Black Sun by Era

*Reference: Star Wars Saga Edition Scum and Villainy*

*Affiliation Page: Black Sun*

The Black Sun crime syndicate is one of the foremost criminal organizations in the galaxy. Black Sun has its hands in nearly every possible criminal venture, from petty theft to assassination, all arranged to bring more power and wealth to the crime syndicate. Black Sun is one of the most iconic criminal organizations in the *Star Wars* saga, and the organization reached such heights of power at differnet points in its history.

## Black Sun in The Dark Times

*Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Force Unleashed Campaign Guide*

Though The Hutt Kajidics are among the most famous criminals in the galaxy, the Black Sun crime syndicate is likely the single most widespread underworld group, stretching from The Core Worlds all the way to The Outer Rim. The Black Sun crime syndicate is full of assassins, murderers, and other sadistic criminals out to make a profit from their illegal activities. Black Sun, whose center of operations is on the city planet of Coruscant, operates in partial secrecy. Many on the fringes of society know the name Black Sun, but most law-abiding citizens have never heard of the group. Most Black Sun members do not advertise their allegiance (they wear no distinctive markings, at least not outwardly) and deny any links to the crime syndicate if they are captured and questioned by the police.

Black Sun operates primarily in busy, cosmopolitan areas where a large number of people are available to be exploited. Whereas The Hutt Kajidics spend time on remote, Outer Rim worlds, most Black Sun agents tend to focus their efforts on planets that have both a high population and a high crime rate. This strategy makes it easier for Black Sun agents to blend in with other criminals (thus avoiding drawing attention to the syndicate) and also provides an ample breeding ground for potential organization members. Working on highly developed worlds also ensures a higher payoff and provides more options for syndicate members seeking to find an arena to dabble their dirty fingers in.

Black Sun operates in a variety of criminal fields. Each Vigo (high-ranking member) typically specializes in a particular crime or vice; for example, one Vigo might specialize in extortion, and thus would be in charge of a massive protection ring on Coruscant. Another might be a former assassin, and as such would be put in charge of the syndicate's band of galaxy-roaming professional killers. Black Sun agents deal in everything from confidence scams, gambling rings, and extortion rackets to high-level thievery, corporate espionage, and terrorism. For the right price, Black Sun is willing and able to perform almost any task outside the law.

Black Sun is highly capable and equally ruthless. Crossing a Black Sun agent is a good way to ensure than misfortune will come your way. Crossing a high-ranking operative usually earns the offender a one-way ticket to a block of carbonite at the bottom of a Mon Calamari ocean. Black Sun is also willing to take out its own members when they displease the Vigos or the underlord. Many well-known criminals have been found dead as the result of infighting between members of the Black Sun crime syndicate.

#### **Roleplaying Applications**

Playing a member of Black Sun, especially in a heroic party, can present a number of challenges. Though Black Sun agents are often called upon to perform illegal and unethical actions, desperate times often call for desperate measures. The Black Sun syndicate feels the pressure of the Empire just as anyone else does, and a Black Sun character might ally himself with a group of heroes in the hope of dealing enough damage to the Empire to weaken its grasp on the galaxy. Black Sun agents also mix well with smugglers, bounty hunters, and anyone else who isn't afraid to shoot first and scoop up the credits later.

Black Sun agents usually find a mix of the Scoundrel and Noble Heroic Classes to be the most effective. The **Wealth** Talent can represent the money a Black Sun agent makes from their misdeeds (many of which occur "offscreen" and during downtime), providing the character with some tangible rewards for their crimes. Similarly, Black Sun agents who are interested in rising through the crime syndicate's ranks will quickly find that the Crime Lord Prestige Class is a great way to obtain enough minions and a reputation for violence to challenge any superior in the organization, even the underlord himself.

## Black Sun in The Rebellion Era

*Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Rebellion Era Campaign Guide*

Black Sun is a galaxywide criminal organization on par with The Hutt Kajidics. Although heavy operators within fringe society know the organization well, the public does not. Law-enforcement agencies know of its existence, but might be unaware of connections between local criminals and Black Sun or even of highly active segments of the Black Sun organization within their jurisdictions.

Prior to the Clone Wars and the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo, Black Sun is dealt a severe blow when Darth Maul eliminates the entire top leadership, fulfilling Darth Sidious's plan to diminish the organization's power. Black Sun spends the following decades rebuilding. By The Rebellion Era, Black Sun is a supremely powerful and shadowy organization under the secret leadership of the Falleen Prince Xizor. Xizor even gains the notice of the Emperor, which he uses to promote his own goals, such as the destruction of The Bounty Hunters' Guild.

Black Sun is vulnerable because of Prince Xizor's personal vendetta against Darth Vader and ambitions to replace the dark lord. Upon learning that Luke Skywalker is Vader's son, Xizor attempts to have Luke assassinated, hoping to diminish Vader in the eyes of the Emperor. Ultimately, the plan backfires as the prince vastly underestimates the heroes of Yavin, who destroy his Coruscant castle and escape his grasp. Vader learns of the assassination plot and confronts Xizor from the bridge of The *Executioner*, demanding his immediate surrender. When the prince fails to do so, Vader destroys Xizor's skyhook, killing everyone on board. The loss of Xizor decimates Black Sun in the months prior to the Battle of Endor, sparking an internal power struggle that lasts for several years.

## Black Sun in The Legacy Era

*Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Legacy Era Campaign Guide*

The legendary criminal syndicate Black Sun reinvented itself many times over the centuries. For such a powerful criminal empire, Black Sun manages to remain relatively obscure, despite its extensive reach. Throughout most of its history, Black Sun's secrecy has been integral to its success. However, these days, secrecy is not always of prime concern to some of its leaders. In some Outer Rim systems and other isolated areas, the syndicate openly displays its logo on ships and vehicles, largely in an effort to intimidate rivals and victims.

Black Sun's internal structure remains virtually unchanged from previous eras. Powerful crime lords, called Vigos, run the organization in groups largely divided by region or sector. Each Vigo controls the syndicate's criminal activities in his or her designated territory. However, Vigos in The Legacy Era act with far more autonomy than the Vigos of previous eras. They engage in their own schemes, which range from petty extortion to massive fraud against the major governments and extensive smuggling operations between the warring Empires. However, as in the past, the exact reach or extent of resources available to the syndicate is extremely difficult to determine, even by the Vigos themselves, who get along just well enough to benefit from their association.

Black Sun's resources include fleets of gunships, squadrons of Starfighters, flights of Speeder Bikes, and the occasional larger warship. The Vigos have influential agents, capable pilots, and considerable muscle at their disposal. The organization's influence extends into much of the underworld and a fair number of planetary governments, though Black Sun's stranglehold over key worlds has been temporarily diminished by the resurgent Sith Empire.