Daggerheart: Broken Lands - 1

Hey reader, it’s currently just you and me. This is a Solo RPG project done in the style of a replay, a form of actual play popular in the Japanese TTRPG (or table talk, as it's commonly called there) community. I’m adopting the format of some of the written replays I’ve read as a way to chronicle my solo Daggerheart RPG.

But I’m not just creating one Daggerheart character. This is going to get a bit more meta. I am a forever GM and I work best when I’m looking at things from the GM’s perspective with a collection of players bouncing off each other so, for this project, I am going to emulate a game with 3 players, using Pettish by Tam H.

Let’s start with player creation. Pettish works on a combination of Agenda, Focus, and player tags for the player emulation, with a 2D6 dice mechanic.

Rolling for Player 1’s Agenda results in double [4], so 8. On the agenda table, that comes out to SAFE. Player 1 wants to play the game they signed up for, do what’s on their character sheet, and avoid extremes in rules & story. Ask: what is the most expected thing to do here?

1D3 Personality tags… to get a result of 3, I’ll be taking 3 from any result greater than 3. The result is [2] so Player 1 gets two personality tags. The first tag roll is [3] & [3]. These don’t get added together, there are six tables of six items. Tag1: Turtle. For Tag 2: [6], [1] Creative

I'll now hand you over to the GM who will be working through character creation with our first player.

GM: Let us welcome Player 1, someone who I'm given to understand wants to be creative within the boundaries of the play environment and who’ll tend towards defensive and support plays.

Player 1: Sounds about right. So I get to create my character, right?

GM: That’s right. Time to go over to the Daggerheart system. Let’s see, you’re in the process of making a Bard?

Player 1: A Wildborne Galapa Bard, of the Mpasy people.

GM: Because of the Turtle tag… I see…

Player 1: Turtle tag?

GM: Never mind that, it’s a bit meta. What’s your name?

Player 1 → Sha’nesh: Sha’nesh.

GM: All right, Sha’nesh. Daggerheart has some questions to help establish your background. So… ahem: Who from your community taught you to have such confidence in yourself?

Sha’nesh: Ah, that would have been Mélló.

GM: Mélló. That’s not an Mpasy name.

Sha’nesh: Indeed not. Mélló is an old Clank of the ancient Epmòòian Empire. I found it deep in the forest, broken and immobile. Its frame was overgrown, a home to various animals. I didn’t realise that they were still functioning, at first - I would visit it to talk and let off steam; to speak of my concerns and worries. Sometimes, I would sing or try out new songs and then, one day, I realised that it was tapping a finger on the ground to the rhythm of my song.

I became quite distressed to think I had believed it to be a broken husk. But as I apologised that I had disturbed it without consideration and even cried, being a rather emotional individual and thinking of the ages alone it must have endured, it reached out and gently patted me on the head.

I went to try and free it of the plants and nests, but it stopped me, shaking what I came to assume was its head. It managed to eventually communicate that it didn’t want the homes disturbed. It even spoke, though I couldn’t understand it.

Well, I had quite the new task. Its words were unfamiliar, for they were said in the ancient Epmòòian language. So I found what I could in books and spoke to experts to learn the language myself. It turns out that Mélló had been an ancient weapon that brought death and destruction in its wake during the collapse. It had been struck down and believed destroyed, but its core had persisted, ancient magic sustaining it. In its contemplation, it became satisfied that it had lost the ability to destroy, that being a simple home to the forest creatures was fitting and just.

But Mélló thanked me for the music and for the kindness of learning its language. It has forbidden me from telling anyone of its true origin as the thing it fears most is that someone will restore it to its original purpose.

GM: Well that’s a lot. Also seems like a very loose definition of “from your community.”

Sha’nesh: [Laughs]

GM: Gives me something to note down. Ancient sentient weapon called Mélló in a forest, afraid of being restored. Juicy stuff.

Next Question: You were in love once. Who did you adore, and how did they hurt you?

Sha’nesh: What is this, you’re driving a dagger into my heart and we haven’t even started playing? Then let me spin you a tale of unrequited love, of the beautiful Otke. Otke was of the Orcish people, a young, hot-headed man whose tusks were only just growing out. He was proud and strong, and quickly rose to be a valued protector of the people. He and I were fond of the wilderness but, while I would explore and amble, study and observe, he would be a shadow, ever watchful for anything that would pose a threat to the Mpasy.

As time went on, it seemed that he would often find himself patrolling past where I was out and about, and would often stay hidden, leaving me unaware as I practised my music. I was - I still am - quite self-conscious of imperfections, so I preferred to hone my talents where none could see or hear. Yet he always found me and would hide, to reveal himself only as I was packing up with a smile on his face and compliments on his lips.

So then, for him to be the one to denounce me, to believe the words of… well, that’s another story. No, I stood accused of crimes against the people, crimes I did not commit. I turned to Otke for defence but it was instead from him that I received condemnation. To be banished and never again stand as one of the Mpasy.

GM: Okay, I feel like there was a bunch of stuff you chose not to say there.

Sha’nesh: I have heard a wise saying: draw maps but leave blank spaces.

GM: It feels like you left an entire continent blank in that story, but it answers the question I asked. How do you feel about Otke now? Do you still love him? Hate him?

Sha’nesh: I still yearn for him. And one day, I will find out how he was deceived and why he did it.

GM: And the crime, what was it you were accused of?

Sha’nesh: I believe one day we may find out, but that tale isn’t ready yet.

GM: Basically, you haven’t figured that part of your backstory out?

Sha’nesh: [looks evasive]

GM: Fine, it’s a work in progress. Last question then. “You’ve always looked up to another bard. Who are they, and why do you idolise them?”

Sha’nesh: Another bard huh? That would have to be the Haatyêêmish bard, Hôlmã.

GM: Oh, she’s legendary, right?

Sha’nesh: That’s right. Absolutely dedicated to her beliefs of pacifism and unity. She will travel alone without guards to places of deep conflict and division to negotiate peace and reconciliation. It is said that her aura is enough to get the most violent sentient to lay down their arms.

GM: Do you believe it’s true?

Sha’nesh: That doesn’t matter! I have no doubt that there is more to it, but it’s what people say of her! To cultivate and maintain that legend… to be spoken of in reverence no matter the truth… that is my ideal.

GM: I see. Well that leads us nicely into your experiences, and then we’ll take a look at your character sheet.

Sha’nesh: Right, so I’ve chosen ‘Travelling Scholar’ as one of my experiences. This reflects the fact that I’m going from place to place, learning about people, cultures, language and history.

My other experience is ‘Captivating Performer’ to reflect that, when I’m performing, I draw attention.

GM: They both sound good. Thank you, Sha’nesh. We’ll come back around when the other two have created their characters.

Sha’nesh: Where are they, anyway?

GM: Manifesting.