The Helpless
We are passing a trove of jagged rocks when a peal of babbling squeals rises from the far ridge.
Cresting the rise, we see a two-year-old child standing within a circle of rubble. It stares at us with opaque eyes, its pale mouth moving in half-utterances. The child wishes to speak — something urgent is on its mind — but its tongue has yet to solve the strange puzzle of human language.
We must divine what the spirit means to tell us, or risk the curse of its dissatisfaction.
The day wears on…
The Challenge
In this game, travellers must work together to form as many words as possible.
Set a timer for two minutes.
In clockwise order starting with the Reader, travellers take it in turns to say one-syllable sounds or words.
Whenever the sounds combine to make a word of at least three syllables, the next traveller may sound out the complete word and score the team a point.
The next traveller must then begin the next word.
Keep track of completed words using your fingers.
As an example: the first traveller may say ‘inn’, the second traveller ‘fant’, and the third traveller ‘isle’. The fourth traveller then completes the word: ‘Infantile.’
Success. If the travellers complete six words by the time two minutes are up, they pass the Challenge. The last traveller to have completed a word earns the Blessing of the Helpless.
Failure. If the travellers complete fewer words than six in the time allotted, the Challenge is failed. All travellers suffer the Curse of The Helpless. Take this spirit's card and place it in a designated area on the table so everyone can see it. If this is the party's third Curse, click here.
————
⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖ ⧖
————
As we argue between ourselves as to the child’s meaning, we glance away from its place among the rocks. When we look back, the child is gone.