IS NOT ALIVE

Count Vodykov [of the Vodykov Co.] conspires with

a coterie of undead androids set on conjuring the Great Collapse.
These misfits have taken refuge in a keep at the edge of Tenebris.
In covenant, they chant black liturgies to unleash an ancient curse,
hastening the Great Collapse.

COUNT VODYKOV

Trapped between this realm and the next,

Vodykov exists in a state of half-undeath
—his left side a rotting corpse.
Swaddled in red velvet
and wearing a rusted crown,
the count is a towering figure of
putrescent flesh and protruding bone.

BDY +3 DEX ±0 SVY +4 TEC -2

ML 10 HP 14 DR 12 ATK zweihander 1d10
SPECIAL
♦ BETTER HALF Successful attacks against
the Count have a 50% chance of landing
on his left side, any damage is ignored.
♦ ALL is RUST The Count’s rusted crown
casts an aura. Any steel nearby
will crumble to dust in d10+2 rounds.
 5
1 2 4

6 3

1 5

The Keep
Staggeringly tall, unblemished slab of basalt.
╫ Desolated surroundings—grasses have withered, no animal burrows, nothing grows or draws breath.
╫ Ringed by a monolith-filled plague pit; looks like some demonic farmer’s field.
→ Rough steps descend into the pit.
→ Anyone touching a monolith succeeds at a BDY check or,
in d4 hours, a random limb shrivels to a dried husk.
→ On the far side of the pit, monstrous, black doors of ancient fur
give entrance to the Grand Orifice.

1 Grand Orifice 3 Dining Crevice

Acrid, burning stink. Dripping with pastoral tapestries and gaudy chandeliers.
╫ Canyon-like chamber ringed by colossal ribs. ╫ Oversized tables and upholstered chairs
Ceiling disappears in void-black darkness. in various states of disrepair, arranged haphazardly.
╫ Torches made of bones and bundled hair. Tufts of chair stuffing roll like tumbleweeds.
╫ Archways grant entrance to different parts of the keep. ╫ Floor is littered with smashed plates, cutlery,
and worthless bric-a-brac.
2 Kitchen ╫ Searching reveals something of value, roll a d4.
Lingering smoke, soot-caked ceiling. Worth 3d20 holos
╫ Gaping fireplace; charred detritus overflows onto the hearth. 1 Charcoal-black chalice
╫ Giant cauldrons, all manner of utensils and culinary tools, 2 Poisoned brooch
barrels, and crates litter the space. 3 Obsidian scepter
╫ Searching reveals d4 rations (DiS inside front cover). 4 Brass devil mask
Might be poisonous.
4 Staff Cells 7 Stairwell
Several small rooms connected by a dank hallway. Vertigo-inducing spiral staircase.
Desperation in the air.
╫ Soars upward into the dark. Seems endless.
╫ Each room furnished identically: a bed, a small side table, ╫ Leads to Throne Room.
and a bureau. The discarded clothes, a mix of styles and types.
╫ Appearance of being uninhabited 8 Throne Pod
for several years if not decades. High-pitched, robotic chanting.
╫ Roll 3d12+1d4 on the Equipment table
(DEATH is SPACE inside front cover). ╫ Terrors immortalized in stone
and haphazardly placed around the room.
5 Armory ╫ A dais and slapdash throne at the far side.
Sweat and the tang of rancor mixed with rusting steel. Head bowed, Vodykov dozes. Behind him, shelves
lined with androids of all shapes and sizes.
╫ Subdivided spaces—a common room adorned with trappings Metallic faces gleam in the torchlight.
of leisure, and a space dedicated to martial training. ╫ Seven undead androids, hands clasped, dance
The latter, populated with training bots partially hacked apart. in a circle while chanting. A mounting pile
╫ Small doorway leads to a shabby bunk room. of platinum dust marks their path.
Yellow-stained bedding and piled, empty wine bottles.
→ The curse will be complete in d10+2 rounds
d4 footlockers: (roll for CORRUPTED by the VOID, DiS #96).
→ Locked and trapped, poisoned-gas mechanism. Each android “killed” will delay it one round while
Take d3 damage and make a BDY check they are replaced from the shelves
or spend the next d4 hours retching. —a fresh one leaping down to take their place.
Fumble on a 3 or lower. This will continue until Vodykov’s death.
Each contains d3 random weapons or armor of poor condition, → Dancers are struck down with a successful attack
(DEATH is SPACE inside front cover). (no need to roll damage).

╫ In the passageway, a stairway that descends into ╫ If anyone disrupts the ceremony, Vodykov will intervene
unknown darkness (to room 6, Dungeons). along with d4+2 undead androids.

6 Dungeons → UNDEAD ANDROID

BDY ±0 DEX +1 ML – HP 1 DR 12 ATK claws/ bite 1d4
Inkwell black, damp, and unfriendly. SPECIAL At the start of combat, succeed at a SVY check
╫ “It’s not worth it” scrawled in shit (or mud) on the wall. or be paralyzed with fear for 1d4 rounds.
╫ Four cells (locked).
╫ First cell stuffed to bursting with skeletons.
Something shiny in their midst.
→ Shiny object is a large, red gem worth 2d10×10 holos.
Taking it reanimates the skeletons.
→ SKELETONS
BDY -2 DEX +2 ML – HP 18 DR 12 ATK claws 1d6
SPECIAL claws lower to d3 at half HP; they are legion
╫ Fourth cell houses a charred effigy.
(Destroying it will eliminate Vallröt’s “Better Half” ability).

MISERY’s KEEP [is not alive] is an independent production

by Azathoth Nell Tull and is not affiliated with Stockholm Kartell.
It is published under the DEATH IN SPACE Third Party License.

DEATH IN SPACE is © Stockholm Kartell and/or other authors.

Original text by Rugose Kohn & Mr. Kohn’s editor Walton Wood.