Session 94

General Summary

• Patrons of The Paradise Casino mainly fall into one of two categories: nobles looking to schmooze, and young folks just looking to have a good time.
• There was supposed to be some sort of trial-by-combat event downstairs tonight, in the "totally legal" The Court of Resolution. It was going to be a big spectator event, but it's been canceled — apparently, one of the would-be participants has been arrested.
• In the main foyer of The Paradise Casino, there was a goblin playing a piano...
• ...except, on further investigation, he was neither a goblin, nor was he actually playing.
• Marvin retrieved the item stashed inside the piano: a strange pack of cards.
• Dazki identified the pack of cards as The Admirer's Cards of Collecting, capable of perfectly capturing an exact quote from someone together with their rough sketch on command.
• While Dazki was identifying that, Kesmet noticed the familiar of one Kerro "Burnclaw" Schene, a Hounds Guild member whom he was very familiar with.
• He took Grogery and Marvin upstairs to follow it into the casino's VIP area.
• They had a conversation with Kerro, who started reciting a limerick about "The Baker of Hound's Tooth Row" and then said something that set off one of Kesmet's fire bolts.
• Dazki and Dwardazik ran up during the commotion and helped defuse the situation.
• Kesmet challenged Kerro to resolve the issue in the Court of Resolution, and the party proceeded to interrogate Kerro.
• Kesmet insists that Kerro is a member of the Hounds Guild, but Kerro says that he has been part of the House of Cards for several years. Kerro's claim checks out (at least, with the people around here).
• Kerro was fairly evasive, but hardly anything he said stuck out as an outright lie — he does seem to believe that he's well-respected within the House of Cards, and that the Hounds Guild are his mortal enemies. He says that the only way Kesmet's story could be true is if he were in two places at the same time.

Full Recap

Casino Night

Now fully inside The Paradise Casino, Dazki proposes that the party should take the time to explore a bit, get the lay of the land, especially identifying pit bosses and staff.

Marvin: And where does the whole, you know, "Kesmet being bait" part come into play?   Dazki: We want to get a lay of the land before we start flaunting the fact that Kesmet is here.   Marvin: Right.   Dazki: So we want to be able to at least make a little bit of a plan: know who to avoid, how to get into "staff-only" areas, things like that.   Marvin: But this is Kesmet we're talking about. Do you think he even knows how to lay low?   Kesmet: ...I can literally turn invisible.   Dazki: He has proven in the past that he is more than capable of discretion. So I trust him.   Dwardazik: OK, let's try to get a quick look around, see if anyone is watching us now. But we definitely should make our way over to the piano at some point.   Marvin: Oh believe you me, I intend to spend much time at that piano.   Kesmet: You play piano?   Marvin: I can play anything!

The Grand Foyer of the Paradise Casino is a strange combination of lavish and modern. There are beautifully polished, well-lit golden marble with large columns and chandeliers — but, a lot of the furnishings and small details are more familiar. It clashes a little, but not unpleasantly. The center of the foyer is a large coconut palm. Swirling around the tree are beautiful motes of energy. A small, green-skinned goblinoid is currently playing the piano, and the crowd is currently watching that.   Dazki and Grogery survey the large casino floor area, while the other three break off to blend into the crowds nearer the piano.

---

Dwardazik puts on what he thinks is a snooty, pompous voice and tries to hook someone in to have a little chat.

Dwardazik: It's quite the establishment, here! And this music is really quite pleasurable to the ears! Have you noticed that the rest of this city has been... rather boring, all things considered? Finally, the kind of entertainment that I was meant to enjoy!

Most of the people he tries to mingle with, in these crowds, are engaged in veiled smalltalk as well. The nobles gossip about other people's lives, casually chatting about their own lives to gain favor, they stress about de-stressing — "you know, noble stuff".   Then there is a second faction of less elite, youthful-looking people just looking to have a good time, gain or lose some money, it doesn't matter — they're just here to have one amazing night out.   Those two groups are hesitant to mingle together... and Dwardazik fits in with neither. He singles out and approaches a small group of nobles.

Dwardazik: Oh man, this quarantine is causing so many issues, trying to get goods in and out of the city! I've actually been looking around to see if I can find someone who might be worth my time in managing some goods. How's business been for you folks?   Noble: And, just who are you, exactly?   Dwardazik: Why, I'm Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth, gem merchant from Amber Falls! You may not have heard of me, and I understand that, but I'm a prospective gem merchant here, and I have quite a set of contacts and a large supply that might be of interest to you.   Noble: Hmm, the name does sound familiar, but I just can't remember why... hmm... you know what, we're gonna go talk over here, and consider your proposal.   Dwardazik: No, no, I'm not proposing anything!   Noble: You're proposing business, right?   Dwardazik: I'm not strictly proposing business, I'm simply asking how the climate's been? Has trade been good for you folks?   Noble: ...do you want to know about the weather or the business?   Dwardazik: I... (He drops the snooty voice)... sir, I just want to know if you're having issues with the quarantine or not. Transporting goods in and out.   Noble: Oh, gosh no! Why would I have business that would be worsened by a quarantine that isn't happening?   Dwardazik: ...right. Of course.

---

On the main casino floor, there is a set of stairs near the center leading up to a balcony that overlooks the floor. There are also several tieflings about in matching armor, probably guards. Dazki isn't sure if he's more worried about the guards wearing the armor, or the ones without armor that seem to blend in with the crowd.   Servants are easy to pick out: they are wearing obvious uniforms, and many of them walk around with drinks — on the house, of course. Dazki takes one of the drinks and discreetly pours out about one-third of it somewhere so that it looks like he's been drinking a bit.   (Perception 30): There are people mingling about among the crowd who are obviously plants, which would explain why the visibly armored guard presence seems relatively low. As far as the gambling goes, it's all legit — well, as legit as gambling can be: the house has an edge, of course, so the patrons are definitely going to lose money. It's also a great way to launder money, and there definitely seems to be some of that going around.

---

(Perception 22): Grogery is getting a lot of looks that he's very familiar with, particularly from the elite crowd. They're uncertain what to do: should they keep looking at him? A lot of them just look away, trying to be polite about it. A few watch him curiously... some, more curiously than others, probably because — as Dazki tells him, discreetly pointing them out — several of them are plants.   The patrons do somewhat seem to recognize the party members specifically, and Grogery starts to get the idea that the longer they stay here being "noticed", the more people will start to remember who they are.

---

Kesmet has noticed the same dichotomy as Dwardazik: noble elites, and young folk out for a good time. He approaches a group of the young folks and tries to engage with conversation with them. (Charisma 21): Having much better luck over here, only because of a strange chance encounter, a half-inebriated half-elf wanders up to him with an empty goblet. It seems that Kesmet has been mistaken for staff...

Jack: I'm gonna need a refill.   Kesmet, taking his cup: All right, sure! So, where are you from?   Jack: Well, I'm... I'm from, like... everywhere. I'm a — *hic* sorry — I'm a traveler, you know? Just from party to party and all that.   Kesmet: A fellow worldly connoisseur! So, what's up with this party? Whatcha doin' here?   Jack: Well, to be honest, I was here to see a match in The Court of Resolution today, but I heard it got canceled. So now I'm just gonna get wasted!   Kesmet: What match was it supposed to be? I'm a little bit behind on my information.   Jack: I mean, don't you work here? You should know the schedule...   Kesmet: Oh, no-no-no. I'm just another partygoer.   Jack: Oh shit, man, I'm sorry!   Kesmet: That's OK.   Jack: Yeah, these two guys, they were gonna, like, resolve this dispute by, like, flashing swords 'n shit in the Court of Resolution, but... now they're not.   Kesmet: That sounds bangin'! Why aren't they gonna do it anymore?   Jack: Uh, I guess the guards got to one of 'em first, so... I guess that means the other guy wins?   Kesmet: What was the dispute about, do you know?   Jack: Bah, I don't really care about all that politics. I just wanted to watch some guy get stabbed with a sword!   Kesmet: So, when did the guards get to that first guy? Where is he, what's goin' on?   Jack: Shit, man, I don't know! I'm a traveler! So, if you're not staff, then you got any — *sniff* — you got anything... anything special on the menu? Or if you are staff, then can you see if it's worth my time staying to watch two dudes stab each other?   Kesmet: Wait, I thought that wasn't happening anymore?   Jack: Yeah, but maybe they've scheduled something else.   Kesmet: All right, yeah, sure, I'll go check. Sorry, friend, what was your name?   Jack: My name is Jack Potter.   Kesmet: Well, Jack, I've got something for you.

Kesmet pours his flask of holy water into the cup and discreetly flavors it with Prestidigitation. Jack smells it a bit and takes a sip.

Jack: Man, but... what is this stuff, though?   Kesmet: It's the nectar of the gods! Heavenly light!   Jack: Yeah, but is it gonna get me fucked?   Kesmet: No, it's very smooth, it's fine. It's fine.

---

Marvin overhears people making gossip about Grogery.

Random crowd member: We knew there would be one goblin here, but a second goblin?   Marvin: You mean, you don't recognize him?! The friend who just walked over into the gambling area?   Random crowd member: Yeah, like, is he part of the act?   Marvin: Have you not heard the tales of all the monsters being slain outside of the city?! That goblin has singlehandedly saved this city five times! It's only thanks to him that we're all still here! There was a Beholder, coming straight for the city! Didn't you see?! The markets were screaming about all the Beholder parts that were sold to them recently! It was his doing!   Random crowd member: Wait, really?!   Marvin: Absolutely!   Random crowd member: So, he's some sort of out-of-town celebrity goblin?   Marvin: He is a warrior. A warrior!   Random crowd member: But he's actually, uh, a goblin, then?   Marvin: I mean, look at him. He's stunning! That hair?   Random crowd member: I mean, usually, the goblins and stuff, they've got the yellow vests, right? So...   Marvin: I'm not so sure about that, but I know that he swings a goddamn fierce mace! I'm honestly excited that he's here. I want to know so much more about the adventures he's been on. About the beasts he's slain! Grogery the Mighty! Man, the fact that he's here today... oof... we should consider ourselves so lucky, to be in the presence of a living legend.   Random crowd member: I've got to find out more!   Marvin: Well, just go ask him! I plan to, later. I'm just working up my courage, honestly.   Random crowd member: No-no-no! No, no... no! You go ask him!   Marvin: Why don't you come with me?   Random crowd member: Nope. Nope! Nope-nope.   Marvin: Oh, come on!   Random crowd member: Nope!   Marvin: I've heard he's actually quite friendly!   Random crowd member: No, no, I think you should ask him.   Marvin: OK, OK, I'll go. You know what, I really should just go over there. I gotta hear more of his tales.   Random crowd member: Wait-wait! Wait. Wait! What about... wait!   Marvin: ?   Random crowd member: ...is he with the other goblin?   Marvin: I don't think so. Why would he be? You think they're all related?!   Random crowd member: No-no-no! No... no! That's not what I said! That is distinctly not what I said! You're putting words in my mouth —   Marvin: I'll take 'em right back out. Consider it never said!   Random crowd member: It's just... there's usually zero goblins. Tonight, there are two.   Marvin: Exciting times, isn't it! I'm planning to speak to him, as well! He is fantastic up there on the piano. But I'll get back to you — I'm going to go talk to Grogery the Mighty.

Marvin takes off in the direction of Grogery. Even as he does, he hears whispers spreading throughout the crowd about Grogery the Mighty, details and stories getting tacked on as they do.

---

Dazki: Hey, Grogery. Grab a drink. Don't drink it, just act like you're drinking it.   Grogery: OK...   Dazki: It helps people blend in, without you actually getting drunk. Just discreetly pour out a little bit, or something like that. No one's going to think anything about a little bit of spilled alcohol here, it's going to happen all the time — I mean, look at that guy over there, he probably just spilled half of his champagne!   Grogery: Oh jeez. All right.   Dazki: All right, we should probably go meet back up with the others.   Grogery: Yeah. If you need to go somewhere discreetly, I should probably not be accompanying you.   Dazki: Yeah, no, we're just getting the lay of the land right now. Hopefully, that won't be the case, and we'll just need to draw out whoever is looking for Kesmet. I've got a feeling they'll probably be somewhere upstairs (maybe the balcony, or something like that), but who knows? Kesmet might have a better idea of how to spot the person than I would.

As they make their way back to the foyer, Marvin meets them, coming in the other direction. He grabs Grogery's hand and quickly whispers something in his ear:

Marvin: Just go with it!   Marvin, loudly: Grogery the Mighty! Oh my gosh, I am so glad to finally have met you! I've heard so much about your tales out beyond Ashport's walls! How many times you've saved the city by slaying all those monsters! Tell me, what was the look in the Beholder's eye right before you had slain it?   There are murmurs throughout the crowd of recognition.   Grogery: Well, he certainly, uh — didn't see it coming!   Marvin, chuckling: Hahaha! Grogery, you are humorous as you are mighty! I'm so glad to have finally met you!   Murmurs in the crowd, "Oh my god, he's clever too! So clever!"   Grogery: I wasn't aware I was this well-known!   Marvin: Oh, you have plenty of fans growing in this area. Please, come join us, and listen to this great music!   Grogery: Sure!

Away from the center of attention, Kesmet looks confused.

Kesmet: Hey Dwardazik, uh, did Marvin have something to drink?   Dwardazik: Huh? Oh, I didn't notice him having anything.   Kesmet: I think he might have been enchanted. Seems he's forgotten who Grogery is.   Dwardazik: I think I understand what he's trying to do. And frankly, it's mostly true...   Another patron, approaching Kesmet: Um, sir? Just letting you know, someone seems to have spilled red wine all over the rug over there?   Kesmet: Oof, that's gonna clash.   Patron: But, I... um... (He wanders off).

Throughout this, Dazki carefully scans through the crowd, looking to see if anyone has any malice towards Kesmet. (Insight 20): No one seems to have any ill intent towards Kesmet — a couple just think he's poorly dressed. Everyone's just too distracted over the fact that there are two goblins in the foyer, one of whom is apparently a celebrity. Dazki has no idea how that happened, but he can guess... he walks over to Dwardazik and Kesmet.

Dazki: Hey, Kesmet?   Kesmet: Yo.   Dazki: Two thoughts. One, you and Marvin see if you can get to that piano. Or two, you and me, we kind of go the opposite direction of Grogery, since apparently rumors have started that he's some kind of celebrity. That way, there will be fewer people, and we'll be able to see if someone is trying to approach you much more easily.   Kesmet: Oh, so that's what Marvin was doing.   Kesmet: Uh, yeah-yeah! Sure.   Dazki: Also, your ability to see if someone is a werewolf will probably come in handy here, since it is potentially a member of The Hounds Guild that we're looking for.   Kesmet: I can sniff 'em out. ...not literally, though.   Dazki: All right, let's go gamble at a low-stakes table, then.   Kesmet: All right. Also, hey, there's this, like drunk college kid. He mentioned something about the Court of Resolution, where people go to have gentlemen's duels or something. With swords.   Dazki: Oh, OK. Interesting, maybe we'll be able to catch a show, if the person of interest doesn't show up right away. Who knows — maybe we'll even be able to confront them in there!

They go to find a table. Dwardazik goes to do the same, after enough of a delay that it doesn't look like they're all together.   Marvin studies the goblin playing the piano, nailing down his look and music.   Grogery feigns listening to the piano with interest, but actually focuses on eavesdropping on the rumors that have spread about him. Marvin finds a group and goes back to more rumormongering:

Marvin: Man, I can't believe it! Grogery the Mighty was apparently pardoned, personally, by the Firelord himself, as a thanks for the mighty deeds that he did for the city!   Random crowd member: Yeah, I heard that the Firelord was so chuffed by it that he invited him to the next city anniversary to sit at the head table!   Marvin: And he was so easy to talk to! I just went up to him, and he was all cool!   Random crowd member: ...really?!   Marvin: Yeah! He was awesome! Come on, let's —   Random crowd member: No-no! I dare not!   Marvin: Come on... he only bites eyeballs of the Beholders, all right?

The random crowd member walks away.

---

Dazki and Kesmet are busy gambling at a low-stakes table. Chatting up the other patrons, someone else seems to have noticed that the on-duty guards are a bit light today.

Dazki: Really? Any idea why that might be? Is there something special going on elsewhere today?   Patron: I have no idea, but it was so easy to sneak in my "special" liquor this time!   Dazki: Haha. Yes, well, good that there's some benefit to it. Just be a little bit careful, I did see someone who I think might be an undercover guard here. Don't let too many people see that, eh?   Patron: Yeah, whatever. Whatever.   Dazki: So, how many guards are there usually? I see a half-dozen here, so there's usually what, 12? 15?   Patron: Well, usually there's almost twice as many, right? Maybe there's, like, a guard convention or something, I don't know what they're doing!   Dazki: Yeah, I don't know.   Patron: Or a guard... strike? I don't know! It just seems light here today.   Dazki: Are there any events going on today? Any special gambling events where they might need extra security?   Patron: There was, but it got cancelled. Lot of people pissed about that.   Dazki: Really? What got cancelled?   Patron: Ah, these two guys were gonna duke it out with swords in the Court of Resolution. It's like legal arbitration.   Dazki: An honor duel kind of thing?   Patron: Yeah! It was being hyped up all week, but apparently one of the guys wasn't as legitimate, because now he's arrested.   Dazki: Really? Who was fighting? What were their names?   Patron: Bah, the names aren't really important.   Kesmet: Come on, man, paint us a picture!   Dazki: Do you know what the dispute was about?   Patron: Well, it was... I think one man said he was being cheated on, like his lady, but the other guy said he wasn't and that the lady preferred him instead anyway? Either way, that's not the important part. The important part was that both of these guys are jacked.   Dazki: Oh, yeah?   Patron: Yeah, it was gonna be a good match.   Kesmet: Which one of 'em got arrested?   Patron: Bacchus did. Big burly dwarf fellow. Really honorable type, but apparently not.   Dazki: Hmm, interesting. So where around here is this Court of Resolution? Is it, like, an arena downstairs? Something out back?   Patron: It's this totally legal arena downstairs.   Dazki: All right!   Kesmet: Why did you add the words "totally legal"?   Dazki: Because! It's totally legal!   Patron: I mean, that's what they say when you gamble at it. So, I believe it.   Dazki: An establishment like this? There's no way anything illegal would be going on here!   Kesmet: I dunno. Statistically, it's a pretty big establishment. At least somebody's going to be trying —   Patron: I think these prices should be illegal, but that's just me!   Kesmet: The prices. Yeah, those. Those are probably illegal.   Dazki: The drinks are free! I don't know what prices you're complaining about.   Patron: And I noticed there's a lot of high-end folk here who really wanted to see that, but... I mean, that's why I assume they're here.   Dazki: They do seem to like bloodshed, wherever you go.   Patron: Legal bloodshed!   Dazki: Yes! Legal bloodshed.   Patron: You don't get that often.   Dazki: No. Well, thank you very much for the conversation.   Patron: Mm-hmm...

Dazki checks around again to see if they're being watched by anyone new now. (Insight 23): Guards are definitely interested. You get the sense that tieflings might know who you are, at least — given the buzz that you have around town. They know you're keen to blow things up, and that you're not keen on going to casinos. You also get a sense that, if anybody important were to be around, then they would be in the VIP area, up on the balcony that overlooks the main floor.

Player Piano Player

Dazki leaves from the table and begins to (faux-)drunkenly stumble into the main foyer, Kesmet following behind him at a distance. Dazki then continues his stumble towards the piano and nearly falls over as he gets onto the stage.

Dazki: Hey! That's really good!

The goblin-looking fellow responds to him directly, in a non-goblin-sounding voice.

Bip: Get outta here, you're ruining my act!   Dazki: Huh? What? What am I ruining?

Dazki tries to fall over onto the goblinoid, who tries and fails to nudge him out of the way. The elf feels that he definitely should have bumped into the hat, and knows that he definitely did not. Marvin, who was watching this intently, notices the same, and the rest of the party has discreetly started to move in that direction under cover of the commotion that it's causing.

Bip: Seriously, man, get lost! This is my gig!

Dazki, now on the floor, checks the underside of the piano. There's nothing there — it's got to actually be inside. An armored guard has taken notice and seems ready to intervene. Dwardazik, having taken notice of the guard having taken notice, readies himself to distract. This buys Marvin some time for his own distraction: he secretly uses his Mage Hand spell to rattle something around inside the piano, and then he approaches the goblinoid.

Marvin: Oh, hello, friend! I've actually heard that issue before, with that particular kind of piano. I've worked on them in the past. You mind if I take a look?   Bip: ...everybody get off my stage!   Marvin: No, seriously, I can fix that piano!   Bip: Why is nobody coming here to help me?!   Marvin: I'm trying to help you! Your piano was making a racket just now, and I can fix it!

Just as the guard begins to take a step to move towards the scene, Dwardazik gets in front of him.

Dwardazik: Now excuse me, here! I've been talking to a whole bunch of people, and none of them have bothered to engage in any kind of formal business that they should be doing! Now, I know that you're a casino and everything, but this is ridiculous! I demand some complementary drinks. I was told that this establishment had fine people, willing to engage in merchantry! This is ridiculous! I demand that you show me to the nearest bar and get me a drink!

This is enough to occupy the guard for the rest of this engagement. Marvin leans closer to the goblinoid.

Marvin: Look, pal. Your piano's clearly busted after he stumbled into you, OK? If you want to keep playing, and keep these people entertained, just let me take a look at it quick. I swear, I love working on these beautiful works of art, these beautiful machines — er, instruments — er, machines of music! Please, let me just caress this beautiful piece back to health.

Punctuating Marvin's plea, Kesmet secretly casts a spell of his own: a Minor Illusion of a clanging sound within the piano. Marvin rolls with this, (Deception 29):

Marvin: See? That's clearly the Amulite plates just freaking out in there.   Bip: You two know each other?   Marvin: This loser? He's a drunkard!   Dazki: Hey, I'm not the drunk one here, you are, asshole!   Marvin: Well, get me a drink and I'll get there.   Bip: All right, all right, listen! Make it quick, and then leave, all right? I've got a great thing goin' here!   Marvin: That you do! You've been playing phenomenally, and I want to hear more. Love what you're doing.

Dazki exits stage right into the crowd, as Marvin opens up the piano to poke around in there. Eventually, he jumps inside of it.

Bip: Fucking elves can't hold their liquor, man, I swear.   Marvin: I know... you'd think with their constitution, they'd be able to get through it all, but then they just seem to go further, you know.

Inside the piano is what must be the item that they were told about. It seems to be a pack of cards, in a suede and leather case, which Marvin picks up.   Strangely enough, the piano has never stopped playing. The goblinoid is touching the keys, all right — emphasis on "touching". The group begins to realize that maybe, just maybe, many people here might not be quite what they seem.

Marvin: Hey, buddy... you're really good at playing the piano, for not actually pushing the keys.   Bip: I think you need to get out of my piano and leave now.   Marvin: OK! It's all fixed, it's all better, man. You're set to go. Keep up the good work.   Bip: You got it! Make sure to tell everybody what you saw here: —   Marvin: A fine fucking display of professionalism and skill!   Bip: — a civilized goblin, capable of playing the piano!   Marvin: Hell yeah!   Bip: Hell yeah! (Get off my stage.)   Marvin: What's your name, by the way?   Bip: Bip. Bip LowKnee!   Marvin: Great. My name's Steve. Nice to meet you.

Marvin exits stage left. He briefly examines the cards in private; figuring that they're probably magic, he heads towards Dazki to hand them off. He makes the exchange so discreetly that even he doesn't even quite know the exact moment that they left his possession. Dazki examines them in private, himself, riffling through them.   There are only 14 cards. On one side of almost every card, there is nothing but a blank silvery texture and nothing else. One card, however, is not blank: it has the same silvery front, but on the top is a rough sketch of Four of Hearts. Underneath it is a quote:

"Even though the defenses of the castle are lowered, the guards still have truesight, and they don't know the plan." — Four of Hearts

(Arcana 19) This is, indeed a set of magical cards. The way that the one non-blank card is sketched gives a hint to how the magic works: the magic of the card itself created the sketch and the quote. Perhaps these cards can photographically capture a scene? Well, a rough sketch. It's not in color. Dazki will have to fully identify the item in order to figure out the details of how to use them. The party reconvenes.

Dazki: Well, I haven't seen anyone watching Kesmet down here.   Kesmet: I thought wearing plain clothes to a fancy party would make me stand out!   Dazki: I should say, I didn't see anyone watching Kesmet who didn't think he was just one of the employees here.   Kesmet: I'm not even wearing servant clothes!   Dazki: I know, I know.   Grogery: Well, you might as well be, compared to what everybody else is dressed in.   Dwardazik: Frankly, Kesmet, you're woefully underdressed.   Dazki: To be fair, Dwardazik, the point was to have him be underdressed.   Dwardazik: And I completely understand that. I'm just saying, don't be surprised, Kesmet.   Dazki: All right. So, we can either head up to that balcony or figure out what this "Court of Resolution" is. This "totally legal" arena downstairs.   Dwardazik: You talkin' about those rumors I was hearing about some kind of fight?   Dazki: Yeah, apparently it got canceled for the day.   Dwardazik: That sucks. It would have been the most entertaining thing. All these people are boring.   Kesmet: The dwarf fighter was supposed to be super honorable, but apparently he got arrested or something.   Dazki: Also, it sounds like Queenie helped. The guards have been cut significantly for the day. There are still plenty of guards in plainclothes, and they more-or-less know we're here, but they don't know why, or what the plan is. We still have to tread lightly.   Grogery: They probably know we're here for a reason, they just don't know it's sanctioned?   Dazki: Exactly. Also, Marvin found these cards. They seem like they can capture an image and a brief quote, but I'm not quite sure how to use them.   Grogery: Hmm. If we end up capturing the guy we're after, we could spend the time to study?   Dwardazik: Is that some way of recording a confession?   Dazki: Could be. Or just record something that's being said, along with an image of the person. The problem is, I don't know how to use them, and to properly identify them would take the usual hour. Do we think we have that?   Marvin: The night is young...   Dwardazik: Exactly. Perhaps we could simply bide our time, slowly case the people, and pretend to play a couple of games for an hour while you sit there and work. This seems like a special item that was assigned to us for a task. If we don't use it properly, we might not be able to succeed.   Grogery: Another option would be to get an idea of where this person is? Then, we could work on keeping them occupied, long enough for Dazki to identify this. Or, if things devolve, then we might end up capturing the guy, and then we'll have all the time we want.   Dwardazik: Yeah, let's have Kesmet play some games, and we'll be in an area around him. If we notice something's going on, we'll hail you.   Dazki: All right. Everyone, grab a drink. Pretend you're drinking it, maybe pour a portion of it out, just make it look like you're part of the crowd, but don't actually get drunk. The drinks here are free, and I'm sure they're pretty strong. All in an effort to try to make you make poor decisions and lose even more money. That's how these places work. Plus, they're probably wines or something else fruity and sweet. Wouldn't necessarily... conform to the dwarven palate.   Dwardazik: Ugh. Yeah, that's true.   Kesmet: You know, instead of spilling them out...

Over the course of the hour it takes for Dazki to identify the cards, Kesmet subtly decants the party's glasses of complementary "probably red wine" into empty vials of his own. Dwardazik gets a "real" drink at the bar, which he has to pay gratuitously for. It looks weird, seeing dwarven ale in these fancy glasses, but that is indeed what it is.   They play some low-stakes games, all of them surprisingly making money. Unsurprisingly, (Cards 26) the tales of Grogery the Mighty have made other patrons nervous, which in turn causes their tells to get extremely noticeable. They will often even fold, just because Grogery moves a little bit more quickly than they expected. He gets in their heads, and he winds up doubling his money.

A Familiar, Tell-Tail Sign

(Perception 19) About fifteen minutes before the end of Dazki's hour, Kesmet (and only Kesmet) notices something familiar: it's the familiar of Kerro "Burnclaw" Schene. It's a small, fox-like entity, glowing as if it's on fire — a fiery fox. Kerro is, of course, a mafioso — a well-known arsonist, somebody who Kesmet definitely has beef with. In fact, a lot of people would have beef with Kerro, as he is quite fond of burning down buildings that other people would very much like not to see burned down. If Dennis could have three right-hand men, this guy would definitely be one of them.   The fox seems to be on a bit of a mission. It briefly disappears into a crowd — it's capable of blinking short distances — and darts about. Nobody seems to mind it as it does so, and it eventually does return back upstairs to the balcony.   Kesmet gets up from his table and approaches Grogery.

Kesmet: Grogery. I need backup.   Grogery: For what?   Kesmet: OK. Can we go away from the crowd? I want to be away from the crowd. (There's hardly a crowd, since nobody wants to disturb Grogery the Mighty. But to Kesmet, this is still a crowd.)   Kesmet: Grogery. I just saw the familiar of an old enemy of mine. I'm gonna go see if he's here. Just wanted to let somebody know, in case you hear some shit going on upstairs.   Grogery: People don't go off alone.   Kesmet: Uhh...   Grogery: Can we wait for Dazki?   Kesmet: That's fifteen minutes. Tell you what, I'll just scope out the situation, and —   Grogery: Again. We don't go off places alone. Remember what happened with that giant centipede? Since then, we've resolved that people don't go off alone.   Kesmet: But... but... he's getting away! The familiar's getting away!   Grogery: Where's the familiar going?   Kesmet: Up the stairs!   Grogery: So, in order for the person to get away, they would have to come down the stairs?   Kesmet: But what if they can fly?!   Grogery: Why would they fly? People would notice a guy flying away.   Kesmet: They're not gonna stop him. They've no reason to!   Grogery: OK, listen. This game's about over. If you want me to come with you afterward, I can. If something happens, then I can message other people, and we'll have some backup. OK?   Kesmet: Yeah, that sounds good.

Kesmet lets Marvin know where the two are going, then uses Prestidigitation to change his hair color to a classy black, and then they head up the stairs to the balcony. Kesmet and Grogery go first, with Grogery leaving under the guise of "I'm done with these pleb tables, I'm going to see what the VIP area has to offer". Marvin follows at a respectable distance.

Fighting Fire, with Fire

The balcony is, unsurprisingly, clearly a VIP area. There are several gnomish slot machines up here; they're all the rage for the other VIPs. A game seems to have finished not too long ago, and Kerro is sitting at a chair, which Kesmet eagerly points out. Kerro feeds a small piece of cheese to his flaming fox-like familiar.   Marvin takes a seat on a couch near the stairs.

Grogery: OK, Kesmet, so... you saw the fox, but did the fox see you?   Kesmet: Probably.   Grogery: Would it recognize you?   Kesmet: He's not frightened or nervous, so I guess my disguise worked.

They sit at a table near the stairs.

Grogery: So what's the game plan?   Kesmet: We'll watch the guy. As much as I want to just fireball everything — because there's not too many collateral people — I do want to control myself enough for this guy to lead me to Dennis. This is, like, the most solid lead I've had in the last three-to-five years or so.

As they continue to watch Kerro without making a move, Kerro decides to approach them himself, sitting down next to Grogery.

Kerro: My, you are an interesting lot, huh?   Grogery: That fox seems pretty interesting!   Kerro: What brings you here?   Grogery: Oh, I'm just in town with some spoils I got from my most recent adventures. Haven't really checked out many casinos of this scale before, so I thought I'd see if it holds up.   Kerro: Yeah! Yeah, the lies have even started making their way up here.   Marvin, storming over: "Lies"?! Have you not heard of this man?!   Kerro: I've "heard of" a lot of men.   Marvin: This man singlehandedly slayed a Beholder and saved three pregnant women at the same time!   Grogery: OK, that's a bit of an embellishment...   Kerro: Oh, don't worry. Everything here is a lie. Some more entertaining than others. But I do like hearing of people!   Grogery: And I do as well. Whom might I have the pleasure of speaking with?   Kerro: Oh, but, you first. "Grogery", was it? Any last name tied to that?   Marvin: "the Mighty"!   Kesmet: Isn't that a suffix?   Grogery: It's actually more of an honorific...   Grogery: Are you familiar with the Daointaar family?   Kerro: Indeed, I am.   Grogery: Well, there you go!   Kerro: And Marvin, here?   Marvin: Oh! I see my reputation precedes me!   Kerro: It does.   Marvin: You must have heard of my work?   Kerro: I've heard of all of your work.   Marvin: Oh, I have an adoring fan! That fills my heart with joy! Would you like an autograph?   Kerro, ignoring Marvin's shenanigans: And my fiery red friend, here. Surely, you have a last name?   Kesmet: Nope. Never had one.   Kerro: "Never"? How enigmatic!   Marvin: You're tellin' me!   Kerro: You remind me of someone I've heard of...

(Insight 20) Kerro does know who Kesmet is... in some respect. But, it's almost as if he's heard of Kesmet, and seen him... which is untrue, because he's actually the guy who burned down Kesmet's bakery.

Kesmet: All right, cut the crap, Corey. What are you doing here?   Kerro: What I've always done here!   Kesmet: Wait, you're going to commit arson?!   Kerro: ...not here... oh! Oh, this is fun! Say, your little friend here is a bard? This reminds me of a little limerick!   Marvin: I do love limericks.   Kerro: Would you like to hear one?   Marvin: I'm all ears!

Kerro begins reciting his limerick:

Beware the baker from Hound's Tooth row,
With fire in his eyes.
With a heart of coal and a fist of dough,
A monster in disguise!

He stops reciting it.

Kerro, staring directly at Kesmet: Have you heard this one?   Marvin: Can't say that I have.   Kesmet: ...sounds rather macabre...   Kerro: Now ask me why!   Grogery: Now, is this "dough" as in money, or "dough" as in... dough?   Kerro: ...it's merely a limerick. Oh, but I can keep going, if you're interested? I must warn you, though — 'tis a tragic tale. Maybe we can exchange stories? Tell me, fiery red man... how's the wife and kids?   Kesmet: Well. Now we have to start shit.   Kerro: Oh, did I say something wrong?

Kesmet throws a Fire Bolt at Kerro's face.

"Combat" Summary

• Rather than retaliating against Kesmet, Kerro just kept reciting more lines of the limerick. (Editor's note: click the link to the limerick above — the full thing is on that page.) When he got to the part about "burnt and urgent cries", he cast some illusion magic to create the sounds of a woman and child screaming.
• Marvin responded to Kerro with a limerick of his own, as he cast his spell that made Kerro dance where he stood:

Kerro kept spewing some nonsense,
His fox sitting there with a gleam.
A shame he kept rocking to and fro on the fence,
His face never to be seen!

• Dwardazik and Dazki rushed in shortly after the fight had started, as Dazki's identification had finished right around the same time.
• Grogery tried to defuse the situation by reassuring the nearby guard that the two were just exchanging heated words, and that Grogery the Mighty had it under control. Kerro backed this up himself, saying that it's just some "friendly fire".
• Dazki addressed the same guard, claiming that Kerro is a member of the Hounds Guild and insulting him for missing that fact. The guard responded with the sentence following line, which Dazki immediately captured on one of his new magical cards: "That man is a personal friend of Jack himself, and I will refuse this slander. Back away!"
• A dealer from behind one of the other tables also joined in to try to cool down the tempers, successfully casting a Hold Person spell on Kesmet, with the guard grappling him later after he had broken out of the hold and didn't explicitly back down.
• Grogery proposed that they resolve their dispute in the Court of Resolution instead of up here in the VIP area. Dazki backed him up, pointing out that the Hound might cheat here, but it would be a fair fight if they took it to the Court of Resolution. This was enough to calm Kesmet down, and the "combat" ended.

Kerro: See? It's not that hard to be civilized! At least there was some entertainment today, though.   Kesmet: ...this isn't over.   Kerro: In order for something to be "over", it must have started. What's started?   Dazki: Kesmet, are you going to challenge him, or should I challenge him in your stead?   Kesmet: No, I can do it. I just wasn't sure if there was some sort of proper procedure.   Kerro: Oh, man! Am I about to get slain by the king killers here? I ain't no king!   Dwardazik: Honestly, you wouldn't be much of a fight.   Dazki: No. You're a hound.   Kerro: I deny all involvement!   Kesmet: Korro. You are a bastard, a liar, a murderer, and — I may be those things too, but — I challenge you to a duel in the Court of Retribution. Or whatever the fuck it's called.   Kerro: Oh? I don't know what that is! You'll have to say it correctly.   Grogery: Court of Resolution.   Kesmet: Yeah, what he said.   Kerro: Do you, now... well, things have been quite dull around here. And I don't have any beef with you, but it could be interesting. What's the wager? Wagers make things more interesting.   Dazki: I believe you have a little something? A gear, a magical artifact, is that correct?   Kerro: I don't think I do.   Dazki: Maybe not, but maybe a location of such, certainly?   Kerro: I know the locations of a lot of things.   Dazki: So you claim that you have no idea where there is a piece of something called "The Orrery" that you have come into possession of in the past week or two?   Kerro: I know that we were meant to come into possession of one, but we have not. Oh, are you trying —   Dwardazik: Hold on. Excuse me, that doesn't seem very right to me... are you willing to put a wager on that being a true statement? I think that should be the wager, don't you think?   Grogery: What do you mean?   Kerro: I don't understand what you mean...   Dwardazik: You claim — no doubt, against your honor — that you had nothing to do with the Orrery. But... maybe you do.   Kerro: That, I did not say. You do not listen.   Kesmet: He said that they were expecting it, and that they don't have it yet.   Dazki: Tell you what. If we win, you tell us who was to deliver it to you.   Dwardazik: Under a truth spell.   Dazki: And what would you like should you win?   Kerro: I really don't see why you would want such mundane information. And surely, your friend here wants something of me? It is his challenge.   Dazki: Fair.   Marvin: Oh, I think he wants something for sure.   Kesmet: We do want information about the Orrery.   Dazki: Also, the information of a Mr. Dennis Donahue, his location. Surely, you know that?   Kesmet: Location. What he had for breakfast last night. Anything. Everything that you know about him.   Marvin: How many times you licked his boots. That sort of thing.   Grogery: Does Dennis have breakfast at night?   Kesmet: I don't know. He's a degenerate.   Dwardazik: How many times did you pet your companion fox over here? You know, questions like that.   Kerro: Oh, do you like my fox?   Dwardazik: It's an interesting companion... what's its name, anyway?   Kerro: Matchstick.   Dazki laughs.   Kesmet: Kesmet is unamused.   Kerro: You really do have beef with me! I just really want to know the emotion you're feeling. Is it confusion? Anger? Vengeance?   Dazki: Well, you know what, maybe you can know that if you beat him in a duel.   Kerro: You know what, I've nothing else planned today.   Dazki: Who was to deliver you the Orrery, and the location of Mr. Dennis Donahue.   Kerro: And if I win?   Dazki: You wanted to know how Kesmet was feeling, confronting you?   Kerro: Mere small talk.   Dazki: What would you like, then?   Kerro: If I must answer questions truthfully, then perhaps he should as well. I have a feeling that he's lying about a bunch of stuff.   Kesmet: Well, I'm not exactly the most honest person around. But you're gonna have to be more specific about what stuff.   Kerro: Woe is the baker of Hound's Tooth row.
To his own self he lies.
To and fro, he reaps and sows.
By fire, he baptize.   Kerro (cont'd): Who did start that fire?   Kesmet: What are you talking about?! You started the fire! Dennis sent you, didn't he?   Kerro: Did he?   Kesmet: Are you saying it was someone else?   Kerro: Because my limerick here says otherwise.   Kesmet: Fuck your limerick! It's a limerick!   Dazki: So you're saying, in all of your conversations with Dennis Donahue, he did not directly tell you to burn down the bakery on Hound's Tooth row?   Kerro: If I were capable of having conversations with a Dennis Donahue, he would be dead. He is a very big enemy of the House of Cards.   Marvin: Well, thanks for the update, Captain Obvious.   Kesmet: But don't you work for the Hounds Guild? What are you even doing here?!   Kerro: I work for the House of Cards. I've worked here for a while.   Kesmet: ...riiiiiiiight...   Dazki: So how long have you worked for the House, then? And you never worked for a Mr. Dennis Donahue before that?   Kerro: I don't think I have, no. You can ask around, if you'd like! I've risen through the ranks, here. Took me quite a few years.   Dazki: How many? When did you enter Ashport? How long have you been here?   Kerro: ...I'm really feeling the heat from this conversation. Would you like to sit down and chat, instead of this strange interrogation?   Dazki: Sure, why don't we do that. Would that be OK with the rest of the people here?   Grogery: I don't see why not.   Dwardazik: I just came over runnin' because I saw there was a scrap goin' on, and it looked like some people that shouldn't be involved were gettin' involved. Far as I'm concerned, we can go ahead and have a drink. I'd love that!   Kerro: So, your Hound friend here. Does he still work for the Hound, then? I'll bet he doesn't.   Kesmet, igniting a bit of fire in his hands: Stop... saying that...   Kerro: Saying what?   Kesmet: I do not — and have not ever! — work for the Hounds Guild.   Kerro: That's not what I've heard.   Kesmet: Then you need to check your hearing!   Dwardazik: Are we gonna go sit down at that place? So we can sit down and bicker like adults?   (They move over to sit around a nearby table).   Dwardazik: So, wait a minute. Kerro. Does that mean — is your companion actually called Matchstick?!   Kerro: Yeah! Yeah. Don't you think it's such a cute little thing?   Dwardazik: Hmmph.   Kesmet: He's doing it on purpose. I know it.   Kerro: I really would like to know. Information is a bit fuzzy.   Dwardazik: Look, you guys are about, what, thirty minutes or something from going to fight it out in the Court of Resolution.   Kerro: And it will be oh so fun, but I want to be able to match the fervor of my opponent, and I just can't figure it out.   Dwardazik: Look. My pal here really seems like he's got some beef with ya. So, maybe you can answer a couple of basic questions? You claim that you had nothing to do with this, and he claims that you did have something to do with this. Now, you could just be lyin', but if you really didn't have anything to do with this —   Kerro: Oh, I assure you, one or both of us is lying.   Dwardazik: Well... yeah. So my point is, maybe play your hands, and find out whose story is what. What do you say happened?   Grogery: It seems pretty straightforward to me. Kesmet's bakery burned down, Kesmet says that Kerro did it, and Kerro says that Kesmet did it.   Dwardazik: Let's let them tell the story, and we'll run some details and see if there's anything that doesn't fill the holes.   Kesmet: Basically, this guy is Dennis's right-hand man. The smoking gun, if you will. Dennis ordered him to take out my family because — I don't know, money or something? I don't remember anymore — and after they were killed, I tried to infiltrate the Hounds Guild organization. With... less-than-stellar success, unfortunately: they discovered my plot to try to assassinate Dennis, and I've been on the run from them for the last five years.   Marvin: That's some pretty heavy stuff, man.   Dwardazik: All right.   Kerro: Allow me to appeal to reason. I've been here — with the House of Cards, not with the Hounds Guild.   Dazki: For how long?   Kerro: Certainly longer than that, I assume.   Dazki: No assuming here. Let's get a definitive number. How many years have you been here?   Kerro: Time is fuzzy for us longer-lived folks. I must apologize that I've lost count. But certainly more than five years!   Dazki writes down a note in his notebook, tears it out, and passes it across the table to Grogery.   Kesmet: If you're really working for the House of Cards for that long, one finds it very hard to believe that you would lose count.   Kerro: Well, I mean, time sure flies when you're among compatriots. And I have many here who would vouch for my alibi — if you wish to call it an alibi.   Kesmet, dripping with sarcasm: Oh, yeah. The inhabitants of this establishment are just FULL of virtue.   Dwardazik: OK, OK, let's not just go to name-calling and what not.   Kerro: So my question to you would be, if you believe that I was the one who burned down the bakery on Hound's Tooth row, then how could I have been in two places at the same time? Impossible!   Marvin: You seem to know an awful lot about this bakery burning down.   Dazki: Who can we talk to, to corroborate your story that you've been here so long?   Kerro: Any of the Family will do. They treat me as one of their own.   Dazki: Give me a specific one. Someone that we could go talk to — so, maybe not The King of Jacks, I'm sure he wouldn't be particularly willing to see us at the drop of a hat — but, someone else in the ranks that we could verify with?

Kerro points around to lots of people in the area. Dazki walks around to each one — all corroborate his story. A couple people even speak fondly of him: he's easily bored, but just as easily entertained.

Marvin: So, what exactly do you do for the House of Cards?   Kerro: Well, I used to do enforcement (allegedly), but nowadays it's mostly just schmoozing. It's always good to have a few keen eyes about.   Dazki: And how did you recognize our compatriot here?   Kerro: I recognize you lot. Word gets around. I'm very fond of this limerick.   Dazki: Clearly. Do you know who came up with it? Was it you, or someone you know, perhaps?   Kerro: Just heard it on the wind.   (Insight 20: He has been fed this limerick. He did not "just hear it". In fact, the lyrics match up with what those drug-pushers were saying about how "Kesmet is the baker and he burned down his house and he's going to burn you down too". So it's possible that Kerro here — or, at least, somebody close to Kerro — has been starting this rumor, with this stupid limerick.)   Dazki: So, we have heard that, or a similar one, before. People that we managed to stop, who were involved with Mr. Donahue's organization. Seems a bit suspicious that you would know it as well, don't you think?   Kerro: It's my job to know about the Hounds Guild.   Dazki: Oh, of course. Of course. I thought your job was schmoozing? Isn't that what you just said about three seconds ago? How many jobs do you have?   Kerro: I wear many hats.   Dazki: Really? I don't see a single hat on you.   Kerro: I do like a clever wordplay.   Kesmet: It wasn't clever. Your head is naked.   Kerro: I'm just pretty sure my limerick matches up with someone in your group.   Dazki: With the alleged stories, certainly, but you know how exaggerated stories can get, how untrue they can be, especially when gossiped through who-knows-how-many-people.   Kerro: That's the joy of limericks and poetry, though! People tend to remember it more accurately. It's a better source of information than inane chinwagging.   Grogery: You said it yourself, everything in this place is embellished. With how much time you've clearly spent here, who knows how accurate that limerick actually is?   Kerro: I assure you, if it has anything to do with a Hound, it's probably accurate. The poor fellow here, driven mad, set out for revenge. It's quite a tragic tale.   Dazki: Because there are those who say that you're a hound. If everything to do with hounds here may be true, well then, you know what that suggests: the accusation may, indeed, be accurate.   Kerro: If only the facts lined up. If only I could be two people at the same time. Two places at the same time.   Dazki: Oh, you know, with appropriate magic, that's not impossible. Difficult, yes — but impossible, no.   Kerro: I assure you, if I had access to that magic, I wouldn't be sitting here in this boring casino.   Kesmet: Really? What would you be doing?   Kerro: I don't know, exploring the lands?   Kesmet: Exploring for what? Shits and giggles?   Kerro: Yeah, why not!   Kesmet: If you look over to the east, we have... dust. If you look over more east... more dust. Some trees, maybe some anthills. It's not exactly Fantasy Cuba around here.   Dazki: You might not have access to that magic, but surely there are people you know that have power and influence around here that would. Is that correct?   Kerro: Are you digging for information on the bits of the Orrery?   Dazki: I'm merely asking a question. And, it's usually rude to answer a question with a question. Surely, you wouldn't want to be rude, would you?   Kerro: I'm merely clarifying.   Marvin: I mean, if you think about it, yeah! You've been here for five years. Queenie could have easily cast that. Has she ever offered it to you?   Kerro: I assure you, nothing of the sort has happened.   Dazki: So, to your knowledge, no magic has ever put you in two places at once?   Kerro: Well, it's hard to say, really! We could all be in two places at the same time!   Dazki: No. It's a simple yes-or-no question. It's not hard to say. Don't be evasive.   Kerro: I'll be as evasive as I want! After all, apparently, we're bitter rivals.   Kesmet: You taunted me with the death of my own family. What else could it be?   Marvin: Excuse me, but unless you were there in person, all these limericks — all they talked about was the bakery burning down. It made no mention of screams from a woman and a child, yet you took the opportunity to weave your illusion magic with the sounds of such. Can you explain that?! That sounds like a detail that only someone who was there would know.   Kerro: So, you no longer have a wife or kids, then?   Marvin: Answer the fucking question, asshole! You're really trying my fucking patience here!   Kerro: Well, I would just be careful with whom you trust.   Marvin: Again with the non-fucking-answer! How do you know about the dead woman and child from the fire?!   Kerro: Because it's my job to know about the Hounds Guild.   Marvin: And if you were here five years ago, you would have no clue that that fucking happened, because only someone who was there would have known that! So you were not here five years ago!   Kerro: It's widely known, within the Hounds Guild, which I must research.   Marvin: I thought you were into "enforcement", not research?   Kerro: I used to be — allegedly — but now I'm not.   Marvin: How convenient! I'm sure Queenie could corroborate this?   Kerro: Oh, is she in today?   Marvin: She's one Sending away. Shall I? Dazki?   Kerro: Knock yourself out, little man.   Dazki, elbowing him under the table: No, not a good idea.   Marvin: ...no worries... just say the word...   Dazki: So, you say you've heard of us. What other things have you heard?   Kerro: I mean, that's pretty vague, but we'll continue this strange interrogation. I mean, you're king killers, basically. Think about it.   Dazki: Oh? And what "king" did we kill?   Kerro: Many of the elites down here, they still lean heavily on illusion, because of a king you killed. Not "allegedly".   Kesmet: Is he talking about Baxton?   Dazki: Yeah, he is.