Re: [DL] 5 Deck of Cards

[Jay Rutley <jay.rutley@sympatico.ca>]

Ghoull@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 1/11/00 10:53:37 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> ceesrw@yahoo.com writes:
>
> << I'd think even the dumbest player would figure out there's something wrong
> there. >>
>
>      Of course they'll realize that something very strange is going on, but
> they might not bother to fully investigate it at first, especially since it
> has no immediate detriment to them and the odds are they'll be occupied with
> more pressing matters. Sure, having wacky obelisks pop up when you draw a
> joker is weird, but it's a pleasant change from having your head explode.

    I think that have obelisks appear out of the earth might be a bit to over the
top. When weird stuff happens, posses investigate. That said, I like the basic
premise and here's my suggestion (but I'm no Ghoul [more of a Ghast! ;)] ).

    1    When an obelisk card is used the picture on it vanishes. You could
either have the card no longer count if you are using a prop deck (take out the 5
for instance), or allow it to still count but as either a wild card or even as
normal (just have the outline glow or something).

    2    Either on its own or in conjunction with no 1 above, the symbol of the
obelisk is tatooed on the hucksters skin or items. At first it should be in out
of the way places like his lower back, or embroidered on the corner of his hanky,
but get more noticable the more often it is used.

    The deal you ask, why...

    A student of Hoyle's Art <INSERT NAME HERE> found a loophole in the "rules of
engagement" when battling manitous. Since one can cheat in a regular game of
poker, why not when fighting a demon too? After much rigorous mental preparation
he trained himself to recieve an extra suit of cards when fighting in the Hunting
Grounds. This suit was of course the Monolith (which he had seen somewhere).
    Eventually, all cheats get caught. The manitous found out and in a rare
instance of co-operation they bound him inside a deck of cards, to which they
added his cheating suit as a final barb. Every time a huckster uses the Monolith
suit to aid their hex-slinging it weakens the wards the demons placed on the deck
and the cheating huckster gains a little more freedom. Treat the character as a
Harrowed with the cheater trying to take over, his Spriti is 3d8.
    Whenever the monolith comes up, the cheat gains one point of Dominion
automatically and triggers a Dominion check.
    If the Cheat ever gains dominion he tries to use the deck as much as
possible. Gaining total dominion means that he is free from his prison. What
happens next is up to the Marshall. He could leave the character and leave the
deck as worthless, continue possessing the character and become a mad villain
seeking to destroy the Hunting Ground, or even warp in a Custom Manitou.
    Hope you like the ideas!

    Jay "Whew!" Rutley