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CORE ™

Seriously? Free-to-Play?

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We believe in the power of imagination and how it creates wonder and inspira- tion. Roleplaying games are one of the few things that can do what they do. Some might say they are the last frontier for wild imagination and creativity. We certainly believe so. That’s why we make roleplaying games – to help make that possible.

Making roleplaying games the way we have hasn’t helped us spark imagination the way we’d hoped. We want to try something different.

First, we’re adopting the Creative Commons license, so that you can contribute to the game in a meaningful way. That way, we can support you in your awesome ideas and help you get them out to your fellow players.

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– The Staff of WildFire Credits

Created By Thanks To christopher Dorn • The Gen Con Referee Coordinator: Bob robert Glass Arens matthew Grau • The Gen Con Referee Team: Bob Arens, fraser McKay Chris Dorn, Todd Frazee, Dave Stoeckel, mike Vaillancourt Charlie Wong • The rest of the WildFire crew: Laurel Dorn, Written By Steve Pitcher, Travis Wickline christopher Dorn • The rest of the Black Sky crew: Marcelo robert Glass FIgueroa, Mike Muldoon, Owen Seyler, matthew Grau Matt Steele, Melissa Volkmann, Erik Yaple fraser McKay • Matthew Sprange, for asking us to mix stephen McQuillan Lovecraft and Traveller, which became The Void. IP/Line Developer • Jonni Emrich, for being the light of my life matthew Grau – MG. • http://infrno.net – the place to play (and Editing playtest) roleplaying games on the inter- jonni Emrich, matthew Grau net.

Art Direction & http://fearthevoid.com 2 Graphic Design Forums, Information, Downloads mike Vaillancourt WildFire LLC Layout & 23321 SE 291st St. Typesetting Black Diamond, WA 98010 matthew Grau www.wildfirellc.com

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Interior Illustration First Printing. ©2012, 2013 WildFire LLC. Creative Com- Jonas Andreassen, Marco Caradonna, mons License; Some Rights Reserved. The Void and Daniel Chavez, Empty Room Studios, Tom the Cthulhu Saga are trademarks of WildFire LLC. All Rights Reserved. All characters, names, places, and text Garden, Zach Graves, David Hammond, herein are copyrighted by WildFire LLC. References to Alex Iglesias, Marco MazzonI, Blake McDer- the works of H. P. Lovecraft are from and remain in the mott, Sean McMurchy, Oleg Saakyan, Adam public domain. Schumpert, Marek Tarnawski, Chris Tilstra, Mike Vaillancourt, Frank Walls This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported WildFire License. Management To view a copy of this license, visit: matthew BURKE http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ matthew Grau or send a letter to: Creative Commons, 171 Second fraser McKay Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA.

[What this means is that you are free to copy, share, and remix the text and artwork within this book under the following conditions: 1) you do so only for non-com- mercial purposes; 2) you attribute WildFire LLC; 3) you license any derivatives under the same license. For spe- cific details, appropriate credits, and updates/changes to this license, please see: http://wildfirellc.com] Table of Contents

(A) Fiction: Kinetofayetophobia 4

(1) Introduction 16

(2) Overview 20

(3) Teaching Adventure 26

(B) Fiction: The Hulk 48

(4) Setting 54

(C) Fiction: Training’s Over 70

(5) Characters 76 3

(6) Skills, Qualities, Talents 92

(7) Rules 110

(D) Fiction: Spin Control 140

(8) Technology 146

(9) Spaceships 172

(E) Fiction: Far Strider 178

(10) Worlds 184

(F) Fiction: Bad Salvage 194

(11) Monsters 200

(G) Fiction: Level 23 210

(12) Gamemaster 216

Appendices 236 A KinetoFayetophobia

That’s all there was to it. The solar No time to lose, Anastasia did the system was going to hell in a hand- one thing she could. She grabbed the basket. biggest locker she could find, way to- wards the back, and dove into it. For- Those are funny the thoughts that tunately, she could lock the door by occur when being chased by dozens putting her hand through one of the of tentacles that burst out of the walls holes. She didn’t figure the thing was and floor, one by one. Each lashed out smart enough to work a digital lock. at Anastasia, trying to gain purchase on some part of her body to do only Her Bandit pistol wasn’t going to god-knows-what. do much when the time came, but it was all she had. The thing had al- The wriggling, sour-smelling, slimy, ready claimed her Blizzard subma- 4 boneless limbs brought out a primal chine gun back outside. She looked fear in her, the kind that makes the frantically around the container for back of your legs go numb and your anything that might help, but there knees go rubbery. The kind Anasta- was nothing. Then, she froze. sia had to choke back with every last shred of her will if she wanted to live The first slender tentacle gently through this madness. wormed its way through one of the holes, about hip height. It probed Right, left, right – it didn’t matter its way through, cautiously but de- anymore. In her panic, she’d totally liberately. The second wasn’t far forgotten the layout of this tragic behind, this one much thicker than little building stuck deep in the Mar- the first. It could barely push its way tian outback. She hoped desperately through, but barely was enough. The to find another door out, so that the fear gripped Anastasia again, much thing might get caught up in the build- worse this time. She grabbed hold of ing long enough for her to get clear. a cargo strap, just to help keep her from collapsing. Charging through the only door she could see, her only way forward, More tentacles followed, backlit by which was marked storage. Looking the lights of the storage room which around, this was probably the last poured through the holes. She hoped door she wanted. There was no oth- they weren’t going to notice her er way out. The room was filled only – hoped against all hope – but she with storage lockers, but that wasn’t knew better. In a few seconds the the worst of it. The doors to the lock- probing monstrosities would zero in ers weren’t solid – they had holes in on her and rip her limb from limb. If them. she was lucky. 5

Warden Anastasia Kiss: Martian Outback

One of the larger tentacles inched the other side, closer every moment. its way towards her. The tip touched The command came from her brain her uniform and slowly slithered its to fire the gun, but something short- way up. If terror hadn’t already para- circuited the thought en route. lyzed her, the smell would have made Anastasia vomit. Another came from This was a hell of a way to die. Suddenly, the storage room ex- the bright lights of the casinos. Its ploded with a bright orange light and mayhem felt like home. she could smell burning flesh. The tentacles spasmed and began to Coming back from the restroom, yank their way out of the locker. The she practically melted into the chair. room lit up again, but this time some “Finally,” she said. “A hot meal in a of the flames shot through the holes civilized place.” in the locker, singeing Anastasia’s eyebrows and bangs. The last of the Marcus looked carefully around tentacles slithered out and she was the room, taking in each person in thankfully alone. turn, which was something he did ev- erywhere he went. “I ordered for you Anastasia kicked the hot metal while you were gone.” door as hard as she could. Her com- bat boot took the worst of it, but the “Thanks,” she replied. “I didn’t want door shot open. The wriggling things to wait. I’ve missed Asian food so were withdrawing into the ground as much. What did you order?” 6 a figure shot another burst of fiery death at them. It took a minute for Marcus smiled. “It’s a surprise.” Anastasia to overcome her shock to figure out who it was. “So I’ve been correlating the data and this isn’t good.” Felius had his It was Felius, who looked downright nose in his computer again. funny – a bookworm with a flame- thrower. What the hell. It wasn’t the Anastasia took a sip of her water. weirdest thing that she’d seen today. It was nice, properly recycled water. He just sat there, grinning like an “When is it ever good?” idiot. “The reports show that bodies No time to waste, Anastasia kicked have been going missing from the her legs to get the numb out of them. morgues with regularity. There’s al- most a pattern to the body-snatch- “Look what I found,” said Felius. ing. It appears that two cadavers, more or less, are stolen from differ- Anastasia pointed at the hole in the ent parts of the colony every week ground. “Look what found us. Let’s and have been for a little less than get back to the rover so we can call in three months now.” an airstrike. I’m not taking any more chances.” Marcus frowned, his eyes on other things. “Necrophiliacs wouldn’t need bodies with that kind of frequency. That leaves cults and…” It was good to be back on Gany- mede. She was born in Troy, under “Ghouls,” finished Anastasia. Just then, the food arrived. Felius inside job or that the perpetrators had ordered what many had come were using the access tunnels in the to call “white people chicken,” while city to get around. Either way, Anas- Marcus’ tastes tended more to- tasia and her team still didn’t know wards the exotic – Echizen jellyfish, what they were up against. which can be toxic if not prepared properly. Which is something Anas- While Marcus positioned the lo- tasia had forgotten when she asked cal authorities to keep surveillance him to order for her. on any of the two dozen people who might possibly be insiders, Anastasia There it was – san nak ji. A live oc- was stuck with the fun job of crawling topus on a bed of vegetables. Anas- through the access tunnels. Fortu- tasia knocked the chair over jumping nately, Felius was sitting at a remote out of it and away from her “dish.” terminal with the city plans at his fin- gertips. “Take it away!” she shouted at the waiter, who promptly fell all over him- “At the next intersection, turn left,” self to remove the offending delicacy. he said. 7 He bowed and disappeared. Whoever built Troy at least had the Anastasia composed herself and sense to make it easy to get around, sat back down. Marcus looked at her, even for the maintenance staff. The shocked. “What’s wrong with you?” hidden corridors were big enough for a person with gear to stand up “Kinetofayetophobia.” in – as well as being big enough to transport dead bodies through. They Even Felius was stumped. “Kineto- also had softly glowing lights through- fayetophobia? What the hell is that?” out the tunnels. They may not have illuminated everything, but they were “Fear of moving food. It’s the clos- enough to get around. est phobia that translates to tenta- cles. Remember the thing on Mars?” Anastasia reached the intersec- tion and turned left, only to be greet- Marcus picked up a chunk of jelly- ed by darkness. “Is there any reason fish with his chopsticks. “They’ve got the lights should be out in this part of phobias for everything, don’t they?” the grid?”

“Everybody’s scared of something.” “Hold, please,” She could hear Fe- lius typing. “Okay, I don’t see any com- plaints or repair requests. Accord- ing to the system, no one knows the The locals had already tried setting lights are out. The other utilities are a trap, but had no luck. That meant working just fine. Is the rest of the the body-snatchings were either an electricity on?” “I’m not going to lick my fingers to sickly sweet smell of rotting flesh. The find out, but I can hear the lines hum- green light of her glow-stick slowly re- ming. Can you turn them back on?” vealed something she did not want to see. “Oh no.” More typing. “Huh. Looks like some- one has taken that system complete- “What? What is it?” She could ly off-line.” hear Felius pulling out his sidearm.

Anastasia pulled out her pistol and Though she covered her mouth, snapped a glow-stick to life. The cor- Anastasia said, “Don’t go anywhere. ridor ahead glowed a sickly green, a Stay put.” color that always reminded her of ei- ther Halloween or radioactive waste. This room was much larger than it Neither was particularly comforting first appeared. Whoever had stolen right now. “Well, if someone’s taken it the corpses had brought them here. off-line, then someone’s up to some- Over a dozen dead bodies in various thing. Call Marcus and let him know states of decay were arranged in an 8 what we’ve found. But Felius, don’t go almost reverent fashion. Some were anywhere.” hung on the walls in carefully con- sidered poses. Some were placed Fortunately, she knew from expe- in compromising positions that sug- rience that Felius had no problem gested things that made Anastasia multi-tasking. sick.

Stepping further in, she eventu- ally found something that made it all “Wait. This isn’t on my schemat- clear, or at least as clear as it was ics.” going to become. There, on the oppo- site wall, was an altar, made of bone Those were not the words Anasta- and other unidentifiable things. sia wanted to hear. “Then where am I?” She thought she smelled some- “Felius,” Anastasia finally spat out thing funky. after a couple tries. “It’s not ghouls. I’m sending you images of the altar.” Felius stammered. “Uh… uh… you… you’re off the grid. I don’t know why “Oh no,” she heard him respond. there would be tunnels that aren’t on “We need to get the locals mobilized.” the schematics. These are supposed to be the maps for the entire city. I “I’ll stay here, just in case whatever got them from the city mainframe!” sick bastards did this come back.”

Anastasia stepped into what looked From behind her, Anastasia heard like a spacious junction room, but a voice that made her skin crawl. paused when the smell hit her – the “Too late. We’re here.” She whipped around in one practiced mo- tion and squeezed the trigger, aiming right in the face of the portly, sweaty man licking the curved blade. The gun didn’t fire. She pulled the trig- ger three more times. Nothing.

The man snarled. “Must be magic.”

Without missing a beat, Anastasia jabbed a knife hand 9 into his trachea. The man stumbled back- wards into another, choking violently.

She didn’t need a firearm to make sure these low-lifes paid for Docking at the Eye their crimes. This was careful when opening the overhead not Anastasia’s first barbecue. compartments as things may have shifted during flight. Thank you for fly- ing Warden airlines. Welcome to the Eye.” There was a satisfying thunk as the Knight’s Errant corvette formed Powering everything down, Anasta- a hard seal with the dock. Welcome sia zipped up her suit and headed for to Warden Prime, also known as the the airlock. Marcus and Felius were Eye. The gigantic space station hov- already waiting for her. ered over Earth and was the primary center of Warden operations for the “Man, is it good to be back in civili- entire solar system. zation!” said Marcus, smiling. “If the Captain’s feeling generous, maybe Anastasia cued the comm. “La- we can get a vacation day to go plan- dies and gentlemen, please stay etside. It’s the perfect time of the seated until the captain has turned year for the beaches in Ibiza.” off the fasten seatbelt sign. Also, be “Hanging out and getting burned by “Absolutely not, sir,” replied Mar- the sun while having smelly salt water cus. sprayed on you sounds like a blast,” added a particularly sarcastic Anas- Calado turned and assessed his tasia. “I’m sure the Captain will see underlings. “The report got here that as an important use of our time.” weeks ago, so we can skip most of the BS. Any new thoughts?” “I don’t even know how you call yourself human. What do you think, “Always, sir,” began Felius. “We put Felius?” our heads together on the trip and came up with several hypothesis. As usual, it took Felius a few min- However, given the facts, it seems utes to realize someone was talking like it was Primoris Nox. Not many to him. “I’m sorry. What?” other cults would be that organized and want to play with that many dead 10 “Figures,” replied Marcus. bodies.” And with that, they walked out of The Captain poured himself a glass the docking area and into the busy of water, but didn’t bother to sit halls of the most notorious space down. “Cults, huh? Monsters I get. I station in the solar system. like monsters. They’re ugly and nasty and you know you should shoot them. Cults are full of people and people are devious. They’re hard to root out. Too Captain Calado was waiting for bad we can’t just hook everyone up them in a debriefing room. The heav- to a lie detector and flush them out.” ily scarred man stood staring out the window at the Earth below. He was “We believe we broke the back of the kind of man that made people that particular cell. The morgues on wonder whether or not he was boil- Troy should be safe again. Until the ing with anger on the inside. The next time,” said Anastasia. patchwork color of his hair, which couldn’t decide if it was black or gray, “Well, the locals will be keeping an didn’t help. eye on things in the meantime. On to new things for you. So, which do you Marcus made a happy sound as he want first – the good news or the bad grabbed a seat at the conference ta- news?” ble. As the only one of the three that was from Earth, it made him nostal- Anastasia almost laughed. “Let’s gic – homesick even. hear the bad news first.”

“I never tire of the sight. Do you, Calado turned to look back out Agent St. Croix?” over the beautiful blue planet. “I know I promised you a rotation on the inner ideal for colonization. The surface is planets, but something’s come up. I covered with giant impact craters. need you to go right back out again.” Ursa, the only colony on the planet, has been constructed in one of Anastasia saw Marcus twitch. them.” Too much time on the outer planets made him unhappy. She never really “Ana, this is your neck of the woods. understood why. What do we need to know?” asked Marcus. “Something’s up on Callisto,” con- tinued Captain Calado. “Local scien- The moon loomed larger every tists thought they read something minute and they were about to break strange in the atmosphere. They atmosphere – though the thin layer thought the epicenter was in one of of carbon dioxide and molecular oxy- the impact craters. Naturally, they gen didn’t really mean anything in went out to see what they could find terms of entry. Anastasia kept her and never came back. The readings hands on the controls. “It’s a bed- look real. The data has already been room community mostly. People do 11 uploaded to your ship.” tours elsewhere in Jupiter space and then come back to homes here. Marcus put down his glass. “Sir, It’s quiet. If you don’t live there, there why us? I mean, isn’t there someone isn’t much of a reason to go there.” closer?” The former cop in Marcus started “Believe it or not, Agent St. Croix, to show through. “Okay, so I’m as- this is a busy agency. We don’t al- suming that means low crime. Any ways have the luxury of sending who racial tensions to worry about?” is closest. You’re between cases and Agent Kiss is Jovian. Any other ques- “No. Callisto has about eighty thou- tions?” sand residents who do whatever they need to keep Ursa a nice place to live. “What about the good news?” Most of the crime is drug smuggling, asked Anastasia. domestic disputes, or minor property crime, with the occasional drunken Calado snorted. “Since when has assault. Honestly, it’s some of the there been good news?” biggest bang for your buck property- wise anywhere in the outer planets.”

“Thanks,” replied Marcus. “I’ll re- As they approached the Jovian member that for when I retire.” moon, Felius read statistics off his comp, like he always did. “Callisto is “Get yourself geared up, smart the outermost of the Galilean Moons, alec. The locals don’t like disturbanc- with low enough radiation to make it es and they’ll view us as exactly that. You’ll have to do some fancy talking tern baldness, if such a thing hadn’t to keep them happy.” been cured. He approached and held out his hand. “Welcome. I am Lieu- Oblivious to the rest of the con- tenant Ismo Jarvi, Head of Ursa Se- versation, Felius chimed in. “Wow. curity. Governor Amarnath asked me There’s a subsurface ocean more to greet you.” than 100 km down. Is anyone re- searching that? Could that have any- Marcus stepped up to shake his thing to do with these readings?” hand, smiling disarmingly. “Pleasure. I’m Agent Marcus St. Croix. This is Anastasia brought the Knight’s Er- Agent Felius Fickerwith and Agent rant into Callisto’s airspace, slowly Anastasia Kiss.” descending over the frost-capped peaks surrounding the massive cra- Jarvi turned and ran his eyes up ters. “There’s a small outpost that’s and down Anastasia. “Kiss? Is that been digging and taking samples, but intentional?” it is really radioactive down there. 12 I’m no scientist, but it seems like it Though she wanted to immediately wouldn’t have anything to do with bathe herself, Anastasia knew that what we’re looking at.” you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. So, she gave him one of her Up ahead, she could see the giant best smiles, the kind that typically dome of Ursa. She cued her comm. got men to do what she wanted. “It “Ursa Spaceport, this is Warden ves- should be, but it’s actually Hungar- sel Edge of Dawn requesting docking ian.” clearance.” Jarvi looked pleased, so Marcus “Edge of Dawn, you are cleared for took the opportunity. “So, Lt. Jarvi. docking on pad five. Welcome to Cal- We have no intention of making your listo.” life difficult. We’ll make our way to the site and get out of here as soon as we can.”

They hadn’t even gotten out of Jarvi tore his eyes away from An- the docks before Ursa Security met astasia long enough to relax. “That them. Just to make a point, there is wonderful news. We’d like to mini- were five of them. Another warm mize your exposure to the population. Warden welcome. Our citizens prefer a quiet life, one unhampered by the kind of concerns The one that was clearly in charge Council agents like yourself most of- led the pack. He had a round face and ten represent. We’ve prepared the the kind of eyes that lied. In the past, gear you’ll need on our end, so gath- he looked like the kind of guy who er up the rest of what you’ll need and would have suffered from male pat- we’ll escort you there.” There wasn’t much choice, so the three Wardens went back into their Knight’s Er- rant and headed to the armory. Marcus snorted. “For once, I wish these colo- nies weren’t so wor- ried about whatever crap they’re worried about and start wor- rying about what’s really going on. They do have bigger prob- lems.” 13 “That would make our job easier. Except that it’s also our job to make sure they don’t know what’s going on,” responded Felius.

The Crater on Calllisto

The place in ques- Anastasia was the first to the rim tion was several hours journey from and what she saw there made her the colony. The rover took them as gasp. This only served to make the far up the side of the crater as pos- other two scramble to join her as sible, and it was on foot from there. quickly as possible. What they saw The extremely low gravity of Callisto was not lost on them either. made it both harder and easier for them to get up the slope. They each It didn’t take a genius to recognize wore heavy weights on their ankles that something very strange was to maintain some traction, and grap- happening. A thick, swirling mist filled ple guns and ropes allowed them to the crater about halfway to the top. reach the lip of the crater with only They could see the shadows of some- some small fuss. Fortunately, it was thing growing up out of the ground the middle of the day or the whole – maybe stalagmites or even trees? thing would have been nearly impos- Either would be way out of place. Even sible. worse, there were sounds. Noth- ing lived on the surface of Callisto, Marcus wasn’t far behind. “What so there should be no sounds other kind of atmosphere? Can we breathe than the ones they were making. it?” Something also seemed to be glow- ing down there. Felius held his hand up and closed his eyes, the way he did when he was They stood in awed silence for a asked too many questions at once – moment. Finally, Anastasia was the not something that happened infre- first one to speak. “We’re going to quently. “One answer at a time. How have to go down in there, aren’t we?” is this possible? I don’t know and it will take a lot more research to get Without waiting for an answer, she even close to an educated guess. took her first steps down towards What kind of atmosphere? The kind the bottom of the crater. that can support life, just not ours. Open your helmet now and you’ll as- phyxiate.” He paused, thoughtfully. “Better than explosive decompres- 14 It felt a little like diving underwater. sion, I suppose.” Going under the mist layer was more than any of them could have expect- “Great. Let’s review. Life and an at- ed. mosphere.” Marcus was getting agi- tated, as he did when trouble loomed. Felius stepped up to the gray trunk- “Don’t we have enough to leave and like thing before him. It had delicate call in a better equipped team?” tendrils splayed out from the nearly eight-foot top. Felius answered his question by ignoring him and walking deeper into “Don’t touch it!” cautioned Marcus. the crater.

Felius turned and frowned. “Do He walked about another ten feet I look new?” He took out a scanner and stopped. The others joined him, and nudged the thing. The tendrils quickly discovering what had grabbed swayed as if caught in a breeze. Felius’ attention. That plant was only “Whatever it is, it’s alive. Wait, that the first. They were entering what ap- could mean…” peared to be a forest. An alien and foreboding forest, but a forest none- Anastasia and Marcus stood theless. back while Felius did something that looked very technical. He then waited “Should we be taking samples or patiently, until his comp beeped. “The something?” inquired Anastasia. mist layer is actually an atmosphere.” Felius shook his head. “I’m not “What? How is that even possi- touching anything until we’re on our ble?” asked Anastasia. way out.” Anastasia lifted one of her feet and Meanwhile, Anastasia walked over noticed something she’d missed in to investigate the speckled growth. her shock. Things felt heavier. “Uhh, Again, it felt like she should be un- guys? Why does it feel like I don’t derwater someplace like Europa to need the leg weights anymore?” be seeing things like this. However, something caught her eye behind the The other two finally noticed as fronds – several somethings, in fact. well. Felius took off his weights and Gently nudging the plants aside with tried to walk. It wasn’t bad. “The gravi- her assault rifle, she saw a patch of ty is definitely higher in here. I’d guess football-like objects, set upright in the about half a G. And before you ask, I ground. Each was white and rough, have no idea how that can happen.” with an almost vein-like texture.

Anastasia and Marcus followed “Tell me these don’t look like eggs,” suit and shed their weights. The in- she said. creased gravity made it much easier to press forward. Felius was up like a shot. “Oh no. Of all…” 15 There appeared to be many small- er plants, if one could call them that, Before he could finish his sentence, growing amongst the bigger ones. It something large charged through was as if what they were seeing were the alien forest near them. Anas- only the first shades of much larger tasia took a defensive stance and things to come. looked every which way, trying to find the thing that was most likely mom. Not much further in, they came The others drew their firearms, too, to what appeared to be a stream, preparing for what they knew was though the liquid flowing down it the inevitable. seemed to have a silvery sheen on its surface. There was some kind of From out of the mist, something thick growth near the bank of this wriggled. Several meaty green ten- stream, with blue and pink speckled tacles, tipped with black talons, mov- fronds, perhaps a little like ferns. ing with sinister purpose. Anastasia However, the texture was wrong – could feel the chill creeping up the more leathery. back of her legs.

Felius was the first to the stream. “Not this again,” was all she said He knelt carefully down near the before opening up with her assault edge, sticking some kind of device rifle, its blaze lighting up the alien for- into it. The surface tension of the est with flash after flash. liquid was much greater than that of water and he had to push a little Yup. The solar system was going to harder than normal. hell in a hand-basket. 1 Introduction

2159 AD. It is a good time to be powers that be. Mighty corporations alive. The nations of the world still ex- marshal their resources to figure out ist, but they have become more civi- how such things might be harnessed lized. Countries resolve their disputes for profit. The Unified World Council through the forum of the Unified sends out special teams of sanctioned World Council. Colonies of mutual co- Wardens, whose job it is to ascertain operation exist throughout the solar the new threats to human life, to learn system. We have stretched to the edge everything they can about them, and of our known world. fight them wherever they are found. They are discovering that they are en- But, alas, it is not to be our time. countered with greater frequency.

Something approaches, a thing on There are also those who believe an orbit from far away. Seemingly dark the murmurs of madmen, who have matter, this object is known in obscure listened to the occultists who point to prophecy as the Chthonian Star. It is a forbidden books and forgotten proph- thing that has been traveling through ecy. They are the ones who believe that the universe on its oblique trajectory humanity is a young race and there are for millions, if not billions, of years. It much older and darker things in the is a part of the natural cycle of things, universe, so-called deities and their on its eon-long orbit. Now, again, it is minions who care nothing for the chil- awakening things long thought lost dren of men. They confront the horror or dead, things that have slumbered that is looming, looking to the past, awaiting its return. trying desperately to make the world understand in the present. It begins slowly. Colonists begin to notice unusual things throughout It is true. These are the end times. the solar system. Then people begin The Old Ones are waking up and what to disappear. Then entire settlements. we thought was our solar system is Ships go missing. However, it isn’t long making itself home for its returning before the unspeakable horrors that masters. The monstrous races that have awakened can no longer con- serve them are coming back out to tain themselves. Moons thought dead help prepare the way. Humanity is as such as Callisto come to life, producing many always thought – temporary alien ecosystems never before seen by stewards of this part of the galaxy at man. Things stir in the distant Kuiper best, parasites at worst. Belt. It is something that cannot be de- nied and people live their lives know- All this from the influence of a body ing that there are dangerous and ter- that is still millions of miles away. As rifying things in the dark. the Chthonian Star marches ever on- ward, things are only going to get Such phenomena naturally become worse. Who knows what will happen something of intense interest to the when it is finally here? The Game ters, and rules in a few easy pages that The scope of The Void is contained to shouldn’t take you more than ten min- a fantastical setting that is still familiar utes to read. When you’re done, you’ll to us – our solar system, from Mercury have a good sense of how to play this out to the frontier of the Kuiper Belt. game. Earth is still the center of the universe, home to all mankind, but millions of Second, we’ve included what we call people dwell in colonies and space a teaching adventure. This adventure stations spread throughout the solar is designed to teach both the players system. Spaceships travel between the and the GM the setting and how to worlds, using technology that propels play The Void while they are playing it. them from world to world in a matter Combined with a few pre-generated of months, instead of years. Characters, you can buy this book and be playing within about an hour. Despite the fact that the nations of the solar system are united in a way Third, we’ve included At a Glance never before thought possible, the sidebars throughout the book. These vast distances that separate the colo- sidebars contain bullet points of the nies of humanity create a sense of iso- most important information in each lation. The journeys through the black section, so that you can skim them and are long and lonely. There are many learn what you need to know. You can who find this isolation difficult to deal go back and read all the details later. with, especially given the things that Essentially, you can become familiar now roam in the dark. with everything in The Void in a very short time without having to read ev- The Void supports playing pretty ery word in the book. much any kind of Character, but steers players towards playing as Wardens, Creative Commons agents of the Unified World Council The Void is licensed under the Cre- special commission. That way, your ative Commons Attribution-NonCom- Characters already have reason to mercial-ShareAlike license. For more in- travel around the solar system and the formation, go to creativecommons.org. resources that allow them to do so. This means that you are free to Accessibility share electronic versions of The Void We’ve designed The Void with ease and that you can create your own of- of use in mind. There are several im- ficial derivatives – being supplements, portant ways we’ve worked to imple- optional rules, or what have you – to ment this. share with others.

First, the following Overview chap- However, there are several condi- ter gives you the basics in a nut-shell. tions that go with that. You must at- You’ll learn about the setting, Charac- tribute your derivative works to us, us- 17 Chapter 1: Introduction service likeYouSendItservice . above 10 MB, pleaseuseaforwarding documents are preferred. your If file is void.com. ations to creativecommons@fearthe their games. that others can find it and use it with ofourweb-site so downloads section Commons license. We’ll postitto the that peoplecreate undertheCreative much material aswe can. toenable ourcommunity produce as things for you’re going to come up with cool play inoursandbox withus. We know erty, butthat we want you to come and willprotectprop ourintellectual a license. This meansthat we stillown follow the same rules. After all, this is samelicense,act sothat othersmust your derivative works underthisex derivative works. of your ofThe Void sharing orofyour not makeany moneywhatsoever off who created The Void. alsoattributingthepeople this book, founding thelegaltext inthefront of Characters – or the legacy ofafamily –orthelegacy Characters end, you willbeableto play multiple highlighting anexciting the era. In each universe andthesametime-line, of gamesthat takeplace inthesame time. take place through multiplepoints in in an overall saga that is designed to it was. The Void lineisbutone product logo onthecover andwondered what Send yourSend Creative Commons cre We want to postthebestmaterial Y ou may have seenthe Cthulhu Saga The Void isbutthefirstofaseries PDFs and word processing The CthulhuSaga The Void and we want to Y ou mustdistribute Y ou alsomay - - - - gravity drive that was supposedto al- was equipped with an experimental a shipthat’s been missingfor years. It discover thefate ofthe Event Horizon, lows acrew sent outto Neptuneto Event Horizon controversial suitdesign. sci-fi horror –andan awesome but ness andyou have arecipe for great cient relic that causeshomicidalmad- long enoughfor rescue. Add inan- ing creatures on his quest to stay alive the dead, forcing himto face horrify An alien virusravages thecorpses of crewmates.ship andacouple surviving winds upmarooned withhiscrashed distress call, Engineer Isaac Clarke SpaceDead kids. scared the heck out of most of us as tromo’s crew. H.R.Giger’s aliendesign memberoftheNos- every nearly to kill Justonesuchalienwasborn. enough creature ahostto be whomustkill of an alien ship. They back a bring habited rock to investigate thecrash to touchstructed down onanunin- It’s ofacorporate crew the story in- Alien developing The Void. team would like to site as influences in movies andgamesthat thecreative There have beenseveral excellent of thingsintheirown age. lineage –that have allshapedtheway A ghost story in space, the story fol inspace,- thestory A ghoststory Investigating aminingoperation’s This movie needs no introduction. Nothing iscreated inavacuum. Influences - low it to fold space-time in an effort to cross vast interstellar distances in an The Pronoun Game instant. It didn’t work as planned and In this book we use he, him, the ship comes back alive from a place and his when we’re talking that can only be described as hell. about people playing the game. Alternating pronouns within Ghosts of Mars the same book makes it feel like Police are dispatched to a mining the book is written for two dif- outpost to transport a notorious crimi- ferent audiences. The masculine nal on a nearly terraformed Mars. They pronoun is the current standard arrive to discover dead bodies and a and – though the times may be bunch of strangely acting miners. It changing – we’re still used to turns out the former inhabitants of seeing it. We mean no offense Mars were capable of surviving as pos- to our valued female audience. sessing microbes and are very territo- rial.

Outland Got Feedback? An old-school Sean Connery film, We’re all roleplayers here. this movie shows a more realistic pic- When you’re playing The Void, ture of colonization. It follows a mar- you’re going to have feedback shal assigned to a corporate mining – whether it be questions, com- outpost on the Jovian Moon of Io. ments, or the awesome stuff you Drugs have become a part of the pro- came up with while you’re play- ductivity cycle and they are beginning ing. We want to hear it. You’ve to cause miners to go mad and die. got two options. You can just Naturally, the corporate masters don’t fire off an e-mail to feedback@ want such a thing coming to light, so fearthevoid.com. Alternatively, Chapter 1: Introduction they hire hit-men to take care of the you can jump into the pool on law. our forums and engage in con- versation with both us and oth- Pandorum er players. Find them at http:// A couple of crewmen wake up from wildfire-community.com/forums. hibernation aboard a giant spacecraft with little recollection of who they are or what they’re supposed to be do- ing. It seems that the ship has been overrun by horrifying creatures who In Case You Missed It hunt the survivors for food. Worse yet, In case you missed it, check the reactor core is about to overload out the very first page of this and blow everything to smithereens. book. We’re trying out some- On top of that, there are surprises for thing new here and we’d really which not even the crew is ready. appreciate your support.

19 2 Overview

Welcome to the overview of The der the punishing heat of the Sun. The Void. In these six pages, you’ll get an Chinese government has built the Port idea of everything you need to know Tian mining colony inside the Chao to play the game. If you read only these Meng-Fu crater, where it remains in six pages and play through the teach- the shade. They mine the wealth of ing adventure found on p. 26, you’ll be natural metals and minerals under- able to start within about an hour of neath the surface. Life here is spartan buying this book and sitting down to and simple, with very little in terms of play. You will learn as you play, instead creature comforts. of having to sit down and read the bet- ter part of this book first. You can also Venus skim the At a Glance sidebars through- Venus has a decidedly hellish sur- out this book for more detailed over- face with high winds and tempera- views of the setting and rules – a great ture in the hundreds of degrees. Five way to learn faster. corporations control Venus, under the nominal authority of the Venusian The Game Administrative Body. Each corpora- The Void is a game about humanity’s tion has utter autonomy and authority spread into our solar system and the within their colony. However, outside horrors we discover as we go there. It of the colony, the VAB has the final au- is an exciting mix of Lovecraftian hor- thority. Nearly all aspects of life on Ve- ror and hard science-fiction. nus occur underground – subsurface colonies have been by far the cheap- The Void is also a genre of horror est method of colonizing the planet in known as survival horror. This genre the long term. Venusian culture is cor- has become especially popular in porate culture, but the corporate colo- video games, with franchises like Resi- nies offer much in the way of comforts. dent Evil or Silent Hill. Survival horror means that your Characters are almost Earth always going to be in peril and fight- The nations of Earth are still pretty ing for their lives. The world of The Void much as they have been, though some is a dangerous place and it will require borders and centers of power always that players are careful and clever if shift. Modern nations have become they want their Characters to survive. more civilized and choose to resolve their disputes through the forum of the Unified World Council. Fortunate- The Scope ly, the Earth suffers no more from the The scope of The Void is our solar threat of ecological disaster, though system. it has been damaged. Air quality has recovered, but climates have changed Mercury permanently in many parts of the Mercury is a small dead world that world. There are places where it is not slowly rotates like a pig on a spit un- safe to travel outside without special suits, where the thinning or non-exis- with geological activity, with many tent ozone no longer protects life from mountains and volcanoes. Bunkers dangerous solar radiation. However, that shield visitors from the intense the Earth is still a paradise compared radiation provide staging grounds for to the rest of the solar system. those who wish to come and climb the majestic mountains in a low grav- Mars ity environment. However, there have People thought Mars was going been some unusual reports in and to be the new prosperous frontier. In around Jupiter space and many resi- the beginning, the mining operations dents find themselves nervous. proved this to be true. People flocked to Mars. Then they discovered an in- Saturn credibly hard and useless substance Saturn could be said to be the heart under the surface that shut many min- of the new frontier. Over three million ing operations down. Tourism has also residents of the Republic of Saturn live waned in favor of more exotic locations and work here, striving daily to build in the outer planets. Furthermore, dust their lives around the promise of a free clogs the sky from a mysterious colli- and independent world. Rapid growth sion of the moons. Though the only has created a strong economy built on partly terraformed planet in the solar industry, manufacturing, mining, tour- system, and the planet with the largest ism, and perhaps the most important population other than Earth, the Red of Saturn’s commodities – agricul- Planet has taken its hits and so have its ture. On Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, people. great cities and mammoth farming bio-domes have arisen. The city of Jupiter Chronos has become one of the most It is the largest planet in our solar important trade centers in the Solar system, and the planet itself is home System, built on the need to transport only to two large floating gas mines. Titan’s wealth of agricultural goods off The real excitement of Jupiter is found world. Ice harvesting has also become on the four Galilean moons – Callisto, an important industry among Saturn’s Europa, Ganymede, and Io. Callisto moons. Other moons like Rhea play is where many of those working on host to huge manufacturing plants other Galilean Moons and Jupiter live, and ship yards that allow Saturn to and it is best described as a bedroom produce bio-domes, shuttles, trans- community. Europa is home to a giant ports, and other necessary compo- underground saltwater ocean, with nents that sustain the colony. its own life and ecosphere – the first extra-terrestrial life discovered in the Uranus history of man. Ganymede’s primary For years, the Uranus sector had trade is tourism and entertainment. It been nothing more than a junction is, for lack of a better analogy, the Las point for transports. That all changed Vegas of the outer planets. Io is rife when the Wesley family founded the 21 Chapter 2: Overview time to time, without any trace. On top also haveto gomissingfrom started (or sleepaids)are anepidemic. People have intense nightmares –insomnia Neptune. Many people have to started things have become commonplace on with it.thelastfew Over years, strange and thefabulouswealth that goes long roots inthediamondbusiness Companyand theRhodes with –afirm eration of the European Federation the solarsystem. isajoint Salacia op diamonds, themostprecious gemin mining colony, astheplanetproduces and onlycolony isa onNeptuneIt is underground. is the Salacia primary the onlycolony onNeptune’s surface the speedofsound. Unsurprisingly, winds range from 45 mph to nearly stant onNeptune–theaverage daily to Sun. theburning Wind isanearcon- timesthedistance oftheEarth thirty lar system, issofarinto space that itis Neptune matter between prospectors. handledasanpersonal often is very lawtowns oftheoldwest onEarth, ever, beingmuchlikethegoldrush supplied by the Wesley family. How maintained by theinternal security from theatmosphere. Law isofficially Wesley molecularhydrogen to extract runby JohnPaul– theminingfacility for Uranus proper is Veronica Station the only colonyhas no solid surface, from Wesley Corp. Given that Uranus as theyobtaindeedsfor miningrights tions to dowith as they will –as long dependent prospectors orcorpora- Uranus andhasoffered them to in- the rightsto themoonssurrounding ca Station. The Wesley familyobtained hydrogen from miningfacility Veroni- Neptune, thelastplanetofourso - - - Belt, thereBelt, isalsogreat danger. While there isgreat promise inthe ished never to be heard from again. Many more, however, have simplyvan- that allowed themto retire instyle. its that have netted themfinder’s fees explorers have found massive depos- onthesolarsystem.their mark Many tors goto thisdistant place to make frontier ofthesolarsystem. Prospec astheKuiper –thenew Belt known dustandicelies athickbandofrock, Kuiper Belt havior. cause that science canfind for itsbe has beenchanging. There isnoknown plicable behavior ofPluto –theorbit exhibiting even more bizarre andinex however, thesmallworld hasbegun increased ten-fold. More recently, recentIn years, has that observation has foundity itselfa distant observer. aloneandthusfarhuman- to beleft fore theirsignals are lost. Pluto wishes probes lastonlyafew hoursat bestbe that didnever last. Even satellites and andthose never madeitto thesurface over theyears. expeditions have Most have beenattempts, many ofthem, freeto ofman’s beleft company. There planet hasmadeitclearthat itwishes of humanity. NotsowithPluto. The planet andmoonhasfelt thepresence Pluto bad for business. –itwould byare Rhodes be advertised songs ofwhales. Noneofthesefacts flurries, likethe through thesurface to have heard distant eerie sounds of allthat, there are thosewhoclaim Past thedistant planetofNeptune Across thesolarsystem every nearly - - - - Technology Weapons are still predominantly The Void is a couple hundred years chemically or magnetically propelled, into the future. In terms of its influenc- though computerized advancements es, the setting is approximately equiv- make them more accurate, powerful, alent to the technology presented in and capable than ever before. Despite such movies as Aliens or Event Horizon the detente that exists in most places – though confined to our solar system. in the universe, it is still not entirely a period of peace. Therefore, the powers Space travel is perhaps the single that be still spend exorbitant sums of most important technological ad- money on weapons research, so the vancement in the setting. Transit technology of “defense” continues for- drives can propel ships across the ward. void at speeds formerly not possible. Travel from Earth to Neptune takes Characters only several months instead of twelve The Void supports playing pretty years. Passengers must seal them- much any kind of Character that one selves in suspended animation inside might expect in the setting, but steers specially designed gravity-mitigating players towards playing as Wardens, chambers to survive acceleration and agents of the Unified World Council deceleration – which means they un- special commission. That way, their fortunately lose time every time they Characters already have reason to travel, unaware of what might occur in travel around the solar system and the the vacuum in the interim. resources that allow them to do so.

Computers have continued to be- While many associate aliens with sci- come smaller and more powerful. fi, all characters inThe Void are human, People travel with small portable with some variation based on world or body-computers that are capable of colony of birth. feats that seem like magic. Augment- ed reality is commonplace, and in fact Chapter 2: Overview necessary for many aspects of society. Character Components Robotics and nanotechnology have Characters in The Void are made up taken over manufacturing, as well as of several key mechanical pieces. They many menial jobs, forcing people to have Attributes and Skills, which are become educated to take on more commonplace to modern roleplay- skilled professions. ing games. They also have Qualities, which represent innate Advantages Medical technology has advanced and Disadvantages (with several that to a point where nearly all hereditary are specifically flavored for the unique disease has been cured. There are few setting), as well as Talents, which rep- illnesses that plague humanity. Even resent cool things to help define the limbs and organs can be replaced Character even further. Together, they through limited cloning technology. create diverse Characters, even among People live longer and are healthier all-Warden groups, with plenty of than ever before. room to customize and grow. 23 Chapter 2: Overview or occult threats to thepeople of the responsibility to eliminate unknown out thesolarsystem. Second, itistheir ifestations through oftheunknown - with investigating andman- allreports duties. First,primary theyare charged in thesolarsystem. They have three the strange thingsthat are emerging createdmental agency to dealwith development, powered by Advances. form methodofpoint-based character The UWC Wardens are agovern- growCharacters through afree- The UWCWardens Neptune Space:Triton They are useful also trained to extract evidence inorder to draw conclusions. cused onprocessing information and are thedetectives ofthe Wardens, fo eliminate resistance. Investigators weapons inorder to mosteffectively bat, trained inmany differentkinds of Researcher. Enforcers focus oncom- trained – Enforcer, Investigator, and ties inwhich Warden fieldagents are the population at large. and occult the a unknown secret from haps mostdistasteful duty, isto keep solar system. Their third, last, andper There special- are three primary cialty, whilealarger of oneeachspe team iscomposed three to six.Asmall the fieldin teams of cally sent outinto cults. a basiceducation in they mustface, and inhuman enemies the occult andthe of basic knowledge bat trained, have a Wardens are com- less ofspecialty, all is useful. Regard- data for that which through and sift draw conclusions ciplines inorder to cult andotherdis- educated intheoc are thebookworms, people. Researchers information outof team typically has team typically Wardens are- typi - - - - three Enforcers, two Investigators, and the The Void setting will scare the pants one Researcher. off of characters, and the unspeakable things they witness will slowly drive We recommend playing Warden them mad. These are themes central Characters, unless you have a special to all Lovecraftian horror. sort of story in mind. We created War- dens so that Characters already have Combat Overview the motive to investigate all of the Combat uses opposed Tests, where crazy and scary things that are hap- every defender is given the opportu- pening in the universe, and so they nity to defend against those attacks have the resources – such as authority, of which he is aware. If you equal or weapons, and spaceships – to do so. exceed your opponent’s Defense Test, However, if you’re interested in playing you’ll hit and he’ll take damage to his The Void like Call of Cthulhu™ in space, Health. the game certainly supports it and it can be a lot of fun. Characters have a certain number of points they can take before they die, The Basic Rules but there are levels of hurt in between. The Void uses six-sided dice, in dice As they get hurt, they begin to take pools. In general, any time you want penalties to their Tests and movement to try something that is a challenge, speed. you will roll a number of dice in a pool equal to the appropriate Attribute The Void also includes basic so- plus Skill – both of which are rated on cial combat, so that you can labor to a scale of one to five. That means you’ll change someone’s mind when it is be rolling between two and ten dice important. Having someone in your for your Tests. group who specializes in social com- bat is a good idea. When rolling for a Test, each die that Chapter 2: Overview comes up a five or six is considered a The Teaching Adventure Success. You need to get between one Included next in this book is a teach- and five Successes to accomplish your ing adventure. It is designed to help task, where two is Average and three you learn the game as you play, so that is Hard. These Tests may be modified you don’t have to spend a lot of time by your Character’s Qualities and/or learning before you jump right into Talents. the game.

Naturally, we have created rules for The teaching adventure in this book psychology – fear and madness. The also includes four fully statted Charac- otherworldly things that are a part of ters, each of which is ready to play.

*Call of Cthulhu is the Trademark of Chaosium, Inc. 25 3 Teaching Adventure

Special Notes To Serve This section won’t appear in every scene, but contains special notes and and Survive advice to new GMs. It will include page This is an introductory adventure for references, rules examples, and sug- four new Wardens. The Wardens have gestions for changes. recently completed their training and must investigate the disappearance of Note to the Players: If you want to a freighter, the Pandora’s Hope. Start- play through this scenario, or you ing at Warden Prime, they travel to think your GM may want to run this ad- Mars where the Pandora’s Hope was venture for your group – PLEASE STOP launched to begin the investigation. READING! Don’t spoil the surprises for From there, the investigation will con- yourself and your friends. tinue to the final destination of the freighter – a mining colony on Chiron. Note to the GM: While your players are reading through the Character Gamemasters will find scene-by- options, skim through the adventure scene descriptions, special notes to quickly, making sure to at least read help jump into the action quickly, and the At a Glance sections. The more seeds for expanding this investigation prep time you have, the easier this will into a springboard for a longer cam- be. Have fun and don’t sweat any mis- paign. takes that come up along the way. Each scene is laid out in the follow- ing format: Training’s Over

At a Glance At a Glance This section provides a brief synop- The Characters are called up to War- sis of the scene action to help Game- den Prime – the main outpost floating masters skim the entire adventure above Earth. Captain Roland Dearborn quickly. assigns them to investigate the disap- pearance of Pandora’s Hope, a freighter For the Players which lost communications just past The classic “boxed text,” GMs should Saturn. The Wardens have arranged read this text aloud directly to the for transportation to Mars, where the players. It describes the scene from an freighter embarked. in-character perspective. For the Players Behind the Scenes After the last few weeks of train- This is the primary section for Game- ing in the Himalayas, you’ve come masters, including all of the extra infor- to learn that there are places left on mation about NPCs, their motivations, Earth which can be just as desolate and flow of events before the players as the Martian outback. With the begin to influence things. training exercise complete, you’ve Behind the Scenes received orders to report to the Eye. Captain Dearborn will answer any questions that he can for the Wardens, Warden Prime, as it’s officially though there isn’t a lot of information known, floats in orbit above Earth. available. This group was chosen be- From this vantage point, the War- cause they were finishing a training dens monitor activities across the rotation, and were readily available. entire solar system. Getting called The Wardens did not want to pull in in means that Command has an as- a team from the outer system blind, signment. Your team is loaded into which is why their team is being sent a shuttle and the entire trip only to Mars first. takes about half an hour. Pandora’s Hope Captain Roland Dearborn is wait- The freighter is a modified freighter ing for you in the briefing room. He with increased engine systems for is an older Brit with a stern military long haul shipping. It registered with bearing. Martian control as carrying food-stuffs and supplies (air scrubbers, spare “Wardens, good morning. Please parts, etc) for Chiron base, and return- take a seat. I will keep this briefing ing with ore from the mining colony. as short as possible.” The freighter has a crew complement of thirty souls. With a few strokes on the keypad in front of him, several images proj- Communications were lost just be- ect onto the vidscreen. fore it was scheduled to pass Saturn. The standard flight time should have it “This is the freighter, Pandora’s arrive at Chiron in four days. It is pos- Hope. She launched from the Mar- sible if the engines were pushed, that tian orbital elevator 84 days ago it could have arrived today. on her way to a mining colony on Chiron. All communications were Transportation lost seventeen days ago. While that As this is the team’s first mission, is disturbing, it’s not unheard of. To- the Warden command is booking all day, we lost communication with of the transportation throughout the the Chiron mining colony. mission. The Characters can adjust the plans that are laid out for them, but “Your mission is to go to Mars, in- will have civilian on-lookers through- vestigate if anything got on board out the assignment. Command does the freighter, and armed with that not tell them, but this is a form of test information go to Chiron to discov- to see how the young Wardens handle er why communications were lost. their discussions and contain knowl- Are there any questions?” edge of the threats. On future assign- ments, Warden command may give 27 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure can beagoodreminder for players they are ready to engageathreat. This showing to uparmed theteeth until keeps often secrecy Wardens from to uphold the charter. The need for anythinguisition nearly that isneeded out thesolarsystem, andtheycanreq- the Wardens through vast- authority remind themoftheserules. They give 3. 2. 1. rules: NotesSpecial what theymay bedealingwith. from, once theyhave abetter grasp on will be able to requisition supplies a Warden whichthey station onMars their hand to thecivilians. There isalso may be cautioned against tipping gear is, andhow dangerous itis, they the Eye. onhow Depending large the gear, theycanrequisition supplieson Gear Extra deceleration –whichis theentire trip. in grav bedstasisfor acceleration and thetrip,During allpassengersmustbe takes anaverage days. offourteen eral hours. to TheMars from trip Earth andMars, whichleaves insev Earth between scheduledtransport larly sage for onaregu theCharacters - around. to movethe team atransport them During thisscene,During theCaptain can The Wardens have three ground want thecharacters anyIf extra The Wardens have booked pas- out. Keep thepopulation from finding Contain and eliminate the threats. threats. Investigate orOccult Unknown - when dealingwithcivilians. bodyarmor, andheavy assault rifles that are sidearms better choices than the Dockmaster’s office. Itisa cramped ter’s office: thecharacters gotoIf theDockmas For thePlayers Mariner Valley colony onthesurface. at thetop ofthespace elevator, to the Port can takethemfrom theDocking anditscrew.Hope The investigation ters begin investigating thePandora’s At aGlance Following the signs, itis easy to find thing inthearea recorded. isbeing nently, clearlyshowing thatevery side. Camera jutoutpromi nodes - space forten walking people sideby storefronts oneitherside, buthas islacedter ringofthestation.It with likelooks isthecen itiswideopen - waiting areas. that The onlysection There are novast expanses, orlarge organizedis very and well-used. ground by amassive elevator cable. of thespace station, tethered to the far below, along with a projection information fortheMarinerValley showjectors thenewsandweather is donewiththefreighters. Holopro clear thatmostwork onthestation docked itis inthetourist section, Transit Centers. the transport While office, Longshoreman’s Union,and there are signsfortheDockmaster’s Having arrived onMars, theCharac Everywhere you look, thespace you look, Everywhere theshipatMars, Disembarking The RedPlanet - - - - space with several uniformed men and women sitting at the back of the Making Skill Tests office with headsets on, monitoring A Skill Test is made by having computers. At the front of the office the player roll a pool of six-sided two men are reviewing a schedule on dice equal to the appropriate a tablet and making changes. A large Skill and associated Attribute. window shows the red glow of Mars, Each die that comes up a five or blocked by a massive freighter and six is a Success. If the total num- several shuttles. ber of Successes meets or beats the difficulty of the Test, then The older of the two looks up at you the Character succeeds. This and barks with a gravelly voice, “identi- process is used for all Skill Tests. fication and travel papers...please.” Example: Alexis has a Investi- Behind the Scenes gate skill of 2 and an Awareness Mars is the primary investigation (the Linked Attribute for Investi- spot for the Wardens to find out what gate) of 4. She rolls 6d6 and gets a happened to the Hope until they ac- total of two fives and sixes on the Mars tually get to Chiron. If the Characters dice, generating two Successes. get lost or feel that they don’t know The difficulty for this test is Aver- where to go next, they can contact the age (2), so Alexis succeeds. If the Warden outpost on Mars. The Warden GM had ruled that the Difficulty outpost’s field officer has been able to was Hard, then Alexis would have track down some of the crew hang- failed the test. outs during their shoreleave.

1. Captain Lee Quartararo primarily stayed aboard ship, but met with 3. The chief engineer (Commander Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure the Dockmaster on the day the Nathan Adar) never left the ship ship berthed and the day it left. at all. There are reports of sev- He was seen walking in the central eral shipments being brought on promenade of the space station. board the ship for him, but he His ident-card was never scanned never set foot on Mars or the sta- for transit to the surface. tion.

2. The first officer, Commander Karl 4. The crew stayed predominantly Roslin travelled with nearly half in the Mariner Valley colony. They the crew to the surface and stayed showed identcard scans at sev- at the Deimos hotel in the Mariner eral lower class hotels, bars, and Valley. Having an officer planet- brothels. The medical staff took a side during shoreleave is not un- day trip to Chloe (a Seven Sisters usual, especially with freighter colony on Mars). The Chloe medi- crews. The first officer, oddly, cal chief reported that they volun- spent extensive time in the hotel teered in the clinic. bar. 29 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure of thecounter Hehasaprivate to talk. ask for themto step down to theend themselves as Wardens, will Higgins feeling. identify the Characters If premium andtheoffice hasa cramped where elseonthestation, space isa Likeevery anddeparting. arriving on offhours to accommodate shuttles butwillcome intohour shift, theoffice work inthe office onastandard eight ity. andhisstaff Higgins Dockmaster wherering thestation isspunfor grav off ofthepromenade, alongtheouter Visiting theDockmaster Satellites: FormerlySatellites: 2, now alooselyformed ring. Year: YearsEarth-Standard 1.8 24.6Hours Day: Temperature:Surface Around 4.4°C/40°F. Atmosphere: Nitrogen(78%)andOxygen Mostly Composition: PrimarilySurface abasaltrock base Pressure:Surface 1kPascal 0.375g(ModeratelyGravity: Low) Size: Approximately by Mass 0.5Earths Type: TerrestrialPlanet The Dockmaster’s office isdirectly Xenon, and WaterXenon, Vapor Argon, CarbonNeon,Nitrogen, Dioxide, Krypton, (19%), withtheremaining amount madeupof finely grained iron-oxide dust. coveredcontaining somesilicaglass. Surface in - - to was makesure bal- that everything loading,during as the Captian wanted gins spokewiththeCaptain at length pieces ofequipment inthecolony.- Hig for differentalong withspare parts dard medicalsuppliesandfoodstuffs, was loadedwithstan- on thestation. It his staff. share withhimthat cannotbetold to have any secrets that they are going to master will doubtthat the Wardens more than one person in it. The dock office, but it is not designed for having berthing He remembers berthing theHope dition to themanifest, the the crewad - broughtIn back. Adar’s fault, orsomethingthat wrong ontheshipitiseither believes that if anything went He trustshismen,andstrongly shoreleave willnotbelisted. the crew brought backfrom but willnote that anything byHope thelongshoremen, loaded onto thePandora’s manifest ofsuppliesthat were resources –including oxygen. allowed to utilize any colony Mars. of that, Because he is not laws hislaststay during on ters that Adar broke several He tellssidearm. the Charac sciously rest hishandon gineer, willuncon Higgins - container to shift. not thetimewhenyou want a couches for and itis aweek, the entire crew to sleepingrav to theOuter System requires anced properly. Acceleration Higgins canprovideHiggins afull theyaskaboutthe En- If - - Dockmaster has the flight plan on file. tivities (cooking, laundry, storage, etc.) The estimated flight time was eighty- are completed. eight days including a seven day accel- eration and deceleration window. Asking around the hotel about Com- mander Roslin will be fruitful. All of the Dockmaster Higgins staff remember him, as he tipped gen- Dockmaster Charles Higgins is a erously. The concierge will direct the gruff, older man with a no-nonsense Wardens to either the Cosmic Lounge attitude about flight control and pro- where “the Commander held court” or cedures. He has a tendency to rant a jazz club several blocks over called about the dangers of space travel and the Rue d’Auseil. The bartenders will colonization to anyone who asks fool- point to a corner table, designed to ish questions. Higgins does have a seat eight, where Commander Ros- strong respect for authority, but be- lin sat for ten hours a day, reading lieves that authority without experi- the news, drinking, and talking with ence is a dangerous proposition. crewmembers. Throughout the day, crew members would come to him, Attributes: Awr 3, Clv 4, Dem 3, Gra 2, and ask for permission to do differ- Psv 3, Phy 3 ent activities or to be issued pay. The Health: 10 bartenders noted that there seemed Key Skills: Computer 4, Guns: Pistol to be a bartering system, where the 1, Law 3, Notice 3, Survival 2 crewmembers would need to provide Armor: Flak Jacket (5/2) something to the commander or make Weapons: ACC-62 Bandit (3d6) some kind of promise before being au- thorized or issued pay. It stood out to The Deimos Hotel them as very odd. The last two nights The Deimos Hotel is a nice, but not that Roslin was at the Lounge, a rat- luxurious, hotel which primarily serves faced man came to see him. He spoke Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure ship’s officers and mid-level corporate with the commander for about twenty managers. It is a business hotel rather minutes and then they departed to- than a tourist one. There is very little gether. automation, due to the pressing need for jobs on Mars. At any time, there is If the Wardens request it, secu- a minimum of two concierges on duty rity footage from the lounge can be for check-in and assistance at the front viewed to watch Commander Roslin desk. The hotel also has a bar, called with the crewmembers and his un- the Cosmic Lounge, and a restaurant – named guest. Digital stills can be Johnny’s. The lobby, bar and restaurant transferred to a wristcomp. To transfer all have a very open feeling to them, the entire security file will take an Av- which is different from the space sta- erage Persuade Test. The Warden’s au- tion above. It is explained by needing thority will provide one free Success, to be large enough to support the full if the Characters show their badges. hotel above them. The hotel has seven (See below for more information on floors above ground, and a subterra- Social Tests and Legwork). nean level where all of the support ac- 31 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure colony, theRued’Auseil Rue d’Auseil and a friend ofthemanager.and afriend Criswell.Jackie Heisaregular guest The rat-faced manwillbeidentified as result in blank stares and no answers. ofCommandering pictures will Roslin before arrives. theevening shift Show to restockworking thebarandkitchen staffcleaning,rial and four bar-backs doned. There isasmallteam ofjanito aban- will finditnearly the Characters back to Ambivalent. a Persuade Test cansettheattitude will begin to salvage thesituation and don’t care about the mafia activities, itclearthat they making Characters 127 for more detailsonAttitude.) The and the SpecialNotes inthissection all theemployees to Unfriendly. (See will immediately set the attitude of involved inthegamblingordrugs. abouttheinfluence and areknow not dreds ofpatrons whodon’t eachweek, gambling, anddrugs. There are hun- a mafia-front for moneylaundering, Rue d’Auseil, theywillbetold that itis asktheoutpostabout Characters thing supernatural, they letitbe. the If is aware ofthis, butsince itisn’t any everything. The local Warden outpost andmanage asmallsalary to collect way, andtheywould lethimstay on profitsto runittheir andthe authority fiosos madeadeal, give themallofthe to thelocalmafia.was worth The ma- ending upowing more thantheclub to borrow hisway outofdebt, finally economic collapse, theowner began jazz club. the years In following the At theheight oftheMariner Valley Visiting the the daytime,club during Identifying themselves as Wardens was alively p. p. - - - the drug to keep remote populations to twelve hours. Guild uses The Miners so theysleepfortired ten afterwards the drugmakesuserexceptionally physical tasks. The downside isthat meaning theyare more productive at lism rate of the user for several hours, it. The drugincreases themetabo corporate colonies haven’t prohibited on Mars, buttheouter worlds and stance Thirteen.” isillegalto possess It tion was beingsent asupplyof “Sub Commander Roslin. The Chiron sta- Guildand deal between theMiners forhe workeda astheintermediary – will get Criswell to tell them that litely orthrough more means direct ers. theattentionwill attract ofthebounc violence againstCriswell intheclub the backroom oftheclub. Any active convince Criswell to talk with them in orPersuadeIntimidation may Skills have to tell himwhy. Alternatively, the They canchooseto arrest him,butwill they identify themselves as Wardens. club withtheCharacters, especiallyif astheywork. the bartenders spot with Criswell at the bar talking erage Notice Test), will theCharacters ing. around Looking theclub(anAv dancefloor where patrons are groov from theleadsinger. There is asmall mixed with a littlebit of monologuing is fine.Inside, alive bandplays jazz orpistolthough a knife underacoat with obvious weapons orbodyarmor, bouncers won’t allow anyone inside thedoor.two bouncers working The busy, thoughnotpacked. There are Interrogating Criswell –eitherpo Criswell willnot want to leave the Visiting intheevening, theclubis ------under control, and limit risk of mutiny. Research on “Substance Thirteen” Criswell doesn’t have any more of it, (an Average Computer or Hard Inves- he sent all four cases with Roslin and tigate Test) supports Criswell’s claims. Adar. Because drug trafficking isn’t The drug is illegal in the Inner System, part of the Warden mission, he hopes though prosecution from Mars out- that telling them will get the Wardens ward is almost non-existent. The side- to leave him be. As a bag runner for effects besides exhaustion, include the Mafia, he has enough legal ties to black-outs, amnesia, and sleep walk- beat the drug charges since there is no ing. proof that he ever had the drugs in his possession. Special Notes During investigations, there will Jackie Criswell often be a lot of talking with various A rat-faced Caucasian man, Criswell people. Depending on the preference is a bag-runner for the local mafia. He is of the GM and players, this legwork also secretly a member of the Children – where the Characters talk with con- of the Void, a murderous cult. Using tacts and informants – can be done his underworld connections, Criswell in-character through roleplaying or has managed to begin adding special by making Social Tests. While roleplay- substances into various drugs. None of ing is encouraged, the Social Combat the patrons or employees of the Rue system is provided for groups that do d’Auseil know of his connection to the not have players who enjoy all of the Children. talking, or for players who may trip over their own words in ways that their Attributes: Awr 4, Clv 4, Dem 3, Gra 3, Characters would not. Psv 2, Phy 3 Health: 10 Most NPCs begin at a Ambivalent Key Skills: Deception 4, Fraternize 3, attitude, though situational modifi- Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure Hand Weapons: Blades 2, Intimi- ers such as bias or previous violence date 2, Occult 3 can change that. Page 128 has the Armor: None list of which Skills can be used based Weapons: Knife (1d6) on attitude. A streamlined way of do- ing legwork is to have the Character Bouncers who is leading the discussion make a These guys are what one might ex- Test using the appropriate Social Skill pect from a mafia-fronted club. against the base Difficulty. For every Success equal to or over the Difficulty, Attributes: Awr 3, Clv 2, Dem 3, Gra 4, they learn one additional piece of in- Psv 3, Phy 3 formation about the subject they were Health: 10 asking. Key Skills: Guns: Pistols 2, Hand Weapons: Blades 2, Notice 4, Un- Example: Andras is talking with the armed Combat 3 Bartender about Commander Roslin. Armor: Flak Jacket (5/2) He asks the bartender to describe his be- Weapons: Knife (1d6) havior. He rolls 6d6 with three Successes. 33 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure more the for Testbeating by one Success. lin, onefortheinitial difficulty, andone Commander facts about learn two Ros the bartender’s attitude. Andreas will The GMassignsanAverage for Difficulty Characters absolutelyCharacters refuse to gointo ers aboutlong-term space travel. the If its core, thisscene isto teach theplay theScenes Behind For thePlayers grav stasis. vessel requires theycansecure quickly to thelengthofjourney, theonly from to Mars Chiron. transport Due Freighter, the Wardens arrange for At aGlance There littleto thisscene. isvery At overtakes you. days outfrom your call.” two nearest backup team is thirty sage from Warden Command, “The screen above you displays ames couch fillswithfluid. The computer sensation ofdrowning asthegrav the lengthofbed. There is a over you, smalllightsturnonalong passengers before you. that they have told thousands of running through aninternal script safe, that thesystems are perfectly as you are instasis. They assure you monitoring systems thatwillwatch the crew helps you to attach the bio withinformationArmed aboutthe With thatfinalnote, darkness closesdown thelidofbed As Climbing into thegrav couches, Next Stop,Chiron - - - - vessel andChiron. from Debris aster shows acomputer simulation ofthe a viewscreen on theopposite wall In theBriefing Room For thePlayers the gravity well ofChiron. There issubstantialtrapped debris in and isapproaching thelarge asteroid. has slowed speed down to docking before at arrival Chiron. The transport At aGlance and deceleration. forend ofthejourney acceleration for seven days at thebeginning and complete, withthecrew ingravstasis to beinstaterooms. systemscient life for support theteam dens canarrange ashuttlewithsuffi- weekwill takeanextra before the War arrange for different butit transport, stasis for theentire voyage, theycan Entering the large conference room, decompression inspection.” room immediately. Allcrew begin to thebriefing sengers pleasereport ron. There issubstantialdebris. Pas comes over theloudspeaker. hits it.The voice ofthecaptain feel theshipshake assomething to adapt,asklaxons soundandyou and needles. There isn’t much time to life with thesensation of pins aches aseachmuscle comes back The Wardens are awoken afew hours The willtake84days journey to Danger ontheHorizon “We are“We on final approach to Chi- Coming outofstasis, your body - - - oids is strewn across the thousand freighters have hand-crank generators miles between them. As the system to provide power for personal use if zooms in on the mining colony, the ship-wide power is lost. computer dims the freighter docked there and the majority of the station. Attempts to hail the colony or the There are no energy signatures com- Pandora’s Hope return only static. Visu- ing from either. al magnification shows the long range communication arrays have been de- Behind the Scenes stroyed on the freighter, though short With the debris field, the crew will range communications should be pos- be approaching slowly to maneuver sible. Sensors are picking up a large around the largest chunks. If the Char- amount of radiation from the Hope, acters request sensor sweeps or spe- which could be interfering with com- cific information about the area, the munications. crew will determine the following: The captain will ask the Characters if 1. The freighter docked at Chiron is they wish for the ship to dock, or to es- the Pandora’s Hope. tablish an orbit above the colony and 2. The Hope is heavily damaged with have the team do an EVA jump. Char- multiple hull breaches. acters should remember the three 3. It may still be pressurized inter- rules in the charter and, until they nally if the crew was able to seal have ascertained what caused the off the breaches. problems, presume that it will need to 4. Primary engine systems are of- be kept secret. If they choose to dock, fline, but there is substantial ra- the captain will obey the order but be diation bleeding out. Backup sys- very cautious on the approach. tems can’t be detected through For an EVA jump, the vessel can ap- the debris and interference. proach the colony without docking. Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure 5. The mining colony has sustained From here, the characters will need to substantial damage from the de- make an Average Freefall Test to jump bris. across the gap and grab ahold of the 6. There are several hull breaches colony airlock. Cables can be used to along the outer ring. create a tether line between Chiron 7. The inner ring near the mine ap- and the vessel. If so, only the first War- pears to be undamaged. den making the jump to secure the 8. Primary power is offline through- tether needs to make the Freefall Test. out the station. Anyone else can use the tether to pull themselves along the cable. Once ev- An Average Engineer: Life Support eryone is secure on Chiron, the crew or Engineer: Power Systems Test will will disconnect the tether and back tell the Characters that the mining col- the vessel away to avoid the debris. ony should have backup generators in different sections that can be used Aboard the colony, the loss of power for short-term life support, while the has caused several obstacles which primary generator is repaired. Many the Characters will need to overcome. 35 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure 3. 2. 1. For thePlayers been torn limbfrom limb. breathers on.All ofthecorpses have vacsuits orwith find inpartial corpses ger. Later into the colony, the Wardens there are no immediate signs ofdan- At aGlance Moving through thestation,there through theradio from your team. the soundsofbreathing coming port, Entering through thedocking Action. closing ahatch takesanInvolved combatIn though,openingor totechnical operate. knowledge labeled anddonotrequire any sors. overrides Manual are clearly respond to theautomatic sen- None ofthehatches ordoorways lighting.alties for partial lights, GMscanapply vision pen- time further. offlash- Because ditional damagecanreduce this one hourofbreathable air. Ad- the innersuitwillprovide roughly sel to land.thesuitisbreached, If determine if it is safe for their ves- the Wardens to scout thearea and oftimeforwhich shouldbeplenty vide eight hours of breathable air, systems on-line. Spacesuits pro There are nolights orlife support physical actions. complexspaces, orperforming called for whentraversing large is restored, Freefall Tests may be onChiron, untilworking power viding any senseofgravity. While The deckplates have stopped pro The colony issilent,except for Terror 101 - - Behind theScenes Behind scene . Survivors The Other go to scene Any. Survivors? andcrew for members,Ring survivors allofthem. fectively freeze-dried bodies from decomposing, andhasef- lack ofatmosphere iskeepingthe anatmosphere. re-establishing The system willnotbecapableof support to vacuum. Until that happens, thelife and blockoffareas that are exposed is possibleto sealseveral bulkheads ofthecolony.to theouter surface It area, theywillfind extensive damage under attack. could besoundedthat thecolony was went before into action thealarm compression. Damageresponse crews plosive de devices causedemergency their murderous rage, several smallex to slaughter alloftheminers. During men swarmedofftheshipandbegan drug usage. The crew Myriad-infected (seep.with Myriad 208)becauseof crew ofthefreighter was infected When by thevacuum ofspace. The corpses are floating, preserved throats of several miners were slit. the suitsshow puncturesandthe vacuum. Looking closer, many of of theminerswere caught inthe sudden decompression andseveral breathers. thatthere appears was It vacsuits, andwearing emergency ring. Here, minersare halfinto ers- –until you reach thehabitat are nosigns ofdamageorthemin- If theteam boardsIf , go to theHope theteam searchesIf theHabitat As theteam moves through the Pandora’s docked, Hope the - - - Special Notes Each group will have their own Making Horror Tests threshold for the amount of gore and Facing horrifying or grue- viscera that they prefer. If this is the some scenes can require char- first time the group has played in a acters to make Horror Tests. This horror setting, the GM should gauge is done by making a Persever- the player’s reactions while describing ance Attribute Test. Page 113 violence and horror. It is important to has a complete list of suggested not push too far beyond the comfort Difficulties. Failing a Horror Test levels of the player group. You may can result in momentary paraly- even want to check in with them be- sis or on more serious failures, a forehand. need to flee the situation.

Any Survivors? Example: Andras has come face to face with several miner’s float- At a Glance ing in zero-G, which have been The team finds a small group of sur- eviscerated. The GM decides the vivors who have locked themselves in Difficulty of this Test is Easy. An- the kitchen and storerooms. The survi- dras rolls 4d6 and gets one Suc- vors are emotionally rattled and at the cess. He has succeeded on the edge of their sanity. Horror Test and can act normally.

For the Players Moving inward along the habitat used hand-crank generators, taking ring, you find something rather un- shifts, to keep enough power for the expected – a sealed door with the refrigeration systems and life support.

pressure gauge showing green. On The twelve survivors have been living Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure the other side is a sustained habi- on stores designed to feed 200 people. tat. Looking at the colony map on your HUD, the next room should The problem is that the survivors be a storage area, connected to the are all on the edge of a psychotic kitchen. break from being locked in a confined space. Add to that the horrors seen Behind the Scenes just before coming in, the lack of any When the security force was overrun response from calls for help, and you and there were murderous psycho- find a group ripe for madness. Once paths running amok, the galley crew they sealed the doors, the galley chief gathered everyone who was eating refused to open them for any reason. and pulled them into the kitchen. From First there was banging and scream- there, they manually sealed the doors ing, then the pressure sensor regis- and barred them so the hatches could tered a vacuum. The screams stopped, not be opened manually from the but there was still banging and scrap- other side. For the last three months, ing against the door. The galley chief they have been hiding here. They have said it was the monsters – men who 37 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure they’ve done. they’ve Hard Horror Test as they realize what through thehatch, have themmakea the choose Characters tonormal. cut If cal counseling to bebrought backto and will need extensive psychologi- are nolongerwellof thesurvivors formation Combat. aboutSocial All Refer to p. 33asneededto review in- NotesSpecial space suits. vors, astheydonothave breathers or area andgalley. - thesurvi This willkill sudden decompression ofthestorage out firstsealingthearea will result in tools. Cutting through thedoors, with- doors if they have the appropriate Alternatively, theycancutthrough the andexplain thesituation. the survivors can makePersuade Tests to talkwith walls. thisisdone, If theCharacters through the lished, soundwillcarry Once pressure has been re-estab the adjacent rooms to thesurvivors. theatmosphere inoneof re-establish Pandora’s, butthe Hope Wardens can cause oftheradiation coming from comunications are impossiblebe rangeand willbegin to panic. Short not respond to banging onthedoor wreck. They are allstillalive, butwill arrived onscene, are a thesurvivors to break in. trying had succumbed to space madness, no longerwhat theyappearto be. At aGlance This scene. canbeasociallyheavy have thetimeCharacters By The crewmembers are oftheHope The OtherSurvivors - - start to rally andattack the start Wardens. through theship, theHope’s crew will the infected crew moving. tioning to refill airtanks, whichkeeps systemsthe life are support stillfunc ids andproteins to stay alive. of Some aminoac corpses to getthenecessary gen, and are feeding primarily off the are low-levels adapted to very ofoxy of the beds. The crew Myriad-infected corpses ofcrew membersinsidemany taken to thebeds. There are still the torcheshammers andacetylene were aged, with cracks as if marks and burn al ofthegrav couches have beendam- wronghorribly onthefreighter. Sever come obvious that something went theScenes Behind For thePlayers ofthehull. sections (see p. 204)hasbeguneating through Beyond the infected crew, aKarrak’in As begin theCharacters to move Moving aboard theship, itwillbe used to theirbody. be clearly visiblewithinthecavity that away, you can seeorgans andbone down to aknee. With thesuiteaten spreading from sternum all the way their spacesuits from the inside, to appears haveSomething melted floatlimply. bodies two the airlock, suffocating inthe void ofspace. In tims –notrealizing thattheywere feeding ontheentrails of theirvic- takenbegun theirmasksoffand hallways. to appear have Some there are dozens ofcorpses inthe Viscera floatsinthe vacuum, and of violence become even stronger. thesigns where isberthed, the Hope Approaching the docking bay thedocking Approaching - - - - - The infected crew attacks like a ra- Characters also have Tension and bid swarm, with improvised knives, Fate Points. Tension Points can be used clubs, and spears. (Treat all damage as for a variety of uses, with a price. Fate 1d6, expect for special attacks) Many Points are for Characters to use to save of the tools look like sections of the their lives in the face of certain death. ship have been ripped apart to create For full rules see p. 138 & 217 and p. them. 123.

Beyond the infected crew, there are Calling for Help several Karrak’in aboard the ship. They have been slowly eating their way At a Glance across the freighter and have not in- It’s time for the Characters to report teracted with the infected crew at all. back what they have found. Options If no hostile actions are taken against range from restoring communications them, the huge spider-like creatures on Chiron, to using the transport’s will simply keep eating. When pro- communication system. voked, they release a chemical sig- nal and shriek which causes all of the Behind the Scenes Karrak’in to destroy all living creatures This scene doesn’t have specific other than themselves. The upside is text to be read aloud to the players that the Wardens could try to provoke because of the broad range of op- the Karrak’in and then flee, and have tions. There are three basic options for the creatures attack the infected crew. communicating back to Warden Com- (Presuming they can reach the ship...) mand: using the transport which the wardens travelled on, using Chiron’s Special Notes communication system, or the Hope’s Inevitably, there will be conflict and

system. Each has their own trials and Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure combat. Combat is broken into rounds tribulations. to codify the process. At the beginning of the round, every Character should The Transport roll Initiative. The GM rolls initiative for If the transport did not dock, the all of the bad guys or monsters in an Characters will need to get back encounter. Write down the initiative aboard somehow. Their short range order from highest to lowest. This is communications are being jammed the order everyone will act in the com- because of the background radia- bat round. Finally, everyone takes their tion from the Hope’s reactor. Shutting actions. down the reactor will re-enable short range communications. Otherwise, During combat, every Character they will need to do another EVA jump may take a Free Action, a Simple Ac- from Chiron to the ship. This is a Hard tion, and an Involved Action. After Freefall Test because of the debris and every Character and enemy has acted, the higher orbit which the transport is repeat the process, roll Initiative, take hovering in. Actions. (See p. 119 for more detailed information on Combat.) 39 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure Making CombatMaking damage to Alexis. (3d6 =14)Andras of 4points does forAlexis’points armored coat. +1 dieforhisPhysique, and-10 Bonus,+2 dice fortheDamage rolls 1d6ofdamageforhisblade, Bonus of2dice.Damage Andras was successful, and he earns a 2 +Grace 3=5d6).Hisattack Success onherDefense. (Defense to theblow dodge andgets1 + Grace 5=7d6)Alexisattempts cesses. (HandWeapons: Blades2 andgetsthree Suc- sparring knife his initiative ishigher. Heuseshis Success, whileAndras getstwo. roll Initiative, andAlexisgetsone sparring, withfullcontact. They Bonus . called theDamage difference between the rolls is the more damageisdone. The an Attack roll beats theDefense, tack issuccessful. The more that fense roll of thetarget, the at equal to orhigherthantheDe • It isnowIt Alexis’ turnto act. Andras becauseattacks first, Example: AlexisandAndras are • thetotal ofanAttackIf roll is • • Initiative: A nus – Target’s Armor. Damage) + Damage Bo : (Weapon Damage Doing GraceDefense: +Defense (Linked Attribute) Attack: Reaction (Weapon Skill) + Skill) (Weapon Tests wareness + - - - is strong enough to leave Chiron and However, thefreighter’s transit drive freighter, presumably by theKarrak’in. array hasbeendestroyed aboard the actor. The long-range communications ship’s to holdsfor fix the sparere parts stopping the themfrom ransacking the crew membersandKarrak’inaboard managed to clearouttheinfected Repairing theFreighter are notbypassed. gravplates that willactivate insections of space, willalsopressurize andthe tions that are sealedfrom thevacuum build uppower inthereactor. Any sec hours to complete thebypass, then Power Systems Test. willtakeseveral It the that were on parts being transported tions. This can bedone with thespare will need to bypass the damaged sec power relays. generator The primary appears that thecrew sabotagedthe any power. When docked, theHope it array but is it functional, doesn’t have Chiron’s Communication System thetruth. iftheylearn reaction that thecrew willhave anunpleasant speak to Warden command. is likely It leave whiletheCharacters thebridge convince theCaptain andhiscrew to A Persuade Test canalsobemadeto goes well, beanswered inafew hours. sage. The messagepacketwill, ifall which will have a lag time in the mes- command, orsendamessagepacket crew, to discussmatters with Warden which isinfullviewofthecaptainand communicationthe bridge system, Presuming have theCharacters The long-range communications Once on board, they can either use Pandora’s, there Hope will be little , andaHardHope Engineering: - - - make the journey back to Mars, or the markings of the Cult of the Void, and nearby Saturn and Uranus. To repair it appears that someone within the the fusion reactor shielding requires a Martian underworld has joined with Hard Engineering: Power Systems Test. the cult. This connection can take the Alternately, they can eject the fusion Wardens back to Mars, to speak with reactor into space with the emergency Jackie Criswell and launch a long-term systems. The downside to this is that campaign investigating the cult. without the fusion reactor, the freight- er will not have power for life support As a GM, foreshadowing events and systems and be incapable of pushing connecting things across missions, off the surface of Chiron. provides an overarching storyline and vision. While the events do not need Once the Wardens have restored to have blatant ties, hinting at them communications, they can call for and then allowing realization later will backup and report what happened. make the game more cohesive. Warden Command will remind the Characters to contain the creatures Heading Home aboard Pandora’s Hope and provide a cover story to the survivors aboard At a Glance Chiron. If the Characters cannot come With communications restored, the up with anything, Captain Dearborn Miner’s Guild sends out a repair team will suggest a variation on the truth to fix the habitat. The Wardens are told – the crew suffered a psychotic break to vacate before they arrive. A Warden- brought on by illegal narcotics. While approved crew is dispatched to fly the tragic, it was no different than an ad- freighter out, and the Characters are dict on a rampage on Earth. called back for their next assignment.

Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure They are ordered to move any corps- For the Players es of the miners or crewmembers on You receive a message from Cap- to the freighter before releasing the tain Dearborn after he has had a survivors, to avoid any possible con- chance to review the information tamination or infection. you transmitted to Warden com- mand. He looks tired and has read- Special Notes ing glasses on. The infection can serve as a jump- ing point for continued missions or “Well done Wardens. Seal the investigations for the Warden team. hatches to the Hope and return to Additional investigation into how the Mars for debriefing. I have expe- infection spread can be found in the dited a recovery team from the Um- freighter’s logs. The First Officer spread brella, to collect the freighter. The a few doses out amongst the crew, to Miner’s Guild is also sending out see how ship performance would be a new batch of miners and repair affected or improved. Unfortunately, technicians to restore the Chiron there were Myriads (see p. 208) in sus- base. It was requested that our as- pension within the drug. The drug has 41 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure nates. you.” them to complain Thank about. want residual transit traces for left andgetmoving.left We don’t even to wrap anything upthatyou have – thatmeansyou have three days removedsets be before theyarrive they all each have other important rolesthey alleachhave aswell. otherimportant forcers, one Warden Investigator, andone Warden Researcher. However, NoteA Quick theCharacters about With that,themessagetermi- • • • • There are four includedfor Characters thisadventure –two Warden En- also thecrew’s how pilot. Healsoknows to blow thingsup. additionto beingtheInvestigator,In Wei Li issociallycapableand smarts. Andras Votova andstreet isanagile fighter withsomesocialskills Alexis Vasquez isdesigned to beastraight-forward soldier. and inanimate, running. andengineer.doctor how Heknows to keepthings, bothanimate additionto beingtheResearcher,In isthegroup’s Phillip Boganda ment. then getbackfor assign - theirnext – now isthetimeto address them,and master – such aswhat isinthemine ditional hooksaddedby theGame want to doontheminingbase, orad- have theCharacters If anything they theScenes Behind This istheendofassignment. - The Sample Team

Phillip Boganda Alexis Vasquez Warden Researcher Warden Enforcer Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure

Andras Kotova Wei Li Warden Enforcer Warden Investigator

43 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure 37+: Dead 28-36: Incapacitated(Unconscious) (-4to allActions, HalfMovement)19-27: Hurt 10-18: Battered (-2to allActions) 01-09: Bruised(-1to allActions) Damage: ACC-62 BanditPistol –3d6Damage, Mag. 9 Weapons: Science: Life (Clv) 2/7 (Clv) 2/7 Science: Earth (Awr)Reaction 2/6 Occult (Clv) 3/8 PsychologicalMedicine: (Clv) 2/7 PhysicalMedicine: (Clv) 3/8 Law (Clv) 2/7 Chinese(Clv)Language: Mandarin 2/7 Language: English(Clv) 3/8 Investigate (Awr) 2/6 Guns: Handgun(Gra) 2/6 Engineer: Transit Drive (Clv) 2/7 PowerEngineer: Systems (Clv) 3/8 (Clv) Life 3/8 Engineer: Support (Clv) 2/7 Electrical Engineer: BasicDrivesEngineer: (Clv) 3/8 Drive: Wheeled (Gra) 1/6 Defense (Gra) 2/6 (Clv)Cryptozoology 2/7 Computers (Clv) 1/6 Communications (Clv) 1/6 (Clv)Bureaucracy 2/7 (Attribute)Skill Rating/Pool Skills: Physique 2 Perseverance 3 Grace 4 2 Demeanor Cleverness 5 Awareness 4 Attributes: Personality Traits: Focused, Strange Physical Description:Bald, Brown Eyes, Tall Profession: WardenResearcher Age: 34 curious. thoughtful, people, intellectual whoare alsoquite Homeworld: Europa –Europans are careful, often African Ethnicity: Phillip Boganda Fate Points1 Special: Speed 10mph Health 9 Statistics: Run 25yd/turn Walk 8yd/turn Warden (10/5) Armor Armor: Where Know YourTowel Is WeirdDeeply either: Choose Talents: Whistle in Tune (Awr) 2/6 (Clv) 2/7 Bartending Quirks: Slow Phobia (Vacuum) Luck (3) Clock Internal Dream Void Double-Jointed Qualities: or Alexis Vasquez Ethnicity: Mexican Homeworld: Mars – Martians are often hardy and resource- ful people, though somewhat resigned about life – possibly even bitter. Age: 29 Profession: Warden Enforcer Physical Description: Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, Muscular Personality Traits: Determined, Self-Righteous

Attributes: Statistics: Awareness 4 Health 12 Cleverness 2 Speed 16 mph Demeanor 2 Walk 13 yd/turn Grace 3 Run 40 yd/turn Perseverance 5 Physique 4 Special: Fate Points1

Skills: Skill (Attribute) Rating/Pool Athletics: Fitness (Psv) 2/7 Communications (Clv) 2/4 Computers (Clv) 2/4 Defense (Gra) 2/5 Drive: Tracked (Gra) 1/4 Environmental Suit (Awr) 2/6 Hand Weapons: Blades (Gra) 3/6 Guns: Assault Weapons (Awr) 2/6 Guns: Handgun (Awr) 3/7 Guns: Longarms (Awr) 3/7 Heavy Weapons: Portable Artillery (Awr) 2/6 Qualities:

Intimidation (Dem) 3/5 Fast Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure Investigate (Awr) 2/6 Gifted Metabolism Language: English (Clv) 3/5 Nightvision Law (Clv) 2/4 Arrogant Notice (Awr) 3/7 Tormented Occult (Clv) 1/3 Orienteering (Awr) 3/7 Reaction (Awr) 3/7 Quirks: Stealth (Gra) 2/5 Juggling (Gra) 2/5 Tactics: Military (Clv) 1/3 Recite Movie Quotes (Clv) 2/7

Weapons: ACC-62 Bandit Pistol– 3d6 Damage, Mag. 9 Talents: Combat Shotgun – 5d6 Damage, Mag. 6 Choose either: Born in Freefall SM-12 Hornet SMG – 4d6 Damage, Mag. 16, Auto 3 (8 rounds) or Snake Eyes Combat Knife– 1d6 Damage Armor: Damage: Warden Armor (10/5) 01-12: Bruised (-1 to all Actions) 13-24: Battered (-2 to all Actions) 25-36: Hurt (-4 to all Actions, Half Movement) 37-48: Incapacitated (Unconscious) 49+: Dead 45 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure 57+: Dead 43-56: Incapacitated (Unconscious) (-4to allActions, HalfMovement)29-42: Hurt 15-28: Battered (-2to allActions) 01-14: Bruised(-1to allActions) Damage: 1d6Damage Combat Knife– Flamethrower –5d6Damage, Mag. 15 SMG–4d6Damage, Hornet SM-12 Mag. 16,Auto 3(8rounds) Combat Shotgun –5d6Damage, Mag. 6 ACC-62 BanditPistol– 3d6Damage, Mag. 9 Weapons: Tactics: (Clv) 1/3 Military Streetwise 3/7 (Dem) Stealth (Gra) 3/8 (Awr)Reaction 3/7 Notice (Awr) 3/7 Law (Clv) 1/3 Language: English(Clv) 3/5 (Awr)Insight 1/5 Heavy Weapons: Launchers(Awr) 2/6 Hand Weapons: Blades(Gra) 2/7 Guns: Special(Awr) 2/6 Guns: Longarms (Awr) 2/6 Guns: Handguns(Awr) 3/7 Guns: Assault Weapons (Awr) 2/6 Freefall (Gra) 1/6 Fraternize 2/6 (Dem) Environmental Suit(Awr) 1/5 Drive: Wheeled (Gra) 1/6 (Gra) 1/6 Drive: Military Defense (Gra) 3/8 2/6 Deception (Dem) (Clv)Cryptozoology 3/5 Athletics: Coordination (Gra) 2/7 (Attribute)Skill Rating/Pool Skills: Physique 3 Perseverance 2 Grace 5 4 Demeanor Cleverness 2 Awareness 4 Attributes: Personality Traits: Cynical, Humorless Physical Description:BlackHair, Hazel Eyes, Brooding Profession: WardenEnforcer Age: 30 work anangle. several to steps thinking always aheadandnearly trying anynearly strata ofsociety. They for are alsoknown often andclever,verted nostrangers to theebbs and flows of Homeworld: Ganymede –Ganymedans are extro often Russian Ethnicity: Andras Kotova Fate Points1 Special: Speed 16mph Health 10 Statistics: Run 40yd/turn Walk 13yd/turn - Warden (10/5) Armor Armor: Killer Instinct Killer Double Choose either: Tap or Talents: Car (Clv) Knowledge 2/4 Clean Spotlessly(Gra) 2/6 Quirks: Vengeful Tough (2) Magnet Darkness Recovery Rapid Nightvision Qualities: Wei Li Ethnicity: Chinese Homeworld: Uranus – Uranians are often hard-working and tenacious, but are distrustful of newcomers and in the habit of watching their backs. Age: 33 Profession: Warden Investigator Physical Description: Black Hair, Brown Eyes, Stylish Personality Traits: Pragmatic, Unreadable

Attributes: Statistics: Awareness 4 Health 10 Cleverness 4 Speed 14 mph Demeanor 2 Walk 11.5 yd/turn Grace 4 Run 35 yd/turn Perseverance3 Physique 3 Special: Fate Points1

Skills: Skill (Attribute) Rating/Pool Communications (Clv) 2/6 Computers (Clv) 2/6 Cryptozoology (Clv) 2/6 Defense (Gra) 2/6 Explosives (Clv) 2/6 Environmental Suit (Awr) 1/5 Freefall (Gra) 1/5 Guns: Handguns (Gra) 2/6 Qualities: Hand Weapons: Blades (Gra) 2/6 Common Sense Insight (Awr) 1/5 Eidetic Memory Investigate (Awr) 3/7 Peripheral Vision Language: English (Clv) 3/7 Persistent Injury (1) Language: Mandarin Chinese (Clv) 2/6 Chapter 3: Teaching Adventure Law (Clv) 2/6 Quirks: Notice (Awr) 3/7 Identify Spices (Clv) 2/6 Occult (Clv) 2/6 Video Games (Awr) 2/6 Odd Jobs (Variable) 2 Persuade (Dem) 2/4 Pilot: Atmospheric (Gra) 1/5 Talents: Pilot: Spacecraft (Awr) 2/6 Either: Don’t I Know You or Reaction (Awr) 2/6 Wicked Smart Research (Clv) 2/6 Stealth (Gra) 2/6 Surveillance (Clv) 1/6 Armor: Warden Armor (10/5) Weapons: ACC-62 Bandit Pistol– 3d6 Damage, Mag. 9 Combat Knife– 1d6 Damage

Damage: 01-10: Bruised (-1 to all Actions) 11-20: Battered (-2 to all Actions) 21-30: Hurt (-4 to all Actions, Half Movement) 31-40: Incapacitated (Unconscious) 41+: Dead 47 B The Hulk

The Squire’s Penance slid silently Standing, arms clasped behind her, through the mist-enshrouded rock Warden Captain Aiko Hayata stud- and ice that made up the Fog Bank, ied the smaller ship. She glanced to an aptly named region of the Kuiper her right where Lt. John Stanse was Belt. It got such a name from a con- scanning a display. On the flex panel, vergence of especially strong, relative- schematics hovered in the middle ly speaking, solar winds. These winds of a myriad of text and charts. With- scoured the surfaces of the hundreds out glancing up, John reported, “The of iceroids that dominated the region. smaller ship looks like it’s the one The frozen gases that were torn away 4G sent to figure out why their min- gave the appearance of mist rising off ing barge had gone silent. There are the icy rocks. The especially dense na- no heat or power readings. By all ap- ture of the stellar bodies in this part of pearances it’s completely open to the 48 the Kuiper Belt also meant that there vacuum. Comms and transponder are were just enough gravitic forces that likewise not transmitting.” the icy dust tended to stick around. While it’s true that one could see a “What about the Mammoth?” Aiko couple hundred klicks into the field, it inquired. was downright soupy compared to the rest of the solar system. “Its comms and transponder are also both dead. However, I’m getting In the distance, the target of the heat and power readings off her. Hon- Squire was visible through the icy estly Hayata, I suspect that if anyone’s mist. A massive Forge-class mining alive on that ship, they have no idea we barge, supposedly operating in the are here,” responded John. region for almost three months, was parked above an especially large as- Aiko tried to stifle a grin when John teroid. Three weeks ago, communi- referred to her by her surname. He cations from the vessel had stopped knew it was more the custom in her altogether. Less than a week prior to native Japan to refer to someone by that, the refueling barge Welcome Re- their surname. While she didn’t mind lief had topped off the larger ship and when others called her Aiko, she did reported to its corporate owners that appreciate her friend’s efforts. Truth everything was normal. Now, strange- be told, it was those little things that ly, a smaller ship floated nearby the attracted her, but that was a secret derelict drifting barge. As the Squire she’d keep to herself. To do otherwise closed in, it became obvious that all would be inappropriate – not to men- the external hatches were wide open tion improper. – the smaller ship had been vented to the cold void of open space. “I think it’s better they don’t know we’re here.” She paused a moment, 49

The Squire’s Penance then said, “Everyone get suited up. last order towards Marco Bianchi, the Let’s assume that at least part of the wiry pilot. Mammoth is open to the vacuum as well, or could easily become that way. The smaller Knight’s Errant slid Marco, get us docked as close to the up next to the giant mining barge. A ring as you can.” Aiko directed this docking tunnel extended out from the ship, connecting the two as automat- not something the general public was ed systems on the barge locked the ready to accept. It was difficult enough tunnel in place. The team donned the explaining the things that could not be lightly armored vacc suits that were hidden away, like the bizarre behavior unique to their agency. Each colored of Pluto or the strange changes oc- in the traditional black and red of the curring on some moons. Telling them Warden uniform, these suits were the that an explosive decompression trag- most advanced available in the solar edy was caused by a delusion-inducing system. They provided them a modi- tentacle-armed creature would cause cum of protection from bullets, knives, unwanted panic. and the unfortunately not-so-occasion- al claw, while not compromising their Looking at her team, Aiko said, agility like many of the more traditional “John, take Marco to the bridge and armored vacuum suits did. see what you can find out. I’ll take Jen- ny and Rashim to check out the crew With a whoosh of pressurized air, quarters. Keep in contact, reports ev- the airlock leading into the Mammoth ery five minutes.” 50 cycled open. Automated lights flick- ered to life in the cramped confines of The atmosphere in the ship read the tunnel. The lock of the large ship as safe, if somewhat stuffy. It was was too small as far as Aiko was con- likely the CO2 scrubbers had not been cerned and it took two cycles for the properly cleaned in over a week. As entire team to make it inside the ship. they split, the Wardens snapped back This was not a tactical situation the the faceplates of their vacc suits to senior Warden would have chosen. better sense their environment. John One never knew what was going to be and Marco moved forward towards encountered on missions like this and the bow of the barge, while Aiko and splitting the team up right off the bat the others made their way back to- was never a sound move. wards the access ports that would lead them to the crew quarters. Such While there were those who be- accommodations were situated in the lieved that the Wardens were just an- rotating ring that provided the crew other extension of the Unified World some form of genuine gravity. Council’s influence in the solar sys- tem, the truth was much more sig- nificant than that. Not everything that happened in the domain of humanity, “At least the deck’s energized,” especially in the more remote regions, Marco commented, as the pair moved was easily explained – these were the cautiously forward, assault rifles at things that the Wardens were tasked the ready. Despite the zero-g environ- with investigating. Also, unfortunately ment, the decks created a field which in many cases, they had to hide the interacted with special plates in the truth from the masses. Aiko herself soles of their boots and with threads knew that much of what she had that were integrated into their cloth- seen in her years as a Warden was ing and gear. The effect pulled them towards the deck – it wasn’t true ar- of the ship to the centrifugally-induced tificial gravity, but it did make things a gravity of the rotating ring. These lot easier. trips were designed to ease the tran- sition between functional weightless- John ignored Marco as the team ness and artificial gravity. Specially reached the ladder that led to the designed chairs would automatically bridge. Motioning with his gun, he adjust their angles to minimize the crouched to keep an eye on the cor- discomfort one tended to feel when ridor while Marco slung his rifle over making such a change, and the deck his shoulder and climbed up the lad- plates would energize slowly as ‘down’ der. Thus far, the entire situation was changed relative to the outer edge of giving them both the willies. Neither the ring. Aiko’s team, however, were had seen any sign of the crew, which used to this and moved with practiced didn’t speak well for what they were ease, adjusting their positions as their going to eventually find. relative up and down changed.

At the top of the ladder, Marco A soft chime warned the group punched the security override codes that they had arrived at their destina- 51 into the hatch’s keypad. The click of tion and the elevator doors opened. the magnetic lock releasing echoed Their senses were instantly flooded loudly through the quiet corridors be- with the horrid sickly-sweet stench of hind him. He fired off a quick whistle rotting meat. Most would have been and moments later he could feel John overcome, forced gagging to the floor, climbing up the ladder below. but Aiko’s team had been forced to smell worse in training. Jenny took Using the nose of his rifle, Marco point, exiting first and scanning left cautiously pushed the hatch open a and right down the main corridor of crack for him to peek through. Noth- the ring. Finding their first evidence ing on the other side reacted and of the crew, she pointed and then the he could see no movement. Pushing gagging began. the hatch all the way open, he quickly moved out to take a defensive kneeling Aiko cautiously crept out of the el- stance so that his companion could evator, steeling herself for what she safely join him. Scanning the bridge as knew would be an awful sight. She had John made his way, what Marco saw seen so much in her time as a War- caused even his battled-hardened re- den, but there were always new and solve to waver for a moment as bile more terrible surprises – like this one. crept up the back of his throat. Four bodies hung upside-down from the ceiling, split open like specimens on an autopsy table. Grotesque ropy intestines dangled in coils from the The others rode an elevator that corpses, and their eyes and parts traveled the length of one of the grav- of their faces had been gouged – or ity ring’s spokes, traversing from the gnawed – away, leaving slick white zero-g environment of the main body bone exposed. Their twisted expres- sions led Aiko to believe they may have had not been locked down. Aiko took been alive when this started. That a deep breathe before she hit the sen- thought turned her stomach, but she sor button. “On your toes, people. This swallowed it back. could get messy.”

Taking stock of the rest of her team, The door slid open and the hor- Rashim had gone from olive to ash, but ror continued. The mess hall was a kept a keen eye on the corridor behind slaughter house. Dozens of dead crew them. Jenny wiped her mouth on the slumped dead among spilled trays of sleeve of her vacc suit. Aiko stepped blood-soaked food. However, some- over to help the rookie up. “This won’t thing else moved in here. The things be the worst thing you’ll see,” she said. that had done this were not yet gone. “Don’t focus on this. Focus on who else might be alive. This doesn’t tell us The rookies both spun around, much. We need to move.” weapons tracking a sound not unlike fingernails on an old-style chalk board, Jenny nodded and got to her feet, along with an eerie buzz. Jenny saw it 52 shaking. The grisly scene had rattled first and, to her credit, her jitters did her, but she was a tough girl. Aiko not return. Diaphanous wings and knew that, regardless of her fortitude, segmented limbs made it seem like moments like these would leave last- an insect, but the hard, spiky, wine-col- ing scars. Such things were an unfor- ored shell spoke of a crustacean. How- tunate consequence of the job. ever, a budding mess covered what should be the thing’s head, furry and In motion, Aiko barked an order at cancerous like a fungus, though pro- the rookies. “Close your helmets. It’ll truding in places like cilia. Each of the keep the stench out.” She heard the segmented legs ended in prehensile hiss of their suits pressurizing as her claws, with razor-sharp tips. It rubbed radio came to life. It was John’s voice. these claws together, which – if intel “Hayata, there’s no one here. At least, was accurate – was a sure sign of ag- no one alive. From what I’m looking at, gression. Holding back for a moment, whatever did this isn’t human.” it seemed to twist as it assessed the team, while its wings whirred into mo- “Affirmative,” answered Aiko. “See if tion, producing a buzzing that began you can recover any data or logs that to sound like a voice… can help. If it isn’t human, we need to know what it is.” Jenny didn’t wait. She raised her rifle and opened fire on the thing. As An image of the ship’s deck plans she pulled the trigger, it leaped into came to life on her faceplate, show- the air, claws bearing down on her. ing Aiko that the mess hall was a But it wasn’t fast enough, and a hail short way straight ahead. That would of bullets ripped through the thing’s be a good place to start a methodi- steaming innards. It slammed into cal search of the ring. They quickly the floor, rolled and nearly knocked reached the door, which fortunately Rashim over. It slammed into a nearby wall, a flailing mass of unsettling alien on metal. Gritting his teeth, he sealed limbs. the airlock and the Knight’s Errant pushed off. With barely a pause, more clicking from behind them let Aiko know this Drifting away, John locked the ship’s creature wasn’t, as she suspected, weapons onto the hulk’s drive section. alone. Bad move. They’d been lured Aiko had said only one thing besides into a trap. her order to evacuate – Mi-Go. Insect- like aliens of which he’d only seen pic- “Back to the elevator,” she shouted, tures. “Where did they come from?” though the rookies were already on he muttered. their way. At least until they realized that they were surrounded, that more “What?” asked Marco. of the creatures were pouring out of the elevator shaft in front of them. John shook his head. “Nothing.” Turning, Aiko heard the buzzing of more wings from the mess hall. There The pair paused in silence for a mo- was no way out. ment, the only sound the targeting 53 computer confirming the weapons Even as she raised her rifle to fire, lock. John waited as long as he dared, she issued John one final order. his finger hovering over the fire but- ton, hoping for something to come through the radio. Nothing came.

John heard the gunfire over the Explosions tore across the hull of radio as Aiko ordered him to evacu- the massive mining ship as rail gun ate. He and Marco each grabbed a rounds and guided missiles ripped it couple memory cubes and dropped apart, detonating the drive core. John back down through the hatch. As they watched through a film of tears, qui- ran, John imagined that he could hear etly praying for his fallen friends. How- Aiko fighting for her life through the ever, something new blossomed in his hull of the ship. Fighting the urge to heart, growing in the void where Aiko run to save her, John led the retreat used to be. Something that would car- back to the Squire’s Penance. As they ry him through, something that would boarded, he tried to raise Aiko on the bring meaning to these deaths. hope they had somehow managed to escape, but all he heard was static – Vengeance. and the shrill sound of claws scraping 4 Setting

History – Then Until Now A Dying World erupted in the Middle East in 2015, >>2010 – 2019<< sparked by a conflict between Israel Many people saw the beginning of and Iran. While both sides gathered the 21st Century as the final chapter their remaining allies, China launched in mankind’s relentless march toward attacks on Taiwan, the Korean Pen- self-destruction. Intense social, eco- insula, and parts of Southeast Asia. nomic, and political pressures wore World War III was at hand. heavily on the fabric of international relations. By 2010, the world had suf- The brutal fighting raged for three fered the worst economic crisis since years. Then, the inevitable finally hap- the Great Depression. The United pened – the first and only nuclear det- States, seen by many nations as the onation of the war exploded in 2018. cause of this economic crash, began to Radical Islamic terrorists, still bent on decline in its position of global domi- carrying out their Jihad against a crip- nance. Regional wars, international pled Unites States, managed to load terrorism, and the threat of emerging a crude atomic bomb on a cargo ship nuclear powers further exacerbated headed for Los Angeles. The bomb economic strain and political tensions detonated prematurely while the ship that led to the growing belief that the was in layover at the Malaysian port of United States was no longer the global Port Klang. Millions of Malaysian Mus- superpower of yesterday. lims died within minutes that day.

The face of the world changed The resulting dramatic shock caused quickly. Growing public attitudes an immediate ceasefire among war- toward isolation caused nations to ring parties. The possibility of a world withdraw from international relations. teetering on the brink of death be- The United Nations crumbled in 2013. came all too real. Many historians The United States imploded in 2014, would later regard the sacrifice of Port leaving individual States to deal with Klang as the event that saved the hu- civil riots, starvation, and an overall man race from extinction. Religious system breakdown. China’s rapid rise radicalism and old hatreds seemed to collapsed due to a weak economic wane in light of a new urgency to find infrastructure and the sudden loss common ground. In 2019, the Treaty of of one of its largest export markets. Jerusalem was signed, officially end- The European Union, already strained ing World War III and ushering in a new economically and fearing the same age for mankind. kind of chaos, dissolved itself. Nothing seemed to be able to stop this global A New Age Begins downward spiral. >>2020 – 2030<< By 2020, the time for rebuilding had Unfortunately, the possibility of war begun. It was the common belief that loomed ever closer and war finally humanity had passed its final test and that the march toward armageddon One of the first tasks taken on by had ceased. The nations of the world the Unified World Council was to cre- pulled together in a new spirit of co- ate a solid financial system. The Com- operation. Reconstruction was well monwealth Treasury was established underway by 2022. Leaders of the by the UWC in 2029 to issue and man- world devised a plan to create a new age such a currency. The resulting global organization with a strength- Commonwealth Credit would quickly ened authority to govern the affairs of evolve into the standard currency. individual states. This new organiza- tion was to be designed on the prin- For a time, the nations of the world ciples of the old United Nations, but were allowed to enjoy a universal with greater legislative and executive level of peace, harmony, stability, and power. The Unified World Council was prosperity. The values of learning, phi- born in 2028 and was perhaps the greatest formal- ized show of world cooperation ever.

In the meantime, world religious institutions came together in part- nership after the Muslim Reforma- tion of 2026. The First Council of Jerusalem created a common body where individual religious institu- tions could work together in the spirit of mutual cooperation and sharing. This new Unified Ministry of God suddenly made the promise of a new spiritual enlightenment all the more real. Port Klang Nuclear Disaster: 2018 55 Chapter 4: Setting 2030, it was a New Golden Age.2030, itwas aNewGolden zations forward at anamazingrate. By losophy, propelled civili- andindustry the UWCfound themselves concerned in onthespace boom.Keymembersof pie andsoonbandedtogether to join ual nations hungered for acutofthe revenue gained in space trade.- Individ existing law accounted for possible tax new wave offrontierism. After all, no societal affairs were stunned by this ly focused onpost-war rebuilding and tional governments that had previous- Na- felt backonEarth. was certainly RushinAmerica. the 1800sGold arose byfrenzy 2053,similarto that of pand toward of otherplanets. Akind wealth spurred more businessesto ex sources, andthepromise ofgrowing availability ofore deposits, natural re their parent companies. The abundant territoriesfor and mark portunities the solarsystem to seekoutnewop scoutingManned missions swept into lishment of Tranquility onthemoon. in large numbers. 2042 saw the estab by private corporations. –onewaged notbyRace nations, but is credited theNewSpace for sparking launched itsown mission,which Moon 2032 that the Venture Corporation first filled withinfinite Itpromise. wasin to looktoward space asanewfrontier infrastructures. began industries Some clean energy, andtherebuilding of creased focus toward conservation, The impact ofthisrapid expansionThe impact Humans beganto venture off-world With thisnewagecameanin- A PromisingFrontier >>2031 –2062<< - - - - beyond ofEarth. theboundaries World Council influence had evolved ual colonies. A new phase of Unified grant territorialownership to individ- to and itestablishedUWCauthority allowedact for the regulation of taxes national government patronage. This with private industry 2062, to partner UWC establishedthePendleton of Act regulated territorialrights. Thus, the at thechaosthat might ensueover un- dence from itsfounding sponsors. The declared of Saturn Republic indepen- sovereignnon-Earth nation, whenthe transcontinental railroads. trade similarineffect to America’s first denly drove level askyrocketing of for rapid space travelportunity sud- The of this newop resulting impact year, thetransit drive was developed. strong interdependent system. that In weave theindividualworlds into a trade would interplanetary large-scale nies, butitwouldn’t beuntil 2080that created amongcolo the connection for thefirsttimeinhistory. amongworlds causing asenseofunity Caduceus went Network live in2063, relay system. The initialphaseofthe satelliteable orbital communications to provideprivate anexpand industry - with ceus was launchedinpartnership inspace.tions network Project Cadu- need to provide areliable communica- States andCanada, recognized the once theterritoriesofUnited 2087 saw thecreation ofthefirst The Caduceus may Network have The Alliance States, ofAmerican A SystemConquered >>2063 –2100<< - - hand of mankind had finally touched every world by 2100, as the time of History At a Glance frontierism was coming to an end. New colonial identities and a sense of • An accidental terrorist nuclear individual rights started to germinate detonation in Malaysia in 2018 among some off-worlders. The solar sparks world cooperation. system was conquered and colonists • The Unified World Council is felt less and less a part of Earth. created in 2028. It is a more powerful United Nations, with greater legislative and execu- A Shadow Descending tive power. >>2101 – 2159<< • By 2053, space exploration was Despite the achievements of civi- akin to the 1800s Gold Rush in lization, it was hard for some not to America. notice cracks in the foundation of this • 2062 sees partnership be- new society. By 2101, the Unified Min- tween private industry and the istry of God had taken on a religious government to colonize the so- identity of its own. Global religious lar system. intolerance had finally declined, but • In 2063, the Caduceus Network so had spiritual passion and the moral of system-wide communica- compass that it provided. tion is created. • In 2080, the transit drive is cre- With advancements in business and ated. technology came great wealth. In- • Now, in 2159, the UWC strug- creased trade and expansion seemed gles to maintain unity. to benefit everyone, except the work- ing class. A rift formed again between those who had and those who had Today the UWC struggles to main- not. Among the space-born, this bred tain a sense of unity and universal jus-

a new attitude of independent liberty tice. Meanwhile, the colonies them- Chapter 4: Setting throughout the solar system. A spirit selves seem to drift further away from of defiance arose. the social and political roots of their home world. Piracy remains a con- Meanwhile further tensions arose stant interplanetary threat, even with- on Earth. Those nations who could in the shadow of an increased naval not participate in the space market presence. Rising taxes eat into profit- grew increasingly resentful of those ability and many merchants now turn that could. 2132 saw the eruption of to shadier, but cheaper freelance trad- global strikes, defying openly the will ers to sustain their business. Violent of the Unified World Council. By 2140 crime statistics continue to climb and the conflicts, riots, and skirmishes rumors of darker things whisper from on Earth had turned into a struggle the shadows. Many wonder if the New of differing ideologies – the balance Golden Age of Humanity has finally between centralized control and indi- come to an end. vidual freedom. 57 Chapter 4: Setting stand thepotential benefitsofentering rate concerns soonbeganto under placed Corpo inorbit. made objects satellites were thelion’s share ofman- the globe. Communication andspy taken by variousgovernments across were alltheefforts tion, nearly under into thesolarsystem. to finally takethat leapandmove out to explain whytook solong itactually out ofreach. Many have beenat aloss wondering what itwas that lay sofar theylookedupatsky thedark Earth, Colonizing theSolarystem Luna StationProserpina:2041 In the early days theearly In ofspace explora- Since peoplewalked the earliest the - - - 2032 and itwould notbeagovernment feel thetouch ofhumanfeet againuntil Apollo mission,themoonwould not true.posite was After actually thelast However,mosphere ofEarth. theop become vast colonies beyond theat would be the beginning of what would on the moon in 1969, many believed it governmentalovertook efforts. and publiccorporations eventually toment entity place into private orbit, to satellites that theypaidagovern- space industries. While initiallylimited After theformer United States stood in 2053thefirst Ven - bankruptcy. However, would drive them into lieved theirefforts red and many be sank deepinto the and theirpartners teroid belt. big initiative –theas- panies for theirnext hub for thefour com- ever, italsobecamea the super-rich. How was adestination for tions. Outwardly it severalserved func colonypartner. The Corp asthesenior with Venturetions, offourfort corpora - was acooperative ef- the moon in2042. It was establishedon colony, Tranquility, first Corporation. The do so, but the Venture whowould or country For years,For Venture - - - - - ture-flagged mining vessel returned from its maiden voyage to the asteroid Colonizing At a Glance belt and brought with it a cargo hold filled with proof that they were right. • Initially, explorations into our solar system were governmen- Many liken the initial rush into space tal efforts. to be similar to the Gold Rush of the • In 2032, humanity set foot on 1800’s in California. In the wake of Ven- the moon for the first time in ture’s success, dozens of other firms decades. Ten years later, the and individuals who had the resources first lunar colony was estab- rushed to catch up. This explosion into lished as a cooperative effort space was initially limited to efforts by four corporations. centered around the Moon and aster- • Mining and resources spurred oid belt. However, it was obvious to all on the exploration into the so- that those who were willing to take the lar system. risks to push this boundary further out • Transit drives made explora- were the ones most likely to be able tion practical, as trips that used to cash in on the discoveries that were to take months or years took a made. As humanity forged deeper into fraction of the time. the solar system, new industries were • Humanity has now spread from created to support them. Transit drives Mercury to the Kuiper Belt – were introduced and suddenly trips with the exception of Pluto. that used to take months to make now • The Unified World Council only required weeks. maintains a presence every- where, even if small. Today humankind can be found in nearly every recess of the solar system. tries to keep the UWC’s interests rep- From Mercury to the Kuiper Belt, hu- resented. Closer to Earth, this presence mans have spread wherever resources can be felt more heavily, with the mili- Chapter 4: Setting are or, in some cases, scientific knowl- tary working to keep trade lanes safe. edge can be found. The one notable exception is the dwarf planet Pluto. Life across the solar system varies Thus far, every effort to even establish in danger and comfort. The colonies a presence in orbit around Pluto has of Mars and Venus offer colonists rela- met with disaster. tive luxury. On the other hand, life fur- ther out gets progressively less grand, While corporations and private con- more spartan, and more dangerous. cerns make up the lion’s share of those All the way out in the Kuiper Belt, the who operate within the solar system, type of people you find are hardy and the Unified World Council has gone to self-reliant. Accidents are not uncom- great lengths to ensure they have at mon and help is often too far out to be least a modicum of representation. In useful. However, it is also where a per- some places, such as Neptune, this is son has the greatest chance of making limited to a liaison/ambassador who a mark on the universe. 59 Chapter 4: Setting the reason why. seemedobvious been ontherise. It that defied explanation and more, had riod. Dangerous cults, things horrific increased dramatically that during pe things governments covered up, had kind of fied asthesupernatural, the Occurrences that could only be classi- tem. They didnotlikewhat theyfound. body firstbegan to affectthesolar sys- to whentheenergies ofthecelestial severalthe next years. decade, itsfullpower will befelt within the Chthonian Star may notarrive for a tem for the last several decades. While ergy hasbeenaffectingthesolarsys- en- tial body–sofarthat thisunknown radiated light years outfrom theceles- gy. This that energy it was sopowerful ofener kind emanating anunknown showing that theChthonian Star was lucked out, stumbling across a band arrive inadecade. Those studyingit system. theorize Scientists that itwill will takeitpasttheedgeofoursolar that amazing speed, inatrajectory itastheChthonian Star.know dubbed Fong’s Body, butoccultists discovered only a few years ago and a rogue matter. chunkofdark was It tion comes. Perhaps it’s anasteroid or origin andcomposi- body ofunknown were the first to notice. A celestial hasarightto exist. actually humanity test ourplace intheuniverse, to seeif universe. Now somethingiscoming to we thinginthe are themostimportant The ChtonianStar The beganto authorities lookas The Chthonian Star is moving at an Those with a thirst for the unknown hasalwaysHumanity believed that - - Sino-China Unionwants to finda way Sino-China up theminute itiswithinrange. The nuclear warheads to blowpowerful it it destroyed and isinfavor ofsending bate. The European Federation wants thonian Star isthetopic ofheated de varied andwhat to doaboutthe Ch- all ofthisasecret. hard tothat very beare keep working thatperil iscoming andthepowers hasno ideathe public mostcertainly governments across theEarth. The even exists, mostlythetop levels of solar system. inthe government agency important tive, they are currently the single most best theycan. Though quietandsecre Chthonian Star inthesolarsystem as ofthe cleaning upthefirstharbingers charged withkeepingthingsquietand UWC Wardens were formed. They are with intense government training, the in hand. Combining occult knowledge agents whocould keepthisproblem the Unified World Council needed manity. frightening beingswithnolove for hu- well beasourcevery ofpower for Star had been here before and it may pointed to onething–theChthonian things to light. Their explorations all cal digswere financed lost to bring were consulted andnewarchaeologi- the occult theirown. Ancient books who hadmadethemystical world of scholars of the learned hidden, those powers that bebeganto consult with The from reactions world leadersare Very few theChthonian Star know While they searched for a solution, For the first timeinhistory, the - - to harness the mysterious energy of the Star for its own purposes. The Al- The Star At a Glance liance of American States wants to rip open the annals of occult history and • A celestial body of unknown embrace the changes, hoping to en- origin, approaching the edges slave the unnatural creatures that are of our solar system. coming into existence to remain at • The Star has been bathing our what they see as the top of the food solar system in unknown en- chain. ergy for decades. • Since then, strange things have The effects of the Chthonian Star begun to infect our world. are being felt more and more each • The Star will arrive in a decade, day. 30 years ago, when the Star’s but its full power will be felt in energy first reached our solar system, the next several years. the effects were minor. However, as • Few know the Star exists. it grows steadily stronger, there are • The European Federation more unwholesome horrors at play wants it destroyed. than ever before, to a point where the • The Sino-China Union wants to UWC is beginning to worry whether find a way to harness it. or not they can properly censor re- • The Alliance of America States lated news stories. There are those wants to embrace the chang- experts who believe that, if things es and enslave the unnatural keep progressing at the current ex- creatures. ponential rate, the solar system may • The effects grow greater with soon be unrecognizable to us. each passing day. Chapter 4: Setting

61 Visible: The Chthonian Star Chapter 4: Setting previous contin age.- National parties somewhat different thanthat ofthe tration. to execute thepolicies ofhisadminis- lor appoints hisown Cabinet Ministers four years. Once elected, theChancel- the Assembly’s cycle, namely election aterm equalto that of bly andserves oftheUnified Assem- the rulingparty power. This Chancellor by is selected Council exercises supreme executive through College anElectoral system. tives are choseninageneral election House, anditsCouncil Representa- The Unified Assembly isthelower ments appoint theirrepresentation. State Council, where national govern- over the other. The upper House is the and a check and balancevides stability Houses issuchthat oneHousepro and equalvoice ontheglobalstage. their size orstrength, get to have a fair advantage isthat allnations, despite Federal Parliamentary Republic. The is constituted under the concept ofa choice, the Unified World Council itself within thegovernment of structure dividual nations are free to operate tion, andglobalsecurity. Whereas in- icy, international dispute reconcilia- policy, trade regulation, colonial pol- global concerns suchasamonetary concerns, theUWCconcentrates on tions continue to focus oninternal political power. While individualna- a universally agreed upondivisionof rated from national governments by Politics &TheUWC The politicallandscape is modern The Chancellor oftheUnified World The arrangement of Legislative The Unified World Council is sepa- - rift between Earth anditscolonies. between Earth rift to create served agreaterhas further many citizens of the other worlds and taxes. This, ofcourse, hasoutraged from the colonies intheform ofhigher are calling for greater financialsupport budget. Several politicians on Earth much greater strain onthedefense build-uphascreated a this military results have been limited. addition, In the highertrafficked trade routes, but the naval presence amongmany of difficult issue. TheUWChasincreased trade have become an increasingly their own agendas. asleveragethe twofor larger parties well, between swaying often support exist as smaller parties amount. Other the individualnation stillstandaspar that therightsofself-government for foster international cooperation, but fied World Council asafinite tool to of aright-wing view. They seetheUni- Federal takesmore Conservative Party responsibility. Onthe other hand, the being of all human citizens is a global ideas. To them, the health and well- and favor ofliberal abroad spectrum stand center-left intheirpoint ofview Democratic Coalitionists parties. often tion isoneofthelarger globalpolitical in andofitself. The Democratic Coali- canbeadramatic challenge cal party basefor aglobalpoliti- strong support be quite fickle. to maintain a Trying their favored globalparty, otherscan tieswith maintain unbreakable parties now exist, andthoughsomenational layer of politics. Global political parties political arena hasgiven to rise anew ever, theexistence ofatrans-national ue to wrestle for political control. How Pirate attacks oninterplanetary - - The age-old debate about freedom of religion has once again reared its Politics At a Glance head. A strange new breed of reli- gion seems to be causing strains in • The UWC concentrates on this spiritual détente provided by the global and interplanetary con- Unified Ministry of God. Many disil- cerns. lusioned people, especially in poor • The UWC is a Federal Parlia- countries, have begun to cast off the mentary Republic. tenants of traditional religion to em- • There are two Legislative Hous- brace teachings of a different sort. The es – the State Council and the grass-roots rise of what some refer Unified Assembly. to as cults has caused certain legisla- • Global political parties, such as tors within the Unified World Council the Democratic Coalition and to seek a remedy to what they see as the Federal Conservative Party, a threat. The idea of state-sponsored dominate politics. religion would give legality to estab- • There are three super-powers lished churches, but ban under the – the Allliance of American law the spread of these new cultist States, the European Federa- groups. Of course, such proposals tion, and the Sino-China Alli- have also caused heated debate from ance. those who prefer to champion indi- • The Unified Ministry of God has vidual religious rights. brought religions together in detante. • Fringe religions called cults arise. Chapter 4: Setting

63 Unified World Council Headquarters: 2159 Chapter 4: Setting These words are now engraved above foundation for a trueunited Earth. to begin talksonhow to build upthe general assembly, as theCouncil met by Chancellor Andrew Fleming to the them!” This was the statement made islost.Weity must not,we will notfail and we must make astandorhuman- not deny. This issomethingthat theUWCwill ideals onto thenations oftheworld. years that the UWC strong-armed its than theirown. innations lessfortunate grams started to getthosepro the aidnecessary their own countries, butalsoto extend adopting theproposals oftheUWCin notonly bend politicalwillto support position ofpower, theywere ableto step into theprivate sector. From that related programs allowed theUWCto health benefits, andotherbusiness- nesses instead of politicians. Fair pay, Unified World Council turned to busi- of allmankind. To solve thisissue, the change theirways for thebetterment nations that were too to stubborn thenewrequirementsact to larger simply didn’t have thecapitalto en- economy ranged from countries that oflifeity ofregular citizens. programsservice to improve thequal- social well ofwide-ranging asaseries tem withasingleworld currency, as created sys - plan. It aglobalbanking ness was to establishastrong financial 2010’s, oneofitsfirstorders ofbusi- nomic and political collapse of the World Council inthewake oftheeco Business intheNewEra It hasbeenwritten insubsequent It Resistance to UWC plans for a global With thecreation oftheUnified “The world is falling apart world isfalling apart “The - - to standat theforefront ofindustry. UWC, there are companies that arose ofthe theefforts that support sectors businesses andcorporations from all to dothingsonalarger scale. tunes as well, because they were able offorable to maketheirown kind course, thelarger companies were had littleornooutsidecommerce. Of tive feature for nations that previously larger companies. This was anattrac business models more easily than the agile andwere able to modify their stages. smaller, Being theywere more theseearly to themostduring flourish dium-sized businessesthat were able new frontiers, itwas thesmallto me the capitalto takeadvantage ofthese exciting newrevenue streams. dreamed ofareas ofopportunity, with were free to explore new, never before maintained by theCouncil, businesses attacks ceased altogether. With peace trolling government present. Soon states where there was no local con- world, theCouncil establishedpolice manyof any In regions kind. ofthe times brutal, withreprisals for attacks of thepast. The UWCwas fast, andat saber-rattling and terrorist attacks there would never beareturn ofthe forgiving theirrivals, could seethat with eachother, whilenever truly the peace. Nations previously at war fied World Council was able to keep when itbecameobvious that theUni- meeting hall. into theCouncil’sthe entryway main While there isadiverse group of While thelarge corporations had The planbeganto show results - - - 4G Industries is the conglomerate Business At a Glance formed from Venture Corp and its partners. AQX is the original mega- • A global economy, backed by corp, evolving out of Anderson Mu- the Commonwealth Credit, nitions. Widely diversified now, they now powers the solar system. remain a market force in nearly every • 4G Industries is a conglomer- consumer or military industry. Recov- ate formed from the compa- ery Earth was originally an environ- nies that established the first mental lobby. However, now they’ve lunar colony. been charged by the UWC with fixing • AQX has evolved out of Ander- said environmental damage. They’ve son Munitions and is the origi- discovered it is harder to do the job nal mega-corp. than it was to simply protest. Svobo- • Recovery Earth is a former envi- dova Aerospace Industries focuses on ronmental lobby now charged spaceship design and construction, with solving environmental most especially for the UWC. Thorn damages. Pharmaceuticals is the company that • Svobodova Industries focuses created the biological enhancer that on spaceship construction. has helped humanity exist in less- • Thorn Pharmaceuticals has de- than-Earth gravity. Wesley Corp is a veloped a biological enhancer British company grown out of a ship- for less-than-Earth gravity. ping business. Though now a multi- • Wesley Corp is an eccentric planetary conglomerate, Wesley Corp family-owned multi-planet remains a family business, despite the conglomerate. eccentric policies of the owners. Chapter 4: Setting

65 Venus: Daysin Colony Chapter 4: Setting and oneResearcher. has three Enforcers, two Investigators, specialty, whilea larger team typically small team iscomposed ofoneeach the fieldin teams ofthree to six.A face, andabasiceducation incults. and theinhumanenemiestheymust have oftheoccult abasicknowledge cialty, all Wardens are combat trained, that whichisuseful. Regardless ofspe throughconclusions data andsift for and otherdisciplinesinorder to draw book worms, educated intheoccult tion outofpeople. Researchers are the usefulinformaalso trained- to extract in order to draw conclusions. They are processing information andevidence tectives ofthe Wardens, focused on resistance. Investigators are thede in order to mosteffectively eliminate in many differentkinds of weapons er. Enforcers focus oncombat, trained – Enforcer, Investigator, and Research- which Warden fieldagents are trained the population at large. and occult the a unknown secret from haps mostdistasteful duty, isto keep solar system. Their third, last, andper or occult threats to thepeople of the responsibility to eliminate unknown out thesolarsystem. Second, itistheir ifestations through oftheunknown - with investigating andman- allreports duties. First,primary theyare charged in thesolarsystem. They have three the strange thingsthat are emerging createdmental agency to dealwith The UWCardens own spaceships, which usually house at theirdisposal. They are given their Wardens are sent outinto typically There specialtiesin are three primary The UWC Wardens are agovern- Wardens have anarray ofresources - - - way station for andemergency those size to the Eye, but designed as a gate cious agriculture of isofsimilar Titan. It the outer planetsandprotect thepre floats around inorbit Saturn to service astheUmbrella,den 1,alsoknown of the Wardens. Beyond the Eye, War headquarters istheprimary structure monolith inthesky, thislabyrinthine as theEye, A sitsabove theEarth. operations. Warden Prime, alsoknown system, from whichtheystagetheir space stations throughout thesolar andlatitude theydeserve. spect far out there, won’t afford them the re because some of the powers that be, the strength to enforce theirauthority, some cases,In Wardens must also have though theyrarely have needto useit. byabsolute UWC charter, authority Wardens, however, are afforded nearly appliesintheircase.law strictly The enough out don’t always feel that the system isabigplace andthosefar this isnotalways thecase. The solar solar system willcooperate, though ofthe that inallparts theauthorities byarms thecolonies anditisexpected cally received withsomelevel ofopen solar system. Warden presence- istypi offices inallcivilized ofthe corners agency,vertised theymaintain quiet the situation isalready dire. thing that isn’t concealable –unless is rare that Wardens appearwithany to keepthings quiet andhidden,soit combat armor. However, it is their duty cess to assaultrifles, explosives, and everyday investigations, and have ac are intheir sidearms allowed to carry well as mobile labs and arsenals. They crew,a team, support and shuttles, as The Wardens maintain of anetwork Since Wardens are notawidelyad------missions going further out. To service the inner planets, Warden 2, known Wardens At a Glance as the Nugget, hovers in geosynchro- nous orbit above Mercury. It is a small • An agency created to inves- station, hastily deployed to provide tigate and deal with the new some kind of support to Mercury and threats to the solar system. Venus. The Lighthouse, more formally • There are three primary spe- known as Warden 4, sits far out in the cialties for Warden field agents: Kuiper Belt, exploring, watching, and Enforcers, Investigators, and listening for anything that might be at Researchers. the edges of the solar system. • Teams are typically three to six agents, with a mix of special- Work as a Warden is perilous. War- ties. dens must travel from one side of the • Wardens have access to a va- solar system to the other, facing threats riety of resources, including of which man was not meant to know. spaceships and weapons. It can be a very dark job. They must • They have quiet offices in all undergo regular psychological screen- civilized corners of the solar ing, for the dangers they face readily system, for support. erode one’s grip on reality. Insanity is • They are not always met with a price which many agents must con- open arms by local corporate tend with, and one many are resigned or governmental interests. to as their eventual fate. Either that or • The Wardens maintain a net- death, for many a Warden has met an work of space stations for their unspeakable and violent end. operations. Chapter 4: Setting

67 Warden Quarantine on Mars Chapter 4: Setting class andtheelite, andthedisappear growing between theworking rift personinsociety. every nearly The its first real cracks. Age isshowingGolden ofHumanity of peace andprosperity. However, the ger. The UWChasbrought anewage well asthat whichallows usto live lon- us outbeyond ourhomeplanet, as developed technology that has taken the lastcouple ofdecades. We have upswing for humanity, at least until A DayintheLife The IrisClub:Ganymede Some ofthesecracks areSome felt by haveThings certainly beenonan - what to dowiththecults. freedom, there ismuchdiscussionon most are intent onallowing religious many governments are worried. While on the rise. Branded cults by the UWC, enter thearena. are Newradical sects again ontherise, asnewideologies body. Religious tensions are once longer be governed by that distant believe that theyshouldno of Earth those that live beyond theconfines ment amongthecolonies. of Some of them. There isalsogrowing resent one ismostcertainly ing middle-class, cine can tackle cine can tackle medi- and modern been wiped out diseases have Furthermore, many than 150 years. lives alittlemore the average person than ever before – People live longer regimes.talitarian countries withto needs met, even in ple findtheirbasic poverty. peo Most all but eliminated World Council has ence oftheUnified omy andtheinflu- of theglobalecon- The reconstruction never before seen. es, at abaselevel from oldprejudic decent lives, free most people live of society,parts tensions insome Despite growing - - - - nearly any malady, reducing suffering throughout the world. Daily Life At a Glance

Naturally, with the evolution of tech- • There is a growing rift between nology, the media has continued to the working class and the elite, grow out of control. People are wildly and the middle class is disap- distracted by the massive amount of pearing. entertainment that is available at the • Tension grows between Earth touch of a button. The internet has and the colonies. grown to be the central clearing house • Radical religious sects, brand- for all such distraction, and people ed as cults, are on the rise. spend lots of time connected to each • Old prejudices are gone. other through social networks, video • Poverty is all but eliminated. chat, and instant messaging. • People live more than 150 years, due to advancements. From a broad view, the way of • Most diseases have been life for your average person hasn’t wiped out. changed much in the last century and • The media is giant and out of a half. People still grow up, raised by control. their families (though often mixed), • The colonies have a more inde- they get an education or vocational pendent and self-reliant view. training, they get a job to produce • Ghost stories are becoming in- something or serve a role for society, creasingly popular. many get married and have their own • While most deny such tales, families, most eventually retire, and all there are those who believe. eventually die – usually of old age. on Earth, people can sense there are things moving in the darkness. There Life on the colonies is a different has been an increase in the popularity pace, however, though it is not all that

of horror movies on Earth, and it isn’t Chapter 4: Setting different from those settlers that lived unusual to hear “real-life” ghost sto- in the frontier towns of yesteryear. ries in a colonial bar. Most people are People still want the same things, but quick to dismiss such tales, as the al- those in the colonies have a more in- ternative is believing that such horrors dependent and self-reliant mind-set. are real. There is, however, a growing They’re the kind of people that do for community on the internet dedicated themselves, take care of their own, to plumbing the depths of what are and don’t take kindly to outsiders tell- classified as urban legends. Despite ing them their business. To many, the the growing darkness, most people colonies also represent new opportu- on Earth regard such things as enter- nities and there’s a general feeling of tainment. However, those out on the hope among colonists. colonies can feel something closing in and those that visit such places most Unfortunately, ghost stories are certainly can feel that as well. becoming increasingly popular. Even 69 C Training’s Over

I stood at the embarkation bay wait- Brannigan, the hero of countless bat- ing for the shuttle that would take me tles and the inspiration of more than to meet up with my platoon. It’s a a few of the soldiers in my platoon. little embarrassing that I initially had We all wanted to be just like him and to be held back from this training op here he was standing next to me. when I came down with a case of the measles. The measles of all things – “Private Gibson, are you ready to it had been cleared up centuries ago deploy?” in nearly everyone, but there were a few people like me that had a re- I was shaking inside, but my train- cessive trait that left us susceptible. ing held true and I responded in a It took me three weeks to get out of steady voice, “Yes, sir!” quarantine, but now I could finally join 70 my unit on the training run. It was He stood there surveying every- meant to be a two month deployment thing while he checked his gear. I to test out the unit’s survival skills on could tell that he was able to assess an airless moon. I hoped that missing the status of all the men on the de- almost half the exercise didn’t set me parture deck just by looking. Square back too far. jawed, broad-shouldered, with a stare that got soldiers to jump at his I checked my gear while I waited for orders without question – all these the shuttle and I noticed something traits made the Captain the leader odd. The ammunition I was issued for you wanted to follow anywhere. And the training op was live ammo. The apparently he was leading some por- embarkation room was different than tion of the training operation. the last time I was here as well. There were other troops gathering to head “All right then, get your gear and out for their own training missions. get on the shuttle.” But most didn’t look like the raw re- cruit I knew I was. Quite a few looked On cue, the shuttle appeared as if to be veterans mixed in with the re- the Captain had called it into being, cruits. There was also a seriousness and the ramp dropped for us to load. about them that I had not seen in my I got up the ramp a second after the own unit. Captain and found my seat at the head of the shuttle. I secured my pack I was about to go over to them to and my weapon and strapped in to my ask if everything was alright when drop seat. The Captain dropped his a shadow passed over me. I looked pack on the bench across from me up and there was a man from out of and went up to the cockpit to speak the history books – Captain Zephirin with the pilot. After a brief discussion, 71

UWC Marine Drop: Iapetus he came out and said, “Strap in, no for the ride, but the man gave me a time to wait for the others. We’re boost to my courage. Captain Bran- needed at the drop site.” nigan was the man who defused the Ganymede hostage crisis last I held no illusions – it was really year, had handled the Neptune Ban- him that was needed. I was just along dit Fleet, and was rumored to have worked closely with the Wardens on to a halt. The Captain had taken the missions too secretive to mention. landing in stride and reached down to pick me up. The shuttle door closed and the cabin sealed. Then we took off and “Up and at ‘em, son.” began the journey to the moon’s sur- face. The Captain found his way back “But this is a training mission! The to the seat across from me and sat unit said so before they shipped out. down. There was an interesting look What the hell is going on?” on his face as he looked me over once more from head to toe. The Captain’s reply was lost as my suit’s intercom was filled with a “You ready for this, Private? screeching static that drowned out all sound. I looked to the Captain and “Yes, sir! Ready and able, sir!” it appeared that he couldn’t hear it. He didn’t notice my pain as he moved I could see he was going to say to the rear of the shuttle to open 72 something else, but a sudden jolt the egress ramp. When it opened, I shook the shuttle and he left to go looked and what I saw was a scene up to talk to the pilot. Moments later, out of a nightmare. The sky was filled shouting from the cockpit made me with hundreds of flying creatures jump. There appeared to be some- with slick jet black skin like wet leath- thing very wrong, as the Captain er, with thick tails trailing out behind started shouting orders to the pilot them. There was no air for them to to maintain course and speed. be flying in, but they soared just the same as they swept in on what looked The drop to the moon below was like my unit in the distance. They were rougher than I expected. It took a bunkered in front of a large cave while before I heard the scraping opening and firing blindly as they along the hull – what it was, I didn’t were assaulted from all angles. know. I unbuckled myself and un- steadily got up to join the Captain at They had dug in a defensive posi- the door. When I looked, the view port tion and, although the attack was only showed a sea of what looked like coming from the air, the main focus black bodies slamming against the of my entrenched friends appeared shuttle as it hurtled to the surface to be the cave mouth itself. Grenade below. I looked to the Captain, who launchers and heavy machine guns casually waved me back to my seat. were arrayed in fox holes on the cave He nodded to his suit helmet and I side. While a portion maintained saw that he had sealed his combat a hail of covering fire, the majority suit. I quickly followed suit. watched over the cave entrance.

The shuttle landed roughly and I While the creatures in the air were was thrown to the deck as it skidded horrible in their own right, with their claws and eyeless faces, the real ter- From that close, I could see that they ror came from within the cave. At indeed had no face – no mouth, no first, it was hard to see what was nose, no eyes or ears. They had long there; it looked to be a dark void, ex- thin arms and legs, and from their cept something moved within. Thick backs, pairs of alien wings swept out, tendrils snaked out from deep within giving them the strange ability to fly the cave, towards the opening. The in an airless atmosphere. There was mass of evil – that’s what it felt like – a thick tail as well, ending in a sharp looked as if it was trying to crawl its stinger, like some kind of sick bug. way out. As the tendrils reached the entrance, I heard the screech again. I saw the tails striking at my com- Out of the corner of my eye, I saw patriots in the distance. Streaking that some of the others also reeled down from the skies, the creatures in pain. I suddenly realized that the came up short and swung their tail to sound was not coming over the inter- have the stingers impact. The things com, but from inside my head. were so sharp and hard that they penetrated their armored suits, and I’m not sure how my brain pro- decompression wasn’t far behind. 73 cessed all of this, as I stood there frozen in terror. Unfazed, the Captain We nearly didn’t make it to the bun- let loose with three volleys from his ker as a large swarm of creatures grenade launcher, straight into the suddenly headed toward us. I emp- heart of the cave beast. I was the tied clip after clip into the oncoming useless grunt to his hero, the muzzle mass, but even this was not enough flash from his launcher lighting up the to hold back the monsters. Without stone set features within his helmet. warning, tracer rounds from the bun- There was even a hint of a smile on ker lit up the skies, saving our hides. his face as he turned and shook me. The creatures fell back and we were able to make it to the safety of the “Get it together, kid! Training’s bunker. over. This is the real deal. Stay on my six and watch my back.” We met up with my platoon lead- er, who was rallying my friends and Somehow, that got through and I trying to hold the line until reinforce- shook my head to clear it. The Captain ments could land. Beyond the wall of dumped the empty grenade launcher, flying madness above me, I could see shouldered his rifle, and charged into them – the drop shuttles I had seen the battle. I stayed right by his side, at the embarkation bay. They were firing at anything that came close as all here, landing in a rain of steel and we cleared the 200 meters between off-loading their payloads of soldiers. us and my unit. The flying nightmares Some shuttles didn’t safely make it swept down to harass us, coming in to the ground. The creatures sensed waves. I fired my weapon as best I that there was danger and began to could and kept them off the Captain. focus on the landing vehicles. They swarmed them and tore at the shut- crossed the threshold of the cave tles to bring them down. mouth, and when I moved inside I wished I hadn’t either. If the exis- Luckily, we got most of them to the tence of the things in the sky weren’t ground. As the soldiers met at the already proof enough of the horror of bunker, they rallied around the Cap- this place, the feeling of being in the tain while we took a respite from the cave was indescribable. The place aerial assault. The Captain organized felt wrong – like something that just the men and started to plan an at- should not be. The sensors on my tack to take down the creature from combat suit were going crazy; appar- the cave. The plan was to seal the ently there was some kind of atmo- cave and keep the creature inside un- sphere in the cave. Gravity felt differ- til the military could come with bigger ent here as well, like we suddenly lost weapons to finish it off, whatever the 50 pounds. Everyone lurched a bit as hell it was. The Captain and my pla- we crossed the threshold. toon were to approach the right side of the cave, while another unit was We took position just on the other 74 assigned to approach from the left. side of the entrance. When I looked Each of the teams carried enough up to cover the Captain’s six, I saw det packs to bring the whole thing that the place didn’t look like a natu- to the ground. The Captain ordered ral formation. Instead, the entrance us to move out, and for some reason opened up immediately into a larger he kept me with him. When I asked cavern. The horror we saw from him why, he replied, “Because you did the outside sat within a circle of your job on the way here. Keep doing what looked like glowing runes that that and we’ll all make it out of here.” were nearly 200 meters across. In places, we could see the circle had We began to make our approach, been damaged – it was from these with the rest of the support platoons wrecked areas that the thing was provided covering fire to the skies able to extend those horrible ten- above, as well as the cave mouth. drils of terrifying blackness to attack Even with the hail of rounds surround- us. Somehow maintaining my sanity ing us, the nightmares found open- enough to tear my eyes away from ings in our defenses. They seemed to the creature, I looked back toward concentrate their attacks on the oth- the cave mouth. Similar runes were er team, so by the time we reached carved into the walls. Whenever a the side of the cave they’d lost nearly tendril came close, what could only three quarters of their troops. We’d be called a flash would cause the only lost four. cave to dip into darkness for a mil- lisecond. The creature would then The Captain signaled what was left let loose the screech I heard before of both teams to advance into the – but here the sound was different, cave. We didn’t notice it from the more the wailing of something that outside, but the flying things never had been hurt. The Captain ordered everyone to reported that they saw no one else set their explosives and get ready to coming after them. Somehow, they fall back. Just then, it appeared that dug me out of the rubble about an the monstrosity had finally realized hour later. I was unconscious, badly we were a threat and attacked. The bruised, and oxygen deprived – I thing flailed wildly, striking everything wouldn’t wake for another two days. within reach without mercy. The ten- The medics said that it was a miracle drils crushed whatever lay in their that I had survived at all. If the Cap- path. Soldier after soldier fell to the tain hadn’t thrown himself on top of beast, until only the Captain and I me when he did, I would most likely be were left from our team. We could dead. The reports said that once the see that there were a few other sol- cave was destroyed, the flying crea- diers heading back to retreat to the tures lost coherency and scattered. bunker, so the Captain grabbed my The relentless fire from the ground shoulder and ordered me out as well. forces eventually either brought Not one to leave people behind, the them down or drove them off. Captain needed to be sure on the way out that the horror that resided here I stood by his side the entire battle. 75 had crushed all the soldiers under his I saw that day what a hero really was. command. I provided covering fire for The thing in the circle was crushed him, honoring those who had died. by rubble and the flying nightmares My rounds did little to the creature were scattered or destroyed, all be- beyond irritating it, but I was appar- cause of the Captain. I still stand by ently safe beyond the unseen barrier his side today as well. I don’t think I’m of the cave mouth. My distraction worthy to be here, but my command- gave the Captain enough time to fin- er said that actions have earned me ish his job and make his way away this place. We laid him in the ground from the impending explosion. with full honors – gun salute and all. Personally, I think he would have “I believe I ordered you to get back hated it, but a lot of soldiers wouldn’t to the bunker, Priv...” have been here today if it wasn’t for him, myself included. I gave him the Suddenly, just as when we had first only honor I could – my salute – as met, a shadow came over me. This the trumpeter sounded another sol- was different. The shadow was cast dier home to rest. by the Captain, but the light was no longer the light of an embarkation If things really are like they were on deck – it was the light of the explod- that damned moon, someday I’ll join ing det packs. him. Soon.

I later learned that the other survi- vors made it back to the bunker and 5 Characters

Your Character is your fictional inter- for any Skill requiring attentiveness, as face with the setting of The Void. The well as for effectively utilizing ranged rules presented here will help guide weapons. you towards making an interesting and effective Warden Character. While Cleverness the Advanced Character Guide will Cleverness is a measure of a Char- present rules for creating any kind of acter’s intellect, ability to learn, and Character, Wardens are recommended memory. Cleverness is used for any to start. As Wardens, your Characters learned Skill, including those that are will have the reason, authority, and re- technical and scientific in nature. sources that warrant traveling all over the solar system to investigate strange Demeanor occurrences. Demeanor is a measure of a Char- acter’s social ability and force of per- The Design Process sonality. It is not necessarily a measure You’ll be developing your Character of beauty or charm, which are better by choosing and combining certain reflected by a Character’s Qualities, templates. The meat of this process Skills, and Talents. Demeanor is used begins on p. 79. However, before you for any social Skill. start this process, you’ll need to know about all the different things that go Grace into Characters. These things include Grace is a measure of a Character’s Attributes, Statistics, Qualities, Talents, agility, manual dexterity, and finesse. Quirks, Special Things (such as Fate Grace is used for any Skill that requires Points), and Gear. bodily control, including those that in- volve fighting in close quarters or get- Let’s examine those things here. ting out of harm’s way. Perseverance Attributes Perseverance is a measure of a Char- Attributes are a measure of your acter’s endurance, stamina, and will- Character’s innate abilities and capa- power. Perseverance is used for any bilities. Each Character has six in The taxing physical Skill, as well as to resist Void, and they are rated on a scale the effects of the horrible things that from 1 to 5. A rating of 1 is considered Characters might experience. challenged, while a rating of 2 or 3 is considered average, and a rating of 5 Physique is quite amazing. Physique is a measure of a Charac- ter’s strength and physical might. Phy- Awareness sique is used for lifting heavy things, Awareness is a measure of a Charac- restraining people, and anything else ter’s sense acuity, keenness of percep- that requires raw physical power. tion, and intuition. Awareness is used Statistics Statistics are a few other important Characters At a Glance details about your Character that are Attributes derived from his Attributes. They in- • Rated on a scale of 1 to 5. clude how fast he moves, as well as • A rating of 1 is severely chal- how much punishment he can take. lenged, 2 or 3 is average, and 5 is quite amazing. Health • Awareness = sense acuity, Health is a measure of a Character’s keenness of perception, and overall level of wellness and vitality. It intuition. represents how much physical punish- • Cleverness = intellect, ability ment he can take before he expires. To to learn, and memory. determine your Character’s starting • Demeanor = social ability and Health, add together his Grace, Perse- force of personality. verance, and Physique. • Grace = agility, manual dex- terity, and finesse. Speed • Perseverance = endurance, Speed is a measure of how fast your stamina, and willpower. Character can move when the time • Physique = strength and comes. To determine Speed, add your physical might. Character’s Grace and Physique to- gether and consult the table below. Statistics • Health is your Character’s Skills level of wellness and vitality. Skills are those things in which a Equals Grace, Perseverance, Character has been trained or edu- and Physique added togeth- cated. Each Skill represents a body er. of knowledge or a type of training in • Speed is how fast your Char- which your Character has ability. Ev- acter can move, based on ery Character starts with a number of Grace and Physique. different Skills, each rated on a scale

Grace + Physique Speed Walk/Per Turn Run/Per Turn 2 4 mph/6.5 kmh 3 yd/m 10 yd/m 3 6 mph/9.5 kmh 5 yd/m 15 yd/m 4 8 mph/13 kmh 6.5 yd/m 20 yd/m 5 10 mph/16 kmh 8 yd/m 25 yd/m 6 12 mph/19 kmh 10 yd/m 30 yd/m 7 14 mph/22.5 kmh 11.5 yd/m 35 yd/m 8 16 mph/26 kmh 13 yd/m 40 yd/m 9 18 mph/29 kmh 15 yd/m 45 yd/m 10 20 mph/32 kmh 16.5 yd/m 50 yd/m 77 Chapter 5: Characters combat. in mine whenyour canact Character and beforeharm ithasachance to come, bat, which isusedto avoid incom harm - Creation.Character They are to acquire themduring opportunity isgiven Character vival the andevery tant for your Character’s ultimate sur onp. starts 92. Character tion. of 5have inques- mastered theSkill professionals, andthosewitharating a rating of 3 are considered competent considered students, while those with from 1to 5. Those witharating of1are others mustbe Triggered (seep. 112). Talents are inplay allthe time, while nuses to special social Skill Tests. Some for or that provides a single action bo lows your to Character attack twice abilities might besomething that al- called Talents.abilities oriented These play,pecially during special action- onp. starts 99. Character Disadvantages are negative traits. Advantages are positive traits, while Skill. There are of Qualities. two types be easilydefinedasan Attribute ora day life andgameplay, butwhichcan’t things that affectaCharacter’s every There are that are three impor Skills availableThe to listofSkills your Characters also develop,Characters most es - The available listofQualities for your areQualities bothgoodandbad , whichisusedtoReaction deter Notice, whichisusedto identify Qualities Talents , Defense - - - - - • • • • • • • • • • • • • set, here are afew examples ofQuirks: seeusingfrom timetoactually time. ofthingsyou may –butthekind trivia ture evenof –perhaps ahobby orkind These shouldbepersonalinna- Quirks five ratingQuirks, of2. each at aSkill perience. You canchoosefrom two to time, canfoster roleplay aricher ex have useinthegamefrom timeto Characters, especially ones that might onp. starts 106. Character cancel adeadlyattack andhealthem death, or used to when facing certain Points canbeusedto catch abreak are designed to keepthem alive. Fate Fate Points the othercategories: Fate Points. thatCharacter doesn’t fitneatly into To helpputyou intherightmind- elements to Introducing quirky The listof Talents available for your Characters haveCharacters Fate Points, which There is one other piece to your Independently Wiggle Eyebrows, Nose, andEars TuneIn Whistle Video Games TeamSports Knowledge Spaceship Knowledge Movie QuotesReciting PastriesMake Juggling Identify Spices Follow Perfectly Recipes Clean Spotlessly Car Knowledge Bartending Special Quirks - to keep fighting. Your Character be- gins with one Fate Point. Characters At a Glance Gear & Acquisition Skills Instead of tracking money in • Skills are those things in amounts of currency, Wealth can be which your Character has tracked in levels. Higher levels allow been trained or educated. for greater goods and services. This • Rated on a scale from 1 to 5. is another way that Characters or • A rating of 1 is considered a teams can advance. student, 3 is considered pro- fessional, and 5 is mastery. An explanation of Wealth can be found on p. 158. Qualities • Qualities are both good and bad things that affect a Char- Character acter’s life. • Advantages are positive Design traits. Characters are designed in four • Disadvantages are negative stages. First, you’ll choose a birth- traits. place, you’ll choose a primary tem- plate, then you’ll choose two sec- Talents ondary templates, and last you’ll • Talents are special action-ori- work out a few important remaining ented abilities. details. Quirks All Characters begin with their • Quirks are personal elements native Language at 5. Since the that foster a richer experi-

two predominate languages in the ence. Chapter 5: Characters solar system are English and Man- • Characters have between 2 darin Chinese, you should probably and 5. choose one of those. Special • Fate Points are designed to 1. Choose Birthplace keep Characters alive. Everyone learns something from • Characters start with 1. the place they grew up. Choose your birthplace from among those listed Gear & Acquisition here. You’ll get three Skills associ- • Characters will have a level of ated with that place at a rating of 1. Wealth, which will determine what kinds of gear to which Mercury they have access. You were born in the Port Tian min- ing colony, settled within the Chao Meng-Fu crater – the only colony 79 Chapter 5: Characters porate colonies of Venus –McAlister Venus mental Suit1,Freefall 1 1, Environ Bureaucracy Skills: - Starting fines ofspace stations. underground colonies orinthecon- sourceful. They are most at home in stoic people, whoare hardy andre dens, stationed ontheNugget. there. Perhaps your parents were War you spent mostofyour growing life theywereor perhaps management an beforemines andleft you were grown, Perhaps your family came to work the Asian loweror in the distinctly levels. in theethnicallydiverse upperlevels, on Mercury. Perhaps you were raised You were in one of born the cor Mercurians are socialthough often details. Acquire gear and fill in personal Details 4. Determine Other There are 4or5possiblechoices. Specialties Secondary Choose Two3. gator, or Warden Researcher Warden Enforcer, Warden Investi- There are 3 possible choices – Specialty 2. ChoosePrimary our solarsystem. There are 16possiblechoices in 1. ChooseBirthplace ing to four stages. areCharacters developed accord- Character Design - - - on where that persongrew upinthe with any group willdependentirely people. Thetraits associated typical called, are awidelyvariedgroup of ontheEye.orbit your familywere Wardens, stationed in in Tranquility colony onLuna. Perhaps of the five Lagrange Point stations, or liance. Perhaps you were onone born pean Federation, Al- ortheSino-China Alliance States, ofAmerican the Euro superpowers – the the three primary Perhaps you were withinoneof born capable ofseeingto allourneeds. is humanity’s native home, aworld Earth Savoir Faire 1 1, 1,Insight Bureaucracy Skills: Starting space stations. ground colonies or in the confines of ered. They are most at home in under gottheirbehindscovsure they’ve cious andare always to make looking clever people, whoare alsosuspi- nated your upbringing. ings aboutthecorporation that domi- gardless, you have opinions and feel- was spent growing upon Venus. Re ily are company peopleandyour life you were grown, your orperhaps fam- mining contract before andyou left term haps your family cameon a short Takashi Group’s Colony. Oshuki Per Corporation’sMining Flare City, or the Enterprises’ DaedalusComplex, Solar Geo-Excavations’ DiamondHead, 4G Incorporated’sEarths Daysin Colony, Concern’sMining McAlister City, Rare Terrans, are asthosefrom Earth You were ontheplanetthat born Venusians are canny often and - - - - - great expanses of the planet. Terrans Martians are often hardy and re- from planet-side are most at home on sourceful people, though somewhat Mars or in large colonies. Those born resigned about life – possibly even in orbit or on Luna prefer smaller colo- bitter. There are those who feel down- nies, spaceships, and space stations. right lost within the desperation that most often is Mars. They are most at Starting Skills: Computers 1, Language home on Earth or Mars. (any) 1, Streetwise 1 Starting Skills: Computers 1, Language Mars 1, Survival 1 You were born on the once ro- manticized Red Planet, in one of the Jupiter (Callisto) colonies known as the Seven Sisters You were born in the only colony – Abbey, Annie, Chloe, Dena, Jeanne, on Callisto – Ursa. It is a quiet place, Nikki, or Wendy. Mars is, in many ways, best described as a bedroom commu- a smaller analog to Earth, so your fam- nity for those who work other places ily’s professional leaning and culture in Jupiter space. Your family could can be nearly as widely varied as those have been involved in any of several of humanity’s home. However, life on different industries, whether it be the Mars is not normally as prosperous as scientific operations of Europa, the life on Earth, and it carries the dangers casino or entertainment industries of associated with a planet that was not Ganymede, the pleasure tours of Io, or necessarily meant to sustain life. the mining operations of Jupiter itself. Chapter 5: Characters

A Cast of Characters: 2159 81 Chapter 5: Characters ing, constant with nearly stimulation was mostlikelyfast-paced andexcit Vegas of the outer worlds. Your youth the colony, astheLas described often that industries dominate tertainment likely involved withthetourism or en- ny ofGanymede. Your familywas most Jupiter (Ganymede) Science (Life orSpace) 1 Computers Skills: 1, FreefallStarting 1, tions, oronspaceships. in underground colonies, space sta- quite curious. They are mostat home ful, people, intellectual whoare also safe andquiet. youth was most likely fascinating, but ofsaidscientists. tion orservice Your ofadministravolved- withsomesort life. not, they were If mostlikelyin- oceans and alien aquatic subsurface some scientific endeavor, studying the family was mostlikelyinvolved in Rhadamanthus, orSarpedon. Your scientific colonies of Minos,Europa – Jupiter (Europa) Language (any) 1,Freefall 1 Environmental Skills: Suit 1, Starting or space stations. home in domed colonies, spaceships, regular environment. They are mostat cy, aswell aspeace andquietintheir of newcomers. They alsovalue priva- value community, thoughdistrustful simple anduneventful outonCallisto. anyIn event, your youth was probably You were in born Troy, thesole colo Europans are careful, often thought You were inoneofthethree born Callistans are gregarious often and - - - signed to service tourists fromsigned allover. to service are any ofthevariousprofessions de tists oradministrators, they orperhaps of themoon.Perhaps theyare scien - trade that goeswiththemandtherest ocean here, ortheextensive tourist erations that gowiththesubsurface involved witheitherthescientific op islikely that yourladus. familywas It New Halifax,thetwo colonies ofEnce Saturn (Enceladus) Freefall 1,Notice 1 Environmental Skills: Suit 1, Starting colonies. home insmallersurface ers andprovincial. They are mostat plucky, thoughsuspiciousofnewcom- mon intheArcticCircle onEarth. andcommunitiesof mentality com- is anaustere place, breeding thekind for businessandwealth. It portunities the growing settlements andtheop were of colonists, hopingto beapart the colony ofNova Lyon. Your family Saturn (Dione) Streetwise 1 Fraternize Skills: Starting 1,Freefall 1, or space stations. are mostat homeinsmallercolonies toly alwayswork anangle. trying They several stepsthinking aheadandnear ciety. They for are alsoknown often and flows any ofnearly strata ofso and clever, nostrangers to theebbs You’re alsoprobably alittlejaded. and aninfluxofnewpeople to meet. You were ineitherOceanus or born Dionians are optimisticand often You were moonin onatiny born icy Ganymedans are extroverted often ------Enceladans are often outgoing and Starting Skills: Environmental Suit 1, affable, though sometimes to the Freefall 1, Trade: Product 1 point of being fake. They are also of- ten either intellectual or focused on Saturn (Tethys) economic opportunity. They are most You were born on the moon Tethys, at home in colonies of nearly any kind. in the Odysseus water-mining colony. Your family was part of the effort to Starting Skills: Freefall 1, Science (Life mine the walls of the Ithaca Chasm, or or Space) 1, Savoir Faire 1 at least part of the administration serv- ing that industry. Like those from most Saturn (Hyperion) moons of Saturn, Tethys has a mind- You were born on Hyperion, the set similar to those of Terran small only known source of the rare element towns. They keep to their own. known as therminium. Your family was somehow involved in the mining of Tethyians, are similar to their Rhean therminium or the administration of cousins, though perhaps even more said mining operations – the only rea- provincial and suspicious in nature. son people go to Hyperion. The colony They are most at home in smaller sur- itself is governmental in nature, and face colonies. is well-supported. However, it is most certainly “small town,” regardless of Starting Skills: Environmental Suit 1, the constant traffic. Freefall 1, Trade: Product 1

Hyperions are hard-working and Saturn (Titan) enjoy a simple life, though they are You were born in the center of Sat- definitely provincial and sometimes urnine culture, prosperity, and govern- intolerant. They are most at home in ment. Perhaps you were born in one of smaller surface colonies. the three major cities – Chronos, Cas- sini, or Crius. Life on Titan is wide and Chapter 5: Characters Starting Skills: Environmental Suit 1, varied, but most are involved with the Freefall 1, Notice 1 two major industries of agricultural and food processing or tourism. Per- Saturn (Rhea) haps your family is involved personally You were born on the industrial in one of these industries, or perhaps moon of Rhea, most likely in the col- they focus on the other needs of colo- ony of New Glasgow. Your family was nists. part of the ship-building or industrial manufacturing industries that domi- Titanians are often outgoing and nate Rhea, or at least part of the ad- clever people, though sometimes ar- ministration serving those industries. rogant and distrusting of those be- yond Saturn space. They are most at Rheans are hard-working blue col- home in large surface colonies or Mars. lar folks, though they are more open- minded than most. They are most at Starting Skills: Computers 1, Freefall 1, home in smaller surface colonies. Streetwise 1 83 Chapter 5: Characters people, who are resourceful and ca- lization. spend substantial timesofarfrom civi- some ofthefew peoplewhoactually theywereperhaps management and several your timesduring youth, or your familycamebackto Neptune all your timegrowing uphere. Perhaps stretch, soit’s unlikelythat you spent for more than eighteen months at a feware that very stay onNeptune and theEuropean Federation. There watchful eye Company oftheRhodes ofNeptune, allunderthe the surface Triton station colony orinSalacia on Neptune mental Suit1,Freefall 1 1, Environ Bureaucracy Skills: - Starting spaceships. in smallcolonies, space stations, or ing theirbacks. They are mostat home newcomers andinthehabitofwatch- and tenacious, butare distrustfulof vibrantis asurprisingly place. Corp. Regardless, for anOuter World, it topermission operate from Wesley Oberon, orfreelance prospectors with AQX Corporation’s mininginterests on tion. They may alsobeinvolved with in miningoperations oradministra- in somecapacity, whetherinvolved ily works for the Wesley Corporation or is likelythatTitania. your It fam- tors ofthe Uranian moonsOberon Corporation, or among the prospec under thewatchful eye ofthe Wesley Uranus Neptunians are aloof and stoic often You were eitheronthetiny born Uranians are hard-working often You were on born Veronica Station - Freefall Job1 1,Odd Environmental Skills: Suit 1, Starting space ships. most at homeonspace stations or much. very authority respect They are skilled. They alsodon’t tend to likeor resourcefulare alsovery andbroadly nature andcowboy inattitude, who infrequent at best. in were was smallandoutsidecontact event, thecommunities you grew up stationed intheLighthouse. any In You may also be thechildof Wardens, thoseprospectors.meant to service administrated thetiny space stations the childofthosewhosoldsuppliesor you orperhaps to itrich were strike the childofprospectors whowent out of theKuiper Perhaps Belt. you were communitiesamong theprospecting Kuiper Belt mental Suit1,Notice 1 1, Environ Bureaucracy Skills: - Starting smaller colonies. home on spaceships, space stations, or pable ofgreat focus. They are mostat & Disadvantages), and a Talent. your your Skills, (Advantages Qualities Attributes,termine your half starting these three specialties, whichwillde oriented Researchers. Choose one of Investigators, andtheknowledge- forcers, the information-gathering specialties: thecombat-oriented En- Kuipers are freewheeling often in You were way born outintheblack, The Wardens come inoneofthree 2. ChoosePrimary Specialty - 3. Choose Secondary To go with that, you should deter- mine ethnicity, height, weight, and im- Specialty portant personality traits that define Where your Character’s primary spe- who he is to others. Ethnicity is espe- cialty shows who he is now, his sec- cially important, as Characters in The ondary specialties shine a little light Void come from all kinds of heritage. on his background. Each primary spe- cialty has several secondary specialties Gear associated with it. Choose two of them The Void uses Wealth Codes to track and assign ten points to Skills in each a Character’s financial resources, to round your Character out. rather than tracking specific credit amounts. Normally, starting Charac- 4. Determine Other ters begin with a Personal Wealth of Details 2 and a Sponsored Wealth of 1, unless There are a few key things left to de- modified by the Wealthy or Poor Quali- termine before your Character is ready ties. See p. 158 for a more detailed ex- for play. planation of Wealth Codes.

Statistics & Special Freeform Design Determine the following: If you’re an experienced roleplayer and you don’t have any interest in re- • Speed, both running and walking, stricting yourself to the template-driv- as found on p. 77. en Character Design system presented • Health, as found on p. 77. Also, here (or you want to create non-War- record your Health in each of the den Characters), here are some rules four Damage Levels. for creating your Characters in an en- • Fate Points = 1. tirely freeform fashion.

Quirks • Spend a total of 20 points on At- Chapter 5: Characters You should also choose at least two tributes. Quirks, as found on p. 78. • Choose a home world and take the three Skills provided. Spend Personal Details an additional 50 points on Skills. If To help flesh your Character out in a you choose to purchase a Skill at roleplaying sense, there are a few oth- 4, it will cost you 2 points from 3 er personal details you should work to 4. If you choose to purchase a out before you begin playing. Skill at 5, it will cost you 3 points from 4 to 5. Also, since your Character is experi- • Spend another total of 5 points on enced, choose an age between 28 and Advantages, taking up to another 35. You can go a little over or under, 12 points worth of Disadvantages. but you should have a good expla- • Choose 1 Talent. nation as to why he is over or under- • You have a Personal Wealth of 2 skilled for his age. and a Sponsored Wealth of 1.

85 Chapter 5: Characters • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • are markedthis specialty with*. for thatare important especially Skills will cost you 3points from 4to 5.Those you at chooseto 5,it purchase aSkill it willcost you 2points from 3to 4.If you atIf chooseto 4, purchase aSkill 30 points amongthefollowing Skills. Skills are markedfor thisspecialty with*. Attributes thatare important especially ditional 5points between them.Those butes are asfollows. Distribute anad- Attributes Warden Enforcer For specialty, your primary distribute • • • • • • As anEnforcer, Attri- your starting Hand Weapons: Improvised*Hand Weapons: Blunt*Hand Weapons: Blades* Hand Weapons: Guns: Special Guns: Longarms* Guns: Handguns* Assault Weapons*Guns: Freefall* Explosives Environmental Suit* Drones Drive: Wheeled Defense* Fraternize Cryptozoology Athletics: Speed Athletics: Fitness Athletics: Coordination Athletics: Brawn Armorer Physique Perseverance 3 Grace Demeanor Cleverness Awareness 2 3* 2 2 3* • • • • • Pilot • • • • • • VeteranMilitary • • • • • Checkered Past withineach(for atotalSkills of20). background. Assign 10points on the define your Character’shelp further templates,lowing 5secondary which Specialties Secondary • • • • • • • • • • • • • You shouldalsochoose2ofthefol- Sensors Pilot: Spacecraft Pilot: Atmospheric Shipboard Weapons Gunner: Astrogation Tactics: Naval Tactics: Military Mechanic Heavy Weapons: Portable Artillery forms Mobile Gunner: Weapons Plat Drive: Military Streetwise Job Odd Impersonation LowCrime: High Crime: Combat*Unarmed Thrown Weapons* Survival Stealth Reaction* Orienteering Occult Notice* Liberal Arts Law Language Intimidation Launchers Weapons:Heavy - Sailor • Tough (1-3) • Nautical: Motor Boats • Wealthy (2-3) • Nautical: Ocean Liners • Nautical: Sail Disadvantages • Nautical: Submarine • A/D Stasis Visions (2) • Sensors • Annoying Traits (1) • Arrogant (1) Social Butterfly • Bigoted (1) • Deception • Chronic Pain (2) • Insight • Dark Secret (1-3) • Persuade • Darkness Magnet (3) • Savoir Faire • Depressed (1) • Seduction • Enemy (1-3)* • Fanatic (1-3) Qualities • Manic (1) The following Qualities are appropri- • Nightmares (3) ate for an Enforcer. Spend 5 points to • Persistent Injury (1-3) acquire Advantages. Conversely, you • Phobia (1)* gain 1 point with which to purchase • Poor (2-3) further Advantages for every 1 point of • Rival (1-3)* Disadvantages you take – up to 12 ad- • Tormented (1) ditional points. Qualities marked with a • Ugly (1) * may be chosen multiple times. • Vengeful (1)

Advantages Talents • Acute Senses (1)* The following Talents are appropriate • Ambidextrous (1) for an Enforcer. Choose 1. • Common Sense (2) Chapter 5: Characters • Disease Resistant (1) • Black Heart • Double-Jointed (1) • Born in Freefall • Dream Void (2) • Double Tap • Fast (2) • Fight, Not Flight • Fearless (3) • Killer Instinct • Gifted Metabolism (1) • Lift With Your Legs • Hard to Kill (1-3) • No Rest for the Wicked • Internal Clock (1) • One Foot in the Grave • Internal Map (1) • Peek-a-Boo • Luck (1-3) • Sexual Magnet • Nightvision (2) • Snake Eyes • Occult Sensitive (3) • True Grit • Peripheral Vision (2) • Whiff of Death • Rapid Recovery (2) • Wicked Smart • Sexy (1) • Sixth Sense (3) 87 Chapter 5: Characters • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • are markedthis specialty with*. for thatare important especially Skills will cost you 3points from 4to 5.Those you at chooseto 5,it purchase aSkill it willcost you 2points from 3to 4.If you atIf chooseto 4, purchase aSkill 30 points amongthefollowing Skills. Skills Attributes Warden Investigator for this specialty are markedfor thisspecialty with*. Attributes thatare important especially ditional 5points between them.Those tributes are asfollows. Distribute anad- For specialty, your primary distribute • • • • • As anInvestigator, At your starting • Language Investigate* Intimidation Insight* Freefall* Defense* BluntHand Weapons: Blades Hand Weapons: Guns: Longarms Guns: Handguns* Assault WeaponsGuns: Fraternize* Environmental Suit* Drones Drive: Wheeled Deception* Cryptozoology Communications Athletics: Speed Athletics: Fitness Physique Perseverance 3 Grace Demeanor Cleverness Awareness 2 2 3* 2 3* - • • • • • Pilot • • • • • Former Cop • • • • • Corporate Sector withineach(for atotalSkills of20). background. Assign 10points on the define your Character’shelp further templates,lowing 4secondary which TemplatesSecondary • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • You shouldalsochoose2ofthefol- Sensors Pilot: Spacecraft Pilot: Atmospheric Shipboard Weapons Gunner: Astrogation Surveillance Law LowCrime: High Crime: Animal Handling Trade: Product Trade: Business Law Computers Bureaucracy Combat*Unarmed Thrown Weapons Survival Streetwise* Stealth Seduction Science: Social Savoir Faire* Research Reaction* Persuade* Orienteering Occult Notice* Liberal Arts Law* Disadvantages Former Undercover Cop • A/D Stasis Visions (2) • Art: Acting • Arrogant (1) • Hand Weapons: Improvised • Bigoted (1) • Impersonation • Chronic Pain (2) • Law • Dark Secret (1-3) • Odd Job • Darkness Magnet (3) • Depressed (1) Qualities • Enemy (1-3)* The following Qualities are appropri- • Fanatic (1-3) ate for an Enforcer. Spend 5 points to • Fat (2) acquire Advantages. Conversely, you • Manic (1) gain 1 point with which to purchase • Nightmares (3) further Advantages for every 1 point of • Persistent Injury (1-3) Disadvantages you take – up to 12 ad- • Phobia (1)* ditional points. Qualities marked with a • Poor (2-3) * may be chosen multiple times. • Rival (1-3)* • Sensory Impaired (1)* Advantages • Skinny (2) • Acute Senses (1)* • Slow (2) • Ally (1-3)* • Tormented (1) • Ambidextrous (1) • Vengeful (1) • Contact (1-2)* • Common Sense (2) Talents • Disease Resistant (1) The following Talents are appropriate • Dream Void (2) for an Investigator. Choose 1. • Eidetic Memory (3) • Empath (1) • Black Heart Chapter 5: Characters • Fast (2) • Born in Freefall • Fearless (3) • Don’t I Know You? • Gifted Metabolism (1) • Double Tap • Hard to Kill (1-3) • Fight, Not Flight • Internal Clock (1) • Killer Instinct • Internal Map (1) • Know Where Your Towel Is • Luck (1-3) • Lift With Your Legs • Nightvision (2) • No Rest for the Wicked • Occult Sensitive (3) • One Foot in the Grave • Peripheral Vision (2) • Peek-a-Boo • Rapid Recovery (2) • Sexual Magnet • Sexy (1) • Too Innocent • Sixth Sense (3) • True Grit • Tough (1-3) • Whiff of Death • Wealthy (2-3) • Wicked Presence

89 Chapter 5: Characters tant for this specialty are markedtant forthisspecialty with*. thatare impor Those especially Skills 5, itwillcost you 3points from 4to 5. you at4. If chooseto purchase aSkill at 4,itwillcost you 2points from 3to you If choosetoSkills. purchase aSkill ute 30points amongthefollowing Skills are markedfor thisspecialty with*. Attributes thatare important especially ditional 5points between them.Those butes are asfollows. Distribute anad- Attributes Warden Researcher • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • For specialty, your primary distrib • • • • • • As an Researcher, Attri- your starting Notice* Liberal Arts Law Language* Investigate* BluntHand Weapons: Blades Hand Weapons: Guns: Longarms Guns: Handguns* Assault WeaponsGuns: Freefall* Fraternize Environmental Suit* Drive: Wheeled Defense* Deception Cryptozoology* Computers Athletics: Speed Physique Perseverance 3 Grace Demeanor Cleverness Awareness 2 2 2 3* 3* - - • • • • • Physician • • • • • • Engineer • • • • • • Artist withineach(for atotalSkills of20). background. Assign 10 points on the define your Character’shelp further templates,lowing 4secondary which TemplatesSecondary You shouldalsochoose2ofthefol- • • • • • • • • • • • • • Medicine: PsychologicalMedicine: PhysicalMedicine: Animal Medicine: Bureaucracy Animal Handling Mechanic TransitEngineer: Drive PowerEngineer: Systems LifeEngineer: Support Electrical Engineer: BasicDriveEngineer: Other Art: Writing Art: Oratory Art: Music Art: Dance Art: Acting Art: Unarmed Combat*Unarmed Thrown Weapons Survival Science: Space Science: Social Science: Physical Science: Life Science: Earth Research* Reaction* Persuade Orienteering Occult* Social Butterfly • Chronic Pain (2) • Deception • Coward (3) • Persuade • Dark Secret (1-3) • Insight • Darkness Magnet (3) • Savoir Faire • Depressed (1) • Seduction • Enemy (1-3)* • Fanatic (1-3) Qualities • Fat (2) The following Qualities are appropri- • Manic (1) ate for an Enforcer. Spend 5 points to • Nightmares (3) acquire Advantages. Conversely, you • Persistent Injury (1-3) gain 1 point with which to purchase • Phobia (1)* further Advantages for every 1 point • Poor (2-3) of Disadvantages you take – up to 12 • Rival (1-3)* additional points. Qualities marked • Sensory Impaired (1)* with a * may be chosen multiple times. • Skinny (2) • Slow (2) Advantages • Tormented (1) • Acute Senses (1)* • Ugly (1) • Ally (1-3)* • Vengeful (1) • Contact (1-2)* • Common Sense (2) Talents • Disease Resistant (1) The following Talents are appropri- • Dream Void (2) ate for a Researcher. Choose 1. • Eidetic Memory (3) • Fearless (3) • Black Heart • Gifted Metabolism (1) • Born in Freefall • Hard to Kill (1-3) • Deeply Weird Chapter 5: Characters • Internal Clock (1) • Double Tap • Internal Map (1) • Fight, Not Flight • Luck (1-3) • Killer Instinct • Nightvision (2) • Know Where Your Towel Is • Occult Sensitive (3) • No Rest for the Wicked • Rapid Recovery (2) • One Foot in the Grave • Sexy (1) • Peek-a-Boo • Sixth Sense (3) • Sexual Magnet • Wealthy (2-3) • Snake Eyes • Too Innocent Disadvantages • True Grit • A/D Stasis Visions (2) • Whiff of Death • Annoying Traits (1) • Wicked Smart • Arrogant (1) • Bigoted (1) 91 6 Skills:Qualities:Talents

Skills Gunner: Mobile Weapons Platforms Skills are the useful things your (Awareness) Character has learned how to do. They This skill covers being capable of firing are listed here in alphabetical order, all manner of large-scale artillery. according to the type of skill. Each is listed with its most commonly used Gunner: Shipboard Weapons appropriate Attribute. (Awareness) This skill covers being capable of firing There are also two reference lists in all manner of shipboard armament. the next few pages to assist. Guns: Assault Weapons (Awareness) Artistic Skills This skill covers being capable of firing Art: Acting (Awareness) submachine guns and assault rifles. This skill covers being capable of pre- tending to be someone else in imagi- Guns: Handguns (Awareness) nary situations. This skill covers being capable of firing pistols. Art: Dance (Grace) This skill covers being capable of Guns: Longarms (Awareness) rhythmically moving one’s body. This skill covers being capable of firing rifles and shotguns. Art: Music (Awareness) This skill covers being capable of play- Guns: Special (Awareness) ing a musical instrument or instru- This skill covers being capable of firing ments, or of singing. exotic weapons, like flamethrowers.

Art: Oratory (Demeanor) Hand Weapons: Blades (Grace) This skill covers being capable of This skill covers being capable of fight- speaking publicly. ing with bladed weapons.

Art: Writing (Cleverness) Hand Weapons: Blunt (Grace) This skill covers being capable of effec- This skill covers being capable of fight- tive written communication. ing with blunt weapons.

Art: Other (Variable) Hand Weapons: Improvised (Grace) This skill enables you to choose anoth- This skill covers being capable of fight- er art form not represented here. ing with improvised weapons.

Combat Skills Heavy Weapons: Launchers Defense (Grace) (Awareness) This skill covers being capable of This skill covers being capable of firing avoiding harm in conflict situations. grenade and rocket launchers. Heavy Weapons: Portable Artillery Unarmed Combat (Grace) (Awareness) This skill covers being capable of fight- This skill covers being capable of firing ing using only your body as a weapon. mortars and machine guns. Knowledge Skills Reaction (Grace) This skill covers being capable of effec- Investigate (Awareness) tively reacting when danger presents This skill covers understanding how to itself. look for evidence, clues, and informa- tion trails, as well as how to analyze Tactics: Military (Cleverness) data for meaningful patterns. This skill covers understanding how to coordinate fighting forces on land or Language (Cleverness) in the air. This skill covers being capable of speaking languages other than one’s Tactics: Naval (Cleverness) native tongue. Choose one per skill, This skill covers understanding how to most prevalent being English and coordinate fighting forces at sea or in Mandarin Chinese. space. Liberal Arts (Cleverness) Thrown Weapons (Grace) This skill covers understanding a broad This skill covers being capable of utiliz- education of basic mathematics, his- ing thrown weapons of all kinds. tory, philosophy, and the like.

93 Alien Autopsy: Deep One Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents Science: Space (Cleverness) (Cleverness)Science: Social Science: Physical (Cleverness) Science: Life (Cleverness) (Cleverness) Science: Earth PsychologicalMedicine: (Cleverness) PhysicalMedicine: (Cleverness) Animal (Cleverness)Medicine: (Cleverness)Cryptozoology Scientific Skills Freefall (Grace) Athletics: Speed(Physique) Athletics: Fitness (Perseverance) Athletics: Coordination (Grace) Athletics: Brawn (Physique) Physical Skills Research (Cleverness) Occult (Cleverness) (Cleverness)Liberal Arts Language (Cleverness) Investigate (Awareness) Knowledge Skills CombatUnarmed (Grace) Thrown(Grace) Weapons Tactics: Naval (Cleverness) Tactics: (Cleverness) Military (Grace)Reaction Heavy (Awareness)Weapons: Portable Artillery Heavy Weapons: Launchers(Awareness) Hand Weapons: Improvised (Grace) Hand Weapons: Blunt (Grace) Hand Weapons: Blades(Grace) Guns: Special(Awareness) Guns: Longarms (Awareness) Guns: Handguns(Awareness) Guns: Assault Weapons (Awareness) ShipboardGunner: Weapons (Awareness) Mobile Gunner: Weapons Platforms (Awareness) Defense (Grace) Combat Skills (Variable) Other Art: (Cleverness) Writing Art: (Demeanor) Oratory Art: (Awareness) Music Art: Dance (Grace)Art: (Awareness) Acting Art: Skills Artistic Pilot: Spacecraft (Awareness) Pilot: Atmospheric (Grace) (Awareness)Nautical: Submarine (Awareness)Nautical: Sail Nautical: Ocean Liners (Awareness) Nautical: MotorBoats(Awareness) Drones (Awareness) (Grace) Drive: Military (Grace) Drive: Wheeled Astrogation (Cleverness) Vehicle Skills Trade: Product (Variable) Trade: Business(Cleverness) Law (Cleverness) (Cleverness)Bureaucracy Animal Handling(Awareness) Trade Skills (Awareness)Sensors (Cleverness)Mechanic Explosives (Cleverness) Environmental Suit(Awareness) Engineer: Transit Drive (Cleverness) PowerEngineer: Systems (Cleverness) (Cleverness) LifeEngineer: Support (Cleverness) Electrical Engineer: BasicDriveEngineer: (Cleverness) Computers (Cleverness) Communications (Cleverness) Armorer (Cleverness) Technical Skills (Perseverance)Survival Orienteering (Awareness) Job(Variable) Odd Notice (Awareness) Skills Survival (Cleverness)Surveillance Streetwise (Demeanor) Stealth (Grace) (Demeanor) Impersonation LowCrime: (Grace) (Cleverness) High Crime: Surreptitious Skills (Demeanor) Seduction Savoir Faire (Demeanor) Persuade (Demeanor) (Demeanor) Intimidation (Awareness)Insight Fraternize (Demeanor) Deception (Demeanor) Skills Social Skill ListbyGroup Occult (Cleverness) diagnose and treat injury and illness in This skill covers understanding the se- animals. cret and hidden world. Medicine: Physical (Cleverness) Research (Cleverness) This skill covers understanding how to This skill covers understanding how diagnose and treat injury and illness in and where to search for desired and people. accurate information. Medicine: Psychological (Clever- Physical Skills ness) This skill covers understanding how Athletics: Brawn (Physique) to diagnose and treat behavioral and This skill covers being capable of ath- mental disorders. letic feats based primarily on strength training. Science: Earth (Cleverness) This skill covers understanding the Athletics: Coordination (Grace) factors behind planetary formation This skill covers being capable of ath- and planetary cycles. letic feats based primarily on agility training. Science: Life (Cleverness) This skill covers understanding the bi- Athletics: Fitness (Perseverance) ological factors behind all kinds of life This skill covers being capable of ath- and how life is sustained. letic feats based primarily on endur- ance training. Science: Physical (Cleverness) This skill covers understanding the physical laws of the universe. Athletics: Speed (Physique) Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents This skill covers being capable of ath- letic feats based primarily on speed Science: Social (Cleverness) training. This skill covers understanding how human beings interact and how soci- Freefall (Grace) eties function and have evolved. This skill covers being capable of func- tioning effectively in microgravity or Science: Space (Cleverness) zero-G. This skill covers understanding how celestial bodies are formed and be- have. Scientific Skills

Cryptozoology (Cleverness) Social Skills This skill covers understanding unnat- Deception (Demeanor) ural creatures. This skill covers being capable of lying, spinning half-truths, or conversation- Medicine: Animal (Cleverness) ally steering away from tough topics This skill covers understanding how to or questions. 95 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents Nautical: MotorBoats(Awareness) PsychologicalMedicine: (Cleverness) PhysicalMedicine: (Cleverness) Animal (Cleverness)Medicine: (Cleverness)Mechanic (Cleverness)Liberal Arts Law (Cleverness) Language (Cleverness) Investigate (Awareness) (Demeanor) Intimidation (Awareness)Insight (Demeanor) Impersonation Heavy (Awareness)Weapons: Portable Artillery Heavy Weapons: Launchers(Awareness) Hand Weapons: Improvised (Grace) Hand Weapons: Blunt (Grace) Hand Weapons: Blades(Grace) Guns: Special(Awareness) Guns: Longarms (Awareness) Guns: Handguns(Awareness) Guns: Assault Weapons (Awareness) ShipboardGunner: Weapons (Awareness) Mobile Gunner: Weapons Platforms (Awareness) Freefall (Grace) Fraternize (Demeanor) Explosives (Cleverness) Environmental Suit(Awareness) Engineer: Transit Drive (Cleverness) PowerEngineer: Systems (Cleverness) (Cleverness) LifeEngineer: Support (Cleverness) Electrical Engineer: BasicDriveEngineer: (Cleverness) Drones (Awareness) (Grace) Drive: Military (Grace) Drive: Wheeled Defense (Grace) Deception (Demeanor) (Cleverness)Cryptozoology LowCrime: (Grace) (Cleverness) High Crime: Computers (Cleverness) Communications (Cleverness) (Cleverness)Bureaucracy Athletics: Speed(Physique) Athletics: Fitness (Perseverance) Athletics: Coordination (Grace) Athletics: Brawn (Physique) Astrogation (Cleverness) (Variable) Other Art: (Cleverness) Writing Art: (Demeanor) Oratory Art: (Awareness) Music Art: Dance (Grace)Art: (Awareness) Acting Art: Armorer (Cleverness) Animal Handling(Awareness) Alphabetical SkillList Unarmed CombatUnarmed (Grace) Trade: Product (Variable) Trade: Business(Cleverness) Thrown(Grace) Weapons Tactics: Naval (Cleverness) Tactics: (Cleverness) Military (Perseverance)Survival (Cleverness)Surveillance Streetwise (Demeanor) Stealth (Grace) (Awareness)Sensors (Demeanor) Seduction Science: Space (Cleverness) (Cleverness)Science: Social Science: Physical (Cleverness) Science: Life (Cleverness) (Cleverness) Science: Earth Savoir Faire (Demeanor) Research (Cleverness) (Grace)Reaction Pilot: Spacecraft(Awareness) Pilot: Atmospheric (Grace) Persuade (Demeanor) Orienteering (Awareness) Job(Variable) Odd Occult (Cleverness) Notice (Awareness) (Awareness)Nautical: Submarine (Awareness)Nautical: Sail Nautical: Ocean Liners(Awareness) Fraternize (Demeanor) Stealth (Grace) This skill covers being capable of This skill covers being capable of hid- blending into social functions and cir- ing and moving quietly, so as not to be cles of all kinds. noticed. Nautical: Ocean Liners (Awareness) Nautical: Sail (Awareness) Insight (Awareness) Streetwise (Demeanor) Nautical: Submarine (Awareness) Notice (Awareness) This skill covers being capable of dis- This skill covers being capable of sur- Occult (Cleverness) cerning other people’s personalities viving on the streets and navigating Odd Job (Variable) Orienteering (Awareness) and motivations. the shadier side of society. Persuade (Demeanor) Pilot: Atmospheric (Grace) Pilot: Spacecraft (Awareness) Intimidation (Demeanor) Surveillance (Cleverness) Reaction (Grace) This skill covers being capable of cow- This skill covers understanding how to Research (Cleverness) ing another person either through observe the movements and actions Savoir Faire (Demeanor) Science: Earth (Cleverness) browbeating or physical intimidation. of a subject, without him knowing. Science: Life (Cleverness) Science: Physical (Cleverness) Science: Social (Cleverness) Persuade (Demeanor) Survival Skills Science: Space (Cleverness) This skill covers being capable of con- Seduction (Demeanor) vincing people to agree with you or do Sensors (Awareness) Notice (Awareness) Stealth (Grace) what you want. Streetwise (Demeanor) This skill covers being capable of no- Surveillance (Cleverness) ticing important things in one’s envi- Survival (Perseverance) Savoir Faire (Demeanor) ronment. Tactics: Military (Cleverness) This skill covers understanding how to Tactics: Naval (Cleverness) Thrown Weapons (Grace) properly behave in different social cir- Odd Job (Variable) Trade: Business (Cleverness) cles and to negotiate with diplomacy. Trade: Product (Variable) This skill covers being capable of dab- Unarmed Combat (Grace) bling from a broad base of knowledge, Seduction (Demeanor) but being truly proficient in none. This skill covers being capable of Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents arousing someone’s sexual interest Orienteering (Awareness) and to manipulate them through it. This skill covers understanding how to navigate planet-side. Surreptitious Skills Survival (Perseverance) Crime: High (Cleverness) This skill covers being capable of sus- This skill covers understanding how to taining one’s own life in hostile cir- plan and execute white collar crimes. cumstances.

Crime: Low (Grace) Technical Skills This skill covers being capable of per- Armorer (Cleverness) forming street crimes. This skill covers understanding how to make and modify weapons, armor, Impersonation (Demeanor) and ammunition. This skill covers being capable of dis- guising oneself and/or pretending to Communications (Cleverness) be somebody official or specific. This skill covers understanding how 97 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents pairing mechanicalmachinery.pairing coversThis skill beingcapableofre (Cleverness)Mechanic traps ordemolitions. effectively makeanduse explosives for coversThis skill understandinghow to Explosives (Cleverness) ing environmental suitsofallkinds. coversThis skill being capable of utiliz- Environmental Suit(Awareness) drives. to design andrepair spaceship transit coversThis skill understandinghow Engineer: Transit Drive (Cleverness) systems.and distribution design andrepair power generating coversThis skill understandinghow to (Cleverness) Engineer: Power Systems design and repair systems. life support coversThis skill understandinghow to (Cleverness)Engineer: Life Support systems.design andrepair electrical coversThis skill understandinghow to (Cleverness)Engineer: Electrical drives. to design andrepair basicspaceship coversThis skill understandinghow Engineer: Drive Basic (Cleverness) them to do. program them to do what you want use computers and, at higherlevels, coversThis skill understandinghow to Computers (Cleverness) tions equipment. to use and foil advanced communica- - use andunderstandremote sensors. coversThis skill understandinghow to (Awareness)Sensors ating robotic drones remotely. coversThis skill beingcapableofoper Drones (Awareness) landvehicles. ing military coversThis skill being capable of driv (Grace)Drive: Military ing wheeledlandvehicles. coversThis skill being capable of driv (Grace)Drive: Wheeled navigate thesolarsystem. coversThis skill understandinghow to Astrogation (Cleverness) ofgoodorservice. ducing akind coversThis skill being capable of pro Trade: (Variable) Product engage incommerce. coversThis skill understandinghow to Trade: Business(Cleverness) gation. law enforcement techniques, andliti- coversThis skill understandinglaw, Law (Cleverness) tions. work inadministration andorganiza- coversThis skill understandinghow to Bureaucracy (Cleverness) handle, care for, andtrain animals. coversThis skill understandinghow to Animal Handling (Awareness) Vehicle Skills Trade Skills - - - - Nautical: Motor Boats (Awareness) sharp. You receive one free Success for This skill covers being capable of pilot- Tests that rely on this sense. You may ing motor-powered boats. purchase this advantage once for each of your Character’s senses. Nautical: Ocean Liners (Awareness) This skill covers being capable of pilot- Ally (1-3)* ing large ocean-going vessels. Your Character has developed a re- lationship with someone who will go Nautical: Sail (Awareness) out of his way to help. The relationship This skill covers being capable of pilot- with this ally goes both ways, how- ing wind-driven vessels. ever – he may occasionally also ask for help. Your Character should be careful Nautical: Submarine (Awareness) not to abuse this relationship, because This skill covers being capable of pilot- allies will stop being so if not treated ing submersible vessels. properly.

Pilot: Atmospheric (Grace) An Ally/1 has some measure of in- This skill covers being capable of pilot- fluence and/or skill, while an Ally/2 is ing rotor or fixed wing terrestrial flying moderately influential and/or skilled, vehicles. and an Ally/3 is very influential and/or skilled. Pilot: Spacecraft (Awareness) This skill covers being capable of pilot- Ambidextrous (1) ing all kinds of spaceships. Your Character is capable of using either of his hands effectively and functionally has no preference. He can continue to function normally if one of Qualities Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents Qualities are those things about his hands or arms is wounded. your Character that can’t be easily summed up by Attributes or Skills, but Contact (1-2)* which are still an innate part of him. Your Character knows someone who can provide limited help or pass Any Quality marked * may be taken on important information. Unlike an multiple times for multiple effects, Ally, this person doesn’t ask for much which are explained in the descrip- in return other than the occasional fa- tions. Additionally, bonuses or penal- vor, so the relationship is more difficult ties from different Qualities that affect to abuse. the same things stack on one another for additional benefit or detriment. Contact/1 represents either two contacts of low-ranking position or Advantages one contact of mid-level position, Acute Senses (1)* while Contact/2 represents either two One of your Character’s senses (sight, contacts of mid-level position or one hearing, touch, or smell/taste) is extra- contact of high-level position.

99 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents Whenever your isaboutto Character isfoolish. orinaction course ofaction Common (2) Sense Your hasasensewhen Character Wanted (1-3) Vengeful (1) Ugly (1) Tormented (1) Slow (2) (2) Skinny Impaired(1)* Sensory (1-3)* Rival Poor (2-3) Phobia (1)* Persistent (1-3) Injury Nightmares (3) (1) Manic Fat (2) Fanatic (1-3) Enemy (1-3)* Depressed (1) Magnet(3) Darkness SecretDark (1-3) Coward (3) Chronic Pain (2) Bigoted (1) Arrogant (1) Annoying Traits(1) A/D Stasis Visions (2) Disadvantages Wealthy (2-3) Tough (1-3) (3) Sense Sixth (1) Sexy (2) Recovery Rapid Peripheral(2) Vision Occult Sensitive (3) (2) Nightvision Luck (1-3) (1) Map Internal Clock(1) Internal Hard (1-3) to Kill (1) Metabolism Gifted Fearless (3) Fast (2) Empath (1) (3) Eidetic Memory Dream(2) Void (1) Double-Jointed Disease Resistant(1) Common (2) Sense Contact (1-2)* Ambidextrous (1) Ally (1-3)* Acute (1)* Senses Advantages Qualities List looks. Hegetsabonusof +1Diefor Fast (2) including Insight. gains onefree Success toSkills, Social of what otherpeopleare feeling. He Empath (1) read orexperienced firsthand. involving remembering things hehas giving himtwo free Successes for Tests He photographichas a nearly recall, sees andhearsto memory, anditsticks. (3) Eidetic Memory of theOldOnesinhissleep. nor ishesusceptible to theinfluence He cannotbeplaguedby nightmares, those rare peoplewho doesn’t dream. the universe, is – fortunate he is one of Dream Void(2) tage. jointedness might give himanadvan- Grace-based Test inwhichhisdouble- far. He gets one free Success to any (1) Double-Jointed as long. ease orillness, andstays sickonly half free Success to resist theeffectsofdis- long asotherpeople. Hegainsone ily and doesn’t stay typically sick as ResistantDisease (1) you aboutyour potential mistake. erness Test – if successful, he will warn hardy, your GMwillmakeasecret Clev insomethingthat isfoolparticipate - Your isfaster Character thanhe Your hasanintuitive Character sense Your commits Character thingshe Your Character, given what isnow in Your Character’s joints bend extra Your doesn’t Character get sickeas- - Reaction Tests, and can move one full time, not necessarily the clock time of category faster in terms of Speed. He the planet or colony he is visiting. also gains one free Success on any Test of the Athletics: Speed Skill. Internal Map (1) Your Character has an intuitive Fearless (3) sense of direction and bearing. Once Your Character appears to others as he establishes where he is, he remem- fearless and doesn’t get spooked eas- bers places he’s been and how to get ily. He is immune to the kinds of nor- between them. He never gets lost in mal everyday human fears that plague cities or colonies he’s been to before. people, such as those related to stress This also gives him two free Successes or anxiety, and receives one free Suc- for Astrogation or Orienteering Tests. cess for Horror Tests. Luck (1-3) A Note to GMs: It will be tempting Fortune smiles on your character. for every player to arm their Character At Luck/1, you can re-roll one Test per with this advantage. Feel free to re- session and take the better result, at strict it to one per group. Luck/2, you can re-roll two Tests per session and take the better result in Gifted Metabolism (1) each, and at Luck/3, you can re-roll Your Character’s body processes three Tests per session and take the foods, drugs, and poisons better than better result in each. other people. He gains one free Suc- cess for Perseverance Tests to resist the Nightvision (2) effects of poisons, toxins, or drugs. Your Character can see better in dim lighting than other people, and halves Hard to Kill (1-3) any environmental penalties due to Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents Your Character is the kind of person darkness or obscuring conditions. that fights to stay alive, even when others would pass on. At Hard to Kill/1, Occult Sensitive (3) your character suffers the penalties of Your Character has an intuitive sense the Hurt Wound Level all the way until for the presence of the otherworldly. death, never becoming Incapacitated Whenever otherworldly influence is (though his armor is useless at that present, your GM will make a secret level). At Hard to Kill/2, your character Cleverness Test. If your Character is ignores the damage from one attack successful, your GM will let you know that would kill him, per day – at Hard he senses such influence – though not to Kill/3, two attacks. the source or direction of it.

Internal Clock (1) Peripheral Vision (2) Your Character has an intuitive sense Your Character can see things in of the passage of time, even when un- more detail throughout his field of vi- conscious. He always knows what time sion, and is capable of making Tests to it is, usually within about 10 minutes. notice things on the periphery of his However, this internal clock is set to his vision that other people would miss. 101 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents a Wealth Code of 2,whichrepresents ofgearto whichhehasaccess.kinds starting Wealth willdetermine what haps hejustgotlucky. Your Character’s hisfamilyiswealthy,perhaps orper and investment theway othersdon’t, tune. Perhaps he understands finances Wealthy (2-3) Wound Level damagetotal). (12extra fourextra points of damage at each an than usualandiscapableoftaking as having aHealthfour points higher with a Character Tough/2 istreated the Character’s Health. For example, Tough thatadds twice many points to ishment thanothers. Eachlevel of Tough (1-3) the source ofit. ordirection hesensesdanger –thoughnot know issuccessful,acter your GMwillletyou Notice orCleverness Test. your If Char ations arise, your GMwillmakeasecret for danger. Whenever dangerous situ- (3) Sense Sixth attracted to him,opposite orsamesex. Tests involving anyone whomight be gains onefree Success toSkill allSocial would beattracted to hisgender).He tive to theopposite sex (orthosewho (1) Sexy wounds only. ment. This onlyappliesto physical normal, regardless ofmodetreat RecoveryRapid (2) Characters normally begin normally Characters play with Your hasamassedafor Character Your cantakemore Character pun- Your hasanintuitive Character sense Your isespeciallyattrac Character Your asfast healstwice Character - - - - - that to Wealth Code 4(Wealthy). spending three points, hecanincrease to Wealth Code 3(Affluent), and by ing two points, hecanincrease that However,Middle-Class. by spend- to hisnative racial stock. with peoplewhoaren’t closelyrelated sight whendealing andIntimidation, -1 DietoSkill allSocial Tests, except- In tive languages. Hesuffers of apenalty colorsfor orna- thosewithotherskin other countries, colonies, orplanets, or doesn’t care muchfor peoplefrom (or cultures) that aren’t likehim.He Bigoted (1) Tests, except andIntimidation. Insight fers of-1Dieto Skill all Social apenalty others don’t necessarily agree. Hesuf- Arrogant (1) tion. Skill Tests, except- andIntimida Insight suffers of-1DieSocial to all apenalty that reallyacter bugsotherpeople. He Annoying Traits(1) days he comes after out ofA/DStasis. of -1Dieto all Tests fortwo thefirst Test; failure meanshesuffers apenalty couch, makeanAverage Perseverance Each time he emerges from a gravity that opens him up to influence. dark in that state ofsuspended animation in agravity couch. There issomething nightmarish visionswhilesuspended A/D Stasis Visions (2) Your doesn’t Character likepeople Your thinkshe’s Character great, but There issomethingaboutyour Char Your suffers Character and terrible Disadvantages - Chronic Pain (2) somehow find him. It is difficult for Your Character has an old injury or him to live in civilized areas and he condition that still interferes with his most often finds himself on the fringes comfort or mobility. He may have mi- of society. Unless he is resourceful and graines, joint pain, inflammatory or combat-trained, it is likely his lifespan digestive issues, or anything of that will be short. nature. At the beginning of each in- game day, make an Average Persever- Depressed (1) ance Test; failure means he suffers a Your Character feels down and penalty of -1 Die to all Tests for the first mopey most of the time. He sleeps a half of his day, as well as moves at a re- lot, has little motivation, is constantly duced rate of 75% of his Speed. Some pessimistic, and has nothing good to conditions may cause the pain to flair say about himself or life. In addition to up again and call for a re-Test, at your all the ways this can cause him prob- GM’s discretion. lems, he suffers a penalty of -1 Die to all Social Skill Tests, except Insight. Coward (3) Your Character is easily frightened Enemy (1-3)* and he does not deal well with danger. Your Character has angered some- Even normal things can freak him out, one and they are out to get him. This and he suffers a penalty of -2 Dice to person will go out of their way to Horror Tests. cause your Character problems and at least wishes to ruin, if not outright Dark Secret (1-3) physically harm, him. Your Character has done or knows about something that others would An Enemy/1 has some measure of freak out about. At Dark Secret/1, he influence and/or skill, while an Ene- Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents would become the target of ridicule or my/2 is moderately influential and/or be socially ostracized if the secret were skilled, and an Enemy/3 is very influen- discovered. Dark Secret/2, he would tial and/or skilled. gain a powerful enemy if the secret were discovered, and Dark Secret/3, Fanatic (1-3) he would be incarcerated or killed if There’s something in life your Char- the secret were discovered. At all lev- acter regards as vital to the point of ex- els, the Character suffers the effects tremism, most likely an ideal. At Fanat- of the levels below and his chances of ic/1, he will risk social consequences advancement in his chosen career will for his fanaticism, at Fanatic/2, he will be adversely affected. risk danger, and at Fanatic/3, he will sacrifice his life for it. Fanaticism forces Darkness Magnet (3) his behavior – he’s given up choice. The dark things of the universe are drawn to your Character. It is almost Fat (2) as if he is a cosmic beacon for hor- Your Character isn’t heavy or big rible things. Even if he tries to avoid boned – he’s some shade of obese. He the things in the shadows, they will suffers a penalty of -1 Die to Reaction 103 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents jury/3. to of -3 Dice a penalty at Persistent- In increases of-2Dice, to a penalty and ing aneye). At Persistentthis Injury/2, (suchasto Notice whenmiss- injury Tests that would beinfluenced by the he suffers of -1Die to any apenalty vent regenerative therapy. andsomething happened to pre part gans orlimbs, ormaybe helostabody cians from operating orreplacing or plication that hasprevented physi - Perhapsfunction. there’s somecom- that physical impairs normal acter Persistent (1-3) Injury for theday. he suffers of-1Die to all apenalty Tests erage Perseverance Test; failure means the world. Eachmorning, makeanAv ness that isonce againcoming into mares, brought often onby thedark Nightmares (3) except for Insight. -1DietoSkill allSocial a penalty Tests, this willgethiminto trouble, hesuffers additionto alltheways In self-esteem. fast, and has an over-inflated sense of around him.Hecan’t sitstill, talkstoo ated to way those that is unnerving getic most of the time, in an exagger (1) Manic slower interms ofhisSpeed.egory (except Brawn). Hemoves onefullcat especially usesoftheAthletics Skill any Tests involving speedorGrace, Tests, as well of -1 Dieto asapenalty At Persistent this means Injury/1, happenedtoSomething your Char Your suffers Character from night Your isupbeat Character andener ------very influential and/orskilled. very Rival/3 is fluential and a and/or skilled, is moderately while a Rival/2 skill, in- some measure ofinfluence and/or orhumiliate has him. ARival/1 out-do Character, andgenerally attempt to field. Hewillharass in aparticular your orobjective, oraccomplishmentject forCharacter something, beitanob feels heisincompetition withyour (1-3)* Rival (Destitute). can decrease that to Wealth Code 0 this Disadvantage at three points, he andby acquiring(Underprivileged), can decrease that to Wealth Code 1 this Disadvantage at two points, he However,Middle-Class. by acquiring a Wealth Code of2,whichrepresents tion. malfeasance, personalflaw, oraddic his financialstanding, whetheritbe vent. hashappenedto Something ruin Poor (2-3) an issue. isnolonger minutes theobject after of -1Dieto all Tests until acouple of ofhisfear,object hesuffers apenalty isconfronteda Character withthe tophobia (fear of the dark). Whenever (fear or scotymophobia of insects), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), en- being acrophobia (fear ofheights), ral things, some of the most common times, phobiasare ofsimpleandnatu- daylights out of your Character. Most Phobia (1)* Your hassomeonewho Character begin normally Characters play with Your isnotfinanciallysol- Character There’s something that scares the - - - Sensory Impaired (1)* Ugly (1) One of your Character’s senses Your Character is, in no way, an at- (sight, hearing, touch, smell/taste) tractive person. He suffers a penalty doesn’t work the way it should. You re- of -1 Die to all Social Skill Tests that ceive a penalty of -1 Die for Tests that in some way involve physical appear- rely on this sense. You may acquire this ance, though not for Insight or Intimi- disadvantage once for each of your dation. Character’s senses. Vengeful (1) Skinny (2) Your Character doesn’t take los- Your Character is not trim or wiry, ing or being wronged very well. He he’s downright sickly. He suffers a pen- doesn’t even have to have actually lost alty of -1 Die to Reaction Tests, as well or been wronged, he only has to per- as a penalty of -1 Die to any Tests in- ceive he has. He suffers a penalty of -1 volving Perseverance or Physique, es- Die to all Social Skill Tests, except for pecially uses of the Athletics: Brawn or Insight or Intimidation, when dealing Fitness Skills. This does not effect non- with the person upon which he wish- physical uses of Perseverance, such as es vengeance. Furthermore, he must Horror or Madness Tests. make a Perseverance Test not to take action against the person, whether Slow (2) through verbal abuse, attempted hu- For some reason, your Character miliation, pranks, legal action, or even moves much slower than most would physical violence, each time he is con- expect. He suffers a penalty of -1 Die fronted with them. to Reaction Tests, and moves one full category slower in terms of Speed. He Wanted (1-3) also suffers a penalty of -1 Die on any Your Character has done some- Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents Test of the Athletics: Speed Skill. thing and now the law wants to have a word. At Wanted/1, he has commit- Tormented (1) ted a misdemeanor and the search for You Character is the kind of person him is not intense – though there will that wrestles with inner demons. He be a warrant for his arrest on file. At may suffer from tragic self-doubt or Wanted/2, he has committed a non- have psychological scars from some violent felony, which has brought on sort of abuse. In any event, what is a warrant and mild alert for his arrest. normal for him may not be normal for However, at Wanted/3, he has commit- other, well-adjusted people. Though ted a violent felony and authorities ev- being Tormented does not have an im- erywhere are on the look-out for him. mediate effect on social interactions, it In any event, he’ll need a false identity is difficult for such people to maintain to move around, unless smuggled. long-lasting romantic relationships. Those who’ve known Tormented Char- acters for any length of time will re- Talents gard them as strange or damaged as There are those unexplainable well. knacks that people seem to naturally 105 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents to any other Tests hemustmake. gravity, and gainstwo free Successes for basicmoves in freefall ormicro Requires: Freefall Skill inFreefallBorn reality. truly threaten hisbeingorgrasp on Test thingsthat againstotherworldly remains, heisimmune–onlyhasto it has to If do with human suffering or fering from HorrorMadness. Effectsor to otherpeople, withnothreat ofsuf- to domessedupthings,ity especially Black Heart into your onaregular Character basis. you donotincorporate theseaspects to deny you thebonusfrom a Talent if real sense.very Your GMmay choose they moldwhoyour isina Character them. Chooseyour Talents carefully, as trait that ofpersonality gowith type many ofthe Talents suggestacertain you chooseyour Talents, notice that Those thingsare definedas Talents. As have, whichhelpdefinewhotheyare. Your doesn’t Character needto Test Your hasthespecialabil- Character Wicked Smart Wicked Presence WhiffDeath of True Grit Too Innocent Snake Eyes Magnet Sexual Peek-a-Boo One Foot intheGrave forNo Rest the Wicked With YourLift Legs Where Know YourTowel Is Instinct Killer Fight, NotFlight TapDouble Don’t IKnow You? WeirdDeeply inFreefallBorn Black Heart Talents List - soned travelers to have packed. that isunlikelyfor mostotherunsea - can evenpossessions. be something It it isn’t listed amongyour Characters a neededpiece ofgear, even when ation persession,you have access to prepared than others. any In onesitu- pared traveller, whoissimplymore KnowWhere YourTowel Is nores any ofthe target’s armor. andthisoneattack ig- where ithurts Requires: Combat&Trigger Skill Killer Instinct Horror at noPenalty. free attack againstthesource ofsaid Point to instead immediately makea ror Effect, you may spend one Tension Fight, Not Flight which hejustfired, at a-1Die Penalty. ond, non-auto shot at same target at Requires: &Trigger Appropriate GunSkill Double Tap interaction. of thisfirstintroductory the personinquestion,for purposes cial Skill Tests with sort of afriendly ers. You gainonefree Success for So to createity relatedness withstrang- Requires: Faire Savoir &Trigger Skill Don’t IKnow You? ogy. analyzing orusingalienlife ortechnol - cess for Cleverness-based Tests when Requires: appropriate Skills Deeply Weird Your andpre isanexpert Character Your how knows Character to hit When your suffers Character aHor Your canmakeafree Character sec Your hastheamazingabil- Character Your getsonefree Character Suc - - - - - Lift With Your Legs to hide, and gains one free Success to Your Character can lift and/or carry such Tests. 150% of what his peers might. Sexual Magnet No Rest for the Wicked Whether or not your Character is Your Character has the ability to ig- considered to be conventionally at- nore all penalties caused by Wound tractive and sexy, there is something Levels for 1d6 turns of combat. You about him that makes other people can choose when to bring this Talent want to be sexually involved with him. to bear, but can only use it once every He gains one free Success for Seduc- 24 hours. tion Tests against those who would normally find him sexually attractive. One Foot in the Grave Your Character knows he is likely to Snake Eyes come to a bad end and has embraced Your Character has the ability to ren- it. When he suffers a Horror Effect, he der his inner self as frightening as the can shift that effect up or down one world around him, at least temporar- result on the table. ily. He has the ability to delay the on- set of any Horror Effect for 2d6 turns Peek-a-Boo – though he will suffer the full effect Requires: Notice Skill once this duration has passed. As a Your Character is unnaturally good side effect, he gains one free Success at sensing living things that are trying to any Intimidation Tests. Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents

Maintaining Composure 107 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents nical Skills basedonCleverness.nical Skills free Success to or non-Scientific Tech- and gains one not book-smart, smart, Requires: Training to used be inskills Wicked Smart having recently used, this Talent. He cannotblendinwhenusing, or ing thisandpeople take notice ofhim. However, healsostandsoutwhendo free Success to any Skill Social Test. to bear,his personality gainingone Requires: Fraternize Wicked Presence comes into play. GM willletyouwhenthis know Talent yards, orotherplaces ofdeath. Your by corpses, ornearby morgues, grave peril, near someone whoisinmortal is near. This cancome intheform of to sensewhendeath ability unnerving Requires: Notice Whiff ofDeath Battered, and-3Dice at Hurt. at Bruised,no penalty only-1Dieat wounded. This meansthat hesuffers to than theusualpenalty Tests when True Grit reprieve. – however, hegetsthat crucialinitial he’s inasmuchtroubleguy asthenext Naturally, once evidence mounts up, of suchinvestigations, at leastinitially. doing. He can avoid being the target that ofwrong- peoplenever suspect Too Innocent Your isgenerally Character life- Your how knows Character to bring Your hastheuncanny Character and Your suffersCharacter one less Your of person is Character the kind - - - games, the increase. energy toamount ofin-game warrant er ornotyou’ve putinaconvincing have your GM’s approval, asto wheth- be better honed. You willalsoneedto to train theAttribute inquestionto ofthingsthat are requireding thekind you musthave do spent timein-game creasing to 3inbetween. from an2to a4withoutalsoin- skip butes incrementally, soyou can’t just tributes. You mustincrease your Attri- luck to improve your Character’s At Improving Attributes alittlespaceCharacter to acclimate. sions inarow. You needto give your sions inarow, ornew Talents two ses- you can’t two acquireses- anewSkill thing two gamesessionsinarow. and you may never improve thesame something by onepoint at atime Sheet–youacter may onlyimprove are appliedto anything onyour Char quirements, there are two maxims that quire ordissolve Qualities. Attributes, or Skills, Talents, andto ac ally spend to increase or purchase new sion, whichtheycanbankandeventu- Advances play ses- at theendofevery advancement. are Characters awarded matic, lessrealistic form ofcharacter Character Advancement Like most modern roleplayingLike mostmodern In orderIn to improve anAttribute, ispossible through training and It This goes for acquisition as well – Regardless ofothercosts andre The Void relies onamore dra------Improvement Advance Cost Acquiring New Talents Characters will also develop many From 1 to 2 2 new individual Talents as they grow. To From 2 to 3 2 acquire a new Talent costs 2 Advances. From 3 to 4 3 This new Talent should be relevant with how you’re playing. From 4 to 5 4 Modifying Qualities Learn a New Skill Sometimes your story will give your There are always new Skills you’ll Character the opportunity to acquire a want your Character to learn. In order new Advantage or finally lose a Disad- to learn a new Skill at 1, you’ll either vantage. Check in with your GM when need to spend the in-game equivalent you think either of these might be of 20 hours studying and training or appropriate – if he approves, you can 10 hours with a qualified teacher (any- spend the advances below to do so. one with the Skill at 3 or greater). Once you’ve done that, spend 1 Advance Your GM may also assign you new and you get the Skill at 1. Disadvantages during play. You don’t have to pay for them, but you also The Odd Job skill is a special case, don’t get any new additional points since it covers such a wide array of for Advantages from them. knowledge. It takes twice as long to learn and costs 2 Advances to get the Skill at 1. Cost Advance Cost 1 Point 2 Improving an Existing Skill 2 Points 3 In order to improve one of the Skills your Character already has, you must 3 Points 4 Chapter 6: Skills:Qualities:Talents have spent time using that Skill in- game recently. You must improve your Attributes incrementally, so you can’t just skip from an 2 to a 4 without also increasing to 3 in between.

Improvement Advance Cost From 1 to 2 1 From 2 to 3 2 From 3 to 4 2 From 4 to 5 3

Again, the Odd Job Skill is a special case – it costs twice as much.

109 7 Rules

Pretty much everything you’ll want Task Difficulty to do in The Void will be covered by Tests, which determine whether or not Easy 0 (if Skilled)/ you succeed or fail when it matters. 1 if Unskilled Tests are made by rolling a number of Average 1 six-sided dice as determined by things Hard 2 on your Character Sheet, trying to get Very Hard 3 as many fives and sixes as you can. Legendary 4

Tests Skill Tests When you want to do something Successes that requires training, you’ll need to Whenever you roll dice for a Test, make a Skill Test – the most common you are rolling to get what are called type of Test in the game. Successes on each individual die in your pool. Each five or six you roll Once you’ve determined which Skill counts as a Success. makes sense, roll a number of dice equal to the Skill’s rating, along with Difficulties the appropriate Attribute’s rating. Before we can talk about how you This will typically yield a dice pool of make Tests, we need to talk about Dif- between two and ten six-sided dice. ficulties. Everything you try to do has If the number of Successes you roll is a certain level of difficulty associated equal to or greater than the Difficulty, with it. One thing might be easy, while you succeed. another is just plain hard. To reflect this, The Void uses a scale of numbers Skills are paired with the most that reflect the difficulty of the task. likely Attribute that you’ll use. How- ever, sometimes you’ll be trying to do Whenever you need to make a Test, something that makes more sense us- your GM will tell you the Difficulty, ing a different Attribute – go with the based on what it is you’re trying to do. one that works best. When you make your dice roll, you’re going to want to get a total number Unskilled Tests of Successes that’s equal to or greater Sometimes you’ll need to try doing than the Difficulty. something that your Character is not skilled at doing. If your GM says that Here are the levels of Difficulty and you can try it – not all types of things the number of Successes you need at can be attempted by someone who each Difficulty isn’t trained – then you’ll make a differ- ent type of Skill Test. You’ll really only be able to succeed at fairly easy or Tests At a Glance routine things, but sometimes you’ve got to try. Difficulties • When you need to make a To try something when you have no Test, your GM will tell you the Skill, roll only a number of dice equal Difficulty. to the appropriate Attribute’s rating. • When you make your dice roll, Only sixes count as Successes for this you need to get a number of Test. If your total number of Successes fives or sixes that’s equal to or is equal to or greater than the Diffi- greater than the Difficulty. culty, you succeed. Skill Tests Complimentary Skills • When you want to do some- Sometimes you’ll need to try do- thing that requires training. ing something that your Character • Determine which Skill makes isn’t specifically skilled at doing, but the most sense. he’s got a skill that’s close. For exam- • Roll a number of six-sided ple, your Character may not be able dice equal to the appropriate to specifically shoot a pistol, but he Skill and Attribute ratings. knows how to shoot rifles. Your GM • Every five or six is a Success. will allow you to use that complimen- • If your total Successes equal tary Skill as if you had a rating of one or exceed Difficulty, you suc- lower in it (with a minimum of one). ceed. Your GM will ultimately determine if the Skill you want to use instead Unskilled Tests will work – sometimes they will and • When you want to try some- sometimes they won’t. thing when you have no Skill. • Roll dice equal to the appro- Attribute Tests priate Attribute. Sometimes you’ll need to do some- • Count only sixes as Success. thing that is covered by your raw abilities alone. There are many things Complimentary Skills in life that rely on your natural gifts, • When you want to try some- rather than what you’ve learned over thing when you have no Skill, the years. but you have a Skill that’s close. Once you’ve determined which At- • If your GM allows, you can use tribute makes the most sense, roll the complimentary Skill for a number of dice equal to twice the the Test, as if you had a rating appropriate Attribute’s rating. If your one lower in the appropriate total number of Successes is equal to Skill. 111 Chapter 7: Rules regardless ofhow many are available. activate one Trigger for eachaction, the Test inquestion,andyou may only vate a Trigger ifyou have succeeded at appropriate Trigger. You- may onlyacti ceed, you may chooseto activate an Success more thanyou needed to suc Triggered inorder to dotheirmagic. built into certain Talents that mustbe ceed. or greater thantheDifficulty, yousuc When you roll a minimum ofone Triggers are special effects that are Triggers - - Horror AtPlay to beat your opponent. pens, you’ll engageinaContest to try another living thing. When this hap to dowillmeetwiththeresistance of ity intimesofextremeneed.ity succeed at tasksfarbeyond your abil- come upsixes. This may allow you to tinue rolling dice aslongtheseextra you roll yet another die. You may con- a six,itcounts asaSuccess andlets roll another die. that one comes If up succeed onallofyour dice, you may Sometimes thething you’reSometimes trying bad thingsare. will tell you justhow lar fashion. Your GM - inaspectacu apart Fail andthingsfall are ones, it’s anEpic and all of your dice capable ofgenerat cesses that you are quires more Suc a Difficultthat re attempt a Test at may succeed. a slimchance you bility. There isstill is above your capa- that at aDifficulty tempt a Test that is may needto at pool anyway. you If dice pool, roll your ing basedonyour If youIf ever roll When you must youSometimes Contests Epic Fails Hail Mary - - - - - When you engage in a Contest, both you and your opponent make Tests At a Glance your rolls, whether they’re Skill or At- tribute Tests. Whoever gets the high- Attribute Tests est number of Successes wins. If you • When you need to do some- tie, roll again until someone wins. thing covered by raw abilities alone. Your GM might give you an extra • Roll a number of six-sided dice die or take away one of your dice in equal to double the appropri- your Contest if you or your opponent ate Attribute’s rating. have some kind of advantage. • Every five or six is a Success. • If your total Successes equal or Extended Tests exceed Difficulty, you succeed. Sometimes the thing you’re trying to do is something that’s going to Triggers take a lot of time and effort. If this is • Triggers are special effects the case, make three Tests. If you suc- that are built into certain Tal- ents. ceed at two out of the three, you suc- • When appropriate, you may ceed overall. activate a Trigger when you get one more Success than Teamwork you needed. Sometimes the thing you’re trying to do is something where your friends Epic Fails can help you out. In order to do so, • If you ever roll all ones, things your friend must have a rating in the fall apart in a spectacular fash- skill that is a minimum of one lower ion. than yours. If this is the case, you get a bonus die for that Test. Contests • When something you’re trying

will meet with the resistance Chapter 7: Rules Special Tests of another living thing. • You and your opponent make Horror Tests Tests. Whoever rolls more Suc- cesses wins. Characters in The Void run into • Ties re-roll until someone some very scary things. Sometimes wins. it’s situations that are frightening and sometimes it’s the things that go Extended Tests bump in the night. Your Character’s • When something you’re trying reaction to such things are simulated to do will take time and effort. by Horror Tests. • Make three Tests. If you suc- ceed at two out of three, you Whenever your Character has a succeed overall. chance of getting scared or runs into a frightening creature, he must suc- ceed at a Horror Test to prevent his 113 Chapter 7: Rules in nature: guidelines for horror that issituational with them,to makeiteasy. have already aDifficulty associated vided by theGM. Terrifying creatures tribute Tests, againstaDifficulty pro fighttriggering. orflightfrom instinct ceed at aHorror Test to prevent his • • • • Horror Tests: • • • Teamwork: Here are afew general Difficulty Horror Tests are Perseverance At Special TestsAtaGlance first halfdozen orsotimes. only callfor Horror Tests the any regularity, theGMshould the must Characters face with thingissomething ascary If table. and consult theHorror Effects Effect. To determine, roll 2d6 youIf fail, you suffer aHorror providedculty by theGM. Attribute Tests against a Diffi- Horror Tests are Perseverance afraid. ceed at aHorror Test orbe your Character, you mustsuc- When somethingmight scare Test. You getabonusdieto the rating.Skill rating ofonelower thanyour Each musthave aminimum canhelp. friends Sometimes Tests AtaGlance - - comfort andpotentialcomfort for later embar additionto thedis- (possibly both).In urinated ordefecated inhispants control of his bodily He functions. has Mess Your Pants them canleave indanger. Characters and none of themare pretty – many of one inthethroes offear cansuffer, Explanation ofEffects ror Effectstable. rollacts, two dice and consult the Hor ror Effect– to determine how he re induced. whether itbesituational orcreature- stimulusat thistime, this particular need to makeanotherHorror Test for without adverse effect. Hewillnot Horror Test, thenheprocesses thefear ihmrs IncrediblyHard Legendary Hard Shattering Mind Nightmarish Easy Difficulty Terrifying Scary Disturbing Horror Your issoscared Character heloses There effects some are six primary However, ifhefails, hesuffers aHor your succeedsIf Character at his 12 Faint Away Dead Freeze 10-11 LikeALittleKid Shriek 8-9 RunAway Screaming 6-7 4-5 Horror2-3 Effect 2d6 (Foolishly) In Fight Kick Instincts YourMess Pants Average - - - - - rassment, he cannot take action for ger flight. However, whatever scared two turns. your Character forced his primal fight instinct to kick in instead, and now he Run Away Screaming must attack the thing that scared him Your Character is so freaked out with a terrible rage. If it is a situation that he wants to get as far away from that triggered this reaction, he must the thing as possible. He can take no flip out in a fit of rage that is partly other action than to run in the op- directed against the situation and posite direction away from the thing partly just insanity. He regains control that scared him, and he will scream of himself after the stimulus is either unless stifled. He will keep running dead or gone – or until one to six min- until he either feels relatively safe or utes (1d6 minutes) have passed, or he that he has a reasonable chance of has taken at least 10 points of dam- hiding from the thing. Then, after be- age. ing still for a few moments, he can be- gin to take conscious action again. Becoming Accustomed It is possible to face a situation or Shriek Like A Little Kid a creature so many times that it los- Your Character is so scared he starts es its fearful barbs. If such a thing is to scream. These screams are the something the Characters must face panicked shrieks of the terrified. He with any regularity, referees should cannot stop shrieking for six turns, only call for Horror Tests the first half a though he can begin to take other ac- dozen or so times. After that, the only tion again after three turns. way the situation or creature should inspire fear again is if it is presented in Freeze some way that is out of the ordinary. Your Character’s psyche is so over- loaded by the experience that he Madness freezes up. He can take no action for The world of The Void is as such three turns, not even to make a sound. that the fragile world that people He is literally frozen, even if he suffers have crafted for themselves can come Chapter 7: Rules damage at the hand of aggressors. tumbling down around their ears – psychologically speaking. Whenever Faint Dead Away a Character is exposed to something Your Character is so freaked out that that puts pressure on his psyche or he can’t take it anymore. He blacks forces him to face something that is out and crumples in a heap on the outside his understanding of things, floor. Unless someone wakes him with he risks madness. smelling salts or a stimulant of some kind, he’s out for the next 10 minutes Situations that can instill madness to an hour (1d6 x 10 minutes). are rated in two ways. Madness Tests are Perseverance Attribute Tests, Fight Instinct Kick In (Foolishly) against the Madness Intensity. The The fight or flight instincts are close- Madness Intensity has two parts – the ly related and most fearful things trig- Difficulty for that Test and the number 115 Chapter 7: Rules from there. work theirway Scale uptheMadness Levels.two Madness would would meanthecharacter gain ofHard/2, Rating and failureMadness of theNecronomicon could have a hand, reading version atrueandintact Level.gain oneMadness Ontheother would would meantheCharacter ofAverage/1,ness Rating sofailure - for aMad tortured days might carry should hefailtheMadness Test. Levelsof Madness willgain acharacter All begin Characters at Lucid and For example, beingcaptured and Madmen AreNot SwayedBy0G people might politely refer to as Level I:Cracked much everyone. to normal pretty seems perfectly as well-adjusted aspeopleget. He brand himwell-adjusted –orat least are andapsychologist intact would Level 0:Lucid dens require people. functional ters begin at Level 0:Lucid, asthe War well asonelevel ofsanity. All charac The Scale Madness Your hassomeofwhat Character Your Character’s psychic defenses There are four levels ofmadness, as still longenough. committed ifhesits ofbeing the risk your runs Character ommend care, and will strongly rec health professional madness. A mental to hisoncoming point– willclearly his personalspace of peoplevisiting well asininstances thing longer–as butanyteraction, ofsocialin- periods foras normal brief can masquerade Level II:Bonkers ing sanity. first hint of his erod- psyche that are the in your Character’s merely thecracks arethese quirks “quirks.” course, Of Your Character - - - - Level III: Raving Your Character can no longer keep Special Tests At a Glance his madness to himself, nor can he sit quietly with it. He may still have good Madness Tests phases that allow him to interact with • When a Character is exposed society, but anyone spending time in to something that puts pres- even casual conversation will know sure on his psyche or is some- he is not right. Mental health profes- thing outside his understand- sionals will commit him to care with- ing of things, he must make a out question. Madness Test. • Madness Tests are Persever- Level IV: Loony ance Attribute Tests against It is impossible to hide how utterly the Madness Intensity, which gone your Character is. He is com- is the Difficulty. pletely divorced from conventional • If failed, the Character gains a sanity and can in no way function in number of Madness Levels. society or with other reasonably sane • If Characters reach Level IV: people. The authorities, if they aren’t Loony, they are in serious already, will be looking to intervene trouble. and carry him to in-patient therapy. • You must choose one Mental Disorder for each Madness Mental Disorders Level your Character has. Based on your level of madness, you may choose how this manifests Madness Recovery in your Character. There will be ec- • Madness Levels I & II can be centricities that will begin to show dealt with by regular therapy, in the way your Character behaves which is preferable. around other people. The more mad • Madness Levels III & IV must he becomes, the more radical and be dealt with via in-patient pronounced these will be. therapy, or treatment in a

mental hospital. Chapter 7: Rules To make it easy, choose one men- • Characters that reach Level IV tal disorder for your Character for Madness are no longer play- each level of madness (except for Lu- able as is. They will be out of cid). All of your Character’s disorders play for a while as they re- should intensify and become more cover. pronounced with each Madness Lev- el. Rather than give you an exhaustive list of all the ways a human psyche can break, here are a few of those dis- bility for his life, and now relies orders that will be the most interest- on others to make decisions and ing for this kind of game. take care of him. • Eating Disorder – your Character • Dependent Disorder – your Char- develops an unhealthy relation- acter no longer takes responsi- ship with food. 117 Chapter 7: Rules • • • • • • • • • • tional relationship withothers. and no longer engages in emo withdraws from social interaction Disorder–yourSchizoid Character it isinappropriate to do so. and physically peoplewhen harm him. Heislikelyto break things temper whenanything bothers nopatience andloseshis virtually Rage Disorder–your has Character common. ofsomething irrationally fearful Phobia – your is Character now both. of persecutionorgrandeur or suffersCharacter from delusions Paranoid Schizophrenia –your now suffers from panic attacks. Panic Disorder –your Character tention. and needsto bethecenter ofat view ofhisown self-importance suffersacter from an over-inflated Narcissistic Disorder–your Char have control over it. andwhetherornotyou surfaces as to whenthisotherpersonality out thedetailswithyour referee the horrors hehasfaced. Work to dealwith unique personality developsCharacter awholeother Multiple Personality Disorder–your ibility. elation, recklessness, and distract spair alternates withexaggerated sion and mania, sadness and de ter alternates between depres- –yourManic-Depression Charac sadness anddespair. ter experiences episodesofdeep –yourMajor Depression Charac is wrong withhimhealth-wise. constantly thinksthat something is always afraid ofbeingsickand –your Character Hypochondriasis ------how longittakes. personalities. Your GM willdetermine take longerthanthat, suchasmultiple However, somemental disorders may Level four that. months every after will loseoneMadness tion, characters cess that might exist. As asimplifica- work through any to thepro barriers therapist develop arelationship and first month isa wash, aspatient and over oftime. a period Generally, the a week inorder to gain any benefit, ters must generally go once or twice those at Levels IorIIMadness. Charac tion. oftreatmentThis kind works for may notbeaccompanied by medica- through in counseling and may or but isquite limited. the bin. The first is far more preferable, being committed orbeingthrown in is in-patient therapy, as alsoknown counseling anddrugs, andthesecond The firstistherapy, whichcaninvolve returncan helpaCharacter to sanity. damaged tends to stay that way. resilient thing,marvelously butonce from it. The humanpsyche may bea of madnessthanitisto come back Coming Back • • Therapy involves things working There are ofcare two types that isfareasier to slipintoIt thedepths human emotions. normal faking and hasdifficulty no longerhasany regard for life ortools.but rather asobjects He longer views otherpeopleassuch, –yourSociopathy no Character Nightmares may beafactor. the night orgettingto sleepat all. has aproblem sleepingthrough Sleeping Disorder–your Character - - In-patient therapy means the Char- acter committed to an institution for acter has been committed to a lock- a period of time (usually 18 months), and-key institution and cannot get so that he can recover with the proper out without his physician’s approval. help and guidance. He is under constant supervision and is most likely heavily medicated. This The first option is that your Char- type of therapy is the only kind that acter spends time in an institution will help those who have reached and you choose to sit that time out. Levels III or IV Madness. As a simpli- You can choose not to attend play fication, it takes a year of game time sessions, or you can come and pro- to come back from Level IV to Level III, vide moral support and participate then another six months from Level in whatever way you are capable. III to Level II. Then, a Character can be Perhaps you can help the GM out by released to regular therapy and into portraying NPCs. Regardless, your the world. Character is on hiatus while the rest of the group plays on. However, you That may seem like a long time, but shouldn’t be punished for that. It is it’s a small price to pay. These guide- recommended that GMs give Charac- lines are for Characters only, so that ters in such predicaments half of what you can bring your Character back the rest of the group earns in terms of from the very edge. Others in the set- Experience. ting may not be so lucky. Your GM will rule as to how long it takes for other The second option is similar to the NPCs to recover – those who have first, except that you either generate a reached Level IV Madness may not re- temporary Character to play (perhaps cover at all. with a grisly fate in mind) or that you take on the role of one of the regular Beyond the Pale secondary NPCs in your game. That Characters who reach Level IV Mad- way, you are fully participating – and, ness are about as far gone as you can as such, it is recommended that your

get. They no longer are capable of referee award you full Experience for Chapter 7: Rules appearing normal and they’re at the your primary Character, even if he is point where they might lock them- in the bin. selves in a room and write on the wall in their own excrement. In short, such Eventually, the magic day will come Characters are no longer playable as when your Character is free again and is. back to normal – or at least normal enough to go out in public. Does this mean that your Character who has had one too many bad days is now going to be taken away from Combat you forever? Not at all. It does mean The Void is a game of survival horror he’ll be out of play for a while, how- and that means that there are many ever. You have two options that will things in the solar system that will be work – both involve having your Char- actively trying to kill your Character. 119 Chapter 7: Rules 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. lows thesesimplesixsteps: CombatThe Turn to dosomething. involvedeveryone in the combat gets offiveries second-long turns, inwhich Physical andSocial. follow – ofconflict cover bothsorts sist thewillofanother). The rulesthat want to eitherenforce your will(orre There are alsotimeswhere you will Each and every turn ofcombat turn folEach andevery - Physical combat issplitupinto ase armor (ifany).armor which isreduced by thetarget’s opponent by to the damage roll, age for each Success hebeats his to addanadditional die ofdam- successful,If theattacker gets beats thedefender’s total, hehits. theattacker’sIf total equalsor using Grace +Defense. The defender thenmakesa Test to use. on heistrying +Attributeate for Skill theweap makes a Test usingtheappropri- succeed inaContest. The attacker To attack atarget, aplayer must each turn. andoneInvolvedAction, Action take oneFree oneSimple Action, Eachcan acts. each participant descending orderIn ofInitiative, Awareness +Reaction Test. tive Test for theturn. This isan - makesanInitia Each participant Physical Combat - - - • • • Free include: Actions how to classifytheaction. not onthislist, work outwithyour GM sified – if you wish to do something ferent andhow theyare actions clas- the taskat hand. Below isalistofdif- require to aCharacter concentrate on bit oftime. Involved generally actions involveactions andtakea someeffort quires noreal concentration. Simple and generally rebe done quickly you want. and resolve theminwhatever order tiative, you get to take all three Actions and oneInvolved Onyour Action. ini- one Free oneSimpleAction, Action, 2. TakeAction initiative. GM whenheannounces that lower initiative. You only needto tell your you onany canchooseto act lower to see what others are goingto do– rolls higherthantheother. batant rolls onedieuntil oneofthem those are somehow tied, each com- If goes first. the higher base Reaction thecaseofties,In thecombatant with order from highestInitiative to lowest. play goesin action, taking gets to start Awareness Once everyone +Reaction. tiative for make a the turn, Test using in what order. To determine your- Ini Initiative Tests1. Free are anything actions that can cantake eachparticipant Each turn, You may choose to hold your action Initiative determines who gets to act Surveying thesituation Surveying sentence a short Shouting at someoneorspeaking Ducking - • Taking a couple of steps (less than a yd/m) Combat At a Glance • Using a Skill to identify a creature Physical Combat Simple Actions include: • 1. Initiative Tests – make a Test • Aim an attack using Awareness + Reaction. • Draw or put away a weapon The turn goes in order from • Dropping something highest to lowest. • Taking cover • 2. Take Action – each partici- • Move at Walking Speed pant can take one Free Ac- • Opening an unlocked door tion, one Simple Action, and • Reload most weapons one Involved Action each • Skill Tests that don’t require full turn, resolving them in what- attention ever order he wants. • Free actions are anything Involved Actions include: that can be done quickly • Attack and with little concentra- • Break Away from Close Quarters tion. • Move at Running Speed • Simple actions involve some • Skill Tests that do require full at- effort and take some time. tention • Involved actions generally • Reloading heavy weapons require that the Character concentrate on the matter 3. Attacks at hand. The solar system is a dangerous • 3. Attacks – To attack a target, place and sometimes you’ll want to you must make a Test using end something before it ends you. the appropriate Skill + Attri- Attacking something requires three bute. things: a weapon of some kind, some • 4. Defenses – To defend skill with that weapon, and being in against an attack, make a Test range to use the weapon. using Grace + Defense. Chapter 7: Rules • Cover may provide you with You’ll find a list of weapons, with a number of bonus Dice for their accompanying ranges, in Chap- your Test. ter 8. • 5. Determine Success or Failure – If the attacker’s total Suc- To attack a target, you must make a cesses equals or exceed the Test using the appropriate Skill + At- defender’s, he hits. tribute.

4. Defenses Unless an attack is from surprise, ev- Cover ery Character gets to defend against In order to survive real firefights, every attack that comes at him. To do particularly those that involve auto- so, make a Test using Grace + Defense. matic weapons or especially deadly 121 Chapter 7: Rules which you beat your opponent, you add italltogether. For eachSuccess by come from your overall Success, and age rating, dice alongwithBonus that of dice equal to theweapon’s dam- you anumber dowithyourRoll attack. get to roll to seehow much damage 6. DoingDamage attack. the defender’s total, hehitswith the 5. Determine Success orFailure behind awall. down behindacarorshootingfrom plete cover might includeducking tree orfurniture. ofsomekind, Com- wall, a post or small behind a short theygiveand theBonuses you: protect you. Test againstthosefrom whichitwould numberofdiceBonus to your Defense ofcoverEach type provides you witha creatures, you’ll needto utilize cover. Incapacitated Hurt Battered Bruised Wounds 99%) Complete cover (from 61- Partial cover (from 25-60%) Diving andfighting prone Cover Once you’ve hitanopponent, you theattacker’sIf total equalsorbeats Partial cover might includehiding Here are the differenttypes of cover Character fallsunconscious.Character -4 dice Penalty to reduced allActions; to halfSpeed&Armor. -2 dice Penalty to allActions. -1 diePenalty to allActions. Penalties Bonus +3 +2 +1 Wound Level apply to the allActions below. Wound Level, asshown inthetable ter inquestiononce hereaches that alties that are applied to the Charac Health, he’s dead. more damagethanfour timeshis takes Incapacitated. aCharacter If Wound Levels: Bruised, Battered, Hurt, number ofpoints ineachofthefour Health Characteristic. He then has this into wounds. of damage. That damageistranslated amountcal combat, ittakes a certain Taking Wounds two points ofyour Physique. more dieofdamagefor Bonus every dagger, orthelike, you canaddone weapon, suchasyourquarters fist, a ter 8. their accompanying ranges, inChap (if any). total isreduced by thetarget’s armor do notyieldadditionaldamage. This do one additional die of damage – ties The penaltiesassociated witheach Each Wound Level hasitsown pen- (ormonster) Character has a Every Whenever somethingis hitinphysi- youIf with area close attacking You’ll findalistof weapons, with - - Character takes, whether in or out of combat. They are not alleviated until the Character is treated. Combat At a Glance

Armor Physical Combat If you’re wearing armor, it will re- • 6. Doing Damage – Roll a duce the amount of damage you take number of dice of damage from each attack – for the most part. equal to the weapon’s rating. When you take damage, immediately For each Success by which reduce the amount of damage you you beat your opponent, you take by its protection. However, armor do one additional die of dam- has two levels of protection. It starts age. at its maximum protection. Once • Taking wounds – Each Char- you’ve taken enough damage to be acter has four Wound Lev- Hurt, the amount of protection it of- els, each equal to a number fers is cut in half. If you are reduced of points of damage equal to Unconscious, your armor has been to his Health rating. Each rendered useless. Wound Level has penalties associated with it. For example, a full suit of Warden • Armor – Reduce the amount armor reduces damage by 10 points. of damage you take by the Once you take enough damage to rating of your armor. be Hurt, the protection of the armor • Fate Points – each Char- drops to 5 points. If you take enough acter has one Fate Point, damage to be rendered Unconscious, which can save from cer- it won’t provide anymore protection tain death. If spent to avoid until it is repaired (or replaced). an incapacitating or killing blow, that attack’s damage Fate Points is ignored and you imme- Every Character has one Fate Point, diately heal another 3d6

which you can use to save your ba- worth of damage. Chapter 7: Rules con when it looks like your Charac- • Healing – Once hurt, you ter is going to die. These are unique can heal Naturally, with to Characters, as NPCs and monsters First Aid, or with Medical don’t get to use them. Fate Points can Attention. be used in two ways. • Naturally = 1 Health ev- ery 2 Days. The first way is to avoid certain • First Aid = 2d6 Health im- death (such as falling off a tall build- mediately, and 1 Health ing or being flushed out an airlock). every day. This will only work if you and your GM • Medical Attention = 4d6 can work out a reasonably believable, Health immediately, and if amazing, way that your Character 2 Health every day. survives the experience. Your GM may rule that you take some sort of dam- 123 Chapter 7: Rules of Health every day ofgametime.of Healthevery You’ll thenhealat arate ofonepoint you’ll immediately heal2d6damage. kit, to afully-stocked firstaid modern firstaidandhasaccesswho knows game time. two dayspoint ofHealthevery of to healnaturally, you’ll getbackone painfully longamount of time. day, but healing naturally still takes a can heal at much greater rates than to advances have madeitsothat people complete Attention. Medical Medical heal –Naturally, withFirst Aid, orwith there are three ways inwhichhecan Healing complete session,sobecareful. next. You’ll be without one for one get itbackthegamesessionafter Point. Once aFate Point isspent, you damaged asyou thought. effectiveness – it too was not as badly mor backto theappropriate level of or Unconscious, his it ar also brings your thisbrings from Character If Hurt suffered aren’t asbad you thought. it looks like the wounds you’ve already mediately heal3d6points ofHealth,as missed completely. You alsogetto im- of damageandtreats itasiftheattack gates theattack that would dothissort conscious ordead. The Fate Point ne that would render your un- Character yourpacitate Character. orkill age, thoughitcan’t beenoughto inca- If youIf canbetended to by someone youIf have no other choice than Once your hasbeenhurt, Character All begin Characters withoneFate The second way isto avoid ablow - - - of Health every day ofgame time.of Healthevery You’ll thenhealat arate oftwo points you’ll immediately heal4d6damage. access to medicalfacilities, modern tion by aqualifiedprofessional with charge him. This gives you a free at Involved you thisturn, Action may your maximum RunSpeedusingan Charging clip. general, it will be about half of a full rounds onauto firing consumes –in value willalsotell you thenumberof as anumberofdamagedice. The Auto but you addtheweapon’s Auto value requires one more Success thanusual, When onautomatic, firing your attack weapon, resolve theattack asnormal. ing onsingleshotwithanautomatic fire at ahigh rate offire. If you’re fir Automatic Weapons thebonus islost. makes theattack, the timehetakesto aimandwhenhe However,attack. between ifheishurt gets two free Successes on his next ontwoActions successive turns, he you If spendtwo simple attack. next aiming gets one free Success onhis whospendsasimpleAction Character anyOtherwise, he losesallbenefit. disrupt your whileaiming Character so, becauseifanything happensto when you have the freedom to do weapon issomethingyou want to do Aiming If youIf canreceive fullmedicalatten- If youIf canreach anenemy with weaponsSome are designed to Taking timeto aimaprojectile Special Modifiers - - tack at a -1 die Penalty, but if suc- cessful will do one extra die worth of damage. This applies to attacks that Combat At a Glance are unarmed or using hand weapons only – guns do not gain benefit from • Aiming – One simple action charging. gives you one free Success on next attack, as long as not Epic Fails disrupted. Two over two turns There will be times that you roll an gives two free Successes, and Epic Fail during combat. If you roll an three over three turns give Epic Fail for your Defense Test, your three free Successes. Defense is treated as if it were 0 for • Automatic Weapons – At- the turn. If you roll an Epic Fail for your tacks require one more Suc- attack, your attack not only fails, you cess than usual, but you add also somehow mess up your weapon the weapon’s Auto value as a in such a way that you can’t attack number of damage dice. with it for the rest of this combat. • Charging – If you can reach an enemy at Run Speed, you at- Escaping Close Quarters Combat tack at a -1 Die penalty. If you When you’re already engaged in hit, you do one extra die of close quarters combat, it isn’t so easy damage. to get away. If you try to break away, • Epic Fails – If defending, your you must engage in a Grace Contest Defense equals 0. If attacking, with each other combatant. This is an your attack not only fails, it Involved Action. If you win, you can messes up your weapon so it move your Run Speed away. Other- is useless this combat. wise, you’ve wasted your Involved Ac- • Escaping Close Quarters Com- tion for the Turn and must stay in the bat – To break away from combat. close quarter combat, engage in a Grace Contest with each Ganging Up combatant. If you win, move Chapter 7: Rules Sometimes you’ll either be sur- Run Speed away. rounded by foes, or you and your • Ganging Up – If two combat- allies will close in on a particular en- ants surround an enemy, each emy. If two combatants surround an get a bonus of one free Suc- enemy, they each get a bonus of one cess. Three or four is two free. free Success to their attacks; if three or • Guns in Close Quarters – You four combatants surround an enemy, can use handguns at a -1 Die they each get a bonus of two free Suc- penalty. cesses to their attacks. • Obscured Targets – Partially obscuring is a -1 die Penalty, Guns in Close Quarters truly obscuring is at a -2 die Once an enemy closes to close Penalty. quarters, you would normally choose to use your hand-to-hand combat or 125 Chapter 7: Rules regular instead of a Difficulty Contest. shot at astatic target isashotagainst something that isn’t alive. Taking a Static Targets misses, theyare hitby theattack. fense Test either against your If attack. wise –theyeachneedto makeaDe combat withanother–allyorother that is embroiled in close quarters Shooting Into Combat again onlyfor requiring Actions sight. Test Penalty increases to -2dice, but the smokeordarkness, like inheavy if theconditions are trulyobscuring, that require sight. Ontheotherhand, fer a-1diePenalty to thoseActions ing), suchaslight you fog suf- ordusk, obscur make sight difficult(partially something similar. theconditions If er theybeinsmoke, fog, or darkness, conditions,thing inobscuring wheth- be timeswhenyou’ll want to do some tween you andit. However, there will mally requires aclearlineofsight be Obscured Targets die Penalty to your attacks. can stilluseyour handguns, butat a-1 hand weapons However, skills. you the size ofthetarget. general, In espe Extreme Long Medium Short Range Sometimes you’llSometimes want to shootat youIf chooseto shootat anenemy Naturally, atarget nor attacking This Difficulty Thismay bemodified Difficulty by Incredibly Hard Hard Average Easy Difficulty ------fender does notgetto makeaDefense be attacked. this is thecase, If the de pletely unaware that they are about to Surprise with littleroom to maneuver. lots ofroom to move, orifitisconfined and whether the area is open area with not you’re usinganautomatic weapon table, dependinguponwhetheror are slowed isshown by thefollowing must slow theiradvance. less, ifyou succeed, allcombatants gun –withnobonusdamage. Regard- damage equal to oneround from the at anAverage Defense Test, ortake through thefieldoffire mustsucceed Test. All combatants that are moving you mustsucceed at anAverage Guns in any direction. To accomplish this, in thesesituations, but any gunwilldo. matic weapons are the most effective to them.Auto harm instead oftrying lets to slow your opponents down, you’ll want to fillanarea fullofbul- Suppressive Fire anyIn case, your GMwillletyou know. targets are onelevel lower. ofDifficulty higher,Difficulty whileespeciallylarge cially smalltargets willbeonelevel of Semi –ConfinedSemi –Open Semi Auto –Confined Auto –Open Suppressive Fire Sometimes, adefender willbecom- The amount combatants inthat area Your attack will encompass a 45° arc There may be situations in which 50% 25% 75% 50% Amount Slowed - - Test against that attack. As long as the attacker’s Test yields one Success, it Combat At a Glance will hit and do damage – treating ev- ery Success as bonus damage. • Shooting Into Combat – All en- emies in close quarters com- Two-Handed Attacks bat must make a Defense Test If you are skilled with a weapon against your attack. (have at least a rating of 1 in the ap- • Static Targets – Shooting propriate skill), you may be able to use something at Short range is two of that weapon at the same time. Easy Difficulty, at Medium is Naturally, the weapons in question Average, at Long is Hard, and must be the kind of weapons a person Extreme is Incredibly Hard. can use two of at the same time. Dag- • Suppressive Fire – All combat- gers make sense, as do handguns, but ants moving through your 45° shotguns or machine guns do not. arc must succeed at an Aver- age Defense Test or take dam- If you can wield two weapons at the age equal to one round with same time, you can attack with both no bonus damage. You must of them in the same turn for an In- succeed at an Average Guns volved Action. Both attacks are made Test. Enemies slowed by an at a -1 die Penalty. amount shown on opposite page. • Two-Handed Attacks – Attack Social Combat with two weapons at the There will be times when you’ll same time at a -1 die Penalty. want to try to enforce your will on an- other person, or when someone else will try to force their will onto you. Social combat involves pitting social have a certain way, within certain skills against each other to see whose boundaries:

social pressure prevails. Chapter 7: Rules • Friendly characters are nice, open, Everyone you face will have one of and helpful, in general. four attitudes toward you – Friendly, • Ambivalent characters don’t feel Ambivalent, Unfriendly, or Hostile. So- one way or the other. They’ll be cial combat affects each of these atti- polite or cordial, but may or may tudes differently. Your GM will let you not be helpful. know what a Character’s or NPC’s at- • Unfriendly characters are rude, titude is when it becomes important. closed off, unhelpful – or simply Just as in real life, most people in nor- scared – in general. mal circumstances will be ambivalent • Hostile characters actively seek to toward you. cause harm – or are freaked out.

Each of the four attitudes means There are six social skills and each that the person in question will be- provides a different type of result: 127 Chapter 7: Rules outrageous. sired effect, aslongtheintent isnot is likelyto have theimmediately de Any you are social skill allowed to use depends uponthetarget’s attitude. upon thetarget’s attitude: • • • • • • Hostile Unfriendly Ambivalent Friendly Attitude Which skills requireWhich skills Contests also Which skills you canusedepends Which skills spoken orunspoken. with promises ofsexual congress, late membersoftheopposite sex allows youSeduction to manipu- ations andto negotiate. lessly blend into formal social situ- FaireSavoir allows you to seam- action. it’s apoint ofvieworacourse of someone ofsomething, whether Persuade allows you to convince what you want. someone elseinto giving you Intimidation allows you to cow avoiding awkward situations. tions without arousing suspicion, ly blendinto casualsocialsitua- Fraternize allows you to seamless- lieve. whatever you want themto be hoods andmakepeoplebelieve allowsDeception you to spinfalse Intimidation Only Deception or All, except Fraternize All All Skills Social - - - to pliability. thepersonisalready If their Attitudeshift one step closer psychological defenses, you getto Attitude3. Shift you getto wear down hiswill. your opponent’s total, Insight then verance you If equalorbeat +Insight. makes a Character Test usingPerse nipulate someoneelse, thedefending 2. Insight +Attribute.priate Skill to be. that test, Make usingtheappro what you want your desired outcome you canandwilluse,what skill and 1. Choose Your Desired Effect taneously. an exchange occur simul- –allactions There isnoinitiative order orturn in getsto taketheirsocialaction. party needed. anexchange, During each take asmuchtimeisrealistically unlike turns, are muchmore fluidand changes, instead ofturns. Exchanges, Hostile Unfriendly Ambivalent Friendly Attitude Once you’ve overcome aperson’s to ma- Whenever someoneistrying Your first step will be to determine combatSocial isdividedupinto Ex All All posed) (if not predisduction - tion, Persuade, Se - Deception, Intimida predisposed) (if not tion, Seduction - Deception, Intimida Contests Requiring Skills Exchanges - - - - Friendly or Ambivalent, then go to Step 4 – whatever it it you were trying Combat At a Glance to do succeeds, within reason. If the target was hostile, they move to Un- Social Combat friendly, and if Unfriendly, they move • Everyone you face will have to Ambivalent. Once a target is Am- one of four attitudes towards bivalent, one more successful Test will you – Friendly, Ambivalent, yield results. If you choose to spend Unfriendly, or Hostile. further Exchanges to increase your • Friendly characters are gen- target’s Attitude to Friendly, then the erally open and helpful. results will be more to your liking. • Ambivalent characters gen- erally don’t feel one way or 4. Determine Effect the other. Once you’ve won enough Contests • Unfriendly characters are to shift your opponent’s Attitude to generally closed off and Ambivalent, your GM will determine unhelpful. what sort of effect you’ve had. Ob- • Hostile characters generally viously, moving someone from un- seek to cause harm. friendly to ambivalent using seduc- • There are six social skills that tion won’t yet produce the desired affect interactions – Decep- result, but you’re one step closer. It tion, Fraternize, Intimidation, should be obvious what attitude a Persuade, Savoir Faire, and person will need in order to do what it Seduction. is you’re trying to do – Ambivalent in • Which skills you can use de- many cases, through Friendly in oth- pends upon the target’s at- ers. If a Character spends the time to titude. move a target’s Attitude to Friendly, even though only Ambivalent would Exchanges have been necessary, then the GM • 1. Choose Your Desired Effect – will determine the more favorable Determine which skill you can result that has been produced by the and will you use. Chapter 7: Rules extra work. • 2. Insight – Defend using Per- severance + Insight. Once each person who has chosen • 3. Shift Attitude – If you win, to be a part of the Exchange gets to shift Attitude one step closer go, then a new Exchange begins until to your desire effect. it is over. • 4. Determine Effect – Your GM determines the effect of the Determining Attitude Attitude shift, if any. As a player, when you enter a social situation where your Attitude may be required for Social Combat, you wards the people in question. Please should work with your GM to deter- be realistic when doing this – it’s un- mine what your likely Attitude is to- likely your Character is going to be 129 Chapter 7: Rules your Attitude towards thepersonin gone. Exchange ifhe’s turn –ornext already againstyouto this hissocialactions give your opponent a+2diebonus your socialattack notonlyfails, you roll anEpicFail for your Desired Effect, you simply fail in your defense. if you roll anEpicFail for your test, Insight Epic Fail socialcombat. you during If circumstance, orprejudice involved. there social isapersonalconnection, ply Ambivalent to oneanother, unless ulate peopleinlife him.Most are sim- them having to work harder to manip one, justsoyou gettherulesbenefitof orHostiletowardsUnfriendly every Once you’ve endedanExchange, There will be times that you roll an Recovery Epic Fails - - is inplay. other peopleinvolved, unless neurosis ately question how they feel about the from socialsituations andimmedi- him. People don’t tend to walk away would changeyour opinionabout same, unlesssomethinghappensthat question remains pretty muchthe one another. pens to changetheirAttitudes about social combat unlesssomethinghap exchange ends. They cannotcontinue nipulate the other person – and the – orthat theyhave nodesire to ma- going to beableto outdo theother realize that they’re parties Both not eachothers’shift Attitudes to Friendly. ing thesameExchange, bothparties give into theother. This occurs if, dur mates, is ready to where neither party Social situations canendinstale Social Stalemate 4G BoardMeeting - - - Intimidation & Torture The use of the Intimidation skill is a Combat At a Glance little different, in that it pretty much can’t shift a person’s Attitude to Am- Social Combat bivalent or Friendly in the conven- • Epic Fails – On Insight Test, tional way. After all, you are somehow equals a fail in defense. For browbeating, threatening, or outright Desired Effect, attempt fails causing physical pain to another per- and the opponent now gains son to force them to take a course of +2 die Bonus for this Ex- action you desire them to take. When change. a person who is being intimidated • Recovery – Once Exchange is or tortured reaches Ambivalent, over your Attitude remains they will do something that they are the same, unless something against, but that doesn’t have ter- happens to change opinion. rible consequences. When that same • Stalemate – If both parties person reaches Friendly, they will do shift each other’s Attitudes to whatever it is you wanted them to do Friendly, the Exchange ends. out of fear. Additionally, you gain +1 • Intimidation & Torture – When die bonus to such Contests for every shifted to Ambivalent, sub- die of damage you do when torturing ject will do something they a person during an Exchange. are against. At Friendly, they will do anything. You get +1 die to Contests for every die Physical Feats of damage you do. Sometimes it will be important to know some of your Character’s physi- Physical Feats At a Glance cal boundaries. Here are a few ad- ditional rules to help you determine • Climbing – One third Speed. them. • Endurance – There is a limit

to how far a Character can go, Chapter 7: Rules Climbing including walking, running, A Character can climb at a maxi- swimming, climbing, and mum speed equal to a third of his combat. See the rules starting maximum land speed. The Difficulty on this page for specifics. of this climb may be affected by the surface and environmental condi- tions, like wind or rain. also run at half their maximum speed Endurance for a number of hours equal to twice Every Character has a limit to how their Perseverance or at full speed for far he can go. Characters can walk a number of hours equal to their Per- for a number of days equal to their severance. Swimming and climbing twice their Perseverance, before they are more difficult and Characters can have to take time to rest. They can swim or climb at half their maximum 131 Chapter 7: Rules point ofPhysique. across andafoot/30 cmhighfor every Penalty. take whileexhausted isat a-2die Test for how long, to butany you Action try they mustrest. Your GMwilltell you down). to halftheirPerseverance (round stay awake for anumberofdays equal to theirPerseverance twice andcan combat for anumberofminutes equal maintain strenuous or physical activity Perseverance (round down). They can a numberofhoursequalto ahalftheir their Perseverance orat fullspeedfor speed for anumberofhoursequalto thing can be lifted orcarried. thing canbelifted conditions affecthow easilysome of Physique. Mass, size, grip, and other halfthat point for every kg andcarry 12 dice/turn 8 dice/turn 4 dice/turn 2 dice/turn Damage Characters canjumpayard/meterCharacters When reach Characters theselimits, Characters can lift 100pounds/45 canlift Characters Environmental Conditions the post. deathfind a isin way aswift outof theenvironment quickly very life-threateningExtremely conditions; ifyour doesnot Character cost himhislife. couple seconds will cause your severeCharacter damage and may Life threatening conditions; exposure to theenvironment for even a than afew moments affect willseriously your Character’s health. Very dangerous conditions; exposure to the environment for more fects your Character’s health. Hazardous conditions; exposure to theenvironment af- seriously Jumping Lifting - ing burning, drowning, orfallingare acter. Environmental hazards includ- fireyour Char or smallarms that hurt Survival point ofPhysique. ten lightyards/meter objects for every it isfor to aCharacter swim. and currents, alsoaffecthow difficult to swim. Conditions, such as waves howsuming that knows theCharacter hislandspeed, as- speed isone-third mud, limitsitto aquarter. Severe terrain, suchasdensejungleor limits speed to halfofmaximumand move. Difficult terrain, suchassand, imum speedat may which a Character Environmental Hazards It won’tIt always creatures behorrible canthrowCharacters reasonably A Character’s maximum swimming ofterrainThe limitsthemax quality Movement Swimming Throwing - - just as real a danger. When your Char- acter finds himself in such danger, Physical Feats At a Glance your GM will determine how much damage you suffer based on condi- • Jumping – One yard/meter tions. Armor may protect against across and one foot/30 cm some things – just use your common high per point of Physique. sense. Here are a few of the most • Lifting – Though other factors common kinds. apply, in general 100 lbs/45 kg per point of Physique. Crushing • Movement – Difficult terrain Crushing all depends upon how halves Speed, severe terrain much of the Character’s body is being reduces to one quarter. crushed and by what. If only a part • Swimming – One-third Speed. of his body is being crushed or the • Throwing – Ten yards/meters weight isn’t obscene, the situation per point of Physique for light might call for two or four dice of dam- objects. age per turn. Having a shuttle land on you is worth twelve dice per turn. Survival At a Glance Drowning/Suffocation Not being able to breathe is always Environmental Hazards life-threatening, causing eight or • Damage – Dangerous condi- twelve dice per turn. This is applied tions will cause a Character to only once a Character has run out of take from between two and air in his lungs – usually 30 seconds to twelve dice of damage per one minute. turn. • Crushing – Total damage de- Explosive Decompression pends on how much is being Characters have ten seconds to do crushed and what is crushing. something once they’ve been ex- • Drowning/Suffocation – After posed to the vacuum of space. After 30 seconds to one minute, Chapter 7: Rules that, they take twelve dice of damage damage is eight or twelve per turn. If they’re lucky, they’ll sur- dice per turn. vive about 30 seconds. • Explosive Decompression – Af- ter ten seconds, damage is Falling twelve dice per turn. The damage that comes from fall- • Falling – Normally, damage is ing depends on how far the Charac- four dice for every five yards/ ter falls and onto what. Normally your meters of fall. Character will take four dice of dam- • Fire/Heat/Smoke – Individual- age for every five yards/meters he ly, damage is two or four dice falls, adjusted up or down based on per turn. Together, eight dice. the landing surface. • Radiation Poisoning – See rules on the next page.

133 Chapter 7: Rules lingering death.lingering Since suchevents are radiation are simply lethal, even witha to rule that significantly high doses of and prolonged disease–you may wish cancer,acters since it canbeanugly source ofsaidradiation. of protection are also a factor, as isthe radiation doesitswork quickly. Layers factor,of exposure isanimportant but tors to keep in mind, of course. Length er than1000rem. There are otherfac the range. Lethal dosesare thosehigh- will befatal. Cancer islikelyinmostof The highertherem, themore likelyit rem range, illness. andcauseserious dosesare High inthe200to 1000 sick. to 200 rem range, can make a person damage. doses, Medium inthe100 100 rems, won’t cause any noticeable dosesofradiation, thoseunder Mild guidelines for you to use. it could happen,sohere are some effects of radiation. On the other hand, is unlikelyyou’ll have to dealwiththe shielded suitsthat protect them,soit tion shieldedvehicles orinradiation ples. However, peopletravel inradia- are Moons excellentGalilean exam- of radiation is a concern. of the Most system where exposure to highlevels PoisoningRadiation life-threatening situation. ship,burning it becomes an extremely if your istrapped Character insidea if allconditions are present, suchas ing two orfour dice However perturn. not be immediately lethal, only caus- Fire/Heat/Smoke You may want to avoid giving char ismeasuredRadiation inrems. There are many places inthe solar theseconditions mightIndividually - - best for everyone. going to berare at best, this may work able planet. A person can survive un- able planet. Aperson can survive to gobefore itwilltrulybeahabit However, it still has several decades approach apoint that ishabitable. result, to the atmosphere hasstarted being terraformed for decades. As a Near-Earth environment. of in this sort special gear necessary environmental processor. There isno or station withaproperly functioning or within a colonywould find on Earth Earth-like which isdiscussedbelow. into oneofseveral categories, eachof to anextent, all atmospheres are split a matter ofseconds. To simplifythings giving, amanin whileotherswillkill areSome relatively benign andfor atmospheres across thesolarsystem. Exotic Atmospheres ing inthesedangerous environments. some ofthedifficultieswhenoperat rules canbeusedto helpsimulate plainsof desert Venus. The following astroll from across taking the far cry terraformed is a Mars of the partially ating inthealmostlivable atmosphere Oper on theway function. Characters vironments canhave affect adistinct els ofgravity. These highlyvariableen- ofatmosphereswide variety andlev Mars hasbeenintheprocessMars of This isthestandard atmosphere one There are awholehostofdifferent Across thesolarsystem, there are a Exotic Atmospheres and Environments - - - - - protected on the surface of Mars for several hours, so long as he does not Survival At a Glance exert himself. With a simple breathing mask, this period can be extended in- Exotic Atmospheres definitely. Space stations and colonies • Near-Earth – Exertion without with severely damaged environmen- breathing mask requires Av- tal systems can also fall under this cat- erage Perseverance Test each egory of atmosphere. turn. Failure equals no action and half Speed. Failure three If exerting oneself in a Near-Earth times equals unconscious- type of atmosphere, a Character must ness. make an Average Perseverance Attri- • Non-Toxic Exotic Atmospheres bute Test each turn. Failure results in – Without oxygen, will fall the Character being unable to do any- unconscious in twice Per- thing more than move half his normal severance in turns. Exertion rate, as he tries to catch his breath. If requires Average Persever- this Test is failed three turns in a row, ance Test or unconsciousness. the Character falls unconscious and Unconscious Characters suf- can only be revived once a sufficient focate in two times Persever- supply of oxygen has been provided. ance in turns. • Toxic Exotic Atmospheres – Non-Toxic Exotic Atmospheres Without oxygen, requires an This sort of atmosphere lacks a suf- Average Perseverance Test ficient supply of oxygen for a human per turn not to die. Holding to survive. However, it is not immedi- breathe is only way to survive. ately toxic either. An oxygen supply is absolutely vital for any Character to operate in this sort of environment. into a coughing fit, as the body tries A Character without an indepen- to purge itself. No Character should

dent supply of oxygen will fall un- ever even consider trying to operate Chapter 7: Rules conscious in a number of turns equal without an independent source of twice his Perseverance. If attempting oxygen. to exert himself, a Character must make an Average Perseverance Attri- If a Character has no source of oxy- bute Test. Failure means the Character gen, he must succeed at an Average has fallen unconscious. Once uncon- Perseverance Attribute Test each turn scious, the Character can survive an- or outright die. A Character can hold other number of turns equal to twice his breath for a number of turns equal his Perseverance. After this point, he to quadruple his Perseverance if he is will have suffocated to death. doing nothing more strenuous than walking. Doing anything more strenu- Toxic Exotic Atmospheres ous than this will limit the number of These atmospheres are poisonous. turns he can hold his breath to half Merely catching a whiff will send one that. 135 Chapter 7: Rules do anything more thanstagger for clime,per-cold cannot the Character environmental exposed to suit. asu- If situation at allwithout wearing an cannotoperateacter inasuper-cold can result insevere frostbite. AChar being exposed to itfor afew moments grees Fahrenheit or less) that merely Super-Cold verance. equaltoof turns four timeshisPerse ness andfreeze to death inanumber the Character, hewill loseconscious- ures thePerseverance equalstwice of failure. When thetotal numberoffail- Test Penalty iscumulative witheach cangetwarmedup.the Character This physicalall activities, ormental, until Failure causes a -1 die Test Penalty to Average Perseverance Attribute Test. environment,arctic hemustmakean isexposed aCharacter toEach turn an mental freezing suitorrisk to death. willneedto wearacter anenviron- than zero degrees Fahrenheit. AChar which average temperatures are less Arctic essary. gear orsunscreen –ifeven that isnec anything fancierthansomewinter mans andtheycanoperate without Temperate quire more thanjustabreathing mask. cases, theenvironment itselfwillre the way operate. Characters many In can also have a significant effect on mosphere, theoverall environment Exotic Environments This environment issocold (-100de Arctic environments are those This isconsidered for normal hu- Beyond the composition oftheat ------of sleepdeprivation). endure 10%more (withtheexception move andclimb10%faster, andcan more, jump and throw 10% further, 10% andcarry planets, lift Characters Ganymede, Io, and Titan. around 0.15G,suchasCallisto, Europa, gravity planetsare thosethat hover andMars. low Extremely as Mercury are thosethat hover around 0.4G,such Venus orUranus. Low gravity planets those that hover around 0.9G,suchas ity. Moderately low gravity planetsare gravthree classifications ofplanetary Low Gravity the way act. Characters moon, gravity otherthan1Gwillaffect ofaJovian ship oronthesurface be outsidethegravity ofaspace ring humans are accustomed. Whether it provide ofgravity thetype to which Gravity until theyareall actions healed. that willimposea-2die Test Penalty to willsufferCharacter long-term burns conventional means. addition,the In cannot bemitigated by orother armor fer four dice ofdamage. This damage temperatures, willsuf- theCharacter seconds. exposed to Eachturn these in severe and debilitating within burns ofenvironmentinto thissort willresult spheres that are oven-like. Stepping Super-Heated equal to his Perseverance. freeze to death inanumberofturns ward atspeedandwill halfhisnormal When onmoderately low gravity Within our solar system, there are Very few places inthesolarsystem These are hot, super-heated atmo - - - When on low gravity planets, Char- acters lift and carry 50% more, jump Survival At a Glance and throw 50% further, move and climb 50% faster, and can endure 50% Exotic Environments more (with the exception of sleep de- • Temperate – Basic survival privation). gear may be required. • Arctic – Without proper sur- When on extremely low gravity vival gear, must make an planets, Characters lift and carry twice Average Perseverance Test as much, jump and throw twice as far, or suffer -1 die to all actions. move and climb twice as fast, and can Penalty is cumulative with endure twice as much (with the ex- each failure. If total failures ception of sleep deprivation). equals twice Perseverance, unconsciousness results. Will The Saturnine moon of Enceladus freeze to death in four times has such low gravity that it should be Perseverance in turns. treated as zero gravity. • Super-Cold – Without protec- tion, can only stagger at half High Gravity Speed and will die in a num- There are few places in the solar ber of turns equal to Persever- system where Characters are going ance. to experience gravity higher than 1G. • Super-Heated – Without pro- The surface of Neptune is 1.14G, and tection, each turn yields four if one were to go towards the core of dice of damage. Long-term Jupiter and Saturn gravity would dra- burns impose -2 die Penalty matically increase. to actions.

When on Neptune, Characters lift Gravity and carry 10% less, jump and throw • Low Gravity – At around 0.9G,

10% less far, move and climb 10% Characters lift, carry, jump, Chapter 7: Rules slower, and can endure 10% less (with throw, move, climb, and en- the exception of sleep deprivation). dure an increased 10%, at around 0.4G an increased When approaching the core of Jupi- 50%, and at around 0.15G, ter or Saturn, Characters lift and carry twice as much. half as much, jump and throw half as • High Gravity – At around far, move and climb half as fast, and 1.14G, Characters lift, carry, can endure half as much (with the ex- jump, throw, move, climb, ception of sleep deprivation). and endure a decreased 10%.

Zero Gravity In zero or microgravity, such as in space or one smaller asteroids, moons, or dwarf planets, Characters can have have lines and hand-holds to help a difficult time moving around. Ships people move around, but anyone 137 Chapter 7: Rules results for onesingleroll. tiple times and choose from multiple the better result. You candothismul- can immediately roll againandtake 1 Tension Point Roll One Re-Roll costs.benefits, with varying pool offive Tension Points. four-hour session,you’ll usuallyhave a really needthehelp. For anaverage the game in beneficial ways when you astheyallow youimportant, to affect to play. These Tension Points are very sion Points eachtimeyou sitdown players have access to a pool of Ten - these penalties. Average Freefall Skill Test willnegate reason, hecanspinoutofcontrol. to getto hisdestination for whatever himself in an awkward position or fails can pushoff. finds If theCharacter from which the Character a surface ties. interact withthemhalve thesepenal- deck designedplates to and objects (things float around, too). Energized ting around oreven manualdexterity to anyalty Tests associated withget halved andhesuffers a-2die Pen- trained intheFreefall Skill. who wants to getaround well mustbe By spending one By Tension Point, you You canspendthem for oneoffive As agroup, you andyour fellow most situations,In success at an Any ofmovement type alsorequires Normally, Speedis aCharacters Tension Points - However, there’s always a catch. Each ofthegroupity mustbeinagreement. instantly buyandspendone. you canspendthree Tension Points to 3 Tension Points FateExtra Point sion Points canmakethat happen. to your aidinatimeofperil, two Ten- ers’ oranNPC,canimmediately come how aCharacter, eitheranotherplay 2 Tension Points Help From An Ally you need. your GMwillgive you theinformation you canspendtwo Tension Points and they didn’t getat theappropriate time, informationlost, or isinneedofcritical 2 Tension Points aClue Get tiple results for onesingleroll. multiple timesandchoosefrom mul- take the worst result. You can do this force any theGMto re-roll roll and 2 Tension Points Force GMRe-Roll for thesettinginwhichitisfound. is relatively common andappropriate like. This item mustbesomethingthat kit, aflashlight,a firstaid food, orthe needed,larly suchasabox ofammo, order- to findanitem that isparticu 1 Tension Point Look What IFound To spend Tension Points, themajor your isoutofFateIf Character Points, thereIf isaplausibleexplanation for yourIf group is hasgotten offtrack, For two Tension Points, you can You can spend one Tension Point in - - time you spend a Tension Point, the GM gets it. As he accumulates Tension Survival At a Glance Points from your expenditures, he can save them and spend them in ways Gravity that will be detrimental to you and • Zero Gravity – Normally, your fellow players. That’s why they’re Speed is halved and Charac- called Tension Points – they build the ters suffer -2 die Penalty to tension. You’ll only want to use them moving or manual dexterity. when you really need them, as each Energized objects halve these one carries a price for its use. penalties. Movement also re- quires a surface from which Tension Points do not carry over to push off. Normally, an Av- from session to session for players. erage Freefall Test will negate Any that are unspent at the end of a these penalties. session are lost. Tension Points At a Glance

• Normally, for a four-hour ses- sion, you get five Tension Points to spend as a group. • One Tension Point allows you to re-roll one roll or find something that is particularly needed. • Two Tension Points allows you to force the GM to re-roll one roll, to get a clue you need, or get help from an ally when in trouble. • Three Tension Points allows Chapter 7: Rules you to get an extra Fate Point. • Expenditure requires majority agreement. • Spent Tension Points go to the GM, who will spend them to hamper you later in the game.

139 D Spin Control

Captain Percy Aniston blinked Reaching out in front of him, he his eyes several times, trying to get touched the frosted glass. Lights them to focus. It was always this way inside the couch slowly brightened, when he woke up from A/D stasis – giving his disused eyes enough time that period of time when you’re put to adjust. Once the light inside of the under and locked away in a protec- couch was normalized with the room tive gel that keeps your body from outside, the door hissed and popped being crushed by the massive forces open, sliding back into a recess in generated when the Transit Drives the couch. Designers seem to put kick in. Anyone outside a grav couch these couches upright for reasons wouldn’t survive; the crew would only Captain Aniston could never really find a pulpy mess left behind. Percy understand, but at least it made for 140 had seen the effects before – usu- an easy exit. No pulling yourself up ally on rats that managed to stow using tired and weakened limbs – away on a ship. you just walked right out. He stepped out and onto the deck, but ended up Holding his arm up, Percy tried to dancing back and forth, trying to focus. Slowly, he started to see the keep them off the cold plating. blur resolve into a hand. Admittedly, it was kind of gross-looking, covered “Mother… the least you could do in the remnants of the blue-green is warm the floor up for me, Doc,” gel he’d been cocooned in for the complained Percy. He looked over last week. His skin was now tem- at Doctor Curtis Spence, who was porarily stained a nasty color and scanning readouts on the flex panel matching chunks still dripped off that was suspended from the ceiling him. He closed his hand into a fist between the two. Glowing charac- several times, then started on the ters slowly scrolled up the screen ritual he had practiced dozens of as the Doctor’s eyes flicked back times since he’d first started deep- and forth, taking in the information. system runs. Test the left arm, then He was an older man with the slight- the right. Make sure your legs are ly portly body that tended to come working. Curl your toes. Blink. Every- upon one as the decades passed by. thing seemed to be fine. It wasn’t Percy and he had been making the like there was any real danger of Neptune run for almost ten years losing function, but Percy was su- together now. Enough time with perstitious and habits can be hard enough stuff in the past to make to break. their relationship a little more than just a friendship. 141

Awakening from A/D Stasis

Curtis looked up and smiled, Percy shot him a sour look as he “What, and miss your cute dance? padded over to the showers. It was You’d think after ten years you’d the same routine every time he man-up and deal with it instead of woke up – a private way the two re- prancing around like a school-girl affirmed their bond before the rest princess.” of the crew stirred. As he stepped into the shower, slower than it would in 1G. Howev- Percy said, “I feel a bit heavy. I think er, it meant that one didn’t have to I’m getting old.” worry much about tools and gear floating away, which was important “You are getting old, but that’s not in her line of work. what your feeling. Seems the ring is spinning about 2% faster than it ‘Heya Cap. Doc tells me your should,” the Doctor reported, as the dance this time was especially water started washing the gel off amusing.” Anya smiled. Percy. Percy frowned. Curtis had a habit “I’ll get Anya to take a look at it of recording his first steps out of the when she wakes up,” replied Percy. grav couch and showing it to new Anya Galperin was the ship’s chief crew members. He said it kept Per- engineer. She had only been on this cy human in the eyes of his people. run three times, but thus far Percy The Captain shot Anya a look, but 142 had nothing bad to say about the was greeted by her gleeful imitation woman. She kept his ship running of what she’d seen on the tape. It in top shape, which is all one could was actually funny, so Percy couldn’t reasonably want when traveling this help but smile – but just a little. deep into the solar system. Emer- gencies in deep space often meant “If you are quite done, I need you to death for those involved. lake a look at the rotational settings on ring one,” said the Captain. “Wake the crew, Doc. I’m heading to the bridge. Get Anya up first,” said Anya stopped her dancing almost Captain Aniston as he finally pulled immediately. As the engineer, this on some warm socks. was the kind of thing she took very seriously.

“Doc said something and I thought About twenty minutes later, Anya I could feel it. Seems the deck ducked under the lip of the bridge plates in the zero-G regions are fine hatch, thankful for being able to walk though,” she said, as she sat down at in zero-gravity. Special magnetic the engineering station and brought plates in her shoes and special fi- the flex panel to life. A schematic of bers that ran through her clothing the Costello filled the screen with a were attracted to others that were variety of readouts, showing the sta- built into the deck of the ship, which tus of several key areas of the ship. pulled her towards the deck. Every- Percy could see that a small area thing on the ship that wasn’t bolted glowed red near the power plant for down was the same. Drop a pen and ring two. Before he could ask about it will fall to the deck – albeit a little it, Anya touched the area on the screen and the schematic zoomed “Can’t you just reset them?” the in. Captain asked. His worry was start- ing to show in his voice. “Looks like we took a micromete- orite hit during acceleration. Noth- “Already tried. The reset doesn’t ing to worry about though. It doesn’t seem to be doing anything. I’m go- look like it was near anything criti- ing to need to go down there. I need cal. I’ll get it patched up later today,” Jackson awake – I may need anoth- Anya reported, as she zoomed back er hand.” out. Moments later, she had focused in on the rotational motors for ring Percy started to open a comm one and frowned at what she saw. channel to the med bay when an Percy could see nothing out of the alarm from the engineering panel ordinary – no tell-tale red or yellow stopped him. glowing lines that usually indicated a problem spot. “What the hell? Both rings just jumped to six percent. I can’t wait. I 143 “I’m not seeing any problems with need to get down there now.” Anya the ring one drives, Captain.” Anya shot up from the chair just as Curtis’ tapped a few keys on the board in voice came over the intercom. front of her, opening several more windows that appeared on the flex “Hey Captain, I just felt a weird vi- screen. “You said the rings were bration through the floor and I can running 2% too fast right?” definitely feel the gravity here in- creasing.” Now Curtis sounded wor- “No, Curtis said that, but he’s a ried, too – if not a bit frightened. doctor not an engineer. He could have had the number wrong.” “Anya’s on it. Get Jackson awake and tell him to meet her in the ring “Not likely. You don’t need to be drive room. She needs his help.” Per- an engineer to read a number on cy sat down at the engineering sta- the screen. It shows it’s 3% above tion to keep an eye on the screen. nominal now. Just a sec...” She hit more keys and looked at some new “He’s showering now. Is this a seri- information. “This is weird. The ring ous problem?” Curt’s asked. started accelerating minutes after the ship exited the A-Curve.” A few “Don’t worry, Anya’s on it,” Percy more key presses and her frown replied, putting more confidence in deepened. “Twenty minutes later, his voice than he felt. Even the small- ring two started the same accel- est emergencies in deep space eration. Both rings are still speeding were bad and he prayed this was up.” not going to become one. tions. This was not normal. Looking at the readout, he saw that the rings Anya stopped by her quarters had just jumped to 10% above opti- long enough to grab her gear, a por- mal. They were still accelerating and table comp, some tools – everything the rate at which they were doing so she might need. Her mind was going was still increasing. Soon it was go- over the programs and electronics ing to get a lot harder to move. Just that controlled the ring’s rotational as he was about to buzz Anya, the speeds, but she could not figure out comm beeped. why they would be accelerating. It just wasn’t something that should “We have a really big problem, happen. She would understand it if Captain!” Percy recognized the pan- they were stopping altogether. That ic rising in her voice. would be normal mechanical failure, but not likely on her ship. For them “I know. The rings just jumped in to increase in speed someone would velocity again,” Percy responded. 144 need... “That’s not the problem! Some- Just as the thought was going body down here just shot me!” through her mind, a flash of move- ment ahead caught her eye. At first, That was the last thing Percy ex- she thought she had imagined it, but pected to hear. How could anyone then she saw it again. A man peered besides his crew even be awake? All around the open hatch ahead – the the passengers were kept asleep on hatch that led to the drive room for this long of a voyage – it was easier ring one. Before she could really pro- and cheaper that way. cess the thought, he brought up a pistol and aimed it right at her. Her “I’m betting this guy and the prob- rusty naval instincts kicked in, but lem with the rings have something in not soon enough. Anya cried out as common. Hold on… I think I hear him. the bullet ripped through her shoul- I’ve got to get moving again.” Percy der. She fell backwards and rolled heard Anya groan in pain. behind a support. For some reason, it occurred to her that this was the “Are you okay? How bad is it?” first time she had ever been shot. It hurt like hell and she was leaking. “It’s just my shoulder, but it really hurts. Be…”

Her response was cut short by On the bridge, Percy felt an un- the sound of gunfire. pleasant vibration through the deck. He knew his ship inside and out, “Anya! Anya! Are you okay?” shout- including all the sounds and vibra- ed the Captain. “Yeah, he was shooting out one of “Why? Why are you doing this?” the control panels.” The deck of the she shouted, panicked. ship suddenly shuddered. “Uh, how fast are the rings turning now?” The man laughed. “Little girl, I am but a harbinger of the truth. Human- The Captain glanced at the read- ity is nothing more than a pestilence out on the flex screen. It read 14%. that will soon be purged by the true gods. They will purify existence and He relayed the data. “How fast can right all that is wrong. Only those of they go before we have a problem?” us who understand our place will be….” “Not much more,” she said. “I’ve got to do something.” His words were cut short by a loud pop. Anya knew what that Percy was about to tell her not to sound meant. She closed her eyes take foolish risks, but Curtis inter- and prayed. rupted. “Jackson is heading out now. 145 Gravity in here is still increasing. Per- cy, we’re in real trouble, aren’t we?” From the outside, if anyone had been there to see it, the first grav- ity ring of the Costello seemed to The man with the gun had appar- have lost its center. It wobbled in ently moved on, so Anya made a run a way the ship was not designed for it. Ducking through the nearest to handle. The stresses of the un- hatch, she found him there, ready to even spin snapped structural sup- shoot out the last of the intact con- ports throughout the ship, tearing trol panels. He looked like one of the them out and ripping holes in the passengers. He saw her and smiled. hull. Atmosphere vented to space as the rotating ring broke free. As “I’m sure this all comes as a sur- it spun off into the void, one of the prise to you, no?” He turned to level ring’s spokes caught on the second the gun at her, again. ring, and the whole thing started over again. Within moments, the Anya could only nod. remnants of the Costello were scattered, tumbling through empty “I am sorry about your shoulder. I space, leaving nothing behind. didn’t mean to make you suffer.” The crew’s fate would not even be And then he fired into the panel, a memory. blowing it to smithereens. Anya could hear the machinery strain even harder. 8 Technology

The technological advances of the Custom Organs last 150 years have enabled human- In days of old, if a person’s organ ity an unprecedented level of com- failed, either from disease or simply fort, security, and convenience. Every due to age, there were only two op- field has seen major leaps forward, tions: install an artificial version or with each leap providing the seeds find a donor with a compatible spare. needed for the next leap. In some Unfortunately, there was no guaran- cases, advances in one field have ne- tee that the body would accept either cessitated the need for advances in and, in the case of a donor organ, one others. As medical technology has often had to wait until the donor had improved and life spans have in- died. Today, a third and infinitely su- creased, the Earth has become ever perior option exists. more crowded, leading to the need to expand beyond the boundaries of Using technology derived from our home planet. This has led to nec- rapid-prototyping, organs that are ex- essary advances in thermal dynamics, act duplicates of a patient’s own can astrophysics, and materials sciences literally be printed in biological 3D. needed to make the exploitation of The technology works in two steps. the solar system truly commercially First, a biopsy of the organ in question viable. Food sciences have created is taken from the patient. The genetic breakthrough methods of growing structure of the organ is then inserted food far from Earth. It is a cycle that into a special organic liquid called has only increased in intensity as hu- bioreplicant gel. This gel absorbs and manity seeks more ways to go beyond takes on the same genetic building the normal limits Mother Nature origi- blocks as the patient, ensuring that nally imposed upon the race. it is completely compatible and re- duces the chance of the organ being Medical Sciences rejected to zero. The organ in ques- In the last century, the life expec- tion is then scanned by highly sensi- tancy has radically increased, with an tive and precise scanners, building average person now living for a little a three-dimensional model. Doctors over 150 years. This has largely been can then look for any imperfections a result of a number of major medical in the organ and correct them. Once advances that have led to an ever- this is complete, the model is fed into increasing understanding of the way a highly specialized rapid prototype the human body works, and how to printer. The printer builds the organ best combat the natural ravages that using the bioreplicant gel, one layer at time inflicts upon it. While many in a time. When complete, an organ that the medical field would like to point is an exact duplicate of the patient’s to their own specialty as the leading own is ready to be surgically inserted. factor in the improvement of the hu- The entire process, sans the surgery it- man experience, it is a combination of self, takes less than 72 hours. The only disciplines that have worked together organ that is unable to be recreated to make this possible. in this manner is the brain, which is far too complex for such a procedure to work.

Regenerative Therapies The capability of a lizard to grow a new tail after his old one has been severed or for a crab to re- place a missing limb that was torn off by another predator has long fascinated medical research- ers. However, it took decades of research before a true un- derstanding of the workings behind those capabilities was obtained. The long hard work has paid off, however, and today it is possi- ble, with significant Modern Diagnostic Bed help, for a victim of an accident or other trauma to replace a lost limb. Early versions of this therapy re- quired the patient to stay in the hos- Regenerative therapy, as the dis- pital throughout the process – some- cipline of regrowing lost limbs has thing that can take upwards of a year come to be known, is not a perfect to complete. For many, it was simply science and there are some for whom not a realistic option, as not many can the therapy simply is not effective. afford to stay out of work for that kind Even for those on whom it does work, of time. Today, the end of the stub is the process is long and can require sealed in a small portable container, dozens of visits to the hospital. The generally referred to as a tub, that raw severed stub is submerged in a contains the regenerative bath, as special bath that stimulates the cells well as the circulation and filtration to slowly start to replace those that systems necessary for the procedure are missing. In time, the missing limb to be successful. Every week, this tub is slowly regenerated. is checked and adjusted by the super- 147 Chapter 8: Technology the ship is in either its acceleration ships, agravity couch isusedwhile Gravity Couch treat patients. andmed-techs diagnosedoctors and an impressive array oftools to help smallest clinicsandmed-bays have almost cruelincomparison. Even the previous timesseemprimitive and aides available from makedoctors monitors, the tools and sub-dermal medical scannersto laserscalpelsand decades goneby. From high-tech sionals have come alongway from ToolsMedical to befullyfunctional. of theregeneration ifthenewlimbis part areLive anecessary nerves active process, cannotcompletely negate it. level but, dueto limitations inthe does reduce thisto amanageable are live.nerves The regenerative bath some level ofconstant pain,asthe process is always accompanied by ered endmustberaw. cauterized by any means–thesev lost. The stubalsocannothave been requiredand thecellular is memory needed for theprocess are replaced once thestubbegins to healthecells grammed to regenerate itslimbs, and process. The human body is not pro allowed to begin itsown healing The candidate limbcannothave been regenerative therapy hasitslimits. proceeding correctly. to ensurevising doctor theprocess is Found space onallinterplanetary The tools usedby medicalprofes- For the patient, the regenerative As withall biomedicaltechnology, - - - that theysimply could notbemade smaller, until the point was reached grewimprinted withthecircuitry ever nology behindthem.Silicon wafers of computers was limited by the tech- technologies. For decades, thepower velopment whencompared to other seen someofthemostfrenzied de work andhomelife. They have also ers haveofboth beenacommon part to beclaustrophobic andunpleasant. rience offloating inatubeofthickgel More thanafew peoplefindthe expe the couch, freeing thepersoninside. like liquidthat isthendrained outof that slowly itbackinto turns awater- a third into liquidisinjected thegel thick gel. At theendofjourney, the water that the liquid intoturns a is achieved, a powder into is injected in the middle of the couch. Once this will tend toant andthe subject float uid makesthebodynaturally buoy isinit.couch once asubject This liq- ored water-like liquidthat fillsthe polymer. isagreenish-col- Onepart phases. atwo-part The gel isactually ing itsacceleration anddeceleration tremendous forces encountered dur while a spaceship is experiencing the couch, thisgelcushionsthebody ity Gravity Gel gravity gel, below. asdescribed the couches mustalsobefilledwith single person. To be fully functional, a Each couch isdesigned to support stages betweenof a planets.journey es theshipundergoes these during anyone insidefrom thecrushingforc or deceleration phase. They protect Used in conjunction withagravUsed inconjunction Since thelate 20 Computer Technology th century, comput ------any smaller. Limitations of the materi- computers have reached the zenith als, as well as heat problems, plagued of their development, as there hasn’t these early computers and such sys- been a new major breakthrough in al- tems required significant cooling fans most two decades. Even so, there is no and, in some cases, actual liquid cool- sign that optical computers are going ing systems. In addition, with elec- to be vanishing anytime soon. tricity providing the primary means of transporting data, resistance in Modern Storage Media the conducting materials limited the Modern computer systems can speeds at which the processors could store and process massive amounts of ultimately function. For a time, this data. When data needs to be moved caused a stall in the advancement of from one system to another, it is most computer. Multi-processor systems often done wirelessly – but some- came into being which helped to times this is either not possible or not overcome this limitation, but this was advisable, most often due to security more of a stop-gap while engineers concerns. When this is the case, mem- puzzled over how to overcome the ory cubes are used instead. barrier they had seemingly hit. A memory cube is a small syn- Optical Computer Systems thetic crystal cube roughly two cubic Optical computers replaced elec- centimeters in size. Data is stored by tricity as the transporting medium making slight alterations in the align- with light. It took time to perfect the ments of the crystal matrix inside the technology, but when it had been cube. Cubes are re-writable, though achieved computers that were eas- the matrix eventually becomes un- ily four times as powerful as the cur- stable. When this occurs, the cubes rent leading edge systems quickly are designed to change from their emerged. These systems not only ran normally bluish color to a red color. Chapter 8: Technology much faster than their older counter- Cubes can be encrypted to a variety parts, they nearly completely negated of keys, from basic entry codes to bio- the heat problem from which the tra- metric data keyed to a specific indi- ditional processors suffered. vidual, group of specific users, or even specific cube readers. Each cube can Optical computer chip circuitry is store up to 1,000 terrabytes of data. made of a light transmitting com- pound. In the modern optical chip, Wrist Comps each circuit is only a single molecule Wrist comp has become the univer- in width. Each circuit is separated from sal name used for the small personal its neighbor by a two molecule thick computers that nearly every person insulating material. This allows for in- carries around with him today. These credibly dense circuitry and powerful micro computers serve a wide variety processors. With light being the data of functions, ranging from things as conducting medium, it also makes simple as data organizers, gateways these chips incredibly fast. However, to the internet, or games. This func- most engineers agree that optical tionality is only dwarfed by the wide 149 Chapter 8: Technology alent ofa21 for many, become equiv themodern oflifethey are andhave, anatural part they are available. For mostpeople, andlooksinwhich ofstyles variety on. Flex monitors come inavariety sheet suitable for viewing anything charge stiffens theplasticintorigid a fully extended, asmallelectrical like onepullspaperoffa roll. When plastic is pulled out of the tube, much one needs to utilize the monitor, the that isstored inasmalltube. When flexible, transparent normally plastic desk. Today, monitors are made of a ofaperson’sup asignificant portion were large monstrosities that took Flex Screen view area. comp, eitherofwhichaffords alarger bands that have beenlinkedto the nearby flex screen or to asetofeye they transmit theirdata eitherto a user canuse. However, ingeneral, screen integrated into themthat a guestaccounts.authorizing limited access to comps theirwrist by side sources. canalsoprovide Owners tion for automatic uploadsfrom out access, butalsoto provide- authoriza compthe wrist from unauthorized The pairexist notto simplylockout also linkedto signature. abiometric tifier created by the owner, that is owner’s schedulingsoftware. ally automatically uploaded into the schedules, andmeetingsare gener that thingslikeappointments, work tant. ubiquitous So are comps wrist Gone areGone thedays whenmonitors comps wrist haveMost asmall compEach wrist hasauniqueiden- st century personalassis- century - - - so prevalent incolonized regions. Its that network is tion oftheelectronic The Internet past. haunted computer usersindecades caused by repetitive that actions environment andreduced injuries ogy has created a more natural work move them, andsoon. This technol- tions ofitems ordata, rotate them, hold 3D representaone to virtually - to interact withthescreen, allowing enhance theability be worn to further it insomeway. Special gloves canalso piece of data to manipulate or access the usersimplyneedtouch anicon or tors are touch sensitive, meaningthat stretch thelengthofaroom. to belarge –sometimestheywill nently rigid. However, they also tend more robust material andare- perma They are generally madeofathicker, permanent versions offlex screens. tor isblack. When opaque, thebackofmoni- reversed from theirpoint ofview. images –thoughany willappear text side ofthemonitor willalsoseethe transparent, anyone ontheopposite can berendered fullyopaque. When whatever liesontheotherside, or allow oneto gaze through themto can eitherbetransparent enoughto displayedImages onthesemonitors flexible nature when powered down. withoutcompromisingperiods their maintain theirrigid state for indefinite sive wall-mounted screens. They can of sizes, to mas- from smallportables The internet is a virtual representaThe internet isavirtual - All flex screens and related moni- Work stations tend to have more roots can be traced back to the 20th cen- tury, though, at that time, the internet was severely limited when compared to today – upload and download speeds are now lightning fast. A whole host of devices, ranging from wrist comps to alarm systems and powerful super computers, exist on the internet. All in- ternet capable de- vices can not only access other similar- ly capable devices, but can also act as a sort of repeater beacon, automati- cally passing data back and forth to other devices. This function is gener- Modern Consumer Computing ally separated from the device itself, so Chapter 8: Technology they do generally support the latter – as not to compromise its security or especially when it comes to the enter- burden its primary processor. tainment libraries. Nearly everywhere man has es- tablished himself has some version Nanotechnology and of the internet. On Earth, it is a per- Molecular Manufacturing vasive virtual world that is taken for Nanotechnology has long been the granted by most everyone. Mars also Holy Grail of scientists and research- has an extensive internet. People can ers and there has been a significant send e-mail from planet to planet. amount of progress in the field. For a Spaceships tend to have their own long time researchers sought for ways micro-internets, with the spaceship’s to create molecule-sized machines computer acting as the hub. These that held promises that, to some, al- smaller iterations of the internet are most seemed magical in nature. The more about ease of communications ability to program and army of na- than data storage and access, though nites to build objects at a molecular 151 Chapter 8: Technology commonly found onspacecraft. ofthedamage control systemspart as needed. This latter used as is often from vaporcan shift to liquidto solid age, andmulti-state materials that back together suffering after dam- posites that canstitch themselves mored shell, intelligent com carbon - one anothercreating aseamlessar mored panelsthat literally merge into century, engineers have created ar traced 21st asfarbacktheearly Building onsuccesses that canbe and lighter thanpreviously possible. at amolecularlevel to bestronger are construction engineeredmodern common buildingmaterials usedin terials engineering. Many ofthemost research has been in the field of ma- that theresearch hasbeenfruitless. decades. However, thisisnotto say with agreat many hurdles over the into thisarea has beenslow andmet other more reasons, practical research mate assassination tools. For this, and molecular level. They could beulti- disassemble things, orpeople, at the side ofthenanite to coin –theability ways beenthosewhofear theother practice. addition,there In have al- much more difficult to execute in issound, ithasproventhe theory were mastered. Unfortunately, while would changeovernight ifnanites technologies sion. Manufacturing edented level andpreci ofaccuracy - level would give engineers anunprec distant moon, there isalways the The of nanotech biggest benefactor Whether on Earth, Mars, or some Whether onEarth, Transportation Planetary - - - come arelatively common sight. other tasksorsimpleconversation. pilot systems canfree up thedriver for areas, auto- andalongmajorarteries, light conditions. well In developed vision atthermal night and in low- heads-up display canalsoprovide to avoidnecessary collisions. The tomated systems takecontrol when ducing thechances ofaccidents. Au- updates onwhat isaround him,re sors provide the operator constant helmet faceplate asappropriate.- Sen relevant data onthewindshieldor heads-up system that allthe projects ment panel has been replaced with a years.able inearlier The classicinstru- many amenitiesthat were notavail- autos do,Modern however, have a steering wheel, lights, andsoon. cestors. They have two to four wheels, auto issimilarinmany ways to itsan- there are ofpeople. types The modern asmanynearly automobile modelsas andtrueautomobile.tried There are is still the based personal transport tion stories postulated, most planet- in boththeground andairvarieties. comesyears past, personal transport pride. Today isnodifferent. Unlike tus symbol, but for many a point of was notjustasta- ofsomesort port owning a personal transhorseback, - Personal Transport tion andenvironment. dependsupontheloca- of transport less affair, method thoughthe exact age,modern thisisarelatively effort need to be ableto getaround. the In Personal hasalsobe airtransport Despite what many oldscience-fic Ever on riding since manstarted - - - - These vehicles tend to be highly auto- mated in order to reduce the chances of operator er- ror. In areas where these systems are not available, pilots must be licensed, with renewals oc- curring on a regular basis. Generally, air transport is used between cities. Any that are used with- in a city’s airspace must have the ap- propriate permits and the pilot must be properly licensed for operation in the region. All per- sonal air transports are (VTOL) vertical take-off and land- ing craft. Los Angeles in Light Traffic Mass Transit Chapter 8: Technology Mass transit sys- tems have become integral to most track cause the train to actually float people’s everyday life. Those who live roughly twelve inches above the track. in the same cities in which they work Additional magnets along the sides of generally use the mass transit system the track and train keep it centered as in lieu of their car to get to and from well, removing the need for a guide work. Many use the systems when rail of any kind – though an emer- travelling between cities. On colonies, gency guide wheel can be lowered especially on Mars and Luna, maglev should there be a malfunction of the trains are about the only way to travel normal magnetic system. This system between settlements. enables the train to achieve speeds of almost 400 miles per hour, allowing The most common form of mass it to cross entire continents quickly transit is the maglev train. These trains and efficiently. Within cities, smaller do not run on a traditional track, but versions of these trains run under the rather float over them. A series of streets in a manner similar to old sub- magnets built into the trains and the way systems. 153 Chapter 8: Technology did in the early 21 did intheearly still operate inthesamemannerthey ably littlechangeover theyears and have airlines ern undergone remark the preferred- methodofmost. Mod which timeisafactor, airtravel isstill firmly firmly took control over thedevelop necessary, commercial enterprise who hadtheforesight andcourage of anumberindividualsand groups the globe. However, withtheefforts enhancing communications across cial satellites with taskedprimarily for andtheuseoforbit orbit commer was limited of payloads to lifting into commercialInitial interest inspace as ontheplanetsofsolarsystem. inspace,to aswell longterm survival gies neededto overcome thehurdles to trulydevelop thetechnolo essary neither thewillnorforesight nec However, thesebodiesproved to have view ofthegovernments oftheworld. opment ofspace wasthepur firmly Forin importance. atime, thedevel- ed, the need to expand beyond grew it. half adozen ormore scattered across with each continent generally having cialized aircraft, needsofsuborbital these canalsoaccommodate thespe andlanding.take-off The largest of many ofwhichstillutilize runways for larger long-range aircraft,to support built citieshaveMost larger airports cial aircraft usedinlocalroutes.VTOL that canaccommodate mostcommer small towns support airports VTOL they once did. moderately-sized Most flights that takelessthanhalfthetime tinental flights are now suborbital When travelling long distances in As Earth becameever moreAs crowd Earth - Space Technologies st century. Intercon------can push a spaceship to a speed of the shipgoreally fast. These drives inmind–tosingle purpose make tween planets. These drives have a ships whentheyare travelling be tually invisible to thenakedeye. effect. The thrustitself, however, isac to glow, giving shipthrusters aglow charging grids ofthesesystems tend damage. ofdirect takes somesort The detonation, even ifthefuelsystem that there isnofear ofanexplosive stableelement, whichmeans very drive designs. addition,xenon In isa they needto carry, compared to older ficient and reduces the amount offuel ditures. ef- This makesthedrives very without requiring higher fuel expen- in theamount ofthrustgenerated, resulting inanincrease ordecrease magnetic tunnel can be manipulated, spaceship. The size andshapeofthis to maneuver the the thrustnecessary down amagnetic tunnelandprovides ing plasmaenergy released isguided and neutralizes theatoms. The result charging grid that both accelerates ing ionized xenon atoms through a ion drive. These drives work by fir vering drives are ahighlyadvanced maneuvering needs. maneu- Most for standard anddeepspace orbital neuvering capability. They are used signed to provide itsma- thecraft for what theysoundlike, exactly de drives. Maneuvering drives are used ships: maneuvering drives and transit neuvering systems used by space Maneuvering Systems two decades. ment andexploitation ofspace injust Transit drives are usedby space There ofma- types are two distinct ------0.005% the speed of light – a feat that miles of any other craft or station for was impossible using traditional ion safety purposes. drive technologies. They also do this without requiring the ship to expend Spaceports massive amounts of fuel, though the With a look and feel similar to large drives do require vast amounts of international airports, spaceports are energy to operate compared to the the link between planetary surfaces more mundane maneuvering drives. and orbit. Earth supports six such fa- As a result, during operations, most cilities: two in North America, one in other systems on a spaceship are un- South America, one in Europe, one available and these drives provide a in Australia and one on the Chinese craft no maneuvering capabilities. In mainland. Spaceports are generally order to stop, these ships must liter- located far from any large population ally turn around and fire the transit centers, though most do have a small drives again. town that has developed around the facility. Most spaceports have an in- Transit drives are an evolution of tegrated airport and mag-lev train what used to be known as the mag- station. Spaceports on other planets netoplasmadynamic (or MPD) drive. are generally much smaller. The two These drives operate in a manner sim- that Mars supports are the largest off- ilar to an ion drive, in that they push planet and are the size of the small- an atomized plasma medium down est Earth-based facility. The other a magnetic tunnel. However, unlike colonized planets each have a single their smaller cousins that rely on a spaceport that is generally located separate system to generate the mag- near the first colony founded on the netic field, transit drives work at such planet (or moon). In some cases, the high energy levels that they generate colony is a part of the spaceport. their own magnetic tunnel. The reac- Chapter 8: Technology tant used for these systems comes in Orbital Transfer Vehicles the form of specially designed teflon Generally referred to by the simpler bundles. A super-high current is run moniker shuttles, OTVs ferry passen- through this bundle, which boils off gers and cargo from the surface of the surface molecules, which are then planets to orbital stations or waiting directed down the magnetic tunnel spaceships. Shuttles come in a wide created via the same current. The con- variety of shapes and sizes, from small striction of this field accelerates the personal transports to massive cargo resulting plasma gasses to speeds in haulers that can lift almost 200 tons excess of 500,000 meters per second, of cargo to orbit. Most shuttles have enough to rapidly propel the craft to a relatively limited endurance, as they incredibly high speeds. Unlike ma- are designed to go from the surface to neuvering drive exhaust, the exhaust orbit and back – though some mod- from a plasma drive is both highly els have the endurance to travel to visible and incredibly dangerous. In the moons within the planetary sys- general, spaceships are not allowed tem. Shuttles, however, do not have to engage a transit drive within 5,000 the transit drives or fuel to make the 155 Chapter 8: Technology and, to alesserextent, beyond theso anywhere within the solar system These shipsare designed to travel spaceship.ship istheinter-planetary or Neptune. –suchasUranus station isnecessary spacea planetandmoonorhighorbit found anywhere that travel between of shipsare found, thoughtheyare most common places these types journey. Jupiter are andSaturn the couches neededinaninterplanetary system lackthegravity planetary Also, ships that are limited to a single and theyhave asmallerfuelreserve. costthe extra thesesystems entail, not inspace longenoughto warrant gravity,ating artificial asthecrews are not utilize arotational for ring gener allowed for it. They alsogenerally do time, even iftheirmaneuvering drives ofreasonable amountin any of sort between planets make thejourney to lack thetransit drives necessary system generally a singleplanetary piter. Those designed to work within system suchasaround Ju- planetary of thesolarsystem, orwithinasingle withintheinnerportion erate strictly ships. These ships are designed to op ofspacecraft. types are two distinct and cost agreat deal. general, In there society, ern insize andfunction, vary Spaceships to getaloft. older designs stillneedalarge runway and landingsystem, thoughafew OTVsMost take-off utilize a vertical between theplanetsthemselves.trip The second ofspace common type The firstare inner-system space Spaceships, mod- likeeverythingin - - - - - losophies. stations, Orbital which re design phi- follow distinct two very tions are, naturally, secretive. and outrightillegalat worst. Suchsta - that would befrowned uponat best, which enables them to offer services any government orcorporate entity, order of to stay out of thejurisdiction literally inthemiddleofnowhere, in ofthesestations areSome located have become popularvacation spots. stations that resort the massive luxury At are the other end of the spectrum cargo containers waiting for pickup. clampsthat hold tures withdocking little more thanopenskeletalstruc Many ofthesestations arecan think. just aboutanything elseofwhichyou store orstagegoods, machinery, and by corporations andgovernments to in space. These basicstations are used are notmuchmore thanwarehouses across thesolarsystem. stations Some stations, bothinlayout andfunction, true, of there variety isastaggering are identical. While this isnotexactly snowflakes – there aretwo no that andDeepSpaceOrbital Stations way that may benecessary. that theycandoany repairs under machine shopsandspare stores so undertake. They alsohave extensive long journeys theseshipscommonly provide the crews gravity the during two orthree, rotational to sections have at leastone, andoftentimes system ships. ships All inter-planetary nities notpresent onsmallerinner- recreational facilities, andotherame with extensive hydroponic gardens, lar system itself. These ships are large, Orbital and deep spaceOrbital stations issaidthat space stations are It like - - - - fers to stations that are built around colonized planets, moons, and aster- oids, tend to rely on resupply from the planet or colo- ny they orbit. This comes either in the form of direct ship- ments from the planet or colony, or through logistic ships that supply the colony itself. As a result, orbital sta- tions generally do not have space ded- icated to hydropon- ics and maintain a smaller reserve of fuel for power- ing their reactors. These stations also tend to rely on the native defenses of the planet or colony Chicago Spaceport and, with the excep- Chapter 8: Technology tion of military sta- tions, are generally a native food source and a natural car- unarmed or have a very light suite of bon dioxide recycling system. Many defensive weaponry and systems. times, these gardens are designed They also tend to maintain smaller to be as natural-looking as possible support staffs since the station can in order to provide crew and guests easily call upon personnel from the a more natural environment to relax planet or colony should the need in from time to time. In many cases, arise. small animals, birds, and insects are an integral part of the garden; though Deep space stations generally refer when this is the case, their popula- to stations that are built in the deep tions are tightly controlled and spe- black between the orbital paths of cial measures are taken to ensure they planets. As a result, these stations do not escape the garden area. Deep need to be much more self-reliant. space stations also maintain a much Deep space stations support large higher reserve of fuel and other sup- hydroponic gardens to provide both plies should an event mean the sta- 157 Chapter 8: Technology hard joints, save for theattachment spacecraft hull. This outer shell has no anyone outsidetheprotection ofa the radiation thatdeflects bombards shell againstthecold vacuum and bon composite weave as a that acts made of a highly flexible kevlar-car safety ofashiporstation. enough for someoneto return to the for lessthananhour–generally long though itisonlyeffective inthis role should theouter suitbebreached, tion from thehard vacuum ofspace ter. protec astemporary alsoacts It away wa- andconvert itinto drinkable and micro bladderswhichpullsweat that maintain hisbodytemperature, for monitoring hisvitals, cells thermal body glove, whichcontains sensors First,three parts. apersonwears a lighter andfarmore effective. space suits plish. areModern much the suited personcould easilyaccom- on alone. limited whatThis bulkiness one personcould nothopeto put massive, cumbersomeaffairsthat years ago,as thirty space suitswere have come over thedecades. As little ample ofhow farspace technologies Space Suits target ofopportunity. pirates orraiders that may seeitasa to protect themselves from would-be tions tend to bewell-armed inorder sibly canbe. Finally, deepspace sta- must be as self-reliant as they pos- tions are alsolarge since, again,they than normal. The crews onthesesta- tion isgoingto beisolated for longer The outer shellofthespace suitis spaceMost suitsare madeupof The space modern suitisatrueex - - - career. gain andlose over thecourse of their creditto track a mayCharacter every goal, butwithouttheneed this very The following system isdesigned for gain access to cool andbetter toys. a in Character order to more easily will wishto improve thewealth of it isnatural that andexpected one course ofastandard game. However, in thetraditional the methodduring expensive for to Characters purchase such asspacecraft, are simplytoo wealth. Furthermore, somethings, isnot theacquisitionCharacters of payments, and the core goalofmost tures donotgenerally revolve around awaken inthesolarsystem. Adven- ing thehorrors that have begunto Wealth Character customizing theirdisplays. spacers spendagreat dealoftime depending onwhat isneeded. Many data, orcoordinate communications, providehim inhistask, navigational tomize ofdisplays avariety to assist of theface shield, theusercancus- operate theentire suit. Ontheinside containing thecomputer systems that such helmetsare highlysophisticated, helmet. Available in a host of models, wearer agreat dealofmobility. and palmsofthesuitprovide the ers builtinto thefeet, hips, shoulders for tools to beattached. thrust Micro belts worn outsidethisprovide places flexible as the innerbody glove. Utility forring as thehelmet, andisnearly The Void is a game aboutsurviv ofaspace suitisthe The finalpart - - Wealth Codes of either the Wealthy Advantage or Instead of worrying about a Charac- Poor Disadvantage, as found on p. ter’s bank account, each Character is 102 and p. 104, increasing Personal instead assigned a Wealth Code. This Wealth up to 4 or decreasing it all the code is a general representation of way to 0. Please note that it is unlikely the disposable wealth a Character has that a Warden Character would ever available to him at any given time. The wind up with a Personal Wealth of 0 higher the Character’s Wealth Code, the more easily he can obtain an item, Socio-Economic Strata Wealth be it a new gun, a medical kit, or a Destitute 0 new module for the spacecraft. Underprivileged 1 Middle Class 2 Wealth Codes have two aspects Affluent 3 to them. The first is the Character’s Wealthy 4 Personal Wealth – what he person- ally earns and saves. The second is the Sponsored Wealth Character’s Sponsored Wealth – the Unless your GM decides otherwise, amount of resources the Character’s Characters begin the game with a sponsoring organization is willing to Sponsored Wealth of 1 with the ap- entrust to him. Items obtained us- propriate sponsor (usually the UWC ing Personal Wealth are the property Wardens). In some games, depending of the Character from that point for- upon tone, the Characters may begin ward. Those obtained through Spon- with a Sponsored Wealth of 2 – it is sored Wealth belong to the organi- recommended that the starting Spon- zation and are only available for the sored Wealth is no higher than this. duration of the current assignment or mission and must be returned upon Gaining & Losing Wealth

completion. Chapter 8: Technology

It is possible, depending on the Gaining Personal Wealth game, for a Character to have two or Personal wealth can be increased more sponsoring organizations. If this through the use of Advances. The ta- is the case, the Character will have a ble below shows the cost to advance Wealth Code for each unique organi- from a Character’s current Personal zation for which he works. Wealth level to the next highest.

Wealth Codes range from 1 to 4, Currently Wealth Cost with the higher representing greater Underprivileged 2 financial resources. Middle Class 3 Affluent 4 Wealth n/a Personal Wealth Characters normally begin play A Character can also gain a Personal with a Personal Wealth of 2. This can Wealth level as a result of some large be modified through the acquisition payday in-game. In this case, the GM 159 Chapter 8: Technology the Character is living poorly again. islivingpoorly the Character purchase doesn’t necessarily mean Personal Wealth as a result of a big Class. Middle built uptowards moving backinto –withoneAdvanceUnderprivileged Affluent (3),it would reduce him to reduce himto Affluent Ifhe (3). were was initially Wealthy (4),that would ofPersonalvances worth Wealth. he If the GMtells himhelosesfour Ad- Personal Wealth istiedupintheship, ship. Since somuchoftheCharacter’s ple, could theCharacter loseaspace Personal Wealth Advances. For exam- or incrementally by applyingnegative sonal Wealth afulllevel, ofaCharacter GM caneitherreduce thecurrent Per the lossofaPersonal Wealth level. The events canalsoresult story in Some Character’s current Personal Wealth. that are “expensive” relative to the especially whenpurchasing items the Personal Wealth oftheCharacter, purchasing someitems willreduce his career. As willbediscussedbelow, thecoursechases hemakesduring of Personal Wealth asaresult ofpur Personal WealthLosing should beuncommon. advancement. ofrewardsThese sort cannot beusedfor any other form of dedicated to thatonlyand purpose al Wealth level. These Advances are Advances towards Person theirnext - the GMwillgive two eachCharacter and, once sold, valuable artifact very couldthe Characters come across a Personal Wealth level. For example, gained towards the Character’s next will indicate how many Advances are It’s to note that important losing general,In willonlylose aCharacter - - - the GM. Again, to thediscretion this is left of cial hard timesfor theorganization. for the organization, or even finan- doesnoworking whichtheCharacter due to failedmissions, dur aperiod loses Sponsored Wealth. This could be game may indicate that theCharacter it canalsotakeaway. Events inthe signments. occur at the end of key missions or as- isrecommendedIt that thisgenerally sored Wealth Advancement isgained. but theGMwillindicate whenaSpon- manner as gaining Personal Wealth, ganization. This isdoneinasimilar sored Wealth Advances for that or ganization, the GM will award Spon- Sponsored Wealth andLosingGaining tal upagain. power, until hebuildshisliquidcapi- Character’s decreased purchasing itisarepresentationRather ofthe expensive items. with highernumbersindicating more Cost Level: This is rated from 1 to 4, Codes takeonthefollowing form: ter’s attempt to obtaintheitem. Cost complicatemay theCharac further and any potential that restrictions it may have ontheCharacter’s Wealth item, as well as any particular impact is for to theCharacter getaholdofa it. This code indicates how difficultit will have aCost Code associated with Just astheorganization cangive, As work Characters for agiven or All gearavailable to aCharacter Making Purchases - - - - Impact: This indicates the impact the If the item’s Cost Code is one level purchase will have on the Character’s higher than the Character’s Wealth, a Wealth. -4 Test Penalty is applied. If the Cost code is more than one level higher, Restrictions: Not all items are available then the item cannot be purchased. on the common market, which can make obtaining them more difficult if Impact of the Purchase the Character does not have the prop- Once the purchase is made, its im- er contacts to lubricate the wheels. pact on the Character’s finances must be determined. This is based on the Making the Purchase Impact Rating of the item. Some items When a Character wishes to make are simply more expensive and have a purchase, compare his Wealth (Per- an immediate impact on the Charac- sonal or Sponsored) to the cost code ter’s purchasing power. Each point of the item. If the Cost Code is lower of Impact is applied immediately to than the Character’s Wealth, then he the Character as a negative Wealth may obtain the item freely. If the two Advance in the same manner as dis- ratings are equal, he must make a cussed above when losing Wealth. Purchase Test. This takes the form of However, these points automatically either an Insight, Persuade, or Savoir regenerate at the rate of one each Faire Test, or a Trade: Business Test. time an Advance is granted. If this This represents the Character’s ability lowers a Character’s effective Wealth to shop around for the best price. any further, purchases are made at the reduced level until it recovers. If the Character succeeds at a Hard Difficulty, the item is purchased with- Restricted Items out an issue and he may purchase There are three levels of restrictions

more goods immediately. If the Test for an item: unlicensed, licensed and Chapter 8: Technology succeeds at an Average Difficulty, he restricted. Each of these impact the obtains the item without a problem, ability to purchase them as indicated but it uses his currently available below. funds. He cannot make any additional purchases until after he is awarded an Unlicensed: These are available to the Advance – though he does not need average joe. Any Character may pur- to spend the Advance to purchase chase them. again. If he succeeds only at an Easy Difficulty, it has the same effect as Licensed: This item generally requires Average above, but costs more than some sort of license to obtain. The ef- expected – it increases the overall Im- fect of this is to delay the delivery of pact by 1 (see below). If completely the item in question. Once purchased, failed, the item cannot be purchased. the item will actually be made avail- Either the Character cannot find it for able to the Character after the next the right price, or simply can’t find it. Advance is awarded. This represents He may attempt to purchase some- the time the vendor needs to to pro- thing else normally. cess the paperwork. If the Character 161 Chapter 8: Technology creased by two points. of theseitems isin- sult, theImpact ofgear.requests for thissort As are organizations frown uponrepeated There is nodelay indelivery, butmost items are alsomore easilyavailable. have nodelay indelivery. Restricted from organization asponsoring and must bereturned. current assignment, whichthey after available onlyfor theduration ofthe ing hands. However, theitems are ple, cash ratherchang- than actual theappropriate peo smooth-talking and the appropriate paperwork represents the fillingCharacter out same manneraslisted above. This organizationthe sponsoring inthe Organization Purchasing from theSponsoring creased by two points. Codeby is in- one and their Impact table,” buttheirCost Code isincreased items canbepurchased “under the been awarded two Advances. These livered has theCharacter until after willnotbe de ceipt oftheitem. It roleplaying, but also a delay for re This requires notonlysomein-game and legal cause for needing the item. The mustshow Character alegitimate difficult toobtain. andvery authority ily monitored by thelocalgoverning Restricted: These items are heav the item as beingonepoint higher. is done by treating the Cost Code for to purchase one “under thetable.” This wishes to avoid thedelay hemay try Licensed items are easilyavailable A purchasesCharacter items from - - - - - throwing. Boarding axes are alsobalanced for bling orotherpotential obstructions. and stations, orto cutthrough ca - on theinterior ofmany spaceships cut through thethinnerwalls found to enhances theirability ting ability ways vibro-weapons, cut astheextra Boardingobstructions. axes are al- weapons orastools to hackthrough these axes can be used either as AxeBoarding times incapacitate anopponent. each successful hit. This- canoften they deliver ashockto thetarget with weapon are alsoenergized, sothat more effective in combat.Most club frequencies, allowing itto beeven so that itvibrates at extremelyhigh power packsthat energize theblade asvibro-weapons,known have small through andfleshalike. armor Some, allowing them to cut mono-edge, bladesaremodern honedto anear club nearby to give you anedge. Most always goodto have agoodbladeor and personal. When this happens, it is sometimes abattle isfought up close WeaponsMelee might come across inThe Void . of themostcommon equipment one tered. What follows isa list ofsome tial obstaclesthat may beencoun - way towards overcoming any poten - the proper equipment cangoalong ing anddangerous place. However, Equipment Used mainly in boarding actions, While many occur conflicts at range, The solarsystem canbeachalleng- Weapons - Boarding Pike consider these weapons to be unusu- Another popular weapon used by ally cruel, most organizations restrict marines and other boarding parties, or ban their usage. boarding pikes are used to help clear defenders from around hatches or Combat Knife from the other side of obstacles. Like Combat knives are long-bladed boarding axes, these weapons are al- knives measuring almost 12 inches ways vibro-weapons, enhancing their in length. They come in a variety of ability to punch through obstacles designs, with smooth and serrated and armor alike. edges, straight and curved. While ef- fective in combat, they are generally Chain Sword used for a variety of more mundane Chain swords are truly fearsome tasks. weapons that can hack through the heaviest armor with ease. Similar to Cutlass the classic chainsaw used for so long Cutlasses have been in use on ships to fell trees, chain swords use finer since the earliest days of wet navies. teeth and are balanced for fighting. Larger and more dangerous than The hardened spinning teeth also a combat knife, they are still small tend to knock aside any weapons be- enough to be used in the close con- ing used to parry attacks. The wounds fines found in the corridors of a space- left by these weapons are ragged ship or station – and carry no danger with chunks of flesh and bone literally of puncturing the hull. ripped from the victim. Because many Chapter 8: Technology

A Warden “Buffet” 163 Chapter 8: Technology 1d6 minutes. fails, heisrendered unconscious for an Average Perseverance Test. this If not wearing ahelmet, hemustmake wish. When attacking, ifthetarget is tually any size andshapeonecould easy to obtainandcancome invir occupations,in lesssavory sapsare ments organizations, aswell asthose outright. Popular withlaw enforce him insteadpacitate ofkilling avictim sap isaweapon designed to inca- have beenfighting oneanother, the been around for aslonghumans Sap are attacks. generally usedinsurprise which hashandlesonbothends. They of weapontype is the mono-garrote, him asitunwraps. Avariant ofthis wrap around thetarget, cuttinginto they strike, theweighted endtends to wielded muchlikeasmallwhip. When than two feet in length and they are areease. mono-strands nomore Most about anything elsewithfrightening ily cutthrough armor, flesh,andjust one end. The wire micro-thin caneas- few moleculeswide, withaweight on Mono-Strand break free ofthewhip. a successful Average Physique Test to makes the wielderstops orthevictim round thereafter,applied every until tangled histarget. Damageisthen Test atarget, hehasen- striking after wielder succeeds at anAverage Grace the himselfwhenusingthem.If hurt to master sothat auserdoesnot that require a great deal of practice Whip Electro Another meleeweapon that has are thinwiresMono-strands onlya whipsareElectro rare weapons - - the need for an ejection port and re the needfor port anejection use caselessammunition, removing flags with the authorities. Handguns thing more tends serious to raise red censed by common civilians, asany are also the easiest weapon to be li- confines ofaspaceship. Handguns also more withintheclosed practical rangeily employed andare at short range ofarifle, theyare more eas- and civiliancircles. the While lacking usedinmilitary,arms government, simply aspistols, are common fire Handguns of thebladeoff. power cell tends to throw thebalance not have avibro equivalent, asthe does notenjoy. Throwing do knives thestandardknifeflexibility combat rate throwing, giving itanenhanced throwing isbalanced knife for accu- Throwing Knife sion. potentially stunninghiminto submis- atarget,a charge whentheyimpact These blunt handweapons release in the hands of a trained combatant. canbeadeadlyweapon nevertheless hend rather the stun baton than kill, Stun Baton complish. ish any job the mace alone fails to ac canfin- weapon unleashesonimpact ter bones, but the deadly shock the weight orshat alonecancrushaskull maces are trulydeadlyweapons. Their attack thanitslittlebrother, shock MaceShock Handguns, referred often to more Smaller thanacombat knife, the Used when the goal is to appre Heavier, withamore potent shock ------ducing the number of moving parts though one not properly trained can – and the chances of a jam. Different find it a bit awkward to use. types of ammo can be used, if desired. HCC-90 Anvil Heavy Pistol ACC-44 Holdout The HCC-90 Anvil is a large cali- The ACC-44 is a tiny handgun that ber pistol that can take down heav- can easily be concealed in a pocket ily armored opponents or punch or purse. They are commonly used through decking and walls to get at for self-defense and are more of a de- an opponent. However, this hitting terrent than a real threat, since most power comes at the cost of a limited people will think twice about accost- magazine capacity. Many Anvil’s are ing someone with a gun no matter equipped with a penetration scope how small. The simple, single-action to allow the user to see through a lim- operation of this weapon means it is ited amount of cover and maximize easy for even an amateur to master their efficiency with what shots they and it rarely suffers any mechanical do have. problems. HCS-4 Blaster Hand Cannon ACC-62 Bandit Semi-Automatic Pistol For all intents and purposes, the This 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, HCS-4 Blaster is a shotgun built and similar models by other compa- into a pistol frame. It is a single shot nies, is perhaps the most common weapon that, at point blank range, is handgun used in civilian circles, and absolutely deadly. Highly effective at also sees common use by police forces skewing the odds of a fight in your across the solar system. With notice- favor, especially in the opening volley, ably more stopping power than the these weapons rarely see a second ACC-44, it is preferred over its smaller use during a given encounter. Instead,

cousin by serious gun enthusiasts and most owners discard them in favor of Chapter 8: Technology professionals alike. The ACC-44 uti- a weapon with a better endurance, lizes an integrated laser scope, mak- hoping that the initial blast makes the ing it accurate even in the hands of an enemy think twice about continuing amateur. the engagement.

AP-445 Scimitar Machine Pistol Rifles The AP-445 is a popular ship-board Rifles are the big brothers of hand- weapon commonly employed by a guns. Designed for use at moderate variety of marine corps. Its large clip and long ranges, rifles give the user a size and high-rate of fire allows a ma- long reach in an engagement. Rifles rine to suppress any advancement in come in a wide variety of shapes and the confined space of a ship corridor, sizes, with some being simple semi- but still maintains the agility needed automatic affairs used for hunting in the close actions that are common and precision shooting, while others when boarding an enemy ship. An in- are fully automatic with the ability to tegrated blade in the grip of the weap- engage and pin down multiple tar- on provides a quick melee weapon, gets in protracted firefights. Most ri- 165 Chapter 8: Technology for specificfunctions. able, caneasily bespecialized therifle cetag. With anumberofoptionsavail- easy accessibility andinexpensive- pri elements dueto its other underworld power, italsoseesuseby pirates and rangea respectable andstopping fields from pestsandpredators. With ers for protecting theircrops and also popularwithranchers- andfarm usefor hunting. is that sportsmen It RFL-4 Long Rifle launchers.slung micro-missile tal thermographic scopes to under- be found, ranging digi- from high-end host ofperipherals for theAFL-16 can many derivatives that exist. Awhole forces usethisweapon –oroneofthe reliability, many police andmilitary system. for Known and itsaccuracy inthe solar monly usedassaultrifles isoneof themost assault rifle com- RFL-4 andAFL-4 models, theMach same company responsible for the AFL-16 Rifle MachAssault set ofgearfor theirpersonnel. ofthestandard these weapons aspart sniper rifle.Many police forces issue AFL-4 makesagoodmedium-range able. When fitted withascope, the it isinexpensive andcompletely reli- compared to adedicated assaultrifle, have arelatively low rate offire when altered use. for military While itmay the semi-automatic model, rifle but AFL-4 Rifle Assault capabilities. can beusedto expand theweapon’s fles havetwo ormore option rails that The RFL-4 isacommon civilianrifle Built by Advanced Firearms, the This lightisbasedon assaultrifle sufficient suppressive fire. allows and theirhighrate-of-fire for confined andcramped conditions Their smallsize makesthem ideal in nature.pecially thoseofacriminal with agreat many organizations –es- they stillmaintain their popularity ly succeed inthisendeavor, though form. Unfortunately, theydon’t exact andahandgunintorifle onedo-all ofanassault merge thebestaspects Submachine Guns completely separate location. it upat onelocation andfire itfrom a system,firing allowing asniper to set SX-90 canalsobefitted witha remote a professional snipercould want. The ing bipod, theweapon haseverything geting assist computer, and stabiliz- dard digital telescope, integrated tar yards/3000 meters away. With astan- gage targets accurately asfar3300 to en- withtheability sniper rifle SX-90 Splinter Rifle Sniper nated iron sights. so usersmustrely onbuilt-in illumi- mal scope rail have, mostassaultrifles rather than accuracy, it lacks the nor this weapon isdesigned for volume use.to extended jamsduring Because Unfortunately, this weapon is prone son would dare stickhisheadinto. region that only the more insane per send averitable torrent offire into a a larger clip, thannormal ausercan fire, but not for its accuracy. Using 44M Paxton for isknown itsrate of sion oftheenemy inmind, theRFR- RFR-44M Paxton Rifle Assault Submachine gunsattempt to The Splinter isatop-of-the-line Designed withmaximumsuppres- - - - - SM-3 Blizzard Submachine Gun Hornet. It has seen extensive use in The SM-3 is large for a submachine nearly every action movie produced gun due to the larger caliber ammo today. Small with a high rate of fire, it uses, affording it a higher damage the SM-112 is, in truth, only a medio- potential than most SMGs. Most users cre weapon. It is a small caliber fire- are more than happy with this trade- arm, which affords it a larger maga- off. An optional extendable stock en- zine capacity with the trade-off of a ables the weapon to be fired in the barely acceptable damage capacity. same manner as an assault rifle and The weapon is cheap, however, and affords it a bit more accuracy when has no bells or whistles available. used in burst rather than full auto- Seen in use by some police forces, it is matic mode. The SM-3 can also be most popular with the less savory ele- fitted with a scope, an unusual fea- ments of the solar system. ture for an SMG, giving the weapon a fairly respectable accuracy when XSM-90 Blindeye Sub-Marchingun used in short bursts. When fired fully Equipped with a swivel stock and an automatic, however, a scope is all but integrated VTA (video targeting assist) useless. system, the XSM-90 gives the user the ability to fire the weapon from behind SM-112 Hornet Sub-Machinegun the safety of cover, without exposing There are few in the solar system anything more than the weapon itself. who are not familiar with the SM-112 The VTA feeds into a special monocle Chapter 8: Technology

Wardens: Gearing Up 167 It’s ImportantTo KeepYourWeaponsInShape Chapter 8: Technology mercenary outfitsuse.mercenary thatand armors mostmilitaries heavy aseffectivenot nearly asthebulkier protection,vide respectable they are environment. While theycan pro They are rarely sealedagainst the tic vests, paddedpants, andhelmets. tendsarmor to be made up of ballis- to reduce thewearer’s mobility. Light thatbody armor islight enoughnot Light Armors Defensive Equipment when fired inafullyautomatic mode. hance the effects of recoil, especially heldat oddangleswhichen- often to to learn useproperly, since theyare ship. Blindeyes dotakesometraining environmentas anurban oraspace when fighting inclose confines, such ner. This makes it a popular weapon from behindcover oraround acor that allows theuserto seetargets Light refers armor to any of type - - - wear, butmostbelieve thetrade-off can besomewhat cumbersometo protection for thearms. These suits the outside. Sleeves provide similar are wornand armored over kneepads providethe knees legsprotection torso. Armored padsabove andbelow the entire bodyrather thanjustthe protection flak bodysuit extends to Flak Suit Body ally issuetheirpeopleflakjackets. the lowest force endsecurity gener and inexpensive to purchase, even without the jacket. Openly available trators that would have them killed officers hitshave byperpe survived protect thevitalorgans, many police tic plates onthefront andbackwhich long. vestBasically a heavy with ballis- enforcement agenciesfor almostas standard equipment for mostlaw andhavemore thanacentury been Flak Jacket Similar to a flakjacket innature, the Flak jacketshave beenaround for - - of extended protection is more than venient transport they can find. There worth it. are generally four types of transport that are most commonly available to Heavy Armors a potential traveler. Heavy armors encompass full body suits which generally enjoy sealed en- Planetary Transport vironmental systems that can protect Planetary transport gets people the wearer from gas and chemical at- from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ on a given tacks. Bulkier than their lighter cous- planet. In many cases, publicly fund- ins, heavy armor is generally worn for ed overland trains will suffice, but as short a period as possible in order they are on a fixed schedule so they to reduce fatigue, though someone are not always convenient. For faster trained in their use has generally built travel, there are generally easily ac- up the endurance for protracted use cessible forms of air travel that can when necessary. get one anywhere on a planet in just a few hours. The table on the next page Combat Body Armor shows the general costs involved in When entering a known combat sit- booking this type of transport, which uation, especially one in which heavy is common and easy. weapons are likely to be employed, it is a good idea to don a suit of combat Orbital Transport body armor. A fully sealed suit, com- Anyone wishing to travel to a differ- bat body armor is stout enough to ent planet or moon must most often offer excellent protection from most make their way to an orbital transfer small arms fire and can even keep one station. Some ships capable of transit alive after a hit from a heavier weap- speeds can land on planets, but these on. Shrapnel also tends to be easily re- tend to be the exception rather than pelled, unless the wearer is especially the rule. Some inter-planetary ships close to the shrapnel. offer shuttle services from the plan- Chapter 8: Technology etary surface, but others are not so Vacuum Combat Armor generous. Orbital transports are also Similar in nature to combat body ar- often chartered when one wishes to mor, this armor also offers full protec- go between moons within the same tion from the harsh vacuum of space. planetary system, which is especially The endurance of these suits tends to common in the Saturnine and Jovian be somewhat limited, however, with systems. a safe operating window of less than two hours – less if the suit is breached Inner-System Travel by weapons’ fire. Inner-system travel refers to any interplanetary travel that lies within Travel Expenses the orbit of Mars. This is the most Not everyone in the solar system common type of traffic in the solar has a spaceship they can use to get system and the easiest to book in a around. These poor souls have to rely timely manner. Even so, it sometimes on booking passage on the most con- can require the potential travelers to 169 Chapter 8: Technology of reasons. der for for periods extended avariety planets agreat deal, cannotstay un- especially thosethat travel between more costly fare, butsometravelers, completed. thelatter Doing meansa once theacceleration hasbeen curve be unconscious aswell) orberoused entire (inwhichcasetheywill trip either stay in their grav couches the ships give passengerstheoptionto eral maintenance. addition,some In load cargo, gen- refuel, andperform a couple days whileoutboundships wait transfer in an orbital station for Planetary TransportCostsPlanetary Chartered Airline Chartered Airliner Air Taxi City) (Next Public Transit Transport Type Air Taxi(In-City) Orbital TransportOrbital Costs Surface to Orbit/Orbit to to Surface Orbit/Orbit Surface Transport type Inter-Orbital (ie:Planet to Moon) Inter-Orbital Station to Station Inner &OuterSystemInner Transport Costs Outer System (awake) Outer System (sleeper) SystemInner (sleeper) Transport Type Several hours Several hours One ormore hours day ormore Few minutes, to asmucha Average Travel Times Usually underhalfhour Standard WeaponRanges Extreme Long Medium Short Point Blank Weapon Range 1 week to 3weeks 1 week to 3weeks 1 to 4days Travel Delay Orbit Range Single Planetary SystemSingle Planetary Between orbital objects orbital Between Intercontinental Intercontinental Regional Continental Range Local 1000 ft/300 m 1000 ft/300 m 200 ft/60 m 50 ft/15 m 25 ft/7.5 m 10 ft/3 EffectiveDistance reasons. unless there are documented medical the option will not even be offered incurred by theship. Onsomeships, more expensive due to costs the extra ken for thejourney, butthisiseven isalsopossibletoplanets. bewo It those travelling between theinner outer system are notascommon as planning, asshipstravelling to the expensive andgenerally require more range transports. These canget trips on oneofthemore specialized long- of Mars, travelers mustbookpassage Outer-System Travel Wealth Code When travelling beyond theorbit 3 2 2 Wealth Code 2 2 1 Wealth Code Impact Free 3 2 1 1 3 3 2 Impact 0 1 0 Impact Restriction 0 2 1 1 0 U U U Restriction Restriction U U U U U U U U - Wealth Weapon Range Required Skill Damage Magazine Auto Impact Restriction Code Handguns Point Guns: ACC-44 Holdout 1d6 4 – 1 1 U Blank Handguns ACC-62 ‘Bandit’ Guns: Short 3d6 25 – 1 2 U Semi-Auto Pistol Handguns AP-445 ‘Scimitar’ Guns: Assault 3d6 or Short 20 2 (10 rnds) 2 1 L Machine Pistol Weapons 1d6 Blade HCC-90 ‘Anvil’ Guns: Short 5d6 13 – 2 2 U Heavy Pistol Handguns HCS-4 ‘Blaster’ Guns: Short 6d6 1 – 2 3 U Hand Cannon Handguns Rifles Guns: RFL-4 Long Rifle Long 5d6 6 – 2 2 U Longarms Guns: Assault AFL-4 Assault Rifle Long 3d6 30 2 (15 rnds) 2 3 L Weapons SX-90 ‘Splinter’ Guns: Extreme 5d6 10 – 3 4 R Sniper Rifle Longarms RFR-44M Paxton Guns: Assault Long 3d6 30 4 (30 rnds) 3 2 L Assault Rifle Weapons AFL-16 Guns: Assault Long 3d6 30 2 (10 rnds) 3 2 L Assault Rifle Weapons SMGs SM-3 ‘Blizzard’ Guns: Assault Medium 3d6 30 2 (15 rnds) 2 3 L SMG Weapons SM-12 ‘Hornet’ Guns: Assault Medium 1d6 60 6 (60 rnds) 2 2 L SMG Weapons XSM-90 ‘Blindeye’ Guns: Assault Medium 3d6 30 2 (15 rnds) 3 1 L SMG Weapons

Melee Weapons Required Skill Damage Wealth Code Impact Restriction Special Boarding Axe Hand Weapons: Blade 3d6 1 2 L Ignore 3 pts of Armor Boarding Pike Hand Weapons: Blade 5d6 2 1 L Ignore 5 pts of Armor Combat Knife Hand Weapons: Blade 1d6 1 0 U Chain Sword Hand Weapons: Blade 5d6 2 1 R Ignore 5 pts

of Armor Chapter 8: Technology Cutlass Hand Weapons: Blade 3d6 1 1 U Electro-Whip Hand Weapons: Blade 1d6 + Stun 2 2 R Stun Unarmed (Untrained) n/a 1d3 n/a n/a U Unarmed (Trained) Unarmed Combat 1d6 n/a n/a U Mono-Strand Hand Weapons: Blade 5d6 3 1 R Surprise Only Sap Hand Weapons: Blunt 1d6 + Stun 1 0 U See Text Shock Mace Hand Weapons: Blunt 3d6 + Stun 1 2 L Stun Stun Baton Hand Weapons: Blunt 2d6 + Stun 1 2 L Stun Throwing Knife Hand Weapons: Blade or 1d6 1 1 U Range: Thrown Weapons Thrown

Armor Protection Required Skill Wealth Code Impact Restriction Light Armors Flak Jacket 5 None 1 2 U Flak Body Suit/ 10 None 2 2 U Warden Armor

Heavy Armors Combat Armor 15 None 3 3 L Vacuum Armor 10 Freefall 1 3 2 L 171 9 Spaceships

To service the needs of human ex- For nearly any trip, except when the pansion into the far reaches of the so- inner planets are very close together, lar system, a vast array of spaceships anyone on a spaceship must enter have been designed by architects and a gravity couch to survive the firing built in one of the many shipyards of the transit drive. This suspended that exist across the system. Some of animation is referred to as A/D stasis, these vessels are as simple as orbital where the crew is put into deep sleep transfer vehicles that ferry people and in a grav couch during this period. For materials between orbital ships or sta- trips to the outer planets, this is for tions and spaceports on the ground. seven days each for both acceleration Others are large military cruisers that and deceleration. However, many pas- patrol the space around planets as sengers will stay in their grav couches well as the major trading routes in the for the entire trip – it saves on life sup- solar system, ensuring that each of port and resources. Within the inner the various governments’ and corpo- system, this can be between 1.5 and rate entities’ interests are protected. 3 days each. While in A/D stasis, the On the following pages, a selection of only thing monitoring a ship is the important ships seen throughout the computer. solar system are presented, includ- ing their most basic statistics and a Gravity in the Ship short summary of the ship’s function While most ships utilize rotating and use. Due to space limitations, the sections to create simulated gravity ships presented here have been se- for a crew’s quarters, mess halls, and lected because they are found in com- other areas, a great many locations on mon use across the solar system, and a ship simply cannot benefit from this. are not the dedicated designs of one For example, it is simply not feasible entity or another – with the exception to build the engineering section of a of the UWC Wardens’ Knight’s Errant. spaceship in a rotating section. As a result, much of the ship operates in a Travelling the micro-gravity environment. This can Solar System sometimes make even basic tasks The travel times chart on the next trickier to complete than they might page lists the maximum and mini- be otherwise. Since the technology to mum times in days that it can take create true artificial gravity is beyond to get from one planet to the other, the current knowledge of humans, a depending upon their position in the crutch of sorts has been created in- solar system. Your GM will determine stead. That crutch is known as the En- how long a trip will take, based on ergized Deck Plate. these numbers and what is required for your game. EDPs, as they are more commonly referred to, generate a specially tuned magnetic field. This field only interacts Weapons on Ships with a specially engineered compos- Getting into combat on spaceships ite material known as EDP micro-fi- can be a tricky thing. On one hand, bers. The energized plates attract this one needs the combat ability to deal fiber to them in much the same way with the threat at hand. On the other, a traditional magnetic field attracts one needs to not damage the delicate ferrous materials. The field created by systems on a ship or to blow a hole in the plates is tuned to pull at the micro- the hull. It is for this reason that most fibers with a force similar to what one combat on a ship or a space station would experience if walking on Earth. utilizes small arms or hand weapons, These micro-fibers are integrated into such as shotguns or cutlasses, to as- nearly every tool, piece of clothing, sure that such damage doesn’t occur. and other objects commonly found on a spaceship. However it does not create true artificial gravity, so any Spacecraft other object, such as a piece of fruit Characteristics or naked body, which does not have Spacecraft use a common set of char- these fibers integrated into them will acteristics to define their capabilities float in mid-air as is normal in a micro- within the game. gravity environment. Travel Times: Adjusted for Acceleration/Deceleration (Days: Min/Max)

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto

Mercury – 14/14 14/14 14/14 28/32 53/57 109/113 171/176 226/230

Venus 14/14 – 14/14 14/14 26/34 51/59 107/115 169/178 224/232

Earth 14/14 14/14 – 14/15 24/36 49/61 105/117 168/179 222/234

Mars 14/14 14/14 14/15 – 21/39 46/64 102/120 165/182 219/237

Jupiter 28/32 26/34 24/36 21/39 – 25/85 81/141 144/204 198/258

Saturn 53/57 51/59 49/61 46/64 25/85 – 56/166 119/229 173/283

Uranus 109/113 107/115 105/117 102/120 81/141 56/166 – 63/284 117/339

Neptune 171/176 169/178 168/179 165/182 144/204 119/229 63/284 – 54/401

Pluto 226/230 224/232 222/234 219/237 198/258 173/283 173/339 54/401 –

Notes • Standard acceleration/deceleration envelope is seven days from nor- mal cruise to transit speed. • Inner system travel doesn’t allow for maximum transit speeds. Thus, trips take longer than one might expect. • Inner system travel tends to be roughly equal, no matter where you are heading, due to the fact that the longer trips allow for bigger accelera- tion/deceleration envelopes. 173 Chapter 9: Spaceships Support crews are Support re Crew: Support Crew: The crew operates theship’s Size Class:Small, medium,large, huge, General Characteristics others who are necessary to asuc others whoare necessary miners, smelters, geologists, and varies. Onaminingbarge, theyare mission operations –whotheyare sponsible for aspacecraft’s specific nominally. people to keeptheshipoperating crew –theminimumnumberof second isthesize oftheskeleton dard crew complement whilethe two measures. The firstisthestan- operations of the ship. There are nel whoare essential to thebasic well asengineers andotherperson- weapons, navigation, andhelm,as or gargantuan. sary capabilitiesfor thestation. sary will generally define theneces- adventure theparticular portant, overall events. When theyare im- to the bilities are notimportant and thestation’s specificcapa- the sameway asaplanetorcity, hub for inmuch theCharacters generally alocation oradventure as spacecraft. Space stations are ally definedinthesamemanner of common sight intheuniverse While space sta The Void, theyare notgener Space Stations tions are a - - - Availability: How easilytheshipcan Endurance: This isthelengthoftimea fore theycanbepurchased. mits for onereason oranotherbe Licensed shipsrequire specialper bymarket anyone with the money. can bepurchased ontheopen and restricted. Unlicensed ships unlicensed, licensed,of availability: be obtained. There are three levels this timeto someextent. such as rationing efforts can extend water, andgeneral supplies. Crew ing basicnecessities suchasfood, ship canoperate without resupply crew. havecraft support found inahospital. Notallspace orderlies, andothersthat would be pital ship, theyare doctors, nurses, cessful mining operation. Onahos- ing Spacecraftsupplement. will bepresented intheupcom- ization, andspaceship combat provide greater detail, custom- basic sense. Further rulesthat ning withspaceships inthemost designed to getyou upandrun- The rules presen Space Combat t ed here are - - - - Equinox Class Interplanetary Transport The Equinox is one of the more com- General Characteristics mon inner-system transports in use. Size Class: Medium Designed to operate exclusively within Crew: 18 (Skeleton 6) the Martian orbit the Equinox carries Support Crew: 12 (Staff) both passengers and cargo. An in-line Endurance: 64 days rotational section provides crew and Availability: Unlicensed passengers a near 1-G gravity during the cruise portion of the trip. Cargo is stored in both pressurized and vacu- um-exposed pods aft of the rotational section. Because the ship sometimes makes trips to the innermost parts of the solar system, all of this is hidden behind a large solar shield mounted both forward and aft of the ship. Chapter 9: Spaceships

175 Chapter 9: Spaceships Knight’s ErrantClassCorvette stance towards theship. take anaggressiveenough to actually can generally fight off anyone foolish wellalso armed enoughthat they available to theteam. These shipsare bays, highendsensors, andmore are to thisend. Sciencestations, medical ofsystemsnagerie that allcontribute on missions, theseshipshave ame den teams whohave beendeployed designation. Designed to assist War ly doesn’t fit easily into any traditional nated asacorvette, thetruthisitreal- to theUWC Wardens. desig- Officially The Knight’s Errant isashipunique - - Availability: Licensed Endurance: 365days 0 Crew: Support 8(Skeleton 3) Crew: Size Class:Medium General Characteristics Perth Class Bulk Freighter A great deal of ore and other mate- tion, that skeleton is covered in cargo rials are generated in the outermost pallets filled with a variety of cargos. portions of the solar system, and that Most commonly these include ores, material must find its way to the fac- precious metals and other bulk ma- tories and refineries that are located terials, but the ship can also take on primarily in the inner system. This is pallets designed to store more pre- where bulk freighters come in, and cious cargos, such as foodstuffs and the Perth class is one of the most suc- delicate machinery. A pair of coun- cessful designs in common usage to- ter-rotating life sections sit at either day. When empty, these vessels look end of the ship, providing the crew a like nothing more than an incomplete gravity environment for the long trips ship skeleton. However, when in ac- between the inner and outer system.

General Characteristics Size Class: Large Crew: 18 (Skeleton 6) Support Crew: 12 Endurance: 300 days Availability: Unrestricted Chapter 9: Spaceships

177 E Far Strider

TO: Patrick Van Buren, Director of Far Strider’s distress beacon in time Warden Operations, Warden Prime to revive her crew and begin rescue FROM: Ayako Yamaguchi, Special Ac- operations. The results of those op- tivities Division, Warden Operations erations are contained in a transmit- Center ted audio-log received from Cardigan SUBJECT: Disposition of the Corvette, Bay’s skipper, Captain Frank Beringer Far Strider thirty-two hours ago. You will find an SECURITY LEVEL: TOP SECRET enclosed transcript of Captain Bering- er’s log for your review. Sir, it is my sad duty to inform you that the missing corvette, Far Strider, 08:35 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159, was recently discovered adrift in open CELESTIAL COORDINATES RA: space, beyond the Asteroid Belt. As 7h,27m,47s DEC: 2º,8’,39”. Ship’s 178 you are aware, Far Strider was dis- Log, Cardigan Bay, Captain Frank patched, under the command of Cap- Beringer reporting. tain Jericho Vitalis, to investigate pos- sible sightings of the species classified We’ve picked up an emergency dis- as X-13. Incoming reports from Cap- tress signal while en route to Gany- tain Vitalis and the other Wardens of mede. The source of the signal has Far Strider’s crew had been frequent yet to be identified. The emergency and consistent, until six months ago command protocol revived pilot Lisa when all transmissions suddenly and Bell and I from A/D stasis about ten inexplicably ceased. We have filed minutes ago. My initial reading of our reports of Far Strider’s visits to Nep- current coordinates shows that we tune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter, and are approximately sixty percent along we believe that Captain Vitalis and his our planned transit route to Jupiter. crew were indeed onto something Life signs for the rest of the crew that could constitute a clear and pres- look stable. I’ve begun resuscitation. ent threat. Unfortunately, it will be dif- Lisa has plotted an intercept course ficult to verify this, as it is believed that toward the distress beacon. Our ex- the entirety of Far Strider’s crew is pected arrival will be in approximately now dead. thirty-seven minutes.

Far Strider was discovered on the 09:27 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 3rd of February, near a passing free- The Cardigan Bay arrived on scene lance trader registered as Cardigan about fifteen minutes ago. Sensors Bay while en route between Mars detected a ship seemingly lifeless and and Jupiter. Her course had taken adrift as we approached. She appears Cardigan Bay outside of standard to be some sort of corvette, though transit routes. Cardigan Bay’s navi- not like anything I’ve ever seen before. gational computer was able to detect She may be a government ship by 179

Help Is Always A Long Way Away the looks of her markings. The name We’ve attempted to raise her on printed on her hull is Far Strider. I’ve standard communications channels, directed my navigator, Jose Perez, with no results. Our initial inspection to research the name on the master of the outer hull indicates no rupture vessel database, but he has yet to find or any other sign of damage. Never- anything useful. Whatever she is, this theless, the ship seems lifeless. We’ll ship is well armed. need to board her as soon as we can to commence rescue or salvage op- with splashes of what looks like blood. erations. I’ve already ordered Lisa There’s also quite a bit of damage to to bring us alongside. Chief Engineer the door frame, as if something pow- Dante Williams is preparing a board- erful had battered against it from the ing party. We will begin operations as other side. soon as we are securely moored to Far Strider’s docking hatch. Williams is scanning for life signs, but I don’t have a good feeling about 10:22 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 survivors after seeing this mess. Nev- The boarding party is now aboard ertheless, we’ve got to make sure. Far Strider. Party members include On the other hand, Far Strider might Chief Williams, Assistant Engineer fall under UWC regulations as free Sheila Watts, Pilot Lisa Bell, and our salvage if there are no survivors and medic Lionel Heskey. Entry through clear ownership can’t be verified. A the outer airlock was difficult due to ship like this could be worth a fortune. Far Strider’s advanced security sys- Whatever the case, we must get into tem. Fortunately, Sheila is somewhat that bridge. I’ll make sure the cutting 180 of a wiz at breaking security codes – gear is ready – and I may just unlock even the toughest ones. I don’t know the weapons locker as well. I hope to what kind of work she did before this, God that we don’t find whatever made but some of her more dubious skills this bloody mess locked in on the oth- often come in handy. er side.

Perez located a listing for Far Strid- 11:02 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 er under the master vessel database, No life signs have been detected, but the entry was marked as classi- so Williams and the team have cut fied. She must be a government ship through the hatch and entered the – I’d bet a year’s pay on it. bridge. The crew made a quick sweep, with pistols drawn, but there was no Initial reports from Williams’ team immediate threat. The bridge is in are insubstantial. There’s no sign of shambles, however. Most of the con- life whatsoever – no bodies, no living trol consoles and equipment have souls, nothing. Sheila is making her been ravaged the same way as the way toward the engine room while the door. Scorch marks indicate that others head toward the bridge. Per- there may have been a small electrical haps Far Strider’s log is accessible fire. The lighting in there is very dim. I from there. can hardly make out details through the Chief’s video feed. A computerized 10:36 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 voice is coming from somewhere to My God, what happened over the left near the navigation station. I there? Williams has linked me into a can just make out the shape of a chair live video feed. It looks like the hatch and the lights of the console as the to the bridge is sealed and barricaded Chief moves closer. There seems to by welded bands of steel. The door, be something on the floor as well. Oh walls, and deck plates are all sprayed dear God! 11:26 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 Whatever this thing was, it cer- We’ve discovered the body of a tainly looked like Vitalis and his crew woman. Something ripped her in half were able to track it. He described it and dropped the fleshy pieces on the as a “cunning and intelligent preda- deck like discarded cigarette butts. tor possessed of incredible strength Lisa had to leave the bridge to throw and speed, with a will for violent blood- up. What the hell could have done shed.” Skimming ahead here, I can see this? I give Williams a lot of credit for that the Wardens were able to corner having the stomach to deal with this the creature somewhere within Sala- mess, especially since he’s the one cia’s spaceport. However, it got away examining what’s left of the body. The in what may have been a cargo ship- tattered remains of her uniform still ment to Uranus. Yes, I can see here display a portion of her insignia, re- where Vitalis mentions the discovery vealing what she was – this woman of a derelict freighter adrift near the was a Warden. moon Oberon. She must have been towed to Veronica Station, because 11:52 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 the next thing that Vitalis notes is Williams has patched me into Far a series of random grizzly murders 181 Strider’s navigation control. It took on the Saturnine moon of Enceladus some doing, but I managed to retrieve soon after a passenger liner, recently her logs and discovered two things. arrived from Veronica Station, had First, Far Strider was set to the last landed there. Whatever this thing stage of her self-destruct sequence. was, it seemed to be very deliberate One more command and boom! in its journey toward the inner planets.

Second, Far Strider’s captain, According to Vitalis’ logs, the War- someone named Vitalis, seemed wor- dens arrived on Enceladus only days ried about the possible presence of after the creature’s departure. The a hostile alien life form on Neptune. carnage and destruction it left behind Far Strider was dispatched to Salacia had the local population in a paranoid to dig up evidence of something they uproar. Whatever this X-13 alien call X-13. There seems to be a pro- was, it was intelligent and apparently file record in Far Strider’s database skilled. Local police reports on Ence- for this thing, but I can’t seem to get ladus included an apparent shuttle past its security profile. According to theft – the vessel in question being Vitalis’ log entry, the Warden’s didn’t later found docked at Chronos Sta- believe that this X-13 was native to tion above Titan. What I don’t get is Neptune. But, some strange sightings how this thing could possibly infiltrate and the sharp escalation of murders busy population centers without dis- within the colony followed a bizarre covery. Oh God, I remember hearing event that eyewitnesses described as about the disappearance of an entire a shimmering wave in the air followed class of young school children while by an explosion of static electricity – transferring onto a shuttle at Chronos very strange. Station, but no details had ever been released of the incident. According to Vitalis, a cruise liner heading toward auto-destruct. I guess that’s one way Jupiter picked up the shuttle, appar- to win a fight. Vitalis and his crew tried ently adrift in Saturn’s orbit. All that to barricade themselves up on the was found was a gruesome collection bridge, but the thing got in. Brice’s of toddler heads and body parts piled death, being ripped in two, bought the in a fleshy stack of bloody meat inside time for the rest of the Wardens to the cabin. slip out the hatch and weld it shut. Even so, there is no sign of this crea- Scanners had not picked up signs of ture on the bridge now. life on that shuttle either. Yet, evidence of the creature’s passing remained Oh no! There’s a ventilation shaft in clear when some of the cruise liner’s the overhead! According to the ship’s passengers began to disappear. Wait, schematics, the shaft leads to a junc- if they couldn’t detect any life on the tion that runs straight back toward shuttle, then… the engine room. Sheila! She was back there and she hasn’t checked in for al- I need to contact Williams now! most an hour! 182 12:14 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 12:20 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 I’ve put Williams and the rest of the I’ve alerted Williams to collect the crew on alert. Whatever this thing is, crew and abandon the Far Strider! I know now that it somehow got on We’ve got to get out of here now! the Warden ship. Vitalis believed that Neither of us can raise Sheila on the they had destroyed the creature after comm link. Lisa is making her way catching up with it on Ganymede. He back to the mooring hatch now. Perez was wrong! I read Vitalis’ account of is preparing the nav computer for de- X-13’s apparent abilities. Like a cha- parture. Williams and Heskey should meleon, it’s able to blend itself into its not be far behind. I can see them surroundings to avoid detection. It’s moving through Far Strider’s corri- somehow invisible to standard bio- dor from Williams’ video cam. There’s scanners as well. What the hell did we the airlock hatch at the T-juncture. just step into here? But where’s Lisa? I can tell that Wil- liams is wondering the same thing The account of the Warden’s dis- as I watch his camera pan back and covery that they weren’t alone on- forth with such a blur that it’s hard board ship after Ganymede is quite to make out details. Wait! That’s a clear in Vitalis’ log. Two of the War- woman screaming! Oh no. I just saw dens were violently eviscerated and a bloody body fly across the T-junction half eaten while in A/D stasis. The re- and slam against the far bulkhead! mainder of the team was revived un- Heskey is making for the airlock hatch. der the computer’s emergency proto- I think that the Chief is trying to find col. They tried their best, but couldn’t the thing! stop this thing. They knew that they had no chance. One of the Wardens, Something just lunged at them from Shelly Brice, tried to set Far Strider’s the shadows. Whoa… it’s big and re- ally fast! I can’t see anything! Every- Bay’s outboard airlock to avoid detec- one’s cameras are bouncing all over tion. I’ve seen what’s left of my crew. the place! I hear yelling and screaming I don’t have time to think about that everywhere. No one seems to be able now. to hear me! And that screeching roar. That… that isn’t right. It’s like a cross Cardigan Bay’s mains are fired up between a howl and the scraping of and ready for maneuvering. Her dock- metal on metal! It’s horrible! ing tube is starting to retract. What- ever that thing is, it’s smart enough The Chief and Heskey are both to steal my ship! Where the hell is it down. The Chief’s camera only points going?! I’ve got to stop it! How do you at the deck now. But I can see… oh activate the gun turrets on this thing?! god… that’s Heskey’s head. Where is All the consoles are smashed! Wait! his body?! No… there… there the thing That’s it! The nav console! is. No… no… that can’t be real. Wai… I’m going to be sick. The ship’s self-destruct sequence is still active. I just need the final com- No… that’s the airlock! Perez, seal mand. Oh hell… screw it. That’s right, 183 the door, now! you freak! I’m not letting you out of here! 12:32 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 [heavy breathing] Just escaped the 12:56 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 bridge in time! Perez is dead! Ship This is Captain Frank Beringer of compromised! I’m… I’m the last. No the freighter Cardigan Bay. I’m broad- sign of the creature. Doesn’t seem to casting this message to send my per- want to chase me, for some reason. sonal log as a warning. Anyone who Ship’s computer is activating launch doesn’t believe in alien life out here in sequence! How can that be? Can’t do the cold void is dead wrong! I’ve seen anything from here. Got to get to Far it and it destroyed my ship and my en- Strider. Headed to vacc suit locker. tire crew. With any luck… But now it’s time for payback! Auto 12:53 EST, 03 FEBRUARY 2159 destruct on the count of three. I think my heart’s going to explode. I’m on Far Strider’s bridge now. I man- Three… Two… One… aged to space-walk from Cardigan 10 Worlds

Mercury Though dead on the outside, Mercury harbors a wealth of natural metals and minerals below her surface. Invest- ment in a colonial mission to Mercury would naturally be dangerous and risky, but that was a risk the Chinese government was willing to take. Luckily for them, the un- conquerable dead world had one Achilles heel, one place where humans could land in relative safety.

The Chao Meng-Fu crater, Type: Terrestrial located on Mercury’s south- Size: Approximately 0.055 Earths by Mass ern pole, is the only location Gravity: 0.38 g (Low Gravity) Surface Pressure: Negligible on the planet that remains Surface Composition: Metallic Material (70%), Silicate mostly in the shade through- Rock (30%) out an entire day – thus the Atmosphere: Trace – Molecular Oxygen (42%), So- temperature stays relatively dium (29%), Hydrogen (22%), Helium (6%), Potas- constant. It was here that sium (0.5%) Surface Temperature: Around 427° C/800° F. the Port Tian colony was es- Day: 176 Days tablished as the only human Year: 88 Earth-Standard Days presence on Mercury. Life Satellites: None here is spartan and simple, with very little in terms of Mercury is a small dead world – a creature comforts. Nobody rock in space marred and cracked goes to Mercury unless they have by ages of meteor impacts. It slowly business here - at least nobody who rotates like a pig on a spit under the wants to live a comfortable life-style. punishing heat of the Sun. The tem- Yet there is wealth to be had for those perature variance on any given day brave enough to join the drilling op- between the dark and roasting sides erations that sink further and further range between -315ºF and +800ºF. toward the planet’s core. A miner Building a sustainable colony here might be able to return home to Earth would be next to impossible under with a small, dream-building fortune these extreme conditions. So, why after a few years of hard work. That is, would anyone want to invest so much of course, if he doesn’t disappear first time and expense to come here in among the dangerous labyrinth-like the first place? The answer is mining. tunnels of Mercury’s mines. Venus Venus has one of the harsh- est climates in the solar sys- tem. Despite being only a bit smaller than the Earth and well within the range of the sun that is generally held to be friendly to life, Venus has a decidedly hellish surface with high winds and temperature in the hundreds of degrees – no matter if you are on the day or night side. Despite these conditions, however, it is a world that has extensively felt the touch of humanity.

Five corporations control Type: Hothouse Size: Approximately 0.815 Earths by Mass Venus, under the nominal au- Gravity: 0.904 g (Moderately Low Gravity) thority of the Venusian Admin- Surface Pressure: 9.3 million Pascal (about 93 times istrative Body. Each corpora- Earth sea level) tion has utter autonomy within Surface Composition: Basalt rocky surface dominated their colony, with each colony by volcanic planes with interspersed highlands. Iron, gold, silver, uranium and a variety of other having its own set of rules and valuable ores and minerals can be found. regulations, customs, holidays, Atmosphere: Mostly Carbon Dioxide (85%) with Ni- and so on. However, outside of trogen (3%) and other trace gases such as sulfur the colony, including any min- dioxide, argon, water vapor and carbon. Cloud Layer Temperature: Around 460° C/860° F. ing operations those colonies Day: 243 Days may claim, the VAB has the Year: 224.7 Earth-Standard Days final authority. While the Ve- Satellites: None nusian Administrative Body is supposed to be apolitical, its tions of the corporations but, for the rulings are generally tilted in favor of most part, those mining operations whichever corporation currently has have moved to other areas of the the most influence. planet. Despite this, these colonies offer comfortable environments with Nearly all aspects of life on Venus wide caverns modeled much like the occur underground. With the high parks found on Earth, giving them an temperatures, scouring winds, and open-air feel. There is never mistaking, corrosive environment of the surface, however, which colony you are in, for subsurface colonies have been by far nearly every corridor you walk down, the cheapest method of colonizing napkin you wipe your face with, and the planet in the long term. Most of glass you drink out of has the asso- these colonies can trace their roots ciated corporate logo emblazoned back to the initial mining opera- across it. 185 Chapter 10: Worlds more from thethreat ofecological di- tions. replaced the impotent United Na- cooperativepowerful bodythat has rum oftheUnified World Council –a resolve their disputes through thefo become more civilized andchooseto the world up. nations have Modern inMalaysiatation woke ofPort Klang andthenucleardevasnuclear strikes - always shift. The threat ofterrorist some borders andcenters ofpower much astheyhave been,though Earth Satellites: 1 Satellites: Year: Days 365Earth-Standard 24Hours Day: Temperature:Surface Average 24°C/75°F. Atmosphere: Nitrogen(78%)withOxygen Mostly platewith active surface Composition: Rocky Surface Pressure:Surface 101kPa 1g Gravity: by Mass Size: 1Earth Type: TerrestrialPlanet Fortunately, suffers no the Earth areThe still pretty nations of Earth gon, carbon dioxide,gon, carbon andwater vapor. (21%), withtheremaining amount madeupofar nesium, sulfur, nickel, calcium,andaluminum. tectonics. Composed mostlyofiron, silicon, mag- - have notfound theirway to Earth. penings intherest ofthesolarsystem does notmeanthat thestrange hap was meant toity exist. That, however, ogy oftheplanetiswhere human- safe andthenaturalmake itvery ecol- Large citiesandpopulation density isparadise.system, though,theEarth ing to thintheherd. thatawakening are help inthegalaxy – orat leastitwould were notthings population becomes aproblem again only be a matter of time before over Compared to therest ofthesolar - tion controls inplace. will It ever, andthere are nopopula- ple stillhave notlearned, how threat ofoverpopulation. Peo worlds hashelpedeasethe ing peopleoutto live onother little avail. some of them bring back – to labor to though cloning efforts cies are permanentlyextinct, ous solarradiation. Many spe ger protects life from danger ozoneor non-existent nolon- cial suits, where the thinning to travel outside without spe are places where itisnotsafe oftheworld.many parts There have changedpermanentlyin hasrecovered,ity butclimates to bequite different. Air qual- would findthe century world and apersonfrom the21st has been damaged the Earth some cases, reversed. However, centuries was halted and, in ing the19th,20th,and21st saster. The damagedonedur On theotherhand, push------Mars 112 years ago, the first per- manent settlement was cre- ated on the surface of Mars. In the beginning, the mining operations on Mars produced better results than anyone ever hoped. Jobs were plenti- ful and calls to Earth for more and more settlers brought shuttle after shuttle of people hoping to cash in on the pros- perity. The original colony expanded and smaller settle- ments began to spring up in areas that could be easily pro- tected from meteor and radia- Type: Terrestrial Planet tion damage. Size: Approximately 0.5 Earths by Mass Gravity: 0.375 g (Low Gravity) However, this did not last. Surface Pressure: 1 kPascal Surface Composition: Primarily a basalt rock base The dig sites all began to containing some silica glass. Surface covered in encounter a material in the finely grained iron-oxide dust. ground that was incredibly Atmosphere: Mostly Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen hard to drill, blast, or bore (19%), with the remaining amount made up of Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Krypton, Neon, Nitrogen, through. The material was Xenon, and Water Vapor useless to the miners, as no Surface Temperature: Around 4.4° C/40° F. one could find any way to Day: 24.6 Hours profit from it. Worse yet, all Year: 1.8 Earth-Standard Years indications showed that this Satellites: Formerly 2, now a loosely formed ring. Chapter 10: Worlds material was present all over the planet. millions of particles of space debris. Much of the debris rained down in a Tourism, the second largest money- hail of meteorites that peppered the maker for the planet, was beginning to planet for days on end. The location of lag behind the more exotic locations the colonies in low-lying areas saved found on Ganymede and Io. However, them from the worst of the damage. Mars had one final message to the The dust storm created by the impact people of Earth that thought that life of so many meteorites continues to could be restored to the Red Planet. blanket the planet to this day. Solar Two years ago, the moon Diemos radi- collectors struggle to collect the lit- cally shifted orbit and swung into the tle sunlight that sneaks through the path of Phobos. clouds above. The impact shattered the moons It is a world supported by will alone. and blanketed the orbit of Mars with 187 Chapter 10: Worlds Jupiter ment ofJupiter isfound onthefour month-long shifts. The real excite workers live on Callisto andcome in two large floating gasmines.Most nating thantheyhadhoped. outtoreality turned befarlessfasci- red eye. It’s too bad for themthat the with its massive satellites and giant captured the imaginations of many, planets combined. The gas giant has half timesthemassofallother system, solarge that itistwo anda Satellites: 63 Satellites: Year: YearsEarth-Standard 11.86 9.9Hours Day: Cloud Layer Temperature: Around −125°C/-193°F. Atmosphere: Hydrogen Mostly (89%) and Helium Hydrogen Composition: LiquidMetallic Surface with Pressure:Surface 20-200kPascal (cloudlayer) 2.53g Gravity: Size: Approximately by Mass 318Earths Type: Giant Gas The planetitselfishomeonlyto isthelargest planetinoursolar It Ices. as Ammonia, Ammonium Hydrosulfide, and Water Hydrogen Deuteride, Methane, and Water, aswell (10%), withtrace amounts ofAmmonia, Ethane, Helium Some - has begunto change. ofCallistousual istheway that apart differently.acting mostun- Perhaps the “fish” they’re studyinghave been clouds. onEuropa Scientists claimthat shadows ofthingsfloating inthealien atmosphere seeing ofJupiter report ter space. minersintheupper Gas inandaround Jupi- unusual reports low gravity environment. and climbthemajesticmountains ina grounds for thosewhowish to come However, there have beensome tense radiation provide staging shield visitors from thein- and volcanoes. Bunkersthat tivity, withmany mountains Vegas oftheouter planets. lack ofabetter analogy, theLas is, for It ism andentertainment. moon’s trade istour primary moon inthesolarsystem. The vironments ofEarth. similar to theblacksmokeren- by chemosynthesis,survive fluence ofJupiter. The lifeforms kept warmby themagnetic in- underground saltwater ocean, live –abedroom community. many nearby of those working cover the surface. This is where cratersmassive impact that tures are thenumerous and ropa, Ganymede, andIo. moons – Callisto,Galilean Eu- Io isrife with geological ac Ganymede isthelargest Europa ishometo agiant Callisto’s fea mostdistinct - - - Saturn Out there, beyond the treacherous rim of the Aster- oid Belt and the great orbit of Jupiter lays the heart of man- kind’s new frontier – Saturn. Her many rings highlight the moons that are home to a ris- ing civilization. Over three mil- lion residents of the Republic of Saturn live and work here, striving daily to build their lives around the promise of a free and independent world. Op- Type: Gas Giant portunities abound here for Size: Approximately 95 Earths by Mass the adventurous of heart and Gravity: 2.5 g the ingenious of mind. Rapid Surface Pressure: 140 kPascal (cloud layer) growth has created a strong Surface Composition: Liquid Metallic Hydrogen and Helium. Theoretical rocky core. economy built on industry, Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen (96%) and Helium manufacturing, mining, tour- (3%), with trace amounts of Ammonia, Ethane, Hy- ism, and perhaps the most drogen Deuteride, Methane, and Water,. important of Saturn’s com- Cloud Layer Temperature: Around −185° C/-301° F. modities – agriculture. It might Day: 10.57 Hours Year: 29.46 Earth-Standard Years seem ironic that the world in Satellites: 200 observed, 62 with secure orbits the solar system named after the Roman god of the harvest would actually deliver on the promise Perhaps the most amazing example of her namesake. However, Saturn has of the Republic of Saturn’s achieve- evolved into what is called the bread- ments is Titan. It is here, under the Chapter 10: Worlds basket of the outer planets. orange sky and dense atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon, that great cit- Ice harvesting has become an im- ies and mammoth farming bio-domes portant industry among Saturn’s have arisen. Cassini University, located moons, especially Enceladus with within the capital city of Cassini, is fa- its giant plumes of sprayed ice shot mous for it schools of Planetology majestically into space from massive and Organic Chemistry. The city of geysers on its southern pole. Other Chronos has become one of the most moons like Rhea play host to huge important trade centers in the Solar manufacturing plants and ship yards System, built on the need to transport that allow Saturn to produce bio- Titan’s wealth of agricultural goods off domes, shuttles, transports, and other world. The fact of sustainable colonies necessary components that sustain on Neptune and Uranus can be direct- the colony. Saturnine colony struc- ly attributed by some degree to the tures and merchant vessels are not success of the Saturn colony. uncommon among the Outer Worlds. 189 Chapter 10: Worlds Uranus with astheywill. prospectors or corporations to do has offered them to independent the moonssurrounding Uranus and Wesley familyobtained therightsto froming facility Veronica Station. The family founded thehydrogen min- That allchangedwhenthe Wesley alignmentsthe orbital worked out. yond. Even then,that was onlywhen vast expanse oftheKuiper be Belt tive diamondminesofNeptuneor the off point forto thelucra- transports been nothingmore thanajunction Satellites: 27 Satellites: Year: YearsEarth-Standard 84.01 17.9Hours Day: Cloud Layer Temperature: Around −193°C/-379°F. of Helium,Methane,Hydrogen. andMolecular Atmosphere: Hydrogen, Mostly with trace amounts water, ammonia,andothervolatiles. Composition: of Hotanddensefluidmixture Surface Pressure:Surface 100kPascal 0.89g(ModeratelyGravity: Low Gravity) Size: Approximately by Mass 4Earths Type: Ice Giant For years, had theUranus sector - matter between prospectors. handled asanpersonal often is very lawtowns of the oldwest onEarth, muchlikethegoldrush Being ported. that only means that is re little crime anywhere inthesolarsystem, but ratehas thelowest theft of reported internally.criminals theregion fact, In porations willdealwithsuspected is that thelocalprospectors and cor Wesley family. The reality, however, suppliedbythe internal security Law isofficiallymaintained by mining rightsfrom Wesley. corporations obtaindeedsfor independent contractors and regions,prospecting where all beensetupasminingand Uranus. of intheorbit set aminingrig number of failed attempts to fromponents a and sections is apatchwork ofvariouscom- atmosphere. The space station molecular hydrogen from the by JohnPaul Wesley to extract run tion –theminingfacility Uranus proper is Veronica Sta - the only colonysurface, for Given that Uranus hasnosolid if it was solid. on its surface so it would be possible to land lessthanthat ofEarth, actually tational forces of Uranus are Despite its large size, the gravi- methane in a thick liquid form. a mixofwater, ammonia,and at all, but asurface not actually The moonsofUranus have oftheplanetis The surface - - Neptune Neptune, the last planet of our solar system, so far into space that it is thirty times the distance of the Earth to the burning Sun. Wind is a near constant on Neptune – the av- erage daily winds range from 45 mph to nearly the speed of sound. Unsurprisingly, the only colony on Neptune’s sur- face is underground – or un- der the thick ice layer, which has baffled scientists. Beyond it lies only the Kuiper Belt, a place filled with only dwarf planets and miscellaneous Type: Ice Giant chunks of rock. It’s no won- Size: Approximately 17 Earths by Mass der it is a frigid, inhospitable Gravity: 1.14 g (Moderately High Gravity) Surface Pressure: 1.5 Pascal (equal to about 75 miles world, where only the greedy above Earth sea level) or desperate would dare set Surface Composition: Mostly Ammonia, Ammonium foot. Hydrosulfide, Methane, and Water ices. Atmosphere: Mostly Hydrogen (80%) and Helium Salacia is the only colony (20%), with a small percentage of Methane and trace amounts of Hydrogen Deuteride and Ethane. on Neptune. It is powered Surface Temperature: Around −200° C/-300° F. entirely by geo-thermal taps, Day: 16.11 Hours utilizing the extremely hot Year: 164.79 Earth-Standard Years core of the planet. At first Satellites: 13

glance, it would seem amaz- Chapter 10: Worlds ing that anyone would want to spend the large amounts of on Neptune. Many people have start- money and incredible effort required ed to have intense nightmares, some to maintain a colony on Neptune. Pos- of which have induced homicidal fits terity or curiosity hardly seem reason- in otherwise normal folks. Insomnia able motivations. The answer is simple (or sleep aids) are an epidemic. People – Neptune produces diamonds, the also have started to go missing from most precious gem in the solar sys- time to time, without any trace – some tem. Salacia is a joint operation of the believe there’s a conspiracy afoot. On European Federation and the Rhodes top of all that, there are those who Company – a firm with long roots in claim to have heard eerie distant the diamond business and the fabu- sounds through the surface flurries, lous wealth that goes with it. like the songs of whales. None of these facts are advertised by Rhodes Over the last few years, strange – it would be bad for business. things have become commonplace 191 Chapter 10: Worlds Pluto &TheKuiperBelt are lost. Pluto alone wishesto beleft few hours at bestbefore theirsignals Even satellites andprobes lastonlya andthosethat didnever last. surface expeditions have never madeitto the comes screams andthensilence. Most the years. However, with eachattempt been attempts, many of them, over alone.wishes to beleft There have The planethasmadeitclear that it ence ofhumanity. NotsowithPluto. planet andmoonhasfelt thepres - Satellites: 3 Satellites: Year: YearsEarth-Standard 230 6.4Days Day: Temperature:Surface Around −229°C/-380°F. bon monoxide Atmosphere: Even mixofnitrogen, methane, andcar sive common out-gassing rock andice, Composition: Granite-like Surface explo Pressure:Surface 0.3Pascal (trace) Low 0.067g(Extremely Gravity: Gravity) Size: Approximately by Mass 0.002Earths Planet Type: Dwarf Across thesolarsystem every nearly Pluto hasnotimefor ourneeds. is ready, notwhenwe demandit, for Pluto willsurrender itssecrets whenit voiddark before they too go silent. will transmit screams ofterror into the and inevitablythosesamesomeones force from itthesecrets that ithides, the attempt to landontheworld, to someonewillagainmake Inevitably bidden. Even itsmoonsare off-limits. ment, travel for to theworld isstrictly - - finding it. have beensetto thetaskof ior, though many great minds science canfind for itsbehav There causethat isnoknown sometimes slowing down. sometimes speedingupand velocity hasalsoshifted, Its but it seems to be increasing. The changewas smallat first, bit ofPluto hasbeenchanging. inexplicable behavior –theor hibiting even more bizarre and the smallworld hasbegunex oddity. More recently, however, explanation of this satisfactory plain. There hasnever beena andsouthoftheecliptic north per beltandistilted, running sneaks in andoutof the Kui- in the orbit solar system. Its always beenabitofanenigma tion hasincreased ten-fold. recentIn years,- that observa found itselfadistant observer. has and thusfarhumanity Even with thisnewdevelop planethas The smalldwarf - - - - - The Kuiper Belt, found massive deposits that have net- ted them finder’s fees that allowed The New Frontier them to retire in style. Many more, Past the distant planet of Neptune however, have simply vanished never lies a thick band of rock, dust and to be heard from again. While there is ice known as the Kuiper Belt. Many great promise in the Belt, there is also dismiss this region as nothing more great danger. than another asteroid field, but those people do not truly understand the So far out is the Kuiper Belt that scope of the belt. Despite being far even a small emergency can turn less dense in most areas than the bet- deadly. Unlike the inner system, there ter known belt of rocks that sits be- is usually no help to be found. Those tween Mars and Jupiter, the Kuiper who make their living in the belt are Belt dwarfs its inner system cousin in truly self-reliant – they have to be to its sheer population of rocks and ice survive. They are also freer to pursue that slowly drift through it. For this their dreams than anywhere else in reason, the Belt has become the new the solar system. The Unified World frontier of the solar system. Council has no say out here and even those corporations that have staked a For those who are brave or, depend- claim out here, such as the massive 4G ing on who you ask, foolish enough to Enterprises, understand that they will venture that far out, there lies a great never have any influence beyond the potential to truly make a mark on the walls of their own stations. solar system. Many explorers have

The Kuiper Belt Chapter 10: Worlds Type: Asteroid Belt Accepted Border: Inner 35 AU – Outer 50 AU Composition: Primarily iceroids with a small percent- age of asteroids, infant comets, and roughly half a dozen dwarf planets. Major Locations: Dyonis Complex, Fog Field, the Lighthouse, Smoke, the Forge

193 F Bad Salvage

This was a much better haul than Valentino and the pretty blonde the crew of the Vulcan’s Forge was tomboy started to square away the hoping to find. The random salvage gear. “Doesn’t this make you ner- drifting between the orbits of Nep- vous?” he asked. tune and Saturn had often been picked over by the pirates that had Before Annie could answer, the turned the ships into salvage in the Skipper poked his head back into first place. This was different and it the bay. “And V, get the blood off the made Valentino nervous. cargo before you stow it. Don’t want the authorities asking questions we The young Sicilian rubbed his fin- don’t have answers to.” And then he ger over stains on the cargo con- was gone. tainer in front of him. It flaked off. It 194 was definitely blood. “Skipper, why Valentino looked at the spattered would pirates chop the crew to bits boxes, knowing this would not be a like that and leave all this stuff be- fun job. “Why is it always me?” hind?”

The Skipper was a man who’d gone grey so long before his time Valentino tried to catch his breath. it was impossible to tell how old He didn’t know what it was about he was. However, there were few coming out of a grav couch that people who knew the salvage game made Annie so horny, but he wasn’t better than he. “Who cares? Could complaining. have been a message or a revenge trip. Their lapse in judgment, our “Whew! That was exactly what I bounty.” needed! We’d better get dressed before the Skipper notices we’re Annie finished dropping off the gone again.” Annie slipped on her last jack of cargo. “That’s the last of coveralls in one smooth motion. She it, Captain.” Though, with her thick made those things almost look good. New Zealand accent, it sounded more like “lest of it Cepten.” The pair tried to look innocent as they went out to join the rest of “Good. Let’s get prepped to get the crew for the post-stasis meal. back to someplace civilized. Annie, Hector was still decanting Nguyen, help V get these crates secured.” but everyone else was bright-eyed And with that, the salty space mari- and ready to eat. It was at times ner left the cargo bay. like these that the Skipper was a Bad Salvage

195

Things in the Salvage

generous man – he made sure his It was, however, entirely deceptive. crew had honest to goodness food, Little did they know that this was go- instead of the usual crap rations ing to be the last normal moment that went with deep space voyages. any of them would ever know. It was the little things that made all the difference, usually. It was only two days later when Ilse, one of the new crew, needed Hector to check her out. She’d de- It was later that day that Valentino veloped a painful welt on her lower discovered that something had been right back and hadn’t felt right since into the food stores. He called the it showed up. Ilse thought that it Skipper down, because this wasn’t happened when she hit some of the something that was going to be easy scrap the wrong way when work- to explain. Food containers had been ing the cargo bay, but Hector said torn open, even the ones that were it looked more like the bug bite of sealed in hard materials. something big. “Now what could have done this?” Since there weren’t any bugs on The Skipper seemed more curious board and since they hadn’t been than angry. to a port with bugs for quite a while, Hector was stumped. There wasn’t Valentino shook his head. “I don’t 196 much he could do about it, other know, but I’ve got a bad feeling about than give her some topical medicine. this. Think this has anything to do He was a medic, not a doctor. with Ilse’s bite?”

The Skipper reached down to grab himself a handful of nuts, which were Valentino knew something was spilled across one of the shelves. “If wrong, and he hadn’t felt right since it is, it ain’t a bug and it’s a whole lot they pulled the salvage onboard. bigger than I thought. We’re going to have to get everyone stun rods The Skipper looked across the ta- and search the ship. But where did ble, one eyebrow raised. “Lord, Ilse. it come from?” You trying to eat me out of house and home?” “It couldn’t have come from that ship,” said Valentino. “What could The skinny little German girl have survived? It was vented to wolfed down a second helping of space.” miso soup and something that was supposed to be potstickers. “I don’t know what’s been going on. Seems like I can’t get enough to eat ever Nguyen checked in with Hector since this last stasis. I must look later that day. He’d gotten stung like a little piggy!” She stopped eat- by something down in engineering, ing long enough to make little piggy but he never saw what it was and snorts at everyone, which made An- couldn’t find anything. He was sure nie burst into laughter. At least Ilse he hadn’t accidentally bumped into still had her sense of humor. anything. It was for certain. Something was that’s only because he didn’t have on the ship. Everyone gathered to- any other explanation that even gether to make a plan to find it and sounded good. It was like her diges- the Skipper broke out the stun ba- tive system had exploded out her tons. backside.

The Skipper asked Hector to do some kind of work-up on the body to The crew had gotten about half- make sure there wasn’t a disease way through their first pass of the loose on the ship. He made Hector ship when Ilse called in, saying she put Ilse’s body in quarantine, but we wasn’t feeling well. She’d been com- all knew that wouldn’t help. If it was plaining about feeling bloated the a virus, we already most likely had it. last couple of days and her diges- tive system had been on the fritz. No one thought anything of it and simply adjusted their search pattern to ac- The crew, shaken and distraught, 197 commodate her absence. managed to complete their first pass of the ship. It had been several hours and no one had seen anything. It didn’t help They didn’t find anything. When that they didn’t know what they were they got back, they discovered that supposed to be looking for. They as- both Hector and Ilse’s body were sumed it could be as small as a rab- missing. It was pretty obvious that bit and went from there. Since Ilse there was no disease. had gone radio silent, the Skipper sent Hector to go find her. The Skipper put Annie on modify- ing the ship’s sensors to find what- ever was doing this. He also opened up the weapons locker and gave ev- Hector was just as freaked out eryone shotguns. as everyone else. He had no good explanation for what happened to Ilse. It took him a while to find her, but she had been dead for at least a Nguyen was more freaked out few hours. He managed to keep it to- than anyone. Now he was hungry gether enough to bag her body, but all the time and eating like a horse. we had to draw straws to see who With Hector gone, there wasn’t any- was going to clean up all the blood. one left who could do anything about it. Nguyen did the only graceful thing Ilse had died just outside her bath- – he locked himself into quarantine. room. Hector wanted to say it was some kind of hemorrhagic fever, but Everyone had gathered around It took a couple of shots of whiskey the dining table. The Skipper was to build up the courage for the crew pulling up diagrams of the ship on to get to the task ahead. the flex screen that hung above it.

“Whatever’s here knows we’re looking for it and knows how to hide,” Crawling through the ducts was he said. “We’ve got to assume that no joy for Valentino. Fortunately, these things are using maintenance they were big enough to crawl com- ducts or the other life support ducts fortably on hands and knees, unlike near them. I hope nobody’s claustro- smaller ships where one had to al- phobic.” ligator crawl.

The rest of the crew fidgeted, ea- Annie found two unusual readings ger to get to some kind of action. and guided the teams toward the first. Tensely, the other crew tried 198 The Skipper continued. “I know to move as quietly as possible, trap- we’re all on edge, but please be ping whatever the thing was in the careful what you shoot at in there. net while giving themselves room to Otherwise, you could blow out some- fire and not hit each other. thing important, like life support. With Nguyen in quarantine, we don’t Then Annie screamed that it was have a genius to pull us out of the moving. Then the ducts echoed with fire.” the sounds of gunfire. Then the Skip- per was gone. Annie called a general Valentino raised his hand. “Um, retreat after this, but everyone was boss? Why don’t we just get what already scrambling to get out of the we need to survive and lock our- ducts. selves on the bridge until we get back to civilization?” Rallying on the bridge, Valentino had discovered something along “No way.” It was Annie that replied. the way. Nguyen was dead now, in a “We’d be locked up in quarantine the massive pool of his own blood. It was minute we arrived. They might even the same way Ilse had gone. destroy the ship and our salvage. I’m scared, but I don’t want to end up broke, jobless, and in UWC solitary for six months.” Valentino’s lungs burned as he ran like he’d never run before. Fear That was that. Annie had the sen- gripped his brain like an ice cold vice. sors modified and was going to be All he could think about was getting guiding the teams. Everyone else as far away from these things as was given a section of the duct grid. possible, as quickly as possible. Rounding another corner, unsure them. He turned, watching in slow where it was he was heading, Val- motion as the thing came closer. It entino finally registered the voice wasn’t going to make it, but it was screaming in his ear. “No, V! No! Not still going to try. that way! It’s in front of you!” It was hard to make it out by the Finally, his higher brain functions emergency lights. However, in the retook command. “Where are you?” last few seconds it had, it gracefully leaped towards the doors, wheeled “I’m locked in the bridge,” replied around, and snapped its sharp tail Annie. “You’re clear for the moment. through the opening. The tail lashed Run!” only a few inches from Valentino’s head before whipping back out the It took Valentino a second to fig- door before it closed completely. ure out where he was, while Annie continue to scream at him over the He turned to Annie, both of them radio. Then, he was off. in the throes of shock. They would 199 be safe for a while, but the thought would occur to them later – what would they do when they needed to The thing was on his heels, it’s get back to their grav couches for black chitinous claws clicking on deceleration? the metal plates as it clawed its way along in 0G. Valentino rushed It seemed they were only delaying the bridge doors and wasn’t even the inevitable. through when Annie started to close 11 Monsters

Monsters have always been the stuff ror Tests when encountering it), and its of human legends. As soon as early special abilities. hominids figured out how to commu- nicate, they began to tell of horrible These game statistics are designed things that went bump in the night. to represent the average member of Some of those stories were the prod- the monster’s species. As a GM, feel uct of imagination and some of them free to tweak the creature’s Attributes were exaggerations of animals that and Skills in order to change it up – might have scared primitive humans. you may even want to give it a few However, some of these legends have appropriate Talents. It’s always fun to always been close to the mark, for keep your players guessing, and that there have always been unspeakable most certainly happens if the mon- horrors lurking out there, just beyond sters of the same type have different what humans know. capabilities.

Now that the Chthonian Star again Special Attributes & Skills approaches, there are many mon- A few of the usual Attributes may be strous creatures that are coming into treated differently as applied to mon- the world – some in ways never before sters, as well as a couple Skills unique seen. We’ll take a look at a few of them to them. here. Attributes Reading Monsters You’ll notice that many monsters Each monster begins with an itali- have Attributes greater than 5. This cized description of the creature, de- is because they have surpassed hu- signed for you to use in your game. man limits. Use them as you normally Once you’ve used the stock descrip- would. tion a couple of times, you’ll most like- ly want to riff on it, adapting it for your There are monsters that are clearly specific uses and the specific situation beasts, yet they have reasonable Clev- to which it applies. erness ratings. In these cases, their Cleverness more accurately represents Following that is a general overview the creature’s instincts than its ability of the monster, to help you under- to reason. It may not ever be able to stand what it is and how you might figure out how to use a computer, but want to use it in your game. it may figure out how to open a door or the like. Those instincts also help On the second page, you’ll find the keep it alive, knowing when to fight actual game statistics for the monster. and when to run. It also allows them to These include the creature’s size and hunt effectively. habitat, as well as its Attributes, Statis- tics, natural Skills, weapons and armor, Demeanor is another Attribute that its Horror Factor (the Difficulty for Hor- won’t necessarily work the same way. For intelligent creatures, it works the to temporarily back down or choose way it normally is intended among less troublesome prey if moved to Un- their own kind. There are also those friendly. creatures that will use its Demeanor for most normal uses. Deception may also be of use against intelligent creatures, if they However, in general, if a creature are interested and capable of opening cannot be perceived as human, or a dialog. near-enough to human to matter, its Demeanor is used only to intimidate Some intelligent creatures may be For more, see Social Combat below. moved to Unfriendly and will talk fur- ther, but this is the exception rather Skills than the rule. Monsters are alien and There are two skills that are unique most interested either using humans to Monsters. for their own ends, or killing or eating them. • Athletics: Flight (Grace) – This skill covers a creature’s ability to per- Monsters may never be moved fur- form athletic feats while keeping ther than Unfriendly through Social itself aloft. Combat. However, Unfriendly might • Natural Weapons (Grace) – This just buy the Characters some time. skill covers a creature’s abilities to use its innate defense mecha- Monstrous Traits nisms. While the monsters presented here (and in future supplements) have traits Physical Combat unique to themselves, there are many Most monsters have several ways that they have in common. Presented they can attack. When using a mon- here are descriptions of these traits ster in physical combat, don’t simply and how they work. always go for the attack that does the most damage. Put yourself in the situ- Adaptable ation and utilize the attack that makes A creature that is adaptable is ca- the most sense, given the circum- pable of changing its physiology in stances. such a way to survive in ecosystems that might not normally be expected Social Combat to support its life. The ecosystems in Most forms of Social Combat are question are explained along with the not going to apply to monsters. Since monster. most monsters will be considered Hostile, the only Skill you’ll be able to Burrower use is Intimidate. This may be of use, A burrowing creature is one that has as you may be able to get a creature the ability to travel underneath the 201 Chapter 11: Monsters entangling attack. Usually,entangling attack. thissecond itsuccessfullysame turn hitswithan to attackability asecond timeinthe AttackEntangling sound doingso. or they may simply make an audible though somesensorsmay reveal them “see,” even – incomplete darkness They have a range of 75 yds/60 m to ing soundwaves offnearby objects. Echolocation escapes ifthecreature iskilled. a Hard Physique Test. Heautomatically untildamage eachturn hesucceeds at get cannot move and suffers or attack, thisattack issuccessful, If tack. thetar do so, themonster at makesanormal self around an enemy and squeeze. To Constrictor other sheersurfaces. if thecreature canstickto walls and multiplier inclimbingspeed, aswell as some lizards. The listingwillprovide a or likeaninsect stick to sheersurfaces mans. There are even thosethat can climb inways farbeyond that ofhu- Climber plier, ifthisisthecase. the listingwillprovide aSpeedmulti- speeds faster thanahumancanrun – burrow so fast that they can move at man’s top speed. However, somemay mally equalto that ofasimilarhu- base Speedfor any burrower isnor through theirbodiesastheygo. The passthesubstrateothers actually ground. simplytunnel, Some while A creature withthistrait hasthe creaturesSome can “see” by bounc creatureA constricting canwrap it monstersSome have to theability - - - - - in questionislisted with themonster. gravity environments. The multiplier benefitinlowerin 1G,butisofserious a numberoftimesasfar ahuman pable ofincredible canleap leaps. It Jumper sic heat patterns. ba- them to anddetect seeinthedark visual perception.normal This allows the infrared inadditionto spectrum, Infrared Senses glide inany real atmosphere. well asgravity. Aglidingcreature can the height from whichlaunched, as tance that dependsonthewindsand can travel through theair, withadis- Glider be found inthelisting. ground Speed, andthat multipliercan creature may flyfaster thannormal inaltitude.designed to survive The branes of some kind. They are also flight, usuallywithwingsormem- Flyer ness Test. quires a simple Deception vs. Clever ture issomethingelse. This trait re that personbelieve thecreamaking - cally ormystically deceive atarget, Deceiver mally. andtheattack isresolvedattack, nor ture have another applicable mode of The second attack requires that acrea- attack isabite orsomethingsimilar. A creature whoisajumperca- A creature withthistrait seesinto A creature whoiscapableofgliding monstersSome are equippedfor canphysiMonsters withthisability - - - - Skilled have some sort of way to find suste- There are those monsters who are nance among the scant bodies of the fully sentient and capable of learning. solar system – or to hibernate. Such creatures are given additional skill points with which to buy skills Alien Technology other than those listed and typically There are several creatures that are may learn any skill a human can know, not only tool users, they are from races perhaps even with advanced techno- that have technology of their own. The logical knowledge. most notable presented here are the Mi-Go. Sorcerer The monster in question is not only This new alien technology will be sentient, it is capable of mastering presented in future releases. For now, magical rituals to harness the powers just assume that they utilize their own of the cosmos. For more on magic, see alien versions of any kind of human the GM chapter. technology. Telepathic The creature can sense any sentient creatures within a given range. It can also become immediately fluent in a target’s language by succeeding at an Average Language (any) Test.

Tool-User A creature with this trait is not only sentient, it also knows how to use tools and technology. Depending upon the creatures, they may actually Chapter 11: Monsters have technology of their own.

Truly Amphibious A creature with this trait is able to operate uninhibited both under the waves and on land. Such creatures can A Few Differences breathe both air and water and have You may notice that some of the anatomy to support long-term ex- these monsters are familiar from istence in both conditions. Lovecraftian fiction, but that they are somehow different. That is be- Void-Dweller cause the Chthonian Star isn’t just There are creatures whose alien awakening them, it’s causing them physiology allows them to survive in to change – to evolve for the first the vacuum of space. They are shield- time in millions upon millions of ed against any of the perils that come years. from exposure to the void, and usually 203 Chapter 11: Monsters Karrak’in Game Statistics

Size: 3’ across, 40 lbs. 1 m across, 18 kg

Habitat: Space – Asteroids, Moons

Average Attributes: Awareness 3 Grace 5 Cleverness 1 Perseverance 7 Demeanor 2 Physique 4

Average Statistics: Health 16 (16/32/48/64) Speed 18 mph

Skills: Athletics: Brawn 3, Athletics: Coordination 3, Athletics: Fitness 3, De- fense 3, Freefall 5, Natural Weapons 2, Notice 2, Reaction 3, Stealth 3, Survival 5

Weapons: Bite (5d6 + Poison)

Armor: Chitin (10)

Horror Factor: Average

Special Abilities: Chapter 11: Monsters

• Climber (x2) – Karrak’in can climb twice as fast as they can run on flat sur- faces, and can cling to sheer surfaces like an insect.

• Hallucinatory Poison – Any Karrak’in bite that does damage to a person will deliver this poison. The victim must succeed at a Hard Perseverance Test. Those affected by the poison will soon begin to suffer mild hallucinations, which will ramp up to full-blown dissociative waking nightmares within an hour or so. Such victims will have difficulty making rational decisions or discerning friend from foe. This poison flushes from a person’s system in six hours – if he can survive that long.

• Infrared Senses – Karrak’in can sense in the dark.

• Void Dweller – Karrak’in can survive in thin atmospheres or the vacuum of open space.

205 Chapter 11: Monsters do not operate alien. They very, very are mi-go shores. these cosmic races from more noble many other and drove the Old Ones came to serve Eventually, they millennia ago. this solar system tures that cameto are creathe mi-go - Pluto, ants of inhabit wings… out up Worse ing lap ofcilia. point gus, hard, head of mess limbs be. ure Mi-Go The The e h T It It’s a and cadence. Diaphanous out out moves words though crustacean. almost make is that spiky, is down, - at what furry that the as when covers it protruding Pieces wine-colored as seem if and with it you air it if wanted doesn’t wings However, evolution it like cancerous can a like of what buzzes maddening that a an almost and snake’s in this have should insect, fungoid places the shell its couldn’t segmented creature like a make budding sense tongue. stutter but speaks a to be head fun- fig- the the its of to - a religious fashion. Their legendsfore gets nearPluto, aplanettheyrevere in – Pluto. They are thereason nothing found intheirneckofthesolarsystem people andto gather resources not planet to mercilessly experiment on now only travel to our blue-green and malevolent. being, theyappearto beemotionless be construed asethics. To ahuman resembling emotionsorwhat could logically capable, butlack anything are incredibly intelligent andtechno like other terrestrial life. The creatures While they once lived on Earth, they While they once lived onEarth, tell that the dwarf planet is part of planet is part tell that the dwarf its way. Though secre tive until death, the something special coming –now on be theonly might mi-go race inthe universe what’s ows n k that is ing for com sure. that - - - - Mi-Go Game Statistics

Size: 4’ - 5’ long, 10’ wingspan, 120-170 lbs. 1.2 - 1.5 m long, 3 m wingspan, 54-77 kg

Habitat: Pluto, some parts of Earth

Average Attributes: Awareness 4 Grace 6 Cleverness 5 Perseverance 3 Demeanor 3 Physique 3

Average Statistics: Health 12 (12/24/36/48) Speed 18 mph

Skills: Athletics: Coordination 2, Athletics: Flying 5, Defense 3, Insight 2, In- vestigate 3, Gun Combat (any) 2, Freefall 5, Natural Weapons 3, Notice 2, Odd Job 2, Reaction 3, Science: Life 3, Stealth 2

Weapons: Claws (5d6)

Armor: Alien Hide (5)

Horror Factor: Average

Special Abilities: Chapter 11: Monsters

• Adaptable – Mi-Go can adapt to pretty much any environment, given a few hours.

• Climber (x1) – Mi-Go can climb as fast as they run, and can cling to sheer surfaces.

• Flyer (x1) – Mi-Go can fly as fast as they run.

• Skilled – Assign another 40-60 points in skills for individual Mi-Go, in addi- tion to the basic skills listed here.

• Tool Users – Mi-Go have technology all their own, as well as using that of humans.

• Void Dweller – Mi-Go can survive in thin atmospheres or the vacuum of open space.

207 Chapter 11: Monsters Myriad too, more at glories How one No! eyes, speak Titania. chosen. not have pect of ing - to you…” me anyway. of theroom. at the edges pers, voices soft withwhis- it starts victim, puppet. Tothe the mindoftheirnew they are able to influence hosts andmultiplyuntil stream of unsuspecting iad seepinto theblood than abloodcell. The Myr far isacreature nolarger threats so to humanity of themostinsidious and horns. One the night withclaws shamble through again. Final “The Not all monsters a first, who I of don’t show nor one have ever murder entrancing can to video have they an whispers… Not but the Neither you. sleeps they? been Let of see you them interrogation interrogator they record- yet, they You’re the suspect it don’t shown below? seen They in the as asked became your time they didn’t sus on your No. you - went speak - No! clearer to make love perform? by. to for What sense and you the the faithful. can While the Myriad to aboutto theglories unfold before acclimate,the Myriad thevoices speak beforeknown intheirlives. Then, as care more thananyone the hosthas nosenseat first, theyseem to Making never completely takeover their hosts, theycanconvince even the moststrong-willed person to commit horrifying acts of to acts commit horrifying depravity in service to their depravity in service unknown masters.unknown make the Myriad make theMyriad event, thecreatures they willnotallow caught. In suchan caught. In convert theenergy themselves to be for humanity, but in thehostbody, This alonewould The Myriad willatThe Myriad incredibly acidic. the body turns it the bodyturns threat enough of converting forcing itto dreadful pro intact. form remains their physical aslong ity become a the process tack anyone in the vicin - blob. this If enough, wasn’t bad toplasmic - - Myriad Game Statistics

Size: Microscopic

Habitat: Atmosphere of Uranus

Average Attributes: Awareness 3 Grace 3 (as Blob) Cleverness 5 Perseverance 6 Demeanor 3 Physique 6 (as Blob)

Average Statistics: Health As Form, 15 as Blob (15/30/45/60) Speed As Form, 18 mph as Blob

Skills: As Host

Weapons: As Host, Blob (6d6)

Armor: As Host, Blob (15)

Horror Factor: Average

Special Abilities: Chapter 11: Monsters • Adaptable – Myriad can survive in cold environments with thin atmo- spheres, like Uranus or Neptune, as well as Earth-like atmospheres.

• Infection – A potential host must succeed at a Hard Perseverance Test when exposed to the Myriad. Once infected, the host must succeed at an Aver- age Perseverance Test to resist compulsion each day. The Difficulty for this Test increases to Hard after one week and to Legendary after two weeks. There is no known cure for Myriad infection.

• Protoplasmic Blob – If a Myriad host is threatened and is forced to reveal itself, it will covert its host to a acidic protoplasmic blob. Anything that touches it takes the listed damage above. Myriad can convert back to their normal host form when the danger is gone.

209 G Level 23

This was a big deal for Francesca. This wouldn’t be much planet-side, It wasn’t like she hadn’t been to the but up here was another story. The Eye before – nearly all Wardens had Major’s assistant was a rather se- at one time or another. However, vere-looking girl, most likely eastern today she was getting to go to the European, who had greeted Franc- infamous Level 23. This was the kind esca with a kind of cold formality. of place that was the topic of many rumors within the agency, kind of Finally, the comm on her desk like their very own version of Earth’s beeped and, without looking up, she Area 51. Most people thought Area said, “The Major will see you now.” 51 was where the old United States of America hid aliens and alien arti- Francesca rose and straightened facts. Similarly, most agents thought her uniform, but before she could 210 Level 23 was where monsters were take a step Major Contee opened kept. the door and stepped out. He was an impressive figure, a tall man of Such privilege was not without African descent who would best its price. The last several weeks be described as stately. The Major seemed like a terrible nightmare had the kind of aura that spoke to to Francesca. Her memories even one day running for elected office. seemed smeared in an effort to pro- He made Francesca want to salute, tect her from the truth. The Kuiper but the Wardens weren’t that kind Belt, dead friends, floating in space, of organization. Instead, he held out the… thing. Or was it several things? his hand and said, “Lieutenant Ortiz, These were many of the shadows thank you for coming.” that stalked her subconscious now. Under different circumstances, she Francesca shook his hand and would just bury the memories and smiled deferentially. move on. Unfortunately, being a Warden meant dealing with just this Major Contee gracefully moved sort of madness. through the cramped office, to- wards the door. “Walk with me,” he The waiting room outside Major said, as he passed Francesca. She Contee’s office was about as nice didn’t hesitate to fall in step. as they get on space stations. It had wood paneling, several padded The senior officer walked out into chairs, a water dispenser, and the the hallway. “Lt. Ortiz, what we have Major’s assistant seated behind a to discuss is sensitive. I’m taking you wood desk that matched the walls. somewhere that is currently beyond Level 23

211

The Back Way to Level 23

your security clearance, so the meat “Of course, sir.” of our conversation is best saved for when we arrive. I know you’re ac- They made their way around a customed to dealing with sensitive corner, passing other Wardens as information, so I know this won’t be they went. They were heading for a problem.” a part of the Eye that was unfamil- iar to Francesca – not that a good on the edge. It was our turn on the chunk of the station wasn’t in that duty roster, so out we went to inves- same category. tigate.”

“While we’re walking, why don’t They approached an elevator, you tell me about your most recent which automatically opened for mission? I read the reports, but the them. The Major scanned his retina reports never really do such things again and entered a code. The door justice.” shut and they descended.

Francesca cleared her throat. “I’m “Not to interrupt, but what is it like still sorting through it in my head. To out there? I’ve never had to go fur- be honest, I’m not sure I want to re- ther than the Umbrella.” member.” “It feels like the end of the universe, They approached an unmarked se- like there can’t possibly be anything 212 curity checkpoint – the sensitive kind out further.” Francesca paused. “It where the guards were armored makes you feel small, like the human and packing submachine guns. The race is totally insignificant.” Major paused for a quick retinal scan and signed in. The guards nod- Major Contee shifted a little. “It ded and they were through. Not sur- might be. But please continue.” prisingly, this hallway was much less crowded. “We were quite a ways out when we came to the asteroid. Now when The Major continued to lead the I say asteroid, that doesn’t really do way. “Your reaction is only natural. it justice. It was almost a planet in its From what I gather, you lost some own right. For some reason, it had good friends out there.” a very thin atmosphere. The aster- oid was riddled with caves, so we That was most certainly true, but began to explore. They were more the details were still a little fuzzy. Ty- like tunnels, so it made it easy for us. rone’s suit got a tear in it and the Then, a ways down, they started to vacuum claimed him. All Francesca change. They started to look more could remember about Yvonne was organic.” her screams. The elevator slowed and came to “What little I remember is this,” a stop. The door opened, and they continued Francesca. “The Light- exited. The lights flickered on in what house had recorded some strange appeared to be an antechamber, activities out in the Kuiper Belt dur- clearly an entrance to something ing routine patrol. Me and my team much bigger. There was a door over were on a six month tour out there which was marked simply “23.” The Major stopped at the door. for Francesca’s mind to deal with “We’re here, but please finish.” this place. Finally, she said, “Why did you bring me here?” “There’s not much more to tell. We found something down there “First, let me tell you what Level and I barely escaped. I know my 23 is,” replied Major Contee. “It is brain will sort it out, because it al- a place to learn. This is where we ways does. Whatever it was, it was bring the things we’ve found so that big, fast, and terrifying.” we can study them.”

“Let’s see if anything in here With a gentle nudge, the Major rings a bell,” said the Major, as he guided Francesca into the room. punched in yet one more code. The She found herself strangely both door opened and Francesca imme- repulsed by and attracted to the diately knew that the rumors were things in the tubes. true. The first thing she passed was 213 The room beyond the door was nothing she’d encountered before. enormous, lit by the glow of tube It was a grotesque lizard-like thing, after tube of… things. Unspeakable with a lamprey sucker mouth. She monstrosities floated within them, couldn’t tell if it walked on two or clearly dead and suspended in pre- four legs, or both. Regardless, it was servative. It was a graveyard of the clearly a predator. darkest things in the universe, kept on display for those morbid enough As Francesca pressed further to seek them. into the room, the next tube con- tained something that looked like a Though Francesca had hoped the thing that had started to spit out a rumors were true, the reality was human woman, even though it was not what she expected. It was much, all part of the same body – if you much worse. She stood, frozen in could call it that. The woman wasn’t horror at the freakshow in front of fully formed, however, but enough to her. be eerie nonetheless.

The Major gently put his hand on Major Contee guided her slowly her shoulder. The warmth of human through the room, giving her the contact helped lessen the reality time to see what she wanted to see. some. “Most people have the same While some of the creatures were reaction when they first see it. I cer- new to her, there were many with tainly did. Take as long as you need.” which she was unfortunately famil- iar. Though short one of its heads, After everything she’d seen, espe- there was a karrak’in floating limply cially recently, it took a few minutes ahead, one of the many that had tried to eat her corvette after a stop Francesca turned to the cage in the asteroid belt. A ghast, one of closest to her and jumped back. the nasty hopping predators she’d A black, winged thing pressed its fought away from a frontier colony horned, featureless face against the on Mars. And there were others, clear front. It followed her as she each carrying its own memory. moved, as if anticipating its prey. She took a deep breath and relaxed. The pair reached the far wall, “I hate night-gaunts.” having made but one pass through one row of this macabre laboratory. “We managed to capture this one Francesca turned to regard the in Jupiter space, completely by acci- place again, this time with eyes of dent. Many of these are here by ac- fascination instead of disgust. cident, but that’s not going to help us learn what we need to learn in “You still haven’t told me why you time.” brought me here.” 214 “In time for what?” asked Franc- In her reverie, Francesca failed to esca. notice the door near them. Major Contee turned and keyed in his code The Major ignored her and con- yet again. “There’s still more for you tinued on. “That’s where you come to see.” in. I need people who can go out and hunt these things and the oth- This new door opened and Fran- er things we haven’t even seen yet. cesca realized that the surprises Teams that can seek them out and today were hardly over – and that capture them to bring back here, the Major had taken her into Level instead of killing them, as is usually 23 the back way. Before her was an the case.” even larger lab, this one complete with equipment and scientists, each “Wait a minute. Why me? I’m in a Warden uniform. However, they the ‘kill them as quickly as possible, weren’t alone here. let the researchers work with the pieces’ kind of agent. Most of these Lining the walls were clear fronted things give me nightmares as it is.” cages, and in them were live ver- sions of many of the monstrosities Major Contee guided her further from the other room. into the lab. The scientists at work here didn’t even stop to acknowl- “It’s only so useful to study them edge them. They were apparently when they’re dead,” said Major Con- preparing for an experiment in a tee. “Though it’s hard to bring some black-lit cage on the far side of the of them back alive.” room. “Lt. Ortiz, are you aware of your form of technology. From the looks record?” of the equipment, it looked like the scientists were trying to figure out “Yes, sir,” she replied. “Dedicated how to communicate with them. The service for nearly six years.” creatures were certainly intelligent enough for that – she knew from The Major smiled. “That’s not personal experience. what I’m referring to. The incidence of you encountering hostile lifeforms “So you want me to join one of is higher than most of your fellow these monster hunting units and go agents.” out into the solar system and bring these things back alive?” Francesca looked back over her shoulder to make sure the night- Major Contee stopped walking gaunt wasn’t still following her move- and turned to make eye contact. ments. “I didn’t know that.” His presence was undeniable, espe- cially with that move. “Yes, I do. Your 215 “It’s almost like you’re attracted to last team met with an unfortunate places they are – or that they’re at- end, and now is the time to make a tracted to you.” The Major continued move.” to guide her across the room. Several waves of emotion hit “That’s not a comforting thought,” Francesca, and it was difficult to Francesca replied. determine one from another. How- ever, one emotion made itself plainly Major Contee smiled. “No, but it known. Dread. could be a useful one. You’re not alone, Lt. Ortiz. There are others like “Sir, I’m not sure I want to start you in service of the Wardens. Oth- actively hunting the things that give ers who always seem to find them- me nightmares.” selves in the middle of something strange, at ground zero for cult “I don’t think you have that luxury,” activity, or finding the things that replied the Major. “If past history go bump in the dark. We’ve only re- is any lesson, these things will con- cently begun to correlate this data. tinue to find you, whether you want After all, it’s not the sort of thing you them to or not. Why not meet them immediately look for in your person- head on?” nel.” For some reason, despite the con- As they approached the cage of flicting emotions, that made a lot of interest, Francesca could see why sense to Francesca. She sighed. It the cage was black-lit, Inside were was going to be a hell of a job. a pair of ghasts, stripped of any 12 Gamemaster

Running a game of The Void has he doesn’t have. If you think the situ- plenty of its own specifics and nuance. ation is something that someone You need to know how to best man- whose done a mess of Odd Jobs could age some of the particular rules of the conceivably try, let them use it. They game, including Difficulties, the Odd should never be able to do anything Job Skill, special Advantages and Dis- that requires specialized knowledge, advantages, Tension Points, and Fate like something someone who was Points. This chapter will help guide truly trained in such a Skill could do. you for all of these rules. Furthermore, it should never be an educationally intense Skill, such as En- This chapter also presents you with gineering or Science, nor should it be some guidelines to help you design a Physical or Combat Skill, such as Ath- your own adventures, including a dis- letics or Guns. cussion of the survival horror genre, three-act structure, the Old Ones, You may want to limit the number magic, awarding your Characters, and of Characters in your group who have more. this Skill. Once players find out what it does, they usually want to buy it – it In general, this chapter should arm occurs as a free way to try to do the- you for being an effective Gamemas- ings their Character normally can’t do. ter of The Void. The dark universe is in It doesn’t make sense for most, or ev- your hands – good luck and have fun! ery, Character in your group to know this Skill. Assigning Difficulties In general, the best way to deter- Advantages mine the Difficulty for a given task is to assume that Average Difficulty is how Occult Sensitive & Sixth Sense the average person trained in such Both the Occult Sensitive and Sixth a skill would perceive the task. The Sense Advantages allow you to give a key here is that the average person is player early warnings of potential or someone who is trained in the skill in impending danger. For both of these, question – a competent professional. you’ll need to make secret Tests. Make a Cleverness Test for Occult Sensitive The Odd Job Skill and either a Notice or Cleverness Test The Odd Job Skill represents some- for Sixth Sense (whichever is higher). one with a broad base of general Success means that you give the play- knowledge, but not specialized knowl- er in question a warning. edge. It represents someone who tin- kers, and requires special handling. Determining the Difficulty depends upon the nature of the threat. An op- In general, Odd Job allows a Char- pressive looming threat should be acter to make Tests for many Skills Average, while a insidious, creeping threat should be Hard. Those threats coming from incredibly powerful, subtle, and intelligent creatures or Being a Gamemaster: that are part of a long-term, long- Not At a Glance reaching plan should be Legendary. Throughout the rest of this book, Most should be Average or Hard, we’ve provided you with handy however – none should be Easy, be- sidebars that call out the most cause there are rarely dangerous situ- important information for you to ations that are. skim. These warnings, however, are not The information in this chapter is meant to interfere with your game. not so easily broken down. This Keep them vague. Occult Sensitive contains advice for GMs, as well should simply let a Character know as a variety of ways for them to that the supernatural is present and adjudicate a variety of the game’s influencing their environment. Sixth rules. It is, for lack of a better term, Sense should let a Character know a tool kit. that he is in physical danger. Neither should provide them with details GMs should read this chapter in its or specifics. You may occasionally entirety and take the things that provide them with false positives or work for them, throwing away the situations where these advantages rest. Every GM knows how they don’t work the way they normally do. want to run their game, and it is However, be kind to your players, as not our place to dictate how best they paid for their Characters to have to do so. these advantages. Out of respect, please read on. Limiting Advantages There are several Advantages that are tempting for every player, most Tension Points especially Fearless, Luck, Occult Sen- Players get a pool of Tension Points sitive, and Sixth Sense. You may want every time you sit down to play to- to limit the number of Characters in gether. For a normal sized group (3-4 your group who can take these Ad- players) in a four-hour session, give vantages – one or two per group. them a pool of five. They can spend After all, this is survival horror and it them to help them out in times of doesn’t make a lot of sense for most need, but each point they spend goes or every Character in your group to to you. Once in your possession, you be Fearless. It also doesn’t make much can spend them to foil the characters sense for everyone to have amazing later in the adventure. Luck, or for them to be sensitive to the Occult or know when danger is If you have a bigger or smaller present. Use your best judgment and group, you should give them a big- do what works for you. ger or smaller pool of Tension Points. 217 Chapter 12: Gamemaster spend itto keepthemalive. Points to instantly buythemone and to die, you canspendthree Tension and you don’tis important want them 3 Tension Points Give Key NPCFate Point roll. from multipleresults for onesingle do thismultipletimesandchoose roll andtaketheworst result. You can 2 Tension Points Force Player Re-Roll be found where theyare searching. item orsupplythat shouldnormally deny players from findinganeeded 1 Tension Point Deny sults for onesingleroll. times andchoosefrom multiplere better result. You candothismultiple immediately roll againandtakethe 1 Tension Point Roll One Re-Roll benefits, withthe following costs: playing for more like8hours. for afew hours, anddoubleitifyou’re (rounded up) ifyou’re onlyplaying the numberof Tension Points inhalf orlongersessions.playing Cut shorter Points shouldbemodifiedif you are them 7 Tension Points. sion Points, andfor 5or6players, give For 1or 2 players, give them3 Ten- If youIf have amonster orNPCwho You canforce aplayer any to re-roll You canspend one point inorder to spending one point,By you can You canspendthemfor oneofsix Likewise, the number of Tension - moments ofgreater tension. ing themthroughout to create more probably by pepper bebetter served forhorrifying theCharacters, you will difficultand that moment particularly nal confrontation orscene andmake you cansave allofthemuntil thefi- arccurrent iscomplete. story While to holdonto asinglebatch until the a muchlongergame, thenyou get venture iscomplete. you’re If playing onto your Tension Points until thead- for you. As theGM,you getto hold points are lost, thesameisnot true session to session,andallunspent sion Pointsover from doesnotcarry to execute ontheirdesires. ture first is theone whowins and get player orGM,initiates theirexpendi - spent to negate eachother. Whoever, you’re spending themon. have inyour pool, aswell aswhat players how many Tension Points you some kind offeasible explanationsome kind of work withtheplayer to come upwith isyour jobto death. It wise becertain help aplayer avoid what might other atory. - –those rulesareCharacter self-explan will cancel adeadlyattack andheal a situations.unfortunate OneFate Point foundwhen they’ve themselves in that stay canhelpCharacters alive Fate Points are oneofthefew things Now while the player pool of Ten- Note that Tension Points cannotbe should alwaysIt be visible to your However, theycan alsobeusedto The world of The Void is deadly and Fate Points - - how he survived, and survived in such back and they’ve managed to survive, a way that he is not just immediately may be the kind you’ll want to give a put right back in mortal peril. If he’s second Fate Point. It’s entirely up to about to be flushed out the airlock you, but if you feel they’ve become without an environmental suit, per- epic enough, give them the second haps the controls jam so that the outer point. However, Characters should door can’t open. If he’s about to fall off never have more than 2 Fate Points, a giant cliff on Mars, perhaps he falls no matter what they’ve faced in the fifteen feet and grabs a hand-hold or game, and it always takes just as long falls to a ledge below. There are always to get them back. ways out of whatever was going to kill the Character, no matter how thin, and Social Combat feel free to put it to the group to ex- While the rules for Social Combat plain it – as long as it doesn’t take up are presented on p. 127, included here too much game time. are a few other things you’ll want to Once spent, a player has to go one full session with- out that Fate Point. Again, if you’re play- ing longer or shorter games, you may want to modify this time frame. For ses- sions that only last a couple of hours, you may want to make them wait an- Chapter 12: Gamemaster other two or three sessions before it comes back. For lon- ger games, like 7 or 8 hours, you may want to give them the Fate Point back next session. Regardless, it should be fright- ening to be without it.

Sufficiently ad- vanced Characters, the kind who you’ve Cult: The Children of the Void taken to hell and 219 Chapter 12: Gamemaster have more Combats. satisfying Social ly play outtheflow of Exchanges and wants thingsto go, you canrealistical- he wishto really upsettheCharacters? py adminwishto ordoes makefriends want? Once confronted, doesthesnip their Characters, butwhat dotheNPCs where they want to take things with can determine. The players willknow thingyoubat are themostimportant no otherattitude isobvious. ous, butdefaultto Ambivalent when used. Many will be immediately obvi- may be as thisdetermines what Skills attitudes towardsparties each other, Combat isto work outthedifferent matters. keep inmindasyou adjudicate such ing adisruptive players’ ad- Character when rewarding your players. group. Please keepthat inmindthat goes into committing to aregular play negotiating allofthelife stuffthat life into acompelling and Character that goesinto creating andbreathing players playing thegame. There’s alot different – Advances are a reward for ments. The philosophy ofThe Void is reward for that Character’s achieve improvewhich helpaCharacter isa lenges. Many GMsthinkthat things and for themto takeongreater chal- improve over theirCharacters time, Once youwhere know everyone However, Com thegoalsofSocial - The firstthing you’ll doinanySocial Some gamesystemsSome suggestdock Advances are what allow players to Awarding Advances - - - completing sections of the story – ofthestory completing sections tially more powerful. inquestionwillbecome substan- acter other players feel neglected, theChar bonus too – not onlywillthe often sure thesameplayer isn’t winningthis bonus for that session.However, make else, you should give him a 1Advance things, every andgenerally entertains doescool performance, his Character aplayer portrayal. If acter really nails the numberofAdvances theyreceive. you cangive your players bonusesto Bonuses session. 8 hourslong, award 2Advances per yoursession. If sessionsare more like long, award 1Advance other every sessions that are onlyacouple hours proximately 4 hours long. you If play session, assumingasessionthat’s ap Advance eachtimeyou complete a of you. wayspredictable –bonus for theboth plan theirCharacter’s advancement in well as providing away for players to ing, instead ofhow “well” heplayed, as play. This rewards theplayer for play number ofAdvances eachtimethey manship. fashion. After all, it’s- justgoodsports Advances – confront him in an honest Please don’t dockadisruptive player’s losophy ofThe Void isagaindifferent. vancement for theirbehavior. The phi- You canalsoaward bonusesfor The firstplace is regarding Char There are always situations where We recommend that you award 1 general,In you award players afixed - - - - award these Advances after the ses- Plot Points sion that completes the plot. These Investigation is a key part of the sorts of rewards help create a sense of Wardens’ job, which means Characters closure that benefits the game. will be spending time in nearly every adventure doing so. It can be very frus- • Completing a personal subplot: trating for players when investigation 1 Advance grinds on or if they find themselves at • Completing a minor plot: a dead end through no fault of their 1 Advance each own. This is why The Void uses Plot • Completing a major plot: Points, so that the outcome of any in- 2 Advances each. vestigation isn’t left up to chance. • Completing an epic storyline: 4 Advances each In published adventures, as well as adventures that you write yourself, Other Rewards you’ll have a chain of related evidence Providing Advances is not the only that will be the subject of investiga- way to reward Characters. There are a tion by the players, the bulk of which variety of in-game effects that are al- together will unravel the mystery for most equally rewarding as improving the Characters and put them on the a Skill or adding a new Talent. They all path of resolution. Each piece of this revolve around giving your Characters chain is called a Plot Point. access to new levels of gear, or just pieces for which they’ve been looking Once in the appropriate place to foward. earn a Plot Point, the Characters must simply have the resources necessary The most obvious way to do so is to to gain it and they do. They don’t have increase the Characters’ ability to pur- to make a series of Tests, hoping to chase or requisition more and more succeed at all of the Tests they need powerful toys through Organizational to in order to glean the clues or infor- Chapter 12: Gamemaster Wealth. This sort of permanent in- mation. To determine if the Characters crease should be warranted, as it will have the necessary resources, simply take your game to a new level. total up the requisite dice pools from the Skills + Attributes necessary. If it is However, giving Characters one- equal to or greater than the Plot Point time gear rewards is a more man- score, they succeed. ageable scenario. For example, the Warden Enforcer gains access to a In general, assign a score to each prototype weapon on a mission, or a Skill required and then add them all Warden Researcher gains access to together for the total Plot Point score. a previously unavailable forbidden Easy requisites are four or five, average tome of knowledge. Some might gain are six or seven, and difficult are nine access to a piece of enchanted gear. or ten. Whatever is appropriate, your players will enjoy a piece of unique gear. For example, the Characters wish to search the quarters of a missing com- 221 Chapter 12: Gamemaster Awareness andComputer +Clever pool ofpoints from theirInvestigate + scene, spendthetime, andhave atotal score theplayers ofeight. If enter the together giving a Plot Pointportion, rates afour asdoestheComputer termines that theInvestigate portion high levelslarly of either. The GM de - and Computer butnotparticu Skills, replaced. This requires theInvestigate hasn’t justbeenerased, ithasbeen hard drive inthedwelling’s computer wiped clean(sterilized) andthat the is that theplace hasbeencompletely information theyneedto there learn puter technician inSalacia. The key Something Unexpectedinthe KuiperBelt - - they succeed, theygetthePlot Point. whatever seemssensible. If Difficulty Tests at usingtheappropriate Skill tion at thisPlot Point, have themmake they gain the informa- it is important sources, theycannotand andreturn. If can simplygoaway, gather thosere of theresources theyare missing. They andbeaware juncture to animportant come that they’ve know cases, they’ll resourcesnecessary at hand.many In formation there isto gain. eight, together theygleanallthein- ness ratings that equalsorexceeds Sometimes playersSometimes won’t have the Points to a Clue. Get 2 Tensionspend or justhave them sometimes do – it, just likepeople miss not, they’ll If Disadvantages. up to 5points for Advantages, with 1point forSkills, butes, 30 points for 14 points for Attri- insignificant, spend that are weak and • mastermind. peer, and powerful, significant, novice, levels ofNPCs–in- out, we suggestfive ability. To helpyou NPCs of differing edly want to create You will undoubt For NPCs NPCs - - • For NPCs that are novices, between planets and the limited re- spend 16 points for Attributes, sources of colonies. Help might easily 40 points for Skills, 3 points for be months away at best. Advantages, with up to 8 points for Disadvantages. Another great convention to facili- • For NPCs that are peers with tate this is to have something interfere starting Characters, spend 20 with communications equipment, to points for Attributes, 55 points destroy it, or to otherwise render it for Skills, 5 points for Advan- useless. Be careful about doing this tages, with up to 12 points for too often, but you won’t have to if your Disadvantages. Characters are traveling around. • For NPCs that are powerful, spend 22 points for Attributes, 2. The Stuff You Need Is In Short 65 points for Skills, 5 points Supply for Advantages, with up to 12 Make sure to find ways to limit the points for Disadvantages. things the Characters really need, most • For NPCs that are functionally especially weapons, armor, ammuni- “masterminds,” spend 24 points tion, and medical supplies. If they’re for Attributes, 80 points for playing Wardens, they’ll have access Skills, 7 points for Advantages, to good-sized armories on their ships with up to 12 points for Disad- and can requisition even more. How- vantages. ever, that doesn’t mean they should al- ways get to use it. Come up with ways Survival Horror to get them into trouble when they’re The Void is a special genre of horror out of armor. Have local officials forbid known as survival horror. This genre them from carrying anything other has become especially popular in vid- than their sidearms. Have critters chew eo games, with franchises like Resident through cables and lock down their ar- Chapter 12: Gamemaster Evil or Silent Hill. Survival horror means mory. Have bad things happen to their that your Characters are almost always supply crates. When you’re done cut going to be in peril and fighting for them off from being able to easily re- their lives. Here are a few hallmarks of place those things. survival horror, to help you create this atmosphere. Be careful when cutting players off from their Characters’ gear. Rotate 1. Help Is Never On The Way what you take from them and when No matter where the Characters find you take it from them, so that they themselves, they aren’t going to get don’t get frustrated and feel like what’s reinforcements. If they somehow do, on their Character Sheet is useless. the reinforcements won’t be enough and will just be more victims for what- 3. The Environment Is Hostile ever is trying to kill them. This is a sim- The environment in which the ple thing to create in most places of Characters find themselves is danger- The Void, because of the vast distances ous, if not downright lethal. The most obvious and easy way to create this 223 Chapter 12: Gamemaster as their next meal.as theirnext andplottingto taketheCharacters gry hills are alive withghaststhat are hun- should beinfested withghouls. The intheback. thing terrible The sewers That shopowner shouldhave some should bebehindmany deviousplans. place to the players. cults Insidious in your game that they feel common- tures, there shouldbeenoughofthem the solarsystem crea ishostto horrific - place in andnotevery thing nefarious In ing On The Background Sinister Is4. Something Always Go frightening again. relaxed alittle, thepressure willbe points inavideogame. Once they’ve something theequivalent ofsave they canfeel safe for afew moments, Give breathers theCharacters where ly have to easeupfrom timeto time. not become oppressive, you’ll natural - landscape better. probably the better andknow armed corporate willbeandthey’re security cultists, mad-men,orforeign agents or aren’t them,it’s to kill trying likelythat er thantheyare. things horrifying If and thosethingsare probably tough- theCharacters, to kill ing thingstrying just as deadly. There are always horrify things insaidenvironments shouldbe environmental suittear away. order. inshort likely to kill Deathisone cold void ofspace issomethingthat’s otherplanetinthesolarsystem or ery atmosphere ofev Mars, theplanetary lar system. or Unless they’re on Earth is through the natural way of the so While isupto noteveryone some order ofpressureIn for this kind to Taking thisonestep further, the ------they’re gonnadie. ofscaresplenty that makethemthink –give iswell-earned them survival pressure cooker sotheyfeel liketheir cake. sure Make you puttheminthe thing elsetheygetisjusticingonthe and toadventures. have further Any ters have to live survived anotherday have asenseofrelief that theirCharac ofyour plot,and sections theyshould own reward. As players finish sessions really isits goingonisnice, survival plot, or uncovering the truth of what’s Reward Own Is Its 5. Survival just outsideofwhat theycansee. on allaround themanditshappening stead feel likesomethingsickisgoing mediate danger. The players shouldin- andnotasenseofim- the Characters of somethingbeingamissallaround sphere, you’re to create trying afeeling kind sothat theplayerskind can’t seewhat roll your dice behindascreen ofsome lous. itworks withyour If play space, tion didn’t could beconsidered cal- great dice rolls andtheplayer inques- 1. Don’t Leave It To Chance deathsmake Character meaningful. Here are a few guidelines to help you never allow toCharacters die casually. experience for aplayer andyou should isalways killed atraumaticCharacter going to meet their end. Having a Fate Points, are Characters sometimes of goodadventure design, Tension or horror andthat meansthat, regardless While gettinggear, advancing the When ofatmo creating thiskind Killing a Character becauseyou aCharacter got Killing The Void isfundamentally survival Killing Characters - - - you’re rolling. That way, you can fudge times come up with creative ways to when you need to. Feel free to punish do blatantly suicidal things. There is the Character in other ways, but don’t another saying, beside the title of this kill him for the bad luck of it. point, that applies: if you can’t be an example to others, at least you can be 2. Give it Purpose a horrible warning. One way to help a player deal with the death of his Character is if that When a Character insists on doing death has purpose and is dramatic something that will get him killed and in some way. Dying holding off the he has no Fate Points to save him, it is monsters is heroic and so is sacrificing your responsibility to butcher him in oneself to make sure the bomb goes as awful a way as possible as a warn- off. Characters can easily die in combat ing for the future. Otherwise, no one this way, as long as said death serves will learn from the experience – it has the scene and the story. purpose.

3. Make It Awful Carrying On When that time comes that you are No one should be penalized for forced to kill a Character, commit and their Character dying in the course of make it epic. Do it in as horrific and a game. If you have to kill a Character, ugly a way as possible. Be gory in your use these guidelines for helping the description and make your players un- player craft a new Character that’s at comfortable. After all, would you rath- approximately the same power level. er have your Character perish choking After all, Character advancement is a on poison, or would you rather have reward to the player for playing the him ripped to shreds by monsters, his game, not for Character achievement. body parts flung all over the rest of the group and scarring them for life. If you’ve been tracking Advances,

which hopefully you have, you can Chapter 12: Gamemaster If there’s one time to go too far, now simply have the player create a new is it. This is the only time this Character Character from scratch and then is going to die, so make it memorable spend that amount of Advances. If not, for everyone. guesstimate to get him in the ballpark.

4. If You’re Gonna Be Stupid, You Then you can work with the player Gotta Be Tough to come up with a good story to intro- Sometimes, despite ample warning duce this new Character to the group, – even from you – and against com- especially how to integrate him. mon sense, Characters are going to do something stupid. That something What is especially cool is if you can might be taking on a bhole with noth- work with the player to come up with ing more than a simple assault rifle some sort of family legacy for the new or something equally insane. Players Character. Maybe the new Character come up with creative things all the is a sibling or a cousin who has an eye time, but unfortunately they some- on avenging the former Character’s 225 Chapter 12: Gamemaster of your overall story. Before is thisact One Act • • • • • Elements overall guidingthree acts. structure, followedclassic story by the els to seehow itworks for you. arc.ture story Try usingitonbothlev also applyto anoverall multi-adven- may apply to a single adventure, it can fulfilling. structure While classicstory elements to makeitfeelthe necessary ing you andprovide pace your story playing adventures for The Void , help ful tool whencreating your own role down from theGreeks. canbeause It structure,the classicthree handed act of serialized media,sowhy nothere? works inmany certainly forms death. It Classic StoryStructure This should be about the first quarter This shouldbeaboutthefirstquarter Let’s takealookat theelements of ofusshouldbefamiliarwith Most prises remain.prises clear andfew questionsorsur wrapped up. isnow Everything the story, in whichlooseendsare – Denouement of The finalpart exciting point inthestory. Climax – or The mostimportant ment inthestory. Twist more personalstories. often of individualCharacters; which usually involves the plight underneaththemainplot, curring story,Subplot –Asecondary oc story. opposing forces; thecore ofthe by protagonists goingupagainst Plot of events – A series caused – An unexpected develop– An unexpected ------denouement shouldbeto thepoint. andtiesuplooseends. the story The swers mostofthequestionsraised by move into thedenouement, whichan- tale. After the climax, stories typically which willultimately conclude the hasbeenbuildingand the wholestory the climax,whichisthingto which perience. This allshouldleadupto theirexthey cansucceed orsurvive they shouldwonder whetheror not the Characters, to thepoint where get more andmore challenging for ter ofyour overall story. Things should ThreeAct look goodfor thecharacters. that makesthingsnot own twist dark The end, inparticular, shouldhave its gets more dangerous andmore dark. The in general, second half oftheact, subplots shouldhave theirown twists. through Act Two, boththeplot and any another.after About halfoftheway the puzzleandovercoming onehurdle uncoveringact, piece piece after of thefirsthalfof during of thestory explore thesettingandcomplications half ofyour overall story. Characters Two Act and forces theminto action. alters what are theCharacters usedto there which isatwist, end ofthisact goal, orat leastevidence ofit. At the have introduced theantagonist’s main duced any subplots. You shouldalso plot ofthestory, aswell ashave intro and non-player Characters, and the the setting, themainplayer Characters complete, you shouldhave introduced This shouldbeaboutthelastquar This shouldbeaboutthemiddle - - - However, since you may be playing make them feel better. The reality of a game that will last more than one ad- the universe is usually too much for venture, you may want to leave some people to face. As they do, they lose things open. That way, the Characters’ themselves to the fight-or-flight in- next course of action is clear. stinct, and eventually lose touch with reality altogether. Characters spend Themes a lot of their time frightened, losing Since The Void is a game that is friends, and oftentimes themselves, to heavily influenced by the kind of hor- the downward spiral of madness. ror pioneered by H. P. Lovecraft, there are some of the themes common to The Horror and Madness rules do a this genre that will aid you in creating good job of simulating this. However, an atmosphere that feels right. These don’t be afraid to put important non- themes are like spices – don’t use all of player Characters into harm’s way us- them at once. You’ll know best when ing these rules. Madness should claim to add a dash of this or a pinch of that. those around the Characters on their The key is to always be using at least journey, just to remind them how one of them, so that the players are lucky they are. Of course, given un- never quite at ease. fortunate circumstances, a couple of Characters may follow them… Creeping Dread In The Void, there should always be a Futility feeling that something isn’t right, and Fighting against the awakening it only gets worse the more a Charac- horrors of the universe is, in the end, ter discovers what is really going on. pointless. The things humanity now The truth is rarely a comfort and denial faces are simply too powerful – there is the only true shelter. Dread is always is no way they can win. Characters, in the background, like white noise, though they may be dedicated to just Chapter 12: Gamemaster waiting to grow into a cacophony. such a fight, will eventually have to face this terrible fact. You can simulate this by always up- ping the ante. Each piece of the mys- A great way to implement this theme tery the Characters uncover reveals is to create adventures in which the another darker, more disturbing layer horrors of the unknown are so great – like peeling back the layers of an on- that the only choice the Characters ion of pure madness. Just when they have is to retreat. Put them up against think things couldn’t get any worse, enough fundamentally unbeatable voila! However, be cautious and know odds and they’ll get the point. How- the limits of your players so that you ever, be very careful doing this, be- do not cross a line and offend them. cause you don’t want your players to get disheartened. Make sure they win Fear & Insanity enough that they want to continue on What people believe to be reality is – just remind them of their place in the merely a cleverly fabricated story to universe from time to time.

227 Chapter 12: Gamemaster Characters afightingCharacters chance, but you mad. It’s bestifyou give theplayer waysdisturbing ordrive themutterly ters. Don’t suchNPCsin beafraid to kill ally bondwithkeynon-player Charac able heaviness to life. anunbear andcan bring battle-scars have faced. Suchthingsbecome their will have alitany oftragedy that they of people who,the kinds over time, ficult choices to make. are Characters and lives. suchsacrifices are Some dif- things are sacrificed, includingminds those whoface cosmic horror. Many Tragedy get there intimeto findtheir corpses. stormin aterrible sothat helpwillonly be sofarout, deepinspace, ortrapped intrigue may block them, or they may here. Corporateury or governmental on theway. Don’t give themthat lux may not come for hours, is the cavalry zations at their back. Though that help agents orhave organi- otherpowerful – especiallyiftheyare governmental to have callfor theirCharacters help spaceship inthevoid… things canhappento anunmanned accelerate or decelerate. Many, many in gravity couches whilespaceships What’s worse isthetimethat islost dens, are ultimately ontheirown. liketheUWC wide authorities War ofsolarsystem-even iftheyare part months for helpto arrive. Characters, cantakeweeksments. oreven It lots ofnothinginbetween settle Isolation Your players’ will Characters eventu- outwellThings turn donotoften for Players are usedto often beingable The solarsystem isabigplace with - - - - - they have to wingit. tions that putthemsofaroffbalance throw theminto supernatural situa- your own cults, andgenerally just own creatures, disturbing makeup stuffup.then makecrazy Create your have, thiswillbeeasy. theyhave, If haven’t read things they shouldn’t beengoodand guessing. they’ve If present thingsthat keepyour players your game. Justmakesure to always barest grain oftruth. ofwhat isgoingonhavekling onlythe powers-that-be whohave somein- people face isacomplete enigma. The forcome of what them. Much looking might find. Now, has theunknown for fearto lookfurther ofwhat they small slice. They have chosennot abouttheuniverseit knows isavery The Unknown around them. do nothave to dothesamefor those be in thehands of your players.- ispri It madness quite quickly. that dousuallyslipdown theslopeof –those people whopursueitspractice be consideredthere are dark, few sane entities, many whichcoulderful easily cause magic requires entreating pow titioners assorcerers ormagicians. Be referredoften to asmagic anditsprac a person’s hands. This power ismost metaphysical power ofthecosmos in that canputthe is lostknowledge This is an easy thing to to bring What collectively thinks humanity Magic isnotsomethingthat should insideforbidden tomesHidden Cosmic Power - - - marily the domain of cultists and other • The practice of magic is danger- madmen. Because of that, we have not ous. Sorcerers are opening them- provided detailed rules for magic in selves up to powerful entities and The Void. However, we will provide you the power of the cosmos. Very bad with some guidelines to implement it things can happen if things aren’t in your game, primarily as something done properly or are interrupted. the Characters must face in their ad- There can also be alarming side- versaries. effects, some even physical.

• Magic does whatever you need it Either you or your players may insist to – it is a GM tool to add flavor that they have access to magic, since and complications to your sto- it exists in the setting. In these cases, ries. If you need something cool make up some kind of ritual for them and supernatural to happen, then to learn and give them the ability to magic can do it. make it happen. Then, make their • Magic comes in many varieties, lives more terrifying and dangerous but they are all simply flavor for because of it. Magical power is not the practitioner. Some practice something with which normal, well- witchcraft, others hermetic magic, adjusted people should play. others voodoo, others cult magic – it is all fundamentally the same. Unknowable Gods • Foreign, dead, or even alien lan- The Old Ones are incredibly power- guages are often a part of magic. ful. They are, from our perspective, sim- Many use Latin, some use Arabic, ply unknowable. They exist in ways we while others may use R’lyehan, cannot comprehend and they wield which is the language of Cthulhu the cosmic forces of the universe. They and the Deep Ones. are, for lack of a better term, gods. In • Magic is ritual-based, for the most fact, they may be the only actual gods Chapter 12: Gamemaster part. The most powerful mag- in our universe. ics require groups of sorcerers or cultists to gather together in Your Characters should not encoun- a specially-prepared space and ter the Old Ones as a matter of course. chant for at least hours, if not They cannot encounter them physical- days. Magic that can be done by ly, as they have not yet fully awoken or a single sorcerer for immediate manifested yet. However, their power effect does exist, but it is not as extends far further than that. Charac- powerful, in comparison. ters will regularly encounter minions • Magic can be imbued into items, of the Old Ones, as well as their influ- creating enchanted objects. Es- ence over other things. The Charac- sentially, the object can bring its ters may have nightmares caused by magic to bear for a user instantly the Old Ones or experience shifting and at will. The most powerful weather patterns or the like. The point enchanted objects have been is to show them how much power the around awhile and are called ar- Old Ones wield while they’re still not a tifacts. 229 The Mi-Gointhe Himalayas Chapter 12: Gamemaster remotely human–mostare horrifying. Old Oneshave avatars that are even solar system andonlyacouple ofthe However, there are few avatars inthe that hasbeengiven physical form. Old One’s consciousness and power tars appears. ofthe An avatar isapart Ones, you may have one of theirava- would destroy Cthulhu. ing to figure outwhetherornotanuke stop from showing up, instead oftry to that shouldbetrying theCharacters Ones areultra-bad guys thebig, scary a thought, iftheysochoose. The Old –eventhe Characters –with armies gods andshouldbeableto wipeout statistics for theOldOnes. They are wieldwhentheyreturn. er they’ll are worried abouttheamount ofpow ofthissolarsystem, sothat they part If youIf do have an itch to use the Old We have notandwillprovide - - craftian lorecraftian throughout the years, of Lovehave part been an important they canhave access inthefield. Wardens have digitized afew, sothat been brought into the digital age. The madmen andlostplaces, few have books. Since theyare theprovince of dens. if theywork likethe for anagency War can’tthe Characters findit–especially share. However, that doesnotmean by reclusive madmen with no desire to den away insecret places, orhoarded and what littleremains hid- istypically ofithasbeenlosttoMost theworld, isnoteasytooccult find. knowledge the secret world theyencounter. Such going to want to more learn about There are many such tomes that is kept in old such knowledge Most islikelythat your are Characters It Forbidden Knowledge - - such as the ever-popular Necronomi- so long vexed attempts to dis- con, which we are not going to detail cover what they are. What was in this book. If you’d like to use such found was not some previously books, simply make up a foreboding unknown mineral or element, name, detail what kind of knowledge but was actually the remnants of it covers, provide a Bonus for Crypto- an ancient and decidedly non- zoology or Occult Tests regarding that human city. Now they are doing knowledge, and determine whether or all they can to keep the Wardens not the knowledge within is so mind- from sticking their nose in the dis- blowing that it calls for some sort of covery. Madness Test. That way, you can intro- duce your own new legendary tomes 3. The Warden station in orbit over to the experience. Mercury is there to spy on what the Chinese and TRIAD are doing Behind the Curtain on the planet. The UWC does not People have a tendency to talk, and trust the Chinese to keep them that has not changed in the era of The informed of any unusual discover- Void. Here are a series of rumors for ies and want to be certain that any each of the planets. Some of them that are made are shared with the may be true, some of them may not appropriate agencies. be, but they provide you with fertile ground to throw information at play- Venus ers – or from which to draw flavor or 1. Rare Earths Inc. has stumbled into adventures for your game. At the very a series of tunnels in their mining least, you can simply keep them all as operations that some believe are rumors, things the Characters hear in not natural in origin. Efforts to spaceports. If all of them were true, it learn more about the tunnels have would be... been mired in mysterious disap- pearances, though Rare Earths Chapter 12: Gamemaster Mercury denies these rumors are true. 1. The recent collapsed mine that killed six miners was not an acci- 2. 4G Enterprises is making noises dent. It was purposely collapsed of a hostile take-over of Geo Exca- by TRIAD to contain something vations, in order to increase their that had been found in those control over Venus. The other deep tunnels. The families of mining concerns are working to those killed, as well as any survi- protect Geo Excavations from vors, have been given handsome the take-over, for fear they will be payoffs to keep quiet about the next. The VAB remains quiet and entire incident. Those that haven’t neutral. taken the money are missing. 3. Adam McAlister of the McAlister 2. TRIAD has managed to pierce one Mining Concern has had a mental of the deep pockets that have for breakdown. He has not been seen in public in almost six months and 231 Chapter 12: Gamemaster 1. Mars 3. 2. 1. Earth with natural humanevolution. changes donotseemto beinline people are even changing. The ing andunusualsideeffects. Some gravity iscausingsomeinterest physical problems with Martian The medicalbreakthrough for more appealingdogma. guising their true identities under recruiting from youths, urban dis- the solarsystem are aggressively that thecultsof those intheknow byyoung issuspected people. It have beenpoppingupamong over thenewmovements that Many governments are concerned defense.planetary say they are of creating some sort while others cities or artifacts, ready found? say Some ancient for al- – or looking what they’ve America. Who what knows they’re vised digsinAustralia andSouth several Warden-supersponsored The Unified World Council has sands ofmilesfrom theirhomes. rural communities – many thou- to majorcities, notsimplyother Even stranger, they have migrated grated outto therest oftheworld. es have their homes and mi- left Strangely, entire mountain villag- on sabbatical. only whileAdam isbackat Earth that Amanda is running things denied theserumorsandclaims Concern’s Board ofDirectors has being runby Amanda Benard. The Concernnow McAlister Mining is - - 1. Saturn 3. 2. 1. Jupiter 3. 2. be the eventual conflict over the itselfforarming what itbelieves to An group eco-terrorist hasbeen to outsiders.take kindly listo are paranoid now, anddonot man hands. The residents of Cal- deaths, buttheyare by clearly hu- to be no rhyme or reason to the murders onCallisto. There seems There have beenarash ofbrutal Jupiter –livingthings. floating inthe water cloudlayer of seenthings swear they’ve Miners of theOuter Planets eachday. more analogousto theLas Vegas casinos andhotels. isbecoming It pire there, andare buyingupthe have outtheirown em- carved said that organized drugcartels is reached It epic proportions. The drugtrade onGanymede has room withhim. ing to him when no one is in the maybe thosevoices willstop talk able tothe insurance, collect and converter plant blows up. He’ll be ley when the main atmospheric inMariner everyone killing Val- under thedebt–even ifitmeans will doanything to getoutfrom business isfailingto thepoint he There isacorporate leaderwhose tential gateway. tlers andtheirplacement are apo commemorating theoriginal set gods. design for His thestatues Square was afollower ofthedark The original architect for Founders - - - disposition of the oceans on the buried deep within the moon, a moon. Some say that the group creature sleeps. It is Wesley’s plan is actually a cult that believes that to wake this creature up, but not the oceans are the home of be- before it has some fun with the ings of far more galactic signifi- Wardens there. cance than any human. 3. AQX’s take over of Oberon, while 2. The strange behavior of the core costing them an enormous sum of Saturn is linked to the odd in fees to Wesley, was done for the behavior of Pluto. Something, purpose of spying on Wesley. The perhaps a cult or a previously un- mining operation is a front for the known intelligence, is engineer- espionage missions planned by ing an eventual collision of the AQX senior management, meant two bodies with the expectations to bring Wesley down. that it will ignite the gas giant, turning the planet into a new sun. Neptune 1. The Rhodes family, fabulously 3. The Republic of Saturn is covertly wealthy from their many years building an offensive military, di- of strangle-hold on the diamond verting some of the construction trade, maintains their own per- capabilities of Rhea. Conspiracy sonal army and navy. This militia theorists claim they have their is outside the purview of the Euro- eyes on taking control of Nep- pean Federation. No one messes tune, in order to wrest control of with the trade. the lucrative mining operations. 2. Spies, thieves, and pirates are nev- Uranus er reported in Neptune space. It 1. Wesley and all his family have is said that the Rhodes Company

been involved with the dark kills anyone who they even think Chapter 12: Gamemaster arts. While he uses conventional falls into one of these categories, means like bribery and sabotage and no one from the European to take down his competitors, he Federation asks any questions. has been known to use his knowl- edge of those things beyond to 3. The European Federation has tak- get his way. In fact, he destroyed en a keen interest in the strange the military mining station using things that have been reported on dark powers. His outward calm the surface of Neptune. However, only exists because he is able to the Rhodes Company isn’t taking transfer his psychosis to another kindly to a broader EF presence innocent victim, thus keeping him on the planet. Tensions abound. what he considers sane. Pluto 2. There is something on Puck after 1. Long-range observations have all. In the exact spot where the seen objects leaving the surface Wardens are building their base, of Pluto, but the powers-that-be 233 Chapter 12: Gamemaster 3. 2. 1. The Kuiper Belt 3. 2. side theFog Field. especially large asteroid justout have an vanished whileworking asthe Ruffians known pectors dent group ofminersandpros - Half themembersofindepen- cause suchaphenomena. cial explanations asto what would pockets within. There are nooffi- have insmall become distorted Field. itselfseemsto Space-time peculiar readings insidetheFog haveScientists some detected causes are notaltogether human. live intheregion believe that the are officiallyblamed, many who ficially recognized. While pirates pronounced than has been of- independent operators are more Disappearances ofminersand –secret orotherwise. history cult, which hasnoprecedent in have takenakeeninterest inthis mankind. The Wardens are saidto a precursor to itsreturn to rule its recent peculiarbehavior is ship Pluto andbelieve asadeity across thesolarsystem that wor A cult has sprung up in places small solarbody. bit causedthemto crash into the the destabilization of Pluto’s or believealmost amonth. Some been unableto locate themfor Pluto.longer orbit have Experts The no moonsofHydra andNix cause panic. tion from thepublicfor fear itmay to keepthisinformaare- trying - - - frontier west, oftheAmerican itisnot lar system, justliketheformer great Location: Kuiper Belt Claim Jumping they canbecome areal threat. the creatures maketheirway inside, so outside. Regardless, make sure that might want to begin theirpredations most anywhere. theshipissmall, If you ship islarge, could thekarrak’in beal- picked upunwanted passengers. the If before the noticecharacters they’ve mine how long you want it to take a seethari. hidden, suchasametamorphasite or ture that canbeinsidiousorremain ly, of crea it could- be either some kind ship andclimbingaboard. Alternative couches, wind upfindingthe karrak’in layseveryone sleepingintheirgrav However, while thisjourney during eling from oneworld to another. games willinvolve trav Characters ofgame, any for kind most virtually blank moments. cide to crawl onto these ashipduring the computer. Sometimes, thingsde thing paying attention to theshipis crew is in A/D stasis where the only Location: Spaceship Blank Moments way that works for you. can takeeachideaandfleshitoutina to your spark imagination, sothat you some plothooks. They are intended Out onthe greatOut frontier of the so The size oftheshipshoulddeter This plothookcanbeattached to There are days oftentimes where a isdesignedThis to give section you Plot Hooks - - - - - uncommon for the less scrupulous to tem. There are companies who main- attempt to steal a mining claim from tain small shielded bunkers/resorts those who are legally entitled to it. designed to cater to those wishing to However, with the way things are partake of Io’s unique pleasures, for a changing, there are those claims the healthy price. jumpers will have regretted trying to steal. However, the Wardens received a call yesterday from one of these com- The Wardens, sometime when they panies, named Ionian Excursions. They are in the outer part of the solar sys- have received a distress call from one tem, are notified of a group of pros- of their guides, a veteran named Tayla pectors whose friends and families Ruuk, and now have lost all commu- are worried. No one has come home. nication. Normally, this would be a This doesn’t necessarily speak to the job for the local authorities, but it is influence of the Chthonian Star – even the nature of the distress call that had the smallest accidents out in the Kui- the local authorities escalate it to the per Belt can be lethal. However, there Wardens. Tayla is clearly panicked and aren’t a lot of rescue vehicles out this describes people in and amongst the way and the Wardens may be the only mountains that have been picking the authorities around to investigate. climbers off one by one. However, she describes one of them as having a face Naturally, things aren’t as they seem. that isn’t human, but rather bestial The first group of prospectors have and toothy. unearthed something on a dwarf planet quite an uncomfortable ways The reality is that a clutch of ghasts into the Belt. They were ambushed by have found their way to Io. This was a the claim jumpers, and only one of the recon mission for them, and they sim- original prospectors remains alive and ply ended up on the wrong transport. crazed in the brig of a ship. He will tell They have stolen several of the radi- Chapter 12: Gamemaster a tale of how they found something ation-shielded suits and have taken under the ground, like a buried temple over the resort. They are now hunting or something, which contained some the remaining survivors in the resort, kind of technology that filled their as well as those out climbing. Once heads with horrible things. Worse yet, they have made sure their supplies are they seemed to have unleashed some covered and all is secured, they will set kind of monster. about stealing a ship to get off of the moon. A Challenging Vacation Location: Jupiter (Io) The Wardens should arrive right The Jovian moon Io, while bathed in about the time the ghasts are still dangerous radiation, is a popular vaca- hunting, but have had a chance to get tion spot for the wealthy thrill-seeker. themselves in good defensible shape. Climbing gigantic mountains in very The ghasts will not be afraid to go out- low gravity provides an experience side, where they can use the terrain to not found in the rest of the solar sys- their advantage. 235 ø Index

Action 120 Enforcer Template 86 Advances 108 Environmental Hazards 132 Advantages, 99, 216 Epic Fails 112, 125, 130 Aiming 124 Equipment 162 Armor 123, 168 Escaping Close Combat 125 Armor List 171 Europa 82 Artistic Skills 92 Exchanges 128 Assigning Difficulties 216 Exotic Atmospheres 134 Attacks 121 Exotic Environments 136 Attitude 127 Explosive Decompression 133 Attribute Tests 111 Extended Tests 113 Attributes 76 Falling 133 Automatic Weapons 124 Fate Points 78, 85, 123, 218 Awarding Advances 220 Fire/Heat/Smoke 134 Awareness 76 Forbidden Knowledge 230 Basic Rules 25 Freeform Design 85 Business 64 Gamemaster 216 Callisto 81 Ganging Up 125 Character Advancement 108 Ganymede 82 Character Design 79 Gear 79 Characters 23, 76 Gear 85 Charging 124 Grace 76 Chthonian Star 60 Gravity 136, 172 Cleverness 76 Guns in Close Combat 125 Climbing 131 Hail Mary 112 Colonizing 58 Handguns 164 Combat 119 Healing 124 Combat Overview 25 Health 77, 85 Combat Skills 92 History 54 Combat Turn 120 Horror Effects 114 Complimentary Skills 111 Horror Tests 113 Computer Technology 149 Hyperion 84 Contests 112 Initiative Tests 120 Cover 121 Insight 129 Creative Commons 17 Intimidation & Torture 131 Crushing 133 Investigator Template 88 Cthulhu Saga 18 Jumping 132 Daily Life 68 Jupiter 21, 188, 232 Damage 122 Karrak’in 205 Defenses 121 Killing Characters 224 Demeanor 76 Knowledge Skills 93 Determining Attitude 129 Kuiper Belt 22, 84, 193, 234 Difficulties 110 Lifting 132 Dione 82 Madness 115 Disadvantages 102 Madness Scale 116 Drowning 133 Madness Treatment 118 Earth 20, 80, 186, 232 Magic 228 Enceladus 83 Making Purchases 160 Endurance 131 Mars 21, 81, 187, 232 Medical Sciences 146 Space Stations 174 Medical Tools 148 Space Technologies 154 Melee Weapons 162 Spaceships 172 Mental Disorders 117 Special Modifiers 124 Mercury 20, 79, 184, 231 Special Tests 113 Mi-Go 206 Speed 77, 85 Monsters 200 Sponsored Wealth 159 Monstrous Traits 201 Stalemate 130 Myriad 208 Static Targets 126 Nanotechnology 151 Statistics 77 Neptune 22, 84, 191, 233 Story Structure 226 NPCs 222 Submachine Guns 166 Obscured Targets 126 Successes 110 Odd Job Skill 217 Suffocation 133 Old Ones 229 Suppressive Fire 126 Perseverance 76 Surprise 126 Personal Wealth 159 Surreptitious Skills 97 Physical Combat 120 Survival 132 Physical Feats 131 Survival Horror 223 Physical Skills 95 Survival Skills 97 Physique 76 Swimming 132 Planetary Transportation 152 Talents 78, 105 Plot Hooks 235 Talents List 106 Plot Points 221 Teaching Adventure 25, 26 Pluto 22, 192, 233 Teamwork 113 Politics 62 Technical Skills 97 Primary Specialty 84 Technology 23, 146 Qualities 78, 99 Tension Points 138, 217 Qualities List 100 Terrain 132 Quirks 78, 85 Tests 110 Radiation Poisoning 134 Tethys 83 Recovery 130 Themes 227 Researcher Template 90 Throwing 132 Rhea 84 Titan 83 Rifles 165 Trade Skills 98 Sample Characters 44 Travel Expenses 169 Saturn 21, 189, 232 Travel Times 173 Scientific Skills 95 Triggers 112 Secondary Specialty 85 Two-Handed Attacks 127 Shifting Attitude 129 Unified World Council 62 Shooting Into Combat 126 Unskilled Tests 110 Skill List (Alphabetical) 96 Uranus 21, 84, 190, 233 Skill List by Group 94 Vehicle Skills 98 Skill Tests 110 Venus 20, 80, 185, 231 Skills 77 Wardens 24, 66 Skills 92 Wealth 79, 158 Social Combat 127, 219 Wealth Codes 85,159 Social Combat Effects 129 Weapons 162 Social Skills 95 Weapons List 171 Space Combat 174 Wounds 122 237

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The Stygian Cycle

The Stygian Cycle is an epic campaign taking Warden Characters to every corner of our solar system, played out over a series of turn-key published adventures. Released monthly, they’ll provide all you’ll need to keep your group excited and engaged for a quite a while.

These adventures will also be connected to Organized Play. That means that you can take any Organized Play authorized Character to play in any group using the Or- ganized Play framework. You can play with your group or multiple groups, as well as at conventions or events. Naturally, you can play the adventures with your regular gam- ing group – but Organized Play gives players the flexibility to take their Characters to other groups should their regular group move on to other games.

Here’s a quick look at the first four adventures ofThe Stygian Cycle.

Awakening I: Barsoom Trouble brews in the small mining colony of Presidia, found deep within the Martian Canals of the Outback. Things have begun to go missing – now people as well. The Wardens are assigned to investigate, as this seems like more than a simple mystery.

Awakening II: Venusian Sunset Venus is a corporate world with a caustic atmosphere. Now a rash of murders and the increase of the drug trade have gone beyond where authorities can handle them. While not normally the domain of the Wardens, the Unified World Council thinks there may be something more underneath the surface.

Awakening III: The House Always Wins Troy, a pleasure city often thought of as the Las Vegas of the Outer Planets. Three days ago a collection of ten bodies was found arranged in a neat circle in the center of the main thoroughfare. They all show signs of radiation burns from the inside out. The Wardens must find the source of this atrocity, while keeping the ever-important flow of tourism going.

Awakening IV: Turbulence The weeks long journey from Saturn to Jupiter is not without its share of perils, in- cluidng stellar bodies, debris, pirates, and the cold vacuum of space. However, none of these are what plague the Wardens, stuck on a civilian transport. Sometimes the dark things in the solar system come knocking without warning. ™

Upcoming Supplements

There are many exciting supplemental books coming up for The Void!

Horrors of the Void I: Monsters The Horrors of the Void series introduces you to more of the fascinating and terrify- ing creatures that are awakening in the solar system.

Ecological Footprint I: Jupiter The Ecological Footprint series provides in-depth looks into the different planets of our solar system, with more setting, adventure seeds, and character options. This first installment explores Jupiter – most especially the Gallilean Moons of Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, and Io.

Tools of the Trade I: Technology & Gear The Tools of the Trade series explores new kinds of technology and provides new gear, weapons, vehicles, and more to add to your game.

Ecological Footprint II: Saturn This second installment of the Ecological Footprint series explores the Republic of Saturn and its key colonies – Dione, Enceladus, Hyperion, Rhea, Tethys, and Titan.

Vessels of the Void: Spaceships This volume greatly expands the roster of spaceships for The Void, including ex- panded stats, customization, and rules for spaceship combat.

Ecological Footprint III: Kuiper Belt This third installment of the Ecological Footprint series explores the vast frontier of the Kuiper Belt, far out at the edge of what we know.

Characters Unbound I: Talents The Characters Unbound series introduces new options for Characters of all kinds, with this volume focusing on a much expanded list of awesome Talents. The stars were never meant for us

2159 AD. It is a good time to be alive. The nations of Earth still exist, but they have become more civilized, and humanity has expanded into the rest of our solar system. But, alas, it is not to be our time. Something approaches, a thing on an orbit from far away. Seem- ingly a mysterious shard of dark matter, this object is known in obscure prophecy as the Chthonian Star. It is awakening things long thought lost or dead, things that have slumbered awaiting its return. The Unified World Council sends out special teams of sanctioned Wardens, whose job it is to ascertain the new threats to human life, to learn everything they can about them, and fight them wherever they are found.

The Void is an original Lovecraftian hard sci-fi horror setting.

The Void Core: • Designed with accessibility in mind. A short overview and introductory adventure can have you playing within an hour. • Uses simple but satisfying d6 dice pool mechan- ics. • Introduces exciting new rules to ratchet up the survival horror. • Gives Characters many options for diversity and customization. • Provides an exploration of our fully colonized solar system in the near future – and the things that threaten it. • Created by the award-winning team that brought you CthulhuTech.

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