01The Story
What happens when the last hope is destroyed by greed?
Inspired by “The Visitor” from The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. On Mars, exiles with the fatal blood rust disease wait to die, longing for Earth.
Then Leonard Mark arrives — a telepath who can project perfect illusions of Earth. He becomes their only comfort. But fear and possessiveness turn to violence, Mark is killed, and every illusion collapses at once, leaving only despair.
02Characters
LEADERSaul Williams
The protagonist — thin from illness, desperately homesick for Earth.
EXPECTATIONLeonard Mark
An 18-year-old telepath whose illusions of Earth are the exiles' only hope.
INSTIGATORJohnson
Selfish, violent, and the only one with a gun.
POPULATIONThe Exiles
Weak, pale outcasts who only ever talk about Earth.
03Visual Style
A retro sci-fi illustration style: rust-orange Martian landscapes, a huge red planet on the horizon, and cold cyan for the illusions and technology. All artwork was generated with AI and curated into one consistent look.
INTRODUCTION STORY VIDEO
OVERVIEW & HOW TO PLAY
04The Game
Players are the Exiles — dying outcasts competing over the only remaining source of hope, on a desolate, blood-rust-infected Mars. Keep your Sanity, gather Hope, and get close to Mark before time runs out.
05Cards
Seven decks, each with its own role in the game. Scroll sideways to browse.
Greed
12 CARDSSelfish moves that push players toward controlling Mark.
Affliction
10 CARDSBlood-rust symptoms that drain Sanity and limit actions.
Illusion / Hope
14 CARDSMemories of Earth that restore Hope and Sanity.
Action
20 CARDSTactical plays — movement, truces, negotiation, escape.
Weapon / Aggression
6 CARDSJohnson's gun and violent plays that can end the game.
Condition
8 CARDSLasting states such as fear, fatigue, or obsession.
Event
10 CARDSRound-wide shocks — dust storms, spreading greed, Mark's light.
06Rulebook
The complete rules — introduction, goal of the game, components, setup, how a turn works, card effects, conflict and resolution, and how the game ends.
