how

how we
we learned
learned to
to fill
fill our
our lungs
lungs
with
with salt
salt
a feverdream created as a part of the up all night jam
by quinn b. rodriguez with off the table & superqueero

the water came for us one night. character creation

it came from nowhere and everywhere, and
doused the fires beside us in our beds
before we could open our mouths
to scream.
we may be strangers, but
we are what remains,
kindling flames cradled against our chests,
alone together
on the water.
we cannot fight the water,
but we can learn to live with it.
safety check
this is a game about moving forward
while looking behind.
go around the table and state
one expectation you have for this game.
then, go around the table and state
what you are not comfortable exploring.
(hydromancer, take notes, and see
the ttrpg safety toolkit for more ideas
about safety tools.)
determine your name and pronouns,
and three adjectives to describe yourself.
then, determine your What Lies Beneath.
What Lies Beneath is what you lost
to the water, when it came.
write it down on a piece of paper, or
otherwise message it privately to
your hydromancer.
do not let anyone else see it.
the hydromancer
you are an agent of the water.
you are memory.
you are the names and faces of what the
water took from them.
What Lies Beneath them lies within
you.
your job is to make sure they do not forget.
you control the tides, yes, but
you must also keep them
afloat.
you know that time does not heal
all wounds, but
talking sometimes
does.
 play
you have been on the water for three days.
the salt still stings at your eyes,
your fingertips,
your lungs.
there is only
hydromancer: choose a player to wake up you
first. and
the water.
describe the conditions of the water.
how do you keep yourselves occupied
then, ask them to Remember throughout the day?
What Lies Beneath.
night comes,
sit in the silence with them for a moment eventually.
while they Remember,
before doing the same to each player in turn.
do you dream?
when you are all awake,
check in with each other.
you’re the only ones left in the world,
after all.
get to know each other. you have been on the water for four days.
hydromancer: at any time, you may call on the salt stings
a player to have a memory of their a little less, now.
What Lies Beneath. hydromancer: repeat the waking process.
that player may either Share the memory or
silently endure it for one (1) minute real-time. play through as many days
when a player Remembers as you can bear.
and chooses to Share,
be there for them. heal together.
hold space for them. the salt
Remembering is like pouring salt may sting
into an open wound, but you'll learn
but brave. to breathe
deeply
again.