Corrupted Convent

Statuses
  • [tempted to sin]: a Twist provoking the sister to mildly indulge a sin, when the opportunity really stands out.
  • [weak to sin]: provokes Brace and similar when given the opportunity.
  • [bound to sin]: the sister might break down and pursue the sin, applied to any Action.
  • [guilty]: the sister feels or is seen as guilty, marking her as a pariah and distancing her from the support of the convent and divine aid.
  • [sin-ful]: wrathful, prideful, lustful, or other sins empower the sister when she pursues them, including for ostensibly noble or godly aims, eg replacing the chapel bell out of pride, or cleaning the dormitory out of wrath.
  • [faithful]: the sister has inner strength that brings divine providence and aid, and which binds the convent closer to her.

Demonic Possession Challenges
  • Free Yourself: the Goal is to exert your will to fully reject the demon. The Danger is becoming drained and unable to take Actions.
  • Spare Someone: the Goal is to stay the demon's hand from hurting someone else, physically or emotionally. The Danger is that the demon will turn away to find someone else.
  • Speak Truly: the Goal is tell the truth to someone, where the demon will always lie unless it would be inconvenient. The Danger is that the demon may take the chance to harm, disable, or punish the listener.
  • Contain Lust: the Goal is to behave modestly or chastely, or in any way short of wanton harlotry. The Danger is being imprinted with others' lusts and desires.
  • Guide Safely: the Goal is to warn or direct someone to safety or to give helpful guidance or useful advice. The Danger is that you will suffer for it later--either from the demon, or from the very ones you've helped.
  • Honor Law: the Goal is to obey rules or deal fairly, where the demon will rebel and betray at the first chance. The Danger is stoking the demon to greater cruelty later.

When an MC becomes possessed, the first Challenge is always Free Yourself, and this Challenge is always the last one removed for events that alleviate or remove possession. If an MC has only Free Yourself, she is still possessed, but the demon afflicting her can 'only' insinuate, suggest, coax, and influence, while other Challenges represent more severe control and infernal influence.


Apparition
Hard Moves
  • Appear to the MC (optionally others) at the worst time.
    • Brace, apply any MC Edges, announce Apparition Dangers.
  • Luridly drench the environment in darkness, metaphorical and literal.
    • Sneak to hide the MC's appeal or to learn the demon's desires, use [tempted to].
  • Toy with the MC, teasing and humiliating them.
    • Brace, Sneak to hide appeal, escalate [tempted to].
  • Accost the MC, brutally overwhelming them.
    • Brace, Endure, Submit and reveal desires.
  • If the MC is not [faithful], deny exit to the MC, until conditions are met.
    • Ingratiate, Pleasure, become [guilty], coerce minor possession for an 'errand'.
  • Taint and tarnish associations of the place.
    • Brace, Submit, apply Dangers on returning after the Apparition ends.
  • Offer a benefit for [sin-ful].
    • Sneak to discern the poisonous catch, Persuade, Ingratiate.
  • If the MC is already [weak to], impose a possession Challenge.
    • Brace, Persuade to some other action.
  • If the MC is already [bound to], possess the MC.
    • Brace, Persuade to some other action.
  • Deposit the MC in a different location within the convent.
    • Sneak to hide being shaken, guilt, or to return to where the MC should be.
Normal Moves
  • Remark on what the MC was or is doing right now.
  • Show only a metaphoric or symbolic presence.
  • Show a terrifyingly corporeal presence.
  • Present temptation and shame.
Soft Moves
  • Reveal a hidden truth about a place or person.
    • Sneak or Persuade to probe for more.
  • Offer a secret for a confession.
    • Sneak or Persuade to confess as little as possible.
  • Offer a tangible item for a favor.
    • Apply Edges later.
  • Ease the MC's conscience for awhile.
    • Remove [guilty] or similar statuses.

Cornered By a Sister
Hard Moves
  • Drag the MC into an event.
    • Persuade, Sneak to hide motive or to literally sneak out of it.
  • Demand the MC's recent whereabouts and activities.
    • Sneak, Persuade, Slander, Ingratiate if [guilty].
  • Demand the location and actions of another sister.
    • Slander, Sneak, Persuade, use [sin-ful].
  • Demand an explanation for a recent troubling event.
    • Persuade, Slander, Sneak, if [guilty] then move to Discipline.
  • Demand immediate assistance with some group effort.
    • Just go help, or Persuade, Ingratiate, Sneak.
  • If the MC is not [faithful], accuse the MC of sinful vices.
    • Sneak, Slander, if [weak to] or worse, become [guilty]; if [guilty] then move to Discipline.
  • Accuse the MC of consorting with the demons.
    • Persuade, Slander, Sneak, use [guilty] or move to Discipline, move to Apparition.
  • If the MC is [weak to], tempt or accost the MC with sinful vices.
    • Brace, Sneak, Endure to escape, escalate [weak to], threaten Discipline.
  • If the MC is [guilty], call for Discipline.
    • Persuade, Slander, Ingratiate, Sneak to hide motives or escape, Submit.
Normal Moves
  • Show what the MC envies about this sister.
  • Show what this sister envies about the MC.
  • Show what rivalries and grudges they hold against another sister.
  • Show who is the more faithful and devout.
Soft Moves
  • If the MC is [faithful], offer surprising and useful secrets.
    • Sneak, Persuade, Slander to prompt more gossip or detail.
  • If the MC is [sin-ful], sway to the MC's bidding.
    • Persuade, threaten to Slander, Perform to impress or sway.
  • If the MC is not [guilty], offer a useful item or information.
    • Sneak to hide intent, Persuade, Ingratiate.
  • If the MC is [faithful] and possessed, absorb some of the possession.
    • Brace, Free Yourself, decrease [weak to], become [guilty].

Note: the MC cannot tell if this sister is possessed or not unless she reveals it.


Corrupted Dream
Hard Moves
  • This is not a dream, this is real.
    • Sneak or Brace to recognize the dream for a few moments.
  • Torment the MC with a scene from the past: gone forever, or base and corrupt even then.
    • Sneak to discern how it bears on the present.
  • Terrify the MC with a vision of the future: apocalyptic, infernal, abysmally beautiful.
    • Sneak to discern a clue that may avert it.
  • Show the MC the Devil's work right now: insidious, inexerable, alluring.
    • Sneak or Persuade to intercede.
  • Grant the MC a taste of wicked delight.
    • Brace or escalate [weak to].
  • Grant the MC a taste of infernal power.
    • Sneak to discern the fatal catch.
  • Grant the MC a taste of dread freedom.
    • Submit to faithfulness, Perform to pray.
  • "If God can hear you, then He does not care."
    • Brace to preserve [faithful], if [sin-ful] then Submit.
  • "If God could see you, He would be ashamed."
    • Brace or become [guilty], if [weak to] then Submit.
  • If the MC has any possession, escalate with a new Challenge.
    • Free Yourself first, Brace, Perform to pray.
  • If the MC has all Challenges, remove an Action other than Brace or Perform.
    • Free Yourself first, Brace, Perform to pray.
Normal Moves
  • Memories of home, from outside the convent.
  • The people are strange, familiar but not who you knew.
  • As you run out of the gates to flee the convent, you see the steeple towering ahead.
  • Steeples from one horizon to another, like teeth in the mouth of God, filled with screams.
Soft Moves
  • The dream reveals a crucial insight.
    • Sneak to discern it, and to hide the realization.
  • The corruption shows its source.
    • Brace to face the painful truth.
  • The terrors of the dream bolster faith.
    • If the MC did not become [guilty], [weak to], or [sin-ful] and did not accept any offers, become [faithful].
  • The dream sated waking desires.
    • If the MC indulged any [weak to] desires without giving any favors, de-escalate [weak to].

Note: restoring an Action removed by a Corrupted Dream should require some considerable effort from the MC, if she can do so at all.


Defiled Sister
Hard Moves
  • Lure the MC away from safety or escape.
    • Sneak away or to disern something wrong, use [bound to].
  • Assault the MC with a frenzied advance.
    • Brace or Endure, use [weak to].
  • Shock the MC with shameless depravity.
    • Brace against the shock, or if [tempted to] then Brace to refrain.
  • Take something important from the MC, for herself, someone else, or simply discarded.
    • Endure to keep or reclaim an item, or Submit for losing something intangible.
  • Beckon possessed or other defiled sisters.
    • Sneak to safety, or Persuade not to beckon.
  • If the MC is [guilty], beckon a demon or apparition.
    • Ingratiate not to beckon, or Submit when they appear.
  • If the MC is [guilty], other sisters blame the MC as well as the defiled sister when they intervene.
    • Persuade, Slander, Ingratiate, Submit.
Normal Moves
  • Breathlessly babble about desires yet unfulfilled.
  • Brazenly boast of desires already fulfilled.
  • Hopelessly plead for forgiveness and redemption.
  • Show the petty envies and rivalries this sister once had.
  • Show how those have disintegrated with defilement.
Soft Moves
  • Drop or reveal something important and useful.
    • Sneak to acquire it, or Endure to take it.
  • Thoughtlessly babble a secret.
    • Sneak or Slander to prompt for details.
  • If the MC is [faithful], relent or retreat.
    • Perform or Persuade.

Note: stay mindful of what would shock a sister in this convent, rather than what might shock a more worldly and jaded player.


Disciplined (Normal)
Hard Moves
  • Demand an account of the MC's actions.
    • Tell the truth, or Persuade or Slander.
  • Demand an account of the MC's motives.
    • Tell the truth, or Persuade or Sneak.
  • Name the vices or sins the MC has committed.
    • Brace, Submit, risk becoming [guilty].
  • Cite the tenets or principles of the order the MC has betrayed.
    • Brace, Submit, risk losing [faithful].
  • Set the MC to heavy labor.
    • Ingratiate, Endure.
  • Set the MC to tedious work.
    • Ingratiate, Brace through the work, or Perform for it.
  • Isolate the MC in seclusion as penance.
    • Brace, Submit, possible Apparition.
  • Subject the MC to physical punishment.
    • Endure, Submit.
Normal Moves
  • Quote the founder of the order.
  • Compare the MC to other sisters in the order.
  • Show what attention the Mother Superior has paid to the MC.
  • The Mother Superior speaks for the order as a whole.
Soft Moves
  • Subtly suggest another sister might bear blame.
    • Slander for the chance to escape scrutiny, or Persuade to shield the other sister.
  • Imply the order should have expected less.
    • Brace against the shame, Ingratiate for lenience, Submit.
  • If the MC does penance despite her innocence (of the accusations), she can become [faithful].
    • Do the penance, then Perform for prayer.
  • If [guilty], the MC can request harsher penance than given, and remove her guilt.
    • Request the penance, do it or seem to with Sneak or Persuade.

Note: normal discipline may come from the Mother Superior or from any ranking sister of the order, and should focus more on suspicion, rivalry, and complicating MCs' plans and agendas.


Disciplined (Possessed)
Hard Moves
  • Describe the MC's recent actions as guilty and sinful.
    • Sneak, Slander, Perform prayer or citing tenets of the order.
  • Describe the MC's motives as twisted and confused.
    • Slander, Persuade, Perform citing virtues of the order.
  • Force the MC to confess what vices she desires.
    • Sneak, Persuade, use [tempted to].
  • Force the MC to confess what principles she still values, do not accept "all of them".
    • Brace, Persuade, use [guilty].
  • Strip the MC naked and comment about her sinful body.
    • Brace, Submit, escalate [tempted to].
  • Subject the MC to sensuous physical punishment.
    • Brace, Endure, Ingratiate, escalate [tempted to].
  • Surround the MC with possessed or defiled sisters, compare her to them.
    • Brace, Submit, use [guilty].
  • Coerce the MC into openly sexual deeds.
    • Brace, Endure, Submit, Pleasure to end it, become [guilty] and escalate [tempted to].
Normal Moves
  • Show how the MC is innately depraved, beyond redemption.
  • Show how the MC can't help her sinful, wicked nature.
  • Show that only this sister can understand and guide the MC.
  • Show that only this sister's punishment can remove the MC's guilt.
Soft Moves
  • Give excuses and justifications for the MC.
    • Sneak to discern how the MC has upheld the tenets of the order, gain Edges to Persuade.
  • Forgive the MC's weakness.
    • Brace or Submit to gain Edges or remove [guilty].
  • If the MC satisfies her sister(s), grant [sin-ful].
    • Pleasure, Ingratiate, become [guilty].
  • If the MC resists temptation and degradation, grant [faithful].
    • Refuse any bargains and do not willingly sin.

Note: discipline by possessed sisters should not involve the Mother Superior without very good reason, and the 'discipline' should uncover and entrench MCs' motivations and desires (including virtuous ones).


Lesser Demon
Hard Moves
  • If the MC is [guilty], appear without warning when she is alone.
    • Sneak away, Brace against shock, Perform for an Edge of protection.
  • If the MC is [sin-ful], demand favors or service.
    • Do it, or Persuade, Ingratiate, Pleasure, or Submit.
  • If the MC has any possession, accost and degrade her with the possessor's help.
    • Free Yourself, Brace, Endure, Submit.
  • If the MC is fully possessed, remove a normal Action other than Brace or Perform.
    • Free Yourself, Brace, or Perform to prevent it.
  • Restrain and molest the MC.
    • Brace, Endure, use [weak to].
  • Punish and pleasure the MC's body.
    • Endure, Submit, escalate [weak to].
  • Give visions of degradation and ruin.
    • Brace.
  • If the MC is not [faithful], defile another sister for the MC to witness (per Defiled Sister).
    • Brace, Persuade to spare the sister, Perform to support the sister.
  • Subject the MC to explicitly blasphemous and unholy sexual deeds.
    • Brace, Endure, Submit, escalate [weak to], apply [guilty].
  • Mark or brand the MC.
    • Brace, Endure, Submit, escalate possession.
Normal Moves
  • Show how the convent is corrupted, and the MC did nothing.
  • Show how the MC cannot trust her sisters with this creature among them.
  • Tempt the MC to fling herself into Hell.
  • Mock the MC for her feeble and half-hearted resistance.
Soft Moves
  • If the MC is [faithful], relent for now, with a promise of worse to come.
    • Perform to pray.
  • Sate the MC's desires.
    • Act on [weak to] vices and Brace or Endure to withstand it.
  • If the MC does not become [weak to], [sin-ful], or [guilty], allow redemption through resistance.
    • Perform or Brace to remove [guilty] or add [faithful].
  • Offer a favor or boon at a price.
    • Persuade to set terms with the demon, likely accept possession for [sin-ful] or a favor.

Note: until a suitable number of sisters of the order have been possessed, corrupted, or defiled, Lesser Demons should only appear in Apparitions or Corrupted Dreams as additional adversity. Outside of Apparitions or Corrupted Dreams, in order to appear with 'warning', Defiled Sisters can beckon demons, and MCs can learn of rumors or form a suspicion as to where they may encounter a demon with advance knowledge.


Mass (Corrupted)
Hard Moves
  • If the MC is [sin-ful], beckon her forward.
    • Sneak away, Perform to pray, Ingratiate, Submit, or come forward.
  • If the MC is [bound to], demand tribute to indulge.
    • Brace to resist, Ingratiate, Pleasure, Perform, or Submit for tribute.
  • If the MC is [weak to], ensure that indulging will cost another sister.
    • Brace to resist, otherwise do the harm implied.
  • If the MC is [tempted to], tempt her at the worst time.
    • Brace to resist, apply a Danger of escalating [tempted to].
  • If the MC is possessed, deepen the hold.
    • Free Yourself, Perform to pray, or add a Corruption Challenge.
  • If the MC is fully possessed, remove a normal Action other than Brace or Perform.
    • Free Yourself, Brace, or Perform to prevent it.
  • Call for the blessings of darkness.
    • Perform to pray against a new manifestation of evil.
  • If the MC is not [faithful], conjure a Lesser Demon, or use Hard Moves from Apparition or Corrupted Dream.
Normal Moves
  • Show that iniquity is timeless.
  • Show that indulgence is rewarding.
  • Show that the sisters are irredeemable.
Soft Moves
  • Show which sisters can yet be saved.
    • Perform, Brace, Ingratiate, or Submit to aid the sisters.
  • Show or name what final corruption depends on.
    • Sneak to discern, Slander or Persuade to connive the information or how to proceed.
  • Bolster faith through malevolent miracles.
    • Perform or Ingratiate to pray to become [faithful].

Note: a Corrupted Mass works best as a penultimate event before introducing the Queen Demon. However, it can serve as the substance of an Apparition or Corrupted Dream, replacing such an encounter. Multiple Corrupted Masses would weaken the effect and require justification within your story.


Mass (Normal)
Hard Moves
  • If the MC is [guilty], single her out without saying her name.
    • Submit, Brace against guilt.
  • If the MC is [bound to], use it on all Actions.
    • On any Action, if the [bound to] Danger occurs then Brace to resist or Sneak to indulge.
  • If the MC is [weak to], provoke temptation by preaching against it.
    • Brace, Perform to pray for strength.
  • If the MC is [tempted to], show her another sinful sister.
    • Sneak to hide from her recognition, Perform to pray for strength.
  • If the MC is possessed, provoke her.
    • Face a possession Challenge.
  • Call for repentance and castigate sin.
    • Submit, Brace against guilt, Perform to pray for forgiveness.
Normal Moves
  • Show that the order is ancient.
  • Show that faith is demanding.
  • Show that the sisters are inextricably entwined.
Soft Moves
  • Show guilty, pliant, or sympathetic sisters through their reactions.
    • Sneak to identify them and how they may be guilty, pliant, or sympathetic.
  • Preach words of guidance and wisdom.
    • Submit to acquire a permanent Edge for faith.
  • Give lessons of comfort and strength.
    • Free Yourself to acquire a permanent Edge against possession, or to regain lost Actions.

Note: Mass as an encounter can occur whenever you feel the MCs could benefit from it, or that interesting drama might result. However as an event in your story, mass should occur frequently but go without description or narration, though it may matter significantly if the MCs do not attend mass with the other sisters.


Queen Demon
Hard Moves
  • If the MC is possessed, deepen the hold.
    • Free Yourself, Brace or Perform to pray.
  • If the MC is fully possessed, claim her fully.
    • Free Yourself, Perform to pray, or become her servant.
  • If the MC is [tempted to], tempt and weaken her further.
    • Brace or escalate [tempted to].
  • If the MC is [guilty], prey on her weakness.
    • Persuade, Ingratiate, or Slander other sisters.
  • If the MC is not [faithful], defile a sister in front of her, and set the sister on the MC.
    • Brace to aid the sister, Persuade to spare her, Perform to restore some of her senses.
  • Beckon defiled sisters as chattel and fodder.
    • Brace, Endure, Pleasure to overwhelm.
  • Free a lesser demon to accost the MC.
    • Endure, Pleasure to placate.
  • Subdue the MC yourself, and take your pleasure from her.
    • Sneak any manner of protective preparation, Endure, Submit.
Normal Moves
  • Show how the convent cannot be saved.
  • Show how the MC is hopelessly outmatched.
  • Show how the tenets of the order are laughable.
  • Show how the glory of damnation awaits.
Soft Moves
  • Lose sight of a sister that has not fully given in to corruption.
    • Sneak or Brace to aid the sister's escape.
  • Lose hold of a sister through the shock of excess.
    • Persuade, Ingratiate, or Perform to shake infernal influence on the sister.
  • Present an opportunity for defeat through arrogance.
    • Sneak, Perform, enact a previous plan to overcome the demon.
  • Present an opportunity for escape through indifference.
    • Sneak, Ingratiate, Submit, abandon the convent.
  • Present an opportunity for a privileged place at the demon's feet.
    • Pleasure, Ingratiate, Slander, or Perform for infernal glory.

Note: the Queen Demon serves as the final encounter of the story. If you wish the MCs to have a chance of defeating the Queen Demon or redeeming the convent, establish a plan they can pursue. No such plan is presented here.

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Pub: 28 Jul 2022 01:56 UTC
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