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Spirit Cloud
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Posini ideally turns around to face the rest of the party. "She's no threat!" Posini chuckles. I'm absolutely flabbergasted by the 180-degree change in tone; what was he even talking about?
Umbra continues
"Shall our venture involve Undem Holdem, SpellStar, or the noble PalPass?"
I raise my hand and resume "Undem Holdem please, unless the Ultanian doesn't wish to play fair?"
Posni looks at me oddly as the cards magically conjure above the table, slam down, and then pass themselves around, dealing our initial hand to our tables. A pot also appears, around 200 Magi-bucks, which are represented by small chips. Everyone starts with around 2000 Magi-bucks initially as chips on the table.
A Genderless voice enters the room: "Posni begins, and the game will then be played counter-clockwise." I carefully examine the previously creepy Posni to see if he has any weaknesses or clear tells. Still, he has no clear expression, at least one that I can't see through his mask.
Posini taps the table. "Raise 100." He then puts his cards down.
Then it's the Ultanian's turn. He looks at his cards and taps his long fingers across the table; after a while, he raises his hand.
"Raise 200."
then it's Alex's turn; he looks at his card and me. And then to his cards and begins to say, "So, what you were saying earlier Hop, Ermmm just so were on the same page, what constitutes a sin? Check"
"Alex! You know! You studied UltriVisc teachings correct?"
The Ultaninian beast flinches upon hearing the word, good riddance.
"Actually, Hop, I didn't. I went to church, but Ultrivsc was more of a thing my Mom went to, y'know? When I was in my rebbilious years, I left and never looked back, know?" Oh, I always thought he was religious. That's odd.
"Alex I-"
Posini glares at me. "There's still a game to play."
Oh, right, shoot! I quickly look at my hand; it's a spade Ace and a King, an excellent hand, and one that fits the flop.
"Call."
And then it's Posini's turn. Posini had been scanning me very intuitively, looking for potential flaws or tells from me. He looked at the table and said, "Check."
However, he resumed speaking to me immediately. "Odd? I never thought you were the religious type? Y'know, with the appearance of your current choice of wear."
I must respond to this: "Just because I wear a crop top and a short skirt doesn't mean I can't respect UltriVisc."
"Yknow, It's always humorous hearing what Religious types constitute as a Sin, always seems to change depending on the person." "Check."
"Well, UltriVisc requires evil to be vanquished, and because of that, the Status Quo and our security must be upheld, lest demons like HIM spawn from our deepest darkest desires."
"Check"
Posini seems to chuckle a blasphemous tune: "It's your turn; funny, you say that; because wasn't the thing about Ultrivisc and Ultaniain's that they were created by two separate goddesses? So an Ultanian being spawned from an Ultrivisc creation seems like an out-of-this-world concept, but please explain further."
I quickly checked the flop; the board seemed to overflow with spades, an easy flush. However, I was lucky to get another ace, so I bet a tad higher and raised 500. Even when making an intense move such as that, Posini does not seem to react, so I continue the conversation despite him clearly being a jester of lesser evils.
"Well, bedding or romancing one of the same gender is not allowed, same as bedding multiple partners, or bedding in private, masturbation is not allowed as it attracts lustful demons, To trust or devote yourself to Ultania, to Bed or romance an Ultanian, to trust an Ultanian, to give to an Ultaninian, Being happy among sinful acts, to lie, to steal, to give into lust, greed, pride, anger, craving, possesivness." "Fold"
"Hmm, seems oddly restrictive to me, and there seems to be some sort of Racial bias in those sins ,hmmmm?" This man doesn't know the danger of demons, despite one trapping us in this school.
"You say that like one hadn't trapped us in this school, and you haven't hold the tales of Ruinrin the Third among other tales of Ultanian ferocity and generalized agression, besides Ultanian's know nothing of structure! They just savage beasts who kill, rape, pillage and commune over their dark mistress!"
The Ultanian seems to stand up from the chair, staring daggers at me; try me, Demon; unlike Magicli, I know I can take you down.
"Thou speakest jestingly, methinks. Thou art unaware of the tribulations we, followers of Ultanian, have endured. Ultanian, originator of cosmic logic, bestowed divine contemplation upon us foremost. Alas, her sister, UltriVisc, did exile Ultinia and unleashed her progeny in a merciless genocide. We, in contrast, have only sought survival. Dost thou, in all sincerity, deem us villains?"
"Personally, I think religion is harmless. However, it's most commonly used by both parties as just an excuse for their actions against each other. Ideologion can be a fickle thing, and that is why we Ultrivisc kill each other, but I'm getting off-topic. Fold."
"You stand here like this Thing isn't an issue! Have you ever had a history lesson what about the time when the Scarf, and the Protector fell to the poison and Ultanian's ruled, don't you know how terrible thier ideology is? What about the TreeNight Massacre among many other strategies by the hand of Ultanian's or Ultanian Followers? How can you trust one to play poker with them?"
The Ultanian seems to be bending closer, his long, outstretched claws clearly visible on the table. "Thou dost assay the limits of my forbearance."
"Perhaps, but I'd much rather trust an Ultanian who follows the teachings of thier god, rather then an Ultrivisc who did the same, besides when religion dosen't cloud your judgment, you'd realize that both are esentially the same thing, thoughts, rules to live by. Personally, those who wish to boss others around are weaker beings outright."
"Hop."
"Oh, and those teachings are Rape as much as you can, as many as you can, go around and tempt the common man, murder hundreds on the street, and destroy everything that we work to maintain your dark godesses favor."
"HOP!"
I'm startled by the absolute hostility regarding Alex's voice; I've heard nothing from him before, the first of many of today.
"Yes Alex?"
"Look, I know you don't really trust Umbra."
"The Demon."
"Umbra, I understand because of how you were raised and our past, but please keep this cordial. We don't want to make enemies in this school already."
I look to the rest of the group, whose eyes are either filled with anger or pity until finally, I stand down.
" Hmm? Oh yes, the game, Umbra?"
"I awaited the cessation of this impertinent garlic partaker's diatribe, but verily, I concede; I fold."
Oh! Does that mean I'm going to win the rest of my pot?
"So, what brought you two to this school? for me it's cause my girlfriend had to just drag me along! Oh right, Raise 100."
"Alex! That's just a Lie! You said, "And we've got nowhere else to be! I'd sign that if I were you! "Don't rope me in as the pure suspect."
My attention is brought back to my cards—another Ace. This is a Full House. Yet I wonder what hand Alex has to keep betting on; it can't be perfect. Otherwise, he wouldn't bet that low. It's Time to scare him out of the pot.
"Well, if I'm guilty, then why did you sign it Hop?"
"All In." "So what where you saying Alex?" His face has already fallen considerably, and my large show spooks him out of his terror.
"You better Fold, Alex,.Hop most likely has a Fourth or Third Value Card,unless you have something that can beat that or compete. It's better to cut your losses there."
How does he keep doing this?
"Well, I'm an Athlete and wish to work in this field full-time. However, no one really goes to standard competitions anymore; everyone just seems interested in magic-based sports nowadays. So, I'd like to learn some skills to get into that space; what about you, strange wizard?"
"Well, I Initially joined since my letter said that this place would be able to teach me magic that most modern institutions go to, with a much smaller community and more reserved space, I care not to disclose further."
"Prithee, 'tis strange thou utterest such words, for within my missive, I did expound upon the prospect of acquiring the lore of Ultanian Magic and UltriVisc Magic sans trepidation or scorn from instructors, and joining a fellowship that would be openly receptive to Untalnians. Alas, it appears this was but one of Magicli's deceptions, was it not?"
It's still Alex's turn, and he's still contemplating his next move
. "This may be an odd question, but what status are you two from? You seem to speak an Old speak that's not uncommon from the High Royalty, and the other looks like... well, he's from some kind of magic apprenticeship?
"AppretencieShip! Hah! Don't make me laugh! I'd say that I live quite modestly, but my skills are much, much greater than your own or ever will be; like I'd said earlier, I could kill all of you in a blink, and you'd never know. Still, there's no reason to escape from here. This place is just a reflection of the outside world."
"Inquisitively, thou dost pose such a query to me. Alas, I hail from noble lineage, bearing the esteemed Vassider name, among the chosen of Satient Ultanian lineage. My existence is devoted to the restoration of honor to our people. Pray, may I inquire of thy own origins?"
I don't know whether I should lie or be honest with such White Tower nobility. I find myself at this table; just as I'm about to respond, Alex breaks his concentration to respond.
"Me and Hop aren't from well.... best of backgrounds, However, it made us into who we are today, and has made it so close. I fold"
Yes! That means I get the pot! money money money money money
I feel so rich now, even if this currency is ultimately meanless; the magician looks at me oddly and then looks to the others
"I think now would be a good time to end this game, Or as compensation me and Hop Resign, I wish to speak with her privately for a moment."
Alex scans him, scanning him for any malicious intent, but then inevitably stops and puts his attention back to Umbra; Posini looks at me. Attempting to muster a smile but instead giving a wide grin.
"Hop if you would; it's a matter that I must discuss urgently, So I'd appreciate your cooperation."
I have a bad feeling about this. Lucky feet, Do I trust him?
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