Mr Simmons' Betting Shop

Background

Cressund Town is one of The Towns in the Known World and as such is populated exclusively by Townsfolks. It is not quite the southernmost of the Towns but does sit closest to the edge of the Endless Forest, the woodland which marks the start of The Forests of The Wilds.
The river, called The Mercy, provides fresh water and transportation to other towns, but also splits the town in two. In the centre of the town is the Town Square which sits in front of the Church in Cressund Town. Between the Town Square and the exclusive Right Hand area of Cressund Town is where you'll find the alleyway that leads to Mr Simmon's Betting Shop.

History

Not one of the oldest buildings in town, this was originally a rather run-down residential building when the current Mr Simmons' father, Mr F. Simmons, took control of the house as payment for a long overdue debt. Tired of being a debt collector, Mr F. Simmons was keen to transition into a profession that would allow him to drag his family back up the social ladder.

Having tried his hand at various illegal but popular activities, Mr F Simmons settled on gambling as it offered the best odds and facilitated the best connections. Its success has not only supported two generations of the Simmons family, it has allowed them to thrive and rise back up the Social Hierarchy of Townsfolk.

Building

The rooms and spaces in Mr Simmons' Betting Shop can be broken down into three types of areas; residential - those occupied by Mr Simmons and his family, commercial - those where elements of the betting shop are located, and secret - areas that only exist to those who know where to find them.

Residential

Most people who think or whisper about Mr Simmons' Betting Shop do not consider the lives of those who live there. While it is known as a Betting Shop, the building is first and foremost a home for Mr Simmons and his young wife and their two children.

Related spaces

Three first floor bedrooms,
First floor kitchen and dining room,
First floor lounge,
Private staircase and entryway,
Two good-sized attic rooms, currently used for storage.

Commercial

While the bones of this building are residential, there is no doubting that Mr F Simmons and now his son have done everything in their power to provide a space where Men of Authority can relax, forget their worries and lose money in peace.

Related spaces

Basement, renovated into fight pit,
Basement cellar, turned into tap room,
Ground floor parlour, for cards,
Ground floor office.

Secret

When Mr F Simmons was deciding on a new career path, he tried his hand at a wide variety of nefarious activities and made the necessary adjustments to the house to allow for them to go unnoticed.

Related spaces

Tunnel from basement running beneath the walls and out of town,
Secret entrance into basement,
Hidden panels in parlour and office,
Secret passage next to parlour with spy holes,
Secret passage from office to basement.

Reputation

Everyone in Cressund Town has heard of Mr Simmons' Betting Shop, even though none would admit to such a thing in polite society.
To the Men of Authority it is a haven, and one they are often seen shamelessly frequenting. The Town Cleric is known to visit it regularly, and Mr Stuart Laurence Brummel has spent many a penny of his Town Crier money betting on fights in the shop's basement.

Lesser men may be seen coming and going, but are far more likely to be taking the brunt of whatever bet or scheme Mr Simmons is currently running than gambling themselves. Indeed, most could not afford to. Most have bruises, cuts, black eyes, broken bones and an extra coin or two thanks to their time in the fighting pit.
For a woman to be seen on the street that the shop can be found on, is enough to cause a scandal. If she is seen entering or leaving the building itself, she is considered ruined.

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