Post by Thera Quyen on Dec 31, 2008 22:24:48 GMT -5
Located in the Mid Rim and settled by the Mining Guild as part of a wave of expansion in the Teraab Sector, Ruusan was a temperate and pleasant world. During the Ruusan campaign, seven battles fought between the Army of Light and Brotherhood of Darkness, much of the surface and several cities were destroyed by the intense Force battles waged by the combatants turning the planet into a desert waste. After the last battle of Ruusan a Jedi Knight named Johun Othone Lord Hoth’s former Padawan, constructed a grand memorial, even against the will of the Jedi Council, to the one-hundreded fallen Jedi warriors called The Valley of the Jedi.
During the time of the Old Republic Ruusan was the best source for lightsaber crystals; it’s the only place the Ruusan crystals can be found. The planet is orbited by three moons, referred to the locals as the “Three Sisters”. Smugglers claim that at least one of the moons holds the ruins of an ancient civilization. By the time of the Galactic Empire’s reign Ruusan was forgotten and used by independent spacers and merchants as a base of operations. Rebel refugees from Sulon settled on the planet. Shifting nebulae within the stellar nursery of the Teraab erased hyperspace routes to Ruusan, leaving it inaccessible from the galaxy at large.
Ruusanians
Ruusan was only sparsely settled during the days of the Old Republic. Its few inhabitants numbered only in the tens of thousands, and they eked out a relatively simple existence as miners and resource extractors. A proud and spirited people, some Ruusanians claimed to feel the “rhythm of the planet” through meditation and mental discipline. The Jedi who investigated these claims found no evidence that the Ruusanians had any unusual connection with the Force, but could not discount the possibility.
During the Battles of Ruusan many of the settlers were killed despite the best efforts of the Army of Light to contain the carnage. This won the Jedi the respect of the locals, a respect that continued more or less uninterrupted due to the isolation of the planet. Yet the Ruusanians never gave up hope that the Jedi would return to their world.
Ruusanians are near-humans, who developed due to inbreeding amongst the small human population, that have adapted well to their planet’s unpleasant environment. They are excellent hunters and fine miners. Although they have no true Jedi among them, occasional Force adepts appear in the populace. Small numbers of Russianias visit the Valley of the Jedi to honor the memory of those who defeated the Brotherhood of Darkness a thousand years ago-an ironic echo of Johun Othone’s original intentions.
Bouncers
Another native race to the planet Ruusan are the Bouncers, a species of round-bodied, avian creatures who moved through air as if levitating. Their bodies were covered with greenish fur, and their long tails drifted behind them as they moved about. Innately intelligent, Bouncers could not communicate vocally, but spoke to one another through a form of telepathy; they also used their tails to write in the sands to speak to other beings. Bouncers can also communicate to Force sensitives through the Force. They were connected to the Force, and often had dreams which revealed images of the future. However, Bouncers could also be killed by dreams which were too violent, and many died this way in the months and weeks leading up to the Battle of Ruusan.
Those who survived were driven slowly mad, as they tried to offer comfort and support to the Jedi but were met only with pain and suffering. In the aftermath of the war between the Jedi and the Sith, the Bouncers were all but destroyed. The Bouncers who survived told of a prophecy in which “…a Knight shall come, a battle will be fought, and the prisoners shall go free.” Many believed that this referred to the souls which were contained within the Valley of the Jedi, and the prophecy was proven to be true when Kyle Katarn defeated Jerec and his Dark Jedi in the Valley. The Bouncers collect their history and prophecies in the Poem of Ages.
Kell Dragon and Gra
Two other species known on Ruusan are the kell dragons and the gra. Kell dragons are flat-bodied, short-legged cousins of the krayt dragon, the kell dragons are a mottled grey in color and plated with armor-like scales. Three rows of spikes studded the dorsal ridges of the dragon, starting near the nose and traveling down to its hindquarters. Gra are skittish, goat-like creatures that originated from the planet Sulon. They were brought to the planet by the settlers who fled from the Empire with the help of Morgan Katarn.
Fort Nowhere
Much of the main compound was protected by rammed-earth walls, with a configuration that resembled a six-pointed star when viewed from above. At each point of the star was a ball-turret-mounted blaster cannon, giving the inhabitants complete coverage of their airspace. Subsurface missile batteries and other hidden defenses ensured the protection of the Fort. Fort Nowhere was used by Captain Jerg and his fellow merchants as a base of operations on the planet. It was to Fort Nowhere that Jerg agreed to take the refugees from the moon Sulon, after the Empire took control of the Sullust System. The Fort was later destroyed during the Battle of Fort Nowhere; it is assumed that the local Ruusains rebuilt it.
Valley of the Jedi
The Valley of the Jedi is an unusual example of a light side site. Its association with the defeat of the Sith probably explains how the valley evaded the notice of dark siders for a millennium. The valley is unusual in that it once manifested a significant dark side presence. Despite this, it remains a light side site of immense power, proof perhaps that the natural--and preferred--state of the Force is one of balance between opposites.
The Valley of the Jedi consists of two distinct areas, the valley proper and the larger canyon in which the fateful Battle of Ruusan took place. The canyon is a naturally hewn opening in the rocky terrain of the planet. Once a mighty river flowed through the canyon, but it has since dried up, leaving behind the canyon itself as the only proof of its existence. The canyon is extremely deep (over a kilometre in some places) and quite unstable. The devastation wrought by Lord Kaan's thought bomb lingers even today, with innumerable rockslides, crevasses, and other dangers. In addition, a large number of caves line the interior of the canyon. The native Ruusanians sometimes mine these areas for ores to use in their manufacturing processes, but most visitors to the caves are treasure-hunters looking for artifacts from the Battle of Ruusan. The caves are also home to the native fauna, some of which can be quite dangerous to the unwary.
The actual valley is a smaller portion of the canyon, located at its deepest level. Here Hoth and Kaan squared off before the Sith Lord destroyed both assembled armies in a torrent of hatred. Shaped like a crater, the valley stands out from the rest of the canyon because it's entirely covered with worked stone and other artificial materials. This is the legacy of Johun Othone's attempt to memorialize the Battle of Ruusan. Everything in the crater, including the floor and the walls, is covered by stonework crafted by some of the greatest artisans of the Old Republic. The stones come from a hundred worlds, a testament to the diversity of Hoth's Army of Light. The valley thus has an oddly artificial appearance, seemingly at odds with the sense of serene majesty visitors feel upon entering it.
Ringing the walls of this natural amphitheatre are a large number of statues in the shape of Jedi Knights. While iconic in appearance, several bear the likeness of Jedi who died at Ruusan, including Master Hoth himself. The statues lend solemnity to the site, which is exactly what Othone intended for its status as a monument to fallen heroes.
At the heart of the valley is a thin, elongated building built of the same impressive stonework as everything else in the crater. The building rises to a pinnacle, which overlooks a circular area roughly in the center of the valley. This building was constructed as a meditation complex, where pilgrims and travellers could reflect upon the mysteries of the Force and the sacrifice of the Army of Light. A Series of winding stairs allowed visitors to reach the pinnacle, which served as an observation tower from which pilgrims could survey the entire valley. In the centuries since the building was first constructed, it has fallen into disrepair. The stairs no longer exist, and the pinnacle is impossible to reach without technological or Force-related aids.
At the far end of the meditation complex is a polished Adegan crystal of immense size intended as a occurs for reflection. Kyle Katarn reported to Master Skywalker that the crystal pulsed with Force energy during his battle with Jerec. This phenomenon may have been the result of Jedi or Sith spirits making an effort to manifest themselves through it. The truth remains hidden.
During the time of the Old Republic Ruusan was the best source for lightsaber crystals; it’s the only place the Ruusan crystals can be found. The planet is orbited by three moons, referred to the locals as the “Three Sisters”. Smugglers claim that at least one of the moons holds the ruins of an ancient civilization. By the time of the Galactic Empire’s reign Ruusan was forgotten and used by independent spacers and merchants as a base of operations. Rebel refugees from Sulon settled on the planet. Shifting nebulae within the stellar nursery of the Teraab erased hyperspace routes to Ruusan, leaving it inaccessible from the galaxy at large.
Ruusanians
Ruusan was only sparsely settled during the days of the Old Republic. Its few inhabitants numbered only in the tens of thousands, and they eked out a relatively simple existence as miners and resource extractors. A proud and spirited people, some Ruusanians claimed to feel the “rhythm of the planet” through meditation and mental discipline. The Jedi who investigated these claims found no evidence that the Ruusanians had any unusual connection with the Force, but could not discount the possibility.
During the Battles of Ruusan many of the settlers were killed despite the best efforts of the Army of Light to contain the carnage. This won the Jedi the respect of the locals, a respect that continued more or less uninterrupted due to the isolation of the planet. Yet the Ruusanians never gave up hope that the Jedi would return to their world.
Ruusanians are near-humans, who developed due to inbreeding amongst the small human population, that have adapted well to their planet’s unpleasant environment. They are excellent hunters and fine miners. Although they have no true Jedi among them, occasional Force adepts appear in the populace. Small numbers of Russianias visit the Valley of the Jedi to honor the memory of those who defeated the Brotherhood of Darkness a thousand years ago-an ironic echo of Johun Othone’s original intentions.
Bouncers
Another native race to the planet Ruusan are the Bouncers, a species of round-bodied, avian creatures who moved through air as if levitating. Their bodies were covered with greenish fur, and their long tails drifted behind them as they moved about. Innately intelligent, Bouncers could not communicate vocally, but spoke to one another through a form of telepathy; they also used their tails to write in the sands to speak to other beings. Bouncers can also communicate to Force sensitives through the Force. They were connected to the Force, and often had dreams which revealed images of the future. However, Bouncers could also be killed by dreams which were too violent, and many died this way in the months and weeks leading up to the Battle of Ruusan.
Those who survived were driven slowly mad, as they tried to offer comfort and support to the Jedi but were met only with pain and suffering. In the aftermath of the war between the Jedi and the Sith, the Bouncers were all but destroyed. The Bouncers who survived told of a prophecy in which “…a Knight shall come, a battle will be fought, and the prisoners shall go free.” Many believed that this referred to the souls which were contained within the Valley of the Jedi, and the prophecy was proven to be true when Kyle Katarn defeated Jerec and his Dark Jedi in the Valley. The Bouncers collect their history and prophecies in the Poem of Ages.
Kell Dragon and Gra
Two other species known on Ruusan are the kell dragons and the gra. Kell dragons are flat-bodied, short-legged cousins of the krayt dragon, the kell dragons are a mottled grey in color and plated with armor-like scales. Three rows of spikes studded the dorsal ridges of the dragon, starting near the nose and traveling down to its hindquarters. Gra are skittish, goat-like creatures that originated from the planet Sulon. They were brought to the planet by the settlers who fled from the Empire with the help of Morgan Katarn.
Fort Nowhere
Much of the main compound was protected by rammed-earth walls, with a configuration that resembled a six-pointed star when viewed from above. At each point of the star was a ball-turret-mounted blaster cannon, giving the inhabitants complete coverage of their airspace. Subsurface missile batteries and other hidden defenses ensured the protection of the Fort. Fort Nowhere was used by Captain Jerg and his fellow merchants as a base of operations on the planet. It was to Fort Nowhere that Jerg agreed to take the refugees from the moon Sulon, after the Empire took control of the Sullust System. The Fort was later destroyed during the Battle of Fort Nowhere; it is assumed that the local Ruusains rebuilt it.
Valley of the Jedi
The Valley of the Jedi is an unusual example of a light side site. Its association with the defeat of the Sith probably explains how the valley evaded the notice of dark siders for a millennium. The valley is unusual in that it once manifested a significant dark side presence. Despite this, it remains a light side site of immense power, proof perhaps that the natural--and preferred--state of the Force is one of balance between opposites.
The Valley of the Jedi consists of two distinct areas, the valley proper and the larger canyon in which the fateful Battle of Ruusan took place. The canyon is a naturally hewn opening in the rocky terrain of the planet. Once a mighty river flowed through the canyon, but it has since dried up, leaving behind the canyon itself as the only proof of its existence. The canyon is extremely deep (over a kilometre in some places) and quite unstable. The devastation wrought by Lord Kaan's thought bomb lingers even today, with innumerable rockslides, crevasses, and other dangers. In addition, a large number of caves line the interior of the canyon. The native Ruusanians sometimes mine these areas for ores to use in their manufacturing processes, but most visitors to the caves are treasure-hunters looking for artifacts from the Battle of Ruusan. The caves are also home to the native fauna, some of which can be quite dangerous to the unwary.
The actual valley is a smaller portion of the canyon, located at its deepest level. Here Hoth and Kaan squared off before the Sith Lord destroyed both assembled armies in a torrent of hatred. Shaped like a crater, the valley stands out from the rest of the canyon because it's entirely covered with worked stone and other artificial materials. This is the legacy of Johun Othone's attempt to memorialize the Battle of Ruusan. Everything in the crater, including the floor and the walls, is covered by stonework crafted by some of the greatest artisans of the Old Republic. The stones come from a hundred worlds, a testament to the diversity of Hoth's Army of Light. The valley thus has an oddly artificial appearance, seemingly at odds with the sense of serene majesty visitors feel upon entering it.
Ringing the walls of this natural amphitheatre are a large number of statues in the shape of Jedi Knights. While iconic in appearance, several bear the likeness of Jedi who died at Ruusan, including Master Hoth himself. The statues lend solemnity to the site, which is exactly what Othone intended for its status as a monument to fallen heroes.
At the heart of the valley is a thin, elongated building built of the same impressive stonework as everything else in the crater. The building rises to a pinnacle, which overlooks a circular area roughly in the center of the valley. This building was constructed as a meditation complex, where pilgrims and travellers could reflect upon the mysteries of the Force and the sacrifice of the Army of Light. A Series of winding stairs allowed visitors to reach the pinnacle, which served as an observation tower from which pilgrims could survey the entire valley. In the centuries since the building was first constructed, it has fallen into disrepair. The stairs no longer exist, and the pinnacle is impossible to reach without technological or Force-related aids.
At the far end of the meditation complex is a polished Adegan crystal of immense size intended as a occurs for reflection. Kyle Katarn reported to Master Skywalker that the crystal pulsed with Force energy during his battle with Jerec. This phenomenon may have been the result of Jedi or Sith spirits making an effort to manifest themselves through it. The truth remains hidden.
