A Lancer Mission

SHADE OF THE
LIGHTHOUSE

P.B. Cornylius
 SHADE OF THE
LIGHTHOUSE
By
Porter “Cornylius” Botterud

Edited by
Malcolm Cooke

Cover Art
Commander Kaya

Template used
Lancer RPG Template by Michael Prijatelj, used under CC BY 4.0.

Playtesting by
Cow Alchemist, Commander Kaya, Prendar The Thief, BigMacH, frogchamp, ardenwoud, and _thezach

Special Thanks to
Massif Press for the use of the Lancer setting and system, Pilot.net for the infinite resources, and
to Harry, Spenser, and Malcolm for somehow reading through this whole thing.

Lancer: Shade of the Lighthouse is not an official Lancer product; it is a third party work, and is not affiliated
with Massif Press. Shade of the Lighthouse is published via the Lancer Third Party License.

Shade of the Lighthouse © 2023 by Porter Botterud

@CornyliusB
cornylius.itch.io
pinewood-breach

Lancer is copyright Massif Press.

[2]
 CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 4
PERSONS OF INTEREST 5
COMBAT 6
BEAT 1: IN STEEL HALLS 7

MISSION: LIGHTHOUSE 8
COMBAT 1: HUB SCUFFLE 9
BEAT 2: TECH SUPPORT 11
COMBAT 2: DELIVERANCE WAKING 13
BEAT 3: TROUBLED REST 15
COMBAT 3: INEXORABLE WEIGHT 18
BRADLEY 20
BEAT 4: ACCEPTANCE 24

ADJUSTING THE MISSION 25

[3]
 INTRODUCTION
Shade of the Lighthouse is a horror themed mission for
License Level (LL) 4 Lancers, though is designed to
be adjustable in both narrative and mechanics. The
mission contains 3 combats, a mystery for the players
to solve, and exotic equipment rewards.
This mission does not have a happy ending.
SYNOPSIS
As the players pass a lonely asteroid belt, they receive
a crackling distress call from a haggard scientist. Upon
answering, he tells them his protege caused an
accident in their station, placing everyone aboard in
danger. In truth, he and his partner pushed the
experiment too far, leading to his partner’s death, a
lockdown of the facility, and a scattered and confused
population. The players must move through the station,
facing the scattered crew and the station's cascading
NHP, to investigate what happened. The mission ends
with the scientist attempting to return to his partner, his
spouse, no matter the cost as his mind grows ever
more corrupted.
RESOURCES
This mission assumes familiarity with the Lancer RPG
system and access to the full Lancer Core Rulebook.
A clock is used to track narrative information over the
duration of the mission. Split into segments, each
segment is filled in based on the players actions.
Details on clocks can be found at bladesinthedark.com.
OPTIONAL
While not necessary, the Bonds and Player Stress
mechanics from Lancer: Field Guide to the Karrakin
Trade Baronies can benefit this mission.
An enemy, Jens Xikei (p. 9), uses the Avenger NPC’s
Slug Pistol from Lancer: No Room For A Wallflower.
You can choose to remove this feature.
The Flash Rounds exotic reward can be given the
Ammunition tag from the IPS-N Menorca, a third-party
frame also by me.
CONTENT AND THEMES
Shade of the Lighthouse includes themes of cosmic
horror, featuring horror, insanity, and death. Themes of
parental loss are also prominent.
The mission also focuses on the importance of
community, support, and caring for one another within
an uncaring universe.
[4]
MISSION BACKGROUND
In the instant of quiet after shutdown, having seen
Ayan pulled away from the universe, Bradley and
Kenna locked eyes, each finding blame in the other.
An instant later, an explosion threw them apart.
BEFORE THE ACCIDENT
Two months ago, the first experiment was completed.
The culmination of decades of research, the scientists
aboard Yidalir Station created a point in space that
generated gravity beyond its mass. Though it promised
great things, Director Ayan’s eyes landed on the point,
and a seed of obsession was planted.
As the following months passed, Ayan, later joined by
their spouse and co-director Reese Bradley, would
attempt to push the experiment beyond its limits until,
finally, they pushed too far too fast.
THE ACCIDENT
Sixteen hours ago, an artificial gravity experiment led
by directors Ayan and Bradley began. As it progressed,
the containment chamber began to fail, revealing a
singular black point that began to tear the room apart.
When the directors’ eyes fell on this object, this
anomaly, their minds were changed, and they became
disjointed with reality.
While her mentors stood oblivious to the chaos, Mari
Kenna recognized the rising danger, and knew she had
to act. Activating the emergency shutdown saved the
station and destroyed the experiment, but the damage
had been done.
A half dozen were dead with many more wounded, the
station had been destabilized after an explosion ripped
through the chamber, and worst of all, Ayan was gone.
Kenna and Bradley both watched as Ayan was pulled
away, their body yanked and pulled apart into aberrant
forms before vanishing into their own creation.
Regaining consciousness hours later, Bradley, Kenna,
and the rest of the crew were greeted by a complete
station lockdown and a communication blackout.
Isolated and confused, those who could stand began to
tend to the wounded, count heads, and figure their way
forward.
Kenna watched Bradley and Ayan push the experiment
beyond its limits, endangering the station.
Bradley saw Kenna shut down the experiment,
destroying his life’s work and separating him from
Ayan.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
REESE BRADLEY HE/HIM
PROJECT CO-DIRECTOR
Co-Director Reese Bradley was once a warm and wise
presence. Happily married for many years to Ser Ayan,
they both acted as guiding hands for Kenna, who over
the many years had become their daughter in all but
blood.
The accident, however, has cracked his normal self.
Though his rational mind knows Ayan is gone, he
refuses to accept the loss of his life’s work and the
death of his life’s love. Driven by grief, and believing
Ayan to call him from inside, he will do anything to
reach the experiment chamber again.
He is in his late 40s, with salt and pepper hair and a
matching curly beard. He sports round glasses with one
lens recently cracked.
He enjoys cooking, and the way gravity links the
universe together.
MARI KENNA SHE/HER
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Intelligent and driven, Mari Kenna is an intimidating
force aboard the station, and often left the social aspect
of her job as Assistant Director to those around her.
Though she struggles to express it, she cares deeply
for her mentors.
Being one of the few people in the observation
chamber, she witnessed Ayan’s death firsthand. Now,
with the accident leaving many injured and the station
unstable, she’s been forced to step up and take charge
of those around her. With no time to grieve, she
suppresses emotions and relies on logic. She will do
whatever she can to keep her crew alive.
She is in her mid-20s, sporting an undercut and a
ponytail. She wears a plain black top beneath her lab
coat.
She enjoys her research and the ubiquity of gravity.
OTHERS
DOCTOR SER AYAN (THEY/THEM)
Co-director of Yidalir and decades long partner to
Bradley, Ser Ayan’s confident nature and eager
ambition pushed them and their team to the cutting
edge of science. Tragically killed in the accident, their
death lies at the center of Bradley unraveling. They
were organized and stylish, with an intimidating exterior
that melted for Kenna. They enjoyed strategic games.
“LIV” DELIVERANCE (SHE/HER)
Short for Deliverance, Liv is the station’s NHP, and was
destabilized by the accident. She has been the station’s
NHP since its construction and enjoys spending time
with the people inside. She is bubbly and outgoing, and
her holographic avatar sports a fashionable, feminine
appearance. She likes to wear the “fashion of the
season,” though being on a space station, determines
the seasons herself. She enjoys gossip.
OBAN REYES (HE/HIM)
Oban Reyes is the primary custodian of Yidalir and
takes great pride in his role. His grandfather led the
station’s construction and acted as its first custodian
before passing the role to Oban’s father until it was left
to Oban himself. Oban grew up within Yidalir, and sees
it as his home, Liv as a sister, and its population as his
family. He is a personable, working man in his 20s, and
is trusted by Kenna to act as her social diplomat. He
enjoys oSports1.
JENS XIKEI (HE/HIM)
As head of security for Yidalir, Jens takes his job
seriously. While most of his job is largely automated by
Liv, his past as a pirate makes him driven to do right by
his second chance. Having grown up with Kenna, who
recommended him for the job, he is deeply loyal to her.
He knows he’s not the smartest, especially on a station
of scientists, but has reliable instincts. He appreciates
kinetic weaponry.
YIDALIR STATION
Yidalir is an isolated research station constructed in
and around a small asteroid. With a permanent crew of
about 60 people, the population on board is a tight-knit
community of resourceful and intelligent people.
1 oSports is a term referring to games played
over Omninet connection for entertainment.
[5]
 COMBAT
Three combats are included in Shade of the
Lighthouse, and while each is a challenge, the final
combat, Inexorable Weight, is intended as the
narrative climax and focal point of the mission.

The hostile forces provided for each combat are

recommendations. Lighthouse is intended to be
adjustable, and because every party varies in their
strengths and weaknesses, the final judgement in how
each NPC is used is left to the GM. Simplified maps are
also included to convey room descriptions and layout.

FIELD EFFECTS
Field Effects allow for more dynamic combat settings
and can provide pressure outside of the standard
combat order. A field effect is always accompanied by Mechanically, Field Effects fill a similar role as
a tag denoting whether it happens at the start or end Lair Actions from other TTRPG systems.
of a round.

SATELLITES
Satellites allow notable NPCs to affect players outside
its own turns. At the start of each turn, one satellite can
move up to its speed unless the NPC is STUNNED OR Satellites are derived from the Shards feature
JAMMED. All attacks target a satellite’s evasion, and used by Eidolons, special NPCs included in
any heat makes a satellite EXPOSED. Lancer: No Room for a Wallflower (p. 198).

HP: 8/10/12 Size: ½

Evasion: 6 Speed: 4

CONDITIONS
While technically a new condition, there are existing
systems in Lancer that apply this effect, such as the
WITCH NPC’s Blind tech attack. The addition of this
condition is to simplify effect descriptions.

BLIND
BLIND characters can only draw line of sight to adjacent
spaces.

OPTIONAL RULE: RELENTLESS

Sometimes, players can lose their mechs early due to
a series of unlucky rolls they had no agency in, which
can impact the fun of the game. To prevent this, you
can apply this optional rule.

If the result of a structure check would leave a

character STUNNED, they are instead JAMMED. If the GMs may also choose to apply these Stunned
result of a structure check would destroy a mech, they options (One Quick Action + Optional Structure
instead roll System Trauma and become STUNNED. A Check) to other stun at their discretion.
player stunned this way may still take a single quick
action on their turn, and may roll a second structure
check to take a second quick action. On a 1, they gain
no action and become IMPAIRED.

Reaching 0 Structure destroys a mech as normal.

[6]
BEAT 1:
IN STEEL HALLS
“This is Director Reese Bradley of Yidalir Station. An
accident has catastrophically destabilized our facility
and my crew is in danger. I am requesting immediate
assistance, I repeat, I am requesting immediate
assistance.” – Reese Bradley
THE CALL
Aboard their transport, weeks from the nearest port, the
players receive the distress call. Knowing they are the
only ones close enough to help and duty bound to
answer, they mount up and deploy. As they approach
the signal’s origin, they are hailed directly by Bradley.
He thanks them for responding, and while he hopes
they are not pirates, chuckles that he doesn’t have the
luxury of making sure. Connection is spotty, and
communication a challenge, but he informs them that
they can enter through the station’s cargo dock, where
he will meet them.
As the players approach, the station comes into view.
A metal ring built into the surface of a rocky asteroid is
illuminated by a distant sun, its central superstructure
leaning ever so slightly ajar. Long black shadows loom
across the surface, broken only by the faint blinking of
red warning lights. Small pieces of debris, both stone
and steel, drift in all directions. A player who looks
closely may note that the debris does not seem to move
in a straight line, with some appearing to orbit the
station despite its mass being far too low to do so.
INSIDE THE STATION
The interior is a cluttered mess of large cargo
containers, only lit by the faint red flashing of warning
lights. A number of containers appear to have come
loose, and many are half piled against a large door on
the far wall, dents showing they were moved with
force.
Once the doors close behind the players, the room
pressurizes and Bradley steps inside through a service
doorway. He introduces himself, asks the squad who
they are, and explains what happened.
While he and his partner Ayan were conducting an
experiment, their protege Kenna panicked and
activated abort protocols at the height of the procedure,
leading to the containment chamber’s catastrophic
failure and a devastating explosion. When Bradley
reawakened, the station was in lockdown with massive
steel doors now dividing the station. He doesn’t know
why Kenna did what she did, but he is heartbroken.
With the help of the PCs, they can stabilize the station,
save the crew, and Bradley can reunite with Ayan.
Bradley is unreliable and somewhat deluded, truly
believing his story. Logically he knows Ayan is dead,
having seen them pulled into the Anomaly, but refuses
to accept the truth. He does not believe the experiment
posed any danger. He can answer some questions,
such as why the crew cannot communicate and why
they are separated, but will emphasize that they must
act quickly.
Bradley will then inform the players that in order to
stabilize the station, he first needs access to the
station’s central hub. The exit from the cargo bay is
blocked with several containers which can be moved
with a mech skill check.
THE RINGWAY
Once the door is opened, the players gain access to
the Ringway, a huge open hallway that runs the circuit
of the station’s structure. The floor appears well
trodden, with rubber tire tracks leading to the
occasional automated dolly, and long metal tracks can
be seen running across the ceiling, the occasional
crane dotted along its path. The occasional drone mech
can be spotted, all deactivated and some laying ajar
beside its once-carried cargo. As the players move
forward, they can see doors along their left and right,
some human sized, others reaching floor to ceiling, but
all sealed by a thick steel gate painted in red and grey,
stranding anything on the other side. Designed to keep
both science in and dangers out, any attempts to open
these doors by force is met with failure.
Eventually the players come to a large doorway, the
emergency gate only half closed against a pile of semi-
crushed cargo containers. Bradley jokes that no matter
how safe you make something, people will find a way
to mess it up, and it’s a good thing this section stayed
pressurized.
THE HUB
The hub appears to be a large central room lined with
raised platforms. The floor is spotted by several
automated dollies, some with cargo and others without,
all frozen in their duties across the interior. A crane
appears to have come loose from its tracks above, and
hangs precariously. The floor, once marked only with
tracks and prints, now sports wide blemishes of
crumpled metal, squeezed from an unknown source.
Bradley points to a tower in the center of the room and
tells the players that’s where he needs to be.
[7]
 MISSION: BRIEFING
According to Bradley, there are two major hurdles to be

LIGHTHOUSE passed in order to make the station safe. First,

accessing the station’s computers, and second,
accessing and fixing Liv, the stations NHP.
“If you choose to care, then the universe cares.
If you don’t, then it doesn’t.” OBJECTIVE: Stabilize Yidalir Station.
– Brennan Lee Mulligan STAKES: The lives of the station’s crew remain
in danger until the situation is dealt
with.
MISSION BEATS
COMBAT 1: HUB SCUFFLE REWARD: In addition to anything found over the
course of the mission, the final beat
BEAT 2: TECH SUPPORT
includes 1-2 pieces of Exotic
COMBAT: DELIVERANCE WAKING Equipment for the players to receive.
At the GM’s discretion, the players
BEAT 3: TROUBLED REST may also increase their LL.
COMBAT 3: INEXORABLE WEIGHT
RESERVES: Reserves can be brought into the
mission, but none are explicitly
provided.
CLOCKS

BRADLEY’S AFFINITY
BRADLEY’S AFFINITY
Representing both Bradley’s relationship with the
players, this 8-segment clock determines how willing
he is to answer questions, and impacts the mission’s
final combat. The clock starts with 2 filled segments.

FILLING THE CLOCK

Players successfully helping Bradley in any way should
fill the clock in some way, and their failure or refusal to
do so should similarly remove segments. If the players
roll particularly well or poorly on checks while Bradley
is present, this may also impress or disappoint him.

SPEAK WITH BRADLEY

Taking the time to sit and Speak with Bradley requires
an hour. Doing so can convince Bradley to share more
information, and fill the Affinity Clock. If multiple players
attempt this check, only the 2 best results are used, or
one player may grant the other +1 .

• 9 or less: The conversation goes poorly. (+0

to the Affinity Clock)
• 10-19: The conversation goes well. Bradley
may share additional information (+1 to the
Affinity Clock).
• 20+: The conversation goes extremely well.
Bradley may share additional information (+2
to the Affinity Clock)

VISIONS IN THE DARK

If a character inside the station Teleports, or
becomes Blind or Intangible, they glimpse into a
hazy parallel world. While there, they can hear
and see strange things at the edge of their vision.

[8]
COMBAT 1:
HUB SCUFFLE
“God dammit, sure, fine! What's one more problem to MAP
deal with? Dear pirates, or mercenaries, or whoever
you are, I have to ask you to get the hell off this
station.” – Mari Kenna

Once inside, as the players accompany Bradley to the

tower, the clunking sound of marching mechs is heard.
Through another large open doorway, the station’s
security forces enter, primarily Jens and his Deputy. A
voice over the station’s PA system demands the
players stand down. Bradley tells the players the voice
is Kenna’s and asks them to protect him while he
accesses the computers. He enters the central The hub is a wide hall with numerous massive doors
building, and combat begins. along its walls, two of which are open. The center of the
room is marked by a small Size 2 tower that overlooks
the interior. The remainder of the room is filled with a
The station’s head of security, Jens Xikei, believes the
scattered handful of cargo containers of various sizes
Lancers to be pirates, and is too headstrong to be
that provide cover, some of which sit on large,
reasoned with until his mech frame is rendered
mechanized dollies while others are attached to cranes
inoperable. If the PCs claim they’re assisting Bradley,
that reach down from the ceiling. Sections of the floor
Jens will state that he intends to arrest him too.
are crumpled oddly, creating Difficult Terrain.

SITREP: Holdout (Lancer, p. 272)

RUNNING THE COMBAT
RECOMMENDED FORCES As a HOLDOUT sitrep, the players must defend the area
JENS XIKEI IPS-N RALEIGH – COMMANDER around the central tower, though may treat Jens Xikei
SENTINEL (+Military Discipline, as a secondary objective.
+Quick March, +Rapid Response,
+Slug Pistol (AVENGER)) Jens Xikei does his best to lead the researchers
DEPUTY GMS EVEREST - ARCHER (+Blinding despite their lack of training, but presents a significant
Shells) threat on his own as a SENTINEL. His heavy shotgun,
RESEARCHER* ASSAULT RPV paired with the AVENGER’s Slug Pistol makes him a
BERSERKER RPV deadly short-range combatant. His mech appears to be
BREACHER RPV a modified Raleigh, painted by hand and sporting large
teeth over the torso.
FIELD REMOTE REPAIR (see below)
OPTIONS
INCREASE Deputy: + VETERAN +Covering The Deputy stays back in cover to provide support from
CHALLENGE Fire. a safe distance, punishing players who venture too far
Jens: +VETERAN, +Deadly, from the objective. He appears to be using standard
+Limitless GMS equipment, and his frame looks new.
Kenna: Remote Repair grants
+6/8/10 Overshield. The Researchers remotely control repurposed utility
*These forces can be deployed as reinforcements drones and have little training, generally exhibiting
either too much self-preservation, or too little. The
.
BERSERKERS and BREACHERS provide objective
REMOTE REPAIR pressure with their persistent approach.
Using the station’s subalterns and a pinch of
nanomachines, Kenna can keep the RPVs running. Kenna may be able to shout a handful of jabs at the
players over the intercom.
Remote Repair Field, Start
One destroyed Researcher is brought back to REINFORCEMENTS
1 HP and can activate this round, though returns Reinforcements appear from either of the open
PRONE. A Researcher can only benefit from this doorways. 1-3 Researchers appear at the end of each
effect once. round, and only 1 of each class can appear at a time.

[9]
 OUTCOME
While success is all but guaranteed, performance
within the combat may vary. The players are rewarded
based on how many points they have at the end of the
final round:
• 3+ Points: Bradley will be willing to discuss
Ayan and Kenna. (+2 Affinity Clock)
• 1-2 Points: Bradley will be willing to discuss
Kenna or Ayan, but not both. (+1 Affinity Clock)
• 0 or Fewer: He will answer basic questions but
will be reluctant to discuss Kenna or Ayan.
(-1 Affinity Clock)
REWARDS
If the players were able to destroy Jens Xikei’s mech,
they can recover the WATCHFUL EYE EXOTIC GEAR, and
may question Jens Xikei. If the players were able to
destroy the Deputy, they can recover the FLASH
ROUNDS EXOTIC GEAR, though he manages to get away
on foot. This gear can be installed immediately and
costs 0 SP during this mission, but cost SP as normal
in the future.
MOVING ON
Once Bradley has access to the station’s computer
systems, he is able to close the doors the security
forces came through. This forces Jens Xikei and his
Deputy to retreat if they are still standing, and cuts off
Kenna and the Researchers’ connections to the
RPVs, granting the players time to begin Beat 2: Tech
Support.
[10]
Watchful Eye
2 SP, System, Exotic, Limited 1
1/Scene, as a reaction, you can Overwatch even if
you have already used Overwatch this round.
Pulled from the wreckage of Jens Xikei’s
modified Raleigh, this Reflex Class
Active Response Intelligence (ARI, for
short) is a simplified comp/con that can
mark openings a pilot may otherwise miss.
Flash Rounds
2 SP, System, Exotic, Quick Action,
Limited 2
1/Round as a Quick Action, you can empower
your next attack with a Ranged Weapon. On a hit,
your target becomes blinded, only able to draw line
of sight to adjacent spaces until the end of their
turn.
This specialized ammunition bursts in a
mixture of phosphorus and magnetically
charged ferrous dust, momentarily
overwhelming pilot optics and mech
sensors. Able to be crafted from common
shipside supplies, many isolated long-rim
residents have its recipe memorized.
The Flash Rounds system can also be given the
Ammunition tag from the IPS-N Menorca PDF.
BEAT 2:
TECH SUPPORT
At the end of the combat, the players have some time
to rest and repair. Bradley announces that he has
access to the station’s local systems and shuts the
doors behind the defenders, cutting off their remote
connection. He informs the players that a reboot has
begun and will take an hour, after which he can open
the way forward to Liv’s room.
Unbeknownst to the players, when the reboot finishes,
much of the lockdown lifts, and Bradley will make his
way to the central experiment chamber.
Over the course of the hour, the players can talk to
Bradley, speak to Jens Xikei, and search through some
of the station’s computer files. Doing so does not
require making checks, though if a player wants to, they
may choose to make a check instead of repairing their
mech.
JENS XIKEI
If the players destroyed Jens Xikei in the prior combat,
he is found injured but alive inside, and can be
stabilized with applicable equipment or a skill check. He
respects the PC’s abilities, and apologizes for not
providing a proper fight. He can be asked a few
questions, but will fall unconscious quickly. Though he
remains stable, he needs a medical bay to be properly
treated, which is inaccessible with the lockdown.
Depending on how well he is treated, Jens can answer
2-4 questions at the GMs discretion based on what he
knows.
JEN’S KNOWLEDGE
The Accident
The knowledge Jens has he received from Kenna,
which he is open about. He doesn’t understand the
details, but knows that Kenna said the accident was
Bradley’s fault. Kenna sounded emotional and did not
answer any of Jens’ further questions on the subject.
Kenna
He is deeply loyal and trusting to Kenna, and is
forthright about this. They were friends at a young
age, and he was able to get this job despite his history
after she recommended him.
Bradley
While he respects Bradley, Jens has an obvious issue
with older authority figures. He can explain that
Bradley is personable and well liked on the station.
Bradley has seemed stressed lately, but to Jens all
the scientists look stressed.
Communication
Wireless connection seems impossible without direct
line of sight. Kenna has access to the station’s
hardwired cameras and PA system.
• She and Jens communicated via the PA
system, with him showing written signs to the
cameras due to their lack of audio.
Himself
In his youth Jens was a pirate. He met Kenna after a
stint in prison and has tried to remain on the straight
and narrow ever since. Kenna often tells him to go to
therapy, but Jens claims getting into the occasional
bar fight is therapy enough.
Others
Jens explains this was the Deputy’s first real combat,
and has some feedback on his performance. Jens
likes his deputy, but has forgotten his name, so he
just calls him Deputy.
REESE BRADLEY
Players can speak to Bradley over the course of the
hour, who may answer questions and share information
at the GMs discretion. Players who do not need or want
to repair may choose to use Speak with Bradley (p. 8)
to gain additional information.
BRADLEY’S KNOWLEDGE
The Accident:
Bradley struggles to talk about the accident. He
explains that he and Ayan stood together to observe
the experiment, and recalls it going well until Kenna
pulled the abort switch, after which an explosion
knocked them all apart. When he woke up, he was
alone with a large blast door leaving him stuck in a
small access hall.
Yidalir:
Bradley has been at Yidalir for 6 years, ever since
Ayan’s grant request was approved. Although the
station existed before they arrived, it was perfectly
suited for their work. The staff aboard the station are
all competent and trustworthy. Stations make him a
bit nervous, as he grew up on a planet.
Communication:
Bradley believes Liv may be causing a datastorm,
preventing any communication from passing through
solid barriers.
[11]
 Ayan:
Bradley speaks lovingly of Ayan. They have worked
together for two decades, and are approaching their
18th anniversary. Bradley jokes that Ayan
understands everything the universe has to offer
except for love, and looks forward to their reunion.
The two have a rich history. He describes Ayan as
driven, and notes that Ayan has pushed scientific
boundaries in the past.
• He avoids details about what happened to
Ayan, but believes they may have been trapped
in the experiment chamber, and will dodge the
question.
Kenna:
Bradley is heartbroken at Kenna’s betrayal. She is
like a daughter to him and Ayan. They found her
breaking into their lab at the age of 14 as she,
homeless and unable to afford school, attempted to
steal lab equipment to teach herself with. Inspired by
her curiosity, Bradley convinced Ayan not to call the
authorities. Instead, they sponsored Kenna’s
enrollment at their laboratory, and the three quickly
formed a family. He is deeply proud of Kenna, and
dumbfounded by her actions.
DATA
With access to the station’s computers, the PCs may
attempt to find clues as to what happened. The players
can make a skill check to discover 1-3 of the following
files at the GMs discretion.
FILES
File A: Kenna’s Big Day
An image of Bradley, Ayan, and Kenna standing
together and smiling as Kenna holds a framed
diploma in her hands. Kenna’s smile is awkward, but
Bradley and Ayan seem proud. (This can be invoked
in a conversation with Bradley for increased effect).
File B: Experiment Chamber Hall Access Camera:
Blurry black and white footage from the hallway
leading to the experiment chamber. The video has no
sound. As the footage progresses, a handful of
scientists can be seen sprinting out of a nearby
doorway as emergency lights begin to flash. Large
bay doors begin to close inside the hallway. The hall
shudders as the floors, walls, and doors all begin to
crumple inwards like tinfoil before light flashes and
the footage ends.
File C: Observation Deck Corrupted Data Recovery
A semi corrupted image of the interior of the
observation deck, timestamped just before the
accident. In it, a few scientists seem to be stepping
away from the thin observation window. One figure
stands near the glass looking ahead, while a third
appears to be yelling at them from a few meters away.
• This will call Bradley’s claim that Ayan was
beside him in the explosion into question.
[12]
Bradley will avoid a direct answer, brushing it
off by claiming Ayan simply moved.
File D: Inquiry on NHP Weaponized Assets:
A dossier from an investigation on Liv’s stability after
a minor drone went haywire. It raises concerns about
her control over Postman, a Cataphract class heavy
lifting frame, and Same-Day, a sniper class
weaponized platform. The players learn the NPCs’
HP, Heat Cap, Weapons, Templates, and Optional
Systems.
File E: Experiment Timeline
This file contains a schedule beginning a few months
ago (Roughly 90 days), starting with 3 “Dry Tests”
spread over the first 30 days, 6 tests are listed.
• “TEST 0 – BIG DAY!” is marked about 60 days
ago, highlighted green.
• “TEST 0a – Reconfirm Visual” is scheduled 15
days later (45 days ago) also in green.
• “TEST 1 – OUTPUT INCREASE 2.3%”
appears 10 days later (35 days ago) highlighted
yellow with a note, “Reached only 1.2% before
shutdown.”
• “TEST 2 – OUTPUT INCREASE 2.5% ”10 days
later (15 days ago) is seen and marked gray; a
note signed by Kenna reads “Cancelled – safety
concerns.”
• “TEST 2a – POWER INCREASE 2%” 10 days
ago is highlighted green, a note reads “Output
reached 2.1% before shutdown. Minor alerts.”
• “TEST 2b – POWER INCREASE 2%” was
scheduled for roughly 17 hours ago. It is
uncolored.
MOVING FORWARD
Bradley tells the players that, in order to end the
Lockdown and end the communication blackout, the
station’s NHP Liv needs to be stabilized. While it
remains unclear what exactly is happening to her, the
datastorm blocking wireless signals seems to originate
from her room. The players may deduce that she is
Cascading.
Bradley opens a large door that leads further along the
ringway, explaining that Liv’s casket is housed in a
room further down behind the first mech-sized door on
their right. He then informs the players that he will stay
behind to lift as much of the lockdown as he can and
attempt to interfere with Liv.
In truth, once the players begin Combat 2:
Deliverance Waking, Bradley leaves the Hub and
moves towards the center of the station, closing and
locking the doors behind.
COMBAT 2:
DELIVERANCE WAKING
The server racks that fill the room are illuminated only DATA FLOW
by the faint glow of indicator lights that line their faces. At the end of each round:
Long coolant tubes and countless wires snake
• If Liv was destroyed, she is reconstructed within
between the stacks, and the floor is obscured by a
range 3 of one of her allies.
faint pale mist. Inside is a young woman formed from
• If Liv is not destroyed, she may move the
pale blue light, her outline glitching in regular
Datastorms anywhere she wishes.
intervals.

Data Flow Field, End

Upon opening the door, Liv greets the players a few
spaces in front of them. Behind her, Postman stands
ready, a shimmering string of light linking the two.
Same-Day sits on an elevated platform, and Mailbox
waits in cover near the objective with a single turret
placed adjacent. Optionally, 1-3 Stamps can be
scattered around the map.
• If Liv was destroyed, she is
reconstructed anywhere within Range 3
of one of her allies.
• If Liv was not destroyed, she may move
the Datastorms anywhere on the map.

MAP
SITREP: Modified Gauntlet (see below)

OBJECTIVE: Reach Liv’s Casket to Cycle it.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Datastorms (see below)

ENEMY FORCES
LIV EXOTIC PRIEST (-3 HP, +Realspace
Extrusion, +Chronotorus, +Blind
(WITCH))
POSTMAN VETERAN CATAPHRACT (+Limitless,
+Save Hull)
Liv’s chamber is a long, narrow room split down the
SAME-DAY SNIPER (+Selective Loader) middle by a Size 2 platform. Together with the Size 3
MAILBOX ENGINEER platforms that line the north and south walls, two
MAILBOY* GRUNT HORNET corridors are created that run the length of the room.
STAMP* GRUNT ASSASSIN The interior is extremely cold, with patches of frost
(-Assassins Mark) creating Difficult Terrain. On the east wall, opposite
FIELD DATA FLOW the door the players enter through, the objective can
be seen: a large terminal. Server banks scattered
OPTIONS throughout the room provide Size 1 destructible cover.
EXTREME COLD ENVIRONMENT (This
effect ends after 4 Rounds)
INCREASE +1 SAME DAY (At combat start or
RUNNING THE COMBAT
As a modified GAUNTLET, the PCs begin on one end of
CHALLENGE as a reinforcement)
the map, and must reach a defended objective on the
+1 SPITE
opposite side. Once inside the objective zone, PCs
*These forces can be deployed as reinforcements may take a quick action to begin cycling Liv. This
process takes time, completing at the end of the next
Datastorm round. If during this process the player takes Structure
Datastorms are shifting multicolor clouds of data. or Stress damage, or becomes JAMMED or STUNNED,
Place 4-5 non-adjacent Blast 1 clouds across the the stabilizing process is interrupted.
map. Characters inside the storms become
IMPAIRED, cannot be targeted by tech actions, and If the players have not stabilized Liv by the end of round
cannot use or benefit from any tech actions. A 7, they are defeated.
character who ends their turn inside the area takes
2 .
Liv is an unarmed EXOTIC PRIEST, exerting her
presence through tech attacks and buffs. She appears
unfocused and bubbly, with her head in the clouds.
“Death” is little more than an inconvenience to her. Her

[13]
 avatar is dressed in stylish summer clothing, and
changes seasons if she must recorporate.
Postman and Same-Day are the two primary
defensive forces, tasked to protect her casket at all
costs. Postman appears to be very well maintained
despite its extreme age, with a radar dish on its head
resembling a white, round brim hat. Same-Day
appears much newer and sports a very sleek design.
Mailbox provides damage pressure against the
players. It shares the white hat design, and eyebrows
appear to have been drawn over its cameras.
Mailboys are data courier HORNETS that threaten
disruption. While delicate, they are hard to hit. They too
share the white hat design.
Stamps are small subalterns not explicitly made for
combat, but their ASSASSIN abilities make them an
effective danger. They are humanoid and painted light
blue, with a radar dish on their head that resembles a
white hat.
REINFORCEMENTS
As the combat progresses the room grows warmer
each round, and Reinforcements appear in one of four
tiles (determined before combat begins). At the end of
each round, 1-3 Reinforcements drop from the ceiling
and land in one of these tiles. If a tile is occupied,
reinforcements cannot appear there. No more than 1
Mailboy (HORNET) can appear each round, and no
more than 2-3 should exist on the map at once.
[14]
OUTCOME
PC VICTORY
The players successfully access the casket and cycle
Liv. As she returns, they can gain clear information on
what occurred prior to their arrival. The players gain the
Gravitic Stabilizers reserve.
Gravitic Stabilizers
Quick Action, Limited 3
A player calls upon Liv to ready the Gravitic
Stabilizers. Whenever a Field Effect would be
activated, this system can be activated to cancel or
reduce its effect. This cannot be done two rounds in
a row.
Making universal forces obey limitations
is a nigh impossible task, but that’s
what this facility is for. For a short
time, gravity itself brought to heel.
PC DEFEAT
Liv overheats, forcing her to shut down and reboot over
the next hour. During this time, she cannot be spoken
to, and her memory will be negatively affected
permanently.
MOVING ON
The players then move on to Beat 3: Troubled Rest,
where they may take time to repair their mechs and,
depending on the outcome of the combat, may speak
to Liv and other characters.
BEAT 3:
TROUBLED REST
Stepping through the doors, a number of figures can
be seen in the Hub. People happily greet each other,
sharing relieved hugs and bittersweet tears,
celebrating those who survived and mourning those
who did not. A young woman watches over the group
from the outskirts, her brow furrowed.
The PCs exit Liv’s room to find several doors are now
open. People can be seen in the hub, all dressed in lab
coats or jumpsuits, including Kenna and Oban. Bradley
is nowhere to be seen.
LIV STABILIZED
If the players stabilized Liv, they wait for an hour while
she works, and can spend this time to repair. They can
also speak to Oban, Kenna, and the two dozen station
staff. Jens and Liv can also be spoken to after they
spend a short time recovering. Kenna will be willing to
answer 3-4 questions at the GM’s discretion.
LIV OVERHEATED
If Liv overheated, she cannot be reached until an hour
passes. During this time, the players can repair and
speak to anyone present in the hub, including Oban,
Kenna, and the dozen station staff. Jens remains
unconscious, and Liv will only have time to share the
footage at the end of the hour. Kenna will be willing to
answer 2-3 questions at the GM’s discretion.
If the players attempt to chase Bradley before the hour
is up, they learn that they cannot reach the central
chamber until Liv unlocks the doors manually by
overriding Bradley’s admin lock, which can only be
done after the hour passes.
MARI KENNA
The players can speak to Kenna, though she clearly
mistrusts them, and will not share everything. She
appears stressed, even compared to other survivors.
She explains that she saw that they were helping
Bradley, but appreciates that they didn’t kill Jens.
Kenna calls them idiots for helping Bradley. Oban
interjects, apologizing, and explains that what she
means is that the PCs are missing some important
information. Kenna explains that Bradley caused the
accident, and that Ayan is dead.
Any player may also forgo repairing to instead attempt
a check to convince Kenna to share more information.
KENNA’S KNOWLEDGE
The Accident
Kenna was in the observation room. Kenna explains
that they were planning to push their gravitational
manipulation technology further that day, but only by
1.5%. Bradley and Ayan were the ones who
programmed the sequence, and when the experiment
began, it quickly pushed beyond that limit. Kenna
yelled at the two to shut it down, but they didn’t
respond. As the experiment began approaching a
point where it would tear the station apart, Kenna
moved for the abort switch. As she pulled it, she saw
the glass shatter, and watched Ayan get pulled into
the room.
• If Kenna has warmed up to the players at all,
she would note that she saw a shadow fall over
Ayan before they vanished, but dismisses it.
• Kenna refused to look at the experiment
directly.
• She, in truth, blames herself for the accident.
Yidalir
She and her fellow scientists were able to reach the
Hub after Bradley ended the lockdown in the low
security sections of the station.
Bradley
Kenna speaks about both Bradley and Ayan curtly
and in very simple terms. Bradley did this. She is
disappointed. She may note a funding issue her
mentors were dealing with, but doesn’t know anything
beyond that.
• If the players manage to push Kenna on Bradley
or Ayan, she will divulge that after running the
first active experiment two months ago, the two
insisted that they needed to be able to see it
with their own eyes. She will stop talking to the
players for a short time to avoid crying.
Others
She appreciates the others on the station, though
struggles to personally connect with most of them.
She trusts Jens, as they grew up together. She says
she doesn’t understand Liv’s attitude, though one of
the few times Kenna can be seen smiling is while
talking to Liv. She says Oban is the big brother she
never asked for, but cares for him.
Herself
She says she’s just a scientist, and that there are
more important things to talk about.
• She may let it slip that she was orphaned at a
young age and has experienced the paracausal
before, though will not elaborate.
[15]
 OBAN REYES
Oban, the station’s custodian, is a friendly young man
who is much more trusting of the players than Kenna
is. He is grateful that the players responded to a call for
help, even if that call came from Bradley. Oban
genuinely wants to help and is talkative about what he
knows.
OBAN’S KNOWLEDGE
The Accident
Oban has the same information Kenna has on the
accident.
The Station
Oban sees the station as his one and only home, and
cares for it greatly. He notes that his Grandfather
helped construct it. Oban knows a few secrets about
the station, but won’t share them.
Bradley
He sees Bradley as an uncle, and appreciates the
care he and Ayan gave the station, which is more than
can be said of the previous directors. He notes that
Bradley and Ayan always made sure the station had
everything it needed until a couple months ago, when
Oban had to start ordering supplies instead.
Kenna
He loves Kenna as a sister. Despite her abrasive
nature, he insists she means well, and that it's worse
now than normal. He will only share further
information after the PCs speak with Kenna.
• He notes that less than 24 hours ago, Ayan, one
of her parents died, and that Bradley,
functionally her father, wasn’t there afterwards.
He says she’s distracting herself by keeping
busy with the station's recovery, and wants to
help her.
Others
Oban sees Liv like an aunt, both maintaining the
station and sharing gossip. Oban thinks Jens has a
little crush on Kenna, but says they’re both so
headstrong that neither is aware of it.
Himself
Oban likes maintaining the station and watching
oSports in his free time, though states he’s not too
good at playing. If he is challenged, Oban has a +10
to his skill check and an accuracy.
LIV
If the players were victorious in the previous combat,
Liv can be spoken to. As the station’s NHP, she has
access to almost any information they would want. She
is helpful, and grateful to the players. She may choose
to provide 1 or more files from Beat 2: Tech Support
(p. 12) that the players did not get at the GM’s
discretion.
[16]
LIV’S KNOWLEDGE
Wellbeing
Her memory is somewhat foggy as she recovers from
her destabilization. She notes she’s never felt dizzy
before, despite cascading in the past.
• She describes a feeling of being watched, as
though she had been placed on a stage
before an audience, unable to see into the
crowd she knew was there.
The Station
Liv has been a part of the station for as long as it has
existed. As with Oban, she knows some secrets
about its history, but won’t share them.
The Experiment
The intent behind the experiment was to use
paracausal sciences related to blinkspace travel to
create “Heavy Points.” Functionally, it would allow a
machine to generate directional gravity.
Ayan and Bradley
Liv likes Bradley, as he is typically friendly, and Ayan
always treated her with respect. In the past couple of
months, however, the two have been stressed.
• Notably after the first successful test, they
began requesting information on the Aunic
Firmament. Liv could provide little, but
presumes the pair sought other avenues.
Kenna
She loves to gossip with Kenna, as despite the young
scientist’s protests about wasting time, she always
listens and laughs. In the past, Kenna has attempted
to share gossip in return, though Liv notes she lacks
the flair of a proper storyteller.
Others
Liv is particularly fond of Oban, who she helped raise.
The two bonded particularly through observing the
drama in various omninet forums. Jens frustrates her,
but only because she wishes he and Kenna would do
something gossip worthy together.
Drones
Postman is a multipurpose machine that she uses
primarily for heavy lifting, though it has seen combat
in the past thanks to piracy. It has been with her as
long as she’s been alive, and she’s very fond of it. She
is less fond of Same-Day, which was provided to the
station when Bradley and Ayan joined as a defensive
measure. The smaller machines are used for station
maintenance and moving things around. Liv painted
the dishes to look like hats because she wanted them
to look cute.
THE FOOTAGE
Liv is able to show footage of the event. Bradley and
Ayan can be seen staring through the window
unmoving. Kenna is seen yelling at them, though her
words cannot be made out over the sounds of metal
creaking. Kenna moves for the switch. The glass
shatters. Ayan is pulled through. Kenna pulls the
switch. An instant of quiet passes as Kenna and
Bradley lock eyes. The screen flashes and the feed
cuts. Liv explains that the camera was destroyed.

FINDING BRADLEY
The players arrive to find the blast doors to the chamber
closed, though visibly weakened from the accident. Liv
is unable to open the way, and the players can see
inside through small windows. Inside, Bradley floats in
the center of the room, a glowing object illuminating his
silhouette.

To enter the room, the players must force the doors

open with a skill check, and have 3 attempts to do so.
When a check is made, another player can attempt to
reason with Bradley as well. If the players fail both
checks, Bradley uses Delve (see Phase 1, p. 21). Once
the players succeed the skill check, or fail three times,
they successfully get inside, and Combat 3:
Inexorable Weight begins.

Once the PCs enter the chamber, the space around

Bradley begins to shift and swirl. Metal and machinery
are ripped from their binds, loose objects lift into the air,
all entering an orbit around Bradley’s body and the
Anomaly. Shadows coat the outer walls of the room,
snuffing out the still-flashing emergency lights.

[17]
 COMBAT 3:
INEXORABLE WEIGHT
SITREP: Special (see below)
PRESENT THREATS
BRADLEY UNIQUE GOLIATH (+Satellites,
+Phases, +Field Effects)
PHASES 1: REFUSAL
2: RAGE
3: PLEADING
4: SORROW
SATELLITES Combat Start: 1 +1/player
The door shudders open, the screech of metal
against metal ripping through the air before being
swallowed by a hollow silence. Ahead, in the heart of
the station, is Bradley.
In the center of the chamber, two pillars reach
towards each other like desperate arms. One from
beneath and the other above, steel stretches to touch
a point beyond its grasp, a place taken, instead, by a
sickly light.
Obscured by his body, Bradley’s spine presses tight
against his skin, hunched over the light as though to
shelter it from the world beyond. His clothes now
gone, his naked body reveals itself to be a pale
canvas marked by pulsing, purple veins, the only
movement betraying life.
“Ayan, I’m here,” he rasps, whispered as though his
lips brushed his lover’s ear, “I hear you.” His body
shudders and cracks, the space in the room shifting
invisibly. He speaks again, a smile in his voice, “Our
work has borne fruit, our love births creation. The
binds of the universe reigned by our hand!”
His voice echoes for a moment before again silence
hangs like a noose. “Ayan?” The smile is gone.
Metal screeches once more as his body arches back,
for a moment revealing the glow he sheltered.
Glimpsed for a moment, you see a hole. A hollow,
empty thing that in the instant your gaze meets it,
threatens to swallow you whole, a fear grips your
mind so deep that perhaps it was always there.
[18]
DETAILS
Inexorable Weight is a challenging and complex
combat featuring Bradley and the Anomaly as a
singular powerful foe. While using the base statistics of
a GOLIATH, Bradley uses several special rules that
make him unique, notably Phases, Satellites, and
Field Effects.
The players have 8-10 rounds to defeat Bradley and
contain the Anomaly.
PILLARS
5 pillars in the room can be seen glowing with energy.
Each pillar has 10 HP and 3 Armor, and destroying one
makes Bradley STUNNED until the end of his next turn.
SATELLITES
Any time a player loses a structure, a satellite appears
adjacent to them. Whenever Bradley loses a structure,
3 satellites appear within Range 3.
MAP
The experiment chamber is a vast, square room
marred by the accident. Swaths of the thick metal floor
have been ripped and torn to form crumpled piles of
Size 1 and Size 2 cover, leaving patches of difficult
terrain behind as the rocky asteroid is exposed
beneath. In the center of the room, a large Size 3 dais
dominates the space, in front of which Bradley floats.
Surrounding him are 5 pillars, each one reaching floor
to ceiling, glowing faintly with energy.
THE ANOMALY
A hole in the universe that allows whatever exists
beyond to reach through, it whispers to Bradley in
Ayan’s voice. As the combat progresses, Bradley is
corrupted by this force and, in the final stage, is
replaced by it entirely.
In Phase 4, the Anomaly keeps access to Bradley’s
features0.
A PARACAUSAL PLACE
The region of space where Yidalir drifts has been made
strange by the accident, NHPs express discomfort, and
fail CASCADE checks on a 1 or 2.
If a character Teleports, or becomes INTANGIBLE or
BLIND, they see and hear terrible things. They must
make a save of any kind against Bradley’s save target
or take 1 AP damage to the Pilot. On returning, the
character forgets what they saw.
MADNESS
The first time each Pilot is reduced to 0 HP during this
combat does not go unconscious. Instead, they return
to full HP and gain MADNESS. A character with
MADNESS must roll 1d20 at the beginning of their turn.
1-5: Treat Allies as Hostiles until the end of turn.
6-10: Attack a random character within range.
11-15: Take a random quick action, determined by
the GM.
16-20: Act normally.
PHASES
Bradley gains access to certain features based on his
current structure and will prioritize actions granted by
a phase.
In the first two phases, Bradley is in control, though his
emotions drive his actions. In the third phase, Bradley
begins to lose control as the voice beckoning him no
longer sounds like Ayan. In the fourth phase, Bradley
goes silent, replaced by something else entirely.
ENTERING A PHASE
Bradley gains access to all traits immediately on
entering a new structure.
EXITING A PHASE
Bradley loses all traits granted by the phase. Any active
effects provided by the phase are interrupted and end.
FIELD EFFECTS
After entering a new phase, if an effect would trigger at
the end of the round, it only activates if at least half the
PCs acted after the phase began.
PHASE 4
Phase 4 is unique in that Bradley ceases to be in
control, and the Anomaly itself takes over. An
unknowable glimpse into a universe beyond reality, it
does not speak, though can implant visions and
concepts into the minds of the pilots nearby. It does not
love, hate, or experience in a way that a human can
understand, but its intents can be interpreted.
Optionally, you may choose not to apply any
effects (Damage, Madness) to pilot characters in
order to simplify the combat.
I’ll understand…
As each phase begins, you may wish to read the
following flavor text.
Phase 1 – Refusal:
Steel and shadow begin swirling through the room, an
invisible maelstrom bursting outward from Bradley
and his creation. For a moment, gratitude slips into
your mind as the thing vanishes from sight, but it
quickly fades. Metal, tearing from the floors and walls,
surrounds him in a roiling squall of steel, and as
shadow fills the space, Bradley slips from sight.
Phase 2 – Rage:
The swirling steel and shadow fall away, revealing a
massive, pitch-black humanoid underneath,
silhouetted by faint red tendrils which dance across
its back. Seemingly formed from perfect gleaming
obsidian, where its heart would be, a faint orange
glow pulses beneath the surface.
“You,” seethes Bradley’s voice, “You dare?”
Phase 3 – Pleading:
The obsidian body shatters as the light inside pushes
outwards. For a moment it shines too brightly to look
at until its surface of swirling plasma dims to a dull
red. Pulses of heat radiate through the room as
temperature warnings flare inside your cockpits, and
a fear not your own fills your mind.
“Please” weeps the fear, “Help me.”
On defeating Phase 3:
The star is pulled within itself, folding and twisting until
it vanishes through a lens of warping light. For a
moment, there is silence, yet you know your work is
not done.
Phase 4 – Sorrow:
The lens shutters. Misty black tendrils whip outward
from a hole in space, a thousand withered hands
grasping and clawing into a new universe. Veins pop
in your skull, blood dripping from your nose and
pooling in your eardrums as the pressure of a
crystalline psychic hate presses down on your mind.
With bloodshot eyes gazing upon the maddening
thing, you understand how truly it loves you, for
through you, the universe may know how much it is
hated.
USING PILOT STRESS
If you use the Stress and Burdens system from
the Karrakin Trade Baronies book, any pilot
damage inflicted during this fight instead deals
an equal amount of pilot stress.
A Pilot who Breaks during the combat takes the
effects of Madness as a Burden.
[19]
 THE HOLLOWED MIND
BRADLEY
“Ayan calls to me. Can you not hear?”
Finale Goliath

HP: 15/20/25 +3/pc Heat Cap: 8 AS A MAJOR ENEMY, BRADLEY

Evasion: 6 E-Defense: 6 • Deals +1d6 damage on critical hits
Armor: 0 Speed: 3 • Can Overwatch unlimited times per round.
HUL: 4 AGI: -2 • When his turn starts, clear one condition
SYS: 1 ENG: 0 (besides JAMMED) or PRONE. When his turn
ends, repair one destroyed weapon or system.
• Has 4 structure and 4 stress.

BASE SYSTEMS
INDOMITABLE Trait
Bradley
• Is only defeated upon reaching 0 structure.
• When making a structure check, Bradley rolls
1d6, plus an additional d6 for every 5 damage
that would carry over, taking the lowest result.
• Does not carry damage to the next structure.
• Becomes EXPOSED on losing a stress until he
loses a structure or STABILIZES.
• Can take a quick action while STUNNED.
• Treats the entire room as within Sensors.
RELENTLESS Trait
Bradley takes 1 turn for every 2 player characters.
After losing a structure, Bradley gains a single use
bonus activation.
OMINOUS Trait
Bradley is always Hovering.
Scans reveal Evasion, E-Defense, Skills, Max
HP, Heat Cap, Armor, and remaining Structure
and Stress. It also reveals any information in the
“Hint” section of each Phase.
INESCAPABLE Trait
Characters who start their turn adjacent to Bradley
must make a HULL save or be IMMOBILIZED.
Anticausal Lash
Heavy CQB/Melee, +2/3/4, +1
[ 5][ 3][5/7/9 ]
This weapon can be used as a ranged or melee
weapon and can make two attacks at a time. The
weapon can be used while JAMMED. It gains an
effect based on Bradley’s phase.
Phase 1: Knockback 1
Phase 2: A target hit twice must make a HULL save
or lose one quick action on their next turn.
Phase 3: The weapon deals Burn damage.
Phase 4: The weapon deals Energy damage. If a
target is BLIND, it gains AP and deals +1d6.
Repulsion
Quick Action, 1/round
A character within 2 must make a HULL save or
take 4/5/6 , be pushed 5 spaces away, and be
knocked PRONE.
Attraction
Quick Action, 1/round
A character within line of sight and 8 must make
an AGILITY save or be pulled 5 to Bradley. If they
become adjacent to Bradley, they are automatically
GRAPPLED.

SPEAK WITH BRADLEY Revealing Hate

Over the course of the combat, the players may attempt
to talk to Bradley. They can attempt any appropriate
check at the GM’s discretion. The first check each
round may be done as a free action, though a player
cannot do so two rounds in a row. Otherwise, Speak
with Bradley requires a quick action.
System, Quick Tech, 1/round, +2/+4/+6,
+1
The target becomes BLIND, and takes 1 AP Pilot
damage in addition to the effects of Paracausal
Place.

• 0-5: You speak foolishly. (-1 Affinity)

• 6-15: You make progress (+0 Affinity, the
next check is treated as one degree of
success higher)
• 16+: You get through to him. (+1 Affinity).
Bradley receives. 1 .
BONUS ACTIVATIONS
A character can only have one bonus activation at a
time and cannot use it to act twice in a row.

[20]
PHASE 1
4 Structure Remaining
PHASE 2
3 Structure Remaining
REFUSAL RAGE
They’re here. I’ll bring them back. How could you?
HINT HINT
Jam Bradley to disrupt his focus and the swirling Impacting Bradley by knocking objects into him, or
armor around him. Destroying Satellites may be one using only the largest weapons, may be your only
way to do so. way through.
SPECIAL SPECIAL
Armor: 10/12/14 Bradley is IMMUNE to weapon damage besides
Bradley is IMMUNE to AP and SHREDDED unless he is superheavy weapons, which deal 5
JAMMED. Bradley loses 2 ARMOR whenever he would Full Action, Recharge 4+
receive the JAMMED condition.
Gravity’s Ire
In a 3 area, characters must make a HULL
SHREDDING DEBRIS Trait, Structure save or be pulled 3 towards Bradley. Objects fail
Upon taking damage, Bradley deals 2/2/3 in a this save automatically.
2 area of swirling metal around himself and a At the end of his turn, characters adjacent to
1 around each Satellite. Bradley take 8/10/12 .
Delve Full Action Bradley takes 5 for every object destroyed or
Bradley gazes into the Anomaly. All characters in structure damage dealt.
the room must make an ENGINEERING save or FIELD
take 1/2/3 , Knockback 1, and become Bombardment Field, Start, End
SHREDDED until they take damage. Characters in Start: 1/2/2 characters are targeted and slowed.
cover have +1 .
End: Targets must make a HULL save, taking
Bradley cannot use Delve while JAMMED.
12/14/16 , or half on a success.
One of two effects take place, the same effect
cannot be used twice in a row. Satellites within 5 of each target move as
• The DCs for Speak With Bradley close as possible in a straight line. The targets
increases by 2. take 4/5/6 for each satellite adjacent to them.
• The Affinity Clock loses 1 Segment. A player can take another’s Targeted effect by
FIELD Ramming a targeted player.
Reverse Gravity Field, Start SATELLITES
Satellites that become adjacent to Bradley are
All characters must make an AGILITY save or be
launched 10 spaces straight up. A character may destroyed and Bradley takes 5 .
Boost to fall before their turn ends. If a Satellite moves adjacent to another character,
they receive Knockback 2.
SATELLITES Attacks against Satellites gain Knockback +1
Whenever a Satellite is destroyed, Bradley
becomes JAMMED.
DETAILS
DETAILS Bradley loses any sense of self preservation and
Bradley will always use Delve when he is able to. focuses entirely on harming the players.

GRAVITIC STABILIZER Reserve GRAVITIC STABILIZER Reserve

When using Gravitic Stabilizer, the room becomes
a Zero Gravity Environment until the end of the
round.
• Mechs may treat any movement as flying
and do not fall.
• Mechs without EVA modules are SLOWED.
When using Gravitic Stabilizer, the room becomes
a Zero Gravity Environment until the end of the
round.
Bombardment instead deals 6/7/8 , and only
pulls satellites within 3.

[21]
 PHASE 3
2 Structure Remaining
PHASE 4
1 Structure Remaining
PLEADING
I never wanted this.
HINT
Overheating Bradley may be the way to go. Speaking
to him or collecting the shimmering stars may help
your cause.
SPECIAL
Heat Cap: 12/14/16 +2/player
Bradley is IMMUNE to damage unless he is EXPOSED.
BURNING GRIEF Trait, Structure
A character who ends their turn not in hard cover
takes 2 and 1 . The heat and burn are
doubled if the target has burn.
Help Me! Free Action, 1/player
At the start of his turn, Bradley reaches out to a
character in line of sight who has not yet
activated. The character can Accept or Deny.
Accept: Bradley becomes Stunned and cannot
activate again until after the character. The
character becomes IMMUNE to Heat and Burn
until the end of their turn and can use Speak
with Bradley as a free action. Doing so inflicts
2 .
Deny: Bradley takes his turn as normal.
FIELD
Solar Flare Field, Start
2 2 areas are placed adjacent to any two
satellites. Characters who end their turn in an
area take 4/5/6 and 2/3/4 .
Bradley can move one area to another satellite
as a quick action.
At the start of each following round, one of these
areas can move to another satellite.
SATELLITES
A character who passes through a Satellite takes
2 , and until the end of their turn, can deal Heat
with their weapons instead of its normal damage:
Aux: 2 , Main: 3 , Heavy: 4 , Superheavy: 6
DETAILS
When this phase ends, if the Affinity Clock has 4+
filled segments, half the players may Stabilize. If the
Affinity Clock has fewer, one player may Stabilize.
A new round then begins.
GRAVITIC STABILIZER Reserve
The room becomes a Zero Gravity Environment
until the end of the round.
One of the Solar Flare areas is removed, returning
at the start of the next round.
[22]
SORROW
...
HINT
KILL OR DIE
SPECIAL
Overshield: 40/50/60 + 5/player
Speed: 6
Evasion / E-Defense: 8/10/12
ROCHE
Characters within 2 are considered adjacent to
the Anomaly. When a character becomes
adjacent to or starts their turn adjacent to the
Anomaly, they take 2/4/6 .
Consume Free Action
When the Anomaly deals structure damage to a
target, the target becomes BLIND until the end of
their turn.
1/Round, the Anomaly regains Overshield equal
to the targets max HP (Max. 20)
Passive
Turmoil
At the end of its turn, the Anomaly takes damage
equal to the number of filled segments in the
Affinity Clock. One player character then takes
damage equal to the number of empty segments
in the Affinity Clock. This damage cannot be
mitigated.
Beneath its twisted surface a fight
rages. You hear it, the desperate calls
to Ayan, the sorrowed silent reply.
Rebuke Reaction, 1/turn
Trigger: The Anomaly is hit by an attack.
Effect: The Anomaly can attack or boost.
Reflect Reaction, 1/round
Trigger: The Anomaly is hit by an attack.
Effect: The Anomaly gains RESISTANCE to the
attack and makes an attack against the attacker
(with the same bonuses as Anticausal Lash),
dealing an equal amount of damage on a hit.
FIELD
Recur Field, Start, End
At the start of each round, the Anomaly activates
Reverse Gravity, Bombardment, or Solar
Flare. It cannot use the same effect twice in a
row.
Upon being reduced to 0 OVERSHIELD, all
characters receive Knockback 1 and must make
a SYSTEMS or ENGINEERING save or become
BLIND until the end of their turn.
SATELLITES
Characters who start their turn adjacent to a Satellite
must make a SYSTEMS save or take 2/3/4 and
become BLIND until the end of their turn.
OUTCOME
At the end of Round 8 (or 9, at the GM’s discretion), if
the Anomaly still stands, the players reach a point of no
return. They must choose whether to stay and attempt
to defeat the Anomaly, or escape with their lives to
evacuate the station. For any players who choose to
stay, shadow moves in to form an impassable wall in a
Burst 10 centered on the Anomaly. Players beyond
this area are pulled within it.

Round 9 – An End, Unrelenting:

Pitch black and thick as oil, shadows reach from the
chamber’s corners to close like a vice. Now, trapped
in an inky cage, you know obliteration becomes an
irrefutable truth. The only question now: For whom?

PC VICTORY
If the players destroy the Anomaly by the end of the
final round, the hole it had been reaching through
collapses. With a violent pure white flash, the
encroaching shadows vanish as an explosion shreds
outward, knocking the players to the edges of the room.
The Anomaly, now sealed away behind the fabric of
space, is gone. In its place, something can be seen
floating in the air.

Bradley, however, is gone, a pair of broken glasses split

across the nose the only evidence left behind. If
Bradley’s Affinity clock has 5+ segments, the lenses
are uncracked. If Bradley’s Affinity clock had fewer,
both lenses are broken.

PC DEFEAT
If the Anomaly remains standing at the end of the final
round, shadows fill the room with a silent finality,
swallowing the players still inside.

Those who manage to escape Yidalir watch as it is

pulled inward on itself, shadows creeping through
shattered glass and broken hull like ink spreading
across the ground. Eventually, swallowed in darkness,
distant stars once obscured behind the asteroid’s form
twinkle into view, revealing the station, and everything
inside, to be gone.

MOVING ON
If the players succeed in defeating the Anomaly, they
may move on to Beat 4: Acceptance.

If the players failed to defeat the Anomaly and survive,

they must begin the harrowing task of recovering the
surviving crew, counting the dead, and moving forward.
Though their work is not yet done, the mission ends
here as consequences and unknown forces loom
above their heads. Players may still receive the
Mourning Star reward (p. 25).

[23]
 BEAT 4:
ACCEPTANCE
With the Anomaly defeated, the station can finally be
stabilized, bringing the dangers to an end.
MARI KENNA
Kenna, though still stiff, extends gratitude to the
players. She speaks for a short time about logistics,
expenses, and damages, before Oban places a hand
on her shoulder.
Kenna asks, voice unsteady, about what happened to
Bradley and Ayan. She has vague ideas herself, of
funding pressure and paracausal mania, but has little
by way of details. The players may explain the events
as they understand them.
Kenna is silent for a time. Depending on their
explanation, she may be some combination of angry,
sad, and confused. When the players separate from
her, she takes the opportunity to cry.
REWARDS
In addition to anything else recovered during the
mission, the players receive two final pieces of EXOTIC
GEAR as rewards from the mission.
BRADLEY DEFEATED
If the players successfully defeated Bradley, they found
a strange, glassy tear left behind where the Anomaly
once stood. This is the SPATIAL TEAR, a piece of exotic
material in the shape of a raindrop that is incredibly
durable from one end, and incredibly fragile at the
other.
A THANKFUL GIFT
Regardless of their success, Kenna gives the players
the MOURNING STAR, an explicitly weaponized project
from the station, as thanks. Whether it was one of a few
things saved from the station, or simply grabbed from
another room, the strength it offers is clear.

BRADLEY AND AYAN?

It is unclear what, exactly, has happened to the two, but A FAREWELL
one thing is clear: They’re gone. Whether killed by Now, with the station stable and people safe, the
violent forces or swallowed away from the universe, players may say their farewells and depart with their
they cannot be reached. gained experiences and new toys.

LIV As the station fades to a little more than a speck in the

LIV STABILIZED
Liv is happy to see the players, and had fun helping.
She notes discomfort at the events that transpired,
feeling that same odd dizziness return once the fight
began, but is glad to report that the sensation faded
with their victory. She sports a new outfit, a sleek and
official pantsuit with a fitted bulletproof jacket beneath.
She calls it “tac-fashion.”
rear-view mirror, a cold shadow stirs in the black
between the stars. Your heroic feats stand tall, you
have gazed upon the abyss and pushed back against
it, but a question stands quiet at the edge of your mind.
Did you blink?

LIV OVERHEATED
Liv is friendly to the players, though treats them as
strangers. She notes she is quite busy getting the
station running, but is willing to answer questions. Her
avatar has a basic feminine, humanoid shape, but
sports no fashionable designs.

OBAN REYES
Oban focuses heavily on Kenna to comfort her. If Liv
overheated, he mourns her quietly.

JENS XIKEI
Jens is disappointed he “missed out on the fun” but, if
they managed to beat him, had no doubt the players
would come through. He scolds himself and his deputy
for needing someone else to do their job for them.

[24]
 Spatial Tear
1 SP, System, Exotic, Full Action
1/Mission You may choose one of the following
effects:
• All characters of your choice within Range
50 must make a SYSTEMS save or become
BLIND until the end of their next turn, only
having line of sight to adjacent spaces.
Characters that fail must make a second
ENGINEERING save or be momentarily
maddened. On their turn, they use one
quick action to attack a random target in
line of sight, or else lose the quick action.
• All characters of your choice teleport 2
spaces in any direction of your choice.
Once this system is used, it becomes destroyed
and cannot be repaired until taking a Full Repair.
Each time this system breaks, its SP cost increases
by 1.
Delicate and glassy, in the shape of a
teardrop, this object no larger than a
human arm weighs more than any arm could
carry.
ADJUSTING THE MISSION
Shade of the Lighthouse is designed both to be run as
a single, one-shot adventure, or to be dropped into a
pre-existing game for a GM in need of a mission. Its
isolated location, self-contained narrative, and open-
ended threads are all intended to facilitate any
adjustments that may be needed!
LOCATION
While Shade of the Lighthouse places Yidalir on an
asteroid far from the nearest planet, the most important
aspect of Yidalir’s placement is its isolation. Yidalir
could instead be placed anywhere similarly isolated,
such as a distant planetary orbit, a deep-sea platform,
or a fenced off government facility.
What matters is the dangerous experiments inside can
be kept secret, and the players are the first and only
outsiders to receive the call.
CHARACTERS
The characters provided by this mission are deeply
important to the story provided. Ayan’s death and its
effects on Kenna and Bradley acts as the cornerstone
of the mission.
Mourning Star
Heavy Melee/Cannon, 1 SP, Knockback 1,
Exotic, Reliable 1
[2d6 ]
This weapon can be used while JAMMED with 1 .
Gain a Stellar Counter, which goes from 0-6. Each
time you attack with this weapon, increase the
Stellar Counter by 1. At 6, you become JAMMED.
This weapon can be changed between Graviton
and Photon as a Quick Action.
• Graviton: The Mourning Star becomes a
2 Melee Weapon and gains OVERKILL.
After switching to Graviton, your next
attack deals additional Knockback equal to
your Stellar Counter, or half as much on a
miss, and resets it to 0. This attack does
not increase your Stellar Counter.
• Photon: The Mourning Star becomes a
5 Cannon and gains AP. After switching
to Photon, your next attack deals
additional Burn equal to your Stellar
Counter, or half as much on a miss, and
resets it to 0. This attack does not increase
your Stellar Counter.
To facilitate player investment, giving player characters
personal connections, such as a childhood friendship
with Kenna, being a relative of Oban, or an old buddy
of Jens can be strong motivators.
EXPANDING THE STORY
Many facets of the mission’s story are left unanswered.
Who is funding this research? What exactly is the
Anomaly? What was Yidalir built for? What happened
to Bradley? All of these are left ambiguous, either to be
picked up later, for the GM to expand upon, or for
players to simply infer their own interpretations.
Notable implied pieces of information include
references to the Aunic Firmament, Kenna’s history
with the paracausal, and what faction was funding the
research.
[25]