One Dollar One Shots Studio

Choose one option from each column to lock the direction.

Locked Concept

Adventure Style / Structure: Clock-based pressure adventure

Main Quest Premise: The party infiltrates a floating carnival to steal a stolen town charter before the midnight parade launches it into the sky.

Antagonist: A flamboyant ringmaster who has enchanted the rides to trap intruders

This concept is now locked as the creative direction for the one-shot. The next stage is Build Adventure Skeleton.

---

Adventure Skeleton

Title Candidates

1. Midnight at the Skyfair 2. The Charter of a Thousand Laughs 3. Ride the Riot to Midnight 4. The Floating Fair’s Final Act 5. Ticket to the Upper Air

One-Sentence Pitch

A clever crew of heroes infiltrates a floating carnival, outruns a midnight launch clock, and steals back a town charter before a vainglorious ringmaster can sail the whole show into the sky.

Adventure Promise

This adventure delivers sneaking, bluffing, bargaining, and bold action through an airborne carnival where every attraction hides a trap, a clue, or a shortcut to the stolen charter. The countdown to the midnight parade is always advancing, and if the heroes fail to recover the document in time, the carnival lifts away with both the charter and the town’s legal future. The fun comes from cheeky carnival chaos, daring stunts, heroic improvisation, and a theatrical villain whose spectacle is as dangerous as his magic.

---

Page-by-Page Packet Plan

Page 1: Cover Needs and Tagline

Section title: Cover / Adventure Hook Snapshot Word-count target: 50–80 words total, plus title and credits

Content blocks: - Adventure title - Subtitle/tagline - Level range and party size - Tone blurb - 1–2 sentence pitch - Small rules callout for the clock-based structure

Art placement: - Full-page cover art: a glowing floating carnival above rooftops or clouds, with a ringmaster silhouette and a dangling charter seal visible somewhere in the composition. - Small inset logo/badge for the One Dollar One Shots line.

Map placement: - None on page 1.

Player-facing purpose: - Immediately communicates mood, stakes, and high-concept fantasy.

DM-facing purpose: - Sets expectations and signals that time pressure is central.

---

Page 2: Starting the Adventure, Quest Hook, Important Characters

Section title: Arrival at the Floating Carnival Word-count target: 350–450 words

Content blocks: - Opening scene and hook options - How the party learns the charter is inside the carnival - How the midnight parade clock works - Brief introduction of the three core NPCs - A short “what changes if the party hesitates” note

Art placement: - Small half-page illustration of the carnival’s entrance platform, ticket booths, or a balloon-lifted fairground gate. - Portrait strip or icon boxes for the three NPCs.

Map placement: - Small locator sketch or abstract diagram of the carnival district layout.

Player-facing purpose: - Gives a clear inciting incident and a reason to act now.

DM-facing purpose: - Provides the essential starting information and first pressure beat.

---

Page 3: Key Locations, Secrets and Clues, Major Obstacles

Section title: Inside the Carnival Word-count target: 450–550 words

Content blocks: - 3–4 key locations within the carnival - What each location looks like and what it hides - Secrets, shortcuts, and clue trails leading toward the charter - Major obstacles: enchanted rides, misleading attractions, patrols, locked service routes

Art placement: - One interior carnival scene illustration showing a distorted midway, moving ride, or magical funhouse corridor.

Map placement: - Primary adventure-site battlemat: a modular carnival-midway or attraction cluster. - Optional inset of a ride/chase route if space allows.

Player-facing purpose: - Presents the adventure space and makes exploration feel lively and dangerous.

DM-facing purpose: - Gives the structural backbone for navigation, pacing, and clue delivery.

---

Page 4: Encounters, Puzzle/Social Challenge, Treasure/Rewards

Section title: Games, Riddles, and Trouble Word-count target: 450–550 words

Content blocks: - 2–3 encounter seeds - One social or puzzle challenge tied to carnival attractions - One combat set piece - Treasure and reward ideas, including the charter and secondary prizes - Optional complication that escalates the clock or alert level

Art placement: - Spot art for one ride or attraction with a hidden threat.

Map placement: - Secondary battlemat: a ride chamber, funhouse, parade platform, or backstage loading zone.

Player-facing purpose: - Gives the best action and character moments before the finale.

DM-facing purpose: - Supplies the core encounter toolkit and reward structure.

---

Page 5: Final Confrontation, Scaling Notes, Conclusion

Section title: The Midnight Parade Word-count target: 500–650 words

Content blocks: - Final confrontation location and villain behavior notes - Clock resolution and how the parade launch changes the battlefield - Scaling guidance for level 2, 3, and 4 parties - Success, partial success, and failure outcomes - Closing image and adventure epilogue prompts

Art placement: - Dramatic full- or half-page showdown art: ringmaster atop a floating parade platform, carnival lights surging, heroes in motion.

Map placement: - Final boss battlemat: parade dais, ride-control rig, or launch platform.

Player-facing purpose: - Delivers the climax and final rush against the clock.

DM-facing purpose: - Provides the endpoint, difficulty adjustments, and clean wrap-up logic.

---

Three Core NPCs

1. Mira Quill

- Role: Quest giver / information hub - Personality at table: Nervy, brisk, earnest, with a dry sense of humor - What they know: The town charter was sold to the carnival and is being held somewhere near the parade machinery; the midnight launch is real, not bluff - What they want: The charter recovered before the town becomes legally “unmoored” and is claimed by the ringmaster’s contract magic - Useful quote: “If that document leaves on the parade, we don’t just lose paper—we lose the right to keep our feet on the ground.”

2. Fizzle Threadwhistle

- Role: Gatekeeper to information and access - Personality at table: Smarmy, eager to gossip, easily bribed, oddly proud of their job - What they know: Which attractions are safe, which are rigged, and which employees know the backstage routes - What they want: A better assignment, a signed favor, or a chance to embarrass the ringmaster without being caught - Useful quote: “A proper carnival has rules. This one has traps pretending to be rules.”

3. Bramble the Balloon-Smith

- Role: Minor ally / respite NPC / battle helper - Personality at table: Warm, practical, grease-streaked, and fearless under pressure - What they know: How the carnival’s lift-lines work, where the service catwalks go, and which ride mechanism can be reversed - What they want: The party to keep the carnival from taking innocent folk along for the ride - Useful quote: “I can patch a valve or a wound, but I’d rather patch your plan.”

---

Scene Flow

1. Hook at the fair edge: The party arrives as the carnival hums overhead and learns the charter is hidden inside. 2. Clock starts ticking: The midnight parade schedule is explained; each delay advances the launch state. 3. Choose a route in: Social entry, stealth entry, or bold interruption at the ticket gate. 4. First attractions and clues: The party navigates a ride or game that reveals the backstage route and the ringmaster’s reach. 5. Escalation: An alarm, patrol, or ride-attack forces a decision between speed and safety. 6. Backstage push: The party reaches the control spaces, where the charter’s location becomes clear. 7. Final ascent: The ringmaster attempts the parade launch; the battlefield shifts as the carnival begins to rise. 8. Resolution: The charter is recovered, the carnival is stopped or redirected, and the town’s fate is secured.

---

Key Locations

1. Main Quest Hub / Cover Image Location: The Rooftop Fairground Edge

A lantern-lit rooftop or platform where the floating carnival docks above the town. It’s the best place for first contact, visual drama, and a strong cover image.

2. Primary Adventure Site: The Midway of Whirling Delights

The heart of the carnival: rides, game stalls, snack carts, a funhouse lane, and hidden service corridors. This area is ideal for clue-scattering, chase movement, and mixed social/exploration scenes.

3. Antagonist Domain: The Parade Rig and Ringmaster’s Loft

A backstage command space above or behind the midway where ride controls, parade floats, and the stolen charter are kept under magical lock and theatrical guard.

---

Encounter Skeleton

Combat Encounters

- Enchanted ride attendants or carnival guardians animated by the ringmaster’s magic - A moving-platform skirmish on a ride, catwalk, or float assembly - Final confrontation with the flamboyant ringmaster and his ride-charged defenses

Exploration / Puzzle Encounters

- A funhouse route where mirrors, false doors, and moving walls create a directional puzzle - A ride mechanism or ticketing system that must be manipulated to open a hidden route - A backstage controls challenge requiring the party to reverse, stall, or reroute the parade launch

Social Encounters

- Negotiating with a nervous employee or gatekeeper who knows too much - Convincing a suspicious performer to reveal a shortcut - Bluffing, bribing, or impressing the carnival staff to gain access before alarms spread

Optional Complication

- A rival group of opportunists, lost patrons, or enchanted performers becomes a moving obstacle that can be helped, ignored, or exploited for an advantage

---

Clue and Fail-Forward Structure

1. Ticket stub with a seal mark points toward the backstage route. 2. A carnival ledger shows the charter listed as “parade property.” 3. A performer gossip line reveals the ringmaster’s loft is above the control rig. 4. A broken ride piece contains a hidden key, token, or access rune. 5. A distracted attendant gives up a clue if questioned, bribed, or aided. 6. A mirrored funhouse panel reflects the correct route when viewed from the side. 7. A service corridor sign has been altered, but the original lettering can still be read. 8. Bramble’s knowledge lets the party bypass one obstacle without needing a full solution. 9. If the party fails a scene, the clock advances but they still learn the next route or gain a partial access token. 10. If the party triggers an alarm, guards converge, but the alarm also disables one locked path or reveals the villain’s location. 11. If they miss a major clue, the final confrontation still works because the charter is visible during the parade launch. 12. If the party loses time, they can trade a complication for a shortcut, favor, or dangerous ride entry.

---

Rewards and Treasure

- The town charter itself: the primary objective and narrative reward - Carnival tokens or prize slips that convert into modest gold, favors, or one-time benefits - A minor charm or consumable themed to the carnival, such as a lucky ribbon, popping confetti burst, or harmless illusion trinket - A practical utility reward like a backstage pass, key ring, or ride-control tool useful in later adventures - Milestone advancement or level-appropriate experience - Optional monetary treasure hidden in prize boxes, till drawers, or the ringmaster’s vault, scaled for levels 2–4

---

Asset Checklist

Needed Art and Maps

- 3 setting images 1. Floating carnival exterior / cover scene 2. Midway interior or funhouse scene 3. Final parade platform or ringmaster confrontation scene

- 2 battlemaps, gridded and gridless 1. Carnival midway / primary exploration-combat map 2. Parade rig / ringmaster lair / final boss arena map

- NPC / monster portraits - Mira Quill - Fizzle Threadwhistle - Bramble the Balloon-Smith - Ringmaster antagonist portrait

- VTT circular tokens - Party-relevant NPC tokens - Ringmaster token - Carnival guard / enchanted attraction tokens - Optional ride control or objective token for the charter

Ready for the next command: Write DM Packet. ---

DM Packet Draft

Adventure Overview

- Title recommendation: Midnight at the Skyfair - One-sentence pitch: A clever crew infiltrates a floating carnival, races a midnight launch clock, and steals back a town charter before a flamboyant ringmaster sails the whole show into the sky. - Recommended level and party size: Levels 2–4, party of 3–5 adventurers - Expected runtime: 3–4 hours - Core fantasy: Cheeky infiltration, carnival chaos, daring stunts, and heroic improvisation under pressure - Safety/tone note: Bright, high-energy, lightly absurd. The danger is real, but the vibe should stay playful and swashbuckling rather than grim.

---

Read-Aloud Opening

The night sky above town is wrong.

Not storm-wrong. Not omen-wrong. Worse: festive.

A carnival floats overhead on a tangle of lantern chains and rainbow balloons, its rides spinning in the dark like jeweled toys. Music drifts down in bursts—brassy, off-key, and far too cheerful for this hour. On a rooftop platform below, a nervous clerk in ink-stained sleeves clutches a case of papers to her chest and points upward with shaking hands.

“There,” she says. “That’s where they took it. The town charter. If the parade launches at midnight, they’ll claim the whole town by contract magic.”

Above, a spotlight sweeps the clouds. Somewhere in the floating midway, a voice magnified by enchantment laughs like a curtain being ripped in half.

---

Starting Hook

The party is approached by Mira Quill, a harried civic clerk whose town charter was stolen in a rigged “auction” and hidden aboard the floating carnival overhead. She explains that the charter is not just paperwork; it is the legal anchor that proves the town’s right to govern itself. If the charter leaves during the carnival’s midnight parade launch, the ringmaster’s contract magic will “unmoor” the town and force it into his ownership.

Mira needs the heroes to infiltrate the carnival, recover the charter, and stop the midnight launch.

Why it matters

- The charter is the town’s legal identity and land claim. - If the launch succeeds, the ringmaster can use the charter to bind the town into a magical contract. - Innocent townsfolk may be carried off if the carnival departs with its full parade load.

Clock-based pressure

Use a simple Midnight Parade Clock with 6 segments. Advance it: - by 1 segment after each major scene - by 1 segment whenever the party takes a long rest, causes a loud alarm, or spends significant time dithering - by 2 segments if they fail a key objective badly or make a lot of noise in the wrong place

At 6/6, the midnight parade launches. The final scene becomes airborne and more dangerous, but still playable. The party can still win if they reach the ringmaster and seize the charter mid-launch.

---

Important NPCs

Mira Quill

- Role: Quest giver / information hub - Personality: Nervy, brisk, earnest, dryly funny when stressed - What she wants: The charter back before midnight and the town saved from legal disaster - What she knows: The charter was sold to the carnival; the parade launch is real; someone on the inside knows the backstage route - How to roleplay her: She speaks fast, organizes everything in her hands when nervous, and apologizes while issuing orders - Dialogue lines: - “If that document leaves on the parade, we don’t just lose paper—we lose the right to keep our feet on the ground.” - “Please steal it legally, if that helps. I realize that sentence is nonsense.”

Fizzle Threadwhistle

- Role: Gatekeeper to information and access - Personality: Smarmy, chatty, easily bribed, proud of being “in the know” - What they want: A better job, a favor from someone important, or a chance to make the ringmaster look foolish - What they know: Which attractions are safe, which are rigged, and which staff members can be bought or bullied into helping - How to roleplay them: Never fully stops talking; always seems to be selling something; can be won over with flattery or a small bribe - Dialogue lines: - “A proper carnival has rules. This one has traps pretending to be rules.” - “You didn’t hear this from me, but the ‘ticket booth’ is also a surveillance post. Charming, isn’t it?”

Bramble the Balloon-Smith

- Role: Minor ally / respite NPC / practical helper - Personality: Warm, grease-streaked, practical, fearless under pressure - What they want: The carnival stopped from taking innocent people along for the ride - What they know: The lift-lines, service catwalks, and which ride mechanism can be reversed to stall the parade launch - How to roleplay them: Straightforward, quick with tools, more interested in solutions than speeches - Dialogue lines: - “I can patch a valve or a wound, but I’d rather patch your plan.” - “Follow the cables. Carnival folk hide everything in plain sight.”

Ringmaster Vaelor Vane

- Role: Antagonist - Personality: Flamboyant, theatrical, vain, sharply intelligent, cruel in a smiling way - What he wants: To launch the parade, claim the charter, and turn the town into a “subsidiary attraction” - What he knows: The party is coming; the launch can be forced early; the charter is most vulnerable at the parade platform - How to roleplay him: Grand gestures, compliment-as-threat delivery, always performing for an imagined audience - Dialogue lines: - “Ladies, gentlemen, and trespassers—welcome to the final act.” - “A town is just a contract with better scenery.”

---

Adventure Flow

1. Rooftop Arrival

Purpose: Establish the stakes and introduce the carnival above town.

What the characters see: A lantern-lit rooftop platform or balcony where the floating carnival hangs overhead like a second, louder sky. Balloons strain against their tethers. Music and laughter drift through the clouds. Mira Quill waits with a document case and a worried expression.

What the players can do: - Hear Mira’s pitch - Inspect the carnival from below - Look for a boarding route, servant access, or an obvious gate - Negotiate payment, favors, or timing

Checks or choices: - Insight DC 11 to read Mira’s sincerity and urgency - Investigation DC 12 to spot service lines, lift cables, or a patrol route - Persuasion DC 12 to get more details or a promised reward

Consequences: - Success reveals a workable entry plan - Failure wastes time; advance the clock by 1

Points forward: The party learns that the charter is somewhere near the parade machinery and that the carnival’s public entrance is watched.

---

2. The Ticket Gate and First Lie

Purpose: Offer a social or stealth entry.

What the characters see: A bright ticket arch suspended over a plank bridge. Performers in painted masks wave crowds through. A brass sign announces: MIDNIGHT PARADE PREVIEW! NO RE-ENTRY AFTER THE BELL.

What the players can do: - Bluff as performers, patrons, inspectors, or helpers - Bribe or distract Fizzle Threadwhistle - Sneak through a service gate - Cause a diversion with a staged accident or argument

Checks or choices: - Deception/Persuasion DC 12–14 depending on the lie - Stealth DC 12 to slip through a side route - Sleight of Hand DC 12 to lift a pass or stamp - If they deal with Fizzle, a small bribe, flattery, or a promise of trouble for the ringmaster works

Consequences: - Success grants entry plus a useful clue - Failure triggers suspicion and a mild patrol response - A loud failure advances the clock by 1 and adds an alert level

Points forward: Fizzle or a ticket stub points toward the midway and the backstage service corridors.

---

3. The Midway of Whirling Delights

Purpose: First active exploration zone; make the carnival feel alive and dangerous.

What the characters see: A crowded floating midway full of swaying lights, laughing patrons, and rides that move in impossible loops. Every attraction looks fun until it turns too fast, leans too far, or quietly locks its gate behind you.

What the players can do: - Explore attractions for clues - Help a trapped patron or performer - Search game booths for backstage tokens - Follow suspicious cables and signs

Checks or choices: - Perception DC 12 to spot a hidden service hatch - Investigation DC 12 to find a ledger or route marker - Animal Handling or Nature DC 12 if a ride uses enchanted beasts or balloons - Athletics/Acrobatics DC 12 to keep pace on moving platforms

Consequences: - Success reveals the route toward the funhouse or control rig - Failure triggers a minor ride hazard or animated carnival guard - The clock advances by 1 after the scene

Points forward: Clues here lead to the funhouse, the ledger kiosk, or the service catwalks.

---

4. The Funhouse Route

Purpose: Puzzle/exploration scene with fail-forward navigation.

What the characters see: A crooked funhouse built from mirrored panels, painted laughter, and doors that open into the wrong hall. Reflections lag behind movement by a heartbeat. A sign reads: TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. THEY’RE USUALLY WRONG.

What the players can do: - Track the real route through mirrors - Rotate panels, open false doors, or follow reflected clues - Use magic, chalk marks, rope, or thrown objects to map the path - Bribe or question a performer who knows the layout

Checks or choices: - Investigation DC 13 to interpret the mirror logic - Arcana DC 12 to understand the illusion mechanism - Perception DC 12 to spot the true door - Clever roleplay or a good map of the mirrored hall should count as success

Consequences: - Success opens a shortcut to backstage and reveals a hidden clue - Failure still gets them through, but they trigger a noisy trap or alarm - On failure, advance the clock by 1 and add one alert step

Points forward: The funhouse leads to either the ride-control catwalks or the parade rig access lift.

---

5. Backstage Catwalks

Purpose: Transition into the antagonist’s domain and reveal the launch mechanism.

What the characters see: Rope bridges, balloon valves, pulley wheels, and stacked parade floats under canvas tarps. The air smells like grease, sugar, and ozone. Crew members hurry with clipboards while enchanted attendants patrol with too-perfect smiles.

What the players can do: - Search for the charter - Sabotage or stall the launch machinery - Rescue a trapped worker or helper - Use Bramble’s advice to reverse a valve or jam a gear

Checks or choices: - Thieves’ Tools or Dexterity (tools) DC 13 to open locked service panels - Strength (Athletics) DC 13 to jam a wheel or hold a moving beam - Intelligence (Investigation) DC 13 to identify the charter’s storage route - Persuasion DC 12 to convince a worker to help

Consequences: - Success reveals the charter is secured above the parade platform in the ringmaster’s loft - Failure triggers the first serious combat or a ride hazard - Advance the clock by 1

Points forward: The party learns the final route: up to the parade rig before midnight.

---

6. The Parade Rig

Purpose: Combat encounter and pre-finale pressure build.

What the characters see: A towering scaffold above the midway with bells, banners, spotlight mirrors, and a brass launch lever wrapped in silk ribbons. The charter’s seal can be glimpsed in a locked case in the loft above.

What the players can do: - Fight through guardians - Disable the launch lever - Climb, swing, or leap to the loft - Bargain with staff who want out - Try to seize the charter before the launch begins

Checks or choices: - Acrobatics or Athletics DC 12–14 to cross moving rigging - Thieves’ Tools DC 13 to open the charter case - Persuasion/Intimidation DC 13 to make a guard stand down - If they stall here too long, the midnight clock reaches 6/6

Consequences: - Success gives them access to the final confrontation - Failure advances the clock and turns the finale airborne - An alarm here brings reinforcements

Points forward: The ringmaster arrives to stop them as the parade starts, whether fully on time or prematurely forced.

---

7. The Midnight Parade Launch

Purpose: Final confrontation.

What the characters see: The carnival’s lights flare white-gold. Balloons strain upward. Floats begin to rise. Music swells into a triumphant, terrible march as the ringmaster takes center stage on the parade platform.

What the players can do: - Fight the ringmaster and his enchanted attractions - Seize the charter - Sabotage the launch mechanism - Convince staff or performers to abandon the ringmaster - Ride the moving platform while the carnival lifts into the sky

Checks or choices: - See Finale section for win conditions and outcomes

Consequences: - The adventure ends with either the carnival stopped, redirected, or launched with the party clinging to victory

Points forward: If you want a fast epilogue, end here with the charter recovered and the carnival landing in disgrace.

---

8. Epilogue at Dawn

Purpose: Resolution and reward delivery.

What the characters see: The floating carnival either sagging low over the rooftops, drifting away in defeat, or crashing its dignity into a safe landing field while angry performers shout at each other.

What the players can do: - Return the charter - Collect rewards - Hear rumors of what the ringmaster lost besides face - Set up the next adventure if desired

Consequences: - The town remains legally anchored - The party earns gratitude, favors, and local fame

Points forward: The heroes have become the people who saved the town from being “reclassified.”

---

Locations

Rooftop Fairground Edge

A windblown platform lined with lanterns, roof tiles, and rope anchors. Good for first contact, quick planning, and a strong visual on the floating carnival above. The edge has enough cover for whispered planning but is exposed enough to feel precarious.

Ticket Gate

A bright, theatrical entry arch with painted stars, velvet ropes, and a pair of bored attendants. The gate is watched by one visible greeter and one hidden observer. A side plank leads to service access if the party can spot it.

Midway of Whirling Delights

The heart of the site. The midway is noisy, colorful, and just wrong enough to be unsettling. Games reset themselves. Rides keep moving even when unattended. Prize counters are stacked with cheap toys, contract slips, and stolen oddities. Hidden in the chaos are: - a ledger kiosk - service doors behind snack stalls - rigging ladders - a maintenance hatch into backstage

Funhouse Corridor

Mirrored walls, rotating panels, and floorboards that tilt when stepped on. Reflections may show the true route or warn of hidden danger. A careful group can use the mirrors to find a shortcut; a careless one gets turned around and possibly separated.

Backstage Catwalks

Rope bridges, pulley systems, balloon valves, and stage props packed for the parade. This is where carnival magic becomes machinery. The party can stall the launch here, but noisy mistakes quickly bring the ringmaster’s attention.

Parade Rig and Loft

A tall, exposed command structure with the charter case in the ringmaster’s loft. Banners, mirrors, and spotlight lenses can be turned into hazards or advantages. If the launch begins, this area becomes a moving battlefield.

---

Clues and Secrets

Required Clues

1. Ticket stub with a seal mark - Reveals the backstage route is tied to the charter’s storage 2. Carnival ledger - Reveals the charter is listed as “parade property” 3. Performer gossip - Reveals the ringmaster’s loft sits above the control rig 4. Service corridor sign with altered lettering - Reveals a hidden shortcut to backstage 5. Bramble’s advice about lift-lines - Reveals which mechanism can be reversed to stall the launch

Optional Clues

1. Broken ride gear with a hidden token - Reveals access to the parade rig 2. Distracted attendant confession - Reveals a guard shift change or a weak point in security 3. Mirrored funhouse panel viewed from the side - Reveals the true direction to the loft 4. Prize booth receipt - Reveals which worker is quietly helping the ringmaster 5. A canceled performer sign-up sheet - Reveals a hidden service entrance used by staff

Fail-Forward Clues

1. If a social check fails: the NPC still gives a partial answer, but adds a time cost or asks for a favor 2. If a stealth check fails: the party still gets through, but an alarm raises the alert level 3. If a puzzle check fails: the route still opens, but with a hazard, detour, or separated character 4. If the party misses the ledger: the charter’s seal is visible during the finale, so they can still identify it quickly 5. If the party wastes time: Bramble or Fizzle can provide a shortcut at the cost of a complication

What each clue reveals

- Where to go next - Who is willing to help - What the ringmaster is using - How to stall the launch - That the charter is still recoverable even late in the clock

---

Encounters

1. Social Entry Challenge: The Gate Lie

Summary: The party must talk, sneak, or bluster past the ticket gate and into the carnival. Tactics notes: Fizzle prefers bargaining over battle. The gate staff are suspicious but not suicidal. DM use: Treat as a short skill challenge or one skill check plus roleplay. Scaling: - Level 2: DCs 11–12, a single mistake is enough to create suspicion - Level 3: DCs 12–13, two failures before a consequence - Level 4: DCs 13–14, guards are more alert, but the party can earn a helpful favor

2. Exploration/Puzzle Challenge: The Funhouse Route

Summary: A mirrored maze hides the real path to backstage. Tactics notes: Illusions do not need to be elaborate; the fun comes from choosing the wrong door and recovering. DM use: Let players experiment. Reward clever mapping, chalk marks, ropes, thrown stones, or magical sensing. Scaling: - Level 2: Simple mirror logic, minor hazard on failure - Level 3: One extra false path or rotating panel - Level 4: A mobile hazard or illusionary double appears, but the shortcut is faster

3. Combat Set Piece: Midway Guardians

Summary: Animated attendants, ride-touched guards, or living carnival props attack from moving platforms or a ride queue. Tactics notes: They try to push intruders onto moving machinery or separate them. Fast, theatrical enemies fit best. DM use: Use one small group for Levels 2–3, or one tougher leader plus minions for Level 4. Scaling: - Level 2: 2–4 weak guardians - Level 3: 4–6 guardians with one leader or hazard - Level 4: Add a moving platform, ranged pressure, or a second wave

4. Social/Utility Scene: Bramble’s Catwalk Help

Summary: Bramble can show the party how to reverse or stall the lift-lines, but only if they gain trust quickly. Tactics notes: This is a roleplay plus practical information moment. DM use: Good for parties who want to avoid a fight or buy time. Scaling: Lower-level parties need Bramble’s help more; higher-level parties may use this as a shortcut rather than a necessity.

5. Final Combat: Ringmaster and Parade Rig

Summary: The ringmaster fights from the parade platform while enchanted rides, spotlights, or rigging create battlefield hazards. Tactics notes: Vaelor uses mobility, taunts, and terrain. He prefers to disorient intruders and protect the charter case rather than stand still. DM use: Keep the battlefield active: shifting platforms, rising balloons, swinging banners, and one objective to seize. Scaling: - Level 2: Ringmaster with lighter defenses and one magical hazard - Level 3: Ringmaster plus one helper, ride hazard, or animated prop - Level 4: Ringmaster with stronger mobility, environmental effects, and backup guards

---

Treasure and Rewards

Primary Reward

- The town charter — the adventure objective and story prize

Secondary Rewards

- Carnival tokens or prize slips worth modest gold or trade value - A backstage pass that grants advantage or a circumstance bonus in future carnival-related scenes - A key ring of odd keys that opens one hidden service door elsewhere - A ledger page or contract scrap proving the ringmaster’s scheme, useful politically

Minor Magic / Consumable Rewards

Choose 1–2 suitable items: - Lucky Ribbon: 1/day, reroll a failed Dexterity check or saving throw involving movement or balance - Popper of Confetti Veils: A small consumable that creates a brief illusion or smoke-like distraction - Ticket of Return: A one-use charm that helps the bearer find their way back to a previously seen location in the carnival - Bottle of Silver Soda: Drink as a bonus action; gain 1d6 temporary hit points and advantage on one Charisma check before the next rest

Other Rewards

- Milestone advancement to the next level if using milestone leveling - Gratitude and favors from town officials - A reputation as heroes who “stole the town back”

---

Finale

Setup

The ringmaster’s parade launch begins either on schedule or early if the clock fills. The carnival lights intensify. Floats rise. Music becomes a

NPC Suite

NPC Roster Table

---

Core NPC Profiles

Mira Quill

Role in the adventure: Quest giver, civic ally, and the party’s main anchor to the town’s stakes.

Visual first impression: A harried town clerk in ink-smudged sleeves and a half-buttoned coat, hair pinned badly in haste, holding a sealed ledger case so tightly her knuckles pale.

Personality in one sentence: Brisk, earnest, and dryly funny when stressed.

Voice and speech pattern: Fast, precise, and occasionally overloaded; she speaks like someone trying to file panic into neat drawers.

What they want: The town charter recovered before midnight and the carnival stopped from claiming the town.

What they fear: That she waited too long, that the charter is already compromised, and that her “paperwork problem” has become a skyborne disaster.

What they know: - The charter was stolen during a rigged sale or auction. - It’s being held aboard the floating carnival. - The midnight parade launch is real. - Someone inside the carnival knows the backstage routes.

What they will not say unless pressured: She has been terrified that if she returns without the charter, the town council will blame her for the theft and the public will panic.

How they help or hinder the party: - Help: Provides the hook, explains the legal stakes, identifies the launch clock, and can supply basic access information or a token of authority. - Hinder: If the party gets distracted, she becomes visibly more frantic and may push too hard, potentially rushing plans.

3 table-ready dialogue lines: - “Please steal it legally if that helps. I realize that sentence is nonsense.” - “If that document leaves on the parade, we lose more than paper.” - “I don’t need heroes. I need competent trespassers with timing.”

1 clue, secret, or useful detail: The charter’s seal was last seen near the parade machinery, not the ticketed attractions.

If they become hostile, how they behave: Mira doesn’t turn into a fighter; she becomes a sharp-edged obstruction, arguing, blocking paths, or trying to seize documents rather than join combat.

Portrait/token note: Portrait should show a nervous civic clerk with ink-stained fingers and a sealed case. Token can use a simple clasped-document emblem or ledger seal.

---

Fizzle Threadwhistle

Role in the adventure: Gatekeeper to information, access, and backstage gossip.

Visual first impression: A wiry carnival employee with a bright vest, a lacquered whistle, a ribbon-stuffed clipboard, and the expression of someone who knows a dozen things they shouldn’t.

Personality in one sentence: Smarmy, chatty, opportunistic, and proud to be “in the know.”

Voice and speech pattern: Rapid-fire patter, lots of asides, lots of “between you and me,” and a habit of making every fact sound like a favor.

What they want: A better position, a better bribe, or a way to embarrass the ringmaster without becoming a target.

What they fear: Being publicly blamed for a security failure, or being seen as disloyal before they’ve found a safer side to stand on.

What they know: - Which attractions are safe and which are rigged. - Who has backstage access. - Which staffers can be bribed, frightened, or flattered. - The ticket gate is also used for surveillance.

What they will not say unless pressured: They know of at least one hidden route to the parade rig, but it’s tied to a staff-only signal and they’re reluctant to admit how much they’ve heard.

How they help or hinder the party: - Help: Sells clues, names, passes, and routes; can point to weak security or a useful distraction. - Hinder: Misleads if insulted, overprices help, or “forgets” key details until bribed, reassured, or threatened.

3 table-ready dialogue lines: - “A proper carnival has rules. This one has traps pretending to be rules.” - “You didn’t hear this from me, but the ticket booth is also a surveillance post. Charming, isn’t it?” - “For a modest fee, I can become incredibly helpful.”

1 clue, secret, or useful detail: The “safe” route through the midway passes a ledger kiosk that logs the charter as parade property.

If they become hostile, how they behave: Fizzle runs first, lies second, and only fights if cornered; if forced into combat, they use smoke, bells, and dodge-heavy tactics while trying to flee.

Portrait/token note: Portrait should be a slim, overconfident carnival staffer with a clipboard and whistle. Token can emphasize the whistle or a striped ticket stub.

---

Bramble the Balloon-Smith

Role in the adventure: Minor ally, practical helper, and technical shortcut provider.

Visual first impression: A sturdy, grease-streaked balloon mechanic with tool belts, soot on the cheek, and calm eyes that keep scanning the rigging above.

Personality in one sentence: Warm, practical, and fearless under pressure.

Voice and speech pattern: Plainspoken, slightly wry, and never wasteful with words; she talks like someone used to solving problems with hands, not speeches.

What they want: To keep innocent people from getting dragged into the parade launch.

What they fear: A catastrophic lift failure, crowd panic, or the carnival taking off with workers and guests still aboard.

What they know: - How the lift-lines work. - Which valve or wheel can stall the launch. - Which service catwalks bypass the main midway. - Where the load-bearing mechanisms are weakest.

What they will not say unless pressured: She’s patched the carnival’s machinery under duress before and knows how close the system is to being overloaded.

How they help or hinder the party: - Help: Offers technical shortcuts, practical advice, and a way to stall or reverse part of the launch. - Hinder: If the party seems reckless about civilians, she can refuse help or delay them while arguing.

3 table-ready dialogue lines: - “I can patch a valve or a wound, but I’d rather patch your plan.” - “Follow the cables. Carnival folk hide everything in plain sight.” - “If you hear the lift groan, don’t stand under the pretty bit.”

1 clue, secret, or useful detail: Reversing one specific lift-line can buy time by stalling the parade rig for a few precious minutes.

If they become hostile, how they behave: Bramble is not a brawler by default, but if threatened she defends herself with heavy tools, improvised barriers, and environmental tricks rather than reckless offense.

Portrait/token note: Portrait should show a grounded, capable mechanic with a tool harness and balloon-silk smudges. Token can use a wrench, valve wheel, or tether hook motif.

---

Ringmaster Vaelor Vane

Role in the adventure: Main antagonist and living embodiment of the clock-based pressure.

Visual first impression: A flamboyant ringmaster in a long coat of crimson and gold, with a glittering cane, theatrical gloves, and a smile that never quite reaches his eyes.

Personality in one sentence: Grandiose, cutting, amused, and utterly convinced every room is his stage.

Voice and speech pattern: Smooth, rehearsed, performative, and precise; he speaks in applause-ready cadences and compliments that feel like threats.

What they want: To launch the parade, claim the charter, and turn the town into part of his carnival empire.

What they fear: Being ignored, losing control of the spectacle, or having his authority exposed as mere contract trickery.

What they know: - The party is infiltrating the carnival. - The charter is the key to binding the town. - The launch sequence can be triggered early. - His power is strongest when he controls the crowd, the lights, and the timing.

What they will not say unless pressured: He is more dependent on public performance and legal symbolism than he admits; if the charter is disrupted or the audience turned against him, his grip weakens.

How they help or hinder the party: - Help: Never intentionally helps, but may reveal information through arrogance or theatrical monologues. - Hinder: Commands guards, animates ride hazards, escalates the clock, and turns the battlefield into moving terrain.

3 table-ready dialogue lines: - “Ladies, gentlemen, and trespassers—welcome to the final act.” - “A town is just a contract with better scenery.” - “You may applaud now, or after you surrender; I am flexible.”

1 clue, secret, or useful detail: He relies on the charter being present at the parade launch to complete the claim ritual.

If they become hostile, how they behave: Vaelor fights like a showman: mobile, taunting, using minions, spotlight effects, rigging hazards, and terrain control before committing to direct danger.

Portrait/token note: Portrait should emphasize height, elegance, and predatory charm; include cane, medals, gloves, and stage-light highlights. Token can use his insignia, cane tip, or a stylized hat silhouette.

---

Antagonist Deepening

Ringmaster Vaelor Vane — Pressure Profile

Objective: Launch the midnight parade, secure the stolen charter, and use contract magic to claim the town.

Method: He weaponizes spectacle. The carnival’s rides, lights, and staff are enchanted into a system of bait, delay, and control. He prefers to keep intruders moving, confused, and publicly visible while his machinery does the real work.

Weakness: He is dependent on timing, attention, and the charter’s symbolic role in the launch. If the party disrupts the launch sequence, turns staff against him, or forces him away from center stage, his control starts to slip.

What makes them fun: He’s dramatic, witty, and always one step away from turning the scene into a performance. He can be funny without becoming harmless, and his threats feel like theatrical insults with real consequences.

How they escalate: - First: suspicious, smug, and confident. - Second: sends guards, ride hazards, and false announcements. - Third: forces the parade launch early. - Final: fights on a moving, rising platform while trying to keep the charter protected and the crowd dazzled.

How to portray them without overexplaining: Let him talk in polished lines, move with choreographed certainty, and treat every intrusion as a breach of show etiquette. He doesn’t need a full history dump; his behavior should tell the table he believes rules only matter when he wrote them.

3 villain lines: - “Do try to keep up. The audience hates delays.” - “Your heroism is adorable. I may add it to the program.” - “When the town is mine, I’ll have them rename the night after me.”

---

Improvisation Support

8 quick NPC reactions

1. Suspicion: “And why exactly would I know that?” 2. Bribe accepted: “Well now, that changes the conversation.” 3. Flustered: “No, no, no—don’t make this my problem.” 4. Impressed: “All right, that was clever. Almost annoyingly clever.” 5. Afraid: “You didn’t hear that from me.” 6. Defiant: “I’m not helping that man again.” 7. Helpful: “Follow the ropes, not the signs.” 8. Alarmed: “That’s the launch bell. Move, move, move!”

6 rumor snippets

1. “The ringmaster can hear his name whispered near the parade rig.” 2. “Some rides only lock when you look directly at them.” 3. “The charter was logged like cargo, not paperwork.” 4. “A mechanic said one lift-line can stall the whole launch.” 5. “The ticket booth sees more than it sells.” 6. “The funhouse isn’t meant to confuse you. It’s meant to separate you.”

6 responses to common player questions

1. “Who’s in charge here?” “Officially? The ringmaster. Unofficially? Whoever can keep their footing.”

2. “Where is the charter?” “Near the parade machinery, probably above the main rig.”

3. “Can we get in without a fight?” “Yes—if you can bluff, sneak, bribe, or distract well enough.”

4. “What happens if the clock fills?” “The parade launches. The final scene gets airborne, not impossible.”

5. “Can anyone here help us?” “Yes. Mira wants the charter back, Fizzle wants leverage, Bramble wants the launch stopped.”

6. “Can we stop the whole carnival?” “Not necessarily. You only need to recover the charter and interrupt the launch.”

4 ways to redirect stuck players

1. Offer a visible clue: A sign, ledger, cable, or ticket stamp points to the next route. 2. Let an NPC overhear them: Fizzle, Bramble, or a nervous worker volunteers partial help. 3. Advance the clock with a consequence: Something changes, forcing movement and revealing the next beat. 4. Shift focus to a practical objective: “Find the control panel,” “get to the loft,” or “follow the lift-lines.”

---

Art / Token Needs

Portrait needs

- Mira Quill — anxious civic clerk, ink-stained, sealed document case, wind-tossed hair - Fizzle Threadwhistle — smirking carnival gatekeeper, clipboard, whistle, bright vest, sly eyes - Bramble the Balloon-Smith — capable mechanic, tool belt, grease smudges, balloon rigging background - Ringmaster Vaelor Vane — flamboyant antagonist, theatrical coat, cane, spotlight-ready pose

Token needs

- Mira Quill token — document case or seal emblem - Fizzle Threadwhistle token — whistle, ticket stub, or clipboard symbol - Bramble token — wrench, valve wheel, or balloon hook symbol - Ringmaster token — hat silhouette, cane tip, or carnival insignia - Optional guard token — masked attendant or enchanted ride-crew face - Optional objective token — town charter seal / rolled document - Optional pressure token — launch bell, parade lever, or clock marker

VTT-friendly notes

- Keep tokens readable at small size: bold silhouettes, simple props, strong color contrast. - Portraits should clearly separate civic, carnival, mechanic, and villain roles at a glance. - The ringmaster should look more elegant than monstrous; the threat comes from charisma and control, not grossness.

Clue Web

Investigation / Discovery Goal

The party needs to understand where the stolen town charter is being held, how to reach it before midnight, and how to stop or survive the parade launch long enough to take it back.

They do not need to solve every attraction. They need enough truth to: 1. identify the charter’s location, 2. locate a working route to the parade rig/loft, 3. learn that the midnight launch is the real deadline, 4. interrupt the ringmaster’s claim ritual or seize the charter during the launch.

---

Truth Map

- Core truth: The charter is aboard the carnival near the parade machinery, and it must be recovered before the midnight launch. - Surface belief / false assumption: The charter is “somewhere in the carnival” and can be found by searching the rides normally. - Hidden complication: The carnival is a moving, enchanted system; public attractions are traps, while the real access is through staff routes, ledgers, lift-lines, and the parade rig. - Antagonist’s lie or pressure: The ringmaster sells the carnival as harmless fun and makes delays feel normal, while his staff and magic quietly push the launch clock forward. - What changes when the truth is revealed: The party stops wandering, treats time as a resource, and can move directly toward backstage, the loft, and the launch mechanism.

---

Clue Roster Table

---

Three-Clue Rule Coverage

Conclusion 1: The charter is near the parade machinery, not in a random ride.

- Clue source 1: Mira’s sealed case impression - Clue source 2: Carnival ledger listing “parade property” - Clue source 3: Worker gossip about the loft above the rig - Backup / fail-forward route: The charter is visible in the loft during the finale, so even late discovery still works

Conclusion 2: The real route is backstage through service access, not the main midway.

- Clue source 1: Ticket stub with seal mark - Clue source 2: Altered service corridor sign - Clue source 3: Fizzle’s gossip about staff routes and surveillance - Backup / fail-forward route: Bramble can point to lift-lines or a maintenance shortcut if the party is stuck

Conclusion 3: The midnight parade launch is the deadline and danger spike.

- Clue source 1: Mira’s briefing and clock explanation - Clue source 2: Loudspeaker signage / parade announcement - Clue source 3: Ringmaster monologue or stage announcements - Backup / fail-forward route: Any major delay visibly changes the carnival, and the final scene can still begin during launch

Conclusion 4: The ringmaster’s power depends on spectacle and attention.

- Clue source 1: Spotlight/bell reaction to his name or commands - Clue source 2: Fizzle’s gossip about the surveillance booth and performance rules - Clue source 3: Ringmaster’s own taunting monologues - Backup / fail-forward route: The finale can include crowd/performer reactions that show his control weakening when embarrassed

Conclusion 5: The launch can be stalled or rerouted by the machinery.

- Clue source 1: Bramble’s reverse-flow valve knowledge - Clue source 2: Hidden service token / access rune - Clue source 3: Maintenance labels or broken ride gear - Backup / fail-forward route: If the machinery clue is missed, the party can still reach the final platform and handle it by force or spell use

---

Scene-by-Scene Clue Placement

1. Rooftop Arrival

- Primary clue: Mira explains the charter was taken aboard the floating carnival and the midnight parade is the deadline - Optional clue: The charter case imprint / seal detail - What the clue points toward: Time pressure and the parade rig, not a random search - What happens if players miss it: They may overexplore the carnival without urgency - How an NPC can redirect them: Mira can repeat the legal stakes in plain language; Bramble later confirms the launch machinery is the real target

2. The Ticket Gate and First Lie

- Primary clue: Ticket stub with seal mark or Fizzle’s gossip about internal routes - Optional clue: Surveillance booth warning - What the clue points toward: A side entrance, staff access, or a route through the midway - What happens if players miss it: They enter clumsily and may trigger a light alarm or lose time - How an NPC can redirect them: Fizzle can “helpfully” mention the service corridor if bribed, flattered, or threatened

3. The Midway of Whirling Delights

- Primary clue: Carnival ledger listing the charter as parade property - Optional clue: Enchanted ride behavior, prize slips, or hidden maintenance hatch - What the clue points toward: The charter is being processed through the parade system; the route continues backstage - What happens if players miss it: They may think the charter is hidden in a game booth or ride cage - How an NPC can redirect them: A nervous worker or Fizzle can point them toward “where the paperwork goes”

4. The Funhouse Route

- Primary clue: Mirrored panel showing the true path - Optional clue: Rotating panel with hidden markings - What the clue points toward: Backstage shortcut and the need to view the maze differently - What happens if players miss it: They take a longer route or trigger a noise/alarm consequence - How an NPC can redirect them: Bramble can describe the correct structural line; Fizzle can admit the funhouse was built to split groups up

5. Backstage Catwalks

- Primary clue: Altered service corridor sign - Optional clue: Canceled performer sign-up sheet, broken gear with access token - What the clue points toward: The parade rig and the loft above it - What happens if players miss it: They may waste time searching storage instead of climbing upward - How an NPC can redirect them: Bramble can directly identify the catwalks and the route to the launch machinery

6. The Parade Rig

- Primary clue: Reverse-flow valve sketch / lift-line controls - Optional clue: Hidden access rune or service token - What the clue points toward: A way to stall, slow, or reroute the launch - What happens if players miss it: The finale becomes more dangerous, but not unwinnable - How an NPC can redirect them: Bramble can walk them through the machinery at table speed

7. The Midnight Parade Launch

- Primary clue: The charter is visible in the loft case - Optional clue: Spotlight or bell reacts to the ringmaster’s name or taunt - What the clue points toward: The charter can be snatched mid-launch, and the ringmaster’s attention is a tactical weakness - What happens if players miss it: They may focus on defeating the ringmaster instead of taking the objective - How an NPC can redirect them: A taunting ringmaster monologue, or an ally shouting “Grab the case!”

8. Epilogue at Dawn

- Primary clue: Town officials confirm the charter is recovered and legally restored - Optional clue: Prize slips/tokens converted into local favors - What the clue points toward: The party’s success has civic weight beyond treasure - What happens if players miss it: They may leave unsure of consequences or reward value - How an NPC can redirect them: Mira can clearly explain what was saved and what changed

---

NPC Knowledge Matrix

Mira Quill

- What they know: The charter was stolen, the midnight parade is real, and the town’s legal claim depends on recovering it - What they think they know incorrectly: She initially assumes the charter is hidden somewhere “near the machinery” but not necessarily in a public path - What they hide: Her fear that the town will blame her if she fails - What persuades/intimidates/bribes them: Reassurance, competence, proof of a plan, or visible progress; intimidation works poorly and makes her clumsy - What clue they can give: The charter’s seal was last seen near the parade machinery - What clue they can give if the party is stuck: “Follow the staff routes. This isn’t a search problem; it’s an access problem.”

Fizzle Threadwhistle

- What they know: Safe and unsafe attractions, bribable staff, surveillance behavior, and possible backstage routes - What they think they know incorrectly: That he can stay neutral if he helps the party just a little - What they hide: The fact that the ticket booth watches staff movement and that there is a hidden route tied to a staff signal - What persuades/intimidates/bribes them: Small valuables, flattery, promises of embarrassment for the ringmaster, or social pressure - What clue they can give: The ticket gate is also a surveillance post, and the “safe” route passes the ledger kiosk - What clue they can give if the party is stuck: “If you want backstage, stop staring at the bright front and follow the people carrying clipboards.”

Bramble the Balloon-Smith

- What they know: Lift-lines, catwalks, the reversible machinery, and where the launch system is weakest - What they think they know incorrectly: That the party may want to sabotage the whole carnival instead of just reclaiming the charter - What they hide: She knows how close the system is to overload and that one valve can buy only a few minutes - What persuades/intimidates/bribes them: Proof the party cares about innocent people, technical respect, or direct requests for help - What clue they can give: Reversing one lift-line can stall the parade launch - What clue they can give if the party is stuck: “Take the catwalks. Don’t fight the midway if you can help it.”

Ringmaster Vaelor Vane

- What they know: The party is infiltrating, the charter matters symbolically, and the launch can be forced early - What they think they know incorrectly: That the heroes will panic under spectacle and split up - What they hide: His dependence on public attention and the charter’s presence during the ritual - What persuades/intimidates/bribes them: Applause, attention, and control; he is not meaningfully bribable in a fair way - What clue they can give: Through monologue, he reveals the charter must be present for the claim to finalize - What clue they can give if the party is stuck: He taunts the heroes toward the parade platform by name-dropping the “final act” and the loft

---

Red Herrings and False Leads

1. The fortune-teller’s “destiny booth”

- Why it is believable: Carnivals always have mystic-looking attractions, and it sounds like a clue source - How to resolve it quickly: It only provides vague, decorative warnings or a cheap fake prophecy - How to keep it from derailing the session: Let it offer a useful rumor about “lifting lines” or “above the lights” so it becomes a soft lead, not a dead end

2. The big top tent

- Why it is believable: It looks like the center of the carnival and seems like the obvious place for a villain - How to resolve it quickly: It’s a performance space, not the charter’s storage - How to keep it from derailing the session: Put a clear sign of empty stage use or a rehearsal schedule inside; one glance should tell players it’s not the objective

3. The prize vault

- Why it is believable: A vault implies valuable loot and the charter sounds valuable - How to resolve it quickly: It contains tokens, junk prizes, and public winnings, not the charter - How to keep it from derailing the session: Include one minor reward and one clue, so it feels worthwhile without becoming the main objective

4. The ride that “looks like a prison”

- Why it is believable: Enchanted rides trap people, so a cage-like ride may seem like the holding cell - How to resolve it quickly: It is an attraction trap, but not where the charter is stored - How to keep it from derailing the session: The ride should yield a shortcut token, maintenance clue, or alarm consequence that pushes them onward

5. The ringmaster’s private dressing room

- Why it is believable: Villains often hide important documents in their personal quarters - How to resolve it quickly: It contains vanity items, costume changes, or a false trail - How to keep it from derailing the session: Let the room provide one clue toward the parade rig so it feels relevant rather than punishing

---

Fail-Forward Toolkit

8 ways to reveal a missed clue

1. An NPC overhears the party and volunteers the missing detail 2. A dropped ticket, ledger page, or sign falls into view during a later scene 3. A failed check still gives a partial answer plus a complication 4. The carnival layout changes and makes the correct route visually obvious 5. A guard or attendant is captured and can be questioned 6. Bramble “fixes” the problem by pointing at the right machinery 7. The ringmaster’s taunt reveals the next objective by accident 8. The charter becomes visible in the finale even if earlier clues were missed

6 ways to keep pacing moving

1. Advance the clock after every major scene 2. Use a visible bell, spotlight sweep, or announcement to mark time 3. Drop a clue when players spend too long choosing 4. Turn a failure into a new route with a cost 5. Move NPCs around so the party can re-encounter the information 6. Let the environment change instead of requiring a perfect solve

4 emergency clue drops

1. Bramble says, “Follow the cables to the rig.” 2. Fizzle blurts, “The loft is above the parade controls.” 3. Mira repeats, “The charter was last seen near the machinery.” 4. A stage announcement names the parade platform or launch lever

4 consequences for delay that do not stop the adventure

1. The clock advances and more hazards appear 2. A patrol or enchanted ride becomes active 3. A route locks, but another opens elsewhere 4. The launch begins early, turning the final scene airborne

4 ways to make partial success useful

1. Give the clue but add an alarm 2. Give the route but remove the shortcut 3. Give the access token but require a quick follow-up action 4. Give the objective location and a time-saving advantage instead of full safety

---

Player-Facing Handout Seeds

- Note: Mira’s urgent briefing note about the midnight parade and the charter - Map mark: A crude sketch of the carnival edge, midway, and “up to the rig” - Symbol: The charter seal stamped onto a ticket stub or ledger page - Rumor card: “The ticket booth watches the staff, not the guests” - Evidence card: Carnival ledger entry: “CHARTER — PARADE PROPERTY” - Puzzle fragment: Mirrored funhouse directions or a rotated sign fragment

---

Clue Web Quick Reference

Stat Blocks

Stat Block Roster

---

Design Notes

- Intended level and party size: Levels 2–4 for 3–5 adventurers. - Expected combat length: Most fights should run 3–5 rounds. The finale can stretch to 5–7 rounds if the clock reaches launch. - Resource pressure goal: Medium. Encounters should tax HP, movement, and a few key spell slots, but not demand a full-day adventuring budget. - Essential stat blocks: Vaelor, Clatterclown Guard, Midway Juggler-Gear, Mirror Maze Mislead, Lift-Line Snapback. - Optional stat blocks: Parade Float Husk, Bramble, Fizzle. - Assumptions from the DM Packet: The adventure is a fast infiltration with a visible clock. Enemies should support speed, misdirection, and set-piece terrain more than raw lethality. The ringmaster is charismatic and theatrical, not a dungeon bruiser. The charter itself is an objective, not a monster.

---

Formal Stat Blocks

Ringmaster Vaelor Vane

Medium humanoid, any non-lawful role - Armor Class 15 (stage-mail coat) - Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12) - Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft. - STR 10 (+0) DEX 16 (+3) CON 12 (+1) INT 14 (+2) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 18 (+4) - Saving Throws Dex +5, Wis +3, Cha +6 - Skills Deception +6, Insight +3, Performance +6, Persuasion +6 - Senses passive Perception 11 - Languages Common, one other - Challenge 4 (PB +2)

Traits - Showman’s Control. Vaelor has advantage on checks to influence crowds, staff, or distracted creatures. A creature that can hear and see him has disadvantage on the first saving throw it makes against one of his illusion or charm effects each round. - Spotlight Step. Once on each of his turns, if Vaelor is in bright light or within 10 feet of a carnival light source, he can move up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks. - Claim the Center. While Vaelor is on the parade rig or any raised platform, he gains +1 AC.

Actions - Multiattack. Vaelor makes two Cane Lash attacks. - Cane Lash. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength save or be pushed 5 feet. - Blinding Flourish (Recharge 5–6). Vaelor snaps open a burst of glitter and light in a 10-foot cone. Each creature in the area must make a DC 13 Constitution save or take 7 (2d6) radiant damage and be dazzled until the end of its next turn. A dazzled creature has disadvantage on its next attack roll. - Grand Command. One ally or hazard within 30 feet that can hear Vaelor can immediately move up to half its speed or make one weapon attack.

Bonus Actions - Curtain Flick. Vaelor moves up to 10 feet, then one creature he can see within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom save or be unable to take reactions until the start of that creature’s next turn.

Reactions - Applause Dodge. When Vaelor is hit by an attack, he adds +2 AC against that attack, potentially causing it to miss. If it misses, he can move 5 feet.

Boss / Villain Actions Use one at initiative count 20 (losing ties) on rounds 2, 3, and 4 only. 1. Raise the Rig. One platform, rope bridge, or float within 30 feet shifts. Creatures on it must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity save or move 10 feet in a direction of Vaelor’s choice and fall prone. 2. Cue the Carnival. Vaelor summons 1 Clatterclown Guard or activates 1 Parade Float Husk (if present) in a space he can see. 3. All Eyes on Me. Each enemy of Vaelor within 20 feet must make a DC 13 Wisdom save or suffer -2 to attack rolls until the end of its next turn.

Tactics Vaelor stays moving, uses lights and height, and fights to protect the charter case rather than trading hits. He opens with control, forces separation, then punishes anyone who reaches the loft or launch lever. If bloodied, he becomes more theatrical, using Grand Command to keep minions active and trying to drag the fight onto unstable terrain.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: Reduce HP to 52, remove one saving throw proficiency, and limit Villain Actions to 2 total. - Level 3 party: Use as written. - Level 4 party: Increase HP to 74, DCs to 14, and allow him to summon 2 minions with Cue the Carnival. - If the party is very strong: Give Vaelor a one-time Smoke-and-Mirror Escape: when reduced below 20 HP, he teleports 20 feet to a lit platform and gains 5 temporary HP.

---

Midway Juggler-Gear

Medium construct, unaligned - Armor Class 14 - Hit Points 32 (5d8 + 10) - Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft. - STR 12 (+1) DEX 16 (+3) CON 14 (+2) INT 5 (-3) WIS 11 (+0) CHA 6 (-2) - Skills Acrobatics +5, Perception +2 - Damage Resistances psychic - Condition Immunities charmed, frightened - Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12 - Languages understands Common but can’t speak - Challenge 1 (PB +2)

Traits - Skittering Parts. Difficult terrain doesn’t cost the juggler-gear extra movement. - Noisy Routine. Creatures within 10 feet have disadvantage on Stealth checks. - Thrown Object Catch. Ranged attacks against the juggler-gear made at long range are made with disadvantage.

Actions - Multiattack. The juggler-gear makes two Tendon Blades attacks. - Tendon Blades. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage. - Bouncing Pins. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity save or be pushed 5 feet. - Spinout Toss (Recharge 5–6). The juggler-gear hurls knives, plates, and glitter in a 10-foot-radius area centered on itself. Each creature of its choice in the area must make a DC 12 Dexterity save or take 7 (2d6) slashing damage and be unable to take reactions until the start of its next turn.

Tactics The juggler-gear uses its reach and push effects to break formations, shove targets onto unstable terrain, and keep ranged characters from settling in. It is happiest near rails, stairs, and moving platforms.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: Use 1 juggler-gear with 1–2 guards. - Level 3 party: Use 1 juggler-gear as written. - Level 4 party: Add one Clatterclown Guard or raise HP to 40. - If the party is highly mobile: Give it a 10-foot forced move after Spinout Toss.

---

Clatterclown Guard

Small construct, unaligned - Armor Class 13 - Hit Points 11 (2d6 + 4) - Speed 25 ft. - STR 13 (+1) DEX 12 (+1) CON 14 (+2) INT 3 (-4) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 5 (-3) - Skills Perception +2 - Condition Immunities charmed - Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12 - Languages understands Common but can’t speak - Challenge 1/4 (PB +2)

Traits - Rattle Alarm. When the guard is reduced to 0 hit points, one creature of its choice within 20 feet must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom save or be unable to hide until the end of its next turn. - Toy-Metal Body. The guard has advantage on saves against being knocked prone.

Actions - Clubbed Baton. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage. - Pepperconfetti Puff (1/Day). The guard sprays irritating glitter in a 5-foot radius. Creatures in the area must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution save or have disadvantage on the next attack roll they make before the end of their next turn.

Tactics Clatterclowns swarm, block doors, and soak actions. They are not smart; they simply try to keep intruders visible and boxed in until help arrives.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: 3–4 guards is enough to matter. - Level 3 party: 4–6 guards. - Level 4 party: Pair with terrain hazards or a juggler-gear leader. - If you want less grind: Drop HP to 8 and remove Pepperconfetti Puff.

---

Mirror Maze Mislead

Hazard - Detection DC 12 (Perception or Investigation) - Disarm / Bypass DC 12 (Investigation, Arcana, or force the panels) - Trigger Entering the wrong corridor, opening the wrong door, or failing a navigation check by 5 or more - Effect The creature is spun into a false passage. It must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom save or become lost until the end of its next turn. While lost, it can’t take reactions, and its speed is halved. If at least two creatures are lost at once, the group also triggers a loud chime, advancing the clock by 1 segment. - Fail-Forward A lost creature still sees a true direction flash in a mirror, granting advantage on the next check to navigate the funhouse.

Tactics This hazard is best used to split the party briefly, delay a rush, or create a noisy complication that brings enemies closer.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: Use as a single-room obstacle. - Level 3 party: Add one fake door or moving wall. - Level 4 party: Add a 1d4 damage glass-scrape clause on a failed save.

---

Lift-Line Snapback

Hazard - Detection DC 13 (Perception) - Disable DC 13 (Thieves’ Tools, Dexterity with tools, or Strength with a successful brace) - Trigger Crossing an unstable catwalk, cutting the wrong cable, or overloading a pulley - Effect A snapped line lashes through a 10-foot line. Creatures in the line must make a DC 13 Dexterity save or take 7 (2d6) slashing damage and be pulled 10 feet toward the nearest edge or machinery. On a success, they take half damage and aren’t pulled. - Fail-Forward Any creature that takes damage from the snapback also spots the correct support line or lever, granting advantage on its next check to interact with the launch machinery.

Tactics Use as a moving battlefield threat. It should make rooftops, catwalks, and parade rigging feel unstable without instantly dropping characters into helplessness.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: 1 line only. - Level 3 party: 2 linked lines, but each deals only 1d6 if you want gentler pressure. - Level 4 party: Add difficult terrain around the hazard or a second snap on initiative 20.

---

Parade Float Husk

Large construct, unaligned - Armor Class 12 - Hit Points 27 (5d10) - Speed 20 ft., fly 20 ft. (while tethered) - STR 16 (+3) DEX 8 (-1) CON 10 (+0) INT 2 (-4) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 3 (-4) - Damage Immunities poison - Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned - Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10 - Languages understands the ringmaster’s commands but can’t speak - Challenge 1 (PB +2)

Traits - Tethered Motion. If the husk moves more than 30 feet from its anchor point, it loses flying speed and falls prone if airborne. - Showpiece Bulk. The husk has advantage on checks and saves to avoid being shoved or grappled.

Actions - Crush Frame. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) bludgeoning damage. - Spin Beam. The husk rotates a mounted beam in a 10-foot sweep. Each creature in the sweep must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity save or take 5 (1d10) bludgeoning damage and be pushed 5 feet. - Light Burst (Recharge 6). Creatures of the husk’s choice within 15 feet must make a DC 12 Constitution save or be dazzled until the end of their next turn.

Tactics The husk is a moving obstacle, not a genius. It blocks paths, knocks characters off balance, and supports Vaelor by forcing the party to spend actions on positioning.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: Use only if you want a harder finale. - Level 3 party: Good as a single terrain hazard plus one guard. - Level 4 party: Add one husk to the finale or let it operate as a moving platform.

---

Bramble the Balloon-Smith

Medium humanoid, neutral good - Armor Class 13 - Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4) - Speed 30 ft., climb 10 ft. - STR 12 (+1) DEX 14 (+2) CON 12 (+1) INT 11 (+0) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 10 (+0) - Skills Athletics +3, Insight +3, Investigation +2 - Senses passive Perception 11 - Languages Common - Challenge 1/2 (PB +2)

Traits - Practical Hands. Bramble has advantage on checks to repair, brace, or disable carnival machinery. - Keep Moving. Bramble can stand from prone without spending extra movement. - Emergency Patch. As an action, Bramble restores 1d6 + 1 hit points to a creature she can touch or grants it advantage on the next save against forced movement or falling.

Actions - Wrench Thump. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) bludgeoning damage. - Tool Toss. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) bludgeoning damage, and the target can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn.

Tactics Bramble avoids center stage. She uses Emergency Patch on wounded allies, Tool Toss to help a retreat or peel an enemy away, and her real value is opening routes or stalling the launch mechanism.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: Strong support; keep her nearby but not overactive. - Level 3 party: Use sparingly so she does not overshadow players. - Level 4 party: Let her spend actions to interact with machinery instead of attacking. - If you want zero combat ally influence: Remove Tool Toss and keep only Emergency Patch.

---

Fizzle Threadwhistle

Medium humanoid, neutral - Armor Class 12 - Hit Points 14 (4d8 - 4) - Speed 30 ft. - STR 9 (-1) DEX 14 (+2) CON 9 (-1) INT 12 (+1) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 15 (+2) - Skills Deception +4, Insight +2, Persuasion +4, Sleight of Hand +4 - Senses passive Perception 10 - Languages Common - Challenge 1/4 (PB +2)

Traits - Backstage Nose. Fizzle knows the quickest staff route in any carnival scene. If asked nicely, he can grant advantage on one check to find a hidden door, bribe the right worker, or identify a safe shortcut. - Slip Away. When Fizzle takes damage, he can move 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.

Actions - Whistle Jab. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage. - Pocket Glitter (1/Day). One creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution save or be unable to take reactions until the end of its next turn.

Tactics Fizzle is a coward first, a talker second, and a combatant last. He fights only if cornered and usually spends his turns escaping, distracting, or creating a moment for the party to act.

Scaling Notes - Level 2 party: Mostly a social ally; don’t force combat. - Level 3 party: If hostile, he should flee after one round. - Level 4 party: He can remain on the map as a mobile clue source and minor nuisance.

---

Encounter Packages

1. Gate Lie / First Entry

Use: Fizzle Threadwhistle, 2 Clatterclown Guards if alarms rise Starting Positions / Pressure: Fizzle near the ticket arch; guards at the side plank and visible booth. Entry is exposed but crowded. - Easy version: Fizzle can be bribed or flattered; no combat unless the party chooses it. - Standard version: One social check plus a patrol complication. - Hard version: If the party blusters or fails loudly, add 2 guards and a brief spotlight sweep. - Noncombat bypass / alternative solution: Service uniform, forged pass, or a staged distraction. - If the party retreats: They lose 1 clock segment and may return through a different route later.

2. Midway Skirmish

Use: 1 Midway Juggler-Gear, 2–4 Clatterclown Guards, optional Parade Float Husk in advanced version Starting Positions / Pressure: Enemies emerge from game stalls, a ride queue, and a moving platform. The area has rails, stalls, and light poles for cover. - Easy version: 1 juggler-gear plus 2 guards. - Standard version: 1 juggler-gear plus 3 guards and a minor terrain hazard. - Hard version: Add a float husk or a second guard wave after round 2. - Noncombat bypass / alternative solution: Cause a bigger distraction, race through the ride queue, or use Fizzle’s route to bypass the midway core. - If the party retreats: The enemies do not pursue far; instead, the clock advances and a new route opens or closes.

3. Funhouse Route

Use: Mirror Maze Mislead, maybe 1 Clatterclown Guard as a surprise pursuer Starting Positions / Pressure: Tight corridors, false doors, reflective walls, and a choke point that splits marching order. - Easy version: One wrong corridor and the party gets the clue quickly. - Standard version: One or two false doors plus a noisy chime if someone rushes. - Hard version: Add a guard or a moving wall that forces a second navigation check. - Noncombat bypass / alternative solution: Rope line, chalk marks, or magic that reveals reflections. - If the party retreats: They can back out safely, but the clock advances and the funhouse route may become more obvious later.

4. Backstage Catwalks

Use: Lift-Line Snapback, 2 Clatterclown Guards, optional Bramble assist Starting Positions / Pressure: Narrow beams, pulley wheels, and a bad place to stand when something snaps. - Easy version: Hazard only, with Bramble present to point the way. - Standard version: Hazard plus 2 guards entering from opposite

Art Prompt Pack

Visual Style Bible

- Overall art style: Clean storybook fantasy with polished adventure-product presentation; bold readable silhouettes, expressive faces, and smooth painterly cel-shaded gradients. Slightly whimsical, cinematic, and production-ready for a 5e-compatible one-shot. - Color palette: Saturated but controlled carnival brights: lantern gold, ruby red, teal, violet, midnight blue, brass, cream, and cloud-white highlights. Use dark sky contrast with warm magical glows. - Lighting direction: High-contrast cinematic lighting with strong practical sources: lantern strings, spotlights, moonlight, stage lights, and magical glow. Rim light and backlight should help separate figures from busy backgrounds. - Line/shape language: Clean contours, rounded carnival shapes, swirled decorative forms, and strong geometric rigging lines. Villain and hazard shapes should feel sharp, vertical, and theatrical; allies should feel sturdy and approachable. - Texture/detail level: Medium detail with clear surface readability. Fabrics, brass fittings, balloons, ropes, paper, and painted ride surfaces should be distinct without clutter. Avoid over-rendered noise. - Mood: Cheeky, frivolous, daring, heroic, and lightly absurd. Danger should feel playful but real, with a strong sense of motion and momentum. - What to avoid: Text, captions, logos, watermarks, speech bubbles, UI overlays, blurry faces, muddy composition, horror-gore, realistic modern objects, generic medieval dungeon aesthetics, and any resemblance to copyrighted characters or settings.

Cover Art Prompt

Primary cover image prompt

A dramatic fantasy adventure cover showing a floating carnival above a sleeping town at night, with lanterns, balloons, spinning rides, and ribboned parade floats suspended in the sky. In the foreground, a small heroic party climbs a rooftop boarding platform or service catwalk, moving toward the carnival entrance. In the upper composition, a flamboyant ringmaster stands in silhouette on a parade platform, cane raised, coat flaring, with the stolen town charter visible as a glowing sealed document case hanging near the parade machinery. The carnival should feel magical, theatrical, and a little dangerous, with strong motion, swirling cloudbanks, and a bright midnight launch atmosphere. Clean storybook fantasy, polished adventure-product art, saturated carnival colors, cinematic depth, expressive action poses, highly readable shapes.

Negative prompt / avoid list

No text, no title lettering, no logo, no watermark, no border frame, no speech bubbles, no modern city elements, no sci-fi tech, no horror gore, no muddy low-contrast lighting, no tiny unreadable figures, no copyrighted characters, no recognizable circus mascots from existing franchises, no grotesque clown faces.

Composition notes

- Vertical cover composition. - Clear foreground/midground/background separation. - Hero party placed low and readable; ringmaster and carnival machinery high and dominant. - Charter case should be visible as a small but distinct storytelling detail. - Floating carnival should fill most of the upper half with strong diagonal motion.

Cropping notes for product cover

- Leave slightly more space at top center for potential title placement, but do not render text. - Keep the ringmaster and charter case away from the extreme edges. - Ensure the hero silhouettes remain intact in a tight crop.

Thumbnail readability notes

- Prioritize the glowing carnival, ringmaster silhouette, and bright balloon shapes. - Use a strong light/dark contrast so the floating fair reads instantly at small size. - Keep the charter case as a bright accent shape, not a tiny hidden detail.

No-text instruction

Do not include any text, labels, signage lettering, or readable symbols in the image.

---

Setting Image Prompts

1. Main Quest Hub / Cover-Support Location

Image title: Rooftop Fairground Edge

Prompt: A lantern-lit rooftop platform at night where a floating carnival docks above a town. Rope anchors, balloon tethers, and brass lantern brackets frame the scene. Below and behind, rooftops drop into darkness; above, the carnival hangs in the sky with drifting music, spinning lights, and colorful banners. A nervous civic clerk waits beside a sealed document case while wind whips her coat and hair. The atmosphere is tense but hopeful, with a clear boarding route and strong vertical contrast between the town below and the carnival above. Clean storybook fantasy, saturated but controlled colors, cinematic moonlit glow, painterly cel-shaded gradients.

Mood: Urgent, magical, and adventurous.

Key visual anchors: Rooftop platform, lanterns, balloon tethers, sealed document case, floating carnival overhead, town rooftops below.

Composition: Diagonal composition from rooftop foreground up toward the carnival in the sky. Keep the boarding route clearly visible. The clerk and the case should be prominent enough to read at small size.

Lighting: Moonlight from one side, warm lantern glow from the roof edge, carnival light spill from above.

Negative prompt: No text, no signage lettering, no modern rooftop equipment, no excessive crowd clutter, no horror mood, no copyright-derivative carnival imagery.

Intended use in PDF: Cover-support interior art or opening scene illustration.

---

2. Primary Adventure Site

Image title: Midway of Whirling Delights

Prompt: An enchanted carnival midway floating in the air, packed with brightly painted rides, game stalls, prize counters, food carts, mirror panels, and service ladders. Some attractions look cheerful but subtly dangerous: a spinning ride tilts too far, a game booth hides a shadowed passage, and a funhouse corridor bends in impossible ways. Staff in bright uniforms move between lanterns and brass rails while enchanted carnival guardians patrol the walkways. The scene should feel lively, tricky, and full of clues, with strong movement and a sense that every attraction is part of a larger machine. Clean storybook fantasy, bold silhouettes, saturated carnival colors, polished adventure-product illustration.

Mood: Busy, mischievous, exploratory, and lightly perilous.

Key visual anchors: Floating midway, spinning rides, prize booths, mirrored funhouse panels, service ladders, enchanted guards, lantern strings.

Composition: Wide interior scene with layered depth. Place a few obvious routes and one or two hidden routes. Use a central path that draws the eye toward backstage.

Lighting: Bright carnival lanterns, warm practical light, pockets of shadow beneath rides, colorful reflections in mirrored surfaces.

Negative prompt: No text, no readable signs, no cluttered composition, no grotesque clowns, no dark dungeon stone, no cyberpunk elements.

Intended use in PDF: Primary adventure-site illustration for exploration and clue delivery.

---

3. Antagonist Domain / Finale Location

Image title: Parade Rig and Ringmaster’s Loft

Prompt: A towering parade launch rig above the floating carnival, built from brass scaffolds, ribbons, spotlights, pulley wheels, balloon valves, and stage platforms. At the top sits a lavish ringmaster’s loft with a glowing locked case containing the stolen town charter. The ringmaster stands on a raised platform with coat flaring, cane raised, theatrical posture, and carnival lights exploding around him. Below, the carnival begins to rise, with floats and rigging shifting into airborne motion while heroes scramble across catwalks and moving platforms. The scene should feel like a final act about to launch into the sky: dramatic, theatrical, and dangerous, but still colorful and playful. Clean storybook fantasy, cinematic action, polished adventure-product art.

Mood: Climactic, showy, high-pressure, and heroic.

Key visual anchors: Parade rig, ringmaster loft, locked charter case, spotlight mirrors, brass launch lever, rising floats, moving catwalks.

Composition: Vertical or tall cinematic composition. Ringmaster and charter case near the upper focal point; heroes lower in the frame on unstable platforms. Strong upward motion is essential.

Lighting: White-gold launch glow, spotlight beams, lantern flare, moonlit cloud edges, colored reflections on brass.

Negative prompt: No text, no exaggerated horror faces, no modern machinery, no fire catastrophe, no overcomplicated background noise, no copyrighted circus characters.

Intended use in PDF: Finale scene illustration or antagonist-domain splash art.

---

NPC Portrait Prompts

Mira Quill

Role: Quest giver / information hub

Portrait prompt: A harried civic clerk in ink-stained sleeves and a half-buttoned coat, holding a sealed document case tightly against her chest. Wind-tossed hair, tired eyes, and a practical but anxious posture. She looks like she has been working all night and is trying to stay brave through paperwork-related disaster. Clean storybook fantasy portrait, polished and expressive, with a subtle rooftop or lantern-lit night background.

Expression/personality cue: Brisk worry with dry determination; nervous but not helpless.

Costume/prop cue: Ink-smudged sleeves, clerk’s coat, sealed document case, maybe a rolled ledger or wax seal.

Background suggestion: Rooftop edge, warm lantern light, distant carnival glow.

Negative prompt: No glamour fashion, no text, no modern office objects, no severe grimdark styling.

Token suitability note: Strong token candidate using the document case, wax seal, or a simple clasped-paper emblem.

---

Fizzle Threadwhistle

Role: Gatekeeper to information and access

Portrait prompt: A wiry carnival staffer with a bright vest, lacquered whistle, and ribbon-stuffed clipboard. Their smile is too quick, their eyes are sharp, and their posture suggests someone always ready to sell a secret. They look smug, talkative, and slightly slippery, but not overtly malicious. Clean storybook fantasy portrait, polished with carnival brights and crisp silhouette.

Expression/personality cue: Smarmy confidence, a half-invitation and half-warning in the expression.

Costume/prop cue: Bright vest, whistle, clipboard, ribbon tags, ticket stubs or pins.

Background suggestion: Ticket gate, striped awning, lantern glow, blurred carnival crowd.

Negative prompt: No clown makeup, no text, no exaggerated grotesque features, no modern security gear.

Token suitability note: Excellent token candidate; whistle or ticket-stub silhouette works well at small size.

---

Bramble the Balloon-Smith

Role: Minor ally / respite NPC / practical helper

Portrait prompt: A sturdy balloon mechanic with grease-smudged cheeks, practical tool harness, and calm, capable hands. She looks grounded and fearless, with a work-worn apron or utility vest and balloon rigging visible behind her. Her posture says she can patch a valve, a plan, or a problem without wasting time. Clean storybook fantasy portrait, polished, warm, and competent.

Expression/personality cue: Straightforward, reassuring, slightly wry.

Costume/prop cue: Tool belt, wrench, valve wheel, balloon cords, balloon-silk patches.

Background suggestion: Maintenance catwalk, balloon rigging, brass valves, clouds.

Negative prompt: No armored knight look, no modern mechanic shop, no text, no gritty realism.

Token suitability note: Very strong token candidate with wrench, valve wheel, or balloon-hook silhouette.

---

Ringmaster Vaelor Vane

Role: Main antagonist / pressure engine

Portrait prompt: A flamboyant ringmaster in a long crimson-and-gold coat, glittering cane in hand, theatrical gloves, and a predatory smile. He stands tall and elegant, with sharp tailoring, stage-perfect posture, and the kind of charm that feels dangerous. The design should emphasize charisma, control, and performance rather than monsterhood. Clean storybook fantasy portrait, polished, cinematic, and highly readable.

Expression/personality cue: Grandiose, amused, cutting, and utterly self-assured.

Costume/prop cue: Crimson coat, gold trim, cane, gloves, medals or epaulets, spotlight highlights.

Background suggestion: Spotlit parade rig, floating banners, stage curtains, carnival lights.

Negative prompt: No gore, no monstrous deformity, no clown excess, no text, no copyrighted ringmaster analogues.

Token suitability note: Excellent token candidate using cane tip, hat silhouette, or a stylized insignia.

---

Monster / Hazard / Boss Visual Prompts

Ringmaster Vaelor Vane

Visual prompt: A theatrical carnival boss in a crimson-and-gold coat on a raised parade platform, cane extended in command, surrounded by spotlight beams and swirling ribbons of magical light. He appears poised to direct the entire carnival like an orchestra, with floating props, moving platforms, and bright stage effects reacting to his gestures. He should look elegant, dangerous, and controlling, not monstrous.

Silhouette cue: Tall upright figure with flaring coat tails and a cane held like a conductor’s baton.

Threat cue: The environment itself seems to move when he gestures; spotlight and crowd-control energy radiate from him.

Environment cue: Parade rig, launch levers, lights, banners, rising floats, cloudlit sky.

Negative prompt: No gore, no horror distortion, no clown tears or rotting makeup, no text, no copyrighted villain styling.

Token suitability note: Highly suitable for a boss token; keep the cane and coat silhouette clear.

---

Midway Juggler-Gear

Visual prompt: A sinister carnival construct with a segmented mechanical body, juggling arms, spinning blade-like hands, and a movement pattern that suggests constant motion and balancing acts. It should feel like a performer turned weapon, with polished metal, bright painted accents, and dangerous tools built into its frame. The pose should be dynamic, mid-skip or mid-spin, as if it is about to push someone off a rail.

Silhouette cue: Lean, multi-limbed, asymmetrical, with visible juggling arms or spinning implements.

Threat cue: Sharp motion lines, flying props, and a posture that suggests shoving, throwing, or breaking formation.

Environment cue: Midway rails, ride platforms, game stalls, moving catwalks.

Negative prompt: No gore, no industrial robot bulk, no steampunk clutter, no text, no copyrighted circus automaton designs.

Token suitability note: Good token if the limbs remain bold and readable.

---

Clatterclown Guard

Visual prompt: A small toy-like carnival construct with a rattle-bright body, painted faceplate, stubby baton, and confetti compartments built into its frame. It should look noisy, annoying, and just dangerous enough to be a real problem in groups. The visual should suggest a tinny clatter when it moves, with bright, simple shapes and clear menace.

Silhouette cue: Small, squat, rounded body with a baton or club and a top-heavy head shape.

Threat cue: Confetti puff vents, rattle pieces, and a stiff guarding stance.

Environment cue: Ticket gates, midway stalls, backstage corridors, crowd-control lines.

Negative prompt: No creepy horror clown face, no gore, no text, no oversized complex machinery.

Token suitability note: Very suitable for a minion token; use a simple bold shape and bright outline.

---

Mirror Maze Mislead

Visual prompt: A mirrored carnival hazard shown as a tilted funhouse corridor with reflecting panels, false doors, and a distorted duplicate path disappearing into the wrong direction. One or two reflections should show a different route than the real corridor, creating a visual puzzle. The hazard should feel disorienting but whimsical rather than terrifying, with colored glass highlights and geometric reflections.

Silhouette cue: Angular corridor shapes, repeated door frames, and a split-path illusion.

Threat cue: An apparent route mismatch; reflection and reality do not line up.

Environment cue: Funhouse interior, mirrored walls, painted trim, dim lantern light, tilted flooring.

Negative prompt: No text, no horror faces in mirrors, no broken-glass gore, no abstract unreadable geometry.

Token suitability note: Could work as an objective or hazard token if simplified to a mirrored doorway icon.

---

Lift-Line Snapback

Visual prompt: A dangerous carnival rigging hazard: a snapped cable whipping across a narrow catwalk, with sparks, taut lines, and a pulsing pulley system. The hazard should show motion and force, with one line snapping toward a platform edge while another bracing line strains under pressure. Brass fittings, rope fibers, and dangling hooks should make the danger immediately legible.

Silhouette cue: Long diagonal cable whip with a sharp motion arc.

Threat cue: The cable is mid-snap, suggesting impact, forced movement, and edge danger.

Environment cue: Backstage catwalks, balloon rig, parade scaffold, pulley wheels.

Negative prompt: No explosion fireball, no gore, no modern electrical wires, no text, no clutter.

Token suitability note: Best as a hazard icon or objective marker, not a character token.

---

Parade Float Husk

Visual prompt: A large animated parade float fragment turned hostile: painted wood panels, brass trim, oversized decorative shapes, and mounted beam arms moving like a lumbering stage machine. It should look like part of a carnival display that has come to life and now shoves anything in its way. The design should be colorful but bulky, with obvious moving joints and a tethered floating component.

Silhouette cue: Large boxy float body with an oversized beam, decorative topper, and tether line.

Threat cue: Crushing weight, sweeping beam motion, and a looming mounted platform presence.

Environment cue: Parade rig, launch platform, float assembly area, rising carnival sky.

Negative prompt: No monster flesh, no gore, no industrial tank aesthetic, no text, no copyrighted parade-beast look.

Token suitability note: Good if simplified to a bold float-and-beam silhouette.

---

Bramble the Balloon-Smith

Visual prompt: A practical balloon mechanic beside valves, cords, and balloon silk, holding a wrench and bracing a lift-line with one steady hand. She should look ready to fix, patch, or reverse carnival machinery under pressure. The visual should emphasize competence, warmth, and grounded courage.

Silhouette cue: Strong upright mechanic stance with wrench, tool belt, and balloon tether lines.

Threat cue: Not a threat figure; the “threat” is her ability to solve the machinery problem under fire.

Environment cue: Service catwalks, balloon rigging, brass valves, lantern glow, cloud background.

Negative prompt: No combat monster styling, no modern workshop, no text, no over-armor.

Token suitability note: Excellent token if you want a support NPC token with a wrench or valve wheel.

---

Fizzle Threadwhistle

Visual prompt: A sly carnival access-handler with a whistle, clipboard, and layered ribbons, standing at an angle like someone ready to point you somewhere better or lie to your face. The portrait should feel quick, useful, and slightly slippery, with crisp carnival colors and a visible staff badge or ticket pass.

Silhouette cue: Slim profile, clipboard, whistle, ribbon streamers.

Threat cue: He is socially dangerous: secrets, routes, and access rather than combat power.

Environment cue: Ticket gate, notice board, service arch, carnival lanterns.

Negative prompt: No clown makeup, no text, no exaggerated villain look, no modern badges.

Token suitability note: Very suitable for a small token; keep the whistle or clipboard clear.

---

Spot Art / Handout Seed Prompts

1. Sealed Charter Case A wax-sealed document case with a brass clasp and a faint glow leaking from the edges, resting on dark wood. Clean storybook fantasy still life, high readability, no text.

2. Ticket Stub with Seal Mark A striped carnival ticket stub stamped with a formal seal impression, slightly torn at the edge, lit by warm lantern light. Minimal composition, handout-friendly, no text.

3. Carnival Ledger Page A cluttered ledger sheet with columns, tally marks, wax drips, and one line highlighted by a seal-shaped imprint, but no readable writing. Use as evidence-card art, no text.

4. Mirrored Funhouse Panel A tilted mirror panel showing two different corridor directions at once, with one true path and one false reflection. Sharp geometric framing, puzzle-fragment feel, no text.

5. Reverse-Flow Valve Sketch A maintenance diagram-style image of brass valves, ropes, and a wheel that can stall the lift-lines, rendered as a clean object illustration without labels. No text.

6. Launch Bell and Spotlight A brass bell paired with a sweeping stage spotlight beam, suggesting the parade launch signal. Strong symbol art, no text, no letters.

7. Prize Slip and Token Stack Small pile of carnival tokens, ribboned prize slips, and a tiny brass charm, arranged like treasure handout art. Bright, readable, no text.

8. Staff-Only Service Sign Fragment A painted directional sign with the lettering intentionally obscured or worn away, leaving only arrows, bolts, and color blocks. Useful as a puzzle clue image, no text.

---

Consistency Notes

- Reuse floating carnival imagery, lantern glow, brass fittings, balloon tethers, ribbons, spotlight beams, and night sky contrast across all art. - Keep the carnival bright and theatrical rather than creepy; danger should come from motion, height, and timing. - Use recurring shapes: arches, circles, spirals, ropes, ladders, levers, and parade floats. - The charter should visually read as a sealed document case or glowing formal paper object in multiple pieces. - The ringmaster should always feel elegant and controlling, not monstrous. - Allies should feel practical and human, while constructs and hazards should feel performer-like, mechanical, or stage-driven. - Maintain a shared palette of gold, red, teal, violet, cream, and midnight blue with warm light sources.

Asset Checklist

Reusable layout, cover, and publication art stage.

PDF Layout Standard

Approved layout: Table-Ready Classic

Target pages: 8 / max 10

Design Notes

- Two-column interior with compact sidebars. - Small portrait and token strips only where they help scanning. - Battlemaps appear as thumbnails with encounter notes; full-size images go in the package.

Page Plan

1. Cover and One-Shot Brief - Title, level range, party size, premise, stakes, cover/setting image. 2. Adventure Overview - GM summary, scene flow, clocks/timers, objective, fail-forward guidance. 3. Scene 1-2 - Opening, first location, read-aloud, clues, quick checks. 4. Scene 3-4 - Core investigation or exploration scenes with callouts. 5. Finale Encounter - Battlefield notes, boss objective, hazards, scaling. 6. NPC and Clue Reference - NPC cards, clue matrix, secrets, stuck-player rescues. 7. Stat Blocks - Compact stat blocks and tactics. 8. Assets and Handouts - Map thumbnails, token reference, rewards, package manifest.

```odos-pdf-layout-manifest { "schema": "odos.pdf_layout_standard.v1", "approved_at": "2026-06-08T05:06:26+00:00", "project_id": 1, "draft": { "key": "table_ready_classic", "name": "Table-Ready Classic", "target_pages": 8, "best_for": "Fast DM scanning, print-friendly tables, strongest default for repeatable monthly releases.", "design_notes": [ "Two-column interior with compact sidebars.", "Small portrait and token strips only where they help scanning.", "Battlemaps appear as thumbnails with encounter notes; full-size images go in the package." ], "pages": [ { "page": 1, "title": "Cover and One-Shot Brief", "content": "Title, level range, party size, premise, stakes, cover/setting image." }, { "page": 2, "title": "Adventure Overview", "content": "GM summary, scene flow, clocks/timers, objective, fail-forward guidance." }, { "page": 3, "title": "Scene 1-2", "content": "Opening, first location, read-aloud, clues, quick checks." }, { "page": 4, "title": "Scene 3-4", "content": "Core investigation or exploration scenes with callouts." }, { "page": 5, "title": "Finale Encounter", "content": "Battlefield notes, boss objective, hazards, scaling." }, { "page": 6, "title": "NPC and Clue Reference", "content": "NPC cards, clue matrix, secrets, stuck-player rescues." }, { "page": 7, "title": "Stat Blocks", "content": "Compact stat blocks and tactics." }, { "page": 8, "title": "Assets and Handouts", "content": "Map thumbnails, token reference, rewards, package manifest." } ], "coverage": { "sections": [ { "key": "locked_concept", "label": "Locked Concept", "status": "approved", "words": 63 }, { "key": "dm_packet", "label": "Dm Packet", "status": "approved", "words": 3420 }, { "key": "npc_suite", "label": "Npc Suite", "status": "approved", "words": 2384 }, { "key": "clue_web", "label": "Clue Web", "status": "approved", "words": 3416 }, { "key": "stat_blocks", "label": "Stat Blocks", "status": "approved", "words": 2773 }, { "key": "art_prompts", "label": "Art Prompts", "status": "approved", "words": 3365 } ], "assets": { "setting_images": { "label": "Setting Images", "folder": "setting_images", "count": 9, "files": [ { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/01-floating-carnival-cover.png", "title": "01 Floating Carnival Cover", "size_bytes": 2772082 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/02-rooftop-fairground-edge.png", "title": "02 Rooftop Fairground Edge", "size_bytes": 2582142 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/03-midway-of-whirling-delights.png", "title": "03 Midway Of Whirling Delights", "size_bytes": 2867834 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/04-parade-rig-and-ringmaster-s-loft.png", "title": "04 Parade Rig And Ringmaster S Loft", "size_bytes": 2818362 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/regen-20260607-185113-floating-carnival-cover.png", "title": "Floating Carnival Cover", "size_bytes": 2920414 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/regen-20260607-185315-rooftop-fairground-edge.png", "title": "Rooftop Fairground Edge", "size_bytes": 2986101 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/regen-20260607-185441-midway-of-whirling-delights.png", "title": "Midway Of Whirling Delights", "size_bytes": 3230511 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/regen-20260607-185604-parade-rig-and-ringmaster-s-loft.png", "title": "Parade Rig And Ringmaster S Loft", "size_bytes": 2960421 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/regen-20260607-190141-floating-carnival-cover.png", "title": "Floating Carnival Cover", "size_bytes": 2184217 } ] }, "npc_images": { "label": "NPC Images", "folder": "npc_images", "count": 13, "files": [ { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/01-core-npc-profiles.png", "title": "01 Core Npc Profiles", "size_bytes": 1812944 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/02-mira-quill.png", "title": "02 Mira Quill", "size_bytes": 1690635 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/03-fizzle-threadwhistle.png", "title": "03 Fizzle Threadwhistle", "size_bytes": 1616827 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/04-bramble-the-balloon-smith.png", "title": "04 Bramble The Balloon Smith", "size_bytes": 1910517 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/05-ringmaster-vaelor-vane.png", "title": "05 Ringmaster Vaelor Vane", "size_bytes": 1803122 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/06-antagonist-deepening.png", "title": "06 Antagonist Deepening", "size_bytes": 1676089 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/07-ringmaster-vaelor-vane-pressure-profile.png", "title": "07 Ringmaster Vaelor Vane Pressure Profile", "size_bytes": 1775983 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/08-improvisation-support.png", "title": "08 Improvisation Support", "size_bytes": 1806994 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/20260607-202738-core-npc-profiles-207f0e.png", "title": "Core Npc Profiles", "size_bytes": 1572939 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/20260607-204748-mira-quill-5aa4da.png", "title": "Mira Quill", "size_bytes": 1614739 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/20260607-204852-fizzle-threadwhistle-11c387.png", "title": "Fizzle Threadwhistle", "size_bytes": 1842427 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/20260607-204956-bramble-the-balloon-smith-d1e16d.png", "title": "Bramble The Balloon Smith", "size_bytes": 1877041 } ] }, "monster_art": { "label": "Monster Art", "folder": "monster_images", "count": 10, "files": [ { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-022941-midway-juggler-gear-d82864.png", "title": "Midway Juggler Gear", "size_bytes": 3101553 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-023210-midway-juggler-gear-9aaa81.png", "title": "Midway Juggler Gear", "size_bytes": 3203872 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-023302-clatterclown-guard-14726a.png", "title": "Clatterclown Guard", "size_bytes": 3581812 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-023353-ringmaster-vaelor-vane-dd15b6.png", "title": "Ringmaster Vaelor Vane", "size_bytes": 2803221 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-023441-midway-juggler-gear-201a5c.png", "title": "Midway Juggler Gear", "size_bytes": 2754398 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-024229-midway-juggler-gear-53ef6f.png", "title": "Midway Juggler Gear", "size_bytes": 2709448 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-024324-clatterclown-guard-087c4a.png", "title": "Clatterclown Guard", "size_bytes": 2812480 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-024412-midway-juggler-gear-346f42.png", "title": "Midway Juggler Gear", "size_bytes": 3031717 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-024542-clatterclown-guard-dc0f80.png", "title": "Clatterclown Guard", "size_bytes": 2686688 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/monster_images/20260608-042040-parade-float-husk-abc589.png", "title": "Parade Float Husk", "size_bytes": 3005734 } ] }, "token_pack": { "label": "Token Pack", "folder": "token_pack", "count": 3, "files": [ { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/token_pack/20260608-042311-ringmaster-vaelor-vane-token-267e0e.png", "title": "Ringmaster Vaelor Vane Token", "size_bytes": 1669828 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/token_pack/bramble-the-balloon-smith-token.png", "title": "Bramble The Balloon Smith Token", "size_bytes": 374210 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/token_pack/midway-juggler-gear-token.png", "title": "Midway Juggler Gear Token", "size_bytes": 317974 } ] }, "battlemaps": { "label": "Battlemaps", "folder": "battlemaps", "count": 3, "files": [ { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/battlemaps/20260608-044027-primary-encounter-map-e48cdc.png", "title": "Primary Encounter Map", "size_bytes": 2361570 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/battlemaps/20260608-044551-the-path-1e39cf.png", "title": "The Path", "size_bytes": 2163170 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/battlemaps/20260608-044937-of-the-mirrored-hall-should-count-as-success-a098d0.png", "title": "Of The Mirrored Hall Should Count As Success", "size_bytes": 2782605 } ] }, "layout_art": { "label": "Layout / PDF Art", "folder": "layout_art", "count": 0, "files": [] } }, "has_core_text": true, "approved_layout": null }, "preview_assets": { "cover": { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/01-floating-carnival-cover.png", "title": "01 Floating Carnival Cover", "size_bytes": 2772082 }, "scene": { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/setting_images/01-floating-carnival-cover.png", "title": "01 Floating Carnival Cover", "size_bytes": 2772082 }, "map": { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/battlemaps/20260608-044027-primary-encounter-map-e48cdc.png", "title": "Primary Encounter Map", "size_bytes": 2361570 }, "portraits": [ { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/01-core-npc-profiles.png", "title": "01 Core Npc Profiles", "size_bytes": 1812944 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/02-mira-quill.png", "title": "02 Mira Quill", "size_bytes": 1690635 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/03-fizzle-threadwhistle.png", "title": "03 Fizzle Threadwhistle", "size_bytes": 1616827 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/npc_images/04-bramble-the-balloon-smith.png", "title": "04 Bramble The Balloon Smith", "size_bytes": 1910517 } ], "tokens": [ { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/token_pack/20260608-042311-ringmaster-vaelor-vane-token-267e0e.png", "title": "Ringmaster Vaelor Vane Token", "size_bytes": 1669828 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/token_pack/bramble-the-balloon-smith-token.png", "title": "Bramble The Balloon Smith Token", "size_bytes": 374210 }, { "public_path": "/assets/generated-art/project_1/token_pack/midway-juggler-gear-token.png", "title": "Midway Juggler Gear Token", "size_bytes": 317974 } ], "layout": [] } }, "rules": { "max_pages": 10, "target_pages": 8, "deterministic_template": true, "battlemap_delivery": "Thumbnail and tactical notes in PDF; full-size maps packaged separately.", "token_delivery": "Reference strip in PDF; PNG token files packaged separately." } } ```