When we last met Tony ‘Just’ Sume, a wildcat prospector on the Central Confederation of Africa (CCA) colony world of LV-7979-A, he had just encountered a lone figure on the tundra. The mysterious figure has disabled Tony’s Daihotai 8×8 tractor and looks to be readying to make more mischief…
This solo campaign uses the core rule book for ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game as well as the supplements Colonial Marines (2021) and Building Better Worlds (2023).
In media res
Standing less than 10 meters in front of the tractor was a lone figure. Tony couldn’t see much with the solar light behind them. He glanced down at the proximity sensors and saw they were not on. “Of course,” he thought to himself, “why would I arm them when I haven’t seen another soul in two months on the tundra?” Looking up, Tony saw the figure was gone. “Seeing things,” he muttered out loud. He flipped the switch to power up the drive train, only to see one bogie set showing red. As he watched the display a second went red. Then the figure came around the left side of the tractor with bloody hands…
Tony stared at the figure. He couldn’t see any face as it was hidden in the shadow of the cold weather parka hood. The parka, like what clothing Tony could see beneath it, was torn and tattered. The figure’s body looked thinner than a regular person. Seemingly reacting to Tony’s look, the figure moved out of sight around to the right side of the tractor.
“Oh, no you don’t!” Tony shouted as he jumped out of the seat. As quick as he could he donned his cold weather jacket and grabbed the Armat 12 gauge. Last seeing the figure on the right side of the tractor, Tony took a deep breath, released the saftey on the Armat, and opened the right-side door before jumping to the ground. He immediately turned and looked for the figure…
Combat. This is now a combat encounter. Time will be measured in Rounds (5-10 seconds). Game Mother uses The Cultist non-player character from page 356 of the core rule book for the lone figure.
The Cultist (page 356 in core rule book)
- Attributes: Strength 4, Agility 3, Wits 2, Empathy 5.
- Skills: Close Combat 3, Manipulation 3, Observation 2, Ranged Combat 2.
- Talent: Hothead.
- Health: 4
- Gear: Two hunting knives, recreation drugs.
Round 1 – The range is short but the Daihotai tractor is between Tony and the figure. Tony has the initiative in this round.
Tony rounded the front of the tractor [Slow Action] and saw the figure pulling at cables at the fore bogie assembly. Not even bothering to shout a warning Tony pulled the trigger of the Armat [Fast Action]. The weapon bucked in his hands…
This is a Ranged Combat skill test. Tony uses his Agility-Ranged Combat to roll 5d6. The Armat has a +2 bonus giving Tony a total of 7d6 base die and d6 stress die when fired. The dice roll gets Tony a single success. The figure gets to Armor roll; Game Mother grants a +1 due to the partial cover of the tractor bogie and +1 from being hyped up on drugs (ignore pain and injury). The roll fails to stop the hit so 3 hits on Health are scored.
…the shotgun pellets tore into the figure which staggered at the impacts. Still standing, the figure turned and advanced on Tony, two knives already in hand [Fast Action to move, Slow Action for Close combat attack].
As Tony has already used his actions this round no Blocking is possible. The figure rolls Strength-Close Combat for 7d6 but all miss.
The figure waves the knives dangerously close. Tony feels a few tugs on the arms of his jacket but all the swinging fails to connect. Knowing he is too close to shoot, Tony shoves the figure away hoping to create an opening to shoot again.
Shoving is a Fast Action and takes a Close Combat Roll. For Tony this is simply 3d6 base die for his Strength and that Stress Die. The roll fails but the Stress Die comes up a 1—a Panic Roll is called for. From page 104 of the core rule book, a roll of d6=[2] plus the Stress Level of +1 equals 3…
The figure turns at the last moment and Tony awkwardly stumbles right into the arms of the enemy. This is not going as he expected and the panic starts rising within him. Before he can react the two knives of the figure slash again. Fortunately for Tony the knife catches on his parka and slashes through but fails to draw blood.
Given the almost-grappled condition, Game Mother gives Tony a +1 Armor roll which is a success, offsetting the single hit by the figure.
Tony tries to shove the figure away again and barely succeeds. He pulls the trigger on the shotgun…
Tony succeeds at the Shove and follows it with a ranged attack. A Ranged Combat roll of 5d6 Base Die and 1d6 Stress Die for two (2) success. while pushing the figure back the knives are dropped. Game Mother determines the figure still gets 1d6 for an Armor roll but it fails.
The blast of the shotgun seemed especially loud to Tony. He watched the blast go directly at the crotch of the figure [Critical Hit 32] and blow the figure back. The figure falls helpless to the ground moaning in pain. Tony raises his shotgun one more time…and pulls the trigger.
Per the Coup de Grace rule on page 99 of the core rule book, to kill a defenseless Broken character requires a failed Empathy roll (attribute only, no Stress Dice).
As he buried the pitiful figure, Tony rummaged through the pockets of the bloody parka. He found handheld GPS unit. Activating it, he sees there is one saved location about 20 km distant. “Did this figure walk from there,” he wonders. Placing the GPS unit in his own pocket, Tony finishes burying the figure and then turns to repairing his tractor.
Repairs is a skill test using Strength-Heavy Machinery. Tony needs to fix three bogie wheel sets. Each attempt will take a Shift (5-10 hours) of time:
- Set 1: 4d6 (plus Stress Die) = no success.
- Set 1 second attempt: Two success; Tony uses the second success to fix bogey set 2 at the same time.
- Set 3: Two success; fixed in half a shift.
It took him nearly 20 hours but finally the Daihotai is fixed. Exhausted, Tony reenters the tractor. Before collapsing into his bunk, he makes sure the proximity sensors are armed. The last thing he sees before falling fast asleep is the figure’s GPS on the work bench. “Tomorrow,” he promises himself.
TO BE CONTINUED
Feature image courtesy horror-scary.web
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