The Thorn Court

A mortal bard walks into a fae court with a lute and no invitation. A trick-taking card RPG played on a living illuminated manuscript: gold-leaf miniatures land on vellum with an ink bleed, a marginal beast uncurls to name the trump, and a won trick spirals into the gutter. Nine courtiers duel you, each with a custom that rewrites the hand — sworn ranks, cursed suits, a misere where the lowest leaf wins, a turning trump. Draft a sheaf from sixty leaves, spend three mortal favours, and choose the boons that decide which of three endings closes the book.