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The Big Drink |
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The Big Drink can be found in a remote corner of the Outer Rim just past Bakura. There are no major hyper-routes into the sector, so travel is usually slow and tedious required at least four stops for calculating astrogation co-ordinates. Being so far out The Big Drink has not yet been bothered by the Empire, although the sector was a part of the Old Republic. Ties to the Republic were broken during the Clone Wars where the system joined the Separatists led by Count Dooku. The sector government, based on the planet Pondula III, became corrupt. Darktail, a Dark Side adept, was elected President. This led to a conflict with the Jedi. Darktail dissappeared, believed slain by the Jedi, and the government collapsed. Several 'powers' tried to seize control of the sector but failed. Soon The Big Drink was a lawless sector was rife with crime. Even though the Sector Rangers kept a presence in the Sector their numbers were not enough to act as a police force. The threat of the Empire has stilled many of the petty criminals of the sector, but The Big Drink is now controlled by several competing Criminal Syndicates. The Big Drink is on the edge of the Outer Rim and the Unknown Regions. This leads to many strange and rare aliens often being seen in the sector. It is not uncommon to walk into a bar frequented by several dozen different races, none of them recogniseable. The most recognisable, and common, race in the sector are the Quacka from Pondula III, a race resembling anthromorphic ducks.
Calculating Astrogation: From Bakura it requires five Moderate and one Difficult astrogation roll with a Navigation computer. Up to date co-ordinates can usually be bought from most Standard class spaceports in the Outer or Mid Rim for 150 credits which bring the difficulty numbers down one level. Should any roll fail consult the Astrogation Mishap chart. It will then require the characters to roll a Very Difficult Astrogation to get back on track. Ships have been known to get lost traveling to and from The Big Drink, hence the system traffic is low, and most spacers you find in the sector are excellent navigators. Inter-System Travel Times
Sector Rangers The Sector Rangers have long been based in The Big Drink. Most of the Rangers are Quacka, out for adventure and excitement, but fearing travel through Imperial worlds. This way they get the excitement and stay close to home. The The Sector Rangers act as a Police Force in the lawless sector, both in space and on the ground. The Sector Rangers have bases throughout the sector, but prominently on Pondula II at Reed City Spaceport and on Krok With no other authority to fall back on the Sector Rangers are the law but htey don't have the man, or duck, power to realistically keep control of the sector. Their hands are full enough rescuing lost traveler let alone having to deal with Noks pirates. The Big Drink Sector Ranger
Equipment: Blaster Pistol, data pad, comlink, High Quality Vac Suit.
'The Pond'
Reed City This is the only real spaceport left on Pondula. Originally there were three spaceports, Reed City, Arch-Wing Central and what would have classed as an Imperial class Spaceport at Pondula City. The Clone Wars have left their toll with Reed City, a standard class spaceport, the only real spaceport left on Pondula. Reed City is compromised of three spherical zones and is ruled, unofficially by the Crime Lord Big Bill. Sector Rangers do have a presence in the city, though communication and co-operation from local police forces is strained at the best of times. Zone 1 - Spaceport Most of the traffic in The Big Drink passes through Reed City Spaceport at some time or another. Security is strict. Hand weapons are permitted with the appropriate license, though the strictness of security depends on who you see. The Sector Rangers are strict to the letter of the law, though not over-powering like Imperial officials. Local Police, often referred to as the Old Bill, are much less stringent in their checks.
Zone 2 - Industrial Zone This is where you'll find most of the factories. Reed City is not a day and night place, most factories close down early evening, re-opening early mornings. The Quacka produce mainly low tech items such as holo-vids, data pads and parts for airspeeders. The largest factory is Duck-Wing Incorporated. Duck-Wing manufacture starships such as stock light freighters and the Duck-Wing Starfighter, although the Reed City factory really on produces small componets for the starships. Their large factory is located several miles outside the old Pondula City Spaceport and surprisingly was never targeted during the Clone Wars.
Zone 3 - Habitation Zone This is where all the city folk dwell. City life in Reed City is surprisingly calm the the locals taking life in their stride. Except for a few seedy areas Reed City is always kept clean. Maintenance and cleaner droids can often be seen roaming the streets. Reed City also boasts some of the finest shops in the Outer Rim. Obviously it has nothing to compete with Core Worlds, but throughout The Big Drink you'll find no bigger or finer selection of goods than the Reed City Mall.
The Marshes The Marshes are the poorer areas of Pondula III. It is here that you will find the more unscrupulous members of Quacka society. Not Big Billspeople, more small time crooks and smugglers. Not to say that Big Bill doesn't have control of the Marches. It is around the Marshes that several illegal Mesmerfish farms are hidden away.
Mesmerfish Mesmerfish are native to the marshland of Pondula III. When prepared they form a unique Spice that can only be found in The Big Drink Sector. Mesmer-Spice - D6 Effects: Each dose of Mesmer-spice gives the user +1D to all stamina and Dexterity checks for 1D hours. Addiction: Each time someone takes mesmer-spice they must make an Easy Stamina (without the bonus). A failed roll causes a permanent -1 pip to Knowledge & related skills unless more Mesmer-Spice is taken within 24 hours. Cost: 100 credits per dose.
The Quacka are the native race to Pondula III. Follow the link to the Aliens Datalog on Quacka.
Other Worlds Krok How this dead world got it's name has become local legend. It's said that the first Quacka space pioneers discovered the planet long before contact with the Old Republic. Communications were poor back then. The Quacka pilot, Starfeather, stepped from his starship, looked at the barren depressing wilderness and quacked, "what a crok!" This was totally misheard back at space command as "I name this Krok." By the time Starfeather returned to the Pond the planet Krok was splashed across all media and it was too late to change. The ancient Starfeather was pretty accurate in his view of the world. No indigenous life has ever lived on this planet, but it is the single largest planet in what is now the first system of The Big Drink. Nowadays the world has several cities across it's surface. There are several mining operations across the planet, but the world is not rich in any precious ore. The Sector Rangers use Krok as their main base of operations as it is closest to the Bakura run where most travelers get lost. Neptchus A planet of unspoilt beauty the planet Neptchus is relatively ignored in the Sector, or has up until recently. Star Tours has recently started tourist excursions to the planet. They advertise it as "the planet to get away from it all." There are fresh meadows, untouched mountain ranges and beautiful flora with apparently no hostile critters. There have been rumours that monsters live in the seas and rivers, and there have been numerous sighting, though no evidence from any reliable sources. The Neptchus Space Station To boost tourism Star Tours made a deal with Nad Tors, a rich investor in the Corporate Sector. Nad had one of his small space stations set up in orbit as a stop-off for the holidaymakers. Nad does have one weakness, gambling, and one person knows how to exploit that weakness, Sithspawn Lairs own, Jan Vincent Torm. The stakes were high with several million in the pot. Nad looked at his cards, an Idiots Array, the money was his. He bet the Neptchus Station to cover his bet and called. Disaster. The cards shifted, as they do in Sabacc, and his 2 became a -14. Torm revealed his hand, 23, Pure Sbacc and the space station was his. Business on the Space Station is very slow. Although the station does not lose money, it doesn't make any either Zak'tiir While the gas giant Zak'tiir does not boast any life beyond a race similar to Beldons the system does have another, and more popular space station resort, the Dirty Duck. A colossal space station in a graveyard of ships from stock transports to bulk freighters. This obviously leads to scavengers setting up home. Ugnaughts, Squibs, Ugors and even Jawa have been seen in the system looting the wreckage, arguing over salvage. The Dirty Duck is an odd kind of shadowport, because everyone seems to know about it. The Nok Syndicate are based here, and despite the run down appearance of the station, the Dirty Duck is seen as the heart of The Big Drink. Xiir This is a large gas giant much like the planet Bepsin. Like Bespin this world is rich in Tabanna gas, tough mining is totally regulated through the mining guilds. The Mining Guilds of Xiir probably have the strongest security force in the Sector, and they have to with the amount of piracy in the area. Nok can get a good price for Tabanna gas on the black market. Due to the threat of piracy the Mining Guilds starships are well armed, with the the Mercenary Guild of Coyn even being used from time to time to guard cargos. Xiirtron A world of legend, and a dying planet. The surface of Xiirtron is cracked. volcanic eruptions are regular with rivers of lava covering the surface of this giant world. It is this planet that was rumoured Xim the Despot hid his treasure, and where the ancient Jedi revealed the Hutts plan to steal it for themselves. Many believe that the stories of the Jedi making contact and finding the hidden treasure here are simply that, stories. Few but the brave venture to Xiirtron any more. It is not patrolled by the Sector Rangers so any trouble you may encounter here and you're on your own.
Big Bill, is a moody old duck. He runs 'The Pond' from his plush apartment in Reed City. The local police are mostly on his payroll. His criminal activities include racketeering, gun running and spice smuggling. He has investments in Duck-Wing Inc. which also gives him access to cheap starfighters. Big Bill has not ventured outside of The Big Drink, and has never really shown any ambition to. Big Bill is more content to close his feathers around his home sector. While local officials still argue over who should take control of the sector Big Bill is slowly manipulating himself into position to take over as President. Big Bill
The Nok Syndicate Nok is an aging Nalroni. He muscled into the sector towards the end of the Clone Wars towards the end of the criminal fighting. New to the Sector his syndicate was strong and soon he had only one rival, Big Bill. The Nok syndicates activities include racketeering, piracy, loan sharking and money laundering for several companies from the Corporate Sector. They operate out of the Dirty Duck space station in the Zak'tiir system. Nok himself is rarely seen nowadays as he has grown old and physically weak. The only thing that seems to keep him going is the dread that fills his heart of Young Nok taking over the family business. Young Nok is very Naive when it comes to the business. He flitters away money on every vice and does not have the respect fro the Syndicate like his father does. Nevertheless it is Young Nok who is the forefront of the criminal syndicate now, something Big Bill just laughs at.
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Torms
advice:
Big Bill's
Syndicate