Prologue (Second Edition)

Nobody knows how the Wizard came to power. For as long as anyone can remember, his dark tower has stood over the empire’s capital, and his armies have brutally enforced his will. His dark creatures lurk in the wilderness, preying on unprepared travellers. His dominion is total. 

Some time ago, a Hero rose from humble beginnings to challenge the Wizard. The Hero raised an army and took the fight to the capital. They were defeated. The army was scattered. The Hero died at the Wizard’s hands. 

But it is said that the Hero’s spirit was reborn in the body of a child born that same day. In time, they will grow up and face the Wizard once more. They may succeed. They will certainly die. And they will be reborn again. It is written. So it will be. 

You were born in the same village as the Hero. You were born around the time they died.

Your coming-of-age celebration is in one week. At this ceremony, the elders will divine your destiny so that you will know the path you must walk. The destiny revealed during the ceremony is never wrong. Maybe you are the Hero. Maybe you are destined to die again. 

But maybe, before destiny is written, it can be changed...

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Prologue is a storytelling card game for 2-4 players. You will tell the story of a small group of young adults, and a tight knit community on the verge of major upheaval, and find out what happens to each in their future.

As you play you will narrate scenes from the lives of your characters, entangle their lives together, and explore how they cope with learning their destiny. You will build a destiny of four parts from 33 unique cards, and try to work out who among you is the Hero. 

Spy on other players' destinies and swap cards to build the destiny you want. But one of you has to be the Hero. One of you is destined to die.

Your download of Prologue includes a copy of the rules and a full set of illustrated, print-at-home Tarot-sized cards to tell your story with. 

If you don't want to print the cards, you can play Prologue using a standard deck of playing cards, including jokers, and the card tables included with the rules.

Don't want to print your own cards? Want a high quality print-on-demand copy to show off to your friends? You can now purchase a physical copy of Prologue through The Game Crafter!

Shop physical version

Your purchase through Itch.io includes a link to purchase an at-cost physical copy of Prologue. 

This is the 2nd Edition of Prologue, featuring revised mechanics, re-written rules, and new prompts. Your purchase also includes a copy of the 1st Edition.

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I respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri people and the Boon wurrung / Bunurong people of the Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of the land on which the majority of my work takes place. I pay respects to elders past, present, and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.