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The Oracle of the City of the Faithful

As a reward for a quest, the heroes received an unclear prophecy.

Fate judges our every moment:
You can't cheat
You can't quit
The future is the shadow of our actions

Borne by the Bountiful Sea
Flames her destiny,
Ruin her wake,
Found by the slave of Fate

The old man on the mountain,
His advice solitude,
He is truly alone,
The blood on his hands Everlasting

Our world is whole and complete
For every woman,
Fate creates a man,
For every chance, a gambler

Three things cause sorrow to flee:
Water, green trees,
And a beautiful face.
Every man married to his destiny

Life is a perpetual drunkenness,
The pleasure passes,
The headache remains.
Heaven rides between the horse's ears.

He who is least among the greatest,
Foolish among the learned,
Waits where others would lead
This one shall Fate proclaim.

Two ways to catch a knife:
by the blade,
or by the handle
Fate throws a knife every instant

Notes

You get an intuitive feeling about the verses significant to you, and thus can place some of the meaning. The prophecy also contains allusions, explained here.

The first and last verses are only a framework, yet they bind the prophecy together. The order does seem important, and the verses are intertwined, just as your destinies are

The second verse is about Effinidih and her destiny.

The third is relevant to Abayele, and her old charge, Adib al-Bahhaar (Adib the sailor). The Old Man on the Mountain seems to indicate the leader of the Everlasting, the greatest Holy Slayer brotherhood in Zakhara, in service to Hajima the Brave.

The fourth verse's relevancy is recognized by Jennikki. It seems to be interwoven with the next two verses. It also alludes to the common proverb: The universe is sacred, you cannot improve it. If you try to change it you will ruin it. If you try to hold it you will lose it.

The fifth verse seems to be a response to Abdallah's question "Who is the perfect girl for Yezeed?" It alludes to the proverb: Three things cause sorrow to flee: water, green trees, and a beautiful face.

The sixth verse answers Yezeed's question "Where is the greatest treasure to be found?" It is a combination of two proverbs: Life is a perpetual drunkenness, the pleasure passes but the headache remains and The air of heaven is that which blows between the horse's ears.

The seventh verse does not seem to apply to you. Perhaps to the sultan of Gana?

The eight verse alludes to the proverb: If Fate throws a knife at you there are two ways of catching it: by the blade, or by the handle.


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Copyright © 1998 and onwards, Carl Cramér. Page downloaded times. Last update Wed, Sep 6, 2000.