The Witch Who Wanders

In the mist-shrouded Borderlands that divide Earth from the magical realm of Idaria, eight heroes who visited Idaria as children must draw on the power of their own memories to protect the worlds from the Witch Who Wanders. A mechanics-light fantasy game about loss of innocence.

Long Description

There is a place beyond Earth. It’s the fifth direction on the compass, the extra degrees beyond 360, the place that shows up in mirrors when no one’s around to see: Idaria.

The concept of childhood does not exist in Idaria, and children who reach Idaria from Earth often find themselves taking on decidedly adult responsiblities–leading armies, fighting duels, and ruling realms. Again and again they encounter a cruel and malevolent figure, the Witch Who Wanders, whose influence waxes and wanes but never vanishes completely.

Not long ago, one child from Earth defeated the Witch Who Wanders for what many hoped would be the last time. In response, the Witch hid herself away and developed a superweapon: a strange, mesmerizing Hourglass, charged by evil memories. It has the power to shred the magic shield that keeps the Witch Who Wanders from crossing through the Borderlands into Earth. This would allow her and her army of demons, conjured from her own most malevolent memories, to invade Earth and cause untold destruction.

Something went wrong. The Hourglass overcharged, sucking in the Witch’s soul. In two hours, it will explode and shred the barrier of the Borderlands, unleashing the now-leaderless demon army on Earth. Eight heroes, all originally from Earth, have gathered to address the crisis. They must feed the Hourglass their own memories to unlock its inner workings, then discover what it takes to save the worlds.

Gameplay in The Witch Who Wanders consists primarily of developing and potentially sacrificing memories of one’s time in Idaria. Players invert an hourglass prop while passing it from player to player as they conduct rituals and discuss their conflicted feelings about Earth, Idaria, and each other.