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The Roots of Soledad - A magical realism RPG

Created by NessunDove

A card-based ttrpg by Matthijs Holter and a homage to South American magical realism. Play a whole campaign with zero prep and watch the characters' lives entangle between the mundane and the fantastic, like in A Hundred Years of Solitude.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Off to print!
20 days ago – Fri, Aug 21, 2026 at 02:24:29 AM

Dear friends of Soledad,

thank you for your eagerness-- over 80% of you has already completed the backer survey to collect your addresses, shipping fees and language preference (plus any extra goodies you might want). Those of you who haven't done it yet, go check your email!


Besides showing off some of Maria's artwork for the card backs (including a little easter egg-- see if you can spot a familiar face!), we are happy to say that the final talks with our printer are over and done with. The last corrections to the files have been made, and The Roots of Soledad is finally going into print.

This was an intricate journey, where we did our best to look after every little detail as this project (and your support) wholly deserves.

After a short and belated summer break, our next step in September will be to work on the digital edition and extra goodies.

Thank you all, and see you soon.

Work complete & another tale
about 1 month ago – Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 02:20:08 AM

Dear people of Soledad,

we are happy to announce that the pieces of this project have all fallen into place.

Matthijs' text has reached its final form with help from the whole team, Chiara is done typesetting and proofreading Oscar's Italian translation, and Maria has made art for the card backs and illustrated the booklet.



All the creative work is done, we are now in touch with our printers at Fabryka Kart to finalize details of the physical product and make it the best possible version of Soledad. We will keep you posted when we go into print and begin work on the final digital edition. We're happy to say we're keeping to the schedule.

This also leaves us some room to look to the future and to our next campaign, with a game that will soon rise from the murky waters of a secret pool.



Rusalka, Nick Wedig's cult gem, will once again have you shuffling cards to tell a dark tale, this time inspired by Slavic folklore. Take on the role of the titular Rusalka, the legendary spirits of drowned women. Weave dark spells, face the desperate mortals who dare beg for your help, and let their wishes dredge up the forgotten fragments of your own mortal life.

The secret pool beckons. Will you join us there on October 5, once again live on Backerkit?

P.S. For those of you who're planning to go to GenCon, Nick Wedig himself will be around with a preview copy to show off. ;)

Progress in the heat
3 months ago – Thu, Jun 25, 2026 at 02:12:22 AM

Dear people of Soledad,

the sun here in Italy is unforgiving these days, but the scent of kapok blooms is relegated to our imaginations only as we work on The Roots of Soledad.

For the English edition, we have completed the revision of all text, for both the cards and the guidebook. It was a team effort that helped us focus on the details and keep as many inaccuracies out of the text as possible.

For the Italian edition, Oscar is done translating all the cards and is about to start working on the rules.


Meanwhile, Maria is working on the graphics to make the book richer, with additional art for the Location cards and card backs for every kind of deck.

Matthijs is setting up some demo games and spreading the word, because we want this campaign to be just the beginning. If you have any tips on places that would love to hear about Soledad, we’re all ears!

All in all, we can say we’re working perfectly according to our original schedule, and on track to go into print by the end of July.

This lets us start preparing the ground for new magic of a darker, more cryptic nature. If you hear the babbling waters, fear not: it is only the secret pool, beckoning to you. Soon you will learn more.

Thank you! Next steps
3 months ago – Wed, Jun 03, 2026 at 07:16:41 AM

Here we are, back to Soledad after another convention. We got to celebrate the success you made possible at Chambercon, the chamber larp convention we’ve been running for years.

The rush was intense, and it left us exhausted, but we want to thank everyone who chipped in for this campaign. The Roots of Soledad is a labor of love and it has been heartwarming to watch it reach so far.

What happens now?


We’ll be devoting the month of June to revising the text and cards of Soledad. Our aim is to get the final details ready to print in July. We will keep you updated along the way.

Meanwhile, please check that your pledge has gone through. You have a week left to solve any payment issues and book your first-class ticket to Soledad.

P.S. If you like the art of Soledad and are currently in Italy, you might want to take a trip to Turin: Soma is starring in an exhibition titled Afluentes sul Po, inspired by our rivers and running til June 12. After watching her illustrate the magic of her own country, seeing her pay homage to our landscapes has been mind-blowing.

Last 2 hours for The Roots of Soledad!
3 months ago – Thu, May 28, 2026 at 11:10:54 AM

Only 2 hours left on Backerkit for The Roots of Soledad!

It’s been a great adventure, ever since we met Matthijs. It starts when you turn a corner because something catches your eye, and then you find yourself completely swept up in it. In the duende, that unsettling yet wonderful thrill that Garcia Lorca knew how to let himself be captivated by.


Thank you to everyone who supported us, to those who let their curiosity get the better of them, and to those who don’t yet know that the kapok flower awaits them, hidden among the Roots of Soledad.