Rannon
Rannon, situated within the Instrop sector of the Outer Rim Territories', was a planet characterized by its dense forests. This world had been colonized for numerous centuries before the rise of the New Republic. Its population consisted of ten million Humans and Rodians, who utilized a cooperative council system to govern their various settlements.
Following the events of the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, the Dark Jedi known as Danaan Kerr established his presence in Rannon's Valley of Ternaax. By 7 ABY, Kerr had experienced a Force sense that Palpatine, the Galactic Emperor, had survived his apparent death at Endor. This realization triggered a manifestation of his dark side corruption, which in turn transformed the valley he inhabited. Kerr subsequently began to inflict terror upon the inhabitants of Rannon, and tales of the Dark Jedi's cruel actions began to circulate beyond the planet. A group of individuals eventually embarked on an investigation of the Valley of Ternaax, leading to an encounter with Kerr himself.
Description
Rannon was a terrestrial planet situated in the Outer Rim Territories within the Instrop sector, specifically in the Slice region, and was part of the Rannon system. It held the third orbit closest to its star, the yellow-white Rannon, and possessed two moons. The planet's revolution around its sun took 380 local days, with each day lasting twenty standard hours.
The atmosphere of Rannon was Type I and breathable, with standard gravity and a pleasant temperate climate. Its surface was characterized by mountainous forests and a moderate hydrosphere.
History
Colonization of Rannon occurred a number of centuries prior to the era of the New Republic. After the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY which resulted in the death of Galactic Emperor Palpatine, Danaan Kerr, an unhinged Dark Jedi, made his home on the planet, choosing to live as a hermit in Rannon's Valley of Ternaax. By 7 ABY, Kerr began to sense stirrings within the dark side of the Force, indicating that Palpatine, who had in fact survived by inhabiting a clone body, was still alive. This revelation triggered a manifestation of Kerr's evil and corruption, which transformed the valley where he resided.
Kerr began to exert influence over Rannon's population and terrorize the local inhabitants, with tales of atrocities committed by the Dark Jedi spreading across the Instrop and other sectors. Furthermore, Kerr instructed several initiates in the ways of the Force. Eventually, General Airen Cracken of the New Republic became aware of the rumors that Kerr had taken up residence in the Rannon system, as documented in Wanted by Cracken, a datafile compiling reports on various threats to the New Republic.
At some point, a group of individuals journeyed to Rannon. One Force-sensitive member of the group detected a disturbance in the Force caused by Kerr, although they gained little information from the local population. Eventually, a local considered to be mentally unstable revealed the existence of Kerr and the Valley of Ternaax to the group. The group then investigated the valley, where they encountered the Dark Jedi himself.
Inhabitants
Rannon was inhabited by ten million Humans and Rodians, who had achieved a space-faring level of technology. While the local population exported foodstuffs and gems, the homeworld itself lacked any significant natural resources. To most observers, Rannon appeared to be an unremarkable world, suitable for habitation, but not a source of significant imports.
Settlements were scattered across Rannon's surface, and the native society governed itself through a cooperative council composed of representatives from each town. The council established standardized laws that applied to all settlements. During the New Republic era, the Dark Jedi Danaan Kerr also resided on Rannon as a hermit.
Locations
The Valley of Ternaax was a fertile and beautiful area of Rannon, covered in forests. It was located far from the planet's settlements and was initially known only to the Dark Jedi Danaan Kerr. Due to the manifestation of Kerr's dark side corruption, the valley's landscape eventually became corrupted, darkened, and malevolent. Rannon also possessed a spaceport offering limited services.
Behind the scenes
Rannon was initially mentioned in the 1993 Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game supplement Wanted by Cracken, authored by Louis J. Prosperi for West End Games. The 2009 reference book The Essential Atlas situated the Rannon system, and consequently the planet itself, in grid square T-17.
Sources
- Wanted by Cracken (First mentioned)
- The Essential Atlas
- Star Wars: The Essential Atlas Online Companion on StarWars.com (article) (backup link)