Death omens

Most cultures have their own signs and omens that they believe foretell a pending death. Peasants of Formour believe that a ghostlight (a small candle-like flame) hovering over a grave means that someone else in that family will die soon. Killian believe that events linked to only one sense can portend their own death, such as feeling a thumping from wood, but no sound, a cloth that moves though no breeze is felt, or seeing a bell moving but hearing no sound. When a Killian dreams about a birth/hatching or meeting a new person, it is seen as an omen that someone in their family will die soon; conversely dreaming about the death of a family member is viewed as a good luck omen for a pending hatching in the family. Some who live in the northeast of the Byzant Empire feel that a harbinger bird that finds its way into someone's home and sings its sad dirge, foretells the death of an inhabitant within a few days. Interestingly, these birds are not harmed—they are seen as messengers rather than causes of death—and the belief is that killing the bird means the death of everyone in the house. Besides, if two harbinger birds get into the house and sing, then they bring good luck and prosperity. The Dwarves of the Heldanic Confederation warn that a lantern light at night may not be a nearby house or inn, but rather the light is leading the unwary traveller to a dangerous and final destination into a pit or bog, or off of a cliff. Oddly, there are no superstitions of harbingers of death among the Goths.
The small village of Grove's Bend in the Kingdom of Formour (known for its apple orchards, and as the site of the Battle of Stone Bridge) has a large flat rock by the river near that infamous bridge where the inhabitants do laundry. There is one spot on the rock where no one washes clothes, that is no one still among the living. This dark red stain marks the area where a local woman washed the blood-soaked uniforms of the Human soldiers during the week of battle for that ancient Hobgoblin bridge. It is said that she lost her mind from viewing the carnage, and began to prophesize in whispers about the next soldiers to die. Local legend tells that even now, centuries later, she can still be seen on some nights at that very spot washing the blood from clothes. If one looks closely, they may recognise the clothing as belonging to someone they know, perhaps even themselves. Those truly brave may even venture near enough to hear her whispering, "Must get the blood out, got to get it clean for tomorrow." These rare brave souls who sit still and listen quietly long enough may even learn of the decedent's name, and the time of the death.
Category:Death
Category:Tractate