Klaus ๑◕‿◕๑ · @KlausvonRichter
22nd Jan 2018 from TwitLonger
The Hexagonal Matrices and House Snakes #EndemicEcho #SWLRP
I believe I've figured out not only what the hexagonal matrices to the Witch's Riddles are, but also the relics themselves.
In 2014, a hexagonal matrix was found at the roots of a tree upturned by a storm that occurred on a night associated with supernatural - that night shares the same name as the river in Pierdut: Sânziene. Sânziene is an annual festival on June 24th.
This matrix is a Dacian relic from shortly before the Romans held the territory of what is now Romania.
The matrix is a mold. A jewelry or sculpture mold with intricate animals carved into it. It includes three different kinds of griffons and also many mundane and exotic animals alongside those more mystical or magical on its many faces.
The Witch's Second Riddle goes as follows: "The serpents were born of hexagonal matrices. One was found beneath the roots of a tree, but there were others. You know the significance of this shape, and yet some see only the golden honeyed cast. In their absence, more savage beasts reign."
The Witch's Riddle says many more matrices than the notable one were found. Something born of it would be a priceless antique piece of metal or jewelry. The mold is hexagonal, but not the serpent born by it.
Now regarding the serpent/snake:
Romans inherited the Dacian Draco, a serpentine battle standard and symbol, from the Dacians they conquered. It has thus been associated with the Romans for a period of time, but it was Dacian.
The Draco persisted symbolically in Romania even after the conquest and fall of the Roman Empire AND the massive spread of Christianity.
The Draco continued to be a protective figure, although malevolent dragons and serpents existed as well.
The serpents guard and protect places and precious objects.
There exists the modern folklore for the 'house snake' - a serpent said to guard a house and live between the walls or underneath the house. It brings good luck to its family, and protects the people whose foundations it rests under from disaster.
This is an actual snake that every house is said to have under it. It's Natrix natrix, the grass snake.
Two important things to note:
1. Sometimes, the protecting serpent in a legend has scales of silver, gold, or even crystal. While not restricted to just a normal house snake, it's still important to note. A gold or silver snake could theoretically be molded from the hexagonal matrix mentioned earlier.
The Red Hand file from the G.H.O.S.T. interface puzzled out during the first Reliquarium meeting remarks on how some of the researchers were too caught up with the material worth of the relic.
The Witch's First Riddle says that it was the glimmer of the artifacts' scales that tempted the thieves.
It is almost certainly the house serpent for the church it was placed at.
2. This one is very important. A house abandoned by its serpent for any reason attracts evil spirits - the snake takes its good luck with it!
The Witch's Second Riddle mentions how that in the absence of the serpents born from the hexagonal matrices, more savage beasts reign.
The house snakes were removed and that allowed and attracted evil spirits and 'savage beasts' with the snakes no longer there to protect the land, house, or family.
To summarize (TL;DR):
- The hexagonal matrices are Dacian jewelry molds for precious metals.
- The serpentine relics are house snakes that were made with one of these molds.
- With the serpents gone from their homes, beings like the Muroni are free to reign. The snakes aren't stopping them.
We must retrieve the serpents.