On the main street of Ghost City was a large building—it said Gambler’s Den in a language you likely couldn’t read, but for some reason you understood. Everyone around you could be understood as well. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising, given the otherworldly nature of this place.
It was a multistory building, and it was absolutely palatial. If it were more narrow one could have mistaken it for a pagoda. It was much too large and far too sinister for that, though. Either way, it was a gorgeous building painted red, and might be considered elegant if it weren’t for the fact it was adorned with garish and illegible calligraphy. The magical translation spell wasn’t helping, that’s how terrible it was.
Either way, you approached the building only to be met with a beautiful young woman.
She would inform you that you did not require currency to play—that the stakes were high, and most gambled with their life, or other things or value either concrete or otherwise.
If you did not wish to gamble, there was still a bar, a restaurant as well as private seating areas. A few rooms could be rented to stay the night, though it was questionable on whether that was a good idea.
You were also informed that staff often wore white laughing masks, and if you needed assistance, you could go to one of them.
Once inside, you could see a large gambling table with bamboo shakers and lots of dice. Towards the back was a large throne obscured by curtains, and it was difficult to tell at first glance whether or not it was occupied.
It was a multistory building, and it was absolutely palatial. If it were more narrow one could have mistaken it for a pagoda. It was much too large and far too sinister for that, though. Either way, it was a gorgeous building painted red, and might be considered elegant if it weren’t for the fact it was adorned with garish and illegible calligraphy. The magical translation spell wasn’t helping, that’s how terrible it was.
Either way, you approached the building only to be met with a beautiful young woman.
She would inform you that you did not require currency to play—that the stakes were high, and most gambled with their life, or other things or value either concrete or otherwise.
If you did not wish to gamble, there was still a bar, a restaurant as well as private seating areas. A few rooms could be rented to stay the night, though it was questionable on whether that was a good idea.
You were also informed that staff often wore white laughing masks, and if you needed assistance, you could go to one of them.
Once inside, you could see a large gambling table with bamboo shakers and lots of dice. Towards the back was a large throne obscured by curtains, and it was difficult to tell at first glance whether or not it was occupied.
Mother Maria was a giant woman and a renowned fashion designer. Red eyeshadow was lightly dusted on her eye lids. Tonight, she decided to wear her newest design, a teal dress with lotus flower being the star of the dress and gold accessories. She blew smoke from her pipe with her hands perfectly posed to show off her claw-like fingernail guards. The smoke smelled rather sweet than the usual tobacco smoke surrounding her. Mother Maria wore a jaded poker face with a slight smirk every time she had a winning amount of dice.
The sight of the celebrity caught the Chengzhu’s attention. His dark eyes gleamed as he looked over her, taking in the luxurious threads and what was absolutely the pinnacle of fashion. If there was a belle of the ball, today it was Mother Maria.
He gestured towards the croupier—a serious looking woman. She glanced back at her master, and strode over towards the designer.
“Excuse me, our Chengzhu would like to know if you’re interested in betting against him this evening. If you lose, he wishes for you to design something for him. You’re free to name the winning terms,” she explained.
She watched the croupier strode over to her. Mother Maria smirked over the thought of a person looking for business unlike the fools who try so desperately to win their possessions back. “Excuse me, our Chengzhu would like to know if you’re interested in betting against him this evening. If you lose, he wishes for you to design something for him. You’re free to name the winning terms.” The woman explained to her. Mother Maria looked around for their Chengzu like a predator amongst grass blades. She finally caught sight of him and took a drag out of her pipe. The smoke surrounded around her like clouds.
The Chengzu was obviously a powerful man in this place. Her eyes scanned over his attire for the evening carefully then smiled again. The man clearly knew how to dress amongst the ghosts she gambled with. She briefly thought of her possible reward. "I would delighted to bet against him. May I speak to him briefly?" She spoke like a baroness with softness yet confidence in every word.
The Chengzu was obviously a powerful man in this place. Her eyes scanned over his attire for the evening carefully then smiled again. The man clearly knew how to dress amongst the ghosts she gambled with. She briefly thought of her possible reward. "I would delighted to bet against him. May I speak to him briefly?" She spoke like a baroness with softness yet confidence in every word.
The croupier nodded, and held her arm out towards the curtained seating area. “After you.”
The dark-haired man sat regally upon his throne, looking down upon the patrons from the elevated position.
It was up to Mother Maria whether she wished to ascend the stairs to speak closer with him, otherwise he was more than capable of projecting himself at a distance.
“It’s an honor to have such an esteemed guest in Ghost City~” Hua Cheng spoke in a similarly regal tone—a baron to her baroness.
The dark-haired man sat regally upon his throne, looking down upon the patrons from the elevated position.
It was up to Mother Maria whether she wished to ascend the stairs to speak closer with him, otherwise he was more than capable of projecting himself at a distance.
“It’s an honor to have such an esteemed guest in Ghost City~” Hua Cheng spoke in a similarly regal tone—a baron to her baroness.
Blanche knew this was a bad idea, and Yung did too, but unlike Blanche, Yung Din was going through with it.
"I'm not coming in with you, Yung.." Blanche said in a soft voice, barely above a whisper. "Why, are y' scared?" Yung Din grinned a sharp tooth smile. "No!" Blanche frowned, "Then com'on, not-a-coward!" Yung Din tugged on Blanche's wrist.
The two boys made their way to the Gambler's Den, and Yung Din's eyes widened with amazement as he looked up at the large building. "Should I sneak in or try to bribe the woman at the door?" Yung Din asked Blanche.
"Uhm, I don't know.." Blanche wanted nothing to do with this. "I'll sneak in then!" Yung Din gave a mischievous smirk and then attempted to quietly sneak past the woman, and succeeded, at least briefly, getting a few steps into the den.
His eyes widened bigger at the sight, and looked like a kid in a candy store.
Blanche awkwardly stood outside, waiting anxiously for him to come back and say it was a bad idea.
"I'm not coming in with you, Yung.." Blanche said in a soft voice, barely above a whisper. "Why, are y' scared?" Yung Din grinned a sharp tooth smile. "No!" Blanche frowned, "Then com'on, not-a-coward!" Yung Din tugged on Blanche's wrist.
The two boys made their way to the Gambler's Den, and Yung Din's eyes widened with amazement as he looked up at the large building. "Should I sneak in or try to bribe the woman at the door?" Yung Din asked Blanche.
"Uhm, I don't know.." Blanche wanted nothing to do with this. "I'll sneak in then!" Yung Din gave a mischievous smirk and then attempted to quietly sneak past the woman, and succeeded, at least briefly, getting a few steps into the den.
His eyes widened bigger at the sight, and looked like a kid in a candy store.
Blanche awkwardly stood outside, waiting anxiously for him to come back and say it was a bad idea.