My coverage of the first story arc of
Dawn of the Jedi continues, in the last post we looked at the Je'daii, the predecessors to the Jedi order who, despite a few majopr internal conflicxts such as the Despot War have enjoyed relative peace isolated in the deep core of the galaxy, but things are afoot in the galaxy at wide and a powerful enemy is looming.
The Infinite Empire
First introduced
in
Knights of the Old Republic as the hidden creators of ancient technology with a diminished empire and most of them living as primitives. Now we see them in their heyday with their Empire sweeping across the galaxy without an organised Republic. Seeking worlds strong in the force to subdue their quest leads them to Tython.
Predors
Predors
are the leaders of the Infinite Empire, Rakata who wield an enormous amount of influence and the power of life and death over those who serve them.
Skal'nas
Species: Rakatan
Sex: Male
Occupation: Predor
One of the senior Predors of the entire Infinite Empire, based on their capital at Byss, he is considered ruthless even by Rakatan standards and his ascent to power is marked by a trail of blood.
Tul'kar
Species: Rakatan
Sex: Male
Occupation: Predor
Tul'kar was an up and coming Predor who had successfully conquered many worlds for the Rakata. However it was commented upon by many that his success is largely due to the skill of his force hound Xesh, which proved ultimately to be his undoing.
Force Hounds
Force hounds are the slaves of the Rakata, trained to find others strong in the force by sensing them across the stars and then helping to subjugate them for their masters.
Xesh
Species: Human
Sex: Male
Occupation: Force Hound
Xesh was the force hound of Tul'kar and gained him many victories through discovering planets and individuals strong in the force. However this changed when a world was sensed in the deep core teeming in force sensitive life. As they arrive in the system Xesh, for reasons unknown even to himself, turned on his masters and killed them. When facing the Je'daii he was confronted with unfamiliar concepts such as mercy and compassion and healing and even felt compelled to aid those he was hunting.
Trill
Species: Unidentified, possibly human
Sex: Female
Occupation: Force Hound
The force hound of Predor Skal'nas, she is a rival to Xesh and clashed violently when he insulted her tracking skills.
New Species
That's it for characters let's see what new aliens this series threw up.
Kumumgah
Designation: Sentient
Planet of Origin: Tatooine
This species lived on the lush ocean world of Tatooine until it was descended upon by the Rakata. The Kumumgah dared to fight back against their opressors and so their world was devastated to the npoint where it became a vast desert. The kumumgah eventually degenerated over thousands of years, becoming the sand people and the Jawas.
Rancor-dragon
Designation: Mutated
non-sentient
Planet of Origin: Tython
This creature named 'butch' by Shae Koda was created at the Temple of Science altering the rancor through alchemy in the force (considered a Sith technique in later times). While ferocious in nature the rancor-dragon was extremely loyal to it's creators who bonded with it in the force.
Riding Mount
Designation: Non-sentient
Planet of Origin: Tython
These creatures were commonly used by the Je'daii as a way o0f transportation around Tython, particularly in difficult terrain such as the Abyss of Ruh.
Saarl
Designation: Non-sentient, possibly plant-based
Planet of Origin: Tython
Saarls, known as 'rift-worms' resided near the Abyss of Ruh. Powerful creatures capable of attacking even starfighters at close range they are almost impossible to defeat on foot. When the Je'daii journeyeres encountered one, their only hope lay with Xesh, the mysterious invader.
Wraith
Designation: Non-sentient
Planet of Origin: Tython
These mysterious creatures live deep in the Abyss of Ruh and have been encountered by very few except Xesh who named them wraiths. Stangely they were able to absorb and consume force lightning, though this was possibly due to the force storm ocurring on Tython effecting them.
New Vehicles
It ain't a
Star Wars strip without some new spaceships so let's see what they used in ancient times.
Rakatan Ship
These powerful cruises, produced by the Star Forge are the mainstay of the Rakatan fleet and converge on planets, blacking out the skies. Xesh led Tul'kar's ship, the
Devourer, to Tython where it crashed, killing all the crew.
Hunter-class Starfighter
These swift fighters are capable of inter-planetary travel and are used by the Je'daii to travel on missions between the planets of the Tython system. Hawk Ryo followed the Rakatan ship in his
Hunter.
Cloud Chaser
These lighter-than-air vehicles are used for intra-planetary flight all through the Tython system.
Peacemaker-class cruiser
These cruisers are used by the Je'daii to travel between the planets of the Tython system on diplomatic missions. After healing him the Je'daii to Xesh to the moon of Bogan in a
Peacemaker.
Tho Yor
These ships are the guiding force of the origins of the Jedi, built by unknown forces and guided by only the force itself they called to those who could hear the force on worlds throughout the galaxy, bringing them all to the otherwise inaccessible deep core world of Tython. Around each of these Tho Yor a temple was built, founding the Je'daii Order.
Map
Fairly self-explanatory - I've included a local map of the Tython system as this is where most of the travelling occurs, however
most of the action takes place on Tython itself.
Story
Not much more to say really, the Je'daii order is rebuilding after internal wars when Xesh arrives from the Infinite Empire.
As he clashes with young Je'daii journeyers who feel drawn to him the planet itself reacts to the arrival of the darkness, making the planet unbalanced in the force. As the Je'daii strive to help the three young adventurers they must also strive to save their homeworld itself!!
A really great series this - I've been reading this with my wife and it's a great introduction to
Star Wars comics as there isn't much prior knowledge required at all.
Legacy was a fresh series but you still needed a bit of knowledge of the Vong etc. to fully understand it but this is all new (bar the Rakata but playing KoToR doesn't make much difference besides you having seen the Star Forge before) so easy to follow with someone not familiar with the main continuity.
Recently announced at Comic-Con is a new story arc
Prisoner of Bogan and also a new Dawn of the Jedi novel
Into the Void. Looks like the tie-in approach, as seen with
Knight Errant is working well. You can read about all the new announcements including a beand new comic series and several new books
HERE.
Next: More Mass Effect!!
