Storyboards And Lexicons

Storyboards are the primary source of a Storyteller's power. Every storyteller possesses one and it can come in many forms. Storyboards are a manifestation The Gift of Tall Tales. They feature individual segments of culture or language, such as single words, musical compositions, or meaningful phrases. These segments are arranged and rearranged by the Storyteller to achieve many different effects. In this article we will go over the specifics of storyboards, how they work, and their overall significance to the storytellers.

Mixtapes/playlists

Either through some form of electronic music player or recorded cassette tapes and burned CDs, the storyteller isolates segments of recorded language, usually in the form of lyrics, speeches, or mantras. Mixtapes are individual words or phrases that can be lined up and played in a specific way to create a single cohesive statement. Mixtapes have a unique purpose and can still be used if the storyteller chooses to use playlists. The statement is what determines the effect.

A playlist, on the other hand, is filled with pre-recorded statements that have already been used and played allowing them to easily be used and played again. This includes phrases and statements made by compounding mixtapes, playlists of songs that the storyteller resonates with, casting an effect over the surrounding area for as long as the song plays/

Collages/portfolios

A collage is a visual form of storyboards that often features newspaper clippings and magazine cut-outs. These cutouts are individual words and phrases that are then placed side-by-side to achieve make a statement. The statement is intended to the effect. They can be glued or in some way adhered to a surface and be used in the future for the same effects.

Example: "I Wont Fail"

• Intended effect: Character wont die during this combat encounter, or at least will succeed in the character's goal.

• Actual Effect: Character will not fail in their next turn, or whatever the GM chooses to allow. Due to lack of specifics, the GM could use this effect at a later date, sessions later if the GM so chooses. BUT IT MUST HAVE AN EFFECT

Lexicons

A lexicon is a compilation of all the elements of a storyboard the storyteller has at their disposal. Consider it a spellbook of sorts. regardless of what the character uses, the lexicon will list these elements and how they are used, as well as the intended effects chosen once the element is adopted.

How a storyboard works depends on what kind of storyboard it is The magazine cut-outs and segmented pieces of well-known songs tap into cultural power shared by all those who have appreciated the words in their intended form. By taking that power and changing the form in which the words are used, a storyteller can do almost anything.

It is the cultural connection that matters. Storytellers cannot simply use words from a local high school band or small-time newspaper. The source of the words must be at least on a national level. On top of this, storytellers cannot reuse words that they have already cemented into a collage or adhered in a single form. Once the words are used, the recording has been placed on the mixtape, or the song playing has a chosen effect, the words of power are sealed. They can only be used in their current form. Storytellers must scour all sources they can to find more Words of Power, and to use the same word again, but in a different form.

Mediums

Every storyboard has a set medium in which it appears. This medium is isolated and can never be substituted by the storyteller uses it. Once a storytelling makes the choice of their medium it is a permanent one that can never change. A storyteller can learn all three mediums, but can never use an element of one medium for another. Lyrics can be either linguistic or harmonic for the storyteller. A dance can be linguistic or visual, but not both.

This distinction exists to ensure an element of a storyteller's storyboard cannot be used to manifest effects from multiple paths of a storyteller.

Storytellers in Action

In play, at the cost of an action, the player can arrange words through whatever medium they use in such a way that a single cohesive sentence can be read or heard. After this, the GM will determine the effects based on what the statement says. It is crucial for the Storyteller to be particularly careful with how they phrase things. Sometimes it's best to just not use it. The more broad the statement is the more freedom you give the GM to create the scenario.

Statements should be as specific as possible and utilize literal language to the best of their capability. Storytellers have brought many unseemly things into reality by accident. As a GM, take great care in how you use this freedom. The intent of the character who is using this power does matter and they will always get what it is that they intend even if they don't get it the way they intended, or even if they don't get it in a way that is entirely beneficial.

Lexicon creation

Storytellers are able to create these objects due to their innate ability to detect words of power in their surroundings. Words of power are simply that. A word, phrase, movement, or song that possesses the power necessary for the storyteller to achieve their goal. It can be found on a business card left behind by some corporate executive from New York. It can be found in magazine ad talking about the erectile dysfunction, the rousing speech of a man long dead, or in the lyrics of a song. It could be the song itself, or can even be from a constructed language of the storyteller's own design.

In order to gain Words of Power, the player must sacrifice 10 experience points per word or movement, 30XP for a phrase of 3-5 words, or 50XP for a song. At this point, somewhere in their surroundings they are pulled towards the element that they have selected. They will see the word and will do whatever is needed to obtain it. For music, the Storyteller simply puts in their earphones and hits shuffle. Upon doing so, the power will present itself. If it is a word or phrase from the song, then that specific element must be clipped in a separate file then added to a mixtape.

There are many ways that one can go about doing this in their sessions. The player or GM can have a set of words already prepared, either in the form of cutouts or audio files. This can be used for random selection and then placed wherever the player keeps their lexicon when purchased.