🐛 The Trench Grub's Thirst

A new 1970s retro-heist for CY_BORG created for the Appendix N Jam. Compatible with CY_BORG. Descend into a secret underground lab containing a horrible worm that feeds on human memories. Free!

The Trench Grub’s Thirst

“The year is 1971. In a world of magnetic tapes and vacuum tubes, the Omni Mineral & Electric National Corp has become the largest corporation in the world — able to predict trends, create revolutionary products, and influence governments.”

Inspired by The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton and the “The Last Question” short story by Isaac Asimov, The Trench Grub’s Thirst is a retro sci-fi heist of low-tech hacking under the Nevada desert.¹

Hidden beneath an isolated field office, a corporate cult feeds stolen memories to a vast worm (“the grub”). The more thoughts this grub devours, the more it is able to answer any question, and the closer Omni Mineral & Electric National (OMEN) Corporation comes to its goal of controlling all knowledge.

An Appendix N Jam submission

This book does not exist.

This heist was designed for submission to the Appendix N Jam. The jam assigned random titles to designers to create an adventure that "pays homage to the retro pulp fantasy of the Appendix N." The design was limited to just four A5 pages, including cover image.²

It’s a really tight space, but that’s a great way to get creative.

Compatible with CY_BORG

Note that the CY_BORG tabletop roleplaying system rules are not included in this heist. You can purchase the rules separately.

The Trench Grub's Thirst is an independent production by Exeunt Press and is not affiliated with Stockholm Kartell. It is published under the CY_BORG Third Party License. CY_BORG is copyright 2022 Stockholm Kartell. The Trench Grub's Thirst is Copyright 2025 Exeunt Press.

Claim a free community copy

The Trench Grub’s Thirst is available now. I’ve added enough community copies so that everyone can check it out during the Appendix N Jam. Those may go away after, so grab one for free now if you’d like! Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Have fun!

— E.P. 💀

1. I learned about Asimov’s “The Last Question” via the Strange Studies of Strange Stories podcast Episode 77. If you are unfamiliar with this short story, it’s worth checking out. The movie adaptation of The Andromeda Strain (trailer) left a big impression on me, including the tranquilizer darts that get a mention in The Trench Grub’s Thirst.

2. Fake 1970s book not included.