Niltava

Niltava is the Tajj Netan art of predicting the future, most commonly by reading the patterns of birds - i.e. augury. It is an ancient and well-respected tradition whereby a Niltavanya (traditionally female) makes a prediction on the outcome of an event by observing the passage of birds at a particular moment and listening to their calls. The Niltavanya then interprets the results in the manner of an oracle and presents her prediction. Niltava is not an exact science and similar results may be interpreted in different ways depending on the setting and on the oracle herself. Some have criticized Niltava for its unreliability but most remain in favor of this method, and it is often employed before important strategic decisions are made, for instance during times of war.

History

Niltava was first practiced in the city of Ununanun and has made its way across the Empire in more recent centuries. Although many see it as a form of druidism akin to that practiced by the Cunningfolk, and many of the cunningfolk are indeed trained in it, it is fundamentally different from modern druidism and has evolved from very different roots. In the bygone days when the Kyonyita Desert was a lush rainforest, many would trek within it, however it was so dense that getting lost was a frequent event. When a traveler got lost in the jungle, they would climb to the heights of the trees and look to the birds for advice on where to go. Some birds were good omens for travelers and would be followed, and others represented evil and would be avoided at all costs; others still had different meanings, and could show the way to food and water, or even warn of enemies passing through. Over time, people came to understand the many different types of birds, and began relying on them for direction. Although the jungles of the South have died, and all that remains of them is the Fungal Blight, the art of Niltava is still practiced by many.

Execution

The Niltavanya climbs to the top of a particular tree, usually one of some symbolic importance, although in the case that no such tree is available, they simply climb the highest one they can find. Once atop the tree, the ritual begins with a closed-eye meditation, wherein the oracle listens to the bird calls of the surrounding area, attempting to single out individual birds among the chaos. Once they have focused on a particular bird, they orient their body in its direction, and open their eyes. With eyes open, they begin to observe the skies, taking note of the birds that pass through their vision, and which direction they are flying in. After a certain amount of time, the ritual is complete, and the Niltavanya returns to the ground to give her reading. While there are many different readings possible, these represent some of the major events that a Niltavanya may observe, and their meanings:

1. A single crow on the horizon: loss, grief, tragedy, something left incomplete
2. A pair of doves: love, birth, something which has no end
3. A hawk circling overhead: danger, an imminent threat
4. A vulture circling overhead: death, war
5. A flock of swallows in the distance: searching, roaming, a lengthened journey
6. A parrot perched on a branch: security, safety, comfort
7. An owl in the daytime: trickery, espionage, deception
8. A flock of sparrows: disruption, argument, the breaking of a pact
9. A lone heron: luck, fortune, a great reward
10. Two eagles circling each other: balance, faith, rising tension
11. A woodpecker drilling: hunger, desperation
12. A flock of ducks: family, unity, strength
13. A roc: certain doom, destruction

Components and tools

Traditionally, Niltava is practiced without any tools. The practitioner simply needs to ascend a tree and use their senses. However, with its popularity increasing as a form of fortune telling across the Empire, some have begun using a deck of cards instead, and even adapting it for games of chance and gambling. Traditional niltavanyam tend to see this as a mockery of their art, and a completely unreliable method of prophecy, as the odds reflected by a deck of cards are nowhere near equivalent to what one might see in nature.

Primary Related Location

Tajj Neta

Important Locations

• Fungal Blight
• Ununanun

Related Organizations

• Tajj Neta