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Palimpsest Anthology: Memories

Memories is the sixth installment of the Palimpsest Anthology and first premiered as a 'Spooky Spectacular' in March, 2026. The foundational premise was created by ASR. Worldbuilding is a continual process with every player.

Memories uses a simplified version of Chronicles of Darkness TTRPG system. For more information on the system and instructions to build a character, please see this article: Chronicles of Darkness System

The Setting

World

Memories takes place on an unnamed world that isn't Earth. It is not disclosed when Memories occurs in the Palimpsest Anthology timeline.

The sky is filled with constellations, and celestial events such as shooting stars occur with regularity. The day is equal parts night and daylight.
The sun is smaller and more distant than Earth's, casting a silvery-blue glow at its zenith.
Without a moon, the only light after dusk comes from the stars and lamplight.

Life

Main Article: Lifecycle

Humans inhabit the community. Uniquely, they are the only creatures in this setting.
Besides humans, the only other life is the myriad of plants grown from the graves of those laid to rest.

Environment

Geography

The Settlement rests in an estuary valley.

To the South:
- The Endless Ocean. Its tides are gentle and calm, low at night and their highest during the sun's zenith.
- The River Delta. A flat shelf built up from sediment of the river. On calm nights, Memories glitter in the dark, waiting for the tide to claim them.

Unordered List Item

Elevation is similar to Portland.

The Settlement

With origins unknown, this settlement has grown to over 150 people.

With an informal social structure, there is no centralized power. The closest proxy is a gathering of the ten eldest members during the crisis.

Technology levels include: basic earthenware (clay pots etc), woodcraft, weaving.

Hobbies include: food, music, physical art, sports, athletics, and dance.

Characters

Player Characters

Fen (38)(Played by Emma)

Her family died young, except for her grandmother, who lived a very long time. Fen is in the middle of these extremes. She preserves flowers after people have passed.

Granny Bai (90)(Played by Winona)

Family Members

The Gossip Queen
Virtue: No One Goes Hungry ,
Daughter(60)(Painter), Son-in-Law(60)(Rice Miller), Grandson(35)

(16)(Played by Frankie)

Iand (50)(Played by Sea)

Memory Junkie.
Virtue: Recklessly Helpful
Seamstress / Tailor.
Brother(50?)(Farmer), Aunt, Cousin

NP Characters

Profession	Name	Notes
Museum Doscent	Lennea	Acquires, categorizes, and curates the museum of memory sparks.
Barrel Maker	Oren	Makes waterproof containers for all applications.
Candle Maker	Siv	Makes plant-based candles. Adds scents for ritual applications.
Horticulturalist	Elowen	Gives advice and support to shaping plants in the settlement. Provides support to guide the dying into a plant of their choice.
Pottery Maker	Ayana	Creates clay containers used for storage, cooking, and decoration.
Fabric Weaver	Webb	Processes linen yarn into cloth.
Cloth Cleaner	Rowan	Experienced in cleaning cloth and clothes.
Fabric Dyer	Atla	Lives close to the river. Uses plants like woad (blue) or madder (red) to color fabric.
Clothing Maker	Taylor	They create custom-fitted garments for those want it.
Perfumer	Fior	Creates perfumes and potpourri.
Bread Baker	Baxter	Operates a communal oven for creating pastries (remember no butter or yeast).
Tea Master	Willow	Brews tea with reverence. Also an expert in recreational plant use.
Tofu Maker	Malin	Processes soybeans into tofu and soy milk.
Grain Grinder	Miller	Processes wheat, barley, and rice into flours.
Haircutter	Barbara	Expert in styling and cutting hair.
Stone Worker	Mason	Creates stone tools and helps gather stones used in house building and cooking.
Wood Worker	Jacinto	Built everything from house frames to furniture using “green” (unseasoned) wood.
Roof Thatcher	Thatcher	Used straw or reeds to waterproof roofs—a highly skilled but extremely flammable trade.
Arrow Maker	Fletcher	Derived from the French flèche (arrow). They were crucial for hunting and warfare.
Bow Maker	Archer / Bowman	Specialized in the construction of longbows, often made from imported yew wood.
Professional Cook	Cook / Coke	Usually employed in noble households or “cookshops” (the medieval version of fast food).
Scribe/Clerk	Scrivener / Clark	“Clark” comes from “cleric.” These were the rare few who could read and write for the public.
Gatekeeper/Guard	Porter / Ward	“Porters” managed doors and gates; “Wards” were watchmen who patrolled the town walls.
Gong Farmer	N/A	Emptied cesspits at night (hence “night soil”). A vital but socially shunned role.
Sin-Eater	N/A	Paid to eat a ritual meal over a corpse to “absorb” the deceased's sins so they could enter heaven.
Leech Collector	Leech	Gathered medicinal leeches from marshes, often using their own legs as bait.
Ewerer	Ewer	Responsible for bringing and heating water for the nobility to wash their hands before meals.
Rat Catcher	Ratter / Catchpole	Kept the rodent population down—an impossible but necessary job to fight the plague.
Herald	Herald / Harold	The official voice of the king; announced tournaments and identified knights by their coats of arms.
Falconer	Faulkner / Falconer	Trained and cared for birds of prey used in hunting, a sport strictly for the nobility.
Alchemist	N/A	Sought to turn lead into gold and find the “Philosopher's Stone.” Half-scientist, half-mystic.
Minstrel	Harper / Piper	Traveling musicians who provided news, gossip, and entertainment through song and story.
Catchpole	Catchpole	A petty officer or tax collector, named for the “pole” used to catch people by the neck.

TTRPG Modifications

The following Chronicles of Darkness skills have been modified:

Mental	Physical	Social
Academics	Athletics	~~Animal Ken~~Plant Ken
~~Computer~~Tool Use	Brawl	Empathy
Crafts	~~Drive~~Boat	Expression
Investigation	~~Firearms~~Throw	Intimidation
Medicine	Larceny	Persuasion
Occult	Stealth	Socialize
Politics	Survival	Streetwise
Science	Weaponry	Subterfuge

Confluence TTRPG

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