The Atelier Lexicon
Here is the home to what we call them.
asumdevelop
When a creator assumingly develops a bridge, hook, or connective thread intended to intersect a player character’s plot— with the understanding that it may be changed, denied, ignored, or rendered unnecessary.
Asumdeveloping treats uncertainty as part of authorship, valuing readiness over payoff.
- Used during prep, not performance.
- Often invisible to players.
- Prevents over-correction when hooks fail.
attourney
A term born of mispronunciation and momentum—originating from kobold propaganda surrounding a grand tourney, long before the spelling was ever clarified. “Attourney” came to represent both contest and counsel in equal measure.
Attourney reflects how authority, competition, and narrative intent can blur when language spreads faster than correction.
- Coined prior to official clarification.
- Widely adopted through kobold propaganda.
- Persists despite knowing better.
overture
A voluntary offering of thought or intent, extended without expectation of response, agreement, or care.
An overture invites attention without creating obligation, allowing interest to determine continuation.
- Signals openness, not commitment.
- May be acknowledged, ignored, or transformed.
- Creates space without demanding entry.
Thoughtless Timeless System
A narrative structuring system that allows events, locations, and relationships to persist and evolve without active tracking or linear timelines. History is registered once, then allowed to re-enter play only when engaged.
The Thoughtless Timeless System — full breakdown →
