In Such a Highly Volatile Situation

SETTING Fobin, Thardic Republic
AIDS  
SUGGESTED READING HM:Religion/Gods of Hârn, HRT: Agrik, Order of the Scarlet Veil article, Thardic Republican Module, Rethem Kingdom Module

Whether the player-characters play a member, a visitor or an enemy of the Order - one thing is certain. Anything could happen. Using dreams and prophecies is a common way to start adventurers out on their quest. All prophecies from the Order will be vague, yet somehow meaningful to their intended target. This is intentional - as a means of keeping the hidden message from any other prying eyes that might see the message. Disbelieves claim this allows the target to read his own meaning into the future, and by his very belief in the ruse, forces the prophecy to come true.

Occasionally, when the Order has predicted bandit attacks on passing nobles, or towns - the Order has been immediately accused of either setting up the raids - if not committing the acts of banditry themselves. The Order blames such accusations on a lack of faith and fear. They are always willing to bow to the laws of the Senate of Tharda - but the Senate themselves is having sufficient problems selecting warders and government officials. The Senate is bogged down with legislation, arguments and petty rivalries. The local legionaries' claims the Order has done no wrong, but everyone knows that the Order's compound is just a fancy name for the Legionaries whore-house.

A senator of the Monarchist faction of the Thardic Senate hires the PCs to debunk the Oracle and her merry band of charlatans. They are to witness an oracle in action - whatever it takes, and report back what they saw, and the truth of the prophecy. The PCs may try to walk in and demand satisfaction from the Order, using the senator's family name, wealth and position as bartering tools. Or they may come in for a seasonal prophecy and find Jamie in the courtyard. The senator knows of Jamie, but may not have revealed this to the PCs (GM's choice).

The Order will not allow anyone (knowingly) to see an Oracle in action. Jamie has glimpsed part of the ceremony and can tell the PCs the basics (as explained by this article). He's even seen the current Oracle slay her predecessor. Blinding the Oracle is often a public ceremony - but the current Oracle blinded herself before the ceremony (although her eyes were cauterized while she hung between the posts. Jamie believes reverently in their ability to prophesies the future but can not explain why he's been left in place. He is sure the Order knows about him, and who he works for.

The prophecy they hear may concern a plague of insects infesting a field nearby, or of more bandit attacks - something the PCs can easily follow and try to debunk. Success, or failure, of their debunking attempts should be left up to the PCs. The prophecies will be believed by the locals - but not necessarily by the nobles; and the type of precautions taken may influence the outcomes (i.e. no bandit in their right mind would attack a legionary-guarded noble while traveling).

This page was last updated on
Questions/Comments should be directed to the Webmaster.
All works are Copyright their respective authors, 2002.