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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Seravin" data-source="post: 1792740" data-attributes="member: 6783">Games of ChanceGerrold Holtson lived some one hundred fifty years ago, serving briefly as a soldier in the Shtaran army, while at the same time teaching his fellow soliders that a game of cards is more about skill than luck.  Gerrold’s last tour of duty was in Corlean and when that tour ended Gerrold continued his teachings in an establishment that he opened up and named quite simply ‘The Gaming House’.   Since that time Gerrold’s descedents have managed the family business, growing it a little each year.  Now days, The Gaming House is the best known gambling establishement in Corlean.  The tables are scrupulously fair and the owner knows that his customers are the soliders and guardsmen of the city and caters to their needs while at the same time making sure that the officers look kindly upon his establishment.The current owner of The Gaming House is Quereth Holtson.  A middle-aged man in his early forties, Ker Holtson is an affable if hard man.  He has gained a reputation for hard but fair dealings.  Quereth owns many other establishments other than The Gaming House, including three warehouses and some specialty shops that cater to the needs of soldiers. Grandal Deverex aids Quereth as the manager of The Gaming House and as sort of an aide de camp for the other businesses.  Grandal and Quereth grew up together, though while Quereth grew up in relative luxury, Grandal was a street-orphan, abandoned by his elven father when his mother died in childbirth.  Somehow the two men met while in their teens and they became fast friends.  The word on the street in Corlean is that Grandal’s loyalty is absolute and has withstood several tests over the years.Naturally, with a setup like that, a cynical person would assume that the owner was hiding something.---It took only one day for Kestral and Panther working together to discover that The Gaming House might have ties to those who work the shadows.  The discovery wasn’t surprising to either for both understood human nature.  Neither was inclined to pass judgement though, instead they decided to buy Imych’s missing harp.  While they had no evidence, their suspicions immediately fell upon the manager who had lost both money and some small amount of reputation due to Imych’s actions prior to his death.Kestral and Panther were dressed in their best, which was surprisingly good.  Neither looked much like they normally did however; Kestal having gained some four inches, twenty pounds, and changed her blonde hair to a curly brown, while Panther dressed down, pulling his wild maine into a neat pony tail and wore loose fitting, non-descript clothes.  Kestral played the lady and Panther her bodyguard.  Together they stalked The Gaming House.  It didn’t take them long to find their quarry.  Kestral walked smoothly over to him.“Ker Deverex?”  Grandal looked over the well-dressed woman and tried to determine what she wanted.  At forty-two he knew he looked to be in his mid-twenties. His exotic features were faintly elven though his black hair and eyes came from his mother.  Those who knew of him knew that Grandal was a powerful and wealthy man.  Despite all this Grandal quietly decided that the woman wasn’t here because she was attracted to him.  He decided to play her game and smiled in greeting.  “Why yes, Kerress…?”She smiled and curtsied.  “Pyra Rains, Ker Deverex.”“Grandal.  Please.”  Grandal eyed the man standing a few feet away though obviously with the woman.  He looked like a bodyguard of some sort, and surprisingly, was a half-elf like himself.  Grandal wondered if that was on purpose.  He dismissed the guard for the moment, though he kept an eye on him.  He turned his full attention back to the woman.  “Please, sit with me and let me get you a drink.”  Grandal indicated a nearby table that was unoccupied for the moment.  He signaled a waitress who nodded and hurried towards the bar.  Within moments Grandal and his guest were drinking a surprisingly sweet wine. Grandal let the woman taste the wine and appreciate it, then being a busy man, went immediately to business.  “So Kerress Rains, why did you come seeking me?”Kestral forged ahead.  “I assume you heard that the bard Imych Thassel passed away recently?”Grandal didn’t miss a beat.  “Yes I did.  It was unfortunate; he was quite talented you know.”  He looked away in embarrassment.  “And of course you probably heard that he passed away owing The Gaming House a bit of money.”  He shook his head.  “Sad, really.”“Hmmm.  Perhaps you also heard that his harp went missing too?”Grandal was looking her in the eyes when he answered.  “Why no.  I can’t say that I did hear that.”“It’s true.  The same people who told me that also told me that you might know someone who could sell that harp.”“Really?  I can’t imagine who that would be.”Kestral shrugged.  “I hear things and I thought if it was true you might be interested in selling it and recouping some of the losses."Grandal smiled.  “That’s quite a good idea actually.  Alas, I don’t have the harp.  I’m afraid you were misinformed.”“I see. Well, if you find out about the harp the people I represent would be quite happy to purchase it and pay any reasonable finder’s fee.”“I’ll be sure to think of you.  How would I get a hold of you?”“I’ll be around.  I’m afraid I don’t have permanent quarters as of yet, however you could leave a message for me at the little bookshop just up the street.”  Kestral stood upGrandal quickly stood also.  “I’ll do that.”  Suddenly he looked around as if something disturbed him.  Seeing nothing he bid the woman farewell and watched her and her bodyguard walk away with suspicion.  ---“So, what did you do to him?”  Asked Kestral.“I tried to suggest to him that there was nothing suspicious about us and to not check up on you.”“I didn’t hear anything.”Panther grinned.  “I’ve learned a new trick.  There are sounds you can’t hear but you can feel.  I learned how to do that a few months ago.”Kestral gave a low whistle.  “Think it worked?”“No.  I don’t think so.  He looked around too much when you stood up.”  Panther changed tact.  “So do you think he’s telling the truth?”“Not really, but I can't prove it.  We need to come up with something else  Maybe Ashimar can help.”</blockquote>

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