Dawn of the Jedi: Prisoner of Bogan

The second arc of Dawn of the Jedi has recently come to it's conclusion, following the journey of the early Je'daii on Tython and the events that are triggered by the arrival of the first presence to enter the system in centuries - the Rakatan exile Xesh. As always I'll start with the new stuff.

New Je'daii

Tave 

Species: Noghri
Sex: Male
Occupation: Assistant Temple Master








Tave is assistant to Lha-Mi, Temple Master of Stav Kesh, the Temple of Martial Arts where the Je'daii journeyers train to use their force blades in combat. He trained the three young journeyeres who found Xesh, assuring them that the Je'daii masters took their claims seriously, despite their decision to exile Xesh to Bogan.

Rajivari

Species: Human
Sex: Male
Occupation: Je'daii Master








A celebrated Je'daii General in the Despot War Rajivari layed down his sword at the end of the confilct to contemplate the force in peace. Master Ketu came to him to seek advice on Daegen Lok's vision, Rajivari counselled that the vision should be considered carefully but the council voted to treat it as madness and banish Lok. Seven years later Ketu returned to him and he urged him again to take the vision seriously and make ready for the coming army. (It seems that things don't go well for Rajivari in the future, from what I've heard as he shows up in The Old Republic, but I'll leave that for now - if my wife sees him in-game I'll let you know!)

Tem Madog

Species: Cathar
Sex: Male
Occupation: Temple Master








Tem Madog is the Temple Master of Vur Tepe, the Forge. He instructs Je'daii Journeyers in the creation of their force-imbued blades and is responsible for arming the Je'daii. He tested the Rakatan forcesaber in his forge and later constructed forcesabers for the defense of the Order

Ters Sendon

Species: Zabrak
Sex: Male
Occupation: Je'daii Master








Ters Sendon was a Lore Keeper of the Je'daii Order, who meditated on the force and the mysterious history of the Je'daii. Deep beneath Kaleth, the Temple of knowledge, he searched among the Kwa structures that predated the arrival of the Tho Yor. Sendon also appears in The Old Republic game as a hologram.

Bel Zana
Species: Human
Sex: Female
Occupation: Je'daii Ranger








Known for her tracking skills Bel Zana was a renowned Je'daii ranger assigned to the mission to track Xesh and Daegen Lok. She had an intense fear of fire, which Lok exploited.

Jake Fenn

Species: Human
Sex: Male
Occupation: Temple Master








Master of Bodhi, the Temple of the Arts, Jake Fenn was powerful in the force and a fearsome warrior, despite his occupation in helping Je'daii express the force through creating works of art. He had an affection for the ranger Bel Zana, also he was the brother of Rori Fenn, who accompanied him to track down Xesh and Lok.

I'm also continuing to note any new sentient species in the Tython system, meaning that the Tho Yor selected force-sensitive members of that race, even if the characters aren't Je'daii.

Koorivar


Other Characters

A'nang

Species: Kwa
Sex: Male
Occupation: Unknown








One of the ancient Kwa who journeyed the galaxy with their famous hypergates and studied the power of the cosmos (or to the Je'daii 'the force'). They travelled across the galaxy spreading their wealth to many species until they found the Rakata who turned on them, conquering worlds to cause misery to feed their dark side powered technologies and tried to take the secret of Infinity Gate technology from the Kwa by force. The Kwa destroyed their gates and retreated to Dathomir, with A'nang remaining behind to prevent the Rakata from following her people back.



New Droids

Sentry Droid

 









These tall, spiderlike droids were used to patrol Bogan and make sure exiles stayed in their compounds. They had limited intelligence and used their sensor cuffs to monitor the location of the prisoners.

Rakatan Droid

A service droid used by the Rakata, able to perform multiple functions and with limited intelligence, Trill had one of these aboard her ship and used it to assist her in healing Sek'nos Rath.

Ryo Security Droid

 










This model of security droid was used for personal defence by Baron Volnos Ryo, the droid was capable of targeting and attacking multiple targets simultaneously.

New Vehicles

Pho-V Fighter

These fighters were used by Shikaakwan forces during the Despot War, one of these crashed in a hidden valley on Bogan and was used by Daegen Lok to escape with Xesh

Rakatan Starfighter

Small craft capable of travelling the vast distances between the stars, large enough to house two occupants. Trill used this ship to track Xesh to Tython.

New Species

Terenta

A precursor to the fearsome Terentatek, these creatures were created by Je'daii science masters to detect explosives and battle Shikaakwan forces but they developed a taste for force-rich blood and turned on their masters. The results of these failed experiments were left to wander the wilds of Bogan.   

Krev Coeur Predator

  










These large creatures roamed the crystalline surface of Krev Coeur in the Tython system, constantly on the hunt for prey. Fearsome as they were, they were no match for one trained to use the force.  

Mutated Slash Rat

  








Mutated by the noxious fumes of the industrial planet Nox, these Slashrats prayed on civilians wandering alone at the city borders.

This story arc also featured mutant dianoga of giant proportions, but those aren't really anything new in SW comics!

Map

As always I like to include a map of the action, it's a little bewildering to look at as it all takes place in the Tython system more or less and the groups get pretty split up as they visit different planets, get capture etc. but I did the best I could. Also after the action most of the characters return to Tython but I thought adding that last step would make the map impossible to follow!!

 

Story

Sent to Bogan to meditate on the force Xesh is left in confusion about his place among the Je'daii. He is freed by Daegen Lok who had a vision of Xesh and the Rakata, which got him exiled to Bogan for his claims. Using an old fighter they flee Bogan determined to make more Forcesabers and rally an army against the Rakata - an army Lok plans to lead. The Je'daii pursue them to Krev Coeur where they obtain focusing crystals and to Nox where they assemble the hilt and activation device, but Sek'nos is 'rescued' by Trill who uses him to pursue Xesh and on Nox Shae Koda is captured by Daegen Lok and used as a bargaining chip. Meanwhile Tasha Ryo activates the holocron of A'nang who tells them of the danger the Rakata threaten if they have reached Tython's borders. Eventually catching up to Lok on Shikaakwa  and capture him with the help of Xesh who refuses to kill Shae Koda on Lok's orders, but Hawk Ryo is forced to admit that he shared the same vision - the Rakata are coming and they are ready for war!!

Next up: E3!!

Dawn of the Jedi: Force Storm, part 2

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!!

Dawn of the Jedi: Force Storm, part 1

Dawn of the Jedi is a very exciting series from Dark Horse Comics. The team behind Legacy, John Ostrander and Jan Duursema have taken the completely oposite direction while doing what they do best, exploring a completely fresh area of Star Wars!! Rather than journey into the future, as they did with the adventures of Cade and crew, which dominated this blog for the entirety of it's run they have instead ventured into the past, over 25,000 years before the original trilogy, delving into the origins of the Jedi Order. The first story arc, 'Force Storm' recently came to a close and I'll be discussing the cool new stuff that came up in the story.

The Je'daii

The Je'daii were brough to Tython by mysterious craft known as Tho Yor, a mix of speciessettled together on the strange world rich in the force and formed a code, based on balancing the light and dark sides of the force. Tython is a dangerous world for beings without a connection to the force so non-Je'daii began to settle the other worlds in the system, forming their own civilizations, while the Je'daii order remain on Tython and act as peacekeepers for the system as a whole. While they were damaged by the Despot War an uprising led by Queen Hadiya against their order the Je'daii are still strong and bound by their code.

There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.

There is no fear; there is power.

I am the heart of the force.  

I am the revealing fire of light.

I am the mystery of darkness

In balance with chaos and harmony,

Immortal in the force.

So a little different from the Jedi we know, who serve only the light - but big events are coming that will change the Je'daii forever. 

Je'daii Journeyers

A rank placed somewhere between Padawan and Knight Journeyers have finished training at Padawan Kesh, the Je'daii Academy and now travel across Tython to study under the different masters, focusing on different disciplines and training. While trusted with a measure of independence, these Je'daii are still very much the learners. 

Shae Koda

Species: Human

Sex: Female

Occupation: Je'daii Journeyer

Shae Koda is a restless young Journeyer who lost her parents during the Despot War. She is incredibly curious and wants to find out everything she can, accepting nothing on faith. She was training at Anil Kesh the temple of science where she enjoyed exploring new sights and meeting new creatures and experimenting with the force when she had a vision of a dark masked stranger...

Sek'nos Rath

Species: Sith

Sex: Male

Occupation: Je'daii Journeyer

Sek'nos is an adventurous young Je'daii who likes trying out new techniques in the force, in fact the only thing he likes more is the female attention it gets him! He is frequently at Vur Tepe, the forge, trying to develop the ultimate blade but it was at Qigong Kesh, the temple of force skills where he too had a vision of the dark stranger while trying to master force lightning. 

Tasha Ryo

Species : Twi'lek

Sex: Female

Occupation: Je'daii Journeyer

Nicknamed 'princess' by some of the other journeyers, Tasha was born into priviledge being part of Clan Ryo a ruling clan on the settled world of Shikaakwa and the daughter of a Jed'aii master. But the war has forced her parents apart with her father now made ruler of his clan and her mother a Temple Master on Tython. She is torn between her parents trying to please them both,. but when she too has a vision she knows it is the force she must follow.

Je'daii Rangers

No longer training Rangers travel the Tython system as peacekeepers and to seek other beings who can hear the force. 

Hawk Ryo

Species: Twi'lek

Sex: Male

Occupation: Je'daii Ranger

Uncle to Tasha, he first introduced his older brother to Tasha's mother. He was stationed at Fury's Gate, the outermost planet of the Tython system when a strange ship came past the outpost there. The first ship to enter the system from outside in millenia...

Rori Fen

Species: Human

Sex: Female

Occupation: Je'daii Ranger

Rori Fenn is an experienced Je'daii Ranger well able to handle the dangers of Tython. When she was a joruneyer she was romantically involved with Hawk Ryo, but they decided to call it off as they became rangers, though they both still hold deep affection for each other. She was on Tython at Akar Kesh the temple of balance when the strange ship crashed on Tython and she was sent to investigate. 

Jed'aii Masters

Thok Rath

Species: Sith

Sex: Male

Occupation: Je'daii Master

Honoured for his service during the Despot War Thok Rath was an experienced and powerful Je'daii Master. The grandfather of Sek'nos Rath he was looked up to by his grandson for his heroics during the war, inspiring his grandson to seek a place amid the famous Je'daii ranks. He was fond of his grandson and indulged his interests in force techniques. 

Je'daii Temple Masters

Ketu

Species: Human

Sex: Male

Occupation: Temple Master of Akar Kesh

Considered the greatest of the Je'daii by many Ketu is the master of the Temple of Balance where the Je'daii study balance between light and dark. He leads the Je'daii council from a communications centre in the temple but also enjoys teaching in the open air sections of the temple where he was teachiong padawans just before the darkness came to Tython. 

Quan-Jang

Species: Human

Sex: Male

Occupation: Temple Master of Anil Kesh

Master of the Temple of Science his temple is perched above the Abyss of Ruh a dark place which few have explored and whose darkness has driven many mad. He is responsible for monitoring the dark energies of the abyss and for training Je'daii journeyers force sciences. He was teaching alchemy, the bredding and altering of creatures through the force, to Shae Koda when the darkness arrived. 

Miarta Sek

Species: Sith

Sex: Female

Occupation: Temple Master of Qigong Kesh

Formerly trained as a healer Miarta Sek leads the Temple of Force Skills in the silent desert. She faces the difficult task of training the young journeyers in the balanced and wise use of the force. No students are more difficult than her own grandson Sek'nos, who is always challenging himself to try out untested techniques in the force. 

Kora Ryo

Species: Twi'lek

Sex: Female

Occupation: Temple Master of Kaleth

Master of the Temple of Knowledge, Master Ryo holds an important position in the Je'daii order which keeps her away from her husband on Shikaakwa. Her temple is a repository of knowledge and monitors all of Tython. When the Je'daii assemble they meet at Kaleth. Kora had the difficult task of coordinating the Je'daii efforts to quell the darkness while knowing her daughter was at it's heart led by the force. 

Calleh

Species: Selkath

Sex: Unknown

Occupation: Temple Master of Mahara Kesh

Joint master of the temple of healing with their mate, they were responsible for healing the young journeyeres who went after the dark vision, and also the dark man that they found there. 

There were a few other Temple Masters who appeared in a vision, but I'll wait till they come into their own later in the series before writing about them. 

Exiled Je'daii

Any Je'daii who strays too far into the darkness, or into the light for that matter, are exiled onto one of Tython's two moons Ashla and Bogan to comtemplate balance and return to the Je'daii in time. 

Daegen Lok

Species: Human

Sex: Male

Occupation: Exile

Known as 'the prisoner of Bogan' Lok was exiled after journeying too far into the Abyss of Ruh where he fell into darkness. Many doubt if he will ever be able to return to Tython. He watched the darkness arrive on Tython and the force storm it caused with much interest. 

Well that's plenty for now, but as always there's plenty more characters, spaceships and creatures to come but I'll try and wrap all that up in another post soon. For now I'll finish with a list of species that originally migrated to Tython and formed the Je'daii order, with links to Wookiepedia if you're interested. 

Talid (known as Dai Bendu)

Wookie

Human

Twi'lek

Selkath

Iktotchi

Sith

Cathar

Zabrak

Noghri

Devaronian

Sullustan

Mirialian

Miraluka

Blogga's Wall Catchup

Well it's gonna be catch up central on this blog for a while I'm afraid!! Get ready for a few comic series reviews and old video game content while I'm at it.

I hope you'll let this blogger off as the delay in content is due to HIS WEDDING!!!! So obviously the preparation for said event and changes afterward have caused a bit of a delay but I hope to be posting more regularly soon. It was a lovely day by the way!!!

So here are a few things that went up on my wall during this busy time.

1) Halo: Ghosts of Onyx

 I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the sort-of sequel 'Glasslands' which is apparently going to tie in to the upcoming Halo 4 (release date in November has been announced by the way!!!). The story of the Spartan IIIs was very well done as well as their battle with Foreruner forces on Onyx. I did find the Covenant side of the story very confusing as it was hard to place within the context of the games, it seemed to be around the time of the Covenant civil war, yet the Elites are still warring against the humans - it does make sense but it was a bit hard to follow for my muddled brain - I might do a more in-depth review of this book at a later date so I'll stop here.

2) Star Wars: Agent of the Empire # 1

 A nice new series from Dark Horse and Legacy writer John Ostrander, sort-of James Bond meets Star Wars. This first run of the series 'Iron Eclipse' has come to and end so I'll be posting a full review up soon, so I won't say more on that either!

3) Assassin's Creed: Revelations

 The latest  game in the series lets you play as both Ezio and Altair as Desmond tries to puzzle his way out of a coma in the Animus. Fun additions are the opportunity to play some of Desmonds memories (in a weird 3D puzzle mode) and the Multiplayer which now has more of a story to it, you're still a Templay fighting other Termplars in the Animus but you can now unlock Abstergo files and there are even cutscenes as you progress - a good game so far!

4) Star Wars: Episode 1 3D

I enjoyed this loads more than I actually expected - even as a die-hard Star Wars fan. I love watching the movie in the big screen and the added scenes were fun, especially the extended Podrace sequence and extra details on Coruscant were a delight - worth another trip to the cinema for me!!

5) Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi #0

This is a very exciting new series by the Legacy team chronicling the origins of the Jedi Order. This was a very handy guidebook to the series, which I am reading with my wife as it is perfect for new Star Wars readers as almost all the story content is new and the guidebook helpfully explains the stuff that isnn't such as the Sith species and the Rakata, which might otherwise confuse a new reader - this is a great new era to explore.

And that's it - movies next I think!!