The Colostle Tale of Dannaustra and Tarcoz, a Rookling
Explore a mysterious world of endless rooms, wonder, and danger inside an apparent castle as a solo explorer with Colostle.
Just another kind shoutout to my husband, who spotted Colostle in our friendly local game store and picked it up for me to play! I had originally passed on it earlier for a number of reasons, but I had a chance to finally set foot inside this colossal world… Inside a castle? The premise was quite intriguing, and I was ready to head off on a solo RPG journey!
Game Overview
Game Name: Colostle
Publication Year: 2021
Designer: Nich Angell
Artist: Nich Angell
Publisher: Big Punch Studios
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
As an explorer, cards are drawn to provide a collection of possible prompts to journal about. There are strange Rooks that patrol, unusual encounters, and room after room of epic proportions. Mysteries abound as the world takes shape around a single character roaming about!
The Followed Class
Not a lot of detail is provided about the world itself, as this is left up to the imagination. Yet the classes provide a set of very different types of characters not typically seen!
I decided to play as an explorer followed by a Rookling, or a smaller version of the gigantic and dangerous Rooks.
The initial prompts and questions were helpful to form a character with a solid calling, nature, and backstory.
My Rookling also played a big role, allowing me to think up a unique appearance and what might distinguish my tiny sidekick. Character creation was a lot of fun!
Building a Sheet
Although I like filling in character sheets, I’ve found that having loose paper all the time isn’t a great way to keep track of these adventures. So I set to work in my journal!
Not that this was the perfect solution, but I enjoyed having the ability to fill in the boxes and create a layout that worked for me. And I had fun filling in my boxes!
Dannaustra was a great character, save for the fact that I never came up with a proper look. No drawing skills. Ha!
Yet I do the best with my own text descriptions, so I felt connected with the full backstory I came up with. Fun!
Thematic Playing Cards
I’ve picked up a number of card decks over the years, although my collection is still pretty manageable… So far!
I was torn between using the cards from Regicide or Mico’s Deck of Playing Cards, and the latter won out for the black and white artwork that matched the book a bit.
Drawing cards to find prompts is an excellent way to journal, and I liked the idea of drawing 5 cards and piecing together the prompts to connect them together.
However, I was surprised at the very limited selection of prompts in a single table to cover most encounters.
Extremely Lucky
Dannaustra was only lacking in the combat department, starting out with a value of 3 out of 5. So it made sense to avoid any Rooks or combat whenever possible.
The story started off with lots of intriguing details, but I was quickly put to the test building the setting entirely.
There was a moment when Dannaustra was captured, and I could see a sweeping tale of escape and exploration.
However, things took an unexpected turn when a friend ambushed the Black Knights, and then a pair of aces resulted in the greatest of discoveries. The perfect ending!
The Tale of Dannaustra and Tarcoz, a Rookling
I had a short enough adventure that I could actually include almost the entire story! Abbreviated, of course, but still something that can be saved for posterity. Who knows when I’ll want to look back on Dannaustra’s journey? Now I can!
Backstory
I do not know where Tarcoz came from, but I am followed relentlessly by a tiny castle with a storm always raging above. A ring of walled gardens encircles what might be a neck or head, and I long to see behind its doors. It has an oversized drawbridge that is usually tucked up tightly, but this can spring outward to cause damage from a short distance.
Calling and Nature
I am introspective, quiet, and mysterious. The Black Army and Rooks of Purple Flame destroyed my village. Although I barely survived, I must discover who they are and how they command living Rooks. I must know.
Chapter 1
The road forward leads beyond the village and all roads I know. Over a grassy hill all old and knobbly with stone roots, I spot a gaping maw in an almost vertical expanse. Peering inside, I can see the room beyond.
Urgent lightning bolts from Tarcoz hold me back. In the darkness, faint purple flecks give away the Rook’s trap. I trace the boundary of the expanse to a small village. They know something, though all treat me with unfriendly attitudes.
Chapter 2
It is too late for Tarcoz to raise the alarm. I am surrounded by the villagers and realize that a local bandit camp is in control. The trap was laid for me before I left my home. A pair of Rooks accompany the bandits, who take me away.
We pass through the cave unimpeded, purple eyes glinting. There is no escape from my captors, but they ignore Tarcoz, who constantly pushes the boundaries by blatantly attacking at a scale too small to matter. I wonder this of myself.
Chapter 3
A friend I thought lost from my village launches an ambush to free me. I find myself back in the cave, where hastily abandoned posts reveal texts on the Black Knights and a strange, glowing rod to control the Rooks of Purple Flame.
We are still so close to home, where we head towards to rebuild together. The texts include maps of the many nearby rooms and the plans of the Black Knights. I have a chance to put an end to their destruction with just the right planning.
Epilogue
I live out my days with my friend and Tarcoz. We destroy the Black Knights by using their Rooks against them. But I do not keep the Rooks of Purple Flame. They are left far beyond my home, across deep seas and over tall cliffs.
I leave the glowing rod in a place where it will not be found. Tarcoz never leaves my side and its origin stays a mystery, as it should be. I no longer long for adventure, but live in a realm where nothing and no one is too big or too small.
Short but Memorable
This adventure was exceptionally short, as I expected to play through many chapters and build the world.
However, I was struggling to see how the exploration table would keep my interest, and this seemed like the right place to end. It was fun! Just not exactly a system for me.
One of the biggest things I struggle with when playing is adding too much detail. When I’m given a lot of freeform options or a vague setting, I often can’t reel myself in.
So although this was a short adventure, it was a very nice experience that gave me a taste of this interesting world!
Continue the Conversation
Have you played through an adventure of Colostle? What have been some of the discoveries you remember the most? I definitely can see why this is a great choice to get into solo journaling RPGs, and there are a lot of excellent elements. My journey with Dannaustra may have been short, but it felt like the kind of sweeping tale I wanted to tell this time!
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