THE ION VAULT
Welcome to the Ion Vault
What it is: The Ion Vault is a high-tech sci-fi tabletop adventure set within the decaying corridors of the derelict Aegis Station. It is a specialized mission designed to restore gross motor control and functional mobility. When players enter the Vault, they must stabilize shifting gravity wells, traverse energized plasma bridges suspended over deep maintenance chasms, and face a massive mechanical guardian where every movement tests their physical balance and core strength.
Tone & Feel: Sci-Fi · Industrial · High-Stakes · Atmospheric · Kinetic
Think of the recycled scent of ozone and ancient dust, the rhythmic "hiss" of hydraulic suit seals, the shimmering blue glow of a plasma beam, and the vibrating metallic "thump" of a spider-tank pacing behind a blast door.
Therapeutic Lens
Every scene is intentionally designed to create opportunities for:
Gross Motor Control: Practicing functional reach and coordinated bilateral movement throughout the station.
Dynamic Balance: Maintaining stability while navigating a "pitching" floor or walking a narrow tandem "plasma bridge".
Functional Mobility: Engaging in ambulation and gait training by transporting "Power Cores" across the room to a stabilizer zone.
Functional Strength: Executing repeated sit-to-stand transitions to "attack" the Guardian from a command console.
Postural Control: Maintaining trunk stability and an upright head position during character creation and bridge crossing.
Near-Point Copying: Translating hero archetypes and gear from a propped-up list onto a personal character sheet to practice visual focus shifts.
The player experiences a thrilling "stabilize the station" narrative, while the therapist delivers structured physical rehabilitation within a motivating, futuristic frame.
THE ION VAULT
A One-Shot Adventure for Occupational Therapy (Gross Motor & Functional Mobility)
MODULE OVERVIEW
Who this is for: Occupational Therapists running a single-client session.
Therapeutic Focus: Gross Motor Control (functional reach, dynamic balance, sit-to-stand transitions, and coordinated bilateral movement).
Duration: 60 Minutes.
Setting: The derelict Aegis Station, a high-tech sci-fi "Ion Vault."
MATERIALS NEEDED (GM PREP)
Game Tools: 2d6 dice, Character Sheet, Pencil.
Therapy Materials ("The Engineer's Tools"):
The Power Cores: 6-8 medium-sized objects (cones, beanbags, or weighted balls).
Bridge Cables (a jump rope or line of tape) across the floor (approx. 8–10 feet)
3 obstacles (small blocks or water bottles)
The Visual Anchor: A bright "Target" ( picture of a console) taped on the wall at eye level at the very end of the bridge. Provided at the end of the module.
The Calibration Zones: Tape or markers on the floor at various heights and distances (some requiring reaching up, some requiring squatting).
The Command Console: A chair or therapy ball (for sit-to-stand tasks).
The Life Tracker: A printed track with 6 circles for the boss’s health. Provided at the end of the module.
SCENE 1: THE HANGAR (Character Selection)
Focus: Postural Control, Near-Point Copying.
GM DO THIS:
Place the blank Character Sheet and a pencil on a table at the appropriate height for the client (consider a standing desk or high surface to encourage upright posture).
Prop the Archetype list up at eye level so the client must shift focus and maintain trunk stability while copying.
READ ALOUD: "Deep in the silent reach of the Outer Rim, the Aegis station hangs derelict. You are a specialist sent to stabilize the station’s failing Ion Vault. Before the massive hangar doors cycle open, you must synchronize your neural link. Your physical form must match the demands of the station’s dying systems. Choose your profile."
SAY: "Carefully copy the name, stats, and gear of your chosen hero onto your sheet. Make sure your posture is steady as you sync with the system."
TRANSITION: "The neural link chime echoes in your helmet. As you finish the last line of code, the hangar doors hiss open. A gust of recycled air hits you as you step into the dark corridor. The station groans under the pressure of failing gravity, it's time to move."
SCENE 2: THE GRAVITY WELL (Functional Reach & Balance)
Therapeutic Focus: Dynamic balance, functional reach (overhead and floor-level), unilateral weight shifting, and functional mobility (ambulation/gait).
GM DO THIS (The Physical Setup):
Distribute the "Power Cores": Place 6-8 objects (cones, beanbags, or weighted balls) around the room.
High Cores: Place some on high shelves to require overhead reaching and heel-rises.
Low Cores: Place some on the floor to require a full squat or lunge.
The Stabilizer Zone: Tape a square on the floor on one side of the room.
The Command Table: Place the dice and character sheet on a table on the opposite side of the room.
The Flow: The client must walk to a Core, pick it up, walk it to the Stabilizer Zone, drop it off, and then walk back to the Command Table to roll before they can go get the next one.
READ ALOUD:
"You step into the Gravity Well. The station’s stabilizer has shattered, and the air is thick with shimmering kinetic distortion. The floor is pitching like a ship at sea. To save the station, you must manually retrieve the scattered Power Cores and lock them into the floor-level Stabilizer Zone. But be careful, the gravity shifts every time a core is moved. You’ll have to check your neural link at the Command Table between every sync to ensure your suit doesn't calibrate incorrectly!"
THE ACTIVITY LOOP:
STEP 1 (The Reach): "Go to the first Core. It’s wedged high in the rafters! Reach up, grab it, and bring it to the Stabilizer Zone."
STEP 2 (The Return): "Now, hurry back to the Command Table! You need to roll to see how the station reacts to that power surge."
GM DO THIS (The Rolls):
Every time the client returns to the table, have them roll 2d6 + Agility or Might.
SCENE SCRIPT & DICE RESULTS (Use these for the rolls):
Roll 1 (The First Sync):
10+: "Perfect sync! The deck levels out beneath your feet. Go for the next core!"
7-9: "The station jolts! You stayed upright, but the feedback leaves your head spinning. You have to go back and touch the Stabilizer Zone again to reset it before moving to the next core."
6-: "A gravity spike! The core you just placed sparks. You have to go back and touch the Stabilizer Zone again to reset it before moving to the next core. Take 1 hit"
Roll 2 (The Low Reach): * Instruct the client to get a core from the floor, drop it off, and return.
10+: "You’re moving like a pro. The gravity feels light as air!"
7-9: "The floor becomes 'heavy' suddenly. Walking back to the table felt like wading through mud. You're exhausted."
6-: "The magnetic lock fails! The core slides out of the zone. You have to go back, pick it up, and place it again."
Roll 3 (The Long Reach): * Instruct the client to get a core from the far corner, drop it off, and return.
10+: "The station hums a low, steady tune. You've almost got it!"
7-9: "The lights flicker. You make it back to the table, but you stumble over a loose floor plate."
6-: "Static fills your vision! Stand on one leg for 5 seconds to recalibrate your suit's sensors before you can go for the final cores."
TRANSITION: "As the last core locks in, the artificial gravity slams back to 1G. But the floor ahead has collapsed into a deep maintenance chasm. Only a narrow, energized plasma-bridge remains. To reach the Vault Core, you'll have to cross it with absolute precision."
SCENE 3: THE PLASMA BRIDGE (Dynamic Balance & Coordination)
Therapeutic Focus: Dynamic balance, tandem walking (narrow base of support), functional limb clearance (high-stepping over obstacles), and sustained postural control with a visual anchor.
GM DO THIS (The Physical Setup):
The Bridge: Lay out the Bridge Cable (a jump rope, therapy tubing, or a 10-foot line of floor tape) across a clear area of the room.
The Debris: Place 3-4 obstacles along the rope (e.g., yoga blocks, small cones, or rolled-up towels). Space them at irregular intervals to prevent the client from falling into a predictable gait pattern.
The Visual Anchor: Place the bright "Target" on the wall at eye level at the very end of the bridge. This encourages the client to maintain an upright head position rather than looking down at their feet.
READ ALOUD: "You stand at the edge of a massive maintenance chasm. The floor has been completely sheared away, leaving a drop that disappears into the misty cooling vats miles below. The only way across is the Plasma Bridge, a single, shimmering beam of blue light only a few inches wide.
The bridge is unstable. Massive chunks of the station’s ceiling have fallen onto the beam, glowing with residual heat. To cross, you must walk the beam with absolute precision, stepping over the debris without letting your feet slip into the abyss. Keep your eyes on the airlock door ahead, if you look down, the vertigo might take you. One foot in front of the other, Pilot. Start your crossing."
THE ACTION (GM Instructions for Movement):
Tandem Walk: Instruct the client to walk "heel-to-toe" along the line.
High Stepping: As they reach an obstacle, they must lift their lead leg high (hip flexion) to clear the object without touching it, then place the heel directly in front of the toe on the line.
The Mid-Point Check: When the client is halfway across (ideally while balancing between two obstacles), have them stop and perform a roll.
SCRIPTED ROLLS (Agility or Luck):
10+ (Masterful Balance):
SAY: "The bridge hums a steady, musical note beneath your boots. You move with the grace of a seasoned explorer, clearing the debris as if gravity were merely a suggestion. You reach the far side and step onto solid plating with a satisfied hiss of your suit’s hydraulics."
7-9 (The Energy Spike):
SAY: "The plasma beam flickers! A surge of blue static shoots up through your boots, causing your legs to tremble. You’re losing your center! To keep from falling, you must stop exactly where you are and stand on one foot for 10 seconds while your suit recalibrates. Once you're stable, you can finish the walk."
6- (The System Failure):
SAY: "The bridge shorts out! As you step over a piece of debris, the light vanishes for a split second. You stumble, your foot slipping into the empty air! You manage to catch the guide-cable, but your momentum is gone. You must turn around carefully, walk back to the start of the bridge, and begin the crossing again before the power cycles off for good."
DETAILED TRANSITION TO SCENE 4: "You step off the shimmering blue light and onto the cold, scuffed metal of the Vault Hub. Your heart is racing, but the bridge behind you hums one last time and then vanishes entirely, leaving you standing before the Great Seal.
The air here is thick and smells like ozone and ancient dust. The massive circular door is etched with the hexagonal symbols of the Ion Core. From the other side, a sound vibrates through the floor, a heavy, metallic THUMP... CLACK... THUMP. It sounds like a massive predator pacing in a cage. You check your stats on your wrist-computer one last time. You’ve stabilized the gravity and crossed the abyss, now, only the Guardian stands between you and the station's survival. You reach for the door override. Are you ready?"
SCENE 4: THE GUARDIAN OF THE CORE (Combat & Mobility)
Therapeutic Focus: Sit-to-stand transitions (functional strength and endurance), dynamic balance, upper limb coordination, crossing midline (depending on setup), and sustained attention. This scene also introduces physical exertion as a consequence of failed defense.
GM DO THIS (The Physical Setup):
The Command Console: Place the sturdy chair or therapy ball (the "Console") in a central, clear area.
The Visuals:
Place the Visual Anchor Target (from Scene 3) on the wall at eye level in front of where the client will stand. This is the console screen they are accessing.
Keep the Vault Guardian Life Tracker (image provided) visible on a nearby table or stand.
Enemy Health: The Vault Guardian has 6 Hits on its tracker.
Player Health: Ensure the client’s current Hits (based on their Archetype from Scene 1) are clearly marked on their character sheet.
Determine Stats: Identify the primary combat stat (Might, Agility, or Mind) and the defense stat (usually Agility or Might).
READ ALOUD:
"You hit the door override. The heavy circular blast door rotates with a deep, grinding hiss and slides open. You step into the heart of the Ion Vault.
The room is vast, an amphitheater of black steel and pulsing blue data-conduits. In the center, plugging directly into the main Ion Core, is the Guardian, a massive, spider-like security tank with a single, glaring red cyclopean eye. It detects your neural signature instantly. The core interface emits a warning chime as the Guardian detaches. A heavy metallic THUMP... CLACK shakes the floor. It charges its main thermal cannon.
You must reach the elevated Command Console and manually override the core while dodging its fire. It’s all or nothing, Pilot. To the Console!"
THE COMBAT FLOW (Player vs. Guardian):
This scene uses a standard turn order: Player Turn (Attack) followed by Guardian Turn (Defend).
Note to GM: This structure requires significantly more movement (sit-to-stands) from the client than previous scenes. Monitor fatigue.
ROUND 1a: THE PLAYER’S TURN (Attack)
THE ACTION (Movement Requirement):
To attack, the client must perform a quick Sit-to-Stand (standing up from the chair), mimic an upper limb attack motion (e.g., reaching forward to push a 'button' on the Visual Anchor console), and then sit back down for cover.
COMBAT SCRIPT:
GM: "The Guardian is locking on! Its eye is turning bright white! Stand up, hit the override terminal, and roll your [insert Chosen Stat: Might/Agility/Mind]!"
SCRIPTED DICE RESULTS (Player Attack):
10+ (Total Success - Direct Hit):
GM SAY: "Perfect execution! You rise and slam your palm onto the console interface just as the Guardian fires. A powerful blue override pulse surges from the core, slamming into the Guardian's main processor. Sparks fly from its joints. (SAY: 'You hit! Mark off one segment of its Life Tracker.')" Proceed to Guardian Turn.
7-9 (Partial Success - Graze/Strain):
GM SAY: "You rise and manage to execute the command, but the Guardian anticipates your movement. It fires a suppression beam that splashes against the console casing, shocking your neural suit. (SAY: 'You deal damage, mark off one Life Tracker segment, but the effort is taxing. You also lose 1 Hit from the feedback jolt.')" Proceed to Guardian Turn.
6- (Failure - Suppression):
GM SAY: "A tactical error! The Guardian is too fast. As you stand, its beam catches the edge of the console, creating a massive overload surge before you can hit the button. You're forced back into your seat without dealing damage." Proceed to Guardian Turn.
ROUND 1b: THE GUARDIAN’S TURN (Defense)
READ ALOUD:
"The Guardian refocuses its eye. It doesn’t just fire blindly; it’s tracking your neural signature. Its core vents open, releasing a blast of superheated ozone as it primes a focused thermal pulse. It launches a direct attack!"
THE ACTION (Movement Requirement):
The GM will call out the type of attack, which dictates the client's defensive posture. The client must assume the correct pose and hold it for the duration of the defense roll (or longer if stipulated).
CHOOSE ONE GUARDIAN ATTACK:
ATTACK A: The Sweeping Thermal Beam (Dynamic Balance/Squat)
GM SAY: "The Guardian fires a high-intensity laser! It's going to sweep across the upper room! (Instruct Client: Squat low and hold your hands over your head to avoid the beam while I roll!)"
GM ROLLS 2d6. (There is no player roll here; this is a pure defense challenge).
6 or Less (Player Defends): "The beam slices just inches above your head, scoring the back wall. You held your posture perfectly."
7-9 (Player Hit): "You wobbled! A flicker of the beam grazes your armor, but you are okay"
10+ (Direct Hit): "You stood up too soon! The full weight of the thermal pulse hits you. (SAY: 'You lose 1 Hit.')"
ATTACK B: The Kinetic Pulse (Static Balance/Tandem)
GM SAY: "It’s charging a physical shockwave! The floor is about to ripple! (Instruct Client: Stand up, place one foot directly in front of the other (tandem stance), and keep your hands at your sides. Hold that balance while I roll!)"
GM ROLLS 2d6.
6 or Less (Player Defends): "The shockwave hits, but your core is locked tight. The vibration passes through your boots without breaking your stance."
7-9 (Player Hit): "The kinetic wave jars you, forcing your back foot to step out for balance. Hold the position for another 5 seconds"
10+ (Direct Hit): "You completely lose your balance and are forced to catch yourself. (SAY: 'You lose 1 Hit' and perform 3 extra sit-to-stands right now to regain your footing.)"
COMBAT CONTINUE:
Repeat the Player and Guardian turns until the Guardian reaches 0 Hits. Description for the final hit:
THE CLIMAX:
When the Guardian has 1 Hit remaining, read: "The Guardian is sparking. Smoke pours from its main chassis, and its red eye is flickering. It’s preparing one final, overwhelming blast to take the core down with it. It’s now or never, give me one last, powerful override!"
ENDING:
When the final hit is checked off: "With a final, desperate lunge, you slam your hand onto the interface. The surge hits the Guardian like a physical blow. Its massive, mechanical body locks up, and the red eye fades to a soft, pulsing blue. It powers down, collapsing onto its main chassis. The data conduits stabilize, glowing a peaceful green. The Ion Vault is secure. Great work, Pilot. Mission complete."
SCENE 5: FINAL SYNC & DEBRIEF (Cool Down & Cognitive Integration)
Therapeutic Focus: Postural control, deep breathing (parasympathetic activation), and cognitive integration (co-op and problem-solving recollection).
GM DO THIS (The Physical Setup):
Cool Down: Have the client transition to a comfortable, supportive chair or stand with good posture against a wall.
Materials: Have the Character Sheet and pencil ready.
READ ALOUD:
"The roar of the Guardian cuts out, leaving only the soft hum of the re-stabilized Ion Core. The conduits glow a steady green, and the temperature drops. The extraction shuttle chimes your wrist computer, it’s docking in the hangar. It's time to go home, Pilot."
THE ACTION (GM Instructions for the Wrap-Up):
Deep Breathing: Lead the client through three deep, controlled diaphragmatic breaths.
SAY: " Purge the combat stress. Inhale slowly for four seconds... feel your lungs fill... now exhale slowly for six seconds, pushing all the tension out. (Repeat two more times)."
Character Sheet Update: Have the client pick up their pencil one last time.
SAY: "On your character sheet, write down 'Core Stabilized' and your current remaining Hits."
GM/THERAPIST DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (Cognitive Integration):
While the client is completing their final log entry (maintaining their posture), ask these debrief questions. Use the narrative to mask standard session feedback.
SAY (Reflecting on Problem Solving): "That Gravity Well was chaotic. When the gravity spiked and you missed the core, what did you have to change about how you reached for the next one to grab it?" (This assesses their recall of technique modification).
SAY (Reflecting on Physical Challenge): "Crossing that Plasma Bridge required intense focus. Which was more challenging to your balance: tandem walking, or performing that high, controlled step to clear the debris?" (This integrates their perception of the balance challenge with the task requirements).
SAY (Reflecting on Stamina/Endurance): "In the final fight, you had to rise multiple times. Did you feel your physical strength and speed staying strong, or did you feel the Guardian’s repeated attacks draining your stamina faster as the fight went on?" (This assesses their self-perception of fatigue and effort).
FINAL READ ALOUD (The Disconnect):
"You initiate the neural disconnect. The link is severed. As you take your first steps away from the console, you feel the weight of your own body, validated by a mission successfully accomplished. Great work today, Pilot."
Evidence:
While the effectiveness of TTRPGs in gross motor therapy have not been published at this time, the evidence available suggests a positive impact. Check out the Rehab Arcade’s TTRPG page for more information about this.
Below is evidence in support of the specific interventions used throughout this one-shot: