Kilian Rangers

Far less widespread than the Jedi, the Kilian Rangers are a tradition of Force adepts from the isolated system of Kilia. This system is not on any major trade route, and no one visits it on a regular basis. In fact, the star system doesn't appear on most astrogation charts; it's in a portion of space labeled as Unknown Regions in most astrogation computers. Kilia IV, the only habitable planet in the system, is a harsh world of mountains and rocky badlands. The Kilians, humans who came to the system long ago, have no starship technology. They have settled in a lush valley between two mountain ranges, where they have built a central town with outlying farms that surround a series of keeps and castles.

Most of the Kilians lead simple lives as farmers and herders, using technology no more advanced than iron tools and oil lanterns. Only members of the noble houses have access to higher technology, and even they lack speeders, starships, and vibro weapons. Descendants of a lost colony that left the Core Worlds during one of the earlier expansion periods, the Kilians have had almost no contact with the Republic or Empire in over a thousand years.

The noble houses control the planet, serving as fuedal lords over the farmers and herders. A small band of elite warriors, the Kilian Rangers, defend the noble houses and protect the common people. Force-users raised in a tradition different form that of the Jedi, the Rangers are Force adepts of varying ability.

Potential Rangers identified as Force-sensitive by Kilian Lords around the time of puberty undergo training as Kilian Squires. Each Lord selects and trains one Squire, starting the squire as a starting Force adept (regardless of whether the character has a higher class). When the squire reaches a certain point in their training as a Forcre adept, he or she becomes a Kilian Ranger. Upon reaching a higher level, the Ranger becomes a Kilian Lord.

The Kilian Rangers defend their people from predators, outlaws, and offworld slavers and smugglers who find their way to this uncharted world. The Rangers also protect the noble houses and their charges from the Renegades, outlaws led by nobles trained as Rangers who have turned to the Dark Side of the Force and were cast out from the Kilian community. The Renegades live in the badlands beyond the lush valley, though they often make raids on the outlying farms or ambush travelers moving from one keep to another.

There are no more than five Kilian Rangers at any time, with perhaps one Lord, two Rangers, and two Squires making up the entire group. There are two Dark Rangers leading the Renegades, a Lord and a Ranger.

A few technological devices still used on Kilia are remnants of the original colony and are usually in possession of a member of a noble house, a Kilian Ranger, or Renegades (who have managed to steal some of these carefully guarded items for their own use). The Kilians have made modifications that allow them to keep these items powered and in working condition, and they take great care to keep the jury-rigged systems from crashing. They do not possess the capability to craft new technological items to replace any item that is destroyed.