julie
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Post by julie on Mar 23, 2015 9:05:26 GMT -5
Dahlia looked around the harbor. She’d been in many places that catered to a rough-and-tumble crowd, but preferred not being in one now. She wasn’t sure how much success she’d have in finding one here, at a port. Maybe a place that attracted the traveler, a place of entertainment. She drifted toward the nearest place that seemed like it fit this bill---entertainment, hopeful of not having to defend herself when she walked in the door.
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Post by vladtaltos on Mar 24, 2015 18:51:07 GMT -5
Pieces of Eight is entered through double wooden doors under a large stone archway. The establishment looks to be a stopping place for many visitors arriving in the port of Bastia---there’s plenty of foot traffic at the surrounds of the entrance. Several people mill around now, including a young couple consulting a map, a half-elf wearing a brightly colored tunic and pantaloons with his arms folded across his chest, and a teenaged boy tossing pebbles against a wall.
Walking in, there’s no doubt that Pieces of Eight is a gaming house. From the foyer, you see a few stands setup in the main room, but before you can cross the threshold and take a closer look, you’re stopped by a large brute, a Man-Giant. He says in a perfectly clear voice, free of a slow mind, "Sorry, you two; dogs aren’t allowed." He points down at your heels where Dog waits.
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julie
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Post by julie on Mar 25, 2015 9:13:32 GMT -5
Dahlia takes Dog outside and says to the boy tossing pebbles, "How would you like to make a few silvers for doing just what you’re doing now, plus keeping an eye on my dog here, making sure he doesn’t run off?"
Assuming he says yes, she offers him three silvers for his trouble--paid on her return. Before heading back inside, she kneels and whispers to Dog, "Keep an eye on this boy, make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid." She then goes back into the gaming hall.
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Post by vladtaltos on Mar 26, 2015 10:24:40 GMT -5
The kid shrugs. "Sure, lady."
You walk inside Pieces of Eight, meeting no further obstruction from the bouncer. Besides a small bar at the far end of the main room, there are a number of amusements throughout the facility. Many of the games and attractions are not open at this hour, as it’s barely midday, but a few are. You see...
The Troll Bandit: A popular machine game comprised of four levers, the knobs of which resemble a troll's face. You pull the levers in a certain series and hope the four colored rocks the machine spits out are all of the same color. If they are, you win five to twenty times what you've wagered.
The Spinning Wheel: Divided into ten sections, gamblers bet on which section a pebble will come to rest that’s released at the top of the wheel as it spins. The winnings are ten times the amount you wager.
Dagger Toss: Played by one or more guests and the house-player. Points are earned on where a thrown dagger lands on a board. It's ten silvers to enter, and winnings are (ten silvers) x (the number of players), counting the house-player. A lithe elven female twirling daggers appears to be the house-champion.
"I’m going to the bar," says Gyp, and off he goes.
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julie
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Post by julie on Mar 27, 2015 9:29:48 GMT -5
Decisions, decisions. Play a game or keep my coins in my pocket and head for the bar, like Gyp?
She decided to play the games, at least once. What’s the point of idling in a gaming hall without gaming?
Perusing the games, the chances of winning at The Spinning Wheel looked too slim for her tastes. The odds at winning at The Troll Bandit were even slimmer.
She decided to take her chances with the Dagger Toss. She approached the elven lady and said, "I’d like to play. Can you explain the game?"
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Post by vladtaltos on Mar 30, 2015 9:35:09 GMT -5
The elven lady smiles as you ask your question. "Sure." She points at the nearest section of wall. "There’s a target setup there." You see a circular target, with one tiny circle in the center of the board---the bullseye. The bullseye is the size of two dagger tips. There are additional markings on the board, denoting the distance from the bullseye in millimeters.
"The game is very simple. We play six rounds. One round consists of my throw, and your throw. You’re aiming for the bullseye. If you hit the bullseye, you get three points. If neither of us hits the bullseye, whoever’s throw is closer to the bullseye gets one point. The person with the most points at the end of six rounds wins. Got it?"
You realize your dagger, the swordbreaker, is not meant for throwing. You can throw it, but at a DX-1 penalty. If you don’t wish to use your dagger, there are house daggers you can use. She shows you those, displayed on a tray. They look old, beatup, but they can be thrown without penalty.
Her daggers, on the other hand, look shiny, new, almost as if they were designed for her hand, so effortlessly does she twirl them about as she speaks with you.
She grins. "Ten silvers if you want to play."
(In game terms, it’s a 3/DX throw. If the roll is 6+ under your DX, you hit the bullseye. Otherwise, the thrower who’s the furthest under their DX , or the least over their DX, has thrown closer to the bullseye and wins the point. We'll assume you're not wearing your armor right now, unless you want to. After all, you never know when trouble may spring up.)
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julie
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Post by julie on Mar 30, 2015 23:15:28 GMT -5
Well, you did it now, she thought. Playing this gal at her own game.
She nodded. "Got it." She hands over the ten silvers, and then takes one of the daggers off the tray. "This one looks good. You’re up first."
She waited for her opponent to line up and throw, then stepped-in. "By the way, my name’s Marie. This will be fun. Good luck."
(Not wearing armor)
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 1, 2015 9:55:07 GMT -5
The lady pauses and, perhaps used to gamesmanship of one form or another, smiles at your introduction-intrusion. She introduces herself as Sho’leil, then toes the line, and lets her dagger fly. It swiftly cuts through the air, landing with a solid thud near, but not on, the bullseye.
[Her DX=15]
10:41, Today: GM rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,6,5.
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 2, 2015 9:43:39 GMT -5
My turn now, she thought. She turned the house’s dagger over and over in her hand, trying to get a feel for it, as she eyed the target on the wall. The weapon she was given was old and worn, definitely not the best, but it would do.
Stepping up to the mark, she flicked it, going more for accuracy than power. Sticking in the board, it was a good throw, but not quite good enough.
10:17, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,6,2. Dahlia's First Throw
OOC: Buying the gloves from Cristiano's, deducting the cost of that, and the 10 entry fee here from my character sheet.
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 3, 2015 8:29:01 GMT -5
The light of surprise ignites Sho’leil’s face as your dagger thuds into the board. Clearly, she’s impressed with your first throw. She retrieves the knives and hands you the house dagger (regrettably). She looks you over closely, appraisingly, as she steps up to the mark. "Most who play this game can’t hit the target, much less get as close to the bullseye as you did. Nice!"
Sho’leil 1; Dahlia 0
She concentrates, eyeing the target longer than she did for her first throw, and with a flick of the wrist, sends the dagger tumbling end over end. It flies straight and true and hits the bullseye dead center.
09:18, Today: GM rolled 5 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,2,2. Round 2.
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 4, 2015 11:25:25 GMT -5
This place has hired a real ringer, Dahlia realized. It was going to take an extraordinary effort to beat her. Not intimidated, she took her place on the line with an air of confidence, took a deep breath and let it fly. She surprised herself. It stuck next to Sho’leil’s, in the bullseye.
12:18, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,5,1. Dahlia--Round 2
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 5, 2015 10:02:16 GMT -5
Rather than being concerned about losing, or exhibiting some form of professional jealousy, your opponent is complimentary. "Great throw! You’re very good."
Taking her turn, she says, "You're my first true opponent in the three months I’ve been here." Obviously, Sho’leil has never lost at this game.
Sho’leil 4; Dahlia 3
Her next throw leaves some room for you to tie the score, or take the lead.
10:29, Today: GM rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,3,5. Round 3.
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 6, 2015 9:14:42 GMT -5
"Thanks. Beginner’s luck, I think."
Dahlia stood straight and tall at the line, her throw close to, but no bullseye.
09:54, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,2,3. Dahlia--Round 3.
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Post by vladtaltos on Apr 7, 2015 9:55:37 GMT -5
No bullseye, but your dagger sticks closer to it than Sho’leil’s, giving you the point. "Tie score now. My, this is getting exciting."
Sho’leil 4; Dahlia 4
You notice a few patrons and staff have formed a small semi-circle behind Sho'leil and you, watching the competition. Gyp is among them, standing behind the rest. Is he attempting to pick someone's pocket?
Pieces of Eight’s house champ takes her place on the line and with a careful aim and steady hand flips the weapon toward the target. When it lands, there’s only the slightest space between the tip and the tiny bullseye.
10:33, Today: GM rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,2,4. Round 4
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julie
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Post by julie on Apr 8, 2015 18:55:51 GMT -5
Gyp! He can’t be.
She didn’t want to draw attention to him by staring. She only hoped he wasn’t being stupid, and doing what it looked like he was doing.
She needed an excellent throw to keep pace with Sho’leil, but again, her toss wasn’t quite as good as her opponent’s.
19:19, Today: Black Dahlia rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,6,3. Dahlia--Round 4
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