Undercover at the Casino (end of run on 12-16-002)
The group decides to head to Holy Street, Kel to the Temple of Corean, Gemma to a wood grove of Tanil and the rest to the Temple of Enkili. Holy Street is a wide road with a grassy median. At each intersection there are signs pointing the directions to the various temples. Deke moves along refusing to talk to Kenyan and acting like a real filcher. Marja finds the Temple of Idra and Lucre finds the Temple of Gorin. Oddly, the two are next to each other which Lucre considers an abomination and Marja considers amusing.
The Temple of Enkili is odd looking. Some of it is wood, some stone. It looks like four architects with diverse building plans each started at a corner and built into the center. Inside Borin introduces himself as Tallen Windrush and asks to speak to a high priest. Several minutes later a tall man with one gray eye and one brown eye introduces himself as the high priest, Rositer. Borin goes off privately to have a conversation. When he returns, they head to the Inn.
Once out in the street Morgaine falls unconscious to the ground. Another vision: She mumbles, “The faceless have been seen and will see. Beware the Eyes that see and the circle that goes around. Trust no faces. Trust all faces.” Unlike when she’s had visions in the past, Morgaine doesn’t regain consciousness. They carry her in her catatonic state to the Temple of Madrial where they leave her.
Back at the Inn, Borin explains that he made a deal with Enkili’s priest. If Borin helps him find out what’s going on at the casino (he suspects embezzling), he will help Borin find out Enkili’s will regarding his new form. Borin will take up control of the casino, but bring in his “staff.” Kenyan will perform, Marja will serve drinks, Calina will act as bookkeeper, and Lucre a bodyguard. Deke will keep a low profile as Borin’s pet. Kel is reluctant to go into the casino, but finally agrees to be a bouncer. As the night approaches, and people ready for bed, Marja, Calina and Deke decide to go visit the Temple of Idra. The rest stay at the Inn to listen to Fergus perform followed by the innkeeper, Harley, who sings a long ballad about a hafling knight who rides a war dog. The ballad finally ends with the line, “I wouldn’t sent a knight out on a dog like this.” With that the remaining party groans and heads to bed.
Meanwhile out in the street, Deke thinks they are being followed. He climbs a building to watch, but doesn’t see anything. He briefly feels that something was cast at him, but he shrugs it off.
The night passes uneventfully, at least in a traumatic sense. Deke wouldn’t have called a night spent with the priestesses of Idra uneventful.
Lucre gets up early in the morning and goes to the Temple of Gorin. After that he heads to the casino, introduces himself as a new bouncer hired by Miss Windrush and gets in to look around. The first thing he does is trip over a cat. A grizzly-faced man comes out of the kitchen to check on Mrs. Greeley, and Lucre is face-to-face with Lucky, the cook. Lucky has no right hand, but has a cleaver affixed over the stub. After a brief chat, Lucre pokes around more. The basement is locked. He discovers that the tables are rigged. “That’s cheating,” he thinks and cuts all the wires. Upstairs he finds a lounge with seats and instruments, a hallway to an office that is locked and another door, also locked, which pops open suddenly. A harpy of a woman jumps out yelling not to disturb the girls, the “seamstresses,” who were up all night.
Lucre returns to the inn and relates proudly how he “fixed the tables,” and recommending that they get rid of the prostitutes. In a long and winding story Marja convinces Lucre that the girls really are seamstresses living there to take care of the performers costumes. Lucre is determined to talk to them about unionizing so they don’t have to work so late at night.
Marja relates snippets of conversations she heard last night: The Council voted on budget allocations for the vigils, a new policy toward Calastia, and talk about the “eyeball killer, “ a serial murderer who kills and steals his victims’ eyes.
In the late afternoon, the group heads to Fortuna’s, the casino. Borin leads the group into the casino and calls for someone named Cutter. A small man wearing black with a large scar on his face appears. He’s pleased to see Tallen Woodrush, doesn’t see the need for more staff, and is uneasy about the filcher.
The place is fully staffed with a tall redheaded man at the bar, Rowan, a waitress, Melina, people at each table and the girls lounging on the balcony upstairs. Lucre is starting to wonder about Marja’s story. Cutter rings a bell. A fine figure of a woman with an elaborate hairdo, very made-up and very well preserved appears. Lucre thinks it’s the woman he met this morning. Lucky shows up laughing. The three pit bosses, Triscun, Luthar and Verance, appear. Introductions all around then everyone to their places.
