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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3816338" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-eight, “The Tournament Players“, Saturday, June 17th, 11:30 A.M. Silver engraved nameplates are put on the table for all but three of the gamblers, those three being late additions who have the same type of silver nameplates but with the names hand-painted in black script. Cornelius Van Horne's table is the center one and at his table are Twitchy Brooklyn, Commodore James Duvall, Moria Stone Enion, Brady Hawkes, Victor Muratz and Jefferson Soapy Smith. At the northwest table is Isaac Stevens whose players are Helen Barker, Joe Cartwright, Torvald MacNaulty, Forrest Morand, Luke Short and Ben Thompson. To the northeast table is Marybeth Osborne whose players are Silver Jake Cook, Hamilton Fisk, Jim Franklin, William Randolph Hearst, Burton Lumley and Theodore Roosevelt. To the southeast table is Bradford Rhinehardt whose players are Evan Adair, Edward Julius Berwind, Conrad Booth, Poker Alice Ivers, Anson Peacely-Killen Safford and Ned Walters. To the southwest table is Job Kane whose players are Lottie The Poker Queen Dano, John Wesley Hardin, Bat Masterson, Brett Maverick, Wendall Spaulding and Willy Spinner. The dealers distribute the metal boxes. The gamblers remove the lids, which conveniently fit beneath the boxes and also have felt tips on the corners to keep the boxes from sliding on the tables. Each box is two inches high, ten inches long and eight inches deep. Each contains four rows each with a dozen poker chips, taking up around half of the space in the box as each row has indentations to hold up to twenty-five. All of the chips are metal and plated with different-colored metals. They appear to have been minted specially for the tournament, as the back of each coin has the Lucky Lady's emblem in the center with "Cornelius Van Horne Poker Tournament June 17 & 18, 1882" engraved outside of the emblem. On the front are numberical denominations. Within each case are ten copper coins numbered "10", sixteen bronze coins numbered "25", ten silver coins numbered "50", ten gold coins numbered "100" and 2 platnum coins numbered "500". The total value of each set of coins is therefore 3,000. The time is now fifteen minutes until noon. Van Horne says, "The dealers will begin dealing at twelve noon. We will then play until approximatley 2:30 A.M. There will be two half-hour scheduled breaks today at approximatley 4:30 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. Players may leave the table to take care of nature's calling during a hand while the game is in progress but must still put in the minumum ante for that hand. For this afternoon's games the minimum ante per hand is one copper poker chip." He then looks towards the reporters and Buck Fly and states, "Flash photography will only be allowed during breaks. Tables will be consolidated during each break. Players have been initially assigned so they are with whatever dealer they are least familiar with. Each time tables are considated all players will be reassigned to a different dealer whenever possible as well as different players as much as possible. Anybody caught cheating will be ejected from the game and turned over to the local authorities for trial. Spectators who are accomplices to cheating will also be arrested and prosecuted. Any player carrying firearms will also be ejected from the game and forfeit all winnings, the lone exception to that restriction being Deputy Marshall Helen Barker, as per town regulation." He gestures to Helen. "Note that with the exception of food and drink orders there is no actual currency changing hands or stored on the premises. The three winners will not receive their winnings until after the bank opens on Monday. Word of the dealers is final and each of them will answer specific questions regarding the game being dealt. Disputes with any security personnel, who are wearing the red armbands, or Lucky Lady staff who are wearing the green armbands may be appealed to the host or hostess but our decisions are then final. I would suggest that you use the remaining ten minutes to get whatever food or drink you like, to make a final trip to the outhouses, or to divest yourself of any items that might result in your ejection from the game." Jake looks confident, calm and perhaps even pleased. He remembers back to his youth, to the delivery boy work his father made him perform. He remembers standing in the home of the fat bald lawyer and his politician crony friends. He remembers watching them sitting around the table drinking their fine whiskey, smoking their expensive cigars, dressed in their tailored silk shirts and pushing their piles of silver and gold coins across the felt table. He remembers the cards being dealt. He remembers the thrill that went up his spine at the sights, sounds and smells. Young Jacob Alistair Cooke was mesmerized, Jake thinks to himself, and the dream took root. Now it is your turn Silver Jake Cook, to make the dream real. I have earned my chance. I have sharpened my skills until they shine. It is time. The tournament was like a drug, though his senses were keen and clear. The room called to him like blood in the water calls to a shark. He had anticipation, but no fear. He was ready and he would revel in every moment of it. Jake surveys the room again before stepping out on the porch to look for one of the McCoy's. He steps outside he spots the McCoys two doors down. Prosper McCoy makes eye contact with Jake, nods, then walks into Pierre's Gun Shop with his wife. "Oh, Hermes." Jake mutters and quickly crosses to Pierre’s. Jake strides in, glances around and approaches Prosper McCoy. He pulls the papers out of his shirt and hands them to him. "Check them over, I expect you will be pleased. I need to hurry back, I cannot miss the start of the tournament." Bonnie McCoy is busy keeping Pierre distracted, asking him a number of specific questions about various rifles. McCoy says to Jake, "Thanks. I'll look them over later, I trust you, what's the expression? The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Jake answers, "Heh. If not a friend, then at least darned useful. I can appreciate you being careful, he is a poisonous snake at best. Anything else before I run back?" McCoy replies, "Just for you to watch out, he has this plan to steal the Lady away from you during the tournament. Several people are in Adair's back pocket on this one, including the tournament organizer Van Horne and several of the people on security detail. Watch your back." "Thanks for the warning, I will." Jake hurries back to the tournament, eager to continue watching his competitors. . When Jake came back inside Kate hurried over with the glass of bourbon and offered it. "I wanted to talk to you last night, but I had to leave unexpectedly," she said lightly. "There are a couple things you should be aware of that might be better spoken of privately." Jake guides her to a back near the stairs. "Thank you kindly for the drink, just what I needed. Now, what is this about?" She says, "Just a few things I picked up over the last couple days, don't look so serious. Conrad and I were out to dinner last night and overheard Mrs. Enion talking with Mr. Maverick. Apparently she has a colorful past. She said she's just a married woman now and not running any scams, but you might want to keep an eye on her. I can't remember if I told you about Mrs. Higgins and Adair as well? Conrad refused the Long Branch's sponsorship because it was attached to an agreement to play in a way that would favor Adair, so you'll want to watch the others from the Long Branch as well. Other than that, Minerva wanted you to know that the man Mortimer Turner modeled his disguise on is playing in the tournament. It's probably just a point of interest now, though." Jake replies, "Yes, I have played cards with the governor before. I trust he is the real one this time, but you never know. Mrs. Enion knows Maverick? Heh, that IS interesting. I figured there was more to her than was obvious. Now that makes three that I have heard from about Adair and his group of cheaters. He also thinks he has Van Horne in his pocket too, but there he will have a surprise. I suspect you know by now that Mr. Van Horne is not what he seems. Continue to keep that to yourself." Jake takes a sip of bourbon. "Ah, very nice. Speaking of secrets, Tony Lucky has been feeding Adair information so be careful what you say around him. Frank Lucky is supposed to be Van Horne's man, and should be keeping an eye on Tony but who knows when it comes to blood relations. I have a favor to ask of you. Please privately tell Mr. Van Horne that the McCoy's are no longer in Adair's pocket. Adair's black mail evidence against them is no longer in his possession, but poor Mr. Adair has not learned that yet. Also tell Van Horne that Lloyds of London may show up here this weekend looking for Mr. Adair over past misdeeds." Jake inhales the aroma of the bourbon. "I do believe I will quite enjoy this tournament." "I can see that look in your eye, of course you're going to enjoy it," she laughed. "And I won't be surprised to see you a great deal richer by the end. Apparently Mr. Maverick is the one who arranged for Mrs. Enion's stay in a women's prison in San Francisco. She rather neatly used that to get the money to enter the tournament out of him. She said they wanted the winnings so her husband could focus on the work he enjoys, painting I believe? My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I know he is a sign painter." She smiled and added, "You do remember I was with you when Finnegan told us about Tony Lucky being Adair's man, don't you? I will keep my silence about Mr. Van Horne and pass on your message, although if you keep giving me too many things to be curious about one day I'll have to tie you down until I get some answers. Now I have the McCoy's to be curious about, too." A listing of the Tournament participants (and origins): 1. Evan Adair – Promise City owner of the Palace Saloon and candidate for Town Council. (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie). 2. Helen Barker – Promise City Deputy Marshall and owner of the town’s Photographic Studio (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie). 3. Edward Julius Berwind – Pennsylvania Coal Tycoon (1848 - 1936). Known for construction of the Newport, R.I. mansion known as “The Elms”. 4. Conrad Booth – Promise City gambler at the Long Branch Saloon and illegitimate brother of famed actor Edwin Booth. (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie). 5. Twitchy Brooklyn – Gambler (fictitious character from the 1994 movie “Maverick”, played by actor Dan Hedeya). 6. Joe Cartwright – Rancher (fictitious character from the 1963-1973 series “Bonanza”, played by actor Michael Landon). 7. ‘Silver’ Jake Cook – Promise City gambler and co-owner of the Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon and co-owner of the Fisk Mountain Silver Mine. (fictitious Playing Character played by Baradtgnome). 8. Lottie ‘The Poker Queen’ Deno – (1844 – 1934). Gambler who in 1882 resided in the nearby town of Deming, New Mexico Traveled with her husband Frank Thurmond. 9. Commodore James Duvall – Gambler and owner of the Mississippi riverboat Lauren Belle (fictitious character from the 1994 movie “Maverick”, played by actor James Coburn). 10. Moria Stone Enion – Promise city wife of house painter Patrick Enion and daughter of an English con artisit (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie). 11. Hamilton Fisk – Gambler, Attorney, Mine Owner and Mayoral Candidate (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie). 12. Jim Franklin – Gambler (fictitious character from the WotC game supplement “D20 Past” by James Wyatt & Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel). 13. John Wesley Hardin – Gunslinger (1853 – 1895). Considered the deadliest killer in the history of the Wild West. 14. Brady Hawkes – Gambler (fictitious character from the 1980’s series of ‘The Gambler” TV movies played by singer Kenny Rogers). 15. William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) Newspaper publisher and politician. Was the basis for the movie “Citizen Kane”. 16. ‘Poker’ Alice Ivers – Gambler (1851 – 1930). 17. Burton Lumley - Promise City owner of the Gay Lady Dance Hall and Saloon and candidate for Town Council. (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie). 18. Torvald MacNaulty – Dwarven prospector from Promise City and co-owner of the Fisk Mountain Mine (fictitious NPC from the ongoing Wild West campaign where this poker tournament is set). 19. Bat Masterson – Lawman and Gambler (1853 - 1921). 20. Brett Maverick – Gambler (fictitious character played by James Gardner in 1957-1962 television series “Maverick” and by Mel Gibson in the 1994 movie “Maverick”). 21. Forrest Morand – Rancher (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie). 22. Victor Muratz – Gambler (fictitious character from the WotC game supplement “D20 Past” by James Wyatt & Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel). 23. Theodore Roosevelt – New York Assemblyman (1858 - 1919) Best known for being the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. 24. Anson Peacely-Killen Safford – Arizona Territorial Governor (1830 – 1891). Served as the Arizona Territorial Governor from 1869 to 1877. 25. Luke Short – Gambler and gunslinger (1854 - 1893). 26. Jefferson ‘Soapy’ Smith – Gambler (1860- 1898) Worked primarily out of Leadville, Colorado, the Silver Capital of the old west. 27. Wendall Spaudling - Promise City gambler at the Long Branch Saloon (fictitious NPC from the ongoing Wild West campaign where this poker tournament is set). 28. Willy Spinner – Gambler (fictitious character from the WotC game supplement “D20 Past” by James Wyatt & Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel). 29. Ben Thompson – Gunslinger, gambler and lawman (1851 - 1884). Often traveled with his hothead brother Billy. 30. Ned Walters – Promise City prospector (fictitious character from the TSR Boot Hill module “Ballots and Bullets” by David James Ritchie).</blockquote>

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