With a swift kick, Kai exploded open the creaky wooden door to Siren’s Song. “Hello, Siren’s Song!”
The smell of salt, booze, and sweat washed over Ace, Kai, and Halvor. The entirety of Siren’s Song’s interior was scarred. Wood chippings from flung tables lay on the ground; knife carvings were etched into the wall to keep score in games; shattered stool legs had been taped back on. Melted wax from the candles scattered across the bar helped to cover up and keep together the damaged wood. The grumbles of gamblers, cheers of drinking partners, and stories of old men fell silent as everyone’s focus shifted to the door frame.
Without hesitation, Kai walked into the bar as if it were his own home. “You guys coming?”
Ace and Halvor both hesitantly entered behind Kai. Once the group was inside everyone’s stares quickly faded as the patrons resumed their activities.
“Okay, so what exactly are we looking for?” Ace asked.
Kai glanced around the bar, taking in his surroundings; he quickly gravitated toward the man running the bar. The man had lightly tanned skin and short black hair. His attire was a standard black and white bartender’s outfit. As the man polished a glass, Kai spotted a tattoo of a crow on the man’s right hand, and two silver crow earrings dangling from his ears.
“Oh, well that’s convenient,” Kai said. “I thought we were gonna have to fight people, but this makes things much easier.”
“I’m sorry what?” Halvor asked.
“Now the question is,” Kai mumbled to himself, ignoring Halvor. “Ah, there!”
Kai pointed at a table in the far corner of the establishment. Gathered around the table were a variety of figures all in seafaring attire cards and gold scattered across the table, but one figure stood out amongst the crowd. A large muscular man with moss green skin and a set of ivory tusks protruding from the bottom row of teeth—both features indicative of orcish blood—wearing a large brown captain's jacket with no undershirt, at least one ring on each finger, and three golden chains around his neck leaned back in his chair. The man’s pile of gold was nearly three times the size of anyone else at the table.
“That guy, we gotta take him down,” Kai said.
“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with assaulting someone just for winning at a game,” Halvor said.
“What? No! I meant like, beat him at gambling, not physically. Though that isn’t a bad backup plan.”
“Looks like only one person is ever playing him at a time,” Ace said.
“They’re probably playing Rebellion,” Kai said.
“Rebellion?” Halvor inquired.
“Oh, I played that game growing up,” Ace said. “Basically one side plays as the rebels the other plays as the kingdom with each fighting over the crown. Each player gets five cards. Both sides get four soldier cards. The rebel player gets a rebel card. The kingdom player gets a knight card.
“Each player takes turns playing one card face down, then both players reveal their cards to face off. If the rebel faces off against a soldier he can persuade them, and the rebel player wins. If the rebel faces off against a knight, then the knight’s loyalty is so strong it prevents him from being persuaded and the kingdom player wins. If the knight faces a soldier then the knight recognizes him as an innocent civilian, and refuses to kill them, so the rebel player wins. If they’re both soldiers then the cards are removed and they play another round.”
“Wait, then isn’t the rebel player at a huge advantage?” Halvor asked.
“That’s why the rebel player has to bet way more than the kingdom player,” Kai informed Halvor. “High risk, high reward. Low risk, low reward.”
“Well, in that guy's case it's no risk, high reward,” Ace said.
“What do you mean?” Kai asked.
“He’s cheating. Like pretty obviously. Look at him. Who the hell looks at the opponent’s cards instead of at the opponent? The cards are probably marked, just no one can prove it, because they’re super faint.”
“Okay, so if we can’t beat him, then what’s the backup plan?” Halvor asked.
“Well, I might still be able to beat him,” Ace said hesitantly. “Hey, Kai you know the etiquette of places like this, right?”
“For the most part.”
“If something goes horribly wrong, can we just run and punch our way out of it?” Ace asked.
“Probably.”
“Good, because this might go horribly wrong,” Ace said.
“If you win, hand me the gold at the bar. If you lose, we don’t know each other,” Kai said
“What about me?” Halvor asked.
“Just be on standby in case I need your help,” Ace said.
“Maybe you can ask around politely?” Kai suggested.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Halvor gazed around the room at the numerous pirates and seafarers engrossed in their activities, who clearly wanted nothing more than to be left alone. “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen?”
----------------------------------------
“And the crown goes to Bernard the Brilliant, once again.” The orcish man extended his arms out across the table, scraping his opponent’s pile of gold over to his side.
“Bernard the Brute is more like it.”
“Did somebody say something?” Bernard asked.
“I did. I was wondering if I could play?” The people at the table all looked at Ace hovering over the table.
Stifled chuckles echoed around the table, but Bernard didn’t laugh.
“Hold on a minute, why are we laughing? Especially you.” Bernard pointed at the man whose gold he had just taken. “You ain’t got nothing left, so shut up. The boy wants to play cards, so let him play. Gold doesn’t change based on who got it.”
Ace took a seat at the table across from Bernard. “Thanks. My name is Draxl.”
“I’m Bernard.”
“We’re playing Rebellion, right?” Ace asked.
“That’s right. You got a preference?”
“I’ll be the rebels.”
“Hey kid, I wouldn’t if I were you,” one of the men gathered around the table whispered to Ace. “Bernard’s been winning every game, even as the kingdom. Might as well just save yourself the gold.”
“Just because you lost doesn't mean he will,” Bernard said. “Alright then here are your cards.”
“Before we start, is there a limit on how much we can bet?” Ace asked.
“Only limit is what you can pay,” Bernard said.
“And does it all have to be here with me?”
“Of course not,” Bernard said. “People can be hesitant about bringing large sums to a place like this. So long as you got the coin somewhere you can bet it. I’ll have one of my crew follow you out to go collect any losses. You know, just to be safe.”
“Yeah, just a little nervous about walking around with all that gold on me,” Ace said with a chuckle. “Glad you understand. So what’s the rate?”
“Rebels bet five times the kingdom.”
“And how much did you got there?”
“100 gold.” Bernard smiled, brandishing his tusks.
“Cool. I’ll bet 500.” Ace’s words sparked shock on the observer’s faces. Bernard’s smirk faded. The legs of Bernard’s chair slammed against the ground with a thud as he leaned forward and straightened his back.
“That ain’t a small sum,” Bernard said.
“That’s why I bet it.”
“Okay, how about we get started?”
“No cheating allowed, yes?”
“No!” Bernard exclaimed. “That’s a gentleman’s agreement.”
“I’d like something stronger than a gentleman’s agreement,” Ace said. “[Pact].”
After Ace’s conversation with Draxl on the influence of perspective on skills, he began to think more broadly about how [Pact] could work. This doubled as a way for him to test the waters of what was really possible with this skill.
“Sure,” Bernard said. He figured at best the skill would stop him from actively cheating, but the cards were already in play. If Ace claimed Bernard was cheating, even if he knew the cards were marked, the markings themselves were so faint nobody without training could see them.
[ Pact Formed! ]
[ Active Pacts: 1/2. ]
Traditionally in Rebellion, a player would take a couple minutes to decide which card to play—and even more time the more gold was at stake.
“I’ll play this one.” Within 10 seconds of the pact being formed, Ace pushed one of his cards forward face down toward the center of the table.
“Are you sure about that?” Bernard asked.
“Uh.” Ace checked the card again. “Looks good to me. I mean it's the first round, why take it so seriously.”
“I think I’ll just take a little more time,” Bernard said. He focused intently on the card Ace had pushed to the center of the table.
“Shouldn’t you be looking at your own cards,” Ace said, covering his card with his hand.
“Take your hand off, so I know you’re not switching it!”
“My bad,” Ace said, lifting his hands in the air.
No matter how hard Bernard looked he couldn’t notice anything on any of the cards. All the markings had somehow vanished. Bernard did his best to hide the panic. Although he was playing the heavily disadvantaged kingdom he still was a very experienced player.
Without any sense of certainty, Bernard resorted to basic knowledge of statistics and human nature. For starters, Ace had four soldier cards, and only one rebel, meaning he’s more likely to play the soldier. Additionally, Bernard knew that people were naturally risk averse, so Ace wouldn’t try to settle the game in the first round—especially with so much gold on the line. Instead, he’d try to get into Bernard’s head, then go in for the kill at a later round.
Bernard placed his hand on a soldier card, ready to slide it forward.
“Hey, if you’re taking this long then I should get to switch my card,” Ace said.
“That’d be cheating,” Bernard said.
Ace’s request confused Bernard. He withdrew his hand from the soldier card. He pondered as to why Ace would want to switch his card. That’s when he realized something.
His logic earlier also applies in reverse. Bernard also has four soldiers. That fact coupled with people’s innate risk-averse nature means it isn’t just Ace who is most likely to play a soldier in the first round, it's Bernard as well. However, Bernard reckoned Ace wasn’t some normal person; what kind of normal person bets 500 gold as calmly as Ace did?
Bernard figured Ace was willing to take the risk and play the rebel card in the first round. That’s why he asked to change the card. He expected Bernard to play a soldier card instantly since it's only the first round to try and feel out Ace’s playstyle. However, Ace must have confused Bernard trying to read the markings on his card with Bernard thinking about potentially not playing a soldier, so he got hesitant and wanted to swap the rebel card with a soldier.
Bernard covered his mouth to hide his smile and clenched his fist to choke back his laughter. Confident in his deduction, Bernard slid forward his card.
Everyone who had gathered around chanted in unison. “3, 2, 1, flip!”
Bernard slammed his card down on the table. Ace calmly flipped his card over.
Bernard’s card was the knight. Ace’s card was a soldier.
[ Pact Fulfilled! ]
[ Active Pacts: 0/2.]