Secret of the Shifting Sands.pdf

Secret of the Shifting Sands

Rob Cavender

A Dragonstar Adventure for four 3rd-level characters

Secret of the Shifting Sands

“Secret of the Shifting Sands” is a Dragonstar

adventure suitable for a party of 3 rd -level player

characters (PCs). Consult the “Scaling the

Adventure” section if you want to run the adven-

ture with a larger, smaller, higher-level or lower-

level party of adventurers.

ago. Although the rats did not have the facilities to

unlock the secrets of the box, Ragash reasoned

that, at the very least, he could sell the box back to

the Imperials for a princely sum. To make certain

that none of his followers attempted to steal the

box, he kept his suspicions to himself.

Unfortunately for Ragash, one of his less

competent tribesmen was not aware of the box’s

value or his leader’s plans for it and traded the box

to a caravan for some wine and a few other luxuries.

When Ragash discovered what had happened, he

was furious. He immediately put the fellow respon-

sible to death and set off in search of the caravan.

Ragash and his tribe caught up to the cara-

van at the trading post known as the Shifting Sands

and politely asked the merchant for the return of

his property. The merchant, alerted by Ragash’s

urgency, refused to sell it back and began to for-

mulate his own suspicions as to the importance of

the box. Ragash relented, but returned in the dead

of the night with his warriors, killing everyone

inside the trading post and reclaiming his treasure.

In taking the box back, Ragash discovered

that the merchant had used his computer equip-

ment to unravel the secrets of the black box.

Overjoyed with his new discovery, Ragash imme-

diately sent most of his warriors back into the

desert, took a trusted few with him to plunder the

treasure, and left the rest to clean up the mess.

PREPARATION

“Secret of the Shifting Sands” is written for the

Dragonstar campaign setting by Fantasy Flight

Games. Text that appears in italics is player infor-

mation, which you can read aloud or paraphrase

where appropriate. Normal text contains informa-

tion important to you when running the adventure.

Maps are included at the end of the adventure in

their own appendix.

The party will find it beneficial to have at

least one rogue or mechanist. Although it is possi-

ble to complete the adventure without one, the

presence of a rogue or mechanist greatly enhances

the party’s chance of success.

The adventure takes place on Primogen II,

found in Chapter 4 of the Dragonstar: Guide to the

Galaxy , although any sparsely populated planet

with a large desert will suffice. Although the Secret

of the Shifting Sands assumes that the opposition

consists of sand rats (see new monsters section)

any low-level humanoid race can be substituted to

better fit the DM’s campaign.

BACKGROUND

Ten years ago, an Imperial craft suffered a naviga-

tional failure and went down amid the Burning

Dunes. Although precisely what the craft carried is

unknown, Imperial forces descended on the desert

in unprecedented numbers to retrieve the craft and

her pilot. After months of scouring the desert, the

Imperial forces gave up the search. The cargo and

pilot were never recovered.

Some few days ago, after a brutal sand-

storm, the sand rats came across the exposed

remains of an Imperial pilot. Among his posses-

sions, the rats discovered the black box from his

craft. Ragash, the leader of the sand rats, surmised

that the box and pilot could well have come from

the Imperial craft lost to the sands all those years

ADVENTURE SYNOPSIS

The PCs arrive at the trading post and come under

attack by the sand rats. They then defeat the sand

rat rear-guard while preventing the destruction of

the trading post and investigating what the sand

rats are trying to accomplish. Over the course of

their investigation, they learn of the existence of

the black box and its significance. Finally, the char-

acters pursue Ragash and his band into the wastes

to stop him from claiming the prize.

SCALING THE ADVENTURE

If the DM feels that the rats are too dangerous for

his party, the simplest solution is to use basic sand

rats instead of the specialists listed above and

replacing the blaster carbines with lasers or con-

Dragonstar

ventional slug throwers. For a party of 4th-level

characters, use the adventure as written. The play-

ers may have an easier time of completing the mis-

sion, but their rewards will be lessened as well. To

make the adventure more dangerous, add addition-

al class levels to the sand rats and upgrade their

equipment appropriately.

noted. The map is printed to a five foot per square

scale.

The Shifting Sands is well lit. Light from

the outside comes in through windows and sky-

lights. These windows are shuttered with sliding

metal plates to protect against sandstorms.

Glowing panels in the ceiling augment the natural

lighting. These panels continue to glow as long as

the reactor (Area 14) is functioning.

Note that all of the NPCs in the Shifting

Sands are in radio communication with each other.

If they think the PCs are more than they can han-

dle, they will regroup and attempt to make an exit.

If the PCs capture a communicator and the rats

detect them listening in, they will switch to a back-

up frequency.

Outside (Area 1)

Outside the Shifting Sands is the beginning of the

Burning Dunes. Sparse vegetation and rocky sand

leaves the characters little cover for approaching

the Shifting Sands unseen. Impose a –4 circum-

stance modifier for the bright light and lack of

cover unless the PCs employ unusual measures

(such as sending the rogue in first under cover of

an invisibility spell).

FOR THE PLAYERS

Getting the PCs to the trading post should be sim-

ple. The Shifting Sands is the only such establish-

ment for miles in any direction and has a local

monopoly on fuel and other essential supplies. If

the players need a more urgent reason to visit the

post, the area is prone to violent sandstorms and

the post would make a convenient safe haven in

which to ride out the storm.

Likewise, the Burning Dunes are known to

harbor the ruins of lost civilizations, so the PCs can

be in the area searching for forgotten wealth or lost

items of power. Alternately, one of the heroes

could have a relationship with the proprietor of the

Shifting Sands, be it relative, lover, or old friend,

and wants to stop by and say hello while he hap-

pens to be in the area.

DUNGEON FEATURES

The Shifting Sands is constructed of industrial

brick. All interior doors are made of two-inch thick

steel (Hardness 12, 60 hp., Break DC 30) and slide

into the ceiling when activated. Doors are activat-

ed through a touch pad on either side of the portal.

All doors have an electronic locking mechanism,

but this is not engaged on most of the portals. On

those doors marked with a key symbol, the door is

locked and requires electronic lockpicks and an

Open Locks check (DC 25) or a keycard to open.

Exterior doors are six-inches thick and recess into

the walls when opened (Hardness 12, 180 hp.,

Break DC 36). They are also activated with a touch

pad on either side of the door.

Exterior walls are five-foot thick compos-

ite bricks (Hardness 18, 2100 hp.). The interior

walls are composed of concrete blocks six inches

thick (Hardness 10, 120 hp.). Rooms and hallways

have ten feet of ceiling clearance unless otherwise

1. SAND RAT SENTRY (EL 2)

A square, gray building squats amid the desert

ahead. Sunlight reflects off the many windows, a

dancing cascade of light in contrast to the

oppressive heat of the desert landscape. A small

fueling station sits beside the building, and an

overturned dune runner lies nearby, resting par-

tially atop a small mountain of tires. Two figures

lay sprawled in front of the metal door of the

structure, their limbs spread awkwardly amid a

pool of discolored sand.

Slithburn, a member of the sand rats, stands watch

from the roof. A Spot check (DC 15) reveals his

position by the light glinting from his rifle. The

roof is easily accessible by climbing over the over-

turned dune runner. Characters wishing to climb

onto the roof may make a Climb Check (DC 5) to

Secret of the Shifting Sands

determine success. Characters searching the roof

area will notice that the communications antenna is

down. The antenna was purposely sabotaged and

cannot be repaired; it will need to be replaced

instead.

DC 15) that one of the sand rats inside the Garage

(area 5) will hear the commotion and come to

investigate.

Ground Floor (Areas 2-8)

The ground floor is for services, resting, and gen-

eral amenities when folks stop at the trading post.

The walls are painted white, but are dingy enough

to suggest that a new coat of paint or at least a good

washing is in order.

Slithburn is loyal, but he is not willing to

lay down his life for Ragash. If he is losing the bat-

tle and the PCs order him to surrender, he does so

if it appears it will give him a reasonable chance of

survival.

One of the sprawled bodies belongs to

Ray, a male dwarf mechanic. His name is proudly

engraved on a patch over the left breast pocket on

his jumpsuit. The second body belongs to the

female elf that owned the overturned dune runner.

The keys are still in the pocket of her jumpsuit.

PCs searching the bodies of the fallen will discov-

er the keys on a successful Search Check (DC 5).

NPC : Slithburn: 15 hp.

Tactics: Slithburn is on the roof of the

Shifting Sands and alert for danger. His prone posi-

tion gives him one-half cover against targets

attacking from the ground. If he comes under

attack, Slithburn contacts the rest of his squad with

his personal communicator and puts them on alert.

He also uses his dermpatch of endurance to

increase his chances of surviving the encounter.

The only way to either action is to sneak past the

vigilant rat (opposed Hide check) or take him out

on the first round of combat (with sleep , color

spray , or a similar incapacitating spell, or by taking

him down outright).

Treasure : The dune runner (see appendix)

is still operational, just a bit scuffed and dented. A

successful Strength check (DC 20) or some time

with a lever or other special tools will get it back

on its feet. The keys are in the pocket of the elf

corpse (Search DC 5). If the PCs find the keys, it

becomes much simpler for them to catch up with

Ragash later in the adventure. Besides his listed

possessions, Slithburn has no treasure.

Developments : If the PCs fight Slithburn,

he uses his personal communicator to alert the rest

of the sand rats. If the PCs stealthily dispose of

Slithburn, but take time to right the dune runner

before continuing, there is a chance (Listen check

2. LOUNGE

Two tables stand overturned in the failing light,

their attendant stools scattered like fallen leaves.

A booth in the corner of the room remains

upright, patronized by a slumped figure lying in

a sticky pool of spilled blood. A long counter

dominates the northern half of the room; a body

rests among the toppled stools at its feet, his

chest half buried in noodles and sauce. A break

in the wall above the counter leads to the kitchen

beyond. Above the counter, a video screen flick-

ers with static, bathing the scene in a ghostly

light. A solid steel door on the eastern wall leads

to the outside while three lighter doors exit the

room to the north and west.

On closer inspection, one of the doors on the north

wall leads to the kitchen area while the other is

marked with the symbol of a unisex bathroom. The

door to the western wall leads to the concessions

area and is clearly marked with a plaque beside the

portal. Both corpses were patrons of the Shifting

Sands that happened to be in the wrong place at the

wrong time. The pasta covering the second corpse

is spaghetti and sauce. If the PCs investigate the

bodies, their pockets appear rifled, all valuables

and identification are missing. The video screen is

operational, but not receiving at the moment due to

damage to the communications antenna outside.

Dragonstar

3. CONCESSIONS & SUPPLY

This room serves as storage for spare parts for the

garage and the trading post. The sand rats left noth-

ing of any value when they looted the place. Of

real interest to the PCs is the device on the canis-

ters. The canisters all carry vehicle fuel; this is

obvious from their labeling. The device is a small,

powerful explosive, set to detonate the fuel. The

bomb is not set to explode any time soon, the PCs

have hours to disarm the device (Disable Device

DC 10) or clear the area. Loud noises in this area

will alert the scavenging sand rats in area 5,

prompting them to investigate.

Rows of broken shelves line the walls of this

room. Banners proclaiming brand superiority

dot the walls, gaudy posters at odds with the

drab bricks. Discarded packaging litters the

floor, broken merchandise and tattered paper

forming a chaotic tapestry of debris. A broken

robot stands behind a small counter in the north-

ern part of the room, its metal body rent and bro-

ken. Three doors exit the room, one on the east-

ern wall and two to the north.

This room serves as the store and supply depot for

the Shifting Sands. As a repository of useful and

portable goods, the sand rats hit it hard. The robot

is irreparable, but a character clever with electron-

ics and a datapad can recover some of its recent

memory with a successful Use Device check (DC

17). Characters who succeed in this check can

replay the last few moments of the robot’s life

including the sand rat attack.

Searching the room will uncover some

informative pamphlets about the Burning Dunes

and their history. In the recent history section of

these pamphlets, the characters find mention of the

events outlined in the Background section of the

adventure. The sand rats already looted this room

for anything of value.

5. GARAGE (EL 3)

Two large lizards stand silhouetted before an

enormous metal door. A hovering cart trails

behind the scaly beasts laden with a veritable

mountain of goods and gear. The reptiles stand

nearly motionless in their blinders and harness,

only occasionally stamping a foot or swinging an

enormous tail. A lift ponderously rises from the

oil-stained floor, pulling free from the debris like

some strange mushroom thriving in the dark. On

the western wall, a long workbench lies half-

buried in tools and broken vehicle parts. A row of

orange canisters lines the eastern wall of the

room, bracketing a pair of double sliding doors.

A smaller door on the south wall is clearly

marked with the word “restroom” in the common

tongue.

4. STORAGE ROOM

Stout metal shelves fill this room, forming aisles

running north to south. A broken skylight supple-

ments the light thrown from the ceiling panels,

casting the room in a sunny glow. Broken glass

litters the floor amid oil stains and a fine dusting

of sand. Stacks of boxes clutter the northern cor-

ner of the room beside a huge set of double

doors. A row of large canisters stretches from the

door itself nearly to the southern end of the

room. The central container bears a mechanical

device with a blinking light and an ominous, red

display.

The garage is full of vehicle parts and empty can-

isters of vehicle fuel. If the PCs need to perform

any repairs on their vehicles, most any minor repair

short of a full rebuild can be accomplished here.

NPCs: Shakara: 19 hp, Nesrek: 17 hp.

Creatures: Giant sand lizards (2): 22 hp

each.

Tactics: The sand lizards are pack animals

and non-combatants. Loud noises like explosions

or gunfire will spook the creatures, causing them to

run away into the desert.

Shakara and Nesrek will be largely oblivi-

ous to the characters unless one of the other rats

sounds the alarm and will require a Listen check

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