41: But if you lose, the devil gets your soul!

[Ebiris]

[14:09] <@Ebiris> It's a chilly and blustery night just after sundown when people make their way to the Golden Gremlin to partake of its diversions and delights. The doors are open and a cheery ruckus comes from inside, its windows lit by a warm and inviting light while a torch underneath the gold-painted statue causes it to glitter eye-catchingly over the door. As Lucie approaches she can see a man with a vivid red lipstick mark on his cheek being ejected by a burly bouncher, though the ejectee doesn't seem too beat up over it.
[14:12] <Lucie> Lucie makes a mental note to look for friendly women with red lipstick as she walks to the door. She herself is wearing one of her normal sort of dresses, now that she can afford something more the cast-offs: subdued shades of blue, green or purple, usually (the latter today) and the requisite scarf.
[14:13] <Lucie> *the = than
[14:17] <@Ebiris> The bouncer steps aside to let Lucie in with a smile and a nod. Just inside the main door two identical sultry beauties wearing skimpy red costumes along with faux bat-wings, tails, and red headbands with perky little horns on them, while to the side is a cashier's desk behind a sturdy looking cage. Lucie recognises the two fake devils greeting her, because she peeped on one of them just the day before. "Welcome to the Golden Gremlin!" they both carol invitingly, fluttering long charcoal lashes at the newcomer, "Are you here to challenge the devil for all the riches of Hell?" the shorter-haired one on the left asks while the one on the right proffers up a scroll hopefully. Notably both of them have vibrant crimson lipstick on.
[14:18] <Lucie> "Well, with such charming lasses in his service, how could I refuse?" Lucie says, taking a moment to focus her roving eyes on the scroll's contents.
[14:24] * Merc-zzz is now known as Glenn
[14:24] <@Ebiris> The scroll is held up for Lucie to read, written in flowing archaic script - it confirms that the signee forfeits their immortal soul to a devil named 'Old Scratch' in exchange for the chance of winning 10,000 silver coins. Losing your stake in the competition means gaining the devil's mark and having your soul cast upon the rocks of the River Styx for eternity. Cashing out early forfeits 50% of your winnings along with the forfeiture of your soul. "It's ten gold for your initial stake," the first casino employee explains while Lucie's reading. "Of course the contest has already started, so you'll have to gamble lots to catch up with the others!"
[14:25] <Lucie> "Can't see any part of that sounds like a bad deal," Lucie says, producing the requisite ten gold.
[14:29] <@Ebiris> The shorter haired succubus cheerfully accepts the gold, going over to the cashier while her companion hands Lucie the scroll and an inkpen. "Just sign your soul away and let the games begin!" she cheers with a wink, her twin coming back now with a handfull of golden casino chips for Lucie, along with a number of silver and copper coloured ones.
[14:31] <Lucie> Lucie signs away, her penmanship not the most inspiring in its elegance. She collects her coins and moves to head into the casino proper, pausing briefly by the charming greeters as she tries to identify which one she'd encountered earlier. "I am sorry about earlier today, by the way. Temper gets me sometimes when there's work to do."
[14:33] <@Ebiris> That would be the longer haired one who's currently rolling up Lucie's scroll and putting it under the table which has a pile of unsigned scrolls atop it. She gives the oracle a curious look in return, "Excuse me? I don't think we've met...?"
[14:34] <Lucie> "The window...er, never mind." Well, if she's forgotten about it, probably best to move on!
[14:36] <@Ebiris> Her eyes widen. "That was you?!" she gasps, her sister blinking before she also lights up in realisation. Nonetheless the longer-haired false-fiend recovers from her shock and gives Lucie a sultry glance, hip cocked and leaning forward to allow a look down her cleavage should Lucie care. "Didja like what you saw, honey?"
[14:38] <Lucie> "I like it even more seeing it twice," Lucie says with a sudden and obvious flush.
[14:38] <@Ebiris> OOC: you can roll sense motive if you like, Lucie
[14:39] <Lucie> roll 1d20+13 I always do!
[14:39] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+13 I always do! and gets 30." [1d20=17]
[14:40] <@Ebiris> "Well..." she smiles smokily and trails a hand down her stomach, "You caught me by surprise that time, but maybe you'll catch me again when I'm working the floor later tonight..." she offers flirtatiously. Of course to Lucie it's not hard to tell she's more interested in fishing for tips than making a serious seduction.
[14:43] <Lucie> "I'll have to make sure to have some money and I soul to my name still by that time," Lucie says. It might be an empty show, but still, it's a nice enough display for what it is. "This'll have to do for now." Lucie takes out a gold coin and deftly deposits it in the woman's cleavage before moving on with a smile.
[14:47] <@Ebiris> "Ooooh!" she shivers with an appealing jiggle at the cold metal coin being placed somewhere otherwise warm, a nice last sight before Lucie heads through the doors into the main hall of the casino. Here the centrepiece is a massive wooden and iron-reinforced chest covered in chains and flanked by two burly men, bare-chested and in the exotic garb of some desert king's court. All around are tables surrounded by excited gamblers, more attractive young women in skimpy devil-themed outfits flitting about dispensing drinks while bouncers roam around keeping an eye on the gamblers. And high above in the centre of the room, inside an oversized birdcage, skulks a hateful looking red-skinned creature with a scorpion's tail and long curved horns, occasionally gesturing obscenely or spitting some curse at the gamblers below.
[14:49] * Lucie takes a close look at the caged creature as she strolls by the tables. Genuine monster, illusion, or man in a suit?
[14:49] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile, Henrietta and Rudy are just arriving, chancing to meet Glenn at the door of the casino where they can see the same sight that greeted Lucie, the longer-haired girl in diabolical getup extracting a shiny coin from her cleavage with a grin before she hurriedly grabs some scrolls to smile alluringly at the new arrivals. Of course Rudy and Henrietta can recognise the shorter-haired twin as Cherise Tollwood whom they met yesterday.
[14:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: perception, Lucie?
[14:49] <Lucie> roll 1d20+12
[14:49] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18." [1d20=6]
[14:51] * @Henrietta pauses briefly at the sight of the twins, before it all makes sense to her in her head. She came dressed up, wearing her rose-themed ballroom dress, although getting that far in it required liberal usage of Prestidigitation to keep it clean and unrumpled.
[14:51] <@Ebiris> While she can't discount illusion, Lucie's certain it's not a man in a suit. The proportions are all wrong for a human or a dwarf. The tail moves animatedly, and what she first might have mistaken for a cloak turns out to be leathery wings that twitch and unfurl slightly while curled up over his back. He catches her scrutiny and points at her balefully, "I'll feast on your soul for eternity!" he hisses in a harsh and painful tone.
[14:51] <Rudy> "Darling, look! It's Miss Tollwood!" remarks Rudy, looking dapper indeed. Certain concessions had to be made, and he removes a top hat as he enters; his other hand grasps a fine wooden cane.
[14:52] <@Henrietta> "Oh, you don't say? The very same one?" Henrietta asks, playing along.
[14:53] <@Ebiris> "I might have been that yesterday, but today I'm an evil devil!" Cherise smirks back playfully, licking her red-painted lips. "Come to gamble your souls away?"
[14:53] <Lucie> "Mine?" Lucie says to the creature. "You'd choke on it." She turns away, looking at the tables. Does one just sit anywhere?
[14:54] <@Henrietta> "Does it matter if my soul already belongs to someone?" Henrietta politely inquires.
[14:54] <Rudy> "Hah! Even if I lose, can the devil handle my soul?" remarks Rudy, grinning. "Rudy Giacomo pities the fool who takes it!"
[14:55] <@Ebiris> There are a few stools, but it's sufficiently crowded that most are standing. Lucie can see people moving about freely, so it looks straightforward enough just to join in wherever one likes. Up above the devil turns his malicious attention to some other unfortunate patron.
[14:55] * Lucie finds one with enough of an opening for her to squeeze in and decides to observe a round before actively joining in.
[14:56] <@Ebiris> "That's a problem for Old Scratch, not for me," Cherise grins at Henrietta.
[14:56] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, at least you're not one of those people who came the first day we ran this contest, calling us all blasphemers and such. It's all just for fun, and a chance to win a boatload of money," her twin agrees, proffering up a scroll.
[14:57] <@Glenn> "Gambling today?" Glenn asks as he joins the two in his sight, looking briefly towards Henrietta then towards the casino. "You caught the...dog yesterday then?"
[14:57] <@Henrietta> "It is a problem for this Old Scratch!" Henrietta brightly agrees. "How is the winner decided? Will it come down to a daring contest between Rudy and myself, before my ultimate triumph over him?"
[14:59] <@Ebiris> Lucie squeezes into a table where the gamblers and the dealer are rolling various types of dice. "Bounder, bounder, bounder!" the dealer calls staccato, "Do I hear a double? No doubles? No doubles!" Watching a round, Lucie catches the gist of it. The dealer rolls three small dice while the gamblers roll two large dice, one before and one after the dealer. If their dice results land on either side of the dealer's result, they win back double their stake. After the first roll they can elect to double up their stake if they choose to do so.
[15:02] * Lucie decides to put a small wager on the this table to get the hang of things. A few copper chips for now, perhaps.
[15:02] <@Ebiris> "You put in ten gold to play, exchanged for devil's eye chips," the fiendish greeter explains to Henrietta, "You gamble at the various games and the first person to reach two hundred wins Old Scratch's treasure! But everyone who fails forfeits their soul!" that last is said in a gloomy ominous voice at odds with her perky smile.
[15:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll a d20, Lucie?
[15:02] <Lucie> roll 1d20
[15:02] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20 and gets 1." [1d20=1]
[15:03] <@Henrietta> "That sounds entirely reasonable," Henrietta agrees. "Do enter us in, Rudy? We can make a lovely contest of it!"
[15:04] <@Ebiris> Lucie's roll of a one gets a few approving murmurs, and the dealer rattles his dice a moment while calling, "Bounder, bounder, bounder! Do I hear a double?" Another gamer who rolled a 19 puts down an additional stake to double his, while the remainder abstain.
[15:04] <Lucie> Well, it wasn't a big wager to start with, so why not?
[15:05] <@Ebiris> "Two doubles!" the dealer calls, throwing his trio of dice across the table!
[15:05] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6
[15:05] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3d6 and gets 11." [3d6=5, 2, 4]
[15:05] <@Ebiris> "Eleven! Matches one!" the dealer promptly collects the stake from a gambler who had rolled an 11, who grumbles but sticks around to watch. "Roll your dice and see if you can bound the dealer, folks!"
[15:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: another d20, Lucie
[15:06] <Lucie> roll 1d20 but now I need a high roll so I'll lose :(
[15:06] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20 but now I need a high roll so I'll lose :( and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[15:06] <Rudy> "My dear, you can't possibly expect me to pay for a greater chance of losing my soul!" announces Rudy, deftly reaching out to sign but a single form. "If you wish to challenge me, then we enter as enemies!"
[15:07] <@Ebiris> The man who rolled a 19 and doubled rolls a 6, happily collecting back his winnings, while another on 14 and 9 does the same. Lucie unfortunately sees her doubled stake clawed away by the dealer, a consoling murmur arising from the crowd at her poor luck.
[15:07] <@Henrietta> "As enemies, then!" Henrietta agrees, signing a form of her own.
[15:08] <@Ebiris> In short order Henrietta and Rudy are provided with a handful of gambling chips. "Remember, if you lose them then you get the devil's mark!" Cherise puckers her lips and winks at Rudy.
[15:08] <@Ebiris> "What about you, handsome?" her sister bats her lashes at Glenn. "You brave enough to challenge the devil?"
[15:09] <@Henrietta> "How about a game of cards?" Henrietta suggests to Rudy. "You can teach me how to play as we go!"
[15:09] <Lucie> Undaunted, Lucie decides to atempt another round, putting a silver chip in since she understands the odds a little better now.
[15:09] <@Ebiris> OOC: d20
[15:09] <Lucie> roll 1d20
[15:09] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20 and gets 15." [1d20=15]
[15:10] <@Ebiris> Fifteen seems to be a good roll - the other woman who just rolled the same promptly doubles up even before the dealer asks!
[15:10] <Lucie> Well, so will Lucie, then!
[15:10] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6
[15:10] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3d6 and gets 8." [3d6=1, 2, 5]
[15:10] <Rudy> "Will it go with the rest of them?" asks Rudy, tapping his tattooed face. "Cards! A game of cards is the greatest battle of wits. Who can twist his opponent better? Who is the better bluff?" wonders Rudy, advancing towards the nearest such table he can see.
[15:10] <@Ebiris> No one gets knocked out by having already rolled an 8, so it's still everything to play for...
[15:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: d20, Lucie
[15:11] <Lucie> In that case...
[15:11] <Lucie> roll 1d20
[15:11] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20 and gets 3." [1d20=3]
[15:11] <@Ebiris> "Bounder!" Lucie gets back four silver chips!
[15:11] <@Henrietta> "So, a game of subterfuge and wits," Henrietta concludes. "All that matters is staying firm in the face of your opponent?"
[15:12] <Rudy> "Absolutely. You must never back down," replies Rudy. "No matter what they do, victory goes to he with the strongest will!"
[15:12] <Lucie> Well, that wasn't too hard...Lucie puts a gold coin down on one more round before deciding to wander and see if there are other manner of games about as well.
[15:13] * @Henrietta shouldn't have any problem with that! "Is there a way to play a pair? At least, until the floor is clear for our true challenge."
[15:14] <@Glenn> "I'd probably just want to watch the others play," Glenn answers after a bit of thought. "Can I still go in and watch?" he asks.
[15:15] <Rudy> "At an event like this? Not likely," remarks Rudy. "Well... not officially."
[15:15] <@Ebiris> While Lucie cleans house at Bounder, Rudy and Henrietta look for card games, but sadly find that the casino caters more towards dice and roullette style games of chance.
[15:15] <@Ebiris> OOC: make a diplo check, Glenn
[15:15] <@Glenn> roll d20+0
[15:15] * Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+0 and gets 20." [d20=20]
[15:15] <@Henrietta> "Roullette, then?" Henrietta suggests as compromise, pulling on Rudy's arm to go in that direction.
[15:16] <Rudy> "Obviously, I will have to bet on black," remarks Rudy, dressed as he is in the darkest of suits.
[15:17] <@Henrietta> "Red, then," Henrietta says instantly as she picks her favorite color.
[15:19] <@Ebiris> "We're not really supposed to..." Cherise gives Glenn a dubious look, "But you don't seem like you'd be any trouble... just don't tell anyone, okay?" Meanwhile Henrietta drags Rudy over to a strange roulette table which features the macabre ornamentation of a shrivelled and dessicated human head. There are twelve alternating sections of red and black on the circle around it, and as it spins and stops on one the head launches into a blistering barrage of insults upon the lack of hygiene displayed by the unfortunate gambler who happens to be standing in that direction. It gets a good laugh from everone else, and the insulted gambler even seems happy enough since he had his bet on that same section. "Step right up and bet it all on the acid-tongued Ghoulette wheel!" one of the succubus-dressed servers calls, apparently being in charge of this game.
[15:20] <Rudy> Rudy steps right up! "I'll take that bet!"
[15:20] * @Glenn grins. "Alright then, thanks," he says as he goes follow after the others.
[15:21] <@Henrietta> "By all means," Henrietta agrees, stepping after Rudy and retrieving a golden chip.
[15:22] <@Ebiris> The twelve sections on the ghoulette wheel are each a different category of insults. Appearance, Bloodline, Demeanour, Hygiene, Skill, Clothing, Body, Race, Courage, Profession, Brains... and the twelth in yellow is 'Something Nice'. "Minimum bet ten copper tongues!" the dealer here calls as people start to place their bets...
[15:23] <@Henrietta> Courage before all! Henrietta places her bet on that.
[15:24] <Rudy> Rudy slams it down on Bloodline, always eager to hear new and exciting insults regarding his parentage!
[15:25] <@Ebiris> Others place their own bets - though no one touches 'Something Nice' and the dealer gives the wheel a spin!
[15:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d12
[15:25] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d12 and gets 10." [1d12=10]
[15:29] <@Ebiris> Round and round it goes, finally stopping on Profession. As it stops, the decomposed head rouses itself and blinks, looking down at the label underneath it before its gaze focuses on Glenn who happens to be standing in its field of view. "What are you, an alchemist? Making love potions to get dates and always being avoided by everyone because you stink of sulphur and bat-shit? Pee-yew, who let this stinky cess-pit into here?!" There's a bit of laughter, but unfortunately nobody won, so the dealer gleefully claims back all bets!
[15:29] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile Lucie has another go of Bounder!
[15:29] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll your d20?
[15:29] <Lucie> roll 1d20
[15:29] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20 and gets 9." [1d20=9]
[15:30] <Rudy> "This thing's brilliant!"
[15:30] <@Henrietta> Hmph. Henrietta divides her silver chips evenly, and places five each on Courage and on Something Nice. No one bet on that so far, and that makes a compelling reason to do so now, somehow.
[15:30] <@Glenn> "I don't like it," Glenn mutters.
[15:30] <@Ebiris> "That's a bad roll for you," a familiar voice observes from behind and next to Lucie, easily recognised by her sharp ears as belonging to her new friend Ilona.
[15:31] <@Ebiris> "Sorry, you can't bet on Something Nice," the dealer tells Henrietta. "If that comes up everyone gets a consolation prize."
[15:31] <Rudy> Rudy places another gold on Demeanour, still chuckling to himself. "You'd just break even at best anyway!"
[15:32] <@Henrietta> "Ah, is that so?" Henrietta asks. A moment of contemplation, and she moves those chips to the first spot. "Appearance, then. I have confidence in it."
[15:33] <Lucie> "Oh!" Lucie looks up in surprise. She scoots over--at least as much as possible--to make room if Ilona wants to join in here. "Well, can't get ahead without some risk, can we?" she says boldly, deciding to continue anyway.
[15:34] <@Ebiris> Really there's no choice but to continue, but at least it's better not to double up, right? The dealer makes his roll...
[15:34] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6
[15:34] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3d6 and gets 11." [3d6=5, 1, 5]
[15:34] <Lucie> Satisfied with this turn of events, Lucie decides to bravely press her luck and double on!
[15:35] <@Ebiris> Doubling can't be done after the dealer rolls. But it's Lucie's chance to roll, regardless!
[15:35] <Lucie> roll 1d20 oh right! well, anyway--
[15:35] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20 oh right! well, anyway-- and gets 17." [1d20=17]
[15:38] <@Ebiris> "You might have a chance," the slim blonde observes, visible now dressed in a simple black dress with a thick red cardigan over it. "And there you go. You're having better luck than we are, Lucie," she smiles and indicates her companion, a mousey looking brunette girl with short curly hair who smiles shyly. "I don't think you two have met, Lily here's in the advanced classes at the dance school. Lily, this is Lucie Dolan, Lucie, Lily Parmantar," she offers as Lucie collects back double her original stake.
[15:39] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile the ghoulette wheel spins and spins!
[15:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d12
[15:39] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d12 and gets 5." [1d12=5]
[15:41] <@Ebiris> The charnel wheel slows to a stop on Skill, and proceeds to vigorously upbraid an unfortunate elderly figure over his many failures at gambling and everything else he ever tried to accomplish in life. He's not a winner, but the shorter man beside him is and gleefully collects twenty gold chips from the dealer!
[15:42] <@Henrietta> "We do not seem to be winning," Henrietta notes quietly to Rudy.
[15:42] <Rudy> Rudy shakes his head. "We're not betting hard enough," he notes. "The god of gambling smiles upon those who take true risks!" With that, he puts five gold on what he has the most faith in! Without a doubt, it is is clothes! They maketh the man!
[15:43] <@Henrietta> "It is time for a larger gamble, then?" Henrietta asks. "Very well!" She takes four gold chips and spreads them evenly across Appearance, Bloodline, Body and Courage.
[15:44] <@Ebiris> Rudy's big bet draws an appreciative murmur from the other gamblers. "We got a high roller!" the succubus in charge of ghoulette cheers, bouncing on her heels in excitement.
[15:44] <@Ebiris> And once all bets are placed, she gives the wheel a spin!
[15:44] <Lucie> "Ah, well, I've only played the three rounds, but two out of three so far. Looking up, no? Maybe I'll walk out of here with my soul after all," Lucie says with a laugh. "You know, I thought of asking you along when my friends proposed we pay a visit here, but it didn't strike me as the type of place you'd frequent. Do you often show students about town?" She nods to the younger girl. "And a
[15:44] <Lucie> pleasure to meet you, Lily. I've just started in classes, myself."
[15:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d12
[15:45] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d12 and gets 10." [1d12=10]
[15:46] * @Henrietta looks expectantly towards Glenn despite herself.
[15:47] <@Ebiris> Another spin for profession, and now an unfortunate sailor gets it in the neck about rogering the cabin boy since Glenn thoughtfully moved away from the line of fire. "It seemed like a fun night out, but Lily and I are close to losing our souls I think," Ilona laughs lightly while her companion blushes and nods.
[15:47] <@Ebiris> "I don't normally come to places like this, but it's been fun!" she says in almost a whisper.
[15:47] <Rudy> "Oh, yeah. The gods don't exist, do they?" remarks Rudy. "You were right after all!"
[15:48] <@Ebiris> "Forget the gods, you'll be serving the devil at this rate," the dealer commiserates with Rudy as she claws away his winnings, a nod up at the red-skinned fiend rattling his cage above.
[15:48] <@Henrietta> "You are the second to tell me that recently," Henrietta agrees all too readily. "What next? Do we go all in, as the saying is?"
[15:49] <Rudy> "I think the only choice is to combine our power for this one," notes Rudy, sadly. "So what is the defining feature which we share above all else?"
[15:49] <@Henrietta> "A difficult question," Henrietta admits. "Hygiene is always a safe bet, I feel?"
[15:50] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+6 religion
[15:50] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+6 religion and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[15:51] <Rudy> "It is a rarity in certain circles," admits Rudy, quite willing to put down his last three coins on it!
[15:51] * @Henrietta has four left, but they join Rudy's on their final bet.
[15:51] <Lucie> "It's only a bit of money," Lucie says, waving this away (along with the fact that the entry fee alone would have been a substantial amount of money for her not so long ago). "And a hell of a racket for the owner, I'm sure, but what's wrong with a bit of fun once in a while? I'm sure I can spot you a few if you're running out. Better than eternal damnation, no?"
[15:51] <@Ebiris> "Oooh, am I gonna have to give you two the devil's mark after this?" the dealer flutters her lashes at Rudy and puckers up.
[15:53] <Rudy> "There are few more pleasant paths to damnation..."
[15:54] <@Henrietta> "Yes, it does not sound particularly terrible," Henrietta is forced to agree.
[15:54] <@Ebiris> "You haven't seen what they're charging for drinks yet, I take it?" Ilona chuckles and steps aside as a voluptuous redheaded fiend saunters past with a tray of goblets. "It's not something we can really do regularly, but it would have been nice if we'd won."
[15:54] <@Ebiris> "What about you, Lucie, do you do this a lot?" Lily asks, fixing her pale brown eyes on the statuesque oracle.
[15:54] <@Ebiris> "Spoken like a true sinner!" the girl manning the ghoulette wheel laughs as she gets it spinning!
[15:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d12
[15:54] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d12 and gets 1." [1d12=1]
[15:57] <Lucie> "No, I admit, this is a first for me," Lucie says, flagging the serving girl to find out just how much they charge for drinks. "Though might be it's not the last if I keep doing well. But no gambler stays on top forever, does she? Shall we share a table, then? Some of my luck will rub off, maybe."
[15:57] <@Ebiris> Unfortunately for Glenn he finds himself in the line of fire as Appearance is landed on and the ghoul rouses itself, blinking gummily at him. "Oi! Shorty! Sorry, can you see me from down there, I'm talking to you! Oh, never even noticed those glasses, four-eyes, I guess you can't see shit! What turned your hair white, anyway, did you see yourself in the mirror one day?"
[15:59] <@Ebiris> First taking a moment to rake in the chips from the losers and then hand over the winner's five pieces of silver, the ghoulette girl calls out, "The devil's mark!" and practically stalks up towards Rudy and Henrietta. At her call a pair of bouncers approach the duo as well, heavily built men who nonetheless seem quite cheery and amiable rather than threatening in their approach.
[16:00] <Rudy> "Alas, we are undone... But at least we can remain together in hell?"
[16:00] * @Henrietta stares at the roullette wheel in consternation before giving off a sigh of defeat. "It is only a kiss, right?" she asks the would-be succubus.
[16:01] <@Ebiris> Lucie finds it's five silvers for a mug of watered down ale and a gold coin for a glass of wine. "A break might give us a chance to recharge our luck, at least," Ilona agrees.
[16:01] <@Ebiris> "And my feet are getting sore from all this standing," her younger friend seconds.
[16:02] <@Ebiris> "Hah, you know what a succubus does with her kiss? Just a kiss... and your eternal soul!" the scantily-clad dealer cackles with enthusiasm as she glomps onto Rudy's side, squeezing her assets against his arm and planting a big wet smooch on his cheek! Pulling her lips away after a second, a vivid bright red lipstick mark remains across his face for all to see his damnation!
[16:02] * Lucie spots each of them a glass of wine...and a mug of ale for herself, before pulling away from the table and wending her way through the crowd to find a free table.
[16:03] <Rudy> "Oh, slay me now!"
[16:03] * @Glenn grimaces at the damn ghoul, and decides to go watch some of the other games. Hopefully ones that don't insult him quite so much! Or maybe he'll just join the others outside if they're leaving now. He'd mostly come in to watch them play anyway.
[16:04] * @Henrietta knows what the superstitious people think it does, at least, but arguing over it may well ruin the fun. Instead, she stoicly awaits her penalty for losing.
[16:05] <@Ebiris> "One more, boys," the fiendish vixen tells the two bouncers before they can frogmarch Rudy out, now sidling up towards Henrietta - this happens to draw a lot more interest from the other gamblers, who jeer and catcall appreciatively as the faux-devil gloms onto the redheaded sorceress to plant another devil's mark across her cheek with a loud smack!
[16:07] <@Henrietta> "This would be easier to bear if we had actually won once," Henrietta laments. "Ah well. Another chance, Rudy?"
[16:08] <Rudy> "
[16:09] <Rudy> "Our souls are already forfeit," laments Rudy. "This is the proper time to drown our sorrows."
[16:09] <@Ebiris> Leaning herself closer against Henrietta and seeming to whisper something seductively in her ear, the Jovarese girl actually hears, "If you've got more money you can just wash it off and come back, you know," she points out, "But I'll see you in hell either way!" is said more loudly as she backs off and the two bouncers move to flank Henrietta and Rudy outside.
[16:10] <@Henrietta> "Is that considered a proper date? Drinking together unto oblivion?" Henrietta asks Rudy, smiling at the faux devil in gratitude and taking Rudy's arm.
[16:12] <@Ebiris> Ilona and Lily happily follow Lucie to the side of the gaming hall where a few tables are lined up near the bar and the doors leading to the lavatories. A few others are drinking here, but it's mostly quieter than amongst the gaming tables. "I don't think the games are rigged, but I think the odds mean if you keep gambling you always lose," Lily nods to Lucie's earlier point as they sit.
[16:13] <Rudy> "Oh, heavens no! We can do that every night," admits Rudy, as they're escorted out. "Shall we go again?" he whispers. "Or should we seek our fortunes elsewhere? The night is yet young!"
[16:14] <@Henrietta> "The ghoullette girl told us we could come back if we washed it off," Henrietta confides in him just as quietly. "But I will follow you wherever you take me. I decided to take your advice after all and have more fun!"
[16:14] <@Ebiris> Leaving the main hall and back into the entrance, Rudy and Henrietta see Cherise and her sister still gamely baiting more patrons in. In this case it's a familiar white-haired elf, as Zani blinks her ebony eyes at the pair. "Rudy, Henrietta? Have you two lost so quickly?" she asks in surprise.
[16:14] <Lucie> "Not one for numbers," Lucie says, sipping at her ale as she takes a seat. "I hear if you're real good at figures, there's ways to better your chances, at least. Haven't got that discipline when it comes to games, though. How's the wine? Worth a gold and a bit of your soul, or watered as the ale?"
[16:15] <Rudy> "
[16:15] <@Henrietta> "We gambled big," Henrietta confirms. "But still, what a pleasant surprise to chance upon you here!"
[16:16] <Rudy> "I'm afraid so," replies Rudy, lamenting. "Our souls are gone forever! Did you see Lucie in there, Henri? We really didn't wander around much, did we?"
[16:16] <@Ebiris> "It's a bit too sweet," Lily makes a face after taking a sip while the more composed blonde smiles sedately, "It's fine, really. Were you here from the start? I'd hope to notice you, but it is a big crowd..."
[16:17] <@Ebiris> "Yes, it is expensive for me to pay that money and my soul!" Zani agrees, nodding quickly. "Lucie could not pick a more cheap place to meet?"
[16:17] <@Ebiris> "Oh, come on, what do you ever use your soul for, anyway?" Cherise asks goadingly while the two bouncers hesitate a moment to allow the conversation.
[16:18] <Lucie> "Oh, I'd just begun," Lucie says. "Spent my few winnings on our drinks, actually. Supposed to meet friends here, but I haven't seen 'em around. Wonder if they got themselves thrown out already." She shrugs.
[16:19] <Rudy> "Well, we wanted to make a night of it," replies Rudy. "We'll be seeing you soon!"
[16:19] <@Ebiris> "The owner put on quite a show at the start, you missed it," Ilona observes with a small smile. "He seems quite a jolly fellow if you don't know the rumours about him."
[16:20] <@Henrietta> "It was Lucie's idea?" Henrietta asks Rudy quietly.
[16:20] <Lucie> "Oh yes? What'd I miss? And rumors, is it?" Lucie leans forward, cocking a conspiratorial ear at the suggestion!
[16:20] <@Ebiris> "I hope I do not lose so quick!" Zani complains, begrudgingly scrawling an X on the contract. This seems acceptable enough because she's promptly handed a load of chips and sent inside, while Rudy and Henrietta are ejected into the night!
[16:22] <Rudy> "We should get into it, shouldn't we? After all, the same people can't bet twice," notes Rudy, raising a hand to her chin. "So, let me ask you. Apart from my own, of course, what kind of looks would your ideal date have, hmm?"
[16:24] <@Henrietta> "Ah, so I see," Henrietta muses, using her magic to try and clean her face off the lipstick. "How about you go as Liamae and I can be Tobin, then? Zani would be so surprised!"
[16:24] <Rudy> Rudy starts. "You want me to enter as... a woman?"
[16:24] <@Ebiris> "It was really just a lot of the fat man talking," Lily puts in. "And that devil yelling," she sends a long suffering look up at the bird-cage hanging from the ceiling. "Yes," Ilona lowers her voice and likewise leans forward. "He used to lead one of the gangs in Salerno about ten years ago... so the rumour says, anyway."
[16:25] <@Ebiris> The lipstick is readily removed by Henrietta's arcane puissance.
[16:25] * @Henrietta raises an eyebrow. "The challenge is too much for you?"
[16:25] * @Henrietta directs her arcane powers to clean Rudy's face as well, next.
[16:28] <Lucie> "Well, now, there's nothing wrong with trying to better oneself, is there?" Lucie says. "Well, sorta rising up..." she adds, given the manner of business they inhabit. "Wonder which gang it was...That devil up there...magic, you think? I took a good look at it, not a goon in a suit."
[16:28] <Rudy> Rudy flinches, ever-so-slightly. "It's not about whether it's challenging or not! It's, you know- my shirt, it's pretty tight."
[16:29] * @Henrietta laughs. "Alright. How would your ideal date look like, then? I must admit I never considered this much, and short of Lady Lavinia's friend, who may not appreciate this if he learns of it, I have no real preference."
[16:29] <@Ebiris> "Oh, I think I saw one of my friends," Lily suddenly pipes up... though Lucie didn't notice her actually looking anywhere in particular. "Can you two wait here? I'll be back in a minute," she says, getting up and heading onto the gambling floor.
[16:29] <@Ebiris> Ilona just nods and lets her go, "You're right, it's very commendable," she smiles at Lucie, "But people like that make a lot of enemies, don't they? If he's been laying low all this time, I wonder if that means he outlived them?"
[16:32] <Lucie> "Could be he made real sure he outlived them before he went legit," Lucie adds. "Might be as well they were just local thugs, not gonna follow him out of the old neighborhood, you know? Some of 'em, they just stick to their own turf, don't much care what goes on outside. Or, you know, that's what you hear."
[16:35] <@Ebiris> "And I'm sure you've heard a lot, right?" the blonde favours Lucie with a secretive smile. "Of course it's just rumours and hearsay, I haven't spoken to anyone who knows the full story. He did at least seem harmless earlier tonight."
[16:35] <Rudy> Rudy thinks back, and hits upon the one untouachble girl in his life. "Ok, there was this one girl," he replies. "I saw her exactly once, I think... three years ago? You know, I was still a boy, just figuring out girls. She was tall, you see, and had long, yellow hair that ended in these little spirals, beads through it and a silver tiara; absolutely perfect skin, the sort royalty have. There
[16:35] <Rudy> was a spiral birthmark just here-" He taps his shoulder- "-she kept them bare. I couldn't even talk to her. She wasn't ostentatiously busty, but not all that flat, either... I was a commoner, you see? I couldn't approach her, but she stopped in our street for something."
[16:37] <Rudy> "She had to be my first crush. To be honest, she was probably the first crush for me and all my friends," he admits.
[16:38] <Lucie> "Well, you know, I keep my ears open to what's going on around me, is all," Lucie says. "You know...I am glad to see you here. My friends, I dunno what they've got into, but they're not anywhere hereabouts, that's sure. Nice to lose my money with a friendly face at my side...Lily, she gonna be alright on her own wandering out there? Little thing didn't look used to this kind of crowd."
[16:38] * @Henrietta takes that description in, listening and nodding where appropriate, before forming a mental image of the woman. Some things need to be adjusted, such as her figure, but she had seen plenty curly-haired aristocratic blondes in her life. An invocation of magic, and as it washes all the way down and shifts her dress into a gown better matching her new appearance, Henrietta asks Rudy, "How
[16:38] * @Henrietta is this? If I make it more authentic, it might be difficult for me to breathe, again."
[16:39] <Rudy> Rudy pauses for a moment, and laughs. "It's not quite the same, but how could it be?" he admits. "For such a short description, it's pretty damn close!"
[16:41] <@Ebiris> "At worst she'll lose her money and get kissed by one of the terrible fiends skulking hereabouts," Ilona laughs, a passing bat-winged waitress pausing to laugh and blow a kiss towards your table. "I'm sure she'll be fine, and it does her some good to be out and about. She's probably been too sheltered growing up."
[16:41] <@Henrietta> "I even added the birthmark, but I sincerely hope no one will be able to verify that," Henrietta says proudly. "Now it is your turn. Let me see... can you match my complexion, you think? I am a bit homesick at times."
[16:41] <Rudy> "Is that all?" asks Rudy, curiously.
[16:42] <@Henrietta> "I never really thought about it until now," Henrietta admits. "I have my idea, as you know, but they are very much vague."
[16:42] <Lucie> "Can think of worse fates than that," Lucie says, with a nod to the help. "Nobleborn, I guess? Looked it a bit, spent most her time behind manor walls probably?"
[16:45] <Rudy> Rudy shrugs, and taps the side of his head. His tattoos slip away, and his skin tone darkens to a shade in imitation of Henri's. But that wouldn't be enough; his face grows a little more angular, and his eyes a little rounder. Normally clean-shaven, his face is soon lined by sideburns and a sharp moustache. "How about this?"
[16:46] * @Henrietta gives him a thumbs up. "I think a moustache adds much to a man!"
[16:47] <Rudy> "I used to think so, too! But it really doesn't go with the tattoos," admits Rudy. "But now, with this spell, I can be anything! For.. five minutes." He shakes his head. "Quick enough for a giggle, but not long enough for fun. Shall we?"
[16:48] <@Henrietta> "We shall," Henrietta confirms, ready to head back in!
[16:48] <@Ebiris> Thus the duo head back inside...
[16:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[16:48] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15." [1d20=10]
[16:49] <@Ebiris> The two fiendish greeters blink a bit, looking Rudy over, but quickly put their sultry smiles back on and wind up the sales pitch inviting the new arrivals to sign over their souls for a chance at stealing the riches of Hell!
[16:50] <Rudy> "The problem is," notes Rudy, once they're past the gatekeepers. "Is that I've never heard a Jovar man speak. Alas, the accent is all I'm missing, no?"
[16:51] <@Henrietta> "I suppose you cannot have everything," Henrietta muses, her soul now signed away twice over. "Do I sound so much different from the local girls, you think? Is it distracting? Because I thought I did a very good job with Alison!"
[16:52] <Rudy> "You can be exotic when you try. Actually, I wonder if you truly realise..."
[16:52] <@Ebiris> "Not noble, just rich," Ilona tells Lucie, taking a sip of her wine. "You know, I've never been able to decide if that's better or worse. Either way, Lily's a big girl now and needs to get out and about more." Meanwhile Rudy and Henrietta re-enter the unholy halls of gambling, seeing Zani lingering near the ghoulette wheel, but no sign of Glenn or Lucie immediately.
[16:52] <@Henrietta> "In a good way?" Henrietta asks hopefully as Rudy trails off.
[16:54] <Rudy> "Of course! When I go out with you, I know there are many jealous eyes on us," notes Rudy, grinning.
[16:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: make perception checks, everyone?
[16:55] <@Henrietta> "It is very reassuring to hear that!" Henrietta happily responds, before indicating Zani for Rudy, in case he missed her. "We should go and say hi, you think?"
[16:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8 Zani
[16:55] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 Zani and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[16:55] <Lucie> "Little enough difference from where I'm used to standing," Lucie says with a shrug. "How about yourself?" she prods. "If you don't mind my asking. Family, background...suitors?"
[16:55] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[16:55] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 3." [1d20=1]
[16:55] <Lucie> roll 1d20+12
[16:55] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32." [1d20=20]
[16:55] <Rudy> roll 1d20
[16:55] * Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20 and gets 14." [1d20=14]
[16:57] <@Ebiris> While Henrietta and Rudy are cheerfully oblivious, Zani glances over towards one of the poker tables near the chest of hellish treasure, and Lucie can see the lavatory door open slightly, the sound of someone heard mumbling behind it...
[16:57] <@Ebiris> OOC: everyone roll init, but it's a surprise round so only Lucie and Zani can act
[16:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+10 Zani
[16:58] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+10 Zani and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[16:58] <Rudy> roll 1d20+5
[16:58] <Lucie> roll 1d20+6 ?!?!?!
[16:58] * Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[16:58] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 ?!?!?! and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[16:58] * @Henrietta turns to follow Zani's look ever-so-slowly....
[16:58] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3
[16:58] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 and gets 21." [1d20=18]
[16:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 ???1
[16:58] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 ???1 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[16:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5 ???2
[16:58] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 ???2 and gets 16." [1d20=11]
[16:58] <@Glenn> roll d20+4 I call dibs on killing the ghoul wheel thing.
[16:58] * Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 I call dibs on killing the ghoul wheel thing. and gets 13." [d20=9]
[16:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 ???X
[16:59] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 ???X and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[16:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 bouncers
[16:59] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20 bouncers and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[17:00] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > ???X > Zani > Henrietta > ???2 > Glenn > ???1 > Rudy'
[17:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie, if you care to react to the noise from the lavatory, now's the time.
[17:02] * Lucie looks up at the warning sound--she's not sure what it is, but hanging with a slum gang leaves one with certain instincts! She stands up, looks towards the source of the noise as she summons a coat of stars to protect her from whatever might be about to happen.
[17:04] <@Ebiris> Zani seems to tense up and close her eyes while Ilona's eyes widen at Lucie's display, she's just about to make a comment the casino is suddenly engulfed in a blaze of blinding hellish light from one of the fiendish braziers set to provide atmospheric illumination!
[17:05] <@Ebiris> OOC: will saves, everyone except Zani who closed her eyes
[17:05] <Lucie> will 1d20+8 c'mon Iron Will
[17:05] <Rudy> roll 1d20+5
[17:05] * Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 and gets 7." [1d20=2]
[17:05] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+6
[17:05] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+6 and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[17:05] <Lucie> roll 1d20+8 c'mon Iron Will and proper formatting!
[17:05] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+8 c'mon Iron Will and proper formatting! and gets 25." [1d20=17]
[17:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 bouncers
[17:06] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20 bouncers and gets 13." [1d20=13]
[17:06] <@Glenn> roll d20+3
[17:06] * Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+3 and gets 10." [d20=7]
[17:10] <@Ebiris> The burning light engulfs the casino like the flames of hell itself rising up to consume its sinful patrons! All around people start to scream and panic as they are rendered blind by the display, though Henrietta and Lucie both possess the wherewithal to squint their eyes against the glare until they can see, patrons and staff alike flailing and crying out in despair at their inability to see, a few opportunistic ones retaining their sight scooping up handfuls of chips while others try to tend to their friends. But amidst the chaos a group moves with purpose, their leader seemingly a curly haired woman who yells "Loot what you can, boys!" and targets Zani with some sort of spell. Meanwhile a figure dashes out from the lavatory past Lucie, a robed and goateed man in the garb of a stereotypical wizard, clutching a scroll in his pale hands!
[17:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 Zani save
[17:10] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20 Zani save and gets 4." [1d20=4]
[17:10] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[17:10] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > ???X > Zani(dazed) > Henrietta > ???2 > Glenn > ???1 > Rudy'
[17:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: and we'll pick this up next week
[17:11] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > ???X > Zani(dazed) > Henrietta > ???2 > Glenn > Bouncers > ???1 > Rudy'
[17:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1 rounds blinded
[17:11] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+1 rounds blinded and gets 2." [1d4=1]
[17:11] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > ???X > Zani(dazed) > Henrietta > ???2 > Glenn(2nrd blind) > Bouncers(2rnd blind) > ???1 > Rudy(2rnd blind)'