The Wildemount Irregulars (2020)

Alton, the guards shake their heads, clearly not wanting to get into a conversation.

Does Balassar have a specific game in mind?  I can suggest one or two if you like.  And are you playing for money?

Disappointed, Alton will go join Balassar and Silent. "Okay, so what are we playing and how do you play?"

Wash, Trogdor's response is again a feeling rather than words this time, a sense of determination, curiosity and amusement, and then he goes silent. You know that he is moving around somewhere close, though.

Balassar just begins to deal the cards out "How much you want to bet?"

OOC:
Suggest away DM I didn't expect this to segway into a game...lol

Balassar, this is a game you learned in the army from a man who came originally from the Menagerie Coast, and he called it the Gambit of Othe.  

It will play out mostly in DMs, as you need to keep your die roll hidden.  

Each player starts by making a d8 roll, representing your first card.

You all also need to make a Perception check.  

If you wish, you can cheat and re-roll the die, but you also need to Sleight of Hand check to attempt to keep that a secret - I'll check against everyone's Perception and let you know if you spot any cheaters.

The game will continue with the option to ante up each round, and then roll a d6 and finally a d4 in a total of third rounds, with the winner having the highest total score.  But let's start off with just the first round, in your private DM thread with me.

"Maybe just do a practice round before placing any bets?" Alton asks.

Silent puts up 5 gold with a toothy grin. Gotta have some stakes. 

Magnum turns to Alton.  My mother was a bard. I wasn’t being hyperbolic when I said they were charismatic and generally good with words. You seemed, how to put this, less confident than I would have expected.

Alton digs out five gold coins and places them down, "I'm not sure how betting works, so I'll just match your wager, Silent." He looks over at Magnum a little confused as he hides his card, "Oh, well I just started out adventuring to be honest; and I'm still figuring out how to be a bard. I'm also pretty young for a halfling, just turned 20 almost a week ago. To be honest, I'm out adventuring so that I can be like those traveling storytellers. They always had such amazing tales of heroics and villainy, that I wanted to get my own stories to tell back home. That is also the reason that map is so important to me. Before I left home, my dad handed it to me along with my great grandfather's journal and said that out of all of my adventures, finding what that map leads to is the story he wants to hear first; and I want to make him proud of me." Alton's demeanor drops a little as he talks realizing that there is a chance he might lose the map. He gives magnum a half-smile, "It sounds like your mother must have been a great bard. I'm not sure if all bards are great with words. I've heard about one over in Nicodranas that does panting shows. Rumor is he only paints scenery, like mountains and trees and the like, but he has the smoothest and softest voice you'll find on the  Menagerie Coast; and everyone who watches him paint leave super happy."

Balassar smiles placing 5 gold in "Feeling this is the start of a great friendship. Come on Alton, no venture no gain." with that he begins to explain the rules for the game to each of them in detail.

Okay so that's a five gold bet from everyone on the first round. 

Now it's the second round.  Will you call (bet another five gold), up the ante (bet more), or fold?  

Everyone please now roll a d6 (not a d8) in your private DM thread, and give me a Perception check.

If you want to reroll it, give me a Sleight of Hand check.

And don't forget to confirm call, ante up or fold.

Balassar will smile as he throws in 2 more gold "Nothing ventured." he says pulling another card.

Minimum bet this round is five gold, sorry.  So I assume Balassar will throw that in?  What about everyone else?

Silent throws in another five gold, trying to keep his face as expressionless as possible. 

Alton will call and throw in the five gold. 

Third and final round.

Everyone place your bet here - call, raise or fold.

Give me a d4 and a Perception check in the DM thread, and a Sleight of Hand if you want to reroll.

Balassar calls the raise from Silent.

Silent thinks for a moment before upping the ante and throwing in ten gold. 

Balassar and Alton, will you match it, raise further, or fold?

Alton looks at his cards and puts them down pushing them forward. "I'm going to fold."