The constant stresses of life on the road, the mental strain of living from sword strike to sword strike, and the fear of losing a loved one or friend at any moment can lead even the strongest-willed to despair. This Downtime Activity should be undertaken only with the consent and comfort of everyone at the table, regardless of their involvement. When you choose this Downtime Activity, your character is succumbing to the worst parts of themselves, unaware or uncaring of the collateral damage they leave in their wake. Work with your GM to establish what this looks like, perhaps turning to your character’s Lifepath for inspiration, looking at Temperament, Skeletons in the Closet, or The Lies We Tell Ourselves (page 8). #privateLife ## A Dark Tale Rock Bottom serves as a narrative tool to tell the story of adventurers who struggle with the burdens placed upon their shoulders. Discuss with the players about how their character reacts to seeing an ally succumb to despair, and use this as an opportunity to explore the shared difficulties of the party. If a character cannot pull themselves out of this dark hole they’ve fallen into, consider [[Retire|retiring]] their character and exploring a life of hardship or hope after a life of adventure (see page 122).