The Papyrus Pauper
An Introductory Adventure
This introductory adventure is meant for a table of levels 1-4. Throughout, you will be exposed to myriad elements of The Realm: the Carnival City, the deific Jokers, monsters, the occult, artifacts of legend, and a taste of what it means to be an adventurous Cardian of The Realm.
Welcome to Deck of Adventures
This is the official introductory adventure for new players and GMs. It teaches core mechanics through carnival games before transitioning into real combat. Perfect for a first session!
This introductory adventure is meant for a table of levels 1-4. Throughout, you will be exposed to myriad elements of The Realm: the Carnival City, the deific Jokers, monsters, the occult, artifacts of legend, 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
Sessions
"Taking the perspective of the black, ink eye of a paper eagle, you see a raucous carnival come alive in neon. A Metallia Wheel made of hard plastic and metal is bathed in reds and yellows, you see Newsy Pulper, a young Cardian boy of woodpulp paper with an ink hat playing can toss with a metal ball and plastic cans. Kami Fold, a slender origami Cardian aims true and wins the Ink Race under green and black ink neon lights. You hear the popping of paper-mâché balloons as an elderly woman, Enka Border, throws metal darts. The eagle lands, its steel talons curled as it's perched atop a row of string lights, the denizens of Carnival City below. Who does it see?"
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
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 the ticket machine partially sticking out of its amorphous body and start making its way to the large grate the Minions came out of.
Protect the Machine
Give the Bibulous a TC to start Round Three. If a player attempts to target the ticket machine, 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 Escape
The Bibulous will make its priority to escape with the machine. If the players take the machine out of its body, it will risk its life to get it back.
The Bibulous is destroyed. The ticket machine is saved, and the grateful carnival workers offer the party free games for a week.
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.
Sessions 2 & 3 Coming Soon
The Papyrus Peaks Mining Company awaits...
Running This Adventure
Pacing: The carnival games can be as quick or detailed as your table prefers. Some groups love the roleplay opportunities, others want to get to combat quickly.
The Jokers: Play them as genuinely otherworldly. They're not quest givers—they're gods who find mortals amusing. Their power should feel incomprehensible.
Leveling: Players level from 1 to 2 during the attack. This is intentional—have them feel their newfound power as the tickets activate.