[2] You can't find anyone willing to sell you a good-quality horse. [2] And the Guard happens to be quite vigilant right about now, so the horses are nigh-impossible to steal now. [5] What you can't seem to do with horses however, you do with the tailors, getting a very exquisite outfit freshly made. It costs two Florins however.
[4] Despite the lack of a horse, you make good time to the Talaca/Epicea border, arriving at a border inn on Talaca's side of it.
[6] Heading inside, you find that there a several very wealthy patrons here gambling. Unfortunately, they got the money by gambling. Worse, they call you over due to your fine clothes, thinking that you're a merchant or a low-ranked noble. And the really bad news? They're con-artists. Atleast you'll know they'll cheat. (The gamblers will get a +1 bonus due to them cheating)
(Curses! So much for a low profile outfit...)
Roderigo sat down at the table, nodding to the other players as the dealer shuffled the cards. He signalled to the waitress and called for... for... a bottle of their best red wine, and glasses to share it around with all his new friends. That should do it.
Dear God, I look like some banker's second son. Might be able to play into that - let's be generous and play the idiot for now. Alright, let's take a look at them. Frock coat, spectacles, lined wallet, monogrammed, handkerchief also monogrammed. Banker. Travel coat, but fashionable, boots suitable for riding, has a rapier - very fine scrollwork on the guard - and a feather in his hat. Noble, probably can't use the sword. Clothes a couple of seasons behind but still rich, ink stains on his fingers but solid, practical walking boots. Wears a decent gold chain, guild mark on it. Merchant, probably.
Roderigo received the bottle and poured a bit of wine into his own glass, then a fair amount more into the glasses for the other players. He peeked at the hand he was given; weaker than Talaccan architecture. And just those faint little creases on the edge of two of the cards, to boot. He flicked his eye at the other players' hands, looking for similar marks on those cards.
Let's take a second look. Frock coat is worn around the neck, wrists, enough that someone this concerned with his appearance would have fixed it by now. Monogram on wallet different to monogram on handkerchief. Not a banker, inherits others' possessions. Pawnbroker? Travel coat fashionable but mud-marked, same for boots - still traces where it's been inexpertly wiped away. Rapier kept sharp and in good condition, but marks on edge of blade show where the sharpening stone's been used. Warning! Not a noble, possibly condottierri.
Does know how to use that thing. Go for him first in a fight. Not much out of place on the merchant, but - got it. Shirt a little too loose, trousers short an inch. If he travelled that much, he'd be damn sure to get comfortable clothes. So, forger perhaps? Would explain the ink. Might just be part of the look.
Doesn't matter. All of them are in this together, and the dealer's with them. Not a game I can win honestly. Cards are marked, not sure what all the marks mean. They'll probably let me win the first two or three rounds to get my confidence up, so they'll fold even though they know I have weak hands - let me feel I can bluff. Use the opportunity to palm the better cards, then. Once I'm secure, they'll ramp up the bets and play harder, knowing I can't match them, either bank on me folding or showing and losing. Play them at their own game, then - wait until the tipping point and then cheat the hell out of them.
Roderigo looked up from his hand and gave the honest, open smile of a true mark to his new friends. Three equally honest, open smiles flashed back.
This must be what marks feel like...
Gamble using a mix of florins to start with and then moving to the hot jewellery.
Don't drink much wine myself, but keep plying my opponents with it. Might be a touch expensive, but it's important to impair their judgement. Act more drunk than I am.
Take the first few hands I'm likely "given", count cards and palm the best from my hand when I'm returning the hands to the deck. When the game steps up, use the palmed cards to cheat, especially if I've worked out the card order by then.
If I'm lucky/duplicitous enough, take them for everything they have. Then get a horse if one's available and don't stay the night. In either case, head straight over the border to the next inn and walk/ride all night if I have to. Wash my bloodied clothes when I'm there and get some sleep in a locked room with lockable windows. Sleep with the axe under my pillow.
If it comes to a fight, go for the best armed first and then polish off the others. I'm still technically in Talacca, so adding to my rap sheet probably doesn't hurt - I'm already due for a hanging no matter what.3f
20f in highly fungible loot
concealed short-handled axe
(Bonus rolls to axe use.)