High Stakes Games
Characters in these stories play a 'game' with serious consequences. Fame, fortune, power, life: any or all of these may be won or lost according to the rules of competition. The stakes and the rules may be agreed upon by parties involved, or imposed on them by an external force; either way, not following them will usually have severe consequences for the transgressor. Those who take part in the game will generally be forced to play until they win... or lose.
