THE GUIDING

HAND
This notebook is for Invisible Sun game masters. The hope is that it
helps you organize all the various information needed to manage the PCs,
character arcs, NPCs, places, and events that occur in a narrative.
The Guiding Hand is primarily a notebook, but I’ve filled it with little ideas
and suggestions that you can use or ignore. Sometimes one idea will spark
an idea of your own, and this is primarily a book to manage ideas.
Start by filling out the first few pages with information you need about
each character (it assumes five characters, but you can always photocopy a
page to add more). Then use the following pages to guide you through the
first session. Finally, use the rest of the notebook to plan out future sessions.
Don’t forget to include notes about side scenes that happen in between each
session, and start each session’s planning by considering which characters’
arcs will be in play.
The Guiding Hand is organized by session rather than story, scenario, or
other distinction. This is best because while it’s good to have some long-term
plans, you don’t want to overplan anything beyond the next session
(or maybe two). There’s room for the first session, plus 24 additional sessions.
In a few places, after a significant number of sessions, The Guiding Hand
offers space to record new information and ideas relating to the characters
and their arcs, as well as additional note space.

TM and ©2019 Monte Cook Games, LLC.

Invisible Sun and its logo are trademarks of Monte Cook Games, LLC in the United States and other countries.
Permission granted to duplicate for personal use.
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 The Guiding Hand

CHARACTER 1
NAME

ROLEPLAYER STYLE

CHARACTER SENTENCE

NOTES
In particular, focus on things you want to play off of: house, neighborhood, NPC bonds,
PC bonds, personality, and so on.

CHARACTER ARC

2
 CHARACTER 2
NAME

ROLEPLAYER STYLE

CHARACTER SENTENCE

NOTES
In particular, focus on things you want to play off of: house, neighborhood, NPC bonds,
PC bonds, personality, and so on.

CHARACTER ARC

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 The Guiding Hand

CHARACTER 3
NAME

ROLEPLAYER STYLE

CHARACTER SENTENCE

NOTES
In particular, focus on things you want to play off of: house, neighborhood, NPC bonds,
PC bonds, personality, and so on.

CHARACTER ARC

4
 CHARACTER 4
NAME

ROLEPLAYER STYLE

CHARACTER SENTENCE

NOTES
In particular, focus on things you want to play off of: house, neighborhood, NPC bonds,
PC bonds, personality, and so on.

CHARACTER ARC

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 The Guiding Hand

CHARACTER 5
NAME

ROLEPLAYER STYLE

CHARACTER SENTENCE

NOTES
In particular, focus on things you want to play off of: house, neighborhood, NPC bonds,
PC bonds, personality, and so on.

CHARACTER ARC

6
OTHER CHARACTER-RELATED NOTES

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 The Guiding Hand

THE FIRST SESSION

Refer to The Key, page 194
Keep track of various suggestions and ideas that occur while the group collaborates.

Player 1 Name

Player 2 Name

Player 3 Name

Player 4 Name

Player 5 Name

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 THE DESIDERATUM
Notes on how to get things started and move forward. See The Key, page 200

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

✦✦ Articulous ✦✦ A haunted gun
✦✦ Verston Card ✦✦ A missing child
✦✦ Neriana ✦✦ A building that sighs
✦✦ Breme
✦✦ Sir Hamish Norton
✦✦ Challie

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.
✦✦ A character’s spell does the opposite of what it was supposed to do (award 1 Despair)
✦✦ Players find their way to Zero’s for the first time (see The Path, page 102)

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 NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

✦✦ Merris ✦✦ Vendor selling living balloons
✦✦ Thulac ✦✦ Children dragging a ratgoblin corpse
✦✦ Richard Dulles through the street
✦✦ Darra Andre ✦✦ Kaleidoscope windows

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

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 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

✦✦ Lady Ulamoure ✦✦ Model T car driven by an elderbrin
✦✦ Lawrence Grey ✦✦ Man with invisible head, but visible
✦✦ Quent glasses
✦✦ Mjana ✦✦ Woman with animated tattoos that
play out whole scenes

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.
✦✦ A chance meeting with Monday (see The Path, page 95)

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 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

✦✦ Fennish ✦✦ Small animal moving backward
✦✦ Nathaniel through time
✦✦ Myssari Rone ✦✦ Location protected by powerful
✦✦ Villamette magical walls
✦✦ Tools made of glass

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.
✦✦ GM Shift: an NPC ally shows up at a crucial time to help (award 1 Joy)

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 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

✦✦ Huin “the Shift” ✦✦ Man with three talking, intelligent cats
✦✦ Sebastian ✦✦ Building made of animate stone arms
✦✦ Trese Nevermore ✦✦ Words become real, tangible things
✦✦ Lyanth Ka

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.
✦✦ Encounter with the Thah in pursuit of a criminal (see The Path, page 71).

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 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

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 The Guiding Hand

CHARACTER UPDATES
Fill in new information or reminders. Include story-relevant advancement details,
new character arcs, new connections or NPC bonds, and so on.

Name

Name

Name

Name

Name

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STORY UPDATES

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

✦✦ Abrillan ✦✦ Floor that looks solid but is actually
✦✦ Eugenia Sumaris liquid
✦✦ Man wrapped in serpents

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

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 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

24
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

25
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

26
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

27
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

28
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

29
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

30
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

31
 The Guiding Hand

CHARACTER UPDATES
Fill in new information or reminders. Include story-relevant advancement details,
new character arcs, new connections or NPC bonds, and so on.

Name

Name

Name

Name

Name

32
STORY UPDATES

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

34
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

35
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

36
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

37
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

38
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

39
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

40
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

41
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

42
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

43
 The Guiding Hand

CHARACTER UPDATES
Fill in new information or reminders. Include story-relevant advancement details,
new character arcs, new connections or NPC bonds, and so on.

Name

Name

Name

Name

Name

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STORY UPDATES

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 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

46
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

47
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

48
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

49
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

50
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

51
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

52
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

53
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

54
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

55
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

56
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

57
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

58
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

59
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

60
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

61
 The Guiding Hand

SESSION DATE NOTES FROM PRIOR SESSION

Fill in any needed reminders that will
impact this session.

CHARACTER ARCS IN PLAY

NAMES FOR THIS SESSION IDEAS FOR THIS SESSION

STORY NOTES
Use this space for things you’ve got prepared, including links to character arcs,
surprise encounters, and so on.

62
 LONG-TERM NOTES

NPC STATS

SESSION NOTES
Use this space to note things that happen in the session that you’ll want to remember later.

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 The Guiding Hand

END NOTES

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