Knock Down (Part 6)
There are two men standing before you. One dressed in red and the other dressed in blue. They've offered you a book with instructions for a very complicated game of cards, and watch eagerly as you peruse it. "We do so hope you will play with us, it has been a very long time and we grow /so/ bored of beating people in physical contests." They look at you with identical expressions of longing.
Merek nods a bit to the men, while he seems to think about it a moment, "I would like to," he says, while he smiles a bit.
Sargon flips pages in the giant pamphlet of rules. "I have no skill at card games," he admits in a murmured voice to the rest of the party.
Having walked away to sit on a log or stone or some such not too far away, Alaryn calls out, "I am not with them! When they lose, I hope you will allow me to challenge you at a game neither of us knows, so we can all learn it at once. That's the only way to be fair." She sighs and shakes her head, "You guys know they are trying to talk you into surrendering to them, right?"
"...I mean, that much is obvious," says Stena to Alaryn, "but I think they just want to keep the odds stacked in their favor." She squints at the lot of them. "Mn. But losing builds character!" She puffs her chest up.
"We have to play to capitalize on our strengths," Sargon suddenly says. "We outnumber them, and surely we have powers and talents they don't." He begins flipping through the book more quickly now, searching for some rule or strategy that will let them take advantage. Of numbers, or of magic.
The two men watch the debate with interest and when things seem to go in their favor they begin to make a few odd gestures that cause a table and a mound of pillows to take place on the ground where you are. "What say you we play three rounds. The best of three wins and if that is any one of you we will allow you passage." A deck of cards appears on the table last.
Merek nods to that rule book, "I say it's a deal, with one condition. If we fail, but still presented you a challenge, you allow us a game of our choice next," he offers, "I am happy to do something like this with you, the game," he says.
"Answer me this guardians!" calls out Alaryn. "Are we -allowed- to play any game other than the one you choose?" Yep, she's still sitting back there, watching.
"... I mean, it's an okay question by me," says Stena, waiting to see what they have to say to Alaryn with a noncommittal shrug, "but I'd think playing the games you already win at all the time is just kinda... lazy, anyway."
Sargon takes a seat on one of the pillows. He frowns slightly at how much he sinks in. It won't be easy to spring to his feet should the need arise. He watches for a reaction from the twins to the questions.
"If you give us a challenge we would be most appreciative, but it is one contest and one alone. This game of cards or the physical contest." They grin in unison. "It is not our fault that we have become quite good at both over the years; we have nothing to do but practice and wait."
Merek looks between the others, then he looks to the men, "Cards," he offers. He is wanting a challenge for the mind it looks like.
Stena gives a sympathetic shrug towards Alaryn at that point.
"Is the physical contest required to be a /fight/?" she queries, curiously.
"You said a game. Then you said you only knew one game. You never said that we were required to best you at -your- game! Any game should work, right?!" clarifies Alaryn. "I understand you are trying to phrase it in a way that you have the advantage..."
And then to Stena she snorts, "The objective is to win, not to work as hard as you can to win."
"...but I like working hard," says Stena, blankly, to Alaryn, blinking at her.
GAME: Stena rolls perception: (4)+0: 4 GAME: Alaryn rolls perception: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Merek rolls perception: (13)+13: 26 GAME: Sargon rolls perception: (7)+9: 16
The twins turn and look at one another, whispering very quietly as an aside before turning back to the group. "The contest must be Dragon Poker or a fight." They sound very firm on this.
"Ahh, but you were not sure. I think you are making it up as you go. I can make up rules too!" offers Alaryn. "I declare that the challenge must be ale ball." (Beer Pong for D&D!). She smiles and waits to see how Rooster and Caboose react to her declaration.
"Dragon Poker," he repeats in awe, reminded of the name of the game. Then Sargon looks at Merek. "Perhaps we have found our advantage"
"...is the advantage that I am actually a dragon in disguise, rawr?" says Stena, looking at the others.
She is bad at this bluffing thing.
Merek offers a look to Ala, "You know, we can at least be polite, we not only are insulting men that give us directions but guardians doing their duty?" he asks. He sighs a bit, then he looks to the guardians, "I apologize for this, it's been quite a journey," he adds.
The twins bow to Merek in unison. "We appreciate your words young man. We /are/ certain. The contest has been the same since the beginning and to change it now would be to be unfair to all those that came before you. So choose, we will wait patiently for you." They step back slightly so that they can watch your considerations.
“In the future, it would be better if you were clear up front. Saying.. it must be a game, and then saying you only know one game.. does not mean that said game is the only option." complains Alaryn. But she looks to the others and waves a hand forward, "Go on, let them beat you at their game because they don't understand the concept of playing fair."
GAME: Alaryn rolls will: (20)+2: 22 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Alaryn rolls will: (12)+2: 14
Merek just looks at Alaryn, then he looks to the others, "I'm confident about the game, but I'll let you all figure which is better," he says. A nod also to them all, "I would prefer the game to fighting," he adds.
Sargon nods in agreement. "Either is fine. So long as we win," he adds the last part under his breath while shooting a sidelong glance at Alaryn. Could she be right?
"... right!" Stena sinks down into the cushions, now, and then tries to clamber right out of them. "AUGH. Those are way too soft. I would prefer rocks and stone to that. Whaaaat." She kicks at one slightly before glancing over her shoulders. "Yeah. Okay." A sympathetic shrug at Alaryn again. "Sometimes..."
The twins give Alarayn a short look and with a twist of their fingers they point the direction that your group came from. "Take leave and go; say no more." Though they've stoic expressions it's clear that they aren't pleased with her. It seems for a moment she might ignore the command, but the moment she turns to leave they relax and sit down at the table with you. They offer the deck to Merek who seems the most eager to play and direct him to shuffle it.
Merek nods a bit, while he places the book next to him, he was reading up on those rules, then he begins to shuffle the deck. He does look to Alaryn with a wave, "Can someone make sure we know where she's moving to, so that we can like, you know, not have her like wandering," he says then to Sargon and Stena, then he nods a bit as he preps the game.
Well, it is actually believable. Alaryn does get up to depart and she starts grumbling, "You know. I don't need this. They want to play the only game these asshats are good at, let'em. Forget this. I got stock to sell." this is as she is trudging away. She doesn't think her mind was altered since.. she was really debating whether or not she wanted to just leave anyway. But she does pick up her heavy pack with her waterskins and food and such as she wanders off.
"...oi," says Stena after Alaryn's departure, "where... but we're in the mi... Okaaaay." She has no sense of magic, after all, and has no idea what happened. She blinks her eyes and then turns back to the others with a helpless sigh. "Well.. I'm ready?"
Sargon turns his head to look at Alaryn, surprised. Then he peers at the twins. After a bit he hops to his feet and turns in her direction. "Call me when it is my turn," he murmurs, looking between Merek and Stena. Then he hurries after Alaryn. "Wait!" he calls. "You can't go off by yourself. This land is filled with Ankheg!"
"...is that what they're called?" asks Stena after Sargon goes hurrying after the others to Merek. Whom is now getting Stena's attention because, you know, she hopes he has some idea what the hell he's doing. She sure doesn't. That book was like... /thick/, you know.
Waving a hand at Sargon, Alaryn shakes her head, "I'd rather deal with those than these manipulative bastards." she mutters. "Plus, I got my trusty Dragonspitter -and- a Death Ray. I'm not like... trying to cross the land on my own though. I was just gonna go back to camp and let you all get hustled."
The twins wait patiently for you all to be ready, and once the deck is readied they motion for the cards to be delt. "Whenever you are ready."
GAME: Merek rolls 1d100: (97): 97 GAME: Merek rolls wisdom: (20)+3: 23 GAME: Sargon rolls 1d100: (19): 19 GAME: Sargon rolls wisdom: (20)+2: 22
Sargon turns away from Alaryn, seemingly satisfied. He returns to the table. His expression is resolute. He takes his card(s?) and peers at them. He looks at the red twin. He looks at the blue twin. He keeps his own expression carefully blank. Or tries to, at least. He can't quite hide his disappointment.
GAME: Stena rolls 1d100: (2): 2 GAME: Stena rolls wisdom: (19)+0: 19 GAME: Kuumvu rolls 1d100: (86): 86 GAME: Kuumvu rolls wisdom: (19)+0: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (76): 76 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (72): 72
Merek looks at the cards while he begins to shift them about. He seems to know what he is doing also, then he nods a bit, satisfied as he also looks to the two of them pointing to a great hand it looks like.
"...I don't think I won," says Stena looking at her hand.
Her hopeless, hopeless hand. It is the kind of hand for which ther is no salvaging. It is the kind of hand that there is no possible poker face for her. It is the kind of hand that, when professional poker players receive them, they flip the table in disgust.
Stena is just kinda looking at it, though, and blinking owlishly.
"Looks-like-a fun game," Kuumvu says, the sith's voice chipper and bright. He steps up behind Merek. And, takes one of the seats, and turns them around before sitting--a place for the tail, you know. "This-one brought a few drinkss. I had-ale, but ssomeone turned it into-water! Have you heard-sstories about that?" he asks the two gents.
The twins show a pair of nearly identical hands, and gracefully bow to the winner of the round - Merek. They don't seem particularly perturbed by their loss. Instead they move the deck along and invite the next round to begin. "Someone turning ale to water?" They look curious at the question but shrug in unison. "No we have not."
GAME: Kuumvu rolls 1d100: (43): 43 GAME: Kuumvu rolls wisdom: (6)+0: 6 GAME: Merek rolls 1d100: (46): 46 GAME: Merek rolls wisdom: (9)+3: 12 GAME: Stena rolls 1d100: (64): 64 GAME: Stena rolls wisdom: (2)+0: 2
"It-was an old man, hsst. He didn't-give hiss-name." The skald leans forward the look at the cards. Then, browridges raised, Kuumvu leans back. His tail flickers behind him. "Who made the cardss? They look nisse. This-one never sstudied under the crafter-casste."
Then, "But why-make ale-into-water, I wonder? Doessn't the ale tasste-better?" The tail flickers again, and Kuumvu thinks a half-second, and while he's leaned back, he flips open the top of his pack, and begins fishing around.
It doesn't take too long to produce a bit of paper, a bit of charcoal. The latter's half crumbled--a partial stick leftover from a much larger cousin.
This time, Stena gets a big smile on her face at her hand. "I WON," she declares loudly, laying down her hand. It may not be the worst hand. It is certainly not her LAST hand. But is it a winning hand? A winning hand with such confidence as bespoke by Stena?
...prrrrrrrrrrobably not.
Merek doesn't look like he has the best hand, although he nods a bit, satisfied.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (31): 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (91): 91
"You have a nice hand, but ours is better." State the twins as they lay down their cards. "Wearing blue means threes are wild, and we win this round." They grin and lift their hands, motioning for the next round to begin.
GAME: Merek rolls 1d100: (100): 100 GAME: Merek rolls wisdom: (10)+3: 13 GAME: Merek rolls wisdom: (14)+3: 17 GAME: Sargon rolls 1d100: (10): 10 GAME: Sargon rolls wisdom: (8)+2: 10
Merek looks at the cards of his, then he begins to do some things with them. He nods a bit, then he seems to think about the game. He then places the hand about while he settles back on the pillow also.
Sargon seems suitably impressed at Merek's cards. As others and his own are revealed, his expression turns positively triumphant. He begins watching the twins carefully for any signs that they will resort to violence as they lose. Sargon is fairly certain the party would have done the same, had the fortunes of the players been reversed. He takes his next hand and again tries to hide any expression...but again frowns severely at his own hand.
Kuumvu looks at the paper, and then across at the hands being delt and shown. He draws a few lines on the paper. One, two. A circle here, then something that looks like a 'W', just upside down. Wait, that's an 'M'!
At length, he places the paper on the table. It looks like a card. A card, with a badly drawn dragon atop it. The face is mostly a circle, the body kind of a squiggly oval, with a squiggly tail coming out the butt. The brows though! The brows form a MIGHTY V! ...and there's a muscled arm on either side. Because DRAGON.
"Ssss, there, there. There is-no need to play any longer. I have drawn the Poker Dragon card. There iss-the-crown," a tap on the...that's a M? Crown? Ok! "And-look at how-sstrong she iss!" He looks to Merek, and winks.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (94): 94 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (58): 58 GAME: Stena rolls Sense Motive: (13)+0: 13 GAME: Merek rolls sense motive: (8)+3: 11 GAME: Kuumvu rolls perform/sing: (17)+10: 27 GAME: Sargon rolls sense motive: (2)+6: 8
Together the twins put down their hands. "And red makes this hand high this round." They smile at you. "It was good to play again, but it seems that this game has come to an end."
Merek looks to the hand of his, then up to the two guardians, while he seems to think about it a moment. "Can you explain to us what hands we have?" he asks, motioning a bit to his as well as the others. Likely askance of seeing if things are nice.
"But... I won," says Stena, disappointed. She eyes the cards.
"You aren't-saying-everything you-are-thinking," the skald says. Kuumvu leans forward, and gives his 'card' a shimmy on the table. "What-are-you thinking?" he asks. "This-one doessn't understand and it sseems important?"
He pushes the 'card' forward, anyway, across the table.
"...are they cheating?!" asks Stena, glancing between Kuumvu and Merek. Becasue something isn't completely right. She has no idea what that is. "Because I thought *I* had the winning hand." She looks down at it. Completely lost.
The twins look at one another then they duck their heads and smile "In this game you have to fight for your hand. If you don't know the rules, and you miss something that makes your hand of greater worth it is not up to the other players to tell you what you've missed. Dragon Poker is a game of wisdom /and/ chance." The nod once more to Stena. "We can assure you however young one that /you/ do not have the winning hand this round."
"Before we finish here," Merek doesn't mention if here means the game or generally, "Will you tell me what my hand was? I am a bit curious, as I looked into the book," he says.
Sargon stands up and stands on one foot so he raises one foot so he can lift the other a few inches off the ground and shake it. He changes legs and repeats the motion. Once he's done he remains standing. "With a name like Dragon Poker, I was expecting a more...lively game," he scowls slightly.
Stena looks annoyed. She looks, inf act, like she's about to Flip That Table.
"So, really, this was all about just fighting in the first place. Ugh, you people are predictable." She throws her hands up in disgust.
-TBC