The Bendu's Shadow
This is the first module of a two-part adventure that has been converted for the SW5e roleplaying system. This model should be read and used by GMs. If you are going to be a player in this module, read no further!
This module is designed to begin with the players traveling through space in a transport-type vessel, e.g. the end of the beginner campaign Escape from Mos Shuuta. You may choose to have the players already en route to somewhere, or you may allow the players to plot a course somewhere and simply be pulled into the campaign. This module is divided into three parts – two short introductory parts and a longer third part. This module is also designed to hook into another module at the end of this one, although this can be played as a stand-alone adventure.
This module is designed for a party of four level 3 characters.
Formatting Notes
In this module, information is keyed as follows:
GM notes will be in italics.
Information to be read to the players will appear like this.
Skill Checks
that can be made in an area will usually fall under a heading like this.
Potential outcomes or player decision points
will fall under a heading like this. The GM should look for these when trying to respond to player choices.
Maps are provided in this post. These maps are designed specifically for this campaign, so your players may take direct visual cues from what they see on the images. If you feel so inclined, distribute these as handouts/charts to the players.
Map Notes
will highlight which of the included maps a particular section takes place on.
Story Summary
In Act 1, the players will find themselves pulled out of hyperspace into the middle of a battle between a Rebel frigate and an Imperial frigate. The Rebels will request help, and regardless of the players’ response, the Rebels will eventually win the battle. Post-battle, the players will be given the opportunity to hijack an Imperial vessel on behalf of the Rebel Alliance.
Assuming the players accept, in Act 2, the players will be transported to the vessel-to-be-captured and try to sneak on disguised as TIE Fighter pilots. While docking, the players will be confronted by a separate group of Rebels, unaware of the players’ mission. The players will need to find a way to get on board in the face of this obstacle.
In Act 3, once the players are on board, they will search the ship and discover that it is largely devoid of human life. Additionally, the hyperdrive is disabled. They will discover the captain of the vessel who, just after expositing to the players about a rogue droid causing havoc, gets shot by the same rogue droid. The droid then flees. The players will need to hunt down the rogue droid, who has been the source of the ship’s problems (including the disabled hyperdrive, which prevents the players from accomplishing their mission). As the players do this, they will meet and aid the vessel’s chief engineer. After successfully getting what they need from the rogue droid, the players will restore the ship’s functions and jump into hyperspace to complete their mission.
In the Epilogue (unlabeled), the players will meet up with the Rebels to turn the ship over, only to be ambushed by a Star Destroyer. This leads in to Module Two of this adventure, Stalitz Flight.
The Bendu's Shadow
The galaxy is in turmoil. While the fledgling REBEL ALLIANCE struggles to gain a foothold against the GALACTIC EMPIRE, countless individuals find themselves caught in the middle.
In the deep reaches of the OUTER RIM, a group of spacers travels from job to job, trying to make their way in a galaxy at war.
Little do they know that they are about to become a vital party of that war as they pursue the secrets of the BENDU'S SHADOW....
Act 1: Traveling through Hyperspace ain’t like dusting crops, boy!
Map Notes
Use a generic space map for the first two acts.
This section will have the players participate in a battle between the Empire and the Rebels that the Rebel Alliance will end up winning (either through reinforcements or through player aid). Players may participate in clearing the fighter complements of either side and/or lead attacks against either capital ship, potentially destroying either one. The Interdictor must ultimately be destroyed, since it is the item preventing the players’ escape. If players help the Empire, they can still receive the quest from the Rebels post-battle, although the Rebels’ demeanor will be hostile towards them.
While en route, you feel your ship give a sudden jolt and you hear the hyperdrive whine. You’re not sure what’s just happened, but you know it can’t be good. You’d better check the navicomp fast – you’ve got a bad feeling about this.
As soon as someone gets into the cockpit (or if they're already there):
You notice that the starlines are no longer streaking by – you’ve dropped into realspace. This shouldn’t happen! There are no planets nearby. Then, as you turn your head, you see a grey, wedge-shaped ship in the distance in combat with a battle-scarred frigate. This can’t be good. What do you do?
Each player must make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw against fear – the wedge-shaped ship can only be one of the Empire’s feared capital ships. A character who fails the save becomes frightened for 1 minute. The character can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of his or her turns, ending the effect on the character on a successful save. If the player has successfully ID’d the vessel as an Interdictor cruiser (as below), add advantage to the saving throw of anyone who knows what the ship is.
Skill Checks
DC 15 Intelligence (Lore) check will ID the ships:
- Ships are Nebulon-B Escort Frigate and Immobilizer 418 (Interdictor) cruiser, along with assorted TIE Fighters and Y-Wings. The assuredly Imperial Interdictor is twice the size of likely Rebel Nebulon-B.
- Pass by 5 or more: Each carries a similar complement of fighters and both are similar in terms of firepower. This could be a stalemate. Interdictor is using gravity-well projectors, which create mass shadows, preventing ships from entering hyperspace.
- Pass by 10 or more: This looks to be a medical variant of the standard escort frigate.
DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check on the hyperdrive:
- Any success should reveal that the hyperdrive, while not in perfect condition, appears to be fully functional
DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check on any shipboard computer:
- Any success should indicate that hyperdrive is functional
Notes: Players decide what to do. Encourage contributing in some way to the end of the battle, since the Interdictor either needs to be destroyed or turn off its gravity well projectors for them to reenter hyperspace. Players may try to escape at sublight - discourage this with a wing of TIEs chasing them down. Players should ideally choose either to aid the Rebels (who will eventually win this battle) or the Imperials (who will lose).
After players make a decision:
You hear a broadcast over your ship’s comm system:
"Attention, new vessel. This is the Alliance frigate Adegan Sunrise. We are a medical frigate carrying victims from the Imperial attack on the Talasea colonies. We've managed to open a hole in the Interdictor's defenses with our bombers, but they're being torn up by those TIEs. Please help!"
Players may try to contact the Imperial vessel, but the Imperial captain should be dismissive, or, at best, arrogant towards the group. The captain may allow their help, but he would not welcome it. As with many Imperials, this captain looks down on the fringe element the player party represents.
Players should enter combat either with TIEs or with Y-Wings. Players should be within range of a group of ships including some fighters from both sides. Based on your players' skill and the quality of their ship, choose a number of fighters that will make this combat challenging but survivable. Describe other starfighters engaging in dogfights and bombing runs all around, out of range for the players to directly engage with. The two capital ships don't need to be run using full starship rules, but once per round, the opposing side's capital ship will fire on the players or one of their allies (+5 to hit, 3d10 + 4 energy damage).
TIE/LN Starfighter
Tier 1 Small starship, strike fighter
- Armor Class 14 (lightweight)
- Hit Points 18
- Shield Points 0 (none)
- Shield Regeneration Rate 0
- Speed 400 ft., turning 100 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 15 (+2) 17 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+0)
- Saving Throws Str +4, Dex +5
- Skills Probe +2, Scan +4
- Senses blindsight 1000 ft.
Flight Computer. The TIE/ln Starfighter can take the Evade, Fly, or Regenerate Shield action as a bonus action on each of its turns.
Actions
Twin Laser Cannon. Ranged Ship Attack: +4 to hit, range 600/2400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) energy damage.
Y-Wing Starfighter
Tier 2 Small starship, bomber
- Armor Class 14 (deflection)
- Damage Reduction 3
- Hit Points 27 (5d6)
- Shield Points 48 (fortress)
- Shield Regeneration Rate 4
- Speed 350 ft., turning 150 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
- Saving Throws Str +4, Dex +5
- Skills Probe +2, Scan +4
- Senses blindsight 1000 ft.
Actions
Laser Cannon. Ranged Ship Attack: +4 to hit, range 1000/4000 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 3) energy damage.
Ion Cannon. Ranged Ship Attack: +4 to hit, range 800/3200 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) ion damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or become ionized for one minute. As an action by a crew member on their turn, the ship can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect early on a success. Medium or larger ships have advantage on the saving throw.
Reactions
Pinpoint Strike. When the Y-Wing occupies the same square occupied by a target ship and the pilot makes an attack roll, as a reaction, the pilot can, before rolling the attack, roll 1d6 and add it to the attack roll. If the attack requires a saving throw instead, it can subtract 1d6 from the target's save result. On a hit, the attack deals normal damage that bypasses any shields and directly hits the hull of the target ship.
Retro Thrusters (1/Recharge). When an attacker that the Y-Wing can see deals damage to it with a weapon, the Y-Wing can uses its reaction to immediately move up to 50 feet in a direction of its choice, halving the damage it takes. The orientation of the Y-Wing does not change.
If the players respond by offering to help the Rebels:
The Rebels should potentially point them in the direction of some of the below actions, provided the players ask how they can help.
Players should be facing groups of TIEs chasing Y-Wings with at least one of their chosen enemy (TIE if assisting Rebels, Y-Wing if assisting Imperials).
Skill Checks
DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion) check - any players unaffected by fear may make this check as an action to rally their frightened teammates, ending the frightened condition on them on a success
DC 15 Intelligence (Piloting) check as an action to analyze the Rebels’ flight patterns (i.e. their bombing/strafing runs) to determine where the hole in the Interdictor’s defenses might be:
- This should allow the players to attempt a strafing run on the Interdictor. During that round, another player can make an attack against the Interdictor (AC 12, +1 to Dex saves). A successful attack should start the destruction of the Interdictor.
If the players destroy a TIE Fighter attacking one of the Y-Wings:
The Y-Wing pilot should ask for help on a bombing run against the Interdictor. If the player is willing to provide cover, allow the Y-Wing to make an ion cannon attack on the Interdictor (AC 12). A successful attack should start the destruction of the Interdictor.
If the players attack the either capital ship directly:
It should start firing on them and one or two of its fighters should break off (or get launched) and attack the player. The players don't have a chance of damaging a capital ship unless they meet one of the other conditions listed here.
If the players’ actions result in a capital ship starting to be destroyed:
The capital ship should have at least one round of attacking the player before it goes kaboom.
If the Interdictor is destroyed before the TIEs are destroyed:
The players should assist the Rebels in cleanup of the TIE fighters. If there are a lot of TIEs, consider having the TIE pilots surrender after one or two more die.
If all the TIEs are destroyed but the Interdictor is not:
The Rebels pass on targeting information to the player and have them lead the Y-Wings in an attack run on the Interdictor (AC 12, +1 to Dex saves). One successful hit by the player should result in several Y-Wings making simultaneous hits, destroying the Interdictor.
If the Nebulon-B is about to be destroyed/is destroyed, all the Y-Wings are destroyed, or the player ship is nearing destruction/is disabled:
A second Nebulon-B frigate (this time, identifiable as a non-medical variant) should drop out of hyperspace nearly on top of the Interdictor. It should finish off the Interdictor quickly.
Notes: By the end of this battle, the players' hyperdrive should be damaged and inoperable. If the players haven't managed to take this damage, use the explosion of the Interdictor to inflict massive (maybe fiat) damage to the players' vessel. You may also consider simply allowing the enemy forces to wear the entirety of the players’ hit points.
Alternatively, if you feel your players would be receptive to it, consider allowing them to be presented with the job offer post-battle before they make it on board the Rebel craft. If you are hesitant to make the players’ ship take a lot of damage, you may simply have the Rebels call them over their comms and ask them to come on board – they have a quest for them.
At the end of the battle:
The players may be in a working but damaged vessel and there should be at least one Rebel frigate remaining at the scene. If the players sided with the Rebels, they should be friendly and offer to tractor the players' ship in for repairs. If the players sided with the Imperials, the Rebels should either shoot to disable their engines or simply tractor them in to be captured.
Once on board the Rebel frigate, an opportunity (quest hook) should be presented to the players, either as an offer (aided Rebels) or an imperative (aided Imperials). (Note: If the players aided the Imperials, this should be presented more as a requirement of their capture, and the credit offer should start lower.)
As you feel your ship sink into place on the Rebel frigate’s deck, you stretch your legs and walk down the gangplank to meet the waiting Rebel contingent.
"Well, you lot certainly seem like a capable, if somewhat [sniffs] ...disheveled bunch. And it doesn't really look like you're going anywhere for a while. We may be able to use that... but wait, where are my manners. I'm Major Dernigan, Executive Officer on the Adegan Sunrise [or Alderaan's Hope, if the medical frigate was destroyed].”
[Give players opportunity to introduce themselves if they want.]
"Well, here's the pitch: The Alliance has a rare opportunity to, uh, 'liberate' an Imperial blockade runner and repurpose it for ourselves. The nearby [insert system here that might have been near where the players were traveling, if desired] system has an Imperial CR90 corvette - the Bendu’s Shadow - that passes through on a regular patrol route. It's manned primarily by a droid crew, and we've managed to sneak a droid of our own into their droid pool. We'd like you to..."
Another Rebel soldier hands Major Dernigan a datapad. After a short perusal, he looks back up and says, "Hmm. Well, this is now a limited-time opportunity. We could really use a group with your set of skills to capture this ship for us. We'd be willing to offer a bounty of 10000 credits for its capture, and if you manage to bring our droid back to us, we'll throw in an extra 2000. Oh, and because you helped us out earlier, we'll repair your ship, free of charge. By the time you get back from this mission, you'll think she just came off the line. What do you say?"
Skill Checks
DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Intimidation) check for a better price (DC 20 if they sided with the Imperials):
- Give the players 1000 extra for success
- Failure: Refusal, and a “Well, we could just lower the price. How do you feel about that?” if they fail by 5 or more
DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check to ask about what the soldier handed Major Dernigan on the datapad:
- On success:
"Oh, uh, well, we just learned that the regular reports we receive from our spy droid have been late for the past three days. We still know where their next couple of stops are going to be, but if we don't hear from the droid soon, we could lose our chance to commandeer the corvette. That's why it's critical that we wrap this up and get you on your way."
- Pass by 5 or more:
"Look, if you'll move this along, we'll add another 2000 credits. We can't miss this opportunity."
If the players ask about the droid crew:
Tell the players the ship has on board an equal number of old IG-97 and RA-7 droids serving as security and staff, respectively. The IG-97 droids are likely accompanied by G-2RD droids, also security droids. If pressed for information, you can also reveal that the droid the Rebels have sent on board is an RA-7.
If the players refuse the mission:
Smack them a little for refusing a quest hook, and then remind them that they can't travel anywhere else with their ship in the state it's in. If they suggest trying to make repairs themselves, note that the Rebel frigate doesn't have supplies with them and they're not about to take a bunch of outlaws to their hidden bases.
The players accept the mission:
"Fan-tastic. Here's the plan. Bendu’s Shadow is a specially modified 'pocket carrier' version of the CR90 Corellian Corvette. You're going to sneak aboard as TIE Fighter pilots. As you know, TIE Fighters don't have hyperdrive, so when they find you stranded in open space - from a recent battle, you'll tell them - they'll be obliged to take you on board.
"We've captured a number of standard TIE Fighters and outfitted them with the life-support suits you'll need to fly them. We'll drop you off in the area of Bendu’s Shadow's next stop, but you could be sitting in those cockpits for a while.
"Once you get on board, you'll need to do whatever it takes to take control of the ship. Since it's mostly crewed by droids, it shouldn't be too hard to trick them or scrap them. Once you’ve gained control, you’ll need to adjust the corvette’s transponder to broadcast Alliance codes – that’s how we’ll know it’s you. After that, head into hyperspace and we'll meet you at the next stop on the Corvette's patrol path.
"I suggest you pack up only what you really need for this mission. If you lock the rest up in the hold on your ship, we’ll leave it alone until you return – it’s the least we can do. Let me know when you're ready to go."
Note: Because of its droid crew, the Bendu’s Shadow is reduced in autonomy and slaved to a predefined set of hyperspace jumps. This can be revealed to the players as a component of a check, if desired.
When the players are ready to go:
As you go about your business of loading your individual TIEs, you feel the Adegan Sunrise [Alderaan's Hope] slip into hyperspace. Major Dernigan's voice comes over the hangar loudspeaker:
"Get ready - the jump is a short one. Make sure those flight suits are on tight - as soon as you're all in, we'll depressurize the hangar bay, and your only life support is in those suits. Just like the Emperor to put oxygen at a premium."
With everyone's flight suit on and cockpits sealed, you hear the rushing of air as it evacuates the large hangar. No sooner than that's begun, you feel the familiar lurch of the frigate reverting to realspace.
"We've got to go now," Dernigan chimes in, "Best of luck, and, for whatever it's worth, may the Force be with you."
Act 2: We have met the enemy, and they are...
This section is largely a “flavor” portion of the story that will allow the players to have an opportunity to get a handle on piloting individual craft (instead of all being quartered on a single freighter). The encounter with the Z-95s is not intended to be a significant combat encounter – they will likely flee if the players show any real aggression.
You hear the distinctive growl of the twin ion engines as you lift off and exit the Nebulon-B's hangar bay. As you gain your bearings, you see the ship pull farther and farther away, until eventually it blips into hyperspace. Now the waiting begins.
The players should be forced to make one of the below checks:
Skill Checks
DC 10 Constitution check to signify waiting for an extended period of time in the cramped cockpit
DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check to reorganize the cockpit's systems to provide more room
DC 15 Wisdom check to meditate/keep calm in the small area
- Failure: incur one level of exhaustion, which lasts until the player exits the TIE
Once players have made their check, they should see:
After hours of waiting, a dot shows up on the sensor and a familiar hammerhead shape drops out of hyperspace. A prerecorded hail comes in over the comm:
"This is Captain Dargot of the Imperial vessel Bendu’s Shadow. Submit your identification and await instruction."
The players should send some message to the corvette.
Skill Checks
DC 15 Charisma (Deception) check to lie about your mission:
"Audience approved. TIE pilots, prepare to dock. We'll bring you in."
- Pass by 5 or more: Remind the player that this is a prerecorded message, and is likely being filtered through a communications station somewhere - this isn't a direct communication from the captain.
- Failure:
"Unknown vessels, do not attempt to leave. You will be brought aboard and searched. Disengage your engines."
Any other response should use the “failure” response from the Deception check above.
Either way, as the players prepare to enter the corvette's hangar bay, four Z-95 Headhunters should drop out of hyperspace. Two of the fighters start attacking the corvette, and two break off to attack the player group.
Skill Checks
All of these skill checks except the Persuasion check use the ships' stats, not the players'. Each of these skill checks requires an action to attempt during combat.
DC 10 Intelligence (Probe) check on the TIE targeting computer:
- Inform the player that these Z-95s are broadcasting Rebel Alliance IFF (Identify Friend/Foe) codes
DC 10 Charisma (Interfere) check to broadcast on a closed channel (can be done as part of the same action as attempting to Persuade):
- Allow closed channel broadcast in Persuasion check below
DC 18 Charisma (Menace) check to get the Z-95s to stop attacking:
- On success, Z-95s disengage and enter hyperspace
DC 23 Charisma (Persuasion) check to get the Z-95s to stand down:
- If players identify themselves as working with the Rebel Alliance, subtract 10 from the DC
- If the players broadcast on a closed channel, grant advantage on this check
- On success, Z-95s disengage and enter hyperspace
Z-95 Headhunter
Tier 1 Small starship, strike fighter
- Armor Class 12 (deflection)
- Damage Recution 3
- Hit Points 18 (4d6)
- Shield Points 17 (quick-charge)
- Shield Regeneration Rate 3
- Speed 400 ft., turning 100 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 11 (+1) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)
- Saving Throws Str +4, Dex +5
- Skills Probe +2, Scan +3
- Senses blindsight 1000 ft.
Actions
Twin Laser Cannon. Ranged Ship Attack: +4 to hit, range 600/2400 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) energy damage.
Concussion Missile Launcher (1/Day). The Headhunter sprays a 150-foot-cube area within 2400 feet with shots. Each starship in the area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw. If the starship is more than 600 feet from the Headhunter, it has advantage on this saivng throw. The target takes 9 (2d8) energy damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. On a roll of 1, the missile launcher scores a critical hit against the target.
Reactions
Pinpoint Strike. When the Headhunter occupies the same square occupied by a target ship and the pilot makes an attack roll, as a reaction, the pilot can, before rolling the attack, roll 1d6 and add it to the attack roll. If the attack requires a saving throw instead, it can subtract 1d6 from the target's save result. On a hit, the attack deals normal damage that bypasses any shields and directly hits the hull of the target ship.
If one or two Z-95s are destroyed:
The remaining Z-95s should flee the system.
If all Z-95s are destroyed or gone:
The Bendu’s Shadow’s hangar opens like the maw of a Firaxa. “Cleared for docking. Proceed to hangar bay,” you hear over your comms.
Players may dock.
If player's ship gets disabled:
It should be towed into the hangar with a tractor beam.
If all players' ships are destroyed/disabled:
Corvette should finish off the fighters and tractor in the pilots/ships floating in space into the hangar.
Once the players have made their way into the hangar:
As all the TIEs set down, you hear the large hangar doors close with a "thunk" behind you. The sound echoes through the tall hangar, which has taken up two floors in the bow of the Corellian Corvette. The hangar floor itself is nearly the full width of the widest part of the ship, and it's a good thing, too - your TIEs only just made it in, even with the help of the Corvette's tractor beams. There's a large metal gantry running above your heads [Note: Deck 2 on the map] and an airlock door in front of you leading to the bottom deck of the ship.
Act 3: The Bendu's Shadow
Map Notes
For each of the following sections, use the (unlabeled) map that is paired with the deck number.
Notes: This part will be very free-form. There are four decks for the players to explore, and they can theoretically explore them in any order, although ideally they will take them 1-2-3-4. Act 3 should break down into three narrative sections – Searching the ship, Discovering and Defeating the droid, and Escaping.
Deck 1:
Players should notice that the work stations in all rooms are deserted (you may or may not draw attention to this). Several RA-7/IG-97/G-2RD droids patrol the hallways, but do not otherwise react to the players if they still have some Imperial clothing (e.g. their flightsuits) on. If seen without Imperial markers of some kind, the IG-97 droids should inquire somewhat threateningly as to their purpose on board. A DC 15 Charisma (Deception) or DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) should allow them to explain away their presence (Deception) or make the droid forget it needed to ask them (Technology). If the Technology option is chosen, this only works for the droid(s) that had the check made against them. Future security droids may prompt the same question.
Note: The ladders near (10) and (3) can be used to travel up to Deck 2 at the same relative location. All floors have lift tubes (12) that travel as elevators would.
RA-7 droids typically wander the halls individually and will not participate in combat. If the players get into a scuffle with the security droids, use a number of security droids equal to the number of players. One of the droids should be a G-2RD, and the others should be IG-97s. You can use more or fewer droids if you want a particular fight to be more or less of a challenge.
RA-7 Droid
Medium droid (class III), lawful balanced
- Armor Class 10 (armor plating)
- Hit Points 18 (4d8)
- Speed 25 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 8 (-1) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
- Skills Lore +4, Persuasion +2
- Damage Vulnerabilities ion
- Damage Resistances necrotic, poison, psychic
- Condition Immunities poisoned, disease
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
- Languages All registered languages
- Challenge 0 (10 XP)
Circuitry. The droid has disadvantage on saving throws against effects that would deal ion or lightning damage.
Actions
Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 (1d4-1) kinetic damage.
IG-97 Battle Droid
Medium droid (class IV), lawful balanced
- Armor Class 16 (armor plating)
- Hit Points 26 (4d8 + 8)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
- Damage Vulnerabilities ion
- Damage Resistances necrotic, poison, psychic
- Condition Immunities poisoned, disease
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
- Languages Galactic Basic, Binary
- Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Circuitry. The droid has disadvantage on saving throws against effects that would deal ion or lightning damage.
Actions
Multiattack. The battle droid makes two weapon attacks with its strike or scattergun.
Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) kinetic damage.
Scattergun. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) kinetic damage.
Scattergun Burst. The battle droid sprays a 10-foot cube area within normal range with shots. Each creature in the area must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking normal weapon damage on a failed save.
These droids are designed to be assassin droids, but are not quite as capable at the task as their nominal predecessors, the IG-88 and IG-100 series. Consequently, they are tasked more often as battle droids. They bear many of the physical hallmarks of the ubiquitous Trade Federation B-1 battle droids.
G-2RD Guard Droid
Tiny droid (class II), lawful balanced
- Armor Class 11 (armor plating)
- Hit Points 6 (4d4 - 4)
- Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 3 (-4) 10 (+0) 8 (-1) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1)
- Damage Vulnerabilities ion
- Damage Resistances necrotic, poison, psychic
- Condition Immunities poisoned, disease
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
- Languages Galactic Basic, Binary
- Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Circuitry. The droid has disadvantage on saving throws against effects that would deal ion or lightning damage.
Flyby. The droid doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.
Droid Resilience. The droid automatically succeeds on saving throws against having a restraining bolt installed on it.
Actions
Stun Blast. Ranged Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, range 15/60 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d6) ion damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn.
These small, floating droids are traditionally designed as anti-riot defense droids. On board the Bendu’s Shadow, these exist as supplementary to the main security force, also capable of performing minor maintenance tasks.
Passing DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) checks in any of these rooms may be used to clue the players in as to what they can perform. Primarily, the players will rely on Technology. If the players don’t take cues from the maps themselves, be sure to describe the primary features of the rooms as they are depicted on the maps (e.g. “as you enter engineering, you can see two computer terminals and a large computer screen displaying engine data.”).
Hangar:
Skill Checks
With the right tools (i.e. rope, grappling hook) the player can make a DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check to ascend to or descend from the gantry on the second level:
- Move the player to the level they were traveling to
DC 15 Intelligence (Lore) check about the ship itself:
- Learn that the corvette has four floors
- Pass by 5 or more: reveal specific locations of major systems (e.g. crew quarters on Deck 2, bridge on Deck 3)
Engineering:
Skill Checks
DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check at the computer area:
- Discover the hyperdrive is disabled
- Pass by 5 or more: Reveal that a security passkey is needed to unlock the hyperdrive, along with the chief engineer’s voiceprint
- Pass by 10 or more: Remind the players that the hyperdrive must have recently been disabled, as it jumped into the system just minutes ago
Sensors:
Skill Checks
DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check at the terminals:
- Confirm that enemies attacking (Z-95s) were Rebel Z-95s attempting a hit-and-fade attack, a common strategy used to wear down Imperial resources, and one which the Bendu’s Shadow has seen several of
- Pass by 5 or more: Reveal that the most recent attack was three days earlier
Droid Maintenance:
Skill Checks
DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) check at the terminal:
- Reveal that several droids have seen maintenance recently
- If the players asked for extra information about the Rebels’ spy droid at the beginning of the quest, they should learn that the Rebel RA-7 was one of the first droids to receive maintenance
- Pass by 5 or more: Reveal that this is a much more frequent update schedule than normal
- Pass by 10 or more: Reveal that the droid technician found something that shouldn’t have been there in one of the RA-7 droids (again, identified as the Rebel droid, if the players asked about it earlier)
Droid Storage:
Skill Checks
DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check on the droids:
- Reveals that all of the astromech droids (5) in this storage are broken or disabled
DC 25 Intelligence (Technology) check to fix the droids, if the droids have been ID'd as broken:
- Advantage may be added if the droid is taken to the Droid Maintenance (to represent the extra astromech parts in there)
- Fixing the droid will bring an astromech droid online; it can be used as an assistant in later tasks if the player keeps him around
- Pass by 5 or more: Identify that the droids have been tampered with, perhaps set to short-circuit
- Failure: Cause the droid to explode or short-circuit, perhaps dealing damage to the players. There are only five droids to try to fix.
DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check on the boxes/crates/storage:
- Open the crate and find a Restraining Bolt
Workshop:
Players may find a set of astrotech's implements and a mechanic's kit.
Ship Security:
Players see blaster racks on the walls, each containing four blaster rifles. These are effectively limitless in availability.
Skill Checks
DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) check at the terminals to view ship security cameras:
- Reveal the entire floor to the player
- Pass by 5 or more: Reveal another floor
- Fail by 5 or more: Incite a scuffle with IG-97 security droids
DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check to try to access security logs:
- Reveal that the logs are very heavily encrypted
- Fail by 5 or more: Incite a scuffle with IG-97 security droids
DC 23 Intelligence (Technology) check to decrypt security logs (if logs accessed, as above):
- Reveal a log from the security chief:
“[static] ...haywire. Ever since that last Rebel hit on us... [static] ...droids behaving oddly. I can’t believe... [static] ...evacuation. Suppose we’ll... [static] ...escape pods.”
Any more significant log data has either been erased or corrupted.
- Fail by 5 or more: Incite a scuffle with IG-97 security droids
Deck 2:
Deck 2 is similar to Deck 1 in that it is patrolled regularly by IG-97, G-2RD, and RA-7 droids. Deck 2 is the crew quarters deck aboard most CR90 corvettes, although this one has had modifications to turn extra crew quarters (rendered unnecessary by the amount of droids on board) into extra amenities (lounge, brig, security, galley).
A DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check, when near the brig, will alert the players to a banging/yelling sound coming from within. If passed, the players should hear a voice shouting
“Help me! Let me out of here!”
Passing the check by 5 or more should allow the players to recognize the voice as matching the voice from the recording of the ship’s captain they heard earlier. If questioned as to its identity, the voice should answer
"Who do I sound like, you fools? This is Captain Dargot! Now get me out of here!"
Repeated inquiries should be met with the questions rebuffed and the imperative ("Get me out of here!") repeated.
Engineering:
Same as Deck 1.
Sensors:
Same as Deck 1.
Main engine access:
If the players enter here before the rogue droid encounter starts, treat this as Engineering. If the players enter here after the droid encounter has started, bulkheads should close and a pre-recorded announcement should play:
“Automatic response to organic presence: Elimination protocol initiated.”
You see a barely visible but noticeable noxious gas enter the room. You begin to feel a little weak.
Note that diluted, but still toxic, cyanogen gas begins to enter the room. The gas remains in the areas with the grated floor (Main engine access) until the traps are disabled, regardless of whether the players escape. This trap can still trigger even after the players have defeated the rogue droid.
Droids will be unaffected, as will anyone who is wearing breath mask-type equipment. Other characters will need to make a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned while inside.
Skill Checks
DC 13 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check to disable the traps, if the trap has been sprung:
- All effects of noxious gas (poisoned condition) removed
DC 13 Intelligence (Technology) check to open the bulkhead doors
Note: Players must use one of the computers in the main engine access to restart the hyperdrive once they have the security passkey.
Crew/Officers' quarters:
Skill Checks
DC 20 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check on any of the footlockers in the officers' crewmen's rooms:
- Give the players the droid technician’s log:
“Entry 97-C: Oh, this irony is delicious. The Rebel attack earlier today damaged this RA-7 droid, but what should I find when I open it up to repair it? Specialized espionage circuitry! Had those scofflaws managed to be a little more judicious in their strikes, we might have never discovered this. Well, I’ll show them. Just a few tweaks here... [sounds of tinkering] ...and there... [more sounds] ...and we’ll put this right back into service working for us as a double agent!”
“Entry 98-A: I’ve made a terrible mistake. I thought I disabled the RA-7’s Rebel directives when I added its new Imperial commands in. I’m pretty sure what I did instead was give the droid a fatal logic error in two conflicting sets of instructions. Now it’s just hunting anything organic it can find. Why? I don’t know, but I’m not about to get close enough to try and find out. The captain’s given the general order to get to the escape pods and abandon ship in one hour. I guess this is the last entry I’ll get to make on this ‘pad.”
Brig:
Skill Checks
DC 18 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check to open the door(s):
- There are three doors, and a failure on the Sleight of Hand check should make the locking mechanism break. If all locking mechanisms break, players must pass the Athletics check to break down the door. Failure on the Athletics check should result in a level of exhaustion.
If the doors are successfully unlocked:
A harried man in the jet-black Imperial naval uniform turns to you, and you can see the “captain” rank insignia on his chest:
“Harumph. And who are you? You don’t look to be part of my regular crew. They should have all followed my orders to evacuate.”
If the players fail a DC 13 Charisma (Deception) check, the captain says:
“Hah, nice try. This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with your scum. Spacers, pirates – trash, the lot of you. Regardless, [continue below as though passed the check]...
If the players pass a DC 13 Charisma (Deception) check, the captain goes on:
“I suppose it’s well enough that you’re here. About three days ago one of our RA-7 droids was damaged in an attack. When repairing him, the droid technician noticed that he had some unusual circuitry installed – well, even more unusual than normal for an RA-7. He believed with some degree of certainty that it was a droid equipped to spy on the workings of this ship. In a display equal parts initiative and incompetence, he decided to rewire it back into a double agent. Of course, something went wrong, and now the droid...”
A blaster bolt whizzes past the party’s heads and into Captain Dargot’s chest. He slumps to the ground. As the group turns around, they see a silver RA-7 droid pointing a blaster at the spot formerly occupied by the captain.
“All Imperial targets eliminated.”
He cocks his head and turns towards the players.
“Recalibrating. Organics not part of crew manifest. Ship reports TIE Fighters docked not long ago. Conclusion: New organics Imperial in nature. Objective updated.”
No sooner than the droid says this, it dashes off into the hallways of the eerily-lifeless corvette.
And then the droid should flee from the scene. The rogue Rebel RA-7 spy droid should vanish until the players are able to find him, which can be accomplished through these activities:
Skill Checks
DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check on one of the patrolling RA-7s:
- The players identify the droid as the rogue droid trying to blend in – only allow this once per floor
DC 23 Intelligence (Technology) check in the Sensor core (any deck) to reconfigure the sensors to search inside the ship:
- This should show where the droid is in the ship, which may not necessarily be near the players
Destroying three RA-7 droids (which are otherwise noncombatant):
Causes the rogue droid to reveal himself; this can be either him revealing himself in person or over the intercom. Attacking the RA-7s will also cause nearby IG-97s to attack.
If the player repaired an astromech earlier:
The astromech should beep and volunteer to identify the droid (it has an easier time recognizing the subtle differences between the rogue RA-7 and the other protocol droids on board). Roll a percentile die whenever this astromech encounters an RA-7 droid. If the percentile die is greater than 70%, the astromech will identify the RA-7 as the rogue droid.
Once the droid has revealed himself:
Players should be aware of his presence whenever he’s on a floor that the players are on. The droid should flee from players if they approach him from only one direction. He should travel like players would, using lift tubes and ladders. He can travel to any floor. When the players approach him from opposite directions, he should try to “hide” in the nearest room. Upon entering this room, the droid is backed into a corner and will fight the players.
Rogue Spy Droid
Medium droid (class IV), lawful dark
- Armor Class 16 (plate armoring)
- Hit Points 97 (15d8 + 30)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 19 (+4) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 7 (-2)
- Saving Throws Dex +6
- Skills Perception +3, Stealth +6
- Damage Vulnerabilities ion
- Damage Resistances necrotic, poison, psychic
- Condition Immunities poisoned, disease
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
- Languages Galactic Basic, Binary
- Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Circuitry. The droid has disadvantage on saving throws against effects that would deal ion or lightning damage.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The droid deals an extra 7 (2d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of the droid that isn't incapacitated and the droid doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Actions
Multiattack. The droid makes two weapon attacks.
Blaster Carbine. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) energy damage.
Techblade. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) kinetic damage.
Stealth Field Generator. The droid becomes invisible. Anything the droid is carrying is invisible as long as it is on the droid. The droid may end the invisibility as a free action. The invisibility ends if the droid attacks.
Thermal Detonator (1/Day). The droid throws a grenade at point it can see within 40 feet. Each creature within 20 feet of that point must succeed on a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw or take 7 (2d6) fire damage and 11 (2d10) kinetic damage. Additionally, on a failed save, the creature is knocked prone. On a success, a creature takes half damage.
This espionage unit takes the form of an RA-7 protocol droid, but is instead equipped for a large variety of spy-related tasks, including self-defense when necessary.
Upon the rogue droid's defeat:
You hear a tinny sound from the droid’s failing vocabulator as it speaks one last ringing command:
“Engage contingency protocol: Parasite program activated.
And with a final electrical sputter, the rogue droid collapses.
Defeating the rogue RA-7:
This will allow the players to make a DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation) check to gain the passkey to re-enable the hyperdrive. If this is untenable, you can cause a hidden compartment on the droid to pop open and spit out a datapad with the proper information. If the players forget this part now, the chief engineer will remind them of the need for the passkey later (as well as the fact that the rogue droid has/had the passkey). This passkey can be used in the Main Engine Access (Deck 2) to re-enable the hyperdrive.
This also makes the IG-97 and G-2RD security droids hostile to the players. These droids will now patrol the hallways, and the players can avoid being seen with DC 15 Dexterity (Stealth) checks. If the players duck into a room, they should receive advantage on their check. IG-97s should only patrol the hallways. If the players engage in battle with the droids, they should slowly “swarm” all the security droids from that deck to the players’ location.
Deck 3:
As with Decks 1 and 2, various droids should be patrolling the hallways. At least one security droid should be permanently stationed outside of the bridge (not patrolling).
Engineering:
Same as Deck 1.
Sensors:
Same as Deck 1.
Bridge:
The players must be on the bridge to do any Piloting checks with the vessel. Until the hyperdrive has been brought online, nothing of import happens on the bridge.
Medbay:
The medbay contains two bacta tanks as well as medical chairs that will function as a traumakit (these cannot be removed from the room).
- Using the bacta tanks on Harroch will reduce the DC of the Medicine check by 10.
Workshop/Workshop storage:
Players may find a set of astrotech's implements and a mechanic's kit.
Sensors/comms control:
No check is required to set the IFF transponder to broadcast a Rebel IFF.
- Forgetting to do this should result in the Adegan Sunrise firing on the players at the end of the scenario (they should really only take a potshot until the failure to communicate that they’re on the same side is resolved)
Deck 4:
This floor should be relatively empty. You may find one or two RA-7 droids wandering the floor, but there should be no IG-97 or G-2RD security droids. The players should see a few corpses of crewman strewn out by the escape pods, blaster marks on their chests.
Escape pods:
Most of the escape pods should be filled with the remaining corpses of the Bendu’s Shadow crew. On searching one of the escape pods:
As you peer through the slumped-over corpses of the unfortunate crew of the Bendu’s Shadow, you find a man clutching his chest and wheezing:
“[moan]... Who’s there? If it’s that sithspawn of a droid, just shoot me now and get it over with.” He peers up at the you.
“Wait, who’s this? Wait... you know what, I don’t really care. I’m Lieutenant Harroch, chief engineer on this vessel. [cough] ...medbay, please. Get me to the medbay.”
If the players haven’t found the Medbay yet, Harroch should inform them that it’s on Deck 3. Any more questions should be met with Harroch drifting in and out of consciousness.
Chief Engineer Harroch
Medium humanoid (human), lawful balanced
- Armor Class 14 (combat suit)
- Hit Points 13 (3d8)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)
- Skills Perception +2, Technology +5
- Senses passive Perception 12
- Languages Galactic Basic
- Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Actions
Multiattack. Harroch makes two blaster pistol attacks.
Blaster Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) energy damage.
Harroch is a stocky, well-built human, clad in the black uniform of an Imperial officer. He looks highly disheveled, no doubt from his recent brush with death, and his skin has a sickly pallor to it.
Skill Checks
DC 20 Wisdom (Medicine) check to heal Harroch:
- If he’s attacked en route to the medbay (or any time before he’s healed), increase the DC of the check to heal him by 5
Once Harroch is healed [this may be now taking place in the medbay]:
If the players ask any questions:
Harroch says:
“Wait, where’s the captain? For all I know, that droid’s your fault. You bring me the captain and I’ll help you out.”
If the players notify Harroch of the captain’s death:
He replies with:
“I guess it’s just you and me, then. The captain was the last one of us to try to get to the escape pods, but it didn’t matter anyway. The droid locked out the launching mechanism and then slaughtered us all up here. The captain must have locked himself in the brig, which is secure enough that the droid couldn’t get in... well, at least until you unlocked it for him.”
He shakes his head mournfully, “What are you doing here, anyway?”
Players can attempt a DC 15 Charisma (Deception) check (with advantage, to represent the engineer’s attitude towards them for saving him) or simply tell him the truth. Passing the check, he responds with:
“Well, we need to get to the end of our patrol route. Three jumps ahead and we’ll be at the staging point for this sector, and we can get help from other ships there.”
Failing the check (or telling the truth about their mission):
“Yeah, I pretty much had you figured for Rebels, or at best, scavengers. Frankly, I don’t care where you get me to, as long as it’s not here.”
Either way, he should continue with:
“To get out of here, we’ll need the hyperdrive back online. That rogue RA-7 has a passkey he’s used to disable the hyperdrive, and you’ll need to get that from him. Once you’ve gotten that, you can unlock the system, but you’ll still need my authorization to restart the sequence. Then, once all that’s done, we’ll need to fire up the systems we need to make the jump. That’s getting ahead of myself, though, I suppose. Let me know when you’ve unlocked the hyperdrive.”
If questioned about the state they found him in:
“I was in the engine access when that blasted droid set off some mixture of cyanogen gas that he managed to get his hands on. How he found it, I don’t know – I guess I’m lucky enough that he didn’t have enough for a full-strength dispersal. I must have passed out, because when I woke up, I found myself dragged to the top deck with the bodies of the rest of the crew.”
If the players have brought the hyperdrive back online:
“Great, now we’ve got to start up the rest of the systems we need to make the jump to hyperspace. You’ll want to get your best pilot and astrogator up to the bridge to ready us for the jump. Any one of you who fancies himself a mechanic? I could use your help in Engineering on Deck 2 to monitor the engines. Finally, we’ll need someone decent with computers in shield control on Deck 3 to monitor the shields.”
Note: At this point, the party should split into three groups. One to head to the bridge (deck 3), one to head to shield control (deck 3), and one to head to engineering on deck 2.
As soon as the players have made it to each location:
Over the ship’s intercom, you hear Harroch’s voice:
“All right, are we all in place. Everyone ready? Here’s what we need to do:”
Before he can finish the sentence, however, you head the clunk-clunk-clunk of mechanical footsteps outside – IG-97 droids have heard the announcement and are rushing to each location!
There should be at least one droid at each location, but if players move to meet up with each other (instead of each taking on their individual encounter), the droids should follow them. At this point, the only security (IG-97) droids remaining should be the ones at each player’s location – if there are extra, move them off the board in the shuffle.
Once the players have successfully resolved the battle:
Harroch wipes a few beads of sweat from his brow and keys the ship’s intercom:
“Emperor’s black bones! I thought we were rid of those droids.”
He pauses at a computer terminal.
“...well, I’ve just checked. Those were the last. Now, where were we?”
If the players don’t automatically do so, Harroch should remind them that they need to be in their respective locations for the hyperspace jump start-up sequence. Once the players have all made it to their locations, they need to make the following checks:
On the bridge (Deck 3):
DC 15 Intelligence (Piloting) check to make sure control of ship’s systems is being restored to the main console
DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check to verify that the navicomputer is coming back online with the hyperdrive
- This may be given advantage if player is accompanied by a rebuilt astromech, or player may allow the astromech to make the check (+5 modifier).
In Shield control (Deck 3):
DC 13 Intelligence (Technology) to monitor shield readings as the shields prep for a jump to lightspeed
In Engineering (Deck 2):
DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) check
- Harroch is helping with this check, granting it advantage.
If one of the groups fails a check:
There are no penalties for failure, but to move forward, everyone must pass the roll.
Note: The above challenge is for a minimum of four players. If there are fewer players or if your players’ skillsets are insufficient, I’d suggest removing whichever check feels less applicable until you get it down to a number of simultaneous checks that is no greater than your number of players.
Upon passing the check:
As you finally bring the ship’s systems online, the Bendu’s Shadow lurches forward and familiar star lines blur into the blue tunnel of hyperspace.
If the players may want to pause to heal/etc., offer this as a pause (short rest), otherwise the trip is incidental in game time.
As you drop out of hyperspace, you look out the main viewport and see the frigate Adegan Sunrise [Alderaan's Hope] waiting for you, as promised.
If the players haven’t set the corvette’s transponder to broadcast a Rebel signal:
The Adegan Sunrise should fire on the players. Roll for damage and give the players an opportunity to communicate with the Sunrise. Make sure that the Rebels chide the players for forgetting or failing to set the correct IFF codes, and then proceed as below.
If the players have set the transponder to broadcast the Rebel IFF:
You hear a familiar voice come in over the comms channel:
“Well done, Bendu’s Shadow. Pull on up alongside us and we’ll get a crew of techs over there to reset the Shadow’s hyperdrive so that it’s useable.”
Note: Because the corvette is slaved to an Imperial patrol route, it’s worthless until Rebel technicians have had a chance to wipe that part of its computer. Remember this if your players feel like trotting off with their freshly-stolen corvette.
“And as for your ship, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s once again in tip-top shape, and I believe you’ve got a healthy payment waiting in some crates in your cargo hold. Nice work!”
Note: At this point, you can resolve the story as you would a standalone campaign. Give a little more congratulatory denouement via Major Dernigan and provide the players with their reward. However, if you wish to continue on to the Stalitz Flight campaign (which is designed to follow this one directly), continue below for the cliffhanger.
As you steer the ship towards the Adegan Sunrise [Alderaan's Hope], you hear the proximity sensors squawk a warning, and as you look out the viewscreen, a chill comes over you. Blotting out the starlight is a steel-grey wedge – larger, far larger, than the Interdictor you dealt with before. The data readout in front of you confirms what the pit in your stomach already suspected – this is an Imperial-class Star Destroyer, the deadly backbone of the Empire’s fleet. You’ve got a bad feeling about this...