The waiting room filled by the deafening signature tune of the infotainment show, coming from the TV.

"This is Petruccilli News Corporation, mid-day edition Tatataaa!!!. Goodday. I am your host, Kenneth Petruccilli.", the anchorman announced. "The main news this week is the publication of this new, in-de-pen-dent planetary survey, by the Consumers Authority, which has just been released. It is concluding that the Petruccilli stores offer the widest choice of alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs, accommodating every budget, plus a very profitable loyalty card!

Barbara, I heard you've got the latest details about the ship in distress, due to avoid crashing on Tanar?". Kenneth's seemed to carry some kind of disappointment.

The image moved to the blonde anchorwoman, who looked straight at the camera. "Yes  Kenneth. According to our exclusive source, the Pride of Tanar, our famous spaceguards ship, is going to meet the speed and trajectory of The Old Lady's Hope, the ship in distress, which should avoid collision with Tanar by a hair - in astronomical terms. The Space Authority has not issued an announcement yet. Of course, we'll inform you, our loyal viewers, our community devoted to information and truth, as the events unfold.

"Thank you, Barbara"

The banner read :
"STUDY found Petruccilli Stores has best AT&RD - Ship to be rescued by Pride of Tanar"

[OOC: the "portion" of space is a generous cylinder around the projected trajectory of the OLH from 100D to 3D and cone after.

There is no highport, and when I was mentioning that this is a Category C starport and not A or B, I was not Captain-Obvious-ing ;) but giving the feeling that there was no highport, no army of most recent repair drones ready to swarm the damaged ships while they are in orbit, replacing spare parts in 120 minutes. There will be lots of manual repairs or handling of machine-tools, on the ground.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Sat 23 Sept 2023.

Xanara batted her eyelashes, stared at Sven, stared at the TV set.
Sven, TV set, Sven.

"How did you do that? You did not move from the waiting room, yet you're ahead of Kenneth & Barbara (aren't they a lovely couple?)"

Xanara's brain picked only parts of Sven's discourse, since she was also listening to the TV


She flashed her grand smile and glanced at the clock: "Tell you what, my service is almost over..." She leaned under the counter, took a sign and put it over the counter. It read "Office closed". The petite (for humans) receptionist grabbed her polka-dotted mask, put on her assorted raincoat, assorted beret, and left her desk, catching Sven by the arm. She went to Daniela and Wade and caught Wade's arm. Arm in arm they all went to the exit door.

"Gron, please close the Office behind us!"

Before putting on her mask, Xanara sent Wade a challenging gaze: "I'll lead you to a casino for Tanaris, that even Wade does not know!".

The offworlders climbed into her polka-dotted car, and she drove through the quiet streets bounded by one-stair buildings. She parked in a delimited space, then led the group to a blazing place named "The City Bar-y-Centre".

The decorum was exotic for Tanar; which meant it represented an overcrowded megalopolis with flying taxis, complete with sounds of circulation, honks and artificial smoke. They went through a noisy room with rows of ringing pachinkos, to a room full of all kinds of Tanaris sitting by groups of four at tables, playing mah-jong, drinking alcohol, smoking tobaccos and recreational drugs, and betting tokens.

The group left their coats to the checkroom attendant, who nodded to Xanara. Then the Employment Authority for non-Tanari receptionist had them sit at a table for four.

"Now, before we order beverages," she grinned with a greedy smile. "Does anyone want me to explain the rules of mah-jong?"

Perhaps this was the last place where Danila expected to end up tonight.
Or even was this his first time at a casino? Danila looked at his surroundings with interest. The seething turmoil around him suddenly seemed... bringing peace of mind to him? That was something even more unexpected.


- I have no idea how to play it, - Danila confessed honestly.

He ordered whiskey - no ice, no cola, no anything - and made himself comfortable, listening to Xanara. However, it was more interesting for him not so much to listen to what she said, but to watch how she spoke and moved the tiles.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Sun 24 Sept 2023.

At Xanara's question, Sven had been about to explain the use of pilot privilege to access port traffic control data, but he didn't get the chance. She suddenly closed down the office to lead the way. Smiling at Xanara and mentally shaking his head, he thought, I had planned to see if I could coax her into coming along as a guide, but it seems she either enjoys playing tour guide or is a gamer herself. I wonder how good she is?

He had quickly explained what he thought the plan was to the others as Xanara ushered them to the exit. He fitted the filter mask and double-checked the seal as they approached the airlock. He observed the architecture and the general environment with interest. He noted with a different kind of interest that she knew right where to find a parking spot. Then, Pachinko? Normally a decent game for pilots with a good eye for trajectories, but it requires better dexterity than I have. The checkroom attendant, seemingly knowing Xanara, confirmed that this was far from her first time here. At the table, the smile and priorities told a lot. So, our little Xanara has a side hustle, does she? To 'shift' cargo of visitors. It looks like she thinks she's pretty good. We'll see.

Sven had been looking around at everything in typical tourist fashion. Now he focused on her face, played it down, and said, "Well, I know about matching tiles and basic layout, but it has been a while. You better cover the rules for play and betting. How much do tokens cost?", while he thought, Which variation is in use here? Is it one I know well enough, given that this is her preferred game? She doesn't seem extremely focused. If I can move it to more complex layouts, that could negate any advantage she might have.

After the explanations, and they got started, Sven chatted with all the others, but his questions, sometimes deliberately naive, to Xanara were aimed at getting her to talk about how the society worked on Tanar, the checks and balances that kept things stable. He made sure to stick to mild beverages and order snack food to keep a clear head, not only for the gaming but to pump Xanara for information about Tanar.

OOC: Trying a task chain here: Recon to assess Xanara and the casino environment, then Deception to make her think Sven is weaker than he really is. Then persuade to get her to play "The Star" layout. I'll do bare rolls (no DM included).
Skill ranks: Recon 0; Deception 2; Persuade 0; Gambling 1
Int DM+2.

Sven Glanz rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,2.  Recon check: casino and Xanara.
Sven Glanz rolled 12 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,6.  Deception: Weaker player.
Sven Glanz rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,6.  Persuade: variant with Sven advantage.
Sven Glanz rolled 3 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,1.  gambler: mah-jong.

With the modifiers I know, without chaining, that should be:
Recon 9; Deception 16; Persuade 11; Gambling 6

In that, also want to get her talking about the social rules in effect that mix the law level 0, ethics, black market, advertising seen.
Here are some possible related skill ranks: Persuade 0, Investigate 0, Carouse 1, Streetwise 1

Sven Glanz rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,2.  check: cultural immersion.
With Int DM+2, that will be 10 or 11 if nothing from above provides a chain.

I left Streetwise to locate supplier out of that, since you said Wade was to act as a fixer.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Sun 24 Sept 2023.

During the conversation, Sven asks Xanara, "When people refer to this place, is it pronounced bar - ee - center, or bare - ee - center, or maybe even bar - why - center?"

EDIT: OOC Let's add a carouse check in here, to try to make sure that people are enjoying themselves … and maybe pick up rumours, which is an extension of the immersion:
Carouse 1 Soc DM+0

Sven Glanz rolled 6 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,2.  Carouse check.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:05, Mon 25 Sept 2023.

Sven glances at the colourful environmental sensor indicators on his sleeve, and does a more thorough check of the casino, focusing on the maintenance and emergency support aspects.

OOC: I do not see an obvious way to incorporate it, but possible bonus from Mechanic and Engineer skills

Sven Glanz rolled 6 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,1.  Recon: Environmental safety systems (casino). – 6

- "Mr. ..." - she hesitated a second to remember, "Klan? No, it started with strong consonant. Bland? Gland? Ah! what's your name again?"

- "Glanz. Please call me Sven."

- "Sven, the tokens have the value we decide them to have. At that table over there," - she skittishly pointed with her chin at a table filled with unassuming old and fat ladies - "the tokens are worth millions... Let's don't bet for the first game, which will be for practicing. After you've learned the rules, he who loses the most pays a round of beverages. Sounds fair?"

Meanwhile, the menu was brought, and the non-Tanari could compute that a round of beverages would cost Cr20 (Danila's glass of whisky : Cr4). Expensive, but not luxury casino-expensive.

Sven studied the surrounding. It looked like a small business, maybe family business. People of all ages were quietly enjoying themselves. He noticed several Feskals in suits: one at the entrance, as a bouncer; four near the high rollers' table, acting as their respective bodyguards. Sven found Xanara difficult to grasp, as she seemed to be multi-faceted: confident, candid, and a complete dunce.

"Sven, you're staring at my breasts, not focusing on the tiles, you are going to lose", Xanara gently chided, while keeping her eyes on the tiles. [OOC: it must be the polka dots! Sven could swear that she wore a polka-dotted bra!
Danila was gulping his whisky right then. How did he react to that statement?]

After one training game, Sven was extremely successful at appearing as the weaker player, chatting and asking questions. He had to pay a round of drinks (Cr20). His attempt for elaborate tactic was doomed, since the mah-jong played here was a Tanari variant of the League's, and also much more depending on chance. His bluff however paid off, and Daniela had to pay the second round (Cr20) [OOC unless Daniela rolls 9 or higher using the Gambler skill]

Sven's chatting like a chatterbox; Danila relaxing and Wade being jet-lagged, made Xanara admit that her guests were not into mah-jong anymore. They left the table to reach a booth with a 3D view over a night city skyline. Xanara ordered a giant bowl of fruit salad spiced with yellow wine (Cr6 for each guest). She listened to the adventurers' stories and laughed heartily. The group was quickly the noisiest of the place.

[OOC: Is Daniela drinking that wine and having the time of his life? Does Sven keep to mild beverages - hey, he could get a bonus in Carouse if he drinks a little more. Alcohol makes you smart! ;)]


- "Some pronounce it bar - ee - center, some - me included - pronounce it bar - why - center, because why did they not name it bar - why - downtown?! A mistake, if you ask me. The owner offers one drink on the house to those who find a nice word standing for the "Y" "

While having fun, and despite everyone's (but Sven's) phone ponging with news of the rescue of the ship in distress by the spaceguards (and the fire sales at Petruccili's), the off-worlders learned things about the society of Tanar.

While the government was helpless, the society did not crumble because the Tanaris had their own, even more restrictive version of the Floriani's Ethos, called the "D&D values" - standing for "the Do's and Dont's". There were things that all Tanaris Did Not, because... it was shameful, dishonorable, inconcevable... and they refrained themselves from doing so, because they were programmed to "do or not do" since kindergarten.

Thus, dangerous products like military weapons were not sold at, say Petruccilli's, because it was forbidden - but because Honorable SalesGentlemen did not offer dirty products that Honorable Customers were disregarding to purchase anyway.

There were a lot of "faux pas" or misdemeanor that could be committed while interacting with Tanaris. Males were supposed not to be "familiar" with Xanara for example, even if she seemed familiar with them, and might be on the fence regarding the respect of the Values.

The group was warned not to look down on Tanaris; you never knew who was really calling the shots, so better respect everyone, even the Feskals. "They are not versed in etiquette, but they are short-tempered", explained the young receptionist with her innocent bias.

However, the D&Ds were not expected from foreigners. So off-worlders went through the chasms of the law.

To do is thorough check of the casino's life support, Sven had to excuse himself to the bathroom. However, his inspection [using Engineer (life support)]  did not bring any immediate danger. The house wanted its customers to come back, not to die. The smoke from the recreational drugs, on the other hand...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:46, Sun 01 Oct 2023.

Sven took the comment about staring in stride, and teased back, "It's got to be all of those dots. They keep drawing the eye. That is another tile isn't it?"
OOC: Have you ever done those pictures full of dots that turn into a 3D image when you focus just right? An autostereogram. Sven must trying to line up all of the polka dots to get a picture :_)

Local rules variant. House rules. Chance as important as skill. OK, we can play just for entertainment and learning.

Sven kept his 'mood altering' intake to a minimal social level. He was much more interested in Tanar and Tanari than in partying.
OOC: Alcohol might make you 'smart' for Carouse checks, but not so much to learn about the society for immersion


Sven chuckled, "You work at EAnT, but you do not know much about space do you? I find the name, said as 'BARE - ee - center to be quite appropriate. This is the center point that social activity, maybe more, is to orbit around.  You're sure that this place is not intended to draw off worlders? Or at least those that support the space port. Maybe the owners have a background with astronomy, and are fond of puns."

After providing the explanation, Sven started chuckling again, and asks "Who determines what is a nice "Y" word? I have a couple of ideas".
OOC: Assuming a waitress is called over to hear the ideas …
"This first one may be more of a groaner than nice, but it is too fun to not include. This world is known for it's food stuffs exports. Are you familiar with a root vegetable called a Yam? And 'Yammer', is a word that can mean producing sound. So Yammer. Healthy food and entertaining noise".

"This one is a lot better. This is a business establishment, an investment looking for a return, on a world with a heavily agricultural economy. Gambling is a portion of the business, with winners and losers. How about 'yield'? That also works if there is serious discussion happening, with points being accepted and rejected". Not mentioning additional possible conotations for the social environment context for less serious discusion!


OOC: Looks like you are mixing some Japanese cultural with the previously mentioned British
Sven tried to get a bit more detail on the boundaries for that. He wondered if the ingrained upbringing would even see the distinction. "So actively harmful activities and products are just "Don't", but bad, or at least useless, products are acceptable? I have a little medical background. I am pretty sure that some of the advertising I saw were claiming cures for conditions that do not really exist. Not actively harmful to anything except a credit balance".

"What about public safety? I noticed, and reported, a problem with an airlock seal earlier. Unhealthy as it was, and potentially dangerous to anyone not trained to mask up immediately if it got worse. Would a Tanari automatically do that, if they noticed?"


short-tempered? I wonder what 'teaching since kindergarten' leads to that perception or reality? I have known a lot of very even tempered, or at least stoic, Feskals. Are they really less 'civil' here, or is that just perception? I wonder … sub-culture … The Feskals do not want to 'play the game', so made their own? Something to observe and think about while I'm here.

Exaggerating only a little, Sven thought a bit tartly, If it gets much thicker in here, I'm going to need to put the mask back on.

"<sigh> But the dots are just hypnotics! That's what you all say..."


Maybe it was the chuckle, or the lecture, or the patronizing tone, or pointing at her obvious ignorance; probably all of that - but Xanara's eyes ignited, and Sven lost all chances to get laid with her that evening (not to mention finding work through the EAnT). Also from that moment on, the receptionist behaved as if Sven wasn't present, and she only talked to Wade and Daniela.


The suggestions were carried over to the counter, and soon an announcement was heard and a stroboscopic light illuminated the booth. A barista roared: "Tonight the Bar - ee - center is renamed Bar - YIELD - center, following a suggestion of Mister Ganz, a true yammerer!". Applause and a free drink followed.


OOC: I'm warning  all of you: I'll catch you wrong-footed :) I'm not running "Planet of the Stereotypes" - "Next planet... Planet of the Belgians!" ;) Societies are complex, it takes years to grasp a culture and Travelers like you just skim on the surface :)

Xanara did not reply to Sven's other questions/remarks... [OOC But maybe other players could reply or rephrase the question! :)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:50, Sun 01 Oct 2023.

Danila was not at all from a Puritan society. He finished his sip of whiskey - but with a second's delay, indicating that he noticed the line.
- No matter how good his tiles are, there are better things to stare at in this room.
Although Danila's face was dead serious, you could have sworn that his eyes were smiling.



Danila Bodrov rolled 3 using 2d6.  Gambler roll.
- All right, this one is on me. Let's play next time Go instead, I'll teach you a thing or two in Tactics.


Danila was good with his whiskey and was not mixing beverages - he was having the time of his life without need to get stoned.


Danila was telling funny stories about one of his acquaintances, a crazy Vargr pirate. For example, about how the Vargr for a long time could not forgive Danila for the fact that Danila could have taken a case with 100 000 from a thug in a street fight, but Danila voluntarily did not do this for reasons of decency ;) Or, how their ship - because of the same Vargr - was infested with adorable two-tailed monkeys, which were extremely annoying the Chief Pilot - that is, Danila - because their fur and excrements were constantly found in inappropriate and unexpected places.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Sun 01 Oct 2023.

During the trip to the casino, Sven's agent had continued to provide updates on the changing situation with TPoT and the arriving ship. These updates resulted in revised estimates of the capabilities of the spaceguard ship and, each time, the likely arrival time for the OLH.

After OLH had cut thrust, about the time they were being seated, Sven had projected the new rendezvous position and timing. Remembering Xanara's reaction at EAnT, he had played it up a little. After giving Wade a warning look, he had told her when TPoT would catch up with OLH to start the actual rescue operations. He had acted mysterious for a few minutes before explaining that he could get pilot information directly from the computer at traffic control.


Sven glanced at Danila and had to stifle a laugh. He stayed very busy for a moment, focusing on the tiles closest to him.


Sven admitted, "Likely. I never picked up the skill in my years in the Merchant Marine."
OOC: I expect that skill in gambling is not related to skill in specific games. Stretching to know Go well enough to compete seems out of range


Sven smiled and gave a wave in the strobing light. "Well, they got the name almost right."


'Chief' pilot? He glanced at Wade. All pilots here. With either of these two on the same ship, I'd be a backup pilot. Fine with me.
Sven laughed and interjected, "I feel sorry for whoever had to get the equipment back to spec. I hope you managed to keep engineering spaces clear. FOD is no joke."
OOC: Foreign Object Debris

Wade nodded to the stranger as Sven introduced him as Danila, and he smiled at Sven's comments on news media even as he shook Danila's offered hand.

"Well met, Danila! As for news media, those parasites live by the credo that 'all news is good news!' - if they can make a headline out of it, clickbait, then they're happy, and screw any poor soul caught up in the mess."

Wade then watches on as Sven brings up the Tanar system on his holo display, and nods at the Sven's assessment of the OLH.

"Yeah, they really need to push the thrusters now...unless they can't. Which is a whole other issue."

As the display continued another tiresome news report came in, and sure enough the news people were upset that the situation has been stabilised, and would not lead to an epic - and viewer-thrilling - crash. Hey ho, life went on. But it seemed Sven had an idea, and Xanara was quick to take him up on it, closing the office and announcing they were off to some gambling den that...what?!?

"Excuse me," he said with mock hurt as Xan grabbed his arm and led him away. "Who says I don't know it? Maybe I do know, and I've just decided to keep quiet about it?"

As it transpired, Wade did know of the City Bar-y-Centre, having been there once or twice, but he didn't really care for it. It was the sort of place that was exotic to Tanaris, and no-one else, but he was not about to tell anyone that. When Danila ordered a straight whisky, Wade did likewise. He had no idea about mah-jong, having successfully avoided playing it to this point in his life. When Xan then chided Sven for his wandering gaze, Wade snorted with laughter - she was funny, in a dim-witted sort of way. But there was a charm in that, and Wade knew better than to even think of mocking the Tanaris.

The fruit salad-induced yellow wine was an acquired taste, but when in Tanar...Wade gave it a try...and wished he'd stuck to the whisky. With tension rising at the table Wade sought to lighten the mood - he called for a round of liqueurs, on him, and asked if anyone wanted to try any of the recreational smokes on offer. Then he looked to their guide, seeking to brighten her mood.

"Well Xan, other than mah-jong...any other games here you'd like to try? What else does Xanara bring to the party?"

When Danila has a couple of spare minutes, he will download and quickly scan through the brochure "The guide to Tanar: 13 unexpected issues a traveller should expect here", written by R.E. Gisp.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Mon 02 Oct 2023.

Xanara reflected: "Well... let me remember the lessons of morals at school. The teacher said that if the other party is acting immorally as it's usual way of life, - is not "playing the same game" in a way -, you don't have to act morally towards them anymore... So your corsair buddy may have been right, stealing dirty money from a thief is no theft!"


"Oh yeah? Interesting."
Xanara took ostensibly her phone and checked the news "PNC hasn't mentioned it yet, though...".

Had she wanted to ridicule Sven's investigation skills, she wouldn't have acted otherwise. Also, as if to illustrate Wade's judgment on the media, Xanara remarked: "Anyway, they only speak and excite us with news about catastrophic and impediment doom, don't they? That's why we like news streaming!"

- "hey, I just got that. Isn't Danila a female name? You a girl?" (inebriated laughter. It seemed Bodrov's first name was just suddenly hilarious. Worse, this laughter was contagious.)


Xanara stiffened. "Let me guess, Wade. After having showed no interest to Mah-Jong, you'd like to play some game now? I guess you're going to suggest strip poker? Or playing between yourselves to sort who'll get me as the winner's prize? If you want your sexual needs taken care of, there are the addresses of prostitute's web pages, on the back page of the menu. I am not your guide. But you know what, let's hit the dance fl-"

The discussion was interrupted by a commotion at the high roller's table. One could hear chairs knocked down, women shrieks, and males shouting.

Danila raised his head from the "guide to Tanar", having read:
"#1: don't disrespect Tanaris. You don't know who they really are, which family they belong to, or who they know. It's a small village planet"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:48, Tue 03 Oct 2023.

- I'm not sure it is that simple. In my culture morale does not depend on the third party. One is not "acting morally towards", one is just "acting morally" - or not. It is not a game, it is not an interaction. It is your inner... stance?.. which does not depend on whether your counterparty is moral or not. So, stealing from a thief is theft. However, I'm not so much naïve as you might have started to suspect at this point: taking back from a thief what he stole from you first - that is not theft. It is a reclamation :)


- What made you think so? - Danila was surprised. - No, it is not. It is an ancient name from Terra, and not in Anglic.


- Ouch! I didn't deserve that! Or, if you didn't mean me in "yourselves", still I believe no one here - neither Wade nor Sven - has ever meant any disrespect to you. Remember, we are...



Danila looked around (not only in the direction of the noise), trying to assess the situation quickly.

Danila Bodrov rolled 10 using 2d6+3.  Recon roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:44, Wed 04 Oct 2023.

Like Danila, Sven looked around to see both what the actual commotion is, and how others in the casino are responding to it.

Sven Glanz rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,2.  Recon: casino commotion. – 9

Wade smiled and shrugged, palms held wide in all innocence.

"Hey, I just wondered if you liked card games or pachinko, you are the one taking it to another level! But if you want to guide me to the damce floor..."

Smooth as you like. Of course, someone had to ruin it - Tanaris were just as likely to fall out after a few drinks as anyone else. Despite his best efforts to appear nonchalant, Wade was as interested in what had just kicked off as everyone else.

Wade Wilder rolled 11 using 2d6+3. Recon roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Fri 06 Oct 2023.

[OOC rather impressive recon rolls!]

The commotion was centered on the high rollers table. One of the old "gambling ladies" was half-laid, her back on the table, seemingly unconscious.

The piles of tokens and tiles had been spilled over. The observant Travellers were able to deduce from the dispersion pattern that she had taken a nosedive while sitting, then been spinned over by her Feskal bodyguard. Who was throwing accusations at the other players and at the staff: “You poisoned Domina Hohee!”.

The game partners objected strongly, their Feskals as excited as the former and ready to come to blows after the shouting match. People and staff wanting to go closer to the body of the Barnai domina were rudely told to “STAND BACK!”. Beholders were shouting back “CALM DOWN, Feskal!” - “We want to HELP your domina!”

Taking in the scene, Sven had several disjointed thoughts run through his mind.
Poison? High roller, bodyguard. Rich. Local TL 8. Vadada, retire. TL14. Stranger here. Medical. That resulted in him standing almost without being aware of it. He did his best to use a calm, undemanding tone, pitched to carry to the bodyguard.

"SIR, Does your Domina wear a personal mediscanner?"
Even better would be a personal automedic. I Really wish right now that I could have afforded the latest medikit. That would be in my pocket, instead of with my gear back at the hotel.

OOC: Even though Sven is talking about medical gear here, I think the appropriate check is Steward. To get the bodyguard to see him as a fellow 'support staff'. Using INT (or EDU) instead of SOC, since talking to the bodyguard, not his domina.

Sven Glanz rolled 6 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 1,1.  Steward+INT.

Well, that was not so good.

This message was last edited by the player at 00:04, Sat 07 Oct 2023.

- ... strangers, here who are learning your ways, - Danila finished his phrase in half voice.

- Miss Xanara, if your local rules have anything against offering help, then stop us. Otherwise, please call the ambulance, - with these words Danila stood up and came to Sven.

If the Feskal reacts poorly on Sven's words, Danila would interfere. He wouldn't approach but would stay near Sven and back him up.

- The ambulance is on its way here! - he declared loudly, inviting attention. - Meanwhile, mister Sven, please inform us if you have a medical degree and are competent enough to provide First Aid?
After Sven's answer, Danila would address the Feskal:
- Mister, would you consider to allow a medic to observe your domina? Several minutes of qualified First Aid might be very important while emergency is coming.

Danila Bodrov rolled 6 using 2d6+4.  Persuade.
Nope.
BTW, Snake Eyes twice in a row! That's chance 1 to 1296.

Being no stranger to night spots, bars and all manner of indoor leisure areas from high class member's clubs to the lowest dives, Wade knew the importance of staying cool and collected, which tended to be his M.O. regardless. Both Sven and Danila tried their best to deal with the situation but it appeared the locals were not having any of it, so Wade thought it best he stepped in. His tone was calm and conciliatory, his manner fair but firm.

11:31, Today: Wade Wilder rolled 8 using 2d6. Steward roll, forgot to include adjustments!

"Calm down everyone, please. Tempers may be frayed but there is someone here clearly in need of medical attention."

He addressed the Domina's Feskal directly.

"Please forgive me, but your Domina requires immediate aid. Will you allow one of my colleagues to approach? We have already called for medical help and for security."

Well, they hadn't exactly called for security, whether the club's own or the police/security forces, but Wade turned and glared right at Xanara that she should be doing that immediately, if she hadn't already. Then again, perhaps Xan had other ideas about what they should be doing right now...

While Sven waited to see how the bodyguard (or others) reacted to his question, he sent a few commands to the agent on his tablet. He told it to load and run the Medic and Investigate expert programs.

Priority is for medical, but get a record of everything for later. Including my interaction with the expert programs, in case any claims are made later. Consider who might get access to recording, consider possible existing anti-aging treatments.

SUBVOCAL COMMS>>>"Columbo, start continuous record of external AV and transcript of user, software interactions. Event in progress. Agitated bodyguard heard to claim his charge, Domina Hohee, has been poisoned by other players or Barycenter staff. Resisting closer inspection."<<<END COMMS

I've been limiting intake, but better check if 'my' `scanner thinks I need a quick sober up.
SUBVOCAL COMMS>>>"Agent, display data from my mediscanner. Do it now. Sawbones, link to mediscanner data. Assist me in determining if HighDrop patch needed before further use of medical skill.<<<END COMMS

OOC: 10 using 2d6+5.  Medic+EDU+Expert+scanner check: use sober-up patch?
Probably DM-1 for alcohol consumed.

The readings were about what was expected, but now they were part of the record. He opened a sealed single use packet from his pocket and applied the patch over the vein in his neck, where the injected drug cleared all traces of alcohol from his brain. He held himself still through the vertigo that always accompanied going from even mildly intoxicated to stone cold sober in seconds. After the room steadied around him again, he put the used patch back in his pocket, and recorded the usage.

SUBVOCAL COMMS>>>"Columbo, one personally calibrated dose of HighDrop self administered. Agent, clear mediscanner data from display, but continue to feed it to Columbo's log. Do it now. Sawbones, potential patient, female, Floriani, Barnai…". He went on to provide a brief description of what he could tell immediately, ending with, "likely rich, possibly retired from much higher tech world. Possible augments, possible existing drug regimen. Advise as appropriate."<<<END COMMS

OOC I did not think that the base 'patient data' was worth another medic check.

Hohee's bodyguard turned his head towards Sven. His face briefly illuminated, as if he remembered something. But at that moment one of the other bodyguard, a smarty-pants, felt it was a good moment for a little provocation, and implied that the domina was not ill, but a sore looser pretending.
Sven was ignored as the bodyguards exchanged angry gazes - the kind which precedes physical assaults.


Sven nodded.


Again, the Feskal bodyguard seemed to react and process Danila's words in his mind, but then the crew of the casino yelled and repeated "Everybody stay calm! We have called an ambulance!" While yet another Feskal - the bouncer - pushed his way through the crowd with a riot gun.
Everybody else remembered they deposited their weapons at the dressing room.
The sick domina's bodyguard focused on the bouncer and forgot Danila.


OOC: right, it's about time to create the character sheet in the Character Details section! ;))


The bodyguards of the other high-rollers ladies had the good idea to step back 2 meters from the table, while shielding their respective dominas. Maybe it was the effect of Wade's logic. Or the result of the bouncer's gun. Who knew? You obtain more with nice words and a smile, but even more with nice words, a smile and a big gun.



At last, the words went through the Feskal's brain, and he waved for any of the Travellers to approach. "Y-yes..."

Wade turned and glared right at Xanara to see if she was the one who had called ambulance/security or if she was calling.
The petite curly brunette seemed paralyzed in the position the Travellers had left her. She held no phone in her hands. When Xanara's eyes met Wade's, she kinda pointed at her head, shook it and mouthed "No poison!".
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:25, Wed 18 Oct 2023.

Danila looked with interest on the domina, the table she was lying on, the tiles, the tokens, and the crowd.

When permission was finally given, and as quickly as possible, consistent with not startling the bodyguard into attacking, Sven moved to the side of the semi-supine high roller.

As soon as the Feskal's attention was on him he started talking, "Sven Glanz. Merchant Marine, medic rank 1, first responder training. Medic expert program running on the tablet". Setting the tablet on the table beside the domina, he pulled the DD/R out of his pocket and fit it over his eye and ear.

With a hint from Sawbones, he pointed to the most likely carry bag at the table, and asked, "Protector, is this your domina's? She may be carrying important personal medical information". When the Feskal confirmed he had the right purse, Sven set it beside the tablet for a moment, while doing an initial quick physical inspection of the Domina herself.

OOC: turning blue from lack of oxygen? is she breathing? check pulse, check airway. The 'usual' immediate first checks, including 'jewelry' checks. Anything from a medical alert bracelet and up. Higher TL could have a complete medical history in a data chip looking like a broach or pendant.

With the once over complete, he opened the purse and went quickly but thoroughly through the contents. Each item related to medical information was shown to Sawbones, both for insight into possible problems, and as a possible resource to use for treatment. He found what looked like a cosmetics compact, and was about to set it aside, when he noticed a subtle medical logo on it. Opening it, he found a state of the art medikit. The latest model from Vadada, not from Tanar. With a sigh of relief, he showed the interface logo to Sawbones

SUBVOCAL/Sawbones>>>Access this medikit for patient medical history data, and include it's resources in suggestions for treatment. Display medical history overview on DD/R, split screen for medical sensor results.<<<END SUBVOCAL

With display configured, Sven activated the medikit sensors, and moved the fake compact case over the domina. That gave readings on many bodily functions, from simple heart rate and blood pressure, to brain activity, and how much, and which, food and intoxicants she had ingested. In a little over half a minute, he had a solid idea of what the problem was, and how to proceed.

OOC
rolled 8 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,4.  Recon: Personal medical gear.
If difficulty of searching the purse for prescriptions and more is Easy, that should be enough for an effect of +4
Showed the interface logo. Equivalent to a modern QR code, providing the details needed for a computer to interface to it. futuristic version of Bluetooth. For a TL14 medikit, think of the medical sensor used by Dr McCoy on Star Trek, plus the injector for at least common medical compounds.

Medic 1+EDU 2+Expert 1+TL14 Medikit 3 : Average(8+)
17 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 4,6.  Medic check: First Aid.  Effect +9, assuming the problem is something 'simple', not an exotic poison that interacts with her personal genetics. Medical equivalent of a jackpot on one of the casino 'one armed bandits'.

Stopping at this point, in case GM wants to specify specifics of what is found. My guess would be an allergy, or a reaction to some unfortunate mix of alcohol and other recreational drugs.

6 using 1d6 ((6)): rounds to do medic check
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:26, Sun 15 Oct 2023.