Part 1: Cheat the Devil, Take his Gold: Session 1

[15:37] <@Daroskt> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:37] <@Daroskt> ~~~~Chapter 1: Shadow in the Sky~~~~
[15:38] <@Daroskt> \Part 1: Cheat the Devil, Take his Gold/
[15:38] <@Daroskt> -Session 1-
[15:44] <@Daroskt> Our Story Begins as two travelers, brought together by what could be chance, or something more, enter the wreched hive of scum and villainy that is Riddleport; the City of Cyphers. They travel through the west leading road through the narrow pass cut into the mountain ridge that surrounds the north and east of the city. As they exit the pass, they emerge into the sprawling Leeward district, largest of Riddleports wards. Built into the
[15:45] <@Daroskt> Built into the curve of the ridge, it is well protected from harsh winter winds as well as invading forces, were there any. Towering Tenement fill this district, many with shops on their main levels that offer general goods and services
[15:46] * Daroskt looks around the city, "This is the Leeward District," he notes to his companion. "It is among the safer parts of the city, but you should still keep an eye on your purse and pack."
[15:48] * Katarina nods meekly, her eyes scanning the city as they walk. "It is... not quite what I had imagined it would look like." She frowns. "Different, at least, from the forest..."
[15:50] * Daroskt nods, "I am not so fond of the hussle and bustle myself, but life is life, and it has many forms." He looks around, and then turns south, "The hall you seek is to the south, in the Wharf District near the ports. I only know of it as of recently because of the hubub about the gala it is to be holding this evening."
[15:52] <@Daroskt> Chip the boar, not wanting to be stomped underfoot, clambers onto one of Daroskt's broad shoulders.
[15:52] * Katarina turns her head to the south, keeping her eyes on the path. "Right. Are you going to participate in the event?" she asks, raising an eyebrow and looking in Daroskt's direction for a moment.
[15:54] * Daroskt shrugs, "We shall see. I am not normally fond of chance and gambling, but if I am meant to be there, which I still believe to be the case, then it would be in my interest to partake of a little, win or lose, if it enables me to stick around."
[15:56] * Daroskt notes, "As well, for your own sake, I might suggest asking around a little and making sure this event is legitimate before we arrive. People don't tend to talk to me much, but perhaps you are... friendlier."
[16:01] * Katarina nods. "Uh, sure." She looks around for someone that may be able to assist her, most likely the closest person near, asking, "Uhm, h-hello? Would you be able to tell me anything of the e-event, 'Cheat the Devil, Take his Gold'?"
[16:05] <@Daroskt> Asking around in this manner yields some interesting information, but talking to strangers in Riddleport merits a touch of risk. Rumours that persist range from those about the blot, to the Gold Goblin, to general hearsay and gossip of the city. They do manage to find out that the Goblin is owned by one Saul Vankaskersin, a disgraced crime lord long past his prime.
[16:06] <@Daroskt> As well, some people seem to think that the name and nature of the gambling gala was because Vankaskersin actually sold his soul to devils for one last chance at regaining his former wealth. It is also said that his disgrace began when one of his sons killed the brother of another Crime Lord over an affair with 'Lavender Lil'
[16:07] <@Daroskt> As well, from others in pursuit of coin, there is hearsay of a 500gp reward being offered by the Overlord of Riddleport for anyone who can determine the true nature of the blot, and whether or not it poses a threat to the city.
[16:08] <@Daroskt> However, when stopping to ask one pair of people on the street, the two forest dwellers are met with a touch of poor luck.
[16:09] <@Daroskt> One man, hunched and beady looking, smirks as a burlier man with a sword cracks his knuckles. "Information doesn't coem for free you know, especially not around here."
[16:10] * Katarina blinks, stepping back slightly, her face contorting in worry. "W-we will leave then... we don't have much c-coin..."
[16:11] <@Daroskt> The thug draws his shortsword, while the thief draws a rapier, "I am afraid that was not a request. You may leave once you drop your purses."
[16:12] * Daroskt grunts and reaches for his axe, "Let it be on your head then, while it is still attached to your shoulders.`
[16:12] * Katarina frowns, not wanting to be intimidated, and quickly draws her greatsword.
[16:16] <@Daroskt> The thief, in spite of his hunch, proves to be quick on his feet and lunges towards Katarina, "I'll silence the runt first, you hold the brute until I can join you."
[16:18] <@Daroskt> However, in spite of being quick, the thief lacks punch, and does not manage to pierce Katarina's armour.
[16:18] * Daroskt hefts his enormous axe off his back and takes a swing at the thief's brutish companion.
[16:20] <@Daroskt> The slow heavy swing of the Half-Orc's axe is just barely dodged by the thug.
[16:21] * Katarina winces as the rogue nearly hit her, eyes widening. She takes a step back, enough room to bring her greatsword high, slamming it down in a powerful arc.
[16:21] <@Daroskt> The small boar, Chip, attempts to leap at the Thug and gore him, but the tiny legs rob him of sufficient distance.
[16:23] <@Daroskt> Katarina's hidden strength catches the thief completely off guard, and he is unseamed from shoulder to hip, slumping to the ground in a widening puddle of blood.
[16:24] <@Daroskt> The thug, now seeing that his companion was so easily dispatched, and that he was outnumbered 2:1, drops his shortword and bolts.
[16:25] * Katarina puts her greatsword back in its scabbard and sighs in slight relief. "This city... it is not what I had expected..."
[16:25] * Daroskt picks Chip back up and places him on his shoulder. "Fool. If he were more clever, he could have used his quickness to empty a purse before we could notice. Exploitation is not for the feeble."
[16:26] * Katarina looks to the corpse of the thief and nods, checking his body for anything of worth.
[16:26] * Daroskt plants his Greataxe back in the straps on his back. "Might as well see what he left us." He takes the shortword and looks it over, "Mine has a better edge for clearing brush, although if you wish to pawn it off, you are welcome to."
[16:28] <@Daroskt> The thief, in addition to his rapier, was in posession of a sap, four throwing daggers, a shortbow and quiver with 20 arrows, the common leather armour on his back, and 11 gold pieces
[16:28] * Daroskt chuckles at the Thief's posessions, "Funny that he was worth as much as we are. Some people need to learn to choose their marks better."
[16:29] * Katarina takes the equipment and gold, though opting to not slide the thief out of his armor, especially since it was cut in half...
[16:30] * Katarina sighs as she stands. "You can pawn the shortsword if you like, otherwise, I can... I wish he'd have just let us leave."
[16:30] * Daroskt takes a couple gold pieces out of his own purse and tosses them to a pair of witnesses. "If the Gendarms come asking around, tell them only that we defended ourselves, and that you didn't get a good look at our faces."
[16:31] * Daroskt pulls the hood of his cowl back up.
[16:32] <@Daroskt> The witnesses nod and seem surprised to have been paid so much for their silence. Usually a couple silver sufficed.
[16:32] * Katarina looks to the half-orc. "Th-then... shall we go to the Hall?"
[16:33] * Daroskt looks to Katarina, "Indeed. I think I've had my share of rumour seeking for today." He then holds out a hand, "If I could have a couple of the thief's gold to replace what I just paid, I would be appreciative."
[16:34] * Katarina blinks and smiles sheepishly. "R-right, sorry." She hands over the full 11 gold pieces, she has plenty of equipment to sell.
[16:35] * Daroskt blinks and shrugs, "I thought wealth was your goal. Perhaps an even split then, once we pawn the thief's posessions? He no longer has need of them."
[16:35] * Katarina nods. "Y-yeah, that will work."
[16:36] * Katarina saw plenty of stalls on the way here, she looks around to see whether any of them may buy the equipment just now obtained.
[16:36] * Daroskt leads Katarina away from the site of the failed robbery attempt and to the border of the Wharf District, before slidding into a shop to pawn their 'aquisitions' without question.
[16:37] <@Daroskt> Most traders in the city tend not to ask questions about goods being sold to them, even if there's still a touch of fresh blood on them. Riddleport was that kind of city. Back alley knifings and failed robberies left a fair share of bloodied gear and unattended gold.
[16:41] * Daroskt comes out of the store, counting the proceeds. He passes Katarina 20 Gold and the five silver, keeping 20gp for himself. He spared her the silver because splitting it up would have been annoying
[16:42] * Daroskt slips the coins into his purse and looks to Katarina, "A pity that your first taste of city life should be so sour. I grew up here, so I am used to it, but I have heard that not all cities are like this hive."
[16:42] * Katarina smiles. "Th-thank you." She looks around. "I-I'm ready to leave for the Hall now... if you are."
[16:43] * Katarina nods. "M-maybe I'll be able to visit another city sometime... I would enjoy that, I think."
[16:43] * Daroskt shrugs and leads Katarina into the Wharf district...
[16:46] <@Daroskt> The Wharf District lies hard on the edge of the very docks of the city, and is where much of the day-to-day commerce, action and thievery occurs. Nearest the docks are a series of warehouses and cheap grog shops where merchant and pirate crews mingle in a haze of rum-soaked debauchery
[16:47] <@Daroskt> Once the most commercially successful portion of the city, its aged facade and Riddleport’s slow slide toward legitimacy have seen much of the action move northward to the Free-Coin District, leaving the Wharf District a tattered shadow of its former self.
[16:48] <@Daroskt> Inns and shops have grimed windows and peeling paint hinting at a prosperity that no longer exists, which is just fine for the run-of-the-mill pirate crew.
[16:51] * Katarina looks to the tattered and worn buildings in dismay, mumbling, "This looks... awful, a-and sad..."  She shakes her head. "Th-the Hall, it is close, yes?"
[16:54] * Daroskt nods, "It is sad to see even the life of a city drained from this place, but that is among the reasons I first thought the blot to be an omen of coming destruction. The Gold Goblin, oddly enough, has managed to keep itself afloat, which makes me wonder about those rumours about Vankaskersin. Probably not true about selling his soul, an old decrepit, crippled crime lord's soul wouldn't likely be worth two coppers."
[16:58] * Katarina nods. "I'd doubt a simple place would be responsible for such a thing like the blot though..."
[16:59] * Daroskt shakes his head, "Nor would I. Still, it shall be a curious endeavour."
[17:01] <@Daroskt> Although the Gold Goblin stands in a much-neglected neighborhood and the building itself has long stood dormant and empty, it makes a comeback as the big day comes. Crowds of participants and spectators mill about on the street or file together through the main doors to sign up for the tournament.
[17:01] * Daroskt smirks at the crowd, "Looks like some life remains still."
[17:02] * Katarina looks to the crowd and blinks in surprise. "W-wow... well, I suppose that would be it." She starts to walk forward, looking to the signup area for herself.
[17:03] <@Daroskt> Overseeing this gathering is a larger-than-life-size statue of a goblin, apparently cast in glittering gold, that stands atop the entry stairs with a smirking expression of satisfaction on its face, as if personally enjoying the crowds that shuffle past it into the doorway beneath the gambling hall’s gilded dome.
[17:04] * Katarina averts her gaze from the goblin, thinking it a tad unsettling.
[17:04] * Daroskt slips into the line as it approaches the stairs and beckons for Katarina to join him. "It seems perhaps fortune is on many people's minds tonight. We shall see if Desna favours your fortune." He chuckles at the gaudy gilded goblin.
[17:05] * Katarina nods, still looking away from the goblin, and moves into the line, waiting for her turn to sign up.
[17:06] <@Daroskt> Just inside the main doors, two sultry beauties scantily clad and wearing faux bat wings, devil horns, and tails play the part of alluring succubi. Both are employees of the Gold Goblin, and they cheerfully register contestants for the tournament and process entry fees.
[17:07] <@Daroskt> As the two wilders pass the busty barmaidens, they are each given a slip of paper that reads as follows:
[17:10] <@Daroskt> I, [The Undersigned], do hereby sacrifice my immortal soul and this worldly sum of 10 pieces of silver to this Devil to hold in escrow against his own stake of 10,000 silver coins in the Gambling tournament being held at the Gold Goblin Gambling Hallof Riddleport on this Oathday, 14th Day of Arodus, 4708 AR
[17:11] <@Daroskt> I understand that my soul will be placed on deposit in the Hells’ deepest pit of Nessus. Furthermore, I understand that all winnings shall be catalogued in concordance of souls, to be represented by teeth, eyes, and hearts of the damned. By participating in the gambling tournament and beginning in the first pit of Avernus, my winnings shall earn my way deeper through the Hells on the following schedule:
[17:13] <@Daroskt> Dis—1 gold eye; Erebus—3 gold eyes and a Badge of Dis; Phlegethon—5 gold eyes and a Badge of Erebus; Stygia—10 gold eyes and a Badge of Phlegethon; Malebolge—25 gold eyes and a Badge of Stygia; Cocytus—50 gold eyes and a Badge of Malbolge; Caina—75 gold eyes and a Badge of Cocytus; Nessus—100 gold eyes and a Badge of Caina
[17:15] <@Daroskt> I understand that if I should lose my stake in the tournament I shall receive the Devil’s Mark and my soul shall be cast upon the rocks on the shore of the River Styx. I understand that if I elect to cash in my winnings before reaching the pit of Nessus I shall forfeit my soul and 50% of the cash value of my winnings for said early departure.
[17:15] <@Daroskt> If I am the first player to reach Nessus, then I am granted the redemption of my soul and the right to Cheat the Devil and Take his Gold in addition to collecting my winnings. In such a circumstance, all other players shall receive the Devil’s Mark and forfeit their souls.
[17:16] <@Daroskt> This is I do swear. Witnessed by: _____; Old Scratch
[17:17] * Katarina shivers slightly, blinking her amber eyes a few times as she reads through the note. "Th-this i-it is a j-joke yes?"
[17:18] * Daroskt looks the paper over and flips it, "Perhaps this is the reason why there were rumours of soul selling, but... it's probably just a 'clever' way of explaining the rules of the tournament."
[17:19] <@Daroskt> One of the Scantily clad 'Succubi' chuckles, "Ain't nufink to really worry abou'. It's all part'a th'show."
[17:19] * Katarina nods slowly. "O-oh..."
[17:20] * Daroskt takes the quill in the desk and signs his 'contract'. He dips into his purse, but has no smaller denominations than gold.
[17:21] <@Daroskt> The barmaid points to the small handful of gold, "Ten Silver pieces was a bit o'flavour too. Since Devils 'ate silver an'all. But you can pay wif a gold piece, s'all th'same in th'end."
[17:21] * Daroskt nods and slips a gold piece, along with the contract, onto the counter.
[17:22] * Katarina signs her own, taking out a single piece of gold and adding it to the pile along with her contract.
[17:22] * Daroskt turns into the hall to take a look at the rest of the interior...
[17:23] * Katarina does as well, though she begins to wonder what kind of game they were playing...
[17:24] <@Daroskt> Armed guards stand nearby to either side of an immense treasure chest into which each patron’s entry fee is added. The guards are on hand to not only protect the money, but to prevent any overzealous admirers from trying to dare the infamous touch of a succubus.
[17:25] <@Daroskt> Beyond the registration table is the hall’s game floor. Dozens of gamblers, waitresses dressed as succubi, and bouncers mill about the room, wandering amid tables offering various games while dealers shuffle cards, roll dice, and spin wheels. Moving through this throng are a dozen more of the barely clad, bat-winged vixens serving drinks and batting coal-black eyelashes flirtaciously for tips.
[17:27] <@Daroskt> In the center of the chamber is a short podium atop which sits a massive gold chest affixed to the floor by similarly gaudy chains. On either side of it stands a bare-chested bouncer in the exotic garb of some foreign sultan’s court. Each stands with muscled arms crossed over his chest and with a naked scimitar of prodigious size tucked through his waistband.
[17:27] <@Daroskt> (cont, one more)
[17:27] <@Daroskt> High above them, from the hall’s cloth-draped ceiling, hangs a brass birdcage within which crouches a small, bat-winged, pointy-tailed devilish creature that sulks as it gazes over the room and occasionally rattles the bars threateningly.
[17:30] * Katarina frowns at the devilish-looking creature. She doesn't want to be anywhere near that thing...
[17:31] * Katarina is still unsure of where she should start in this event, and tries to get the attention of one of the succubi.
[17:32] * Daroskt chuckles, "I believe that is an Imp. A lesser devil and not actually capable of any real soul stealing." One of the succubi stops and chuckles, "Yeah, dat's Old Scratch. Got imself endebted to The Mistur some time ago, and agree t'be da mascot fer t'noight in exchange for a shortenink uf his term uf soivice."
[17:33] * Katarina nods. "O-okay... but, wh-where should we start if we a-are competing?"
[17:35] <@Daroskt> The waitress nods, "Well, you could mosey up to da counter an grab a drink iffin ya like, Mirri'll get ya sorted out. You can get yerself sum chips too, dats da eyes, teeth and hearts the entry paper mentioned. Ya can start playin' any time ya like, but Saul's still gettin a few tinks ready fer da trouney proper."
[17:37] * Katarina looks around, and unsure of whether to wait or get a drink or game, she nudges Daroskt. "What do you plan to do i-in the meantime?"
[17:38] * Daroskt ponders, "I think I shall start with a drink myself, and wait and see this Saul for myself. However, if you start gaming now, like many others have, you could have a bit of a head start if you're sufficiently lucky."
[17:39] * Katarina hmms... and looks around at the games for an open table. "I w-will do that, then..."
[17:43] * Daroskt saunters up to the bar and tosses back his hood, looking for the barmaid
[17:45] <@Daroskt> A woman, slightly bustier and a touch older than most, makes her way down to Daroskt. "Welcome to the Gold Goblin, handsome, the hot spot for turning fortunes and winning wagers beneath the arch. Looking for the squarest games, most honest dealers, and prettiest blamed barmaids anywhere in the port? Well, you found ’em, sugar! Ready to be a rich man? Hope so-
[17:45] <@Daroskt> ’cause tonight’s your night. Belly up to a table and get to winnin’; we’ve got the gold to make your dreams glitter. Good drink, fine food, and warm company’s extra, but we’ve got all that too—at prices so cheap we might as well be giving it away. So find a spot, honey, order a pint, and leave it all to us, ’cause here, even a goblin could win his weight in gold!"
[17:47] * Daroskt rolls his eyes, skeptical of the claims of fairness at any gambling hall. At best, you had to be lucky, and at worst, the house always won. "I will take a pint to start at least," he mutters, getting one of his gold coins changed for silver to pay for the drinks.
[17:48] * Katarina takes a seat at the nearest open table. She has never played one of these games of chance though... She gives her Desna necklace a light squeeze, hoping for her luck.
[17:48] <@Daroskt> The Gold Goblin’s main hall is a very large room, and there are more than a dozen different gaming tables available for contestants to wager, win, and lose.
[17:53] <@Daroskt> Katarina finds herself sitting at one of the house's custom games, Ghoulette. The table looks like a standard Roulette wheel, only instead of a spinned in the middle, sits the head of a ghoul, or at least a very close fascimile. Rather than numbers and colours, the spaces on the wheel depict things such as 'Your Face' or 'Your Class' or 'Your Race'.
[17:55] * Katarina examines the table for a few moments before looking to the dealer, taking out three pieces of gold. "I-I s-still need chips..."
[17:55] <@Daroskt> There is even one space that says, 'Something Nice'. "Really simple folks," notes the croupier, "Place your bet on what you think Old Dungo here will insult. If you guess right, it's a 10:1 payout, if you guess wrong, house keeps your bet. If he says Something nice, you all get back 1/10th your wager."
[17:56] <@Daroskt> The Croupier pulls over a money changer, "S'alright love, we come prepared. What do you need? Hearts, Teeth, or eyes?"
[17:58] <Katarina> "Th-thirty silver teeth, please?"
[17:59] <@Daroskt> The Croupier nods, "Three gold or Thirty Silver then. Chips match value on the coin paid for them."
[18:00] * Katarina nods, handing over the three gold pieces.
[18:00] <@Daroskt> The Croupier slips the coins into his coffer and deals her Thirty Wooden Chips in a light grey colour, with a tooth painted on the center.
[18:01] * Daroskt sips his pint and watches curiously, just to make sure the follower of Desna didn't rely too much on luck. It wasn't something he was fond of as a follower of patterns and order.
[18:01] <@Daroskt> The Croupier smirks, "Alright then, time for a spin, bets in now please."
[18:02] * Katarina throws in 8 of the wooden chips. "Uhm... A-appearance?"
[18:03] <@Daroskt> The Croupier notes, "Min bet is Ten Hearts, thank you ma'am," he sets her chips on the 'Appearance' tile. A few other people put bets on Race, Face and Bloodline.
[18:03] <@Daroskt> ONe person bets on 'something nice'
[18:03] <@Daroskt> The Croupier spins the ghoul head in a rather grotesque display
[18:04] * Katarina shivers. This entire town is unsettling...
[18:05] <@Daroskt> The Ghoul's head lands facing the 'Bloodline' space, and calls out to a waitress that just happened to be passing by, "Pity you don't any real succubus blood in ya toots, might actually be worth looking at if ya did!"
[18:05] <@Daroskt> The Bloodline better smirks while the Croupier pays him, all of the original bets slid into his coffer.
[18:06] * Katarina whimpers, that was mean...
[18:07] <@Daroskt> The waitress huffs and skirts the Ghoulette table.
[18:07] * Katarina shakes her head putting up 5 chips this time. "Clothes."
[18:08] <@Daroskt> The Croupier takes in the bets and spins the ghoul head again. This time it lands on Clothes, while facing the Croupier himself. "Nice outfit, I've seen better suits on dead guys. I should know, been buried with them for ages!"
[18:09] <@Daroskt> The Croupier flicks the Ghoul head and then passes Katarina 5 Gold Eyes, her five silver teeth slidding into the coffer
[18:12] <@Daroskt> As the windows begin darkening with twilight, several gamehall employees enter, carrying torches shaped like pitchforks skewering burning heads made of straw and cloth to light several large braziers, giving the hall a more infernal hue. A hush falls over the gathered crowd as a short man climbs to the central podium,
[18:13] * Katarina raises her eyebrow, turning away from the table and looking to the short man.
[18:13] <@Daroskt> accompanied by two gorgeous “succubi,” and stands before the gold, chain-shrouded chest there with a demoness on either side. He wears a formal suit, and his thinning black hair is slicked back. His left arm ends in a stump just above the wrist, and affixed to it is a bronze
[18:14] <@Daroskt> cap from which protrudes an oddly shaped key. This is Saul Vancaskerkin, the owner of the Gold Goblin and host of the tournament. He bows before the crowd and clears his throat before speaking:
[18:15] <@Daroskt> “Welcome, one and all, to the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall and your chance to cheat the Devil and win back not only your soul but all of his gold as well.” He says this last as he pats the large chest before which he stands. “I hope you found your reception by the Devil’s lovely temptresses suitably entertaining."
[18:15] <@Daroskt> This is met by a general murmur of laughter and a few catcalls.
[18:16] <@Daroskt> “Let’s take this moment to thank Old Scratch himself for attending this event. Not only did he loan us these lovely, dark angels, but he also emptied the deepest vaults of Hell itself to provide the gold for this tournament.”
[18:17] <@Daroskt> With this, Saul directs the crowd’s attention up to the imp in the birdcage. At the sudden attention, Old Scratch flies into a flurry of rage, banging the cage bars, spitting, howling, and screaming vile epithets in Infernal at all assembled. His theatrics are received with guffaws and even a smattering of applause.
[18:18] * Daroskt rolls his eyes. The imp probably hated demeaning himself like that, but he couldn't help but wonder what it had doen to be endebted to an old crime lord.
[18:20] * Katarina is still ignoring the imp! It was frightening...
[18:21] <@Daroskt> As the crowd dies down, Vancaskerkin continues:
[18:21] <@Daroskt> “Of course, he plans on replacing what he loses in gold with the souls of those of you who don’t win. The tournament rules are quite simple—as you play, you’ll earn more chips. And with those chips, you’ll be able to bribe your way out of the current Hell you’re trapped in, working your way down deeper until you get to Old Scratch’s treasury.
[18:22] <@Daroskt> Currently, all of you are Old Scratch’s prisoners in the first of the Hells, Avernus. If you want to work your way down to the ninth circle, you need to win games. Each time you win, you’ll be awarded a golden eye. If you come in second, you’ll get a silver tooth. And third place wins a copper heart. These bits of flesh and bone are what the devils use in Hell
[18:23] <@Daroskt> for currency, and they’re what you’ll need to pay in order to bribe your way into the next layer of hell. The first player to win a game after reaching Nessus not only keeps his winnings for that game, but also earns back his soul and the ten thousand silver coins that the Devil put up for this tournament.
[18:24] * Katarina clutches her necklace again... she's sure that she can win.
[18:25] <@Daroskt> You can, of course, decide to cash out your winnings at any time you want, but if you do, or if you run out of money entirely… well, that means Old Scratch gets you.” Vancaskerkin grins evilly and the caged imp cuts loose with another profane tirade.
[18:26] <@Daroskt> “And that earns you the Devil’s Mark and an escort out of the game hall until the tournament is over. What, you ask, exactly is this Devil’s Mark? Well, it’s something too utterly horrible to even contemplate. The forfeiture of your very soul, it is. But I suppose I can show you what it is— gods know I more than deservethe Devil’s Mark. In fact, better make it two girls."
[18:27] <@Daroskt> With that, the two succubi accompanying him lean over and each firmly plants a kiss on Saul’s cheek with her ruby-red lips. When they pull away, their lip rouge has left clearly visible prints in the same shocking red on his cheeks.
[18:28] <@Daroskt> Saul beams as he cries out, “The Devil’s Mark, everyone!” which is greeted by a flurry of shouts, catcalls, and hoots. “Now, let’s cheat the Devil and take his gold!” which prompts one more rabid flurry from the imprisoned fiend above, and with that, the tournament begins!
[18:28] <@Daroskt> -End Session 1-
[18:30] <@Daroskt> Rewards: 1 CR 1/2, 1 CR 1; 200 XP Total