USE-OPTION ONE: FREE-FORM CONSULTATION
If you just want to use the Polyhedrons of the Dead and skip the game, that’s fine, but I do have a suggested order of play (or ritual) for this:
- Set all the polyhedrons together on a table (Like in the picture above). If more than one person is participating, you will want to have a single die or a pair of dice on hand to decide the order in which you will go.
- Whether you’re one person using these alone, or a group using these together, recite aloud the downloadable Invocation I included above, or come up with one of your own. If you want to join hands as you recite it, that’s up to you. It’s important that you set your intentions to begin with, so any possible mischievous spirits know they’re not welcome.
- Each participant will roll the die/dice to determine the order of play, with the person rolling the lowest number going first and the person rolling the highest number going last.
- The first player will pick up the Icosahedron of Identity first. They have a decision to make. They can either choose who they want to hear from, or they can ask out loud who most wants to speak with me? Then roll the icosahedron. The facet which lands face-up is the answer. I like to toss the polyhedron from hand to hand while I’m asking, but that’s a personal choice. Your inclination may vary.
- The first player then asks what message do you have for me? They may roll either the Message One dodecahedron or the Message Two dodecahedron; it’s their call. The first player then asks, do you have any other message for me? They may roll the other Message dodecahedron, but if they’re feeling so inclined, they can stick with the same Message dodecahedron already rolled. This is a gut-instinct call.
- The first player then has the option of consulting either the Advice & Insight dodecahedron or the How I Died one, or both. If they really don’t want the deceased’s take on these things, they may consult the Is There Anything I Can Do For You? Dodecahedron.
- The first player then has the opportunity to speak freely to the dead person specified on the icosahedron. Happiness, sorrow, gratitude, gritches & gripes, their choice. But if they exercise this option, it’s only fair to roll the Reactions dodecahedron, or ask questions via the yes-and-no stones. Let’s make this a conversation, not a monologue.
- The second player then starts the whole process over—Icosahedron of Identity, Message One, Message Two, How I Died, Advice & Insight, Is There Anything I Can Do For You, the Dead Respond.
- Play continues in this manner until everyone has had one turn to speak with one dead person. It is up to the members of the group if they wish to go additional rounds with this. Don’t go too many rounds, you don’t want the Dead seeing you as a pest and start messing with your head, just to get rid of you. If someone in the circle wishes to pass up their turn in additional rounds, they may do so.
- At the end of play, if there is anyone in the group who hasn’t heard from a certain deceased person whom they wanted or expected to hear from, they may ask why haven’t I heard from (fill in the blank)? Then roll the Die of Inquiry to see what the hold-up is from the Other End.
- When everyone is sure they’re done asking, close out the session by saying Thank you for caring, thank you for sharing, thank you for spending this time with us!
If the polyhedron you’re throwing bounces off the table, or if you’re playing on the floor, and it bounces out of the circle of play in three tries, assume the deceased doesn’t want to answer that one and move on. You can also play with these by randomly throwing any dodecahedron of your choice, then say aloud, okay, so who is telling me that one? Then throw the Icosahedron of Identity to learn who the deceased individual is.