In mid-Mayan, a public casino opened in New Thera with fanfare. Mortals
descended into the luxurious subterranean casino, ready to try their
luck at the roulette and blackjack tables. The casino's opening party
was blessed by the presence of Prospero, the God of Wealth Himself, as
well as the radiant Goddess of the Moon looking for a bit of amusement.

Despite the underground location of the casino and the dim lighting, the
roulette parlour became as bright as noonday as more gods and goddesses
appeared to participate in the festive gambling, Their divine fire
filling the room with warmth and illumination. Ourania's daughter
Kastalia, Goddess of Rivers and Lakes, appeared by Her mother's side.
Matsuhama, the God of Combat joined the gambling, as did Aegis, the God
of War. and even Lupus, the normally reclusive God of the Beasts. Made
curious by the lack of divine presence in the Garden of the Gods, even
the Great Mother descended to join the gamblers for a time. The Gods
played at the roulette tables alongside the mortals, blithely betting
purses large enough to make the mortals gape.

The roulette wheel spun fast and furious, fortunes made and lost each
time it came to a stop. Emboldened by the presence of the Gods, many a
mortal bet perhaps more recklessly than they might have otherwise.
Jania, the roulette dealer, shouted for bets again and again. In the
middle of the frenetic betting, the mild voice of a young adventurer
nearly went unheard as he offered to the Gods a new game to play.

Maya heard him however, and She asked him to explain. The youth, Kalek,
invited the Gods to play a high-stakes game of dice. Bored of the
roulette tables, the Gods consented to play. Kalek called for bets,
rolled the dice, and won. The Gods and the mortals in attendance joked
good-naturedly about the dice being loaded before the next round of
betting began. Kalek rolled the dice, and won yet again. This time, the
grumbling was not so good-natured, and the Gods demanded to inspect the
dice. Kalek surrendered the dice; each God studied them in turn, and all
proclaimed them free of any trickery or magic, including Maya.

Thus a third round of betting began, for purses of gold beyond most
mortals' dreams. Kalek rolled the dice once more, and once again won! As
the crowd protested in outrage, certain of some deceit, the Great
Mother's laughter filled the room. "I said there is no trickery, and
that was true," She said, grinning at Kalek. "However, there are some
who walk the land who simply have more influence over luck than others."

At Her words, the young gambler threw back his hood and vanished, in his
place a radiant golden light. Within the light materialised the form of
Hermes, the Messenger, God of Wanderers and Rogues, patron of gamblers
and the Lord of Luck, returned to Sapience once more after long travels
in other planes.

Penned by my hand on the 16th of Mayan, in the year 406 AF.