Tatooine
Desert planet.
Why is Tatooine special? The point is that it is not special at all. It is a tiny, useless dust-bowl of a planet that no one thinks about. That is why it was valuable to Obi-Wan Kenobi as a hiding place for Anakin's child. Few come here. It is easier to keep Luke hidden.
Why is there an Imperial presence here? Because that is what the Empire does. It puts troops everywhere, even on useless, dust-bowl planets like Tatooine. There was a time when the Empire tried to pacify this region, to win it from the Hutt Cartels and other criminal organizations and "civilize" it. At first, many of the citizens of these planets welcomed the Imperial presence, believing that it would bring law and order and help make life easier. That's what the Imps sold them, and they were willing to believe. Unfortunately, time will tell that the Empire is really only concerned with acquiring resources (including recruits into their armies) for their monolithic society. Once they figure out a working relationship with Jabba the Hutt that allows them to get what they need, they are fine to keep their noses out of day-to-day matters. This also works to help solidify Jabba's hold on the area, so there is some decrease in chaos in the area, but not probably enough to be noticed by the normal folk living hereabouts.
But this process is not smooth and easy. There are struggles involved. There are good people in the Empire who try to do the right thing, who truly believe that it could be a force for good. Skirmishes will break out. Battles fought, but the real war is fought in the shadows as individuals maneuver for power and influence. Who will survive? Who will come out on top? Where will the characters find themselves throughout all this?
Our campaign is set at the height of the Empire's power. It is about 10 years after Order 66. The Emperor is solidly on his throne. The Jedi are no more. Always a bit of a fairy tale, now most people dismiss their stories as ancient myths at best, hints of traitorous charlatans more likely. Force users are being hunted by the Inquisitors, to be turned by Palpatine or killed. Moff Kestren Balor has been appointed to pacify the Arkanis Sector in an attempt to gain further control over Ryloth spice production and shipping. Much of the ryll smuggling routes run through the Arkanis Sector as product is taken to Hutt Space to be further processed and redistributed.
Government
There is no overarching government of Tatooine. Individual locations have been long ruled by mayors called Reeves, giving rise to so-called noble families. Government of a settlement is now passed down within a family. These noble lineages are quite poor compared with ruling classes of other planets.
Most realize that the true power on Tatooine is Jabba the Hutt. He views the planet as his own personal preserve and expects to be allowed to take what he wants. Fortunately for most of the citizens of the planet, there is not a whole lot to want around here.
In recent years, Reeve Taslo Larken of Bestine has started trying to unite all the noble families under his rule and declare himself King Taslo in an effort to wrest control of the planet from the Hutts and maintain freedom from the Empire.
Architecture
Most buildings are constructed from pourstone. Machines scoop up sand and mix it with other substances and then extrude them into blocks or walls in situ that harden into the structures.
Dome are common to allow heat to rise, cooling the interior.
Spaceport landing pads are usually enclosed in circular structures to protect ships from frequent sand storms and bandits.
Natural Resources
As a desert planet, Tatooine is poor in natural resources. Water is scarce. Most buildings have vaporators to help collect water from the air. Moisture farmers are a common trade. The family of Biggs Darklighter was rich enough to own 20 moisture farms. Some mining is done, whether it is as excavation of stone outcroppings or through surface skimming by sandcrawlers. Lieutenant Rhode Herkin believes that larger deposits of doonium (spaceship hulls) could be found deeper under the sands. He is in the process of surveying the planet to find the best spot to begin. Salt is also mined and exported for some small, legal profit.
An unknown spice (called Resos or "Living Sand" by the Tusken Raiders) is produced on Tatooine by the passage of krayt dragons through sand. To be able to burrow so quickly through sand, they produce a resinous substance that cause the sand particles to slide apart more easily. Tusken raiders have learned that smoking this krayt dragon mucus produces hallucinations, euphoria and increase vitality. Some of them believe that this substance can help one tap into latent force powers.
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