Thursday, 12 March 2020

315 - Road-Atlas Shrugged

Artifact: Road-Atlas Shrugged

Power:
Significant.

Description: A heavily annotated road atlas detailing the vehicular geography of the United States. The cover is plastered with Randian bumper stickers. Written in several hands and with several mediums, the annotations detail acts of self-reliance and perseverance in the face of adversity, especially those which eschew using available outside aid. No outcomes are included but a number of entries are crossed out.

Effect: The simplest function of the atlas is divinatory, it's hard to pinpoint as few of the descriptions list names but every relevant act is listed. They fade in and out over time but if you're looking for something it will always be there. Knowing someone is having or had a specific type of crisis and their rough location at the time can help you figure out the location they decided to remove their own appendix with a pocket knife.

The second function is prescriptive. By writing your own act into the book before performing it you lend credence to your attempt. This doesn't make it any easier, you still have to do it on your own. However succeeding grants you your choice of any roll made in the attempt as a hunch roll on your next stress check. Establishing a will to power imbues you with self-possession. Several rolls may be banked this way.

Failing gets you locked out. Your self-entry is crossed out but you'll never know it since to your eyes the pages of the book only show regular maps.

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