Raven Queen (Ray-ven Qw-ee-n)

Few gods engender as much confusion, uncertainty, and fear as the Raven Queen, even though she is not counted among the evil gods, and is certainly not considered destructive or belligerent. This deity is shrouded in secrecy, legend, and myth to such an extent that separating truth from fiction proves a daunting task.
Most people hold a firm understanding of where the gods fit into their lives. Most folk, for example, respect Bahamut’s clerics, appreciate those of Pelor, and distrust anything involving Vecna. The Raven Queen, however, engenders conflicting emotions and uncertainty in almost every living creature. Is she evil? Is she a greedy thief of souls and stealer of joy? What happens to those she claims? Where do souls go after death? These questions remain hidden from mortals, obscured by the veil that separates life from death. At times, the Death Goddess seems vindictive or unpredictable, while at other times she seems merciful or even gentle.
Few mortal creatures view death as something cheerful or welcome. Despite this, virtually every person understands the inevitability of death, and its crucial part of the life cycle. As a result, the typical response to the Goddess of Death is a curious blend of fear, suspicion, reluctance, and acceptance. There is no escape from her clutches in the end.
Many mortals view death, and the Death Goddess, with superstitious dread. In their eyes, every sign is an omen of impending death, every strange occurrence a foreboding of the dark reaper. There are countless legends, folktales, and myths surrounding death and dying, the afterlife, and the Raven Queen’s role in the process. Underlying these fears is one basic question: where do souls go after death? It is said that the gods do not even know where most souls travel after death, and the truth remains known only to the Queen.
Servants of the Raven Queen wage a constant struggle to educate people about the goddess. They proclaim the Queen is a friend to mortals. She brings cessation of pain and suffering, grants peace to those ravaged by age, and makes room for the birth of new souls. The Raven Queen is an extension of nature, a part of the cycle of life and death. In this way, she is no more evil than a bolt of lightning or rainstorm. She claims the souls of the dead because that is her role, not because it brings her any pleasure or glee.
Not surprisingly, even the clerics of the Death Goddess are shrouded in folktales and rumor. Many people look upon these priests as bad luck. At the same time, when a friend or family member passes away, people call upon these priests without hesitation. When it comes to the realm of the dead, there is no one else to call upon.
There exist several ancient legends surrounding the Raven Queen. These suggest that, at one time another god ruled the domain of death. This deity, Kelemvor, reaped souls with unrestrained delight, and brought death to inflict suffering, not to alleviate it or to maintain the natural order. According to legend, a mortal woman of tremendous power challenged Kelemvor to a duel. In the end, the woman defeated Kelemvor and took his place, being ascended to godhood by the first ever Ritual of Seeding.
The Raven Queen frequently receives the prayers of warriors, soldiers, and those who risk their lives often. Although these individuals may not consider the Queen their patron deity, all warriors appreciate the constant proximity of death; after all, they function in a dangerous, violent, and unpredictable profession. To men and women of the sword, death remains a constant companion. Wise warriors do not seek out death, but they do not fear it or run from the Raven Queen. In the end, there is no such thing as outrunning death, so it is best to say your prayers to her and have your affairs in order before every conflict. Many people believe the goddess becomes most vindictive and persistent with those who try to cheat her or avoid her cold embrace.

Tenets of Faith

Hold no pity for those who suffer and die, for death is the natural end of life. On the surface, this may seem a harsh of uncaring philosophy. It represents a stark and unavoidable truth; death is unavoidable, and death always wins in the end. Underneath, however, are numerous deeper ideas and beliefs. The tenet has nothing to do with ignoring suffering or foregoing compassion. Instead, it offers comfort to the living. When a loved one dies, his friends and family should feel happy for him, for he is freed of suffering and fear, and has escaped to his final rest. Those souls traveling to the Raven Queen are safe and secure, and have put the concerns of mortal life behind them. All mortals should feel a sense of comfort knowing that death awaits them, not as a hunter or murderer, but as a final source of succor and tranquility.
Bring down the proud who try to cast off the chains of fate. Punish hubris where you find it. This tenet has sparked considerable debate and confusion amongst the Raven Queen’s clergy. As often happens, different interpretations have spawned separate sects and splinter groups of the Queen’s church, each with its own understanding of the intent.
Watch for the cults of Orcus and stamp them out whenever they arise. There exists a deep and endless enmity between the Raven Queen and Orcus, Prince of Undeath (a similar, albeit lesser, hatred exists between Vecna and the Queen). The unliving represent a debasement of life, and such creatures are an affront to the Goddess of Death. She demands her priests combat all plots and schemes involving the undead or Orcus. The two churches often oppose one another, and their conflicts inevitably involve violence, destructive, and bloodshed.

Worship

The majority of the Raven Queen’s clerics remain part of a specific congregation and temple, usually as part of a community. From the moment the cleric recites their vows to the moment of their death, they care for the spiritual well-being and death needs of his congregation. They oversee funerals, assists with proper burial traditions (which vary depending on the race and culture in question, such as burial or cremation), and comforting the living. The Queen’s clerics also work to educate people about the meaning of death and its role in the mortal existence. They teach that death is a natural event, not something to be feared. They also teach about death’s inevitability, and the importance of preparing for your demise properly.
Within the Raven Queen’s church there exists a secretive sect dedicated to hunting down and destroying undead. These clerics are not attached to any specific temple, but instead wander from place to place in pursuit of undead or clues as to their existence. These clandestine slayers belong to a group known as the Order of the Veiled Sun. There are indications that the Order maintains relations with the Church of Pelor, as both religions are adamantly opposed to all undead creatures. Whatever their origins or patrons, the Veiled Sun includes not only clerics, but warriors, paladins dedicated to the Raven Queen, wizards, and even assassins specialized in destroying the undead. These individuals are skilled, specialized, and lethal in carrying out their work against the minions of Orcus.
Few other groups are as skilled or knowledgeable in the “arts” of death as the Raven Queen’s priests. They are well-versed in the secrets of embalming, cremation, and everything in between. Her priests have long been zealous in guarding these secrets with outsiders. As a result, the Queen’s clergy provide most funeral services in a community, even if the dearly departed never prayed once to the Goddess of Death. In most settlements, the local undertaker is a cleric of the Raven Queen, and his apprentices are acolytes of the goddess.

Symbol: Raven's head, in profile, facing left
Divine Classification: Goddess
Portfolio: Blood, Death, Grave, Fate, Life
Domains: Life, Death
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Home Plane: Fortress of Memories
Worshipers: Clerics, Shadar-kai
Cleric Alignments: Any; unaligned is preferred, but death treats all creatures equally in the end.