Frankie Minch

She/Her, Ace/Aro, lover of purple and chocolate

[frankieminch]

You Try to Get Owen's Attention

You kick your feet against the boards and strain to make yourself heard through your gag. But your moans are cut short as your captor makes good on his promise. The last words you hear are Owen's, asking if the driver heard a strange noise. You'll never know whether he finds out what it was--your adventure is over before it's really begun.

Once again I ask...

Do You Want to Try Again?

Yes! This time for sure!

No thanks. I've had my fun with this, I'm good.

Voting ended onJan 19

[frankieminch]

No Decision was Made

First off, I'm sorry for the radio silence. The holidays were crazy for me so I never got the time to post. Anyway, since no decision was made and there are three choices, I will roll d12 to determine what happens next.

1-4: Open the door and ask him yourself

5-8: Buy some time

9-12: Escape through the alley

You open the door and ask him yourself.

You reason that you've done nothing wrong, and therefore have nothing to fear. There'll be a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this, you tell yourself, as you climb down the ladder from the platform where you sleep. In fact, it's probably a set-up by your friends trying to scare you because they know Old Joe is away. He's the carpenter who's raised you as his own. Yes, that must be it! You grin as you unbolt the door. And then you meet those sightless eyes, that somehow seem to see more than yours ever could, and you grin freezes in place. Two of the hooded figures pin your arms behind your back.

"So, Rowan," the man sighs, almost sadly. "After all this time you answer the door like a common servant."

His voice hardens.

"The rope!"

You are bound and gagged and a sack is pulled over your head. That same festering laugh seems to creep from all sides as you're carried away from your home.

You twist and kick until you feel the point of something sharp pressed against your side.

"Master would prefer to take you alive," a voice says, so close to your face that you can smell the warm breath through the sacking. "But it's only a preference. If you try to escape, I will kill you."

The accent is harsh and unfamiliar. They bundle you onto the cart and someone jumps up beside you. The driver urges the horses forward, and the cart jerks into motion. Lying on the boards, you hit your head every time you go over a pothole. Eventually, the horses slow and a familiar voice calls out in the darkness.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Your breath catches in your throat. It's Owen, the gatekeeper! His daughter's in your class at school. You're about to call out, when you feel the sharp jab in your side once more, an you remember the warning that went with it.

What do you do?

Get Owen's attention

Keep quiet

Voting ended onJan 12

[frankieminch]

Tie

Time to roll!

1-3: Endurance

4-6: Sixth Sense

It's a 5 so our stats look like this:

Athleticism: 3

Skill: 3

Endurance: 3

Sixth Sense: 4

Now We begin again

For a moment, you think that you’ve dreamt it, the cry that tears the night in two and jolts you from your sleep. A hard winter’s moon pierces the shutters. Then there’s the scrape of metal and a bang at the door. Your hand crosses the floorboards to peek outside. There are five figures, dressed in dark cloaks with hoods over their heads. The leader raises his gloved fist to strike the door, and then stops, as if sensing something. He looks up and you pull back, but not before catching a glimpse of his face. It’s deathly white, and his eyes are sunken and sightless.

“My apologies for waking you, young apprentice,” he calls. “But an old friend begs an audience.”

His laughter creeps up the walls. You hear that cry again, and realize it’s deep inside you. Some forgotten terror. Who is this man that’s come calling in the night, and why does he seem so familiar? Add a LOCKET to your INVENTORY.

What do you do?

Open the door and ask him yourself

Buy some time and call down from the window

Escape into the alley behind the workshop

Voting ended onDec 28, 2025

[frankieminch]

Tie

Time to roll a d6.

1-3: Try again

4-6: We're done

Alright third times the charm.

Which means we, once again, have to decide which trait gets the extra point.

Which Gets the Extra Point

Strength

Athleticism

Endurance

Sixth Sense

Voting ended onDec 14, 2025

[frankieminch]

Tie

So, I'll roll a d6 to determine what happens next.

1-3 You ask for help

4-6 You try to free yourself again

The imp shakes her head and sighs as you struggle against your bonds.

"I definitely wouldn't have done that," she says, almost to herself. "Even if I were you."

The roots tighten once more and draw you closer to the trunk of the tree. Closer to the round knots that sprout from its bark like boils. And in each knot you see a face, a wooden carving of despair. You open your mouth to but a root stifles your scream. Soon, you too will be just another lump on the trunk of Old Man Tree.

Would You like to Try Again?

Yes! Let's go again!

Naw. I'm good.

Voting ended onDec 3, 2025

[frankieminch]

You Try to Free Yourself

You wiggle and squirm, but the roots don't give an inch. In fact, they tighten further, until you're gasping for breath. All around you, the leaves shiver and hiss. You lose 2 HP (current HP 9/12).

"Quiet now, Old Man Tree," the imp calls out in a high voice. "The young ones are sometimes the least stupid. Let's give them one last chance, shall we?"

Slowly, with a disappointed creek, the roots loosen a little.

"Now then, my little thief, what have you got to say for yourself?" she asks.

What do you do?

Apologize for taking the water

Try to yourself one more time

Voting ended onNov 25, 2025

[frankieminch]

You Decide to Drink

With a look of disdain you turn away and scoop up a handful of cool water.

(Because your 6th Sense skill is 3) As you raise the water, the leaves of the old tree shiver, but you're too thirsty to take much notice. The water touches your lips and the whole tree creaks and groans. You feel something snake around your ankles. Roots are pushing up through the ground, coiling around and around until you're lifted high in the air and only your head is free to move.

"Oh dear, oh dear," laughs the imp. "You are up to your neck, aren't you?"

What do you do?

Plead for help

Try to free yourself

Voting ended onNov 18, 2025

[frankieminch]

You chose 7 or higher

Alright, let's see what we get.

It's an 8! Which means...

half-Harlan is dead!

Your captor sighs as he falls to the floor.

"It's better," he whispers.

You step back as he puts his hand inside his tunic, but it emerges with a small, white flower.

"Please, take this. It only grows near my town, far away from here. Wear it, and if you meet half-Harlan, give it to him."

"I thought you were half-Harlan?' you say.

He smiles sadly.

"There were two halves to Harlan."

His eyes close. Taking the flower, you run for the forest. Add a white flower to your inventory.

Branches claw and brambles clutch, but you don't slow down until the cries have faded to nothing. Only then do you stop and look around. You're in Gloamwold Forest. This place has a sinister reputation. Mothers say to their children: "If you don't behave I'll leave you for the old lady of the woods to find - and that will be the end of you!" Even seasoned travelers won't set foot in the forest after dark. And yet here you are, lost and exhausted. You stumble on until you come across a tree standing slightly apart from the rest. Its thick trunk is knotted and gnarled, and clear water has pooled in a hollow between its roots. You're about to scoop some to your lips when you hear a quick, high-pitched voice by your side.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you...or would I?"

You look down in surprise to see an impish creature with curly red hair and pointy ears. There's a teasing smile on her lips.

You ask her what she means.

"If I were me, I know what to do... But if I were you, I don't suppose I would."

She cocks her head and shrugs.

What do you do?

Ignore her and drink

Don't drink

Voting ended onNov 10, 2025

[frankieminch]

You Chose 7 or Higher

So I need to role a 7 or higher to succeed and do 1 damage. And I rolled...

...a 9! So you hit and do 1 damage. This is where combat is now.

What do you do next?

7 or higher

9 or higher

11 or higher

Voting ended onNov 3, 2025

[frankieminch]

You Choose to Warn Her

You give a warning cry, and the acrobat leaps from the cart with cat-like grace. But your captor is only a fraction too late - and instead of killing the acrobat his weapon grazes your arm. You scramble from the cart and call out for help, yelling that you've been kidnapped.

Deducted 1 LP (current LP: 11/12)

Suddenly, everyone's attention is drawn to the sound of hooves thundering down road. The rest of the kidnappers are riding up fast, weapons in hand! Their pale leader is out front, hood blown back, revealing long strands of white, lank hair trailing from his scalp.

"Protect the child!" yells the ringmaster as half-Harlan leaps from the cart.

One of the circus giants catches him by the ankles and hurls him towards the oncoming kidnappers, but their pale leader holds up his hand and somehow deflects him away without even touching him. He lands in a heap by the forest's edge, and his weapon clatters to the ground near your feet. As the two sides clash, an acrobat flips gracefully over the cart and cuts your bonds.

"Run for the forest, little one!" she whispers. "Quick!"

Grabbing the weapon, you keep low and have almost gained the trees when someone steps in your path. It's your captor. You yell at him to get out of your way - he's unarmed.

"I can't let you go," he replies quietly, and takes a step towards you.

You have no choice but to fight.

Add half-Harlan's weapon, FLYNT, to your log.

COMBAT

For combat, you start by choosing the following:

Roll 7 or higher: 1 damage

Roll 9 or higher: 3 damage

Roll 11 or higher: 5 damage

Then I roll 2d6 to determine if you fail or succeed. You cannot change your mind once you've decided. If you succeed you do that amount of damage to the foe(s); if you fail, you take the amount of damage indicated in the top-right corner shown in the image below. The number in the top-left corner indicates how many rounds you have to defeat the foe(s). If you defeat a foe and have damage left over, you can transfer the leftover damage to any other foes in combat.

The candles indicates your LP and the skulls indicate your foe's LP. If your LP reaches zero, you die and the run is over.

If you have a weapon, you add the damage of that weapon to your attack roll. If you have armor, you subtract the armor points from the damage you'd've taken from a failed attack.

Choose Your Attack

Roll 7 or higher

Roll 9 or higher

Roll 11 or higher

Voting ended onOct 26, 2025

[frankieminch]

You Choose to do Nothing

One of the strong men lifts the driver by the neck.

"I think this gentleman needs to lighten up," says the ringmaster. "Don't you?"

The strong man grunts and tosses him through the air. He's pounced on by a troop of clowns and one of them pulls off his boots and tickles his feet with a long, yellow nail. An acrobat somersaults into your cart and looks at you curiously.

"What have we here?" she asks. "Why are you tied up, child?"

Behind her, half-Harlan reaches for his weapon.

What do you do next?

Warn her

Say nothing

Voting ended onOct 19, 2025

[frankieminch]

You Stop Asking Questions

The sun has risen above the horizon. Looking back towards Helmsgard, you see its rays glinting off the old Astronomer's Tower. But your attention is drawn away by strange noises further down the road. Songs and laughter, low rumbles and metallic clanking. The road skirts the edge of Gloamwold Forest. Who could be moving so cheerfully past that sinister place? Then the cart rounds the bend and the answer is revealed. The circus is coming to town! The ringmaster rides up front, wearing a red waistcoat that strains against its big gold buttons, and a blue top hat studded with stars. At the sight of your cart he raises a hand and cries: "Company...HALT!"

Your driver pulls his horse up fast and yells: "Get off the road you thieving vagabonds, can't you see we're in a hurry? Nobody wants your sort in town anyway!"

The ringmaster's stare hardens.

"Harley, Barley, Cob, you're needed outside, boys!"

The cart behind him shudders. The door swings open and three of the biggest men you've ever seen emerge.

"Now wait just a minute," your driver stammers. "I was only joking around. Of course you folks are welcome here. As a matter of fact I..."

His voice trails off as the three circus giants loom over him.

What do you want to do?

Leap from the cart and call for help

Do nothing

Voting ended onOct 12, 2025

[frankieminch]

You Ask What Happened to whole-Harlan

"Whole-Harlan was purified."

Your attempted smile fades, and you ask what he means.

"Whole-Harlan was purified."

Clearly he's not willing, or able, to say more.

What do you do next?

Ask more questions

Stop asking anymore questions

Voting ended onOct 5, 2025

[frankieminch]

No Decision was Made

So I will roll to determine what happens next.

1-3 = get Owens attention

4-6 = stay silent

You Remain Silent

You hold your breath as Owen chats to the driver.

"A bit early to be up and about?" he asks.

The driver laughs and says something you don't quite catch.

"Well, be careful how you go," Owen says. "There've been sightings of a group of armed men in the area. Not from around here I've heard."

You blink by tears of frustration as the cart passes through the East gate and out of Helmsgard.

Once clear of the city, your captor sits you up and pulls away the sack. He's the only other person in the cart - the rest must be making their way out separately. His hood is drawn back, and in the weak dawn light you see a pale face with dull gray eyes. He doesn't look that much older than you, but he stares straight ahead, seemingly uninterested in you or anything else. You make a muffled noise. After a moment's hesitation, he unties your gag and rests his hand on the hilt of his weapon. You see a name carved into it. "Flynt." It's not a word you've heard used around Helmsgard. You clear your throat and risk a question.

In a flat voice, he tells you he's from a fishing village beyond the northern border of the kingdom. His name is half-Harlan.

You watch your captor closely and ponder your next move.

What do you do next?

Ask him what happened to whole-Harlan

Beg him to let you go

Ask him why you've been kidnapped

Carry on in silence

Voting ended onSep 28, 2025

[frankieminch]

No Decision was Made

So I will roll to decide what happens next.

1-3 = Open the door

4-6 = Fasten the Belt

You open the door and talk to the stranger.

You reason that you've done nothing wrong, and therefore have nothing to fear. There'll be a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this, you tell yourself, as you climb down the ladder from the platform where you sleep. In fact, it's probably a set-up by your friends, trying to scare you because they know Old Joe is away. He's the carpenter who's raised you as his own. Yes, that must be it! You grin as you unbolt the door. And then you meet those sightless eyes, that somehow seem to see more than yours ever could, and your grin freezes in place. Two of the hooded figures pin your arms behind your back.

"So Rowan," the man sighs, almost sadly. "After all this time you answer the door like a common servant."

His voice hardens.

"The rope!"

You are bound and gagged and a sack is pulled over your head. That same festering laugh seems to creep from all sides as you're carried away from your home.

You twist and kick until you feel the point of something sharp pressed against your side.

"Master would prefer to take you alive," a voice says, so close to your face that you smell the warm breath through the sacking. "But it's only a preference. If you try to escape, I will kill you."

The accent is harsh and unfamiliar. They bundle you onto a cart and someone jumps up beside you. The driver urges the horses forward, and the cart jerks into motion. Lying on the boards, you hit your head every time you go over a pothole. Eventually, the horses slow and a familiar voice calls out in the darkness.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Your breath catches in your throat. It's Owen, the gatekeeper! His daughter's in your class at school. You're about to call out, when you feel the sharp jab in your side once more, and you remember the warning that went with it.

What do you do?

Get Owen's attention

Keep Quiet

Voting ended onSep 21, 2025

[frankieminch]

You buy time and call out the window

"What old friend?" you shout down in a brave voice. "It's a strange time to come a knocking."

You glance around the room and assess your options. Your work belt hangs on the wall, and a hatchet hangs from the belt.

"You have so much to learn, little fondling!" the man calls. "Left on a carpenter's doorstep - maybe on a night such as this!"

He laughs.

"Have you ever wondered who you really are, Rowan?"

Suddenly you hear footsteps around the side of the house. You don't have a moment to lose.

What do you do?

Open the door and talk to the stranger

Fasten the belt over your tunic and escape into the ally behind the workshop

Voting ended onSep 13, 2025

[frankieminch]

We Begin Again

For a moment, you think that you’ve dreamt it, the cry that tears the night in two and jolts you from your sleep. A hard winter’s moon pierces the shutters. Then there’s the scrape of metal and a bang at the door. Your hand crosses the floorboards to peek outside. There are five figures, dressed in dark cloaks with hoods over their heads. The leader raises his gloved fist to strike the door, and then stops, as if sensing something. He looks up and you pull back, but not before catching a glimpse of his face. It’s deathly white, and his eyes are sunken and sightless.

“My apologies for waking you, young apprentice,” he calls. “But an old friend begs an audience.”

His laughter creeps up the walls. You hear that cry again, and realize it’s deep inside you. Some forgotten terror. Who is this man that’s come calling in the night, and why does he seem so familiar? Add a LOCKET to your INVENTORY.

What do you do?

Open the door and ask him yourself

Buy some time and call down from the window

Escape into the alley behind the workshop

Voting ended onSep 6, 2025