I was laying in bed thinking about a DS9 episode I hadn't seen in years: "House of Quark" where Quark accidently kills a drunken Klingon who stumbles and falls on him. Since no one wants to admit to such a ignoble death for a noble warrior Quark is credited with killing him in single combat and is forced to marry his widow. the rest of the episode is Quark the fish out of water trying to survive putting the dead Klingon's affairs in order- kind of predictable but entertaining none the less. Every so often I go to you tube and track down the Quark montage video set to the song "Master of the House" just for fun.<br /><br />To the point: every long running SF campaign MUST have a Yazerian NPC so that, when the GM needs a short diverting episode, he can kill off the NPC (gloriously of course and probably saving the one or more PCs, just make sure there is enough raw damage that a freeze field or any other life saving measure is in vain). The Dead Yaz's will names one of the PCs (preferrably a Dralasite) as the Executor/Executrix of the will. Forcing them to make a journey to his home planet to manage the disposition of his estate.<br /><br /><b>Cast of characters involved:</b><br />1. Jealous half brother with anger issues<br />2. aged and inscrutable family matriarch<br />3. sexy vamp of a sister who's only skill set is her feminine whiles but she usually gets her way with just that<br />4. the religious uncle who is a priest in the Family of One<br />5. The dead Yaz's favorite cousin who is a "good guy" but not much appreciated by the family<br /><br /><b>Objectives for the PC's </b><br />1. recover/find the dead yaz's long lost "honor zamira" that was lost in difficult circumstances and the dictates of honor prevented him from replacing it.<br />2. Negotiate a truce among almost warring parties in the family<br />3. bribes/threats for the PCs to ensure that person x is designated the heir<br />3. read the will and than protect the heir from assassination<br /><br /><b>Reasons the PC was running around the galaxy while he had an estate to manage:</b><br />1. His dad died suddenly and he never had time to return home to claim it<br />2. his dad died long ago and while the dead yaz was being a n'er do well running off having adventures another family member has been overseeing it, overbearing mother, coniving uncle, manipulative sister (NOte; the family member whos been acting as regent will not appreciate the PCs coming in and rocking the boat and upsetting the power they have long enjoyed- unless of course they would like to negotiate a little fee to ensure that this person remains in charge?)<br /><br /><b>Twist:</b> I have a yaz priest (not of the Family of One) NPC and since I was going to write into the story the advent of mentalist power for the player who wanted that I was going to give them to the yaz as well. The twist is the whole transcedent after death jedi thing with jedi style apparitions showing up at crucial junctures "Use the battle rage Luke!"<br />My Priest would die using his martial arts skill to bat down a tossed charge of T19 and then grapple with two bad guys, thus tying them up while yelling to the PCs to duck. the charge of T19 is quite large and outright kills the mooks but the yaz's body is not found. Latter he will speak to one PC in a dream giving him information on the lost artifact zamira that has been handed down within the family for generations so they can recover it.<br />Further during an intense role play negotiation when it seems the PCs should just slit their own throats as get this fueding family to listen to them. the apparition of the dead yaz shows up and says of the executor, "This is my beloved friend, whom I have chosen, hear ye him." then vanishes. This will cause an initial uproar with the religious uncle going off about demons and storming out. more of the family will be inclined to listen afterward though.<br /><br /><br />
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