<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg11990130#msg11990130">Quote from: Chloe Milev on 15-01-2016, 09:32:32</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">After breakfast, and with Zull's permission, Kleris would hunt around for Craig, checking the boys' dorm for him or where he might be.  Trying to be subtle, he'd try to find out if there had been any private parties, if anything interesting had happened last night, and seeing if there was anything to worry about.  If so, he'd have to convince Craig that last night was a crazy mistake of alcohol, and that he should just keep it a happy private memory.  At least that's what Kleris hoped he could do.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Zull gave him permission, and it didn't take long for Kleris to find him out in the Training Grounds, trying to steady his hand as he stared at a line of targets.  Grasping an intricately-detailed pistol in both his hands, he aimed and pulled the trigger.<br/><br/>There was a loud<em>crack</em>as the powder ignited and the shot went out.  Taking out a telescope, he looked at the target and shook his head.<br/><br/>"...oh, hey Kleris," he said.  "Sorry, I guess you caught me at an unlucky time.  Maybe next shot, huh?  Although you may have to wait a while, this weapon takes forever to reload."<br/><br/>He uncapped a bag of blasting powder to pour through the horn of the firearm at a nearby convenient table.  "So, you wanted to ask about something?"<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Firelight Trip</span></div><br/>"I still feel like seeing Lucky Nines first:  get some dinner, see a stage show, play a couple games, then we can go out and see what we can find."<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>The Lucky Nines Casino was a bright and colorful four-story facility, one of the most well-designed in the neighborhood.  It would not be out of place in Sharn's upper levels, either.<br/><br/>The splendor was just as eye-catching on the inside as it was on the outside.  Staff went about the premises, casually using cantrips like<em>mage hand</em>to deal cards,<em>unseen servants</em>carried platters of food and drink to paying customers.<br/><br/>"Welcome to the Lucky Nine's, ladies!" a well-dressed ogre guard said as they entered.  "The games are in the eastern section, shows at the west wing.  If you need any help, don't be afraid to inquire with one of our uniformed staff."<br/><br/>"Thank you," Elmira said.  "We were thinking of having dinner first.  Where would we go for that?"<br/><br/>"The eastern section, too," the ogre answered.  "Just take a spot at an empty table and our waiters will be with you shortly."<br/><br/>Once they were a fair distance Elmira  brought Kleris and Asma closer to whisper into their ears.  "Did you see how tall he is?!  I think he might be a giant or something."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Knowledge Nature DC 12</div><div class="spoiler_body">Kleris knows that the guard's an ogre specifically.<br/><br/>"Really?" Asma asked.  "They're usually not in big cities, but I guess Sharn is very multicultural, like Redhurst."</div></div><br/>A huge stage with red curtains sat in front of the dining area, and each table had a single candle with fancy folded napkins. (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9M-kTR5Ib6Q/maxresdefault.jpg)<br/><br/>The menu had a selection of fancy foods to complement the aesthetics.  Elmira ordered a plate of lemon-grilled chicken with a side order of rice and salad, while Asma ordered a plate of angel hair pasta with garlic and a side order of Parmesan tomatoes.  Both ordered a respective glass of red wine ("picked by the freshest Aundairian vineyards," the waiter added).<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Food!</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.imgur.com/1hdeHkq.jpg)<br/>(https://i.imgur.com/9LbOEFP.jpg)<br/>(https://i.imgur.com/knKm8c2.jpg)<br/>(https://i.imgur.com/GpREc0T.jpg?1)</div></div><br/>Today's show was a variety act of performers: sword-juggling, dancing, illusory realms aided by magical dust, (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/dust-storyteller-s) and even home-grown ice sculptures made live by attendant mages and creative uses of<em>rays of frost.</em><br/><br/>"Wow, it's all so amazing the talent they have on here!" Asma exclaimed.  "Hmm, you wonder if they might be recruiting for new talent once we graduate?"<br/><br/>"That's still a ways off," Elmira said between forkfulls of chicken.  "Anyway, how did you get the funds for something like this?"<br/><br/>"Oh, please, it's not that big," Asma said with a wave of her hand.  "I've been saving up for months now for a special occasion.  That, and quite a bit of side jobs as a tattooist back when we were in Tolkur.  Anyway, I heard that next month the competitive Spellflag tournaments start.  I can't remember if it was this month or the next; how do you feel about that?"<br/><br/>"Ack, I try not to think of it!" Elmira said with a nervous laugh.  "I hear that Redhurst is aligned against one of the big dogs.  Wayreth's Wizards of High Sorcery; they use some form of moon-based magic I hear, so right now we're doing research to see if they get any sort of advantage us wizards don't know about."<br/><br/>"Never heard of 'em, but I'm sure you'll trounce them!" Asma said.  "They might have unorthodox spells, but Redhurst invented Spellflag, so we have more experience than them!  And with you being our best player, that's like the top of the top!"<br/><br/>Elmira took another drink of wine; Kleris couldn't help but notice it was a larger gulp than usual.<br/><br/>"Let's talk about something else."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Fun &amp; Games</span></span></div><br/>After finishing their meals and the last of the shows closed up, Elmira and Asma were far from done with the Lucky Nines.<br/><br/>"Hey Elmira, why don't we see what games they have over here?"<br/><br/>Betting on airship races, craps, poker, pool, roulette, Three-Dragon Ante...there was quite a large selection.<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Gambling Overview</span></span></strong></div><br/><em>Kleris has 20 gold pieces worth of scrounged-up funds here and there from various expenses.  He can spend up to that amount or ask Asma for more (Diplomacy DC 20).  Skill-based gambling games require a Profession (Gambler), Bluff, or Knowledge (Architecture &amp; Engineering) roll.  The higher the result, the more money Kleris wins at the payoff.  Games based purely on luck have a higher payoff, but use a flat 1d100 to calculate percentage of winning.  All games have a minimum stake of 1 gold piece, and due to its luxurious nature there is no maximum stake.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Skill-based Gambling Results</div><div class="spoiler_body">10 or less: lose your bet.<br/><br/>11-15: break even.<br/><br/>16-20: double your earnings.<br/><br/>21-25: triple your earnings.<br/><br/>26-30: quintuple your earnings.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Luck-based Gambling Results, 1D100</div><div class="spoiler_body">1 to 30: lose your bet.<br/><br/>31 to 55: break even.<br/><br/>55 to 65: double your earnings.<br/><br/>65 to 75: quadruple your earnings.<br/><br/>85 to 95: get back ten times your earnings.<br/><br/>96 to 99: get back fifty times your earnings.<br/><br/>100: get back one hundred times your earnings!</div></div>