So I finally got a look at my copy of To Change a TTRPG that is meant to tell transformation stories. While I feel the current system feels a bit light, I find it a fascinating idea and they even have a set of solo play rules where you're encouraged to journal out your story.
And I was so enamored with the game, I decided to start playing it.
So to start solo play, you create a character by drawing three cards from the major arcana of a tarot deck: face, rising, and falling.
I drew:
- Face - Temperance (can make changes permanent, satisfaction in the present)
- Rising - Magician (often inspired to create)
- Falling - Hermit (wracked by guilt and being blamed)
And then this was my first journal entry:
Hello, Journal!
I am Tabitha Evans, and I can't explain why I'm writing this all down, but I know I must. I suddenly felt inspired to start keeping this journal, and I guess that means I'll start by talking about myself. I have the strange feeling it is going to be worth doing that first.
I can't point to any one thing that has happened, but I can start there.
Mao is credited with saying "Everything under Heaven is in utter chaos; the situation is excellent." I'm not Chinese and I've never read any theory but I've always liked that quote. It fits me well. As well as the world.
Have you looked outside? Watched the news? It really does seem like everything is falling apart. Everyone focuses on the programmers that have been laid off, but what about me, the girl who served them their daily coffee?
I got laid off too. Look, it's basic economics. If some dumbass buys the company, and every engineer hates him so much they all quit, then they don't need coffee and they don't need me.
And yet, hearing my manager tell me that as I stared out from the empty office, I felt utterly at peace. This is just how things are now.
She nearly broke down in tears telling me the news, but yet... I was calm. Don't know why. Nothing's lined up, and to be honest, I'm tired of coffee. Amanda, my roommate, was among the engineers that left. She had heard me once talk off hand about needing a new place to live while she waited for her triple caramel latte, no foam, and well, "you seem cool, Tabitha, I could use the company".
She did get severance pay, something that was not offered to us lowly baristas, but I hadn't been asked to pay rent anyway and while Amada was grumpily throwing herself into video games, she said we should be fine there.
So yeah, some time off, some time to read, and we'll see where things end up.
I don't know why, but I feel certain something is about to happen, and thus, this journal. But, nothing yet.
And then after that I went ahead and drew my starting card that will affect how the game begins (though I'm going to write that journal entry tomorrow). I drew Strength. Tabitha is going to fight against a coming evil, and start with a 2 changes that I'll randomly draw tomorrow. She also gets to restore damage if she chooses to Succumb to the changes.
I'm hoping to keep updating this story daily assuming I have the time!