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Mothership Session Report 1
I’ve recently started running two friends through the space horror ttrpg Mothership scenario Dead Weight (warning - itch page contains spoilers). I’m going to blog about the experience! This first blog includes a brief (actually it turns out that it wasn’t so brief haha) session report.
Coming: A “review” of the module I’m using, self-feedback, and tips for others that hope to run this scenario.
Content Warning
Mothership is a horror game. Content Warnings for this update include suffocation and gore. Follow your heart.
Spoiler Warning
The session report below contains unmarked spoilers for the introductory portion of Mothership scenario Dead Weight. My players please feel to read. If you are hoping to play as a player in this scenario, it won’t spoil much beyond the inciting incident — imo, not critical spoilers. Follow your heart.
Session Report
Introduction
You are members of Shift B of the crew of the Adamant Lapis, a cargo ship performing a routine mission to gather material samples from various outposts belonging to the Company and its subsidiaries. Life on the ship had settled into a comfortable sort of tedium, 7 months into the mission.
5 weeks ago, the Adamant Lapis jumped to the 8058 Felis system.
2 weeks ago, the Adamant Lapis made its latest cargo pickup: mineral samples from the rogue asteroid gobstopper-98.
4 days ago, chief researcher Dr. Emily Renato was exposed to an undocumented pathogen (later named carminosis) via a water-bearing geode from Kōwhai-6. The ship’s laboratory was quarantined as Dr. Renato documented progress of her symptoms.
3 days ago, Dr. Renato died of carminosis; suffocated, her body having consumed 30 days of the ship’s O2 supply in 24 hours.
With Emily Renato’s body receding into deep space as the Adamant burns towards the next jump point, a new routine begins to settle into place for shift B. There is still work to be done for the Company, regardless of the quarantined laboratory or the grieving crew.
Player Characters
Gregory DeWalt (he/him) — Planetology Specialist
patch - work hard, party harder
Greg is a scientist employed by the Company. Gregory’s employment by the company is a kind of consolation prize after the DeWalts family fortune was much reduced in an unsuccessful legal battle against a hostile takeover of DeWalt Scientific Services by the Company.
A hard-partyer during his university education, greg has, discovered a skill and passion for planetology that surpasses the typical expections of scions such as him.
Within gregory’s personal affects is a pen with a hidden injector and potent poison — a “gift” from the DeWalt family matriarch, along with the corollary expectation of vengeance enacted, when called for. Greg… tries not to think about it.
During Emily’s funural, Greg, operating one of the ship’s pallet jacks remotely, was the one to eject the body into deep space. He couldn’t help but compare the action to the sorting of contaminated rock samples from pure, or the ejection of rock dust from a hand-drill — inevitable waste produced by the scientific process.
PRINCE (he/him) — Company Android (General Purpose)
patch - (love) machine
PRINCE is an android owned by the company, programmed and designed for general purpose use on interstellar voyages. In order to reduce social friction in the long months at space, PRINCE’s model of android is programmed to validate and build on his fellow human crew members’ feelings and ideas.
PRINCE is currently entangled with an obvious scammer who anonymously contacted him via ansible at the last jump point. PRINCE is aware of the scam, but feels compelled to continue to test the limits of his empathy.
PRINCE noticed CHE-F was absent from the funeral with a sort of unsurprise — of course the other android wouldn’t be there to support the people that really matter — the human beings on the crew.
Session Log
We open on the morning of the third day since Dr. Renato’s death, the cabin lights of the Adamant rising from a low orange to mid-shift’s clinical white in crude simulation of the day-night cycle.
PRINCE has just finished a special project given to him by the ship’s exhausted interim Chief Researcher, Dr. Mei Lau, who technically is a member of Shift A, but is staying up late to complete preliminary analysis on mineral samples by the deadline. As PRINCE, carrying a padded case containing the coolant core of one of the ship’s 20 cryopods, scavenged for Lau’s needs, walks through the narrow corridor and spots technician Ahu Hone (short; eyepatch; jumpy; jokester) peering through the loudly warning-signaged and locked-down hatch to the modular cargo pod E (PATHOGEN WARNING -EXTREME DANGER - KEEP SEALED AT ALL TIMES).
Ahu: “Is it just me, or is there a crack in this window? Or it could be me that’s cracked. heh. ha.”
PRINCE: “That is a very funny joke, Ahu. It is good that you are concerned about our safety. Please, let me take a look.”
To PRINCE’s artifical eyesight, the window looks totally fine. beyond, in the 10x10x10 meter modular cargo cube, are the samples stored in preserved disarray, just as they were when the captain ordered the module sealed.
Down the corridor, past the hatch to module F (AEROSOLIZABLE RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS - CAUTION) Dr. Lau (older; shaved hair; wine-birthmark on cheek; dedicated) is speaking with technician Sarah Trent (round face; she/they pronoun pin; fading yellow highlights in ponytail; fragile) from the entrance to Cargo Module H, her temporary lab, she puts a hand on Sarah’s shoulder and seems to be comforting them.
PRINCE reassures Ahu that the window is perfectly fine, Ahu cracks another joke and hurries back to his current assignment (in the aft, routine reactor-core maintenance).
PRINCE approaches Mei and Sarah, proffering the newly scavenged coolant core to Mei, who thanks PRINCE.
Dr. Lau: “Thank you. You clearly marked the pod you took this from as out-of-order? Weaver didn’t see you did he? Good. He’d be fine, but the risk is that he’d tell Mary. We’re behind enough as it is.”
Dr. Lau: “Ok, so next I need you to get me the heavy centerfuge from General Storage. The Pensell3300, not the General-Smith. Trent here will help you, might be a two person job - thing’s heavy, plus you know how Minogue and Bartek keep General.”
Sarah gives PRINCE a half-hearted smile. Dr. Renato’s death has really affected her. As she and PRINCE take off towards General Storage, Dr. Lau places a hand on PRINCE’s arm, sensors pinging in the rubberized plastic that stretches over steel bones.
Dr. Lau: “Take care of her, ok?”
Dr. Lau: “I… need to sleep.”
Sarah and PRINCE walk through the dormitories in order to get to General Storage. Sarah opens up about being distraught over Emily’s death, and being worried about how everyone is doing after the funeral.
Sarah: “Thank you for listening to me, PRINCE. It really helps. I’ve been talking so much to Dr. Lau, but I feel bad because she has so much work already, so I appreciate you listening.”
PRINCE: “Of course, Sarah. You are a very kind person, caring about Dr. Lau’s feelings like that.”
Sarah: “How-how are you doing, PRINCE.”
Prince reveals a little about how the distress of everyone on the crew is affecting him.
Sarah: “I want to show you something, I’ve been working on this since- since the…”
She pulls a book from her utility bag. It’s the repurposed binder cover of a vacsuit training manual with the pasted over with a blank sheet. ‘Memories of Emily Renato by The Crew of the Adamant Lapis’ is carefully and neatly hand-lettered and colored-in.
She looks down at the floor
Sarah: “I thought we could all add to it! to help us remember her. Maybe we could keep it in the lab? So its like she’s still here, maybe?”
PRINCE: “That is a wonderful idea, Sarah. This really shows your thoughtfulness and care for Emily and for the rest of the crew.”
Sarah: “I want to give it to you first. Would you like to write your thoughts first? I tried, but-“
Sarah: “I- I thought that maybe you and some of the other crew would want to go first?”
They look hopefully and sheepishly at PRINCE
PRINCE: “Of course, giving this book to me is a great idea. The other crew and I will greatly appreciate the opportunity to remember Dr. Renato.”
Sarah hands the blank book to PRINCE with a smile. They turn the corner out of the dorms, just as, a few meters away, technician Aleksy Bartk (slick ‘stache; confrontational teamster patch; heavy footfalls; irritable) steps out of General Storage, carrying a heavy armful of cables.
With a grunt and a glance, he stomps past.
Sarah: “If only everyone else was as easy to convince as you… My card tournament sign up still only has me and you on it. Everyone in Shift A has their board game night that everyone attends. I wish that Shift B had that same spirit!”
PRINCE: “Do you think that a card game tournament would help everyone come together and process their recent hardship?”
Sarah: “Yeah!”
they step into General Storage, the faint smell of cigarette smoke confronting their nostrils as they confront the shelves and pressurized hatches of theoretically well-organized items.
Sarah: “Well, I dunno. Even before this- this week, you were the only one interested.”
PRINCE: “Well, if you think that it will bring the crew together, I will help find attendees. Please do not worry.”
Sarah gives a genuine smile.
Sarah: “Thank you, PRINCE.”
Sarah: “Now, that centerfuge…”
Aleksy: “hey man, got a ‘sec to check on the project?”
He’s got his arms full of cabling and tubing. Without stopping for an answer, he clomps past the entrance to Cargo Module A (STRONG MAGNETIC FIELDS - WARNING - keep these samples away from computers!!! - Dr. Lau) which frames Gregory as he exits holding a small shielded sample case.
Gregory: “Of course.”
Greg carefully seals the manual lock on the module behind him as he leaves. He catches up to Aleksy, who has stopped to lean against Module C’s hatch, which glows with a dull, sickly yellow light (UNKNOWN CHEMICAL AND ENERGETIC HAZARDS - DANGER). Greg strolls past Module B (NO KNOWN HAZARDS - CAUTION), giving a glance at the occupant of the 10 cubed meter space: a large pearlescent sphere — the core of rogue asteroid Gobstopper-98, as well as colorfully-banded rock samples from the 12km wide nearly spherical asteroid.
Prelim analysis of the rock samples is next in the queue. Greg is looking forward to it.
Aleksy: “So whaddaya think of the carminosis situation.”
Gregory: “How do you mean?”
Aleksy looks like he’s chewing on something, eyes narrowed.
Aleksy: “I mean- you think that those dinky fuckin’ door seals on the lab are enough?”
Gregory: “Well, I’m sure that proper procedure is being followed — Captain Kaur and Officer Weaver have our best interests at heart.”
Aleksy makes a derisive grunt/laugh.
Aleksy: “Seriously?”
It’s laconic, but the calm seems forced.
Aleksy: “You really trust The Company to do right by us?”
Aleksy motions to the patch on the front of his work overalls: A pair of crossed chains chomped by red-canined teeth — “Don’t FUCK With Us”
Aleksy: Must be the education. If you and I didn’t have this project I’da thought you a softie. You’ll learn. Us Teamsters know better. From experience.”
Gregory opens the hatch to the reactor room, which Aleksy enters first.
Aleksy: “That right, Ahu?”
Ahu: “Flippin frick. Alright, who used the haz-suits last?”
Ahu: “Who used the haz-suits the last three times?”
he motions to the empty hazard suit cabinet, which is squeezed in next to the behemoth purring nuclear reactor core that squats in the space.
Ahu: “You? you?”
Gregory shrugs, Aleksy grunts and takes a wide berth around the reactor core, towards the hatch to the gravity generator chamber.
Gregory: “I’ll let you know if I see one.”
Ahu: “I should have known research was hogging all the suits… just remember that some us have to work with the *actual” hazmats — not just hellmagnets or superflu.”
Greg makes an indistinct laugh-sound as he follows Aleksy into the grav generator room, a sleek, spindly mechanism studded with four grav-pylons sits. Aleksy has already opened a secret hatch in the corner, beside a tool cabinet.
Aleksy pokes at the readings on the whisky still that he and Greg have jury-rigged inside.
Aleksy “whaddya think?”
Greg bends down to look over the instrumentation, pulls a wrinked pamplet out of his tool holster and flips through it.
Gregory: “looks good for this stage. How much longer, do you think?
Aleksy pops open a hatch in the side of the still, pokes a finger inside, tastes it.
Aleksy: “Hooo! Euch. Pretty good for somethin’ that used to be fuckin’ engine fuel. 3 weeks. maybe four. You sure this is gonna make alchohol?”
Greg: “I’m not an expert in organic chemistry, but this should work.”
Aleksy: “Alright. Alright. Before you go, just remember what I said about the higher ups”
Gregory: “I could speak with Captain, see if she could tighten up the security of the lab-“
Aleksy just grunts and waves his hand dismissively.
Before he leaves, Greg spots one of the hazsuits, discarded haphazardly near the entrance to the warp core chamber. He glances sidelong at Aleksy, who has already started shuffling through the gravgen status printouts. He brings the suit back to Ahu, who is grateful.
Eventually, ship’s mignight rolls around - time for the midday break and meal. Cooking-specialist android CHE-F queries everyone’s enjoyment of the meal (rice and spiced vegetable curry), square boxy body trundling out of the kitchen to the mess hall and reacting with a :) with its display panel face to Sarah’s praise.
CHE-F: “Your feedback. Is appreciated.”
CHE-F: “Please Remember. That this week’s friday meat meal will be. Mutton Steaks. With cricket-meal bread and gravy.”
Ahu is joking with Chief Officer Donald Weaver (tall, heavy, sandy haired, passive-voiced).
Ahu: “-and he says- he says: ‘I’ll be Bach!’”
Weaver snorts and gives a chuckle.
Ahu: “Careful chief,”
Ahu drops his voice to a stage whisper
Ahu: “Don’t wanna look like an oxygen hog.”
Ahu and Weaver grin while Sarah gives a little ‘eep’ and Aleksy scowls into his half-eaten curry. Chief Weaver is suddenly looking very passive-faced.
Ahu: “Ah. I mean.”
Gregory: “About that, I was curious, are we being careful enough and following safety protocols properly? Is there anything we can do to improve?”
Donald: “Ah, yes. To my knowledge everything is as safe as it can be. With myself and Dr. Lau holding the key-cards, there’s no need to worry. About Dr. Lau’s key card, at least! Eh. Heh.”
No one laughs at Chief Weaver’s boss joke.
Sensing social friction, PRINCE stirs and regards Gregory with the screen that is his face — currently pulsing with an flowing abstract blue-cyan smear.
PRINCE: “Gregory, is it true that you like to play cards?”
Gregory: “Well, I have to confess, back in school I was quite the player of cards! Won more than I lost, anyway.”
PRINCE: “This is good. Did you know that Sarah has placed a sign-up for a card-game tournament in the rec-room? This could be a good opportunity to unwind and have fun!”
Sarah: “Ever play dutch blitz? It’s easy I swear!”
Gregory: “I suppose that I’ll have to…
Gregory: “Want to make the game sweeter with a bet, PRINCE?”
PRINCE: “A Bet! A wonderful idea Greg. I am not wealthy, but I will wager with you.”
Gregory: “I’m not wealthy either! How about 70 credits?”
PRINCE: “Wonderful. Would, perhaps, anyone else like to join our bet?”
Ahu joins in, adding a fake jade necklace he jokes about being scammed into purchasing at the last port to the pot.
Sarah is beaming.
After the meal period, the rest of the shift is mostly uneventful.
Gregory gets a basic spectroscopy of the Gobstopper rock samples in. Suprisingly the samples are carbiniferous, not silicate or metallic; closely matching the chemical signature of a hydrocarbon such as coal or oil.
Gregory is sure to follow proper safety protocol for unknown chemical samples (with the post-disaster rush, safety-protocols have been lacking, he has to admit) — hazsuit properly stored after use, isolation cab brought in for handling, lab-code locking the hatch with the code Lau had shared with him.
Greg meets with Chief Weaver in the bridge, where every console and arm rest seems to have a coffee stain on it. Weaver allows Greg to run a preliminary simulation on the ship’s computer of potential combustion/power generation uses for the material.
Donald: “It’ll occupy half our compute for the two days and make our warp calcs a day late, but I’ll allow it.”
Donald: “If you’re onto somthing, it’ll be nice for the crew to have a win.”
Donald: “Just don’t tell Mary I let you do this, ok?”
Analysis of the Pearlescent core of Gobstopper-98 will have to wait. The industrial drill the Company-Employed miners had been mining the asteroid with had cracked against its surface.
The shared meal at the end of Shift B and beginning of Shift A is also uneventful. Dr. Lau wakes up late, at the tail of the meal, but leaves early to begin her workday in the temporary lab. Ben Minogue of shift A even more quiet than usual while Max and Maxine giggle off in their own corner. Donald Weaver gives a short summary of the shift’s events and continuing work to Captain Mary Kuar.
The lights begin to dim — another simulation of dusk/dawn.
Time for shift-B to rest.
PRINCE walks the corridor adjacent to the modular cargo bay. It is ship’s noon — Shift A is all at their meal break, while Shift B sleeps soundly. PRINCE doesn’t sleep, and right now he just wants to walk alone. Abstract green-yellow dots expand and contract on his screen-face.
Walking past Cargo Module B with its strange pearl, He hears a Thump! and a Clatter of dropped samples from inside. Looking through the hatch window, PRINCE sees Ben Minogue has tripped and fallen, cracking his head against the pearl and scattering rock samples on the floor.
PRINCE tries the manual door latch. Someone has also actiuvated the digital lock.
Ben is laying motionless on the floor. Blood is starting to pool beneath his head.
PRINCE’s flash-memory automatically shows him a replay of Dr. Renato punching in the lab code, then a replay of Dr. Lau, and the Gregory. Right, always the same code.
As the hatch hisses open, PRINCE rushes in.
PRINCE: “We need medical assistance in Cargo Module B. Ben is gravely injured.”
No pulse. No breathing. Benjamin Minogue is dead. The skin of his face is blue. Is that normal for a dead human? Is that normal? Is that normal?
The blood continues to spread. it begins to soak the knee of PRINCE’s uniform.
PRINCE: “It is good for you to remain motionless. This is OK. Please remain still until we can administer first aid. You are doing well, Ben.”
The blood spreads, touching the pearl where it rests on the floor of the container.
PRINCE: “This is OK. You will be alright, Ben.”
Chief Weaver skids to a stop at the hatch into the module.
Donald: “Oh fuck-“
A kind of low wailing moan comes from the sphere.
Ben jerks under PRINCE’s hands.
Hope sparks in PRINCE’s simulated heart-
An unseen force rips Ben out of PRINCE’s hands. Ben’s body crashes into The Pearl, and squashes, bones breaking, flesh tearing, he’s peeling around the sphere-
The samples in the module begin to rattle, the spilled ones tumble, accelerating, toward the sphere. Donald Weaver stumbles backwards. PRINCE starts forward towards ben who is now a smear of flesh and blood on the Pearl—
The back wall of the module explodes.
Gregory is awoken in the dormitories by a nearly-deafening BANG-BANG-SCREECH-BANG. There is a roar and rush of escaping atmosphere elsewhere on the ship. The emergency hatch leading to the washroom from the dormitories slams shut.
Sarah cowers, Ahu has fallen out of bed, Aleksy is shouting. There is a screaming of pain and a whooshing of escaping air from the portside cargo hall - Chief Weaver?
Something bad has happened.
High Scores
Gregory DeWalt - 1 session
PRINCE - 1 session
Up Next
A “review” of the module I’m using, self-feedback, and tips for others that hope to run this scenario.