Again if the Divinity Is Anything
 | This article is a stub. Please assistance the Critical Role wiki past expanding it, calculation pictures, or improving existing text. Sections needing work: Personality |
The Raven Queen, as well usually known as the Matron of Ravens or the Matron of Decease, is the goddess of death, fate, and wintertime; she'due south also considered the goddess of twilight, inevitability and the passage of time, presiding over the transition between life and death.[half dozen] Originally a mortal woman in the Historic period of Arcanum, she ascended to godhood and destroyed the previous god of death. Later her ascension, her truthful name has long been lost. Her devotees seek her favor to guide them in death and forbid the curse of undeath from falling on them.
Because of her hatred of undeath, she and the Demon Prince of Undeath, Orcus, are fierce enemies. The Duskmeadow District of Vasselheim is devoted to worshiping her and is also where her temple, Raven's Crest, is located.[seven]
As an NPC, the Raven Queen is played by Matthew Mercer.
Contents
- i Clarification
- 1.1 Advent
- one.2 Personality
- 2 Biography
- ii.ane Background
- two.2 "The Sunken Tomb" (1x44)
- ii.iii "Those Who Walk Abroad" (1x45)
- 2.4 "The Family Business concern" (1x47)
- two.five "All-time Laid Plans..." (1x50)
- 2.six "Duskmeadow" (1x57)
- 2.7 "Trust" (1x70)
- 2.eight "Curious Tides" (1x89)
- 2.9 "Voice of the Storm" (1x90)
- 2.10 "Thar Amphala" (1x101)
- 2.11 "The Fate-Touched" (1x103)
- 2.12 "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106)
- ii.thirteen "The Chapter Closes" (1x115)
- 3 Relationships
- three.one Vax'ildan
- four Commandments of the Matron of Ravens
- 5 Known worshippers
- 6 Appearances and mentions
- six.1 Appearances
- 6.ii Mentions
- vii Quotations
- 8 Trivia
- 9 Art gallery
- 10 References
Description
Appearance
The Raven Queen is described every bit a tall and slender woman, with flowing blackness hair and pale, porcelain pare. She almost always wears a blank, porcelain mask. On the rare occasions she removes information technology, she is described as a beautiful woman with red irises.[8]
Her general iconography in Issylra, Tal'Dorei and Wildemount represents the way in which the goddess appears to mortals, nigh always adding elements of black feathers such as a cape or wings. Withal, certain sects in Marquet (in which she is worshiped as Duskmaven) draw her as a bang-up-eyed vulture with feather 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 aureate funerary mask.[nine]
Personality
Every bit a mortal, the Raven Queen adult the Ritual of Seeding and wrested a position in the pantheon from the previous god of decease.[ten]
Not long before Vox Machina'due south terminal confrontation with Vecna, Vax'ildan visited the Raven Queen to ask for a bead of divinity, used in the creation of weapons that could blackball the ascended Vecna.[11] The Raven Queen noted that giving of her essence in this way would expose her already-precarious position in the pantheon to even greater risk:
"
The Raven Queen: Am I to believe that this is not some ploy to diminish my power and leave me vulnerable to bandage me from my seat?
Vax'ildan: I thought yous knew me inside and out.
The Raven Queen: I know you, merely do you know them? Do yous think I've been welcome since I entered this pantheon? My beingness is a perpetual threat to the creators. If anything, role of this brunt that we all face lies on my shoulders as well. Why should they not recollect to strike at ii birds with one stone?
"
–
Vax'ildan seeks a bead of divinity from the Raven Queen [12]
For the Prime Deities, she portends the possibility of another Calamity, which Vecna's embodiment realizes to an extent.[13] Despite her reservations, in Exandria'south hour of need, her faithful servant Vax'ildan persuaded her to overcome her anxiety and sacrifice a measure of her ability to contribute the bead of divinity.[14]
Biography
Groundwork
Official fine art of the Raven Queen's ascension to godhood, by Jessica Nguyen from "Exandria: An Intimate History" (Sx61) at 3:24.[fine art 3]
The Raven Queen was originally a mortal mage who lived during the Age of Arcanum, theorized to take been Ruidusborn.[15] She was a follower and partner of the previous god of decease,[16] but she developed rites that allowed her to destroy him and take his place, becoming the starting time mortal to achieve godhood.[17] Her rise to godhood is variously described as either involving her challenging her predecessor and overtaking him[17] or as having instantly destroyed him upon her ascension.[18]
In fear, the remainder of the pantheon swiftly destroyed and prohibited these rites.[18] Her proper noun was subsequently either lost to or removed from historical record.[17] Withal, another powerful mage of the Historic period of Arcanum, Vecna, reconstructed the Ritual of Seeding and attempted it, simply the ritual was interrupted and he was all just destroyed.[19] [twenty] The Raven Queen's ascension also inspired Vespin Chloras to release the imprisoned Betrayer Gods back into the Material Plane, leading to the Calamity.[17] Several centuries later, in 812 PD, Vecna returned and successfully completed the ritual.
"The Sunken Tomb" (1x44)
The Raven Queen first appeared as a spectre during the revivification spell of Vex'ahlia, summoned by the opening of her tardily champion's casket. At first, the party mistook her for Vesh (due to Kashaw'southward part in the ritual), just she was revealed during Vax'ildan'southward contribution to be, in fact, the Raven Queen. Vax offered his life to her in place of his sister's. The Raven Queen reached her hand out to Vax and nodded, agreeing to the offering. At that point, Vax unwittingly became her new champion.
"Those Who Walk Away" (1x45)
While Vax'ildan and Keyleth discussed the Raven Queen, a raven appeared at Keyleth's window, cawed at the two, then disappeared. Information technology was insinuated to be sent by the Goddess.
"The Family Concern" (1x47)
In his sleep, Vax'ildan had a cursory vision of the Raven Queen and the tapestry of threads she oversees. She identified him equally "fate-touched," and told him he could exist anything.
"Best Laid Plans..." (1x50)
The Raven Queen was summoned during Grog's revivification past Vax'ildan. Every bit a second form of aid, Vax pledged to serve the Raven Queen unconditionally and with conviction. The Raven Queen sent Vax a vision, seemingly agreeing to the offer.
Afterward these events, Vax found a raven's feather laying on his pillow which he symbolically put in his hair, similar to the blue feathers worn by his sis.
"Duskmeadow" (1x57)
Fan art of the Raven Queen and Vax'ildan, past Mikael.[fine art 4]
Vax visited the Raven's Crest temple in Vasselheim and communed with The Raven Queen in a pool of ice-cold blood. He saw a spark of white and it widened to be the mask of the Raven Queen as she approached him. He realized he was being held by her in the endless airplane.
Vax asked if this was always supposed to happen, only the Raven Queen said that he guided his own path. She called him "fate-touched" and said that he was interesting to her because of how he bent his own destiny. She said that he was interesting to many and she was the one who seized the opportunity. The Raven Queen knew of his hatred and fright of her, but she dismissed it as nearly hate her due to lack of understanding. Vax agreed to learn to sympathize and serve. She explained that her gift is to safeguard the passage between life and death - a accuse that Vax' now shared. She warned him to be careful with his own bending of destiny and rebuked those who would try to alive indefinitely like undead and wayward necromancy. But she understood that an individual may not e'er be meant to die in one moment and that their destiny went beyond i death.
Vax accustomed that this was his cause. She told him his dual nature was what interested her; half recklessness and half instinct. She believed that he had been preparing for this his entire life, unconsciously. She set him down and they were suddenly in the room where Vax left. For a moment Vax saw her equally the adult female she was before she was a god and she removed her mask. She kissed him on the forehead in departing.
Later that aforementioned solar day, Percy also went to the Raven Queen'southward temple and communed with her. He entered the void and saw the white porcelain face of the Raven Queen. Percy asked if they could stop it. She told him to inquire the right questions. He asked if he was chosen because he was broken or if it broke him, (probable referring to Orthax). She told him that he was always cleaved and was preyed upon. She said that his deeds would determine whether he could be fixed. He asked for help in getting rid of it and she said she had already helped. The Raven Queen told him that he had to watch himself or he may devious from their side. He asked if he could expect for healing. She told him that life is cleaved from the start and at that place is no perfection, that finding ways to better yourself earlier the end is what gives life purpose. She assured him that mortals could achieve great things, but like she did.
"Trust" (1x70)
Vax went to the Raven Queen's temple and communed with her once more, request for advice. She told him that the path they walked to the Sphinx gave them what they needed, and told him to stay alive.
"Curious Tides" (1x89)
Start, the Raven Queen directly appeared to Vax'ildan, now expressionless, in a space similar to the first time he communed with her. She and so asked him what his destined thread is.
Subsequently, as a office of Vax's resurrection ritual, Vex'ahlia fabricated a bargain with the Raven Queen to hunt down Orcus in render for her brother. Apparently seeing this to be favorable, the Raven Queen manifested in some physical way,[21] allowing Vax to exist brought back to life and calling Voice Machina "to meet [her] behind the Divine Gate".[22] Seeming to have disappeared to the residual of Vox Machina, the Raven Queen was notwithstanding seen past Vax as she gave him an ominous message about futurity activities of his employment[23] before actually leaving.
"Voice of the Tempest" (1x90)
Vax'ildan was visited in his sleep by a vision of the Raven Queen. She told him that she sensed some villainy on the horizon, although she could not meet the crusade of it. What she could meet was greatness in Vax'due south future, and that the fates of his friends were peradventure tied to his own. She asked him if he could shoulder that burden, and told him to be patient. She encouraged him to relish the time he had, as soon she would call upon his purpose.
"Thar Amphala" (1x101)
Vax communed with the Raven Queen, sensing that his bargain with her was coming to a head. She told him to follow his instincts, and mused that their paths may see before long enough.
"The Fate-Touched" (1x103)
Vax'southward soul was in limbo after he was killed past Vecna. The Raven Queen appeared to him and asked what he had seen, revealing that Vecna had "blocked her sight". He told her about the fight, and the Raven Queen offered him the eternal rest that she said he had earned. Vax protested, saying he still wanted to assistance his friends. She made him an offer: he could return to life equally her champion, for the sole purpose of hunting downward Vecna, and so long as he returned to her forever when he had finished that task. Vax accustomed, and he was raised from the dead as a revenant.
"The Endless Atheneum" (1x106)
Vax'ildan communed with the Raven Queen in the Raven's Crest temple in Vasselheim, informing her of Vecna's ascension. Vax compared the two gods, but the Raven Queen insisted there was a deviation: he ascended for selfish reasons, she was just doing as fate willed. Vax asked if he was her enemy, and she confirmed he was the enemy of all. Vax asked her for a third bead of divinity to use in crafting the trammels they would use to banish Vecna. She hesitated, fearing the other gods of the pantheon would take reward of her weakened land, and that this was some ploy devised past them to do then. Vax asked her how much she wanted Vecna destroyed, and the Raven Queen relented, putting her religion in Vax and request for his faith in return. When Vax emerged from the vision, he found a small black opal in his hand.
"The Affiliate Closes" (1x115)
Vox Machina returned to the Platinum Sanctuary in Vasselheim later defeating Vecna and sealing him abroad beyond the Divine Gate. Equally Keyleth finished addressing the crowd, the Raven Queen appeared backside Vax'ildan and put her hands on his shoulders. Percy tried to get in betwixt the two of them, but she froze him in identify.
"
Y'all have washed well, my champion. The skein of destiny has tugged in your wake, and even this victory culminates with the crossing of a few fate-touched souls. Past your hand, your bravery, your sacrifice, you ensure a future for all you love and all who will come to beloved you and what you've washed. You may never know the import of your fourth dimension here, but have solace in the cognition that you will see the ripples of your actions carry hope for generations to come.
"
–
The Raven Queen comes to merits Vax'ildan'south soul[24]
Keyleth, Scanlan, and Vex asked the Raven Queen for more fourth dimension. The Raven Queen gently sympathized with their grief simply insists that a deal was a deal. Vax said adieu to each member of Vox Machina, promising that he would see them once more. Vax used Druidcraft to create snowdrops out from him to Vocalization Machina and walked to the Raven Queen. Vax saw a bright lite from within the Raven Queen's cloak. In the calorie-free was his mother, telling her son she is proud of him. As Vax walked towards the Raven Queen, her cloak faded, the snowdrops continued until they turned into feathers and both were gone.[25]
Relationships
Fan art of Vax'ildan and the Raven Queen, past NLN4.[fine art 5]
Vax'ildan
Vax'ildan offered his life to the Raven Queen in identify of his sis, Vex'ahlia, as office of a Revivify spell. The goddess appeared before him and seemed to agree to those terms.[26] Not long afterward, Vax became a paladin devoted to her cause.[27] After Vax was killed by Vecna, he made a deal with her to defeat him in return for continued life as a revenant.[28] In one case Vecna had been banished, the Raven Queen immediately came to collect Vax'ildan, who became her champion. A year later, she allowed him to return to the mortal realm to speak at Vex'ahlia's wedding, thank you to a Wish spell cast past Scanlan.
Commandments of the Matron of Ravens
"
Commandments of the Matron of Ravens
-
Death is the natural end of life. Grieve the fallen, but practise 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 penalisation for those who debauchee the rightful transition of the soul.
"
Known worshippers
- Clay family (originally)[29]
- Eadwulf[30]
- Lieve'tel
- Purvan Suul
- Ratanish
- Valiq[31]
- Vax'ildan
Appearances and mentions
Quotations
- "All life is inherently cleaved from the start, Percival. Take solace in that. There is no perfection in life. Otherwise, what would exist the purpose of expiry? It's to try to find means to better yourself before the terminate that gives us purpose. You lot are all broken, but likewise understand - mortals tin can accomplish neat things. I did."[34]
Trivia
- Liam and Matt discussed the relationship between the Raven Queen and her Champion, Vax'ildan, on Talks Machina on February 21st, 2017. Matt said that the Raven Queen and Vax'ildan did not take a typical cleric-deity relationship, but that she had told Vax the road she wanted him to have and is now merely letting him walk the path on his own. If he strays from that path, she will intervene.[35]
- The Raven Queen is typically categorized with the Prime Deities,[four] [36] a grouping usually divers by its actions during the Founding,[37] [38] even though she was not present during the Founding.
- The Raven Queen'due south holy day is the Night of Ascension, celebrated on the thirteenth of Cuersaar. Some in Tal'Dorei also associate her with Winter's Crest.[4]
- The Raven Queen's alternate title of the Matron of Ravens in the original Tal'Dorei Entrada Setting [four] is modified to the Matron of Death in the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount,[39] presumably to avoid redundancy.
Art gallery
References
Art:
| Deities | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPCs |
| ||||||||
| Places | Emon (Greyskull Keep • Thordak's Crater) • Whitestone • Vasselheim • Marrowglade Loch • Pyrah • Cavern of Axiom • Westruun • Feywild • Syngorn • Dreemoth Ravine • Ank'Harel • Glintshore • Fort Daxio • Elemental Plane of Burn (Metropolis of Brass) • Island of Viscan | ||||||||
| Creatures | purple worm • frost worm • lizardfolk • wyverns • kuo-toa • beholder • fire elementals • burn salamander • efreeti • basilisks • orcs • goliaths • lycanthropes • pixies • feymire crocodile • air elementals • erinyes • fire giants • ember roc • flameskulls • zombies | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPCs |
| ||||||||
| Places | Elysium • Endless Athenaeum • Feywild • Pools of Wittebak • Scaldseat • Smouldercrown Mountains • Thar Amphala • Vasselheim | ||||||||
| Creatures | Bone Dragon • Death Knight • Gloomstalker • nothic • zombies | ||||||||
Source: https://criticalrole.fandom.com/wiki/The_Raven_Queen
0 Response to "Again if the Divinity Is Anything"
Post a Comment