From e87a90072aa203951848b89284493e986b416f34 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: dozens Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2022 10:36:06 -0600 Subject: [PATCH] episode 5 --- db/npc.rec | 15 +- db/threads.rec | 7 + justfile | 8 + src/00004-pinky.md | 2 +- src/00005-ringer.md | 145 +++++++++ src/about.md | 18 +- src/index.md | 3 +- src/journal.draft | 9 +- src/journal.md | 24 +- www/00004-pinky.html | 2 +- www/00005-ringer.html | 357 ++++++++++++++++++++++ www/about.html | 11 +- www/episodes.xml | 684 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------- www/index.html | 36 ++- www/journal.html | 116 +++++-- www/journal.xml | 46 ++- 16 files changed, 1304 insertions(+), 179 deletions(-) create mode 100644 src/00005-ringer.md create mode 100644 www/00005-ringer.html diff --git a/db/npc.rec b/db/npc.rec index 49f2b4f..eb862c4 100644 --- a/db/npc.rec +++ b/db/npc.rec @@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ note: roughed up by the westerners note: now ~~being roughed up by~~ living with the heroes? id: 2 -name: Blackguard +name: Dedric Blackguard desc: merchant status: missing contact: 1 note: he's kind of the macguffin. the Hand wants him to appear before them. -note: illegally smuggling stuff (drugs? weapons? people?) in from Givzien. Sahtor found out and wants the count to fund the trade to strain relations with Onq. +note: illegally smuggling stuff (drugs? weapons? people?) in from Givziean. Sahtor found out and wants the count to fund the trade to strain relations with Onq. id: 3 name: Count Dindrati @@ -40,10 +40,15 @@ note: Is looking to judge and punish Blackguard for hoarding wealth because Dind id: 6 name: Onq desc: Goblin empire in the west -note: Longtime peace with Givziean +note: Longtime but shaky peace with Givziean id: 7 name: Givziean -deck: Goblin empire in the west -note: Longtime peace with Onq +desc: Goblin empire in the west +note: Longtime but shaky peace with Onq note: Recently entered into a secret trade agreement with Sahtorlarath (via the count, via Blackguard) to strain relations with Onq and provoke them.. + +id: 8 +name: Enid Barlow +desc: Captain of the Diamond Howler +note: funded by Blackguard. doing runs between Kriteach and Givziean diff --git a/db/threads.rec b/db/threads.rec index f87a837..5b34d0e 100644 --- a/db/threads.rec +++ b/db/threads.rec @@ -8,3 +8,10 @@ id: 1 name: Blackguard is Missing note: The Westerners are after him too + +id: 2 +name: Investigate the Hand +note: Does the Hand have Blackguard? + +id: 3 +name: Why does Sahtor want war between the Onq and the Givziean? diff --git a/justfile b/justfile index 256a5a8..cb33b7d 100644 --- a/justfile +++ b/justfile @@ -45,3 +45,11 @@ journalrss: # build all rss rss: episoderss journalrss + +# one random NPC +npc: + @recsel -P name,note -m 1 db/npc.rec + +# one random plot thread +thread: + @recsel -P name,note -m 1 db/threads.rec diff --git a/src/00004-pinky.md b/src/00004-pinky.md index 4411a88..59062a5 100644 --- a/src/00004-pinky.md +++ b/src/00004-pinky.md @@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ Iofi finally steps into the room. The grimorie has been placed back into her sat "We'll be back in three days," Maddox warns. -Iofi crosses the room again and lays one hand on the door to Walker's study. "[This door is now one of mine]{.smallcaps}," she says. She opens it and on the other side is the safe house. Meadowgloom, setting out tea set, looks up in surprise and lets out a squeak. +Iofi crosses the room again and lays one hand on the door to Walker's study. "[This door is now one of mine]{.smallcaps}," she says. She opens it and on the other side is the safe house. Meadowgloom, setting out a tea set, looks up in surprise and lets out a squeak. Maddox smiles. They follow Iofi through the door and close it behind them, leaving Walker alone once again in the study. diff --git a/src/00005-ringer.md b/src/00005-ringer.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81cc51d --- /dev/null +++ b/src/00005-ringer.md @@ -0,0 +1,145 @@ +--- +title: 00005. Dead Ringer +subtitle: +created: 2022-09-05 +updated: 2022-09-10 +--- +The Index sits alone at the round, stone table. They skim over the lines of a large book with the aide of with a small wand, a pointer tapering into the shape of a small closed hand with an extended finger. + +They are dressed for the meeting in voluminous, jet-black robes lined with fur. And a black velvet mask with gold trim. The face depicted on the mask has large, owl-like eyes, and no mouth: they see all, and keep all the Hand's secrets. + +They look up as the door opens and the other four file into the small room beneath the wine cellar. All wear the same robes, and each wears a unique mask. + +The masks are mostly for ceremonial purposes at this point. The true identities of the Hand are a fairly well-known secret within the inner circle. + +Except for the Dead Ringer, of course. The current spymaster, nor their predecessor, have ever been unmasked. + +The sit in order around the stone table. The Thumb to his right, the Tall Man to his left, then the Dead Ringer and the Pinky. + +The Index marks their place in the book, closes it and sets it aside. They then produce another book from a bag under the table and opens it up. + +"We can begin," they intone after finding their place. + +Pinky has been compromised again," rumbles Tall Man. His mask depicts a face twisted by anger, or in anguish. He is an imposing figure. Many enemies have assumed that his large physique must mean a lack of smarts. They were wrong. + +Pinky's mask has hooded eyes and a smile, a face of indulgence and merriment. "It's to be expected," she retorts. "I'm the most public member of this organization. My businesses operate in the open." + +"When they come back," interrupts the Thumb. "They can contend with the Ringer." + +The Thumb is a fat man. His mask has plain, straight lines for the eyes, mouth, and nose. A study in neutrality. + +Dead Ringer sits back in their chair, half in the shadows. Their mask is unique in that it has no facial features. It is blank, with gold trim only around the neckline, uncomfortably like a noose. They don't speak in meetings. + +They nod to the Thumb. + +It is settled. + +"We'll up your protection in the meantime," the Thumb says, turning to Tall Man, who grunts and agrees to allocate some muscle. + +The Index makes some notes in their ledger. "Very good. I think that concludes unfinished business, yes? Very good, on to new business..." + + ~ * ~ + +Iofi makes herself busy building little shrines to Janice. Small altars with incense and dried flowers and tiny stone carvings of two-headed turtles. She leaves little offerings of brass hinges, keys with no locks, locks with no keys, bits of shell, small vials of colored sand, and bits of dried seaweed. She is fasting in preparation for the first of the month and the rites she will perform. + +There seems to be a perpetual secret scrum of Maddoxes in this corner or that, whispering intently amongst themselves. + +Meadowgloom has given up on trying to serve them tea after they keep emphatically passing their illusory hands through the cup. He almost spilled the entire tea set once, expecting some of the weight to shift from the tray to them. "Let them just come and get the tea if they want it," he grumbles to himself. "Assuming they can even lift the cup and saucer!" + +Soon it is time to return to Madam Walker's Supper Club. + + ~ * ~ + +Her information network is comprehensive. + +Even if one doesn't actually use her services, it is possible to construct a basic profile based on the "you" shaped hole in the information provided by her existing customers and her runners and spies. + +Nothing is really private. + +It doesn't take long to build a basic profile on Blackguard. He is an importer of goods, and an investor in trades and ventures. Which can mean good money in a busy port city like Kriteach. He doesn't frequent any of the brothels. Never married. No children. Has a cousin in Coopers Kettle that he writes. Usually takes supper at the Yeoman's Club. + +Recently gone missing. House recently burned down. + +She puzzles over that last detail, not for the first time. Each of her colleagues has assured her that they played no part in the arson. This suggests there may be another player with stakes in this game. She taps a pencil pensively on her desk. + +Early last year Blackguard appeared to divest himself of most of his portfolio. It is assumed that he subsequently focused his full attenion and all of his capital in a single venture, but it remains to be known what that venture is. He went completely below ground around the same time. Stopped going out. Ceased correspondance. Refused visitors. + +Some things, after all, do remain secret. + +Madam Walker sits at the desk in her library trying in vain to concentrate on the memo in her hands. She keeps glancing up at the door and resisting the urge to get up and look out into the hall. + +As an experiment, she kept the door open. Light from the reading lamps in the library spills out into the hall on the other side. Until suddenly it doesn't. + +The hallway goes dark, as though a curtain has been drawn across the doorway. Walker stiffens. The darkness recedes and she catches a glimpse of an unfurnished room on the other side as the short thief walks in, closing the door behind themself. + +"You have the information we were promised?" they ask in a quiet voice. + +Walker nods and slides a folder across the desk to them. They glance at it but make no move to pick it up. + +"Will you read it to me?" they ask. + +Walker raises an eyebrow and smirks a little, and tells them a summary. + +"He's not one of my customers," Walker concludes. "As I told you when we first met, I don't know him. And I don't know where he is." + +"Is that true for the rest of the Hand? None of you know where he is?" + +Walker presses her lips together and smiles. "I don't know what the rest of the Hand does and doesn't know. That's not how we operate." + +Maddox grunts. "Sure, I--" but the they cut themself off abruptly with a sudden intense look, and they snap out of existence. + +Madam Walker blinks a few times in surprise at the abrupt departure. She stands up and crosses the library and opens the door to the hallway, only to see the hallway. + + ~ * ~ + +Meadowgloom is walking back from the grocer clutching a bag of bread and fruit for dinner. + +He passes under the etched wooden sign of the Bone and Feather bookstore and cafe: a rook perching on top of a skull. He turns the corner of the shop into the alley and walks up to the side entrance, the stairway that goes up to the apartment above the bookstore where he's been living with the cleric and the thief. + +He reaches into his coat pocket and fumbles around for the key. It took a while to even get him a key to the place. Not because they didn't trust him, but because neither of them uses the front door. Iofi seems to be able to connect arbitrary doors, so she can walk into the upstairs closet and arrive at her destination. Maddox either uses Iofi's doors, or else they just teleport around between their different illusory selves. + +"Meadowgloom?" a voice from behind him asks. + +Meadowgloom startles, and fumbles and drops the key just as he pulls it out of his pocket. + +Standing behind him, between him and the entrance to the alley, is a backlit figure wearing a coat and scarf and a flat crown hat with a brim. The figure is backlit, its face hidden in shadow. + +"Yes? Who's there?" Meadowgloom answers, and stoops down to fetch the key. + +The figure steps forward out of the shadow revealing a lined, determined face wearing glasses and a mustache and goatee. + +Still crouched down, Meadowgloom stops with his hand hovering over the key. He says in surprise, "Mister Blackguard?" + +Blackguard's seems about to break into a smile, but instead raises his hand in alarm and shouts, "Meadowgloom!" + +For when Meadowgloom bent down to retrieve the dropped key, Blackguard was able to see a shadowy figure clad all in black with a black mask over their face step out of the gloom. It lifts an arm up over its head, a long bladed dagger gripped in its hand. + +When it hears Blackguard's name spoken out loud, it pauses for a fraction of a second, blade suspended in air, and tilts its head slightly. And then it plunges the blade into Meadowgloom's back. + + ~ * ~ + +Upstairs in the apartment Iofi and Maddox hear a man scream in anguish outside in the alley. They look at each other and leap up and rush toward the stairs. Two other Maddoxes appear at their side as they go, running alongside them. + +Iofi quickly unlocks the door and throws it open and a bunch of Maddoxes flow through the opening out into the alley. + +They find a man sitting hunched over on the ground cradling Meadowgloom in his arms, rocking back and forth, both of them in a pool of blood. + +Two Maddoxes dash away toward either end of the alley as the third steps forward, daggers in hand, surveying the immediate area. There is no assailant to be found. + +Iofi stoops down and touches Meadowgloom. His face is frozen in one of curious surprise. He doesn't respond or react. He doesn't breathe. There is no pulse. + +The man is crying. He looks up at Iofi and takes a couple breaths to compose himself. + +Iofi squeezes her eyes shut and, hands on Meadowglooms chest, whispers forcefully, "[The tide goes in, the tide goes out. All things come to an end, but not for you. Not here, not now. Your story isn't over yet. Come back to us.]{.smallcaps}" + +She opens her eyes and peers expectantly at Meadowgloom's face. Her countenance falls in defeat when nothing happens. But then his eyes go wide and he takes a violent gasp of air. + +She sighs with relief. "Get him upstairs," she commands the strange man. "He's still gravely injured. We must tend to him if he is to live." + +The man nods and together the two of them lift Meadowgloom up to his feet. + +"Who are you?" Iofi asks. + +"My name is Dedric Blackguard. I heard you were looking for me. I need your help. I'm in danger and there's nobody I can trust." + +EOF diff --git a/src/about.md b/src/about.md index e5a5fed..c391a9b 100644 --- a/src/about.md +++ b/src/about.md @@ -10,6 +10,17 @@ toc-title: Contents This is a fantasy story about a cleric and a thief embroiled in a web of politics, intrigue, religion, and justice. +It is kind of a serialized novelization of a solo roleplaying game I'm playing using [Brighter Worlds] and the [One Page Solo Engine]. + +[Brighter Worlds]: https://awkwardturtle.itch.io/brighter-worlds +[One Page Solo Engine]: https://inflatablestudios.itch.io/one-page-solo-engine + +## Contact + +email: dozens@tilde.team +mastodon: @dozens@tiny.tilde.website +irc: dozens @ tidle.chat, libera.chat + +- - [00005. Dead Ringer](00005-ringer.html) - - [00004. Pinky](00004-pinky.html) - - [00003. The Hand](00003-hand.html) - - [00002. Meadowgloom](00002-meadowgloom.html) diff --git a/src/journal.draft b/src/journal.draft index aa4fc89..aa82f8e 100644 --- a/src/journal.draft +++ b/src/journal.draft @@ -1,5 +1,10 @@ +## - rolling in brighter worlds -## 2022-xx-xx - How To Play Cleric + Thief +"Roll to hit and damage at the same time" is classic D&D advice for speeding up combat. And it also applies well to combat in Brighter Worlds. + +Roll your damage die and the opponent's STR die to resist at the same time. Assuming you're playing both sides :) + +## - How To Play Cleric + Thief Here's how I play Cleric + Thief. @@ -7,7 +12,7 @@ It's the basic flow for any solo RPG I play. 1. Set the scene: think about what your characters are doing right now, and what their goals are. -2. Roll dice: determine a scene complication and/or alteration +2. Roll dice: determine a scene complication and/or alteration. 3. Roll dice: Ask a bunch of questions. diff --git a/src/journal.md b/src/journal.md index 8c12b21..813d8c3 100644 --- a/src/journal.md +++ b/src/journal.md @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ title: Cleric + Thief subtitle: Journal created: 2022-08-30 -updated: 2022-09-03 +updated: 2022-09-10 toc: false --- This is a journal of meta-content and behind the scenes kind of updates. @@ -10,13 +10,31 @@ This is a journal of meta-content and behind the scenes kind of updates. [subscribe to updates](journal.xml) +## - 00005 Ringer + +So the dice insisted on telling an intense story by the end of this episode. + +They compelled Blackguard to "suddenly act", Meadowgloom had to die, and the Ringer had to find the safe house. + +Quite a climax! Can't wait to see what happens next. + +It didn't even occur to me for a long time that Iofi might be able to do a resurrection, despite her being a cleric. It was a difficult roll because it was a big miracle. And she *barely* pulled it off. But yay! Meadowgloom lives! For now. + +## - 00005 Ringer + +Yes, the Hand are luchadors. + +Yes, they follow parlimentary procedure during their meetings. The Index insisted on it. + +Yes, Pinky's spies are Facebook. + ## - Cardtography In Episode 00004 - Pinky, I used playing cards to generate the layout of the Supper Club, and its encounters, on the fly. -Here is a summary of how to make a quick dungeon with playing cards as first described in the 'cardtography' series of posts on koboldpress.com +Here is a summary of how to make a quick dungeon with playing cards as first described in [the 'cardtography' series of posts on koboldpress][cardtography]. - +[cardtography]: https://koboldpress.com/howling-tower-cardtography-a-simple-dungeon/ You will need a deck of cards and a whole bunch of six sided dice. diff --git a/www/00004-pinky.html b/www/00004-pinky.html index b733d34..0ed8c4f 100644 --- a/www/00004-pinky.html +++ b/www/00004-pinky.html @@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ Cleric + Thief

Iofi finally steps into the room. The grimorie has been placed back into her satchel. She holds her glass hammer at her side.

“Then find out. Ask your girls.” Iofi says idly, looking around the room. She walks behind the desk and flips through the papers, pocketing one or two of them. Walker frowns.

“We’ll be back in three days,” Maddox warns.

-

Iofi crosses the room again and lays one hand on the door to Walker’s study. “This door is now one of mine,” she says. She opens it and on the other side is the safe house. Meadowgloom, setting out tea set, looks up in surprise and lets out a squeak.

+

Iofi crosses the room again and lays one hand on the door to Walker’s study. “This door is now one of mine,” she says. She opens it and on the other side is the safe house. Meadowgloom, setting out a tea set, looks up in surprise and lets out a squeak.

Maddox smiles. They follow Iofi through the door and close it behind them, leaving Walker alone once again in the study.

Walker composes herself and crosses the room and opens the door and looks at the empty hallway on the other side, exactly where it should be.

EOF

diff --git a/www/00005-ringer.html b/www/00005-ringer.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f786fa --- /dev/null +++ b/www/00005-ringer.html @@ -0,0 +1,357 @@ + + + + + + + 00005. Dead Ringer + + + + + + +Cleric + Thief +| Episodes +| About +| Journal +
+

00005. Dead Ringer

+
+

The Index sits alone at the round, stone table. They skim over the +lines of a large book with the aide of with a small wand, a pointer +tapering into the shape of a small closed hand with an extended +finger.

+

They are dressed for the meeting in voluminous, jet-black robes lined +with fur. And a black velvet mask with gold trim. The face depicted on +the mask has large, owl-like eyes, and no mouth: they see all, and keep +all the Hand’s secrets.

+

They look up as the door opens and the other four file into the small +room beneath the wine cellar. All wear the same robes, and each wears a +unique mask.

+

The masks are mostly for ceremonial purposes at this point. The true +identities of the Hand are a fairly well-known secret within the inner +circle.

+

Except for the Dead Ringer, of course. The current spymaster, nor +their predecessor, have ever been unmasked.

+

The sit in order around the stone table. The Thumb to his right, the +Tall Man to his left, then the Dead Ringer and the Pinky.

+

The Index marks their place in the book, closes it and sets it aside. +They then produce another book from a bag under the table and opens it +up.

+

“We can begin,” they intone after finding their place.

+

Pinky has been compromised again,” rumbles Tall Man. His mask depicts +a face twisted by anger, or in anguish. He is an imposing figure. Many +enemies have assumed that his large physique must mean a lack of smarts. +They were wrong.

+

Pinky’s mask has hooded eyes and a smile, a face of indulgence and +merriment. “It’s to be expected,” she retorts. “I’m the most public +member of this organization. My businesses operate in the open.”

+

“When they come back,” interrupts the Thumb. “They can contend with +the Ringer.”

+

The Thumb is a fat man. His mask has plain, straight lines for the +eyes, mouth, and nose. A study in neutrality.

+

Dead Ringer sits back in their chair, half in the shadows. Their mask +is unique in that it has no facial features. It is blank, with gold trim +only around the neckline, uncomfortably like a noose. They don’t speak +in meetings.

+

They nod to the Thumb.

+

It is settled.

+

“We’ll up your protection in the meantime,” the Thumb says, turning +to Tall Man, who grunts and agrees to allocate some muscle.

+

The Index makes some notes in their ledger. “Very good. I think that +concludes unfinished business, yes? Very good, on to new business…”

+
                                 ~ * ~
+

Iofi makes herself busy building little shrines to Janice. Small +altars with incense and dried flowers and tiny stone carvings of +two-headed turtles. She leaves little offerings of brass hinges, keys +with no locks, locks with no keys, bits of shell, small vials of colored +sand, and bits of dried seaweed. She is fasting in preparation for the +first of the month and the rites she will perform.

+

There seems to be a perpetual secret scrum of Maddoxes in this corner +or that, whispering intently amongst themselves.

+

Meadowgloom has given up on trying to serve them tea after they keep +emphatically passing their illusory hands through the cup. He almost +spilled the entire tea set once, expecting some of the weight to shift +from the tray to them. “Let them just come and get the tea if they want +it,” he grumbles to himself. “Assuming they can even lift the cup and +saucer!”

+

Soon it is time to return to Madam Walker’s Supper Club.

+
                                 ~ * ~
+

Her information network is comprehensive.

+

Even if one doesn’t actually use her services, it is possible to +construct a basic profile based on the “you” shaped hole in the +information provided by her existing customers and her runners and +spies.

+

Nothing is really private.

+

It doesn’t take long to build a basic profile on Blackguard. He is an +importer of goods, and an investor in trades and ventures. Which can +mean good money in a busy port city like Kriteach. He doesn’t frequent +any of the brothels. Never married. No children. Has a cousin in Coopers +Kettle that he writes. Usually takes supper at the Yeoman’s Club.

+

Recently gone missing. House recently burned down.

+

She puzzles over that last detail, not for the first time. Each of +her colleagues has assured her that they played no part in the arson. +This suggests there may be another player with stakes in this game. She +taps a pencil pensively on her desk.

+

Early last year Blackguard appeared to divest himself of most of his +portfolio. It is assumed that he subsequently focused his full attenion +and all of his capital in a single venture, but it remains to be known +what that venture is. He went completely below ground around the same +time. Stopped going out. Ceased correspondance. Refused visitors.

+

Some things, after all, do remain secret.

+

Madam Walker sits at the desk in her library trying in vain to +concentrate on the memo in her hands. She keeps glancing up at the door +and resisting the urge to get up and look out into the hall.

+

As an experiment, she kept the door open. Light from the reading +lamps in the library spills out into the hall on the other side. Until +suddenly it doesn’t.

+

The hallway goes dark, as though a curtain has been drawn across the +doorway. Walker stiffens. The darkness recedes and she catches a glimpse +of an unfurnished room on the other side as the short thief walks in, +closing the door behind themself.

+

“You have the information we were promised?” they ask in a quiet +voice.

+

Walker nods and slides a folder across the desk to them. They glance +at it but make no move to pick it up.

+

“Will you read it to me?” they ask.

+

Walker raises an eyebrow and smirks a little, and tells them a +summary.

+

“He’s not one of my customers,” Walker concludes. “As I told you when +we first met, I don’t know him. And I don’t know where he is.”

+

“Is that true for the rest of the Hand? None of you know where he +is?”

+

Walker presses her lips together and smiles. “I don’t know what the +rest of the Hand does and doesn’t know. That’s not how we operate.”

+

Maddox grunts. “Sure, I–” but the they cut themself off abruptly with +a sudden intense look, and they snap out of existence.

+

Madam Walker blinks a few times in surprise at the abrupt departure. +She stands up and crosses the library and opens the door to the hallway, +only to see the hallway.

+
                                 ~ * ~
+

Meadowgloom is walking back from the grocer clutching a bag of bread +and fruit for dinner.

+

He passes under the etched wooden sign of the Bone and Feather +bookstore and cafe: a rook perching on top of a skull. He turns the +corner of the shop into the alley and walks up to the side entrance, the +stairway that goes up to the apartment above the bookstore where he’s +been living with the cleric and the thief.

+

He reaches into his coat pocket and fumbles around for the key. It +took a while to even get him a key to the place. Not because they didn’t +trust him, but because neither of them uses the front door. Iofi seems +to be able to connect arbitrary doors, so she can walk into the upstairs +closet and arrive at her destination. Maddox either uses Iofi’s doors, +or else they just teleport around between their different illusory +selves.

+

“Meadowgloom?” a voice from behind him asks.

+

Meadowgloom startles, and fumbles and drops the key just as he pulls +it out of his pocket.

+

Standing behind him, between him and the entrance to the alley, is a +backlit figure wearing a coat and scarf and a flat crown hat with a +brim. The figure is backlit, its face hidden in shadow.

+

“Yes? Who’s there?” Meadowgloom answers, and stoops down to fetch the +key.

+

The figure steps forward out of the shadow revealing a lined, +determined face wearing glasses and a mustache and goatee.

+

Still crouched down, Meadowgloom stops with his hand hovering over +the key. He says in surprise, “Mister Blackguard?”

+

Blackguard’s seems about to break into a smile, but instead raises +his hand in alarm and shouts, “Meadowgloom!”

+

For when Meadowgloom bent down to retrieve the dropped key, +Blackguard was able to see a shadowy figure clad all in black with a +black mask over their face step out of the gloom. It lifts an arm up +over its head, a long bladed dagger gripped in its hand.

+

When it hears Blackguard’s name spoken out loud, it pauses for a +fraction of a second, blade suspended in air, and tilts its head +slightly. And then it plunges the blade into Meadowgloom’s back.

+
                                 ~ * ~
+

Upstairs in the apartment Iofi and Maddox hear a man scream in +anguish outside in the alley. They look at each other and leap up and +rush toward the stairs. Two other Maddoxes appear at their side as they +go, running alongside them.

+

Iofi quickly unlocks the door and throws it open and a bunch of +Maddoxes flow through the opening out into the alley.

+

They find a man sitting hunched over on the ground cradling +Meadowgloom in his arms, rocking back and forth, both of them in a pool +of blood.

+

Two Maddoxes dash away toward either end of the alley as the third +steps forward, daggers in hand, surveying the immediate area. There is +no assailant to be found.

+

Iofi stoops down and touches Meadowgloom. His face is frozen in one +of curious surprise. He doesn’t respond or react. He doesn’t breathe. +There is no pulse.

+

The man is crying. He looks up at Iofi and takes a couple breaths to +compose himself.

+

Iofi squeezes her eyes shut and, hands on Meadowglooms chest, +whispers forcefully, “The tide goes in, the tide +goes out. All things come to an end, but not for you. Not here, not now. +Your story isn’t over yet. Come back to us.”

+

She opens her eyes and peers expectantly at Meadowgloom’s face. Her +countenance falls in defeat when nothing happens. But then his eyes go +wide and he takes a violent gasp of air.

+

She sighs with relief. “Get him upstairs,” she commands the strange +man. “He’s still gravely injured. We must tend to him if he is to +live.”

+

The man nods and together the two of them lift Meadowgloom up to his +feet.

+

“Who are you?” Iofi asks.

+

“My name is Dedric Blackguard. I heard you were looking for me. I +need your help. I’m in danger and there’s nobody I can trust.”

+

EOF

+ + diff --git a/www/about.html b/www/about.html index 54b5a10..f49881e 100644 --- a/www/about.html +++ b/www/about.html @@ -164,14 +164,19 @@ Cleric + Thief

Contents

About

This is a fantasy story about a cleric and a thief embroiled in a web of politics, intrigue, religion, and justice.

+

It is kind of a serialized novelization of a solo roleplaying game I’m playing using Brighter Worlds and the One Page Solo Engine.

+

Contact

+

email: dozens@tilde.team
+mastodon: @dozens@tiny.tilde.website
+irc: dozens @ tidle.chat, libera.chat

- - Cleric + Thief @@ -163,10 +177,16 @@ Cleric + Thief

subscribe to episodes

diff --git a/www/journal.html b/www/journal.html index 9ed755f..dc04889 100644 --- a/www/journal.html +++ b/www/journal.html @@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ font-size: 0.9em; padding: 1em; } + h1 { + font-size: 1.8em; + } } @media print { body { @@ -134,22 +137,33 @@ #TOC li { list-style: none; } + #TOC ul { + padding-left: 1.3em; + } + #TOC > ul { + padding-left: 0; + } #TOC a:not(:hover) { text-decoration: none; } code{white-space: pre-wrap;} span.smallcaps{font-variant: small-caps;} - span.underline{text-decoration: underline;} - div.column{display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; width: 50%;} + div.columns{display: flex; gap: min(4vw, 1.5em);} + div.column{flex: auto; overflow-x: auto;} div.hanging-indent{margin-left: 1.5em; text-indent: -1.5em;} ul.task-list{list-style: none;} + ul.task-list li input[type="checkbox"] { + width: 0.8em; + margin: 0 0.8em 0.2em -1.6em; + vertical-align: middle; + } .display.math{display: block; text-align: center; margin: 0.5rem auto;} + + - - Cleric + Thief @@ -160,14 +174,34 @@ Cleric + Thief

Cleric + Thief

Journal

-

This is a journal of meta-content and behind the scenes kind of updates.

+

This is a journal of meta-content and behind the scenes kind of +updates.

subscribe to updates

+

- 00005 Ringer

+

So the dice insisted on telling an intense story by the end of this +episode.

+

They compelled Blackguard to “suddenly act”, Meadowgloom had to die, +and the Ringer had to find the safe house.

+

Quite a climax! Can’t wait to see what happens next.

+

It didn’t even occur to me for a long time that Iofi might be able to +do a resurrection, despite her being a cleric. It was a difficult roll +because it was a big miracle. And she barely pulled it off. But +yay! Meadowgloom lives! For now.

+

- 00005 Ringer

+

Yes, the Hand are luchadors.

+

Yes, they follow parlimentary procedure during their meetings. The +Index insisted on it.

+

Yes, Pinky’s spies are Facebook.

- Cardtography

-

In Episode 00004 - Pinky, I used playing cards to generate the layout of the Supper Club, and its encounters, on the fly.

-

Here is a summary of how to make a quick dungeon with playing cards as first described in the ‘cardtography’ series of posts on koboldpress.com

-

https://koboldpress.com/howling-tower-cardtography-a-simple-dungeon/

-

You will need a deck of cards and a whole bunch of six sided dice.

+

In Episode 00004 - Pinky, I used playing cards to generate the layout +of the Supper Club, and its encounters, on the fly.

+

Here is a summary of how to make a quick dungeon with playing cards +as first described in the +‘cardtography’ series of posts on koboldpress.

+

You will need a deck of cards and a whole bunch of six sided +dice.

  1. Lay out 25 cards face down in a staggered 5 x 5 grid:

        A B C D E
@@ -181,7 +215,8 @@ Cleric + Thief
 08. o   o   o
 09.   o   o
 10. o   o   o
    2. -

  2. Flip the bottom, middle card face up and place a dice at the bottom edge. This is the dungeon entrance.

    3. +

  3. Flip the bottom, middle card face up and place a dice at the +bottom edge. This is the dungeon entrance.

  4. Imagine the card as a clock that goes up to six:

    • 1 = Northeast
      • @@ -191,38 +226,67 @@ Cleric + Thief
    • 5 = Northwest
    • 6 - North
    5. -

  5. Roll 3d6 (2d6 for the first card) and place them at the appropriate corners.

    6. +

  6. Roll 3d6 (2d6 for the first card) and place them at the +appropriate corners.

  7. Doubles are long hallways, or locked doors, or traps.

  8. Explore, turning cards and rolling dice.

INTERPRETING CARDS

    -

  1. Black cards are empty rooms or puzzles. Come up with something atmospheric or interesting.

    2. -

  2. Red cards are adversarial. Low numbers are easy / simple encounters. High cards are dangerous.

    3. +

  3. Black cards are empty rooms or puzzles. Come up with something +atmospheric or interesting.

    4. +

  4. Red cards are adversarial. Low numbers are easy / simple +encounters. High cards are dangerous.

  5. Face cards are special.

    6. -

  6. When a card is the same suit and value as another face up card, that is the boss, or an exit to another level of the dungeon.

    7. +

  7. When a card is the same suit and value as another face up card, +that is the boss, or an exit to another level of the dungeon.

-

- Non-Player Characters

+

- Non-Player +Characters

NPCs are kind of a weird concept in the context of solo games.

-

Every character is a player character when you’re the only player.

+

Every character is a player character when you’re the only +player.

- Feed Esoterica

Okay some of you will get a kick out of this.

-

I decided I needed to roll my own feeds, and so I used ED to programatically edit my source files into recfiles, used an m4 include in one instance, and then used recfmt templates to create the rss items.

+

I decided I needed to roll my own feeds, and so I used ED to +programatically edit my source files into recfiles, used an m4 include +in one instance, and then used recfmt templates to create the rss +items.

That is right. Ed, m4, and recutils.

- Blow Me Down

-

It is definitely not true that I based the looks of Iofi and Maddox on Shelley Duvall and Robin Williams from the 1980 American musical comedy smash hit Popeye.

-

- episodes rss feed

-

Made an update that will hopefully fix the links in the Episodes feed.

-

If not, I might need to start handrolling a feed instead of relying on blog.miso.town.

-

In fact, I just noticed that the journal feed is kind of borked too.

+

It is definitely not true that I based the looks of Iofi and +Maddox on Shelley Duvall and Robin Williams from the 1980 American +musical comedy smash hit Popeye.

+

- episodes rss +feed

+

Made an update that will hopefully fix the links in the Episodes +feed.

+

If not, I might need to start handrolling a feed instead of relying +on blog.miso.town.

+

In fact, I just noticed that the journal feed is kind of borked +too.

Yeah I may just need to create my own feeds..

- 00002. Meadowgloom

Hey gamers it’s ya boy dozens!

-

This update focuses briefly on Meadowgloom. Which is a name I snatched up from a fantasy name generator. It also generated the astounding name “Eccentric Kevin”. Who is a character I have every intention of introducing at some point as a perfectly normal, sane, and reasonable straight man.

-

- 00001. Cleric + Thief

+

This update focuses briefly on Meadowgloom. Which is a name I +snatched up from a fantasy name generator. It also generated the +astounding name “Eccentric Kevin”. Who is a character I have every +intention of introducing at some point as a perfectly normal, sane, and +reasonable straight man.

+

- 00001. Cleric + +Thief

Hey I started a new thing!

This is the narrative version of a solo roleplaying game.

-

It is based on the mechanics and the callings of Brighter Worlds by awkwardturtle. It is a lovely game and I wanted to play it. I came up with the setting and the starting scenario using GRAPES and WTAF?! tarot spreads as described by Sean F. Smith. And then I used the One Page Solo Engine to answer questions during play.

-

My thief almost friggin died in the very first scenario. Yikes! Combat is lethal.

+

It is based on the mechanics and the callings of Brighter Worlds by +awkwardturtle. It is a lovely game and I wanted to play it. I came +up with the setting and the starting scenario using GRAPES +and WTAF?! tarot spreads as described by Sean F. Smith. And then I +used the One Page +Solo Engine to answer questions during play.

+

My thief almost friggin died in the very first scenario. Yikes! +Combat is lethal.

diff --git a/www/journal.xml b/www/journal.xml index bcdad19..3eb640c 100644 --- a/www/journal.xml +++ b/www/journal.xml @@ -1,5 +1,47 @@ cleric + thief http://tilde.town/~dozens/clericthief/index.htmlbehind the scenes of cleric + thief + + 00005 Ringer + http://tilde.town/~dozens/clericthief/journal.html + 2022-09-10 00005 Ringer + Sat Sep 10 00:00:00 MDT 2022 + + + + +So the dice insisted on telling an intense story by the end of this episode. + +They compelled Blackguard to "suddenly act", Meadowgloom had to die, and the Ringer had to find the safe house. + +Quite a climax! Can't wait to see what happens next. + +It didn't even occur to me for a long time that Iofi might be able to do a resurrection, despite her being a cleric. It was a difficult roll because it was a big miracle. And she *barely* pulled it off. But yay! Meadowgloom lives! For now. + + + ]]> + + + + 00005 Ringer + http://tilde.town/~dozens/clericthief/journal.html + 2022-09-05 00005 Ringer + Mon Sep 5 00:00:00 MDT 2022 + + + + +Yes, the Hand are luchadors. + +Yes, they follow parlimentary procedure during their meetings. The Index insisted on it. + +Yes, Pinky's spies are Facebook. + + + ]]> + + Cardtography http://tilde.town/~dozens/clericthief/journal.html @@ -12,9 +54,9 @@ In Episode 00004 - Pinky, I used playing cards to generate the layout of the Supper Club, and its encounters, on the fly. -Here is a summary of how to make a quick dungeon with playing cards as first described in the 'cardtography' series of posts on koboldpress.com +Here is a summary of how to make a quick dungeon with playing cards as first described in [the 'cardtography' series of posts on koboldpress][cardtography]. - +[cardtography]: https://koboldpress.com/howling-tower-cardtography-a-simple-dungeon/ You will need a deck of cards and a whole bunch of six sided dice.