Facing the Titan

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Hello, humans!

This is Jason, and today I'm playing "Facing the Titan". Normally this is played with a few friends, but they've got stuff to do, so I'm diving into this solo. Unlike other games like this where I just play as more than one guy, "Facing the Titan" actually comes with rules for solo play which add just a hint of strategy or resource management or something. Just a little something extra to make up for the missing players.

Playing the game solo feels a little bit like a creative writing project, but of course that could be said of any RPG that you play by yourself and then write down what happens. Although I suppose you could go in the other direction and have the game just be about rolling dice.

"Facing the Titan" is designed for no-prep, one-shot sessions of around three hours. It's a chonky book by Nicolas "Gulix" Ronvel, and is "Descended from MonkeyDome", which means that it inherits a lot of its core mechanics from a game called "MonkeyDome" and its successors. I think the system is neat. "With Great Power... (Master Edition)" is one of them, and I'm looking forward to the Kickstarter delivery of "Swords Without Master", a sword-and-sorcery game that uses this system to great effect.

Despite this initial bout of yammering, I intend to keep this short. Nobody came here for my amateurish writing skills. The game will move through five phases, where we meet the "Companions" and get to know a bit about them, we meet the titan and learn something about it, we explore a bit of the world and learn why it's worth saving, we prepare ourselves for the fight, and then finally we clash with the giant monster.

The book comes with several titans and bits of setting for each to make things easier to improvise. Here, I chose Ménébraz, "The Living Mountain", "The Shaper of Worlds", "The Slow Destroyer". Basically, it's a walking mountain. I'm imagining it to be somewhat spider-like.

Normally, you'd take turns rolling two six-sided dice of different colors and saying things based on which die was higher or lower and which phase you're in and what has come before in your tale. As I'm playing solo, in lieu of taking turns and getting the other players' input, I'll be drawing a pair of cards, keeping one and discarding the other. The suit and the value of the card will (along with the dice) guide the subject matter of the scene.

I've included [labels] in these entries. These reflect the overall "tone" of each scene as dictated by the dice.

Also normally, there would be three or four characters forming a "Company" of titan-slayers, but in the solo game all your companions have perished, leaving you as "The Lonely Companion", though the three other characters will appear as spirits or memories of your lost allies.

(Man, this feels long already. I swear I'll keep it as tight as possible.)

Companions Phase: Entrances [Barbaric/Noble]

Loen [Barbaric]

A huge dire-boar crashes through the underbrush and into a clearing, sending angry fairies scattering. It is followed by a bald and bearded man dressed in leather and furs. This is Loen. (This is me.)

"Ha! That's what you bitey little bastards get!", he shouts at the fairies cursing his intrusion as he strides boldly to the center of the clearing. He throws down his pack and lies upon it, looking up into the cool blue of the sky, surrounded by the dark and thorny trees.

His mind wanders to memories of his lost companions...

Kezhan [Noble]

He remembers meeting the uptight Kezhan, a stocky man, the last survivor of a deep mountain city. Kezhan had rolled out from underneath some clockwork contraption, revealing his braided beard and crystal goggles, to berate Loen for stepping on his tools. Kezhan wasn't a coward by any means, but he seemed obsessed with trying to plan for every contingency, which Loen of course thought was ludicrous.

Gwaherdia [Barbaric]

He remembers lovely Gwaherdia, the forbidden child of new and the old people, boldly independent by necessity. They met in a nearly deadly encounter while hunting the same buck. Luckily, her arrow missed him, but he struck her heart, regardless. Her flowing white locks that hung over her gem-green eyes could not hide the love that shone from them (if one thought to look).

Vihannik [Noble]

He recalls Vihannik, his mentor. Loen was but a child, and though Vihannik seemed to be a strange child himself, he was actually one of the small folk, and over 200 years old. Vihannik used the secret language of beasts to convince a bandit squirrel to return Loen's knife, and later taught this language to Loen. 

Companions Phase: Remembrance [Barbaric/Noble]

Remembering Gwaherdia [Barbaric]

Once, many years ago, the astrologers predicted a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event called the "Moonfire". Loen and Gwaherdia found a flower-covered hill from which to watch the sky. During this time alone, she sought to make her feelings known to him, but he was drunk on a spirit particular to this small town and didn't notice. The time for subtlety had ended, and she made to declare her feelings for him... and then the moon erupted, like a baleful white eye rimmed in fire.

They both looked up in wonder. The moment had passed, and was lost.

Remembering Gwaherdia [Noble]

Another memory of Gwaherdia. She had been working with the Desert Crusaders to find a relic, but their mission failed. The lead crusader was sentenced to ten lashes, as was the custom of the Eastern Desert. Gwaherdia was horrified, for she felt that the man had failed through no fault of his own. She offered to take his place, but there was no allowance for such a sacrifice, especially by a woman. Her opinion of the Desert Crusaders was greatly diminished.

Remembering Kezhan [Barbaric]

A memory of Kezhan surfaced. Loen and Kezhan were disguised in the robes of the Cult of the Ancient Circle, with their faces hidden behind ceremonial masks. Kezhan's elaborate plan had fallen apart and as the two men pushed their way past ecstatic dancers to escape, the two naked men who had formerly occupied these robes appeared at the balcony and shouted, "Brothers! Seized those imposters!". The crowd immediately erupted into violence.

A short while later, the two injured men shared a single horse as the cultists chased them out of the compound. Kezhan reached under his robe and pulled out a strange tome. Loen wiped blood from his eyes and squinted at it suspiciously.

"Wait. Is that it? I thought we were here for a golden treasure!", he shouted.

Kezhan just shrugged.

"I lied", he said, grinning.

Remembering the Company [Barbaric]

A memory of all four of the company, laughing around a table at an inn. Nearby, a young man gets into an argument and a brawl erupts. The companions break up the bar fight and offer the bloodied young man some advice.

"Always advance boldly", Loen told him.

"Always be prepared", Kezhan offered.

"Always work as a team", Vihannik suggested.

"Always know yourself", Gwaherdia said.

Transition to the Titan Phase

As Loen reminisces, the world rumbles as the titan shifts in the distance.

The Titan Phase [Colossal/Powerful-Impassible-Mineral]

A legend of Ménébraz [Mineral][Mystery: Who already communicated with the Titan?]

At the dawn of time, the Monkey God grew furious with Ménébraz for knocking down his treehouse. The Monkey God climbed to the top of the titan to give it a piece of his mind, but when he got there, there was nobody to yell at, only a mineral hot spring surrounded by snow. Chilled by the height, the Monkey God entered the water to warm up. As the Monkey God rested in the mineral hot spring, he found that he could hear the song of Ménébraz. They spoke for a long time. Ménébraz apologized and vowed to make more hot springs for all of the other monkeys to enjoy.

(But this is not true.)

A legend of Ménébraz [Powerful]

Once the world was mostly formed, Ménébraz began to move more quickly, smashing about in a violent frenzy. Heat began to pour off the titan, setting fire to nearby forests, and lava began to ooze from its crevices. Where the molten stone drops fell, amidst the destruction was born the first stone giants. Finally, the titan calmed and came to rest, a flaming mountain surrounded by white ash.

A legend of Ménébraz [Colossal]

The Cult of the Ancient Circle worships Ménébraz as a god on (and of) the earth. On certain holy days the followers gather in great camps in the path of the titan. Masked and robed, they dance around monoliths or piled stones as the titan approaches. If its path does not change before the camp is crushed, it is seen as a good omen.

A legend of Ménébraz [Impassible]

Ménébraz doesn't always move; sometimes it rests. Once, it rested in the path of mighty river, and the river could not pass and so was forced to fork around the titan. Centuries later, Ménébraz roused itself and moved on, leaving an immense hole that filled with water to create the Great Lake.

Transition to the World Phase

Loen continues to remember his time in the world with his companions.

The World Phase [Wonders/Ruins]

Remembering with Vihannik [Wonders]

Loen and Vihannik wandered the marble pillars of the immense hanging gardens where Vihannik taught Loen of the properties and secrets of plants. As a bit of a prank, Vihannik had him taste a strange pepper that caused his skin to turn blue!

Remembering with Kezhan [Ruins]

Loen and Kezhan were exploring the ruins of Old Kurun as a storm raged. In the center of the ruins, a man tended to graves encircling a monolith in the pouring rain. When the man saw the pair, he drew a sword and raised it as if to attack, and was immediately struck by lightning! Rather than being killed, the man was empowered and rushed to attack. Loen and Kezhan fought bravely, but the man seemed to be invulnerable and they were forced to retreat.

Remembering with Gwaherdia [Wonders]

Loen and Gwaherdia pushed through the teeming crowds of the Red City as they shopped for supplies. They were overwhelmed by the calls of vendors, the cries of beggars, and the arguments of neighbors shouting from high windows. Dusty and exhausted, they approached a bath house seeking relief, but here too, the spas were packed with men and women. A bath would have to wait.

Remembering with the Companions [Wonders]

Loen entered a crowded tavern. The walls were lined with strange bottles of spirits from around the world. Two groups of drunken students from the nearby university debated loudly about the nature of reality. Loen saw his companions waiting for him at a booth in the back. They greeted him warmly and had his favorite drink waiting.

Transition to the Preparation Phase

As Loen continues to let his mind wander over the past, his thoughts are interrupted by a low rumble. Birds and fairies in the nearby trees erupt into the sky. Loen sighs, climbing to his feet, and begins gathering his tools. As he works, he is reminded of the work that went into each.

Preparation Phase [Mystical/Rational]

Remembering Loen's Preparation [Mystical]

Loen had traveled to the Dark Wastes where nothing grew and only the Waste-Men lived. These twisted wretches were masters of the dark energy of the Star Stone that glowed sickly from a deep hole at the center of a great crater embedded with countless, glowing, green minerals. They used the green pit as a forge to enchant a mighty war-maul with the power of the Star Stone that once cracked the earth itself.

Loen was sick with the Waste-Rot for weeks afterward.

Remembering Loen's Preparation [Rational]

Loen worked with the Desert People to net a sand-dragon, and they showed him how to "break" the animal so that it could be trained. Finally, he rode with a dragon-rider on that same sand-dragon learning to guide it. He named the sand-dragon "Sandy", because he has no shame.

Remembering Preparation with Kezhan [Mystical]

Loen and Kezhan (and the dire-boar) crept through a haunted forest toward an ancient hut. Kezhan complained that witchcraft was unreliable and he knew a perfectly good alchemist who could do the job better. But he was immediately silenced when the witch opened the hut's door as if expecting them. The inside of the hut was full of strange items, weird herbs, animal parts, and shelves of mason jars filled with multi-colored potions.

Loen drew forth a wet sack containing something that wriggled and screeched. The witch was quite excited at this reveal and gladly traded several potion bottles for the contents of the sack. Kezhan just tried not to touch anything.

Remembering Preparations with Kezhan [Rational]

Loen helped Kezhan in a lab full of beakers and clockworks. Together they carefully built clockwork hand-grenades. As Loen went to place another grenade into a box, he dropped it. Both men dove for cover from the grenade, but there was no explosion. Kezhan kicked Loen out of the lab for the rest of the day.

Transition to the Clash Phase

With his gear equipped, Loen looks around, meeting the gaze of his companions. Vihannik and Gwaherdia smile. Kezhan gives a grudging nod.

Then they are gone.

Loen gives a whistle, and the sand-dragon drops out of the sky to his side. He mounts, and flies over the trees to face Ménébraz.

Clash Phase [Glum/Jovial]

Guided by Gwaherdia [Glum]

As Loen flies toward Ménébraz, all is silent but the whistle of the chill wind over the sand-dragon's wings. He raises the enchanted war-maul over his head. Gwaherdia wraps her hand around his and gives him a sad kiss on the cheek. She guides his hand as he passes the titan and strikes it hard, cracking the stone. The sand-dragon swings around and he attacks again, and again. He lashes out at the titan with his war-maul ten more times, drawing a rumble of rage from Ménébraz.

Guided by Kezhan [Glum]

Loen approaches Ménébraz again as the titan lifts its limbs, seemingly in slow motion, to strike back at its attacker. From behind Loen, Kezhan's thick-fingered hand offers a clockwork grenade. Loen reaches for it, but the mountainous limb of the titan rushes down at him and he is forced to dive off the dragon to avoid the crushing stone! Loen crashes through the sparse trees that cling to the titan's form, landing on its rocky body with a crunch!

The sand-dragon is nowhere to be seen.

Guided by Vihannik [Jovial]

Loen groans as he rises to his feet and charges up the mountain, dodging falling boulders. Ahead, he can see the diminutive form of Vihannik beckoning and urging him forward. Then Vihannik places his fingers between his lips and whistles, summoning the sand-dragon who scoops Loen up and flies him over the peak.

Loen laughs and shouts, pointing toward the bubbling pool at the mountain's crest. The sand-dragon understands, and drops Loen into the hot spring... But there is no communion, only pain as the boiling water envelops him! Loen cries in agony as he claws his reddened body out of hot spring and into the snow.

Just Loen [Glum]

Loen can see the limbs once again rising to crush him. Ignoring them, he reaches into his pack, pulling forth the potion jars that aren't broken, and begins pouring their contents into the hot spring. The bubbling waters first turn green, then become calm, and finally cool and harden into a jade-like ice.

Loen then reaches into a pocket and finds a single flask of spirits particular to a small town, and takes a swig.

"To us!", he whispers to the sky before drawing himself to his feet and lifting the war-maul once again.

The Death Blow

Ménébraz seems to stumble as its insides freeze over. Loen steadies himself, raising the war-maul, and then brings it down hard upon the green ice of the pool. There is no explosion, only a ringing sound and a slightly delayed "crack" that begins to multiply into a doomed roar.

Finally, the living mountain settles with a crash, living no more.

Epilogue

Loen was renowned as a hero who saved the world. He was given a palace where he spent his days relaxing in his private spa attended by beautiful women who served him spirits from around the world.

He only wished that his friends could be there to share in it.

Still too long!

But interesting, I think. There are hints at world there, and of stories left untold. If you were playing this with friends, each section would be longer and more detailed, and would be a cool thing that you created together, and you wouldn't have to slog through reading it because, you know, you were there.

This isn't a tactical game, but a story game, and if you like that then maybe you might like this. It's very focused. It does one thing. It tells the story of a small group of adventurers attempting to defeat some kind of kaiju level monster. There are several of these Titans included, but you can also make up your own. There's also guidance for "hacking" the game (whatever that means) or playing not to destroy the titan, but to save it (from itself or something that controls it).

This poor blog. I don't pay it enough attention. But I don't have my own thoughts, so this is where I go to try things and then record it for posterity and whoever else happens by. I wanted to play this game, and so I sort of did, and I recorded it, and I shared it.

Hopefully I'll find something else to share soon.

Chrome Hammer Ascension: New Thaumatology is almost a thing. Maybe I'll do something with that.

Gxis la revido!

C:E