The Thirsty Croupier: Difference between revisions
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{{Character | {{spoiler}}{{Character | ||
|image1 = Thirstycroupier.png | |image1 = <gallery> | ||
Croupier Poster.png|Poster | |||
Thirstycroupier.png|Icon | |||
</gallery> | |||
|location = [[London]] | |location = [[London]] | ||
|allegiance = [[The Dilmun Club]] | |allegiance = [[The Dilmun Club]] | ||
}}<blockquote>''"The Thirsty Croupier lays out a tarot card. "Sometimes the cards are esoteric. Sometimes they're not. Looks like you, doesn't it? And here you are.""''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | }}<blockquote>''"The Thirsty Croupier lays out a tarot card. "Sometimes the cards are esoteric. Sometimes they're not. Looks like you, doesn't it? And here you are.""''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
''' | '''The Thirsty Croupier''' is a mystic specializing in card readings, he is the greatest tarot reader in London — bar none.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Amongst the Fifth City's discerning mystics, only one gentleman has a reputation for 'getting it right' with anything resembling consistency, and that gentleman doesn't entertain the public."''</ref> His skill isn't limited to the cards; he has spies to gather information,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Jumping to conclusions is my specialty," says the Croupier. "I typically land on two feet. But I'll admit I have other sources. The cards are just confirmation. The Year of the Serpent is legendary. At least, it was – until this week. Communiqués intercepted by the Khaganian Ambassador's mistress confirm that the vintage is real. [...] The Khanate is starting to move. She's indebted, by the way. His mistress. Can't bluff. Shouldn't gamble. I tell her every Thursday. Good thing she doesn't listen."''</ref> and his deck shifts with each reading.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}} ''"Not every deck's the same," says the Thirsty Croupier. "My deck isn't always the same. [...]"''</ref> The visions granted by his nearly endless supply of Hesperian Cider only enhance his insights.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Look around. Life is preposterous. But I should explain: I only see so clearly because the Garden is involved. It fills my thoughts. It runs through my veins. The world is always tinged with gold. I smell it, hear it,'' taste ''it all the time."''</ref> | ||
He is never without a drink of Hesperian Cider,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Never without a beverage at his elbow, the Thirsty Croupier shuffles and cuts cards."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"He takes another sip, swirling the golden liquid in his glass. It's not champagne. Now you can smell it too: nectar, honey, ambrosia. A fragrant wind blows through the room. The flames in the fireplace leap higher, lively and bright."''</ref> having amassed a prodigious cellar of the stuff<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Cheers. Aren't many like us, eh? The Bazaar is too pricey. After two or three firkins, believe me, it starts to add up. But I've got a deep cellar – if you run out. Always happy to supply a fellow member of the Dilmun Club. We've got to help each other, am I right?"''</ref> from his days as a croupier for the game played on the Elder Continent in the College of Mortality—the game that inspired the Marvellous.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"There's a little game you might've heard about. The Marvellous. Did you know it was invented in the Presbyterate? Listen to the Masters, and you'd think they created it. Here's some advice: don't trust the Masters. They'll never admit that they stole its bones from a much older game. Seven players. Bluff and chance. The College of Mortality didn't call it The Marvellous or host tournaments, but the stakes were high. So were the tips."''</ref> This experience left him with deep knowledge of the game,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Consult_the_Thirsty_Croupier Consult the Thirsty Croupier, ''Fallen London''] ''"His knowledge of The Marvellous is deep, subtle, secret. He would be happy to discuss its origins over a game of poker – if you'll contribute to the pot."''</ref> though his strategies may not apply anymore.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Consult_the_Thirsty_Croupier Consult the Thirsty Croupier, ''Fallen London''] ''"Strategies from Nidah don't apply to the game anymore," the Thirsty Croupier continues, ignoring the traditional outburst. "Too many rules have changed. But I wouldn't invite Death to place a wager again. That's just me."''</ref> His reliance on Cider has turned into an addiction. Without it, withdrawal sets in.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Cider doesn't last forever. Only as long as your liver permits. Then you have to drink more. Keep it up, and a person can develop a dependence." He pours himself another glass. "Trust me, the withdrawal isn't fun."''</ref> | |||
The Thirsty Croupier resides in a modest yet clearly wealthy<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"What a charming façade! The windows glow warmly. Smoke puffs from a stout brick chimney. The pavement is well-swept, the hedges neatly trimmed (and'' ''green), and the doorknocker polished to an impeccable brass sheen. Despite its modest size, this townhouse must be worth a small fortune – or perhaps a large one."''</ref> townhouse on Ladybones Road.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Scrawled on the reverse side, there's a note: Found you in a reading. You'll want to hear about this. There's also an address on Ladybones Road. Quite a respectable address."''</ref> There, he hosts card games with fellow mystics and poker players of the Neath.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"Tapestries from Vesture cover the walls. Khaganian carpets line the halls. You're escorted through sitting-rooms and parlours filled with velvet couches, beaded curtains, urns, antiques, potted plants and cut flowers, taxidermy ranging from the leopard to the leech, grandfather clocks, astrolabes and hourglasses. Surrounded by mounted skulls and crossed sabres, other guests are playing poker as they drink champagne. Is that Madame Petrovsky? None other. The False Prophet of Lacewhisper Street folds. An Enlightened Glazier ups the ante while a Card-Counting Tabby licks a paw."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''""Just a friendly game of poker. We play every week," says the Croupier."''</ref> | |||
Beyond his fortune-telling and gambling circles, he is a trusted member of the Dilmun Club, deeply embedded in its affairs.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Upstairs_at_the_Bridge_Without_(Evolution) Upstairs at the Bridge Without (Evolution), ''Fallen London''] ''"[…] here […] the […] Club is more reserved. His […] Lordship dismisses his valet with an uncharacteristically gruff monosyllable. The […] Detective watches the street […] The Thirsty Croupier is dealing cards to the Bishop […] but nobody else is present. Not even Feducci […]"''</ref> As their accountant and risk assessor, when the club gambles—on anything—they consult him.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana|Arcana|Fallen London|}}''"[...] I prefer to sit back and watch. Leave the'' ''grand plan to other members. But if they want help, I provide. Ledgers, for example? Liabilities. I keep the club's accounts right here." He taps his skull with a finger. "I'm good with numbers. Statistics. Odds. [...] The Dilmun Club likes to gamble. Someone needs to weigh the risk," the Croupier replies. "If the stakes are high, they consult me – and I consult the cards."''</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Characters]] | [[Category:Characters]] | ||
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Revision as of 07:48, 24 February 2025
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Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here. |
"The Thirsty Croupier lays out a tarot card. "Sometimes the cards are esoteric. Sometimes they're not. Looks like you, doesn't it? And here you are.""[1]
The Thirsty Croupier is a mystic specializing in card readings, he is the greatest tarot reader in London — bar none.[2] His skill isn't limited to the cards; he has spies to gather information,[3] and his deck shifts with each reading.[4] The visions granted by his nearly endless supply of Hesperian Cider only enhance his insights.[5]
He is never without a drink of Hesperian Cider,[6][7] having amassed a prodigious cellar of the stuff[8] from his days as a croupier for the game played on the Elder Continent in the College of Mortality—the game that inspired the Marvellous.[9] This experience left him with deep knowledge of the game,[10] though his strategies may not apply anymore.[11] His reliance on Cider has turned into an addiction. Without it, withdrawal sets in.[12]
The Thirsty Croupier resides in a modest yet clearly wealthy[13] townhouse on Ladybones Road.[14] There, he hosts card games with fellow mystics and poker players of the Neath.[15][16]
Beyond his fortune-telling and gambling circles, he is a trusted member of the Dilmun Club, deeply embedded in its affairs.[17] As their accountant and risk assessor, when the club gambles—on anything—they consult him.[18]
References
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