Zeltros: Pleasure Planet

Part 5: The Zeltron Who Cried

The smuggler-turned-warrior Dani is one of the most well-known Zeltrons in the New Republic. An old friend of Han Solo, Dani partnered for years with the Corellian freelance lawbender Rik Duel and the Rodian Chihdo, operating on the Outer Rim planet Stenos. Dani was the first Zeltron that Luke Skywalker ever met (on a mission that took place not long after the Battle of Yavin), and her obvious attraction to the young Rebel surprised even Leia, Han, and Chewbacca, all of whom were more familiar with the species.

So strong was Dani's attraction to Skywalker that when he and Lando Calrissian later met up with the smuggler trio, she stowed away on the Millennium Falcon and accompanied the Rebels to Lahsbane. When it became apparent that Luke would not be returning her affection -- at least, not yet -- she made off with an Imperial scout craft filled to the brim with stolen treasure.

Dani went through a great many changes in the ensuing months. After rejoining her Alliance friends on Iskalon and joining the Rebels outright, she met and fell deeply in love with the Force-sensitive Iskalonian warrior Kiro. (This led Skywalker, among others, to wonder if Dani was overwhelmingly attracted to blondes, the Force, or both.)

Dani on the cover of Marvel Comics' Star Wars 106.

Unfortunately for Dani, the Iskalonian was apparently slain by the Nagai lieutenant Den Siva on Kinooine. Siva captured Dani herself and subjected her to weeks of mental torture and clinical study before she was rescued. The experience changed the Zeltron forever. No longer fun-loving or promiscuous -- not even around Luke Skywalker -- she had become driven purely by vengeance and a desire to exterminate the Nagai.

Though she lost her capacity for joy, Dani did set aside her hatred of the Nagai (and Den Siva) when the Alliance was forced to ally with the Nagai and Imperial holdouts on the Outer Rim to fight back the galaxywide invasion of the brutal Tofs. After that conflict ended, it is believed that Dani returned to Zeltros, though her exact whereabouts are unknown even to Rik Duel and Chihdo, her former partners.

Gamemaster Notes

Dani the Zeltron is unlike any of her kin during the New Republic era. A hardened warrior with a permanently broken heart, she roams the darkened cantinas and dance halls of Zeltros, whiling away her hours with spice wine and gambling.

Heroes playing in the time period after the Battle of Endor and the Tof invasion are likely to meet Dani in one of Zeltros's major spaceports. Depending on the heroes' affiliation, she might have been hired to kill them, could be interested in working with them, or might even need saving herself. The heroes also might have been hired to track Dani down for the New Republic at the behest of Master Skywalker, who carries a secret: Dani's lost love Kiro still lives on Iskalon, but he wants the rest of the galaxy to believe he's dead.

Dani: Zeltron Female Scoundrel 8/Scout 4; Init +5 (+4 Dex, +1 species bonus); Defense 20 (+6 class, +4 Dex); Spd 10 m; VP/WP 56/13; Atk +9/+4 melee (1d4, unarmed strike) or +9/+4 melee (2d4, vibrodagger) or 13/+8 ranged (3d8, heavy blaster pistol); SQ Heart +1, illicit barter, lucky (2/day), precise attack +1, species traits, trailblazing, uncanny dodge (Dex bonus to defense); SV Fort +5, Ref +12, Will +4; SZ M; FP 1; DSP 5; Rep +3; Str 11, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 19. Challenge Code D.

Equipment: Clothing, Delta-class Imperial shuttle (stolen), heavy blaster pistol, personal items, treasure stash (location unknown), vibrodagger.

Skills: Appraise +16, Balance +15, Bluff +15, Computer Use +9, Disable Device +13, Entertain (acrobatics, dance, therapeutic massage) +10, Escape Artist +9, Gather Information +7, Hide +15, Knowledge (Zeltros) +7, Move Silently +15, Pilot +11, Profession (smuggler) +9, Read/Write Basic, Search +8, Sleight of Hand +15, Speak Basic, Survival +7, Tumble +17.

Feats: Dodge, Heroic Surge, Martial Arts, Mobility, Skill Emphasis (Appraise), Skill Emphasis (Tumble), Spring Attack, Starship Operation (space transport), Stamina, Trustworthy, Weapon Group Proficiency (blaster pistols, blaster rifles, simple weapons, vibroweapons).

Quick Reaction: Zeltrons gain a +1 species bonus on initiative checks.

Empathy: Zeltrons gain a +2 species bonus on Diplomacy, Gather Information, and Sense Motive checks against a single target within 10 meters, which may change each round. Characters with 1 or more Dark Side points automatically resist if they roll a successful Will save (DC 12).

Pheromones: Zeltrons gain a +2 inherent bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Entertain, Handle Animal, and Intimidate checks against all targets within 10 meters. This does not affect targets with at least 1 Dark Side point.

Entertainer: All Zeltrons automatically gain Entertain as a class skill.

For more details on Zeltron species traits, see the Ultimate Alien Anthology.

Coming in February

Next month, swim the murky waters of the planet Manaan, which the Empire has taken over and turned into -- a resort? If you missed any of the installments on Zeltros, dig into the archive in the sidebar to the left.

How do you build a hero from a collection of classes, skills, and feats? Owen K.C. Stephens shows you how to go from concept to character in the latest installment of "Tips and Tactics!"