PWM: Sanguine Dust, Ch. 16
The Haunted Ship
Shen made his way back across the shattered planet's surface, back to his ship, the Nomad Drifter.
Set a Course
When you follow a known route…across hazardous terrain…roll supply
1d6 + 5 (supply) = 6 vs (5,9)
Weak hit - You suffer costs (up to -2) en route or face a complication at the destination.
Lose Momentum(-2)
Notes: Current momentum = +5
It took him time to navigate back out of the vault, through the cavern, passing the mining station once again.
As he returned to the ship, he felt a presence awaken within him, the bond renewed.
Aleko? What happened?
i dont know. our bond was broken. i needed rest. you found something in the vault?
Shen hesitated.
Not much. The vault held resources for a Precursor war. That's all.
you lie. you found something. there was war between precursor and symbiote life?
maybe. I do not know for sure, the data was incomplete, Shen thought, truthfully.
Aleko was silent for a moment, as Shen activated lift-off.
then we keep looking
The Nomad Drifter left Vigrid behind, soaring towards Reverie and the cargo ship, Mercy, orbiting it.
The Nomad Drifter approached the huge cargo ship, Mercy, a foreboding and dark bulk that was as impressive as it was daunting.
Oracle Table: Condition
1d100 = 61: Damaged or breached
As the Drifter approached, Shen could see spots along Mercy’s hull that were exposed, jagged dark holes, with exposed wiring and piping, evidence from a past battle.
Oracle Table: Outer First Look
1d100 = 46: Mutated structure
Shen was able to connect to the ship and activate the docking mechanism, noting something strange. A dark, amorphous goo covered a quarter of the Mercy’s hull and looked...alive somehow, moving and bubbling.
The docking bay doors opened, and the Nomad settled in, the doors closing behind.
With a quick scan, he could tell most of the interior of the ships life-support systems were intact.
He attempted to interact with Mercy's systems and locate Kwan's ship or even Kwan himself.
Gather Information
When you search for clues, conduct an investigation, analyze evidence or do research, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 5 vs (10,10)
Miss with a match - On a miss, your investigation unearths a dire threat or reveals an unwelcome truth that undermines your quest. Pay the Price
Notes: A terrible roll! I decide to roll on the Story Complications table.
Oracle Table: Story Complications
1d100 = 64: Trap is sprung
As the Nomad Drifter connected to the Mercy’s systems, emergency alerts popped up on the viewscreen and alarms rang out of the speakers on the ship.
What the hell?
The Nomad Drifter went dark. Screens went black, sounds cut out, sudden silence.
An attempt to reboot was blocked, error messages popping up.
Mercy’s systems had locked Shen out of his own ship's computer.
Is this what happens to those who come here? Why they never return?
we will return
The emergency lights come on, and the life support systems remained stable. But there was no way to initiate take off or leave without getting into the Mercy's systems and disabling the lock.
He suited up and left the ship, heading into the Mercy's dim corridors.
Oracle Table: Inner First Look
1d100 = 76: Smell of decay
In the immediate corridors of the docking bay, there was a strong scent of decay. It seemed to hang in the air.
Time to find Kwan.
Undertake an Expedition
Name: Survey the derelict, Mercy. Rank: Dangerous. …If you move at speed, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 5 vs (5,10)
Miss - You are waylaid by crisis or arrive at waypoint to confront immediate hardship or threat. Do not mark progress.
Notes: Current progress = 0/10. Let’s see where we are…
Oracle Table: Zone
1d100 = 23: Engineering
Oracle Table: Area
1d100 = 67: Water Processing
The corridors led to a large water processing room, filled with large tanks along the wall, tubes going through a variety of machines and then out into the rest of the ship through the walls.
Shen inspected the machines.
there's something in here!
Shen turned as a figure emerged from the shadows behind the vats.
It was humanoid, with desiccated flesh, tattered remnants of a space suit, and blazing light within their hollow eye sockets.
Shen had only heard about these creatures before.
Risen. Spacers who were more monsters than people, who’d lost their humanity somehow.
It held a wrench in it's hands, growled and surged forward.
Shen hesitated, not wanting to fire off his guns inside the ship.
allow me
The symbiote enveloped him once again.
"We...are...Shalo..."
Shalo rushed forward.
Enter the Fray
When you initiate combat or are forced into a fight, envision your objective (“Disable the Risen”) and give it a rank (“Dangerous”). Then, roll to see if you are in control. If you are…in the thick of it in close quarters, roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) + 3 (Symbiote) = 10 vs (5,3)
Strong hit - Take both
+2 momentum
You are in Control
Notes: Current momentum = +9.
They tackled the risen and slammed it into the wall.
Strike
When you are in Control and assault a foe at close quarters, roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) + 3 (Symbiote) = 7 vs (5,5)
Strong hit with a match - Mark progress twice. You dominate and stay in control.
Notes: Current progress = 4/10
Shalo slammed their claws into the risen's gut, clenching down and ripping out a handful of viscera. They opened their mouth, fangs dripping saliva, long tongue hanging out the side.
Strike
When you are in Control and assault a foe at close quarters, roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) + 3 (Symbiote) = 9 vs (5,10)
Weak hit - Mark progress twice but you expose yourself to danger. You are in a Bad Spot.
Notes: Current progress = 8/10
Shalo bit down on the risen’s shoulder and tore out a chunk of flesh.
The risen howled, swinging it’s wrench and catching Shalo in the face, knocking them back. It leaped upon Shalo, bringing it’s wrench down again and again.
Shalo roared, taking the risen to the ground.
Clash
When you are in a bad spot and fight against a foe in close quarters, roll iron.
1d6 + 1 (iron) + 3 (Symbiote) = 7 vs (4,3)
Strong hit - Mark progress twice. You overwhelm your opponent and are in Control.
Notes: Current momentum = 10/10
Shalo pulled the risen to the floor, ripped the wrench away, and backhanded the zombie in the face.
The risen's head bounced off the floor.
Take Decisive Action
When you seize an objective in a fight…roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Progress = 10 vs (8,10)
Weak hit - You achieve your objective but not without cost. Roll on the table below or choose one.
Notes: 34: Worse than you thought. Make a Suffer(-2) move.
Lose Momentum(-2)
Notes: Current momentum = +3
The risen lay still.
Shalo stood, breathing deeply, adrenaline coursing through their body.
Ok, let me back in control
we should stay like this. this place is dangerous.
Shen couldn’t argue with that but he didn’t like the idea of staying like….this….for longer than he had to. It felt…strange. Like they were one being.
What if I lose myself?
But there would be more risen.
Very well.
Shalo, as one, moved swiftly through the ship.
Undertake an Expedition
…If you move at speed, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 9 vs (2,5)
Strong hit - You reach a waypoint. Mark progress.
Notes: Current progress = 2/10.
Oracle Table: Area
1d100 = 30: Equipment Storage
Oracle Table: Feature
1d100 = 97: Descriptor + Focus
Descriptor + Focus = “Makeshift” “Material”
Past the water processing station, he found a storage room with equipment as well as something else. Someone had taken apart pieces of equipment to make some kind of material, armor perhaps? But they'd never finished.
Shalo moved on.
Where are you, Kwan?
Undertake an Expedition
…If you move at speed, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 4 vs (1,1)
Strong hit with a match - You reach a waypoint. Mark progress.
Notes: Current progress = 4/10.
Oracle Table: Area
1d100 = 13: Engine room or Power core
Oracle Table: Feature
1d100 = 39: Flickering status monitors
Past the storage, Shalo came to the engine room. On the wall were flickering monitors, flashing red screens indicating low power and malfunction. The engine itself looked vastly different than any Shalo had seen before, holding a power core of some kind of orb. It looked solid at the moment, he could see through glass, held within some kind of large tube.
This looked interesting and they decided to investigate.
Explore a Waypoint
When you divert from an expedition to examine a notable location, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 = 8 vs (5,10)
Weak hit - You uncover something interesting but it is bound up in a peril or reveals an ominous aspect of this place. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: I also get a bonus +1 momentum from Explorer. Current momentum = +7
They used the console to interact with the engine, wondering if they could somehow take the power source.
More warnings came up, showing that the core was unstable and leaking radiation. At the moment it was contained within the safety measures of the engine, but if attempted to be taken out, without the proper enclosure, it would endanger the tnire ship.
Shalo decided it was best left alone and continued on.
Undertake an Expedition
…If you move at speed, roll edge
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 6 vs (5,8)
Weak hit - You reach a waypoint and mark progress, but it costs you. Choose one
Suffer(-2)
Face a peril
Notes: Current progress = 6/10. I Lose Momentum(-2). Current momentum = +5
Oracle Table: Area
1d100 = 35: Fuel or coolant tanks
Oracle Table: Feature
1d100 = 13: Control terminal
Past the engine room were the fuel tanks as well as a control terminal.
Perhaps from this terminal, they could get into the overall system and disengage the docking locks on the Nomad Drifter.
Let me handle this.
Aleko withdrew back within Shen's body, as he hacked into the control terminal.
Face Danger
When you attempt something risky…using expertise, focus or observation, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 6 vs (4,5)
Strong hit - You are successful, take +1 momentum
Notes: Current momentum = +6
Shen’s fingers raced across the terminal and he was able to hack in and get access to the docking bay network. He managed to disengage the security locking the Nomad Drifter’s systems down.
At least we’ll be able to get out once we find you, Kwan.
Having access, Shen tried to scan through the ship and see if he could find his friend.
Gather Information
When you search for clues, conduct an investigation, analyze evidence or do research, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 6 vs (10,10)
Miss with a match - On a miss, your investigation unearths a dire threat or reveals an unwelcome truth that undermines your quest. Pay the Price
Notes: The 2nd time in this session I get matched 10s. Again, I roll on the Story Complication oracle. I also roll to see where this is happening.
Oracle Table: Story Complications
1d100 = 61: Time pressure suddenly increases.
Oracle Tables: Zone, Area, Feature
3d100 = 55, 03, 34: Living, Food Storage, Half-eaten food
“There!” Shen said out loud, turning on a few security cameras, and finding Kwan, rummaging in a dim room. He found that it was a food storage room and it looked like Kwan had holed himself up in there.
Relief turned to dread as Shen looked at other cameras in nearby areas, finding half a dozen risen making their way towards Kwan’s location.
Shen started running.
Finish an Expedition
When your expedition comes to an end, roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Progress = 6 vs (6,8)
Miss - …You come to understand the true…cost of the expedition….
Shen burst through a door into the food storage room. He saw Kwan on the floor, near some rotten and decayed foodstuffs, half a dozen risen over him, hacking at him.
"NO!" He shouted, becoming Shalo without thinking about it, symbiote enveloping his body and leaped at the risen.
Battle
When you fight a battle and it happens in a blur, envision your objective (Kill, disable or frighten away all risen) and roll. If you primarily...fight in close to overpower your foe, roll iron
1d6 + 1 (iron) + 3 (symbiote) = 5 vs (4,10)
Weak hit - You achieve your objective but not without cost. Pay the Price
Notes: I rolled a 1 when using the symbiote so once again, the bond is broken. I choose to roll for Pay the Price.
Pay the Price
1d100 = 17: Face the consequence of an earlier choice.
Notes: What was my earlier choice? To continue surveying the vault after getting the message from Kwan. What’s the consequence? I didn’t get here in time. Kwan, aka Crash, is gone.
It was a violent, brutal mess.
Shalo grabbed one risen from behind and threw it into the wall with a crash.
One turned around and rushed them.
They sank claws into it's chest, roaring in the risen's face and ripping it in half.
Shalo grappled, wrenched, crushed and slew with a ferocity Shen had never experienced before.
Blood splattered the walls. Limbs were torn off. Necks snapped.
The few remaining alive ran.
Shalo let them go, looking down at his friend.
The symbiote withdrew all at once, leaving Shen gasping, falling to his knees beside Kwan.
Aleko felt...gone once again.
Shen was alone.
Alone with his dead friend.
Kwan didn't move. There was a pool of blood beneath him and bloody wounds all over his body. He'd fought off a couple but had been overwhelmed.
Bite marks, stab wounds, blunt trauma.
He was gone.
Shen reached out and grabbed Kwan’s hand.
It felt cold.
“I’m sorry, Crash, I’m sorry.” Tears came and he let them. “I didn’t do it this time. I didn’t come fast enough. I-I fucked up, Kwan. I’m sorry. ”
And it’s my fault. If I’d come clean about the symbiote…about the vault, maybe he would’ve come with me. Maybe he’d still be alive.
Shen could hear a memory of Kwan’s voice, playing in his mind, from Tranquility.
“Is this what you call a rescue mission?”
He laughed and he cried. He stayed there, awhile, holding Kwan’s hand.
Shen carried Kwan back to the Nomad, putting his body into a stasis pod in the medbay. He went back to the airlock, wondering whether to keep surveying the derelict, or give it up.
Some good should come from all this, right? Finish what he started? End this so it doesn’t take anyone else?
He went back onto the Mercy.
When you miss on an expedition, you have to choose one:
Abandon the expedition: Envision the cost of this setback and pay the price
Return to the expedition: roll both challenge dice, take the lowest value and clear that number of progress boxes. Then, raise the expedition's rank by one.
Notes: I choose to return to the expedition. I roll the challenge dice and get (2,4), so I lose 2 progress, bringing me to 4/10. The rank increases to “Formidable”.
Shen took his time, staying alert and vigilant, not wanting to get surprised by anymore risen. It meant it took him longer, but he stayed safe.
Undertake an Expedition
…If you are vigilant, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 7 vs (4,8)
Weak hit - You reach a waypoint and mark progress, but it costs you. Choose one
Suffer(-2)
Face a peril
Notes: Current progress = 5/10. I Lose Momentum(-2). Current momentum = +4
Oracle Tables: Zone, Area, Feature
3d100 = 77, 80, 10: “Operations”, “Security”, “Buckled blast doors”
Moving cautiously, he navigated his way to the security room. He found a console, with many screens showing warnings and the current state of the ship. This would be a good place to explore and see what he could find.
Aleko remained disconnected.
Shen was glad for the silence.
Explore a Waypoint
When you divert from an expedition to examine a notable location…roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 7 vs (2,8)
Weak hit - You find something interesting but it is bound up in a peril or reveals an ominous aspect of the place. Take +1 momentum.
Notes: I take another +1 momentum from Explorer. Current momentum = +6. One thing I like to do on a weak hit on this move, is to roll up (or choose) an opportunity and a peril, then envision what I found and how they’re connected.
Oracle Tables:
Opportunity = Log offers insight into this site’s downfall.
Peril = Automated defenses target you
He accessed the security systems and found files that seemed to hold logs of information about the ship. Unfortunately, as he attempted to access those logs, turrets dropped from the ceiling, targeting him. He paused, waiting and thinking.
If those turrets could target him and were still functional, maybe he could have them target other things including the various risen all over the ship.
He tried to get into the systems that controlled the turrets.
Face Danger
When you attempt something risky…using expertise, focus or observation, roll wits.
1d6 + 2 (wits) = 6 vs (8,1)
Weak hit - You succeed but at a troublesome cost. Make a Suffer(-1) move.
Notes: I Lose Momentum(-1). Current momentum = +5
Shen restarted the defensive systems and was able to change the targeting. He targeted the risen throughout the ship and ensured that he himself was designated ‘friendly’.
Of course, many of the defensive systems were malfunctioning, damaged or destroyed, but the ones remaining began alerting to risen in the area and firing.
Shen could hear gunfire in the distance as he accessed the historical logs of the ship to see what had happened.
“———This is Captain ——— of the Mercy. The ship is…under attack. We’re currently in a holding pattern———attacks———. I’ve locked down the ship so nobody can leave.” The static cleared up as the captain continued.
“Let me start at the beginning….”
Shen listened to the log in growing horror.
The Mercy had been bringing supplies to the burgeoning settlement of Reverie, but as it entered the system and approached, something went wrong. Some of the crew reported having visions. Others went insane, attacking and killing others, and had to be locked up. Those who were killed didn’t stay dead but rose up and attacked the living. The captain determined not to let anyone leave, hoping that at the very least, whatever sickness was plaguing the ship would not leave it.
Shen sighed.
Did the presence of the Vault cause this?
There were all kinds of stories about Vaults and strange happenings. And there were still rumors that some on Reverie had visions as well.
He figured he should at least warn the settlement. He wasn't sure what they could do about it but they should know the danger. At least, they would be able to get the resources from Mercy, now that the risen had been taken care of.
He logged off and moved on.
With the defensive measures on his side and the risen mostly taken care of, he felt comfortable enough to move swiftly through the rest of the ship.
Undertake an Expedition
…If you move at speed, roll edge.
1d6 + 3 (edge) = 6 vs (4,10)
Weak hit - You reach a waypoint and mark progress, but it costs you. Choose one
Suffer(-2)
Face a peril
Notes: Current progress = 6/10. I Lose Momentum(-2). Current momentum = +3
Oracle Tables: Area, Feature
2d100 = 35, 75: “Comms center” “Video surveillance monitors”
He went through the security office into a communications center complete with video surveillance monitors. They weren't functioning currently, with the reduced energy the ship was running on due to the problems with the engine.
He interacted with the systems in an attempt to get the videos working, that way he could see throughout most of the ship, determine the risen were taken care of, and finish off surveying this derelict.
Finish an Expedition
When an expedition comes to an end, roll the challenge dice and compare to your progress.
Progress = 6 vs (7,7)
Miss with a match - You come to understand the true nature or cost of the expedition. Choose one:
Abandon the expedition: Envision the cost of this setback and pay the price
Return to the expedition: roll both challenge dice, take the lowest value and clear that number of progress boxes. Then, raise the expedition's rank by one.
A few video screens came on, showing Shen that he wasn’t done. He watched more and more risen emerging from shadows, grouping up, taking wrenches, crowbars, and whatever they could get thier hands on, attacking the turrets throughout the ship, until they no longer worked. The defensive measures may have taken out some, but many remained. Many of the cameras remained dark. He couldn't get a good idea of the rest of the ship. He'd have to search room by room, with the threat of risen everywhere.
He let out a breath and sat heavily. He closed his eyes, feeling exhausted.
I can't continue. I can't do this.
After a moment, he realized he was waiting to hear Aleko’s voice, but it didn’t come.
The bond was still broken and he realized he missed it. He remembered leaving the collapsing station on the Nomad Drifter.
Alone again.
He shook his head, pushing himself back up to his feet.
I’m done.
Abandon the expedition: Envision the cost of this setback and Pay the Price
Endure Stress(-2)
When you face mental strain, shock or despair, -2 for serious stress (0). If your spirit is 0 or you choose to resist, roll spirit or heart, whichever is higher.
1d6 + 1 (heart) = 4 vs (3,1)
Strong hit - Choose one:
Shake it off: Take +1 spirit
Embrace the Darkness: Take +1 momentum
Notes: I choose to shake it off. Current spirit = +1.
Fuck this ship.
Shen left the comms center and made his way back towards the Nomad Drifter. He found Kwan's ship docked nearby but decided to leave it for now. He didn't have the time or the emotional capacity to do anything else.
He undocked from the Mercy and headed back to Reverie.
He wanted to know who put Kwan up to this. He wanted to let the leadership know the Mercy was a lost cause and that there was true danger coming from the vault. He wanted to go back and tell Kwan the truth. He wanted his friend back.
He wanted so many things.
Post-Chapter Notes
This was a doozy! Exploring a haunted ship was definitely something I had mind since I started the campaign, and I wanted to use one of the NPCs/Monsters from the core rulebook, the Risen. It was nice to show off using the Symbiote in combat.
Unfortunately, the expedition did not go as planned. Playing solo, I could have always decided not to kill off Kwan. I could’ve decided that wouldn’t be fun and simply have him be wounded.
But I felt it made sense from a narrative and mechanical view. After I got the Matched 10s, and rolled “Time pressure increases”, I decided that meant Kwan was in danger. Then I missed on Finishing the Expedition and got to him late. At that point, I wasn’t sure if I had decided whether he would be dead or just badly wounded, but then I had to roll Pay the Price for the Battle, and got “Face the consequence of an earlier choice”. Earlier in the session, after I received the message that Kwan had gone to the ship, I made the choice to finish exploring the vault before going after him. That really sealed the deal in my mind. There was no saving Kwan. I was too late.
As always, thanks for reading! And leave a comment with your thoughts or questions if you feel like it.
Next Chapter → Chapter 17: Moving On
I'm late to the party, but I love what you are doing. Poor Kwan. That was a gut punch.