5th of Cylus, Arc 718
A tentative hand pushed the unassuming wooden door tucked down the alleyway. It creaked ominously upon its old, worn hinges, seeming to be as reluctant to open as the visitor was to enter. Nervousness was likely warranted. After all, it was above this domicile that cracked and yellowed skulls donned the lintel like warning crossbones upon a black flag. The very sight of the place was enough to send skittish children running even without the stories attached. For the superstitious in Almund, however, The Bones was practically hollowed ground.
Maxine stepped across the threshold into the dimly lit room, the wind that came in at her heels gently disturbing the flames on the candle wicks scattered about the inside. Her eyes focused on an aging woman seated at a table fixed in the center, staring back with an unsurprised gaze. The woman's hand reached down into a small black sack. She withdrew a white oval, which she subsequently placed upon the table in front of her and flipped it over. A sideways triangle peeped out from the center of a line. The stranger's eyes brightened at the very sight of the symbol.
"You're here for a fortune," Efah Chazon, Almund's prolific rune reader stated with a smile. Another gust of wintry wind snagged the door and slammed it shut behind Max, startling the Mixed Race a bit. The Rusalka swallowed and shook her irrational trepidation away. She marched forward and placed a single gold nel before Efah, who then gestured to the seat across from her.
"They say you can see the future," Max accused the peculiar woman as she eased down into the chair, arms crossed.
"I just interpret the runes, dear," Efah clarified, pocketing the coin. "That's all."
"And the runes presume to know someone's future?"
"So it's been said."
"People say a lot of things not worth my coin," the Rusalka said while she eyed the reader skeptically. It was as though she believed the invasiveness of her stare alone could break her. The old woman failed to waver. Instead, she looked right back at her almost expectantly.
"Have you ever lent your ear to the dead?" Efah said with a cock of her head. Max's face contorted with confusion and Efah chuckled at the sight. "The bones of Scalvorian captains passed are willing conduits with much to say. They may speak to you if you don't fear them looking back at you from beyond." It was a chilling challenge. The possibility anything or anyone could communicate from beyond the grave was unsettling enough. Drawing the attention of any sort of spirit was something most tended to avoid. Her eerie threat only worked if one bought into her abilities. So far, Max wasn't convinced.
A tentative hand pushed the unassuming wooden door tucked down the alleyway. It creaked ominously upon its old, worn hinges, seeming to be as reluctant to open as the visitor was to enter. Nervousness was likely warranted. After all, it was above this domicile that cracked and yellowed skulls donned the lintel like warning crossbones upon a black flag. The very sight of the place was enough to send skittish children running even without the stories attached. For the superstitious in Almund, however, The Bones was practically hollowed ground.
Maxine stepped across the threshold into the dimly lit room, the wind that came in at her heels gently disturbing the flames on the candle wicks scattered about the inside. Her eyes focused on an aging woman seated at a table fixed in the center, staring back with an unsurprised gaze. The woman's hand reached down into a small black sack. She withdrew a white oval, which she subsequently placed upon the table in front of her and flipped it over. A sideways triangle peeped out from the center of a line. The stranger's eyes brightened at the very sight of the symbol.
"You're here for a fortune," Efah Chazon, Almund's prolific rune reader stated with a smile. Another gust of wintry wind snagged the door and slammed it shut behind Max, startling the Mixed Race a bit. The Rusalka swallowed and shook her irrational trepidation away. She marched forward and placed a single gold nel before Efah, who then gestured to the seat across from her.
"They say you can see the future," Max accused the peculiar woman as she eased down into the chair, arms crossed.
"I just interpret the runes, dear," Efah clarified, pocketing the coin. "That's all."
"And the runes presume to know someone's future?"
"So it's been said."
"People say a lot of things not worth my coin," the Rusalka said while she eyed the reader skeptically. It was as though she believed the invasiveness of her stare alone could break her. The old woman failed to waver. Instead, she looked right back at her almost expectantly.
"Have you ever lent your ear to the dead?" Efah said with a cock of her head. Max's face contorted with confusion and Efah chuckled at the sight. "The bones of Scalvorian captains passed are willing conduits with much to say. They may speak to you if you don't fear them looking back at you from beyond." It was a chilling challenge. The possibility anything or anyone could communicate from beyond the grave was unsettling enough. Drawing the attention of any sort of spirit was something most tended to avoid. Her eerie threat only worked if one bought into her abilities. So far, Max wasn't convinced.
