The Child Who Grew Backwards
A local child is aging in reverse—teenager to toddler in weeks. Healers are baffled. The parents are desperate. The child's memories fade with each passing day, but they keep mentioning a deal their future self made. Trace the timeline, find the other party to the bargain, and decide whether undoing it will restore the child or erase them entirely.
Suggested NPCs
Faelan Sunleaf
- Elf
- Non-binary
- Young
Role
- Occupation
- River toll clerk
Character
- Motivation
- Restoring honor to their name
- Personality
- Deadpan and dry-humored
- Background
- Cleric spreading their faith
Details
- Quirk
- Counts heat waves instead of seconds
- Speaking style
- Names people by their trade first
- Private fear
- Running out of shade
- Secret
- Already died; the necklace keeps them walking
- Signature item
- Map folded into a paper swan
Aeris Starlight
- Elf
- Male
- Young
Role
- Occupation
- Curse removal broker
Character
- Motivation
- Bringing modern ideas to a conservative town
- Personality
- Mysterious and secretive
- Background
- Smuggler who specializes in people, not goods
Details
- Quirk
- Eats dessert first
- Speaking style
- Uses nautical ranks for family members
- Private fear
- Magic they cannot see
- Secret
- Has never slept—only trances in daylight
- Signature item
- Knife that cuts only rope and promises
Aeris Dawnstar
- Elf
- Non-binary
- Young
Role
- Occupation
- Perfume sommelier
Character
- Motivation
- Building a better future
- Personality
- Protective and almost parental
- Background
- Cartographer documenting the world
Details
- Quirk
- Marks doors with chalk after meeting owners
- Speaking style
- Never uses contractions
- Private fear
- Ice that will not melt in their hands
- Secret
- Runs the black market in summer memories
- Signature item
- Canteen that never empties on Tuesdays