Elvaris
2007-01-17, 05:16 AM
J: Welcome to the GMG Grand Casino here in beautiful Lost Cutlass, where we're bringing you the final rounds of the Lost Cutlass Poker Invitational. We've already seen some fantastic action, and there's so much more to come. What's on tap for today Norm?
N: Well Jeff, we're into the final day of the competition where the goal every year is to knock off our two favorites, Phil Hellhound and Chris Goldmaker. Those two have played the final in nine of the last ten years, and in the tenth Hellhound beat young Jimmy Porter after Porter beat Goldmaker in the semis.
J: How is it that in a game where so much luck is involved, two players can dominate so consistently?
N: Nobody knows, Jeff. There are wild stories that these two have some kind of magical control over luck, but our hosts at the GMG Grand assure us that no magic is involved in these games.
J: Well, the action's about to start, let's see what's on tap for us now.
The Lost Cutlass Poker Invitational attracts the best professional gamblers and a host of aspiring and gold hungry amateurs. The event offers a significant reward for the champion, and allows lesser players a rare chance to test their skills against the best. To get in, a player must attract the attention of the invitation committee either by showing skills in regional qualifying tournaments, or by paying an entry fee either on their own or through a sponsor.
Unfortunately for the field, the entry fees usually wind up in the hands of one of two men.
N: Jeff, it looks like Phil's on his way to the finals, he's bled Porter down to his last few chips, and it's a formality for him to finish it off.
J: Looks that way, Norm. I suppose it's too much to ask to not see the victory dance this time around.
N: It's just Phil being Phil, Jeff.
Phil Hellhound
Crybaby. Sore loser. Primadonna. All words that have been used to describe Phil Hellhound when he loses. Unfortunately for his opponents, he doesn't lose much. Young and brash, Phil always wears his emotions on his sleeve, but his remarkable skill and more than his share of luck have kept that from becoming a hinderance at the poker table. Rumors abound that some of the disgruntled rivals he has left in his wake have resolved to settle matters away from the table, but no attacks have come to light as of yet.
Male Human Rogue 5 / Master Gambler 8
Challenge Rating: 13
Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 13d6+13 (64 hp)
Initiative: +8
Speed: 30 (6 squares)
Armor Class: (18), touch 18, flat-footed 14
Base Attack: +9/+4, Grapple: +9
Attack: +11 melee (1d4+2, +2 defending dagger) or +14 ranged (1d4+1, +1 returning dagger)
Full Attack: +11/+6 melee (1d4+2, +2 defending dagger)
Special Attacks: sneak attack +3d6
Special Qualities: don't fail me now 2/day, evasion, never tell me the odds, papa needs a new pair of shoes +2, trap sense +1, trapfinding, uncanny dodge
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +12, Will +8
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 8
Skills: Appraise +19, Bluff +15, Escape Artist +12, Gather Information +15, Hide +20, Listen +20, Move Silently +20, Open Lock +14, Profession (Gambler) +18, Sense Motive +18, Sleight of Hand +20, Spot +20
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative, Danger Sense, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Feint
Alignment: Neutral
Possessions: Stone of Good Luck, +2 Defending Dagger, +1 Returning Dagger, Lined Coat +4 (Coat provides +4 armor bonus, slot as armor/robe, price and requisites as Bracers of Armor), Masterwork Thieves' Tools, 40,000 GP in cash and credit.
J: At the other table, we see Chris Goldmaker has just gone all in against Amastacia.
N: Well, this has been a back and forth battle, Jeff. Neither has been able to gain any significant advantage over the other. This is about the only way it's going to end.
J: And she's called. She's been close to the finals a few times, Norm. Is this finally her shot?
N: It looks like she has the better hand, but Chris has pulled some miracle draws in his day.
J: And there it is, Goldmaker has revealed a full house which takes Xaniel's straight and puts him in yet another final with Hellhound.
N: A nice hug and a handshake from Chris sends Xaniel Amastacia home, and sends us to a break. When we come back, it's Goldmaker and Hellhound.
Chris Goldmaker
Composed and polite, Goldmaker is everything Hellhound is not, and almost his equal at the table. Chris burst onto the scene ten years ago, making the final in his first Invitational, and beating Hellhound to the surprise of the pundits. The two have since played each other over and over again, as Chris is the only player on the circuit who can keep up with Phil. Little is known of Goldmaker's pre-poker days, but it is his performance with the cards that has everyone's attention. While many of those who have lost to Hellhound have shown up in rumors of "evening the score", none have ever been tied to Goldmaker, as he is seen to be above such pettiness. In fact, the primary stories involving Goldmaker suggest he's thinking of retiring from playing poker and finding a more stable career.
Male Human Rogue 5 / Master Gambler 6
Challenge Rating: 11
Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 11d6 (42 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 30 (6 squares)
Armor Class: (15), touch 15, flat-footed 13
Base Attack: +7/+2, Grapple: +6
Attack: +11 melee (1d6+2, +2 rapier)
Full Attack: +11/+6 melee (1d6+2, +2 rapier)
Special Attacks: sneak attack +3d6
Special Qualities: don't fail me now 1/day, evasion, never tell me the odds, papa needs a new pair of shoes +2, trap sense +1, trapfinding, uncanny dodge
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +11, Will +9
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18 (22)
Skills: Bluff +27, Diplomacy +20, Disguise +14, Forgery +10, Gather Information +20, Intimidate +16, Listen +17, Move Silently +8, Profession (Gambler) +16, Search +8, Sense Motive +15, Sleight of Hand +8, Spot +17
Feats:Alertness, Iron Will, Persuasive, Quick Reconnoiter, Weapon Finesse
Alignment: Neutral Good
Possessions: +2 rapier, cloak of charisma +4, bracers of armor +3, amulet of glibness (+5 competence bonus to bluff), 30,000 GP in cash and credit
N: Well Jeff, we're into the final day of the competition where the goal every year is to knock off our two favorites, Phil Hellhound and Chris Goldmaker. Those two have played the final in nine of the last ten years, and in the tenth Hellhound beat young Jimmy Porter after Porter beat Goldmaker in the semis.
J: How is it that in a game where so much luck is involved, two players can dominate so consistently?
N: Nobody knows, Jeff. There are wild stories that these two have some kind of magical control over luck, but our hosts at the GMG Grand assure us that no magic is involved in these games.
J: Well, the action's about to start, let's see what's on tap for us now.
The Lost Cutlass Poker Invitational attracts the best professional gamblers and a host of aspiring and gold hungry amateurs. The event offers a significant reward for the champion, and allows lesser players a rare chance to test their skills against the best. To get in, a player must attract the attention of the invitation committee either by showing skills in regional qualifying tournaments, or by paying an entry fee either on their own or through a sponsor.
Unfortunately for the field, the entry fees usually wind up in the hands of one of two men.
N: Jeff, it looks like Phil's on his way to the finals, he's bled Porter down to his last few chips, and it's a formality for him to finish it off.
J: Looks that way, Norm. I suppose it's too much to ask to not see the victory dance this time around.
N: It's just Phil being Phil, Jeff.
Phil Hellhound
Crybaby. Sore loser. Primadonna. All words that have been used to describe Phil Hellhound when he loses. Unfortunately for his opponents, he doesn't lose much. Young and brash, Phil always wears his emotions on his sleeve, but his remarkable skill and more than his share of luck have kept that from becoming a hinderance at the poker table. Rumors abound that some of the disgruntled rivals he has left in his wake have resolved to settle matters away from the table, but no attacks have come to light as of yet.
Male Human Rogue 5 / Master Gambler 8
Challenge Rating: 13
Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 13d6+13 (64 hp)
Initiative: +8
Speed: 30 (6 squares)
Armor Class: (18), touch 18, flat-footed 14
Base Attack: +9/+4, Grapple: +9
Attack: +11 melee (1d4+2, +2 defending dagger) or +14 ranged (1d4+1, +1 returning dagger)
Full Attack: +11/+6 melee (1d4+2, +2 defending dagger)
Special Attacks: sneak attack +3d6
Special Qualities: don't fail me now 2/day, evasion, never tell me the odds, papa needs a new pair of shoes +2, trap sense +1, trapfinding, uncanny dodge
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +12, Will +8
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 8
Skills: Appraise +19, Bluff +15, Escape Artist +12, Gather Information +15, Hide +20, Listen +20, Move Silently +20, Open Lock +14, Profession (Gambler) +18, Sense Motive +18, Sleight of Hand +20, Spot +20
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative, Danger Sense, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Feint
Alignment: Neutral
Possessions: Stone of Good Luck, +2 Defending Dagger, +1 Returning Dagger, Lined Coat +4 (Coat provides +4 armor bonus, slot as armor/robe, price and requisites as Bracers of Armor), Masterwork Thieves' Tools, 40,000 GP in cash and credit.
J: At the other table, we see Chris Goldmaker has just gone all in against Amastacia.
N: Well, this has been a back and forth battle, Jeff. Neither has been able to gain any significant advantage over the other. This is about the only way it's going to end.
J: And she's called. She's been close to the finals a few times, Norm. Is this finally her shot?
N: It looks like she has the better hand, but Chris has pulled some miracle draws in his day.
J: And there it is, Goldmaker has revealed a full house which takes Xaniel's straight and puts him in yet another final with Hellhound.
N: A nice hug and a handshake from Chris sends Xaniel Amastacia home, and sends us to a break. When we come back, it's Goldmaker and Hellhound.
Chris Goldmaker
Composed and polite, Goldmaker is everything Hellhound is not, and almost his equal at the table. Chris burst onto the scene ten years ago, making the final in his first Invitational, and beating Hellhound to the surprise of the pundits. The two have since played each other over and over again, as Chris is the only player on the circuit who can keep up with Phil. Little is known of Goldmaker's pre-poker days, but it is his performance with the cards that has everyone's attention. While many of those who have lost to Hellhound have shown up in rumors of "evening the score", none have ever been tied to Goldmaker, as he is seen to be above such pettiness. In fact, the primary stories involving Goldmaker suggest he's thinking of retiring from playing poker and finding a more stable career.
Male Human Rogue 5 / Master Gambler 6
Challenge Rating: 11
Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 11d6 (42 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 30 (6 squares)
Armor Class: (15), touch 15, flat-footed 13
Base Attack: +7/+2, Grapple: +6
Attack: +11 melee (1d6+2, +2 rapier)
Full Attack: +11/+6 melee (1d6+2, +2 rapier)
Special Attacks: sneak attack +3d6
Special Qualities: don't fail me now 1/day, evasion, never tell me the odds, papa needs a new pair of shoes +2, trap sense +1, trapfinding, uncanny dodge
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +11, Will +9
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 18 (22)
Skills: Bluff +27, Diplomacy +20, Disguise +14, Forgery +10, Gather Information +20, Intimidate +16, Listen +17, Move Silently +8, Profession (Gambler) +16, Search +8, Sense Motive +15, Sleight of Hand +8, Spot +17
Feats:Alertness, Iron Will, Persuasive, Quick Reconnoiter, Weapon Finesse
Alignment: Neutral Good
Possessions: +2 rapier, cloak of charisma +4, bracers of armor +3, amulet of glibness (+5 competence bonus to bluff), 30,000 GP in cash and credit