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
We begin with a random scene… the 6 of Diamonds means that this will be a sidestory and it begins in the San or the Library. The Library makes more sense. Using the new expanded Sidestory Oracles I draw a 5 of Hearts to determine that this is a Pupil/Friend related story and then a 10 of Clubs that means it is about a duel or challenge!
“Hello Vino!” comes a mocking voice as Verity is trying to do her Latin prep in the Library. Verity looks up to see Imelda Day, the third-former from the Annex and a particular rival of hers taking a seat opposite. “I hear you scruffy Grangers had the untidiest Dorm in Blaydon history. Shocking!”
“Because you and your silly friends came in and flung all our things around,” Verity says, “Go away Imelda, I’m trying to work.”
Imelda snatches the book from Verity and looks over it.
“I saw you playing lacrosse with Emily yesterday,” she says, “You were hopeless. It was like watching a duck try to waltz.” Verity flushes with anger. She knows Imelda is trying to provoke her and is upset at herself that it’s working.
“I was just helping her practice. Anyway I didn’t see your name on the team list. Hardly surprising since they don’t post the twenty-third reserve.”
Both girls narrow their eyes. Things escalate. After lunch that day both girls and their friends are out at the sports field for a one-on-one lacrosse skill challenge.
Is Imelda better at Lacrosse than Verity? Verity suggested she wasn’t very good but that may have been bravado. I’ll make it a Yes/No Oracle with the odds of a Yes being Evens. The draw is the Eight of Clubs… Yes. Imelda is better. We haven’t had an actual Conflict in the game so far so this seems an ideal opportunity. In a Conflict a card is drawn for each character against a difficulty of 8, and this repeats until one character wins and the other doesn’t. Verity is Outclassed so she will take a -2 to each draw which, coupled with her having no Courage bonus, means that she’s very much the underdog. To counter that – once – I’ll have Verity spend her Popularity asset to give her Advantage on the first draw. This is represented in fiction by Evelyn Kendall, Verity’s best friend, and Emily Wallace, new Captain of the lower school lacrosse team – being there to cheer her on and yell advice.
The two girls face off, the ball placed between their sticks by an older girl who is acting as referee. Eye contact shows the determination on each’s face. “Go!” calls the referee stepping back. “You can do this Verity!” shouts Evelyn.
Verity draws two cards this time since she has advantage – Verity draws a Queen of Clubs and a 4 of Diamonds. She’ll take the Queen of Clubs. This has a value of 10 but Verity takes a -2 since she is Outclassed which reduces it to 8… but since it’s a Club (which matches the type of challenge) she gains a +2 raising it back to 10 – a Success! Imelda draws a Jack of Diamonds – value 10 – also a Success.
The girls battle for possession, Verity wins, sidesteps Imelda and heads for the open goal… she shoots but Imelda leaps and deflects the ball, running to scoop it up herself…
Second draw – Verity has no Advantage this round so she’s relying on the draw. Since she’s at -2 for being Outclassed she can only succeed by drawing a 10 or higher in the right suit – Clubs! She draws the Ace of Clubs! Not only is this a success but since it’s an Ace that matches the suit, she will win automatically regardless of what Imelda draws (and she draws the 9 of Spades)
As Imelda launches a desperate shot at Verity’s open goal, Verity flings herself forward, reaching out with her stick and catches the ball perfectly. Turning on a sixpence she dashes around Imelda, cradling the ball carefully, feints left and then flings the ball past Imelda and into the net!
The girls of the Grange go wild and mob Verity with hugs and claps on the back! Imelda, red-faced, makes a very grudging apology for the messy dorm prank and skulks off with her friends.
As the winner of the Conflict, Verity gets to either reduce Distress, take a temporary positive Condition, or gain an Asset. I’ll choose to regain the Popularity Asset she spent – which makes sense as she is now the hero of the Grange Third.
Next Scene… the draw is a 7 of Spades – a new Arc and with a Friend. Since all the Arcs are in play, I’ll choose a non-current one. The last one was Whispering Campaign, so I’ll go back to the New Teacher Arc and see how Miss Penrose’s dreary influence is spreading. Starting with a Yes/No Oracle question… has Miss Penrose’s clique grown? I’ll make that Likely – and the draw is Jack of Clubs – YES/AND…
“Miss Yates would not approve of this,” Miss Penrose tells her history class as she leads them outside, “But life is full of decisions to be made, and basing your decisions solely on the opinions of those who claim to be your superiors is not a path to achieving your purpose.”
Verity and Evelyn exchange worried looks as they hear the murmurs of appreciation from so many of their class-mates. Some of them, Stella foremost among them, have started wearing their hair like Miss Penrose now, and copying some of her mannerisms. The “resigned sigh” is becoming a far too common response in the Dorm.
Once more the ostensible history lesson turns into a vehicle for Miss Penrose’s rather dismal philosophy of life. Verity and Evelyn are not responding so well as the others and Miss Penrose has noticed this. “Are you unwell, Verity? Is something bothering you, Evelyn? You seem distracted.”
I draw a random challenge and get the 7 of Clubs -A Courage test, of difficulty (8) is required. This seems apt. Verity needs to stand up to Miss Penrose and it will take nerve.
“I’m not unwell, Miss Penrose,” she says, “But I am worried. We’re supposed to be learning about the Tudor period in History this term. And so far, apart from copying out some family trees for Prep we haven’t learned anything. Except some of your favourite poems, and that you don’t really believe that anything is worthwhile. It just seems… well… that this isn’t going to help us.”
And now we need to see how that went! I’m going to spend Verity’s Authority Asset to reflect her natural dignity AND the fact that she is absolutely in the right here! This gives Advantage on the draw. She draws the King of Clubs (a Success and a Match!) and a Queen of Hearts. Succeeding with a Match means some extra success so I’ll remove the lingering Disfavour that Verity obtained earlier, and explain that away as follows.
Miss Penrose’s face flushes and she flinches as though Verity had slapped her. “If you can’t see the value in…”
“Actually Miss Penrose,” says a firm voice from nearby. The girls all jump in surprise as does Miss Penrose as they recognise Miss Yates, the headmistress who has quietly approached them, “I was hoping to speak with you about the curriculum. That will be all, girls, go inside if you will and revise the text book you were given. Miss Penrose will be with you shortly.”
As the girls scramble up from the grass, Verity catches Miss Yates’ eye, and the headmistress gives her an approving nod. It is clear that Miss Yates heard and shared Verity’s concerns.
Shortly afterward in the History classroom, Miss Penrose entered.
“It seems more traditional and less innovative lessons are to be the order of the day,” she says rather bitterly, “So you can devote the rest of this lesson to silent reading. Miss Yates, in her wisdom, has decreed that the next lesson will be given over to a test on the Tudor kings, so I advise you to study very well indeed.”
“Her nose is out of joint,” Evelyn thinks to herself. Such a shame the other girls can’t see it!
And with that, and an extra tick mark of success in the New Teacher Arc we draw a veil on the class as the girls prepare for their surprise test… next session!
Otherworlds 