Metakadesh

The battle is over, the severed hands counted, the fallen left to rot. We mercenaries who remain, our services rendered, now flee into the dust. Who won? Who cares? We just want to live to see home.

Metakadesh is a one-page game designed for two or more players set in the aftermath of the Battle of Kadesh, with one player taking the role of the Oracle, and the rest taking the role of Heroes. The Oracle presents situations and challenges, and plays the world and its denizens. The Heroes respond to the Oracle, narrate their actions, defy the gods, and try to survive their journey home.

The journey is defined by fateful encounters in the form of ambushes, challenges, mysteries, riddles, tests, and traps. Concise tables are included to facilitate fast, improv-heavy play with minimal prep.

The game is designed for quick pick-up and play, suitable for both one-shots and short campaigns depending on the difficulty level chosen.

"Hubris" mechanic inspired by Stress from John Harper's Blades in the Dark. Headers use the Not Jam Sci Mono 10 font.