. “Supposedly to cover the cost of our disruption.”

Read it in full here!

Or for the TL:DR version:

• A number of suspects relating to the murder of Bellaran Anasaye - a distant member of the Royal family murdered and left with Sith markings surrounding his body - have gathered on Daleem. They are hastily assembling a sale of items, but mention disruptions and delays.

• On Sky Breach Base, Essik Lyccane speaks to Revak K’Urr and Yuki Suoh of the previous murder case, asking that it be re-opened. He details the identities of the three and that they are opening a private auction to unidentified individuals. Despite all three suspects being barely associated, they are now closely working together, and one of them has invested a lot of time into a hastily-established illegal mining operation on Solyiat.

• Revak approves of an investigation and arrest of the group if anything is proven.

• A number of Odanites under Essik infiltrate the auction, and quickly run into problems. A multitude of the bidders there are high ranking members of the Black Sun, invited for reasons unknown. Worse still, the items being auctioned off are all of Sith origin and seemingly recently gathered.

• On Solyiat, Yuki’s force assaults the mining camp but finds it abandoned. As they search, they follow footprints leading toward where several mining vehicles are surrounding a portion of the mountain. A tunnel has been burned through the rock and ice. Within is an archway, seemingly buried within the mountain itself, bearing the icon of the ancient Sith Empire and leading deeper underground.

Upcoming Competitions & Shifting Themes

This next part is just a brief follow-up on the above, and to build on some of what we said last month. Some of you might recall - and it’s been an eventful few weeks, so I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t - that we mentioned we’re aiming toward something which is much more member driven than in the past. We’ve dabbled with this a bit when it comes to certain events in the past, where members could pick one of a few actions or even certain choices in a bigger storyline, but we’re pushing to make that a more prominent part of this now. Almost all that we have set up for this second chapter was established by what took place in the first part, a run-on where Odan-Urr members investigated a murder site. A few potential points and ideas were mapped out, but a lot of what was noted, uncovered, or examined was used as a basis for what we have planned in this next part. It’s something we were even hoping to take further, and only didn’t due to the Great Jedi War putting everything on hold for a few months.

Ultimately our approach to these events from here on is going to be less of storyteller and reader, and more of a DM and party. Yeah, we will be steering the direction when required and curating elements as needed, but we’re hoping for a lot of content and choice to start coming more from the members than at the top. It’s also part of why we’re asking you for more ideas and input, along with why we openly asked if anyone wanted to be in the fiction above. There’s no point in us trying to tell a story none of you care about, villains you’re apathetic to, or dragging out elements you actively hate, after all.

The big story arcs here are also something we’re trying to keep short, but we do understand that delays or gaps might happen. As such, it’s why we’re experimenting with tweaking and adjusting certain themes as it progresses. To try and keep a somewhat episodic theme while also retaining continuity, we’re shifting parts about via theme and sub-genre. So, the first part (upon request and after confirming you’d be interested) was a noir style detective story as a run-on. This part is a detective tale still but - as you’ve probably guessed from the gifs - we’re stepping more into occult detective territory this time. The same might happen again one way or another when we move into the final part, depending upon what you submit in your materials, of course.

Member Accomplishments

Given how busy everyone has been, both during and following the Great Jedi War, it seemed only fair to celebrate the accomplishments of a few of our members.

A'lora Kituri

• 1 Anteian Cross

• 2 Bronze Novas

• 2 Crescent with Quartz Stars

• 2 Clusters of Ice

• 6 Seals of Ascension

Len Iode

• 2 Seals of Ascension

Jafits Skrumm

• 1 Anteian Cross

• 1 Crescent with Ruby Star

• 1 Crescent with Sapphire Star

• 1 Crescent with Amethyst Star

• 1 Crescent with Quartz Star

• 15 Clusters of Fire

• 49 Clusters of Earth

• 17 Clusters of Graphite

• 11 Seals of Ascension

Ryan Hawkins

• Promoted to Equite 2

• 2 Bronze Nova

• 1 Steel Cross

• 1 Crescent with Ruby Star

• 1 Crescent with Sapphire Star

• 1 Crescent with Topaz Star

• 8 Clusters of Ice

• 4 Clusters of Graphite

• 11 Seals of Ascension

Neza-Rem Zarabi

• 1 Seal of Ascension

Jalen Ramz

• 18 Clusters of Earth

Zeon Blacktooth

• 1 Dark Cross

• 4 Seals of Ascension

Waden Skylanders

• 4 Clusters of Graphite

• 2 Seals of Ascension

Final Thoughts of August’s Report

There’s actually not much to say at all this week, outside of the hope that you have fun, and that we’ve offered plenty of options on here for you to sink your teeth into.

If there’s something you want to see next time, or even a few alterations, please just tell us. Until then, I’ll leave you with this gif of a plan once thought villainous which now seems very reasonable: