Belemrys, a hierophant new to Jastrey walks up to the town post with his large green cloak tucked tightly around him, he takes out a scroll and rubs a strange ointment on its back as he slowly and methodically lines it up so as to be parallel with the beam above it. Magically the paper does not fall as he removes his large hands that betray his gentle manner. You notice a neat and controlled script.
The scrolls reads as follows:
Okalf-Gi Hold’em Tournament – High Risk, High Reward!
Citizens of Jastrey, it is my honor to give back but a little bit of the thrills and enjoyment this ‘sleepy’ town has given me. I came but two mests ago to this town by a wayward shard hop, some have suggested there is no such a thing as wayward shard-hopping when it comes to the citizendry of Jastry and I am starting to believe them.
I come from Sirison, and while I have not been home in a long time there is a region in Sirison where a certain card game was played by both, young and old, intelligent and belligerent. Okalf-Gi, ah how I miss the smell of the desert. Anyhow, the game! Everyone is to be dealt two cards and there will be five community cards from which the whole table can utilize to make a hand of five cards that is used to beat your opponents’ best five cards. ((Texas No Limit Hold’em Rules Apply)) There are rounds of betting after the initial deal and subsequent card reveals and there is also a big blind and a small blind. The last person with chips wins the tournament and prizes for top three players will be distributed at tournaments end.
So how do you get to play? Simple! It will be a 2 gold buy in for the tournament. That will give every player a certain number of chips (to be determined upon the final count of players to sign up as I have limited chips and decks of cards to run up to 3 tables simultaneously), it will also get you tableside service by the beautiful women of Jastrey who will bring you wine (sparkling non alcoholic wine both white and red grape variations) and possibly other treats to keep your bellies full during the game.
So 2 gold pieces is a high risk, what is the reward I spoke about? Well here is how it breaks down mathematically; you best understand the math or Ohren will eat you! The more people whom enter the tournament the larger the reward for the winners as it is all based on fixed percentages! If you lose all your chips by going all in you also have the opportunity to buy back in at 1g, adding to the total pot that is distributed at the appropriate percentages. Let me provide an example to make it a concrete concept.
20 entries at 2g each = 40g
1st place = 16g (40%)
2nd place = 8g (20%)
3rd place = 4g (10%)
So for those astute at math and who haven’t been eaten by Ohren, you will notice that only accounts for 70% of the winnings! Where do the other 30% go? Well 10% of that is being allocated to having an unbiased party hold the pot safely and make sure it is given to the winners in a fair manner. I have contracted a particular guild that has such a service, The Order of the Glazed Eye. ((I believe having a non flagged person hold the winnings would take away from the RP and the high risk aspect that any gambling transaction should have and so you will not have me change this decision, simply don’t sign up if you don’t agree.)) They provide a banking service that I have taken advantage of and I assure you the money is quite safe in their hands. I also will be taking a 20% house fee to pay for the snacks, drinks and effort of putting the tournament together.
As you can see transparency is something I hold in high regard and while the profit margin that could be earned by say, the lottery, are not as high, at least in Okalf-Gi Hold’em your skill and measured risks can lead to victory rather than luck. For those up for a good time around the table and willing to put 2gold into the pot, I assure you, the memories would be payment enough!
It is of great importance that everyone who wishes to participate sign below and bring 2 gold at the time of the tournament ((Saturday during open play after lunch)). A brief explanation of the rules will be done at the game with a sample round played by those who understood the rules so as to show inexperienced players what Okalf-Gi Hold’em looks like!
If we get a large number of entries I might need a few volunteers to deal cards and then we can have multiple tables running until the numbers dwindle.
Belemrys
The tall ixifar walks away with a smile on the corner of his mouth under his hood.
Trivet comes skipping up to the town post and eyes the newest addition. Squinting to read the scroll high above him he takes longer than normal to read. Trivet chuckles loudly and heads back to the tower singing in a childish manner, "He likes games too, he likes games too...."
Noticing the post, Richter approaches, carefully inspecting each word. He puts his hand to his forehead, showing loose frustration. "A game of luck coupled with a game of cheating. Gambling is too big a vice to be trifled with. And with the stakes, it seems more take than give." He shakes his head and then heads towards the hospital.
Belemrys walks up to the post and is saddened by seeing only 2 names on the list. He shakes his head and whimpers "I guess people don't like to play cards for profit in Jastrey"
He slowly and carefully slashes the 2 gold cost and puts a 1 next to it...he underlines "tableside service by the beautiful women of Jastrey who will bring you wine" and walks away hopeful that more players will enter the tournament.
((The entry to the tourney is now 1g and you still get all the drinks and goodies!))
Zwey walks by the post, gets way to excited and scribbles his name on the parchement