I am working on building a homebrew world, some of you may have seen one or more of my previous posts to that end.
In this particular space, I am looking for ideas for prophesies given by gods or oracles of some kind. They could be true prophesies of events that will eventually come to pass, or just the ramblings of a charlatan.
For prophesies given by a god, please provide these details. What god? What was the name and race of the one who received the prophesy? (Feel free to provide any other details that you believe would be necessary.)
Feel free to message me directly if you need any information about the world, to assist in getting the creative juices going.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
You can lead a dwarf to water, but you can't make him get in the boat.
I have used some of those in previous one shots. They are great as one liners. I was looking for something a little more in depth, but still vague. It is mostly to add character to the world as I have not yet seen a world that doesn't involve some sort of prophecy. (Including real world)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
You can lead a dwarf to water, but you can't make him get in the boat.
You might also want to look into real-world prophetic writings to get a sense of the genre conventions. For example, prophecy often uses elevated language (not everyday parlance) and tends to be written in metaphor/allegory rather than straight out.
A great example: I grew up in NJ, during the peak of the cold war, when everyone thought that by the end of the 80s/early 90s there would be a nuclear war between the US and the Soviets. There was supposedly (I have no idea if it's true) a line from Nostradamus claiming something like, "The garden beside the great city will burn with everlasting fire". Now, NJ is known as the "garden state" and where we lived in NJ (north-east) was right next to New York City (though other parts of NJ, like Cape May, clearly are not -- and this is particularly true of the farming ("gardem") areas). To us, living next door to NYC in the "garden state," we all thought the meaning quite plain: NJ is going to be hit with nuclear weapons when the war happens.
It never did of course, but my point is this: You won't usually find a prophecy that says "New Jersey will be hit with three warheads in 1997." Instead you find it saying things like, "At the turn of the cycles, when the moon is full, the garden next to the big city will be bathed in unquenchable fire."
So you'll want to word your prophecies like that -- this leaves them open to multiple interpretations, which is exactly how real-world prophecy usually works.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
My favorite literary examples of Story driven by prophecy are in the Belgariad by the Eddings. Its a long read, (5 novels and another 5 if you read the sequel series and a few other standalone too) but if you just read the original series you will have prophecy ideas coming out of your ears.
Yes well after all the first book is called, "Pawn of Prophecy," is it not? :)
Yup. But the entire 10 book series is all about a massive millennia in the making prophecy and it’s resolution. I heard tell they were threatening to turn it into a movie, but I hope they don’t. There’s no way it can go right.
You might also want to look into real-world prophetic writings to get a sense of the genre conventions. For example, prophecy often uses elevated language (not everyday parlance) and tends to be written in metaphor/allegory rather than straight out.
A great example: I grew up in NJ, during the peak of the cold war, when everyone thought that by the end of the 80s/early 90s there would be a nuclear war between the US and the Soviets. There was supposedly (I have no idea if it's true) a line from Nostradamus claiming something like, "The garden beside the great city will burn with everlasting fire". Now, NJ is known as the "garden state" and where we lived in NJ (north-east) was right next to New York City (though other parts of NJ, like Cape May, clearly are not -- and this is particularly true of the farming ("gardem") areas). To us, living next door to NYC in the "garden state," we all thought the meaning quite plain: NJ is going to be hit with nuclear weapons when the war happens.
It never did of course, but my point is this: You won't usually find a prophecy that says "New Jersey will be hit with three warheads in 1997." Instead you find it saying things like, "At the turn of the cycles, when the moon is full, the garden next to the big city will be bathed in unquenchable fire."
So you'll want to word your prophecies like that -- this leaves them open to multiple interpretations, which is exactly how real-world prophecy usually works.
I am familiar with a lot of Nostradamus' works. It is very vague more often than not.
In my case, I am less interested in story driving prophecies and more for general "texture" for world cultures. I am putting together a book of sorts for this world i am working on, and while I have a lot already done, I am adding more to it.
I doubt it will ever be published, but I would like to get a version together that I could share with friends that would allow them to run a game in a variety of settings from early world recently created, through multiple millennia. (Not so far as to be futuristic, and not quite to modern ages.)
Infuse them into your campaign world culture. Have commoners say things like "Red moon, rain by noon." and silly things that mostly come true. Then you can drop in more meaningful though vague prophesy into your game without it alarming your PCs.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
I'm actually streaming my friends running through Hoard of the Dragon Queen. One of the players is a Trickster Cleric of Tymora, with a lot of focus on Luck (The player often forgets the Goddesses' actual name and just calls her "Lady Luck"). I gave her a prophetic dream in the first session to set up the premise of the campaign early on. I've written a summary for the dream that i"ll go ahead and share here:
The ride from Candledeep to Greenest is long and uneventful. As they near their destination Loki drifts to sleep, dreaming of entering the Temple of Tymora in Phandalin, but where the pulpit normally sits instead she finds a poker table. The dealer is a tall, elegant woman who strikes Loki as familiar and comforting. Sitting across from Loki are 5 women wearing long veils in a variety of colors. In the dream she can’t hear anything but her own footsteps. The women each put a gemstone on the table to bet, the colors matching their veils... a ruby... an emerald... onyx... an opal, and finally a blue lapis. When she reaches into her own pouch to bet she finds only one thing inside... the two-headed coin she uses as her holy symbol, and she finally recognizes the dealer... the face perfectly matches the image of Tymora on her holy coin.
The five women are dealt a single hand, face up... The Moon, depicting the moon with a slit down the center, like a serpent’s eye. The Tower, which shows a tall mountain exploding like a volcano, a draconic creature emerging. The Devil, which depicts the silhouette of a dragon with spread wings and five heads. And finally Death, which appears to be an image of a skull at first... but closer inspection reveals it to be a globe of Faerun, with vast swaths of land burned to black cinders creating the illusion of a skull. The women appear to laugh, certain of their victory as they reach forward to claim their prize, but Tymora stops them, as she still needs to deal Loki her hand.
As the women seethe Loki is dealt her hand... The Hermit, depicting a half-elven figure aiming a tall bow at an unseen enemy. The Magician... a green skinned man at a desk, surrounded by scrolls and books, copying information into his own book. Next is the Fool, which shows a blue horned woman kneeling down and offering food to a stray dog. Finally she is given the Wheel of Fortune, showing a large gold coin. However, the face in the center is strange... it seems like each time she tries to focus the face on it changes... it’s an old man... a young woman... human... elf... and finally for just a moment Loki sees her own face. (These cards describe the party, if that's not obvious) To the anger of the women, Loki is declared the winner. She reaches for the jewels, only able to grasp on... the blue Lapis, which tingles with electrical energy as she picks it up. Before she can take anymore a massive claw slams down on the table. The women’s veils fall revealing scales... massive fangs... and 10 serpentine eyes. They rush forward, and just before they slaughter Loki she’s awoken by the sound of nearby thunder... and finds a small Lapis clutched in her hand.
If you've ever read any of the Percy Jackson books, their prophecies have inspired many in my games. Vague word salads that only make sense after they've happened.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Instead of quoting each person that has posted so far, I will generalize my response. :D
So, LeviRocks, I did read the Percy Jackson books, over 10 years ago. I think it was around 12 or 13 years to be honest. Anyway, the prophesies in the books indeed are vague, as they should be. They were a decent set of books. I enjoyed reading them, and finished the 5 set I had, in a little under a week. (I didn't have much going on, and did more reading during the day than almost anything else.)
I have watched a little of Matt Colville's video's, but I do not believe that I have seen the one that you are referencing, MusicScout.
What I had hoped to gain through this thread was a few prophecy ideas as opposed to tips for writing prophesies. That was something I could do anyway. I had hoped to get ideas from other DM's as different people have different ideas. As such, a myriad of prophesies from different individuals would fit better as this is the way of a prophecy. They normally are given by different people, and seldom are there multiple prophesies by a single individual. Yes, Nostradamus is a rare duck indeed. Perhaps a con artist, perhaps an oracle, or perhaps a mad man. No one will ever really know for sure.
That said...
"When the two moons eclipse and the shadow of the great spire is alight with the fire of fey. The guardian of living stone will rise, and the great gate will open once more."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
You can lead a dwarf to water, but you can't make him get in the boat.
Okay, I found one of the prophesies I've used in one of my campaigns before. This one was for an Eberron campaign, and was very specific to my campaign, to the extent that it would take longer than this prophecy is to explain what it means. Here it is:
"If two houses built near the River Thrown,
Meet the high Leafborne and the Serpentine Shield,
Near Bear-King's border with the Birthplace of Creation,
The Last One's Land might be restored once more.
The plane of fiendish blight threatens shifted woods,
As scorpion giants encroach on the Light of Death,
The elves' best friend shall bond with metal,
Only when the ill flesh of bones aids with harmful truth.
If Death is punished, War will return.
If War returns, all is lost, and all shall die.
If Death is freed, blood will be spilt.
If Blood is spilt, all is lost, and all shall die.
Imminent Death, Blood, and War, comes to and from the Tattler,
May I return rite and written in the heavens,
Blessings and Safety may fall down with a fierce blow,
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Hey DM's,
I am working on building a homebrew world, some of you may have seen one or more of my previous posts to that end.
In this particular space, I am looking for ideas for prophesies given by gods or oracles of some kind. They could be true prophesies of events that will eventually come to pass, or just the ramblings of a charlatan.
For prophesies given by a god, please provide these details. What god? What was the name and race of the one who received the prophesy? (Feel free to provide any other details that you believe would be necessary.)
Feel free to message me directly if you need any information about the world, to assist in getting the creative juices going.
You can lead a dwarf to water, but you can't make him get in the boat.
This may be worth checking out for Prophecy Description that you can slot in Deities and Races that fit well to meet your needs.
https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/prophecy-descriptions.php
Thanks BKThomson.
I have used some of those in previous one shots. They are great as one liners. I was looking for something a little more in depth, but still vague. It is mostly to add character to the world as I have not yet seen a world that doesn't involve some sort of prophecy. (Including real world)
You can lead a dwarf to water, but you can't make him get in the boat.
This may not be exactly what you’re looking for, but the Wildemount book has a section on prophecies for PCs at character generation.
You might also want to look into real-world prophetic writings to get a sense of the genre conventions. For example, prophecy often uses elevated language (not everyday parlance) and tends to be written in metaphor/allegory rather than straight out.
A great example: I grew up in NJ, during the peak of the cold war, when everyone thought that by the end of the 80s/early 90s there would be a nuclear war between the US and the Soviets. There was supposedly (I have no idea if it's true) a line from Nostradamus claiming something like, "The garden beside the great city will burn with everlasting fire". Now, NJ is known as the "garden state" and where we lived in NJ (north-east) was right next to New York City (though other parts of NJ, like Cape May, clearly are not -- and this is particularly true of the farming ("gardem") areas). To us, living next door to NYC in the "garden state," we all thought the meaning quite plain: NJ is going to be hit with nuclear weapons when the war happens.
It never did of course, but my point is this: You won't usually find a prophecy that says "New Jersey will be hit with three warheads in 1997." Instead you find it saying things like, "At the turn of the cycles, when the moon is full, the garden next to the big city will be bathed in unquenchable fire."
So you'll want to word your prophecies like that -- this leaves them open to multiple interpretations, which is exactly how real-world prophecy usually works.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
My favorite literary examples of Story driven by prophecy are in the Belgariad by the Eddings. Its a long read, (5 novels and another 5 if you read the sequel series and a few other standalone too) but if you just read the original series you will have prophecy ideas coming out of your ears.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
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Yes well after all the first book is called, "Pawn of Prophecy," is it not? :)
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Yup. But the entire 10 book series is all about a massive millennia in the making prophecy and it’s resolution. I heard tell they were threatening to turn it into a movie, but I hope they don’t. There’s no way it can go right.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Never under estimate Hollywood's ability to turn a great novel into a trash movie.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Quite. Besides, I always enjoyed the Elenium and the Tamuli more.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I am familiar with a lot of Nostradamus' works. It is very vague more often than not.
In my case, I am less interested in story driving prophecies and more for general "texture" for world cultures. I am putting together a book of sorts for this world i am working on, and while I have a lot already done, I am adding more to it.
I doubt it will ever be published, but I would like to get a version together that I could share with friends that would allow them to run a game in a variety of settings from early world recently created, through multiple millennia. (Not so far as to be futuristic, and not quite to modern ages.)
You can lead a dwarf to water, but you can't make him get in the boat.
Infuse them into your campaign world culture. Have commoners say things like "Red moon, rain by noon." and silly things that mostly come true. Then you can drop in more meaningful though vague prophesy into your game without it alarming your PCs.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
I'm actually streaming my friends running through Hoard of the Dragon Queen. One of the players is a Trickster Cleric of Tymora, with a lot of focus on Luck (The player often forgets the Goddesses' actual name and just calls her "Lady Luck"). I gave her a prophetic dream in the first session to set up the premise of the campaign early on. I've written a summary for the dream that i"ll go ahead and share here:
The ride from Candledeep to Greenest is long and uneventful. As they near their destination Loki drifts to sleep, dreaming of entering the Temple of Tymora in Phandalin, but where the pulpit normally sits instead she finds a poker table. The dealer is a tall, elegant woman who strikes Loki as familiar and comforting. Sitting across from Loki are 5 women wearing long veils in a variety of colors. In the dream she can’t hear anything but her own footsteps. The women each put a gemstone on the table to bet, the colors matching their veils... a ruby... an emerald... onyx... an opal, and finally a blue lapis. When she reaches into her own pouch to bet she finds only one thing inside... the two-headed coin she uses as her holy symbol, and she finally recognizes the dealer... the face perfectly matches the image of Tymora on her holy coin.
The five women are dealt a single hand, face up... The Moon, depicting the moon with a slit down the center, like a serpent’s eye. The Tower, which shows a tall mountain exploding like a volcano, a draconic creature emerging. The Devil, which depicts the silhouette of a dragon with spread wings and five heads. And finally Death, which appears to be an image of a skull at first... but closer inspection reveals it to be a globe of Faerun, with vast swaths of land burned to black cinders creating the illusion of a skull. The women appear to laugh, certain of their victory as they reach forward to claim their prize, but Tymora stops them, as she still needs to deal Loki her hand.
As the women seethe Loki is dealt her hand... The Hermit, depicting a half-elven figure aiming a tall bow at an unseen enemy. The Magician... a green skinned man at a desk, surrounded by scrolls and books, copying information into his own book. Next is the Fool, which shows a blue horned woman kneeling down and offering food to a stray dog. Finally she is given the Wheel of Fortune, showing a large gold coin. However, the face in the center is strange... it seems like each time she tries to focus the face on it changes... it’s an old man... a young woman... human... elf... and finally for just a moment Loki sees her own face. (These cards describe the party, if that's not obvious) To the anger of the women, Loki is declared the winner. She reaches for the jewels, only able to grasp on... the blue Lapis, which tingles with electrical energy as she picks it up. Before she can take anymore a massive claw slams down on the table. The women’s veils fall revealing scales... massive fangs... and 10 serpentine eyes. They rush forward, and just before they slaughter Loki she’s awoken by the sound of nearby thunder... and finds a small Lapis clutched in her hand.
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Experts, journeymen and novices of the polyhedral pursuit will all see the bearded one wisely speak of being a leader when the gathering time comes.
Watch Matt Coleville on Youtube talk about Running the Game.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Props for that. Love it.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
If you've ever read any of the Percy Jackson books, their prophecies have inspired many in my games. Vague word salads that only make sense after they've happened.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Yas!!
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Instead of quoting each person that has posted so far, I will generalize my response. :D
So, LeviRocks, I did read the Percy Jackson books, over 10 years ago. I think it was around 12 or 13 years to be honest. Anyway, the prophesies in the books indeed are vague, as they should be. They were a decent set of books. I enjoyed reading them, and finished the 5 set I had, in a little under a week. (I didn't have much going on, and did more reading during the day than almost anything else.)
I have watched a little of Matt Colville's video's, but I do not believe that I have seen the one that you are referencing, MusicScout.
What I had hoped to gain through this thread was a few prophecy ideas as opposed to tips for writing prophesies. That was something I could do anyway. I had hoped to get ideas from other DM's as different people have different ideas. As such, a myriad of prophesies from different individuals would fit better as this is the way of a prophecy. They normally are given by different people, and seldom are there multiple prophesies by a single individual. Yes, Nostradamus is a rare duck indeed. Perhaps a con artist, perhaps an oracle, or perhaps a mad man. No one will ever really know for sure.
That said...
"When the two moons eclipse and the shadow of the great spire is alight
with the fire of fey. The guardian of living stone will rise, and the great gate will open once more."
You can lead a dwarf to water, but you can't make him get in the boat.
Okay, I found one of the prophesies I've used in one of my campaigns before. This one was for an Eberron campaign, and was very specific to my campaign, to the extent that it would take longer than this prophecy is to explain what it means. Here it is:
"If two houses built near the River Thrown,
Meet the high Leafborne and the Serpentine Shield,
Near Bear-King's border with the Birthplace of Creation,
The Last One's Land might be restored once more.
The plane of fiendish blight threatens shifted woods,
As scorpion giants encroach on the Light of Death,
The elves' best friend shall bond with metal,
Only when the ill flesh of bones aids with harmful truth.
If Death is punished, War will return.
If War returns, all is lost, and all shall die.
If Death is freed, blood will be spilt.
If Blood is spilt, all is lost, and all shall die.
Imminent Death, Blood, and War, comes to and from the Tattler,
May I return rite and written in the heavens,
Blessings and Safety may fall down with a fierce blow,
From the alien orb of planar chaos."
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
" ... a friend shall lose his friend's hammer ... "
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.