A Matter Of Time

The skeptic is about to turn on the believer, ready to hiss in a strangled whisper about the risk of getting caught. Dragging her into a side room, what were they thinking?! Before she can get the words out, she’s cut short by the believer doing the same. It's then that she realizes there’s something else playing this game of cat and mouse: something dragged them in here, and it was definitely not her friend. She just prays that it was out of mercy and not a continuation of this sick game.

The skeptic takes a closer look around the room they’re in, taking notice of the odd swirling pattern on the wall. Stepping closer, she can start to make out eyes. Spray-painted in black all over the walls. Hundreds of them staring back with malevolence and anger. Every pupil focused on her.

A cold wash of fear freezes her in place, pinned to the spot under the weight of that ominous presence as if she were a lowly bug. Panic rises. She can’t move, no matter how much she wants to bolt.

There’s something here, something old and evil. And it sees her.

A playthrough excerpt

Shh...

There's something behind you in the mirror. Echoed footsteps just a bit too slow to be your own. Your fully charged phone dies as you go to take a photo.

For every hasty justification and reassurance, something here is wrong. There's an animal instinct inside you on high alert, goosebumps trailed across your skin.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Are you sure?

What to expect

A Matter of Time is a two-person roleplaying game; a hack from Takuma Okada's Alone Among the Stars system.

It is designed to be played apart. If played live, each game will take between two and six hours. It can also be played over the course of days through writing. Experiment and discover what would work best for your narrative.

Choose whether you want to play as a true believer or take on the challenge of being a skeptic. Both characters are ghost hunters, though they each have their own motives for being here.

Requirements

•   2d6
•   Deck of 54 cards
•   Collaborative game document - google doc, email thread, blog post, etc.
  
•   A way to contact your partner during and between rounds (text or audio)

This is a horror game.

There is nothing mentioned explicitly in the text, but instead players are invited to create their own monstrosities within the shared fiction. There are notable instances of paranoia and derealization. There may be instances of death, graphic violence, and/or natural disasters.

Before playing, discuss potential concerns with your partner and decide what is off-limits. I strongly recommend a way to pause or go back; consider using Brie Beau Sheldon's Script Change. Do not be afraid to stop and modify, or even walk away. Your health and comfort are more important than a game.