Raid on the Iziz Royal Palace

"Here is your chance to prove the power of your promises, Jedi&hellip;will you help us now, to defend our city? " " Yes&mdash;we'd be honored!"

- Queen Amanoa and Ulic Qel-Droma, as the Beast Riders storm the Royal Palace

The raid on the Royal Palace of Iziz took place in 4,000 BBY, when the Beast Riders of Onderon's wilderness, led by Beast Lord Oron Kira, assaulted the Iziz Royal Palace and abducted Galia, Princess of Onderon.

The raid commenced shortly after Jedi Knights Ulic Qel-Droma, his younger brother Cay, and Tott Doneeta, who, on their first mission as Jedi, were sent to the planet Onderon to facilitate peace negotiations between the Beast Riders of the planet's wilderness, and the citizens of the great walled city of Iziz. Upon arrival in their starship the Nebulon Ranger, they were greeted with turbo blaster fire before they could even land, courtesy of several Beast Riders who had trailed them towards the city. Assistance, however, came in the form of support from the Iziz defense towers, who covered the Jedi's landing, and repelled the pursuant Riders with their own turbolaser bombardment. The Jedi successfully landed at the Iziz Starport where they were greeted by the royal advisor Novar, who in turn brought them before Queen Amanoa, ruler of Iziz. The Queen also introduced the Jedi to her her daughter, Princess Galia.

As Ulic Qel-Droma stepped forward to offer the protection of both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order to the Queen, they were interrupted by the very same Beast Riders from before, who this time had managed to penetrate the city wall's defenses and breach the palace as well. Several warbeasts and their Riders overtook the throneroom as Amanoa's Royal Protectors ushered her and Galia to safety, while the Jedi met the intruders in combat. Two of the warriors, special Beast Warrior Commandos, slipped passed the Jedi and followed after the Queen's entourage, managing to defeat the Royal Protectors and successfully abduct Galia. Amanoa was lightly stunned in the commotion, and when the Jedi came to her aid, she immediately denounced them. In the face of their obvious failure to protect Galia, the Queen demanded that Ulic Qel-Droma have the Princess returned to her&mdash;at once.

Trial of diplomacy
"The Onderonians have asked for help in ending their centuries-long state of war. They will want you to fight, but remember&hellip;the Jedi bring peace. Use your weapons as a last resort."

- Arca Jeth



For four hundred years, Onderon, an Inner Rim planet in a star system of the same name, had been embroiled in a worldwide civil conflict known as the Beast Wars. By the year 4,000 BBY, the people of the lone established city of Iziz, realized that their protracted war with the Beast Riders of the planet's wilderness, was beyond their capability of winning. Thus, the ruler of Iziz, Queen Amanoa, enlisted the assistance of the Galactic Republic. The Republic, in turn, requested intervention on their behalf from the Jedi Order.

The Jedi once again enacted their mandate as guardians of the Republic, and bestowed upon one of their own, Jedi Master Arca Jeth, the responsibility of watchman duties of the Onderon system. Jeth was tasked with bringing about a peaceful resolution to the civil stryfe on the backwater world. While at his training praxeum on his homeworld of Arkania, Jeth decided that a diplomatic mission would be an ideal test of knighthood for his three apprentices. He told them the history of Onderon and its people, explaining how civilization evolved in the form of a single walled city. He spoke further of how the criminals of that city were exiled as punishment, left to be devoured by the beasts beyond the city's walls. Over time, the exiles learned to subdue and tame the wild creatures, and formed their own society centered around the flying animals. These "Beast Riders" then began a campaign of war, seeking revenge against the city-dwellers for their centuries of exile.

In his stead, Master Jeth sent brothers Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma, and the Twi'lek Tott Doneeta to Onderon, to negotiate peace between the warring peoples. Naming Ulic Qel-Droma as his chargeman, Jeth explicitly told him to avoid inciting a war by any means. He did, however, give permission for his apprentices to engage in battle if and only if all other options became exhausted. Leaving with his Master's blessing, Qel-Droma joined his brother Cay, and Tott Doneeta onboard the Nebulon Ranger, and left straightaway for Onderon.

A warm reception
"I've got a visual sighting, Ulic. Those aren't birds&mdash;they're Beast Riders, armed with&mdash; " " &mdash;Heavy blasters?! Beginning evasive maneuvers !"

- Tott Doneeta and Ulic Qel-Droma, upon entering the Onderonian atmosphere

When the Nebulon Ranger' entered the skies of Onderon, it was immediately set upon by what seemed to be a flock of giant birds flying in their path. After closer scrutiny, Tott Doneeta realized that they were not birds at all&mdash;rather, Beast Riders, who were determined to prevent the Jedi from reaching Iziz. The Ranger's deflector shields took a pounding, courtesy of the blaster fire provided by the flying warriors. Out of fear of being overtaken by the Beast Riders, Cay Qel-Droma commed the city of Iziz, informing them of their dire need for assistance. Iziz responded by unleashing the full wrath of their network of defense towers, retaliatng with their own bombardment of turbolaser fire. The Beast Riders ceased their attack in the face of the defense tower's superior firepower. The Jedi then landed safely at the Royal starport, and were quickly ushered into the Queen's presence.

Attack on the Palace
"Beast Riders! " " Guards! Defend us! " " By the Twi'lek goddess! They're the same bunch that swarmed the Ranger!"

- Ulic Qel-Droma, Amanoa, and Tott Doneeta, as Beast Riders crash through the throneroom window



As they were being introduced to her royal Majesty by her servant Novar, the Queen remarked at her disappointment that lowly Jedi youths were sent to her aid, in lieu of an seasoned Jedi Master. Nevertheless, she entertained them, acquainting them with her daughter Galia, and explaining the blight she felt the Beast Riders represented to the stability of peace in Iziz. In an attempt to win the favor of the Queen, Ulic Qel-Droma stepped forward and addressed her, inviting her to join the Galactic Republic and enjoy the benefits of Jedi stewardship. Barely moved by this proposal, Amanoa voiced her apprehension in the Jedi's ability to bring about peace. She spoke of a suspected Beast Rider plot to destabilize the city government from within, evidenced by reports of information being secretly trafficked in and out of Iziz. She further speculated that proof of this was manifested when the Beast Riders attacked the Jedi upon their initial appearance in Onderonian skies, verifying that they had prior knowledge of the Jedi's arrival. Her assumptions were cut short, however, when she was interrupted by a comlink transmission from the perimeter defenses.

Sounds of blaster fire could be heard in the background as Novar answered the comlink from the defense towers. He was informed by their operators that the Beast Riders had overtaken the northern wall, and were en route to swarm the palace. The transmission was interrupted by the sight and sound of shattered transparisteel as the same Riders who earlier attempted to waylay the Jedi, crashed into the throneroom. The Queen and her daughter were immediately surrounded by the Royal Protectors, who were determined to defend them at all costs. At Amanoa's behest, the Jedi ignited their lightsabers, and took the battle directly to the intruders. What began as a mission of peaceful negotiations was quickly transforing into the very battle that Arca Jeth had sent his apprentices to prevent.

Galia's abduction
"You Beast Riders have killed her! " " Don't worry Princess, she's only lightly stunned&hellip;she'll come around in a few seconds. Now, let's go. You're coming with us!"

- Princess Galia and Oron Kira, at the moment of her apprehension



The Beast Riders overwhelmed the throneroom just as they had done the northern wall, confounding their enemies with the aggression of both weaponfire, and the tooth and claw of their warbeasts. The Jedi were not so easily overcome by the assault, however, as they repelled the incoming blaster shots with their lightsabers, and slayed several of the beasts, as well as their Riders. While the Jedi were preoccupied with combatting their adversaries, two of the Riders&mdash;elite Beast Warrior Commandos&mdash;disembarked from their mounts, and left the melee in pursuit of the Queen. They caught up with Amanoa's Royal Protectors, who had safely secured the Queen and her daughter, and were now focused on preventing the intruders from advancing any further. The Commandos, who were actually Beast-Lord Oron Kira and his second-in-command Gobee, easily dispatched the Protectors, and stormed the room where the Queen and her daughter were sequestered.

Kira and Gobee made short work of the remaining guards as they burst through the doors and confronted Amanoa, who in a moment of despair, attempted to invoke the spirit of a deceased Sith Lord named Freedon Nadd. When her attempt brought forth no results, Gobee stunned the bewildered Queen with his blaster. Oron Kira then took the Princess into custody, and the two Beast Riders left the Palace, making haste their exit.

Aftermath
"Ulic Qel-Droma&mdash;is this my reward for asking you to help our beleagured city&mdash;the loss of my daughter?! I demand, in the name of the Republic, that you go after the kidnappers and bring her back!"

- Queen Amanoa



Amanoa was gathering her bearings just as Tott Doneeta and Cay Qel-Droma arrived. When she saw the Jedi, she immediately cursed them, blaming them for failing to protect both she and her daughter. When they inquired as to Galia's whereabouts, the Queen sobbed that she had been spirited way by the Beast Riders. Ulic Qel-Droma arrived at that same moment with proud stories of how the Riders he had engaged in battle met their demise, but was quickly silenced by the sight a distressed Amanoa. As foremost of the Jedi liaisons, she held Ulic personally responsible for the events as they had transpired. She then demanded that the Jedi leave her in search of the Princess, not to return until Galia was safely with them.

Eager for a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the Queen, Ulic Qel-Droma readily accepted this new mission of recovering the Princess. However, he was stopped short by his brother, who had serious reservations about continuing any further. To Cay, the events had already spiraled far out of their control. Tott Doneeta agreed, suggesting that they report the situation to Master Jeth before proceeding. Ulic, however, was unwilling to admit his failure to his Master, instead telling his companions that now was the time to prove themselves in Jeth's eyes. He then faced the Queen, and vowed that they would not return until Galia had been safely rescued. The Jedi left the Palace for the wilderness of Onderon, as Amanoa sat pleased, laughing ominously at the young, novice Jedi, awaiting their return.

Behind the scenes
The raid on the Iziz Royal Palace was conceived and written by author Tom Veitch, and first appeared in the Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon' story arc of the Tales of the Jedi series of comics. Though mentioned earlier on in the comic, this is where the reader first gets to see the Beast Riders in action. The story was later given new life, when an full-cast audio drama rendition of Tales of the Jedi was released. Veitch used this event as part of an introduction to a whole new cast of characters, and to tell the story of the lives of Jedi Knights, four thousand years before Luke Skywalker's time. Veitch also used as the first official mission of his new characters Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma, and Tott Doneeta.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi: Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon
 * Tales of the Jedi (audio)