"See, this is Tobaran Straight Draw ... very different to Luccini Straight Draw. You want to go long, I'll stick with cups until I get a flush or I'm running the boat. Keep your eye on the Gamester over there -- she'll play straight so long as we respect the game."
A gambler-priest is a priest of the Cult of Ranald who exalts Ranald the Gamester, the aspect of the god of thieves and fortune which embodies the role of chance in every outcome. Gambler-priests revel in wagers and games of luck and skill, seeing every turning point in life as a moment where chance could take them in a different direction.[1a]
A gambler-priest is more than just a player of games, they have devoted themselves to living by the luck granted to them by Ranald. Some Gambler-Priests travel between various inns and gambling dens, making their living through wagers, while imparting the lessons of Ranald. Others run gaming venues themselves, overseeing the house as other priests oversee a congregation. Every dice roll or card flip is a small act of devotion to Ranald.[1a][1b]
The life of a Gambler-Priest is one of highs and lows, the times when chance is going their way and life is good sit alongside times when Ranald tests them with a run of bad luck. This is all part of the spiritual journey they must take. They know they must bear the ups and downs with good grace.[1b]
Role[]
"Your life is ruled by chance. Certainly you can nudge the odds in your favour, but everything important, every life- changing moment -- it's determined by the roll of the dice. Ranald grasps that... he's the only one who does."
- —Carlotta Struch, Gambler-priest[1a]
A gambler-priest of the Cult of Ranald[1a]
Most of these Ranaldians are chosen as initiates at a gaming table. An older priest might see someone with a passion for gambling, admiring their handling of the dice or their intense focus on the cards. The priest asks a few oblique questions about luck and if they give intriguing or well-considered answers, they might make an offer -- would they like to understand the true mysteries of chance and learn the ways of Ranald the Gamester?[1b]
It's common for such folk to live an itinerant life, rarely staying in one place long enough for the locals to take umbrage with their success. Travelling from town to town is a devotional journey, following in the footsteps of their god as he also wandered the land looking for new marks. They let whim and chance take them from place to place, rather than planning in advance.[1b]
In time, they may settle down in one place, laying down roots along with the cards. Gambler-priests who choose settled life usually become part of the sect known as The Crosses and establish a gaming den, a de facto temple to Ranald the Gamester. They minister to the gaming tables, scrutinise the punters for (the wrong kind of) cheating, and ensure the Shrine of Ranald in the corner receives its share of the winnings.[1b]
These Ranaldians work to master as many games as possible, whether they are card games, dice games, or any other form of play which involves risk and skill. Any wager is considered to be a sacred act. Gambler-priests study the form of pit fighters and pay close attention to racing or fighting animals. A gambler-priest can talk at length about the past record of a racing pigeon or the recent form of a jousting knight. They'll also put wagers on serious issues, like the outcome of a battle or fate of an expedition. There are solemn rules and rituals surrounding a wager between Ranald's followers, followed to the letter to ensure acceptance of the outcome by all parties.[1b]
The difference between a gambler-priest and a professional gambler is ultimately one of motivation. Priests have a religious obsession with luck and a tendency to gamify even the smallest aspects of life. They also minister to others, guiding them to embrace luck and encouraging them to pray to Ranald for good fortune.[1b]
The miracles and blessings they can perform are proof their preoccupation with chance meets Ranald's approval. All gambler-priests crave and venerate the luck Ranald grants them and depend on it to live, yet they still attempt to manipulate chance with skill, knowledge, and miracles. They see no contradiction in this, as Ranald favours the guile of those who tip the odds in their favour.[1b]