So I ran the game Friday night. Brewed some tea, put Sting: Songs from the Labyrinth in the CD-player, and got to work. I set the mood reading the background straight from the book, as well as describing her hometown of Sprucetuck. Her Goal: “Join Glenn’s Patrol as a tenderpaw.”
In late autumn, Abigail (we changed her name) packed up and said goodbye to her best friend and her parents. A Guard Patrol lead by Glenn (to be her mentor) arrived to escort a reinforcing dose of the scent border north along with picking up the recruit. They moved north to Elmoss, where she found out that another recruit is Sloan, the son of one of the ruling families of the town and the mouse responsible for crippling her friend. He remained remarkably quiet (but still grinning slyly) during the trip to Lockwood.
In Lockwood, they found they were two of several newbies. She and Sloan were immediately put to work outside gathering nuts and berries, which they did day in and day out for the next couple weeks. When the first flurries started to fly from the air, patrols began to straggle in. After everyone returned and was accounted for, the shutters were sealed and the doors locked for the winter.
Then, combat and field training began with Glenn. After many bruises and split knuckles, Abigail chose the staff as her preferred weapon. Over the weeks and months, Sloan slurred her behind her back, claiming she left Sprucetuck because she was too stupid to be a sciencemouse along with other insults. They celebrated Yulefrost and learn of the exploits of the mice who had fallen that year. Quite a few recruits decided to quit, but Abigial forged on.
In the early, early spring on a day that was just far enough above freezing to turn the snow to slush, the five remaining potentials participated in the Tenderpaw Games. In the first half, a guard captain named Roland and his crew took them out and grilled them on outdoor knowledge. At the end of the day, they stopped and were required to unexpectedly set up camp.
Here I gave her an Ob3 challenge of either Loremouse or Survivalist, her choice, to impress the judges. She chose Survivalist, boosted by Calm and a Persona point. On five dice, she rolled a 4 and four 1’s! So, I invoked a Weather Twist and started a freezing rain. She made her Health roll and avoided becoming Tired.
In the morning, they packed up and slogged back to Lockhaven. After eating lunch, the combat began. Training weapons only on a point system. Each mouse would fight one another once with the greatest number of successes being the winner. After setting the stage of the final being her versus her enemy, Sloan challenges her to a bet, which she accepts. Glenn also drops the hint that if she wins, she’s automatically in his patrol. All the mice of Lockhaven, fraught with cabin-fever, all gathered to watch the event.
Her goal (at Wanderer’s suggestion) was to get Sloan to admit to crippling Gwen (a long kept secret). He was to win the bet against her and tax her Resources by 1. Odds were on her side - both had Fighter 3 but she had Nature 5 while he had 3. He chose a sword versus her staff. They both rolled a 7 Disposition. Long story short, my wife got the short end of the stick on Feints. The two she tried were countered, while the two Sloan tried - including the second where he involved his Cunning - pounded her, even after being disarmed during a Maneuver vs. Maneuver. It was 6-0 at the end.
Sloan was declared victor while Abigail left the ring in shame, her pockets a bit lighter.
End GM’s Turn.
Since she hadn’t been brave enough to use her Traits negatively, she only had one check in the Player’s Turn. She spent it Persuading Glenn to take her anyway. After a Abigail’s Persuade boosted with Persona versus Glenn’s Will, she convinced him to take her on anyway. (This could have been more involved, but my wife was exhausted by this point.)
Overall, it went well. My wife picked up on the system quickly, but was seriously disappointed that she lost. I learned the following for the future:
- Having my pregnant wife sit at the kitchen table for 2 hours at the end of the day is a bad idea. Couch next time.
- I need to seriously sedate my 4-year-old son before we start the session.
- I need to encourage my wife to use her Traits to gain checks.
I welcome any feedback on this and ideas for how to continue this solo game.