After The Rupture, the world went silent for hundreds of years. The magnificent structures our ancestors built were taken over by nature.
At one point long after that, our great grandparents woke up from their slumber. As they raised once again to the surface, they slowly but steadily uncovered towering overgrown ruins among inconceivable creatures and plants.
With no recollection of what happened before their time, they started a new world. A place of hope, peace, synergy and beauty.
Welcome to Ayera.
(Images by Artbreeder)
SCRAPS is a solo roleplaying game by Cezar Capacle that is very different than most of the games that you or I are accustomed to. It's a game about exploration and crafting, and the setting is one of wonder and peace. People live in harmony with nature, and violence of any kind is unthinkable and completely absent from the setting. There's no combat, no hunting, no taking from nature or others against their will. It's a refreshing, relaxing, feel-good game.
The world of Ayera is a wondrous, unimaginable fantasy world. The environment, flora and fauna are unlike anything in our own world, and it is from these fantastic places and life forms that the player will gather the materials they need to craft their personal projects as well as projects for the benefit of the community in which they live. That is to say, they can extract the things they need in accordance with, and respect for, the will of Ayera and the other beings that live there.
THE CHRONICLES OF GRUB
Grub is intrepid and enjoys the thrill of discovery. He is fairly good at recognizing and collecting the resources he needs. He is accustomed to larger public works, and less so for small projects and fine detail. I assign his stats accordingly:
Grub is aware of his limitations when working with smaller materials and parts, and is determined to improve his workshop. His first personal project will be to craft a workbench that will help him to cut and bend materials. It should definitely have a table saw, and any other features will depend on the materials he finds. I sketch it out on the crafting grid, in accordance with the recommended size of 20 squares:
It's nothing pretty, or sophisticated, but the grid is merely a representation of the overall form. For his first community project, I roll on the Project Complexity table and get 26+ squares. This will be a big one. I roll on the Project Type table for inspiration. I get "Mysticism & Communion". Hmmm. This suggests some kind of worship, but it should still remain in accordance with the ethos of the game world. I am inspired by the Chalice, the symbol used by Unitarian Universalists. I will build a large brazier, around which the community will gather for spiritual purposes. I sketch out a representation:
Again, it's nothing fancy, but it suggests a base, a pedestal, a bowl and a flame. The size comes in at 25 squares, close enough for the first major project. Unlike personal projects, where the necessary materials can be inspired by what you find along the way, the materials needed for a Community Project are determined in advance. Rolling for the amount, I find that three special ingredients will be needed. Checking for the descriptor and material for each, I envision the following:
1) Firestone: This is a special kind of mineral that generates great heat without flame or smoke. It can be found in the depths, three hexes away from Waldon. A little bit of random generation places it in hex 3,3 (Waldon is in 5,5 at the center of the map).
2) Pepperwood: These are the pine cones of a certain variety of very tall evergreens. They are full of a resin that burns without being consumed, and gives off a pleasant, cedar-like aroma. Placing these atop the firestone will give us a flame, and a scent like incense. They can be found 4 hexes away in hex 1,4.
3) Cloudhorn: These are the horns of the cloudhorn sheep, a timid creature that lives in the mountains. They shed their horns annually after mating season. The horns are lightweight but strong. This sounds ideal for an ornate base and pedestal for our Chalice. The cloudhorns live two hexes away in hex 3,4.
[I am using a letter-sized sheet of hex paper with a 1/2-inch grid. This gives me a 9 by 12-hex map. The coordinates are column, then row. Placing the town in the center of the map ensures that even the farthest possible destination can be shown on the sheet, while allowing the largest possible space in each hex for drawing and noting details.]
With his projects decided and a list of needed materials, Grub is ready to set out on his journey. He seeks guidance by going through unfinished poems he has found.
"By Waldon Pond... I took the road less traveled..."
Grub is encouraged by the words that suggest blazing a new trail, while keeping home in his heart. He foresees a highly beneficial journey, and begins with +1 Opportunity, which can be spent later to find a random special Scrap of material, or to gain an extra d6 on a later roll. He spends the evening preparing food for his travels, and with the first light of dawn, sets out on the unknown trail.
What wonders will he find out there in the wilderness? We will see in the next episode. Stay tuned!