Forward:

By Brian Hall, GM for Military, Intelligence, Law Enforcement and Diplomacy

Welcome to the Heart of Darkness Role Playing Game! Just so you know, and so that you don’t ask later, allow me to explain a little about our wonderful game. We’re a Star Wars, Email-based game, where you don’t earn points, you don’t need dice or ICQ, and you don’t need to be ruthless to advance. The only thing you need is wit, email access and an ability to write creative, detailed and substantial replies, at least once a week. Your advancement is determined by your consistency, your originality and your believability.

In regards to cannon, continuity and story arc, our game is played in a non-interferer cannon. What this means is, we have taken a LOT of creative leeway in the Star Wars universe, poetic license to run wily-nilly across the Galaxy and create, destroy and otherwise control vast characters, planets, businesses and even the Emperor himself…this will become clear to you as you read on. The general rule of thumb is this: So long as your replies do not directly violate cannon, either by explicit or implied speech, actions or narration, it is permitted. So, Moff Tarkin could have been a drug addict, Luke Skywalker could have been claustrophobic, and Han Solo might have been dyslectic.

The Empire is a Fascist state, ruled by the Emperor Palpatine and controlled by the brutal Imperial Establishment. He has a young daughter named Raian, the Imperial “Princess” whose place is ambiguous and mother is unknown. There is a Peerage system in the Empire, which governs the appointment of Nobles, such as Lords, Dukes, Counts, Barons and even Knights. Further, there is a vast bureaucracy, whose centerpiece is the Civil Organizations controlled by Palpatine’s political party, COMPNOR (The Commission for Preservation of the New Order). Removed from COMPNOR and at the far end of the ideological spectrum is the objective, professional and merciless Imperial Intelligence. Maintaining Peace and Order throughout the Empire falls to the gargantuan Military and the myriad Law Enforcement Agencies who vie for jurisdiction and authority. And, hovering ominously above them all lies the shadowy Imperial Secret Order, whose methods are always circumspect, whose goals are always vague, but whose power is unequivocal. Coupled with internal struggles for power, corruption among the wealthy and the poor alike, failing civil service, resentful Military Officers, deadly free-lance assassins, terrorists, traitors, opportunists, criminals, scandals…

Oh, did I mention there is a civil war going on?

As you can see, our game is full of intrigue, with a decidedly Imperial flare. So, shine your boots, tuck in that shirt and straighten that cap. This isn’t the Rabble Alliance, afterall.