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Our story begins here, in the grimy and violent city of Riddleport. Built upon a foundation of vice and sin by a collective of pirates, Riddleport is said to be one of the ultimate cities of opportunity; with sharp eyes, keen ears, some skill and a little bit of luck, even the most destitute of fellows can earn themselves fame and fortune… often at the expense of the hundreds more like them.
Of late, a strange, inky-black blot has appeared in the skies above the pirate city. Some claim it is a portent of doom—a sign of impending divine retribution against the town for its wickedness. Others of a more scholarly bent—especially those of the Order of Cyphers—claim that it is a new celestial phenomenon, though an explanation for its cause is not forthcoming. Regardless, the sight of the Blot has attracted the attention of researchers of all sorts, some from as far away as Magnimar—and with new faces in Riddleport, comes new opportunities for money to be made.
One such opportunity has arisen amidst the buzz surrounding the Blot; after several years of middling profits, the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall has reopened its doors with a brand-new tournament. Its objective: to Cheat the Devil, and Take His Gold.
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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 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.
The main floor of the Gold Goblin is already bustling with activity as you get set up at a nearby gaming table—specifically, the one with the ghoul head mounted on top of a roulette wheel. Several of the Goblin’s wait staff are already making the rounds with the ‘contracts’ for the tournament. Never mind the fact that you know succubi aren’t devils, and none of the contracts are really binding: your boss, Saul, understands that scantily-clad attractive women get more tips. It’s a crude, but effective way to squeeze more money out of customers.
The floor manager, a well-dressed and groomed dwarf by the name of Larur Feldin, approaches your table with a stony look in his eye. He’s dressed in a fine red suit and freshly-pressed white undershirt, with the only concession he’s made to tonight’s Devil theme being a pair of fake red horns atop his balding head. ”Blaze. Everything in order at the Ghoulette table?” He asks, is sharp voice still managing to cut through the clamour of the casino.
The Gold Goblin is a lot busier than you were expecting, but that means it’s lively enough for a proper centennial. As the three of you make your way through the casino’s main doors, you’re greeted by two women dressed in bat wings, devil horns, tails and little else—one with brilliant red hair and a confident grin, the other with flowing blonde hair and a bright-eyed but nervous smile.
”Welcome to the Gold Goblin, mortals.” The redheaded ‘succubus’ smirks and reaches her hand into a stack of papers on a nearby table. ”Will you be partaking in tonight’s revelries? Then you’ll need to sign here.”
She starts to distribute three contracts to you. Its contents are as follows:
I, _____________________, do hereby sacrifice my immortal soul and the worldly sum of
10 pieces of silver to the Devil to hold in escrow against his own stake of 10,000 silver coins in
the gambling tournament being held at the GOLD GOBLIN GAMBLING HALL of RIDDLEPORT on this Oathday,
13th day of Rova, 4708 AR.
I understand that my soul will be placed on deposit in the Hells’ deepest pit of Nessus. Furthermore,
I understand that all winnings shall be catalogued in concordance of souls, to be represented by teeth,
eyes, and hearts of the damned. By participating in the gambling tournament and beginning in the first
pit of Avernus, my winnings shall earn my way deeper through the Hells on the following schedule:
Dis—1 gold eye
Erebus—3 gold eyes and a Badge of Dis
Phlegethon—5 gold eyes and a Badge of Erebus
Stygia—10 gold eyes and a Badge of Phlegethon
Malebolge—25 gold eyes and a Badge of Stygia
Cocytus—50 gold eyes and a Badge of Malbolge
Caina—75 gold eyes and a Badge of Cocytus
Nessus—100 gold eyes and a Badge of Caina
I understand that if I should lose my stake in the tournament I shall receive the Devil’s Mark and
my soul shall be cast upon the rocks on the shore of the River Styx.
I understand that if I elect to cash in my winnings before reaching the pit of Nessus I shall
forfeit my soul and 50% of the cash value of my winnings for said early departure.
If I am the first player to reach Nessus, then I am granted the redemption of my soul and the right
to Cheat the Devil and Take his Gold in addition to collecting my winnings. In such a circumstance,
all other players shall receive the Devil’s Mark and forfeit their souls.
This is I do swear.
Witnessed by: __Old Scratch
Akukho, better known to his friends as 'River', skims the document and then turns to look at his twin with a questioning glance. "You'll come and get me if I end up stranded for all eternity?" He asks, his voice as smooth as a placid river. "Crystal, you going to stake your pretty self? It is your centennial after all."
He signs 'River' with a flowing gesture, the ink running smoothly across the paper in a way that cheap ink normally doesn't.
"So Crystal, drinks first or shall we play?" He nods to Blaze but doesn't move to his table until the birthday girl has announced her preferences, leaving Crystal and Gale alone together just isn't a good idea these days.
The young woman with fairly translucent skin embedded with pink gemstones in odd, seemingly random, patterns rolls her eyes.
"You mean to say you aren't going to treat the birthday girl?!" She exclaims with a laugh, but it's clear there is an undertone of annoyance to those who know her.
She fishes through her pockets to pull out exactly 10 silver and places it down before taking the inkpen and signing her own name with a fancy flourish.
"Why even ask River? Drinks all round first I say!" She strolls forwards towards the bar and finds the only empty table, just big enough for the four of them if the squash together. She relaxes back onto her seat, fixing a loose strand of hair back into her loose bun, before glancing around the room to take in the atmosphere. "So, who is going to treat the birthday girl to a little something first?"
"Nothing to worry about here, Lar! Since, you know, my table's still setting up," Blaze says, cheekily yet in good nature. "Full disclosure: some of my friends are dropping by today to play - you'll know 'em when you see 'em. 'Course, that don't mean I'll go easy on 'em. Business is business, and rules are rules."
Dressed for the occasion, Blaze was wearing an outfit styled after an actual devil - a barbed one. In truth, it was mostly a black leather vest with spine adornments painted in various hues of red and black, mostly sprouting from the back and shoulders and a fake barbed tail attached to the lower end. He knew the typical colour for those was green or blue, but the average person would either:
A: Have no clue whatsoever.
B: Be too busy staring at scantily clad waitresses and provisionary sex workers pretending to be succubi.
C: Be too impressed by the way the flowing lava he had for hair subtly lighted the various tones of the spines and suit to the point where it looked like he was an actual burning devil straight from hell.
D: Be such an unlikeable smartass that they'd be removed soon anyway.
When River nods at him, he represses the inevitable pang of regret and settles for just nodding back. It was a bit harder with Crystal, since images of past and future events blurred together around her as they always did. Today, they focused on what had to be the end of her particularly volatile relation with Gale. He blinked those aside, then spread his bared and fake-spined arms in a gesture of apology.
"Ah, there they are," he says to Larur, then draws a silver piece from his own bundle. "'Fraid I can't join you there, Kris, but why don't you two try The Devil's Bragain cocktail? It's on me."
He winks at the two of them and flicks the silver piece to Crystal, seemingly a bit off-course. When it lands on the bar next to her, the coin somehow ends up balanced *exactly* on its thin side, standing straight up as if wondering just what the hell had just happened to it.
Akukho, better known to his friends as 'River', skims the document and then turns to look at his twin with a questioning glance. "You'll come and get me if I end up stranded for all eternity?" He asks, his voice as smooth as a placid river.
”Sure! Maybe. We’ll have to see, I suppose!” Alorea laughs airily. The sylph signs her contract as well, providing the silver necessary.
Known as ‘Gale’ to her companions, Alorea is slender and graceful. She wears loose robes that billow about her in an unseen breeze, as does her white hair. Her skin is pale and has several swirling blue patterns, and her eyes evoke a stormy sky.
Once at the table, she looks across at Crystal. ”Please, allow me to buy you the first round! Let’s make sure we begin the festivities on the right foot!” She gestures for a waitress to bring the quartet some strong cocktails.
"See birthday girl? Plenty of treats for you!" Akukho adds with a smile. He yawns theatrically at Balze's showing off - having received more than his, well it was her, fair share of it at the time. The slight ache that Blaze's presence always causes makes its appearance - for all the fire and water are meant to be opposites they always got on well and River had always wondered if there might be something more. But only one of them could see the future and it wasn't him.
The best way to distract from the ache, learned through hard experience, is physical activity, excitement or a strong drink. The first one may not be available but Gale has ordered the third and that's going to make the whole situation better.
"So Crystal," He asks, downing half his cocktail when the drinks arrive. "How does it feel turning one hundred." Better not to ask about her parents - human life spans being what they are her grand-nieces have children of their own now. Not that Crystal ever goes back to Portent much.
Nysene grins with the offer of a round of drinks as well as the coin for another followed up by Blaze. "This evening is off to a good start." She says, eyeing the others around the table, pointedly not letting her gaze land upon the sylph, unsure of how to act around the graceful woman that she shares a stormy past with.
When the cocktails arrive, Crystal takes a purposeful sip followed by two more in quick succession. "Oh you know, a decade here, a decade there." She says, replying to River. "At least I've still got my looks about me!" She flutters her eyelashes at the Undine. "What do you think, have I come of age in style?"
Alorea casts her eyes downward when she sees Crystal won’t directly look at her. She had hoped after last time things would have gotten better, but it seemed the years had not yet healed the rift between them.
After the drinks are done, the sylph quickly stands. ”I think I’ll make a loop of the place, check out which games are the hottest,” she declares before fading into the crowd. The slight woman quietly makes her way around the gambling hall, paying more attention to the people here than the actual games—“listening to the wind,” as she calls it.
"To many more centuries, and your looks dazzle in every one!" River replies, raising his largely empty cocktail to Crystal. Gale wanders off, as she is prone to do, and leaves him with Crystal - a situation that is familiar but still not entirely comfortable.
"You have certainly come of age in style." He agrees, trying to remember male gallantry. "No one shines brighter than you in any setting."
"No one shines brighter than you in any setting."
"Come now, I'm practically on fire , wearing the most dazzling outfit ever! What more would I have to do to be considered such?" Blaze suddenly asks from the side, grinning and vaguely gesturing over his Spined Devil costume."Though I'd have to agree to the sentiment. You're definitely no longer the same little girl who curled herself into a rock when you didn't get the chocolate, Kris."
It slides into a polite smile as he reaches over the counter for a pint of water. "Seems my table is still waiting on some guests to arrive, so I've got a minute to talk after all," he adds, taking a gulp. Time hadn't changed the small clouds of steam that always flared from his nostrils whenever he drunk something, as per usual.
"Say... I couldn't help but notice Gale just kinda 'took off'. Did something go wrong? Need me to talk to her?" he offers, seemingly concerned.
Nysene smirks, remembering the many occasions in which she sulked about not receiving some treat or reward. Shrugging her shoulders, she replies, "Well I have always known what I wanted Blaze." She adds with a wink, as he gaze wonders back to the crowd trying to locate Gale.
In mock horror, Crystal takes the pint of water away from Blaze and replaces it with one of their cocktails they ordered earlier. "Come now. Relax and have a little fun. Its not often one of your old friends turns 100!"
As Blaze brings Gale up again, Nysene freezes, stone still before mumbling, "She was always like that. Never one to actually stick around when it matters."
Nysene finishes off her cocktail in one go, not taking the time to appreciate it as she usually would and stands, clapping her hands together, changing the subject. "Right then! Let's go win some money!"
"No one shines brighter than you in any setting.""Come now, I'm practically on fire , wearing the most dazzling outfit ever! What more would I have to do to be considered such?" Blaze suddenly asks from the side, grinning and vaguely gesturing over his Spined Devil costume.
"You look excellent Blaze." Akukho says with a smile. "Very fitting with the decor for the evening. Your hair sets it off very well." He reaches and then aborts the gesture sharply. "A fabulous pair indeed. I'd best find Gale before we get started. Try not to dazzle too much while I'm not here to look plain."
With that he slips away to find his twin. "Hey Breezey, how you doing? Ready to hit the tables and have some fun?"
Alorea slides her arm through her brother’s as he draws near, taking comfort, as always, in his presence. ”I am as I always am around Crystal these days. I just wish things could go back to the way they were before. Before we started... changing.”
She gives her twin a wistful smile. ”Ah, do not mind my melancholy. Today is a day of celebration. Lead on, dear sibling. But let us also not forget the other reason we chose Riddleport as the place to celebrate. Keep alert for any clues as to that shadow in the sky.”
"Plain...? Hm. As a guy - maybe," Blaze mutters, watching River go.
He sighs and accepts the drink from Crystal. "Sometimes I wish those two didn't swap genders all the time. That couldn't have been easy to deal with," he says to her, throwing her a look of sympathy. "But let's stick to the present festivities. Here's a toast to a memorable evening!"
He then puts it to his lips, making the liquid inside ignite in a small blue flame on consumption. "Hah, you know what's ironic? I'm over a century old, and I still can't tell if this burning sensation is just the alcohol itself, or if my body just reacts overly strong to it on the inside. I wonder if I'm resistant to getting drunk just because my body burns it all before it can enter my blood? Hm, next time we see a fire elemental physician, remind me to ask it."
"Nothing to worry about here, Lar! Since, you know, my table's still setting up,” Blaze says, cheekily yet in good nature. ”Full disclosure: some of my friends are dropping by today to play - you'll know 'em when you see 'em. 'Course, that don't mean I'll go easy on 'em. Business is business, and rules are rules.”
”Glad to hear it.” Larur nods. ”And if you see anyone getting too ‘handsy’ with the staff, call a bouncer—we’re not going to have a repeat of Moonday.”
With that, he hurries off to somewhere else in the gambling hall.
——————————————
As you walk around the gambling hall, weaving your way through the thronging crowd, you overhear snippets of conversation here and there. Nothing too interesting—some patrons flirting with the wait staff and not being entirely successful; others commenting on the quality of the alcohol being served; others still clamouring for the tournament to begin in earnest. There are several gambling tables that most folk are interested in playing at—a couple of card tables, some sort of skiff-racing board game, a deep-set table with several sets of dice and a roulette table with some sort of preserved head mounted on it (coincidentally, the one where Blaze is setting up). The skiff-racing table looks like it’s swamped with players—waiting for a chance to play there will doubtlessly take a long time.
You bump into a spindly gentleman in dark green robes, causing his drink to violently slosh about. He lets out an annoyed hiss as the two of you pass. ”Would you kindly watch where you’re going, madam?” He grumbles before returning to his table.
——————————————
As the conversation winds down, several sheer red curtains come down to cover up the Gold Goblin’s windows, filtering the light outside so that it comes through as a hellish red. The hundreds of assembled patrons start to go quiet as several more employees enter the main floor, carrying torches styled like pitchforks with burning heads. The torchbearers go around the floor lighting up several braziers, giving the main floor a more infernal atmosphere.
Following behind them is a short, pudgy man with a dark-green suit and a twisted cane of iron, a cheeky grin on his face and his black hair slicked back. There’s a golden key mounted on where his left hand used to be. Flanking him are two more ‘succubi’—one with dark skin and freshly-washed black hair, the other with brilliant brown hair and gently pointed ears. He walks before the chain-wrapped chest, his two ‘succubi’ on either side.
“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 as he pats the large chest before which he stands. “I’m your host for this evening—the one and only Saul Vancaskerkin! 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.” Saul points up at the cage with a chuckle.
In response, the caged imp lets out a particularly venomous tirade of profanities.
The gathered crowd bursts out laughing in response to Old Scratch’s vehement complaining. Saul continues, oblivious to the imp’s ranting.
“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 with visible reluctance. 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.
"Oops! Sorry, sir. My head was in the clouds," Gale apologizes to the well-dressed man before River finds her.
***
Once the tournament starts, the sylph finds a seat at the Ghoulette table. She smiles at Blaze before putting some chips down, hoping her perspicacity helps her make some good bets!
Akukho settles down for a few rounds of Ghoulette with his friends and applauds quietly at Blaze's skill in running the table. Gale, for all that he loves his twin, demonstrates exactly why he is the one that usually plays the games - he's just luckier than her.
With the first spin, the Ghoulette wheel goes round and round and round...
...and stops on 'Body'. The spot on the exact opposite of the wheel Gale put money on.
"Cayden on a cart, you look wispy! You're so skinny, you'd break in half from those breezes you love so much!" The ghoul-head yells at Gale. Alas, she has lost her stake.
River puts some money down on 'Skill', and the roulette wheel goes round and round again--
--and it stops on Skill!
"Oh, congratu-f&%&ing-lations. You guessed something right on a roulette wheel, for once. A trained monkey could have done that, ya wishy-washy turd." The ghoul-head growls. Akukho wins a jackpot!
Akukho takes another spin--and it stops on Race. "Don't change what you pick on the wheel every time the tide changes, you saltwater-drinking wretch!"
Akukho wins a little more than their stake!
Akukho spins again, putting money down on Demeanour/Presence--
--and lands on it!
"Oh, for--stop looking so bloody smug about winning!" The ghoul-head whines. "Haven't you ever heard of being graceful in victory?!"
With the money flowing his way like a fast running tide River pockets his original stake and plays on with his winnings.
He tries not to look smug, but it's hard...
"River! River! He's our man! If he can't do it, no one can!" Gale cheers her brother on, jumping up and floating gently back down!
Nysene is, unfortunately for her, not as fantastically lucky as her old friend, and sits back in her chair watching the proceedings continue.
Gale's cheering starts to draw a crowd around the Ghoulette table as River goes on a hot streak!
The ghoul-head glares at River when the wheel lands on 'Something Nice'.
"...something nice." He grumbles before a rictus grin appears on his face.
The second and third spins have the same result--'Courage'.
"Oh, a lucky fella like you ought to take the long way home tonight. Through lots of alleys." He grumbles for the second result.
"What, you don't have the guts to pick something else on the wheel? No spine for adventure?" He says for the third spin. By now, it's quite apparent that he's becoming more flustered by River's uncanny luck than spiteful.
Crystal's luck on the wheel seems to improve the ghoul-head's mood somewhat. "Did you get dressed in the dark? Your wardrobe's more mismatched than my eyes!"
Her second spin causes the ghoul-head to giggle. "Maybe you should try a different line of work. With the way your luck's going, begging's sounding better by the hour!"
Her third spin puts the ghoul-head back into a 'pleasant' mood. "Smart enough to sign a piece of paper and dumb enough to not know when to quit! You're a model customer!"
Meanwhile, next to the wheel, Blaze obviously tries to maintain a polite, professional smile, but can't quite suppress his amusement over River's insane streak of luck - and how poorly the head could handle it.
On her sixth consecutive win, not counting the 'something nice' house advantage, he claps his hands and somewhat theatrically casts a spell which produces a shower of sparks and along with a minot illusion of trumpets blaring a fanfate jiggle over River's head.
A couple of waitresses approach, and with two overly bright smiles, they deposit another cocktail next to him, sensually stroke his chin, and leave. While this happens, one of Blaze's hands is out of view and apparently casts a second spell.
"On the house, 'encouragement' to those lucky souls underway to the next layer of hell, compliments of Saul himself," he says, smiling politely at his old... 'it's complicated', just before spinning the wheel again.
Blaze winks once at River as the head enters its next amusing tirade.
As you manage the Ghoulette table, you catch a glimpse of Larur observing the proceedings. His eyes are on River, scrutinizing him for signs of cheating.
River grins at his friend, puts one finger in the glass and starts swirling it around in the glass. If you look very closely the colour of the liquid in the glass changes slightly as River puts his power over liquids to a minor use.
"Let's double the stakes and keep it interesting." He suggests.
It appears his hot streak has come to an end and River ends up shovelling more money than he's won into the ghoulette wheel.
River's spins come swiftly, landing on Profession--
"You keep this nonsense up, it'd be cheaper to hire you than to have you play here!"
--Appearance--
"Oh, perhaps if you win this tournament, you can afford some proper clothes! You look like you gave up drowning halfway into the harbour!"
--and Demeanour. Alas, this one results in River's streak truly breaking, but with some measure of dignity.
The ghoul-head crows. "FINALLY! Sitting here was so worth it just to see the look on your face when your luck finally ran out!"
"But where would I be without you and your dulcet tones?" Akukho counters to the wheel. "Do you think they'd let me replace you, so that the wheel and I could always be together?" He asks Blaze, to much laughter around the table.
He's too busy gambling to notice anything else going on.
Alorea laughs at her brother’s wit, not noticing any nefariousness!
Blaze can't help it - he laughs, then leans forward conspiritually. "You know, I think he likes you! Shall I take your vows here and now? This *would* make for a VERY stylish wedding!"
River takes more spins on the roulette. The first spin lands on 'Something Nice'.
"...You. Have. Bafflingly. Good. Luck." The ghoul-head growls through gritted teeth.
The second spin lands on 'Courage'--right where River bet.
"OH COME ON! ANY BLOODY FOOL COULD LAND ON THAT! THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU BRAVE, JUST-JUST-AAAAARGH!" The ghoul-head whines, much to the amusement of the gathered crowd.
The third spin doesn't land where River bet--on the space across from it, in fact.
"Were you born with a rabbit's foot up your arse?! Or did your Da hang a horseshoe around his bits when you were conceived?"
The fourth spin is yet another jackpot!
"Come one, come all! See the Amazing Blue Gambler! Can't tie his shoes, walk in a straight line, or even READ, but dammit he can rack up jackpots!" The ghoul-head groans, starting to become resigned to River's winning streak.
Crystal, losing interest in the game as she is currently not the centre of attention scans the room around and notices the odd gentleman looking mighty shifty.
She leans over and nudges Gale without a second thought with her elbow. "See that man over there? Doesn't seem right to me. Might be someone interesting to go and observe." One of the pastimes that kept both Gale and Crystal interested was always what they called "people watching" which invariably ended with them observing things that others did not want to be seen. Crystal also liked to get a little too close on occasion which would land them in hot water.
"Right - let's play for the big sums!" River says with a grin. "Ten gold."
River spins, River wins. The first spin lands on Demeanour--
"There it is. There's that thrice-damned look in your eye again. You're the sort of person whom even PUPPIES hate."
--then he goes bust on Brains.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU MORON! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA--"
Perhaps in a gesture of defiance, River puts money down on Brains. This time, it's a jackpot!
The ghoul-head abruptly stops laughing. "That's STUPID! STOP PLAYING STUPID!"
River spins on 'Brains' again. This time, he doesn't quite land on it, but he doesn't lose anything.
"A SMARTER player would've bet on 'Body.'" The ghoul-head snarks.
Before another spin can be taken, a dwarf in a fine red suit and fake red horns approaches the table. "I've gotta say, sir, I've never seen anyone go on as hot a streak as yours at this table--perhaps not even in this gambling hall, for that matter."
"You're welcome to check, there's nothing I'm doing here to change the game." Akukho says with a smile. "I think Ghoulette just likes me!"
With the game still going in his favor he doubles his stake once again to 20 gold pieces on every spin!
As River keeps spinning--and keeps winning--the ghoul-head devolves into enraged gargling and gibbering.
"Well, colour me shocked." The dwarf says, his face paling a bit as he watches River work at the Ghoulette table. "I think that's the first time anyone's ever broke poor ol' Dungo!"
Crystal feels someone bump into her from behind and hears a gasp of dismay, followed by the sound of dozens of casino chips falling to the floor. "Dammit!"
A fair-skinned young lady with messy brown hair and an eyepatch rubs her knee. "Dreadfully sorry, ma'am. I really should watch where I'm going." She apologizes as she kneels to scoop up her dropped chips.
She's squeezing her eye shut as she stoops down. And a few rough-looking gentlemen nearby are doing the same thing.
Blaze slowly holds up his hands as all this madness is taking place right in front of him, clear for the entire crowd to see. "Wasn't me, Lar, and I didn't see anything odd either. I mean, she's always had good intuition and there's the saying of 'feeling it in your waters', I guess?"
Blaze's eyes go wider and wider as jackpot after jackpot is rolled.
Privately, he wonders who the real diviner was, between the two of them.
"You don't say." Larur looks between Blaze and River.
River does something he probably wouldn't do if this evening hadn't been quite so magical. He leaps over the table, grabs Blaze and plants a massive kiss on his lips. It lasts a few seconds before River pulls back with a huge smile, turns to the devil and visibly has to restrain himself from kissing him too. "Sir, may I have a bag or something similar to carry these in?" He asks instead with a beaming smile, feeling more elated than he has in years or possibly even decades.
"You don't say." Larur looks between Blaze and River.
The ifrit just shrugs in an 'I'm just as clueless as you are' type of manner. "Come now, don't be like that. For every one of her there's how many that only dream of a night like this? ...Though I wouldn't be opposed to you hiring her too and-"
Partway through making a case for not being fired on the spot for gross suspicion of aiding an *incredibly lucky* gambler, he gets literally and figuratively blindsided by River as she makes her leap clear across the table and pounces his lips.
"...!? ..."
Fire and water tended not to mix very well, but the resulting steamclouds were... less painful than he'd imagined. Quite pleasant, actually. Decades of denying himself dared him to reciprocate, and he did so without thinking.
Then he realized that Larur was watching. Would he have pushed her away if she didn't break it off herself? Luckily the choice was spared for now. "W-wait, Lar, really! This isn't what it looks like!" he quickly tries, just as his hair returns from a sudden uncharacteristic blue to his normal lava yellow.
'Oh god, why? The *only* way I could look more dubious now is if some huge fight broke out now and they blamed it on me for not seeing it coming!"
Larur's eyebrow arches quite high as River promptly plants a big, wet one on Blaze. The surrounding crowd lets out a cheer of glee as River does so, followed by a round of applause.
Fire.
Fire!
Fire in the bathroom!
FIRE!
The bewildered dwarf looks like he's about to say something else. Unfortunately, he doesn't get a chance to.
A loud comes from one of the bathrooms--and the door flies open, causing a gout of smoke and flame to come pouring out! A high-pitched, blood-curdling scream follows suit as a green-robed gentleman comes barrelling out of the bathroom, his once-clean and tailored robes wreathed in bright orange flames. He races for the doors, burning madly as he runs.
The fire spreads quickly. People start to scream and panic, racing for the doors to the Gold Goblin. The unlucky ones stumble and trip almost immediately--and are trampled underfoot by the terrified crowd.
The eyepatch-wearing lady's head snaps up in shock, and some of the other men in the crowd gawk at the burning man. The men start to ready their weapons as the lady yells "F%!% it, GRAB THE CHEST!"
'...of course. Why not!?'
Having but moments to react in this extremely chaotic situation, and the chest being too far away, he decided to quickly cast a fortifying spell on himself.
With a quick incantation, Blaze conjures a protective barrier around himself.
The eyepatch-lady races towards the chest and leaps onto the central platform it rests on, casting a quick spell on the nearest bouncer.
It takes effect immediately. The man lets out an undignified shriek and starts running for the door as well.
The other bouncers don't seem to have noticed the roughs in the crowd--four of them are more concerned with containing the fire in the bathrooms. Two of the remaining ones run for the eye-patch lady, but only one of them is close enough to try to grab her!
She kicks the man right in the teeth in response, fending him off readily.
Thinking quickly, Blaze moves forward to where he could barely reach the chest with magic. "Thieves! Guards, help us!" he cries.
Then, since the overall objective of these folks was all too clear, he casts a thick and very slick coating all over it, hopefully making it that much harder to steal or open.
Alorea follows Crystal's gaze to the green-robed man she bumped into earlier. The sylph is about to follow him when there is an explosion and chaos breaks out.
When Blaze begins to yell about the thief, Gale's eyes crackle with electricity. "That does not belong to you!" she intones, hurling lightning towards the eyepatch-wearing woman!
River leaps back onto the table and, with the benefit of height, throws a ball of water at the woman. It hits her in the shoulder, hard enough to spin her around.
"Ow!" Crystal yells as the woman bumps into her, just as the explosion rips out.
She runs after the thief and throws a punch at her, suspecting the woman of stealing from herself.
Arcs of electricity fly through the air as Gale tries to zap the eyepatch lady and Crystal tries to catch her with a punch. However, it's River's burst of water that catches her, badly bruising her and almost knocking her off her feet.
The eyepatch lady's accomplices all draw truncheons from their belts and start running in to help steal the chest away, moving to intercept the party and bouncers!
The eyepatch-wearer lets out a yell of surprise when River's water blast hits her. "Dammit!"
She dives for the chest...
...and the grease coating the chest causes it to slip out of her grip!
The bouncers draw their swords and start laying into the robbers!
One bouncer manages to nick the burglar advancing on him while the other leaps at the eyepatch lady and stabs her right in the leg, causing her to collapse in agony!
The fire in the bathrooms starts to spread further into the casino!
A piece of flaming debris falls from the ceiling, narrowly missing the bouncer closest to the bathrooms. Larur races towards the fire. "GET THE BUCKETS OUT! PUT THAT BLASTED FIRE OUT!" He yells over the din.
Akukho turns his attention from the fight to the fire and starts hurling water at it.
River races in and conjures another burst of water. Even in haste, River manages to throw it into the midst of the blaze--and with enough force to cause a massive gout of steam to erupt. A chunk of the fire is extinguished, but it's still spreading!
Blaze momentarily sees himself reach for his crossbow hidden in the table panel, aim it at the bandit leader and miss horribly. So, that plan was out!
Instead, he turns around and attempts to help River to control the fire. His hair ignites and red glowing lines extend across his arms as he incants his inherent arcane magic!
The next moment, an absolutely massive amount of sand crashes down on the fire!