[Author's Note: Session 0 and Part 1 can be found here.
We last left The Duo leaving an oppressive Kai Family settlement with two passengers stowed away.
I've changed the formatting of how I catalog and track our posts here. It's easy to keep track of dice rolls in a solo game, but harder here as taking notes detailed enough to paint a beautiful story, so specific numbers aren't tracked. I'd love to field questions if anyone has any!]
Move: Begin a Session
At the Kai family controlled settlement Prism, Bruno Kai wakes up and pulls his face out of a bowl of noodles. The rest of the employees also begin to stir. A look of anger mars Kai’s face.
Meanwhile, back on the Ante Up somewhere in lightspeed, Talisman enters the medbay eating noodles and being a smartass to the two new passengers. The Duo introduces themselves to Wayfinder and Sensei Spider, both somewhat still a bit groggy in the medbay. Wayfinder is cooperative and tells us his name, Tao Khaan.
Wayfinder informs us that he is a technological historian, which elicits a response from Talisman, “This man has been sent to us by Deus Machina.” Talisman believes that this is destiny.
Move: Develop a Relationship
Strong Hit
Wayfinder agrees to travel with us, and tells us that he knows the location of a Precursor Vault that is broken. He wants to repair it. He describes the shattered world Schism, which is where the Precursor Vault is. The Duo is captivated by the description.
Annoyed, Sensei Spider tells the Duo about where he wants to go: the deep space settlement Nova, where he will meet a friend that will take him away from the Kai family.
The Duo tell them to settle in and make our way to Weave.
Move: Set a Course
Strong Hit
At Weave, the Duo rendezvous with Jank. Jank’s information pays off: Deus Machina was weak and sought out a source of energy to replenish himself, drawing from a Precursor Vault somewhere in the Infernal Web sector. The Duo take the time to rest and resupply.
Move: Sojourn
Strong Hit
Talisman makesa deal with other black market vendors and offloaded machine parts from Kholsa. While there, he rethinks what he wants his focus to be, and whether or not the life of a simple trader is enough for him.
Black Jack gifts the salts and spices from the Kai family to Jank.
Move: Develop a Relationship
Black Jack marked progress with Jank
Talisman seeks out Wayfinder, unable to reject what he views as his destiny.
Move: Swear an Iron Vow - Open Wayfinder’s Vault - Strong Hit
Move: Develop a Relationship
Talisman marked progress with Wayfinder
Wayfinder divulges more information about the Precursor Vault that he wishes to open. He reveals a gap in his knowledge, safe navigation through the energy fields surrounding it is an obstacle that he has never figured out a solution to. Talisman asks Wayfinder to travel on the Ante Up.
Move: Compel
Weak Hit
Wayfinder tells Talisman that he has other business to attend to right now without revealing exactly what it was, but says that when the time is right he will join them. The Duo gets some rest prior to making the journey to Nova. Nova is adrift, and so the passage that once connected it to Weave is less sure and eroded.
Move: Undertake an Expedition
Miss
Exiting FTL, the Ante Up finds themselves in the midst of a minefield. Black Jack springs into commander mode, giving orders to Talisman and Sensei Spider to blast our way through.
Move: Face Danger
Strong Hit
After successfully navigating through the dangerous minefield, Ante Up takes a breather before continuing their trailblazing.
Move: Undertake an Expedition
Strong Hit
Space Sighting - Dense Nebula Cloud
Exiting lightspeed, a beautiful sight awaits the crew. Talisman recalls the ancient stories about lost Aurora Borealis. He tells how there are now hundreds, no, thousands of spectacles as beautiful as that, but with how vast the cosmos is it’s a miracle that anyone sees them. Talisman feels lucky.
Move: Undertake an Expedition
Miss
Talisman burns Momentum to Change to Strong Hit
We discover a Precursor Vault orbiting Mirage, a desert planet with vast plateaus. The vault is oddly shaped, a pyramid with a curve, somewhat like a Reuleaux Triangle.
As the duo figures out what to do, they observe an asteroid flying by that is zapped by automated defense array. Talisman wonders if this is an omen. He takes his datapad, lifts it to his forehead, and says a prayer to Deus Machina asking for guidance.
Move: Secure an Advantage with Devotant
Strong Hit
Seeing the large asteroid is bound for the Vault, Talisman instructs Black Jack to fly into its wake.
Move: Face Danger
Strong Hit with Match
The asteroid is blasted to pieces by the energy defenses of the Vault. The ship seems to be recognized by the automated defenses, which are disabled. The Duo believe that it is because of Ante Up previously being a vessel for Deus Machina that has visited here before. The Vault opens up and the ship flies in.
Move: Undertake an Expedition
Strong Hit, Mark Progress
Sensor arrays tell us that the inner portion of this vault has the intense smell of gunpowder or sulfur. The Duo decides to press further in.
Move: Gather Information with Scavenger
Weak Hit
Black Jack discovers a lush amount of data that threatens to overwhelm the Ante Up’s sensors, fragments of Deus Machina’s machine spirit attempting to overtake the ship. The digital ghost tells the Duo of Precursor Vaults and their purpose: they were built to stand as monuments that tell the story of the Precursors and hold value inside.
Talisman is absolutely overwhelmed and beating his fists on the floor of the ship in religious fervor. Talisman feels as if he is not a good and faithful servant when Deus Machina won’t give him more specific guidance.
Move: Secure an Advantage
Weak Hit
The Ante Up continues further within the massive monument, proceeding cautiously and running recordings of the inside of the structure.
Move: Explore a Waypoint
Miss
Pay the Price
Talisman - Endure Stress -2
Strong Hit +1 Spirit
Black Jack - Endure Stress 2
Embrace the Darkness +1 momentum
The Duo overcome their fears, as Talisman is visibly shaken. The space inside the structure is getting narrower.
Move: Explore a Waypoint
Weak Hit, Black Jack Burns 8 Momentum for a Strong Hit
The sensors tell the Duo that the area is not too dangerous for EVA here. The Duo don spacesuits and leave. Sensei Spider stays with the ship and tells us that he will leave us behind if we aren’t back quick enough. Talisman doesn’t appreciate this threat.
Move: Explore a Waypoint
Miss
Sacrifice Resources -1 Supply
An oxygen hookup is tainted and flies off into the space. The Duo are faced with a hard decision but decide to keep pressing on despite their best judgements.
Move: Explore a Waypoint
Weak Hit
Black Jack can feel a calling that leads us to the center of the Vault. Talisman calls out for guidance, praying to Deus Machina.
Move: Secure an Advantage w/ Devotant
Miss with a Match
Endure Stress lose 3 Spirit, now 0 spirit
-1 momentum in exchange for +1 Spirit
Talisman feels abandoned by Deus Machina, and his fears are contagious.
Move: Explore a Waypoint
Miss
Black Jack becomes increasingly worried about the integrity of our space suits. Black Jack thinks that we should come back when we are better prepared. The Duo make their way back to the Ante Up and leave the area before they get too hurt.
Move: End a Session
[Author’s Note: As players, we misunderstood the process of Undertake an Expedition versus Explore a Waypoint. We thought that Explore a Waypoint was the only way to press further into this Precursor Vault. We have since learned the process after re-reading the rules and mapping it out with a flowchart.]
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