This guide has been updated since the original publication at the rollout of Primo Contatto.
The fortress of the three moons is a campaign that can be played in a single session or in a longer adventure ranging from 3 to 6 sessions. In this article we summarize the key aspects of the story and we report some suggestions to better address the creation of the characters.
Year 2020: a huge celestial crystal fell in South America, decimating the population and disabling any radio interface, it is Primo Contatto: the creation of the first bubble of magic. Shaken by such a destabilizing event, the G7 governments decided to react, refounding the New United Nations and creating the Celestials operational plan: millions of dollars have been released in a matter of days and precious human lives have been put at the forefront of re-establishing contact with local populations. However, all attempts have unfortunately failed... until this day.
NNU intelligence has located Agent Cobalto and all reports confirm that she has taken possession of the secret location of the richest hyperio deposit on the planet. The special agents Celestials, i.e. the characters, will be sent to the crystalline fortress to meet with agent Cobalto and retrieve the vital information she collected.
Humanity has been literally split in two. Part of civilization continues its existence in our time, while almost a third of the world population is under the influence of an invisible bubble that deactivates any technological object. To integrate a player character we can make the following information known.
- Since the fortress fell on Caracas, no technology has worked as before. Planes fall, energy sources no longer transmit anything and the internet no longer reaches any area of South America.
- Satellites photograph large, inscrutable cities, as if wrapped in a sort of bubble. While technology seems to fail another force has resurfaced from forgotten times: magic. Since Primo Contatto some people have awakened with incredible powers.
- The New United Nations (NNU) has released in South America the Celestials: special agents able to increase their physical and cognitive functions, thanks to technological devices called MTM.
- Several NNU teams have been deployed to enter the fortress, but to date they are all missing.
In the recent future of Primo Contatto, the concept of nationality has been overtaken. Global political forces have found a fragile balance and new organizations have been born to cope with the new reality in South America. At this time, the most influential organisations are:
New United Nations (NNU). International organization born in response to Primo Contatto. In its ranks there are soldiers, scientists and engineers, but also individuals who have developed affinities with supernatural powers. The NNU is the best equipped organization thanks to the generous subsidies of the first powers of the planet.
Cusps. They’re a network of secret societies. Among the Cusps are smugglers, ex-mercenaries and rebels who do not accept the new world order. Primo Contatto and the race to hyperium have given them the opportunity to overturn the political balances and reap enormous benefits from the traffic of energy and information.
Survivors. These small communities experienced Primo Contatto at first-hand and came out alive. Survivors welcome rescuers and volunteers to help rebuild civilization in South America. Among them, mystical characters are making their way, whose gifts transcend science and reality.
Sidereal fairies. Fairies are alien entities, spotted among the ravines of the crystalline fortress fallen from the sky. So far no one has been able to approach them, their existence is witnessed by drones and satellite scans. Their appearance coincides with the rediscovery of magic on planet Earth.
A synergy is an optional mechanic that allows you to make a situation more difficult (and richer its loot!) by adding additional effects in the turn of a powerful opponent. A synergy is triggered when a character or opponent passes an ability check with advantage or with a score of 20 or more. Opponent with synergies always releases a reward of 1 power if they are defeated. To create a synergy it is necessary to:
- Spend a rest action.
- Move a power and a flow from the reserve to the synergy.
- Determine the final effect by reading the descriptions of the power and flow invested.
Note: the game master may decide to activate synergies even to the player characters. A character can prepare one synergy at a time and the new one always replaces the previous. Synergies are particularly suitable for veteran players who appreciate mechanical variants and optimization of their characters.
With The Fortress of the Three Moons we will enter Primo Contatto, awaken magic and technology at the same time and discover ancient mysteries hidden by time. The player characters are so close to us that we will almost live an experience in first person. Let’s abandon ourselves to imagination and let us be carried away in this wonderful leisure!
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