Carnival City Intro
An Introductory One Shot Adventure
This introductory adventure is meant for a table of levels 1-2. Throughout, you will be exposed to myriad elements of The Realm; the Carnival City, the deific Jokers, monsters, the occult, and a taste of what it means to be an adventurous Cardian of The Realm.
Welcome to Deck of Adventures
[NEEDS CONTENT: Short callout description for the top of the adventure page]
This introductory adventure is meant for a table of levels 1-2. Throughout, you will be exposed to myriad elements of The Realm; the Carnival City, the deific Jokers, monsters, the occult, and a taste of what it means to be an adventurous Cardian of The Realm.
Key NPCs
Paper, Plastic, Metal and Ink · Age Unknown
Paper, Plastic, Metal and Ink · Age Unknown
Plastic and Metal · Age 82
Featured Creatures
Tutorial encounter
Sessions
"Welcome to the Realm, a mysterious and magical world that fits within a deck of ordinary playing cards. As your hand touches the deck, sparks of magical energy fly off of it, and together we peer in. Within the Realm are beings made of the primordial materials of playing cards — Paper, Plastic, Metal, and Ink — collectively known as Cardians. The land is ruled by the Black Joker and the Red Joker, two deities who control the magic of the Realm from the central Carnival City. Around the Realm are four main regions that spoke out from Carnival City based on the four suits. To the north are the Spades Peaks, a mountain range that has metal and plastic mountains where rare metals and paper are mined. To the east are the Clubs Plains, a rugged savannah of mostly untamed wilderness. To the south are the Hearts Forests, natural groves of paper trees and massive ink lakes. And to the west are the Diamonds Highlands, stormy plateaus where only the hardy and the quick can survive. As you settle into this world, you take the form of a Cardian, one who has not yet been assigned a Rank by the Jokers of the Realm. However, today you have received an invitation to a special Carnival the Jokers are hosting with the promise of receiving a Rank so you can participate in the great Adventures of the Realm. Do you accept? If so, meet them in Carnival City when the Ink Moon shines full."
Encounter Setup
After the players are familiarized with the rules of the game through the Carnival Games, commence the attack on the Ticket Booth when you feel it is appropriate.
"While you're enjoying all the games the carnival has to offer and making new friends, you hear screams and a wet slopping sound coming from inside the ticket booth. As you go to investigate the scene, creatures of ancient Papyrus and Ink emerge from grates beneath the city streets and begin viciously ripping tickets away from helpless Cardians and injuring many in the process. As the chaos ensues, your black and red neon ticket hums with energy in your pocket. You surge with energy and power, the Papyrus Minions sense it and move to attack you. Level up to two."
Creatures in This Encounter
Tutorial encounter
Combat Flow
Initial Assault
Four Papyrus Minions will attack the players with no retreat. If a player makes their way to the Ticket Booth, all Papyrus Minions will attack that player.
Four Papyrus Minions will attack the players with no retreat. If a player makes their way to the Ticket Booth, all Papyrus Minions will attack that player.
The Bibulous Emerges
At the end of the second round of combat, the Bibulous will come out of the Ticket Booth with Llama Piñata partially sticking out of its amorphous body and start making its way to the large grate the Minions came out of.
Protect Llama Piñata
Give the Bibulous a TC to start Round Three. If a player attempts to target the Llama Piñata, give that a separate TC with a fixed DR of 1. The Bibulous will only use its ranged attacks on players unless they move themselves within melee range of its absorption abilities. The Papyrus Minions make their priority defending the Bibulous and Llama Piñata.
The Escape
The Bibulous will make its priority to escape with Llama Piñata. If the players take Llama Piñata out of its body, it will risk its life to get it back.
[NEEDS CONTENT: What happens when the Bibulous is destroyed and Llama Piñata is saved]
If the Bibulous escapes, Enka Border will tell them not to pursue the monster, that they have prevented many lives from being lost and that the tickets aren't worth risking their own. During this interruption, the Jokers will arrive back on the scene to take over.
Either way, left on one of the Papyrus Minions is an old card for the Papyrus Peaks Mining Company, a now defunct and long abandoned mine just outside the City in the Spades Peaks.
Running This Adventure
[NEEDS CONTENT]: [NEEDS CONTENT: GM guidance tip #1]