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Wanderhome Playbooks

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100% found this document useful (3 votes)
12K views63 pages

Wanderhome Playbooks

Uploaded by

blerb
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 63

Playbooks

Each playbook represents a specific


kind of person you might find across
the Hæth. We use our playbooks to
create our characters, which we will
use to explore the Hæth. This is not
an exhaustive list of all playbooks—
plenty of people have written their
own, and if you search far and wide
I’m sure you can find playbooks that
suit your needs. The fifteen playbooks
contained within this book should
serve us well for now.

46
Caretaker, p. 48. The Caretaker pays Pilgrim, p. 80. In search of a faraway
attention and tends to the small and for- place, the Pilgrim is carried by their faith
gotten gods, helping each one find a home. and desire to reach a home that might not
even exist.
Dancer, p. 52. The Dancer opens up to
all the magical and strange forces in the Poet, p. 84. The Poet is a writer using their
world, inviting them to dance and exist in journeys as inspiration for their project,
the moment. trying to tie together the threads that
intertwine the history of this land with
Exile, p. 56. Banished from their home- their own heart.
land, the Exile travels through the Hæth
looking for somewhere that can take them Ragamuffin, p. 88. The Ragamuffin is a
in and help them heal. little rascal of a kid who just wants to cause
problems and have fun.
Firelight, p. 60. The Firelight is accompa-
nied by a firefly that lights their path and Shepherd, p. 92. The Shepherd tends
helps guide people through the world. to a herd of bumblebees, keeping an eye
out with them as they travel to different
Fool, p. 64. The Fool is unused to and unfa- pastures.
miliar with the complicated and tangled
world outside, and approaches everything Teacher, p. 96. The Teacher is a traveling
with the same naїve optimism. professor, who visits kids throughout the
Hæth to instruct them on specialized
Guardian, p. 68. The Guardian takes care knowledge and hidden secrets.
of a ward, a young child with a difficult
past and in desperate need of care. Vagabond, p. 100. The Vagabond was once
convicted by a faraway and cruel authority,
Moth-Tender, p. 72. The Moth-Tender and has been forced to reinvent themself
assists the carrier moths that fly across on the road.
the Hæth, delivering letters and parcels to
everyone who needs them. Veteran, p. 104. The Veteran was once a
great hero, who held the entire world on
Peddler, p. 76. The Peddler transports the tip of their blade. No longer.
supplies and wares from place to place,
ensuring that each community has access
to everything they need to survive.

47
C
The
aretaker
Someone must pay
attention to all the
small and forgotten things in the
world. Someone must listen to
the voiceless.
You are alive. Your care is tender,
supportive, and silent.

Choose a name and some


pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Stoat Ѻ A Reflective
Ѻ Salamander Animal
Ѻ Lemur Ѻ A Quiet Animal
Ѻ Crow

Choose 2 you value being and 2


that feel exhausting to be.
Ѻ Alert Ѻ Organized
Ѻ Reflective Ѻ Gentle
Ѻ Patient Ѻ Masculine
Ѻ Friendly Ѻ Feminine
Ѻ Expressive

48
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Wooden Sandals Ѻ Paint-Stained Pants
Ѻ Huge Glasses Ѻ Sea-Blue Clay Canteen
Ѻ Scratchy Cloak Ѻ Flowing Dress
Ѻ Wheelchair Ѻ Faded Shawl
Ѻ Loose Papers Covered In Sketches And Notes Ѻ Plain Ceramic Mask
Ѻ Ceremonial Robes Ѻ A Constant Rhythmic Tapping

Choose up to 5 friends that hide in the many shrines you carry with you.
Ѻ Dulcet, a god of tiny melodies. They are dramatic and/or •glamorous.
Ѻ Furtive, a god of dust bunnies and cobwebs. They are quiet and/or •invisible.
Ѻ Guile, a god of Gateling winds. They are watchful and/or •oracular.
Ѻ Ia, a god of a misplaced kiss. They are caring and/or •glamorous.
Ѻ Lilt, a god of a tossed-aside creature. They are ‡nervous and/or ‡dead.
Ѻ Nadir, a god of a single shadow. They are pensive and/or •invisible.
Ѻ Os, a god of an empty stomach. They are ‡lost and/or ‡starving.
Ѻ Ravel, a god of tangled yarn. They are cheerful and/or •witchy.
Ѻ Ston, a coal-tapping god. They are wise and/or •miraculous.
Ѻ Talk, a chalk god. They are sturdy and/or •venerable.
Ѻ Wick, a candle god. They are passionate and/or •luminescent.
Ѻ Woad, a god of a mossy boulder. They are resolute and/or •mighty.
Ѻ Yot, a god of a child’s first snow. They are chill and/or •intertwined.
Ѻ Zenith, a god of a single sunbeam. They are confident and/or •luminescent.
Ѻ A family of cloud gods, who are all imaginative and/or •oracular.
Ѻ A family of sapling gods, who are all raucous and/or •intertwined.
Ѻ A nameless, ancient god seeking refuge within your shrine, who is •feral and/or ‡hurt.
Ѻ A very small buggy friend, who has no place among gods, and is friendly.
Ѻ A god of your own creation.

49
Choose 1 ceremonial object you still honor and 1 you cannot
treasure any longer. Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A box of beeswax candles, handmade by your learned mentor as part of their final
lesson.
Ѻ A series of wind chimes of increasing size, rescued from a flaming temple with the
help of a ‡cautious priest.
Ѻ A beautiful wooden walking stick adorned with feathers and runes, passed down
through generations.
Ѻ A deck of oracular cards, hand-painted by an •empathetic childhood friend who could
hear the gods whispering.
Ѻ A handbook attempting to name all the gods, written by a poetic writer you once
loved.
Ѻ A wide ceramic dish always filled with golden light, bestowed upon you by the many
small and forgotten gods who witnessed you as you faced certain death.
Ѻ A rock with a hole worn in it, gifted by the mysterious stranger with one white eye
who has watched over you all your life.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ Which of my small and forgotten gods did you rescue and give to me?
Ѭ What do you know about the world that I don’t?
Ѭ What is something I knew about you that I had no right to know?
Ѭ Do I listen to you when you feel small and forgotten?

50
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Pause, tilt your head to the side, and keep going.
Ѭ Play with one of your gods.
Ѭ Say something in silence better than words can.
Ѭ Notice a little friend everyone else overlooked.
Ѭ Say: “Hold this.”
Ѭ Ask: “Hush, can you hear that?” They get a token if they try their best to hear what you
do.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before.


Ѻ Choose something a playbook can do. One of your gods learns how to do it.
Ѻ Choose something a place’s nature can do. One of your gods learns how to do it.
Ѻ Choose something anything can do. One of your gods learns how to do it.
Ѻ Let go of something that only served to exhaust you.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you find a safe home for one of your gods and help it settle
down.
Ѻ Spend a token to transform an empty or abandoned place into a shrine. This place
becomes a hallow, in addition to whatever else it was.
Ѻ You can always ask: “Would you like to travel with me?”
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ You retire from wandering, settling down somewhere that makes you happy. Tell the
other players which of your gods still need homes, and ask them if they want to take
any with them. Pick up a new playbook and make a new character.

51
D
The
ancer
Your inner fire
is a song in your
heart, not a voice in your head.
The world will not quiet you.
You are alive. Your care is
intense, vocal, and full of
light.

Choose a name and some


pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Fox Ѻ Skink
Ѻ Heron Ѻ A Lively Animal
Ѻ Tamarin Ѻ A Hopeful Animal

Choose 2 you are and 2 you wish


you were better at being.
Ѻ Upbeat Ѻ Focused
Ѻ Honest Ѻ Charismatic
Ѻ Hopeful Ѻ Handsome
Ѻ Generous Ѻ Beautiful
Ѻ Frantic

52
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Sunset-Shade Robes Ѻ Stylized Mask
Ѻ Golden Jewelry Ѻ Wicker Basket Full Of Costumes
Ѻ Loose-Fitting Pants Ѻ Trekking Pole
Ѻ Outrageously Long Scarf Ѻ Bandage-Wrapped Feet
Ѻ Elaborate Silks Ѻ Necklace Of Huge Strung Beads
Ѻ Cloak Covered In Glowing Fungi Ѻ A Gleam In Your Eye

Choose 3 dances you will gladly dance, and 1 you’ll never dance again.
Ѻ A dance you dance with wild creatures, to calm them and rejoice.
Ѻ A dance you dance with the small and forgotten gods, to earn luck and wisdom.
Ѻ A dance you dance with an unfamiliar place, to listen and befriend.
Ѻ A dance you dance with all the winds in the sky, to invite the weather to change.
Ѻ A dance you dance with the heavens high above, to get perspective on the world below.
Ѻ A dance you dance with fire, to spark hope and inspiration.
Ѻ A dance you dance with the plants beneath the soil, to inspire them to grow.
Ѻ A dance you dance with the water and the waves, to bring calm and tranquility.
Ѻ A dance you dance with the deepest dark, to bridge the gates of life and death.
Ѻ A dance you dance with the broken and crumbling, to remind it what was and could be.
Ѻ A dance you dance with time itself, to teach an ancient story.
Ѻ A dance you dance with your friends, to celebrate life and all that it gives us.

53
Choose 1 you teach anyone who wants to learn and 1 you’ll only
ever dance to alone. Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A battered iron handpan drum, forged by a cheerful friend who you miss terribly.
Ѻ A cheap tambourine, stolen from a bitter and ‡furious merchant.
Ѻ A beautiful golden lyre, the symbol of your noble birth.
Ѻ A soft and gentle reed flute, snatched from the North Wind God himself.
Ѻ An ocarina carved from a seashell, gifted by an imaginative child.
Ѻ A rhythmic work song, a tradition from a life you have no desire to return to.
Ѻ A lovely whistled tune, the last song your mother ever sang for you.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ Why do I call you my best friend?
Ѭ Why won’t you ever dance with me?
Ѭ Why did I come with you when we left home?
Ѭ When was the last time we stayed up all night to watch the sun rise?

54
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Dance idly.
Ѭ Laugh and smile.
Ѭ Leap up on top of something.
Ѭ Give a song to those around you.
Ѭ Ask: “Will you dance a dance with me?”
Ѭ Ask: “Do you want to be my friend?” They get a token if they say yes.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before.


Ѻ Learn a new dance, from your list.
Ѻ Learn another new dance, from your list.
Ѻ Invent a new dance, learn it, and add it to your list.
Ѻ Realize you’re good at being something you worried you weren’t.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you dance for no reason other than your own love of dancing.
Ѻ Spend a token to offer to dance a dance with someone else, which reminds them of
who they are and breathes life back into their heart.
Ѻ You can always ask: “What song still sings in your heart, that you will always be moved
by?”
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ The road calls you along a new path, pulling you in a new direction, away from
everyone else. You must travel your own way now. Pick up a new playbook and make
a new character.

55
E
The
xile
Your past clings to your
shoulders like an old woolen cloak.
Someday, perhaps, you can return to your
home.
You are alive. Your care is fragile, skittish,
and terrified of being broken again.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Deer Ѻ A Rare Animal
Ѻ Tiger Ѻ A Nomadic
Ѻ Eagle Animal
Ѻ Skunk

Choose 2 you are and 2 you try not


to be.
Ѻ Pragmatic Ѻ Careless
Ѻ Pessimistic Ѻ Jumpy
Ѻ Sharp Ѻ Damaged
Ѻ Explosive Ѻ Ladylike
Ѻ Tired

56
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Cloak Big Enough To Hide In Ѻ Brutal Scar
Ѻ Carefully-Carved Wooden Mask Ѻ Intricate Tattoos From Your Home
Ѻ Stolen Lace Ѻ Fancy Pipe
Ѻ Shirt No One Knows How To Repair Ѻ Improvised Crutches
Ѻ Ornate Ceremonial Scepter Ѻ A Sacred Text From Your People
Ѻ Traditional Marriage Gown Ѻ A Deep And Profound Loneliness

You once had a place you called home. It’s gone now. Choose 1 true
reason why you cannot return, 1 reason you tell everyone else, and 1
reason you worry is the truth.
Ѻ You were banished for going against its monarch. It is a castle or a metropolis.
Ѻ You were banished because you couldn’t prove yourself. It is a workshop or a furnace.
Ѻ You were banished for accusations of theft or murder. It is a market or a port.
Ѻ You were banished because you betrayed the one you love. It is a university or a carnival.
Ѻ You fled to escape familial obligations. It is a palace or a labyrinth.
Ѻ You fled out of shame, to help the land heal. It is a garden or a glen.
Ѻ You fled because you were declared an omen of death. It is a farm or a wilderness.
Ѻ You fled because you rejected the gods of the land. It is a hallow or a maelstrom.
Ѻ Your people fled from the wrath of the gods. It is a waste.
Ѻ Your people fled when it was destroyed by outside hands. It is a graveyard.
Ѻ Your people fled as their civilization crumbled. It is a ruin.
Ѻ Your people fled from natural disaster. It is a swamp.
Ѻ You cannot remember why you are in exile. It is a mirror.
Ѻ The place never existed. It is a mirage.

57
Choose 1 you still play and 1 you can no longer understand. Tell the
table about them.
Ѻ A carapace-carved horn with a haunting melody, said to have been taught to your
people (and your people alone) by the wind-gods.
Ѻ A steel drum that would always resonate in harmony with the lakes and rivers of your
home.
Ѻ An ancient violin that you once spent hours practicing as a kid while waiting for your
mother to come back.
Ѻ A cheap lute, gifted by a caring innkeep who gave you shelter after you left.
Ѻ The small golden harp that only the royal family of your home could play.
Ѻ The lullaby your father would sing to you as you fell asleep.
Ѻ The song you’d always sing with your ‡grieving ex-fiancé, the tune of which still calls
you back home.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ How old were you when you traveled to my home?
Ѭ How did you help me when I felt like no one else would?
Ѭ What did you do to earn my trust?
Ѭ Do you miss our home as much as I do?

58
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Say an expression in your traditional language.
Ѭ Keep an eye on the exits.
Ѭ Push something out of sight or out of mind.
Ѭ Play a tune that reminds you of home.
Ѭ Say: “You look familiar.”
Ѭ Ask: “Can I tell you a story about my home?” They get a token if they say yes.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before.


Ѻ Meet someone from your home, and reach out to them.
Ѻ Meet someone else from your home, and reach out to them.
Ѻ Find an exclave of people from your home, and reach out to them.
Ѻ Realize you’re not something you were scared of being.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you honor a holiday or tradition from your home.
Ѻ Spend a token to remember something you assumed you had forgotten.
Ѻ You can always ask: “Can I stay here for a while?”
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ You find a place you feel can be home, at least for a while. Pick up a new playbook and
make a new character.

59
The

Firelight
It is easy to get lost in
the darkness and the deep.
The firefly at your side will always
guide the way.
You are alive. Your care is forward-thinking,
mutual, and shining bright.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Raccoon Ѻ Sphynx Cat
Ѻ Olm Ѻ A Nocturnal Animal
Ѻ Albatross Ѻ A Steady Animal

Choose 2 you try to be and 2 you know


you can’t be.
Ѻ Endlessly Patient Ѻ A Good Judge
Ѻ Consistently Correct Of Character
Ѻ Here For Everyone Ѻ Strong And
Ѻ Always Positive Manly
Ѻ Everywhere At Once Ѻ Properly
Ѻ Enough Feminine

60
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Mud-Soaked Cloak Ѻ Well-Loved Fiddle
Ѻ Reliable Wooden Staff Ѻ Badly Ripped Dress
Ѻ Wide-Brimmed Hat That Covers Your Ѻ Box Of Medical Supplies
Eyes Ѻ Small And Practical Knife
Ѻ Warm And Comfortable Gloves Ѻ Book Of Small Rituals
Ѻ Patchwork Work Pants Ѻ Shining Eyes That Pierce Through
Ѻ Deck Of Playing Cards Darkness

You have a firefly, your companion that stays by your side no


matter what. They sleep during the day and light up at night.
They are •luminescent. Choose 1-2 to describe how you met.
Ѻ The two of you grew up together. They are caring and/or honest.
Ѻ You rescued them from a bush when they were small. They are wise and/or ‡nervous.
Ѻ Fireflies have always helped your family. They are proper and/or chill.
Ѻ They led you out of danger at your darkest moment, and have stuck with you ever
since. They are confident and/or pensive.
Ѻ Your uncle gave them to you as a service bug, so you could always have light to guide
you. They are watchful and/or resolute.
Ѻ It’s a whole story—too long to tell, and with plenty of incredible mishaps along the
way. They are adventurous and/or inquisitive.
Ѻ They came to you in a dream, and when you woke up they were real. They are
•oracular, and you’re not sure they’re really a firefly.
Ѻ They are one of the Lightning Dancers, and they fell from the sky into your hands.
They are •miraculous, and you’re not sure they’re really a firefly.
Ѻ You found them in a place of death and pain, and rescued them. They are ‡dead, and
you’re not sure they’re really a firefly.

61
Choose 1 light you still keep lit and 1 that died out long ago. Tell
the table about them.
Ѻ A rusted iron lantern that your mother carried before you.
Ѻ An ornate bronze oil lamp, your last memory of your childhood home.
Ѻ A box of expensive beeswax candles, gifted by an adventurous ex-love as a going-away
present.
Ѻ A simple wooden incense holder shaped like a crashing wave, that anchors you to your
faith.
Ѻ A pack of smokes that reminds you of sitting on a porch with your poetic love.
Ѻ Wisp, a small and forgotten •many-faced god who is in love with your firefly.
Ѻ The passion in your heart that burned for the rebellion.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ When did you lead me back into the light?
Ѭ What did I show you that you didn’t want to see?
Ѭ Why does my firefly like you so much?
Ѭ Where do you wish I could guide you, and why can’t I?

62
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Shrug.
Ѭ Pet your firefly.
Ѭ Illuminate all that is hard to see.
Ѭ Keep walking.
Ѭ Say: “Watch your step.”
Ѭ Ask: “Do you need a hand?” They get a token if they accept your help.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before.


Ѻ Teach your firefly something new they can always do.
Ѻ Teach your firefly something else new they can always do.
Ѻ Learn from your firefly an important life lesson, and get a new thing you can always do
from any playbook.
Ѻ Realize you don’t have to be something you always forced yourself to be.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you put your trust in someone else’s hands.
Ѻ Spend a token to know how to get where you’re trying to go, no matter how far away.
Ѻ You can always ask: “Can you lead the way?”
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ You met someone new who needs your guidance more than your friends do, and you
need to part ways. Pick up a new playbook and make a new character.

63
F
The
ool
Life is an adventure, and there’s
never shame in learning new things.
You are alive. Your care is silly, naїve,
and more profound than most expect.
Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Parrot Ѻ A Goofy Animal
Ѻ Star-Nosed Mole Ѻ An Oblivious
Ѻ Samoyed Animal
Ѻ Anole

Choose 2 you are and 2 you’re


worried you’re actually not.
Ѻ Lovable Ѻ Talented
Ѻ Funny Ѻ Deep
Ѻ Brave Ѻ A Man
Ѻ Popular Ѻ A Woman
Ѻ Useful

64
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Garishly Purple Pants Ѻ Flowing Cape
Ѻ Pet Ant Ѻ Lots And Lots Of Beads
Ѻ Noble Attire Ѻ Flower Behind Your Ear
Ѻ Flamboyant Hat Ѻ Cloak Unsuitable For The Weather
Ѻ Elaborate Makeup Ѻ Trick Deck Of Cards
Ѻ Polka-Dot Bindle Ѻ A Complete Lack Of Foresight

Choose 2 that are true about you, and 1 that everyone assumes is
true.
Ѻ You don’t know a lot about the world. The place you are from is a farm or a tower.
Ѻ You were spoiled rotten as a kid. The place you are from is a palace or a garden.
Ѻ You’ve spent much of your life making other people happy. The place you are from is a
carnival or a tavern.
Ѻ You have a surprising secret talent. The place you are from is a workshop or a port.
Ѻ You grew up familiar with chaos and disorganization. The place you are from is a
maelstrom or a market.
Ѻ You have a mysterious and heroic destiny. The place you are from is a lagoon or a castle.
Ѻ You had a lot of expectations placed on you as a kid. The place you are from is a hallow
or a university.
Ѻ Most people you meet around here don’t make any sense to you. The place you are
from is a wilderness or a metropolis.
Ѻ You had a really upsetting childhood that you hate talking about. The place you are
from is a waste or a labyrinth.
Ѻ You cannot remember much about your childhood. The place you are from is a ruin or
a mirage.

65
Choose 1 you carry with you and 1 you’re confident is around here
somewhere (you’re just not sure where.) Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A beautiful golden brooch, gifted by your proper parents.
Ѻ A purse full of valuables that can buy basically anything you want, obtained through
your noble birth.
Ѻ Cedie, a small and forgotten •witchy god who has decided to accompany you on your
journeys.
Ѻ A handful of tickets from the carnival you used to work for.
Ѻ A puzzle box you can’t quite figure out, given by a wise teacher you met on the road.
Ѻ A ceremonial shawl, given by a traveler who has decided your foolishness disguises
wisdom.
Ѻ A now-dull knife, given by someone who you later realized is the opposite of
everything you want to be in life.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ What do I say that you’ve gotten so tired of?
Ѭ What did you show me, that no one else could?
Ѭ Why are you so patient with me?
Ѭ How did you help me get out of my old home?

66
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Meander around.
Ѭ Give great advice.
Ѭ Give terrible advice.
Ѭ Do something that’s actually pretty funny.
Ѭ Ask: “But why?”
Ѭ Ask: “What’s going on?” They get a token if they help explain.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Learn something important from someone else. Invent a new thing you can always do.
Ѻ Learn something else important from someone else. Invent a new thing you can
always do.
Ѻ Realize you don’t have to be something you always thought you were.
Ѻ Realize it’s okay to not be something you were scared you weren’t.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you sit down and listen, really listen, to someone.
Ѻ Spend a token in order to ask: “Why can’t things be different?”
Ѻ You can always provide a new perspective that no one else could see.
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ The world has changed you, and you have grown. Choose an unused playbook, and
transfer as much as makes sense from this playbook to that one.

67
G
The
uardian
Hold your ward close to your
heart. Someday the world will
hurt them, but this will not be that day.

You are alive. Your care is parental, protective,


and unconditional.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Bear Ѻ Rabbit
Ѻ Hen Ѻ A Wary Animal
Ѻ Wolf Ѻ A Strong Animal

Choose 2 you generally are and 2 people


assume you always are.
Ѻ Level-Headed Ѻ Cheery
Ѻ Hopeful Ѻ Correct
Ѻ Organized Ѻ Mothering
Ѻ Openhearted Ѻ Fatherly
Ѻ Laid-Back

68
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Cloak Big Enough To Hide Your Ward Ѻ Forged Paperwork
Ѻ Stained Apron Ѻ Austere Formal-Wear
Ѻ Pots & Pans Ѻ Reading Glasses
Ѻ Thick Muddy Boots Ѻ Sturdy Cane
Ѻ Fishing Kit Ѻ Heavy Earrings
Ѻ Shield Almost As Big As You Ѻ Seemingly Endless Patience

You have a ward, a child who you watch over. Choose how you
found them…
Ѻ You’ve cared for them since their birth. They are chill or cheerful.
Ѻ Their parents entrusted you with them for their safety. They are dramatic or ‡cautious.
Ѻ You rescued them from a cruel situation. They are quiet or ‡hurt.
Ѻ You found them near a battlefield, hidden away. They are ‡furious or ‡lost.
Ѻ They grew up at a university, surrounded by knowledge. They are inquisitive or wise.
Ѻ They grew up alone in the wilderness. They are adventurous or •feral.
Ѻ A mysterious stranger with one white eye arrived on your doorstep and gave them to
you. They are •luminescent or •witchy.
Ѻ You found them among the ruins of a lost civilization. They are ‡dead or ‡empty.

69
…and choose what about them you’d die to defend.
Ѻ They can always find the beauty in the world. They are crafty or poetic.
Ѻ They’re a good kid, and a goofball, and they have a million little eccentricities. They
are imaginative or caring.
Ѻ They want to befriend everyone (and everything) they meet. They are friendly or
•glamorous.
Ѻ You know there’s still a spark of light in their heart, despite everything. They are sturdy
or ‡grieving.
Ѻ They stick by the side of the ones they care for, like a shadow. They are quiet or
•oracular.
Ѻ They’re the true heir to the Throne of the Floating Mountain. They are proper or ‡nervous.
Ѻ They are uniquely capable of communicating with the small and forgotten gods. They
are •empathetic or •intertwined.
Ѻ They contain the very soul of the Slobbering God. They are •mighty or ‡starving.
Ѻ They’re not like other kids. They are •invisible or •many-faced.

Choose 2 your ward carries with them. Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A notebook and set of charcoals, gifted by a caring old teacher.
Ѻ A cap too large for their head, gifted by their godparents as they fled the authorities.
Ѻ A stuffed animal they’ll never let go of, gifted by a cheerful shopkeep.
Ѻ The inquisitive bug that lives in their pocket, that’s stuck by them all their life.
Ѻ A gender-affirming outfit that they’re too insecure to wear, gifted by an honest kid they
once met.
Ѻ A poncho the color of shadows, gifted by a crafty vagabond you assumed was
untrustworthy.
Ѻ A mysterious scar on the nape of their neck, placed there by an •oracular and pensive
god.

70
Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.
Ѭ Why does my ward look up to you and why does that bother me?
Ѭ What was I like before I found my ward?
Ѭ When was the last time my ward really irritated you?
Ѭ Do you follow through with your responsibilities to my ward? What are they?

Some things you can always do:


Ѭ Sigh and shake your head.
Ѭ Keep both eyes on someone.
Ѭ Derive a practical lesson from a situation.
Ѭ Tell a story that makes someone embarrassed.
Ѭ Ask: “Where do you think you’re going?”
Ѭ Ask: “Where is my ward?” They get a token if they help you find your ward.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Teach your ward a new thing they can do from any playbook.
Ѻ Teach your ward another new thing they can do from any playbook.
Ѻ Teach your ward a third new thing they can do from any playbook.
Ѻ Become something you previously said you were not.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you follow your ward’s advice, even when it’s terrible advice.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you sit back and let your ward handle a problem.
Ѻ You can always ask: “Can you give me a hand with this?”
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ You retire from wandering and your ward ventures forth as their own person. Pick up
a playbook and create your ward in that playbook.

71
MTender
The
oth
Carrier moths travel across the
Hæth, bringing news, letters, and
tiny boxes. You wander the land,
keeping an eye on these moths and
their towers.
You are alive. Your care is consistent,
prompt, and arrives in small packages.
Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Bat Ѻ Rabbit
Ѻ Horse Ѻ A Persistent Animal
Ѻ Pigeon Ѻ A Dogged Animal

Choose 2 your job asks you to be and 2


you actually are.
Ѻ Calm Ѻ Cheerful
Ѻ Trusting Ѻ Blunt
Ѻ Curious Ѻ Strong
Ѻ Proper Ѻ Pretty
Ѻ Studious

72
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Tweed Vest Ѻ Finely-Tailored Tie
Ѻ Well-Worn Moth-Tending Uniform Ѻ Out-Of-Place Dress
Ѻ Shining Lantern Ѻ Nearly-Threadbare Gloves
Ѻ Small Reading Glasses Ѻ Map Of Local Moth Towers
Ѻ Satchel Full Of Papers Ѻ A Deep Sense That You’re In Over Your
Ѻ Ink-Stained Gloves Head
Ѻ Mottled Bark-Colored Cloak

Choose 1 you would devote your life to protecting and 1 that’s in


danger of falling apart. Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A decoder for the secret Moth-Tending cipher, an ancient relic gifted by your
imaginative mentor.
Ѻ A chart of lunar phases, a going-away present from your childhood best friend.
Ѻ A beautiful letter from a distant lover, who you hope someday to meet.
Ѻ The ring on your finger, matched by your confident fiancé back home.
Ѻ A sterling silver pin affixed to your vest, representing your oath to the Moth-Tending
organization.
Ѻ The wisdom of your caring adoptive mother, who reminded you to always be yourself.
Ѻ A pink orchid, constantly reminding you of the promises you made to your fellow
revolutionaries.

73
Choose 3 letters or packages you’re carrying with you…
Ѻ A royal summons from the King of the Floating Mountain…
Ѻ A wax-sealed love letter…
Ѻ An envelope stuffed with a whole village’s worth of care…
Ѻ A scroll of ancient and mysterious magic…
Ѻ A hand-knit sweater…
Ѻ A basket of homemade candies…
Ѻ A letter checking in from an old friend…
Ѻ A ‡lost kid you’re helping to escape a bad situation…
Ѻ A book with dangerous and illicit information…
Ѻ A bottle of rare and vitally important medicine…
Ѻ A package or letter of your own description…

…and for each, choose where they’re going. Whenever a letter or


package reaches its destination, choose another.
Ѻ …for a •witchy and shrewish witch deep in the Miremuck Swamp.
Ѻ …for a cheerful young rabbit who just moved to a big city.
Ѻ …for a poetic blue jay you once dated.
Ѻ …for a wandering and •miraculous wizard-in-exile.
Ѻ …for the ‡royal commander of the Lead Fortress.
Ѻ …for a ‡furious spy in a distant city.
Ѻ …for the •venerable god that dwells in the ancient forest.
Ѻ …for the proper mayor of a hidden village.
Ѻ …for the ‡heroic leader of the last outposts of the rebellion.
Ѻ …for a chill old farmer with a big family.
Ѻ …for someone of your own description.

74
Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.
Ѭ What is it about my job that so appeals to you?
Ѭ When did I realize that I could trust you?
Ѭ Why did I risk my job and career to help you?
Ѭ Do you think the moths are as beautiful as I do?

Some things you can always do:


Ѭ Follow the moths.
Ѭ Fidget.
Ѭ Write something down on a piece of paper.
Ѭ Tell everyone what phase the moon is in right now.
Ѭ Ask: “Have you heard the news?”
Ѭ Say: “I have a letter for you!” They get a token if they accept the letter.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Create a new letter or package from your lists.
Ѻ Create another new letter or package from your lists.
Ѻ Create a third new letter or package from your lists.
Ѻ Reject something you were expected to be.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you take your time and make sure you know exactly which way
you’re going.
Ѻ Spend a token to have already prepared for this situation.
Ѻ You can always ask: “Do you have a letter for me?” They get a token if they do.
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ You find a tower you want to help operate, retiring from wandering. Pick up a new
playbook and make a new character.

75
The

Peddler
The road is long and filled
with merchants, traders,
and everyone else doing their
part to make sure everywhere in the Hæth
is provided for. No one’s home can stand
alone.
You are alive. Your care is material,
solid, and dependable.
Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Donkey Ѻ Crocodile
Ѻ Condor Ѻ A Rugged Animal
Ѻ Llama Ѻ A Tireless Animal

Choose 2 you are and 2 you feel


you need to be.
Ѻ Stingy Ѻ Calculating
Ѻ Stern Ѻ Experienced
Ѻ Watchful Ѻ Manly
Ѻ Extroverted Ѻ Womanly
Ѻ Sustainable

76
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Patched-Up Mustard Cloak Ѻ Fat Cigars
Ѻ Dress From A Distant Land Ѻ Abacus
Ѻ Fingers Adorned With Rings Ѻ Overburdened Backpack
Ѻ Glasses With Many Adjusting Lenses Ѻ Ledgers
Ѻ Once-Fancy Hat Ѻ Fine Silk Handkerchief
Ѻ Manual Wheelchair Ѻ Non-Stop Banter

You have a sturdy and resolute beetle who carries your supplies on
its back. Choose 4 wares you regularly barter with and tell the table
which is the one you value most.
Ѻ Fruit, vegetables, and any other dependable produce.
Ѻ Honey, wool, and anything else created by bugs.
Ѻ Fish, pearls, and anything else gifted by the sea.
Ѻ Flowers, tea, and anything beautiful yet fleeting.
Ѻ Novels, manuscripts, and anything else crafted by storytellers.
Ѻ Toys, dolls, and anything else that brings joy wherever you go.
Ѻ Smokes, drink, or anything people might need to soothe their nerves.
Ѻ Incense, statues, and anything else that appeases the many small and forgotten gods.
Ѻ Tomes, tapestries, and any other vessels of ancient magic.
Ѻ Nails, tools, and anything else forged from melted-down weapons.
Ѻ Gossip, secrets, and anything else valued by the rebellion.
Ѻ Security, hope, or anything else that struggling people desperately need.
Ѻ Clouds, dreams, or any other miracles that no one else could offer.
Ѻ Knickknacks, tchotchkes, and any other useless trinkets.

77
Choose 1 you’ll never abandon and 1 you parted with a long time
ago. Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A map that leads to wealth beyond anyone’s imagination, given by an old friend before
they disappeared.
Ѻ A hand-carved flute that your father made when you set forth into the world.
Ѻ A wilted orchid you must keep secret, a sign of your time helping the rebellion.
Ѻ Zo, a small and forgotten •miraculous god who lives in a shrine on your beetle.
Ѻ The inquisitive young teen who tags along for the ride.
Ѻ A key that is said to be able to free the Slobbering God from its cursed prison.
Ѻ A sealed box you’ve sworn never to open, gifted to you by your old trademaster when
you first set off.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ How do I help you decompress when the days are long?
Ѭ Why did we start traveling together, all those years ago?
Ѭ What do you give me that I can’t get anywhere else?
Ѭ Are you still working with me?

78
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Know someone who can help.
Ѭ Intensely examine something.
Ѭ Sit down and do the math.
Ѭ Trade for or trade away one of your many wares.
Ѭ Ask: “What can I do for you?”
Ѭ Say: “I have a deal for you.” Give them a token if they hear you out and consider it.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Change the wares you barter with or value.
Ѻ Change the wares you barter with or value, again.
Ѻ Procure the perfect gift for someone, and give it to them.
Ѻ Procure the perfect gift for someone, and give it to them.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you give something away and expect nothing in return.
Ѻ Spend a token to acquire something rare, valuable, or important.
Ѻ You can always run into an old friend in an unexpected place.
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ You’re taking a break from traveling, setting up shop somewhere a bit more
permanent. Pick up a new playbook and make a new character.

79
The

Pilgrim
The gods have given you
a path forward, a place you
hope can finally give you what you seek.
Some days you worry you’ll never make
it there at all.
You are alive. Your care is enduring,
faithful, and expressed one step at a
time.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Ibis Ѻ A Devoted
Ѻ Bison Animal
Ѻ Ferret Ѻ A Ceaseless
Ѻ Newt Animal

Choose 2 you try to be and 2 you’ve


given up on.
Ѻ Patient Ѻ Wise
Ѻ Reflective Ѻ Healthy
Ѻ Proper Ѻ Masculine
Ѻ Unobtrusive Ѻ Feminine
Ѻ Stoic

80
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Battered Gray Cloak Ѻ Practical Walking Boots
Ѻ Sturdy Walking Stick Ѻ Patchwork Jacket
Ѻ Fresh Bandages Ѻ Frayed Gloves
Ѻ Weather-Beaten Hood Ѻ Slightly Inaccurate Map Of The Area
Ѻ Leather-Bound Book Of Poems Ѻ The Bare Minimum Needed To Get By
Ѻ Straw Hat Ѻ Fundamental Confidence In The World
A god or omen instructed you to pack your bags and travel
somewhere very far from the land you called home. Choose 2
rumors or stories you’ve heard about this place, and 1 that is
actually true.
Ѻ You seek a land of great bounty, where the trees offer endless fruit, fish leap from the
rivers, and no one ever has to work. It is a carnival or a garden.
Ѻ You seek the home of the one teacher who knows the secret to pure serenity. It is a
lagoon or a monastery.
Ѻ You seek where the countless small and forgotten gods are loudest and clearest. It is a
hallow or a graveyard.
Ѻ You seek where the gods taught artists the secret of creation, and nothing can compare
to the objects made there. It is a furnace or a workshop.
Ѻ You seek a place that scrapes against the very sky itself, and from up there you can see the
whole of the Hæth. It is a mountain or a tower.
Ѻ You seek the home of the heart of the world itself. It is a cave or a wilderness.
Ѻ You seek a place older than anywhere else in the world, that carries secrets from an
ancient time. It is an island or a ruin.
Ѻ You seek a place at the very edge of the world, where nothing lies beyond it. It is a desert
or a mirror.
Ѻ The place you seek isn’t the end of your journey. It is a bridge or a port.
Ѻ The place you seek doesn’t exist. It is a mirage.

81
Choose the sign of your faith. Tell the table why you believe it’ll
never lead you astray.
Ѻ An ancient iron necklace forged by an ancestor, anchoring you to your village and its
gods.
Ѻ A deck of oracular cards, which has plenty of opinions on what’s next in store.
Ѻ A brass compass, gifted by the mysterious stranger with one white eye who set you
forth on this quest.
Ѻ A single word, whispered in your ear by a •luminescent elk before she fled into the
night, and the only tool you have to find your way.
Ѻ A beautiful pink orchid, a sign of the rebellion that always blooms.
Ѻ A book of poetry, with passages so powerful that their very existence is a miracle.
Ѻ The ceremonial language of your distant home, every word a spoken prayer for your
culture’s survival.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ How did you save me when my inexperience tripped me up?
Ѭ What is it about you that makes me comfortable telling you my doubts?
Ѭ What do you know about the place that I seek, that I haven’t yet grasped?
Ѭ Does our faith still fill your heart with hope?

82
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Recite a small prayer.
Ѭ Chatter away.
Ѭ Shield yourself from harsh conditions.
Ѭ Place your fate in improbable coincidence, and have it work out.
Ѭ Ask: “Do you think we’ll make it?”
Ѭ Say: “Lead the way.” They get a token if they do.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Learn that a rumor you’ve heard about your pilgrimage is false, and replace it with
something else from the list.
Ѻ Learn that another rumor you’ve heard about your pilgrimage is false, and replace it
with something else from the list.
Ѻ Learn something that you once thought was true about your pilgrimage is false, and
replace it with something else from the list.
Ѻ Realize you’ve been led astray by something you thought would never let you down.
Ѻ Find a way to be something you’d given up on ever being.
Ѻ Spend a token to look at a difficult choice, and propose an alternate path.
Ѻ You can always find a sign of your faith, even in an unfamiliar place.
Ѻ You’ve given up on your pilgrimage, and you have no choice but to admit that it was
never going to be. Choose an unused playbook, and transfer as much as makes sense
from this playbook to that one.
Ѻ Your pilgrimage has finally concluded. The journey has brought you to the place
you’ve been seeking. Pick up a new playbook and make a new character when
everyone else leaves that place.

83
Poet
The

The song of the


world is a poem that
can be captured by ink and paper, if
only you could find the right words.
You are alive. Your care is eloquent,
observant, and occasionally
overwrought.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Porcupine Ѻ Toad
Ѻ Rook Ѻ A Lyrical Animal
Ѻ Terrier Ѻ A Pensive Animal

Choose 2 people assume you are


based on your writing and 2 you
actually are.
Ѻ Romantic Ѻ Formal
Ѻ Obscure Ѻ Pretentious
Ѻ Strident Ѻ A Man
Ѻ Casual Ѻ A Woman
Ѻ Pithy

84
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Delicate Spectacles Ѻ Battered Briefcase
Ѻ Argyle Sweater Vest Ѻ Tweed Jacket With Shoulder Pads
Ѻ Cloak Full Of Pockets Ѻ Fashionable Cap
Ѻ Coarse Button Down Ѻ Cane With A Comfortable Grip
Ѻ Practical Plaid Skirt Ѻ Ink-Stained Hands
Ѻ Pockets Full Of Burnt Smokes Ѻ A Literary Quote For Every Occasion

You’re writing a novel, autobiography, thesis, song, or collection of


poems based on your journey. Choose 1 you’re writing about, 1 that
is metaphorically intertwined, and 1 that unintentionally crept its
way into your project.
Ѻ Another person’s journey, that you follow in the footsteps of.
Ѻ Your memories of your parents, scattered and hard to piece together.
Ѻ The small and forgotten gods, that you hope someday won’t be forgotten.
Ѻ The bones of the once-mighty dragons and what has become of them.
Ѻ A community you consider yourself a part of, who once could be found everywhere.
Ѻ The migratory patterns of the moths and the news they bring with them.
Ѻ A fallen star who visits you in your dreams, always one step ahead of you.
Ѻ The nameless god-slayer who once wielded the Heavenblade, and the ruin left in their
wake.
Ѻ The Slobbering God, the great beast whose bones are scattered across the world.
Ѻ A place that doesn’t exist but you hope someday to spot in the clouds, and the people
who claim to have been there.
Ѻ The rebellion and what happened to its adherents.
Ѻ The trees, bugs, stars, and all the creatures alive around you.
Ѻ The seasons and how their changes change you.
Ѻ The everyday lives of your fellow travelers.

85
Choose 1 you read from constantly and 1 you have memorized. Tell
the table about them.
Ѻ A tiny guidebook full of practical life advice, gifted by your local bookseller when you
set foot.
Ѻ A cheap paperback you found on the side of the road, whose author you wonder
about constantly.
Ѻ A fantastical novel, waterlogged and stained from years of rereading, gifted by your
father before he left.
Ѻ The last text written by your mentor before their death, that reflects on their life.
Ѻ A mostly-finished manuscript written by your passionate best friend, that you think
can revolutionize everything.
Ѻ A translation of a book of poems written in a language your ancestors spoke, that
you’ve been teaching yourself.
Ѻ Your mother’s journal, written in her spidery handwriting and full of pressed flowers.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ What did your style of storytelling teach me?
Ѭ What’s your favorite part of my writing?
Ѭ Are you okay with the way I write about you?
Ѭ What do you have to keep explaining to me about the world?

86
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Self-deprecate.
Ѭ Cite your sources, in hopes that they can help.
Ѭ Write down a moment that feels relevant to your project.
Ѭ Provide a new perspective others might not have.
Ѭ Ask: “What used to be here?”
Ѭ Ask: “Can you explain?” They get a token if they sit down and talk you through it.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Choose a new topic from the list and incorporate it into your project.
Ѻ Invent a new topic and incorporate it into your project.
Ѻ Cut the chaff from your project and remove a topic from it.
Ѻ Change your writing style dramatically, to more accurately reflect who you are.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you take pride in your work.
Ѻ Spend a token to ask: “Would you like to read my project?” They get a token if they sit
down and spend some time with it.
Ѻ You can always ask: “Is it okay for me to write about this?”
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ Finish your project and go back home. Tell everyone what the dedications page says,
pick up a new playbook, and make a new character.

87
R
The
agamuffin
Run! Scream! Play!
Steal! And above all,
live!
You are alive. Your care is
young, exuberant, and naïve.
Choose a name and some
pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Otter Ѻ Kitten
Ѻ Gecko Ѻ A Cute Animal
Ѻ Capuchin Ѻ A Young Animal

Choose 2 you are and 2 you refuse


to be.
Ѻ Attentive Ѻ Smart
Ѻ Respectful Ѻ Scared
Ѻ Adorable Ѻ A Boy
Ѻ Quiet Ѻ A Girl
Ѻ Friendly

88
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Grass-Stained Jeans Ѻ Ocarina
Ѻ Bandages Ѻ Sundress That Whooshes When You
Ѻ Stuffed Animal Spin
Ѻ Suspenders Ѻ Pokin’ Stick
Ѻ Cap That’s Always Worn Backwards Ѻ Stompin’ Boots
Ѻ Awkwardly-Sized Maroon Cloak Ѻ An Overwhelming Love For Life
Ѻ Flowers Forever In Hand

Choose 2 life lessons you’ve been taught and 2 you have rejected.
Ѻ You can’t stop the world from hurting you.
Ѻ Kindness is stronger than anything else.
Ѻ There will come a time when you must fight back.
Ѻ It’s better to give a gift than to receive it.
Ѻ Your parents made you who you are now.
Ѻ The world is bigger than you can wrap your head around.
Ѻ Authority figures cannot be trusted.
Ѻ All stories are lies.
Ѻ Your heroes will always let you down.
Ѻ Everything must someday die.
Ѻ Even this will end.

89
Choose 1 you carry with you openly and 1 you carry with you
secretly. Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A ‡nervous young paradise mantis, the last of its kind.
Ѻ A necklace with a painting of your birth family in it.
Ѻ A pan-flute that reveals your heritage from a forgotten and hidden community.
Ѻ An encoded scroll that you can’t read, pressed into your hands by one of the last
heroes of the rebellion.
Ѻ Nak, a small and •luminescent god that once dwelled in the center of the holiest shrine
in all of the Hæth.
Ѻ The capacity to see brief snippets of the future, which always revolve around a
mysterious stranger with one white eye.
Ѻ Dreams about a vast and bloody war, always centered around a powerful hero.
Ѻ The Ring of 99 Vengeful Daemons, the greatest treasure of the King of the Floating
Mountain.
Ѻ The Heavenblade, lost after slaying the Slobbering God, that you would never use to
hurt another soul.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ How do you feel about the fact that I’ve decided you’re my new parent?
Ѭ What went wrong the last time I dragged you along on a misadventure?
Ѭ What endearing nickname have you given me?
Ѭ What do I do that really, truly, next-level gets on your nerves?

90
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Get distracted.
Ѭ Get really invested in a new interest.
Ѭ Blurt out a secret.
Ѭ Somehow manage to squeeze yourself out of trouble.
Ѭ Ask: “Do you wanna hang out with me?” They get a token if they say yes.
Ѭ Ask: “Do you wanna see something really cool?” They get a token if they say yes.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Learn a new lesson, or reject a lesson you’ve previously learned.
Ѻ Learn another new lesson, or reject a lesson you’ve previously learned.
Ѻ Decide you’re something no one thought you were.
Ѻ Refuse to be something you once considered yourself to be.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you learn something new.
Ѻ Spend a token to ask: “Why can’t things be different?”
Ѻ You can always ask: “How did you do that?”
Ѻ You can always provide a new perspective.
Ѻ You have grown up, and come into your own. Choose an unused playbook, and
transfer as much as makes sense from this playbook to that one.

91
Shepherd
The

Herds of chubby
bumblebees can be found
across the Hæth, and tending
to those flocks is simple, honest
work.
You are alive. Your care is
measureless, watchful, and gentle.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Ram Ѻ Hawk
Ѻ Turtle Ѻ A Guiding Animal
Ѻ Sheepdog Ѻ A Peaceful Animal

Choose 2 you still are these days


and 2 you’re just not anymore.
Ѻ Hurried Ѻ Loud
Ѻ Brave Ѻ Fatherly
Ѻ Tough Ѻ Maternal
Ѻ Reliable Ѻ Young
Ѻ Focused

92
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Plaid Button-Down Ѻ Old-Fashioned Pipe
Ѻ Shepherd’s Crook Ѻ Hiking Boots
Ѻ Bug-Calling Whistle Ѻ Smock Frock
Ѻ Woolen Cloak Ѻ Patchwork Overalls
Ѻ Puffy Jacket Ѻ Practical And Bunched-Up Dress
Ѻ Wheelchair Ѻ A Superstitious Turn Of Phrase
You have a herd of bumbles. Choose up to 5 bugs you can always
pick out from the crowd.
Ѻ The youngest bumble, who is constantly underfoot. They are cheerful and/or raucous.
Ѻ The oldest bumble, gray and slow. They are wise and/or •venerable.
Ѻ The cutest bumble, who loves head-pats. They are friendly and/or cunning.
Ѻ The most beautiful bumble, who always wants attention. They are dramatic and/or
•glamorous.
Ѻ The luckiest bumble, who keeps bumbling out of trouble. They are adventurous and/or
•miraculous.
Ѻ The bumble born with two heads under the full moon. They are imaginative and/or
•witchy.
Ѻ The most anxious bumble, who always needs reassurance. They are ‡lost and/or
‡nervous.
Ѻ The biggest bumble, who you like to ride around on. They are sturdy and/or •mighty.
Ѻ The runt, a bumble with a brutal injury. They are ‡cautious and/or ‡hurt.
Ѻ The mother, who will die for the newborn bumble. They are resolute and/or caring.
Ѻ The head of the herd, who always leads the charge. They are ambitious and/or
confident.
Ѻ The bumble who is remarkable in no particular way, but they’re still your favorite.
They are chill and/or quiet.

93
Choose 1 that stays by your side and 1 that you need to let go of.
Tell the table about them.
Ѻ An almanac given by your cheerful brother, which grows increasingly inaccurate.
Ѻ A tall crook that reminds you of your mother.
Ѻ The old horn that once called the bumbles, which now needs repairs.
Ѻ A bandana that displays your high rank within the Shepherd’s Guild.
Ѻ A handkerchief given by your first kiss, when you were both children.
Ѻ A dried-out orchid pressed into your journal, your last memory of the rebellion.
Ѻ Your adventurous child, who isn’t your wee bab any longer.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ What did you do that made me trust you with my herd?
Ѭ How did I help bring you back when you felt lost?
Ѭ Do you think of yourself as part of my family?
Ѭ Why should I trust you less than I do?

94
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Pat a bumble on its head.
Ѭ Stare off into the distance.
Ѭ Make an offhand observation that turns out to be correct.
Ѭ Rest your back against something and take a moment to breathe.
Ѭ Say: “They’re friendly, don’t fret.”
Ѭ Ask: “Can I teach you something someone once taught me?” They get a token if they say
yes, and learn.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Find a bumble you thought you had lost.
Ѻ Grow attached to a new baby bumble, name it, and give it a personality.
Ѻ Grow attached to another new baby bumble, name it, and give it a personality.
Ѻ Recapture the spark of something you used to be.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you walk away from everyone else to spend some time alone
with your herd.
Ѻ Spend a token to procure or provide honey, wool, pollen, or other gifts from your
herd.
Ѻ You always know where every bumble in your herd is.
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ It’s time for your herd to return to more familiar fields, and for you to head your
separate way. Decide which bumble stays with the group, pick up a new playbook and
make a new character.

95
T
The
eacher
Across the Hæth, there are
students who need teaching.
You travel from town to town and help
them learn the little pieces they might not
yet know.
You are alive. Your care is wise, distant, and
gentle.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Owl Ѻ Orangutan
Ѻ Hare Ѻ A Wise Animal
Ѻ Chameleon Ѻ An Attentive Animal

Choose 2 you are and 2 you can’t be


anymore.
Ѻ Spry Ѻ Talkative
Ѻ Conventional Ѻ Pretentious
Ѻ Extroverted Ѻ A Man
Ѻ Creative Ѻ A Woman
Ѻ Renowned

96
Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Satchel Of Books Ѻ Well-Kept Unobtrusive Cloak
Ѻ Dusty Blazer Ѻ Journal Full Of Notes
Ѻ Oversized Glasses Ѻ Comfortable Hat
Ѻ Conservative Dress Ѻ Dangling Earrings
Ѻ Time-Worn Cane Ѻ Tie With A Splash Of Color
Ѻ Service Ant Ѻ A Performatively Bright Smile

Wherever you go, there are children who need education. Choose 3
subjects you teach and 1 you wish you could teach.
Ѻ Realistic still-life paintings, taught through observation.
Ѻ Abstract impressionist paintings, taught through joy and expressiveness.
Ѻ Writing epic sagas, taught through studying the classic texts.
Ѻ Writing emotional lyrics, taught through poetic expression.
Ѻ The formal language of the noble courts, taught through memorization of tables.
Ѻ A traditional, endangered language, taught through conversation.
Ѻ Broader perspectives on history, taught from controversial books.
Ѻ Entomology, taught through listening to nature.
Ѻ Astrology, taught through late night wandering.
Ѻ Herbology, taught through attentive guidance.
Ѻ Songs and various instruments, taught through practice, practice, practice!
Ѻ Philosophy, taught through Socratic seminars.
Ѻ Household magic, taught through fun and play.
Ѻ Radical and rebellious politics, taught secretly.

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Choose 1 you carry with you and 1 you’re terrified of misplacing.
Tell the table about them.
Ѻ A well-creased letter from your love back home.
Ѻ A bunch of drawings from the many students you’ve taught.
Ѻ An expensive pen, gifted by an ambitious former student, now an academic.
Ѻ A massive warm scarf, given by a wise colleague you miss terribly.
Ѻ A diploma from the university you left.
Ѻ Snacks for your small and inquisitive buggy friend, who helps out with lessons.
Ѻ A promise made to a daemon with a catfish head that you try to not think about.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ What did I teach you when you were younger?
Ѭ What have you shown me about the world?
Ѭ How do you reassure me when I’m at my wit’s end?
Ѭ What do you know that I can’t hope to understand?

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Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Sit down, surrounded by others.
Ѭ Fumble for your supplies.
Ѭ Clear your throat and get everyone’s attention.
Ѭ Tell the table about something related to a subject you teach.
Ѭ Ask: “Can you show me?”
Ѭ Ask: “What can we learn from this?” They get a token if they reflect on what’s around
them.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Learn a new teaching subject from your list.
Ѻ Learn another new teaching subject from your list.
Ѻ Invent a new teaching subject, learn it, and add it to your list.
Ѻ Become something you previously said you were not.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you listen when you want to talk.
Ѻ Spend a token to take a step back and have your students handle something.
Ѻ You can always remember someone’s name.
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ A community has invited you to stay with them permanently, and you accept. Pick up
a new playbook and make a new character.

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V
The
agabond
The world’s taken everything
from you, beat down on your
shoulders, and given you an aching
heart. Some people think you’re a
criminal, or a monster. You know
what you are.
You are alive. Your care is invisible,
cautious, and unimaginably deep.

Choose a name and some pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Possum Ѻ A Misunderstood
Ѻ Rat Animal
Ѻ Rattlesnake Ѻ A Sneaky Animal
Ѻ Raven

Choose 2 you call yourself and 2 you


staunchly insist you’re not.
Ѻ Liar Ѻ Traitor
Ѻ Cheat Ѻ Hero
Ѻ Thief Ѻ Lady
Ѻ Monster Ѻ Gentleman
Ѻ Flirt

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Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Black Cloak Ѻ Stylish And Wide-Brimmed Hat
Ѻ Terrifying Mask Ѻ Fingerless Gloves
Ѻ Gauze-Wrapped Splint Ѻ Hood That Covers Your Eyes
Ѻ Ostentatious Belt Ѻ Pack Of Smokes
Ѻ Scarf Big Enough To Hide In Ѻ Wanted Posters Of Your Own Face
Ѻ Deck Of Playing Cards Ѻ A Quick Word And A Sharp Jab

Choose 2 crimes you’ve been falsely accused of and 2 you’re actually


guilty of.
Ѻ Poaching Ѻ Betraying Traditions
Ѻ Trespassing Ѻ Betraying Your Kingdom
Ѻ Carousing Ѻ Betraying The Cause
Ѻ Grand Larceny Ѻ Betraying Your Family
Ѻ Criminal Mischief Ѻ Betraying Your Partner In Crime
Ѻ Cheating At Cards Ѻ High Treason
Ѻ Libel And Slander Ѻ Killing Your Commanding Officer
Ѻ Lying Under Oath Ѻ Killing A Prison Warden
Ѻ Wrecking Marriages Ѻ Killing Your King
Ѻ Draft-Dodging Ѻ Killing A God
Ѻ Stealing Supplies Ѻ Slaying A Dragon
Ѻ Stealing Livestock Ѻ Falling In Love With The Wrong
Ѻ Stealing Hearts Person At The Wrong Time

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Choose 1 you carry with you and 1 that’s been stolen from you. Tell
the table about them.
Ѻ A beautiful necklace you acquired from an ambitious noble.
Ѻ A book of magic spells you picked up from a •witchy crone that you can’t read.
Ѻ Your shadow, which moves of its own volition.
Ѻ A different name that your partner in crime gave you.
Ѻ A tattered blanket, the last thing you have as memory of your parents.
Ѻ A pink orchid, the symbol of your time with the rebellion.
Ѻ A secret you’re not supposed to have about the King of the Floating Mountain.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ What do I still have to do to earn your trust?
Ѭ How did we get off on the wrong foot?
Ѭ Why do I call you my only friend?
Ѭ How have you helped me, when no one else would?

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Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Be somewhere you’re not supposed to be.
Ѭ Have something you’re not supposed to have.
Ѭ Mutter something you’re not supposed to say.
Ѭ Lie.
Ѭ Say: “I have a bad feeling about this.”
Ѭ Ask: “Do you trust me?” They get a token if they say yes.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Become something everyone thought you weren’t.
Ѻ Become something else everyone thought you weren’t.
Ѻ Reject something everyone else called you.
Ѻ Reject something everyone else called you.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you contend with something or someone from your past.
Ѻ Spend a token to prove you’re not lying about something.
Ѻ You can always tell the truth.
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ You find a place that doesn’t care about your past, and you retire there to live a
peaceful life. Pick up a new playbook and make a new character.

103
V
The
eteran
You wield the blade that
must never be drawn again.
You are alive. Your care is intense,
sober, and mindful.

Choose a name and some


pronouns.

Choose an animal.
Ѻ Badger Ѻ A Dangerous
Ѻ Hellbender Animal
Ѻ Raven Ѻ A Headstrong
Ѻ Mouse Animal

Choose 2 you sometimes are


and 2 you refuse to be.
Ѻ Cold Ѻ Terrified
Ѻ Curt Ѻ Heartless
Ѻ Bitter Ѻ Furious
Ѻ Exhausted Ѻ Beautiful
Ѻ Morbid

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Choose 3-4 to describe your look.
Ѻ Billowing Cloak Ѻ Pack Of Smokes
Ѻ Hidden Armor Ѻ Broken Tooth
Ѻ Many Scars Ѻ Wide-Brimmed Hat
Ѻ Prosthetic Limb Ѻ Blood Soaked Handkerchief
Ѻ Lyre Missing A String Ѻ Walking Stick
Ѻ Torn Standard Ѻ A Nervous Tic

You have a sword, sheathed at your hip. You can unsheathe it


whenever you want. You must never unsheathe it. Choose 2 to
describe your sword.
Ѻ Sharper than anything else in the world.
Ѻ Engraved with a sacred name.
Ѻ Gifted by a proud parent.
Ѻ Looks unremarkable, unless you know what to look for.
Ѻ Blessed by a powerful god.
Ѻ Forged from the heart of the world.
Ѻ Passed down among generations of monarchs.
Ѻ Stolen from a massive hoard.
Ѻ Once proof of your undying love for another.
Ѻ ‡Starving.

105
Choose 1 lesson you’ve learned and 2 you’ve since forgotten. Tell
the table about them.
Ѻ An ‡empty soldier taught you that there’s no better feeling than your sword cutting
skin, and this is why you must never unsheathe your blade.
Ѻ A ‡grieving mentor taught you that you will never choose where your sword lands,
for from the moment you draw it it controls you, and this is why you must never
unsheathe your blade.
Ѻ A ‡royal monarch taught you violence is just a way to maintain control, and this is why
you must never unsheathe your blade.
Ѻ A sobbing and ‡hurt young child taught you that a single slice kills not only the
enemy, but everyone who loved the enemy as well, and this is why you must never
unsheathe your blade.
Ѻ A friendly old innkeep taught you that a well-made bed can save more lives than an
army of warriors, and this is why you must never unsheathe your blade.
Ѻ Your once-lover recoiled from you when they saw the blood on your hands, and this is
why you must never unsheathe your blade.
Ѻ You saw, in the eyes of someone you thought was ‡heroic, the fate that awaits everyone
who only knows violence, and this is why you must never unsheathe your blade.

Ask 1 to the left and 1 to the right.


Ѭ How do you help me stay in control?
Ѭ When did you realize that I’m a good person?
Ѭ What do I still need to learn from you?
Ѭ What craft have you been teaching me?

106
Some things you can always do:
Ѭ Repeat a calming phrase.
Ѭ Spend time practicing a craft you’re not very good at.
Ѭ Drum against the pommel of your blade.
Ѭ Leap to your feet.
Ѭ Say: “I don’t do that anymore.”
Ѭ Ask: “What are you hiding?”
Ѭ Unsheathe your blade and immediately kill the person in front of you. Then, remove
your character from the game. You cannot play them any longer.

During each seasonal holiday, choose 1 you haven’t chosen before:


Ѻ Remember a lesson you had forgotten, and reach out to the person who taught it.
Ѻ Remember another lesson you had forgotten, and reach out to the person who taught
it.
Ѻ Realize you’ve stopped being something you used to sometimes be.
Ѻ Realize it’s okay to sometimes be something you were scared of being.
Ѻ Get a token whenever you accept that you don’t have power in this situation.
Ѻ Spend a token to teach someone a craft you’ve learned.
Ѻ You can always reflect on and reveal what you’re feeling.
Ѻ Take an unused playbook and add as much as you want from that playbook to yours.
Ѻ Throw away your sword and settle down somewhere where you can live a peaceful life.
Pick up a new playbook and make a new character.

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