Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2017 18:28:34 GMT
HISTORY:
This section of history is not known by most Havenfolk. Only those very high in the Candra temple, on the council, or with express permission of the Oracles, may view documents from this period.
Approximately two hundred years ago, before Easthaven even had a name, the people lived in city-states with a wide variety of religions and governments among them. They warred amongst themselves constantly, each one claiming to be the one true religion. One city state rose above the rest in its military and vowed to conquer all the others. It was at this time that the first Oracle appeared. It is not clear where she came from, as the stories all contradict themselves. Some say she was a rice farmer’s daughter, others a fisherman's wife, and still others say she was born full grown from the massive lotus flowers that grow on the lakes in the mountains.
She went to a small city state at first, claiming to have visions from the Mother Goddess about what was to come. She said that any who sided with the militants would meet their ends in fire, but those who sided with her and were loyal to the Goddess and her Daughters would be saved. Many didn’t believe her at first, but as her supporters began to gain gifts of magic from the Goddesses, more and more people came to believe. Historians believe that this was the origin of magic as we know it.
The militants rose up in anger, following her and the hundreds of refugees from city to city, razing them to the ground in their wake. They followed her all the way to the city farthest East, known at that time as Haven. Before they could reach the city, the rice paddies that they marched through burst into flames. The entire army was devoured by the blaze, and those who had trusted in the Oracle were saved.
The city of Haven became the City of Candra, and has been led by the Oracles ever since.
Most people know this information:
Since the appearance of the Oracles, the people of Easthaven have flourished under their guidance. Their visions have averted damage from earthquakes and tsunamis, helped the people survive famines, and guided them in the ways of the Mother Goddess and her Daughters. In exchange for this gift from the Goddesses, the Oracles devote their lives to the Goddesses and their people.
When an Oracle dies, the new one is immediately revealed. A party of Priests and Priestesses go out at that time to identify the Oracle: the women are identified by a perfectly identical mark in the shape of a crescent moon on their left shoulders. (Viridi has a sun mark on her right shoulder. She is the first to have this, and it was Seen by the last Oracle shortly before her death.) People often try to fake this, but the team is instructed in how to find the correct mark.
Until they are needed, the Upcoming-Oracles are protected by a strong veil of magic from the Goddesses. People around them will not realize that they are identical to the Oracle until this veil is dropped. No one knows exactly what determines how they appear to others before this change.
The girls range between ages 10-15 when found; the twins were found at age eleven. The child is then taken to live in the Palace and be raised by their chosen family members and priest/priestesses. Visions begin immediately after they are revealed, often scaring the children. Every vision must be recorded immediately in as much detail as possible.
No two visions are exactly alike; they can be as simple as flashes of images or as complex as a warning directly from the Goddess. The twin Oracles only experience visions when they are together.
Rules for Oracles:
-Oracles must devote their lives to the Goddesses and their people
-Oracles may not use visions to save themselves, they must always protect others first. Trying to protect oneself will result in unimaginable disaster.
-Oracles may not marry nor bear children
-Oracles may not lie about nor hide a prophecy
-Oracles may not take their own lives
This section of history is not known by most Havenfolk. Only those very high in the Candra temple, on the council, or with express permission of the Oracles, may view documents from this period.
Approximately two hundred years ago, before Easthaven even had a name, the people lived in city-states with a wide variety of religions and governments among them. They warred amongst themselves constantly, each one claiming to be the one true religion. One city state rose above the rest in its military and vowed to conquer all the others. It was at this time that the first Oracle appeared. It is not clear where she came from, as the stories all contradict themselves. Some say she was a rice farmer’s daughter, others a fisherman's wife, and still others say she was born full grown from the massive lotus flowers that grow on the lakes in the mountains.
She went to a small city state at first, claiming to have visions from the Mother Goddess about what was to come. She said that any who sided with the militants would meet their ends in fire, but those who sided with her and were loyal to the Goddess and her Daughters would be saved. Many didn’t believe her at first, but as her supporters began to gain gifts of magic from the Goddesses, more and more people came to believe. Historians believe that this was the origin of magic as we know it.
The militants rose up in anger, following her and the hundreds of refugees from city to city, razing them to the ground in their wake. They followed her all the way to the city farthest East, known at that time as Haven. Before they could reach the city, the rice paddies that they marched through burst into flames. The entire army was devoured by the blaze, and those who had trusted in the Oracle were saved.
The city of Haven became the City of Candra, and has been led by the Oracles ever since.
Most people know this information:
Since the appearance of the Oracles, the people of Easthaven have flourished under their guidance. Their visions have averted damage from earthquakes and tsunamis, helped the people survive famines, and guided them in the ways of the Mother Goddess and her Daughters. In exchange for this gift from the Goddesses, the Oracles devote their lives to the Goddesses and their people.
When an Oracle dies, the new one is immediately revealed. A party of Priests and Priestesses go out at that time to identify the Oracle: the women are identified by a perfectly identical mark in the shape of a crescent moon on their left shoulders. (Viridi has a sun mark on her right shoulder. She is the first to have this, and it was Seen by the last Oracle shortly before her death.) People often try to fake this, but the team is instructed in how to find the correct mark.
Until they are needed, the Upcoming-Oracles are protected by a strong veil of magic from the Goddesses. People around them will not realize that they are identical to the Oracle until this veil is dropped. No one knows exactly what determines how they appear to others before this change.
The girls range between ages 10-15 when found; the twins were found at age eleven. The child is then taken to live in the Palace and be raised by their chosen family members and priest/priestesses. Visions begin immediately after they are revealed, often scaring the children. Every vision must be recorded immediately in as much detail as possible.
No two visions are exactly alike; they can be as simple as flashes of images or as complex as a warning directly from the Goddess. The twin Oracles only experience visions when they are together.
Rules for Oracles:
-Oracles must devote their lives to the Goddesses and their people
-Oracles may not use visions to save themselves, they must always protect others first. Trying to protect oneself will result in unimaginable disaster.
-Oracles may not marry nor bear children
-Oracles may not lie about nor hide a prophecy
-Oracles may not take their own lives
