Raven Priests
The Raven Priests obey the will of the Raven Queen.
Structure
There are three branches of Raven Priests.
The first, the Undertakers prepare graveyards and bodies. They host wakes and symbolically send the souls of the departed to the Raven queen through rituals and communion. Of all of the Raven Queen's loyal, the Undertakers are the most respected. They treat death with dignity, but never with shame. One of their tenets warns them never to hide a death from public knowledge. Apprentices to an Undertaker are tasked with digging graves, but progress to embalming and perfuming. An Undertaker's magic involves sanctifying places of death and creating a holy aura. They also interpret the omens ravens may leave them.
The second, the Plague Doctors, fight malady in the name of the Raven Queen. Though illness is a natural part of life, the Plague Doctors keep its death toll to a minimum. They also prepare communities with proper sick wards in the event of plague and keep the illness contained. Because of their seemingly heartless quarantines and their frightening appearance, they have earned a poor reputation among the uninitiated. These cloaked figures are the most visually iconic of her followers, decked in long, waxy coats, their faces hidden behind uncanny raven masks. They specialize in healing and curative magic.
The last, the Reapers, those who follow the Raven Queen from life into death. These individuals hunt down those who seek to cheat death and brings their soul back to its final resting place. Their most powerful magic is Turn Undead and similar anti-necromancy spells. These few chosen are elite warriors or spellcasters, trained in thwarting all origins of necromancy. They are often accompanied by an unkindness of ravens waiting to snatch up the souls they recover.
Public Agenda
Raven Priests are sworn to preserve death, fight malady, and guard Astoria against necromancy. They have control of graveyards and funeral homes in most major cities and institute death practices that correspond with their beliefs.
Undertakers make sure that death is handled with both proper respect and sanitation. Additionally, some host festivals remembering the departed dead and honoring martyrs. Plague Doctors, who are typically less institutionalized, offer their services to settlements plagued by malady. They may also enact structural measures to prevent further spread of disease—such as purifying sources of water, teaching local medicine people sanitation techniques, etc.
Assets
The Raven Queen rarely has dedicated churches but is worshipped in places of death—graveyards, funeral homes, and charnel houses. Many infrastructural and upkeeps costs are provided by local government. They also receive donations from relatives of the departed. Some accept payment for burial services, though not all require such a fee. Plague Doctor's contract their services, forming an agreement between a town's administrators and a doctor to treat plague patients, rich or poor, in times of epidemics
The Raven Priests construct shrines throughout settlements where offerings can be left for the Raven Queen; these gifts are accepted by Her ravens and not dared touched by even her priests. The shrines are usually constructed of a dark material—from humble totems carved of ebony wood to elaborate sculpture carved from obsidian. Icons of ravens like these often possess an aura of divine magic.
History
During the Long and Final Post-Mortem, Astoria was plagued by mass graves opening and their bodies crawling free. This was the beginning of a stark cultural perspective regarding death and the undead. The old ways were outdated and dangerous. A sect of former death clerics renounced their old faith and reformed their religious practices.
The Raven Queen, once a feared symbol of death, became a subject of worship. She forced the people of Astoria to acknowledge death. Where once the dead were hidden and not talked about, now funerals were held publically in the Raven Queen's name. The cultural taboo of death was not as strong as the shared cultural memory of necromancy.
Prophets of the Raven Queen communed with her ravens who relayed her wishes. Now sated by worship, the Raven Queen showed her favor to Astoria. She commanded that no dead shall rise under the watchful eye of herself and those sworn to her. Furthermore, she forbade the practice of necromancy.
Life in Death / Life is Death
by grimzzi
Founding Date
1,000 KA
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
Paladins of the Raven, Blackcoats (Mirandus)
Demonym
Raven Priest
Deities
Location
Comments