Dangerous Bets

**Dangerous Bets** is one of Petrus' companion quests in *Greedfall.*

## Objectives

* Talk to Petrus about his plan.
* Convince the bookmaker to organize a fight.
* Earn notoriety in the arena.
* Inform Petrus that the fight against the champion will take place.
* Convince Candy Cane to talk to the Mother Cardinal about you.
* *(Conditional)* Search Candy Cane's body.
* *(Conditional)* Replace Candy Cane's mail.
* Wait for the fight to take place.
* Defeat the champion.
* Meet with Mother Cardinal Cornelia.
* Question Petrus.

* Petrus: I’ve come up with a plan to put what we’ve learned about the Mother Cardinal to use.
* De Sardet: Do tell.
* Petrus: You will have to take part in a fight in the arena *and* we must make sure that the odds are high. To do this, you’ll have to face a champion. This will lure her in.
* De Sardet: That would effectively raise the odds, but the risk is they’ll bet against me.
* Petrus: That may be the case, but the highest bests are based on the exact time of the defeat.
* De Sardet: I see. We are going to make the Mother Cardinal believe that I will lose at a specific time.
* Petrus: And by doing so, you’ll win something bigger than a fight.
* De Sardet: This'll make her lose a considerable amount.
* Petrus: Exactly. I’ve even taken measures to make sure her usual moneylender is unavailable. Without knowing it, she will come to me looking for gold in order to place her bet.
* De Sardet: And she will be at our mercy. Is this how you settle scores in Thélème?
* Petrus: This is how all scores are settled, my child…or on the battlefield, but that’s much dirtier. So, what do you say?
	+ **Accept now**
		- De Sardet: It’s a complicated plan, but an effective one. Let’s put it in motion.
	+ **Postpone until later**
		- De Sardet: It is certainly interesting, but I must see to other things before putting it in motion. I'll come back to you as soon as I have more time.
		- Petrus: Of course, my child. I know how to be patient.

### Convince the bookmaker to organize a fight

* *Ask to challenge a champion.*
	+ De Sardet: I want to challenge the champion of the arena.
	+ San-Matheus Fight Organizer: A champion? Really? Now? You were asking about Candy Cane, it wouldn’t be him that sent you here by any chance?
	+ De Sardet: No. No one has sent me. I’m looking to make a reputation for myself.
	+ San-Matheus Fight Organizer: Ahh, that sounds better! It’s true you have talent, and the public does like ya. Let me think. There is Briscard, one of our old champions. It’s been a while since he’s fought, but he did ask me to set something up for him. He’s not a youngster anymore, but his name is known and he’s a killer, I’m warning you!
	+ De Sardet: This Briscard sounds like the perfect opponent.
	+ San-Matheus Fight Organizer: A deal! I’ll work on getting things ready for the combat, and line up the betting. Until then, make sure you’re ready. It’ll be a duel, your friends'll need to stay in their seats. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll just need to go and see the arena master.

### Inform Petrus that the fight against the champion will take place

* Petrus: We should go and see Candy Cane, so he can set up our deal. So when you win, she will lose her bet.

### Convince Candy Cane to talk to the Mother Cardinal about you

* Candy Cane: You again? What do you want this time?
	+ **Charisma - Let Petrus intervene**
	+ De Sardet: Why so defensive? Petrus, you have a proposal to make, I believe?
	+ Petrus: That’s right. I thought of a little scheme that could make us all very rich. You know me, so you also know I’m quite clever, and that my ideas are *always* fruitful.
		- *(If successful)*
			* Candy Cane: They do say that you are devious, perhaps too much so for your own good. Go on.
			* Petrus: My friend here loves the glory and sand of the arena.
			* De Sardet: I’ve gained quite a reputation, soon I’ll be taking on a true champion. I’m no fool though, I know I won’t last long against him.
			* Candy Cane: Yeah, I’ve seen the odds. Everyone expects you to lose within a minute. So what?
			* Petrus: Let us suppose that our champion is a little less…aggressive than usual.
			* Candy Cane: If the fight can last at least five minutes, an informed bettor would win the jackpot.
			* De Sardet: And I’d keep a little of my pride.
			* Candy Cane: Very well, I’ll arrange it. But no dirty tricks! Don’t take advantage of the deal and try to beat the champion. If you do, he’ll wipe the floor with you. You want to get your money, don’t get too greedy!
		- *(If failed)*
			* Candy Cane: You have a reputation of being a first-class manipulator.
			* De Sardet: Wait! At least listen to our proposal.
			* Candy Cane: You really take me for an idiot? Gentlemen, teach them not to mess with me again!
			* *(Enter combat)*
	+ **Ask him to fix the fight**
		- De Sardet: I have a very lucrative proposal for you. You know that I have to fight against a champion.
		- Candy Cane: Everyone knows. You are expected to lose in one minute.
		- De Sardet: I'm well aware of that. I know that my opponent is too strong for me. But, let's suppose my opponent draws the fight out a bit, for the beauty of the battle, of course.
		- Candy Cane: I'm starting to see what you're alluding to. This fight doesn't interest me. The odds against you are so high, I wouldn't get much out of it. But if we make all the gamblers lose, by letting you hang in there a little longer...
		- De Sardet: We could win a nice little nest egg.
		- Candy Cane: Organizing this will entail some costs for me. It's better to add a bonus. Without the bonus, there's no deal. If you pay me in advance, you won't be tempted to play any tricks. So, get your wallet out.
			* **Pay him (250 gold)**
				+ De Sardet: If this seals our deal, it’s worth it. Here, take it.
				+ Candy Cane: Excellent! Don’t you worry now. Everything will be fixed for the fight. I think that one of my special clients will also be interested in our little arrangement.
				+ De Sardet: Be careful not to tell too many people, so that the odds don’t drop too low.
			* **Negotiate**
				+ De Sardet: We can definitely reach a deal, but we would have to renegotiate the odds.
				+ Candy Cane: Absolutely not! You're not in a position to negotiate. You need me too much.
				+ De Sardet: I'd have a really good think about it if I were you. I may not be a champion, but you know I have a certain reputation in the arena.
				+ Candy Cane: Is that a threat? Heh. Gentlemen, teach this imbecile a lesson!
				+ **Coin Guard:** **Reputation -1**
				+ *(Enter combat)*
			* **Refuse to pay**
				+ De Sardet: It's far too much. I do this to earn gold, not to lose it.
				+ Candy Cane: The risks I take come at a price, and that price is not negotiable.
				+ De Sardet: I'd have a really good think about it if I were you. I may not be a champion, but you know I have a certain reputation in the arena.
				+ Candy Cane: Is that a threat? Heh. Gentlemen, teach this imbecile a lesson!
				+ **Coin Guard:** **Reputation -1**
				+ *(Enter combat)*

### Search Candy Cane's body

* De Sardet: How are we going to influence Cornelia's bets without Candy Cane?
* Petrus: Have faith, my child. Let's start by searching the body. We will find a way.

### Replace Candy Cane's mail

*(After looting the Letter from the Mother Cardinal to "Candy Cane")*

* De Sardet: Petrus, your prayers have been answered! This crook had a letter from Cornelia on him *and* a key.
* Petrus: My child, this letter confirms that our plan may work. Cornelia is interested in your fight.
* De Sardet: She also mentioned a secret letterbox for returning the mail. This key probably opens it.
* Petrus: If that is the case, all we have to do is slip in a letter from Candy Cane. I've got it! We'll slip a fake one in advising her to bet on the fact you will hold on for five minutes.
* De Sardet: The letterbox is probably not far from here.
* Petrus: Wait, my child. I will first write this fake letter for Cornelia.
* De Sardet: Petrus, you would make the perfect criminal.
* Petrus: There is no Light without Shadow. The Enlightened knows it, and knows how to guide the righteous ones.

### Defeat the champion

* Arena Master: Ah, there you are! I was told that you’d be taking on one of our old champions. Are you ready for the fight? Beware, contrary to the challenges, this combat must be fought alone. Your friends must remain in the stands.
	+ **Fight now**
		- De Sardet: Yes, I am ready.
		- Arena Master: So, jump into the arena, and may the better fighter win!
	+ **Put off the combat until later**
		- De Sardet:

* Arena Master: What a brilliant spectacle! Congratulations on your victory!
* De Sardet: Thank you, it wasn’t easy.
* Arena Master: And here are your winnings from the combat! You’ve earned them.
* Petrus: Bravo! A glorious victory! Which is made all the sweeter by double compensation.
* De Sardet: I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you happier. The thought of holding something over Cornelia seems to do you wonders.
* Petrus: That is true. Politics is an extremely subtle game, and just as satisfying as fighting in an arena.
* De Sardet: I imagine we need to go see her now.
* Petrus: Yes. and I hope you will enjoy the moment every bit as much as I will.

### Meet with Mother Cardinal Cornelia

* Mother Cardinal: Lord De Sardet! And you, Petrus. What can I do for you?
* Petrus: We have come to offer our support. We have learned that the arena was cruel to you.
* Mother Cardinal: How do you know that? Oh, I see. You tricked my informer.
* De Sardet: We just let him believe that I would lose.
* Petrus: All I did was take the place of your moneylender. You owe me a handsome sum.
* Mother Cardinal: All of this just to make me spill the beans, am I right? I didn’t expect you to play this kind of game, Your Excellency. It is true though that with such a teacher…
* Petrus: Oh, come on, Cornelia. You excel at this game.
* Mother Cardinal: It’s true. And I also know when to admit defeat. What do you want from me?
* De Sardet: We won’t use what we know of you, nor what you owe us, so long as you act loyally towards the Congregation and Constantin, is that clear?
* Mother Cardinal: Is that what you’re expecting? Ah, but I’m sure that this sly fox has something else in mind, right? You hope that I’ll support you when you court the rank of Cardinal? You haven’t learned your lesson, then? Have you forgotten the abyss into which you plunged because of your ambition last time?
* De Sardet: Petrus, what is she talking about?
* Petrus: Cornelia, you don’t have the right to use that against me, to disclose what I revealed to you that day.
* Mother Cardinal: It was said under the seal of the Enlightened, it’s true. But if someone deserves to know, it’s [him | her].
* Petrus: No, please—
* Mother Cardinal: Since you have no intention of speaking, I will. Petrus knew your mother, child. Your real mother.
* De Sardet: My mother? Petrus, is this true? How?
* Petrus: Be damned, Cornelia! It’s true, I knew your mother. I used to go to the jail to give my spiritual support to the prisoners of the Prince d’Orsay. That’s where I met her. She was alone, afraid, and exhausted…and so strange. Obviously I had no way of knowing that she came from here. The princes kept their secrets well.
* De Sardet: Why didn’t you tell me about it? You knew that my uncle lied to me and you kept quiet?
* Petrus: I…I was ashamed. Ashamed of having left her to die in that dead-end pit, completely alone.
* De Sardet: Why talk to others about it, then? Why does *she* know?
* Mother Cardinal: One evening, in a fit of despair, Petrus felt the need to share this great burden with someone.
* Petrus: At the time, you were the ear of the Enlightened, Cornelia. You have broken your vows. Oh, damnation! It’s better out in the open. I’ve wanted to tell you about it since I met you. Now that you know, I want to do something in her memory. I will help you find your family here, on the island. The prince sent you here to use you, but I can ensure that all of this serves a purpose.
* De Sardet: How could I possibly believe you now? You have used me for your scheming and kept me in the dark!
* Petrus: I understand how you feel, my child. Let’s wait a little, until you’ve taken it all in. Time heals the wounds of the soul. Come back and see me when you are ready. As for you, Cornelia, remember what we have on you. You no longer have the upper hand.
* Mother Cardinal: Be careful, De Sardet. You now see the real Petrus, sly and opportunistic.