“In dreams, I’ve called to you.

In
ruin, I wait.”

angled
–From Echoes of a Lost Place by Sir Steph R. Meri, found
hidden in the walls of Brackroot Academy, 1763

“Brackroot Academy is a treasure, a gift, and

something we should never slander. What’s come
to pass is regrettable, but every great empire
carries the burden of progress. Our responsibility
to the realms remains and our dedication to the
cause mustn’t waver or wane. The future of the
arcane depends on our adherence to our ideals
and the path set forth by the Speaking Gem.”
–From the eulogy for Instructor Telforn, written and
Blessings
read by Headmaster Norma Morgan, 1934
EARLY PREVIEW.

“Surviving the trials of magic

Layout and editing not complete.
training is simple. The trick is
surviving everyone else.”
–From the diary of Missy W., dated the night before her
disappearance, 1991

By
Cassi Mothwin
 Dedicated to Joshua, Neptune, and Mercury.
May we be study buddies for life.

Writing, cover, art, and layout by Cassi Mothwin

(Some assets and art are in the public domain or purchased stock)
Photographs by [TK]
Editing by Erin Bowen
Proofing by Erin Bowen & Joshua Peters
Playtesters: Kaden Ramstack, Lulu, S Kaiya J, Stephen Kohler, Joshua
Daugette, Claire Wenzel, Justin Smith, Cylinda Parga, and other
anonymous players. Thank you.
Author’s Note 4
This game is made in memory of Anamnesis by Samantha Leigh of Safety 5
Blinking Birch Games. Tangled Blessings offers a slight twist on the
original design of Anamnesis, but the core is still there. Tangled Content Warnings 5
Blessings is an independent production, and is not affiliated with What is Tangled Blessings? ....................... 6
Samantha Leigh or Blinking Birch Games.
How to Read This ...................................... 7
Inspirations Generating Ideas 7
The Sealed Library by Matt Sanders Roleplaying Tips ....................................... 8
Galatea by S. Kaiya J. Tips Specific to Tangled Blessings 8
The YouTube video: 10 hours of Dark Academia Music | Sad and Dark
Piano Music Instrumental with Rain Sounds About Brackroot Academy ...................... 10
Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang Start Here ............................................... 12
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo How to Play 12
Endless scrolling on Tumblr and Pinterest in the #darkacademia tag Determine Your House Assignment 13
Graduate school Discover Your Rival 15
Rival List 17
Acknowledgments The Sequence .......................................... 20
Cylinda with Delve Candles for her friendship, insight, and Using the Major Arcana 21
assistance. Two-Player Changes 22
My patrons for helping me fine-tune the rules and prompts. Find
some of their names in the Patrons of the Brackroot Academy Art Year 1 - Wands........................................ 28
Program section.
Sam Leigh for their generosity when it came to sharing their time
with me and for allowing creators to adapt and use their system.
JP, JD, Claire and Erin for giving me a million points of inspiration.
The many friends I’ve made online the last two years. You’re the
real ones.
Author’s Note
Dark academia has foundations in racism, white ide-
alism, classism, and ableism.
The institutions often romanticized in this genre have a
history of ignoring, stealing, degrading, and burying
works by BIPOC creators/students and othering them, if
they’re even admitted. The setting for this game is a
vibrant work of fiction, and while it may call upon the
visual aesthetic of prominent Western and Eurocentric
universities, it does not seek to celebrate exploited labor
or slavery. Further, it does not seek to platform
exclusivity by exam scores or board decisions. Folks
from all backgrounds walk these grounds with an array
of interests beyond Europe and America. They belong
here, and they are not lesser.
For further reading critiquing the racial undertones of
dark academia, please take a look at these articles:
“The Problem with Dark Academia as a Genre:
White Supremacy, Classism, and Ableism” by Your
Tita Kate: https://yourtitakate.com/the-problem-
with-dark-academia-as-a-genre/
“Dark Academia: The Truth About the Genre &
Subculture” by Bookish Brews: https://
bookishbrews.com/dark-academia-the-truth-about-
the-genre/#critique-of-dark-academia%25c2%25a0
“Too Dark for Dark Academia” by Mel Monier:
https://post45.org/2022/03/too-dark-for-dark-
academia/
4 5
Safety
Some of the prompts here may be too dark or touch on
topics you find uncomfortable. Always prioritize your
health and leave the game if you need to. Feel free to
redraw cards or change a prompt if it discusses content
that upsets or disturbs you.
If you’re playing a two-player game, have a
conversation about what’s off limits before you start.
You should also consider checking out the TTRPG Safety
Toolkit. The TTRPG Safety Toolkit is a resource co-
curated by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk and
serves as a compilation of safety tools that have been
designed by members of the tabletop roleplaying games
community for use by players and GMs at the table.
You can find it at bit.ly/ttrpgsafetytoolkit.
Content Warnings
This is a horror game that explores the harmful areas of
academia. You will find mention of dark magic, rituals,
murder, death, violence, depression, suicidal thoughts
and ideation, isolation, and self-harm.
What is
Tangled Blessings? How to Read This
If you’re new to roleplaying games, read the Roleplaying
Tips section first. Even if you aren’t new, you might find
In this game, you take on the role of a senior student at a some helpful advice. The From the Desk of Headmaster
mysterious and magical academy for adults. In fewer Elvas, About Brackroot Academy, and About the
than 24 hours, you’ll face your Rival in your last final World sections are not required reading before playing;
exam before graduation, and learn about the destiny however, you may find it easier to generate ideas, build
that awaits you. As you prepare and study, you’ll reflect your character, and immerse yourself in the world if you
on the last four years at Brackroot Academy: the lessons read them.
you’ve learned, your experiences, your failures, your
friendships, and your secrets. Your entire future hinges Start Here is where character creation and the rules
on this exam, and should your Rival overcome you, you’ll start to unfold. Even if you’ve played a game based on
lose access to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. the Anamnesis system, it’s best to review the adjusted
rules in Tangled Blessings.
Tangled Blessings is a solo journaling or two-player
roleplaying game set in the genre of dark academia,
featuring a wizarding school, ghosts, rivals, houses, and
curses. You take on the role of an adult student studying
for their final exam at a magically inclined institution.
You should be able to play in one sitting, but if you really Generating Ideas
enjoy exploring the prompts, you can spread out your
play sessions. There’s a natural break between each year Stuck? Use the included campus map to help ground
of school. you. Where might your character be? Need help thinking
of NPCs, refer to the student and faculty generation
To play you’ll need a deck of tarot cards. If you’re tables at the end of the text.
playing alone, you’ll need a way to record your entries. A
dark academia playlist may also help set the mood.
If you’re new to tarot cards, it’s recommended you avoid
tarot decks with minimal artwork. You may find those
decks hard to draw ideas from.

6 7
 Roleplaying Tips
At its core, this is a journaling game (that you can also
play with another person). You’ll read prompts, and
record your responses to them in whatever manner feels
the best. Since this game is inspired by studying in dusty
libraries with delicate books and candles flickering
across the spines, a quill and leather-bound notebook
might be the most thematic, but a keyboard and word-
processing program are my favorite tools. You can also
record yourself speaking instead, either with video or
audio.
Tips Specific to Tangled Blessings
• As you play, invent fellow students, friends, faculty, and
ghosts. Use them in answers to your prompts where
appropriate, linking memories and events together. Use
the house descriptions (page [TK]##) to help generate
ideas. Keep a list of the people you create.
• Invent as much or as little as you want in response to a
prompt. You can respond with a few sentences or
paragraphs. It’s up to you!
• If you see a prompt that ties better into the story you’re
telling, but you don’t draw a card specific to it, it’s OK
to choose the prompt you prefer. It’s OK to change and
adjust the prompts too.
• Find patterns and connections. Because this game relies
on drawing random cards, it’s up to you to create a
satisfying ending by forming links between moments. A
ghost you meet in one prompt can be the same ghost
you meet in another.
• Play into tropes. Think about your favorite wizarding
school or academia fantasies. This is your story, and
you can borrow from your favorite scenes and
moments. Do what’s most fun for you.
8 9
From the Desk of Headmaster Elvas
To our future student:
It is with great pleasure that I’m writing to inform you of your
acceptance into the halls of Brackroot Academy.
This is likely the first time you’ve heard of our noble
Academy, and that is not by mistake. Brackroot Academy is a
long-established school for adults showing a natural aptitude
for the arcane and the unseen. We do not choose students
based on applications or standardized tests. Instead, we rely
on an ancient gem attuned to the esoteric properties of what
laymen might call magic. The stone’s origins are unknown,
but it reveals students from all across the world who possess a
connection to the supernatural. Recently, it showed us your
image.
Should you accept this invitation, you’ll have a month to tie
up any loose ends. Our Academy is a four-year commitment,
offering summer and winter breaks. You’ll receive a full
scholarship that includes room and board, healthcare, and
meals, as well as a small allowance for personal expenses to
improve your quality of life. You’re also entitled to one small-
to-medium domestic pet.
While here, you’ll refine your sixth sense, gaining access to
spells, rituals, enchantments, portals, and many other aspects
you likely thought only possible in a fantasy fiction.
Should you wish to hear more, simply open a journal that
calls to you and write “The path to Brackroot calls to me.” If
you do that, I’ll invite you on a tour so that you can see the
grounds and ask questions about what’s expected of you.
The only requirement is that you keep Brackroot Academy a
secret. We can help you establish a cover story along with
more complicated paperwork.
We so hope to hear from you.
May the clouds part at your whim,
Dr. Emerzon Elvas (Any pronouns)
Headmaster, Brackroot Academy
Sitting Chair, Foundation for the Recondite Arcane
 About Brackroot Academy
The Speaking Gem calls to you.
Nestled in the shadow of the surrounding mountains is
Brackroot Academy: a centuries old institution built
around the Speaking Gem. The history of the Speaking
Gem is hazy and unreliable, but some stories suggest it
used to call to pilgrims in dreams. By the time a pilgrim
reached the Speaking Gem, they were weary, old, and
without any resources to understand why the Speaking
Gem called.
The Speaking Gem also inspired ghost stories, alleging
that the gem was cursed and to dream of it meant your
demise was on the horizon. Many perished on their trek
through the wilderness to the Speaking Gem and no one
ever returned.
If you made it to the Speaking Gem without dying, you
were simply awakened — suddenly able to call upon the
magic in the air. It took decades for a small village to
take root at the Speaking Gem, and longer still for
Brackroot Academy to be fully realized.
After centuries of study, scholars have unlocked the
power within the Speaking Gem, understanding how to
tease out abilities otherwise out of reach. With
generations of study behind them, scholars are willing to
teach you.

About the World

Brackroot Academy and the rest of this magical universe
are carefully hidden from the normal world, the Plains, or
those without access to the arcane. There is a whole
secret society of magic users around the world, and
you’ve been invited to join.
Within this magical society, you’ll find turmoil, secrets,
stolen power, envy, regret, alliances, and pawns all
coexist. For now, you are just a student, but at the end of
your studies, you may find yourself wrapped up in a lot
more than you bargained for.

10 11
 Start Here
Consider who your
character was before
they joined Brackroot
Academy. The
Speaking Gem usually
calls to adults in their
early 20s, but you may
adjust that to fit your
idea of who attends
this Academy.
Answer these questions…
1. What is your name and what are your pronouns?
2. How did you receive the letter from the Headmaster?
3. What loose ends did you have to tie up?
4. What do you hope to gain by becoming a mage?
5. How did the Speaking Gem talk to you in dreams?
How to Play
Separate the tarot cards into five decks: The 22 Major
Arcana, The Wands, The Pentacles, The Cups, and The
Swords.
Set the Major Arcana deck aside. Shuffle the four Minor
Arcana decks (Wands, Pentacles, Cups, and Swords).
12
Determine Your House Assignment
The houses are not enemies and require each other to operate
in harmony. Despite this, conflict does arise, sometimes with
violent ends. Students learn their houses by touching the
Speaking Gem and sharing aloud the symbol it shows them. It’s
possible to lie about what you see, but the Speaking Gem will
always know.
Place Major Arcana cards I-V in a small pile and shuffle
them. Pull one card to learn which house you’ve been
assigned. The house descriptions tell you a bit about the
students who usually reside within them. You may find
your character fits or rebels against the listed marks.
That’s fine.
Once you’ve learned your house, return the card and
shuffle the small pile again. Pull another card to
determine your Rival’s house; you’ll learn more about
your Rival in the next section. Once finished, combine all
the Major Arcana cards together and shuffle them.
I. House of Celestials
The skies borrow from the elements to paint a backdrop
for life. Featuring iconography of the sun, moon, and
constellations, celestials are known for their inner glow.
Still, they do not shy away from the dark surrounding
them, understanding that all things require balance.
Students in this house often carry at least one or more of
these marks: discipline, passion, or indifference. This
dorm overlooks the lake.
II. House of Dahlias
Dahlias rely on the energy of celestial bodies for growth
and endurance. As a vibrant flower, dahlias are a symbol
of elegance and devotion. The plant may seem abundant,
but it requires careful nurturing in the wet and cold
climate of Brackroot. Students in this house often carry
at least one or more of these marks: creativity,
perfectionism, or obsessiveness. This dorm is connected
to the greenhouse.
13
III. House of Panthers
The panther needs a garden to rest from its daily stroll,
and the dahlias always supply. The panther is a symbol
of grace, athletics, and agility but still elusive and rare —
a fierce creature of the shadows. Students in this house
often carry at least one or more of these marks:
observation, punctuality, or ruthlessness. This dorm is at
the edge of the forest.

IV. House of Spires

The spires are only safe in their tower because of the
panthers who keep guard. The House of Spires
represents the connection blades, pens, and spirituality
share. While members of this house may only show
interest or aptitude in one of the represented icons, they
are a full member of the spire. Students in this house Discover Your Rival
often carry at least one or more of these marks:
empathy, isolation, or judgment. This dorm is in the
high tower. Draw one card from the Major Arcana deck. This card
represents your Rival. Consult the Rival List, the art on
V. House of Elements the card, and any tarot guides you value to learn more
about who your Rival is and what drives them. Give
Elements are the wildest of the quintet, but they
them a name and pronouns. Your Rival is present in
maintain control with help from the spires. The
most of your memories at the Academy, coloring
elements symbolize excess and power, but together, they
experiences with their hue. They joined the Academy
represent the strength of unity. Students in this house
the same time you did. Keep the card that represents
often carry at least one or more of these marks:
your Rival faceup next to you.
cleverness, hunger, or negligence. This dorm is under
the school, but furnished with enchanted windows that Your Rival doesn’t have to be an enemy. They can be a
overlook the neighboring mountains. best friend, a family member, a virtual stranger, or a
love interest.

14 15

You and your Rival are both prodigies.
You learn and attune to magical teachings and
instruments faster than your current classmates and
many who came before you. While you could work
together, the magical society has given you both a
challenge, whoever bests the other in a one-on-one
exam at the end of four years will ascend to a high status
amongst the mages. You’ll never want for anything, and
you’ll be a well-respected and influential figure for years
to come.
Should you fail, your future isn’t as certain. As a prodigy,
you are afforded opportunities that others might never
have access to, and therefore, you can assume you’ll
likely at least find a respectable position after
graduation.
There is something else to consider though. You may
attract the attention of more sinister forces…
Think about your character: What’s motivating
them to win this challenge against their rival? Write
down your answer.
For a two-player game, you will be the other
player’s Rival. You don’t need to draw from
the Rival deck, and you can skip to page 25,
Choose Your Specialty.
16
Rival List
Match the roman numeral of the Major
Arcana card you draw to the number in
the list.
The Fool ~ The Reckless Roamer
Your Rival has been known to ignore the rules, and some
students say your Rival is careless, as judged by their
audacious attempts at wild and powerful magic. Your
Rival has even explored the surrounding woods at night,
using wind trails as a guide. While a great display of
power, the forest houses strange and powerful beasts
that may have developed a taste for your Rival. One can’t
be sure if your Rival has tamed the creatures or if they
simply tolerate your Rival’s presence. Rumors suggest
that your Rival has a lovely singing voice.
I. The Twisted Trickster
Your Rival excels at enchantments and spellcasting. No
matter how well you study, they always have the upper
hand. They’re extremely resourceful at finding rare
ingredients, and they’ve been known to prank you and
others with harmless toxins that change your nose into a
snout temporarily, change the pitch of your voice to
almost inaudible low levels, or have all doors close
behind you automatically for a week. They’re very
proficient with illusions, often casting duplicates of
themselves to confuse and sow mild chaos as a joke.
Rumors suggest your Rival may have also dabbled with
necromancy and corruption magic, but only faded
tattoos with suspicious symbols on their neck back this
up.
17
II. The Frigid Poet
Your Rival is deeply spiritual and often talk in abstracts
about the blessings they’ve been given, but there is
something duplicitous in their nature. Their natural skill
with a wand can be frustrating because they often
master spellwork without any need for practice,
mimicking instructor movements effortlessly. During a
guided meditation session, your Rival’s soul slipped from
their body briefly. After an hour, faculty members were
able to rejoin the body and soul, but your Rival refused
to speak on the matter, only uttering once under their
breath: “These grounds are swimming in ghosts.”
They’ve never been the same.

III. The Fearless Prophet

The gift of sight is one of the rarest, and so of course
your Rival is blessed with seeing what may come to pass.
During your first encounter, your Rival gave you a
double take before letting their gaze linger on you for Choose Your Specialty
too long. They have yet to tell you what flashed before
their eyes during those moments. However, the future is
never locked in place and what has been witnessed, can
Choose an area of intuition or skill where you always
still be reversed. At least, that’s what the instructors told
shine. Maybe you’ve never had a problem with pointing
your Rival when their visions painted their grisly death.
out poisonous plants, maybe you can predict the words
Your Rival never seems afraid, marching into danger
and melody to a song on the first listen, maybe you’ve
with confidence.
always felt like when you wish someone “good luck”
they actually do have better fortune, maybe you’ve
IV. The Lawful Smith
always found it easy to persuade a sales person into
Your Rival is cold and believes rules and orders must be giving you a discount, maybe you always manage to buy
upheld at all costs. They respect authority, but hope to the last item in stock, maybe you’re fantastic at painting
one day have the role of meting out punishment for portraits even though you’ve never taken an art class, or
anyone who disrespects the wisdom of those who came maybe you’ve never been sick.
before. They’re a walking encyclopedia, able to pull
specific details about curses, monsters, and rituals from
thin air. Additionally, the easiest place to find them is Essentially, this is how magic manifested around you in
the furnace, the smoldering undercroft below the the mundane world. You shaped something without
Academy where metal bends and fire elementals can be knowing.
tamed.
To meet all 22 Rivals, back
Tangled Blessings when it
launches on Crowdfundr!
18 19
 The Sequence
You’ve spent four years at the
Academy. You’ll recall memories
using different decks.
1. At the beginning of a year, draw three cards from its
corresponding Minor Arcana deck (Wands, Cups,
Pentacles, and Swords).
2. Place the three cards face-down in front of you.
3. Flip over the first Minor Arcana card. Read the prompt
associated with the card.
4. Draw from the Major Arcana deck and use the revealed
card to inspire your response to the prompt.
5. Make a journal entry. Remember your Rival.
6. Flip over the next Minor Arcana card, repeating steps 3-
5. Continue until you’ve made journal entries for all three
cards.
7. Write down which Minor Arcana cards you drew.
8. Draw three more Minor Arcana cards. These are your
Rival’s cards.
9. Write down what your drew for your Rival. You may
explore their memories, but you’re only required to note
which cards you drew for them.
10. Answer the prompts between years. Be careful not to
skip these.
At the end of the game, you’ll use the Minor Arcana
cards you and your Rival drew from each year. If you
have room where you’re playing and don’t feel like
writing down every card, you can instead create two
decks each year as you play, one for you and one for
your Rival. By the final exam, you’ll have eight small
decks total.
20
Using the Major Arcana
After you read a prompt, draw from the Major Arcana
deck. Use this card to answer questions in the prompt.
For example, a prompt might be the following:
You were bruised and injured in a training duel gone wrong,
and you struggled to find your magic for several weeks. How
did you cope with this loss? What mental block did you have to
overcome to get your magic back? Who hurt you, and are you
sure it was an accident?
For this prompt, the Major Arcana you draw can
represent a slew of factors: how the duel went wrong,
how your character coped with the loss, how your
character overcame their mental block, who hurt your
character, and/or if there’s evidence the injury was on
purpose. You can try to answer one or all of these
questions by looking at the card for inspiration.
How you interpret the Major Arcana cards is
up to you. There is no wrong way to interpret
the cards.
• Use the artwork: does the scene contain objects or
characters that might have been in your memory?
What story do the visuals on the card tell and how
does that relate to your memory?
• Use emotion: does the card make you feel a certain
way?
• Use the guide included with your tarot deck. Most
decks come with a booklet that briefly describes
what each card means.
• Use the internet for deeper insight into the card.
• Still nothing? Draw another Major Arcana card.
At the end of each year, shuffle the Major Arcana
cards back into the deck — except for your Rival’s if
playing alone.
21
 The following pages will reveal your last four years at
the Academy. As you explore how the years unfolded,
keep the card that represents your Rival within view.
Use this card as a reminder that your Rival is always
there. Even if a prompt doesn’t mention your Rival,
consider exploring how they react to the events or if
they were involved.
You’re studying for your final graduation exam. You have a
Two-Player Changes few hours before the trial, and you’re doing your best to stay
focused and remember the magic and lessons you spent the
last four years studying. However, as
you study, your mind drifts…
You’ll each flip cards at the same time, taking turns
reviewing and revealing your prompts. Then you’ll
discuss how you were involved in each other’s
memories. Before playing, tell each other about your
characters and discuss your first meeting. As you
respond to prompts, remember your Rival. Ask the
other player questions about your memories.
How were they involved?
How do they remember the event?
Did they hear rumors that made it sound worse?

For a shorter game, reduce the number of cards

drawn per year from three to two.

22
 Solo-Play Example

Jamika draws cards for her Rival, her house, and her
rival’s house. Before she dives into year one, she thinks
about the house she’s been assigned and the students
who might populate it. She also considers what her life
was like before she joined the Academy, along with the
family and friends she left behind. Finally, she considers
her rival, and the story she wants to tell. She decides
that she’s attracted to her rival, and that she wants to
explore a tumultuous romantic relationship between the
two of them. She names her rival Heather, and starts An Excerpt from Jamika’s Journal
year one.
Jamika draws three cards, from the Deck of Wands. She My first year spelled triumph and defeat. I still wasn’t sure
reveals the Eight of Wands, and refers to the year one what I was getting into at the Academy. Only one other
table. She learns that in her first year, she invented a matched my natural abilities, but she refused my friendship. I
new enchantment. She draws The Hanged Man from the still recall that crown I stumbled into enchanting. It was little
Major Arcana deck. She looks at the card, and is inspired more than costume jewelry I was handling for another student.
for the type of item: a crown because The Hanged Man But I could feel it speak to me in a peculiar way, so I traced the
wears one on her card. Next, she needs to decide on the shadow of a former owner into the fake jewels.
enchantment.
Once again, she feels inspired by the card, using her Suddenly, I could feel it thrum with energy. I made a poor
deck’s included guide. The Hanged Man is commonly excuse for keeping the crown, and Heather overheard. The
associated with having a poor perspective, so Jamika next thing I knew, the crown was gone, and Professor Pom was
decides the crown causes the wearer to believe they’re prowling around the halls in a cloak, whispering to anyone
the ruler of a kingdom under attack. Jamika remembers who saw them that they must swear allegiance to her. Heather
Heather and decides Heather probably stole the crown left a note under my door, daring me to take credit for the
and found a stealthy way to place it on an instructor’s creation. She didn’t sign it, but I knew it was her.
head.
Jamika continues playing her first year, revealing a card
from the Wands deck and a card from the Major Arcana
deck for two more turns. Then she journals and explores
what Heather did the first year too. Jamika doesn’t feel
like journaling about Heather’s experiences, but she does
journal about how her character reacts to Heather’s
achievements.
24 25
 Two-Player Example

Marren and Walter discuss the safety tools they’ll use

and finish telling each other about their characters.
They decide that they met at the Academy, and that
their first meeting was in a class about magically forging
documents. For the first year, they decide Marren will
draw their cards first, and then Walter will go.
Marren draws three cards, and reveals the 7 of Wands
first. They refer to the year one table, draw a card from
the Major Arcana deck, interpret it silently, and describe
the memory they created to Walter. The memory
involves finding a secret passage and discovering a
skeleton wearing a sapphire ring behind a bricked wall.
Once finished, Marren asks Walter how he was involved.
Walter takes a moment, and says “Once I heard the
details, I was able to tie the skeleton to a missing woman
from the 1830s, and I took most of the acclaim for
solving the mystery.” It’s quiet as you stare out the window overlooking
the campus courtyard. It’s covered in soft, fresh
The two build on this more, talking about how the school snow, but the cold doesn’t reach you. It’s a marvel
reacted to the discovery and how frustrated Marren’s
character was with Walter’s. that even in late spring, you still find snow in the
morning. This study room in the library is magically
Instead of Marren going through his second card, they insulated, however, and even the fire in the hearth
both agree to let Walter go next. So Walter draws three is temperature controlled. You have a few hours
cards, only flipping the first. Walter refers to the table, remaining until your final graduation exam, and it’s
draws a card from the Major Arcana deck and invites
Marren to share their thoughts on the Major Arcana time to review your lessons from the previous four
card too. Once Marren finishes, Walter borrows some of years one more time…
Marren’s interpretations, and shares his memory.
Finally, Walter asks Marren how they remember the
event.
Once Marren and Walter have gone through all their
cards, recalling a memory for each, they proceed to year You start with year one.
two. They return the Major Arcana cards to their deck,
but keep the cards from the Deck of Wands in front of
them.
26 27
 YEAR 1 - WANDS
As a first year, you had a lot to learn. You had days filled with
discovery and wonder, as well as moments crawling with
turmoil and regret.
To recall how your first year went, draw three cards
from the Deck of Wands. Write down which cards you
drew.
You attempted portal magic for the first time, and it
came naturally to you. All you had to do was envision a
A place, and you could open a portal. Where did your first
portal go? One portal attempt went wrong. What scar
did it leave on you? Have you recovered?
Elemental magic is beyond most first-year students, but
you tamed fire as though you’ve danced in flames your
whole life. Your eyes turned gold and now forever glow
orange, seemingly never dimming. A reclusive professor
2
marked your success with snide comments, insinuating
you didn’t deserve your abilities. Who was this professor
and what subject did they teach? What did you do to
display your new abilities?
A terrifying exam had you spending late nights alone in
the library. What were you studying? Which ghosts
3
haunted your study sessions? What lost mysteries did
they carry? Were you afraid?
You and another student became inseparable, bonding
over your shared studies of healing magic. Who was it?
4
What did they study? What did you make of the symbols
that scarred their hands?
You were forced to partner with your Rival while
performing divination work. You both saw a glimpse of
5
a shared future. What might await you? How did your
Rival react? Did you fight fate?
28
You discover a forgotten section of the Academy, buried
in dusty rubble and covered in magical runes. With
6 whom did you share the discovery? If you translated the
runes and dispelled the magic, what did you find hidden
away? What escaped?
You led a workshop involving the manipulation of time
because you discovered more efficient ways of using
chronomancy magic. Unfortunately, your workshop was
7
sabotaged, and the Headmaster was critical of the way
you handled it. What happened? Do you know who was
responsible? How did you rebuild your reputation?
One day, you were swimming in creative energy, and
you made a new enchantment, imbuing an object with
8 never-before-seen magical properties. What was the
object? What did you do with it? Were you able to
attempt the magic again?
You and a partner gave a presentation on the alchemical
properties of marble, but afterwards, your partner told
everyone that you didn’t contribute to the project. The
other students in class shunned you and refused to hear
your side of the story. To prove your knowledge of the
9
subject, the instructor required you give a second
presentation. Your solo presentation went over well, but
the other students still seemed disinterested in working
with you. What did you present over? Who was your
original partner, and why do you think they lied?
You walked in on a housemate having lunch with their
parents. You quickly learned that if a student’s parents
attended the Academy, then they are welcome to visit
the campus (without the need for secrecy). Are you
10
jealous of students who can be visited by family? Who
from your life before the academy do you wish you
could show around? Which part of the campus do you
think they would like the most?
29
 You felt pulled in many different directions on campus.
Professional organization and student clubs invited you
to join them. Faculty expressed interest in making you
their protégé. Your studies required hours of reading,
P
and your free time seemed to disappear. How did you
balance all the activities available to you? What did you
give up? Which suffered more: your studies or your
social life? Do you regret your choices?

Your first potion-making assignment involved snake

scales, snail mucus, a fresh drop of blood, and three
Kt heartbeats worth of breath. How did you get the
ingredients? What kind of potion did you make? Did you
drink it? What grade did you get for the potion?

You were bruised and injured in a training duel gone As with most schools, you had a break between your
wrong, and you struggled to find your magic for several first and second year.
weeks. A professor took pity on you and tried to help
you through your training without the magic. How did
Q
you cope with this loss? What mental block did you have How did you spend your downtime?
to overcome to get your magic back? Who hurt you, and
Did you miss having access to magic or did you
was it an accident? Which professor helped you, and did
you appreciate their help?
remain at Brackroot Academy?
What did your Rival do during this time?
You found your familiar, a docile demon sworn to you,
on a rainy day when the isolation of studying was
wearing you down. What animal form did the demon
K
take? What name did you both agree to? How has the
creature helped you at the Academy? What did it ask for
in return? Where is it now?

Draw three cards from the Deck of Wands for your Rival.
Write them down.
When you’ve finished studying year-one material, shuffle
the Major Arcana cards back in their deck.

30 31
Thank you for downloading this preview of
Tangled Blessings. I’m crowdfunding enough
funds for a print run and special edition
box set in February 2023! At the time of
writing this, the text is nearly complete
except for a few more rounds of editing and
proofing. I still have a few illustrations to
finish, but I’m excited to launch and deliver
the physical edition by Fall 2023.
While the text in this document is nearly
done, layout is certainly not. I’m aiming to
finalize and launch the digital edition of
Tangled Blessings March 2023! All backers of
the physical edition get the digital edition
as well!
I hope you’ll tune in to see how the rest of
your character’s tenure at the Academy
plays out…

With warm regards,

Cassi Mothwin
Subscribe to the Crowdfundr,
and get notified when the
campaign launches.
Limited Edition Deluxe Set
Only available during the
Crowdfundr fundraising
event. Limited to 40 boxes. Sign up for my mailing list to
Available to U.S. residents only. stay in the loop!

32 33