Fatebenders & the Political Landscape

With the advent of the Third Era, the planes shifted and gave birth to a new cast of people who could do the unthinkable: see and manipulate the threads of fate. When Jhokum the Seer passed the Ten Trials of Afaromenides, a feat not seen in millenia, and proclaimed the start of a new age, the sages of his time couldn’t but agree with him.

The importance of fatebenders soon became evident. Different organizations of fatebenders appeared, trying to protect themselves and their secrets, led by The Shattered Loom, the ancient temple dedicated to the different deities of fate, now a home to all fatebenders, who became de-facto priests of all fate-related deities.

At first, fatebenders were treated as a commodity, nothing more than tools to be used to shape the world and divine humanity’s fate. But with the rise of organized groups of fatebenders, it quickly became evident that it was not a good idea to anger a group of people capable of condemning your entire bloodline, future and past, to a cursed existence. This soon created a shift, where fatebenders became (and remain so) respected advisors and council members. Every self-respecting court across Iskandria has at least one fatebender occupying a crucial advisory role, something that has proved invaluable time and again, especially to prepare for natural disasters or scheming opponents, circumstances that would otherwise shake or even break a country. As a result, political maneuvering has become much more difficult, and the world is overall safer and more stable, at least when it comes to sudden, predictable changes. Of course, those powerful enough can also hire the services of a fatebender to obscure their own plotting, and as everything, it all comes down to who has the support of the most powerful group of fatebenders, quickly escalating into some sort of “arms race” among the most powerful individuals and countries in the world. Something that has immensely benefited all fatebenders, of course.

One of the first events that caused this shift in the public's perception of fatebenders was during the war between the nascent Fegonoth Republic and the neighbouring kingdom of Galaka. The Fegonoth Republic had amassed a colossal army, prepared to lay siege to the capital city of Galaka and bring the kingdom to its knees, in an attempt to liberate its people from monarchic rule. King Alaric, then ruler of Galaka, was aware of the dire situation he faced, and sought the counsel of his fatebender, Serania, a new advisor in his court that he had hired on a whim.

Serania, with her unparalleled ability to see and manipulate the threads of fate, delved deep into the possible outcomes of the impending siege. She foresaw a catastrophic future where the city fell, leading to years of suffering and loss for the people of Galaka. However, she also glimpsed a slim thread of hope—a way to turn the tide of battle and save the kingdom from ruin. Through her guidance, King Alaric made strategic adjustments to the city's defenses and repositioned his troops to exploit the weaknesses Serania had identified in the Fegonothian forces. She also foresaw a sudden, powerful storm that would strike on the third night of the siege. Using this knowledge, Serania advised the king to launch a surprise counterattack under the cover of the storm, when the enemy would be most vulnerable.

As the storm raged, King Alaric's forces, guided by Serania's foresight, launched their assault. The Aranthian army, caught off guard and unable to see through the torrential rain, was thrown into disarray. The Galakan soldiers fought with renewed vigor, driven by the knowledge that fate itself was on their side. By dawn, the Fegonothian forces were shattered and in full retreat. The siege was broken, and Galaka was saved from certain destruction. The people hailed Serania as a hero, recognizing the invaluable role she played in their victory. The kingdom's respect for fatebenders grew even stronger, and their position as crucial advisors in the courts of Iskandria was further solidified.