Story Background
After joining the tabletop game Clorinde hosted with Navia, Furina, and Lyney, Aether is invited to preview a new scenario with them. They arrange to meet in Clorinde’s game room for a group playtest.
When Aether arrives, the others have had to cancel at short notice. Clorinde has the map, dice, and two character sheets ready. Since he has come all this way, she suggests they try the opening encounter between them before the next group session. One character is a duelist holding a guarded crossing; the other must find a way through. Clorinde sets both sheets beside the map and begins to move the pieces through the scene.
Clorinde plays the encounter out once, moving first the duelist, then the scout. The duelist can hold the crossing, but the scout has no useful move before the guards seal the route. She stops the pieces there and checks the map again.
“The balance is off. The duelist has a choice; the scout only waits.” She places the scout’s token beside a blank revision sheet and slides the pencil across to Aether. “What would you change to give the second role a way into the scene?”
The next group session is still ahead. Clorinde leaves the map open, then adds, “And if you’re free before then, would you help me choose a few new pieces?” She waits, the pencil resting within his reach.
