Gimblehorn Folkor

Gimbelhorn. A Name known fairly well around Felwind due to his rather well received line of authored books. He wasn't famous but known enough that he could get free drinks at a few taverns with just his signature.
People that knew hi well knew Gimbelhorn was rather adventures not just in the world but with his attempts with women. His party used to keep track of his ratio and unfortunately he was pretty much even split with success and rejection. Even his simi-Famous author status had little effect. Sometimes the Gnome people are just not that desirable.
Equally as infamous is his love of the chance. Taking a gamble to wager coin, items, favours and all manor of things. he was much more successful with a roll of the dice than wooing words despite his adventuring friends almost always pressuring him not to rely so heavily on it.

It was actually a wager that landing him his first published book. and a wager that let him choose the name Folklore Company for the team's name.

Gimbelhorn is a Gnome of the Scribe. Gnomes known for being information gatherers for the Fate's Weave Library, Yet Gimbelhorn even then made a wager with the Great-Serpent master of the Library for freedom of his dues, Which he gained.
He is just over middle aged for a Gnome. often dressed in green coat and his pointy cap, with a heavy white beard making him look far older than he actually is. Just under 3ft tall and quite stocky as most Gnomes are.
Aside from taking chances with dice and chances with women he is an established author and will often be found reading through books searching for inspiration for his next hit. His books are often about his experiences in life, love and adventuring.

The Deal
He had been a rather successful adventure for a number of years working with his adventuring group Folklore Company they had carved out a well established reputation with their work around Promise and Covania. nothing dramatic but solid enough they were recommended for many mid ranged jobs.
But this would all change on the night of the group's ten (10) year anniversary.

Like many nights before tipsy from the drinks of celebration Gimbelhorn left the bar to find a table to gamble, a woman to woe, or both. and both he did find.
As if she appeared like an angel from his forgotten nightmares. Ebony black feathered wings matching her impossibly long hair. Pale perfect skin detailed with arcane markings. Deep crimson eyes behind a pair of dignified glasses. a single large demonic horn percied through her hair on the left side of her head. long pointed ears far longer than a typical elf. Barely covered in a scarlet glittering dress that must of been custom made. her hourglass figure heavy with curves, larger than life you would take quite a bit of convincing if they were natual and she was tall, very tall over 8ft.
Gimbelhorn had not seen anyone like this before except maybe in his dreams or forgotten nightmares. one of the most intense and beautiful ladies he would probably meet in his life. Even as e mindlessly approached in a trance she was sending men away in tears with few razor words coming from her glistening black lips.

Eventually Gimbelhorn was before her. just snapping out of his trance. looing up as she sat upon a throne of sorts, leaning over, wine-glass in hand, eyes on him. he opened with his normal pick up line.
“Hey, I'm an Author”
She looked him up and down. looking like she was about to step on him, which he may have liked. but instead her eyes soften as she leans down.
“My my, such a braizen Gnome I have never seen in my long life. normally your kind run in fear at the sight of a woman like me. its normally Half-lings that come to kiss the ground I walk on.” she trails off as she takes a sip of her drink.
Gimbelhorn straitens up. “Then you must know I am not like other Gnomes. I'm my own man, one of a kind, and your chance at something special.” He takes a quick look at her hands, scanning for a ring. he finds several but is unsure if any of them are wedding rings. a lady like this probably has many rings to decorate herself.
a light giggle escapes the lady as she arranges herself to stand. towering over Gimbelhorn before leaning over, seemingly delibrilty so he gets a full view of her assets. “How about you go get us a bottle of 'Elderberry' wine and meet me in the booth over there.” Her crimson eyes lead Gimbelhorn's gaze like a moth to the flame to a private booth over in the back of the tavern. was that there before? he wasn't sure. Of course it was he has just had a bit too much to drink. He nods quickly as he ruses off to the bar digging for his coin pouch.

He asks the bar tender for a Bottle of Elder berry as instructed when some of is party approach.
“Heyyyy Gimgim. Mannnn shelling out a bit are you? Elderberry? found another bad decision I am guessing.”
Gimbelhorn shrugged a sly smile. “Hey she may be THE bad decision of my whole life. she is so absolutely stunning. like nothing i have ever seen, beauty incarnate if they had an 'edgy-red' phase.”
His friends stopped him “Alright alright jeeze make sure not to blow before you even get to the bed my gods. never seen you so head over heels. maybe you will actually bring this one home to introduce the rest of us? but i doubt it GimGim.”
The other speaks up. “Yea i can already see it. we are all dreadfully hung over from this night as this half clothed Gnomes runs through our rooms shouting for us to 'get dressed, we have to go!!' as he is chased by another angry she-devil.”
It wouldn't be the first time.

He handed over most of his gold for that wine but didn't seem phased. running off to the both as he herd his friends behind wishing him good luck and not to make any stupid bets.

Its was certainly a private booth, frosted glass windows and a dark woodden door as a barrier between inside and the rest of the bar. Eagerly reaching up and putting his hand on the door handle something changed. suddenly the noise and the chatter of the tavern felt so very far away as his gut churned. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. he could just turn away now with wine in hand and share it with his companions rather than a stranger. He almost did.
But Gimbelhorn ignored this sub-conscious of his and continued ahead. opening the door and heading inside.

The room was moodily lit with dim candles and a low fireplace. the whole room was finely crafted and well decorated. Expecting to see a couch or a bed he only found…a table. A Gaming table. Two chairs. One for him. and the other far bigger and larger, like a throne looking over the land was his opponent. the same woman from before. her feather wings lay softly over the arms of the chair. like whispers of terrible omens. As she swirled her wineglass almost empty. she smiled a wicked smile of allure, lust and malice.
“Oh you finally arrived. and I thought you would leave me to my lonesome, ohhh I am glade you came..Gimbelhorn. come. take a seat, pour us a glass.”
The air was different. It felt like walking into a spider's web, willingly. yet his inner voice screamed at him in vane as the Gnome walked deeper in. “How did you know my name?” he asked, ever the tiniest bit of concern on his voice.
another giggle escaped her black lips. “Alot of people have herd of the mighty Gimbelhorn and his crew. such high accolades. anyone woman would be happy to have you even for a night.”

Gimbelhorn sat down in the chair and did as instructed. pouring himself a glass of the wine. unable to keep his eyes off her. her glass floated over to him by some invisible force. he poured but spilled some. “ah opps. sorry.”
The glass floated back over when filled and a deck of cards appeared on the table. “You like a game don't you Gimbelhorn? would you play a game with me?” The deck began to shuffle itself over and over.

A Game?. “Well how many games my mysterious lady?” he said as he raised his glass.
She raised his glass to him in turn. “oh just one will do.”
The elderberry wine was really something different, sweet and tangy but swirled on the tongue and all the way down his throat. “What is the wager?” something was wrong. he couldn't hear the tavern outside anymore and the air felt heavy. he found his hands sweating. was he nervous? how? a game had never made him nervous before.
The woman ran her fingers through her long hair. “The Wager is my dear Gimbelhorn. I offer” Her fingers find a strand of hair as her crimson eyes meet Gimbelhorn's.
“Anything…you…desire”. She plucks a single strand of hair and throws it to the table effortlessly. it floats and land in the center. like a shimmering black string of endless possibilities. Gimbelhorn was shaking. Out of excitement? out of fear?. his mouth was dry but that edge to play pushed him on. He searches his pockets. only a few gold left from buying that wine. he looked for his bag. left it in the tavern room. he looked around and notice something that wasn't there before. a piece of parchment. he reached for it and saw what was written. it was a list of names. names very familiar to him, The names of his companions as well as his own. the woman spoke up.
“Oh? time with your companions? well i suppose i can accept that…if they are okay with it.”
Gimbelhorn firmed up and threw the list to the table as offering. “Its fine, I am the leader I can speak for them”

A Split second Gimbelhorn saw something that made his blood run cold. his heart skipped as the woman's figure shifted for just a moment then returned. and like the soft voice of dread leaving her lips. “Then lets play.”

The deck stopped shuffling and dealt a full hand to both Gimbelhorn and the lady. and like a the cold grip of death itself it all hit Gimbelhoirn at once. he reached for the cards but could not find the courage to pick them up. There was no strategy to this one. It was all luck, Luck was what he was best at. he felt his heart race like storm.
I am waiting my dear Gimbelhorn. Are you in or out?
the voice of her once again filled his ears and he followed. Picking up the cards but only seeing black. realizing his eyes were closed. Slowly opening them he saw it. a Royal flush of hearts. he grinned as relief overcame him. he put his cards down. “I'm in”

the words he wished he could have taken back.

if only he had taken a second look.

as the candles all went dark save one. The woman he had the table with shifted a wicked smile and uncanny features as she revealed her hand. A royal flush of hearts. No That can't be.
He checked his hand. a regular flush of diamonds?! “no no no, th that's not. that's not what it was!? you cheated?! somehow?!”
Her voice spoke with two. like daggers sliding over flesh. “tsk tsk. accusing me of cheating just because you lost at the game you agreed to play.
Blood poured from Gimbelhorn's ears as he saw the names on the parchment float up into the woman's grasp. and one by one they were gone, not just gone. he felt his very memory go blank. unable to remember their names. he would say them allowed but nothing would sound. until it was his name there. He felt his body begin to fade and felt his very being loose its grasp on reality. a way out. there had to be a way out!

He fell to his knees.
“please spare me. I will do anything. ANYTHING!”
There was a pause.
You played the game Gimbelhorn, don't tell me you were not prepared to loose?
Another long pause, Gimbelhorn sobbing quietly. truly desperate. not ready to die yet.
Very well. you can be my loyal dog. I saw bark, you bark. I say jump. you say 'how high'. I tell you to slaughter the friends you make along the way…you put on a show.”

Gimbelhorn looked up at her to see her once again back to her beauty. but it was not beauty he saw anymore. he had to force himself to look, the terror and anger. as she hovered gently above him. her soft fingers sliding up his chest up his throat to his chin as her black wings began to envelope him. her words soft like snow but harsh as the freezing blizzard. “Do this and you shall live. Deal?”
Gimbelhorn said a single word with tears in his eyes. “Deal.”

It had been a number of years since Gimbelhorn was forced to look upon his Patron. The sight filled him with anger as it normally did but also regret and guilt. Had he only been wiser he could have avoided this whole situation.

A Fiend Patron. A tall curvaceous woman with devil like aura. Her pale flawless skin Covered in strange markings Gimbelhorn had no way of understanding. Though she stood over 2 meters tall and had the power to vaporize his soul with a click of her fingers her presence was a bit less intimidating than usual.
“May I offer my congratulations” As Gimbelhorn took a small respectful bow if a little sarcastic. It seemed his Patron was anticipating a child. Her swollen stomach portraying she was very far along the cycle and it ruined the edge of intimidation she normally had.

She spoke aloud, her words sharp to the ears like daggers. “Quite my servant, you act only out of your own selfish desire rather than proper respect.”
The woman looked down upon him from her throne. “I have a task for you Gimbelhorn”

She explained the situation to him, she was currently in a bind due to a Hag’s Coven interfering with the laws of the Feywilds, She has recruited aid of some strong adventurers however they haven't been herd from in a while and she has little way of keeping track of them.
“Gimbelhorn, you are to join their ranks and provide assistance. You are also to report to me on their activities once every few nights, Do so in secret they must not know how closely I am watching. You will receive an item for communicating with me directly.”
Gimelhorn nodded silently.

“I will send you to their location now. Make me proud Gimbelhorn and you will be rewarded.”
With a flick of her wrist the Gnome was absorbed in a flash of light and darkness. then appearing a few hundred feet away from a large house. Guess that's where he has to go.