STAR WARS: DAWN OF DEFIANCE EPISODE 8 - The Gem of Alderaan

The Gem of Alderaan is the seventh 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 begins the third act of the campaign, which consists of three adventures: The Gem of Alderaan, Sword of the Empire, and Jaws of the Sarlacc.

About six months have passed since the last adventure. Over the course of this adventure, the heroes will infiltrate a high society gala, play high-stakes games of sabacc, and fight alongside Imperial stormtroopers to defend against hijackers bent on capturing a train full of dignitaries. The heroes should start The Gem of Alderaan at 15th level and reach 16th level by the conclusion. With some modifications, this adventure can also be used as a stand-alone scenario or as part of your existing campaign.

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: Deadline

Six months pass before Bail Organa learns of Jedi Master Denia’s whereabouts, so the heroes have plenty of time to rest and recuperate after their last adventure. They should have opportunities to repair, upgrade, or replace their equipment during this time, but their status as wanted criminals will make it impossible to purchase restricted items through legitimate channels.

Once the heroes are ready and any side adventures are completed, Bail Organa summons them to his private retreat on Alderaan. When they arrive, read or paraphrase the following:

“Unfortunately, getting this clearance requires an extensive background check by Imperial Intelligence. In your case—well, let’s just say a death mark would catch their attention. But even with no marks on your record, it could take months. And that is time that Master Denia just doesn’t have.”

“Fortunately, I believe I have found someone who already has this Deep Core clearance.” The holoprojector brings up the image of a stunning young woman wearing a luxurious but revealing gown. “This is Lady Alya Aldrete, heiress to the Aldrete family empire of luxury hotels, casinos, passenger liners, and other playgrounds for the idle rich. Alya herself uses her family name and fortune to pursue a life of decadence and excess, making herself into a celebrity and icon while the gossip media watches her every move. This is a problem for us because I need you to meet her.

I have reason to believe that, among her other contacts, she has a cadre of personal smugglers who ferry illegal spice, stolen artwork, and other illicit luxuries. Every indication is that she has access to several clearance codes that would provide authorization for travel in the Deep Core. If Master Denia is to have any hope of rescue, we need to talk Lady Aldrete into helping us.

Her love of media attention will make this very difficult. We can’t have you being recorded speaking with her, or you’ll attract scrutiny—and it wouldn’t take an investigative reporter long to discover your status as wanted criminals.

But we do have a unique opportunity to get close to her without being surrounded by holorecorders. The Gem of Alderaan, a luxury repulsortrain owned by her family, is going to be launched on its maiden voyage tomorrow night. Alya is holding an invitationonly launch party, which will give you a chance to speak with her without attracting undue attention. As a senator, my office is routinely sent invitations to such events as a matter of courtesy. I’m giving you the invitations so you can appear on my behalf, disguised as advisors and aides for my senate office.

The gala is certain to have a significant Imperial presence. You will have to go in with little more than the clothes on your backs, and you will not have much time to build a respectable cover story to ensure that security does not hassle you.

Once on board, you can expect Lady Aldrete to be surrounded by a gaggle of hangers-on at any given moment. Our topic absolutely cannot be brought up in front of witnesses, and she’s unlikely to grant an audience to total strangers. Instead, you must somehow attract her interest so she will extend an invitation to you, and the best way to do that is by befriending or impressing as many high-profile guests as possible. Get them talking about you, and eventually she will seek you out.

Let me put it another way: You have 24 hours to prepare your background and learn about the guests well enough to blend in with nobles, politicians, celebrities, and Imperials in close quarters on a luxury repulsortrain, all the while making a good impression and attracting the attention of a flighty celebrity heiress so that you can ask her, in private, to provide proper codes for illegally infiltrating the Deep Core. Any questions?”

“My longtime ally Mon Mothma and I were able to call in a few favors to secure additional funding for this operation." He holds up a credit chip. "This chip contains one million credits. You will be mingling among the elite for this mission so it is crucial to look and act the part. Use these funds for new clothing, bribes, tips, or other expenses you may encounter. Be sure to save as many credits as you can for the launch itself, spending and tipping generously is a great way to reinforce your image among the other guests." Bail procures several identichips and holopucks and places them on the table before you. "These are your invitations and new identichips. Contact me once you have created your new identities and I will have my offices upload the information to our electronic records."

The Guest List

Although the guest list for this invitation-only gala isn’t a secret, it isn’t publicized, either. Finding the necessary details requires a little legwork.

Primary Challenge: Six different channels can provide information about the guest list, but no one approached supplies the entire list. Out of the six, the heroes must successfully complete four to get the entire guest list. They do not have to be done in order, and the heroes can split up and attempt multiple channels simultaneously if they wish.

Have the players describe what they want their character's to do in order to compile the guest list then call for ability checks appropriate to what they are doing. Do not inform the players if they succeed or fail at these checks and as they progress, feel free to add threats, opportunities or play off conflicts caused by player actions. Sample check's are listed below. Additionally a player suggest using a class feature or power instead of making a check, if it makes sense allow it to count as an automatic success when tallying how successful they were.

• The hero can ask around, finding taxi drivers, club patrons, and hotel visitors who have spotted notable out-of-town guests that have been seen in the area. Have the players make a DC 22 Intelligence (Investigation) check.

• A search of computer networks can uncover press conferences, articles, and other pieces that identify individuals attending the gala. Have the players make a DC 24 Intelligence (Technology) check.

• A brief search turns up a nighttime desk clerk who is short on cash, and the hero can bribe him to provide a list of attendees staying at his hotel. Have the players bribe the desk clerk with an amount of credits you deem appropriate and make a DC 23 Charisma (Persuasion) check.

• Pretending to be a hurried or confused attendee unable to locate a group of friends, the hero can fast-talk a concierge into revealing other passengers. Have the players make a DC 22 Charisma (Deception) check.

• The hero can stake out the hotel district with a pair of electrobinoculars to try to identify notables and their entourages. Have the players make a DC 22 Wisdom (Perception) check.

• The heroes can contact Switch, the information broker droid they first met in chapter 1. Switch charges a fee of 100,000cr but will provide all information, including specific details, about one major guest.

If the heroes do not succeed in getting the entire list, they can still learn some useful information:

1 success: The heroes learn the total number of attendees (107) and the identity of one major guest. Choose the guest randomly from the “Who’s Who” textbox.

2 successes: As above, but with the identity of two major guests.

3 successes: As above, but with the identity of three major guests.

Who's Who

When researching the guest list, the heroes can learn about several major guests who are attending the maiden voyage of the Gem of Alderaan.

Major Guests

The heroes learn the name, occupation, and physical description of any major guest they have identified. Other details (personality, interests, and pursuits) become available if the heroes successfully research an individual guest.

Morrax Nabin: Imperial governor. Old Human male, graying hair, brown eyes, mustache. Thoughtful, shy, and brilliant, he enjoys playing simultaneous games of holochess with different colleagues (including, at times, the Emperor), relaying moves through short messages over a period of weeks or months. He is always accompanied by an elite stormtrooper bodyguard detail.

Lynaa: Fashion designer. Middle-aged Twi’lek female, blue skin, brown eyes. Gregarious, flamboyant, and eccentric, she regularly does charity work for wildlife conservation groups. She is never without her purebred voorpak, Taezii, a tiny fluffy animal that fits in the pockets of Lynaa’s robes.

Dien Suub: SoroSuub executive. Old Sullustan male, brown eyes, tan skin, plump build. Friendly, pragmatic, and driven, he reads the entire front section of the Brentaal Trade News every morning over breakfast.

Major Guests (Cont.)

Zalar Rishek: Scion of the House of Rishek. Adult Human male, blond hair, gray eyes. Arrogant, spoiled, and overbearing, he races customized airspeeders, swoops, and star yachts when he’s not busy chasing romantic prospects.

CednahFaenel: Alderaanian noblewoman. Venerable Human female, silver hair, hazel eyes. Quiet, gracious, and generous, her lifetime love of dance led her to donate millions to renovate the Grand Theater in Belleau-a-Lir. Her family’s lands include the Faenel Vineyard, home to an exquisite Alderaanian brandy.

Ardia Terrsyn: Actress. Adult Human female, long braided black hair, dark skin, green eyes. Inquisitive, insightful, and savvy, she acquired a taste for sabacc after studying it for a role in a holodrama about a Hutt crime family.

Minor Guests

There are over one hundred guests on board, far too many to list and describe. Use the following names and descriptions to fill in other characters as needed during the adventure.

Khyyynett (middle-age male Wookiee, musician)

Prof. Wachs Tauph (old male Bothan, university chancellor)

Dyni Endarsin (young adult female Zeltron, artist)

Dr. Hakaen Bousch (old male Mon Calamari, physician)

Dr. Stae-Fahnti Koelbayr (middle-age male Human, commentator)

Tavid Ahkoeri (old male Human, gambler)

Capt. Z’paul Diin (old male Duros, explorer)

Brial Sullor (adult female Human, novelist)

Anjeru Valett (middle-age male Human, attorney)

Ruf-Asti-Viarffli (old male Cerean, president of Dohnia free colony)

Mahg-Raet Duumont (old female Herglic, financier)

Fia Nazhena (adult female Cathar, heiress).

Making a Name for Yourself

Primary Challenge: In addition to learning about the guests at the launch gala, the heroes need to build a plausible cover that allows them to fit in. While the IDs and invitations provided by Senator Organa are a good start, no records exist to match the new identities.

To create, edit, or delete publicly available government records, the heroes must gain authorized access to a government database so that they can insert their information into official records. The computer system in question is operated by a local public safety office.

To be treated as an authorized user and gain the ability to alter public records, the heroes must make a DC 24 Intelligence (slicer's kit) check. A failure by 5 or more draws the attention of a low-level administrator who makes additional checks at this computer be made at disadvantage.

The heroes can make this task simpler if they choose a good target for their efforts, using either or both of the skills below. Each check can be attempted only once.

Credits Will Do Fine

Alternatively, the heroes can once again contact Switch. Using his vast array of underground contacts, he can provide a flawless identity and background for a rush-fee of 200,000cr per hero.

Other Preperations

In addition to the more important tasks outlined in the following sections, the heroes must take care of several mundane preparations before appearing at the launch gala for the Gem of Alderaan.

Moving On

When the heroes finish their preparations, or when they run out of time, move on to Part 2: Getting to Know You.

Part 2: Getting to Know You

The launch gala for the Gem of Alderaan has arrived, and the heroes find themselves walking the red carpet with celebrities, politicians, philanthropists, famed artists, and brilliant scholars.

When the heroes arrive, read or paraphrase the following:

The heroes are in line, approaching the security checkpoint. If a player wants to engage a fellow guest in conversation, use one of the minor guests from the Who’s Who textbox. Give the heroes a chance to try out their new identities, but in a matter of minutes, they will have to break off the conversation to deal with security.

Noncombat Encounters

Here are a few suggestions for handling this section of the adventure and its focus on social, nonviolent encounters.

Assigning Skill Checks: Instead of telling the players their options right away, let them describe what they want to do in real-world terms. Use their descriptions to decide which option is closest to their intent, calling for the appropriate skill checks.

If your players have trouble coming up with an approach to these sorts of encounters, particularly at the beginning, be ready to list each option along with its associated skill check, but don’t tell the players the specific DCs right away. As the adventure progresses, though, you should find the players adapting to these encounters, perhaps even suggesting the use of skills that aren’t listed.

Alternative Skills: Each noncombat encounter lists several skills that can be used to gain the desired outcome, but this list is not necessarily exhaustive or exclusive. If a player suggests another relevant skill that might be useful in the situation and provides a reasonable explanation of how to apply it, give that player the benefit of the doubt and let him make the attempt.

All Aboard

As the reception draws to a close, Lady Aldrete appears to welcome the guests and invite everyone on board the Gem of Alderaan. Read or paraphrase the following:

Traveling in Style

Give the heroes some time to explore the train as a whole before starting the different social encounters outlined below. They can be undertaken in any order. The players can announce what sorts of things they want to look for, or you can reveal each encounter when the heroes are in a position to observe them.

These encounters are meant to be approached one at a time by the entire group. However, the heroes can split up, each handling a different encounter that is particularly suited to their individual strengths. Heroes can join another encounter already in progress unless otherwise specified.

Critical Challenge: To gain the notice of Lady Aldrete, the heroes must fulfill the following criteria at the end of all encounters in Traveling in Style:

• Group attitude of the guests must be helpful.

• At least one major guest must be helpful.

• The number of major guests who are helpful or friendly must be greater than the number of major guests who are indifferent or unfriendly.

• No major guests can be hostile.

Development: When the heroes have drawn sufficient positive attention from the other guests, you can move on to the Private Invitation section. However unless the players are growing antsy from the lack of combat encounters, there is no reason that you can’t have the heroes participate in all of the social encounters below.

Armchairs and Holochess

A warm and cozy spot in the lounge is an ideal place for a stimulating intellectual discussion with the galaxy’s elite. Morrax Nabin, Imperial governor (major guest), sits by the holochess board, hoping someone will join him for a casual game. Until then, he is enjoying some Alderaanian brandy with Dien Suub, SoroSuub executive (major guest); Cednah Faenel, Alderaanian noblewoman (major guest); and several others— Professor Wachs Tauph, Dr. Stae-Fahnti Koelbayr, and Mahg-Raet Duumont—as they discuss financial markets, history, politics, and any other topic that arises.

Primary Challenge: All heroes present must participate in the conversation, or at least try to blend in. Participation is optional for a hero playing holochess. During each round of discussion the guests will bring up certain topics prompting an ability check from the players to see if they can keep up with the conversation.

Medicine: Make a DC 18 Intelligence (Medicine) check. If successful, you recount recent developments in biotech, cybernetics, surgical techniques, pharmaceuticals, or epidemiology.

Politics: Make a DC 19 Intelligence (Lore) check. If successful, you make several relevant points on recent political debates and controversies.

Technology: Make a DC 18 Intelligence (Technology) check. If successful, you discuss the implications of recent breakthroughs in engineering, manufacturing, and architecture.

Trade: Make a DC 20 Intelligence (Piloting) check. If successful, you use knowledge of hyperlanes and astrogational challenges to make several insightful comments about issues in interstellar trade.

Ummm . . . What He Said: Make a DC 22 Charisma (Deception) check. If successful, you avoid drawing attention to your breathtaking lack of knowledge about academia, skillfully redirecting questions toward another in the conversation.

The objective is for the heroes to contribute something meaningful to the conversation as many times as possible out of 8 rounds of conversation. If the heroes make three or more embarrassing, uneducated, or amateurish remarks (signified by a failed ability check) in total, they prompt chuckles and condescending remarks from the other guests (“Well, I suppose someone has to attend those universities on the Outer Rim”), effectively ending this challenge.

Primary Challenge: Only one hero can play against Governor Nabin in a game of holochess. The objective is to be successful at least four times with various strategies, outlined below, resulting in the hero checkmating the governor. However, if the hero hasn’t done so after six attempts, the governor’s superior experience in the game allows him to defeat the hero by attrition after a protracted struggle.

Have the players make DC 25 Intelligence (dejarik set) check, If the player is also involved in conversation, resolve that after each round of holochess. If you wish to explain some of the moves in greater detail, use the sample explanations below for inspiration for either failure or success.

Lightning Round. The player plans out several contingencies while examining Nabin's moves, as he finishes his contemplation and move, the player swiftly responds, intimidating the governor somewhat.

Relentless Assault. The player executes a flawless classical set-piece attack, keeping the governor on the retreat and backfoot.

Misdirect and Reveal. The player draws the governor's attention to an intricate feint, but their moves open up a completely unexpected avenue of attack.

Spoiler Instead of the player siezing the offensive, they anticipate the governor's next move, playing solely to spoil his attacks and frustrate him into making a mistake that leaves him vulnerable elsewhere;.

Development: Successful participation in the conversation improves either group attitude, Dien Suub’s attitude, or Cednah Faenel’s attitude by one step. If the heroes do so without a single failure, all three improve by one step.

Defeating Governor Nabin improves either guest attitude or the governor’s attitude by one step. A perfect game (no failures) improves both by one step.

Group attitude cannot improve by more than one step during a single encounter.

Fine Tastes

A multicourse dinner is served that evening in the dining car, and the heroes—as representatives of Senator Organa—are asked to sit at the banquet table. The meal is exquisite:

• It starts with a cocktail hour with Coruscant blush wine, Corellian spiced ale, and Duros ale (or Reythan berry juice and Barnaban mistwater for those who prefer something nonalcoholic), with stuffed Plavonian starfish and raw rockfish twists for hors d’oeuvres.

• For soup, there is a choice between hillindor fowl and Ukian torbull tail, with Neonan red cheese and Alderaanian flatbread on the side.

• The salad is cut from fresh greens from Ithor, with a Coruscant red wine vinaigrette.

• For a palate cleanser, Ithorian starfruit blended in a light creme liqueur.

• For the main course, there is a choice of roast Alderaanian gorak served in malla petals or broiled Nerf tenderloin, with a side of Ghoba rice pilaf and Verdian vine beans. It is served with a glass of Corellian merlot.

• Finally, for dessert, there is a choice of a Forrolow berry parfait, Corellian air cake, or Barnaban mist-pudding.

Each course is delivered by four red-uniformed BD-3000 droids— luxury droids with a statuesque and sleek feminine sculpt, seen as a status symbol among the richest of the social elite.

Most guests visit the dining car at some point, but meal service is staggered to accommodate all aboard. When the heroes dine, some other guests at the main table include Morrax Nabin, Imperial governor (major guest); Lynaa, famed fashion designer (major guest); Cednah Faenel, Alderaanian noblewoman (major guest); Capt. Z’paul Diin, Dr. Hakaen Bousch, and Ruf-Asti-Viarffli.

Primary Challenge: The challenge for the heroes is to make civilized conversation while enjoying the finest foods from across the galaxy—and without looking like they just fell off a spice freighter from Tatooine. To make a good impression, the heroes need to participate meaningfully in the conversation as many times as possible, up to a maximum of six.

Three unsuccessful attempts to participate—whether unsophisticated (“Yummy!”) or uninformed (“Of course nerf come from Bespin!”)—result in the heroes’ opinions not being taken seriously for the remainder of the meal, effectively ending the challenge.

Light Conversation: Make a DC 16 Charisma (Persuasion) check. On a success, they engage their dining partners in casual conversation unrelated to the meal but charming nonetheless. Empty banter grows tiresome, however, so add +3 to the DC for each previous attempt by any of the heroes.

Oenology: Make a DC 15 Intelligence check, allowing players to add their proficiency bonus if they are proficient in brewer's kits. On a success, they make insightful observations about the wine, remarking on its vintage and character. A failure makes this option unavailable to them for the rest of the encounter.

Secret Ingredients: Make a DC 15 Intelligence check, allowing players to add their proficiency bonus if they are proficient in chef's kits or DC 22 Wisdom (Survival) check On a success, their experience with foods—improvised or otherwise—on countless worlds allows them to identify and comment on some of the herbs, spices, and other ingredients in a given dish.

Exotic Dishes: Make a DC 15 Intelligence check, allowing players to add their proficiency bonus if they are proficient in chef's kits. On a success, they recall something about the planet and culture of origin for a particular dish, perhaps commenting on the chef’s reinterpretation of the traditional version.

No, Seriously, I’m a Chef: Make a DC 17 Charisma (Deception) check. On a success, they make up some detail about a dish that sounds plausible, at least for the duration of the meal. Repeated fabrications eventually push the boundaries of believability, so add +2 to the DC for each previous attempt by any of the heroes. On a failure, the other guests become incredulous at their “facts,” making this option unavailable to any hero for the rest of the encounter.

FoodNet Addict: Make a DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) check. On a success, all that time spent browsing the HoloNet pays off, and they recall reading or watching something about a given dish. A failure makes this option unavailable to them for the rest of the encounter.

Taking a Peek: If a player is force sensitive, have them make a DC 20 universal force-casting check. On a success, they glimpse some detail about a dish’s origin, perhaps a brief vision about how it was prepared. On a failure, they cannot do this rest of the encounter.

Development: If the heroes make fewer than three blunders during their conversation over dinner, improve the group attitude of the guests and the individual attitude of all major guests by one step. If the heroes failed to do so but still had at least one success for each hero before accumulating three failures, the heroes can improve either group attitude or the attitude of a single major guest by one step.

Entanglements

Club Decadence: Nothing could better embody the excess, debauchery, and hedonism that gave Lady Aldrete her fame. Cloaked in darkness and illuminated only by multicolored strobe lights, holoprojectors, and table lamps, the entire car pulses with a pounding beat. The younger guests (and the young at heart) come here to dance, carouse, and flirt—not necessarily in that order. Some notable guests present when the heroes arrive include Ardia Terrsyn, actress (major guest); Lynaa, famed fashion designer (major guest); Zalar Rishek, scion of the House of Rishek (major guest); Khyyynett, Brial Sullor, and Fia Nazhena.

The bouncer at the door refuses entry to the heroes (“You’re not on the list”) unless the guests have a group attitude of friendly or better, or at least one major guest has an attitude of friendly or better. However, the bouncer can be bribed (2,000 credits) with a DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check. Offering ten times this amount grants advantage on this check.

Primary Challenge: The heroes need to make a memorable impression on these guests, being eye-catching, entertaining, and captivating even as they try not to look like they’re trying too hard. The heroes want to accumulate as many successes as possible, to a maximum of six. A little humiliation goes a long way, though: If the heroes accumulate a total of three failed activities over the encounter, their efforts begin to draw ridicule and scorn, effectively ending the challenge. (Heroes who want to participate in the auxiliary challenge, below, cannot participate in the primary challenge.)

Served! Make a DC 16 Charisma (Performance) check. If successful, your dance moves impress the crowd, outshining the competition. On a failure, you are outperformed by a rival, effectively closing off this approach. Because you need to show off new moves, add +2 to the DC for each previous attempt. Heroes can use the Help action to grant advantage on this check if they are also proficient in Performance.

Pickup Artist: Make a DC 18 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If successful, you attract the attention of a romantic prospect, making you the center of attention. On a failure, you are shot down in a particularly visible way, preventing further attempts. It’s difficult to attract multiple prospects in rapid succession, so add +2 to the DC for each previous attempt.

Club Mix: You hit the audio booth and take a turn at mixing some tunes. Make a DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) check or DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check. If successful, you mix a creative mash-up of different songs, drawing rousing approval from the crowd. On a failure, your attempt is halting, uneven, and embarrassing, preventing any future attempts.

Break It Up! A scuffle breaks out near you between Zalar Rishek (major guest) and Khyyynett, with their respective entourages looking on. Make a DC 22 Charisma (Persuasion) check. If successful, you convince the two calm down before the situation escalates. If you fail, the scuffle escalates into a brawl before the players eyes. Heroes can use the Help action to grant advantage on this check if they are also proficient in Persuasion.

Auxiliary Challenge: Though lumguzzling is mostly associated with Corellian spacers’ dives, the drinking contest has gained popularity (and notoriety) on the club scene and among idle rich who are “slumming.” In this challenge, one or more heroes go head to head with a rowdy bunch of drinkers, among them Lynaa (who, despite being twice the age of most in attendance, is quite gifted at the game). Whoever remains standing is the winner.

Have the players make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw when they first take a drink, on a successful save the player suffers no ill effects and continue to the next round. On a failed save the player is still standing but becomes intoxicated, gaining the poisoned condition. If they fail the save by 5 or more, they fall unconscious and fail the challenge. The DC of the Consitution save increases by 1 after every round.

If multiple heroes participate and last 4 rounds, all receive full credit for beating the opposition, but the players can continue the contest for additional rounds for the sake of bragging rights.

Though lum is a strong alcoholic beverage, its chemical structure breaks down exponentially faster as its concentration increases in an individual’s bloodstream, making it impossible to overdose on the drink. Because of this, any ill effects caused by lumguzzling is automatically removed if the hero rests for 10 minutes after the end of the encounter.

Development: If the heroes complete the primary challenge, they improve either group attitude or Ardia Terrsyn’s attitude by one step. If they broke up a fight, they also improve Zalar Rishek’s attitude by one step. If at least one hero completes the auxiliary challenge, he or she improves either group attitude or Lynaa’s attitude by one step. Group attitude cannot improve by more than one step in a single encounter.

Private Invitation

Once the heroes satisfy the criteria for completing Traveling in Style, they are approached by Notru’denn, an old male Twi’lek who works as Lady Aldrete’s personal assistant. He says that Lady Aldrete is interested in meeting the heroes, and he invites them to her office on the top floor of the nightclub. Once there, read or paraphrase the following:

“Let me rephrase that. My sources indicate that your identification and records did not exist yesterday morning. I had our slicers compare our personnel ‘backup’ of the database to be sure. It took me a bit to make the connection, but we know that Senator Organa is hiding fugitives from the Empire, and despite cosmetic differences in appearance, you match their descriptions quite well.

“So,” he smiles, “let’s return to my earlier question. Why do you want to meet Lady Aldrete so badly? What do you need from her?”

“You’ve leveled with me, so I’ll do the same. Lady Aldrete is not who she seems to be. All this,” he gestures, indicating the nightclub, the repulsortrain, and even her life in general, “is just an act.

“Lady Aldrete controls an information network that stretches from Alderaan to Empress Teta. Her smugglers double as observers and spies, particularly in the Deep Core. Even the Bothan SpyNet can’t match her infiltration of that region. One effect of the Emperor’s pro-Human policies is that it’s much easier to notice when Bothan spies show up.

“Lady Aldrete maintains the image of a spoiled heiress because it keeps the Empire away. The gossip media constantly reports on where she’s clubbing, who she’s dating, and where she’s vacationing, so why assign an Imperial Intelligence agent to do the same?

“Now, since it seems we have a common enemy in the Empire, I’m sure Lady Aldrete will be open to providing what you need.” He keys a button on the desk, opening a comm channel. “Milady, everything checks out. Join us in your office when you’re able.”

“Very good, I’ll be there shortly,” she replies, with a businesslike tone to her voice that seems out of place.

Part 3: The Uninvited.

After their heroes have had some time for some casual conversation with Notru’denn and any necessary recuperation, read or paraphrase the following:

Have the players make a Intelligence (Technology) check to see how much they know about their situation.

Notru’denn doesn’t have much equipment available for the heroes, but he gives them some standard rarity blasters or vibroweapons hidden in the room. It's up to you what weapons you wish to hand out but consider how they would be hidden inside an office room.

Boarded!

Trandoshan Berserker (3)

Conclusion

The heroes can gather up any weapons and equipment they want from the bodies of the mercenaries, and they might take a moment to check the bars and audio booth for other usable gear. After that, they should hurry toward the casino car.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

All In

Having escaped from the nightclub, the heroes encounter a heavily armed group of mercenaries and a war droid attempting to break into the fortified cashier’s area in the casino car.

Trandoshan Captain

Trandoshan Captain Tactics

The captain continues focusing on the cashier’s area until he detects the heroes. Due to the distance and the deafening sound from the war droid’s repeating blasters, he does not notice the heroes until they are in line of sight for 2 rounds, they move adjacent to the jubilee wheel tables, or they attack either the war droid or the officer. If the players engage him before he notices them, he is surprised.

War Droid

War Droid Tactics

The war droid lacks any form of independent thought ans will attack whatever it is told to do relentlessly. At the beginning of combat it is targeting the walls of the cashiers area until it breaks through on round 5 which creates a 10 foot breach. On round 6 it begins attacking everyone inside. If it kills the Stormtroopers inside, it will kill all civilians until ordered to stop.

If the Trandoshan captain is reduced to half hp or less, it will order the droid to attack the players.

Trandoshan Boarder (4)

Elite Stromtrooper Detail

Elite Stormtrooper Detail Tactics

The stormtroopers (marked “ST”) make every effort to protect the Imperial governor (marked “G”), the heroes, and themselves, in that order. From the small windows in the cashier’s area, they focus their attacks on the war droid.

The stormtroopers try to stay adjacent to the governor, using Harm’s Way to protect him from attacks. If they are separated from the governor, they use the same tactic to try to protect the heroes.

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Loot

• Recoil Dampener (Improved) [minor, prototype]

Conclusion

Once the mercenaries are eliminated, the heroes might have found a new ally in the stormtrooper detail if they survive. the stormtroopers suggest to the governor that they must help the heroes retake the repulsortrain. (The stormtroopers believe that the heroes are agents of the Empire, since they are listed on the staff of a member of the Imperial Senate and excuse any force powers they see as the player being a member of the Inquisitorius.)

Breakout

By the time the heroes reach the next car, the mercenaries have heard the sounds of battle, and they know that trouble is coming.

Trandoshan Sergeant Tactics

If the boarding party is destroyed, the sergeant will jump down into the lower dining using hostages as cover.

Trandoshan Elite Mercenary (1)

Trandoshan Marauder

Trandoshan Maruader Tactics

The Trandoshan actives Knight Speed before the heroes open the door, ensuring it is active on his first turn in combat. He always uses two hands with the lightsaber he carries and doesnt hesitate to use Reckless.

Trandoshan Boarder (4)

Encounter Map

[To Be Added]

Loot

• +2 Disruptor carbine (Improved) [minor, prototype]

Conclusion

After dealing with the mercenaries, they find Lady Aldrete is not among the hostages. If any passengers survive, they tell the heroes that she was taken toward the front of the train by the mercenary commander. Shortly after the end of the encounter, Notru’denn arrives and tells the heroes that he believes he got a distress call through to a friendly starship. He’s not sure how long it might take for the ship to intercept the repulsortrain. As long as any passengers survive, one of them is Dr. Hakaen Bousch.

Dr. Hakaen Bousch is a trained medical professional and can give the players the benefit of a short rest if they require one.

Death from Above

Before the heroes move beyond the dining car, read or paraphrase the following:

Let the players make a DC 18 Wisdom (Perception) check, read or paraphrase the following on a successful check:

If the Perception check was successful, a character proficient in the Technology or Piloting skills, read or paraphrase the following:

Regardless of whether the heroes identified the source of the noise, the fighters continue to attack. Read or paraphrase the following:

A quick glance toward the next repulsorcar (the lounge car) shows the extent of the damage: The car has been all but destroyed, its roof and windows completely blown away. At the far end of the car, staying low and against the wall to avoid the winds, a heavily armored team of mercenaries waits, weapons aimed at the door of the dining car.

If any stormtroopers or passengers are present, they tell the heroes that the damage to the lounge car puts the trailing repulsorcars in jeopardy. If the lounge car were to break apart, the debris, high winds, and sudden loss of power probably would cause the rear half of the train to derail and plunge to the ground over 330 feet below. To prevent that from happening, the heroes must manually uncouple the dining car from the lounge car, triggering each repulsorcar’s internal emergency brakes. If no stormtroopers or passengers are present, call for a DC 18 Intelligence Technology check to see if the heroes can reach this conclusion independently.

If the stormtroopers are still alive, they cannot leave the governor behind, so they must remain on the trailing repulsorcars to protect the civilians there in case any mercenaries are hiding in the rear half of the train. The stormtroopers provide whatever aid they can (such as shooting at the mercenaries at the far end of the lounge car) until the heroes uncouple the dining car.

Setup

The heroes begin at the rear entrance, and there is an elite mercenary team at the far end of the car (marked EM). The red squares indicate conduit hazards (see below)—do not mark these on the map until they detonate or the players detect them.

Once the heroes uncouple the dining car, they must deal with two CloakShape fighters, but the ships are too distant to appear on the map.

Read-Aloud Text

Allow the players to make a DC 23 Wisdom (Perception) check, read or paraphrase the following on a successful check:

Realeasing the Couplers

One of the challenges of this encounter is to safely uncouple the trailing cars from the severely damaged lounge car, protecting the civilians onboard from the potential of a catastrophic failure. Uncoupling the training cars from the lounge car requires a little finesse or a lot of brute strength, but failing to do so correctly can cause a massive ion discharge from the repulsor rail. The car is coupled at six separate attachment points, and the heroes can make only a single attempt on each coupler. There are several different ways to approach each one, and each attempt requires an action:

• Coupler 1: A DC 20 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to contort your body to squeeze underneath a twisted floor plate, tripping the emergency release on a coupler concealed within.

• Coupler 2: A DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check to brave the high winds to reach a coupler’s emergency release on the outside of the repulsorcar.

• Coupler 3: A DC 20 Intelligence (Technology) check to use your knowledge of similar devices, examine an unlabeled coupler to determine which release lever is the correct one.

• Coupler 4 and 5: A DC 20 Intelligence (mechanic's kit) check to cut through fused joints to release the locking mechanisms using their toolkit.

• Any Coupler: A DC 15 Strength check to brute force and apply smart leverage to pry apart twisted metal.

• Any Coupler: Using the force to pry apart the broken twisted, broken metal and to decouple the coupler.

Couplers #4, #5, and #6 can be separated from the intercar area, but couplers #1, #2, and #3 can be released only from inside the lounge car (exposing the heroes to fire from the elite mercenary team).

If the heroes make no attempt at all for 1 round, the repulsorcar groans under the stress as more support members buckle and break; one coupler, determined randomly, automatically fails.

Once a total of four are safely uncoupled, the trailing repulsorcars separate without incident and the passengers are safe. If all six are attempted without achieving four successes, the uncoupling releases a massive ionic discharge. Every character within 20 feet of the rear of the repulsor car must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 11 (2d10) ion damage for every coupler that was not released correctly, up to maximum of 66 (12d10) ion damage. On a successful save, the target takes half damage.

The passengers in the trailing cars survive a faulty separation, but many are injured by the turbulence and the secondary effects of the ionic discharge.

Trandoshan Elite Mercenary (4)

Trandoshan Elite Mercenary Tactics

Unless they have a good reason to move, the Trandoshans almost certainly stay in their starting location, kneeling to avoid being knocked over by the high winds. They have strict orders to keep the heroes from entering the control car, and they fight to the death.

Conduit Hazards

Several power conduits have overloaded, ready to rupture and spew ionized plasma if disturbed. If a character enters one of the red-bordered squares on the map, have the character make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save the creature takes 21 (4d10) fire damage and ignites. A successful save causes the target to take half damage and does not ignite. An ignited creature takes 5 (1d10) fire damage at the start of it's turn unless it or another creature uses an action to douse the flames.

Conduit hazards can potentially cause other conduits to explode, setting off a chain reaction.

Detection: A player can take the Search action to discover the closest hidden conduit hazard within line of sight with a DC 17 Wisdom (Perception) check.

Disarming: A conduit can be disarmed by using an action to make a DC 20 Intelligence (mechanic's kit) check. If this check is failed by 5 or more the conduit explodes.

Detonating: Conduit hazards can be intentionally detonated by dealing damage to them. They have an AC of 17 and if they take 10 damage from any source, they explode.

CloakShape Fighter

Due to the speed of the repulsortrain, the CloakShape fighters can attack only by making an attack run. Have a character targeted by the CloakShape Fighter make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw with a failed save dealing 33 (6d10) energy damage

Particularly creative (or foolhardy) heroes might try to capture one of the fighters. A character can jump onto the canopy of a CloakShape fighter as it flies by if they can somehow jump 60 feet up into the air. It requires a DC 27 Dexterity (Acrobactics) check in order to not fail and tumble 300 feet to the ground as they lose their footing from the pilot attempting to shake off the character.

If the player successfully mounts the CloakShape fighter, they can use an object interaction to pop the emergency release handle on the cockpit and expose the pilot to danger. If the pilot is attacked he ejects out of danger leaving the fighter for the player to control. If this occurs, the other fighter will ignore the rest of the party and chase the player who stole the fighter.

Conclusion

The encounter ends when the heroes make it through the doors at the front of the car, leading to the repulsortrain’s control car, or when all opponents are eliminated. If the CloakShape fighters are left intact, they will return to harass the heroes on the rooftop of the control car

Desperate Rescue

Once the heroes reach the control car, they face the mercenary commander who masterminded the attack and must prevent him from escaping with Lady Aldrete as his hostage.

Trandoshan Mercenary Commander Tactics

The mercenary commander uses Commando extensively, moving as necessary to keep cover between him and the heroes. However, he does not venture more than 30 feet from the top hatch, and he will not come within 20 feet of the fuel line until after it detonates.

Round 5 or 6 (earlier if he is sufficiently threatened) he grabs Lady Aldrete and carries her up to the extraction area.

If by round 10 the heroes have not killed him or saved Lady Aldrete, he boards the ship and the boarding ramp closes as it leaves.

Fuel Lines

The mercenary commander has rigged the fuel line to detonate if any character moves into a catwalk square beneath it. If the line detonates, have all characters within 20 feet make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw with a failed save dealing 55 (10d10) fire damage. A successful save only deals half damage. Characters adjacent to the doors or on the lower level have three quarters cover for this save.

The fuel line can also be detonated which the mercenary commander does if none of the characters have triggered a detonation by his second turn.

Disarming: A character can disarm this hazard from the lower engine compartment by making a DC 20 Intelligence (mechanic's kit) check as an action. If successful, fuel is shunted out of the main line, preventing an explosion. If the check fails by 5 or more, the fuel line detonates immediately

Whether the fuel line is disarmed or detonated, the engines run out of fuel 10 rounds later. The shunted fuel line cannot be reactivated while the engines are in operation, and all control systems have been disabled.

Citadel Cruiser (1)

Citadel Cruiser Tactics

Until the mercenary commander is on board, the citadel cruiser won’t risk firing its larger weapons at heroes on the roof of the control car.

When the control car’s engines fail (10 rounds after the fuel line ruptures), the citadel cruiser can’t fly with the extra weight if it is still anchored to the repulsortrain, and it crashes into the mountains below 2 rounds later. If the Banshee is also anchored to the control car, the two transports can barely handle the weight and remain in flight.

The Banshee

The Banshee Tactics

The Banshee appears on round 8 (or earlier), attaching a second tow cable to the extraction area. Sirona Okeefe appears as the boarding ramp descends, ready to use a grappling spike launcher to cast secondary lines to heroes in need. She does not detach from the Gem of Alderaan until all surviving heroes are on board. The Banshee will crash 2 rounds after the engines fail if it is attached to the repulsortrain by itself. Once everyone is on board, Okeefe heads to the cockpit (or to a quad laser turret, if another character has already taken over piloting duties) and tries to escape from the mercenaries’ citadel cruiser unless instructed otherwise.

Lady Aldrete

Lady Aldrete is helpless and unable to defend herself. She has a total of 40 hitpoints. If reduced to 0 hitpoints, she begins to make death saving throws but automatically stablises if she would otherwise die.

A character can attempt to pull Lady Aldrete out of the mercenary commander's hands by making a contested Strength (Athletics) check.

If Lady Aldrete is dropped on the roof, read the following:

A hero can save Lady Aldrete from falling by using their action if they are within 5 feet, if they are not within 5 feet they will need to get creative or use the force. If any of these attempts succeed, Lady Aldrete is no longer in danger of falling over the side (unless she is dropped again). If no character reaches her, she falls over the side in the following round on the same initiative count that she was dropped.

Encounter Maps

[To Be Added]

Loot

• BKG
• Constitution Augment (Champion) [major, artifact]

Conclusion

Unless the players are defeated or the repulsortrain crashes, Sirona Okeefe flies the Banshee back to Senator Organa’s private retreat, giving the heroes ample time to talk to Lady Aldrete about their predicament.

Incredibly grateful for the heroes’ bravery, Lady Aldrete happily agrees to help them in any way she can. Her “attention-seeking heiress” persona falls away to reveal her true self: intelligent, serious, and determined.

After discussing the situation in detail, she hands over the Deep Core security clearance, along with instructions on how to download the latest astrogational data for the journey to Prakith. Lady Aldrete also offers to provide the heroes with a set of false transponder codes for their ship and a pirated HoloNet transceiver that can send encrypted messages over the Empire’s instantaneous communication network. (Both of these can be delivered and installed by the next day.)

Finally, Lady Aldrete has additional information about Inquisitor Callus and Master Denia. According to her spies, Callus’ personal starship—a modified Sienar armored star courier, similar to Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator—landed on Prakith at the newly built Citadel Inquisitorius months ago and has remained there ever since. If the intercepted messages can be trusted, Callus has Master Denia captive in the citadel.

Lady Aldrete has no new information about the prototype Super Star Destroyer or Admiral Varth, but there is no indication that anyone else has taken over the Sarlacc Project. It is almost certain that Varth is still working closely with Inquisitor Callus.

With that, Lady Aldrete leaves the heroes, but she promises to stay in touch on the HoloNet transceiver to provide information as it becomes available. The story continues in Dawn of Defiance Episode IX: Sword of the Empire, the next adventure in the campaign.

>> Completing this adventure should be considered a level-up milestone. (Level 16) <<