Zomeraand nods. "Quasits are demons, and therefore more of a threat than goblins. But, if we were to go down there now, without an opportunity to rest and recover, I would only have the use of my cantrips and other minor magics. I think this would make our investigation more dangerous."
"It might be a good idea for us to explore the tunnel below the glassworks. We need to see if Tsuto was, indeed, trucking with demons," Zomeraand suggests.
M'ara nods, acknowledging Zomeraand's logic, "And don't forget the bugbear and army of goblins...but yes, the tunnel I think is our first priority!"
M'ara's fingers itch to draw her battered Harrow deck and throw down a drawing, but refrains knowing she doesn't have time...
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When Anton gets a moment, he gets Bethana's attention. "Say, I've been away for a long time. What can you tell me about the Scarnettis?"
Lost a bit in her reverie considering a drawing, Shivi pokes her in the ear, "Ow, what was that...oh, yes..." M'ara says, remembering that the reading with Madame Mvashti wasn't finished.
Clearing her throat to gain the attention of the others, "My reading with Madame Mvashti was not finished...I would visit her again to gain some insight into what is to come...you are welcome to join me if you wish."
When Anton gets a moment, he gets Bethana's attention. "Say, I've been away for a long time. What can you tell me about the Scarnettis?"
Bethana Corwyn is unable to hide her disgust face.
"They own all of Sandpoint's mills and lumberyards, so they are very powerful. Lord Scarnetti is one of the least favorite persons for Miss Ameiko. And he thinks the same of her, as he is very conservative."She looks around before continuing.
"There is the word he has dealing with the Szcarni... I wouldn't doubt it! The gods help us if he is ever elected mayor of Sandpoint!"
Clearing her throat to gain the attention of the others, "My reading with Madame Mvashti was not finished...I would visit her again to gain some insight into what is to come...you are welcome to join me if you wish."
"I will go to the glassworks in advance and see if there is anything else to find before we look for this tunnel." Delin explains, "I have a feeling there might be some detail I can find while you finish your business."
(OOC: Delin will do as she said. Going to have a scout around the glassworks for anything interesting they might have missed.)
”May I accompany you, Miss Delin?” Zomeraand asks politely. ”An individual examining a murder scene would be one a co-conspirator might seek to eliminate in a moment of opportunity as a means of maintaining his or her anonymity.”
Clearing her throat to gain the attention of the others, "My reading with Madame Mvashti was not finished...I would visit her again to gain some insight into what is to come...you are welcome to join me if you wish."
"Haven't seen a card reading in ages. Mind if I tag along, Mara?"
The Glassworks is boarded up, with a town guard at the door, but he quickly recognizes you ("The light witch and Magician!") and lets you in.
Even as the place has been cleared up, the horrible small you fear you will never forget is still heavy on the air. Your footsteps resonate in the empty and silent place. You go to the basement, where you expect the tunnel is, and don't take long to find it, not very well disguised near where Amiko Kaijitsu was held.
The long tunnel leading from this room winds as far as you can see with your magical light, through the bedrock below Sandpoint. Built decades ago by smugglers, the tunnel remains stable and serviceable as it winds lazily northeast, into the town's center. It is dark, damp, and really quiet. Maybe too much.
You are taken into the reception room where M'ara's reading happened the last time, but this time Madame Mvasti is already there, waiting for you.
"Welcome, my children. I greet those who saved the town and the spirit of it. And I especially welcome him who has the blessing of the luck-lady on him. Might Desna keep blessing you, warrior, favorite son, and lover."
She moves her hand to ask you to take a seat on the other side of the table.
"So you finally know who is behind the attack on the town. And you finally know what she wants. Now you need to choose how to face her. Now you know you face The Lost One."
Her face moves down towards the table, and just at that moment, you realize there are three harrow cards on it, seemingly as old as Madame Mvashti herself, facing you.
The theater
The juggler
The lost
Madame Mvashti looks sad. You can almost imagine the only reason she is not crying is that her tears have dried with her age.
"She got lost. She, who was destined to be a force for good, is now one of her whores. She that could have brought dreams to life, has now given birth to nightmares. She will be your ultimate challenge in the trials ahead."
You can miss the fact that one of the arms in the card "The Lost" is putrid. It seems very similar to the arm of Nualia Tobyn that Tsuto Kaijitsu drew in his journal.
Then Madame Mvasti's face raises up slowly and seems to look directly at Anton Ionescu with her white blind eyes.
"M'ara, my daughter. What do you have to face the lost one? What does The theater card mean?"
Where is he?
"Of course Zomeraand." Delin answers with a smile, "I apologize. I'm used to getting an idea in my head and acting on it alone. Having people who might want to follow me is... new." The half elf waits for him to collect himself to leave, and then will set out walking alongside the mage.
As the guard notices them and comments Delin's features sour ever so slightly. She wasn't sure why, but being called a light witch bothered her. "My name is Delin." she corrects in as polite a tone as she can, "What is your name sir guardsman? Have you noticed any activity within?"
Later
Finding nothing new but the tunnel mentioned in the diary Delin collects a stray piece of glass and casts light on it and tosses it down the tunnel before drawing her crossbow. She made no move to proceed, wordlessly watching the tunnel for any threat.
Everything seems still and silent on the tunnel.
Anton blushes at the attention.
You are taken into the reception room where M'ara's reading happened the last time, but this time Madame Mvasti is already there, waiting for you.
"Welcome, my children. I greet those who saved the town and the spirit of it. And I especially welcome him who has the blessing of the luck-lady on him. Might Desna keep blessing you, warrior, favorite son, and lover."
She moves her hand to ask you to take a seat on the other side of the table.
"So you finally know who is behind the attack on the town. And you finally know what she wants. Now you need to choose how to face her. Now you know you face The Lost One."
Her face moves down towards the table, and just at that moment, you realize there are three harrow cards on it, seemingly as old as Madame Mvashti herself, facing you.
The theater
The juggler
The lost
Madame Mvashti looks sad. You can almost imagine the only reason she is not crying is that her tears have dried with her age.
"She got lost. She, who was destined to be a force for good, is now one of her whores. She that could have brought dreams to life, has now given birth to nightmares. She will be your ultimate challenge in the trials ahead."
You can miss the fact that one of the arms in the card "The Lost" is putrid. It seems very similar to the arm of Nualia Tobyn that Tsuto Kaijitsu drew in his journal.
Then Madame Mvasti's face raises up slowly and seems to look directly at Anton Ionescu with her white blind eyes.
"M'ara, my daughter. What do you have to face the lost one? What does The theater card mean?"
M'ara frowns down at the cards, then looks up at Madame Mvashti's sightless eyes, "The Theatre...means prophesy, puppet of the gods...Nualia is the puppet, or am I? What do I have? I have me, my friends and Shivi..." she trails off, unsure.
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Madame Mvashti smiles...
"It means he did not return to Sandpoint by coincidence. It was a stroke of luck, for us. He returned to face Nualia. He returned to fulfill his, and her, destiny."
She extends a hand towards the middle card.
"An this... what the future holds... there are more to this. There is a giant force playing with all of us. With Nualia, with Sandpoint, with you all... But right now you must go and save us before we discovering what follows. That is life, we dream a dream each night."
Finally, she slumps in her chair.
"M'ara, my daughter, do you feel like reading the cards to Anton Ionescu? He has many questions, and his heart is troubled by someone. Maybe you can help him."
Zomeraand looks around the glassworks for anything unusual. He makes a point of always keeping Delin in his line of sight, since he doesn't know who or what else might be lurking about.
"I'm not sure what I should be looking for, to be honest," he says, thinking out loud.
Madame Mvashti smiles...
"It means he did not return to Sandpoint by coincidence. It was a stroke of luck, for us. He returned to face Nualia. He returned to fulfill his, and her, destiny."
She extends a hand towards the middle card.
"An this... what the future holds... there are more to this. There is a giant force playing with all of us. With Nualia, with Sandpoint, with you all... But right now you must go and save us before we discovering what follows. That is life, we dream a dream each night."
Finally, she slumps in her chair.
"M'ara, my daughter, do you feel like reading the cards to Anton Ionescu? He has many questions, and his heart is troubled by someone. Maybe you can help him."
M'ara takes a deep breath and looks at Anton, "If you're willing, Anton..."
Anton nods.
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Taking another deep breath, M'ara tries to calm her nerves. She's done this many times before on the streets of Varisia, but , in truth, this is the first time she's 'really' read the cards.
She respectfully stacks Madame Vishti's cards to the side, and brings out her own tattered deck. She slides them over to Anton, "Shuffle and draw 9 cards, placing the face down in three rows of three..."
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"I don't think it would be prudent to investigate the tunnel without the others if there are, indeed, demons within," Zomeraand says to Delin. "But, if you wish to proceed, I will go with you."
"I don't think it would be prudent to investigate the tunnel without the others if there are, indeed, demons within," Zomeraand says to Delin. "But, if you wish to proceed, I will go with you."
The card spread is laid up in front of Anton Ionescu. M'ara tells him the usual meaning of the cards.
The Mute Hag - It represents the insightful hag, a purveyor of blood pacts, treacherous secrets, and discord.
The Unicorn - It represents one who generously offers up that which is sought.
The Keep - It represents a quiet, unshakeable strength that withstands any hardship.
The Peacock - It represents a great beauty that can only be preserved if petrified and frozen in time for eternity, as by a cockatrice's glare.
The Foreign Trader - It represents spies, merchants, and those who truck in information.
The Eclipse - It represents loss of faith and purpose, and the subject's doubt about his abilities or prospects.
The Winged Serpent - It represents the couatl, the bridge of understanding between the towers of knowledge and judgement.
The Cyclone - It represents an unstoppable, destructive force unleashed through the plots of intelligent creatures.
The Sickness - It represents corruption, famine, plague, pestilence, and disease.
Madame Mvashti explains the lay of the cards for him, while M'ara confirms the knowledge she has.
"You have three columns, the past, what has already happened, even if you don't know it. the present, current but many times hid, and finally the future, always changing, always unforeseen."
She moves her hand from top to bottom.
"And you have three rows. What aids you, what exists, and what opposes you."
She then puts her hand in front of her, with her fingers extended upwards, and the thumb crossing her palm.
"M'ara has done a great reading for you..."
She starts to recite, almost chant, with that old voice from her.
"She who is blind and talks of the things she sees,"
"Together with a community ready to accept you,"
"Against a floating fortress that opposes us all,"
"You will find help from the ancient and preserved,"
"Knowledge that has been found,"
"Against the army raising against us,"
"But with that knowledge and wisdom you will prevail,"
"And prevent the town to be destroyed,"
"Defeating the corrupted one."
Anton wonders... How did she know what the cards were if she is blind?
She laughs a little.
"Son of Sandpoint, did you know that is an old rhyme from the founding of this town? What do you think that means? What do you see in the cards?"
"No, ma'am, I can't say as I've heard that one before. And to be honest, I'm a little taken aback by what it might mean. It sure does sound applicable as hell to our situation now. I mean, no offense, but you are blind and talk about what you see. Sandpoint is the community? The corrupted one, poor Nualia ...that's gotta be her. This sure makes it sound like a bigger deal than one wayward succubus wannabe."
Madame Mvashti smiles.
"You are quite right, son of Sandpoint. This is bigger than her, but right now our town needs saving from her before we face future challenges. But you have the blessing of Lady Luck, and with her, at your side, you will prevail in the challenges ahead."
Anton feels confidence and ease at hearing the old Varisian woman's words.
"Ma'am, I hate to trouble you, but my companions and I helped save a very sweet young girl and I fear her family is dangerous for her. But they're bigtime rich folk, lords maybe. I don't know how to help."
Madame Mvasti breaks into a laugh. Clear and happy, loud and innocent.
"That is what I love about mortals! A town can be in peril, all of Varisia is at risk, but love is still in your hearts! Don't ever stop dreaming! That is what makes life valuable, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!"
She cleans a tear from her cheek, still smiling.
"You don't need M'ara, or me or the cards to tell you what you already know. She loves you, and she is good an innocent. Her brother is powerful and egotistical, but he loves her sister in his own sick way. You want to save and protect her, to be her white knight. And she wants that too. She wants to be free, and you want to free her. Be smart, wait for the right time, and you will free her."
Anton blushes further than anyone would have thought possible. "Ah, er, well, thank you, ma'am! I, uh ..." Anton trails off, lost in thought. He shakes his head and comes to. "Thank you, ma'am. Um, if I may, any idea where we can find Nualia? Can she be redeemed?" Anton seems rejuvenated and more focused than before.
Madame Mvashti shakes her head.
"I am afraid she has become a child of her monstrous mother, and the only way to save her is to kill her."
She points to "The Keep" card.
"You will find her there."
"Her mother?"
"Yes. Her new mother, she who births monsters."
"She sounds awful."
M'ara watches the interplay between Anton and Madame Mvashti, trying to feel out the 'power' that allows the woman to do what she does.
Then her eyebrow raises at something Madame Mvashti says, Mortals..., what is this woman? She peers sidelong at Shivi, a question in her eyes, but as usual he's inscrutable.
Delin nods to her companion's suggestion. "You couldn't pay me to go down there without the others."" she admits warily as she watches the illuminated part of the tunnel for threats.
”Perhaps we should retrieve the others, then? I have a feeling that few, if any more questions will be answered until we venture below,” Zomeraand replies.
(OOC: Nothing that springs to Delin's mind. She's ready.)
M'ara gathers her deck and places it back in her pouch. Glancing at Anton , she says, "Thank you again, Madam Svashti. May I visit with you again?"
She then meets back up with the others...
Madame Mvashti smiles sweetly, with a toothless mouth.
"But of course, my child. I'll be waiting."
Next day!
You all go into the Glassworks, ready to investigate the tunnel under it.
Who goes in front? Do you try to sneak (You will need to roll)?
Delin will set aside her crossbow and her pack as she prepares to go below. Touching a marble hanging from a chord of leather at her breast pocket she will cast the light cantrip on it. The act seems as simple as signing a quick prayer. Then, as the small bead glows bright she sweeps her hand out and mutters a few Varisian accented phrases to complete another spell as an invisible field of force manifest itself around her. There is an odd tactile sensation those near her feel as she does this, but it is hard to place.
She kneels there near her belongings a moment, seeming to be collecting her thoughts before she draws up her pack and her crossbow. She carefully racks back the lever action of the weapon and slots her first bolt before readying the weapon. "Alright." she says, "Who is to go first?"