The High Rollers Cabal

[Trinais]

The shop had an odd name.

'High Rollers'.

For an establishment not in Vegas at least. Most nerds would get the meaning, especially with the twenty-sided dice on the shabby front sign. The front window was plastered over with faded promotional posters for card games, comic books, video games and sci-fi movie advertisements. Through the cracks, one could see a narrow store lined with tables of bagged comic books and a glass case by the register containing valuable trading cards.

All in all, a nice hole in the wall oasis for geekdom.

But certain people, very specific people, would see just a little bit more...

Namely, the beaded curtains in an open doorway at the back wall. Logically, what was beyond that wall was a concrete alley, probably filled with trash and inner city detritus. Instead, through the beaded curtains was a softly lit room, sporting a round card table and a dozen chairs.

The room wasn't completely unoccupied either.

In a padded armchair probably snatched from a goodwill store (as were most of the other mismatched seats) sat a young man in a faded khaki jacket. Dark hair and green eyes peered out from behind a dungeon-master's folder.

"You really want to do this?"

The two players before him, a pair of dark skinned siblings, bared their teeth at Ryan.

"We said so," the younger brother snapped.

"We said so twice," hissed the older sister.

"Kay," Ryan said nonchalantly. In his free hand he twirled a heavy wooden walking stick idly. Ryan considered something for a minute, looking from the brother to the sister, and finally settled on a course of action.

"The bridge starts to shake as your opponent nears. It seems as if there is a small earthquake hitting the island of Manhattan. Suddenly the water beneath the bridge ripples and parts... revealing the Kraken!"

"Oh Bull-f***ing-Sh**!" The brother started to rise, reaching across the table for Ryan's shirt before his sister managed to sit him back down.

"Ryan, the name of the game is subtlety. You can't just drop a Kraken on New York City when we're only level three!"

"Hey, you said you wanted to blow the conch shell. You said so twice. First rule of Wizards and Wands- when the GM asks 'Are you sure?' the safe answer is always 'No.'"

The brother seemed to remember himself, the momentary burst of anger subsiding as he settled back into his chair. Ryan forgave him without a thought. It wasn't the first time the two of them had come close to ripping his throat out and this time it was over something less trivial than before.

"Still Ryan, a Kraken is overkill for level three players. Cut us some slack here."

Ryan leaned forward, opened his mouth- when the bell at the front of the store rang. The door swung open.

The sister looked confused, turning to look out the curtains at the new arrival. "I thought you closed the store for the day?"

"Only to the ones I don't want coming inside. I invited a few specific people to this game tonight. It seems my other players have begun to arrive..."

[Blathers]

Oscar did not enjoy telling a fib to his parents, even if it was just a white lie. He also didn't enjoy making his way through the streets. Oscar spotted abandoned coffee cups, cigarettes, plastic bags... he had to restrain himself from taking the time to clean it all up. He'd never make it on time if he stopped to pick up trash. It was everywhere..

As Oscar approached the shop, he stopped to inspect it. Oscar never considered himself a geek; he didn't have a problem with video games, comic books or anything else associated. But it was never something that he had tried. His parents found it especially strange that he would hang out in such a place, but they were happy he was hanging out with friends. Oscar often was too busy doing something else to hang out with people his age. With a shrug he entered the shop. Maybe he'd like learning more about what 'geeks' are into; he always had an open mind.

Oscar stepped into the shop. The bell made a pleasant sounding ring as he stepped inside. He carefully closed the door behind himself, then turned to see what was in the shop. Many varieties of Comic Books, trading cards and other knick-knacks were placed around the store.
"Hello?" Oscar called, not completely sure that he was at the right spot. There was something about the curtains that caught his attention. Oscar glanced over the room quickly once more to assure himself that there was no one around before he made his way to the beaded curtains. It probably led to some dingy alleyway, but maybe..

[HiddenBeauty13]

"Where are you headed to now?" Aoi's mother asked curiously as she watched her daughter head to the door. She was used to Aoi going out to relax in her mini hut behind their house but she always asked to where she was going. Just to be on the safe side. "Into town." Aoi replied with a smile and secretly fingered the map in her pocket. This evening would definately be interesting. "Oh, well, okay. Do you have enough money to catch the train?" Their family lived a bit far from the city and they only had one car. "Yes and I have a little extra to get something to eat as well." Aoi added with a smile and the older women nodded before shooing her daughter out the door. "Well don't let me keep you waiting! Go have fun....but don't come back too late or I'll be forced to ground ya!."

The walk to the train station was uneventful but, once she was actually on the train, Aoi eagerly pulled out the map, looking it over to make sure she knew exactly where she was going once she got off the train. She didn't have time to be getting lost. This guy better be interesting and an actual magician or he'll be paying for my dinner tonight. She thought, even though she had a feeling that this guy was the real deal. The girl was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the few people staring at her weirdly. Apparently they don't see excited teenagers looking at maps on trains anymore.

Twenty minutes later, her train ride was over and Aoi got up and exited the train. When she looked down at her phone, she groaned; she only had about five minutes to get to the place or she'd be late. The girl pulled up the navigator on her phone and put in the address. Once her route was up, she quickly ran down the various streets, nearly running over random pedestrians on her way there, until she was standing in front of the designated building. Aoi cautiously took a step forward; the place looked empty, but she had a feeling that it wasn't. Still, this better not be a set up...she knew kung fu...kinda...

After checking her map to make sure that this was the right place, Aoi headed up the stairs to the sedond floor where Ryan was supposed to be. Why did she even come here, was her first thought. The city wasn't exactly the place for her, especially a place that offered 'magical abilites' or some crap like that but still, her curiosity over powered her. Once she was in front of the door, Aoi hesitantly opened the door, making the little bell ring. She had heard it a few minutes before so she assumed someone else was here besides herself as well. "Uhm, hello?" she called and was surprised to see that four people were there already doing who knows what. "Uh...is this a bad time or something?"

[AkiBlue]

"Alright mom, I'll be back before the day is over with." Having no specific times, Ace wasn't going to lie and say shed be home ASAP. Even though she was lying about going to the comic store. Ace slipped her baseball cap on, backwards of course and walked out the house. Earlier that day, Ace had asked her parents to go to the comic store because there was a signing going on and all of her friends would be there. Sometimes elaborating on the lie would be better and less questionable- although the lie work, the real reason was pretty crazy itself. To figure out who this Ryan the magician- wizard- was. At first Ace was going to pass up the opportunity, but the questions of how on Earth did she get the card? How in the world did the card burn like that? And other questions peeked her curiosity.

It made the situation even more interesting seeing that she never tried magic before. Ace read about it in all of her little stories, but never once thought it to exist. Now was her chance to find out. The subway ride was quiet, and thankfully fast. With her skateboard tucked under her, she quickly exited the train station. Down the sidewalk she winded, past walkers, stores, and everything else she wasn't interested in. Ace had one goal in mind, and that was clear on the map she carried. That was probably the reason she was getting yelled at by strangers. Skilled at skateboarding, she was able to weave through people- but not everyone knew that so they'd get antsy or yell threats, or simply: "Watch where you're going dammit!"

Arriving at her destination, Ace realized that the hair salon was one of the thousand places she was told she should get her hair done and every time said No. It looked as though the place was empty inside and out despite it being a comic book store. Ace carefully pushed the door open as though something would jump out at her. "Hello?" She said in a sing song voice and lifted her skateboard. "Anyone home?" It seemed that there were a few people there already. "Oh~ am I interrupting something?"

[nonsequitur]

Cinnamon glanced at the clock in her room. She had twenty minutes to get to the High Roller; and her violin lesson only started at 7.30. The store was only fifteen minutes away from her music class by bus. She'd be able to make it.

She dropped the pile of ash in her dustbin, throwing some used paper on top to hide it. Then she packed her violin into its case and walked to the living room, grabbing her plastic folder of sheet music. Her mother looked at her in surprise.

"You're going so early?"

"I'm meeting some people from school at the High Roller," she replied. "They're playing a tabletop game and it sounded interesting. I thought I could go for violin class afterwards."

This was partly true, she supposed. Ryan had been at her school. And it definitely sounded interesting.

"Well, as long as you're with friends..." Her mother looked uncertain. For all her mother's emphasis on studies, she was surprisingly concerned about Cinnamon's social life. "Don't be late for class," her mother said eventually.

"I won't," Cinnamon promised, and with that she was out the door.

She wasn't very familiar with the place, and she followed the map carefully, stopping at every intersection to check it. Eventually she arrived at the front of the building. She checked her watch: two minutes left.

There were a few people inside, but none of them looked like Ryan. After a few seconds, Cinnamon shrugged and pushed open the door. She needed to put her violin down anyway.

The door opened with a soft tinkle. She noticed a beaded curtain to her left, which probably led to the game area. No wonder she hadn't seen him.

She pushed aside the curtain. There were a few people already inside, though she was slightly disappointed that no one seemed to be from her school.

She smiled at them pleasantly. "Mind if I put my violin here?"

[Trinais]

Ryan glanced over at the three newcomers in the doorway, ignoring the twins for the moment.

Aoi. Cinnamon, Ace and Oscar. So a few of them had taken the bait. As a general insurance policy he'd invited a dozen potential... partners to join in this venture, fully expecting only a few to take him seriously. After all, he could always wipe the minds of any extra students right away if he needed to. Thankfully, he was going to be spared such a messy process tonight.

"Welcome friends-"

"Hey," the boy grunted. "We're not done here, Ryan!"

Ryan clapped his hands briefly, cradling his staff in the crook of his arms. Four of the chairs shifted and pulled back, as though by phantom waiters at a high end establishment. Though the room screamed "backwoods trailer" than four star establishment. The dice shuffled across the table, the DM folder collapsed on itself, and the lights shifted from bright fluorescent to a soft yellow shade.

"Welcome guests, friends, and hopefully future colleagues! I'm so glad to see you all saw fit to accept my invitation." Ryan took his time guiding each of the newcomers to a seat, arranging the four of them around the table with himself at the head between Oscar and Aoi facing Cinnamon and Ace. The siblings were left standing at the doorway, looking flustered and not at all happy with being ignored. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Ryan Black. Some of you may have met me for the first time yesterday. Or you think you may have met me for the first time. I assure you, we've each crossed paths a few times in the city in the past few months. I've been watching you all, studying each of you, wondering about what makes you all tick." Ryan paused, running a finger over his chin. "Well, that sounds creepier than it actually was. See, what I have to offer each and every one of you is something that is not to be given lightly. I've taken on apprentices in the past, and have prided myself on keeping them on the right path. I would like to do the same with each of you, as you have given me cause to believe that within each of you is-"

"RYAN!"

The wizard huffed and rolled his eyes at the four newcomers, offering a silent apology to his guests before returning to the matter of the siblings standing behind him.

"Yes, Aaron?"

"You know the rules! We need to finish this encounter before Shelley and I leave."

"Do we? Are you sure?"

"Yes! You were going to replace the Kraken with something else."

"As I recall-"

"You recall incorrectly," Shelley said icily.

Ryan scooped up a pair of twenty-sided dice and tossed one to each of the siblings.

"Fine. I'll get rid of the Kraken. One last fight then I get to entertain my new guests. 'The kraken vanishes into the mists,'" Ryan said, clearing his throat before dropping his voice an octave. "'But the mists remain, rising to cover the George Washington Bridge. In the distance you hear the clattering of hooves.'"

"What, the headless horseman in Manhattan?"

"'From the mists rides a pale horse. And the rider which sits on it is Death. Horseman of the Apocalypse- and level 90.'"

The two siblings blinked once each at the wizard.

"YOU SONAFABITCH!"

Quick as thunderbolt the table went flying, upended to the side as the twins lunged for Ryan. Between one blink and the next, they were changed. No longer a pair of dusky skinned twin teenagers, now the things which held Ryan in their grips were altogether more... lupine.

"I... asked if you were... sure!"

"Do not test a wolf so soon after the full moon, wizard!"

"My... guests... I claim... pack-right!"

The pair of wolves snarled, looked to one another for a minute, and dropped Ryan.

"I won't be giving you any more free mani-pedis," Shelley said as she and her brother slid toward the back door. Their fur rippled and hifted, claws retracted and muscles disappeared until the twins stood in the back exit.

"Piece of advice," Aaron said to the assembled foursome. "If he's doing what I think he's doing with you all, be mindful. He's as slick as he is fun. If you feel like you're getting in deep... walk away."

The door shut behind them and Ryan stood, gathering up his oakwood staff an dusting off his clothing gracefully despite the purple bruises around his neck and the cuts across his left cheek.

"Well, now that you've met some of my neighbors, perhaps we should get acquainted with each other while we put my parlor back in order?"

[Blathers]

Oscar watched the twin wolves leave with a somewhat shocked expression. When the two were out of sight, he wordlessly shifted his gaze from the now empty exit to Ryan. Oscar didn't necessarily believe in Ryan's wizardry act; he thought it was probably a front to attract players to his table top game. But seeing two seemingly normal teenagers transform into werewolves in front of his eyes had a tendency to put things into perspective. So, werewolves must exist then. Oscar remembered their warning about Ryan's conduct. He really did not know what to make of it..

If Oscar learned anything, it was to be careful around people who could turn to fierce wolves at a moment's notice. It took a moment for Oscar to find his voice.

"Are... well... wolf people known to loose their temper like that?" Oscar asked as he lifted himself out of his chair to help with the cleanup. He worked to right the flipped table, but as he tried to lift it Oscar's attention was brought to Ryan's eye. It didn't look like it was in good shape.
"It looks like your eye is swelling a little bit. I could get a wet cloth and some ice if you'd like..." Oscar offered. He didn't enjoy seeing people in pain. Even if those people went from being odd in a social way to being odd in a supernatural way.

[HiddenBeauty13]

So this wasn't a set up... Aoi thought as she listened to Ryan greet them. He seemed nice enough, she assumed for now. Then, when he made the chairs move without even touching them, she almost gaped at him. Now that was some real deal magic. After taking a seat, Aoi listened to Ryan explain that he'd been 'examining' them or something. As long as he didn't know her bra size or something then she wasn't too bothered by the fact. She would 'examine' her favorite celeberity crush if she had the chance to.

Aoi then watched quietly as a particularly violent scene played out in front of her. The werewolves, which she had no clue they existed, got so close that they nearly knocked over her chair! It was only after they left did she actually decided to return to the over turned table.

"Well, that was pleasant..." she said with a hint of sarcasm and decided to flip the table over since the other guy changed his mind about doing it himself. Once done, she took a look at Ryan. They'd banged him up pretty bad and they only held onto him for now more than ten seconds. Whatever he did to piss him off, I hope I don't accidently encounter them and do it too...I actually like my non-bruised skin. Aoi thought with a slight frown and then agreed with the guy on the other side of Ryan. "Yeah...they attacked you pretty badly...Maybe you should patch that up first and then introduce ourselves." She suggested.

[AkiBlue]

Ace leaned against a wall only glancing at the others. So this magician invited more than just one person. She adjusted the baseball cap she wore and nodded her greeting. "Some place." With her skateboard on hand, Ace walked over to the chairs. When she was given a seat, she gave a subtle nod to the girl who sat next to her before resting her head in her hands and listened to this Ryan character. Her skateboard was tucked between her legs while Ryan possibly scared them off at the mention of "studying them."

"That's not weird at all." Ace mumbled but continued listening. She wasn't going to get scared off so easily- besides, she told her parents she was going out...might as well make the best of it. Then things got weird.
Those twins from before got upset over Krackens? And in New York?
Ace raised a curious eyebrow watching the three.

"Whoa."

Now, Ace was sitting up and wide eyed. There was no way, two twins could transform into wolves like that. "This is surreal. But oddly cool." The wolves didn't attack her, therefore interesting.

Yet, just as fast as it started, the twins were out the door and Ryan was now bruised and beaten. "This should be interesting."

[nonsequitur]

Cinnamon looked on in amazement as the lights changed and the chairs moved by themselves. She placed her violin case below her chair and sat down, nodding to the girl next to her in acknowledgement. There was one other girl and a boy, but none of them seemed to be from her school.

She wasn't sure how Ryan could have gotten so much information on them from occasionally crossing paths, but she didn't mind. Just as long as he hadn't broken into her house.

She stifled a laugh as Ryan summoned a level 90 enemy for the two siblings who were evidently nowhere near that. Her amusement quickly turned into shock when they turned into wolves.

Cinnamon had never been particularly interested in fantasy. Her mother disliked it, saying that none of it was real. Her father didn't care either way. Still, she'd read enough to know about wizards and vampires... and werewolves.

How did they transform anyway? It had happened far too fast for her to catch the details. She hoped she could find out some day. Without getting bitten, of course.

She tidied up some of the items which had been sent flying in the struggle. Ryan didn't look too good. The werewolves must've bitten him a lot harder than it looked. The other boy was already taking care of it, so she relaxed slightly.

"Uh... do they do that a lot?"