Competition: [LOREFEST] August 2025

Finished
[LOREFEST] August 2025

Sitrep

LOREFEST is a Voice-sponsored fiction competition that awards bonus Clusters of Ice and First Level Crescents.

The topic for the month of August is Heavy is the Crown. Unexpectedly, you have found yourself as the incoming leader. This can be for a planet, a system, a clan, a gang, etc. The manner of how you got into this position is up to you. For example, it could be a mistake from an election, or you were unknowingly in line for the throne.

How does your character handle this transition, what changes do they make to the planet, and how do they truly feel about this new set of responsibilities?

Rules

  • Participants must submit entries in .pdf format, or use the submission text field (markdown capable).
    • Any entries written in a GoogleDoc must be exported as a PDF for submission.
    • It is highly recommended to submit in a PDF format.
  • Entries must be a minimum of 500 words. Any entries that are under 500 words will be disqualified and ineligible for participation or placement.
  • There is no maximum word cap.
  • Your story must be centered on one of your dossier-linked characters. Additional NPCs, including ones listed on the wiki or created/invented to tell your story in this fiction, are allowed and strongly encouraged.
  • A snapshot of the primary character’s loadout must be selected and submitted with your entry via the checkbox submission field on the competition page.
  • This competition will award up to 4 bonus Clusters of Ice at a rate of 1 per 500 words.

Grading

Grading will be done utilizing the official Fiction Rubric.

Competition Information
Organized by
Lord Idris Adenn
Running time
2025-08-01 until 2025-08-31 (about 1 month)
Target Unit
Entire DJB
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
First Level Crescents and regular and bonus Clusters of Ice as per VOICE guidelines
Participants
23 subscribers, of which 8 have participated.
Results
Member
Headmistress Alethia Archenksova
Submission
Headmistress Alethia Archenksova opted out of publishing her submission.
Placement
1st place
Member
Knight Remalia Manvar
File submission
Judge of Mandoon.pdf
Placement
2nd place
Member
Professional Nildea Vidh
File submission
Heavy is the Crown (1).pdf
Placement
3rd place
Member
Dr. Lexiconus Qor
File submission
Heavy is the Crown.docx
Textual submission

Please enjoy. I certainly enjoyed writing it.

Placement
4th place
Member
Blade Mistress Shadow Nighthunter
File submission
Heavy is the Crown Fiction.pdf
Placement
5th place
Member
Minister Kalen Joss
Textual submission

The Planetary Governor-

(10 years in the future)

Kalen had been promoted through the organization over the years. He was often seen by his peers as a reliable choice for sensitive mission/jobs. From his early days up until now, he had always be a just, hardworking and dependable member of House Ventress and Clan Plagueis. Starting as an associate, contractor and bounty hunter, he had moved his way up the ranks. He had done it through both service directly to the Brotherhood, and service in the more gray areas of life in this galaxy as an entrepreneur of sorts.

Through the years he had served directly as a gunboat flotilla warrant officer, Starship navigator and later captain, ground force commander, and fighter pilot/flight leader along with several other roles. These were often temporary assignments lasting either weeks or months, and he had always continued to do his work on the side as a Peacekeeper, Bounty Hunter, Courier, Diplomat, Researcher, and Investigator.

He had married Cora(the tailors daughter from Aliso) almost 9 years ago now. And they had resided in the moderately sized modular home Kalen had bought off of the Galactic Facepadd Marketplace nearly 10 years ago. It was a modest 2 bedroom+den rancher style home with a large patio. He had built it on a small acreage he had bought. It was located on the very outskirts of Aliso City, on the side of the meadow at the edge of the treeline where they had had their first date at the campfire. A fact that Cora had constantly reminded him was 'very romantic'.

Kalen had been approached by the leader 1 of other clans in the brotherhood. A day later he recieved a similar comm from another clan leader. He had worked with or for both of them more then once throughout the years. The 2 clans had recently fought a nasty little turf war over control of several systems along their Frontiers with eachother. One of the leaders, whose clan currently controlled Askarta III, had reached out to Kalen with an interesting proposal. He wanted Kalen to become the Governor. The other clan leader had wanted Kalen to lead his revolutionary forces allied with him in the same system

The first clan leader had essentially offered Kalen the chance fo become the system Governor of Askarta. The system only had 2 habitable worlds, one ice moon around a mid sized gas giant, and Askarta III. A small but lively world with a population of around 400000, with 3 major cities and several towns all spread across the equatorial continent. It was a cool temperate world where then temperature usually hovered around 8-18 degrees Celsius.

The main issue was that atleast 1/3 of the world's population were staunchly loyal to the other clan. The first leader who had approached Kalen, had done so, because the world had become a bit of a hemmoraghing ulcer on then flank of his Clans territory. He wanted the fighting, piracy terrorism, gang violence and drug dealing and chaos to stop. But he needed to install a Governor who he AND his opponent could trust to deescalate then situation in the system.

Kalen had helped negotiated a treaty to end a similar dispute with another a few years before. His efforts were noted and his reputation for fairness and justice was fairly concrete around the brotherhood. The second clan leader, respected Kalen enough to accept him as the Governor(secretly thinking he could eventually turn Kalen to his side, and get the planet back later)

Kalen felt that to refuse would be to give in to the darkness and chaos he had worked to counter his entire adult life. His wife loved him for his curiosity, compassion, and his convictions, and therefore urged him to accept the offer. She had said to him 'you cannot deny who you are, and these people need you Kal'.

So with that, Kalen accepted the offer and his wife and their 2 year old child, packed up and moved to Askarta III. He would end up serving 2 back to back 2 year terms as the Governor. They had decided to keep the property on Aliso, and instead of selling it, they had decided to rent it out to a local family of Sullustan mechanics who worked at the spaceport.

His first year on the planet had been a flurry of activity, with him overhauling then government and law enforcement, as well as negotiating an official peace treaty between then 2 adversarial clans. It wasn't the biggest or most important treaty signed in the galaxy. Another treaty between 2 different clans in the brotherhood had overshadowed the one Kal had hammered out within 6 months. Regardless Kalens efforts had certainly helped bring about some sense of justice and peace in that small corner of the galaxy.

He had efficiently and nearly bloodlessly ended then roots and minor rebellion that had broken out in the southern continent in 56 ABY. He had plenty of help from his friends and allies along the way. Some were there just to enrich themselves, and others were there as genuine friends of the now middle aged Master Joss. But then planet's street and its seedy reputation as a dangerous cesspool had nearly vanished before he left office.

After this 'tour of duty' Kalen eventually decided that he would follow in his grandfathers and Luke Skywalkers footsteps and try to establish a Jedi Academy of his own. He had several friends and collegues who had offered to serve as instructors and lecturers. Syla(his on again off again Arch nemesis from Clan Arcona) had even offered to come and serve as his Rector of Students(2IC).

As a testament to what he accomplished in those four years as the Governor of the Askarta System. Here is a comprehensive list of his accomplishments:

-He reformed the government and police force into modern, sustainable and competent systems. He ended the corruption and chaotic sith shows they had been before.

- He helped negotiate the Treaty of Amity(53 ABY), that helped establish stability and peace jn the surrounding sector.

-The rate of terrorist attacks decreased but 68% in his first 2 years.

- The crime rate fell 40% over his 4 years in office.

-He offered an 'Amnesty For education' program in both of the prisons on the planet. This allowed prisoners there under non violent, non-capital offenses to have severely reduced sentences if they completed various educational program.

-The planet's GDP rose by nearly 55%

-Economic investment in the system increased by over 120 million credits but the start of his 3rd year as Governor.

-He organized the Askarta Militia, which would later become an independant peacekeeping force that was utilized by the Brotherhood heavily jn the following several years.

-He provided everyone in the system with free Healthcare. All it required was the implementation of a 1 percent sales tax, and a 1 percent import tariff. The revenue from these 2 sources, more then paid for the health care system, and the rest was usually spent on education.

- the University of Askarta decided to name their Philosphy campus the 'Kalen Joss Hall'

Placement
No placement
Member
Sith Eternal Rasilvenaira StormRaven
File submission
Heavy is the Crown.pdf
Placement
No placement
Member
Mandalorian Malodin'Tater
File submission
Heavy is the Crown.pdf
Placement
No placement