Riddle 013: Spreading That Christmas Cheer [Action]

[puzzlerprince]

[Christmas Time is coming! Today, you'll probably find Edward in one of three locations.

A. At the Christmas Village, dressed in his little "Helper Elf" costume and freezing furiously. He does not look at all happy to be there.

B. Wandering through the town, dressed in a warm, green pea-coat, a jade scarf wrapped around his neck, just admiring the

Comments

then C

[strike_you_out]

[Reluctantly, Slugger makes his way to the dining room where he will appear quite suddenly stepping away from the wall. He stares first at the table and then at Eddie, silently awaiting an explanation.]

...

family thread?

[likescats]

[Is there now. Sitting at the couch, picking up one of the pieces to look at.]

Game time

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward glances first at Slugger, then at Death, whose appearances aren't really surprising him that much anymore.]

Good, you've both arrived. I suppose while we wait for Susan to come downstairs, I'll start explaining.

Slugger, I know it's a bit early to be dealing out Christmas presents, but I couldn't resist.

[He gestures to the game board, expecting some level of praise or gratitude.]

[strike_you_out]

[Edward, for his generosity, receives a look of confusion. Slugger doesn't get it, nor does he really "get" Christmas. Unsure, he'll slowly take a seat beside Death and peer at Eddie from the corner of his eye...]

[puzzlerprince]

It's Scrabble!

[Taking note of both Death's and Slugger's confused expressions.]

...the board game?

[Still nothing. Brushing that aside, he continues.]

It was one of my favorite games growing up. Well. It still is one of my favorites. I saw it on a store shelf this afternoon and figured, "Why not?"

[likescats]

[Has one of the letter pieces in his hands.]

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THESE?

[puzzlerprince]

You use them to spell out words and rack up points. Each of these letters is given an assigned value that adds up. And you get even more points if you spell out words on certain tiles that give you bonuses, either based on the letter placed onto that tile or on the word spelled out.

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger is still hung up on the whole "gift" concept. Who gives gifts to people they don't like without wanting something in return? Do you want something from him, Edward? He already gave you the copy of the damn Maipole handbook. What more could you want??

He'll continue to sit there scratching the side of his face and eying Edward suspiciously.]

[likescats]

....SO YOU JUST SPELL OUT WORDS?

[That doesn't seem like a game.]

[puzzlerprince]

[He gives Death an annoyed look.]

There's more to it than that. Each player has to pick seven letters at random from this bag, and they have to spell out words with the letters they're given. And once you lose letters, you take from the bag a set of tiles equal to the amount you used. It's random. It can be challenging, in that respect.

Additionally, you can make words based on whatever other words another player may put down. If they've placed an "M" somewhere on the field, you can put down "M-O-O-N," and get points from the letters they've put down, too.

[He gives Slugger a pleading glance.]

Slugger, come on. Doesn't that sound fun?

[This is Edward trying to give you a peace offering.]

[strike_you_out]

[And he'll find Slugger looking away with pointed disinterest in whatever it is Edward is trying to accomplish. But don't think this means he hasn't been paying attention.

Feeling Edward's gaze, Slugger's eyes shift in their sockets to stare back at him. He then gets up and moves to a seat closer to the table.]

...

Well?

[likescats]

WHAT TYPE OF WORDS?

[puzzlerprince]

Any type of words, so long as they're proper English. If there's a word in there you want to challenge, you have to consult the dictionary to make sure it's in there.

[Edward pulls up a seat at the table.]

Both of you, reach into the bag and take out seven random letters. You can then place them along those little bars I have set up on each place. Make sure you don't share your letters with anyone.

I suppose I'll keep score for now.

[He pulls out a sheet of paper and begins to write down names.]

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger reaches in and takes seven little tile things (what is this even)

After setting them up...] Now what.

[likescats]

[Takes some as well.]

WHAT LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH?

[Completely serious.]

[puzzlerprince]

[First, to Slugger.]

Now we pick another random letter from the bag. Whoever has the letter closest to the beginning of the alphabet goes first. Then---

[He suddenly realizes what Death just asked.]

...you can't be serious. The language we're speaking in right now.