A PayVia Lab game
The Gray Ledger
Morvain is a port city the fog never quite leaves. You arrive with a ledger under your arm and forty coins in your boot. Climb the nine Sequences from Candle-bearing Novice to Master of the Gray Ledger — fund your potions with the business you build, trade at the Bazaar, and mind the things that whisper from Undertown. Your journey is saved to your PayVia account.
Rankings of Morvain
| 1 | 📒 Mama | Seq 9 | 49 🪙 |
Field Guide — how to play
What is The Gray Ledger?
A persistent strategy game set in the fog-shrouded port city of Morvain. You start as an ordinary newcomer and climb nine Sequences to become a Beyonder — funded by the business you build. Everything is saved to your PayVia account, so you can continue on any device.
How do I climb the Sequences?
Brew potions. Each potion needs three specific ingredients (found on expeditions), a pile of coins, and enough “acts” (🎭). Every sale at the Bazaar and every shop collection counts as acting your role. Advancing raises your stamina cap and your shop level cap.
How do expeditions and stamina work?
Each district visit costs 1 stamina (⚡). Stamina returns on its own — one point every 6 minutes, faster during the Galeblow. Districts differ: the Cathedral Ward is safe, Undertown is dangerous but rich, the Night Market trades in rare things.
How does my business earn money?
Buy a shop — Apothecary (steady), Curio Shop (collectors sometimes pay in rare ingredients) or Courier Post (+2 max stamina). It earns coins every hour, even while you are away. Collect anytime; expect surprises: festival booms, Church audits, and on Tithe Week, both at once.
How do the Bazaar and player stalls work?
The NPC market buys and sells at prices that change every day. Below it, player stalls let you trade directly with other players at any price — list up to 5 lots of anything you own, including Sealed Artifacts, and withdraw unsold lots anytime.
How do duels work?
Challenge anyone from the Rankings board, or share your QR so friends can challenge you. Over 3 rounds each side secretly commits Strike (heavy hit), Guard (−60% damage and counter) or Focus (+6 HP, next strike ×1.75). The winner loots coins and one random ingredient from the loser. Ignore a duel for 24 hours and you forfeit.
What do the three Pathways do?
Path of the Ledger (📒): +15% sell prices, +20% shop income. Path of the Blade (🗡️): half damage from dangers, +2 max stamina, harder Strikes in duels. Path of the Veil (🌫️): double luck on rare finds and artifacts, plus a chance to dodge in duels.
What are world events?
Morvain wakes under a different sky each day. Blood Moon doubles rare finds, Tithe Week boosts shop income but invites audits, the Galeblow doubles stamina regen. The banner at the top of the game tells you tonight’s omen.
What is a Sealed Artifact?
A box that should not be opened — the rarest find in the city. You cannot use it, but the Bazaar pays around 150 coins for one, and other players may pay more. Careful: duel winners can loot it straight out of your inventory.
The City of Morvain
Spend 1 stamina to explore a district. What the fog gives is never guaranteed.
Click a district to send yourself into the fog. Wisps mark where other Beyonders walked in the last quarter hour.
Your Business
The Bazaar
Prices shift with the tides of trade — new every day. Below: stalls run by other players.
Player stalls
Open your own stall
Next Potion
The Letter
A water-stained letter lists trials left for you by someone who signed only “A Friend”.
Duels
Friends can scan this to challenge you. Or duel someone from the Rankings board →
Rankings of Morvain
Journal
Field Guide
What is The Gray Ledger?
A persistent strategy game set in the fog-shrouded port city of Morvain. You start as an ordinary newcomer and climb nine Sequences to become a Beyonder — funded by the business you build. Everything is saved to your PayVia account, so you can continue on any device.
How do I climb the Sequences?
Brew potions. Each potion needs three specific ingredients (found on expeditions), a pile of coins, and enough “acts” (🎭). Every sale at the Bazaar and every shop collection counts as acting your role. Advancing raises your stamina cap and your shop level cap.
How do expeditions and stamina work?
Each district visit costs 1 stamina (⚡). Stamina returns on its own — one point every 6 minutes, faster during the Galeblow. Districts differ: the Cathedral Ward is safe, Undertown is dangerous but rich, the Night Market trades in rare things.
How does my business earn money?
Buy a shop — Apothecary (steady), Curio Shop (collectors sometimes pay in rare ingredients) or Courier Post (+2 max stamina). It earns coins every hour, even while you are away. Collect anytime; expect surprises: festival booms, Church audits, and on Tithe Week, both at once.
How do the Bazaar and player stalls work?
The NPC market buys and sells at prices that change every day. Below it, player stalls let you trade directly with other players at any price — list up to 5 lots of anything you own, including Sealed Artifacts, and withdraw unsold lots anytime.
How do duels work?
Challenge anyone from the Rankings board, or share your QR so friends can challenge you. Over 3 rounds each side secretly commits Strike (heavy hit), Guard (−60% damage and counter) or Focus (+6 HP, next strike ×1.75). The winner loots coins and one random ingredient from the loser. Ignore a duel for 24 hours and you forfeit.
What do the three Pathways do?
Path of the Ledger (📒): +15% sell prices, +20% shop income. Path of the Blade (🗡️): half damage from dangers, +2 max stamina, harder Strikes in duels. Path of the Veil (🌫️): double luck on rare finds and artifacts, plus a chance to dodge in duels.
What are world events?
Morvain wakes under a different sky each day. Blood Moon doubles rare finds, Tithe Week boosts shop income but invites audits, the Galeblow doubles stamina regen. The banner at the top of the game tells you tonight’s omen.
What is a Sealed Artifact?
A box that should not be opened — the rarest find in the city. You cannot use it, but the Bazaar pays around 150 coins for one, and other players may pay more. Careful: duel winners can loot it straight out of your inventory.
⚔️
An original homage to Victorian-cosmic fantasy. Fan-made, non-commercial, saved to your PayVia account.