The Sundered Land (An RPG!)

[Androthelm]

Hello everyone!
Inspired by the game of Microscope which Ducky began in a different CoLP thread, I ended up remembering this other little micro-RPG meant to be played on forums… just like this one. So, on the off-chance anyone is interested, I thought I’d throw up a little post and see if there’s traction.

It’s a game by D. Vincent Baker (the creator of the RPG Apocalypse World) and is a little bit of a twist on the traditional TTRPG format. Just one person (the OP) takes on the role of a traveler in a dangerous land, asking questions about the dangers they pass through. Everyone else (and I do mean everyone! Feel free to pop in and out as much as you'd like) answers those questions and endeavors to bring our hero to their doom.

If you’d like to know more about it, there’s a rulebook here.
If you’d like to support the creator and buy the game (and several other games with it!) check here.
And if you’d just like to see it in action look here.

I’ve modified the rules a touch (I’m obviously not going to be deleting anybody else’s posts) but I think for the most part it should work pretty well!

Anyway, and without further ado, I though I’d begin our mutual doom — feel free to jump in! Anyone can answer a question.

I’m a warrior seeking peace and an end to bloodshed. I’m on pilgrimage to the Temple to No Gods in the distant City of Gulls. My pilgrimage has brought me to the Desert of Spires, inhabited by the singing hyenas of the waste. My goal is to pass safely through and continue my pilgrimage.

You, my friends online, play the world. Your goal is to see me to my doom, instead of safely on my way.
You’re allowed only to directly answer my direct questions, though, so you might not be able to do it.
The rules:
1. Only answer my questions.
2. If you don’t already know the answer, make something up.
3. Keep your answers short.
4. If your answer’s disruptive, I’m allowed to disregard it.
5. Otherwise, I have to go with the first answer somebody gives. I’ll quote it.

I camped last night on the fringes of the Desert of Spires, sharpening my axe and polishing my armor. Today, I venture into the twisted pillars of the landscape. Soon enough, I hear a strange sound. What do I hear? Anyone should answer.

[Lirimaer]

You hear a great rumbling which appears to be coming from underground.

[Androthelm]

I stop moving, guardedly scanning the landscape around as the earth seems to rumble beneath me. What do I see? Anyone should answer.

[KingODuckingham]

Ooh, this is nifty. It's like crowdsourcing an RPG instead of paying for an AI to do it for you, haha! Seriously though, it reminds me a lot of play.aidungeon.io Anyway, to answer your question:

You see the desert ground several hundred yards in front of you explode in a shower of sand and a huge desert worm appear, shooting upwards with a mighty roar.

[Androthelm]

Yeah! It's a neat thing -- although of course the threadrunner does do a touch more than most "players." My hope is that once this fellow dies / escapes, someone else can take over questioning and we can move from there.

Swearing a soft oath to my gods, I draw my axe and duck behind any cover I can find. Has the beast spotted me? Anyone should answer.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

You are not sure that the worm has eyes, so it has not spotted you, per se, but it has clearly sensed your movements over the ground, and it begins to slither over the sand in your direction.

[Androthelm]

As I settle into a fighting stance, a moment of unease washes over me. Does this monster have any clear weaknesses I can see? Anyone should answer.

[Lirimaer]

It appears armoured and unassailable, except for it's maw, in which are rows of scarpy teeth.

[Androthelm]

Another course then -- the mouth will be a final option. Is there any way I can quickly get away, to avoid tangling with this beast? Anyone should answer.

[KingODuckingham]

The only landmarks that disrupt the desert waste are giant pillars of stone, natural formations, all clustered close together some twenty meters away. Perhaps you could lose yourself in their twists and turns?

[Androthelm]

Anything is better than having my quest end here, so far from the City of Gulls. I sprint for the pillars of stone, realizing too late just how TALL they are, and how dark the shadows between them. Do I make it? If so, what awaits me in those twisted shadows? If not, what stops me? Anyone should answer.

[Zôrzimril]

You make it into the shelter of the pillars. But within, you hear the growls of desert wolves. Their staring eyes glow green from within the shadows.

[Androthelm]

The desert wolves, the singing hyenas, the great beast which emerged from beneath the earth--this land is no hale country for travelers.
There will be blood, though whose blood is yet to be seen.
I draw my axe again and strike it along the pillars which are my shelter and perhaps my tomb, sending down a shower of sparks. A threat, transcending language. How do the watching wolves respond? Anyone should answer.

[Aerlinn]

Huh, this is a cool game!

The pack leader steps out of the shadows to meet your challenge. He is black and snarling, as tall as your shoulders. Around you the growls circle and grow closer, you are surrounded.

[Androthelm]

Yeah! Welcome Aerlinn!

A challenger, then. So be it. I ready my weapon and make one last sweep of my options. If I kill this pack-leader, how will the other wolves respond? Anyone should answer.

Also, since it's looking like some fighting will be coming up soon, I'm going to copy the rules for combat over from the rulebook link above:

WHEN YOU FIGHT AN ENEMY
roll 2 dice:
2-5: “[It] might kill me here. I do ____ . Do I have a chance to get away?”
6-8: “I might be able to fight free. I do ____ . Does it back off/recoil/reel back/ withdraw and give me the opportunity to go?”
9-12: “I might be able to overpower it. I do ____ . Does it die/submit/flee?”
If you roll the same result again: Pretend you rolled another result, your choice.
If the fight goes to a third round: “If I can’t get away now, [it] will kill me. I do ____ . Can I get away?”
If your enemy kills you: “What does [it] do with my body?” The end.

[KingODuckingham]

Cut off the head, and the body will die. You think that if you kill this oversized pack leader, his followers will scatter. They are all waiting now to see what their leader will do to your neck with his gleaming teeth.

[Androthelm]

I step forward, anticipating a leap. When it jumps, I swing my axe to meet it.

[ROLLING 2D6 -- I got an 8.]

I might be able to fight free. Although my axe grazes the wolf, my first swipe has not felled the beast. I turn my weapon and slap it with the flat of my steel. Does it withdraw and give me the opportunity to move on? Anyone should answer.

[Zôrzimril]

The wolf flinches at the first graze of the axe, then yelps and takes a step backward as you slap it. It leaps forward with a snarl, though, once your weapon has passed by the second time...

[Androthelm]

Rolling a second 2d6 for the second round of combat -- a third and I'm in dire straits.
I get a 9.

I might be able to overpower it. I bring my axe down with a vicious stroke, catching it at the joint of the hind leg. Does it die/submit/flee? Anyone should answer.

[Lirimaer]

You catch the wolf at the joint of its hind leg, but with a yowl it turns with lightning speed and bites you with all the pressure it can bring to bear. Then it pulls. The circle of wolves are now silent and watchful, crouched low to the ground.

Where it bites you - your choice.

[Androthelm]

My axe cuts into the wolf's leg and, in turn, it's fangs sink into my blade-arm. It howls and I roar.

We have entered the third round of combat, so things are getting dicey. At this stage, I am required to ask the question:

If I can’t get away now, the Leader will kill me. I smash my off-hand into it's head, trying to punch it hard enough that it releases my arm. Can I get away?

[Wamba_the_Fool]

Your desperate blow - guided by your gods? - directly connects with the leader's eye. His reflexive yelp releases your arm, and, gathering for a spring, he staggers to the ground when he puts weight on his wounded leg.

The Leader's pack "gather" around him, appearing to be more intent on deciding who the next Alpha is than approaching the two-legger with fangs of steel.

You can get away, albeit with that wound to your arm.

[Androthelm]

Alright. Technically I think this might qualify as successfully fleeing from an enemy, in which case the rules say:

If you get away: “Soon I reach the end of [the place] and I’m happy to put it behind me.” The end.

However, I think narratively we're not done yet -- let's see how we can handle that tunneling beast first. On a related note -- I'm thinking that perhaps whoever kills me / sees me pass safely on toward my journey could take over for the next round as the traveler? Would people be interested in that?

For now...

I spend the time I have earned by driving off the wolves wrapping my injured arm as best I can. Once I am stable -- albeit weak in my ax-hand -- I peer out from the cluster of rocks. Is the worm still there? What is it doing? Anyone should answer.

[Lirimaer]

There is no sign of the worm. According to legend, there is only one way to avoid attracting it.

[Androthelm]

I ready my blade, and prepare to push outward. How can I avoid attracting it? Anyone should answer.

[Zôrzimril]

The ancient legends say that one can only avoid attracting the desert worm by wearing one's shoes on one's hands to stifle the sound of one's footfalls. Tread carefully.

[Androthelm]

I consider doing as the legends suggest, but--how can I wield my axe? Surely a wounded arm is better than none? On the other hand... Could an ax harm that thing? I slip it into it's loop on my back and slide my road-worn sandals off before slipping them over my hands. I suppose it can't hurt. I attempt, now, to cross the open terrain -- keeping my eyes on the place the worm was last seen. Do I make it? If not, what stops me? Anyone should answer.

[KingODuckingham]

You only get partway before you cross paths with a rickety wagon coming the other direction. Riding on the old wagon appear to be a very old man and a young teenage girl. The old man is driving the two nervous, tired looking horses. The two riders spot you and the old man stops the horses from walking. "What ho!" says the old man in a wobbly voice. "What are you doing out here in the sands? Not the safest place, I'd say!"

[Androthelm]

I bow politely. "I am a traveler making for the City of the Gulls--though truth to be told, today has been a harder travel than most. Is there any advice you can give, to one hoping to safely cross the Sands?" How does the old man respond? Anyone should answer.

[Zôrzimril]

"Well, young whippersnapper," the old man croaks, "You'd best be careful of the mirages. They'll settle in and look mighty fine from afar and then before you know it, you've stepped through to another world entirely." The girl sitting beside him in the wagon nods with vigor. "You'll know 'em by the way they sorta shimmer and shake if you focus your gaze on them."

[Androthelm]

This is slightly concerning. I had believed my skill in the wilds to be a match for this region, but perhaps I have much yet to learn. Also, I am not sure if the old man is pulling my leg.
Also...
I squint, and focus my gaze on him, just to be safe. Just to make sure. Is all... normal, here? Anyone should answer.

[Wamba_the_Fool]

The man sorta shimmers and shakes as you focus your gaze on the old man.

The girl sitting beside him smirks at you.

[Androthelm]

"Well," I say. "Thanks you for your--Er--Advice, anyway. I think I'd best be moving on." I continue along my path. Do the pair react at all? Anyone should answer.

[KingODuckingham]

You don't hear them say anything, and when you look back, the pair and their cart are both gone without a trace. In fact, as you look down at the path, the cart left no tracks there either. Either they were a mirage...or something more magically sinister.

[Androthelm]

I hurry on, putting them out of my mind. What awaits me as I draw close to the edge of this foul land? Anyone should answer.

[Wamba_the_Fool]

You're so close; the verdant valley-lands that will inevitably stretch away to the famed City of Gulls are even within sight as a greenish smudge on the horizon! But it's then that the sound comes to your ears; not the gull-cries of the aforementioned City, oh no - 'tis... 'tis... singing?

(Do the singing hyenas of the waste actually sing? That's just a name, isn't it?)

(Does their singing get louder when they're about to feed?)

An airy aria arrives in your ears from an easterly area. A quick glance in that direction shows nothing visible, but the music is getting louder.

[Androthelm]

I curse, hurrying on and doing my best to look to the right and the left, scanning the horizons. My injured arm is almost useless. Can I make it to safety before they arrive? Where is the safest place to make my stand? Anyone should answer.

[Zôrzimril]

The hyenas' song is ringing in your ears now. They are closing in on you from three sides - you have a path forward to the City of Gulls, but the closest hyenas are snapping at your heels. A large rock looms ahead of you - if you run fast enough, you might be able to scale it and gain the advantage over them...

[Androthelm]

I sprint, putting everything I have into this moment. Do I make the rock? How do the hyenas react? Anyone should answer.

[KingODuckingham]

You make it to the rock, but the hyenas quickly fence you round, making a tight circle. You have nowhere left to go. They are ready to wait you out. Eventually, you'll need to leave...right?

[Androthelm]

I steady myself on the rock, looking over my options. Is there any way to escape this desert without confronting these beasts?

[Lirimaer]

A raptor (is it a vulture?) has been overhead watching you, and now comes circling down to get a closer look. It is enormous.

[Androthelm]

Surrounded. I am surrounded above and around and -- should the worm return -- even below. And the city was so close --
I watch the raptor, holding my axe uncomfortably in my off-hand. Is it going to attack? Anyone should answer.

[Wamba_the_Fool]

The raptor appears to be heading more for the hyenas (attracted by their song?) than you.

Also, the raptor sorta shimmers and shakes as you focus your gaze on it.

[Androthelm]

Godblasted mirages... Well, the two on the wagon could speak and respond to my questions. Perhaps this raptor could be of use. I wait -- how does it engage the hyenas? Anyone should answer.

[KingODuckingham]

The hyenas scatter and flee before the wrath of the raptor. They are too nimble for it to catch any of them, which means it soon turns its attention to you, since it thinks you are far less likely to escape.

[Androthelm]

I scowl at the bird. Is the whole of this land opposed against me? Is there no way I can escape without further killing? Anyone should answer.

[Lirimaer]

It comes in closer, its talons outstretched toward you.

[Androthelm]

I swear, and slash at the bird as it descends.

[Rolling 2d6 -- I got a 3]

My axe-swipe misses, my off-hand weaker than I expect. The raptor might kill me here, though I duck low as it continues to approach. Do I have a chance to get away? Anyone should answer.

[Zôrzimril]

You can roll off the edge of the rock in an attempt to dodge the raptor's dive.