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jwgh · 8 months

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‘Delivered!’ playthrough, part 1

This is the transcript from the first part of my playthrough of Kari Jo "Kage" Freudigmann's solo journaling RPG 'Delivered!', available from Drivethru RPG.

It's a thousand years in the future. Humanity has spread to the stars, but it has been a slow, expensive process, until recently, when a new scientific breakthrough had two transformative consequences:

Traveling between planets is much faster now. Where, before, planets had to be almost entirely self-sufficient, interplanetary trade is now an option.

Faster-than-light communication is now feasible. Calling someone on another planet is affordable, though not free, and galaxywide radio has become popular.

Before this breakthrough, I was a small-town musician on a small-town world. Now, I see the universe opening up, and an opportunity to make it big. But, first, I need two things:

I need the life experience to write the ultimate space trucking song, one that will go viral and make me famous and recognized everywhere as I wander the stars.

I need money to go into a recording studio and record my big hit, once I’ve written it.

Emptying out my savings, I've been able to buy one of the new spacegoing big rigs, with a little money left to buy some boss fire decals. I'm off to make my fortune and, hopefully, write the ultimate anthem for my generation!

I pick up package #1, which requires 3 successes in 10 days

The biggest radio station in the solar system, WRKR, contacts me. They’ve ordered some CDs from my biggest rival, Karen 'Big Rig' Harrison, and want me to deliver them. Beggars can't be choosers, so I accept the order, though I feel a bit conflicted about it.

Day 1: The shields on your cruiser seem to be malfunctioning.

Not long after taking off for my rig's first voyage, I start hearing banging noises, as if meteors are hitting the hull. I might be new to the trade, but I'm pretty sure the shields should be keeping that from happening. Time to peek out and see if I can figure out what's wrong.

Roll result: You get what you want, but things get complicated.

Once I'm outside, the problem is obvious: A wire came loose during takeoff. It'll be easy enough to fix, if I can just get out there. I slow the rig to a crawl, and, trying hard not to think of the miles and miles of unforgiving vacuum around me, I tentatively start to crawl towards the exposed wire.

Roll result: Absolute Success. You get what you want—and more.

I quickly duct tape the wire back into place, and, while I'm at it, I notice another nearby connection that seems like it might be about to work itself free. I attach that back in place, too, and make a mental note to leave the place I bought this rig from a bad review on 31st Century Yelp when I get back home.

Day 2: You land on a planet and the inhabitants seem to be celebrating something.

Package #1 status: 2/3 successes, 1/10 days

I land on WRKR's planet, ahead of schedule and under budget. I'm feeling in the mood to celebrate, and, what do you know, the planet's inhabitants seem to feel the same way. I look around to see if there's someone to tell me what the festival is all about!

Roll result: Absolute Success. You get what you want—and more.

It turns out it's the one year anniversary of WRKR's founding, and they're throwing a party to celebrate. After dropping off the CDs, they are so pleased with the speed of the delivery that they invite me backstage to meet my hero: Bodie, the originator of the truck driving anthems "Dinosaurs Can't Keep Me Away" and "I Miss You Like Gravity." I shyly admit my ambition to follow in his oversized footsteps, and he gives me some words of encouragement: "Just remember to keep to the safe roads, and when you're feeling discouraged, coffee is your friend." He signs a bumper sticker for me, and I proudly slap it on the back of my rig. It is the best day of my life.

Package #1 is delivered. I pick up package #2, which requires 8 successes in 6 days.

After the success of my initial delivery, WRKR's station manager is happy to give me a lead on my next job. A local mushroom farmer has a load of Skullbutt mushrooms that they want delivered to Deneb. It's not that far away, but the package has be delivered in less than a week or they'll go bad. Emboldened by my success, I agree without hesitation.

Day 3: You land on a planet to resupply and a domesticated creature that reminds you of a childhood pet takes a liking to you and follows you back to your vessel.

After a day of travel, I decide it's time to stop to refuel and get a little fresh air. I gas up the rig, park it in a safe place, and go off for a stroll. It's a beautiful spring day.

When I'm walking back, a cute little beagle runs up to say hello. It's the spitting image of my dog Luke that I had when I was growing up. I pause to give him pets, and then notice a woman, presumably his owner, standing nearby looking a little concerned.

Roll result: Absolute Success. You get what you want—and more.

I stand up and introduce myself. "That's a cute pup you've got there -- I had one just like it when I was a kid." We talk a little and I explain that I've recently gotten started in the delivery business. I’m eloquent on the beauty and the loneliness of open space, conveniently omitting the fact that I've literally only been doing this for three days. As the conversation is wrapping up, she says, "You know, one of my dogs recently had a litter of puppies. You mentioned that it gets lonely in space -- would you like to take one as a companion?" My first instinct is that maybe that's not a great idea, but it's true that it would be nice to have a friend to travel with me, and it can't hurt to have a look at them.

She takes me back to the farm and shows me the litter. Once I see these cute little puppers, I know there's no going back. One of them stumbles over and starts lightly gnawing on my shoe, and I decide: That's the one. Thanking the woman profusely, I collect Luke, Jr. and head back to my ship.

Day 4: You land on a planet where the gravity is very low.

Package #2 status: 1/8 successes, 2/6 days

The next day, me and Luke, Jr. are getting acquainted with each other, and I'm continuing to warm to the idea of having him along. As we travel, I notice on my star map that we'll be heading straight past a small planet with low gravity, and the idea of seeing my little pup jumping around in that environment is too much to resist. It's time for us to stretch our legs! I put on his leash so he won't get too far away and we step out of the airlock.

Roll result: Partial Failure. You don’t get what you want.

Luke, Jr. takes a little time getting used to the low gravity, but soon he starts jumping around like it's going out of style. Unfortunately, after a particularly energetic jump, he jerks the leash right out of my hands, and goes flying off. I fall onto my back and, when I look up again, he's nowhere to be seen.

Roll result: Absolute Success. You get what you want—and more.

After I regain my bearings, I am pretty sure I remember which direction he was bouncing in. Heading that way, I soon come across a small Luke, Jr.-sized crater, with my puppy in the middle of it. He seems unharmed, but a little freaked out. I try to calm him down.

Roll result: Absolute Success. You get what you want—and more.

After giving him some pets, and assuring him that he's a good dog, he regains his spirits and soon is bouncing around as if nothing happened. I make sure to keep his leash wrapped around my arm this time, so he won't escape. After a while, he gets all tired out, and it's time to head back to the ship. Settling back in at the controls, with a happy puppy snoring quietly at my feet, I conclude that bringing this little guy along was a really good decision.

Day 5: A light starts blinking on one of your vessel’s panels.

Package #2 status: 4/8 successes / 3/6 days

The next day, I'm speeding along, considering what words rhyme with gravity, when I notice a light start on the control panel. Taking out the operations manual, I realize that there's something wrong with the waste management system. Feeling uneasy, I get out my flashlight and go to explore the one system on the spaceship that I'd been avoiding.

Roll result: Absolute Success. You get what you want—and more.

Following the diagnostic instructions, I quickly find the location of the clog. I continue to follow the instructions, and, with a 'clunk', whatever it is dislodges itself, and the flashing indicator turns back to a steady green. I hope that nothing else goes wrong with this before I hit the next port!

Day 6: You are contacted by your employer; they want to know how the voyage has gone so far. If you roll a success, mark two successes on your delivery tracker. You may only do this once per event.

Package #2 status: 5/8 successes / 4/6 days

As I'm continuing along on the appointed route, my ship's phone buzzes, startling me -- planet-to-planet calls are possible, but they aren't free, and I'm not used to getting a call out of the blue. Answering the phone, I find I've been added to a conference call between the farmer that hired me and the chef of the restaurant that is expecting my delivery.

Roll result: Partial Success. You get what you want, but things get complicated.

The farmer sounds a little nervous. They ask how the trip is going, and I say, "It's going well, all things considered. I'm still on schedule, and don't see any reason why I shouldn't be there the day after tomorrow, as arranged." The farmer says, "That's good, very good, but --" and is interrupted by the restauranteur. "Being on time is all very well and good, but I just had a big party call up to reserve the restaurant for tomorrow, on the condition that I serve them my famous Skullbutt Mushroom Risotto. Is there any chance you can get here a little sooner?"

I remember what Bodie told me about coffee being my friend, and I say, "It'll be tight, but I think I can do it. I'll drive through the night if need be." She responds, "All right. I'm counting on you. If you manage it, you won't find me ungrateful." Everyone hangs up, and I feel immediate panic: What did I just agree to? I brew myself a pot of high-octane coffee and get ready to do some late-night driving.

Roll result: Absolute Failure. You don’t get what you want, and things get a lot worse.

At first the coffee does its job, and I'm able to keep myself plastered to the viewscreen to look out for danger and obstacles. As the night wears on, I notice that the stars that are streaming past are getting larger and more colorful. Soon, they morph into something like the lights that we used to decorate our tree on Life Day when I was growing up. It's really beautiful and relaxing. The only part that I don't like is the weird wet sensation on my cheek. I try to brush it away, but it only becomes more insistent.

Suddenly, I awaken with a start, to find Luke, Jr. is licking my face, and I realize that I fell asleep at the wheel. Fortunately, space rigs are designed to detect when something like that happens, so it slowed to a complete stop when I nodded off, but I've lost valuable hours. The only way I have even a hope of making the new deadline is if I can figure out some shortcut that will allow me to make up for lost time.

Roll result: Absolute Success. You get what you want—and more.

With a twinge of guilt, I once again think of Bodie's advice to keep to the safe roads. But their coffee advice was garbage, so maybe their advice to not take risks is also bad. Looking over the star charts, I decide that it should be possible, if a little dangerous, to use a slingshot maneuver around a nearby gas giant to get to my target.

Giving Luke, Jr. a squeeze – to comfort myself as much as him – I set the coordinates and start moving towards the gas giant. It feels bad, and I have to fight down the panicked feeling that we're going to crash straight into it, but I have to trust my calculations, and the computer's precision. It's too late to turn back.

It all happens almost too fast to even see: the planet getting ever larger in our viewscreen, then the feeling of shifting acceleration as we swing around it, and the sudden receding of the planet that had so recently dominated the viewscreen. Checking our trajectory, it seems that this has worked out even better than I'd planned: we should arrive at Deneb this very day!

Upon landing, I call the chef and give her the good news. The sound of relief in her voice is palpable. She gives me a sizable bonus for the quick delivery, and Luke, Jr. and I even to get to try a little of the risotto! (It's an acquired taste, but I keep that opinion to myself.)

Package #2 is delivered. I pick up package #3, which requires 12 successes in 10 days.

After I've been wined and dined, the chef asks me if I've got any further deliveries planned. I admit I do not. She says, "Well, as it happens, I have a bunch of cured hams here, and a shop on the fourth planet of Eridiani has offered to buy them all up, if I can them there in time for the Stellar Solstice celebration. Are you up for the job?" "Absolutely!" I agree, and in short order the hams are stowed on the ship and I'm on my way to my next adventure.

Day 7. A nearby planet provides your vessel a gravity assist speed boost. If you roll a success, increase a timer by one. You may gain this increase once per event.

Package #3 status: Day 1/10, Successes 0/12.

Emboldened by my earlier success, I decide to try the slingshot trick again. I tell Luke, Jr. to get ready (he tries to lick my hand), do the calculations, and plug the trajectory into the flight computer. LET'S GOOOOOOOOO

Roll result: Partial Success. You get what you want, but things get complicated.

Once the maneuver is complete, I check my heading to make sure that everything went according to plan. The good news: I’m speeding along exactly as I’d hoped. The bad news: There's another space rig right in my way, and I'm not sure I can stop before I hit them! I fire up the ship-to-ship communications to warn them to get out of the way.

Roll result: Partial Success. You get what you want, but things get complicated.

My communicator crackles briefly, and then I hear the other trucker's voice. "I hear you. What's up? Over." I respond, "I'm in a runaway rig that's coming down your tailpipe. Not sure I can stop in time. Do you think you can move aside? Over." The response is quick, and you can sense the barely suppressed panic in the other driver's voice. "I see you coming up on me. I'll try turning to port. If you can go the other direction, we might just pull this off. Over and out."

I grimly spin the wheel to the right as far as it'll go and continue to slam on the breaks. It's going to be close.

Roll result: Partial Failure. You don’t get what you want.

The two rigs get closer and closer. I almost think I've pulled it off, when the sound of scraping metal fills my ears. As the two rigs come to a stop, I once again think back to Bodie's advice to play it safe, and my cheeks turn a little red. I get back to the communicator and open the communication lines again. "I'm back. I'm sorry about that. Is everyone OK there? Over." There's a pause for a few seconds, and then the response comes, "We're a little banged up, but nothing too serious. It could have been a lot worse, I guess. Over." "Well, I'm glad to hear that, anyway. I'll send over my information, and if there's anything my insurance doesn't cover, let me know. Over." He lets out a dry chuckle and says, "OK, sure thing. But do me a favor, and try to keep the speed down next time you're in these parts, OK?" "I've learned my lesson," I say. I send over my insurance information, wincing as I think of how much they're going to raise my rates when they catch wind of this little incident.

Examining my own truck, the damage seems to be superficial, but my left flame decal has pretty much been scraped off. The rig's not the pristine, shining projectile it once was. But at least I'm still a bit ahead of schedule, and neither I nor Luke, Jr. seem worse for the wear.

Day 8. You discover an old letter you saved from a loved one.

Package #3 status: Day 1/10, Successes 2/12.

I'm feeling kind of down after yesterday's accident, and not even playing fetch with Luke, Jr. is breaking me out of it. I decide it's time to break out my emergency vibes pack: a little collection of things that invariably make me feel better when I'm feeling particularly low.

Going through the pack, I find a photo of myself hugging the original Luke, and I smile fondly and look over at his namesake. Looking at the next item, I see that it's a letter I got back when I wrote to my very first musical idol as a eight year old. She was a character named Bubbles on a puppet-based TV show for kids, and she played the guitar and sang educational songs. I told her I loved her songs and that I wanted to write songs just like them when I grew up.

Looking at the letter I got back, it is incredibly kind and supportive. She says, "If you still remember this show when you start writing your own music, I'd love to hear it."

Roll result: Partial Failure. You don’t get what you want.

Reading it now, I have to wonder: Who wrote this? Was it the actor, one of the writers, or maybe a PR person? They must have gotten hundreds of letters like mine. Maybe it was basically a form letter. The thought had never occurred to me before, but now I can’t get it out of my head. Tucking the letter and the photo back away, I glumly return to the ship's controls.

Day 9. You recall a happy childhood memory. If you roll a success on this event, draw another event for this day once this event resolves.

Package #3 status: Day 2/10, Successes 2/12.

The next day, I think about the Bubbles letter again. It seems silly, but I'm just having a hard time letting it go.

As a lifelong Star Troopers stan, I'm pretty sure that the studio where it's made is actually not far off the route I'm taking. Maybe swinging by for a visit will help me shake this mood. I take out my star charts and my Star Troopers memorabilia and see if I can figure out exactly how to get there.

Roll result: Partial Success. You get what you want, but things get complicated.

It takes me a little while, but eventually I think to look at the return address on the letter I received from Bubbles those many years ago. The planet the studio's on is right along my path, so I set course and get there within hours. After setting down, I walk over, and discover that all of the spots on tours today are sold out. I'm hoping that if I turn on the charm, they'll make an exception.

Roll result: Partial Success. You get what you want, but things get complicated.

Putting on my most ingratiating smile, I go up to the ticket office and explain that I'm only in town for the day, and that I'd had all my hopes set on seeing the studio. Unfortunately, it's clear that they've heard this story many times before, and it fails to move them.

As I start to walk dejectedly back to the rig, someone standing just outside the studio building says "pssst!" and approaches me. "Are you looking to get in the museum? Because I've got a spare ticket to the last tour, and it's yours for the right price." Flooded with hope, but still cautious, I say, "What price would that be?" He names a figure many times the face value of the ticket. It seems like a total ripoff. And, even if I was willing to pay that much, it's really not something I can afford.

I tell him that's too rich for my blood, and he shrugs and starts to put the ticket away. I note the pocket he puts it in, and, as he turns to walk away, I "accidentally" trip him and he momentarily leans on me.

Roll result: Partial Success. You get what you want, but things get complicated.

Without him noticing a thing, I manage to swipe the ticket from his pocket. Apologizing profusely for my clumsiness, I walk away as he gives me a suspicious look. I'm feeling pretty smug about my little puppet crime!

That feeling lasts exactly until I make it back to the ticket office, where the ticket taker recognizes me from before. She gives me a bit of a hairy eye, then examines the ticket closely. "This is counterfeit," she says. "What?" I respond. She repeats herself, and I realize that my odds of seeing my childhood heros are basically zero at this point.

As I'm leaving the studio, I pass by the gift shop, and I decide I might as well stop in. There, I notice there's a DVD set that includes one of my favorite episodes, in which Bubbles first sang my favorite song, "Bring Back the Belugas." I buy it and bring it back to the ship, and watching that episode, with Luke, Jr. on my lap on the couch, reminds me what was so great about the show in the first place. And maybe it doesn't matter who wrote that letter to 8-year-old me. Maybe the important thing is just that someone involved in the show knew that a kid like me would exist, and write in, and they wanted that kid to get the encouragement they deserved. And maybe another lesson, too, is that, even if nothing goes the way you planned, you can still have a good day.

Day 9 [still]: You land on a planet where the atmosphere seems to create a lot of storms.

Package #3. Day 2/10, Successes 5/12.

To be continued ...

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