When a mysterious dungeon erupts in the peaceful village of Beaujolais, monsters threaten to overrun the streets—and the only one who can stop it is Sage Time, a wandering scholar with a knack for solving crises… and two dangerous flaws that could turn the tide against him. A strategic, character-driven adventure blends puzzle-solving, humor, and high-stakes choices as Time races to cleanse the dungeon—or fall prey to his own weaknesses.
Beaujolais: A Village on the Brink of Chaos
1. Idyllic Lives, Sudden Terror: For generations, Beaujolais thrived on fertile fields and tight-knit community. Farmers tended vineyards, children chased chickens, and elders shared tales by the hearth. That peace shatters when a jagged crack splits the forest, oozing dark mist and the roar of unseen beasts. Panic spreads—no one knows where the dungeon came from, or what lurks inside.
2. The “Only One” Dilemma: The village elder, a stoic woman with a knack for prophecies, remembers an old tale: “When darkness spills, seek the one who bends time.” Enter Sage Time, a disheveled wanderer with a tattered cloak and a habit of muttering to himself. He claims he “stumbled into town by accident,” but his sudden arrival feels less like luck… and more like fate.
3. Monsters, Myths, and Misinformation: Early scouting parties return with horror stories: shadowy creatures with too many eyes, traps that rearrange themselves, and a creeping “dread” that saps courage. Villagers whisper of curses and ancient evils, but Time scoffs—“Monsters are just problems with teeth,” he says. Yet even he can’t deny the dungeon’s power: its walls pulse like a heartbeat, growing stronger each hour.
Sage Time: Genius, Fool, and Two Fatal Flaws
1. A Mind for Puzzles, A Heart for Chaos: Time isn’t your typical hero. He solves magical riddles before breakfast, deciphers ancient runes over lunch, and once outwitted a dragon by challenging it to a game of riddles. But his greatest strength—his hyper-logical mind—becomes his biggest weakness. He overthinks, second-guesses, and dismisses “emotional” solutions (like asking villagers for help) as “illogical distractions.”
2. Flaw #1: The “Curse” of Curiosity: Time can’t walk past a locked door, a glowing symbol, or a dusty tome without investigating. It’s how he’s survived countless dungeons… and how he’s gotten into trouble. In Beaujolais, this flaw leads him to poke a suspiciously pulsing wall, only to release a swarm of ink-squirting imps. “Fascinating!” he mutters, even as they nip at his robes.
3. Flaw #2: The Fear of Commitment: Time hates being tied down. He once left a quest halfway to chase a rumor of a “sentient library,” and another time abandoned a festival to study a rare butterfly. Now, the village depends on him—but his old habits die hard. When a villager begs him to “stay and protect us,” he deflects: “I’m just here to fix the dungeon. Nothing more.” (Spoiler: The dungeon isn’t the only thing that needs fixing.)
Dungeon Deep Dive: More Than Just Monsters
1. Traps That Test More Than Reflexes: The dungeon isn’t designed to kill—it’s designed to confuse. Corridors shift, doors lead to loops, and “guardians” are less beasts and more… pranks. A room filled with harmless but annoying tickle-vines, a bridge that crumbles unless you sing a specific folk song, and a puzzle that requires solving a riddle backwards—all tailored to exploit Time’s flaws.
2. The Dungeon’s “Voice”: A Hidden Narrative: As Time delves deeper, he notices the dungeon “responds” to his actions. When he scoffs at a weeping statue, it rains rocks. When he pauses to help a trapped fox (despite his “no distractions” rule), the path clears. Whispers suggest the dungeon isn’t evil—it’s lonely, a forgotten prison for a being that craved connection. Could Time’s empathy (buried under layers of logic) be the key?
3. Villagers as Unlikely Allies: Despite Time’s reluctance, the villagers rally. The blacksmith forges tools to bypass traps, the healer patches his wounds (and teases him about his “curious habit of getting stuck”), and the elder shares lore about the dungeon’s origins. Their trust forces Time to confront his fear of commitment—if he fails, they suffer. Can he learn to rely on others… even if it terrifies him?
