@Sable -- You find out that the creature in the cage is the 'devil', whose name is Old Scratch.
@Sweeney -- Room 7 is one of the private rooms, which are usually paid for by the hour. You were unable to lift any valuables off of anyone, and have for now avoided the attention of the guards walking the floor.
Passing by, Sweeney notices the outlandish elf and offers a simple greeting. "My, aren't we the tall, dark, and feathery kind? I've seen you around, and you seem to be a bit more interested in all of this than most. Attacking those kids with your guard bird, I've got to hand it to you, I don't see that every day. Somehow you don't seem to be the 'bargaining with your eternal mortal soul' type. So what brings you to a place like this?"
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Replying in Common "A migration, of sorts. Ill winds stirred my roost and swift wings brought me to this place. Surely you have noticed the peculiar skies above, with a darkening that has not yet brought a storm? It is my hope to find out its meaning. As to the Gold Goblin, bird-watching does not abate hunger and coins spend quickly amongst magpies. I am called Sable. What is your story? Have you come merely to apprehend youthful thieves? If so there is a life's work here."
Replying to Sable in Common:"Well, that's quite the lingo you've got going on there, eh Sable? Anyway, just call me Sweeney. I've seen the cloud, but I figure it's not hurting or helping me either way, so I don't plan on hurting or helping it. I'm a man of more earthly desires, you could say. That's why I'm here. I'm a gambler by trade, and when I heard about this place I just had to take a look. I've done pretty well so far, you really should try out some of these games if you've got the coin. And then, of course, there's the main event."
To Winter: "Perhaps. But better that they learn to fend for themselves."
Nodding a thanks for the drink, Kaylen will walk toward the bar area. Shaking her head at the various scantily-clad servers, she'll eye the guards on the podium. If they, or any of the bouncers, make eye-contact, she'll nod respectfully. She'll nurse the drink while leaning against a wall and watch the proceedings until things really get started.
Silken banners hang from floor to ceiling along the walls, and wide vertical blinds are drawn over the windows to block out the afternoon light. Across the ceiling 20 feet above, draped in layers are horizontally hung, gauzy beige curtains. Light is provided by numerous chandeliers hanging below these curtains as well as several large copper braziers spaced around the room with live coals to give the chamber a more hellish light for the tournament. At the back of the chamber is a small dais bearing a bust of Desna, goddess of luck.
I would love to play some of them out, but they could eat up a fair amount of time.
A croupier calls out from a table which has a few seats empty. "Bounder, bounder, bounder! No doubles, no doubles!" followed by the clattering of numerous dice.
One of the players rolls a spherical dice, and an onlooker leans over to Sable. "Have to roll to set your point." The player rolled a 7.
The croupier then rolls three six-sided dice, and comes up with a total of 13.
"The fellow there who rolled the seven has to roll a second point, and right now is looking for anything higher than 13."
With that, the player rolls his second dice, and gets a 14.
"There! He bounded the dealer!" The onlooker goes over to the table and congratulates his friend, who walks away from the table with a handful of silver coins.
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Sable nods and speaks to the Dealer in Common, "I believe I understand the rules. I shall wager five pieces of silver."
Once other bets are placed, Sable will roll to set his first point.
Sable mutters under his breath about his unfortunate luck in Elven, "If this is how the evening's going, Old Scratch will fill his purse of me yet."
Sable nods and speaks to the Dealer in Common, "I believe I understand the rules. I shall wager five pieces of silver."
Once other bets are placed, Sable will roll to set his first point.
1d20 + 0
Sable mutters under his breath about his unfortunate luck in Elven, "If this is how the evening's going, Old Scratch will fill his purse of me yet."
The croupier takes the 5sp, collects the other bets, and rolls his dice.
...and then allows the players to make their second roll, and double their stakes if they want.
Walking over to the Bounder table, Kaylen will sit beside Sable. "I'll have a go at this one. How do I play?" She'll then pull out 2sp for her stake.
The dealer takes your 2sp, and tells you to roll the '20' for your first point.
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Turning to the newcomer, in Common, "You are given two of these spherical dice with twenty sides, you roll one to set your point, then the dealer rolls his set of dice. If he matches your point, you lose your stake, if not, you roll your second die. The objective is to have one number below his and one above..."
Sable slides the dealer a gold piece. "I'm in for this round."
Sable rolls for his first point...
Sweeney, spying Sable gambling, will step up to the table. In Common: "Tough luck, friend. Chance is a fickle maiden, you know. Here, allow me. One gold piece for the bet, good man."
Sweeney will roll to set the point.
The dealer rolls his dice...
"Like so?"
1d20
"Like so?"
The dealer smiles warmly at Kaylen. "Excellent!" and then hands over a second dice... "Now roll this one, and try to get higher than a 15."
"Having fun? Now you're getting in the swing of things."
Rolling the second die.
"Damn. Not my lucky day, it seems. Go again?"
Sweeney will bet another gold piece.
First dealer roll
First point:
Second point:
Sable stares blankly at his second roll for a moment. "I think I may have actually won a round!"
The dealer happily slides two gold pieces across to you, but before letting them go, asks, "Care to let it ride?"
Sweeney will pilace one more gold to the stakes."Well, look at you! Maybe you'll walk out of here a rich man after all?
Second dealer roll
First point:
Second point:
For the final roll, one more gold piece.
Third dealer roll
First point:
Second point:
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"I'll give it a chance. Two pieces of gold for my final bet, then."
Sable eagerly rolls the dice, hoping for a victory.
First point
Second point
Grinning, Sable addresses the dealer, "A victory short-lived, I fear. Though I thank you for the entertainment," Sable turns to the other players at the table, "And to you for the good company."
Sable slides one final gold piece to the dealer. "This is for you. Again, I thank you for a most enjoyable session. Perhaps more favorable winds will find me with the next game."
For the final roll, one more gold piece.
Third dealer roll
First point: 1d20
Second point: 1d20
The dealer offers you the same proposition, doubling your bet on one more game.
"I think I will see you to it, then! One more for the road, eh?
The dealer wishes Sable good luck in the tournament, then turns to Sweeney. "We've got a player here folks, look at this high roll he's turned out..."
He shakes his dice, and lets them clatter across the game table.
"Allowing doubles...possibly four gold pieces at stake."
"I suppose I'll go big before I go home, as they say. Double my bet, mate!" Sweeney casts his die with a flourish.
"You're throwing more than I care to wager this early in the night. I think I'll take a break for a little while. Still, it's an entertaining game. Thanks for the fun." Kaylen will stand and wander off toward the bar, looking for a refill.
To the dealer, in Common:"Looks like I come out on top this round, good man. I believe I'll quit while I'm ahead. Thank you for your time, it was a good game, and may I say I look forward to another go sometime soon!"Sweeney grins and stows away his winnings.
To Kaylen, in Common:"Fair enough. Though you know, you never win unless you try. You look like you have some wit. That could've been your game just now. What do you say, I'll throw in a gold piece for your first stake? In the meantime, I have some other business to attend to... I'll be in one of the private rooms. Number seven. Do you think you could come find me and let me know when Cheat The Devil begins?"
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Sable congratulates Sweeney in Common, "Fortune favors you this evening. May your updrafts continue to help you soar."
Sable gets up from the Bounder table to find an empty seat somewhere to the side. After a few moments of contemplation, he pulls a small piece of copper wire from within the folds of his cloak and holds it between his hands. He glances upwards, and while holding the wire, points towards Old Scratch in his cage. He utters but a whisper, but fills it with eldritch energy to let the winds carry his words to the creature.
Whispering in Common, "Greetings, Old Scratch."
Sable smiles and calls to one of the bat-wing clad maidens and asks for another drink while he watches the room and calmly waits to see if he will get a response.
"Wits I have, but I don't have terribly much in the way of coin at the moment. Perhaps when the tournament starts, though, I'll take you up on that gold. As for coming to find you when the Tournament starts, I suppose I can do that. Would you prefer I simply pound on the door or throw it wide open?" She nods toward the girl taking entry fees.
"That sounds like a fair deal, then. Oh, and you should probably just knock, as I'm not sure what I'll be up to at the time, and I wouldn't want you walking in on anything you may not want to be a part of. But then again, that's up to you, eh? I wouldn't deny anyone the fun they want. In any case, I suppose I should be off. Be seeing you!"
With that, Sweeney will attempt to find Room #7.
Winter spends his time wandering between games, trying to get a feel for the rules, and reading the players. he is also trying to guage what sort of establishment this is, apart from the run down nature of it.
The creature starts thrashing about, rocking the cage, straining the rusted chain. However, there is no other response to your spell.
Sweeney, your inquiries lead you over to the east side of the building (rooms 19). You find the rooms have temporary numbers assigned.
Winter, the building is a gambling/entertainment hall. Watching the games, it soon becomes clear that the dealers are honest.
Sebastian walks from table to table watching the events. He tries to figure out which game is least stacked in the Golden Goblin's favor.
Seeing a blackhaired Elf staring up at the cage, Sabastion sidles up and glances up too. In flawless Elven"An imp. Pretty mild as Devils go, but I guess you can not be bringing in a kyton or a balor, it would scare the customers, though I would give them credit for authenticity. Of course, real succubi would probably increase traffic."
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Replying in Elven, "Yes, it is quite fascinating, but a mild devil is still a devil. I give the Gold Goblin credit for attempting to create the scene. It's a much more comfy rook than the rest of this place. My apologies if Riddleport is your nest, I am not accustomed to being among this large of a flock."
Kira was also watching the games, hoping to get a feel of the rules before playing. trying her best to familiarize herself, despite her skewed sense of both maturity and common sense along with her broken will. in an attempt to get a more understandable explanantion, she will hike up her short skirt just enough to reveal one of the "leg cuffs" on her bloomers and rub her hand around her own thigh to appeal to the lustful side of the seemingly most experienced males.
Diplomacy Check
With others standing over at the Imp, Winter wanders over to get a close look at the creature, curious to see what the other end of the spectrum is like.
Now that Winter is satisfied the place is 'above board' he relaxes ahead of the tournament, and spends his time examining the Imp. He is also keeping an ear out (or engaging barmaids) for potential work.