Amusement Helps Boredom

Writers: AL, Miriah
Date Posted: 11th July 2013

Characters: J'ackt, Vandor
Description: Vandor teaches Jenackt a thing or two
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 26 of Turn 7
Notes: Follows: "Bored Stiff"

J'ackt

Vandor

"Here we go." Vandor slipped into the alcove where Jenackt was laid up
as he healed. Under one arm, he carried three boxes. Under another, he
carried a tray that was folded up. He beamed at the young man and then
set down the boxes at the foot of the bed. "Now, let's see if we can do
something about that boredom."

He sat up and stared at the boxes with mingled suspicion and
curiosity. "What is all this?"

"This is chess." Vandor pointed to the bigger of the boxes, then to
the smallest. "This is skippit. Also known as checkers, depending on
where you're from. This is quirk." That was the middle of the three
boxes. Vandor set down the tray and with one hand unfolded it then
placed the three boxes on it. Then he reached into his pocket and
pulled out a deck of cards. "This, we can play multiple games and you
can use this to play solitaire when you don't have someone to play
with."

"Oh." His brow furrowed. "Uhm... I don't know how to play any of these
games." In truth, he couldn't remember playing anything for Turns.
After his mother died, his life had been filled with his father's
lessons; it hadn't been a time of overwhelming enjoyment. He peered
closer at the assembled games, suddenly interested.

"Not a problem. I can teach you. What would you like to learn first?"
Vandor sat down and set the boxes and cards on top of one another so
the patient could see them all and choose.

Jenackt blinked again and scratched behind his ear. "I don't know.
Uhm...that one." He pointed at the box of checkers.

"Ah, this one is easy. Good choice." Vandor set aside the two boxes
they weren't going to use. He took out a checkerboard and two sets of
pieces, one red, one black. "Black moves first, would you like to be
black?"

"You can go first." His gaze was on the board, already studying it.
"How do you play?"

"All right. First, you put the checkers on all the dark tiles." Vandor
set up his side so Jenackt could see how to do it. "Now, you move
forward diagonally, you always have to be on a dark square, never a
light one." He moved one for an example. "You can only move one square
at a time and only toward your opponent. The object of the game is to
capture as many of your opponents checkers as you can. You do so by
jumping. Let me show you." He moved one of Jenackt's pieces so that it
sat diagonal to his with a space behind it. "See, there's room here, so
I can jump and claim this piece if I like." He showed the jump, then
replaced the pieces. "If you make it to your opponent's side, you are
confirmed Lord Holder. Then your piece can move back and forth at will,
though always one space at a time, unless you're able to jump over
multiple pieces. So...clear as mud?"

He nodded. "So...you have to jump the other person's pieces." His eyes
narrowed at the board. "How do you win?" His mind immediately flicked
over his pieces and arranged them as a mirror to the Healer's.

"A player wins when his opponent can no longer move, whether it be by
the fact that all the opponents pieces are taken or they are
positioned where no moves can be made without getting captured."
Vandor waited for Jenackt to get set up. "Ready to start or do you
want to go over it again?"

So it was about strategy. He perked up. "I think I got it." Blue eyes
narrowed as he finished setting up the board and waited for the Healer
to make the first move.

"All right." With that, Vandor slid one of his pieces forward, and the
game began in earnest.

Last updated on the July 19th 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Amusement Helps Boredom