Topic: And a bottle of ....

Fenix Bannon

Date: 2010-06-23 16:31 EST
The tavern was busier than usual this eve, due to the weekly game of chance, which would not only benefit the winner of that contest, but the proprietor of the establishment as well, along with the bar maids who kept the ale flowing.

The scent of gambling fever was in the air, along with stale smoke and spilled drink. Extra lanterns were lit for this special occasion, for it lasted well into the early morning hours.

The coins/money had been set aside, final bets made. There was a dull roar from the surrounding crowd that formed a rather crude circle with two men seated at a wooden table. One showing little or no emotion upon his face, while the other sat with a small confident grin resting beneath his nose. The winner of this last hand would walk away with a sizable amount, enough to live comfortably for a few weeks, depending upon one's lifestyle.

The four of five cards were shown upon the table ...

Ace of clubs Five of diamonds Six of spades Jack of hearts

"He's tryin' to bluff ye Sanchez, don' fall fer it. That's how he's been doin' it all night."

Sanchez rubbed the corner of one of his cards. He had two aces in his hand, along with a pair of lucky sevens, and a eight, while there was another ace showing on the table. They had a point. Bannon had indeed smooth talked his way through all hands played, while never having anything to show for it.

The final card was the Queen of hearts.

"Want to be makin' this a bit more interestin' Bannon' I hear you be lookin' to be usin' some o' yer winnings to book passage on a ship. You win, I'll take you there meself, free o' charge. You lose" You work it off as a member o' me crew."

Eyes/heads turned in the direction of the still smiling Bannon.

"Hmmm, ye be makin' quite the offer, Sanchez, but how about this" I lose you get me double the amount. But if I win? I want some o' yer sister's ....Special dish."

Now if that didn't get a rise from the crowd, Bannon would make clear his intentions; "Keep it in yer trousers, the lot of ye. Sanchez knows I meant Alisia's prized gumbo."

Bannon's comment did reward an arch of the eyebrow from Sanchez, before he smirked, nodding his head. "Ye be not bluffin' yer way out of this hand, Bannon. Lady luck smiles upon me this night, fer the pot o' gold comes home with me!!"

Slamming down his hand, those that were cheering for him roared with their approval. "That be three aces and me lucky 7's Bannon. There will be no tastin' o me sister's gumbo fer you!! Rounds on the house, on me!!!!"

That small smile never changed on Bannon's face as the offer was pondered. He had only raised his cards twice to look at them, only nodding slowly as there was another roar of approval.

Yet Bannon still had not turned over his own cards. "Now there is a really good hand, Sanchez. Not too many things can beat that." Bannon would then proceed to reveal his cards ...

Ace of hearts Five of diamonds Nine of spades Ten of hearts King of hearts

"The lady o' hearts has saved me this night it seems."

There was a moment of stunned silence, before another roar was heard, from those that had been betting on Bannon, as Sanchez's eyes widened in disbelief, before shaking his head. Yes there would be accusations of cheating which were ignored without any solid proof. Hands were shook, and there were still rounds for the house, as Bannon reached into his satchel to produce ....

An apple, from which he took a healthy bite of.

Fenix Bannon

Date: 2010-06-24 22:59 EST
Several moments prior ...

While nearly everyone was watching the tournament unfold, no one would pay little mind to another patron entering the tavern, let alone a woman. So it was easy to whisper a few choice words to the bar wenches that were working that night, to alert them to possible cheating which would take coin from their owner's pockets and in turn their own. With a wary eye, the table was watched and certain actions noted. Key individuals had been alerted, unknown to the players at the table, or so they thought.

Bannon had been taught early on to always take the seat where the chair is closest to the wall, which would eliminate chances of anyone being behind him. It would also serve for a much broader scope of vision, where he did see some whispering by the bar wench's, that didn't cause too much of a concern, but mental notes were made. Fast forward to the end of the tournament, where Bannon had won, he was noticing several tavern guards standing near the doors, who were not there moments ago.

The celebration would be cut short as heads turned upon hearing a struggle of sorts coming from the second floor. While Bannon calmly ate his apple, appearing to be curious like the rest, Sanchez's skin color was growing more pale by each passing second. "It seems that we had another game of chance being played behind our very backs by one of the two players here." most of the patrons had moved out of the way for the hired help that already had their hands on the hilts of their blades, as they were converging on the table. "Sanchez, you're looking a tad bit nervous for someone who was a hand away from winning. Perhaps it was not the prize here that you were wishing to walk away with?"

The one thing Bannon learned early during his life upon this realm was to *always* have a backup plan. Several actually, one to include those that part of the plan, and one for oneself ....Just in case. It wasn't that he didn't trust Sanchez when he hatched this little plan of his to not only win the tournament, but to loot the owner of that tavern of his most prized possessions while everyone was kept busy with intense card play. The plan went without nary a hitch.

Right"

Bannon was chewing more slowly now, letting his gaze flicker about the tavern, as he noted a figure taking their leave, one whom he knew on a semi personal level. It was Sanchez's sister!! That, and because she paused at the door long enough to blow him a kiss.

Damn.

He was really looking forward to her gumbo too!!

Fenix Bannon

Date: 2010-06-29 22:52 EST
If I had t'give any sort of life alterin' advice, it would be .....

And I quote.

Never underestimate a woman.

I kno' quite a few in my life that fit tha' line o' logic, which was helpin' me in the bit o' trouble I was findin' myself in at the moment. Alisia knew o' our plans tha' eve, she also added a few ideas of her own to th' mix. Too bad Sanchez didn't kno' tha' his innocent lil sister was out t'prove beyond a shadow o' a doubt tha' she was the brains of family, and was out t'prove tha' very thing, even if it meant her brother takin' th' fall for it!!

Wait.

I kno' wha' yer thinkin', and no. I wasn't goin' to leave em high in dry. Which was why after runnin' with a bunch of Grifters, I learned to always have a backup plan of my own. Especially when the tavern own discovered that he had been already robbed, well before he caught Sanchez's guy in the act!! And this wasn't the social lot to be shootin' first and askin' questions later ....No, they were exactly that type!! Did I mention tha' Sanchez had saw his sister as well, and the man's face was as red as a boiled lobster, and he would hav' gave chase, if not fer the guns and swords pointed at us ....

Did I mention never underestimate a woman"

This lot was pretty much ready t'have us drawn and quartered, as word was sent out to the streets in hopes of catching our fellow theives before they could get very far. Remember me takin' tha' seat against th' wall" There was another reason fer tha' as well. My plan b, which was gonna hinge on most of this buggers brains bein' a bit more intoxicated enough fer this to actually work ....I would jump from my chair with a cry, pointin' over at the far end of the room ...

"By th' Cross o' Saint Mary and all tha' is holy!! Captain Jack Sparrow?"?"

Shootin' a look to Sanchez, we took advantage o' the buggers tha' turned t'look, especially some o' those that had their weapons aimed at us!! Tha' wall was sturdy enough so I could be bracin' myself, and give at tavern table a might push, and boom went the dyamite, because all hell broke loose right then!!

Steele, next time I see ye, I be owin' you some drinks fer tha' bit o advice!!

Gotta luv a full tavern, tha' made shootin a movin' target hard t'do when yer dodgin' and weavin' through them all. Sanchez was headin' right towards the kitchen with th' intent o' escaping through the back, while I was running up the stairs to the next floor, wishin' ...hopin' ....PRAYIN' tha' I picked' the right window t'jump from, because I was only gettin' this one chance, especially with th' lack of a crowd on the second floor, those buggers were not as gun shy now!!!

Fenix Bannon

Date: 2010-07-06 12:12 EST
There's always a moment of doubt, especially when one purposely throws themselves from the second story of a tavern with the intent of landing into a recently placed wagon filled with hay. Except there was no hay, let alone no wagon as well, hence that wide eyed stare with the thought of how much the impact was going to hurt.

A lot.

Thoughts raced as he hoped that the impending injury would not be enough to hinder his escape, when that impact of cobblestone pavement never happened. Witnesses and bystanders would claim that a man threw himself from the window, only to ....Take flight' Some swore he laughed manically as he vanished into the night skies, away from startled men that assumed they had the cheating gambler trapped, but recovering their wits too late to get him back within their sights.

"Ahh, my vagabond rogue, such little faith ye have. "

"Tha' was coverin' it a bit too close, ye bloody gargoyle!!" Spoken in tones that were more grateful than chastising, how could he be upset at the gargoyle, especially with the shared history. Stylz was the only link to a past had been well left behind, and for good reason. "Sanchez's bloody sister went an' took matters into her own hands, leavin' me an' her brother hangin' out to dry." Muttered with annoyance as he caught a bottle of rum, before climbing onto his horse.The tosser of that bottle would allow a smirk to rest under his nose albeit briefly. "So it would seem that having me to wait outside the tavern was a suitable suggestion after all it seems, for we can follow them without notice."

Several swallows taken, before the bottle was corked once again and tossed back. "Mmmm. Especially with the lot o' them still givin' full chase to Sanchez, his sister might be feelin' full o' herself enough to drop her guard some. Where is it tha' she be headin'?" The medieval warrior Keun glanced over at the hovering gargoyle, before back over at Bannon. "I believe the destination was Rhydin."

".............Rhydin?"

"Or Rhy'din, as most call it now."

"There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home ..." Bannon would ignore the rambling gargoyle, as he sighed heavily before urging his steed into a full blown gallop. Rhydin it would be then.

Again.

Fenix Bannon

Date: 2010-07-07 16:16 EST
Once one had set foot onto the realm, whether by horse, by foot, or by boat/ship, there was no mistaking the sights, sounds, and continual chaos of the place. It had a mind of it's own, always changing with the times, while finding ways to maintain it's original charm.

To say that Rhydin ....Make that Rhy'din, had certainly changed, was quite the understatement. Yes there were still some of the notable landmarks, it looked like someone not only opened Pandora's box, but turned it upside down and dumped out it's contents. StyLz had already taken perch on top of one of the many structures to get a birds ....Gargoyle's eye view of things, and there was much to keep him amused. Pheus would get a kick out of the old place now ....

Or maybe not.

Keun would observe quietly with a random arch of the eyebrow, especially at those that wandered along the cobblestone streets, the palm of his hand resting lightly along the hilt of his blade, those warrior like senses on edge, expecting the worse, though Bannon did see the huge man hesitate once when their path had been crossed by a group of gypsies. What was that expression' A needle in a haystack" Well if everything ran true to form, then this part of Rhy'din was the more festive social area of the realm, which meant their potential destination would lead them to the infamous RLD ...

Red Light District

(m) "I wonder if Bess still works the Medieval. That woman should have earned enough to own the tavern and several more by now." Muttering to himself, Bannon could not help but to smile, as the duo passed what was once one of the more established houses in Rhydin, the house of the one that remained, Daemon Flagg. Had it been that long" Mental lock picks poked at that door of memories that had been closed away, men o' mettle, women of chance. Tigers, dragons and hulk like abominations. Yes, life had been anything but boring, and if anything, it helped prepare for a solo run.

"You are thinking again of the past, Bannon?" The deep rumbling bass tones of Kuen causing his associate to blink several times before glancing up at him. "Aye. A particular book that had not only been closed, but covered wit' so much dust ...." A new chapter of sorts was in the works, one that took a rather inventive turn when the two men had inadvertently crossed paths several months prior ....

Fenix Bannon

Date: 2010-07-08 14:58 EST
Several months ago ....

Having a heart of gold in the more seedier part of Port Allen would more than likely have it cut out from one's chest, a hard lesson to be learned but learned nevertheless. The seas and oceans would become secondary to a way of life, embracing the more unforgiving hardships of more solid terra. Once it had been about mystical books of the dead along with mirrored realities that helped paved the way before going to other parts of the realm to escape potential backlash, if for anything else, guilt by association.

"Tha' key to survival is learnin' how to reinvent yourself, to adapt at a moment's notice." That bit of advice came courtesy of a Trickster, which would be heeded well. The slim appearance would give way to a more rugged build, the slight stubble look not so much. Unruly hair became of dreaded dreads, along with a fresh outlook on life that was a combined traits of those whom he ran with. Like a phoenix rising from the locker of ole Davy Jones himself came Fenix Bannon.

Except for the green apples. Those he would NOT give up.

To cut loose without fear of rules, of consequences, of repercussions" Bannon had to admit, it was not only intoxicating, but very much so addicting. A thrill seeker" That depended on one's point of view. He saw it more as a life embracer. Jack Sparrow be damned!! Where once there would have been intervention of witnessing any potential wrong doing, the present mind set was that everything happens for a reason, and let those chips fall where they may.

Or dice.

Which was the game of chance that eve, a table surrounded by several unsavory types from various walks of life, gambling valuable coin to win the ....Ahem, services of Miss Katherine Anders, of the Devil's Blade brothel. To say she was a comely wench was an insult, one that would have your wagging tongue cut free from your mouth, then have it fed back to you!! No, this woman was highly rumored to being a siren, a sea witch, and a fine lay between sheets of silk if one could afford it. So when word spread through out town that she was making a rare appearance for a bloke lucky enough to win the contest' it was a win win scenario for the Devil's Blade, for 100% of the entry fees were going right to her, as was the gold from the contest itself.

Taking a hungry bite of his apple, Bannon shook the tin cup vigorously, with the several dice inside rattling like a pissed off cobra. Olarias already had 3 fours 1 five and 2 sixes showing, staking his claim on the fours, which was the logical move to wager upon. So when Bannon claimed the sixes" There was a slight hush in the crowd, save for that biting into the apple, with a grin so borderline wicked, Briar would be proud!! The cup was turned upside down and slammed hard onto the wooden surface of the table, where his hand remained. "Any last bets t'be made before I be raisin' my hand, the first of many things o' mine that will be raised later on this eve!!"

There was no way that boastful upstart was going to win, the odds were not in his favor. So when that cup was raised, there was 2 fours, 1 five, and 2 sixes showing while the final die was still spinning .....Bannon never looked at it once, as he took another bite from the apple, just as the final die came up ....

Six.

There was various roars coming from the crowd. Those that won that side bet, those that lost, which included Olarias who rose from his chair leaning over the table appearing not too happy. "CHEATER!!! There be no way that die should have rolled a six!!!" An arch of the eyebrow, before the half eaten apple was passed over to a serving wench close by, before the focus was returned to the upset rogue that was now wielding a very sharp dagger. "Really now. You want t'go and ruin this whole festive eve, because yer a sore loser" The way you be talkin' about these dice, sort o' makes one think you be doin' some cheatin' yerself .....Bugger."

Witness accounts on what happened next depended upon who you spoke to. No one saw Bannon produce a dagger of his own, that same hand that had been holding the apple he had been eating, which found it's way into the other hand of Olarias, who dropped his own blade in shock/surprise, only to find it not only caught, but the tip of it drawing just enough blood to make a point, in more ways than one. "Any of yer boys feelin' froggy mate, an approaches this table" I'll be givin' ye a wide grin t'die fer. One question. Think carefully. "You be callin' me a cheater?" Holding his free hand out, the apple was returned, and another bite taken from it.

Pride was a dangerous thing, more than one man has died because of it, but not this night, as Olarias growled loud enough for those to hear; "No!! He be winnin' fair an' square!!" With that being taken care of, Bannon leaned back into his chair, letting Olarias get that dagger out of his hand and tending to the wound. He would be fine, nothing major had been cut. Miss Katherine Anders watched from the second level of the tavern, while semi perched upon the railing, nodding her head slowly at the victor, as his gold was collected. The index finger was flex in his direction, a path made to the stairs, along with a few slaps to the back of the victor.

As for the loser, he wasn't too happy about being embarrassed like that, certain steps were made to ensure Bannon didn't leave town alive. Those whispered plans caught the ears/notice of a warrior who was having a tankard of golden ale, with no other concerns beyond just passing through ....