Oracle

Oracle
Basic Information
Also known as	Prophet Seer
Type	Spiritual order
Base	Avalir
Favored deity	It varies (divine oracles) None (oracles of Avalir)
History
Formed	The Founding[presumed]
Membership
Classes	Cleric Divination Wizard Paladin
Notable members	Sofyra Karwen Evontra'vir Gloria Ios The Spectral Hand Osysa Oleander Calloway
Relationships
Allegiances	Chair of Divination
Allies	Volucia Zerxus Ilerez Gurt Stumpstuck Birdie Calloway

Oracles are spellcasters (like clerics and mages) who contact divine magic to make prophecies. Just prior to the Calamity, the city of Avalir had its own oracles in the Hall of Prophecy.

History

Traditionally these prophets made their predictions by channeling the power of a deity; however, the mages of the city of Avalir discovered a way to contact the divine energy that made prophecies possible without the need to worship gods, although requiring a lot of the oracles, who lived a secluded life. These mages studied to develop healing magic (uncommon in that magocracy) and they accepted those who wanted to learn, even if they wouldn't become oracles.

Approximately two weeks before the Calamity, the archmage Vespin Chloras succeeded in a ritual weakening the barriers that prevented the return of the Betrayer Gods. In the Hall of Prophecy in Avalir, Karwen, one of the oracles, sensed the coming danger and delivered a prophecy of warning so intense, dark, and confusing that her fellow oracles thought she was going mad; attempts to heal her, however, caused many other prophets to have similar visions. Worried about the sanity of the oracles, the Hall of Prophecy discreetly reached out to the Chair of Divination and the Ring of Gold. Volucia of the Heart's Emblem, the Chief Diviner, was sent to the Hall for a week to help keep the affected oracles safe, and she also tried to understand the nature of the strange madness that afflicted the prophets. It was during her watch when Karwen, apparently recovered from her vision, was allowed to walk freely, but when Karwen had another episode, she extended the effect to many of her fellows, to the point where only Sofyra was unaffected. Volucia, deeply worried about this, isolated Karwen again for her own safety, then contacted Loras of the Weaver's Mask, and they had an argument, during which Volucia stated that the prophetic gifts of the oracles weren't worth the harm they were suffering. The two members of the Ring of Gold were unable to reach an agreement, and Volucia decided to renounce magic, breaking the staff she used as an arcane focus and leaving Avalir. Loras proverbially swept the problem under the rug by closing the Hall of Prophecy and locking up the mad oracles, letting just a few people (including Patia Por'co) know that the prophets needed rest before the Replenishment, and leaving guards watching the building.

The night the Calamity started, the Ring of Brass, investigating the strange events that took place in the city, sent Nydas Okiro and Zerxus Ilerez to the Hall of Prophecy. Using a bit of deception, helped by the trust placed in Zerxus as a former student of the Hall, they convinced Sofyra to let them in and reveal what had happened. During the time Zerxus spent there, he visited the place where Karwen was being kept, and discovered a hand mirror. Through a reflection in the mirror, he had a conversation with Asmodeus. Nydas, meanwhile, was informed about the first "false" prophecy recorded, but he didn't want to believe in it, so he treated it as nonsense. Later that night, when the Lord of the Nine Hells entered Exandria and Karwen's prophecy started to make more sense, the Ring of Brass returned to the Hall (following the advice of a briefly redeemed Vespin Chloras) and released the oracle. She healed her saviors and delivered a new prophecy about the doom that was coming.

The serpentfolk seers of the Vos'sykriss Empire foresaw the Calamity decades before it happened, and many of them survived it by entering an arcane stasis under their capital city in Visa Isle.

At some point after the destruction of Domunas, one of the Gau Drashari survivors, Evontra'vir, used their connection with nature to transform into the Great Tree of Atrophy, growing between the realms of life and death, touching with its roots the skein of fate and the threads of destiny, and acquiring prophetic abilities for which many people visited it looking for answers or help. Evontra'vir was able to see possibilities and things that were meant to happen, and they answered questions even when they knew the knowledge could hurt those who asked for it.

Late in the Era of Reclamation, oracles still existed. Between 812 and 836 PD, in Syngorn there were legends about an oracle's spirit bound to the Gladepools that would reveal fates or grant a cryptic prophecy to those who give sufficient offering and respect. In the same period of time, Seer Gloria Ios did outreach for the Arcana Pansophical in Vasselheim. In an adventure hook in the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, set in 835 PD, seers and oracles in Xhorhas warn about an upcoming collision of multiple planes during an upcoming double eclipse (when both Ruidus and Catha align before the sun). In 843 PD, Elder Joan Abaddina of Hearthdell referred to herself as a soothsayer. She did not demonstrate any abilities she may have had to predict the future, but she had the ability to read the memories of others through pink spores and to locate people using her scrying well.

Moreover, there are still individuals who manifest prophetic abilities without actively acting as oracles. A good example is Leylas Kryn, Bright Queen of the Kryn Dynasty, who receives dreams with visions related to her deity and their sacred relics.

There's an oracular ability colloquially known as "the Squint" that is considered to be "a faint oracle touch". In normal circumstances it allows its users to get glimpses of dangers yet to come, possibilities of futures they can choose or avoid. However, the Squint can be cultivated to develop the same capacities as a normal oracle.

There's another ability that doesn't provide prophecies or revelations, but does allow certain people to identify those who have been marked with a special destiny (whether that can be considered a blessing or a curse). Those who had this talent were able to see a light or "glint" around others, a glimmer that, according to superstition, could interest the goddess of fate.

Known prophecies

Oracle	Prophecy	Meaning	Fulfillment
Vos'sykriss seers	Content of the prophecy currently unknown	The prophecy warned about the Calamity and its destruction.	The events warned by the prophecy took place, and the Vos'sykriss Empire fell, with some the serpentfolk of Visa Isle surviving only by entering an arcane stasis.
Karwen	"The stars are leaving us. Our hands cannot reach the limbs of the tree, can no longer scribe the name of our deliverance. We will soon be as broken as our promises. Avalir shall fall. All shall fall. And from our folly will the hands that forge the world banish themselves from the broken things they have made."	The prophecy warns about the destruction of the Tree of Names by a series of decisions that broke the agreement between the mages of Avalir and the Gau Drashari, causing the Calamity and eventually the Divergence.	Every event warned by the prophecy took place.
Karwen	"When crowned fire and a throned earth stride forth to join ancient war anew, then Mother and Father shall fall to the hands of their imprisoned kin. And all the stars will weep until the death of light for lost Exandria, whose every ashen breath will wish for death, and never knowing peace, shall stumble ever more to seek in vain the end of horror without name."	The prophecy warns about the great destruction that will happen if the Emperor of Fire and the Empress of Earth are freed when Avalir and Cathmoíra become one again in Mount Ygora. It also insinuates that, with the support of those Primordials, the Betrayer Gods will defeat the Dawnfather and the Wildmother (the ones who sealed away those elementals). The destruction of Exandria as we know it is unavoidable at that point.	The events of this prophecy were a possible future, and were mostly avoided by the efforts of the Ring of Brass (although Domunas was destroyed regardless).
Oracle's spirit of the Gladepools	Content of the prophecy currently unknown	The shining spirits told people living near the lake that they would see the sun again.	This prophecy announced the end of the Calamity and a hopeful future. It became true days before the Divergence, when people saw the actual sun warming them as they created a new home for themselves in an abandoned village.
Evontra'vir	Content of the prophecy currently unknown	This glimpse into Efterin's future helped him find the shard of the Empress of Earth in the Necropolis of Toramunda, essential to fulfill his destiny.	This future happened as the Great Tree of Atrophy had shown, and led to Efterin's fateful end, destroying the Hishari and himself and using the elemental relic to create his true destiny: his child, Ashton Greymoore, as a "titan of blood".
Oracle's spirit of the Gladepools (presumably)	A gleaming longsword that has written along the side in Undercommon: "Whosoever draws this blade has the power to free Ruhn-Shak from madness."	This sword prophesies a potential savior for the drow city of Ruhn-Shak, which is on the verge of collapse under the dangerous influence of the Chained Oblivion.	This prophetic longsword is part of the adventure hook No Basis for a System of Government in Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, and its fulfillment depends on a fighter or paladin finding the blade, deciphering its prophecy and deciding to undertake said mission.
Local soothsayers near the Cauldron Sea	Content of the prophecy currently unknown	It is said that one day the Chained Oblivion, who according to legend created the Cauldron Sea to loosen the veil between worlds, will rend the fabric of reality from the depths of those waters.	According to some the prophecy is already fulfilled, since the Oblivion Vortex in this sea causes an eternal storm due to the aspects of the Elemental Plane of Water and the Abyss colliding in it. Many others believe there are worse things to come, and want to avoid the Chained Oblivion's return.
Oracle's spirit of the Gladepools (presumably)	A gleaming longsword upon whose blade, in flowing elven script, is written: "Whosoever draws this blade bears the mantle of the true scion of Yenlara."	This sword prophesies the appearance of an individual of elven ancestry who is descended by blood from Yenlara Alderwreath and, dynastically, holds more rights to rule Syngorn than the current High Warden, Tyrelda.	This prophetic longsword is part of the adventure hook No Basis for a System of Government in Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, and its fulfillment depends on a character with elven ancestry finding the blade, discovering the conspiracy behind its prophecy and deciding if blood alone is enough reason to claim the position of High Warden.
Spectral Hand	An illustration woven in a cloth, depicting four figures standing defiantly against a green light.	The interpretation Gurt Stumpstuck gave to the illustration is that the four adventurers brought to him by Timpani Guff (Frog, Farah Vallari, Idrin Shadowstep, and Heera Agneheart) bear a striking resemblance to the illustration of the prophecy, so he gives them the weapons.	The four adventurers Gurt saw as the chosen ones have indeed faced the green light of a dome in the Vesper Timberland, but a day later a different group visited the swamp, telling the dwarf they had been sent there by the Spectral Hand, implying they could be the actual chosen ones.
Osysa	Content of the prophecy currently unknown	The sphinx warned Timpani Guff about Putridius Festerkin, and foretold the dark druid's return.	Timpani considered that Osysa's prediction was correct, since one day after talking to her he and his friends faced an undead monster influenced by the Timberblight, even though they thought his defeat was permanent.
Osysa	Content of the prophecy currently unknown	The sphinx predicted that one day Poogs would become the protector of the Hug Hive, in the Utesspire Mountains.	This prophecy hasn't been fulfilled or avoided yet. Poogs wasn't opposed to that destiny, and actively tried to become a better warrior to be worthy of it, although he also considered he wasn't ready just yet, and didn't like the idea of his prophecy "hurrying" him.
Osysa	Accompanied by a vision of Heera Agneheart's mother in the past, the words: "When family ties are bound with iron and blood, the severing of such will prompt a wail the likes of which will turn the hearts of man, for choices made for you will be your jail, and render you a witness to the flood."	The sphinx insinuated that the pact between the Agneheart family and the Strife Emperor would affect and restrict Heera, even though she didn't have a say in the matter.	This prophecy has been fulfilled, at least partially. Bane started contacting Heera in her dreams, giving her power, and in a moment of desperation she agreed to serve him. It is unclear if the "flood" mentioned by Osysa is something that has already happened.
Osysa	Accompanied by a vision of Farah Vallari in the future, saving people from the fire without fear, the words: "As flame crests the sky she walks unshaken towards a bleak horizon, if stories told bear her name to the gods and those that come after, will she be satisfied and purpose fulfilled, or will there be sadness in the departure from those she leaves behind to mourn?"	The sphinx showed Farah a future in which she becomes a hero but dies in action, and wonders if she will feel fulfilled or sad.	This prophecy hasn't been fulfilled or avoided yet. However, when Farah died in battle for a few seconds she remembered Osysa's words and an additional part before coming back to life: "What you don't understand is that your legend has yet to begin. The question remains. Will you have the strength to embrace it?"
Oleander Calloway	A vision of the red light of Ruidus consuming the green beauty of the Feywild, destroying homes and leaving behind dusty remains and dull red light. Fearne Calloway is in that light, extending her hand towards it before it consumes everything.	The interpretation the Calloways gave to the vision is that their daughter is marked by the red moon, and somehow its vermillion light is entering the Fey Realm, putting Fearne and the rest of the fey in danger.	This prophecy has been avoided. Ruidus's light is no longer visible in the sky of the fey, since Bells Hells have destroyed the machine that caused the image of the red moon to appear in that realm. Moreover, after dealing with Predathos there is no longer a potential threat coming from the red moon that could threaten the Plane of Faerie.
Evontra'vir	A vision of the Bloody Bridge's light widening, a golden lattice shattering, and great beings of shadow and light fleeing, chased by a glow of endless red that eventually leaves too.	The vision seems to show the release of Predathos and the flight of the gods, pursued by the Red End.	The events of this vision were a possible future, but the prophecy has been avoided. According to the Great Tree of Atrophy, the efforts of Bells Hells, using the shard of the Empress of Earth and the spark of the Emperor of Fire, could prevent it from happening, which proved to be right, as Ashton and Fearne helped defeat Predathos, which allowed Imogen to control it for long enough for the gods of the main pantheon to accept a new form of "mortal divinity" in which the Red End could not find and devour them.

Trivia

• Ioun, the Knowing Mistress, is the goddess of prophecy.
• Due to the nature of their magic, oracles have a spark of celestial energy that can be recognized by a paladin's Divine Sense.
• In at least some cases, the ability to be an oracle is inherited. Cree Deeproots inherited the ability to see the glint from her mother's family, and Ollie Calloway inherited his Squint from his own mother.
• In Tal'Dorei (and possibly elsewhere) oracles use oloore root (an illegal drug) to enhance their divinations.
• In Reaching Bluff, in the Cliffkeep Mountains, the locals treat a Luxon beacon they found as a mystical oracle.
• Around 839 PD the sphinx Osysa shared mysterious rhymes with each of the members of the Re-Slayer's Take, although unlike traditional predictions, some of them seemed to mix judgement about the past of each of the adventurers with warnings about their future. The ones that didn't necessarily contain a prediction were Frog's and Idrin Shadowstep's:
  • "A child of Aeor, scattered across Issylra. Will she find herself?"
  • "There once was a boy from the Dynasty Kryn whose father had lied again and again. His mother did too, so what should he do: abandon his friends or his kin?"
• The apogee solstice of 843 PD may have had an effect on oracular abilities such as the Squint, since Ollie stopped getting visions the moment the solstice started.
• While it has never been shown in Critical Role, there is a Supernatural gift in 5th Edition rules, Oracle, available as a character creation option in Mythic Odysseys of Theros, which gives, among other abilities, knowledge of the Celestial language and more spells the greater the devotion and piety to a deity.

References

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