Temporal Loop Field
While exploring the vicinity of a supercomputer, the crew enters a temporal loop field. As soon as the crew enters the area, roll initiative. The field activates at initiative count 50. Note everyone’s locations and current condition.
At the start of each successive round, at initiative count 50, time rewinds, and every affected creature’s position and condition resets as if the events of the last round hadn’t occurred. Clocks are reset, creatures that died in the last round are restored to life, used ammunition is restored, damage to the area is undone, and so on. However, voidrunners retain their memories of all previous loops.
Due to the nature of the time loop, characters don’t age, grow hungry, or grow tired while inside. They are unable to perform any task that requires more than a round to complete.
- Disabling the temporal loop field is a group check. If the check is failed, the number of successes and failures resets at the start of the next round and the check must be attempted again.
- Attacking and dealing damage to computers or other objects has no effect.
- With a successful Engineering or hacking tools attempt, characters learn that a nearby AI supercomputer is performing a long-running temporal experiment, and that the AI is listening and able to engage in conversation. The AI doesn’t retain its memory from one loop to the next. Succeeding on this check, while providing information, doesn’t grant a success on the group check.
- A successful Perception or Search check to search the area doesn’t provide a success, but it reveals a hidden, password-protected console. Once it is discovered, it doesn’t need to be discovered again even after the time loop resets.
- A single voidrunner can make an Engineering or hacking tools check on the hidden and password-protected console. Attempts to disable the experiment by brute-force entry of one password after another will eventually disable the temporal loop, after about one year of continuous effort.
- Deception, Insight, Intimidation, and Persuasion attempts can be made to convince the AI to end the experiment.
- An Engineering or Sleight of Hand check can be made on a computer in order to overload its circuits.
Potential Outcomes
Critical Failure or Failure. The time loop resets.
Success. The time loop resets, but each creature gains advantage on their actions on the next round.
Critical Success. The temporal field is permanently disabled. No matter how long the crew spent in the temporal field, only one round passed in the world.