The Lictor-class dungeon ship, alternatively called an Imperial dungeon ship or Mandalorian Dungeon Ship, functioned as both a mobile prison and a highly adaptable warship. It originated from a design employed by the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders during the era of the Mandalorian Wars. The design's durability was such that it remained in service for almost four millennia following its initial creation.
The Galactic Empire's versions of these ships incorporated features such as universal energy cages, detention areas, deployment bays, and training rooms where Dark Side Adepts engaged in combat with imprisoned Jedi. They were intentionally built to inspire fear, and gained a reputation that prisoners who went inside never came back. Droid guards aided in preventing Jedi from escaping.
To prevent prisoner uprisings and ship seizures, their navicomputers were restricted to storing only two sets of coordinates: the home base and the intended destination, limiting travel to these locations exclusively.
Although the Lictor-class was not primarily designed for combat, it was equipped with 10 quad turbolaser batteries and a pair of tractor beam emitters for defensive purposes.
Besides the MandalMotors design, a smaller variant known as the Kiltirin-class existed, which was produced by Rendili StarDrive.
The Lictor-class served to transport both ordinary prisoners and individuals sensitive to the Force, including captured Jedi Knights during the peak of the Great Jedi Purge after the Clone Wars. The Revelator was deployed to accompany Inquisitor Valin Draco on a mission to the Cularin system shortly after the Clone Wars concluded.
Following the Imperial Civil War in 10 ABY, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 were transported aboard an Imperial dungeon ship to Byss, the hidden throne world of the resurrected Emperor Palpatine. At that time, a dungeon ship had a purchase price of 7.8 million credits.
Star Wars: Republic: Dreadnaughts of Rendili reveals that the dungeon ships were modified from Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers that were seized during the Battle of Rendili. These cruisers were based on a Mandalorian design similar to the Lictor-class dungeon ships, leading to their conversion.