PREQUEL

You are the first Heroes who have reached
the Evil that rules over the realm. 

The Quest was difficult and full of sacrifice.
But despite all this, victory will not meet you. 

The ones who come after you, however,
may still have a chance—provided you can pave the way. 

You will fall, but you are not The End. 

PREQUEL is a tactical storytelling game of heroic sacrifice for 4–5 players, Illuminated by the LUMEN system. One player assumes the role of the Evil Player while the rest play as Heroes of a realm besieged by the Evil. 

• Fight the Evil in a multi-phased tactical boss fight
• Worldbuild as you fight, constructing a timeline of the Heroes’ Quest
• Build your legacy by discovering the Evil’s weaknesses and Heroes’ burdens
• Perfect for a 3–4 hour one-shot or an introduction to a long-term campaign.

When you are done playing, you will have told a story of Heroes who gave up everything for the small chance of a victory they will never see.

The Game

Engage in a tactical fight against the Evil while simultaneously recalling your Heroes’ exploits through collaborative storytelling flashbacks. A Hero’s actions in the Final Fight determines how they recall parts of the Quest, and the current state of the Quest impacts the Hero’s effectiveness in the Final Fight. 

• The Heroes and Evil fight while creating a shared world, each influencing the timeline of the heroes’ Quest.
• Engage in a multi-phased boss battle where the Evil progressively grows stronger, sealing the fate of your Heroes. 
• Cement your Hero’s legacy by preserving the Evil’s weaknesses as a permanent mark on the world.

The Heroes

Play as the Heroes of myth and legend made real by exploring their fears, loves, and burdens. In the end, only your legacy remains. Become the magic sword, create the Chosen One prophecy, seal away the ancient artifact, with the hope that one day your actions will bear fruit.

Mix and match five Origins and five Callings to define your Hero. Play as a Noble Swiftblade, a Crooked Bulwark, a Devout Songsmith, or some other combination! Origins and Callings are provided as half-letter printable PDFs so you can form your own unique Hero Sheet. 

The Evil

Choose an Evil to face against. Each Evil has their own strategies to impede the Quest, abilities to defeat the Heroes in the Final Fight, and Weaknesses to reveal. 

• Face deception and betrayal as you face The Fiend and their army of secret conspirators. 
• Confront large-scale destruction against The Cataclysm as they forever change the nature of your realm. 
• Avoid the spectral tendrils of The Horror as they shatter the boundaries of nightmare and reality. 

PREQUEL was designed by Glyphtide Games, and this print version is being published by Gila RPGs. You can find out more at Glyphtide Games.