"This is Northport," Jin said. "We make our own fate. That's the beautiful thing, Three. The gods and the winds of destiny have no power here. Everybody gets as much out of life as they have the stomach to take for themselves. But that also means that your great destiny can be ended by a knife in the dark."

He looked around the gambling hall. "That freedom terrifies some men. Weak men. They want to cling to old ways and far away lands. Those are the men who will be easiest to take advantage of, because they don't live in the here and now."

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 103):

The man looks at Chye, and over at his rival.
"Oh yeah? Is that him saying this or you?"

10:31, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 14 using 3d6.  diplomacy - 13.
Chye tried to keep a straight face, but laughed...
10:33, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 10 using 3d6.  will - 12.
He was, however able to lie... (truthful -5) and say it wasn't him...
"No! Hear him say!! You gonna take that from the likes of him?"

"Well, it looks as though Isuel is about to start a fight that could easily turn into a brawl.  Is that what we want?"

Chou-Zhen looks around the room, at the lamps hanging on the wall -- needed, even in daylight, to avoid a gloomy atmosphere.  "I guess it will draw attention, so long as no one sets the place on fire.

"But Jin, you mistake me.  I care not if my name is remembered in a hundred generations, or even a year after I have ceased.  What I seek is not fame, nor wealth, though wealth would be useful."

"Not fame. Destiny. Greatness. Great deeds. Even if nobody knows. You get what you make, what you take, and it has nothing to do with your heritage, or the stars, or your talents. It's what you do, not what you are."

Jin looked at Chye. "A brawl is fine. As long as nobody is stupid enough to draw steel the guard won't involve themselves. A few split lips, black eyes, no problem. And we'll get a look at their defenses."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:49, Sun 30 Apr 2017.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 109):

The man begins to puff up his chest, and looks around for his cup, which is empty...

"Hoi! Have some of mine, for spirit." Chye unstops his jug and fills the man's empty cup. "To your mother's health!" Chye hoists his jug, and drinks a toast.
14:42, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 10 using 3d6.  carousing - 15.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Mon 01 May 2017.

"If I were to drink like that, I would be deathly ill the next morning.  I love my beer, but I've learned not to overdo it.

"Do you think they'll actually fight, or will the man be distracted by drinking with Isuel?"

"I think he's going to hit Chye with his mug," Jin said. "Boy's a terrible liar. Didn't sell that at all. I wish he'd told me he couldn't lie to save his life. Man can't admit to his own weak spots is useless."

"Sometimes, Jin, you worry me."  Chou-Zhen shakes his head, his queue twitching.  "Lying is only a useful skill if you need lies to accomplish your goals.  A goal that can only be accomplished with lies, it seems to me, should be reexamined."

Jin looks around to make sure nobody is eavesdropping. "Our very presence here is a lye, Chou. We represent our purpose falsely. We are the lie. Iskander and Airis are the hidden truth."

In reply to Jin (msg # 117):

Most of the crowd is busy drinking, as is Chye's new "friend," who is becoming more trusting of the dragonborn.

11:55, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 8 using 3d6.  bard - 14.
"Take heart, friend. Teach that gloating-pig, some respect! Chye back you up, but to save face, you must return the insult!"
Chye gives his jug to the man, urging him to drink, and become more bold.
"The pepper-ale, make fire in your guts! Chye, the dragon. Be the tiger!"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:47, Wed 03 May 2017.

"Yet, there are certainly ways this goal could have been accomplished without lies -- prolonged observation, various kinds of magic, infiltration under cover, probably others.  We chose the lie for its expediency, not because there was no other option.

"Well, in fact, you chose the lie, with our employer's complicity.  And I went along with it, because it seemed likely to fulfill time constraints and prevent needless harm to the community."

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 119):

Bolstered by liquid courage, and Chye's prompting, the man pushes back his chair and boldly steps over to his rival, and upturns a drink on the man's head.

The other leaps to his feet, knocking over both his table and chair, which in turn spills food from one customer onto another,and knocks over the betting slips of yet another. There is a general scramble for the spilled vouchers, and three separate fights break out!

15:07, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 12 using 3d6.  cat stance - 15.
Chye goes into his fighting stance! "Waaaa-chaaa!!"
OOC: anyone approaching from the front,or side hexes may be kicked as a free attack
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Thu 04 May 2017.

OOC: How far is Ales from the ruckus?

Chou-Zhen moves away from the brewing brawl, transferring his whip to his left hand as he sidesteps and backs.  Once he's clear of the table where we'd sat, he gestures unobtrusively, then seems to stand a little taller, as if he'd just dropped a weight he was carrying.

[Private to GM: 19:36, Today: Chou-Zhen Mou rolled 11 using 3d6.  Lighten Burden (25%) roll to cast (15). Lowers encumbrance to Light, enough to regain move 5 including effect of Haste maintained since leaving the palace.]

In reply to Ales Konstantin (msg # 123):

The brawl spreads to several more tables, and the somewhat informally dressed guards by the entrance and above staurs start to head toward it. Ales is a couple yards away, as is Jin, and Chou has stepped clear. Chye, on the other hand, is in the think of it, and will have to dodge to avoid
Getting soup on himself.

16:11, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 9 using 3d6.  acrobatics - 14.
Keeping form, Chye flips backwards onto a table! "Waaaaaaaaaaaaw!"

Ales moves through the crowd to meet up with Jin and Chou.  He is not going to attack anyone unless someone attacks him first.

OOC: don't use any weapons, unless you want the guards to attack you with theirs...

Continuing to back as needed to remain clear of the brawl, Chou-Zhen watches the guards coming down the stairs.  He twitches his whip forward, to lie on the floor close to the edge of the brouhaha.

"Jin, Number Three, best clear out of there."  He pitches his voice just loud enough to carry to those he's addressing.  He fixes his gaze on Ales for a moment, then tosses his head in the direction of a clearer area.

[Private to GM: 20:55, Today: Chou-Zhen Mou rolled 9 using 3d6.  Perception, to notice Ales moving toward  him and Jin (10).]

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 129):

"Osu!"

Numbah three makes his way out of range.

In addition to the club wielding guards, you can see a strong movement away from the fight by merchant class patrons who do not wish to be involved.

15:35, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 8 using 3d6.  DX - 15.
Chye leaps off the table, over obstacles and people in his way, and retreats from the thick of the melee. "Hwaaaaaaaaaaw!"