In a dim but richly appointed hall in the City of the Lady of Pain a large man in a shapeless hat and voluminous purple cloak sat at a gaming table slowly putting his pieces into play. There were three, each a tiny figurine: a young man made of quartz carved wearing tattered robes, a middle-aged but beautiful woman made from amethyst and the model of an older man whose face was lined with care and grim understanding, chiselled from a dark granite.
'Too Few,' he whispered to himself through his long, grey moustache, 'but justice must be served.'
A large, powerful hand, gauntleted in Dragon skin slapped down upon the cloaked shoulder of the seated man making the armoured plate the player wore benath his cloak rasp dully.
'Another contest ? And you didn't invite me ?!' Cried the newcomer, but with good humour. His face and head were covered with a mass of red hair and beard and her was hugely muscled. 'I have a piece, yet to be tested. I'll let you use it.'
He leant forward and placed the figure of a dragon, moulded by heat out of obsidian, next to the seated man's pieces. 'Ahhh yes, he will be a fine competitor - look who's here!"
The hall was suddenly full of the smell of ozone as a tall man with copper coloured skin and covered in shimmering chainmail marched up to the side of the table.
'You would do me great honour if you would allow my piece to enter the fray."
The player assented with a grim smile and a new miniature was placed upon the surface. It was made of milky white crystal and depicted a man in armour, armed with a sword and in the dimness of the hall the figurine glowed with a pale blue light.
The red-haired giant frowned. 'You'll taunt his opponent with this one.'
'No, I'll challenge him,' said the newcomer pleasantly. 'There is a difference.'