The Matron of Ravens
The Matron of Ravens (a.k.a. The Raven Queen)
Master over the skein of fate and the mistress of winter,
the Matron of Ravens stands as the god of death. Her
gaze follows and marks the end of each mortal life,
watching over the transition between life and death
and ensuring the natural transition is undefiled. Many
funerals call to her blessing in hopes that she will protect
the deceased from the terrible curse of undeath.
Those who keep ancient lore believe the Matron of
Ravens was once mortal herself, and is the only known
mortal to have ascended. Her rise instantly obliterated
the previous, now-forgotten god of death, and the other
gods quickly and fearfully destroyed the secrets to the
rites of ascension.
Few existing visual depictions of the Matron of Ravens
herself exist, with many temples merely using the raven as
a symbol of her blessing. Those that do depict her, however,
reveal a tall, pale woman wrapped in dangling black
linens, her onyx-black hair straight and never ending, her
face obscured by a white, porcelain mask.
The Matron of Raven’s holy day is the Night of Ascension,
celebrating her apotheosis. The actual date of the goddess’s
rise to divinity is unclear, but the Night of Ascension is
nonetheless celebrated on the thirteenth day of the tenth
month. Many people of Emon see this cheery celebration of
the dead to be unnerving and macabre, but the Raven’s followers
believe the honored dead would rather be venerated
with cheer, not misery.
The Matron of Ravens is also considered by some the
winter patron to the holiday of Winter’s Crest: the celebration
in Tal’Dorei of freedom from Errevon the Rimelord,
celebrated on the 20th day of the eleventh month. Most,
however, see this holiday belonging to the people of the
land, and recognize no pertaining divine worship.
Divine Domains
Life, Death, Blood
Tenets of Faith
- Death is the natural end of life. There is no pity for those who have fallen.
- The path of Fate is sacrosanct. Those who pridefully attempt to cast off their destiny must be punished.
- Undeath is an atrocity. Those who would pervert the transition of the soul must be brought down.
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