Come along with Planet Hoppers to take a virtual tour of the planets, moons, and other points of interest in the Star Wars galaxy. Learn about the geography, politics, creatures, and sentient beings that make these places perfect for adventure.

Planet Features

Region: Inner Rim
Climate: Arid/Jungle
Gravity: Standard
Moons: 1
Length of Day: 28 standard hours
Length of Year: 298 local days
Sapient Species: 60% Arcona (native), 40% other species
Government: Hive collective
Capital: Tylcarros
Major Exports: Chemicals, metals, minerals
Major Imports: Water

Knowledge (galactic lore)

Knowledge (social sciences)

Cona is an old world that has been part of the Galactic Republic for thousands of years. The planet is rich with minerals of all kinds, and mining is its major industry. In fact, wildcatters were the first to discover the planet and its people long ago, establishing mining interests long before Cona's inclusion in the Galactic Republic. Numerous mining companies are based on Cona or have extensive operations there. Some have been on the planet for literally a thousand years or more, the Arcona Mineral Harvest Corporation being the largest. Arcona allow this exploitation of their world for the massive shipments of water that are brought in as payment for their resources, though they are also handsomely rewarded in credits and development.

Despite the millennia of mining, the planet's crust has yet to show signs of depletion, and new mining ventures are set up every day. Competition is fierce and industrial espionage and sabotage is commonplace, meaning that there's plenty of room for adventure. The influx of miners or executives means that Cona has become much more cosmopolitan, though many other species assigned to work there consider it hazardous due to the toxic atmosphere. The planet is somewhat of a technological backwater; Arcona are content to allow others to import or develop new technology for their use.

Ecology

Cona is a harsh planet. The lack of axial tilt produces two dominant ecosystems: blazing hot deserts and dense, lush jungles. Ammonia makes up a large portion of the atmosphere, and oxygen is found primarily in the bedrock of the planet, from which it is tapped and stored by the populace. Thus, most species must wear breathing apparatus when walking around outdoors. Prolonged exposure to the atmosphere causes a slow degeneration. For every session that a non-Arcona character breathes the atmosphere without the benefit of a filter or breath mask, he moves down 1 step on the condition track. The Arcona can breathe oxygen-heavy atmospheres without harm.

The ammonia jungles are filled with bizarre species of plants and animals. Water is a precious commodity on Cona, worth its weight in credits. Most of the water is found within the plant life, and huge farms exist on the fringes of cities where the water is extracted and placed into holding tanks.

New Species: Arcona

Arcona are a scaleless reptilian species that hails from the ammonia-rich planet of Cona. Despite their enormous green eyes, Arcona have poor eyesight because of the dense atmosphere of their homeworld. They use their tongues to taste the air. Arcona live in hives and have a drastically reduced sense of individuality; they commonly refer to themselves as "we." Arcona have a biological flaw that makes them susceptible to becoming addicted to common salt. Too much of that substance can cause hallucinations and craving and turn their eyes from green to gold.

Arcona Species Traits

Arcona share the following species traits.

Ability Modifiers: –2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma. Arcona aren't as perceptive as many other beings, but they are known for their ability to socially adapt to life in the galaxy at large.

Size: Medium

Great Fortitude: Arcona gain a +2 species bonus to their Fortitude Defense. Arcona have adapted to the harsh environment of Cona and can convert many different toxins into harmless chemicals.

Scent: Arcona have keen senses of smell. At close range (within 10 squares), they ignore concealment and cover for the purposes of Perception checks, and they take no penalty from poor visibility when tracking (see the Survival skill on page 73 of the Saga Edition Core Rulebook).

Languages: Arconese, Basic

Adventure Seeds

Here are some ways to incorporate Cona into your adventures.

Although the laws that prevent salt from being smuggled into the system are some of the harshest in the galaxy, some still try it, and they come up with creative ways to get the stuff through customs. The heroes are asked by a patron to pilot a ship to Cona for a particular errand. Once there, technicians (working for local smugglers) begin removing panels within the ship, revealing a secret stash of salt. A particularly greedy Arcona trade official then blackmails the heroes -- bring more salt, or he'll reveal the smuggling operation and implicate the heroes and their patron.

Nemlor Minerals, a small upstart mining company, has received a lucrative lease from the Cona government for exploratory digging deep in one of the untouched jungles. When workers go missing, the heroes are brought in to investigate. The jungles are full of dangerous fauna, but another mining company recently set up shop nearby, so the heroes have a lot of ground to cover to discover the truth.

Myths persist of a species called the Duinuogwuin, otherwise known as Star Dragons. This enigmatic species has been seen on other planets and even in the cold vacuum of space. A wealthy and eccentric Arcona has set up a safari into the depths of the jungle to hunt for evidence of the Star Dragons, taking the heroes along as guides and protection. Although the hunt eventually becomes fruitless, the Arcona insists that they continue, making more and more demands and requiring the heroes to take more dangerous risks.

About the Author

Eric Cagle cut his teeth at Wizards of the Coast but now lives the extravagant freelancer lifestyle. Look for his name on everything from Dungeons & Dragons to d20 Modern to Star Wars products. Recent credits include the Grimm roleplaying game, Tome of Salvation, and Hollow Earth Expedition. Eric is currently the Managing Editor for No Quarter Magazine. He lives in Seattle, where the coffee is dark and bitter -- like his goddesses.

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