Koriko: A Magical Year is a solo game written by Jack Harrison. Using dice, tarot cards, and a journal, a player tells the story of a young witch going to the big city for the first time, and all that they learn there. Koriko is decidedly not a single session game; the experience is divided into seven ‘Volumes’ which each take 1-2 hours to complete. The benefit of a longer game is, just like with any other RPG, more time to sit with your character and see them develop.

Given the length of Koriko, I am about halfway done with the story of Lapis, a young witch from the village of Brod who communes with nature spirits and is looking for new experiences. So far Lapis has made new friends, discovered new skills, had a few dramatic failures, and might even be finding some romantic entanglements. Every season she writes a letter home to her grandmother and mentor, Yarrow, which I will include here. Needless to say, like any sixteen year old there are a lot of things she’s not telling her parents.

My story

My name is Lapis. I’m a sixteen year old witch-in-training, and when you first see me you’ll probably notice my restless gaze, side-shaved head, and ink-stained fingers. I wear flight goggles and a corduroy jacket and carry one of my many sketchbooks with me pretty much everywhere. You’ll probably also notice my familiar, Lala. They’re the friendly raven that never leaves my side. Our bond is so strong that we can even talk to each other- though you probably won’t understand us! Most folks from my village will say I’m excitable, I think. The people close to me make it clear that I should always be helpful. As for me, I think I’m boring and I’d really like to be more pragmatic.

I’m writing this from Brod, the quiet little village I’ve lived in all my life. I live here with Yarrow, the village witch. She’s my grandmother. People in the village say she’s gloomy, but she can actually be playful when it’s just us.

Since I decided to become a witch she’s acted as my mentor, teaching me the basics of the old ways. We’ve learned a lot together, but now it’s time for me to put it into practice on my own, far from her guiding hand.

Me and my familiar will be leaving on the next full moon, just two days from now, to spend a year away. I hope to hone my magic into something truly special, but also want to chill out and enjoy being a teenager. When I dream about my new home, I wake up with lingering memories of a spire of silver and glass piercing the sky, and dusty libraries hiding rare titles.

I will see how my memories come together soon.

Departure from Brod

Yarrow has gathered my family and a few friends for a feast before I leave. My friend Amber tells me not to forget her. My Dad tells off-color stories about the city, ostensibly to put my mind at ease. Saying goodbye takes forever, and my Mom keeps trying to give me food for the journey. Eventually, they let me set off. Along with my sketchbook I have a new journal, ready to record all of my new experiences when I reach Koriko. I will also send letters home to Yarrow and my family; I already know that I may not be sharing all of my experiences with family back in Brod. After several days of travel I arrive, finding myself in a new place and knowing, at least at first, nobody. My first letter goes out in the first week.

Yarrow,

I write you having arrived in Koriko. There is a hostel across the street from a train station, and I have a modest bed for a modest price. I’ll need to find more permanent lodgings, I’m in a bunkroom with the loudest girls you can imagine and there’s simply no room. This city is amazing so far, every day there’s something I’d never see in the village. Trains, walking machines, factories with towering smokestacks. It’s all more than I could have possibly imagined. Strangely, I already miss the travel. I got to see so many things change, and so many new, weird things. I think there are just as many new and weird things here, I just need to find them. I’ll let you know what I find out there.

Lapis

Arrival in Koriko

Yarrow,

Koriko is an amazing place, and I’ve met so many people already. A former mayor and great artist have already made my acquaintance. Aurora, the artist, even helped me find a place to stay, a room in a loft shared with artists and authors. It is a wonderful place to work and learn.

Out of all the lessons you taught me, spirit calling is the one that is becoming my strength. So many people are looking for guidance, and I have already been called to provide it.

The city moves so much faster than Brod, and I only hope I can keep up. I have been swept along and up into its brightest stars but I don’t know how long I can follow. My only hopes are that I make more friends and remember your lessons as best I can.

Lapis

Spring

Yarrow,

I have found a home among the artists and open-minded people of the city. It’s a big, loud place for a witch, but I’ve adapted well and people are noticing. My skills are expanding in ways I couldn’t have possibly imagined in Brod; just like you taught me, everything is connected. Such a dense nest of connections requires different skills, though; I’m happy I’m learning them.

Sometimes all the noise can feel like a cocoon, separating you from everyone else. It’s so easy to be in your own world here and I’m trying not to get stuck in mine. I’ve met some people who have reached out, and I’m still figuring out how best to reach back.

I have become fond of this city. Once I know what that means for me, I will want to tell you. Hope everyone at home is doing well.

Lapis

Summer

Yarrow,

It’s been a hot summer in the city, but I’ve learned so much. I’ve met spirits in all parts of the city, found their doors, and heard their messages. The spirit of the city itself has even contacted me.

It’s so easy to make friends here. Aurora is a famous performer but makes time for me when she can. Francis is a great companion, though mysterious…I wonder what I’ll discover about him. I did take some time for myself, going to the beach and to gardens and museums. I haven’t traveled much outside the city, though. Could be nice to take a train trip for a day.

So much is going on in this city, it’s hard to explain. My stories are flowing faster than my ink. Hopefully I’ll be better able to explain this in person.

Lapis

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After summer, I have three Volumes to go in Koriko: Autumn, Winter, and Departure. Each season provides some specific context in the form of Twists, but the core of the game carries over from season to season.

Building out each Volume in Koriko requires drawing a ‘Volume Deck’ from a Tarot Deck. From this Volume Deck you draw seven (or more in some cases) cards which represent prompts. How you build the Volume Deck changes from season to season, but those changes are for giving the player options on which types of prompts they want to focus on. The Tarot Deck is divided into four suits, with some of the Major Arcana assigned to each suit and some put to the side. Each of the suited cards will provide a prompt, while each of the Major Arcana will provide a confidante, or significant NPC in your character’s year. While core confidantes will be drawn from your deck (and the Volume Deck for Arrival is stacked to ensure you draw at least three confidantes to start), there are also special events triggered by Twists and dice stacking.

Let’s talk a little about dice stacking. Certain prompts are labeled as risky, and certain Twists, which are phrases intended to modify prompts, are labeled as risky as well. When you choose a prompt or Twist that’s risky, you must stack a certain number of dice depending on what skill you’re using. Your skill ‘level’ is determined by how many lessons you have in each skill; while you learn a lesson each volume you also learn lessons by succeeding at risky prompts, so the game incentivizes you to take risks. You also get bonuses for using Twists that complete a row or column of the Twist chart in each volume, which will always require at least one risky Twist. You succeed or fail depending on whether your dice tower stays up; you must stack atop your existing tower, so it gets harder and harder as you go on. When the dice tower topples you fail, but the consequences for failure bring in their own interesting outcomes, including new confidantes, changing your deck, and even learning lessons.

It would be unwieldy to copy a complete playthrough here as is done for shorter games; my Koriko journal is at 40 pages and counting and the letters above are a small fraction of what I’ve written. Lapis writes to her grandmother about learning magic and exploring the city, but as one would imagine, she’s leaving out all the details about encountering monsters, being snuck into taverns, and blossoming romances. And while she alluded to meeting the spirit of the city, she failed to mention that the spirit of the city is trying to convince her to stay in Koriko for good.

With three Volumes left, I have a lot of Lapis’s story left to tell and I’m really excited to write it all out. Next time I’ll wrap up her letters, reveal her decision about staying or leaving in Koriko, and review in more depth the journaling and the confidantes, key elements of the experience. Even with just a partial playthrough though, I can say that Koriko captured my imagination and has so far left me wanting more. I’m looking forward to finishing my game, and I hope some of you will join me in discovering Koriko: A Magical Year.

Koriko: A Magical Year is available from Mousehole Press and on itch.io.

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