STAR WARS: DAWN OF DEFIANCE EPISODE 5 - The First to Strike

The First to Strike is the fifth adventure in the Dawn of Defiance campaign, which will take heroes 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 is the midpoint of the overall campaign and represents a shift from investigating to actually taking on Imperial forces—and winning. Though a serious of rough and action-filled encounters, the heroes should advance to 11th level by the conclusion of the adventure. Over the course of this adventure, the heroes will free a planet from Imperial tyranny, become allies with some of that planet’s leaders, and discover that the trail to the Sarlacc Project leads right into the heart of the Empire—to Coruscant itself.

The Lay of the Land

Inside the city, the heroes discover that Imperial oppression is alive and well on Nizon; stormtroopers march down the streets, an AT-ST walks around the wider avenues, and V-wing starfighters scream overhead every now and again. The Nazren themselves, hulking beings comparable in size to Wookiees, lumber through the streets with their shoulders hunched and their eyes downcast, but a smoldering look of hatred boils just below their stoic surfaces. In addition to the Nazren and the Imperials, Trandoshan slavers prod groups of Nazren along or gather at the entrances to buildings, eyeing the Nazren like farmers eyeing cattle. Other species are present in the city, too, allowing the heroes to move through the streets without being accosted at every turn.

The heroes eventually make contact with Sartok, the leader of an underground resistance movement. The Nazren have been planning to overthrow their Imperial masters for a while, but thus far, Sartok has been unable to convince enough of his people that it is possible to defeat the Empire and reclaim their world. After learning of the heroes’ previous successes against the Empire, Sartok pleads with them to help him reclaim the capital city, which should inspire his people to continue their rebellion. If the heroes agree, he fills them in on his plans.

Resistance

When Sartok gives the word, his allies throughout the city begin to riot. The heroes tackle a number of encounters during the riots that aid the Nazren in their struggles to reclaim their capital. They must help capture an Imperial checkpoint, rescue Nazren children trapped in a collapsing building, stop Trandoshan slavers from herding frightened Nazren onto their space ship, and so on. The critical battle of the revolt takes place in Martyr’s Plaza, which contains the entrance to the planetary control center, which runs all global communications as well as the rogue fragment tracking station.

Moreover, the heroes face one other unforeseen challenge: a bounty hunter. Inquisitor Valin Callus posted a bounty on the heroes after their last encounter, and a Zabrak named Vril Vrakth has been on their trail for a few weeks. Having learned about Senator Organa’s request to the University of Aldera, Vrakth has set himself up on Nizon as a scout for the Imperials and the slavers, but the heroes are his true prey. The bounty hunter plans to capture the heroes and kill Sartok, who also has a bounty on his head (though his is “dead or alive”). Vrakth has crab droids from the Clone Wars crawling through the city, reporting anything they find and attacking his prey when possible. If the heroes don’t deal with him prior to their capture of the control center, they must face Vrakth outside the city, at a planetary defense battery being installed by the Empire.

Conclusion

With the capital city securely in the hands of the Nazren rebels, word begins to come in that Nazren in other settlements have begun their own uprising. Meanwhile, the heroes gain access to an Imperial intelligence datachip that was entrusted to Vril Vrakth. From this datachip, they learn that the Nazren slaves were used as a part of the Sarlacc Project, and that every so often, the slaves were executed to keep them from spreading word of the project. Additionally, the datachip indicates that the orders regarding the Sarlacc Project originate from Coruscant, which is also referred to as the home of the project’s designers and architects. Thus, the best source of information on the Sarlacc Project seems to be one of the most heavily guarded planets in the galaxy. With this knowledge in hand, the heroes return to the Resurgence.

Opening Crawl

If you wish to have an opening crawl before the adventure, consider using the boxed text below.

Video Link: Opening Crawl

Credit: zeldafreak6245

Part 1: Whispers in the Force

Verna retrieves a flask from his jacket and takes a long swig. R5-27 lets out a chirp and Verna turns towards you. "Ah, Denia said you might stop by. After much thought I believe that Nizon could be a great opportunity for the resistance. If these beings are being mistreated by the empire as Denia suggests you may be able to fuel the sparks of another rebellion. Additionally, proof of this mistreatment will be excellent political clout for our benefactor which is invaluable for combating the empire. I have been authorized to pay you each 15,000 credits up front for provisions and supplies on this mission, and the hyperspace coordinates have been transmitted to your ship.

Part 2: Into the Jaws

The first arc of the adventure involves getting past Imperial forces and finding someone to talk to on Nizon. Stealth and speed will serve the heroes well. The Resurgence is currently stationed in the Inner Rim, and Nizon is located within the Mid Rim.

Travel Time = (48 hours x Hyperdrive Class)

The Arkanian Dragon Tactics

The Arkanian Dragon is only truly afraid of capital ships and will attempt to engage the player's ships without hesitation though if it feels threatened by the players sufficiently, it will deploy the remaining 4 V-wings to save itself. The Arkanian Dragon cannot operate in atmosphere or land on the ground so if the players manage to get through the dust cloud, it will be forced to stop chasing them.

V-wing (4)

V-wing Tactics

The V-wings will attempt to push the players towards the Arkanian Dragon and prevent them from entering the dust cloud and escaping. The V-wings are also receiving tracking information from the surface below meaning that they do not have to make checks to navigate the dust cloud but it is still difficult terrain. If the players manage to escape the Arkanian Dragon the V-wings break off and return to it, unwilling to continue without support or risk the safety of their parent ship on what could possibly be a diversion.

Conclusion

There are three possible outcomes. In the event the players manage to escape the Arkanian Dragon and its escort, they are not chased further and can see there is only one major city anywhere on the surface and plenty of places to hide their ship.

Although unlikely, it’s possible that the heroes—through great skill, great luck, or more firepower than the adventure is designed for—destroy the Arkanian Dragon and enough of its escorts to take control of the star system. If this happens, you as the GM have two basic options. First, you can run the adventure as written, but allow the PCs to use their starship as a weapon during the riots on Nizon. They can’t bypass certain encounters (for example, finding Sartok is possible only on foot, and the Imperial ground troops don’t evaporate just because their support ship is gone), but a functioning starship makes other encounters (such as the Battle for Martyr’s Plaza) much less challenging. However, ships of size Huge or Larger cannot bypass and enter Nizon's atmosphere due to the density of the asteroids- even with the proper navigational data.

The third and final outcome is the Arkanian Dragon defeats the heroes. This adventure changes very little. If the heroes’ ship is destroyed, inform the players that they have been shot down and crash outside a large city, and proceed with the adventure normally. If the heroes are captured, the Dragon’s captain informs them that a bounty hunter is looking for them, and the Empire is inclined to turn them over. The heroes are placed in a detention camp, where Sartok finds and rescues them before asking for their help to free his world.

Landing Site

Once the heroes are within Nizon’s atmosphere, visibility clears up slightly. Any effort to scan the surface visually or listen to incoming communications reveals that there is only one major city on the whole planet. When the heroes begin to examine the city or look for a place to land, read the following text.

Critical Challenge: The heroes must prevent their ship from being spotted by Imperial ground patrols or V-wing flyovers. The high level of dust and poor visibility will help, but additional action is required.

Have the players make a Wisdom (Survival) check to conceal the ship, keep track of this check. Each day, allow local patrols to make a Wisdom (Perception) check with at +5. On any successful check, the starship is found and placed under guard (until the Empire is forced to withdraw from the system). In the first fight to take place on the day their ship is discovered, the heroes face an additional crab droid from Vril Vrakth’s forces. The crab droid carries something that it took from the heroes’ ship, which was used by Vrakth to guess their plans.

Many caves and valleys can be used to conceal their ship, but getting into these locations is tricky at best. If the heroes’ ship has crashed, the caves and valleys aren’t an option. If the heroes land under their own power, they can try these difficult landing spots. A valley landing requires a DC 18 Intelligence (Piloting) check and gives disadvantage on any Wisdom (Perception) checks to find the ship. A DC 22 Intelligence (Piloting) check allows the heroes to land deep in the back of a cave, which ensures that no one will find their starship for at least several days (which should cover the timeframe of the adventure). Characters might wish to rig some kind of tarp or wall to hide their starship, constructed from local material or appropriate camouflage they bring with them. Doing so will also grant advantage to any Wisdom (Survival) checks to hide the ship.

Auxiliary Challenge: Nizon is an inhospitable planet. Visibility on the surface is limited, the native dust makes it difficult to breathe without assistance, and it’s easy to get lost. Since the heroes are unlikely to have landed within sight of the city, they must make their way there from the outer reaches of the badlands without being spotted or getting lost. Doing this successfully requires a group DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check. If one or more heroes does not have a breath mask of some kind, the DC of the Survival check increases by 5. On a failed check, the heroes either get lost or are forced to take cover from the worst of the dust, losing a day of travel time. This increases the chances that their starship is discovered and that they’ll encounter crab droids deployed by Vrakth. If the heroes take more than two days to reach the city, they run into one crab droid in the badlands each day until they make it to the city. The statblocks for the crab droid and Blade Scorpion are further below.

After succeeding the survival check, the party will encounter a young wookie under attack by a blade scorpion. When this occurs read the text below.

Setup

Map: Blade Scorpion

Jurrhol

Medium Humanoid, Balanced Lawful

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• Armor Class 17 (hide)
• Hit Points 97 (15d8+30)
• Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
19 (+4)	18 (+4)	14 (0)	11 (+2)	15 (Mod)	10 (0)

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• Skills Stealth +10, Athletics+7, Perception +5, Survival +8
• Condition Immunities condition_Immunities
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
• Languages Shyriiwook, Understands Galactic Basic but cannot speak it
• Challenge 4 (2,300 XP)

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Surprise Attack. If the wookiee surprises a creature during the first round of combat, the wookiee has advantage on the first attack roll against that creature. If the attack hits, it is considered a critical hit.

Actions

Multiattack. The wookiee makes two melee or two ranged weapon attacks.

Vibroblade. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (1d8 + 4) kinetic damage or 15 (1d10 + 4) kinetic damage if wielded with two hands.

Bowcaster. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 40/160 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) energy damage.

LM-432 "Muckraker" Crab Droid

Large droid, unaligned

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• Armor Class 17 (armorplast shielding)
• Hit Points 77 (9d10+27)
• Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	9 (-1)	17 (+3)	10 (+0)	14 (+2)	8 (-1)

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• Saving Throws Str +6, Con +5
• Skills Athletics +6, Survival +4
• Damage Vulnerabilities ion
• Damage Resistances necrotic, poison, psychic
• Condition Immunities poisoned, diseased
• Senses passive Perception 12
• Languages Binary, Galactic Basic but can't speak it
• Challenge 3 (700 XP)

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Blindspot. The crab droid's actions and traits are incapable of targeting any creature or space directly above it.

Circuitry. The crab droid has disadvantage on saving throws against effects that would deal ion or lightning damage.

Duranium Stabilizers. The crab droid can dig its claws into difficult surfaces, like sheer bedrock, to climb them without needing to make an ability check. It is also not slowed by muddy or swamplike difficult terrain.

Pin. The crab droid can use a bonus action to attempt to grapple a prone target within 5 feet.

Actions

Multiattack. The crab droid makes three blaster cannon attacks, or uses its muckrake and then its mud spray.

Blaster Cannon. Ranged Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d12-1) energy damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (3d10+4) kinetic damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature, it must make a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Muckrake. The crab droid targets a square of muddy or swamplike difficult within 5 feet of it and transforms that area into normal terrain, filling its tank with mud.

Mud Spray. The crab droid jet-sprays the contents of its mud tank onto a space within 30 feet, turning that space into difficult terrain, and forcing any creatures standing on it to make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or be blinded for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. This attack cannot be used if the crab droid's mud tank is empty.

Blade Scorpion

Huge Beast, unaligned

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• Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 173 (15d12+75)
• Speed 40 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
25 (+7)	10 (+0)	20 (+5)	3 (-4)	11 (+0)	5 (-3)

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• Senses passive Perception 10
• Languages -
• Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

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Trampling Charge. If the blade scorpion moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 19 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the blade scorpion can make one claw attack against it as a bonus action.

Actions

Multiattack. The blade scorpion can make one claw attack and one blade net attack.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 34 (5d10+7) kinetic damage.

Blade Net. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 60/240 ft, one target. Hit: The creature is restrained until until it is freed. A net has no effect on formless or Huge or larger creatures. A creature can use its action to make a DC 16 Strength check, freeing itself or another creature within its reach on a success. The net has an AC of 10, 5 hit points, and immunity to all damage not dealt by melee weapons. Destroying the net frees the creature without harming it and immediately ends the net’s effects. While a creature is restrained by a net, the blade scorpion can make no further attacks with it.

The City

The city of the Nazren has no name. None is needed, as it is the only settlement larger than a town on the entire planet. The Nazren refer to it as ahdjok, but this is nothing more than their word for “city,” and the Empire hasn’t bothered to assign it a name. Its position behind Mount Antas protects the city from the worst of the planetary dust, and it has a large, flat area on which to build a spaceport. As a result, the city has been the main point of contact between the Nazren and offworlders. It sits atop an underground river, which provides an endless supply of fresh water. This, combined with offworld trade, allowed the city to grow much larger than local agricultural conditions would otherwise permit. It is a traditional pilgrimage site for Nazren worldwide, making it a convenient location for the Empire to gather slaves.

Critical Challenge: Now that the heroes are in the city, they need to learn what’s going on and what they can do about it.

The easiest option is to make an Intelligence (Investigation) check. A result of 10 to 14 reveals that the Empire took control of the city about a year go and has been shipping Nazren off as slaves ever since, mostly with Trandoshan slavers. It also reveals that any Nazren who resists the Empire is placed in a detainment camp in the center of town, and thus, most Nazren leaders are now in that camp.

A check result of 15 to 19 also reveals that many Nazren are prepared to fight back as soon as they receive a signal from Sartok, a Nazren leader recently arrested and thrown into the detainment camp. However, the Empire doesn’t realize that Sartok is anyone special.

That's enough!

As you continue through the city you spot a squad of six stormtroopers and an imperial officer ahead of you. The troopers circle the entrance of a small home and without warning kick the door off it's hinges before rushing into the home. You hear screams of protest as a Nazren mother is dragged out into the streets. "Where are the rebels hiding?" the officer shouts at the woman. The crying of a small child can be heard from within the home. "I don't know anything! Don't hurt my child!" The Nazren pleads.

"Take her back to base for questioning." the imperial officer snarls. "What should we do with the kid, sir?" one of the stormtroopers asks as they scan the area. "We have no use for it- leave it behind." "Yes, sir." the stormtrooper responds closing the door on the screaming child, ignoring its mother's outstretched arms and cries of anguish, as she is dragged off into the city.

Setup

Map: Mother in Distress

The Breakout

Trandoshan Hunter (2)

Tactics

At least half the stormtroopers stay in their towers unless a pressing need (such as the tower being set on fire or targeted by a thermal detonator) drives them out. With heavy weapons, a clear field of fire, and fortified positions, the stormtroopers simply shoot at any characters breaking in or out. Most of the captives throw themselves prone when any fighting starts (so as not to get in Sartok’s way) and are ignored by the stormtroopers. This also prevents the tower guards from going after the heroes immediately, as they must continue to watch the prisoners.

The stormtroopers who are free to engage the heroes move onto the stone wall around the yard to get closer to any heroes shooting or escaping.

The trandoshans attack heroes who have melee weapons over those who have ranged weapons. If a character tries to leave the yard, the nearest trandoshan attempts to restrain that character with their Bolas.

Loot

• Thermal Detonator (Average) x2 [Minor, Premium]

Conclusion

If any prisoners escape from the yard, reinforcements a squad of 8 more guard troopers are dispatched to track and recapture them. It takes the reinforcements 5 minutes to muster and reach the detention camp. The wookie chief, Narful, is easily located within this camp- he is the only wookie there among the other beings and will follow the party without question (for now). It is evident that he was mistreated and badly beaten during his captivity.

If the heroes are willing to be led by Sartok, he guides them through a series of caves (parts of the underground river that ran dry decades ago) to a particular hidden cavern. If they refuse, Sartok follows them and offers his aid once the reinforcements track them down. After that, the heroes can find any place to hole up as long as they stay off the streets. Within hours, their faces are plastered on posters all over the city.

As you dash through the city, sticking to the shadows and alleys, Sartok leads you to what appears to be a dried up riverbed leading into the side of Mount Antas. After following the riverbed for several minutes you are lead through a series of dark twisting caves within the mountain before finally arriving at your destination. Narful collapses to the ground, his gray fur matted with sweat and blood. Jurrhol sits beside him and begins tending to his father's injuries. Sartok fetches a satchel from a nook in the cavern, returning with a glowrod and fresh bandages for the injured wookie.

Nuturing a Revolt

If the heroes allow Sartok to lead them to his safe cavern, the resistance leader picks up a few cached belongings and asks his guests to sit comfortably. At this point, Sartok is dressed as humbly as any Nazren, but he carries a satchel over one shoulder, in which he keeps a hidden blaster. The second and fourth fingers are missing from his left hand, and he has numerous scars, including some across his face. He is darker brown than most Nazren, with lighter splotches of skin at his wrinkles and creases. As an older member of his species, he has seen much that he'd rather not have witnessed.

If the heroes have any pressing needs (such as treating serious injuries), Sartok helps see to them before speaking.

Obviously, this is a big step, and the heroes probably have numerous questions. Below are answers to some likely questions.

• How did the Empire seize control? “They came as friends, claiming that we were in danger of being attacked by Separatists who wished to use our world as a secret base. The Empire landed troops and built barracks. Then, after they had more weapons than we did, they took over the city and the mountain and begin shipping our people off like cattle.”

• What are you planning to do during the riot? “I have every intention of fighting alongside my people. I can guide you around the city and ensure that your help goes where it is needed the most. I would not ask you to take any risk that I am unwilling to take myself.”

• How many Nazren will join you? “Dozens at first, then hundreds, and then, I believe, thousands. Eventually, we might be able to bring the whole world into the fight.”

• Where does the Empire keep its important records? “They might be in the control center below Martyr’s Plaza. It houses our most advanced computer system, which controls all of our planetary communications. The Empire currently controls it and has also captured our head shaman, allowing them to safely navigate the rogue fragments in orbit. Another possible location is the construction site on Mount Antas. It is heavily guarded currently, but if we take the city the Empire will be forced to move many soldiers into the streets leaving the site more vulnerable.”

• How will you prevent the Empire from returning and taking over again? “If we regain control of the communications tower and rescue the head shaman, we can ensure that the Empire’s ships are threatened by space debris and that only our allies can safely fly near our world.”

Sartok

Medium humanoid, chaotic light

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• Armor Class 16 (fiber armor)
• Hit Points 84 (13d8+26)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
11 (+0)	18 (+4)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)

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• Skills Deception +5, Perception +6, Persuasion +5, Stealth +7
• Senses passive Perception 16
• Languages Galactic Basic, Dosh, Nazren
• Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

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

Nazren Resilience (1/Long Rest). If Sartok would gain an exhaustion level from an effect, he can choose instead to not gain an exhaustion level instead.

Sneak Attack (1/turn). Sartok deals an extra 14 (4d6) damage when he 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 Sartok that isn't incapacitated and the Sartok doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.

Actions

Multiattack. Sartok makes three weapon attacks.

Blaster Pistol. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 40/160 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) energy damage.

Techblade. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) kinetic damage.

The Riots

Sartok allows the heroes as much time as they need (a long rest is recommended) to prepare before sending the word to begin the uprising. Once he does, however, things start to move very quickly. He can lead the heroes through the city to these encounters, or they can find their own way. The events unfold in the order listed. Additionally, you can design your own noncombat encounters, particularly challenges that require the use of skills. For these challenges, use the following guidelines: easy task: DC 10, moderate task: DC 15, hard task: DC 20, and challenging task: DC 25.

For example, during the riots, an injured Nazren resistance fighter might become trapped on top of a condemned building, with no way to get down. You might determine that getting to the Nazren would be a hard task (allowing Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks to balance on the crumbling stairs or Strength (Athletics) checks to scale the outside of the building) at DC 20. Once the heroes reach the roof, they can provide medical assistance or lower the Nazren safely to the ground.

Below are several skill-based encounters that you can use between combat encounters.

• A Nazren resistance fighter picks up transmissions on an Imperial channel from a guard post that has received word of the riots. The heroes must pose as Imperial officers, making Chasrima (Deception) or Charisma (Persuasion) checks to convince the guard post not to send reinforcements.

• A stash of weapons in an Imperial garrison could be enough to turn the tide in several sections of the city. The heroes try to use Charisma (Deception) to bluff their way into the garrison or Dexterity (Stealth) to sneak in, obtaining the weapons and funneling them to the resistance.

• A group of captured resistance fighters was abandoned in a detention facility when the Imperial guards were called away to reinforce another position. The heroes must make Intelligence (slicers kit) or Strength checks to open the cell doors, allowing the prisoners to escape and join the resistance.

• The chaos of the riots has left many resistance groups scattered and uncoordinated. One group in particular has obtained access codes to the Imperial garrison, but the group cannot be found. The heroes must make Intelligence (Investigation) checks to locate the missing Nazren or find alternative ways to contact them.

• Once the riots are well underway, Sartok needs the heroes’ assistance in coordinating the rest of the attacks. They can make Intelligence checks to plan the next attack or make Intelligence checks to notice flaws in Sartok’s plans.

Communications Tower

Shortly after the uprising begins Sartok informs the party about the Nazren's head Shaman, who was captured early on during the imperial incursion. He explains that the Shaman's abilities (he is force-sensitive, but Nazren do not know this) are how the imperials are able to pass through the debris field unabated- without the Shaman the Empire will have a difficult time sending reinforcements to quell the uprising.

Sartok asks the party to free the Shaman from the communications tower and tells the party that he will rally the other Nazren to cause a distraction deeper within the city, forcing the imperials to respond by re-allocating their troops- hopefully away from the Shaman.

As the cries of revolt begin to echo throughout the city, Sartok turns to speak with you. "Shortly after the imperial occupation began our head shaman was captured. We Nazren have studied the asteroid belt surrounding our planet for centuries using the observatory on Mount Antas, in hopes for discovering pattern for safe passage for our people. Our head shaman has a special connection with the world around him, and the ability to feel a safe route through the debris. We transmit that information through a powerful interplanetary communications array to any authorized vessel looking to visit our planet. Currently, the Imperials are forcing him to provide their ships with safe passages. If he does not comply, the Imperials publicly execute 10 of our people for every Imperial that dies as a result of his non-compliance. Our first mission is to rescue our head shaman and reclaim the communications tower, effectively cutting off interplanetary communications for the imperials and limiting their ability to send off-planet reinforcements. The riots will soon force the imperials to thin their available units to address the rising threats spreading throughout the city- now is the best time to strike!

The communications tower is 2 levels higher than the surrounding buildings and stands in the middle of an otherwise empty lot. A two meter tall chain-link fence surrounds the area around the tower. There are 4 heavy stormtroopers standing to the west of the fenced perimeter, though their body movement suggests that they are bored. Though you can’t hear them, their heads move in such a way that you suspect they are talking amongst themselves. Sartok pulls a rudimentary comm-jammer from his satchel and sets in on the ground. "I will remain here to jam their communications. It should buy you enough time to rescue the shaman before the Imperials can call for backup."

Checkpoint Gamma

One of the ways that the Empire has kept the local population under control is with heavily armed checkpoints throughout the city. Movement is limited to those with the proper Imperial forms, making it difficult for the Nazren to gather and plan. Now, reports come to the heroes that a central checkpoint, Gamma, is being held by AT-RT walkers equipped with heavy weapons. Unless it can be opened up, the small units of Nazren trying to start an uprising won’t be able to get together to form more effective squads of rioters.

Features of the Map

The barrier across the roadway is made of ferrocrete (DR 10, 150 hit points per section). It’s 5 feet high and gives half cover to the AT-RTs against any attacks from the far side. The gate is only wire mesh and gives no cover.

The stone buildings to either side are old, and chunks of them can be brought down on a 10 foot square with an attack or explosion. At least one AT-RT pilot tries this with his laser cannon if any heroes stay behind cover, and the option is available for the heroes as well. A creature must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 22 (4d10) kinetic damage on a failed save. A chunk caused by an explosion instead causes a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw or take 55 (10d10) kinetic damage as the chunk is far larger than one caused by a normal weapon.

Conclusion

If the heroes take out Checkpoint Gamma the Nazren successfully link up to take control of various parts of the city. If the heroes don’t destroy the checkpoint (either because they don’t try or because the fight goes badly for them), Vril Vrakth gathers information about their activities from his Imperial allies and sends two crab droids into the next encounter the heroes have.

If any AT-RTs survive, they show signs of damage. The Nazren offer to haul the walkers to an underground shop to see if they can be repaired. Sartok, Jurrhol and Narful remain here to assist with coordinating more strikes around the city, promising to contact the heroes via commlink with any additional intel or instructions. If a hero insists on piloting a walker, he must make a DC 18 Mechanics check between each encounter to keep it running smoothly. Be sure to keep track of its reduced hit points.

Collateral Damage

As the Imperial forces begin to react to the rioting, a set of mortar cannons on Mount Antas starts to bombard residential areas. As the heroes run by a building, it takes a hit and begins to collapse. Fire breaks out in the lower floors, and numerous young Nazren are trapped within the structure.

Stormtrooper Squad

Tactics

The stormtroopers are here to call in targeting instructions to the blaster artillery on Mount Antas. They had the residential building hit to ensure that no provocateurs were inside (none were). They have no interest in the trapped children and don’t target them, but the stormtroopers shoot at any hero or armed Nazren. The stormtroopers try to hold their defensible position on the warehouse roof, but they move if forced to (such as if someone throws a gas grenade onto the roof). Otherwise, they shoot first at any hero who doesn’t have cover, and then at any hero who seems heavily armed. If you need to use a single stormtrooper for any reason rather than the entire squad, use the following statblock.

Loot

One of the children gives the heroes an ornate tunic that was once owned by their late father.

• Tunic Chassis [Advanced] [Major, Advanced]

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Conclusion

Nazren civilians come out of basements and bunkers to offer to care for any rescued child. These adult Nazren are grateful to the heroes for their help and offer what minor assistance they can. A single medpac may be available for wounded heroes, or the Nazren can give directions to any other part of the city, including Martyr’s Plaza, the spaceport, or even the artillery if a hero thinks to ask—one of the Nazren here helped dig the moorings for the blaster cannons.

If a stormtrooper is killed or captured, his utility belt beeps, revealing a coded comlink. A DC 15 Intelligence (Technology) check allows a character to activate the commlink and receive communication from the blaster artillery on the lower levels of Mount Antas. The artillery is reporting to all spotters to hold targeting commands until further notice. The old Clone Wars-era artillery has suffered a malfunction and won’t be able to fire for another 15 minutes or so. The commlink is attached to a datapad that shows the artillery’s concealed location. Armed with this information, the heroes can contact Sartok who successfully coordinates an attack with other rebels to disable the artillery.

Rest Stop

As the heroes make their way through the city, they find themselves cornered by advancing Imperial artillery. Fortunately, the heroes have earned a reputation in the city by now, and a Nazren woman comes to their aid, leading them to a safehouse to rest. This should give the heroes a chance to recover and heal, though their respite doesn’t last long. Crab droids sent by Vril Vrakth find the safehouse and burrow inside.

Yurka Aggel

The old Nazren is Yurka Aggel, a healer and wise woman among her kind. She aids the heroes in any way she can, which is mostly limited to her single Force power, Give Life. Aggel has seen her people go from a proud and independent civilization to Imperial slaves, and she is happy to see the Nazren rise up to throw off the Empire’s shackles.

Aggel wont fight any enemies and wont accompany the heroes but can use the Give Life at-will force power, acting as if she had 8d6 hit dice available.

Crab Droid (3)

Unless they’ve all been destroyed already (which is unlikely), three of Vril Vrakth’s crab droids crawl in through a tunnel in the back of the shelter and attack the heroes. The crab droids have no interest in Yurka Aggel but are happy to attack Sartok if he’s present.

Stats for the Crab Droid can be found on page 13.

Tactics

The crab droids aren’t complicated. They march in, start firing, and continue to fire until destroyed.

Conclusion

Yurka Aggel suggests that the crab droids must have been looking for someone, possibly based on spotter’s reports from the V-wings. An inspection of the crab droids shows that they have been heavily damaged, repaired, and modified over the years, but not by the Empire. Each droid bears an owner’s stamp. Anyone who knows Zabrak or who makes a DC 15 Intelligence (Lore) check can identify the stamp as a Zabrak symbol that is best translated as “long hunter.” This might be the heroes’ first clue that a bounty hunter is on their trail.

Detention Facility

Assuming the heroes agree to help Sartok will send them his coordinates and ask them to meet him up with him when as soon as they can. Upon meeting up with Sartok, read the following.

If none of the players are good at stealth, Jurrhol offers to help (+10 to stealth). If his help is accepted, allow a player to control him for this encounter. Narful will wait outside with the remainder of the party. No map is provided for this section as it is intended to be run using theater of the mind. DM's may choose to create a map at their own discretion.

You slowly peak your head above the nearest crate, and you see that the passage you’re in extends to the east, up a few steps into a much larger room where you see a stormtrooper looking north. There is also an arch leading to another room to the south. The room to the south is where you hear footsteps coming from. On the inside of the arch, there is a rudimentary computer console set into the wall.

Freeing the Prisoners

As you approach the small cell, you see that there is a force field in place, imprisoning 5 Nazren. They look shocked to see a non-Imperial, and they glance nervously from side to side, as though suspecting a trap. The cell door is locked, but the controls are easy to understand. In just a few seconds the forcefield dissipates allowing the prisoners to exit freely. The Nazren look grateful, but still wary of any nearby Imperials. They feverishly motion (towards the other cells).

Retrieve and assemble AA weaponry

Allow the party to answer and decide on the supplies, if any, they wish to use or give to the Nazren.

The point of this request is to split the party to cover more ground. If the party refuses to split whomever they do not assist will be killed during another imperial air-raid while setting up the weapons. (Either Rattaka or Marrak)

Each player may make 3 checks total, or help another player, giving that player advantage on the roll. Each check represents one hour of work. If the players fail all the checks, the AA weaponry is still assembled but the proceed takes a total of 6 hours. In this timeframe hundreds of Nazren are killed from further V-Wing attack runs.

• Technology DC10: You can tell that the parts will fit together to form a surface-to-air concussion missile launcher.
• Technology DC15: There are no instructions for how to put this thing together. You work for several minutes, and are able to construct the base that steadies the weapon, but the launching mechanism itself is proving difficult to put together.
• Technology DC20: There are no instructions for how to put this thing together. Nevertheless, you are able to see how each part relates to each other, and you quickly construct the entire weapon. You have constructed a surface-to-air concussion missile launcher. The missiles are smaller versions of those used in starships, but they look formidable nonetheless.

The Black Ships

During the rioting, the heroes see two black cargo vessels fly overhead. The ships have the same markings as the slave transport they saw in Cloud City Royal, as well as the ship that was being escorted off Nizon by the Arkanian Dragon. The black ships shrug off light weapons fire from the surface and lands a short distance away. Sartok contacts the heroes via commlink informing them that the vessels landed near the slave pens, where many captive beings are contained to be shipped offworld and sold into slavery. Sartok asks the heroes to rescue stop the slavers and rescue the captives, adding them to the rebel forces.

The black ship is the same type as the one encountered in Cloud City Royal—a Gallofree Yards Medium Transport. It is staffed by 18 Trandoshan slavers, though only nine of them are free to fight at any given moment. The rest remain inside the ship, struggling to repair the damaged systems so that it can take off again as soon as the latest crop of slaves is aboard.

You regroup with the rest of your allies in a narrow alleyway, several blocks from the newly assembled anti-air weaponry. You glance upwards and spot two black cargo vessels in the distance attempting to land further within the city. Both ships bear similar markings as the slave transport you encountered on Bespin, as well as the ship that was being escorted off Nizon by the Arkanian Dragon. A salvo of anti-air missles streaks towards one of the transports striking a glancing blow. Black smoke trails from the damaged vessel as both transports land deep within the city, shrugging off small weapons fire from the surface as they approach. Your commlink beeps. "Those ships landed near the slave pens." Sartok growls "Likely trying to cut their losses and flee with whatever they can. It is unlikely they will be able to make it past the rogue fragments, but I do not want my people to die needles deaths." Blasterfire echoes through the commlink "My forces are otherwise occupied and cannot assist. Do what you can to stop the vessels and rescue the captives."

Setup

Map: The Black Ship

Trandoshan Slaver

Medium humanoid (Trandoshan), chaotic dark

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• Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 69 (7d8+7)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	13 (+1)	13 (+1)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	9 (-1)

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• Saving Throws Str +5, Wis +3
• Skills Athletics +5, Perception +3, Survival +3
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
• Languages Galactic Basic, Dosh
• Challenge 1 (200 XP)

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Infared Vision. The trandoshan has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Regeneration. The trandoshan regains 10 hit points at the start of its turn if it has at least 1 hit point.

Actions

Multiattack. The trandoshan makes two Subduing Strike attacks.

Subduing Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) kinetic damage.

Nashtah

Medium beast, unaligned

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• Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
• Hit Points 45 (7d8 + 14)
• Speed 30 ft., swim 50 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	12 (+1)	15 (+2)	6 (-2)	10 (+0)	6 (-2)

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• Skills Perception +5, Stealth +6
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
• Challenge 3 (700 XP)

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Ambusher. The nashtah has advantage on attack rolls against any creature it has surprised.

Keen Striking. The nashtah scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. If at least one of the nashtah's allies is within 5 feet of its target and the ally isn't incapacitated, the nashtah instead scores a critical hit on a roll of 18-20.

Pack Tactics. The nashtah has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the nashtah's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Tracking Venom. A creature hit by the Nashtah's bite or barbed tail is coated in a unique venom. The Nashtah always knows the location of this creature as long as it is on the same planet, and the venom lasts for 3d10 days.

Actions

Multiattack. The nashtah makes one attack with its bite and one attack with either its claws or its tail.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10+4) kinetic damage. The target is grappled (escape dc 16) Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the nashtah can't bite another target

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) kinetic damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target not grappled by the nashtah. Hit: 13 (2d8+4) kinetic damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Features of the Area

The entire area is filled with smoke; the damaged ship belches gas and impurities into the air. The slavers had planned to repair the damage before taking off, but the rioting has convinced them otherwise. The smoke acts as an atmospheric hazard, forcing all creatures not wearing breath masks (as all the slavers and nashtah are) to make a Constitution saving throw at the end of their turn. A failed save causes the creature to take 9 (2d8) points of poison damage gives the creature a level of exhaustion. Crude efforts to block the smoke (such as tying a wet cloth across the mouth) don’t prevent the damage but do stop the creature from gaining a level of exhaustion. All of the Nazren slaves are protected in this manner, but each slave would gladly give his or her protection to a hero in trouble. The smoke also gives everyone in the area concealment if they are not adjacent to their attacker.

The nine Trandoshans in the ship are too busy to fight anyone who gets inside; the ship is in bad shape and needs care or it won’t take off. Any hero inside the ship can free five Nazren slaves each round. There are 60 slaves inside the ship. (Twelve rounds total)

Conclusion

If The Bloody Credit gets away, it heads to Mount Antas to rendezvous with Vril Vrakth and the Reclaimed Calamity.

Any freed slaves immediately grab weapons from the slavers (or use tools or sticks to arm themselves if nothing else is handy) and rush off to join the revolt. (They don’t attack the Trandoshans, leaving that to the heroes, which prevents you from having to run too many GM characters in this conflict.) This escalates the rioting within the city to its peak and draws Imperial forces away from Martyr’s Plaza. If the heroes fail to free any slaves (and thus don’t draw forces away from the plaza), add an AT-RT (from the “Checkpoint Gamma” encounter) to the “Battle for Martyr’s Plaza” encounter.

If there are any crab droids left in Vrakth’s arsenal (He starts with 8 total), they attack the heroes at the landing pad 5 minutes after the slaver encounter ends. They fight until one crab droid is destroyed, at which point the remaining droids flee in different directions to rendezvous with Vrakth.

Martyr's Plaza

As the riots spread through the city, more and more Imperial forces leave their posts to reinforce troops in trouble elsewhere. Eventually, up to half the forces in each security zone have moved off, leaving those locations as vulnerable as they’ll ever be. In particular, the forces in Martyr’s Plaza have sent away one of their two AT-STs and several dozen troopers, leaving it less well guarded than at any time during the Imperial occupation. At the center of the plaza is the access to the underground control center, which directs all planetary communications on Nizon.

When word comes of the reduced security at the entrance to the control center, Sartok tells the heroes to move to Martyr’s Plaza and secure the entrance. If the heroes do so, they will allow the Nazren to take control of the center, which will enable them to keep the Empire off their world indefinitely.

Marring this peaceful and holy place are the ugly scars of Imperial occupation. Three armored turrets sit between the statues, blasters tracking the outer rim of the plaza. Walking in patrol around the dome is an All-Terrain Scout Transport, a massive war machine armed with twin blaster cannons and a grenade launcher. The walker seems undamaged and is alert for possible trouble.

AT-ST

Huge construct, unaligned

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• Armor Class 18 (armor plating)
• Hit Points 262 (25d12 + 100)
• Speed 40 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	20 (+5)	19 (+4)	14 (+2)	13 (+1)	9 (-1)

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• Saving Throws Str +9, Con +9
• Damage Vulnerabilities ion
• Damage Resistances necrotic, poison, psychic
• Condition Immunities disease, exhaustion, poisoned
• Senses passive Perception 11
• Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)

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Circuitry. The construct has disadvantage on saving throws against effects that would deal ion or lightning damage.

Heavy Durasteel Armor. The outer layer of the AT-ST is covered in heavy armor, making it difficult for smaller arms to damage it. The AT-ST takes no damage from an attack or effect that deals less than 10 damage.

Operated. The construct is operated by both a pilot and gunner and roll initiative separately.

Gunner. The construct requires an active gunner to take any actions controlled by the gunner, and if the gunner is subjected to any conditions that the construct is not immune to, the construct is also subjected to those conditions. The gunner may take their own action or one of the actions granted by the construct.

Piloted. The construct requires an active pilot to take any actions controlled by the pilot, and if the pilot is subjected to any conditions that the construct is not immune to, the construct is also subjected to those conditions. The pilot may take their own action or one of the actions granted by the construct.

Prone Deficiency. If the construct is knocked over and falls prone, it can’t right itself and is incapacitated until upright again.

Towering. Creatures of Medium size or smaller can stand in the AT-ST’s space.

Vulnerable Interior The construct's interior is vulnerable to damage done by grenades, mines and charges, unless it is immune to that damage. It also automatically fails all Dexterity saving throws from such effects that occur in its interior.

Actions

Pilot. The pilot of the AT-ST can attack once with the Chin Mounted Blasters and Stomp.

Chin Mounted Blasters. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 200/400 ft., one target. Hit 16 (2d10+5) energy damage.

Stomp. All creatures within 5 feet of the AT-ST must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 17 (2d12+4) kinetic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Gunner. The gunner of the AT-ST can attack twice with the Cheek Mounted Blasters and once with the Concussion Grenade Launcher if it is available.

Cheek Mounted Blasters. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 120/240 ft., one target. Hit 14 (2d8+5) energy damage.

Concussion Grenade Launcher (Recharge 6). The AT-ST launches a barrage of grenades at a point within 120 feet. Every creature within 15 feet must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw, taking 32 (5d12) kinetic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Imperial Security Turret

Large construct, unaligned

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• Armor Class 10 (armor plating)
• Hit Points 75 (10d10 + 20)
• Speed 0 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	2 (-4)	15 (+2)	14 (+2)	11 (+0)	4 (-3)

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• Skills Perception +4
• Damage Vulnerabilities ion
• Damage Resistances necrotic, poison, psychic
• Condition Immunities disease, grappled, poison, prone, restrained
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
• Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

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Circuitry. The turret has disadvantage on saving throws against effects that would deal ion or lightning damage.

Fixed. When the turret makes a check or saving throw to avoid being moved, it does so with advantage and adds +10 to the roll.

Gunner. The construct requires an active gunner to take any actions, and if the gunner is subjected to any conditions that the construct is not immune to, the construct is also subjected to those conditions. The gunner may take their own action or one of the actions granted by the construct.

Heavy Armor and Shielding. The outer layer of the turret is covered in heavy armor and shielding, making it difficult for smaller arms to damage it. The turret takes no damage from an attack or effect that deals less than 15 damage.

Targeting Systems. The turret uses its Intelligence modifier for attack, damage, and initiative rolls.

Vulnerable Interior. The construct's interior is vulnerable to damage done by grenades, mines and charges, unless it is immune to that damage. It also automatically fails all Dexterity saving throws from such effects that occur in its interior.

Actions

Multiattack. The turret makes two laser cannon attacks.

Laser Cannon. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 300/900 ft., one target at least 60 feet away from the turret. Hit: 16 (4d6+2) energy damage. Additionally, hit or miss, the target and each creature within 20 feet must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 15), taking 14 (4d6) energy damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Tactics

The AT-ST is aggressive, hunting down any heroes it spots and attacking with a full weapon load. If a hero has cover, the walker isn’t shy about using its grenade launcher to attack an area or firing all weapons at the cover in attempt to destroy it. The walker tries to ensure that no one swarms over and takes control of a turret as it could be a major threat to it.

If the heroes defeat the AT-ST, they can open the hatch in the stone dome and descend into the underground control center. The six Imperial technicians resist the intruders in an attempt to buy time, use the 'Stormtrooper' statblock from 'Collateral Damage' for these technicians. A deletion program is currently running on the main computer within, threatening to wipe all information about the imperial's involvement with Nizon and the sarlaac project.

Conclusion

The imperials have started a deletion program within the command center and are hoping to buy enough time to allow the program to finish. If combat lasts for over 10 rounds (very unlikley) the program completes and all the data is lost. A DC 13 Technology check is needed to stop the deletion program. A roll of 18 or higher also reveals that there was one unauthorized download of the Sarlaac Project files prior to the heroes' arrival. Vril Varkth managed to download this information onto a datacard without permission at some point while on the Nizon in hopes of using it as a bargaining chip against the empire in case they ever tried to betray him.

A Wookie's Sacrifice

(PLAYER) uploads the recovered Intel onto a secure datacard and gives a nod of affirmation. You inform Sartok via commlink that the communications center is now secure and requires reinforcement. As Sartok gives his heartfelt thanks and acknowledgement the thunderous cheer of Jorrhul and several other wookies echoes in the background. A slight smile crosses your lips as you gather your belongings and follow the wookies outside. As you all prepare to secure the perimeter, Chief Narful tenses up. Placing a stern hand on (PLAYER’s) chest, he sniffs the air. For a calm moment you scan the area with him, when you spot a bright flash on the horizon. In an instant, Chief Narful shoves (PLAYER) aside as a long-range blaster shot streaks through the air striking him dead in the chest. As the Wookie chief collapses in a heap on the ground, you all scramble for cover and spot three crab droids descending the ridge overlooking the plaza. A lone sniper lays prone atop the ridge, their rifle’s scope just barely glistening in the setting sun as they line up their next shot.

The prone figure retreats, disappearing from view behind the obtrusive ridgeline. A few moments later you hear the faint roar of engines as a single pilot cloakshape fighter takes off towards Mount Antas.

Point Gold

Capturing the control center is the endgame of Sartok’s plans to take back the planet, and once that has been accomplished, the Nazren believe that victory and freedom are inevitable. The players have a choice at this point. They can either pursue the bounty hunter or let him escape.

The players also have the option of contacting Sartok via commlink to let him know what occurred, if they so choose. If they relay the information of Chief Narful's death a sorrowful roar of anguish and anger can be heard from Jorrhul. Additionally, one of the Narzen with Sartok overhears the conversation and informs the players about a secret tunnel hidden in the communications center that leads directly to Mount Antas. Using this passage, or other faster means of transport, will allow the players to arrive at Point Gold before Vrakth and his men flee the planet.

(reports of a cloakshape fighter)

Read-Aloud Text

When the heroes arrive in this area, read the following text aloud:

The bounty hunter will answer and entertain any questions the party has that you feel are appropriate, as long as they remain civil.

• If the party mentions the unauthorized download from the communications center or that they are looking for information on the Sarlacc Project, read the following.

This offer is sincere- the datacard he is offering is a blank. The real datacard is hidden away in a secret pocket of his clothing. A DC 14 Insight check will be able to determine that the Zabrak isn't being entirely forthcoming.

• If the party threatens or otherwise harasses the Zabrak, read the following.

Vril Varkth is also willing to negotiate the release of his hostages for a sizeable fee and the promise of his safety. At the end of the day, he just wants to be paid and make it out alive. A DC 22 persuasion check will convince Vrakth to let his hostages go in return for garunteed safe passage of himself and his men- including valid coordinates for bypassing the rogue fragments. A DC 26 deception check is required if the party does not intend to honor their side of the bargain. Alternatively with a DC 16 persusasion check Vrakth with accept payment of 65,000cr in addition to valid coordinates through the rogue fragments, promising to transfer the captives to another vessel of the parties choosing upon safely leaving orbit. Vrakth is sincere in these terms as well- he knows he is currently outmatched by the heroes. If Vril catches the heroes in a lie he will order his men to open fire.

The ships will be ready to take off after 5 rounds of combat, or whenever you deem fit depending how long the party talks to Vrakth. If combat erupts, the mercenaries will flee on the transport unless they are clearly winning the fight sticking around a bit longer in attempts to secure their bounty. Vrakth will retreat into the safety of the transport if he falls below half health. He will return in The Gem of Alderaan later in the Dawn of Defiance campaign. While the ship is preparing for departure the mercenaries attack the heroes at range providing covering fire for the ship. The remaining crab droids also move into position and attack. When the ships leave they fly directly behind Mount Antas, preventing them from being targeted by the anti-air weaponry. Vril abandons his cloakshape fighter within Mount Antas, prioritizing his personal safely over his vessel- unless the heroes negotiate other terms for a deal.

If Vrakth and his men successfully flee from Mount Antas without the coordinates to the rogue fragments the bounty hunters still make it out alive. However, their ship is critically damaged and is tractored onto the Arkanian Dragon for repairs.

GM NOTE: Vril Vrakth will return in The Gem of Alderaan later in the Dawn of Defiance campaign- it is very important to prioritize his safety to ensure he makes it out of this chapter alive.

Vril Vrakth

Vril Vrakth was raised on a failed colony, a world too harsh to support much life. As food and resources became increasingly scarce, his people turned on themselves in a series of increasingly vicious settlement wars. Though Vrakth originally began training as a soldier, he changed to follow the career of a scout. He learned the value of hunting prey with caution, but he also learned that most battles are won by those who shoot the fastest and can withstand the most damage. When a bounty hunter named Jeyrs Hundar followed a criminal to Vrakth’s homeland, the young Zabrak was one of only a handful of colonists still alive. Impressed with Vrakth’s tenacity and self-reliance, Hundar took him on as an apprentice bounty hunter.

Vrakth alternated between training to be a warrior and training to be a hunter, eventually becoming a crack shot with both a pistol and sniper rifle. He served as Hundar’s backup, covering escape routes and double-teaming the targets that were too dangerous to take solo. When Hundar proved too slow to bring in a particularly vicious Rodian, Vrakth completed the job. This established him as a feared bounty hunter. He soon came to the attention of a local Republic governor, who used him to hunt down CIS generals during the Clone Wars. Vrakth now works almost exclusively for the Empire, especially Inquisitor Valin Callus.

Crab Droids (8)

Vrakth has eight crab droids that he has modified to obey him and serve as his scouts and hunting drones. Each has an added comlink, which allows him to give them override orders from his cloakshape fighter. The droids have been hunting and harassing the heroes throughout their time on Nizon, and if any remain, they are here. Since Vrakth is not directly controlling the crab droids, they attack the nearest foe who attacks Vrakth. Any hero who does not attack the bounty hunter is ignored by the crab droids.

The statblock

Conclusion

When the encounter has concluded, the heroes and their Nazren allies control the city, communications center, and the construction on Mount Antas. Any remaining Imperial forces evacuate or surrender, and reports begin to come in of Nazren seizing control in smaller outposts and settlements. Between the rogue fragments and the planetary shields (which they can complete), the Nazren can make retaking their planet too costly for the Empire. A funeral is held for Narful and the Nazren inform you that they intend to erect a statue in his honor within Martyr's Plaza. Jurrhol dutifully accepts the role as chieftain within his tribe, deciding that he and his tribe will remain among the Nazren for the next upcoming months to help them rebuild and to bring honor to his father's sacrifice.

>> Finishing the encounter with Vril Vrakth and his men (regardless of outcome) is a level-up milestone. (Level 11) <<

Concluding the Adventure

Though the imperials did not fully erase the Sarlacc Project information they still corrupted it. It takes time and a DC X (see Intelligence (Technology) check to get anything out of the fragmented information. If the heroes can’t manage that task, they have allies who can. Eventually, they discover that the Sarlacc Project is a massive construction effort taking place in the Deep Core, with costs so high that the Empire decided to complete it with slave labor. The information on the datachip does not specify any details about what, exactly, is being built. But all contacts and notes are tied directly to Coruscant, which seems to be the place to go for more information on the project.

The heroes are now honored allies of Nizon, treated with respect by any Nazren they encounter. Sartok begins to work toward a planetary council, though he confesses to the heroes that he hopes he isn’t on it— he’d prefer to leave his leadership role behind. He does, however, ask the heroes to take a message of friendship to Senator Organa, along with an offer that the Nazren will help him against the Empire in the future. This victory is minor in the grand scheme of things, but it’s an important beginning, proving that the Empire can be defeated, at least on small planets outside the Core Worlds.

If any heroes were killed during the adventure, the grateful Nazren erect a statue in their honor in Martyr’s Plaza.

The Nazren also help the heroes repair their ship, if needed, restoring it to 50% its maxmium hull points over the course of 5 days. Returning to the Resurgence in the Inner Rim takes (48 hours x Hyperdrive Class).

For the Empire’s part, losing the Nazren as a source of slave labor is irritating, but thanks to the heroes, they have little choice but to stay clear of the planet—at least temporarily. The Empire is too new to spend many resources dealing with the Nazren, and work on the Sarlacc Project can continue with Wookiee and Mon Calamari slaves. Believing that all information on the project has been destroyed, the Imperials abandon the world for the time being.