Steven Cleek (order #5891700)

LEAD GAME DESIGN BY JAY LITTLE

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STAR WARS: EDGE OF THE EMPIRE, X-WING MINIATURES GAME ]

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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)

 INTRODUCTION........................................04
HOW TO PLAY.........................................08
COMBAT & ACTION.................................. 14
DAMAGE, WOUNDS & HEALING............... 17
WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT & GEAR............20
MENTAL STRAIN & MADNESS.................. 21
GM GUIDE: DARK SYMMETRY POOL......23
ADVENTURE: STRAFFAR GATAN 39........25
CHARACTER SHEET: VENTS........................ 43
CHARACTER SHEET: VANCE RYDER .............. 44
CHARACTER SHEET: TSUYOSHI ..................45
CHARACTER SHEET: NIX ..........................46

GAME DESIGN:

JAY LITTLE
PUBLISHER: INTRODUCTION & ADVENTURE:
CHRIS BIRCH GUNNAR ROXEN
ADDITIONAL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT BY:
JOHN DUNN, JASON MARKER, CHRIS BIRCH, MICHAL CROSS AND BENN BEATON
Adventure rules editing by BENN BEATON Mutant Chronicles 3rd Edition & Updated Factions Logos by:
Edited by: LAURA HUTCHINSON ALEX BUND
Layout and graphic design by: MATTHEW COMBEN Interior Artwork by:
Cover Artwork by: PAUL BONNER PAUL BONNER, CHRISTIAN RODRIGO QUINOT
Map by: MATTHEW COMBEN & GUNNAR ROXEN AND JEFF PORTER

Published by: Modiphius Entertainment Ltd Thanks to: Joakim Zetterberg & Fredrik Malmberg at Paradox
www.modiphius.com Entertainment, Leslie Buhler, Michal Cross, Alex Bund,
35 Turneville Road, London. W14 9PS Rita Kokhna and the backers of the Mutant Chronicles
info@modiphius.com 3rd Edition Kickstarter!

MUTANT CHRONICLES and related logos, characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Mutant Chronicles International Inc. All rights reserved. Artwork and graphics © Mutant Chronicles International Inc, except the Modiphius Logo which is
© Modiphius Entertainment Ltd. This is a work of fiction. Any similarity with actual people and events, past or present, is purely coincidental and unintentional except
for those people and events described in an historical context.

Find out more about Mutant Chronicles at www.mutantchroniclesrpg.com, www.facebook.com/mutantchroniclesrpg and www.modiphius.com

Modiphius Entertainment Product Number: 050101FB

Steven Cleek (order #5891700)

 INTRODUCTION
BY GUNNAR ROXEN
WHAT IS MUTANT
CHRONICLES?
Mutant Chronicles is a dieselpunk techno-fantasy game!
Let’s break that down:
DIESELPUNK: The awful power of the Dark Symmetry has
turned the machines and advanced technologies of man
against their maker. Old technologies have been dusted
off and patched up to keep civilisation rolling and the
lights on. Ancient ships are repaired and kept operational
long after they should have been retired. A well-worn,
reliable gun is your best friend. Luna City, a vast and
ancient city, covers much of Earth’s moon. Gargoyles
fight for space with neon signs and corporate adverts in
a world that is one-part noir, and one-part occult horror.
The power of the Dark Symmetry forms a Twisted Marionette.
INTRODUCTION
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TECHNO-FANTASY: A blend of dystopian cyberpunk
intrigue in a larger-than-life world where the
shoulder pads are big and the hair is even bigger!
In the universe of Mutant Chronicles mankind has
fled the devastated Earth, and colonised and
terraformed Luna, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and much
of the Asteroid Belt. It is a world where heroes are
forged and can determine the future of mankind,
but where a dark, ancient, and powerful enemy
from the Dark Soul threatens the very existence
of humanity.
Since the early 1990s, Mutant Chronicles has spawned two
editions of the roleplaying game, several miniatures games
(including Warzone from Prodos Games), a collectable card
game (Doomtrooper), several novels, and even a movie!
 Previous editions of the roleplaying game
were focused on heroic battles by freelancers,
Doomtroopers and corporate military against the
overwhelming hordes of the nightmarish Dark
Legion on the battlefields of Mars, Venus, and
beyond. All of that is still in Mutant Chronicles,
but we have also expanded the background to
include areas that new and existing fans wanted
to see, such as the occult investigations carried
out by freelancers, Luna PD, and corporate
agents as they try to stop the spreading infection
of the Dark Symmetry; a noir-shrouded battle that
is never reported on the evening news.
Humanity in the Mutant Chronicles universe is
divided into a number of factions, and is opposed
by the malevolent legions of the Dark Apostles.
TIMELINE
Mutant Chronicles 3rd Edition expands upon
the previous versions of the roleplaying game
by setting the game across three distinct
time periods.
The first is the new Dark Symmetry period. In
this exciting time you get to play through the
very first appearance of the Dark Apostles, as
the Dark Symmetry quickly takes hold. This
is the apex of technology. The adventure
included in these Beta rules is set in the very
first days of the Dark Symmetry period.
The second period in the timeline is that of
the Dark Legion. Fans will recognise this as
the setting of the original roleplaying game
and the Warzone miniatures game.
The final time period Dark Eden will offer a
fascinating look at the height of the conflict. The
previous version of the roleplaying game began
to explore this period, but we will finally answer
some of the questions the setting raised!
MUTANT
CHRONICLES PRIMER
THE CORPORATIONS
Huge, greedy, and duplicitous, the Corporations
dominate society and the universe of Mutant
Chronicles. In the rush to escape the dead Earth,
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
they swallowed up the roles of nation state and
international conglomerates to form something
new: six corporate nation states, each with their
own distinctive tone and character: HUMAN
CAPITOL
FACTIONS
Big, brash and confident. Capitol is the epitome
of the American dream, bringing together the
culture of North, Central and Latin America.
Viewing itself as the natural leader of humanity
(not a view shared by the other Corporations), CAPITOL
Capitol aims to bring peace, prosperity, and a bold
new future to the solar system. Unfortunately, not
everyone wants a Capitolian vision of the future.
BAUHAUS
Traditional, ordered, and cultured. Bauhaus is
BAUHAUS
strongly influenced by Germanic, Scandinavian,
and European source cultures. Bauhaus has a
strong belief in the inherent correctness of its
system. Everything should have a place, and there
should be a place for everything. This design
aesthetic applies to everything they make from
the smallest pistol to the greatest skyscraper. MISHIMA
Citizens of Bauhaus pride themselves on their
efficiency, a trait outsiders consider arrogance.
MISHIMA
Honour, duty, and sacrifice. Mishima embodies
the conflicting cultures of Shogunate Japan and  IMPERIAL
the might of the 20th Century Japanese keiretsu
corporate giants. Mishima favours the good of all
above that of the individual, and is the undisputed
industrial leader. It is considered polluting and
myopic by outsiders.
 CYBERTRONIC
IMPERIAL
Aggressive, proud and expansionist. A coalition
of bickering Clans with a strong British and
Commonwealth accent, Imperial views itself as
the underdog corporation, and will grab any
chance to grow. It was Imperial’s Conquistadors WHITESTAR
that unwittingly freed the Dark Legion from
its ancient prison in an attempt to explore the
outer reaches of the solar system. Quixotic and
heedless, is what outsiders think.
 YBERTRONIC
C
A newcomer to the scene (appearing in the Dark THE BROTHERHOOD
Legion time period). Cybertronic was primarily
born out of elements of Bauhaus but with smaller
“contributions” from other corporations. It embraces
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 technology in a universe where technology cannot be trusted.
Viewed with suspicion by many outsiders, Cybertronic offers a
striking – and enigmatic – vision of the future.
WHITESTAR
Not technically a corporation. The soldiers of Whitestar, led
by the Tsarina, provide a blunt, no-nonsense counterbalance
to the conspiracy and backstabbing of the corporates.
From their bunkers in Siberia, its warriors range out from
the icy wastes to the depths of space to bring the Tsarina’s
punishment to those who abandoned the homeworld.
THE BROTHERHOOD (THE BROTHERS)
One of the few sources of social aid, the charitable works of
the philanthropic Nathaniel Durand and his brothers in the
Dark Symmetry time period challenge the pure capitalism of
the corporations. By the time of the Dark Legion period they
have become the religious order known as The Brotherhood,
self-appointed protectors of humanity from the Dark Legion.
Able to tap into supernatural abilities that become known
as the Arts, they are one of the few organisations capable of
uniting humanity. However, their
war on Dark Symmetry can often
ensnare the innocent.
Imperial Trencher.
INTRODUCTION
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THE CARTEL
Conceived as a neutral meeting and mediation space for
the corporations, the Cartel is frozen in virtual deadlock,
and has instead become a hotbed of espionage and
intrigue. One of the few true successes that the Cartel
has achieved was the creation of the Doomtroopers in
the Dark Legion time period. Chosen from the best of the
best, the Doomtroopers take the fight to the homelands
of the Dark Apostles, knowing that they are unlikely
to return.
LUNA PD
Originally founded by Capitol in an act of civic patronage,
Luna PD is one of the only true inter-corporate organisations.
It brings together seconded investigators from each of the
great corporations and cops recruited from the population
of Luna. Under-funded and subject to conflicting corporate
masters, Luna PD often hires freelancers for their unique
skills and experience.
FREELANCERS
Freelancers are those who, for one reason or another, have
left the service of the corporations and struck out on their
own. Some do it because they became frustrated
by corporate obstinacy and blindness when it
comes to the threat posed by the Dark Legion;
some because they were on the wrong
side of political games above their pay
grade; and others because they were
motivated by an entrepreneurial
spirit, or simply a desire for more
adventure. Whatever the reason, the
life of a freelancer is hard. Stripped
of the safety net the corporations
provide, they are dependent on
‘off-the-books’ work from shady
corporate executives, contracts with
Luna PD or the Cartel, or “charity” work
with The Brotherhood. What
they lose in terms of
safety is made up
for in freedom.

THE OPPOSITION
THE DARK APOSTLES
Algeroth (Lord of Technology),
Ilian (The Mistress of the Void),
Muawijhe (Lord of Visions), Semai
(Lord of Spite), and Demnogonis
(The Befouler) are the mightiest of
the servants of the Dark Soul. The
Dark Apostles come from an alien
dimension hell-bent on the conquest
and corruption of all who stand in
their way. Humanity is simply the
latest victim for their legions.
HERETICS
Heretics work towards the fall of
humanity in service of the Dark
Apostles. Not everyone who is,
or becomes, a Heretic sets out to
betray his race. Many who serve the
Dark Apostles do so unwittingly,
and would be horrified if they
realised the true consequences
of their actions. Most have
good intentions. Intentions
frustrated by the harsh realities
of the corporations. Whatever
the reason, those with a grudge
to bear are in good company and
are often sought out by other
like-minded people, and ever so
slowly seduced and corrupted by
the Dark Symmetry. Heretics often
bear the dark gifts of their masters.
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
THE SETTING
EARTH
The universe of Mutant Chronicles spans our entire solar system with one
notable exception: Earth. Rendered largely lifeless, what remains is corrupted,
dangerous, and unpredictable. Only the iron will of the Tsarina to hold the
motherland allows the forces of Whitestar to survive here. All others have
died or fled. Earth does not welcome visitors.
LUNA CITY (MAIN SETTING)
Orbiting the dead planet, Luna has become the hub of humanity. Partially
terraformed, grav-plated, and domed in parts, Luna is the greatest city
mankind has ever known, and has engulfed almost the entire surface of
the moon. It is known to locals simply as ‘the City’, only off-worlders call it
Luna City. All of the corporations have major facilities in the City, but only
Cybertronic bases its headquarters here. In the Dark Legion time period Luna
City is home to The Brotherhood Cathedral, centre of worship for the entire
solar system. Luna City is divided into five vast sectors: The Ancient Heart,
Perimeters, Industrial Districts, Spaceports, and the Outskirts. Along with the
official districts, there are two more: The Undercity, and Spaceship Graveyard.
There are plenty of hidden corners within Luna City where the Dark Symmetry
can take root. Luna is the setting of the Straffar Gatan 39 adventure.
INNER SYSTEM(VENUS, MERCURY, MARS, AND ASTEROID BELT)
Colonised by the Corporations, the Inner System worlds are all largely
terraformed. The lush jungles of Venus, mighty cities and plains of Mars,
harsh mining colonies of Mercury, and myriad different environments in
the Asteroid Belt are home to millions of people.
OUTER SYSTEM (JUPITER, SATURN, NEPTUNE, URANUS, PLUTO, AND NERO)
Never heavily colonised, when the Dark Symmetry is unleashed by Imperial
Conquistadors, the Dark Legion conquers its way across most of the colonies
and outposts here, leaving only a few on scattered moons. Quickly the Outer
System becomes the heartland of the Dark Legion.
CONTENTS OF THE
BETA TEST VERSION:
The Beta Test version of Mutant Chronicles contains the V5.0 Beta rules
developed by Jay Little to get playing quickly, and an introductory adventure,
Straffar Gatan 39, written by me, sci-fi noir author Gunnar Roxen. It is set during
the first days of the conflict with the Dark Apostles (in the Dark Symmetry period).
Can your players solve the mysterious disappearance of the residents and bizarre
happenings in the crumbling tenement before it is too late?
As always we want your feedback for the Beta rules will help us
make the final tweaks needed before release. Please share your
feedback in our Beta Playtest forum http://bit.ly/MjlPY6
So enough talk, time to get out there and take the battle to the Dark Legion,
whether it is on the blood-stained fields of Mars or in the shadows of a
corporate tower in Luna!
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 CHAPTER 01

HOW TO PLAY
This Public Beta document includes a very stripped down, bare bones version
of the Mutant Chronicles 3rd Edition RPG system. If you would like to take
part in the main Beta test and see the full rules please go to:
www.modiphius.com/playtest-team.html We would love your feedback in our forum:
www.modiphius.com/forum.html#/mutant-chronicles-playtest-discu/

DICE ROLLS
When making a skill test using a skill with
A number of actions performed by the which a player has ranks of expertise
WHAT YOU NEED player characters or NPCs require dice training, expertise ranks are added to
rolls. When rolling dice, lower results are the related attribute to indicate the
To get the most out of better than higher results. This is true with target number at which a player will
the MC3 rules and begin both d20s and d6s, but there are slight achieve a success.
your adventures, access differences with how the two dice types
to the following items is are evaluated. Adam’s character is specifically asked to
strongly recommended: make a Science skill test. Adam’s character
THE SKILL TEST has two ranks of Expertise in the Science
 LAYERS:
P skill. Adam adds the ranks of Science
One Game Master Expertise to his Intelligence rating of 9.
and one to four player ATTRIBUTES Adam will generate a success on a result
characters. of 11 or less (9 + 2) on one or more d20s.
Each character is defined by eight
PREGENS: attributes. To perform a basic skill test, a SUCCESS & FOCUS
One pre-generated player rolls 2d20 and tries to roll equal to
character sheet for each or lower than the tested skill’s attribute on To pass a skill test, the player needs
player character. one or both dice. to generate a success on one or both
of the d20s rolled. If the player rolls
DICE: For example, Adam is asked to make a equal to or less than the attribute plus
Two d20s per player, a skill test for his character’s Intelligence. ranks of skill expertise, he generates
dozen or more d6s for Adam’s investigator has Intelligence 9 one success.
the group. and no related training in the skill. When
making a skill test based on Intelligence, Skill training can also improve one’s
PAPER & PENCIL: Adam wants to roll 9 or less on at least one Focus with a particular skill. Focus
To draw maps, keep of the two d20s he will roll. indicates a range within which a player
notes, and track generates additional successes when
conditions. SKILLS & EXPERTISE using the related skill. If a player rolls
equal to or less than the skill’s Focus
TOKENS OR BEADS: Skill tests call on a particular skill, which is rating on a d20, the skill test generates
Five per player character a focused application within an attribute. an additional success. Since basic skill
to track Chronicle points, For example, Knowledge and Science are tests have the player rolling 2d20, it is
a dozen or more for the skills based on the Intelligence attribute. possible for multiple dice to roll equal
Game Master’s Dark A player may have one or more ranks of to or less than a skill’s Focus rating,
Symmetry pool. expertise training with a particular skill, or which would then trigger one additional
may be asked to attempt a skill test using a success for each die that falls within the
skill in which he has no expertise training. skill’s Focus rating.

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 Adam makes a Science skill test against his charactor’s
Intelligence 9 and Science Expertise 2. Adam also has
Science Focus 2, meaning any die result of 1 or 2 on
a d20 will generate an additional success. Adam rolls
2 and 8 on his 2d20. Both numbers are equal to or
less than the character’s Intelligence +
Science Expertise, which generates two
successes (one for each die). The 2 is
also equal to or less than the character’s
ranks of Science Focus, which generates one
additional success. For this skill test, Adam has
generated a total of three successes.

UNSKILLED SKILL TESTS

When a character attempts a skill test using a skill he
has no ranks of expertise training in, it is referred to
as an unskilled test. The difficulty of an unskilled test
depends on whether the test uses a general skill or an
advanced skill.

GENERAL SKILL: When performing an unskilled test

of a general skill, the player rolls 2d20 and attempts
to roll equal to or less than the skill’s related attribute.
Unless modified by a talent or some other ability, the
best result a character can generate with an unskilled
test is two successes, one for each d20.

ADVANCED SKILL:
Attempting an advanced
skill without expertise
training is significantly more
challenging. First, the lack of
training with an advanced skill
increases the difficulty by one step. Second,
a character is considered Impaired while
attempting an advanced skill with no training,
which means the critical failure range on
each die is increased from 20 to 19-20.

SUCCESS & COMPLICATION

When rolling multiple d20s for a skill
test, it is possible to have both very
good and very bad results occurring
during the same test. A character could
roll one success on one die, and a natural
20 on the second die. In this way, a character
can pass a skill test with complications. Each
natural 20 is still resolved, regardless of how
many successes are generated, even if the skill
Mishima will cut the Dark Legion from their lands!
test was passed.

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 CRITICAL FAILURE
Critical failure occurs when a character does not generate
enough successes to pass the test, and also rolls one or
more natural 20s. When critical failure occurs, the GM
has the opportunity to either impose a consequence or
complication to the task resolution for each natural 20
rolled, or add two Dark Symmetry points to his pool.
OVERCOMING THE ODDS
success (Coordination 11 + Expertise 2), and any d20s rolling
1-3 (Focus 3) will generate one additional success.
OPPOSED SKILL TESTS
When two or more characters are competing for success,
each character involved in the task performs a skill test.
The character who achieves the most successes wins the
opposed test. In the case of a tie, the character with the
higher expertise training in the tested skill wins.

The players may often be faced with skill tests that require
a lucky roll in order to pass the test. It can seem like the
universe is stacked against them. Here is one way for the
players to mitigate the difficulty of skill tests.
SEIZING OPPORTUNITY
Players have the ability to improve their chances for success
– or generate multiple successes – by adding more d20s to a
roll during a skill test. The players purchase these additional
d20s by paying the GM one Dark Symmetry point (DSP) per
die purchased.
MOMENTUM
When the number of successes generated in a skill test
is greater than the difficulty rating, the skill test not only
passes, but results in a higher quality or magnitude of effect.
The difference between the number of successes generated
and the difficulty rating becomes Momentum – a resource
the player can use to fuel a variety of different effects. For
example, in combat, this Momentum may allow a character
to inflict additional damage, target a specific location, or
disarm an opponent.

For example, Adam Archer is attempting to shoot a
Necromutant behind cover from long range. The GM
determines it will be a Daunting D3 Ranged (Co) skill test. Adam
Archer has Coordination 11, Ranged Expertise 2, and Focus 3.
Adam has a chance to succeed without additional dice, but
wants to make sure he not only hits, but also generates some
bonus successes to inflict some extra damage.
Adam’s character generates three successes after passing
an Average (Difficulty 1) Science test. Not only does the
character pass the test, he has two Momentum (three
successes minus D1 rating) that he can spend to improve
the magnitude or quality of the Science test, such as
completing the task in less time, or learning an additional
piece of information.

Adam Archer chooses to add 2d20 to his roll. He pays the Some special talents or affiliation abilities may increase
GM two Dark Symmetry points (one for each d20) and rolls the amount of Momentum a character generates while
a total of 4d20 for the skill test, dramatically improving his performing specific types of skill tests. Here are some
chances to hit. Each d20 rolling 13 or less will generate one sample Momentum spends characters can use:

BENEFIT MOMENTUM GUIDELINES

BONUS A character can increase the damage inflicted by a successful attack.

DAMAGE 1 / D6
Each momentum spent adds +1d6 damage.

CALLED SHOT 1 The character chooses the hit location for the current attack.

DEVASTATING Roll a second hit location for the target. That hit location suffers half the current
BLOW 2
attack’s damage, rounded down.

RE-ROLL 1 The player may re-roll any number of damage dice from the current attack.
DAMAGE

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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
 SKILL TEST
DIFFICULTY
Skill tests have a difficulty rating
that indicates the minimum
number of successes the
character needs to generate to
pass the test.

The default skill test is Average

difficulty, represented by D1,
meaning the player must
generate one success to pass
the skill test. As the difficulty
rating increases, more successes
are required to pass the skill test.
Some skill tests are so difficult
that a character may not be
able to generate the required
number of successes without
Capitol passenger transport.
some type of assistance.

DIFFICULTY RATING EXAMPLE

• Breaking down a flimsy door.
AVERAGE D1 • Shooting a stationary target at close range.
• Piloting a vehicle over rocky terrain.

• Breaking down a solid door.

CHALLENGING D2 • Shooting a stationary target at medium range.
• Piloting a vehicle over rocky terrain in torrential rain.

• Breaking down a reinforced door.

DAUNTING D3 • Shooting a moving target at long range.
• Piloting a damaged vehicle over hazardous terrain during a thunderstorm.

• Breaking down a steel core door.

• Shooting a moving target with partial cover at long range at night.
DIRE D4
• Piloting a damaged vehicle over hazardous terrain dotted with land mines during a
storm, while being pursued by Necromutants.

• Breaking down a top tier security door reinforced by dark energy.

• Shooting at a small moving target with cover at long range at night during a hailstorm,
EPIC D5 while suffering a critical wound to the head.
• Piloting a vehicle that is about to explode, without sensors, through a rocky minefield in
monsoon conditions, with a pack of ezo-ghouls on your tail.

For example Mitch Hunter, with Agility 12 , and Expertise 3 and Focus 1 in Acrobatics, is jumping across a chasm, while
being shot at. The GM rules this as a Challenging (D2) skill test. The D2 difficulty rating means Mitch Hunter must
generate two successes to pass the test. Mitch rolls 2d20 for the skill test. Without any other modifiers impacting the skill
test, Mitch Hunter would need to roll 15 or less on both dice (Agility 12 + 3 Expertise), or roll a natural 1 on either die
(Focus 1) to generate the two successes required to pass the test.

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 As a general guideline, for every two
common factors affecting a skill test,
the GM increases the difficulty by one.
Here are some other common factors
that may affect difficulty.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
Low or flickering lights, a slippery
floor, violent winds.

 PPONENT’S ACTION: Someone

O
is shooting at you, an opponent is
actively trying to avoid you, you
have been deceived by someone.

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: The

task is based on an especially long
distance, there is limited room to
operate, the object of the test is
shielded.

SOCIAL FACTORS: The character

is out of favour with the target, the
character is from a rival corporation,
the character has committed a
severe social faux pas.

SPECIALISED ACTION: Performing

neurosurgery, reprogramming a
sophisticated computer, forging
high end documents.

 IMITED EXPOSURE: Dealing with

L
unknown technology, investigating
an obscure cult, reading a
document in a foreign language,
time constraints.

CHRONICLE
POINTS
Player characters have access to
a special type of resource called
Chronicle points, or CPs, that players
are encouraged to spend to influence
the story, and perform heroic actions.
Chronicle points may also be awarded
by the GM during a session to reward
players for good roleplaying, clever
plans, successfully overcoming difficult
challenges, or using teamwork. Players
Sean Gallagher of the Imperial Wolfbanes.
may have other opportunities to

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 gain Chronicle points by achieving certain goals within an
encounter, reaching a milestone in the story, or choosing to
be the one to suffer the consequences of some dire event.
Here are just a few of the ways Chronicle points can be spent
during play:
 DD AN AUTO-SUCCESS D20 TO A SKILL CHECK:
A point for each d20 the player would like to add. These
A player can add an extra d20 to any skill test for one
Chronicle point. The extra die is placed on the “1” face,
and automatically generates successes as if it were rolled
as part of the skill test. This can also be done after a
failed skill test, but costs two Chronicle points instead
of one.
 ERFORM AN ADDITIONAL ACTION: During combat,
P
a player character can usually only perform one combat
action on his turn. By spending a Chronicle point, he can
perform a second combat action.
 ECOVER LIGHT WOUNDS: A player character can
R spectacular results with their characters. There are detailed
catch his breath and recover all light wounds in one hit
location by spending a Chronicle point.
For example, Brand Barton is attempting to shoot a
Necromutant behind cover from long range during heavy
rains. The GM determines it will be a Daunting D3 Ranged
(Co) skill test. Brand Barton has Coordination 12, Ranged
Expertise 1, and Focus 2. Before rolling, Brand Barton decides
to spend one Chronicle point to add a natural 1 to his results,
which generates two successes since it falls within that skill’s
Focus rating. Brand Barton now only needs to generate one
more success on the 2d20 in order to pass the D3 skill test.
DARK SYMMETRY POINTS
The GM begins play with a number of tokens in his Dark
Symmetry pool. The Dark Symmetry pool reflects the
growing threat of the dark forces at work in the setting,
adding a sense of foreboding and unease. A variety of
different game events allow the GM to add more tokens to
the Dark Symmetry pool. For example, a powerful artefact,
a cursed location, or a terrifying enemy may generate Dark
Symmetry points. But the players themselves are the main
source of Dark Symmetry points. Players may inadvertently,
or consciously, increase the Dark Symmetry pool. Here
are just a few examples of how the players may add Dark
Symmetry points:
slipping over, edging too far out of cover, or accidentally
insulting who they are talking to).
IMPROVE THE ODDS: A skill test may be too difficult
for a player character to comfortably generate enough
successes. The player can purchase additional d20s to
roll during a skill test at the cost of one Dark Symmetry
must be purchased before the skill test.
VOLUNTARY FAILURE: Sometimes, the odds are
stacked against the player so heavily that rather than
risk a roll and having something catastrophic happen, a
player may add one token to the Dark Symmetry pool
and choose to voluntarily fail at the task at hand.
The GM has the opportunity to spend the points in the Dark
Symmetry pool for a variety of effects (see the Adventure in
this booklet). The GM’s use of the Dark Symmetry pool is
similar to how the players use Chronicle points to achieve
guidelines in the Dark Symmetry section of this document,
but here are just a few examples of what the GM may spend
Dark Symmetry points on:
ACTIVATING NPCS: One of the key functions of the
Dark Symmetry pool is to manage the various NPCs the
players may encounter. NPCs automatically act after the
characters, but a GM can pay Dark Symmetry points
to activate them and interrupt the character’s actions.
Particularly powerful NPCs may require Dark Symmetry
points to trigger some of their most potent abilities.
INTERRUPTING PLAYER CHARACTERS: As long as
a player has not already rolled the dice for a skill test,
the GM may spend Dark Symmetry points to introduce
a wrinkle or complication the characters may have to
contend with before advancing the story.

 RITICAL FAILURE: When a character critically fails a skill

C
test the GM adds two Dark Symmetry points to the pool,
OR introduces a Complication for the player (such as

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 CHAPTER 02

COMBAT & ACTIONS

Combat should play out dramatically, with pulse-pounding, action-packed encounters.
Characters have a number of resources at their disposal to accomplish cinematic feats
of heroism. With access to momentum, Chronicle points, and the ability to purchase
bonus dice for skill tests, players can strategise and get the most out of their
characters during combat.

INITIATIVE & TURN ORDER FREE ACTIONS

Each round, the players agree on the order in which their During your turn, your character may perform one or more
characters will take their turns. After all player characters of the following Free Actions. A character may perform as
have acted, each of the GM-controlled characters take their many Free Actions as he wishes, but cannot perform the
turns in whichever order the GM chooses. same Free Action more than once during his turn.

The GM has the opportunity to interrupt the player characters’
turns in order to allow a GM controlled character to take its turn
earlier. The GM spends Dark Symmetry points from his pool to
trigger the NPCs.
If players spend too much time discussing action rather than
acting, the GM may wish to warn the players that their inaction
may lead to empowering the Dark Symmetry. If players
continue to take too long, or argue among themselves about
turn order, the GM adds one Dark Symmetry point to his pool.
The sight of a growing Dark Symmetry pool should spur them
into action!
SURPRISE
A character or group attempting to set an ambush designates
a leader, who makes a Stealth skill test. The group reacting to
the surprise designates a leader, who makes an Observation
skill test.
ADJUST STANCE: A character can adjust his stance, change
his body position, or move up to a meter away.
FALL PRONE / STAND: A character can drop to the ground
or stand up if already prone. Whilst prone he may only move
by crawling.
SPEAK: A character may talk to nearby allies, scream a war
cry, threaten a political opponent, or otherwise converse with
a few sentences or phrases.
CHAINED ACTIONS
A character may perform a Chained Action by itself as his
Standard Action for the turn, but a Chained Action’s strength
lies in its ability to be used as part of sequence or combination,
where it is followed by a Standard Action. On his turn, a
character may perform one Chained Action followed by a
Standard Action, or two Chained Actions back-to-back.

If the ambushing group generates more successes than their
intended targets, the ambush is a success. Each character
in the ambushing group gains a bonus d20 on their action
for the turn. If the ambush failed, the members of the group
who noticed the ambush may perform their actions for the
turn before the failed ambushers.
COMBAT ACTIONS
The three main types of actions are Free Actions, Chained
Actions, and Standard Actions. There is also a special fourth
type of action, the Response Action.
When a character performs a Chained Action, any skill test
performed during the Standard Action that follows has its
difficulty rating increased by one rank, so an Average D1 test
would become a Challenging D2 test.
AIM: A character takes extra time readying his next close
combat or ranged attack. When a character takes this action,
he must have a weapon ready, and declare a target for the
attack. The attack skill test gains +1 Expertise, +1 Focus,
and +1d6 damage if the attack succeeds. If the target is no
longer within range when the attack occurs, the benefits of
the Aim action are lost.

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 CHANGE LOAD/RELOAD: A character can change the Ammo
Load for a carried weapon with any other type of compatible
Ammo Load he is carrying. If a weapon is jammed or out of
ammo, the character can use this action to clear the jam or reload.
MANIPULATE ENVIRONMENT: The character can
interact with, or manipulate, the surrounding environment.
Depending on the scene, this could mean activating levers,
opening a door, knocking over a table, or swiping an identity
card. This action also allows a character to declare he is
taking advantage of available cover.
MOVEMENT: A character may move up to his Agility rating
in meters, in any direction he chooses. A character can use
movement to advance into a close combat engagement, but
safely moving out of a close combat engagement requires
the Withdraw action.
STANDARD ACTIONS
A character can perform only one Standard Action on his turn,
unless a special ability (such as spending a Chronicle point)
allows otherwise. A character can perform a Standard Action
immediately after a Chained Action. When performed after
A dreaded Malignant discovers its prey.
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a Chained Action, any skill test attempted with the Standard
Action has its difficulty rating increased by one rank.
ATTACK, CLOSE COMBAT: The character attacks an
adjacent target (NPC, Character, or Object) either with their
bare hands or an equipped melee weapon.
ATTACK, RANGED: The character attacks a target with
whom he is not currently engaged in melee. Ranged attacks
use ranged weapons such as a bow, automatic weapon, or
heavy support weapon. If the target of a ranged attack has
not already performed a Response Action, he may attempt
a Dodge Response Action as long as he is aware of the
attacker and has the necessary room to avoid the attack.
READY ACTION: The character may declare he is waiting
for a certain condition to occur before performing an action
such as firing at a necromutant when he stands up from
behind cover, or closing a security gate immediately after
the last party member passes by.
RECOVER: When a character is suffering from a temporary
status effect such as Impaired, he may be able to attempt a
Resistance test to prematurely end the condition.
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 SHAKE IT OFF: The character may attempt a Willpower
test to recover one light wound box from the hit location
of his choice or one mental wound box. The character
can recover one additional light or mental wound box for
each Momentum spent from the test. The difficulty of the
Willpower test is based on the severity of the character’s
wounds. If a character is only suffering from light wounds, it
is an Average D1 Willpower test. If the character is suffering
from serious wounds, it is a Challenging D2 Willpower test.
If the character is critically wounded, it is a Daunting D3
Willpower test
SPRINT: The character may sprint twice his Agility rating in
meters. Sprinting over difficult terrain requires a Challenging
D2 Athletics test to maintain footing. If the test fails, the
character only covers half the distance. Ranged attacks made
against a character who is sprinting (by using a readied action,
for example) have their difficulty rating increased by one step.
RESPONSE ACTIONS
Response Actions do not occur during a character’s turn,
but are special actions triggered by some event, such as
an enemy attacking. No matter how many different events
Mitch Hunter takes on the Dark Legion.
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occur that could potentially trigger a response, a character
can only perform one Response Action per round. Here are
some example Response Actions:
COVERING FIRE: A character can declare he is supporting
another character with covering fire using an equipped
ranged weapon. The character providing covering fire
must have line of sight to either the character he is
supporting or the enemy combatants being suppressed
by covering fire.
The character providing covering fire expends one Ammo
Load for the equipped weapon. Until the supporting
character’s next turn, any ranged or close combat attacks
made against the assisted character have their difficulty
rating increased by one rank. Multiple characters can provide
covering fire to support one character.
DODGE: After being declared the target of a ranged attack,
a character can perform a Dodge Response Action as
long as he is aware of the attacker, and has the necessary
room to avoid the attack. The ranged attack now becomes
an opposed test, opposed by the defending character’s
Acrobatics skill.
 CHAPTER 03
DAMAGE, WOUNDS & HEALING
DAMAGE RATINGS
When an attack hits its target, the player should roll the
number of d6s listed with the weapon’s damage rating.
A damage roll of 1 or 2 contributes that much damage to
the attack. Any damage die result of 3+ is ignored. Any
damage generated by the damage dice is then added to
the weapon’s fixed value, if present.
For example, Brand Barton successfully shoots a heretic
with his heavy pistol. The weapon has a damage rating
of 3d6 + 2. The player rolls three six-sided dice and
generates 1, 2, and 5. The attack inflicts 5 base damage
(3 damage from the dice + 2 static value). The roll of 5
is ignored.
MOMENTUM
If a character passes his combat attack test and generates
Momentum, there are a number of options for spending
that Momentum. One of the most common options is to
spend the Momentum for extra damage dice. Each point
of momentum spent allows a character to add 1d6 to the
attack’s damage.
For example, Brand Barton rolled well enough with his initial
Ranged Combat skill test to generate three Momentum.
He decides to spend one Momentum to clear a weapon
jam, and spends the remaining two Momentum for two
extra damage dice. On these two dice he rolls 2 and 3. The
momentum dice add two more damage to the attack for a
total of 8 damage (5 base + 1 bonus + 2 Momentum).
HIT LOCATIONS
Each attack will strike an opponent in one or more hit
locations. In most situations, only one hit location is
determined per attack. To determine hit location, the player
rolls 1d20 and looks up the result on the hit location chart
on their character sheet. Some special talents or Momentum
can modify the roll or allow the player to choose the attack’s
hit location.
To speed things up during combat, a player should roll the
d20 for hit location along with any damage dice being rolled
for the attack.
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COVER
A character benefits from cover when he is adjacent
to a piece of the environment that obstructs a clear line
of sight or limits the visible target silhouette. Cover
is either considered Light or Heavy depending on its
construction.
When a target with cover is attacked, he rolls d6s based on
the type of cover he is benefiting from. Any wounds
generated on these Soak dice by the defender are subtracted
from the incoming damage.
Light Cover is generally flimsy and provides more
concealment than protection. Wood, plexi-glass, and
reinforced aluminium panels would be examples of Light
Cover. Light cover provides 2d6 Soak.
Heavy Cover is generally more sturdy, and provides both
concealment and protection. Cover may be designated as
Heavy because it conceals a significant amount of the target
silhouette or is made of sturdy materials. Heavy crates,
concrete pilings, or a car would be examples of Heavy
Cover. Heavy Cover provides 4d6 Soak.
DAMAGE & WOUNDS
After an attack’s damage has been calculated – based
on a weapon’s damage rating, any bonus damage, and
Momentum – the amount of damage is compared to the
target’s Soak value for the hit location affected.
If the Soak value is equal to or greater than the
damage total, the target is protected and suffers no
wounds. If the Soak value is less than the damage
total, the target suffers wounds to the affected hit
location equal to the difference.
Brand Barton hits a heretic with his Ruger heavy
pistol for 8 damage to the left leg. The heretic is
wearing heavy robes, which provide Soak 1, and is
behind Light Cover, which also provides 2d6 Soak.
The total Soak value is subtracted from the attack’s
damage. The remainder are wounds – Brand Barton’s
attack inflicts 6 wounds (8 damage - 2 Soak) to the
heretic’s left leg.
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 WOUND LEVELS
A character can withstand only so many wounds before
being incapacitated, or worse. Each character has three
different types of wounds, reflecting increasingly dangerous
levels of injury. The three wound types are light wounds,
serious wounds, and critical wounds.
LIGHT WOUNDS
A character’s light wounds represent sprains, scratches,
bruises, and other minor injuries that are an annoyance but
not a significant hindrance. Each hit location can suffer a
different amount of light wounds before the injuries become
more serious.
When an attack inflicts wounds, they are subtracted from a
hit location’s light wounds first. For each wound, cross off
one empty light wound box for that hit location. If all light
wound boxes for that hit location have been crossed off, the
remaining wounds are crossed off the character’s serious
wound limit.
SERIOUS WOUNDS
As their name implies, serious wounds are significantly
worse than light wounds. Serious wounds reflect tears, cuts,
contusions, and similar injuries. Once a hit location is out
of light wound boxes, any remaining damage is suffered as
serious wounds.
CRITICAL WOUNDS
Critical wounds reflect the most debilitating, potentially life-
threatening injuries a character can suffer. Critical wounds
can be broken bones, mangled limbs, severe tissue damage,
or other traumatic injuries. Once a character has crossed off
all serious wounds, any additional wounds are suffered as
critical wounds.
When a character has one or more critical wound boxes
crossed off, he is considered Critically Injured. Critically
Injured is a status effect, which will afflict the character until
he has recovered from all critical wounds.
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DEADLY STATUS
EFFECTS & CONDITIONS
A number of horrific, debilitating effects are associated with
critical injuries and severe wounds.
The following conditions may be the effects of a weapon or
a critical injury. These status effects can also be generated
by weapons, talents, the Arts, Dark Symmetry, or the
environment.
CRITICALLY INJURED
While a character has one or more critical wound boxes
crossed off, he is considered Critically Injured. This condition
carries with it several severe penalties:
 Critically Injured character acts last during a combat
A
round, after all player characters and GM controlled
characters have acted.
 Critically Injured person is automatically Staggered.
A
A Staggered character can perform either one Chained
or one Standard Action on his turn, but not both. A
Staggered character cannot perform a Response Action
unless he spends one Chronicle point.
 Critically Injured person is automatically Overwhelmed.
A
An Overwhelmed character has his critical failure range
increased from 20 to 18-20. He takes one point of mental
health damage
IMPAIRED
Impaired is a condition that can be afflicted in a number of
ways, from excessive mental damage to critical injury, fear,
or the presence of a powerful entity of the Dark Symmetry.
When a character is Impaired, his critical failure range
increases by one, from 20 to 19-20.
OVERWHELMED
Overwhelmed is a more severe condition than Impaired.
An Impaired character who suffers another effect that
would inflict Impaired becomes Overwhelmed instead. If
a character is already Impaired and an effect would cause
him to become Overwhelmed, his condition worsens to
Overwhelmed.
When a character is Overwhelmed, his critical failure range is
increased by two, from 20 to 18-20.
 SERIOUSLY INJURED
While a character has one or more
serious wound boxes crossed off but
has not crossed off any critical wound
boxes, he is considered Seriously
Injured. Seriously Injured characters
are automatically Impaired.

When a character is Impaired, his

critical failure range increases by
one, from 20 to 19-20.

HEALING
OPTIONS
There are a number of ways a
character can be injured. This Open
Beta just covers First Aid. One of
the characters has a Medkit, which
is described on the character sheet.

FIRST AID
First Aid uses the Treatment skill
to help a character recover light
wounds. First Aid can also be used
to wake someone who has been
knocked unconscious. First Aid
cannot be used to recover serious
wounds or critical wounds, but can
be used to recover light wounds to
a character suffering from serious or
critical wounds.

Providing First Aid to a character

with only light wounds is an
Average D1 Treatment test. First
Aid on a seriously injured character
is a Challenging D2 Treatment
test. First Aid on a Critically
Injured character is a Daunting
D3 Treatment test. A character
may attempt to provide First Aid
to himself, but the difficulty of the
test is increased by one step.

If a character passes the Treatment

test, the recipient recovers
one light wound, plus one
additional light wound for each
?????????
Mishima Demon Hunter prepares for battle.
Momentum spent.

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 CHAPTER 04
WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT & GEAR
EQUIPMENT IS DEFINED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT QUALITIES, FROM THEIR
OVERALL ENCUMBRANCE TO EFFECTIVE RANGES AND DAMAGE FOR WEAPONS.
A FEW SAMPLE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ARE PROVIDED HERE.
CLOSE COMBAT WEAPONS
These weapons require one or both hands to wield and
strike opponents in the same melee engagement as the
attacker. They use the Close Combat skill. A character may
attempt to use a two-handed weapon in one hand, but must
increase the difficulty of any Close Combat or Parry tests by
two steps.
RANGED WEAPONS
These weapons require one or both hands to wield and fire
at opponents at range, and use the Ranged skill. A character
with a one-handed weapon can attempt to fire at a target
in the same melee engagement, but must increase the
difficulty of any Ranged tests by two steps. A character may
attempt to use a two-handed weapon in one hand, but must
increase the difficulty of any Ranged tests by two steps.
Ranged weapons have an effective range. A target within
its range rating can be attacked without a range penalty. A
target up to twice the effective range can be attacked, but
the attack difficulty is increased by one step. Targets beyond
twice the effective range cannot be attacked.
SPECIAL TRAITS
ARMOUR PIERCING ROUNDS
A ranged weapon loaded with armour piercing rounds
halves the protection of armour Soak (rounded down) and
reduces the benefit of cover Soak by 2d6.
BURSTFIRE
A weapon with burstfire can shoot several bullets in a short,
controlled burst with each pull of the trigger. A character
must declare Burstfire before rolling, and indicate how many
loads he is going to use, up to the weapon’s Burstfire rating.
Each load spent during Burstfire adds 1d20 to the attack roll.
For each attack die that results in a critical failure, the attack
consumes one additional load. If this empties the weapon’s
clip, the weapon also jams.
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CLOSE QUARTERS
A ranged weapon with close quarters can be used against
targets in the same melee engagement without penalty.
KNOCKDOWN
A weapon with knockdown can knock down a humanoid
sized target up to 200 kg by spending Momentum equal to
its knockdown rating. It can affect a target 100 kg larger for
each additional Momentum spent.
PIERCE
A weapon with Pierce reduces armour Soak values by an
amount equal to its Pierce rating.
SPREAD
A weapon with Spread affects a larger area, making it more
difficult to dodge. Dodge attempts made against a weapon
with Spread are more difficult by one step.
STUN
When a weapon with the Stun trait hits a target in the head,
the target also suffers mental damage equal to half the
attack’s total damage, rounded down.
AMMO LOADS
Ranged weapons without the Burstfire trait lose an Ammo
Load when a critical failure is rolled. The character must spend
an action reloading before they can use the weapon again.
If a character rolls a critical failure whilst using a ranged
weapon without the Burstfire trait the GM may cause the
character to use up one Ammo Load as a complication,
instead of drawing 2 Dark Symmetry points. The character
must spend an action reloading before they can use the
weapon again.
 CHAPTER 05

MENTAL STRAIN & MADNESS

MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE ERODED BY TERROR, FEAR, OR PSIONIC ATTACKS. TOO
MUCH MENTAL STRAIN MAY LEAD TO MADNESS AND INSANITY.

MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTY RATING TRIGGERING EVENT

For each point of mental damage the character suffers, one
mental health box is crossed off. Mental health measures
how much emotional and mental strain a character can
withstand before suffering ill effects. Effects that wear away
at a character’s mental health include fear, insanity, the
corruption of possessions, and the horrific experience of
severe bodily harm.
SEVERITY OF MENTALLY TRAUMATIC EVENTS
Effects that have the potential to wear away at a character’s
mental health require the character to attempt a Willpower
skill test. Some triggering effects have a specific difficulty
rating associated with them, such as a creature’s Fear rating,
while others are determined by the GM based on the situation.
AVERAGE D1: Surprised by a dead body. The first
time suffering a serious wound in an encounter. Being
significantly outnumbered by enemy combatants. A
stressful negotiation with temperamental people.
CHALLENGING D2: Surprised by a grisly scene. The first
time suffering a critical wound in an encounter. Being
significantly outclassed by powerful enemy combatants.
Encountering a powerful, intimidating opponent like a
Nepharite.
DAUNTING D3: Witnessing or encountering an atrocity.
Suffering a life threatening injury or loss of a limb. A severe
psionic assault. Encountering a terrifying opponent like
an Ezo-Ghoul.

Captain Mitch Hunter leads a Cartel assault on Mars.

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 San Dorado, Mars.
DIRE D4: Witnessing the annihilation of a planet. Being
involved in an atrocity. Facing avatars of the Dark Apostles.
EPIC D5: Something truly diabolic and mind-shattering –
witnessing such a thing could lead to a complete mental
breakdown.
RESOLVING A TRAUMATIC EVENT
If a character fails the Willpower test, he is traumatised
by the event. The character becomes the victim of a
mental assault.
MENTAL ASSAULT
To resolve a mental assault, the GM rolls d6s equal to the
difficulty rating of the failed test, plus one additional d6 for
each Dark Symmetry point he is willing to spend from his
pool. The character suffers mental damage equal to the
damage results on the dice with a minimum of one.
CRITICAL FAILURE ON WILLPOWER TESTS
Each natural 20 or critical failure generated on the Willpower
skill test automatically inflicts one point of mental health
damage each, regardless of whether or not the character
passed the skill test.
THAT WAY LIES MADNESS
When a character suffers five or more mental health damage
from one triggering event, or if a character has no more
mental health boxes remaining, the character’s psyche
starts to crack. Rules for madness are detailed in full in the
core rules, but for the purposes of this Beta we are using a
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simplified system. The first time this happens the character
gains the state Impaired. If the character takes an additional
five or more mental health damage they then gain the state
Overwhelmed.
The character suffers from the state listed until the end of
the current day, at which point he can attempt to recover
through natural rest.
RECOVERING FROM
MENTAL DAMAGE AND
TRAUMA
Characters can recover mental health in a variety of ways,
and also have options to treat mental trauma, which are
detailed in the full rules.
TREATMENT
The treating character attempts a Challenging D2 skill test.
If the test passes, the patient recovers one mental health,
plus one additional mental health per momentum spent,
and reduces their mental state by one level. If they are
Overwhelmed they become Impaired. If they were Impaired
they are no longer suffering from a mental state.
NATURAL REST
After a full night of restful sleep, a character can attempt
an Average D1 Willpower test. If the test succeeds, the
character recovers one mental health plus one additional
health for each momentum spent. If the character is currently
Impaired or Overwhelmed, the difficulty of the Willpower
test is increased by one step.
 CHAPTER 06
GM GUIDE: DARK SYMMETRY POOL
THE DARK SYMMETRY POOL IS COMPOSED OF A NUMBER OF DARK SYMMETRY
POINTS, BEST REPRESENTED BY A POOL OF SIX-SIDED DICE IN FRONT OF THE GM.
The GM begins each session with a certain number of Dark
Symmetry points already in his pool. As the pool grows and
shrinks it can build tension and suspense for the characters.
A large pool tells the players things may be looking grim,
as the GM has ways to start making their lives complicated
very quickly. Conversely, players may grow in confidence
as the pool dwindles, seeing that their actions have been
suppressing the influence of the Dark Symmetry.
WHAT IT REPRESENTS
The Dark Symmetry pool is a game mechanic that reflects
a key element of the Mutant Chronicles setting. The
Dark Symmetry is an insidious, corrupting influence, which
pervades the culture, resources, and technology of societies.
It warps the minds and bodies of heretics, and empowers
ghastly creatures from a darker, more sinister reality.
The GM spends points from the pool to fuel certain special
effects, trigger events, or introduce complications that the
player characters must contend with. These complications
represent the subtle but ubiquitous presence of the Dark
Symmetry’s foul influence.
STARTING DARK
SYMMETRY POINTS
At the beginning of each session, the GM begins with a
certain number of Dark Symmetry points already in his pool.
The pool begins with one Dark Symmetry point for the total
number of Chronicle points the player characters have.
There are a number of different people, places, or items that
can potentially generate Dark Symmetry for the GM. These
will be described fully in the core rules.
DARK SYMMETRY GAINS
Here is a brief summary of the various ways a GM can gain
Dark Symmetry points:
Each 20 or critical failure generated by players = 2 (or a
complication)
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Player voluntarily fails a skill test = 1
Players purchase an additional d20 for a skill test = 1
USING THE DARK
SYMMETRY POOL
The Dark Symmetry pool provides a fun way for the GM
to embrace his role, and to spark his creativity with a host
of options to use the points available to him. This section
introduces some of the most common uses for Dark
Symmetry points. The GM is encouraged to make up new
and interesting uses that suit the group’s play style, or adds
tension and excitement to the game.
CORRUPTING EQUIPMENT
The GM can attempt to corrupt equipment used by the
characters, reflecting the insidious nature of the Dark
Symmetry to wreak havoc on technology. For each point of
Dark Symmetry spent, the GM rolls one d6. These dice are
used to make a Corruption check, and the dice results are
counted the same way as damage dice.
If the Corruption damage is greater than or equal to the
item’s Reliability Rating, the item suffers one stage of
Corruption. For the purposes of the Beta, assume guns
and technology have a Reliability Rating of 2. For each
stage of Corruption, all skill tests with that item have their
critical failure range increased (i.e., from 20 to 19-20). A
single item can only withstand so much Corruption. If an
item’s Reliability Rating is exceeded three times, the item
is so greatly corrupted it is rendered useless.
PERFORMING RESPONSE ACTIONS
NPCs generally only act during their turn in a combat round,
and are thus usually limited to Free, Chained, and Standard
Actions. By spending one Dark Symmetry point, a GM
can allow an NPC to perform a Response Action, such as
attempting to parry a close combat attack, or laying down
covering fire for another NPC.
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 SEIZING INITIATIVE TRIGGERING AN
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT
During combat and structured encounters, all player characters act first during a
round, followed by all of the NPCs. Before a player character acts, the GM may Dramatic scenes often play out in
spend Dark Symmetry points to interrupt the initiative order, and allow one of the exciting environments. A firefight in
NPCs to act. a crumbling tenement building. A
chase scene through an underground
Interrupting initiative costs two Dark Symmetry points for each NPC the GM wishes crypt. A chasm over a lava flow that
to have act at the beginning of the round, before any player characters. After at must be crossed. When describing
least one of the player characters has acted, the GM may interrupt initiative for encounters, the GM is encouraged to
only one Dark Symmetry point for each NPC. provide details to the players to help
them visualise the scene. Sometimes
TRIGGERING A COMPLICATION it can be interesting, or add to the
immersion, to bring the environment
Complications can be rather minor, linked to personal weakness, or undo a benefit alive through the use of a Dark
the characters had been relying on. These minor complications cost one Dark Symmetry point.
Symmetry point.
Triggering an environmental effect
For example, a character may temporarily lose the use of cover during a firefight, generally has two levels of magnitude.
or that last burst of gunfire used up an Ammo Load, resulting in the player having Magnitude one environmental effects
to tick one off on their character sheet, and spend a Standard Action to re-load. are generally minor nuisances more
than severe hazards. Examples include
flickering lights, crumbling walls, or
machinery belching thick smoke.
These types of effects generally make
skill tests more difficult by one step, or
potentially Impair a character.

Magnitude two effects are much more

significant, and may impede progress
or potentially harm the characters.
Examples include splashing acid,
falling blocks, an open flame igniting
something, or a fierce gust of wind
battering the character. These types
of effects generally make skill tests
more difficult by one or two steps,
and may inflict light wounds or mental
health damage.

If the GM were to suddenly have a

section of the crumbling tenement
cascade down on the player characters,
obscuring their vision or inflicting light
damage, it may seem completely
arbitrary. But when the GM spends a
Dark Symmetry point to trigger this
sort of effect, the cost adds context for
the situation – ill omens are working
against the characters, or the Dark
Symmetry is inexorably complicating
A cargo ship navigates the lower levels of Luna.
their lives.

DARK SYMMETRY POOL

024
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
 ADVENTURE
BY GUNNAR ROXEN
BACKGROUND
STRAFFAR GATAN 39
The players are detectives from Luna PD 32nd Precinct
Homicide Division sent to investigate a callout to Straffar
Gatan 39.
The dark events that take place in Straffar Gatan 39 form part
of the ‘Fall of von Hölle’ story arc (a forthcoming adventure),
and occur one day after explorers on Pluto discovered a
strange tablet in ancient ruins that unleashed the force of the
Dark Symmetry. Many of the story threads link up to the larger
story, but we have seeded the plot with many threads that
you can weave into your own Mutant Chronicles adventures.
A Twisted Marionette attacks.
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
This mission is ideal for the pre-generated Luna PD
characters in the Mutant Chronicles Beta rules: Detective
Vance Ryder, Patrolman Vents, Freelancers Nix and Tsuyoshi.
Should your players want to generate characters, they need
to either be in Luna PD, or have some strong attachment
that would enable them to be called in to investigate a case
for Luna PD.
The adventure is written with a fairly open structure to give
you, the GM, control over pacing, as the mission needs
to start with a sense of foreboding and build the levels of
tension and paranoia, before finally resolving in a deadly
confrontation that saves the day… or does it?
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 FOR THE PLAYERS

WHAT YOU KNOW: no signs of struggle or theft, of the senior Imperial

You have been sent to investigate
an incident at Straffar Gatan 39,
a rundown tenement in the Nines
– a particularly nasty part of the
Perimeters.

Dispatch has received multiple
calls from residents reporting
screaming on the third floor.
Dispatch receives calls like this
all the time and they mostly go
unanswered, but after the sixth
call a Patrol unit was dispatched.

The Patrol unit visited the
tenement. Three adjacent
apartments had their doors
wide open. Inside they found
but they did find blood stains
in various rooms. They knocked
on the doors of other residents
but no one claims to have seen
anything, though they did hear
screaming. Before they could
investigate, they had to leave
to answer a high priority call in a
nearby neighbourhood.

Shit flows downhill – straight
to you. Your squad is already
in Lieutenant Vordach’s bad
books following a recent Officer
Involved Shooting.
L una PD Criminal Intelligence
suspects that Sandrine
Peterson, missing daughter
executive François Peterson,
may be hiding out in the
building. The Lieutenant
makes it very clear that it is
in the best interests of your
careers that she is found alive
and well.

Your assignment is simple:
investigate what happened in
the tenement.

The neighbourhood around
the tenement is controlled by
the Croaks, a nasty street gang
with a reputation for violence
and having no fear of cops.
They control the drug trade in
the Nines.

Even Luna P.D. don’t go into the Nines without backup.

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THE NINES
The Perimeters fringe the core of
Luna City, deep in the shadows of
the mighty corporate towers and
downwind of the forges, furnaces and
factories in the Industrial Districts. The
Perimeters house the unfortunate
masses who toil away in factories or
eke out an existence on the miserable
dole provided by the corporations,
hunched up in front of second-rate
TV screens that spoon-feed them
corporate soaps offering the false
dream of a better future. Many never
leave their apartments, relying on fast
food deliveries, food parcels from
one of the charities fostered by The
Brothers, and cheap booze to survive.
Those lucky enough to have jobs
must run the gauntlet of dangerous
traffic and local gangs to get to the
local Underground stations.
The shouts and noises of neighbours
are just one more thing to drown out.
When cops turn up it is usually en-
masse in a raid on a gang drug den.
The first thing you learn in the Nines
is to keep your head down and look
out for yourself, because if things go
wrong, no one will help you.
The Nines is a typical district of the
Perimeters. Jammed in with little
thought, cheap and nasty, most of
the buildings in the Nines were never
designed to last this long and, over
time, the once straight and clean
concrete walls have been patched
and filled, adapted and mangled as
people do their best to turn them
into homes.
One of Bauhaus’ innumerable,
faceless, subsidiaries is building a
new freight train line straight through
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
FOR THE PLAYERS
the Nines to the ports. Somewhere
within the Byzantine bureaucracy a
finance executive vetoed the plan to
tunnel as too expensive and insisted
on the far cheaper, subsurface trench-
and-cover construction. Compulsory
purchase orders were issued, and the
residents in the buildings scheduled
for demolition got insultingly-small
pay-offs to move. But in many ways,
they were the lucky ones. With no
care for the lives of the remaining
locals, Bauhaus bulldozers brutally
hacked the proposed route through
the tenements and streets to begin
excavations. The neighbouring
tenement to the scene of these
events was one of those torn down.
STRAFFAR
GATAN 39
Straffar Gatan 39, a ten-story
tenement and location of the callout,
is perched precariously at the edge of
a deep excavation. Formerly a typical
Nines tenement, a slice has been
crudely hacked off – two apartments
on each floor are now gone. It is
braced with minimal rusting steelwork
to protect the construction workers
beneath, but this has not prevented
subsidence from setting in, leaving it
listing at a slight angle. The tenement
is under tremendous stress, and
entering requires nerves of steel.
Floorboards creak, new cracks appear,
and plaster falls off the walls as each
bulldozer passes beneath. It is only
a matter of time before the whole
building is torn down or collapses.
Yet, despite this, Straffar Gatan 39 is
still partially inhabited. The tenement
is dying, dragging everything and
everyone inside with it.
You are a detective in the Luna PD
32nd Precinct Investigations Division.
It is your job to pick up the pieces and
try to figure out what happened after
the patrol cops have responded to an
immediate crime.
The only law enforcement
organisation with jurisdiction over
the whole of Luna, Luna PD was
founded by Capitol in an act of civic
patronage, and brings together
seconded investigators from each of
the corporations with cops recruited
directly from the population.
However, Luna PD is under-funded
and subject to the conflicting will of
the corporations, so your superiors
are often forced to hire Freelancers
to work with you. These Freelancers
bring a willingness to take on dirty
tasks and are preferable to the
donated “corporate liaisons” you are
regularly forced to work with, who are
more meddlesome than helpful.
A sense of doing something that
matters without tying yourself to
any one corporation is what brought
you to Luna PD. Even with all the
bureaucracy, collapsed investigations,
and corporate interference, most
days you do feel like you make a
difference. Unfortunately, you have a
feeling this is not going to be one of
the good days.
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 ADVENTURE STRUCTURE
The events of this adventure take place in Straffar Gatan
39 (the delightfully named “Punishment Street”) the day
after the explorers broke the seals on Pluto, and released
the Dark Legion. The players must battle a rising evil
known as a Castigator before it can infect the entire city!
This adventure is built around the growing menace of an
evil necrobionic ‘Twisted Marionette’, a servant of the Dark
Apostle Ilian. The creature is gathering power in the heart of
the tenement, and building a powerful necrobionic antenna
to cause fractures in our reality. This will allow necrobionic
spores to slip through the fractures and, via the psychokinetic
images on the screens throughout the tenement, corrupt
the remaining humans, creating additional Maligants and
infecting Luna City. What caused the creation of the Twisted
Marionette will remain a mystery for this adventure....
The plot of the adventure is loosely broken up into three
phases, which represent the various levels of response from
the Twisted Marionette. There are four apartments on each
floor. Until the Twisted Marionette is disturbed, the order
that the characters visit the apartments is up to them.
The adventure should take one or two sessions at most.
As this is a starting game the GM should start with only
three Dark Symmetry points (DSPs. It is advisable for the
GM to save about half of the DSP gained for Phase Three.
You will want five to ten symmetry if possible.
PHASE ONE:
THE CREATURE OBSERVES!
Initially, the Twisted Marionette observes the players. They
should feel as if they are constantly being watched. This phase
is all about building the tension – the players know something
is going to happen, even if their characters do not yet. If the
players succeed with a Notice test they become aware that the
eyes of the presenters on the TV programmes are following
them across the room. They should notice the peep holes in
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the doors of the apartments they pass suddenly darken as if
a face were pressed against them... even for apartments they
know to be empty! Dark Symmetry spends should be used to
distract players and delay them. Examples include:
1 DSP: A deafening scream over the top of them while
trying to question a subject. This increases the Difficulty
of questioning someone by 1 level.
2 DSP: Making the wind outside set the building swaying.
Normal movement is now an Average D1 Athletics or
Acrobatics test to maintain footing and balance for the
duration of the scene.
1 DSP: A deranged ganger starts accusing the players of
spying on him. This should be used as a distraction at a
dramatic moment.
PHASE TWO:
THE CREATURE BUILDS POWER!
This phase should begin when the players have visited one or
two apartments, but before they have had a chance to make a
clear assessment of their situation. Once they have visited either
the crime scene or Abigail Baxter’s apartment would be ideal.
Now the Twisted Marionette perceives the players as a
potential threat, and makes the programmes on the TVs start
to suffer from bursts of static and broadcast complex binaural
tones on sub-audible frequencies. The corridors begin to fill
with a mist that smells of burning plastic. The player characters
need to pass an Average D1 Resistance test to stomach the
stench. Player characters failing the test become Impaired
until they leave that floor. This combination of the binaural
tones and mists quickly starts to have an effect on the players.
They begin to detect movement in their peripheral vision.
The important aspect to play up here is: Can the players trust
their own senses? Dark Symmetry spends should emphasise
distractions and a feeling of paranoia.
1 DSP: A player separated from the group hears “Yeah
he’s expendable” from a source he believes to be a
fellow investigator.
1 DSP: A player catches a sudden movement behind
him. Make an Average D1 Willpower test. If the test fails,
roll 1d6 Mental Health damage.
2 DSP: A player sees a frightening face right behind
him in a reflection. Make a Challenging D2 Willpower
test. If the test fails, the character takes 2d6 Mental
Health damage.
 2 DSP: The weakened floor
collapses under the character.
Make a Challenging D2 Athletics
(catch something) or Acrobatics
(avoid falling) test to avoid falling
to a lower level and taking 2d6
damage to one location.

2 DSP: Corrupt a piece of

equipment for the duration of the
scene. When using the equipment
a character gains the Impaired
status to reflect its unreliability.

This phase is about unnerving the

players and preparing them while
the creature builds its ability to
manipulate the players as it seeks to
finish its mission.

The Twisted Marionette has created

a necrobionic-powered transmission
antenna atop the tenement and plans
to incorporate both the structure and
the residents, feeding the signal on
their pain and fear. The transmission
antenna is almost complete, and the
link to the Dark Legion has already
allowed a single Malignant spore to
travel through and begin the process
of merging with the Twisted Marionette

Upon seeing the Twisted Marionette

for the first time, the GM should be
prepared to spend a lot of Symmetry on
mental damage.

If the players try to leave the tenement

in this scene they find the entrances
and windows sealed by rubble. The
Straffar Gatan 39 is perched precariously at the edge of a deep excavation.
only way out is from one of the higher
levels (fourth floor or higher) where
they could jump to a neighbouring Marionette merges with its host body and the Malignant to create something
tenement. new: a Castigator.

PHASE THREE:
THE CASTIGATOR STRIKES!
This phase should begin once you feel
the players have had their paranoia
and fear ramped up, or as soon as
the pace begins to slow. The Twisted
This final phase is the climax of the mission, when the Castigator makes its move
and strikes. The Castigator plans to infect the players and use them to infect
others while it begins the final power-up of the antenna. When fully charged,
the Castigator causes fractures in space via the TVs, radios, and other electrical
devices in the surrounding blocks, allowing Malignants to pour through. To
complete its plan the creature needs to feed on the fear, paranoia and emotions
of the players.

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 DETECTIVE VANCE RYDER
The TV‘s on the blink this morning – again! Crappy Capitol
gear. I missed the late broadcast about a new exploration
mission: “One small step for Imperial…”. Ha! Jokers. I had
more important things to do last night, like getting drunk with
Dwight before he goes freelance. He says the money’s good,
but that’s not difficult. The money’s better anywhere than
this junkyard, but I know none of the others would last a
minute without me, so I stick it out. ‘Just one more year at the
Precinct’, I tell myself every Christmas, when the bonus gets
less. I get out of the apartment complex, and haul my ass in
through the miserable heavy rain, which now decides to turn into
hail. Typical. It’s the bloody 25th Century and they still can’t
control the weather.
The precinct usually stinks, but today’s not so bad. Some
ganger puked on the coffee machine, as he watched his buddy
get splattered down the corridor by the security guns half an hour
earlier. Apparently, the splat’s own cyber-arm was trying to kill
him and he went ape. Yeah right. The cops on duty must have
been doing too much donuts and coffee through the night.
“Detective!,” Dwight calls me in to the office.
Yeah, he might be my drinking buddy but he’s still the chief
here. I walk past Arseni, our tech contractor, working on the
inside of the security guns. He’s here so often these days I know
him by name. Dwight’s sitting back in that beat up old fake
leather chair they got him twenty years back.
“You look like crap. Don’t tell me you went to see Harri on
the way home.” Harri. The only woman who ever beat me in a
square fight, and she fights dirty.
“Nah.” I cracked my shoulder joints. I could do with a good
fight right now. “She was out, so I stayed another round in
Lecto’s. Just one more for the road you know?”
“Well here have some coffee-‘n’-puke.” He thrust a plastic cup
of coffee in my hand. There were chunks in it.
“What’s up with the guns?” I say, staring at a slowly
drowning chunk.
“Hell if I know,” he says. “They shot up a crazed ganger, but
they wouldn’t stop, turned his body into kibble.”
With my favourite chunk gone, I look up through one of the
internal windows at Arseni. He’s now head deep in wiring, and
ADVENTURE
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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
cursing at one bit of circuitry. I put my dodgy coffee down.
“Something’s wrong in the Perimeter, and I don’t mean the
usual crap. We’ve been getting all kinds of weird reports through
the night, and I’ve got everyone on the streets. Downtown say
they’re having problems too. So, I’m giving you something
before I leave.”
He hands over a dirty, coffee-stained file.
“Züchtigenstrasse 39?” I laugh. “Doesn’t that mean
“castigate” in old German?”
“Hell knows,” Dwight says with seriousness in his voice.
‘Dispatch received six calls last night reporting screaming on the
third floor, three missing residents, and no sign of them when
our patrol got there.”
I flick through the patrol’s report. “Have you spoken to
Bauhaus about this?” I asked. “It’s one of theirs after all.”
There was something scratching my brain, trying to tell me
to stay the hell away from this one. I was never good at
listening though.
“They don’t want to know,” Dwight was rubbing his eyes.
‘They say the place is in our turf, and it sounds like they’ve
got their own problems. It took me half a dozen calls to finally
get through, the telephone system is messed up. Arseni’s on
that next.”
“What’s backup like? Is everyone out?”
“Almost,” says Dwight. “The fire teams are on street duty.
Patrols are out but they’ll be busy. You’ve got Nix, Tsuyoshi-
San, and the rookie Vents.” Great. A freelance nerd who’s
good with a sniper rifle, a Yakuza tough who should be behind
bars, and a rookie whose arse needs babysitting. This is going to
be a very bad Friday.
“Gee thanks boss, I feel like my back’s covered,” I say dryly.
“Oh, and one more thing.” Dwight always had a way of
leaving the bad news till the end, even though I thought my
assigned team was the bad news. “Francois Peterson’s daughter
is missing, the big shot corporate at Imperial. Ran away from
home and was reportedly seen in the building . It was her family
who “politely” requested Nix and Tsuyoshi as their security
assist, so don’t mess this one up.” He gives me that look that
means “or else”.
 “Just great…” I sigh. “You really know how to bow
out Dwight!” I stand up and grab my coffee. Better
start in the Nines. I walk past Arseni, now cursing
at his equipment, to the precincts open office. Nix and
Tsuyoshi were there. You can spots freelancer a mile
away. Way too cool for school, all geared up, armed to
the teeth and ready to cause us simple cops a weekend of
paperwork. Nix was in my chair with his wet boots on
my desk, cleaning his rifle with an obsession. They say
he sleeps with it. Well, at least he isn’t some loon
shooting stuff up for no reason. It’s almost a case
of pointing him at the bad guys and saying, ‘Get
‘em, boy’. I just hope his pay is good this time so he
doesn’t miss on purpose. Tsuyoshi stood next to him,
staring at me with his thick arms folded. I still don’t
know what to make of him. He’s never caused any
trouble, but he’s Yakuza, for crying out loud!

As I kick Nix’s feet off my desk, contemplating

whether to stick my middle finger in his face, I notice
something under my desk. I hand Nix my coffee and
squat down to find Dwight’s hulking blue metal shoulder
piece with its well-kept leather padding and Luna Police
markings. There was a note attached to it: “Use it well”.

“Nice,” says Nix as he nonchalantly pours the coffee into my bin.

“I like the target design.”

“Three rules,” I begin, sticking my forefinger in his face.

One: point that thing in my direction and I hang you by your balls over
the Longtown Bridge.”
“Thing?” he says with fake indignation in his voice. “It’s my custom
SR-40. You should treat her with respect.”

I ignore him. “…Two: if I say “stay”, you stay.” I wait for a cocky
remark. I get nothing. “And three,” I look squarely at Tsuyoshi.
“No taking out civilians because they ”look dangerous” this time.
Okay?” Nix nods, slowly moving his head up and down with a
bit of left and right thrown in to piss me off. What the hell?! I sigh.
Enough of this crap, time to get on with it. I walk away from my
desk, and call the rookie, Nix and the Yakuza thug to follow me.
We head past the puke and kibble, and out into the hail. I
crack my shoulder joints again. Perhaps I’ll get that fight
today after all.

Detective Ryder,
32nd Precinct, Luna Perimeters

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 SETTING:
STRAFFAR GATAN 39
Straffar Gatan 39 is more than just a location in the
adventure. It is a character at the heart of the adventure
and its death sets the tone for the events that unfold. This
precarious existence provides a number of interesting
environmental elements and challenges for the GM to play
with during the mission:
A SKELETAL VIEW: formerly the tenement had six
apartments on each floor, but the construction work has
cut away a third of the building. From outside, the players
get an entire cutaway view of the tenement, including
basement, foundations, and sewers. Thick, black, rubber
electrical cables are strung dangerously down the side
of the building, passing in through windows and across
corridors, and providing an erratic source of additional
power whilst creating a dangerous fire hazard. The skeleton
of the building is bared to the whole world.
ALL ALONE: any fire brigade support the players call for
will gather outside and refuse to enter, or even worse get
stuck on the other side of the man-made chasm as no
one bothered to update the street maps. If the building
is on fire they might blast at the walls with high pressure
hoses, adding yet another environmental issue to the
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
• BAXTER, Abigail Religious old lady,
Apartment 202
• BEEKS, Clarence Factory worker,
Apartment 301
• BEEKS, Mary Factory worker,
Apartment 301
• DIATORRO, Lucius Tenement Manager,
Apartment 101
• PETERSEN, François Imperial executive,
Father of Sandrine Peterson
• PETERSON, Sandrine Daughter of Imperial
executive François Peterson,
Apartment 302
• VON SAAR, Konrad Freelancer (Castigator host)
Apartment 303
• VORDACH, LT. Pierre Investigators superior
in Luna PD
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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
mix. This will cause the building to sway under pressure.
Moving more than half Agility in meters during a player
character’s turn requires an Average D1 Acrobatics test to
maintain balance.
THE GROANS OF IMPENDING DEATH: the rumbles and
creaking of the building ratchet up the air of menace and
provide a veil of concealment for the dark activity within.
A ‘PEA-SOUPER’: the pollution from the nearby industrial
zone, and the rain and humidity have created a thick,
choking fog that hugs the streets to waist level, and
makes footing treacherous.
MOVEMENT IN YOUR PERIPHERAL VISION: because

of the infrastructural damage, power brownouts and
blackouts are frequent and all of the remaining lights in
the tenement flicker, causing writhing shadows that are
easily mistaken for someone or something.
UNSTABLE STRUCTURE: any serious firefights or
explosions will cause whole sections of the building to
tear away and fall into the canyon below, dramatically
taking some of the combatants with them.
BRINGING THE HOUSE DOWN: at the climax of the mission
the entire structure begins to come apart, making it a
race for survival. Any thoughts about evidence collection
will have to be abandoned.
BLARING TVS: every apartment has the TV on with the
sound turned up. The TVs have no off-button.
THE INVESTIGATION
BEGINS…
Read aloud or paraphrase the paragraph below to set the
tone and orient the players:
“You were not sure this was possible but the inside of
the tenement is even more grim than the outside. The
worn carpet on the floor makes a wet sucking noise
with each step, and you can smell the mould, thick in
the air. Cracks run up the walls and, in many places,
chunks of plaster have fallen away revealing the cheap
concrete behind, stained with rust lines from the rebar.
Thick, rubber cables are strung across the halls and
lie in thick bundles on the floor. The lighting is patchy
at best, and even those few bulbs that do work fizzle
and pop. Water drips from everywhere. Every so
often the distant sound of heavy construction – barely
audible over the muffled sounds of the TVs from every
 apartment – makes the whole building shudder.
Straffar Gatan 39 is a ten-story tenement with four
apartments remaining on each floor. There was once
a lift, but hazard tape is strung across the entrance.
A single staircase corkscrews around the lift shaft.
Worryingly everything is tilted at a very slight angle.
Apartment 101, the apartment nearest the entrance,
has a rusted sign with ‘Manager’ barely legible on it.”
Each apartment description is broken up into phase versions
depending on when the players visit them. There are four
remaining apartments on each floor. Only those directly
relevant to the plot are fleshed out, leaving the others for
the GM to use or ignore as you wish.
APARTMENT 101:
LUCIUS DIATORRO,
TENEMENT MANAGER
Working as building manager and superintendent in
return for free rent, Lucius Diatorro is far from anyone’s
concept of a diligent manager. Though his official
employer is a Bauhaus housing corporation, his real
employers are the Croaks.
Hooked on cheap painkillers supplied to him by the Croaks,
in return he keeps an eye out for their interests and lets
them know if anything happens in or around the building
that should concern them. A group of snooping players
definitely fits the bill. He feigns disinterest and lethargy,
but as soon as he is given a chance he phones the Croaks.
PHASE ONE:
The players have to bang loudly for some time, or kick down
the door for Diatorro to bother responding.
Clad only in a stained t-shirt and boxer shorts, Diatorro
slumps in a filthy lounge chair watching a reality TV show
on the Capitol Entertainment Network called ‘The Giant
Eye’. If the players watch the show they quickly realise
that it is a comedy show where a mysterious prankster
called The Giant Eye misleads, befuddles, and confuses
ordinary members of the public. At least that is what it
appears to be on first glance. Emotionally sensitive or
perceptive characters making an Average D1 Observation
test will notice that the ‘pranks’ are mean and petty.
In between sketches the TV switches to an image of a
giant unblinking eye while the prankster addresses his
audience. Surrounding the large central TV screen are
smaller screens, but when the players enter they are all
switched off.
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
A discarded pile of fast food wrappers and empty, crushed
beer cans surrounds the chair. Diatorro stinks of stale sweat
and cheap booze.
Diatorro hands over the set of master keys to all the
apartments if the players show their badges, or if they bribe
him enough.
What Diatorro knows:
IF ASKED ABOUT THE SMALLER SCREENS: Diatorro says
that they are for the CCTV cameras but are all out of
order and have been broken since before he was building
manager. This is a lie. Diatorro actually uses the cameras
to spy on the private activities of the tenants.
I F ASKED ABOUT THE REPORTED INCIDENTS: Diatorro
will look stressed and swallow some pain pills with
a gulp of stale beer. He says he cannot remember
what happened, the incidents must have happened
while he was watching his favourite TV show. As a
backhanded comment he says that he respects the
privacy of his tenants too much to ask questions.
IF ASKED WHO ENTERED THE BUILDING DURING
THE PREVIOUS NIGHT: Diatorro says that as far as he
remembers no one entered the building. If pressed, he
admits he is not 100% sure and also that the residents
sometimes enter through the broken windows in
apartment 103, which has been empty since Mr
MacAskill died.
IF ASKED ABOUT THE BEEKS: Diatorro breaks wind loudly
and simply says,
“Stuck up couple. Thinks they are better than
me, but at least they pay the rent on time. Got
some relative in the pig- I mean Luna PD.”
It is obvious that he does not like them.
IF ASKED ABOUT SANDRINE PETERSON: Diatorro denies
all knowledge – after all he does not know her name. If
described, his face takes on a lascivious quality and his
eyes become bright. He unconsciously licks his lips and
says that she is a cute girl with a boyfriend that is no
good for her. She lives in 302.
IF ASKED ABOUT THE CROAKS: Diatorro says they are a
local gang, just a bunch of misguided kids. He quickly,
and obviously, tries to change the subject and asks why
the players are here. After they leave, Diatorro calls
the Croaks and, once the corridor is clear, he runs down
to Apartment 104 and warns the gang members there.
V3.0 BETA TEST
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 With a disturbing crackling, the bones of a Malignant twist to let it scuttle across the ceiling.
IF ASKED TO LIST ALL THE RESIDENTS: Diatorro says,
 Since they tore away a chunk of the building,
“ each other’s backs, and other actions to stoke the paranoia.
most people moved out. Only I live on this floor.
That crazy old cat lady lives in 202. Apartment 204
is rented by that creep, Von Hölle. He is a scary
man. Something just is not right with him. 301 is
the Beeks. Couple of factory shmoes. 302 is that
cute, blonde girl and her no good boyfriend. 303
is some beefcake, guy called Konrad who keeps
to himself. Fourth floor is basically empty – oh
there’s some squatters up there. Ain’t no one
living above fourth – the rumbles scared ‘em off,
especially when more of fifth collapsed. You don’t
want to go up there. No one goes up there.”
PHASE TWO:
As before, but this time however the CCTV screens are
all on and show looping footage of the players’ activities
so far. However, the images presented show dark figures
ADVENTURE
034
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
stalking the group, characters making subtle insults behind
Every time they directly look at the screens they go blank. If
they question Diatorro about the images he looks at them
strangely, as if they are going mad.
PHASE THREE:
All semblance of reality has broken apart now.
The Twisted Marionette has used necrobionics to convert
Diatorro into a psychic capacitor to amplify the signal from
the antenna.
Diatorro appears to have been consumed by the creature.
Thick cables run into his eye sockets, mouth, nostrils, and
ears. Thick black congealed blood leaks out around the
edges of the cables. The cables join him physically to
the TV. The players can see the cables pulsing inside his
muscles as they reconfigure Diatorro. His body has bloated
 significantly; the skin is all stretched tight and has taken on
a dark hue as if he were filled to bursting.
The TV screens show fragmentary images of violence,
and the sub-audible binaural tones have become piercing
screams that make it hard to concentrate or talk.
If the players try to pull out the cables or attack Diatorro, he
bursts like a ripe balloon spraying everything and everyone
in thick, black gore that is disturbingly sweet to the taste.
Characters should make a Challenging D2 Willpower test
or take 2d6 Mental Health damage. The cables thrash
about and then become still, however the actions of the
players have enraged the Twisted Marionette and the final
confrontation becomes imminent.
APARTMENT 103:
THE SECRET ENTRANCE
PHASES ONE & TWO:
The apartment has remained unoccupied since Mr MacAskill,
a factory supervisor for Imperial, died a year or so back. The
door to the apartment has no lock and swings loosely in the
breeze. There are very few cables in the apartment. Close
examination shows that the apartment gets a lot of foot
traffic, entering through a smashed window where the bars
have been crudely cut away. Given that the apartment is next
door to the Tenement Manager’s it would be impossible for
him not to notice the comings and goings. Everything of
value has been stripped from the apartment, leaving only a
few mouldy old sofas and chairs. There are remnants of drug
paraphernalia in amongst the pigeon droppings.
PHASE THREE:
The Twisted Marionette closes off the ad-hoc window
entrance to this apartment. The windows all become sealed
in thick, pulsing cables. The choking mist is particularly thick
here, reducing visibility to almost nothing, and disorientating
anyone who tries to cross the room. Anyone crossing the
room should make a Challenging D2 Resistance test to
avoid becoming Impaired and taking 2d6 Torso wounds to
simulate choking.
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
APARTMENT 104:
THE CROAKS DRUG DEN
[COMBAT ENCOUNTER]
PHASE ONE:
A local gang called ‘The Croaks’ uses this apartment to deal
drugs in the local neighbourhood, and has co-opted Diatorro
to warn them of any incoming police raids. This scene plays
out almost identically whether Diatorro has warned them or
not, the only difference is that they are ready to ambush the
players if they have been warned, and conversely are caught
flatfooted if the players get to them first.
If the Croaks attempt an ambush, use the ambush rules
provided on page 14 to resolve this attempt. Players
who use Acrobatics to enter via the window should be
rewarded by holding off spending DSPs to activate the
Croaks first as they try to work out what is going on. If the
investigators treat entry as a raid they should be rewarded
with a chaotic scene that, while potentially quick, is high
on drama. Players who try to burst through the wall should
make an Average D1 Athletics test to come crashing
through, and one Momentum can be spent to distract the
Croaks and shoot first.
Fun things to do with Symmetry.
2 DSP: The Croaks have set a fire to fill the room with
smoke and are wearing masks. The smoke causes 1d6
Torso wounds each round to anyone in the room without
a mask, and the room could be gutted unless action
is taken. Players who neglect to put out the fire may
discover that the sprinkler system has become connected
to the black water system.
2 DSP: If an investigator likes their Burstfire, open the
room to the elements as the wall crumbles and the wind
tears in to the room. Have the building shudder and call
for Average D1 Acrobatics tests for everyone.
Either way, this is primarily a combat scene. The Croaks in
the apartment fight until at least half are taken out, then the
remaining Croaks attempt to flee.
If the players successfully capture one or more of the Croaks
they quickly break under interrogation (an Average D1
Persuade test), revealing that the screams on the third floor
had nothing to do with them, and have left them shaking
and nervous ever since. When the players raided them,
they were in the middle of arguing about what to do, with
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THE CROAKS
HIGH/SCARED STREET TOUGHS
RANGED COMBAT:
CLOSE COMBAT:
ALL OTHER SKILLS:
NUMBER OF GANGERS
Equal to number of players x 2.
If more than four, split in to two
‘Hordes’.
WOUNDS: 3
Each ganger has 3 Wounds.
Wounds caused to the Horde can
affect more than one target. For
example 4 Wounds will kill one
Croak and injure a second.
CRITICAL FAIL 19-20
Gangers critically fail on 19-20
due to poor training and lack of
leadership.
ATTACKS 1
A horde makes a single attack
together, with each ganger
contributing 1d20 to the
combat test.
WEAPONS
IMPROVISED METAL SHIVS AND BARS
1+3d6 Dam. Stun.
LIGHT PISTOL
2+3d6 Dam. No spare ammo loads.
ESCALATION:
If you think this is too weak an
encounter, the GM may spend 2
DSPs to have another horde of
Croaks enter the conflict from an
unexpected direction.
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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
an even split between leaving and staying. While the Croaks will not help the
players, additional Persuade Momentum will have the Croaks talking about their
neighbours. Their opinions are similar to Diatorro’s although less biased against
Abagail Baxter, who they say is harmless if preachy.
7 Searching the apartment reveals several bundles of cash in small bills and a
bag of blue pills. The TV displays The Giant Eye programme, just like in
8 Diatorro’s apartment.
6 PHASE TWO AND THREE:
The Croaks have been transformed by the Twisted Marionette into hideous puppets,
controlled from above by cables hanging from the ceiling. Their skin hangs loosely
from their bony frames as if their innards are slowly being sucked out. The puppet
Croaks’ movements are jerky and awkward, but their eyes burn with static and their
expressions are pure fury. The players should make a Challenging D2 Willpower test
or take 2d6 Mental Health damage when they first see this. The puppet gangers
attack the players on sight with Melee weapons only and fight on even with terrible
wounds. The only way to stop them is to sever the cable connections, which causes
them to collapse lifelessly to the ground. These Croaks have 6 Wounds. A character
can make a called shot to a cable. On a successful hit, the attack deals an additional
+2d6 damage to the connected ganger.
The TV screens show looping images of violence, and emit a piercing scream that
makes it hard to concentrate or talk (anyone looking too closely should make an
Average D1 Willpower test or take 1d6 Mental Health damage).
APARTMENT 202:
THE RELIGIOUS OLD LADY
PHASE ONE:
The apartment of Abigail Baxter – the ‘Old Lady’ – is remarkable in its contrast
to the rest of the building. Clean, tidy, and well maintained, the apartment
seems like another world. When the players knock on the door she invites
them in for tea. In her late seventies, Abigail is a retired school teacher from a
Capitol Public Academy.
Pink flower designs cover the flock wallpaper. Like the other apartments, her TV is
on, though hers is switched to a channel displaying documentaries and interviews
with The Brothers. Abigail knows that sooner or later the building is going to be
demolished, but it has been her home for so long she cannot imagine moving,
and has resigned herself to dying here. She is one of the residents who called the
police, and will immediately mention it when the players come in.
Weirdly, despite what Diatorro thinks, Abigail does not own a cat, but talks to
and pets her imaginary cat while conversing with the characters.
Abigail does her best to be helpful, and is easily encouraged to open up about
her neighbours (Average D1 Persuade test). She flirts with the most attractive
character in a harmless and slightly sweet way.
 V3.0 BETA TEST

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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
 What Abigail knows:
IF ASKED ABOUT WHAT SHE HEARD OR WHY SHE
CALLED THE POLICE:
“The noise was terrible. There was awful, awful
screaming and banging. In all my years I have
never heard such a sound. All the lights flickered,
and the whole building shook. I called the police
several times, but no one seemed interested. Then
suddenly, everything went quiet. I am not afraid to
admit that I was scared. Whatever happened up
there was awful. Truly awful. More tea?”
IF ASKED ABOUT DIATORRO:
“I was always raised to believe that if you don’t
have something good to say about someone
then you shouldn’t say anything at all. I have
nothing to say about Diatorro.”
IF ASKED ABOUT SANDRINE:
“Young love is so precious, don’t you think?”
She gives one of the players a shy smile.
IF ASKED ABOUT THE BEEKS:
“I don’t know Mary, but Clarence is lovely. He
always brings my post and deliveries up. Uncle in
the police I think. Do you know him?”
IF ASKED ABOUT VON HÖLLE OR APARTMENT 204:
“There is something very wrong with that man.
Why is a someone with wealth like him hanging
around here? I don’t like the way he looks at us.
I’m glad he isn’t around much.”
PHASE TWO:
At first glance the scene is identical, but it quickly becomes
apparent that something is utterly wrong. From the front Abigail
appears normal, but as soon as she turns away the players can
see that the back half of her body is burned and blackened,
all the way down to the bone. Wherever she steps she leaves
blackened, burning footprints. The burn marks slowly spread,
blending into one another. Abigail seems completely unaware
of her transformation. The room itself is subtly different. If any
of the players look at the walls they notice that the plants in the
flock pattern wallpaper are dying before their eyes. If spoken
to, she answers the questions as above, though the subtle
flirtation takes on a menacing quality.
The overall effect of the encounter is to further unnerve the
players. Should they seek to attack Abigail she goes down
without a fight and makes no effort to resist.
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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
When the investigator’s see Abigail turn around for the first
time each should make a Challenging D2 Willpower test,
taking 2d6 Mental Health damage if they fail.
PHASE THREE:
Unable to convert Abigail because her will was just too
strong, the Twisted Marionette tears Abigail apart and uses
her as raw materials for its machinery! The entire apartment
appears to be an abattoir, and only small fragmentary
pieces of Abigail remain. Almost as disturbing: nothing
else in the apartment appears damaged. It is as if Abigail
silently exploded.
Spend one DSP for a player to see the plants in her flock
pattern wallpaper dying and then reforming as his own
face. They take 1d6 Mental Health damage. No one else
will see anything.
APARTMENTS 204:
VON HÖLLE’S APARTMENT.
A single chair faces the TV and, disturbingly, all the windows
have been sealed up and painted white. A single bare bulb
hangs from the ceiling above the chair. There is a sense of
static electricity here that causes the hair on the back on the
players’ neck to rise, and a slight acrid scent of ozone. It is
hard to escape the feeling that there is something dreadfully
wrong with whoever this von Hölle man is.
APARTMENTS
301, 302 AND 303:
SCENE OF THE CRIME.
Because all three apartments are the scene of the Twisted
Marionette’s first attack, they all offer largely the same
information. The residents were Mary and Clarence Beeks,
married factory workers in 301; Sandrine Peterson, missing
daughter of François Peterson in 302; and Konrad von Saar,
a Freelancer, in 303.
PHASE ONE:
The apartments are identical to the others in the
building, though the doors hang open, swinging slowly
in the breeze. Police warning tape forms an ‘X’ over
the doorways. The ever-present cables run into these
apartments just like all the others. The TVs are still on
and blaring. Players will notice that the TVs in each
apartment are all tuned to the same channel – Capitol
Entertainment Network and reruns of The Giant Eye.
 BIRTH OF A MALIGNANT
A Malignant is created when a human is exposed to
the raw fury of the Dark Symmetry, and his mind and
body is infused and infected with the terrible menace of
necrobionics. Every fracture needs a point of focus and
here it is the TVs, so ‘kindly’ provided by the corporations,
that never switch off. Habitually watched by the residents,
the TVs are startlingly vulnerable to corruption by the
Dark Symmetry and are the perfect infection vector.
A Malignant is created when a human is exposed to the raw fury of the Dark Symmetry.
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
Though sentient in a completely alien way, one part of
the Twisted Marionette’s plan is understandable: It plans
to expand and infect all of the TVs in the Nines and the
surrounding districts of the Perimeters until all of Luna is
infected and the marionette is once again united with the
Dark Soul.
Straffar Gatan 39 is the Dark Legion’s patient zero….
V3.0 BETA TEST
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 The apartments are marked with blood stains, but not
enough to mean the residents were killed.
In the Beeks’ apartment (301), half-emptied shopping
bags lie on the floor, their contents only partially put away.
In Peterson’s apartment (302) the bath has overflowed and
flooded the apartments, though the Patrol officers turned
it off. Her wardrobe contains a mix of ultra-fashionable
clothes, and scruffy street wear. There is a note on the
table saying, ‘”I very much enjoyed our tea and chat. Do
come and visit me again soon.” signed, Abigail.’
In Konrad von Saar’s apartment (303) a Sherman .74
Model 10 large calibre Heavy Pistol (4+3d6) lies in
pieces, apparently part way through being cleaned and
reassembled. It is clear searching through his stuff that
he is an experienced Freelancer. His refurbished light
shoulder pads (left and right arms) hang in the wardrobe.
A hidden gun stash (an Average D1 Observation test)
contains two knives (2+3d6, Pierce 1), and two reloads
for the .74. It will take an average D1 Ranged Weapons
test to reassemble the Sherman Heavy Pistol.
It is clear to any player who succeeds at a preliminary
assessment of the crime scene (an average D1 Observation
test) that the residents are likely alive. Close examination of
the carpets indicates that the residents walked out of the
apartments of their own free will. The blood stains appear to
be of the level of a bad nosebleed.
PHASE TWO & THREE:
While largely identical to Phase One, above, the TV screens
now show flashing images and snippets of videos of the
residents going about their daily business. Pay two DSPs
to intersperse between these snapshots images of the
players screaming and running through the corridors of the
tenement. The scenes are unnerving to say the least.
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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
Anyone looking at the screens and seeing themselves running
and screaming should make an average D1 Willpower test
or take 1d6 Mental Health wounds.
FOURTH FLOOR AND
ABOVE: THE CASTIGATOR
PHASE ONE & TWO:
The Twisted Marionette seals off this floor with thick bundles
of cables that arc worryingly large sparks between them to
prevent anyone invading its inner sanctum until it is ready.
The players are required to make a challenging D2 Athletics
or Acrobatics skill test for any movement. Failure results in
becoming entangled or receiving a nasty electrical shock
and taking 3d6 wounds.
PHASE THREE:
THE SHOWDOWN WITH THE CASTIGATOR!
The Twisted Marionette has marshalled its powers and is
ready for the final stage of its plans. It opens up a fracture
to Pluto, where the Dark Symmetry is building its power. This
allows a Necrobionic spore to tear through, and possess the
host body the Twisted Marionette has provided for it. The
Twisted Marionette then merges with the Malignant to form
something new: a Castigator.
THE CASTIGATOR
When the players finally venture up to the abandoned
levels of the tenement they enter the heart of the lair, where
the Twisted Marionette has dragged Konrad von Saar. It
has merged with him to create an ideal vessel for Illian’s
Malignants and become the Castigator.
The internal walls of the floor have been torn down and big,
thick, pulsing bundles of cables writhe in crude mockery of
veins. The choking smog is thickest here, and everything
drips with oily moisture. The stench of burning plastic and
flesh fills the players’ nostrils.
As they enter, pulses of a sickly, blue-green light at the
heart of the level are distantly visible to the players. As they
approach, they see a crackling energy field surrounding
the twisted body of Konrad von Saar. The energy field is
completely impervious to the attacks of the players, and any
attempts to pierce it are fruitless. Konrad von Saar has been
transformed into the Castigator. Convulsing cables pierce
his body at his wrists, stomach, thighs, and elsewhere. He
seems dead, but without warning his eyes snap open and he
 Attempting to reply or talk to Konrad
is fruitless. The barks are merely the
repeated echoes of the dead. He is
beyond saving, and the Castigator is
simply revelling in his final torment.

With a wet, ripping noise, the Castigator

tears free of the cables feeding it, and
drops to the floor. Then, abruptly, the
energy field and the lights go out,
plunging the players into darkness. The
hunt has begun.

The Castigator can travel with equal

ease on two legs or on all fours on any
surface, using its powerful claws to
grip to the surface. It moves, hunter-
like, to pounce on its target. When
not attacking, the Castigator remains
unnaturally still and silent, blending into
the background of ruin in the tenement.
The Castigator is an ambush predator,
enjoying prolonging the suffering of
its targets, and carefully choosing the
moment to attack. When it does, it will
dive in and out of the thick choking fog,
using it as cover.

The Castigator’s obvious attacks are

its fearsome claws, bite, or sweep
The Castigator is a horrific, hybrid of man, cables and necrobionics.
attacks with its long, whip-like cable
appendages. But the real danger from
emits a terrifying wail of misery. The Castigator is a horrific, hybrid of man, cables, the Castigator is that of infection.
and necrobionics, all powered by the corruption of the Dark Symmetry. Standing Wounds caused by the Castigator infect
taller than a man, the Dark Symmetry has stretched and warped the body of the its victims with necrobionic spores that
original host. Its grey-green skin is pierced in multiple places by rubbery cables will slowly consume the host, creating
that spark, and drip black mucus. The face of the Castigator is that of von Saar, but further Malignants.
twisted into an unnatural, frozen, rictus grin of death and agony. Powerful bony
claws have erupted from Konrad’s ruined fingers and toes, and his jaw has become If a player suffers 3 or more wounds
distended and unnaturally large. from a single attack, ask them to make
a Challenging D2 Resistance test. If
Upon seeing the Castigator for the first time the each player should make a they fail just smile; it is up to the players
Challenging D2 Willpower test to discover what has happened or
deduce the effects. The only way to
If they fail inflict 2d6 Mental Health damage and if the player now has five or more destroy the spores is with fire. They can
Mental Health damage mark the Impaired status on their character sheet due to lay dormant indefinitely. If the players
the shock. are infected they will be lucky to survive
if the spores take root (something for
When the Castigator attacks it screams aloud Konrad’s last thoughts, now forever the next adventure). If the wound is in
trapped in the moment of his death: a limb, their best bet is to immediately
“Help me!”, “The pain!”, “Where am I?”, amputate, or they face the same
“Why can’t I see?”, “Please, I don’t want to die!” agonising death as Konrad von Saar.

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Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
 THE CASTIGATOR
DARK SYMMETRY SPENDS:
CLOSE COMBAT: FOCUS 1-2 12
• 1 DSP – Constrictor : Roll an more difficult by two steps, and
PERSONALITY 6 extra d20 in a Melee attack. any otherwise simple physical
actions require a Challenging
PHYSIQUE 14 • 1 DSP – Contortionist: Roll an D2 Athletics test to perform.
extra d20 in an Acrobatics test. Attacking the cable is an
STRENGTH 12 Average D1 test and 2 points
• 1 DSP – Tripwire: Make an of damage must be inflicted to
player’s Acrobatics test 1 step free the player.
ALL OTHER ATTRIBUTES 8 more difficult.
• 2 DSP – Cables flail around,
CLOSE COMBAT DAMAGE • 1 DSP – Whiplash: Cables exploding walls or windows,
4d6 +4 Pierce: 1 / Knockdown: 2 whip at the player causing and causing a hail of glass
another 1d6 damage to the fragments and the wind
WOUNDS attack. outside to come howling
Head: in. Each player in the room
• 2 DSP – Puncture: A sharp should make an Average D1
Torso: cable thrusts out during Acrobatics test to avoid taking
Left Arm: a successful attack. The 1d6 damage.
Right Arm: investigator is impaled and
takes 1 additional wound to • 3 DSP – Death’Throws’: As
Left Leg: the same location each round the creature dies it grabs
Right Arm: until the cable is severed or the player that did the last
Serious: removed. To sever the cable damage to it, and throws
takes a Challenging D2 Close them out of a window. The
Critical: Combat or Ranged Weapon investigator must make a Dire
SOAK test. D4 Acrobatics or Athletics test
2 to Torso and 1 to all other locations. to grab something on the way
• 2 DSP – Cables wrap down, or take 6d6 damage
The first close combat attack against themselves around players’ upon impact.
the Castigator by each character has limbs making any skill tests
its difficulty increased by one step
due to flailing cables.

ENDING THE ADVENTURE
If the players destroy the Castigator the overload initiated
in the antenna by its death causes a wildfire to sweep
through the tenement. The only way out is to leap across
a vertiginous gap (a Challenging D2 Athletics test) to a
neighbouring tenement while the building collapses in fire,
dust... and the screams of the residents.
toxic gases that would cause terrifying hallucinations. The
remains of Sandrine Peterson and Clarence and Mary Beeks
are not recovered.
What really happened in Straffar Gatan 39 will be almost
impossible to prove either way, and unless they work out a
good cover story, the deaths of all the residents will be the
last nail in the coffin of the players’ careers in Luna PD.

Once clear of the building, all the events inside Straffar Of course, if one or more of the players was infected by the
Gatan 39 take on a nightmarish and unreal quality. Fire Castigator, things will go from bad to worse.
crews searching through the rubble find no evidence of the
Castigator, only the crushed remains of the residents, and To Be Continued In… “The Fall of von Hölle”!

ADVENTURE

042
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
 VENTS All rights reserved. Artwork and graphics © Mutant Chronicles International Inc.

LUNA PD ROOKIE
1-2
MENTAL WOUNDS
SOAK
HEAD
CHRONICLE POINTS: 0

BONUS MELEE DAMAGE: –

BONUS RANGE DAMAGE: –
3-5 6-8
AGILITY: 9 SOAK
RIGHT ARM SOAK
LEFT ARM
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS

• ACROBATICS +1 1
1 1
9-14
• CLOSE COMBAT
– UNARMED COMBAT SOAK
TORSO
• STEALTH 1
AWARENESS: 7 15-17 18-20
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• OBSERVATION +1 1
– INSIGHT
SOAK
RIGHT LEG SOAK
LEFT LEG
• THIEVERY +2 1 0 0

CO-ORDINATION: 8
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS CRIT/FAIL
• RANGED WEAPONS +1 1 SERIOUS WOUNDS CRITICAL WOUNDS OVERWHELMED 18-20
– HEAVY WEAPONS IMPAIRED 19-20
– GUNNERY
• PILOT +1 1
– SPACE

INTELLIGENCE: 10 CLOSE COMBAT: bonus: weapon: total:

RANGED DAMAGE: bonus:

SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• EDUCATION +1 1 weapon: total:
– LINGUISTICS
– SCIENCE
• MECHANICS
• SURVIVAL
+1 1
TALENTS: GEAR:
– VACUUM • GREASE MONKEY • LIGHT 2+3d6 AMMO LOAD
• TREATMENT +1 1 One Momentum reduces repair time by half. PISTOL

– MEDICINE • NATURALLY CHARMING • HEAVY LEATHER

– PSYCHOTHERAPY Successful Persuade test get one free Momentum. LUNA PD JACKET
1 Soak – Arms & Torso.

MENTAL STRENGTH: 6 SKILL TEST

• MEDKIT
As a standard action use one load to heal all light
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS wounds in one location, or one light wound from all
• WILLPOWER +1 1 1. SKILL TEST:
locations on yourself or an adjacent character.
ROLL
Target Number 2d20 6. EACH d20 R
PERSONALITY: 8
= Attribute + Ski
ll Expertise.
< OR = FOCUOLL
2. BUY A DITIO S
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS 1d20 = 1 DaD
rk Symme
NAL d20 Gains 1 extra suc
cess.
try point (max. 3)
• ANIMAL HANDLING 6. IF # OF SUC
3. EACH d20 R = OR > DIFFICCESS
• LIFESTYLE = OR < N MO LL ULTY
• PERSUADE = 1 SUCCUESS
BER Then succeed at
ski ll test.

– COMMAND 4. IF ROLL 1 S ADDITIONAL S

UCCESS = MOMEN UCCESS
A 20 causes Comp 1 = Bonus
TUM
PHYSIQUE: 5
lication 1d6 damage.
or 2 Dark Symme 1 = Choose hit loc
try points. ation.
1 = Re-roll any dam
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS 5. IF ROLL 0 S age dice.
UCCESS 2=R  oll second hit loc
ation, to suffer hal
• RESISTANCE Each 20 causes Crit
ical Fail
: Complication / Use current attack’s
damage.
f
Load or 2 Dark Sym Ammo 1=R
metry points.  educe time by
half, increase qua
lity,
STRENGTH: 7
reduce noise, etc
.

SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS CHRONICLE POINTS

SPEND 1 • Gain 1 Bonus Co
• ATHLETICS POINT TO:CHRONICLE • Place bonus d20
mbat Action.
on 1 before skill
• Recover 1 Menta test (cost 2 CPs
l Health & 1 Light after roll).
wound in each loc
ation
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
 VANCE RYDER All rights reserved. Artwork and graphics © Mutant Chronicles International Inc.

DETECTIVE LUNA PD
1-2
MENTAL WOUNDS
SOAK
HEAD
CHRONICLE POINTS: 0

BONUS MELEE DAMAGE: +1d6

BONUS RANGE DAMAGE: +1d6
3-5 6-8
AGILITY: 9 SOAK
RIGHT ARM SOAK
LEFT ARM
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS

• ACROBATICS +1 1
1 0
9-14
• CLOSE COMBAT +1 1
– UNARMED COMBAT SOAK
TORSO
• STEALTH 0
AWARENESS: 8 15-17 18-20
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• OBSERVATION +1 1
– INSIGHT
SOAK
RIGHT LEG SOAK
LEFT LEG
• THIEVERY +1 1 0 0

CO-ORDINATION: 10
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS CRIT/FAIL
• RANGED WEAPONS +1 1-2 SERIOUS WOUNDS CRITICAL WOUNDS OVERWHELMED 18-20
– HEAVY WEAPONS IMPAIRED 19-20
– GUNNERY
• PILOT +1 1
– SPACE

INTELLIGENCE: 7 CLOSE COMBAT: bonus: weapon: total:

RANGED DAMAGE: bonus:

SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• EDUCATION +1 1 weapon: total:
– LINGUISTICS
– SCIENCE
• MECHANICS
• SURVIVAL
TALENTS: GEAR:
– VACUUM • SHARP SENSES • HEAVY 4+3d6 AMMO LOAD
• TREATMENT +1 1 Re-roll and keep result of 1d20 on Observation test. PISTOL

– MEDICINE • JUST A SCRATCH • LUNA PD

– PSYCHOTHERAPY Recover 1 extra light wound whenever SHOULDER PAD
recovering wounds.  1 Soak on right arm.

MENTAL STRENGTH: 5
SKILL TEST
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• WILLPOWER +1 1 ROLL
: ROLL 2d20 6. EACH d20 CU
1. SKILL TEST < OR = FO S
PERSONALITY: 7
e.
Attribute + Skill Expertis
Target Number = Gains 1 extra success.

SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS 2. BUY ADDITIO NAL d20 CCESS

6. IF # OF SUFF
1d20 = 1 Sym met ry point (max. 3)
= OR > DI IC ULTY
• ANIMAL HANDLING Dark
.
Then succeed at skill test
• LIFESTYLE 3. EACH d20 RO LL
S
• PERSUADE +1 1 = OR < NUMB ER ADDITIONAL SUCCES
– COMMAND = 1 SUCCESS = MOMENTUM
1 = Bonus 1d6 damage.
4. IF ROLL 1 SU CCESS 1 = Choose hit location
.

PHYSIQUE: 6 tion
A 20 causes Complica
or 2 Dark Symmetry poin
ts.
1 = Re-roll any damage
2 = Roll second hit loca
dice.
tion, to suffer half
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS current attack’s damage.
5. IF ROLL 0alSU CCESS 1 = Reduce time by half,
increase quality,
• RESISTANCE +1 1 Fail: Complication / Use Amm
o
Each 20 causes Critic reduce noise, etc.
points.
Load or 2 Dark Symmetry

STRENGTH: 8
SKILL
• ATHLETICS
EXPERTISE / FOCUS
CH RONICLE POINTS E
SPEND 1 CHRONICL
• Gain 1 Bonus Combat
• Place bonus d20 on 1
1 Men tal Hea
Action.
before skill test (cost 2
lth
CPs after roll).
& 1 Light wound in each
location
• Recov er
POINT TO:
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)
 TSUYOSHI All rights reserved. Artwork and graphics © Mutant Chronicles International Inc.

FREELANCER
[BODYGUARD] 1-2
MENTAL WOUNDS
SOAK
HEAD
CHRONICLE POINTS: 0

BONUS MELEE DAMAGE: 2d6

BONUS RANGE DAMAGE: –
3-5 6-8
AGILITY: 9 SOAK
RIGHT ARM SOAK
LEFT ARM
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS

• ACROBATICS
0 0
9-14
• CLOSE COMBAT +2 1-2
– UNARMED COMBAT SOAK
TORSO
• STEALTH 3
AWARENESS: 7 15-17 18-20
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• OBSERVATION
– INSIGHT
SOAK
RIGHT LEG SOAK
LEFT LEG
• THIEVERY 0 0

CO-ORDINATION: 8
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS CRIT/FAIL
• RANGED WEAPONS +2 1 SERIOUS WOUNDS CRITICAL WOUNDS OVERWHELMED 18-20
– HEAVY WEAPONS IMPAIRED 19-20
– GUNNERY
• PILOT
– SPACE

INTELLIGENCE: 7 CLOSE COMBAT: bonus: weapon: total:

RANGED DAMAGE: bonus:

SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• EDUCATION weapon: total:
– LINGUISTICS
– SCIENCE
• MECHANICS
• SURVIVAL
TALENTS: GEAR:
– VACUUM • NO MERCY • SHOTGUN 8d6 AMMO LOAD

• TREATMENT Re-roll and keep result of 1 damage die in

close combat
Close Quarter,
Knockdown 3, Spread.
– MEDICINE
– PSYCHOTHERAPY • JUST A SCRATCH • KNIFE
Recover 1 extra light wound whenever 2+3d6 – Pierce 1.
recovering wounds. 

MENTAL STRENGTH: 6 • KEVLAR VEST

Soak 3 – Torso.
SKILL
• WILLPOWER
EXPERTISE / FOCUS
SKILL TEST
1. SKILL TEST: RO
PERSONALITY: 5 Target Number = Attr
LL 2d20
ibute + Skill Experti
se.
6. EACH d20 ROLL
< OR = FOCUS
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS 2. BUY ADDITION Gains 1 extra succes
1d20 = 1 Dark Sym AL d20 s.
• ANIMAL HANDLING metry poin t (max. 3)
• LIFESTYLE 6. IF # OF SUCCES
3. EACH d20 ROLL = OR > DIFFICULS
• PERSUADE = OR < NUMBER Then succeed TY
at skill test.
– COMMAND = 1 SUCCES S ADDITIONAL SUCC
4. IF ROLL 1 SUCC = MOMENTUM ESS
PHYSIQUE: 8 ESS
A 20 causes Complic
or 2 Dark Symmetry
ation
points.
1= Bonus 1d6 damage.
1 = Choose hit location
.
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS 1 = Re-roll any damage
dice.
• RESISTANCE +1 1 5. IF ROLL 0 SUCC 2=R  oll second hit location
Each 20 causes Critical
ESS current attack’s dam
, to suffer half
Fail: Complication / Use age.
Load or 2 Dark Symmet Ammo 1=R educe time by half
STRENGTH: 10
ry points. , increase quality,
reduce noise, etc.

SKILL
• ATHLETICS
EXPERTISE / FOCUS
CHRONICLE POINTS
SPEND 1 CH • Gain 1 Bonus Com
POINT TO: RONICLE
bat Action.
•P lace bonus d20 on
1 before skill test (cos
•R
 ecover 1 Mental Hea t 2 CPs after roll).
lth & 1 Light wound
Steven Cleek (order #5891700) in each location
 NIX All rights reserved. Artwork and graphics © Mutant Chronicles International Inc.

FREELANCER
[SNIPER] 1-2
MENTAL WOUNDS
SOAK
HEAD
CHRONICLE POINTS: 0

BONUS MELEE DAMAGE: –

BONUS RANGE DAMAGE: +2d6
3-5 6-8
AGILITY: 8 SOAK
RIGHT ARM SOAK
LEFT ARM
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS

• ACROBATICS
1 1
9-14
• CLOSE COMBAT
– UNARMED COMBAT SOAK
TORSO
• STEALTH +1 1 1
AWARENESS: 9 15-17 18-20
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• OBSERVATION +1 1
– INSIGHT
SOAK
RIGHT LEG SOAK
LEFT LEG
• THIEVERY 0 0

COORDINATION: 10
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS CRIT/FAIL
• RANGED WEAPONS +3 1-3 SERIOUS WOUNDS CRITICAL WOUNDS OVERWHELMED 18-20
– HEAVY WEAPONS IMPAIRED 19-20
– GUNNERY
• PILOT
– SPACE

INTELLIGENCE: 7 CLOSE COMBAT: bonus: weapon: total:

RANGED DAMAGE: bonus:

SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• EDUCATION weapon: total:
– LINGUISTICS
– SCIENCE
• MECHANICS
• SURVIVAL
TALENTS: GEAR:
– VACUUM • CLEAR SHOT • ASSAULT 4+4d6 AMMO LOAD
• TREATMENT +10 metres range for Ranged Weapons. RIFLE
Burstfire.
– MEDICINE • SHARP SENSES
– PSYCHOTHERAPY R-reroll and keep result of 1d20 on • HEAVY LEATHER
Observation test. JACKET
1 Soak – Arms & Torso
MENTAL STRENGTH: 8
SKILL
• WILLPOWER
EXPERTISE / FOCUS
SKILL TEST
1. SKILL TEST: ROLL 2d20 6. EACH d20 ROLL
< OR = FOCUS
PERSONALITY: 7 Target Number = Attribute + Skill Expertise.
Gains 1 extra success.
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS 2. BUY ADDITIONAL d20
• ANIMAL HANDLING 1d20 = 1 Dark Symmetry point (max. 3) 6. IF # OF SUCCESS
= OR > DIFFICULTY
• LIFESTYLE 3. EACH d20 ROLL Then succeed at skill test.
• PERSUADE = OR < NUMBER
= 1 SUCCESS ADDITIONAL SUCCESS
– COMMAND = MOMENTUM
4. IF ROLL 1 SUCCESS 1 = Bonus 1d6 damage.

PHYSIQUE: 6 A 20 causes Complication

or 2 Dark Symmetry points.
1 = Choose hit location.
1 = Re-roll any damage dice.
2 = Roll second hit location, to suffer half
SKILL EXPERTISE / FOCUS
• RESISTANCE 5. IF ROLL 0 SUCCESS current attack’s damage.
Each 20 causes Critical Fail: Complication / Use Ammo 1 = Reduce time by half, increase quality,
Load or 2 Dark Symmetry points. reduce noise, etc.

STRENGTH: 5
SKILL
• ATHLETICS
EXPERTISE / FOCUS
CHRO NICLE POINTS
SPEND 1 CHRONICLE
• Gain 1 Bonus Combat Action.
• Place bonus d20 on 1 before skill test (cost 2 CPs after roll).
POINT TO: • Recover 1 Mental Health & 1 Light wound in each location

Steven Cleek (order #5891700)

 FUNDED AND SHOOTING
DOWN STRETCH GOALS LIKE
NECROMUTANTS ON THE
MARTIAN PLAINS!

CLICK HERE
Steven Cleek (order #5891700)