Marani

Quick Lotto: 1/27

Prompt - Born from the heart of a tulip and the Lightweaver's promise.


Marani from the root Marus meaning promise or a hidden promise. Even though the word is classed as archaic due to the dialect being folded into more modern Draconic the name persists in being quite popular amongst Pearlcatchers and the other dragon species living throughout the Sunbeam Ruins. Scholars believe that such popularity is attributed to the legend of the Tulip Maiden, a tale from around the Third Age which details the struggles in hatchling-nesting of the first Pealcatchers. It is said that a hatchling born from the tulip fields surrounding the Beacon of the Radiant Eye was gifted to devout parents. Though it is not unheard of for the Gods to breath life into the nothingness to create new forms, this tale is highly suspect due to the lack of records, aside from stories told through the years around campfires, on this so-called Tulip Maiden and the wondrous miracles that she supposedly performed throughout her lifetime. While academics are split on whether or not Marani was a real figure or if her story was only an invented allegory meant to teach patience and piety, she is still a much-celebrated in the far-flung villages of the north-eastern regions of the Lightweaver's domains where she is purported to have hailed from. Each Spring is welcomed by joyous celebrations that are ended by innumerable bundles of tulips being tossed into the sea in commemoration of Marani's sacrifice -

"It's not a happy story is it?"

She looks over her shoulder and up along the forward facing horn of the Ridgeback who was reading over her shoulder. His helmeted head glints in the sunlight but it does not take away from the curious light in his golden eyes. Light-touched, she thinks. It was the only reason why he was welcomed in this settlement that was strictly made up of only Pearlcatchers. Would that she could have made this journey alone, yet in these troubled times Kaletia would not hear of such things. The Ridgeback's job was two-fold. One, to be her bodyguard and two to gather accurate intel on the Emperor that was supposedly rampaging in the South. It was difficult, the Matriarch, had said to separate fact from hearsay especially when news had to travel across the straits. She could only agree, distance had an odd way of twisting things around. Time did as well.

"Was she really wiser than the sages? Could she really tame the elements with a song? Couldn't have been too powerful if she needed to sacrifice herself to the waves. I-"

"Louks." She cuts him off softly, only turning briefly to gently close the book in front of them before continuing on. "It is only a story, and the purpose of tales such as these is not if they were grounded in reality, but in the lessons, it has to teach. Just because it wasn't real doesn't take away from the experience you gain interacting with it." Her companion huffs shaking his great head.

"I prefer my stories rooted in facts."

"And so you do," She smiles. "Nothing wrong with that. I have to thank you for agreeing to travel so far with me. I've only heard tales of this festival, and it is nice to see it for myself." All around them were the soft pit patter of feet as hatchlings ran from stall to stall. Their parents called to them, reminding them to be aware of their pearls with varying degrees of amusement. To their left, a young Pearlcatcher jumps out from a large display of tulips and into her father's waiting arms.

"I am like Marani, Papa!" The young one thrilled. "Here to make you happy! I promise!"

"Come, Mara." Louks' voice stops her from staring overlong. "They're about to throw those tulips off the cliff. Shall we be witness to the closing ceremony?"

Time had a way of twisting stories, but it could not touch promises. Family, the Lightweaver had whispered to her on that day so very long ago. Looking at the hatchlings and the many smiling faces that promise was still alive and well here. Her sacrifice had not been in vain. "No." She shook her head and turned away from the procession that had started. "That is not something that I need to see. Let's head home."