the narrator paradox

a solo narrating game of trying to wrangle your protagonist back into the narrative *There is a way the story is meant to go. You have seen the future. The past and the present. You know the hero of this tale, and where they end up. You know why they go there and every ally and foe along the way. Every fleck of sand moved beneath their boot has been foretold and defined and the words that tell of it slip from your lips like the oldest of hymns …* *So if that little bastard could just STOP going off script that would be really great. What do you MEAN the protagonist isn't listening to you!? This is a STORY—don't they know they're in a STORY? They aren't meant to have … have … AUTONOMY or whatever other silly thing has gotten in their head.* *You need a raise. Not that the human concept of money influences your role as a narrator in any way. But, like … anything would be nice. A raise. A swift kick in the head. Maybe the undefinable concept of storytelling will talk about a union.* *Sorry—they've done WHAT now? Okay, chat's over. There's a protagonist to wrangle.* **The Narrator Paradox** is a one page solo-narrating game where you *try* to tell a story ... if your protagonist will let you. In it, you determine the five acts of your story based on an oracle, then make rolls for your plot beats to see if you can wrangle your protagonist into the prescribed narrative. If you can't, they *defy you* and take the story into their own hands. Wrestle the story into shape against a rebellious hero, or lose them forever and have to finish the story without them in it.  **What you'll need:** * The Major Arcana from a tarot deck * Two 6-sided dice * A coin **Inspirations:** * The Stanley Parable * Princess Bride * Stardust