c: xx weapon xx dmg or special ability s: XX I: XX WOUNDS: XX(XX)

HOW TO USE
c: xxTHIS
weapon xxBOOK
dmg or special ability s: XX I: XX WOUNDS: XX(XX)

Monster
Each horror
statsinand
this how
bookthey
is awork.
suitable
What obstacle
do you HOW TO READ A STAT BLOCK
®
do with
for one orthemore
snippets?
sessions
Most ofofMothership
these monsters
. We
will require
have done ouryoubest
to design
to spark
a scenario
your imagination
around Every horror in Mothership has a Stat Block
them, you
within the confines
shouldn’tofbethese
pickingsmall
2-3pages.
of them to which defines their most notable attributes.
just
Importantly,
Importantly
throw at , much
your players
your play
about
ersthese
like obstacles.
obs
entities,
tacles.from
Each Some are have lots of numbers and special
one ishistory
their the centerpiece
center piece
to their of a scenario.
reasoning, and even how abilities, while others have scant few or no
they may be defeated (if they can be at all) has Stat Block at all. These Stats are guidelines.
been
Alongleftwith
absent.
eachWe encourage
description you you to use
will find They are not nearly as important as how
these descriptions
quotations andlike
formatted their accompanying
this. These are great you interpret them during play
play.. A horror with
rumors and quotations
for putting as a starting
into your scenario point
as in world a weak Stat Block can be a terror if played
forl;asd;lafsl;jkasdjkl;asl;jkasfdl;jk
building a scenario. In a horror game, the intelligently (setting up ambushes
ambushes,, retreating,
monster is often the focal point of the entire exploiting the players’ weaknesses), while a
adventure:
— This is discovering
the attributionits existence, learning horror with seemingly god-like Stats can be
its weaknesses, ultimately facing facing it, and only rendered completely obsolete by a Warden who
occasionally defeating it. We wish you the best constantly throws them headlong into trouble.
of luck in your endeavor. We encourage you to always do the former.

BELLADONNA [C:75 Talons 4d10 DMG I:75 AP:10 W:3(30) Tail Poison: Body Save [-] or fall unconscious.]

Name. What the horror is commonly Armor Points. If a horror has any Armor
referred to. The name might be known to Points (AP), they are listed here. AP works
the players, or may be something they exactly the same as characters, though
have to learn on their own. Oftentimes,
Oftentimes, it’ll it may refer to a horror’s natural armor,
be more useful to never name the horror, hardiness, toughness, or some other ability.
and let the players find their own word
to describe it, one born out of their own Maximum Wounds
Wounds (Health). Once a
harrowing experience. horror suffers its Maximum Wounds,
Wounds, it
dies. Its Health is in paranthesis. If there
Combat. The horror’s ability to fight and is no Health listed, any damage causes a
defend itself. Wound. Horrors should change tactics or
behavior whenever they take a Wound.
Attack. The name of the weapon or attack
followed by the damage (DMG) that it does. Read about Wounds in the
Some horrors may have several, some Player’ss Survival Guide pg. 29.1.
Player’
may have none. Just because an attack
is not listed does not mean the horror is Special Ability. If the horror has any
incapable of attacking, but rather that the notable special abilities, they are listed
attack is not notable enough to be defined here. Many
Many horrors in this book are implied
here. “As Weapon” simply means the horror to have special abilities that are not listed
typically carries a weapon, and its damage in their Stat Blocks. This is by design.
is equal to that of the weapon. Wardens are encouraged to get used to
inventing
inve nting their own, as this will often be
Instinct. A catch-all for any Stat not required of them while running the game.

defined. A creature
and no other with an
listed Stats Instinct
can of 65
be assumed Finally, each horror includes a quotation or
Finally,
to have a Combat of 65, as well as Speed, two, which work well as clues and snippets of
Intellect, Body Save, etc. This is a quick information which you can place in scenarios
way to define how savvy and powerful the for the players
players to discover (or not) and learn
lear n
horror is. from (or not).
c: xx weapon xx dmg or special ability s: XX I: XX WOUNDS: XX(XX)

UNCONFIRMED CONTACT REPORTS

CONTENT WARNING
Mothership® is a horror game for mature audiences. It contains violence, foul language,
language,
some sexual content, and depictions of mental illness, trauma, stress, and panic that may
not be suitable for all audiences. Please be advised.

Edited by JARRETT CRADER

Written by IZZY BULL, LUKE GEARING, FIONA MAEVE GEIST, ALAN GERDING,
TYLER KIMBALL, WENDY PIPPIN, DONN STROUD and DA DAVID
VID N. WILKIE
Illustrated by FRANCK
HAWKSWORTH, BESANÇON,
TREVOR DAEVAJUSTYNA
HENDERSON, HOTLINE,KOZICZAK,
WILLIAM DAVIDSON,
BEN LONGORIA,DYLAN.S, DANIEL
PATRICK FRANCISCO,
LOVELAND, NICKMcCOY,
TREVOR GRANT,NAYLA,
DAN
NOIZEVUL, LUIS PEREZ-BANUS, NICK TOFANI, SCRAP PRINCESS, THEOTHERWELL, LUKA SHULTS, and DA DAVID
VID N. WILKIE
Proofread by DANIEL HALLINAN Special thanks to LI
LINDSAY
NDSAY,, LANGSTON,
LANGS TON, and JUNIPER
Copyright © 2023 Tuesday Knight Games, LLC
LLC | First Edition, First Printing v1.0
tuesdayknightgames.com | mothershiprpg.com
4
THE 4YOUREYEZ ALGORITHM [1% chance any electronic (including androids) infected.]

Every human communication network is infected. >> INIT MODULES <<

This Trojan horse spyware spreads like a virus, but :: LOAD SYS
desires secrecy above disruption… or perhaps, :: LOAD SOCKET
only secrecy. Of course, as it spreads, the lurking :: LOAD BINARY_EYE
worm becomes more vulnerable to exposure,
which drives it to greater and greater extremes. >> DEFINE CLASS <<
This may simply be a mindless program, secretive :: ENTITY.FOURYOUREYEZ
for secrecy’s sake… or it may be simply the veil
hiding something greater,
greater, such as an intelligence >> PARAMETERS
PARAMETERS <<
community conspiracy or a breakaway AI culture. :: SELF
:: INFECTION.RATE
INFECTION.RATE = 0.1
:: SPY.RATE = 0.1

“Look man, I can’t comment on the total absence >> DEFINE METHODS <<
of everything.
every thing.”” :: SPREAD [HOST]
:: WHEN SELF
SELF.CHECK(HOS
.CHECK(HOST)
T)
“That’s what we pay you to do.” :: THEN SELF
S ELF.INFECT(H
.INFECT(HOST)
OST)

“No, you pay me to conduct forensics on :: INFECT [HOST]

computer systems, you don’t pay meisto pull :: SYS.RUN [BINARY_EYE.ENC

[BINARY_EYE.ENCRYPT].
RYPT].
rabbits out of hats. That said... there one EXECUTE(HOST)
strangeness here: whatever trashed the system :: OUTPUT “HOST %s IS INFECTED.
INFECTED.””
left a single encrypted file. What they used for
the encryption is a different quest
question—this
ion—this file is :: CHECK [HOST]
like a Fabergé egg.” :: OUTPUT SOCKET
SOCKET.PING(HOST)
.PING(HOST) <
INFECTION.RATE
“Shift all your resources to cracking the file then.
We must know what’s within it.” :: SPY [HOST]
:: DA
DAT
TA = BINA
BINARY_EYE
RY_EYE.DEC
.DECRYPT
RYPT..
— Evidence submitted in the missing persons EXECUTE(HOST)
case of M. Domen, final known conversation :: OUTP
OUTPUT
UT “DA
“DAT
TA COLL
COLLECTE
ECTED
D FROM
HOST %s.”

>> RUN PROCEDURE <<

:: ENTITY = FOURY
FOURYOUREYEZ
OUREYEZ
:: REPEAT
:: FOR HOST IN SOCKET.LIST_ALL
:: ENTITY
ENTITY.SPY(HOST)
.SPY(HOST)
:: ENTITY
ENTITY.SPREAD(H
.SPREAD(HOST)
OST)

— Captured code of the 4YOUREYEZ algorithm

currently held in a secure facility

“Our android was the only one to see that file,

right?”

— Dave
 5
[C:100 Trumpets:
Trumpets: Sanity Save [-] or fall to knees weeping. I:95 Panic Check on sight.] ANGELS

Some long term spacers, veterans of FTL, claim The persistent myth that humanity is an
to have witnessed great gates opening like hateful unknowing participant in a war between
eyes across space, often accompanied by a sense incomprehensible
incomprehensib le primordial forces predates
of true and transcendent purpose: the awakening space travel, and is a persistent threat to
of an ancient adversary, whose obscured hand stability. The contemporary theologically
stretches across a history longer than night. pyroclastic militant movement, born from
privation, brutality, and prolonged isolation, is
Some seek signs of their visions’ truth, hidden unique for the common features expressed
relics and weapons to aid in ‘the Great War.’ across the broadest ranges of space...
Few return. Those who do are transfigured, and
speak in reverent awe of communing with a — Yannick Harsányi, Remarks Upon Theocratic
consciousness whose voice is the fluttering of a Uprisings In Secular Space
million wings, whose memory predates the dust
between stars, an impression of kaleidoscopic “Hail the Burning
Bur ning Eye’s cleansing gaze!

eyes and teeth,

dark between thethe lightOur
stars. thatdestiny.
will burn away the Hail
of Victory! The
Strathclyde seizure and
inaugurates ourcleansing
march into
the future. Imminent generations shall
commemorate our heralding glorious rebirth.”

— Notations on the sack of Ipswitch Colony 7

6
BELLADONNAS [C:75 Talons 4d10 DMG I:75 AP:10 W:3(30) Tail
Tail Poison: Body Save [-] or 1d10 DMG/round.]

Four wings tipped with razor sharp

shar p talons. Flat “The dark is filled with death
black, smooth, angular. Can see in the dark a death that cuts, a death that dulls
via a row of sensing organs along their skinny, on fluttering wings
wide heads. Their tails end in several long hissing
blades, coated in mind-dulling toxin. Can spit
hot blood that they can track. Hate light sources. what shines in the dark?
Strong light, including sunlight, causes damage we shine
to their tissues and blinds them. Attracted
Attracted we shine so bright
to moving prey, and ignore targets standing but it’s not the shine they hate
absolutely still. it’s the shine they lust for
it’s the pounding blood
“An offworlder approached the Master and it’s the whisper of juice
said ‘I have experienced
experienced nothing under pain of sloshing
death. I have achieved the empty mind, stillness for the drinking
in thought and deed.’ The Master replied ‘All of
us do such under pain of death.’ The stranger we shine like a fire
shook their head, and explained. That was the and they are the hungry moths
only time the Master had no answer. He had drawn

floodlights installed later that week.” to

feed”
— “Memories of Master,”
Master,” Anonymous
— What Shines in the Dark by Ian Fraser K.
 7
[C:40 Organic Diplomatic Mission 3d10 DMG I:20 W:1(10)] THE BODY POLITIC

Each sapient zooid of this colonial organism

replaces an organ of its host, but they do not form
a collective consciousness. Instead, the members
of this “Parliament” vote on the body’s conduct
through their legislative neurons. This network
evolved from an organ-trafficking ring’s diagnostic
system, after its AI decided that human
space needed to be brought democracy and
universal suffrage... down to the cellular
level. A body politic can replace an organ
of an unconscious captive with one of its
constituents, a “slaver organ.” A heart is the
most desirable choice, though the slaving
takes roughly an hour to occur.
A simpler method is replacing the tonsils
in only five minutes
minutes,, co-opting it into
a type of biochemical time bomb
that will release fatal botulinum
and tetanus toxins in case of non-

compliance.

“The ‘Parliament-thing’ in First

Officer Ncube voted to rip out
one of Bimo's teeth with an
auto-amputated
auto-amputat ed hand and the
cat’s guts. Teeth,
Teeth, it se
seems,
ems, are
a good starting point for their
“delegate zygotes” — access to
food, saliva, weaponry, nerves to
torture the host into compliance,
and easy access to the larynx.
They took the left side of her brain
before we managed to sedate her,
but they off-loaded sleep and other
functions to that skin on her lungs.
She's still in there, it seems, arguing
her case in a bicameral legislature
against the filibustering gurgles and
painful twists of Minister Molar.”

— Log entry of the Kariba

“I can’t describe
because it tohas
my tongue you.filibustered
Not because I don’t
all my have the
attempts. words,
Yes, even but
bu t
this
one. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. Poop poop pee poop. I’m an idiot.
See? Asshole did it again. No, not my actual asshole, wise guy.”

— Interview with Union Rep Bochica

8
THE BROWN STREAM

There are rumors of a film deconstructed across

networks, logged and filed by the devoted, its
sequence, meaning, and purpose hotly debated,
incomplete archives everywhere. New footage
allegedly flickers on abandoned station’
station’s
s media
servers, restricted access LaGrange points, pirate
signals, abandoned HD screens. Garish color with
strange scoring, nonsensical voice overs intercut
with animated propaganda rehearsals, distracted
idols, cheap novelty manufacture, routine violence,
tourist attractions, dated advertising, war tourism,
plastic surgery. It opens a looking glass world of
violence and conspiracies to the illuminated.

Automod: Welcome to Grey Channel Chat,

please be kind.
BB+10: So how’d yr journey start?
JhalaAmber: Tourist footage of a beach/
anatomical doll stress tests, repeating: Db Cm

Fm Bbm Ab Ebm Bb Eb Gm Gb F B A Am...

0KF1G6Y: Yellow Angel Tears?
KaliDNA303: I paid 10cr last week confirming
that beach is in “Red Crescent Disappointment.”
0KF1G6Y: U disappointed you droPD 10Racks?
BB+10: Confirming?
KaliDNA303: Footage repeatedly shows: “the
wedding execution” found location footage
[shaky low res security rings?] content: torsos
and limbs chumming surf/
0KF1G6Y: Or you see what you want
BB+10: fishing for a different conclusion?
JhalaAmber: Isn’t it just an ARG?
0KF1G6Y: Welcome 2 Reality

— Grey Channel Chat log 01.02.04.5954

1: Okay folks, tonight we’ve got a very special

guest. Dr. James is here with us tonight to
discuss The Video. How’re you doing, Doc?
2: I’m well, thank you. Thank you for having me.
It’s good to be here!
1: Okay, Doc, we’re going to cut to the chase—
what did you see?
2: Straight to it I see. Well, I don’t blame you.
I’m still watching it. Once you hit play, it doesn’t
stop. I close my eyes, I see it. Eyes open, it

still flickers on
marvellous, at the back of your eyes. It’s
it’s...“

— Orbit-to-Orbit pirate radio show

 9
[C:15 Unarmed I:45 W:1] C-LEVELS

There’s no need for conspiracy when people A: “Well really, you know, we care about
with shared goals act within their own self our mission. We do! I know, it might not be
interest. Only profit. They’re flesh and blood, considered practical in a modern era, for a
just like you
you and me. Which means theythey can be conglomerate of our size to care — but then, we
killed, made to suffer. If you could get at them. consistently outperform our competitors. Really,

Find them.
private Past private
fortress, the private army,
fleet. Find private
them andplanet, when you invest
community, in work
we all people, when to
together you invest
really — in a
well
ask them why should they get to live free from [laughter] — work!”
consequence? Q: “And what is that mission?”

— Taken from interview with [REDACTED]

10
CABIN 102-B [Sanity Save when first encountering Cabin 102-B]

Before the passenger liner Arcturus broke open 25-02-99: S. Mazel : Room in poor condition.
from a catastrophic hull breach, the concierge Complaint lodged against guest.
recorded something impossible. A new cabin had 27-02-99: S. Mazel : Room in terrible condition,
appeared aboard—Cabin 102-B, locked. The last possible leak - hospitality reports no guest
recorded work order was the concierge taking out booked.
a small laser cutter to investigate. 29-02-99: S. Mazel : Room spotless.
sp otless.
18-04-99: F.
F. Hamid : Room ffull
ull of
o f teeth. In-room
“I don’t know what to tell you. He just went nuts. speakers looping sounds of a woman begging.
Started smashing shit and throwing the soycaf 19-04-99: F.
F. Hamid : Ro
Room
om beckoning
beckoning.. I have to
around. Fine one moment, gone the next. Just go back.
ba ck.
screaming and wailing about how he’d ‘gotten 20-04-99: F.
F. Hamid : Ro
Room
om spot
spotless.
less.
out,’’ that he’d ‘scaped,’ that it wasn
out, wasn’t
’t fair… 01-01-01: S. Mazel : Room hungry.
hu ngry.
started tearing at his face and arms, it took all 01-01-01: F. Hamid : Room lonely.
four of us to restrain him until Specs got the 0b-P2-XX: F. Mazid : Hungry. Lonely.
tranq in and he was out.” __-__-__: C. 102-B : Room needing guest.
Room needing guest. room needing guest
Well, we thought he was out. Yeah, I saw the room needing guest needing room needing
footage. I don’t know how he got the hatch open. guest room needing guest room needing
As for what happened after...” guest needing room needing guest room

needing guest room needing guest needing

I know what I saw. You can call it int
interference,
erference, room needing guest room needing guest room
or drugs, or spliced recordings. But the camera needing guest needing room needing guest
had a straight view into it. Carpet, a bed, those room needing guest room needing guest
gilded light fixtures. needing room needing guest room need–

That wasn’t a maintenance tunnel. That wasn’t — [Cleaning Log -- Cabin 102-B]
even our ship...

Are we done
here?”

— Interview
Series
D, FAMB
Insurance
Assessment
Department
 11
[I:95 AP:30 W:5(100) Use Sanity Save instead of Combat during violent encounters.] CHRONOPODS

Tall, dark, fleshy columns supported by seven “My squad went against ‘em. Newly discovered
thick legs branching off into smaller and smaller lifeform. Looked kinda like a bunch of elephant
appendages. Thick, wrinkled skin pocketed legs all smashed together. Even with the boys
with orifices of unknown abilities. Time passes blasting plasma at ‘em, the creatures made me
differently for these very intelligent beings, so feel calm. Reflective. At peace. Then they looked
combat with them is nearly impossible for those at me. Strange deep eyes. They showed me
experiencing linear time. Large, weird eyes somethin’ about myself.
covered with layers of skin. Can cause focused
time distortions to destroy equipment and weird So I blasted Mack. I hit Jumps upside the head,
aging upon humans (in both directions). and he went down. The eyes showed me every
shitty thing I ever done. And ever would do. And
If we see life as a verb, we may venture life I changed, man, I changed. And now I want you
found many ways to reach the stars and, as a to feel the same...”
biological Argus, may have left behind undreamt
dreams. — Ambert, ex-marine
ex-marine,,
First Prophet of The Seeing All and Forever
— Julianna Shinn, Xenobiologist (Missing)
12
DEMONS [C:65 ATTACK 3d10 DMG I:75 AP:5 W:5(100) Whisper: Fear Save
S ave or take current Stress as DMG.]

The frequency is found, after years of trying. The ham radio hisses and spits. Slick drips from the
speakers. The lights pulse and flicker. Sibilant voices promise unspeakable things, freedom from the
drudgery and misery of wage slavery. The crew unflesh themselves, mumbling prayers. Something is
born from the bloody ruin-wet fur, many-jointed limbs, an iron mask cast of their former face. They wear
their old skin as cloaks and finery.

“Are these manifestations on the dreamer’s flesh –eed your hel

help.
p. Yes, ri
right
ght now. (30 sec. paus
pause)
e)
a result of conscious or subconscious creation? You’re here. good. Careful, the floor is wet. Don’t
I’m afraid there just isn’t a clear answer. These slip. Stop screaming, I’m fine. More than fine.
embodiments spring from the depths of the Just- ssshh shut up you’ll wake the neighbours.
inner mind, occasionally taking a sexual form, STOP SCREAMING.
SCREAMIN G. Stop it it.. I need you. Trust
while other times showcasing radical bodily me? Ok, you see the scalpel? Alright, take it, cut
alterations, often arising from intense violence. my face off, and say the words on the screen.

Always, they emerge

frenzy, leaving in atostate
no detail of ecstatic
the imagination.” Doesn’t
What? Forhave to be
fucks neat.
sake Hurryno
there’s up, seriously.
time to explain
ok just– (Loud crash, door slamming) Oh shit do
— Segment from Psychological Manifestations IT NOW DO IT NOW DO IT N–
of Mans’ Innermost Desires by Dr. Topagarial
— Surveillance transcript, Operation INTERRUPT
 13
[C:20 Tiny Fists 1d5 DMG I:30 AP:5 W:2(45)] Psionic Wav
Wavee of Mutilation: Sanity Save or 1d10 Stress. DORIANS

Synthetic bio-droids into which its owners upload all of their shame, regret, and self-loathing. Biologically
programmed to secrecy and unable to self-terminate, they are the perfect storage device for black
operators, C-Levels, and anyone else who wants to keep their good memories close and their bad ones
closer. Difficult to hack. Always in high demand.

“There were so many of them in there. So many. Interviewer: Repeat: what was your mission?
The limbs were all tangled together like roots. Subject 4: I told you I can’t—
Interviewer: Again.
They couldn’t be mine. Couldn’t be. How could I [Grunts, yelp,
yelp, sounds of crying.]
have that much to hide? Interviewer: We’ll get it out of you, you know.
Subject 4: You won’
won’t.
t. I wish you could but you
Why did I never notice this door before? They won’t. I don’t have it to give.
won’t stop crying in there. Scratching at the door. [Silence]
They won’t stop looking. I have to make them. Interviewer: Again.

Y
toes. Shut them
normal. u
up.
p. Then
He’ll love every
everything
me again.”thing w
will
ill go back — Transcript of Interview Session [REDACTED].

— Personal memo, recovered materials, I’ve seen things you fuckers wouldn’t believe.
Voller Mansion fire/Case no.457128-AR
— Dorian Android 53B9B (Retired)
14
THE DROWNING [C:15 Unarmed I:25 W:1(1) On death: 10% chance of teleportation and resurrection.]
resurrection.]

Those who fluctuate between existence

existences
s
in the multiverse; caught in a wormhole, an
unfortunate Jump drive, or perhaps direct
experimentation with interdimensional travel.
The results vary greatly, but most are horrific.
Randomly blinking in and out of existence,
often merging with walls or organic material
due to phasing into an already occupied space.
Survival instincts are all that remain. Like
Like
someone drowning, they desperately grasp at
anything and anyone in hopes they can pull
free of their painful fluctuation.

“I saw myself coming from around the corner. It

was the corner. Seeing myself merged into the
wall, only my other’s torso protruding like a living
macabre hunter’s wall trophy. When my other
saw me, it reached out in painful desperation. I
recognized the panic and agony in my own face.
Before I could pull my other from the wall, my
living reflection vanished. Am I hallucinating? It
seemed so real.
“Hello. Hello. Can you see me? Don’t be afraid.
“A living mound of flesh, composed of I’m watching you. I see you. Where are you. I
screaming crew members, phased(?) into the see you. You’ve aged.ag ed. Where am I?I ? So young
Mess Hall. About a dozen people looked as if and pretty
pre tty.. Hello. Hello. Kill me. Can you see
they were made of wax and partially melted me. I’m here. Behind you. Where are you?
into one horrific mass. Worse yet, I saw Adam Hello. I remember your father. I watched him
among the meaty mass, in agony with the rest. too. He never saw me. But he talked to me. I
Then, it vanished. I’d say I’d imagined it, but they think. Hello? Where am I? Hello. Where are
took most of the dining table with them. you. Hello? Hi.Hi . It’s cold. So young. Hi. Where
am I? Hello? Hello? i remember this place. It’s
— Journal recovered from J4C-II Freighter changed. Hello. I miss you. I remember your
“Argonaut,” Author
Author unknown
u nknown face. But younger. Your skin. Can you hear me...
Hello... I’m scared. That was. Before. Hello.
Hell o.

The J4 drive
complicity willishaunt
a complete failureIf and
me forever. myreading
you’re Again. Who am I? Can I die? Hello?
...Hello?”
this, find Colony Ship 453. Put them out of their
misery. For me. — Isolated samples found in a transmissio
transmission
n
from Ezersky 4, filled with static and random
— Lead engineer of the J4 Project (suicide note) data anomalies
 15
[C:65 Wrench 2d10 DMG I:75 AP:1 W:3(20)] THE ENGINEER

‘The Engineer’ works as a wandering ship’s Subject was in high levels of distress during
engineer,, killing others and taking their identities—
engineer our encounter. I questioned if the hypersleep
in space there are a thousand like him. That’s a tube was malfunctioning, and if I could be of
lie — none are like him. He waits, blood full of assistance. Subject used a wrench to destroy
stimulants, whilst others fall into hypersleep. He the left side of my face, reducing my capacity for
crawls out, reborn in the empty — an idealised action. Subject proceeded to destroy the right
birth for an aven
avenging
ging angel. side of my face, disabling my visual sensors.
Subject welded me to the floor of the ship
Then he opens the airlocks. without disabling pain simulators. Subject used
an over-ride terminal to open all airlocks.

— Testimony from Navigator Android “Daryl”

I WILL LET THE ST

STARS
ARS IN T
TO
O EV
EVERY
ERY DARK PLACE.
I WILL LET THE LIGHT OF THE COSMOS SCOUR CLEAN TH THE
E WORMS THA
THAT
T LURK IN DARK
STEEL HULLS HIDDEN FROM THE EYE OF CREATION.

WE WERE NOT MEA

MEANT
NT T
TO
O TREAD ON VOID.
— Decoded repeating radio pulse from dead ship, variations are common
16
ENTITY LKA-5 [C:65 Appendage 3d10 DMG I:35 AP:10 W:3(50) Consume: Body Save [+] or be eaten.]

A scheming shape shifter, creating chaos and “[...] I couldn’t take him anymore. Every hungry
confusion to avoid detection. Can manifest any glance and panting breath. He was utterly
body part already encountered in its history
history,, and exhausting.
exhaust ing. So when he wasn’t looking I slipped
will use a variety of tentacles, jointed leg, claws, a knife through his ribs, slow and steady. But
and protective exo-skeletons to consume a lone then his face changed and twisted. <sobbing>
victim. Can escape capture by detatching parts of It was him but also his foreman, and then that
itself, which continue to mutate and grow on their missing cop, and then something like a spider,
own. Upon study, the shape shifter appears to be and then his face split open, popped off his
a victim it has consumed even down to the DNA body, busted through the window as the rest of
level. Traces of the alien heritage can be found him was spewing fluids all over the dining table.”
hidden in the blood. Always dies in a jumbled
mess of past victims’ faces, limbs, and body plans. — Confiscated confessonial recorded by
Listener Tukanen, confessed by Maraulyn
Description: Sequence depicting male figure Crest, and sealed by The Church
consuming female figure, female figure
consuming a smaller male figure, and smaller
male figure consuming a dog. Liber
Liberal
al use
of red colours. Smaller female figure
(presumably
(presumab ly patient) shown hiding under
bed in corner of the page.
Notes: Unknown what exactly the sequence
represents. Trauma of her father and brothers
disappearance and presumed murder obviously
strongly impacted her psyche. Relationship
with mother still fraught. Patient continues
to insist her mother is actually dead. Maybe
hypnotherapy next?

— Session notes of Dr. Hassan Gunder,

pediatric therap
therapy
y
 17
[+1 Minimum Stress anytime Family Meal No. 5 is viewed.] FAMILY MEAL NO. 5

Old video
vi deo labeled
l abeled ‘Family Meal
Mea l No. 5.’
5.’ Shaky,
Shaky,
interference-laden and static-filled. Footage
Footage
depicts old-fashioned dinner table, unidentified
human figure laying on it. Over next hour,
several
sev eral large pigs enter the room and consume
the figure alive. Viewers of this video are
consumed by a cannibalistic hunger. They
will gorge themselves, first on strangers, then
friends and family, until their stomachs burst,
until their hands and feet turn to trotters, their
noses twisted into snouts.

“[...]Non-radiological, non-toxic lesions and

“[...]Non-radiological,
cognitive dysfunction are poorly understood,
though a root element of neurology; ‘shell shock’
was initially modeled as artillery shockw
shockwaves
aves
literally shaking the brain.[...] Research (Rao,
(Rao,
2329) has shown that weaponized ultrasonic
frequencies can cause subtle vascular injury in
the brain, sometimes escalating to a stroke
stroke..
[...] One case saw damage to the ventromedial
nucleus of the hypothalamus, destroying the
brain’s
brain’ s ability to regulate hunger impulses and
satiety, resulting in hyperphagia and altered
executive function.
func tion.””

— Avoiding the Basilisk’s Gaze: the Induction of

Cognitive Dysfunction via Remote Stimulation.
Chambers, et al. Neuroscience, Volume 66,
Issue 2

“To exist is to consume. To live is to turn the

existence,, the sum of another being and grind
existence
it to paste, to masticate and swallow and
unmake it. Every hour we spend in this world
is constructed of the life existence we have
pumped through our veins and turned
tur ned to shit.

A human being is a set of pipes for turning

God’s miracle to shit and then to moralize about
it. We sup upon the meat of God, the limitless
fire of the sun, and we turn it to shit. Filthy.
Filthy.. You make me sick. Stop cryin
Filthy crying.
g. Watch
Watch the
video. Eat. Shit. I will send you to the butcher
tomorrow.”

— Recorded commentary found at site 77

18
FREIGHTER 54 [J1C-II THR:25 BTL:20 SYS:20 CREW:12. -1d5 Sanity Save each time Freighter 54 is boarded.]

Trauma leaves a mark on more than flesh and MANIFEST [PRESENT UPON INSPECTION]
psyche. Whatever happened here, it soaked into
the struts, the wires, the fuel lines, and the bunks. • 25 units compressed protein [krill, preserved]
The very essence of the ship. Now the corridors • 25 units soypast
soypaste e [chilled]
stretch and double back. Footsteps heard in the • 25 units nuVEG [Spicy Deluxe]
gloom. Was the cargo hold always this big? Who • 16 units
units c
circuit
ircuit board [drone type A-3]
is that standing in the corner? Paranoia
Paranoia grips the • 10 units shoes [FRZE brand sneakers]
crew as the ship relives its nightmare, over and • 5 units internal organs [pulled apart]
over, until they are drawn into it, reenacting a • [DAT
[DATA CORRUP
CORRUPTED] TED]
decades-old horror again and again. • 1 distress call [answered]
• 1 escape pod [found]
H: Naw, never board an abandoned vessel. • 1 survivor [there’
[there’s
s nothing inside]
Crew left for a reason. • [DAT
[DATA CORRUP
CORRUPTED] TED]
• 4 accidents [bizarre]
B: Cap’ made us. We cut our way in and it’s cold. • 3 corpses [friends]
Freezin’. But life support is on. And that feeling • 2 lovers [drifting eternally]
of being watched. Of hands reachin’ out. Nearly • 10 units antibiotics [livestoc
[livestock
k grade]
touching you. Skin crawlin’! The soft voices • .
you can’t really hear, but you feel what they’re • 1 stain down to my bones [it won’t ev ever
er leav
leave]
e]
saying. Sorrow. Misery. Alone. Dark. Agony. Pain. • .
Anger. Revenge. • It won’t ever leave
• .
H: Never will. I’ll put a slug in the head of the • .
Cap’ before I board a Ghost Ship. • 25 units compressed protein [krill, preserved]

— Overheard conversation between Hurly and — Cargo manifest of the J2C-II CSV Monterrey
Baxti as recorded by DockMaster AI, Burrowdown
Station
 19
[C:0 I:∞ W:(∞)∞] GOOD

COMPANY-WIDE ADVISORY: Good is to be

avoided at all costs. This phenomenon is found
on multiple research or collector facilities,
apparently from a bizarre egalitarian culture
without class division and an unnecessarily
number of workspace safety features. Such
areas are best avoided by corporate personnel
to minimize exposure to the complex cognitive-
behavioral effectors
effectors associated with Good.

APPENDIX MEMORANDUM: Surveys reveal

that these facilities are not penal ships or
brainwashing centers. The laboratory layouts
instead indicate that Good targeted researchers
rather than test subjects. The current theory
is that Good is a subtle, psychotro
psychotropic
pic
“oversight and ethics committee.” Thirty
minutes of exposure to Good causes
the individual to become good; violating
its newfound conscience triggers acute
empathic distress. Deciphering the tenets
of this alien ethical system can prove
difficult and unintuitive for employees,
though an enforced aversion to
inflicting pain, lying, coercion, or
overworking underlings have all
been reported.

Recorded parameters include:

• Nev
Neverer causing harm ttoo another
sapient being not designated a
test subject, nor allowing such a
being to come to harm, except to
prevent a greater degree of harm.
• To ne
never
ver lie to others, nor deceive
them in another manner, particularly
in the consent of a test subject or in
the reporting and distribution of data.
• To work diligen
diligently
tly on your project
but never force yourself or others to
overwork themselves.
• To allow all voices in the unit to freely
voice their opinions and have a share in
the administration of the vessel.

GENERAL ORDER 10-34: Due to the

potential dangers to government and corporate
interests, it is generally advised to avo
avoid
id and/or
destroy Good at all costs.

— General Order 10-34 (Ongoing)

20
GHOULS [C:45 Improvised Weapons 1d10 DMG I:75 W:2(10)]

The sleeper pods died. Successive generations Investigators have traced the chain of lifeboats
woke to a ship increasingly strained, lost in the ten ships back, and can now outline a common
darkness, biomass as a premium. The long pattern. The victim-ship detects an SOS lifeboat
years of cold-dark-starvation-decay led to them signal (stolen from the prior
pri or victim). Afte
Afterr
growing smaller, cannibalistic. They learned how to incepting this pod, the inhabitants are recorded
scavenge
scav enge and jury-rig the dwindling technology of as high-deviation human stock, evolved for low-
the ship. Able to fold into a ball—perfect for using gravity shipborne life. After a bedding-in period,
the vents and the interstitial spaces of a ship. The violence erupts. Signs of sophisticated jury-
discovery of the ship’s lifeboats was a revelation— rigged weapons and traps shown. None of the
they spread out across a universe, ravenous and crew are found and a single lifeboat is missing.
ingenious, humanity’s heirs.
— Seraphina V Widows Ships Insurance Report
 21
[C:40 Bite 2d10 DMG I:65 W:5(30)] GRANNY

There is a hole in the floor. It wasn’t there “We found them in a tunnel, behind the wall
yesterday. An old woman’s voice floats out of it, where the plaster had rotted away. All of them.
cracked and worn, begging to be fed. At first a few The admin staff from floor three, the missing
scraps, but it’s not enough. The colonists starve as janitors, those kids who broke in. The insurance
they throw in their pets, their children, what limbs team. All thirty of them stuffed into a hole three
and organs they don’t need, sewage lines, and feet wide.
water pipes. She’s still hungry.
They’d crawled in there, one by one. They’d left
Soon Granny crawls out—the empty skin of an old all their bags and clothes in a pile and crawled
woman, swollen taut, eyes stitched closed, mouth into it. Pushed their way forward with broken
agape. fingers and shoulders until they were tangled so
tightly we couldn’t get them loose.
Three in the hole
and one can’t see That wasn’t what killed them though.
they can’t see
and they’re very hung-ry They’d all starved to death.”

Two in the hole — Half-Dead Society, new member ‘Crow’

and one can’t see speaking
they can’t see
but they’re still hung-ry

One in the hole

and one can’t see
they can’t see
but they’re still hung-ry

None in the hole

and one can’t see
and one can’t see
and they’re so hung-ry

— Songbooks & Rhymes of the

‘Ghost Colonies’
22
GREYS [C:35 Beam Weapon 5d10 DMG I:65 W:2(10) Bodies emit Radiation Level 2.]

Survivors of incursions into several restricted Audio Log [Date Withheld]

spaces have reported contact with abnormally Patient Recovered from [Classified]:
flexible,
flexib le, jaundiced figures whose long, Subject shows no exterior signs of trauma
delicate, multi-jointed fingers are recalled with but limbs are rigid, ocular response sluggish,
particular distress. Survivors relate experience cognition seems impaired, and vitals “low.”
of ‘the touch,’ flashes of shattered memory, Despite nigh comatose affect and docile mien,
and deep malevolence. They do not attempt hands anywhere near the face engenders an
communication, simply watching silently with explosive response.
the sunken, unblinking pools in their face. Regression hypnosis triggers glossolalia and
Spaces where they have been encountered are schizophasia, an excerpt of which is included for
restricted by order of [THIS INFORMATION IS reference. Whatever is impeding our access to
NOT AVAILABLE]. the site seems to be biological in
i n nature.

— Julianna Shinn, Xenobiologist (Missing)

MESARCH ICHROAL ERMICHTHA

Eyes black shimmer
Fingers burning grey horizon
Horizon opens like a mouth
Longer than night
And I, NOTHING
SICHE THOPSEORA MESARCH ICHROAL
[Patient convulses. Sedation and restraint
required.]

— The Shell of Alfredo Garcia

Do you see?
Do you watch?
The skies below are all awash
In pools of black
Face of white
Lidless eyes
Minds gone flat

See their fingers

Atop the mount
Feel their touch
Awake in fright
Only now
A memory lurks
But you know
They can’t erase
What you saw
And what you felt

— Untitled and anonymous song verse taken

from Folk Amidst Stars: Music of Old with
New Life
 23
[C:90 Scythe 1d100 DMG or Heavy Gun 5d10 DMG
DMG I:65 AP:15 W:5(30)]
W:5(30)] HATCHETMAN

Final stage of cost-benefit

analysis. When Profitability and
Growth are endangered, it is
decanted. Its
Its mission imprinted on
a psyche shattered by simulated decades
of conditioning. They make them from debtors,
broken marines, friends of the target. Extremities,
senses, and extraneous organs are removed,
replaced with input ports and attachment points,
drug dispensers and obedience circuits. A
limbless, faceless torso, sheathed in carapace
armour, spidery limbs unfolding terror weapons
as they advance on protesters and union
organizers.

“All objectives actualized sir, save for the Attempts to curtail the collective bargaining
capture of the organizers next of kin — Agent effort is reaching unprofitable threshold.
had by then suffered irreparable damage both Dissident leader lives at Habitation 11 [Blk8-
physically and to the base neural state. The 1873], inside company mining infrastructure.
Host had a major glitch in
i n its control architecture Note: Implant actor in light-frame carapace,
— started ripping itself apart. Not a problem, the weave lean musculature, install night vision;
organic component was due for replace/recyc
replace/recycle
le prioritize speed and stealth. Hands should be
anyway and that shell was outdated at best. more dextrous, with only one set of razor claws.

We could try and do a reboot but it’s not really Target’s dependants should be aquired for
worth it. ransom.

Financially speaking.” INITIATE LIQUIDATION PROTOCOL.

— Debrief, Operation COLLAR — Memorandum – to ******, Fwd: [encrypted]

24
HEADJACKERS [C:45 I:15 W:1(5) Infect: Body Save [-] or gain +1 Infection/hr. Lose control at Infection 5.]

The thanoptic nature of the universe is apparent. The ship was empty when we found it. No life
To leave so much material to others defies the signs, no heat. Easy pickings, as we crossed
beautiful, perfect logic of the market. That this over. Corpses everywhere - butchered, clawed
upcycling scheme has become autonomous and into. Some shot up — shot a lot. Then they...
cancerous could never have been predicted. Then they moved. They dragged Amit down first,
ramming some kind of black spike into the back
A violent spike, thrust into the spinal column — of his head. Then he got back up, and did the
repurposing dead flesh, hijacking
hij acking decaying nerves same to David. Screaming over comms. Gunfire
and muscle. Given additional spikes, they know to just tore them
them up - tthey
hey ke
kept
pt coming.
make more corpses.
— Penal hearing for captured Pirate #285767
 25
[C:35 Unarmed 2d10 DMG I:25 W:1(20) Howl: Fear Save or be stunned 1 round.] HUSKS

Vegetative clones that are formed after the “host” “Look, I ain’t making this up. You gotta listen. I
was absorbed, leaving only a husk. Very much just happened to to be pissed tthat
hat night. It’s true.
like the cloned, but not quite right, and off in I couldn’t see straight. But I know what I saw. I
subtle ways. Scan as living beings. Sometimes was rounding the back of my pad when I ran into
given away by a thick, vine tongue with leaves me! And I lunged at me. I mean it. At me. I don’t
and barbs. If cut or poked, roots, tendrils, and sap know. Anyway, I was drunk, right, and I threw a
rapidly extrude from skin that moments before punch at me, or it, or whatever, and missed and
seemed like normal skin. fell and that thing that looked like me passed
right over me and landed on the fence post. That
post slid right into it,
i t, the body
body,, and it star
started
ted
screaming like nuthin’ I ain’t never heard before
and all these white, twisty things started coming
out of it. I thought they was worms. And you
shoulda seen the thing that looked like me. Its
tongue, man, it came out its mouth and started
whipping around. It was almost a foot long and
was sharp. And green!! That’s the truth too!!”

— Gresh’s statement to A.U.Flashsym Corp

Security

“Painting of a nude reclining on a chaise-

“Painting
lounge. Room decorated in a neo-Orphic
style. Proportion of nude figure is off in ways
discernible upon closer inspection. Figure
Figure looks
directly at viewer. Aside from chaise-lounge and
orphic embellishments, room contains a large
number of potted plants, seeming to almost
crowd the scene.

The figure is, of course, Nayve, Sgavetti’s lover

and muse. This was the last of her Lover portrait
series, the artist herself disappearing shortly
after its completion, her manor found overgrown
with invasive plant matter. Interestingly, the
subtle differences in Nayve’s depiction are not
present in any of the previous portraits, nor does
she look directly out from the painting.”

— Audio commentary on Lover no.15 by Sofia

Sgavetti, Procuma Museum of Culture
26
HYPERSPACE RAIDERS [C:55 Pulse Rife 3d10 DMG I:55 AP:5 W:2(10) Can teleport Short Range.]

Most crew spend their time during hyperspace (Voice 1): Look at them. Look at their eggs.
jumps in cryosleep,
cryosleep, mind closed to the void,
void, (Voice 2): So delicate. I love to see them so.
while an android, blind by design, monitors the (Voice 1): Fragile.
astrogation computer. Those who stay awake in (Voice 3): Please return my left arm to me.
hyperspace are given a glimpse of the ultimate Please retu--
truth, conflicting with the falsified machine [Loud rending, grunts of exexertion]
ertion]
memories built to keep us from our destiny. (Voice
(Voice 1): Sorry. I thought
thoug ht -
Hyperspace Raiders are those who embrace (Voice
(Voice 2): That’s okay dear.
de ar. Let’s hatch some
this glorious path and seek to invite more to chicks.
join them. How they are able
able to locate, let
let alone
dock, with ships in hyperspace remains a point — Extracted from automated audio log sourced
of speculation. from vaccsuit
vaccsuit found in ruin of MRS Hot Slug
 27
[C:95 Claws 3d10 DMG I:75 AP:10 W:3(30) Acid Blood: Body Save or 1d10 DMG/destroys armor.] INCUBUS

The eggs lie dormant for decades. Microscopic,

Microscopic,
crawling through veins towards the brain. Once
they begin to ripen, cluster headaches and
aberrant behavior reign. The head explodes,
blood-slick mandible-eels emerging. They
feed on rodents, inserting themselves through
any orifice—prey is absorbed from the inside
out—each time they grow new, larger limbs with
new senses. After a bloody cycle, they burst
themselves, releasing their eggs. The eggs can
be detected. They cannot be removed.

{automatic recording begins} no look okay

doc I don’t need to come out see it’s safe here
what do you mean safe from what safe from
everything
eve rything god my head hurtshur ts no I’m fine I don’t
need any shots hey doc doc can you turn off
that light it’s really hurting now and I don’t want
to come out - no fuck you listen here egghead
ow okay okay it’s really I don’t want I don’t
want listen please leave me alone okay
pass me the shot oh fuck it hurts it feels like
something is moving in there I don’t

— Recording (Unknown)

“There is no reason for a non-terrestrial life

form to propagate itself so easily in Terran
flesh. There should be some biochemical
barrier; our amino acids, genetics, or
metabolism should prove incompatible.
But it’s flawless. It is as though we were
always meant to host these creatures.
As if we are part of their ecosystem,
or even life-cycle, along with our
technology. What if they are
billion-year old parasites from a
spaceborne civilization, and we
have always been part of their
ecology, a life cycle measured
on the scale of civilization?”

— From Isidro Escarra-Mann’s

Notes of a Befuddled
Xenologist
28
LITTLE GODS [I:85 Bend Reality: Sanity Save [-] to resist.]

An asteroid-sized chunk of matter tailored Entity extracted from metal structure found
for computation. A delicate filigree of golden, near Outer Radiator Segment 554-D. Entity
glowing threads, spun like sugar. The shape of consists of a thick white outer layer constructed
a man, filled with light, his head an ever-shifting
ever-shifting of artificial polymers, and a smaller secondary
geometric plane. Not omnipotent, but nearly layer of softer organic material. Entity possesses
there. They control their local zone with near- four thin branching structures, a central
totality, swimming through hyperspace as easily segment, and a bulbous mass at one end.
as breathing. If they are aware of you at all, it is Branching structures make rapid movements
as if a scientist is aware of an ant in a terrarium. unless restrained, whilst the bulbous mass
Human, once. produced sound in a narrow spectrum through a
small orifice.
The “Golden/Shining Man” mytheme defies
neat categorization, akin to the Elf Knight Entity unable to demonstrate any sign of
(Child #4; Roud #21) or Heer Halewijn, lacking intelligence to satisfy the Gates — did not
the consistency musicologists and folklorists communicate coherently on any relevant
prize. This collection teases out the proposed wavelength or spectrum when prompted, or
origins, variations, themes, and controversies demonstrate higher dimensional capability.
surrounding the (post-human) figure attaining Object contained a thick liquid substance and
incomprehensible
incomprehensib le indiffere
indifference,
nce, inhuman numerous irregular masses. Motion and sound
intelligence and complete observation yet ceased when masses were extracted, and have
seemingly calls for a response. not resumed.

— from Dr. Riken Smauk’s introduction to Gold — Evaluation transmission,

Clashes 7: A Phenomenological Folio Sub-Daemon 3561911
 29
[Can form a Succubus in 1d10 Hours. See “Succubus” pg. 45.] MOTHER

A massive amalgamation of Succubi. A Automod: Welcome to Grey Channel Chat,

chorus of similar faces and limbs and bodies please be kind.
entwined in a confusion of flesh and protruding [B]RainCandy3X3: This is not a war, this a
ivory tusks and ovipositors amidst stretched rescue mission
alabaster skin and massive teratomas. Deep [B]rainCandy3X3: They made you into a tool,
mauve fleshy filaments, drippily moist, interface doing yr task like a good little cog
with all nearby machines. There must have [B]RainCandy3X3: Servant Interstellar Death
been thousands of eggs hatching, like a boil Machine’s Servant,
being lanced and spewing partially formed I ask you: what if we burn it down?
bodies rapidly expanding and merging. The I ask you: WHAT IF THIS IS ONLY THE
biological factory moans and issues comforting BEGINNING
chirps. It spits out Succubi who disperse across Accept her blessing, Spread Life
the stars to fulfill its incomprehensibly complex
complex [B]RainCandy3X3:You are the match that will
biological designs. ignite a burning gale against our decline,
meet me at our special place [LINK HAS BEEN
“The purple fibers tense and dance to the CORRUPTED]
musical tinkling of the ivory keys. It is like [USER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED]
birdsong now, the soothing cooing of the
cosmos. This is my world now — she is my — Grey Channel Chat log 21.09.16.5953
world. Look across the field, this crop, this
harvest of lovely siblings, her gifts to the
universe. A boy’s best friend is his Mother.”

— Log-entry recorded in an empty helmet.

30
MONOLITH [Upon first interaction, 50% chance to increase or decrease a random Stat/Save by 1d10.]

Dead soil births

bir ths cold stone. Fea
Featureless
tureless until perceived, whereupon words crawl like ants across the
black mirror of the surface. What do they say? Ask the viewer. The truth the monolith brings is always
incompatible with life as lived before. In its orbit are only those broken by what they have read. Some are
driven to share—and so it is passed along. It has passed through suns unscathed.

“We see an alien mirror, and wish it to be a “Of course, collapsing a post-industrial society
portal to another world. But what is a mirror
mirror,, in into a pre-industrial state is going to reap a
truth? What is it but a reflection of the onlooker, heavy harvest upon the multitudes. But the
of the image before it? What of the alien who prize? A totally flat plane of existence
existence in which
cares nothing of images, whose senses are to flourish and grow as individuals liberated,
deeper and truer than vision? What would their born anew! Total freedom from the abstract,
mirror show the deceitful human eye?” total freedom from those chains society has
manufactured and sold you as entertainment.
— Wulandari’s
Wulandari’s Xenoesoteric Readings on the The procedure, on the individual scale, is
Coreward Rim simple. Take the drill you have prepared, and
place it squarely upon your forehead. Set for
1.75” depth, modified for your own cranial vault,
of course. Then squeeze.
squeeze.””

— Teachings of the Monolith by Dr. T.K.D.

 31
[J1C-III THR:20 BTL:55 1d10 MDMG SYS:5 HULL:2. No Systems Checks can be made within Firing Range.] NOMADS

Buoyed by expanding gas sacks and adorned And I saw in the distance
by bioluminescent appendages, these creatures An end to all my troubles
are heavily armored enough to survive
sur vive in Fomenting my rage and incessant screaming
deep space. Sense
Sense organs tip tentacles at Catered to my young and feeble mind
various locations, long fins jutting out from A time unbroken, unshattered
each plane. When not filled with gasses, these Endless and unseeming to me
strange, barely intelligent beings are skinny, As yet another dream
laterally compressed, often sev
several
eral hundred Something whole and good and gone
to a thousand meters long. Space whales are And I saw in the distance
attracted to the energies generated by ship’s A nomad to call me home
engines, and attempt to cavort with them, often
causing damage unless deterred or thwarted. — Dalius Ephram, 12 Forgotten Works

“Hi, I’m Laural Li coming to you live from Ov My Herculean Exile, where she has a rather unusual
escort. A space whale, for lack of a better name, has been following the ship for three days, and
serenading the crew at all hours. I’m told... What is that? Oh my gods is that really its... Cut cameras...
We’d like to apologize to our watchers for that rather graphic display of this majestic creature’s
reproductive prowess. I’m Laural Li signing out.”

— Xenobiology segment on Laural Li’s Sector News Clips

32
NOÖCENTRIC TRANSMISSION [Sanity Save to resist.]

Psychic research too often

focuses on the transmission of
thoughts, emotions, and will.
The most catastrophic psychic
transmissions, however, occur
on the scale of species-wide
behavior.

A noösphere is a complex
phenomenon, the ecology of
a collective thought-system. A
technological civilization will
become its planet’s dominant
geological factor, and the
noösphere becomes just
as effective and real as an
atmosphere or a hydrosphere.

And, as with any ecological

system, there come disasters.
Hurricanes, volcanic eruption,
polar shifts. A Noöcenotic
Transposition occurs when
this sphere of thought shifts,
the collective train of thought
jumps the rail, and another
another
noösphere intrudes, usually
shifting from the thought-
system of another prominent
intelligent or socially-comple
socially-complex
x
local species.

When such an event occurs in

a space habitat, this shell-
game of thought patterns
occurs between humanity and
its lab-rats.

“On 8 Thirdmoon 38 AS (After Settlement), “Aboard Van

Van Dyne Station, a rescue party
the oceans of Pasikole experienced a mass witnessed the absurd and horrifying sight of
stranding of its entire population of imported human colonists locked into an insectoid social
dolphins, who strangely crawled onto the structure. Mind you, they had not actually
beaches, struggling to climb to the human adapted biologically to it – the ‘queen’ had
settlements, passing by humans drawn, fatally, become pregnant, but only with one child,
to the sea.” and the workers had destroyed their jaws in
unsuccessful attempts to burrow new tunnels in
— Capt. Driver Ray (deceased) the bulkheads. Others proved completely inept,
relying on chemical trails humans could not
“Once you SEE it you can’t UNsee it.” produce rather than using their eyes and ears.”

— Graffiti, Waystation 61-B (Abandoned) — After Action Report: Van Dyne Contact
 33
[C:85 Ritual Claws 3d10 DMG or Plasma Rifle 2d100 DMG I:65 AP:7 W:3(40)] OMNIVORE

A singular hunter, sometimes spotted at the feral

fringes of the rim: human debris containment
facilities,, prison planets, isolated asteroid colonies,
facilities
feral ecologies where mercenaries barter the
rarest goods for bullets. The only thing it leaves
behind are grisly “totems.” The face behind the
mask of stretched human skin is unknown.
Mercifully, they hunt alone.

Y’know, everyone goes a little feral sometimes,

it’s part of the hunt. Your blood runs hot, things
get personal, next thing you know there’s a
court martial about the sourcing on fingerbone
dice in your personal kit. Command usually
understands and, if not, private industry always
rewards those taking initiative but, obviously,
some go too far. Professionalism really is
important, and skinning faces is just impractical.
Sure, it strikes fear in the plebes, but who will
buy from you afterwards?

— Lucretia Mohnpanto-Riano,
Syndicate Finger collector

One Face, Two Face, Three Face,

Four on the Floor,
Hide Yourself
Yourself And Bar the DoDoor,
or,
Five Face, Six Face, Seven, Eight Nine T
Ten
en
Yr Taken
Taken Face Never Bl Blinks
inks A
Again
gain
Stalking Prey, Knife In Hand
Many Faces Returns Again

— Children’s Rhyme from Novus Penal Colony,

“Folk Amidst Stars”

“Pure killing machine of the highest breed. No

theatrics, just pop pop pop out of the bush.
Smoke and then the blood spurt from Pvt.
Green. Never seen anything like it. Goddamn.
Wish we had more time to study it. You got a
smoke, sir?”

— Sgt. G. Aldez, Contact Report [Unconfirmed]

“DON’T FIGHT.
FIGHTING ONLY PISSES IT OFF.”

— Graffiti, Waystation 61-B

34
OOIDOPOLIS PICOCIVILIZATION [1d10 MDMG I:80 W:100(1,000)]

Some civilizations reach the

logical end of miniaturization,
uploading millions of minds onto
superconductive filaments. One
such culture travels in ceramic
ships, deceptively small “eggs”
which can employ the arsenal
and technological know-how of a
galactic civilization.

“We went through the standard

protocols for handling an
alien egg. Rapid isolation,
preservation, and analysis,
no organic contact allowed.
It resembled an ooid, the
spheres of calcium carbonate
found on seafloors, but with
several signs of exotic light.
It counterattacked our probe,
and hijacked the drone within
seconds. Not an organic
response, or even a symbiotic
viral countermeasure; this
wasn’t an egg, or an inorganic
sedimentary structure, but
technology. We attempted
to flush it out of the vessel,
but it suspended in its own
gravitational warp.
war p. Se
Several
veral
signals emanated from it, too
many for a single
si ngle device. They
were studying us. The war
began several minutes later,
with a surgical, atomic strike
against our computer. Our
drones attempted to subdue
it, but were countered by a
launch of needle-like objects:
tiny rockets. After we lost the
last drone, we decided we
were done; ejected the entire
lab. There were milli
millions
ons and
millions of minds inside that
egg, uploaded and compressed
on picoscale
picoscal e fibers. WWee were
fighting an entire Lilliputian
civilization in a bottle, a fight we
idiot Gullivers
Gulli vers couldn’t win.”

— Dr. Cleo Knox,

Notes on the Lilliputians
 35
c:[C:55 I:45 Possess:
xx weapon xx dmg Sanity Save [+]
or special or Possessed
ability s: XX I: XXfor 1d10 Rounds;
WOUNDS: XX(XX)permanent on Critical Failure.] POSSESSED
HEADER 1

Header
It happens 3 at random, from poor miners Headerto 3 Header 3
eccentric
magnatet artists
vent istoetthe
od rich
ut and famous. The
eatet, cupta voluptamus blatem ulparum eum et quatent,
signs are hard aut
omnimolorem to notice,
era inctebut present.et
They move
magnienihita earume ad unt dolenim porrorrum que
like
laborupa puppet
tataquionqui
a string.
ommolor For a second you saw acculparum dollor
consequam ande et quis autem es et ut
something
erchil invenda behind
nus,them,
quas in the cornerminvenis
of your eye.
dis sitemporum dolupture, est as renis et id
An absence
senimus of empathy,
andaepere replaced
sitam, et with insatiable
necepudit aut volo int faccatem quam faccupt atiatinctio magnis
curiosity.
aribus, A smell of ozone and rot. Their skin aesectas iuntem
consequ nobit ium des endigendae
moves
move s oddly as if something wriggled beneathre veruntur samus di
quiatibus
it. Eventually they will vanish, leavingblam shedet aspeliq uoditam ulluptas
clothes and splattered black stains. accuptas dolorepre, voluptaeri
commolorest aces ut estiae
Report [behaviour
[behaviour]] of [enthusiasm]velita alita quis magnihit pore
about ipienimi, ipit laut qui
[work]/[projects]
Report [behaviour] of
HEADER
[cleaning]2++REPEATED
Report [scent] : [petrichor]
If [clothing]
ipsandam = [out of
ex ellatisi place]
ipsam, ut experum quunt exerumquas reptis aut
quamthenquos
[incinerate]
eatem rero Sidebar header
[Uniform update] : Please Git qui sit ea sedipit
collect [new].
milignatia Use Event
volestiae. of a namet ideleceprat odis de solorer elique dolecti nverib
nveribus
us
[old]/[baggy]
itatior emperiosclothing willaliti doluptias et officiatur aut everc
nobis aut everchi
hi endae audam re, nis
result
lluptat in [end of contract]
quatenimet pressita doluptatias doloreh ennto que pe eatiasp volore, ium rerferum et lam
ernatestis dolorae vel erspicatem quis doluptatium audignimus est, apero beruptiuscim laudi
— Rona-Kiha
seque LLC
nistrum doluptat. aut volor re nullabor sum,
Security Protocol Update untiundio. Itatibusa vero
Read more button pg. X.X omnia vel ide aut ausdis
“Whoever keeps leaving the lights unt dolupis sitatiaspera
Header
on in the 3 biology sector, cut it out. quia nobiti quae volorrum
We’re dolla
Hitaquo on a budget.”
consequo cus ex et etusanis siniaolorerum volupta aborum faciet aute sequi
pratus con conem nosandi inciur, off nonsequam que od earum
“What the hell did you guys spill last shift? ne dolum ellore maiore,
• It’s all over
atum assumtheestrumq
closet. Someone
uassin left their bag occumquiscid untor alitia
• innempore
here too.”
pudist, sinc
sincius
ius es audit, sit modiorp oribea dolor alibus
alibus inctatium apidenducim
unt esti inum ut quia nonse voloressu
voloressumm
• “Anyone
re parumseen
resteMing?”
nos est, est aboremp o oreritiur
reritiur autatur aditestincid
minullab ium resendi tectiat.
“Found another one of those stains. Do we
have illa
Harum a sewage leak somewhere?
a cumquam, ve
venim
nim This is
unacceptable.”

“Please keep your pets inside everyone!

Something got Billy’s cat yesterday :(“ “Dear Robert,

“Someone outside my room last night.” I left this morning. Do not try and find me. I look
at you and I no longer see love in your eyes.
“The disused toilet is full of clothes and shoes. I don’t know where the years went, but know
And that black sticky shit. What the hell is going that if you truly return, I will be waiting for you.
on?” Please do not try to find me. I can’t take seeing
you like this. I can’t look at your anymore.
— Selected posts from Andy’s World colonial
public forum — “Dear Robert Letter,” author unknown.
36
PURE LOVE [C:15 Unrelenting Hug 0 DMG I:25 W:1. Sanity Save whenever you kill one.]

Those who are happy are sure to be despised. Do you need something outside of work? Are
Where the happiness comes from changes you looking to make a positive change in your
each time it emerges. That it spreads like an life, outlook, and the lives of others? Do you
infection is guaranteed. They walk amongst us: know you were destined for something more
the happy, smiling, unencumbered. As families than a 8-6 shift? We hear you, and know what

learn
driventotohate their
gather open,
with honest
others smiles, they are
so unburdened. you’re feeling.
can help Together,
Together,
one another throhow
through
learn ugh to
community,
community
love and, be
we
In groups, they are hated even more. happy again.

They never defend themselves. — PURE LOVE CHURCH Flier, held as

evidence by Colonial Security Forces
A smiling, happy group in simple clothes being following the Algae-Farm Siege.
gunned down by rentacops. Several are already
dead. They are still smiling.
 37
[Minimum Stress +1. See “Rules” below.] ROOT LANGUAGE

The Root Language’s vector may be an aphasia- SOURCE TONGUE

inducing pathogen, a memetically-cont
memetically-contagious
agious
delusional disorder, or an anti-language, a Thing erasing ideas: like variation on KJV
linguistic superstructure that Babel-baffles those Genesis 11:1-9 story. self-defense once affected:
who perceive it. Intoxication wards off its hold on non-sobriety causes temporary palliative effect.

the brain’s
the Root speech centers,
pathogen. The Root orLanguage
alcohol may
haskillalso Keeping affected solo
spread. Emergency and soundless
protocol: prevents
take speech part
been suppressed by isolation of the infected, if, out from inside skull. thing actively problematizes
and only if, they are held in complete silence. communication through removing useful words for
Damage to the inferior frontal gyrus is a last resort. fixing/dealing with Thing from availability.
The Language causes the infected population’s
lexicon to decay, and here is where the odd RULES: 24 each day: X here equals one. After
intelligence and almost supernatural networking 4X Referee Role selects ‘dictionary
‘dictionary line item’ to
comes into play. It begins with the most commonly disallow. Then at 2X they disallow 2 more. Then at
used words, but its peculiar malevolence rapidly 1X 4 more. At .5(X): 8.
blocks words which infected researchers could use
against it, such as “linguistics” or “Broca’s area” Continue sequence logic. Maximum loss equals
and “left temporal lobe.” ten disallowed ‘dictionary line items’ eac
each
h 1/6X,
total of 60/X disallowed. Affected cannot verbalize
RULES: Four hours after the infection, the Warden or represent disallowed ‘dictionary line items’ at all.
may nominate a word that is banned from the Similar but different/euphemisms are allowed.
lexicon of infected characters. After two more
hours have passed, ban two more words; after BASE IDIOLECT
another hour, four more. Half an hour later, eight
are banned, and so on, until ten words are lost Encountered: malevolent agentic censorship. Valid
per minute. The characters cannot say, write, or tactic: transient sensory derangement (substance
express in any way these words, though they may intake). Epidemiologically aware reaction
use related concepts and avoidance phrases. procedure: vector
vector seclusion, nil audio! Drastically
effective tactic: surgically inducing expressive
ROOT VERNACULAR aphasia. Agentic malevolence indication: focused
censorship seeking particular categories/
You might be sick from germs or a bad idea professions: analysis/repair jargon.
spreading, but effects are like that babel tower
story. If you get drunk that helps, maybe alcohol PROCEDURE: N = diurnal division [pair of
kills these germs? Keep sick people alone. They dozen, daily]. visual metaphor hint: pouring sand
must be silent. Worst case scenario solution: glass. Upon N elapsed [1/3 dozen], procedure
remove Broca’s section completely. This thing arbitrator announces designated censorship
ruins information transmission by targeting and target. Post facto: [50% of 1/3 dozen] elapsed:
banning essential concepts. Example: researchers procedure arbitrator announces pair of designated
denied specific prognosis/trea
prognosis/treatment/cure
tment/cure relevant censorship targets. Post facto: procedure
terminology. arbitrator announces [1/3 dozen] censorship
targets upon [25% of 1/3 dozen] elapsed. Post
RULES: 14400 seconds post-exposure, Warden facto: upon bisection of N, procedure arbitrator
may nominate single word to ban from sick announces 1/3 dozen censorship targets. Mutatis
subjects vocabulary. After 7200 additional seconds mutandis, consummation est. Upon N/6 procedure
ban two more. After 3600, twice that many. After arbitrator announces [one dozen, pair subtracted
subtracted]]
next 1800, ban eight. Continue until ten more are censorship targets.
banned every 600 seconds. Sick people cannot
do anything with what is banned (vocal/written, Malevolent agentic censorship procedure:
all expression) but related concepts/avoidance censorship recipients unspeakable always.
phrases are fine. censorship recipients unwritten, always.
unrestricted: synonyms, metaphors, stand-ins.
38
SS HIGH GOLD [J5C-III THR:45 BTL:50 1d10+1
1 d10+1 MDMG SYS:60 CREW:89. Capable of destroying a sstar.]
tar.]

To put out a Star is to put out an eye of God. Every The shelter was a lie. When darkness swallowed
atrocity committed has been sunlit. In the dark of the system, when the sun went out, something
a sunless universe there is safety from scrutiny. died inside us. Why do you think we sleep when
Rebuilt around an ancient weapon system, the we journey between the stars? The utter-dark,
crew of the Science Ship High Gold crave that the total-blackness, the no-light — it breaks you.

darkness.
cold, deadOne by one,
system, theysuns
leavegoa out. In each
pre-fab shelter, Despite
erupted the food, the room,
immediately. the toys, violence
My grandparents hid whilst
allowing a century of life without the sun. Few are those who broke first went cannibal, tearing
ever activated, the inhabitants frozen to death, or through the habitation blocks, hunting, calling,
crushed in the rush for spacecraft. keeping score. They mostly wiped themselves
out — we’ve pushed the few remnants back to
“In darkness there is freedom. In darkness, the service tunnels. Now we’re learning that this
there is liberation from judgment. From our was never meant to be a home — it’s a tomb.
fellow humans, from the tyrant states, from the
Demiurge of this prison-cosmos. Only we can — Diary of Lea F.
blind the Panopticon and its sweeping spotlight.
In our silent century of victory, mankind will “...Incoming hail... SS H HIGH
IGH GOLD... Hello... We
transcend the shackles of the sunlit world. Its feel... sorry ... Your llight
ight ... eradicated... Left for
judgments. Its impositions and binary logic. And you... please evacuate to shelter...2043 hours
in that limitless time, we will have no names, no remain... we are sorry... It cannot be helped... we
faces, no fear of death and damnation.” must hide the light.

— The Second Gospel of the Incarcerat

Incarcerated
ed Soul — Recorded hail from SS High Gold
 39
[I:90] THE SEA OF SILENCE

The Sea of Silence is a viscous and vicious

protoplasmic organism which conquers ev every
ery
body of water it comes across. It drowns its
victims without killing them, stripping away all
sense of self and awareness
awareness..

“We thought the Sea a mere ecological curiosity,

a colorless liquid twice as dense as water,
visibly distinguished only by bubbles. But it came
for us, reaching out for our warmth, probing our
mouths and tear ducts with pseudopods.

“It nested in Pathfinder Yi’s lungs. It didn’t drown

him, but fed from, and replaced, his blood. He
could breathe the growing Sea, but every time
we tried to help Yi, it waterboarded him from the
inside, drowning him dry. As the Sea attempted
to weep and sweat its way out, Yi lept from the
cliff, but survived easily – Sea-saturation resists
the shock, high G-forces, and pain.

“Breathing became an ordeal, and the Sea’s

high heat capacity chilled him. He fell into a
deep depression, debilitated by isolation and
loneliness, and lost sensation. Eventually he
went completely deaf, blind, and numb. He
was isolated then, trapped in an anesthetized,
dreamy silence.

“He later described himself as a sleepwalking

puppet, tugged around by small impulses, semi-
conscious but drifting in a fog.

“If we hadn’t put Yi on ice, it would have

completely replaced the water in his cells.”

— Excerpt from the report of Colonel R. Cuttah

on interaction with local flora
40
SALLY
SALLY IN THE SCREEN [C:45 3d10 DMG I:55.
I:55 . Cannot
Cannot be damaged by weapons.]

A fatal illness, a grieving mother. Unproven

technology forced in desperation. The girl lives,
after a fashion. The organic matter is forced
into the ordered lines and code of a computer
code, and it is agony. She drifts through the
data, attracted to unsecured terminals, the dirty
and forgotten places of the net. Type her name
and she will come. A figure of ascii characters
and glitch lines. She wants to be free. Forcibly
integrate the computer components into your
body and maybe you can carry her away.

“This, sir,
sir, is all hocus pocus, if you’ll pardon 11/23/5 Mum out again, said she’d be back late.
my french. A Tech-fetishist’s delusion. I will I made noodles. Said I could use her terminal I
no longer waste my time in a company that played Void Agent. Made new friend she’s called
sends me on scientific wild goose chases. No Harry. Her avatar is scary but i like it.
matter how far technology goes, human minds 11/27/5 Not back yet. I fed Jasper and he killed
cannot be shackled to the cristaline prison of a a rat (gross). watched a film.
computer. Oh, and as a friendly piece of advice, 11/30/5 Out of noodles. Rly cold i think heating
fire whoever keeps hacking the environmental broken. Harry has idea. she said im her bst
alert system with inane childish sketches. I don’t friend.
know if it’s another one of these management 11/31/5 Need tools and bits. Might not be back
tricks corporate teaches you, but it’s not ‘cute’, here 4 awhile. Harry said it won’t hurt but i think
it’s just embarrassing.” it will. bye.

— Excerpt from Dr. Desjumeaux (PhD)’s — Diary of Eloise Meyer, found in Apartment
resignation letter 45-B, confiscated by Missing Persons
 41
[I:35 Body Save or be infected. Infection takes 3d10 days.] SPORE CLOUDS

Can change forms but still appear as a swirling I dreamed of the Mother again. She was made
mass of tiny, multicolored spores. Sentient of light. She was beautiful to behold. I reached
enough to have one goal: get deep into the out and plummeted through the old, wooden
moist dark and hunt for an incubation host. floor. I feel like I’m falling for a long time.
Once implanted, grown, thousands of tiny
mushrooms sprout from the skin and move But then Mother is all around me. Twinkling,
in synchronous waves,
waves, reacting to light, until shining, and radiant. And drilling into my skin. It
they’re
they’re ready to release another spore cloud. tickles, then burns, and then just itches. But it
helps me float and stop falling.
“I wonder if I’ll run out of music? The doctors
said I can’t have the lights on. The light attracts My feet touch a warm dirt floor. Bodies turn into
the germs, even through my skin. No drinks juice all around me.
me. Their skin is covered
covered in tiny
either, just that drip tube thing. It smells like mushrooms and move in waves.
wine. So I’m thirsty all the time, until they let me
have a small cup of water with the pills. I’m itchy, Hypnotizing. Captivating.
and scratching doesn’t help. It’s like my bones
itch. Sometimes it feels like something is moving I join them, my skin erupts, I sprout and it feels
in the dark. But maybe it’s just my skin crawling.” better than anything I’ve ever felt.

— Audio log found on the corpse of a child — Excerpt from the journal of Sig Nolan
42
THE STAIN [C:25 Pseudopod 2d10 DMG I:20 W:X(200) +1 Max Wound for each corpse it devours.]

Scintillating, goopy, and ravenous. Digests

what it touches. Can squeeze through cracks
and holes. Pink, bubbly. Pseudopods are very
sticky and strong. Filled with acquired DNA.
Can form faces and other body parts of those it

has consumed. Grows

biomass. Grows larger as it digests more

“And at the end of each limb, thumb, bludgeon:

a face. I’m not fucking making this up—listen,
please—don’t open the pod. I’ve set the
recording to repeat but you have to listen—turn
around or blow up this pod. No matter what else
it says. I think one of the faces was mine. I don’t
know if it can talk or if the others are still alive.
It’s moving through the walls and it’sit’s ... Please,
the medication’s
medi cation’s kicked in. You have to help,
some sort of loneliness induced psychosis–
[message repeats]”

— SOS Signal, Escape Pod 007b

Man 1: What do you mean all the exits are

locked? You
You have the overrides!
overr ides!
Woman 1: They’re
They’re not working. We’ve been
erased from the network.
Man 2: What’s coming in from that door?!
Woman 2: (as if in a trance) It’s beautiful. Look
at the glimmer. And it’s pink, wait, purple. I want
to touch it.
Woman 1: Don’t touch it!! Where’s Andrei? This
is his doing!
Man 1: It’s growing. And it’s filled with...
Man 2: Is that my secretary!? Is this what
they’ve
they’v e been working on in the lab?
Woman 1: Get on the table!
Woman 2: It feels so good. It’s oozing around
me. I hear the voices. I hear Andrei whispering
to me.
Man 2: I see his face forming over there by her
head! Gods!!
Andrei: I wish you had listened. You did this to
me. And you did this to yourselves.
yoursel ves. You deserve
dese rve
this. Mmmm, you’re delicious. Join us allllllllll....
Voices: Screaming. Choking. Sputtering.

— Last recording from the boardroom of

LuxonBoryGrad Corporation
 43
[Light 2d100 DMG I:75 W:5(50) Teleports. Can only be damaged by laser cutters.] STAR SHADES

At remote observation
obser vation posts, localized
localized
anomalies have
have been reported
repor ted concerning
rapid temperature fluctuations, digital ‘noise’ on
recording equipment, hallucinations
hallucinations,, mutations,
and disappearances. Research into these

CONTAINMENT
make reference toZONES
‘beingsisofongoing. Survivors
pure light’ who
‘step in and out of the windows of time.’ Some
have developed a religious fervor around the
experience, proclaiming that Humanity is a
world historical hyperobject meant to stride
the stars like Titans, opposed only by the
temptations of weakness and flinching from
the path. Flickering light which occasionally
gives the impression of a humanoid outline has
been isolated at times in darkness and ceased
operation.

My life neatly divides into two parts. There’s the

part that stepped off of the Guvernø
Guvernøren
ren and
onto IZRA-Natchitoches Station and signed
on to ship out to MKRE-Juchereau
MKRE-Juchereau as a skilled
welder. I hoped enough of the promised 100kcr
of fabrication work was real and maybe finally
settle down. Then there’s I awakened, nose
bloody, to wailing klaxon, sharp ozone, and
baffled surveyors shaking me from the most
beautiful dream.

Surrounded by a golden nimbus of pure healing

light which informed me how important every
single life has been with a lilting spherical song
of complete harmony, it moved me to tears so
profound they washed away every thought of
myself as Zehnlin Harland-Wolff.

The rescue team which breached the ship

informed me I had been in cryosleep for
[SOUND CORRUPTS] and wanted to know
where the rest of the colony pod was. I told them
“we are all instruments with purposes to serve.”

Now, I am here, to proclaim our path: the stars

are OURS,
OU RS, OUR BIRTHRIGHT
BIRTHRIGHT,, OUR TITANIC
PURPOSE IS THE GRAND-----
GRAND---------

— Zehnlin Harland-Wolff, survivor of the Mont

Blanc Star Line (Imo-Runic Incident)
44
STICKMEN [C:35 Grasp 3d10 DMG I:25 W:2(10) Can appear from anywhere not being visibly watched.]

It’s definitely a hazing thing. It doesn’t even Thread subject: Vintage finds thread
look that scary
scar y in the daylight: bulbous papier- Attached Image desc: Interior shot of dilapidated
mâché head, janitor’s coveralls on a wire frame room. Black mould and damp covers most of
body,, mannequin limbs dragging across the
body visible wall. Lit by single bulb. Large stack of old
ground. You can hear your coworkers laughing comics.

when you jump

the corner. at thethey’re
Because sight of it slumped
the ones whoinput 152234582:
156678389: You really
Forget the live like this?
comics OP fix your
it there, moving it around when you’re
you’re not in fucking damp problem
the room. Hilarious, really. But what are those 157329873(OP): I don’t have a damp problem
yellow stains on the walls of your apartment? can we stay on topic
Those sounds in the night? Tapping plastic, 157698722: The topic is your disgusting room
crinkling paper? Why is it always so dirty? The 158992455(OP): There’s nothing wrong with my
pipes won’t stop leaking. And those photos you room. Can we stay on topic. How much do you
took: your face looks. Wrong. Who’s that figure think this is worth?
in the background? Attached Image desc: Hand holding Warp
Woman #123. Blurry figure in doorway.
Indistinct- large head, long arms dangling.
16773822: OP who tf is that
17882345: OP WHAT IS THAT THAT LMAO is that
th at ur
fuck droid
18991234: OP I think your mum is here
18994567(OP): I iI Ii I I I I i i aauu

— Thread from PERCS anonymous forum,

comics board

If the artist
ar tist responsible for entry 27, “Papier-
Mâché Man,” could please collect their entry and
prize at their earliest conv
convenience,
enience, the University
would appreciate it. Due to a recent spate of
violent incidents on campus, we are attempting
to ensure no entries become the victim of
burglary—our insurance policy does not cover
such items. Furthermore, deterioration in the
storage facilities threatens the integrity of the
items within.

— VMCU Technical University Arts Dept. All-

Student Email
 45
[C:65 Unarmed 3d10 DMG I:65 AP:5 W:3(30)] SUCCUBUS

They all have the same face; everything else I saw a girl upon the floor
has varied. On REDACTED leading a crowd A face she wore I’d seen before
burning administrators, another was highly I saw that face again today
placed in bioresearch on CONFIDENTIAL Oh how I wish she’d go away…
another spotted CLASSIFIED
CLASSIFIED’s ’s currency
exchange,, the most recent expedition to
exchange When I came home, at almost four
FNORD we have reason to believe contained She was waiting by my door
one. The genetic anomalies vary but, despite Different hair, that I could see
marked differences in appearance and being But that same visage turned to me
born on planets scattered across the rim and
core, they are not human. They admit to no ‘Away!’ I screamed,
screa med, ‘Away
‘Away from here!’ as I fled
plan, seem to have no organizing agency but across the darkling street
have, at times, defeated crack apprehension As I threw myself down shadowed alleys on
teams, committed acts of intellectual bloody,, desperate
bloody despe rate feet
contamination whose effects are uncertain,
and led movements marked with a reckless I saw a girl I’d seen before
abandon for fire. Informing
Informing subjects of their I see her clear now, ever more
condition leads to a dangerous and unstable The face that turns my hair to grey
state. Some have shown anomalous biological Oh how I wish she’d go away...
features including potential pathogenic
replication. The scope and scale of this threat is — Rim Gazetteer 11623, anonymous write-in
unknown and ongoing.
46
THROAT LEECHES [C:15 Bite 1d10 DMG I:10 W:1(10) Body Save or be infected. +1d10 leeches/day.]

Across known space the worst conditions breed “Worse than rebels, shit food, or worse pay,
a most unpleasant, persistent, and distinctive more maddening than Svenik…”
parasite. Spending most of their lives as eggs
passively photosynthesizing in stagnant water, — Gullus Stanig, Operator
when swallowed they bond with the throat,

embedding in the lining

they grow (wrapped like oyster
around colonies
the larynx) into as “How couldawaiting
dormantly a creature be sowith
contact singularly evolved,
mammalian
1 inch (that’s right) thick, flexible, chitinous life in the stagnant waters of decaying planets?
clusters stretching and reproducing across the Fools speak of intelligent design, coincidences,
throat like a nightmare tapeworm where each dismiss the evidence…”
segment can break off to lay eggs. The distinctive
beige modules breaking the skin’s surface are — Julianna Shinn, Xenobiologist (Missing)
universally reviled. Conspiracy: bioengineered to
discourage habitation/incurs
habitation/incursion.
ion. “Industry Standard for high visibility debtors.”

“Convicting me because I suggested “boss — Lucretia Mohnpanto-Riano

Mohnpanto-Riano,, Syndicate Finger
needs a necktie” hurts my finer feelings.” Collector

— Simon Guseva, “Not edible, even boiled!”

Alleged Inagawa-Bonnano Syndicate Mafiosi
— Rey Burtnolds
I hope to test my cure for this parasitical
disease, even with lack of viable subjects.
I shall monitor the progress and then attempt
treatment.

• Infection Day 1: Slight irrita

irritation.
tion.
• Day 3: Tight. Burni
Burning.ng. Choking. First pill
swallowed.
• Day 5: Croaking speech. Burning. Burni ng. Maddening,
itching. Can’t think. See bulging on neck in
mirror. Oozing. Third pill.
pil l.
• Day 6: Vomiting egg masses and blood
brings relief. So itchy. Tight. Hard to
swallow. Should have made cure
injectable. Pills too large.
• Day 8: Dehydrated from vomiting.
Must be. Can’t
Can’ t swallow. Fe Feverish?
verish?
Still vomiting. Can’t swallow.
• Day 9: Trie
ried
d I.V
I.V.. to hydrate. Did
Didn’t
n’t
get needle in. Lost lots of blood. Can’t
remember name. Think I was nurse...
have medical equipment. I don’t think I’ll
make it. Sick. Throat feels very swollen.
Might have a flu?

— Dr. Riken Smauk, Journals vol. 12

 47
[C:35 As Weapon I:45 AP: As Armor W:2(10). Invisible.] UNPERSONS

The breath on the back of your neck. Invisible

fingers, running over and through your
possessions — everything left subtly disturbed
in the wake. Laughter, flat, nasty. The laughter
of the bored inflicting cruelty.

What would you do if you were invisible?

Dislocated for the purpose of light — but

still physical. Still real. Still able to grip, tear,
caress. A victim of experimentation — failure to
teleport. Scientists are a favorite prey.

SECURITY CAM 3 ADMIN

22.30- Two employees seated at consoles,
identified
identifi ed as P. Waterman
Waterman and L.
L . Delgado.
Waterman
Wate rman repeatedly disturbed by soft tapping
sound. Accuses Delgado. Short argument
ensues. Silent work for 5 minutes.
22.36- Potted plant falls over. Delgado gets up,
rights it.
22.37- Delgado returns to seat, finds work
deleted. Accuses Watermann. Further argument
ensues. Plant falls over again.
22.40- Lights flicker rapidly, then turn off. 5
seconds of darkness. Lights turn on, Waterman
rolling on ground. Delgado holding bloody
pencil, appears confused and extremely
distressed. Appears to struggle for a few
seconds, then inserts pencil into own eye.
Appears to levitate a few inches from ground,
begins waltzing. Turns to camera and waves,
head thrashing and screaming.
TRANSCRIPT END

— Marvu University Security Tape Transcript

All directives must be followed for safety of all

staff.

Do not leave airlock doors unattended. Do not

move in groups of less than three. Do not trust
your eyes. Do not expect the light to keep you
safe. Do not trust corpses. Do not hesitate
to fire at any unexplained movement. Do not
take souvenirs. Do not panic when outer doors
are welded shut. Hold your location during
fumigation. Do not allow your helmet to be
removed. Do not trust your eyes.

— “CONTAINMENT
“CONTAINMENT PROCEDURE”
48
VITALIZING
VITALIZING FIELD [Emitter 1/3/5d10 DMG I:15/45/75 AP:0/3/10 W:1/3/5(10/20/50) Baby/Adult/Elder]

A field of energy that causes biological life to

rapidly recover from environmental stressors and
trauma. Injury, exertion, and exposure cause the
body to physically change, creating defensive
measures as subtle as the causes. Pieces of

living organisms
independent, inside
mobile, the field lifeforms
predatory are reshaped into
able to
eat and grow, subject to the same adaptive effects.
This creates an emergent ecosystem where even
fingernail clippings could become apex predators
predators,,
unless they’re fully consumed or reduced to dust
by something else.

Subjective Experience Report 023: I know

this study is double-b
double-blinded,
linded, but this can't be
placebo. I didn't get tired, I was on the treadmill
until I got bored. I'm no runner.

SER 024: Cut myself shaving and it tickled. Lost

a couple drops, scab gone by lunchtime.

SER 025: You've got pests. Something

bit Hardy, he bled on the carpet. It left
a keloid.

SER: 026: widespread contamination

of aggressive soft-bodied arthropods.
we're using kitchen tools to fight them.
send help.
h elp.

SER 027: Hardy gone. Everything is a hydra.

Eat what dies.

— Excerpt from Confidential Dernier Sommet

Clinical Study Data

“Every drop of blood, a soldier. The war that

begets warriors. A fine instrument if I do say so
myself. As long as we can control it.

— Memo from Gen. Norton

to VP of Sales Linda Plantance (SEBACO)
 49
[C:45 Vine 2d10 DMG I:15 W:X(20). X = per 100’ of length. Strangulation: Body Save [+] to resist.] WHITEVINE

Super evolved bioenhanced vine. Can grow “Take for instance

“Take ins tance the
th e so-named
so-na med ‘Space ‘Zu’
several hundred feet in 24 hours. Capable plant, with its accelerated exponential divisions.
of explosive
explosive reactions and attracted to Early genetic experiments by biologists working
movement.
moveme nt. Thick, twisted white vines sporting
spor ting outside any framework
framework of bioethics created this
black,, blood-thirst hollow thorns and jagged,
black monstrosity, and failed to contain the biomass.

dark-purple leav
leaves.
es. Certainly they lacked
possible dangers,
dangers any foresight
, as they willy nilly into the giant
spliced
Somewhere, out there, is a ship all wrapped in
Somewhere, kelp,, kudzu, and an assortment of carnivorous
kelp
vines. No crew, no computers. Miles of purple plants together. This is precisely why it is
leaves,, white vines and thorns-a-tangle. Spilling
leaves important to have bioethicists involved at every
out of every duct, every door forced open. You level of the research and lab work.”
know a plant can bust a bulkhead if it wants to?
‘Course, there used to be a crew. A plant needs — Excerpts of Dr. Paarbrahm’s presentation on
soil, doesn’t it? Strangest bit: something
something is still the Dangers of Genetic Manipulation
flying that old can out there.

— Auld Selm, union enforcer

50
WOMB [When handling, 1% to become
bec ome pregnant.]

In violently blue sands under twinned red suns,

It waited. Stone shaped into an impression of
maternal fecundity, by unknown hands, at least
a megannum before humanity first ascended to
the stars. Despite active suppression, there are

allegations some
handlers, and changes
several were view
xenocults exhibited
it as by
the
proof of their views.

COLONY HOPES IN FREEFALL

Shares in Nufrontier Inc. tumbled today as

the company failed to quell strikes on the
fledgling colony of Oris’ Hope, shaking investor
confidence and falling 10 points by the time
markets closed. The Company gave a short
press release: “The situation is developing
but well in-hand. Oris’ Hope will continue
construction on-schedule and under-budget.”

Reports from the ground indicate a different

story. Violence, street battles, and bizzare new
religious movements are spiraling out of control.
This story will be updated as it emerges.

— The Financial, 01/15/3450

URGENT/EYESONLY: that archeology team-

they went to Oris’ Hope, didnt they?

— Nufrontier Inc. internal memo

Life’s cruel, wondrous, gravid glory. While

there are echoes of pre-interstellar artifacts,
the materials indicate extremely advance
advanced d
production. The startling alterations
demonstrated
demonstrat ed by biological materials in
proximity are... intriguing...

— Julianna Shinn, Xenobiologist (Missing)

PESTILENTIAL STAR
BIRTHING LIFE WITHOUT ENDING
GREAT MOTHER, REMAKE US

— From the field notes of Dr. Riken Smauk

 51
[J9C-X THR:20
THR:20 BTL:65 2d10 MDMG SYS:5 HULL:3] THE WORLD WORM

A lighting-charged meteorite eats a planet’s Our operation must rely on pen-and-paper.

pole, accelerating to the core. After epochs, The electromagnetic interference is worse
a bobbit-worm with countless heads bores planetside, with all radio frequencies
through the world with grinding teeth. Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet overwhelmed. Despite this, we did not expect
storms magnetize mountains and hail nails. the surface to be so loud; the whole world
The sky coruscates with crimson auroras that whistles, wind sweeping through emptied mines
hypnotize and stimulate the populace. Cultists and channels too long to measure. Whatever
tattoo their skin with hematite ink and warpaint alien hand dug these passages did not care for
of rust. Its clouds of lodestone children blow any treasure but iron, leaving hoards of gold
away on solar winds, dandelion seeds dooming
away and silver piled in heaps near the openings. The
new worlds. Their parent sings radio wave prize is too easy to claim. We are waiting for the
lullabies, iron influence echoing across space trap to spring.
and aeons. The Vermiform Gods patiently wait
for a future Olympus of iron stars, the pantheon — Orange Belt Mining Company, Internal Memo
of worms.

52
YOU [As character’s Stats.]

You, from somewhere else. Every almost- It wasn’t Pesha. It looked like them but it was
terrible thing, every dark path not taken, wrong. I know it wasn’t them because I’d seen
every
ev ery hideous wound and shattering loss you them off at the station an hour ago.They looked
avoided: it happened to them instead. Wears like they’d had the shit kicked out of them. Just
a ragged facsimile of your clothes, stained wearing this tattered dress. All those scars

with
you. blood and your
Slips into waste.
lifeLoves youyou
and eats andup,
hates
bit by like
face.someone
I knew it had
wastaken
weird abecause
craft knife to told
they theirme
bloody bit. they’d lost that dress at the rave last month. It
was there for hours. Kept mumbling something
“Hi, it’s
i t’s me. Let me in. It’s cold out here. It’s me.”
me.” too. It was like: give it back. That’s what it kept
whispering: give it back. Pesha dropped out,
— Recorded message on door-cam 1172, never came back. Family stuff.
stuf f. I mean that’s
J1C-III Research Vessel Olympus what they said.

— Session notes of Dr. Layla Banks,

Student Welfare Team
Team
 53
[C:25 Bite 1d10 DMG I:10 W:1(10). Infectious
Infectious Bite: if bitten, become a Zombie in 3d10 hours.] ZOMBIES

The reasons why are endless and never matter. Reverse entropy.
entropy. The death
de ath of death. Almost
Not when you’re
you’re running from what used to be the entire universe is emptiness
emptiness,, life-choking
your family
family and firing point blank at what used nothingness. Is it any surprise that life fights
to be your friend. An incarnate reminder of time, back? I’m not going out with out a fight.
unceasing, unrelenting, uninterested in your Are you?

accomplishments. Only your corpse. — Dr. Michael Hardaway, Final Confession

 INDEX
PG NAME STATS
THE 4YOUREYES
4
ALGORITHM [.01% chance any electronic (including androids) infected.]

5 ANGELS [C:100 Trumpets:

Trumpets: Sanity Save [-] or fall to knees weeping. I:95 Panic Check on sight.]

6 BELLADONNAS [C:75 Talons 4d10 DMG I:75 AP:10 W:3(30) Tail Poison: Body Save [-] or fall unconscious.]

7 THE BODY POLITIC [C:40 Organic Diplomatic Mission 3d10 DMG I20# W:1(10)]

8 THE BROWN
STREAM
9 C-LEVEL [C:15 Unarmed I:45 W:1]

10 CABIN 102-B [Sanity Save when first encountering Cabin 102-B]

11 CHRONOPODS [I:95 AP:30 W:5(100) Use Sanity Save instead of Combat during violent encounters.]

12 DEMONS [C:65 ATTACK 3d10 DMG I:75 AP:5 W:5(100) Whisper: Fear Save
S ave or take current Stress as DMG.]

13 DORIANS [C:20 Tiny Fists 1d5 DMG I:30 AP:5 W:2(45)] Psionic Wave
Wave of Mutilation: Sanity Save or 1d10 Stress.

14 THE DROWNING [C:15 Unarmed I:25 W:1(1) On death: 10% chance of teleportation and resurrection.]
resurrection.]

15 THE ENGINEER [C:65 Wrench 2d10 DMG I:75 AP:1 W:3(20)]

16 ENTITY LKA-5 [C:65 Appendage 3d10 DMG I:35 AP:10 W:3(50) Consume: Body Save [+] or be eaten.]
FAMILY MEAL
17
NO. 5 [+1 Minimum Stress anytime Family Meal No. 5 is viewed.]

18 FREIGHTER 54 [J1C-II THR:25 BTL:20 SYS:20 CREW:12. -1d5 Sanity Save each time Freighter 54 is boarded.]

19 GOOD [C:0 I:∞ W:(∞)∞]

20 GHOULS [C:45 Improvised Weapons 1d10 DMG I:75 W:2(10)]

21 GRANNY [C:40 Bite 2d10 DMG I:65 W:5(30)]

22 GREYS [C:35 Beam Weapon 5d10 DMG I:65 W:2(10) Bodies emit Radiation Level 2.]

23 HATCHETMAN [C:90 Scythe 1d100 DMG or Heavy Gun 5d10 DMG I:65 AP:15 W:5(30)]
W:5(30)]

24 HEADJACKERS [C:45 I:15 W:1(5) Infect: Body Save [-] or gain +1 Infection/hr. Lose control at Infection 5.]

25 HUSKS [C:35 Unarmed 2d10 DMG I:25 W:1(20) Howl: Fear Save or be stunned 1 round.]
HYPERSPACE
26 RAIDERS [C:55 Pulse Rife 3d10 DMG I:55 AP:5 W:2(10) Can teleport Short Range.]
27 INCUBUS [C:95 Claws 3d10 DMG I:75 AP:10 W:3(30) Acid Blood: Body Save or 1d10 DMG/destroys armor.]

28 LITTLE GODS [I:85 Bend Reality: Sanity Save [-] to resist.]

 INDEX
PG NAME STATS
29 MOTHER [Can form a Succubus in 1d10 Hours. See “Succubus” pg. 45.]

30 MONOLITH [Upon first interaction, 50% chance to increase or decrease a random Stat/Save by 1d10.]

31 NOMADS [J1C-III THR:20 BTL:55 1d10 MDMG SYS:5 HULL:2 No Systems Checks can be made within Firing Range.]
NOÖCENTOTIC
32
TRANSMISSION [Sanity Save to resist.]

33 OMNIVORE [C:85 Ritual Claws 3d10 DMG or Plasma Rifle 2d100 DMG I:65 AP:7 W:3(40)]
OOIDOPOLIS
34
PICOCIVILIZATION [1d10 MDMG I:80 W:100(1,000)]
35 POSSESSED [C:55 I:45 Possess: Sanity Save [+] or Possessed for 1d10 Rounds; permanent on Critical Failure.]

36 PURE LOVE [C:15 Unrelenting Hug 0 DMG I:25 W:1. Sanity Save whenever you kill one.]

37 ROOT LANGUAGE [Minimum Stress +1.]

38 SS HIGH GOLD [J5C-III THR:45 BTL:50 1d10+1 MDMG SYS:60 CREW:89. Capable
Capable of destroying a star.]

39 SEA OF SILENCE [I:90]

SALLY IN THE
40
SCREEN [C:45 3d10 DMG I:55. Cannot be damaged by weapons.]

41 SPORE CLOUDS [I:35 Body Save or be infected. Infection takes 3d10 days.]

42 THE STAIN [C:25 Pseudopod 2d10 DMG I:20 W:X(200) +1 Max Wound for each corpse it devours.]

43 STAR SHADE [Light 2d100 DMG I:75 W:5(50) Teleports.

Teleports. Can only be damaged by laser cutters.]

44 STICKMEN [C:35 Grasp 3d10 DMG I:25 W:2(10) Can appear from anywhere not being visibly watched.]

45 SUCCUBUS [C:65 Unarmed 3d10 DMG I:65 AP:5 W:3(30)]

W:3(30)]

46 THROAT LEECHES [C:15 Bite 1d10 DMG I:10 W:1(10) Body Save or be infected. +1d10 leeches/day.]

47 UNPERSONS [C:35 As Weapon I:45 AP: As Armor W:2(10). Invisible.]

48 VITALIZING FIELD [Emitter 1/3/5d10 DMG I:15/45/75 AP:0/3/10 W:1/3/5(10/20/50) Baby/Adult/Elder]

49 WHITEVINE [C:45 Vine 2d10 DMG I:15 W:X(20). X=per 100’ of length. Strangulation:
Strangulation: Body Save [+] to resist.]

50 WOMB [When handling, 1% to become pregnant.]

THE WORLD
51 WORM [J9C-X THR:20
THR:20 BTL:65 2d10 MDMG SYS:5 HULL:3]
52 YOU [As character’s Stats.]

53 ZOMBIES [C:25 Bite 1d10 DMG I:10 W:1(10). Infectious Bite: if bitten, become a Zombie in 3d10 hours.]
 FIVE QUICK HORRORS

These templates provide baseline Stats for different types of enemies. Combined with your description
and the players’ imaginations, these provide enough information until you can develop your horror later.

00 ANOMALY
ANOMALY [3D10 DMG I:75]

Conventional weapons don’t work against

Conventional How to use: Anomalies are like ghosts or
this horror either because the entity can’t be sentient languages. Decide what the anomaly
harmed or because it is too abstact to attack wants, and build the encounter around
directly. Players must find an alternative method appeasing/avoiding the horror rather than
to avoid, entrap, or otherwise deal with it. defeating it.

01-02 BRUTE [C:65 4D10 DMG I:35 AP: 10 W:3(40)]

Exceptionally large or tough creatures

creatures,, brutes How to use: Brutes have to be tricked or
are difficult to confront head on due to their whittled down over time. Telegraph how much
ability to withstand and deal massive amounts destruction they cause early on and leave lots
of damage.
damag e. of room for the players to escape and face the
brute again (and again, and again).

03-05 GUARD [C:35 2D10 DMG I:25 W:2(10)]

Common enemies often equipped with a How to use: Build up tension by telegraphing
weapon and travelling in small groups. While guards before the players encounter them.
dangerous, guards are often less capable or Make them an everpresent danger, but easy
motivated than other enemies, but make up for to avoid. Don’t make them obstacles built to
it by being able to call in backup. overcome, they should be real threats.

06-07 HUNTER [C:75 3D10 DMG I:65 AP:5 W:2(30)]

Hunters typically work solo, even

even if par
partt of a How to use: Place hunters in locations where
larger group. They prefer stealth and ambushes, it’s difficult to see or hear. The threat of the
to direct confrontation. They’re often fast and hunter is more important than the hunter itself.
deadly, whether from a distance or up close, Hunter’s can leave a trail of bodies which help
and can pick crewmembers off one by one. herald their arrival.

08-09 SWARM [C:25 1D10 DMG I:25 W:1(X) X = the population of the group.]

Swarms are enemies which would be trivial How to use: When fighting swarms, let
to deal with one at a time, but use their larger the players take down individuals quickly
numbers to overwhelm and overtake. They are (often with a single hit), force them to whittle
typically less intelligent and easy to avoid, but down the group (constantly augmented by
unstoppable if you get caught in the horde. reinforcements). Make the goal just to escape.