Who: @pantheonhqstarters
Where: Lady Luck Casino Grand Opening
Lincoln leaned against the roulette table, casually sliding a modest stack of chips onto black. “Let’s see if the wheel likes me tonight,” he muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He scanned the crowd, catching bored faces, eager watchers, and the occasional confident bettor. “Care to lend me your luck?” he asked lightly, tapping the edge of the table. The black chips gleamed under the lights, the wheel idle, and Lincoln leaned back, enjoying the quiet tension before the spin.
The Cavalry hosts what appears to be a private, high-end car show every year; rare builds, immaculate detailing, engines tuned to perfection.
The space is dressed in marble and steel, champagne flowing freely as guests circulate, admiring machines most people only ever see in magazines. There are bars tucked into every corner, lounges designed for observation rather than comfort. Everyone is watching something—cars, drivers, each other.
As midnight approaches, the shift is unmistakable. Select guests are escorted away from the crowd as The Reserve quietly opens its betting floor. Minimums are high. Odds are set by reputation. Drivers who have signed up throughout the night receive sealed instructions moments before launch.
By the time engines roar to life, the show is already forgotten. The race tears through tunnels and city streets, fast, brutal, and final. When dawn breaks, the money is settled, the venue is cleared, and the city never knows how close it came to chaos.
RACE RULES:
Anyone with race experience can enter, as long as their car passes racing standards
All drivers will receive: a sealed envelope with their starting position, a transponder bracelet synced to the event network for location purposes, and the warning "you finish or you forfeit".
The winner will be rewarded a custom car by The Cavalry, $100k and bragging rights (but they should know The Cavalry's own street racers will be competing)
The Cavalry will stream the race using drones, cameras and relay vehicles
BETTING RULES:
Minimum buy-in: high six figures
Accepted: cash, crypto, assets
Odds are fluid and adjusted live based on: driver reputation, vehicle history, past Cavalry performances
OOC INFO:
This event will run from 10:00 AM EST, February 2nd until end of day February 8th
Dress code is high fashion streetwear
If you want your character to participate in the race, please let us know, just remember the racing rules
You can put your starters at any point in the event, but race results will only be known by the end of it
Tag any starters with phq.starter and any fashion posts with phq.style (wear something cool, channel queen suki from fast & furious)
Location: The Lady Luck Casino
Open starter @pantheonhqstarters
Cesar should have know better than to show up to the opening but he couldn't help himself. A night of gambling where he could probably fly under the radar and have some solid wins? It was hard to resist, especially when Ellie had hinted that his attendance would be expected. He didn't really feel like he had a choice but it wasn't all that hard to twist his arm. His pockets felt heavy and empty all the same and his youngest had fun helping him pick out an outfit. So there he was, nervously smoothing down his tie as he approached the bar. "Do you think they have any signature drinks for tonight? Like something pink and powerful?" He was mostly talking out loud, and struggling to find his footing but he figured people would be tipsy enough not to care. "Not that I'm against a standard beer but this feels a little too fancy for a Corona"
❧ open to all // casino night ( @pantheonhqstarters )
Whether it was down to the past few months, a hectic year that seemed to have left all sides - everyone truly - fighting their way back to a new normal or the reality of a celebration, even Valeria couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she moved through the crowd. Even a district attorney could appreciate things. For a moment she stopped, glancing over at the tables where all kinds of games were played. Perhaps she'd join later. For now she was happy to observe.
With a smile Val turned to the person next to her, a quick glance before her eyes drifted back. "What do you think is going on in their heads?" Always trying to understand others.
lola was absolutely in her element now, already feeling a little buzzed from the vodka shots she has taken a few minutes ago. the drama major was swaying her hips to the beat in the makeshift dancefloor, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she caught sight of them. making a come hither motion with her fingers, she practically whine sheepishly at the other, “ come on. don’t make me come and get you from there. ” // @pinecrestrb
The energy in The Lady Luck peaks as guests flood toward the boxing hall, eager for Maddox vs. Vega. Camera flashes, bookies whispering odds, VIPs drifting in with crystal glasses in hand - everything feels choreographed, electric, perfect; just as planned by Eleanor Harrigan and her crew.
Then, without warning, every light in the casino dies. A blackout that swallows the marble corridors and velvet rooms is the first sign that things are taking a bitter turn.
Ten seconds. That’s all it takes.
When the lights snap back on, a body lies at the entrance of the boxing hall.
Not just a body - Assistant District Attorney Andrew R. Grayson, the man who spent the last month publicly promising indictments across every major criminal faction in the city lies on the marbled floor of the casino. His throat is cut with surgical precision, not a drop of blood where it shouldn’t be. He’s been placed with arms folded over his chest, head tilted slightly toward the boxing ring as if watching the fight that will never start.
As a crowd begins to form around him as the leaders of each new faction receive a text message from an unknown number to each of their phones:
Security panics. Whisper networks ignite. Half the room thinks The Reserve staged it. Half thinks someone is setting them up. Everyone wonders what ADA Grayson discovered - and who wanted to make sure it died with him.
Above it all, the sign still flickers: Maddox vs Vega. The final spectacle.
But the real show has already begun.
As the crowd begins to dissipate - members of criminal organizations take it as their cue to leave, to avoid interrogations and the presence of police - and to grow at the same time, curious civilians with their phones out, social media invaded with posts and tell-alls.
Four other people receive a text from an unknown number; instead of taunting them though, the message contains a choice to make - put themselves first or to keep the peace that has reigned the city for the past couple of months.
OOC INFO:
This ends our first event, thank you for being so excited and here!
With the event coming to an end, Pantheon has officially taken over and we will be posting their messages to multiple characters (@pantheonsays), giving them a choice to make that can and will alter the future of their character, so keep your eyes out for all the fun!
You may now resume regular activity, feel free to finish your event threads or to simply move on from them, but do not start anything pre-plot drop, please
Also a quick reminder that because of the holidays our next activity check will be taking place tomorrow - the next one will be in January!
