Calinder, you spot a burly, fat and bald bearded man who ALREADY seems like he's more than a bit drunk and rowdy. You see the floor bouncers also closing to be nearby.
Moving with the crowd you reach a table where a croupier dressed in formal attire clamors:
“Bounder, bounder, bounder! No doubles, no doubles!”
After observing for a while, you learn the rules (see below)
A blonde "succubus" with her hair artfully braided and the short pointy ears of a half elf comes with a tray of drinks and offers it to the party. "Compliments of the house, enjoy your evening" The metal mugs with the Goblin's logo smell of strong grain alcohol while several patrons prepare for the next round of bets. There are 2 free spots on the semicircular table.
RULES:
What You’ll Need: 3d6 for the dealer and 2d20 for each
player, plus coins to track bets.
How to Play: Bounder is unique among gambling games
in that both the players and dealer use dice. The dealer gets
three 6-sided dice, and each player gets two 20-siders.
To start, each player bets a stake (minimum 1 sp). Each
player rolls his frst d20, making his “point.” Afer all
players have rolled their points, each player may double
his stake if desired.
Then the dealer rolls 3d6. Anyone whose point the dealer
matches loses his stake.
Then each player rolls his second d20. If the player’s two
dice results are on either side of the dealer’s result—one
greater than and one less than the dealer’s number—he
“bounds” the dealer and wins an amount equal to the
amount he bet. Otherwise, he
loses his stake.
If a player rolls a 1 and a 20 (or a
20 and a 1), he wins double his bet.
“Bounder, bounder, bounder! No doubles, no doubles!”
Galahd steps up to one of the open spots at the Bounder table. When the next round starts, he puts down the minimum stake of 1 silver tooth and rolls his "point" .
Tell me the amount you play and Try to hit DC15. More is better, less is not good.. minimum 5 silvers. Remember you can all go and buy more chips or you can buy a badge of Dis for 1 gold.
I'll go with the Cha roll with 5GP on the line
Calinder, always wary of gambling stands silently and watches the others play while also keeping an eye on the bald bearded man and the guards.
Galahd...
the other 4 players roll their point
A thin and serious looking human male rolls: with a bet of 1 eye
A couple of young humand roll their points, betting 7 teeth, the girl laughs delighted.
A dwarf wearing a red robe tugs at his beard nervously and then bets 3 eyes and rolls . You notice the small badge of Dis pinned to his lapel.
The croupier asks for doubles. The thin mans declines with a polite gesture. The human male says "what the hell, let's do it!" and his girlfriend claps exitedly.
The dwarf's brow furrows with concentration and he says "By Torag's Forge, double it!"
So:
Thin man> Bet 1 eye, point 17
Couple male> Bet 14 teeth, point 6
Couple female> Bet 14 teeth, point 3
Dwarf> Bet 6 eyes, point 18
The croupier asks Galahd: Sir, do you double?
Urza:
You roam a little around the tables and a game catchs your eye.
Its called GOLEM, for good reason... instead of a croupier you have a mindless automaton dealing cards with only one movile arm.
The croupier standing next to him dares you: "Sir, come on, it's easy to beat the Golem"
You play a few hands, at first you loose a few teeth, but then you hit a good one.
GOLEM RULES:
------------
This game works exactly like blackjack (roll 1d13 to see the card you pick). The Golem stands on a 17.
Certainly not!
Then you turned your 5GP into 8Gp, my mistake
Remember that Quickbetting implies that you spend around half an hour doing several bets.
You can also go buy a Badge whenever you feel like it.
I'll bet 8 eyes this time.
Doing it this way feels dangerous all of a sudden. Next time I'll try a different game.
"Bounder! Bounder!" Announces the croupier as he rolls his die:
The couple are delighted, they hug each other, their chances are really high, but its a grim number for the ones who rolled high. The dwarf seems very nervous, he tugs at the belt of his robe.
Galahd notices his smooth hands, hinting that he isn't a warrior or a worker. Maybe a noble dwarf or an arcanist of some sort....
The thin man goes first, rolling a and doubling his money.
The couple goes next. They roll at the same time a , . The girl curses in a most unladilike manner at the merciless dice, while the man comforts her.
Galahd rolls a 6, easily bounding the croupier.
And then the dwafr dries his sweaty hand on the side of his robe and rolls a , followed by a string of dwarven obsenities that sound like rock beign ground to pieces. He walks away fuming.
Galahd has doubled his bet.
Calinder eventually starts gambling, stepping up to the golem game and placing 5 silver teeth down. for my card.
Galahd has doubled his bet.
Galahd leaves both silver teeth on the table for the next round. Waiting for the other players to place their bets, he scans the room . When the time comes, he rolls his "point", .
Lecian purchases ten gold eyes to gamble with and heads over to the Golem table. He places one gold on the table for his first hand.
,
Calinder:
Diplomacy:
You convince one of the succubi to lead you into a big office located west of the cashier (the door near 3 on the map) where Saul Vankaskerskin himself is sitting behind a big oak desk, checking some papers and smiling in satisfaction.
When he sees the petite succubs asking for her atention he smiles and waves his strange prosthesis at you...
Ah... guests.. please come in. The night is going just great! I think my fortune has definetly changed for the beter. What can I do for you, boy?
Galahd:
No Doubles, no Doubles! announces the croupier as he rolls:
Then he asks for the second round of rolls
Lecian:
The golem clicks and whirrs.. producing two cards.
One side up and the oher facing down.
You see: . A queen of swords. Your call
To Vancaskerkin: Calinder strides forward and bows deeply then stands formally, My illustrious good sir please allow me an introduction, I am Calinder Iranescu and have made enquiries to these lovely ladies about the possibility of gainfull employment with a man so renowned as yourself.
He assumes a more relaxed posture as he continues. I understand that now may not be the most opportune time but I also realise that offering my services to you now will serve to jog your memory should a need for such services arrise in the near future.
I am a man that is able to achieve what many before me cannot. In short, you may think of me as a problem solver, someone that can make your life easier. With that I will leave you to get back to your important business unless you have need at this time. You may find me within these very walls until the plane of Nessus is breached and Scratch's gold is gone. Good evening kind sir and thank you for your time.
After his speech he will pause for a short time and if there is no indication to stay or questions from his host he then bows again and leaves the office to return to the gambling floor.
DC 15 you break even, no win, no loss
Galahd:
No Doubles, no Doubles! announces the croupier as he rolls:
3d6 => (3, 4, 1) = 8
Then he asks for the second round of rolls
Galahd again declines to double his bet and rolls . It appears that he's won again. This time, he picks up one silver tooth, leaving three on the table, playing only with winnings.
His attention is otherwise spent during the second half of this round checking out the thin man also playing Bounder .
When the next round starts, Galahd rolls .
Again, in the lull between rounds, he'll scan the room, taking in the people and activities going on beyond this table .
Calinder>
Your eloquent speech seems to interest the owner. He smiles at you corially:
"Boy, if you are as good fighting as talking, then I'd be interested, but the fact is that we are at full staff. I've been hiring all week, as this toruney is taking a lot of effort.
I really thank you for your offering, but I'd have you as a customer and guest for now. Enjoy your stay at the G.G."
Urza will first purchase a badge of Dis and of Erebus, leaving him with 4 gold eyes. Then he will play bounder, betting 2 gold eyes. He'll give a nod of greeting to all at the table.
Galahd>
You see that the thin man is looking intently at the couple, he seems to be following the movements of the man's token pouch.
Urza Comes and joins the group at the bounder table, taking the place the angry dwarf left.
People look with admiration and envy at the two badges already adorning his lapel, and at the big stakes he's betting.
Doubles? Doubles? Any doubles? announces the croupier.
Calinder>
As you return to the game floor, you are elbowing your way through the gamblers when you hear an insult in a high pitched voice:
You, there! You must be the mongrel son of an elven whore and a syfilitic human!
followed by laughter from an amused crowd.
Lecian exclaims, "No, I'll stand!" waving off the offer for another card.
After this hand, he'll continue playing, putting up the rest of his 9 gold eyes.
Lecian>
The golem clicks and whirrs,
He flips the hidden card:
Its a 6 of pentacles!
The automaton picks another one and turns it to reveal a King of Hammers. It clicks and whirrs and turns its head in mechanical consternation making the people around you leap with joy.
The croupier announces that you won and puts another golden eye next to your first.
Lecian bets his remaining 10 eyes, but after about half an hour of wins and loses, he is down to 7 eyes.
I'll double my bet.
Calinder>
As you return to the game floor, you are elbowing your way through the gamblers when you hear an insult in a high pitched voice:
You, there! You must be the mongrel son of an elven whore and a syfilitic human!
followed by laughter from an amused crowd.
Calinder steers himself in this new direction scanning the crowd for the offending voice and anything else of note.
Calinder>
You see that the insults are not directed specifically at you. A crowd gathers around a table to play an unique game called Ghoulette. On the table, a mummified head sits on a rotating platform, when it stops, it looks at a blonde woman in a tight red dress and screams: You hag! you came in red to hide that you are with the month's blood, but I can smell it from heree!!! go wash sometime!
The woman's face turns as red as her dress, but everyone who bet on the "Hygiene" category hoots delighted. 11 spaces on the table have several tokens, the people are betting on which insult will the spinning head sprouts when it stops.
GHOULETTE:
===========
1 Appearance
2 Bloodline
3 Demeanor/Presence
4 Hygiene
5 Skill
6 Clothes/Equipment
7 Body
8 Race
9 Courage
10 Profession
11 Brains
12 “Something Nice”
How to Play: To play, each player puts a marker and any number of coins on one or more of the spaces on the ghoulette wheel (minimum 10 cp per
space). The croupier then spins Dungo until he comes to a stop. Dungo then issues an enraged insult at someone based on the particular topics written on the wheel. Any player who has coins on the subject matter of this insult is paid the amount of coins he bet in the next highest denomination—copper gets paid in silver (e.g., a 15 cp bet gets 15 sp), silver in gold, gold in platinum, and platinum in ten times the amount. If Dungo says “something nice,” each player gets a consolation prize of the amount of coins he bet in the next lowest denomination, rounded down (e.g., a 15 cp bet gets back 1 cp)
Galahd declines to double. After the rest of the doubles are made or declined and the croupier takes his roll, his second roll for the hand will be .
Given what he noticed about the thin man's object of attention last round, he continues to keep an eye on him, although not overtly .
Galahd 15 - 12
Urza 18 - 4
Bounder! Bounder! Clamors the croupier as he rolls
Galahd loses just barely. Urza bounds.
The thin man takes his chance to go for the man's pouch.
Sleight of hand:
Galahd, you have a +3 bonus, as you were already watching him, roll perception.
I'm not sure I get a perception roll, I'm not really paying attention, but just in case
I now have 6 gold eyes. I'll bet my winnings of 4 gold eyes leaving me with 2.
Urza> you are too concentrated on the game, and people is gathering around to cheer at you.
The croupier asks if you want to double.
Your superb perception roll lets you see towards the bar in The Goblin's Tankard. There, Liry, the pretty barmaid you befriended earlier is looking at you, jealous of the girls that are admiring your luck. She sees you looking her way and points to the big sand clock that counts the time between bells, it's almost the tenth bell... She blows you a kiss from across the room. As she turns to serve drinks to another patron.
Calinder goes back to the golem table and drop 5 silver teeth down for a hand.
Calinder,
The golem draws
Cal, you expressed that you didn't know the rules, its pretty easy:
your total is now 6, you must add up until reaching as close as possible to 21. If you go past 21, you lose. You can ask for as many more cards as you want (one at a time), just roll until you are pleased or until you are over 21.
- If you draw an 1, you can use it as 1 or 11, whichever suits you better.
- all figures are worth 10, so: 10, 11, 12 and 13 on the die count as 10 (making 10 the most probable result in a given draw).
- The golem will draw cards and try to get closer to 21 than you.
I will also point to the big clock while smiling at her. I will also double my bet.
Edit: I just realized I don't have enough game money to double my bet. I do have enough gold though, so let me know if I need to take it out of my money.
Urza>
Your luck holds, you don't have enough tokens to double, and the better of it, because it's a difficult roll.
So, the croupier rolls:
Urza, you lost your 4gp bet
Calinder goes back to the golem table and drop 5 silver teeth down for a hand.
1d13=2;1d13=4
Cal keeps drawing cards
and then he sits.
Galahd loses just barely.
The thin man takes his chance to go for the man's pouch.
Sleight of hand: 1d20 + 5 => (3) + 5 = 8
Galahd, you have a +3 bonus, as you were already watching him, roll perception.
I'll get another 8 gold eyes and bet all 10 on this next roll. You gotta bet big to win big.
Calinder>
The golem clicks and draws a adding 9
Then a adding 12
Then a adding 22 and busting.
You have beaten the golem! and turned your 5 silver into 10!
Galahd> You barely see the thin man's clumsy attempt. While the couple is distracted, he's reaching into their pouch for a fistful of tokens!
Urza>
The group hushes at the fabulous stake, your 10 tokens sit at the table and the croupier rolls a:
Everyone gasps... its an easy roll!
Your turn..
I'll take a little bit of time in rolling the die to build suspense. I'll have a slow sip from my drink, take a couple of breaths then...
Edit: "Yes!"
Galahd> You barely see the thin man's clumsy attempt. While the couple is distracted, he's reaching into their pouch for a fistful of tokens!
After expertly flinging one of his silver teeth tokens across the table at the thin man, just as he's reaching into the couple's pouch, the grim elf coughs and says, "Ah, excuse me. I'm such a klutz."
Lecian goes over to the ghoulette table and place three eyes on the Brains space.
Calinder places 10 silver teeth down at the Golem while keeping an eye on the crowd always on the lookout for further real fiendish influence.
You gotta know when to hold'em
Know when to fold'em.
The crowd echoes Urza´s triumphant exclamation. At that moment, Galahd throws his chip, hitting the thin man square in the eye. He flinches and his hand gets stuck in the couple's purse.
An indignant "what do you think you are doing, sir!" is followed by a call for security from the croupier.
The thin man tries to excuse himself blabbering but he was caught red handed and they half drag him to the exit while the shocked onlookers applaud the strict measures.
The croupier thanks Galahd, as his words don´t hide the skill with which he threw the chip.
"Sir, thanks for your help, you can have 10 eyes from this miscreant"
Urza hears a femimine cough behind his shoulder. Liry the barmaid is there, she really looks stunning in her succubus outfit. She extends her hand to you. "Mr. Urza, would you be interested in some skygazing from my quarters? The blot is right over the full moon at this time"