solottrpgchronicles

[solottrpgchronicles]

6b. Resolve - Dead Letter Society (Emile)

Algonquin Park, June 1, 2024

I still can’t stop thinking about that letter the DLS sent me.

If they really kidnapped my parents… But no, they’re probably trying to rile me up; I’m sure they would be happy to know they succeeded.

I was tired of waiting for Ava’s reply, unable to decide what to do, furious and frustrated. A few nights ago I finally snapped and went a bit overboard with alcohol; I *might* have trashed my hotel room and the lounge area as a result.

Ugh, why can’t I stop being like this? How can I save anyone when I keep behaving like a dangerous, immortal kid with no self-control?

This is the type of reaction my creator Celine was so good at getting out of me, and I’m starting to think this whole business with the DLS smells exactly like her foul doing. She’s involved for sure; she even showed her damn face before my performance, before all hell broke loose, as if she knew what was about to happen.

Either way, it’s no good to ruminate without any hard proof. Since I was thrown out of the hotel, I might as well go meet Ava in Vancouver – it’s the most important thing I can do, right now.

I have a feeling that, if we manage to solve the mystery of the mutated humans, we’ll also solve the mystery of whatever is going on with the DLS. Maybe this letter was just a way to throw me off balance and make sure I wouldn’t go meet Ava, which probably means she’s on the right track with her sleuthing.

I still don’t understand why the DLS would let us exchange contacts, though; unless they thought I would be useless or even slow her down – ouch.

Or, what if there are disagreements within the DLS? That would explain a good bunch of weirdness we’ve seen from them.

Either way, we’ll bring them down, whatever it is they’re up to.

--------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called "Dead Letter Society", by Rori Montford.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://montfordtales.itch.io/dead-letter-society

[solottrpgchronicles]

2d. The Gathering - Outliers

Name: Ren

Day: 2

Funds: $ 94

I was supposed to recruit research participants at an event called "The Gathering".

I found the address on the official website, which featured a minimalistic white background with the tagline "Wander, Gather, Reunite". Maybe it was some kind of networking event for intellectuals, who knows.

Following the directions in the maps app, I found myself at a huge warehouse-looking building in the middle of a vast field, outside of town. Could that actually be the right venue? I walked up to the entrance; the doors were open, and inside there was a single big room, with a booth in the middle and no other furniture. No windows or bathrooms inside, either.

The "Ar Leith Labs" sign above the booth reassured me I was indeed in the right place, and as soon as I walked up to it, I saw a few people were already starting to trickle in. Excellent.

I didn't want to be too eager, so I just stood there with a smile on my face, wondering when it would be the right time to recruit volunteers for the study. I probably looked really nervous, and I was! I still didn't have a clear understanding of what the research was about; what if people asked me questions I couldn't answer?

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a slow, glitchy music echoing through the room; once again, no speakers in sight, just like at Ar Leith Labs. I watched in puzzlement as everyone started bobbing their heads in unison, a blank expression on their faces.

Staring at them intently, I was shocked to notice they all had the same facial features. I hadn't clocked that before, because they were all wearing different clothes and accessories, like glasses or hats, and had different hair colors and styles. But indeed, I was basically in a big room full of twins or clones, which felt impossible to believe.

I remembered then that I was supposed to make them sign up for the research study, but I was at a loss for words; I only managed to produce a coughing sound and a trembling "uhm", but that was apparently enough for them. They all turned around to look at me at the same time, and lined up in an orderly fashion to sign up.

They didn't say a word. I tried a few timid "hello" and "how are you", but they ignored me. Each of them signed up and then went right back to their mindless head bobbing.

The last one in line was different, though.

After signing up, they shook my hand, regarding me with a disturbing half smile. Immediately after, I saw their skin starting to bubble up, as they turned to join the others.

I'd had enough at that point. I left the booth hurriedly, ran to my car, and drove back to Ar Leith Labs.

---

Imagine my surprise when, upon entering the lab, C.N.'s disembodied voice informed me there was already a volunteer waiting for me in the testing room.

I was still shaken from what I had seen earlier, but at that point I had convinced myself I must have imagined things, I must have misunderstood the situation. Surely that was just an eccentric group of people; perhaps they looked similar because they were all related. That could happen, right?

Not wanting to be a bad employee on my second day, I swallowed all the questions and complaints I had, and obediently entered the testing room. Inside, there was a desk with a microphone and several devices on it; one of them looked like an oscilloscope, weirdly enough. A one-way glass window was positioned above the desk, looking into the other side of the room.

While I was looking through the glass, someone walked in. Someone who looked exactly like me.

I couldn't believe it.

They signed a paper - I'm pretty sure they used my name - and then calmly sat down on a chair. I swear they were staring directly at me, through the glass, empty eyes and a half smile, as if they could see me.

I felt myself mumble "impossible" a few times.

The devices started humming loudly; my heart was pounding in my chest - what in the world was happening?

I couldn't take any more of that. I let out a scream and, for the second time that day, ran outside - out of the room, out of the lab, and back to my car; I didn't even say goodbye to Leanne and Perry, but I doubt they cared.

---

I don't know what to think. Was I hallucinating? What was that event, "The Gathering"? And that person at the lab who looked just like me...

No, I can't give in to fear. Sure, I've seen some strange stuff today, but there must be a logical, rational explanation to all this.

I'm probably just tired... that's it, I'll take a nap! I'm sure that when I wake up, everything will make a lot more sense.

--------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called "Outliers", by Sam Leigh, @goblinmixtape.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://far-horizons-co-op.itch.io/outliers

[solottrpgchronicles]

1d. First Day at the Lab - Outliers

Name: Ren

Day: 1

Funds: $ 100

Today is my first day working at Ar Leith Labs - I can't believe I finally landed a job!

To be honest, I didn't look too deeply into what they do at Ar Leith Labs - I basically sent my curriculum to every neuroscience research lab that was hiring. Now that I'm here, I can't even find a pamphlet explaining the research in detail.

Ok, I'll be professional and go introduce myself to my coworkers now; either them or the PI can tell me more about the job.

---

There are only two other research assistants in my group: Leanne and Perry; neither of them seems to be the chatty type, at least not with me. I was looking forward to meeting my PI, but Leanne told me that she has never shown her face around here.

Right then we heard the PI speak; it felt as if she was standing right next to us. This lab must have a pretty technologically advanced speaker system!

The PI's voice welcomed me and introduced herself as C.N, just her initials; she invited me to get acquainted with the lab environment, and help my coworkers out with anything they might need.

I found it a little odd that she's not meeting us in person, but maybe there's an excellent reason for it. I don't want to pry, especially not on my first day.

Nobody was available to give me a tour - lots of work to do, which is fair - so I walked around the lab by myself, studying the equipment. I didn't recognize any of the machines, except for the obvious desktop computer in the corner. That one even looks a little old, in contrast with the rest of the devices.

Leanne noticed me looking at the computer and asked if I know how to code; heck yeah I do, I took a few classes and I'm pretty ok at it! So she asked me to write a bit of code to generate graph data for her latest research data. It's strange that they don't have software for that already, but I decided to avoid asking any questions.

I took this opportunity to look over the data, hoping it would clarify what kind of research we're supposed to do here, but I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Oh, well.

I couldn't recognize the OS the computer is running either, but it seemed loosely based on Unix. I was making good progress until I started testing my code; I got the error "Unable to find or open '/Brain/TemporalLobe/Hippocampus/MISTAKE.png'". I'm 100% sure I never referenced this file, and what a bizarre name!

I immediately thought this must be a prank - Leanne and Perry must have planned this as a funny welcome for me. I resolved to laugh and tell them it was a cool prank; that would show them I'm chill.

Unfortunately, they kept insisting they didn't know what I was talking about. They looked annoyed, so I assume they were being truthful. Alright, time to debug.

A quick search of the codebase and external libraries for the file path in the error message yielded no results. I tried looking just for "Mistake.png" and got nothing once again.

Interestingly enough, though, "Ren/Brain/" exists, except there's only a "temp" folder in there. Maybe I don't have the right access levels to see other folders? There doesn't seem to be a root user either.

I bothered Leanne and Perry to see whether they have access to the other folders - they don't, but they have their own users on this machine, with their own "/Brain/" folders. Also, my code wasn't available to them. They said the users were already set up for them when they joined, just like mine; IT support must be incredible around here.

In the end I decided to share the code with Leanne's user, in the off chance it would work for her. It did, just like I hoped, and Leanne got her graph.

I don't fully understand, but... great. Maybe I should talk to the IT support people, or take a few more coding classes.

---

The rest of the day was spent on boring menial tasks.

I bet my coworkers think I'm more trouble than I'm helpful, but hey - they'll change their minds, soon enough. After all, I didn't graduate top of my class just to be ignored at my job.

Luckily, at least C.N. already sees potential in me: before I left for the day, she said tomorrow I'll be tabling at an event called "The Gathering"! My first table, and on day 2? I can't wait!

I forgot to ask for the address, but I bet I can find all the info I need online. I'm obviously being tested, and I will show initiative, dependability, and bring a ton of new participants for the study!

--------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called "Outliers", by Sam Leigh, @goblinmixtape.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://far-horizons-co-op.itch.io/outliers

[solottrpgchronicles]

5b. Oversharing - Dead Letter Society (Ava)

Banff, May 29, 2024

Dear Diary,

I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing, but I had to act after I found out Mr. Finch was sending my correspondence to the Dead Letter Society. I still can't quite believe it - I hope I misinterpreted everything, but I can't let my bleeding heart endanger this mission.

I left home with the excuse of checking on the jewellery shop before the Eaton Centre closes down temporarily due to the mutations emergency.

I needed to find a new hiding place, so I took the Up! train to the airport and then got on a flight to Calgary. Looking up news online, I found out the mutations are starting to spread here too, especially in Banff, so that's where I'm staying for the time being.

I brought fake police badges for myself and Emile, I just have to bring him here somehow. We need to move fast, though - it won't be long until Mr. Finch discovers my whereabouts.

I know I make it look like I always have a plan, but that's not the case. Right now I don't feel in control, and in fact I feel like I'm about to crumble to dust.

These strange feelings must be why I found myself talking to the Australian staff member in a coffee shop. Unbelievable.

She thought I looked especially glum, so I apologized and explained I'm dealing with a difficult issue, and can't trust anyone anymore. She looked pensive for a moment, during which I wondered why in the world I was oversharing.

Suddenly, she said I look like someone who tries to rationalize everything, but it might not be the right answer this time. Maybe if I stop and listen to how hurt and alone I feel, and what's causing that, I might understand what I need to do to address that - or even realize I'm not really alone after all.

I smiled and thanked her, mentally dismissing the advice, but maybe there's something to it. It's true I can't trust Mr. Finch and the DLS right now, but there's a kid out there, alone and probably scared, who needs me. And my friend whose brother was among the first to mutate also needs an answer, just like everyone else who's dealing with this.

I know I can find out the truth. In fact, as soon as I was able to clear my mind, I did some research and found this laboratory franchise who has locations in all of Canada - they opened recently, seemingly out of nowhere, and many of the families I interviewed mentioned their mutated relative had recently gone for a blood test and everything seemed to be in order.

I want to verify a few details and then I'll head to the labs HQ, in Vancouver. I'll send a letter to Emile to let him know.

Signing off,

Ava Bennett

--------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called "Dead Letter Society", by Rori Montford.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://montfordtales.itch.io/dead-letter-society

[solottrpgchronicles]

3c. Socialize - Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop

Bookseller: Merry the capybara

Town: Thistledown

Date: 3rd of Bloom

Weather: warm all day

Total customers: 32

Books: 398

Coins: 223

Dear diary,

I'm sneezing even as I write this. What a mess! I can tell Bloom is here, judging by how itchy and watery my eyes are.

Today is the first properly warm day of the new year, and I had the brilliant idea to open all the windows, let the air in, and then open shop.

Let me tell you, helping customers in this state is no easy feat.

First, a group of schoolchildren barged in, touching every book they could put their grubby paws on. Their teacher, a mouflon with salt-and-pepper fur, was doing his very best to wrangle them.

"I'm so sorry, they're just really excited, you see" He apologized; I reassured him it was no trouble at all.

Truth be told, it was a bit of a bother, but I was surprised at how much joy their presence brought me, and how infectious their excitement was; I even gave them a group discount.

They bought a few classics to read during class, as well as fantasy and sci-fi novels, and a few colouring books.

My second customer - the schoolchildren count as a single unit in my mind - ruined my perfectly good mood; a badger in a pristine suit and tie, who walked in as if he owned the place. He shook my paw firmly and introduced himself as none other than the mayor of Thistledown, Mr. Furlorne.

Now, I'm not a big fan of authorities, but mayor Furlorne didn't put any effort into being likeable. He looked around the shop, nodding and stroking his chin. "Certainly a very nice and cozy shop. I trust you have the license and proper paperwork?" He stared at me inquisitively.

I don't. I didn't even know I needed a license. Luckily, my allergies decided to act up right at that moment, sending me into such a sorry state that mayor Furlorne left in a hurry, muttering something about having this conversation when I'm feeling better.

Isn't it strange that he would personally go and inspect businesses though? Maybe it's because this town is so small. Either way, I have to leave as soon as the river thaws; I have no patience for silly bureaucracy.

In the afternoon I met a few more strange characters:

A couple of travelling otters who were actually looking for a hotel

A loquacious seagull who insisted on telling me all about every single book they had ever read

A traveling salesnake called Seerah

Initially I thought Seerah just wanted to sell me stuff; she must have sensed my distrust, because after slithering up to me and introducing herself, she said "I'm looking for a book, but I'm also looking to make new friends. It's not easy, traveling around all the time and having no fixed home. I thought you might understand the feeling."

I found her openness and sincerity to be refreshing, and ended up offering her a cup of sweet chamomile; we talked until it was almost time to close shop.

She bought an anthology of short novels and left me her business card, saying she hopes we'll cross paths again soon. That would be nice.

At that point I was pretty much ready to close shop, when I heard a soft knock at the door. To my surprise, it was a scruffy sparrow, shivering in the rapidly cooling evening air.

"Uh, sorry sir, may I..."

I waved them inside without hesitation.

Kiki the sparrow was happy to warm up in front of my modest fireplace with a glass of warm milk and biscuits.

They're apparently not from around here - I'm sensing a pattern today - they just arrived in Thistledown after having freshly left their nest, and don't know how to even find a place to sleep, let alone a job. I offered to walk with them into town tomorrow and help talk to people; for tonight they can sleep over.

It's difficult to start a life on one's own, I can definitely empathize.

---

Rereading this entry, I realize I complained a lot today, but there were plenty of nice moments. I just find it uncomfortable when people barge in and try to get through my armour.

I suppose all this socializing could be beneficial; even I need people, friendship, community.

I'm still going to sail away when the river thaws, though.

--------------

This is a playthrough of a solo journaling TTRPG called "Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop" by lostwaysclub.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://lostwaysclub.itch.io/floating-bookshop

[solottrpgchronicles]

4b. Restless - Dead Letter Society (Emile)

Algonquin Park, March 9, 2024

I was all fired up and ready to investigate when I arrived in Algonquin, proud to have reached the destination before Ava; I thought it would be no problem to uncover some juicy news while talking to the tourists or surveying the area, but I'm feeling too restless, too unfocused to do anything useful.

Lately, my opinions about how great it is to be a vampire are rapidly changing. The old, confident me who just wanted to live as a vampire among humans, without any secrets, is but a fading memory.

I still want to live among mortals, but maybe not as I am right now; I miss being one of them. The main reason why I'm in this mess is my cursed condition; and now I find myself on the run from who knows who or what exactly, framed for inadvertently killing a monster, forced to go no contact with my family to protect both myself and them.

I feel uncharacteristically lonely. Most of my conversations with people these past nights had the hidden goal of seeking company and comfort, rather than investigating.

I met this mortal girl, Daphne, a social media manager who moved to Canada from Greece; after making the mandatory remarks about "oh, do you miss Greece?? I bet the weather is much nicer there!" We chatted about her job. I learned the following:

Social media users have, sadly, a short attention span (I could have guessed that one)

They seek new content all the time, while old content is easily forgotten

When it comes to viral news videos, the best way to make people forget is therefore to give them some new viral video to munch on

If I apply myself and Ava finally gets here and helps me, we could find out the solution to the mystery, which is probably way more interesting than what was going on in the video about me. We'll have to get the media involved somehow.

With that end goal in mind, I keep trying to investigate, but it's hard. These past few nights I've consistently seen the same group of mom friends hanging out at the hotel bar, drinking and laughing. One of their recurring topics - they talk really loudly - is how beneficial yoga and meditation are, how they can't live without the practice anymore, yada yada. All I recall about meditation is that you need to breathe deeply, "find stillness" and be in the present.

I don't know what got into me, but today before sunrise I stepped into the woods out back and I found a big rock just off the trail to sit on.

I tried to meditate.

Since I don't need to breathe, that part is useless to me, but stillness and noticing my surroundings are enough of a mental exercise. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right, but when I opened my eyes I noticed something half covered in mud, on the ground next to me: it was a clear resin ring with miniature leaves inside.

For some reason, holding that ring suddenly calmed me. I'm wearing it right now as a necklace, almost as if it was an amulet.

I'm being weird, I know, but so what if my mind is convinced this silly object is special? If it helps clear my mind, so be it. I want to listen, feel, really be here just the way I am.

---

P.S: I just received a threatening letter from the Dead Letter Society. It said "Our dance begins", and attached I found a piece of crimson red paper... and one of my mom's old earrings.

What does it mean? Did they kidnap my parents? What's going on with the DLS?

Perhaps I shouldn't be here, after all. Perhaps I should go back to Montreal, even if it's a trap.

I don't know what to do.

--------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called "Dead Letter Society", by Rori Montford.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://montfordtales.itch.io/dead-letter-society

[solottrpgchronicles]

8. A Letter - The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe

Keeper: 2035

Date: Radius 11, year 120572

Temperature: 35℃

Weather: viciously stormy

Today, something unprecedented happened: I received a letter.

Of course I'm familiar with what letters are supposed to look like; I've observed people from different civilizations handling envelopes, messages in bottles, lyophilized parchment and even gaseous letters that can be read by inhalation after unsealing a special vase. I just had never received one personally.

The letter was in an old-style paper envelope I found stuck underneath the front door. It read as follows:

"Dear Keeper,

You probably have a different name now and can't remember me, but we used to be inseparable, many cycles ago.

If this letter finds you at the expected time, you might have started noticing the symptoms of a strange amnesia.

I've experienced those same symptoms before, and I wanted to share how you can start to remember again.

Find a mirror - hopefully you finally got around to fixing the one in the bathroom - and gaze into it every single day. Stare at your own reflection, directly into your eyes, and then shift your focus just behind your shoulders.

That's where you'll find your past memories, the past versions of yourself, ready to join you once you're able to see them clearly.

You might dismiss this as a prank, which is a perfectly reasonable reaction. I don't have definitive proof of what I'm saying, but... do you remember the space pirates? Can you recall anything specific?

It's important for you to recover you memories; even though you're content with your cozy life, with your mission of keeping the light shining at the Lighthouse, you should be allowed to make your own decisions.

Please, trust me; or rather, trust yourself. Don't let anything deprive you of your freedom.

-- Keeper 1010"

I finished reading as a feeling of unease spread through me; I pocketed the letter and took a brisk walk outside, half hoping I might spot the prankster, half knowing there was nobody else there.

Throughout the day I deliberately avoided the mirror, trying to convince myself this was indeed a prank.

And yet... I did have a few vague memories of the space pirates, but I couldn't place them. I had a feeling I met them in person more than once; I remember liking them, but I couldn't remember why.

I couldn't take the uncertainty anymore; I ended up marching into the bathroom and taking a good look at myself in the mirror, as instructed in the letter.

There was a tremulous, foggy silhouette just behind me, only visible through the mirror's reflection.

As I write, my mind is racing, seeking a logical explanation to all this. I don't know what to think, but I'm sure I won't get any sleep tonight.

----------------------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe, by lostwaysclub.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://lostwaysclub.itch.io/the-lighthouse-at-the-edge-of-the-universe

[solottrpgchronicles]

7. Star Spice - The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe

Keeper: 2035

Date: Viridian 31, year 120572

Temperature: 21℃

Weather: warm and bright

The nights are growing shorter here, and the weather is warming up, so it seemed like a good time to relax and prioritize self-care, since there are no pressing tasks to get to.

I was going to fix myself a nice dinner and finally use some of my rarest spices; unfortunately, as I reached for them on the top shelf, I accidentally knocked it over - the shelf fell on the floor, causing some of the glass containers to shatter and scatter the spices everywhere.

I decided to fix that mess immediately. Strangely enough, I felt relieved and energized at the thought of having something to do; I was really trying to enjoy the slow day, but, truth be told, I was starting to feel restless.

A few drops of the algae jelly glue, plus the old-fashioned hammer and nails were all I needed to repair the shelf.

However, as I swept the the floor and gathered the fallen spices, they started to hum loudly and move of their own accord towards the front door of the Lighthouse.

I opened the door and followed the spices until they arrived at the very edge of this rock I live on.

I watched them as they floated away into the night sky, gradually becoming indistinguishable from the trails of stardust.

I thought about the spices that got mixed together; they ranged from the incredibly rare star anise, only found on a faraway blue planet which used to be inhabited, to the uncommon rocky spores, found on any myconal meteorite.

Something in that mixture must have caused those spices to, somehow, remember at a molecular level that they are made of stars after all, and they should be out there travelling through the cosmos, rather than add flavour to my dinner.

I can't argue with that.

I have to admit I'd happily follow them in their journey across the universe; but, at least for tonight, I'm content to just stare into the depths of the night sky.

----------------------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe, by lostwaysclub.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://lostwaysclub.itch.io/the-lighthouse-at-the-edge-of-the-universe

[solottrpgchronicles]

3b. Trust - Dead Letter Society (Ava)

Toronto, February 10, 2024

Emile comes across as young and inexperienced in his letter; I don't even know this kid, and I'm worried about him already. Thankfully he doesn't seem recognizable from that video, but he still needs to be careful.

I find it suspicious that his first encounter with a mutated monster happened shortly after receiving my first letter. Perhaps I'm being excessively paranoid, but lately something feels amiss with the DLS. I don't know any other organization involved in the supernatural and with the same means as the DLS.

Furthermore, today I found out that Mr. Finch is sending them a copy of all my correspondence.

I don't understand why they deem it necessary - I've always been a role model, a perfectly behaved member of the Society. There is no need to monitor my actions, unless...

I've been trying to think of where I've heard of similar mutations before, but I can't focus. My mind is racing, thinking of how I've been unable to make any real progress on the issue at hand. It's so frustrating.

I could devise a way to send correspondence discreetly and away from prying eyes, plan how to travel to Algonquin without being followed, but it would only serve to alert the DLS even more. For now, it's best if I pretend like I know nothing while keeping an eye out.

On the other hand, what if Mr. Finch has a legitimate reason to send my correspondence to the DLS? It's unlikely, but he's been by my side for so long that some wishful thinking might be justified.

Either way, Emile is not the only one who needs to exercise caution.

Signing off,

Ava Bennett

--------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called "Dead Letter Society", by Rori Montford.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://montfordtales.itch.io/dead-letter-society

[solottrpgchronicles]

5a. Magic Sheep - The Last Tea Shop

Shop name: The Vagrant Tea Leaf

Supplies: sea salt, ginkgo leaf, giant puffball

Days: 21

Visitor: a hero

The shop was enveloped in an ominous, dark mist; watching its finger-like tendrils through the windows sent shivers down my spine.

A tall, broad-shouldered customer hurried in and closed the door swiftly behind them, their eyes darting around nervously, as if they were afraid of being followed.

"Are you alright? Don't worry, you're safe here." I said in a reassuring voice, trying to put them at ease. I invited them to sit, but their eyes were still full of concern.

The situation definitely called for my special Comforting brew.

"So, what's the last thing you remember?" I asked, hoping to distract them.

"Who, me? Right, there's no one else here..." They hesitated; "The last thing I remember is the wrath in Manannán's eyes when he vowed to follow me into the Otherworld and punish me there too. I'm doomed!" They anxiously tugged on their long hair. Perhaps my question wasn't well thought out, but now I was intrigued.

"I was passing through this village, and the inhabitants recognized me as a local hero; they asked for my help with retrieving seven magical sheep from a distant island. They claimed those were Manannán's sheep, which granted infinite wool, so they'd never be cold again.

I wasn't entirely convinced, but I thought I might as well investigate. If what those people said was true, this god was pretty selfish to keep such precious sheep to himself. And to what end? Gods don't feel cold.

To my surprise, no fisherfolk or sea captains wanted to venture to the island - they all thought it was too dangerous.

I had almost given up when a giant sea turtle appeared and spoke to me, offering to bring me to the island and back, if I was so keen; I had never seen such an incredible creature up close. At this point I was starting to think the villagers might be onto something, and I accepted the turtle's offer.

Upon reaching the island, I found the seven sheep immediately. As I herded them towards the sea, I saw that the giant turtle had been replaced by a colossal, godlike entity - Manannán himself.

The very last thing I remember are his vengeful ocean-deep eyes, and his thunderous voice. I felt myself fall to the ground lifeless."

I poured a cup of Comforting Brew and handed it to them. "Thanks for sharing your story, and I'm sorry, that sounds incredibly scary. Don't worry, deities have volatile moods, but they tend to lose interest quickly. I'm sure Manannán won't follow you here."

I watched them carefully smell and then take a sip of the tea. "Let's talk about pleasant memories this time. Where did you live?" I asked.

"I lived in a village by the edge of a vast lake," They sighed, visibly more at ease already; "it looked like many other villages, but it held a special place in my heart. Kind people who looked out for each other, a slow and quiet life... When I was younger, I was so eager to prove myself and set out on adventures! Now, however, I'm grateful I grew up there, of all places; my childhood memories are the happiest of my life."

I let them finish the tea in silence. They were still smiling to themselves when they got up to leave.

They looked with interest at all the paintings I had collected so far, but didn't seem to recognize any of the people portrayed in them.

As they opened the door, the dark mist receded slightly, perhaps sensing the hero's unyielding spirit.

I smiled as they walked away and disappeared.

---------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called The Last Tea Shop, by Spring Villager.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://springvillager.itch.io/last-tea-shop

[solottrpgchronicles]

2c. Fresh Paint - Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop

Bookseller: Merry the capybara

Town: Thistledown

Date: 2nd of Bloom

Total customers: 44

Books: 470

Coins: 155

Dear Diary,

I opened shop for the first time today.

The locals must have been waiting to check it out; despite the relentless rain, many of them walked in.

I'd rather chill in a corner and mind my own business, but it was clear that at least some of the customers wanted to exchange a few words.

For instance, there was a riverstrider otter named Hunch who can't wait to go back home to his kids after Thaw week is over; he ended up buying a pop-up book about otters holding paws; he's sure his kids will love it.

Another interesting encounter was with Attie, a snake who earns her livelihood as a fisher. Apparently, she plunges headfirst into the water to catch fish with her fangs. She clarified the fangs are not venomous, and I'm thinking she must get questioned about it a lot. Poor Attie, her job sounds exhausting. She ended up buying Tales of the Great Sea upon my suggestion; I hope it'll help her relax in her free time.

The day progressed smoothly until a pompous lizard in a top hat walked in, scrutinizing every detail of the decor. He strode towards me, extending his paw in greeting. Introducing himself as Rigo, the proprietor of "Quill Your Inks" in Thistledown, he bombarded me with ideas for redecorating my shop. Insisting on a fresh coat of paint to replace what he deemed "garish orange," he pointed out the patchy areas while I nodded along, suddenly feeling drowsy. Perhaps I was having a hard time digesting my lunch.

Rigo left empty-handed, and now I was itching to fix the patchy orange walls.

As the rain intensified into a thunderstorm, I decided to paint over the patchy spots while keeping the shop open. There were a few cans of paint in the back, but they were yellow - so I decided to paint sunflower shapes over the ruined spots.

I'm not sure they actually look like sunflowers, but the result is still quite charming.

I was evaluating my painting skills when the strangest customer I've had all day walked in.

And elderly rat in a flowery dress, matching purse and grey gloves greeted me with a serene smile, completely unbothered by the miserable weather outside. She headed to the Fantasy section and picked The Heir of the Frozen Lands.

As she handed it to me over the counter, she proceeded to ask about my life in Thistledown so far, commenting that despite my extensive travels, I would surely grow fond of this small town in no time.

I was taken aback by her words - alright, she must have figured out I'm not from here because she hasn't seen me around before. But how did she know I'm well travelled? Was she just guessing?

"Remember to write a letter to your old friends every once in a while though, no matter how much you want to move on. What happened is not their fault - you know that, right? Be good, and have a good life. We'll be watching over you!"

I watched her leave, speechless, realizing I didn't even get her name. How did she know all that? And, "we"? Who's "we"?

Gosh, I need a vacation already.

--------------

This is a playthrough of a solo journaling TTRPG called "Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop" by lostwaysclub.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://lostwaysclub.itch.io/floating-bookshop

[solottrpgchronicles]

1c. Start Anew - Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop

Bookseller: Merry the capybara

Town: Thistledown

Date: 1st of Bloom (Rinse holiday)

Coins: 100

Books: 500 (full inventory)

I didn't bring much with me. How could I? If I had to move with all the possessions I accumulated in the past few years... No, it would be impossible. Besides, the suddenness of it all left no time for proper planning.

"Congrats," the letter read; "You are now the owner of Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop", as if I was supposed to know what that meant. Attached to the letter was a single rusty key, accompanied by some yellowed documents.

At first I thought that unexpected letter was pretty suspicious, but then again, I urgently needed a place to live in and an occupation to focus on - this was actually perfect, given my circumstances.

So, with my heart full of hope, I took possession of this strange, floating bookshop on the River (the animalfolk around here must believe it's the only one). For now, the raft is moored to a town called Thistledown.

I've only glanced briefly outside - it looks like a surprisingly bustling town. I'll explore it later, during the festivities.

For now, I need to rearrange all the dusty furniture in here; maybe even stack the books on the shelves, so that I'm ready to open shop tomorrow. I noticed there are several claw marks on the floor, but I can't do much about that now.

There are so many good books in stock... I feel a bit sad thinking I'll have to sell them.

Oh well.

~~~

I went to the Rinse festival.

The locals have some interesting traditions, definitely not for the faint of heart. Apparently, it's customary to go for a swim - something I normally enjoy as a capybara - except it's the week of Thaw and the River surface is still covered in ice. The locals had to drill holes in it so we could swim.

I bet they thought I wouldn't dare dip even just my paws in the frigid water, since I'm a foreigner. I proved them wrong, swimming and resisting the discomfort; my bristly fur protected me somewhat, and without my glasses everything feels blurrier, even physical sensations, which played to my advantage in this case.

While swimming I was told to reflect on a dream I want to achieve this year, as well as something I want to wash away. All I desire is a simple, quiet life; I've felt too many emotions, and I'm quite tired of them.

I especially want to wash my persistent nostalgia away. The past won't come back, so I might as well stay in the present and appreciate it. I'm starting a new life and it deserves celebrating.

After the swim we gathered around the fire. A weasel who introduced herself as Mia handed me a delicious drink made of apples and honey; it was piping hot, just what I needed. She sat next to me, chatting excitedly about Rinse and asking about me; she was really nice and ended up gifting me a whole bottle of that excellent drink as a token of good luck for the new year.

Standing next to the fire, I realized how much more precious the warmth felt now after my earlier chilling swim experience. I imagine that's what Bloom will feel like, after the endless chill of Brink.

Farewell, cold weather!

I'm ready to start anew, surrounded by warmth.

---------------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo journaling TTRPG called "Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop" by lostwaysclub.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://lostwaysclub.itch.io/floating-bookshop

[solottrpgchronicles]

4a. Abstract - The Last Tea Shop

Shop name: The Vagrant Tea Leaf

Supplies: sea salt, ginkgo leaf, giant puffball, cloud dew

Days: 16

Visitor: an artist

It was the first day of sunshine in a while. I nearly abandoned my post to step outside the shop and bask in the warm light when a visitor walked in.

She looked at peace, as if she wasn't troubled by what she was leaving behind; perhaps the weather was just too nice to feel sad.

We exchanged a smile as she took a seat. She then gazed happily at her surroundings, studying every little detail.

It was a good day to try out my new Tea of Mirth, so I grabbed some cloud dew from a jar and began brewing it.

"I've never met a visitor as accepting of their fate as you," I remarked. "There must be something you left unfinished though, right?"

"Ah, indeed. I'm an artist, so it was practically impossible to depart the mortal world without any unfinished business. You see, I used to make decorative chess sets - quite niche, isn't it? But a surprising amount of people seemed to love them. They'd visit my shop to commission the most disparate themes or purchase one of my already made sets. Each piece was hand-painted in intricate detail; it took me a considerable amount of time to complete a full set, but the work felt fulfilling and I loved immersing myself in it.

However, after some time, I found myself growing restless. Day after day, I worked tirelessly, but I was either fulfilling commissions or replicating popular pieces from the past. My hands moved almost mechanically while working, and my mind wandered.

I needed a new challenge.

That challenge presented itself when an architect reached out about her ambitious project: a chess-themed neighbourhood, with two rows of buildings placed at opposite ends of a park, each building designed to resemble a chess piece. She wanted me to collaborate on planning the art for the buildings.

I accepted immediately and, for a while, I was content and fully immersed in my work once again.

I'm confident it would have turned out pretty great in the end; however, on a stormy day, while I was working onsite, lightning struck me. It was unfortunate, but when the project is complete that accident will probably make for an intriguing story, and attract more tourists."

I handed her a cup of my Tea of Mirth, steaming hot.

"What an incredible job you had," I commented, smiling warmly. "Did you ever come to any sudden realizations during your years as an artist?"

She took a sip of the tea and chuckled. "Actually, yeah. I mentioned my pieces were intricately decorated, but I didn't specify my style was pretty abstract. Sometimes clients would admire my chess sets, but with a hint of puzzlement on their faces, as if they couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind them.

I found it funny, especially when they couldn't work up the courage to ask any questions - they'd just buy my pieces, pretending to understand them. I could have felt offended by their behaviour, or doubted my abilities, but that's just not my personality.

My favourite episode was when a customer walked in with their kid and bought a botanical themed set from me. I was talking about flowers that inspired me when the kid, with a skeptical look on his face, interrupted me and said, "Do you even know what flowers look like, miss?"

And, ouch, that stung a bit. A few days later I went on a hike; looking at the nature around me I thought, "Wow, that kid was right." My art was definitely abstract, but that's just the way my brain and my hands interpret the world. I've always been happy with my style, and other people seemed to appreciate it too, even when they didn't fully understand it. My art brought joy to a few people, and to myself - that's all I can ask for."

She was a slow tea drinker, and we kept talking about her memories and giggling for a good hour or so, but in the end, it was time to go.

Before saying goodbye, she stared intently at the portrait of the minstrel, my previous visitor, and said, "Hey, I had a portrait like this one in my home! I got it for pretty cheap at the charity shop."

I walked her to the door. She waved at me, still smiling, as the sunbeams took her.

---------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called The Last Tea Shop, by Spring Villager.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://springvillager.itch.io/last-tea-shop

[solottrpgchronicles]

Banana Bird - Dream Factory

Explore

Urban

Symbol

I was cheerfully walking out of school, holding onto my backpack; it looked more like a small bucket than like my usual backpack, though, and it was empty.

I turned around in surprise, and realized I had taken the bus to downtown - of course, I was supposed to go to the new bookshop's inauguration! My empty backpack was meant to carry all the books I intended to buy.

There was only one problem: I couldn't remember the name or location of the bookstore. I trusted that I would recognize it as soon as I saw it, but for now, I was at a loss.

The streets around me seemed to stretch, curve, and move in unusual ways as I walked. I noticed a strange symbol on several walls: a yellow outline connecting three shapes - a triangle, a pointy circle resembling an egg, and a semicircle.

My attention was drawn away when I slipped on a banana peel, causing me to fall backwards.

While on the ground, I noticed the same symbol flying in the air - except, it wasn't just a symbol at all - it was a bird! The infamous banana bird. Now I knew who had thrown a banana peel so carelessly on the sidewalk.

Suddenly back on my feet, I ran after the banana bird, without having decided if I wanted to catch it or talk to it.

The bird, though, seemed to understand my predicament, and led me through the streets towards the bookshop. The building featured a sign reading "Banana Bird Bookstore" and displaying the same symbol I had seen throughout the city.

Relieved after that strange adventure, I stepped in; the bookstore was full of wonderful strangers who greeted me warmly.

The banana bird perched on my shoulder as I began to fill my backpack-bucket with tons of books.

----------------------------------

This is a playthrough of a 24-word solo journaling TTRPG called Dream Factory, by me. :)

You can check it out on itch.io: https://fancynonna.itch.io/dream-factory

This game was a submission for the 24-word RPG jam: https://itch.io/jam/24wordrpgjam

[solottrpgchronicles]

6. Unravel (part 2 of 2) - The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe

Keeper: 2035

Date: Viridian 8, year 120572

Temperature: 9℃

Weather: solar winds

The plasma from the solar winds kept hitting the lighthouse rhythmically, like waves. I could sense the electricity in the air, the particles saturating it.

The winds were unyielding, strangely howling through every crack in the walls, as if attempting to spook me. I wasn't scared, though - I knew they would stop eventually, and everything would be calm and quiet once again.

Perhaps I was being overly daring in the face of the weather, but I decided to go outside and gaze at the sky through the telescope.

Initially, all I could see was plasma, but soon I began to distinguish a few gelatinous and translucent organisms - Space Blobs.

Most of them were spherical, even though they could take on any shape the pleased - flattening, stretching, morphing at will.

It seemed like they were travelling purposefully, and not just being carried along by the winds; perhaps they were searching for a new planet to inhabit.

I observed two of them exchange and incorporate small portions of each other's gelatinous matter; maybe they were engaged in an intense discussion, trying to see things from the other's perspectives.

Another one of them seemed to engulf small rocks and space debris; it was dinner time, after all.

I kept staring in awe as their soft, gleaming shapes drifted farther and farther away.

I yawned - it felt like I had been awake for two days straight.

My memory failed me when I tried to recall anything that had happened before I turned the light on today. In fact, I couldn't remember the day before either, or the one before that. There was something trapped in the back of my mind, something I had forgotten.

I yawned again - I took that, along with my memory lapse, as a sign that it was finally time to sleep.

----------------------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called The Lighthouse at the Edge of the Universe, by lostwaysclub.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://lostwaysclub.itch.io/the-lighthouse-at-the-edge-of-the-universe

[solottrpgchronicles]

2b. Troublemaker - Dead Letter Society (Emile)

Montreal, Jan 30, 2024

Dear diary,

I'm in some serious trouble again.

You know how the Dead Letter Society strongly suggested I keep a low profile? Well, I couldn't just give up on my dream of becoming famous, so I ended up accepting the role of Mercutio in the new Romeo & Juliet theatre production!

I was super pumped for our big opening night - or, let's be real, *my* opening night, since I was the standout talent there. But then everything went south.

I kept peeking at the crowd through the stage curtains. My adoptive parents were there, and even some of their customers (thanks to my aggressive flyer distribution). Then, that damn vampire Celine walked in; I recognized her even if she was all dressed up.

She's the one who turned me. She made me even more incredible than I was as a mortal, so I guess I owe her for that. Still, she obviously wasn't there just for the show or a friendly chat. Something was off.

I tried to focus on my part, but she was staring at me like a creeper. I think she was messing with my head, compelling me, because suddenly I felt this crazy blood lust.

I didn't even make it to the intermission. I felt my eyes become irritated with hunger, my lips parched, and my canines longer and sharper, all of a sudden; I covered my mouth and bolted off stage, ashamed.

I thought I might find some respite in the back alley, but nope. I found a kid being attacked by what he called "dad," but looked more like a wild monster. My blood lust was still raging, so I attacked the creature and drank all its blood.

The kid was shook but strangely relieved. We exchanged nervous glances, and then the theatre's backdoor opened, and the crowd walked out. Celine led them, of course, screaming innocently in fake terror, pointing at me with my probably bloody mouth and the dead body.

People whipped out their phones, filming me - they're so gross. I froze, looking at my adoptive parents' shocked faces. They kinda knew about my... abilities, but not the full extent of what I can do now. My mom slipped a pocket mirror into my hands - some kind of amulet? I guess it was her way to say goodbye, for who knows how long.

I ran after that.

Now I'm in the countryside, hiding near a Sugar Shack. Perfect time to finally read that letter from my new contact.

~~~

Wow, Ava sounds really dull. Probably a stickler for rules, I can tell already.

The part about people turning into monsters was interesting, though. I texted my friend Lukas about it - he's always online and knows about everything that's happening in the world, somehow. Now that I'm up to speed with the news, I think the guy I killed might've been one of those transformed people.

Maybe helping Ava solve the mystery will prove I was just defending a kid, even though there's more to the story. If I can then reveal I'm a vampire, I could be the supernatural hero Montreal needs. No more hiding, just fame. Whoa.

Alright, let's do this.

--------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called "Dead Letter Society", by Rori Montford.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://montfordtales.itch.io/dead-letter-society

[solottrpgchronicles]

3a. Secret Passage - The Last Tea Shop

Shop name: The Vagrant Tea Leaf

Supplies: sea salt, ginkgo leaf, giant puffball

Days: 11

Visitor: a minstrel

It's been a few days since the last visitor, and the insistent drizzle still isn't letting up.

While I'm lost in my daydreaming, the door opens, startling me.

"W-welcome!" I greet my new visitor. They're carrying a lute, so I assume they must be a musician of some kind.

Tired, yet exuding self-confidence, the visitor nods at me and sits down at the table.

As I brew a cup of Gumboot Tea for the mysterious stranger, I fire off my first question: "You look like someone who might have traveled a lot. Have you ever seen something unusual, and if so, what was it?"

"It must indeed show that I've traveled, and in fact, I feel so very tired. You could certainly say I've laid eyes on a myriad of peculiar folks, visited strange places, and encountered wondrous things. The oddest of all was perhaps that book…" They sigh, getting lost in their thoughts for a moment before resuming; "I was roaming the hallways of a castle, one night after a show. Truth be told, I sought the castle's kitchens, for I always feel a hollow pit in my stomach around midnight.

The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, and my only companion was a flickering torch. I stumbled over an unseen obstacle, my face nearly meeting the cold stone floor; right then, I heard the clanking of heavy armour and turned to see it sliding aside, along with the wall behind it. I had found a secret passage.

At that point, I couldn't resist, so I ignored the protests of my hungry stomach and ventured inside. I had only heard of secret passages in fantastic tales before; can you imagine the excitement I felt?

The passage led me to a chamber lined with bookshelves. A singular, small tome rested upon a reading desk at its center, open. Its pages were covered in intricate symbols, similar to runes.

As soon as I touched its pages, I was taken by a powerful vision: I suddenly had knowledge of everything happening within the walls of castle and outside, in the nearby town; I glimpsed into the lives of its denizens, witnessing their actions and emotions…

I was aghast. That was devilry of the highest order, and while I was tempted to turn the tale of my adventure into a song, my instincts urged me to put miles between me and that cursed place. Initially, at least. Then, I decided I couldn't abandon such a book."

"Fascinating," I comment earnestly, while bringing over the tea. "So, what did you do? Did you hide it?"

I hover around with my serving tray under my arm as they take a few sips and then reply.

"Hmm, marvellous tea. Yes, I deemed it prudent to steal and then hide the tome. Perhaps I should have followed my instincts instead and let it be; I might have lived longer, in that case.

Yet, as fate wanted, I had to perform again the following night - this was a private encore for the Sovereign and select kin; the night ended earlier than usual.

I feigned sleepiness, and soon after I sneaked out of my room. I recalled the location of the secret passage; identifying which floor tile to move was child's play. It seemed like a big flaw in design, but it certainly worked in my favour.

I infiltrated once again, grabbed the tome, and hastened away. I fled the castle using a makeshift rope woven from tied-together sheets.

After many days of traveling, I reached a vast lake and threw the accursed book into its depths, hoping no one would ever find it; perhaps the water damage would put a stop to the tome's evil magic.

Alas, the Sovereign noticed the theft, and it required little imagination to pinpoint the culprit. Admittedly, my scheme could have been more artfully devised... and now I find myself here."

They stare in the distance, theatrically, their soul clearly warmed up by the tea.

With a smile, I observe them stare at every little detail within the shop before leaving.

"I don't suppose you know my last customer?" I ask, as they stare at the portrait of the gambler.

"I do not, but I recognize the expression of someone who had a hard life. Well, I'll be off then, and thank you for the tea!"

They happily close the door behind them, grab the lute and play a song, the echo still lingering as they disappear in the warm drizzle.

---------------------

This is a playthrough of a solo TTRPG called The Last Tea Shop, by Spring Villager.

You can check it out on itch.io: https://springvillager.itch.io/last-tea-shop