Scottsburg. 09:30 pm.
Old fire station No. 12
All the players threw their dice. 'Clack—Clack—clack.' Then a spotlight snapped on. Antonio had the lowest hand. "No mercy, Split Jaw!" the crowd erupted. "Toni, I forgot to mention, you can only attack one player per round, unless you buy a certain decree. Play smart, you'll catch it as the game goes on. But don't rush for glory in this game. Some players aren't in it for the money." Kojo whispered. The announcer slammed his fist on the railing. "Marlow rolls a five! He goes first. Start your kingdom!" he shouted, as a siren wailed.
The dealers placed a royal screen in front of the players. Marlow clenched the six dice that had gold-plated symbols. "This is why strategy is important; you can't see what your opponents' hand will be until the end of the round." Kojo murmured. Marlow rolled it: one crown, two gold, three shields, and one star. He took the crown and star. "Copy crown." he said.The dealer replaced the star with a crown. "Two more rolls!" the Host reported. He threw again: two gold, one shield, and a sword. He was awarded five gold coins. "Last roll!" the host stated. Marlow rolled castle and gold. "Now, contestants, you may roll." the host announced. Antonio grabbed the dice and tossed: three crowns, one castle, one gold, and one sword. Antonio took the two crowns. "Two more rolls." the dealer said. He threw again: one crown and three gold. Antonio got five gold coins. "Last roll." the dealer said. He threw a shield and gold. "Round one: Hidden roll complete. The Royal Market is now Open! I call Host decree number one, Double stakes." The host declared.The dealer scooped the cash from the audience. The pot was now twice its original size. "Three Royal Contracts are up for sale, and Five Royal decrees are available!" Mbali gazed at Antonio. He inhaled slowly. The game was darker than he expected. "Barkus stands on top with fourteen crown points. Players will now play in order from highest to lowest." The host stated.
"I call Royal Treasury." Barkus paid six coins. "I call Gold Rush." Marlow paid seven coins.The dealer removed the royal screen in front of the players. "Protect your points, and feed on other players." Kojo whispered behind Antonio. "I call King's Justice." Tango paid eleven coins. "I commence a siege on Miss Monroe." Crank chuckled. "You're gonna have to try harder than that old man, activate fortification." she mocked. "Three swords against three shields… Monroe has won the contest; her kingdom stands, and Crank loses four coins!" The host reported. "Now, I commence a raid on Crank." Monroe smiled. "Fuck." Crank slurred, "That's why I said, you don't rush for glory." Kojo whispered. "Two swords against no shields, Monroe has won the contest, Monroe steals four points." The host said.
"Royal audit on Toni." Mbali stated. "He has five points, twelve coins, and a shield." the dealer told her. "I commence an assault on Toni." she declared. "Four swords against one shield; Mbali has won the contest; she gets all of his points." The host reported. "I call Crown recovery." Antonio paid ten coins. Suddenly, the siren blasted through the basement. "Round two complete, Elimination phase activated." The Host reported. "See that? When this table gets tense… men get stupid. And stupid men lose everything." Kojo said. "The points read as follows: Barkus: fourteen points, Monroe: nine points; with Toni, Mbali, Marlow, and Tango sitting on five points. Sadly, Crank sits with one point. Y'all know what that means." Suddenly, some bodyguards surrounded Crank. "Judgment is complete; bring forth the lowest kingdom." Crank stood up slowly. "Crank, you have the chance to buy your way back into the game, with ten gold coins if you please, or your debt will be announced by the House." The host said. "I cannot." he muttered. "Then you will work for us." the host threatened. Two bodyguards dragged him away from the arena. "No—Ah!" he shouted for help. The pot was now a mountain of desperate deeds. The host thumped his palm over the mic, "Now beginning round three, all kingdoms return to dust and build anew. I call host decree number two and six: Double the pot and blood moon. The Royal Market is closed!" The host growled as the basement roared to life.
Finally, Antonio won the toss. "Toni tossed a six; he goes first." the host reported. The dealers placed the royal screen in front of the players. He rolled: three gold, two swords, and one shield. He got five coins. "Two more rolls." the dealer said. He threw again: gold, sword, crown, castle. He took the crown and sword. "Last roll." Antonio rolled two shields. "Round three: Hidden roll is complete! The Royal Market is now Open! I call Host decree number seven, Iron treasury! Five new royal decrees are available, and three new Royal contracts are up for sale. The leaderboard stands as follows: Barkus: twenty-eight points; Marlow: twenty-five points; Monroe: eighteen points; Mbali: ten points; Toni: seven points, and Tango with five points." the host reported. Mbali kept her eyes on Antonio. "Round four begins. I call Host decree number four: House loan. We will start with Barkus." the host stated."I call Royal Resurrection." Barkus paid ten coins. "Siege on Barkus." Marlow declared. "Three swords against two shields. Marlow's attempt is successful; he strips six points from Barkus." the host reported. "I, too, commence a siege on Barkus." Monroe declared.The crowd roared. "This is why it's dangerous; there aren't any teams here, but when the opponents see an advantage, you'd feel like everyone is working against you." Kojo told. "Three swords against no shields, Monroe's attempt is successful; she as well strips six points from Barkus." the host said. "Same here, Conquest on Barkus." Mbali raised her hand.
"Whoa, it's getting spicy, I call House rules… by Royal proclamation, the house enacts another decree… Double the pot! Mbali's attempt, five swords against no shields— her attack is successful… stripping ten points from Barkus." the host reported. "Skirmish on Mbali." Antonio requested. "One sword against one shield, the attack fails." the host said. Mbali grinned… "However, Toni had bought double strike from the market, therefore making his attack successful. Toni steals six points from Mbali." the host reported. "What? When did I?" Antonio thought. "I call House rule number fourteen, Second judgment." Tango paid ten coins. "He strikes twice." the host said. "Siege on Mbali, and I call Merchant's guild." Tango paid nine coins. "Two swords against no shields, Tango's attempt is successful; he steals six points from her." the host said.
"Round four complete. Elimination phase now inevitable." the host announced. "The leaderboard stands as follows: Marlow, thirty-one points, Monroe, twenty-four points, Toni, thirteen points, Tango, eleven points, Mbali, eight points, and Barkus with six points." The crowd cheered. "Judgment is complete, bring forth the lowest kingdom." the host requested.Barkus stood up. "Barkus survives and moves on to the next round. As he bought Royal Resurrection, it saved him from disqualification. Meaning, Mbali sits at the bottom with eight points. Mbali, you can buy your way back into the game with twenty gold coins, or the House will announce your debt. So, what will it be?" the host asked."I'll settle my debt with the council, for now… how does a penthouse in Drop Line Coast sound?" she proposed. "Deal Accepted, Mbali leaves unscathed." the host accepted. Antonio gazed at her as she left the arena. "Now beginning round five, all kingdoms return to dust and build anew. I call host decree number eight and ten: Royal Amnesty and King's Tax. The Royal Market is closed." the host said.
The announcer raised his arms. "THE GAME CONTINUES TO ROUND FIVE! POT IS NOW AT FIVE MILLION PLUS ASSETS!" People slammed money on the side tables. "Round five begins, all kingdoms return to dust and build anew. I call Royal Decree number fifty-eight: Crimson Debt to all players. The Royal Market is closed!" The host tossed a bag of coins. Monroe laughed like a demon in a burning church as she won the toss. "Lace threw a four; she goes first." the host said. The dealers placed the royal screen in front of the players. She spat on the dice and rolled.After her turn, Antonio tossed his dice: three crowns, one gold, and two castles.He took the castles."Two more rolls." The dealer said. Antonio rolled again: one sword, a crown, and two stars. "Copy crown." he requested. Antonio got two crowns. "Last roll." He tossed the dice: two shields.
BANG! The host shot into the ceiling. "Round five: Hidden roll is complete. The Royal Market is now Open! I call Host decree number ten, eight: Last call and High risk." The host declared.The dealers scooped more cash from the audience. "Now beginning Round six, Royal contracts are unavailable, and five new Royal decrees are ready." the host stated. "Marlow sits on top with thirty-one points; We go from top to bottom." the host said. "Watch them. Every roll is a trap. Every number can cost more than money." Kojo whispered.
"I call Royal Tax." Marlow paid five coins. The dealers snatched two gold coins from all players and gave them to him. "I call King's Messenger." Monroe paid eight coins. "I call castle expansion." Antonio paid six coins. "Raid on Toni." Tango said. "Two swords against two shields, Toni wins the contest, and Tango loses four coins." the host reported. "Assault on Tango." Barkus said. "Four swords against one castle, Barkus' attempt is successful, Tango loses nine points." the host stated.
"Round six complete. Elimination phase now active." the host announced. "The leaderboard stands as follows: Marlow, forty-five points, Monroe, thirty-three points, Toni, twenty-three points, Barkus, eleven points, and Tango, with two points." The crowd erupted. "Judgment is complete, bring forth the lowest kingdom." the host requested. Tango rose from his seat. "Tango, you have the chance to buy your way back into the game, with thirty gold coins if you please, or your debt will be by the House." the host said. "Fuck." he muttered. "I offer my super car along with my crib." Tango tossed his keys at the host. "Deal Accepted, though you are still short from the last tournament." The room went silent. "For now, you pledge loyalty to the council and work off that little debt you are owing." the host threatened. Two bodyguards nudged him away from the arena while gasps surged through the crowd. "Choose wisely. One wrong move… and it's not just money you'll lose." Kojo whispered. "Only four players remain…Now beginning round seven: Visible Roll, all kingdoms return to dust and build anew. I call host decree number sixteen and fifteen: Heavy Hand and Open Season. The Royal Market is Open!" The host announced as the basement cheered.