Totem is an investigative horror game in which the Game Master plays a Spirit trapped in our world, while the players take on the roles of Seekers trying to contact the entity and uncover its tragic past in order to exorcise the Haunted Location.
It is a map-making game: the Seekers take turns describing what they sense, feel, and do, and then sketch the environment they explore on a sheet of paper. The GM builds the narrative by expanding on the players’ descriptions and drawings.
Totem is heavily based on improvisation and draws inspiration from ghost stories and their tropes to recreate a horror movie–like experience. It is well suited for beginners.
At the beginning of the game, we’ll discuss any potentially sensitive topics to ensure they are excluded from the narrative.