Last time, we spoke with both the One, (no, not that one) and the leader of the Elders, representatives of tribes which are a a collection of massive assholes, and another collection of assholes who are slightly less upfront about being assholes respectively. We decided to do the Elder's bidding and eliminate the One, who is basically a googly-eyed Space-Hitler. But if they think that precludes them from an lightsaber to the gut themselves, well, they've got another thing coming...
Our chats with the leaders of the Elders done, we go to look for sidequests.
We come across a room Varen very much approve of.
"I do love a good torture chamber."
"I'm sorry, have we met?"
"So, what are you doing?"
"No, nimrod, I mean, what are you doing this evening? OF COURSE I MEAN YOUR RESEARCH! What do I look like, a functioning member of society? Because that's the impression I'm getting."
"That sounds a lot more effective than whatever we use to make our ships fly. ...What DO we use to make our ships fly?"
"I dunno. Maybe God did it, like in that really fucking stupid Justice League comic."
"So, no Rakata can use the force?"
"So, wait. Let me get this straight. You kidnap members of the other tribes, perform horrific
experiments on them, all to win back the power that made you the emperors of the Galaxy? And you're meant to be the
good guys?"
"Yes! Fuck the Witcher, we're the ones who really have the whole "ambigous morality" thing down!"
As much as I don't think this dynamic is particularly intentional, it's interesting enough that I'm going to give you a by-ball on this, Karpyshyn.
"Yeah! And with our next flagship series, we're planing on giving you three ultimately identical options, each seemingly beneficial on the surface, but each one kils everyone anyway."
"Another ME3 ending joke? Come on, Narrator. The internet got bored of those the second you started making them."
Shut up, Varen.
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"Heritage? You mean the temple?"
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"How close are you to finishing your research?"
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"The One? What's so special about him? Aside from being the one who will bring balance to the Matrix or some shit."
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"What kind of information do you need?"
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"Alright, fine. I'll rob the ancient secrets of your people that your tribe is so intent on keeping from falling into the wrong hands. Note that I am obviously, definitely, the wrong hands."
That done, we continue to explore the compound, seeing, among other, less interesting, reused sights...
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...a church, or temple thing, though sadly we don't get to learn anything about the Rakata faith. Though I imagine it's King Dickhead ruling over a pantheon of Arseholes...
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...and a barbeque. Now you are all imagining the Rakata with australian accents. Your welcome.
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We go to meet the Loremaster of this tribe, to find the Elder perspective on Rakata history.
"Who are you?"
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"Enough of your mindless prattle. I don't remember. I demand to relearn your secrets!"
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"I don't know what apologies are like on your planet, but on mine, that isn't it. In face, it's pretty much the furthest thing from an apology. Now, I demand to know your history!"
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"Give me the basics."
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"How did the Rakata fall?"
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"I have my own theory on why the Rakata fell. It was giant metal cuttlefish from outside the galaxy who harvest living beings to make more giant metal cuttlefish."
"Oh, shut up, Shepard. That's your answer to everything."
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"Your homeworld was secret? That doesn't make any sense. We Brits don't keep the existence of London a secret."
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What I love about the Rakata is the mystery behind exactly why they fell. We've been getting conflicting reports from almost every person we talk to, some saying it's a plague, others saying that it was because they lost the force, and others still blaming it on dark Doppelgangers. It really emphasizes just how far the Rakata have fallen, and makes them a far more interesting race to delve into. Plus, it resembles how real-life historians will debate the hidden meanings and reasons behind why things happened. Of course, we do eventually learn exactly what happened, but when it comes to lore-hunting, half the fun is the journey. This, I think, is the main reason the Rakata and their Infinite Empire REALLY caught on in the rest of the EU, most notably in the Dawn of the Jedi comics, which combined really cool ideas with the worst Jedi origin story anyone has ever thought of. Fuck you, giant floating pyramids that abduct people.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know how much of a nerd you are, Narrator. Why are you Elders different from the other tribes then?"
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"That sounds...positively...delectable."
Stop licking your lips. Why are you so weird?
"Seriously? You've seen me murder and maim countless people, you've seen me destroy civilizations,
you've seen me pleasure myself to torture, and you're calling me out on licking my lips at the prospect of world-destroying weaponry?"
...shut up.
"That's what I thought. Anyway, what do you know about the other Rakata tribes?"
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"Damn right. No one gets the ancient weapons of mass destruction but me! But...can't we use said weapons to nuke him from orbit? I'd like to see The One dodge that particular bullet."
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"What about the Star Forge?"
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"Yeah, you're kinda stupid like that. And by quite, I mean very."
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"What do you know about the disruptor field that caused my ship to crash?"
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That's all we'll get out of this Loremaster. However, we're not yet done here, we have a computer to chat with.
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"Hey, I know the Rakata language, logically, I must serve the Rakata, right? Come on, would this face lie to you?"
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"Heh heh heh."
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"Excellent. I demand to know all the deepest, darkest secrets of the Rakata race!"
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"Oh, for fuck's sake. At least tell me how I can bust in to the temple."
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"That doesn't seem particularly intuitive. It's like, if I got locked out of my house, I had to recite the chant of the Winged Dragon of Ra to regain entry."
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"Then how the fuck am I speaking the Rakata language?"
"Silence! We had to think of some reason the player needed a tribe, and this was the best one we could think of. So shut up and drink your ovaltine!"
"Rrrgh. I'll get you for this. Make yourself useful, and tell me about the Star Forge."
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"Goddamn! How useless are you? Can you at least tell me about the history of the Rakata?"
"The Infinite Empire of the Rakata stretched across all the known universe, across hundreds of planets, and stars beyond counting."
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"A plague?"
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That's all from the computer for now. Enough lollygallying, it's time to stick a lightsaber up the One's arse.
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"Wait...how did you do that?"
"STOP DRAWING ATTENTION TO OUR PLOT HOLES AND DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"Fine by me! More delicious life energy!"
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Even their Rancors are no match for us, because we've hit Max Level!
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No, really. KoTOR is one of those games where it's far more of a challenge NOT to hit Max Level before the end of the game, because there's just so few levels to gain. This isn't a bad thing, per se, but it is bound to annoy those people who played through the Fallout 3 DlCs pre-Broken Steel and cried at all the wasted EXP. The sequel would later take this in the other direction, by making a level cap so high it's literally impossible to reach in actual gameplay.
Incidentally, feel free to laugh at my pathetic stats.
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We make our way to the center of the One's fortress.
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"I must go now. My home planet needs me."
"This is your home planet."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, puny human."
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Finally, after cleaving our way through an army of Rakata, we come to the chamber of the One.
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"Are you feeling all right? You've got sort of a...glow. A green glow. That's not usually a good sign. Did you build this place beside a toxic waste dump?"
"SILENCE!"
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"Oh, goody. I love the taste of Rancor soul in the morning. Tastes like...victory."
The One is a tough opponent, but only because of his chums. If you use AOE attacks on the Rancors, then it becomes an easy fight as the Rancors are quickly taken care of, and the One has little else to rely on.
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With the One dead, we locate the Elder prisoner.
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Well, this has got very, very dark all of a sudden.
"Yeah. Isn't impalement great?"
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"You're the only one left?"
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"My name is Varen Von BadDoom. I'm here to rescue you. God, that sounded weird."
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We also find some Ship Parts to aid in the repairs to the Ebon Hawk, in case the ones we found at the Mandalorian ship don't quite suffice. With that done, and the One lying in a pool if his own radioactive blood, we return to the Elders.
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"I've done my part. Now, cough up your end of the bargain."
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"Hey, this wasn't the deal, fucko!"
"I have altered the deal. Pray I do not alter it further."
Later that day...
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"We did have to watch 12 Angry Rakatas to come to this conclusion, but all's well that ends well."
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"...why can only force users enter the temple?"
"Stop asking questions."
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"Look's like we'll be working together then."
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"Can I have a bullshit explanation for this one at least?"
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"Alright, fine. But I will wreak a horrible revenge upon you all. Just sayin."
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"What are we waiting for? Let's go now."
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"Your stalling is trying my patience, fool. One such as I shall have no trouble dealing with them."
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And so, we cast away our companions, and proceed to the Temple, where the Rakata are waiting.
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Jolee runs up to us, and I didn't screencap it because I am a slow dullard.
"Wait! You can't go in there alone!"
"What the hell are you doing here?"
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"Fuck you. If I want my slaves to tank for me, It's gonna happen. Lower the shield."
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"Lower that shield, or I'll cut you into tiny little pieces!"
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"Pussy."
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"And how, pray, did you expect
me to handle the situation?"
"Fair point."
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The shield down, we head into the temple.