Twilight gives way to the blackness of light as Nyaruth warms their aged leather man-tortise skin against the fire. They cook up a meal made of bear, crocodile, and fruit jam. A large dragonfly with muscular wings buzz fiercely nearby, combining with he droning hum of glowpads to finalize a symphony with crackling of fire. In the distance, the howling and snarling indicating pack of snapjaw-kin.
After the bedroll is layed, a soft cloth tunic is abstracted into makeshift pillow. Nyaruth readies themselves for sleep. They stash a pair of their finest daggers neath the cloth as done thousands of times before.
Qud is so good for vignettes like this. It’s the first game I catch myself slowing down to play - reading every prompt, considering every dialogue. It’s not forcing me to roleplay, it’s just gently encouraging it. No other game has evoked this feeling of being an explorer, intrepid and brave and almost entirely lost in a strange and unfamiliar world, for me.