TEXT:  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  SPACE ADVENTURE: 
  TYRANNY’S SHADOW 
   
   
  ENCOUNTERS: SIX 
  DIFFICULTY: NORMAL 
  DURATION: 60-90 MINUTES 
   
  DESIGNED AND MAPPED  
  BY  
  JUSTIN HALLIDAY 
   
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 2 
  Hero Kids Adventure 
  This adventure requires a copy of the Hero Kids RPG 
  to play, plus the Hero Kids – Space Heroes expansion.  
  The core game, expansion, and this adventure include: 
  • Hero Cards for each player 
  • Monster Cards for the unique monsters (droids, 
  raiders, viperwings, spine rats…) 
  • Print-outs of all of the encounter maps 
  • Stand-up minis for the heroes and monsters 
  Additionally, these extra materials are required: 
  • Six-sided dice (d6s) 
  • Pencil and eraser 
  Background 
  Your heroes live in Kali Outpost on the tiny planet 
  Circa Prime, the main planet in the Volta system.  The 
  Volta system lies in the borderworlds, a loose federation 
  of free systems sandwiched between the tyrannical 
  Droid Authority and the lawless space of the Dark 
  Nebula, home of the fearsome raiders. 
  Adventure Overview 
  This six-encounter adventure takes place in Kali 
  Outpost where a mysterious cargo ship has landed at 
  the space port.  The heroes discover that the ship is 
  full of droids in preparation for an attack. 
  Adventure Intro 
  Today’s trouble starts when a huge freighter lands at 
  Kali Outpost. 
  While working for Old Jonty at the scrap yard, a dark 
  shadow falls over the yard as a huge interstellar cargo 
  freighter passes overhead.  The freighter’s engines emit 
  a deep whump whump whump that shakes the junk 
  piles and sends pieces crashing to the ground. 
  You climb up a junk pile to watch the freighter as it 
  slowly descends into a berth at the space port. 
  Later, after a hard day’s work, you head into the office 
  to say goodbye to Jonty.  You’re surprised to see him 
  talking quietly to another man. 
  Jonty introduces you, “Kids, this is Brago, who’s the 
  master of the space port.  He needs your help.” 
  “That’s right,” says Brago.  “You might’a noticed the 
  big freighter that came to port this morning.  Well, 
  she’s just sitting on the pad and it’s making me 
  nervous.  Normally, crew of a hauler like that would 
  be in a hurry to get unloaded then ship on out of a 
  dust-hole like this, but they ain’t making no move at 
  all.  I tried hailing the captain, and he told me it ain’t 
  none of my mind what they do, long as their fees are 
  paid up.  And that’s technically correct, but it don’t 
  mean I gotta like it one bit.” 
  “So I need your help to find out what’s going on…” 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 3 
  Running This Adventure 
  This adventure runs over the two decks of the cargo 
  freighter.  The bottom deck is the cargo hold, while 
  the upper deck is the crew quarters and bridge. 
  Cargo Deck 
  The players explore the cargo deck first, and may have 
  to revisit the three areas of this level. 
  • Encounter 1: The heroes fight recon droids here, 
  and discover that the crates contain Droid Control 
  Scarabs, which they can use to control droids. 
  • Encounter 2: Appears to be stacks of cargo crates, 
  but these hide scores of inactive combat droids.  
  Expect the heroes to miss the hidden bays at first, 
  then when they return here have droids emerge 
  from the bays to alert the players. 
  • Encounter 3: Secure elevator to the crew deck, 
  which must be hacked or unlocked by a droid. 
  Crew Deck 
  The crew deck encounters are more straightforward: 
  • Encounter 4: The elevator ascends to this area, and 
  the heroes can bring some ‘spare’ droids up here. 
  • Encounter 5: The main crew quarters area is a 
  combat against tougher droids. 
  • Encounter 6: The bridge is another combat area 
  against the final boss and his droids. 
  There are multiple approaches to this adventure. 
  The hard way, is to run and gun through the freighter 
  and assault the bridge. 
  The second option is to use the Droid Control 
  Scarabs to take over droids and then use those droids 
  to assault the freighter.  Each time they lose a droid, 
  the heroes can use their scarab to take over another. 
  The final option is for the players to take over the 
  droids then role-play their way through the freighter: 
  “roger-roger!” 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 4 
  Encounter 1: Cargo Hold Holds Cargo 
  In encounter 1 the heroes enter the cargo hold of the 
  huge freighter and are ambushed by recon droids. 
  Map 
   
  Encounter Intro 
  Following the adventure intro, the heroes start at the 
  entrance of the freighter’s cargo hold: 
  Brago takes you to the space port and leads you to the 
  freighter’s berth, a deep cylindrical hole in the ground 
  big enough to contain the huge freighter. 
  “There she is,” he says. 
  You look down at the freighter.  The ship has two 
  decks, an upper crew deck and a lower cargo deck.  
  The ship’s cargo door, at its bow, is open. 
  You descend to the bottom of the berth and – seeing no 
  movement near the ship – quickly approach the cargo 
  door and climb up the ramp into the darkness. 
  Your eyes adjust to the lower light and you see that you 
  are in a cavernous cargo bay. 
  Before you can move any further you head the tell-tale 
  bleeps and scanning sweeps of a recon droid. 
  Encounter Features 
  The crates are obstacles that cost extra movement 
  squares to climb over but offer cover from ranged 
  attacks (gain 1 extra armor die when behind cover).  
  The stacked crates (dark outlines) are solid walls. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 5 
  Monsters 
  This encounter features fragile recon droids that use 
  ranged attacks against the heroes. 
  1 Hero: 
  1 x Recon Droid 
   
  2 Heroes: 2 x Recon Droids 
   
   
  3 Heroes: 3 x Recon Droids 
   
   
   
  4 Heroes: 4 x Recon Droids 
   
   
   
   
  Use these health boxes to mark off damage: 
   Recon Droid 
   
   Recon Droid 
   
   Recon Droid 
   
   Recon Droid 
   
  Tactics 
  The recon droids use their flying ability to move over 
  the obstacles.  If the recon droids are outnumbered by 
  heroes they use their double-shot ability to target 
  multiple heroes. 
  Treasure 
  The plasma fire has destroyed some of the crates, 
  exposing the Droid Control Scarab equipment (you 
  can find the equipment cards later in this adventure). 
  As the smoke clears from the cargo hold, you see that 
  one of the crates has been hit, spilling small crab-like 
  robots onto the floor. 
  Heroes can only use one piece of equipment at a time. 
  There are enough pieces of 
  equipment for each player 
  to take one, and more here 
  if 
  their 
  scarabs 
  are 
  destroyed 
  during 
  the 
  adventure. 
  The players can use these 
  scarabs to take control of 
  enemy droids, which might 
  require some explanation. 
   
  Conclusion 
  Read (or paraphrase) this: 
  Taking what you need, you head deeper into the 
  freighter’s cargo hold. 
  If they were damaged in this fight allow the players to 
  rest to remove some damage from their heroes, then 
  continue to Encounter 2: Crate Canyon. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 6 
  Encounter 2: Crate Canyon 
  Encounter 2 takes the heroes further into the cargo 
  hold, where crates are stacked high on either side.  
  The crates have hidden bays holding scores of droids. 
  If the heroes successfully discover the bays they are 
  attacked by droids when they open the secret doors. 
  If they heroes fail to notice the secret bays, then they 
  will likely return here after investigating the elevator 
  in Encounter 3.  When they return, have droids 
  emerge from the secret bays, alerting the heroes. 
  Map 
   
   
  Encounter Intro 
  When the heroes enter this area, read this: 
  Moving deeper into the cargo deck, you enter a narrow 
  corridor between two towering stacks of crates. 
  Encounter Features 
  The stacks of crates are solid walls.  The middle two 
  crates on either side of the corridor are actually secret 
  doors that can be noticed with an Intelligence test. 
  Ability Tests 
  The players’ heroes can attempt this ability test: 
  • Intelligence test (Perception) at difficulty 6 to 
  notice the hidden doors in the crates. 
  Encounter Development 
  When the heroes discover the hidden bays: 
  The crates on either side of the corridor slide sideways 
  and disappear into concealed slots, revealing secret 
  bays hidden behind the façade of the stacks of crates.  
  Scores of droids stand inside the bay.  The eyeslots  of 
  the closest droid flash red; and it speaks “Intruders!” 
  If the heroes return from the elevator: 
  As you re-enter the crate-walled corridor, you see 
  several of the crates on either side of the corridor slide 
  sideways and disappear into concealed slots.  A 
  moment later, droids emerge from the hidden 
  doorways and enter the corridor, their eyeslots flash 
  red when they see you; “Intruders!” 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 7 
  Monsters 
  This encounter features combat droids that use 
  ranged attacks against the heroes. 
  1 Hero: 
  1 x Combat Droid 
   
  2 Heroes: 2 x Combat Droids 
   
   
  3 Heroes: 3 x Combat Droids 
   
   
   
  4 Heroes: 4 x Combat Droids 
   
   
   
   
  Use these health boxes to mark off damage: 
   Combat Droid 
   
   Combat Droid 
   
   Combat Droid 
   
   Combat Droid 
   
  Tactics 
  The combat droids are simple robots.  If they are 
  further than 2 squares from their target they move 
  closer.  They are not smart enough to take advantage 
  of cover.  They punctuate their ranged attacks with 
  “target 
  acquired”, 
  and 
  “system 
  integrity 
  compromised” when damaged. 
  Conclusion 
  Once all of the monsters are KO’d, read this: 
  The final droid lays scattered in smoking circuits and 
  twisted metal on the floor. 
  You step carefully into the hidden bay and see row 
  upon row of similar droids, luckily these are all 
  inactive, their heads slumped and weapons hanging 
  uselessly at their sides. 
  You realize that you can easily connect the droid 
  control scarabs to these droids to bring them under 
  your control. 
  If they were damaged in this fight allow the heroes 
  take a short rest to recover some damage. 
  Once they’re finished here the heroes can return to 
  the elevator (either personally or controlling droids) 
  and Encounter 3: Cargo Deck Elevator. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 8 
  Encounter 3: Cargo Deck Elevator 
  Encounter 3 brings the heroes to the end of the cargo 
  deck, where they find an elevator up to the crew deck.  
  Unfortunately, the elevator is locked so the heroes 
  need to hack it or use a droid to access the security 
  scanner. 
  Map 
   
  Encounter Intro 
  When the heroes enter this area, read this: 
  You emerge from between the towering stacks of crates 
  into an open space at the rear of the deck. 
  A pair of doors stands closed directly in front of you, 
  presumably the elevator to the crew deck.  The elevator 
  has computer consoles to either side, and a security 
  scanner is mounted on the wall next to the doors. 
  Encounter Features 
  The key features of this area are the locked elevator 
  doors, the computer consoles, and the security 
  scanner.  The security scanner will only unlock the 
  elevator for droids, saying “Unauthorized access.” 
  Ability Tests 
  The players’ heroes can attempt this ability test: 
  • Intelligence test (Hacking) at difficulty 6 override 
  the security of the elevators. 
  Conclusion 
  If the heroes hack the elevators or use a droid to 
  access the security scanner: 
  A cheerful ‘ding’ sounds and the elevator doors slide 
  open.  You step inside and see that there are only two 
  buttons, one for this cargo deck, and above that a 
  button for the upper crew deck. 
  Proceed to Encounter 4: Crew Deck Elevator. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 9 
  Encounter 4: Crew Deck Elevator 
  Encounter 4 sees the heroes arrive up on the crew 
  deck.  While there are no enemies here (feel free to 
  add some), the heroes could use this area for staging 
  robots or there could already be more inactive robots 
  in the side rooms. 
  Map 
   
  Encounter Intro 
  When the heroes enter this area, read this: 
  After a few moments the elevator doors slide open, 
  revealing a short corridor that ends in another set of 
  double-doors straight ahead and normal doors in the 
  walls on either side. 
  Encounter Features 
  The key features of this area are the elevator, which 
  by now will have been authorized or hacked, and the 
  rooms to either side of the central corridor. 
  Conclusion 
  Once the heroes head to the south doors: 
  You move down the corridor.  The double doors open 
  with a ‘whoosh’ as you approach, revealing a darkened 
  room beyond. 
  Proceed to Encounter 5: Crew Quarters. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 10 
  Encounter 5: Crew Quarters 
  Encounter 5 is the crew quarters, which is the site of a 
  firefight with multiple droids, including the powerful 
  battle droid.  Most of this area is given over to actual 
  crew quarters, which the droids have no use for… 
  Map 
   
  Encounter Intro 
  Start with this intro: 
  The lights flicker into life as you step into this 
  octagonal area.  The room holds a large table and four 
  short corridors open in each of the diagonal walls.  
  Finally, a heavy airlock door is set in the left wall and 
  another set of double-doors lie directly ahead of you. 
  If the heroes have entered this room: 
  Once the flickering lights settle down, you see that the 
  room is not empty, droids stand in wait for you.  Their 
  eyes flash red as they prepare to attack. 
  If the heroes control droids instead: 
  Once the flickering lights settle down, your droids’ 
  sensors detect other droids in the room. 
  “Identify yourselves!” comes the order. 
  Encounter Features 
  This area’s key feature is the large table which can be 
  used as cover from ranged attacks (gain 1 extra armor 
  die when behind cover).  The various doors can be 
  passed through with 1 extra square of movement. 
  Ability Tests 
  The players’ heroes can attempt this ability test if 
  they’re controlling droids: 
  • Intelligence test (Talking) at difficulty 5 to 
  convince the enemy droids that you’re friendly. 
  Combat Intro 
  If and when combat begins, start with this: 
  The droids’ eyeslots glow bright red as they ready their 
  weapons to attack! 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 11 
  Monsters 
  This encounter features one battle droid for each 
  hero, these are tougher versions of the normal combat 
  droids.  With three or four heroes, one or two extra 
  combat droids are also introduced. 
  1 Hero: 
  1 x Battle Droid 
   
  2 Heroes: 2 x Battle Droids 
   
   
  3 Heroes: 3 x Battle Droids 
  1 x Combat Droid 
   
   
   
   
  4 Heroes: 4 x Battle Droids 
  2 x Combat Droids 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Use these health boxes to mark off damage: 
   Battle Droid 
   
   Battle Droid 
   
   Battle Droid 
   
   Combat Droid 
   
   Battle Droid 
   
   Combat Droid 
   
  Tactics 
  As before, the combat droids are slow and single-
  minded.  The battle droids are more intelligent, using 
  cover and their special action against their enemies. 
  Conclusion 
  If the monsters are KO’d, read this: 
  The bulkheads, doors and furniture are scorched and 
  smoking, and the floor is strewn with broken and 
  burning droid parts. 
  The way to the bridge lies open. 
  If the monsters are bypassed, read this instead: 
  You casually pass the droids, who scan you with their 
  dark eyeslots. 
  When you reach to doors to the bridge, you quickly 
  step through and close the doors behind you. 
  If they were damaged in this fight, allow the heroes 
  take a short rest to recover some damage. 
  Then proceed to Encounter 6: Bridge. 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 12 
  Encounter 6: Bridge 
  The final encounter is the freighter’s bridge. 
  This climactic battle sees the heroes (or their droids) 
  defeat the droids and an evil binder. 
  Map 
   
  Encounter Intro 
  When the heroes enter this area, read this: 
  The door hisses closed behind you, and as you step 
  further into the bridge a dark-cloaked figure steps 
  forward and speaks is a menacing whisper. 
  “So you think you can thwart the droid authority!  We 
  are the true masters of all space.  We will bring Circa 
  Prime under our control, and no meddling whelps will 
  stop us!” 
  The figure’s ion sword hums with energy and its purple 
  blade glows bright. 
  “Droids!  Attack!” 
  Encounter Features 
  This area’s key features are the stairs down from the 
  upper bridge to the lower bridge.  The two bulkheads 
  on either sides are can be used as cover from ranged 
  attacks (gain 1 extra armor die when behind cover). 
  
   
  Hero Kids Adventure – Empire’s Shadow 
  Justin Halliday 
  Page 13 
  Monsters 
  This encounter features the dark binder and a combat 
  droid, plus more droids for each hero. 
  1 Hero: 
  1 x Dark Binder 
  1 x Combat Droid 
   
   
  2 Heroes: 1 x Dark Binder 
  1 x Combat Droid 
  1 x Battle Droid 
   
   
   
  3 Heroes: 1 x Dark Binder 
  2 x Combat Droid 
  2 x Battle Droid 
   
   
   
   
   
  4 Heroes: 1 x Dark Binder 
  2 x Combat Droid 
  3 x Battle Droid 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  Use these health boxes to mark off damage: 
   Dark Binder 
   
   Combat Droid 
   
   Battle Droid 
   
   Combat Droid 
   
   Battle Droid 
   
   Battle Droid 
   
  Tactics 
  As before, the combat droids are slow and single-
  minded.  The battle droids are more intelligent, using 
  cover and their special action against their enemies.  
  The dark binder uses melee and magic attacks. 
  Conclusion 
  Once all of the monsters are KO’d, read this: 
  The dark binder coughs and splutters on the floor. 
  “You may have stopped us today, but more freighters 
  are landing around Circa Prime, and soon this planet 
  will kneel before the might of the authority.” 
  His mouth twists into a wretched smile as he slumps. 
  With the freighter’s droid crew neutralized, Brago 
  arrives with Kali Outpost’s marshal, Langdon, in tow.  
  They take command of the ship and order the 
  destruction of the remaining droid invasion force. 
  Langdon sends word of the empire ships to the other 
  outposts on Circa Prime, and you wait nervously 
  before finally hearing that they have all been secured. 
  “Thanks kids,” Langdon says.  “That was a big job for 
  kids your age, but you really proved yourselves today, 
  and I’m making you official deputy marshals.” 
  “If we run into trouble again, I’ll know who to call!” 
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Hero Kids/Hero Kids - Space Adventure - Tyrannys Shadow.pdf