The
Gambling GolemThe Gambling Golem is a long low roofed building, with an ornate, though ugly, wooden carving leering over the front door. It is more comic than evil looking though, and upon entering, a warm jovial atmosphere greets the gamblers of the party. One thing that does become obvious is that the lighting for the place comes from glowing globes, stuck on rods jutting out of the walls at various places. Certainly not natural light, but warm and welcoming all the same.
There is a large slate table off on one side of the room and a long bar at the back. The table has a hollow in the middle and a gutter around the outside. A number of people stand around it, several holding miniature coloured shields on long rods, and another can be seen throwing a marble. After watching for a few moments, the nature of the game becomes apparent. One person tries to throw /roll their marbles into the hollow whilst another 5 people try to deflect them into the gutter.
Several of the on-lookers glance at the newcomers as they enter the room. A few nod a greeting, then turn back to look at the game. One man, a friendly looking giant of a man, nearly 7 feet tall, and broad of shoulder, smiles at them and strides over, his long legs crossing the room quickly. "Welcome to the Golem!" he booms. "I don't recall seeing you here before, so you probably don't know the house rules." He gestures towards a slate hanging on a wall, on which is written a number of rules. "Make sure you abide by them, and everyone will have a fun evening!"
The RULES |
1) No brawling. |
He gestures towards the slate table. "There is Scattershields, if you feel you want to try your skill, or you can join one of the games of knucklebones that is going on." He gestures towards one of the small alcoves unnoticed before, where a small group of four people are crowded around a tiny table.
"Having said that, we'll be closing in an hour, so don't take too long choosing! If you want a drink, then just ask at the bar."
Cleo joins Balnor and Lucretia at the Gambling Golem. Balnor asks about the rules of Scattershields.
"Up to six people can play at a time," says the giant of a man, who introduces himself as Big John. "Each member bets six silver, which get put in the hollow. The house takes one from each course." He smiles. "Then each player takes it in turn to try and get his spears", he gestures at coloured sets of 5 marbles, "into the throne," he points at the hollow in the center of the table, "whilst the others each have a shield to try and deflect the spears. Any player who succeeds in getting their spear into the throne gets a share of the money on the throne."
OOC: I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to assume that Balnor wants to try his skill... and THUS, I have run a game already (all worked out on a spreadsheet using random number generation to simulate the dice rolls!) In game terms, every player begins with a percentage chance equal to his Dexterity value + 40% to hit the throne. He throws 2d10. Two zeroes equal 100. If his throw is higher than his chance, he misses, otherwise he hits. All hits have to get past the shields. Every player has a base 1% chance for an automatic hit that the shields cannot defend against (a throw of 01).
The five shields have a chance equal to their dexterity value to deflect a spear. The players and NPCs roll 2d10. A natural or modified roll of 02 or lower knocks a spear into the gutter. Experianced players get Defend and Attack bonuses - which improve their chances. In the list below, player 2 for example is the most experienced player around, with maximum bonus! Experience in the game is gained for every 5 successful hits or 15 successful blocks.
Balnor:
1st spear hits! (beginners luck!)
2nd spear hits! (maybe not all luck!)
3rd would have hit, but two other players deflected it into the gutter.
4th misses, and another player deflects it into the gutter.
5th misses, and another two players deflect it into the gutter.
The next player (Player 1):
1st would have hit, but Balnor managed to deflect it.
2nd misses, and another two players deflect it into the gutter.
3rd misses, and another two players deflect it into the gutter.
4th would have hit, but another player deflects it into the gutter.
5th hits!
The next player (Player 2):
1st would have hit, but another two players deflect it into the gutter.
2nd would have hit, but another player deflect it into the gutter.
3rd hits!
4th misses, but stays on the table so can be re-rolled.
5th would have hit, but another player deflect it into the gutter.
Reroll would have hit, but another player deflect it into the gutter.
The next player (Player 3):
1st would have hit, but another player deflect it into the gutter.
2nd misses, and another player deflects it into the gutter.
3rd misses, but stays on the table so can be re-rolled.
4th hits!
5th would have hit, but another player deflect it into the gutter.
Reroll misses, and another player deflects it into the gutter.
The next player (Player 4):
1st misses, and another player deflects it into the gutter.
2nd would have hit, but another two players deflect it into the gutter.
3rd misses with a fumble!
4th hits!
5th would have hit, but another player decisively deflect it into the gutter.
The next player (Player 5):
1st would have hit, but another player deflects it into the gutter.
2nd hits with a Perfect shot!
3rd misses with a fumble!
4th misses, and another player deflects it into the gutter.
5th would have hit, but another two players deflect it into the gutter.
In summary, Balnor hit twice, Each other player hit once.
Total number of hits: 7
Total value in the pot: 30 silvers
Balnor gets 30/7*2 = 8 silvers, 6 coppers.
The other players get back 4 silvers, 3 coppers each.
The game takes about 15 minutes.
The locals clap Balnor on the back and suggest he try his luck again. Either Lucretia or Cleo can have a go as well if they want...
2nd Game
Balnor scores with 3 this time! (and successfully blocks 4 times)
Player 1 scores with 2
Player 2 doesn't score at all!
Player 3 doesn't score at all!
Player 4 scores with one
Player 5 gets 2 re-rolls, and still doesn't score (2nd re-roll not shown)
6 spears in the throne, 30 silvers on the throne, Balnor takes 15 of them, Player 1 takes 10 and Player 4 takes 5.
Player 2, the most experienced player, curses at his bad luck and Balnor's good.
<Lucretia aka Joe wrote>:
> "I understand...so this is your place?" <Luc will
engage
> Big John in idle chit chat about the place and it's history
> and then get to the meat of what he wants to know.>
"Naaa" replies Big John. "It's owned by the villagers and ranchers. It's profits go towards the Longriders wages!"
<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "So these barbarians that have been pestering this
> area...is there a particular area we should avoid?"
Big John shrugs noncommittally. "Them damn Uthgardt roam all over the north, but I've heard that they have their own territories within which they generally tend to stay. If you have to travel in the north, I'd say keep to the main roads, as you're less likely to wander into an ambush that way."
<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> <Luc will also tell the man about his adventures so
> far, leaving out specifics <in particular the stones
> and Soggrin (though I'm sure he knows of her)...
"Seems like you've had a tough journey so far! I don't envy your journey east towards Nesme! Not that many people travel that way."
<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "So have you always worked this place...seems to me a big
> guy like yourself would have made a killing as a sell
> sword." <What Luc is getting around to is if this guy
> is a retired adventure or sell sword...maybe he has
> some weaponry he might be willing to part with.>
"I didn't always work here. I used to be a stone mason and work at the quarry."
<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> Luc will be sure to watch his pouch and mark the faces
> of the three guys who were extremely nimble with their
> shields and do his best to steer clear of them. <anyone
> that nimble could easily remove my purse without me
> being the wiser.>
Big John peers at Lucretia concerned. "Are you ok? You look worried?" :-)
Balnor and Cleo rise to leave, talking about heading back to the inn and sleep.
Lucretia joins them.