"That's certainly an option too!  We need to assure that doesn't happen anytime soon."

After chatting a bit more with the news crew, Porter will excuse himself and head back to his cabin.

As he passes his companions talking to the humans, he makes eye contact with at least one of them to signal that he wants to talk in private later about what he's learned and what they're learning.  He has quite the charming wink and eye-roll.

Hammer will follow Porter to see what he wants to talk about.

When Porter and Hammer are alone, Porter tells him, "I think we need to keep an eye on that news crew.  They didn't appear to know anything useful, but they were acting strangely.  Especially the vrusk, who appears to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  Why would he be so anxious unless they are hiding something that the vrusk is uncomfortable with?  If we can, one of our group should try to talk to him alone.  Did you and Desi find out anything interesting?"

"Nothing too helpful.  Kri'lik or S'krllk might want to talk to the Vrusk since they are also Vrusk."

Nothing else of significance develops at the restaurant car.  The humans leave after a bit, the dralasite wins all the gambling money from a now disgruntled yazirian, and the news crew goes off to its cabins.

Nothing else happens for the rest of the day.

You get the cabin number for the news crew by telling them you'd be happy to share what you know.  This way, you can talk to the Vrusk at your leisure.  But they are tired and want to do it a different day.

Otherwise having a rather unproductive day, you settle in for the night.

DAY TWO

The second day into your six day journey begins.  You go down for breakfast and find the dining car full of guests, mostly human and a few Vrusk.  The only one you see who looks familiar is the dralasite.  He is again playing cards, this time with a human female.

A number of humans in the car look at your mixed race party with more than a little suspicion and anger in their eyes, particularly at the Vrusk members (Kri'lik and S'krllk).

The female human gets up, quitting the card game with the dralasite.  She looks slightly familiar, but you can't place her.

Hammer approaches the lady.  "Excuse me, ma'am. Have we met before?  You look very familiar."

Desiraye will approach with Hammer and stand just behind him and let him interview her.  Desiraye tries to remember where she saw her from.

The woman suddenly stiffens.  "Uh, no, I don't think so."  She nods and quickly leaves, going quickly down the hall away from you.

Desiraye puts his hand on Hammer's shoulder and tells Kirscht, "Honest mistake ma'am.  Sorry to bother you."

Porter shrugs as the woman walks by, and goes over and takes a seat next to the Dralasite.  "Morning," he says.  "Mind if I have a seat here?  The car's a little crowded."

Assuming the Dralasite doesn't mind, Porter will ask what game he plays, and will try a hand of it - fully expecting to lose to what he assumes is a professional card sharp.

Hammer turns suddenly, his Mechanon expression of surprise.  "That was Kirscht?  Why is she here?"

"If I recall, she's going to see her grandmother."

"Can that be a coincidence?" Hammer asks, trying to see if he can tell which room Kirscht goes to.  Then he looks at the dralasite and suggests, "Maybe we should talk to the dralasite about her.  He might be able to help us."

"It couldn't hurt at this poit.  I remember she was pretty destitute when we were in her apartment.  Maybe she has a gambling problem?"

OOC:  Please excuse my short posts but, we're going crazy with house shopping here and my time has not been what it was.  I'm trying to keep up.

When you look over at the dralasite, he says, "You here to play some cards?  I only bet with real credits here."

"I'm in for 100 credits," Hammer says with a smile as he sits down to play.  "What's the game?"

Desiraye stands behind Hammer as he begins to play a game with the Dralasite.  She does keep looking back to where her Vrusk team members are sitting and forgets that the sergeant is nearby as well in case of trouble.  It was nice having another set of eyes to watch out.

Porter slides over to let Hammer have a seat.  "I can pony up 100 cred as well."

Desiraye steps from behind Hammer and positions herself behind the Sergeant by putting her hands on his shoulders and whispers into his ear, "The woman who just left the table is someone we've run into before and might be of some interest to us.  See what you can get out of the Dral."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Tue 03 June 2014.

The dralasite says, "Welcome to my game then.  The game here is 'Moons over Kraatar,' a local favorite of the Vrusk.  There is some luck involved, but mostly it's about bluffing and playing your hands wisely."

He gives you a lesson in how to play the game with the various moon cards.  After you feel comfortable, he says, "That's 100 credits from each of you and 100 credits from me."  There are 300 credits in the ante.

"With this game," he says, "you may bet up the pot up to 100 percent of the ante on your turn.  Up to 3 raises may be made before you must call or fold.  If everyone passes, it is an automatic call.  If you have the worst hand and you call, then you can get your portion of the ante back.  All clear?"

OOC: I'm not going to create a new game here, but for purposes of betting, I will tell you if you have a bad, average, good, or great hand (randomly determined by dice rolling).  (If you tie on this range, then a percentile roll will determine whose hand is better.)

You look at your cards, and find:
Porter has a great hand.
Hammer has a good hand.

Hammer will raise by 50 credits.

Porter also raises 50 credits on his go.

"I will call," the dralasite says.  You show your cards, and Porter wins, getting his original money plus 150 credits put in the pot by Hammer.  Since the dralasite called with the worst hand, he gets his money back.

"How about another hand?" he says.  "Same ante?"

Porter looks at Hammer.  "I'm in.  How about you, big guy?"