Tavern Games 1
averns and inns are centers of socialization for the community, in addition to providing the necessities of food and shelter. News and gossip, songs and storytelling, gambling, boasting, and a wide assortment of games occupy visitors and local patrons alike. Although there are many games played in taverns by flickering candlelight or under an open window, there are a few that are particularly widespread or representative of a class of games.
HAZARD Hazard is a common dice game found in most taverns and is popular among the common folk. The rules are simple and easily learned. The game uses a pair of dice, often fashioned out of bone or wood. The first player, known as the caster, starts the game by placing his bet in the center of the playing area. Other players who wish to join place their bets in the center as well. Once the bets have been noted, the caster throws the dice. If the total on the two dice is a seven or eleven, he wins the game. If the result is two or twelve, he loses and the dice are passed to the next player and the game starts again. Any other result is known as the mark. The caster collects the dice and tosses them again. If the throw results in an eleven or equals the mark, he wins. Otherwise, if the roll is a two, three, seven, or twelve, he loses and the dice are passed. On any other result, nothing happens and the caster throws the dice again until either winning or losing. If the caster wins, he takes all the stakes in the center. If he loses, then each of the other players take their stake back along with an equal amount of the caster’s money.
AD ELTA STELPUR “Chasing the Girls,” similar to backgammon, is a popular import from Ivinia and is mainly played in Orbaal. The board is marked with 24 strips of wood, divided into four groups. Each player has six counters (one set is red, the other white) that are set up in diagonally opposite corners. The counters are moved according to the throw of a pair of dice. Only results of one, six, and doubles count. For each roll of one or six, a counter can be moved a similar number of places. On a double, two counters may be moved by the number of places shown by the die. A double six allows four counters to be moved six places. If a counter ends up in a space occupied by an opponent’s counter, that piece if removed from the game. If the space is occupied by a player’s own piece, the counter is moved on to the next vacant space. Each player rolls the dice in turn until one player has no pieces remaining.
CREDITS Writers: Jonathan Davidson Artist: Richard Luschek Contributors: John Sgammato, Thomas Shook Editors: Brent Bailey, Grant Dalgliesh
Copyright © 2008, Columbia Games, Inc.
Frederic Manson (Order #12332587)
HârnWorld® #9950
Tavern Games 2 MERRILS
AHNU AND DHIVU
Merrils is a game played across Hârn by all levels of society but is particularly popular with the nobility of Kaldor. Each player has nine pieces, which they take turns placing one at a time on any vacant point on the board. Each player attempts to make a mill, which is three pieces along a line. Whenever a mill is formed, once of their opponent’s pieces is removed from the board. Pieces in a mill are exempt from attack. Once all pieces are played, each player gets a turn to move one piece; as before, the objective is to make mills and remove the opponent’s pieces. A mill may be made and broken any number of times. A move must always be made, even if this means breaking a mill and losing the game. The game ends when one player’s pieces are surrounded and no move is possible or when a player loses all their pieces.
In this game common in eastern Hârn, the board consists of two sinuous serpent-like dragons with a line of twenty-five holes running sequentially along their lengths. Each player has five pieces, one set white and the other red. Play requires three coins, which are thrown by each player in turn. Scoring is based on the number of heads uppermost after the toss. One head has a score of one, two heads a score of three, and three heads a score of five. A score of five entitles the thrower to another go. After a throw, the player may move any of his pieces in play forward along the dragon by as many holes as his score. On a throw of five, a player may start one of his pieces by placing it on the board at the tip of his dragon’s tail, in lieu of taking a normal move. Pieces may not land on top of another piece. The objective is to line up all the pieces in the five holes that make up the dragon’s head.
HALATAFL “Fox and Geese” is a common game on Hârn. The board consists of a cross marked with 45 points connected by straight and diagonal lines. One player places 18 pieces (the geese) filling up the bottom limb and the whole of the line of points adjoining the limb. The other player places his piece (the fox) on any empty point. Play starts with one goose piece being moved forward. The fox may then move along any marked line. Players takes turns. The geese may only move forward or sideways. The fox may capture a goose by jumping over it from an adjacent point to an empty one beyond. Captured geese are removed from the board. The game continues until either all the geese are captured or the geese hem in the fox so it cannot move.
Copyright © 2008, Columbia Games, Inc.
Frederic Manson (Order #12332587)
MALNIRALA This chess-like game from Shorkyne is commonly played in Melderyn. The board is ten by ten squares and each player has two kings, four rooks, six bishops, eight pawns, and no knights. The pieces move as normal, except for in the central cross; within this area, the pawns may move in any direction, the bishops move as rooks, and vice versa. A move ends as soon as a piece enters the cross. The objective is to capture both of the opponent’s kings. Like chess, the representation of the pieces differs around Hârn, but they remain functionally the same. For example, the Orbaalese Jarl and the Thardic Legate pieces are equivalent to the king piece.
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