Fantasy Saga of the Seven Sins - The Second Cycle

[Lord-Leafar]

As Saif fades from view into the darkness of the back alleys, so does his humble posture and demeanor, lost from sight from any passerby, the young Solar dismisses his mortal persona and becomes the Shadow Sentinel. His every step nothing but the faintest of whispers, his movements agile as he navigates to the back of the casino, cloaked by his ability to remain unseen, and aided by the magical enhancements of his suit, the Dark Blade searches for an unlikely entrance to the casino's building, surely a window of some sort into the back offices. As his eyes scan the building, he also focuses his will into the sight of essence to aid him in his search.

Spoiler

Activating the Cloaking Device of the Armor to increase the difficulty to being spotted, as well as the Essence sight of the armor to look for anything interesting as well as a window into the building, rolling stealth and another awareness roll for it with a +1 stunt.


8 sux on the stealth roll, and 3 on the awareness roll.


[dice]5689[/dice]


[dice]5690[/dice]

 

[Seeker of the End]

Saif easily makes his way into the Casino without anybody noticing his location, slipping as easily as a shadow in the night. But unfortunately he is unable to figure out anything too decisive. However, he does manage to notice one oddity. Consistent individuals, such as a wealthy Dragonblooded in splendid robes, a fat merchant with several concubines, and a few other wealthy individuals are consistently winning some of the games a bit too consistently. They lose occasionally, but overall they are fairly lucky.

 

[WarDragon]

Viktor rolls his eyes slightly as he stalks over towards where Opal is shouting and blushing at Darian. "Ladies," he says in a lethally calm voice, "enough. I do not know what kind of... strange and unusual history lies between the two of you, but this is neither the time nor the place to be airing it. If you cannot stop baiting one another, then you have my blessing to go off somewhere and fight, or do... whatsoever else is needful in order to work these outbursts from your system. Just as long as it is done in a place where half of Gem - and more to the point, I - do not have to listen to it."


"That being said, it may be wise to accelerate our timetable somewhat. I believe have an alternative suggestion to waiting out Marlon at the tournament... and perhaps an idea regarding your 'tangle in fate,' as well."

 

[Rykon]

Renost nodded to Viktor, "I agree." Placing his hands on the two ladies shoulders he would look at both of them with a cordial smile, "How about we channel some of this into productive rage, hm? I'm sure between the average nobleman's laundry list of sins you both can find reasons to enjoy ruining this one's life." Looking back up to Viktor, he continued his effort to redirect the tension. "Alright Boss, what's the plan?"

 

[Sherwood]

Darian laughs. "Of course, sir. I will behave myself with all my actions with you and your people. Now, let us see what this tournament has in store for us."

 

[Random Word]

Opal stumbles back as Renost's hand falls on her shoulder, startling her from her daze. She nods absentmindedly at his comment before the familiar sound of Viktor's voice pulls her unfocused eyes away from Darian and back to the present. Having identified safety and certainty, she all but runs to his side, carefully placing him between herself and Darian at all times. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry. Whatever you need, tell me, and I'll make it so," she replies quietly, still shaken.

 

[WarDragon]

Viktor turns Opal to face him, and cups her chin, raising it to look him in the eye (and incidentally moving her out of the way). "At the moment, Opal, what I most need from you is for you to control yourself," he says softly, with a touch of concern. "You are beginning to worry me. Can you do that for me?"


"Now, as to my plan," he continues, facing back towards the Sidereals. "I have a strong suspicion that your goal and mine are, in fact, one and the same. I have heard rumors that Trasti Marlon has recently acquired a singularly potent artifact, which is responsible for his recent rise in good fortune. If my guess is correct, then he is wielding only a fraction of its true potential. I mean to take it from him. What effect this may have on the fabric of the Loom, I cannot say, but I can promise you that I will be more responsible than a petty noble who uses it only to bring in more gamblers."


"I am going to reconnoiter a bit before the tournament begins, by paying a visit to Marlon's primary casino. You are free to accompany us if you wish."

 

[Random Word]

Opal's eyes look briefly worried as she considers Viktor's request before they harden with resolve. "I just can't be around her," she replies quietly, her eyes darting away. "I'll try to control my temper. For you," she says, resigned. She continues drinking desperately, barely paying attention, as Viktor outlines the plan. Part of her wishes wine affected her like it did when she was mortal, though she doesn't really remember how that felt anymore. Like wine affected the mortals around her, then.

 

[Rykon]

"Sounds like a fun gathering, though I probably ought to take a moment to wear something more formal." Renost tapped his amulet to form his typical combat attire into something more resembling a noble's suit, though still similar to the original style. "Higher thread count, polished shoes, drop the hood, and long sleeves, I think this should do." He paused, then began to pry into the plan. "So what do we actually have on the layout and security of this casino?"

 

[WarDragon]

"That will do, yes. Anyone who looks to have plenty of jade and silver to lose is welcomed with open arms at this establishment. It has expanded greatly since I was last there, but I doubt the layout has been significantly changed. As for security... if all goes well, it will not be an issue. If not, then, well. With the possible exception of the artifact itself, I sincerely doubt there is anything that even one of the four of us could not handle."

 

[Rykon]

Renost tapped at his chin for a moment, "Hm... I'm no good with locks, any one here a capable thief? I'd rather not deal with the trouble of just cracking things open the whole time."

 

[Random Word]

"Master Thief who owns nothing," pronounces Opal, absentmindedly. "I forgot a few, sorry."

 

[WarDragon]

"I have some small skill in the crafts of infiltration, a holdover from before my Exaltation, and more of a hobby these days," Viktor admits. "Opal's talents in that arena far outstrip my own, however," he says with a small nod towards her.


"Shall we be off?" Despite making it sound a question, he begins walking towards the casino, his guards falling into step behind him.

 

[Random Word]

Opal strides onto the casino floor with a gravitas and majesty the Despot could not summon in his wildest dreams; not merely as if she belongs there, but as if she owns the place. She favours anyone who looks like they may be about to summon the courage to question her presence with a look of such withering disdain as to crush the soul of a Nephwrack. She squeezes Viktor's hand briefly before vanishing into the crowd, effortlessly snatching some of the highest valued of the intricately painted ceramic chips which pass for currency within the casino between holding animated and enthusiastic conversations with complete strangers as if they were long lost friends, leaving many puzzled as to where exactly they met her but certain they had. She doesn't bother snatching the keys to the back rooms - those locks will hold her up for less than a second - and instead focuses on gathering rumours and getting a feel for the room, learning who is important and worth further investigation, and what might be worth stealing.

Spoiler

2m Many Pockets Meditation for making chips vanish, I'll roll Larceny if you'd like but my pool is huge and I think these are all mortals with maybe a Lost Egg here or there.


6m First Manipulation Excellency, 12 Manipulation + 6 Socialize


[dice]5722[/dice]


Guess Opal wasn't in a partying mood.

 

[Seeker of the End]

Opal manages to notice that several of the patrons are getting lucky fairly consistently, almost TOO consistently. Said lucky people are the richest ones here while everyone else seems to be losing a lot more money than they are making. It doesn't appear that they are being accused of cheating though, and to be honest none of them seem to be doing anything suspicious.

 

[WarDragon]

I hadn't thought of it before... it's the first time I've been here without Maxim. Hm. I will be seeing you soon, brother, yes.


While Opal flits about the room, Viktor simply buys a pile of chips, and, using his keenly honed sense of wealth, homes in on a table with some of the high-rollers, and an empty seat. "I trust there's room for one more, gentlemen. Deal me in, would you?."

Spoiler

Using Whiff of Greed and Fear to find a place where a lot of money is piling up in one person's hands, and others are getting desperate. If there's any kind of roll involved, I'll play it low the first few hands to test the waters, then start "cheating..." with a cooler description of course.


Essence sight is still active.

 

[Sherwood]

Darian will slowly circulate through the crowd, occasionally trying her luck at various games, trying to spot just how the handful of winners are consistantly doing so well.

 

[Random Word]

She immediately gravitates to their table and watches a hand for anything untoward, whether mundane, manipulations of fate, or essence use. Intrigued to see nothing of the sort, she flips the buy in to the dealer at the opening of the next hand and takes a seat, smiling fetchingly at the assembled players, sizing each of them up in turn. "Plentimon is smiling on someone today," she notes, cheerfully, as if spotting the pile of tokens across the table for the first time. "Let's see if I can't charm some of that luck back my way." Being quite certain they're cheating in a way she can't perceive, Opal considers it a point of honour as an accomplished cardshark to see if she can't out-cheat them at their own game. At worst, she loses someone else's money, at best she learns something of what's going on. Either way, she'll have a much needed opportunity to relax and have fun.


"So, has everyone heard that delightfully salacious rumor about Yuse the younger of House Larkin?" she asks with a mischievous grin, winking at Viktor as he takes a seat, making idle small talk with the lucky winners and learning as much as she can about them.

Spoiler

If this will be multiple rolls, I'll Instinctive Attribute Mastery Dexterity and keep myself at 12 Dex throughout, otherwise 6m for 1st Dex Ex for sleight of hand and general deception. If you'd like I can do Socialize again, as well.


Sleight of Hand (12 Dex + 6 Larceny + 6 Essence (Sleight of Mind))


Since I don't think you're awarding stunts manually, I'm going to assume a 2 die stunt unless corrected either way. Is that okay?


[dice]5724[/dice]


Wow, Opal is clearly just entirely off her game today.

 

[Seeker of the End]

Viktor's essence sight reveals something odd about the player that is doing the best, a small flicker of azure essence in their clothing. It appears to be a very tiny amulet of some kind, but it's also pretty powerful. It's undoubtedly the most valuable item that he doesn't own.


Opal on the other hand manages to subtly cheat her way into the game, but doesn't manage to quite take over the lead from it's current holder: a rather fat merchant with a few concubines with him. She is doing better than everybody else though.

 

[WarDragon]

Viktor tries to unobtrusively study the amulet while continuing to play hands as they come. He relies on the skill gained by gaming with his brother as a youth, and many long hours of deals made over a card table in his days as a Scavenger Lord. If that is not enough, and the deck remains stacked against him despite the obvious wealth he is throwing around, he begins pitting his own avaricious essence against whatever is twisting the odds towards the House's favorites.

Spoiler

Analyzing the artifact, as per rules in AESS:


[dice]5725[/dice]


That's enough to identify the effect of an unknown Charm, Spell, or artifact.


Also, using the 1st Draconian Excellency (cap of... Wits + Larceny? Essence + Larceny?) To enhance my plays and try to tilt the odds in my favor. Personal Essence only, of course.

 

[Seeker of the End]

From the looks of it, the artifact appears to be rather mundane at first glance, being nothing more than a small disc filled with sand but upon closer inspection, the sand is not sand at all. It appears to be various jewels and magical materials ground into a fine powder that is practically like sand, and said sand is in fact is tilting tilting the odds of the game in favor of the holder. The merchant himself can't use essence, but the artifact is doing most of the work for him. (Mechanically, the amulet adds (essence or 7, whichever is greater, rounded up) automatic successes to rolls that acquire wealth.)

 

[WarDragon]

Oh my... it's as if it were made just for me. It's all Viktor can do to keep himself from reaching out and taking the delightful bauble... it's wasted on a fat slob of a mortal such as this. He forces himself to remain calm, however, iron discipline staying firm despite the raging greed inside.


"You play a fine hand of cards, sirrah, I must admit. Almost as if Plentimon himself had favored you. What is your secret?," he asks as he examines his next hand.

 

[Rykon]

Renost walks up behind Viktor, acting the role of the humble attendant of a wealthy man, bowing politely, and speaking in a slow quiet tone. "Ah, master, I heard you needed service here. This table looks woefully dry so I brought some wine." Renost paused for a moment to put emphasis on the next statement. "If you need more refreshment, just write it down and I will make sure to acquire anything you might want." Renost winked as he left a wine flask at the table then took a few steps back to give the gamblers some space.

Spoiler

Activating Lion Mouse Stratagem again. Just to make sure no one questions my presence.

 

[Seeker of the End]

The merchant laughs heartily, in a wonderful mood from the flow of cash coming his way, "It wouldn't be a secret if I told everyone who asked me that! It's nothing special really. Relax and enjoy the game!"

 

[WarDragon]

Even so minor a command sets his back up. "Come now, surely you don't think you're the only one to have some little ritual or trinket that he thinks draws favor, do you? Personally, I've never believed in that sort of thing; the gods are such fickle creatures, entirely unreliable, right up to Fate itself. I have always preferred to... make my own luck. Wouldn't you agree?"


He fingers the jewel at the clasp of his own coat, hanging in nearly the same spot as the merchant has his amulet. "The lady's play, I believe," he says nodding at Opal, turning his attention back to the cards. Viktor's keen mind analyzes patterns of play, flashing through the most likely hands of each other player, and strikes at the moment of greatest profit.

Spoiler

[dice]5733[/dice]


Rolling Int + Larceny, with full Excellency.