Chapter 10: Gambling Man
"No. No?" He looked confusingly at the little Chibi.
"Really? Even if I give you three free tries?" Chibi Cillian spoke from the yacht deck.
"I don't know, though," Alexander doesn't trust Chibi Cillian's sly smile. It very much resembled when his brother tried to trick him.
"Let's say you can unlock stronger races than the Variant," Chibi Cillian put his card down.
"Sure! I guessed?" Unable to hold back his curiosity, he folded.
"Wonderful," Chibi Cillian laughed. He snapped his finger.
***
A dark silhouette materialised next to the already existing white silhouette.
And a new information list appeared accompanying the new entity.
_ _ _
[Reroll available]: 3
[Carry-over points]: 0
[Species]: [Culture]:
[Stats]:
[Relation]:
[Gender]:
[Traits]:
[Affinity]:
[Equipment]:
_ _ _
"What are carry-over points?" Looking through the new information list, Alexander couldn't help to ask.
"Ah! They are just there to help those who are down on their luck," he gestured to Alexander to look at the white silhouette. "Let's say you first roll Southeast-Ærsylon. That cost 270 points."
Then with a gentle flick, Chibi Cillian added 500 points to the existing 230 points.
"Once you click reroll, the unused points will be added to your next roll. Hence, increasing your second roll maximum points to 730, allowing you to potentially roll a Demi-Ærsylon."
Before, Alexander could reply. Chibi Cillian continued.
"Since we are already at this topic, let me show you the possible rewards," he smiled slyly.
A group of dark silhouettes appeared around Alexander.
"This is a Demi-Ærsylon, Flanagan!" Chibi Cillian introduced.
_ _ _
[Species]: Demi-Ærsylon [Culture]: Flanagan
[Stats]: All*1.2 (Except for Charm), Experience*0.8
[Relation]: South -50, Southeast +50, Centre -75, Northwest +25,...
[Gender]: Male
[Traits]: Bronze body, Poisonous blood, Heighten Senses
[Affinity]: Minor Blood, Minor Poison
[Equipment]: Common Twin Swords, Common Leather Armour
_ _ _
The dark silhouette morphed into a compacted man with menacing golden eyes. His bronze skin amplified his impervious physique. On his back were a pair of twin swords on his back.
"This is a Variant, Vorvolakas!" Chibi Cillian pointed at another.
_ _ _
[Species]: Variant [Culture]: Vorvolakas
[Stats]: All*1.25 (Except for Charm), Experience*0.5
[Relation]: South -75, Southeast +25, Centre -85, Northwest +25,...
[Gender]: Male
[Traits]: Vampuric Fang, Blood Senses, Regeneration, Tamed Bloodlust
[Affinity]: Minor Blood
[Equipment]: Common Rapier, Common Leather Armour
_ _ _
The dark silhouette Chibi Cillian pointed at morphed into an elegant individual. His rose-red coloured eyes and pale smooth skin dignified his gentlemanly look. His weapon and attire made him look like a young noble going out for adventures for the first time.
"For the other, I'll leave it to your luck," Chibi Cillian smiled, waving his hand at the group.
The group of dark silhouettes obeyed and moved to the distance, away from Alexander's line of sight.
***
With potentially rare races on the line, Alexander clicked reroll.
_ _ _
[Reroll available]: 2
[Carry-over points]: 300
[Species]: Ærsylon [Culture]: South-Ærsylon
[Stats]:
[Traits]:
[Affinity]: Lightning
[Equipment]: Common Mace
_ _ _
Alexander clicked reroll again.
_ _ _
[Reroll available]: 1
[Carry-over points]: 500
[Species]: Ærsylon [Culture]: Southeast-Ærsylon
[Stats]: Agility*1.1, Stamina*1.1
[Traits]:
[Affinity]: Minor Spear
[Equipment]: Common Trident, Common Imperial Heavy Armour
_ _ _
Alexander looked at Chibi Cillian.
"Oops! I forgot to mention! The character you receive is random," he laughed. "Hey, you might get good traits or equipment from the reroll."
Chibi Cillian toasted his drink toward Alexander.
"Don't worry! The system won't reroll innate traits."
"So don't worry about the possibility of receiving a fangless vampire," he chuckled.
***
With only a single free re-roll left on the information list, Alexander stared at it for a while, hoping that he would get something decent.
As his finger interacted with the button, a white glow emanated from the silhouette. It swirled around the silhouette for a while before dissipating.
_ _ _
[Carry-over points]: 253
[Species]: Variant [Culture]: Vorvolakas
[Stats]: All*1.25 (Except for Charm), Experience*0.5
[Traits]: Vampuric Fang, Heighten Senses, Regeneration, Tamed Bloodlust, Hemophobia
[Affinity]: Minor Fire
[Equipment]: Common War Hammer
_ _ _
"WOHHHHHHHHH!"
"FUCKKKK YEAHHHHHH!"
"Look at that luck!" Cillian cheered out loud.
"Yeah, congratulation, brother," Chibi Cillian spoke whilst sunbathing on his yacht. "Your luck was so great that you rolled a vampire that is afraid of blood."
Alexander's cheering stopped immediately as his eyes darted at the information list.
"Why are there negative traits?" Alexander annoying complained about the game's rigged mechanic.
"Well, how do you think normal people can unlock these characters?"
Alexander shut his mouth and thought for a moment. However, he couldn't return a rebuttal.
"You said people are not supposed to earn that much."
"Yes, but I also said normally at least," Chibi Cillian smiled at Alexander's weak comeback. "You just have to be creative, brother. The more dilapidating the trait, the more points you will earn."
***
Seeing Alexander was at a crossroads between continuing gambling or returning to default customisation, Chibi Cillian made his sale pitch.
"Look, brother, you could always return and create a new character," Chibi Cillian pointed at the white silhouette. "It's not like you have lost anything."
Chibi Cillian then gently guided Alexander's attention toward the Hemophobic Vampire, "Or you could always try another time? After all, you still have 253 points left."
"Can I edit my Hemophobic Vampire?" Noticing the perfidious Chibi Cillian was whispering sweet hope. Alexander tried to negotiate.
"All random characters are truly random, brother. There is no customisation there."
Chibi Cillian saw that Alexander was thinking. He decided to drive the point home.
"We do have a special deal for you at the moment. A [One Reroll] purchase would cost £1.99. However, Our exclusive [Five Rerolls] package will only be £8.99. Of course, other higher packages will be more beneficial."
Like an expert businessman, Chibi Cillian continued.
"Of course, why would you need the higher packages for? With your exceptional luck of rolling a [Variant ] on your third re-roll, surely you can get another or better under five re-rolls, yes?"
Alexander looked at his impaired vampire and wavered.
"Can I have a friends and family discount?"
"You already received 3 free spins."
Alexander sighed as he succumbed, "Please give me the five re-rolls package."
"Thank you for your patronage!" Chibi Cillian bowed and smiled.
The information list updated itself with the additional five re-rolls Alexander just purchased.
*Ding*
[Reroll available]: 5
[Carry-over points]: 253
"Wait, I haven't provided my banking information yet!"
"You don't have to worry about such cumbersome technicalities. We already have your card from your previous purchases with Eliot Games."
"Please enjoy our product!"