Published at 6:30 am.
The last Humayan survivors have long since left Earth and found refuge on the planet Exayan after a 5,000-year journey. Thanks to the biotechnology of cryogenics, the third generation of travelers has finally settled on Exayan. Around 150 years later, the planet reveals some previously unknown secrets. A group of adventurers has been chosen to discover them.
Illiandis
ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN-LOÏC FONTAINE
Illiandis/Nicolas Richard
Scientist with the gift of the great art of Taécho, which allows him to harness the energy of life.
The Exayian's body rejoices. In the Oasis we cultivate and unlock a fertile, mysterious, sometimes unfathomable, but extremely useful ecosystem. A place of peace and exchange that is necessary to overcome the challenges of the new world.
Nicolas Richard, 51 years old
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Nicholas Richard
Corporate events entrepreneur and real estate investor
Passionate about role-playing games since 1985
A psychology graduate, Nicolas Richard was introduced to Dungeons and Dragons early in his youth before meeting Thomas Pintal in Quebec in the life-size role-playing game Fantasmagorie, one of the first of its kind in the province. Since then, he has never stopped playing, an activity that has allowed him to maintain his friendships.
“Finding a social activity where I share powerful moments with people I like is super nourishing and at the same time an escape from everyday life,” says Nicolas Richard.
In life we are a bit in our subway and work routine, but in this case it is really the fantasy that I can live after. Here it has become an annual ritual where we meet up with friends to live a shared passion.
Nicholas Richard
“One of the elements that I observed in Thomas is also his ability to adapt our character's experiences to our personal problems,” he continues. There's a little element of magic in there; He talks to you, he becomes aware of what you are experiencing in your daily life and will send you two or three situations that match your personal experience so that you can experience it in a safe zone. »
In the same sense, the game allows you to learn more about yourself: “You can experiment with a part of the personality that was either discovered or unknown.” And we can push that to its limits, because there are no limits to it there are no consequences. Ultimately, we can get out of this situation by incorporating certain elements into our daily lives. »
Djéia
ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN-LOÏC FONTAINE
Djéïa/Nellie Brière
She is one of the so-called smugglers who free souls after death. She therefore has the gift of the great art of Thanos, which ensures passage.
Death is an inevitable tragedy. Rushed, it's notorious. In the face of nothingness, everyone deserves peace. This also applies to the smugglers…
Nellie Brière, 47 years old
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Nellie Briere
Digital communications strategist
Passionate about role-playing games since 1989
Nellie Brière is regularly asked to answer questions about digital communication in the media and has also been a fan of role-playing games since her youth. “Surprisingly, it was the sound that got me into Dungeons and Dragons,” she says. Because back then my best friend was DJing a game of Dungeon. In fact, he didn't really enjoy playing; he preferred to prepare his songs and save them on cassettes.
“Initially it was the medieval world that attracted me to role-playing games, but I had a little difficulty finding my way there because there weren't many female role models at the time. It was difficult for a girl to break away from the image of the sexualized character, she notes. So I stopped playing tabletop RPGs for about ten years in my thirties, but at the same time Bicolline came into my life very early, I started going there when I was 18. »
During the large medieval fantasy role-playing game festival, she met Thomas Pintal, the event's moderator.
With Thomas [Pintal]I found the same intensity of play that I had experienced when I was younger. I was able to relate to it again and actually missed it because in my opinion there is nothing that compares to playing a tabletop RPG. Even life-sized role-playing games aren't enough.
Nellie Briere
“When you read a book you are in the mental projection, you are in the imagination, but when you role play we are not only in the mental projection, but we don't see ourselves as we are, we see our characters.” My Brain must overheat sometimes because I'm visualizing the part while I'm involved in writing at the same time! Everyone has to come out of themselves and Thomas is a master at it because it's so creative, his business. […] Apparently his world is refined because he still chooses a professional life, which means the muscles he needs to be a super game master are constantly being flexed. »
Jawan
ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN-LOÏC FONTAINE
Jawan/Stéphan Morency
Medium who belonged to the Order of Kemish and has the gift of the great art of Synistima, which allows him to explore the mind and dreams.
Only a few Kemish withdraw from the Order's ranks. And there, in the valley of the ridges, they live in the company of the farmers of Meridien. From here they also fulfill their mission. A vocation in which mysticism, anthropology and archeology intersect.
Stéphan Morency, 48 years old
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Stephan Morency
Head of the investment department of a large pension fund in Quebec
Passionate about role-playing games since 1988
Like many other young people of his generation, Stéphan Morency was influenced by the world of the Lord of the Rings. “It happened like a slap in the face,” he explains. However, a friend told me that we could play in the world of Lord of the Rings. I said to him, “What are you talking about?” The next Saturday morning I went to play with them and I haven’t stopped since. »
Years later, after meeting him in the life-sized game Phantasmagoria, he begins to take part in the campaign concocted by Thomas. “I will remember my first game for the rest of my life,” he says. He arrived with a double cassette player and his cassette box and played his game with the atmosphere, then manipulated with tape to make his musical numbers!
“Over time, Thomas surrounded himself with people who supported his passion,” continues Stéphan Morency. It's an exchange where you come to the table and you give it everything you've got, you give it to Tom, you give it again and it makes for an incredible game. »
For Stéphan Morency, role play can also be an incubator in which he can have otherwise impossible experiences. “In the previous campaign I wanted to explore the whole question of inclusion,” he explains. It's confusing, it's confronting and you don't really know where you stand. »
So I decided to play a non-binary person. I failed completely, I wasn't ready for this at all. You realize that you have a lot of prejudices, a lot of blockages, you are not able to deal with them fluently. I knew I had to resolve this matter differently.
Stephan Morency
According to Stéphan, the fact that the games take place behind closed doors has a disadvantage: “It's Thomas' big drama,” he says with a laugh. His playing is his best show, it feeds him the most, but he has no audience! At least he has some feedback now that illustrators are drawing what we do. »
Elayim D'Alba
ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN-LOÏC FONTAINE
Elayim D'Alba/Émilie Caron
An orphan who became a guard in Exayan's only prison, she possesses the gift of the great art Stoichéïa, which allows her to manipulate the elements.
The climate on the Alba peninsula is hostile to life. The only prison facility in Exayan sits on its rock. Some “familyless” reside there, driving out the exiles and ensuring that the prisoners’ penance is respected.
Emilie Caron, 39 years old
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Emilie Caron
Project manager
Passionate about role-playing games since 2011
As an athlete – she was a figure skating champion before she was struck by a serious illness that forced her to have a complete lung transplant – Émilie Caron discovered role-playing in its life-size version, also at Bicolline.
“I played my first game of Dungeons and Dragons when I was 26,” she says. I played a few games, I really enjoyed dice rolling so I still enjoyed it, but as far as fighting with characters I preferred doing it in real life. »
After meeting Thomas Pintal through his work, she joined the Moment Factory director's campaign. “He contacted me about creating a non-player character,” she recalls. I said, “OK, I'm going on board, I'm going to have a good time.” » After her long recovery, she found her place as a player within the group.
I don't think I could play with another game master again. My tabletop gaming career will end when Thomas [Pintal] Will stop. Because this doesn't exist anywhere else: we have projection, we have light, we have music.
Emilie Caron
It's not tomorrow that Thomas Pintal's election campaign will end, the chemistry between the protagonists is so palpable. “When it makes a connection, it’s like synapses acting between them,” she claims. And it works both ways: Thomas makes suggestions, we make them too, then something special happens. »
Alwa
ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN-LOÏC FONTAINE
Alwa/Jean Zaragoza
A hunter from the steppes of northern Exayan, he has the gift of the great art of Chronos, which allows him to play with temporal variations.
As long as there is peace between the families of the steppes, you are free to explore the areas of the north to expand the Exayian domain. This also applies to Irine d'Altogan's son…
Jean Zaragoza, 50 years old
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
John Zaragoza
Computer technician
Passionate about role-playing games since 1986
Jean Zaragoza is somewhat introverted in a group that is, to say the least, expressive and, like many enthusiasts, has taken a more classic route into the world of role-playing games. He is therefore best placed to compare his current experiences with those of most role players. “I started playing with the basic Dungeons and Dragons box,” he recalls, referring to the famous original red box. It was exciting, especially because I've always loved the medieval fantasy universe – for example, I've read a lot of books in which you are the hero.
“I played with these friends for a long time, then with my high school friends, but we played more with dice and stats,” he explains. We liked that, the statistics. But everything goes through the game master; When you have a good one, it makes all the difference. »
His appreciation therefore changed completely when he started playing with Thomas Pintal in 1998.
With Thomas [Pintal]What's fun is that it often happens with emotions. I've never played with music before and I think it changes everything. It gives you goosebumps, it's hard to describe but when you experience it it's incredible.
John Zaragoza
“It sharpens the whole imaginary side of the game,” he adds. My niece has actually started playing D&D with friends and I'm really enjoying it because it allows them to travel. You know, you're just sitting at a table, but everything is happening in your head. »
Discover the character of our journalist
ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN-LOÏC FONTAINE
Jax/Pierre-Marc Durivage
Jax
A former soldier struggling with post-traumatic syndrome, he leads the group into the underground passages of Exayan. He has the gift of the great art of Synistima, which allows him to explore dreams.