Vulyeva, Fate of Shadows (Vole - Yeh - Vuh)

Vulyeva is known as the Fate of shadows, secrets, ravens, and spiders and is typically depicted surrounded by ravens and spiders in the form of a regal woman. She gives an overall feeling of peace and welcoming with an authoritative stance. Her eyes are graced with a secret magick that glows sickly green when activated. This magick earned her the name of "hoarder of shadows," as she can eavesdrop on anyone near a shadow.

The first time I heard of the stories regarding the Mistress of Ravens was during a ceremony given by the First Wielders of the Book of Fates. At the time, I thought them to be just scary stories you tell your fledglings to behave.
I was wrong.
So very, very wrong.
Being the researching gentlemen I am, I went scouring for the places in the tales, which led me to the dank Kinanrama Jungle of the Stiaria Region of the continent of Iyon. Small settlements were falling corrupt to the shadows by ravenous spiderfolk. I took the first ship I could find to the mainland to discover a mass majority of the jungle was covered in sticky, thick webs. The sheer volume of the webs and how densely packed the air became as I ventured further into the jungle only starved me for more.
I continued my search for days until I came upon a small village near a cliff. The people were huddled in their homes, afraid to step out and speak with me. Every home I went to slammed the door in my face. It was only then did I realize the sun was setting, and the skitter of claws and a soft chuckle caught my attention.

— Day 387, year 435 EoD, A Cursed Vampire's Diary

by darksouls1 (Pixabay)

Due to her secrets, she can take on the form of three different women. There is the young maiden, the woman, and the old lady. Each form allows her to access a variety of her magick. Remaining calm in her demeanor and using wit to solve her problems, Vulyeva is a force to be reckoned with.
As the Fate of shadows, Vulyeva sees herself as a spy among the mortals. She uses the shadows and her ravens and spiders to pick up on the world below. She is credited with revealing the truth behind the wars that ravaged the lands of Eskǎvaëís. Even more important, she helps people with their grievances and helps them to reach their highest potential in society, becoming centers of strategy and philosophy.

She is a shadowy and mysterious figure. When appearing before mortals, she prefers the form of the young maiden with an angelic face clad in peasant robes. She has also been known to appear in various animal forms, including the shapes of ravens, spiders, and the occasional black cats.
Quiet surrounds Vulyeva like a shroud. Standing apart from the other Fates, she rarely speaks, even to her most favored followers. When she does communicate, it is often as a barely audible whisper. Vulyeva can speak with a booming voice directly into the minds of all the other Fates simultaneously, though, doing so when something threatens the cosmic order.

by Gimcrackery (Pixabay)

Vulyeva's Influence

Subtlety and manipulation--of mind, word, and deed--are the cornerstones of Vulyeva's power and her influence over mortals and immortals alike. Even her sibling Fates enjoy hearing what they prefer to hear instead of the truth, and Vulyeva is happy to give them what they want...for a price.
She is strongly affiliated with nighttime when cities are dark, and the drunk are about. It is then when she can hear the secrets being released upon the world. Her followers generally play at dusk and then once again at midnight, with the sounds of crickets chirping forming an appropriate backdrop to their rites, as secrets are sacred to Vulyeva. Many aspects of mysteries fall under Vulyeva's influence. Spycraft is closely connected to Vulyeva, as is thievery—mainly stealing dangerous secrets that could threaten the world. Vulyeva is also highly concerned with justice, and many politicians and other leaders seek her guidance in how to rule.

Vulyeva's Goals

More than any other Fates, Vulyeva simply is. She seeks nothing but to oversee the acquisition of secrets, maintain the cycles of manipulation, and uphold the divine shadows. She supports those who reveal the dark, twisted inner workings of corruption and those who free others from tyranny. Vulyeva knows that not all threats to a city come from outside it, and she encourages her followers to watch out for despotism and injustice from within. She seeks justice to prevail in civilized lands.
Vulyeva seeks far more for her champions than mere safety. She drives them to aspire toward efforts that help their people thrive. The pursuit of mysteries is also a vital task, and she encourages advances in eavesdropping and stealth. As her champions obtain or derive new secrets, Vulyeva's magick scrolls grow even longer. Finally, shadows are of critical importance to her domain. Vulyeva particularly supports those who dwell in the shadows, which often drives cunning thieves to her side, though she doesn't scorn other varieties of robbery.

Divine Relationships

Vulyeva and Gersoi, the Strategist have aligning interest, since they both value knowledge. Vulyeva works toward establishing equal boundaries with secrets in the shadows and upholding the values that Gersoi holds dear with knowledge.
Vulyeva is also on good terms with Scityrn, Fate of War, because Vulyeva recognizes the necessity of war for a thriving set of secrets. She also admires Ruualn, Fate of Death's craft, realizing the essential role the dead and other forms of the afterlife have with secrets.
While Vulyeva loathes all ill-users of secrets and wishes to destroy them and become the sole divine power over secrets, she has a particular hatred for Zoheia, the Frozen. Zoheia seeks to share with the world the same secrets Vulyeva guards for herself, and her followers work diligently to undermine and destroy the Communion of the Damned and any others who follow Zoheia's path.
Her relationship with Rhojun, the Chaotic is a difficult one from either perspective. Vulyeva approves of minor bouts of chaos, but the chaos strewn from petty racial hatred leaves a bitter divide between Rhojun and Vulyeva. Vianke, the Stoic is another godly being Vulyeva despises and sees her presence as a mighty affront to Vianke's purpose.

Table of Contents

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by Gittev (Pixabay)

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Titles/Nicknames

Hoarder of Shadows / Mistress of Ravens / Queen of Spiders

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Quick Facts

Alignment:

Chaotic Neutral

Species:

Celestial

Realm:

Soartaon

Birth Year:

15,000,000,000 EoD EoD 15,000,000,000 Years Old

Gender:

Female

Family:

The Fates (siblings)
Bavara, the Moon (daughter)
Noella, the Sun (daughter)
Vavheia (daughter)
Vikeyr, the Black Hole (son)
Lucifer, the Light (grandson)
Morgana, the Reckoning (granddaughter)
Abaddon (great-granddaughter)
Aleister Crowley (great-grandson)
Azazel (great-grandson)
Beelzebub (great-grandson)
Vladimir Tepes (great-grandgrandson)
Marinette Cheonsa (great-great-granddaughter)
Kěith Cheonsa (great-great-grandson)
Léhä Tepes (great-great granddaughter)

Companions:

Skusseww (her raven)
Xalzad (her spider)

Divine Classification:

Prime Fate

Religions:

Dein Religion

Worshippers:

Blood Witches
Cek'zuq
Vampires

Common Symbol:

Raven / Spider

Related Myths:

Loyal to the Shadows
Phantoms and Spiders

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by Amelia Nite (Canva)

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Commandments of Vulyeva

• Unmask those who would destroy Vulyeva. Learn their secrets and unveil them to the world.
• Uphold and teach the importance of reason, perception, and truth in guiding one's emotions and path.
• Condemn those who lie without moral cause, for evil folk gain power when their followers obscure the truth. Never stoop to the level of selfish liars.
• Seize your own destiny by pursuing your passions.
• Let the shadows protect you from the burning light of fanatical good and the absolute darkness of evil.
• Walk unbridled and untethered, forging new memories and experiences.

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Worshiping Vulyeva

She presides over witches, fae, elves, vampires, conspiring politicians, and envious servants as the keeper of secrets and shadows. To an extent, Vulyeva's devout show their faith by going about their lives and picking up bits and pieces of informative secrets that could potentially harm the world. Midnight services at Vulyeva's temples often feature a brief prayer, followed by a longer talk from a Dark Priest on a topic of general interest. Attendants often bring a small midnight snack as an offering.
Depictions of Vulyeva's companions (her raven and spider) are familiar sights in the temple, as well as a tattoo or a piece of jewelry worn by her followers and champion. People often swear oaths or engage in verbal disputes in front of these images, believing she won't let a falsehood told in front of her go unpunished. Whether she actually intervenes is unclear, but conflicts that play out this way are often resolved peacefully, without a need for the justice system to get involved.

Vulyeva's Champions

Alignment: Usually chaotic, often neutral
Province: Ravens, Secrets, Shadows, Spiders
Suggested Classes: Bard, Rogue, Warlock
Suggested Domains: Secrets, Trickery
Suggested Backgrounds: Assassin, Criminal, Hermit, Spy
Most champions of Vulyeva believe secrets represent the pinnacle of life, duty, and mysteries and do what they can to eavesdrop on those around them for any form of secrets, help keep society running. Some of the Fate of Shadow's followers work as spies, thieves, or writers, all striving to serve the greater good.

Vulyeva's Favor

Vulyeva seeks cunning and self-sufficient champions, much as she was when discovering the twisted truths of Purgatory. She has great respect for a sound plan that is craftily executed and might offer all manner of clever assistance to mortals she deems worthy.
What did you do to garner her attention? What set you apart in her eyes from petty schemers, grifters, and criminals? What made you think you would be a good champion? The Vulyeva's Favor table offers a handful of suggestions.
Vulyeva's Favor

1d6	Circumstance
1	You were born at midnight under the new moon.
2	One of your ancestors is a champion of Vulyeva.
3	You pulled off a daring theft or escaped from confinement at a young age.
4	You have proven yourself a capable liar and teller of tall tales.
5	You dedicated your life to upsetting the balance of power in a corrupt land.
6	You have no idea why Vulyeva showed interest in you, and you might sometimes wish she hadn't.

Devotion to Vulyeva

Following Vulyeva means devoting yourself to a life of trickery and guile. To a champion of Vulyeva, a life without risk is no life at all. Some rules are meant to be broken, some secrets are meant to be shared, and order must be upended from time to time. As a follower of Vulyeva, consider the ideals on the Vulyeva's Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.
Vulyeva's Ideals

1d6	Circumstance
1	Devotion. Your devotion to your Fate is more important to you than what she stands for. (Any)
2	Pargmatism. The ends justify the means; you do whatever it takes to win. (Evil)
3	Duplicity. You lie when it suits you, which makes things so much easier. (Chaotic)
4	Secrecy. All deception requires secrecy, but all secrets are meant to deceive. (Any)
5	Luck. Want more luck? Take more chances! (Chaotic)
6	Adaptability. Plans change, circumstances go awry. You must bend in response to changes, not break. (Any)

Earning and Losing Piety

You increase your piety score to Vulyeva when you expand the Fate's influence in the world concretely through acts such as these:

• Defending your home from a major threat
• Defeating a tyrant who threatens your home's freedom
• Obstruct champions of other Fates
• Building or restoring a temple to Vulyeva

Your piety score to Vulyeva decreases if you diminish Vulyeva's influence in the world, contradict her ideals, or make her look ridiculous or ineffectual through acts such as these:

• Betraying one's trust to commit acts of corruption or tyranny
• Sowing chaos in your home
• Willfully breaking just laws for personal gain

Vulyeva's Piety Traits

Vulyeva's Piety Traits

Vulyeva's Devotee

(Piety 3+ Vulyeva Trait)

As a devotee of Vulyeva, you have proven yourself accomplished at deception. You can call on Vulyeva's blessing and cast disguise self with this trait. While the spell is active, your shadow still resembles your original form. You can cast the spell in this way a number of time equal to your Charmisa modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Charmisa is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Vulyeva's Votary

(Piety 10+ Vulyeva Trait)

You gain advantage on Charmisa (Persuasion) checks while you are in a city.
In addition, when you fail an Intelligence check or Intelligence saving throw, you can reroll the die, and you must use the new roll. Once you use this reroll, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

Vulyeva's Disciple

(Piety 25+ Vulyeva Trait)

When you are hidden from a creature and miss it with an attack, making the attack doesn't reveal your position.

Champion of the Shadows

(Piety 50+ Vulyeva Trait)

You can increase your Dexterity or Charmisa score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.

History

In the beginning, around 15 billion years ago, there was only the void, an endless sea of darkness. Then, ten ancient yet powerful beings awoke with a flash of light through the darkness, shaking off their slumber to see the void spread out before them. These ten beings were known as the Fates, who are the original celestials in the universe. They are the reason any life was created in the first place. With each of their names tying in with their abilities, the Fates sought to bring meaning to the endless void and used their power to form two sources of energy from their souls, Noella, the Sun and Bavara, the Moon.
As it is impossible for light to exist without darkness, another consciousness immediately slipped out of the Fates, calling herself Vavheia, who ruled over the darkest and coldest corners of the known universe. All these beings used the chaos to fuel their powers and brought into being the ethereal planes of light and dark. Bavara saw Vavheia as a polluter of the chaos and battled with her. At this point, the concepts of time and space did not exist, so in the end, the conflict was meaningless. Eventually, Bavara began to whisper in the ears of the Fates and Noella, convincing them to believe that Vavheia was forsaken, twisted from her true purpose of keeping the dark void in check.
Vulyeva, being one of the ten Fates, made a vow to use her ability to see through the shadows and discover the secrets everyone carried. If she deemed them too dangerous to live, Vulyeva would send her minions of spiders or ravens to slaughter them in their sleep. Over time, she came to the realization she needed champions of her own to help complete her tasks as people grew wary of spiders and ravens and started depicting them to be harbingers of death.