The Knowing

Among the Bravani, it is not rare for the elder matriarchs of the clans to peer beyond the ken of mortal men. Often utilizing the smoke of the Shadowdragon to enhance their mysterious abilities, the matriarchs will divine portents great and small to aid in the well-being of their clan. From predicting the weather to warnings of calamities yet to come, these august women peer into the future for the sake of their people. Some even say the fortune tellers that ply their trade along the roads and in city markets are tapping into a similar gift.

"I'm telling you, she knew things nobody should know."
"Like what?"
"I'm not telling you!" Overheard outside of a Bravani fortune teller's tent.

It is not uncommon though for one who has peered beyond the veil of mortal reckoning to see too much. It is the fate of most matriarchs who posses the gift of foresight to reach a point where their minds can no longer handle all they have seen. Called simply The Knowing, this condition invariably strikes only those of advanced age who had practiced the art of divinity for many, many years.

The first symptoms of The Knowing appear when the matriarch will seem unaware of their surroundings without notice. Her eyes will glaze over and she will become totally unresponsive to outside stimuli. When finally awakened from this trance, they will often speak of walking in another world. As the condition progresses, the trances will occur more often and last longer. Those who have endured the condition have spoken of walking in verdant lands alongside creatures of myth and legend. They will always be insistent that the experience was real. As time goes on, they will be less aware of the real world even in their lucid states, and finally will cease to interact with the world around them. Often their families will care for them as long as they can, but when the individual ceases to show any interest in nourishing themselves, they will be kept comfortable in their caravan until they pass on from this life.