"Mr. Kroger, please, sit," Gabriel said, gesturing across from him, "Lets play a game."<br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"Thank you Earl Dunster, but...why the game?"</span><br/><br/>"While my butler is preparing the tea, I thought we could amuse ourselves. You are not afraid to play a simple game, are you?"<br/><br/>Ashton took on a slightly bemused face.<span style="color: gray">"Of course not. What are the rules?"</span><br/><br/>"Quite simple. You roll a die, move that number, and draw a card. Then you must act upon that card. As I said, it is a simple game. And you may start, as you are my guest."<br/><br/>Mr. Kroger proceeded to pick up the die. It is one of Gabriel's finest, made of solid ivory and polished til it could catch the smallest beam of light and amplify it. He rolled a three, and moved his piece forward, then he drew a card.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkgreen">You find a guarded fortune. Move 1 more step forward.</span><br/><br/>"My turn."  Gabriel rolled a six, and drew his card.<span style="color: darkgreen">You have stumbled upon a buffoon blocking the road. Miss one turn.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"Looks like I might have gained the advantage."</span>Mr. Kroger begins rolling the die,<span style="color: gray">"Earl Dunster, I think I may as well tell you the situation. The factory outside Berlin...it has fallen on rough times. Few people want to come work because of the low pay we can afford right now. If you can offer a small sum, I can offer more to people, and increase production."</span><br/><br/>"You need to move. You've rolled a four."<br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"Of course."</span><span style="color: darkgreen">You lose an arm. You can only move half as far.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"As I was saying, we are in need of money to increase production. I believe that ten thousand pounds should more than cover all the new labor we can get, and it should be only a drop in the water for you."</span><br/><br/>"Roll again, remember? I miss a turn"<br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"Right, right"</span>Mr. Kroger rolled a 4, so he moved forward.<br/><br/>"Only half the steps Mr. Kroger. You lost an arm after all."<br/><br/><span style="color: darkgreen">You find two cards in the road. Draw two cards.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"Well, that turned out lucky!</span><span style="color: darkgreen">You see specters in the catacombs. Move back 1 space.   You fall into a raging fire. Lose 3 turns</span><br/><br/>"I believe Aspen is ready with the tea."<br/><br/><span style="color: gray">"Let's just say that you won the game. I have lost 3 turns, and had to move back."</span><br/><br/>"I'm not one to give up on a game.."