I wanted to share some exciting updates about UNTETHERED, our upcoming monster-hunting TTRPG set in the grim and crumbling Lower Princedoms. For those of you who’ve followed our work so far, this is where it all comes together.
It’s been a highly iterative process. Last year, we released OGREISH, a stripped-down micro-version that served as the proof of concept for both rules and tone. From there, we refined the framework into PITCHFORK, a one-page RPG submitted to the itch.io One-Page RPG Jam. PITCHFORK introduced players to the same setting but from the perspective of commoners and peasants struggling to survive in a war-torn world filled with monsters. Now, with UNTETHERED, we’re expanding both the rules and the setting to bring you a larger, richer experience.
Before the year wraps up, we’ll release Shadow of Salt, our first playset for PITCHFORK. This monster-hunting scenario picks up right after the one-page original and throws players into a grim mystery filled with strange omens and salty tension. We’re making final tweaks to the illustrations, done by the talented Steven De Waele (@stonedrunkwizard), and will have it ready soon. If you’re interested in running it ahead of release, I’d love to hear from you – GMs willing to test it and share feedback are always welcome!
Kicking off next year, we’ll release PITCHFORK Extended, an expanded 8-page version of the original one-pager. While fitting rules into a single page was a rewarding challenge, this version will include clearer, more refined rules, playbooks for deeper immersion, and expanded tools like village sheets and worldbooks. It’s designed to make the game even more engaging without losing its focus on desperate, grounded storytelling, while staying true to the microgame format.
Alongside UNTETHERED, we’re also developing a bridging playset that allows you to transition your characters from the desperate survival of PITCHFORK into the monster-hunting world of UNTETHERED. For players who want to grow their stories from struggling peasants to hardened hunters, this playset connects the two games seamlessly.
The big project is, of course, UNTETHERED itself. This will be released as a mobile-friendly website packed with tools, downloads, and everything you need to play. The game explores the Lower Princedoms, a fractured coastal region scarred by the Autumn War, where merchant princes, warlords, and old noble houses vie for power. Among the ruins lurk the remnants of war – monsterous creatures that threaten what little remains. Players step into the role of monster-hunters, confronting not just deadly beasts but the grim, human struggles of a broken land. UNTETHERED focuses on character arcs, plot hooks, and descriptive rules that drive fiction-first gameplay, featuring one-roll conflicts and the classic multi-tiered, dynamic outcomes you’re used to in most storygames.
Over time, we’ll explore the possibility of crowdfunding to bring UNTETHERED to life as a physical book (if we find the response positive and the energy to commit), but for now, the focus is on delivering the best digital experience possible. If you’re curious, I’m happy to share previews – just reach out to me at either Threads or Bluesky!
I’m incredibly excited to see where this project leads and can’t wait to share more in the coming months. If you have questions, thoughts, or just want to follow along, let me know – I’d love to hear what you think.
Stay safe, game on, and watch this space.
/Chris
