[IC] Death & Taxes (Session 1)

Nera looks at the cards with moderate interest. She points at one. "I want to try this, not paying though."

Gilga snaps her fingers and taps the deck. "Yes! I sense there is a deeper question at play. Not just how to find this village of yours, but what to do when you get there perhaps?" She glances at Nera. "The reading is for a friend so free of charge." Then, she looks at Tronus with a wry smile. "If you want more concrete information afterward, that is going to cost you."She flips over the first card. "This card represents the present moment. The Ace of Coins is a new opportunity. It may be as simple as coming into some money. A business venture, perhaps, Tronus? The road won't be easy, but the pot is there waiting for you."Gilga flips over the next card, crossing it over the first. "Hmm. This card represents the challenge you are currently facing. The Hanged Man represents a crossroads or impasse. You don't know how to proceed. It's not bad, just a good time to feel out your options to find a solution that allows you to proceed."The next card she turns over goes to the left of the other two. "Here we have the past, what led you to this moment and this challenge. The Seven of Coins suggests a lot of legwork has gone into getting you here. You should be proud. But it's a chance to look back over what you've achieved and decide if you are on track. What do you need to do to proceed?"The Dwarf places the next card to the right over the others. "OK!" she says. "The Seven of Wands guides your next few steps. This means you will be faced with some opposition. It could be a competition, or it could be actual foes. But you will prevail over these obstacles.""So what is your ideal outcome for your dealings with this village? Let's see." She flips over another card and places above the others. "Ah. Here we have the Knight of Cups. He represents someone who has gone through much. Great tribulations and challenges. But you can see him returning home, victorious. Exhausted, perhaps, but ready to receive his just reward and take a much needed rest. That's good.""As above, so below," Gilga says as she flips the next card, placing it below the rest. "Oh dear. The Eight of Cups. This card reveals something deep and foundational to your situation. The Eight of Cups represents something unfulfilled, or someone disappointed due to a setback or a betrayal. Someone was pursuing something and then stopped?""So you want solutions, yes? This next card offers direct advice." Gilga flips it over and places it to the right of the others. "Ah, the Page of Wands. You are an outsider and a non-conformist in some way. Quietly gather information to enable you to bring your situation to its necessary conclusion. Your independence will be an asset to you in some way.""You cannot control everything, so this next card will help you identify others who may be influencing events regarding this village." She flips over a card and places it just above the last one. "Interesting. The Hierophant is an expert of some kind, a master of esoteric knowledge. This is someone who has uncovered secret knowledge through careful study. Be careful, Tronus." She glances at Nera. "And you, too.""So what do you hope for—or perhaps fear?" Gilga flips the next card and places it in the right column. "The King of Swords suggests that you desire the ability to act as an authority, to speak from a place of wisdom achieved through impartial action. This card suggests you want to get to the truth through detached inquiry.""And finally, the outcome of your endeavor." She flips over the last card and places it above the last one. "The Queen comes after her King! If you continue with your current plan, you will maintain your independence, self-sufficiency, and unbiased judgment. Your quest for objective truth will bear fruit if you are able to be direct and independent."

Gilga shrugs. "I hope that helps you on your path forward. Did you have other matters to discuss?"

Tronus frowns throughout the reading. His moustache twitches a bit at the end. "You have my thanks Gilga… We just have to see if someone on the job is screwing up and pissing away resources they don't own or ended up getting themselves killed I guess before we leave town." Tronus states with a nod, "This is Nera by the way, she's not as much of a headache as a handful though. Nera this is Lady Gilga Oakenwheel."

"Sounds like need to find out who this 'someone' is in the reading. Is he your Eight of Cups? Your Knight of Cups? Or perhaps your Hierophant?" She smiles to Nera. "Pleased to meet you, Madam. I hope Tronus hasn't proven himself a headache for you." She collects her cards and shrugs. "Maybe if you tell me more details, I can help you. I see everyone who comes through here, good, bad, and ugly. My advice will cost from here on out, of course." She flashes Tronus a smile. "But Tronus will get a discount."

"We need to find a fellow called Kelis Isle dead or alive, bit of an incompetent possibly, heavy into gambling and losing instead of doing his job, which why I think he's a bit of an incompetent. Possibly quite desperate since he's been last seen a month ago, wife and sister-in-law haven't heard hide nor hair about him good or bad."
Tronus states his moustache twitching.

"Not my fault if people look at the blunt truth like a mason brick to the face..." he mutters his checks a bit ruddier suddenly from the ribbing.

Hildar grabs a drink and moves to sit in the quietest spot he can find and pulls out some of his notes, beyond glad to finally be back somewhere dry that he can do some work. He quickly is engrossed in his studies leaving his drink mostly untouched.

"Interesting," the lady says, leaning forward and sipping a glass of mulled wine. "Do you have a description of this Kelis Isle of yours?"

Nekurr watches their... fortune being laid out in front of them. "So you say we must gather information and make an impartial judgement? But if must stay on our path there will be a disappointment or betrayal possibly this expert that will oppose us?"[/i] The cleric greets Gilga [b]"Nekurr by the way... I wonder if these cards are guided by the Fates or by Fortuna herself". The half-catfolk, sits down, orders a drink for the dwarf and generally charms her hoping for a friendly exchange of information and perhaps a discount. "You seem like a knowledgable lady who know how to an eyes and an hear on interesting stories and events. And one that likes her beer strong, am I right?"

Tronus looks from Nekurr to Gilga and a smirk curls behind his massive handbar moustache. He looks at Nera and winks before leaning back to see how things go.

The Dwarven lady smiles as Nekurr delivers her the drink. "I'm more of a wine person myself, but ale is good, too." With a glance to Tronus, she adds, "You have some lovely friends, my dear." Then she gestures to the cards. "The gods speak in many ways. The cards merely give them voice. But the path here is not set in stone, and the interpretation is open. The betrayal for instance: Are you to be betrayed? Or was this Mr. Isle betrayed? Or did Mr. Isle do the betraying? The cards suggest you can find out if you keep your objectivity throughout your investigations."

Suddenly she sits up straight, putting her about to Nekurr's shoulder in the small tavern booth. "Now, if you want to know if I know Mr. Isle, the answer is yes. But if you want to know what I know about him, I must insist on some silver. This is my living, you know. And if I read the situation correctly, you don't know much about him, even what he looks like. Is that right? Fifty silver might loosen my tongue."

"I must agree that Tronus does have lovely friends. " Nekurr continues instinctively charming the dwarf. "And far classier than most. I haven't seen a wine person in quite some time.". The cleric then moves to seal the business "Ah yes, our luck is left for the gods to decide. Sometimes they help you, sometimes they lead you into a trap. I believe that any leads on this Mr. Isle you have would be very useful in clarifying this Eight of Cups. I understand this is your living, and good honest job if I may say and you have already given us so much advice. But you wouldn't want us walking into a trap, am I right?" The half-catfolk throws in 40 sp. "Why don't we round the price, get another drink and say that I'll own you one service with Fortuna?"

Bruv mumbles a heads-up to Hildar of his intent, so that someone will know he didn't just leave. And then he steps outside into the evening air, perhaps stepping around a corner of the building, and focuses on the spirits of the night. He tries to draw the power of their strength and senses into himself, before stepping back into the building and heading to the bar, to see what information the locals might be willing and able to divulge...

As the crowd grows bigger, Bruv relishes his brief moment of solitude outside. He feels energized as he steps back in, but then slightly perturbed by the raucous crowd. He saddles up to the bar and tries to learn what he can about hunting opportunities toward the swamp.Back at the booth, Gilga gives Nekurr a knowing look. "Forty-five silver, dear. Let's be reasonable." She drains her wine and starts on the ale before continuing: "So, Mr. Kelis Isle, yes? Piece of work, that one. Ugly Human with blunt features, you know, like he's been in one too many tavern scrapes. Kind of guy who thinks facial scruff looks attractive. Shock of red hair. He used to come through here from time to time on his way to Tamalir. I think he liked the gambling there. He'd throw dice with other ruffians in the tavern here, get falling-down drunk, and pick fights. He very nearly got banned for life after he spilled beer on my cards one night; the owner gets free readings, you see." Gilga shrugs. "But then he disappeared for maybe a few months. I saw him once again about a month back. I almost didn't recognize him. Clean-shaven, brushed hair. He drank a single ale, ate his supper, and went straight to bed. No gambling as far as I could see. He left the next morning headed south on the Tamalir road." Gilga purses her lips, adding, "And that's all I can tell you about Mr. Kelis Isle."

A finely dressed man with a goatee and dark hair stands at the edge of the table. "Pardon, but I couldn't help but overhear. What's this about Kelis Isle? I work with him at the castle." Your client's words flash through your minds: Keep this secret. Don't let anyone know about this investigation.

"Hello there! Who may you be?" Nekurr quickly jumps into a serious posture as a naughty child caught stealing candy! "Ah yes, Kelis Isle. I heard he was working now somewhere south. Tamalir was my guess." the cleric shows his hand to the good looking man "Nekurr, cleric of Fortuna. I'm a friend of Kelis. Met him through Rathin, you know her? That are related and she wanted me to help him turn his luck when he was in a bad place. I haven't seen her in awhile now. Anyway, I was planning on surprising him to make sure he was doing well"

"Oi wanna hunt the lion-lizards and musk-deer of the fens, bot Oi don't wanna sleep an eat wit 'em... Anywhere on or near the swamp ta get a hot meal and dry bed? Even if just some accommodating folks' stable, er sumpin'?"
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"Oi've 'eard dere's lizard folk thereabouts... kin ya tell me anythin' about em? Maybe 'ow ta make peace wit em, if Oi foind myself having angered em?"
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"Any friendly advoice, fer what else someone not from these parts might need ta know?"