Your word count in the forum is incorrect by a thousand words. I was expecting something long but didn't get it. I am pleased with what I did get but I hoped for more. The story is an interesting start to something. What game are they playing though? Poker? Blackjack? A game specific to this situation. What are the rules? How do they die? Is it the magic of the ring? Is the ring magic? Or is it power like a mafia don? SOrrry to bombard you with questions but this story really got my juices going and it would be worthwhile to see how far you could take this story. I know the contest is just for the introductory chapter but this is a really cool idea. How do you find out about the game? Is it an urban myth? How do people find out about it if one of the people dies and the other gets untold power. I would think the survivor wouldn't want to advertise. Unless having the opponent die is what powers the ring. Does it suck in the souls of the loser? What power does it give the winner? I want to know so much more.