stories shaped by dice – a tabletop RPG actual-play podcast with emphasis on storytelling – listen to us play or read the serialized narrative
Narrative write-up of the events from a role-playing game
Many Meetings The sun had not yet crested the horizon. Rather, the sky was clear, and the stars were still glowing bright. Far to the east, though, the first, faint blush of bluish-pink began to spread. Saradoc Took cleaned up the remains of his pre-breakfast snack, shouldered his pack, and took up his stick. His … Read more
In the morning, the skies are clear, and the temperature has warmed a bit. They put the tack on Volay and attach their backpacks like saddlebags, agreeing that Renn will guide the azurdactyl while Renci keeps watch. He offers her the Czerka, since its range is better than that of her blaster pistol, but she … Read more
With directions to the cliffs where azurdactyls like to nest, Renci and Renn return to the Resolve briefly to gear up. Renn disassembles the Czerka and stores the pieces in his backpack so that he has it if they really need it, but since they are headed out with the intent to work with the animals they … Read more
A Sword in the Dark The Ranger Celebaur, known as Patch-Cloak to some, traveled the woods around Lake Evendim to learn more of the increased orc activity. As evening drew on, he came across a smoldering house in the woods. Orc prints crisscrossed the area around the homestead, and the scattered splashes of human blood … Read more
On the approach to Rannon, Renci shares what little she was able to find out about the obscure, sparsely populated world. It was only settled in the past hundred or so years, and it is believed to have just some agriculture and mining. Indeed, settlements are barely detectable from the air. The mountain range Renci … Read more
The Grey Havens Across the Shire, though none saw them go, the group of Fair Folk rode, passing then about the south skirts of the White Downs; they came to the Far Downs, and to the Towers, and looked on the distant Sea; and so they rode down at last to Mithlond, to the Grey … Read more
Fortune indeed favors the bold. A few days after Renci Tosh submits her report to her handler, she receives word to swing by the Nabat dead drop. A package is waiting for her, new technology for her to field test, and she smiles when she sees the contents. Now to pick up a few other … Read more
Fog on the Evendim Hills Inside the Eagle’s Wing, Harlan Churner whistled happily as he wiped the counter clean of the night’s spilled drinks. He straightened the stacks of tankards along the back shelf and then turned back to the main room, giving the dark corners a searching look to decide which deserved the first … Read more
Outside the ship, at the base of the ramp, the bearsloth rests her head on crossed paws. Renn reclines against her, idly scratching her behind the ears, as he looks over the person that Renci has just left him with. Mira circles above, keeping watch. Pile-of-Leaves, still draped in his camo netting, sits cross-legged nearby, … Read more
At the Sign of the Green Dragon “I’ll have another one, my dear Rosie,” the old Gaffer said as he emptied his mug. With a nod and a smile, Rosie Gamgee brought another round of drinks to his table, enough to keep the old Gaffer and his companions in their cups for a while. Her … Read more
In her small quarters aboard the Resolve, Renci dons her concealing robes without bothering to wipe the blood off her face. She takes a sip from her canteen and places a call on her encrypted comm. Protocol would call for making a formal report through the chain of command, but command has not been getting … Read more
Ahead of him, Renn sees Renci disappear into the trees, Mira circling above. He can hear the AZ-15 getting closer and closer behind him. He just cannot get enough distance between himself and this droid. Renci might be right that they could lose them in the forest, but there is a limit to how long … Read more
At opposite ends of the corridor, an IG-100 and an AZ-15 security droid have rounded the bend. Renci points out a stairwell entrance across and down the hall a ways, then slips across to it low and fast. The IG-100 ups its speed, crawling across the wall and ceiling to close the distance in an … Read more
As they are about to leave the research break room, Renci refills her canteen at the sink. “Ninety percent of habitable planets in the galaxy are deserts,” she says. “Gotta stay hydrated.” Renn shoots her a look of disbelief. “I don’ believe that. Most planets I’ve been ta are jungle or forest.” “Really? Name some.” … Read more
Beyond the trapped door, Renci and Renn find what looks to be an engineering room. There are chairs and desks but also a break area in the corner with some couches and cabinets, even a sink. There are still research notes lying around. As Renci goes through the logs, she comments on how awful it … Read more