[Tall Johnny's] The Game of Gods [Cade]

[Leviathan]

Yuren only smirked at Cade's thread. Perhaps he made the average man shiver in his britches, but something told Cade that Yuren was a little more than average or typical. Yet, he let the threat float away. What was the point in retorting? The man produced a deck of cards and, with extreme dexterity and finesse, began to shuffle them. Quickly, perfectly, it was almost beautiful enough to just watch him shuffle. Then, the cards were dealt. Cade found himself staring at a seven, face up, and a six, face down. A total of thirteen. Yuren then dealt his own cards, except instead of playing one face down, the arrogant gambling man dealt himself two cards, face up, a ten and a two. "Would you like another card?"

[Cade]

The man's arrogance placed a wolfish grin upon the barbarian's face as he fantasized of beating the smugness out of him. Instead, he continued to grin while examining his and his own Cards. Cade wasn't much for reading and writing but he understood cards and can do the math to figure out what he needed to win. The half blood myrian rapped his knuckles upon the table "Hit me!" he replied while motioning for another card to be thrown his way. He needed to make twenty-one and thirteen wasn't going to cut it. Now all he could do was pray that he did not get a ten and up or he would of just lost his day's earnings to the smug bastard sitting across from him, including the chances of getting the ring.

[Leviathan]

Cade's wish came true, though perhaps he should have wished more carefully. Yuren slowly dropped the card on the table for Cade, revealing a nine. Which, though wasn't a ten or higher, was still just high enough to lose the game for the barbarian. Tough luck. Yuren reached over, wrapped his fingers around that small double stack of five coins, and slid it over to his side. There was that same grin, the arrogant aggravating grin that Yuren had. "A shame Cade. Looks like your gold is mine now. Would you like to play again?" Yuren had, by this point, already pocketed the gold, yet his ring was still lying there on the table, beckoning to Cade. It wasn't his possession, but he could have sworn that it was asking for him to take it. "If you've got another ten mizas on you, I'd be more than happy to bet my loyal ring for it." Such a choice. Nobody liked losing anything, especially Cade. Ten gold was already gone, though it was only earned today. That didn't actually cut into his wallet. But now, another round would risk an actual loss. The question was, is it worth the chance? Was this game worth playing?

[Cade]

The ring was calling him on, tempted every urge of the greedy barbarian's nature to risk it again for a chance of winning the mystic jewellery as a prize. The urge to slit Yuren's throat from ear to ear was also starting to become overwhelming but Cade new better then to shed blood in Tall Johnny\'s casino with out it being in the Cage. Frustrated, the half-blood myrian rustled through his coin purse and slammed another ten miza's onto the table.

" That ring will be mine, Yuren!" Cade growled as his eyes rarely left the piece of metal. "Deal the cards" He ordered, resting his back against the backrest silently praying to any gods that would listen to adjust luck in his favour.

[Leviathan]

Yes, the ring was in a way calling to Cade. It's magnificent color, smooth and finely detailed designs. The ring was definitely an expensive piece of work, whether or not Yuren was telling the truth about its magic (though he did demonstrate at the very least, a trick to make it seem so). Yuren's fine slender lips curled into smile as Cade's frustration drove him to play once more. That small disorganized pile of small gilded coins was enough to keep Yuren playing, as long as Cade would. "You know, to own the ring, you must both win it, and afterwards, name it. Like a child, you earn it, then you give it a title. Like a book, you write it, then it is called whatever you choose. It's almost like, you'll be recreating it." Yuren shrugged his shoulders. His philosophical words were probably wasted on such a brute. As commanded, though he was notably coolheaded and calm despite his acquaintance losing his temper, Yuren dealt the Cards. The Card face up for Cade was a two, and face down he had a nine, a total of eleven. Not much better than his last hand. At least this time, there were no cards that could make him bust. However, looking at Yuren's face up cards, the virgin (queen) and the merchant (jack), meant he had a total of twenty. This meant Cade was forced to take another card, or lose another ten Mizas. "What's your call friend?"

[Cade]

Cade grinded his teeth in frustration at the sight of his competitions hand of twenty. There was not much else the barbarian could do but hit again for another card, for now it was in Ovek's hands to grace the half blood myrian with his luck or let the greedy oaf suffer in the coin purse. That was always the risk when you bet on luck. And luck was what the large man was silently praying for, as the ring kept calling for his ownership.

Cade wrapped his knuckled on the table top signalling for another card " A little of Ovek's luck will not go unnoticed and don't worry...'friend'... I have the perfect name for it when i releive the ring from you possession." He jested trying to show is obvious frustration and nervousness into humor.

[Leviathan]

Yurn smiled viciously at Cade, the man, arrogant as hell, nodded slowly before speaking. "You are correct my friend, Ovek could very well win this battle for you. You do not seem the type to trust your fate in the hands of chance though. I wonder, how often do you put your life on the line, and pray to Ovek the blow falls on another? Life and death, Ovek doesn't particularly play in such a game, but he does play the game of chance, or luck some people call it. Chance, he's fair about it. Ovek, he's not a god that interferes in mortal affairs, significant or not, without his own interest being involved. Now, if Ovek is interested in your fate, then he will give you a virgin, a merchant, or an iron hand (king; also a term often used in Sunberth to signify an unwelcomed ruler)." Yuren chuckled for a moment as he lifted the card from the deck, and looked at it, yet he did not yet show Cade what was there. "Well, looks like Ovek did not favor you today. Perhaps he doesn't much bless those that only talk of him when they desire gain." Yuren then dropped the card, face up, for Cade to see. It was the Iron Fist. "Don't forget to share with Ovek, I hear he is fond of money and his fair share of love, even if he doesn't always respond. Well, Cade, I can no longer pick up this ring. It has lost ownership by me, and gained it from you." And just like that, Yuren smiled, nodded, and simply walked out of Tall Johnny's. That lingering smirk though, it didn't settle well with Cade. At least, for now, his hunger was sated. Let's hope it was worth it...

oocI'm going to go ahead and grade this soon.

[Leviathan]

Thread Award! Cade   Skills Skill Gain Info. Unarmed Combat 2 -- Gambling 4 -- Intimidation 1 --   Lore Fighting in Luck's Favor Gambling: Understanding the Game (Minor) Ovek's Ring: The Blessed Curse   Extra Ovek's Ring of Luck Obtained by Cade A magical ring that cannot be sold, stolen, lost, or given away. The only way the ring can be removed from Cade's possession is if he loses the ring in a bet in a game of chance, gambling. This includes dice, cards, or betting on fighters in a blood sport. The ring is known to be more of a curse than not, starting on the 30th of Winter, the power awakens and "Bad Luck" tends to happen to the owner more often than it should. A slip while climbing stairs, the crack of a well cared-for weapon, or mysterious disappearance of a day's rations or a few coins, etc. The number of "Bad Luck" accidents are rare, but are only addition to the standard unluckiness of the owner. After much time passes, the Ring's power grows in both number of occurrences, and violent accidents. Changing possession relieves previous owner, and starts all over in its process for the new owner.

Additional CommentsThis thread took a while longer than I intended. Sorry. Congrats! You gambled with Ovek himself! Now, I'm editing your SS thread to reflect your Ring, then I'll do a write-up and lore page for it. Have fun!