Draconic Prophecy

There are patterns hidden in the world. Secrets lie in the conjunctions of the planes and moons, in strange symbols formed by the flowing lava of a volcanic eruption or the fissures caused by an earthquake. Carved in the walls of ancient citadels and on primeval megaliths, knot patterns appear to have meaning that only the contemplative mind can hope to comprehend. To those who can read them, these myriad events and signs form a map of possible futures, a map that can be used to shape the course of history.
Scholars call this map the Draconic Prophecy, attributing it to the Progenitor Dragons: Eberron, Siberys, and Khyber. The Prophecy is vast and complex, its signs scattered across the world. Few humans or even elves have the time or resources to unravel its secrets. The foremost students of the Prophecy are ancient dragons, immortal fiends, and others who have devoted thousands of years to this work. The fruits of such dedicated labor are shreds of truth about Eberron, its future, and insight into manipulating it for one's own agenda.
What makes the Prophecy especially complex is that it doesn't define a singular path for the future. Rather, the Prophecy is a map that shows many possible futures, along with the steps that must occur to make that future a reality. A fragment of the Prophecy might say, "If the Bear King is slain by a sorrowful assassin in the Shadow of the Mourning, the Crown will fall from his nation." Does the Bear King refer to King Boranel ir'Wynarn, or a bear patriarch in the Eldeen Reaches? Only those who dedicate their lives to the study of the Prophecy would have the slightest shred of certainty as to its meaning.
Known organizations and entities that study the Prophecy include the Daughters of Sora Kell, the dragons of Zyddrydem, and the elves of the Undying Court. It is assumed there exist fiends that engage in its study as well.

Discerned Portions

Sir Theobald Evans has discerned the following portions of the Prophecy:

• “Hope. Many and varied were the demons of old. Hope. United and distraught, ancient and crude, permanent and fleeting. Hope. A thousand-yard string weaved into the tapestry of fate. Hope…The dawn comes, dark as the day. Despair. Hope..Ruin. Hope.”
• “Amidst the unseeable darkness, bolts that may be, come out from nowhere. Nowhere. Nowhere, here. Like the mystery of the beyond is brushing your soul in strokes of lumination, hinting at something you can't see, see with the eyes of your mind.”
• "The Six of the Crypt Crew..."

Spread

The Draconic Prophecy is known almost everywhere in Eberron. The Prophecy isn’t written in a book or stored in a single location. It manifests in the world itself—in stars, dragonmarks, ruins, natural phenomena, and even people’s lives. This means any “text” or “version” is automatically a fragment, a translation, and probably an interpretation. So, the “spread” of the Prophecy is less like a gospel and more like fragments, codices, and living verses.

Cultural Reception

As the Prophecy is such an abstract and general concept, its reception varies widely across continents and factions. Ancient entities, such as those mentioned previously, consider it to be a cosmic truth that reveals the flow of time and destiny, and that lesse creatures should not meddle in its interpretation. Amongst scholars and wizards, it is treated with curiosity and caution. Others treat it as a blend of magic, history, and myth. There’s academic debate over its accuracy and interpretations. Amongst politicians and corporations, few seek to actively control it, but some will attempt to exploit it when possible.

Proponents
Dragons, fiends, deities

Date of First Recording

Before time itself

Related People

• Sir Theobald Evans