Madam Moulot has Effulgyn's attention, and he sits bolt upright in his chair, eyes wide. He's seen a great deal of magic wrought since arriving at the Academy, but in his heart he remains the stout halfling who farmed and tilled the land, brewed ale, and milked the goats on Nimblewynde farm. 'A chariot,' he thinks. 'That makes sense, we've been riding on a cart after all. And as for 'duality',' he repeats to himself, rolling the uncommon word around his mouth, 'why, we were presented with choices like that from the beginning: to go through the wilds, or through Beres.' As for choosing a path, Effulgyn was never slow to weigh his options and act with conviction. 'So long as the options were clear, whereas at the moment they seem to me about as murky as a half-eaten bucket of pig slop.'

"Is there... more?" he asks, in a hushed voice, clearing his throat and blinking his eyes from the incense smoke. 

Without a further word, Madame Moulot reveals the next card. 

"Ah, The Paladin." she says. "This card represents a man of great wisdom and great responsibility. He is both protected, and is protection, for his cloak is well worn and made of beautiful cloth, but he wears glistening armour beneath, and carries a great weapon. This is a man of great urgency and action, relentless in the pursuit of his desires. But the mountains behind him remind us of his fallibility--for he is mortal, after all." 

You can tell she is trying to read your reaction. "Do you know of whom I speak?" she asks. (OOC feel free to roll another insight check if you're wondering why she might ask questions like this--I will share with the group rather than PM you for this one). 

Effulgyn's eyes flash to Fin. "Why, Finnie, mate... that must be...," but the bronze-maned halfling stops short, suddenly remembering that such information was of the sort the party is not to reveal. 'That does sound like Fin, or maybe even more, like M.o.M?' Turning back to face Madam Moulot, the halfling peers at her incisively, his eyes narrowing a touch (Insight: 21). "Why, me mate Finnie... Fin, here, he's all that and wears armor and carries weapons, don't he? But what does that have to do with me farm?"

We'll give Fin a chance to react to this before moving on to the last card but in the meantime with a 21 (!) I will say that those of you who took classes in Divination will remember your professor, the Elvish woman named Vaylor, frequently speaking on the importance of reading reactions when it came to Seeing. 

"Your prophecies and predictions won't be taken seriously if you aren't able to convince your audience" she'd say. "Use their reactions to bolster your predictions. Weave in the names and places and things they mention. Make it real for them! Give them a show!"

Fin gives a proud little smirk, "Someone has to keep you all out of trouble. Have to remember in that it's not just me - Protection, but also protected. Keep in mind we're all small things in the world, and there are powers greater than us who keep watch." Fin stares for a moment at the card, pondering over the mountain imagery and fallibility of the pictured figure. 

((Fin will opt to draw when his turn comes: 50 4 19))

Madame Moulot lets her eyes land on Fin for the first time, drinking him in as steadily as she had Effulgyn moments ago. She methodically moves her eyes to take in as much information as she can, moving from his face, to his clothes, to his weapons. 

"You are silver", she says finally. "With an undertone of blue. Yes, the colour of first snow at twilight. The colour of strong metal, virgin still--silver mined from very deep places, seeing day for the first time. You are wise, and made of strong stuff, yet you bring a calm and a peace to the party. But be careful! For you can take on the colours of the people around you, tarnish your silver in the process."

Returning her speech to Effulgyn, she continues.

"Perhaps the fate of this young man is entwined with your own. But this card usually portends someone older and wiser. Many seasons still have to pass over this young human, protector or not. But let us see! Perhaps the third card will reveal more."

Arc had been holding off till the others had a chance, he will now draw cards as well. 97 22  54

Quote from GR_Mustang >>

Arc had been holding off till the others had a chance, he will now draw cards as well. 41 36  33

 YESSSSS ARC!

With that, she flips the third card, revealing that it is upside down. It depicts a young man standing on an empty field, holding a staff. He is staring off into the distance, as if reflecting on his choices. 

"The Page of Wands, reversed" she says thoughtfully. "This is someone who has a field to farm, with limitless potential, and yet he is overcome with indecision for there is too much possibility in the future of this soil, too many fruits to yield. But how rich  land might be without a single seed planted is something to consider: for no harvest will come from of mere dreaming. The young man stands on potential reward but his clothing is unsoiled. He shows us that the possibilities are indeed great, but will not bear reward without foresight and hard work." 

Effulgyn frowns. “If this third card is about a farmer, they’ve got me pegged for sure. But…,” he looks up at Madam Moulot, hope beginning to flag that he will come away from her reading with an answer to any of the questions he had coming in. “Madam, I’d like to remind you that ai’m askin about me family. Me dear brothers. So far, other than a few pretty pictures, I dunno what any o this has to do with them. This ain’t about farmin’ I don’t need answers how to farm. It’s about their safety. At the risk of sounding rude, are they in danger? Can ye tell me or not?”

She smiles kindly at Effulgyn.

"We must never take the spirits literally in the interpretation of these cards BUT! I don't believe these cards tell a story of death, devastation or despair.  I am not concerned for your family. Find peace in that, if you can, for the spirits are quite clear on that." She pauses to reassure you with her eyes.  "Perhaps the cards are trying to tell you something they think you need to know. When read together, they speak of diverging paths--the dark mount and the light mount." she points again at the chariot card and its two sphinx. "Both bring you to your destiny, and perhaps The Paladin card leads you in one direction, while the Page card leads you in the other. Which you choose is up to you." 

Effulgyn’s eyes moisten at Moulot’s words. He quickly wipes a trembling tear from one eye and bravely holds the diviner’s eyes. “Yer words give me courage. And relief. Thank ye. Thank ye.” He stands and makes way for the next reading, keeping any further thoughts to himself. 

Madame Moulot turns her gaze to Ferg and invites him to take the seat directly across the round table from her, which Effulgyn has freed. She follows the same patter of reckoning and observation about his face and his clothes. 

"You are a true red." she says finally. "Warm--but also fiery, passionate. Maybe quick to temper, maybe quick to love. Loyal. Brave. Fierce in your convictions, for better or worse. You are a true red indeed!" 

She has been shuffling the deck of cards and after dividing them into three, invites Ferg to hold and shuffle each set. They are warm in his hands. 

"Tell me, as we have not been introduced--who are you and what would you like the spirits to show you today?" 

Ferg is interested but too proud to admit full confidence in Madame Moulot.  Still he doesn't want to miss out on knowledge.  He says "I am a proud Mordecai of the house of Mordecai, descended from my father Targent and his father Harold.  Financial concerns in our clan have forced me to somewhat straightened circumstances but I plan to make my family proud by completely my education and finding a situation worthy of a Mordecai.  Any information on how to achieve my goals or how to help my friends here in our quest would be welcome."

Ferg chooses the cards and waits for Madame Moulot.

"Ah, I see. Well, Master Mordecai, I have never met a true red who failed to meet their goal! But let's see what the spirits have to say on the matter, for their sight goes further and deeper than mine."

She again looks to each person around the table as she places her fingers on the first card, the one to her left, and makes a show of readying herself (and possibly the spirits) to proceed, inhaling deeply through her nostrils and seeming to relish this moment of quiet. And then with a luxurious exhale through the nostrils again, she plucks the card and reveals it.

"The Fighter" she says, finally. "He is a champion in all things physical, mastering his destiny through determination and force. Not unlike The Chariot, this card portends success in the chosen strategy--the journey you are on will bring you the success you desire. But don't let that give you a sense of peace and ease for the fighter must wrangle the beast with his bare hands lest the journey fall apart where he stands." At this, she points at the card's depiction of a man prying a lion's mouth open with his bare hands.  "Indeed, he puts himself in grave danger, and risks great danger to succeed. He is often tested and must at each instance decide the degree to which it is worth it to continue. But see? His face is calm. He knows on some level that the path he has chosen is correct, and that this is just another obstacle in a series. He knows that the fates smile in his favour, unpleasant as it may be to wrest the outcomes he wishes for." 

Ferg listens.  At times it seems she knows him and at times it seems she does not.  "I am one to stand my ground and push things through to a conclusion, usually the conclusion I want.  However I am not a risk taker.  I'm not scared of danger but I prefer not to take risks.  We shall see.  You say I will be tested and must determine the degree to which it is worth it to continue ... Yes that describes me to a tee.  Interesting..."  He thinks for a bit and then looks to the second card.  "Your insights interest me, pray continue ..."  he waves a hand as if to say 'The floor is yours'

Anyone attempting to read Madame Moulot's expression might perceive a momentary flash of doubt but again, she maintains her composure, smiling at Ferg. "Perhaps you have not yet been tested to your full character! Perhaps the Spirits see something you do not. Or perhaps we mustn't take too much stock in one card--for the set of three tells the real tale." And with a slight flourish, she reveals the middle card. It depicts a naked child sitting atop a white horse, with a huge sun shining in the background. It's upside down, so is facing Ferg. 

Madame Moulot frowns. "The Sun, a very auspicious card! But in this placement--in the middle, you see, and upside down--it usually indicates a child, and at that, a child needing assistance of some kind..." she trails off, doubt definitely creeping into her voice this time. 

"Perhaps we need to see the third card to make a determination." she says, almost to herself. She seems to have forgotten her audience, and is proceeding forward to satisfy her own curiosity. She flips the third card quickly, eagerly, without flourish, as though in a private conversation. 

The third card depicts a young-looking elven woman sitting on a marble slab. She holds a spell scroll in her hands and looks serenely and directly forward, as though she has everything she needs right there. "The Wizard," Madame Moulot says, very quietly, still lost in her reverie. But it seems to decide something in her mind and she snaps up, looking directly at Ferg for the first time since flipping the Sun card. 

"She is wise, and she serves as the mediator between the life lived and the life dreamt. She illuminates the truth to you, and you, a true red, brave and courageous, will be compelled to see it whether you want to or not. This truth will be delivered to you from the eyes of a child. Whether metaphorical or literal, I cannot say--and my intuition, such as it is, has been silent. But I trust the Spirits and what they say through me, through these cards you have chosen. A child is coming into your life, if she isn't there already, and she will lead you to understanding! You will persevere in the end, and destiny will be satisfied. Whether your family will be satisfied, the spirits do not say. But it will bring your family a conclusion to its destiny, a clarity and a purpose, for the Sun illuminates all, the The Wizard is too wise not to see it, even if she wishes against it, and the Fighter will prevail regardless." 

Ferg Is amazed doesn't know what to think.  "My older brother Gassot, not Targent Jr the oldest as he is still unwed to my knowledge, is recently married and, though I have not heard, it is probable that his wife is with child by this time.  Due to the inheritance rules in the house of Mordecai, if Targent Jr does not produce an heir the family title will fall upon the oldest child of the next in line, in this case Gassot.  If this heir is female and Gassot doesn't have any male heirs, it will complicate things but the title still goes to her.  She would then also hold the title of The Daughter of Light which falls to the oldest female descendent.  These two titles, Heiress of Mordecai and Daughter of Light, have never been held by the same person in the 5 generations of the house of Mordecai.  The Daughter of Light is responsible for the education, and especially the arcane education, of the children of the clan, a very important responsibility in gnome clans as you might imagine."  Ferg stops and ponders for a moment.  "So if my brother's new wife is with child and this child is female your predictions foretell a powerful and interesting turn in the affairs of the house of Mordecai.  I think I need time to think about the implications of such an outcome."  He is about to tell the others that the house of Mordecai has fallen on hard times recently and Ferg's main objective in getting his education and making his way in the world is to restore as much of the honor of the house of Mordecai as he can.  He decides to keep this to himself for now.

"I thank you Madame, this has been an eye opening session indeed."  He bows slightly then backs up to let someone else come forward.

"I suppose it'smy turn, then." Fin tilts his scabbard away and plants himself on the seat opposite Madame Moulot. "Have to admit you had me intrigued, but I've never known Divinations to be terribly reliable. Someone told me once, it's like shooting an arrow then painting the target."

"Ah, Silver One!" Madame Moulot says to Fin after he has settled in the seat in front of her. She has already begun to shuffle the cards again and hands them over to him. "Who are you, beside Silver, and what would you care to know today?"