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Although the last of the falling leaves litter the ground, the people of Azurestone are in high spirits. Like leaf-laden dust devils, they flit about the village in their gay autumnal attire in celebration of the annual harvest festival. The market square bustles with activity: farmers have brought in threir abundant crops to trade with merchants, who display the latest fashions and fads from the cities of the south. Minstrels and preformers seeking to earn some coin bring tales of goings- on in the world at large. Particularly popular are songs about the Red Raven, a swashbuckling bandit who steals from the high and mighty and spends his weath freely among the common folk. The villagers do not fear the coming season: the centerpiece of the festival is the Vernal Key, an artifact that has shielded Azurestone from the cold of winter for centuries.
It is the month of Neth and you are in town for reasons only known to you.
Main building in this little village include:
Deerstalkers Lodge which house visiting hunters
Inclusive Hall is the villages church that serves as pantheon and town meeting hall
Lattice Inn catering primarily to travelling merchants
Sahtissauna is a combination bathhouse and brewery
The square is the open market
Stone Shrine an all stone church which serves mostly dwarves
Sun's Rest is a pub that caters to the locals
Peitor rolls into town in his brightly colored wagon. His Varisian garb of golds and greens is highlighted by his thick red velvet scarf. The scarf belonged to his father and one of Peitor's hands plays absently with the gold colored tassels. He heads for the town square to inquire where he can set up his fortune-telling table.
Artemis reclines wearily in the Lattice Inn, glad to finally be free of the Merchant Caravan and it's morally corrupt guards. It was unfortunate that it was the only paying job that he could get, but at least it paid enough so that he could have some money left over to donate to Desna's Church.
He sips slowly on his ale, savouring the taste and not wanting to become inebriated. He listens intently to a pair of Merchants talking about someone called The Red Raven, a local bandit who appears to donate his ill gotten gains to the needy. An admirable use for the money, but a criminal is still a crimnal and Artemis wonders if there is a reward for his capture. Maybe he doesn't need to join another Merchant Caravan after all...
Amid the hustle and bustle of the market square, Erelle wanders around the stalls, pausing every once in a while to examine a merchant's wares, or to exchange a few friendly words of greeting with an old acquantance. On her shoulder, a barn owl perches, shifting around grumpily when the nearby noise gets particularly bothersome. The middle of the day is not the familiar's favourite time.
For now, the wizard is simply enjoying her stroll, curious to find out how much has changed in the town in the years that she has been away and what has remained the same.
Come one, come all, and see your fortunes at my stall! Learn secrets to save your neck from my mystic Harrow Deck! How about you pretty lady? What are you hoping to find from Fortune? Love perhaps?
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A wide variety of diversions are available during the harvest festival. In the square, traders both loval and foreign ply their wares while musicians and jugllers( and even a puppet show) entertain young and old alike. The homey smell of traditional local food competes with the exotic odar of alien delicacies. Away from the bustle of the market, men and women show off their prowess in athletic games such as footraces, log slitting and archery. In and around the Inclusive Hall, villagers gather to hear the stumping of local leaders, the sermonizing of clerics, and especially the news and stories of wandering bands.
Desna walks towards Peitor's stalls and gives an ironic smile. "How much for my fortune kind sir?"
"Hey Beautiful" Peitor calls. It is 5 coppers for a brief glimpse of the Harrow. A silver for a full Harrow reading. What is your pleasure? ( puts emphasis and a smile on the last word).
( metagame: The avatar art is probably a female, but it suits the image I have of Peitor. He is meant to be a slim and 'pretty' man. )
Kenton stamps into the Lattice Inn and gruffly asks for an ale, as he sits at the bar he can be heard to mutter about trouble along the roadside, but from the sound of it he was on the giving side of it.
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Artemis reclines in his seat in the Lattice Inn after his long journey guarding a merchant caravan. He sips on some tasty ale that he hears is made by one of the dwarves of the Stone Shrine church. As your sitting there you notice a dwarf stomp into the inn and step up to the bar asking for a ale. You can hear him muttering about trouble on the road he just traveled.....
Erelle is enjoying the day, the sights and sounds of this village bring back memories thought long buried. Serne stirs on your shoulder as you pass the Lattice Inn, a grumbling dwarf heads into the inn, you hear something about trouble on the road but you are not sure you heard correctly since most of the grumbling was under his breath. Other than the dwarf everyone else seems to be happy and in a good mood from the festival. As you keep walking you notice a handsome fortune teller who has set up shop in the market. A beautiful lady is standing in front of the teller waiting for her fortune to be read.
Kenton sits on his bar stool, the encounter on the road has you all pumped up still. The refreshing ale is helping you calm down and you do pause to note how good the ale tastes, must be a dwarf who made it you decide. You are still wrapped up in you own thoughts you don't really notice anyone else in the inn.
Peitor shuffles the deck and pulls forth The Winged Serpent ( lawful good card). It represents the bridge between knowledge and goodness he says, and will be the theme for your reading.
For the DM:
Peitor lays out nine cards, three by three and turns them over one column at a time. The first column is the past, he says. The cards are The Unicorn, The Midwife, and The Tyrant. A powerful set, a partial match and two true matches. The Unicorn represents that you have been offered what you have sought in the past, while The Midwife symbolizes you were a positive conduit for creation or the birth of something metaphorically speaking. The Tyrant, another true match, says that there was a ruler who was a blight to those he ruled. This could be a lord, or king, or maybe something closer to home, a brother or father figure perhaps.
The next column relates the present, and has only two cards that are partial matches. The Empty Throne represents the loss of something or someone. Through fate, violence or theft, someone near you has lost something. The next is The Courtesan, it represents duplicity and intrigue, but social niceties must be observed. You or someone close to you is acting one way out of obligation or deceit and hiding their true feelings or thoughts.
The future also holds two cards of significance, The Vision and The Beating. The Vision card means that you will have a brush with genius, magic, or insanity. This will either come from you or interact with you in the not too distant future. The last card, The Beating, should concern you. It represents being attacked from all sides. This could mean mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, or it could mean physically surrounded.
On the whole, this reading indicates that you are a bridge of goodness for your Goddess and have brought good into the world in the past, that this calling was something you desired, and you desired this to overcome some type of tyrant, literal or metaphorical. Right now, a theft of something has occurred and intrigue must be observed to deal with it. In the future, magic or great insight will come to you and you will be surrounded my attackers; mentally or physically, literal or metaphorical.
I know dear lady that it is not completely clear but fate can only give cryptic answers. Think on what I have said, and you will begin to make the connections.
Artemis notices the gruff Dwarf stomp into the Inn and watches him order an Ale and sit on a barstool. Seeing that there are no other unoccupied tables, he motions for a serving girl and gives her a dashing smile saying, "my dear, would you be so kind as to offer the Dwarf at the bar an ale on me and extend to him an invitation to join my table." He slips the girl 1gp and another smile for her troubles.
After being on the road himself, he is curious to hear a tale from another traveller who is clearly not a merchant.
I serve the will of the goddess as it serves the memory of my dead kin. Perhaps you care to join me for a drink to their memory at the tavern. Let's see if we can unravel more of what the goddess of travelers. Tell me, do you have a butterfly tattoo hidden on that body of yours somewhere?
True enough, but many will see me and my trade at the inn. Husbands will tell wives, and wives tell sisters and daughters. Before long there will be several at my wagon requiring my, heh, service . It is kind of like advertising.
True enough, but many will see me and my trade at the inn. Husbands will tell wives, and wives tell sisters and daughters. Before long there will be several at my wagon requiring my, heh, service . It is kind of like advertising.
Metagame ( keep forgetting to change the avatar, sorry).
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Metagame ( keep forgetting to change the avatar, sorry).
At the bottom of your text box when you are typing your message is a little button the says "BBCode tags you can use: Show". If you click on that Show button it gives you a bunch of codes that can be used to enhance your text (such as Bold, Italics and
Instead of using the Metagame tag, try using the [ooc] code to show when you are speaking Out of Character.
Just some friendly advice that I hope helps your gameplay experience. =)
Cheers
EDIT:
Having wandered around the market for some time, Erelle decides to head to the nearby Lattice Inn to sit back and enjoy a drink for a little while, and perhaps to hear some of the stories of any travellers - the brief thought crossed her mind that some habits never died. Heading inside the inn, she looks around for an empty seat. The owl on her shoulder ruffles his feathers, glad to be somewhere a little dimmer than the bright light outside.
After a few moments, the wizard attempts to catch the attention of one of the serving girls, hoping to order some wine.
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As Erelle steps into the crowded inns bar area she notices hardly any seats are available. There is a big man sitting by himself who seems nice too you. He is watching the interaction between the gruff dwarf you saw earlier and a young serving girl.
Desna and Peitor enter the inn together and sees a pretty woman standing in front of you looking for a space to sit. She is wearing well worn traveling clothes and has a owl perched on her shoulder who seems not to like all the noise from the room.
Artemis notices more people enter the inn as he is waiting for the dwarf to make up his mind on you offer. He seems to be taking his time as most dwarves are known to do.....
Artemis notices more people enter the inn as he is waiting for the dwarf to make up his mind on you offer. He seems to be taking his time as most dwarves are known to do.....
Artemis notes the arrival of the woman with the Owl and looking around, notices that there are hardly any seats left. She glances in his direction and he gives her a big friendly grin, motioning with his head to one of the empty seats at his table.
Peitor walks into the in using prestigitation to make himself smell of lavender and his breath smell of mint. He serveys the room with his newfound companion and tries to make eye contact with several patrons and the barmaid. Especially the bar maid. His Harrow deck lies in a small sachel in his hand and he swings it back and forth gently.
Erelle pauses for a moment, casting her gaze around as she looks for a seat. She should have realised that it would be this busy, with the festival and all.
A moment later, a large man sitting nearby catches her attention. As he motions her over, she offers him a grateful smile in return and moves to an empty seat at the table.
"Thank you very much, sir. I didn't think it would be quite so busy here, although I should have known."
The owl moves on her shoulder as she sits down at the table, ruffling his feathers again. Erelle glances admonishingly at the familiar. "Oh, stop being so grumpy. Here." Searching through one a belt pouch, she finds a snack for the owl and offers it to him. Looking back to the tall man again, she smiles. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Erelle."
A moment later, a large man sitting nearby catches her attention. As he motions her over, she offers him a grateful smile in return and moves to an empty seat at the table.
"Thank you very much, sir. I didn't think it would be quite so busy here, although I should have known."
Looking back to the tall man again, she smiles. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Erelle."
Artemis flashes the woman a charming smile and half bows in his chair. "A pleasure to meet you Erelle, my name is Artemis, a faithful traveller in the service of Desna. I have no wish to associate further with the riff raff from the caravan I was helping to guard and so I find myself in town with noone to talk to. I would be most appreciative if you would sit and talk with me for a while about what brings you to Azurestone. I have attempted to lure the Dwarf over there at the bar with an ale, but he has yet to take me up on the offer."
He motions with his head at the Dwarf sitting alone at the bar, then end with another welcoming smile at Erelle.
Peitor continues to shuffle his Harrow deck.He moves to the nearest somewhat-empty table plying his trade by using his Bluff skill to say that the cards lead him to that individual ( goes for pretty ladies first unless obviously taken). " Fate, has led me to you to open a window to the future and magically tell you what is in store. Will you allow me to help you to fortune or to avoid ill times?"
For Zoomackula :
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Desna catches the eye of the young server who was just talking to a dwarf sitting at the bar. "May I help you miss?"
Peitor tries to ply his trade but none of the ladies are takeing the bait. You do notice a large man sitting with a very beuatiful lady he seems to have just met. You have a hard time from taking your eyes off her. You are not to sure about the bird on her shoulder who seems to have noticed you checking out her master. It cocks its head to the side, its big eyes blinking at you.....
Another serving girl stops by Artemis and Erelle's table and asks if you two need anything. Is there anything I can get you two?
"It's nice to meet you too, Artemis." The wizard smiles at the tall man. "I actually come from this town originally - my family still run a farm here. I was just visiting, as I've been away from home for some time. Travelling, and learning. How about yourself? Where do you hail from?"
As the serving girl approaches the table, Erelle turns to smile at her. "Yes please. Have you got any wine?"
Peitor goes to the woman with the owl flipping over a Harrow card for his own reading. will she prove more willing than the others? Is there something about her that brings you near?. Peitor casts detect magic to see what this woman and anyone else has up and running. He asks Desna if she has ever seen that woman with the owl before.
Another serving girl stops by Artemis and Erelle's table and asks if you two need anything. Is there anything I can get you two?
Artemis holds up his half-full mug of ale and, smiling at the Barmaid, says "no thank you my dear, but please get my friend her wine." He flips the Barmaid a Silver to pay for Erelle's wine.
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The serving girl nods her head at Artemis and heads off to get their order. She returns shortly with a nice glass of wine for Erelle, which she places before her. If you need anything else just motion for me and I will be happy to take care of the both of you.
A serving girl sees Desna motioning to her and comes over, May I help you?
Erelle gives Artemis a surprised look before smiling again. "Why, thank you. That's very kind of you."
She turns to look up at the barmaid and nods, still smiling. "Thank you very much - we shall."
Peitor tries to flirt with the wench a little while she takes the order of Desna and himself. He asks the barmaid who the woman is with the owl.
My father says that peculiar animals as pets usually mean familiars.
Maybe she would like to help me develop a Harrow spell I have been working on. Desna, what say you and I go over there and introduce oursleves lovey? You can be my wing man. Distract the large Shoanti while I talk with the owl lady.
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Peitor and Desna make their way over to the table with the lady who has an owl on her shoulder and the large man, they are in conversation with each other, by the sounds of it they have just met. The owl is watching Peitor with deep dark eyes that seem to never blink so it will not miss anything....
Artemis looks up at the approaching man and flashes him a smile. "No thank you my good man, we do not need or fortunes told today," he says eying the Harrow Deck in Peitor's hand.
As Erelle talks with Artemis, she senses a shift in Serne's mood. The owl's emotions have changed from irritation to curiousity. At almost the same moment, Artemis speaks to someone behind her. Turning around to see who the subject of Artemis' and Serne's attention is, she regards Peitor and Desna curiously, wondering who they are and what they are looking for.
||Peitor draws four cards and places them face down in front of the two seated at the table. " Our fates are linked I think" he says. " I have a proposition for the two of you. I turn over these cards and read them in relation to us - the four of us ( he gives Desna a wink). If you don't feel connected to what the cards have to say, then I will buy you a drink ( he winks at the lady with the owl) and let it at that. What do you say? Shall I turn over the first card?
Erelle thinks for a brief moment, before nodding her head at Peitor. "Why not? If you really wish to do a reading, then I don't see any harm in that." And it may be interesting to watch, the wizard thought to herself, faintly curious as to how fortune-tellers actually made their readings.
She smiles faintly at the two new arrivals at the table, the small pale owl on her shoulder staring at them unblinkingly.
"First, though, I would know your names. My name is Erelle."
"As the lady said I am Peitor Sallievnya, Varisian and servant of the cards. The striking creature beside me is Lady Desna. Here," Peitor lays four cards face down on the table. " These represent each of us in turn but as we are linked I will need a question to bind us. It cannot come from me. What would you ask, lady mage?"
"Very well. I would ask this: if there is such a link, then what is it?" Erelle replies to the fortune-teller.