Character Name: Taryn Kohl
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Light Side/Dark Side Ratio: 9/4
Description: Taryn is petite and deceptively nonthreatening. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She appears to be genuinely easy going and relaxed. Taryn lulls people into a fall sense of security with her charm. She’s quick on her feet and usually very upbeat. All her life, Taryn has been able to win people over, and usually those who meet her dismiss her as fun and lighthearted.
In reality, Taryn is shrewd and quick witted. She enjoys the thrill she gets from outsmarting an opponent or surprising an acquaintance, usually by taking them for everything. Taryn is easy going, it’s true, but she can be ruthless too when it comes to business dealings. Taryn is ultimately interested in whatever will bring her infamy and profit. She longs to be the most famous criminal galaxy wide. She also would love to earn a real, respectable bounty on her head.
Homeworld: Vorgrell, particularly the port city of Shipwreck.
History:
Taryn’s father was an officer in the Shipwreck Peacemakers Corps all of Taryn’s life. He started out at the lowest rank possible, and by Taryn’s tenth year had been promoted all the way to Chief of the City’s Inner Force. Draken Kohl is a just man with a true respect for law and order. In Shipwreck, he always had his work cut out for him.
When Taryn was ten, her mother, Andel, was killed. She was murdered during a botched robbery attempt at the store she owned. Draken sold out controlling interest in that store to Andel’s business partner, Lewin Helt. Lewin had ties to Bazlo and his criminal syndicate. Taryn was shocked when her father sold the store, and even more shocked when Draken closed Andel’s murder case, ruling it an unfortunate circumstance that she had died in such a way.
Taryn was convinced that her mother’s murder was about more than a few baubles being heisted by spice addicted teens. Unfortunately, Draken refused to listen to anything that Taryn ever had to say on the subject. For Taryn the loss of her mother meant only one thing, the loss of her freedom. After Andel’s death, Draken wouldn’t let the girl out of his sight. He grew paranoid and terribly overprotective. Yet, he would never explain his fears to his daughter.
At thirteen, Taryn began to rebel against her father’s tight strictures. She took to sneaking off and spending hours at the Spaceport. She found the scruffy pilots and weird mix of aliens constantly arriving to be endlessly fascinating. To her, the ships and their crews represented true freedom. After a few weeks, Taryn drew the attention of a man named Uri Gristol. Uri ran an “import/export” business and he had recently been forced to relocate to Vorgrell due to misunderstandings with some of the authorities on another planet. He needed to find someone who really knew Shipwreck, someone who knew the people, the laws, and the lay of the land. He saw in Taryn the perfect person to meet his needs.
So, at thirteen, Taryn began her education in the finer points of crime. She was naturally charming. Andell had been a born salesperson, and personality-wise, Taryn really took after her mother. At first, she simply provided Uri with information, but before long he was using the girl in negotiations as well as the occasional con job. Uri taught Taryn everything he knew, and in return she made many of his jobs simpler and more successful.
Of course in Shipwreck, even a penny ante crook like Uri doesn’t escape the notice of Bazlo. The Hutt likes to keep his fingers in every pie in the city. As such, Uri was convinced that paying protection to the Hutt and offering all manner of cooperation would be good for both business and his health. Taryn was an essential part of Uri’s operation, and since she was well educated, having attended the Shipwreck Arts and Knowledge center since the age of four, she was Uri’s best choice for meeting with Bazlo.
Taryn was nearly fourteen when she first met The Hutt. She had studied various languages in school and had an aptitude for them. Unfortunately, being young and rash, she didn’t realize that Bazlo was a master of a few tongues himself. So, on being presented to the giant slug like crime lord, she blurted out an insult in Twi’lek. Of course, Bazlo spoke Twi’lek fluently and moments later, Taryn was staring down the wrong end of a blaster while Bazlo’s guards waited for him to decide what to do to her.
“Girl,” Bazlo’s voice was a guttural wheeze, “you are insolent and speak out of turn. I do not appreciate being called a ‘disgusting worm’ in any language, but at least if you’re going to sling insults you could have the decency to do so in Huttese.”
Taryn lifted her chin high in the air. She didn’t think cowering would work, and she had never been one to resort to begging. So, with deliberate slowness, in perfect Huttese, she replied, “My mistake, Sir. In the future, I shall be sure to direct all insults to you in Huttese. I would hate for you to misunderstand me.”
There was a collective gasp from those who spoke the language, and Bazlos eyes narrowed. He studied the girl for a moment, and then began to laugh. He bellowed out his delight and all those around him stared in astonishment.
“You are next to nothing, Uri,” Bazlo said to the man standing just behind Taryn, “but your girl here is amusing. Thank her. You will be welcome to continue to do your business here in Shipwreck. At only a twenty percent contributory rate.”
“Twenty percent?!” Taryn piped up. “Wow…you really are a thief!”
Bazlo chuckled heartily once more. “What is your name, child?” he finally asked.
“Taryn, Taryn K…er…Karn,” she replied. Deciding at the last minute that sharing a name with the constable would not be amusing. It would be better if few people ever connected her with Draken Kohl. It would be far healthier in her line of work anyway. Many crime lords surely believed that the sins of the father were to be visited upon the sons or daughters.
“Taryn…” Bazlo eyed her for a moment, “welcome to the family.”
Taryn nodded without replying. She stepped back and waited. Things had gone very well. She didn’t see any reason to push her luck.
Taryn often returned to Bazlo’s “court”, both in the company of Uri and on her own. It became commonplace to see the girl dodging her way through the seedier elements of Shipwreck, gathering both information and valuables without pause. Bazlo often listened to the girls stories and trusted her insight.
Of course, at the same time that Taryn was winning her way into the Hutt’s graces, she was trying to maintain a façade for her father. This was particularly important as Draken continued to move up in the social circles of Shipwreck, garnering support and respect of the upper classes, while still maintaining a connection to the simplest of inhabitants. Without even really trying, Draken was setting himself up as the perfect Vorgrell politico. By the time Taryn turned eighteen, he was poised to make a play for the office of Mayor of Shipwreck.
The Mayor of Shipwreck was an elected official, the tradition dating back to the original crash. At the time, the government that was set up consisted of a Mayor, or nominal leader, who would represent the people of Shipwreck to the other ruling families of Vorgrell. This mayor was chosen from among the once prisoners aboard the ship. In that way, all elements would be sure of equal representation. The Mayor has a group of “advisors” consisting of the wealthiest and most successful business leaders in the city. Many of these men and women are either fully invested in the Hutt’s organization, or have long been taking bribes from Bazlo.
Draken tried to no avail to convince Taryn that she should give up her criminal activities, but he was never willing to explain to her that his concern was actually for her. Draken became Mayor and the two grew further and further apart. Uri retired and bequeathed to Taryn all his assets, including his ship, a modified freighter. Taryn hired on Uri’s engineer, Balok, to upkeep the ship. Balock had been with Uri for years and years. He was quiet, but a whiz with starships.
Taryn uses her ship, Lady Fate, to make small runs to nearby solar systems for Bazlo. She has yet to really earn much of a name for herself, or to win any jobs for serious money. Taryn is patient, though. She knows her time will come.
Items:
Taryn carries a blaster pistol. She owns a Corellian Cougar that has been heavily modified by her engineer, Balock.
Ablities:
Taryn has two distinct sets of skills. The first come from her standing and education in Shipwreck society. She has been taught a variety of languages and she speaks both Hutt and Basic fluently. Because of the nature of the political system on Vorgrell, both languages were core requirements during her schooling. She knows a few choice words in other languages from the time she’s spent at the shipyard. (This includes the unfortunate insult she blurted out in Twi’lek to Bazlo.)
Taryn has also been educated in basic etiquette. She knows how to handle herself in social situations, which utensils to use, how to greet noble and high ranking people. She also has an innate charm.
Taryn knows how to handle a blaster pistol. She learned this important skill from Uri. She is also a capable pilot.
Taryn can use her natural charm to negotiate in many circumstances. She knows how to talk her way out of or around most difficulties. Unfortunately, Taryn is aware of this ability and it does sometimes make her cocky.
Force Powers: Taryn has no innate force abilities. She’s just charming and lucky.
Played by: Rachel Weisz
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