Play@YSDC

Archie nods happily. "I'm pretty sure a tarot deck would do fine, if you don't mind us all using it. We just have to take out the esoteric cards. Fascinating history, the tarot deck."

Archie will quickly sort through the deck, if Benjamin has no objections. "What would everyone like to play, whist, bridge, poker? All for honour or matchsticks of course"

To Benjamin, he adds, "Not to pry, old boy, but that's an unusual thing to carry around with you all the time. Are you a bit of a tarot aficionado?"

Finally, Seamus seems animated. He walks over to the quickly forming group, "Now this is more me speed. But the bigger question isn't what shall we play, but what say we wager?"

"Now, now, Old Boy, as I said before, we're playing for matchsticks and the honour of victory. We can hardly gamble in an air raid shelter under a church, I'm pretty sure that's against the law. And immoral. But we can still have fun with matches!" Archie holds up a box of matches to make his point and shakes them encouragingly.

"There are fascinating connections between Tarot and Kaballah, but I'm sure you don't want to listen to an old man's ramblings". Benjamin smiles apologetically.

Seamus looks at Archie with a wry, charming smile. "I'm sorry fella but me ma taught me playing with matches was mighty dangerous. And I always found her wrath mightier than the lord's. Besides, there are other things of value to wager besides money. Information, in my experience, is often priceless. It may behoove us to learn a bit about each other while we wait."

To Benjamin, Archie replies, "Kabbalah? That's a kind of theological study that originated from Judaism, isn't it? I'm afraid I don't know a great deal about it but I'm always interested to learn more, especially anything with an historical aspect."

To Seamus, Archie replies, "Well old son, I'm an open book but you're still most welcome to gamble for personal history along with matchsticks if it makes you happy. As long as there's no money involved. Archie Pennyfeather, at your service, by the way."

OOC,Can [b]Archie[/b] make a snappy roll in something to know a little bit about Kabbalah? History?

OOC,[b]Archie's[/b] [i]Occult[/i] is 5% and he rolls... [dice]0[/dice]

(As a good meat-and-potatoes CofE minister, Archie really knows nothing about the occult.)

"Do tell,", Archie encourages Benjamin as he deals out a hand to those who want to play and shares out matchsticks.

"Well, in a nutshell...", Benjamin begins, "Kaballah is all about trying to get a glimpse of the Nature of the Universe the Creator's Plan for the World by studying the hidden meaning of ancient texts. Numbers and sacred cyphers play a big role there....

Archie nods encouragingly. "Indeed? And how old are the oldest texts on the subject, do you know? I do love placing things historically."

To Seamus, Archie asks, "And where in Ireland are you from, old son?"

Mrs Cruckshank tut tuts under her breath and her knitting needles fly a shade faster.
"I'm afraid I don't hold with heathen practices, Mrs Duncan. It's a slippery slope and no mistake; one has no idea where it can take one. I once knew a gentleman, knew of I should say, who collected those African masks. Great ugly evil things they were. How he could sleep at night with them hanging on his walls, leering, I can't imagine. Anyhow, he caught a bad case of consumption and didn't last the year. So it just goes to show. And I don't hold with gambling neither."

"Too right, Mrs. Cruckshank," said Maggie, nodding sagely. "Such things bring nothing but grief."

Giles smiled. "Well spoken, ladies," he said, approaching with a thick book. "Some Bible study is what we need. Perhaps one of the Psalms. I always find them comforting."

Archie nods at Benjamin. "Yes, of course you're quite right. As a matter of interest though, are there any ancient texts that speak specifically about kabbalah? Or put another way, what would be the first writing dedicated specifically to the topic, I wonder?"

Benjamin thinks for a while. Well, in the beginning it was mainly a secret oral tradition. Important early mystical writings are those of Ben Zakkai in the first century, although it wasn't called Kaballah back then...

Archie nods enthusiastically to Benjamin. "I really am going to have to do some more reading on the topic."

Hands of cards are dealt and scrutinised...

Turning again to Seamus, Archie asks, "So where in Ireland are you from, old son?"

Seamus smirks, self-satisfied by what he's caused. Information i's everything.

He snaps out of his thoughts at the sound of Archie's voice. "Place called Killanny," he says. "I got a prize for ya if you could tell me where on the Green Isle that is."

From his breast pocket Seams takes out a small flask. He shakes it to display the considerable volume left within the metal container.