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Welcome Back to Astonishing Adventures!
I know it’s been a while since I have posted an episode, but there have been a lot of things going on behind the scenes here at RPG Elite HQ. Now that we’ve gotten the ball rolling, you can expect to see more episodes posted.
Before we get started with today’s episode, I want to make you aware that all the Astonishing Adventures episodes will not be available here at RPG Elite HQ. One perk of being part of the Leet Squad is having access to all the Astonishing Adventures episodes. So if you are not part of the Leet Squad and want to have access to every enigmatic episode, just click this link right here:
If you want to follow along, you will need a few things.
The first is the Cypher System RPG, 2nd Edition. Second is the Chaos System Gamemaster Emulator. Third, a 20-sided die (and maybe a 6-sided and percentile dice, but those are optional). You’ll also need something to chronicle your adventure, like a journal. An app like OneNote or Apple Notes will do fine. Personally, I’m old skool, so I write this all out (in cursive, mind you. Yeah. It’s like dat).
Also, if you have not read the first two episodes of this series, which are there to get your feet wet, then you can click on these two links to get caught up:
Astonishing Adventures – Episode 0
Astonishing Adventures – Episode 1
If you need help with the abbreviations, make sure to check out Astonishing Adventures – Episode 1.
With all the preliminaries out of the way, let’s get back into Astonishing Adventures with Helix Brown, proofer with The Safeguard!
Scene 3 – In the Lab
Since this is a new episode and also a new scene, we have to establish an Adventure Status. For this, I’ll say the Adventure Status is Stable, which means the Target Number is going to be 6.
RMR = 8
This means that the scene is going to remain unmodified.
Though Helix looked forward to a slow day when he first arrived at The Safeguard, that attitude was instantly replaced with his insatiable curiosity once he saw the document. Things like that supercharged the impetus that made him the foremost proofer for The Safeguard.
Running his fingerprint and retinal scan through the biometric reader outside the lab, the doors clicked, and the screen turned blue and beeped its approval for entrance.
Prepping his favorite station in the middle of the room, he got to work immediately.
I want to use my Decipher ability to see if I can get the general idea of what the document says. The description of my ability is:
If you spend one minute examining a piece of writing or code in a language you do not understand, you can make an Intellect roll of difficulty 3 (or higher, based on the complexity of the language or code) to get the gist of the message. Action to initiate.
Cypher System RPG Core Book, pg. 126
That’s a neat little ditty.
This means I’ll need to have to spend one Intellect point, taking my total from 13 to 12.
TDA = 4 (that means the Target Number will be 12 since it is always three times the Task Difficulty Level)
I also decide I’m going to spend a level of Effort from my Intellect pool also. I’ll have to spend two points, taking my grand total to 10.
TDR = 2. Swing and a miss!
RMR = 7. Well, that means we need to make a Developer Roll.
DR = 8. Referencing the Developer Table, I see that an 8 calls for me to decrease the level of the next task by one step. Dope. I note that and move on.
Helix poured over the document for an hour, studying the letters, the paper, ink, and writing. Sometimes he could get the general idea of what a document said in a foreign language after having dealt with so many over the years. However, though he recognized the language construction, he couldn’t crack the foundational syntax. He verified his hunch about the date of the paper. Other than that, he had done all he could do. He needed a translator.
GMQ: Is there someone at The Safeguard who could translate this document for me?
Looking at the Game Master Response Table, I believe there is an Unlikely chance someone will know the language on this document.
GMR = 2. Well, that verifies that.
RMR = 2. What do you know? We have our first GM Intrusion!
What’s a GM Intrusion?
A GM Intrusion is a story device that surprises or creates an unexpected event that happens outside of a PC’s control. They must then figure out how to overcome or handle the obstacle or situation the GM Intrusion has injected into the story.
With the Chaos GM Emulator System, when your RMR is equal to the GMR or TDR, that will trigger a GM Intrusion. This differs from the base game where you trigger a GM Intrusion by rolling a 1. If you want to keep that in addition, you can. I’m going with just the Chaos System stipulation.
GMD: Suddenly, the facility alarm sounds. The voice over the speaker demands everyone to evacuate the premises. Moments later, a security guard bangs on the door.
“We need to evacuate now!”
“Hold on a second.”
“No. Now!” The guard opened the door with a security override. “Mr. Brown, sir. We have to go right now.”
“Can you give me just one second here to put this away?”
This will be an Intellect roll to attempt to persuade the guard. TDA is 4. That raises to 5 because Helix has an inability with Social Interaction. However, if you remember, the Task Difficulty lowers by one step from the previous Developer Roll. So the TDA stays at 4, which makes the Target Number 12.
TDR = 8. Doesn’t look like the security guard is going to have any of that.
RMR = 3. Ahhh. But we have a Developer, folks.
DR = 3. Okay. This Developer is a But…
“No, sir. We have to go now, but (<< that’s the developer condition) I can put a security lock on the door to make sure no one can get in until I release it.”
Helix didn’t want to leave the document unlocked in the open, but he had no choice. The compromise offered by the security guard wasn’t horrible, so he left, making sure the security guard kept his end of the bargain.
* * * * *
It was a half hour later before everyone was led back into the facility. Once the security guard entered the code, Helix rushed into the lab.
GMQ: Is the document still in the lab and untouched?
I will say that this is Very Likely. TDA is 1(3). Result equals 18. 18 is a special roll result, but only if it was a damage dealing roll. ARM=8. Unmodified.
GMA: The document is there and hasn’t moved an inch.
Helix stared at the document again, in deep thought.
I want to try to use my Decipher ability one more time before going outside of the safeguard to find a translator. But first…
He felt as if he could figure out what the document said in general, given more time. But he wanted to see if he could get a little help.
Join me next time to discover if anything happened to the ancient document or if anything transpired because of the mystery alarm. Thus ends the second episode of Astonishing Adventures!