FFSC After Hours: The West Farthing Gambling Deck

[Trista]

With the recent return of Mr. Gamaliel Gamfield to the Shire (after his rather abrupt elopement and very nice extended honeymoon), I’m very pleased to report that hands of “eleventeen” will once again be dealt from the West Farthing Gambling Deck on a routine basis, for the amusement of all those with coins to wager and a bit of good fortune to exploit.

Mr. Gamfield, you will remember, is that much-respected WFGD expert and dealer originally from Michel Delving who comes so highly recommended from Captain Willowbottom and the other shirriffs who have perpetuated interest in this very entertaining pasttime. It was with his assistance, in fact, that I myself carefully documented some of the more interesting bits of the History of the WFGD (http://forums.wireplay.co.uk/showpost.php?p=3238984&postcount=2), as well as the Rules for the Play of Various Games (http://forums.wireplay.co.uk/showpost.php?p=3238987&postcount=3).

Interested? Plan to claim your seat at the back table at the Prancing Pony, Bree on Fridays starting at 3 am [UK time, 2 am GMT—that’s 10pm Eastern time on Thursday nights, 7pm Pacific time on Thursday nights], or at your convenience during the 90 minutes or so that follow.

Have a special group of friends that wants to test their luck on some other evening? Have the FFSC sponsor your private card night by special arrangement! Just leave word for me, Trista Tanglefoot, at Room 4, The Ivy Bush, Hobbiton (mailto:misstrista@daledavaz.com), and we’ll see what accommodations might be made.

With so much fun to be had and so many fortunes to be won, make it a regular event on your calendar!

Trista Tanglefoot,
Acting Director for Events and New Membership
Four Farthings Social Club

[Trista]

You notice the following, clipped from page 5 of the Michel Delving Daily Bugle...

It was noneother than that gifted poet and story-teller, Mr. Bingo Sandybanks, who set the early standard for good fortune and skilful cardplay at last evening’s dealings from the West Farthing Gambling Deck at the Prancing Pony. “Professional discretion prevents me from disclosing the precise amount of Mr. Sandybanks’ winnings,” reported Mr. Gamaliel Gamfield, the dealer for the event, “but there was no mistaking Mr. Sandybanks hunched ever so slightly to his right side as he left the table, owing to the extra weight of the coinage carried there.”

Aside from turning profits with at least two hands of every three, Mr. Sandybanks also broke a record for turns of the Mayor of Gems--having been dealt that special card thrice in the space of five hands, each earning him an instant topaz. “Next closest instance of three Gem Mayors,” Mr. Gamfield told the Bugle, “was four years ago, I believe, when Obediah Tallowick of Greenholm turned three in the space of nine hands. Just no denying Mr. Sandybanks’ remarkable luck this evening, though. Three in five hands is a record not likely to be rebroken very soon.”

Hands are dealt from the West Farthing Gambling Deck each Friday morning [Thursday evening in the Western Hemisphere] in Bree.

In other social news, Miss Priscia Puddifoot of Hobbiton delighted customers of the Ivy Bush with a new recipe for Pudgeberry Pie, sparking widespread speculation that the Harvest Fair blue ribbon for pies is apt to be hers for the taking. “The delicate balance of sweet and tart... Oooh, it hearkens me back to the pies of Miss Primrose, it does...” bemused Odo Proudfoot, recalling the baking talents of Miss Priscia’s rather famous grandmother...

[Trista]

You find the following posted to the bulletin board in the Prancing Pony Inn, in Bree

Mr. Gamaliel Gamfield wishes to express his sincerest apologies to any and all who may have gathered at the Prancing Pony last night expecting hands dealt from the West Farthing Gambling Deck. Play was made impossible when earlier that afternoon Mr. Gamfield’s pet terrier, Bobble, found his way into the dealer’s satchel and rather thoroughly spoiled the Deck by gnawing corners off the Thain of Cloaks, The Shirriff of Gems, and a good number of the minor Daggers. Compounding the misfortune, the hobbit’s spare deck, it seems, had been loaned to a certain shirriff in Tookland, who in turn had loaned it to another shirriff in Nobottle, who in turn had loaned it to another shirriff in Scary. Through this notably circuitous route Mr. Gamfield has now retrieved the spare deck, and fondly hopes to return to the cardtable next Thursday/Friday at the usual time.

For those most serious gamblers who wonder such things, had the hungry pup been dealt the well-nibbled cards in regular eleventeen hands, he would have lost four hands out of five.

The notice is signed by Miss Trista Tanglefoot, FFSC Acting Hostess for Events and New Membership

[Trista]

In yet another stunning show of remarkable good fortune, Mr Lance, Miss Averan, and Mr Althane all walked away from the Prancing Pony with heftier coin-purses, thanks to keen judgment with hands dealt from the West Farthing Gambling Deck. The event, hosted at rather the last-minute's notice by the Four Farthings Social Club, was facilitated by the dealing prowess of Mr Gamaliel Gamfield of Michel Delving.

"I thought we might well have a new record for Mr Althane," Mr Gamfield reported. "First two hands to him both included Mayors of Gems which, of course, instantly accords him a topaz for each. Had he gotten a THIRD straight hand with the Mayor, it would have harkened us back to the luck which came to Mr Barco Brownmiddle, some five generations ago."

Many will remember more recently when our own Bingo Sandybanks found three Gem Mayors in five hands... a rather remarkable feat in itself. All very fine hobbits, and tall folk as well, are invited to watch for future dealings from the WFGD over the course of the next many weeks.

Miss Trista Tanglefoot,
Acting Director for Events and New Membership
Four Farthings Social Club