"I can best you."

I will attempt to cheat at this game, to keep my mind away from flying bandits.

Sleight of hand: 21

Intelligence: 3

Perception: 14

Tungol, can you also make either a wisdom or intelligence roll? (Your choice)

Alright Demitric, roll perception to see if you catch him cheating. If you meet or surpass his check, roll either wisdom or intelligence (your choice) with the advantage normally given to you by your proficiency with the game. If not, no proficiency. 

Can I also cheat?

Alright fine, new rule then, you BOTH roll perception, Demitric will roll his sleight, and 1 roll for his INT/WIS. 

I'll subtract each of your perception rolls from the other's sleight rolls (no negatives), then add the remainder to your INT/WIS rolls.

I have not been this bemused and befuddled since the magpies met that one necron group on cold shoulder.

Perception: 13

Sleight: 13

Int: 16

Alright, as you begin playing, Tungol begins stealthily swapping his pawns for Demitric's more powerful pieces.

Demitric also does this, that is, he replaces his stronger pieces with Tungol's pawns. The implications of the fact that they were just trading pieces with each other under the table not quite reaching his brain.

Tungol naturally wins when he takes Demitric's king. Not as a move, he just swapped out Demitric's king for one of his pawns, defaulting him the win.

"Bested. Should do this more often. Engrossing!

I stand up and pat the bard on the back.

"Maybe I show you a thing or two sometime."

Tucking my little haul into my pouch I trot back to camp, my tail swaying with satisfaction.

"How did the game go?"

I think at some point I started playing a different game. I'm not sure...

I put my face in my hands and think about my life for a minute before packing up the pieces. Somehow during all the cheating I ended up with 5 more pieces.

Leaving the clearly distracted elf to mull over his life choices I settle down near the middle of camp and arrange my herbalism tools to begin brewing a healing potion from the supplies I just procured. (I'm not sure what I should be rolling for but I guess I'll roll for proficiency?)

Proficiency: 14 

"Ah let me help. I have no knowledge of this."

(Intelligence?) 20

"If you'd like to help I can show you how to use the tools, if you're not already familiar." I beckon Tungol to sit next to me and go over each part of the herbalism set as I start to brew my potion.

I mull over the group before settling near Demitric, still obviously dumbfounded by his loss.

"Stop overthinking it.  Would a quick spar take your mind off your bone-crushing defeat?"

Persuasion: 24

Ah! you've discovered the greatest tactic that players often forget, helping with checks! While yes, players can "assist" (yes, even as an action in combat) to give players advantage, sadly crafting is a little different, as the players assisting need to also have the tool proficiency to speed up crafting production.

 However, I will say that from studying you as you work, Tungol starts on the path towards learning the proficiency!

What, like combat? I retort.

No, it wouldn't do to show up with 1 less person. Gundren might not even split your share amongst us.

"Oh, fancy yourself a fighter, do you?" I say getting up, finally interested by something.

I feel a twinge of pain coming from my head.

Ha! I'm no fighter, more of a.... winner, I'd say.

"I see, like how you won your game?"

"The bard fought well at checkers! Sure the bard would spar well too."

Posting for Quality because reasons.

"Well no wonder I lost, I WAS playing the wrong game!"

"And maybe I let him win that, for the long run."

"But I'll take you both on if you'd like!"

Demitric shouts with renewed vigor.