DancesWMonsters

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

"Well, it's a gamble either way." Samuel nodded in agreement as Marcelin laid out the possibilities ahead of them. "It's always a good idea to know the players across the table before 'dealing in'." The Gambler checked on the beast warrior as the healing magics took hold, trying to assess his recovery. "What can you tell us about the ones than ambushed you? Thieves, Casters, warriors? If we're going to even the odds against us, we need to know what and who we're dealing with...”
Not that they'd been exactly strategizing or using solid party tactics up to this point, but facing dual enemy forces calls for a modicum of teamwork a notch above.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Not wanting to waste a moment and wagering that he wouldn't be walking into immediate danger, Samuel rushed to the injured wolf-warrior. "Not sure I can do much, but lay still and I'll do what I can..." The Gambler had it admit things looked bad with the stone spear piercing the warrior's armor but luck had a way of making things look worse than they really were...and that's where Samuel's magic shined. "What happened to you?" he thought keeping the warrior's mind occupied on the here & now might help keep him conscious. At least that's how it always worked on TV back home on Earth.

Actions:
1) Move : to the warrior's side.
2) Draw Two : use Healing | F | on the warrior.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

"Where I'm from there's a saying: 'Dont count your winnings til the dealing's done'..." Samuel cautioned. "There's likely to be more an' worse around here before we hit the final floors." He turned to Clarisse as he looked for the odd sounds scratching around, "The parchment said to clear the first four floors, was it? How far down are we now, you reckon?"
As if to answer Marcelin's question, Samuel nodded his head negatively about possessing holy magic. "No Holy Magic for me and the only Miracles I have access to are the one I make myself."

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Having thrown off the skeleton fusiliers' regimented fire, Samuel took the opportunity to move forward and avail himself of the cover offered by the opposite side of the riflemen's first barricade.
He figured he might as well use the time to move up and put more of his opponent in range of his magic. Being a self-taught mage he hadn't mastered the ability to move and cast like more formally trained magic users like Clarisse.
During his mad dash to cover, he took the opportunity to scope out the riflemen more closely.

Actions:
1) Move
-run towards the lee side of the riflemen's barricade and take cover. He'll take another Move if it takes that much to cover the distance.

2) **Spotting A Tell**
Appraisal F + Insight F

Hucksters are adept at sussing out clues as to their opponent's weaknesses, flaws and hidden strengths.

*Grade: F Cooldown: 1*

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Caution proved the correct response even though gamblers seldom 'played it safe'. "At least it wasn't a Crossfire..." Samuel quipped over the crack of the undead riflemen's fusillade. "Let's double down and call. See if I can throw a wildcard into the mix to break their rhythm..."
Samuel called on his magic to reinforce the protection his Hedge Your Bets extended to the party and followed up with a little something for his skeletal opponents.

Actions#
1) Recast Hedge, adding Magic Duration F, onto the Party.

**Hedge Your Bets**
Barrier E + Magic E + Magic Range F + Magic Targets F + Magic Duration F + Skill Loan F [Resist: Full Physical F]

One of the Huckster's core abilities, *Hedge Your Bets* functions as damage mitigation for their party members.
Samuel may choose up to 5 individual targets, including himself, in a 30 foot range to be the recipient of Barrier & Resist: Full Physical that may soak a limited amount of damage. The Barrier appears as a number of swirling cards surrounding their target; the number of cards decreases as the Barrier soaks damage, extending its protective magic.
*Effect: 7 HP*
*Grade: E Cool down: 1* (Duration F: 1 hour)

2) Hit the visible row of skeletons with Reshuffle to throw off the timing of their rifle fire.
**Reshuffle**
Magic F + Magic Range F + Enervation F + Magic Targets F

Targets of *Reshuffle* suffer a jarring inability to access certain actions, skills and abilities while under the effects of this Spell.

Grade: F, Actions: 1 Cooldown: 0

3) Defend with Block Action (if necessary).

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

"I'd leave the 'nearly getting eaten' but in." Samuel replied as Kain lifted the bracing and freed the door. "Makes the reversal and triumph all the more heroic." His deadpan delivery made it difficult to distinguish whether it was sarcasm or sincere. "Let's leave it up to Marcelin. He's the storyteller after all..."
The Gambler took his position at the rear of the party and readied his response, should the door contain any dangers.

Actions:
1) Prepare response:
ready to use 'Hedge Your Bets' to shield anyone that might need it.

2) Observe:
Try to see past the door to what lies beyond.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

Samuel hid a smirk at Kain's overly enthusiastic rush into the dark corridor as he doffed his hat and stowed it away. It made him wonder whether the ersatz 'god' was sent to this mortal realm to learn a bit of humility...the hard way. If Kain were to leave a story behind, probably via Marcelin, it would just as likely be a cautionary tale as it would one of adventure.
With the golden scaled god entering the corridor, Samuel followed cautiously observing the blue litten runes and the hallway itself for dangers. It occurred to him that learning by experience might not be the best way to approach adventuring and perhaps visiting an academy might not be the worst way to pick up the knowledge he'd need to avoid getting killed.
For now, though, he concentrated on what he already knew about not getting killed and examined the corridor for the likelihood of traps or other unpleasant surprises whom ( or what) ever made this place.

Actions:
1) Follow Kain cautiously and at a distance.

2) Look for traps or surprises:
Insight F

3) Block (if necessary):
Barrier E + Resist: Physical F

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

"Coin comes and goes, ebbing and flowing like the tides." Samuel offered nonchalantly. "No doubt someone might want the left-behinds of such a creature. Academic wizards love to poke and prod at things. Clarisse might know more about the mercantile virtues of such things."
The Gambler shuffled the magic cards in his hand in reactionary anticipation as the bard elbowed the button. In places like dungeons, anything could result from exploring uncautiously.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

"That was a serious gamble to go All-In, Mister Kain." Samuel offered, staying in place in case he needed to cast again. "Always consider the cards you're dealt and those your opponents might hold before you stake your bet." The adventuring life was a bit new to Samuel, being far more comfortable at a felt covered table in a nice safe Inn or tavern, but so far his insights from the game table were serving him well.
Kain struck at the ailing polymorphic monster with vengeance but what pulled the gambler's attention were the unexplored, shadowed corners and the mysterious button. "Clarisse, could you shed some light on those corners? In case anything might be hidden there?” The Noble had an element of light to her magics, perhaps she wouldn't take too much offense to being asked to be a flashlight.

Actions:
1) Stay on Alert
-prepare to Dodge or Block with 'Hedge Your Bets' (if necessary)
2) Read the Room
Insight F
-observe the shadowed parts of the room illuminated by Kain's divine lightning blast.

[IH] Great Northern Dungeon Early Floor Arc

"Yep." Samuel shook his head with a wry grin. "There it is. Knew there was something amiss about this room. Guess we should've brought a 10 foot pole after all..." Despite his mirth, he didn't intend on letting their only fighter go down due to the lusts of some overly ambitious furniture.
Standing his ground, the Gambler fanned cards in his hands and launched them to aid his teammates. First, to strike the malicious mimics then to salve any wounds the monsters inflicted on Kain.

ACTIONS:

1) Scaling
Magic F + Magic Targets F + Magic Range F + Enervate F
Scaling is the art of card throwing; in Samuel's case, the magical cards carry a heavier hit. He may choose up to five (5) targets within a 30 ft range to target with disruptive, damaging magic.

Grade: F Cooldown: 0

-targeting both Mimics

2) Draw Two
Healing F + Magic E + Magic Range F + Magic Targets F
Calling upon the power of Chance and Fate, the Huckster can reveal that injuries or illnesses were not as bad as initially surmised.
Samuel may choose up to five targets within 30 feet of him to receive the benefits of Healing | F |.

*Grade: E Cooldown: 1*

- targeting Kain