Nigel Banyard           Ralis Keltarin
Mike Lane                 Sith Agent "Heth"

Well it's finally time to release the information about Lion's Mouth Entertainment's next upcoming audio drama adventure, Star Wars: High Stakes.

First off, just to give you some background: High Stakes was actually somewhat inspired by Michael Mays' Star Wars: Smuggler's Run. After listening to the audio drama I got the idea to begin work on a new story that centered around Smugglers. Before I knew it I had a whole story in my lap. Cliche as it was, it is here now ALMOST completed, script-wise. And so far it has turned out as I had hoped it would.

The script has been in the writing since late 2005. It has gone through many transformations and revisions over those (almost) two years, much the same case as with The Age of the Swords.

So let's jump right into it.

First off...

Star Wars: High Stakes is taking the route also traveled by Director and Creator of the upcoming Knights of the Old Republic: Outcasts audio drama, Devin Cox. Which is the Route of the original NPR Radio Dramas. Now I know that most of the Fan Audio out there is already based/inspired on/by the NPRs. But we are taking it a bit closer to "home".

As with the NPRs, the story has been separated into episodes that will most likely run a little over 20 Minutes in length each (the exact number of episodes is yet to be determined). Each episode will begin with an opening narrator, as always, and each episode will end with some closing dialogue by the Narrator, followed, of course, but the End Credit Narration.

I am going to try to stay as true to the NPR Style as possible with this. But not because I feel I have to, but because I want to.

Now... next step...

There are many, many characters in this story. Though, of course, a good percentage of them are "extras". All-in-all there are approximately Eight main characters (this includes both Heroes and Villains). But we will not explore all eight right now. Right now we will explore five.

HEROES

Kye Faythara & Terril T'Kira - Two Free-Lance Smuggling partners. Terril is the oldest of the two but is usually more irresponsible. Most would say that Kye is the adult of the pair.

Jedi Master (General) Quinn Vek - Leader of the Jedi Order.


VILLAINS

Darth Valaan - A Sith Lord, Commander of the Sith Starfleet, and once apprentice to--

Darth Malice - The Dark Lord of the Sith, ruler of the Sith Empire, Governor of all darkness.

Now onto...

First off, Star Wars: High Stakes takes place approximately 1,467 years Before the Battle of Yavin. So it is during the time of the New Sith Empire's rise against the Jedi and the Republic.

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there came a time of fluctuating war, when the New Sith Empire rose up against the Jedi Order and the Republic..."
- Opening Lines of Star Wars: High Stakes


The New Sith Empire is preparing for an all-out attack, as are the Jedi and the Republic. But in order to weaken their enemies the Sith are commencing "flash" attacks on Coruscant from a hidden strike base that quickly leaves shipyards and military bases crippled, weakening their defenses. This hidden base, unbeknownst to the Jedi and Republic, can be found on the desolate world of Mizra, but the base itself is not desolate nor diminutive. In fact it is one of the Sith Empire's strongest military bases. And the Jedi Order suspects this. Therefore the Jedi Leader, General Quinn Vek has formulated a plan of reversal. An army will be launched from Coruscant to attack this strike base and destroy it, thereby crippling one of the Sith Empire's most pivotal military resources. However, there's just one problem. Vek does not know the location of the strike base.

Have you guessed the plot yet? I'm warning you, it's a pretty big cliche....

Jedi Master Vek has dispatched Jedi agents across the galaxy to recruit knowledgable star pilots to seek out the location of the strike base, either by finding it themselves or with the help of contacts.

And this is where Kye Faythara and Terril T'kira come in. Job-less and eager to gain some money, the two smugglers take the job, especially after being promised a "grand reward" if they complete the mission. From start to finish the two smugglers dodge blaster bolts, explosions, lightsabers, and Sith Warships, completely risking there lives for what could possibly be the beginning of Freedom for the galaxy. But being chased by the Sith is not their only problem. It's one trouble after another... there's hardly time to rest for our two heroes.

So, hold on to your hats because it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Star Wars: High Stakes will need vocal talent, so be on the lookout for a Casting Call soon. Some actors have already been "signed on" and given parts (most of the main characters have already been filled). But there are going to be a ton of extras that will need to be brought to life. So, again, be on the lookout.

Also, if you haven't already done it, check out the High Stakes audio teaser immediately following the end credits of Conquest of the Empire - Chapter II: Fortitude & Redemption - The Remastered Edtion.


That's it for now. More information will be released as we progress. Off hand I would say the script is approximately 75% complete. So it shouldn't be much longer.