During lockdown, I’ve been diving into some of the tabletop games I haven’t been able to play yet. Blue Rose, a game from publisher Green Ronin, also has a fiction line set in its world. To learn more about the game, I decided to check out the stories. As a bonus, the short story length is perfect for my chaotic schedule right now.
Tales of Blue Rose: Of Shadow and Light (2018)
Written by: Rhiannon Louve
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Tales of Blue Rose
Publisher: Nisaba Press
The premise:
Marn the Rose Knight is used to saving the world, but can Kiyn help her learn to save herself?
Spoilers Below
Discussion: What better way to get a handle on the world a tabletop game is set in than by reading stories in that world? Several months ago I bought a copy of the guide to play in Green Ronin’s Blue Rose tabletop game. I’ve always loved the idea of a game set in a fantastical kingdom with intrigue, romance, drama, and horrible monsters.
As I started diving into the rule book I was delighted to discover a few short stories have been published in the setting itself. I love getting to read fiction from the world of games because it fleshes out the setting and makes it feel much more real to me. I can better understand the tone of the game and the feel of the world through the story’s prose.
The first story I dove into is called Of Shadow and Light and features something I rarely get to see in fiction: an older female warrior. I was thrilled to be introduced to Marn, a Rose Knight who has lost much in her life as a warrior against the darkness. While I often see books or stories with grizzled male adventurers, there are far fewer chances to explore the life of a woman who has experienced such a life.
The story begins with Marn’s struggling with the weight of what she’s lost, a love she never even got to express before her beloved died, and the sacrifices she’s willing to make to protect those dear to her. When Marn gets word of danger brewing in a nearby village, she heads out alone to keep her friends safe. While on the hunt for the beast though, she meets a young woman named Kiyn.
Meeting Kiyn awakens something in Marn’s battle-scarred heart and opens up her eyes to the chances still in front of her. Rather than seeing all she’s lost, Marn realizes there’s so much she has done and so much she still can do.
With the beast lurking closer, it takes Marn and Kiyn working together to defeat the darkness and bring some light to the world around them. The fight is wonderfully crafted, and every word of this short story is put to effective use. It’s a quick, fun read filled with loss and the hope that can be found in its wake.
In Conclusion: For a short story, it packs a punch and it’s lovely to see a story end on such a hopeful and uplifting note towards the future. It makes me even more excited about getting into the game itself.
Cover artist: Stephanie Law
As someone who doesn’t really tabletop game, this looks gorgeous and the story sounds interesting, so it looks like this one could be my gateway to it!