Video episode originally posted Nov 30, 2022
Transcript of Play
To start, a few housekeeping updates for the campaign. Since Doceep seems like he’ll be around for a while, I created a quick stat sheet for him. Off-screen rolls determined that Doceep was previously a scientist studying aember at Partum Mechanica. For reasons not yet revealed, he was transferred to the Saurian Arbitrator’s Guild. Fabum Rajasauros, meanwhile, has been accumulating experience points. I gave her the talent Let’s Ride to improve her handling of the pterosaur chariot, which also has a stat block.
It’s the next morning, and Fabum is eager to return to the Midnight Jungle to continue investigating the TransTech cargo with her new partner. The rocket pod was a fast mode of transport, but the pterosaur chariot will take longer.
- Chaos Die: expected scene
Fabum is packing and getting ready to go. What’s Doceep’s mood?
- UNE mood: sociable
- Objective: knowing records
Doceep was a scientist, and is very interested in taking notes and keeping records. As they prepare to leave, Doceep is sociable and curious. He watches Fabum pack, taking detailed notes. He wants to learn all the standard procedures.
Doceep: “Why did you clasp it that way? Is there a reason for the order?” he asks.
Fabum shrugs. “It’s not regulation—I just do it that way because it’s easier.”
Doceep jots this down. “Hmm, I wonder if there’s a more efficient method…”
Fabum sighs. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just packing. This isn’t even the actual work. We haven’t even left yet.”
- Piloting check: neutral
Once they finish loading the supplies, they board the pterosaur chariot. The pterosaur resists Fabum’s control, straining against the reins. She’ll try to calm or befriend the pterosaur.
- Animal handling (Survival) check: failure
The pterosaur is struggling against the reins, and is not cooperating.
Fabum says, “Seems to me like someone didn’t really figure this out. These pterosaurs, as I saw last night, seem very unhappy. We need to figure something out.”
Doceep says, “I wonder if there’s something that we need to do. What do we know about these pterosaurs that might help them cooperate?”
- Culture check: Success with a threat
Doceep determines that the pterosaurs require a specific type of food, but there’s a complication.
- Story cube: apple
- Story cube: key
The Saurian Arbitrator’s Guild got these pterosaurs but did not get the right kind of food. The food the pterosaurs eat is rare, key berries. Key berries grow only in areas where keys have been forged from aember, typically near vault openings or Archon battles. Unfortunately, the Arbitrators’ Guild didn’t consider this dietary requirement when acquiring the pterosaurs.
Doceep: “We’ll have to find a place where there’s been an archon battle or a vault opening. We’re going to need to go find some of these key berries.”
Fabum groans. “This seems like a hassle and a distraction from what we need to do. but what choice do we have?”
- Crucible knowledge check: one advantage
Doceep suggests using their Crucible knowledge to identify recent Archon sightings nearby. The roll produces only one advantage—not enough to pinpoint anything. However, they realize someone in Partum Mechanica might know more. Fabum and Doceep decide to seek out this expert.
- UNE: affluent superior
- Species: martian elder
In Keyforge lore, Martians who live among other societies have typically broken away from traditional Martian culture. Are they a vault warrior? 50/50.
- Fate: No.
This elder isn’t a vault warrior but is knowledgeable about Archon battles and key forging—likely an enthusiastic fan or historian.
- Name: Voobep
Fabum and Doceep track down Voobep, a Martian elder living in Partum Mechanica. The city, predominantly Saurian, is filled with wide Roman-style streets lined with brick, marble arches, and statues of dinosaurs holding spears. Amidst these classical structures, Voobep’s home stands out: an egg-shaped green pod with futuristic sliding iris-like doors.
Fabum pushes a button by the door, and a screen lights up, revealing a green-skinned Martian with a long neck. “Hello? How can I help you?” they say.
Fabum: “Hello, I’m Fabum Rajasauros with the Saurian Arbitrators’ Guild. We’ve heard you’re an expert in tracking Vault battles. We need help finding any recent Vault openings or key forging events in the area. This is official Arbitrators’ business.”
Are they going to be helpful?
- Reaction: yes
Voobep: “Oh, yes! Come on in. I’m happy to share my findings with you. Mlo-mo-menop!”
The door opens and Fabum and Doceep enter the pod, finding it packed with memorabilia: photos of Archons in vault battles, fragments of armor, and even pieces of weapons from past Vault battles. It’s clear Voobep is an obsessive collector and enthusiast. They pull up a data pad. “Yes, let me just look here on my tracking spreadsheet.” (Yes, the Martian empire still runs on Microsoft Excel.) “Let me see… Yes, there was a Vault battle not too far from here.”
How far?
- d8: a daytrip
Voobep: “A key was forged recently—a day’s journey from here. Here it is, on the map. But there’s a catch.”
- UNE motivation: support legends
Voobep says, “When you go there, please take very good documentation. I have a theory about this particular battle—one that people have dismissed. I believe the wrong Archon was credited with the victory due to a mistake. No one listens to me anymore, but if you could document the area thoroughly, it might lend some credibility to my theory. Pictures, notes, anything you can provide.”
Doceep eagerly agrees. “I’ll take notes and document everything!”
Fabum sighs but consents. “Fine. We’ll help you with your theory.”
Let’s find out about this place. Is it inside the city limits? 50/50.
- Fate: No.
Voobep provides an accurate map, and the two set out. The Vault site is just outside the city limits, in a mountainous valley. They pack for a short excursion, leaving behind their grounded pterosaur chariot and opting for city transport instead.
What’s unique about this place?
- Story cube: hiding
The valley is rugged and stony, with sparse shrubbery and countless hiding spots among its natural crags. Fabum, ever cautious, keeps an eye out for trouble as they hike into the wilderness.
Is there somebody there? Unlikely.
- Fate: No.
- Survival check: No success, one advantage
Navigating the valley proves challenging. They struggle and get turned around but eventually find the Vault battle site. The key-forging area is unmistakable, with key berries growing around the spot.
Doceep sets to work, meticulously documenting the site with a holo-camera. They collect as many key berries as possible, not only for themselves but also to support other arbitrators struggling with their pterosaurs.
How much were they able to find, on a scale of 1 to 10?
- d10: 6
After gathering a good amount of key berries—enough for their chariot and some extra to take back to the department to help others.
End of scene. Chaos reduces by one.
The next morning, they feed the pterosaur and prepare to leave Partum Mechanica for the Midnight Jungle.
How long is is going to take them to get back to the Midnight Jungle?
- d6: 4 days
A long journey with plenty of opportunities for events along the way.
- Chaos die: altered scene
Priethest has an additional task for them.
- Event: disrupt dispute
As they prepare to set out, Priethest appears in the large landing plaza, where the pterosaurs munch on the freshly acquired key berries.
Priethest: “Great investigators! Arbitrators! Whatever you are—names don’t matter, people matter! You’re doing a fantastic job. Before you go, I was wondering if you could make a quick stop. There’s a dispute on your way. Here’s a datapad with the details. You’re my favorite, Fabum—my absolute favorite. And you too, helper man! I’m out!”
We have a specific place to stop on the first leg of the journey. Where is it?
- Location: forest
- Story cube: door
The Forest of Doors is an place where every tree has a door. Some doors open to small rooms, while others lead to stranger and wilder things.
- Story cube: bowl of rice
The dispute revolves around food. Is this related to what was going on in the Midnight Jungle, with the giants interrupting the sylicate’s food supply? 50/50.
- Fate: No.
What group is involved?
- Species: specter
Are they the ones who need to eat? 50/50
- Fate: Yes.
What does a specter eat?
- Story cube: nervous
Specters, in the Keyforge card game, are shadowy, hovering beings often associated with the Shadows faction. We’ll say their sustenance comes from feeding on nervousness and negative emotions. That seems like the problem.
Is there anyone else here in the Forest of Doors?
- Fate: No.
With no one left in the forest, they’re going hungry and spilling into neighboring areas. Fabum and Doceep arrive and check in with a local.
- Species: spirit
The spirits, glowing radiant beings clad in armor, explain the situation when Fabum and Doceep arrive. “We have kept the specters at bay within the Forest of Doors,” one spirit says. “But their hunger has grown, and they have begun to wander beyond the boundaries we originally set. Our resources are exhausted, and we have called upon the Saurian Arbitrators’ Guild to resolve this dispute.”
Fabum turns to Doceep. “What do you think, Doceep?”
Doceep, drawing on his background as a scientist, considers the situation. “I know it’s possible to imprint aember with emotions. If we can find a source of amber and imbue it with the nervous, anxious emotions the specters consume, that might provide them with a sustainable source. But aember is hard to come by.”
Does this spirit have access to aember?
- Fate: Yes.
The spirit nods. “Yes, we have aember. I will provide it for this purpose, but you must be the ones to imbue it.”
Doceep steps forward, a little uncertain but determined. “Fair enough. This what is used to do in my previous job, working with aember. I’ll see what I can do.”
- Skill check: failure with advantage
- Story cube: flash light
Doceep attempts to imprint the aember with the desired emotions, but it’s not a complete success. The aember emits beams of light, which attract the specters and contain them within the Forest of Doors. However, it doesn’t fully satisfy their hunger. The solution is temporary, and the problem is likely to resurface.
Fabum watches Doceep work. “That’s impressive,” she says. “I know you’re still new as an arbitrator, but it’s clear your skills from your previous career are valuable. This might just be a good partnership. This might work out.”
Doceep: “Aember is what I know. I’m sorry it didn’t work exactly as intended, but at least it’s doing something.”
As night falls, the glowing aember is left in the woods, drawing the specters to it like moths to a flame. While the specters circle the light, Fabum’s curiosity gets the better of her. She begins opening random doors in the forest to see what lies behind them.
- Story cube: cage
Is there anything in it?
- Fate: No.
One door reveals a cage. It’s empty, and there’s no evidence of what, if anything, might have been inside. Fabum stares at the strange and eerie sight, wondering about its purpose, but no answers present themselves.
With the day’s work done, Fabum and Doceep settle in for the night.
We’ll raise the chaos factor back to five.
Fabum is impressed with Doceep’s ingenuity. Three more days remain in their journey to the Midnight Jungle, and The Crucible is sure to present more challenges along the way.
Next Episode: Keyforge Ep 4 The Martian Experiment