Intro Threads
We're finished with them now. For Posterity's sake, I'd like to include the links to all the intro threads here. Coupled with your fantastic bios and 'day in the life of's, you've all done an amazing job setting the scene, so let's get down into it, hey?
Gierixa
Andrei
Bexilarius
Ozbadin
Mordecai
Yelex
'Dirty' Dergo
Gambling Notes
The Name of the Game is to Cheat the Devil and Take his Gold. The only way to win the pot of 10,000sp is to successfully obtain a badge of Nessus. You can see the tier of progression on the registration form.
While gambling at the Gold Goblin, you trade in gold for chips.
The chips are as follows;
A Copper Heart is dull red and worth 1cp.
A Silver Tooth is dull gray and worth 1sp.
A Gold Eye is dull gold and worth 1gp.
Easy, hey?
You should trade in as much of your own coin as you are willing to gamble with tonight.
You can cash in your chips at any time for money or for badges. If you opt to cash out for money before the tourney is over, you gain the 'Devil's Mark', and only receive 50% of the chips value. Stick around, basically.
As the windows begin darkening with twilight, several gamehall 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. A hush falls over the gathered crowd as a short man climbs to 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.
“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.”
"How many games do I have to win for a prize like that?" A man heckles.
When one of the waitresses walks by, he gives her a slap on her a'ss. Returning the favour, she leans down and kisses him on the cheek, leaving a bright red mark of lipstick on his cheek, before walking away calmly.
Rejoicing in his close call with her, he begins whistling after the waitress. That is, until two large men pick him up from his seat, carry him to the back of the room, and throw him out a door. A splash is heard.
"Serves him right!"
Saul waits for this procession to finish before continuing, a smile he cannot contain spreading on his face.
“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.”
With this, Saul directs the crowd’s attention up to the empty birdcage. Once everyone is looking, it explodes with action, a tiny devilish creature appears out of thin air. At the sudden attention, Old Scratch flies into a flurry of rage, banging the cage bars, spitting, howling, and screaming vile epithets at all assembled. His theatrics are received with guffaws and even a smattering of applause. As the crowd dies down, Vancaskerkin 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.”
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.
Dergo grinned quitely about all the hell-themed decorations. With Thamara with him, he did not oogle the "Succibi" too openly, but a glance now and then was good enough. Honestly, he wasn't worried. Even if the entire thing wasn't just for show, how valid could the contract really be if he signed it off in the name of one of his favorite moneylenders, rather than his own? Way too easy to cheat the devil in this bit.
He leaned over to his friend, and whispered. "Alright, let's see who gets to the bottom first" before getting his first set of chips. He'd have to start slow, or else he'd be out of money soon. Some part of him knew, he was no great gambler, much too emotional in his betting and far from able to really analyze and think through a game - but his luck had turned, and nothing in this world would make that otherwise. Except for maybe being thrown out penniless.
Mordecai flags down one of the costumed hostesses to change some money into the appropriate chips.
"Can I trade these in for 4 Golden Eyes, 5 Silver Teeth and 10 Copper Hearts?" he asks, handing her 4 gold and 6 silver.
He's already written the money off in his head. He's not one for gambling, and expects to lose handily, but is hoping to spice up the evening by catching someone cheating and maybe starting a fight. The fastest way to make money in a place like this is by taking it off a body, after all...
Lief quickly scans his surroundings to make sure no one he knows well is close by, and quickly trades his two remaining gold for Eyes.
"wow I thought I had some coin, but I can see I might be out of my league" he states to the money changer. "But oh well, maybe a sailors luck" he smiles and states. Then he looks around the room for a good place to make his fortune.
He will also keep an eye out for anyone getting entirely too drunk, especially beautiful girls. Pleasure before business after all.
Bexilarius takes his drink from Sam, and watches the opening theatrics.
"Hmmm, I thought the entry fee was your opening stake." Bexilarius looks into his nearly empty pouch, jangling the pitifully few coins inside. "Well, no matter. That's what winnings are for. Let's go get some chips."
Samaritha on his arm, Bex makes his way to the cashier and trades in his last four silver. "Two teeth and twenty hearts, if you please."
"Have any prefence for a game?" he asks Sam. "I prefer golem, at least until I can build up a little stash."
Gierixa needs to make as much money as quickly as possible. She heads to the money-changers to trade 10 gold pieces for 5 gold eyes and 50 silver teeth. Once exchanged, she asks the changer where she can find Larur. She keeps an eye out for the stranger from earlier.
There are many games of chance available to test your luck with. Popular ones seem to draw a crowd, but few people are willing to line up for a turn at the more exotic games; not wasting any time, they gamble at sanctioned poker and golem tables. Numerous bounder tables are scattered throughout the place, while the most enigmatic game has an irritating voice throwing insults at all gathered gamblers.
Bounder
From a number of tables, voices can be heard calling out “Bounder, Bounder, Bounder! No doubles, no doubles!” It’s a familiar good-luck call that seems to be in widespread use tonight.
Sitting down to one of the free spaces at the Bounder tables, the dealer passes you two 20-sided dice, and asks for your bet.
Ghoulette
A crowd of people stand watching a roulette board spin. When it lands, it appears to spit an insult out at one of the gamblers. A particularly boisterous adventurer, obviously a worshipper of Cayden Cailean, is told off by the thing; “What a mighty hero! Ready to rescue the ale from my mug!” The crowd laughs at him, but he simply raises his tankard and walks off, leaving room for more people to try their hand.
Skiffs
“Step up to the lake and get your racers ready! There’s a storm a’comin!”, shouts a halfling man in a suit, the dealer for this particular table.
Golem
“It’s you versus the greedy golem! Test your skill and take the monster’s pot!” calls out the dealer for this particular table. He needs more people to start his game, and he’s looking at you.
Gierixa finds the Ghoulette wheel darkly amusing, and heads over to place a bet. When a free turn comes up she places 1 gold piece on each of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
Gierixa
The wheel lands on Hygiene, and the creepy head looks at her. "This message is for the rat that is obviously living in your hair, lady. GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!" The dealer happily collects everyone's bet, and waits for more to place their own before spinning it again. A chuckling fat man collects his winnings.
Bexilarius
"Well, I was thinking of something where I could use my talents to their best advantage. That Skiffs game looks interesting. I just have to make sure all the pieces land where I want them to. Like taking candy from a baby." She runs her hand down Bexilarius' chest, gently. "You play whatever you want, I'll be back soon. I need my fortune if I'm going to play against you."
Ozbadin really more interested in people watching than gambling decides to try his hand at bounder.
He places a 1 golden eye bet
Mordecai first wanders up to the Bounder table, and puts down a silver as stake. He examines the 20 sided die curiously, having never seen such a thing, and then tosses it as the other patrons look on impatiently.
Frustrated by the game, as he's just figured out (at the cost of 1 silver) how hard it is to win, he heads over to the Ghoulette wheel, which he also finds delightful, in a macabre way. Mindful that he's already a silver down, he'll only bet a copper on each of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
As both Ghoulette and Bounder are games of pure chance, he's not really looking for cheating yet. Any thought of using his Mage Hand (Hand of the Acolyte) spell-like ability to move stuff around in his favor is dampened by the presence of the demon-thing in the cage *and* the undead head on the Ghoulette table.
Ozbadin
Mordecai
The dealer rolls a 12. No luck.
Ghoulette gives even less luck to Mordecai, as the wheel lands on 11. Singling out a Half-Orc testing his luck, the ghoul head yells at him;"You illiterate earful of mealy camel droppings! You lose!"
After Dirty received his first handful of chips (50 hearts, 55 teeth and 3 eyes), he naturally gravitated to the Golem tables. The game was the best game to augment luck with a bit of careful playing the table - and despite his sincere belief that luck was on his side, that never really hurt, either.
He found a table still lacking a player, and began to make his bet.
"hmph that wasnt very fun but the shrunken head is pretty funny" She laughs belicosely at the insult from the severed head.
Now officially out of gold eyes, Gierixa decides to play things cautiously. She places 1 silver tooth on 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10. (6 in total).
Mordecai is going to repeat his bet at the Ghoulette wheel (1 cp each on 4, 5, 6 and 7 this time, for 4 cp total), but he's actually attempting to use his keenly-honed senses to look for any tempting opportunities or juicy looking 'marks.'
Ozbadin
In regards to any pretty females that are around, there is one red-haired half-elf that seems to have drawn a bit of a crowd. She's apparently got some luck down at the Skiffs boards.
Dergo
Gierixa
A tall and pale man covered in numerous scars catches your eye while you place your bet. He also bets, and she can smell wine on his breath. The spin lands on 2 and the head launches an insult at him. "So now we know why some mammals eat their children."
Gierixa can also see the robed fellow who confronted her outside of her home; he is off to the side, and has yet to join in any gambling.
Mordecai
A tall and strong woman stands next to you. Her outfit is covered in dirt, and her hands look tough and woody. She obviously knows how to handle herself. The spin lands on 2 and the head launches an insult directed at you. "So now we know why some mammals eat their children."
While the general crowd does not seem drunk enough yet to be easily taken advantage of, there are a few individuals who catch his eye. People bustle all around the tables, and there is a particularly rowdy game of Golem taking place. The players are keeping eyes on each other, and not their purses. Similarly, the place is crowded enough that Mordecai's necessary arcane gestures would hardly be noticed.
Mordecai turns to call for a hostess to make some change for him, and leans next to the strong woman next to him for a moment, saying just loud enough for her to hear him (he hopes!), "There's going to be a fight soon. Keep a hand on your coin."
As the hostess arrives, he changes 1 silver tooth for 10 copper hearts and places a new bet on the Ghoulette wheel, 1 cp each on 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
He's continuing to spend more time looking around than paying attention to his bets, and seems distracted, or perhaps bored, although he certainly doesn't have the outfit or grooming he'd need to pull off a 'jaded aristocrat' look (which, in this town, would just make him bait on the hook for a mugging, anyway!).
Bex sits down at a goleem table and lays down a bet of 5 cp.
Bet 5 cp; Profession (gambler) (1d20+6=10); Bluff (1d20+7=26)
Gierixa, slightly perturbed by the scarred man's closeness, is nonetheless intrigued by his words. Gierixa will make no more bets, and carefully tucks her coin purse tight under her tunic.
Over the next few minutes, Gierixa makes an active attempt to scan the room and look for trouble. Perception: 1d20+3=18.
Mordecai
The Ghoulette wheel lands on 1, unfortunately. Likewise unfortunately, the animated head decides to focus on Mordecai again; "See, that's what's meant by dark and handsome. When it's dark, he's handsome."
Dergo
The dealer looks up at you again. "Tough luck kid, you want to try to win it back?"
Bexilarius
It was close, but you won out in the end. Your opponent, a well dressed man in his early 30's, wears a sour smile on his face. He also wears a sickle on his belt, and excuses himself to the lavatory.
Gierixa
Gierixa does not see any trouble yet. She does, however see Saul Vancaskerkin making his way around the room. He seems to be keeping an eye on things, and after a few minutes, takes his leave into a back room.
Focused on scanning the room, Gierixa snaps back to right in front of her when she hears a voice addressing her. A young Varisian woman with curly hair and an eye-patch is trying to get in to play a round of Ghoulette; "Hey, move it or lose it sweetie, some of us want to gamble here".
Additionally, the waitress who you asked about Larur has returned, and points you to the dwarf, who is standing on the other side of the room, chatting with one of the guards.
Gierixa heads over to Larur. Not caring if she interrupts his duties or a conversation, she begins to speak: "larur you might remember me im gierixa the woman you met earlier you promised me a job here beating people up."
Counting the silver he didn't lose at Bounder, Mordecai is still at 4 gold, 4 silver and 5 copper. Noticing that the woman who was next to him has wandered off and is talking to someone else across the room, he returns to his gambling, dropping 5 more copper on the Ghoulette wheel, 1 copper heart each on 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Even if he wins, he's already 2 silver down on this game, and won't make it back, but the math eludes him. He just wants to beat the darn thing, and has stubbornly decided to keep throwing money at it!
While the wheel spins, he takes one last look at the Golem table he had 'marked' earlier, and decides exactly whose pouch he's going to mess with. Any minute now, he thinks, waffling yet again...
Bex plays a few more hands of golem, pleased at his luck and the small stash he's accumulating.
Dergo grumbled slightly as his hand just did not hold up under fire, despite him being relatively sure he had played rather well. But the man was right, no use wasting the chance to win it back on small change. If the worst came to the worst, someone was bound to "help him out" anyway.
The next hand that came up was... Abysmal. Crud, utter and complete crud with no redeeming feature whatsoever. If he wanted to make this work, he would need to have anyone fold. So he bluffed as if there was no tomorrow.
He could feel his insides clenching unpleasantly. He wasn't bleeding chips slowly, he was downright hemorrhaging like an amputee. He kept his cool, but if things continued like this, he probably would have to try his hands at a lower-stakes table, and win back some "working capital" before entering here again.
Gierixa
"Ho ho ho, woman. I don't need you just goin' around beatin' people up. They need ta deserve it, ya know? If they're breaking the rules, causing trouble, or if anyone else is fighting. Then you can beat 'em up. No killing, though."
Larur sizes up the woman again.
"But we can go over the details another time. I have enough staff tonight. Everyone except Bojask is out here, and that's because he's too wasted to be much of a help anyway."
Larur reaches through his pouch, and pulls out a silver coin, and gives it to Gierixa. "Listen, it doesn't mean I can't use you. If you're looking for work as a bouncer, chances are you don't have a ton of coin to speak of. Keep playing some games. Use that, if you don't want to spend any of your own. But if you hear or see anything suspicious, you come and let me know. Consider it your training shift."
Ozbadin though not interested in the gambling decides he needs to stay in the game a bit longer.
"Hey there gorgeous" He calls leeringly to one of the attendants. "Can I trade in one of these Eyes for Silver teeth"?
He then rolls again on the bounder table betting 2 teeth.
And feeling lucky (OOC: How often do you get to say that after rolling a 1)doubles the bet before the second roll.
Oh Well. We'll see
He also keeps an eye on the caged devil. During a break in the action he walks by the cage and quietly in Infernal greets him, and asks him if he is a gambler himself.
Mordecai
The wheel lands on 11, and chooses the newcomer to the Ghoulette table, a young Varisian woman with curly hair and an eyepatch; "I refuse to engage in a battle of wits, as I will not take advantage of the handicapped." The head manages to choke out a laugh before waiting to be spun again.
The woman spits on the ground and leaves the table, obviously not able to take a joke.
Back at the Golem table, there is visible tension. Locked in a showdown, the last two players are very focused, and pay little attention to the small crowd that has gathered around them. One man, obviously a sailor type stares down a half-orc with a mean looking blade at his side.
Bexilarius
Dergo
Thankfully, Tamara hadn't been doing that much better than him. Still betting in copper, she tried her best to get a grip on the various games.
Ozbadin
. Congratulations, you win 4 teeth![/ooc]
Old Scratch briefly stops his tirade to talk to Ozbadin. "Ah, you understand me. Fantastic. No, I'm not a gambler, not anymore. Look at me. That's how I got stuck in this cage. I'm in service to that loser until my contract is up! Don't gamble, unless you're guaranteed to win! That's my advice!"
Mordecai is livid at having been rooked on this Ghoulette game for a fourth time, and steps away from the wheel.
He's got a sour look on his face, and he steps back to the Bounder table and puts down another silver tooth and rolls the die angrily.
The die clatters to a halt, reading 18.
He doubles his stake, as he's almost positive that the dealer will roll below 18. If only he can roll something low on the next die...
Currently, counting the previous Bounder win equal to the 1 sp stake, at 4 gold eyes, 5 silver teeth and zero copper hearts. If he doesn't 'bound' here, he loses 2 silver. If he does, he gains 2.
If you'd prefer me to roll the two Bounder rolls in seperate posts, allowing you to roll the 3d6 in between, that's cool, I'm just trying to speed things along.
Mordecai
And the dealer rolls a 13. Nodding at you and sliding your winnings across the table, some of the patrons clap for you. Maybe your luck is looking up? "You in again, sir?", he asks.
Ozbadin feeling he has a grasp on the game now throws down the 4 teeth and again rolls the dice
And doubles down
"Desna smile upon me" he urges".
Ozbadin
And the dealer reluctantly rolls an 8! Luck is on your side, for now.
Bex throws down some more teeth on golem hands. Slow and steady, brother, build up your stash... he thinks, eyeing the other players and trying to notice their tells.
Bounder seems to be agreeing with him much more than Ghoulette, so Mordecai's mood has improved.
He drops his original silver tooth stake and the silver tooth he just won as the stake for his next roll.
He is not emboldened by this number and does not 'double down.'
He's still feeling a bit confident at this game, not yet noticing that he's just lost the winnings from both of his previous victories.
Mordecai
A halfling woman beside you seems to be rolling well, however. She's got quite the stash of chips building up.
Bexilarius
Your opponents begin thinning out as your winning streak continues. In a break between games, Sam's newly familiar perfume greets you, followed by two soft arms that wrap around your neck.
Leaning in to whisper;"I hope you're doing as well here as I am. I've already got my first badge." She takes the opportunity to bite his earlobe a little, playfully.
"I'm going to try some other games to play for a bit. Don't want to draw too much attention to myself as the girl who can't lose. Even the halflings are nervous."
Dergo thanked his lucky stars the bluff went through as smoothly as it did... but decided not to press lady luck too hard. He instead joined Thamara at the lower-stakes tables. "Hey. Things going well for you?" He asked, putting a kiss on her cheek. Maybe with an ally on the table, things would go smoother.
I have had a sudden emergency and must be offline for awhile, but I hope to have things back by the weekend. Sorry for the trouble and don’t let me hold up the game.
Ozbadin giddy at his turn of fortune, decides to try one more time.
OOC: by my acount he has now won 16 teeth. He decides to bet 14 of them which leaves him with his original 2 if he loses.
"Ahh Desna bless me with a low roll".
"Ouch! you b$%&& goddess"!
Ozbadin
And the dealer rolls a 10!