Just inside the main doors, two sultry beauties scantily clad and wearing faux bat wings, devil horns, and tails play the part of alluring succubi. Both are employees of the Gold Goblin, and they cheerfully register contestants for the tournament and process entry fees. Armed guards stand nearby to either side of an immense treasure chest into which each patron’s entry fee is added. The guards are on hand to not only protect the money, but to prevent any overzealous admirers from trying to dare the infamous touch of a succubus. Beyond the registration table is the hall’s game floor. Dozens of gamblers, waitresses dressed as succubi, and bouncers mill about the room, wandering amid tables offering various games while dealers shuffle cards, roll dice, and spin wheels. Moving through this throng are a dozen more of the barely clad, bat winged vixens serving drinks and batting coal-black eyelashes flirtatiously for tips. In the center of the chamber is a short podium atop which sits a massive gold chest affixed to the floor by similarly gaudy chains. On either side of it stands a bare chested bouncer in the exotic garb of some foreign sultan’s court. Each stands with muscled arms crossed over his chest and with a naked scimitar of prodigious size tucked through his waistband. High above them, from the hall’s cloth-draped ceiling, hangs a brass birdcage within which crouches a small, bat-winged, pointy-tailed devilish creature that sulks as it gazes over the room and occasionally rattles the bars threateningly.
Herman enters the room and stops just past the doorways, mouth slightly open.
"Huh? This place is bigger than I thought it'd be. Say, fella, where do I go to put my name in for that competition thingy?"
He addresses the nearest guard before being directed to the scantily clad ladies.
Once he signs his name, with blocky and sloppy writing, he winks at the "succubi" in a garish manner then heads to the gambling tables set up for the tournament.
He doesn't think twice about his appearance, big and scarred human wearing battle worn breastplate with a utilitarian longsword at his hip and large round wooden shield across his back.
Zarine, who has been staying at the inn for several days, comes into the tournament looking for new people to talk to about the strange shadow in the sky, and failing that, to maybe chat about magic.
She wanders around the floor, striking up conversations with
Wow, did you see that shadow in the sky?
or
What do you think that shadow in the sky means?
or
Did you hear that some locals are responsible for that shadow in the sky?
and the like, and waiting for someone to take the bait and talk about it. She stays observant, and looks around at the gambling tables to see if anything looks interesting, but that isn't her focus. She's interested in magic, magic users, magic items, and anyone who has any ideas, weird or not, about the shadow in the sky... because solving that is her ticket into the guild.
If someone starts talking about one of her favorite subjects, she'll stick around, but if someone starts complimenting her or getting off topic, she slowly drifts away again, looking for someone else to talk to.
Marzela turn and slugs the guy (girl?) pickpocketing her. If the person attempts to flee, she'll look straight at some of the people who had been flirting with her and yell for help, saying that this person is accosting her.
On the off chance the person does *not* run, Marzela will introduce herself.
I'm Zarine. And you are?
She doesn't get close enough for the person to try again, but she's somewhat intrigued by someone after something besides her body, and is willing to listen if the person doesn't want her to bring Innkeeper Saul (and her "admirers") into this.
Herman smiles crookedly at the bored guard after signing on the dotted line.
"So, do I just sit down at any of these tables? Or is there a place for the big game I'm supposed to join?"
In his confusion, Herman manages to wander near the bar, where he orders an ale and a whiskey, then sits to look around the room.
Key follows Herman into the gambling establishment. "You know this is a bad idea, right? The odds of winning are really low, and we're going to get our pockets picked. Places like this don't honor the Drunken Hero." Her brown hair is pulled back in a messy tail. She's short, and curvy. A longbow is on her back, and a rapier is on her hip.
Upon arrival she notices the imp? hanging from the ceiling. "That isn't right. Keeping demonic creatures is not a good idea."
"Good idea, bad idea, meh. Seems like a chance to make some coin where I don't have to get cut or smashed up. If I lose, well, I can always go pick up a guardsman job or something, right?"
Looking at the thing hanging from the ceiling and offering Keybella a mug of ale, Herman chuckles.
"What, that little old thing? I bet one good smack and it'd go flying like a clubbed trout. Probably a fake, anyways, right?"
"Maybe. It doesn't look it though." Key takes the proffered mug, and drinks deep.
"So...what do we do now? I don't see no-one else that wrote their name down sitting down to play, do you? Do we just belly up to a table and start betting, or what?"
Herman orders an ale for himself after downing his shot of whiskey and sips it alongside the cleric.
perception
"Hey there. I'm Herman, miss. How you doin'?"
Oblivious to the woman's interests, Herman nods his head towards her and continues to drink his ale.
Zarine, worried about losing her last money in the world, returns temporarily to her room and hides her gold in her spell component pouch, in her backpack, in the middle of her bedroll. She returns to the room with only a few silvers in her pocket, trying to stay a little bit more aware, and looking around to see if she can find Saul to complain about the pickpocketing.
If she sees him, she reports the pickpocketing attempt and describes the person to the best of her ability.
She definitely does not let any admirers follow her to her room, but when she returns, she will look for the ones that chased the bad guy for her.
If they caught him, she goes with them to drag him to Saul.
If they did not, she will stay and talk to them anyway. She asks them what their names are, and thanks them for being so kind and chivalrous, being careful not to show more attention to one over the other. She is drinking water.
She doesn't really want to work the room anymore, for fear of pickpockets, and feels safer (at least in that way) with the guys, but she still came here for a reason, so she keeps returning the subject to the shadow in the sky, and how much she wants to know about it, asking if they know if anyone has heard anything at all, and if not, what their best guess is about it. Then if that subject is exhausted she will launch into talking about how hard it is to get into the Order of Cyphers, and how much she is learning at the Magic shop. She tells them she might be able to get them a discount if they want to come by.
While they are talking, her hand pats her pocket every now and then to make sure her silver is still there, and she glances around whenever someone new comes in to see if it looks like a likely magic-user type, so maybe she can talk shop.
She's pretty jumpy from the near-pickpocketing, so if someone touches her again she's probably going to overreact, and maybe even draw her dagger, but if people just talk and let her be, she'll probably relax a little.
Sometimes it was better to blend in, like when you need to relieve some rich gent of his purse or when you had to hide from the earlier-than-expected husband of an extra friendly lady. But there were also times when you wanted attention on you. Fingers entered the devilish setting of the Gold Goblin and figured this was one of those times.
"Just as well give't up now, rubes!" he called making sure many around him could hear. "Mitchell's here, an' luck follows wher'eer I go. Jus' as well hand off tha' pile of loot t' me an' save yerselves all t' trouble. Might throw in a twirl wif one o' them devil-girls while I'm at it. Don' mind if I do." He tips a lascivious wink at the scantily clad succubi and whistles loudly. "Don' mind if I do t'all."
Knowing that the odds were always stacked with the house, he felt like if he could reduce the confidence of some of the players here, and disarm others with some feigned loutishness, he might stand a chance. That immense chest full of treasure is just how Fingers imagined it would be. He felt like he could just dive in there right now and bathe in those coins -- maybe for a week or so.
After sign-up Fingers mingles with the rest of the crowd, smiling and laughing just a little too loud and making a general ass of himself. Somewhere along the line, a tall, lithe dame asks Fingers what he thinks of the dark spot in the sky. "Love it, missy! L-O-V-E IT! All them marks staring up inta space only makes it easier fer a fella t' git his 'ands on their loot, knowhatamean?" He steps uncomfortably close the the lady, and whispers. "Know a good place ta look a' t' Spot all nice an' private like, if'n yer inter'sted when this 'ere's all said an' done, eh?" His hands slips around her waist in a way that is altogether too familiar; he tenses his jaw expecting the smack that's soon to follow.
After beings spurned by the lady, Fingers stops and gazes around the main room of the casino. His eyes quickly catch on a familiar figure at of Able Crask lurking just inside. Sauntering over, purposefully and unapolegtically bumping into people or stepping on a toe or two, Fingers moves over by his muscle-bound friend.
"Able Crask, as I live an' breathe. Didna think I'd spy you again after tha' last caper. Thought you got pinched fer sure. Wha' brings ya into this house o' skill an' chance? You come inta some coins tha' i can take of ya?"
She removes the stranger's hands from her waist and whispers back, Not today, friend.
After deflecting this approach, it finally dawns on her that this whole idea might not have been a wise move. She looks around at the waitresses and the clientele and wonders why she thought this would be a good place to find someone she could actually have a conversation with.
She scans the room for a way out and spots another woman in the crowd who looks semi-normal. She tells the guys Oh, I see my friend made it. I have to go. Thanks again for helping me out. She gives them a wide smile and makes a beeline for the short girl with the longbow. She sits down beside her and says I told those guys we're friends. Play along for just a bit, okay?
If she isn't rebuffed, she hunkers down at the bar, trying to not bother her "friend" but still stay long enough to deflect her admirers so she can escape. She idly wonders how far it is from her to the little devil thing in the cage and if she could get enough distance on her spell to detect whether it was magic. I bet the Order of Cyphers could cast that far. she thinks to herself with regret. At this rate, I am never going to make it into the guild.
Herman raises an eyebrow as the tall brunette sits next to Keybella, then turns and holds up three fingers to the bartender.
Once served, he hands the cleric her mug without a word, then offers the new one to the newcomer.
"Hey, I'm Herman. This is Keybella. You here to win big, too?"
He sips from his mug and leans against the bar again.
Thank you. I'm Zarine. Nice to meet you both.
She takes the proffered mug and sets it on the bar beside her, but doesn't drink it.
Oh, gambling? No, I don't really have enough expendable income to expend it in such an unwise manner.
She realizes that was the wrong thing to say, just a little too late.
Err, what I mean to say is that I am not very lucky, and I know I would lose it all. You sir, though... you look like a lucky man. I am sure you'll do well.
to charm her way out of her blunder.
She glances down, wondering why everything seems to be going wrong. Then figures, well, I've already put my foot in my mouth. Might as well ask. You wouldn't happen to know anything about the shadow in the sky, would you?
Herman looks at the pretty lady when she says he looks lucky, then laughs loudly.
"Lucky! HA! Yeah, that's a good one, lass. Take a good look at this face, tell me it's seen good luck so far."
Seeing her not drinking, Herman downs his mug of ale and reaches over to rescue hers from loneliness.
"Course, I ain't dead yet, either, so there's gotta be something to what you say."
Scratching his ears, he mulls over her question for a bit before answering. "Nope. Ain't no cloud or nothing I ever seen. Course, I ain't been here in Riddleport too long, but sorry, can't help you there."
Key turns her head when she hears someone calling out a challenge to the players. Worthless boasting. It might work on some. The drunk man slams into her. "Get off you oaf. Waste of good ale. Go away." Interesting Herman's lady friend wandered off with my drunk. This not being her first trip to a dive of a bar, she checks her pockets.
When the young woman who clearly looks out of her element sits down, Key takes pity on her. "Not a problem. We ladies have to stick together unless we're going after the same fella. Then all bets are off. Call me Key." She sips her new drink. "This isn't a good place for wet behind the ears lasses to be. It's no place for me either but this lout is just positive he'll win that chest full of gold. I couldn't talk him out of it so here I am. Sitting in a place where even good ol' Cayden Cailean wouldn't be found." She taps her Holy Symbol.
"Shadow in the sky? Don't know anything about other than I'm sure it isn't a good sign. Are you investigating it?"
"Lucky! HA! Yeah, that's a good one, lass. Take a good look at this face, tell me it's seen good luck so far."
"Course, I ain't dead yet, either, so there's gotta be something to what you say."
Marzela smiles, relieved that she hasn't offended him, and says sincerely
I like your face. The scars just add character. You're sure to have interesting stories.
"Shadow in the sky? Don't know anything about other than I'm sure it isn't a good sign. Are you investigating it?"
Well, sort of. I am trying to get into the Order of Cyphers, and they issued a general call for aid in finding out what was going on with the shadow above this town, and I figure if I find out what is going on, they'll think I'm awesome and let me in.
I've been here for almost a week now, trying to figure it out, and I started working at the Magic shop down the street so I could afford to stay longer, but I'm not even getting any interesting rumors. Everyone just seems to not care, or to be completely clueless about it. When Saul invited me to this event I thought, finally, some new faces. I'm sure someone will know *something,* but <gestures to the room.> I guess I didn't think it would be so...
Zarine trails off, unable to think of a synonym for uncivilized that wouldn't be likely to offend her new friends. Instead she says
I mean, I didn't realize I would be so bad at this. I really am pretty good at magic, but here nobody cares about that, and nobody takes me seriously. Even at the magic shop people usually people don't want to talk about magic. They just hit on me, or try to shoplift... which is just insane. Have you ever *been* to a magic shop that didn't have wards against theft?
Zarine trails off again, embarrassed, realizing that she has started to babble.
Zarine Greenblood, as soon as you start talking about the shadow the room starts to quite down as eyes begin to turn to you as if you know more then they do
Able nods a greeting to fingers. "Nah." He clenches one big fist momentarily "Guard had a sudden accident and I scarpered while the getting out was good." He grumbles, giving the room a dubious look over. "Thought I'd pick up some work here for a while."
His eyes focus on the bouncers costumes. "Now I'm start'n to have second thoughts. Bouncin's hard enough without having to dress like a pounce as well."
He shrugs philosophically and gives Fingers an amused look. "So what you doing here Fingers? You ain't crazy enough to think you can win the prize are you?"
Zarine laughs.
I've been asking about this all night, and NOW they pay attention?
After noticing that she is the center of attention, despite the waitresses and gambling going on all around her, she decides to take advantage of the situation. Unless someone stops her , she climbs up on top of the bar and starts loudly asking the whole group what they know about the shadow in the sky. She repeats any rumors that she has heard to them, tells them when she thinks it first appeared, based on conversations that she has had with others, and gathers what information there is to be had in the public forum.
When she finally realizes that her urge to get information in such a public way might be compromising any effective, more subtle investigation, she climbs down off the bar, disappointed in her inability to make wiser decisions. She will be, however, also elated if she managed to get anything new out of the crowd.
Ugh. So much for escaping back to my room she mutters very quietly.
She takes a small comfort in knowing that many of these people are from out of town, and it isn't really a Magic Shop sort of a crowd, so hopefully she won't be reminded of this stunt too often in the future.
Zarine thinks Scholars! Oh, now these totally seem like my type of people.
She thanks Key and Herman sincerely for helping her out, and for the company, and turns to go with the scholars.
Private, eh? We wouldn't fit in my room, but the magic shop might still be open. I know they were going to do extended hours for the tournament. We could talk in the back room I guess. I don't think my boss would mind.
Key grabs Zarine's arm as she walks away. "Do you know these people? You should speak in public not out of sight." she shakes her head at the girl's naivety. That girl is going to get herself kidnapped and sold into slavery if she isn't careful. key waits to see what Zarine does.
Zarine stops to think.
She thought she was being safe by just avoiding her room, and that they looked pretty safe, but she is also smart enough to know that she can make some pretty poor, impulsive decisions sometimes, so she takes Key's warning seriously.
She is also pretty desperate for information though, so she is torn.
To the group of scholars she says Um, why don't we talk just outside?"
To Key and Herman she says Could you guys maybe... come with me? I don't want you to miss the tournament though, so I totally understand if you can't. I don't think it should take long, but... I don't really know...
She looks at them hopefully, not sure of what else to do, because she can't just walk away from this chance.
Key sighs, and looks put out sort of, but not really, "Watch my drink Herman. I'm going to join this young lady outside. If the game starts while I"m gone, I'll find you later." she slides off the chair and heads toward the door with Zarine if the strangers don't object.
"Yeah, okay. If you need a hand, just say the word and I'll be there right quick."
Herman sets Keybella's mug in clear sight and makes sure he has a decent line towards the door.
As they head out he glares at the scholar types as if daring them to start trouble.
Able nods a greeting to fingers. "So what you doing here Fingers? You ain't crazy enough to think you can win the prize are you?"
"Glad you weren't pinched then, it were a near run thin' as I reco'lec'." He turns and watches the tall pretty girl jump up on the bar, exhorting those around her, and shakes his head with sad amusement.
"Reckon some cain't hold t'er liquor. If I din't have a min' ta win this here gambling go, I might inves' some time taming tha' lil lady. Damn shame, too."
He clears his throat and whispers to Able as surreptitiously as possible. "Wanna work together on this caper, Able? If I get goin' good at t'tables, you can help out by causin' a scene while I nimble up some cards or p'haps a few silver sails, yeah? Splittin't the take 50/50 if it plays."
Zarine Greenblood the scholars drag you outside and begin to run there heads. i take it your not from around here and arnt here for the tournament. what do you know about the shadow in the sky?
Zarine makes sure that Key is still with her, and then starts to answer their question.
Well, I know that people are calling it the blot, and that some people think that it is a bad omen, and... hey, wait a minute.
Didn't you say you would answer *my* questions? I've sat staring at the thing for hours, and it doesn't make any sense. It's clearly not a cloud. Do you know what it is... like what it is made up of? To me, it fairly shouts "magic," but I can't be certain because I don't have a spell to fly up there and check. Has anyone tried that? That kind of perspective might also pinpoint a source better... have you tried that? Even if someone is scared to try it in person, maybe we could try a trained bird. I guess a familiar would be best, although I hope it isn't combustible. I don't have a bird, but I keep waking up with ideas of how to find out more. I just can't *do* any of them and it is so frustrating...
Zarine stops, realizing that she is babbling again. She glances sideways at Key to make sure she still has support, and then says
Er, sorry. I've just been thinking about this a lot. What have you already tried? Or... have you found any answers? Do you know what it is?
Key channels Herman as best she can, and tries to look intimidating as possible. She nods when Zarine looks at her. I think this is a waste of our time. At least I'm not in that gambling hall.
They replay "well we know:"
"The Blot changes shape and size somewhat, but is generally ovoid in shape and hovers alternately over the harbor and gulf just south of Riddleport. It is dark like a shadow but does allow some light through, albeit dimly, and flying objects can faintly be seen through its obscuring haze and it casts a faint shadow on the ground. that's really all we found out. we where hoping you had some more information" as he finishes talking, you hear the two large doors to the gambling hall close.
For those inside, The windows begin to darken till the rooms only light source is the many torches. Several game-hall employees enter, carrying torches shaped like pitchforks skewering burning heads made of straw and cloth to light several large braziers, giving the hall a more infernal hue. As the hall becomes quite and the outside doors are closes, the crowd starts to gather around a strangely small man on the central podium, accompanied by two gorgeous “succubi,” and stands before the gold, chain-shrouded chest there with a demoness on either side. He wears a formal suit, and his thinning black hair is slicked back. His left arm ends in a stump just above the wrist, and affixed to it is a bronze cap from which protrudes an oddly shaped key. He takes a bow and clears his throat.
“Welcome, one and all, to the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall and your chance to cheat the Devil and win back not only your soul but all of his gold as well.”
He says this last as he pats the large chest before which he stands.
“I hope you found your reception by the Devil’s lovely temptresses suitably entertaining.”
This is met by a general murmur of laughter and a few catcalls.
“Let’s take this moment to thank Old Scratch himself for attending this event. Not only did he loan us these lovely, dark angels, but he also emptied the deepest vaults of Hell itself to provide the gold for this tournament.”
He points up to the suspended birdcage and with all the sudden attention, the creature flies into a rage, spitting, biting and banging the cage bars and shouting in a unknown language. With a few oooos and awwwws the croud dies down and the man continues.
"Of course, he plans on replacing what he loses in gold with the souls of those of you who don’t win. The tournament rules are quite simple—as you play, you’ll earn more chips. And with those chips, you’ll be able to bribe your way out of the current Hell you’re trapped in, working your way down deeper until you get to Old Scratch’s treasury. Currently, all of you are Old Scratch’s prisoners in the first of the Hells, Avernus. If you want to work your way down to the ninth circle, you need to win games. Each time you win, you’ll be awarded a golden eye. If you come in second, you’ll get a silver tooth. And third place wins a copper heart. These bits of flesh and bone are what the devils use in Hell for currency, and they’re what you’ll need to pay in order to bribe your way into the next layer of hell. The first player to win a game after reaching Nessus not only keeps his winnings for that game, but also earns back his soul and the ten thousand silver coins that the Devil put up for this tournament. You can, of course, decide to cash out your winnings at any time you want, but if you do, or if you run out of money entirely… well, that means Old Scratch gets you.”
The man grins evilly and the caged beast cuts loose with another profane tirade.
“And that earns you the Devil’s Mark and an escort out of the game hall until the tournament is over. What, you ask, exactly is this Devil’s Mark? Well, it’s something too utterly horrible to even contemplate. The forfeiture of your very soul, it is. But I suppose I can show you what it is gods know I more than deserve the Devil’s Mark. In fact, better make it two, girls!"
With that, the two succubi accompanying him lean over and each firmly plants a kiss on mans cheek with there ruby-red lips. When they pull away, their lip rouge has left clearly visible prints in the same shocking red on his cheeks. The man beams as he cries out,
“The Devil’s Mark, everyone!”
which is greeted by a flurry of shouts, catcalls,
and hoots.
“Now, let’s cheat the Devil and take his gold!”
which prompts one more rabid flurry from the imprisoned fiend above.
He clears his throat and whispers to Able as surreptitiously as possible. "Wanna work together on this caper, Able? If I get goin' good at t'tables, you can help out by causin' a scene while I nimble up some cards or p'haps a few silver sails, yeah? Splittin't the take 50/50 if it plays."
Able considers the offer carefully, he'd never understood the lure of gambling himself, but it always drew hordes of fools with coin to lose.
"Ok." He nods, reverting to the 'Big, dumb muscle' role he'd done so many times before.
The Blot changes shape and size somewhat, but is generally ovoid in shape and hovers alternately over the harbor and gulf just south of Riddleport. It is dark like a shadow but does allow some light through, albeit dimly, and flying objects can faintly be seen through its obscuring haze and it casts a faint shadow on the ground. that's really all we found out. we where hoping you had some more information.
You guys, seriously? I've been here less than a week and I already know all that from just staring at it. You're *scholars*! Isn't there a history of this happening before, or haven't you tried using a potion of Fly to go up and take a closer look, or *anything*?
I don't get the people in this town. A giant shadow appears in their sky, and they are all like "oh, whatever."
Zarine, realizing she's screwed up again, calms down and bows to the scholars.
I apologize for my frustration. Thank you so much for being willing to collaborate with someone as young as I am. I only know as much as I said there in the Inn. I am looking for more information though, and I would be happy to share all I know with you. Where can I find you if I find out anything additional?
She beams at them, trying to make up for her ill-advised outburst.
Whatever their reaction, after they leave Zarine turns to Key and says, Sorry about that. I thought they would actually know something.
Also... I appreciate you watching out for me. I know I'm too impulsive. It takes me a second for my brain to catch up with what I've already done. I try to be careful, but I'm obviously not great at it.
Um... I only have a few silvers on me, but... I could buy you a drink? Or, maybe you could use them to play one of the gambling games? If it's someone else's money, it isn't so bad to lose it, right? Might be fun to watch. You might even win. You never know.
She holds out her three silver pieces to Key, hoping that she will accept them and forgive her for dragging her out here.
Fingers smile stretches across his face as Able agrees to lend a hand. "Swell, my man. I'll give you t' signal, like this..." Fingers waves his hand in a subtle but clear gesture. "An' then you raise t'ruckus that'll get all these rubes 'tention. We'll see what's what after tha'"
As the event seems to get started in earnest, Fingers strides up to the first gaming table and scopes out his competition.
Herman moves to the spinning wheel game, with both Keybella and his own mug in one hand. He reaches for his coin purse to lay some bets down.
perception (if applicable)
Key takes the offered silvers, "Let's go see if we can win us some gold. I'll take this and add some more. We'll split what I win. Sound like a plan?" Key starts back to the door before she turns to Zarine. "In a place like this that impulsiveness can get you in trouble. It can also get big rewards if luck goes your way." She continues back in the Gold Goblin.
She waves at Herman to let him know she's alright and then heads to the Ghoulette Table. Grabbing her drink from him when she gets there. She puts one of Zarine's silver on 6 and one of her own silver on 12. "Let's see how this goes."
Zarine follows, content to watch, and grateful that she didn't screw things up too badly.
Able moves closer to Fingers table, but makes sure to not be close enough to him to be associated with him.
He stretches his arms and studies the crowd, looking for a face he doesn't like.
Key takes the offered silvers, "Let's go see if we can win us some gold. I'll take this and add some more. We'll split what I win. Sound like a plan?" Key starts back to the door before she turns to Zarine. "In a place like this that impulsiveness can get you in trouble. It can also get big rewards if luck goes your way." She continues back in the Gold Goblin.
She waves at Herman to let him know she's alright and then heads to the Ghoulette Table. Grabbing her drink from him when she gets there. She puts one of Zarine's silver on 6 and one of her own silver on 12. "Let's see how this goes."
The young lady calls final bets and spins the head.
Fingers takes a turn at the Bounder's table. He makes an initial stake of 5gp.
dealer starts
"Let's try again." She drops another one of Zarine's silvers on 6 again and hers on 12 again.
Herman places a silver on 10.
Zarine is becoming engrossed. She thinks about going to her room and getting the rest of her money, but only briefly, since her intellect kicks in and reminds her that she still has to pay for her room or else she has to go home and give up on her dream of getting into the guild.
