MTG Salvation

Sitting on a cobbled street just barely considered part of the warrens, a large red brick building, three stories high with arched stonework and gorgeous black silk drapes hung in the higher windows. From outside one can always see someone sitting, drinking, dancing or playing cards no matter the time, day or night. Hung above the door is simple wooden sign, five overlapping hearts, black on white.

The Flush of Hearts serves clientele from every corner of Elexia. The renowned bar is a place where anyone can go and enjoy themselves so long as they have a couple of coins to rub together. A range of beverages are available at both ends of the pricing spectrum, similar comments can be made about card games, company and entertainment depending on the night. The place is decked out with solid wooden tables and counters, all lacquered black or a deep red color. One quarter of the ground floor is taken up by a checkered dance floor and a corner stage which supports everything from single bardic performances to burlesque numbers. The opposite end of the Flush hosts the expansive bar, through which is the kitchen. Behind the bar itself are the stairs to the upper rooms, reserved for meetings between valuable customers and appointments with the local entertainers.

Probably the largest draw of the Flush of Hearts is that it is considered neutral ground for every gang in the port city. This allows the rich to get a taste of the warrens without too much risk and gives a place for sensitive negotiations to take place. Any violence in the Flush of Hearts gets you kicked out for the night, a second attempt nets a lifetime ban.

Specialty Drinks
10 Gold - Lore's Remedy - A dash of anchovy sauce, red pepper, a generous amount of brandy and a large egg, this digestive cure-all is so potent it's named after a phoenix. Fun fact! Cures the imbiber of all poisons and instantly erases all their fatigue.

It was early in the afternoon in the Flush of Hearts and the general clientele hadn't yet worked themselves up to the dull roar of the evening. Scattered about the place at various tables are various poker games. In preparation for an upcoming low-stakes tournament, many had decided to brush up on their hold 'em skills.

This included a sekoran dryad by the name of Errol, who somehow wasn't the most flamboyantly dressed person at his table despite his emerald silk jacket and open shirt. As a round finished playing out, the dryad leaned back in his chair, idly flipping a runed bronze coin.

Errol- Boys, boys... are you even trying?

**Alacritas tossed his cards, now at a loss of yet another twenty gold. The outlandish fellow across the table (although it is in fact he who is the outlander, he recalled) made a boast, and the firstseed would have lashed out with a coarse comment had he not clenched his jaw shut. There might have been a glimpse of fierceness in his eyes, but Alec fought to control it. His fervor has brought him enough trouble already.**

**It has been two and a half weeks since his transport made port in Elexia, and the man had been spending the gold he made from the sale of his coat and bracelet at the Flush of Hearts, hoping to increase his wealth enough to purchase a home. But the games played in Elexia were foreign to him, and misfortune led to no fortune, so now he was now left with but a fraction of what he previously held. The man fiddled with a something through the collar of his shirt, his eyes searching the table with disappointment.**

Errol- You never told me where you were from, stranger.

The dryad picked up the deck, quickly performing a faro shuffle and two riffles on the cards. He offered the deck to Alacritas to cut while also signalling to a passing waitress for another drink.

Alacritas - "Very true, I did not."

**He reached for the deck, cutting it nearer to the top. Was he going to play another hand? Too later to wonder, it seems he already is.**

Errol chuckled as he dealt out the cards. Two to Alacritas and three in the center as every hand before it had been dealt.

Flop: Lady of Blades, King of Hearts, 10 of Hearts

Errol- Fair enough, I'll not pry.

**Alec's eyebrow twitched slightly as he analyzed his two cards. He made to pitch a gold coin into the pot, but withdrew his offer before it was cast.**

Errol cast his eye at the withdrawn coin and smirked.

Errol- No?

**Was the stranger teasing him, or trying to reinforce the withdrawal? He seems the bluffer, but still Alacritas could not make much of the man's word. His own inexperience was showing... But he had to do something. He had to demonstrate strength, somehow. The firstseed tossed two coins into the pot. Were they even in a betting round yet? His face turned to a grimace as he realized that he may have just made a joke of himself.**

The smirk became more of a genuine smile as Errol matched Alacritas' 2 gold. He flipped over the next card on the table.

Flop: Lady of Blades, King of Hearts, 10 of Hearts
Turn: Ace of Hearts

**The concern seemed to slip from Alacritas's face somewhat. Another Heart card. "This bodes for me", he thought, hoping he grasped the rules well enough, and glad he didn't botch the entire effort with his gamble.**

The player to the right of Alacritas scratched his nose and tossed in another gold coin. The bet was now to the reluctant adventurer.

**Alacritas three in three gold coins.**

Errol matched his bet, but the other player bowed out. The final card flipped.

Flop: Lady of Blades, King of Hearts, 10 of Hearts
Turn: Ace of Hearts
River: 8 of Cups

Vinny came back with his drink, ready to play in the next hand.

"Arright, whadd'I miss?"

Errol- Pot's to 13, stranger's bet.

"Oh S*** Bro! You gonna let him do that to you? Are you a B**** or somethin'?"

**With each word that Vinny spoke, Alacritas gave him a dirty look. There was something not to like about the man. Alec through in two more coins.**

Vinny didn't notice the dirty looks. Everyone looked at him that way. Eventually he just figured thats the way people look.

*Slurp*

Something seemed to catch the dryad's attention.

Errol- Well, I'm out.

He tossed his hole cards to the center and quickly downed his drink.

"OH SNAP, SON!"

Errol- _{Snap indeed...}

The dryad quickened his pace and met a woman descending the staircase at the back of the Flush. The gentleman she was escorting down the stairs made himself absent as they headed to the upper floor of the establishment.

"Yo, so uh, who's dealin?"

A man with a peacock feather in his hair answers the contemptable man.

Man- Not me, I've lost enough for today.

-----

A fair while later, Errol returned from the upstairs rooms and exited the flush of hearts.

A great deal of time later, Errol returned to the Flush. He headed for the bar and ordered himself a vodka and orange, whilst looking around to see if there were any dark elves visible on the premises.