Journey
By Luke Miller
Why do you go away? So that you can
come back. So that you can see the place
you came from with new eyes and extra
colors. And the people there see you
differently, too. Coming back to where
you started is not the same as never
leaving.
There’s always a story. It’s all stories,
really. The sun coming up every day is
a story. Everything’s got a story in it.
Change the story, change the world.
Terry Pratchett
A Hat Full of Sky
©2021 by Luke Miller and Graycastle Press
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any
manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for
the use of quotations in a book review.
For Roman.
The rock my world rests upon and
the tether that guides me home
from the journeys on which I
inevitably find myself.
I love you, always.
Table
of
Contents
Hello, Traveler
Introduction
2
The Journey
Supplies
Phases of Play
The Mindset of the Traveler
Your Journal
Setting
Form
Journey’s Length
5
6
7
8
9
11
12
Let’s Go!
Charting a Course
Travel
Arrival
Exploration
Duplicate Aspects and Waypoints
Wish You Were Here
14
16
18
20
22
23
Aspects
Architectural
Animal
Vegetable
Mineral
26
27
28
29
Archeological
Historical
Social
Individual
30
31
32
33
Journey’s End
Reflecting
Revisiting and Iterating
Farewell, Traveler
35
36
37
Appendices
Appendix A: Waypoint Inspiration
Architectural
Animal
Vegetable
Mineral
Archeological
Historical
Social
Individual
Appendix B: Travel Events
Appendix C: Reflection Prompts
Appendix D: Example Journey
Appendix E: Journal Examples
Acknowledgements
About the Author
39
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
51
53
59
64
64
Hello,
Traveler
INTRODUCTION
Journey is a solo roleplaying game focused on world building and creativity,
one that has been crafted to guide you on excursions through the fantastic
places that exist solely in the world of your imagination.
Often, when building worlds for various creative endeavors, we touch on
locations, objects, and people fleetingly and lightly, and only for the time it
takes to understand what’s needed to advance a story.
Journey has been built as a vehicle of the creative mind that has the
capabilities to guide you deeper into these ephemeral spaces and help give
them greater depth and form in both your mind and your work. Taking
a Journey is an exercise in imagination and visualization, using standard
roleplaying game mechanics and concepts to guide you through the worlds
of your own creation.
2
The various pieces of Journey have been taken from my own practices of
exploring the worlds in my writing, game design, and other creative
projects. They’ve served me for years in helping me to see more deeply into
the worlds I’ve crafted, and have provided a lot of fun in that very act of
exploration.
After you’ve completed a session of Journey, you will have been guided
through amazing and impactful parts of your world you may not have
considered before, and might just be inspired in new ways.
It’s time to leave on a grand adventure.
Are you ready?
Throughout this book, asides that look like this will show Keon, our
illustrious example Traveler, as they move through the process of
planning and going on their Journey. These examples should help make
the various pieces of Journey clear.
If you’d like to read a full example Journey to get an idea of what yours
could look like, you can read through Keon’s full Journey in Appendix D
on page 53.
Want some free templates to jump start your Traveler’s Journal? Check
out page 65 to learn more about these freebies and how to grab them.
3
The Journey
jour·ney
/’jərnē/
noun
an act of traveling from one place to another
SUPPLIES
There are a few things you need in order to embark upon a Journey. Aside
from this book, you’ll need the following supplies in your metaphorical
pack:
1. Your imagination. Get it warmed up and
ready to go, as a successful Journey will
require it to be in good working order.
2. A quiet place where you’ll be able to
focus during the length of your session.
Ideally, you should plan to set aside an hour,
but a session can be as long or short as
you’d like. Play some music, if that helps
you focus or get in a creative headspace.
Maybe brew a nice cup of tea.
3. One or more six-sided dice
4. A standard deck of cards,
jokers removed
5. Your preferred method to take notes
(pen and paper, a journal, a writing
app, etc) functioning as your Traveler’s
Journal, your record of your Journey and
the amazing things you experienced.
See page 8 for more details on the
Traveler’s Journal.
If you would prefer to substitute other kinds of tools in the place of
dice and playing cards during your Journey, you are entirely able to do so.
Devices like oracle cards, tarot cards, dominoes, coin flips, and more can be
used throughout this game with a little work to match Journey’s mechanics
to their randomness output.
5
PHASES OF PLAY
Journey is broken down into three overarching phases, each of which focuses
on a critical part of the experience. These phases will lead you through
planning the itinerary of your Journey, visiting and exploring fantastical
places, and reflecting on the things you have seen during your time in your
world. The terms used below will be defined in greater detail throughout the
rest of this book.
Planning
While wandering aimlessly can be exciting, an effective Journey requires
a plan. Gather your supplies, decide on the scope and boundaries of your
excursion by choosing a Setting, and determine both the length of your
Journey and the physical Form that you will assume during play.
Journeying
This is the main event, the meat and potatoes of your Journey. Using your die
and playing cards, you’ll determine your first Waypoint and move through
the process of Travel, Arrival, and Exploration. After arriving, you’ll focus on
several key Aspects of this specific Waypoint, gaining deeper insight into the
contents of this piece of your world. Finally, finish up by sending a postcard
home!
Repeat the Journeying phase for as many Waypoints as your
Journey’s length indicates, or until you’d like to return home.
Reflecting
6
At this point, you’ve been on such a long
Journey. Drop your bags and have a seat,
you’ve earned it. Taking time to
reflect upon the things you’ve seen
and experienced will offer insights
into the Waypoints you visited and
their Aspects.
THE MINDSET OF THE
TRAVELER
The Journey on which you’re about to embark is an entirely
mental excursion, one that benefits from a mind willing to
sink into imagination.
Before leaving for your Journey, it can be
helpful to take some time to calm your mind
and center yourself. Clear some space in
your hectic day to simply be and create.
Additionally, it can often be helpful
to ensure your actual physical space is
set up in a way that supports your creativity.
Some people need an absolutely clear desk in order
to concentrate, while some create better when there is
a healthy amount of chaos surrounding them. Maybe grab a
favorite snack or drink that will help make the process even more
enjoyable.
Approach the process of taking a Journey with an engaged, open, and
creative mind and it’s sure to take you to exciting, interesting, and rewarding
places.
Before getting started on their Journey, Keon takes a moment to clear
distractions off their desk, puts their phone and computer notifications
on silent, and grabs a glass of water. They do a quick breathing
exercise to calm their mind from the craziness of the day and readies
themselves to get creative.
7
YOUR JOURNAL
The most important item in your supplies is your Traveler’s Journal. This
could take the form of a physical notebook, a few sheets of loose paper, or a
digital writing app. Whatever form it takes, this journal will be the ultimate
record of your experiences on your Journey.
The layout and format of your journal will largely depend on the physical
form factor it takes, but each will contain information broken into sections
based on where in the process it’s being generated.
Get a good example of what a Traveler’s Journal might look like in
Appendix E on page 59. It offers a good look at how the sights and sounds
from your coming Journey could be recorded.
While they usually like to take notes using a keyboard, Keon grabs a
paper notebook and their favorite pen for their Journey. The speed
of the computer is nice, but they want to take their time with their
Journey and have the tactile experience of writing it out by hand.
8
Free Traveler’s Journal templates are also available! Check page 65 for
more information and learn how to grab these freebies.
SETTING
It’s time to start assembling the itinerary for our Journey.
The first thing to consider when taking any trip is where you will go. When
you choose the Setting for your Journey, you define the part of your world in
which you will be exploring. A Setting need not be limited by
scope or genre, be it a universe in which a sci-fi game
is set, the world of a fantasy novel, or the setting
of a screenplay.
It is important to be clear in the definition
of the boundaries of your Setting, as these
boundaries help to focus on the
people, places, and things you will
explore more clearly.
A Setting can be as large as an entire
galaxy or as small as a single bedroom.
The act of taking a Journey through a
Setting of any size should take you to
diverse and interesting places, regardless
of the physical scope. You may find that some
details of your eventual Waypoints and their
Aspects need to flex to fit particularly large, small, or
unique Settings, but all are welcome and acceptable.
Decide on your setting and make a note of its name and any
other relevant details that help define the boundaries of that
space at the start of your Traveler’s Journal.
Keon is working on a fantasy novel set in their
world of Lerus. However, the entire world is
more space than their books cover, so
Keon zooms the context in
9
further. The current novel they are working on takes place in the city
of Roseacre, Capital of the Kingdom of Thorns. They want to explore
Roseacre in greater depth, hoping to see pieces of it in a new light, so
they choose Roseacre as their Setting. They note their chosen Setting at
the top of their Traveler’s Journal, along with a few details about it they
would like to keep in mind.
A Note About “People” in Your Setting
Most Settings that Travelers might visit on a Journey will be populated by
sentient species of various shapes, sizes, and varieties. Throughout this
book, references will be made to “people” in your Setting. Just remember
that this does not simply refer to humans, and to define “people” however it
applies to match your Setting.
10
FORM
On your Journey, you may take whatever
Form you wish, depending on the ways
in which you’d like to experience the
places you visit.
You might choose to take an incorporeal
Form, able to drift through your Setting unseen
and unheard by any of the entities inside of it. This
form is perfect if you want to observe the comings
and goings of the people of your Setting without
directly interacting with them and without paying
attention to physical sensations.
However, a physical Form will offer those on a
Journey a more full immersion in the world. If
choosing a physical Form, consider the details of
that form in the context of that Setting and what
those in your world might see. Will you blend in,
looking and dressing like everyone else? Will you
stand out as an otherworldly explorer, inviting
curiosity and surprise?
By keeping your chosen Form in mind as you
visualize moving through each Waypoint, the ways
in which you experience them will, by virtue of
that very Form, be different.
Keon wants to be able to imagine touching things,
engaging their senses, and maybe even speaking to the locals. They
choose a physical form that would fit their fantasy setting, one of a
simple human traveler. They note this Form in their Traveler’s Journal
so they can keep it in mind as they explore.
11
JOURNEY’S LENGTH
While it’s tempting to get lost within
the fantastic and fascinating worlds
we create, the process of visualizing,
imagining, and writing can be draining
after a time. Setting a length for your
Journey can be helpful with structuring the
experience as well as limiting fatigue.
Define how many Waypoints you would like to
visit during this Journey and make a note of it
in your Traveler’s Journal. Anywhere from
four to six is a solid number, though you can
simply roll your die to get a random number if
you prefer.
This limit has the added benefit of keeping
the focus of your experience on a few specific
Waypoints, avoiding feeling rushed by the time
it will take to explore an unknown number of
locations.
All said, just try not to make your Journey too
short, risking not getting enough detail, or too
long, possibly fatiguing your imagination and
brain.
Keon rolls a single die and gets a result of five,
indicating that they will visit a total of five
Waypoints in the current Setting
during this session. Keon
makes a note of this in their
Traveler’s Journal so that they
remember the result.
12
Let’s
Go!
CHARTING A COURSE
With the details of your voyage now made clear, it’s time to truly embark on
your Journey by determining your first Waypoint.
Waypoints are the primary points of interest in your travels, the places
that add flavor and depth to your chosen Setting. There are a number
of Waypoint types that you might visit, broken down to help focus your
imagination on the kinds of people, places, and things you could explore. The
determining of the actual identities of Waypoints based on these types relies
on your imagination and creativity, as well as inspiration granted by your
Setting, to add more specific context and clarity to what you will experience.
Roll your die and compare the result to the list of Waypoint types below or
choose one that appeals to you. Each will have a description to give you a
starting point to determine the identity of your Waypoint. Be sure to keep
your Setting in mind as you read the description of your resulting Waypoint,
using that context to help give the Waypoint shape.
1. Architectural
Related to structures, residences, and other details related to buildings large
and small. This can include things like furniture, accessories, adornments,
and other physical objects inside of these spaces.
2. Natural
Details of the natural world within the context of the chosen Setting. This
Waypoint type requires a second roll of a die (halved and rounded up) to
generate additional context and specificity.
Compare this second result to the options below to get your Natural
Waypoint subtype:
1. Animal
Animals, creatures, and monsters that exist within the context of this
Setting
14
2. Vegetable
Specimens of this Setting in the vein of flora, specifically
3. Mineral
Geological points of interest that this Setting might present
3. Archeological
Ruins and areas where people once dwelled yet, for some reason, no longer
do. This can include specific things that indicate details of the lives of those
people that inhabited those rooms.
4. Historical
Locations and things of historical significance to those people currently in
the area
5. Social
Places where people in this Setting gather socially
6. Individual
A single specific person
Consider the Waypoint type that you’ve rolled, placing that definition
within the context of your Setting. What kind of Individual might you have
discovered, or even met? What place of Historical significance to your
Setting did you stumble onto? What Animal did you spot?
Rolling a die, Keon gets a result of one, indicating that their first
Waypoint will be related to Architecture in Roseacre. A few options
come to Keon’s mind (the temple to the city’s patron god, the grand
city walls), but they find themselves drawn to Castle Roseacre, the seat
of power of the King of Thorns. This location is featured somewhat in
their novel, but not in-depth. Keon would love to explore more of the
location, possibly getting additional inspiration for the novel but also
for curiosity’s sake. They mark Castle Roseacre as their Waypoint in
their Traveler’s Journal and prepare to depart.
15
TRAVEL
With your Setting selected, it’s time to get underway! Getting to your first
Waypoint involves traveling through the world, and this is a great chance
to see a little bit more of how things look on the metaphorical ground. The
mode of travel to your Waypoint is determined by the scope of your Setting.
A Setting as large as, say, a galaxy would require a form of interstellar travel
to reach a Waypoint. You might experience your time inside a starship,
seeing the stars passing by, hearing chatter from other ships and the hum of
the engines. You might touch down on a fascinating new planet, smelling the
exotic atmosphere and experiencing a bustling spaceport.
On the opposite end of a spectrum, a Setting as small as a single house would
only take a few moments or minutes of walking to get from one end to the
other. You might smell something cooking as you pass by the kitchen, seeing
photos on the walls of a hallway. There might be other people inside of this
house, talking audibly. While a very different experience from a Setting
larger in scope, it is no less rich of a Journey.
The experience of your Form moving through your Setting is a wonderful
first exposure to your world, and a chance to begin taking in the stimuli
that might be present. A walk through a municipal Setting in a desert could
offer the experience of baking heat of the sun on your Form’s skin and winds
with stinging grit blowing in from the dunes. A horse ride through a verdant
forest kingdom might offer scents of pine and the feeling of rain on your
face.
Take a moment to record this experience of Traveling to your Waypoint in
your Traveler’s Journal, being as descriptive or as abstract as you prefer.
Placing themselves in Roseacre’s city center, Keon visualizes moving
through the main thoroughfare towards the castle. They imagine
seeing the faces of Roseacre’s citizens passing by, smelling dust in the
air kicked up from the cobbles. They hear the call to prayer ringing
16
from the temple as they pass, and slap a pair of questing hands from
attempting to pick their pocket.
Recording the details in their Traveler’s Journal as they imagine, Keon
immerses themselves in the world they created as they move towards
their first Waypoint.
Optional: Travel Events
If you would like to add another level of detail to your Travel through your
Setting, check out the optional framework for Travel Events in the appendix.
These offer additional moments that come up during your Travel segment
that allow you to interact in new ways with the Setting around you. You can
find these optional rules in Appendix B on page 49.
17
ARRIVAL
Phew. That was quite the trip, but you’ve finally arrived at your Waypoint.
Take a moment to consider the initial abstract concept of this Waypoint and
give it added detail and context. Does it have a name? Where is it physically
located in the Setting?
Don’t worry too much if an exciting, unique name doesn’t come to mind
immediately. Simple names like Laketown or Ocean Keep can be quite
evocative and descriptive, and you can always revisit names you aren’t in
love with later. For now, grab any obvious name that comes to mind and
jump into your Waypoint.
Experience the moment of Arrival at your Waypoint, and what that might
be like. What do you see when you first approach? What do you feel through
the senses of your Form? How does approaching this Waypoint make you
feel? What are your first impressions? How does the Waypoint react to your
presence, if applicable?
Spend time considering the overall physical
appearance of your Waypoint, as well
as any standout details. If an
Individual, how are they
dressed? What do their
hands look like? How do
they wear their hair, or
the closest analog to
hair their form might
bear? If Architectural,
how large is it? What
are some defining
characteristics that
draw your eye? Give
yourself time to
envision that initial
18
experience of approaching this Waypoint, free of the focus on Aspects that
the next step will bring.
Take a moment to record these thoughts, feelings, and physical traits in your
Traveler’s Journal, and get ready to dive a little deeper into the myriad
Aspects of your Waypoint.
Castle Roseacre is impressive at first sight. While Keon had a vague idea
of what it looked like, they only knew only a few details they needed to
include in their novel. Visualizing approaching the castle now, they can
appreciate the detailed crenellations and strangely smooth stone that
make up the strong walls. They can look up and see the grand towers
with their rose-red shingled spires that gave the city its name. They can
feel a sense of awe as they stand and observe the grandeur of this place.
Small details, like the nests that pock some areas of the underside
of roofs that house the starlings that occasionally plague the town,
begin to present themselves. Keon records these impressions in their
Traveler’s Journal as they prepare to explore some Aspects of this place.
19
EXPLORATION
The process of Exploring your Waypoint in Journey is done through the
examination of its granular details, which we refer to as Aspects. Aspects
are the zoomed-in bits of whatever your Waypoint might be, and they’re
chosen randomly using the die and cards in your Supplies to offer variety
and randomness.
First, roll your die to determine the number of Aspects of this Waypoint
you’ll be exploring. Draw a number of cards from your deck equal to that
result, placing them face down in front of you in the order in which they
were drawn. The values of these cards, when compared to the Aspect lists
starting on page 25, will define your current Waypoint’s Aspects.
Aspects are broken up by Waypoint type to ensure you’re getting relevant
kinds of inspiration. As you feel ready to explore, flip the first card over, turn
to the Aspect list that matches your current Waypoint type, and determine
the Aspect you will be exploring.
Consider what comes to mind when you read the description of this Aspect
in the context of your Waypoint. Look at it from multiple angles and let it
inspire you to add greater detail to the Waypoint itself.
What is interesting about this Aspect? Does it bring exciting stories about
your Waypoint, the larger Setting, or a story to mind? If the Aspect isn’t
interesting in and of itself, something more mundane and common, explore
that. How does it affect the world around it? Does it add context to the
Setting, the people who live there, and the things that happen there?
Record all of your thoughts and impressions about this Aspect in your
Traveler’s Journal, and be sure to give yourself enough time and journal
space to explore it fully. Grab all of that wonderful inspiration and capture it
on the page.
20
Rolling their die, Keon gets another result of one. However, they want
to spend a little more time with this place, and decide to up the number
of Aspects they’ll explore at this Waypoint to four. Drawing four cards
and placing them face down in front of them, Keon prepares to explore
Castle Roseacre. Flipping over the first card, begin to explore.
Optional: Suit Modifiers
In addition to the card’s face value, you can gain an optional layer of
additional context on your experience of an Aspect by using the suit
of the card drawn. If using this additional lens, refer to the four suits
below and apply that context to the related Aspect.
The Aspect elicits a strong emotion from you (wonder, fear,
excitement, anger, etc)
The Aspect seems somehow supernatural in the context of
the Setting, something strange and out of the norm
The Aspect seems to be particularly important for this
Waypoint in some way
The Aspect is surprising to you in some big or small way,
something completely unexpected
21
DUPLICATE ASPECTS
AND WAYPOINTS
It’s quite possible that, as you roll for Waypoints and draw Aspects from your
card deck, you may run into duplicate dice results and card values across
suits. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity to your Journey.
If duplicate Waypoint types arise, first consider that you can either choose
a whole new Waypoint of that type to Travel to or re-examine the same
Waypoint from a different angle. Did you roll a Mineral Waypoint, choosing
a proud mountain in your Setting, and then roll the same result? Mountains
are huge, so consider moving to another area of this Waypoint to gain a new
perspective on it. Especially for Waypoints large in physical scale, another
dive into its Aspects can give some interesting results.
Duplicate Aspects present a similar opportunity, where drawing the same
card value can possibly lead to deeper insight into a specific Aspect. Did
you look at the primary materials of an Architectural Waypoint for your
first Aspect, and then draw the same card value? It would be easy to discard
this card and re-draw (which is certainly an option), but for a moment
consider whether there might be more interesting details to be gleaned
here. Maybe the primary material of this Waypoint has additional properties
or a deeper story behind it? Never discount duplicates wholesale, as with
a little creativity they can give you another whole lens on a single Aspect.
Remember that the suit modifiers can assist with this repeated look at an
Aspect, offering emotional perspectives that could add inspiration.
That said, if you simply can’t think of a different way to examine the same
Aspect, you can simply re-draw the card for it or even choose a specific
Aspect you’re interested in. The rules of Journey are a great framework
to drive creative exploration, but should not make you feel forced to reexamine something that doesn’t interest or inspire you.
22
WISH YOU WERE HERE
After Exploring your current Waypoint thoroughly, it can be useful to spend
some time considering what stands out the most to you about your time
here. Before you leave this Waypoint and head off to the next, take a moment
to write out a brief postcard inscription about what you’ve just experienced
and learned.
Postcards are a simple and recognizable way to share information about your
travels, and they have the added bonus of forcing you to choose your words
carefully and decide which parts of your time at a Waypoint were the most
impactful to you.
Tell someone back home why this Waypoint was interesting or exciting. Or, if
the Waypoint was not interesting, talk about why that was and what you saw
during your time there. Distill the things you experienced or learned while
at this Waypoint down to the most relevant bullet points. This gives you a
chance to view your Waypoint from other angles and a way to reflect on what
stood out most.
Remember that space on a postcard is inherently limited by the physical size
of the card, so limit your message to three sentences or less. Record this
postcard inscription in your Traveler’s Journal, choosing someone from
home to tell about your time at this Waypoint.
Considering which of their discoveries to write home about, Keon
realizes that they’ll need to attempt to distill the most interesting bits
into a postcard inscription no longer than three sentences. Giving it
some thought, they find a small space in their Traveler’s Journal and
give it a shot.
“Castle Roseacre with its strangely smooth walls and red-capped
towers is truly a sight to behold. To think these walls were hewn to
thwart the skills of nonexistent assassins! I only wish this card could
convey the sense of regality and sadness I felt viewing the Throne of
Thorns in person.”
23
MOVING ON
While the Waypoints in your Setting are doubtlessly fascinating and you
could likely spend far more time Exploring, the day grows long and time
grows short. Depending on where you are in your Journey, you
may either roll for your next Waypoint or head home to reflect.
Remember that you are not necessarily locked into your
Journey’s Length, so if you are ready to be done
early or would like to continue to an
additional Waypoint, you can always
flex your experience to fit your
needs and desires.
If you have not yet
completed your
Journey through this
Setting (or you feel
that you just have to
visit one more place),
return to Charting a
Course on page 14 to
choose a new Waypoint
and start the process once
again somewhere new.
If your Journey’s length has been
reached and your trip has now
come to an end, or you are simply a
bit tired and homesick, grab your bags
and turn to Journey’s End on page 34, weary Traveler.
24
Aspects
Architectural
A
The material(s) this Waypoint is primarily made of
2
The age of this Waypoint
3
Signage or other displayed iconography
4
Current use or purpose of this Waypoint
5
Originally intended use or purpose of this Waypoint
6
How being inside of this Waypoint feels to your Form, both physically
and emotionally
7
The kinds of people inhabiting / interacting with this Waypoint
8
How people in this Setting feel about this Waypoint
9
Description of this Waypoint’s location in relation to the rest of the
Setting
10 A brief visual description of the next closest Architectural Waypoint
J
What this Waypoint would tell you if it could communicate
Q An especially significant adornment within or on this Waypoint and
why it’s of particular significance
K
26
How the surfaces and textures of this Waypoint feel physically to
your form
Animal
A
What this creature ate most recently
2
What this creature symbolizes to the people in this Setting (A fierce
cat that signifies strength? An insect that represents pestilence?)
3
How other creatures and people in the Setting interact with and
regard this creature
4
How this creature reproduces
5
The normal emotional state of this creature
6
The intelligence level of this creature
7
Any kind of family unit that this creature has
8
What this creature wants
9
What this creature hates
10 The natural enemy of this creature in the Setting
J
Where this creature came from (Was it always here? Is it invasive?
Was it created?)
Q Whether this creature is a food source for people in this Setting, and,
if so, the ways in which it is prepared and eaten
K
Where this creature sleeps (Does it sleep?)
27
Vegetable
A
How other wildlife or people are interacting with this flora
(Approaching? Eating? Avoiding?)
2
Whether this flora is a food source for people in this Setting, and, if
so, the ways in which it is prepared and eaten
3
Where this flora came from (Was it always here? Is it invasive? Was it
created?)
4
The scale of the area a group of this flora covers in this Setting (A
whole forest? A single vine?)
5
How, people in this Setting utilize this flora, aside from consumption
as food (Mystical or superstitious uses? Medical? Construction
materials? Decorative?)
6
What this flora symbolizes to the people in this Setting (A tree whose
roots represent family? A flower with petals that represent love?)
7
How this flora reproduces (Spores? Acorns? Something entirely
different?)
8
How this flora smells
9
How this flora is affected by seasonal changes in this Setting,
whatever that might look like
10 What eating this flora would feel, how it would taste for the average
person in this Setting, and any effect it would have on them
J
Description of how this flora moves, whether in the wind or on its
own
Q Any especially interesting features, colors, or adornments that make
this flora stand out (Brightly colored petals? Thorns? Curling vines?)
K
28
How the physical form of this species of flora has changed over time
(Was it smaller in previous ages? Has it spread? Does it suddenly
secrete poison?)
Mineral
A
The scale of this formation in comparison with the area around it
2
The texture of the materials that make up this formation
3
How the people of this Setting feel about this formation
4
Significance or reverence the people in this Setting ascribe to this
formation
5
Any inhabitants (people or creatures) that call this formation home,
and where within it / on it they dwell
6
Presence and scale of flora that covers this formation (or the notable
lack thereof)
7
Something special a stranger passing through / by might not notice
about this formation
8
How this formation has changed over time (Breaks / Destruction?
Erosion? Mining?)
9
What is seen if you stand at the very top of this formation and look
down
10 What is seen if you stand at the very top of this formation and look
up
J
Stories and legends told by the people in this Setting involving this
formation
Q Dangers that this formation might pose to those who explore it
K
Something specific and unique that sets this formation apart from
the space of the Setting that surrounds it
29
Archeological
A
Information on what is known about this Waypoint’s original purpose
2
Information on what is known about the people once related to this
Waypoint
3
Evidence still in existence of the people once related to this Waypoint
4
The feelings being in this Waypoint’s space / vicinity evokes
5
How the people in this Setting feel about this Waypoint
6
Stories and legends people in this Setting tell about this Waypoint
7
The smell and feel of the air in this Waypoint
8
Treasures and artifacts found by those who have delved more deeply
into this Waypoint
9
Especially interesting or distinct features or adornments of this
Waypoint that the casual observer might miss
10 Creatures and flora (even people) who inhabit this Waypoint currently
J
Dangers that this Waypoint might pose to those who explore it
Q Writing or inscriptions that adorn this Waypoint, whatever they
might say, and what language they might be in
K
30
Physical evidence of modern hands altering this Waypoint (through
the clearing of rubble, exploration, destruction, etc)
Historical
A
Opposition to the remembrance and memorialization of the events
that caused this Waypoint to become regarded as historic
2
How people in this Setting feel about this Waypoint
3
A person from the current Setting interacting with this Waypoint as a
memorial or place of reverence
4
Signage or other inscriptions visible at this Waypoint
5
Especially interesting or distinct features or adornments of this
Waypoint that the casual observer might miss
6
Emotional responses that being in or around this Waypoint (and
thinking of the events it memorializes) evokes
7
Artifacts or physical adornments / landmarks that indicate this
Waypoint’s status of being of historical significance
8
Stories or legends told about this Waypoint and the events that
caused it to become regarded as historic told by the people in this
Setting
9
People or powers that protect and maintain this Waypoint from the
effects of time and other damage
10 Kinds of events, ceremonies, or other memorial observations that the
people in this Setting take part in regarding this Waypoint and the
events that caused it to become regarded as historic
J
How those in power in this Setting feel about this Waypoint and the
events that caused it to become historic, and by extension those who
memorialize them
Q The events or occurrences that this Waypoint memorializes and how
long in the past these events occurred
K
What you would see if you stood in the very center of this Waypoint
and looked up
31
Social
A
The kinds of people that congregate at this Waypoint
2
Observances or purposes for which people of this Setting gather in
this Waypoint
3
Specific items, decorations, or adornments put in place for
gatherings of people in this Waypoint
4
Usual sizes of gatherings of people in this Waypoint
5
What this Waypoint is like when people are not currently present
6
Emotional responses that being in or around this Waypoint evokes
7
Signage or inscriptions placed in this Waypoint
8
Sounds that fill this Waypoint when it is being used / gathered in by
people
9
Smells that fill this Waypoint when it is being used / gathered in by
people
10 Especially interesting or distinct features or adornments of this
Waypoint that the casual observer might miss
J
Something that makes this Waypoint welcoming and useful to the
people that use it
Q How long this Waypoint has been used for its current purpose
K
32
How those in power in this Setting feel about this Waypoint and the
people who gather here
Individual
A
What this person ate most recently
2
This person’s profession / skillset
3
The current emotional state of this person
4
A special element of ornamentation this person wears
5
Where this person sleeps (Do they sleep? Do they have a place to
sleep?)
6
Something in which this person takes particular pride
7
Something interesting this person has in their pocket
8
A phrase or colloquialism this person uses frequently
9
Something that brings this person joy
10 Something in the world that causes this person worry / stress
J
How this person feels about the future
Q How this person feels about the past
K
Something that makes this person feel anger
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Journey’s
End
REFLECTING
Now that you’ve returned home and your current Journey has reached its
end, it’s time to reflect and remember. Think back to the various Waypoints
you visited, of the things you saw and felt while Traveling through your
Setting and Arriving at Waypoints, and of the varied Aspects of each that you
explored. Call those experiences to mind once more.
Without revisiting the notes you’ve taken throughout your session, jot down
the most memorable and interesting moments of your Journey in your
Traveler’s Journal, the ones that stand out most to you after the whirlwind
excursion through your Setting. These standout memories are likely the
most impactful and inspirational, ripe for taking back to some piece of work
that started you on this Journey, or to revisit again later.
If you need something more solid to help this process along, consider using
the following prompts to drive your reflection:
1. What was the most surprising thing you experienced during your
Journey?
2. Which Waypoint was your favorite, and why?
3. If you could revisit any of the Waypoints from this Journey, which would
it be? What other Aspects might you like to explore if you did?
4. Are there any places in your Waypoint you had hoped to see on your
Journey but didn’t? What are they?
5. Where might you go on your next Journey?
For additional inspiration in your reflection, you can find a list of additional
prompts in Appendix C on page 51.
After completing your reflections, you can either take the time to go back
through your Traveler’s Journal now or set it aside and come back to it
later. By gaining some space from the events of your Journey and revisiting
them after some time has passed, the details might trigger even more ideas
and spur your imagination forward.
35
REVISITING AND
ITERATING
One of the best things about having your Journey recorded in your
Traveler’s Journal is that it makes it so easy to go back to the people,
places, and things you found intriguing and explore them in greater depth.
Maybe one of the Waypoints from this Journey intrigued you and left you
wanting to see it in more detail. You can easily come back to that Waypoint
on another Journey and dig into it further, expanding on your view and
experience of it with additional Aspects. You could even go one step deeper
and choose a location-based Waypoint as your entire Setting in a future
Journey, allowing the process to offer you a full range of Waypoints within
that specific context, each with their own sets of Aspects giving some
amazing ‘zoomed in’ details.
Coming back to your Settings, Waypoints, and Aspects to explore them in
future Journeys offers such an amazing depth of detail and inspiration to
any Setting or creative work. It can be incredibly rewarding, both in terms of
driving further creativity and pure enjoyment.
36
FAREWELL, TRAVELER
By completing this Journey, you should have gained new and interesting
insights into the Setting you’ve chosen, and more specifically the Waypoints
you have explored.
You have a Traveler’s Journal full of details from your trip, and plenty of
inspiration and ideas to take back to whatever creative endeavor sent you on
your Journey in the first place.
Use these details wisely, Traveler, and let them make your creativity soar.
And, hopefully, you already feel the onset of wanderlust urging you to pack
up your supplies once more and embark on another Journey right about…
now.
Until next time, dear Traveler.
37
Appendices
APPENDIX A
Waypoint Inspiration
Some may find it useful to have some inspiration for Waypoints that they
might find when they embark on their Journey. The process of finding
Waypoints can sometimes feel a bit vague, and the right inspiration could be
just what you need to make a truly exciting discovery.
Using the following pages, find the Waypoint type that you need some
inspiration for and take a look. Your next amazing discovery is just around
the bend in the road.
These example Waypoints have been broken down into several physical
scales to better organize them. The various scales that are referred to in
these Waypoint examples are detailed below.
Galactic
Waypoints large and small that could be found anywhere in a Setting on the
scale of an entire galaxy. These tend to be more on the science fiction end of
the genre spectrum but can fit a range of contexts. Galactic Waypoints can
easily pull from and include Waypoints from any smaller types.
Planetary & National
As their larger scope can encompass many of the same kinds of Waypoints,
these two scales of Waypoint have been merged. These can be found
anywhere on the surface of a single planet or within the borders of a nation.
These are most often macro-scale Waypoints in the context of a planet, less
“physical” Waypoints (like organizations or events), or located in the wilds.
Municipal
Waypoints that can be found anywhere within the walls of cities, towns,
villages, and any other delineation of similar gatherings of people and their
residences
39
Structural
A single building, structure, or residence of interest. These Waypoints can
all be found in a single location, and often zoom way in to give tangential
context to the people who inhabit or frequent the location.
Waypoints can, of course, fall outside of these few examples going grander
in scale (to encompass universes, multiverses, etc) or zooming in to smaller
spaces (a single person or object, microscopic Waypoints, etc) as creativity
demands. However, be mindful that these more extreme scales of Waypoint
can challenge the core Waypoint types and their aspects, and may require
some creative flexibility.
40
Architectural
Galactic
Space stations, Dyson spheres, Spacecraft, Mining installations, Planetary
ring environments, Space junk and wrecks, Interstellar transport systems
Planetary & National
Temples or churches, Monuments, Orbiting artificial satellites or structures,
Artificially made bodies of water, Wondrous structures, Oil rigs
Municipal
City government buildings, Castles and keeps, Magic item shops, City
squares, City walls, Transportation systems, Sewer systems, Temples or
churches, Art installations and displays, Murals, Greenhouses, Guildhalls and
clubhouses, Factories, Spas and salons, Barbers, Zoos and menageries
Structural
Stairwells, Stained glass windows, An interesting or unique door, A hidden
room, Purpose-built rooms, Supply closets, Interesting nooks and crannies,
Basements and attics
41
41
Animal
Galactic
Interstellar organisms, Common pets of people in the current Setting
(consider what pets might be kept on a spaceship by various kinds of people
in this Setting, for instance), Interstellar vermin or pests
Planetary & National
Endangered species, Notable wildlife, Rare or rarely seen creatures, Oceanic
wildlife, Animal symbols of notable nations, A never before seen creature
Municipal
Wild animals in the area, Pets the people of this Setting favor, Vermin
specific to this Setting, Insects that help and hinder, A settlement’s symbolic
creature or mascot
Structural
Pets kept by those related to this Setting, Vermin that plague this Setting,
Insects that help or hinder
42
42
Vegetable
Galactic
Vacuum environment flora, Interstellar crops, Strange or unique plant life
from other planets, Invasive interstellar plant species
Planetary & National
Rainforests, Strange or magical wild flora, Wondrous or legendary specific
plant specimens
Municipal
Municipal parks and green spaces, Farms, Botanical gardens, Poison gardens,
Protected forests
Structural
Houseplants popular with people in this Setting, Gardens kept and tended by
the people related to this Setting
43
43
Mineral
Galactic
Comets, Asteroids, Planetary ring systems, Stars, Interstellar mining
operations
Planetary & National
Mountains and ranges, Cavern complexes, Canyons, Mesas, Volcanoes,
Geysers
Municipal
Subterranean caves, Mountains or other large mineral landmarks visible and
meaningful to the population of the Setting
Structural
Beloved rock collections, Zen rock gardens
44
44
Archeological
Galactic
Spaceship graveyards, Dead worlds, Memorials to a lost species, Ruined
space stations, Crashed ships
Planetary & National
Ruins, Ancient ritual stones
Municipal
Catacombs, Cemeteries, Hidden subterranean structures, Ruins from a
recent or ancient battle / disaster
Structural
Secret compartments and panels, Layers of wallpaper or flooring, Dusty
abandoned attics or basements
45
45
Historical
Galactic
Galactic archives, Memorials to interstellar conflicts
Planetary & National
Battlefields, National archives or vaults, Seed or genetic vaults
Municipal
Historic buildings, Museums, Monuments and memorials, statues,
Battlefields
Structural
Family photos, Photos of an organization’s founders, Museum exhibits,
Certificates and awards, Journals and diaries
46
46
Social
Galactic
Intergalactic trade hubs, Outer space version of a truck stop diner,
Interstellar governmental agencies
Planetary & National
Migrations, Competitions and games, Tourist destinations, Global
governmental agencies
Municipal
Community centers, Schools, Temples or churches, Marketplaces / Malls,
Pools, Arenas, Parks, Art galleries, Businesses and eateries, Law enforcement
centers, Courthouses
Structural
Grandma’s kitchen table, Dining halls, Classrooms, Hallways and in-between
spaces, Meeting rooms, Secret places
47
47
Individual
Galactic
Interstellar travelers, Planetary leaders, Bounty hunters, Traders and
merchants, Military patrols and scouts
Planetary & National
World leaders, Religions icons, Influential heroes and villains, Namesakes of
landmarks and monuments, Adventurers and explorers, Philosophers and
great thinkers, Armies or militia, Dictators and despots
Municipal
City leadership, Local religious leaders or clergy, Business owners, Thieves,
Teachers and professors, Law enforcement, The less fortunate
Structural
Owner of the building, Inhabitants or residents, Customers, Employees or
other hired workers, Visitors, Burglars or thieves, Servants, Guards
48
48
APPENDIX B
Travel Events
When Traveling through a Setting, things don’t always go as expected. You
can add some additional interest and opportunities for inspiration to the
Travel segments of a Journey through the use of these optional Travel Events
rules. Using these rules, you can determine what complications or events
you encounter while moving towards a Waypoint.
Adding Travel Events to your Journey can have the added effect of injecting
certain levels of action into your experience. While a standard Journey tends
to focus on the surroundings a Traveler finds themselves in, and often places
an emphasis on observation, these Travel Events can add more of an element
of directly experiencing, interacting with, and participating in a Setting.
To add events to your Travel segments using these rules, grab a second
six-sided die and roll them both. Add the results together and match that
number to the list below.
Think about how this Travel Event might be applied to your Travel within
the context of your Setting and where within it you are Traveling. If there is
a specific Travel Event you’d like to experience, you can bypass the die roll
entirely and simply pick the one that interests you most from the list (or add
your own).
Note that these Travel Events assume you have taken on a physical Form
during your Journey, as most will not really apply if you are exploring in one
that is incorporeal.
2. You encounter and have to (or want to) interact with another person
3. You’re forced to use survival skills to deal with a situation
4. Your intended path is blocked, but you are able to locate an acceptable
detour
49
5. Something goes wrong with your mode of travel that must be fixed or
worked around before you can continue
6. Travel conditions (weather or other environmental factors around
your intended path) change in some significant way that impacts your
experience
7. You observe some kind of taboo or custom local to this setting being
violated or enforced or find yourself violating one yourself
8. The physical space or terrain through which you are traveling presents
unexpected physical obstacles
9. You realize you have lost your way and must find the correct path
10. You are being blocked from proceeding to your currently intended
Waypoint. Skip to the next Waypoint in your Journey (or draw another),
doubling back to your current destination afterward if you wish
11. You catch sight of something wondrous within the context of where in
your Setting you are currently
12. You either discover or are offered some surprise assistance or shortcut
that makes your Travel extremely easy
Using your selected Travel Event, expand on your experience recorded in
your Traveler’s Journal with additional details. You can place the details of
the event anywhere within that Travel segment that makes the most sense.
For example, if you’ve rolled a three and find that your path is being blocked,
causing you to take some kind of detour, this might happen right as you set
out or at some point while you are on the metaphorical road. You might also
entirely replace a Travel segment with the details of a Travel Event.
By applying Travel Events to a Journey, you can immerse yourself a little
more deeply in your Setting and experience a wider variety of things
throughout.
50
APPENDIX C
Reflection Prompts
The period of reflection that follows a completed Journey is an important
part of this game, but sometimes you might find yourself needing a little
additional inspiration. This list expands the core prompts of Journey, giving
a wider range from which to choose.
1. What new things did you learn about your Setting during your Journey?
2. What were the most notable feelings you experienced?
3. What did your Journey teach you about the people in your chosen
Setting?
4. What made you want to go on a Journey in this Setting in the first place?
Did you accomplish that goal? If not, where did your Journey fall short?
5. Would you enjoy living in this Setting, or these Waypoints? Why or why
not?
6. How would your Journey have been different if you had assumed a
different Form?
7. Do you find yourself with any unanswered questions about the chosen
Setting or the Waypoints you visited? What are the questions, and do any
initial answers come to mind?
8. What one word describes your Journey? Why does it fit?
9. Did anything you experienced in your Journey remind you of other books
or Settings? What other works did you feel particularly inspired by?
10. Why is this Setting particularly relevant or important? How does it fit
with the rest of the world at large?
11. From what you experienced in your Journey, does this Setting reflect
other areas in the greater world or universe? How is it similar or
different?
12. Did any of the Waypoints or events of your Journey remind you of
situations, places, or people in your own life? Who, what, and how?
51
1. Did you enjoy the events of your Journey? Why or why not? What stands
out as particularly enjoyable or not enjoyable?
2. Did anything you experienced in your Journey change or challenge
something you thought you already knew about your Setting?
3. Did anything you experienced in your Journey confirm something you
already knew or felt about your Setting?
4. What do you think happened directly after you left one of the Waypoints
from your Journey? How was your presence or absence noted?
5. Finish this sentence: When it comes to my Setting, I wonder…
6. Finish this sentence: When it comes to my Setting, I like…
7. Finish this sentence: When it comes to my Setting, I am excited by…
8. What evidence of larger conflict occurring in your Setting did you see
while on your Journey? What is that conflict, and how does the evidence
you saw relate to it?
52
APPENDIX D
Example Journey
Follow along with Keon, a fantasy writer, as they embark on a journey of
their own. Keon has created a world as a setting for a series of books and
stories but wants to flesh out some key areas inside that setting to give them
more substance in their mind and more inspiration from which to draw.
Defining Keon’s Itinerary
Setting
Keon is working on a fantasy novel set in their world of Lerus. However,
the entire world is more space than their books cover, so Keon zooms the
context in further. The current novel they are working on takes place in the
city of Roseacre, Capital of the Kingdom of Thorns. They want to explore
Roseacre in greater depth, hoping to see pieces of it in a new light, so they
choose Roseacre as their Setting. They note their chosen Setting at the top of
their Traveler’s Journal, along with a few details they would like to keep in
mind.
Form
Keon wants to be able to imagine touching things, engaging their senses, and
maybe even speaking to the locals. They choose a physical form that would
fit their fantasy setting, one of a simple human traveler. They note this Form
in their Traveler’s Journal so they can keep it in mind as they explore.
Length
Keon rolls a single die and gets a result of five, indicating that they will visit
a total of five Waypoints in the current Setting this session. Keon makes a
note of this in their Traveler’s Journal so that they remember the result.
We’ll only be following Keon through their first Waypoint. Otherwise, this
example would be far longer.
53
Waypoint
Now the real fun begins, as Keon starts the process of determining the
details of their first Waypoint. Rolling a die, they get a result of one,
indicating that their first Waypoint will be related to Architecture in
Roseacre. A few options come to Keon’s mind (the temple to the city’s
patron god, the grand city walls), but they find themselves drawn to Castle
Roseacre, the seat of power of the King of Thorns. This location is featured
somewhat in their novel, but not in-depth. Keon would love to explore more
of the location, possibly getting additional inspiration for the novel but also
for curiosity’s sake. They mark Castle Roseacre as their Waypoint in their
Traveler’s Journal and prepare to depart.
Travel
Recording the details in their Traveler’s Journal as they imagine, Keon
immerses themselves in the world they created as they move towards their
first Waypoint.
Placing themselves in Roseacre’s city center, Keon visualizes moving
through the main thoroughfare towards the castle. They imagine
seeing the faces of Roseacre’s citizens passing by, smelling dust in the
air kicked up from the cobbles. They hear the call to prayer ringing
from the temple as they pass, and slap a pair of questing hands from
attempting to pick their pocket.
Arrival
Keon records these impressions in their Traveler’s Journal as they prepare
to explore some Aspects of this place.
54
Castle Roseacre is impressive at first sight. While Keon had a vague idea
of what it looked like, they only knew only the few details they needed
to include in their novel. Visualizing approaching the castle now, they
can appreciate the detailed crenellations and strangely smooth stone
that make up the strong walls. They can look up and see the grand
towers with their rose-red shingled spires that gave the city its name.
They can feel a sense of awe as they stand and observe the grandeur of
this place. Small details, like the nests that pock some areas of the
underside of roofs that house the starlings that occasionally plague the
town, begin to present themselves.
Drawing Aspects
Rolling their die, Keon gets another result of one. However, they want to
spend a little more time with this place, and decide to up the number of
Aspects they’ll explore at this Waypoint to four. For the sake of brevity in
this example, we’ll follow along with Keon for two of these Aspects.
Drawing four cards and placing them face down in front of them, Keon
prepares to explore Castle Roseacre. Flipping over the first card, begin
to explore.
Aspect 1: Ace
Referring to the Architectural Aspects page, Keon sees that the Ace is
presenting them with an exploration of the materials this place is primarily
made of. Being a castle, its primary material is stone, but Keon has
referenced in their writing that the walls of Castle Roseacre are unusually
smooth and sheer. Using their Journey as a chance to consider that in more
depth, they begin to imagine why the walls are so smooth and record their
thoughts in their Traveler’s Journal.
Keon imagines that the smooth walls of Castle Roseacre are a result of
a paranoid King of Thorns back when the castle had to be rebuilt. This
king had a recurring nightmare that an assassin would scale the walls
of the tower that held his bedchamber, sneak in, and murder him. He
insisted that the masons cutting the stones for the castle walls hone
them to such a smoothness that scaling the walls without the aid of
magic would be nigh impossible. Somewhat ironically, this particularly
paranoid King was not done in by the hands of assassins, but by a
particularly nasty bout of Dust Fever brought to the castle by a mason
specializing in this technique of hewing stone.
Aspect 2: Queen of Hearts
For their second Waypoint, Keon flips their next card to discover they have
55
drawn a Queen. They would also like to gain some extra inspiration, deciding
to bring the Queen’s suit of Hearts into play. This suit modifier means that
the Waypoint will be a significant adornment of Castle Roseacre and details
on its significance, with the additional lens of this adornment evoking an
especially strong emotion in Keon. This is just the kind of creative exercise
they love, and they are instantly drawn to the throne of the King of Thorns,
recording their thoughts in the Traveler’s Journal.
The king’s throne is bathed in a bloody history, a symbol of the wars
fought to win the Kingdom of Thorns its freedom from its oppressors
of old, the now neighboring Empire of Dust. During the penultimate
battle, fought on the threshold of Roseacre’s gates, the Empire of Dust
revealed a magical siege weapon that had a terrifying platinum ram’s
head on its front. The symbol came to terrify the army of the Kingdom
of Thorns, as the weapon was especially effective and the results
gruesome. After the battle was won, a near thing indeed, the new King
of Thorns took the rams head and had it melted down into a series of
ropy thorny vines, wrapping around the back of the throne. The thorns
were meant to ensure that no ruler ever sat too comfortably on this
throne, being reminded of the price of pain that was paid to win it from
the oppressors of old. Viewing this jagged memorial to the lives lost
evokes a strong feeling of sadness in Keon, but one tempered with the
resolve and strength of Roseacre’s growth over the ages.
Wish You Were Here!
Considering what of their discoveries to write home about, Keon realizes
that they’ll need to attempt to distill the most interesting bits into a
postcard inscription no longer than three sentences. Giving it some thought,
they find a small space in their Traveler’s Journal and give it a shot.
Castle Roseacre with its strangely smooth walls and red-capped towers
is truly a sight to behold. To think these walls were hewn to thwart the
skills of nonexistent assassins! I only wish this card could convey the
sense of regality and sadness I felt viewing the Throne of Thorns in
person.
56
Returning & Reflecting
Reflection
After completing their remaining Waypoints, Keon realizes that it’s time
to return home. Reluctantly, their mind leaves Roseacre and turns towards
reflecting on the events of their Journey. Without referring back to the notes
they took on their travels, they respond to the prompts in the Reflection
section:
What was the most surprising thing you experienced
during your Journey?
I think learning about the history behind the smooth stone walls of
Castle Roseacre. While I had a clear visual that I wanted for that location
when I originally wrote it, I didn’t really have a reasoning beyond pure
aesthetics behind that choice. Getting to imagine why the castle was
built that way gave me a whole chunk of the history of a King of Thorns
I had never imagined.
Maybe he’s referenced as the Coward King by historians for his paranoid
reputation and ignominious death?
What Waypoint was your favorite, and why?
The throne was such an evocative visual, and coloring it with the
emotion of the Aspect modifier totally made it a more interesting story.
By considering it from an emotional standpoint, I got a whole set of
ideas I might not have considered if I were just describing it as a fancy
chair. The history of the source of the throne’s metal thorns became so
much more poignant.
57
If you could revisit any of the Waypoints from this
Journey, which would it be? What other Aspects might
you like to explore if you did?
I’m sure Castle Roseacre has so many more secrets to explore, and seeing
a whole bunch of other Aspects would be really interesting. I think the
royal catacombs under the castle that are referenced in my book but not
yet explored would be a really interesting part to look into.
Are there any places in your Destination you had hoped
to see on your Journey but didn’t? What are they?
I think the city’s temple is another prominent but unexplored place
in Roseacre I’ll explore in the future. The city’s worship practices and
devotion are important to the residents but feel that they are lacking
depth, so spending some time in the temple might give me some more
context and inspiration for that aspect of life in Roseacre.
Where might you go on your next Journey?
While the Kingdom of Thorns is one I’ll definitely revisit, the mysterious
Empire of Dust may be a future Waypoint for my characters. Doing some
imagining and worldbuilding in that barren place would be exciting and
useful to dream up some ideas in advance.
A Journey, Completed
58
And with that, Keon has discovered a bunch of interesting new things about
Castle Roseacre, as well as having built out bits of the kingdom’s history with
details directly tied to Aspects of this place. They’ve gotten some inspiration
for ways to make their world feel more real to readers, but have also just
enjoyed adding more detail in unexpected areas they might not have
explored otherwise.
APPENDIX E
Journal Examples
Date
3 - 1 - 2021
Setting Name
City of Roseacre
Setting Details
The City of Roseacre is the capital city of the Kingdom of Thorns. It
serves as the main setting for the novel I’m currently working on, and I
really want to learn more about this place. Roseacre is a large city set
in a medieval fantasy world. It’s in verdant forested lands and is home
to a wide variety of people of many of Lerus’ various heritages. It’s an
exciting (and occasionally dangerous) place. The castle is a place of
strength I really want to understand more about.
Form
While I was tempted to take an incorporeal form, I think I’ll have a
better experience in a physical form. I’m going to step into the role of
a nondescript traveler within Roseacre, donning clothing similar to the
other citizens of the city. In this form, I should be able to move freely
within the city, not attracting attention, and still experiencing what life is
like for the average citizen of Roseacre.
Journey Length
2 Waypoints
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Waypoint
Waypoint Type
Architectural
Waypoint Name
Castle Roseacre
Travel Description
Started out in the city center of Roseacre. The day is warm, the weather
is clear.
Walking towards Castle Roseacre, I see so many people and faces.
Smelling the scents of the market. A pickpocket, notorious in this district
of the city, tries to snatch my gold purse, but I slap their hand away
quickly.
Arrival Description
The sight of the proud castle fills me with awe. I’m struck by the
smoothness of the walls, which have come up in the novel but have not
been explored further.
The guards by the gates stand proudly, their rose-red tabards warm in
the sun. The castle’s tall, smooth towers are capped with beautiful red
shingles, giving the castle and city their name.
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Aspect
Aspect Type
Suit Modifier
Primary materials of construction
N/A
Aspect Exploration
The primary material used in the construction of Castle Roseacre seems
to be the well-crafted and strangely smooth blocks of stone I saw when I
arrived. But why is it so smooth?
Turns out, the smooth stones were a demand of the King of Thorns
that was in power at the time of the castle’s construction. He was
notoriously paranoid, having recurring nightmares of assassins scaling
the castle walls to kill him in his bed. So no expense was spared on
the stones of the wall, hiring master masons and magical craftsmen to
ensure the walls were so well-hewn that no one could possibly scale
them without the aid of magic.
Ironically, that king died shortly before the construction of these walls
was completed from a nasty bout of Dust Fever carried to Roseacre
by one of the master masons brought onto the project. So, in a way, the
walls killed the king in the end.
Postcard Inscription
Castle Roseacre, with its red-capped towers and astoundingly smooth
walls, was truly a sight to behold! To think, these walls were hewn to
thwart the skills and blades of nonexistent assassins. Too bad they
didn’t keep out the Dust Fever that killed the paranoid king!
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Aspect
Aspect Type
Suit Modifier
Significant adornment
Heart
Aspect Exploration
The throne of the King of Thorns is fascinating, an uncomfortable stone
chair with a back wrapped in shining silver barbs. It’s a bloody symbol
of Roseacre’s fight for independence from their oppressors of old, the
Empire of Sand.
During the final battle of the war, on the very threshold of Roseacre’s
gates, the armies of the Empire of Sand revealed a terrifying siege
engine with a magically imbued ram’s had on the front made from shining
platinum. This metal ram’s head was soon stained with the blood of
Roseacre’s soldiers, becoming a renowned symbol of fear.
After the hard-fought battle was won, the king took the metal from this
feared weapon and had it melted down into the barbs that were wrapped
around the throne. The thorns were put onto Roseacre’s seat of power
to ensure no ruler ever sat too comfortably on the throne, constantly
reminded of the price of blood that was paid to win their kingdom’s
freedom.
Postcard Inscription
The throne of the Kingdom of Thorns truly embodies the name of its
home. The bloody history of the metal thorns wrapped around this heavy
stone chair was fascinating. I can’t wait to tell you more about it when I
get back!
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Reflection
What was the most surprising thing you experienced during your
Journey?
I think the most surprising part of my Journey was learning about the
throne of the Kingdom of Thorns. I hadn’t even really considered that
the throne of this kingdom would be related to its history this deeply,
but as the ideas of its story came to me, they just slotted so neatly into
place.
What Waypoint was your favorite, and why?
My favorite waypoint was the walls of the castle. It was such a
throwaway detail of this place when I added it to the story in my novel,
and I had never really considered WHY they were so smooth. To have
pulled out the details on the Coward King, known to historians and in
some stories to this day, was such a fun moment. I’m looking forward to
seeing how these details might fit into my story.
Where might you go on your next Journey?
I think the temple of Roseacre is going to be somewhere I explore
on my next Journey. I know that faith in the gods is really important
in the Kingdom of Thorns, but I’ve yet to determine what that looks
like, or how that is observed in the city. Aside from the basic physical
description in the novel, there is just so much detail I could dive into with
the temple, especially as it’s somewhere that might end up being a critical
location in the next novel.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Journey is a work of love inspired by the solo experiences of Alone Among
the Stars by Takuma Okada and Artefact by Jack Harrison. If you’ve enjoyed
the experience of Journey, consider spending some time with its wonderful
inspirations and support their creators.
Many thanks to my friends at The Society of the Golden Rose for being
infinitely patient with my crazy ideas, my insane schemes, and my neverending flow of vocal enthusiasm. Jessica, Abe, Madeline, Jason, Jasmine,
Chris, and Jacob. You crazy weirdos have quickly become some of my favorite
people, and I appreciate each one of you.
Finally, my most heartfelt thanks to the amazing people of the RPG Talk
Discord. You all have been so patient, helpful, and wonderful, and Journey
would not exist if not for your kindness.
Editor
Jason Vanhee
Playtesters
Abe Dysmas, Madeline McDonald, Nick Pournaras, John Lopez
Artwork
All artwork in Journey is public domain, released under the Creative
Commons CC0 license.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Luke Miller is a writer, game designer, and software
developer who lives in sunny California with his fiance
Roman and their two corgis, Luna and Sol. He has had a
lifelong passion for fantasy and science fiction and has
recently discovered a love for tabletop roleplaying games.
You can see more from Luke at graycastlepress.com
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graycastlepress.com/rm/journey
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Journey
is a solo roleplaying game for
creatives, worldbuilders, and the
Uncommonly Curious.
You hold in your hand a tool of imagination,
a vehicle of creativity that has the
capabilities to guide you deeper into the
ephemeral locations and spaces of your own
creation and help give them greater depth
and form in both your mind and work.
Journey is a solo roleplaying game and an
exercise in imagination and visualization,
using game-style mechanics and concepts to
guide you through the roads less traveled in
worlds of your own creation.
It’s time to leave on a grand adventure.
Are you ready?