The Fool
New Beginnings, Naivete, Freedom, Recklessness, Gullibility, This Is What You Get For Trusting The Maps App On Your Phone, Dumb Feather Hats, Weird Little Dogs, Wildcard, Getting Out of Trouble
Look at this happy-go-lucky idiot!
They don’t even see that they’re about to fall off of a cliff! They’re not even looking where they’re going. They haven’t packed anything but a small purse on a stick.
They’ve got a little dog trying to warn them that they’re about to tumble to their death, but who has time to listen to little dogs?
They’re holding a white flower, which is symbolic of “innocence” and also “not packing enough”.
In some sense, though, they’re brave: willing to stride headlong into danger without even looking at where their feet are.
In a much more real sense, though, they’re a simpleton, who’s about to discover whether or not that flower works as a parachute.1
Some people liken the Major Arcana of the Tarot to the Hero’s Journey - and in that sense, the Fool is the hero. The zero card, the blank slate, an adventurer about to go on a journey.
In trick-taking games, The Fool is often a wild-card, the lowest-scoring trump card, the highest-scoring trump card, or a way to escape consequences from a bad trick: so it’s thematically appropriate for The Fool to turn out to be a creature of immense power and influence, or for The Fool to allow your players to get away with something that they would not have, otherwise.
Friends & Foes
a Gullible Shopkeep, who’s a wonderful (and profitable) target for any thieves’ gallery in town, up to and including your party.
a Naive Grandmother who has very clearly just been conned out of a lot of money.
a Friendly Performer who wants to hear your party’s stories, and believes them all - no matter how outlandish.
a Stock Shōnen Hero, a big-hearted, energetic kid who’s not too smart but believes in themself - way too much, to the point where they consistently manage to find danger
a Mischievous Spirit who delights in tormenting the party because they’re so fun to harass, but who draws the line at actual harm.
a Nasty Clown, looking to entertain themselves by toying with your party, and who absolutely does not draw the line at actual harm.
an Inspector Incompetent with some Keystone Cops investigating the party’s real or imagined crimes - yet unable to make any forward progress.
an Unconvincing Doppelganger, pretending to be someone important. How have they not been caught yet?
a Dull Goon, sent to bust some heads but easily outwitted.
Hooks
A carnival has come to town - and it is a thinly disguised group of escaped criminals / demons / international jewel thieves / royalty / all of the above.
Your players must undertake a grand journey to deliver a crucial artifact to the furthest reaches of the continent.
Everybody is trying to get their hands on a Priceless Golden Statue - which turns out, if your players find it, to be gilded but not golden, rendering it essentially worthless. The best way to get any coin out of this thing is to pass it off as valuable...
Locations
The Waterfall Cliffs hang imposingly over a a high vantage point. They can make a great way to evade or escape - or just explore, but the party will have to make a leap of faith.
The Mysterious Portal glows and thrums with arcane energy. It will take the party to an exciting new location, but warning: it’s a one-way trip.
The Twisted Dog Alehouse is a classic tavern: the air smells of spiced roasted goat and ale, the bartender is gruff and seemingly always has mutton chops, and it’s about the perfect place to start an adventure.
The Theater District is a part of town devoted to the entertainment industry. A good place to find actors, set designers, and fresh-faced young adults with a dream in their heart and a song in their step.
Ambush Alley looks pretty safe to me - I mean, bad things don’t happen in cramped, dark spaces, right?
Treasures
The legendary Monkey Cape is a prize, granting dexterity and good fortune - but it cannot abide by the cautious or careful.
When you reach into Shufflebag you’re guaranteed to get something you didn’t expect. Will it be useful? Who knows!
Why, this shabby, mismatched suit, Have a Knife Day!, is covered in patches and seems to always have a knife in one of the pockets.
Names
Lunette, Bells, Harley, Quinn, Penny, Pogo, Slim, Tati, Zig, Zag, Grimaldi, Bozo, Ronald, Grock, Emmett, Buster, Marx, Shaggy, Dope, Larry, Curly, Moe, Mump, Smoot, Pierrot, Harlequin, Pagliacci, Yorick, Costard, Falstaff, Puck, Pocket, Triboulet, Rigoletto, Jest, Wamba, Claypole, Folly, Motley, Clopin, Cicero, Jollo, Zorn, Thorn, Arlecchino,