Indigo on both sides, this Card depicts a woman dressed all in black. Her arm glows a faint gray & at her side is a young boy of comely appearance. The Card reads, "The Black Touch is as vile as she is devoted. Her power is dark but her ultimate purpose noble." Read aloud to use the power of this Card.

Dionysus There's a knock on your door.

Aurelia sets her palatte on the table and makes sure the brush isn't going to roll anywhere before opening it.

Dionysus A blind halfling stands outside, "Fancy a story, mistress?" He feels... kindly.

Aurelia blinks at him. "A story?"

Dionysus He rattles a cup in his hand. "For pence?"

Aurelia "What story?"

Dionysus He smiles, then pulls a grubby deck of cards from his shirt. "Pick a Card."

Dionysus He says, "Ahh, good card, that. Once upon a time..." Until he finishes the story, you are enraptured.

Aurelia takes the card curiously, glances at it, then, yeah, listens raptly.

Dionysus He tells of an evil sorceress who ruled Ansulym on First Shem, named Tyreth, whose daughter rose up & slew her & took over, naming a new Empire.

Dionysus She sought to become a Goddess of Darkness, since the old one was slain.

Dionysus She gathered dark Gifts through various agents, until she met a man who was a coward, but a lover. They made love, but he lefther, & she became obsessed with him.

Dionysus She gathered agents to find him, while still seeking divinity.

Dionysus She bore his son.

Dionysus And she gained in power. Then, one day, he returned.

Dionysus He spoke passionately with her, but she only sought him bodily... the powerlust was strong with her.

Dionysus Then, his friends burst in, & she sought to move. He used his power of love to overcome her evil, & she became his willing servant.

Dionysus Though she had a dark side so vile none spoke of it--her lust for corrupting the innocent--it all burned away in the passion of her love. She stayed by his side from then on, until they left on a voyage together.

Dionysus They came to go back in time to a lost continent, where they had many adventures, but return home was the real goal.

Dionysus She knew she couldn't go with him, though, because at this point, the burning love had cooled to a true love, & she saw that if she didn't stay, her dark side would resurface. So she stayed on the continent, which was sinking.

Dionysus And he went home, dying inside for his loss.

Dionysus "Keep the card. If you're ever in trouble, read it aloud. It might help."

Aurelia nods mutely.

Dionysus He walks down the hall.

Dionysus The rapture ends.

Aurelia continues to stand in the doorway, thinking.