Teras Craps

Who says the Dhe'nar don't know how to have fun? Dhe'nar enjoy games just as much as the next elf, although their games are a bit bloodier than your usual way to pass the time.

The latest sport is a game called Teras Craps, invented by Highlord Starsnuffer Sunslayer. On foggy nights, games are often started in the tower on Teras Isle, open to all who wish to gamble and don't mind losing an arm or a leg. Here are the rules and instructions for those who want to join in on a game:

The rules for Teras Craps are just like the rules for regular craps. Roll the dice for the first time. If you roll a 7 or an 11, you win. However, if you roll another number, you must roll again, and keep rolling until you roll that number again. If you roll a 7 or an 11 before you roll your number again, you lose.

What makes this Teras Craps is the addition to the rules. If you roll doubles at any time, you get a limb chopped off (or better, blown off if there is a sorcerer handy). If you lose all your limbs, you lose as well (since you can't roll anymore).

Let's take a look at a sample game....

Starshadow, Gryphon, Starsnuffer and Rasulis are sitting in the tower playing Teras Craps. Starshadow rolls first. She rolls a 6 and a 5, winning with an 11. Since the winner must roll again, she picks up the dice and rolls a 4 and a 6. To win, she must roll a 10 before she rolls a 7 or an 11. She rolls again, getting a 5 and a 3, and again getting a 4 and a 3, which causes her to lose the game.

Gryphon picks up the dice, being the next to play. She rolls a 3 and a 1. She must roll another 4 before she rolls a 7 or an 11 to win. She rolls again, getting a 6 and a 2, and again, getting a 6 and a 6. Doubles. Rasulis, who is the Official Limb Remover, blows off her arm. Starsnuffer laughs.

Undaunted, she rolls again, getting a 1 and a 2. She rolls again, getting a 2 and a 2. She's rolled her 4...and doubles again. Rasulis blows off a leg, and Gryphon wins.

Betting is usually on win or lose. Some nights, however, you can also bet on limb loss, depending on the mood of the person running the game. When you make a bet, someone must match it (generally, if no one matches you, the controller of the game will do so). Or, you can match the bet of someone else.

For example, look at the sample game above. Before Starshadow rolls for the first time, Rasulis bets 1000 silvers on a win. Gryphon matches his bet. When Starshadow wins, Gryphon owes Rasulis 1000 silver.

The best way to learn how the game and the betting is to play, of course. Games are a good deal of fun, and all are welcome to participate. Just remember, before you play, you can lose multiple limbs, so if violence bothers you, this game will likely offend your sensibilities.