The First Fortune of Zigur-Ziguran

elendor2 - Monday, March 09, 2009, 5:44 PM

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The bright sun streaks down onto the streets of Umbar. Here, on the Rath Bad-az many pass. Yet in front of the Lodging House there sits a man in a black cloak with his hand outstretched, \"Alms! Alms for the poor! Alms for your fortune!\"

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Under civil war, the streets of Umbar have become a strange mixture of normality and armed tension. And so a beggar begs while forces loyal to the Council cautiously test the mood west of Rath Ar-Pharzon.

This small troop is lead by a familiar figure in the city Azradi anAzulada, corsair and sister to Lord Alphros. One of the soldiers, a Farside regular, turns back to the lady and grins. \"Per\'aps the Captain should have \'er fortune read.\"

Laughing, the red-clad corsair reaches for a pouch at her belt. \"And why not? My brother seems to find use in seers perhaps I can learn why.\" She selects several bronze coins and rattles them in her fist. \"Here you are, grandfather. What does the future hold for me? I have already defeated death, can there be a greater fate for me yet?\"

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The man in black looks up at Azradi with his strange eyes and removes the hood from his head. His eyes are strange -- very strange indeed.

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\"Give Zigur-Ziguran your hand and we shall see,\" croaks the robed man in a voice dryer than dust.

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Boldly does the woman meet the old seer\'s eyes with her own unwavering gaze. Her eyes are not strange, for they are a proper pair, but their gray hue is rare.

Silently, Azradi offers the man her calloused right hand.

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The robed figure takes the hand with his own and mutters, \"A smooth hand compared to Zigur-Ziguran.\"

He cackles like dust through the spines of a cactus and says, \"Three by three, Ziguran sees. Three in the morn, three in the eve. Three ships will come, and three shall leave. The Pirate Princess shall this one be, the sister of a Mighty King. But only if she follows her heart, and perhaps not her highborn blood. So says Zigur-Ziguran.\"

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Despite herself, Azradi\'s eyes widen - she attempts to pull back her hand. \"Are not you supposed to tell me I will meet a tall dark stranger and marry him?\"

\"What is the meaning of this? If I do not follow my heart, I will not be Princess or my brother will not be King?\"

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\"Zigur-Ziguran has spoken Lady,\" says the Seer softly. \"Zigur-Ziguran only says what he sees, only the Lady may interpret it. Sometimes what he sees is not always obvious -- but it is always true.\"

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\"Neither a bloody ending nor a promise of happy ever after,\" Azradi comments, regarding the seer thoughtfully. \"Perhaps you have a gift after all.\"

She holds out the coins, \"Here you are, grandfather. May you have a day of good fortune.\"

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\"Zigur-Ziguran thanks the Lady,\" rasps the Seer. \"Come see Zigur-Ziguran again after the Lady receives the pearl.\"

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The guards behind Azradi have fallen silent they exchange glances that speak of superstitious fear. One man even fingers a talisman of the Dark Religion hanging from his neck.

The Corsair woman offers the old man another thoughtful glance, then motions to her men. \"Come along, let us see how far we can go ere we meet with resistance. Keep your weapons sheathed. We test the waters this day, we do not dive in.\"

The men fall in behind her and continue to the west.