Four religions regard Mt Kailash as the axis mundi (world axis) connecting the mortal world to the immortal sky realms of the gods. Sacred kora or pilgrimages are held there every year between April and September by Hindu, Bon, Jain, and Buddhist practitioners.
The mountain is considered the home of numerous deities and sacred beings, including Shiva and Parvati (Hinduism), and Sango Bumtri (creator god in the Bon religion). Numerous temples, shrines, stuppas, and other sacred sites and objects may be found all along the roads surrounding the mountain.
The ancient civilization of Zhang-zhung extended all around the mountain, with archeological ruins found throughout the region. This is also an area where Buddhist treasure-seekers look for the sacred scripts and artifacts hidden by the second Buddha, Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Tibet.
Our mystery touched on only a handful of the local residents, barely scratching the surface of the rich mythology surrounding this mountain.
One of our detectives astutely noted that the 2025 season of mysteries should be called "The Shadow Dragon Saga." Our story began in April with a slug named Drudge who changed an Egg of Ending into a World-Ending Egg. We followed Sludge to Kiroshima in Okinawa, Japan, during the summer months. It turned out he was under the control of a Sea Fox who used him to exact revenge upon the mortal world.
She had help from one of the most famous world-ending dragons of all, the great Niddhogr of Norse mythology, so our adventure led to his lair for a plea to return the World-Ending Egg to its original state as a minor Egg of Ending. That minor ending was Rebecca the Dragonmage's retirement from the Dragon's Eye Detectives Agency.
Naturally, this trip involved a kora, a sacred pilgrimage around the mountain. Our team began in the South, with the traditional visit to Lake Manasarovar. They were met by the first of Four Dignities of Tibet, the Tiger named Tak. He asked them to perform a boon by visiting the Naga Queen in Lake Manasarovar to ask her for a Shadow Eye of Insight and Respect. She declined and asked them to show their mettle by completing the challenges of the other directions first -- demonstrating their wisdom, courage, compassion first and then returning with respect in place.
Our team continued along the traditional paths around Mt. Kailash, heading in the old Bon direction, counterclockwise around the mountain. They encountered various merchants, travelers, and numerous Shadoweyes of the Rakshas. They traveled in their dragon forms, and soon learned that Dragon Season was usually in winter, when the humans were more scarce.
There was one immortal merchant with a gold star and blue tips who passed the team, but they kept their invisibility spells intact, and he passed by without comment. Who was he? I guess we will never know ... but I can say that he carried an interesting artifact that could have revealed a secret path through the mountains from west to north.
Fortunately, the detectives had an artifact that could track the Rakshas carrying Pebbles. They were following the path of the kora as well. The team asked Madame Drak a Yes/No question, and learned that the Rakshas were completing boons for the Four Dignities as well.
This explained the increasing number of heads on the Raksha king shown on Madame Drak's daily fortunes. The Demon King was amassing power and insight in multiple realms, allowing him the power to break through protective dragon magic.
Our team met with the Snow Lion of the East, who sent them for a boon from the Green Tara: The Bracelet of Earth's Bounty and Wisdom.
Once the Rakshas landed in the North, our heroes were able to use their Shadow Eye of Retrieval to bring back Pebbles. The sweet bear that slept at the Green Tara's side gave them a Bearstone of Protection, to keep all of the baby dragons safe in multiple realms.
The team continued their journey to the north. They met an immortal merchant searching for dragons, and learned that the Rakshas weren't the only ones seeking dragons out of season. This merchant sold baby dragons to mages and other magic wielders, so our team kept their dragons a secret.
The detectives met Kyung the Garuda of the North. He sent them to Hanuman the Monkey King, who was visiting his father's domain near Mt Kailash. Hanuman promised to leave Mt Kailash in place this time (he had once carried it to southern India, when he didn't know which magic herb was the one he was seeking). He confirmed that the Rakshas had been there, and noted that they became very upset about something that happened to a baby dragon they were carrying.
Hanuman granted the detectives the boon for the Garuda of the North. This was a Fire Kindler of Courage. He tried to warn them about something as they left, but it was too late. A Secret Keeper brought the lost words back to the detectives: Don't offer bananas to the Dragon of the West.
Druk the Dragon of the West was calm when the detectives met him. He sent them for a boon from an even calmer immortal, the second Buddha known as Rinpoche. The team asked for a Droplet from the Sea of Compassion. Their actions along the kora were strong, so the Buddha granted their wish.
When the detectives realized the Raksha were nearing completion of their kora, so the detectives cast a little interference magic, landing them at the island of the Naga Queen just before the Rakshas arrived. They presented their case again, demonstrating their honor through their choices and actions along the way.
The Raksha King arrived with his twelve heads, and his horde of Shadow Eye demons. The King of the Rakshas shared his grievances with the detectives, accusing them of stealing Pebbles from him, the one who would unlock the true potential of this tiny End Dragon. Who wouldn't want to end the world, when such power was available?
Our team was up for the debate, launching into the reasons the Naga Queen should grant their boon and deny that of the Raksha King. It was a lively argument, featuring points and counterpoints from both sides, but in the end, the detectives managed to win the Shadow Eye of Insight and Respect from the Klu Queen.
When they returned this to Tak the Tiger of the South, it opened the way to the Inner Chambers of Mt. Kailash, where two of the Nine Dreamers were waiting for them.
Zed the Awakener is in charge of Endings of all sizes and importance, including the closing of the Dreamsong when its time comes.
The Four Dignities arrived with the four boons. It turns out the boons were the four artifacts needed to bring Pocket Oracles to each of the detectives.
After the Oracles arrived to claim their dragonmages/detectives, the ritual of naming began. The two-headed shadow dragon was finally revealed as Razmataz the Bittersweet. With his heart full of his true name, and his little heads brimming with bitter and sweet memories, dreams, and hopes, the tiny dragon flew into the sky to reveal his full form as a rainbow dragon. Out of the shadows comes light and beauty, hope and joy mixed with sadness.
The dragonmage Rebecca arrived, and a whole host of magical beings came to celebrate the retirement of a beloved dragonmage. The party was truly epic, spanning every mystery from the summer and beyond. The fireworks were extra special -- even Gandalf would have tipped his hat to the pyrotechnics in charge.
At last, the detectives returned home, with their Starbowls, Jewels, and Dice, with their Orobori and their Dragonstones, and finally, with their Pocket Oracles. They were full-blown dragonmages at last, empowered for their own journeys with the dragons.
That night, they dreamed about Raz and Taz, come once more for one flight through the night skies. They turned into adult dragons and flew into the sky, showing Rebecca the Dragonmage their new skills and powers as they rolled and dove through the Celestial Realms.
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Visit the Dragon's Eye Adventures Facebook page for more drawings and photos of the Pocket Oracles.
Very special thanks to Elisabeth Kelly, who joined us as a Program Assistant for one final mystery.
Thanks also to Chris Guerette and RSU5 Community Programs for the space and support these last few years! Thank you to the Freeport High School staff who helped us with the program this summer!
And always, a special thanks to the families who came to each mystery! I have had an extraordinary time with the detectives, imagining stories and encounters that could not have unfolded without the ideas and choices made by children. It is this capacity for dreaming that gives me hope even in these challenging times!
I wish you all well! May your journeys with the dragons take flight with courage, compassion, wisdom and respect trailing like a stream of colors in your wake! It has been an honor to accompany each of you on your travels!