Kyt
Junior Member
Posts: 89 
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Post by Kyt on Oct 29, 2022 17:53:18 GMT -5
Rey raised an eyebrow, secretly amused at the discussion. "I ain't sayin' I approve, cheatin's cheatin', after all, but better among friends than enemies. 'Sides, not like it actually worked." She motioned towards Crystal's pile of winnings. "If he's not even winning, not sure it can even be called cheating. Seems like fair odds still. Maybe he just needs the handicap that much?" She gave a grin at the cheating man, trying to keep the joviality, but rib on him a bit to appease Sven.
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Post by uberwulfx on Oct 30, 2022 9:49:20 GMT -5
While pocketing her pot, she turned her head back to the others. "Gentlemen, focus. Vanthumper." She then lowered her voice, leaning in slightly. "What can you tell me about him? Like, really tell me? What's he into, who's he working with?"
Two gold coins were put on the table, her middle and index resting on it as she looked between them. ((23 Persuasion w/adv))
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 2, 2022 14:20:21 GMT -5
Sven scowled across the table at the cheater, and for a moment, it seemed like he hadn't heard Rey or Crystal - but then he shoved the other man's hand away. "This isn't a two-bit thieves' den," he growled. "You know the rules - you play a respectable game, or you answer to the Captain. Get out of here - lucky I don't call one of the bouncers over right now."
The other man rose, fumbling over his apologies, and reached for his winnings - at which point Sven reached over and placed an open hand over them. "Cheaters forfeit their gold. Go find someone else to fleece."
As the other man hurried off, Sven turned his stern gaze on the two women left at his table. "You don't pull that shit here. We work hard for our gold, and the Captain runs a respectable establishment." He leaned back, pulling his opponent's gold back into the pot, and sat back. He gathered the cards and began shuffling, but did not deal anything yet.
"Mn. What's all this about Vanthampur? He doesn't like strangers asking about his business. The Captain has a special arrangement to let him run his business here, and it's too profitable for either of them to risk losing."
He snorted derisively. "Not that you'd catch me taking money from a shark like him. Times might be rough lately, but I'll take my chances with the banks before going to him.
At Vincent's table, Durian grinned. "Good man! Place your bet." Jon added his own gold to the pot and dealt the three of them another hand.
((Vincent, please roll a check to reflect your luck this round!))
As Cerys spoke, Amrik raised a hand and motioned to the bartender, catching their eye. A quick flick of the fingers and he lowered his hand, turning his snake-like gaze back to the two seated across from him.
"A pleasant trick," Amrik said to Cerys, "but one that can lead you into a considerable amount of trouble, if you're not careful. You wouldn't want to inadvertently draw attention from a predator." He glanced at the spined creature as it settled back into place on the back of the couch, glowering at Cerys as though she were responsible for stealing food from out of its mouth.
"Now, I'm afraid you have the wrong impression of the Lantern," Amrik said, looking over to Jinn. "The Captain and I run reputable businesses, here. If you're looking for gossip, I'm sure some of the patrons upstairs can oblige, but down we like to deal in coin and keep things above the table - so to speak."
He flashed a brief smile that was more of a self-satisfied smirk than an expression of friendship. "If I may ask, what's your interest in the Elturians?"
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Post by CautionCat on Nov 2, 2022 21:14:41 GMT -5
Vincent smiled, and added his bet to the table. As the cards were handed out, he glanced around at the others- there was cheating at the other table. Was this table seated with honest men?
((Insight: 23))
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Post by redcoat on Nov 3, 2022 17:25:28 GMT -5
Something about the gentleman made all the hair stand up on the back of her neck- she didn't like it. Or him.
((Insight: 8))
But... he wasn't being overtly awful. She nodded her head. "I'm sorry. Generally I change into something... bigger."
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Post by opius on Nov 5, 2022 19:04:53 GMT -5
Jinn folded his arms and shrugged, glancing briefly at Cerys with a nod toward her tendency toward big-ness. He turned his look back to Amrik. "... Lookin' to make some friends. Their business keeps runnin' cross-ways into our business, and at every turn it seems they're gettin' the shit-end of the stick. Whether it's the part of town they're holed up gettin' ransacked, or some joe getting themselves layed out in the park, bad things happen to Elturians and folks are startin' to see them as a bad omen. We want to hear their side of the story."
He shrugged again. "We were hopin' to run into a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who knows a Hellrider. Or somebody named Mantlemorn."
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Kyt
Junior Member
Posts: 89
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Post by Kyt on Nov 9, 2022 3:14:14 GMT -5
Rey watched the man run off, shrugging at Sven as he explained. "Fair enough. Can respect a place that keeps their nose clean." She took a glance back at where Vanthampur was still talking with their companions. "Not sure I get how that jives with a shark swimmin' around, though."
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Post by uberwulfx on Nov 9, 2022 18:51:21 GMT -5
Crystal grunted softly at Sven's admonishment of the cheater, noting his appreciation for how above board this place seemed to be.
"So the Captain... I like her too, you know? Me and mine, we're tasked with keeping tabs on certain people and while there's a fair bit we know about what goes on, we don't know everything-- and so here we are. Young Vanthampur isn't exactly who I'm looking for, but I'm trying trying to make sure that.." She pursed her lips, glancing at Rey, then tapped the table softly as she focused again on Sven, voice quiet as ever.
"Let's put it like this: I greatly appreciate the work the Captain does, keeping a good legitimate business for anyone with the coin to play as equals, but I work under a kraken that would swallow this ship with the sharks it actually wants. I know the Captain has nothing to do with what I'm searching for, and I'm trying to cross him," she said with a slight motion of her head, "off the list, so we can just go elsewhere. But I need to at least need know what people are saying around him, to see if it's worth showing my hand... so to speak."
((22 Deception))
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 9, 2022 19:51:42 GMT -5
"I may be able to assist," Amrik mused. "I do a lot of business with the Elturians. A Hellrider named Mantlemorn, you say… I could certainly put the word out. What kind of business are you in, that you're searching for a Hellrider?"
Vincent did a covert check of his companions. Durian and Jon both appeared to be honest players, but they had their tells. Durian's smile seemed false to Vincent's eye - forced, even. Jon scowled, but there was a light in his eye that suggested he was please with his hand.
"Alright then," Jon said, "Draw, hold, or fold?"
"Mm… draw," Durian said, swapping out two cards. It was up to Vincent now - he could hold and call, fold his way out of the pot - or risk another ante for more money.
"He's the kind of shark that don't come swimming unless you're behind on your payments," Sven grunted to Rey. "Or you start asking questions he don't like."
Crystal drew his attention, then, and while Sven seemed initially dismissive of her, the more she spoke, the more he seemed to lean away, as though her words sat ill at ease with him - not because he doubted her, but instead because he seemed to believe her.
"It would take some kraken to go after the Vanthampurs," he said slowly, quietly. "The Lady's one of the Grand Dukes. So which of the others are feeding coins into your pockets?"
As soon as he asked the question, he shook his head. "No, don't answer that. I want none of that business. I keep my nose clean of Amrik's dealings. He's ambitious, and smart about his money, but he's been seeing a lot of those Elturians lately - strange, that, considering most of them barely own more than the clothes on their back. It's not like they can afford his interest rates - figured there's some other business opportunity he's chasing."
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Post by CautionCat on Nov 14, 2022 13:04:59 GMT -5
Vincent felt like he wasn't going to do well with this one, but he didn't mind. Maybe the cards will give him something if he drew a couple more cards. Durian was probably bluffing with his hand, and Jon seemed like he was happy about his.
"...Draw." His eyes glanced to where Cerys and Jinn went to, only hearing bits of the conversation.
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Post by redcoat on Nov 16, 2022 12:23:43 GMT -5
Cerys frowned deeply- but was more than happy to let Jinn do the talking. In truth, she was uncomfortable in the place- very quickly feeling out of her depths in this investigation.
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Post by opius on Nov 16, 2022 13:18:13 GMT -5
"Well damn, that's the first good news we heard all day." Jinn sat a bit more comfortably, a grin on his face. "Word was the hell riders saw what happened in Brampton first hand. We got confirmation. Dude's dying words were for his squad- wanted to share what knew before the illness took him." He shrugged.
"... An seein' as the town's on lockdown til somethin's done about that plague, maybe meetin' with the dudes who saw it first hand might help." He gestured toward Cerys. "Cherry knows a thing or two about medicine, but word is there's people in that part of town don't wanna get better. Hellriders might know a thing or two about that. We wanna meet up with Mantlemorn to pass on our condolences and see if they got any actionable information."
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Kyt
Junior Member
Posts: 89
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Post by Kyt on Nov 17, 2022 3:10:16 GMT -5
Rey made a mental note to compliment Crystal on her downright nefarious approach. She'd known a few scuds who could have used some lessons from her.
"Smart, to keep yourself out of deep dealings." Rey grunted to Sven. "Probably keep your life longer." She tapped her claws on the table, sparing a glance at Crystal. "Elturians, huh? They won't like that." She was letting Crystal run this one. Was a pretty decent story.
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Post by uberwulfx on Nov 17, 2022 13:16:06 GMT -5
She was about to kindly warn him against asking questions about the dealings between krakens and sharks, but Sven immediately retracted his question, which gave Crystal some great deal of internal relief. Outwardly, she nodded once more to his wisdom.
"I wanted to just ask around to people who know a thing about a thing, but if you truly don't know what he's into, and as long as this conversation stays at this table, I'll stop making your life difficult, and see which Elturian is willing to let me peek into their closet." Her smile to Sven was soft and genuine. "Thank you for answering as best as you could, I really appreciate it."
Crystal looked back to the others with Amrik, took a few seconds to spy Vincent, then turned back to the table, smile still on her face. "Well, official business is concluded for me, but I think we can get a hand or two in, yeah?"
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 17, 2022 22:00:24 GMT -5
The bartender approached Amrik, Cerys, and Jinn, setting down a glass of elven white wine for Cerys and a glass of whiskey for Jinn, just as Amrik had requested when he first had the newcomers join him. He inclined his head in appreciation as the bartender retreated back to their position behind the counter.
"Fascinating… you're hunting down Hellriders and looking for answers as to the outbreak in Brampton? That's quite a bit of work to be doing, surely not for your own pleasure. What was it that you and your companion do again…?"
Sven grunted and shook his head, setting the deck he had been shuffling on the table and pushed it over to Crystal. "The two of you can play. Feeling like the stakes down here are getting a little high - I'm going to cash out while I can." He looked down at the coins on the table and grunted. He leaned forward and divvied it up into three piles, sharing it between them - six gold each, with two left over.
Eyeing Crystal and Rey for a moment, he shook his head and stood, leaving the two leftovers on the table. "Don't look for me. Best way to avoid krakens and sharks is to not get in the water. With a node of parting, he turned and headed toward the stairs.
Vincent traded in one of his cards for a new one, and found he had pulled the best hand in the game.
"Call," Jon said, laying down his hand with a smug grin. Durian's smile faded and he sighed as he placed his hand down. "Should have known you looked a bit too please with yourself," he mused. Then they both looked at Vincent as Vincent lay his cards down.
Jon's face fell. Durian barked out a laugh. "Looks like you can't win them all," Durian said a chuckle.
Jon harrumphed. "What do you say, clergyman - another round, give me a chance to earn my money back?"
((Current gold in the pot: 50 gold))
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