Game of Non-Skill

Description

Without water balloon

You wander into a brightly coloured tent expecting to find yet another example of the awesome "talent" this sideshow is renowned for. Strangely, the interior of the tent is dimly lit and almost empty, except for a creepy-looking guy. He's dressed as a carnie, but for some reason he's wearing a surgical mask and cap, and although he's clearly brandishing a roll of prize tickets, there seems to be something behind his back. Something shiny and, well, sharp-looking.

He approaches you, holding out the tickets. "Congratulations!" he says, "You win! Not in a saucy kind of way, but you still totally win!"

This guy is really quite unnerving, and you start backing away slowly. "So, what game did I just win exactly?" you ask.

A sly smile crosses the carnie's face. "Why, the one where you walk in and I give you tickets. Not many people have that kind of innate talent, I tell you!" Well that explains everything.

"So, you mean I just get to keep all these? For nothing?"

"Of course," he says, moving even closer, "It's perfectly normal. Nothing to worry about."

This situation is starting to become just about as shady as the tent itself. No really. The tent is filling up with gas and everything is getting dark...

Some time later, you have no idea how long, you wake up only to discover that you are 20 prize tickets richer and exactly one kidney poorer. Sucker. It'll grow back, but you might want to take it easy for a while.

With Water balloon

You wander into a brightly coloured tent expecting to find yet another example of the awesome "talent" this sideshow is renowned for. Strangely, the interior of the tent is dimly lit and almost empty, except for a creepy-looking guy. He's dressed as a carnie, but for some reason he's wearing a surgical mask and cap, and although he's clearly brandishing a roll of prize tickets, there seems to be something behind his back. Something shiny and, well, sharp-looking.

He approaches you, holding out the tickets. "Congratulations!" he says, "You win! Not in a saucy kind of way, but you still totally win!"

This guy is really quite unnerving, and you start backing away slowly. "So, what game did I just win exactly?" you ask.

A sly smile crosses the carnie's face. "Why, the one where you walk in and I give you tickets. Not many people have that kind of innate talent, I tell you!" Well that explains everything.

"So, you mean I just get to keep all these? For nothing?"

"Of course," he says, moving even closer, "It's perfectly normal. Nothing to worry about."

This situation is starting to become just about as shady as the tent itself. No really. The tent is filling up with gas and everything is getting dark...

Some time later, you have no idea how long, you wake up only to discover that you are 20 prize tickets richer and...that's it. Seems like something is missing, though. A chunk of your existence, maybe?

Location(s)

• Second-hand Sideshow

Rewards

• You acquire 20 prize tickets
• You acquire an effect: Missing Kidney (5 turns)

Notes

If you have a water balloon in your inventory, this adventure will take that, rather than your kidney.

References

• The entire encounter references the American urban legend in which a rumor began circulating via email to the effect that a highly organized crime ring in New Orleans was carrying out plans to drug visitors, surgically remove organs from their bodies, and sell the organs on the black market.