Bonus Episode 4: Game Theory

[sound of cards shuffling]

BRUCE: Katya! Glad you could make it.

KATYA: Of course. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.

BRUCE: And who’ve you brought?

CYRUS: Hey.

BRUCE: Cyrus! Good to see you. Can I get you anything to drink? Wine? Beer? I’ve got a little Tolskvar Whiskey I’ve been saving.

KATYA: I’ll take some of that.

CYRUS: Water’s fine for me. Or, uh, do you have any herbal tea?

BRUCE: Do you not drink, Cyrus?

CYRUS: I drink occasionally. I try not to drink and gamble.

BRUCE: It’s a friendly game! 

CYRUS: Fine. A little white wine maybe?

BRUCE: That’s more like it. Katya, why don’t you come in here for a minute and help me with the drinks.

KATYA: Uh, okay. Not sure why you need help getting two drinks, but-

BRUCE: *whispering* I thought we agreed not to bring anyone whose aspect is useful for cheating at cards.

KATYA: Oh, grow up Bruce. Cyrus won’t cheat. It’s not in his nature.

BRUCE: His powers are literally perfect for it. If you could just rewind every time you lost money and play the hand again with perfect knowledge of everyone’s cards, tell me you wouldn’t be at least a little bit tempted.

KATYA: I wouldn’t. 

BRUCE: Yeah, right. Well, we can’t un-invite him I suppose. But if he takes us for everything we have it’s on you. *full voice* Alright, a wine, and a whiskey. Here we are. 

CYRUS: Who else are we waiting on?

[door opening]

LEONARD: Sorry I’m a little late. I was practicing sleeping spells with my sonomancy juniors- we have an odd number, so I had to partner with one and she decided she would rather leave class 15 minutes early than practice reversing the spell. I just woke up 10 minutes ago.

KATYA: And you came here rather than punish the student?

LEONARD: I don’t know, she did me a favor in a sense. I haven't been sleeping all that well. Guess I really needed the nap.

BRUCE: Well, sit down and I’ll deal you in. Can I get you a drink?

LEONARD: Can you make a gin and tonic?

BRUCE: Comin’ right up.

KATYA: You’re too soft on them, Leonard.

BRUCE: You’re one to talk. Or have any Electromancers been punished for the Vapor Sisters blasting through the hallways the other day?

KATYA: That was legitimately hilarious though. And very creative. 

CYRUS: Bruce, if you think students are getting away with too much around here, isn’t that your problem to solve?

BRUCE: Don’t you start too. [ a little more chill] The Dean’s been on my case lately about “lax discipline”. And I swear he doesn’t even follow those rules about not mind-scanning without asking. One lime or two?

LEONARD: Just one please. I’m sure he does follow those rules. At least he’s never scanned me without asking.

CYRUS: How would you know?

LEONARD: Trust me. I’d know.

BRUCE: Okay, the game is Zavos’s Folly, standard rules with a few twists. Archmages are wild and we are playing around the world, so a run of King-Fool-2 still counts as a run. Any questions before I deal?

CYRUS: Ante or blind?

KATYA: We always ante here, not that it matters too much with just four of us.

CYRUS: Alright. Let’s play. 

[sound of cards dealing and chips being thrown on the table.]

KATYA: I thought you and the Dean were tight.

BRUCE: Not sure where you got that impression. But I’ve had worse bosses. Boy, have I. You start, Cyrus.

CYRUS: Five?

BRUCE: Five before the flop. Bold. Almost like you know you can’t lose-

KATYA: Bruce!

LEONARD: Well, I fold. 

KATYA: He was just trying to bully you. Looks like it worked. I’m in for five.

BRUCE: I’ll let you two fight over our antes. So, how is Electromancy settling in with your new arrival?

KATYA: Deal the cards, Bruce.

BRUCE: Okay, okay. We got.. a four of flowers, King of rings, and an Archmage of blades. Interesting.

CYRUS: I’ll keep my cards and raise you another five.

KATYA: I’ll see your five and exchange two. The Electromancers are doing fine. They’re not as… intense and political as some of the other aspects on campus. Or even some of the previous groups I’ve taught. Imagine a new 11 being dropped halfway through the year into the pyromancers.

LEONARD: I’ve always found the way you Oswerians think about this stuff to be very hard to get my mind around.

BRUCE: Okay, we got a four of horns and a seven of flowers. Cyrus, to you.

CYRUS: Call. What do you find odd about it, Leonard?

LEONARD: Oh, it’s just very different than how we think about magic where I’m from. Obviously, we still know some mages are more powerful than others, but we don’t feel the need to put all these numbers on it.

KATYA: Raise you five. No, ten.

CYRUS: You’re bluffing.

KATYA: Feel free to find out.

CYRUS: Alright, ten more. What have you got?

BRUCE: Looks like a… small straight for the lady, and a full court for the Librarian.

CYRUS: That worked out well.

BRUCE: *sotto voce* Wonder how it worked out the first time you tried it.

KATYA: Bruce!

CYRUS: I promise you, I haven’t rewound time.

BRUCE: Alright, cards everybody. Your deal, Cyrus.

LEONARD: This is a perfect example. Cyrus isn’t a “powerful mage” - no offense.

CYRUS: None taken.

LEONARD: But Bruce, you’re still terrified of what his powers can do in this specific situation. In Wentonia, magic is considered in context. Raw power is one factor but so are finesse, skill, detail work, and non-magical traits like leadership or even physical strength. I just fear we’re short-selling our twos and threes by telling them they won’t amount to anything before we can even know that.

BRUCE: You’re starting to sound like that little protege of yours. You sure she’s not rubbing off on you?

LEONARD: She’s not wrong, is what I’m saying. Not entirely.

KATYA: Have you spoken to the Dean about this… concern?

LEONARD: I’m either not that brave or not that stupid. Take your pick.

CYRUS: It’s your bet, Leonard.

LEONARD: I’ll check. 

KATYA: Two.

CYRUS: Now who’s the bold one?

BRUCE: I’m in for two.

CYRUS: Sure.

LEONARD: Alright. Let’s see some cards….