Dark Carnival 2024: A Horror-Themed Special Event

“The 3 types of terror: The Gross-out: the sight of a severed head tumbling down a flight of stairs, it's when the lights go out and something green and slimy splatters against your arm. The Horror: the unnatural, spiders the size of bears, the dead waking up and walking around, it's when the lights go out and something with claws grabs you by the arm. And the last and worse one: Terror, when you come home and notice everything you own had been taken away and replaced by an exact substitute. It's when the lights go out and you feel something behind you, you hear it, you feel its breath against your ear, but when you turn around, there's nothing there...”
― Stephen King

Raleigh Tabletop RPGs is excited to bring you back to the infamous Dark Carnival, our very own horror-themed Special Event. The one-shot TTRPG sessions presented here by our incredible volunteer GMs run the gamut from Saturday Morning Cartoon Spookems to Psychological Dungeon Horror, from Otherwordly Sci-Fi Frights to Extraordinary Fantastical Fears.

Dark Carnival 2024 will comprise two Sessions of games -- the "morning" Session from 12noon - 4PM, and then the "afternoon" Session from 5PM-9PM. Players are welcome to sign up for a game in each Session, if they'd like. These Sessions will take place IRL at The Gamer's Armory, but everything will be organized centrally via RTR's Discord Server (check the Dark Carnival 2024 topic under the Campaigns and One Shots Forum list in the Tabletop section).

When you RSVP for this event, please fill out your Session Preferences in this survey. This is how we'll assign people to different tables, so it's very important that you complete this step ASAP. First preference on all sessions will be given to those who complete the survey.

During this event, we will be selling entries in a Fundraiser Raffle to help support RTR. Throughout the year, we need to spend money to maintain our Meetup account, book spaces at venues (like the Tavern!), and fund other services (e.g., Roll20/Kanka/Obsidian Portal for our GMs, printing rules for our public campaigns, etc.). This Raffle will support those efforts. Better yet, the more that is donated, the more awesome prizes that will be available! We will be taking cash as well as virtual donations. Speak with Randy Pinion at the event or on Discord for more details.

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Morning Session (12noon - 4pm)
Table 1: "Dark Caribbean Gold!" (Pirate Borg), from GM Vince P for up to 6 Players
Table 2: "Bleak Revel" (Our Brilliant Ruin), from GM Justin A for up to 4 Players
*Cancelled* Table 3: "Temple of the Worm Queen"
Table 4: "Throne of The Forest Queen" (Trophy Dark) from GM Jonn P for 3 Players
Table 5: "A Strange Light Breaks" (Dungeons & Dragons 5E) from GM Matt J for 5 Players

Afternoon Session (5pm - 9pm)
Table 1: "Carnival Gone Wrong" (Dungeons & Dragons 5E) from GM Dal for up to 6 Players
*Cancelled* Table 2: "Old Gods of Appalachia: Her Whispers Are Many"
Table 3: "What Lies Beneath the Remains of Cities Past" (Shadowlight & Personae) from GM Craig H for up to 5 Players
Table 4: "Sci-fi Double Feature" (Lasers & Feelings) from GM Erik G for up to 6 Players
Table 5: "Fear! Fear! For the Pumpkin-Man Nears!" (Heart: The City Beneath) from GM Randy P for up to 5 Players