Dr. Si's Curse of the Crimson Throne - Beta Group

To Eel's End

After parting ways with Orisini, you head to the far west end of Old Korvosa, where the last (or first) pier juts out into the mouth of the Jeggare River.

The pier is seventy feet long, widening at the last 30 feet to a platform, around which five ships are moored. All along the length of the pier hang coloured lanterns, some in the shape of spiders and gods. Eel's End is open all day, every day. It is now mid afternoon, and the place is busy with an assortment of revellers, some well dressed, others sailors and thugs, on the decks of the ships. A few armoured men move amongst the crowd, grim faces amongst the carousing.

The four smaller ships bear prominent signs, with gaudily-painted figureheads to match their names. "The Twin Tigers - Take the Tiger by the Tail and Try Your Luck", reads one. Opposite it, a barge with a large golden hawk on the prow read "Welcome to the Goldenhawk -No Safer Stay in Old Korvosa". Next to that is the "House of Clouds - The Caress of Our Lovelies will take you Straight to Heaven". The figurehead for that is a buxom woman in a state of dishabille. Opposite that - "The Dragon's Breath. Dream the Dragon's Dreams at an Affordable Price." Of all the barges, that one seems the most quiet and subdued from within.

Finally, the largest vessel is moored at the end of the pier, the figurehead a large eel with a woman's head. Some sailors and women of easy virtue are dancing a drunken hornpipe on the foredeck, but the rear of the vessel is empty, save for two guards flanking double doors to the aftcastle, upon which is drawn an elaborate spider design.

A timid whisper issues from within the safe confines of Edmond's backpack "So, uhm, what are we doing here?"

Actualy, I think it's DM's fiat that we are here without discussion.
Umm, what, oh sorry got carried away with Order of the Stick...

IC:
"I'm not quite sure myself. You could say we are on the scouting mission. Or that we are protecting Lynn for less savory elements of society while she is in her element. Namely, information gathering and beguiling. And you get to play our secret weapon. Now shush."

I suppose we need to figure out where to begin.

Lynn spoke somewhat distractedly, she seemed to be searching the crowd.

Find out a bit about the local protocol...

She turned back to Edmond and Dj'hân, a small smirk on her face.

They say every man has his price. Here they've conveniently sorted them by it.

Discerningly she looked around at each of the ships in question. When she came to the Dragon's Breath Lynn frowned and quickly moved to the next. Eyes resting on the Twin Tigers, she grinned triumphantly.

There we go. Gamblers always want for coin or a sucker. I think that's the only price I'm want to pay.

She glanced back at stoic Edmond with an mischievous tinkle in her eye.

Unless of course you'd rather go somewhere else.

The curious urchin carefully peers around the pier from beneath the concealing flap of the holy warrior's backpack. He studies the assortment of patrons moving from ship to ship and notes that most are males. In response to something Lynn said, Dj'hân mutters: "Good thing I'm not a man then..."

Neurotic said:

Actualy, I think it's DM's fiat that we are here without discussion.

Click to expand...

Um, well, not really. That's where you were headed, and there's really not a lot you can do for this particular mission without going to Eel's End.

OOC: no worry DrSimon, I meant it as a joke, I read OOTS at the same time and they constantly use such OOC references...we can always backtrack for a little bit if there is a discussion to be had.

To Lynn Edmond says as impassively as ever.
"You are executive officer on this mission. Hopefuly we can resolve this without fighting. I'll keep your back safe and follow your lead. And no, I don't fancy any of this except maybe catching and holding on to tigers tail. Except I don't like torturing animals."

The Twin Tigers is a wide barge with two hut-like structures built on the decks, and it is these that house the gambling halls., with some spill-over onto the decks on a clear day like today. Dice rattle, wheels spin, cards are dealt and coins of all values jingle to the fickle whim of Fate. There are a few people not engrossed in one form of game or another. An armoured enforcer patrols the decks, watching for signs of trouble. He gives you a nod as he passes, with a curt "Careful what you do with that thing," to Edmond, referring to Deathwail.
Several gaudily, scantily dressed women, probably from the House of Clouds, are pretending to be impressed by the men who are winning, moving off in disgust if their would-be paramour begins to lose his price of 15 minutes of pretend bliss.

And overseeing the whole excitable lot of them, two Vudran men dressed in red silks, almost identical in appearance. One seems serious, sour-faced, swapping coins for chips and keeping a wary eye on the room. The other moves amongst the patrons with a cheery smile and a friendly word for all.

"Welcome to the Twin Tigers," he says as he approaches. "Please, my friends, enjoy the games on offer. My brother will change your coins at a most reasonable commission. I hope luck is with you!" He moves away to glad-handle another client.

OOC: Not to accuse Nic Logue of plagiarism or anything, but this place sounds a lot like the Catfish. Mind you, I got the idea from Mississippi river boats, and Kowloon, so it's not exactly novel

The curious guttersnipe continues to watch the goings on covertly from the safety of Edmond's backpack.

With glittering eyes, Lynn looked around at the hustle and bustle of the gambling house. This was very exciting.

Lynn carefully made her way across the the casino heading for the dour looking money changer.

I'd like to get some of those chip...things, she smiled like an innocent lamb going to slaughter.

Pausing a moment, she looked thoughtful. They could probably write this up as an expense. Looking even more cheery she told the man what she wanted.

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I'll get 10gp worth of chips, assuming that would be considered a goodly amount by the avg gamber, but i'm assuming most of them are working class.

[/sblock]

Once she received her markers she turned and shrewdly eyed the gambling den. Looking for that strange combination of misery and hope that made up the chronically unlucky gambler.