The Colors of the Sky

Bonus Material for

Golden Sky Stories
The Colors of the Sky: Bonus Material for Golden Sky Stories
© 2013 Starline Publishing

Credits
Witch, Mouse, Wolf, & Tales: Ryo Kamiya & Tsugihagi Honpo (©2008-2012)
Translation: Ewen Cluney
Pony Henge: Ewen Cluney
Fish Henge: Ben Lehman
Stranger in a Strange Land: Rodrigo Garcia Carmona
Layout and new Henge Icons: Clay Gardner
Artwork:
Witch & Mouse Henge by Ike
Tales Illustrations by Ike and Myaa
Fish Henge by C. Ellis (http://www.by-starlight.com)
Pony Henge by Sue-chan (http://www.sue-chan.com)
Scenario & Henge Candies Illustrations by Honoel A. Ibardolaza
(http://honoel.tumblr.com/)
The Colors of the Sky
Bonus Mat erial for
 Introduction
The road to the release of the English version of Golden Sky Stories was a
long and strange one. The game came out in Japan in 2006, and I bought
a copy, along with Maid RPG, in late 2006. Along the way I joined forces
with Andy Kitkowski to publish Maid RPG in English, completed a Mas-
ter’s degree in the Japanese language, and ran a Kickstarter funding drive
for GSS that was incredibly successful. Aside from it being gratifying just
to see a heartwarming, non-violent game succeed in general, our own
hard work—to say nothing of that of Ryo Kamiya and everyone else who
worked on the original Japanese version—was well-rewarded.
The impact of Kickstarter on role-playing games is hard to overstate,
and having our first funding drive raise over $85,000 and reach 2,350
people was amazing. We also blew through a total of seventeen stretch
goals, which meant we were going to translate and produce an enormous
amount of additional material. This ranged from single character types to
entire new settings. This book is a collection of the bonus material that
connects to the core rules, usable in a normal Golden Sky Stories game
set in rural Japan.

New Residents: This section has five new character types: mouse henge,
wolf henge, pony henge, fish henge, and the witch. Three were origi-
nally special convention offerings in Japan, while two are original cre-
ations for the English version.
Strangers in a Strange Land: In this pair of scenarios, Rodrigo Garcia
Carmona provides two very human tales about two boys and their
relationships with the town.
Henge Candies: Allen Varney presents a guide to henge’s favorite can-
dies, and how they can be a part of your stories.
Tales: These are two prose short stories, which originally appeared in the
Tsugihagi Tayori magazine in Japan.

There’s still plenty more to come, but for us this collection represents a lot
of effort, and getting to work with some pretty fantastic people. We hope
it helps enrich your Golden Sky Stories games.

—Ewen Cluney

4
Notes on New Characters
The new character types included here character type, best used either by the
are an optional bonus for those who narrator or by players who already have
would like to experiment more with experience playing regular henge. Being
Golden Sky Stories. They can be a little aquatic unless they transform makes it
tricky to integrate into a typical story, much more difficult for fish henge to
and in some cases they’re a bit differ- fully participate in a story.
ent thematically as well. It is up to each A fish henge’s true form can be pretty
Narrator to decide whether or not to in- much any kind of fish, from a com-
clude these in his or her game. mon goldfish to an exotic tropical fish,
though fish that actually live around
Horse Henge Japan in some form are probably best.
In real life horses are quite rare in Think about what kind of fish henge
Japan. In feudal times samurai would you’re making, and where your henge
ride horses in battle, but people used will live as a fish.
oxen as beasts of burden. The few hors- Fish henge can breathe air even in
es in Japan today are mainly used for full fish form, but find it uncomfortable.
horse racing and other equestrian sports, They can also use human speech in or
and in certain tourist attractions. They out of water.
were actually scarce enough that Akira
Kurosawa had to import extra horses to transforming
film battle scenes in his period movies. Fish henge don’t have ears and tails the
Japan doesn’t have any horse-related way most henge do, so when they take
mythology to speak of, so horse henge human form it works a little differently.
are a thing we made up for this game,
inspired by A Certain Cartoon, plus +0 You look human, except you have a fish’s
lots of English idioms about horses and tail instead of legs, like a mermaid.
reading up a bit on real-life horses. Put- +2 You look human, but with some fish
ting horses into a town in the Japanese characteristics like patches of scales
countryside isn’t really true to real life, and webbed fingers.
but if you already have henge and local +4 You look like a regular human.
gods running around, horses are a pretty
minor fantasy element. If you do want
to include ordinary horses in your sto-
ries, you can use the description below.

horses
henge: 0 animal: 4
adult: 0 child: o

Horses are large, strong, swift animals

that people use as beasts of burden and
transportation. They have a strong herd
instinct, and can be a bit skittish.
For more information on horses, see
the introduction to pony henge.

Fish Henge Rules

Fish henge are a somewhat advanced
5
 I’m Chika, the mouse! How old am I? I was
actually born about two months ago, though I look like I’m
10 when I take human form. And remember, I’m just as
smart as an adult too. I’m impatient, gluttonous, and tiny?
Well of course; I’m a mouse. I’m small, but I run around a
lot. Just look at me!

Mice as henge? Well, there are all kinds. Like I

live above the ceiling in someone’s house, but some
live underground, or in the mountains or fields. I’m
not, like, the only one who became a henge. Oh, but
we’re all pretty smart. We have to be because we’re so
tiny. We don’t do anything violent, and we get pretty
scared when people get mad at us.

Hm? Mice as animals?Apart from field mice,

people tend to not like us. A lot of it is stuff we can’t
really help though. Besides, we’re small and really
fast… and cute too, right? Hey, don’t laugh!
I—I meant mice in general, not me! W-Well, I
mean I’m a mouse, and a mouse is a mouse, so, well,
you know… *mumble*

The Japanese name for mice is nezumi, because

they think that while you’re sleeping (neru) we
steal (nusumi) things, or because it’s underground
around roots (ne) where we live (sumi). We’re just
who we are though.

Mice are no good with cats. I’ve made friends

with some, but lots of mice just run away from
them. Cats have their own problems, but I wish
they’d try to understand us more.
Aheheh! I do get up to lots of mischief! But
not anything mean; I try to think carefully about
what happens after.

We have lots of children. I have tons of brothers.

Everyone can become a mom or dad only a month
after they’re born. Next time we meet I might even
be a mommy. Heeheeheehee!

No matter how much food there is, it’s never

enough. My body’s small, but has infinite power
and a hunger to match! …So if you really want
to be friends, maybe you could let me have
some food when you see me? Well, I know lots
of places to get a snack actually.

For us, time runs fast. Anyone who

thinks that some people go fast and should
stop and take a look at how quickly things go
for us. Just remember that if we seem impa-
tient. You guys talk so slow!

And you know we’re #1 in the Chinese zodiac!

There are 12 animals, and each one watches over a
different year! There are a lot of stories about how
we took the number one spot though. But all of them
are about how we had an ancestor who was really
smart. Heehee!
鼠
Mice are small animals, but they’re also very clever. In stories
they can slip into the background and quickly ferret out the
true cause of the trouble. Their tiny bodies let them go most
anywhere, and find out all kinds of things. Of course, they’re still
quite good at finding things even in human form.
However, although mice are accustomed to having big fami-
lies that get along, they don’t easily befriend other animals or
humans. Their cleverness gets in the way, preventing them from
opening up as much to others. On the other hand, once they do
let someone in, they treat them like a close family member.
You could say a mouse’s role is to work hard behind the scenes
MOUSE POWERS for their precious friends and family.

Mouse Hole (4) You Do It (6) Liar (8)

By finding tiny gaps, you can You can have someone else do This power lets you make some-
slip into all sorts of places. Even something for you. You can use one believe a lie that you’ve
if the way is closed or blocked, this for any check other than an told. Make an Adult check
you can leave a scene. You can Impression Check. Rather than against their Adult attribute; if
also enter a scene when you making the check yourself, you you win, you are able to deceive
wouldn’t normally be able to. can have another character that them. Without very direct proof
is present in the scene do it for in front of them, they will con-
you. When you use this power, tinue believing you and not sus-
both you and the person help- pect anything.
ing you can spend Feelings on
the check.

Sneaky (8) Big Family (8) Shenanigans (12)

You can move around without Your large family of mice gives Smart mice can get a big effect
making a sound or other signs, you wise advice. When you use out of a little bit of mischief. You
so that others don’t notice you this power, your Adult attribute can use this to interrupt when
at all. This lets you take ac- is doubled for the rest of the someone (a henge or mononoke)
tion without anyone in the scene. is using a power. When you use
scene spotting you, without this power, the target’s power
any chance to resist. This effect simply doesn’t work.
continues until the end of the
scene or until you make some
kind of noise, like talking above
a whisper or causing a flashy
scene.
WEAKNESS ADDITIONAL POWER
Impatient Skitter (8)
You’re prone to being flustered and rushed, You run away in the blink of an eye. You can
often engaging in wasted efforts. Any time use this to interrupt any check. When you use
you use a power, you have to spend 1 addi- it, you are able to safely exit any scene. You can
tional point of Wonder. take one unresisting henge or human with you.

Underground Treasure (6)

You live in a dark hole, and thus don’t know You know the location of some long-forgotten
much about the surface world or the town. treasure. Once before the end of the story you
You automatically fail any checks relating to can have a valuable item worth 500,000 yen
information about the town, the lay of the (roughly $5000), such as an ancient gold coin
land, machines, etc. or other antique. However, this is in the form
of an object rather than actual money, and
you’ll have to find a clever way to use it.

Tiny House Mouse (0)

Your small size means you’re not very strong. You You’re a white mouse or a hamster, the type
can’t raise your Animal attribute higher than 1, of critter people keep as pets. People will not
and you can’t use Feelings on checks that re- suffer from Surprise when they see you in your
quire physical power. animal form, and your attribute is increased by
1 when you do an Impression Check with a
human.

Glutton Dine and Dash (4)

You love to eat, and if you don’t get a proper You can make off with food without anyone
meal, you can barely move. Furthermore, if noticing. If someone is carrying food or has
there’s food in front of you, you have to stop food next to them, you can take it. It doesn’t
and eat until you’re full or the food is all matter how big the food is, though it has to be
gone, even if you have other things to do. something you can actually get a grip on, so
a wedding cake or a hot frying pan would be
right out.

Scared Stare (6)

There are certain kinds of animals you just By carefully examining someone, you can tell if
can’t deal with. Even if they’re actually a they’re a henge. If you use this power you can
henge, if there is a cat or snake in the scene discern a henge or mononoke’s true form and
that you don’t have a connection with, you weaknesses. However, this power doesn’t work
have to run away. on local gods.

Braggart I Don’t Get It (0)

You have a habit of pretending to be stronger Though you mean well, you have a lack of self-
than you are. In order to use Feelings on a awareness. You can use this power when a char-
check, you have to spend an extra 2 Feelings. acter’s connection to you was just strengthened
in the current break between scenes. You can
now spend Dreams to strengthen your connec-
tion to that same character by any amount, in-
stead of just by 1.
 I’m Tsumuji the wolf! I’m 3 years old,
but I’m already grown up! I heard my mom and pop
kept traveling up in the mountains until they came
here, but… they left me behind. I dunno how they
could do something like that to a little kid. Geez.

I was born in a cave. We’re not that great at

digging, so we have to go and find spots to use.

Hm? We live as families. I don’t know about this

“pack” stuff. We live as a family even if we’re far
apart. I have some brothers too, you know. My dad
left me this jacket, you know… I’m really glad he did.

Yeah, it’s really loud when we howl. It’ll hurt

your ears if you’re too close, so be careful, okay?

I’m not much good with towns. I can hear my

pop howling no matter how far away he is, but in
town sometimes I can’t.

Ayup, we have summer and winter coats.

We’re good at hiding, so you’re gonna have
a hard time finding me if I don’t want to be
seen. If I have just a little bit of brush you’ll
never find me.
I’m not scary, or violent, or inconsiderate, so don’t say stuff like
that. If you leave me alone, I’ll leave you alone. Well, except maybe
when I’m hungry.

Okuri-ookami? The Sending Wolf?

Those legends of wolves that guide peo-
ple to safety? Well, I don’t really like
people coming into my territory, so I’ll
watch them from behind and get them
to leave my turf.

I don’t get any weird urges when I look at the moon.

I hardly ever howl at the moon.

You think I’m a mountain god? You’re

gonna cause trouble going around calling
someone a god out of nowhere. Not that I
mind getting the occasional offering, but at
least leave some meat if you’re gonna do that.
狼
People seldom encounter wolves. For that matter, even henge
hardly ever run into wolves. The wolves live quietly, deep in the
mountains and forests.
They have abilities relating to their domains, and they’re
all too good at surprising people (and in a different way from
mononoke). Racing around open spaces, unleashing terrify-
ing howls, and protecting those that need it… Such wolves only
have frequent dealings with the local gods of the mountains and
forests.
Wolves know little of people’s society, and when a curious wolf
cub comes into town, it can become a major incident for every-
WOLF POWERS one involved.

Territory (0) Guardian (6) Hide (6)

You have a certain territory in You can watch over a certain You can completely hide your-
the mountains or forest where someone, or notice when some- self as long as there’s a tiny bit
you’re stronger than normal. As one is watching you. Once per of brush or grass. Even if it’s a
long as you’re in your territory, scene you can use this power, clump of grass smaller than you
the Wonder cost of other pow- and it will last until the end of are, no one will be able to see
ers is halved (round up). You the scene. Pick someone for it you from the outside. (How-
can only establish your territory to affect (which can be your- ever, the grass does have to be
somewhere outside of town. self); you can detect if someone reasonably thick.) Others need
Talk to the Narrator about this is secretly watching or following to make a Henge check greater
before you begin. them, regardless of what pow- than your Henge attribute, plus
ers they might’ve used or checks 3 in order to see you. However,
they might’ve made. If there’s local gods can easily find you in
another power in use, you can their territory and this power
discern what kind of power. will not work on them.

Substitution (8) Wolf Howl (20) Call of the Wild (30)

When it looks like someone is You can unleash a howl that resounds You can let out a howl that calls
in danger, you can take their all over town, startling everyone. You forth canine type animals from
place. If you use this power, can only use this once per story. Ev- the town. All of the dogs, foxes,
eryone in town (including henge and
you can enter a scene even if raccoon dogs, and wolves, and
mononoke) is subject to Surprise,
you weren’t participating in it even henge of those types of ani-
based on your Animal attribute dur-
before and put yourself in the mals, will hear the call and gather
ing the day, Animal +1 in the evening,
line of fire. If it does turn out or Animal +2 at night. However, this at its source. You can’t use this
to be something dangerous, the Surprise won’t cause anyone to faint. call for just anything, but the ani-
narrator may have you get hurt Humans will generally not come to mals will come unless they have
and receive thanks for this act the area where you use this power, some compelling reason to do
of sacrifice. even if it’s the center of town. If your otherwise, such as being tied up,
use of this power causes too much in the middle of eating or sleep-
bother for the town the Narrator may ing, etc. If you have a reasonable
decide to lower the strength of your request to make of them, they
connection to the town. will listen.
WEAKNESS ADDITIONAL POWER
Violent Growl (10)
You’re a bit reckless, and tend to come out swinging You can glare and growl menacingly to scare
rather than talking. When you need to make a check someone. When you use this power, if your
to persuade someone or make a request, you’ll Quar-
rel with them instead. Needless to say, this means Animal attribute beats their Adult attribute,
you’re no good at persuasion or making requests. they’ll be Surprised. If you manage to Surprise
Also, if you use the Call of the Wild power and the a henge with this power, they’ll be forced to
animals you call don’t resist, you don’t have to spend return to their animal form.
points to temporarily overcome this weakness.

Frightening Go Away! (8)

Being a wild animal, you’re rather scary. When By scaring someone, you can drive them away
you make an Impression Check, the Strength from the area. Make an Animal check. If it’s
of the connection the other side gets to you higher than their Animal, they will leave the
is reduced by 1. (In other words, you need a scene. However, you cannot use this against
result of 8 to create a Connection at all.) friendly henge.

Klutz Perseverance (4)

You’re not very good at doing things efficiently or You have the ability to persevere through pretty
taking care of yourself. Your Adult attribute has much anything. If you use this, you can ignore
to be zero, and you have to use 1 extra point of Surprise. (You must declare that you are perse-
Feelings to make an Adult check. vering.) Also, you can use this power to perse-
vere through your own Weaknesses.

Honest Giant Wolf (20)

You’re a very honest wolf who just can’t lie. You transform into a wolf some 3 meters long and
as tall as an adult human. In this state, your Animal
Throughout every story, you can’t tell lies at
and Henge attributes increase by +10, and you’re big
all, not even lies that would be kind. enough for a few people (or 5 children) to ride on
your back. This power lasts until the end of the scene
or until you cancel it. However, each time you use
this power, the strength of your connection from the
town (or a connection from a friend if you don’t have
a connection to the town) goes down by 1.

Loneliness Spirited Away (12)

You’re prone to loneliness, and you hate be- In the blink of an eye, you dart off, interrupting any
checks or powers and leave the scene to go to your
ing alone. You can’t act separately from some-
territory. When you use this power, you can take
one else. You have to always be with someone. someone with you as long as you have a connection
with them. Even if they don’t want to go, you can
force them if you wish by making a check that beats
their Animal attribute.

Gullible Wolf Guide (12)

You just can’t figure out when you’re being tricked, By quietly following someone from behind, you can
guide them and ensure that they stay on the correct
even when you’re in the middle of tricking someone
path. You can guide any number of others you have
yourself. You never suspect you’re being lied to, and connections with. You can ignore distance and travel
even if you as the player fully understand that a lie times to swiftly deliver them to most anywhere. How-
has been told, your henge will have to believe it. ever, if you use this power to go somewhere outside
of town, you’ll have to use it again to get back.
 Hi there! My name is Konpeito, and I’m a pony!
My mom said she named me that because she knew I was
going to be sweet. Do you think she was right? What’s that?
You think I’m impatient and skittish and stick with the herd?
Well, I can’t help it, okay?

You want to know about horses as animals?

Well, we’re pretty big compared to a lot of other
animals, and usually taller than most people. People
can even ride on horses, though I guess they don’t do
it so much nowadays. We walk on four legs, but those
legs end in hard hooves. We like to eat stuff like grass
and hay. There’s nothing like going out to a meadow
and having a good graze.

Horse henge? Wellllll… not a lot of horses become

henge. Most horses just want to graze and run around
and stuff, and I guess only a few of us even want to do
stuff like take human form and talk to people. Those
of us who do… aren’t your typical horses.

People can ride on horses. Not every horse

will let you, so you’d better be careful if you try. If
a horse does let you ride, you need to know how to
give directions. We don’t always know where you
want to go after all. Oh, and you’ll probably want
to put a saddle on the horse. The area between
your legs will thank you.

We horses can really run fast. I love to run, to

feel the wind in my mane. We can run so fast that
before people made cars and stuff, they would ride
horses to get where they wanted to go.
 Did you know that horses can sleep standing up?
It’s easy! What, you mean you can’t do it?

You really shouldn’t sneak up on a horse from

behind. Just having someone behind me makes
me really nervous, and when I get nervous, I
might kick, and no one wants that!

I don’t really know much about different breeds

of horses. I’m just a regular ol’ filly with regular brown
hair, after all. Some horses are bigger, or faster, or
meaner than others. Some run in races, and some just
pull carts and stuff.

Donkeys are kind of like our cousins. They’re

better at carrying things, but not as fast. Once I
read in a book about how we have these other
cousins from somewhere far away called zebras
that have black and white stripes.

There are also some special magical horses.

Unicorns have a horn with magic powers, and
pegasi have wings they can use to fly. Some
people seem to think they’re not real, but then
a lot of people say that about henge. I’m just
a regular pony so I can’t fly or use magic like
some of my friends. This one unicorn I met said
there’s a pony who’s both a unicorn and a pega-
sus, and she’s some kind of beautiful princess. I
think I’d like to meet her some day.
馬
Horses are strong, swift animals with a strong herd instinct.
They can carry more weight and run much faster than most
henge, and they have a natural affinity for working with others.
Among the henge they play a supporting role, always helping
any way they can.
However, horses tend to have trouble doing things by them-
selves, and they can be very skittish and panicky. They need
others to be with them and help them deal with the unexpected.

PONY POWERS
Special Talent (0) Friendship (0) Work Together (1+)

There’s some special thing You have a certain charm that You can back up your friends
that you have a natural talent makes others like you. The when they try to do something.
for, such as making something cost in Dreams for others to When you use this power, you
(pies, cakes, etc.), or perform- strengthen a connection to a add the amount of Wonder you
ing (singing, acting), or doing pony is reduced by 1. spend to their attribute for a
something (gardening, throwing check. You can only use this
parties, taking care of animals, power with someone you have a
etc.). Whatever it is, whenever connection with a strength of 2
you make a check relating to or higher to, and you can’t use it
that thing your attribute in- for Impression Checks.
creases by 1.

Comfort (6) Pony Express (6) The Way Home (12)

By nuzzling someone’s face and You’re fast enough to get any- Your unerring sense of direction
such, you can make them feel where in town in a short amount lets you take someone you have a
better. This lets you cheer them of time. By using this power you connection with home. You race
up after they’ve been Surprised, can get to anywhere in town by like the wind and arrive there
lost a quarrel, or otherwise had the end of the scene or before safely regardless of what’s be-
something get them down. the beginning of the next scene. tween you and your destination.
You can carry one or two oth- However, if you use this power to
ers with you when you do this, leave the town, you’ll have to use
though only if they’re willing. it again to get back.
WEAKNESS ADDITIONAL POWER
Chew Race Horse (10)
You have a nervous habit of chewing on You’re an exceptionally fast horse. If you’re will-
plants or wood. If you don’t have something ing to abruptly bolt off somewhere you can enter
to do right in front of you, you’ll start chew- or leave a scene when and where you want, re-
ing on any plants or wood around you. gardless of whether it’s already in progress. This
even works if you’re doing something different
in another scene taking place at the same time.

Mysterious Pegasus Pegasus Wings (2)

Rather than being a normal horse, you are a You have wings that let you freely fly through
pegasus with feathered wings like a bird. When the sky. You can also carry things that are
you take human form you have these wings like a smaller than yourself. Furthermore, when you
bird as well as your ears and tail like other henge. are running away or searching for things, add
Your animal form will cause Surprise based on 2 to your attribute. However, you cannot use
your Henge attribute plus 1, but you can spend 2 this power when you are in full human form or
Wonder and/or Feelings (plus the cost for the time normal horse form. This effect lasts until the
of day) to transform into a normal horse. end of the scene.

Skittish Dash (8)

You’re easily startled and hard to calm down. You’re very, very quick when you run away at
Whenever there’s a loud noise or sudden move- full speed. You can interrupt any check to flee
ment, you’re subjected to a Surprise of 4. When from the current scene to somewhere safe. You
someone’s power makes you Surprised, your at- can also take one unresisting human or henge
tribute is reduced by 2. with you as you run away.

Strange Unicorn Unicorn Magic (2)

As a unicorn you have a single horn grow- You are a unicorn with a magical horn. When
ing from your head. If you take human form, you use your magical power it glows, and you
your horn will still be visible unless you take can magically manipulate objects at a distance
fully human form. Your animal form causes with all the dexterity of a clever human, even in
Surprise based on your Henge attribute plus horse form. You can affect objects reasonably
1, but you can spend 2 Wonder and/or Feel- near you without touching them, and if you
ings (plus the cost for the time of day) to make a check for that kind of thing while using
transform into a normal horse. this power you can add 2 to your attribute.

Herd From the Horse’s Mouth (6)

You have a particularly strong herd instinct, Your honest character means that those who
and you never know what to do when you’re by know you will trust what you say, however un-
yourself. You can’t act separately from some- likely it might seem. When you use this power,
one else. You have to always be with someone. people will believe you are telling the truth
about something

Eats Like a Horse Strong as a Horse (8)

You have a really phenomenal appetite. If You’re particularly strong, and good at manu-
there’s food in front of you, you have to stop al labor. Using this power lets you complete
and eat until you’re full or the food is all gone, a manual labor type task in half the usual
even you have other things to do. amount of time.
 I’m Sammy the fish . Actually, I’m a salmon,
and there are lots of kinds of fish but Ewen said we
couldn’t all go in the book so I guess I have to talk
about all kinds of fish. I’ve spent three years living in
my home river, and I’m nearly old enough to go swim
in the ocean, so don’t call me a kid or I’ll beat you up.
When I’m a human I’m 12 years old.

Yeah, I’m pretty tough. Salmon have a rough life

in the streams; you gotta be tough to survive. I don’t
need friends or anything, but you seem pretty cool.
You could hang out with me, I mean. If I didn’t have
anything better to do.

Anyway the thing about fish henge is we’re not really

from around here. This whole air-and-land world is pretty
weird, you know. We don’t know a lot about it, so a lot
of us—not me I’m too cool­­—want to make friends and
learn about your world. If you’re lucky maybe I’ll show
you the ocean world sometime, too. We fish are pretty
loyal to our friends but you should be careful, because
some fish can grant wishes to their friends.

Some fish keep humans to take care of

them but I’m a wild fish so I don’t really know the
details of that. Pets? What? No, no, I’m pretty sure
it’s the other way around.

Fish as animals? I dunno, we’re not that inter-

esting. I’m just a slippery little fish, you know, hard to
see and harder to catch. What’s that? What do we eat?
Mostly other fishes, I guess. No, there’s nothing wrong
that. Fish are tasty! …Except for salmon, of course.
That’d be wrong.
Don’t touch my neck! That’s where my gills are,
and I need those to breathe in the water. Even in
human form, it just feels weird, okay?

Some people say that fish have poor memories

but I don’t know. Salmon can find their home
stream out of all the water in the ocean. I’d like to
see a human try that! Not all fish are like that, is
what I’m trying to—what was I talking about again?

Don’t laugh at me! I’ll hit you!

Yeah, I wear some pretty rough clothes,

I guess. I don’t know how humans manage to
survive without armor. Fish all have scales—
they’re pretty and protective. I guess my style is
a little of both.

They say that beautiful mermaids sometimes

lure human sailors into the ocean. I don’t know about
that, but thanks for calling me beautiful! Anyway if
you ever go into the ocean with me, don’t worry. I’ll
make sure you don’t drown. What’s that? A kiss? It’s
not that I like you or anything!
魚
Fish are remote from life on the land, but fascinated by it. They
want, more than anything, to make new friends with land-dwell-
ers, both to learn about life in the air and to share their mysteri-
ous underwater world with them.
Fish Henge can move between two worlds: the underwater
world that they come from and the human world that they long
to explore. They can also help their friends move back and forth
between these worlds. They are beautiful and happy and more
than a little bit strange.
A fish’s role is to show people the magic and wonder in the
world all around them.
FISH POWERS
Gills (0) Fish Out of Water (2) Mermaid’s Kiss (6)

You can breathe and survive If you end a scene partly or ful- You can give other people the
underwater without difficulty. ly in human form and the next ability to breathe underwater.
The water must be pure, natu- scene does not take place in wa- This gives them the “Gills” pow-
ral, and clean, though it can be ter, you can use this power to er until the end of the scene. If
fresh or salt water. remain in that form for the next you kiss them to use this power,
scene. This replaces the stan- it only costs you 2 Wonder.
dard transformation cost.

Quiet Watcher (6) Relaxing (8) Curiosity (10)

No one notices a fish. Once Your presence is calming to oth- When you learn something
you activate this power, no one ers. This power lets one other new about the air-breathing
notices you until you say some- person or henge automatically world, immediately increase the
thing or take obvious action. pass a Surprise check. strength of your connection to
whoever teaches it to you by
one. You can only use this pow-
er on a given character once per
story.
WEAKNESS ADDITIONAL POWER
Fishbowl Fish Needs a Bicycle (2)
You are a pet fish, kept in a bowl or tank by a You know where your owner keeps all her pos-
human. You don’t have any access to under- sessions, and how to use them to get around
sea society, and it’s as strange to you as it is the human world. Use this power to borrow
to any air breather. one ordinary, everyday item from your owner.

Coat of Scales Innocent Beauty (0)

When you take a human form with legs (i.e. You have a mysterious charm that can entrance
with a cost of +2 or +4), you leave behind others. When you create a new connection with
a beautiful coat of scales. Without it, you an Impression Check, if the other side is a per-
cannot turn back into a fish. You must pay son or henge who prefers your sex, the strength
as much of the cost of the transformation at of the connection with them is increased by one.
the start of each scene as you can. You can also pick the contents of the other side’s
connection for the first scene and break.

Tasty Wish (30)

You are a sort of fish that that humans find tasty. If someone has caught you, you may grant
In your fish form, humans may very well want them a wish in exchange for releasing you. This
to eat you. Look out! This isn’t the kind of game is a real wish, and lasts forever. You may decide
where a character will actually get eaten of to be mean or nice about it, but the ultimate
course, but you could get caught by a fisherman effects are up to the Narrator. You can only use
if you’re not careful. this power once per story.

Isolation Underwater World (8)

You are from a different world, and your When you show someone your underwater
connections to this world are weaker. Your world, increase the strength of their connec-
connection to the town starts at a strength tion to you by one. You can only use this once
of 1. per story for any given character.

Goldfish Memory School (8)

You tend to forget things very quickly. You You have a whole family of fish that will back
cannot do knowledge-related Adult or Henge you up or help you hide. When you use this
checks at all. Even if you as the player re- power, you call up a number of fish equal to
member things, your fish henge will forget. the sum of your Henge and Animal attributes,
times two, until the end of the scene.

Mute Beautiful Song (10)

You can’t speak, though you can still gesture, You can sing beautiful songs of the water.
make noises, and sing. When you do so, anyone who hears you must
pass an Adult check against your Henge score
plus 2 or become entranced by your song, un-
able to do anything but listen or try to get clos-
er to you until you stop singing.
 I am Melissa Blois, a well-bred witch
I started using magic sixty… *ahem* six years ago.
.

I started when I was six years old. Magic requires

that I recite incantations and wear odd clothes,
and sometimes I have terrible failures. I need more
training I suppose.

I am nonetheless a human. Admittedly, in some

ways I’m not quite like a normal human, and I’ve
gotten used to being treated like a mononoke now
and then. I don’t stay in this town all the time either.
Sometimes I go up into the mountains. However,
I also often go into town to buy clothes and other
things I need for my daily life.

I get along well with the henge from the town.

Heehee, apparently they’re not sure whether I’m a
person or a henge like them. Surely, my role is to be
an intermediary between the two. So, whether you are
human or henge, I welcome you.

I live outside of the town. I eat food I buy

in town, and the tomatoes and pumpkins I grow
in my garden. Sometimes I’ll share with someone
who has helped me. Even with my slender arms,
I can get by.

I can certainly fly without the aid of a broom.

But, since I have a broom I can fly. Do you under-
stand? I can let you fly on a broom too.
When you use magic, you are calling out, even if
you don’t make a sound. You have to let your voice
be heard. You must send out your wish. You should
be able to use magic, so why do you give up before
you start? If you give up even a little bit, you cannot
use magic. That’s why we witches never give up.

For magic you need words. That’s why I recite in-

cantations. If you merely keep on thinking that you
want something, it won’t be enough to become mag-
ic. Even if it seems pointless, if you don’t keep mov-
ing forward it won’t become magic. In this world,
wishes are not granted by mere thought, are they?

People’s wishes can only be granted through

magic. If your wish comes true, you have used mag-
ic. If fortune smiles on someone... they have surely
managed to use magic.

Everywhere is overflowing with Wonder.

The important thing is whether you think of
it as such.

If you truly believe that, then you

are now a magician too. And if it so happens
that at the moment you’re not a magician...
well, everyone uses magic at least once in their
long lives. So really, it’s strange to pretend that
there is that great a difference between us,
wouldn’t you say?
魔法 A witch is a person of either gender who can use Wonder.
Some are simply passing through the town, some are mysterious
people who live on its edge, some are shrine maidens, and others
live as normal people. There are many different kinds of witches,
who can appear in many different kinds of stories. Most witches
are careful not to offend the henge. They often serve as interme-

使い
diaries between people and henge.
As a witch is already human, he or she has no need to change
into one. They often dress strangely, but they can usually get
by with a change of clothes. Witches can have the same kinds
of names as ordinary people, or odd foreign names. Also, some
WITCH POWERS witches are much older than they look, much like some henge.

Joyful Charm (1+) Talk to Animals (2) Broom (6)

You cast a small charm. One re- This power lets you understand You can fly on a magical broom-
cipient (which can be you your- an animal. Until the end of the stick. You can carry up to two
self) gains Feelings equal to the scene, you can converse with times your own weight when
amount of Wonder you spend one ordinary animal. However, flying. When the speed you’re
on this power. this only works with one par- flying at becomes important,
ticular animal, and you’ll have make checks with your Henge
to use this power again to speak attribute; you can treat it as an
with a different animal, even if equivalent Animal check result.
it’s of the same type.

Change of Clothes (6) Moonlight Mischief (20) Twilight Magic (20)

This power lets you change the You can draw power from the moon As the sun is setting, you can
and cause animals to become human
clothing you’re wearing or that make the mysterious become
and humans to become animals.
of a willing recipient to what- You can only use this on a moonlit normal. You can only use this
ever you want. You can use this night, and only on those who want power during scenes taking place
to remove your “Strange” weak- to be affected. This transformation in the evening. During a scene
ness until the end of the scene does not affect one’s gender, but age where you’ve used this power,
and clothing can change however
(as far as your clothing goes), or henge can use any of their pow-
they want. Henge who become hu-
to change someone else’s outfit. man lose their Base Powers (but not ers without spending Wonder.
You can also use it on an un- Weaknesses or Additional Powers),
willing recipient by spending 12 and humans who become animals
Wonder. gain some of those animals’ Weak-
nesses and Additional Powers. Those
affected by this will not return to
their normal selves until either the
witch chooses to end the transforma-
tion, or the story ends.
WEAKNESS ADDITIONAL POWER
Magic Words Explosion (12)
In order to use your magical powers, you You cause a burst of light and sound. This
have to say special magic words. Anyone pres- doesn’t cause any fires or knock anyone down,
ent in the same scene with a Henge or Child but it does cause Surprise. Everyone in the
attribute of 2 or higher will know if you use same scene as you must get a Henge attribute
one of your powers. If they do notice, they check result of 8 or higher or the Surprise will
can prevent you from using a power if they cause them to faint.
get a higher Animal attribute result than you.

Strange Crystal Ball (8)

You speak and dress in a way that’s out of You have a crystal ball that lets you check on
touch with the times, or just looks conspicu- those you care about from a distance. When
ous and flamboyant. Because you stand out you use this power, you can see what some-
so much you can’t really hide, and if you try one to whom you have connection is doing. If
to walk around town you’ll draw everyone’s they don’t want you to see them, they’ll have to
attention. get a Henge attribute check result higher than
yours. If you can see one person, you can see
everyone else in the scene.

Secret Changing Seasons (4)

You have a very strict rule against letting normal You can make yourself younger or older in an
people see you as a witch. If someone does see instant. This power lets you change your appar-
your full witch garb, your connections to both ent age at will. This lasts until the scene ends,
that person and the town lose 1 strength. or until you use this power again.

Doohickeys Magic Item (8)

You just have no ability to understand ma- You can produce an object with a special power
chines. Regardless of your Adult attribute, in it. Pick any one power of yours or from one of
you can’t use anything that uses electricity. your friends to put into the object. Anyone who
uses the item properly can use that power (using
their Wonder and/or Feelings). The item will not
become lost or broken until the end of the story.

Failure True Magic (Special)

Your magic sometimes messes up in a really This power lets you call upon the very purest form
of true magic. You can only use this power once per
spectacular way. Once per story when you’re
story, and you must use it during the third scene of
using your magic, the narrator can have that the story or later. It consumes all of the Wonder and
power fail in a particularly embarrassing way. Feelings of all the characters present, but if they all
You cannot spend points to overcome this earnestly want the same wish granted, the narrator
must make sure it comes true. After you use this
Weakness.
power, you cannot use any Wonder or Feelings at all
during the next scene.

Mysterious Person Mysterious Moves (2)

You’ve become a little too involved in your mag- You can use your magic to perform even very
ic, making you distant from others. Between simple, everyday tasks. When you use this pow-
scenes you only gain 1 point of Feelings from er, you can substitute your Henge attribute for
each of your connections, regardless of the any check.
strengths of those connections.