J♣️ : Robin Hood [Capture the flag]
This game is part of a series of games, where I am writing games for all 52 cards for a borderlands in the UK. Each one includes a story of how I imagine the game playing out. You can find all entries here.
Venue: Castle
Player limit: Four
Rules: The castle is split into two sections, The jacks side, and the Player side. The Jack starts with 80% of the gold. Across two hours, players must steal gold from each other’s treasuries. Each team also has a jail, and if a player is caught in the wrong half, they are sent to the jail. If all players are caught, they get one free release. If it happens again it is game over for the team. If a player can get to the jail without being caught they can free one of their team members. Each team also has five keys. Keys can be given one each to each player, in total each team has an A, B, C, D, and M key. These can be used to lock and unlock doors of the same class throughout the castle. M can unlock any door.
While in the treasury players cannot be caught.
The Keys not used are stored in the base and can be stolen by an attacking player, instead of gold. Only two players may be left on defence, one at the prison/safe zone and one at the treasury. Players may only carry one gold item.
Violence is prohibited and punished by a shock from the bracelet.
Sixth Day of Exhibitions
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Remaining Games
James sat outside the castle, a bracelet on his wrist, awaiting the opening of the gates. Next to him sat three more bracelets, in front of a sign, reading ‘take one. Four players are needed to begin.’
He sat for a few hours, watching the art of the card hanging from the blimp. The Jack of Clubs. He looked at the castle, it’s architecture, marvelling in a way he had never done before.
He heard someone approaching, and looked down to the familiar form of Ben walking up.
James looked at him, calling out “Looks like you’ve lost your security force!”
Ben walked up to the table, putting on a bracelet.
“I’ve lost a lot since we last met.” He said quietly, and quite uncharacteristically.
“Well there are two more chairs, you can tell me all about it while we wait for the other players.” James said.
Ben recounted his encounter with the Jack of Hearts, and James told Ben about the King of Diamonds.
It was clear Ben had been to a new low after losing the school, and had built his way back to some semblance of his former self’s confidence.
They waited until about three in the afternoon, before three figures approached.
“That’s… not possible…” Ben said.
“What a group of familiar faces!” James said, as they watched Mia, Alex and Ellis approach.
Ellis got there first, nodding to Ben, who nodded back. Mia walked up with Alex, and they explained their ordeal with the King of Spades.
“Well, it looks like we’ve all been through a lot. Maybe we can put the past behind us, and play one more game…” James suggested, holding up his wrist with the bracelet.
“There ain’t no way I’m playing another game after that.” Alex said.
“Well, if you ask me, I’m down for another crack at a face card game.” Ellis said, his familiar smile plastered over his face.
“Well, have fun waiting, cause I’m with Alex. There is no way you’ll catch me playing a game again, especially not with him.” Mia said, pointing at Ben.
“Come on Mia, remember how well we worked together in the nine of spades, and the oh aren’t getting out of here if you don’t beat this guy.” Ben said, pointing up at the picture of the Jack above them.
“Fuck off Ben. I’ve heard about the shit you’ve pulled since I ran off. I’m not joining the game.” Mia said.
“Look, trust me, I’m different now. Reformed if you will. Please, Just this one.” He said, offering her a bracelet.
“Fine. But just know I don’t think of you any higher than previously. I’m just joining to win.” Mia said, clicking the bracelet around her wrist.
The doors began to creak, opening.
They approached, cautiously, watching the sunlight streaming out from it.
Four figures approached, James estimated they weren’t much older than them.
“Look who’s come out to play….” The Leading one said.
“Jack!?” Mia said, in disbelief. “That’s not possible… You’re in hospital… The Crash…”
“Looks like Jack’s the Jack. And also here and recovered from his coma.” James noted, looking at Jack.
“Well, looks like I missed something.” The Jack said, before beconing them in.
“Ben, I’ve been watching your group intently for a while now, and seeing how you led. See, you and I took a different approach. While you chose to lead by force, I chose to lead with equality. Your approach ultimately failed, and you have only managed to gather a group to try and defeat me by humbling yourself. However, your efforts will likely be in vain. As you have learned, and we learned a few years ago, its kill or be killed. One of either groups lives must be sacrificed to continue the lives of the others. We thank you for the sacrifice you will likely make today. It’s nothing personal, don’t worry.” He said, walking in front, towards the centre of the courtyard.
Mia turned and looked at Alex, as the gates shut, obscuring her. It could likely be the last time either of them saw each other.
The Jack began to explain the rules as James surveyed the area, seeing a large screen with ‘player’ and ‘citizen’ written on it, with a large dividing line running down the centre, as well as through the castle.
The layout of the game showed the castle split into two halves, and He knew he was on the player side. He looked at his bracelet, flashing up five images of Keys, one labeled A, B, C, D and M.
When the Jack finished the rules they were told they would have five minutes to plan before the game began.
“So, the way the game starts, it’s impossible to win for us by playing defensive. We are forced to play offensive, but the Jack can only have two full defenders, slightly levelling the playing field. However, this means that the Jack, until we have around equal values of gold in our treasury, can just keep his team on their side as defence.” James said, drawing out a little diagram in the courtyard floor. “We are forced into playing offensive at this point, so that means we have to figure a way around the defence. Because defenders need to escort the people they catch to the prison, we could all run at once and make it past the first defenders here.” He pointed. “Then we arrive at the limited section of defence, where one player needs to run from where the prison is, as that will not yet be guarded. Because someone is running that way, those who are caught should try and stall for time. Then, one person should be able to make it into the treasury, and they simply need to sprint back to get us some gold. Then they can be caught, releasing everyone wit the free release. We can then think more carefully then with a levelled playing field.”
“But what about Keys?” Ben countered.
“Well, for us to need keys there must be locked zones. So, if we assign someone the M Key, and give the other person no Key, they can block a capture from the other team by stepping in front. SO If we give either Mia or Ellis the M key, I’ll take no key and go with them, leaving the other two with designated keys and two keys left at our base.” James suggested.
“Seems like a decent plan.” Ellis said, and they assigned keys, lining up at the centre line, watching the other two walk along it. He recognised them from his school. Ben wondered how they had gotten from the crash to here, they had been in critical condition when he went o the theatre, and now they were claiming to have been here for years… Perhaps it was aliens.
“The Game Has Begun.” The Voice droned, and They enacted their plan.
Ellis and James ran over, and one of the defenders tried to tag him. James jumped in front, getting sent to the prison. Ellis raced towards the door at the end of the courtyard, and he ran into the inside of the castle. He looked around, running through various passageways, before seeing a guard, and he quickly turned tail and ran. He watched Mia run in from the other side, into the room he was guarding, and pick up something large and golden. He kept racing, catching sight of her outside the window.
Ellis quickly jumped through the window to his right, landing with a shoulder roll, and sprinted towards Mia. He watched another defender running for her, and he pushed him out of the way. He was led to prison, and Mia cleared the line.
The gold total on the screen now changed, showing the player team now had 378 gold in their treasury, the citizen team having 622.
Mia took a deep breath, seeing that that incident had taken one sixth of the time, now having fifty minutes left. She was also the only uncultured member of her team. Getting caught would use up their only jailbreak, so it may be worth trying to free them.
Also, Mia knew that she could get to the prison with the Key she had, but wether they had changed the keys they had locked the doors with was unknown.
She walked up to the line, looking at the two defenders who were in the courtyard with her. She made a run for it, note vent making it to the courtyard wall before she felt a hand on her back. Her bracelet indicated she had been captured, and the screen announced that their whole team had been captured and that they have used up their one Jailbreak. All of their team were returned to their half.
“We can’t afford to do that again.” James said. “Because even if we manage to get an item of the same value to put us in the lead, we would only have one defender. No, we need to think of a stealthier strategy.”
“Well, the castle windows are quite close together. Someone with good arm strength, say Ellis, could climb around the outside, and into the treasure room. Then they could climb back with an item without the team realising.” Ben suggested.
“I recon I could do it…” Ellis said, walking over to look out the window.
“Well, good luck then.” James said.
Ellis climbed out the window, putting his feet on a lower ledge, keeping his hands on the ledge. He scaled his way around the outside, carefully moving one point of contact after the other, first his foot, then his hand, repeat. As he got further and further around the castle, the higher the gap between him and the ground became. He arrived at what he thought was the treasury, and pulled himself up, climbing in, and grabbing an easily carrialble item that seemed to be valuable.
He dropped back out of the window, alone of the defenders opened the door, and he began to climb around the outside. He heard someone running, and continued around the outside.
He stopped, feeling a pain on his hand.
“Hello Ellis. I’ve always wanted to do this.” The defender said, bringing his foot into Ellis’ face. He repeatedly did so, until ellis let go of the ledge.
Ellis fell, and the defender shot backwards, electricity coursing through his body. He lay there, and coughed a little, before getting up.. He hated Ellis. He had bullied him for years. Good riddance, he thought.
Ellis crashed down into the floor, has bones cracking, before the laser put him out of his misery.
James and the others watched as the screen showed the words ‘Elimination’.
“A player has been eliminated for leaving the game area.” The Voice announced.
James looked at the screen, showing their score hadn’t changed. 378 - 520.
This meant that Ellis must have been the one eliminated. James hung his head a moment.
He walked up to Mia and Ben, who were defending the base, informing them of the discovery.
They were sad, and they knew that they were now at a severe disadvantage. One player down, and in second place in scores.
James discussed a third plan with them.
“Well, we are at a serious disadvantage. We are one player down, and they can afford to play full defence. We have very few options.” James said, “I think we can try to use Mia to try and draw out the defenders, and then Ben can run in and grab the flag. It is risky, as it is four on one or two, but it seems like the only option.”
“Well, we don’t have many other options.” Ben said, looking at the timer on the screen, 20 minutes left.
Mia walked up to the line alone, as James and Ben walked their way through the castle, using their A and D keys to try and get through the castle. They arrived at a locked door, locked with a B key.
“Damn!” Ben said. They had to find another way around, and turned and walked up a flight of stairs.
Mia was on the line, talking to one of the defenders, asking for Jack.
Jack walked out, and one of the others walked back, taking his place.
“Well Mia. How nice to see you. We’ve not had a proper chance to talk yet, have we?” Jack said, and Mia looked at him.
“I wish I could say it was nice to see you, but the circumstances don’t allow for it.” Mia said. “So, why are you here?”
“Well, I am here because I am the Jack of Clubs, but that doesn’t sound like what you meant. In truth, I’m only here because I don’t want to die. Sounds a bit ironic, but in this world, we know life isn’t worth much. That means there is no god, no afterlife. Nothing. I can’t afford to go yet. I still have so much more to do with my life. I’m sorry we will have to sacrifice your life for ours.” The Jack said.
“I’m very sorry that I’ll have to politely decline.” Mia said, racing across the line.
Jack ran after her, followed by the other defender. She looped around, doing out of the way of his swipes, and rolled past him.
While this was happening, James and Ben had gone up a few floors, and worked through various locked doors. They arrived at the top of a staircase, guarded by another of the Jack’s guards. He didn’t seem to notice them.
Ben stepped out, shouting to him, “Catch me if you can Dustin!” Before bolting down the corridor, as James hid behind the door.
As they ran past, James ran through the door, locking it behind him. He continued down the corridor, towards the treasury of the Jack’s team.
He slowly descended the stairs, seeing a guard stood in front of the door. James knew it was a risk, but he climbed over to the window, and crawled into the treasury.
He grabbed a bag of small jewels, and climbed back up again, quietly. His arms hurt from pulling himself up, but he continued out towards the windows to the courtyard.
He spotted Mia still dodging attempts to catch her, and she caught his eye. She lead them as far away from the window as she could, before James jumped out, wincing as he landed badly. He got up, and was running.
He saw himself getting closer and closer to the line, and he jumped across it, before sprinting back to their treasury, gasping for breath, bent over, hands on his legs.
Mia came in later, informing him he had tipped the balance in their favour. Now all they needed to do was wait for the attack from the Jack’s team.
Mia was left guarding the treasury, while James went to guard the prison. There were five minutes left, when the Jacks team made a last ditch effort for the lead.
They ran all at once, trying to make it to the treasury. James and Mia managed to catch them all, and they sat together in the prison of the player team, as the last few minutes ticked down.
The Jack had turned to the wall, and was crying into his arms.
“I can’t die…” He said, tears streaming from his eyes. “Please, let us live. Please-“
His team mates tried to comfort him, but this was a difficult task in the face of death.
James spoke to their three captives as the time ticked down, James told him as well what he meant about the crash. "20 dead. 19 left in critical condition. Was on the radio as I left for school. We tried not to think about it, but..." He trailed off.
Jack changed the subject, ad they continued to talk, and James even managed to make Jack and the other laugh. It was as it was before. Before the crash, before they arrived here. But the laughter was hollow. The people who he were talking to were as good as dead.
“Well, I hope you use your well earned life w-w-isely.” The Jack stuttered.
James looked at him sadly.
The Laser ended the game, as the voice announced the game had been cleared by the players.
Ben, Mia and James walked out of the castle, as the blimp exploded behind them. The face burning and peeling, and they looked at the remaining games.
The King of hearts.
Ben told them he would go out and try to clear it, and James and Mia agreed to help him.
As they walked towards the Church above which the King of hearts blimp hung, an announcement rang out over the city.
“There is only one game remaining. The Game is the King of Hearts. To join, please make your way to the venue.”
James looked back one final time, seeing the crushed body of Ellis lying at the base of the castle.
He turned, watching the King of Hearts blimp in the distance.
The deck was almost complete.

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