Riddleport is abuzz. Normally people would be talking about the Blot, or the weather, or the latest gossip. Today however, they are all talking about the "Cheat the Devil and Take his Gold" tournament at the Gold Goblin. It is the richest gambling competition to be held in Riddleport in a long time. Some even whisper that Saul Vancaskerkin has made a deal with a true devil to finance the whole affair. Regardless, it is agreed that anything worth knowing or doing can be found at the Gold Goblin today.
"Gah, day already", Raoh stretches and sits to a morning meal.
After a few minutes a knock comes at the door, followed by the yelling of a child. "Raoh, hey Raoh!" The door open and a boy, no older than 12 peeks his head in.
"Raoh, you know what today is right?"
"Huh?" Roah looks up from his bowl
"You forgot! You forgot didn't you! You always forget things like this", the boys scowls and stomps his feet as he talks.
"Whoa, it's ok Christian. I know that the tournament is today. Is your brother ready for it though? There's going be alot of people there, and he may get cold feet."
A week ago Raoh was roped into going to the Golden Goblin with Christian's brother, Bret. The money would go to paying the families back taxes and hopefully get them out of Riddleport. The only problem was that Bret was horrible at cards, gambling in general.
Some even whisper that Saul Vancaskerkin has made a deal with a true devil to finance the whole affair.
And that is what bothers Uathach...After scrutinizing much of the populace, Even many of the children are nearly irredeemably evil, he'd already arranged to have two orphans who showed no taint of evil to be transported out of Riddleport. The number of beggars and thieves in this town is disturbing.
"So today's the day...hm" Bron thinks to himself as he prepares to the leave the inn. After gathering his equipment and eating a quick breakfast he pays the innkeeper and heads out on to the road.
Though having never played himself, Bron considered gambling to big a risk with not a good enough payout, he couldn't resist not watching at least some part of the tournament. "Maybe, with a little luck", he thought, "I will be able to liberate a few unsuspecting on lookers of their purses."
Bron had gotten into the habit of whispering to himself when not in the company of others. It helped to keep his mind on the task at hand.
For even though he didn't gamble, Bron loved the challenge of pickpocketing and with so many people the pickings aught to be good.
So Bron made his way to the Gold Goblin to check it out and start his section process.
"Well, the tournament is soon, I better head to that den of evil, to compete." Uathach rises, and heads to the Golden Goblin
Branth stands at the fringes of Riddleport's mess of streets. The scent of the densely-packed city assaults her sense of smell. Even from this far, she is jarred by the bustling and the yelling, the riots of laughter and jeering.
"Fools," she mutters to herself. She spits on the ground, a great wad of disdainful phlegm splattering the dusty cobbles of the outskirt streets.
Overhead, the blot pulses and churns with extraplanar or arcane energy--what exactly gathers up there, Branth is unsure. She's unsure of this whole business, unsure of the city itself, with its hot human smells, its writhing passions, its hungry greed.
But remembering the concerns of druids and rangers, which reinforce her own irritation and wariness of these strangely convergent events within the city, she resigns herself to push forward and walk the streets of Riddleport, following her unease and her bad gut feelings until she arrives at the heart of this grinding carnival of fools. If this city is about to explode, spilling its filthy, civilized mess onto the surrounding environment, she wants to know who to hold responsible.
"Gah, day already", Raoh stretches and sits to a morning meal.
After a few minutes a knock comes at the door, followed by the yelling of a child. "Raoh, hey Raoh!" The door open and a boy, no older than 12 peeks his head in...
Good idea. The two of them together would make an excellent team
Lazaro is Raoh...so he agreed... =D
Play on
Lazaro is Raoh...so he agreed... =D
Play on
After getting dressed Raoh heads aross the hall to Bret and Christian's. Though Roah wasn't found of gambling, he had more than enough skill in it. Plus he already had plans on the money. Putting the money into good use in the slums. There's plenty of people who need food, or need shelter or repairs to their homes.
Of course the money would also go to getting his friends out.
Raoh knock s on the door and lets himself in. "So are we ready to this?"
"O...of course" Bret chokes on his words. His clothes are ragged and hair in mess. "Christian, I thought you said he was ready"
"He is, it's just early in the day"
After some quick banner the two leave and make their way to Golden Goblin.
Caladan sighed as he returned to the Golden Goblin. He’d been in Riddleport for three days now, long enough to confirm his distaste for crowded towns and the people who lived in them. Bring me a night under the stars. he thought to himself, absent-mindedly running his fingers over the smooth symbol of Sarenrae worn around his neck.
Three days of fruitless searching and pointless questioning. Everyone had some wild story about what caused the blot, of course. But nobody actually knew anything. Still, Caladan had heard of the "Cheat the Devil and Take his Gold" tournament. He scoffed at the foolishness of these petty gamblers and their fascination with gold. The surly half-elf had no interest in winning a fortune, but perhaps there’d be someone there with some clue as to the blot and its origins.
Pushing his way through the crowd as he enters the Golden Goblin’s main bar, Caladan scans the room, looking for a quiet corner to watch and observe. His mind alert and wary of the desperate and the deluded.
Just beyond the main doors of the Gold Goblin, two sultry, scantly clad beauties stand, dressed in faux bat wings, devil horns, and tails. Each one is regestering entrance for the tournament. Two burly men stand nearby, both to protect the large chest where each entrants registration fee is being place, but also to disuade anyone from succumbing to the the temptaion of the two "sucubi." Above the entrance hang a sign that reads, "1 gold chain entrance fee." The two women repeat the information for those who can't read the sign.
Bron arrives at the Gold Goblin searches over the crowd for possible marks. (1d20+4 → [8,4] = (12) Perception)http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1888258/
Just beyond the main doors of the Gold Goblin, two sultry, scantly clad beauties stand, dressed in faux bat wings, devil horns, and tails. Each one is regestering entrance for the tournament. Two burly men stand nearby, both to protect the large chest where each entrants registration fee is being place, but also to disuade anyone from succumbing to the the temptaion of the two "sucubi." Above the entrance hang a sign that reads, "1 gold chain entrance fee." The two women repeat the information for those who can't read the sign.
Branth, tense and breathing deeply, enters the Gold Goblin. Seeing the dolled-up succubi, she laughs involuntarily, then shifts her gaze towards the bouncers. Speaking loudly to make sure she is heard over the cacophony and din of the tavern, she suggests to the guards, "You really should put some clothes on your pets there."
Standing to one side of the entrance, Branth then scans the room, stubbornly setting herself in place as the activity roils around her. She watches, trying to get a feel for the place and any unusual happenings.
Perception Check (untrained): 13
Freshly arrive from out of town, his belt pouches bulging with herbs and ingredients, healer Silme follows the crowd drifting toward the activity at the Goblin.
The smell of food and drink draws him closer. After so long in the wilderness, some roasted meat and fresh drink appeals to him and his stomach grumbles.
Paying his admittance fee, he looks for an open table.
After glancing over the crowd Bron decides to pay the entry and enters to see whats going on the inside.
Upon entering he heads to the bar for a mug of ale. After paying the bartender the 4cp. He looks around observing the sights and sounds insde the crowded building
Just beyond the main doors of the Gold Goblin, two sultry, scantly clad beauties stand, dressed in faux bat wings, devil horns, and tails. Each one is regestering entrance for the tournament. Two burly men stand nearby, both to protect the large chest where each entrants registration fee is being place, but also to disuade anyone from succumbing to the the temptaion of the two "sucubi." Above the entrance hang a sign that reads, "1 gold chain entrance fee." The two women repeat the information for those who can't read the sign.
Raoh pays the entrance fee for both himself and Bret. After spending a minute pulling Bret from in front of "sucubi". He makes his way over to one of the many patrons.
He places a hand on her her shoulder, "You really should try to enjoy yourself some. You stick out too much when you sit and sneer like that, Branth"
"Would you mind care to have a seat with me and Bret"
Sighing to himself, Caladan reluctantly parts with one of his few remaining gold coins. He has no real interest in competing and has only the haziest idea of what gambling even involves. Nonetheless, he's in Riddleport to learn what he can of the blot. If that means playing silly games with the locals, then that's what I'll do. he thinks.
Pressing his back to the wall in one corner Caladan crosses his arms as he watches more and more arrive for the tournament. Keeping to himself, he surveys the faces of his fellow competitors, mildly amused at their anticipation and excitement.
Uathach arrives at the Golden Goblin, 1 gold piece ready for the entrance fee. He answers any questions with as few words as possible...
Raoh pays the entrance fee for both himself and Bret. After spending a minute pulling Bret from in front of "sucubi". He makes his way over to one of the many patrons.
He places a hand on her her shoulder, "You really should try to enjoy yourself some. You stick out too much when you sit and sneer like that, Branth"
"Would you mind care to have a seat with me and Bret"
Branth allows a demure smile to play across her lips, and begins to visibly relax for the first time since entering.
"Raoh!" she nearly bellows, slapping him on the back forcefully with one large, solid hand. "Glad to see you," she mutters as she walks with him and Bret to a table. "This place stinks of urine-soaked leather and bad hangovers. I've been watching some of these people and I think maybe half of them haven't left here in days."
She looks over at Bret for the first time. "This the gamblin' ramblin' man you was telling me about?" she asks Raoh. "Y'all gonna steal the devil's gold," she whispers dramatically, a wild look on her face. She chuckles at this, shaking her head, and looks around the Gold Goblin in disbelief.
"Look at all these idiots."
After paying the fee, Uathach heads to a corner to survey the room...and wait for his first opponent.
Uathach
At the time designated for the tournament to start, two men clad all in black and wearing featureless masks decend the central stairs carrying torches. All though the torches are just cloth and straw, they have been crafted to look like burning human skulls. The two men walk among the crowd, using the torches to light braziers scattered around the room. As the torch touches each one, they flare to life with a strange blue light.
Following these two a short man dressed in the finest formal attire steps forward, acompanied by two "sucubi." The man has slicked back thinning black hair and his left hand has been replaced with a brass cup with an oddly shaped key protuding from it. He mounts the central dias in front of a large chain bound chest.
"Welcome one and all," he says. "You have come today for your chance to cheat the devil and win not only your soul, but all his gold as well.I hope you found your reception by the Devil's lovely temptresses suitably entertaining. Let's take this moment to thank Old Scratch himself for attending this event. Not only did he provide these lovely dark angels but he also emptied the deepest vaults of Hell itself to provide the gold for this tournament." Gesturing, Saul points to a bird cage suspended from a pole where sits a grey skinned,horned, winged, tailed creature. As if on cue, the creature lets out an unearthly shriek and rattles the bars of the cage.
"Of course he plans on replacing what he loses in gold with souls. The first player to reach Nessus and win a game wins everything, if you run out of money Old Scratch wins your soul. That will earn you the Dvil's Mark and an escort out of the Gold Goblin. You can of course cash out at any time, but that too earns you the Devil's Mark. What is the Devil's Mark? It is a horrible fate, but I suppose I deserve it, so ladies, let me have it." At that point the two hostesses bend over and give the man a kiss on each cheek. As they pull away, you see bright red lipstick marks on each cheek.
Laughing Saul throughs his hands in the air. "The Devil's Mark everyone. Now let's cheat the Devil and take his gold." With that the tournament begins.
Uathach gives a prayer to Iomedae to protect his soul
Uathach gives a prayer to Iomedae to protect his soul
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **Uathach gives a prayer to Iomedae to protect his soul
** spoiler omitted **
"So, who do I play first?"
"Good to see you to Branth." Raoh tries to rub the now sore spot on his back.
After the introduction by Saul is made, Raoh smiles and looks to Bret, "Looks like it's time. Try not to beat them bad alright. We wouldn't want any problems later."
"Good to see you to Branth." Raoh tries to rub the now sore spot on his back.
After the introduction by Saul is made, Raoh smiles and looks to Bret, "Looks like it's time. Try not to beat them bad alright. We wouldn't want any problems later."
"Don't lose your souls," Branth offers with thick sarcasm, rolling her eyes. "I think I'm going to need a drink." She stands back up and lumbers over towards the bar, muttering to herself as she goes.
To those gambling
Going to the nearest open table, Raoh lays down 2 gold.
"Ladies, gentlemen"
Going to the nearest open table, Raoh lays down 2 gold.
"Ladies, gentlemen"
The game progresses at a good pace, but the outcome is really never in doubt. At the end of the game Raoh has won back his stake, plus another two gold eyes.
"Another ale, Barkeep" Bron asks as he looks around at the crowd.
Bron not wanting to drink too heavy for lack of proper judgement. In his profession it always paid to be in control of ones actions and thoughts.
After paying, he turns and sees what he deems is a half-orc female with what appears to be the shaft of an axe strapped to her back, muttering to herself as she approaches the bar. Bron gives a slight nod as the woman strolls up, and says with a genuine smile " Good day mi lady, the names Bron Islar, may I have the pleasure of your name and the company with this round on me?" he asks?
Caladan hands over one of his gold coins and exchanges it for ten silver tokens in the shape of a tooth. My family would love to see this. he thinks to himself All these people just begging to throw their money away.
Heading over to one of the tables he struggles to understand what's happening. Several of the locals offer him some advice and he wagers 5 silvers on a game.
Caladan's first gambling roll 1d20-1=16
Much to the disgust of the others at the table, despite his total lack of skill, the perplexed Half-elf hits a run of good luck.
Going to the nearest open table, Raoh lays down 2 gold.
"Ladies, gentlemen"
The game progresses at a good pace, but the outcome is really never in doubt. At the end of the game Raoh has won back his stake, plus another two gold eyes.
Uathach steps up to a table, ready to play, he bets 5 gold at the Dis layer
"Lucky hand, but I'm better off taking smaller risks." Raoh thinks to himself as he looks around the table. Others look back at the Chelaxian cursing his lucky hand.
"I wonder how Bret's fairing"
"5 teeth"
"Another ale, Barkeep" Bron asks as he looks around at the crowd.
Bron not wanting to drink too heavy for lack of proper judgement. In his profession it always paid to be in control of ones actions and thoughts.After paying, he turns and sees what he deems is a half-orc female with what appears to be the shaft of an axe strapped to her back, muttering to herself as she approaches the bar. Bron gives a slight nod as the woman strolls up, and says with a genuine smile " Good day mi lady, the names Bron Islar, may I have the pleasure of your name and the company with this round on me?" he asks?
Branth glares at Bron suspiciously as he makes his introduction and offer, then begins to grin crookedly as he pours on the charm. She snorts. "You wanna buy me a drink?" She shrugs, then looks away. When she looks back at him, the grin has disappeared and her face is stony and impassive. "You can call me Big B for now, brawny Bron," she says. "What are we drinking?" Branth steps over to a stool, settling her massive frame heavily on the wood and padded seat.
Caladan ends up winning 1 tooth on top of his bet. Uathach wins another 2 gold eyes and five silver teeth from his hand. Raoh is the luckiest of all, winning another five teeth. All around you hear the sounds of happy winners and angry losers. A few even manage to earn themselves the Devil's Mark and are escorted out the back door.
Uathach is utterly enthralled by his win...
Perception Roll:1(add 2 if sound based)
Uathach presses his luck at the table, betting 6 eyes
Perception check 1d20+9-2 (1d20+11-2 if sight/sound based) = 24 (26 if sight/sound).
Caladan receives his winnings with a slight shrug. Only half-concentrating on the game, his eyes continually sweep the room, wary of the loud throng of people.
"You wanna buy me a drink?" "You can call me Big B for now, brawny Bron," "What are we drinking?" Branth steps over to a stool, settling her massive frame heavily on the wood and padded seat.
Bron nods to the woman and says to her " Aye,and by the look of it you could use one too." Bron turns to the bar and orders 2 more ales and pays the bartender 2 silver pieces, his current tab plus a tip, and turns back to Big B and says " Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Big B" as he hands her the other mug.
Bron then raises his mug and says " To good times and great adventures" and takes a couple swigs.
Bron asks " Here as a gambler or just checking out the festivities?" saying festivities with a mix of joking and slight sarcasm.
"As for me, not much of a gambler but couldnt resist the possibil..." Bron catches himself, having more to drink then he should have. Bron didnt want to reveal the real reason why he decided to enter, quickly says "possibility of meeting new ladies."
Finishing his drink,
Bron adds " Well it was a pleasure meeting you, and thanks for sharing this round." And with a sincere smile and a slight nod adds "Good luck in your travels."
With that Bron moves out into the crowd heading towards the tables.