There’s talk of good tidings ahead. A celebration, they’re calling it. The dawn of a new era. The birth of an heir.

Officially, the Young Emperor has no spouse and no recognised heir. That has not stopped the people of the Verdelline Empire from spreading rumours about him and the good Lady Stolas, one of his most trusted advisors, as she is soon to have a child. Many people would point out that there is no evidence of any dalliance between the two, but what good is a wet blanket in the face of a juicy scandal?

Of course, there are more important things for people to worry about than whether or not some young man with a nice chair is about to become a father.

The past year and a half has been fraught with tension, with politics being less and less a matter of talking or warfare and more a matter of making one’s enemies simply… disappear. The air is thick with blood and magic, but only if you know where to look.

And, even so, the Young Emperor wishes to make a show of peace. He says he wishes to welcome the child of Lady Stolas into the world with a party like no other. He says he wishes to see better days ahead. Those wishes might just come true— if his enemies don’t come for him first.

Empty Vessels: Inheritance is a Renaissance-themed high-fantasy, high-intrigue game set in the world of Empty Vessels. It takes place one and a half years after the events of EV: Omens, but no prior knowledge is required to play.

This is a scenario for Edge of the Empire, an RPG focussing on the scoundrel and scum of the Star Wars universe. It sees a ragtag band of smugglers, slicers, outlaws and exiles struggling to overcome their ever-deepening obligations to shadows of the underworld.

Shadows of a Black Sun is based on the 2013 Free RPG Day scenario of the same name and is especially suitable for new RPGers, Star Wars fans, people interested in Edge of the Empire and those who prefer to shoot first.