"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a true gambler here!" the dealer cries then rolls a 6.
Not meaning to but by now too far gone and stroking his chin, Sorda picks up the nearest die and rolls it; suddenly realising it's the croupier's and not his.
"But can I roll ag-," he starts to say. Then the number 5 comes up. His mouth closes like a mantrap. snap!
Amunyet cracks a slight smile as the dealer pushes the 4 silver teeth to her. She lays down 3 this time, and rolls the dice again.
first roll (1d20=2)She doubles again to 6 silver teeth.
second roll (1d20=3)
"Hmmm," she says, and frowns ...
don't think you even need to roll for the dealer on that one
"Tough luck maam." the dealer says as he takes Amyunets 3 silver teeth.
After the dealer makes his roll in Sorda's bounder game, several Gold Goblin employes enter the gambling hall, carrying torches shaped like pitchforks with burning straw heads stuck on them. They proceed to light more of the large braziers. This, combined with the fact that it is getting dark outside further enhances the room's infernal atmosphere.
A hush falls over the crowd as a short man with a cane climbs upon the central platform that supports the large chest, accompanied by two of the succubi. He wears a formal suit and has his greying black hair slicked back. He is missing his left hand; a large key is at the end of his arm instead. He bows to the crowd and clears his throat.
"Attention! Your attention everyone, please!"
"My name is Saul Vancaskerin, and it is my honor to be your host this evening. 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 his gold as well." He puts his hand on the large chest.
"I trust you all found your welcome from the Devil's delicious beauties suitably entertaining?" The crowd hoots and hollers in response.
"Let's take a moment and thank Old Scratch himself for attending this event," he points his cane at the creature in the cage. "Not only did he loan us these lovely dark angels, but he also emptied the deepest pits of Hell to provide the gold for this tournament!" At this, old scratch flies into a rage and starts rattling the cage very hard, howling, spitting and screaming in infernal at everyone in the room.
"Of course, he plans to replace 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 in games. With your winnings you will bribe your way into the next layer of Hell. The first player to win a golden eye after reaching Nessus not only keeps his winning for that game, but also wins 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."
Saul grins and Old Scratch flies into another rage.
"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, each of the succubi standing next to Saul give him a kiss on the cheek, leaving a red mark on each one.
"The Devil's Mark everyone!" Saul cries out to hoots and catcalls from the crowd. "Now let's cheat the Devil and take his gold!"
The little devil rattles the cage and squawks something in its strange language.
Ulli has no idea what the little beast said, but he throws back his head and laughs heartily at its obvious ire.
Ulli decides he may as well join in the fun since he's here, so he proceeds to the cashier's cage and purchases 3 gold eyes. He then starts wandering the casino floor, trying to figure out how the various games work.
Just then, the show truly begins as Saul Vancaskerkin makes his dramatic entrance. Ulli laughs and cheers as loudly as anyone at the grandiose spectacle of it all.
"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, each of the succubi standing next to Saul give him a kiss on the cheek, leaving a red mark on each one. "The Devil's Mark everyone!" Saul cries out to hoots and catcalls from the crowd. "Now let's cheat the Devil and take his gold!"
Ulli bellows at the top of his lungs, as he hopes to achieve several devil's marks of his own before the night is through...but not before he's had the chance to impress Mister Vancaskerkin. Looking around at the various games, Ulli considers the ghoulette wheel, because he finds the insults coming from the strange head rather amusing. But ultimately, the small boats on the Skiffs table remind him of home and a previous time in his life. Approaching the table, he seats himself next to a half-orc wearing a bandanna [Uzes] and holds up a gold eye. "Hey fellow, how is this game played, eh?"
Kelne finds his game interrupted by Saul's speech, which is certainly on the theatrical side. Overall, he judges the tournament to be a great success thus far. For Saul, at least. As for himself... Well, that remains to be seen.
Zindit looked up from as the owner of the casino spoke. All his talk of Hell left her shuddering. She couldn't quite tell how serious he was, especially when it turned out the Devil's Mark was just to get kissed, but it still left her uneasy. She looked around again, trying to spot Sorda or Ulli.
Seeing Sorda at the same table as Amunyet, she opted to head towards the Ulfen man instead. She quietly walked right up to him as he spoke with a half-orc, keeping an eye out for Tessirda. She looked at the tokens in her hand, ready to start playing whatever Ulli did. No one would try to cheat her while he was around, she thought.
Amunyet decides to try one more, and lays down a bet of 4 silver teeth.
she doubles her bet to 8 silver teeth
She smiles and says to the man next to her (Zavos), "This game is quite enjoyable! More so than I expected."
The dealer rolls an 8.
After Amunyet makes her second roll the dealer says "Nice rolls" and pushes 8 silver teeth over to Amyunet.
Zelne sits down at a Golem table and plays for a few hands. He doesn't do that well but doesn't lose too much.
She smiles and says to the man next to her (Zavos), "This game is quite enjoyable! More so than I expected."
Zavos grins and replies, "For myself, lady, I have been unlucky at cards today. Fortunately, there is a saying about that."
Uzes is either very lucky or a master card player, for he keeps winning hands at the Golem table. After a few more he picks up another 4 gold eyes and 2 silver teeth.
Tessirda enjoyed Saul's speech. Quite the dramatic man, it seemed. With an eye towards entertainment. He'd probably get a good turnout of the evening. Without too much risk at all. Ten thousand silver sounded like a lot of money, and it was - but it with the "bribes" required to climb the ladder, by the time the last hand was played, he had to come out ahead.
Figuring that all out took a good deal of time, though... so she just let herself drift through the crowd for a while - maybe meet that strange gnome again.
Sorda looks at the croupier innocently. "What? Oh I see I rolled one of yours." Terrible actor and bluffer that he is, Sorda reluctantly reaches for a d20.
And it comes up a 5! He waves at the croupier for some golden eyes.
"That will put me back on even. Now to start Cheating this Devil. it must be about time for me to win?"
Sorda places 2 golden eyes in front of the d20. And waits for his turn then he rolls the dice again. Meanwhile he has been fiddling with it
and alternating between leaving it on a 1 and a 20...for luck.
Then he rolls again and gets a 3. "Double please. Would you mind rolling low, just not too low? No three 1's."
Zavos is currently at 5 "Eyes" and 53 "Teeth", with a Badge of Dis.
At the Bounder table, he wagers 26 Teeth.
For his 1st Roll, he gets a 7.
"No Double."
For his 2nd Roll, he gets a 16.
Seeing Sorda at the same table as Amunyet, she opted to head towards the Ulfen man instead. She quietly walked right up to him as he spoke with a half-orc, keeping an eye out for Tessirda. She looked at the tokens in her hand, ready to start playing whatever Ulli did. No one would try to cheat her while he was around, she thought
Apparently, the half-orc hadn't heard Ulli over the din of the crowd, despite the barbarian's natural tendency to constantly shout. The bandanna-wearing fellow rises and leaves without replying to Ulli's question, so he just spends a few moments trying to gauge for himself how the game works. As he does, he notices the unmistakable form of Zindit sidle up beside him.
Patting the newly empty seat beside him, Ulli exclaims,"Zindit! Join me! I was just about to wager this painted piece of wood on...that boat right there, eh?" Ulli points out the skiff that looks fastest to him, as he tosses his gold eye to the man running the table.
Gambling on Skiffs (1d20+2=11)
"Zindit, did you know that I once was a sailor of the northern seas? I lived on a boat, different from these little ones, yah, but still a boat. We were fierce fellows, my brothers and me! I miss those days, you know?"
Then he rolls again and gets a 3. "Double please. Would you mind rolling low, just not too low? No three 1's."
"I'll see what I can do." The dealer says, then rolls a 10. "Not too bad, now your chances are even."
At the next bounder table Zavos bets 26 teeth, then rolls a 7 for his first roll and wisely doesn't double. The dealer rolls a 13. Zavos then rolls a 16, winning 26 silver teeth.
Zavos leaves the 52 Teeth on the table as a wager and tries again.
First Roll is a 6.
He pushes 5 Eyes and 2 Teeth forward. "Double"
Second Roll is a 2.
Patting the newly empty seat beside him, Ulli exclaims,"Zindit! Join me! I was just about to wager this painted piece of wood on...that boat right there, eh?" Ulli points out the skiff that looks fastest to him, as he tosses his gold eye to the man running the table.Gambling on Skiffs (1d20+2=11)
"Zindit, did you know that I once was a sailor of the northern seas? I lived on a boat, different from these little ones, yah, but still a boat. We were fierce fellows, my brothers and me! I miss those days, you know?"
Zindit pulled herself into the seat, sitting on her knees to peer over the edge of the table. "Wow." Her voice was filled with genuine awe. She had never thought about living on a boat before. Harder to be found there! No place to run though. She bit her lower lip in thought as she followed Ulli's lead at the table, changing out five of her silver teeth for their copper equivalents and placing 25 of them on the table.
"What was it like? Did you have to eat fish all the time?" she asked innocently. She was trying to imagine that sort of life.
Uzes decides to play one more hand before trying to bribe his way up the ladder. He carries the same bet this game as he has with the past two. Luck, however, evades him.
"What was it like? Did you have to eat fish all the time?" she asked innocently. She was trying to imagine that sort of life.
Ulli seems lost for a moment in reverie, happy to answer Zindit's question. "We loaded the hold uff our dragonboat with provision enough for months at sea, yep. Salted mackerel and cod we took, along with dried beef and game hen. Many fruits and grains, too, packed tight in barrels so they would not spoil. And fresh water and lots uff ale uff course! Lots uff times we took more food from the ships we sank too, eh? Food and goods we did take, and left nothing behind but blood and wood floating on the water. Those days were exciting, yep...but I think different about the southern men, now I live in Riddleport."
Zavos lets his winnings ride at the bounder table. After Zavos rolls a 6 and doubles, the dealer rolls a 10. After Zavos rolls a 2, the dealer says “Tough luck.” and takes the 10 eyes and 4 teeth off the table.
At the Skiffs table Ulli and Zindit try their luck. After the little ships move around and some are taken off the “lake” while some are anchored in their little boxes, the final points are counted. Ulli gets back 7 silver teeth for his gold eye (a net loss of 3 teeth), and Zindit gets back 10 silver teeth (breaking exactly even).
Playing a few more hands at the golem table, it seems that Uzes luck has begun to run out; but even so, his skill at cards keeps him from losing too much. He manages to only lose 6 silver teeth.
At the Skiffs table Ulli and Zindit try their luck. After the little ships move around and some are taken off the “lake” while some are anchored in their little boxes, the final points are counted. Ulli gets back 7 silver teeth for his gold eye (a net loss of 3 teeth), and Zindit gets back 10 silver teeth (breaking exactly even).
Ulli scowls at his loss, in spite of the fact that he is really just pointing randomly at various skiffs, and has no idea how the game really works. As some semblance of realization sets in that he's not likely to win much at this game, he suggests, "Hey Zindit, let us try another table, I don't like this one. Maybe that one with the funny talking head, yah?"
Before his luck turns too low, Uzes buys his way up the ladder (or rather down further into hell). He heads back to the golem tables to try that one again, this time he increases his stakes to 3 golden eyes.
The dealer rolls an 8.
After Amunyet makes her second roll the dealer says "Nice rolls" and pushes 8 silver teeth over to Amyunet.
"Thank you. I can see why some find games of chance amusing." Amunyet will push another 6 silver teeth back out for another round.
double to 12 silver teeth
Before his luck turns too low, Uzes buys his way up the ladder (or rather down further into hell). He heads back to the golem tables to try that one again, this time he increases his stakes to 3 golden eyes.
Again, Uzes' doesn't get the cards he was getting earlier and he has to fold his hands, losing 3 silver teeth.
Amunyet rolls a 17 on her first roll then doubles, and the dealer rolls a 9. When Amunyet rolls an 8 on her second roll, the dealer pushes 12 silver teeth acroll the table to her. "Another nice roll!"
Ulli and Zindit are at the Skiffs table, Amunyet, Zavos and Sorda are at a Bounder table, while Tessirda is mingling among the crowd in the hall. Uzes and Kelne are in the card room playing Golem.
Ulli, Amunyet, Sorda, Zindit and Tessirda:
Ulli, Amunyet, and Tessirda:
Zindit:
Sorda picks the dice up, blows on it and makes sure the 16 is on the top as he spins it into the middle.
The dice comes up an 11, and the wizard starts rubbing his hands together.
"Two eyes please!"
He then pushes all four gold back into the middle, ignoring the disturbance as he concentrates.
Straight away the lucky die is rolled and it comes up on a 10. Sorda shakes his head. "She's gone again," he murmurs.
Tessirda had seen too many gamblers not to have a pretty good idea of what would likely come next - a mad rush for the fallen chips. She made a point not to stand in its way, it would have been quite futile. However, one of the gnomes or halflings might be in trouble, in real danger of being trampled. So moving too far was a bad idea too.
For the moment, being out of the way was a good compromise, she decided. If someone was getting into trouble, she'd step in.
"Yeah, let's go." Zindit agreed, unsure of the point of the game if she was just going to get back the same amount of money that she put in.
Hearing the disturbance and turning to see the spilled chips, she felt a twinge of sympathy. She had a hard time of things when she lost her eye too, it took a long time to get used to moving around again. Part of her wanted to go help, and another part hoped she could grab some chips while she was there, but something else caught her eye.
She tugged on Ulli's sleeve, pointing towards the privy. "Hey, is that man casting a spell? That's not allowed during the games is it?" She wondered if turning in possible cheaters would help her avoid the Devil's Mark.
Amunyet does not really understand what might be occurring, although the men who closed their eyes bother her. She will watch them and try to determine what they are up to.
Ulli was pleased that Zindit wanted to remain in his company for a game of Ghoulette, as he enjoyed the odd gnome's company. As the pair rose from the Skiffs table, Ulli saw the one-eyed woman spill her chips, followed by some others at the table closing their eyes. "Ha ha, Zindit! Look at that lady, so clumsy her friends cannot even watch, eh?"
She tugged on Ulli's sleeve, pointing towards the privy. "Hey, is that man casting a spell? That's not allowed during the games is it?" She wondered if turning in possible cheaters would help her avoid the Devil's Mark.
Ulli has a similar flash of inspiration as Zindit. Hoping to look a hero in the eyes of Saul Vancaskerkin, Ulli immediately charges toward the indicated stall, one hand on the haft of his axe. "Hey you! Come out of that privy right now!"
Just as Ulli gets up from his seat and Sorda looks at his losing roll, the spell goes off: the wizard points his finger at one of the braziers and it explodes in a blindingly brilliant flash of sparks.
The woman who dropped the coins stands up and shouts: "All right, folks! Drop to the ground and don't try anything stupid and we might let you live!"
The two goons close to the eyepatch lady (and 4 others at various location in the room) draw saps.
"Agh, magic!"
Ulli knows full well the threat that an accomplished arcanist can pose, so he takes steps to end that threat as quickly as possible. Blinking to clear his eyes after that flash, he rushes quickly toward the men's privy, strong arms outstretched.
Will Save 12
These people are interrupting Zavos' gambling!
He casts Hideous Laughter on the closest goon. (Will DC14, 1 round)
Amunyet will hold her single action; if she sees Tessirda, Ulli, and/or Zindit begin to get involved, she will try and back them up with a bless spell, getting as many of them as she can (as well as Sorda and the Varisian man casting a spell next to her; she doesn't know Uzes or Kelne yet) in the 50' burst. This is assuming she's not disabled somehow from the (likely) failed Will save ...
)
Tessirda managed to quickly focus on what was really important - and that was not the distracting lights
She quickly scanned the room, and pulled free her shortsword from the hidden sheath. "Alright, nice try but no win. This is the 'Cheat the Devil' tournament, not the 'Rob the Devil' one."
She approached the center of the room, trying to see if the robbers were paying her any mind at all.
Zindit was going to chase after Ulli to help him, but when she brazier seemed to explode she let out a terrified, high-pitched scream and fell from her seat.
Amunyet:
Sorda moves away from the woman casting a spell upon himself. His body briefly glistens silver.
mage armour
Amunyet:
** spoiler omitted **
DM
After the blinding flash from the brazier and the eyepatch lady's orders, Sorda backs up and casts mage armor on himself.
Zavos was concentrating on the dice in front of him and only now notices something besides gambling is happening.
Ulli moves to block the wizard from coming out of the privy .
Tessirda moves toward the center of the room, keeping an eye on the goons near her .
Amunyet is blinded by the flash, but casts bless.
Zindit is also blinded by the flash and falls from her seat.
Uzes and Kelne in the card room hear the commotion.
Only one guard seems to have enough of his wits about him to draw his rapier.
Most of the patrons in the main hall drop to the ground as ordered, but many are blinded as well and are stumbling around yelling and screaming. Old Scratch is shrieking in his cage and jumping up and down.