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Captain Othis is in her study most of the day, besides mealtimes and the night, when she retires to her private quarters. It is easy enough to slip out of the barracks and to the office while the rest of the Ungrounded slumbers. Hard to say whether Dell and his team, who reside in the dormitory next to yours, noticed, but they wouldn't stop you, much less tell. They've certainly been through enough. Now all that stands between you and a blessed scrap of truth on this plane is the door.
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The team returns to their barracks and spends a slightly shorter night there. In the morning, Dell approaches your table at breakfast. "Captain wants to see you," is all he says before returning to his own area, not providing much explanation.
In her office, Othis looks you all over in her usual stern manner. "I said I'd be promoting you to practical. So here we go," she sighs resignedly. "I shouldn't have to explain this, but we're mostly funded by a perennial contract to the Peerless Empire. The rest of our income stems from providing hired security for businesses. In this case, the Glitterfang Halls, run by the crystal dragon Cestranell. He's asked us to send some guards to watch out for a notorious cheater. Name's Inysha, she's been banned from numerous other casinos in the past. This is the opening night, so don't screw it up."
Captain Othis provides you with a route to the casino, as well as a rough sketch and written description of Inysha, both of which depict a rather short and buff female shaitan. "Now, unless you have any stupid questions, get to the Halls! They're opening at 2100, and you'd better prepare your defenses."
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"Preferably, keep her out of the establishment entirely. But when she slips past your guard-" Othis words this with snideness to match Malvic's, "-and you find her later, likely cheating, then get her to leave. That picture should be enough for you to recognize her on sight, should you decide to study it."
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"Gamble all you want, until you're kicked out after having traded your clothes and ride home for more chips, for all I care. Just do it after you've foiled Inysha!"
"What do I know about Cestranell? Well, let me just read to you from his file," Othis mimes opening a folder and adopts an incredibly annoying singsong voice. "Coincidentally, Cestranell was also a member of the Pathfinder Society. And as luck would have it, this crystal dragon also joined the Ungrounded. The difference between him and you, of course, is that he was very, very successful. Incredibly devoted to our cause, he only left when honorably discharged after taking an arrow to the knee. He used his massive intellect and silver tongue, another thing he does not share with you, to gain his first shop. And now, he runs his own casino! A happy ending if I ever heard one."
The Captain's face looks very strange without at least three veins bulging in anger. At this, she is no longer able to keep up her act and several appear almost instantly."How should I know anything about him?! And why does it matter?! Get out there and defend the Halls at once!" You decide it best to file out, followed by a torrent of profanity.
It takes about half an hour to walk to the Glitterfang Halls, located in the opulent Inner District. It is truly a sight to behold; an intricate complex carved into bejeweled stalagmites hundreds of feet above the rest of the city. At the base is a large glass elevator, with an oread bedecked in fleshgems standing beside it. "Welcome to the Glitterfang Halls, Ungrounded," she says, beckoning the team into the elevator. "We thank you for responding to our request. Please direct any questions to my manager come the end of our tour."
On the western wall, a 20-foot-high archway flanked by platinum and gold pillars leads from the elevator room into the casino’s foyer. "This serves as the entrance for visitors who don't need the lift." A desk constructed from the same mixture of precious metals stands in front of the southern wall.
Brilliantly colored formations of natural crystal grow from the floors, walls, and ceiling of this room. Teardrop-shaped lights hang from the ceiling 100 feet above, shimmering and reflecting from a majestic statue of a crystal dragon emerging from a pool of melted gemstones. Jewel-encrusted metal chairs and sofas strewn with velvet cushions surround the pool at a safe distance, providing cozy seating for the casino’s patrons. "The lounge, for socializing and breaks between intense games."
A pillar of amethyst crystals juts from floor to ceiling in this expansive room flanked by bars carved from the black-and-cream marble found throughout the casino. Enormous sheets of polished crystal cover the walls, dancing with refracted, moving images of creatures and scenery. Pleasant music played upon unfamiliar instruments fills the chamber. Rectangular slabs of marble rise from the floor to provide surfaces for gambling, each table supporting a small crystalline structure in its center. "The main game room."
In the next area, a massive stone platform makes for a stage. By this vein, many polished, smoothed, and flattened stalactites and stalagmites serve as surprisingly comfortable tables and chairs. On a perch nearly 200 feet above the stage lies a massive dragon with scales like glistening diamond, counting a pile of coins. He pays no heed to anyone trying to talk to him. "The main stage, where our famous performers play. Up there is the owner of the establishment, Cestranell. I would caution against talking to or approaching him, reclusive as he is. He would likely say that he hired security, not extra entertainment."
Marble stairs blocked off by red velvet ropes lead to a 20-foot-high stone booth containing tables and chairs for the casino’s preferred customers. "The VIP lounge. Normally, one requires this token, the diamond one with the crystal dragon inlay, to enter. But given the nature of your task, you can enter as you please, and may do so after your work is completed."
With seemingly no more rooms to showcase, the attendant leads you back to the game room. There, she opens a concealed door, leading down a short tunnel into an unglamorous office. Most of it is taken up by a massive black stone desk, behind which is a hassled-looking oread talking with several mephits. The guide and the mephits quickly exit, and the new oread speaks. "Ungrounded. Name's Boss. I assume you've been given the tour. I also assume you know what you're doing, you seem perfectly competent. But, just in case, any questions?"
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Kondor is impressed by the opulence and grandeur of the casino, and on completion of the tour seems overwhelmed by the scope of the job. He looks at the Casino Boss and starts his questions:
”Thank you for the tour. I am Kondor Vy’Zanth, it is a honor to meet you Boss. I have a few questions regarding our job: the guide described access to the casino is through the elevator or earth gliding to the main foyer. Are there wards that impede earth gliding directly into the other areas of the casino? What level of force are we authorized to employ, i.e. lethal force if required? Does the job include monitoring the tables for cheaters, or is it contained to security access to the casino itself?”
He will allow the Boss to respond, and interact with the others, but at the end he will share, ”I noticed a trap in the elevator mechanism. I pointed it out to our guide, but just wanted you to be aware of it as well.”
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Drukpa cannot get over his excitement at learning that the dragon Cistranell is [u]also[/u] a Pathfinder. He prattles about this for the entire journey of the group to the Glitterfang Halls, endlessly speculating about how the dragon came to join the Pathfinders, and then the Ungrounded ("What a coincidence, can you believe it!?!"), and on, and on. He is crushed to learn that they are not to speak to the dragon and he gazes at his impressiveness longingly, sure that, before the adventure is over, he will find a way to speak with him. "I wonder if he knew my Granmammy? Maybe he can give me advice about how to be a dragon Batfinder? Or about how to be a dragon!?! I've got a lot to learn about that, that's fer sure. Like, wings. Where do they come from?"
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"There aren't any protections against burrowing straight into, say, the game room, but it's quite frowned upon. Everyone would notice, not what someone looking to maintain a low profile would do."
"If you find a cheater, call 'em out, I suppose. But our staff is also on the lookout for such things, so don't worry too much about the small-timers. Inysha is subtle until she gets to the table, making big gains and leaving with them just before or as she is kicked out."
"Which reminds me. She is often in disguise, but going without one once in a while could be a trick she's using. A double bluff. Do you know what she usually looks like?"
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”We have seen a picture, but I would like to see yours to compare. So Inysha has been in the casino before? How does she break into casinos if she is so notorious? What skills does she have? Is she a sorceress?”
Kondor ponders the situation then suggests, ”I think we need a pair of keen observers at the elevator and a pair in the foyer. One in each pair should have access to Detect Magic, so can notice any illusions she may be trying to use. The rest of the team (last two) should walk around the game tables looking for anything out of the ordinary.”
He volunteers to be one of the pairs watching the elevator or foyer, and he can have Detect Magic activated.
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"We don't have a picture on hand, but I can vaguely recall what she looks like. Human, a bit short. Let's see your sketch, though." Boss takes a look at the proffered picture, and, after a second, bursts out laughing. "You don't recognize your own general? You must be new to the job. That's the spitting image of General Faiza bint Hanif." Seemingly lost in thought for a moment, the oread pauses and starts again abruptly. "Someone must be having you on. Although, perhaps they know what disguise Inysha is to assume...I would be on the lookout for your general as well, you never know."
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Valon's brows furrow as he thinks through what Boss said. "So it's possible Inysha is disguised as the general... or it's possible the captain gave us something intentionally misleading. I certainly wouldn't want to accuse the general of cheating, which I'm sure Othis would love. We should probably be careful about approaching someone who looks like that. Maybe watch and see what she does first instead of going straight to her?" He suggests this to the others.
"I'm usually pretty observant," he volunteers. "Standing watch or keeping an eye on the tables, wherever."
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"I am positive this is the Captain's attempt to sabotage our role with the Ungrounded. She must know the General of the Ungrounded's likeness, and if Inysha was going to Disguise herself as the General a warning would be appropriate. Not telling us, is a clear attempt to embarrass us. The situation with the Captain has gone too far."
Kondor is visibly shaking with rage.
"If the General shows up tonight we should observe her carefully, but maybe confront her politely. We need to make it clear to the General that we are Pathfinders, that Captain Othis gave us her likeness as Inysha ands hopefully this backfires on Othis."
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Xukong detects nothing awry with the sketch. It is entirely legit, the only trickery therein could be that it appears similar to Faiza bint Hanif.
"Sounds like you have a problem in your own organization," Boss cuts in. "I hate to say it...well, not entirely, but Cestranell's is a bit more pressing. Not much you can do about yours, here and now. To your posts, if you please! And good luck."
And so, the watch begins. Already glamorous, the casino becomes even more so as guests start filtering in. Being of many planes, from tiny mephits to massive genies pop harmlessly through the foyer floor or cluster up in the elevator. And what strange games they play! The most popular seems to involve rolling a crystal shard and hoping its ever-changing hue and patterns match those at the center of the table. In another, players stack translucent tiles to form specific patterns, a bit like poker. Xorns, squat creatures looking a bit like three-legged, -armed, and -eyed chamber pots, strut about as waiters. They serve drinks and search for cheaters, receiving the occasional tip of a few gemstones poured directly into their mouths.
Perhaps an hour after the opening, a tall shaitan woman dressed in civilian clothes enters the casino straight through the foyer. She exactly matches the sketch and written description, and immediately proceeds towards the game room.
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Drukpa watches the entire scene with mouth slightly agape. The folks back home, while they'll jus' never believe this, never...
When the "General" enters, Drukpa watches her carefully, attempting to ascertain from her posture and other mannerisms whether she is in fact a military officer in civilian clothes, or instead, someone pretending to be such.
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Valon takes his position, trying not to get too distracted by the sights and sounds of the casino. He watches the General enter the area, and after a glance at the others, decides to simply keep one eye on her for a time. If that's really the General, then we'd better keep an eye out for the real Inysha.
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The team allows the shaitan to pass by without question, though deems it safe to keep an eye on her. The night wears on, slowly.
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Jomanda peers carefully at the woman until she recognizes her trickery. She approaches the nearest guard-person and notifies them about the problem. "Mind if I join in? What's the buy-in for this one?" she asks as she sits at the table and makes a long-winded show of shuffling through her meager purse, attempting to stall.
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Drukpa approaches the General. "So, whatcha playin? You winnin much? My Granpappy always sez to be mighty careful when it comes to cards, on account of I ain't the best counter there's ever been, an' there's no denyin' that sometimes I fergits which ones is the good cards and which ones is the bad ones. Mebbe you can help me unnerstan? An' I bet I'll bring you good luck! Everyone back home sez I'm most unaccountably lucky, on account of how good I turned out even when my head got all squashed inside the egg. Leastways that's what Granpappy sez. But then, he also sez I'm part dragon, on account of my Granmammy was a real dragon, but truth is I ain't never met her so I ain't too sure how a real dragon s'posed to behave 'n all. Don't s'pose you know much 'bout that? Anyway, where's me manners!?! I'm Drukpa, Drukpa Marpo, what's yer name? Most pleased t' meetcha 'n I hope I can bring ya some good luck."
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The General looks a bit nonplussed, especially when Drukpa asks her about her winnings. "I just got here..." she says, seeming rather unsure about where the conversation is going. She nods through a fair amount of the nagaji's monologue. "Good to meet you, Drukpa. I am General Faiza bint Hanif of the Ungrounded. Right now I am just looking to take an evening off."