Second Darkness: Dark Omens (Inactive)

Game Master inxpitter

Although the Gold Goblin stands in a much-neglected neighborhood and the building itself has long stood dormant and empty, it makes a comeback as the big day comes. Crowds of participants and spectators mill about on the street or file together through the main doors to sign up for the tournament. Overseeing this gathering is a larger-than-life-size statue of a goblin,apparently cast in glittering gold, that stands atop the entry stairs with a smirking expression of satisfaction on its face, as if personally enjoying the crowds that shuffle past it into the doorway beneath the gambling hall’s gilded dome.

You all have your various reasons for coming to the Gold Goblin on the day of the tournament, but without fail you all arrive(not necessarily together.) . 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 main doorway 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, batwinged 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 barechested 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.

You can all assume that you had the 1 GP entrance cost and are now somewhere within the Gold Goblin Gambling hall, you can also RP your arrive if you wish. As you entered to signed a mock contract to sell your soul to the devil.

Ryssa walked towards the Golden Goblin as she smiled, her forked snakelike tongue coming out of her mouth from time to time. She was very happy as she tossed the gold coin into the air and then caught it as the coin fell.

"Oh this is a lucky day for me! Oh yes it is!"

Her smile disappears as she grabs ahold of a wooden pendant of three daggers pointing outward from a circle: the holy symbol of the goddess Calistria. The tiefling woman was dressed in the holy vestments of her faith, which if worn by someone from nobility would be seen as scandalous, but on a priest of the Savored Sting...actually some would say it would still be scandalous. Of course, most Calistrians don't pay heed to such talk. Ryssa's scant yellow and black clothes barely covered her, and if they covered her any less one could say she was naked, but the demonspawn woman was perfectly fine with this as it showed off her violet colored skin decorated with tattoos of cherry blossoms. She also carried a mace, wooden shield that bore her goddess's symbol on it, a dagger, and suit of gold colored scale mail armor (although the armor wasn't gold of course).

She wagged her tufted tail as she swayed her hips a bit as if she was trying to attract a pigeon. Ryssa was quite popular with both men and women, despite it being known that she was a hermaphrodite. Also Ryssa was being groomed as the protege of the high priestess of the House of the Silken Veil, Shorafa Pamodae, a fellow tiefling.

"Okay Ryssa you know that this time you aren't gambling for yourself, but for Shorafa and the other priests of Calistria to pay them back for all that they've done for you."

The tiefling walked into the Golden Goblin, after paying the entry fee, and was taken a back by the fact that the waitresses were dressed as succubi.

"Ōha tamē manē majāka karuṁ chuṁ śakāya chē. Tē dānavō nathī ḍēvilsa chē! Huṁ kharēkhara kyāṅka mārā kuṭumba vr̥kṣa ēka Succubus chē."

Sighing at how she wished people would do their research before doing things like this, she looked at the contract she was supposed to sign.

The tiefling Calistrian signed her name along with the others.

She then looked up at the small devil hanging in the cage. Grinning to herself, she stuck out her forked tongue at the creature before she tried to find a place to start racking in the money!

Aster hesitantly hands the entry fee to the guard at the entrance and walked inside. She gripped her spear close to herself, flag still tightly wrapped around it, her eyes carefully skirting around the room looking for potential threats. They lingered on the succubi outfits with a worried look.

"Larkspur? I-I'm not sure about this. The last time we saw something that looked like that, you made me fight it. I nearly died."

Larkspur lighted on Aster's shoulder, chirping shrilly in her ear.

"Oh quit your moaning. We're here to make up for the last time you almost died, remember? Now get in there so I can win me some money!"

Aster swallowed hard and continued into the bar, keeping a respectable distance from other dangerous looking customers as Larkspur directed her towards what he predicted would be a winning table.

Taton has no qualms about the beauties, but somewhat similarly to Ryssa he's a little insulted at the appropriation of demonic culture to play at being evil. He thought of the Tieflings at the temple, of Lil and Shorafa, and even of Ryssa, and how much more exotic they were than these counterfeits. Which is not to say some of these girls didn't certainly bear a second glance, or a third, but at the end of the night these were also just working girls, and unlike the ladies of the temple you couldn't trust these.

He reads the contract. He reads the contract again. He reads the contract once more for good measure before telling the individual who asked him to sign precisely where he could place the contract, an anatomical unlikelihood.

Taton hadn't even wanted to come to this place, it was a waste of his hard-earned... okay, his moderately-earned money, but he wasn't going to spend it any better else-ways, so it might as well go to this place as any other. At least, he figured, this gold piece got him a view as good as most and a chance at the unlikely. He knew he would probably lose that coin and possibly more, but he might divert himself for the evening. His mind of course began thinking exactly what his boss could have given him for a gold piece, and he almost sours on the whole prospect, before he sees a familiar... face. Yes, it was certainly the face he was looking at, and no other parts. He walks up beside Ryssa, very careful not to approach too close behind her lest that blasted tail get him. "Did they hire you for this event, or are you merely here by coincidence?"

Before entering The Golden Goblin, Sully takes a brief moment to strike a defiant pose, hands on hips, in front of the goblin statue. He winks and smiles at the edifice, and any onlookers would likely read his general demeanor as "eye-rollingly overconfident".

Sully felt that confidence was well-earned however, as he had a couple tricks up his sleeve. Well, one up his sleeve and another tucked away in the gaudy, patterned scarf he had draped around his neck.

Sleight of Hand: Fixed Dice: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Sleight of Hand: Marked Cards: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

HIs shirt was a loose-fitting, fashionable affair with a deep v-neck. His breeches were black, with a flattering, modern cut. Over his ensemble he wore a cloak of deep violet on the outward-facing side, crimson red on the other.

Despite this, his most striking feature was certainly his tattoos. The worldly sort would recognize them as Varisian. The visible ones on his chest and face depicted precisely symmetrical outward-moving patterns of elaborate whorls, and the stylized facial features of a raccoon, respectively.

Sully entered the Golden Goblin, paying the entry fee while duly offering each of the "succubi" a brief, roguish flirt. He signed the infernal "contract" with a hearty chuckle.

Taking in the establishment, Sully was impressed. The Golden Goblin was quite a sight during "Cheat The Devil...".

There would be many vices to celebrate tonight, and first among them he would need a good drink. Approaching the bar, he noticed the woman next to him shared his half-orc heritage. Although, looking at her, I'd say it's a bit more like "three-quarters orc". Not that I mind, he observed.

"Always a pleasure to run into another bastard of the peoples," Sully addressed the woman with a rueful grin and an offered handshake.

Ryssa was a bit surprised to see Taton here, but she then figured that Shorafa had probably sent him to keep an eye on her young protege. Which wasn't a bad thing; the high priestess did have a soft spot for people like Lil and Ryssa, considering that they were all tieflings. In fact, it was Shorafa herself who had sponsored Ryssa into becoming a cleric of the Unquenchable Fire and in fact during her initiation, it was Shorafa herself who Ryssa had selected to be her partner during the night she was inducted as a full fledged priestess of the Savored Sting. And the high priestess was no slouch in bed that was for sure.

At Taton's words, the tiefling laughed before replying, hissing a bit with her forked tongue, "Oh no, they didn't hire me but now looking around I think someone needed to do his homework before picking a theme for the grand opening. Really, succubi? I'm actually a bit offended by the fact that someone thought that succubi were devils, and that's not just because I'm a pitborn tiefling either. Okay maybe it is. But still, some of the women here do have a bit of attractiveness. A few of them have made me wonder what they would look like with no clothes on but that's probably the hedonist in me talking. But anyhow, I'm guessing Shorafa sent you to keep an eye on me correct? I'll admit, I have mixed feelings about that if it is so."

A slight chuckle is mercifully released from Taton's grip. "No, I'm off as well. I thought some people I knew would be here, and I was right." Hearing her words, he once more evaluates the local talent before responding. "I can tell you that none of them hold a candle, but that's just what my second eye tells me. You can almost know it already, little as they're wearing. Honestly, there's sultry and then there's just... is nothing left to the mind any more?" Young though he might still be considered, he feels a little old at this moment. What fun was unwrapping a gift if you already knew what it was?

"I'd have no qualms keeping an eye on you, had I one to spare, but I'll have to be watching the opposition, the dealers, and my coin." That last bit sticks in his mind, about mixed feelings. Being rather the blunt instrument he is, he asks about it. No way to know if you don't ask, he wasn't a woman and couldn't read intentions. "Why do you say you'd have mixed feelings if she sent me to safeguard you?" His mind had gone a dozen different directions, was Taton an inadequate protector? Did Ryssa not think she needed protecting? Would she be flattered or offended at the concern of the high priestess? His mind let that one pass, then instantly went on to a dozen other questions, several of them inappropriate and most of them entirely unthinkable. It brought a little color to his cheeks, something he thought wasn't possible at his age without the aid of strong drink.

"Oh don't get me wrong now, I'm actually grateful for her worrying about me ever since I first went to the House of the Silken Veil. It was Shorafa who saw in me where others did not that I had what it took to become a priestess of Calistria. By the allure of the Savored Sting herself, Shorafa sponsored me when no one else thought a tiefling girl right off the streets with a gambling problem, not to mention a good deal of debts caused by said gambling problem, could do it. She believed in and it was because of her teachings that I made it through the Rite of the Triple Sting. Hell, she's also the one who I choose during the night I became a full fledged cleric of the Lady in the Room to be my partner. I can't tell you what the two of us did, although it's not that hard to imagine, but she's no slouch in the bedroom that's for sure. I know her I'm something like a protege to her and there's been talk that i might succeed her one day, although personally I think that's just talk. And if it isn't, so what. I appreciate everything she's done for me, but I can take care of myself, although I appreciate her looking out for me. She's even paid off my debts when I first started training in the temple. So pretty much, what I'm getting at is that while I do wish she let me spread my wings a bit, I'm actually very flattered that she sent someone to keep an eye on me. Besides, I know you're no slouch when it comes to making sure nobody tries to bring harm to one of Calistria's priests," the young priestess says with a grin.

"But yeah some people can try a bit too much. There's seductive and then there's desperate. Still, hopefully I can earn a good bit of coin here. Looking to try and help out the House of the Silken Veil as a way to thank everyone there who helped me, especially Shorafa."

Aster visibly cringes away from the sudden voice at her side, her hands twisting firmly around her spear. She balances on the ball of her foot for the expected blow, one eye closed. After a careful moment when the blow doesn't come, she opened her eye, and sheepishly straightens up. Her eyes scan over Sully's tattoos for a moment, and she hesitantly accepts his handshake.

"S-sorry. I mean, Thanks... I mean... Hello," She stutters in response.

Aster glances about nervously. Larkspur was sitting on the edge of the nearby table and paying absolutely no attention to her. Not that he was likely to hear her in this noisy hall. She grimaces, typically his interruptions keep her from having to talk with new people right away. She allows the air to hang awkwardly for a moment before, desperate to fill the silence, she mumbled "So are you here to gamble too?"

Sully responded to the inquiry with a devious grin. "Oh I assure you, I am here to win. Everyone else..." He gestures with a wide sweep of his arm, the arc of his slow swing ending in Aster's direction. "...Is here to gamble."

The other half-orc's initial body language and stammering speech marked her as a bit of a shrinking violet. The irony of their clashing statures and personalities was not lost on Sully, and he decided this dynamic amused him a great deal.

"So, new friend," he continued the conversation in an affable tone. "The pennant wrapped around your weapon is quite lovely. Where is it from? The clan of the parent who gave you these?" He contextualizes his question by grinning and tapping a finger upon one of his own pronounced incisors.

Taton, uncomfortable at this point, tries to break the self-perceived awkwardness with a joke. Taton is of course renowned for his wit around the temple. "You know, I almost wore that same outfit. What a scandal that would have caused." He nods toward the succubi walking about, to indicate what he meant. "Had my eye black and everything, just could not find anyone to help me tuck." Assuming his joke falls as flat as his previous few, he continues, "You wear it well, though. If I might inquire, why are you here if you're a recovering gambler? I mean isn't that the worst idea, or nearly?"

Deciding that it was probably best to not be recognized by folks who know her as a fairly straight-laced street performer, Meghan opted to go heavy on the prestidigitized makeup for her stint as a succubus serving wench at the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall's grand tournament. She colored her hair and lips a fiery red and outlined her normally impish eyes in black to make them appear even more devilish. The rubbery red tail portion of her succubus suit was hollow but still weighed enough to be a constant source of frustration and annoyance as it waved this way and that, sometimes threatening to pull down the costume's butt-covering material to a scandalous new low. And already, she and the other girls were getting unwelcome advances from some of the customers who thought that an accidental tail brush or two was an invitation to something more.

Now Meg had learned a trick to control her wayward tail: Hold and lightly swing its tipped end in her left hand while carrying her drink tray in her right. She passed through the growing crowd, small-talking and flirting briefly with the contestants and taking their drink orders while casually scanning each for potential trouble. Too many of the gamblers were armed and/or armored in her opinion, but Saul had laughed off her concerns by saying, "We're in Riddleport, Goldiebutt--it's a dangerous place and people are going to protect themselves at all times."

**********************

Loosing a frustrated sigh, Meghan takes the tray of drinks from the bar and heads back into the fray, forcing herself to flash a brilliant devil-may-care grin. She delivers drinks, takes orders, and takes stock of the more dangerous-looking players gathered inside the gambling hall. When a slightly-built half-orc fellow takes a moment to flirt briefly with her, Meg gets a weird feeling he might be up to something a bit underhanded. Rather than report her baseless hunch to Saul, Meg flirts back a bit, asking the fellow his name and if he'd like some food, drink, or even for her to blow on or kiss his cards or dice for extra luck. (And with Sully's Sleight of Hands rolls, I'm not even gonna bother with opposed Perception checks, cuz Meg can't make 'em!)

I'm going to make Perception checks (to look for weapons and cheating materials) and Sense Motive checks (for a hunch on who's up to no good) for each PC and a couple extra for use on other people present.

Ryssa
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Taton
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Sully
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Ibara
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Aster
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Larkspur
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Extra #1
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Extra #2
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Sense Motive (hunch): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Ryssa kept an eye out for trouble just in case.

"Don't take this the wrong way Taton, but I don't think you have the legs for an outfit like this, unless it was made of skintight leather. Of course, your sharp wit more than makes up for it."

She smiled and hissed a bit when he complimented her outfit, replying, "Thank you. I appreciate the compliment. It shows off a good bit of skin, but that's okay. I like to show off the cherry blossom tattoos I have. But government answer your question, well, I try to make sure I don't go crazy and lose everything including the clothes I'm wearing. I just make small bets. That way I don't lose a lot. I make sure to keep a close eye on my money. Of course it helps to have someone keep an eye on me to make sure I don't go crazy and lose everything."

Wot do ya mean I can't come in? I already told ya this blood I'm wearin' is me own!"I Ibara shouted to the fron door bouncers whist gesturing towards the trails of blood from her busted nose which ran down her face to her collar. "It's not me 故障 (Ghúzáng) I got assaulted outside your joint. Wif aw the scum you're attractin' wot do ya expect? I mean if ya fin' this Is bad ya should see the ovver bloke!", she said laughing onbxiousy.
"E's very dead, na..."She admitted with a humorous sigh, before signing the fake contract.

"Earwig, I 'ave the bloomin' Bread and Honey ter get in and I want the chance ter sin loike the reat of these degenerates. 懂了嗎?" (Dǒng le ma?)

She passes by them with a wink before her light blue eyes gaze down at the Courtesan Harrow the caravan elder had given her. Na aw I need is a drink or ten and ter give a look-see fer tha devil girl. Shouldn't be too 'ard to find wahn of them
After scanning the room, her confused eyes flicked back-and-forth from the card to the crowded room, as she realized that nearly every waitress was dressed up in devil costumes.

"...S#it."

Aster shrugs and makes a face, visibly frustrated at the content of the question more than the question itself and gestured towards the angry starling hopping on the card table and swearing at the dealer to move faster. "No... Those are all Larkspur's idea. He wants people to know whenever he's around, but I keep telling him that if he makes me change it all the time, they'll never recognize it. Especially because I'm not that good at it..."

She grimaces again, stretching up to look around the room again. "He says he's here to win too. I don't like this, though. There's too many people..."

Sully's expression shifts to puzzled. The feeling was sincere, and that frustrated him.

"Larkspur?" His gaze falls upon the starling, and for the first time he notices the creature is speaking. His eyes reveal the gears turning in his mind, though it only takes him a fraction of a moment to put things together.

"A a magicked beast!" Amusement returns to Sully's face. "Is he your familiar? You don't look the part of a mage, not that that means anything. That the little thing speaks is impressive. My Bandit knows many tricks himself, though speaking aloud is not one of them."

Aster smiled sadly. Her situation was not one that was easy to explain to new people, and she didn't relish the looks she got. After a moment's consideration, she decided to skirt the question.

"You're right on one thing, I'm not a mage. He isn't my familiar either. At least I don't think so. He could speak well before he found me down in Bloodcove, although I'm not entirely sure how he learned how to do it. He talks all the time, and even mostly about himself. Although, I rarely hear him say anything of value about his past unless it's important to the moment."

A moment's pause, then redirection. Something Larkspur often attempted, but with less success when done at high volume.

"Your Bandit?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

@Meghan: Aster is carrying a longspear with a bundle of cloth wrapped around the head and a dagger. She did not appear to take great pains to hide either weapon. She appears particularly nervous, is talking to another half-orc, and regularly taking fleeting glances around the room, before looking back to an angry talking bird jumping on a gaming table.

It is clear enough that she's uncomfortable here, although it is not immediately apparent why. She may know something, she may be planning something, or she may just dislike crowds.

Bluff: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9 Oh no. Oh dear.
@Meghan: Larkspur is verbally abusing the staff, but is far too small to hide cheating materials or weapons on his person. He is, however, blatantly reordering cards as he jumps around on the table, attempting to shuffle whenever the dealer looks around for assistance with dealing with him.

It's not immediately clear if he's cheating for his own benefit or for someone else's, because it is clear from your distance that he is terrible at it. If he's someone's familiar, it's not apparent whose, as almost everyone nearby seems to grimace when they hear his screeching attempts to be heard over the crowd.

"Come On! Are you going to deal, or what? Move those stubby wings, ya grouse."

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Sully suspects the other half-orc is being evasive, but has no desire to create animosity so lets it slide.

In response to her question, he simply offers a rakish smile. Then, the tattoos on his face begin to slowly flow downwards. As they move out towards his shoulder, instead of disappearing beneath his shirt they move of his skin and up several inches into the air. There they begin to coalesce and suddenly a living, breathing raccoon is perched upon his neck and shoulders. The entire process takes only a few seconds.

"Bandit. My familiar."

The raccoon shifts, extending it's head, front legs, and torso out into the air, and offers a small five-fingered hand towards Aster.

"He, as I said, cannot speak. So on his behalf I will tell you he is pleased to meet you."

Meghan considers trying to speak with the brightly-colored bird about its antics but then decides she's not being paid enough to do so. Ol' Keypaw hired me to keep an eye out for cheaters an' troublemakers...not run a zoo! she thinks as a raccoon suddenly appears on the shoulder of the half-orc she'd already had suspicions about.

After dropping off a tray of drinks, Meghan seeks out the Gold Goblin's owner to make a report about the apparent animal infestation and to ask if she should look into the matter further or if Saul will leave it to his hired guards to deal with.

KS Update: No change in status.

Those of you have signed falsely, hesitantly, or just outright refused are still allowed entry as long as the entrance fee was paid (as it was), though those who don't "play along" with the gambling tournament's theme receive a frown from the front clerk. There doesn't seem to be anything magical about the contract, and in fact, some of the mythos of demons and devils are conflicting, making it really just a formality.

Soon, twilight is upon you and employees begin to enter the building carrying torches shaped like pitchforks skewering burning heads made of straw and cloth. They go around and light the braziers and soon a short man climbs to the central podium, accompanied by two gorgeous "succubi." 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. Each of you hear murmurs in the crowd, and discover that the man is Saul Vancaskerkin, the owner of the Gold Goblin and host of the tournament.

"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."

There's a few catcalls and laughter in the crowd.

"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."

Saul dramatically gestures to the birdcage, causing the creature known as Old Scratch to furiously bang and claw at the cars, spitting and howling.While some people are genuinely unnerved by the performance, others seem to enjoy the theatrics and a few even applaud.

"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.”

Vancaskerkin grins evilly and the caged imp 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 Saul’s cheek with her ruby-red lips. When they pull away, their lip rouge has left clearly visible prints in the same shocking red on his cheeks.

Saul 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, and with that, the tournament begins.

All PCs wind up at the same betting table. Feel free to make some small talk and also tell me if you want to actually play games, do a simplified betting system, or just continue with the story.

"I must hang it to him, he sure knows how to put on a show," Ryssa saids with a smile.

She's a little surprised to see two half-orcs and two humans at the same table as the tiefling and Taton.

"Well now this is an interesting crowd," she says with a smirk as she prepares to play a few games.

Well let's see how I do at gambling. I'll be honest, I'm terrible at poker (thankfully playing digital poker with fake money taught me that long before I decided to play real poker which btw I've never played and most likely never will play). So what kind of games do we have to play?

Ibara regarded the show put on by the owner with eye rolling and the occasional snort. She was not a particular fan of such garrish showmanship. It proved a mockery of the classic refined geisha rituals of her youth. "Can ya believe this tripe?" she blurted out to anyone listening."Na if any wahn 'as a Tea Set set 'round, I'd give them a real sha!",she laughed, nudging a patron with her elbow before taking a seat at the card table. She perked up at the Tiefling's words, surprised to only see such a strange creature but also an obvious sign to the validity of the omen told by her caravan's oracle. Shaking away the notion she addressed the horned woman.

"That's a bit funny comin' from ya, wot wif ya bein' the oddest lookin' wahn 'ere." Ibara finishes downing her sake gourd and nods amusingly toward Ryssa. "Those flowery bits on ya natural for your kind or 're ya just the bloody type that likes ter sha off?" Ibara raises the empty gourd to the fiery headed devil waitress whose apparently uncomfortable costume proved a poor imitation of the real thing that sits at their very table. Her eyes wondered back and forth between the two devilspawn taking in their appearances critically.

Na if I were a cryptic card readin' crone, which devil would I pick ter 'save the bloomin' world'. God's b$$@$%+s, I must be as loony as that ol' biddy ter believe such hogwash fairytales. 'Opefully this is aw just a wild cockatrice chase.

"More of yer best, 爱人(Àirén)" She grumbles, shaking the gourd with one hand for emphasis hand palming her face in aggravation with the other.

Ibara will play if the others do but most of her money is going to filling her gourd, but she's mostly there to drink and waylay the fears of an aging carvan seer
@Meghan: Ibara seems to treat the whole place with a bit of contempt, putting her sandaled feet up on tables, occasionally flexing her fists when anyone with a particular muscular physique comes near, and being generally abrasive to most of the staff except for you for some reason. You might catch her glancing at you with a discerning eye, almost as if she's trying to figure you out. Her concern is obviously not with gambling. The only weapon she bears is a bone white sword and scabard at her hip.
.

Taton sits near Ryssa simply to avoid having to socialize with the unknown masses. The rest of their assembled table seems to suit him, despite feeling like the ugly duckling a bit at the assembled handsomeness. Even the half-orcs were better looking than him, how was that fair? Not generally one for petty concerns like appearance, it simply highlighted how out of place he tended to be. "Yes, but then again you know well that in entertainment, misdirection is key."

Taton engages in whatever game is being played, tentatively. He's not much for gambling. I'm an avid gambler, but he's not.

@DM: Meg's backstory has her as one of the Gold Goblin's employees, so she won't bet but she'll wait on the PCs' table and keep an eye out for shenanigans and whatnot. I'm also assuming Saul didn't give her any orders regarding the potential familiars in the PC party (see my previous post).

"Best of luck, mortals," the succubus waitress says with an upward curl of one corner of her painted red mouth. "My name is Meg the Malevolent, and I'll be your hostess for this leg of the tournament. If you need food, drink, or a puff of my infernal breath on some cold dice, just let me know. Can I start you off with a drink, perhaps? Our special today is called Archdevil Whiskey, a single malt infused with--as I understand it--special spices from the very depths of Hell itself."

Meghan scowls a bit at Ibara's feet on the table, looks the Tian woman disapprovingly in the face, but doesn't tell the guest to remove her feet from the tabletop.

Perception (to notice Ibara eyeballing her): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Sense Motive (why's Ibara eyeballing her): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

KS Update: No change in status.

Larkspur immediately perked up at the mention of drinks, almost knocked his chips off of the table with the speed with which he spun his tiny body around.

"DRINK!? Oh most definitely drinks! I don't care what it is, so long as it's sweet and the mug is bigger than I am. The big green one drinks, too, and make sure she gets more than I do."

Aster immediately grimaced and shook her head gently in Meghan's directly behind his back, certain that she didn't want to end up in another one of those days. She hoped desperately that the server understood without her having to say so out loud.

Aster:Bluff: Pass Secret Message: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"Now games! Who here games?! I'm the best, obviously."
He's awful, and it's obvious from his pitiful pile of chips
"But who wants to take a risk and throw in a few rounds? You might get lucky! Don't be a peahen about it!"
I don't rightly care if we actually play or just move on, this is mostly just his normal bravado.

Ryssa grins at the Tian woman before replying, "The second category actually. I like cherry blossoms and so I had a friend in the House of the Silken Veil tattoo them all over me. Besides I'm a priestess of Calistria, but most importantly I'm not ashamed of my body, so I don't mind showing it off. Nothing wrong with that in Calistria's eyes; in fact, she encourages it. You should see the high priestess of the Temple of Calistria: Shorafa Pamodae. She's has tattoos of rose vines all over her body and she's usually clad in leather leotards with a snakeskin whip coiled around her shoulder. And she's a tiefling like me as well."

She hisses a bit with her forked snakelike tongue.

Ibara, if you could include the English translation of your foreign words next to them as well, that would be easier than going to the discussion thread.

Meghan, no problem with what you're doing. great descriptors on the drinks.

@ Meghan
You do recall Saul telling you to keep an eye on familiars and the like. He doubts someone would cheat openly, but blaming their pets might be too convenient an excuse. Catch anyone cheating, and toss em out.

If any of the players try cheating, roll appropriate response to catch them.

@ The playing members
As most of the games require some interaction that would be very difficult with PbP, we'll go with DC rolls. We'll have six rounds of betting (minimum 1sp). Please roll 6 Charisma checks and assign a bet to each one (no cheating), or if you have ranks in profession (gambler) you can make a check with that. I'll tell you how you did after rolls are posted.

Sully is going to attempt to cheat (using Sleight of Hand) in order to shore up his poorer performances. I assume they're opposed by Meghan's perception rolls. I'll leave it up to you how much of an improvement each Sleight of Hand check results in.

Sully will bet 2 gold pieces each round. He's saved up for this event and intends to make quite a splash.

Sully plays confidently and with skill the first two rounds:

Profession: Gamblin': 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Profession: Gamblin': 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Luck isn't with him the third round, so he decides to make a bit of his own in whatever way is appropriate, using his various hidden cheating tools:

Profession: Gamblin': 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

The fourth round seems him returning to top form:

Profession: Gamblin': 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Round number five sees Sully feeling the need to tip the odds in his favor again:

Profession: Gamblin': 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

For the last round, Sully finishes strong on his own merits:

Profession: Gamblin': 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Here are the rolls for Sully's Sleight of Hand rolls to help out his poor performance in rounds 3 and 5. I have to include them at the end to keep the rolls in line, due to how the dice rolling script works:

Round 3:
Sleight Of Hand: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Round 5:
Sleight Of Hand: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Can't match the 30 result on SoH #2, but might be able to hit the DC of the first....

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Meghan goes about taking drink orders, totally missing Sully's shenanigans.

Gambler: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Bet: 1 sp

Gambler: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Bet: 2 gp

Gambler: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 Bet: 3 sp

Gambler: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Bet: 2 sp

Gambler: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Bet: 8 sp

Gambler: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Bet: 2 sp

Ryssa was usually quite good at gambling but tonight she was probably off her game. She hadn't gambled in a long, long time so her skills were rusty. She tried to play it safe a few times especially near the end trying not to lose all of her winnings.

"Okay....okay...I probably did decent this time. Let's have another round shall we?"

Aster will play, but only because Larkspur complains if she tries to stand away from the table. She bets 1 silver with every hand.

Charisma: Round 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Charisma: Round 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Charisma: Round 3: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Charisma: Round 4: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Charisma: Round 5: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Charisma: Round 6: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Larkspur hops aggressively in place while waiting for the results of each hand. He bets 1 silver with each hand, but only because they don't have enough money on hand for both of them to bet more than that.

Charisma: Round 1: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11
Charisma: Round 2: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
Charisma: Round 3: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6
Charisma: Round 4: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6
Charisma: Round 5: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6
Charisma: Round 6: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (18) - 2 = 16

Given that Taton has a lacking charisma mod, and no natural ability at gambling, he fares poorly, and wagers little. (1 sp per round number, let's say)

Charisma: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Charisma: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Charisma: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Charisma: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Charisma: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Charisma: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Gambling Results
Note: Final total include whether you won your stake back as well. Please alter your alias's to reflect your win/loss
Name:Sully
Round 1: Jackpot! 24 GP
Round 2: Big Win! 4 GP
Round 3: Minor Win. 2 SP
Round 4: Jackpot! 24 GP
Round 5: Jackpot! 30 GP
Round 6: Jackpot! 24 GP
Total Gain/Loss: 118 GP 2 SP

Name:Ryssa
Round 1: Loss... -5 cp
Round 2: Jackpot! 22 GP
Round 3: Break Even.
Round 4: Bust! -2 sp
Round 5: Big Win. 8 sp
Round 6: Loss... -2 sp
Total: 25 GP 1 SP 5 CP

Name:Aster
Round 1: Loss... -5 cp
Round 2: Win. 5 cp
Round 3: Bust! -1 sp
Round 4: Minor win. 2 cp
Round 5: Bust! -1 sp
Round 6: Bust! -1 sp
Total: -8 CP

Name: Larkspur
Round 1: Loss... -5 cp
Round 2: Bust! -1 sp
Round 3: Bust! -1 sp
Round 4: Bust! -1 sp
Round 5: Bust! -1 sp
Round 6: Minor Win. 2 cp
Total: -3 SP -3CP

Name: Taton
Round 1: Win. 5 cp
Round 2: Bust! -1 sp
Round 3: Win. 5 cp
Round 4: Loss... -5 cp
Round 5: Bust! -1 sp
Round 6: Bust! -1 sp
Total: -5 CP

================================
There's an uproar at your table as some of the players have decided give their luck a rest and start specating other games. Larkspur and Sully are having a bad run, but there's a definite hush as Handsome Sully roll his dice.

A pause as everyone waits for the result.....

Then....

Jackpot.

A mix of booing and cheering erupt from the crowd as Handsome Sully rakes in his now mounding pile of gold.

You may post reactions/actions and also mention if you want to play another round of gambling. We will continue story wise after the next round or this round depending on vote.

Meghan witnessed the small half-orc's opening jackpot win and returned to the table with a tray of drinks and finger food in time to witness two more jackpots go the gambler's way.

No one's that lucky! the succubus server thinks, her initial gut feeling that the fellow was up to something returning to her tenfold.

I'll have to keep a closer watch on him, she thinks before her mind wanders a bit. What will Saul do if this fellow's winning streak continues? Despite being down on his luck, Saul had once been an integral part of the city's criminal enterprises...perhaps even a crimelord himself. If so, he likely wouldn't accept such a loss of coin. Then the girl's thoughts took a darker turn: What if the fellow's been cheating and I just missed it? Will Keypaw hold me accountable in some way for failing to notice the trickery?

I'll be away from the net 'til Thursday afternoon; at that point, I hope to be back on my (almost) daily posting schedule again.

Ryssa was actually quite pleased with how she did.

Not bad, not bad. I think I---"

The tiefling is interrupted mid sentence due to the uproar over the male half-orc's win. Ryssa's jaw drops, revealing her snakelike fangs.

"I must admit, it would seem that the gods have decided to bless you with much luck tonight, my friend."

Ryssa had decided to do another round of gambling to see if she could do better.

"Anyone up for another round? I'm feeling lucky tonight!"

She hisses with her forked tongue.

Taton loses a little, predictably. This is why he didn't gamble, but at least it wasn't a colossal loss. He smiled at Ryssa's winnings, wondering what she planned to do with them... then recalling that she had actual generous and kind thoughts for their use. That was hardly ever any fun, but it probably gave her warm feelings in her heart and several other places. "I'll watch you, but I've lost a bit and would prefer not to lose too much more. You seem to be blessed with a devil's own luck, as it were." Another attempt at a joke. Why am I acting the fool tonight? He chides himself silently, but keeps a smile because after all, watching a pretty priestess of your faith make money hand over fist is a good time.

"Demon's own luck," Ryssa playfully corrected Taton with a smile and a giggle, "And I appreciate the compliment and the joke. It was quite a good one. I'll admit my skills might be a tad rusty but I'm sure I'll earn a good deal of money. Although our half-orc friend here seems to have blessed with luck as well."

She turns and looks at Sully, and winks at him, suggesting to the half-orc, "If I was you I would spend that money at someplace useful...say the House of the Silken Veil for example. By the way, what is your name?"

She flicks out her snakelike tongue, hissing a bit here and there.

Sully's smirk is a mile wide. He makes a point to play to the engaged crowd with superfluous gestures such as dramatic bows and blown kisses to any particularly attractive men or women in the audience.

"I'd understand if everyone else wanted to fold, but I assure you I'd be perfectly happy to be a good sportsman and play a second round. Give everyone a chance to win their coin back." His smile is devious enough to make it quite clear to everyone that he does not intend to stop losing.

Ibara was just getting her money out into small piles to set up for the next round of bets but cringes at the sight and sound of Sully's big win.
She gives aloud snort of displeasure before scooping all her coins back into her money pouch with one swift motion of her pale arm. Hearing the words of the others, she gives a playful growl, stating

"Wot? Forget aw their chit chat about demons and devilfolk. Tell us true, 're ya beddin' lydy luck or summit?"

Ibara leans across the table in front of Ryssa, offering a bloody knuckled hand for her to shake.

"Most folks kna me by Ibara though my friends call me Ibby." She leans in even closer and narrows her eyes, voice spitting out in a whisper "Don't call me Iby..." She then keeps her eyes locked onto Ryssa's, holding for a beat to seemingly create tension, before chuckling robustly.

@Meghan She is very bad at hiding her discerning eye, but doesn't appear to be trying very hard to conceal it from you. She seems to be looking you over as if you may be the answer to a particularly vexing question. It doesn't appear she means you any harm, though. Occasionally she still glances at you, tapping the hilt of her white blade to a beat only she can hear.

Larkspur chirps and sputters in disbelief at his entirely unexpected loss. He sticks his beak into his mug pulls back out and ruffles his feathers quickly to dry off anything that might have gotten unexpectedly dampened, but also in a failed attempt to hide his frustration.

When Sully mentions another round, he perks up quickly.

"Again you say? Let's go! As sure as a raven and a hawk, I can turn this streak around!"

Taton grins a bit, the gesture looking almost foreign on his face. "I am at least besting the bird. Though if I lost to a bird... I think perhaps I would retire altogether." He gives a nod to the creature, adding, "No offense intended, I should just like to think hands better for most tasks than talons." He'd had a moment of realization that an angry bird might go for his other eye, and he hadn't many to spare at this point.

Aster grimaces visibly with every loss, but says little. At the end of the round, she simply nods politely in the direction of each other player, glad to have it over.

She balks visibly. "I don't know if that's a great idea, Larkspur. I think he knows this game much better than we do."

She turns to Sully for support in this, as he's the only other person at the table she has really spoken to. As she opens her mouth to speak, she realizes how silly that would seem, shakes her head in defeat, and continues.

"Just don't bankrupt us completely."

"Don't worry about it so much!

Larkspur squawks gleefully in Taton's direction. Hopping on his diminished pile of coins drunkenly.

"None taken, you are clearly overwhelmed by my obvious genius. You should retire now while you're ahead."

He stumbles a bit trying to pick up a coin to toss on the table. "You may be right about the hands, though..."

Smiling, Ryssa shook Ibara's hand, noticing how rough it was and assumed the woman was a pit fighter or hand-to-hand gladiator.

"Nice to meet you Ibara. The name's Ryssa. I'm a priestess of Calistria. Work at the House of the Silken Veil. This your first time in Riddleport? I must say that you look like an attractive woman."

Please note Ibara that Ryssa is a flirt so she well pretty much likes fo flirt with anyone, regardless of race or gender. I do apologize if I made you or anyone else uncomfortable.

The games continue, and the coin flows and it seems that everyone is more or less having a good time. You occasionally hear the knocking over stools, usually quickly followed by the sound of someone being tossed out the gambling hall.

Honestly, not the worst night you've all spent in Riddleport. But then....

There is thunderous sound behind you all in the center of the room, and as you all look reflexively you see a robed man with stupid looking beard holding aloft a scroll which bursts into flames. Those of you with Arcane training or knowledge may be able to tell what it was exactly but you are all about to feel the effects!

Everyone roll a DC 14 Wisdom Save. On a failure, you are blinded for Blind: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 rounds.

Immediately afterwards, those of you who can see, find six people standing menacingly with weapons drawn.

"All right! Drop to the ground and don't do anything stupid and we might let you live!" shouts the woman with a melodic voice.

Players, roll for initiative first, and then roll for the save. You can also use this turn to describe your reactions or intentions to your fellows.

Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

Wisdom save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Ryssa is enjoying herself. She remembers her past before she became a priestess of Calistria. As she starts to reminisce her past, there is a sudden burst of light and sound.

"Oh bother, and just when I was starting to win. Oh well, at least things have gotten interesting."

She then whispers to Taton, "I'm going to summon something to help us out some. Be ready."

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Wuzzat?"

Larkspur spins around startled just in time to have the image of the flame seared into the back of his eyes.

"OH GODS! OH SAVE ME!"

Larkspur will flutter in Aster's direction, attempting to reach safety while abandoning as few coins as possible.