Mother of Ravens
The Mother of Ravens was once a mortal woman and the most powerful sorceress and maester of her time. She implemented the use of ravens across Terusha. At the height of her power, she ascended to godhood at the height of her power. She was the first mortal to achieve this since The Eight.
The Mother of Ravens is obsessed with collecting and observing mementos and fragments of memories and essences. Many sages speculated that she was in fact insane, believing her methods and behavior little more than aimless curiosity or a desperate attempt to prevent her fragile existence from fading into oblivion. Others maintained that there was a cosmological function that was performed by the Mother's actions, as she purified souls by forcing mortals to deal with their fears and pains. It was believed that her true intentions were only known to the Lady of Pain.
She is one of the few deities openly acknowledged by The Eight, though worship is not allowed.
Few gods engender as much confusion, uncertainty, and fear as the Mother of Ravens, 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, fear The Darkbringer and his disciples, while they respect the Platinum Knight's clerics, appreciate those of The Great Flame, and distrust anything involving the Crooked Warden. The Mother of Ravens, 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 Mother of Ravens' 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 Death Gods.
Servants of the Mother of Ravens wage a constant struggle to educate people about the goddess. They proclaim she 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 Mother of Ravens 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.
The Mother of Ravens appears as a woman with dark, shoulder-length hair dressed in somber gray robes. She appears pale, her eyes are a deep blue the color of the ocean. Her voice is mellifluous and serene, and her every motion implies graceful certainty and peace. She can be seen by any creature with eyes, not just those about to die. Indeed, this aspect of the Death Mother is said to appear on a battlefield just before the conflict, or at the site of an impending tragedy.
The Mother of Ravens is obsessed with collecting and observing mementos and fragments of memories and essences. Many sages speculated that she was in fact insane, believing her methods and behavior little more than aimless curiosity or a desperate attempt to prevent her fragile existence from fading into oblivion. Others maintained that there was a cosmological function that was performed by the Mother's actions, as she purified souls by forcing mortals to deal with their fears and pains. It was believed that her true intentions were only known to the Lady of Pain.
She is one of the few deities openly acknowledged by The Eight, though worship is not allowed.
Few gods engender as much confusion, uncertainty, and fear as the Mother of Ravens, 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, fear The Darkbringer and his disciples, while they respect the Platinum Knight's clerics, appreciate those of The Great Flame, and distrust anything involving the Crooked Warden. The Mother of Ravens, 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 Mother of Ravens' 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 Death Gods.
Servants of the Mother of Ravens wage a constant struggle to educate people about the goddess. They proclaim she 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 Mother of Ravens 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.
The Mother of Ravens appears as a woman with dark, shoulder-length hair dressed in somber gray robes. She appears pale, her eyes are a deep blue the color of the ocean. Her voice is mellifluous and serene, and her every motion implies graceful certainty and peace. She can be seen by any creature with eyes, not just those about to die. Indeed, this aspect of the Death Mother is said to appear on a battlefield just before the conflict, or at the site of an impending tragedy.
Divine Domains
The Mother of Ravens is a Goddess of Death and is primarily responsible for Emotions and Memory. Clerics of the Mother of Ravens have access to the Peace and Grave domains.
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 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.
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 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.
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