Magic & Divination
The magical Talent possessed by all of the characters in our game is bestowed upon them by the ocean. This is what their community believes, and it also happens to be the truth. Those with The Talent can reach out to something vast and unknowable far beneath the waves. The Talent brings gifts of divination and the ability to make bargains that reshape the destiny of those who put themselves at the mercy of the deep waters.​​​
Who has The Talent?
The accepted wisdom of the characters in our game is as follows:
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The Talent runs through family lines
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Only women have the potential to possess The Talent
Both of these statements are only partially true.
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It is certainly true that The Talent is generally found along certain bloodlines, but one character in the game is unrelated to the rest.
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Most of the characters in our game believe completely that The Talent is found only in women, however they are not correct. People of any gender are equally likely to have The Talent, but only girls are expected to have it. Only girls are tested and trained. The Wise Women are a social construct.
Origin Story
The following story is handed down through generations of Wise Women:
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There was a great storm that shook the island for days and nights. The land heaved as if it would rise up and shake us off its shoulders. When at last the land settled, many strange things had been brought to shore from the deep sea. Fish and other odd creatures unlike any that had been seen before or since.
Along with the sea creatures were dozens of large stones. These were of an unusual colour and held carvings almost completely smoothed away by the sea. Our ancestors took the stones and used them to rebuild their shelters after the damage of the storm. That is when the sea first sang with us.
The same stones from those old huts have been moved whenever the folk built new homes. They lie now here in the walls of the stone cottages at Gearrannan which were made some 200 years ago. ​​​
Searching for Wise Women
Daughters, granddaughters and nieces of Wise Women are watched closely for signs of The Talent. These signs usually appear in teenage years. If they are not seen by the age of 25, it is accepted that the woman has no Talent. Signs include:
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Dreams of the sea, sometimes with prophetic visions
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Feeling drawn to the water
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Appearing in the dreams of other Wise Women with a strong Talent​
These signs are not conclusive proof of Talent, and so the young woman must be tested. This is carried out using a few fragments of the sacred stones. These are mixed in with many other ordinary pebbles. A true Wise Women will be able to pick out at least a few of the correct pieces. ​Confirmed Wise Women are usually taken on by a mentor- usually a mother or aunt.​​
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Most Wise Women are identified between the ages of 12 and 18 years old. Sorcha MacLeod is the exception- showing clear Talent at the age of 6 years old, when she calmly informed her mother that her father was taken ill at sea.
Sitting Vigil
It is usual for several Wise Women to sit vigil together whenever the men are out fishing. At this time of year, this is an almost constant occurrence. The usual practice is for 3-5 Wise Women to sit together and sing whilst they work on something that keeps their hands busy but leaves their minds free to roam- knitting, darning, whittling. Through singing, and by being together in the cottage with its sacred stones, the Wise Women connect with the power of the deep ocean.
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In our game we will use several songs to create the atmosphere and emotions of these women, sitting together and thinking of their loved ones out on the water. By joining our voices we hope to capture a feeling of community- and all that comes with that. Fear, anger, jealousy... and perhaps understanding, forgiveness or peace.
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We will teach the simple songs in the pre-game workshop, and they will also be available 4 weeks before the event for those who want to hear them. Learning anything prior to the event is not required.​​​​
Divination
Once they have connected with the power of the ocean, the Wise Women are able to perform divination rituals. These are specific to each character, and participants can choose their methodology. This is usually a solo roleplaying experience, but participants can choose to partner together, or have their divination method be a social experience.
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Divination can be a simple, enjoyable, meditative process. Or it might be frustrating, difficult, even painful! Participants have complete freedom to come up with their own methodology, with advice and inspiration from us if needed.
Examples include:
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Rolling dice or tossing coins
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Turning over playing cards
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Reading tea leaves
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Automatic writing
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Looking for pebbles or patterns in the seaweed on the beach​​
Participants are free to being their own divination paraphernalia, but we can also provide basic items like dice, coins and playing cards.
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Meta-Technique
Each participant will be given three sealed envelopes, containing information they can glean from their divinations. Each will have a time frame within which it should be 'experienced'. Participants are free to open the envelopes whenever they choose (ideally in a moment alone or off-game), and incorporate the information into a divination ritual. They are then free to act on, or share the information they have discovered in-game as they choose.​​​
The Bargain
If the Wise Women discover bad omens in the divination, they may choose to intervene by reaching out to the power of the ocean in order to offer a Bargain. This has been done many times before, and the Wise Women have come to know what is likely to work.
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It is not possible to prevent harmful events, but it is possible to change the target. It is possible to prevent harm for many, by sacrificing one.
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It is also know that all Wise Women present must agree to, and take part in the Bargain in order for it to work.
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Previous Bargains have failed because the proposed target has not been a man loved by the Wise Women. Strangers are not an acceptable part of any Bargain.​
The Wider Community
The village of Gearrannan is a small working class village, and as such is very tight-knit. Everyone knows everyone else's business. The Wise Women manage to keep their Talent and Bargains a secret through constant vigilance and complete silence on the subject except with other Wise Women.
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In certain families, the men are aware of the power their mothers, wives, daughters, or sister possess. They understand the significance of wider discovery, and keep their own silence.
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If the wider community, and in particular the Church, were to find out the true extent of the Wise Women's activities... it would surely lead to social upheaval; shunning, loss of jobs, eviction of tenants, breakdown of marriages.
