The Courageous Crab

Rosetown's Living Room

CW: death, grief, family conflict

The Courageous Crab was opened in 1894 by Pilippe and Roshone Penn. It offered comfortable accomodations for visitors to Rosetown looking for something off the beaten path, but its real draw was the dining room on the first floor, which was frequented by locals and tourists alike. Here, anyone could find a hot meal, interesting company, and good gossip. At the center of it all was Pillipe himself, taking out orders, advising on the sights of Rosetown, and doting on every animal and child who came in, none more so than his children.

by Artbreeder

In 1911, Roshone decided she no longer enjoyed being part of the inn. She and Pillipe divorced, but their children, Piper and Jaden remained with their father. As they grew up and learned complex magics, the Crab became the main stage for increasingly complex shows. In 1915, Pilippe remarried, and Maggie Lupu and her daughter, Neebi became a part of the crab family.

For the next three decades, the Crab flourished under Pilippe and Maggie's warmth and care. When Pilippe died in 1947, Piper, who still lived in Rosetown tried to help Maggie continue to run the inn, but having never gotten along, found it difficult. The inn maintained many of its regulars, but began to decline.

Two years later, Maggie died. Not wanting anything to do with the inn, Neebi sold her share of the property to her step-siblings. Jaden returned to Rosetown to help his sister manage it, but it became increasingly clear that the secret ingredient had always been their father. Pilippe had memorized dozens of orders, knew all the fishermen he bought from by name, and personally introduced himself to anyone staying the night.

Faced with the knowledge that The Crab was a little less Courageous without their father, Piper and Jaden considered how they could make it their own. Inspired by their childhood theatrics, they decided to attempt their most ambitious project yet, and transformed the building into The Imagination Game.

Type

Inn

Owner

Pilippe Penn

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Jaden Penn
• Piper Penn

Dad brought a life to the Crab that no one else could. So we asked ourselves, how could we do the same?

— Piper Penn

Inspired by the popular Zoey Coral Series, the two outfitted the building with a variety of Imagination spells, until they could transform the appearance of the building's interior into anything. Furthermore, the spells were designed to be influenced by the imagination of anyone who stepped inside, allowing them to live out their dreams... and their nightmares.

The Imagination Game officially opened in 1951, with the first players getting to play out a life-like adventure set in the original inn, when it first opened. Since then, the siblings have developed a myriad of other dreamscapes they can control, and the Courageous Crab has once again become a popular spot for both locals and tourists. It became so popular, in fact, that the twins worked with Simon Farrow to convert a bus into a mobile version of the game that sometimes tours through Nefrale.

Though there are dangers to spending too much time in such a dreamscape, and worried parents have created controversy over the attraction, Piper and Jaden have taken every precaution to keep it safe. Players are warned of all the risks before entering and advised what to do if they need to leave early. They are also wear wristbands to allow the operators to track them inside the game and ensure their safety. Furthermore, the game is only open if both siblings are available to operate it--one on the inside and one on the outside.

The exterior of the Courageous Crab remains unchanged, including its original sign, and even when the Imagination Game is not running, it sometimes gets visitors for its its historial significance. The siblings added a plaque to the outside wall to honor their father and the commitment he made to the community. A matching plaque hangs inside, and it is the only part of the interior that doesn't change. Instead, it serves as a grounding mechanism for players who need to be reminded they are in a dreamscape. It also marks the location of a kill switch which can be activated in the case of an emergency. The Penns have said the plaque makes them feel like their dad is still watching over them and a part of their lives.