S1.4 — The Maintenance Drop

S1.4 — The Maintenance Drop

Once the hatch opens, the survivors face a 20-foot drop through a damaged service shaft while smoke and heat roll across the ceiling. This is a short transition, not a separate encounter.

Approach	Check	Result
Climb the service ladder	DC 14 Athletics check	Success descends safely. Failure costs time but causes no damage; critical failure causes a 10-foot fall.
Use a cable or climbing line	No check for the secured character; the first character securing it attempts a DC 14 Crafting or Thievery check.	Success lets all following creatures descend safely. Failure requires individual checks.
Leap and use the twins’ field	DC 15 Acrobatics check	Success lands safely. Failure lands prone. Critical failure takes damage as a 10-foot fall.

A character who remains behind to help another receives a Hero Point if the choice meaningfully risks exposure to the purge.