A child will be born
with the marks of a golden dragon
only to leave home
and become a dragon herself.
Opposing the belief of most people who know the story, the myth is based on facts. The spirit of a
Golden Dragon is living in the caves behind
Bahundanda, an otherwise deserted village carved into the rocks of the mountain Manaslu. She bonded with the hermit Aadarsha many centuries ago, infusing the woman with her own knowledge and giving her the gift of true prophecy. The empowerment manifested itself as golden marks on Aadarsha's body. When the hermit grew old, the dragon chose an unborn child as a new vessel for her powers. Aadarsha finally died and the child took her place in Bahundanda. Many women followed, all their souls staying with the current oracle and the dragon's spirit.
Mara is now the 18th oracle.
Anyone able to walk the astral plane can see the shapes of the previous oracles walk around in Bahundanda, but their can not interact with them. The shapes are mere echoes of the bygone life, the souls of the women all became part of the residing oracle.
The stories about the Golden Child are known in the whole country. But for most Borangani, it is just that: a story. Only the inhabitants of a few smaller villages in the northern mountain regions of
Boranga know about
Mara, the woman living in Bahundana. When plagued by problems or when unsure about the future, people visit Mara to get advice, bringing food, clothing and other items for daily life with them as a gift. Some visitors report that they have seen the ghostly silhouette of a dragon revolving Mara while she was doing a prophecy. No one though really knows about the dragon that backs the myth.
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Mentions of the Golden Child can be found in scrolls reaching many centuries back.
Plot Hooks
Friends - Mara wants to see her friends Sade and Thon, but she cannot leave the mountain village she lives in. Someone needs to go and fetch both of them. This might get a little bit complicated, though:
- Finding Sade is a city adventure, she has changed employment a lot and is now maid in some noble house, almost never leaving the estate. Finding clues and talking to people is key.
- Following Thon is about experiencing the unusual wilderness of Boranga, discovering strange places and fighting a mythic creature or two.
Reward: a free (and very vague) reading of the future. This can be used to introduce new plot hooks.
Nice story. I like the distinctive tattoos :D Any reason why she is not more well known? Would rumours not spread around if her prophecy are good?
Thanks! Also people can be really secretive and/or stubborn. It is farmers and simple people up there in the mountains, why would they tell their things to other people? They don't want a stream of visitors disturbing their peace. :) But that all might change soon. The dragon might have intentions, Mara sure does, and when the party visits one of the little villages, it might stir more things up.