When Eros finally wakes up, he lazily climbs to his feet and he says " Did I get him?.........Where did he go?........"
Eros looks around and notices no visible threat.
He also notices that Malorn is preparing to do some healing, so he says" Malorn, my friend. I could use a spot of healing my good friend if you can spare any. That is if cream puff will stop kissing everyone's back side long enough for me to get some.........."
"By the way cream puff....how do you normally remove all of that brown stuff from you tongue?"
Maelorn nods to Eros, "Gather in, I'll heal everyone at once."
"You were unconscious during most of the introductions," he points to each person in turn, "this Bor, and Alexandu. It seems that you and Darcy have already met..." Maelorn pauses for a moment, but decides not to pursue the issue as yet, "and the last of the Goblin's saviors has not yet introduced himself", he says, nodding to Zane.
Maelorn also peers through the crowd hefting the miniature chest, "Hm, I'd expected Saul to make an appearance by now, if only to reclaim his silver."
"My name is Zane. Pleasure to meet you gentlemen. At least for all but these fools."
Zane steps forward nodding to the assembled group. He turns to Eros.
"My apologies for the Color Spray, I asumed you to be made of sterner stuff by the look of you."
Maelorns expression turns more serious as he begins to examine the nearest thief. "I'd appreciate it if you would all help me disarm the injured and gather them to a central location along with the bouncers so that I can heal them. I'd just as soon keep the fatalities to a minimum. If any of them are still alive, I can heal them, but I want to make sure they are no threat."
Darcy nods,'I like the cut of your jib, sir,' he replies, with a slight bow.
Maelorn looks directly at Alexandu, "This is not forgiveness, it is justice. Dead people do not learn to change."
Alexandu shrugs: "Death is a change, isn't it? In their case it might be for the better."
Darcy rolls his eyes at Alexandru's words, as if he'd heard such nonsense before, and doesn't consider it worthy of retort.
Maelorn nods as he is positioning the wounded, "It may be that death is the best option for them. It's certainly the most likely one if any of the bouncers died in the initial attack."
Examining the bouncers and guards, it seems that the thieves used nonlethal weapons and methods; at first. Later when they got excited, they hurt and even killed a couple of civilians that had jewelry they wanted.
"As we are in the middle of town, and not in the heat of the moment, I'd rather the community judge upon their sentence, rather than us. Were I in the wilderness or at sea, I'd more likely be giving each of these criminals a mercy blow to make sure they died quickly."
Once the bodies of the living are in a central place (and the criminals disarmed), Maelorn will positive burst to heal/stabilize everyone.
Bor approaches, tying a make-shift bandage around his wound, and tightening it with his teeth "Well fought friends. Boyar Skulkiem." he says, extending his calloused hand to Maelorn "Me friends call me Bor."
Darcy casts a prestidigitation cantrip, which cleans and tidy's Darcy's fancy clothes - including removing any lingering stains from oaf-spilled beer!
Seeing Maelorn return with the mini-chest Darcy laughs out loud,
'Well done that man!' he declares, 'What fun!'
Taking Bor's hand and giving it a hearty shake Darcy nods, 'An unfortunate sobriquet,' he notes with a smile, 'and hopefully one you'll prove in contrast to your character! I'm Darcy DeWinter... in case you didn't catch that earlier... and I'm pleased to call you friend, Bor.'
Darcy proceeds to help Maelorn move those in need of healing, making sure fair Thuvalia is made comfortable and well looked after.
With the combat over, patrons are starting to get to their feet, a rising hubub interfering somewhat with conversation as people start talking exitedly about what just happened.
You see Darcy use the confusion in the casino to cast another spell; a version that causes soilage instead of cleaning on Eros' clothes - before he's fully recovered from the colour spray. It looks like Eros had a little 'accident' in his britches.
In an aside to Maelorn Alexandu says: "Rather full of himself, that one, isn't he?" and proceeds to give him a hand. "Probably his first real fight."
'You call that a "real fight"?' Darcy grins at Alexandru, his elven ears picking up the comment, 'My, my - someone has a lot to learn...'
Maelorn shakes, Bor's hand, and speaks a phrase in Dwarven.
"Strong Hands and Clean Skies, honored Bor" [A traditional dwarven greeting]
"I am Maelorn, a Maker of Torag. The Goblin was lucky to have you all here today."
Darcy comments in Dwarven: 'Ah yes, a good robust language - excellent for really serious swearing!'
Alexandu Trefilidis to Bor: "I am glad you are alright, friend. You took some heat there. I am Alexandu."
When Eros finally wakes up, he lazily climbs to his feet and he says " Did I get him?.........Where did he go?........" Eros looks around and notices no visible threat.
He also notices that Malorn is preparing to do some healing, so he says" Malorn, my friend. I could use a spot of healing my good friend if you can spare any. That is if cream puff will stop kissing everyone's back side long enough for me to get some.........."
"By the way cream puff....how do you normally remove all of that brown stuff from you tongue?"
Maelorn nods to Eros, "Gather in, I'll heal everyone at once."
Positive Burst, once to everyone, including the downed thugs, and again away from the thugs, including the group, the bouncers and civilians who need it.
"You were unconscious during most of the introductions," he points to each person in turn, "this Bor, and Alexandu. It seems that you and Darcy have already met..." Maelorn pauses for a moment, but decides not to pursue the issue as yet, "and the last of the Goblin's saviors
has not yet introduced himself", he says, nodding to Zane.
"My name is Zane. Pleasure to meet you gentlemen. At least for all but these fools."
Zane steps forward nodding to the assembled group. He turns to Eros.
"My apologies for the Color Spray, I asumed you to be made of sterner stuff by the look of you."
With the civilians looking at Eros and avoiding him and the feeling of dampness, Eros looks down to see the promenent water stain on his groin region.
Suddenly a dwarf, dressed in fine blue silks and wearing a boutineer, starts pushing through the crowd. "Saul!" he shouts, looking around. "Saul, damn your eyes, where are you! Someone just tried to rob your casino, you fool!" He locks eyes with each of the group in turn, mouthing in Common: "Thank you - don't go anywhere!" He nods as he does this, then turns to scanning the crowd. "Saul! Get out here, you rusted dulledge!"
From the southwest corner of the game floor, where the cashier cages are located, Saul Vancaskerin appears, trailed by two more guards. He looks around in confusion, then turns toward the well-dressed dwarf as the dwarf finally reaches him in the crowd. They begin to speak quickly and quietly, the dwarf's expression and gestures thunderous, Saul's wide-eyed and shocked. As they talk, the dwarf points firmly at each member of the party, and Saul looks up to meet your eyes as well.
All around, the casino's patrons are getting to their feet, a rising hubbub of conversation surrounding you. Several approach the unconscious thieves and spit or swear at them, but more are surrounding Saul, and it quickly becomes clear what the tone of the crowd is: they want their money back, and the calming of fear seems to have left a potentially riotous anger in its wake. Before it can get out of hand, however, Saul leaps back up onto his dais and addresses
the crowd.
"Gentles! Gentles! I understand your concerns, good folk, and I want you to know that even the Devil has compassion in his heart! It seems my security wasn't quite up to the challenge of the lure of all this lovely silver, so here's the Devil's deal I'll make you all tonight: cash in your chips now, and I'll give you an extra silver coin for every gold eye and an extra copper coin for every silver tooth. You can't ask for more fair than that! Please, form your lines at the cashier cages, and we'll make sure you're all seen to!"
Even as this speech continues, however, the well-dressed dwarf appears at the elbow of each party member in turn. "If you have a moment, my friend," he murmurs, "Mr. Vancaskerin would like to speak with you in private once matters are settled here. Have no worry for your winnings; everything will be handled."
Maelorn buttonholes one of the awakened bouncers during the confusion, "Can you bring back a guardsman to haul these away?" He then stops at each of the dead and makes a short prayer to ease the soul on it's journey.
Maelorn shrugs when asked to stay, "As you wish"
"My apologies for the Color Spray, I asumed you to be made of sterner stuff by the look of you."
Eros replies: "You packed quite a wallop with your colorful display. I must say you caught me completely unaware. I applaud your guile my good sir. I have sort of an odd fascination with the arcane by the way. Although I havn't fully decided where that fascination will lead me."
Eros notices his accident with wonderment. He mumbles a few curse words in undercommon. He clearly does not understand how such an embarrassing thing could happen. Eros bounds off to the restroom to wash the soil away.
when Eros returns from the restroom:
He tells the well-dressed dwarf "By all means sir. Mister Vancaskerkin has my full attention."
Bor shrugs his shoulders as he replies to the Dwarf "I got nothing else to. Could use a drink tho, haha"
"By the way cream puff....how do you normally remove all of that brown stuff from you tongue?"
'I suppose,' Darcy replies with a rather disappointed sigh, 'that it'd be too much to expect you to comprehend manners, considering your lack of understanding of even basic hygiene...' he makes a casual gesture to Ero's urine-drenched groin.
To the well-dressed dwarf who appraoches the group Darcy frowns and asks,
'Why on Golarion is Saul cancelling the event? The winnings are returned, the villains vanquished. This was a mere distraction - half the patrons in here are pirates, and the other half tougher than that... It seems a little nonsensical to me.'
Still, he hangs around, and even leaps back on the stage for another song...
You've heard that he's crude,
(Some even suspect that he's queer),
But worse than his hygiene or his attitude,
Eros Tristil drinks light beer!
He's frightened of ale,
He's scared of the grog,
Of cider he holds mortal fear,
But worse than his britches (which stink like a bog),
Eros Tristil drinks light beer!
So lightweight we call him,
For lightweight he be,
And lightweight will stay far or near,
His tipple of choice is weaker than pee,
Eros Tristil drinks light beer!'
After Eros finishes replying to the well-dressed dwarf, he hears a few stanzas of Cream puff's song, and he then thinks:
Hmmm.....maybe my accident is not mere coincindence. Hmmm.... Someone may need to stay my hand before the week is out.
It seems that cream puff has a fettish for pee. Perhaps I should give him his wish hmm......
Eros wanders around behind the stage quite innocently, and he pulls out his weiner and pees on Darcy's feet.
Eros then hollers out loud: "I need another round of light beer barkeep my friend here has gotten me hooked on it!! Also I think my friend needs a new pair of shoes!"
Eros lets out a hearty laugh.
Eros Pees:
Ranged Touch Attack:
Maelorn watches the byplay, then closes his eyes for a moment before shaking himself and squaring his shoulders.
"Gentlemen, what could I offer to have you put your feud aside for...say...24 hours?"
He then pauses for just long enough for a reply to begin to form before continuing, "...without discussion of who started what when..."
Stepping out of the (admittedly well-aimed) pool of urine, Darcy cleans the mess with a quick cantrip, then indicates Eros as he addresses the crowd with a sympathetic shake of his head and a slight smile,
'Eros Tristil, ladies and gentlemen - you'll have to forgive him... been living in the wilds for too long, one imagines...'
"Gentlemen, what could I offer to have you put your feud aside for...say...24 hours? ...without discussion of who started what when..."
Hopping off the stage Darcy bows to Maelorn,
'Forgive our childish antics,' he says, as way of apology, 'Eros and I go back a long way... and it seems one of us hasn't matured one whit in the last twenty years...' he pauses, then with a rather cheeky grin adds, '... well, maybe neither of us have matured that much...'
Maelorn manages to save most of the seriously injured, leaving only the two civilian and four thieves dead. The rest of the thieves are carted off by the Riddleport gendarmes (scaresly less intimidating than the thugs with their uniforms); after being quietly looted by the bouncers. They would have hauled off Eros as well for urinating in public, but the witnesses swear he was one of the heroes of the day and are pursuaded to let him off with a warning. The gendarme mage who dispels the shrink effect on the prize money chest is persuaded to use a Clean cantrip on Eros as well aa any heroes left that are dishevilled.
Once the lines of irate patrons seem to have formed and taken care of themselves, Saul moves away from them, focused intently on the group of unexpected heroes who have just prevented his casino from being robbed. Despite the fact that his business must be taking a beating from the 10% extra he is losing off of every customer right now, he seems oddly cheerful as he approaches.
"Good friends," he says, gesturing grandly, "I am pleased to you waited for me." The oversized key attached to the stump of his left arm glitters oddly in the red light from the casino's braziers. "I wanted a chance to offer you my thanks in person, and to perhaps offer something more as well. Will you be so kind as to join me upstairs, for a bottle or two and perchance some business, as well?"
Eros lets out a loud cackle and says:
"I also apologize for the excitement ladies and gentlemen. Unfortunately, Cream Puff here is just too much of a blowhard for me leave unspoiled. At this point I am sure you know what I mean. Thankfully there will be no more killing here today."
Eros extends his hand towards Cream Puff and offers up a hearty hand shake.
After which Eros will slap Cream puff roughly on the back.
Maelorn is fascinated by the key replacing Saul's hand, "Well, I suppose he never loses it"
"By all means, Master Vancaskerin. Lead on"
Bor quietly follows, ever watchful...
Darcy ignores Eros' hand, and has a look about him which suggests he's more than willing to defend himself if Eros tries to actually strike him... be that a slap on the back or not...
You should understand that deep-seeded quarrels only have so much entertainment value. They are probably more entertaining if they are occasional rather than constant.
Eros tires of endless rantings. After all he is also a lover as well as a man of action. He expectantly follows Saul and the others upstairs.
Zane mutters quietly in Elvish.
"If you two are quite done acting as if you were on a playground showing off for apple cheeked peasant girls we can all move on to something of actual importance.
I apologize for not listing the crowd reaction, I had intended to skip right over it.
I think you misunderstood the magnitude of the task you attempted.
Your audience had just undergone a brutal and terrifying experience, you were standing in the open prensence of five dead bodies, in a set decorated and lit as a circle of hell. And the guy with his pants down whizzing on your leg wasn't helping. I'd put the DC here in the 40's somewhere; even Elvis [genuflects] would have had a hard time of it.
Now if this was a punk rock crowd, those would actually be bonuses; but not here. The most you got was a few titters.
Don't get me wrong, you should try anyway. Bards are some of my favorite classes to play, because it's so hard to be effective in combat or out. Trying to do somthing that looks impossible, and making it work is very satisfying.
As for steering him darker, yeah you can do that if you like. I'ts real easy here in Riddleport to turn to the dark side; being a hero here is harder, but more rewarding in my opinion.
Saul leads your group through a pair of swinging doors near the casino's bar, into a large kitchen, with several people working to clean up after the evening's work. A short flight of stairs then leads you up into what must be the "business space" of the casino, with several small rooms for offices and what looks to be residential quarters for some of the staff. Saul leads you past a few of these to a large lounge area, paneled in faded pine with a pair of slightly-worn couches in front of a fireplace and a low table; gesturing for you to take a seat, he steps out again, only to return a moment later with a bottle of wine. (Though the label is Elven, none of you recognize the vintner. It's not bad, but has some unusual flavors that you haven't encountered before.) Taking some glasses from a cabinet along the wall, he pours for you all before leaning against the mantel with a glass in his one remaining hand.
"First, I'd like to propose a toast to all of you," he begins, lifting his wine. "The heroes of the Gold Goblin! You have done me a great service tonight, and I'll not soon forget it." He drinks, then continues. "I'll not deny that this was a difficult night for me, and for this casino, but I think in the end we will all soon look back on it as a blessing in disguise.
"Perhaps we might begin with introductions? I am, as you no doubt have surmised, Saul Vancaskerin, and have the honor of being the owner of the Gold Goblin casino. To whom do I owe my thanks, good folk?" He turns his penetrating eyes on you in turn.
Eros replies:"Greetings sir, I am Eros Tristil of the wilds and archer of the armies of Varisia. I am at your service sir. Your decor this evening is most intriguing."
"Intriguing is not the word I would have used, but it's not any of my business, really. I am Maelorn, a Maker in the service of Torag"
"I am Alexandu and my comrade here put it very well. But I can't deny that I am impressed."
Upon further review, I see you did make a direct question to the well dressed dwarf. My eye skipped over that part; I thought you were addressing your fellow adventurers. Apologies again. His response:
'Why on Golarion is Saul cancelling the event? The winnings are returned, the villains vanquished. This was a mere distraction - half the patrons in here are pirates, and the other half tougher than that... It seems a little nonsensical to me.'
The dwarf throws his hands up in the air.
"Did ye SEE the riot we almost had? The boss hadda do something. Daft idjit... mumble mumble." He moves off through the crowd on his errands.
Saul nods around to everyone, a satisfied air about him. "A pleasure to meet you all," he says, tossing back his drink. "Now, I think, to business.
“Let me begin at the beginning. Some years ago, I was the leader of an important organization in Riddleport. Not one of the official ‘crimelords,’ as they’re called, but a man of influence, nonetheless. Trouble was, it wasn’t really a good position to be in, all things considered. I didn’t earn the sort of money I might have hoped for, nor did I find the kind of respect I really wanted. That life cost me my health, my sons, my wife, and eventually, my left hand.” He waves the stump and its odd, key-shaped prosthetic. “In the years since my wife’s death, I have scraped along, trying to find some way to earn a retirement that can support me. I’m not interested in a return to the life I lead in my youth – I just want something I can build a future on, to salvage something of my remaining years.”
He looks down at the floor for a moment, then heaves a great sigh. “Unfortunately,” he says, “while I want to leave that life behind, it probably hasn’t left me. I cannot say for certain, but I strongly suspect the attack tonight was an attempt at retribution, not simple larceny; I recognized the group's leader and his doxy as Angvar Thistlecrit and Thuvalia Barabbio, leaders of a small-time work-for-hire gang whose sights would normally be set far too high for something like what they tried to pull tonight. I have enemies, and they will strike at me again, I suspect. And that, my friends, brings me to you.”
“Here is my proposal. If my business here is going to succeed, it seems clear that I will need friends I can trust, friends with the skills necessary to protect my investment. But I know that those friends will need a reason to help me – they need to share my investment. I think you could be those people, and in order to make that happen, I am willing to share what I’ve built here. If you’re willing to come on board, I will make your junior partners in the Gold Goblin. In addition to a base wage, you’ll earn a share of the profits. Once we’re making some, anyway. You’ll have ‘covers’ as croupiers, bouncers, however you might best fit in, and of course, if you can do those jobs well, you’ll be improving the profitability of the casino – but your real purpose will be security. It’s my hope you’d serve more as a deterrent than anything else, of course, and your performance here tonight should help that.”
“What do you say?”
Maelorn listens carefully to Saul's pitch, and pauses for a bit, thinking before crafting his reply, "What exactly do you mean by junior partner? Are you offering a stake in the Goblin itself; a percentage that can be passed to our heirs? Or are you offering simple employment with profit sharing?"
His tone softens a bit,"I'm not trying to be difficult, just specific. Both options are a possibility for me, but they hold different levels of responsibility and authority."
"Maelorn here asks a valid question. You stated that you are not showing a profit. Is this because you have just reopened your doors? Or is this because of your enemies or perhaps other reasons?......Consequently I am considering your offer at this point. However I do want to be assured that there is a potential here for profits to be made."
Alexandu listens carefully but says nothing.
Zane quietly observes the conversation with a look of vague interest.
"What exactly do you mean by junior partner? Are you offering a stake in the Goblin itself; a percentage that can be passed to our heirs?
Or are you offering simple employment with profit sharing?"
Saul replies; "I am offering to make you junior partners in the Gold Goblin, which is not "Simple Employment". There will be a reasonable base wage, and you’ll be earning a share of the profits. We will have to work hard to get thos profits, but get them we will. And down the line, if you are serious about wanting to be full partners, well, we can talk about it then."
"You stated that you are not showing a profit. Is this because you have just reopened your doors? Or is this because of your enemies or
perhaps other reasons?"
Saul turns to window looking out onto Riddleport at night, sighs and takes a drink. "Even though I am no longer part of the ... Consortium... I still have enemies amongst them who would love to see me ruined. Despite my attempts to run a completely above board business, there is always the shadow of revenge for sins past." He turns to face you again. "This little heist tonight was undoubtedly one such."
Maelorn nods, "I'm in, at least provisionally. If it turns out that we are unable to agree on how things are run, then I'll bow out gracefully. Until then, however, I will make all efforts to make the Gold Goblin a success."
He stands, and turns to the rest of the group, "Torag smiles upon creation. Sometimes that creation is physical," he raps his breastplate with some pride, "Sometimes that creation is a community, or even a simple partnership. I'd be honored if you join me in trying to create something here with Master Vancaskerin."
He then sits, steepling his fingers, and watching expectantly.
Alexandu is doubtful, but this looks like a chance to learn more about the impending darkness he came here to investigate. "I'm in", he ventures hesitantly.
Eros senses the struggle to come, and he relishes it.
Eros says: Yeah well, most things that are worth doing require tremendous struggle. In keeping with that sentiment, I am willing to put forth some of that struggle.
Bor finishes his full glass of wine in one long gulp "Count me in" he then fills his glass and raises it to the others "To the Golden Goblin! To us!" he exclaims, holding his glass up to the others in a toast.
Zane temples his fingers quietly. There was opportunity here, a base of operations, a source of income to use in his studies of the Blot. Besides this was an opportunity to affect the public perception of an organization, thereby altering the reality of its success.
"Done. "
Hearing your agreement, Saul grins suddenly and starts to raise his glass, when the well-dressed dwarf from below enters, carrying a large bag over his shoulder.
He sets it down next to the fireplace, making a fairly heavy thump, then turns to Saul.
"The pyrite-brained thieves downstairs have been dealt with, Saul; the gendarmes have them in custody. I did, however, take the opportunity to strip them of anything that looked useful after asking a couple questions." He gestures toward the bag. "Found out from the survivors that the mastermind's name is Thistlecrit, and they were hired to steal the silver by an intermediary. Probably a dead end, since they didn't have any details they could offer about whoever did the hiring.
"Anyway, that's the good news. The bad news is, the useless lot of mine tailings you hired have largely quit after tonight's fun and games, so we've got another round of hiring to do."
Saul nods solemly, then looks around at you all.
"Forgive me, friends, for not doing this earlier: this is Larur Feldin, my floor manager. Larur, I've made an offer to these good people to become junior partners in the casino; assuming they accept, perhaps they'll be able to fill in some of those spots we'll be needing."
"Sounds good," rumbles Larur. "'d be nice to have some decent workers around here. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. If you'll forgive me, I took the liberty of cashing you all out, at 150 percent of value, in thanks for what you did." (Saul blinks in surprise, frowning for a moment before nodding slowly.) "I also thought you probably deserved whatever spoils you might be able to claim from the thieves, so what's there should be yours." He gestures again to the bag.
•Money: 352 gp total in various coinage
•Art: copper comb with emerald (200 gp)
•Art: darkwood flute, masterwork
•Armor: 5x leather armor
•Armor: 1x masterwork leather armor
•Armor: 5x studded leather armor
•Gems: 6x violet garnet (30 gp)
•Gems: 2x yellow topaz (100 gp)
•Magic Armor: +1 chain shirt
•Magic Armor: +1 Small buckler
•Magic Weapon: +1 humanbane spiked gauntlet
•Potion/Oil: 6x cure light wounds
•Ring: ring of protection +1
•Weapon: 5x rapier
•Weapon: 1x masterwork rapier
•Weapon: 5x shortsword
•Weapon: 8x sap
•Weapon: 22x dagger
•Weapon: 2x switchblade knife
•Weapon: 3x wrist sheaths
•Weapon: 3x shortbow with 20 arrows ea.
•Weapon: 1x masterwork light crossbow with 9 bolts.
Maelorn looks through the bag, "an interesting assortment."
"I suggest we each take that which we can find useful, then sell all but the potions and divide the rest."
He looks through the bag a second time, "There is nothing here that I want that cannot be better used by another, but I can always use cash once it is sold."
He sits again.
Die Rolls:
1st Preference:
2nd Preference:
3rd Preference:
"We should each keep one of the curative potions, just in case. In truth, I wouldn't sell any of them, we can store the extras in case we need them. Other than that, I have no need for any of these things."
Saul smiles in appreciation at your agreement.
"Thank you," he says, "your support means a great deal to me. I hope we can find ways to help each other, whatever our goals."
He looks around the room.
"Well, why don't we go downstairs, take a tally of who's left, and meet the rest of the staff. As part of our arrangement, I am happy to provide some of our suites on this level for your permanent use, and you are welcome to join me in the dining room here for meals, on the house; I can give you a tour, and then we should all probably call it a night. I imagine we have a lot of work ahead of us over the next few days, as we get ready to re-open."
Saul takes the group back down to the first floor, where you meet all of the remaining staff:
*one of the dealers, a pixie-ish woman named Lixy Parmenter, who apparently is the sole operator of the Ghoulette wheel;
*the Ulfen brothers, Beyar and Hans, who serve as the cashier-cage guards;
*Bojask, a pale man who reeks of brandy and animal stench, who apparently works as the animal wrangler for the Gold Goblin's underground gladiator pit;
*and the two remaining barmaids, Mirri Salassa, the nominal head of the serving staff,
*and Marizelle Ajuela, a tall redhead with a fiery spark in her eye. (All are human.)
These six, plus Saul and Larur, are all that remain from the floor staff of the casino. (There are servants and cooks who don't work in the casino proper as well - apparently most of those, largely unaffected by the evening's events, have chosen to stay on.) They generally greet the new part-owners with pleasant nods and speculative glances, though Bojask can only be described as "surly" at best.
"Clearly," says Saul after introductions are over, "we have a lot of hiring to do. I want to get this place cleaned up and restaffed in time to open in three days' time. Are you ready to work?"