Fortune's Great Charms

This article is incomplete. You can help by adding to it."Fortune's Great Charms" is the seventeenth and final episode of Verse 4 of the Ballad of the Nightmare Krew.
==Official Description==
"On the heel of a god-shattering wish, the Nightmare Krew glean what they can from the Dark One's study, before made to reckon with the Elder Brain's broken bargain. A fight ensued, and though doubtlessly tough, the Krew emerged victorious! But not before Sanctuary escaped to another plane, swearing it would hold its end of the bargain, in the face of the Krew's overwhelming power. Now, with their business in Wildspace all but concluded, the Krew receives a message from Ryoshi Valtameri, one of Ryujin's Iterative relatives in Reva. The Krew has been called to Bräl, and beyond Ryoshi, who knows what awaits them on their last stop, before home..."
==Plot==
=== Part I ===
Aboard the Lucid Dream, the Nightmare Krew make their way back to the Rock of Bral. During the journey, Rek'Niht tells the Krew of his suspicions that they may have to fight other iterations of themselves upon returning to Cordia IV. In anticipation of this, the Krew discuss their combat weaknesses, both physical and mental, and brainstorm ways to take advantage of them should they have to battle these alternate selves. Rek'Niht proposes a sparring match to see how this might play out.
Upon docking at Bral, the Krew return to the Happy Beholder, the tavern where they once again must wear magical inhibitors for entry. Inside, they are taken to Ryoshi Valtameri, who they recognize from their time in Reva. Ryoshi is seated with someone they do not know, but who appears to be a relative of his.
Ryoshi greets the Krew and tells them of the tree, now called the Arbre de Vie, which infuses the local plant life with biosynthetic crystals, allowing the people of the city to make great advancements. Ryoshi then introduces them to a traveler who arrived to the city after the Krew's departure: Tatsu Valtameri.
Tatsu tells the Krew he is from Iteration III, where he began searching for more Valtameris after the death of his brother. In his studies, Tatsu learned to travel to most of the other iterations. He says he is searching for something called the Scion's Rest, located in the Maison des Rêves, which he believes contains lost information about the Valtameri family. Unfortunately, the Maison des Rêves has been destroyed in the first three iterations, and does not yet exist in the fifth. Tatsu hopes it is still intact in the fourth iteration.
Kallias asks if Tatsu knew someone named Ryujin Valtameri in Iteration III, and whether he was truly a candidate for heir. Tatsu says he did, eventually revealing that Ryujin was his brother who was killed by bandits. The Krew are shocked and demand more information, which Tatsu provides.
Tatsu asks the Krew to help him travel to Iteration IV and find the Scion's Rest. Kallias, suspicious of Tatsu, asks the Krew if they can put him in dimensional shackles for the journey. The Krew debate the necessity of Kallias' caution, and leave it to Ryujin to decide. Tatsu says he is willing to wear the shackles if the Krew will take him with them, and Ryujin agrees to this for Kallias' comfort.
As the Krew discuss their varying degrees of trust for newcomers, Luigi the beholder arrives to greet them and take their drink orders. Kallias, who had not met Luigi before, is curious of how the beholder can use its different eyes.
Lilith and Ryujin make plans with Tatsu to look at the maps they found in Vecna's lair of the Maison des Rêves. Tatsu offers to do shopping for the Krew while they are at the spa, which they refuse, but Ember does tell him to come prepared when he meets them at the ship. Ryujin gives Tatsu a sending stone, and Rek'Niht asks Luigi for a magic inhibitor. Luigi refers them to the inhibitor's maker: Stinky Pete, a giff at the Orbiter's Guild. The Krew finish their drinks and leave.
=== Part II ===
After leaving the tavern, the Krew head to the spa recommended by Nærgrøn, where they check in under the account of his former captain Splitbeak. Rek'Niht's turns over his suit for servicing, and the Krew are escorted by Jasón the attendant into the spa. 
Jasón leads them to the activation showers, where they all change into robes. They each privately sample different activation shower button combinations. Next, they go to the massage room, where they select one of four types of massage: classic full-body massage, hot and cold space stone massage, red cap massage, and plasmoid massage. 
In the last treatment area, they each soak in a medium of their choice before receiving manicures from a team of thri-kreen. After receiving their treatments, Jasón leads the Krew to the relaxation room, where Leonidas orders a large rum from the cocktail bar. 
At the spiritual table in the center of the relaxation room is a tiefling named Desiderium, surrounded by potted flowers and vines. When the Krew approach, Desiderium offers them palm readings as part of the spa service, as well as advice for something they should do every day and guessing their favorite colors for one gold piece each. Rek'Niht climbs on Leonidas' shoulders for a better view, as his suit is still being serviced, and Ember orders a gin martini. 
==== Kallias's reading ====
Leonidas volunteers Kallias to receive the first reading from Desiderium, and Ryujin pays for guessing their favorite color. Desiderium correctly guesses Kallias' favorite color as green, then takes their hands. She tells Kallias they have an 'air hand' type, meaning they are intellectually curious and analytical.
Desiderium then reads their left palm, saying their path is the reverse of an asteroid, in that they began stuck in the earth and were shot out into the stars. This interpretation is illustrated by the vines and flowers on the table, which move at Desiderium's command, shooting a blossom outward from the vine. She tells Kallias their heart line has deep cuts wrapping all the way around, signifying transformative bonds across time and space, but that they do not have a fate line.
Kallias, deeply affected by the reading, tells Desiderium they would get along very well with their friend Eris back in Cordia IV, and that Desiderium should visit Eris if she is ever there. Desiderium says she and Mr. Berry, the jackalope residing in her left antler, are from Cordia but she doesn't understand what 'Cordia IV' means.
Desiderium then thanks Kallias for letting her read their palm, and Kallias tells her they hope she is very well paid. Desiderium mouths "No," explaining that is why she has side hustles, including making jewelry. The Krew promise to tip Desiderium well.
Jasón returns with a charcuterie board, and Kallias slithers over to request something with brain matter, having acquired the taste recently.
==== Leonidas' reading ====
Leonidas takes a seat at Desiderium's table for his reading with Rek'Niht on his shoulders. Desiderium tells Leonidas he has 'earth hands', meaning he is strong, reliable, and grounded. She takes one of his palms, and exclaims that she has never seen someone with so many children. Leonidas, confused, tells her he only has one, and another on the way. Desiderium says it was her mistake because she was looking ahead, and that the other children are in the future. Leonidas asks where she is looking on the line, and she marks a point slightly before the middle, but tells him it can change, and it does not mean that is how long he has.
Desiderium tells Leonidas his hand is filled with so much more love than she has seen or most people get in a lifetime. As she speaks, the vines at her table form a twisted tree trunk with several blooms. Desiderium says the love isn't just for children, but for friends, family, and people he meets on his journey.
Desiderium says she will tell him what he should name his next child for another five gold, and Leonidas offers ten. She takes his palm and puts it to her ear, closing her eyes and listening. After a full minute where Leonidas stares at her unblinking, Desiderium opens her eyes and tells him 'Tiberius' but cannot tell what the middle name is.
Next, Desiderium correctly guesses his favorite color as blue, then reads his fate line, saying that he has already faced his greatest challenge. The Krew tell her that Leonidas had previously died, as well as two of the other party members.
Kallias asks Desiderium what her future plans are, and she tells them that after her contract is up in two days, she plans to get on the next ship out of Bral. Kallias offers her a room on their ship, which the other party members find confusing after their earlier conversation about Tatsu and the dimensional shackles.
Leonidas gives Desiderium twenty gold and asks how many children she sees him having. Desiderium tells him at least five children, but that is just based on vibes. He thanks her, takes Rek'Niht off his shoulders, then wanders slightly away staring off in the distance.
==== Ryujin's reading ====
Ryujin offers to have his reading done next and Desiderium says she can do a partner reading. Rittenhask and Ryujin agree, and Kallias uses their gorgon tail to make a seat for Rek'Niht. Lilith gets a glass of rosé and steps away to wait her turn, just as Jasón returns with a frothy gray smoothie for Kallias.
Desiderium takes Ryujin's hands and tells him he has an earth hand type like Leonidas, and is grounded, reliable, and very focused on his reality. She reads his right palm, then asks if Rittenhask is his only boyfriend, which he confirms. She explains that Ryujin has two parallel heart lines, which could also signify another group of friends or family, but then they become only one line. As she speaks, two vines on the table twist together into one.
She flips through her sketchbook, then asks to see his other palm. She immediately kneels in front of him and apologizes for suggesting he was unfaithful to his partner, saying she did not know his station, and bows her head. Ryujin, confused, asks Desiderium who she thinks he is, and she explains he has the mark of royalty on his palms. Ryujin explains he grew up an orphan and doesn't know his family. Kallias tells Desiderium she must go to see Eris and the prophetic statue of Ryujin Rex, Master of Kings.
Desiderium correctly guesses Ryujin's favorite color as purple, the color of royalty. Ryujin tells her she is very good at her job and should come with them. She apologizes for perhaps bringing up weird feelings about family, and the two bond over being orphaned at a young age.
==== Rittenhask's reading ====
Desiderium tells Rittenhask he has water hands, meaning he is compassionate and intuitive. She takes his right palm and traces his heart line, saying he is the most emotionally balanced person she has ever met.
==Characters and Locations==
===Player Characters===
*Desiderium
*Ember of a Forgotten Fire
*Fim Fam Doodles
*Kallias Myr
*Leonidas Goldspear II
*Lilith La Fleur
*Rek'Niht aka Thinker
*Ryujin Valtameri
===NPCs===
*Rittenhask
*KEVIN
*Nærgrøn
*Door Boy, the doorboy of The Happy Beholder
*Ryoshi Valtameri
*Tatsu Valtameri
*Luigi
*unnamed half-elf spa attendant
*Jasón, a spa attendant
*unnamed massagists
*unnamed red cap massagists
*Derek, the plasmoid massagist
*unnamed thri-kreen manicurists
=== Locations ===
* Aboard the Lucid Dream
* Bral
** The Happy Beholder
** A.S. Spa
==Tarot Card and RP Warmup==
The tarot card for the episode was The Lovers, drawn by Kyle.
The roleplay warmup question was: "What does your character wear to the beach?" 
==Notes and Trivia==
* This episode celebrated Kyle's birthday, and marks the first appearance of the character of Desiderium.
* "Fortune's Great Charms" is a reference to Shakespeare's Coriolanus.
* According to Rek'Niht and Ryujin, Beyoncé is a very famous bard in Cordia V.
==References==