Games in Aj'kar

In General

The games that are played in Aj'kar are not so different from what could be expected, though most of them revolve around gambling. For instance, dice games such as Hazard or Dice chess are always a staple, and card games such as Poker or Cribbage are also popular. Such games are most often played in taverns or inns between strangers, though dedicated gambling houses are also dotted throughout the world (though mostly in Qarah's Dream).   Some other staples also exist, such as chess (the King piece is almost always depicted as being Vah'dis) or various physical sports, like hammer-throwing (a Yasamaq staple) or archery contests (very popular in Siarvald). Generally, one should consider that the Siarvaldan people believe in more orderly and structured contests, the Yasamaqi like tests of strength and constitution, and the Dreamers of Qarah's Dream prefer games that can earn them money. Therefore, a Yasamaqi is more likely to participate in wrestling, for example, than a Siarvaldan ever would.   One exception exists: because of the plentiful stone and metal that the Yasamaqi have access to, they have developed a Lego-like game meant to encourage their children's creativity. However, this is essentially only played in Mundegap, as the pieces are inconvenient to transport when plentiful.

Deck of Cards

The standard deck of cards in Aj'kar bears mentioning, because multiple printings of it exist depending on which country it comes from. Some people even make it a hobby of collecting the different versions of the standard playing card decks.   In Siarvald, the Kings all represent Vah'dis, and the Queens always represent Vah'dania in different situations. The Jacks, however, depict a few of the current Princes and Princesses, meaning that many different versions exist over the history of the Kingdom. Furthermore, the suits are not hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs, but crowns, forests, mountains, and swords - a reflection of the flag of the Kingdom.   In Yasamaq, playing cards are often not made of merely reinforced paper, and as a matter of fact are very rigid, due to being suffused with a thin layer of stone - otherwise, the harsh Yasamaqi environment would be likely to destroy them. The Queens always represent Qarah, and the suits often depict a variety of monsters.   Only in Qarah's Dream are the suits the ones that would be expected (hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades), in an effort for all to enjoy the same game. The Queen of Hearts is Qarah, the King of Spades is Vah'dis, and the rest of the slots of the Kings and Queens are filled with the current members of the Council of Six Sages. The Jacks often depict currently important people, or certain patrons of the arts.

Qarah's Dream's Games

The games of Siarvald and Yasamaq are fairly standard; this is a reflection of their environment. Yasamaq is harsh and dangerous, so the games played there must be kept simple, short, and test one's might in order to keep everyone sharp. The people of Siarvald must obey tight laws and work all day, so their games must be designed to relax, using their wits more than their strength.   This puts Qarah's Dream in an interesting situation, as they are the only ones that have the luxury of being able to develop their own games, because of the way their culture works in comparison to the other two continents. In general, Dreamers prefer games that can make them some money, and so they are particularly fond of gambling houses, especially those dotted in the Entertainment District. However, two games exist that defy these expectations.   One is not so much a game as it is a set of collectible and trading cards, known as the Search. These cards depict various people that either exist or existed with gorgeous artwork, and explain their deeds on the back. There exist variations on said cards, like 'shiny' cards, ones with animated artwork, or even some that are signed by the people they depict. Though this game can't be played (though children certainly try), the secondary market for some of the rarer cards is so well-developed that the Changing Coin has taken an interest in it.   The second is a strange game, a reflection of the city's capitalistic nature. Known as "Battleaxe", this game involves the collecting of various figurines that depict fantastic (and sometimes real) entities, in order to pit them against each other in a mock war game. The rarest figurines can sometimes run in the hundreds of gold, making it a popular past time for the elite.