Kazren dealt out the cards, his movements fluid and confident, sliding them across the rough wood to Zay, Renzo, and himself. Lily, leaned back in her chair, content to watch.
Kazren smirked, his fingers tapping the top of his deck. "Blades & Crowns. Simple on the surface, but ruthless underneath." He leaned back, letting the next crack of lightning illuminate his face. "The goal is to conquer the battlefield by either eliminating your opponent's Crown or outmaneuvering them until they run out of Fate cards to shift the tide."
Renzo squinted at his cards. "And what does each one do?"
Kazren pointed at the deck in the center. "Each of us starts with one Crown—a ruler or commander of our forces."
"Now, we draw five more cards from the deck. These will be a mix of Blades, your warriors and assassins, and Fates, the powers that can alter the battlefield."
Renzo looked at his hand, tilting his head. "So what, we just throw soldiers at each other until one of us wins?"
Kazren chuckled. "Not quite. Every turn, you can play up to three cards on the field, activate a Fate, or attack. If your activated Fate card is one for attack, you can attack without using the attack side for that turn. If your attack is successful, your opponent either loses a Blade or, if their Crown is unprotected, takes a hit directly."
He picked up his first card and smirked. "Of course, strategy is everything."
Lily, watching the cards glint under the lantern's light, raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a game built for manipulators."
Kazren's smirk widened. "You could say that. Now then…" He gestured for Zay and Renzo. "Let's see if either of you has the mind of a conqueror."
Zay's amethyst eyes flickered with interest as he looked down at his hand.
Kazren glanced down at his hand, his smirk never fading. The flickering lantern cast a warm glow over the table as rain continued to streak against the window, the wind rattling the wooden frame of the hut. A low rumble of thunder rolled in the distance.
"Alright, I'll start." He slid a card onto the table with a casual flick of his wrist.
Blade: Crimson Duelist
A warrior clad in red and black armor, twin sabers drawn, stood defiantly in the illustration.
Kazren tapped the card. "A solid opening move. The Crimson Duelist allows me to attack immediately if I have no other Blades on the field." He leaned forward slightly. "And since it's the first move of the game… Renzo, I'm coming for you."
He flipped another card face-up.
Fate: Tempest Strike
"For example, this Tempest Strike Fate allows my Duelist to strike twice in one move. Which means I can strike right away in this turn."
Kazren moved his hand as if swinging an invisible blade. "The first strike targets one of your Blades, but since you don't have any… it goes straight for your Crown."
Renzo furrowed his brows and flipped his Crown card—The Tyrant of Cindervale, a fearsome warlord seated upon a throne of obsidian. A single, deep slash appeared across the card's surface, signifying damage.
"Tch." Renzo scoffed. "Damn, coming after me already?"
Kazren chuckled. "Welcome to war."
Renzo cracked his knuckles, the tension between them mixing with the electric charge in the air. He drew his card and smirked. "Fine then, my turn."
He placed a card down forcefully.
Blade: The Ashen Vanguard
The image depicted a towering knight, wrapped in dark, soot-covered armor, gripping a massive greatsword.
Renzo read the description on the card before smirking.
"Since he's a Vanguard, he can block the next attack against my Crown. So, your Duelist is stuck now."
Kazren nodded approvingly. "A defensive play, pretty damn smart for activating it."
Renzo wasn't done. He flipped another card over.
Fate: Ember's Reprisal
The moment the card hit the table, a flash of lightning split the sky outside, illuminating the hut.
Renzo grinned. "This lets me set a Blade on fire, forcing them to burn away on their next turn unless you draw an extra card, and skip your attack phase."
Kazren raised an eyebrow as Renzo pointed directly at his Crimson Duelist. The warrior's card shimmered under the lantern light as if already feeling the heat.
"Your move, Zay." Renzo smirked, leaning back as thunder cracked overhead.
Zay leaned forward, his fingers drumming against the wooden table as he studied his cards. The storm outside howled, rattling the hut's walls, the wind pushing against the windows as if eager to join the game. Rain pelted against the roof in steady waves, and another flash of lightning illuminated their faces in a brief, ghostly glow.
He exhaled slowly, his amethyst eyes flicking between the cards in his hand.
"Alright…"
He placed a card down with deliberate precision.
Blade: Phantom Reaver
A ghostly swordsman cloaked in flowing black and violet garments, his blade wreathed in a dark mist. His expression was unreadable, as if he were merely a shadow of something once feared.
Kazren raised an eyebrow. "Interesting choice."
Zay smirked. "The Phantom Reaver can't be targeted by direct attacks until I summon another Blade."
Renzo clicked his tongue. "Hiding already?"
Zay ignored him and played another card.
Fate: Shadow's Gambit
A flicker of violet aura surged around his fingers as he slid the card forward.
"This allows me to steal one effect from an opponent's Blade, Crown, or Fate. And I'm taking your Tempest Strike, Kazren."
Kazren let out a small laugh. "Clever bastard."
Zay nodded. "Now, since I've stolen that ability, my Phantom Reaver gets two strikes this turn… and I'll use both against your Duelist."
The Crimson Duelist's card flickered under the lantern light, as if it were already being consumed by the darkness surrounding Zay's spectral warrior.
Kazren sighed dramatically. "Well, that's unfortunate."
Zay tapped the table. "Your Duelist burns at the end of your next turn anyway, but I'm not waiting that long."
With two direct slashes, the Phantom Reaver cut down the Crimson Duelist, the card now flipped facedown—defeated.
Kazren smirked as he leaned back. "Not bad. Not bad at all. I assume you've played this before since you know quite a bit."
"I've read about it."
Zay wasn't finished. He played his last card for the turn.
Crown: The Abyss King
A throne of jagged obsidian sat at the bottom of a dark sea, its occupant shrouded in mist. Two violet eyes gleamed from the abyss.
"The Abyss King allows me to summon an extra Blade next turn… if he remains on the field."
Renzo glanced at Kazren before giving a small, impressed nod. "Solid play from the sounds of it."
Renzo glanced down at his Crown:The Tyrant of Cindervale before reading the description on it.
Kazren chuckled as he shuffled the card in his hand. "Well, I guess it's my turn again. Let's see if that phantom of yours can handle what I've got planned."
Kazren smirked as he slid two cards from the deck, the lantern's glow flickering over his face as thunder rumbled overhead. The storm outside grew fiercer, the wind rattling the hut as if trying to pry its way inside.
"Even if my card did fall," he mused, flipping the first card between his fingers, "Fates are absolute, so either way, I need to draw two now..."
He glanced at his new cards before exhaling, his smirk widening.
"Not bad."
With a casual motion, he placed his first card down.
Blade: Ironclad Warden
A towering figure clad in rusted, ancient armor, bound in heavy chains. Its sword, large enough to cleave a horse in two, was held aloft with one hand. A battered, weathered helmet obscured its face, but the crimson glow seeping from its visor hinted at something far from human.
Renzo narrowed his eyes. "That thing has… a counter ability, doesn't it?"
Kazren nodded. "Damn right it does. If your Blades strike me, the Ironclad Warden can retaliate automatically. And since he has an effect that reduces damage taken from Crowns by half, your Abyss King is going to have a hard time trying to remove him, Zay. However, the Ironclad Warden can't attack on its own."
Zay and Renzo tapped his fingers against the table, studying Kazren carefully.
Kazren grinned before playing his next card.
Crown: The Gilded Regent
An elaborate golden throne emerged in front of him, the card's artwork depicting a regal figure draped in black and gold robes, his face hidden beneath a mask of flawless silver.
"The Gilded Regent allows me to call a Blade from the discard pile and bring it back to the field with half its power…" Kazren said, his smirk growing. He tapped the table. "Welcome back, Crimson Duelist."
The flipped card in his discard pile pulsed briefly before righting itself.
Renzo sighed. "Of course."
"Of course," Kazren echoed mockingly, before glancing back at Zay. "I could stop there, but I think I'll give you a little taste of my next move."
He placed another card down.
Fate: Crimson Oath
A blood-red contract glowed on the table, runes forming along the edges.
"With this, my Crimson Duelist can attack instantly this turn, despite being revived, and having to skip a turn."
Kazren leaned forward, the storm howling outside as he grinned. "And guess what? He's coming straight for your Abyss King."
Zay's amethyst eyes flicked over the cards on the table, his mind working through every possible move. The storm outside roared, wind hammering against the hut as rain lashed against the windows. A flash of lightning illuminated the room, casting sharp shadows over Kazren's smirking face.
"So, your Crimson Duelist is coming for my Crown: The Abyss King?" Zay muttered, tapping his fingers against the table in thought. He glanced at his hand, then back at the battlefield before meeting Kazren's gaze.
Zay exhaled and slowly placed a card down.
Fate: Crown's Judgment
The card's glow pulsed like a heartbeat, golden light radiating from its center. Kazren's smirk faltered just slightly as he recognized it.
"This Fate," Zay began, tilting his head, "allows me to place the card down whenever I want to, and also redirect an attack from a Blade to another target of my choice…" He tapped the table. "Which means your Crimson Duelist will have to fight your Ironclad Warden instead."
The storm outside howled as the winds shook the hut, the rain hammering against the wooden walls in a relentless rhythm. Another flash of lightning briefly illuminated the room, casting jagged shadows across the table where the game of Blades & Crowns unfolded.
Kazren exhaled, tapping his fingers against the table as he placed his defeated Crimson Duelist into the discard pile. His smirk lingered, but his eyes were sharp, calculating.
"You got me there," he admitted, cracking his neck slightly. "Redirecting my own attack back at me… forcing the Ironclad Warden to strike my own card. That's the kind of move I'd expect from someone who thinks a few steps ahead."
Zay leaned back in his chair, his amethyst eyes flickering in the lantern's dim glow. The flickering light reflected off his remaining cards as he studied his next move.
Renzo tapped his fingers against the wooden table, his dark red aura flickering faintly as he studied the cards before him. The storm outside howled again, a sudden gust of wind rattling the hut's walls, making the lantern sway slightly. The shifting shadows gave the game an almost ominous feel, as if the storm itself was waiting to see who would come out victorious.
Kazren smirked. "Well, kid, looks like it's your turn."
Renzo scoffed, and grabbed his next card and pulled it into his hand, his hazel eyes scanning over it quickly. A slow grin crept onto his face.
"Oh, you're gonna hate this, don't trust everyone you know!" Renzo said with a sly smile, placing his card down with a slight flourish.
Crown: The Monarch's Edict
Kazren's eyebrow twitched. "Oh, hell."
Lily, who had been quietly watching the match, leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued. "What's that one do again?"
Renzo cracked his knuckles, savoring the tension as he leaned back in his chair. "This bad boy lets me dictate the battlefield for one turn. I choose a player, and for their entire next turn, they can only play Crowns or Fate cards—no Blades, and no attack phase. It shuts down all fates on the field besides my own." He grinned and pointed at Kazren. "I think you know where this is going."
Kazren's gaze narrowed, the weight of Renzo's move settling on him like a heavy storm cloud. "That's not good. You've just stripped me of my whole damn strategy." He shook his head, his voice a mix of grudging admiration and frustration. "You really know how to ruin a man's day, don't you?"
Renzo gave a casual shrug. "Hey, it's just part of the game. I'll give you a chance to fight back when I'm done cleaning up."
Kazren took a slow breath, steeling himself. He had no choice but to play through it.
Renzo smiled and placed Blade: Priestess of Silver Light.
The card depicted a woman in shining silver armor, her eyes glowing with an ethereal light, a sword in one hand, a shield in the other. The shimmering silver glow radiated off the card as he pushed it forward, placing it next to his other cards.
Renzo reached for his next card. "Then, I'll add Fate: Lion's Temple to the mix." He placed the card carefully next to the blade, his smirk widening as he turned it over. The card depicted a massive stone temple adorned with statues of roaring lions, each fierce and commanding, as if imbued with the essence of strength itself. The card flared with a golden light, almost pulsing in rhythm with the storm's thunder.
Renzo's smirk turned into a full grin. "It lets a Blade attack three times in one turn and even destroys one Fate card of the enemy." He pointed at Kazren's cards.
"However, when Lion's Temple is combined with Blade: Priestess of Silver Light—or Priestess of Moon, or Priestess of Lion's Sin—something special happens."
Renzo glanced up, his dark red aura flickering in his eyes. "The attack changes into a single attack, and gets a +7 boost, and I get to discard one of your Fate cards, permanently."
Zay's gaze sharpened, as if reading the tension in the air. Kazren's hand tightened around his cards, but he remained silent for the moment.
"Plus," Renzo added, "that Fate card of yours won't come back."
Kazren's lips curled into a tight smile, though his eyes held a spark of caution. "You really know how to keep a person on their toes."
The ground beneath them trembled, the soft murmur of the storm outside briefly drowned by the sudden rumble of the earth. Then came a violent shake, the cards scattered across the table, fluttering to the floor like leaves in a gale. Kazren's eyes flashed in surprise as the quake rattled the hut, sending dust and debris into the air.
"Dammit," Kazren muttered under his breath. He exhaled sharply, already moving to gather the scattered cards, the rhythm of the storm outside seeming to match the chaos inside. The table rocked slightly as the tremors subsided, leaving the world outside momentarily still, save for the steady roar of wind and rain.
Lily, Renzo, and Zay all bent down to assist, each of them snatching up cards from the floor.
Once the cards were gathered, Kazren sighed. "Guess we'll be putting a hold on this game for a while." He muttered, placing the cards into a neat pile before sliding them into a deck. He set them carefully on the side table, away from the brewing storm.
"So, what do you think of the game?" Kazren asked, his tone light, though his sharp eyes were still scanning the room for any sign of further tremors.
Renzo stretched, rolling his shoulders, and cracked his neck as he stood. "It was actually pretty fun." He flashed a grin, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Better than I thought, honestly. Keeps you on your toes."
Zay followed suit, standing and stretching his back. "It was fun," he echoed, his voice softer, almost distant, as if his mind was still partially on the game but also elsewhere. He gave Kazren a brief nod, a silent acknowledgment of the challenge.
Lily's eyes gleamed with a quiet competitiveness. "Next time, I'm going to join in." She grinned, a playful challenge in her tone.
The group stood for a moment, the weight of the earthquake still lingering in the air, though it seemed the worst had passed. The sound of the wind, now howling even louder, returned to their senses, filling the room with a steady, deafening rhythm.
Zay was the first to move. He walked to the wooden door and pushed it open. A gust of cold wind and rain rushed in, immediately soaking him as he stepped out into the storm. The door creaked behind him as it swung back and forth in the wind. He glanced up at the sky, the dark clouds swirling overhead.
He made his way over to the cliff's edge, his boots sloshing in the rain-soaked earth. Kneeling down, he looked down over the side of the cliff. The wind whipped around him, stinging his face with cold droplets.
Zay's sigh cut through the noise of the storm. His gaze lingered on the scar in the land that he could barely see before he stood, wiping the rain from his face.
With another quiet sigh, Zay turned on his heel and walked back toward the hut, the rain drenching him as he retraced his steps. The door creaked as he pushed it open, stepping back inside. The warmth of the fire and the quiet hum of the storm outside greeted him.
Kazren was already sitting back at the table, leaning his elbows on the wood, his fingers steepled in contemplation. Renzo and Lily had returned to their spots, but there was an air of unease now, something in the storm's intensity that left an unspoken tension in the room.
Zay wiped his soaked hands on his pants and joined them by the table, the flickering lantern casting long shadows across their faces.
Kazren glanced over, "Storm's getting worse," he muttered.