Another Start Another Life (Anakin Quest)

Another start, another life (Anakin Quest) Reboot

Once your life was set. You, like your mother was a slave under the threefold sun of Tatooine. You would work for Watoo the mechanic, and any other master he would sell you too. You dreamed of freedom and you had the skills to perhaps achieve it. Your hands and your brain are quick and building a scanner to know where the bombs implanted in you are set was difficult but not impossible. You thought your life was set. You would work by day and try to gain freedom at night for you remembered that you were meant to be free. That everyone is meant to be free. Things changed though. Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn happened to meet you and see in you the potential to join the Order, or perhaps something more. He won you in a bet as Watoo had won both you and your mother long ago and you sailed with him the sea of stars to Corusant and Naboo. You thought you would become one of the Jedi Knights under his tutelage Now he is dead, burnt to ashes in the pyre the Jedi made for their brother. A loss marring the victory you helped to achieve by chance.

Your name is Anakin. In the tongue of your people (the slaves because the Hutts, depurs all of them, are not your people), your name means he who will bring the rain and the reckoning of all masters. You are a child of the desert, born of no father, not an unusual situation among the slaves. Your name is Skywalker, Ekkreth in the tongue of your people, the trickster, the shapeshifter, «The Slave who Makes Free». Many are their stories and many are their struggles. In truth, you never did feel very close to your namesake. Ekkreth's way are the tricks and the jokes and subtlety. You don't want to humiliate the masters. In your heart you would kill them, a knowledge born from your toil under Watoo and the realization he was one of the mildest bosses on the planet. Your mother smiled sadly when you told her you would rather be Brightstar and descend over the depurs and their lackeys on wings of flame. She asked you then if you would kill their families too and in your heart you knew you would. Mercy is wasted on the unmerciful and, like when you repair a droid, you would see the problem solved fully and without compromise.

You pace around in one of the Naboo Royal Palace's hallways. Beyond the doors you know Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon's student, is making his report. You don't know what will happen to you. The Jedi did not want you, even if Obi-Wan told you he would leave the Order to train you. Perhaps it would not be so bad. You would stay a time with the Naboo. Their queen is mighty, beautiful and amazing and perfect and staying with her would be nice. You could learn what Watoo didn't teach you and with your skill you will return with Tatooine with a present for your mother, your people, your masters. What's your mother doing anyway? You're sure she is not crying. Slaves learn to not look back and even now you feel guilty disobeying her. You look back and forwards in a way that never ends well. Many returned to chains and death to save parents and friends they should have left behind. Still you look back to the house in the Quarters, to the smell of her cooking, to the sound of her stories. You imagine her future, grey-robed, surrounded by a smattering of children. You imagine her future but not long because, as you do, you feel ice grips your heart.

«In turmoil are you, young Skywalker?» You snap at attention at the sound. You didn't notice the gates opening on Obi-Wan and the small furry creature called Yoda. You don't know how to feel about him. You sense his power. The world sings his presence, calmy but surely, it surrounds you with a warmth different from the sun's radiance. You fear to lay down your barriers, to really accept to be comfortable in this cloud for you know you wouldn't emerge unchanged.

«No Master Yoda. I'm good». Your voice belies your world, shaking with stress and the cold you never escaped since Tatooine.

«Your master I am not your Skywalker. Your owner I am not and no power I have over you or anyone. Master they call me because I mastered myself but a servant of the Force I remain. Elder you can call me, teacher perhaps, old decrepit goblin if you dare.» Obi-Wan's face cracks in an involontary smile ar the tirade. Apparently he thought to call the Grandmaster of the Order that at least once, or heard it. Yoda continues without noticing: «Free you are, free you were, free you always will be. Your masters the true slave they are, chained to greed, desire and hatred, tied to the flesh that will die and not the eternal.»

That's a bit naïve to say the least but you understand the feeling for after all the children of the Mother remember they are meant to be free. You relax a bit while the elder Jedi speaks softly: «A decision we have come to. Young Obi-Wan train you will not.» He rises a paw to still the storm inside you. «Not good for a Knight to take an apprentice so soon it is. Trained in the ways of the Jedi you will be. A true master you will have.»

Master (choose 1)
[] Yoda continues: «Your teacher young Skywalker I will be.» As you look dumbfounded on the old Jedi you can look down you see him smile. It's not the smile of a grandfather but rather the mischievous smile Kister had when plotting a trick. Still you don't see what the little green... You repress a scream as the cane gently hits your leg. «Judging me by my size you were. Size matters not and that you will learn. To at least fake listening to old people you also will learn. Important a skill it is.»

[] The black man who tested you with the rest of the Council pass the door. You straighten yourself when he locks gazes with you. For a moment you fear him but as he feels it his demeanor changes. He smiles and you understand without understanding he is fair as he is stern. « I have heard on what you did to the Trade Federation command ship. Even a trained pilot would have struggled to do so.» As you blush from the compliment he continues. «I am Mace Windu and I will be your teacher.»

[] You shudder as a woman appears where you saw nothing once. Yoda looks at her in mild disapproval, which she ignores with the grace born from long habit. She is young but her hair are white. You wouldn't dream call her motherly in any way but she doesn't seems evil, just hard. You have a very bad feeling about what her teaching style will involve but then she smiles and you have the vision of her kneeling above a plant and gently making it bloom and flower. "I am the Dark Woman," she says with a smile, "and I will be your teacher."

[] An old woman approaches and seeing her, even with formal robes, you are reminded of the Grandmother of your quarter, wise woman and storyteller and survivor. Like with Yoda, a part of you longs to sit by her side and listen. She is old but spry and she smiles at you. « Hello Anakin. My name is Jocasta Nu. I keep the Archives of the Jedi.» So yes she is a Grandmother. «I will be your teacher.» You look at Yoda for a moment and you have the feeling you are not primed for a normal apprenticeship with this one, and you don't know why.

[] A man comes into the room, robed in black and grey. His hair is short and greying and his smile is knowing. You see secrets in this face, shadows without evil. He kneels before you with a smile as summer but you see his eyes spy the corners of the room. "Hello Anakin." he says with the tone of the father you never knew. "I am Tholme the Watchman". You don't understand the term but the same flashes that saved your life on the podracer track whisper spy to your heart. "I will be your teacher."

[] A man enters the room, bowing to Yoda while Obi-Wan reflexively bows to him. He is going gray but not there completely with a short beard and an aristocratic style. On one hand you don't like him very much. He walks like one of the masters confident and self-assured. You think he wouldn't like the stories about Ekreth very much. Still he kneels and looks at you in the eyes and you feel his grief touching yours. : «I am Dooku. I was Qui Gon's master and I will be yours» His tone brooks no refusal but you are more interested in the curved hilt of his lightsaber than anything else. So some notes to prevent misunderstandings.

Yeah I know, another reboot, sue me. I still am drawn to the idea as having potential.

If you choose Dooku you butterfly away his fall and apprenticeship under Sidious. He is prideful and cold but he won't be evil
Jocasta doesn't do fiedlwork anymore so most of at least the early stages of your apprenticeship will happen in the Temple itself. It has obvious flaws but also powerful advantages as Jocasta is highly regarded by the people there. Also if you want access to esoteric knowledge it's the only way.

Note: Tatooine Slave Culture (where Ekkreth, comes from) is from Fialleril (feel free to check their Double Agent Vader series).

Mechanics
So let's take mechanics.

This quest will be using the Fate system or at least a simplified version of it. The core of the system are Aspects. Aspects are things, relationships and conditions who are narratively important. They can be anything: Being a Jedi is an Aspect, having a short temper is an Aspect, being able to hide one's presence from the Force is an Aspect if it's a core definition of your character (Hi Sidious). Basically, Aspects are how you would describe the character in one sentence.

To give examples from canon Star Wars, Darth Vader could have the Aspect: I am more machine than man, Maul: I hate Obi Wan Kenobi, Leia: My thoughts cannot be read. Still Aspects are a double-edged thing in most cases and relate to Fate points. You have a pool of Fate points and you can use them to impose Aspects on a situation. Darth Vader by instance could use "I am more machine than man" to continue to fight while his hand is chopped off as after all he doesn't feel pain from the loss. Aspects can also be compelled, which enable me to force you to either spend a Fate Point or choose a course of action. By instance I could impose on Darth Vader's player to either accept to be deactivated by an EMP for a time, or spend a Fate point to power through using the Dark Side.

Anakin has two preset Aspects: Former Slave reflecting his upbringing in Tatooine which has advantages (speak four languages, is a better mechanic at 9 than most adults…) but also flaws (has holes in his knowledge, is triggered by the sight of slaves, refuses to deal peacefully with slavers). Prodigal Podracer reflecting his piloting skills which again has clear advantages (very good pilot, minor fame in the Outer Rim) and flaws (refuses orders in the air, thinks he is the best). Another Aspect is what you are voting on: Your Teacher.

Skills are rather simple, they represent what your character can do. They are rated from 0 to +8. When you roll a skill you use fudge dice (with three faces +, ,-) so you if you roll for a skill where you have 0 you can have a result between -4 (absolutely terrible) to +4 (great). You can notice that means that if you have a skill at 5 you will succeed at least a little most of the time. I'm basing my skill list on the Star Wars Fate edition (https://libskia.so/pub/Star-Wars-Fate-Edition.pdf)

Anakin will begin with
Mechanics (+4): The guy built a protocol droid from scratch after all
Piloting (+3): Luck is pretty good and practice will make it perfect
Athletics (+3): Pretty dextrous
Notice (+2): Good instincts
Fight (+2): Growing up in Mos Espa + basic training by your master
Blast (+2): You know how to shoot

Last we will have Stunts who are skills who are more specific. By instance your Force skill will cover most usage of the Force but you can develop other abilities. Qunlan Vos can use Psychometry to divine what items were used for. Oppo Rancisis know Battle Meditation which enables him to use his social Skills to influence battles and so on and so on.

The Force
In previous iterations of this quest I treated the Force as a skill but it strikes me as rather un-Star Wars. So the Force is something that will be used to fluff your skills. There is no difference between the mundane and the esoteric where augmentation is concerned. As Force-sensitive you can be stronger, faster and more enduring than anybody you know.

Now there are going to be Stunts and Aspects covering Force techniques. I tend to reason by area of studies (Telekinesis, Perception, Stealth, Healing and the like). Discrete powers exist but are found mostly in Dark Side traditions like Sith Sorcery.

Anakin Skywalker
Aspects
Former Slave: You grew up on Tatooine, nourished by the three suns under the yoke of Watoo. A talent with mechanics you learned all he had to teach you which was mostly practical knowledge. In the Slave Quarters of Mos Espa you learned three tongues spoken across the stars: Basic, Rhyl and Hutttese, as well as Amatakka the tongue of the mother, the secret and sacred language of the slaves. Yet this upbrigning had more flaws than merits. While you were learning the skills of your trade you weren't taught in many subjects younglings at the Temple find basic. You have also a slight problem with authority as direct orders in a certain tone remind you of Watoo and cause you to lash in insolence. This Aspect will be used to compel you in situation where your lack of theoretical knowledge, or background is a disadvantage. You can invoke it to benefit from your supernatural mechanic skill and your familiarity with the Outer Rim. It can also be used to recognize members of the Tatooine diaspora (and compel you to care for them)

Prodigal Podracer: Your skill with the Force expresses itself in a talent for flying and you proved your worth both in the Boonta's Eve and in the Battle of Naboo. When you are in space you precognitive skills are increased and few can duel you in the air. You are sure you could hit a two-meters exhaust port without breaking much of a sweat. Yet your chance has made you cocky and fearless. Obeying orders in the air is a shore, especially when you consider nearly everyone less skilled than you. This Aspect will be used to compel you to acts of daring in space and vehicles in what will be known as the Anakin driving style. You can invoke it for your own fearless acts of piloting

Padawan of Dooku: You are the learner of Dooku of Sereeno, an aristocratic Jedi who was the master of Qui Gon Jin. Dooku is one of the foremost blademaster and telekinesis specialist of the order and is devoted to the core Jedi skills. A natural authority the Jedi master is well respected in and outside the Order. Just like his former student he is known to twist the Council's regulations from time to time for he is sure of the right of his opinions. Dooku's training style is harsh and demanding, centered on lightstaber practice. Unlike other teachers you will find the aristocratic swordsman doesn't tolerate disobedience to his own direct orders and is charismatic enough to make you rethink even the most natural rebellion. He is also versed in classical history and many of his lessons regard the wars gone by and the artifacts of the Dark Side. This Aspect will be compelled to make you obey to Dooku's orders or act according to his standards. You can invoke it to reflect your special training in lightsaber duel, classical history and even forbidden knowledge.

Artist of the Machines : You are far from a mundane mechanic. You built a protocol droid out of scraps and made good progress on a scanner to discover your slave-chip's location. Metal sings to you and answers your commands. Yet the same impulse who makes you yearn for freedom opens your eyes to the plight of the droids. They are people too and should be free. Such talent is not unprecedented in the Jedi Order but is still difficult in a galaxy where droids are property and an Order focused on spirit rather than matter.This Aspect can be invoked to help interface with machinery, allows you to feel droids in way other Jedi cannot and allows you to craft nearly anything given enough time. It can compel you to intervene to protect droid sentience, make you an enemy of those who use them or damage your reputation due to droid rights positions.

Child of the Mother: You are Anakin Ekkreth of Tatooine, you were a slave and even if you are free, you remain a child of the three suns. You know of your destiny. Your mother told you as she walked into the desert sent by her master Gardulla, she heard the voice of Ar-Amu in the storm asking if she accepted to bear the storm and the reckoning of the masters. She accepted and when she returned to her master's side she was pregnant without having known a man. You are fully intent of realizing your destiny and take your place among the prophets of your people. You have several ideas to do that, going from the impractical and certainly not allowed by the Jedi to the devious. For the moment you continue in your ambition of creating a scanner to see where the transmitters bombs are hidden in their flesh. To create something that can be efficient, easily hidden and crafted by slaves is difficult but you will manage, there is no other options. This Aspect will be used to compel you to turn your mind into Tatooine and the plight of slaves. You can invoke when doing things dedicated to the end of slavery or links with the Tatooine diaspora.
Skills:
Mechanics (+4): The guy built a protocol droid from scratch after all
Piloting (+3): Luck is pretty good and practice will make it perfect
Athletics (+3): Pretty dextrous
Notice (+2): Good instincts
Fight (+2): Growing up in Mos Espa + basic training by your master
Blast (+2): You know how to shoot
Fate Points : 3