Video episode originally published Dec 14, 2022
Transcript of Play
Just a few bookkeeping things before we dive in. I’ve increased the chaos rank to eight due to the wild result from the last scene. I’ve also added a new thread: Doceep’s secret mission. Originally, I had rolled this into the mismanagement at the Saurian Arbitrators’ Guild, but I’ve realized these are two distinct threads. While they may connect or relate in the future, for now, they’ll remain separate.
With chaos this high, I suspect we’ll get a random event, so I’m rolling for that now to see how it integrates into the story.
- Chaos Roll: Interrupt scene
- Event focus: NPC action
- Event meaning: usurp intrigue
What on earth? That is weird! What are the odds of rolling the exact same result that caused Doceep’s betrayal? It’s incredibly unlikely, but we’re rolling with it—literally. This tells me we need to switch focus and follow Doceep to figure out what he’s doing after abandoning Fabum.
So, what is the nature of Doceep’s mission?
- NPC motivation: possess knowledge
Doceep’s mission is to capture or acquire some kind of technology or information. Given his background as a scientist, this makes sense—he’s an undercover operative sent to retrieve knowledge.
Considering the young Martian plants adjacent to the hypnotic swamp, and existing Martian lore connected to hypnosis and mind control, it seems plausible that Doceep’s mission is about Martian hypnosis technology. I’ll ask if Doceep’s mission involves acquiring knowledge about this plant-based hypnosis technology. Very likely.
- Fate: strong yes.
Absolutely, Doceep’s mission is to obtain Martian hypnosis technology, specifically related to the plants and their development.
The next question is: who is Doceep working for? There’s clearly another faction or group pulling the strings behind his actions. We’ll ask the fate chart. If yes, it is a deeper, secretive faction within the Saurian Arbitrators’ Guild, if no, the Saurian Arbitrator’s Guild has been compromised by an outside force.
- Fate: yes
This indicates that Doceep is taking orders from a more secretive division within the guild, a layer of intrigue Fabum isn’t aware of. Doceep is taking orders from them to obtain the Martian hypnotic technology tied to their experimental plants.
But why did Doceep abandon Fabum in the hypnotic swamp? It seems extreme, but I think we’ll let that unveil itself later.
I think Doceep would have a contact, back towards the younger part of the swamp. Doceep had to cut off further travel because they were getting too far away. He was supposed to go last night, be he couldn’t, because they were compromised by the Martian scout.
Who is Doceep’s contact?
- Species: Spirit
- Name: Triwoc
After abandoning Fabum, Doceep turns the pterosaur chariot back toward the younger part of the swamp, maneuvering carefully to avoid the single Martian scout. He lands in a clearing, between two rivers, among the young saplings and waits.
Spirits can inhabit armor, what does this one inhabit?
- Story cube: queen with sword.
Slowly, armor pieces begin assembling themselves, creating a regal form with a crown and sword. The spirit, Triwoc, emerges from the saplings, inhabiting the royal armor.
“You are late,” the spirit says sharply.
Doceep says, “I know. My partner compromised our position last night. She does not have the security clearance and cannot know about this. Do you have it—the information?”
- Fate: yes
“Yes. I have it.”
A data pad and a cutting of a young sapling plant are handed over to Doceep. The plant cutting is key to understanding the Martian hypnosis experiments.
What does the spirit want out of this?
- NPC motivation: interact harmony
Triwoc says, “It is my solemn wish that your organization uses this technology to bring harmony and peace to this area of The Crucible. It must undermine the Martians’ efforts to expand further. We have taken this opportunity. Do not fail now.”
Doceep says, “I understand.”
Doceep has the package. Fabum is still back at the swamp. Maybe he just had to leave her there, entranced, so she wouldn’t know what was happening. Now that he’s retrieved the package, he just needs to return it to the Saurian Arbitrator’s Guild. I’m going to combine two existing threads create a new thread: Doceep’s secret mission is to undermine the Martian hypnotic plant technology.
Doceep returns to the swamp, where Fabum remains entranced. The vines have begun wrapping around her more tightly, making it clear she won’t be able to free herself.
- Skill test: success
Doceep pulls at the vines, breaking them off, and manages to free Fabum. He drags her back to the pterosaur chariot and takes off into the sky.
Fabum, still dazed, mumbles, “I thought… you… you left.”
Doceep says, “What are you talking about? Of course not.”
Fabum, too disoriented to process what’s happening, lets the matter slip away. The memory becomes hazy and inconsequential in her mind. Meanwhile, Doceep conceals his actions and the information he obtained from the spirit.
We’ll end that scene. Chaos lowers to 7.
Fabum and Doceep continue their journey to the Midnight Jungle, still desperate to find more key berries. After the failed attempt in the swamp, their pterosaur is entirely out of food, making it their top priority upon arrival.
- Chaos die: altered scene
- Event focus: remote event
- Event meaning: agree possessions.
As they near the Midnight Jungle, something significant is happening elsewhere. The event involves an agreement over possessions. What I think this means is the mysterious cargo emitting negative emotions from the TransTech train car has changed hands. Somewhere, in a shadowy transaction, a new figure has taken possession of it. Fabum and Doceep, unaware of this development, won’t realize the cargo is gone until they investigate further.
They land near the Sylicate village in the Midnight Jungle. By this point, Fabum has shaken off the hypnotic effects of the swamp. Doceep carefully hides the items he obtained from Triwoc, ensuring his secret mission remains undiscovered while they focus on other tasks.
With the pterosaur in urgent need of food, Fabum sets out to locate key berries nearby. Is there something nearby?
- Die: moderate distance
There is a source at a moderate distance. Fabum insists they retrieve the berries tonight, prioritizing the care of their mount above all else.
Fabum and Doceep set out to locate the key berries, using the accurate map provided by Voobep.
- Navigation test: success with a threat
What is the threat?
- Random creature: faeries
For those of you less familiar with the setting, faeries are tiny robots that inhabit the wild space of The Crucible. No one knows their true origins; some speculate the Architects created them to maintain balance, while others hack them for personal gain.
The duo arrives at the site and finds a large stash of key berries, indicating a key forging event once occurred there. However, the faeries are already harvesting the berries for themselves.
How many berries are there?
- d10: 8
A big supply. How many faeries are there?
- d6: 5
There are five of these tiny, buzzing robots. While not necessarily dangerous, the faeries present a significant obstacle as they compete for the berries Fabum and Doceep desperately need.
Fabum attempts to hide and observe the situation.
- Hide check: failure with a threat
She draws the faeries’ attention. The faeries, now aware of her presence, swarm to pester and attack her. This marks the campaign’s first combat encounter.
The faeries make their first attack but fail to land a hit. Fabum pulls out her Dream Ray and fires, rolling three successes. The weapon deals eight damage, reduced by the faeries’ soak of two, for a net damage of six. Since the faeries’ wound threshold is three, two of them are knocked out.
The remaining faeries retaliate with their stingers. This time, they land a hit, inflicting one wound on Fabum. Despite her size and armor mitigating most of the damage, the attack leaves her disoriented, adding a black die to her skill checks.
Fabum fires again, slightly hindered by her disorientation. She lands another successful shot with three successes, dealing eight damage after soak. This eliminates two more faeries, leaving only one.
Does the faerie flee? 50/50.
- Fate: extreme no
The last fairy, enraged, continues its assault but fails to land a hit. Fabum, feeling emboldened, takes one final shot, her aim true, and dispatches the remaining fairy. The area is now clear, and the stash of key berries is hers to collect.
She returns to the sylicate village where she and Doceep have set up camp.
Is Beigh there?
- Fate: yes
Fabum notices Beigh is present but feels awkward about approaching him, especially after her conversation with Doceep back in the Arctic tent. She chooses to avoid him for now.
That evening, there is a performance by the sylicates. Beigh, who we know is a performer, has a little flute. Fabum is trying to watch but is also not trying to watch. It’s just awkward.
Beigh told her not to investigate the TransTech situation, so depending on who else is involved, Fabum may not be welcome here.
Is the sylicate leader, Rock, also going to tell her not to investigate?
- Fate: no
Whatever Beigh knows, Rock doesn’t know.
As the village settles for the evening, the sylicate leader, Rock, approaches Fabum. “We’re so glad to have you back in our village, Fabum. Thank you for resolving the problem with the giants so long ago. Where are they now?”
Fabum explains briefly, “They ended up in an Arctic wasteland, living in a bunker.”
Rock nods. “That’s very interesting. Well, you are always welcome here. If there’s anything you need, let us know.”
Fabum replies, “Last time I was here, I uncovered some very interesting information. I’ll be reviewing that again, and if I need help, I’ll let you know.”
The scene ends with Fabum in control, successfully securing the berries and navigating the social tension. The chaos rank decreases to six.
The next day, Fabum and Doceep head back to the rail line where the mysterious TransTech train was first discovered.
- Chaos die: expected scene
However, as indicated by the previous random event, the train is gone.
- Investigation check: failure with a threat
The area is dark, eerie, and unsettling. Searching for clues results in nothing but a growing sense of unease. Fabum takes a strain due to the tense atmosphere.
With few options left, Fabum decides to return to the sylicate village and confront Beigh for information. She and Doceep track him down, finding him either chipping rocks or practicing his flute.
Fabum greets him. “Hello, Beigh. How are you?”
How is Beigh feeling?
- NPC mood: sociable
Beigh says “Fabum! It’s good to see you again. What brings you back?”
Fabum hesitates, then says, “I’m here investigating the strange train I found last time—the TransTech train with the mysterious cargo.”
Beigh’s demeanor shifts. “I told you not to look into that.”
“I know,” Fabum admits, “but I’m back, and I need to know if there’s anything you can tell me at all.”
Fabum uses coercion, bolstered by Doceep’s presence but hindered slightly by the lingering awkwardness between her and Beigh.
- Coercion check: success
“All right, I’ll tell you what I know,” Beigh says reluctantly. “But not here. Let’s talk in my hut.”
Inside Beigh’s stone hut, lit by glowing rocks, Fabum crouches uncomfortably due to her size, while Doceep bumps his hard head on the low ceiling. Beigh reveals what he knows.
- Story cube: tree
The train was transporting plants. And we know about plants.
Beigh says, “All I know is that the train was carrying plants—plant cuttings. I don’t know why they caused such bad feelings, but that’s what was there. You didn’t hear this from me, okay? There’s other things going on here.”
Fabum considers this. “That’s very interesting that there would be plants. That’s very unusual.”
Doceep, knowing about the Martian hypnotic plant experiments, quietly connects the dots. However, he keeps his suspicions to himself. Fabum remains unaware of the connection between the plants and the Martian technology.
Returning to their camp, Fabum reflects on the new information. “Plants. That’s very strange, don’t you think?”
“Yes,” Doceep replies nonchalantly, hiding what he knows. “Very strange indeed.”
Back at their camp, Fabum reflects aloud. “Plants. That’s very strange, don’t you think?”
Doceep responds cautiously. “Yes. Yes, that would be very strange indeed.” But he can’t say anything more.
The episode ends here, with Fabum and Doceep preparing for the next stage of their investigation. The threads of the story begin to converge, hinting at the larger mysteries of The Crucible.
Next Episode: Keyforge Ep 6 Prisoner Rescue