Falatacot

We know little of the daily life of the Falatacot, whether they had an empire or any sort of ruling structures is unknown. The fragments that have passed to us via Shadow visions and mentions of them in other works imply that they were considered less sophisticated in comparison to other Empyrean cultures and may have been what we consider tribal in nature. The most important people in the Falatacot civilization appear to be those that were called Witches, although that term may have been an insult coined by later cultures. These women seemed to possess great power and abilities to see the future. The Witches were also held in high regard, which may imply that the Falatacot was a matriarchal society. Their worship of the Old Ones led to a closer tie to the planet through a mastery of Geomancy, and, while later cultures may have had some Geomantic abilities, no culture matched the Falatacot’s skill in the art. The Falatacot also seemed to have knowledge of the uses of herbs and potions, as later in Dereth’s history, it is recorded that the Dericost Lady Aerfalle was able to create a potion to have Lady Raina fall in love with Smith Hare Aralea using the Falatacot arts. They also used these arts to make fungal potions, and using these along with a practice of ritual blood letting, to induce prophetic ecstasies. A view of one of these prophetic sessions has been revealed in a Shadow vision, which shows three witches in a mire with feathers and beads woven into their hair.

Their Legacy The most important artifacts left by the Falatacot appear to be two books, the Uotecatl Ceqt of Nahouhnztl and the Book of Eibhil, and the prophetic “Sendings” that later Empyrean cultures looked to. We know little of what the Uotecatl Ceqt of Nahouhnztl or the Book of Eibhil contained, other than the rituals performed by the Falatacot and information handed down about the Old Ones and their art of Geomancy. It is probable that the rituals for becoming undead that were later used by the Dericost had their basis in these works. We know even less about the Sendings or even what the word “Sending” implies. Some have felt the each Sending is a specific event all relating to one subject, perhaps the Great Master or the coming of Darkness, and that the Falatacot Witches foretold each of the Sendings. Others have felt that the Sendings are simply great prophecies relating to numerous events that would affect the world of Auberean. Perhaps both interpretations are partly correct. We do know there are at least four Sendings and what two of the sendings refer to, at least in part. The Second Sending seems to refer to the rise of the Hopeslayer and the Fourth Sending seems to refer to the return of the Hopeslayer, indicating the process of his release would begin at the city of Frore.

Texts also seem to indicate that the Falatacot believed every use of magic had a consequence, and every use must be balanced against that consequence. We do not know how they came to hold this belief, although it is possible it came from their worship of the Old Ones. While later Empyreans seemed to largely ignore this belief, small groups did hold on to it, some even becoming powerful mages. One such mage was Lady Adja, who was a member of the Council of Five and gave her life trapping the Hopeslayer 3,000 years ago. Others continued her legacy and some of the Falatacot thinking at the Ithaenc Cathedral, calling themselves Adjanites. They held these beliefs about the use of mana and that the Earth, Sky, and Stars were all of equal importance in things spiritual.

Other scattered fragments of text seem to indicate that the Sclavus seen frequenting swampy areas are the creation of the Falatacot. Their presence at ruins that are likely Falatacot in origin provides credence to this. Unfortunately, we have been unable to discern any language used by the Sclavus, but it is evident they are intelligent. Their use of weapons and armor along with their use of magic proves this. It is hoped that some day we will be able to decipher the Sclavus language and find out their origin, or at least as they understand it.

A Fragmentary Past Little is known about the actual history of the Falatacot, how long ago they appeared or exactly when they disappeared. But we do know what signaled the beginning of the end of the Falatacot. A great cooling of the world had come, similar to the one recently experienced due to the actions of the Gelidites at Frore. The Falatacot preferred swampy warm climes and were forced to flee their lands by this encroaching cold. They fled to the south and were given sanctuary in the Dericost Empire in exchange for sharing their knowledge and rituals. As often happens when a more primitive culture is forced from their lands and is dominated by a more “sophisticated” society, the Falatacot began to lose their cultural identity and integrated with the cultures around them.

In general, while considered to be more primitive than the other cultures around them, the Falatacot displayed a wisdom and balanced nature not seen in any other culture. While we may regret that they ceased to be a distinct people and lost their unique way of life, their descendants and teachings continue to influence the world long after the passing of most of the Empyrean peoples.