Soulsborne style bleakness: a MOSAIC Strict module
The tallow are fairies in the same way that horse-hooves are thumbs. We might not know each talla, but we’ve worked out what they mean to us.
Purpose
This module provides Dark Souls style bleakness to “chosen one” narratives, without the repetitiousness of these games.
In short
If your PC would be killed, they do not die. Instead the killer dies and the PC gains another talla (or blemish-fairy).
In long
PCs can die. They cannot be killed. The reason for their persistence can vary to support the specific story being told or world being explored.
If they would be killed, instead the killer dies. The killing blow does no damage but a scar still forms.
Furthermore, the PC is not healed either.
Force majeure
The protection does not extend to natural deaths, such as from falling, exhaustion, poison.
Iconic boss-fights might be considered forces of nature at your discretion.
The tallow + their impact
Talla are invisible sticky fairies. The act of inverted death brings them into existence.
Hostile creatures prioritise targets with the most tallow. Learned intelligent enemies may be aware of this instinct.
Objects and weapons erode in the precence of a talla. Each time an object is retrieved or a weapon is drawn, roll D%. If this number is equal or lower than the number of tallow on this PC, the item melts to ash as it is pulled out.
The more talla a PC has, the bleaker and harsher the world looks. Invite players to explain what changes from their perspective. It is a psychological effect of the tallow and has no tangible impact on the world itself.
Clearing out talla
Listening to a story told around a bonfire removes one talla.
Churches and devotionals can host services that remove all tallow from a PC. The cost is commensurate with the number of tallow removed.
Credits
- Inspirations: Dark Souls © 2009, DICE SOULS © 2020, Blasphemous © 2020.
- This is an rpg module following the MOSIAC Strict framework.
- The text of this module is CC-BY-SA 4.0, written by Sean F Smith © 2021.
Not sure what system to use as a base game? Check out QUARREL + FABLE.
