Gloamwing

The White Raven, the avian god of the Pale Men, is a benevolent if demanding god. But as is often the case with gods, there is more to them than meets the eye.
A vindictive herald of great tragedy, irreconcilable loss and a time of punishing malady, Gloamwing is the other, darker aspect of the White Raven. But unlike is the case with the Progenitor and Adversary, the two are not separate entities but rather two faces of the same coin.

Physical features

Larger than the White Raven by far, Gloamwing takes on the form of a huge vulture that is unnaturally black, almost akin to the Umbranymphs found in the Black Forest. Its eyes are piercing orange orbs that swirl and shift under one's gaze, twin vortices that rob those who gaze into them of their vigor.

Visitation

If a tribe has garnered the ire of Gloamwing, perhaps by ignoring sightings of the White Raven or by neglecting their sacrifices and failing to provide Alabaster Tribute, they will attract a visitation.

These events begin with the appearance of Gloamwing high above the campground or tribal gathering. As its shadow is cast over the area, torches, campfires and other sources of light and warmth are snuffed out. After this dark pall has fallen upon the area, Gloamwing descends and perches upon a spot central to the campground or gathering. Once settled in, the great black bird looses a warbling cry.

This marks the beginning of the first day of the visitation. During this initial day, any cattle and pets that might be housed in the area are struck with illness that robs them of their appetites and turns them rabid, forcing people to often take the lives of precious animals in defense of themselves.

When the sun rises on the second day, Gloamwing croaks once more. On this second day, any water and food in the camp will grow putrid and decayed, becoming unfit for drinking and inedible. People grow hungry and thirsty faster than normal, and hunger pangs set in before the sun sets on the second day.

On the dawn of the third day, the occupants of the campground dread the final vocalization. When the ugly sound of its crooning cry finally travels through the camp, exactly half of the people who huddle in the tents and in the clearings between them drop dead where they stand. When this final, cruel toll has been exacted, Gloamwing takes flight and leaves the people to mourn their dead.

Appeasement

It is possible to interrupt a visitation by offering Gloamwing a sacrifice that it deems adequate recompense for the offenses that prompted its arrival. This usually means relinquishing one or more of the children present in the camp to the dark vulture, who it will carry into the horizon, to a fate unknown.

This is often a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, as the tribesmen can either sacrifice the children or allow the visitation to conclude on its own, the finale of which can also strike down those same children.

Therefore, tribes will strive to not attract the wrath of Gloamwing to begin with and thus observe the proper respect towards the White Raven and the sacrificial offerings it demands.

Gloamwing is not its actual name.

We do not utter its true name in fear of summoning it.

–A Pale Shaman to a traveler who spent the night with a tribe of the Pale Men

by Midjourney

_{Gloamwing perched on a dead tree in the middle of a campground, on the third day of a visitation.}