22nd of Thermidor, 1535

Oleander rode cautiously up the trail leading into the rocky hills. Sotra, the country of the goblins, once served as a natural border between humans and bemerogs centuries ago. Sotra nowadays is a region predominantly filled with rugged hills and jagged mountains. To the goblins, the lost bemerog territory became an unexpected paradise; to everyone else, it’s just a pain in the ass to traverse.

The monster hunter couldn’t imagine being a merchant and traveling these narrow-as-hell passages every week. Whenever he could, he kept his eyes on the sky and one hand on his claymore; goblins tended to only protect the immediate area around their cities—that and the only militant goblins he’d stumble across would be in guard towers. Speaking of which, he passed the final one before reaching Kerth. Surprisingly welcoming bunch as they waved at Oleander once they could identify him.

Oleander steered his horse onto a massive plateau. Like an oasis in the desert, he saw acres upon acres of farmland with a modest-sized lake in the center. Goblin herders could be seen escorting ducks around the fields to eat up any unwanted insects and slugs. Oleander traveled down the thin cobblestone pathways separating all the farm plots. Every conceivable variety of capsicum could be found among the fields of upper-Kerth. Basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, star anise, and even turmeric plants all sprouted up like weeds amongst the fields of wild rice and barley.

For as lovely as the fields looked blowing in the relatively strong winds, all the houses looked the goddamned same to Oleander—small, thatch-roof cottages. He mockingly referred to them as sheds. He’d been to Cormag’s hut many times, but it was always a chore trying to figure out which one it was. None of the sheds had numbers on them, only esoteric symbols similar to heraldry but significantly more simplistic. Wait, there it was. Etched onto a wooden door was a nonsensical Signum diagram drawn in plain white chalk.

Oleander hitched up his horse and knocked on the door—the thin wooden board fell off its hinges and slammed onto the dirt floor. “Uh? Cormag!” Out from a hole in the floor, a one hundred and thirty centimeter tall goblin popped his head up. His jaw looked like two white interlocked whipsaws. He had beady little eyes that were visible through the darkness of the hut. His skin was red, texture-wise it was somewhere between human skin and lizard skin. His long nose and large pointed ears were hard to miss, along with the ridiculous witch hat he wore.

“Ah! Oleander, I wasn’t expecting you for another half-day or so.”

“Well, when you said bird head, lion body I just had to get over here as fast as I could.”

Another more friendly-looking face popped up from the hole leading to the under-house, a silver fox. Oleander could never fully explain the noises that little creature could make, especially when it saw someone familiar. She hastily rushed across the small shed into Oleander’s burly arms.

“Bashaz! How’s my big girl doing?” The little fox contorted wildly in Oleander’s embrace, either gently biting at his hands or rubbing her face against his beard.

“No! Bad Bashaz, there’s an ugly bastard in the sky and he wants to eat you!” Cormag snapped at the little animal. He pointed back at the hole, "Back under. Until the flying thing is dead.”

Despite being domesticated, foxes tended to act more like cats than dogs when it came to commands. Bashaz completely ignored Cormag and kept playing with Oleander.

The goblin sighed, “Just bring her down, I have many places to show you.”

Cormag grouchily jumped into the hole. “Hey jackass, I told you to widen this hole, I can barely fit through it.”

“Lose weight!” The goblin screamed as he slid down the ladder.

“Smartass,” Oleander scoffed.

“Indeed I am—”

“—move before I flatten you!”

The ladder went down about thirty feet into the house proper. Now, this felt like a place someone could live—well it at least accommodated Oleander’s large frame. The hole led directly into Cormag’s library. It was also the only section of the under-house that wasn’t a complete mess. Over at the desk stood a stack of parchments, each page filled with sketches of Signum diagrams; whether they did anything or not, Oleander couldn’t tell. Cormag also had all the proper tools to perform Signomancy: compasses, straightedges, and protractors.

Cormag popped his head out from around the doorway. “Bashaz! Look!” Cormag dangled a dead rat in the air. The silver fox bolted out of Oleander’s hands and scampered towards Cormag, who then threw the meal into the kitchen.

“Quick, shut the tunnel. Use that metal hatch. I don’t want her getting out again.” Oleander pulled the large metal slab that was attached to the ceiling and slid it over.

“Ah, perfect.” Cormag hopped into his armchair. He grabbed his pipe and started smoking. “Alright, Oleander, since you’re the guest, I’ll let you pick. Reading or drinking? What’s first?”

“What about the bird-lion thing?”

“That wasn’t a choice.”

Oleander sighed in frustration.

Cormag reassured his large friend, “It shows up every three days, that’d be tomorrow, so we’ve got some time to kill. So reading or drinking?”

“What do you mean by reading?” Oleander asked.

“Tarot card reading.”

“Fortune-telling shit, you know I don’t believe in that—”

“—Madam Selozha is different. I promise.”

“You’ve been to her before?”

“No, but I’ve heard many people talking about her. They say her cards are something special.”

Oleander acquiesced, “Fine, fine we’ll do readings first.”

“Alright!” Cormag led Oleander out the front door, revealing under-Kerth. The sudden temperature drop caught Oleander off guard; even in the middle of summer, the underground temperature was a shocking eighteen degrees centigrade.

“You okay?” Cormag asked.

“I could never get used to living in a place like this.” Oleander shook off the cold.

Cormag’s home stood at the top of a housing complex. They were able to get a great view of the city. It was a marvel of modern engineering. A city built underneath the fields of the plateau. The lake’s underside was covered in immensely thick glass. Light traveling through the water and then through the glass served as the city’s most prominent light source. Oleander walked over to the edge of the complex to peer down at the streets. Where the lake’s light failed to shine, street lamps using bioluminescent mushrooms were placed.

Cormag urged Oleander to hurry up as they traveled down the complex. Out in the streets, Oleander attracted a lot of attention due to him practically being a giant to the entire populace. School children gawked at him as he walked by.

“I’m starting to understand how you felt walking around Blackburn Hollow,” Oleander remarked.

“It’s a strange feeling innit?”

The pair had to sidestep a lot of traveling merchants riding their goats. Oleander couldn’t make heads or tails of the street signs since they were all written in Kassedian. Cormag assured his giant friend that the Kemrigg district of Kerth is easily traversable. Cormag led Oleander along dozens of cramped streets, over walkways, and through inconsequential side paths. The monster hunter felt like Cormag was leading him in circles, multiple times over.

An hour passed before they stumbled onto a shack with a sign written in Kassedian script. “Selozha of the Tarot,” Cormag read aloud. The duo strolled inside after Oleander’s knocking accidentally pushed the door open. The shack was empty, nearly spotless, with two packed crates in the corner.

Oleander asked, “Are you sure she’s even still here?”

“Madam Selozha!”

Crash! An unhappy goblin woman trudged out of the kitchen carrying pieces of a broken teacup. “What?”

“We would like a reading...two readings actually,” Cormag requested.

“Will you promise to not be so loud?” Selozha flipped the question.

“Absolutely.”

“...Excellent. Step forward into the next room and take your seat, and keep all talk as whispers until I’ve had my morning tea.”

“Morning tea, it’s past three in the afternoon.”

“I haven’t left the house in a few days and my clocks have stopped working. I’ve also been packing so I’ve quickly lost track of when we are.”

Oleander asked, “Are you moving somewhere?”

“I’m not one to stay in places for very long. I was thinking of visiting the lands east of the Gthraxian Spires.”

“That’s a very dangerous hike. Are you sure about that?”

“I think I can manage, I’m half-goblin after all.”

Oleander and Cormag took their seats at the table as Madam Selozha scuttled in with a kettle filled with tea. Upon closer inspection, Oleander could see Selozha was about his and Cormag’s age, but with reddish-purple skin. She had a lithe frame with small facial features; her ears were thinner too. Selozha was also roughly one hundred and fifty centimeters tall, which was on the taller side for most goblins. Her most striking detail was her long brown hair—most goblins were bald but if one had hair, it was white.

Madam Selozha tiptoed to the table while taking a deep swing from her kettle.

"Don't you have any cups?" Oleander asked.

“I did.” She continued drinking until her dull, closed eyes shot open. She slammed the kettle on the table and pulled out a well-illustrated deck of tarot cards. She began shuffling it in multiple ways—even rotating cards 180 degrees seemingly at random.

Oleander spoke up, “I’ll let my friend here go first. I don't believe in predicting the future.”

Selozha took her hands off the deck but the cards remained floating in midair. “I don’t believe in future predictions either. I believe it’s immoral to treat tarot as such. The service I offer is akin to assisted self-reflection. My cards will act as a mirror that your soul will reflect against. I can tell you what might happen, but you control your own future. I do not deal in absolutes.”

The deck of cards separated and started spinning around the table. “My deck is a bit more special than others, what it reflects is clearer than most, and some of its messages can be quite...literal.”

Cormag insisted, “You go first, Oleander.”

“Fine. So...um...what do I need to do?”

“Do you have a question? A conundrum? Or a whim you wish to share?” Selozha asked.

“Oooooo, ask her about the hunting company,” Cormag suggested.

The cards stopped in midair, “This is your friend’s reading, let him choose his question.”

“No, that’s a good one. Alright, so I just put it in the form of a question?”

“Yes. You may keep the question to yourself, but knowledge of the question will aid in my interpretation of the cards. The choice is yours.”

Oleander paused briefly to form the question, “I’ve wanted to start my own hunting company. Not a local one, but something that could take on contracts all across Altabaster. Only recently have I felt that this could be attainable in some way. How do I go about accomplishing this?”

“An excellent question!” The cards spinning around the table returned to form a single deck in Selozha’s hand. She handed the deck over to Oleander, “Now, you may shuffle the deck—you can even turn parts of the deck around as well. Most importantly, keep your question in mind as you handle the cards.”

As Oleander reached out for the deck, the cards seemingly shuttered. The moment Oleander made contact with the deck, it scattered. All the cards floated around Selozha’s hand, just barely out of grasp from Oleander. She raised an eyebrow but gently ran her fingers along the back of the only card in her hand—similar to how a mother would stroke a child’s cheek. The cards reformed the deck again and Oleander was able to pick them up and shuffle.

“I’ve wanted to start my own hunting company to help people across Altabaster. Only recently have things started falling into place. How do I go about accomplishing this?” The monster hunter felt a strange warmth as he manipulated the deck. He returned it to Selozha, who then shuffled it a few more times. Her eyes were shut and she spoke softly in Kassedian. She then placed the deck on the table. “Alright, this feels like an incredibly strong question. For this, I will do a ten-card spread, the cross and wand spread.”

She drew cards and placed the top 10 cards in this specific arrangement:

“The first card represents the here and now. This is the card I will relate everything to because this card will best capture your current actions and feelings.” She flipped over the card revealing the upright Ace of Swords, “You’ve pondered this idea for a while. I can feel the energy and determination deep down inside of you. The time feels right for you to take the risk and construct this company of hunters. The Ace of Swords has felt your desire to fight and more so to fight for those who cannot defend themselves.”

“The second card represents your obstacle, your biggest challenge in forming the hunting company.” She flipped over the card revealing the reversed Devil, “This is what my cards felt when you touched them. My cards were given to me by the Aurelian, the God of War and Prosperity, my cards fear no one—and yet they fear you? Do you know why that is?”

“No?” Oleander remarked confusedly.

“You may need to travel inside yourself to understand. Monstrous qualities lie within you whether conscious of it or not, you need to overcome them to succeed.”

“The third card represents the past, furthermore it represents the events that have led you into asking the question.” She flipped over the card revealing the reversed Emperor. “Have you struggled under authority? Chafed under undue pressure by someone more powerful than you? Have you ever abused what power you were given?”

“Are you talking about my father or Garrison?”

“A—” She paused. A smile spread across her face, “Perhaps, both, the emperor pertains to a paternal figure and their authority, but why do you bring up this Garrison individual?”

“He’s the leader of the Red Wolves in Blackburn Hollow. We started it together with another friend.”

“Good ol' Murdoch,” Cormag added.

“I take it that there were disagreements and misunderstandings. I see no other reason for you to want to form a second hunting company.”

“You could say that.”

“No. Would you say there were disagreements and misunderstandings?”

“...It went further than that. So far that words meant nothing between us anymore, only fists did any talking at that point.” Madam Selozha could see Oleander’s hands tensing up.

“And your father?”

“I'd rather not talk about Joseph.”

“As you wish. Pay in mind that those lingering negative feelings are what’s fueling the Devil card.”

“The fourth card represents how you view the future, within the next few weeks or even a year from now.” She flipped over the card revealing the upright Wheel of Fortune, “Ah I wondered when this one would show itself.”

“You knew I’d draw that card?”

“Somewhat, it seems to come up in everyone’s readings recently, people are worried more about the world they inhabit. They worry about the things they cannot directly influence and you are no exception. The Wheel of Time is always moving ever forward and upon its whim will it provide good or bad luck. I believe in your question you said ‘Only recently have I felt that this could be attainable in some way,’ well let this card symbolize that feeling. The wheel spins favorably for you, for now.”

“The fifth card reflects upon your goal and shows how you are currently working towards it.” She flipped over the card revealing the upright King of Swords. “You wish to sit atop a throne of your creation and rule it as a proper king would.” She pointed back to the Ace of Swords, “You wish to take your meager, but determined beginnings and turn them into something greater.” She pointed back to the reserved Emperor card, “You’ve been scorned by those who would claim themselves kings of their domain. You wish to prove to them, and yourself, what a strong and fair leader truly is.”

“The sixth and final card of the cross reflects upon the shadow of your goal. What else compels you to act—whether aware or unaware you are to them.” She flipped over the card revealing the reversed Ten of Swords, “Betrayal. Pain. Linger wounds. Gaze upon the card. Witness the swords falling from the man’s back. You may have suffered, but things are looking better. You’ve pulled away from those who would harm you, but the wounds they bestowed upon you cannot be ignored.” Madam Selozha pointed back to the Devil card, “Or this challenge will become stronger.” She pointed back to the King of Swords, “And make this perfect scenario that you so desire, unattainable.”

“The seventh card provides an approach that may be beneficial to your question.” She flipped over the card revealing the upright Lovers, “A hunting company requires a lot of qualified hunters. This is something you already know, but what you may need however are those you can have strong bonds with. Whether it be romantic partners or companions who you would cherish as your own family, those are what the tarot says you may need.”

Cormag made mocking kissy faces at Oleander.

“Stuff it you,” he softly dug his knuckle against the cheeky goblin’s head.

Selozha got a chuckle out of that, “it appears you’ve already started on the approach. But I will advise you on this, the Lovers asserts that you could and can make connections with others, by being your true self and not by projecting some different version of yourself. Be the truest Oleander you can be, and those who can help you will come in time.”

“The eighth card represents external influences. Whether it be people, energies, or the actions of the greater cosmos. These are things beyond our control.” She flipped over the card revealing the reversed The World. Selozha sat back for a moment and pondered over the card.

“What does it mean?” Oleander asked after fifteen long seconds passed.

“This...this might be something you will have some sway over. The World signifies the end of The Fool’s journey. It represents completion, a sense of finality; when it is reversed like this it means delays, lack or need of closure, or lack of focus to achieve one’s goals. Since your present card is the Ace of Swords, I don’t believe this refers to you, it may refer back to the Lovers card. Those who will join you to achieve your goal, have goals of their own, and they may need help achieving their goals as well. Reciprocity could prove quite beneficial for you."

“The ninth card reflects upon your hopes and fears.” She flipped over the card and revealed the upright Three of Swords, “Your bravado and physique hides your darkest fear—that you may fail and have history repeat itself.” She pointed back to the Emperor card, “A cycle is hard to break for a reason. Lack of self-reflection is the biggest contributor.” She also pointed back to the Devil card.

“The tenth and final card of the spread represents a potential outcome if you choose to reflect inwardly and consider the warnings and advice of the tarot.” She flipped over the final card and revealed the upright Justice card.

“Your outcome is that you will become the justice you wish to provide to those who cannot get it for themselves. It represents a forged type of strength and resolves that is required to do what’s right, especially against adversity. Not unlike a finely crafted sword.” She pointed back to the Ace of Swords.

Selozha stood up and examined the entirety of the spread. “The major arcana are out in full force. These changes to your life could be significant. Long term. Big things are at play here. Big and powerful things. The Swords, the only minor arcana here, represent your mind, attitudes, and beliefs. I sense a war within your mind. The Ace and King of Swords are you holding your mighty sword aloft, ready to swing it wherever it is needed; but the Ten and Three of Swords are that same sword piercing through your heart and affecting your mind. Those two along with the Emperor card feed into the Devil within. It weighs heavy on your soul. But, it can be overcome. All trauma can be overcome.”

Selozha waved her hand and the spread changed shape. She placed the Ace of Swords, Wheel of Fortune, King of Swords, Lovers, The World, and Justice side-by-side. “You are not overwhelmed by darkness. I see light shining on this internal struggle you’re having. If you take that determination you have towards building the hunting company and place some of that into bettering yourself. I truly believe you can be successful.”

Oleander stared at the ten cards on the table, he felt like an opened journal—private information laid bare for all to see. He eased back into his chair and crossed his arms.

“Unsatisfied?” Selozha asked.

“No...I just...I don’t know how to put it,” Oleander replied.

“It’s alright. Many react the same way to my readings. Take all the time you need to ponder my interpretation of the cards—”

“—Alright, I’m next.” Cormag hopped up and down in his chair.

Selozha raised an eyebrow. She eased back in her chair while sipping the last of her tea, “What is your question?”

“...I don't have one.”

“Does he have to have one for the cards to work?” Oleander asked.

“Not at all. There are general spreads I can use. I shall use a three-card spread.”

“But I wanted a ten-card one,” Cormag whined.

“Next time come with a question.”

The cards on the table flew into the deck and Selozha began shuffling it. She handed the deck over to Cormag who was able to shuffle the deck with no problems. She drew three cards and placed them on the table.

“The first card represents your current situation.” Selozha flipped over the first card and revealed the reversed Ace of Wands. “You are stuck in a slump of sorts. Intelligence and creativity are your biggest strengths but even they cannot push you past this stagnant moment in your life.”

“My Signum research has stalled. I was able to discover unique diagrams like it was nothing, but now I cannot make anything new.”

“Forgive my lack of knowledge, but what do you mean by discovered?” Selozha asked.

“I spent months drawing out dozens of shapes until I was able to perfect the symbols for pest, tinnitus, color blind, and lacerate.”

“Did you now?” Cormag nodded furiously, but Oleander shook his head slowly. “Ah...I see.” Madam Selozha remarked.

“Well then, the second card represents an action you may need to take to overcome your situation.” She flipped over the card and revealed the upright Eight of Pentacles. “This card represents apprenticeship and skill mastery. I believe you need to go down one of two paths actually; either you need to take on an apprentice or you need to go back to basics. Either a change in perspective or another one entirely could be quite beneficial.”

“The third and final card represents an outcome based on you taking action.” She flipped over the third card and revealed the upright Knight of Wands, and another card sitting underneath, the upright Tower. “I swear I only picked up three cards and no more,” she said under her breath.

“What’s it mean when he gets an extra card?” Oleander asked.

Selozha sat forward in her chair, “It’s a warning. Let’s see, the Knight of Wands signifies a brand new spark of creativity. Something you can pour all your passion into. A revitalization from your current state as the reversed Ace of Wands. But the tower represents sudden and unexpected change. I don’t know where the change will occur.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Oleander asked.

“I don’t know if he will bring change to the world or if the world will force a change in him.”

“Isn’t it obvious? I already knew I was the best Signomancer in the world, and these cards prove it. Of course, I’ll change the world.”

“You have a lot of unfounded confidence about your supposed future.”

“Well, I’m Cormag the Great, chief Signomancer of the Red Wolves.”

“Former Signomancer of the Red Wolves. You were let go for a reason, remember?” Oleander corrected.

Cormag sneered, “Well most people don’t need to know that, now do they?”

Selozha shook her tea kettle and even tipped it over, only one drop came out. “You two are a strange bunch, but make for interesting reads. I hope your lives pan out well—”

A commotion could be heard from outside. Selozha scuttled back into her kitchen and brandished a wooden spoon.

Oleander motioned for her to relax as he slid a small stack of talon banknotes across the table, “We’ll go check it out.”

Oleander and Cormag walked out to see various residents scrambling to get under shelter or inside buildings. A large shadow passed over the city. The duo looked up and saw the beast flying over the lake.

“I thought you said it wasn’t going to show up today!” Oleander yelled.

“It wasn’t supposed to!” Cormag shouted back.

The duo went against the crowds as they tried to get back to Cormag’s house.

“Why are they so scared? We’re underground,” Oleander asked.

“This place still has some entrances large enough for that thing to get through,” Cormag explained.

They ran up through the housing complex filled with panic goblins and rushed up through the access tunnel in Cormag’s house. “Wait, you go on ahead. I need my stamps.”

Oleander scoffed, “Make it quick!” He rushed up to the upper house and slid out the front door. He brandished his claymore and watched the skies. Goblin scouts were perched on top of different houses scanning the skies. It had suddenly appeared and disappeared just as quickly.

“Dammit, maybe next time.” Oleander turned to grab the last of the supplies from his horse since he’d be spending the night regardless. Where he left his horse, there was only a torn bridle and a large patch of blood spread across the grass.

"My fucking horse!"