Perivolt glanced again at the Harrow card for the 37th time confirming he hadn't misread the address.
The smiling centaur in the picture certainly looked much more prepared for wandering then the wizard is. Then again, Perivolt certainly hadn't expected to be wandering around this much and thought he would have arrived by now. He chuckled as he peered up at a faded sign to read this avenue's designation. The Wanderer is more appropriate then originally thought, it seems, he muses.
Billi sees the small cottage, but instead of entering right away, he walks a small perimeter looking for anything unusual or suspicious, and also just getting a general lay of the land. He's just start to get his sea-legs back after the waves of detoxification hit him as well. Despite his illness, the dwarf feels like he's got a good look about, not seeing anything out of character for the neighborhood.
As he turns back to the indicated home, he sees Lenrelle coming along the street as well. Even as she hails him, he has turned to go inside.
The interior of the small, humble home consists of a single cozy chamber filled with a fragrant haze of flowers and strong spice. The aroma comes from several stick of incense smoldering in wall-mounted burners that look like butterfly-winged elves. The smoke gives the room a dreamy feel. The walls are draped with brocaded tapestries, one showing a black-skulled beast juggling human hearts, and another showing a pair of angels dancing atop a snow-covered mountain, A third tapestry on the far wall depicts a tall, hooded figure shrouded in mist, holding a flaming sword in a skeletal hand. Several brightly colored rugs cover the floor, but the room's only furnishings are a wooden table covered by a bright red throw cloth an several elegant, tall-backed chairs. A basket covered by a blue cloth sits under the table.
On the table , weighed down with a stone paperweight, is a simple handwritten note: "Thank you for coming. I had to step out for a bit, but shall return shortly. Please, have a seat while you wait. The basket under the table contains bread and drink for you."
There's no doubt in Perivolt's head that he is lost, and in such a neighborhood as well, not a guardsman or helpful servant in sight. Determined to get to the cottage before sundown, he plans to just keep the harbor on his left, until he gets closer.
Eventually, with a large tip to a deliveryman, he finds the right place. Unbeknownst to him, Billi and Lendrelle have just entered, but he sees the small tidy cottage, and no one else around, except a dirty beggar looking for a few coins, and some passersby who seem disinterested in 3 Lancet Street and are dutifully trying to ignore the begging man as well.
Perivolt's sigh of relief at finally located the destination of his search is so audible, some of the street's occupants glance at him while simultaneously ignoring the destitute man asking for economic aid.
With much greater confidence now, Perivolt strides over to the one-armed man of misery, and tosses a couple coppers into his broken cup.
He leans forward with what he hopes is a charming smile. "Ho, friend. If you don't mind, I'd love to hear what you know of this place," Perivolt casually gestures to the well-kept cottage, "Anything interesting occurred here? Maybe a person or group of persons that seemed worth your notice?" Perivolt carefully allows a glint of silver peek through his fingers for the man's eyes only.
Billi scans the note, absorbing the contents quickly.
I am going to keep mobile for tactical advantage, and I don't want to check the drink to see if it is something tempting. And no sitting still and thinking about IT. This smelly new age elf bullshite incense isn't helping me at all!!
Billi reaches for the door to go out again just as Lenrelle opens the door. "It appears our host has left us food." Billi helps hold the door open politely and beckons the way in. "If you like sweet smelling elf stuff, you'll love it in there!!"
Billi breezes past her to the outside--ready to do another circuit, to repeat the same pattern he made and try to guess the steps before he turns. An underground mapper never forgets to keep his steps calibrated.
Later, Lenrelle will feel terrible taking no notice of the beggar. She's just so focused on catching Billie...
When she gets in...
Billi reaches for the door to go out again just as Lenrelle opens the door. "It appears our host has left us food." Billi helps hold the door open politely and beckons the way in. "If you like sweet smelling elf stuff, you'll love it in there!!"
She does go in, and looks about. Then says "Billi? the note says we should wait."
|
Breathe. Breathe. In and out. It's okay. It's going to be okay. Well, it's not going to be okay. Everything is awful. But you're not going to die right now. Breathe. Steadying herself on a lamppost, Talindra resumes making her way to 3 Lancet Street. She feels the entire city's eyes on her: an elf, a Champion of Shelyn, in Korvosa. An elf, a Champion of Shelyn, in Korvosa, clearly emotionally unwell, clearly having a very bad day. She tries to keep her mind on her journey, on what could be waiting for her there.
The small cottage's colorful decorations remind Talindra of home. Absalom is a dense, busy place, and real estate can be expensive. That said, the city is so diverse, so colorful. Talindra almost smiles as she examines the cottage, making sure she has the right address. She's such a strange mixture of focused and distracted that she doesn't even notice the beggar nearby, and heads inside.
She takes a deep breath of the incense, glancing at the winged elves. She muses on their beauty, studying the work as a fellow sculptor, and only then notices there are several familiar faces.
"Oh, hello. Quite a party we've assembled here." She reads the handwritten note, inspects the basket. She's about to take something to eat and drink , but Lenrelle's words stay her hand.
Lenrelle sees Talindra, and notices her hurt and pain. She wears it like a thorned cloak, but so bravely.
"Yes. Quite the group forming here. Looks like our sponsor has been doing her research. Finding all who loathe Lamm."
A few minutes after Talindra goes into the house, Sable comes walking down the block. The directions she had gotten had been very much wrong, and so she was a little annoyed at herself for asking drunk patrons of the Eel where to find this street.
She notices the beggar and the man talking to him, and she tosses a copper into the beggar's cup, if he has one, in passing. Still not sure if this is a trap or not, she heads to the door. Sable's not one to be overly cautious, so she opens the door and walks in.
Then she stops and laughs. "We all have to stop meeting like this." She walks to the table, sees the note about the food, and gets a glass of water. She then picks out a chair and sits down. "Did you two get a card too?" she asks Lenrelle and Talindra. Mine was slipped into the pocket of my robe when I was on stage. That was annoying."
Then she leans back, sipping from her cup and taking a moment to relax.
"Sable? Oh my." Then she nods "Yes, I got a card to. It was with the note I was left at first." And she shows it.
He leans forward with what he hopes is a charming smile. "Ho, friend. If you don't mind, I'd love to hear what you know of this place," Perivolt casually gestures to the well-kept cottage, "Anything interesting occurred here? Maybe a person or group of persons that seemed worth your notice?" Perivolt carefully allows a glint of silver peek through his fingers for the man's eyes only.
The beggar smiles, showing he still has teeth, at least. In a rough voice he notes "Owner's not home. Random people are letting themselves in as if invited. One at a time. Two up to this point. You'll be joining them I take it?" He looks at the hand with the coin in it. "Want to know about the ones who beat you here?"
"The first was a dwarf. Sick. Might have been the shakes, might be something else. He moved with purpose, but not well. Circling him should give you an advantage if you need it. The second was a woman. Young, healthy, attractive, and seemed to know the dwarf, though he didn't acknowledge her and she ended up chasing him into the building. Carried a sword but I saw no armor. Another just went in, armed and armored elven lass. I missed more because of this conversation. And there's another coming in, Sable, an entertainer I've seen about, also armed and armored. Then there's you. And me." The beggar rises, adjusts his clothing to restore his "lost" arm, and retrieves a sword tucked into the undergrowth, but close at hand. "We seem to make quite an unusual group."
And he walks over and into the house.
Once in, he looks about and says nothing, before displaying his card, the Peacock, and ensuring everyone can see he got the note he assumes gathered them all together. Then he grabs some bread and starts eating. No hesitation. No obvious concern over the others not having touched it.
|
|
Talindra starts when the door opens again, still feeling the adrenaline from the panic attack. It's never just the big peak; there's always some residual shaky jitters. She tries to steady herself with a breathing exercise: breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold, repeat. Something Elora had taught her. Her eyes shut and her face scrunches up for a moment as she loses the breathing rhythm. Her mind returns to the room a few moments later, after Ioca has settled.
"I'm sorry, I'm... I've had--been having--a rough couple days." Seeing Ioca helping himself to the food and drink, she eagerly takes some for herself. Physical sensations always help ground her. Now isn't the time for sparring or combat training, so food and drink will have to do. A bath, though...
She watches everyone else present their cards, and nods. "Yes, I received one as well. Somehow someone sneaked it into my prayer book. Gods know how they managed that. I practically never let it out of my sight." She takes the card out from her prayer book and sets it on the table. She runs her fingers along the lines of the coat of arms, the throne, the figures. "They're all so pretty! The shapes are outlined and have great contrast, but they have a softness to them showing the care and delicacy of their creation. And the colors are so vibrant! I wonder how they made that pink." She sighs--not a weary, draining sigh, but a sigh of released tension. "Art, beauty, and love are everywhere. Wisdom is being open to the serendipity of seeing that art and beauty and feeling that love." This basic teaching of Shelyn always bring her comfort. When they worked, the mindfulness exercises brought her peace, and today was no exception.
The incense braziers are simply stylized artwork, nothing of meaning you can determine.
The basket under the table does indeed hold loaves of bread and bottles of Varisian red wine. The bread is a little stale, and the wine, while not fine, is good enough. You chat amongst yourselves, a little anxiously, for the reason for your summons here has not yet been revealed.
Billi continues to make square patrols around the house, popping his head in about every five minutes. The first time back he grabs a single loaf of bread, fills up his mug with wine, politely bows, and head out again. Munching on the bread he begins to smile for the first time in a long time. He drinks the wine and savors the improvement over the watered down ale.
Wine is culture I can get behind. If this is my new clan, I am standing the first watch.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Lenrelle looks over the food, closes her eyes , and says "Sarenrae, I thank you for this bounty I am about to receive and she who has provided it. May it give us strength to dash the darkness clear so we may find and subdue our foe so he may hurt no others. The Dawn Shines in every hour if you seek it. So mote."
Then she samples some of the food, light on any wine, and says to her fellows, "You know art work better than I, Talindra. Some of the designs seem a bit disturbing to me, but they are lovely yes."
When the beggar comes in, Lenrelle realizes she failed to realize he was one of them, "Well, that's a life lesson for me about presumption on my part. Welcome, Sir. I'm Lenrelle."
The obviously whole man nods to Lenrelle. "I am Ioca. You all seem to have quite a lot yet to lose." He looks at the note on his card. "Maybe I misunderstood?"
While Lenrelle blesses the bread and wine, and Billi continues to walk the outer perimeter, the others speak softly amongst themselves, sharing a bit more about their lives and their reasons for gathering here.
As the dusk grows with the setting sun, Billi is back inside the house refilling his belly and mug, when the outer door of the cottage opens unexpectedly.
An attractive middle-aged Varisian woman with long, dark hair, pulled back under a familiar bright yellow scarf enters. She nods to you, and motions for you to be seated in the elegant chairs (there is just the right amount to accommodate the strange grouping, oddly enough). And while you do, she produces a deck of harrow cards from her pocket, idly shuffling them. Her skill with the deck and the deft movements of her hands are obvious to any who watch. The cards seems almost to float and dance across her fingers, almost of their own volition.
She continues shuffling and mixing the cards while she speaks:
"Thank you for coming, my friends, and for putting up with my unconventional method of contacting you. I have reason to remain hidden you see -- a vicious man woudl see great harm done to me if he knew I was reaching out for help. This man has done something terrible to each of you as well. I speak, of course, of Gaedren Lamm, a man whose cruelty and capacity to destroy the lives of those he touches are matched only by his gift or avoiding reprisal. You see, a year ago, his thieves stole this, my harrow deck, from me. It is important to me, an heirloom passed down through a dozen generations, and also my sole means of support. When Lamm's pickpockets stole it, my son Eran tracked them down and returned my deck to me. But Gaedren had him followed, and soon after he left my home, Lamm's thugs murdered him."
I sought help form the Korvosan Guard, but they turned me away. And so I asked around. I paid bribes. I consulted my harrow deck for advice. And recently, I was rewarded -- I found out where Gaedren dwells. He can be found in an old fishery north of here at Westpier 17, where he trains abducted children to be pickpockets and counts his stolen treasures."
"But I need your help. I cannot hope to face this man on my own, and the Guard moves so slowly that, even if they were willing to help, Gaedren would certainly know of their coming well in advance. And even if they arrested him, what guarantee would I have he would be punished? This criminal has evaded the law for decades. But you know of these frustrations a swell, for word on the street is that Lamm has wronged each of you, also."
"So there we are, it is time for him to pay!"
The whole time she speaks, her hands move the cards back and forth, in an almost hypnotic pattern, and when she is finished the cards are laid out in the 3x3 pattern of the Harrow.
"Should you wish to take may information and act against Lamm tonight, I will give you a harrowing, which may help you prepare for the task ahead of you, finding Gaedren Lamm, and meting out justice."
"The first step of a harrowing is The Choosing," the fortune teller says in her Varisian accented speech. She gathers up all the cards and with a final shuffle, spreads nine of them before you.
"Take one of these cards and it will be tied to you for this reading, and perhaps longer."
Once each of you have a card, the fortune teller motions for you to turn it over and show the others. She quietly explains what each card means in turn.
The obviously whole man nods to Lenrelle. "I am Ioca. You all seem to have quite a lot yet to lose." He looks at the note on his card. "Maybe I misunderstood?"
"It's not about what more we might lose I think. It's about keeping innocents from feeling the same pain we've already experienced." A sigh "It is nice to meet you, wish it were under better circumstances."
When their hostess returns and motions them to sit, she does so. A hundred questions on her mind. Some get answered right away. She winces at the woman's tragic loss, and says "I am so sorry for the loss of your son." She is sincere in her sympathy "We all know what a monster Lamm is. I can't speak for all, but of course I'll help you."
When asked to draw a card, she tentatively does so.
|
|
"--yes, I did paint the rose on my armor--" Talindra is in the middle of explaining the illustrations on her equipment when a woman walks in, a woman wearing the very familiar yellow scarf. She drops the conversation immediately, the newcomer having her complete attention.
"...When Lamm's pickpockets stole it, my son Eran tracked them down and returned my deck to me. But Gaedren had him followed, and soon after he left my home, Lamm's thugs murdered him."
Talindra gasps here. "I am so sorry! This definitely helps explain why you've sought us to help."
"...I found out where Gaedren dwells. He can be found in an old fishery north of here at Westpier 17[...]"
Talindra breaks eye contact and looks skyward for a moment, her brow furrowing.
"But I need your help. I cannot hope to face this man on my own, and the Guard moves so slowly that, even if they were willing to help, Gaedren would certainly know of their coming well in advance. And even if they arrested him, what guarantee would I have he would be punished? [...]"
A resigned sigh from the elf. "I've talked with the guard, too, and they're useless. It's surprising, in a way: this city is so ... stiflingly"--said with distaste--"... regimented, and yet the guard seem unwilling to do their jobs."
"So there we are, it is time for him to pay!"
"And pay he shall. For all his sins." Her voice low, almost a growl.
Talindra is so transfixed by the woman's words that she is only passingly aware of her skill with the Harrow deck. She reaches out to take a card that initially appeals to her, but quickly pulls her hand back and shakes her head. No, not that one... this one! Then, with more certainty, she takes a card and flips it as requested.
Ioca reaches out, tapping the middle card on the left before flipping it over.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Sable shakes her head at Talindra. That's not true at all. The Guard does their job as long as one is wealthy. Those of us that are not wealthy, or don't have the right connections, they don't care about justice. It's not fair or just, but it does make sense in a twisted way.
Sable also watches the cards being shuffled, and slowly, after licking her lips just once, she chooses her card.
Billi looks at the Varisian intently and keeps silent as she speaks. He seems to be looking nervously around the room, meeting each of your eyes in turn as if sizing you up. He nods before passing to the next person as he moves around the room.
He then slowly draws a card and confidently reveals it.
"Justice is the important word--the one that brought me here. Justice to Lamm. I pledge to sweat, suffer, toil, and probably bleed to end him. I will try to take any retribution from any divine or magical forces this course of action will bring, as I have little to lose. Those that join me will be a part of my new clan family."
These cards may tell me my fate for passing judgement on Lamm.
Everyone draws a card, but Perivolt is last to select. As he chooses, you each look at your card, and Zellara makes some comment about its meaning.
Lenrelle chooses first and flips her Choosing card over, revealing The Avalanche
Zellara sighs and arches an eyebrow. "An auspicious beginning. This card represents unrelenting disaster. I hope it is for Lamm, and not for you..."
Next Talindra, who changes her mind at the last moment, picks one. Her card is The Crows.
The fortune teller purses her lips and looks at the elven woman. "Another card of woe, this symbolizes the taking of dear items or loved ones. I was a victim of both, at Lamm's hands. I feel that you also have seen the loss of one close to you. As have many of you." She waits for Ioca to flip his card.
When revealed Ioca's card is The Dance.
"At last, something hopeful." says Zellara with a wry smile that doesn't quite reach her dark eyes. "Like a real dance, this card evokes a sense of harmony or cooperation. Your group must maintain this sense of togetherness if you are to have hope of cornering and killing Gaedren Lamm. He is a slippery one as you well know."
Sable knows cards and cardplay, so she trusts her luck and chooses. When the card is flipped upright, it reveals The Rabbit Prince.
A slight shrug from the Varisian fortune-teller reveals that this card is not ideal, but not terrible either. "You live with luck, yes?" she asks Sable with another raised eyebrow, saying she already knows the answer. "The Rabbit Prince means capriciousness, like luck itself. It means sudden and unexpected changes of a given situation. Lamm is crafty; he is capricious. You must be on your guard, and make your own luck." She give Sable a slight nod to reinforce her words.
Listening to Billi's brave words, Zellara gives the dwarf a smile. "Your card, Master Dwarf?" He lays it on the table showing a man tossing several items in the air at once -- The Juggler.
"This is a good omen, my friends. The Juggler tells us that Fate is on your side. That bodes well for your actions on this grave night. It fills me with hope for your endeavor."
Seeing her card causes Sable to grin and lean back in her chair. She's never been to a Harrow reading before, so she doesn't say anything, but it's not hard to tell she is rather pleased with the card she chose.
Lenrelle chooses first and flips her Choosing card over, revealing The Avalanche
Zellara sighs and arches an eyebrow. "An auspicious beginning. This card represents unrelenting disaster. I hope it is for Lamm, and not for you..."
"auspicious is.. not the word I normally associate with avalanches," She admits, "But thank you." I think. it is disturbing to her. Most other folks of chellish descent she knows would dismiss Varisian superstitions such as fortune cards. Lenrelle wonders if her goddess might not lend some more truth to it still to warn her. One has to be careful not to see signs in everything, but one is worse off to think NOTHING is a miracle. She mutters to herself "First a midwife, now an Avalanche" A look to Sable and Talindra, "Birth in disaster?"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The fortune teller purses her lips and looks at the elven woman. "Another card of woe, this symbolizes the taking of dear items or loved ones. I was a victim of both, at Lamm's hands. I feel that you also have seen the loss of one close to you. As have many of you."
Talindra grits her teeth at this, nodding grimly. "Lamm is a coward and a thief, among other crimes. Justice comes for him." She quietly observes the other cards, not really knowing what to expect. She's seen Harrow readings before, though never in a group setting like this. All the cards fit together to tell a story... albeit an ongoing story, incomplete. A puzzle but some of the pieces haven't been put in place yet. Her father would find this fascinating, though her own appreciation for the dramatic arts is more oriented toward reading and watching rather than creation of narrative.
Turning to Lenrelle, she gives a bit of a shrug. "I'm no Harrow reader. Maybe, maybe not. The cards tend to be figurative rather than literal. What I can say is that Shelyn--and indeed Sarenrae--will keep us safe." The words aren't quite so confident as they would have been a scant few weeks ago. Then, to reassure herself, more resolutely: "We leave tonight!"
"Want to know about the ones who beat you here?"
Perivolt hands over the silver coin.
"The first was a dwarf. Sick. Might have been the shakes, might be something else. He moved with purpose, but not well. Circling him should give you an advantage if you need it. The second was a woman. Young, healthy, attractive, and seemed to know the dwarf, though he didn't acknowledge her and she ended up chasing him into the building. Carried a sword but I saw no armor. Another just went in, armed and armored elven lass. I missed more because of this conversation. And there's another coming in, Sable, an entertainer I've seen about, also armed and armored. Then there's you. And me." The beggar rises, adjusts his clothing to restore his "lost" arm, and retrieves a sword tucked into the undergrowth, but close at hand. "We seem to make quite an unusual group."
Perivolt's mouth drops as he watches the one-armed begger's missing limb reappear as if by magic, and the man strides into the home. He can't help but chuckle at how easily he'd been taken, and how the man had simply taken his coin without batting an eye despite obviously sharing a common interest. Perivolt followed the man inside but remained more aloof. Quite a collection of folks here. Best to wait and see what happens. The wizard kept quiet and watched.
Sable shakes her head at Talindra. That's not true at all. The Guard does their job as long as one is wealthy. Those of us that are not wealthy, or don't have the right connections, they don't care about justice. It's not fair or just, but it does make sense in a twisted way.
Perivolt winced slightly and wondered if things really were that bad. During his time of searching for Graykos, he had noticed some inequities with the way the poorer districts plea for assistance from the city watch had been delayed, but he had always assumed it was just a lack of manpower or even awareness of chronic abusers of the system. It was truly terrible to think such an attitude may be exactly why Lamm had been able to avoid punishment for so long.
Having waited to see how the Harrowing would play out, he realized he was now the last to pick a card. He tentatively left his spot in the back of the room and approached the remaining four cards. The dark-haired woman watched him closely. He could feel the impatience of the others in the room.
"Sorry for the delay..." he muttered softly.
"He's a thief. I don't think it's wise to assume he is a coward. Sable quietly cautions. For now, that is all she says.
”Juggler and paladin—my cause is just and fated!!”
Billi reveals his paladin card to the group.
"Caution is not cowardice. What looks like an over-abundance of caution can be mistaken for cowardice, but you have to know what is at risk, and what the nature of the risk actually is to know if it is an over-abundance of caution or simply awareness of the threat. Lamm knows that his very existence is at risk. You can't do what he has done without making enemies who will want to see you end, some of them working with the protection of the law, even. Do any of you know what attempts he has discovered and thwarted already? I don't. But I know others have tried for him. His defenses have kept him alive despite our forebearer's efforts."
|
|
Talindra flushes, hearing the wisdom of those around her, seeing how she has yet again let her feelings take over. She nods to Sable. "You're right. I've always been passionate. It was something I was working on with Elora. I always thought she was too cautious, she always thought I was too fiery. It's clearly something I still need to work on." Not cautious enough, clearly...what a fool I was...
Ioca's words give her pause. He hasn't said much in her presence, but she now regards the young man with quiet respect. Several moments of quiet consideration. "You have a point. Maybe we should have a plan instead of just charging his place. Especially given--" here nodding at Sable, acknowledging her earlier point about justice for the rich--"how he seems to be protected by the guard. He's probably got some of his own guards, some lookouts, maybe other surprises..." Her eyes move between Ioca and Perivolt and Billi. They've both been quiet, and usually it's the quiet ones who have the best insights. Perhaps it'd be better to listen. I've managed to surround myself with surprisingly smart, insightful people.
When there is a break in the discussion, Zellara reads the last card chosen by Perivolt. It is The Demon's Lantern showing a picture of a will-o-the-wisp or some other similar eerie lights.
Zellara looks concerned. "This card is not good, no.. It is very bad even. It means an impossible situation. Traps or mind games. Something very difficult lies ahead for you. Perhaps it is an encounter with Lamm, perhaps something else."
with the Choosing over, Zellara takes your cards back (just the choosing cards, not the ones found that summoned you here) and shuffles them back into the deck. again, you are fascinated, almost hypnotized, by the movement of the cards and her hands...all thoughts of Lamm, and the trouble that brought you here momentarily forgotten.
When the fortune-teller stops shuffling, the thoughts rush back, but she hushes you with a word. "Now, the reading begins in earnest," she says her accent perhaps even more pronounced as she slips into the Varisian persona. She lays out 9 cards in a 3x3 grid before you. "Here we are the Spread. It will tell you of things past" (she indicates the first column of the grid with a deft hand), "things present" (the middle column) "and things future, you see?" her hand waves past the last column on your right.
"The first column, it also represents Law, for the past is unchangeable and set in stone. The middle column stands for neutrality; for the present is the sum total of the events of the past yet open to the infinite possibilities of the many futures. It is a crossroads between order and chaos. The last column shows events that might or might now come true. This is chaos, the unknown and unknowable. The future is not set in anything, and all things, for good or ill, are possible."
"Also," she continues. "The rows of the Harrowing have meaning. The top row is Good -- things that benefit might benefit you. The last row is where Evil dwells -- things you must be careful of, yes? And the middle row, is things that in balance, they are neither good nor evil, they simply are, adn must be dealt with accordingly. You understand Zellara, no?"
She looks at each of you in turn, making eye contact that is intense, and perhaps a little disturbing before exclaiming with a sideshow flourish: "Now, let Zellara reveal what the harrow will!"
She reaches for the first card on the top row of the past (law) column.
Billi looks at the Varisian intently and keeps silent as she speaks. He seems to be looking nervously around the room, meeting each of your eyes in turn as if sizing you up. He nods before passing to the next person as he moves around the room.
He then slowly draws a card and confidently reveals it.
"Justice is the important word--the one that brought me here. Justice to Lamm. I pledge to sweat, suffer, toil, and probably bleed to end him. I will try to take any retribution from any divine or magical forces this course of action will bring, as I have little to lose. Those that join me will be a part of my new clan family."
When the dwarf meets Lenrelle's eyes, he finds her gaze kindly, and his words seem to stir her, "I'd be honored to help you. I've seen what this monster does to people. I've tried to heal it. But Lamm is like a rabid beast. He keeps biting, and spreading the disease of misery and dependency. We stop him, we save many."
She nods as Perivolt comes in and apologizes for being late. "Better late than never."
At the talk of the man's defenses, she says "Sounds like we should scope out his area as best we can, see who does defend him and adapt our plan accordingly. We may have to wait and hurry up. That is, patiently stalk him, then move VERY fast when we see our chance. I've seen wolves at hunt once. I was very young. They gather around the prey from various angles and try to cut off escape. We may have to take that tact."
When the Demon Lantern is drawn by Perivolt, she hears how bad a sign it is and frowns.
Then Zellara gets to the last drawing, and she grows attentive again putting aside her concerns. Maybe this is nonsense, maybe it will help. Either way it's rude not to pay attention to your hostess and Lenrelle is fairly sure that Zellara believes what she is saying, and thus THIS is part of how she helps. I won't take that away from her. Sarenrae teaches honesty, but I don't know this is false, and I won't tell a woman she is truly powerless, not when she's felt so for too long.
When there is a break in the discussion, Zellara reads the last card chosen by Perivolt. It is The Demon's Lantern showing a picture of a will-o-the-wisp or some other similar eerie lights.
Zellara looks concerned. "This card is not good, no.. It is very bad even. It means an impossible situation. Traps or mind games. Something very difficult lies ahead for you. Perhaps it is an encounter with Lamm, perhaps something else."
Perivolt's brow furrows at the result. Then he shakes his head with a sigh. "No surprise really. Traps and mind games? Everyday life in the Ornelas households. If this card doesn't have something to do my family, I can honestly say that might be a blessing rather than a curse.
He quiets down as Zellara prepares to explain how her next reading works and provide the answers it gives her. Fascinating, he thinks, observing the Varisian woman's hands. Divination had probably always been his one weak area of study as creation of magic and directing it had always been more his forte.
Zellara lifts the card in top left section which indicates past good and lawful events. The card revealed is the Queen Mother. Zellara explains that this card means obedience or fealty, and that in the city, those who obey the law were rewarded, at least in the past. "In this location, this card has importance, therefore greater meaning for you."
The second card of the the past column is then turned by the deft hand of the fortune-teller. It is The Rakshasa. "Again this card is aligned to the space," says Zellara. "That means it is meaningful. The Rakshasa means mental control or enslavement. The people say the Chelaxian queen Ileosa casts spells to control old King Eodred, it could mean that. It could also mean the way Lamm enslaves his little lambs, making them do evil deeds in his name."
The last card in the row of Law/Past is revealed to be The Tangled Briar. "This card is misaligned It is a Good card in the row for Evil. This means it has the opposite interpretation. in this way, the card means elder evil returning to make an impact. I do not know what this portends, but something evil has been at work in Korvosa, you can be sure."
Zellara turns to the middle row, that which represents the present. The first card, when flipped shows The Rabbit Prince. This is the card Sable drew during the choosing and Zellara looks right at her. "This card is for you, my dear. In this place, it represents the chaos of combat or defeat in combat. I would say this bodes ill for your, but the Prince is a fickle card, and it could mean defeat for your enemies as well. Let us hope that is the case, yes?"
The middle card of the spread is next, which represents the neutral nature of the present. It is The Courtesan. Zellara says, "This card is also positioned in a place of great importance. It means political intrigue is going on in Korvosa, even as we speak. I had heard rumor that the old king was ill, but perhaps there is more to that story, no?"
The last card in the column representing the present is The Carnival. The fortune reader explains that this card symbolizes illusions or false plans. It is strongly aligned. Zellara gives a wry smile. "It is possible that things are not as they seem, even now in the present. Who knows, yes?"
The last column, which means the future, starts with a card for Good. The deft hands turn his card, and Zellara smiles. "This card is strongly-positioned and bodes well for all of your futures. It is The Keep. As you can see it means unshakeable strength, something you will have. Some way to protect us all perhaps."
The middle card is revealed to be The Survivor. Zellara raises an eyebrow. "This card is misaligned, so it has opposite meaning. Normally it means finding some thing lost, but in this case, it means profound loss. In the future, you will face loss, perhaps something dear to you. Be prepared, yes?"
The last card, which is the evil perspective of the future, is finally turned, and is shown to be The Peacock. "This means a sudden personal shift. A change is coming for evil for someone. Maybe in this group, may just affecting this group. But be wary!"
Zellara regathers her cards, and goes through the motions of shuffling and mixing them again. "My cards are special to me. You may not believe, but they are attuned to the music of the city. They know much even things that we may not yet know, or that have not come to pass or to our attention. Be vigilant for what I say shall transpire, whether you see it or not."
Finally she puts the harrow deck away in her pocket once again. "My friends, I brought you here to reveal the location of our common enemy. I am but a humble fortune-teller and have no skill with magic or blade. So you must act for us. I have told you where Lamm is, and I will tell you the way there, but you must do the rest. Strike for my son Eran, strike for justice, strike for all of Korvosa!"
Lenrelle's brow knits at the cards drawn, "There is very little good news in many of these portents, Madame Zellara. But one can't blind herself to danger just because it's unpleasant to dwell on."
She looks at her new allies, "I think we should move quickly. If everyone has the equipment they'd take with them, maybe now. Lamm has his own contacts and resources. This maybe the one time we can move fast enough so he won't have time to flee. But.. I'm hardly adept at skullduggery or combat tactics."
She stays focused on Lamm. This talk of the King and Queen is far beyond her. There's an order to any triage... Lamm is a problem and must be tended to first. The rest can be checked for symptoms, later.
Billi follows the reading with complete attention, all thoughts of making rounds and standing guard forgotten. When he sees the inverted Survivor, and hears the explanation, he gasps. Then as she finishes he moves close to their host with concern.
"My lady, I am humbled by how you have gathered this group and laid in motion this important plan. I also see how this feels destined. But I am incredibly concerned for your personal safety!! I do not think you have considered fully the dangers of getting the information on a person as dangerous as Lamm. Have you looked into your future?? I do not feel there is anywhere safer than in our company, and I truly feel you are more important to seeing this through than I am."
Torag never communicated this directly. Who would I most fear to lose now??
Billi suddenly seems to realize his earlier fears, a paranoia that he hopes is not drug induced. Zellara just did look into the future. "Can we relocate you to a safe spot on our way to Lamm??" Billi is scared, for he thinks he knows who the loss is going to be.
Billi whispers to Talindara.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Ignoring the faint whispers of Billi's secrets with Talindra, Perivolt stands and spreads his hands addressing the room of full of surging emotions. "Well met, comrades of similar goals. My friends," he pauses to smile,"May I call us friends? I can see that some of us are already acquainted."
Perivolt gestures at Talindra, Billi, Lenrelle, and Sable.
"Others like myself are new to this ready-made cabal but seem to observe more than they let on." The wizard's eyes dart to meet Ioca's appraising gaze. "While others seem to know more than expected entirely and may be using that for their own potential gain or even motives yet to be revealed." Perivolt looks directly at the Varisian harrower.
He raises his hands to forestall any indignant interruptions. "Now, hear me out. Before anyone allows their righteous desire to bring Gaedran Lamm what he cosmically deserves to shout me down," he pauses again to make sure anyone beginning such an outburst has time to give him chance to speak, "I, too, have sought the whereabouts of Lamm for many months. Because I need to find my brother."
Perivolt's eyes harden and the intensity of his gaze sweeps across the gathered party.
"Gaedran Lamm must live until I know where Graykos is." A crackle of magical electricity threads between his left hand's fingers until he clenches his fist to snuff it out. "If you cannot forestall your own urges of whatever you consider justice, I urge you to stand down from this infiltration tonight. If we are to succeed, we need cool heads and thoughtful action not cavalier abandon stoked only by the passions we're feeling at finally realizing a goal long sought."
Perivolt takes a deep a breath. "I promise you, I will treat you all as if we are the closest friends and offer aid to you during this venture, but only if we can promise each other," his eyes meet each of the room's occupants', "Lamm lives to see everyone's justice not only from one of us."
He turns and approaches Zellara. "No offense intended, wise Zellara. In my life, it has been difficult to accept a perfect answer without some suspicion when given freely and no visible strings. Your words today either make you the guiding angel for which I have been praying or the exact honeypot to bait the trap into which I willingly walk. After all, The Demon's Lantern has dogged me my entire life up to now, and a wanderer," the wizard reaches out and draws a card from the Harrow deck in Zellar's hands and holds up the card without looking, displaying The Wanderer, the card Perivolt had provided on arrival, "must always be prepared."
He places the card on her reading cloth and waits for the party's response.
|
|
Talindra watches the Harrowing, not really sure what to make of it. She has some familiarity with it, but the complexities and subtleties are lost on her. She knows there's multiple interpretations for the cards--more than the alignments and inversions in this reading, even--but how to know which one is the right one? There's guidance, to be sure, but it's not as clear and obvious as what the clergy teach her.
But that's the thing: Zellara's had training in this, probably from the time she was very little. Makes sense if the deck's an heirloom. She's had training in this like I've had Shelyn's training.
Talindra follows the Harrowing, noting how there's a bit of theatrics to Zellara's interpretation, even as she is trying to help everyone here. There's an art to it, an art that Talindra doesn't fully understand, but she appreciates it. She smiles a bit; seeing the art and beauty in everything is one of the core Shelynite tenets. The smile fades when Zellara draws the Survivor. Her breath catches in her throat and she finishes the last of her drink.
"My cards are special to me. You may not believe, but they are attuned to the music of the city."
Talindra nods. "I do believe, it makes sense. The cards, like you, are of the city. You both belong here. The city's energy, its breath, its song, is in both of you."
"My friends, I brought you here to reveal the location of our common enemy. I am but a humble fortune-teller and have no skill with magic or blade. So you must act for us.
"Oh, goodness, no! I wouldn't ask you or anyone to put themselves in danger like that. I think everyone you've summoned here wants to move against Lamm, though I won't assume."
"I think we should move quickly. If everyone has the equipment they'd take with them, maybe now."
This ignites the fire in Talindra again, having been extinguished a bit from Ioca's wisdom earlier. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the opportunity to right so many wrongs, maybe it was everything. "Yes! The sooner we move the better. Surprising Lamm will be our best chance."
whisper whisper whisper
Not one to keep a secret, Talindra responds to this aloud. "I think Billi is right. You've taken great risks to get all of our attention, and even greater risk bringing us all here today. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you."
Ignoring the faint whispers of Billi's secrets with Talindra, Perivolt stands and spreads his hands addressing the room of full of surging emotions. "Well met, comrades of similar goals. My friends," he pauses to smile,"May I call us friends? I can see that some of us are already acquainted."
How quick humans are to make friends! Still, having friends is nice. Talindra nods, listening.
"Now, hear me out. Before anyone allows their righteous desire to bring Gaedran Lamm what he cosmically deserves to shout me down," he pauses again to make sure anyone beginning such an outburst has time to give him chance to speak, "I, too, have sought the whereabouts of Lamm for many months. Because I need to find my brother."
"Gaedran Lamm must live until I know where Graykos is." A crackle of magical electricity threads between his left hand's fingers until he clenches his fist to snuff it out. "If you cannot forestall your own urges of whatever you consider justice, I urge you to stand down from this infiltration tonight. If we are to succeed, we need cool heads and thoughtful action not cavalier abandon stoked only by the passions we're feeling at finally realizing a goal long sought."
Regardless of her exposure to magic as a champion of Shelyn and a resident of Absalom, Talindra always finds arcane magic to be somehow surprising. Its workings are foreign to her, as if her brain just doesn't work that way. She shifts back in her seat, her eyes going a little wide. As she begins to regain composure, she deflates, her earlier excitement fading again. "I...--" a heavy, weary sigh. And a stifled yawn? The adrenaline from the panic attack is finally leaving her, and she shivers ever so slightly. "You're right. You're right." Turning to Lenrelle, "He's got a point. I hate to admit it, but he's got a point. Seems we're two of a kind, eh? Two of the faithful ready to dash off on a holy quest." A bit of a laugh. An honest one. It doesn't feel wrong, or forced, and she doesn't feel guilty about it. I missed that.
Perivolt takes a deep a breath. "I promise you, I will treat you all as if we are the closest friends and offer aid to you during this venture, but only if we can promise each other," his eyes meet each of the room's occupants', "Lamm lives to see everyone's justice not only from one of us."
Returning her gaze to Perivolt, she stands up straight, focuses on him for several moments. "With Shelyn as my witness, you have my word." Her words are stern, yet there's no hint of the sadness or depression that has plagued her for so long. She offers him her hand, giving too firm a handshake should he take it, as one unaware of their own strength.
The self-mobile grease stain stands and moves along a wall as he starts talking. "Something will happen to her, eventually. Something will happen to Lamm, too, eventually. Same with each of us. No one here can prevent those truths from being demonstrated. Our question is: are we willing to wait for something to happen to Lamm, or do we want to cause it? This one," as he indicated Perviolt, "seems ready to keep anything from happening to Lamm until he gets an answer that may never come. Will never come if Lamm understands that silence protects him. As our independent efforts should have taught us, Lamm knows how to protect the secret of his location. Do we risk him moving before we act? Do we risk losing him in the city, again, because we want an answer we can't get by waiting?"
He loops around the corner and starts pacing on the far wall, behind the Harrower.
"You spoke earlier about the watch, and how justice is run in this city." He points at Perviolt again. "Exactly like that. Nothing can be done to punish someone I THINK I can get something I want from. We're here BECAUSE that doesn't help any of us." He throws his arms out to his sides, before letting them fall, sighing as they bounce off his torso.
Sable takes a few moments to digest everything and doesn't speak for a little while. Finally, when she does, she chooses her words carefully, her tone contemplative.
"If we get answers or not, if we manage to get to him and catch him, what happens after? Is the group proposing to arrest him and turn him over to the authorities, or are we suggesting we murder him once we know what he knows, if he knows anything that can help us? What is the plan if we manage to do what others have failed to do?"
She keeps leaning back in her chair, eyes flickering from one person to the next.
"The guard will hold him until paid to do otherwise. Money will arrive long before he is even tried. They do not punish those they can get something from. Turning him over is not an option."
”Let me take care of this justice after we get all we need from him, but first we make sure Zellara is safe.”. Billi gets up and gets ready to move.
Perivolt winces as he takes Talindra’s firm grasp even as Ioca begins his tirade.
Perivolt looks at Ioca incredulously.
“Are you only here to join a lynch mob?” He gestures to the others present. “Unless my eyes deceive me, everyone here wants something from Lamm whether it’s answers, punishment by the law, or something less lawful. However, not one person here so far has suggested in delay or not taking action to locate the notorious Gaedran Lamm.”
His eyes bore into the self-named grease stain. “Lamm’s punishment or justice or whatever you want from him satisfies none of my desires. If that is your end goal then go wait in whatever hole from out which a charlatan like you crawled and trouble this party no more as we search not just for justice but also for answers and satisfaction demanded by the missing pieces in our souls.” The last comes out with an arrogant sneer directed at the former beggar.
His disdain for Ioca couldn’t be more obvious as Ioca immediately undermines Perivolt’s desire of assurance everyone will seek to share the goals of all. Perivolt says, “I can’t even begin to understand why one as selfish as you would be asked to join this group if you can’t put the needs of all above your own ‘concept’,” the wizard spits as if speaking a necessary vulgarity in polite company, “of retribution and justice. It’s very clear what end you desire for Lamm.”
Perivolt shakes his head at such a lack of imagination and understanding.
"Is it? Then it is obvious how he wronged me, too! So, what has he done to me? Hunh?" He's not waiting for an answer, in case it needed to be said. "The same thing he's done to you, you thoughtlessly selfish fool. Nothing matters to you but getting an answer he will never willingly provide. Nothing but having him show you where to find someone he probably doesn't even remember. The difference is I KNOW he doesn't remember my sister and I'm not starting by lying to myself and others that he will be able to give me closure on what part of his machine he's hidden her in, on what he's done with her. None of our people are important enough to him for him to CARE who they are or what their status is. My problem is not blood lust. It is having others blinded by false hope setting demands that will not be met."