GAMBLING
CARDS: POKIIR [50 - 75 - 100 - 200]
If in the Anchorhead Tavern (Silden):
A tattooed dwarf stared at them.
Smiling, he revealed a mouth full of teeth which had been filed into shark-like points and his black eyes seemed just as deadly. "Sa a'kai, enconsi," he said, speaking with a thick Keshian lilt. He motioned to a table that was nearby. "Please, gentlemen. The game awaits you."
Not feeling like beginning an argument with the strange skashakan cannibal, Locklear allowed himself to be escorted to a table where a deck of pokiir cards was stacked.
The man was a gambler.
Withdrawing a deck of cards thicker than those used for Lin-Lan or Pashawa, he slapped it down on the table, withdrew a strange looking card and flipped it over. A woman was drawn on the face of the card.
"Called a Blue Lady," the man said with a drawl. "The game is Pokiir, the latest thing played by the Keshian dog soldiers. Have you heard of it?"
Locklear nodded. "I've even had occasion to play it with mercenaries passing through the local tavern."
Although the gambler seemed disappointed, he continued. "Uneven bet. I'll pay you half of what you bet since you already know how to play. What will you put up?
CARDS: PASHAWA [10 - 25 - 50 - 100]
The gambler tapped a deck of cards.
"Pashawa," he said, pushing the brightly colored deck towards Locklear. Seeing that his offer didn't seem attractive enough, he sweetened the bet. "If you win, I'll pay half again what you wager. What do you wish to bet?"
DICE [5 - 10 - 25 - 50]
The gambler looked up.
Making a fist, he shook it under Locklear's nose, then smiled wickedly as he opened his palm to reveal a pair of dice. "The game is dice, my friend," the gambler said, sitting back down. "Winner wins half as much as he bets. How much gold will you wager?"
CARDS: LIN-LAN [1 - 5 - 10 - 25]
The gambler tapped a deck of cards.
"For a small wager, I'll play you Lin-Lan," he said. "Winner takes as much as he bets. What's your wager?"
CHESS [1 - 3 - 5 - 10]
The man frowned.
On the table before him was a small chessboard with carved wooden pieces, arranged in such a way that whoever was playing white seemed to be in quite a bad situation. Without looking up, he moved a piece. "Do you play?"
Gorath shrugged and took a seat. "I'm not bad."
"Excellent. Then you won't mind placing a small wager on our game," the man said with a smile, moving a piece from the opposite side this time. "Even bet. You win what you bet. How much shall you wager?"
CANCEL GAMBLER QUITS
Locklear shook his head.
"You've had quite a good run of luck by the look of you," he said. "We, alas, have not been so fortunate. Perhaps someone else will play with you."
The gambler shook his head.
"I'm afraid I have come to the end of my funds," he said. "Perhaps when I have recouped my losses we can play again."
Locklear nodded. "I would like that very much. Good day to you."
GAMBLE (not enough)
CARDS DICE CHESS
Locklear examined their funds.
Before their opponent could deal out the cards, Locklear slapped down his hand. "I have just checked what we have, and we have less than I thought," he explained, hoping the gambler would not react badly. "We bid you good day."
Locklear examined their funds.
Before their opponent could roll the dice, Locklear slapped down his hand. "I have just checked what we have, and we have less than I thought," he explained, hoping the gambler would not react badly. "We bid you good day."
Gorath examined their funds.
Before their opponent could finish rearranging the pieces, Gorath halted him. "I have just checked what we have, and we have less than I thought," he explained, hoping the gambler would not react badly. "We bid you good day."
WIN
CARDS/DICE CHESS
Ruthia smiled on them.
Scooping up his shining winnings as graciously as possible, Locklear deposited their won sovereigns with as much discretion as possible. "I hope you have better luck in the future," Locklear said with a nod.
His gambit worked.
Smiling at the way he had successfully sacked the gambler's defensive moves, he gathered his winnings gracefully. "I hope you have better luck in the future," Gorath said with a nod.
DRAW
CARDS DICE CHESS
The cards were on the table.
"A draw. It seems the goddess Ruthia favors us equally," Locklear said, recollecting his investment. "Perhaps we can play again."
The throws were even.
"A draw. It seems the goddess Ruthia favors us equally," Locklear said, recollecting his investment. "Perhaps we can play again."
...Stalemate.
Although the result was far from what he had desired when he had begun the match, he was certainly happy enough that his bet wouldn't be going into the money pouch of his opponent. "A draw. It seems the goddess Ruthia favors us equally," Gorath said, recollecting his investment. "Perhaps we can play again."
LOSE
CARDS DICE CHESS
Locklear stared at his cards.
By far one of the worst hands he had ever been dealt in [Pokiir/Pashawa/Lin-Lan], he frowned as he reluctantly handed over the sovereigns he had bet. "The game is yours, sir," he said."
Locklear rolled poorly.
Frowning at the unfortunate turn of events, he reluctantly handed over the sovereigns he had bet. "The game is yours, sir," he said.
...Checkmate.
Scowling at how easily the gambler had slipped in and destroyed him, Gorath tried to remember the moves of the game as he handed over his bet to the gambler. "Good game," he muttered.
"Aye," the gambler replied. "Though I think I will have enjoyed it more than you."