Tale of the Veiled Lady
Ever heard the Tale of the Veiled Lady? You won't find anyone in Norhurst who hasn't.
It is said that in times immemorial, a Great Calamity struck the lands of the region, prosperous through trade, and brought with it confusion and turmoil. The event, now known as the Great Fog, was one unlike any other; a deep mist, thicker than the shade of night, came with the gust of sea and engulfed the surroundings, the sheer obscurity of it heavy on the souls of mann. Nothing like that had ever came about, a fog so deep you could neither see hands nor feet; a disaster, for the locals, for it meant traders from all over, their bread and butter, would get lost in the depths of darkness.
In response, the best were gathered and sent out, a rescue force worthy of the endeavor bestowed upon them; efforts, in vain, however, as the Lady in Veil had already taken notice of these poor, tormented souls. One by one, peddlers and vagabonds were met by an alluring lady, clad in deep white, her youth apparent yet her distinctive traits hidden; as if she were Veiled, in the depths of the Great Fog. Her guidance subtle, she led the lost travelers to safety using quite the ingenious trick; by accentuating the quirks of the Domain, and the characteristics of its settlements. The faint aroma of the vineyards, the dull sound of coins clinking, distant nostalgic melodies and muffled roars from the lumbermills; social banter and rowdy disputes alike, audible amidst the darkness... None were left to their fate, that night, for wandering souls all found their way under the watchful eye of the mysterious Veiled Lady.
It is said that, through dusk and dawn, the rescue force couldn't find anyone in need of their assistance; the menn, proud and seeking to prove their mettle, thus ventured deeper and deeper into the wilds, desperate for their chance at renown and fame. Their return, while not met with the expected triumph, still left many in awe of their accomplishment, for unparalleled treasures were instead found during their search, items thought lost to the Ages; a lucky discovery, amongst the circumstances. News and rumors spread about the true salvation of those who had gone astray, and the Veiled Lady has symbolized an omen of good luck ever since; Norhurst's recent prosperity would've been but naught without her dutiful intervention, which led heroes to find fortune on her behalf.
Never heard the Tale of the Veiled Lady? May this be a lesson, then, on the culture and beliefs of a Norhurst citizen: Nowhere else do the less-privileged of society exhibit such strong willpower to face the odds against them, a clear memento of the dedication shown by the Veiled Lady in the completion of her task and the tenacity of those who found their way in the Great Fog. Many, in the region, do not only rely on their vision to discern the world around them, either by necessity, out of pride or to differentiate from outside competition in their respective trade; a trait which has proven invaluable to ascertain the real economic value of goods, and get ahead of the market. However, the fault lies with the deceived, as they say; the shrouded nature of the Lady’s actions has also led the populace, on every level of social hierarchy, to see misfortune as a mere step in a streak of luck, and to perceive contractual agreements as an immutable engagement, regardless of foul play or trickery. The Veiled Lady’s legacy is one of luck and fortune, for traders and merchants yet also thieves and pickpockets; a double-sided coin, ready to flip at a moment’s notice.
Her identity remains, even to this day, shrouded in mystery. The more devout see in her a personification of Virtues, while those grounded in rationality theorize she might've rather been a member of local nobility, bound by duty to help those in need… Whichever the case, there is no doubt the Veiled Lady now plays a crucial role in the folklore of Norhurst, and will continue to do so for centuries to come.
