Juniper + Lemongrass
The world ended ten minutes ago.
Somehow, two people survived.
If they shelter in place,
they will surely die.
They must flee and seek
the safety of paradise.
This is a game.
It requires three players, at least two six-sided dice, and a few hours to play.
It has no winners or losers.
You all play together.
When it ends, it ends.
The three players inhabit three roles.
Anyone can play any role.
You play your role for the duration of the game.
The first role is called The Sky.
The second role is called The Sea.
The third role is called The World.
The Sky and The Sea are partners.
They will overcome obstacles.
The World is a solitary supporter.
They will present obstacles.
As The Sky or The Sea, your character is simply you—no more, no less.
Tell The World what you took with you and what you left behind.
As The World, your character is everything else in the game.
Tell The Sky and The Sea what changed while they were in hiding.
You track two scores.
The first score is called the Cross.
It starts at 1 point.
The second score is called the Horizon.
It starts at 3 points.
Both scores will change frequently.
Paradise is three days away.
You start the game on the first day.
Each day requires two rites of passage.
The first rite of passage is to escape peril on the road.
The second rite of passage is to find shelter for the night.
You must succeed at both rites to complete a day.
Each rite of passage is complicated by obstacles.
When you face an obstacle, try to be yourself.
Use your human ingenuity and your real-life skills.
Make a plan, then roll dice.
If you do not overcome an obstacle, all is not lost.
You may either keep trying or make a sensible retreat.
If you retreat, you will have to face a new obstacle.
The World will tell you what it is.
When you roll dice, you may either Work Together or Work Alone.
When you Work Together, you roll together, one die each against the Cross.
When both roll above the Cross, they FARE.
When one rolls above the Cross, they FALTER.
When neither rolls above the Cross, they FAIL.
When you Work Alone, you roll alone, one die only against the Horizon.
When The Sky rolls above the Horizon, they FARE.
When The Sky rolls below the Horizon, they FAIL.
When The Sea rolls below the Horizon, they FARE.
When The Sea rolls above the Horizon, they FAIL.
When anyone rolls on the Horizon, they FLOURISH.
We have described four outcomes.
When you FARE:
You overcome the obstacle.
You describe how that happens.
The World may add color if they choose.
When you FAIL:
You do not overcome the obstacle.
The World describes what goes wrong.
You have to decide what to do next.
When you FALTER:
You overcome the obstacle but it costs you.
The World describes what goes wrong.
You describe what you lose to succeed anyway.
When you FLOURISH:
you overcome the obstacle and it benefits you.
You describe how that happens.
The World describes what you gain in the process.
Whenever The Sky FARES alone, raise the Horizon by 1 point.
Whenever The Sea FARES alone, lower the Horizon by 1 point.
Whenever anyone FAILS, together or alone, add 2 points to the Cross.
At any point in the game, The Sky may make a vow to The Sea.
If The Sea accepts this vow, subtract 3 points from the Cross.
If The Sea rejects this vow, The Sky may try again, now or later.
At any point in the game, The Sea may make a vow to The Sky.
If The Sky accepts this vow, subtract 3 points from the Cross.
If The Sky rejects this vow, The Sea may try again, now or later.
The substance of these vows can be whatever is acceptable to you.
You can only accept one vow each.
This game ends in one of three ways.
The first is if anyone breaks a vow.
The second is if the Cross rises above 7 points.
The third is if you complete the third day.
When any one of these conditions comes to pass, the game immediately ends.
There is no epilogue.