Ben's character card identified him as a Wandering Minstrel. A stick thin character, much like Ben himself, with lots of Charm, not much else, but with the ability to temporarily boost his other skills by the number of dice he can roll without going over his Charm. Immediately, he started looking around the board for anything that might increase his Charm... right next to where he started, there was just such an opportunity. "A devilish stranger challenges you to a riddle contest! If your Wits plus a die scores at least an 8, win a lute that adds 1 to your Charm, lose, and any instruments you possess are taken." Worth a shot, he thought. Sadly, he rolled too low, for even his special power to make the difference. "Well, it was worth a shot," he said, unaware the guitar had just vanished from the case behind him.
Charley had The Aspiring Duelist, with a fair bit of Might, and a bit of Charm and Wits to boot, but only 1 starting gold. 'Just like real life,' Charley thought, thinking about the lightness of his wallet. Still, he had the ability to challenge a duel to "overcome or enhance" any negative result that came from dealing with a living creature. That could be interesting. For now though, money was an issue... and there was the solution. "Fight in a tournament- If your Might plus a die scores at least a 5, earn 2 Gold." Easy enough! Charley rolled, claimed his winnings, and passed the dice along.
Dave had The Smooth-Voiced Charmer, with a fair deal of Charm, of course, a bit of Wits and Gold, and the ability to add 2 to any roll that involved dealing with the opposite sex. "Hmm... did you rig the deck here Alex?" Shrugging, he moved along to what seemed an appropriate space. "A mysterious woman guards a magical pool that can increase your Charm. Outwit or outfight her with a score of 8 by adding a die to the appropriate skill each turn bathe in its waters for as long as you like, gaining 2 Charm by the start of each turn as the waters work their beautifying effects, but if you fail, you will be banished from the pool forever." With his special bonus, it was an easy enough roll. He figured he might as well stay a while and crank his Charm to the point he could pass all related challenges, or at least until he botched a roll.
Evan had The Sly Trickster, with plenty of Wits, and the ability to trade favors with other players within two spaces, handling a challenge for them and if they agree to return the favor whenever you ask. "Hey Dave, I think we might be able to team up a bit. Why don't I head your way?" The nearest space wasn't a very good one, but he could take the hit for now. "You offend a brute at a local tavern. If you have at least a 6 in Charm or Might, you can smooth things over. Otherwise, pay 1 Gold to appease him, or loose 1 Might from injuries." Gold seemed easy enough to regain, so he tossed away a token.
Finally came Frank, The Nimble Acrobat. All his skills were fairly average, but his ability seemed rather fun. "Any time you don't like the result of your current turn, you can make a quick escape to avoid the consequences. Roll a die and move that many spaces, but you must accept your fate from the space you land on." He didn't like either of his nearby options, but skipping around the board might be interesting. "A sly temptress plans to rob you in the night. If your Charm and a die scores at least an 8, she instead falls in love and joins you on your journey, fail, and she steals all your gold." With only 2 Charm, it would normally be a dangerous gamble, but after Frank fails, he activates his ability. Rolling a die and moving another 3 spaces, he lands on a space with a log leading to the next track! "A fairy offers to cast a spell that will let you take her 'covered bridge' to the forest. If your Wits plus a die score at least an 8, you see through her trick and simply walk across the top of the log, but either result leads you into the Mysterious Forest." Frank stares at the card a moment and says "So why does the roll even matter?" Shrugging, he rolls a die, getting a rather low result.
As he passes the dice back to Alex, Frank suddenly begins to shrink before everyone's eyes! In mere seconds, he shrinks to a mere six inches, struggling out of his clothes and screaming in shock. The sudden dramatic change distracts everyone enough that no one notices Dave's skin gradually becoming smoother and softer, as his natural charm and beauty slowly begin to increase.