The fortune telling

“The fortune telling”
Rise of the Runelords episode
Episode no.	Episode 25
Date	2009
Game Master	Abbe
Characters	Dorothea Honeypot Nathaniel Nell Velicia
Episode chronology ← Previous Next → "The lumber mill" "The Sanatorium"
Rise of the Runelords chapter list

In this chapter the heroes get invited to the mysterious Madame Mvashti.

The fortune telling

Dorothea said that she had gotten an invitation for us all to Madame Mvashti.

Madame Niska Mvashti.

We all, but Dorothea, met and went over to Madame Mvashti's house. We waited for a while but then we entered without her. The house was big but it seemed cramped on the inside and as if she didn't use most of the rooms. When we entered some young rhenne women showed us in. I noticed a stuffed owl that seemed very lifelike perched on a branch on top of a closet. I jumped when it turned it's head.

The room we were led into was dark but we could see a very old rhenne woman sitting at a table talking to Dorothea who was already there. Madame Mvashti greeted us and asked us to sit down. She told us that she had heard of our adventures and that we now faced new dangers. There was a great evil behind our obstacles. She offered to read the cards for us.

Madame Mvashti took nine cards, shuffled them carefully and put them face down on the table and asked us to all take one card each. We did and put them face up in front of us. She told us what they meant.

Honeypot. Her card was named "The Lost". Mvashti said it meant emptiness and loss of identity. She also said that the bodak shown is forever mad, lost in a world of lunatics, insane asylums, and mass killers. For those under it's influence the world makes no sense. All is babble as if someone speaks in an other tongue.

Me. My card was named "The Owl". It meant eternal wisdom of natural order. It is the harsh realism that causes a pack of wolves to cull the weak in the herd. It is tragic for the culled deer, but through such actions the herd grows stronger. The needle the owl holds binds life together, but just as easy can pick that life apart. I knew of the hard rule of survival. It had been very present in my life as a street urchin on the streets of Magnimar.

Nathaniel. His card was named "The Mute Hag". Madame Mvashti explained that she might be silent, but the eye she olds lets her see into the hearts of men. This hag invokes blood pacts and poisonous secrets, the kind that turn brother against brother and son against father. I didn't understand it, but maybe Nathaniel has secrets I don't know of.

Dorothea. Her card was named "The Midwife". Mvashti said that the midwife is a conduit to creation, although does not create on her own. This halfling is a key that lets new life or information into the world. Her heart can see the good in even the worst situation. She can see the importance of any new arrival. I'm not sure I would like to see the life that Dorothea would bring to this world if it's through her magic.

Velicia. Her card was named "The Publican". It stood for fellowship and camaraderie, and a place of refuge for those in need. Most would find the cyclops inconsequential, but he has insight relevant to the quest. I'm not that surprised if Velicia have read something in an old book that might be useful and I can agree on her being a friend.

Madame Mvashti gathered all cards and shuffled them again. She placed nine cards in three columns face down on the table in front of us.

She slowly turned the cards in the left column from the top, while interpreting them.
"I see that hand-to-hand combat in your past has influence on you quest. It might have something to do with a young member of a powerful household."
"I also see arcane knowledge. It might have taken the form of madness or cryptic words. There might have been an encounter with a crazy person."
"You have overcome a danger through strength from many sources."
She said that there were no cards in their strongest position and therefor she found our past somewhat confusing. I wondered if she had heard of the letters that had been found when she mentioned the "cryptic words", and that when Sevilla had been found, he was mad.

She continued with the second column.
"Now you will need clarity of mind under duress. And as this is your card, my horned friend," she said turning to Honeypot. "you will play a major part in this quest."
"You now face a terror that must be overcome with other than just physical means."
"There will be a secret, being revealed to your detriment."
She said that it meant that knowledge and insight is important for us now and once again stressed that Honeypot has a central role. She must have heard of the letter addressed to Honeypot.

Pausing before turning the last column she looked intensely at us each as if she tried to look at the very soul of our beings.
"In your future I see a new relationship beginning, although it is disguised as something much less beautiful."
"You might meet spies or peddlers. There might be a trade in intelligence. Any bargain will be true, but the ramifications might be shocking if you do not understand the implications."
"But your future is dominated by this card. Here I see plague, pestilence, famine, and disease. It can also indicate corruption of the soul or of a multitude of souls."
Mvashti stressed that sickness was very strong as it was an evil card in an evil position and that we should be careful. I wonder why those reading in cards often scare you at the end. I had chills running up my spine when we left.

As we left we thanked her for her time and advice. I still felt a little uneasy and suggested that we should go eat something good to calm us down some. I find it very comforting to eat. Honeypot thought it was a good idea. I also made sure to get a good packed lunch.