April 27, 2026: Seven-Part Pact Playtest Highlight Reel

I had the privilege and joy of spending a weekend playing Seven-Part Pact with Jay, SJ, and four other friends. This was my fourth time in Isha, but for most of the table, it was a completely new experience. Between Session Zero on Friday and 5 months of game time on Saturday and Sunday, we played for nearly 20 hours . . . and my brain is still reeling.

This time around, I got to play as the Sage, safeguarding the destinies of the Pact and weaving the disparate plot threads together into a grander cosmic narrative. This was definitely the trickiest game for me to get into so far, but when it finally clicked, it was totally exhilarating. 

So here's a non-exhaustive list of game highlights from our wizardly weekend.

• The Warlock had some very complicated feelings for the Mariner, which he processed by punching the Mariner repeatedly in the face.
• "We're wizards. We don't get to be normal."
• Our child Sorcerer convinced the Mariner to help him call upon the Kraken, only for them both to realize that they had no way to control the beast when it arrived because neither had looked up its true name first.
• I went to the Queen with the intent to kill her, but when it looked like she might reject her destiny (and blow up my entire board state), I instead had to negotiate with her. I ended up transforming her into the King so that she could replace him after faking her own death. And I swore to her that I'd never tell the Warlock about this plan.
  • Also, the Warlock was her brother.
• We fought the Devil in his true form, and (mostly) lived to tell the tale.
• Deus Ex Slide Whistle.

This roleplaying game is unlike anything else I've ever experienced. I can't wait to see what happens when it's out in the wild.

-- Irene Zielinski