Still Vagrants (rule book)

SSTTIILLLL VVAAGGRRAANNTTSS

VVeerrssiioonn 11..00..22

AA ssttoorryy--ddrriivveenn,, bbooaarrdd--bbaasseedd DD2200 CCaammppaaiiggnn

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HHaarraalldd AA.. HHaaggeenn

Still Vagrants

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TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttss

Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 3

The Laws ................................................................................................................................................ 4

Establish the Setting ................................................................................................................. 4

Understand their Vernacular ................................................................................................... 4

Begin the Vagrants’ Tale ........................................................................................................... 5

Continue the Vagrants’ Tale ..................................................................................................... 5

Know the Options ..................................................................................................................... 6

End the Vagrants’ Tale.............................................................................................................. 7

The Narrative ......................................................................................................................................... 8

PROLOGUE .............................................................................................................................. 8

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS .................................................................................................. 9

SETTING .................................................................................................................................. 10

INCITING INCIDENT .............................................................................................................. 11

THE FIRST ACT ....................................................................................................................... 13

THE FINAL ACT ...................................................................................................................... 14

ENDINGS ................................................................................................................................. 17

Appendix A: Character Sheets ............................................................................................................ 22

Appendix B: Setting Pieces ................................................................................................................. 30

Appendix C: Narrator’s Charts ............................................................................................................ 35

Character Data ........................................................................................................................ 36

Goal & Ending Data ................................................................................................................ 36

Actions Data ............................................................................................................................ 37

Difficulty Data ......................................................................................................................... 37

Still Vagrants

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SSTTIILLLL VVAAGGRRAANNTTSS

VVeerrssiioonn 11..00..22

““AA ggaammee aabboouutt ppaatthheettiicc nnoobbiilliittyy

aanndd tthhee ssttrruuggggllee bbeettwweeeenn mmeemmoorriieess aanndd ddrreeaammss””

OOvveerrvviieeww

“Still Vagrants” follows the stories of a group of homeless people navigating an urban

jungle and living impoverished lives on its streets. 3-7 players select a character from the roster,

while another takes on the mantle of Narrator, who is in charge of guiding the progress of the

game’s story (for a total of up to 8 players). The players rely on their Fated Die to make ends

meet—or at least, come as close to it as possible. Players have a choice of actions to take and

locations to visit, both of which influences their ultimate destinies, all in an effort to face their

past, bury the crushing guilt of their conscience, and fulfill a secret dream which could change

everything.

The pre-written content for this game is plentiful, but there is still creativity needed from

its players. The day-to-day activities of the characters, the Dream Fair confessions, and the

endings are just some of the areas in which players may craft their own stories. The Narrator is

the presence that watches the vagrants, and who is charged with keeping things in order. While

he or she is the one driving the ferry, the decisions of the players are what alter the course of the

flowing river.

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There are two parts to this game that go hand-in-hand: the Laws and the Narrative. While

the Laws outline the specific terms and constraints of the game and the explanation of how to

play, it is the Narrative that informs the players of what is happening in the world of the vagrants.

A fledgling Narrator will need both of these documents handy at all times.

TThhee LLaawwss

EESSTTAABBLLIISSHH TTHHEE SSEETTTTIINNGG

To begin playing the game, spread out the Setting pieces in any configuration on a table or

other flat surface. This is the city in which the characters dwell. The players are seated around

the city, and the Narrator then introduces them to the characters of the game and subsequently

asks them to choose whom they want to play. First called, first served. Players place their

character tokens based on the starting point of their character (indicated on the character sheet,

which is handed out by the Narrator when the player has chosen).

UUNNDDEERRSSTTAANNDD TTHHEEIIRR VVEERRNNAACCUULLAARR

A Day represents 3 Rounds, each being a block of time: Morning, Afternoon, and Night.

One Turn per Round is given to each player (a total of three for each Day).

The Dream Fair is a special round in between Days where players can do one of two things:

Pick a number from their Memory Grid (see Character Sheet) other than their own

Memory Triggers, and share an impromptu memory

Avoid picking a number to not activate the Memory Triggers of other players, and

incur a Karma Roll penalty

A Memory Trigger is a specific cue that unlocks a piece of a character’s past (i.e. the

highlighted numbers; see Memory Grid on the Character Sheet)

Active Memory Triggers impact a character’s ability to achieve an ending (see below)

A Fated Die is assigned to each character, and players use only this die for rolls.

Difficulty is the number which players must roll above to gain money from an action.

The player is allowed multiple rolls; the number of rolls is the Roll Count. (Max: 3)

The Sum of all the numbers rolled is what is compared against the Difficulty.

The player may decide to stop rolling if success/fail is still undetermined.

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Conscience reflects the Guilt weighing down on the heart of a character.

Characters suffer Guilt to their Conscience when they fail an action.

There are different kinds of rolls:

Action Roll: Determines if the player succeeds or fails at an action.

Money Roll: Determines how much money is gained after a successful action.

Karma Roll: Determines how much guilt is added to the character’s Conscience.

Victory Roll: Specific roll conditions a player must fulfill to win.

The player’s Action Roll determines the Roll Count, while the Money and Karma Rolls must

match the Roll Count. (i.e. if it takes 2 rolls to surpass the Difficulty, the player rolls 2 times

for the Money Roll and 2 times again for the Karma Roll)

BBEEGGIINN TTHHEE VVAAGGRRAANNTTSS’’ TTAALLEE

1. Narrator goes through the Prologue.

2. Narrator introduces the characters and allow players to choose from them.

3. Narrator goes through the Inciting Incident.

4. Players return to Camp, and the game’s normal Rounds begin.

CCOONNTTIINNUUEE TTHHEE VVAAGGRRAANNTTSS’’ TTAALLEE

5. At the start of a Round, all players say where they want to go and move their tokens.

6. Each player takes their Turn by stating their intended Action, and performing an Action Roll.

a. The player can roll up to 3 times, each roll adding to their Roll Count.

b. Players compare the Sum against the Difficulty, adding Talent bonus if applicable.

7. The player successfully completes an action when the Sum exceeds the Difficulty.

a. If the Roll Count reaches the Maximum (3) before this, the player fails the action.

b. Cancelling an action is possible as long as both of these are true:

i. The Roll Count hasn’t reached the Maximum.

ii. The Sum of the rolls hasn’t exceeded the Difficulty.

c. Cancelling an action means forfeiting the Turn (no Money or Karma Rolls).

8. If the player succeeds, they do a Money Roll by rolling as many times as their Roll Count.

a. The Sum is taken to be the Money earned, and there is no Karma Roll.

9. If the player fails, they do a Karma Roll by rolling as many times as their Roll Count.

a. The Sum is taken to be the Guilt added to the player character’s Conscience.

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i. If the Conscience ever reaches the Maximum, the character commits suicide.

10. If other players still have a Turn during the Round, return to step 6.

11. Once all players have taken their Turn for the Round, a new Round begins. Return to step 5.

12. The Night Round is a special Round players can use to either:

a. Do an action and expend stamina (STA -1), or

b. Rest early (move token back to Camp) and regain stamina (STA +2)

i. If a character’s stamina ever reaches 0, they die. The highest roll between the

other players determines who finds the body and lays claim to their money.

13. When the Night Round ends, all players move their tokens back to Camp.

14. Players enter the Dream Fair (see above terms), where they can share a random Memory with

the group. The players mark this number off their grids.

a. If the number corresponds to another player’s Memory Trigger, they face a fragment of

their Past.

i. When this happens, the Narrator must make up some small fragment of that

character’s past, vague enough to have many interpretations, but concrete

enough to ground such interpretations to the character’s goal and endings.

b. Opting not to share a Memory enforces a Karma Roll penalty.

15. After the Dream Fair ends, the characters fall asleep and bring in a new Day (three new

Rounds). Return to step 5.

KKNNOOWW TTHHEE OOPPTTIIOONNSS

During a player’s Turn, several actions are available. Among these are the Standard Actions:

Beg: An outstretched hand to passersby; an easy act with little reward.

Pickpocket: Sleight of hand on a person walking; risky and difficult.

Help Out: Assist others willing to tip; a safe act with little reward.

Entertain: Simple tricks to mask an outstretched hand; tricky but decent reward.

Allure: The art of seduction and easy companionship; few clients, but good rewards.

Intimidate: Scare the weak-hearted to give some money; difficult but great rewards.

Prospect: Rummage through trash to find junk to sell; safe and reasonable rewards.

In addition to these, there are Special Actions:

Rest: Passes the Turn without reward (Money Roll) or penalty (Karma Roll).

If it is a Night Turn, it rejuvenates a character and restores Stamina by 2.

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Visit Innocence: Find out how the little girl is doing. 50% chance of a Money Roll.

Player must perform a special Action Roll, where the Difficulty is half the

maximum value you can roll with the character’s Fated Die.

Only can be done in the First Act.

Curtain Call: End the game with an Ending from the winning player’s character.

Player must have fulfilled all winning conditions (outlined below).

Player must state which Ending they want to go for and complete the

appropriate special Action Roll.

Only can be done in the Final Act.

Other Impromptu Actions are possible at the player and Narrator’s discretion.

If a new Action is proposed, the rules for it must be established and agreed upon by

everyone playing. It is a wise practice to figure out custom actions before beginning

play.

EENNDD TTHHEE VVAAGGRRAANNTTSS’’ TTAALLEE

1. The first requirement is that it is the Final Act in the game. The First Act is ended by one of

the players approaching the amount of money they need for their Goal.

2. Each character has an inherent goal with an amount of Money assigned to it. To win the

game, the player must collect the Money necessary to achieve the goal.

a. Once the goal is reached, the game hasn’t ended yet!

b. The player must then select their Ending and work to realize it.

3. To get an Ending, the player must state the Ending they want to go with and then perform a

special Action Roll with 50/50 odds corresponding with the appropriate Ending.

a. The Bad Ending is unlocked in the beginning when the character meets Innocence.

b. The Good Ending is unlocked when the character has all Memory Triggers crossed.

c. The conditions of success for each Ending:

i. The Bad Ending needs a roll in the bottom half of the die’s values.

ii. The Good Ending needs a roll in the top half of the die’s values.

d. The special Action Roll for an Ending takes a whole Day.

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This concludes the step-by-step to playing the game. Once players grow accustomed to

the flow of the game, the Narrator can set aside the Laws and focus on the Narrative, which is the

next section.

TThhee NNaarrrraattiivvee

PPRROOLLOOGGUUEE

“Still Vagrants” follows the stories of homeless people navigating an urban jungle and

living impoverished lives on the streets of a massive metropolis decorated with glass-and-steel

skyscrapers, twisting with exhaust fumes, and – most of all – saturated with other anonymous

people. Though there is little food to go around in a society of dying charity, barely enough

warmth to keep the cold of night at bay, and no possessions to speak of, everybody has a past

haunting them. Each day, the path forward unveils their back stories, the deeds that haunt them

and the people with whom they have a history. They desperately try to erase the memories, all

the while knowing that clearing the conscience and facing their lives will make them stronger and

better people for it. But it’s just too hard. They don’t even dream anymore.

The setting is the capital of a developing Southeast Asian nation, where the violent and

uneven growth of industry spares the remnants of shanty towns and makeshift stores selling cell

phone refill cards, chicken fried rice, and t-shirts of yesterday’s pop idols. The lumbering buses

that spew charcoal mist and the silent sedans tinted into obscurity—they are the brush strokes

that blur and blend yet make it all so clear: everything costs money. And no matter who you are

or what you want, money is what you need—even if only for one bowl of rice a day.

When the lights go down and the citizens all sleep, the vagrants (it is said) congregate in

empty lots where the grass still grows or under bridges where the river is filled with candy

wrappers and plastic bags. Here the homeless can build, but it is not a construction; it is a beacon

of heat, light, and maybe something else. Crickets and a crackling fire lull the vagabonds to sleep

until the next day, where all their troubles and hardships wake with them. Less than whispers in

each of their hearts are the words recited: “Maybe… Today will be a better day.”

The street folk come in all sizes and flavors, some with talents in one area and others

whose talents should be kept as far away from children as possible. But the Conscience is the

great leveler of things, the only constant. When there is nothing else to do and nowhere else to

go, the ways to make money are paid and paved with guilt. If one day they could ever leave that

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filthy life, it’s the Conscience that’ll have to be cleaned then. Everyone has a noble voice that

dreams of altruistic aspirations, to help others while you make your way; so too does everyone

have a darker voice that says your heart’s deepest selfish desires, cutting anyone as long as they

get what they want. But one’s measure isn’t the voices they hear, but the voices they listen to.

Players choose their characters.

TTHHEE CCAASSTT OOFF CCHHAARRAACCTTEERRSS

Beggar Boy: A young child alone on the streets who wants nothing more than a bus ticket

to leave. He spends his days at the Intersection, and has worn the same clothes for several

months; he showers when the river isn’t too dirty. When the light shines red, he stretches his

hand up to the tinted windows of immaculate cars. Sometimes the window comes down. He has

a heart of light, but these trying days drain it of its luster.

Street Kid: A young teenager fed-up with his pathetic street life, he takes his frustration

out on others through bullying the younger children and pick pocketing regular people. He

blends in well, perfecting his trade in crowded places like the Market. Being so crafty with his

hands, his dream is to come in possession of a sharp shiny knife.

Wallflower: Sixteen years old, equipped with an inquisitive mind, and a taste for music,

she has spent most of her life homeless, and all of her life in poverty. She prefers to help out at

the Market by loading up the vegetable stands or helping with carrying groceries. When she is

given a tip, she feigns ‘no’ before accepting it. A concert for a local band is coming up; she marks

off the days on a calendar written in chalk, even though she can’t yet afford a ticket.

Monkey Maestro: A young man with a pet long-tailed monkey, trained to do simple

tricks, sits on the side of the road while his brand of ‘entertainment’ rakes in spare change from

passersby, walking or driving. He meets his girlfriend once a week; so it’s been since they first

met 4 years ago. They are both vagrants, but she has taught him how to read a little. He loves her

deeply and has his eyes set on the cheapest ring he can get at a fake jewelry store.

Lady Nightlove: Painfully trapped in the middle of her 30’s, she entertains middle-class

men miserable in their marriages. Outwardly she acts content with her line of work, though she

never brings it up. The scar on her body she hides tells the most about her past; her worn purse

(a knockoff) carries a generic pad of make-up and lipstick, both half used. She wants to retire.

The Lunatic: A mad old man known to everyone and said to have been walking the

streets for decades, his origins are lost even to him. Highly erratic, no one understands what he’s

Still Vagrants

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working toward. All that’s known is that he seeks a dozen bottles of liquor. The greatest

optimists speak quietly behind his back: ‘what awful thing was it that has broken him?’

The Scavenger: Dragging a big old wooden cart wherever he goes, this elderly man

considers himself a humble prospector, rummaging through garbage for trash that can be sold for

coins. Only the rusty ‘gold’ ring wrapped around his finger draws sadness to his face, otherwise

always smiling with squinted eyes. He secretly gathers money to buy construction wood. What

he wants to build is anyone’s guess.

Old Granny (NPC): Owner of a Roadside Stall and the kindest heart the vagrants know,

she always wishes she could help out as much as she wanted to. But she hasn’t the money or

resources. All she can do, aside from the occasional free meal, is pray for them to find their way.

The Carpenter (NPC): Owner of a small Wood Shop he also lives in, he puts as much

distance as he can from his former life as a vagrant—and from people still living that life. The

only thing he does for the others is let them take leftover wood chips from his trash to use for the

campfire. Otherwise, he stays away.

SSEETTTTIINNGG

Intersection

A busy intersection at a nexus point in the city, where many cars pass through until the

three-eyed lights say ‘Stop’ and put a halt to the busy movements of businessmen. Pedestrians of

any sort are rare aside from the few other homeless folks, and the roads stay fairly clean.

Market

Fruits, vegetables, meat—everything you can eat is sold at this busy market that for some

reason is full all day. Chatty housewives mostly line the stalls and cramp up the walkways, and

where there is shopping there are purses, pocketbooks, and wallets. A lot of them end up

shopping too much, often needing help carrying their things.

Quiet Back road

A street far less busy than a main road, there’s less to worry about here. A few people walk

by now and then, and they tend to be alone. The few small houses in the area always stay closed

up and locked away, as if the world wasn’t their business. There are trees and bushes on one side,

with much shade.

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Housing Complex

A large complex of mid- to high-class houses, with beautiful roads where no one ever

walks, is the ideal place for rummaging through trash. A neat little dump site made of cement sits

at the front of each house, and the truck only passes by at high noon. Somehow though they’re

never short on garbage.

Roadside Stall

Owned by Old Granny, it’s a small wooden stall anchored in the dirt on the side of a fairly

quiet road. All kinds of snacks, drinks, and even some rice balls are available for purchase.

Typically the stall isn’t empty, often visited by blokes having a glass—not a cup—of coffee.

Wood Shop

A small establishment right up against the side of a public road, taking in carpentry jobs of

all kinds. The doors stay closed unless a fancy car—or at least a fancy suit—approaches them. At

the end of the day, whatever pieces of wood are on his floor get swept outside. Whoever takes

them is none of the owner’s concern.

IINNCCIITTIINNGG IINNCCIIDDEENNTT

The lot of you sits around a campfire in the usual empty lot on a particularly cold night in

the city. Dark is all around except for the traffic lights blinking in the distance and, of course, the

warm crackling fire in front of you: a circle of strangers, homeless folk, all sharing warmth and

being coldly silent to each other. And then a car screech rips through the air, and the shriek of a

little girl trails behind it.

Which of you want to go investigate?

[If at least one player goes…]

An ad-hoc search party is formed, and the team ventures out to the direction of the

commotion. As you approach the Intersection, a pair of brake lights—as if two red, grief-stricken

eyes—speeds away into the night and disappears. A little girl lays on the ground upright. She is

conscious. She sees you approach, but before you can say a word to her, she passes out. The

group gently lifts her and takes her back to the Camp.

[If none of the players go…]

Still Vagrants

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The others form an ad-hoc search party and venture off to the direction of the sound,

while you all stay behind. After some time, they return carrying a little girl.

A strange sensation comes over all of you. The face of this girl is so familiar, and yet you

can’t place it. You’ve tried so hard to submerge your past into the darkest depths of your mind,

and the memories won’t easily re-emerge. But you know this girl—no more than 10 years old—is

important, and you know her name is Innocence.

Innocence is barely stirring. One of the others suggests they take her to Old Granny, a

very old woman who owns the Roadside Stall down the street. It’s not too late at night; she may

still be there. The stall has some food, water, and more warmth than the outdoors has to offer.

Another contradicts, and suggests against their better knowledge that they take her to the

Carpenter, the stingy owner of the Wood Shop in the other direction. He has an actual home

(humble as it is living in the Wood Shop) and electricity. Even though he maintains a distance

from the homeless, only helping out by letting them have his leftover wood chips and pieces to

use for the campfire (and reluctantly at that), he might be able to do more for the girl.

Where do you take Innocence?

[If taken to the Carpenter…]

A group of you carries Innocence to the doorstep of the Carpenter. You knock once, but it

goes unanswered. You knock again; still nothing. As you are about to leave, the rustling inside

stops you. The door opens to a sleepy and rather upset-looking man. He takes one look at the

girl and knows trouble is heading his way.

Play as the Carpenter while the players convince him to take Innocence.

The Carpenter finally gives in and takes Innocence into his home. Once she’s settled, he

immediately kicks everyone out and shuts the door. The group returns to Camp.

[If taken to Old Granny…]

Luckily, Old Granny was still at her stall. Since there are no customers around, she’s

sitting on the old wooden bench on the opposite side of the counter, and sighs, lost in thought.

Play as the Carpenter while the players convince her to take Innocence.

Old Granny does what little she can and takes her into the Stall, laying her down on the

cramped bamboo floor. The old woman seems tired, so the group returns to Camp.

Still Vagrants

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Returning to Camp, thoughts about the fate of Innocence come to you, growing in

number with each flick of the campfire. Who is she? Why is she so familiar? Why do you hear a

new voice in your heart, among the many others? And how is that you now, after so long or

perhaps for the first time altogether, have a dream? Soon the questions crystallize into a goal—a

goal you will try to achieve no matter what the cost. Now, you no longer live day-to-day only to

survive. Your dreamless life has ended and you now have a purpose—and it’s a purpose that can

only be realized when past demons are faced. A part of you wants to continue living in oblivion,

while another wants to follow the treacherous path of truth.

As you become more and more entrenched in your thoughts, you drift off to sleep.

Starting tomorrow, you will work to realize your dream—whichever it may be. And so the story

begins…

TTHHEE FFIIRRSSTT AACCTT

The first Round…

It’s a beautiful sunrise. But you just can’t see its beauty anymore. The light of dawn just

means it’s time to get off your ass and bust your ass. Money needs to be made. Everyone has

their own way; it’s time for you to go about yours.

The first Night Round…

As the daylight begins to die away, fatigue begins to set in. If you use up your Turn to rest

early, you will regain Stamina. Should you choose to keep working at Night and keep the veil of

sleep at bay until very late in the night, exhaustion will weigh you down. Choose wisely.

The first Dream Fair…

The heart grows restless with the passing of a long and arduous day. To resist its urges to

release the voices within is to carry a burden, a weight that grows heavy on the conscience. The

choice is and always has been yours. Share a memory and another may find their way, or say

nothing and be a silent link in a circle of strangers.

Around two days after the inciting incident…

Your journeys continue, day-by-day doing the same things to scrape together some

money, and your dreams inch closer at an agonizing pace. A couple of days pass and you can

finally visit Innocence and find out her condition.

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She’s exhausted, dehydrated, malnourished—and just as weak in spirit. She seems to be

feeling better but she hasn’t said a word to anyone.

[If the caretaker is the Carpenter…]

The Carpenter is overly protective of the girl, and won’t let her see visitors.

[If the caretaker is Old Granny…]

Old Granny has her daughter taking care of Innocence. She can’t be visited.

For now the only thing you can do is go on with the routine until Innocence recovers.

A few days after the inciting incident…


Innocence is doing far better. You see her helping out the Carpenter, who appears to be

training her to help out. He won’t let her stay and be useless.

Role play the Carpenter, who won’t let Innocence out of his sight.


Innocence seems much healthier now as you see her helping Old Granny tend to the

Roadside Stall. A glimmer of light sparkles in the old woman’s eyes now—something you haven’t

seen before.

Role play Old Granny, who seems very dependent on Innocence’s presence.

Though you know one of your paths is inextricably bound to hers, you realize there’s little

you can do for her now. She’s much better off living as she is then being with you on the streets.

And it doesn’t seem like she will go anywhere. The best thing to do is to continue scraping

together enough money to make your dream—the dream that the little girl awakened within

you—come true.

TTHHEE FFIINNAALL AACCTT

The Final Act begins when one of the characters nears fulfilling the money goal.

Without warning, dark clouds begin to emerge from the rims of the sky. The threatening

masses continue to encroach upon the sun’s domain until they loom ominously overhead. A

sinking feeling visits upon all of you. This is going to be a bad one. You’re going to need to take

cover and call it a day.

Still Vagrants

15


At the start of a Night Turn, the players lose their turns.

Upon reaching the Camp several of you are chosen to go to the Wood Shop like every

other night and get some wood to burn for the fire. The day gets darker and darker. Lightning

flashes in the distance, tearing across the air. You hurry to the Carpenter’s home.

When you see the door of the house ajar and the lights still off in the darkening evening, a

feeling of dread creeps its way into your hearts. The windows are broken, shards glittering across

the ground. You find the Carpenter lying inside—dead.

Give players a chance to investigate.

The sobs coming from the corner of the room break your shock. Innocence is hiding

under the bed, again having come close to death. When you approach her, she leaps up and runs

to you. She holds on so tight while she cries an eerie, stifled, quiet little cry. She still won’t say a

word. You have no choice but to take her with you back to Camp and rest for the night.

As you reach the camp, a hellish storm takes root and violently punishes the city and its

street. The rain is so thick, the rest of the city seems to disappear in the gray. You close your

eyes. As you drift to sleep, you hope you’ll wake up with your troubles washed away.

When morning comes, a dense mist has taken over the streets. A day like this hasn’t come

for months. But there’s nothing you can do but go about your routine. Only now, there’s a little

girl that needs watching.


You and the others set up a camp a short ways away from the usual spot, under the cover

of a few tall trees. The campfire struggles to stay aflame. The rain pitter-patters for a brief

moment until a wall of water finally falls, forcing you all to huddle together closer than you’ve

ever been. Strong winds tug away at the trees as the storm punishes the city. This won’t end

soon, but you have nowhere else to go. You all try to get some sleep and hope nothing terrible

happens.

In the morning, an unusual mist blankets the streets. The storm has calmed down, but its

heavy clouds still loom overhead, keeping the sky as its prisoner. Everything is gray. A day like

this hasn’t come for months. But what can you do but go about your day?

Still Vagrants

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You head to the Roadside Stall for a quick bite of grub to warm you up. When you come

to the quiet stretch of road, you barely recognize the stall, toppled over and crushed by the

violent winds. Each plank of wood has been snapped like a toothpick; the small space inside the

Stall has caved in. It’s only when you’re right next to the ruins that you see, just hidden from

view, a pair of legs underneath it. They look old, and you wish they weren’t so familiar. But the

freckled and wrinkled feet are dead cold.

Give the players a chance to investigate.

Just then something jumps up from the bushes nearby. Innocence blazes across the

ground and latches on to one of you, as if she’ll never let go. She cries an eerie, stifled, quiet little

cry, but you can tell from her eyes that it’s only because she had already spent most of the night

crying.

The morning waits for no one to mourn and continues its path. You know you have to

start your routine, coldly as if nothing happened. Only now, there’s a little girl that needs

watching.

From now on, each Day begins with a D4 roll and the players with the least amount

of money pick 1 number, while the player with the most picks 2. The player who picks the

number that is rolled has to take Innocence with them for the entire Day through until

Night. The presence of Innocence affects players by lowering the maximum Roll Count by 1

(down to a total of 2).

Still Vagrants

17

EENNDDIINNGGSS

Beggar Boy: Bad Ending

You slowly drag your feet to the bus station, where you hand the man hidden behind the

ticket booth all the money you had worked so hard for. He hands you back a tiny little ticket.

With this you can finally leave the fake orphan life—leave the parents who throw you out onto

the street to beg for money, and won’t let you come home until you have enough money. What

awaits you in that other place, in that other city? It could be the exact same life without parents.

As the bus pulls away and you sit quietly onboard, with everyone giving you dirty looks, you tell

yourself that things will be better, over and over and over.

Beggar Boy: Good Ending

With her ticket in hand, you take Innocence by the other to the bus station. You hand her

the thin slip of paper. She looks at you with confused eyes. You reveal to her that your parents

knew hers. They pretended to be her parents’ friends and tried to con them into giving her away,

but they were found out. During the long con, you found out that she had relatives who could

take her in, but they’re far away. The bus ticket will take her to them. You tell her to go, but she

won’t budge. You even push her gently and point to the bus, but she still won’t move. All of a

sudden she takes you by the hand, and sneaks you inside. The two of you board the bus together,

your hearts filled with more hope than you’ve ever felt.

Street Kid: Bad Ending

You enter a cheap thrift store and pile your money on the counter while pointing to the

shiniest knife you can see. The apathetic man behind the counter couldn’t care less and tosses it

to you. As you leave the store, you think about the things you can do with it—the people who

could be terrified with the blade, and the things they’d be willing to part with. Targeting women

would be easier, and they wear lots of jewelry. With enough money maybe you could finally even

try out that thing you hear about—that strange, wonderful miracle called ‘Angel Dust.’

Street Kid: Good Ending

You enter a cheap thrift store and pile your money on the counter while pointing to the

most sturdy-looking crafting knife you can see. The man hands it to you, intrigued when he

notices you staring wide-eyed at the small wooden sculptures lining the wall behind him. He

Still Vagrants

18

hands you the knife and a small piece of wood. You begin to work, carving away at the small

block. The wood shavings pile on the floor but neither one of you seem to care. Customers come

in but the clerk tells them to wait, and soon all their eyes are on you. Cut by cut, the minutes

begin to tumble. Finally you look up from your work, finished, and hold up the pinnacle of your

skills to the clerk and everyone at the store—all the while noticing a familiar silhouette in the tiny

sculpture.

Wallflower: Bad Ending

It isn’t even a very popular band, but you had never been able to forget the song of theirs

you heard and fell in love with. On the night of the concert, you tried to clean up as much as you

could. The small venue is dark, humid, and stinky. But you try not to care. Many other teens fill

the space, all wearing black. They all seem to know each other. One of them approaches you and

offers you something—small, light blue and pink things smaller than buttons. The guy smiles at

you while a few others watch, and he promises you it will make you happy. You pick out a few,

while he downs the rest. You follow suit. By the time the band actually takes the stage, you’re

already in another place far, far away.

Wallflower: Good Ending

Entering the small concert hall, you can’t stop yourself from humming that one and only

song of theirs that you fell in love with years ago. You dig through the crowd, making your way

closer and closer to the front. Everyone seems to be in another place. Just as you reach the front,

the band comes in stage and everyone begins to cheer and scream, and yours is the loudest voice

among them. The first song they play—it brings you to tears as you sing along word for word, the

lyrics etched in your heart. You know deep down you’ll probably never be happier than you are in

that very moment.

Monkey Maestro: Bad Ending

You hold the cheap gold ring in your hand as you walk out of the store. You go to meet

your girlfriend across the city, at your usual meeting spot. You act aloof for a little while—just

enough to annoy her—and then surprise her with the ring, getting down on one knee just like all

those romance stories from the Western world always go. She cries and says a nearly inaudible

Still Vagrants

19

‘yes’ between her sobs. The two of you hug and kiss. You tell yourself that love is all that matters.

You have no money and no job and no future, but love will solve everything. Surely…

Monkey Maestro: Good Ending

With the cheap gold ring in hand, you go to meet your girlfriend in the usual spot. Your

heart weighs heavier than it ever has. You think about what you’ve made her go through over the

past few years. She has sacrificed so much just to be with you. It’s only right that you set her free.

After you tell her that you can’t see her anymore, she throws a fit. Sorrow, anger, coldness—she

throws it all at you. You tell her to just go back to her parents, and that they’ll surely take her

back. You apologize for all the time you wasted with her, and promise her that she’ll be so much

happier with a much better man. You quickly leave before she sees your tears. Your only friend

in the world, the long-tailed monkey, looks at you wearing that silly red outfit you make her wear,

and you laugh a little.

Lady Nightlove: Bad Ending

You find a very small house crammed in between several others in a pocket of shanty town

between two of the biggest malls in the city. Laundry hangs on lines stretching from on house to

the other in all directions. You make your payment and, having stolen away Innocence, sit her

down with you on the floor of the unfurnished home. But it won’t really be a home. You’ve been

looking to retire for years, and it won’t be too far off now. You take out the make-up kit from

your cheap purse and begin to apply it on the little girl. You slick a line of lipstick on the small

lips of Innocence. Maybe in just a few more years…

Lady Nightlove: Good Ending

The first chance you get, you wash away the thick make-up from your face in the semi-

transparent river near the Camp. It’s clean enough. You find Innocence and take her with you to

the house you had set your eyes on. After you make the payment, the two of you enter the

cramped little home in the shanty town between two of the largest malls in the city. You set

down your purse and look her in the eyes. You tell her everything’s going to be OK. Then you

open your mouth and make an ‘ah’ sound. Innocence only looks at you. You try it again, and

again, and again, but it doesn’t work. You smile at your foolishness—and then, she smiles too.

Still Vagrants

20

The Lunatic: Bad Ending

With the last bottle of alcohol bought, you go to your secret stash. You marvel at the

beauty of the mound of liquor bottles. You sit for the last time and open up the first of many.

The Lunatic: Good Ending

You manage to buy one bottle more than you had planned with the money you gathered.

This one, you decide, will be the last one you drink. You work your way to the bottom of the

bottle as you open the rest, stuffing the tops of them with shreds of old rags. You then make your

way to the Housing Complex where many politicians are known to live—at least, that’s the way it

was 15 years ago. You light the bottles one at a time, and begin to toss them at the mansion,

laughing a hearty laugh that would never be forgotten by anyone who lived there.

The Scavenger: Bad Ending

With the planks of construction wood you have, you get to work on the project you’ve

planned for what seems like forever now, with the nails you’ve found along the way. But without

a hammer, you’re forced to use your hands to pound and push nails into the wood. By the end of

it, your hands are a bleeding mess. But you feel every ounce of pain as your penance. You look at

the two things you built in front of you, one much smaller than the other. On them, you carve

with the last nail you have left, the names of your dead wife and daughter and push the empty

coffins into the murky river under the bridge.

The Scavenger: Good Ending

You spend almost a whole day building with the wood and the nails you bought with all

your money. When you finally finish, you can’t help but feel a bit sad, even though your wife and

daughter died so many years ago. Your old cart was the one part of them you had left. As you

make your way with your new cart to Innocence—to see if, maybe, she’d have fun riding around

in it and smile the way your daughter used to—the old cart you left behind stands still by the

river, ever still and never moving.

Still Vagrants

21

This concludes the Narrative. Remember that these are just a few of the paths your Story

may take. These characters’ fates are limited only by the imaginations of the Narrator and the

players—and, perhaps, a twist of fateful luck.

The appendix documents are next, including the Character Sheets, the Setting pieces, and

the Narrator’s charts.

Still Vagrants

22

AAppppeennddiixx AA::

CChhaarraacctteerr SShheeeettss

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23

BEGGAR BOY

A young child alone on the streets who wants nothing more than a bus ticket to leave. He

spends his days at the Intersection, and has worn the same clothes for several months; he

showers when the river isn’t too dirty. When the light shines red, he stretches his hand

up to the tinted windows of immaculate cars. Sometimes the window comes down. He

has a heart of light, but these trying days drain it of its luster.

STATS

MEMORY GRID

GENDER Male

AGE 10

FATED DIE D6

STAMINA [] [] [] []

START Intersection

TALENT Solicit AR + 2

BASE GOAL Buy a bus ticket

GUILT MAX & MONEY GOAL 120

CURRENT MONEY

CONSCIENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

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24

STREET KID

A young teenager fed-up with his pathetic street life, he takes his frustration out on

others through bullying the younger children and pick pocketing regular people. He

blends in well, perfecting his trade in crowded places like the Market. Being so crafty

with his hands, his dream is to come in possession of a sharp shiny knife.

STATS

MEMORY GRID

GENDER Male

AGE 13

FATED DIE D8

STAMINA [] [] [] [] [] []

START Market

TALENT Pick pocket AR + 2

BASE GOAL Buy a knife


CURRENT MONEY

CONSCIENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Still Vagrants

25

WALLFLOWER

Sixteen years old, equipped with an inquisitive mind, and a taste for music, she has spent

most of her life homeless, and all of her life in poverty. She prefers to help out at the

Market by loading up the vegetable stands or helping with carrying groceries. When she

is given a tip, she feigns ‘no’ before accepting it. A concert for a local band is coming up;

she marks off the days on a calendar written in chalk, even though she can’t yet afford a

ticket.

STATS

MEMORY GRID

GENDER Female

AGE 16

FATED DIE D8

STAMINA [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

START Market

TALENT Help Out AR + 2

BASE GOAL Get into a concert


CURRENT MONEY

CONSCIENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

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26

MONKEY MAESTRO

A young man with a pet long-tailed monkey, trained to do simple tricks, sits on the side

of the road while his brand of ‘entertainment’ rakes in spare change from passersby,

walking or driving. He meets his girlfriend once a week; so it’s been since they first met 4

years ago. They are both vagrants, but she has taught him how to read a little. He loves

her deeply and has his eyes set on the cheapest ring he can get at a fake jewelry store.

STATS

MEMORY GRID

GENDER Male

AGE 24

FATED DIE D12

STAMINA [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

START Intersection

TALENT Entertain AR + 2

BASE GOAL Buy a ring


CURRENT MONEY

CONSCIENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

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27

LADY NIGHTLOVE

Painfully trapped in the middle of her 30’s, she entertains middle-class men miserable in

their marriages. Outwardly she acts content with her line of work, though she never

brings it up. The scar on her body she hides tells the most about her past; her worn purse

(a knockoff) carries a generic pad of make-up and lipstick, both half used. She wants to

retire.

STATS

MEMORY GRID

GENDER Female

AGE 35

FATED DIE D20

STAMINA [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

START Quiet Back road

TALENT Allure AR + 2

BASE GOAL Rent a house


CURRENT MONEY

CONSCIENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Still Vagrants

28

THE LUNATIC

A mad old man known to everyone and said to have been walking the streets for decades,

his origins are lost even to him. Highly erratic, no one understands what he’s working

toward. All that’s known is that he seeks a dozen bottles of liquor. The greatest optimists

speak quietly behind his back: ‘what awful thing was it that has broken him?’

STATS

MEMORY GRID

GENDER Male

AGE 62

FATED DIE D20

STAMINA [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

START Quiet Back road

TALENT Intimidate AR + 2

BASE GOAL Stock up on alcohol


CURRENT MONEY

CONSCIENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Still Vagrants

29

THE SCAVENGER

Dragging a big old wooden cart wherever he goes, this elderly man considers himself a

humble prospector, rummaging through garbage for trash that can be sold for coins.

Only the rusty ‘gold’ ring wrapped around his finger draws sadness to his face, otherwise

always smiling with squinted eyes. He secretly gathers money to buy construction wood.

What he wants to build is anyone’s guess.

STATS

MEMORY GRID

GENDER Male

AGE 51

FATED DIE D12

STAMINA [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

START Housing Complex

TALENT Prospect AR + 2

BASE GOAL Gather construction materials


CURRENT MONEY

CONSCIENCE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Still Vagrants

30

AAppppeennddiixx BB::

SSeettttiinngg PPiieecceess

Still Vagrants

31

Still Vagrants

32

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34

The Setting pieces are meant to be cut out, mounted on cardboard or foam core so that

they are robust—as the streets of the city they represent. Once completed, the pieces can then be

arranged into a city.

Still Vagrants

35

AAppppeennddiixx CC::

NNaarrrraattoorr’’ss CChhaarrttss

Still Vagrants

36

CCHHAARRAACCTTEERR DDAATTAA

Character Sex Age Dice STA Starting Point Talent (+2)

Beggar Boy M 10 D6 4 Intersection Solicit

Street Kid M 13 D8 6 Market Pickpocket

Wallflower F 16 D8 10 Market Help Out

Monkey

Maestro M 24 D12 12 Intersection Entertain

Lady Nightlove F 35 D20 12 Quiet Backroad Allure

The Lunatic M 62 D20 10 Quiet Backroad Intimidate

The Scavenger M 51 D12 8 Housing

Complex Prospect

GGOOAALL && EENNDDIINNGG DDAATTAA

Base Goal Money Goal Delusion Hope

Buy a bus ticket 120 Leave city Send her home

Buy a knife 160 Mug people Make

sculptures

Get to a concert 160 Take drugs Enjoy music

Buy a cheap ring 240 Propose Break up

Rent a house and take Innocence 400 Start a brothel Be a mother

Stock up on alcohol 400 Drink to death Blow up stuff

Gather construction materials 240 Build a coffin Remodel cart

Still Vagrants

37

AACCTTIIOONNSS DDAATTAA

Possible Actions

Location Solicit Pickpocket Help Out Entertain Allure Intimidate Prospect

Intersection Easy Moderate Impossible Easy Impossible Moderate Hard

-2 0 x2 -2 x2 0 +2

Market Easy Easy Easy Moderate Impossible Hard Moderate

-2 -2 -2 0 x2 +2 0

Quiet

Backroad

Moderate Hard Impossible Moderate Easy Easy Moderate

0 +2 x2 0 -2 -2 0

Housing

Complex

Hard Impossible Hard Hard Hard Impossible Easy

+2 x2 +2 +2 +2 x2 -2

Roadside

Stall

Hard Moderate Easy Easy Impossible Impossible Impossible

+2 0 -2 -2 x2 x2 x2

Wood Shop Impossible Impossible Impossible Impossible Impossible Impossible Impossible

x2 x2 x2 x2 x2 x2 x2

DDIIFFFFIICCUULLTTYY DDAATTAA

Action Diff.

Solicit 6

Pickpocket 10

Help Out 8

Entertain 12

Allure 18

Intimidate 18

Prospect 12

Easy -2

Moderate 0

Hard +2

Impossible x2

Still Vagrants (rule book)

Documents

Transcript of Still Vagrants (rule book)