Korvosa, A city balanced on the edge of a knife. For weeks now the rumors of King Eodred Arabasti II ill health have swirled among the streets of the city. The king lies ill, perhaps dying, of some incurable form of leprosy. None of the city's physicians nor the temple's priests have been able to stem the tide of this horrible affliction.
Many believe that Eodred II is just the latest victim of the Curse of the Crimson Throne, a superstitious belief that no one who rules Korvosa shall live to die of old age, nor produce an heir to follow them. With no clear line of succession the right of rulership would fall to Queen Ileosa, Eodred's scandalously young bride, who the people see as little more than a spoiled, foreign (as she hails from Cheliax), gold digger with little to no concern for the city's populace.
Given the uncertain future, there a those who have taken to the streets proclaiming dark days ahead for the city-state and the end of times to come.
Yet despite the pall that hangs over Korvosa, life continues unabated.
As you return to the caravan after another fruitless day of searching the city streets for any sign of Gaedren Lamm you make your way to your vardo to get some sleep before beginning the search again before the caravan leaves Korvosa at the weeks end. As you ready for bed you notice something strange laying on your pillow, it's a Harrow card. The picture of The Cricket stares back at you. Turning the card around you are surprised to see a note written on the backing.
I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.
Heading back outside you show the card to others from the caravan and no one saw anyone near your wagon, nor have any idea how it must have gotten there. The elderly woman, who must be ancient now, who took you in consults her own deck and although she cannot tell you who left the card she knows that for the sake of your future, and your soul, that you must answer the summons.
One night, after the bar has closed, you begin the task of cleaning up. After flipping the chairs up and sweeping the floor you start cleaning the dishes when you notice something odd, something is sticking up out of one of the glasses. It's a card from a Harrow deck, a deck of cards Varisian fortune tellers use in their trade. Bemused you pull the card from the glass and on it's face is a picture of a cloaked figure holding a mummified hand whose fingers seem to end in some kind of keys. It isn't until you turn the card over that you almost drop it in shock as written across the back is a note which reads
I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.
How did this get here?, Who knows that I've been searching for Lamm, Who are these "others" that the note speaks of? These and a million other questions swirl through your mind as you stare blankly at the card.
As you prepare to leave the caravan you are approached by Papa Jarl, who wishes you luck and hopes you find what you're looking for and that should you change your mind he caravan is leaving at the end of the week.
You procure a room at the Three Rings Tavern and begin your search for any sign of Lamm or his whereabouts. After a few days of searching the streets you return to your room only to find something propped up against your pillow. It's a Harrow card, like the ones used by those in the caravan to fleece gullible locals out of some coin as they tell them their "future". The card is The Juggler, a giant of man who's juggling all manner of things as he strides through the forest. It isn't until you turn the card over that you notice a note written on the back, it reads
I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.
You question the tavern's owner, Theandra Darklight, and neither she nor her bouncer have had anyone come looking for you nor, as far as they are aware, has anyone visited your room. It seems like all your questions about Lamm have finally reached the ears of someone who knows where he can be found.
You awake from the dreams of your past, to find that they are just that, passed. The sun is shining as if the Goddess herself is blessing the day. You make your way from your cell within the temple confines to the main temple itself to offer your prayers of thanks and forgiveness to the Dawnflower. As you kneel at the altar you notice something amiss. There appears to be something tucked within the statue's outstretched arms. Upon closer inspection you find a card, a Harrow card, like those in the caravan of your youth used to use to predict the future and to fleece some of the more gullible locals out of their hard earned coin. Staring at the card you see a picture of The Theater staring back at you. Turning the card over your face turns pale with shock as you read the note scrawled on the back.
I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.
Turning from the altar you question the other priests and attendants who cannot recall having seen the card before you found it and have no idea on how it must have gotten there.
Later you are called in to see one of the senior priests of the temple who tells you "I understand that you received a note, found upon the altar. No one saw whoever placed that note so it remains a mystery that only the Goddess knows the answer to. So I tell you seek out this man, this Gaedren Lamm, and for your own sake turn him towards the light but failing that you must end his reign of terror however you see fit"
You wake in the morning and, as you have always done, break out your deck of cards to do a reading before heading out for the day. As you sit there idly shuffling the deck you notice something out of the ordinary, one of the cards has a different backing than yours. The card is The Joke. A card representing a creature that can only be defeated by trickery. You drop the card on the table as you read the note written on the back of the card
I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.
Your searching for Victor has finally reached the ears of someone offering to help, but how they managed to get the note in your most prized possession remains a mystery not even the Harrow can fathom.
Or perhaps she was overthinking this and the message had been sent by someone who knew nothing of the cards. She certainly couldn’t imagine a true practitioner writing on a single card and giving it away like this. The deck would be forever ruined.
Only one way to be sure.
Yelena thinks carefully. She could ask if this was a trap, but truthfully that wasn’t what most interested her. Honesty was of utmost importance when reading for one’s self.
Will following this card lead me to Victor?
Constitution for the choosing. She carefully shuffles those cards before flipping one over. The Trumpet. The archon on the card does not hesitate to throw himself into danger when doing what he knows is right. An interesting start.
She returns the cards to her deck and shuffles again before carefully laying out the spread.
Past
Two cards whisper to her, both partial matches. The Juggler represents those who play with the lives and destinies of others, while the Cyclone represents plans that destroy everything they touch. She finds it difficult to imagine either card nor referring to Lamm. But appearing in the past, not the present or future…interesting again.
Present
The Survivor, no surprise by now but always a welcome sight. The other two cards stay silent and so she ignores them, moving rapidly to the last cards of the spread.
Future
Only one card whispers here as well, but what a card it is. The Eclipse, misaligned. A new ability discovered…and a concealed location revealed.
Yelena’s frown turns to a slow smile. ”Finally, she whispers, and gathers the cards of her deck together once more. The foreign Joke she carefully places on top. There’s still plenty of time before sunset and at least one person she needs to inform of the new development.
Adrian and Titia have already finished their breakfasts by the time she heads downstairs. She grabs a chunk of bread and sticks her head into the workroom where Adrian is working on a commissioned dining set. ”I’m going to visit Gerinel. I’ll be gone all day, so tell Titia I won’t be here for dinner.”
Adrian nods slowly. ”Be careful heading to the caravan. Stick to the main streets.”
”Of course, Tată.” She gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out the door.
It takes Yelena a while to make her way from Midland to the outskirts of the city where the caravan rests. Particularly since she follows her father’s instructions and avoids the narrow back alleys that could have cut her journey in half. At last she arrives and waves to the first person she sees. ”Is Gerinel still here? I’ve got something I need to talk to him about.”
"Thank you, Papa. I don't know if I could live with myself if I didn't try to stop this abuse. Our scavengers and the Lambs may do similar things on the street, but they have very different lives, and no one deserves to live like that. It is possible. I could give up and return before you depart. I might even get lucky enough to solve this problem in time. Desna could light the way and Cayden could guide my steps! Who knows?" He takes the proffered arm in a solid clasp, smirking slightly as he turns towards Korvosa proper.
----
You would think SOMEBODY would have seen them? SOMEBODY has to know where they hole up, how his cut of the take gets to him? How is it possible for so many people to know so little about an operation this old and successful? It doesn't take too many days of dead ends for the frustration to begin building.
----
Throwing his cloak at the bed, Tawni spots the card as the cloak knocks it to the floor. As he retrieves it, from his perspective it is both face up, and on its side, presenting neither directly nor inverted. A Harrow card? Looks like a giant juggling? The Juggler then, right? Something about the gods messing in our affairs or such. Wait, what's this written on the back?
----
Returning to the main room, still without his cloak, Tawni asks about any unexpected visitors. Hearing that no one knew of any, he orders a simple dinner, consuming it both to fuel himself and to eat some of the remaining time before sunset. Afterwards, he gathers his cloak, and what few other possessions he has, in case, before asking for directions to the top of Lancet Street. He does a pretty poor job of hiding his movements, if he had been trying to, as he has to ask multiple people clarifying directions before he can find the destination. Tawni draws up short once he sees the place, looking for any signs of trouble or ambush.
So unsure about her path, Trinity stands motionless while staring at the card. “So much darkness surrounds this man.” She shakes her head in a feeble attempt to dislodge her despair. “I will do as I must, but I take no joy in it.” After tucking the card into her belt, she heads back to her room and begins preparing for what the evening might have instore for her.
(Mr. Lamm undoubtedly deserves his fate. Much like the rest of us, he is no more or less a victim of his own path. Yet I can’t help feeling regret about the choice I will likely face.)
Slightly before sunset, Trinity slips out, trying not to draw any further attention to herself. Laden with a full pack, she begins heading towards Lancet Street, where she begins following the different building numbers. (Five, four, three. This must be it.) Staring at the location, she stands motionless for a moment while taking everything in. Moments later, she heads up to the door and knocks.
Hei-wa glances around the empty pub before pocketing the card and considering it as he continues to clean. He wasn’t Varisian but he’d been around them most of his life. He even spoke their language. So, he had a tenuous grasp of the Harrow, and the card of the Locksmith was… compelling. Lamm was proving a difficult puzzle to solve. Lately, Hei-wa had been considering if he needed help or to take a page from Lamm’s own book to defeat him. Maybe this Lancet Street person is the locksmith I need?
The Tian then dispassionately considers the other possibility. Lamm is on to me and this meeting is a trap. But this seems a bit dramatic for him. If he left the card, he knows where I am. Why go with a ruse like this instead of just swatting me down? Even if it was a trap, Hei-wa had to see it through… It would still be a good chance to learn more about his adversary.
He closes the bar, as usual, and heads home in the late-night gloom, watching for any signs of a tail.
In his small apartment, he organizes his weapons and gear – packing everything he might need for a covert mission or a nasty fight. Whether Lancet St was a trap or not, he didn’t intend to show up when and as expected. So, around noon - after a few hours of sleep – Hei-wa sneaks out of his apartment and tries to stealthily make his way to Lancet St to observe the house, its occupants, and visitors clandestinely until the appointed meeting time.
Tawni is the first to arrive on Lancet Street, stopping before the door to #3 he sees that it is some kind of storefront for some kind of fortune telling shop. Painted on the front window are the words in bright, gaudy letters "Madame Zellara's" and underneath that in smaller letters are the words "The Harrow Knows All"
He pauses outside to glance around and seeing nothing out of the ordinary takes a deep breath and enters the shop. He barely has time to look around when he hears a knock on the door from outside.
Trinity heads out of temple late in the afternoon to make her way to the mysterious rendezvous. Thinking to herself she recalls that the address seemed familiar to her but she can't seem to recall why. Once on Lancet Street the familiar surroundings trigger her memory as recalls that #3 is the home and fortune telling shop of Zellara Esmeranda, a Varisian Harrow reader. Knocking on the door she is surprised when it's opened by a tall, Varisian man.
Hei-wa arrives early and takes up position across and up the street from what appears to be a normal shop, proclaiming to be some sort of fortune telling business. Hours pass as he catches a few glances from those who pass by but draws no undo attention. Shortly before sunset a Varisian man in a wide brimmed hat approaches the shop, and stopping to look down at a piece of paper in his hand, looks up at the address number above the shop before entering. He is quickly followed by a young woman who approaches the shop and knocks on the door, only pausing a moment before it is opened the man who arrived earlier. Hei-wa makes his way across the street and enters the shop.
Yelena and Gerinel make their way through the city from the caravan park to Lancet Street. Walking down the street they arrive at #3 just in time to see a man of Tian descent enter the shop before them.
The front room of this small, humble shop consists of a single chamber filled with a fragrant haze of flowers and strong spice. The aroma comes from several sticks 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-blasted 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 and several elegant, tall-backed chairs.
A basket covered by blue cloth sits under the table.
Tawni, as the first to arrive, finds a simple note on the table held down by a stone paperweight. Picking it up he quickly reads it before answering the knock at the door, it reads
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.
Tawni opens the door with the note still in his hand. Looking at Trinity, he moves aside even as he asks the obvious question, "Zellera?"
"Ah, well, I'm Tawni. I'm guessing you received the same sort of invitation I did?" He holds the note, not the card, up. "There's a basked under the table that she says we should enjoy until she can return. Shall we?"
"Desna smiles," Gerinel says when he discovers The Cricket perched on his pillow. He takes it up and turns it over in his hand, noticing the note on the back. He skims it and the name jumps out almost immediately...Gaedren Lamm...He knew he was not the only one the old man had wronged, but to be reached out to by them...maybe it was time after all.
He emerged from his vardo and asked around, only to learn it hadn't been left by anyone else in the caravan, not even Baba. He nods knowingly when she says he must answer the summons.
"Desna smiles," he tells her. "I knew it was time already...now that I know others have decided the same, there's no way Lamm will escape."
Then he notices an old kinswoman arrive to the camp.
"Desna smiles indeed!"
He approaches and waves.
"Yelena! It's good to see you again! What brings you back on this fine, fine day?"
The day passes. Hei-wa watches the shop and street, looking for any signs of trouble. Seeing nothing more than the various strangers heading to the shop, he has to concede that either this strange meeting is what it appears to be or Lamm’s people have outfoxed him… again.
Without a better option, he crosses the street and let’s himself into the shop. The curious tapestries draw his attention before the room’s occupants. After a moment, he regards the others and offers them each a polite and silent bow before moving to stand near one of the tapestry covered walls.
Looking slightly confused when the shop’s door opened, reveling a dark-haired varisian man who seemed a bit more debonair than what she was used to. His demeanor seemed as if he was unsure about her. “No, my name is Trinity. I’m here looking for the person who left a message for me on this card.” She states while pulling out the Harrow card and presenting it. "I’m not sure exactly who left this, but I do have unsettled business with Gaedren Lamm."
Acknowledging Tawni’s polite offer to enter the building, Trinity steps through the door and over to one of the chairs. There, she sat her backpack on the floor next to the chair. Trinity's dark curly hair rests comfortably past her shoulders and down onto a dark set of studded leather armor. After readjusting a thin rapier, that had been resting comfortably against her left hip, she sat down in the chair. Shortly after taking a deep breath, she looked back over at Tawni. “Do you know anything about what’s going on?”
The day seemed never ending as Trinity sat patiently at the table. Her weariness was cut short when the door opened, reveling another dark-haired man. She quietly observed as the man enter the establishment and then began peering at the different tapestries. “Hello.” She offered in hopes of catching his attention.
I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.
”Whoever or whatever left this message broke into my room and left it in my deck without waking anyone. From what you’ve told me that’s not Lamm’s style. It could still be a trap but the cards whisper otherwise.” The smile has been replaced with a fierce look of determination. ”A hidden location is about to be revealed. Victor’s location. I’m sure of it. Will you come with me?”
Arriving promptly at sunset is a young Varisian woman with long, curly black hair. Dark green eyes set in a tanned face quickly scan the room, noting the other occupants. Her outfit is simple by Varisian standards, consisting of a white ruffled blouse and a long skirt almost the same color as her eyes. She doesn’t appear to be wearing any armor or carrying any weapons.
”Hello? Are you two-“ She cuts off as Tawni turns from where he’s been conversing with another woman. ”Tawni?!” For a moment she simply stares with wide eyes, then abruptly laughs. ”Of course you would have received an invitation too. Truly the North Star must be guiding our path.” Looking at Trinity she asks, ”Are you our host, or a fellow visitor? Regardless, I’m Yelena. It’s nice to meet you.”
The day seemed never ending as Trinity sat patiently at the table. Her weariness was cut short when the door opened, reveling another dark-haired man. She quietly observed as the man enter the establishment and then began peering at the different tapestries. “Hello.” She offered in hopes of catching his attention.
The man addressed is a slender and sharp-featured Tian with a shock of black hair barely contained by a woven-silk hair-tie. The only thing vaguely appealing about his looks are the streaks of deep blue in his hair which match the blue of his eyes. He practically disappears against the backdrop of the dark tapestry in his utilitarian black gi and hakama.
Hei-wa's eyes flash to the woman quickly at the greeting, weighing and appraising. His look is almost as severe as his facial features… then his eyes and face soften into a small, awkward, smile. He takes a half-step forward and offers her another bow, saying in well-accented Varisian, ”My manners are poor. Forgive me. This odd meeting is… uncomfortable for me.” He pulls the Harrow card from his sleeve to clarify his meaning, before secreting it away again. “I am Hei-wa of the Chau family.”
"Well met. It's a pleasure to meet everyone. My note said something about other people like me being here. I believe their reference of “like me” was meant to reflect my past problems with Gaedren Lamm. Does that name have any meaning to any of you?” Trinity asks while resting comfortably at the table with a troubled look on her face. Without reservation, she pulls out her harrow card (The Theater) and then flips it over, exposing a note that has been inscribed across its back.
The note reads, "I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done."
Hei-wa considers for a moment then places his card (The Locksmith) face up on the table near Trinity’s.
”My message reads as yours and, yes, Lamm is my enemy. I hope our host will explain how this card is tied to me as I am not born to the Harrow.”
"The Harrow Gerinel, what else?” Yelena smiles as she pulls out her Harrow deck, which should be a familiar sight. However as she draws the top card it’s clearly different from the others. "I received a message this morning in the form of a new card. A Joke is about to be played, and not on us I think.” She passes it over and lets Gerinel read the message on the back.
I know what Gaedren has done to you. He has wronged me as well. I know where he dwells, yet cannot strike at him. Come to my home at 3 Lancet Street at sunset. Others like you will be there. Gaedren must face his fate, and justice must be done.
"Ah, you got one too!" Gerinel replies, revealing his own with a deft motion.
"Whoever or whatever left this message broke into my room and left it in my deck without waking anyone. From what you’ve told me that’s not Lamm’s style. It could still be a trap but the cards whisper otherwise.” The smile has been replaced with a fierce look of determination. ”A hidden location is about to be revealed. Victor’s location. I’m sure of it. Will you come with me?”
"The same with me: I just found this on my pillow in the vardo, but no one here saw anyone enter or leave before me, and it's definitely not one of Baba's."
He nods at Yelena's words.
"Baba said I must answer this summons, 'for the sake of my future and my soul.' You'd have to call on Desna herself to keep me away, and she seems to want me to walk this path, so luck would be against you."
He smiles, with an equally determined look in his eye.
"Lead the way!"
Arriving promptly at sunset is a young Varisian woman with long, curly black hair. Dark green eyes set in a tanned face quickly scan the room, noting the other occupants. Her outfit is simple by Varisian standards, consisting of a white ruffled blouse and a long skirt almost the same color as her eyes. She doesn’t appear to be wearing any armor or carrying any weapons.
Accompanying her is a younger-looking Varisian man, looking like he's only just come into manhood. His eyes are the brilliant violet of twilight, and his olive skin is decorated with blue-ink tattoos in the Varisian styles. He has long dark hair, with streaks of blond, dressed for the road in a motley of colors covered by a hauberk that looks like it may have been obtained secondhand, along with a blue cloak that it looks like he could disappear into. At his belt is a longsword on one hip and a starknife on the other, and around his neck is an amulet of a wooden butterfly, the holy symbol of Desna, pinned together where it looks like it was split or broken and then fixed at some point.
”Hello? Are you two-“ She cuts off as Tawni turns from where he’s been conversing with another woman. ”Tawni?!” For a moment she simply stares with wide eyes, then abruptly laughs. ”Of course you would have received an invitation too. Truly the North Star must be guiding our path.” Looking at Trinity she asks, ”Are you our host, or a fellow visitor? Regardless, I’m Yelena. It’s nice to meet you.”
"Tawni!" Gerinel exclaims when he sees the rest of the group. "I knew we'd find other Lamm had wronged here, but I didn't expect to find one of the closest things to a kinsman I've ever had! Well-met!"he says, giving him a friendly clap on the back. "Desna smiles, indeed."
Then he turns to the others and gives a little bow.
"Gerinel, at your service. Priest of Desna, Stargazer, Protector of Caravans, and former Little Lamm. One of Gaedren Lamm's orphan 'wards,' but I'd never call the man 'father.' He beat me to within an inch of my life and left me for dead when I was, like, seven or eight years old. And I'd like to return the favor."
Yelena visibly stiffens at the name Gaedren Lamm. ”Yes, I know that name. I believe…no, I know…that he has my brother.” She wraps her arms around herself in a loose approximation of a hug. ”Victor went missing almost a year ago now. My father and stepmother have given up hope and mourned him for dead. I have not. If I have interpreted the signs correctly then where I find Lamm I will also find my brother. It’s just proven very, very difficult to track him down. But if the author of this note writes true…if she knows where Lamm is hiding…” She closes her eyes for a long moment before whispering, ”Hold on just a little bit longer Victor. Your soră is coming.”
It takes a minute for her to compose herself, but when everyone begins sharing their cards, Yelena puts her own (The Joke) next to the others. ”I am born to the Harrow, so I can at least offer how I would interpret the cards. The Joke represents a monster that cannot be defeated by physical means, only through intelligence and guile. The Theater is a card of prophecy. Just as the audience of a show sees events happening they cannot change and often do not fully understand, so too does the prophet have visions they cannot control.” She pauses, a wry smile on her face. ”Not my favorite card, but sometimes the Harrow humbles me.”
Without further explanation she taps lightly on the Locksmith. ”This represents the tools needed to unlock one’s destiny…or sometimes a far more mundane location, clue, or treasure. Regardless it does not explain how or when to use those tools. That must come from your own judgement.”
Gerinel reveals his own, The Cricket, to add to the interpretation.
”Hello? Are you two-“ She cuts off as Tawni turns from where he’s been conversing with another woman. ”Tawni?!” For a moment she simply stares with wide eyes, then abruptly laughs. ”Of course you would have received an invitation too. Truly the North Star must be guiding our path.” Looking at Trinity she asks, ”Are you our host, or a fellow visitor? Regardless, I’m Yelena. It’s nice to meet you.”
"Yelena? He returns the laughter with a smile and hug.
"Tawni!" Gerinel exclaims when he sees the rest of the group. "I knew we'd find other Lamm had wronged here, but I didn't expect to find one of the closest things to a kinsman I've ever had! Well-met!"he says, giving him a friendly clap on the back. "Desna smiles, indeed."
"AND Gerinel?" He lets go of Yelena to hug him, too, just as enthusiastically. "I didn't expect this to be a reunion!"
As the others make more compete introductions . . ..
"It has been a few years longer for me than the others, but, I, too, was a Lamb. Then a sailor. Then part of a caravan family. I walked away from the caravan because I saw Lambs at work. Somebody has to free them, to help them find a better life. How could I, in good conscious, leave that for someone else?" He reveals his card and adds it to the table, The Juggler.
"I hope that we are well met, tonight, Hei-Wa and Trinity. While we wait on our host, we should break bread together. A good sign for us as a group to share this bread." He moves to the table, taking a seat before pulling the basket out and putting it on the table. Then he takes the bread and rips off a piece before offering the loaf to whomever is closest.
”The Joke represents a monster that cannot be defeated by physical means, only through intelligence and guile.”
The Locksmith - ”...represents the tools needed to unlock one’s destiny…or sometimes a far more mundane location, clue, or treasure. Regardless it does not explain how or when to use those tools. That must come from your own judgement.”
Hei-wa’s hands fold into his sleeves and the Tian becomes profoundly still as Yelena speaks of the cards, his eyes flashing back and forth between the cartomancer’s face and the cards themselves. Subconsciously, he nods as Yelena conveys the meaning of The Joke. The revelations about The Locksmith cause Hei-wa to stroke the stubble along his jawline for a long minute, lost in thought. Puzzle pieces snap into place, conclusions are reached, and certain choices now become irrevocable. The Tian regains focus on the present and the seer.
He says with certainty, ”That makes a great deal of sense. Thank you, madame, I am indebted.”
"I can tell you from my own experience with Gaedren, you brother is likely not dead. Mr. Lamm takes children into his flock and molds them to serve his needs. He calls this flock, his little lambs. I was adopted into this flock at a young age. Only days after my father was executed. I was young, lost, and had nowhere to turn. I served Mr. Lamm for a short time as one of his lambs."
After adjusting uncomfortably in her chair, Trinity continues. "Once I grew old enough to fully understand the damage we were doing, I intended to turn him over to the authorities. This realization came a bit too late. Before I could act, I was assaulted. Presumed dead, my body was left to rot in one of the city's trash heaps. Luckily, some followers of Sarenrae found me and were able to decern that I wasn't dead. To that end, I have unfinished business with Mr. Lamm.” Looking slight emotional about her explanation, Trinity turns away for a moment to gather her emotions. “Do you think a man like that could ever change his path? Or is it as the card predicts. Everything is predefined and must be played out?”
"Aw s***, you were a Little Lamm too?" Gerinel comments, sympathy in his tone. "Your story sounds a lot like mine...Gaedren beat me because I was spending more time out at night watching the stars, cursed the priests who filled my head with foolish dreams...faith...faith kept me alive that night, as it seems it kept you alive."
"I hope that we are well met, tonight, Hei-Wa and Trinity. While we wait on our host, we should break bread together. A good sign for us as a group to share this bread." He moves to the table, taking a seat before pulling the basket out and putting it on the table. Then he takes the bread and rips off a piece before offering the loaf to whomever is closest.
Hei-wa takes the offered bread – with a nod of thanks – and tears off a small hunk before passing the loaf along. He eats it slowly while listening to the others talk.
Not feeling comfortable eating or drinking anything from an unknown source, Trinity passes on the bread until she knows a little more about the mysterious person who left the message. "I'm going to pass on the bread. Thank you for offering, but as far as I know this could be some sort of ploy set up by Gaedren to finish me off once and for all. I don't want to seem unpolite, I'm just not feeling comfortable with the whole mysterious benefactor thing."
”I’m always happy to see the Cricket, unless it’s misaligned. Quick passage and a treasure at the end of the journey; what greater fortune could Desna provide? An auspicious card for you my friend. As for the Juggler…” Yelena pauses and tears off a chunk of bread. ”That card appeared in my own reading this morning. A being who toys with the lives of others; I can only imagine it refers to Lamm.”
“Originally I had thought my own card might perhaps have been grabbed on a whim by someone who didn’t understand its meaning. Seeing the cards given to all of you is changing my mind. The meanings seem too targeted. Although I still find it difficult to imagine anyone who takes the Harrow seriously writing on the cards like this.”
“Do you think a man like that could ever change his path? Or is it as the card predicts. Everything is predefined and must be played out?”
”That would be why I dislike the Theater. I don’t believe fate is immutable.” Yelena begins shuffling her own deck in what seems to be a nervous gesture. ”A show has a predetermined plot, yes, but the audience can still affect it. I’ve seen poor performances ended prematurely because the audience decided they had enough. Anyone can choose to leap on stage and begin pulling the strings themselves, if their need and desire are great enough.”
She stops shuffling and carefully puts the deck away before accepting bread from Hei-Wa. ”To answer your question specifically, I believe any man, even one as loathsome as Lamm, is capable of changing their path. I don’t believe he will, but he could.”
Tawni and Hei-wa note that the bread seems..off, just on the edge of stale and if anyone drinks the wine it seems to be of some mid-grade vintage, not exactly fine, but it'll do.
The door from the street opens and a middle aged Varsian woman, her long, dark hair held under a scarf enters. She takes a seat at the table and motions for you to do the same. As you take your seats she pulls a harrow deck from a pocket of her dress and begins to idly shuffle the cards, which have the same backing as the ones you received your notes on. Yelena, watching her at work, notes the skill and ease with which she handles her deck as coming from many years of dealing with a harrow deck.
“Thank you for coming, my friends," she begins by way of introdction " and for putting up with my unconventional method of contacting you. My name is Zellara Esmeranda and I have reason to remain hidden, you see—a vicious man would 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 for 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, Gaedren’s thugs murdered him.
“I sought help from 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 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 as well, for word on the street has it that Gaedren has wronged each of you, too. So there we are. It is time for him to pay.”
Without waiting for a response she stops shuffling her deck as she pulls nine cards from it and lays them face down on the table in three rows of three "This is the Choosing. the card you choose will represent you in the reading."
Trinity reaches over to select a card, but then hesitates. "What do you have in mind for Mr. Lamm?" She asks just before selecting.
The Tian selects a card and turns it over without comment.
Yelena listens carefully to Zellara’s tale. “I’m sorry to hear about your son. May the North Star light the path of his final journey.” She bows her head briefly before turning her attention to the cards, brow furrowed. ”The messages you sent us, are they from a different deck? The backing appears to be the same.” She looks back and forth between the cards the group had received and the ones Zellara is now placing on the table before reaching out and flipping over one of the latter.
Shaking his head slowly at the tale, Tawni reaches out and flips a card without hesitation or thought. Letting The Harrow work as it should.
Yelena seems surprised when she looks down only to find that the cards each of them were sent seem to have vanished from the table. Those of you had tucked their cards away are also shocked to find them gone as well. Zellara smiles, enigmatically "It is my deck, after all" she says in way of an answer to your questioning looks.
Once everyone has chosen their card, she returns them to the deck and begins to reshuffle. Satisfied she lays out another nine cards in the same three by three pattern.
"This first column represents the past" she explains as she reaches to turn the cards face up. She tsks slightly as The Vision appears. "The past is unchangeable, immutable, it has already happened. The Marriage is the union of people, things, or ideas whose sum, whether for good or ill, is greater than it's parts. The Vison is a card of knowledge, like a bolt from the blue. That knowledge can bring either genius or madness. The Cyclone is a force that destroys whatever it touches. It comes not from the natural order of things, but instead from the designs of intelligent beings. Lamm has been the cyclone in your lives."
She turns the cards in the middle column over "The middle column is the present. The Courtesan is intrigue, intrigue and power. The social niceties must be observed but behind the mask lurks an unexpected surprise. The Paladin stands strong and does not back down under any circumstances. Stay the course and do what's right despite the cost." She frowns as the last card in the column is revealed "The Dance is a card of rules. Follow the rules and stay in step or the result could be disastrous. Given it's place here could mean that those rules are not always for the best. "
This last column is the future" she says as she reveals the cards She smiles as the Big Sky makes an appearance "The Big Sky is freedom. Throw off the shackles that have bound your heart and soul and celebrate your new found freedom. Again, Lamm is the shackles that have bound you to your past. The Liar is love, treacherous love or jealousy. The love that can destroy your heart. It is a desire or obsession that brings about your doom. The Demon's Lantern, even here is a good sign. It is a card of tricks, traps, and misdirection. You may have to fool someone, even yourself, to escape an impossible situation."
She sighs a heavy sigh "I'm done." she says, wearily "Go now and may the blessing of the Harrow be upon you."
Lamm is the shackles that have bound you to your past.
"I wish Lamm was the only one represented in that card. I will do what I must but will not rejoice in the process. Hopefully we will come across your son Eran. Nothing would please me more." Trinity replies while standing up from the table and walking over to the door. There she waits patiently for the rest of the group.
Yelena exhales a sigh of relief when the cards disappear from the table (and presumably reappear in Zellara’s hands). She doesn’t understand how Zellara had managed such a thing, but at least the deck hadn’t been permanently damaged.
To send the cards away and resummon them, write on them and erase it just as easily…I wonder if those skills could be taught?
A question for later. For now Yelena acknowledges that she is in the presence of a master and listens raptly to the Harrowing. She nods when Zellara abruptly ends the session. Her Bună has also often been exhausted after a true reading. ”Thank you for the insights you’ve given us.” Looking to the former Lambs who know Lamm’s habits far better than her, she asks, ”Do you think it would be best to go now or after daybreak?” Her own instinct is to charge ahead and rescue Victor immediately, but that might not be the wisest course of action.
”I’m always happy to see the Cricket, unless it’s misaligned. Quick passage and a treasure at the end of the journey; what greater fortune could Desna provide? An auspicious card for you my friend. As for the Juggler…” Yelena pauses and tears off a chunk of bread. ”That card appeared in my own reading this morning. A being who toys with the lives of others; I can only imagine it refers to Lamm.”
“Originally I had thought my own card might perhaps have been grabbed on a whim by someone who didn’t understand its meaning. Seeing the cards given to all of you is changing my mind. The meanings seem too targeted. Although I still find it difficult to imagine anyone who takes the Harrow seriously writing on the cards like this.”
“Do you think a man like that could ever change his path? Or is it as the card predicts. Everything is predefined and must be played out?””That would be why I dislike the Theater. I don’t believe fate is immutable.” Yelena begins shuffling her own deck in what seems to be a nervous gesture. ”A show has a predetermined plot, yes, but the audience can still affect it. I’ve seen poor performances ended prematurely because the audience decided they had enough. Anyone can choose to leap on stage and begin pulling the strings themselves, if their need and desire are great enough.”
She stops shuffling and carefully puts the deck away before accepting bread from Hei-Wa. ”To answer your question specifically, I believe any man, even one as loathsome as Lamm, is capable of changing their path. I don’t believe he will, but he could.”
Gerinel nods and smiles.
"A good omen, and one that fits me very well."
He then listens to the discussion of fate and holds up his holy symbol.
"I agree: no fate but that of which we make! And if Lamm's actions have brought us together, then the fate he's made for himself may be quite final indeed."
Tawni and Hei-wa note that the bread seems..off, just on the edge of stale and if anyone drinks the wine it seems to be of some mid-grade vintage, not exactly fine, but it'll do.
Gerinel lowers the holy symbol and partakes of the offered food and drink. He doesn't complain about the quality, having known far worse in the past, and hospitality makes everything taste better.
The door from the street opens and a middle aged Varsian woman, her long, dark hair held under a scarf enters. She takes a seat at the table and motions for you to do the same. As you take your seats she pulls a harrow deck from a pocket of her dress and begins to idly shuffle the cards, which have the same backing as the ones you received your notes on. Yelena, watching her at work, notes the skill and ease with which she handles her deck as coming from many years of dealing with a harrow deck.
“Thank you for coming, my friends," she begins by way of introdction " and for putting up with my unconventional method of contacting you. My name is Zellara Esmeranda and I have reason to remain hidden, you see—a vicious man would 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 for 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, Gaedren’s thugs murdered him."
Gerinel waves and smiles at Zellara as she enters and introduces herself, continuing to enjoy the bread as he listens to her story. When she tells of the theft of her harrow deck, his brow furrows. He wondered how many times, when he'd pinched something for Gaedren, he'd taken something just as important to someone...and how desperate a man Gaedren was that he'd kill people over the piddling profits he might make off such things. He was always small-time in the city, and that ironically made him more dangerous, because he didn't have the luxury of a comfortable stash to live off of like a big guild boss.
“I sought help from 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 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 as well, for word on the street has it that Gaedren has wronged each of you, too. So there we are. It is time for him to pay.”
The smell of rotting fish and the shouts of anger come back to Gerinel's mind unbidden. He wondered if maybe he'd avoided thinking about the place out of old fears, Lamm's voice still fresh in his ears even a decade after that dreadful night, and that's why he hadn't thought to follow those memories...but that didn't matter now. Had he purused the lead alone, he may well have died there like Zellara's son. But now, with these friends new and old, he stood a much greater chance of delivering the old wretch some justice.
Without waiting for a response she stops shuffling her deck as she pulls nine cards from it and lays them face down on the table in three rows of three "This is the Choosing. the card you choose will represent you in the reading."
Gerinel picks his card, and grimaces a bit at the creature depicted on it.
"That's one ugly Peacock."
Yelena seems surprised when she looks down only to find that the cards each of them were sent seem to have vanished from the table. Those of you had tucked their cards away are also shocked to find them gone as well. Zellara smiles, enigmatically "It is my deck, after all" she says in way of an answer to your questioning looks.
Gerinel chuckles a bit and looks over to Yelena.
"Come now, you'd know better than anyone that the bond between a Harrower and their deck is a mysterious and powerful thing!"
Once everyone has chosen their card, she returns them to the deck and begins to reshuffle. Satisfied she lays out another nine cards in the same three by three pattern.
"This first column represents the past" she explains as she reaches to turn the cards face up. She tsks slightly as The Vision appears. "The past is unchangeable, immutable, it has already happened. The Marriage is the union of people, things, or ideas whose sum, whether for good or ill, is greater than it's parts. The Vison is a card of knowledge, like a bolt from the blue. That knowledge can bring either genius or madness. The Cyclone is a force that destroys whatever it touches. It comes not from the natural order of things, but instead from the designs of intelligent beings. Lamm has been the cyclone in your lives."
She turns the cards in the middle column over "The middle column is the present. The Courtesan is intrigue, intrigue and power. The social niceties must be observed but behind the mask lurks an unexpected surprise. The Paladin stands strong and does not back down under any circumstances. Stay the course and do what's right despite the cost." She frowns as the last card in the column is revealed "The Dance is a card of rules. Follow the rules and stay in step or the result could be disastrous. Given it's place here could mean that those rules are not always for the best. "
This last column is the future" she says as she reveals the cards She smiles as the Big Sky makes an appearance "The Big Sky is freedom. Throw off the shackles that have bound your heart and soul and celebrate your new found freedom. Again, Lamm is the shackles that have bound you to your past. The Liar is love, treacherous love or jealousy. The love that can destroy your heart. It is a desire or obsession that brings about your doom. The Demon's Lantern, even here is a good sign. It is a card of tricks, traps, and misdirection. You may have to fool someone, even yourself, to escape an impossible situation."
She sighs a heavy sigh "I'm done." she says, wearily "Go now and may the blessing of the Harrow be upon you."
Gerinel listens to the Harrowing and steeples his hands, resting his face on them as he watches. When finished, he stands and bows.
"Thank you, kinswoman. Your son will be avenged and our scores with Gaedren will be settled, of that I can promise. Fortune favor your friends..." he says, expecting the traditional response.
Lamm is the shackles that have bound you to your past."I wish Lamm was the only one represented in that card. I will do what I must but will not rejoice in the process. Hopefully we will come across your son Eran. Nothing would please me more." Trinity replies while standing up from the table and walking over to the door. There she waits patiently for the rest of the group.
Gerinel's curiosity is piqued by Trinity's statement, sensing a story, but he says nothing. It wouldn't be right to pry, not before their business was finished. Maybe she'd say more when Lamm no longer weighed on their minds.
Yelena exhales a sigh of relief when the cards disappear from the table (and presumably reappear in Zellara’s hands). She doesn’t understand how Zellara had managed such a thing, but at least the deck hadn’t been permanently damaged.
To send the cards away and resummon them, write on them and erase it just as easily…I wonder if those skills could be taught?
A question for later. For now Yelena acknowledges that she is in the presence of a master and listens raptly to the Harrowing. She nods when Zellara abruptly ends the session. Her Bună has also often been exhausted after a true reading. ”Thank you for the insights you’ve given us.” Looking to the former Lambs who know Lamm’s habits far better than her, she asks, ”Do you think it would be best to go now or after daybreak?” Her own instinct is to charge ahead and rescue Victor immediately, but that might not be the wisest course of action.
"We do this under the light of Mother Moon, I say," Gerinel says. "The old man will probably be collecting his spoils from the day, meaning he'll be less likely to disappear. The only thing he values more than his scabies-bitten skin is money. And then we can greet the new day in a world free from him!"
Hei-wa watches Zellara closely before and during the reading, his mouth shut in a firm line. At the close of the reading, he hesitates for a moment, then stands and moves to the door to wait with Trinity.
Tawni makes no comment about the portions of Zellara's story with Lamm that she has shared, or those that she hinted at but never said. Never fully understanding a Harrow reading, though he was familiar with the basics, of course, he also avoids commenting on either this reading, or the card he drew to represent himself. The negative connotations of that representation were not missed, however.
"Lamm is an eel, slick and slippery, refusing to be caught and held. Delay will only allow him to slip away yet again. We picked neither time nor place, but he will never give us the chance to set either. We have to move while there's a chance to catch him."
"Although I think night would give us a small amount of cover, I don't believe Lamm will leave his holdout unwatched. From my experience, his lambs will be highly active at night, working the streets. I think we should head there now. Waiting will only allow him addition time to relocate."
”It seems the consensus is the sooner the better.” It’s not like Yelena could have gone home and slept anyway with Victor so close. She nods at Trinity’s insight regarding potential guards. ”To the Fishery then, as stealthily as possible.”
As they leave she shuffles her deck once more and draws a single card. The Dance. She smiles slightly and whispers, ”May the Starsong’s rhythm guide my steps.”
"That's easy," Gerinel says, pulling his hood over his head and takes the lead, keeping to the shadows.
Unfortunately, his hauberk can't help but jingle, spoiling the effort.
Snickering quietly, Tawni allows the obvious warrior to take the lead by quite a margin, giving him a chance to be less obvious with Gerinel distracting anyone watching.
The sun has set as you exit Zellara’s shop and into the now darkened street. Making your way through the city it is only a short ten-minute walk to the abandoned fishery where Lamm is holed up. Cautiously you approach the building.
The reek of brine and the stink of week-dead fish hang thickly in the air here. The old double doors in the side of this weathered building are tightly closed, with a drooping signpost hanging above. The sign it once displayed is long gone, leaving behind only a single short length of rusted chain.
On the north a fifteen-foot-wide loading dock abuts the side of the building. A few carts sit nearby, partially loaded with large, tar-caked barrels marked with a fish-shaped splotch of red paint on the side. Double doors to the immediate south of the loading dock’s ramp provide access to the building’s interior, while a rickety flight of stairs descends ten feet to a point just three feet over the river’s surface, where a simple door provides a secondary entrance.
Meanwhile to the south a slippery boardwalk clings to the side of the fishery, held together by barnacle-encrusted pilings that have had half of their thickness worn away below the waterline twelve feet below, and extends out of sight behind the building. Another simple door, about twenty five along the boardwalk, allows entry into the building.
To the east just visible from the street lies an old, barnacle encrusted, ship moored alongside the fishery.
Without delay Trinity begins inspecting the area for lookouts . Once confident that the area is clear, she carefully moves up to the double doors and begins inspecting them for traps .
Businesses in this section of town usually close up shop at sunset so as Trinity scans the now empty street she can see no one paying any particular attention to the fishery, or to the group gathered close by.
Cautiously she approaches the front doors of the building before kneeling down and checking those door for any unexpected surprises, and finds none.
Yelena’s head whips back and forth as she surveys the street. Seeing nothing, she takes the opportunity to pull a small crossbow out of her backpack. Adrian had insisted she carry one “for protection.” She isn’t sure whether to be thankful for his foresight or not.
As Trinity approaches the doors, Yelena stays where she is. Continuing to watch the street while Trinity works on getting them inside is a purely tactical decision that has nothing to do with how her knees are shaking. Victor. Think of Victor.
Hei-wa silently assesses the situation. Even if we were a dozen seasoned warriors, we couldn't cover all the escape routes. The ship is the easiest place to watch and defend but it likely has the fewest ways out, unless you want to swim through filth... which Lamm probably would. And the fishery has too many exits and more we likely can't see. This will be like trying to capture water in a sieve.
The monk had reservations about Zellara’s guidance earlier. They only grow now. We might force Lamm to move... but catching him with only surprise on our side? Even the cards suggested we'd need a lot more than that.
Hei-wa pushes the thoughts aside and presses on with the mission. While Trinity heads for the front door, the Tian catfoots his way cautiously down the rickety stairs to the secondary door, where he plans to listen for any noises coming from the interior.
Hei-wa, you hear what you think might be the sound of clawed feet clicking on the wooden floor behind the door.
Now confident the door is free of surprises; Trinity tries the door to see if it is locked or unlocked.
Hei-wa sneaks back up the stairs to meet with the team and share his findings.
Gerinel is about to join the others in sneaking up but is surprised when Hei-wa is there and back before he's even made his move.
"You're fast!" he comments. "Clawed feet, huh...wonder if that might be Gobblegut. He's Gaedren's pet, a dwarf caiman. Saying he'd feed any underperforming Little Lamms to him was one of Gaedren's favorite threats. He may only be about the size of a dog, but when you're a kid even a dog-sized critter like that is still gonna be scary."