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Unstable Core

Environments Designed by Tomás Tarragón

At a glance

Tier
2
Type
Event
Difficulty
15
Impulses
Protect itself Kill intruders

Environment overview

An unstable arcane core that's the cause of many problems.

Potential adversaries

—

Features

Passives

passive
  • The Heart

    Countdown (6). It ticks down according to the following criteria when the PCs make an action roll to weaken it:

    - Critical Success: Tick down 3
    - Success with Hope: Tick down 2
    - Success with Fear: Tick down 1
    - Failure with Hope: No advance
    - Failure with Fear: Tick up 1

    When the countdown reaches 0, the Core is destroyed.

  • Syphon

    When a PC attacks or touches the Core, they become Syphoned. A Syphoned PC may make an Action Roll to end the effect. The effect ends regardless, but on a failure, or on a roll with Fear, tick The Heart countdown up by 1.

    Questions
    • What does the syphoning look like?
    • What do you feel when you're syphoned?

Actions

action
  • Arcane Recovery
    Fear 1

    Spend a fear to tick up The Heart by 1.

  • Earthquake

    Spend a Fear to cause rocks or debris to fall from the ceiling and walls. All PCs within Far range must succeed on a Reaction Roll (13) or take 2d8 physical damage.

    Questions
    • How do you take cover from the falling objects?
  • Cut the exit
    Fear 1

    Spend a Fear to remove the easiest way out of the area. A rope is cut, stairs collapse, or another escape route is slightly damaged.

Reactions

reaction
  • Dying Surge

    When The Heart countdown ticks down, all Syphoned PCs must choose: mark 2 Stress or take 1d8+3 direct damage. You may spend 1 Fear to increase this effect. Affected PCs must instead choose: mark 3 Stress or take 2d8+3 direct damage.

    Questions
    • How much are you willing to sacrifice?

About this environment

Unstable Core

Tier 2 Event

An unstable arcane core that's the cause of many problems.

Impulses: Protect itself, Kill intruders

Difficulty: 15

Potential Adversaries: —

Features

The Heart - Passive: Countdown (6). It ticks down according to the following criteria when the PCs make an action roll to weaken it: - Critical Success: Tick down 3 - Success with Hope: Tick down 2 - Success with Fear: Tick down 1 - Failure with Hope: No advance - Failure with Fear: Tick up 1 When the countdown reaches 0, the Core is destroyed.
Syphon - Passive: When a PC attacks or touches the Core, they become Syphoned. A Syphoned PC may make an Action Roll to end the effect. The effect ends regardless, but on a failure, or on a roll with Fear, tick The Heart countdown up by 1.
  1. What does the syphoning look like?
  2. What do you feel when you're syphoned?
Arcane Recovery - Action: Spend a fear to tick up The Heart by 1.
Earthquake - Action: Spend a Fear to cause rocks or debris to fall from the ceiling and walls. All PCs within Far range must succeed on a Reaction Roll (13) or take 2d8 physical damage.
  1. How do you take cover from the falling objects?
Cut the exit - Action: Spend a Fear to remove the easiest way out of the area. A rope is cut, stairs collapse, or another escape route is slightly damaged.
Dying Surge - Reaction: When The Heart countdown ticks down, all Syphoned PCs must choose: mark 2 Stress or take 1d8+3 direct damage. You may spend 1 Fear to increase this effect. Affected PCs must instead choose: mark 3 Stress or take 2d8+3 direct damage.
  1. How much are you willing to sacrifice?

Discussion

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