The Curse of the Black Swan

Love and tragedy

by Wolfgang Hasselmann

Since the early days of Serukis, courting swans have been exchanged between lovers as a promise of fidelity and forever. These are small statuettes that have been specially carved or commissioned by the person gifting it. The combination of the fact that swans mate for life and their elegant appearance has made them a staple in Seruic courtship. However, gifting a black swan is seen as unlucky, as an omen the relationship will not last.
The legend of the black swan is a common tale across Serukis, quite often told to children as a bedtime story. It contains the moral lessons of how to behave in a relationship, particularly one where swans have been exchanged, and also as a reminder to never gift a significant other a black swan.
It is generally believed that there is some historical basis to the tale, although regionally some details, such as the names of the main characters, differ. Some scholars, however, argue that the story is completely allegorical and contains no truth.

The Story

This is the version of the tale that is most often told around the capital city of Lord's Rock.

Long ago, a young noblewoman named Cassia fell in love with a young man named Oliver. Oliver was a farmhand who was far below her station, but she declared to her parents that she would marry no one else. Though her family was unsure about the union at first, they were persuaded and a betrothal was arranged.
On the eve of their betrothal, Oliver gave Cassia a beautiful carved swan made of black onyx, that her brothers had financially enabled him to commission. Cassia was thrilled and kept it by her bedside as the wedding plans moved forward. Every night, she kissed the swan on the head and reaffirmed her love for Oliver and her excitement at the upcoming nuptials.
The day before their wedding, however, Oliver was discovered dead, the victim of a robbery. Cassia was devastated and screamed and sobbed curses the Elemental Monarch as her brothers escorted her safely to her chambers. That night, she threw herself from the highest tower of her family's castle. The black swan was discovered with her body, clutched in her hand with a broken wing.
For several decades, the swan was passed down through her family. Whoever was in possession of the swan, however, found themselves unlucky in love. Early deaths and infidelity plagued the family for years, until the swan was finally locked away in a vault under the castle.
One day, when a member of the family went to retrieve the swan to sell it, it was discovered that the swan had disappeared. There were no signs of a break in.
The whereabouts of the black swan are currently unknown.

Carved Swans

Both men and women give swans to each other, and most often swans are traded and then displayed together in the marital home. Swans are most often given before marriage. However, amongst the nobility, where arranged marriage is common, it is not unusual for swans to be traded several years after the ceremony. Traditionally, the exchange of swans symbolises the love between the couple, and it is seen as unseemly to gift them before the love has had a chance to grow.
Carved swans can be made out of a variety of materials. Amongst the lower classes, these swans are often hand carved out of wood or bone. Some may save their wages and commission a blacksmith if they have no faith in their own artistic flair. Amongst the nobility, carved swans are often made of gemstones or precious metals, and are usually purchased from a special craftsman known as a cygnus.

Historical Theories

Although no historical records of Cassia or Oliver exist, three theories have been put forward as to the identity of the young noblewoman in the tale. Sadly, records of common folk are sparse or non-existent, so theories about the farmhand's true identity are equally scant.
The first candidate for the young noblewoman is Nora Hargrove who fell to her death under suspicious circumstances in 4203 EA. The most pivotal piece of evidence for this theory is that it is well documented that Nora died the night before her wedding. Detractors of this theory point out that her betrothed was a young lord named Colin Forwood, not a farmhand.

The second theory pertains to a young noblewoman called Geraldine Rhone. She was discovered dead at the bottom of a tower in 4167 EA by a servant. However, she was only thirteen years old when she died, so it is considered unlikely that she was about to be wed. Historians focus on the brothers in the story. Geraldine was the youngest child, and only daughter out of five.
The third theory is often dismissed by historians. A young lady named Roberta Liston plunged to her death from her tower room after her parents would not allow her to be with her lover in 4323 EA. In 5328 EA, love letters were discovered that were addressed to a farmer's daughter named Clara. They were never sent.

by Theodore Mitchell-Bey