The Tragedies of Oberic

The Tragedies of Oberic are a collection of ten volumes, all telling the tragic events and unfortunate travels of Oberic, a deserter of his clan cursed to die in 2-3 years.
There are many variations and denominations of the tale, but its popularity is widespread across Poraile as a literary classic. Though Oberic's existence as an actual historical figure is hotly debated with little evidence to go by, the tale on its own has inspired the Tragedy genre of literature as it stands today.

Purpose

Fibaut claims that he knew Oberic very well and thus wishes to preserve his memory, as a form of funeral rites. Oberic's existence hasn't been verified, so the story's purpose now is to entertain.

Document Structure

Clauses

Since publication of a large tome would have been incredibly expensive at the time, The Tragedies of Oberic are separated into 10 volumes, each in its own book.

Book I

The least substantial of the volumes, this introduces Oberic to the reader and how Fibaut came to meet the unfortunate man. In the second half of the volume, Fibaut divulges details of Oberic's birth and childhood, none of which can be verified.

Book II

This book introduces the reader to Oberic as a young man, recruited to the front of a major battle. Which one remains uncertain, as the account has little to do with the actual war he was fighting. Unfortunate events result in Oberic having to desert his clan and roam the world with no calling in life.

Book III

The Book where modern adaptations begin. This tells the story of how Oberic got his curse. He sees a Klöka for some mundane malady, only to be cursed to die in 3 years. He then spirals into a nihilistic depression, actively seeking death through hunting beasts.

Book IV

Testing his mettle in the Northern Beastwilds, he joins a hunting party. In the wintry conditions, they are suddenly attacked by an Ismassk. As bad luck would have it, he is the only survivor.

Book V

Oberic travels further north and finds the Isäldrin, who help train him in spiritual endurance and ancient combat. At the end of the book, he challenges an ancient draugir known only as Snölnad to a duel. He succeeds but nearly dies in the process.

Book VI

He awakes with a cold sweat from a prophetic nightmare. Deeming it unsafe for him to stay amongst the Isäldrin, he embarks further across the Beastwilds. On his journey, he comes across a dragon roaming the ice sheets. With only his sword and wits, he decides to flee.

Book VII

Oberic finds himself in a previously undiscovered land, now known as Oksal. Exhausted from hunger, thirst and fatigue, Oberic rests in the town he finds himself in. Whilst he sleeps, criminals rob his belongings, leaving only his clothes. When he awakes, a vagrant helps him track them down and take revenge.

Book VIII

After taking back his possessions and giving the bandits' riches to the vagrant, the dragon lays siege to the city. Oberic and the vagrant help each other escape, but are exiled from Oksal in the process. They take a boat on the sea, hoping the flames won't catch their ship on fire on the way to Ederesse.

Book IX

The dragon doesn't follow them, but on their voyage they encounter a devastating storm, partly due to a sea monster. Neither of them are proficient in sailing, so the fight against the waves is rough and sourly won. By the time they reach Ederesse, Oberic and the vagrant are gravely malnourished and injured.

Book X

The Light Elf residents manage to heal Oberic and his friend. They set off for Oberic's homeland and barter all their goods except the clothes on their back. The vagrant is killed for being a foreigner. As soon as he makes it home, he hears his mother has long died. The curse takes effect and he dies instantly.

Publication Status

The Tragedy of Oberic is widely printed, even outside of Noravägen. The tragic circumstances of the central character, even in the best of moments, makes it a depressing but captivating read. Printed in the vernacular to save its authenticity, it has more widespread appeal than modern pieces of literature.
A knowledge of the local languages is needed to fully enjoy the Tragedies, though plays in various languages exist. A tourist might pick a volume more vibrantly illustrated so they can grasp the plot better. This, of course, drives prices of such copies up even further.

Historical Details

Background

Written in a time when the workings of Beasts and the land beyond the Northern Beastwilds was a mystery, the monsters in these tales serve as a warning to fellow explorers. Often called "the book of sea monsters", it serves to illustrate parts of a map left unexplored in its original time. 
This did, to some extent, include Oksal, left to a Vandrere's imagination for the most part. These lands and species were just as exotic as each other and helped illustrate the lengths Oberic went to, and the expansive adventure the books detailed. 
The nation of Noravägen didn't exist and tragedy even amongst the discovered lands and people was rife. Klöka were a real threat to any wayward traveller, and the gruesome realities of clan wars even more so. Just as Oberic, many wished to run from the fronts of their cold-hearted chieftains and into the wilds. At least, amongst beasts, there was a kind of freedom. Mages, so enveloped in their own power, found little concern in the aether-shunned. Unless, of course, they saw to curse you.

History

Fear was replaced with intrigue. Though the stories contained within were worthy of the name "tragedy", some were eager to experience what lay beyond their small towns and villages. What mages were really capable of, and what lay beyond the shores. A cautious time of exploration followed, along with a more open attitude to foreigners.

Public Reaction

At first, it was nothing more than another tale warning youths about disloyalty and recklessness. That is, until a translator brought Fibaut's text "to the modern tongue and mind", thus updating the vernacular. This came with wild acclaim, especially set amongst the backdrop of increasing mage negligence and destruction. Its literary merit wasn't fully recognised until hundreds of years later. For many, The Tragedies of Oberic acted as a political mouthpiece for whatever needed to be said.

Legacy

After the publication of The Tragedies of Oberic, it became a long-held classic. It has influenced the tragedy genre as a whole and received many adaptations into theatre plays and ballads. Some theorise it was supposed to be performed as a piece of oration initially, but records are scarce.

Read the Document

The Tragedies of Oberic

BOOK I

I honour a friend's memory in these pages upon his request. I. Fibaut of Berkton, have never attempted such a chronicle of a man's life, but was compelled to this action by the grave fortune that befell him and, in part, pity for a fellow man. This wayward soul wrote me a letter, which I found myself opening on a dim, dark day. Though it brightened my mood to hear from someone willing to commission my work, I knew nothing of his aims. I was to meet him personally.

Oberic, as I knew him, was an unassertive soul. So unnoticed went he, that I forwent his attempts to approach me once I had arrived in the village of Kelding. From his many deeds (and foreboding rumours from the townsfolk), I had a figure of great stature and poise in my mind, of rugged demeanour and worse etiquette. Yet, the man I was summoned to meet, defeated by his own cloak, tapped about the tavern alike only to a leaf scratching on the floorboards.

"Sire," He addressed me in a voice softer than even the low embers of the fireplace, conquered before I had uttered a word, "Beest thou Fibaut, from whom I've heard many tales?"

That was how he referred to my works. Tales I had told him, as if I had brought him to my home some quiet winter's day and read to him. So worn were his hands and many foul figments wrestled in his eyes, waiting to leap free and seize me in the same madness.

I bowed and answered him: "Why yes, brother, 'tis I, Fibaut of Berkton. You've read my stories?"

He received me most eagerly. It unnerved my sensibilities to see a stranger await me so, though not completely foreign. I had met admirers of my works, but none such as he. With a careful hand, just as treasured as his own dining room, he had lain a place for me. I sat, loathe to spurn his hospitality, even if he looked the man more in need.

"Only a few," he told me, somewhat abashed, "In my work, we have little place for tales, if you pardon me." He awaited my answer. Craved it.

I cleared my throat, under such an unseen grip from his nerves, "That's well enough," I said, remiss of much else, "Which have you read?"

He shrugged, "A few," he said again, "The Castle of Wood, Divine Stories of Our Elders, and Why the Stars Weep... that's all I recall."

Out of the combination, I caught that the Divine Stories of Our Elders as the only one without a link to nature. Perhaps it was a topic that spoke to him. Having spent so much time out in the wilderness, I was eager to believe such a connection existed.

"If I may ask, "I took a glance of the list of culinary offering, but found no meal that ensnared my fancy, "Which of them do you recall most fondly?"

Oberic was struck with the question. Unable to summon such commentary on command, he struggled with words under his breath. Admittedly, I had expected a warrior of his rapport to better compose himself, but many of his own tales, perhaps, remain untrue.

Mayhap I had some assumption to shake, for his look was stern. "By mercy..." he muttered, "you ask the harshest questions though we haven't yet begun!" Oberic shook his head, "How would I choose? Each have their own appeals.

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Type

Manuscript, Literature

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

197

Location

Northern Beastwilds