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writingdeskstories · 6 years

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The Answer

Setting - Kilton Flats

Genre: Mystery

Tone: Surreal

Population: Close-knit

Place: City

State: Threatened

A lone apartment block in the heart of a once bustling city. It is now the only sign of life as dad as they can see. One day, all life, food and objects that weren't nailed down disappeared from around Kilton Flats, but the building itself was untouched. No one knows what happened that night, they just woke to find nothing left, and had to stick together to survive, forever scared they could be taken.

Hero - Marlo Mawk - Power 1 (Starting Power 3)

Type: Arcanist

Motivation: Protection

Nature: Brave

Strength: Empathic

Flaw: Paranoid

Look: Disheveled

Previously a dedicated keeper of the peace using magic skill to protect those in danger. His fearless work was appreciated by those he helped and cared deeply about. Though he retains those qualities, the disappearance of the city fundamentally changed him and he has unravelled, and everyone can see. Constantly worried about them bring lost too, he is obsessed with finding the cause and stopping it.

Introduction: Being mentored

Marlo scribbles furiously, flipping through books and making tiny marks on his map of the city. Mostly the map shows how every building is now a barren concrete shell, except for this apartment block. Marlo's notes are also finding and disapproving hypotheses on what might make this building special, and why it alone was spared in the purge. Marlo is so engrossed, he doesn't even notice as Starlee stands in the doorway watching his manic movements. "You know you won't find answers this way," she states flatly as she comes in to examine his redundant handiwork. He looks up, weary and scratching at his head. Starlee is wise but doesn't understand, "No-one will find answers if we don't look." "We need other things more than answers. And even if you're just going to fixate on this, there are better ways to find out more," she walks over to the window, stepping around his telescope to look into the empty concrete city, "You know, your obsession makes other people afraid to go out there too..." Marlo silently scratches his pencil on the map, insisting to himself that she just doesn't get it.

Quest

Objective: Reach [place]

Quest Giver: Divine

Potential doom: Death

Complication: The population resists

A prophetic dream reveals to Marlo where there is another, untouched building that can offer answers. The dream shows strange concrete shapes emerging from the ground, though he's unclear about how literal this is. The dream ends before he reaches the other tower when he sees his home behind him purged as he sinks into the concrete.

Antagonist - Freya Cassava - Power 1 (Starting Power 3)

Type: Weapon

Motivation: Family

Nature: Charming

Strength: Intuition

Flaw: Paranoid

Look: Disheveled

Freya used to work with Marlo, back before but she was trained as much more of an aggressive negotiator. These days, she's just as worried and falling apart as him. But her fixation is keeping her siblings together, which isn't easy. Their parents weren't even in the city, so they're so far from being able to get in contact. Even so, Freya fears for what could happen if they travel too far and insists on staying put. She has the ear of most Kilton residents, and has them wary of the wider world.

Quest Given: Advice

Marlo's dreams that night are thick and hard to navigate. He runs through the streets as the ter and concrete pull on his limbs and he slowly sinks. He can see a magically untouched building ahead, he instinctively knows where it is too. An office over by the river. As he ponders this, he's already waist deep, sinking into the ground. He flails but cannot escape. In his last moments, he looks the way he came to see the people of Kilton gazing out the windows. He wakes with a start, falling out of his chair. He climbs to his feet, for once glad that he fell asleep at his desk. He hurriedly marks the office building. "Riverlook," he says and smiles as he thinks about he always hated that name. He starts packing a bag and thinking through his plan. People. He has to bring friends, if he wanted it to go differently than his dream.

Ally - Glasseye - Retired (Starting Power 1)

Type: Construct

Source: Recently acquired

Strength: Holy

Weakness: Ethereal

The essence of Marlo's dream, distilled into a charm and worn as a necklace. In a sense its more manufactured than he would claim, but it can evoke the same holy power that gave him his Quest. Though its power its flighty and intangible, so it can't be relied upon too heavily.

Recruit Ally: Ally's Code

Marlo has a realisation and scrambles under his bed, pulling out a mess of things until he finds a long thin glass vial. He presses it to his forehead and concentrates on the dream, especially the feeling of the building he was pursuing. A goopy purple gas materialises in the vial, slowly gooping around like in a lava lamp. He takes it from his head and corks it, inspecting the contents. Just looking at it pulls him to that building and makes him want to start running. He threads a necklace through the end of the vial and hangs it around his neck, to keep it close.

Preparation Choice

Depart for the Quest

Train a Hero/Ally

Recruit a new Ally [CHOSEN]

Ally - Shimmering Face - Retired (Starting Power 1)

Type: Protection

Source: Recently acquired

Strength: Persuasive

Weakness: Fragile

A magical ward woven by Marlo. It boosts his voice and presence to project confidence to others, and makes him look like the polished defender of peace that he used to be. But once the facade is seen through, it quickly crumbles and people can see the man Marlo has devolved into.

Recruit Ally: Hero Relationship

Marlo looks at himself in the mirror for the first time in a week, and sees his disheveled look. He's still wearing the purple uniform with gold buttons and dragon emblem on the pocket. But it's unwashed and not sitting right. He makes a minor adjustment to fix the collar, and as he does magic pours from his fingers out over his body. The uniform starts to look pristine. His face appears clean shaved and his hair is now in a neat bob. The buttons shine and the emblem on the chest pocket almost glows. A close look can reveal it's all fake, but it's better than nothing. At the very least, Marlo remembers what he used to be, as he regards himself in the mirror. Hopefully the others will too.

Preparation Choice

Train a Hero/Ally

Recruit a new Ally [CHOSEN]

Depart for the Quest

Ally - Captain Alon - Retired (Starting Power 1)

Type: Rival

Source: Old companion

Strength: Ethereal

Weakness: Ethereal

Previously Captain of the guard, at one point Alon renounced their physical form and became a ghost, effectively taking a supervisory desk job. Not many chose to undergo the spirit severing procedure, but Alon insisted that they had more work to do. Ever since, their experience has been a rock for Marlo, Freya and the rest of the guards. They've even learned some ways their intangibilty can be useful, and how to stay hidden and silent when concentrating.

Recruit Ally: Hero Relationship

"You had a vision?" the Captain asks, carefully restraining their scepticism. "Look, I just thought if you wanted to come..." Marlo says sighing. The Captains spectral form stands facing their slowly decaying apprentice, trying to make a calculated choice on what's the best way forward, "Oh, no way you're keepin me at home while you're gallivanting off on an adventure. I didn't ask to be preserved as a ghost to sit around at home." They crack a smile, giving Marlo immediate relief. The Captain was doubtful that this vision would lead to anything fruitful, even with Marlo's magical prowess. But this still seemed the best way to help him, make him active instead if passively obsessing over a map in his room. The Captain mimes patting Marlo's shoulder and asks, "Alright, who else we bringing?"

The Quest Begins

The Hero must now step out from the status quo to start on their journey to tackle the Quest.

Quest Departure: First steps into unfamiliar territory

Marlo and the Captain stand in the lobby of the building, looking out the glass doors. The outside looks so barren and peaceful, but still they both fear the expanse outside. People had safely ventured out, but they had never found anything besides tarmac and concrete. It wasn't just fear that something would happen, but that nothing might. Right as Marlo opens the door, he feels a hand on his shoulder and turns to see Freya. Her uniform newly polished but still in tatters. "If you insist on chasing this," she says, making eye contact with him and then the Captain, "I can't leave you to do it without me." Marlo smiles and holds the door open for them both, glad to not be alone as he steps into the world.

Obstacle - Spectral Reverb - Retired (Starting Power 1)

Type: Undead

Cause: Protecting something

Strength: Persuasive

Weakness: Lack of awareness

The dreams of those who were turned into ghosts linger. Not even as alive as ghosts, their link to the world are tenuous, they have no higher function, just desperate impulses. They try to keep people away from the dangerous expanse of the outdoors, showing what happened to them.

Encounter: Hero's Intention

Travelling in uneasy silence, Marlo had been eyeing the Captain for a long time, noting their odd behaviour. They seem to be walking in a daze, so finally he asks "Captain, is anything wrong?" A hoarse crackling emits from their throat, a mix between gasping for air and snapping twigs. Freya turns, alarmed at this. Immediately Marlo reaches out, concentrating as he buries his hands into the Captain's chest. "... Someone else is in here?" as he says that, several haggard and faded ghosts pour out of the Captain's mouth, swirling around the group. The Captain falls to their knees and Freya is crouching with them to help. The ghosts continue their incoherent crackling, as Marlo tries to communicate, "You're barely holding together, please, let me help." His hands hum with magic as he offers them calmly to the spirits.

Conflict between Marlo Mawk and Spectral Reverb With Ally Shimmering Face assisting.

Hero: Marlo Mawk Flips

TAILS

[Shimmering Face] HEADS

Obstacle: Spectral Reverb Flips

HEADS

Marlo Mawk loses power. Spectral Reverb loses power and has been retired! Shimmering Face loses power and has been retired! Marlo Mawk and Spectral Reverb tied!

Obstacle Conclusion: Their Strengths

The fading ghosts swirl around the trio, trying go decide what to do. Marlo steps toward them, doing his best to project the authority he used to have. "Please, tell us who you are, are you hurt? Do you need help?" At this, they all swarm him. The ghosts possess parts of Marlo, though even as a group they can't muster the strength to take full control. His muscles spasm as they try to gesture, and communicate, dragging him backwards towards Kilton once more. But Marlo also hears their own crying and fear inside. He concentrates hard, burning up his false face and exhaustion himself as he one by one performs the rite of passage, to free these ghosts. Thankfully it doesn't require limbs, just focus. He picks a ghost and connects directly with it, drawing out their name and scant details of their life, and delicately unhooks these details from the ghost until there's nothing left clinging on. It only takes minutes in the end, and he's left on the ground. Scraped and bruised from the flailing limbs, emotionally drained and physically exhausted, but he can get to his feet and see the Captain is perfectly safe, but Freya cannot hide her serious concern.

+2 coins: For retiring an Obstacle.

Overcome Obstacle: Triumph

"It's done," Marlo explains through ragged breaths, "I gave them peace." Freya stands up, eyes narrowed, "I can see that, but what we're they so worked up about? Should we be that scared too?" "Their thoughts were scattered and incoherent, so I don't... I don't really know. I just know they were scared and tried to send us back." Freya sighs, knowing that Marlo will still want to continue, "And you just, dissolved their ghosts?" Marlo winces at the question, "They were already worn beyond repair, at this point they were just shadows..." a sideways glance allows Marlo to see the Captain pointedly staying out of the conversation, looking away into the sky. Marlo always felt guilty that they could never fully communicate to people what it was like to be a ghost. Not truly a person, more of an echo. "They're happier now." Freya gives him a sceptical look before she turns back to the Captain to attend to them.

-1 coins: For having an Ally retired.

Losing Ally: Satisfied

Marlo approaches the Captain with concern, but they're already shaking their head and smiling, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Sorry about your face." Marlo looks back, his fake magical face gone, leaving just his true, tired and worn self. Marlo smiles too, "It's ok, it got the job done. And I'm not sure there's anyone else out here to fool it with. Maybe it's better that whoever we meet sees this." The Captain nods, wondering if Marlo meant to imply that they wouldn't find anyone, "Let's move on."

Interval Choice

Uneventful Downtime

Restore Lost Power [CHOSEN]

A New Ally

Restored 1 Power to Marlo Mawk, up to 3

Recovery: Stranger's Assistance

Continue to walk late into the day, they stumble upon a strange sight, "What is that?" Freya asks, squinting at a tall structure, poking up from ruptured tarmac. "It's like a tree, but that's definitely concrete," the Captain tries to make sense of it. Marlo laughs, "Oh god, I do know what this is. Some artist did these as an art piece about the natural world or something. Hah, God I thought it was... But no, it was just like this before." It feels good for Marlo to laugh again. It's not the first time since the disappearance, but it's been a rare occurrence. And having it now, of all times, is a reassuring, warm feeling.

Obstacle - Concrete soup - Retired (Starting Power 1)

Type: Huge monster

Cause: Enchantment

Strength: Raw

Weakness: Unprotected

A mass of concrete and tar, emerging from the ground and throws itself at the others. In a roughly dog like shape, it circles them and tries to swarm them in itself.

Encounter: Hero's Weakness

"We're pretty far now, right?" the Captain asks as they pass by a huge stadium. "Yeah," replies Freya, glancing at Marlo, "This is much further than anyone else has looked." "We're most of the way there," Marlo says, trying to look forward. But then they all hear the strange sound of first cracking and crunching, followed by thick wet footprints, moving fast. They all fall to the floor, fast enough to avoid the creature as it flies over their heads. Marlo looks up to see a mess of concrete. It arcs its head back to roar, but it just silently does the motion as Marlo scrambles to his feet. He can instantly recognise Freya's clumsy enchantment handiwork. Why would she do this? Is she trying to make him fail? As these questions swirl in his head, he almost misses as the creature charges again.

Conflict between Marlo Mawk and Concrete soup With Ally Captain Alon assisting.

Hero: Marlo Mawk Flips

HEADS

[Captain Alon] TAILS

Obstacle: Concrete soup Flips

TAILS

Concrete soup loses power and has been retired! Captain Alon loses power and has been retired! Marlo Mawk won!

Obstacle Conclusion: The Obstacle

Marlo doesn't hesitate as the monster charges, he pours his energy into blasting it with pure magical heat projected from his palms. He normally preferred to try talk people down from aggression, but this thing wasn't showing any sign of sentience. He can see it working, melting into a misshapen lump but he doesn't let up just yet. "Marlo! Stop it!" Freya calls out panicking. Confused, he stops and turns to see the Captain looking distressed, and riddled with small holes through his torso.

+1 coins: For winning a conflict with an Obstacle.

+2 coins: For retiring an Obstacle.

Overcome Obstacle: Broken

The cement and tar fall into inactive lumps and start to crack as they cool. With the threat tamed, Marlo relaxes briefly, allowing his charged magical energy to fade. The material the creature was made of is so scarred that it couldn't be enchanted at this point. As much as he might like to indulge beating that dead horse, he's already taking too long revelling in this victory.

-1 coins: For having an Ally retired.

Losing Ally: Ally spent

Marlo turns to see Freya kneeling with the Captain, who's crouching low and missing whole chunks of their form. "Captain, I..." Marlo says, approaching them both. Freya simply glares at him silently, as the Captain erratically shifts to a standing position. "Stay back Marlo," Freya insists through clenched teeth, "You've done enough." "Marlo, I came with you just for support," they say, maintaining a stoic expression in spite of the pain, "You needed a confidence boost and reassurance, I thought. Regardless, you certainly don't need one now. Even if you did, I'm not in much shape to offer more." They sigh, and Freya gets to her feet, standing in front of the Captain, "We're going back, it's your prerogative what you do now." Marlo stood and watched silently, both ashamed and angry. He shouldn't have let his magic harm them, but he knew it wasn't all his fault. He was still certain Freya had enchanted that creature to life. All he could bring himself to do was watch as they turned back the way they'd come, reassuring himself that this was the correct path.

Interval Choice

Uneventful Downtime

Training Break [CHOSEN]

Warming Up: Motivation

Marlo hunches in the corner of a hollowed out building that probably used to be a home, but now it's just a shelter. He stares at the glasseye in his hand. The closest connection he has to his quest, he fixates on it and why he's following it in the first place. Not even consciously, his magic bleeds out of his palms as his eyes stare at the glasseye pleading with it to give some reassurance that he'll get answers.

Attempt 1 Flips

TAILS [X]

Attempt 2 Flips

HEADS

TAILS [X]

Attempt 3 Flips

HEADS

Success! Increased Power of Glasseye by 1

Training: Mindset

The glowing of the glasseye grows stronger and stronger, now illuminating the room faintly. Marlo leaps up, ecstatic. "Another sign! I am on the right track." he shuffles to his feet. Forgetting about the restful night he was planning on, and instead ventures out further, feeling even closer now to his goal.

Obstacle - Chill breeze - Retired (Starting Power 1)

Type: Force of nature

Cause: Protecting something

Strength: Persuasive

Weakness: Size

A cold soft wind on Marlo's cheek. It's a small thing, but it might cause him to wonder why he's here. What is he pursuing and why has he left his loved ones behind? The cold breeze stings, if he notices it.

Encounter: Hero's Weakness

It's deep into the night as Marlo continues trudging along. He racks his brain, thinking of ways Freya could have conjured that enchanted beast without either of them looking. She was never as skilled magically as Marlo but she was crafty, and he knew from the start she didn't believe in him really. A cold wind picks up, cutting through Marlo's light, worn outfit. He shivers, and starts to think of home.

Conflict between Marlo Mawk and Chill breeze Optional: Choose a Hero to aid Marlo Mawk. But remember, a participating Hero ALWAYS loses 1 power, regardless of outcome.

Hero: Marlo Mawk Flips

TAILS

HEADS

TAILS

Obstacle: Chill breeze Flips

HEADS

Marlo Mawk loses power. Chill breeze loses power and has been retired! Marlo Mawk and Chill breeze tied!

Obstacle Conclusion: What was Lost

The wind is just a light chill, stinging at Marlo's face as he goes forward. It does tire him, and makes him miss the comforts of home. Even being miserable and holed up in an apartment block, it's nice to share in that with people and not to be isolated. But this also makes Marlo angry. He still doesn't let go of his asserto that Freya made the creature, and that's why he's alone. It has nothing to do with his choices. He lifts his hands up and blasts fire out, melting and scorching the tar. And also, warming the air. The wind gone, he can trudge on and stew in his frustration.

+2 coins: For retiring an Obstacle.

Overcome Obstacle: Triumph

The heat fuels his confidence and satisfaction, as he reassures himself that its all going to be fine. Soon he'll find that building from his dream, and then he'll know the truth. Everyone will feel guilty when they realise they should not have abandoned him. The wind still blows, but the magical heat drowns it out as Marlo marches on.

-1 coins: For having an Ally retired.

Losing Ally: Soured

Didn't lose ally

Interval Choice

Uneventful Downtime [CHOSEN]

Training Break

Restore Lost Power

Downtime: Preparing for the next step

Late into the night, it's not long before the sun will reappear through the dark sky. Sitting hunched in the corner of what used to be someone's kitchen, Marlo takes shelter and gently warms himself. Though the wind completely died down, the air just got colder and continued draining the energy out of him. He needed rest, even if he knew he wouldn't sleep. He knows how close he is, but something about it being the home stretch has him obsessing over how to get there. Of course it also might be that he just doesn't want to think through what he might find, and what it might mean. After his brief rest, he gets to his feet and stretches his stiff limbs out. Anxious and excited as he ventures outside.

Facing the Antagonist

The journey is almost over, but first the Antagonist needs to be dealt with.

Showdown Start: X

As he steps outside, he's surprised to find another person. "Come back with me Marlo, it's not too late," Freya insists, "You can make up for it." Marlo grits his teeth, "This is all you've wanted the whole time, you even conjured that thing to try drive me back." "Fuck, that explains a lot," Freya sighs exasperated, "You think that was me?" "Who else?" Marlo scoffs, and doesn't wait for the answer, "Now get out of my way, unless you want to help me save everyone."

Conflict between Marlo Mawk and Freya Cassava With Ally Glasseye assisting.

Hero: Marlo Mawk Flips

HEADS

[Glasseye] TAILS

Antagonist: Freya Cassava Flips

HEADS

TAILS

HEADS

Marlo Mawk loses power. Freya Cassava loses power. Glasseye loses power and has been retired! Marlo Mawk and Freya Cassava tied!

Showdown End: X

"Why are you so sure this will save anyone?" Marlo holds up the glasseye he made to hold the essence of his dream, "This will show me the way, we can finally have an answer for what happened." "Marlo... Nobody wants that. You're the only one this fixated on answers, everyone else is worried about surviving, growing food, being clothed. Why can't you find those answers?" Marlo doesn't have an answer for her, so he just moves forward to shove passed her.

Showdown Rematch: X

Freya grabs his arm as Marlo tries to move on. "We're not done here, you don't even know what you're abandoning." Marlo brushes her off angrily, "I'm not abandoning anyone, I'm here to save us all." She shakes her head, "You're just chasing an obsession, if you cared about us you would have been more careful and not injured Captain Alon. And you would have noticed when they conjured that creature." Marko narrows his eyes at this and refuses to respond.

Conflict between Marlo Mawk and Freya Cassava Optional: Choose a Hero to aid Marlo Mawk. But remember, a participating Hero ALWAYS loses 1 power, regardless of outcome.

Hero: Marlo Mawk Flips

HEADS

Antagonist: Freya Cassava Flips

TAILS

Freya Cassava loses power. Marlo Mawk won!

Showdown Over: X

Freya takes the Glasseye in her hand and smashes it on the ground. The echo of a dream inside fizzles away, as she says, "Forget this, it's not imp-" Marlo silently blasts her back, creating a magical explosion from his chest. Miraculously, he is not hurt, not that he takes any notice. Freya is badly bloodied, shakily getting to her feet, when he blasts her again, knocking her back. "Don't step in my way again, you know I hate to hurt people," he says shakily as he moves on towards his goal. Freya takes some time to get to her feet, but knows she can't catch up now. It'll be a struggle for her to even get home.

+2 coins: For winning the showdown against the Antagonist.

It's Over

The Hero is about to try resolve the Quest, how will their story end?

Now to determine if Marlo Mawk can complete their goal...

Coin Pool Modifiers:

+1 coins: Starting pool equal to Marlo Mawk's Power.

+2 coins: For retiring an Obstacle.

-1 coins: For having an Ally retired.

+1 coins: For winning a conflict with an Obstacle.

+2 coins: For retiring an Obstacle.

-1 coins: For having an Ally retired.

+2 coins: For retiring an Obstacle.

-1 coins: For having an Ally retired.

+2 coins: For winning the showdown against the Antagonist.

Resolution Flips

HEADS

TAILS

HEADS

TAILS

HEADS

Marlo Mawk has soundly accomplished the goal beyond expectations.

Quest Complete: X

It's jarring how shortly after this Marlo reaches the building. Its a 30 minute walk, even in his tired, worn condition. He trudges forward and sees a building that just looks... Normal. It still has plaster on the walls, there are doors and windows. And even though he can't yet see them directly, he can immediately feel the buzz of actual life inside. He doesn't make it all the way to the door before a couple of the residents rush out to help him. "Hey hey, are you OK? Can you talk," a big round woman with long blond hair asks as she slips under his arm to prop him up by the shoulder. "Yes, I'm just, need sleep," Marlo replies, only now realising the extent of his exhaustion. "Don't worry, we'll get you inside," the other woman says, a tall bony girl with an undercut, "I'm Veronica, this is Viv." "Marlo," Marlo mumbles out as Viv waves to him. "Don't worry Marlo, we'll take good care of you now," Veronica continues as they enter the warm apartment block.

Conclusion: The future of the journey

They quickly have Marlo safe on a bed, getting him food and water. One resident with passing medical knowledge checks him over and finds him mostly healthy. There's a swarm of activity around him as people regard the curiosity, the first new person they've seen since it happened. "How's that?" asks Viv, handing him some water, and he nods meekly. He then looks uncertainly at the gathered crowd. Viv notices, and explains, "Yeah, uh they've got a lot of questions for you. Sorry about that, but we'll focus on taking care of you first. Ok?" Marlo looks up at her eyes full of concern, and he chokes out a request, "My friend... Needs help."

The End

#story #fiction #post-apocalyptic #magic

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