previously... Chapter 5 — An Invitation You Can't Refuse

iantruesilver · January 15

Torch — Silverdisk Hall

"Luck be with you ladies. Round is open for bets." The croupier tosses a wink towards Keshka and brushes her hair back, just as a server comes to offer to bring the two of you drinks.

While of the other players decides to lay in his bets with T'Sarra on the Rider, the other cuts his losses at this table and move on.

Cosmic Caravan Wagers

T'Sarra	Rider
Keshka	Daughter
Keshka	Wagon
Patron 1	Rider

"Bets down everyone." The croupier calls and after a moment's confirmation that nobody else was laying down any more last minute wagers, she grabs onto the edge of the wheel and pulls down with her entire body to spin it.

A clack-clack-clack sounds as dowels on the wheel strike against a flapper mounted at the top of the stand, eventually slowing the wheel down till it stops at the Newlyweds.

"Newlyweds again! Green wins once more." The croupier pays Keshka back her ante on the daughter plus two more before collecting the losing bets.

Remaining Funds

Barhuce
Keshka
T'Sarra
Vri

Cosmic Caravan Rules

Each player bets any amount on one or more of the segments of the wheel (minimum 1 silverdisk per space). The croupier then spins the wheel, which is slowed via the rubbing of the pins against the “arrow”, a mounted pointer made of flexible leather until the wheel comes to a stop.

Any player who has stakes on the segment stopping at the arrow wins double the payout indicated below, granted the segment is white, green, red or blue.

If a player has otherwise placed bets on the same colour as the winning segment, she is paid out as indicated. (White: 1 to 1, Green: 2 to 1, Red and Blue: 3 to 1, Brown: 7 to 1.)

If a player has placed bets on a red or blue segment, and the opposite colour is stopped at the arrow, that player is paid a consolation prize of half the amount of her bet.

If the wheel stops at the Follower (Black), all wagers are lost to the house.

After the winnings are paid out appropriately, all losing bets are collected before a new round begins.

If there wasn't enough eyes turned their way before, the beginning of a winning streak certainly seems to have caught a few people's attention now.

The other patron answers back, "Oh, I'm Absalomian. I have a great interest in these androids of yours. I gather you might know a few?"

"Blackjack! Fast and furious, hit the gold on twenty-one!" The halfling hardly needed to advertise, as Vri was already determined to play in.

Having won the previous round, the other player places down five silverdisks as his ante before the shuffle, while Vri buys in with one.

Vri is dealt a Five of Iron, then a Four of Stone is dealt to the other player before the dealer's face down card.

The player is first dealt a King of Flesh, then the dealer a Five of Stone. Next, the player is dealt an Ace of Flesh, before the dealer's face down card. In the second round of cards, Vri gets a Jack of Iron, the other player an Eight of Flesh, and the dealer a Seven of Flesh.

Vri's Hand

Player Hand

Dealer Hand

"Fifteen. Hit, stand or double?" The halfling dealer prompts, waiting for Vri to make a decision.

Blackjack Rules

Each player puts down a bet (limit 50 silverdisks) to be dealt in. The dealer then shuffles the deck, and deals one clockwise round of cards face up to each player, then one face down card to himself. One more round of face up cards are then dealt around the table.

Aces are counted as either 1 or 11, face cards as 10. The player’s goal is to beat the dealer by getting a count closer to, but without going over 21.

If the dealer has an ace or a “10” card face up at this point, he looks at his face down card.

A hand with an ace and a “10” card is called Blackjack. If a player has a blackjack and the dealer does not, the player is immediately paid out 6 to 5.

If the dealer has blackjack, he collects the bets of all players without.

If both a player and the dealer have blackjack, the player’s bet is returned.

Clockwise beginning from the dealer’s left, each player resolves their hand by playing it out against the dealer. She may “stand” (ask not to be dealt any more cards) on her total, or “hit” (ask for another card) up until she goes “bust” (count totals over 21), in which case the player loses her wagered bets.

A player may split an initial pair into two separate hands by placing down an equal amount to the original bet for the second hand. These hands are then resolved separately. Additional pairs dealt when making up the split may be resplit again.

A player may also “double down” on their original bet, doubling their wagered amount. A player may double after a split.

No other side bets are permitted. A player may “fold” and surrender their wager at any time.

After every player on the table has been served, the dealer turns up their face down card. He then deals additional cards to himself until his total is 17 or more. The dealer may not fold, split or double, and must stand on a soft 17 (a hand that counts to either 7 or 17 due to having an ace).

Toward the direction of the stage, as the music of the previous song fades, a bit of a clamour is beginning to build as the lighting in the building dims a few shades. Everything seems pitch dark for a moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome to the stage by round of applause, four of the most luscious and talented performers from the Marrymaid."

"I give you, and please bring them back when you're finished with them — Vera Sage, Felicia Felix, Sophiel Shade, and Ross!" As light suddenly returns to the venue, it is focused on the stage, where several scantily dressed women are seated in provocative postures.

For what seems like a lifetime captured in a moment, the four women are motionless. But then suddenly a single soprano voice rings out from their direction, clear and melodious.

"It's a cold and crazy world
that's raging outside /
Well, baby, me and all my girls
are bringing on the fire /
Show a little leg,
got to shimmy your chest /
It's a life, it's a style, it's a need…
it's burlesque…"

With a rhythmic snap of her fingers, the tiefling launches into their first number, leading her troupe in seductive song and dance.

[[ Map — Silverdisk Hall ]]

Edited January 16 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

athedia · January 15

Keshka

Keshka smiled back at the croupier quickly before looking at her bets. "Desna's Teeth" She swore under her breath at the twisted luck. Winnings was nice but the attention was less so. But to suddenly switch up while on hot streak would look stranger still. "T'Sarra you better not leave, I think you might be a good luck charm!" She repeated the same action as before, sliding one silverdisk into her pocket while putting the other two back on the Daughter and the Wagon.

Her bets placed she spoke to the man again. "Absalomian? You're a ways from home. Bad time to visit Torch. As for androids, operative term being knew. She frequented this hall for a while but haven't seen her in years now. I travel a lot for work, not much chance to make friends in town."

She stopped speaking as the lights dimmed, her vision shifting to monochrome. Her hands covered her belt pouch and pockets as it did, this would be the ideal time for someone looking to lighten patrons of some coin to strike. The performance wasn't... bad. But it was the wrong type of distracting, one that left her feeling awkward and out of place in the crowd.

Statblock

[b][url=/sheets/?id=2857070]Keshka[/url][/b] [i]Changeling (Winter Hag) Galvanic Saboteur (Ranger) 1 NN[/i] [b]HP[/b] 12 / 12 [b]Speed[/b] ft [b]Init[/b] 3 [b]AC[/b] 17 [b]Fort[/b] 3 [b]Ref[/b] 5 [b]Will[/b] 1 [b]CMB[/b] +3 [b]BAB[/b] 1 [b]Claw[/b] +3 (1d4+2, x2) [b]Longbow[/b] +4 (1d8, x3) [b]Str[/b] 14 (2) [b]Dex[/b] 17 (3) [b]Con[/b] 12 (1) [b]Wis[/b] 13 (1) [b]Int[/b] 10 (0) [b]Cha[/b] 9 (-1)

Keshka Changeling (Winter Hag) Galvanic Saboteur (Ranger) 1 NN HP 12 / 12 Speed ft Init 3 AC 17 Fort 3 Ref 5 Will 1 CMB +3 BAB 1 Claw +3 (1d4+2, x2)
Longbow +4 (1d8, x3) Str 14 (2) Dex 17 (3) Con 12 (1) Wis 13 (1) Int 10 (0) Cha 9 (-1)

Text

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Commonly Used Skills/Special notes

Favored Enemy: Constructs +2
+X Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks
+X bonus on weapon attack/dmg
Can make untrained K skill checks to identify creatures with type

Perception: +5, +7 vs constructs

Text

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Edited January 16 by athedia (see edit history)

farothel · January 15

Statblock

Vrilundass ‘Vri’ Arund
Female NG Half-elf Swashbuckler, Level 1, Init 3, HP 10/11, Speed 30ft
AC 16, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, CMD 15, Fort 0, Ref 5, Will 3, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 1
silversheen, MC rapier +5 (1d6+1, 18-20/x2)
cold iron dagger +4 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
shortbow (20) +4 (1d6, x3)
Studded Leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 15
Condition None
hero points: 0/1

15 was a difficult number. Too low to actually win something with, but too high to ask for a card without impunity.

"Hit," she asked for another card.

OOC

Inash · January 16

Barhuce

Barhuce finally recovers his wits from the, well, quite attractive bouncers blatant leering and realizes he's just been standing there next to T'sarra and Keshka? Kieshka? Quiche? Keshy... definitely Keshy. He quickly drops a token on thrush. before getting distracted by the performance.

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 9/9, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 13, [B]Fort[/B] 3, [B]Ref[/B] 4, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +1, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 0 [B]1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) [/B] 3 (1d4+4, x2) [B] light Mace [/B] 1 (1d6+1, x2) [B] Dagger [/B] 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2) [B] Lamellar Cuirass[/B] (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect) [B]Abilities[/B] Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10 [B]Condition[/B] None

Barhuce
M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), Level 1, Init 4, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 13, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 0, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus 0
1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) 3 (1d4+4, x2)
light Mace 1 (1d6+1, x2)
Dagger 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Lamellar Cuirass (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Condition None

Actions Crunch

Fort save:

Free:

Standard:

Readied action:

ccanary · January 16

T'Sarra Khonnor

1st: (4 remaining) Cure light wounds, Bless, Inflict Light Wounds
Cantrips: (unl) detect magic, mending, guidance, create water

Silverdisk Hall

T'Sarra jumped in joy for Keshka but noticed her own supply of chips dwindling.

"Lucky for you maybe! I'm losing faster than you're winning! Hey, can you change a red for five silver?" she asked the dealer.

"Hey Barhuce, stick close, Keshka says I'm good luck. Just not for me."

She barely noticed the performance, though still glanced back at the bouncer. Just to see if she was looking. Right? Then, frustrated at her luck, and assuming she could get her change, put two on Stargazer and two on Thrush.

Mechanics

Move:

Standard:
Free:

Trained Skills

Acrobatics*	-1
Climb*	+5
Diplomacy	+7
Handle Animal	+4
Knowledge (nature)	+4
Linguistics	+1
Perception	+6
Survival	+4
Swim*	+5


* -1 ACP to str and dex skills

iantruesilver · January 16

Torch — Silverdisk Hall

With a silent nod, the blackjack dealer turns over a new card for Vri, revealing it to be a Two of Clay.

"Seventeen." The halfling nods, waiting for the half-elf to continue making decisions on her hand, without repeating the same options still available to her.

As though right on time, the server returns to bring Vri her glass of elven wine.