Death

At one point or another, every character gets overwhelmed by the perils of adventuring. Whether or not this means the end of your character's life depends upon several factors. Here is the process that determines your character's fate.

Dying

A character whose health has been reduced to zero is dying. The character must fall to the ground (or take a knee, for safety and/or costume damage reasons). The character cannot move, speak, take actions of any kind, or perceive his or her surroundings. If the character has not received outside assistance after one minute, the character dies.

Death

A dead character remains in play for five minutes. The character is now beyond conventional means of resuscitation; only a Revive effect will restore the character to life. If the dead character has not been revived after five minutes, his or her body dissipates.

Dissipation

Equipment on a dissipated character may or may not dissipate along with that character. If the item in question has been in the character's possession for 20 days or more, or is contained within another item that has (e.g., a sheath or a bag), the item dissipates, and may subsequently reappear, along with the owner. Note that any item, even an item that has been in the character's possession for 20 days or more, will not dissipate if it is forcibly removed from his or her body beforehand.

Deck of Many Deaths

A dissipated character must go out of play and find a marshal. He or she must then draw a card from the Deck of Many Deaths. The Deck of Many Deaths is a tarot deck containing cards of the major arcana, each of which determines a different outcome from the character's untimely demise.

• The Fool - You are doomed to waste your time in foolishness, struggling to start anew. For the remainder of this event, your actions take twice as long to refresh. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Magician - Magical elixirs become nothing more than snake oil to you. For the remainder of this event, you cannot benefit from consumables. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The High Priestess - A secret you’ve learned is now forgotten. Choose one of the actions you currently have prepared. You can no longer prepare that action for the remainder of the event.
• The Empress - Your armor no longer protects you from harm. For the remainder of the event, you cannot benefit from armor or material points. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Emperor - Death demands its due. Immediately lose gold, valuables, and resources worth five gold per character level.
• The Hierophant - The gifts of your unclean blood will not be tolerated. For the remainder of the event, you cannot use any racial actions. Human characters are unaffected. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Lovers - Your hands refuse to fight as one. For the remainder of the event, you cannot use a shield, weapon, or other attack in your off hand. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Chariot - You lack the direction and drive to achieve victory. One of your legs is Maimed for the remainder of the event. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• Justice - No justice will come to the one who slew you. You lose all memory surrounding the circumstances of your death.
• The Hermit - Even in a crowd, you stand alone, isolated from the world. For the remainder of the event, you cannot be affected by beneficial Burst or Vicinity effects. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• Wheel of Fortune - The cycle of misfortune repeats without reprieve. Draw two more cards.
• Strength - You lack the strength to face your foes. One of your arms is Maimed for the remainder of the event. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Hanged Man - You lack the will to make necessary sacrifices for the greater good. For the remainder of the event, you cannot use consumables on others. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• Death - Age and entropy take their toll on your wearied soul. You lose one skill point per character level. This skill point loss occurs after the game before skill points are awarded and can reduce your character and class level. Skills and actions are not lost, but may become temporarily unavailable as a result of level loss. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• Temperance - Your greatest artifice goes awry. For the remainder of the event, your most valuable piece of equipment loses all of its properties.
• The Devil - You are not tempted by fleeting earthly rewards. For the remainder of the event, you draw half as many adventure rewards (rounded up). Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Tower - Lies and corruption gather about your name. A slanderous new rumor about your character will soon spread.
• The Star - A star of ill omen shines down upon you. For the remainder of the event, your health is halved (rounded up). Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Moon - The moon holds sway, engendering lunacy in your mind. For the remainder of the event, you cannot counter mental compulsions. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The Sun - Where once there was enlightenment, now there is ignorance. Choose one of your skills that isn’t a trade skill. You lose all of the benefits of that skill for the remainder of the event.
• Judgment - The mistakes of the past are your burdens to bear. For the remainder of the event, you are unable to refocus your actions. Draw a new card if you have already drawn this card this event.
• The World - You find yourself listless and unmoved by the turning of the world. You lose one week of downtime.