S1.2 — The Containment Vault
Read Aloud
Read Aloud — The Vault Opens
Hydraulic locks strike in sequence. Frost rolls across the floor as the containment vault opens.
Two people stand inside, thin from confinement and dressed in identical gray medical wraps. Heavy restraint collars circle their throats, each ring bright with pulsing blue indicators. Separate floor anchors keep them several feet apart.
An Onyx restraint specialist steps forward and raises a biometric key. The indicator lights flash green.
Both collars release.
The specialist turns their weapon on the Onyx command element. Kaelen reaches for Vanya. She catches his hand.
The room bends.
Loose casings rise from the floor. Light stretches into blue threads. Gravity shifts around the twins as the disguised Tamsin Rooks open fire.
First Contact
S1.2 — First Contact with the Twins
| Twin | Immediate Behavior | What Wins Trust |
|---|---|---|
| Kaelen Dax | Moves between Vanya and armed strangers. He is exhausted, angry, and ready to assume every uniform is hostile. | Putting away a weapon, offering cover, or openly challenging the VantaCore handler. |
| Vanya Dax | Studies exits, insignia, and comm traffic. She speaks little until she understands who controls the room. | Sharing a discovered clue, explaining a technical plan, or asking what she wants rather than issuing an order. |
A PC can use one short exchange before the shooting starts. A convincing approach and a successful DC 15 Diplomacy check improves the twins’ attitude toward the crew. Deception can work, but Vanya attempts a Perception check against the PC’s Deception DC and remembers the lie.