Free wisdom card readings - for characters and all!

[zeeth_kyrah]

Greetings! I recently had an inspiration for something I could do to contribute to a few DW friends, and tonight got a push from a couple of my spirit guides saying "Do it!"

I'm offering free wisdom card readings from the Hero's Deck, a collection of 36 cards in 3 groups. It's essentially a summary of archetypal Hero's Journey fragments, including Heroic Aspects, Heroic Gifts, and Heroic Challenges. The twist on this reading is, I'm offering these readings particularly for peoples' characters, whether from stories and poems, games, or whatever venue. I'll be answering in character as a traveling bard and sage, Jewel the Water-Singer. Feel free to get creative, write intro text or descriptions of actions, or simply ask questions of the diviner. Jewel will answer as many as four questions for you, though your character might want to offer a gift for more than two.

(If you want a reading for yourself, go ahead and ask, I'll answer this one in character anyway.)

Since anyone can ask, character or not, the usual local-world warnings apply. (Federal law says this is for entertainment purposes only, I'm not a licensed anything, and so on.) The readings will be open from the time of posting until Tuesday, October 2nd, Eastern (New York City) time zone to give those with little warning a chance to drop by.

And with that, the local marketplace now has a busker with a small folding seat and a small pop-up table, where sits a woman dressed in red-striped pantaloons and a player's (actor's) fancy green velvet blouse with pale undershirt. She has a mouth organ (harmonica) and a small thumb piano with her as well, and alternates playing tunes and singing snippets of folk song, and giving readings to her audience. On the table is a blue silk bag upon which sits the box holding a deck of cards. Next to the bag is a large quartz point with unusual clarity and a hint of rainbow in its facets. This person would not seem too out of place in a Spanish or French Renaissance marketplace, though she looks somewhat Iranian or Lakota. (Perhaps she is of mixed ancestry?)

The bard calls out, "Come one, come all for the wonders of heroic wisdom! Let the ancestors witness, for life is the play and we are the players! Who will partake of these insights? Let Jewel the Water-Singer tell you mysteries from the further realms! Ask once, ask several times! Gifts for the sage are also quite welcome!"

Comments

[alexseanchai]

A small pale—woman? it's hard to tell—wanders through the marketplace. They're wearing dark blue jeans and black sandals, a blue Sailor Moon T-shirt and a copper-and-malachite pendant; their strawberry blonde hair is tied back in a low ponytail, though some strands have escaped the deep green ribbon, and copper-wrapped lapis stones hang from their ears.

They spot the rainbowy reflection of the quartz point first, then hear the bard's call. Tentatively, they approach her.

"Hi," they say when she turns to look. "Do you—can you help me figure out a dream I keep having?"

Perhaps the bard has second sight enough to see, echoing this stranger, a Greek woman of the same age, barefoot and garbed in a linen peplos dyed a deep green and pinned with copper brooches, with ribbon the same green binding up her dark hair.



[Thanks for this—that's actually more characterization I've gotten written down on this story since I thought of it in January! I think what I'm hoping for from Jewel's cards is some story direction. I have the premise clear, I just don't know what to do with it! And the character hasn't got as far as asking the actual question, to be clear, it just feels more in-character to wait for Jewel's answer, or something?]

[zeeth_kyrah]

The bard smiles broadly. "Oneiromancy has saved my life more than once," she declares. "Do tell me of your dream.. or if you would rather I draw without knowing, this I can do."

If she sees the echo, she gives little reaction.

[alexseanchai]

"Thanks," they say, nodding, and take a moment to collect their thoughts. "The dream—I'm on a riverbank, near the shore. Sunset. I'm holding a drop spindle, but I have nothing to spin. And a voice says—and I can't pronounce the words, but what they mean is 'pray, but swim'. And a lightning storm rises over the water."

They pause. "It's been just like that every night for a week and a half."


[As author I'm referencing a particular Aesop but my character hasn't heard it.]

[zeeth_kyrah]

"Mm," comes the reply. Jewel considers, then idly pulls the cards from their box and shuffles them once.

She looks up to the querent. "It seems to me that the storm will not destroy you if you are swift. A card or two should clarify what you are being given, however."

After sliding several cards aside, she draws one and flips it over. "The Fallen chases you, I think. And while faith might grant a better escape, it would be a mistake to wait for a huntress to destroy this thing for you."

[alexseanchai]

[Thank you! I need to think through the flash of inspiration that gave me—but it wouldn't be in character to just vanish, so do you mind if I come back later?]

[zeeth_kyrah]

[Sure thing. :) ]

[alexseanchai]

"The Fallen?" they ask, head tilted as though listening to something no one else can hear. "And—are they chasing me toward something, or away, or just to catch me—"

They pause. "That's too many questions, isn't it. I should—" They reach for a purse they're not carrying. "—bring my purse next time! Um. Do you take payment in jewelry?" They gesture at their head. "I made these earrings."

[zeeth_kyrah]

Jewel shrugs. "I doubt this deck could answer directly about the Fallen; it speaks more of players than of paths. That said, I do not wear earrings. While beautiful and often valuable, I find that the less an enemy grabs in a fight, the less I am torn."

She pats the body of the thumb piano, hanging from her belt, and flicks her fingers over its tines. "Instead of this gift, which I suspect will be needed for your own path, may I suggest you bring back a song from your journey? While I prefer folk dance, I like many styles, including various tribal songs."

[alexseanchai]

"Oh!" One hand leaps to their earring. "I...huh."

A thoughtful pause. "I think," they say finally, "I can do that." Their hand falls to their pendant, one fingertip running up and down the copper spiral. "And that gives me something to look for.

"Thank you," they add. "Will I find you here again?"

[zeeth_kyrah]

A smile and a sharp nod affirm the bard's next words: "You shall! The seasons blow me about from time to time, and the life of a traveler is hard, but this is a profitable market and I would hardly ignore the lively city about it."

[acelightning]

An older woman makes her way towards the busking seeress. The woman is thouroughly Caucasian in appearance, of average height, a bit on the plump side, and is walking with the assistance of a purple metal cane. She is dressed entirely in purple; her hair is mid-back-length, and matches her clothing. She wears a necklace with a pentagram pendant, which has an unusual purple gemstone (not an amethyst) in its center.

"That's a beautiful piece of quartz you have there," she remarks, "and I'm enjoying your music. But my recent life events have left me with many puzzles, and I'd appreciate some extra information to help me solve them, if you please!"

[zeeth_kyrah]

The younger woman looks up and grins. "Thankee, madame! Is that iolite in your pendant?"

She takes the cards up in her hands. "I feel that the cards want me to read one before asking more.. there may be an unknown that wants knowing." She shuffles twice, then sorts the face-down cards a bit... drawing out one. As she does, a second card flips out and lands face-up.

Eyebrows raised, Jewel says, "The Destroyer has leapt from ambush! As a hero, this one exists to break evils and tear away false bonds." She flips the card in her hand. "And Temptation drew the Destroyer out. Such a challenge could be faced by a warrior with a sword... succubi, for instance? But sometimes Temptation makes a Destroyer of one who was otherwise pure. Such is the challenge we face."

She faces back up to her counterpart. "Is there aught to add here?"

[acelightning]

It's not iolite, it's Charoite.

Regarding the Destroyer... I suffered a small stroke this past July. I've lost some strength and dexterity on the left side of my body (I haven't been able to force the fingers of my left hand to make chords on my ukulele), and my ability to deal with numbers (which was never very good) has gotten worse. And I get tired more easily than before. And I lost my appetite - I coudln't swallow food or even water for a number of weeks, and I lost a lot of weight. But I'm able to get around and do most things normally now. So the Destroyer destroyed a few cells in my brain - the doctors haven't really given me a clear explanation of why.

That's one of the things I'd like to know. Another one is how can I go about regaining the functions that were damaged. Or am I asking too much?

[zeeth_kyrah]

"Ah, I am not familiar with that stone and its properties. Iolite is a balancer that tends to bring harmony between body and spirit, and has a similar reflective quality."

Jewel shuffles the cards again, three times, and draws. This time the card Mistakes comes out... but Temptation slides out as well, seemingly stuck to its back side.

"Oh, uh, I suspect that your diet may have been part of this. My own mother, after menopause, had to cut back on sugar or her memory began to worsen. I really am not sure! This deck has fewer answers for medical situations than would be appropriate here."

She draws again, and the Trickster comes out. "Perhaps another has answers. But Tricksters do love play! Exercising the injured functions and giving them adequate love and feeding will help. Still, I know that head injuries require lots of rest for best recovery."

Jewel looks up at you. "An alternate explanation is that I am making the mistake. That Temptation could be the Trickster, turning a challenge inside-out and upside-down to tell you, do the thing you are drawn to, that it may be good for you. As for me, I say, be cautious in the search, risk a little in battle, and do not be afraid to run away. But take the risk, just in case."

[acelightning]

Charoite is specifically connected to the spiritually responsible uses of technology - I was a broadcasting technician when I discovered it! It also helps reduce pain and fear, and relates to the Third Eye.

You're probably right about diet. I never was able to eat "healthy" foods, and exercise has never interested me. I'm getting scolded about all these things by my doctors. But I've had dealings with Tricksters before - maybe dark chocolate, hot peppers, and ginger really are brain foods. But you've given me a number of things to think deeply about, which is a good thing. Thank you!

The older woman sticks her hand into the pocket of her trousers, and pulls out a pebble. "Here - here is a piece of charoite I've been carrying around until I found out who it was for. It's for you, of course!"

[zeeth_kyrah]

Jewel accepts the pebble. "Thank you. I shall have to meditate with this stone, and learn its ways."

[acelightning]

The technomage responds, "How you interact with charoite will have something to do with whether or not you're comfortable with technology."

[zeeth_kyrah]

"I know a handful of artificers, and I did make my thumb piano. Technology is no enemy to me."

Jewel breaks character for a bit, "Thank you again, I have this laptop that just.. I need this." She smiles, and puts the charoite pebble in a small medicine pouch on her belt.

[acelightning]

COnsidering how long that's been in my pocket, you might find it extremely useful :-)

[siliconshaman]

A young-ish woman, somewhere in her mid-thirties, wearing a Britannic Navel uniform, with the propeller and oak-leaves of the Fleet Air Arm service and captains bars on her sleeves stops by the table for a moment.

The large fluffy black cat at her ankle nudges her leg, causing her to look down.

"Should I, Incus?"

The cat sits down to wash himself for moment, before looking up at his human and saying "W'y not? You 'ot a 'etter idea?""

The captain nods, and sits down.
"I... don't normally believe in this stuff. I hope that's not a problem. but.. well, stuff's happened, and I'd like to see a glimmer of a star to steer by.. um.. if you get my meaning?"

[zeeth_kyrah]

Jewel smiles. "Of course. Every captain needs a good map. And thank you for serving!"

She folds her hands, then rests them on the deck of cards. "Since you asked for a star, I am going to pray for a moment over the cards. You do not need to join unless you want to. The goddess who favors me loves to be addressed as Holy Star; her name is Amaterasu." With eyes closed, Jewel prays silently for a few seconds, then opens her eyes and picks up the deck.

"Now let us learn what is to be!"

She draws the Warrior. "Hah, of course there is a Warrior for you." She draws again, this time revealing a Healer. "Ah, but a Healer -- of what things?" A third draw... the Trickster.

"Methinks this is your crew, revealed, madame Captain. Though perhaps they are independent from your service?"

[siliconshaman]

The Captain nods and closes her eyes out of respect for the prayer.

At the mention of the Trickster, her gaze slides sideways and down to the fluffy black cat, and the hint of a smile lurks in the corners of her lips. Incus, the cat, pretends not to notice that.

She snaps her gaze back up to Jewel, and nods gravely[ "I thank you seer... you've given me something to think upon now. At least I don't feel like I'm spinning my props while still moored."

Standing up, she digs into a pocket of her uniform jacket, and removes a small round highly polished bit of amethyst, about the size of a thumbnail. The light winks in it's internal facets, despite it being so dark purple it's almost black.

"I know you offered your wisdom for free, but please accept this in gratitude. I had in mind to have a tie pin or something made from it, but I think it would be better with you."

[zeeth_kyrah]

Jewel accepts the amethyst. "Thank you, madame. This stone is well charged, and will be useful."

[mama_kestrel]

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of a small, slight woman with hip-length sunset-red hair in a faded green linen dress coming toward you, but when you turn that way you see an auburn haired middle-aged matron in blue slacks and a green shirt, a good six inches taller than the one you thought you saw. The only thing that is identical are the eyes, an arresting shade of summer-leaf green. She smiles faintly, nodding in acknowledgment that you've seen both what she was and what she now is. Either way, it doesn't take long to see that this woman is a presence and a power, however little show of it she makes.

"Milady Bard, I have dreamed often and vividly, and if your cards might give another viewpoint I'd be grateful. It is of butterflies I have dreamed, massed on plants where they are not normally seen, appearing in such numbers that it's difficult to see what kind of trees they're fluttering around. They're very small, no bigger than the first joint of my thumb, but other than that I cannot get a good look at them, for that the group I am with hurries me along, insisting that they cannot go on without me. But I don't know where they, or I, are going, or even if it's all to the same place, or why - only that every time we move on, another cloud of the butterflies appears and settles on any surface they can find, fluttering and fluttering."

[zeeth_kyrah]

The bard looks surprised. "Butterflies in such number as to crowd out the whole scene? Butterflies in a dream refer to freedom, though what kind can vary."

She picks up her cards and flips over the whole deck. "To question freedom is good. Sometimes we have too much, but sometimes instead we are being told something much more obvious."

Eyes locked to her querent's face, she passes the cards from one hand to another, stopping close to the end of the pile. That card she drops on the table, where it flips face-down, and she looks at it.

"There, that is your hidden variable." With all the cards turned over again, the variable is revealed to be Charity.

"So it is a charitable gift that will free you, overwhelmingly so!"