Hitherto SE:00-03
Ink and Bones #1
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This week…
Instead of our normal story, we will do a recap of events so far and dive into the Ink and Bones of everything. If you have been with us since the Inkyard days, you might remember the footnotes or block quote breakdowns That is what we will be doing for this recap.
At heart, I am a writer and storyteller. So I decided to take a more narrative approach to my actual play reports. However, I think it relevant to talk about how to go from solo play to serialization. Without further ado, let's get into it.
Thus Far...
During Session 0, those who have been reading may know that the story started with my character being Isekai'd to a new world. This wasn't just a roll or concept had conjured up or a question asked, but rather an expectation I ran with. The core of Mythic is to rely on your expectations to fuel the game engine.
The character creation process boiled down to an Identity Roll and a question.
Craft Intellectual
My first thought was that I was some kind of artisan but wanted to go with something a bit more abstract. So I asked, "Was my character a tour guide?"
Exceptional Yes.
All abilities and ideas after that were simply my expectations of what a tour guide might be capable of in this world.
I'm Kes-qa, a young Liphan named Turkhan approached me. wanting to hire my services as the Tollkeeper. He offered 50 pearls upfront and 150 after to get into the Flintgarde Dungeon.
One of the things enjoy about Solo is how easily you can change things. I realized after telling my partner about character that Ptehu was too close to a HxH (Hunter x Hunter) character. So decided to reroll a name during Re- Spec. It was purely a player choice and something I don't think is touched on often when playing. You are not bound to one set of ideas.
Though it seemed insane, I agreed. We went to the Hexad Theatre to meet Seldah, who directed us to the Lingering Mirage,where we met Morii. He told us about an Enbis, an artifact from before the Bolting, and gave us a bone mirror to find it in the Hillreef Graveyard. With Moril's warning about others wanting the Enbis, we headed to the graveyard.
The series of rolls to create the Hexad and Seldah were my favorite parts of this particular session. We started with a location:
60 24 mysterious and delightful
Which we interpreted as the Hexad. Unsure of it's patrons or connections to my character.
As Turkhan and I trudged through the sea of mausoleums, we searched for the Daffosah Crest, the predecessors of the Bloody Daffodil. We journeyed deep into the graveyard until we found the grotesque Daffosah Family Crypt. We entered and, upon fulfilling the hidden quest requirement to reunite the Blood Pearl, an orb, and our black diamond combined with a deafening crash.
Suddenly, a Reefkeeper, later revealed to be named Ayetha, attacked and killed me.
This was a major upset for me, as my expectations were completely subverted here. I originally thought that this Reefkeeper that might actually be of help, but that was not the case. The dice decided otherwise when I asked if she was hostile.
I found myself in the Tsafar, a border realm between life and death, conversing with the enigmatic Bloody Daffodil. I learned about the Blood Pearl's connection to this realm and witnessed a conversation between Ayetha and a sinister figure, uncovering her role in my death.
The Tsafar allowed me to observe various locations and scenes, but also exposed me to terrifying and grotesque experiences. I was desperate for answers and justice, feeling my sanity slipping away as I navigated the shadowy, twisted version of the world knew. My HUD slowly ticked away.
Not every thing needs to focus on your character and what they are doing. One thing I always struggled with in group play is cut scenes or "meanwhiles." As a soloist, however, you can circumvent that altogether. That is what did after dying it can be hard to determine how you might continue when your character dies. Moments where you cut away can give you more ideas for sure.
Finally, it stopped. A new message appeared before me.
"New Subrace unlocked”.
I was reborn as a Farvorn, an undying being cloaked in shadows. Guided by the cryptic Wiktor, I must ponder important choices and decide my fate: will I become the commanding Tsafar Caller, the relentless Tsafar Collector, the unyielding Tsafar Guardian, or the awe-inspiring Tsafar Manipulator?
The classes were generated by ChatGPT after rolling up a power and skill combination. I want every class to feel unique, as this isn't Faerun or Greyhawk but Sorg.
Torn between the life left behind and the relentless march of immortality, I am driven to unearth the buried secrets of my past and carve my path through a treacherous realm where breaking rules is the only way to survive. As Daffodil once warned me, "Nothing is born without passing through here." With this chilling revelation, I am left to grapple with the weight of my newfound existence.
Growth for All
Now to address why the change to a narrative-heavy play report? Something that has always bothered me about the way we play tabletop games is the meta of separating player knowledge and character knowledge. I believe there is a lot that TTRPGS can learn from other forms of storytelling, such as the lsekai genre and power progression fantasy.
One technique these genres often use is foreground growth, which refers to specific moments or events that catalyze a character's growth or transformation. These moments are typically central to the story and often tied to the character's motivations or goals.
In the lsekai genre, for example, the main character is often transported to a different world and must navigate new challenges and obstacles. Similarly, in power progression fantasy, characters gain new abilities or powers through their experiences.
These moments of growth are often tied to the character's, motivations, goals, developments and own personal obstacles. The system or mechanics by which they progress are fully known to the Character. This approach also allows for a more player and character knowledge, as the character's growth and development are tied to the story and the world they inhabit.
Overall, foreground growth is a powerful storytelling technique that TTRPGs can learn from to create more engaging and immersive stories. This was my primary goal and aim when making the switch.
Thank you tor taking the time to read our recap of events in the Realm of Solo. We hope you enjoyed it and found it immersive.
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