Erudisia leans back and laughs and then covers her mouth as if hiding an obnoxious smirk.
“Beware, we can not know if lip readers monitor these mirrors. It’s a good idea, and could be both access and distraction for the statuette also. Do any of you recognise the devil on their key cards — or know much of the layers of the hells?”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
" Closest I came to the hells were the " Lusty Succubi/Incubi" books in the curtained off area of the bookstore back home.", Meredith shrugged.
Though Erudisia did give her an idea, she scanned the furnishings and fittings to try and determine if it was all good quality wares or a transparent gloss over cheap and substandard materials......that would give them an idea of what to expect in terms of expensive defensive measures....
Meredith’s experience behind the shop counter pays off. It’s all shiny to be sure. But though the colors are rich, the craftsmanship is merely perfunctory. Corners were cut.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Meredith nods to herself, " I'm just going to perambulate for a short bit, I'll be back very soon."
Leaving the table she did a wide sweep around the perimeter heading north out of the restaurant and then west across the exterior of the ' circus' , passing close to the staff entry and trying to unobtrusively see if the security mirror over it covered someone taking her route if they hugged tight to the circus exterior. She spent the walk appearing to take an interest in various fittings and scenery and occasional artworks.
As she begins her circuit, Meredith passes the tournament room where games are quietly underway.
She notices something unexpected. A glass case against the far wall, in which a golden erinyes statuette - the prize! — stands. Here, not in the vault. A sign at the entrance to the room bears the words, “Welcome to the Grand Minauros Invitational.”
The bard continues walking.
The mirrors are each anchored to a wall at a downward angle twelve feet off the floor. The one near the employee entrance does indeed seem to take in a wide sweep of its immediate area. It seems impossible to enter the employee area without being seen through it. The mirrors are immobile of course, so their visibility is subject to crowd density in their vicinity.
While Meredith explores Erudisia spends her time holding one morsel of food or another on her fork, using it to jab home disguising jokes or conduct conversation or waving in agreement. While she does so, one eye is turned to the waiters in the lower level restaurant.
She keeps an eye on their movements, their eyes, their teeth. Looking to see below the obvious. Are these tieflings, or are these true fiends?
Erudisia is able to keep one of the waiters at the table for a minute’s chat. The conversation is so banal and quotidian — “my mom told me don’t take this job you’re being exoticised but I said that after Casieh left me I didn’t even really know why not and so here I am but I kind of like it cuz especially the people are so nice although the pay could be better and I probably shouldn’t even say that… Enjoy your meal!” — that any thoughts of devilish presence are quickly extinguished
Erudisia nods along encouragingly until the conversation concludes. As they leave she covers her mouth from sight with a morsel, and whispers, “Well, that one is perhaps not a fiend. On to the next.” She waves at the sommelier.
" We should tip big.", Meredith said catching the tail end of the conversation as she seated herself and held a spoon up in front of her face as if using the reflection to check her makeup.
" Doesn't look like theres a way to avoid the mirrors.....If the maps right the way I passed and the one toward the entrance are the only ways in."
Erudisia nods along encouragingly until the conversation concludes. As they leave she covers her mouth from sight with a morsel, and whispers, “Well, that one is perhaps not a fiend. On to the next.” She waves at the sommelier.
The restaurant is small enough that the sommelier is also the head chef. “Is everything to your satisfaction, mademoiselle?,” he asks, using the Elvish word for mademoiselle. “It was my dream to have my own establishment, for many years. And finally, it has come true! Yes, one must put up with… with being exoticized every day. The Hells of the afterlife, Tieflings. Who would have made that connection, I ask you. WHO!!!??” He recovered himself, the last word having come out as a shout. “But sacrifices must sometimes be made, eh? That is life… but oh! Mademoiselle, you must excuse me. I must check the consommé! Enjoy... enjoy!"
As they leave she covers her mouth from sight by lifting her cup to her mouth, and whispers, “Well, that one is perhaps not a fiend. On to the— oh hello Meredith.”
Little One has managed to consume most of the laid-out food on the table without really thinking about it, though to him it was little more than a popped corn snack.
“Is time enter tournament. Will go second table and favor green dragons tonight. That is plan,” he whispers ( ;)).
“I will go with you,” Marliza says. “If a player starts to look drowsy, they’re toast,” she says, her eyes flashing hypnotically.
The two stand, Little One replaces the length of straw between his teeth and they ascend the stairs. The ogre uses his hands on the low stairway ceiling to steady himself as he pushes up through the narrow ascending turns.
You enter the tournament room. The cavern has a 20-foot ceiling with magical lights slowly drifting and bobbing above the card tables and a few sconces on the walls casting a dim ambience. Unlike the melodious clanking and tinkling melodies of the primary chamber, this one seems to shut out most noises. Perhaps the gray-blue rugs covering the floors and the tapestries from the Dessarin Valley depicting blue-white flames combine to deaden the acoustic.
A sign at the entry designates this space as Cania, the eighth layer of the Nine Hells of Baator, a relentless realm of seemingly living cold. Bell’s blue and white ensemble seems to instantly fit the surroundings.
Steps lead to the sunken floor of a gambling haven ringed with pillars of white river basalt. Seven three-dragon ante tables take up the floorspace. A three-foot-high shelf carved into the far wall bears a glass case, displayed in which is a gold statuette of a winged devil. Standing next to the display case is a tiefling security guard.
The five tables closest to the entrance are high-stakes tables (50 gp buy-in) open to anyone, while the easternmost two tables are reserved for the final rounds of the Grand Minauros Invitational tournament. The tournament is in full swing, and the back of the room is cloaked in tense silence as the invited masters contend.
Little One frowns, fishing in his pockets for 50 gold to buy-in. You notice his eyes bulge as he realizes he is parting with his last coin, but he hides it well. A dwarf at the second nearest table, upset, throws down his cards and stomps out of the room. Little One sits in the now unoccupied seat, which groans under his weight, and Marliza standing behind him, empties her purse with enough coins for him to ante up.
Erudisia looks toward the statuette as Little One gets comfortable on his protesting chair and its threateningly bent legs.
One arm fiddles with her bracelet while she inspects the golden devil’s face and form. Is it some great fiend she recognises, perhaps a clue to this unsettling casino? ((Religion check: Nat 20+1!!))
She looks at its guard, the cases mundane features, and the glass that surrounds it, looking for traps both mundane and magical. ((Investigation check: 5. Arcana check: 19))
—
((Can I ask, how noticeable is Guidance as a spell. Some I’ve seen play it as praying to a god or offering a good luck ritual/superstition. If it’s not obviously magic Erudisia can cast guidance on Little One and stay with him as his elegant ‘good luck charm’ while the others do stuff, or else she might go look for Ire, the elf, and see what he knows and whether she can get him arrested/convince him to do something foolish to see if they can get inside).)
Erudisia looks toward the statuette as Little One gets comfortable on his protesting chair and its threateningly bent legs.
One arm fiddles with her bracelet while she inspects the golden devil’s face and form. Is it some great fiend she recognises, perhaps a clue to this unsettling casino? ((Religion check: Nat 20+1!!))
She looks at its guard, the cases mundane features, and the glass that surrounds it, looking for traps both mundane and magical. ((Investigation check: 5. Arcana check: 19))
—
((Can I ask, how noticeable is Guidance as a spell. Some I’ve seen play it as praying to a god or offering a good luck ritual/superstition. If it’s not obviously magic Erudisia can cast guidance on Little One and stay with him as his elegant ‘good luck charm’ while the others do stuff, or else she might go look for Ire, the elf, and see what he knows and whether she can get him arrested/convince him to do something foolish to see if they can get inside).)
(The spell is S/V, requires touching the recipient, and lasts 1 minute. If you wanted to constantly "charge" someone, you'd need to touch them every minute. Parent - child / spouses / lovers, etc. So that might be natural or not. As for how "showy" is it? Probably fairly subtle, but the baseline depends on your version of the spell. What does it look like when Erudisia casts Guidance?)
The buff tiefling security guard standing next to the display case allows Erudisia to examine the statuette but not to touch the case. The display is 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 3 feet tall, and it likely weighs 20-30 pounds. The erinyes statuette within is a Tiny object that weighs 9 pounds. Legends tell that the first erinyes were angels that fell from the Upper Planes because of temptation or misdeed. An old legend called the Erinyes Savior tells of such a fallen angel who took advantage of mortals mistaking her for a celestial, ultimately bringing conquest and corruption rather than goodwill. (Alas, that's all I've got for the Religion crit! If you can think of another way to use that high roll within the next few minutes, ask.)
Erudisia’s arcane examination offers returns. A line of barely visible runes is inscribed around the perimeter of each pane of glass. No doubt a protective spell of some kind, but it would take a detect magic spell to determine more specifics. Anyone could see that the front of the display case is a hinged door with a locked latch.
(Erudisia takes the form of a traditional Gambler’s trophy blessing. She says something positive and wishes them luck, and either kisses them on the cheek, or while touching them on the arm will blow on the object that needs the luck. Any Guidance cast will involve the breath and carry on that air the desirous magic of the Djinni, carrying a little of the reality warping wish power of her patron.)
(For the Religion roll, any famous Erinyes or Celestials who would be involved with money or gambling or games of chance/avenging any of the above?)
Erudisia returns to Little one’s side. She lays one hand on his arm and kisses him on the cheek, “Good luck, I know you’ll do well,” she says, her warm breath playing over his ear. She winks at him, casting Guidance.
Posted in the restaurant are the casino rules, which were also posted at the boat dock:
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!
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Erudisia leans back and laughs and then covers her mouth as if hiding an obnoxious smirk.
“Beware, we can not know if lip readers monitor these mirrors. It’s a good idea, and could be both access and distraction for the statuette also. Do any of you recognise the devil on their key cards — or know much of the layers of the hells?”
" Closest I came to the hells were the " Lusty Succubi/Incubi" books in the curtained off area of the bookstore back home.", Meredith shrugged.
Though Erudisia did give her an idea, she scanned the furnishings and fittings to try and determine if it was all good quality wares or a transparent gloss over cheap and substandard materials......that would give them an idea of what to expect in terms of expensive defensive measures....
History- 16
Meredith’s experience behind the shop counter pays off. It’s all shiny to be sure. But though the colors are rich, the craftsmanship is merely perfunctory. Corners were cut.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Meredith nods to herself, " I'm just going to perambulate for a short bit, I'll be back very soon."
Leaving the table she did a wide sweep around the perimeter heading north out of the restaurant and then west across the exterior of the ' circus' , passing close to the staff entry and trying to unobtrusively see if the security mirror over it covered someone taking her route if they hugged tight to the circus exterior. She spent the walk appearing to take an interest in various fittings and scenery and occasional artworks.
She then headed back to the table.
Investigation-16
Deception- 20
As she begins her circuit, Meredith passes the tournament room where games are quietly underway.
She notices something unexpected. A glass case against the far wall, in which a golden erinyes statuette - the prize! — stands. Here, not in the vault. A sign at the entrance to the room bears the words, “Welcome to the Grand Minauros Invitational.”
The bard continues walking.
The mirrors are each anchored to a wall at a downward angle twelve feet off the floor. The one near the employee entrance does indeed seem to take in a wide sweep of its immediate area. It seems impossible to enter the employee area without being seen through it. The mirrors are immobile of course, so their visibility is subject to crowd density in their vicinity.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
While Meredith explores Erudisia spends her time holding one morsel of food or another on her fork, using it to jab home disguising jokes or conduct conversation or waving in agreement. While she does so, one eye is turned to the waiters in the lower level restaurant.
She keeps an eye on their movements, their eyes, their teeth. Looking to see below the obvious. Are these tieflings, or are these true fiends?
Perception: 5
Erudisia is able to keep one of the waiters at the table for a minute’s chat. The conversation is so banal and quotidian — “my mom told me don’t take this job you’re being exoticised but I said that after Casieh left me I didn’t even really know why not and so here I am but I kind of like it cuz especially the people are so nice although the pay could be better and I probably shouldn’t even say that… Enjoy your meal!” — that any thoughts of devilish presence are quickly extinguished
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Erudisia nods along encouragingly until the conversation concludes. As they leave she covers her mouth from sight with a morsel, and whispers, “Well, that one is perhaps not a fiend. On to the next.” She waves at the sommelier.
" We should tip big.", Meredith said catching the tail end of the conversation as she seated herself and held a spoon up in front of her face as if using the reflection to check her makeup.
" Doesn't look like theres a way to avoid the mirrors.....If the maps right the way I passed and the one toward the entrance are the only ways in."
The restaurant is small enough that the sommelier is also the head chef. “Is everything to your satisfaction, mademoiselle?,” he asks, using the Elvish word for mademoiselle. “It was my dream to have my own establishment, for many years. And finally, it has come true! Yes, one must put up with… with being exoticized every day. The Hells of the afterlife, Tieflings. Who would have made that connection, I ask you. WHO!!!??” He recovered himself, the last word having come out as a shout. “But sacrifices must sometimes be made, eh? That is life… but oh! Mademoiselle, you must excuse me. I must check the consommé! Enjoy... enjoy!"
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
As they leave she covers her mouth from sight by lifting her cup to her mouth, and whispers, “Well, that one is perhaps not a fiend. On to the— oh hello Meredith.”
She listens as Meredith shares her findings.
Little One has managed to consume most of the laid-out food on the table without really thinking about it, though to him it was little more than a popped corn snack.
“Is time enter tournament. Will go second table and favor green dragons tonight. That is plan,” he whispers ( ;)).
“I will go with you,” Marliza says. “If a player starts to look drowsy, they’re toast,” she says, her eyes flashing hypnotically.
The two stand, Little One replaces the length of straw between his teeth and they ascend the stairs. The ogre uses his hands on the low stairway ceiling to steady himself as he pushes up through the narrow ascending turns.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Meredith stood just after Little One and held her hands out to the other two with a slight grin to Marliza.
" Shall we check out the competition, Ladies?"
Erudisia stands. Perhaps, but only briefly. If they’re to gamble now then better to gamble on two hands than one.
You enter the tournament room. The cavern has a 20-foot ceiling with magical lights slowly drifting and bobbing above the card tables and a few sconces on the walls casting a dim ambience. Unlike the melodious clanking and tinkling melodies of the primary chamber, this one seems to shut out most noises. Perhaps the gray-blue rugs covering the floors and the tapestries from the Dessarin Valley depicting blue-white flames combine to deaden the acoustic.
A sign at the entry designates this space as Cania, the eighth layer of the Nine Hells of Baator, a relentless realm of seemingly living cold. Bell’s blue and white ensemble seems to instantly fit the surroundings.
Steps lead to the sunken floor of a gambling haven ringed with pillars of white river basalt. Seven three-dragon ante tables take up the floorspace. A three-foot-high shelf carved into the far wall bears a glass case, displayed in which is a gold statuette of a winged devil. Standing next to the display case is a tiefling security guard.
The five tables closest to the entrance are high-stakes tables (50 gp buy-in) open to anyone, while the easternmost two tables are reserved for the final rounds of the Grand Minauros Invitational tournament. The tournament is in full swing, and the back of the room is cloaked in tense silence as the invited masters contend.
Little One frowns, fishing in his pockets for 50 gold to buy-in. You notice his eyes bulge as he realizes he is parting with his last coin, but he hides it well. A dwarf at the second nearest table, upset, throws down his cards and stomps out of the room. Little One sits in the now unoccupied seat, which groans under his weight, and Marliza standing behind him, empties her purse with enough coins for him to ante up.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Meredith scans the others at the table and puts on her best ' Here to Help ' Customer Service face which is the closest she can manage to ' sultry'.
She leaned forward and planted a kiss on the top of Little Ones head, " You've got this, Boss."
Bardic Inspiration to Little One.
Insight on other players and their ' backup'- 7
Performance/Persuasion to distract other players- 8
Erudisia looks toward the statuette as Little One gets comfortable on his protesting chair and its threateningly bent legs.
One arm fiddles with her bracelet while she inspects the golden devil’s face and form. Is it some great fiend she recognises, perhaps a clue to this unsettling casino? ((Religion check: Nat 20+1!!))
She looks at its guard, the cases mundane features, and the glass that surrounds it, looking for traps both mundane and magical. ((Investigation check: 5. Arcana check: 19))
—
((Can I ask, how noticeable is Guidance as a spell. Some I’ve seen play it as praying to a god or offering a good luck ritual/superstition. If it’s not obviously magic Erudisia can cast guidance on Little One and stay with him as his elegant ‘good luck charm’ while the others do stuff, or else she might go look for Ire, the elf, and see what he knows and whether she can get him arrested/convince him to do something foolish to see if they can get inside).)
(The spell is S/V, requires touching the recipient, and lasts 1 minute. If you wanted to constantly "charge" someone, you'd need to touch them every minute. Parent - child / spouses / lovers, etc. So that might be natural or not. As for how "showy" is it? Probably fairly subtle, but the baseline depends on your version of the spell. What does it look like when Erudisia casts Guidance?)
The buff tiefling security guard standing next to the display case allows Erudisia to examine the statuette but not to touch the case. The display is 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 3 feet tall, and it likely weighs 20-30 pounds. The erinyes statuette within is a Tiny object that weighs 9 pounds. Legends tell that the first erinyes were angels that fell from the Upper Planes because of temptation or misdeed. An old legend called the Erinyes Savior tells of such a fallen angel who took advantage of mortals mistaking her for a celestial, ultimately bringing conquest and corruption rather than goodwill. (Alas, that's all I've got for the Religion crit! If you can think of another way to use that high roll within the next few minutes, ask.)
Erudisia’s arcane examination offers returns. A line of barely visible runes is inscribed around the perimeter of each pane of glass. No doubt a protective spell of some kind, but it would take a detect magic spell to determine more specifics. Anyone could see that the front of the display case is a hinged door with a locked latch.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(Erudisia takes the form of a traditional Gambler’s trophy blessing. She says something positive and wishes them luck, and either kisses them on the cheek, or while touching them on the arm will blow on the object that needs the luck. Any Guidance cast will involve the breath and carry on that air the desirous magic of the Djinni, carrying a little of the reality warping wish power of her patron.)
(For the Religion roll, any famous Erinyes or Celestials who would be involved with money or gambling or games of chance/avenging any of the above?)
Erudisia returns to Little one’s side. She lays one hand on his arm and kisses him on the cheek, “Good luck, I know you’ll do well,” she says, her warm breath playing over his ear. She winks at him, casting Guidance.