History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS01E10MoveAlongHome

Nearing the end of the game, Dax is injured, and Sisko and Kira refuse to leave her behind. As the cave they're in falls apart around them, they tumble into a deep crevice... and pop back at Quark's bar, along with Bashir, no worse for the wear.

It really ''was'' just a game. Sisko and crew were never in any real danger. Sisko is bitterly angry, but the Wadi just laugh him off and leave [=DS9=].

* CallARabbitASmeerp: They're not ''sticks'', they're ''klon peags''. Maybe they're superior to sticks in some way? The Wadi don't elaborate.

After the board is deployed, Sisko, Bashir, Kira and Dax find themselves in some mysterious maze-like structure. It turns out that ''they're'' the game pieces for Quark's game of Chula, only he doesn't know it yet and simply sees this as another gambling man's game. With each turn, the party is presented with some sort of riddle or puzzle, and their success or failure determines what Quark wins.

* StupidStatementDanceMix: [[https://redshirtsalwaysdie.com/2021/05/06/watch-allamaraine-star-trek-deep-space-nine-gets-turned-song/ Allamaraine]], naturally.

* RiddleForTheAges: What the hell are klon pegs, and what "uses" are they good for?

* NoPronunciationGuide: Characters sometimes pronounce the word "allamaraine" in two syllables: "alma-rain." This is particularly noticeable when the little girl says it in two syllables but the Starfleet officers imitating her say it in three even though they only know the word from listening to her.

* ArtisticLicenseStatistics: At face value, the gambling aspect of Chula appears pretty elementary. Quark argues that taking the riskier plays are safer for Sisko and Co. in the long run because they also expedite their path to the end, but the rules as they are described do not support this conclusion. Unless there is some nuance to the dice that [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail Falow conveys to Quark in a way the audience can't see]], taking a "double risk, double reward" shortcut would only make the game go faster; it wouldn't affect the final probability of winning for either better or worse. (Of course, the audience sees that the outcome isn't entirely random and depends on the ability of the shanghaied crew, but Quark had no way of knowing they were in a rat maze at all, let alone what challenges they were or might be facing from his decisions.)

* ArtisticLicenseStatistics: At face value, the gambling aspect of Chula appears pretty elementary. Quark argues that taking the riskier plays are safer for Sisko and Co. in the long run because they also expedite their path to the end, but the rules as they are described do not support this conclusion. Unless there is some nuance to the dice that [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail Falow conveys to Quark in a way the audience can't see]], taking a "double risk, double reward" shortcut would only make the game go faster; it wouldn't affect the final probability of winning for either better or worse.

* TotalPartyKill: How the game ends, even though they don't actually die.

-->'''Fallow:''' Alpha currant nectar. It's priceless.\\

* LargeHam: The Wadi, especially Fallow.

--> '''Sisko:''' FALLOW!

* AlienLunch: From one alien to another - Quark ''really'' doesn't like the Wadi's nectar.

* {{Calvinball}}: The player of the Wadi's game are required to learn the rules as they go. Progress through the game is dependent on the pawns completing tasks which are decided at random and never made readily apparent.

* ExactWords: Fallow describes meeting the Chandra as "mere child's play". That's because Chandra is a child who's playing a singing-and-dancing game.

* IceCreamKoan: Fallow is just full of them while explaining the gameplay to Quark. On a rewatch when you know the game mechanics most of them are actually just literal statements missing crucial context.

-->'''Fallow:''' It's only a game.

* RiddleForTheAges: What the hell are klon peags, and what "uses" are they good for?

* SeriousBusiness: The Wadi take their games very seriously. Fallow forces Quark to play the Wadi's game after he catches him cheating, and he gets quite pissed when Quark delays in choosing his pieces' path.
* ShaggyDogStory: The punchline: nobody was in any danger at all and nothing happened!

* StockLateralThinkingPuzzle: Another puzzle places the players in a room filled with partygoers, but also filling up with a toxic gas. As they're choking, Bashir realizes that all of the unaffected party-goers are drinking something. So he takes a glass and downs it, then convinces the others to do so. It proves to be an instant antidote to the gas.

Quark finally realizes his pieces are the missing officers, and has a suitable OhCrap reaction. He starts playing it safe, but Bashir still gets eliminated from the game to an uncertain fate. A later move means Quark is forced to choose a piece to sacrifice. Realizing his choice would mean killing a crew member, Quark breaks down and grovels, begging not to be forced to sacrifice them.