name: Miscellaneous GM intrusion
source: Cypher GM Intrusion deck
type: random-choice
choices:
  - An NPC appears to do something improbable or impossible (a magic trick, catching a real bird in their hand, making a baby stop crying).,
  - The character tries to show off for fun—flourish an innocuous object (umbrella, cardboard tube) like a weapon, strike a dramatic pose, or perform an impromptu dance maneuver. If they succeed at a difficulty 3 task, they impress or amuse themselves and anyone watching, easing the character’s tasks for the next minute.,
  - The character perceives a favorable and unfavorable outcome for the current situation. If they succeed at a difficulty 6 task to pick the outcome they want, their tasks for the remainder of the situation are eased; otherwise, they are hindered.,
  - The character suddenly forgets an important name (such as the name of the person they’re talking to or the one they’re looking for). They remember it quickly if they succeed at a difficulty 4 Intellect task; otherwise, it takes minutes or hours.,
  - A character is suddenly revealed to be an impostor (a clone, surgically altered spy, lookalike actor, shapechanger, robot duplicate) and either flees or self- destructs. The original character was captured and replaced at some point and needs to be rescued.,
  - The character startles a small but dangerous creature (like a snake, hungry bird, or vicious tiny dog), which makes one attack before fleeing. The character must succeed at a difficulty 4 Speed defense task or take 3 points of damage.,
  - A relatively tame creature (like a stray dog or curious bird) shows up and takes a liking to the character for about an hour. It won’t fight on the character’s behalf and may cause trouble, but it may also be useful in its own way.,
  - Something falls on the character from above—a tree branch, a ceiling beam, loose rocks on a cliff, or something thrown off of a building. The character must succeed at a difficulty 5 Speed defense roll or take 3 points of damage.,
  - An unusual smell triggers a forgotten childhood memory (something specific or as general as “comfort” or “mother”).,
  - The character has an allergic reaction to something nearby (a plant, food, perfume, pet, chemical smell, and so on). They must succeed at a difficulty 4 Might defense roll or take 3 points of Speed damage (ignores Armor).,
  - The ground beneath the character suddenly shifts, knocking them prone. If there is an open space beneath them, they fall through to the next lower level unless they succeed at a difficulty 5 Speed task.,
  - A passerby starts telling a rambling story that initially seems relevant but wanders far off topic. The character’s task is hindered while the NPC keeps up this distraction.,
  - The character experiences a sudden muscle spasm, headache, or abdominal pain. Their face reacts to the pain, and whatever task they’re attempting is hindered by three steps.,
  - The character pulls a muscle during physical activity and takes 1 point of lasting damage (ignores Armor). Until the character rests (Cypher System Rulebook, page 436), that physical action is hindered.,
  - An NPC says something that is clearly a password (such as “This meat could use more seasoning” or “The man with the mustache is a worthy ally”) to the character—or to nobody in particular.,
  - A nearby object suddenly activates or moves—a portcullis falls, a door creaks open, a machine noisily starts up, and so on. This momentary distraction hinders the character’s current task by three steps.,
  - A creature, an NPC, or a group of NPCs appears in a manner that is unusual for the setting—rappelling from a helicopter, arriving on horseback, pulling up in a hovercraft or school bus, or stepping out of a glowing portal. (Group intrusion.),
  - The character accidentally makes an awkward amount of eye contact with a stranger or rival.,
  - A nearby trash can, car, kiosk, or building explodes or catches fire. That’s startling, but there’s also something strange about it—odd colors, weird smoke, haunting noises, no NPCs reacting, and so on.,
  - The character is missing an important object or piece of equipment they thought they had. If they spend a couple of rounds searching, they realize that they’re already wearing or holding it.,
  - The character realizes this event will make an interesting anecdote in a book, play, story, or film about their life, and is hindered for a minute while trying to memorize the details.,
  - Something unnerving happens in an unexpected location—strange noises from a sewer grate, a disturbing speech from a local drunk, a strange message on a television or phone, and so on.,
  - The character has a false memory (misremembered, based on someone else’s account, or implanted) related to the current situation. Associated tasks are hindered for the next minute.,
  - A sleeping character awakens to find a wrapped parcel next to them. It may be addressed specifically to them, addressed more generically (“a hero,” “my true love,” “my enemy”), or not addressed at all.,
  - An NPC approaches a character as if they were old friends. This could be a ruse, or the NPC might need the character’s help against a dangerous person listening in.,
  - The character’s shoe slips off or its sole tears loose. This might make the character stumble or fall prone. The character’s movement is slowed until the shoe is fully on or is repaired.,
  - The character has a sudden insight about a technological or social innovation, hindering them until they take the time to write it down. (The idea is likely already in use.),
  - The character notices a number or symbol that has a coincidental connection to recent or current events.,
  - Something falls to the ground near the character—a wounded bird, a device from a building or vehicle, a failed attack from an unseen assassin, or something similarly unusual.,
  - The character sees an NPC do something inconsiderate (throwing litter on the ground, pushing past a senior citizen, not returning a shopping cart, leaving a grocery item on the wrong shelf).,
  - The character distinctly hears a voice in their head say something very clear. (It could be a memory fragment, a synaptic error, a telepathic missive, or just their imagination.),
  - A device or piece of equipment catches on fire or explodes, inflicting 3 points of ambient damage (ignores Armor) to a nearby character.,
  - Something damages a character’s tattoo, haircut, makeup, or other personal decoration.,
  - A mysterious stranger intervenes, offering assistance or advice (granting an asset) for a round and then leaving. The character is confused for the next minute, hindering all tasks.,
  - An authority figure or concerned citizen tries to stop the character from doing whatever they’re doing. Even if what they’re doing is legal or allowed, the NPC insists it isn’t.,
  - The character has the urge to spend a little too much money on something unimportant (clothes, toys, memorabilia). If they indulge, one task of their choice later that day is eased.,
  - A large number of common animals (bees, birds, mice) appear in the area, attracted to or agitated by something.,
  - An NPC known in the community accuses a character of a crime.,
  - The character suddenly remembers something embarrassing or extremely out of character that they did. Any mental actions or conversations for the next minute are hindered.,
  - An inadvertent optical illusion confuses a character about what they’re seeing. Until they spend a round or two examining it, visual tasks are hindered by two steps.,
  - A vehicle (or large mount such as a horse) swerves toward the character, who must succeed at a difficulty 3 Speed defense task or take 3 points of damage from the impact.,
  - A nearby NPC is eating or drinking very loudly.,
  - The character suddenly feels “cute aggression”—the momentary desire to squeeze or crush something cute they can see, such as a baby or puppy. Then the feeling passes.,
  - The weather conditions (such as rain, fog, or wind) hinder all tasks by one step for the next thirty minutes. (Group intrusion.),
  - The character’s senses become muddled, as if they are tired or intoxicated. All communication and perception tasks are hindered until the character can rest for a few minutes.,
  - The character suddenly feels the urge to do something they know is dangerous (step into traffic, jump over a safety railing).,
  - The character is physically, emotionally, socially, or intellectually overwhelmed and cannot take actions until they rest quietly for a few minutes.,
  - A well-meaning passerby starts to lecture a character about something they’re doing incorrectly or inefficiently.,
  - The character remembers an interesting person they once met (a potential friend, crush, lover, or rival). Intellect actions are hindered for a few minutes.,
  - A tool or other useful object develops an obvious critical flaw and will break in the next round or two.,
  - The character experiences a phobia reaction or aversion to something nearby, which hinders all their tasks while they are able to perceive it or know it to be nearby.,
  - The wind blows a cloud of paper debris (business receipts, personal mail, newspapers) into the area.,
  - When texting, calling, messaging, or speaking to someone, the character accidentally communicates with the wrong person.,
  - The character feels sad and craves a minute of connection with a friend, comrade, or pet. If they can’t get it, their tasks are hindered for an hour.,
  - A local holiday, celebration, or ritual begins, and the character is asked to take part.,
  - A large local phenomenon (parade, power outage, loud block party, rowdy convention) hinders all tasks for an hour or so. (Group intrusion.),
  - Minor movement and sounds in the area are very distracting to the character, hindering tasks for the next minute unless things get still and quiet.,
  - The character starts hiccupping, hindering all tasks. Ending this is a difficulty 4 Might or Intellect task they can attempt once per minute.,
  - The character overindulges in whatever food, sweets, drinks, or drugs they’re currently enjoying, hindering all tasks for the next few hours.,
  - A device or other piece of equipment seems to hate the character trying to use it, hindering tasks with it by three steps for the next few minutes.,
  - The character is overthinking their next task. If they spend an action thinking up a simpler option, the task is eased; otherwise, it is hindered.,
  - The character becomes tongue-tied and has trouble communicating with anyone for the next minute. Communication tasks are hindered by three steps.,
  - An NPC runs past the characters. Other people yell out that the fleeing NPC is a criminal and someone should grab them. (Group intrusion.),
  - A character’s pet eats something that might be dangerous.,
  - The character’s backpack, bag, purse, or other container breaks or falls open, dumping all the contents onto the ground.,
  - The character is caught doing some kind of minor but socially unacceptable grooming (picking their nose, adjusting underwear) at just the wrong moment.,
  - The character realizes they’ve lost or thrown away something they should have kept (instructions to a device, a shopping list).,
  - The character experiences déjà vu—the feeling that they have lived through the current situation before.,
  - An NPC walks by who is a near-identical copy of the character (or a lookalike of that character with a different gender).,
  - The character experiences presque vu— the feeling of being on the brink of an epiphany, insight, or revelation without actually achieving it.,
  - A single person cries for help nearby. (Group intrusion.),
  - Several people (nearby but out of sight) are yelling for help, and it sounds like a fight is happening. (Group intrusion.),
  - An NPC is behaving dangerously (texting while driving, wandering into the street, letting an aggressive dog run loose).,
  - The character momentarily forgets what they were about to do and has to spend an action to remember what it was.,
  - A nearby NPC is holding something anachronistic (pocket watch, bowl of ice cubes, extinct animal).,
  - The character sees something that is obviously a secret message or omen intended for them.,
  - An elderly person asks the character for help with something (crossing the street, finding a store, using a machine).,
  - The character discovers information that suggests their supposedly dead sibling, parent, lover, or defeated foe is still alive.,
  - An animal quickly approaches and tries to steal something a character is holding or carrying.,
  - The character develops a sunburn, rash, or minor allergic reaction that is obvious but not harmful.,
  - A nearby NPC is talking too loudly in a private conversation (or using a speakerphone in public, or talking in a theater).,
  - The character keeps noticing something (an ice cream truck, a red-haired person, a fat cat) over the course of the day.,
  - The character feels itchy. All tasks are hindered until they spend a few rounds finding the right place to scratch.,
  - A character’s pet runs after something (breaking free of a leash or restraint if necessary).,
  - A character’s pet demands attention from the character or an NPC.,
  - A busybody, journalist, or camera crew shows up and starts being annoying or distracting.,
  - The character catches a cold or other mild illness. All physical tasks are hindered for one day.,
  - The character realizes they had a dream about the current situation (in which things went very well or very badly).,
  - The character gets a song or phrase stuck in their head for the next hour, hindering mental tasks.,
  - Monsters or strange creatures appear in an otherwise normal environment. (They are actually people in costumes.),
  - Someone from the character’s past shows up with bad news.,
  - An NPC moves away right after the character sits or stands nearby. Was this intentional, or a coincidence?,
  - A character hears faint familiar music coming from somewhere nearby.,
  - An NPC keeps getting in the character’s way (at a shop, on the sidewalk, on the road, at the airport).,
  - The character thinks of an insult or rebuttal that would have been perfect for an earlier conversation and is distracted by this revelation for one round.,
  - A character notices an intriguing smell (perfume, food, wood) coming from somewhere nearby.,
  - The character confuses “left” and “right” (including which hand to use) for one round.,
  - The character has the feeling they were shortchanged in a recent transaction.,
  - A dangerous creature or person suddenly attacks the NPC or character.,
  - Something the character carries (equipment, an artifact, or manifest cypher) starts acting oddly—glowing, making noises, repeating or picking up voices from nearby, or trying to move on its own. The item might be developing a new ability, getting hacked, or about to overload and explode.