In The Cards

When doing a Reading, the skilled Reader may attempt to question the Cards, and so receive answers and guidance they might otherwise have missed. Have a care however. The Cards may represent people, but the actual person may not have access to all the knowledge their Card does, if it concerns future events. Do not press that real person for answers, you will not get them and you risk causing all sorts of problems.

Excerpt from 'The Chaltar Deck Of Cards - An Introduction'

"Gentlemen, gentlewomen - may I introduce myself? I am Eldoth Kron."

Zaerini gave the stranger in front of her a careful look. He was a little older than herself she guessed, dark of hair and beard, and dressed in clothes that looked like they had once been very expensive but now were stained and torn here and there. Most interestingly he was carrying a lute-case slung across his back. A bard, is it? Let's hope he's not as stupid as that Garrick fellow. Not that he looks very trustworthy, but we'll see. I'm really exhausted after fighting those druids, I don't want to get into a fight right now. She introduced herself and her companions in turn. "So what makes you wander the Cloakwood all by yourself, Eldoth?" she asked. "Aren't you afraid you'll be surprised and ambushed by monsters?"

The other bard simply smirked. "Such a thing sounds awfully tedious, don't you agree?" he said. "Potions of invisibility will help take care of that kind of little details, for those occasions when I don't have the time to vanquish what great foes fate may throw at me."

"Which great foes would those be?" Edwin murmured. "Your pimples? Or perhaps whichever fiend it was that persuaded you to drench yourself in hair oil. In case you hadn't noticed, it's leaving a trail of grease all over your collar. (Not that a little grease it makes much difference in his case. It's a bit like throwing a bucket of water into the ocean.)"

"Look," Rini hastily said, hoping to forestall another fight. "Why don't we just skip past the smalltalk, Eldoth? What is it that you want of us?"

"Certainly," Eldoth said with a sharp glance at Edwin. "I can tell you are in a hurry." He smiled. "And may I say how pleasant it is to meet such beautiful people wandering these woods? I never would have thought it possible." He glared at Edwin again. "Well, when I say beautiful I mean those of you not possessed with the manners of an ogre with a severe tummy-ache." Then he shrugged. "What I want? To crassly sum things up, I have a business proposition for you, and a very profitable one at that. You see, there's a girl, my lover in fact, who desires to escape her father and live on her own. Her father is Entar Silvershield, one of the Dukes of Baldur's Gate. This, of course, makes her desires more difficult than those of the average city girl." He smirked again. "Not that her desires aren't worth it. Anyway, with your assistance we could help her escape the tyrannical clutches of Entar. Here's the punch line: since Entar's going to be hunting us anyway we can blackmail him for hordes of cash and not worry about our captive escaping. After all, we're doing it all for the sake of Skie."

What an utter, utter slimeball, Rini thought. Poor Skie, whoever she is. I bet she has no idea of this plot to blackmail her father. She probably thinks he really loves her too, poor girl.

So you're going to refuse him, Softpaws said. The cat was watching Eldoth intently, her back slightly arched. Her mental voice carried a definite hiss with it.

I should. This guy is a total creep, and he'll likely ruin that girl's life.

But?

But if I refuse him he'll just find somebody else to do it for him. No, I think I'll play along for now. And who knows, then I may just be able to teach him a lesson or two…

"I really don't have the time for such an endeavor at the moment," the redheaded bard explained, making herself sound as jaded and bored as Eldoth. "I'm on a mission of my own right now. Perhaps later."

"What?" Jaheira sputtered. "Child, you cannot possibly mean…"

"I mean what I say, Jaheira," Rini firmly declared, staring into the other woman's eyes. "I know what I'm doing. Trust me, why don't you? Remember how we spoke about trust before?"

After a few moments the druid looked away. "Very well," she reluctantly said. "It is your decision. I just hope you will not regret it."

"Would you like me to accompany you?" Eldoth asked. "Or shall we meet up later, in Baldur's Gate? I can wait for some time longer."

"Baldur's Gate," Rini said at once. "I accept the assignment, and we will meet with you there once our own business is concluded."

"And I shall be looking forward to another encounter with such a charming young lady," Eldoth said, bowing. "You will be able to reach me at the Three Old Kegs Inn. Until then, fair wanderers." He walked off in a northerly direction, looking very pleased with himself.

"What do you really intend to do with him?" Edwin asked.

"You'll see," Zaerini said. "You'll see." She yawned. "And now I think we ought to see about making camp. That Eldoth fellow was rather dull, he made me really sleepy."

Before going to sleep that night Zaerini decided that it would be a good idea to do another reading of her Chaltar Cards. It had been a while, and now that she was approaching the Cloakwood Mines she felt it would be a good time to do so. Conjuring a magelight to help augment the light from the camp fire she rapidly shuffled the deck, then spread out the selected cards. Show me what is to come, she thought before turning them over. The near future, the far future, whatever events may affect me.

The cards were placed in groups, she noticed. First the Priest Of Clubs, next to the Prisoner. Right next to them lay one of the Element Cards. Water.

In the next group she saw the Wizard of Swords, opposing the Rogue. Close by the Knight of Swords.

The Knight of Swords also was connected to the next group. Death, and then the Tower, crumbling to bits as armed warriors fell from its dark battlements. Falling…falling… And then the bard felt her vision blacken and swirl as the cards reared up towards her, filling her mind and her soul.

There was a deep black void all around, except for the gray and dead ground beneath her feet. Zaerini looked about herself, finding herself eye to eye with two solemn figures. The Priest of Clubs was muscular and armed with a large hammer, an imposing beard streaming down his broad his chest as he calmly watched her. Next to him the Prisoner hunched, an emaciated figure wearing rags, shackled with heavy irons, eyes desperate and dark.

"Hail, Child of Bhaal," the Priest spoke.

"Hail, Bringer of Freedom," said the Prisoner.

"Who are you?" the bard asked. She didn't think these two posed a threat, but during this reading she intended to find out as much as she could. No more waiting for the cards to reveal what they would, this time she would have proper answers.

"We are two, yet one," the Priest said.

"One of us was," said the Prisoner, holding out his arms to show her the chains that fettered him. "Now the other one is. Your actions will determine which one will be in the future."

"They will?" Rini asked. "I will? Do you mean I'm supposed to free you? Free you from where?"

"From the chains of greed and friendship betrayed," the Prisoner said, his eyes filled with wrath and sorrow. "Beware the one who would forge such chains. Beware him, for he means you grave harm."

Well, that was really helpful. "Who means me harm? Do you mean Sarevok?"

The two figures both shook their heads, their movements exactly mimicking each other. "The Knight of Swords would merely slay your body," the Prisoner said. "There are worse fates."

"That's easy for you to say. I'd like to keep my body intact if it's all the same to you."

"But the Devil would destroy your very spirit," said the Priest of Clubs. "Beware the Devil, Child of Bhaal. You must not let him succeed, and not only for your own sake. Too much depends on it."

"If whatever I need to do keeps me alive and sane that's about all the motivation I need. You don't need to tell me that I need to save the world on top of that."

The two figures fell silent.

"What?" Rini asked. "Why aren't you talking to me?"

"You did tell us that you had no need to hear that you must save the world," the Prisoner said in a pointed voice.

"We have offered our guidance," the Priest said, stroking his beard. "It is up to you to decide whether or not you wish to benefit from it." He raised his hand as if in benediction, and a soft white light spread out from it. When it winked out it took the two beings with it.

I have no idea what that last part meant, Zaerini thought. But I bet it wasn't anything I really want to know. Which card was next. Water, wasn't it?

As if in answer to her question she heard a roaring sound, and a great wave rolled towards her, arching up high above. Oh, sh… Then she was fighting for her life, tossed and flung here and there by the raging water, fighting desperately to hold her breath despite her burning lungs. "This is how they died, so long ago," said a disembodied voice that she recognized as that of the Priest of Clubs. "If you would save lives, then this is how others must die as well. This you must know, Child of Bhaal. Those who bring death may also bring life, under the right circumstances. Remember that."

I won't be remembering anything if I don't get to breathe soon, you stupid old…

And then the water subsided as quickly as it had come, and the half-elf once again found herself on dry land, her clothes dry as well. She was not in the place where she had started though. Now she stood in a great hall, cold marble floor stretching out endlessly around her, soft voices whispering in dark corners and behind the rich furniture that dotted the room here and there. In the middle of the room she saw two more figures, facing each other.

The Rogue slipped from shadow to shadow, moving as if in an intricate and graceful dance, almost invisible in the darkness. And yet this being was more clearly visible to her than he had been during previous readings, almost…familiar. Cloaked in deepest shadow as he was, there were moments when she could almost glimpse the face beneath that deep black hood. Almost, but not quite. Still something in the way.

The Wizard of Swords carried darkness with him in his own way. A gaunt and joyless figure he was, his eyes dark hollows in a pale face. There was something clinging to his breast, the bard noticed. A dark little creature, almost goblin-like. It had an ugly, twisted face, and its sharp fangs were buried deep within the wizard's heart, as the hideous little fiend suckled his very lifeblood. He…he doesn't know it's there? Zaerini thought, incredulous. Or…or has it been there so long that he has forgotten it? The Wizard's hands were crackling with magical energy as he twisted and turned, scanning the shadows. He was obviously trying to spot the Rogue, but it was equally obvious that he didn't know who he was looking for.

These two were clearly more dangerous than the Priest of Clubs and the Prisoner, and yet the Bard could not turn away. They were playing a deadly game, she could see that much, and she had no idea who would be the winner. She thought about speaking out, but was afraid to do so, afraid of what might happen. There was no need however. The Rogue suddenly stiffened and turned towards her, and she could feel sharp eyes boring into her even if she couldn't see them. The Wizard turned as well, alerted to her presence by the new tension that had come over his opponent. Now there were two very penetrating looks directed her way, and it wasn't a comfortable sensation at all.

"Well, well," the Rogue murmured. "It would seem we have an audience. Perhaps we ought to start charging admission if this is to continue. Now tell me girl, is there a particular reason for you to bother me while I'm working, or are you simply doing the Grand Tour? If the former, please be brief. If the latter, please don't expect either of us to give a lecture on divination. We were rather busy, in case you didn't notice."

"Quite so, my friend," the Wizard agreed. "And it wouldn't surprise me if she has questions to ask, questions that she ought to be perfectly able to solve herself if only she would sit down and concentrate on them for more than a few minutes at a time. But of course she's going to ask us instead. It's not as if we had anything better to do than to get dragged into a rather exotic form of fortune-telling, against our will at that. I suppose we ought to count ourselves lucky if she doesn't ask us to explain the meaning of Life while we're here. That ought to keep us all busy for a century or so."

"Hey!" Rini protested. "There's no need to be rude, you know!"

"Rude?" the Rogue said. "Trust me, you've never seen either of us be really rude, and you really don't want to. It can be rather…messy."

The sarcastic smirk was almost visible by now, a brief flash beneath the black hood, and that voice… "Adahn?!" the bard asked incredulously. "Is that you?"

The Rogue was silent for a moment, and when next he spoke he sounded more serious. "No. That…is not my name." Hint of a smirk again. "And I'm most certainly not about to tell you my real one, divination or not, so don't even bother asking. I've hidden my secrets from worse than you, you know."

"Besides," the Wizard of Swords added dryly, "it would spoil the whole vision thing something dreadful. Visions are supposed to be vague. It's the Gods way of tormenting mortals, I think." His voice turned suddenly bitter. "One of them, at least."

Zaerini tried her best to suppress her annoyance. "All right!" she said. "So what can the two of you tell me? Without the clever remarks, thanks."

"You're really taking all the fun out of this," the Rogue remarked. "Oh, very well. Ask your questions, and we will answer you - maybe." The smooth voice was filled with amusement by now. "It all depends on how you put your questions. And don't expect unlimited time either."

Gods. I thought only Edwin was capable of deliberately being that irritating. "Those other two guys I met earlier were much more helpful."

"Well naturally they were. They were bound to be, being Heroic and all. Whereas me and my friend and colleague here…" The Rogue indicated himself and the Wizard. "…are more ambiguous. Now, are you going to ask your questions or not?"

"Yes, please do," the Wizard agreed. "We really need to get back to what we were doing."

"All right," Rini said. "What were you doing? It looked like you were trying to kill each other, but now you seem…I don't know…friendly to each other."

The two men gave each other a long and considering look. "We are opponents at this time," the Rogue conceded, now sounding much more serious. "But by circumstance, not by inclination."

"Indeed," the Wizard agreed. "We…share certain common ground. Yet that which unites us is also that which causes our current conflict."

"But why? Who are you?"

"We are Guides," the Wizard declared.

"We are Guardians," the Rogue said with a brief nod.

"Determined and committed."

"Prepared to make sacrifices."

"Willing to die."

"Ready to kill."

"Me for my charge."

"And me for mine."

"I…I see," Rini said, not really understanding but unwilling to admit that. "But what does all of this have to do with me?"

"More than you might think," the Wizard said.

"Certainly more than we are going to tell you," added the Rogue.

"So are you two going to tell me anything I can actually make sense of?" the bard said, hoping she didn't sound like a whining child.

"Two things," the Wizard said. "When you and I meet in the flesh, I am going to ask you to do something for me, though the 'real' me doesn't know that yet of course. If you oblige me, I will be most grateful. Also, one other thing. Remember that everybody acts for a reason, even those you consider your enemies. Understanding is the key to everything. Yet understand you must, in time."

"As for me," the Rogue said, "you will not see me go, though you will certainly see the consequences of my departure. Remember that actions have motives - misguided as they may be. You will need to understand in order to forgive. We both will."

That's what they call 'making sense'? "Understand what? Who? Why? Can't you be a little more specific?" But they were both gone, and the shadows gave her no answers.

And now Zaerini heard a deep and chilling laughter behind her, one that she knew all too well. She turned, her blood feeling like ice water in her veins, and saw a huge armored shape rear up above her, sword raised. The Knight of Swords. Sarevok. "And so it is just you and me, little sister," the warrior taunted. "Did you think I would sit meekly, waiting? Then you were mistaken. I am coming for you. Sooner than you think."

She ran, unthinking, instinct urging her to get away. Sarevok was close behind her, she was certain of it, but she dared not look back. Then there was something in front of her, a vast tower, dark and terrible, narrow windows staring like blind eyes at the empty sky, portcullis yawning open like a fanged mouth. The Tower. The half-elf darted across the drawbridge, frantically pulling open the heavy doors. They fell shut behind her and she could hear Sarevok's scream of frustration and anger as he failed to open them. The doors…were locked, shutting her in. There had been no other way to survive, and yet she felt herself shivering with fear. And inside the Tower she could sense shadows awakening. Shadows…and something else as well. Something more dangerous.

"The Tower…" Zaerini whispered to herself as she came back to reality. She had a feeling she knew what that meant. And she really wished that she were wrong.