STAR WARS: DAWN OF DEFIANCE EPISODE 3 - Cloud City Royal

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 17th 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.

Video Link: Opening Crawl

Credit: zeldafreak6245

Darga agreed to double his monthly shipment of tibanna gas. The next exchange will take place in Bespin at Cloud City, where Darga apparently has some interests. It will happen in about a week.

"A week to double his entire output in time for a monthly shipment? Hard to do for a mining franchise, but not for a smuggling op. If Darga plans to make that shipment, he’s going to have his goons double their tibanna skim. They are going to push hard on the mining franchises... something about the surge in gas demand makes me nervous.

Cloud City is our best opportunity to crack this thing open. Darga will be there and so will his shipment, along with the Empire’s trade goods. If we disrupt the shipment or get Darga, we could deal a swift strike for the Resistance. At the very least, we have the ability to find out what’s being traded on the Empire’s side. Maybe that will give us another lead on the Saarlac. Let's get Darga and finish this."

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.

With the disinterest of a man who has done this a hundred times today, he flicks on his datapad and begins:

• “What is your port of origin?" As you begin to answer Captain Okeefe cuts you off. "Naboo." [DM NOTE- this will be important later, because Figg and Associates will trace their system entry vector and find that it does not correspond with their arrival - it's how they find the heroes]
• What is your intended purpose for visiting?
• Are you bringing in any goods or equipment for non-personal use?

“No lethal weapons of any kind are allowed on Cloud City. You may leave weapons on board your ship, but this bay will be subject to a customs seal, which will prevent opening or access to it during your stay, unless you schedule another customs inspection.

For personal security, you are not allowed anything other than small weapons and stun batons. For your own security, all visitors are required to be subject to a personal search. I am required to tell you that the penalty for discovery of weapons after the forfeiture opportunity has elapsed, is to have the weapon confiscated, and the perpetrator removed from Cloud City.”

Looking over your shoulder to the other landing pad, you see the Zabrack captain escorted to his ship as two wickedly angled combat CloudCars hover expectantly. One of the Wing Guard twirls a blaster in his hands as the crew loads into the skiff and the yacht powers up its engines.

“In accordance with Imperial edicts, your ship will be inspected for contraband and proper permits. Please have ownership and licenses ready…”

Sirona: "What? That’s ridiculous! That ship is my home, and nobody steps on it unless I okay it."

Wing Guard Customs: "Ma’am, regulations allow us to board and search. It’s not your place to tell us what we can do on Cloud City"

Sirona: "Don’t Ma’am me. I’m less than 10 years older than you. Nobody tells me what to do on my own ship."

The two of them get into an argument about this, while the other customs officials watch, placidly, puling a portable personal scanner from the skiff.

[Roleplay Resolution]

Cloud City

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.

If the players become discouraged at their difficulties (as they likely will), an event unfolds that should give them hope.

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:

Accept Mission

Frynn: Here’s something I can tell you on good faith. We know Darga has been dealing with the Empire, and we believe a transaction is about to take place. If you take care of our problem, we’ll tell you the rest of what we know.

Krygg: We have managed to track the siphoned Tibanna gas to one of our storage areas deep under the city. I can upload the directions to your datapad, but be warned- the Wing Guard rarely patrols that deep into the city so you'll likely be on your own.

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 16 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

The air is hot and muggy in the Tibanna gas refinery, and everywhere machinery rattles, hums, or hisses as gases are vented or heavy equipment is moved. Five Ugnaughts scurry about the area, working to make sure all of the machinery is functioning properly, and one of them stands in the rear of the chamber, near a massive crane. The crane is lifting a 3-meter-wide Tibanna gas container up from somewhere beneath the grated floor. As the base of the huge container passes the floor, there is a hiss as pneumatic grates slam shut beneath it, allowing the crane to set it down. This

Ugnaught Rigger (4)

The Ugnaughts that work in the Tibanna gas spin-sealing refineries call themselves “riggers,” as they operate a variety of heavy machines commonly referred to as “rigs.” Even if the rigs have different functions, they all amount to the same thing: converting Tibanna gas into a useful form. Most Ugnaught riggers are tough customers for beings of such small stature, and they are accustomed to working under extreme conditions. These particular riggers have become weary of their menial lives and see the chance to work for Darga as a way to get away from Cloud City for good.

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.

Loot

Several items of interest can be found within the refinery.

• Wristpad Chassis (Prototype)
• Vitapac (Basic) x2
• Precision Chamber MK II

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.

Complete Mission

Frynn: Excellent work- Here is what we know: The Hutt has been taking gas siphoned from Figg and Assoc. and selling it to the Empire. The transactions are discrete, and we don’t know what Darga gets from the Empire. We do know that the next one will take place at the Cloud City Sabaac Tournament. You should visit the Yerith Bespin hotel or the Royal Casino where the tournament will be held. Though the Empire rarely shows up here, so many travellers from around the galaxy have come here in the past view days that almost anyone, including Imperial and Hutt agents, could be involved in the tournament.

Krygg: Thank you for assisting us strangers. The office pooled together some credits as an additional thank you. (He hands you an unlocked credit chip containing 10,000 credits)

[GM note, If the heroes decide to get hired as security for the tournament, Figg and Associates will vouch for them as Parliamentary representatives. This will make them an easy hire. They can also get Cloud City weapons permits either from the Parliament or directly from the Royal Casino, allowing them to carry]

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 learned based on the DC of the check, as shown below.

DC 8: 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 12 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 15 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 13 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

This handsome nobleman is young, barely more than 20 years old, but he carries himself with an air of superiority that befits a veteran member of the Imperial Senate. His dark black hair has been cut short in the new fashion favored by COMPNOR agents, though the rest of his garb suggests the latest fashions on Chandrila.

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).

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.

>> Gaining access to the Yerith Bespin Hotel should be considered a level-up milestone. (Level 6) <<

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 25,000 credits per person, with the winner taking the entire prize at the end of the tournament. (1,000,000 credits)

Arrival of the Empire

Once you feel that the players have had enough time to recuperate from their previous encounters, their involvement in the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament can begin. As expected, a message comes over the city’s communications system directly to the console in their hotel room. The message reads as follows:

With the message received, the players now know what to look for. If they can discover which of the sabacc players is Darga’s agent, and if they can observe the details of the transaction, they can likely find out where the Hutt is hiding and perhaps discover the depth of his involvement in the Sarlacc Project. The fact that the Empire refers to the transaction by the Sarlacc codename should indicate to the players that they are on the right track.

If the players are still having trouble deciding what to do, don’t be afraid to remind them that their mission is to discover the Hutt’s involvement in the Sarlacc Project. Knowing that a payment from the Empire is going to take place during the tournament gives them a chance to dig deeper into the facade surrounding the project. From this point on, the players know that they need to be present at the tournament to learn more about the dealings between the Hutt and the Empire. Several ways that they can become involved in the tournament are described below. Note that not all of the players need to follow the same path; some might act as bystanders, others might work security, and another player might participate in the tournament. Since all of the events surrounding the tournament take place roughly in the same locale, you need not worry about splitting the party up. They all will be present for most scenes.

Entering the Tournament

• Map: Casino Interior

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 25,000 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 25,000 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 14 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 1,500 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.

Silas Draver

Cool, suave, and sophisticated, Silas Draver is the perfect image of the Human gambler. With long black hair pulled back in a ponytail and a mustache that droops down both sides of his mouth, Silas always wears a confident smirk, and he always speaks as though he knows something that the person he’s talking to does not. Draver is a savvy gambler who plays it close to his chest; he is also a con artist who has managed to get several of his cronies into the list of approved spectators. If he loses, he is planning on stealing the pot, and he has sabotaged three of the sabacc dealer droids to help further that scheme. He has also paid a security guard handsomely (and offered a percentage of the prize to him as well) to overlook the weapons carried by Draver and his cronies

Lady Mirana Fioro

Looking somewhat out of place among the gamblers and card sharks, Lady Mirana Fioro is a Hapan woman who looks as though she just stepped out of a royal court. In truth, however, she is merely a con artist who specializes in running scams while impersonating a Hapan noble. The word that best describes her attitude is “frosty”—she barely has a second word for anyone, and she rebuffs any advances. Mirana Fioro is also Darga the Hutt’s agent, and her sole purpose in entering the tournament is to receive the payment from the Imperial officer and obtain the information that Darga needs to take control of the Medium Transport delivered by the Empire.

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.”

Message from the Banshee II

Some time during the first two days of the tournament, the players receive another message from Captain Okeefe on the Banshee . Crash has been intercepting a lot of transmissions that use Imperial codes, and there seems to be a good deal of communications chatter on channels not normally used by civilians. Though the droid has been able to decode only a few of the messages, it appears that the Empire is more active on Cloud City than it seems. Moreover, he’s caught references to Darga in these messages, confirming that the Hutt is still in Cloud City, though Crash has no idea where, exactly.

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 Guard (6)

Known in Cloud City as the Wing Guard, Bespin’s security force consists mostly of disciplined security personnel that report directly to the Baron-Administrator of Cloud City. These particular members of the Wing Guard are part of an anti-spice smuggling unit that has worked diligently to keep harder criminals—such as narcotics dealers—from polluting Cloud City with their corruption. With the Baron- Administrator’s permission, the guards follow a take-no-prisoners approach to policing the city, and they do not hesitate to use lethal force against the players.

Bespin Security Guard Tactics

The 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.

Each security guard is carrying 200 credits for a total of 1,200 credits.

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.

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:

A Deadly Situation

Midway through the day you hear heated shouting coming from one of the tables. A disgruntled Zabrak rises from his seat shaking his finger at Lt. Arandis accusing him of cheating. The lieutenant sits calming at the table as he collects his winnings. You watch as the Zabrak slides a hold-out blaster from his sleeve and levels it at the Imperial officer.

Bystanders

The players in the crowd will have a chance to come face to face with Darga’s agent in the tournament, Lady Mirana Fioro. The Hapan woman has been doing quite well so far, and it already looks as though she will be one of the competitors to make it to the final table. At some point during the third day, Lady Fioro takes a break and walks to one of the the observation decks, which happens to be near where any players in the crowd are standing. The observation deck looks out over Cloud City, and the orange-red of the setting sun casts the entire deck in a bright glow. Lady Fioro looks radiant in this light, and though she retains her unreadable exterior, some players might be tempted to talk to her about the competition. Although she keeps the conversation to a minimum, she is not precisely uncivil, and the players can learn a little more about her, which will help confirm on the final day that she is Darga’s agent and give the players a chance to follow her after the tournament is over.

Below are answers to some common questions the players might have for Lady Fioro:

• Why are you playing in the tournament? "The money, is of course, no object for me. But someone has to show this riff-raff that someone will always be their superior"
• What do you think of the tournament so far? “I am surprised that some of these players have gotten so far. Of course, many things surprise me here. I would have thought that my room in the famed Yerith Bespin hotel would be a little nicer than the peasant hovels on Hapes, but I can see that I was mistaken.”
• How did you become so good at sabacc? “My late husband taught me the game. He was an exceptional player, but before his death I had surpassed him.”
• Is there any particular strategy you favour? "The onyl way to play sabacc is to play aggressively. Anything less is certain to fail."
• Do you know Darga the Hutt? Have you dealt with the Empire? “Such nonsense. I’m here to play sabacc and win, and that’s all.”

Working for Switch

On the third day of the tournament, Switch sends a message to the players, which is delivered by a server droid.

If the heroes protest, the droid responds with "No, you did." and places the beverage on a nearby table before disappearing into the crowd. The drink itself is harmless and delicious. A small memory stick is discretely attached to the bottom of the glass. If the players insert the memory card into their datapad they will receive the following message from Switch.

Switch's Message

As you insert the memory card into your datapad a message appears on screen. "Greetings associates, my contacts report that Captain Moro is doing well in the tournament. I am pleased to hear this. However I prefer to leave little to chance when possible. This memory card contains programming to twist luck into Captain Moro's favor. In order to achieve this functionality the memory card must be inserted directly into the droid dealer. This will be a difficult prospect but I believe you can achieve the results we both desire."

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.

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.

If no players are participating in the tournament at this point, this scenario can play out for bystanders as well (especially if any players who met Lt. Arandis on the first day are still present in the audience).

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 no one 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

Silas Draver is a good gambler, but he knows he is not the best. Though he came to the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament hoping to win, he took no chances on coming away with the prize money. Since he owes his entry fee to a loan shark on Nar Shaddaa, Draver is unlikely to give up the credits without a fight—he knows that a fate worse than death awaits him if he fails to pay back the loan. Draver bribed one of the technicians in the Royal Casino to implant software that allowed him to trigger the droids’ defense systems (illegal defense systems, which Jacc Mandelbrot thought were installed in secret) in case he lost out of the tournament. Draver has a ship waiting for him on a nearby landing platform, and he believes that he should be able to get away without too much trouble.

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 3000 credits and two Computer Spikes (Fine)

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.

Dressed in far plainer clothes than many of the other spectators, this Human looks to have seen his share of fights in cantinas. The hilt of a vibroknife juts out from beneath his coat, and he has a sinister look about him.

Silas Draver Goon

Medium humanoid (Human), chaotic dark

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• Armor Class 14 (fiber armor)
• Hit Points 72 (13d8+13)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	15 (+2)	13 (+1)	8 (-1)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)

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• Skills Athletics +3, Intimidation +2
• Senses passive Perception 10
• Languages Galactic Basic
• Challenge CR 1 (200 XP)

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Cunning Action. On each of its turns, the goon can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The goon 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 spy that isn't incapacitated and the spy doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.

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Actions

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

Vibroknife. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) kinetic damage

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.

Questioning Lady Fioro

Errant blaster bolts from Silas Draver’s attempted robbery caught Lady Fioro off guard, injuring her seriously. However, she is still conscious and able to answer questions. While Jacc Mandelbrot’s security team tries to clean up the Royal Casino, the players have a few moments to interrogate Lady Fioro before the authorities arrive. She is weak and fading from consciousness, but all the fight has gone out of her. She doesn’t bother to deceive the players because she believes (perhaps rightly so) that she is only moments from death.

Below are the answers to some questions that the players probably have for Lady Fioro:

• Who are you really? “Mirana Fioro. I’m from Hapes, but I’m no noble. My father was a pirate, and he raised me aboard his ship. I’ve been pretending to be a noblewoman for years.”
• Are you working for Darga the Hutt? “Yes. I’ve been Darga’s agent for three years now. He instructed me to enter the tournament and take payment from the Imperial officer.”
• Where is Darga? “In one of the lower docking bays on the underside of the city. Docking bay 4414. He’s been living on his luxury yacht, though now that he has the codes, I doubt he’ll be around for long. If he’s still in Cloud City within the hour, I’ll be surprised.”
• What was the code that Lt. Arandis transferred to you? “It was the command codes for the slave circuit for a ship in orbit. A Gallofree Medium Transport. I sent the code to Darga just before the fight broke out. You’ve got to have a special computer to control it, but there’s one on board Darga’s yacht.”
• What is on that Medium Transport? “Slaves, used in some secret Imperial project. Darga has been taking them as a partial payment from the Empire. They’re mostly decrepit and used up, but he resells them to other slavers from his palace on Cato Neimoidia.”
• What does Darga have to do with the Sarlacc Project? “I don’t know. I’ve only heard it mentioned. But for months now, he’s been trading huge amounts of Tibanna gas to the Empire in exchange for slaves and credits. The Empire always seems to want more.”

The Aftermath Pt.2

Authorities and medical workers begin to stream into the casino, quickly loading the injured or deceased onto med-rigs. In total, 29 beings were injured and 11 killed in the chaos. Two tournament players, including Lt. Arandis, are among the dead. The young imperial's body was found slumped against a sabacc table with a blaster wound to the chest. The Bespin Security Force secure the tournament datapad, vowing to contact the rightful winner once the situation is contained. You are then escorted from the casino as the security force locks down the area.

Part 3: Skirmish over Bespin

Conclusion

Having evaded the Wing Guard 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), Neutral Dark

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• Armor Class 14 (Hide, Survival Instinct)
• Hit Points 128 (14d10+60)
• 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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• Saving Throws Con +7, Int +8, Cha +8
• Skills Deception +8, Insight +6, Intimidate +12, Lore +8, Perception +6, Persuasion +8
• Damage Resistances acid, poison
• Condition Immunities charmed, prone
• Senses passive Perception 16
• Languages Bocce, Dosh, Huttese, Galactic Basic, Pak Pak, Quarrenese, Rodese, Ryl
• Challenge CR 6 (2,300 XP)

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Traits

Dominating Presence (1/Rest). As a bonus action, Darga the Hutt can call out to a humanoid who can understand it that is charmed by it or frightened of it 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 the Hutt's next turn, the creature takes only the actions Darga the Hutt chooses, and doesn’t do anything that it doesn’t allow it to do.

During this time Hutt Crime Lord can use its reaction to force the creature to use the creature's reaction.

Innate Tech Casting. Darga's innate tech casting ability is intelligence (tech save DC 16). It can innately cast the following powers:

At will: assess the situation
3/day: absorb energy, element of surprise, fabricate trap, oil slick, smuggle, spot the weakness, stack the deck, tactical barrier
1/day: kolto cloud, tactical advantage

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

Reassemble (1/Rest). Darga the Hutt may use a bonus action to call its allies towards it. It 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 Hutt Crime Lord up to their movement speed. This movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.

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

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.

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

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 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: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit 11 (2d8+2) kinetic damage, and the target is knocked prone.

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Reactions

Call the Guards. When a creature attacks Darga the Hutt, it 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 15,000 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.

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.

The Empire Arrives

On the 3rd round of combat, a squad of Stormtroopers burst into the hanger to assist Darga. Read the following:

You hear the thudding of heavy boots and the rhythmic clacking of armor approaching the hangar bay. Sleek white armor, black, soul-less eyes, and half a dozen polished rifle barrels train their sights on you as they march into the hangar and take cover...Stormtroopers. The situation seems grim, yet clear: if the Empire is sending elite stormtroopers to assist, they must be getting desperate.

Stormtrooper (6)

Loot

Several modifications can be retrieved from the battle droid.

• Sentry
• Repulsor Lifts (Improved)

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.

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.

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.

Another option for some of the players is to take command of Darga’s luxury yacht, the Glorious Chariot. This is a great chance for the players to get a ship of their own that they can use for the rest of the campaign, and could provide characters who aren’t great pilots with a chance to participate in the battle as gunners. Likewise, a few players could man the laser cannons aboard the Banshee while Okeefe and Crash pilot the transport. If some players want to take starfighters, a few want to steal the Glorious Chariot, and a few more want to act as gunners on the Banshee, that’s OK. It adds a bit of diversity to the last two encounters in the adventure, and it helps ensure that no characters are just “sitting in the ship” at the end. It takes Captain Okeefe a few seconds to bring the Banshee around to pick the players up, and after that, they can blast off into the skies of Bespin together. The Glorious Chariot and Z-95 Headhunter stat's are below and use the Banshee stats from Dawn of Defiance Chapter 1.)

"Glorious Chariot"
Sorosuub Luxury Yacht 3000

Tier 2 medium construct (starship), Yacht

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• Armor Class 12 (deflection)
• Damage Reduction 3
• Hull Points 52
• Shield Points 34 (quick-charge)
• Shield Regeneration Rate 12/round
• Speed 350 ft., turning 100 ft.
• Reactor 1 / round (Fuel Cell)
• Power Dice d6
• Power Coupling Hub & Spoke
• Central Capacity 2
• System Capacity 1

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)

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• Saving Throws CON +2, CHA +3
• Skills Scan +2, Astrogation +1, Data +1
• Senses passive Scan 12
• Min Crew 3

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MODIFICATIONS
Bonus Action: Navcomputer

Passive: Class 2 Hyperdrive, Backup Hyperdrive, Hardpoint (2), Turret Mounting, Comms Package, Mk I, Sensor Array, Mk I, Escape Pod, Luxury Quarters, Recreation

Piloted. The "Glorious Chariot" adds its crew's proficiency bonus to its attack rolls, as well as its Constitution and Charisma saving throws, as long as the crew has at least one rank in any deployment.

Evasive Maneuvers. (4/refitting) When the Glorious Chariot rolls initiative, it can immediately move. This movement happens before the initiative order is determined. Roll a d4 and multiply it by 50 feet, the Glorious Chariot then gains that many feet that it can move or spend to turn.

Nimble Starship. The Glorious Chariot can add half its Dexterity modifier (minimum of one) to any saving throw it makes that doesn't already include that modifier.

Armament

The Glorious Chariot can fire up to three times per round. Each weapon can only be fired once per round.

Attacks

Blaster Cannon (fixed: front) Ranged Ship Attacks: +4 to hit, range 600/2400, one target. Hit: 5 (1d8+2) energy damage.

Laser Cannon (turreted) Ranged Ship Attacks: +4 to hit, range 1000/4000, one target. Hit: 5 (1d10+2) energy damage.

Flight from Cloud City

Storm IV Twin-Pod Cloud Car

Tier 0 small construct (starship), Superiority Fighter

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• Armor Class 14 (Lightweight)
• Hull Points 11
• Speed 400 ft., turning 50 ft.
• Reactor 1d2 - 1 / round (Ionization)
• Power Dice d2
• Power Coupling Direct
• Central Capacity 4
• System Capacity 0

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (0)	16 (+3)	8 (-1)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

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• Saving Throws STR +2, DEX +5
• Skills Maneuvering +4
• Senses passive Scan 11
• Max Crew 2

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MODIFICATIONS

Passive: Adaptive Ailerons, Hardpoint

Atmospheric The Storm IV is designed for combat inside a planet's atmosphere and cannot function in space.

Dual Piloted The Storm IV can take up to two different actions on each of its turns. Only one of these actions can be a helm action.

Armament

The Storm IV can fire one weapon on its turn.

Attacks

Light Laser Cannon. Ranged Ship Attacks: +4 to hit, range 300/600, one target. Hit: 4 (1d8) energy damage.

Storm IV Twin-Pod Cloud Car Tactics

The pilots of these cloud cars know that the players are dangerous, and seeing as they are in the inferior craft, they are notably cautious. During the combat encounter, these cloud cars hang back from direct engagement with the players, letting the combat cloud cars get closer to engage the players in dogfights. However, since the twin-pod cloud cars have two crewmembers, the pilot will often take the opportunity to move close to the players, let the copilot take a shot, and then fly away.

Talon I Combat Cloud Car (3)

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

Read-Aloud Text

When the encounter begins, allow the players to make a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check. A successful check allows the players to discover the Tibanna gas hauler should reach the Shackles of Nizon slave ship in 5 rounds. When the encounter begins, read the following text aloud:

12th Squadron TIE Fighter (8)

The 12th Squadron is one of the first fighter squadrons to switch over from the now-antiquated V-wing starfighters to the cutting-edge TIE fighter. Though many of the pilots preferred the durability of the V-wing, the Empire’s mandate that all squadrons convert over to TIE fighters has been obeyed. Unfortunately, many of the pilots are not yet accustomed to the TIE fighter’s cockpit and maneuvering style. As a result, though the pilots might be considered skilled in the V-wings they trained in, they are reduced to mere competence in the cockpit of a TIE fighter. The 12th Squadron is one of the first fighter groups to convert over entirely, and they have been assigned to the Assiduous at the request of Valin Callus.

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 Callus’ 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.

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

>> Completing this adventure is a level-up milestone. (Level 7) <<

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 Callus, 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 Cloud City Royal, 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.