Hodon puts on a brave face and says, while still twitching, ‘Yeah, sure right, no problem. May Tymora forgive you and all that.’

Lashaera looks a Hodon, ignores twitching, and says ‘Well done Hodon, your ability to forgive does you credit.’ Hodon beams in response to the praise, but carries on twitching.

Lashaera then addresses the party ‘The Afterlife Casino is a new Nine Hells themed attraction in the Earthspur Mountains. The owner, Quentin Togglepocket, is secretly a priest of Beshaba the foul goddess of bad luck and I’d like you to give him hell. He’s hosting a tournament there. I want you to steal the statuette of Tyche, the original goddess of luck, he plans to award as a prize and bring it here where it can be given its rightful place of honour as a holy object. You may keep whatever else you find, but bring the statuette here and I will consider half your debt to me cancelled.’

Chrys' mouth drops open further and further as she listens to the litany of charges against their party. Did we really do all that? she wonders. "Fire"? "Run for your lives?" Wow, I have no recollection of that at all.  Not for the first time, she promises herself to never drink again.

The fighter tenses up a bit as Baldan explains their visions and the poker-chip theory, which she is not sure if that was really a divination of her sibling's or a clever spontaneous falsehood to get them out of trouble.  No matter, everyone seems to be calming down a bit.

Wait, what? They want us to rob a rival casino?  Well, we certainly could use the cash... but is this some sort of corporate war we're getting ourselves in the middle of? Or worse... a religious conflict?

"You all know me, I'd like to get out of here as soon as we can and if we can make some money while doing it then all the better. So, I'll do it as long as everyone else wants to, but if we do this we'll need maps, building plans, patrol routes, maybe someone entering the tournament." Falkas says with his hands on his hips.

Lashaera nods at Falkas comments and says ‘I’m glad to see that you are taking this seriously.’ Lashaera indicates the elderly female svirfneblin standing next to her and continues ‘Vrakhazar here has visited the place, so maps and information we can provide. Vrakhazar will also accompany you on this mission, although she only speaks under-common and Gnomish so she is unsuitable to enter the competition itself and is obviously far too old to be involved in any fighting or similar activities.’ Vrakhazar just smiles and nods at hearing her name, but otherwise doesn’t understand a word that is being spoken.

"Milady, we are, of course, honored to be chosen for this task. But we are honor-bound to help our friend Baldan to save the world. I'm hesitant to commit myself to another task when the urgency of Baldan's visions may interfere. Unless, of course, Baldan foresees that we must undertake this task for Lady Lashaera..." Here, he looks at Baldan with genuine curiosity.

Shreyras snickers in the back at the retelling of last nights events, especially amused by the gluten intolerance that has now taken Hodon in its clutches. “Oh how wonderful! Normally ya don’t get a job from a prison cell folks, could be a marvelously profitable adventure and all that…. What type of tournament are we talking about? Cards? Dice?”

Falkas pinches the bridge of his nose, then leans against a nearby wall waiting to see what Baldan may have to say about this, "I'm guessing cards, but that may just be my bias against dice, too random for me."

Lashaera responds in a level tone ‘I believe they will be playing Three-Dragon Ante. I don't care how you retrieve the statue, although the more disruption you cause to the Church of Beshaba the better. Are you interested in this opportunity to repay a portion of your debt? Doing menial labour for the next 15 years is also an option as the floors don’t clean themselves.’

Chrys looks at the floors and gulps, then looks to Baldan.  "Well, luv, what do you think? Shall we help the nice priestess crash a party, and pinch a statue for her?"

Baldan doesn't receive a vision at this time.

Falkas hears a voice in his head saying 'What are you doing? You are meant to be making me look good by becoming a hero, not embarrassing both of us before a god. Now beg the High Priestess for her forgiveness, promise to make amends and get out of this cell.'

This is providence I’m telling you! These events are leading us closer to becoming who you want me to be! Do I really have to apologize? Fine.

“Look, I, we, want to make it up to you and cleaning floors is not something I ever want to do again. Right everyone? We’re sorry and wait..” He looks at Vrakhazar, then to the rest of the party, “I can’t even speak to her.. So can someone translate and let’s get out of this cell and start planning, right?” 

Lashaera has a far look for a moment, as if she was listening to something, she gives a small nod and says "Apologies accepted, but the debt remains. You make a good point, now which of you speaks Gnomish or Under-common?"

"Nope, can't speak either. I can speaker louder though. That works right? hehe I kid I kid, someone good with sign language or things like that?" He chuckles as he stands up with a big stretch and a yawn. "We gettin our weapons back for this? Ya know, just in case our peaceful mischief turns into aggressive negotiations"

Baldan seems nervous and continues fidgeting with the glass around their neck. "I cannot see the outcome of this adventure, and I am not so sure that we could save the world even if we wanted..... But it doesn't take a mystic to see that we need to get out of this cell. And if helping this Priestess will achieve that goal, I say we go for it!" As they had spoken they slowly riled themselves up to almost  an inspirational level. But seeing eyes on them, they deflate again and add "That is if everyone else wants to do it and feels good about helping...."

Lashaera responds "Yes all your equipment will be returned. Also please see Hodon for other basic equipment you may need, I will also grant you one healing potion and one potion of Guidance each. Now I'm a little surprised that none of you speak Gnomish, they are a major race, however I'm sure that you will muddle through somehow. She will probably just follow you around and keep an eye on you until you are done. Once you have the statue then she will contact me and I will open a portal for you to return. Oh yes you are travelling there by portal by the way. Here let me mark up the map that Vrakhazar prepared with the common language. Obviously if you try to run she will let me know and things go poorly for Adventures who cross Lady Luck".

"Well I for one intend to stay firmly on Tymora's good side, we need all the help we can get!" says Chrys, with an impish grin.  "Let's go get our stuff and get on our way!"

Lashaera opens the cell door and says "Please see Hodon for any additional equipment needs. Once you are ready please let me know and I will give you the final details and open the portal". 

Vrakhazar hands everyone two Potions each, a crude map and a cookie for some reason only known to herself. She also pats Falkas on the arm and gives him a hug, all the while muttering in Gnomish, which none of you understand.

Falkas accepts the hug grinning, even returns it if he could for the brief moment and stares at the cookie before sniffing it. He shrugs and pops the whole thing in his mouth and opens the map, leaning against a wall, while still chewing. He says with small bits of cookie coming out as well, "Look I lived on the streets for my whole life, I'm lucky I can read at all. Hey Hodon, what kind of armor do you have available? and what do the security mirrors do, let some magic user see into every room they are in whenever they want?"

(Insight 14  on Vrakhazar's hug in game log)