We continue the playthrough of my new game, Blaydon Grange Solo Edition (available at Itch or DriveThruRpg, free or pay what you want). This is a solo RPG based in the genre of girls boarding school fiction, similar to the Malory Towers books (and TV series), the St Clares books, the Trebizon novels and others.
I decided to start things off with a random draw to determine the starting scene – and the result was the Ace of Spades. Not so ominous as you may think – this means the introduction of a new Story Arc, and the location is the Headmistress’ Office.
The obvious new Arc to introduce (since the Headmistress is unlikely to be advising the girls of malicious gossip or a scandal among the staff) is the Open Day Arc. Obviously as the player character Verity will be there. Who else do we know that has organisational skills? Why, Verity’s rival Penelope Jessop of course. I’m going to take the opportunity to also bring in Tabitha Talbot since we know she’ll be involved in the Whispering Campaign Arc and she should appear before that becomes an issue.
The HeadMistress’ Announcement
“Welcome back, girls,” says the smiling headmistress, Miss Yates, having invited three of her third-form girls to her study and treated them to tea and toast instead of having breakfast with the others. After asking about their holidays and their hopes for the new term, Miss Yates comes to the point of the meeting.
“At the end of this term we will be having an Open Day – not just for parents and family members, but for local dignitaries and some former pupils… some of whom have become very well respected in their fields. Of course I think Blaydon Grange should show the very best of what we are, and who our pupils are. And I have been thinking long and hard about who among you should represent the lower-school when it comes to organising the big day.”
Penelope Jessop of course sits up very straight and raises her china cup to her lips with what she thinks is a refined smile. “Of course I’ll be very glad to take charge, Miss Yates,” she says, “How very kind of you to ask me.”
Miss Yates who is tact itself returns the smile and says, “I know you’ll all do a very good job. Verity, Penelope, Tabitha, I’d like you to form the lower school planning committee. Decide among yourselves what events, displays or presentations would best represent the school and lead your classmates in carrying out your vision for the day.”
“You can count on me,” says Penelope.
“You can count on all of us,” says Verity firmly.
“Very good,” says Miss Yates, “Now off you go to class. I believe you have your first lesson with Miss Penrose this morning.”
After all I do need to get that New Teacher Arc moving
The History Lesson
I’ve made Miss Penrose the History teacher. Why? Because I know already she’s very into bleak poetry but making her the English teacher would be too obvious. And she’s not, in my imagination, very scientific. History class it is.
The three Open Day organisers (Penelope and her two assistants as Penelope would no doubt describe things) make their way to their classroom and find the rest of their classmates already seated and chattering quietly. To their surprise though Miss Penrose is already at the front of the class but making no effort to quiet the girls. She is regarding the words on the blackboard, that she has just finished writing, with a critical eye.
“Sit down girls,” she says, “close the door will you? Good.”
She regards the words on the board for a few more seconds and then turns to the class with a sigh, shaking her head.
“Quiet now girls, will you? I am your new history teacher. My name is Miss Eustacia Penrose and it will be what is called my privilege to teach you of the past. I shall be honest with you, you can learn only so much from the past, and much more from the present which is after all the lens through which we can observe that which has gone before. I am told that we are to learn about the Tudor kings this term.” She indicates the family tree of kings and queens that she has drawn on the board, a languid hand gesturing vaguely at a long dead monarch.
“A dreadful collection of people, ambition, selfishness and arrogance distilled by some historical alchemy into the bodies of monarchs and their courtiers…”
She then proceeds to ignore the lesson plan entirely and holds forth in detail on how the very worst qualities in men and women can, when gathered together into a privileged family, be hailed as kingly virtues and make history. She then recites from memory some poetic works on the theme of transience.
“Verity,” she says, “Stand up. You are I presume, familiar with the poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley? I believe it was part of last year’s curriculum. Excellent. Recite it for the class would you?”
Well we need a Challenge after all. This will be an Academic Challenge and a Hard one (difficulty 10). I want Verity to have a good chance at this so I’ll spend one of her Loyalty Assets and justify that by saying that her friend Evelyn who is sitting near her will whisper and prompt if Verity’s memory lets her down. This gives her Advantage which means drawing 2 cards and keeping the higher. Verity also has +2 Brains so this should go well.
The draws are 6 of Clubs and 9 of Diamonds – thank goodness for Evelyn’s help as the 9 of Diamonds + 2 Brains beats the 10 difficulty. AND the Diamonds suit is a match for a Brains task. Succeeding at a Challenge with a matched suit means some extra benefit. I’ll give Verity a Knowledge Asset
Verity stands with her hands behind her back and falters over the first line until she hears Evelyn’s hasty whisper “I met a traveller from an antique land…” and that’s all Verity’s memory needs to kick in. She recites the rest of the poem clearly and without hesitation.
Miss Penrose closes her eyes as she listens, and joins in on the words “Look on my Works ye Mighty and despair!”
“Brava, Verity Mason, brava!” she says, “You have an excellent speaking voice. You must come to my study after Prep tonight and we shall discuss more poems. You should bring your helpful understudy too.” Evelyn blushes bright red at having been caught helping. “And that is the end of the lesson. Off you all go!”
Not a single word of history having been taught, the girls depart in a chattering crowd. Opinion is divided about the strange new teacher. Some of the girls like the unorthodox lesson, others are confused or even irritated by the lack of actual history addressed. Verity is among the latter group.
That first unsatisfactory encounter with Miss Penrose’s quirks is I think a milestone for the New Teacher story arc, so I’ll add a check mark to it. The Arc will resolve when we have six… or fail if we suffer four setbacks on the arc.
Otherworlds 