Consulting the Oracle

When you need to test your expectations you'll ask the Oracle a closed question.

You’ll need 2d6 in one color (Chance Dice), and 2d6 in another (Risk Dice).

To resolve a closed question, roll one Chance Die and one Risk Die:

  • If the Chance Die is highest, the answer is Yes.
  • If the Risk Die is highest, the answer is No.
  • If both are low (3 or less), add a but....
  • If both are high (4 or more), add an and....
  • If both are equal, the answer is Yes, and.... Add a point to the Twist Counter.
Dice ValueChance Die > Risk DieRisk Die > Chance Die
Both < 4Yes, but...No, but...
Both > 3Yes, and...No, and...
MismatchedYesNo
EqualAdd 1 to the Twist Counter

Example

You ask, “Does Zahra manage to force the hatch?” You roll one Chance Die and one Risk Die and get (5) [4]). The answer is Yes, because the Chance Die is higher. You also add And, because both rolls are 4 or higher. If the Risk Die had come up as [3], it would have been a plain Yes instead.

Advantage and Disadvantage

If circumstances or positive tags grant an advantage, add a Chance Die to the roll. Otherwise, when hindrances or negative tag cause a disadvantage, add a Risk Die. In both cases keep only the higher die of the added type when you check the roll.

Consider tags intuitively and not quantitatively, using the context of the situation at play. It is important to keep the flow of play fast and not accounting for advantages and disadvantages numerically!

Example

You ask, "Does Zahra hack the datapad?" You roll one Chance Die and two Risk Die, as Zahra does not have any advantage in hacking and the datapad is the mission goal, compromising it would cause the mission to fail. You get (5) [3] [4]. You discard the lower Risk Die [3] and keep (5) and [4]. You obtain a Yes and add a And since they are both 4 or higher.

Interpreting the Oracle

Always interpret the Oracle's answer in relation to the context of the game situation:

  • Answers without modifiers are straightforward answers without uncertainty. They are also the least interesting to continue the story.
  • Answers with modifiers (but.../and...), on the other hand, require you to make the effort to identify what new situation triggered the consultation.

Example

The datapad is hacked and... the information contained is not just about illicit activities of the Leton Corporation... There is more!

Sibylline Responses

The Oracle might sometimes give answers that don't make sense in the context of the scene. Don't be tempted to detail the answer with too many questions in sequence. Three questions should be sufficient. If you're still stuck, try using an open-ended question to unlock yourself or interpret the answer as "Yes, But..." and move the story forward.

Twist Counter

The Twist Counter is a measure of the rising tension in the narrative. At the beginning is set to 0. Every time a double throw (dice are equal) happens, add 1 to the Counter. If the Counter is below three, consider the answer as "Yes, but...". Otherwise a Twist happens and resets the Counter.

Example

You ask if the datapad contains sensitive data about Wethern's illicit activities. You roll (4) [4]. The answers is "Yes, but...". Zahra finds a note about a scapegoat to frame for the theft. Could it be her? You also add 1 to the Twist Counter. But the counter was already at 2, so also a twist happens! The counter resets to 0.

Determine the Twist

Roll 2d6 and consult the following Twist Table to determine what kind of twist happens.

D6SubjectAction
1A third partyAppears
2The heroAlters the location
3An encounterHelps the hero
4A physical eventHinders the hero
5An emotional eventChanges the goal
6An objectEnds the scene

Interpret the two-word sentence in the context of the current scene. Twists will keep the plot and events going in unexpected ways.

Now Zahra knows the content of the datapad, but you roll 1 and 5 on the Twist Table "A third party", "Changes the goal". An agent of the Leton Corporation appears before Zahra with a proposal....

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