Divination: A Comprehensive Guide - Revision history

GS4-TIVVY at 20:03, 29 November 2023

2023-11-29T20:03:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:03, 29 November 2023
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	I also want to thank Scribes, Andraste, Lusus, Auchand, Naionna, Galene, Aiza, Cirath, Itzel, and Naos for their input and/or support of this work.		I also want to thank Scribes, Andraste, Lusus, Auchand, Naionna, Galene, Aiza, Cirath, Itzel, and Naos for their input and/or support of this work.

	Lastly, GM Flannihan had the arduous task of QCing this document and it was/is massive. ~~She~~ did an amazing job.		Lastly, GM Flannihan had the arduous task of QCing this document and it was/is massive. He did an amazing job.

	It is my hope that you find it enriching and informative. Enjoy!</pre>		It is my hope that you find it enriching and informative. Enjoy!</pre>

HOST-GSKEBECHET: Adding OOC Notes section per GM Thandiwe

2023-11-29T18:37:38Z

Adding OOC Notes section per GM Thandiwe

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:37, 29 November 2023
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	The answer to all of these questions, as well as many others, will lay the basis for the foretelling that the seer will provide to whomever he/she is currently working for. Though, it should be noted that many times the forest gnome seer doesn't work for any particular person or goal but to further their own curiosity. Sometimes, the practice is simply done to teach a new generation of seers. Remarkably accurately, the forest gnome seer is frequently intractable with the details of the whys and hows of the practice and strictly shares this information with those of his/her race only.		The answer to all of these questions, as well as many others, will lay the basis for the foretelling that the seer will provide to whomever he/she is currently working for. Though, it should be noted that many times the forest gnome seer doesn't work for any particular person or goal but to further their own curiosity. Sometimes, the practice is simply done to teach a new generation of seers. Remarkably accurately, the forest gnome seer is frequently intractable with the details of the whys and hows of the practice and strictly shares this information with those of his/her race only.

			==OOC Notes==

			This document was originally released in 2010. It included the following release notes from GM Thandiwe:
			<pre{{log3}}>Over the next several days, I will be releasing various parts of the document until the entire document is released. Watch both the Calendar and here on the Forums to find out information on this release. Everything that is released in Prime will be echoed in Platinum (and vice versa) on the same day.

			Some documents, because they have previously been released, will be posted on the forums in lieu of being released in game. Specifically, the Halfling, Elven, and Giantman portions of the document.

			It has taken a good while to get this all completed and I'm very proud of it. I want to thank GMs Kaikala, Sirina, and Xynwen who helped to push this through and make it possible.

			I also want to thank Scribes, Andraste, Lusus, Auchand, Naionna, Galene, Aiza, Cirath, Itzel, and Naos for their input and/or support of this work.

			Lastly, GM Flannihan had the arduous task of QCing this document and it was/is massive. She did an amazing job.

			It is my hope that you find it enriching and informative. Enjoy!</pre>

	[[Category:Divination]]		[[Category:Divination]]

HOST-GSKEBECHET: Formatting updates, moving tables onto document itself instead of as separate templates, updates to tables for screen reader compatibility

2023-11-29T18:35:57Z

Formatting updates, moving tables onto document itself instead of as separate templates, updates to tables for screen reader compatibility

Show changes

GS4-THANDIWE at 17:30, 29 November 2023

2023-11-29T17:30:28Z

Show changes

GS4-THANDIWE: /* Mhoragian */

2023-11-29T17:18:42Z

Mhoragian

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 29 November 2023
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	The way this method works is very basic: a question is asked of the case, and the child, reportedly using her gift, calls for the answer from the piece. Tilting the case back and forth, a single slat falls free, and she lifts it clear to read its translation. While this may sound simple, the translations can be rather complex as each wood, color, animal, and combination thereof has a meaning. A simple chart is provided below.		The way this method works is very basic: a question is asked of the case, and the child, reportedly using her gift, calls for the answer from the piece. Tilting the case back and forth, a single slat falls free, and she lifts it clear to read its translation. While this may sound simple, the translations can be rather complex as each wood, color, animal, and combination thereof has a meaning. A simple chart is provided below.

			{{Mhoragian divination table}}

	===Malghavan===		===Malghavan===

GS4-THANDIWE: /* Halflings */

2023-11-29T17:17:45Z

Halflings

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 29 November 2023
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	Lastly, amongst the elves are those of House Illistim. The practice by which they study is difficult to pin down to one question one answer. Indeed, it takes an Illistim practitioner years and cycles of study to come to a single answer. However, when an answer is discovered - typically by studing years of weather, climate, migration, and global changes - it is more along the lines of a doctrine or almanac in its length and can frequently span a great distance of time.		Lastly, amongst the elves are those of House Illistim. The practice by which they study is difficult to pin down to one question one answer. Indeed, it takes an Illistim practitioner years and cycles of study to come to a single answer. However, when an answer is discovered - typically by studing years of weather, climate, migration, and global changes - it is more along the lines of a doctrine or almanac in its length and can frequently span a great distance of time.

			==Half-Krolvin==

			Through the hardship of the half-krolvin existence there have been specific and clear differences in the way that they interact with the world that they have found themselves thrust into. Various historical facts point out those half-krolvin that have decided to follow in the footsteps of the more barbaric forefathers of Glaoveln, while the colonists of Krint have a legacy of following in their non-krolvin ancestors' footprints (which, while once a slave practice, perhaps forbidden by the krolvin has over the centuries of their freedom become just a part of their everyday lives). This can easily be seen by the two extremely different ways that the race as a whole views the art of divination.
			<blockquote>
			====Isle of Krint Oracles====
			Revered and respected, the half-krolvin oracles of Krint are reverentially called "Apso gno Koask", which literally translates into "She of Sight". One such woman can be found within any large community upon the island and is always held with the utmost respect, superstition, and fear. Frequently, she will be housed at a distance from the main body of the village or community for fear that the taint, her ability to use her "Sight," will somehow reflect poorly on those within the village. It is believed that her sight comes from her touch with the Divine, a guardian of the afterlife, and that by having the woman close she will somehow change or taint the fates of those close to her. Always attended to by a young woman, the Apso gno Koask is frequently a woman well into her dotage who is on the path to blindness. Some say that she is frequently also on the path to madness, though many more will argue that she only speaks of what she sees. She is well cared for by her community and never wants for anything. However, she is not a rich woman either, owning no possession that couldn't easily be reabsorbed into her society for another to use. Her dwelling is simple and never more than one room.

			Known to have visions, the half-krolvin woman is also frequently known to employ an "aun'hoont", which translates to "bowl of care". Within this bowl are pieces that she has gathered through the course of her life. Ptarmigan, puffin, and penguin feathers are prevalent, as are moose teeth, walrus tusks, bones of small animals, incisors from various small animals, sharks teeth, and whale bones. Even small, irregular stones may be of importance to her and can be added to her aun'hoont.

			If the Sight is required, and the Apso gno Koask has had not recent visions or ramblings she will be asked to use the aun'hoont to provide a foretelling for her people. Sitting within her dwelling, the woman will gather a handful of the items at random from her bowl and toss them onto the ground in front of her. Murmuring to herself, she will lower her face close to the items and translate them from where they lay.

			The complexity of this is enormous. Each item houses a different meaning, frequently a different meaning for each Apso gno Koask. The way in which they fall either together, on top of one another, separated, or alone can vastly change the course of a translation.

			While crude and simplistic to the extreme, the translation provided here for very minor things was obtained from the caretaker of an Apso gno Koask on the Isle of Krint.

			In recent years, the attendant of the Apso gno Koask has become almost violently the successor at the elderly woman's death. Oddly enough, the items of the previous oracle are neither bequeathed to the successor nor buried with the predecessor, but instead are returned to the youngest child of the family that the predecessor hailed from. This item is held with the utmost of respect and becomes a cherished family heirloom, especially if the woman was exceedingly good at her duties.

			====Wandering Shamans====
			While the oracles of Krint are respected and revered, the wandering shamans that frequent the larger raiding vessels or traveling ships of some half-krolvin fleets are mostly held with a great deal of dread and respect born of fear. Called "Apdo Gno Burzka'ask", which literally translated means "He of Corpse Sight", the shaman is always a male of significant stature who has some sign of facial marring. He is surrounded by a handful of fervent followers that not only answer to his will, but also bow to his prowess.

			Often a captain who is trying to change his stature among his crew or fleet will employ such a man and house him within his ship. The Apdo Gno Burzka'ask will almost never come above deck during the normal day-to-day activities of the ship; however, he can be frequently seen to prowl the decks at night. This causes him to be "pritza gno goortpritz" or "moondark" in the common, which means that he is paler then the average half-krolvin.

			Also known to have visions, the Apdo Gno Burzka'ask must frequently find his answers by hunting down an animal and eviscerating them. Frequently, this hunt cannot take place at sea, and the shaman can, and will, force the crew of the ship to land and hunt out an animal large enough to meet his needs. Digging through the various lengths of its intestines, the shaman will find the answers he seeks by determining the length, the width, what the creature last ate, and various other grisly details.

			Much of the fear and respect that surrounds this shaman is based upon his possible ability to be a conduit for the Divine. Again, this causes the half-krolvin that surround him to grow concerned with his ability to draw disfavor from the guardians of the afterlife. As means of instilling fear, respect, and cooperation from all crewmembers, a captain will often threaten insolent crewmen with the duty of being "Burzka gno Koask", which literally means "Corpse belongs to Sight". Such a task would cause them to be in the presence of the shaman for such a long time that they may inadvertently draw the eyes of the guardians of the afterlife and thus be condemned with eternal disfavor.
			</blockquote>
	==Halflings==		==Halflings==

GS4-THANDIWE: /* Half-Krolvin */

2023-11-29T17:17:04Z

Half-Krolvin

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 29 November 2023
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	The answer to all of these questions, as well as many others, will lay the basis for the foretelling that the seer will provide to whomever he/she is currently working for. Though, it should be noted that many times the forest gnome seer doesn't work for any particular person or goal but to further their own curiosity. Sometimes, the practice is simply done to teach a new generation of seers. Remarkably accurately, the forest gnome seer is frequently intractable with the details of the whys and hows of the practice and strictly shares this information with those of his/her race only.		The answer to all of these questions, as well as many others, will lay the basis for the foretelling that the seer will provide to whomever he/she is currently working for. Though, it should be noted that many times the forest gnome seer doesn't work for any particular person or goal but to further their own curiosity. Sometimes, the practice is simply done to teach a new generation of seers. Remarkably accurately, the forest gnome seer is frequently intractable with the details of the whys and hows of the practice and strictly shares this information with those of his/her race only.

	==Half-Krolvin==

	Through the hardship of the half-krolvin existence there have been specific and clear differences in the way that they interact with the world that they have found themselves thrust into. Various historical facts point out those half-krolvin that have decided to follow in the footsteps of the more barbaric forefathers of Glaoveln, while the colonists of Krint have a legacy of following in their non-krolvin ancestors' footprints (which, while once a slave practice, perhaps forbidden by the krolvin has over the centuries of their freedom become just a part of their everyday lives). This can easily be seen by the two extremely different ways that the race as a whole views the art of divination.
	<blockquote>
	====Isle of Krint Oracles====
	Revered and respected, the half-krolvin oracles of Krint are reverentially called "Apso gno Koask", which literally translates into "She of Sight". One such woman can be found within any large community upon the island and is always held with the utmost respect, superstition, and fear. Frequently, she will be housed at a distance from the main body of the village or community for fear that the taint, her ability to use her "Sight," will somehow reflect poorly on those within the village. It is believed that her sight comes from her touch with the Divine, a guardian of the afterlife, and that by having the woman close she will somehow change or taint the fates of those close to her. Always attended to by a young woman, the Apso gno Koask is frequently a woman well into her dotage who is on the path to blindness. Some say that she is frequently also on the path to madness, though many more will argue that she only speaks of what she sees. She is well cared for by her community and never wants for anything. However, she is not a rich woman either, owning no possession that couldn't easily be reabsorbed into her society for another to use. Her dwelling is simple and never more than one room.

	Known to have visions, the half-krolvin woman is also frequently known to employ an "aun'hoont", which translates to "bowl of care". Within this bowl are pieces that she has gathered through the course of her life. Ptarmigan, puffin, and penguin feathers are prevalent, as are moose teeth, walrus tusks, bones of small animals, incisors from various small animals, sharks teeth, and whale bones. Even small, irregular stones may be of importance to her and can be added to her aun'hoont.

	If the Sight is required, and the Apso gno Koask has had not recent visions or ramblings she will be asked to use the aun'hoont to provide a foretelling for her people. Sitting within her dwelling, the woman will gather a handful of the items at random from her bowl and toss them onto the ground in front of her. Murmuring to herself, she will lower her face close to the items and translate them from where they lay.

	The complexity of this is enormous. Each item houses a different meaning, frequently a different meaning for each Apso gno Koask. The way in which they fall either together, on top of one another, separated, or alone can vastly change the course of a translation.

	While crude and simplistic to the extreme, the translation provided here for very minor things was obtained from the caretaker of an Apso gno Koask on the Isle of Krint.

	In recent years, the attendant of the Apso gno Koask has become almost violently the successor at the elderly woman's death. Oddly enough, the items of the previous oracle are neither bequeathed to the successor nor buried with the predecessor, but instead are returned to the youngest child of the family that the predecessor hailed from. This item is held with the utmost of respect and becomes a cherished family heirloom, especially if the woman was exceedingly good at her duties.

	====Wandering Shamans====
	While the oracles of Krint are respected and revered, the wandering shamans that frequent the larger raiding vessels or traveling ships of some half-krolvin fleets are mostly held with a great deal of dread and respect born of fear. Called "Apdo Gno Burzka'ask", which literally translated means "He of Corpse Sight", the shaman is always a male of significant stature who has some sign of facial marring. He is surrounded by a handful of fervent followers that not only answer to his will, but also bow to his prowess.

	Often a captain who is trying to change his stature among his crew or fleet will employ such a man and house him within his ship. The Apdo Gno Burzka'ask will almost never come above deck during the normal day-to-day activities of the ship; however, he can be frequently seen to prowl the decks at night. This causes him to be "pritza gno goortpritz" or "moondark" in the common, which means that he is paler then the average half-krolvin.

	Also known to have visions, the Apdo Gno Burzka'ask must frequently find his answers by hunting down an animal and eviscerating them. Frequently, this hunt cannot take place at sea, and the shaman can, and will, force the crew of the ship to land and hunt out an animal large enough to meet his needs. Digging through the various lengths of its intestines, the shaman will find the answers he seeks by determining the length, the width, what the creature last ate, and various other grisly details.

	Much of the fear and respect that surrounds this shaman is based upon his possible ability to be a conduit for the Divine. Again, this causes the half-krolvin that surround him to grow concerned with his ability to draw disfavor from the guardians of the afterlife. As means of instilling fear, respect, and cooperation from all crewmembers, a captain will often threaten insolent crewmen with the duty of being "Burzka gno Koask", which literally means "Corpse belongs to Sight". Such a task would cause them to be in the presence of the shaman for such a long time that they may inadvertently draw the eyes of the guardians of the afterlife and thus be condemned with eternal disfavor.
	</blockquote>
	==Aelotoi==		==Aelotoi==

GS4-THANDIWE: /* Loenthran */

2023-11-29T17:12:52Z

Loenthran

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:12, 29 November 2023
Line 216:		Line 216:

	The elven term for this type of divination roughly translates in common to "intention left in leaving", meaning that the drinker leaves behind clues to his future in the leavings at the bottom of his or her teacup. There are literally thousands of combinations to be considered when this method is used. A base of one-hundred and five symbols is looked for which can provide up to two hundred and ten possible translations, as each symbol can also be translated for a completely different meaning. A brief translation is provided herein, though there are many gaps in the chart.		The elven term for this type of divination roughly translates in common to "intention left in leaving", meaning that the drinker leaves behind clues to his future in the leavings at the bottom of his or her teacup. There are literally thousands of combinations to be considered when this method is used. A base of one-hundred and five symbols is looked for which can provide up to two hundred and ten possible translations, as each symbol can also be translated for a completely different meaning. A brief translation is provided herein, though there are many gaps in the chart.

			{{Loenthran divination table}}

	===Ardenai===		===Ardenai===

GS4-THANDIWE at 17:11, 29 November 2023

2023-11-29T17:11:00Z

Show changes

GS4-KAIKALA: Updated "Gryphon" to be properly spelled as "Griffin", given the date when this was written/released.

2019-06-10T23:12:44Z

Updated "Gryphon" to be properly spelled as "Griffin", given the date when this was written/released.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:12, 10 June 2019
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	The word divination is fashioned of two parts. It is easy for us to see that -tion has a standardized meaning throughout Elanthia and means "the act of", while divina- means the divine. Whether this means that we gain this ability from the Divine [[Arkati]] or that the very act of using the ability and study is divine can never been found to be clear. Searching through many tomes and manuscripts, both new and old, provides no clear answer on the source or originator of this art.		The word divination is fashioned of two parts. It is easy for us to see that -tion has a standardized meaning throughout Elanthia and means "the act of", while divina- means the divine. Whether this means that we gain this ability from the Divine [[Arkati]] or that the very act of using the ability and study is divine can never been found to be clear. Searching through many tomes and manuscripts, both new and old, provides no clear answer on the source or originator of this art.

	Yet, the fact remains that divination is alive and certainly has been proven to be accurate and reliable. This can be noted by examples of prophets speaking out in our history. If you look at the very distant past you can find the name of the elf Noi'sho'rah, who is given credit for prophesying the coming of [[Despana]]. In more recent years, the Oracle Urutei Meigeath of the [[giantman]] clans prophesied the arrival of the comet in the year 5102, and Lord Ulstram Chanerser, the prophet of Lorminstra, foresaw the coming of the [[Griffin Sword Saga\|~~Gryphon~~ Sword War]].		Yet, the fact remains that divination is alive and certainly has been proven to be accurate and reliable. This can be noted by examples of prophets speaking out in our history. If you look at the very distant past you can find the name of the elf Noi'sho'rah, who is given credit for prophesying the coming of [[Despana]]. In more recent years, the Oracle Urutei Meigeath of the [[giantman]] clans prophesied the arrival of the comet in the year 5102, and Lord Ulstram Chanerser, the prophet of Lorminstra, foresaw the coming of the [[Griffin Sword Saga\|Griffin Sword War]].

	It should also be noted that those who use the Art - often referred to as those that are "gifted" with the ability, or simply referenced as "he or she has the gift", - seem to be drawn together by a bond of camaraderie that spans religion, race, culture, and even war. They are many times joined together by their common belief that their ability can aid, though they may often be persecuted or condemned as doomsayers. Indeed, many times those that receive visions are labeled "insane," "misguided," and a number of unsavory epithets. Yet, at every corner you can find a practitioner and clients that flock to them for answers.		It should also be noted that those who use the Art - often referred to as those that are "gifted" with the ability, or simply referenced as "he or she has the gift", - seem to be drawn together by a bond of camaraderie that spans religion, race, culture, and even war. They are many times joined together by their common belief that their ability can aid, though they may often be persecuted or condemned as doomsayers. Indeed, many times those that receive visions are labeled "insane," "misguided," and a number of unsavory epithets. Yet, at every corner you can find a practitioner and clients that flock to them for answers.