Saturday, February 22, 2014

The Downtime Cantina


When beings who are interested in Rebel activity seek out Mina Trevill, they'd do best to visit the Downtime Cantina. In addition to serving food and drinks to visitors, the staff here acts as a means for introduction to--or deflection from--the Procuress. Z-3PO is the droid who runs the place, assisted by a number of SE-4 servant droids. What most patrons don't know is that Z-3PO maintains a constant feed of information from the cantina to Mina.

For the most part, the Downtime is a relatively tame establishment. The droids who run the place serve drinks and food as is expected, albeit with less of the banter that is typical in other such establishments. Rather, the droids do their business with mechanical efficiency, making conversation as necessary, but not with anything resembling organic loquacity.



The Cantina
Refer to the appropriate map for the following area descriptions. This small, simple establishment has a large common room (area A) dominated by a bar, with tables in the back corners and booths along the outside walls. Behind the bar is the door to the storage area (B), where the droids keep reserve quantities of liquor along with the dishwashing machine. This is also where they recharge while the bar is closed. Although they do not prepare or serve food, visitors are welcome to bring their own.

Making Contact
Characters who seek to meet with Mina Trevill have a variety of options for doing so. If they're already members of the Rebel Alliance, they can simply go to the Downtime, talk to Z-3PO and slip into the conversation whatever code phrase they've been given. For example, they might mention "I've heard that the weather on Coruscant's been nice," to which the droid responds, "Ah, but I hear that there are storms coming."

Those who haven't been vetted in this manner face a much more difficult challenge. Since Z-3PO can't afford to let just anybody meet with his boss, the droid has to put them through a runaround and have them earn his trust. This could include eavesdropping on their conversations, researching their records, or even appointing to them a small task so as to test their loyalty. One good option for characters is to own up to anything they've done against the Empire, which the droid (and thus Mina) can corroborate through investigation.

If they do earn Mina's trust, characters are then invited to meet with her. This is arranged by booking them into one of her remote cabins, where their arrival can be monitored before she makes her appearance.


Z-3PO
Brawn 2 Cunning 3 Presence 2
Agility 1 Intellect 3 Willpower 2

Soak: 2
Wound Threshold: 12
Strain Threshold: 12
M/R Defense: 0 / 0

Skills: Charm 1, Computers 2, Cool 1, Core Worlds 2, Deception 3, Education 2, Lore 2, Negotiation 2, Outer Rim 1, Perception 2, Streetwise 1, Underworld 1, Vigilance 1, Xenology 1

Talents: Nobody's Fool, Plausible Deniability, Toughened, Well Rounded

Abilities: Droid Qualities, Inorganic, Mechanical Being

Equipment: Internal comlink, datapad

Z-3PO looks like a typical protocol droid, with a shiny silver finish. It is outgoing and friendly, but those qualitites are just a mask for a calculating, analytical (artificial) mind. After all, Z-3PO is the first contact point, and therefore the first line of defense, for Mistress Trevill. To that end, the droid is staunchly protective of the Human, and takes its job very seriously.


Using the Cantina in an Edge of the Empire Campaign
Many of the ways in which the Downtime Cantina can be used in a campaign are detailed below.
  • Needless to say, the PCs might come here looking to make contact with an agent of the Rebel Alliance.
  • On the other hand, this could just be any other watering hole for them.
  • The PCs might be present when an Imperial agent shows up, searching for a link to Mina Trevill; it's up to them to decide if they want to help or hinder such efforts.
  • When Mina Trevill goes missing, and the PCs are tasked with finding her, this could be the place where they start their investigation.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Seaside Cabins


When it comes to visiting the famous Gold Beaches of Corellia, perhaps no better accomodation exists than a seaside cabin. One string of these belongs to an enterprising woman named Mina Trevill, who uses one as a drop-point for Rebel activity.



The Cabins
While there is some variance among them, the cabins generally boast similar features. There is a patio with a table for meals or lounging (A) outside the front door. The main room (B) has a kitchen area along with a sitting/entertainment area. There are three bedrooms (C), each outfitted with two beds and storage cabinets. Finally, two refreshers (D) contain all of the expected features.

In the cabin that is being used as a drop-point, a notable exception is a small statuette depicting former Corellian senator Garm Bel Iblis. It contains a small sensor unit, one that triggers similar devices set into the walls of the main room. If the statuette is carried from wall to wall, it activates a mechanism which opens a trapdoor in the floor of the middle bedroom. This is where Alliance operatives stash supplies and information for each other. This cabin is only rented to known Rebel agents--unless, of course, somebody makes a mistake.


Mina Trevill
Brawn 2 Cunning 3 Presence 2
Agility 2 Intellect 3 Willpower 2

Soak: 2
Wound Threshold: 12
Strain Threshold: 12
M/R Defense: 0 / 0

Skills: Computers 2, Core Worlds 1, Discipline 3, Education 1, Leadership 1, Lore 1, Mechanics 1, Medicine 1, Negotiation 3, Outer Rim 1, Perception 2, Ranged--Light 2, Resilience 1, Skulduggery 1, Streetwise 1, Survival 1, Underworld 1, Vigilance 1

Talents: Know Somebody x2, Nobody's Fool, Smooth Talker, Wheel and Deal

Abilities: Free rank in each of two skills

Equipment: Clothing, datapad, comlink, blaster pistol

Known as "the Procuress" among her associates, Mina Trevill specializes in acquiring information and materiel, and then distribruting it to Rebel operatives who need it. While this might seem less than exciting to some, she knows that many missions could not succeed without her support and guidance. For that reason, she has a no-nonsense personality most of the time, but those who grow close to her can learn of her sense of humor. Mina is a Human woman of middle age, with sparkling blue eyes and dark hair that has started to go grey.


Using the Rental Cabins in an Edge of the Empire Campaign
Many of the ways in which the cabins can be used in a campaign are detailed below.
  • If the PCs are simply looking for a place to lie low for a while, they should be comfortable here.
  • There's always the possibility that, during a visit, they accidentally discover the secret of the drop-point cabin.
  • Should the PCs be Rebel operatives, they might seek one of these locations to recover and resupply following a mission.
  • Should the Imperial authorities ever discover the drop-point, they would stage a raid.