Once we get everyone assembled, one of you will have the "honor" of being the latest Baron or Baroness Darkest, the latest Heir to the Darkest Deck, that particular and cursed Deck of Many Things.

Now, generally, the traditional way to resolve disputation claims regarding lineage is through pistols. Unfortunately, that is legally murder and therefore I am required by law to frown upon it here. Lawyers are the actual usual way, but they take too long for my tastes.

So, instead everyone who actually wants this position will call one draw from the deck, and receive reward/suffer consequences accordingly. Everyone who is still alive and playable will have the option of folding or drawing another. The Comet removes you from the contest if you take up the quest, The Key and The Sun remove you from the running as the fickle Deck decides you are now boring for its own reasons, The Moon also removes you if you ask for a magical item for the same reason, The Skull means you start the game at -1 HP and have whatever comes with that for you, but likely win the title of Darkest Heir unless someone else also drew The Skull, as the Deck thinks you are really hardcore about this.

Unfortunately, drawing the Skull prevents further draws unless you have Diehard or something like that, because, you know, dying. Which means no one will continue if they draw the Skull, because who takes Diehard, right?

Being an elf, gnome, fey, having Use Magic Device at +5 or more, or speaking Sylvan and having Bluff +5 or more can also allow you to have an edge in the debate, and allow you to pass up one draw for purposes of becoming the Darkest Heir. Being Neutral in regards to Good and Evil also let you bypass a draw. These stack, meaning that the yuppie elf does not need to draw the first two times to have a hat in the ring of being the Darkest Heir, meaning that someone has to draw the Skull just to tie with you.

If no one wants it, The Darkest Deck will look for those mentioned above first and give them the title whether they want it or not. If no one meets it, or ties have occurred, the Deck will "helpfully" deal cards out on the behalf of all worthy candidates, and then pick based off that. If all are equally tied, the tie will eventually break in the face of continued readings, as the fickle Deck eventually decides one of you is "clearly" the Heir.

The Darkest Heir will likely have great power in manipulating the Darkest Deck, should they choose to use it, and should they survive initial contact with the Deck. The Darkest Deck has a disposition score, and it can be influenced. It is, however, fickle, alien, clingy, and extremely difficult to destroy.

If those reading this feel overwhelmed, know that this is more complicated to explain then to do. You'll see once we get there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:59, Mon 14 Dec 2020.