The Fortune's Wheel (Lady's Ward)

Wandering into the inn, Clueless took a long look around the place before spotting his current 'target' sitting at her usual table. She was in her place, as usual, with her boys hanging around. For once he'd even dressed up just a tad - favoring soft leather and green silk, though Razor was still strapped prominently over his back.

Playing casually though, he strolled directly past her table, ignoring her deliberately and obviously, wings flickering a blue green. He paused at the bar, ordering "...firewine. Strongest you have." from the barkeep before returning across the room towards the gambling, again taking that casual sauntering route before Shemeska's eyes.

He claimed a spot at the card tables, and settled in to convince half of the gamblers at the table that he was much drunker than he seemd to be while playing.

(ooc: tags - either shemmie for the 'insult' of ignoring her, or other players for a poker hand or two )

Clueless looked up as a new player joined the table, "That we are..." He smiled, taking a large sip of the firewine, before lounging back in his chair, wings flickering a bright green behind him. "What sort of games are you familar with? There's any number we can play...." Agile fingers shuffled the deck in one hand, flickering the card back and forth.

"Especially if you want to get anyone else involved..." He glanced around the room, then shook his head at himself. "What am I doing? I forgot to introduce myself." He offered a hand over the table, "Clueless, you are?"

Seated across the table from Clueless a well dressed young man glanced up from his cards and smiled at the newcomer. Placing his two pair, Ladies and Tiefers, facedown on the table the young man extended his hand politely, "Pull up a chair, maam. I am Aiolos, though you can call me Change." Picking up his cards the young man inwardly winced at his Ace high hand as he tosses a few chips into the center as a bluff. Watching the other players call, Change laughs as he puts down Aces full of nines. "Read 'em and weep, berks!"

Inside the inn steps a blue and yellow furred lupinal guardinal, wearing a light tan outfit, covered by a light gray cloak. Before she even signs her name she glances around the room, her gaze lingering over each person, ears lowering ever so slightly in displeasure upon seeing Shemeska and her guest. She sighs slightly to herself, and pens a name into the book "Fyrehowl" written simply, in planar common. A small sound of jink being placed on a bar as she gets a mug of ale, and steps over to the game table, watching as she asks to Clueless "Poker? or something else?"

*more quietly she asks intending clueless and not the others to hear over the background noise of the bar* "and who are your friends here?"

A quadrone modron casually walks into the establishment. It's pretty obvious it's a rogue; every once in a while it seems to convulse for a second for no apparent reason. The modron eyes the bashers playing poker and wanders over to the table.

"Processing....card game....poker....appears to be five card draw? Query: May Nordom join the game? Nordom desires to take part in social interaction involving the risk of currency and valuable material possessions. Processing....'gambling'."

Clueless smiled widely up at Fyrehowl as she said hello, having not expected to see *her* in this place - he made a mental note not to pick a fight with the Marauder even as he reached up to scritch behind one of the celestials large ears. "Poker right now, join up? We were just getting around to making introductions. Folks... this here's one of my close friends, Fyrehowl."

Clueless wrinkled his nose, "And Change here is winning," He shook his head, pressing the current pile in the other's direction with a smile. "Not for too long I think though..."

When the little walking dice came up to the table though, Clueless's wings flickered orange for a half second in surprise before he shrugged, looking at the rest of the table. "Sure, why not... anyone need a review of the rules before we start the next hand?" He inclinded his head towards Pyretta, knowing she'd already asked something to that effect.

"I'm familiar with several games," Pyretta nearly purrs. "It's these I'm unfamiliar with." She runs one slender finger over the deck of cards in Clueless' hand.

The genasi laughs softly. "Pyretta Blaze. And I hope you're Clueless only by name; otherwise how will you teach me this fascinating game?" She slides her chair closer.

Pyretta inclines her head graciously. "Thank you, Change...I suppose that's a good hand, then?" She smiles winningly.

Pyretta inclines her head slightly, smiling at the lupinal, then turning the full weight of her attention to the well-dressed young man named Clueless. "I dearly hope he lives up to his name..." she thinks to herself.

(ooc note: if the red text gets annoying, let me know. )

Lok stepped sideways through the doorway, long spear drapped across his shoulders. His hands rested lazily over the weapon, keeping it pinned to his neck and back. A quick survey of the inn brought a tightening to hsi lips. His gaze fell upon the guestbook, to which he crossed, pulling the ancient, runic spear down and leaning it against his chest.

In bold, block print he simply named: LOK. A dollup of ink splattered at the end of his name, leaving a spidery mark. He snorted at the blob and straightened.

Avoiding eye contact with as many as he could, the tiefling glid across the floor. Aroudn tables, chairs and patrons, he danced. Once aat the bar he simply placed a coin down and said a single word, "Wine."

(OOC, I as well know well..nada about poker so i'll be trying to do the best i can)
*the lupinal breaks a slight smile as Clueless scritches behind her ears, clearly enjoying that altho you get the idea that it's only welcome becuase she knows him* "Sure, nice to meet you bothshe says as she nods in turn to Pyretta and Change. *as Rhys enters her ears swivel over in that direction before she herself turns her head, and then bows deeply to the teiflings* Good Day, Councilwoman Rhys. *she then brings her attention back to the game at hand, and sits down next to clueless, smirking a bit and jokingly states* Well, I'm ready to loose some jink.

The door to the establishment opened and an old man dressed in strange clothes walked in. His eyes wandered the immediate area as if slightly confused. He looked down at the guest book and started to flip through the pages, perplexed.

After a few minutes, the doorman cleared his throat and stared down at the gentleman with a look of impatience in his eyes. Professor Davis looked up, embarressed, "Sorry about that, my good sir. I'm rather new to these parts and I don't know all the customs." The doorman rolled his eyes, "I would never have guessed. Please sign the guestbook..." The man looked back down and he chuckled inspite of himself, "Good gracious! Is that what this is? Oh well, in that case..." The old man reach into his overcoat and pulled out a small metal tube with a button on the top. He quietly pressed the button and dragged the metal tube across the paper. When he was finished, the name "Edward Davis, Ph.D" was inscribed in clear, well written, but humble letters.

With a warm pleasent smile, he walked to the main room got the bartender's attention and said in a friendly voice, "Excuse me, sir? I'm not in the mood for liquor tonight. I'll just have a coffee, cream with two sugars." The bartender stared at him blankly.

"Oh, for the love of---! No one's here has heard of coffee, either?" The old man sighed to himself. "Fine." I'll just have what that gentleman is having." He pointed to Lok's cup of wine.

(OOC- I believe Rhys' avatar is by DiTerizzi, if I'm not mistaken.)

*The modron's eyes dialate and shrink as it surveys the table. Finally, the rogue begins to speak. "Greetings Councilwoman Rhys. It is....processing....agreeable to see you again... processing....Nordom is ready to partake in poker game. Query: what amount of currency is necessary to start the first hand?"

(OOC-Whoops. Sorry about that. Read the message wrong... :oops: )

Bar

ooc: I got it from the WotC site and modified it to match Lok. they have many good portraits. You can either go and find one, or tell me what you desire and I shall try to match.

Lok turned slightly to regard the man. He blinked black eyes, not smiling.

"It is Wine.," He stated simply.

Bar

Edward looked at the glass and shrugged. "Wine then, bartender." He was slightly afraid to specify the type of wine that he wanted. He was grateful that the residents of this bizarre parallel universe knew anything about wine at all, so he didn't want to push his luck by asking for Chianti. The bartender poured something in a glass and placed is in front of Edward. "That'll be twenty commons." The man rumaged through his pockets and placed a few coins on the bar. He took his drink and turned to the young tiefling. "You'll have to pardon me for copying your order. Wine is just about the only thing that I can understand in this whole city."

He chuckled to himself as he raised the glass to his lips and leaned on the bar so he could quietly watch what looked like a couple of people playing cards with a bipedal wolf and a walking, talking box.

The professer sighed at the absurdity of it all.

Bar

Edward raised an eyebrow and glanced at the teifling out of the corner of his eye while he continued to watch the curious-looking poker game. "No, can't say that I have fallen out of any windows. Why do you ask?" Davis wondered if what he said was just another expression from the local lingo. It seemed to be spoken by everyone in this town. He decided to play it safe and just take he man's words literally for now.

Bar

"You miss the terms, Berk" Lok grunted, "Your words hold knowledge, but not of this place."

The Teifling lowered his head and sighed. Too much of his life matched this current state. Maybe helping some one else out of the Abyss would help him gather more luck, or power, or something, anything. He wasn't gaining any ground on his goal. Maybe a change of pace was needed.

Change holds his cards in one hand wall spinning a small ball of growing translucent matter in his off hand. "I'll start the betting with five," Change said tossing the coins into the center.

Snapping his fingers, Change caused the ball of ephemeral matter to twist and writhe. The ball suddenly reshaped into a pinecone. Change raised an eyebrow, "I don't remember wanting one of these...."

Erte's eyes flash a bright green, and his constant smile grows a little wider. Carefully cleans his hands on his cloak before shaking, he says, "The pleasure's all mine, Edward. You may call me Erte; Er like you breath, Te like you drink. And this," Erte reaches down his his off hand and pats the lute at his feet. "This is Dianne. Her sweet voice has kept me warm many a cold night."

As Erte pulls his hand away, a small cheesecloth packet falls into Edward's hand. He smiles gently, saying, "Steep that in boiling water, sirrah. It should do the trick." Forestalling any talk of compensation, he puts both hands up, showing dual tattoos: golden rings in the palm of his hands.

*Peter Garnett stood outside Fortune's Wheel, taking in a view of the famous inn.*

Pete: So this is Fortune's Wheel. It's luck that English is identical to Planar Trade, else I'd NEVER be able to find my way around!

*Walking in, Pete notices the book of names.*

Pete: Guestbook... rrright.

*Pete signs his name, and proceeds to the bar area of the establishment. As he looks around, his eyes widen in surprise, and he runs up to one of the patrons.*

Pete: Well well... here it seems we have a very confused English Professor! It's nice to see someone else from my Prime here...

Bar

Erte watched, nonplussed, as the spear-wielding gentleman walked away. With a world-weary sigh, he finished his nearly-full glass of wine in a single swallow, then signaled for another glass. Erte rested his head in his tattooed hands above the bar.

“The blood’s right, you know. On both counts.” Erte didn’t lift his head, but it was clear he was still talking to Doctor Davis. His cheerful voice was now morose. “Hermes knows I’ve buried too many good men after their mouths ran too freely in the wrong company. And there are more tales than you can count of some newly arrived clueless set upon by the post-knights. And slight few of them end happy.”

Erte’s face lit up once again at the newcomer’s arrival. Interrupting the young man, he says quietly, “First drink’s on me, friend. Pick your poison.”

Bar

Edward nodded and let the gentleman go. The poor tiefling was probably not in the mood for talking. He especially didn't want the old man to sit down and start to spin another yarn like he was giving one of his History lectures at Cambridge. Besides, it was pretty sound advice... or it would be sound advice if Davis hadn't already been hipped in Sigil for sometime now.

OOC: It's funny how the cant can sound insulting unless you know what the terms mean. hehe

The professor had put the cheesecloth packet into his vest pocket and turned back to continue talking with Mr. Erte, when a young man dressed in casual Earth clothing ran up to him and greeted the old man. "History Professor, actually," said Edward with a chuckle. "Well, well. I assumed that I had this whole universe to myself." Being well versed in lingistic he placed the accent almost instantly. "American, huh?" He narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you a little young to be in a pub?"

The 'loth simply sits back in her chair and looks over the others in the room with a faint look of concentration in her eyes as she focuses on each of them. She pauses for a moment with a faintly curious look as she lingers on the tiefling with the lute. A smile creeps onto her face before she passes over the card players and she seems to roll her eyes in the rough direction of the lupinal before turning back to Bob as he finally begins to speak.

Shemeska turns her head slightly as if considering the request, or the offer, or both before reaching over to her wine glass and taking a slow sip. Her eyes glance up over the top of the glass to the Efreet before she places it down again, slides her food over and starts to pick at it.

While outwardly she seems to now be ignoring the fire djinn her voice rings out clearly in his mind despite her lips not moving except to nip at a few bits of what resembles seared meat of some sort.

The offer is acceptable. This is our first time dealing with one another and so unless you wish to haggle, I'm in a mood to accept and deal straight off. I'm an amiable fiend, despite what some might say...

She glances over in the lupinal's direction before continuing.

Elysian waste of space... but as I was saying, you're looking for a certain tiefling with a dagger. I know of a guard at the Bottle and Jug in the Hive who distinctly recalls a green haired tiefling being beaten to within an inch of his life the other evening. This may be your mark, but because of... circumstances... that same tiefling has volunteered, so to speak, to fight in the pit in a week's time after they can move without wincing. They may still have the dagger, or it may have been taken as spoils of the house by the innkeep or one of his own.

She takes another sip of wine and hands a dish of grapes over to one of the tieflings standing near the table, "Peel these. You expect me to eat the skin? What's wrong with you?"

The tiefer nods obediently and does as asked while his mistress continues.

As well, this same tiefling, or one looking remarkably similar to them was seen in the Night Market attempting to sell some items. In this case the burn marks were noted... but I can't say if the dagger was sold at that time. If it was it may have switched hands since then. However if it was notable it would have been snatched up by a bastard child of an earth genasi and a half-ogre by the name of Turro Jasperkin. He'd likely have it if he found it notable enough to buy or steal. Drop my name and he'll give it to you, he owes me some favors. I wouldn't advise using that to get anything else of his though, I wouldn't appreciate it.

However... I take it back. You only need to pay me the mechanical device. I'm in an even better mood than I had hoped. All I ask though is that as you leave, go pay the barkeep for a 'Marauder's Mirth' and have it sent over to the lupinal there at the card table from 'waving at you from the bottom, see you there and enjoy the fall'

The 'loth smiles again, quite genuinely now. "I hope that was of help to you?"

Main Room

Lok moved swiftly away from the bar. Glass in one hand, spear in the other, he navigated the room to a nice wall. He set his drink upon the table-like ledge and leaned. He had been mistaken, there was too much movement here. Too much noise. Too much of everything. There were no answers. There was only the throng. As he grumbled, his eyes continually strayed back to the Prime Duo.

"End up in a Dustman's bag...

Duty

Twixt the Lady and the 'Loths...

Your Duty

Not my Concern...

Lok's Duty

Lady take your tongue!"

Lok looked around suddenly, realizing that he had been conversing aloud again with his haunt. Shouting the Lady's name was never a good idea. Anywhere. He scowled and tapped his spear against the floor three times as a warding.

"Well... you could say that. See, I became aware of a portal to Sigil located in a shopping center on the Prime... specifically a Prime that has precious few portals, or magic of any kind for that matter. I recognised Sigil on the other side, and so I went to get geared up." Peter gestures towards his backpack, now on the floor next to his seat. "I didn't count on the portal being one-way though; now I'm stuck here until I find another portal back."

"Of course, I'm not quite as clueless as some Primes are. I packed some notes on Sigil and the planes in general. Most of it's common knowledge, but even that is useful to a berk like me."