SUBSTRATUM

PROTOCOL
DESCEND LEARN SURVIVE

YOU ARE THE BEST

SCIENTISTS WE
HAVE LEFT

PANDION GAMES FREE PREVIEW1

 CREDITS
Designed and written by
SUBSTRATUM
PROTOCOL
Andrew Boyd

Illustrations by
Galen Pejeau
DESCEND LEARN SURVIVE
Edited by
Eric Lazure

Development Editing by
René-Pier Deshaies-Gélinas

Layout Direction from

Tony Tran

Art Direction by
Elyssa Boyd

PLAYTESTERS
Dan Bronson-Lowe - @Almost_Bedtime_Theater
M. Allen Hall - @M_Allen_Hall
Ennio - @Ennio_Goes
Storyweaver - @story_weaver28
Ed Brannin - @edbrannin

Substratum Protocol is published by Pandion Games and is licensed under the ORC License

available online at various locations including www.azoralaw.com/orclicense. All warranties

are disclaimed as set forth therein. The following elements are owned by the Licensor and

would otherwise constitute Reserved Material and are hereby designated as Licensed Material:

all the details about the setting, clues, questions and adventure,and artwork.

Hints and Hijinx games are based on Breathless and Firelights, product of Fari RPGs (https://

farirpgs.com/), developed and authored by René-Pier Deshaies-Gélinas, and licensed for our
use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). hiji
&
nx

EXPEDITION TEAM
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STANDARD OPERATIONS MANUAL

Substratum Protocol is a Hints and Hijinx Solo+ Mystery.
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Find out more at www.hintsandhijinx.com

ISBN 123-45-6-78901
 About The Chief of Operations
TABLE OF CONTENTS at the Fracture Observatory

Dr. Fernando Marques de Almeida is the fictional character taking

on the role of chief of operations, responsible for both the
Fracture Observatory and the Substratum Expedition Team.

This character is named after the very real geologist by the same
BEFORE WE START 6 PORTAL CLUES 38
name. Marques de Almeida (1916-2013) was widely regarded as
QUICK REFERENCE 8 PORTAL KNOWLEDGE 40 Brazil's foremost geologist. He published 176 scientific papers
WELCOME SUBSTRATUM TEAM 10 FIELD NOTES 42 on geosciences during a career marked by nine major awards and
honors. One of the founders of the Brazilian Society of Geology,
EXPEDITION POSITIONS 12 DEPTH SECTORS 51 he also became the first chief editor of the Journal of Geology.
BASIC EQUIPMENT 13 FRACTURE OPENING 52
In this fictional world, we thought an esteemed geologist would
EXPEDITION PLANNING 14 CIVILIZATION RUINS 54
oversee the operations of the Fracture Observatory and the
CHARACTER CREATION 16 LIQUEFYING CRYSTALS 57 Substratum Protocol, and so was named after Marques de Almeida.
RULES & PROCEDURES 20 SUPER HEATED LAKE 58

SKILL CHECKS 20 CAUSTIC POOLS 61

STORAGE UNIT 22 GRAVITY INVERSION ZONE 62 WELCOME TO THE EXPEDITION’S PREVIEW

DEEP BREATH 22 ALPHA PARTICLE GROVE 65
Please note that this is a free preview PDF released for the
OVERCLOCK 22 BARRIER EVENT HORIZON 66 backerkit campaign on 03/24/2024. This document represents a work
STRESS 22 THE INNER CORE 69 in progress and not a final release of the game.

ACTIONS 23 THE PORTAL 70

In this preview, you can expect to find the entire ruleset needed
POWERING THE EXOSUIT 28 to play Substratum Protocol, but the portal clues, portal
PERSONNEL FOLIO 72
THE PORTAL’S INFLUENCE 32 knowledge questions, field notes, depth sector’s descriptions and
EXPEDITION TEAM FOLIO 76 events, and character sheets are not included.
THE LAST HYPOTHESIS 34
EXPEDITION TRACKING 80
PLAYING SOLO 36 You are welcome to build your own adventures to play using this
ruleset, but we hope that after seeing what Substratum Protocol
has to offer, you’ll be curious for all the events to uncover,
clues to find, and questions to answer to save the world.

If you discover any typos or have any questions about the rules,
please send us an email at [email protected].

Finally, if these rules spark your imagination for your own game,
you find can find the system reference document to create your
own Hints and Hijinx Solo+ game at:

https://hintsandhijinx.pandiongames.com
4 5
BEFORE WE START

DICE NOTATION A ROLEPLAYING GAME

To play this game, you will need to roll different types of dice. A role-playing game involves creating and expanding an
Substratum Protocol uses standard TTRPG dice notation: interactive and dynamic world. When played as a group, one person
plays the role of Mission Control (MC). The MC lays down the
▶ d4: a four-sided die fictional foundation for scenes, acts as a referee for the game’s
▶ d6: a six-sided die rules, and helps facilitate collaboration around the table.
During a scene, they present challenges and let players find
▶ d8: an eight-sided die creative ways to resolve them.
▶ d10: a ten-sided die
The other people at the table are players, each controlling a
▶ d12: a twelve-sided die player character (PC). Their role is to inhabit their character,
▶ d20: a twenty-sided die speaking and acting on their behalf within the game’s narrative
world. Players see the world through their character’s eyes and
▶ d66: roll two six-sided die, and use the numbers independently determine what they would do based on the established fiction.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The outcome of risky situations is determined by rolling dice,

introducing new dramatic elements back into the narrative. This
Several games influenced the mechanics behind this project. This whole process is designed to be collaborative, not competitive.
game would not exist without them, so we want to take a moment to The goal is to have fun and to create an interesting story together.
properly acknowledge those incredible games.
When playing solo, you take on most of the game’s responsibilities
▶ Breathless, by Fari RPGs, for the step-down dice mechanics yourself, but the game provides many tools to lighten the load.

▶ Firelights, by Fari RPGS, for using card draws for skill checks

▶ Brindlewood Bay, by Jason Cordova, for clue tables and TO PLAY, YOU NEED
mysteries without a predefined answer
▶ This book
▶ GRANDMOTHERSHIP by Armanda Haller, for piecing clues together
▶ Pencils and printed copies of the character and expedition
tracking folios (found at the end of the book).
TOUCHSTONES ▶ Sets of polyhedral dice (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20)
▶ In Other Waters (video game), by Jump over the Age ▶ A deck of playing cards, shuffled, jokers removed
▶ Subnautica (video game), by Unknown Worlds Entertainment

▶ A New Beginning (video game), by Daedalic Entertainment

DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT
▶ Armageddon (1998 movie), by Michael Bay
PANDIONGAMES.COM/SUBSTRATUM
▶ Deep Impact (1998 movie), by Mimi Leder

6 7
QUICK REFERENCE

SKILL CHECKS ACTIONS EXOSUIT ABILITIES PORTAL INFLUENCES

Choose two Skills, then draw (effects stack)
two cards. Roll the Skills’ CONFRONT REPAIR & HEAL
dice and compare the sum to Defend. Attack. Hold Strong. Discard 2 cards. -1 Stress, or ▶ 0-2 Stress: No Effect.
each card. If the sum is equal Break + SKILL repair an Item to its to max die.
▶ 3-4 Stress: -1 to Skill Checks.
to or greater than the card,
CONVINCE 3D PRINTER Change a complication detail
beat it and collect it. The once per Deep Breath
Persuade, Intimidate. Lay down cards vs. MC to make
more cards you beat, the
Sway + SKILL an item. Each winning card ▶ 5-7 Stress: -1 to Skill Checks.
better the outcome.
makes it stronger. Choose a fundamental property.
EVADE
REDUCING SKILL DIE You can change one of its
Avoid danger. BOOST ACTIONS aspects once per Deep Breath.
Step down the highest rolled Evade + Skill Discard 2 suited cards to add 1
die after a Skill Check. On a to any Scientist’s roll. Stacks. ▶ 8+ Stress: Deep Breath only
tie, choose which die to reduce. PREPARE increases Skills by 1 step.
Skills can be reduced to d0.
Make preparations or a trap. FLASHBACK
STRESS Auto succeed Understand action.
Make + SKILL Lay down card vs. MC. If you Always collect all cards during
You and your exosuit’s health. win, describe flashback, gain Skill Checks.
Gain Portal Influences as your STUDY advantage on next roll.
Stress increases. Mark Stress Gain Portal Clues, useful data. Disadvantage if you lost. LAST HYPOTHESIS
to improve Skill Checks. Think + SKILL Initiates end game. Work
RADIO THE FRACTURE together to assemble all
DEEP BREATH TRAVEL OBSERVATORY Portal Knowledge into a
Reset Skill dice to max, but Move to the another Sector. Radio and ask a question and cohesive hypothesis. For each
MC introduces a new Dash + SKILL get a detailed answer, or used, increase Portal Skill by
complication. Can be taken at garbled answer. Card vs. MC. 1 step.
any time. UNDERSTAND
Comprehend Portal Clues. SENSOR DEPLOYMENT
Elaborate a plan to close the
OVERCLOCK Think + SKILL Lay down a card vs. MC. If you
portal. Draw 2 cards per
Use a d12 in place of a Skill win, the MC asks you a question,
player, must beat at least
die, but risk marking Stress. POSITIONS your answer becomes canon.
half total using Portal Skill
Once per Deep Breath. MISSION CONTROL (MC) die (Stress and Card modifiers
SYSTEMS UPGRADE
Narrates, guides, and presents Discard 8 cards. Clear all still apply).
STORAGE UNIT challenges to players. Stress, reset Skills, gain 1
Can carry 3 items. Items in MC narrates unfolding montage.
Stress capacity. Increase a
storage unit can be used in SCIENTISTS Skill max rating by 1.
place of Skills. Player characters. Members of
the expedition team.

8 9
WELCOME STANDARD
SUBSTRATUM TEAM OPERATING PROCEDURES

The Substratum Protocol was core, the Substratum Protocol

created in the event that an was initiated and scientists
emergency subterranean were rushed at all costs to
TEAM,
expedition was ever needed, the hastily built Fracture
coupled with the list of Observatory.
THE READINGS FROM OUR SENSORS DON’T MAKE SENSE. EACH TIME WE SEND
scientists, equipment, and
DOWN A PROBE, THE DATA WE RECEIVE CAN NO LONGER BE INTERPRETED.
procedures to ensure its You are the best and brightest
IT SCRAMBLES OUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND WE HAVE THREE EXPERTS ON
success regardless of the scientists we have left to
MEDICAL LEAVE BECAUSE THEY BECAME COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE WHILE
nature of the emergency. stem the apocalypse.
TRYING TO DECIPHER THE DATA PACKETS.

When the interdimensional You are the Substratum

UNDERSTANDING THIS PHENOMENA AND FIXING IT WILL REQUIRE A HANDS-
portal appeared at the Earth’s Expedition Team.
ON APPROACH. YOU WERE SELECTED AS THE BEST SCIENTISTS TO
ACCOMPLISH THE TASK AS PER THE SUBSTRATUM PROTOCOL. THE WORLD IS
CRUMBLING AROUND US AND MANY OF YOU HAVE LOVED ONES YOU WANT TO
PROTECT, BUT HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN DO THE MOST GOOD.
hopes and dreams
OBJECTIVES THE PORTAL IS 5,734KM BELOW THE SURFACE. EVEN WITH THE ASSISTANCE
OF THE DSPRT MK I EXOSUITS, EXPEDITION PLANNING HAS ASSESSED THAT
150 GRUELING DAYS OF TRAVEL ARE NEEDED TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION
DESCEND INTO THE FRACTURE
- THE CENTER OF EARTH - WHERE THIS ANOMALOUS ENIGMA RESIDES,
EATING AWAY AT THE MOLTEN CORE OF OUR PLANET.
LEARN ABOUT THE PORTAL

DR. FERNANDO MARQUES DE ALMEIDA

SURVIVE TO IMPLEMENT A SOLUTION
CHIEF OF OPERATIONS, FRACTURE OBSERVATORY

But above all else, we must Asdfadfsadasdfsadfsdafasdf and

CONTENT WARNINGS ensure that everyone is because of all the dangers
capable of obtaining their involved, safety of the
CLAUSTROPHOBIA | THALASSOPHOBIA | DESPAIR | DEPRESSION | FUTILITY deep sea diving and suit scientists is our top
certifications. Exosuits can priority so they can
absorb a lot of user error but accomplish their mission.
Before you start, define lines happens during a session.
that should not be crossed. Always make sure everyone is
top priority, not us.
Pause or rewind the game if comfortable with the direction So the mission is the
something uncomfortable of the story.

10 11
EXPEDITION POSITIONS BASIC EQUIPMENT

MISSION CONTROL SCIENTISTS Expeditions will be equipped ▶ Inflatable, pressurized habitat

with the following equipment ▶ A BeepBoBop recon droid
▶ Guide and enliven the story ▶ Narrate your actions at all times.
▶ Climbing and belaying gear
▶ Present challenges to the group ▶ Give everyone time to shine

▶ Be a fan of the scientists ▶ Fill the world with your ideas Immediately report any loss of ▶ Flares
equipment to the chief of
▶ Ask the players questions ▶ Take risks, rise from failures ▶ Rations
operations.
▶ Fill the world with their answers ▶ Build the story together
IN THIS COMPREHENSIVE REMOTE SENSING DATA SETS WITH
GEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS, WE AIM TO GPS-BASED GEODETIC
ELUCIDATE THE STRATIGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS, WE AIM TO
ARCHITECTURE AND STRUCTURAL QUANTIFY RATES OF TECTONIC
EVOLUTION OF THE REGION UPLIFT AND SURFACE
THROUGH A MULTI-FACETED DISPLACEMENT, UNRAVELING THE
APPROACH. EMPLOYING ADVANCED INTERPLAY BETWEEN REGIONAL
SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILING TECTONICS AND LANDSCAPE
AND PETROPHYSICAL ANALYSIS, WE EVOLUTION.
ENDEAVOR TO DISCERN THE
LITHOLOGICAL HETEROGENEITY AND THE STUDY ALSO ENTAILS A
FACIES DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE RIGOROUS ANALYSIS OF
SEDIMENTARY SEQUENCE. THE GEOPHYSICAL DATA, ENCOMPASSING
PRIMARY FOCUS LIES IN GRAVITY AND MAGNETIC SURVEYS,
CHARACTERIZING THE PROVENANCE, TO INVESTIGATE THE UNDERLYING
DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT, AND GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES AND
DIAGENETIC HISTORY OF THE CRUSTAL ARCHITECTURE. WE AIM
SEDIMENTARY UNITS, THEREBY TO IDENTIFY FAULT SYSTEMS,
UNRAVELING THE THRUSTS, AND FOLDS, SHEDDING
PALEOENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS LIGHT ON THE KINEMATIC HISTORY
THAT PREVAILED DURING AND STRESS REGIME THAT
DEPOSITION. GOVERNED THE TECTONIC
DEFORMATION IN THE REGION.
MOREOVER, WE EMPLOY CUTTING-
EDGE REMOTE SENSING FURTHERMORE, THIS RESEARCH
TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING DELVES INTO THE GEOCHRONOLOGY
HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING AND OF KEY ROCK FORMATIONS USING
LIDAR, TO CONDUCT DETAILED RADIOMETRIC DATING METHODS,
GEOMORPHIC MAPPING AND ASSESS SUCH AS URANIUM-LEAD DATING
FIG 1.1 - A HEALTHY SOUNDING MAP THE TECTONIC GEOMORPHOLOGY OF AND POTASSIUM-ARGON DATING.
THE AREA. BY INTEGRATING THESE

12 13
EXPEDITION PLANNING
SESSION PLANNING COMBAT AND DEATH
This game is designed for low-to-no prep. Build characters This is a game about scientific investigators, not grizzled
together, answer the Expedition questionnaires, use the rolling soldiers. Lead the characters into interesting situations that
tables and everyone’s imagination to discover the story. don’t necessarily revolve around combat. Telegraph dangers and
problems so they can prepare for them.
Throughout the book you’ll find lore, hints, and inspiration in
every paragraph and table. Ask the players to describe what the Players should know if their action could end in death. Let them
sectors look like and contain. Build the world together. choose a known sacrifice themselves, rather than hitting them
with surprise misfortune.
I hope the survivors can hold out as
TRAVEL MONTAGES we make our way. They’re counting
on us and it’s a long trip.
PACING - ONE SHOTS VS. CAMPAIGNS
The Travel Action begins a montage of the Scientists traveling to
the next sector over roughly 26 days. Taking the Skill Check’s Scientists can take a whole session exploring a single sector and
outcome in consideration, this is a great time for low-risk role- its events, or they can race to the portal.
play scenes.
For one-shots, focus on finding and understanding Portal Clues.
Get players to the portal with as many Portal Clues and as much
NPCS AND SENTIENT CREATURES Portal Knowledge as they can gather. If needed, you can set the
starting value of the Portal Skill higher to ensure a fair chance
With the portal open, the depths are rife with life and sentient of success in the condensed play time.
creatures: an intelligent fungus, an alien scientist that speaks
in dance, a whispering fog, and more. Get strange with it. Mix It is assumed players will find and understand about 5 Portal
the mundane, with the fantastic. Clues. Adjust as needed.

THE OTHERWORLDLY THE END GAME TRIGGER

There is a juxtaposition of the logical and scientific with Substratum Protocol has a definite end goal. While players can
cosmic horror and the unknowable. back out of the portal sector without triggering the end game,
the moment they make the Last Hypothesis, the final montage
As players dive deeper and closer to the portal, logic and begins and gameplay shifts.
science wane while the otherworldly grows. Dig into the cosmic
lovecraftian themes, but not everything has to be a threat of Make sure players are aware of The Last Hypothesis and how the
violence and death. Give the scientists a dose of wonder coupled end game works. After the final montage, fast forward 6 months.
with fear and foreboding. Ask the players to describe the world and what their scientists
are doing now - good or ill.
Understanding Portal Clues may not be as much about gathering raw
data, but absorbing a feeling in their soul of what the clue
represents.

14 15
CHARACTER CREATION
SCIENTIST REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION CHECKLIST d20 SCIENTIFIC SPECIALTY

01 Survival Specialist
▶ Document your name
02 Biologist
▶ Pick your scientific specialty
03 Geologist
▶ Start with 8 Stress capacity
04 Engineer
▶ Assign your Skills’ dice 05 Anthropologist
▶ Choose a starting item 06 Zoologist

▶ Answer 3 questions from 07 Xenobiologist

each questionnaire.
08 Linguist

SIX SKILLS 09 Microbiologist

10 Nanotechnologist
▶ MAKE
trap, repair, build 11 Hydrologist
d20 STARTING ITEMS
▶ DASH 12 Geochronologist
01 Laser Gatling Gun 11 Gravity Generator
run, jump, flee 13 Aerologist
02 Patch Kit 12 Thermoinsulator
▶ EVADE 14 Thermologist
hide, shield, obscure 03 Laser Cutter 13 Binoculars
15 Physicist
▶ BREAK 04 Magnetometer 14 Radar Sensor
pummel, wreck, destroy 16 Radiologist
05 Excavation Drill 15 Density Sensor
17 Seismologist
▶ THINK 06 Drone 16 Locator Beacon
observe, hypothesize, analyze 18 Mathematician
07 Sample Collector 17 Seismograph
▶ SWAY 19 Chemist
charm, manipulate, intimidate 08 Safety Tether 18 Measuring Laser
20 Astrophysicist
09 Hydraulic Lifter 19 Chemical Set

Assign a d10, d8, and d6 as the 10 Shield Generator 20 Pathfinder Tool

maximum dice of the three Skills
10 Choose or come up with an item
your scientist is good at. Other
Skills start with a d4 maximum die. to start with. Add it to your
8
storage unit as a d10 item.
Optionally, reduce your Stress 6
capacity by 2 to increase another 4
Skill die. This can only be done See page 72 for the Expedition
during registration. Member Personnel Folios.

16 17
d20 PERSONNEL QUESTIONNAIRE d20 WORLD BUILDING QUESTIONNAIRE
01 How did you end up on the Substratum Team? 01 What was the world like before the apocalypse?

02 What is your greatest fear or phobia? 02 How far down the “best and brightest” list is the team?

03 What is your relationship with your exosuit? 03 Why do you think the data analysts became unresponsive?

04 What is the proudest achievement in your career? 04 What is currently happening to the rest of humanity?

05 What inspired you to become a scientist? 05 What kind of life forms have exited the fissure already?

06 What event led you to choose your specialty? 06 What hazards have the scientists been warned about?

07 What is your first major breakthrough in your field? 07 How do the scientists sustain themselves on the trip?

08 How do you feel about exploring an unknown world? 08 What new social norms can be found at the Fracture Observatory?

09 What is your opinion on the portal and its potential uses? 09 What is a known issue with the exosuit design?

10 How did you handle a a moral dilemma in your work? 10 What secrets could possibly be discovered below?

11 What is your relationship with your family like? 11 What may happen if the portal is not closed?

12 Have you ever experienced a major failure in your work? 12 What kind of ethical dilemmas might the scientists face?

13 Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of science? 13 Are there governments still in power?

14 Do you have any notable quirks or habits? 14 What impacts has the portal had on the planet’s ecosystem?

15 Have you ever had to compromise your ethics? 15 Are there any other organizations or groups descending?

16 What were you doing when the apocalypse started? 16 What is the current state of technology in the world?

17 What is your opinion on the the substratum expedition? 17 Where did the massive fracture open up?

18 What kind of research have you previously conducted? 18 What is the current political climate?

19 How do you deal with failure or setbacks in your work? 19 How are Observatory personnel handling the situation?

20 Who did you leave behind when you joined the team? 20 Are there any rumors or legends about what might be found?

my doctoral thesis?
Are they looking for
questions?
What’s with all the
18 19
RULES & PROCEDURES REDUCING ROLLED DICE
Surviving the expedition is rolled value by one level, to
hard. Anyone who rolled a minimum of d4. On a tie,
reduces the current rating of choose which Skill you reduce.
SKILL CHECKS the Skill die with the highest

When players attempt something dangerous, or take an Action, a

Skill Check is required to determine what happens.
D12 → D10 → D8 → D6 → D4
▶ Determine the two Skills that apply to the task or Action

▶ Draw two cards from the card deck

▶ Roll the current dice of the two chosen Skills.

Example: Make and Dash, currently at
▶ Compare the sum to the value of each drawn card (Ace = 1, King = 13) a d10 and d8 respectively, are used
in a Skill Check and the result is
Make 5, Dash 8. The Dash die reduces
IF THE SKILL CHECK IS
from d8 to d6.
▶ Greater than or equal to both cards, it’s a Good outcome.
If the roll was a tie, Make 5, Dash
▶ Greater than or equal to one card, an OK outcome, with a complication. 5, then the player can choose to drop
Dash to d6 or Make to d8.
▶ Less than both cards, a Bad outcome, with a severe complication.

Players collect the cards they If there are no cards left to

beat and put them into their construct an Action Deck, all ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE
hand. They can discard cards collected cards are discarded
to power their exosuit’s and shuffled to create a new Occasionally, a scientist may have an upper hand, or an advantage
abilities. Action Deck. to what they are trying to accomplish - either by having a
Flashback, or when the MC determines it makes sense narratively.
When the card deck runs out, When taking an Action, there The opposite is also true.
shuffle the discard pile into is a mandatory Skill and one
a fresh deck. Skill chosen by the player. When rolling with advantage, reroll the lowest skill die. When
rolling with disadvantage, reroll the highest skill die.

The exosuit subsystems’ operation seem pretty straight

forward. The eye tracking of the visor’s HUD does a good
job avoiding false positive inputs, too. STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4
SKILLS CARDS COMPARE REDUCE

20 21
STRESS DEEP BREATH ACTIONS
As a result of their actions, To reset all your Skills to
Scientists may mark Stress. If their maximum die, you can say CONFRONT CONVINCE
a Scientist reaches their you’re taking a Deep Breath.
maximum Stress, they are This is a brief break in When you want to attack or When you want to convince
vulnerable. tension. It can be done at any stand your ground against someone or something to see
time, even during a fight. something dangerous: things your way:
When vulnerable, failing an roll Break + SKILL roll Sway + SKILL
EVADE or CONFRONT Action When a character takes a Deep
▶ [GOOD] Your attempts are successful. ▶ [GOOD] Your attempts are
results in suit failure or Breath, Mission Control looks
successful.
sudden death of the occupant. at the scene and introduces a ▶ [OK] You barely achieve your
new complication. goal. A complication arises. ▶ [OK] They are hesitant, but help.
A complication arises.
▶ [BAD] EVADE.
▶ [BAD] Your attempts have the
Players can mark Stress Players can clear Stress
to increase their roll’s by using the Repair and Heal EVADE opposite effect and may trigger a
hostile reaction. CONFRONT or
result by 1 for every exosuit ability (pg. 30) or EVADE.
point of Stress marked. the Travel action (pg. 24) When you want to get out of the
way instead of facing danger: STUDY
roll Evade + SKILL
When you attempt to gather
▶ [GOOD] You avoid the danger.
STORAGE UNIT OVERCLOCK data, insight, or information:
▶ [OK] Mark 1 Stress. roll Think + SKILL
Scientists can carry 3 items in Once between Deep Breath, you
their storage unit. Narrative- can push yourself and your suit ▶ [BAD] Mark 2 Stress. ▶ [GOOD] You learn something useful
and gain 1 Portal Clue.
only items do not consume a slot. to the limit when performing an
Action. PREPARE ▶ [OK] You learn useful
Items in the storage unit can information, but there are gaps
be used in place of a Skill of Roll a d12 in place of a Skill When you want to erect a in your knowledge. The MC may
the player’s choosing during of the player’s choosing during barricade, make a trap, or introduce a twist when the team
otherwise make preparations: acts on the information.
Skill Checks. Skill Checks.
roll Make + SKILL
▶ [BAD] Your attempt to study only
An item's die rating can If the outcome is OK or Bad, results in confusion. A
▶ [GOOD] The preparations work as
decrease when used, just as reduce the max die rating of complication arises.
intended.
Skills. When used as a d4 item, that Skill one step; reduce its
the item breaks afterwards - current die to match, if ▶ [OK] There is a flaw or delay, a
regardless if it was the higher necessary. If the Skill’s max complication arises.
result or not. die is already at d4, mark 2
▶ [BAD] The preparations fail
Stress instead.
catastrophically. CONFRONT or
Use the Heal & Repair exosuit EVADE.
power to repair your items.

22 23
TRAVEL
control control

It takes, on average, 26 days When you take lead and look for
control control
to travel between Sectors a way to the sector above or
unless a shortcut is discovered below you: roll Dash + SKILL
at the MC’s discretion. control control
▶ [GOOD] You easily find your way
Using the TRAVEL Action to the next sector. Each control control
scientist clears 2 Stress and
initiates a montage of the
reset all Skills to their maximum
Expedition Team making their control control
die.
way to the next Sector, with
the scientist who initiated it ▶ [OK] The path is difficult, but control control
taking the lead. you make it. Each scientist
clears 1 Stress. A complication
control control
arises on arrival.
Each player can describe how
their travel goes and something ▶ [BAD] The path is treacherous. control control
that happens. Were there quiet Each scientist marks 1 Stress,
moments? Discussions among and a new complication arises as
you travel on.
peers? A new discovery? Exosuit Processing Control Diagram

DEPTH SECTORS
FIND DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS AND EVENTS ON PAGES 50 TO 71

LEVEL SECTOR NAME DEPTH

01 FRACTURE OPENING 0 KM
02 CIVILIZATION RUINS 637 KM
03 LIQUEFYING CRYSTALS 1274 KM
t
04 SUPER-HEATED LAKE 1991 KM It affects the exosui
just like our min ds
05 CAUSTIC POOLS 2548 KM
06 GRAVITY INVERSION ZONE 3185 KM emitter frequencies?
is it because of the
07 ALPHA PARTICLE GROVE 3822 KM
08 BARRIER EVENT HORIZON 4459 KM
09 THE INNER CORE 5096 KM
10 THE PORTAL 5734 KM
24 25
UNDERSTAND
Once you have a Portal Clue, you must attempt to glean knowledge
from it. It is otherworldly and difficult to comprehend, but the
understanding need not be based on raw data; it may be an innate
feeling in your soul or subconscious.

You may only attempt this Action once between Deep Breaths. When
you try to understand a Portal Clue you have found, roll Think +
SKILL

▶ [Good] You understand and absorb the knowledge held in the clue. Roll a
Portal Knowledge question (pg. 40) and write your answer on your
character sheet. Consider the Clue and how you found it when answering.
Mark the clue as Understood on your character sheet. Knowledge is not
physical. Once you have it, it cannot be lost.

▶ [OK] You’re close to comprehension, but the true knowledge eludes you.
The clue pushes against your mind. Spend a card on a Flashback (pg. 31)
related to the clue and roll again. Is it really your memory, or did the
clue’s influence twist it? If you don’t have a card to spend, or if
this is your second roll, mark 1 Stress.

▶ [Bad] You’re incapable of grasping the intricacies behind this clue.

Either discard it, or mark 2 Stress to give it to someone else.

26 27
 POWERING THE EXOSUIT

The latest in deep subterranean D.S.P.R.T MK I FEATURES

01 *
recon and survival equipment !
The DSPRT MK I exosuit is charged by both momvement and
temperature differences between its internal and external layers.
The DSPRT MK I is the only suit
It houses a full complement of nanobots, onboard medical and
approved for your expedition to
communication systems, as well as an atomic 3D printer.
the center of the Earth. Proudly
manufactured by SubSuits LLC. Destroying
02 01 Transparent titanium helmet Scientist’s
with eye-tracking heads-up display
Professional
Respect,
02 Sensor and telemetry readout panels Together
Pairs with FEDS, PHARM, and EDM Systems
this o
ne se
ems m
ost lik
03 Wrist-mounted suit controls ely
In the unlikely event of voice command and A.I. failure

04
03 04 Matter Storage
09 To carry tools, and food, and more!

05 Inflatable Survival Habitat

Pressurized. Allows temporary suit removal

06 External-Sensor Deployment Module (E.D.M)

05 See page 4218 for all sensors options
06

stand for anyway? 07 Pilot Health Assistance and Repair Module (P.H.A.R.M.)
What does ‘dsprt’ With real time vitals monitoring

07
08 Flare and Emergency Deterrent System (F.E.D.S.)
Deep Flare recipe included with 3D Printer for free
Subsurface
Pressurized 09 Atomic 3D Printer
08 Recon ’s Automatic molecular filament harvesting
Almeida
Dr. De
Transport
Super 10 BeepBoBop
ctor
Prote Remote recon and sampling drone.
Robo
Togas?
* Untested. No warranties or guarantees provided by SubSuits LLC. All sensor
modules require additional monthly subscription. Biological 3D printing is
10 illegal in most countries. PHARM system survival rate 100%, n=1. Purposeful
at
I will protect you harm of BeeBoBop will void contract and will initiate immediate power down of
DSPRT MK I exosuit systems for collection by a SubSuits LLC. Mech Engineer
bee pb ob op!
all costs,
n=1 is kind of insulting to even include
28 in the disclaimer. 29
At least they’re honest?
When you beat a card during a Laying down a card vs. the MC RADIO THE FRACTURE OBSERVATORY
Skill Check, collect the card. means the player lays down a
Cards in your hand represent card from their hand and the MC Attempt to radio the Fracture Solo players: To radio the
your suit’s current power plays the top card of the Observatory and speak to Observatory, ask a question, roll
levels. You can spend these Action Deck. The values of the Mission Control. Ask them a 2d6 and consult the table to get
cards in different ways to gain two cards are compared. A question about the situation your answer.
bonuses and benefits. After player wins if their card's you would like a detailed
using a card, place it on the value is equal or higher. All answer for. Lay down a card
discard pile. cards are then added to the vs. the MC.
discard pile. 2d6 ANSWER GUIDE
If you win, Mission Control
can hear you and a 02-03 The Answer is no, and…
REPAIR & HEAL BOOST ACTIONS conversation begins.
04-06 The Answer is no.
Discard two cards and choose to Before a Skill Check, discard Otherwise, the connection is
either clear 1 Stress or repair two cards of the same suit to 07 The Answer is yes, but…
garbled. The MC responds with
an item back to its maximum. add 1 to the result of the only the few words you can 08-10 The Answer is yes.
Skill Check. The modifier make out before the
stacks for every additional connection fades. 11-12 The Answer is yes, and…
2 cards. The boost can be
applied to your own or Another
Scientist’s Skill Check.

SENSOR SYSTEMS UPGRADE

DEPLOYMENT
There is a 100% chance
I’m 3D printing fresh
Your exosuit brings all its
fruit on the expedition.
Lay down a card vs. the MC. The systems to bear and upgrades
Screw the laws on
MC asks you a question about both you and itself. Discard 8
printing biological the current scene or event, cards to upgrade your exosuit.
materials and goods. your answer becomes fact. If
you won, the MC adds “and…” ▶ Clear all Stress
afterwards. Otherwise, the MC
▶ Increase Stress capacity by 1
adds “but…”.
3D PRINTER
Cards ITEM QUALITY ▶ Reset all your Skills to their
Lay down cards vs. the MC, up
FLASHBACK maximum die
to the max held. The MC draws a 0 cards d4 item & complication
card for each you lay down. For ▶ Increase the max die of one Skill
Lay down a card vs the MC. If
by 1 step, to a maximum of d12
each card that wins, the item 1 card d6 item you win, describe the
becomes more powerful. flashback, and gain advantage
2 cards d8 item on your next Skill Check.
Wait. What does the suit actually do to
Players can print narrative- Otherwise, describe a negative
3 cards d10 item us? It doesn’t just upgrade itself? How
only items at will. Work with flashback and gain disadvantage are we upgraded? I need white papers
on
the MC for what is feasible. on your next Skill Check. this, subsuits llc! What do you do??
4 cards d12 item

30 31
THE PORTAL’S INFLUENCE
60%
As your Stress increases, you become susceptible to the portal’s STRESS 5 - 7
strange influences on your mind, body, and exosuit. The portal’s
energies grant additional abilities, but always at a cost.
Abilities and hindrances unlocked at each level stack. FRAGILE LAWS
The energy of the portal thrums in your veins and synapses. The
fundamental laws of the universe, and their fragility, open to
STRESS 0 - 2 0% you. Choose an element or fundamental force (gravity,
electricity, light, magnetism, etc.).

RESISTANT • Once between Deep Breaths, you can change an aspect of the
If you focus, during quiet times, you can feel the vibrations of chosen element or force.
the portal’s energy twisting around you, but your suit, body, and
mind are strong enough to shrug it off. • -1 to Skill Checks.

40%
STRESS 3 - 4 STRESS 8+ 100%

THRUMMING WHISPERS BEYOND THE HORIZON

Whispers of the cosmos enter your mind or invade the pathways of As your consciousness and suit become strained, your mind opens
your exosuit. As they mingle, you begin to hear of happenings to the portal and its inner workings and you gain visions
beyond comprehension. impossible to verbalize.

• Once between Deep Breaths, you can change one small Describe a permanent mutation on your body or exosuit as the
detail of a complication that arises. A single word, portal’s energies act upon their very atoms.
item, etc.
• You automatically succeed at the Understand Action.
• -1 to Skill Checks.
• Every time you take an Action, collect both cards regardless
of the outcome (apply Good/Ok/Bad outcomes normally).

• Skills can be reduced to d0 (d4 → d2 → d0).

• Deep Breath only restores Skills by 1 step.

wtf.
is this why the three data scientists became
unresponsive while deciphering the original probe
data? How do we avoid this ‘influence’??

32 33
THE LAST HYPOTHESIS HOW WILL EACH SCIENTIST
ENACT THE PLAN?

THE PORTAL SKILL For each piece of Portal Knowledge the group uses in the Last
Hypothesis, the Portal Skill die increases one step, to a maximum
The goal of the Substratum Expedition is to find a way to deal of d20. Each additional Portal Knowledge incorporated adds a +1
with the portal at the center of Earth. modifier.

The Expedition has a shared Portal Skill that represents how well d0 → d2 → d4 → d6 → d8 → d10 → d12 → d20 → (d20 + 1)…
the group understands the portal. This Skill die starts at d0.
Draw a number of cards equal to twice the number of players (or 4
When the scientists are in the Portal’s Sector and the players cards if playing solo). Players can work together to arrange the
are ready to finish the game, they can formulate a Last cards in pairs as they see fit, with each pair representing a
Hypothesis, stringing together as many pieces of Portal Knowledge Skill Check.
as they can. They can only do this once! Once the Last Hypothesis
is formed, no additional clues can be collected. Ask the players how they plan to close the portal before it
becomes unstoppable. This can be anything they can think of and
THE END BEGINS can take place over long time periods. Encourage them to be as
grandiose as they want.
Consider answering the following questions when making the
Last Hypothesis: Each player then describes their scientist’s action and rolls the
Portal Skill. Set aside the cards they beat. Players can still
▶ Who or what maintains the portal in operation? mark Stress and burn cards to modify their roll.

▶ What effects do the portal’s energies have on biology, physics, ▶ Good: The task being performed for the final hypotheses goes exactly
consciousness, reality, time, and/or space? according to plan.

▶ What is happening to the Earth’s core? ▶ OK: The implementation is difficult and something unexpected happens.
No one is sure if it worked correctly or not. EVADE.
▶ Where does the portal lead?
▶ Bad: The implementation backfires, and something terrible happens. Mark
▶ When will the portal become unstoppable? What happens then? 2 Stress, EVADE. Reduce Portal Skill die by 1 for all future rolls.

▶ What is the portal doing, specifically?

If the players collectively beat over half of the cards, the
▶ Why is the portal at the center of our Earth? Expedition’s plan is successful. If they do not, the plan begins
to unravel and ends terribly, but spectacularly. The MC narrates
the outcome of each Scientist's action as part of a montage,
ending with a description of the global outcome, tying it back to
the players' Last Hypothesis.

After the final montage, fast forward 6 months. Go around the

table and ask the players to describe how the world has changed
and what their scientists (or loved ones) are now doing.

34 35
PLAYING SOLO SOLO RULE ADJUSTMENTS
▶ Assign a d12, d10, and d8 to three of the Skills on the
When playing solo, you act as the lead scientist of the Expedition Team Folio. The remaining are d6.
Substratum Expedition and have a team that can assist you.
▶ The Expedition Team does not start with items, but it does have
Create your lead scientist by filling out the Personnel Folio a storage unit you can use.
outlined in the previous section.
▶ The Expedition Team can only take a Deep Breath once per
session.
Create your team by filling out the Expedition Team Folio (pg. 76).
This represents the combined Skills and abilities of the other ▶ The Expedition Team only gets 4 Stress capacity, but you do not
members. apply Portal Influences to them.

▶ Apply Stress as normal to the Expedition Team. If the last

▶ Who are the other 3 scientists?
Stress is marked, one member of the team dies: reduce one of
the team's max Skill die by one (to a minimum of d4), reducing
▶ What are their personalities like?
the current skill dice to match if necessary, and clear all
Stress.
▶ Where did you first meet them?
▶ After the third death, your team has been wiped out and you
▶ How do you get along with them?
are alone.

▶ Decide before rolling if it is your Scientist or the Expedition

OPTIONAL: SIMPLIFIED SOLO SESSIONS Team taking an Action.

▶ Collect cards, roll Skills, etc., as normal for yourself and

▶ Build a standard character, not a team. the Team.

▶ Travel to each sector. When you enter a sector, roll for an

event on the sector’s table, or come up with an event inspired There are rolling tables, descriptions, and bits of lore
from the Field Notes. throughout this book. Use them to build your story, explore,
gather portal data, and survive long enough to close the portal.
▶ Determine how you want to overcome it and roll an appropriate
Skill Check. Move to the next sector after the Check.
Are we just pawns in a universe-wide scheme?

▪ [GOOD] It’s a full success! Gain 1 Portal Clue and Surely one of us is the protagonist of this
UNDERSTAND expedition. Right? I’ll be the hero that saves the day?

▪ [OK] It’s a partial success. Mark 1 Stress. Gain 1 Portal

Clue.

▪ [BAD] It’s a failure. Mark 2 Stress.

▶ When entering a new Sector, you can optionally attempt the

Understand Action.

▶ Collect cards, use your suits’ powers, and take Portal

Influences as normal.
Lighting and temperature affect the

exosuit’s energy generation matrix.

36 37
 SUBSTRATUM
PROTOCOL
DESCEND LEARN SURVIVE

SUBSURFACE ANALYSIS COMPLETE

▶ GROUND SHOCKS DETECTED IN ALL SECTORS

▶ SUBSURFACE FRACTURES SPREADING

▶ GRAVITATIONAL ANOMALIES

▶ ERROR ALL SENSORS READING 0.70G ERROR

▶ SOLAR ORBIT DETERIORATING

▶ LUNAR ORBIT ELONGATING AT ACCELERATED RATE

▶ ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD FAILURE

▶ TAKE SHELTER. TAKE SHELTER. TAKE SHELTER

▶ SOLAR ATMOSPHERE STRIPPING IN PROGRESS

▶ SOLAR RADIATION UNSUSTAINABLE

▶ ERROR COMMUNICATION LOST WITH SATELLITES

▶ NON-HARDENED ELECTRONICS FAILURE RATE 86%

▶ ANOMALOUS SUBSIDENCE TEN KILOMETERS DEEP

▶ FRACTURE DETECTED. WIDTH: SIXTEEN HUNDRED KILOMETERS

▶ RECOMMEND GLOBAL EMERGENCY SURVIVAL PROTOCOLS

▶ ERROR PLANETARY MASS ANOMALY. CHECK INSTRUMENT FOR ACCURACY

▶ VOLCANIC ACTIVITY EXTREMELY HIGH

▶ MOVEMENT DETECTED IN FRACTURE. RECOMMEND FURTHER STUDY

▶ LIFE SIGNS DETECTED IN FRACTURE. RECOMMEND FURTHER STUDY

SUBSTRATUM PROTOCOL INITIATED

When the portal appeared at the Earth’s core, the Substratum

Protocol was initiated and scientists were rushed at all
costs to the hastily built Fracture Observatory.
You are the best and brightest scientists we have left.

You are the Substratum Expedition Team.

hiji
&
nx
n ts

hi