The Raven Queen, Matron of Death
Deity Information
| Type | Stat |
|---|---|
| Type | Primal Deity |
| Titles | Matron of Death,Matron of Ravens,Ebon Queen of Ravens,Duskmaven,The Raven Queen |
| Gender | Female |
| Pronouns | She,Her,Hers |
| Alignment | Lawful Neutral |
Worship Info
| Type | Stat |
|---|---|
| Domains | Death,Fate,Winter,Twillight,Inevitability |
| Worshippers | Mercenaries |
Appearance
The Raven Queen, Matron of Death
Overview
The Raven Queen, Matron of Death, also commonly known as the Matron of Ravens and the Duskmaven, is the goddess of death, fate, and winter; she is also considered the goddess of twilight, inevitability and the passage of time, presiding over the transition between life and death. Originally a mortal woman in the Age of Arcanum, she ascended to godhood and destroyed the previous god of death. After her ascension, her true name has long been lost. Her devotees seek her favor to guide them in death and prevent the curse of undeath from falling on them.
Blood, which plays a large part in the ritual of communing with the goddess within her temple, is one of many very powerful tools in the worship of the Matron of Ravens and sometimes blood magic is utilized by her followers.
Appearance and symbols
When she was alive, the Raven Queen was described as a beautiful woman with raven hair. After becoming a goddess she is described as a tall and slender woman with flowing black hair and pale, porcelain skin. She almost always wears a blank porcelain mask. On the rare occasions she removes it, she is still described as beautiful and pale, and her eyes have red irises.
Her general iconography represents the way in which the goddess appears to mortals, almost always adding elements of black feathers such as a cape or wings. However, certain sects depict her as a keen-eyed vulture with plumage varying from the shades of a sunset to the black of midnight; in this representation, the goddess also covers her face, in this case with a golden funerary mask.
Personality
As a mortal, the Raven Queen was an ambitious and determined mage, daring to face the previous god of death and determined enough to stay with him, developing the [[#Ritual of Seeding]] and taking his position in the pantheon.
Commandments
- Death is the natural end of life. Grieve the fallen, but do not pity them. Exult in the time that they were granted.
- The path of Fate is sacrosanct. Those who pridefully cast off destiny must be punished.
- Undeath is an atrocity. Death is too good a punishment for those who pervert the rightful transition of the soul.
Ritual of Seeding
The Ritual of Seeding, also known as the Matron’s Ritual or Rite of Ascension, represents one of magic's most potent and forbidden acts through which mortals can achieve godhood. During The Age of Arcanum, this ritual was regarded as the ultimate accomplishment in arcane mastery.
Historically, it has been successfully performed twice:
- The Raven Queen: Originally a mortal woman who dared to confront and eventually replaced the former deity of death.
- Vecna, the Whispered One: Later used by an archlich known for his malevolence and cunning.