Jetta Moore looks aghast at the lack of etiquette, she turns her back on Falkas and taking Sorith by the arm says in a loud voice "Come this way dear, you can play with me and we can show these silly boys what winning looks like” she leads Sorith to the table and says “This is Sorith and she is new to the game, so she can sub for me but I will help her. I realise that it’s a bit unusual but anyone who wants can take it up with my Mother”. At the mention of the elder Mrs Moore no one at the table seems inclined to argue. The other players all feel that they stand more of a chance against Sorith anyway.

Falkas blinks, then walks to Elovar and/or Chrys, "We've got a big problem." He says quietly, "Someone we know has found their way to hell."

Quote from Snievan >>

Falkas blinks, then walks to Elovar and/or Chrys, "We've got a big problem." He says quietly, "Someone we know has found their way to hell."

Elovar looks a little surprised at this pronouncement.  "Well, that's a bit histrionic. I don't know whether my associate, Sorith, will really take to three-dragon ante, but I wouldn't say that it's hell.  On the other hand, it might be torture for her teacher."  He nods toward Jetta.

Conscious of the tiefling guard nearby, Elovar turns and gestures toward the display case, saying, "Have you seen the statue of Tyche, sir?  They say that it's part of the prize for the winner of the tournament." 

In a lower voice, he whispers, "As you exit, turn left at the canal.  Don't follow too closely."

Louder, he says to Chrys, "Chrys, let's go grab a drink.  It sounds like there will be plenty of time before the finals of the tournament."

Then he leaves the room (with Chrys?), turns left.  He's looking for a spot far from any of the security mirrors or any security guards.  Maybe in the hallway toward the stairs to the restaurant or the alcove formed by the walls between the spa and the baths.  He stops there to fuss over his clothing and hat, like a dandy, turning toward Chrys to say, "Do I look OK?  Not too rumpled?"  In a lower voice, "Just adjust my collar and keep up the banter for a moment.  We need to give Falkas a moment to catch up so that we can talk here, away from the guards and security mirrors."

Sorith also blinks, the first thought coming to her mind leaving her: "Huh?"

A sigh leaves the dragonborn, however, as she allows herself to be lead over to the table, though not without shooting Elovar a glare that could wither even the driest paint. "For the last goddamn time: I am NOT your associate!" This is bad. This is bad. This is very, very bad. Oh, Great Bahamut, what did I do to deserve this?

She grins nervously, raising a hand in a slight wave when the woman leads her over to the card table, though it feels like a dead weight has suddenly settled in the pit of her stomach. "Hi. Yeah, I have no idea what's even happening anymore. So, does this game have anything to do with dragons?"

"What a lovely statue, may the best person win here." Falkas grins, puts his hands in his pockets and walks away from the tournament area, glancing over at Sorith before he goes.

He looks around and casually walks to the left and as he arrives where Elovar and Chrys are he lets out a deep sigh.  "Give me one moment." He clears his throat, "So, big guy, he doesn't know too much about the prophecy so we shouldn't have anything to worry about there." He looks up with his eyes briefly, "Now, Elovar, Chrys? Our wonderful mopper is in Acheron in the Resounding Thunder. Apparently this place is quite literal with its connection to hell."

Jetta Moore responds to Sorith "To be honest I'm no expert, however everyone is always super nice to me and I seem to win a lot" there are a lot of mumbles from the other players at this comment. Jetta Moore goes on to describe to Sorith the details of how to play. For the purposes of roll playing the game we will use the following rules:

Step 1. Randomly determine which participant is the dealer. DM will roll a die

Step 2. Each participant (including the dealer) places their opening bet, then rolls five d12s to determine their hand, keeping these die rolls hidden from the other participants.

Step 3. Starting to the left of the dealer and continuing clockwise, each participant reveals one of their die rolls. This step is repeated twice more; on the second and third round, each participant can raise their bet before revealing their next die roll. The other participants each have three options: match the bet, raise their bet (in which case all participants must match that bet in turn), or fold, forfeiting any bet they’ve placed and dropping out of the game.

Step 4. Each participant who hasn’t folded totals their die rolls. The one with the highest total wins. The winner becomes the dealer for the next game (assuming the participant wants to keep playing).

If a player is out of money then they are out of the tournament.

Jetta Moore continues to Sorith "You are playing for me, so we will use my money. That means I do get to keep whatever money we win. However you can have the statue if we win the whole thing. Mother's house is full of statues anyway, so I don't need it"

Quote from Snievan>>

He looks around and casually walks to the left and as he arrives where Elovar and Chrys are he lets out a deep sigh.  "Give me one moment." He clears his throat, "So, big guy, he doesn't know too much about the prophecy so we shouldn't have anything to worry about there."

Elovar gives you a blank look.

He looks up with his eyes briefly, "Now, Elovar, Chrys? Our wonderful mopper is in Acheron in the Resounding Thunder. Apparently this place is quite literal with its connection to hell."

Elovar's looks shaken at that pronouncement.  "What?  Wait--WHAT!?  Sinak?  He's...what!?....How?"  Elovar looks to Chrys to confirm that he's not just misunderstanding the half-drow's sense of humor or something.

He looks a bit exasperated and glares at Falkas like this is all his fault:  "Some day I'll land a job that doesn't go to pieces immediately!  How can things already not be going according to plan when we don't even have a plan?  I just wanted to split up and spend an hour doing reconnaissance and gathering information.  I thought that if we didn't interact too openly, Security wouldn't realize that we're together.  That would make it easier to implement a multi-pronged scheme once we had enough info.  But, no.  We've been here barely 10 minutes, and Sorith is already playing in the tournament for us, and Sinak somehow ended up on another plane."

Having finished venting his frustrations, Elovar tries to settle back into problem-solving mode: "OK.  So, what do we know?  There's a portal to the Resounding Thunder in this place.  That's maybe not shocking news, but why would Sinak go through it?  Where did he go?  Is he on his own or did 12 and Vrakhazar go with him? 

Finding out that Sinak went with the tiefling alone, he suggests, "OK.  I guess our first priority should be figuring out how to bring Sinak back.  Chrys, maybe you could find 12 and the svirfneblin to make sure that they're OK, and then go back to the tournament hall to see how Sorith is doing.  In the meantime, Falkas and I will see what we can find out about Sinak and what we need to do to bring him back.  Let's try not to end up in jail or Archeron before we've even gotten started!"

Sinak waits for 30 minutes and then steps forward, keen to see what the “training” entails.  He keeps his eyes on the place where the portal first appeared, hoping that it will open again.  “How the Hell … how am I going to get out of here…” he thinks to himself, and he waits.  

"You feel better yet?" Falkas asks, raising an eyebrow at Elovar. "Good. We'll just lie our way in, I'm looking for my poor brother who wandered in here with a mop or something like that. We're a bit similar, but I don't think anyone would question our relations. And, I'm not sure if Sorith should be left alone in the tournament room. I don't want any of these rich shits taking advantage of her situation.."

The training isn’t too long. Participants are required to read and confirm that they have read the Unethical Training document. This is a very long document that talks about all the Unethical processes and practices that TR have in place to ensure unfairness. In particular the part on The Bribery and Corruption states that TR have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to refusing suitable bribes and will not deal with any individuals or organisations who do not have a certain level of Corruption.

Meanwhile, with the idiot at the card table:

"That's a relief. I only have ten gold myself, and that's completely fair," Sorith replies, nodding. It... sounded simple enough, anyway, though the barbarian still has absolutely no clue what's even going on or how she even got roped into this mess. "This may not have anything to do with dragons, but thank you for teaching me something new, Jetta Moore."

Quote from Snievan>>

"You feel better yet?" Falkas asks, raising an eyebrow at Elovar. "Good. We'll just lie our way in, I'm looking for my poor brother who wandered in here with a mop or something like that. We're a bit similar, but I don't think anyone would question our relations.

Elovar says, "So...if you're the relative who is panicking about his brother, should I just play the helpful stranger-or-friend who is reassuring you that 'it'll be OK', 'I'm sure we'll find him', and helping you figure out how to talk to management about whether they've seen your brother?"

And, I'm not sure if Sorith should be left alone in the tournament room. I don't want any of these rich shits taking advantage of her situation.."

Elovar tries to be reassuring, "Well, I doubt that they'll get into much trouble right away, and you may need backup in case things go south.

Chrys will be there watching, and hopefully, we'll be back with Sinak soon.  Besides, you know that three-dragon ante involves a lot of bluffing?  I suspect Sorith's opponents won't know what to make of her delivery.  Or even better, if she gets a few lucky hands and wins a few rounds, that could really rattle the professional gamblers.  They'll really hate losing to a beginner.  Or they'll start to second guess whether the dragonborn is really an expert player with a clever 'novice' act.  Or even a 'plant' and an associate of Jetta."

Jetta Moore just smiles and says “Think nothing of it dear. Now we only have 1000gp. I know it’s not much but that is so it's fair and everyone starts off with the same amount. If it’s all gone then we are out. The others can pull out at any time if they want, but it's only 1000gp so I don’t mind if we lose it all. It's only a game really and there isn’t much else to spend money on around here. As we play you can try and scare people off or pretend that we have better hands if you like, some of them are too worried about losing money for some reason. Shall we get started?”

[Optionally you can use a targeted intimidation or deception checks as you go to convince other players to leave the game. The DC will depend on the player and how badly they are doing.] 

Quote from KudosWyvernspur >>

You see a large notice at the docks

RULES IN THE AFTERLIFE:

 

Stay out of the River Styx.

Don’t cheat. (Cheaters never prosper.)

Don’t accost or threaten other patrons or the staff.

Keep your weapons hidden or sheathed at all times.

Only employees may pass through

green-trimmed doors.

WIN, WIN, WIN!

Sinak skims through the unethical training document.  He smiles to himself as he sees an opportunity, perhaps a small window of hope?  He steps forward to speak to whomever is available to receive his TR issue.  “Ummm, excuse me?  Yes… I have an issue here.  I was in the process of being hired in the Afterlife Casino by one Quentin Togglepocket when we ran into an issue.  The word is that he supposedly worships Beshaba and runs a tight ship, but the problem is see… that “ship” is completely bereft of suitable corruption and bribery!  As a new employee I wanted to bribe or steal a key card for nefarious means, but this place is too friggin honorable!  The nerve!  On their front doorstep they have a sign that says “No cheating!  Cheaters never prosper!”   Hah!  Absurd.  Well I tell you, I propose that you return me henceforth to set things aright in that so called casino, to throw a monkey in their wrench and to be a fly in their ointment!  Give me a pass to obtain a security keycard to cause whatever mayhem, corruption and well, frankly.. whatever hell I can provide to set that place as it should be!  It even says so right here in your manual!”  Sinak points to the appropriate section in the document and awaits their reply.  

The initial Thiefling that you spoke to looks up in alarm “Are you serious. OK, I’m calling this up the line. Really it's like people take the training and ignore it. How are we meant to corrupt souls if people wont follow basic procedure, its there for a reason you know. .” she points to a door that you are sure wasn’t there before. It is labelled Escalation “Just go through that door, you can skip the nomal line”

"Please sir, help me find my brother, all he wants to do is mop floors ever since the accident. He wanted to come here to keep everyone safe from the water that's always getting on the floor, but he was supposed to meet me at the restaurant twenty minutes ago." Falkas grins. "Something like that, as long as Chrys is there everything should be alright."

"That works and sure, let's do this. I don't care, either, I'm just hungry." Sorith wasn't really one for deception or even intimidation and she quickly glanced around for the others before noticing that she was by herself, which was a shame since Falkas sounded like he really wanted to play. 

Sinak doesn’t need any further urging.  He gathers himself and heads directly toward the door that says “Escalation”.  As he’s walking, he squeezes the wooden raven carving in his pocket, feeling comfort in it.  “Raven Queen I, belong to you.”  He thinks as he walks, keeping lively, staying on his toes.  As he’s walking down the hallway toward the door he hears some music coming out of odd small little circles in a circular shape spaced evenly along the hallway.  “What does that mean, it’s so dreamy and surreal, but it keeps playing over and over again.  Who is this strange girl from Ipanema?  I’ve never heard of that place….” he mutters under his breath.

Sinak comes to the door, pauses a second looking around, listening for a moment, gathering himself and quickly casting guidance, and then he opens the door and walks through.  

Quote from Snievan >>

"Please sir, help me find my brother, all he wants to do is mop floors ever since the accident. He wanted to come here to keep everyone safe from the water that's always getting on the floor, but he was supposed to meet me at the restaurant twenty minutes ago." Falkas grins. "Something like that, as long as Chrys is there everything should be alright."

Elovar smiles and says, "Sounds like a plan." He tells Chrys that they'll join her in the tournament room as soon as they can, hopefully with Sinak in tow. 

Elovar confirms with Falkas which door Sinak went through. Then he looks around for a tiefling staffer near that door who is not at a fixed location, such as a gaming table or behind a bar. He'd also prefer one who is not a security guard in case things go from bad to worse.

Perception 9

Once he identifies a staffer, Elovar turns to Falkas, gives him a smile, and quietly says, "Showtime."

Then Elovar starts walking with Falkas toward the tiefling staffer, trying to make eye contact with them while maintaining some concerned banter with Falkas. "Yes, you're right to be concerned....No, I'm sure we'll find him safe and sound...."

Once they reach the staffer, Elovar says, "Excuse me, but my friend here is quite distressed, and I was hoping you could help us. Go ahead and tell them what you told me."