Those familiar with mythology will know the importance of prophecy. Almost elevated to the position of demigod, they translate very well to other stories, like a Dungeons & Dragons game setting. It works in simple terms, a vision is revealed to them and they pass this divine knowledge to heroes, who usually try and change this fate.
Lately, it has come apparent to how easily these strings of fate can be twisted by outside means. It doesn’t really seem fate and the future are as solid as we have been inclined to think. Fate has always held the dignity of being foretold without a means of changing it. Telling us that something will, unavoidably, happen.
While some stories do take this literally, there are many scenarios where fate is changed and the party lives happy forever after. If fate is so indiscriminately etched into time, then how can it be changed so easily?
What if instead of seeing it as a prophecy of the future, these oracles are actually (unconsciously or not) bending the future in unforeseen ways.
Different Types of Prophets
Now prophet is a vague term, and the ones that are emphasized in this article are usually named as “Oracles”, “Seers”, or “Mystics”. Not saying this article could not be dedicated to the rest of the foresighters, but prophets of mythical tales line up quite well.
The most prominent Oracle that has ever lived spent their time in Greece. Way back when B.C. was ticking down to the single digits. This would of course be The Oracle, Delphi.
An Oracle that was sent divine wisdom in the form of visions, Delphi was in charge of receiving prophecies from the Greek god, Apollo. Originally named Pytho (later Pythia), was stationed in the Temple at Delphi.
In the lifetime of the Oracle, many sought answers to wars and politics in a prophecy. In fact, several wars were commenced due to how influential she was. Many iterations of prophecy come in the form of visions or happen in the middle of the night while they sleep. The Oracles of ancient Greece had some other ideas.
“The Pythia and her consultants first bathed in the Castalian spring; afterward, the Pythia drank from the sacred spring Cassotis and then entered the temple. There she apparently descended into a basement cell, mounted a sacred tripod, and chewed leaves of the laurel, Apollo’s sacred tree. The Pythia often went into an ecstatic state and would channel Apollo.”
- Encyclopedia Britannica
Nowadays, there is speculation that the basement level of these temples had gases that could have affected the Oracle; such as ethylene and methane. The direct words of Phythia were never recorded, in fact the priests around her would actually take what she was saying and transcribe what they thought their meaning was.
Now knowing that the words of the Oracle of Delphi were not actually her words, but interpretations, it kind of feels … not prophetic? As they say, leaf filled ecstatic states are worth a thousand words.
Is Prophecy Real?
Oracle of Delphi is just a single real life example, but what if we dive to realms of the unknown? We do know that, as mentioned before, Oracles are those who gain divine wisdom from the gods.
Why can the gods not just outright give us this prophecy themselves? There would be a lot less doubt about the message and whatever their meanings could be. Even then, would these futures be any more solid than the fate we have heard about so far? If a God were to tell me something would happen, I would assume that it is going to happen and there would be no way to change it.
What if everything the oracles have been saying are not summons of fate, but a possible future that they dreamt up?
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Peering Through the Mist
In Lathe of Heaven (Ursula K. Le Guin circa 1971), we read and experience a dreamer whos dreams change reality itself. What if Oracles are changing reality in their subconscious favor?
This is just a unique perspective we are exploring. What if these visions or dreams that they have insight into are not the insight of a god, but something that they are changing themselves.
With the wide world of magic that Dungeons & Dragons take place in, anything can happen and there are plenty of unknowns. What we are proposing in this little thought experiment definitely feeds into the theory of the unknown aspects of magic in general.
So how can having an Oracle in your game be more exciting with this twist?
Game Mechanics and Final Thoughts
Throughout this process, there have been multiple ways in which I think the faulty prophet route can be played. The story of a famous Oracle that was thought to grant visions of the future only to be found out as a shifter of reality has a nice ring to it.
In this sense, how would you and the DM or your players react to this information? All of a sudden this oracle that was deemed fit to speak on behalf of divine interventions suddenly seem so much bigger than their original role. Could you keep them around, or are they causing the problems your party is facing? Can they still live a peaceful life after this revelation?
On the Dungeon Master side of things, it would be very intriguing to find out how you would play such a person as a NPC. How would you as a storyteller unfold this information to your players? Would you as the DM have a solution other than death to help stop these alterations of the future, and how will you react to the ideas your players place before you? Would you be able to see it coming?
Of course, the point is to have fun. So have fun with it! You are the master of your own world after all.
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SOURCES:
“Delphic Oracle.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Delphic-oracle. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.
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