Four Card Spread
General Summary
The dawn begins to break on the port city of Akkish. The green crocodile banners hang limply on the city walls appearing almost black in the predawn light. An Orcish guard yawns as he takes up his post at the gate. Fisherfolk push out into the chilly waters of the bay. It the 20th of Dawn’s Light, 1675 A.O.R. Fourth year of the reign of Azlond Per’yas V, King of Rez-Ishan.
Above the city, in the university’s observatory a solitary figure shuffles the tarot. Star charts pile the desk around her. In this land of fire and honor it is not uncommon to consult the fates for important decisions. What can be possibly more important than choosing a party of champions? For good or for ill ultimately is up to them. Still we must play the hand the fates deal us. She draws-
The Ten of Wands
Sunlight creeps into the canyons between mud brick tenements. Life is cheap on this street but the other side of the grave concerns you more, doesn’t it Fist of the Dead?
In your hands is a lacquered box. All that remains of Elam Tawant, a conscript who perished 17 years ago far from his home. As you stop in front of a door Elam’s shade materializes next to you. “My god it hasn’t changed at all.”
The Fist of the Dead, Eshma, is a monk from the Viper tribe who has the
gift to see and converse with ghosts. She has spent the past two months crossing Rez-Ishan to bring the remains of Elam Tawant to his mother and in doing so bring him peace. While a touching and important moment for the Tawants, for Eshma its just business. An obligation really.
As payment for her journey, Terran offers Eshmaher savings of 5gp. Eshma takes only 1gp and Terran informs her of a job opportunity. The Tantev Fishery is having issues with rats. She lets the Fist of the Dead know that she can find other '
ratcatchers' at the
The Grinning Gladiator.
Fate seeks another. She draws…
The Page of Swords
The sloop glides into the bay as the morning sun rises higher in the sky. The rope feels rough in your hand while the sea spray invigorates your spirit. You are one step closer to home.
Clementine places a hand on your shoulder. Her blonde locks are held back by a kerchief bearing the azure bull of her family. Her hytonne features mark her out as a foreigner in this land, but then again aren’t you? She glances down at the letter quizzically then at the city before you two. “Are you sure you can trust him? My father always said ‘Never trust bastards, bandits, or bards. Especially bards.’”
Luke Reynard is a short red headed gunslinger who grew up in the Kingdom of Tempetus, though his parents are fireborn from Rez-Ishan. He is traveling with his childhood friend Clementine Du'lac. A few months ago he received a letter from
Ezra Cez'yhir, a traveling bard from the Sand Cat tribe, offering Luke employment and a chance to explore his ancestral homeland. Clementine convinced her family to let her travel with Luke and set up an extension of the family business in this foreign land.
Clementine share her worries about the bard's offer and the danger it could contain. Luke eases her worries and she tells him her estate will always be open to him.
The card is flipped revealing…
The Hanged Man
Spilled blood grants power they say but these days its spilled ink one must watch out for. Wanted posters and royal decree have spilled their fare share of the former but this- this eviction notice- can only be dealt by spilling the most powerful force in the world- Gold. Twenty Five gold to pay for the year, Ten gold due by the end of the week. In the old days it wouldn’t take long to make double that. But you’re not that person anymore, are you?
Ogg is the line cook at The Grinning Gladiator. He is shaken from his eviction crisis by his boss, Claudius. Claudius tells him that Ogg has potential that is being wasted as a line cook and that he shouldn't run from opportunity.
The Star
This is a four card spread. The time has come to draw the final card. The card you have been dreading to draw. So tell me Astara do you draw it normally or reversed?
Astara, a catfolk oracle, draws
The Star right side up. As she contemplates what this means for her and her missing employer, the university librarian Adon enters the observatory and hand her an iced chai. Adon asks her when Ezra will pay him in full for a rare book he sold the halfling. Astara draws from the tarot to ease his mind. She then asks the portly librarian to make a copy of the key to the observatory which he laughs off. Astara then heads to the meeting Ezra had organized at the Gladiator, knowing that the last place he was seen was the fishery.
Fate's Hand
At the Grinning Gladiator our '
ratcatchers' enter one by one. Eshma orders a shot of the strongest liquor in the bar and barely keeps it down as it hits hard. Claudius asks Luke if he's old enough to be in the bar, which the gunslinger doesn't take kindly to. He slams his dagger on the bard and challenges the former gladiator to a smack down in the fighting pit. Claudius laughs at the moxy and pours him a shot on the house. Astara hurries past the bar warning Claudius about the position of the moons. Ogg caters the meeting.
Astara gets to work telling the others what the job is: Julian Tantev of Tantev Fishery has been having a persistent rat problem and so he is offering 40gp to any group who can deal with the rats and their source. Luke asks where Ezra is. Regardless our protagonists all agree to the job. Ogg asks his boss for time off
Character(s) interacted with
- Elam Tawant- Ghost Soldier
- Terryn Tawant- Elderly orcish weaver. Mother of Elam.
- Clemintine Du'lac- Tempeti merchant and friend of Luke Reynard. Daughter of a knight.
- Claudius Cestus- Stellapopulli bartender. Former gladiator and mercenary. Ogg's boss.
- Adon Zaqsu- University librarian and book seller. Friend(?) of Astara.
