"Though I've come by my skills honestly... more or less... I have picked up a wee bit of the 'Cant'. Regarding guilds in this city, I've heard things but I'm never sure what to believe. It sounds like tensions have grown lately... so does that mean increased rivalry between guilds for some reason, outside influences trying to gain power, or what?"
"Oh well, it probably has nothing to do with why we're here. Let's see if we can team up for that last 100gp, if we can ever find that guy again. Since I showed up last, this round's on me."
Violet saunters up to the bartender, keeping her hood low and swaying seductively. She pulls her recent 10gp gain out of her pocket and tosses it onto the bar.
"What's the best you've got for me and all my friends?" She gestures around to the non-gamblers in the tavern. "Join us for drinks, on me!"
Gorm will also dredge his brain to recall if he knew what group the snake tattoo belonged to. After a life on the streets he had picked up a lot, but as he tried to steer clear of the hardcore gangs and players he put down as much as he picked up... If he recalls anything he will share it, but most of his attention is on the game and the gamblers.
If a brawl doesn't break out due to the appearance of 10gp in a tavern in the Dock district, and Violet is gambling that it won't due to having the others at her back... here are her tactics:
Anyone who comes over for a free drink gets the hardest shot of whiskey available. Violet will look around for any people who don't come over. She'll also use skills to switch out her full glass for anyone else's empties, making it seem like she bought them yet another shot, while she never actually takes a drink.
(Violet is attempting to rule out others in the tavern as useful sources of information while keeping her eye on the bartender and wanting to question him, and assuming that Gorm is doing the same at the gambling table.)
Gorm, the game is a pretty simple game of poker. Roll insight to see how the round is going. Currently one of the humans with a bushy beard has a decent pile of silvers and coppers in front of him. Upon hearing about the tattoo you recall before meeting your teacher, seeing some thugs around the city with the tattoo, a guild or gang you think.
Jeremiah, you have seen similar tattoos on some gang members you have run from in the past.
Violet, as you hand the gold over to the bartender you feel a lot of eyes on you suddenly. The bartender grunts and pours you each a glass. No one seems keen to chat with a rather strange group of people. The bartender leans in and says, "That would normally cost ya two gold for the lot of them, but you look like you are looking for answers. Make it five and I can do my best to answer them."
Following whatever the norms of the day are, Gorm will join the game once he has a chance. Gamblers can gossip more than a gaggle of old maids but they only do it with other gamblers. He won't delve into questions right off the bat, he'd play at least a few laps before he brought up the topic of who normally players here, big winners and losers, etc. Mainly he'd try to listen and see if he could hear Volo or Floon be mentioned by someone else first.
But information or not, Gorm would enjoy a good night of poker.
Violet leans over the bar, waving the barkeep closer while surreptitiously scooping up the other 5gp.
She whispers to him "Tell me what happened to Floon Blagmaar last time he was here, after Volothamp Geddarm left. Another gp if you can tell me anything I don’t know about the latter. If anything goes pear-shaped and we need to dash quick, I’ll throw whatever’s left of the 10gp over my shoulder if you can point to the quickest safe exit and happen to trip any pursuers.” She winks.
Violet, the barkeep nods and says, "These folk just dislike strangers. As long as your friend over there isn't cheating cards you should be good. Volo comes by sometimes. Bit of an odd one. Bad gambler. He does always have a good story though to tell us. He never does shut up about his book he published. His friend Floon stuck around after Mr. Geddarm left and met up with Renaer Neverember." Across the room a couple of older patrons in the corner sneer, "Chip off the old block, that one!" "Just another spoiled, rich noble who likes to rub our noses in it!" The bartender shakes his head, "They drank, played some cards and left at midnight. Five men followed them out. Before ye ask, no one here knows them. They do frequent a warehouse on candle lane though." One of the gamblers with Gorm calls out, "Look for the snake symbol on the door."
Gorm, you are easily able to join in. 1sp to enter. Roll five d20s four times to see how you do vs the others. While gambling they mention that the five people who followed looked nasty and had been eyeing the pair for most of the night. The patrons knew better than to mess with people who look like that. "It ain't our heads on the line if you follow em but the city watch tends to just police open violence and men like that are good at getting away." They seem to generally like Floon, he had done better that Volo or Renaer at gambling and was a kind kid. Renaer is not well liked, especially because of his dad, the previous Open Lord who was not well liked.
(five individual) (and Volo Geddarm left earlier, Floon and Renaer left at midnight together)
12 - 10 - 14 - 20 - 13
5 - 5 - 19 - 4 - 15
14 - 2 - 13 - 8 - 5
5 - 17 - 7 - 11 - 8
11 - 14 - 5 - 3 - 18
13 - 18 - 18 - 20 - 3
17 - 2 - 1 - 5 - 11
11 - 14 - 18 - 19 - 16
17 - 1 - 5 - 10 - 10
20 - 16 - 11 - 5 - 6
5 - 14 - 9 - 20 - 4
16 - 16 - 18 - 11 - 9
13 - 6 - 20 - 11 - 2
3 - 13 - 9 - 10 - 12
14 - 7 - 2 - 9 - 19
17 - 1 - 10 - 6 - 11
4 rounds go by with you winning 2 of them (highest pair and 3 in a row) resulting in a net gain of 6sp.
(Figured this was a quick and easy way to do some low stakes gambling. Should people in the future want to gamble more, I'll find a better system to use via forums)
(Figured this was a quick and easy way to do some low stakes gambling. Should people in the future want to gamble more, I'll find a better system to use via forums)
((Sure, sure... To do a real poker game would take over the game. Though for a game like poker I would throw in some use of Perception and Deception and/or Intimidation since it's not really all about the cards at all... But again, to do a real poker game would take over t=he game. lol... Woohoo though!! I won!))
Guardian stands apart from the other, arms crossed. He is watching, keeping an eye on the surroundings and the people. He's on edge, waiting for something to happen, not used to being in this type of place.
You are easily able to lead the group to Candle Lane. Gloom envelops a narrow alley as dark as a dungeon - and as odorous as one, too. Nearly all the streetlamps have been smashed. The only light that pierces the darkness is a faint flickering from down the lane, like a distant candle. Directly across the street from the lamp, is a large warehouse and above the door's handle is a black winged snake. Now that you have a decent view of the tattoo, Jeremiah, you recognize it as the symbol of a group of mercenaries and murderers named the Zhentarim.
"Out of curiosity, what's the name or subject of the book Volo wrote? Have you seen either Floon or Renaer since then? And did you happen to notice any tattoos on the 5 toughs that followed them?" Violet slides one more gp (6 total) to the barkeep.
When talking aside with other party members, she says, "So these 5 tough guys likely had 'business' with Floon. I wonder if the dead guys with the snake tattoos we passed earlier were in this guild with the snake symbol on the door?"
Jeremiah tries to think if he’s heard anything about the tattoo Violet just mentioned.
History: 18
"Though I've come by my skills honestly... more or less... I have picked up a wee bit of the 'Cant'. Regarding guilds in this city, I've heard things but I'm never sure what to believe. It sounds like tensions have grown lately... so does that mean increased rivalry between guilds for some reason, outside influences trying to gain power, or what?"
"Oh well, it probably has nothing to do with why we're here. Let's see if we can team up for that last 100gp, if we can ever find that guy again. Since I showed up last, this round's on me."
Violet saunters up to the bartender, keeping her hood low and swaying seductively. She pulls her recent 10gp gain out of her pocket and tosses it onto the bar.
"What's the best you've got for me and all my friends?" She gestures around to the non-gamblers in the tavern. "Join us for drinks, on me!"
Gorm will also dredge his brain to recall if he knew what group the snake tattoo belonged to. After a life on the streets he had picked up a lot, but as he tried to steer clear of the hardcore gangs and players he put down as much as he picked up... If he recalls anything he will share it, but most of his attention is on the game and the gamblers.
If a brawl doesn't break out due to the appearance of 10gp in a tavern in the Dock district, and Violet is gambling that it won't due to having the others at her back... here are her tactics:
Anyone who comes over for a free drink gets the hardest shot of whiskey available. Violet will look around for any people who don't come over. She'll also use skills to switch out her full glass for anyone else's empties, making it seem like she bought them yet another shot, while she never actually takes a drink.
Deception: 13
Sight of hand: 15
Violet won't mention names or anything until she susses out who is worth getting info from.
Perception check: 3
Oh bleep. Maybe she did accidentally inhale some of 140 proof
(Violet is attempting to rule out others in the tavern as useful sources of information while keeping her eye on the bartender and wanting to question him, and assuming that Gorm is doing the same at the gambling table.)
Gorm, the game is a pretty simple game of poker. Roll insight to see how the round is going. Currently one of the humans with a bushy beard has a decent pile of silvers and coppers in front of him. Upon hearing about the tattoo you recall before meeting your teacher, seeing some thugs around the city with the tattoo, a guild or gang you think.
Jeremiah, you have seen similar tattoos on some gang members you have run from in the past.
Violet, as you hand the gold over to the bartender you feel a lot of eyes on you suddenly. The bartender grunts and pours you each a glass. No one seems keen to chat with a rather strange group of people. The bartender leans in and says, "That would normally cost ya two gold for the lot of them, but you look like you are looking for answers. Make it five and I can do my best to answer them."
Following whatever the norms of the day are, Gorm will join the game once he has a chance. Gamblers can gossip more than a gaggle of old maids but they only do it with other gamblers. He won't delve into questions right off the bat, he'd play at least a few laps before he brought up the topic of who normally players here, big winners and losers, etc. Mainly he'd try to listen and see if he could hear Volo or Floon be mentioned by someone else first.
But information or not, Gorm would enjoy a good night of poker.
Violet leans over the bar, waving the barkeep closer while surreptitiously scooping up the other 5gp.
She whispers to him "Tell me what happened to Floon Blagmaar last time he was here, after Volothamp Geddarm left. Another gp if you can tell me anything I don’t know about the latter. If anything goes pear-shaped and we need to dash quick, I’ll throw whatever’s left of the 10gp over my shoulder if you can point to the quickest safe exit and happen to trip any pursuers.” She winks.
Violet, the barkeep nods and says, "These folk just dislike strangers. As long as your friend over there isn't cheating cards you should be good. Volo comes by sometimes. Bit of an odd one. Bad gambler. He does always have a good story though to tell us. He never does shut up about his book he published. His friend Floon stuck around after Mr. Geddarm left and met up with Renaer Neverember." Across the room a couple of older patrons in the corner sneer, "Chip off the old block, that one!" "Just another spoiled, rich noble who likes to rub our noses in it!" The bartender shakes his head, "They drank, played some cards and left at midnight. Five men followed them out. Before ye ask, no one here knows them. They do frequent a warehouse on candle lane though." One of the gamblers with Gorm calls out, "Look for the snake symbol on the door."
Gorm, you are easily able to join in. 1sp to enter. Roll five d20s four times to see how you do vs the others. While gambling they mention that the five people who followed looked nasty and had been eyeing the pair for most of the night. The patrons knew better than to mess with people who look like that. "It ain't our heads on the line if you follow em but the city watch tends to just police open violence and men like that are good at getting away." They seem to generally like Floon, he had done better that Volo or Renaer at gambling and was a kind kid. Renaer is not well liked, especially because of his dad, the previous Open Lord who was not well liked.
"Volo and Floon left together at midnight?" Gorm asks, to clarify...
Poker rolls:
3 , 11 , 7 , 13 , 10
2 , 4 , 2 , 6 , 9
14 , 8 , 2 , 1 , 3
5 , 9 , 12 , 15 , 8
((Wasn't sure if you wanted five individual D20 rolls and them combined...))
(five individual) (and Volo Geddarm left earlier, Floon and Renaer left at midnight together)
12 - 10 - 14 - 20 - 13
5 - 5 - 19 - 4 - 15
14 - 2 - 13 - 8 - 5
5 - 17 - 7 - 11 - 8
11 - 14 - 5 - 3 - 18
13 - 18 - 18 - 20 - 3
17 - 2 - 1 - 5 - 11
11 - 14 - 18 - 19 - 16
17 - 1 - 5 - 10 - 10
20 - 16 - 11 - 5 - 6
5 - 14 - 9 - 20 - 4
16 - 16 - 18 - 11 - 9
13 - 6 - 20 - 11 - 2
3 - 13 - 9 - 10 - 12
14 - 7 - 2 - 9 - 19
17 - 1 - 10 - 6 - 11
4 rounds go by with you winning 2 of them (highest pair and 3 in a row) resulting in a net gain of 6sp.
(Figured this was a quick and easy way to do some low stakes gambling. Should people in the future want to gamble more, I'll find a better system to use via forums)
((Sure, sure... To do a real poker game would take over the game. Though for a game like poker I would throw in some use of Perception and Deception and/or Intimidation since it's not really all about the cards at all... But again, to do a real poker game would take over t=he game. lol... Woohoo though!! I won!))
Jeremiah scratches himself, thinking on what he knows of the area - to see if he knows the route to Candle Lane...
(History: 14)
Guardian stands apart from the other, arms crossed. He is watching, keeping an eye on the surroundings and the people. He's on edge, waiting for something to happen, not used to being in this type of place.
You are easily able to lead the group to Candle Lane. Gloom envelops a narrow alley as dark as a dungeon - and as odorous as one, too. Nearly all the streetlamps have been smashed. The only light that pierces the darkness is a faint flickering from down the lane, like a distant candle. Directly across the street from the lamp, is a large warehouse and above the door's handle is a black winged snake. Now that you have a decent view of the tattoo, Jeremiah, you recognize it as the symbol of a group of mercenaries and murderers named the Zhentarim.
"Out of curiosity, what's the name or subject of the book Volo wrote? Have you seen either Floon or Renaer since then? And did you happen to notice any tattoos on the 5 toughs that followed them?" Violet slides one more gp (6 total) to the barkeep.
When talking aside with other party members, she says, "So these 5 tough guys likely had 'business' with Floon. I wonder if the dead guys with the snake tattoos we passed earlier were in this guild with the snake symbol on the door?"
(OOC sometimes I don't see new posts before I post even when I reload browser)
OK, we're on the Zhentarim's doorstep...
Violet will try to stick to the shadows... stealth 17
And keep her eyes peeled for any eyes on the party: passive perception 12, or 12 if better
‘These guys are pretty nasty...’ whispers Jeremiah ‘Maybe we should look around for a back way in..?’
Jeremiah will look around for a side entrance or something that might not be as carefully watched..
(Stealth: 10 Perception: 17)