"Fishery. North. West Pier seventeen," repeats Maya grimly.
She nods at the widow. "I will add Eran's name to the names of those avenged. His shade will let you rest."
When the Shoanti notices the Harrow deck, she decides the Varisian must be asking for the return of her card. She plucks it from her pouch and tucks it into the deck.
"You must allow an old fortune teller to keep her tricks," Zellara says to Tristan with a sly wink. "Now, I shall give you a reading. Listen well and it may guide you in times ahead."
"First, the Choosing." Zellara presents the Harrow deck to each of you in turn to draw (and replace) a card. [OOC: See below]
This done, she shuffles the deck and lays out nine cards on the table, face down, in a thre by three square.
"The Harrow speaks of the Past." She turns over the column of cards to her left. They cards are The Winged Serpent, The Mountain Man and The Waxworks. "There is powerful alignment here. You have felt helpless, trapped, affected by an external physical power. The Winged Serpent speaks strongly. You have been awaiting the right time to strike."
"The Harrow speaks of the Present." She turns over the middle column of cards. They are The Trumpet, The Crows and The Mute Hag. "The Trumpet sounds a call to arms, it is time for you to stand up and show your true powers. The Crows speak of the taking of loved ones and of valuable items, these things are hidden but may be made clear. Beware the Mute Hag. There are dark secrets here, or dangerous blood pacts that may bring dager to all."
"The Harrow speaks of the Future." She turns the final column of cards. They are the Carnival, The Paladin and The Empty Throne. "All may not be as it seems. Beware of illusions or false dreams, but these may turn to the good in the end, if you stand firm under adversity. Even if you prevail there will be a loss that brings bad tidings."
"The Harrow has spoken." Zellara gather the cards up again and shuffles them, seemingly oblivious to the four people before her.
OOC
Before the full Harrowing each of you select and replace a card. There are several ways you can emulate this:
- If you have a Paizo Harrow Deck, draw a card and tell me the result.
- If you have a deck of ordinary playing cards, draw one and tell me the result (include both jokers).
- Roll a d6 and a d10 (re-roll 0), tell me the result. You can use Invis Castle or ask me to roll if you like.
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Maya seems impatient with the Harrow, but the Varisians have some status. They too were an old people; a people native to these lands. And the woman had been of help. She would honor the ritual.
Tristan wonders if there is really something to this harrow reading. He wishes he could cast detect magic to check if the cards are really magical or if the woman is casting a spell, but decides that it would be considered rude. I would have checked out the card before, but I thought Bael had planted it so I didn't bother.
In any case, the reading seems vague enough that it might not mean anything. "The future holds some good and some bad" - yeah, my momma told me that much when I was five, lady.
Bael's card is The Publican. "The Publican speaks of the power of fellowship. Cleave to your friends and find support in one another but beware, the time may come when you can find no refuge in the place that you call home."
Khadmeade draws The Courtesan. "The Courtesan weaves a tanngled web of intrigue with her feminine wiles. Beware that as you walk its strands you do not become ensnared."
Maya draws The Paladin. "The Paladin stands firm in the face of adversity, but sometimes stays when it would be better to withdraw. Which will you do, I wonder? This dilemma will, I think, be key to your survival."
Tristan draws The Cyclone. "There will be a tumultous time ahead, you will be snatched up in the grasp of evil and cast one way and another. When all settles, it will be a time for renewal."
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"This Harrow hocus pocus intrigues me, madam. I hafta say I look forward to seein' how yer predictions carry forth on the field o' battle. Well, what say ye, my fellows? Let us be off to do Lamm one over."
"Indeed. I'm something of a wizard myself, so I'd like to find out more about it. Thanks for your help, Zellara. If I make it I will return here and tell you what went down."
Yes, perhaps there is something to the cards.
Tristan stands up, hefts his glaive, and heads for the door.
Maya inspects the card, for a moment taken by its art, and lulled by the nearly hypnotic words of their mistress. She feels a fierce stab of pride at the idea of standing against all enemies, great and meek...but scowls a little at the thought she wouldn't withdraw when needed.
Though, had she thought about it, she might have seen that she was truly rebelling against the thought that she would need to withdraw at all.
The Shoanti finally nods and shrugs, and offers the card back.
"Fate waits like a spider, and we are all caught in its web. What will be, will be."
"Whatever. Thanks for the reading. I will heed to it and stay with this merry group of avengers." Bael says to the varisian woman before he follows Tristan.
OOC
AC 16 (T13, FF13), HP 25/25, F +2,R+5,W+0
Resistance to cold 5, electricity 5, and fire 5.
Darkness 1/day
Rapier +2 . 1d6+2 . 19-20/X2
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West Pier 17 is not far from Zellara's house, just a short way north, but it is already dark by the time you arrive. The city of Korvosa is quiet, almost unnaturally so as if it were waiting to exhale.
The Old Fishery is a rickety building where every angle is askew. The building juts out over the water of the Jeggare River, its eastern end supported by pilings encrusted with weed and barnacles. Double doors onto the street are shut tight, and the windows are all boarded over. To the north, a loading ramp leads into what looks like a courtyard from where you hide in the shadows. To the south, a boardwalk of old warped planks clings to the edge of the building and leads out to a sail-less sloop, listing slightly in the water. A faint flicker of light shines through the boards of the nearest window on the south wall, but there are no other signs of life.
Edit: There should be a map attached but I'm not seeing it. Let me know if you can or not.
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"So long as we make sure 'e can't git oot the back way, I think we'll be fine, lad," Khadmeade says to Bael.
'Sides, I need ta keep me eye on you, he thinks to himself.
"I heard tell what the feller looks like. 'E's a rapscallion te be sure. But dinnae worry. I'm not aboot to go killin' 'im without makin' sura who it is neither."
OOC
Dr. Si, you'll have to change the file name each time you upload an image. EN World won't let you upload the same image to more than one thread.
"Any objections, or can I use this, even if we are not fully certain? Wouldn't do any lasting damage." Bael whispers to the others, pointing at the sap on his belt..
OOC
AC 16 (T13, FF13), HP 25/25, F +2,R+5,W+0
Resistance to cold 5, electricity 5, and fire 5.
Darkness 1/day
Rapier +2 . 1d6+2 . 19-20/X2
Stealth+8, including ACP
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Hi I'm a comic and rpg nerd. Don't hurt me, please.
"I intend on thumpin' 'im with me hammer and healin' 'im after 'e's been tied and gagged if it be necessary to identify 'im. So I guess, nae. I dinnae have a problem with it."
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