The Aaris system was a star system located within the Outer Rim Territories' Kathol sector. The system's main planet, Aaris III, was the homeworld of the Aaris species, who established an industrial society several thousand years prior to the Galactic Civil War. The Aaris were plunged into civil war with the discovery of the Plaque of Victory, an inanimate lifeform that fed off the life energy of other beings by heightening the Aaris's feelings of hostility and paranoia. The war reduced the Aaris to a primitive state, in which they were considered extinct by the rest of the galaxy. The Aaris system was relatively undisturbed for several thousand years until an archaeological team was dispatched to Aaris III in 8 ABY. During the expedition, the team discovered the Plaque of Victory and was subsequently attacked by the remnants of the Aaris. Only two members of the expedition survived to be rescued by the crew of the New Republic CR90 corvette FarStar.
The Aaris system was located within the Kathol sector of the Outer Rim Territories. The system was connected via hyperlane to the Brolsam, Kolatill, and Charis systems. Vessels transiting from Aaris took three days, nine hours to reach Brolsam, sixteen hours to get to Kolatill, and one day, three hours to arrive at Charis by Class One hyperdrive. The system's main world, Aaris III, was the homeworld of the Aaris species.
- "Six days since the arrival of the 'Plaque of Victory' our city is wracked by violence. First it was minor—a small surge in crimes, most resulting in the victims' deaths. Then it became more pronounced, with small gangs ruling the streets, clashing in bloody battles at every corner and gate."
- ―Kastays, from the translation notes of Imperial scientist Grigor Tansad
The Aaris system's primary planet, Aaris III, was home to the Aaris, a species of reptilian humanoids whose civilization flourished several thousand years prior to the Galactic Civil War. A generally peaceful race, the Aaris developed an industrial society and constructed great cities across the planet. However, sometime before 3643 BBY, the discovery of the Plaque of Victory on the planet precipitated the downfall of the Aaris civilization. The Plaque of Victory was an inanimate metal ingot containing a lifeform that fed off the energy of other living beings by heightening their paranoia and violent tendencies. The Plaque's influence plunged the Aaris into a civil war that devastated their civilization. Their great cities were abandoned and left to ruin, and the Aaris descended into a primitive race living in the underground warrens of their former constructs.
The Aaris system was generally left alone for thousands of years. During the Galactic War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire, scavengers traveled to Aaris III in search of rare materials and valuables, looting the abandoned cities. The Sith Empire also maintained holdings on the planet, with the Imperial Science Bureau conducting Project Chimera, which was responsible for studying the effects that the Nightmare Lands on the planet Voss had on non-native lifeforms.
Shortly after Imperial Moff Kentor Sarne was appointed to control the Kathol sector in 2 BBY, he sent to Aaris III a scouting expedition, which left a standard marker beacon on the surface. He later established a supply cache on the planet. A group of outlaws also set up a base on the planet at some point. At no point was it discovered that the Aaris species still existed, and the inhabitants of the galaxy at large believed that they were extinct. In 8 ABY, Sarne authorized an expedition to Aaris III to excavate the ruins and determine the cause of the Aaris's extinction. While on the planet, the team—designated MS-133 and led by Doctor Lancer Brunou—discovered the Plaque of Victory. Shortly after, the team members were attacked by the Aaris. Over the course of several days, the natives killed off the team until only Brunou and his research assistant, Solla Deremot, remained alive to be rescued by the New Republic CR90 corvette FarStar.
Aaris III was a lush, blue-green world covered in jungles and oceans, with high mountain ranges punching through the foliage canopy. Large cities, constructed by the Aaris, were located across the planet, all of which had fallen into ruin by 8 ABY. The Aaris were native to the planet but were believed by the galaxy to be extinct by 8 ABY due to a civil war that had devastated their society thousands of years prior.
The Aaris were a species of one-meter reptilians native to Aaris III. At the height of their civilization, the Aaris established an industrial society comprising a network of cities, with professions that included scholars and soldiers. After the devastating civil war precipitated by the Plaque of Victory, the primitive descendents of the Aaris lived in the ruins of their once-proud cities and were considered to be extinct by the rest of the galaxy.
Behind the scenesEdit
The Aaris system was created for The DarkStryder Campaign, a roleplaying game sourcebook published by West End Games in 1995. The system was featured in the RPG adventure Artifact of Aaris, which was the second scenario in the sourcebook. The system's main world, Aaris III, was the primary setting for the adventure, written by Peter M. Schweighofer. Although Aaris III's name indicates that the system has at least three planetary bodies, no reference is made to any other planet in the Aaris system.
- "Artifact of Aaris"—The DarkStryder Campaign (First appearance)
- "Artifact of Aaris"—The DarkStryder Campaign, Deluxe (Reprint)
Notes and referencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The DarkStryder Campaign
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 "Artifact of Aaris"—The DarkStryder Campaign
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Star Wars: The Old Republic—Mission: "Project Chimera" on Voss
- ↑ Page 5 of The DarkStryder Campaign's Adventure Book states that star systems and primary worlds in the Kathol sector share the same name unless otherwise noted.
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic—Scavenging Crew Skill Mission: "The Remains of Aaris"
- ↑ The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 154 ("Jelok")