Cheating at a game of dice

**Kassieti** · March 16, 2023

You tell Sialii 'You have to save me.' Sialii tells you 'What do you mean?' You tell Sialii 'This boredom is a slow and insidious death. It's sucking all life out of me.' You tell Sialii 'You wouldn't be up for a game of dice and a bottle of rum, would you?' Sialii tells you 'You've piqued my interest, sugah.' You tell Sialii 'I better hope so. It's not like there's a bunch of people you're supposed to murder right now, is there?' Sialii tells you 'Nothing that can't wait.' You tell Sialii 'You know Aerin's Tavern, yes?' Sialii tells you 'Ah do.'

Aerin's Shipwreck Tavern Under the watch of the Tribunal and the ownership of longtime matron Aerin, this once dilapidated tavern has become a popular site for citizens and visitors alike. Themed as a wrecked pirate ship, the area is illuminated only by cupped torches filled with glowing embers; two torches mounted on each of the wooden walls. Peering through the iron-framed circular windows on the eastern end of the tavern, one may see the expanse of the Miruvhian shore. Inside, the walls are adorned with portraits of fishermen with their catch and seamen preparing to set sail. Wooden bench-tables are spread about the room, upon which visitors go about their leisurely activities. A large iron-wrought anchor decoratively hangs on the wall above Aerin's bar.

[Exits: north west] A cocktail table is here, surrounded by a few wooden chairs. A drunken sailor is here, staring into his empty tankard. (Dark Aura) Aerin the Shipwreck Matron tends to her bar here.

A chilly fog slinks over the city from the sea bringing with it the smell of brine.

Sialii curtseys gracefully.

Mirielda is perched at one of the chairs over by the cocktail table. She looks up when Sialii arrives, beaming a sweet smile at Sialii.

You say '-Finally- some company.'

Sialii strolls over to the table and helps herself to a chair. 'A pleasure to meet you, sugah.'

Sialii sits down and rests on a cocktail table.

'I know,' Mirielda replies with a mischievous wink. 'A pleasure to meet you, too.'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'So ah, do you come here often?'

Mirielda nods her head. 'I practically live here.'

You say 'I'd say it's the best tavern in Miruvhor, but it's not like there's a wide selection to pick from.'

Sialii nods her head and shrugs, 'A little dirtier than Ah grew up in.'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'There was another. It's since burned down, though.'

Mirielda bobs her head in another nod at Sialii. 'Either way, the drinks are good. Way better than what that simpleton over in Maelbrim serves.' Clearly, she is not much of a fan of Tamara's booze.

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah'm not normally one to drink alcohol except on the rarest of occasions, so Ah'll have to take your word for it.'

Mirielda says to Sialii, 'Well, this certainly is the rarest occasion of all day.' She turns to Aerin and orders a bottle of rum, pouring two glasses and offering one to Sialii. 'To meeting new people, mhm?'

You give a bottle of rum to Sialii.

Sialii raises the bottle, 'To meeting new people.'

Sialii drinks rum from a bottle of rum.

You drink rum from a bottle of rum.

Mirielda takes a sip of her own rum, then sighs contently. 'So! Are you up for a game of dice?'

You say 'NOothhIingh LIKEh aa biiT aoF GahhMmMblIiNng toOo liivennn uP a GloOmMy DAhy.'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah'm certainly willing.'

Sialii agrees absolutely.

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Hold on a moment.'

A stevedore yells 'Help! I'm being attacked by Sialii!'

[...]

Sialii gropes at a drunken sailor to drain his vitality! Sialii's touch mauls a drunken sailor. A drunken sailor is DEAD!!

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Now, about that game of dice?'

Mirielda tilts her head at a slight angle, peering straight at Sialii. 'Right. Do you prefer any specific set of rules?'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah have none.'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Did you have one in mind?'

You say 'My favourite is Liar's Dice, but Aerin's banned me from playing that here.'

Sialii chuckles politely.

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah also think that it works better with three.'

Mirielda glances over at Aerin, wrinkling her nose in displeasure, then shifts her focus back to Sialii. 'We can play a game of Sewer's Dice, if you want to.'

Supposedly invented by the children huddling in the city's sewers - quick and simple rounds, perfect to make some bets.

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah don't believe Ah've heard of that rule set. Do explain.'

You say 'The rules are pretty simple: each player rolls two dice. If you roll a pair, you get to reroll, but you have to keep the new result. Whoever rolls the highest wins.'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Simple enough indeed.'

'We'd have to bet, of course,' Mirielda continues, a grin blooming at the edges of her lips. 'Five thousand coins per round?'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah think Ah can make that happen.'

You say 'Do you want to go first?'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Sure, why not?'

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 4!

Sialii chuckles politely.

Sialii picks up her dice and rolls again.

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 2!

Sialii raises an eyebrow.

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Third time the charm?'

Sialii collects the dice once more and tries again.

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 2!

You say 'What are the odds of that, huh.'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Not high, that's for sure!'

Sialii grabs the dice once more and tries yet again.

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 5!

Sialii looks at the die in her hand.

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 2!

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Seven.'

Sialii scoops the dice up and says, 'Finally.'

'A valiant seven,' Mirielda chirps, smiling at Sialii. She gathers her own dice into a felt-lined cup, shakes it a couple of times, and lets the dices roll.

With a brief shake you roll your bone die.
The die stops on 6!

The die stops on 1!

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'A tie.'

Mirielda says, excitement in her voice, 'Go again.'

Sialii casually tosses the dice onto the table.

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 1!

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 2!

Sialii frowns.

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Traitors.'

Mirielda claps her hands together in delight, clearly satisfied with the result. 'Well, you tried your best.'

Sialii collects the dice, frowning.

With a brief shake you roll your bone die. The die stops on 4!

Sialii chuckles politely.

Mirielda says, 'I'll keep the eight.' Clearly, rolling second has its benefit. Perhaps that is why she had suggested Sialii go first?

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah, so the rerolling isn't mandatory. Good to know.'

Sialii gives you 5000 gold.

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Round three?'

You say 'I said you get to reroll, not that you -have- to.'

You say 'Round three!'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Indeed you did.'

With a brief shake Sialii rolls her bone die. The die stops on 6!

Sialii smirks.

Mirielda mutters something unpleasant under her breath, reaching for her bottle of rum and gulping down another mouthful.

You drink rum from a bottle of rum.

With a brief shake you roll your bone die. The die stops on 4!

With a brief shake you roll your bone die. The die stops on 5!

Sialii collects the dice with a twinkle in her eye, 'Oh, so close.'

'Beginner's luck!,' Mirielda exclaims with feigned enthusiasm. 'You're doing well!'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'One each is beginner's luck?'

You say 'Doouhvble sIiksEss cjehrtahhiNnly are.'

Mirielda asks Sialii, 'How about we raise the stakes? Twenty thousand per round?'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah doubt me never playing this game before has little to do with where the dice land, sugah.'

You say 'RighhT, RiIgHht.'

'We can do that, but aren't you forgetting something?' Sialii says holding out her hand.

You give Sialii 5000 gold.

Sialii nods, 'Your turn.'

Sialii speaks slowly, drawling out her words, 'Ah can't go first all the time.'

Mirielda almost looks like she is going to object, then just nods, smiling amiably at Sialii. 'Fine, fine.' She gathers her dices and then... there is a subtle, inconspicuous movement with her left hand.

Aerin the Barkeep yells 'Help! I'm being attacked by Sialii!'
Sialii gropes at Aerin the Barkeep to drain her vitality! Sialii's touch injures Aerin the Barkeep. Aerin the Barkeep has been paralyzed!

[[...]]

Sialii has fled!