Dragons study? ;) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragons study? ;) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Creative
11-27-07, 05:20 PM I have been told that the dragons in Eberron study something special thats unique to their world....Im not really that familiar with the whole setting, but the topic got me interested, so if anyone would be so valiant as to eviscerate my vast lack of wisdom, and educate me... I would be delighted :rolleyes:

hehe :D

/Creative
Toloran
11-27-07, 05:30 PM Dragons (while the most dedicated to the subjected, aren't the only ones) study something known as the Draconic Prophecy. The prophecy is basically a collections of prophetic texts gathered from the movements of the stars, cryptic ancient writings in caves, and on the dragonmarks that appear among the lesser races (among other things). The writings are always originally written in Draconic and thus are subtle and have many layers of meaning. They also always come to pass (although it is often not understood until after or during the fact).
skrap-san
11-27-07, 05:35 PM Most certainly.

here is an article on dragons (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20050418a) and one on the prophecy (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20041227a) they are so into.
Creative
11-27-07, 05:37 PM Thanks alot :D Think ill need to get a little more into Eberron, it seems like a nice place..
eehamburg
11-27-07, 05:44 PM The Dragons in Eberron have a much more needed purpose beyond the treasure hoarder/terror from above plot-line. The Prophecy gives the Dragons a chance to interact with the world and be the ones controlling things from behind the scenes ala Vorlons, etc. It provides a whole new dimension as to how you role play them.
RedRider
11-28-07, 09:35 AM Important note on the prophecy:

In addition to being vague on specifics, like most classical prophecies, the prophecy doesn't tell you what will happen, but gives you possibilities and their triggers.

So you're likely to get stuff like:
"If the crown and bell fall under the eleventh moon, the lord of the oceans shall rise before the turning of the age."

Which both specifies possibilites, rather than certainties, and is also pretty vague. (Crown and bell could mean Cyre, or could possibly refer to a different ruler and a prominent bell tower.)
Toloran
11-28-07, 12:42 PM Important note on the prophecy:

In addition to being vague on specifics, like most classical prophecies, the prophecy doesn't tell you what will happen, but gives you possibilities and their triggers.

So you're likely to get stuff like:
"If the crown and bell fall under the eleventh moon, the lord of the oceans shall rise before the turning of the age."

Which both specifies possibilites, rather than certainties, and is also pretty vague. (Crown and bell could mean Cyre, or could possibly refer to a different ruler and a prominent bell tower.)

There are some parts of the prophecy like that, but there are also parts of the prophecy that have multiple outcomes because of the complexity of the Draconic language and the misunderstanding of mortals (and dragons).

Another note, if you accept Storm Dragon as a cannon example:

The prophecy isn't so much a prediction of the future but a catalyst for action. Ie. A person reads the prophecy, thinks it refers to them, and then proceeds to carry out the prophecy because A) they want to and B.) it is destined that they would succeed. So in actuality, it isn't so much a prediction of the future but a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In Storm Dragon the dragon Vaskar thought the Storm Dragon who would gain god-like powers was himself (since he was a bronze dragon who breathed lightning). All the other indicators in the prophecy that identified the Storm Dragon he thought applied to himself. However, in the end it turned out that it was in fact someone else. To make things even more interesting, because of the Dragons actions, the prophecy came to pass (just not like he expected).

So that brings the question: If the Draconic Prophecy says something will happen, but no one is around to read it, will it still occur?
RedRider
11-28-07, 06:10 PM There are some parts of the prophecy like that, but there are also parts of the prophecy that have multiple outcomes not because of the complexity of the Draconic language and the misunderstanding of mortals (and dragons).Yes, hence the "If".

If the crown and bell, whatever they are, don't fall then something else happens.
Toloran
11-28-07, 07:31 PM Yes, hence the "If".

If the crown and bell, whatever they are, don't fall then something else happens.

Huh? I guess I didn't explain myself very well. Thats completely different then what I was saying. What I was trying to say is that the Draconic Prophecy has many passages that say such and such will happen. Not "If X happens, then Y will" just "X will happen." What happens, however, is the original meaning of a passage gets mis-translated due the complexity of draconic verbs.

Example in English:

The rock was cleaved.
The rock was cleaved.

In english, cleave can mean either break in half or stick together: two completely different definitions that can make the same sentence mean entirely different things depending on the context.

So while similar to what you are saying, it is different.

Note: That "Not" that you quoted wasn't supposed to be there, is that part of the confusion?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Creative 11-27-07, 05:20 PM	I have been told that the dragons in Eberron study something special thats unique to their world....Im not really that familiar with the whole setting, but the topic got me interested, so if anyone would be so valiant as to eviscerate my vast lack of wisdom, and educate me... I would be delighted :rolleyes: hehe :D /Creative
Toloran 11-27-07, 05:30 PM	Dragons (while the most dedicated to the subjected, aren't the only ones) study something known as the Draconic Prophecy. The prophecy is basically a collections of prophetic texts gathered from the movements of the stars, cryptic ancient writings in caves, and on the dragonmarks that appear among the lesser races (among other things). The writings are always originally written in Draconic and thus are subtle and have many layers of meaning. They also always come to pass (although it is often not understood until after or during the fact).
skrap-san 11-27-07, 05:35 PM	Most certainly. here is an article on dragons (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20050418a) and one on the prophecy (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20041227a) they are so into.
Creative 11-27-07, 05:37 PM	Thanks alot :D Think ill need to get a little more into Eberron, it seems like a nice place..
eehamburg 11-27-07, 05:44 PM	The Dragons in Eberron have a much more needed purpose beyond the treasure hoarder/terror from above plot-line. The Prophecy gives the Dragons a chance to interact with the world and be the ones controlling things from behind the scenes ala Vorlons, etc. It provides a whole new dimension as to how you role play them.
RedRider 11-28-07, 09:35 AM	Important note on the prophecy: In addition to being vague on specifics, like most classical prophecies, the prophecy doesn't tell you what will happen, but gives you possibilities and their triggers. So you're likely to get stuff like: "If the crown and bell fall under the eleventh moon, the lord of the oceans shall rise before the turning of the age." Which both specifies possibilites, rather than certainties, and is also pretty vague. (Crown and bell could mean Cyre, or could possibly refer to a different ruler and a prominent bell tower.)
Toloran 11-28-07, 12:42 PM	Important note on the prophecy: In addition to being vague on specifics, like most classical prophecies, the prophecy doesn't tell you what will happen, but gives you possibilities and their triggers. So you're likely to get stuff like: "If the crown and bell fall under the eleventh moon, the lord of the oceans shall rise before the turning of the age." Which both specifies possibilites, rather than certainties, and is also pretty vague. (Crown and bell could mean Cyre, or could possibly refer to a different ruler and a prominent bell tower.) There are some parts of the prophecy like that, but there are also parts of the prophecy that have multiple outcomes because of the complexity of the Draconic language and the misunderstanding of mortals (and dragons). Another note, if you accept Storm Dragon as a cannon example: The prophecy isn't so much a prediction of the future but a catalyst for action. Ie. A person reads the prophecy, thinks it refers to them, and then proceeds to carry out the prophecy because A) they want to and B.) it is destined that they would succeed. So in actuality, it isn't so much a prediction of the future but a self-fulfilling prophecy. In Storm Dragon the dragon Vaskar thought the Storm Dragon who would gain god-like powers was himself (since he was a bronze dragon who breathed lightning). All the other indicators in the prophecy that identified the Storm Dragon he thought applied to himself. However, in the end it turned out that it was in fact someone else. To make things even more interesting, because of the Dragons actions, the prophecy came to pass (just not like he expected). So that brings the question: If the Draconic Prophecy says something will happen, but no one is around to read it, will it still occur?
RedRider 11-28-07, 06:10 PM	There are some parts of the prophecy like that, but there are also parts of the prophecy that have multiple outcomes not because of the complexity of the Draconic language and the misunderstanding of mortals (and dragons).Yes, hence the "If". If the crown and bell, whatever they are, don't fall then something else happens.
Toloran 11-28-07, 07:31 PM	Yes, hence the "If". If the crown and bell, whatever they are, don't fall then something else happens. Huh? I guess I didn't explain myself very well. Thats completely different then what I was saying. What I was trying to say is that the Draconic Prophecy has many passages that say such and such will happen. Not "If X happens, then Y will" just "X will happen." What happens, however, is the original meaning of a passage gets mis-translated due the complexity of draconic verbs. Example in English: The rock was cleaved. The rock was cleaved. In english, cleave can mean either break in half or stick together: two completely different definitions that can make the same sentence mean entirely different things depending on the context. So while similar to what you are saying, it is different. Note: That "Not" that you quoted wasn't supposed to be there, is that part of the confusion?