STAR WARS: DAWN OF DEFIANCE EPISODE 3 - The Queen of Air and Darkness

The Queen of Air and Darkness is the third adventure in the Dawn of Defiance campaign, which will take players from 1st level all the way through 20th level in a continuous storyline designed to give both players and Gamemasters a complete SW5e experience. This adventure lets the players take part in the famous Cloud City Sabacc Tournament (the same tournament in which, years later, Han Solo will win the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian) and the players should advance to 7th level by the end of the adventure.

Over the course of this adventure, the players will discover that there is more to this tournament than is apparent on the surface, and that it is being used to cover a transaction between Darga the Hutt and the evil Galactic Empire. This adventure is the final part of the story arc that makes up the first chapter in the Dawn of Defiance campaign. After the adventure, the players should have some much-needed downtime.

Opening Crawl

For Gamemasters who wish to have an opening crawl before the adventure, consider using the boxed text below.

Part 1: Pursuing the Hutt

In The Queen of Air and Darkness, the players pursue the notorious gangster Darga the Hutt to Bespin, having followed him from his palace on Cato Neimoidia. Darga fled to Cloud City in his luxury yacht, then (with a hefty amount of bribery to city officials) went deep into hiding. So deep into hiding, in fact, that no amount of information gathering, intimidation, or bribery will get the players anywhere close to him. However, all is not lost; the players have a chance to discover a place where they might be able to find more clues leading to the Hutt’s whereabouts: the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament.

Cloud City

Cloud City is a beautiful tourist city that also serves as a major mining outpost for the collection and spin-sealing of Tibanna gas, which is used in blaster weapons. When walking through the corridors of the city, the players are treated to beautiful vistas of the gas giant Bespin, and architecture designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Most of the residents of Cloud City are Humans, though occasionally the players will see a handful of Ugnaughts walking close to one another in tight packs. The Ugnaughts seem to keep to themselves and are mostly ignored by the Humans.

Cloud City Wing Guards (the security forces of Cloud City) stand watch over most of the major thoroughfares in the city, and rarely is one very far from the players. Many of the businessmen and nobles walking through the corridors of the city have their own security escort, but they seem to pay no attention to the players, regardless of their appearances or species. Most residents on Cloud City are too concerned about their own wealth or recreation to spend much time worrying about galactic politics, and there is no visible Imperial presence in the city.

The Cloud City Wing Guard keeps a close eye on anyone acting suspicious, especially this close to the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament. They are always on the lookout for someone possessing weapons, but in order to maintain a pleasant atmosphere for the tourist trade, they rarely shake down visitors unless there is a clear reason to do so. The atmosphere in the city is one of buzzing anticipation, as the tournament has drawn visitors from all corners of the galaxy, as it does every year. The players are likely to learn that the tournament is just days away, and that hundreds of players have already arrived to buy into the event.

A Few Wrong Questions

Once the players have made their way through customs, their most likely course of action is to seek out Darga the Hutt. Knowing that he was headed to Bespin in his personal luxury yacht, the players will want to know whether he is here, and if so, where the slimy Hutt is hiding. The most straightforward method is to make Intelligence (Investigation) checks, but regardless of the check results, the information provided is always the same: no one has seen or heard from Darga the Hutt. Most citizens don’t know the first thing about the crime lord, and they seem affronted that the players would suspect them of associating with criminal types.

Digging deeper turns up few leads. Computer-savvy players might try to break into the Cloud City computer system to see if any record of Darga’s arrival is in the spaceport logs. The city’s central computer system is one of the most sophisticated central computers in existence. The computer is unfriendly to anyone who accesses it from a location other than a designated high-security area providing a DC 27 Intelligence (Slicer's Kit) check, but if the players manage to sneak into or break into a Wing Guard security post, they can access the central computer with a friendly attitude providing a DC 22 Intelligence (Slicer's Kit) check. However, even this much effort proves mostly fruitless. The players discover a spaceport log entry for the arrival of a luxury yacht called the Glorious Chariot, whose port of origin is registered as Cato Neimoidia, but the docking information seems to have been erased, with no ability to retrieve it. Though the players will probably suspect that Darga is on Cloud City (no departure information was given for the Glorious Chariot), they have no idea where the ship is. With all of the luxury vessels arriving at Cloud City for the tournament, finding a specific yacht is going to prove nearly impossible, and the players should realize that doing so could take weeks even under the best of conditions.

The Parliament of Guilds

Following the directions they received from Captain Okeefe, the players leave the tourist areas of Cloud City and begin descending into the industrial sector. Humans become less and less common, and Ugnaughts outnumber other species almost two to one in these areas. The directions lead the players to an office marked “Parliament of Guilds— Sector U357,” which appears to be little more than a bureaucratic office. Inside, the players find nearly a dozen Ugnaughts working behind desks and at computer terminals. When the players enter the Parliament office, read the following text aloud:

After struggling with each other for a few more moments (or less, if the players intervene), the two Ugnaughts separate, and the first turns to the players, begging for his life. He introduces himself as Krygg and explains that they meant no harm with the message. His shaken companion, who identifies himself as Fyren, tells the players (in a much less fearful tone) that they noticed the players snooping around after Darga and figured that they might be enemies of the Hutt. Rebuking Krygg for his spinelessness, Fyren invites the players to join him in his office. The two Ugnaughts escort the players to a very small, cramped office (built for Ugnaught-sized inhabitants), where they explain further exactly what happened.

According to Fyren and Krygg, ever since Darga set up his ancillary operation in Cloud City, it has caused no end of trouble for the Ugnaughts, particularly those involved in the Parliament of Guilds, Cloud City’s ruling body. When Darga first set up shop in Cloud City, he began bribing a number of Ugnaughts working for Figg & Associates (the company responsible for all Tibanna gas exports from Bespin) in order to siphon off some of the spin-sealed Tibanna gas for sale on the black market. When Figg & Associates discovered the missing Tibanna gas, they began taking their complaints to the Parliament of Guilds. Knowing that the Ugnaughts were responsible for the missing gas, but not knowing which ones, the Parliament had no choice but to issue tougher restrictions on all Ugnaughts. Over time, the situation has degenerated to the point where the Ugnaughts’ reputation is close to being ruined.

Fyren explains that, when they noticed the players searching for Darga, he sent them a message to dissuade them from seeking the Hutt further. Fyren says that he was just trying to stop them from getting too involved in dealings with the Hutt, but Krygg accuses his companion of leaving a trail for the players to follow, hoping they would come to assist. Fyren admits that he finds it fortunate that the players have come, and if they will help the Parliament of Guilds root out the Ugnaughts on Darga’s payroll, he and Krygg will provide information that could help them in their search for the missing Hutt. The Ugnaughts explain that they were considering dealing with their criminal comrades themselves, but they believe that the players are more suited to (and likely more experienced in) dealing with those in Darga’s employ. Fyren explains that they don’t necessarily want the players to kill the Ugnaughts that Darga has bought, but that such losses would be understandable if the players found no peaceful way to resolve the situation.

If the players agree to the exchange, the Ugnaughts share one piece of information with the players in good faith—they know that Darga has been dealing with the Empire, and they believe that a transaction is about to take place. If the players take care of their problem, Fyren and Krygg agree to share the rest of what they know. To get them started, the two Ugnaughts tell the players that they have tracked the source of the Tibanna gas being sold on the black market to one of their gas storage areas in the bowels of the city. They give the players directions for getting there, but they also provide a warning: The Wing Guard rarely goes into those depths, so the players will be on their own down there.

Discovering the Bought Ugnaughts

Following the directions given to them by Fyren and Krygg, the players can make their way to one of the Tibanna gas storage areas. When they enter the storage area, read the following description aloud:

The Tibanna gas storage chambers are unguarded, though the players eventually stop seeing anyone—Human or Ugnaught—moving through these corridors well before they find who they are looking for. When the players move into a spin-sealing chamber, allow them to make DC 17 Wisdom (Perception) checks to hear over the sound of the heavy machinery that lies ahead. Those who succeed overhear a grunting conversation between several Ugnaughts. Any players who speak the Ugnaught language can tell that there are workers ahead, arguing with one another over the amount of Tibanna gas to siphon from a shipment going out this afternoon. They are clearly working with machinery as well, and the sounds fill the corridor almost completely.

If the players approach cautiously and are not spotted, they can see further evidence that they have found their quarry. The Ugnaughts have connected a small pump to one of the massive Tibanna gas storage tanks (which is clearly labeled in Basic, Bocce, and a dozen other languages) and are transferring the gas into dozens of smaller containers, each small enough for an Ugnaught to carry.

If the players try to talk to the Ugnaughts, they are wary, beginning with an unfriendly attitude toward the players. Having been caught doing something illegal—not to mention being in the employ of a Hutt crime lord—they are extremely paranoid about outsiders. However, if the players are not initially hostile, the Ugnaughts avoid going for their weapons. The boss, clearly the ringleader of this gang of thieves, believes that the other Ugnaughts on Cloud City are too set in their ways and doesn’t believe that they would lift a hand against him. If the players pursue any reasonable course of discussion (including using Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Deception) checks), feel free to let the situation develop naturally. Bribery is unlikely to work; the Ugnaughts know that they wouldn’t be able to spend the credits if the Parliament of Guilds or Figg & Associates got its hands on them. The Ugnaughts are unwilling to turn themselves in to the Parliament of Guilds, and if there is any hint that the players are there to facilitate such a turn of events, the encounter can turn hostile in a hurry.

Tibanna Gas Refinery

Ugnaught Rigger

Small humanoid (Ugnaught), lawful dark

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• Armor Class 15 (mesh armor)
• Hit Points 72 (16d6+16)
• Speed 25 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	8 (-1)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)

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• Saving Throws Con +3
• Skills Athletics +3
• Damage Resistances Acid
• Senses Darkvision 60ft, passive Perception 10
• Languages Ugnaught
• Challenge CR 1 (200 XP)

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Actions

Heavy Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4, range 40/160 ft, one target. Hit 6 (1d8+2) energy damage.

Tusks. Melee Weapon Attack: +3, range 5 ft, one target. Hit 4 (1d6+1)

Ugnaught Rigger Tactics

The Ugnaught riggers know that if they are caught, they will be forever shamed, and it will be the end of Darga’s payouts. The riggers are tough and aggressive opponents who have no problem firing their heavy blaster pistols (which, according to Cloud City law, they shouldn’t even be carrying) while dashing around the refinery. They prefer to take shots at the players while still moving to take cover from distant opponents.

Ugnaught Boss

The Ugnaught boss is an experienced leader among the riggers and has proven to be a devious and capable agent for Darga the Hutt. The boss is the mastermind behind the Tibanna gas siphoning process and can motivate his fellow riggers even though the threat of being caught looms over them. The Ugnaught boss is far more cautious than his aggressive companions, and his sharp mind allows him to challenge even the wiliest of foes.

Ugnaught Boss Tactics

On the first round of combat, the Ugnaught boss uses a Object Interaction to bang the butt of his blaster carbine against the metal surface of the Tibanna gas container next to him. This sends the Tibanna mynocks flying around the room, increasing the chaos. The Ugnaught boss then tries to keep as many of his allies as he can inside his Aura of Command while remaining safely in cover. If any of the Tibanna mynocks are killed while near a player, the boss always tries to shoot the cloud of Tibanna gas released by the slain creature, causing the gas to burn.

Tibanna Mynocks (6)

A highly adaptive breed of mynock found on Bespin and other worlds where Tibanna gas is mined, Tibanna mynocks have evolved the ability to breathe even in air highly concentrated with toxic fumes. On Bespin, Tibanna mynocks often latch on to mining vessels or large containers carrying Tibanna gas. The container being lifted into the refinery is covered in six Tibanna mynocks, which continue to try to dissolve the metal of the thick container even as they are pulled into Cloud City.

Tibanna Mynock Tactics

The Tibanna mynocks don’t like being disturbed, and when the Ugnaught boss bangs on the gas container, they fly out into the refinery in a frenzy. The Tibanna mynocks have no intelligence for tactics, but they are familiar enough with Ugnaughts not to attack them, focusing their efforts on the players.

Conclusion

If the players capture any of the Ugnaughts alive, they can bring them to the office of the Parliament of Guilds or directly to the Wing Guards. Of course, if they do the latter, they will need to explain how they managed to subdue five Ugnaughts carrying illegal weapons without any weapons of their own, which could lead to trouble with the local authorities. But regardless of whether the players capture any Ugnaughts, they have fulfilled their obligation to Fyren and Krygg and can return to them to get the information they need on Darga.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

After the players have dealt with the Ugnaughts in Darga’s employ, they can return to Fyren and Krygg to complete the transaction. If the players brought some or all of the Ugnaughts to the Parliament of Guilds without killing them, Fyren and Krygg are extremely pleased and thank the players for helping to restore some of the reputation their people had lost. If all of the offending Ugnaughts were killed, Fyren and Krygg are saddened, but they agree that sometimes unsavory steps must be taken.

Regardless, the players learn the rest of what the two Ugnaughts know about Darga’s dealings on Cloud City. According to Fyren and Krygg, the Hutt has long been taking the Tibanna gas siphoned from Figg & Associates and selling it to the Empire. The transactions are usually discrete, and they have been unable to learn what Darga gets out of the deal. However, they know that the next transaction will take place during the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament. Fyren suggests that the players visit the Yerith Bespin hotel (one of the finest in the city) or the Royal Casino (where this year’s tournament is to be held). Though the Empire rarely makes itself known on Cloud City, so many strangers have arrived in the last few days that almost anyone, including Imperial agents, could be involved in the tournament.

Imperial Dealings

Having learned about the exchange between Darga’s agents and the Empire that will take place during the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament, the players will likely set out to explore the locales mentioned by the Ugnaughts. If they investigate the Royal Casino, they find that the entire establishment has been closed down in preparation for the tournament, and several Wing Guards block anyone from entering. From the outside, the players can see workers and technicians inside the casino, working diligently to make sure that every table is spotless, every sabacc dealer droid is functioning, and every room is well lit.

At the Yerith Bespin, however, the players have a bit of good fortune. As they enter the lobby of the hotel, they hear a loud argument between a Human male and one of the desk workers. Everyone in earshot can hear the man complaining that his accommodations are unsatisfactory, and he demands that the hotel manager put him in a better room. Though the desk worker is doing his best to calm the man, the customer continues his arrogant tirade, heedless of how many people are watching. When the players enter the hotel lobby, read the following text aloud:

As the players approach, allow them to make a Wisdom (Perception) check with the information learnt based on the DC of the check, as shown below.

DC 10: Just across the lobby, a small entourage of four Humans and two Theelin women (near-Humans with colorful hair and skin patterns) waits patiently for the shouting customer to air his complaints.

DC 15 The two Theelin are watching the man’s every move carefully and seem to be scanning the room looking for threats at the same time—clearly, they are bodyguards of some sort.

DC 20 The four Humans are all very similar; in fact, they could be quadruplets and are distinguished only by the scars they bear. Any player noticing this may make a DC 15 Intelligence (Lore) check with a success revealing the four men to be clones from the same stock as the clone troopers who fought for the Republic in the Clone Wars.

Imperial Threats

Baron Kithriss

Medium humanoid (Human), neutral dark

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• Armor Class 13 (combat suit)
• Hit Points 108 (24d8)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	16 (+3)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)	11 (+0)	16 (+3)

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• Skills Deception +5, Persuasion +5
• Senses Passive Perception 10
• Challenge CR 3 (700 XP)

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Traits

Thrall of Palpatine. Baron Kithriss has advantage on saving throws against force powers and resistance to damage dealt by force powers.

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Actions

Multiattack. Baron Kithriss makes two blaster pistol attacks or two vibrorapier attacks.

Blaster Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) energy damage.

Vibrorapier. Melee Weapon Attack: Attack: +5 to hit, range 5 feet., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) kinetic damage.

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Reactions

Inspire Fervor. When Baron Kithriss lands a successful weapon attack, it can use its reaction to command one ally within 30 feet of it to make one weapon attack, provided that ally can hear it.

Baron Kithriss Tactics

Though Baron Kithriss possesses a limited amount of resistance to Force powers, he does not know it, and he will not rush to engage any players openly showing displays of Force. He prefers to let his bodyguards protect him while his clone troopers lead the way in the fight. He prefers to make attacks against players who are in minimal cover, in the hope of being able to use his Ignite Fervor reaction on one of the clone troopers. If any players get too close, he switches to using his vibrorapier. If he is confident in his ability to strike that player, he will attack them, though against players with a high AC, he will switch to taking the Dodge action to boost his chances of not being hit and let his bodyguards deal with the player instead.

Theelin Bodyguard (2)

Identical twin sisters, these two near-Human bodyguards are devoted to the protection of Baron Kithriss. Though he calls them his “hired guards,” in truth Kithriss purchased them as slaves from a Hutt gangster some years ago. Members of the Theelin near-Human species, these bodyguards boast a somewhat startling appearance which helps them take the attention off of the Baron. Like many slaves, they have been cowed by years of abuse, and go about their duty of protecting Kithriss with impassionate efficiency.

Theelin Bodyguard Tactics

The Theelin bodyguards are excellent close-quarters fighters, and though they are quite accurate with their blaster rifles, they really shine when the fight gets up close and personal. The Theelin bodyguards will use Intercept to divert attacks to themselves, relying on their AC. If any players get too close, a Theelin will try to grab one and trip him, allowing her comrade to slash down with her vibrorapier at the prone player. If no enemies are within melee range, the bodyguards use their blaster rifles, though they never stray too far from Baron Kithriss and always keep one of them adjacent to him.

Conclusion

When the encounter ends, as long as the fight did not occur in an overtly public place, the players stand a good chance of escaping without having been seen by any local authorities. Even if someone did see the fight and alerted the Wing Guard, it will take several minutes for any guards to arrive, giving the players ample time to escape. However, given the number of people in Cloud City who want to avoid trouble with the law, it’s also possible that no one reported the fight at all (though with so many visitors in Cloud City for the sabacc tournament, this is unlikely).

Features of the Area

The main avenues of Cloud City are usually free of debris, preferring an open-air aesthetic to highlight the beauty of a city in the clouds. As such, there is little to take cover behind during this encounter, and some players may find themselves far more exposed than they are accustomed to.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Once the players have dealt with the noble and his guards, they can learn a good deal about who he is and why he is in Cloud City from a datapad on his person. The datapad contains travel logs that identify him as Baron Kithriss, a wealthy noble from Chandrila. The logs show that prior to coming to Bespin, he spent a great deal of time on a political retreat in the Deep Core, seemingly at Palpatine’s behest. Baron Kithriss’s datapad includes instructions to meet up with his “retainers” (the clone troopers) and travel to Bespin, securing accommodations at the Yerith Bespin hotel and awaiting further instructions. Moreover, he is to let no one know that he is an agent for the Empire, and he must maintain complete communications silence except to receive instructions on his hotel computer. The Baron has his hotel access card, and savvy players should realize that they can use the card to gain access to his suite in the Yerith Bespin, granting them luxurious rooms for the duration of their stay and allowing them to intercept the Baron’s instructions from the Empire. Since he has been instructed to remain silent, they need not fear anyone noticing the Baron’s untimely disappearance.

(Note: Gaining access to the Yerith Bespin Hotel should be considered a level-up milestone.)

Part 2: The Tournament

By the time the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament begins, the players should have had time to relax in their suite in the Yerith Bespin for a day or two. Captain Okeefe remains on board the Banshee with her droid copilot, occasionally checking in to make sure nothing has gone awry. The players know by now that Darga is deep in hiding, and that the Empire is sending a representative to the sabacc tournament to make another transaction with the Hutt (or one of his agents). The players should have been watching for a communiqué from the Empire (intended for Baron Kithriss) that will, with luck, provide them with more information about what will happen at the sabacc tournament.

If the players have attempted to find out more about the tournament, they discover with no real issues the following:

• The Cloud City Sabacc Tournament is held annually, and it is one of the most highly publicized sabacc tournaments in the galaxy.
• This year, the tournament is being held at the Royal Casino, though past tournaments have been held in other casinos and even at the Yerith Bespin hotel.
• The buy-in for the sabacc tournament is 10,000 credits per person, with the winner taking the entire prize at the end of the tournament.

Message from the Banshee I

At some point during the players’ quest to find their particular niche in the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament, Captain Okeefe contacts them via comlink to relay a short message. According to Okeefe, her droid copilot was able to tap into the city’s central computer to keep an eye on all communications and sensor data flowing through spaceport control. Moments ago, an Imperial I class Star Destroyer whose transponder identified it as the Assiduous dropped out of hyperspace on the edge of the system, escorting a Gallofree Yards Medium Transport (callsign Shackles of Nizon ). The Star Destroyer launched a single Theta -class shuttle, which set a course for Bespin. The Assiduous promptly jumped to lightspeed, leaving the Medium Transport behind. Though Okeefe doesn’t think that a single shuttle will bring much trouble, she warns the players to be on the lookout for an Imperial presence.

Entering the Tournament

One of the clearest means of getting a front-row seat for the tournament action is to enter the game as a competitor. If the players have 10,000 credits they are willing to part with, they can buy a seat for their best gambler at one of the tables. If they have achieved greater wealth, they can get more than one player into the game. Each buy-in of 10,000 credits is enough to get one player into the tournament.

A player entering the tournament is interviewed briefly by one of the pit bosses of the Royal Casino before being given instructions on when to arrive, where to go, and so forth. The gamblers are not allowed to leave the table except during designated breaks, and each gambler is subject to a thorough search each time he enters or exits the gambling hall. These searches are to prevent cheating and ensure that no one is trying to smuggle sabacc cards in or out. Lastly, each gambler is required to wear a small pin to show that he is still active in the tournament; removing the pin while in the casino will result in immediate expulsion from the game.

Any players who succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check can tell that the pin is more than decorative. In truth, each pin is a communications-jamming device. The wearer of a pin cannot use commlinks—they produce only static. An anti-cheating device, the pin prevents gamblers from receiving outside help during the tournament.

Security

If the players do a bit of asking around, they find out quickly that Jacc Mandelbrot, owner of the Royal Casino, has been hiring a private security force to help keep things safe at his casino during the tournament. With a little diligence, any interested players can set up an interview with Mandelbrot about joining his security force. Jacc Mandelbrot is a large, boisterous man in his late 40s who has owned the Royal Casino for decades, and though he is a shrewd businessman, he is friendly and excited to see capable beings taking an interest in the security of the tournament. After a few cursory questions about the players (where they are from, what brings them to Cloud City, whether they have any outstanding warrants, and so on), Mandelbrot makes them an offer: provide security for all four days of the tournament at a rate of 500 credits per day. During that time, Mandelbrot will arrange special permits for the players that allow them to carry their normal weapons, ignoring Cloud City’s usual restrictions. If the players accept his offer, Mandelbrot gives them their weapons permits immediately and tells them when to arrive and where to go.

During the tournament, the players working security will guard the doors, helping to ensure that no one gets in with an illegal weapon. If they wish to turn a blind eye to their comrades smuggling in weapons, no one will question their searching methods. This is a good way for the players to get some weapons into the tournament; they will come in handy later, when the shooting starts.

The Crowd

Few spectators are allowed into the Royal Casino during the tournament. Each competitor is allowed to bring in one guest to observe, but unless the rest of the players have taken jobs with the security team, they need another way to get in. Players may be able to use a Charisma (Deception)check at DC 14 to bluff their way as it shouldn’t be too hard to pose as an important Cloud City official or convince the guards that the player is a relative of one of the other competitors.

Members of the crowd must stand back from the main gambling floor during the tournament, but during breaks in the action, they can visit with the competitors, allowing the players to collaborate during the tournament. If any player posing as a spectator spends a little too much time socializing with their fellow players on the security team, it might arouse the suspicion of Jacc Mandelbrot. Though Mandelbrot might not say anything to the players, he orders other members of his security force to keep an eye on the players who recently joined the team. Mandelbrot’s warning grants NPC members of the security team advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks made against those players.

Dirty Money

If the players are still having trouble finding a good place to be during the tournament, they have one more option. Just before the start of the tournament, Captain Okeefe receives a message from Switch (the droid crime lord encountered in The Traitor’s Gambit ), asking the players to contact him and providing a means of doing so using the city’s communications system. Some of Switch’s contacts on Cloud City mentioned seeing the players, and considering that they have worked well with the droid in the past, Switch thought they might be amenable to working for him during the sabacc tournament.

Switch always has an interest in illicit activities throughout the galaxy, and with the amount of credits flowing through Cloud City during the tournament, the droid wants a piece of the action. Switch proposes to have the players influence the outcome of the tournament, enabling a victor of Switch’s choosing to take the pot. The droid has already supplied the tournament entry fee to one of his contacts (the Twi’lek starship captain Koroma Moro) but he wants the players to ensure that Moro is the victor in the tournament.

If the players assure him that they will help, Switch offers them a percentage of the winnings (5% of the total pot, though he is willing to increase the percentage to 7% if the players bargain successfully). Switch is not concerned about the players failing to live up to their end of the bargain. He knows that it is in their interest to help Koroma Moro win, because if he loses, they get nothing.

Rogues' Gallery

You may wish to keep a list of generic NPCs to flesh out the tournament’s competitors. Most of these NPCs can simply be names with a species and a personality attached, because their statistics will not matter for the challenges in this adventure. However, five gamblers should be of particular interest to the players. Over the course of the tournament, these competitors should stand out as exceptional players and beings of interest. Any one of them could be Darga’s agent, though one—Koroma Moro—is a bit less suspect because he is known to be in Switch’s employ. Before the tournament ends, the players should have gathered enough information to narrow down the possibilities a bit.

Koroma Moro

Koroma Moro is a starship captain who also happens to be an exceptional gambler. He has hauled cargo for Switch in the past, and when Switch offered to front his entry fee, the Twi’lek knew it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Koroma Moro is a polite but secretive man who has had a number of unfortunate incidents with the authorities since the Empire came to power. As such, he is always cautious when approached by new people, but if any of the players mention Switch, Moro lets his guard down a bit, though he is still unwilling to discuss the details of his relationship with the droid crime lord.

Vorn Zaday

A quiet Neimoidian woman, Vorn Zaday is a skilled sabacc player who is almost completely unknown to others on the tournament circuit. Vorn was a minor dignitary in the Trade Federation who became quite skilled at the game while playing with the officers aboard a Separatist starship during the Clone Wars. She now lives on Cato Neimoidia, but she has no connection to Darga the Hutt. Her presence in the tournament is just a coincidence, but it might be enough to throw the players off of Mirana Fioro’s trail

Days 1 to 2: Elimination Rounds

The sabacc tournament begins with one of the largest opening ceremonies that Cloud City has ever seen. More than 51 competitors have entered the tournament (plus any players who entered), and the Royal Casino is packed with players and spectators. When the day begins, read the following aloud:

Each sabacc table has only five or six players at any time, though as the first two days wear on, all but two players from each of the 10 tables will lose out of the game. Over the course of the first days of the tournament, players fulfilling many different roles will have a chance to interact with the events surrounding the tournament. Below, you will find entries for each of the suggested roles for players involved in the tournament. If the players chose to involve themselves in some other way, feel free to adapt these scenarios to interact with the players. Not only do these scenarios provide something for the players to do each day, but they also provide hints as to who is working for Darga and who is not.

Casino Security

The first few days in the tournament go relatively smoothly for the players working security. Though Jacc Mandelbrot continually checks on their vigilance, for the most part, the players are left to their own devices. They can let their allies smuggle weapons into the casino, and they also have a chance to prove that they are doing their jobs by catching another bystander with a weapon. On the first day, a Sullustan in fine clothing comes to the Royal Casino, shows his visitor pass to the guards at the door, and passes through the security checkpoint where the players are stationed. Have each player working security make a DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) check to notice the Sullustan smuggling in a blaster pistol, granting them advantage for giving him a thorough search.

If they uncover the weapon, they can escort the Sullustan out of the Royal. However, if they bring him to Jacc Mandelbrot instead, the casino’s owner is extremely pleased with their vigilance. As a result, he won’t notify the rest of the security team to keep tabs on the players seen talking together until day 3 of the tournament (for details, see “The Crowd” on page 9).

If the players fail to uncover the weapon, there are not necessarily any negative consequences, though you can use this as a hook for introducing another encounter.

Working for Switch

For any players working for Switch, a chance arises to meet Vorn Zaday, the Neimoidian gambler recently arrived from Cato Neimoidia. She has come to enjoy herself in the tournament and has been saving up for it since the end of the Clone Wars. A stroke of luck brought her a sizable windfall—the Imperial garrison in Cato Neimoidia was accidentally exposed to a biological weapon left over from the Clone Wars, and her antidotes were the only thing that saved the Imperials from being wiped out. As a result, Zaday decided to take a vacation to Cloud City and test her mettle. She is very good (+7 to sabacc deck checks), and though she hopes to win, she seems to just enjoy being away from the dreary, devastated world she calls her home.

On the first day of the tournament, any players working for Switch notice that Zaday has been placed at the same table as Captain Moro, and the two of them seem to be doing an excellent job of wiping out the rest of the gamblers. They each seem to be winning about the same number of hands, and as their piles of credits grow, the other competitors look more and more ashen. At some point during the first few days, a break is called for, and Zaday goes to the bar for a drink, sidling up next to the players to place her order. She nods and exchanges pleasantries with the players, giving them an opportunity to ask her a few questions. As with the encounter with Lt. Arandis, the answers she gives could affect how they react to the final day, when they become suspicious of her presence at the tournament.

Here are answers to some common questions the players might have for Zaday:

• How did you get to be so good at sabacc? “I used to play a lot back when I worked for the Trade Federation, before the Clone Wars.”
• You were a Separatist? “I didn’t have much choice. Fortunately, we avoided most of the fighting, and I was able to retire safely to Cato Neimoidia.”
• Is there any strategy you favor? “Strategy? Oh, I just take each hand as it comes. Sabacc is like that; the chaos is too prevalent to make many plans.
• You’re from Cato Neimoidia? “Yes, hardly as glamorous as Cloud City. I’ve been trying to get away from that world for a long time now.”
• How did you come to be here? “I recently made some... good deals that provided me with a small windfall. Just enough to get me here for the tournament.”
• Do you know Darga the Hutt? “I’m not familiar with any Hutts.” (This is a lie. Darga brokered the deal between Zaday and the Empire, though she doesn’t want anyone to know that she would even associate with the Hutt. Players who see through her deception won’t be able to get this information out of her, though.)
• Do you know Lt. Arandis? Are you affiliated with the Empire? “I try to mind my own business. If you don’t want someone kicking down your door at night, I’d suggest you consider the same plan.”

End of the Day's Event

By the end of the second day, only about 14 competitors remain in the tournament, including Lt. Arandis, Creeska, Silas Draver, Lady Fioro, Captain Moro, and Vorn Zaday. Any players in the tournament need to make Charisma (Deception), Intelligence (sabacc deck), or Wisdom (Insight) checks. A result of 14 or more ensures that the player moves on to the next round of the tournament, which will whittle the remaining players down to a single, final table.

Interlude: Getting Too Close

Between the first two days and the third day of the tournament, a message is delivered to the players’ suite at the Yerith Bespin while the tournament is taking place. The note reads simply, “I know what you’re here for. Meet me on Platform 13-009 at 0200.” The message bears no name and is on a datapad resting in the middle of the floor. In truth, the pad was delivered by some of Silas Draver’s thugs, who have noticed some (or all) of the players acting strangely during the tournament. Draver doesn’t like how the players have been meddling in the tournament so far and wants to get them out of the way before the final day. He doesn’t really know why they’re present, but he suspects that they’re cheating somehow.

One of Draver’s thugs sent a message to the Wing Guard, claiming that a spice deal would go down on Platform 13-009 at 0200. Draver hopes that the guards will detain the players for a few days, at least until the tournament’s end. With security already tense with the influx of visitors for the tournament, this does seem like a likely scenario. If the players decide to attend the meeting at the appointed time, a confrontation between the Wing Guard and the players may ensue.

On The Heights

Bespin Security Chief

The security chief is the leader of the anti-spice smuggling squad. Drawn from the best private security forces in the galaxy, all Wing Guard security chiefs are guaranteed to make their squads better, more accurate, and more perceptive.

Bespin Security Chief Tactics

The security chief has received special training and works best in concert with other members of the Wing Guard. On the first round of combat, he endeavours to keep as many of the security guards within range of his Aura of Command ability. From that point on, he seeks shelter behind the crates on the landing pad. If he sees that the fight is going against his men, he summons the two security guards from the lowest level (they call the turbolift on one round and ride it up the next), and then locks down the turbolift so that no one else can access it.

He is carrying 500 credits.

Cloud City Patrol Droid (2)

These droid security assistants are left over from the Clone Wars and have been modified to aid the Wing Guard in Cloud City. The droids boast jump jets that allow them to fly up to the highest platforms, though they can maintain this flight for only a round at a time. These patrol droids are designed to close to melee range with opponents and subdue them physically, though they are also equipped with ranged weapons if needed.

Cloud City Patrol Guard Tactics

The patrol droids land on the outer rim of the upper platform and try to pin the players in. They prefer to fight in melee with their vibropikes because their high Strength makes their attacks particularly devastating. If they see that the players are gaining an advantage, they will try to push their foes off the platform, though they usually try to push the players onto the platform below so they don’t die from the fall. The droids will use their jump jets to move between the three platforms safely, hoping to harass the players.

Conclusion

Given the odd hour at which this encounter takes place, there should be few bystanders to witness the fight. If the players manage to subdue or kill all of the Wing Guard, they may face repercussions later if it is discovered that they were responsible. However, given the need for the players to move about the city unhindered during the sabacc tournament, you should be careful about branding them as known criminals—at least until the tournament is over and the players find themselves on the wrong side of Imperial (and Bespin) law.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Day 3: Last Tables

The third day of the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament opens with a much smaller field of competitors, though it seems that the number of bystanders has not dwindled. When the players arrive at the Royal Casino for the third day of competition, read the following text aloud:

Working for Switch

On the third day of the tournament, Switch sends a message to the players, which is delivered by the hotel staff of the Yerith Bespin. Switch has heard that Captain Moro is doing well, but he would like to help the Twi’lek reach the final round of the competition. The droid crime lord has sent the players a piece of software for the sabacc dealer droids that will twist the luck of the draw in Moro’s favor. The tricky part is that the players will have to physically insert a memory stick into the dealer droid to upload the software, a difficult prospect given the heightened security surrounding the tournament.

The players should come up with a plan for installing the software. They might choose to disguise themselves as technicians performing maintenance on the droid, though such a deception would be difficult to believe, especially for Jacc Mandelbrot. Players can attempt to slide the memory stick into the dealer droid when no one is looking, and if other players create a distraction of some kind, it can give the player with the stick advantage on a Dexterity (Stealth) check.

When the players attempt to insert the cheating software, use the statistics from the On the Heights encounter for Bespin Security Guards for the rest of the security team. You can also throw other complications at the players to keep them on their toes. For example, another technician might walk up and start tinkering with the droid just as the player approaches it, or one of the other sabacc players might turn to face the droid at just the wrong moment. These complications can add tension to the scene, but they shouldn’t stop the players from completing this minor task.

Additionally, if the players don’t care about helping Captain Moro, they can alter the software so that it provides advantage on Intelligence (sabacc deck) checks to one of their allies instead. A DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) check alters the software to help out a particular player, but the software still has to be installed in one of the dealer droids.

End of the Day's Events

By the end of the second day, only seven or eight competitors should remain in the tournament, including Lt. Arandis, Creeska, Silas Draver, Lady Fioro, Captain Moro, and Vorn Zaday. Any players playing in the tournament need to make Charisma (Deception), Intelligence (sabacc deck), or Wisdom (Insight) checks. A result of 18 or more ensures that the player moves on to the next round of the tournament, which will determine the champion. If two or more players are playing in the tournament, only the player who gets the highest result advances to the final table.

Day 4: Final Round

On the final day of the tournament, the only competitors left are those who have played a significant role in the adventure thus far. If a player has made it to the final table, he or she has the chance to become the next champion of the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament and be known as one of the most talented players in the galaxy. More importantly, though, the players will learn the identity of Darga’s agent and the details of the exchange, and they will also be on the right path to finding the Hutt and bringing him to justice.

Casino Security

As the final day of the tournament wears on, any players working security have a chance to catch Creeska, the Rodian player, cheating with a skifter. A skifter is a special sabacc card that can be changed by tapping on the correct corner of the card. Allow each player working security a DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check to notice Creeska slipping the skifter from his coat during one of the sabacc hands. If a player notices the skifter, he can point it out to the rest of the security team or to Jacc Mandelbrot. Creeska is arrested, all the while protesting his innocence, and dragged off by the security force.

If the players do not notice Creeska cheating, he retains the skifter but loses and gets eliminated from the tournament anyway. Unfortunately, he uses the skifter to win hands against both Captain Moro and any player still in the tournament, disadvantage on their checks to gamble at the end of the tournament.

Bystanders

On the final day of the tournament, Silas Draver pays a handsome bribe to a member of the Royal’s security force to get his comrades into the casino with their weapons. Allow any players in the crowd to make a DC 17 Perception check to notice several of Draver’s thugs being let in with their weapons by the security guard. If the check is successful, the players can report what they saw to any member of the security force. An investigation reveals the two thugs who smuggled in weapons, as well as the guard who was bribed. If the players successfully reveal Draver’s thugs, remove two of his goons from the “Sabacc Table Showdown” encounter, but award XP as though the party had defeated those two goons just the same.

Working for Switch

Despite his successes earlier in the tournament, Captain Moro is not faring well on this final day. If the players did not already introduce themselves to Moro as agents of Switch, the droid sends a message to the Twi’lek, explaining that the players are there to help him. During breaks in the action, Moro may seek out the players for counsel in the final round of the tournament. If they choose, they can advise him on his play, using observations they have made in the first few days to increase his chances of success. One player working for Switch can make a DC 13 Wisdom check to aid Captain Moro on his own checks to gamble at the end of the fourth day, granting him advantage.

Furthermore, if the players interacted with Vorn Zaday earlier in the tournament, they can tip Moro off to her personality, particularly if they reveal her “chaotic” outlook on the game. Doing so imposes disadvantage on Zaday’s checks to gamble at the end of the tournament, decreasing the chance that she will beat Moro’s check. Similarly, if any of the players managed to talk to Lady Fioro, they can impose disadvantage on her check to gamble by revealing her aggressive strategy to Moro.

Tournament Competitors

Near the end of the tournament (this should be the last scenario before the final gamble checks are made), the players finally have a chance to learn the truth about which gambler is working for Darga. One particular hand comes about in which Lady Fioro has a clear advantage. Read the following text aloud:

Based on their earlier interactions with Lt. Arandis, the players should know that such a play was highly irregular for him. Normally, he is conservative and is not easily baited by bluffs, but his play at the end seemed to indicate that he had been tricked into wagering his entire stake. Not only does the loss remove Lt. Arandis from the tournament (a fact that he seems to show no remorse for), it also gives Lady Fioro a significant advantage going into the final hands of the tournament, as his stake was quite sizable.

Additionally, his behavior at the end of the hand should rouse the players’ suspicions, especially given that he specifically arranged the cards to produce the numeric sequence and slid them into the neutral field to keep them from randomizing. If the players have not already figured it out, allow them to make a Intelligence (Technology) check to realize that the numeric sequence corresponds to a communications frequency used by starships, particularly slave circuits.

They should realize what has transpired: Lt. Arandis transferred his winnings to Lady Fioro so that she would win the tournament, and he also communicated the frequency of the slave circuit for the Shackles of Nizon . Lady Fioro is Darga’s agent, and the players should know this now. Unfortunately, before they have a chance to confront her, they will have to deal with Silas Draver and his goons.

Message from the Banshee IV

Just before the players witness the exchange between Lt. Arandis and Lady Fioro, Captain Okeefe contacts them via comlink to say that Imperial chatter has exploded to a new high, and that the exchange must be close to occurring. This should keep the players on the alert for the final round of the tournament, and it can help any players who are struggling to identify Darga’s agent.

End of the Day's Events

At the end of the final day, only a small number of competitors remain: Lady Fioro (+8 to their checks), Captain Moro (+5 to their checks), Vorn Zaday (+7 to their checks), and (if applicable) the player participating in the tournament. Have these competitors make Charisma (Deception), Intelligence (sabacc deck), or Wisdom (Insight) checks. The character with the highest result wins the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament. Though this will determine the winner, at least one NPC does not have a chance to win: Silas Draver.

Concluding the tornament

Once the victor of the tournament has been determined, Jacc Mandelbrot comes to the table to congratulate the winner. In a ceremony as much for the crowd as for the winner, Mandelbrot drones on about the excellent competition. He has had the credits transferred to a special account that only the tournament winner can access, and he hands over a datapad containing the access codes for the account. The crowd cheers, and things finally seem to be winding down, when Silas Draver decides to make his move.

Draver is not one to take losing kindly, and as such he has prepared for this contingency in advance. Draver draws a weapon, and several of his goons push forward out of the crowd, threatening to kill Mandelbrot and many others if the datapad isn’t handed over. Surprisingly, most of the tournament’s competitors and spectators abided by the “no weapons” rule, so none is able to stop Draver and his thugs. To demonstrate how serious he is, Draver activates special programming he had installed into three of the sabacc dealer droids, revealing them to be armed with blaster weapons.

The players will need to deal with Draver to keep him from getting away with the credits. Additionally, he points his blaster at Lady Fioro and threatens to take her hostage to keep him safe all the way to the landing pad where his ship is waiting.

Sabacc Table Showdown

Silas Draver

Medium humanoid (Human), neutral dark

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• Armor Class 15 (fiber armor)
• Hit Points 77 (14d8+14)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)	13 (+1)	15 (+2)

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• Skills Deception +4, Perception +3, Persuasion +4
• Senses passive Perception 14
• Languages Galactic Basic
• Challenge CR 2 (450 XP)

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Tech Casting. Silas Draver is a 9th-level techcaster. Its techcasting ability is Intelligence (power save DC 15, +7 to hit with power attacks, 21 tech points).

Silas Draver knows the following powers:

At-will: Encrypted Message, Mending, On/Off, Sonic Shot
1st-level: Decryption Program, Element of Surprise, Kolto Pack
2nd-level: Hold Droid, Overheat, Translocate,
3rd-level: Kolto Cloud, Scramble Interface, Tech Override

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Actions

Blaster Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5, range 60/240 ft, one target. Hit 6 (1d6+3) energy damage.

Silas Draver Tactics

Draver wants one thing above everything else: the credits from the tournament. He remains adjacent to Lady Fioro whenever possible, coercing her to move with him toward the door. If flushed out, he uses the sabacc tables for cover while not impeding his own shots.

He is carrying 1000 credits.

Sabacc Dealer Droid (3)

Each sabacc dealer droid is programmed to provide the most fair gaming experience possible, and because the droid is implanted in the ceiling, it cannot be moved or tampered with easily. These particular dealer droids were modified by Jacc Mandelbrot to have blaster pistols implanted in their chassis. If anything like this happened, Mandelbrot hoped to use the droids to stop it; he didn’t expect someone else to hijack the droids.

Sabacc Dealer Droid Tactics

The sabacc dealer droids are programmed to avoid targeting Silas Draver and his allies, but anyone else is fair game. The droids recognize overtly aggressive action, so they should target the players, though other bystanders might be targeted by accident. In fact, this is exactly what happens to Lt. Arandis and Lady Fioro, and the Imperial officer is slain by the attack.

Silas Draver's Goons (4)

Silas has a number of accomplices in the crowd who help him put down any opposition. These thugs focus only on the credits that they’ll earn for helping their boss, and they aren’t smart enough to know when to back down.

Each goon is carrying 200 credits for a total of 800 credits.

Silas Draver Goon Tactics

The thugs working with Draver have very simple tactics: shoot the players. When they see the players reacting to the situation, they will take cover and try to aim as much as possible. However, they also have the Cunning Action ability, so if they can get behind suitable cover and make Dexterity (Stealth) checks to hide, they will utilize that to enable their Sneak Attack damage if they arent already benefiting from it.

Conclusion

By the end of the encounter, most of the crowd has pushed its way out of the Royal Casino, and the players (plus any wounded) are the only ones left. Jacc Mandelbrot is frantically trying to get his security team to help the victims, leaving the players free to talk to Lady Fioro. Unfortunately, Lt. Arandis does not survive the encounter, which may lead to trouble for the players down the road.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Part 3: Skirmish over Bespin

With the tournament over, the credits safe, and Silas Draver dealt with, the players have a chance to catch up to Darga the Hutt. Having witnessed the transaction between the Imperial officer and Darga’s Hapan proxy, the players know that Lady Fioro has the information they need to find their quarry, and that she can likely reveal the full depth of Darga’s involvement in the Sarlacc Project.

Unfortunately, Lady Fioro was gravely wounded in the firefight with Silas Draver and his goons. With Lt. Arandis dead and Lady Fioro on the edge of death, the players should waste no time in talking to her. She might be their last chance to learn Darga’s whereabouts.

Elite Bespin Security Guard (4)

Elite Bespin Security Guard Tactics

The Elite Bespin security guards work best in groups where they can combine their efforts to take down a superior foe. They usually work in pairs, though against particularly resilient foes, they will sometimes combine all of their fire against the same opponent. Additionally, since they wear modest armor, they will sometimes take more risks to close the range, forgoing cover if it means lining up a better shot. These security guards are meant only to slow the players down, allowing them to move forward just far enough to make room for the stormtroopers entering behind them.

Each security guard is carrying 400 credits for a total of 1600 credits.

Stormtrooper (6)

Imperial Officer

Conclusion

Having evaded both the Wing Guard and the Empire for now, the players have a chance to make their way to the hangar where they know Darga is docked. Due to the winding nature of many of the halls and walkways in Cloud City, the players might hear or see stormtroopers giving pursuit without coming into direct conflict with them. In fact, the Imperial forces shouldn’t catch up to the players until they reach Darga’s hangar.

When the players escape the ambush, they have very little time to reach docking bay 4414. They travel deeper into the city, and at their footsteps they often hear the sounds of pursuit. Occasionally, they hear shouts of “This way!” and “I think they’re heading down to a lower level!” echoing through the halls behind them. The muffled, electronic sound of the voices should indicate that a squad of stormtroopers remains in pursuit, dedicated to stopping the players from leaving Bespin alive.

When they finally reach the docking bay they seek, they should realize that they are just in time. The Hutt and his minions are still outside of the ship, which looms large in the docking bay, and it looks as though they have been loading huge crates (filled with contraband that Darga picked up during his stay in Cloud City) onto the yacht. There is no time to talk. The Empire is at the players’ heels, and Darga’s goons know better than to wait for their boss to give the order to attack. With the Hutt shouting encouragement, Darga’s cronies and the stormtroopers try to put an end to the players’ meddling.

Hutt's Hangar

Darga the Hutt

Large humanoid (Hutt), chaotic dark

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• Armor Class 14 (hide, survival instinct)
• Hit Points 128 (15d10+45)
• Speed 20 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	8 (-1)	17 (+3)	18 (+4)	15 (+2)	18 (+4)

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• Skills Deception +6, Insight +4, Intimidate +8 Perception +4, Persuasion +6
• Saving Throws Con +5, Int +6, Cha +6
• Damage Resistances acid, poison
• Condition Immunities charmed, prone
• Senses passive Perception 14
• Languages Galactic Basic, Bocce, Dosh, Huttese, Pak Pak, Quarrenese, Rodese
• Challenge CR 4 (1,100 XP)

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Dominating Presence (1/rest). As a bonus action, Darga can call out to a humanoid who can understand him that is charmed by him or frightened of him to direct their next action. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 16). On a failed save, until the end of Darga's next turn, the creature takes only the actions Darga chooses, and doesn’t do anything that he doesn’t allow it to do.

During this time Darga can use his reaction to force the creature to use the creature's reaction.

Reassemble (1/rest). Darga may use a bonus action to call his allies towards himself. He chooses a number of creatures that it can see within 60 feet of it equal to its Intelligence modifier (minimum of one). They can use their reaction to immediately move directly towards Darga up to their movement speed. This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.

Survival Instinct. Darga and all allies within 10 feet of him gain a bonus to their AC equal to half his Intelligence modifier (rounded down, included in Armor Class).

Tyrant's Ferocity. Darga has advantage on any attack against a creature that is charmed by him or frightened of him.

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Actions

Multiattack. Darga makes three disruptor pistol attacks, three slam attacks, two disruptor pistol attacks and overwhelming presence or two slam attacks and overwhelming presence.

Disruptor Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, range 60/240 ft, one target. Hit 3 (1d8-1) acid damage, and if the creature is reduced to 0 hitpoints by this attack, it must make a DC 13 constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it dies immediately without making death saving throws. A disintegrated creature and everything unenhanced it is wearing or carrying are reduced to a pile of fine gray dust. A creature destroyed in this way can not be revitalized.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit 6 (1d8+2) kinetic damage, and the target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC 16) or become grappled.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit 11 (2d8+2) kinetic damage, and the target is knocked prone.

Overwhelming Presence. Darga can make a Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Intimidation) skill check to attempt to charm or frighten a humanoid creature who can see or hear him within 60 feet. The target makes a contested Wisdom (Insight) check. If Darga's check succeeds, the target is charmed by him if he used Persuasion, or frightened of him if he used Intimidation, until the end of his next turn.

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Reactions

Call the Guards. When a creature attacks Darga, he commands a willing ally within 5 feet of that creature to use their reaction to intercede. The creature is then forced to make an attack on the ally instead. If the attack misses, the ally can immediately make a weapon attack with advantage against that creature as a part of that same reaction.

Darga the Hutt Tactics

Darga is a typical crime lord and likes to have his allies fight for him. He attempts to Overwhelming Presence to activate his Tyrant's Ferocity ability and on a particularly dangerous player he will use Dominating Presence against them additionally. He will use Call the Guards if he can have his ally take a shot or to save his life as he rarely strays far from his bodyguard droid.

He is carrying gaudy jewelery that is worth a combined total of 1,500 credits if sold.

Clan Mionne Escort Pilot (6)

Hired by Darga to escort his personal yacht on its trips around the galaxy, these pilots are always at the disposal of one of the most prominent members of the Mionne Hutt clan. Though they have no particular loyalty to Darga beyond the credits he spends on them, they know that most of Darga’s enemies would consider them enemies by association, and thus they have no compunctions about fighting for their lives.

Clan Mionne Escort Pilot Tactics

Unfortunately for Darga, these pilots are not nearly at home in ground combat as they are in space. The escort pilots are fast, however, and dash across the battlefield to seek shelter if they can find it, boosting their AC with cover.

Each pilot carries 200 credits for a combined total of 1,200 credits.

Security Battle Droid

Rather than have an entourage of Gamorrean guards follow him around when he travels abroad, Darga prefers to use a single, powerful battle droid capable of defending him against harm. The battle droid’s shield is enough to deflect low-powered attacks, and its large size makes it an imposing opponent, capable of stepping in the way of attacks directed at the similarly large Hutt.

Security Battle Droid Tactics

The droid will attempt to make itself a tempting target for the player's attacks as its high stats and AC make it very durable. Though the droid will not leave Darga’s side, it takes every opportunity to place itself between the Hutt and the players, using its body to provide half cover to Darga.

Stormtrooper (4)

Conclusion

When the encounter ends, the players have some time before more reinforcements show up, so they can catch their breath, perform first aid, or discuss what to do next. When the messages come from Captain Okeefe, they will be rushed enough in making their decision, so you need not challenge the players with further opponents just yet.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Covering the Empire's Track

Though his thugs have been defeated and the Empire is too far away to help, the Hutt crime lord is nonetheless defiant as he faces the players. Whether he is a prisoner or merely dying of his wounds, Darga cannot resist taunting the players one last time. Before he dies (or is otherwise subdued), Darga has a few choice words. Read the following text aloud:

The Arrival of Assiduous

If the players used lethal force with Darga, he expires after delivering that coda. Otherwise, he simply refuses to speak further. Just moments after they finish with the Hutt, however, the players receive a call from Captain Okeefe on the Banshee. According to her sensors, the Imperial I class Star Destroyer Assiduous just emerged from hyperspace at the edge of the system and began transmitting extensive messages on the slave circuit to the Shackles of Nizon. It beamed similar messages to a Tibanna gas hauler that had been sitting inert in the space above Bespin until now. As the Assiduous launched a number of TIE fighters, all of which are screaming toward Bespin, the Tibanna gas hauler fired its engines and set in a new course—a course leading it directly at the Shackles of Nizon. Crash has made the calculations, and the Tibanna gas hauler will collide with the Medium Transport in a matter of minutes, destroying both ships completely—and killing all the slaves on the Medium Transport.

Stopping the Tibanna Gas Hauler

The Tibanna gas hauler is careening through space toward the Shackles of Nizon, a Medium Transport with thousands of slaves onboard. A group of TIE fighters is on its way toward Bespin, likely to finish the job in case the hauler doesn’t completely destroy the slave ship. The Assiduous is only minutes away from being in range of the planet, and the Empire knows the players are in Cloud City and were involved in the death of Lt. Arandis (even if they weren’t directly responsible).

Things look pretty dire for the players, and they may be tempted to cut their losses and make a break for it. However, thousands of slaves will die if they do. Moreover, those slaves are clearly involved in the Sarlacc Project, and stopping the Shackles of Nizon from being destroyed could give them another lead.

In the hangar are six Z-95 headhunter starfighters that belonged to Darga the Hutt’s escorts. These ships, while not in pristine condition, are well maintained, powered up, and ready to fly. It actually takes very little skill to fly the ships (even an untrained pilot could maneuver them well enough), and high Inteliigence characters are exceptionally good candidates to pilot the starfighters. Don’t be afraid to encourage the players to hop in the Headhunters; it will give individual players more to do during the final two encounters of the adventure.

Z-95 Headhunter

*Tier 0 small starship, unaligned

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• Armor Class 9 + Pilot Skill (deflection)
• Hit Points 14 (3d6)
• Shield Points 14 (directional)
• Shield Regeneration Rate 6
• Speed 350 ft., turning 100 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	16 (+3)	10 (+0)	-	-	-

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• Saving Throws Dexterity +3 + Pilot Prof

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Armament

Forward-facing

Light Laser Cannons (1) Concussion Missile Launcher (1)

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Attacks

(Remember to add the proficiency of the gunners to the attack rolls and DC checks)

Light Laser Cannons. Makes 2 Ranged Ship Attacks: +3 to hit, range 300/600, one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) energy damage.

Concussion Missile Launcher. Makes 1 Ranged Ship Attack: DC 11, range 600/1,200, one target. Hit: 16 (3d10) energy damage.

Deployments

The Z-95 Headhunter only has one deployment, the pilot controls all aspects of the ship. Use the pilot's ability scores for the Z-95 Headhunter's Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma.

Modifications

The Z-95 Headhunter has 9 modification slots, including those granted by its size and role. It has the following stock modifications:

• Weapons: Fixed Hardpoint (Light Laser Cannons)

Additionally it has the following 5 modifications:

• Operations: Hyperdrive Slot, Enhanced Scanner, Navcomputer Slot
• Weapons: Expanded Payload (Concussion Missile Launcher), Fixed Hardpoint (Concussion Missle Launcher)

"Glorious Chariot"
Sorosuub Luxury Yacht 3000

*Tier 2 medium starship, unaligned, yacht role

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• Armor Class 8 + Pilot Skill (deflection)
• Hit Points 45 (7d8)
• Shield Points 23 (quick-charge)
• Shield Regeneration Rate 16
• Speed 300 ft., turning 150 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	-	-	-

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• Saving Throws Dexterity +2 + Pilot Prof

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Abilities

Evasive Maneuvers. (4/maintenance) At 1st tier, When the deployed pilot rolls for initiative, they can immediately move the ship. This movement happens before the initiative order is determined.

The amount the ship moves is determined by rolling a d6 and multiplying it by 50 feet. The ship then gains that many feet that it can move or spend to turn. All expended uses are regained when the ship undergoes maintenance.

Nimble Starship. At 2nd tier, your ship can add half its Dexterity modifier (minimum of one) to any saving throw it makes that doesn't already include that modifier.

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Armament

Turreted

Laser Cannon (1) - Gunner

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Attacks

(Remember to add the proficiency of the gunners to the attack rolls)

Laser Cannon. Makes 2 Ranged Ship Attacks: +2 to hit, range 450/900, one target. Hit: 5 (1d8+1) energy damage.

Deployments

The Glorious Chariot has 5 deployment stations, with 1 gunnery station. Use the pilot's ability scores for the Glorious Chariot's Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma.

Modifications

The Glorious Chariot has 17 modification slots, including those granted by its size and role. It has the following stock modifications:

• Operations: Hyperdrive Slot
• Suites: Luxury Quarters, Recreation

Additionally it has the following 11 modifications:

• Engineering: External Docking System
• Operations: Backup Hyperdrive, Enhanced Communications, Enhanced Scanner, Navcomputer Slot
• Suites: Barracks, Escape Pod, Medbay, Meditation Chamber
• Weapons: Fixed Hardpoint, Turret Hardpoint (Laser Cannon)

Flight from Cloud City

Talon I Combat Cloud Car (4)

The Talon I Combat Cloud Car is a fast, agile airspeeder that also boasts greater durability than the average cloud car. Additionally, the Talon I is outfitted with starfighter-scale weapons, allowing the pilots to deal with spacecraft attempting to flee Cloud City. These combat cloud cars are used only in situations where the targets of pursuit are in starfighters or space transports, and though they have only a pilot for crew and cannot leave the atmosphere, they fill a gap between airspeeders and starfighters.

Talon I Combat Cloud Car Tactics

More agile and well defended than their twin-pod comrades, the combat cloud cars have no compunctions about getting up close and personal with the players. They are willing to engage in dogfights with any players piloting starships, and with weapons on par with those on the players’ vessels, they are far more aggressive than the other cloud cars.

Tibanna Gas Refinery Platform

Several large Tibanna gas refineries dot the airspace above and around Cloud City. These platforms are waypoints for the Ugnaughts traveling on Tibanna gas mining vehicles, and they also serve as remote storage and for particularly contaminated gas harvests. Each platform has several gas tanks that can hold contaminated Tibanna gas as it is filtered and transferred to other containers, which are then picked up later by the miners. Each platform is relatively motionless, and each has basic weapons systems that fire at unidentified vessels coming too close.

Tibanna Gas Refinery Platform Tactics

The Tibanna gas refinery platforms have no advanced tactical programming, and they attack unidentified targets (the players) when they approach to their normal range.

Conclusion

When the encounter ends, no more pursuit comes from Cloud City. The Parliament of Guilds has managed to stop any further launches, and Imperial loyalists on Cloud City are trusting the fighters from the Assiduous to finish the job of destroying the players. However, the players move almost instantly into the next encounter, which takes place in the space above Bespin.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Once the players get out of the atmosphere, they must contend with the forces of the Empire. Though the Assiduous is too far away to reach the Tibanna gas hauler, it has sent TIE fighters to make sure that the Shackles of Nizon is destroyed one way or another. When the players leave the atmosphere, they have only a limited amount of time to destroy the Tibanna gas hauler before it collides with the Shackles of Nizon.

Skirmish Over Bespin

TIE/LN Fighter Tactics

The TIE fighters launched by the Assiduous were dispatched to ensure that the players could not interfere with the destruction of the Shackles of Nizon and the Tibanna gas hauler, two starships that provide major evidence of the Empire’s dealings with Darga the Hutt. The TIE fighters’ primary goal is to delay the players long enough for the Tibanna gas hauler to reach the Shackles of Nizon, though if they manage to kill some of the players in the process, they would consider it a victory. As such, they make extensive use of the Interfere action, hoping to slow the players by providing disadvantage to their attacks to destroy the Tibanna gas hauler. If the players manage to destroy the Tibanna gas hauler, the TIE fighters receive new orders to destroy the Shackles of Nizon themselves. As a result, the players will need to destroy all of the TIE fighters before the slave ship is destroyed.

Tibanna Gas Hauler

The Tibanna gas hauler is a custom vehicle designed by the Ubrikkian corporation specifically for the transportation of Tibanna gas from Cloud City. The starship operates via a droid brain that receives orders from designated controllers; unlike a slave circuit, the droid brain on the Tibanna gas hauler can make snap decisions on its own to preserve the ship. In this instance, the Tibanna gas hauler has been ordered to collide with the Shackles of Nizon, and the single-minded droid brain controlling it will stop at nothing to complete the mission.

Tibanna Gas Hauler Tactics

The Tibanna gas hauler will stop at nothing to complete its sole mission: to collide with the Shackles of Nizon. The volatile Tibanna gas in its storage area is guaranteed to create a much larger explosion than normal, so the vessel travels along a straight course for the Medium Transport, heedless of its own safety even if under fire.

Shackles of Nizon

This Medium Transport has traveled from the Byss system, where the Sarlacc Project is being worked on, and has weathered a good deal of damage before arriving at Bespin. Thousands of mistreated and malnourished slaves are inside the ship’s holds, and it is controlled by a slave circuit installed by the Empire.

Conclusion

With the TIE fighters destroyed and the Tibanna gas hauler stopped, the Shackles of Nizon is safe from destruction. The ship refuses all hails; however, the slaves became aware of the battle outside (and of the Tibanna gas hauler careening toward them), disabled the slave circuit, and regained control of the ship just as the encounter concludes.

Features of the Area

There are no environmental hazards to deal with in this encounter. However you can use Inquisitor Draco’s Imperial I-class Star Destroyer, the Assiduous, as another element of the environment. Have the Assiduous choose a point within range, barraging a 150-foot area with its Heavy Laster Battery. Each ship that enters the area or starts its turn there is attacked by the Assiduous, making a DC 9 Dexterity Saving Throw with advantage with a failed save dealing 2d6+8 energy damage) thus turning the Inquisitor’s flagship into a dangerous piece of terrain. Keep in mind that adding the Assiduous directly to the fight would likely prove to be too much of a challenge for the players.

However, using the Star Destroyer merely as a set piece to intimidate the players could heighten the tension in the scene. Just make sure to keep the ship out of weapons range of either the players or the Shackles of Nizon to avoid altering the encounter.

Encounter Map

The map provided originally by Sagas does not convert well to sw5e. Use a star field as a battle map and simply scale it to the sizes mentioned in the setup part of this encounter.

Concluding the Adventure

At the end of the adventure, assuming the players succeeded, the Tibanna gas hauler does not destroy the Shackles of Nizon. A few short moments after the ship’s safety is assured, the players receive a simple text message from the Medium Transport: “We have gained control. Thank you.” The engines of the ship flare, and seconds later, it makes a jump to hyperspace, with no other fanfare.

However, all is not safe in the Bespin system. The Assiduous is fast approaching, and the players definitely don’t want to stick around to answer a lot of questions from the Empire. While the navcomputers aboard the Banshee plot their course, the players can see the distant dagger shape of the Star Destroyer rapidly approaching their position. It becomes clear that the Assiduous won’t be in range until well after the players have jumped to hyperspace, but the ship comes on nonetheless. Just before the players jump, they receive a visual communication from the Assiduous (if they refuse to open a communications channel, the message can be sent as a recording to the Banshee, and Captain Okeefe can play it for them). Read the following text aloud when the players view the message

End of the First Story Arc

The end of The Queen of Air and Darkness concludes the first story arc in the Dawn of Defiance campaign. By the end of this adventure, the players have learned that the Empire has been using slaves in the Sarlacc Project, and that they are in great need of large quantities of Tibanna gas as well. They have seen Valin Draco, if at a distance, and now find themselves known to the Empire. When the players return to the Nebulon-B cruiser Resurgence, they are welcomed by Captain Verana, who debriefs the players and seems amazed at all they were able to accomplish. He and his crew begin to analyze the data in the Banshee’s sensor systems that was brought back from Cato Neimoidia and Bespin, and they continue the search for the Sarlacc Project there.

Similar to the gaps between the Star Wars films, the end of this adventure provides a perfect time for you to take care of any lingering issues from the first third of the campaign. The players should be 7th level by the time the adventure ends. If any of them are behind the curve, you can insert some small adventures of your own to help get them a little closer to the appropriate level.

If any players died during The Queen of Air and Darkness, the gap between adventures serves as a good place to introduce new players. Additionally, if any of the players have goals to be taken care of during downtime—such as refurbishing the interior of the Glorious Chariot, installing special modifications to their ships, or constructing their own lightsabers—now is a good time to let those things happen. With the extremely fast pace of Star Wars adventures, it may be difficult to find time for more mundane activities during upcoming adventures.

Advancing the Campaign Timeline

One option you should consider is a large advancement in the campaign’s timeline. The gaps between many of the Star Wars films leave months and even years unexplained, and doing the same for the Dawn of Defiance campaign could help not only make it feel more like the Star Wars movies but also provide interesting options for character development. You can choose how far ahead to jump, though jumping forward more than two or three years can be troublesome. During that time period, the players continue to work for the Alderaanian Resistance, operating out of the Resurgence, but getting no closer to the Sarlacc Project. They have few major adventures, and characters might change significantly between The Queen of Air and Darkness and the fourth adventure in the campaign, Echoes of the Jedi. Just as Luke goes from being a Rebel pilot to a full-blown Jedi between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, a player might receive a major overhaul to help him or her fit in better with the rest of the group.

A large time jump also gives you the opportunity to allow a player to rebuild his or her character. Since the campaign began, the player might have found new options to try or might have learned that certain talents or feats weren’t used much. If you choose to let the player rebuild his character, he should keep the ability scores the same but otherwise can rebuild the character from the ground up, choosing new classes, talents, and feats. The player shouldn’t change too drastically and must remain recognizable, and the new statistics for the character should reflect a logical evolution. For example, rebuilding a Jedi as a scoundrel and not taking the Force Sensitivity feat is probably too big of a leap, but a scholar being rebuilt with fighter levels could reflect the player taking a larger role in the Alderaanian Resistance. You should work with your players to ensure that such changes make sense for the characters and provide new depth and story options for the players.

Tibanna Gas Refinery Encounter Map

Imperial Threats Encounter Map

On the Heights Encounter Map

Sabacc Table Showdown Encounter Map

Streets of Cloud City Encounter Map

Hutt’s Hangar Encounter Map