Play a game.

The mysterious woman leads your party as well as the flirtatious man through the backdoors of the casino. She steps through the hall, and there are several doors along the way, each labelled with a number. Number six is where she stops. From within her robes, she withdraws a silver key and twists it into the lock. She pushes the door open and beckons everyone to follow her inside. She then shuts it closed and locks it behind her.

It's a small room with a rather large table, decorated with red velvet lining. There are dark wood shelves and a magic light hanging from the ceiling directly overhead. The room is fancy, there's no doubt about it. It feels like the place mobsters would come to play poker--glasses of scotch passed around, cigar smoke shrouding the ceiling. Though there aren't too many gangster films with a three-eyed woman.

"You know, I'd really like to know more about the chick we're playing with," Niki says. "This whole thing is pretty suspicious. I'm interested, but I also don't want us getting assassinated or something."

"Of course. That is understandable, and I have no intention of hiding my body nor my intentions." The first thing she does is pull down her hood. Her red hair is so pale that it's nearly white--long, but tied back into a large ponytail with blue beads, and you're surprised it even fit so well behind the fabric. Her ears are long and pointed, though they hang down slightly more than Amara's. Now you can clearly see her three red eyes and her beautiful face as well.

Within her hair is a silver circlet inset with sapphires. Both ears are pierced with silver rings. She then pulls open her robe with no **** and reveals her slim physique as she hangs it over the back of the farthest seat. The first thing that comes to mind when you see her garb is a belly dancer. It reminds you of the Desert Lily and the unfortunate time you had meeting a dancer who didn't have the nicest intentions. The woman's top is hardly more than a deep blue bikini, but the center is held closed by a silver sun. Loose, translucent fabric adorns her arms from her forearms to her wrists, which fade from blue to white, and it holds to her skin by silver rings. It looks like she's wearing bikini bottoms as well, but hanging down from those are nearly-transparent pant legs that don't begin till past her thighs. Just like her sleeves, they fade from blue to white. Her feet are held by a pair of silver shoes with curled tips.

This dark-skinned, three-eyed, elf-like, dancer-dressed woman is certainly a sight to behold. You look to the man who is definitely thinking the same, though he isn't as good at keeping it to himself. He's practically drooling.

The man brings a hand back through his hair as he struts right up to her. "Well hey there... I thought you were beautiful before, but damn. You're truly a goddess, aren't you? Maybe we'd have more fun without these other chumps around."

"Why you--!" Niki doesn't look happy.

However, the woman raises her hand, looks to Niki, and shakes her head. She then returns her gaze to him. "Be patient if you wish for fun. Though if you truly wish to leave, I suppose that is how things will be, but I will be saddened."

He clears his throat. "No, no. I trust you, sweetie-pie."

"Your identity..." Amara mutters, but then she speaks up. "If I remember correctly, would you happen to be a jinn?"

"I have no intentions of keeping my identity a secret from you," the woman says. "I am indeed a jinn."

"Wow that sounds so familiar," Niki mutters.

"The legend of my kin does stem from the Oraang Desert after all. As strange as it is to recite a stories of ourselves, they say we are keepers of great treasure. Perhaps that is true. I do collect many things, especially objects of magic, and I have done so for a long time. Some of us are ancient." She chuckles softly. "But perhaps you are now able to understand why I was covered up previously. A jinn makes enemies wherever they go, simply because of those who are greedy. A place such as this attracts the greediest of all."

"They'd want to kill you for your treasures," you say. "I get it."

The man wraps his arm around the girl's side and tugs her in close. "I don't know what any of that means, but I'm not here to kill you, girl. Trust me. When you experience what I can do with these hands, you'll beg for more."

Niki raises a fist. "Need me to knock him off you?"

"So will you do what I wish?" asks the jinn.

"Anything you want, angel," the man replies.

She holds out her hand. Suddenly, a white flash sparks from her palm, and a deck of card appears in its stead. The backs are beautiful decorated with intricate white lines over a black background, and there's a symbol you don't recognize in the center. With her other hand, she draws a single card, and then gently places it up against his chest. "Then take a seat next to me." You notice the card against him glow for a moment before returning to normal.

"Let me guess. Strip poker?" he asks before dropping down in the adjacent chair.

"I am afraid not," she replies before joining him. "Please, the rest of you sit across from me. One of you must take lead, however. That is who must sit opposite of where I am. I mind little who does so."

"I believe you are the one who often has a strategy," Amara says as she looks to you.

"Yeah... Strategy, huh? I thought the fun of places like this was the luck. I'd rather do some real fighting otherwise." Niki shrugs. "So you might wanna take this one."

Probably for the best. "All right. What are we playing?" You pull up a chair directly across from the woman.

She draws two more cards. Then she leans forward--cleavage hanging as she reaches out with a card in both hands. "Your two allies. Please, lay a hand upon each card."

"Something just... feels strange about this," you mumble under your breath. "What exactly is this for?"

Both Amara and Niki reach forward and do as they're instructed. Just like with the man, the card glows momentarily. Everyone then returns to their seats.

"This shall be random, but because you have never played before, I will give you an advantage." She places all three cards that others have touched in their own pile, and then she places the deck of cards down in front of her. "This is an ancient game, only playable by these magic cards. There is an element of luck, but ultimately, this is a competition of strategy. Much is revealed by these cards. And if you can best me, I will gladly grant you an object of great value."

"We should agree on specifics then, and I'd like to know at least a little bit about this game before we start betting."

"That is a fair request. Allow me a question then. You do not need to share specifics, but what magical equipment do you already possess?"

"A sword, a ring that I'd say is both offensive and defensive, and then this neat eyeball I can use for scrying."

"Your fighting style. I have reason to believe you are strong, but much of it stems from your dexterity. Am I correct?"

"Pretty much, yeah. Some magic too."

"Then allow me to bet this." She holds out both of her hands. Much like before, there's a bright spark of energy which materializes a pair of boots. They're dark brown, and on the sides are small white wings. Otherwise they look like masterfully crafted footwear. "These are known as the Winged Boots of Herbes."

"... Don't you mean Hermes?"

"I do know the name of this item."

"Okay it's just that... usually they're called Hermes because of the... It also sounds like herpes."

"I know not what that is either. Do you not wish this to be the bet? You would be granted the ability to jump farther, higher, and descend slower."

Damn. That sounds really helpful. I guess I can name them anything I want anyway. "Sure. You have a deal. But I'm not really sure what to bet in return. I'd really rather not bet one of the few magic items I have on a game I've never played."

"That is quite fair. Then why do you not bet the clothes on your back? I will take it all if I win. That is all."

"Why the hell do you want that?"

"I have come to terms with the fact that your group will be unwilling to risk the few items you have procured, and I am also starved for a challenge of the mind. These boots are truthfully not even close to the most valuable item in my possession, so I will take a chance. Like you said, you have never played this game before anyway. It would be rather unfair of me otherwise."

You lean back in your seat. "Fine. That sounds pretty embarrassing, but if I can bet my pants on a magic item, I feel like I gotta try. Worst case scenario I buy some new clothes before the meeting tonight."

"Yes. We all have important places to be. But for the time being, relax. This shall be fun, and I assure you something you have never experienced before." She splits the deck in half. On one pile, she places two of the cards she set aside, and then she hands it over to you. Next, she places the remaining card aside and puts it on her pile.

"Should I shuffle first?" you ask.

"There is no need." She places her hand atop her deck and stares straight towards you--all three of her eyes locking onto yours. "The Deck of Relastrasz allows no cheating. There is nothing either of us can do to draw the exact card we desire. We are at its mercy."