Page 16 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat
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A  D  M should consider whether the mystery of the   the Prophecy is a map that shows many possible fu­
             Mourning can be solved and what the consequences   tures, along with the steps that must occur to make that
             would be. Right now, fear of the Mourning holds war at   future a reality. A fragment of the Prophecy might say,
             bay. If it's confirmed that the Mourning is no longer a   "If the Bear King is slain by a sorrowful assassin in the
             threat-or if one nation manages to harness its power­  Shadow of the Mourning, the Crown will fall from his
             war could begin again.                            nation." The "Bear King" could refer to King Boranel of
                                                               Breland, since the bear is Breland's heraldic beast. The
             THE  D     R ACO N I C   P R O P H  E C Y         "Shadow of the Mourning" could mean that Boranel
                                                               must be slain in the Mournland, or it could mean that
             There are patterns hidden in the world. Secrets lie in   the assassination must occur on the anniversary of the
             the conjunctions of the planes and moons, in strange   Mourning. This passage doesn't say that Boranel will
             symbols formed by the flowing lava of a volcanic erup­  be assassinated or that the Brelish monarchy will fall; it
             tion or the fissures caused by an earthquake. Carved in   suggests that if Boran el is assassinated under these con­
             the walls of ancient citadels and on primeval megaliths,   ditions, then the monarchy will surely fall. But it could
             knot patterns appear to have meaning that only the con­  also be fulfilled in different ways, if the terms of the
             templative mind can hope to comprehend. To those who   Prophecy are interpreted differently. Other fragments of
             can read them, these myriad events and signs form a   the Prophecy might cover what happens if Boranel is as­
             map of possible futures, a map that can be used to shape   sassinated under other circumstances, or what happens
             the course of history.                            if he dies of natural causes.
               Scholars call this map the Draconic Prophecy, attrib­  As an adventurer, you could be hired by a scholar
             uting it to the Progenitor Dragons: Eberron, Siberys,   trying to piece together a fragment of the Prophecy
             and Khyber. The Prophecy is vast and complex, its signs   and clash with a secret society along the way. Or you
             scattered across the world. Few humans or even elves   could discover that your family plays a pivotal role in
             have the time or resources to unravel its secrets. The
             foremost students of the Prophecy are ancient dragons,   a fragment of the Prophecy. Will you embrace this or
             immortal fiends, and others who have devoted thou­  fight your potential destiny? Will you dedicate your life
             sands of years to this work.                      to interpreting the Prophecy or ignore it as just a bunch
               What makes the Prophecy especially complex is that   of mystical nonsense? And might the Prophecy hold the
             it doesn't define a singular path for the future. Rather,   answer to the Mourning itself?


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