Introduction

For generations, an idyllic monastery on the Isle of Lull has given refuge to anyone and everyone without question in honor of St. Enid, the Patron Saint of Sanctuary.

But now, King Felix has ordered the monks to surrender radical preacher John Quill, who fled the mainland after he inspired a failed uprising against the nobility.

To turn Quill over would be to betray St. Enid and everything the monks stand for; to defy the king would bring war to Lull.

Lull Astir is a scengle: a kind of scenario for collaborative storytelling. The word "scengle" is a portmanteau of "scenario" and "Chris Engle," who invented this style of game under the more unwieldy name "social matrix games."

A scengle is unlike most role-playing games in that you don't play a character, you play the scenario. A scengle is unlike most story games in that rules don't drive the action forward; the players' own reasoning does.

The Core Rules

Anyone can begin the story by describing what happens first. Then, in any order, anyone can add to the story by describing what happens next. At any time, anyone can fast-forward to skip a scene, pause for a break, or rewind to alter or redo a scene.

You do not have to ask anyone’s permission to add to the story. Don’t say “Can this happen?” or “I think that happens” or “maybe this happens”; simply say what happens next as a matter of fact.

Most of the time, disagreements about what happens should be resolved through discussion. If a disagreement stalls or disrupts the game, the host (the player teaching or hosting the game) decides what happens. However, the host can (and often should) flip a coin, roll dice, spin a bottle, or otherwise decide who is right at random.

The Characters

1.    King Felix. When 10,000 people marched on the capital, the king rode out and promised to meet their demands. Then, after the crowd dispersed, he raised armies to brutalize the population and hang hundreds of rebel leaders.

2.    John Quill. There was a time where nothing could hurt his popularity, not even his excommunication from the Church; but now, he’s the shepherd who led his flock to the slaughter. His heresy? “The gentleman has no right to oppress the common man, because God creates all men alike.”

3.    Abbot Eoin. Came to Lull for peace and quiet, but look where that got him. A reluctant defender of John Quill; he agrees that the world is unjust, but sees no point in trying to change it. Nevertheless, he’s committed to St. Enid.

4.    Duncan, Lord of Lull. Wants to be king of an independent Lull. Has no sympathy for John Quill’s ideas, but sees an opportunity to rally his people. Rumor has it that his wife and closest advisor, Lady Cecilia, is a witch.

What's in the PDF?

The PDF is designed to be printed on either side of a US letter sheet of paper and folded down the middle to create a sort of pamphlet.

Pages 1 and 2 walk you through how to run the whole scenario from start to finish. It should take no more than 3 hours to play. Page 3 includes suggested names for extra characters who can be added to the story and a few points of designer commentary.