Into a Warm Sun RPG

The warden saved you from what was out there.
The world has ended. Whether by nuclear armageddon, alien invasion, climate catastrophe, pandemic, or some other disaster, the outside world is unlivable. Thankfully for you, you have been granted safety from these horrors by the warden of a bunker, one who had the incredible foresight to see that the world was coming to an end and prepared accordingly.

Who will save you from the warden?
This is a horror game about being trapped in a bunker under the total authority of one person. One player plays as the warden, who has total control over the events of the game. The other players play as tenants, those who have sought refuge from the outside world within the confines of the bunker and must find a way to survive here.

The horror doesn't come from the apocalypse ravaging the outside world. It's right here in the bunker, with you. It's the warden. Things may seem fine at first: the warden has provided a place to sleep and enough food to eat as you ride out whatever calamity is happening out there.

The Sliders
Three sliders track the situation in the bunker on a sliding scale. The first one, Control—Freedom, reveals how much agency the tenants have in the bunker. At full control everything the warden says is law; at full freedom, the tenants earn the ability to leave the bunker. The Trust—Doubt slider tracks the trust the tenants have with the warden's words. The final slider, Truth—Lie reveals how true the warden's story is about the apocalypse raging outside. As it slips towards lie, it becomes more and more clear that the outside world is still livable, but tragedy awaits if the tenants earn their freedom at full truth.

The Dice
While the warden has total authority over the events of the game both in and out of character, the players can demand a dice roll at any time when they disagree with the warden's word. The warden is the primary dice roller, and will roll 3d6 using a resolution system inspired by the gambling game Cee-Lo. The winner of the die roll will gain narrative control over the disagreement, and will get to move one of the sliders in their favor.

What happens when you do something the warden dislikes? What happens when there's disagreement? What will it look like as trust turns to doubt? Will control turn to freedom? Will truth turn to a lie? Will you ever again walk into a warm sun?

This game is inspired primarily by 10 Cloverfield Lane, where John Goodman played a rather frightening warden. It's also inspired by the gambling game Cee-Lo.

scattered books and papers

The Endtimes Trilogy
Into A Warm Sun is game two of The Endtimes Trilogy, along with Quy Serra Serra and The Way Out.



5.5x5.5" 29 page color zine with sewn binding