Chapter Text
The forest shook. Eternal autumn winds rattled the branches of ancient twisted trees, reaching high into the foggy night sky. The air, crisp and thick with the smell of leaves rotted by rainwater, faint hints of distant woodsmoke. Everything around, illuminated under a crooked pale light that seeped down from the sky above.
He stepped through these woods, hands clasped tightly around the straps of a leather backpack. Soft brown hair swaying off to the side of his face, clothes dark, warm, patched. A traveler. He paused his steps and lifted his head up slightly towards the moon that hung crooked in the sky, he closed his eyes and took a breath. Deep, long, breath. Follow their smoke, hear their music, find the fates. They will tell you the truth..
In this land, Truth was a resource so scarce, it was worth dying for. Truth was so valuable, because it is so rare. These lands are thick and heavy with deceit. The very ground and soil is embedded with lies. Each story and song waived from the twisting of Truth.
Perhaps this is why the Fates were so valued, so feared, so respected. He had heard stories that mixed these beings' character. Some say they are ancient and wise, terrifying to even look at. Some say they are ghosts, children who cannot lie. Some say they are just as all others here are at one or time or another, wayward souls..
He didn't care what they were, not at this point he didn't. He just wanted what they had to give, Truth.
No matter what he had to endure, he would receive it.
He followed the smell of smoke, the closer he got to its source, the more he began to notice. Distant sounds of laughter and singing, a soft smell of food tangled in with the smoke, the jingling of coins and wind-chimes.. the crunch of leaves being stepped on.
He noticed now, the fire smelt of woodsmoke yes, but also burning paper and crackling of bones and rocks in fire..
He moved closer, staying in the thick flora to hide himself, and listened..
"Left to right, roll the die, chance beneath the endless night! Your hands they sway and try to cast, some fleeting luck upon your last! The dice it dances as it moves, in fate reveals the hidden truths!"
It was singing, a feminine voice was calling out the lyrics and tune against the ambient noises around..
She laughed loudly, he heard the sounds of fabric swishing about.
"Your turn Cards!"
there was a softer, more androgynous chuckle from further back into their camp, the sound of someone standing up.
"Yeah yeah I'll try..'
The music around them hadn't stopped, someone.. maybe more than one person, were paying instruments while this happened.
"The trees of Adlewood reach high, casts their arms across the sky! And from these trees comes craft and maker, cards of fate on sacred paper. And form the truth, the cards can't lie, too see beyond a sinners eyes. They'll tell you your End, where you're life begins. paper of card, true to look! They'll read you like an open book!"
There was clapping from around as the music continued, the more feminine voice laughed a bit.
"Show off."
The other voice chuckled again, the sound of jingling coins and chains as they walked and moved, not unlike the more feminine voice, though this one.. this.. Cards.. clearly wore less heavy fabric by the sound of it.
"What can I say? The cards tell stories and as do I."
They said, the lighter voice sighed. He could hear a smile on her lips,
"Yes I know. Pendulum, would you care to sing a verse? or dance with me!"
There was the sound of whooshing fabric again, as if she had spun a dress. He had to still himself from looking over and seeing the figures that these voices and noises belonged too..
another voice spoke up, this one older, more mature feminine voice.
"You two and your songs, if I'm to sing, who's to play?"
"I can."
The voice of 'Cards' Spoke again, there was a halting of the soft music and some more laughter here and there, fabric moving, leaves crunching..
"Oh alright alright. You kids and your songs.."
The music began again, this time, a different tempo, a different style of playing..
"A string of fate, a chain of chance. locked within the pendulums dance! Each gem, each charm adorns your neck, tells of evils present, past, and future though eyes with clouds can't mask, but with each taste it's truth I grasp. It's life, it's light, it's darker things! It's Truth you see, the Pendulum brings!"
the sound of jingling chains and charms scattered itself across the clearing as this Fate sung. Once Pendulum had finished there was clapping and cheers from her two companions…
"Bravo! Pendulum! you sing beautifully as always!"
A happy cheer rings out from the youngest voice, the nameless one…
He moved against the tree he was behind, daring to steal a glance at the figures.. but with the smallest movement he made, there was a whipping noise like a rope against the ground.. or.. a tail..?
"My friends, I think we have a visitor tonight."
Cards spoke gently, with a hum in their voice.
He sighed, feeling a little defeated. But, this is what he came here for.
He stepped out into the clearing, pushing the brush and bramble out of his way as he did.
"Hello…"
There, in this clearing, he saw three people.
Sitting against the tree, holding a strange stringed instrument, was who he assumed was Cards. A tall Tiefling, their horns nearly hidden by their hair, their teeth showing. Loose, choppy black hair falling around their face and neck. Sharp brown eyes, long sharp fingers, and a strange looking tail that swayed to their side. They wore a loose sweater, sleeves cut halfway as it fell off their shoulder, intricate patterns of tarot cards sewn on the hems, fringed fabric hanging off the side. Half what they wore looked like a loose leather skirt scattered with many pockets, the other half a torn black pant leg, tucked to their side, a jagged dagger. They were.. the most intimidating one there to be sure.
The other, standing, another figure, almost elf like in the ears. She was tall, round and had soft features. Who he assumed to be Pendulum. She wore a long dress and apron, adorned with embroidery of plants. Every inch of her was covered in hanging necklaces.. She had large glasses that hid her eyes, along with a black cap of a mushroom, a veil that loosely fell to her shoulders masking her face a small bit as well. short fluffy hair that went to just behind her ears. she didn't hold weapons, but her eyes, which he could barely catch, stared deep into him. She smiled. Her teeth were oddly sharp for an elf…
Then, finally, standing in the middle.. there was.. a- smaller, younger human girl. Not a child, but she is noticeably younger than the other two. She had a wide grin plastered to her face, Hazel eyes, rosey skin. She looked a little out of place in this strange group. She wore a very large sweater, covered in tassle and embroidery. Coins and buttons sewed onto the front, both sides falling down her shoulders, necklaces hung around her neck with odd dice attached to them, she wore earrings of the same dice… Her skirt was large and chunky and billowing with layers and patterns. She was Barefoot, unlike the other two who wore tied sandals and boots. Her hair was the longest, thick messy locks of dark brown that fell past her shoulders.
She smiled at the stranger, doing an eggadorated, theatrical curtsy. The many layers of her skirt made a strange noise as she did, the tassels swaying from side to side.
"Well hello there friend, what might you be doing on our side of the mist?"
Thoughts confirmed that this was the third, and that he hadn't been mixing up names, The human man gave a slow, but short bow in greeting.
"I've come for.. the truth.. you are the fates..?"
"That'd be us, friend!" The youngest said, the smile still wide on her face as she observed him.
"This is the Fate of Cards," She gestured to the tiefling leaning against the tree, who nodded curtly.
"That is the Fate of Pendulum." She nodded towards the tall soft faced elf woman, who gave him a quick smile.
"What might your name be Friend?"
He stood there in silence for a moment, looking her over skeptically, but her eyes did nothing but smile back at him.
"I am called Traveler…"
"Traveler huh? That's an interesting name, mighty mysterious."
"More mysterious than one who hasn't even given her title..?"
There was silence for a second. The girl blinked, before grinning and laughing happily. She had a loud laugh, one that echoed against the trees around them.
"I figured you'd be clever enough to find it yourself! but I guess that's bad manners on my part."
She once again grabbed her skirt, only in one hand this time, and gave him another, dramatic bow. Her eyes glanced up at him as she did, teeth still showing a wide smile.
"I am the Fate of Dice. It's a pleasure to meet you, Traveler."