A Short Compendium of Icarian Prophecy
Compiled and Edited by Isfani Aslanti
3459 A.A.
Table of Contents
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Summary of Prophecy Tellers …………………………………………………………………….. 2
Compendium of Prophecy – First Age …………………………………………………………… 3
Compendium of Prophecy – Second Age ……………………………………………………… 108
Index of names……………………………………………………………………………….… 494
Introduction
Understanding Icarian history remains of utmost importance in the development of the Pax Humanae, known in Faen loosely as “The Order.” Most if not all of the modern overarching histories lack a basic understanding or recording of prophecy within their assessments of the developing continent. The intent behind this compendium is to offer a reference of Prophecy, should history come to reflect various prescience, with the opportunity for future scholars to build upon this foundation. This is by no means an infallible resource, but it has been my life’s work until now to compile as many prophecies from a variety of sources as possible in a limited human existence.
While most of the prophecy to date has come from the Cast on the borders of the southern swamps, it is imperative to understand the currents of other fortunes that swim in the small spaces of Icaria, shifting decisions and driving politics. This compendium attempts to offer an inclusive look at the varied sources of prophecy as well as their potential potency. Short summaries precede in depth discussion later in this work. For additional narrative examples, please read the additional chapters.
Each Compendium notes the Teller, the source from whom I acquired the prophecy itself, as well as a rough date, and the prophecy itself. Of note. I did not include any additional
The Cast (Sakjeden)
Their origins hazy at best, the Cast stand guard at the south of continent. Also known as the Sakjeden after the twin who created them, these ancient trees offer two types of prophecy: personal and general. The personal prophecies are often harder to track down, as they are given only to one and received by the same individual. Unless that person chooses to offer their prophecy, it will be lost to history as the Cast do not reveal personal prophecy to anyone but its intended recipient. It is unclear if they are even able to do so. Not much is known of the Cast beyond the lore and legend that shades their legacy. Further, and significantly, none of these prophecies are moored in time, to include the personal prophecies. The trees do not understand time the way humans do. It is unclear to me, even in my studies, if they grasp time the way the Fae do. It is thus hard to know when they issue a prophecy if they can see the way an individual life might influence the way of the land, or if the personal prophecy dies with the recipient. The general prophecies, of which there are many in both compendia, can affect any time future of their delivery. They are most challenging to interpret, and there are many who spend much of their lives trying to resolve the meaning behind one or another. Rarely are these Spinners successful, though they have proven lucrative in the larger cities. Cast Prophecy are not to be taken lightly, as they are the purest form of Telling in Icaria.
Washer Women
Noted for their beginnings near the Red Waters, the tradition of the Washer Women has migrated northward along Emak. They make their prophecy through water, often using different methods of human essence extraction through salt and aquatic discovery. A customary example is to bathe an inquirer with different salts, some extracted from the Red Waters for example, and to analyze the way the salts dry in the tub. The patterns offer insight into the individual’s near future. Other methods of analysis include teas, soaking hands, analysis of floating objects, and other variations of setting soluble material from specific waters. Their craft is not to be doubted, though, as with anything, it seems as though mastery comes with both age and the command of observation. The Washer Women seem to draw a feminine crowd of inquirers, often seeking answers on childbirth, fertility, and romance. They are not present in the first age, as the Washer Women are entirely human.
Moon Mad
Seeing the future in the spilled blood of enemies, the Moon Mad walk a conflict the night after blood is spilled and analyze the way entrails, limbs, and blood fell between both sides. Exclusively male, the Moon Mad are denoted not for their absence of reason, but for their choice in Telling; it is rare that someone enjoys a battlefield after the combat has cleared. Known for their pet ravens and crows, the Moon Mad are a travelling, solitary group, often descending on the near dead, no matter how few, as if from thin air. While respected, they are also feared and often unwelcome, despite the accuracy of their predictions. Spouses of violent-dead will occasionally invite the Moon Mad to the aftermath of their deceased loved one to ask after the future of their family. According to their predictions and additional anecdote, bodies that have been cleaned are not as useful in offering insight into the future; the bodies that are freshest in death offer the clearest answers into the futures. Moon Mad train in pairs, often a master and apprentice, until the apprentice is turned out on his own.
Witchery
While the Compendium of the second age includes sparse “divinations” from witches, the Citadel and court witches are clear that there is no teaching of Telling or legitimate Telling that comes from witches. The Citadel expressly forbids Telling of any sort. Any prophecy that is included here is anecdotal, added because to leave it out would be hubristic, especially as the witches tread through majik differently than either humans or Fae.
Lookers of Glass
Also known as Shiners, the Lookers of Glass originated early in the second age when the Citadel was first begun. The early witches experimented with creating items that were not properly situated in time. These majikal items resulted in the severe ire of many Fae, who cursed their creators, establishing the first of the Maybelmok (Fae-Cursed). The Shiners are humans who have passed down some of these items through generations. In attempts to capture the future, these early witches captured light in glass in the hopes that it would answer direct questions if posed. While the light responded well, as it would do anything to escape its cage, the Fae were so angry at this perversion of something natural, that they not only threatened to shut down the Citadel, but they traced and tracked down each Glass and murdered many of their owners and their families. A few, perhaps twenty, exist around the continent today, but they are hidden, their owners only employing them in secret. That being said, while their prophecy isn’t as steadfast as that of the Cast, the Glasses offer clear answers to near-future yes/no questions, as if light, perhaps seems to know a bit of what is happening at any given time. My assessment is that all light is, in fact, linked, and never ending, and thus able to perceive more than humans, and even Fae, can at any given time.
Fae
The Fae do not hold with any prophecy but those of the Cast. Though humans who have engaged with Fae have claimed that Fae harbor Tellers of their own, any Fae asked directly will tell you future belongs to those who live it and lives inside the Sakjeden. They insist that human prophecy is muddy and incomprehensible due to their short relationship with time and depth of fear of death. Majik, as far as Fae understand it, does not offer any divination, though of course, this could just be a difference in translation that humans do not understand, given that the First Langauge, that of majik, is not their maternal tongue.
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