Muffin come home!

I've decided to play Come Home in a more realistic style this time, but one of the best things about this game is that you're free to imagine the world however you want—even envisioning animals talking to each other! This is my fourth playthrough, and in less than an hour, you'll have played an entire game. Each session feels so unique. I absolutely love it, and I hope you will too.SETUP

Muffin

• A leaf-brown dachshund with short hair
• Character: Greedy but cautious, with a passion for his human's slippers
• Distinctive Feature: A funny tuft of white fur near his tail that waves like a little flag when he's happy

Specialty:  3 = Seeker (perfect for finding his way home!) Getting Lost:  2 = Sudden Fright A massive thunderclap made him bolt through the back garden gate.

STARTING STATS:

• INSTINCT: 3
• HEART: 3

SCENE 1: LOST The rain has stopped, but Muffin's coat is soaked. Instead of his blooming garden, he finds himself surrounded by cold, grey buildings. His wet nose twitches, searching for familiar scents, but the rain has washed everything away. The last memory of home is the warmth of his favorite blanket and the soothing hum of the afternoon TV.

Complication: 3 = A hostile pack of strays patrols this area.

Using INSTINCT to sneak past:  4 Failure! (4 > 3) → +1 HEART (now 4) Muffin resolves this with HEART: Instead of cowering or running, he remembers how his human taught him to walk calmly past other dogs at the park. Keeping his head low but his tail steady, he moves with quiet confidence. The strays, sensing no challenge or fear, let him pass without trouble.

SCENE 2: HELP An old lady is feeding stray cats outside a grocery store. The scent of lavender from her shopping bag stirs something in Muffin's memory.

Complication:  2 = Food bowl, but away from what feels like home.

Using HEART:  4 Success with Complication! (4 = 4) The lady notices Muffin and sets down a bowl of food. As he eats, he catches a familiar scent coming from her shopping trolley—lavender, like the bushes lining his garden path. But just as he's ready to follow, a problem arises...

Facing Complication: A large ginger cat blocks the path where the lavender scent leads. Using Seeker specialty (2d6) with INSTINCT:  2, 5 = using 2 Success! (2 < 3) → +1 INSTINCT (now 4) Muffin cleverly finds a narrow gap between trash bins, circling around the aggressive cat while keeping track of the lavender trail.

SCENE 3: OBSTACLE A busy road cuts through what is starting to feel like familiar territory. Cars rush past, their headlights casting long shadows in the early evening light.

Complication:  5 = A busy crossing with too many legs and feet.

Using HEART:  3 Success! (3 < 4) → +1 HEART (now 5) Muscle memory kicks in—Muffin recognizes the familiar feeling of waiting at a crosswalk from countless walks with his human. He patiently sits at the corner, his white-tufted tail tucked safely away from trampling feet. When the crowd moves, he moves with them, sticking close to a pair of boots that remind him of his human's.

SCENE 4: MEMORY A breeze carries the scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery. Every Sunday morning, his human would bring home a warm roll, always sharing a tiny piece with Muffin.

Complication:  4 = A grey van slows down nearby, someone inside watching him.

Using INSTINCT to hide:  5 Failure! (5 > 4) → +1 HEART (now 6) Instead of darting away in panic, the memory of Sunday mornings fills Muffin with determination. He confidently trots into the bakery entrance—a safe, familiar place where his human always greets the owner. The van drives away, leaving Muffin unharmed.

The game ends here as HEART reaches 6!

EPILOGUE - THE WAY HOME The bakery door opens, and the warm smell of fresh bread mingles with another unmistakable scent—wet grass, blooming flowers, and home. Muffin’s garden is just two streets away. His little white tuft wags frantically as he races down the familiar sidewalks.

In the garden, his human is searching for him, holding his favorite squeaky slipper. When she sees him, she drops to her knees in the damp grass. Muffin leaps into her arms, his whole body wiggling with joy.

That evening, wrapped in his blanket with the rescued slipper tucked under his chin, Muffin drifts off to sleep. His heart, which guided him through the maze of streets and strangers, beats contentedly. Just before falling asleep, he notices his white tuft still gently wagging—a tiny flag of victory for a brave little dachshund who made it home.

i hope to see your actual plays soon!

Giovanni