GenCon 2025 Infamous Tournament Information

Can a band of explorers acting on the prophetic ramblings of an old wizard unravel the mysteries of Kabaré and save the world? Test your tactical role playing skills to the max in this tournament where information is the greatest weapon.

As a buffer state between Kivu and its enemy, the Empire of Carbonia, Kabaré has achieved considerable stature. Recent envoys sent across the Kabaré borders have not come back, a bad omen and an important part of an apocalyptic prophecy.  Rumors turn to rampant speculation, and terror grips the nation.  Now, the only people crazy enough to venture into Kabaré are a small group of young apprentices.

Players will be organized into teams of five (4 to 6) to compete for the prize. Scoring will be based on progress toward saving the world. Points will be awarded primarily for information obtained by the players and mission advancement.  Player characters are expected to increase in level and abilities during the session. The Infamous game system used is in beta testing and simplified enough so that any role players can easily learn it.

A Council of Wizards has always provided governance over Kivu, and the citizens have historically enjoyed unfettered commerce and prosperity.

Emperor Jerrimonda of Carbonia ruled his nation with an iron fist and the might of his demon allies. All those not serving the military live in abject poverty, toiling to support expansion of the empire.

Much of the borderlands between these two larger nations is occupied by the Kingdom of Kabaré, historically neutral in any conflicts between Kivu and Carbonia.

As the demons of Carbonia strayed into Kivu for…entertainment, support grew for a sect of wizards specializing in magic and abilities that could slay demons. These Demonslayer wizards and the knights that served them became powerful enough to significantly diminish the population of demons serving the Emperor. In response, Carbonia invaded Kivu, marking the beginning of a long and bloody war.

During the war, Kabaré remained neutral, allowing troops from both sides to pass as long as battle was conducted outside the borders of Kabaré. For decades, neither side could prevail. Finally, the old King of Kabaré passed, and his grandson, Petrov, an honorable knight became the new king. King Petrov brokered a ceasefire between Kivu and Carbonia two years ago. Carbonia agreed to remove all demons from Imperial rulership, and Kivu agreed to expel all Demonslayer wizards from the Council and any other leadership positions in Kivu.

Though the agreement provided the citizens of Kivu with hope for peace, it did not sit well with everyone. At the signing of the cease fire, Vincent, an Avenger of Avonhill and oldest member of the Council, walked out, claiming the agreement would bring the end of all humanity. Vincent’s prophesy stemmed from his interpretations of an insane Time Wizard’s ramblings. He insisted that the end would come once the following “signs” had come to pass:

1. The two great enemies would lay down their arms for the youngest and most honorable king of Kabaré.
2. Carbonia would betray the demonic essence that brought it power, and Kivu would turn on the Demonslayers that protected it with their lives.
3. The infamous Demon Talons, created by the strongest forces of hell to take free will, would be stolen from the citadel vault in Bukavu, the most secure place in Kivu.
4. Silence would fall over Kabaré 19 days before the complete destruction of Kivu and Carbonia, with the utter extinction of all living things within the next century.

Last month, the Demon Talons were stolen from Bukavu, and for the last two weeks, any venturing into Kabaré for trade did not come back.  Terror among the citizens of Kivu near the border escalated to the point where the Council decided to send an envoy, Sir Garry the Great. When he did not return, the Council assembled a team of twenty young apprentices in the capital of Kivu, to seek out Vincent in the mountains and placate the populace. In the meantime, they promised to use magic at their disposal to solve the issue and restore harmony in the borderlands. 

This tournament is focused on tactical role playing. The plot and outcome of the story depends on you. If you don’t interfere with the plot line, it continues on schedule to the end of humanity. The fate of the world is literally in your hands. To win, you just need to save the world. If everyone dies, you lose. The scoring will be based on progress toward saving the world, regardless of what any non-player character (NPC) tells you. Experience will be awarded primarily for information obtained by the players and mission advancement, and the players are expected to increase in level during the session.

You will be given 20 characters that start at 0th level but with two skills each. When you lose a character, just pick up another until all 20 have been used. When reentering the game with a new character, the timing will be mostly at the discretion of the player. Remember that when you talk, it’s assumed that your character is speaking. If your character has not yet reentered the game, you can say whatever you want to the other players. 

Normal humans, elves, dwarves, etc. have six stats ranging from 3 to 13 (2d6 +1). Characters advancing to 1st level add 1d6 +1 to each stat and adjustment after that. Any stat over 13 is heroic. Any stat over 18 is godlike, and can be readily noticed by anyone.

All 20 of you are brought to the Council of Wizards in the capital of Kivu, Bukavu. Although none of you had ever met them, Mary, Harry, and Sue are all well known to you as the eldest and most powerful of all wizards. Phil, the young wizard replacing Vincent, is barely older than any of you. While the old ones have intellect rivaling gods, Phil appears to possess wisdom beyond any other.

Harry speaks for the Council when addressing you. “Young apprentices, you have been called before this esteemed council for a mission of great consequence. As you may know, the citizens of Kivu have become frantic over some frivolous and vague predictions made by an insane Time Wizard. We ask that you investigate this matter thoroughly and expeditiously to assuage the concerns of those overwrought with anxiety. This ruse has created a matter of public safety with possible international consequences. Disruption of our treaty with Kabaré could have disastrous impact, bringing open warfare to Kivu.” He paused before continuing with a little more passion in his voice.

“You must convince Master Vincent to publically denounce these prevarications that threaten our precarious peace with the Empire of Carbonia!” He took a breath to calm himself. “To that end, I have included as many Demonslayer initiates as I could find among your number in hopes that Vincent may dissuaded from this reckless endeavor.” He turned to Sue. “You shall be escorted by our best recon rangers to Vincent’s bastion in the mountains near the border.”

You all finally arrive after noon at Vincent’s small fortress, sitting on a fairly flat area a few square miles (several square kilometers) in area, a rarity in the mountains. The recon rangers are not welcomed by the soldiers guarding Vincent’s home. They indicate that they will be waiting just outside the property in the nearby forest when you return from their visit.

You are brought to the main hall of the structure for lunch where Vincent and Tim greet you. Vincent makes use of an ornate, hollow staff, perhaps more just to stand without falling over. His many decades have taken their toll. Tim, on the other hand, appears young for a wizard, perhaps no more than 30 years of age. He seems to hide behind the senior wizard and avoids eye contact at all cost.

Vincent greets you all…warmly? “Any of y’all that seeks the truth is welcome at my table.” And then, not so warmly… “Any of y’all that seeks to deceive me, well, I’ll just have to blow your damn head off.” He sets a shiny, hollow wand with a strange handle on the table in front of him with a threatening demeanor, as if the object had some power or significance.

The old wizard points to the feast on the table. “Chow down while y’all can.” He sits down, and Tim crouches behind him. “I reckon y’all come here for them cowards on the council. Well, I ain’t gonna cooperate with them shit bags. People around here are panicking, and they should. Won’t be more than a few days before Kivu ain’t nothin’ but a memory, and mankind heads down the road to extinction. Now, are y’all here to help…or just piss and moan?”