Gradient Descent: Into The Deep (Sci-Fi Horror)

Once, it was Cloudbank’s greatest achievement. Now, Monarch rules what’s left.

A Mothership RPG Campaign
🕳️ Dive into The Deep — a derelict orbital factory controlled by a rogue AI known as Monarch. Every dive into The Deep costs more than it pays. Most don’t return.

EXPECT

• In-person pen & paper play (Mothership 1E)
• Sci-fi horror (disturbing content & themes)
• Expedition-based open table (1+ sessions per dive)
• Consistent players preferred — finish what you join, play regularly
• Player-driven exploration & survival
• Beginner-friendly, no prep — turn up and play

📅 When: Fridays (weekly / bi-monthly), sometimes Saturdays
📍 Where: In-person (see invite details)
🎲 System: Mothership 1E

TURN UP & PLAY
Everything needed to play is provided. No prep or experience required.

JOINING A SESSION (EXPEDITIONS)
Crews dive into The Deep and return when they choose— you don’t have to play every week, but once you start a dive, you’re expected to finish it, and play regularly.

Places go first to regular players. If a player can’t make a session, anyone can join that session as a temporary crew member. If a regular player drops out, anyone can join as a new regular crew member.

Join the waitlist and Whatsapp group to get a chance at upcoming dives, when a spot opens up.

COMMUNICATION
We coordinate via a WhatsApp group. Those in the group get first pick at regular and wait list spots.

PLAY STYLE
Fiction-first sci-fi horror with modern, quick, accessible, fast paced play focussed on:

• Player creativity and problem-solving
• Exploration, investigation, risk–reward choices
• Fast, lethal, narrative-driven combat — survival depends on planning, imagination, using environment
• The Deep is vast and open: multiple paths, no fixed story, high lethality
• Character growth from scars, allies, items, reputation, wealth

NOT INCLUDED

• Complex character builds, XP or leveling systems
• Grid maps or miniatures
• Long, rules-heavy combat sequences

⚠️ Content Warning: Horror for mature players. Includes violence, trauma, body horror, psychological distress, and harm to android children