Kender Gift Swapping

By Raistlame

Yuletide is a special time of year for everyone, but no one enjoys it more than that infernal kender race. (Why is it I always get stuck with the menial tasks of dealing with these subhuman species? The other Rasitlins are at the yuletide party by now enjoying Tika's spicy cheese with almonds and getting drunk on Caramon's "special" eggnog, while I am forced to interview a thrice-damned kender.)

R: Are you prepared?

K: Yes, but if you could just loosen these ropes a bit -

R: Name?

K: Tutter Spiritfun

R: Occupation?

K: Uhh... wandering freelance handler.

R: Right. Now tell me the precise instructions to the holiday competition known as the Yuletide Gift Swap.

K: Oh! Is that what this is all about? You really didn't need to go through all the trouble of catching me and torturing me and tying me up for that? I would have told you. By the way I have an itch above my right eyebrow, would you mind getting that for me?

R: The competition?

K: Oh yes, but it's not REALLY a competition; everyone wins. In fact last year I came home with a large crystal sphere that was talking to me and I traded it for a wooden Istarian slug. I have a collection of those, you know?

R: The instructions?

K: That's simple enough. First you gather together as many kender as will fit around a table. I remember when we managed to get 33 kender around a table once, of course it was because of the shrinking spell that had accidentally been cast on us, have you ever been shrunk? It helps out when you're short on food at the party I can tell you that.

R: *cough* Then?

K: Then each one dumps out the contents of their pouches in the center of the table. Then you roll a die.

R: How many sides?

K: Four, no wait, five, hold on no, six. That's six sides. Four sides? How silly of me, who would make something like that. What would it look like? Where would you put the numbers?

R: It looks like a pyramid you simpleton. I have many sided dice.

K: What for?

R: Uhmm.. never you mind that. Us Raistlins are a scary bunch and we use our dice for ... uhmm... dark and scary purposes. Now, what happens when you roll the dice?

K: If a kender rolls a one or two they select a prize from the pile. If they roll a three or four they must recite a kender yuletide poem. Ahhh my Aunt Squinsh was the best at those, she could come up with some doozies like, "There once was a knight from Solamnia, that froze in his armor one frost, they took him indoors and took off his drawers and found that his -" Oh wait... wrong poem.

R: *sigh* What happens if you roll a five or six?

K: Well you pick up card. You see, before you begin one kender creates a bunch of cards that says things like, "move one chair to the left", or "swap gifts with the person across from you", or 'swallow three bugs and select any gift you want." That's a new one I just made up.

R: I'm impressed.

K: So you see when it says to move a chair you get someone else's gift!

R: Ingenious.

K: So then you just keep it up until everyone has a gift and the pile has been reduced to nothing.

R: How long does that take.

K: Oh about seven or eight minutes. After the first or second player goes the pile disappears rather quickly. I mean... it is surrounded by a wall of kender. So then we just play again.

R: Naturally. Why did I ever tell Lady Raist I would stick around for this inane dribble?

K: So can I go?

R: No. I have a hot poker waiting to meet you.

K: Great! I love card games!

R: *sigh* There you go. The mysterious secrets of kender Yuletide Gift Swap unveiled. Next year I swear to the gods we'll get the FNR's* to do this sort of "After Hours" work! Argh! Now where is that kender!
*Freakin New Raistlins

- Raistlame -

Kender Gift Swapping

What you need:

  1. Index cards or small pieces of paper.
  2. A 6-sided die.
  3. 2 to 4 small gifts per player with a poem attached to each.

Preparation:

  1. Prepare various index cards with the following phrases:
    * "Everyone Move one seat to the left."
    * "Everyone Move one seat to the right."
    * "Everyone Move three seats to the left."
    * "Everyone Move three seats to the right."
    * "Swap your gifts with the user across from you."
    * "Swap your gifts with the person to the left of you."
    * "Swap your gifts with the person to the right of you."
    (If there are other ideas you have jot them each down on a card.)
  2. Each user should write up a small poem to go with their present. It can be serious or funny.

How to Play:

  1. Pick someone to begin.
  2. That person rolls the dice.
    * On a 1-2 they select a present
    * On a 3-4 they have to read a poem of one of the presents they have collected.
    * On a 5-6 they must pick up a card and follow the instructions.
  3. Once that person has had a turn the person to their left rolls next.
  4. Once the game is over, to be fair all players should walk away with the same amount of gifts so the players with extra can return them to the pile or simply trade/give them to players that have less.

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