Libra's Shawl

Written by RiverFang

Magic and those who use it are interwoven with the fate of Isekai much like a thin thread, brightly colored and shining amongst those of the darker hues of the truth. But with that intertwining comes the possibility of the magic replacing the true history, the threads of fate and history easily replaced by those beings with magic beyond the masses. While Isekai is its own swirling mass of magic and mystery, the gods project their will on the truths of the world that mortals see. The truth of the Eldritch War is one such case where the gods used their projections to alter the supposed truth, but not all wished to alter the truth. Only through the blessings of one goddess can the mortals of the world find the whole truth of the world in which they live.
Myths of a beautiful shawl that graces the wearer with the truth of Isekai have become the treasured tales of storytellers across the lands. Some tell of a cloth of silk, darned with strands of shining mithril, others a cloth of striking purple, laced with magical herbs to enhance the trances of the wearer. The bearer of the shawl is said to have been a dryad or a witch, but the truths of even the myths have changed over the years. Those that know the story as one of a witch often believe the retelling to be an omen of bad luck, while those that know of the dryad sing its praises as a returning of the gods to Isekai.
The storytellers that fan the flame of interest and mystery of the shawl often neglect the name of the goddess whose blessing the item is. In shaded villages and vibrant forests, the litany of voices, women of the woods, sing praises to the goddess Libra and her love of the true nature of Isekai and all things. These women may spend their lives searching for the elusive shawl, knowing only through their own stories that the golden shawl of the goddess will only be revealed to one who truly believes in the goddess and her word.

Historical Basis

For as long as the Witches have called the Fairy King's Wood their home, the stories of Libra's shawl have been told. One woman claimed the story came to her as a message from Libra herself, and the Covens of the Tree began their search for the golden shawl that would grant them knowledge beyond measure. Some of the covens saw the shawl as a blessing, one that would be bestowed upon only those that would someday become a Coven Leader. For centuries, the covens searched, but their search was ended by their persecution and the hard years that followed.
The dryads of the world also laid claim to the story, claiming that Libra had entrusted them with her most prized possession. Only the oldest of the dryads were worthy of knowing the shawl's location, and so the dryads fell silent, smug with their knowledge. But their knowledge was incomplete, nothing more than a thin covering of smoke as the elders searched for the shawl themselves. Neither group knew the true resting place of Libra's shawl, and the search would continue for millennia.
As the Witches returned to the Fairy King's Wood under the protection of Festival Snix, dryads and Witches alike spoke in whispers about a golden scarf that the Fairy King wore on his shoulders. Could it have been the golden shawl of their goddess? It was a brief glimpse, but the stories began again, the search resurrecting from the dull embers it had been reduced to in the past centuries. The golden shawl of Libra could be found on Isekai, but no one seemed closer to finding it than before.

Spread

The stories of Libra's golden shawl have been heard throughout the deep forests and echoing strongholds of the world, stretching far beyond the homelands of both the Witches and the dryads. Adventurers of all sorts have joined the search for the golden shawl, adding their own beliefs to the stories told across the world. Some believe that the shawl brings immense power, allowing the wearer to become a demi-god in their own right. Others see it as an item to be sold for high profit, an easy way to gain wealth. For others still, the telling of the story is a mark of the dark power of the Witches and a reminder that they should stay away from those that use that type of magic.

Variations

With each telling of the story, variations in its telling arise. As it is a popular tale of traveling bards and storytellers, the story changes based upon the audience, leaving memorable, but slightly skewed notions in the heads of those that have heard the tale. In some places of the world, the story has left some with the far-flung notion that the shawl of the goddess is held by a Elf maiden that gave up her intrinsic magic to become the leader of a small tribe of nymphs.

Silk Scarf by scarves1938

Due to the story's popularity, it is not uncommon to find shawls and scarves of various materials and colors sold throughout Isekai that are labeled as "Libra's shawl." In places that border the Fairy King's Wood, these items are seen as popular souvenirs and some businesses survive solely on the creation and sale of these "replica" scarves. Golden replicas are often only found where goods from the Covens of the Tree are exported and are usually magical in some way.

Related Ethnicities

• Witch Culture

Related Organizations

• Covens of the Tree

In Art & Literature

Libra's shawl is depicted in a number of art forms, the most common being the oral traditions of storytelling and ballads. While the story is most commonly a treasured tale for storytellers, bards, and others that tell stories through song, they also use the story as somewhat of a showstopper, using magical means to bring the story to life in ways. These are the two most popular versions of the story, but the legend of Libra's shawl has been told in many mediums.
It is not uncommon to find a version of this story retold on parchment or with tapestries in more wealthy locations, especially those that have ties to Witches, dryads, or Libra. Because of its numerous depictions, the story of Libra's shawl is one of the most well-known in Isekai.