A Cozy Den

An Intimate Game of Domestic Winter

By Kira Magrann
Game Stats
Players: 2-5
GMless!
Time: 2-4 hours, one session
Rating: 18+
Materials: printed out Character Sheets, printed out and cut Threat Cards, game text, writing
implements, 2d6
Keywords: lesbians, sex, queer terminology, queer culture, snakes, domestic disputes (but not
domestic violence), roommates, emotions, love, wrestling, cuddling

Credits
Created with help from Eric Mersmann, Jeromy Hastings, Nick Wedig, and the support of my
Patrons at patreon.com/kiramagrann. Inspired by my beloved pet snakes, Sol the Corn Snake
and Andromeda the Royal Python.

Cover Art: Kira Magrann

Interior Art: Anna Rampelt
Lesbisnakes
Lesbisnakes are half snake, half human, and all lesbian. They appear as women (trans, cis, or
non-binary) at their heads, arms, and chest area, but from their belly buttons down their bodies
become a scaly snake body and tail. They’re the same size as humans which makes them
gigantic serpentine creatures. Lesbisnakes live in all kinds of countries and climates, but this
game focuses on American Lesbisnakes.

In the winter, Lesbisnakes “den up”. They search for the best place to be warm, safe, and
potentially fall in love with other Lesbisnakes. It’s not that they’re necessarily desirous of
denning up with other Lesbisnakes, its more that, the more lesbisnakes in a small warm safe
area the better off they all are in those chilly winter months. During this communal time they
want to make the den as cozy as possible.

There is domestic bliss and conflict both, escalating and de-escalating often on the emotional
whims of those living in close quarters. Although the Lesbisnakes don’t choose thier den based
on who is also there, they do have to make peace with them throughout the winter in order to
stay warm. Peace, of course, means different things to different Lesbisnakes.

The Scenario
The chill of fall heralds the beginning of the exodus, the travel to a place that will be warm and
safe during the winter for all Lesbisnakes. As they slither about trying to settle on which den
looks warmest and most enticing to them, the cold begins to settle in. Lesbisnakes start getting
comfy in their den and get to know their new denmates. How can they be the most cozy for the
winter? Will they find what they truly desire, or will this just be one more unsatisfying overwinter?

What’s Cozy?
A big point of conflict is what cozy means to each Lesbisnake. With some needs that are similar
and some that are different, how do they compromise and make a space that’s cozy for
everyone?
What’s a Den?
Well, Lesbisnakes, being half snake half human all lesbian, have a Den and a Lifestyle that’s
somewhere between what snakes have in the wild and what humans have in their living spaces.
There’s a little give and take here, since it is a fantasy space, but imagine it outdoors first, and
then add some human things. So, perhaps under a huge pile of leaves, next to an oak grove,
but with some nice victorian chairs and a tiny fridge. Or maybe there’s a beautiful kitchen and all
the members of the den cook human food together. Imaginative and quirky is better than
realistic here!

Sex
Lesbisnakes have sex very much like snakes by interacting with their cloaca. A cloaca is
basically a hole right before their tail where penetrative sex happens, or where hemipenes come
out to penetrate. There’s also permutations that involve a mix of these, or somewhere
in-between these these two options. Sensuality tends to include slithering over each other’s
bodies, and resting heads on any part of the snake or human body while the cloaca are
interacting. Penetrating the cloaca with hands, tongues, or dildos works, but just locking them
together can be very pleasurable, as well as any variety of toys or vibrators.

Lesbisnakes can get pregnant from each other although it is rare, or they can acquire sperm
from a manserpent through some other means. There are some manserpents who are willing to
donate consensually to Lesbisnakes who cannot otherwise get pregnant. It is much more
socially normal for Lesbisnakes to have sex in front of each other than in American human
culture, since they’re often living and basking communally. It’s also not uncommon for more
than two Lesbisnakes to cuddle or have sex at the same time. Also, many Lesbisnakes are
comfortable with sharing sex partners and experiencing less jealousy than humans. Some are
asexual as well, preferring to engage in different types of physical intimacy.

Love
Lesbisnakes believe in every kind of love human lesbians do. Some are monogamous, some
non-monogamous. Some only believe in love during the overwintering time, and would prefer to
be alone the rest of the time. Some only believe in romantic friendships. Every expression of
love is valid as long as it is open and consensual. Overwintering in the den is a time of year that
is tied into the minds of all Lesbisnakes as a time to fall in love. Spending so much time together
in a warm space has definitely influenced this.
Basic Mechanics
​

This game is Powered by the Apocalypse, which is a game system that originated in
Apocalypse World by D. Vincent Baker and Meguey Baker.

A Cozy Den is fiction first, which means that after a scene is rolled on the needs chart, all the
players can roleplay, describe, interact, and conversate until it seems like one of the Actions on
the Action sheet is happening in the game. Then the players will follow the instructions under
that Action. Try to drive play toward the Actions, because they best emulate the feeling and
atmosphere the game is trying to deliver.

The Basic Dice Mechanic of the game requires the player to roll 2D6 when they want to make
an Action. Roll the Action + the Identification Stat associated with it. A success is considered a
10+. A middling success is a 7-9. A failure is a 0-6.

A Cozy Den is intended to be played in only one session instead of many, but nothing's stopping
a group of people from playing until their cozy hearts are content.
Character Creation
Not all Lesbisnakes are communal, but these particular kinds below are. Decide together what
kinds of Lesbisnakes the group of players would like to be before gathering to play the game.
Each player will all have to be the same kind of Lesbisnake, so all players in a game would be
Rattlelesbisnakes, or all Garter Lesbisnakes, etc. Different lesbisnakes have different looks,
attitudes, and habitats. Are all the players:

Rattlelesbisnakes, Garter Lesbisnakes, Water Lesbisnakes, Ring Necked Lesbisnakes,

Copperhead Lesbisnakes

Rattlelesbisnakes
Look tough, keeled scales, live in mountains or deserts, huge variety of colors, fangs and
venom to subdue prey, rattles on end of tail

Garter Lesbisnakes
Small and cute, tend to live in gardens, huge variety of colors, very common, breeding balls

Water Lesbisnakes
Thicc, earthy colors, often confused for cottonmouths, live near water, swim a lot, climb trees
over water to sleep

Ring Necked Lesbisnakes

Very smol, colored ring around neck that matches belly, gorgeous bright colored belly,
secretive, nocturnal

Copperhead Lesbisnakes
Angery gold eyes, beautiful hershey kiss pattern, mostly brown and tan colors, venomous,
communally bask and den even with rattlesnakes and black rat snakes, eat cicadas around
trees together
R attlelesbisnakes
High Hard Soft Butch Stone
femme Femme Femme Futch Butch Butch

GarterL esbisnakes
High Hard Soft Butch Stone
femme Femme Femme Futch Butch Butch

WaterL esbisnakes
High Hard Soft Stone
femme Femme Femme Futch Butch Butch Butch

R ingN eckedL esbisnakes

High Hard Stone
Soft Butch
femme Femme Femme Futch Butch Butch

CopperheadL esbisnakes
High Hard Soft Butch Stone
femme Femme Femme Futch Butch Butch
Identification Stats
The Identification Stats on the Character Sheet are on a scale from High Femme to Stone
Butch. These represent a small glimpse into the scope of Lesbisnake gender performance and
identity, but are an easy way to represent the basics visually. The gender presentation is
represented in the colors and patterns of a Lesbisnake’s scales, but these colors are
approximate depending on how intensely the player feels about one identification or a
combination of a few. Players can pick whatever they feel is right for their character, there are
no wrong answers or strict definitions.

High Femme​ - Lipstick, heels, dresses, glamorous, very girly to the extreme
Femme​ - traditionally feminine, long hair, skirts, soft, makeup
Hard Femme​ - tougher aesthetic, leather leggings, spiky hair, closer to genderfluid
Futch​ - a combination both butch and femme aesthetics
Soft Butch​ - chapstick, some masculine stuff, might dress masculine but act more feminine
Butch​ - traditionally masculine, button down boy shirts, pant belts, pocket wallets, guy shoes
Stone Butch​ - most masculine, might pass as a man, lumberjack, hipster, gangsta, etc

Once players choose where their character falls in this spectrum, they’ll have assigned the main
stats that they’ll roll in the game. Every Action taken is based on these identification choices.
This reflects how gender performance and concepts affect everything Lesbisnakes do in their
lives, no matter how small.

Looks
While the Identification Stats help to determine where on the gender identification spectrum a
Lesbisnake might fall, it doesn’t determine their style, race, or hair. Lesbisnakes are a variety of
styles, from keeping up with the latest human lesbian fashions to being completely fashion
unconscious. They also have various skin colors and proportions, although human cultures are
a curiosity to them sometimes.

Lesbisnakes may also use different kinds of pronouns depending on how they identify, so they
aren’t limited to she/her pronouns and also use they, zir, and other trans and cis identifiers
(although he/him pronouns are rare). Hairstyles have long been an identifier for different human
lesbian styles, and Lesbisnakes are no exception, wearing side shaves, pixies, and long locks to
convey their identity to other Lesbisnakes.
Memory from Outside
This section on the character sheet is to provide a little background flavor for the Lesbisnake.
Think of where this Lesbisnake would’ve been in her travels in the wild, and what might’ve stood
out to her. Players can then refer to this as a talking point in scenes with other Lesbisnakes, or
give a hint to what that character might care about the most.

Some examples:
- A great walnut tree that a batch of cicadas hatched from below
- The warmest rock I’ve ever basked on
- A Rattlelesbisnake den with five babies all nestled within
- A summer Lesbisnake festival with live folk music
- Slithering off a gorgeous waterfall into a lake

Projects
Projects, like Memories from Outside, are to provide a roleplaying aid to players when they’re in
scenes. What are they passively doing in the Den as time passes in between Actions? What
would they like to accomplish before winter is over?

Some Examples:
- Planning my adventures for the rest of the year
- Knitting a Lesbisnake sweater to keep snake tails warm
- Reading the books I’ve been putting off
- Organizing all of my pictures from the rest of the year
- Painting a few landscapes
Personality
A Lesbisnake’s personality is complex. Her personality has both positive and negative aspects.
Both sides could compel her behavior.

On each character sheet is a Personality chart. This is an abstract representation of

complexities. At the beginning of the game, assign each Personality trait a number on a scale of
1-11, but the two numbers added together must equal 12. The numbers assigned will
correspond to each side of that personality trait. So for example:

Platonic ----6-----|-----6----- Lustful

OR
Platonic -----11----|-----1----- Lustful

A character with a 6 and a 6 will feel equally platonic and lustful toward people, but a character
with an 11 and a 1 will feel way more platonic than lustful toward most people.

On any Action there is the option to roll on the Personality chart for a potential +1 bonus to the
roll. It's a big chance because if the Personality roll is failed, it's a -1 instead.
Players choose which personality trait they feel is being reflected in the Action their Lesbisnake
is taking. In the example above, they’d choose either Platonic or Lustful.

A success is rolling over the number, a failure is rolling under the number.

Assigning Identification Stats to Actions

When a player wants to take an Action, they roll on the identification stat spectrum. Players will
assign a different Identification stat to each Action on their Action sheet. So, whenever that
player takes that Action, they roll the corresponding Identification stat that they’ve assigned. All
seven Stats must be assigned to all seven Actions, so that each Stat is used, even if the player
has a zero rating in it. Every player might have a different Identification Stat assigned to a
different Action depending on how their character might perceive that action within their
definitions of gender identity. Again… there are no wrong answers! If wrestling feels femme go
for it. Once these are assigned they are immutable.

An Example Action Sheet:

- Arrange the Den: High Femme
- Bask: Femme
- Nap: Soft Butch
- Be Social: Butch
- Wrestle: Stone Butch
- Hunt: Futch
- Cuddle: Hard Femme

When a player takes a Be Social action, in this example, they would take it “Butchly” and roll
their Butch stat.

Mutable Identity
ONCE PER GAME players may take one Feelings Damage to move an action one spot to the
left or right of their assigned Identity Stat. This must be decided before the roll is made.

Actions
All the things that the Lesbisnakes do within the Den over the winter are listed on the Actions
sheets. These are the main Actions that Lesbisnakes can do. Of course, they do other things,
but these are the ones that the game’s story focuses on. They’re also especially relevant
because they involve rolling dice, which means there are various consequences to these
actions. Try to guide roleplay toward doing these seven Actions and telling the story of
Lesbisnakes in their winter Den will be very fluid. Successful Actions give back points to the
Den, but failures threaten the Den.

Feelings
Every Lesbisnake character sheet has a Feelings HP (feelings hit points) tracker. This is to
abstractly represent a Lesbisnake’s emotional bandwith. Each Lesbisnake can only have their
feelings hurt five times before needing healing. Various Actions and Threat Cards can cause
someone’s feelings to be hurt. Be sure to keep track of where each Lesbisnake’s Feelings HP is
during play.

Healing
In order to heal feelings, have one character engage another character who's had their feelings
hurt. Listen to what the hurt character has to say about it and validate them. One point is healed
per listen.

Threat Cards
Threat Cards represent the threats to the Den’s Coziness! They can be internal or external
threats. Shuffle the cut out Threat Cards and put them face down on the table so everyone can
reach them. Draw a Threat Card when a player rolls a 6 or under when taking an action.

Every Threat Card has a description, consequences, and a need.

The description is narrative, it’s what’s happening when the Threat Card is drawn. It most likely
has nothing to do with the failed roll, and will interrupt the scene that’s been naturally occuring.

The consequences are the mechanical things that happen as a result of this threat. Often
characters feelings are hurt, or the Den takes damage. Dmg = damage.

The need is a way to then narratively engage with this threat. What do the characters then do in
order to deal with what just happened? It’s a way for players to continue to tell the story after the
threat has happened. Roleplay and roll Actions as usual.
Game Play
Here are the steps a group can take to play A Cozy Den. They start before everyone gets
together, and then go in chronological order. Follow these steps when beginning to play!

Before Play
1. Chose the type of Lesbisnakes you’re going to be before you get together
2. Encourage everyone to bring something cozy to the game: a mug, some tea, a warm
sweater, some soothing tunes

When sitting together and ready to play

1. Do character creation - follow instructions on character sheets, refer to rules book if
needed.
2. Create the den that you’re in, describe where it is and what it looks like. Use the Den
sheet! It has instructions on how to create the Den.
How to create scenes
1. Description of character and brief roleplay

Go around the table and ask people to read the things they’ve circled on their character
sheet. Also describe their snake scale patterns, clothing style and hair, pronouns, and
read the highest numbers on their Personality Chart.

Have a brief intro scene for each character and what they’re doing in the den when they
wake up in the morning.

2. One player asks another player: “What does [your character’s name] need right now?”

Then, the player whose character was asked rolls 2d6 on the chart of needs. The needs
chart helps frame scenes and spotlight that character.

Needs Chart
2- comfort
3- touch
4- quality time
5- food
6- a gift
7- listening to
8- a favor
9- distraction
10- more company
11- sex
12- compliments

Once the need is established, the player who rolled decides how they ask for it. The other
player can determine how they go about meeting that need. Roleplay, then roll when an Action
arises from this need.

Freeform continued play

After it’s been used a few times, players can then decide to use the needs chart whenever
they’re not sure what to do next in the fiction of the game. When not using the needs chart,
choose whichever Actions the roleplay dictates. Frame scenes sequentially from Action to
Action, or skip to the afternoon or evening, or even a few days later.

NPCs?
There aren’t really NPCs (non-player characters) in this game, although there are a few NPCs
that might pop up from the Threat Cards. If ever an NPC is needed, anyone can decide to play
that NPC and speak as them to the player who needs it.
Ending the game
The game ends when 2-4 hours are up, or people feel like they’re done playing. Take a look at
the Den sheet. How Cozy did the Den end up being after all? If the Den Cozy Points ended on a
0-6, the Den was not Cozy, and full of a bit too much strife. On a 7-9 it was mostly Cozy, but
there were some issues. On a 10+, it was as Cozy as could be.

Do an Epilogue for each character! Have each player say a sentence or two about how the
winter ended for them, who they stayed with, and where they went once Spring returned and
they left the Den.

Inspirational Music
The XX
Tegan and Sara
Solange
Abra
Sade
Chromatics
Carly Rae Jepsen
Halsey
Gia
Phantogram
Charli XCX
Luscious Jackson
Indigo Girls