ScareBnB - a Solo TTRPG Liveblog
Christening my new Tumblr with a new solo TTRPG adventure!
Today I'm playing ScareBNB by Jacqueline Bryk , a journaling game where you are a ghost haunting a bed and breakfast near Halloween time (yes I know it's almost New Years, but I need to get my spooky season fix).
Anyways, bear with me as I figure out the best way to format a tumblr post into a cohesive narrative.
(CW: infidelity, implied death)
Checking In
First, time to create my ghost. Here are my answers to the prompts the game provides:
What sort of ghost are you? - A cat-sìth (actually more fey than ghost, but shhhh work with me here.)
What room are you most often (but not always seen) in? - The common living room
What is strange about your room? - The room always smells of soured milk
What is comforting about your room? - The working fireplace
What guests do you normally appear to? - The very old (Gotta harvest them souls if they pass on)
Where is your haunted b&b located? - a remote forest village
What other beings haunt this place? - will o' the wisps
What is your relationship with the current owners of your haunt? - Antagonistic (they think I'm just a stray cat)
What is the current name of your haunt? - The Thistleweed Inn
What's your name? - Xav
Gameplay
ScareBNB is played over an in-game week: October 25th to November 1st. For each day, you have a prompt and an random event table to guide your writings. For the Encounters and Experiences table, you roll 1 d20 for three different categories: People, Mundane Events, and Supernatural Events. Once you have all three and your prompt, the writing can begin!
October 25th: New Arrivals
The chilly autumn breezes bring with them a whole host of possibilities. Newlyweds come and stay at your haunt, the proprietors remodel the guest rooms or are perhaps expecting a child themselves, or a new type of supernatural has discovered your existence. What is encroaching on your space, and why is that exciting?
Person: The happy newlywed couple
Mundane Events: Either someone is having raucous sex or is in a lot of pain in their room
Supernatural Events: The moon glows a bright crimson red at midnight.
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Something is coming.
The blood red moon that hangs in the midnight sky--what could this portent mean? It's both ominous but invigorating. Perhaps the veil is the weakest that it has been for as far as my ancient memory reaches back. Whatever is creeping in upon us, it can't be good. How exhilarating.
The excitement is also palpable in the newest guests that just arrived at the inn--a charming if not slightly grating couple named Alyx and Stella. Their fresh, saccharine love is apparent to all the other guests--as well as their not so chaste activities. Unfortunately for all, the walls of this establishment are paper thin.
Their presence isn't so bad. They always coo in delight when they see me, scratching me in the hard to reach places behind my ears. That does hit the spot. They even were kind even to leave a saucer of cream out for me--something that sent the owners into quite a tizzy. "This place reeks of rotten dairy, anyways," the newlyweds claimed, "so what's the harm?" Brave souls. I admire their tenacity.
Perhaps their arrival was what the crimson moon foretold? But no, that can't be right. Something more sinister lurks in the shadows...
October 26th: Old Habits
Even though Halloween is approaching, the day-to-day tasks of maintaining a haunt and home still require attention. How do you make yourself known? How do you close yourself off from others when you do not wish to be perceived? What small superstitions and courtesies do those in your space follow to keep you happy?
Person: Someone's secret lover
Mundane events: Someone is having a suspicious conversation in a back yard or rose garden
Supernatural events: One of the proprietors or staff makes a Faustian bargain
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The blood moon must symbolize passion. It must mean betrayal. Secrets on the brink about to overflow. And I saw them with my own eyes.
I normally sequester myself in one of the bushes in the garden out back when I need to hide from the mistress of the establishment, chasing me with her broom. That was what I was doing when I spied Stella and the maid, Clarice, sharing a clandestine moment in the dark of night. Even my sensitive ears could not pick up what was spoken in their hushed tones, but I could feel that it was urgent. It was...amorous. This was confirmed to me with a stolen kiss.
It was then I decided to make myself known to the couple with a low, rumbling meow accompanied by eerie, glowing eyes and a grin filled with teeth that were far too sharp and many. "Liar," I growled, "Deceiver." I normally do not reveal my supernatural presence to the people who inhabit this place, but I couldn't help but capitalize on this opportunity to strike fear into their hearts--perhaps sending them scurrying away. I did not expect, however, for Stella to beg me for my discretion. She promised me whatever I wanted would rightfully be mine.
I could not help but cave to my base nature and struck a deal with the young woman--for my sworn secrecy, a soul. Not now, but in due time I would collect. Foolish girl agreed to the terms, perhaps not fully aware of what the bargain meant.
Now she and her wife leave out saucers of cream for me every night. I suspect this is Stella's way of staving off my ire. A pitiful attempt at bribery, but a gift I will still gladly accept.
(ok, I know the prompt referred to a staff member striking a deal specifically, but I go where the narrative takes me. Had to turn it up to 11.)
October 27th: Dark Secrets
Someone in your haunt, be it a guest, a proprietor, a supernatural being, or another kind of being, has let something damaging slip. A decades-long marriage erupts due to cheating, a changeling will be sent to Hell, the proprietors made a deal with a demon to ensure prosperity, a teenage guest has their first kiss with a townie (who is not someone their parents approve of), or something similar shatters the peace of the bed and breakfast. How does this upset you? How do you express that?
(Oh man this would've been PERFECT for what we rolled before. Normally I would roll here, but I'm going to pick from the list to keep this narrative thread going)
Person: A newlywed couple
Mundane Events: A guest is caught cheating on their partner or spouse.
Supernatural Evemts: All of the milk spoils and the flames in the fireplace turn blue immediately after dinner.
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Although I kept my end of the bargain, disaster still struck.
Perhaps Stella grew careless with her affair, thinking her secret would be safe due to her dark deal. In the way that mortals often do, she let her hubris get the best of her. Wax wings can melt even in the light of the scarlet moon.
I knew the jig was up by the coldness that hung in the air. Suddenly, the silence was shattered with the sound of a heated argument. The once chilled air grew hot with anger--the atmosphere of the inn itself reacting to the emotion within. I couldn't help but let my anger make itself apparent. The bowl of milk that laid in front of the door of the lovers' room instantly curdled, and the flames that flickered in the hearth turned sickly shade of greenish-blue. How could a love so seemingly pure have been spoiled by such grave misdeeds?
The screams grew quiet. A door slammed open. Heavy, furious footsteps stomped down the hallway and out the door. All was quiet. And then came the faint sound of sobbing.
All the while, the blood moon shone on. Had its desire for misery been satiated?
October 28th: Mourning
Something has ended. Perhaps some guests are attending a funeral, the firebird dies, or the spouse in the broken marriage above goes back home. There is a pall of grief over your haunt. Do you try to comfort others? Do you place your sadness above everyone else’s What manifestations show your displeasure?
(once again going to pick and choose a little with this one to play a bit into the story that's unfolding.)
Person: The hired housekeeper
Mundane Events: The proprietors fire a staffer after a screaming argument.
Supernatural Events: Someone's eyes turn jet black unexpectedly
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The peace of Thistleweed Inn has been shattered.
Alyx leaves the next morning, as one could naturally expect. She lets the owners know exactly why she is checking out early too. The mister and the missus did not take kindly to the news. Your housekeeper having dalliances with married staff could lead to some less than favorable reviews, you see.
Once again, the air was punctuated by the sound of yelling. This time, the owners were confronting Clarice. As I was watching from a spot nestled between the couch cushions, I swore I could see the mister's eyes turn a deep jet black from rage. Perhaps it was a trick of the light. Or perhaps...
Clarice was promptly sent packing, never to return to the inn. I could see her--most likely unwittingly--trekking away down a path marked by the will o' wisps that flit about. Her fate could only be filled with more woe.
Once again, the air grew stagnant and quiet. The silence was especially profound from Stella's now half-occupied room.
I tried pawing at the door and meowing for Stella's attention. Maybe out of some misplaced pity, I cannot say for certain. Or perhaps to try to smooth things over and attempt to absolve myself from any guilt that might have been placed on me for the scandal coming to light.
"Go away, you damn beast!"
That ruffled my fur. With a hiss, I slinked away from the room, the smell of spoiled milk growing stronger throughout the hallway. All the while, the wisps chattered and laughed at my displeasure.
Oh cruel blood moon, I hope you are satisfied.
October 29th: Solace and Preparation
Sadness holds only so long in this liminal time and space. The current proprietors of your haunt decorate for Halloween. How do they acknowledge you in this process? How do you help or hinder? What do you want out of this holiday? How will you get it?
(Since we've sort of concluded the previous arc, time to let the dice take control again!)
Person: The proprietors and/or their family
Mundane events: The front porch is covered in packages of all shapes and sizes
Supernatural events: A series of strange lights in the sky perform complex manuevers
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Something is coming.
Oh, it's just the mailman.
The front porch of the inn is absolutely littered by an array of different parcels, addressed to the old mister and missus. My curiosity piqued, I followed as they brought the packages inside.
Normally my presence is met with a swift attempt at removal, but the missus was so busy flitting about that I went largely undetected. I perched on one of the bannisters and watched as each box was ripped open and gaudy Halloween decorations were pulled out. My tailed flicked in annoyance. How insulting. These sheet ghosts and black cats were a mockery of my glorious visage. I would make sure to let my outrage be known by swatting some of these decorations down later.
The way I celebrate this time of year is not through paltry decor. No, this season signifies the thinning of the veil between realms. Souls pass more freely between these boundaries, and that's exactly what I need to grow stronger. My hope is that I am able to feast aplenty on the mortals that frequent this establishment. I simply need the right guest to come along...
In my ponderings, I almost missed the will o' wisps dancing about in the sky, a ruddy moon ever present in the background. What could this ritual mean?
October 30th: Anticipation
Halloween itself is a threshold between the mortal world and others, but the days leading up to the holiday hold a magic all their own. There is a fever in the air and the breezes smell of woodsmoke and secrets. What do you most wish for? What do you see in others that you love or hate in yourself? What do you want to change, accomplish, or destroy?
Person: A frazzled writer, looking for some quiet
Mundane events: A friendly neighbor gifts the proprietor a basket of extra produce
Supernatural events: You receive an invitation to reave souls with the local Wild Hunt (!!!)
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There is an energy that permeates the inn today. Lots of bustling and commotion. New visitors checking in just in time for the holidays. It's the perfect excuse for me to hide in plain sight, waiting to choose a victim.
The newest visitor I have my eye on is Roger. An author, he calls himself, seeking respite in our quiet village so he can finish his novel. He's quiet on the surface, but like myself, he seems to be harboring something dark. What I would give to crack open his soul and drink from the secrets that lie within.
As I was pondering how to accomplish this, I heard a knocking on the front door. The kindly neighbor from across the way--accompanied by her trusty dog--was touting a basket of fresh, seasonal gourds. As the missus and the neighbor were chatting, the dog whispered to me in a language that only beasts and fiends could understand.
"Join us...join us...the Wild Hunt is at hand."
Our eyes met and for a moment, I saw a faint dark red glow. I returned his gaze with a fanged grin.
Tonight under the blood moon, we will feast.
October 31st: Celebration!
The day is finally here! It’s Halloween! This is the day you can let your true face shine. Do not hold back in this entry. What sorts of mirth and mayhem do you get up to? How do you make this Halloween haunting a night to remember forever?
Person: An undercover travel writer (we're just going to pretend it's the same NPC we already established because narrative threads, baby!)
Mundane events: A guest gets lost on or around the property
Supernatural events: A particularly noisy fog rolls in the evening
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The dread wolves howl at the sanguine moon, shining a murky red on the thick, heavy fog blanketing it.
The Wild Hunt has begun.
The time for me to claim a soul was nigh. My flesh and spirit hunger for the nourishment and power.
It was most fortuitous for me that a poor, unwitting Roger decided to take an evening stroll in the garden, despite the fog rolling in. All the while, the wisps giggled and danced in the condensation, only adding to the cacophony of the night. Foolish Roger decided to follow their light, unaware that they were leading him down a twisted path. I saw an opportunity. It was time for me to strike.
With inhuman speed, I sprinted after the human, letting out a shrieking yowl. Roger began to run with a sense of newly instilled fear. However, his efforts were in vain. I pounced upon him, sinking my dagger-like fangs into his neck and drinking his essence from within.
This poor soul....his soul was now mine.
As I felt the power surge through me, I cast a glance up at the sky. I could've sworn that in the smallest gap in the fog, I saw the color drain from the moon. Both of our lusts had been satisfied.
November 1st: The Day After
It’s time to take down the spiderwebs, pack away the skeletons, and calm the ecstatic otherworldliness we let out but once a year. The Halloween guests begin to leave, and there will be a lull between now and the next holiday. Take a moment to reflect. How are you the same after this Halloween? How have you changed? What do you want to change further? What will you miss?
(I'm once again eschewing the dice to pick the answers I think would be the most interesting for this part of the story.)
Person: The proprietors of the inn and/or their family
Mundane Events: Breakfast is fresh eggs from a local farm. All the eggs have two yolks.
Supernatural Events: A guest is gone for several hours and cannot remember anything but the taste of hibiscus tea.
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"He left without paying his bill."
I heard the mister grumble from his seat at the dining room table. Curiousity got the better of me as I slinked in his direction, using the tablecloth to hide myself.
"Don't be ridiculous," the missus replied, bringing a plates of eggs and bacon to the table, "I'm sure he just went to town and is running late."
"Well it's past checkout time."
"We'll just charge a late fee. I don't know why you're so worked up."
The mister let out a hmph before looking down at his plate.
"What the...what's up with these eggs?"
I stole a glance at his dish. Two sunny side up eggs, four yolks. Same for the missus' plate as well.
"I hear double yolks are bad luck," he remarked.
"Don't be ridiculous. They're good luck."
Good fortune and ill fortune. As someone who preys upon the misfortune of others, to me these concepts are hardly any different.
The double yolk signifies new beginnings. Quite the omen after last night's Wild Hunt. Although I am the same old me, I feel rejuvenated. My power that had been waning freshly revitalized by the new soul resting within me. For now, I had my fill. But soon...soon I would hunger again.
It was then that the door swung open. A rather battered and bedraggled looking Roger shuffled through the door. While this was the same man as before, there was something different about him. Perhaps it was those dark, empty eyes that stared blankly ahead. Soulless indeed.
The mister launched into a tirade. All the while, Roger just stared on. Once the mister was finished, Roger only had one reply,
"I'm sorry, but I just have the strangest feeling....could I trouble you for some hibiscus tea?"
I strutted out of the room with a satisfied grin. I then walked over to the living room and curled up in a cozy spot by the fireplace.
Guests may come and go and seasons may change, but I would always have a place here at Thistleweed Inn. As its protector. As its hunter.
But for now, I rest until the next blood moon rises.
Conclusion:
I know I took some liberties when it came to some of the dice rolling parts, but overall, I'm fairly satisfied with the narrative created. Definitely got darker in places than I was expecting (I was picturing more of a spookycute vibe).
I hope y'all had fun reading! I hope to play another game soon!
