Rashida, The Raven Queen

"On wings of night she comes, dark and serene. She brings the long rest for those who have lived their lives. She is the Keeper of Souls, the Judge of Fate, and the Eternal Sentinel of the Underworld. She is Rashida, The Raven Queen."

— from The Book of the Dead

  Rashida, The Raven Queen, is the goddess of death, fate, and the natural order of life and death. As the Keeper of Souls, she ensures that the spirits of the deceased are guided from the mortal world to the Underworld, where they rest, heal, and eventually return to life. Her domain, the Halls of the Dead, preserves the eternal cycle, with souls enriching the Dream through rebirth. Rashida is responsible for maintaining the balance between life and death, ensuring that no soul lingers too long, and that the natural flow of existence continues without disruption.   Rashida is depicted as a tall, imposing figure with dark, radiant skin and piercing midnight eyes. Her raven-black wings stretch wide, symbolizing her dominion over the dead and the afterlife. Her flowing hair glimmers like a river of stars, crowned by faintly glowing constellations. Though serene and beautiful, her features are cold and impartial, embodying her role as the judge of souls and protector of the balance between life and death.  

The Divine War and the Rift with Ang

Before the Divine War, Rashida shared a deep connection with Ang, the Oak Father, embodying the harmony between life and death. Together, they ensured the balance of nature and the flow of souls. However, this connection was shattered by Dashiva’s deception. Disguised as Rashida, Dashiva seduced Ang, leading to the birth of Saitas, the Tyrant, a being of dominance and control. This betrayal broke Rashida’s heart and her bond with Ang. Although they continue to perform their divine duties, the emotional distance between them is vast, and Rashida has since withdrawn into her role as the Judge of Souls. This event marked her transformation into the distant, cold figure that mortals now revere—dedicated solely to the natural order, detached from the emotional entanglements of the living gods.  

The Cycle of Rebirth

At the heart of Rashida’s domain lie the Halls of the Dead, where the souls of the departed find rest after their journey from the mortal world. Here, Rashida guides these souls through a process of healing, washing away the burdens and sins of their past lives. Each soul’s memories are recorded in the vast archives of the Halls before they fade entirely, allowing the soul to find peace and prepare for rebirth. Once a soul has healed, it is returned to the world to begin a new life, enriching the Dream with its experiences. This cycle of death, rest, and rebirth is the cornerstone of Rashida’s role as Keeper of Souls, ensuring that no soul lingers and that the natural flow of life and death is maintained.  

The Ravens of Rashida

Rashida’s followers are known as The Ravens. They serve as caretakers of death’s rituals, offering counsel to the grieving, performing sacred burial rites, and tending to the temple grounds. Though they do not consider themselves a formal priesthood, The Ravens see their duty as ensuring that the cycle of life and death remains unbroken. Temples dedicated to Rashida are quiet, solemn places, often built near graveyards or places of death. Her priests, though feared by some, provide comfort to those facing loss and help guide souls to their final rest. The Ravens' work is both spiritual and practical, ensuring that the dead are honored and that death is treated with respect.  

The Shroud of Fate.

Rashida’s Divine Taint, known as The Shroud of Fate, manifests as her clerics draw deeply on her power through the Dream. Their skin darkens to match her radiant midnight hue, their eyes deepen into pools of shadow, and raven feathers sprout along their arms. Their hair takes on a star-lit shimmer, reflecting Rashida’s cosmic beauty.   As their bond with the Raven Queen deepens, the transformations grow more pronounced—some clerics develop wings of black feathers or a distant, echoing voice. While the Shroud of Fate grants profound insight into death, it also pulls them away from the world of the living, making them instruments of fate’s inevitable pull.  

Rites of Passing and Remembrance

Rashida’s followers observe several solemn festivals throughout the year, reflecting the transitions between life and death. The most important is All Spirits Eve, celebrated during The Reaping. On this night, it is believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thinnest, allowing lost souls to cross over. The Ravens guide these souls to their rest, and families honor their ancestors with offerings and lanterns.   Another significant festival is Winter’s Night, held during Deep Winter. This is a time of reflection and remembrance, where followers pray for the peace of the dead and the renewal of life as the new year approaches. The stillness of the season offers a quiet moment to contemplate the cycle of life and death.   The most personal rite is The Last Breath, performed by Rashida’s clerics for individuals nearing death. This rite ensures that the soul is prepared for its journey to the Underworld, offering peace and comfort in their final moments.  

Ravens of the Long Path

The adventuring clerics of Rashida, known as the Ravens of the Long Path, are those who travel beyond the quiet temples and cemeteries to ensure the balance of life and death is preserved in the world. They walk the Long Path, a spiritual journey that mirrors their physical travels as they confront threats to the natural cycle. These clerics are tasked with guiding souls to their final rest, combating necromancers, and ensuring the dead remain undisturbed.   Their lives are marked by constant motion, moving from one place to another, wherever the balance is threatened. While many of Rashida’s followers remain within temples to tend to the dead, the Ravens of the Long Path live with one foot in the mortal world and the other in the realm of death. They view death as a transition, not an end, and work tirelessly to ensure that others see it the same way. Their presence signals the end of one journey and the beginning of another, both for the living and the dead.  

Ethos of Rashida

Rashida’s teachings emphasize the sanctity of death and the natural cycle that binds life and fate. Her followers must honor this balance and protect it from disruption.  

• Preserve the cycle of life and death. Life and death are intertwined, and both must be respected.
• Oppose undeath and those who defy fate. The undead are a blasphemy, and those who seek to avoid death must be confronted.
• Guide the dying with compassion. Comfort the dying, ensuring their passage is peaceful and their legacy honored.

  Rashida is neutral, as she views life and death with complete impartiality, ensuring that the balance between the two remains undisturbed.  

Domains and Worship

Clerics of Rashida draw power from the Twilight, Order, and Knowledge domains. Her temples are places of quiet reflection and reverence, where worshipers pray for the souls of the dead and for guidance in maintaining the natural order. Offerings of raven feathers, candles, and solemn prayers are common in her rituals, symbolizing the transition between life and death.  

Tales for Storytellers

The following adventures provide opportunities for players to explore the balance between life, death, and fate in Rashida’s world.  

• The Lost Souls of Deepwinter (Low Level): A village is haunted by the spirits of their ancestors, who have not returned to the Dream. The adventurers must cleanse a desecrated temple and guide the souls back to their rest.
• The Silent War’s Echo (Mid Level): A mysterious illness is stealing the souls of the elderly before they can pass into the Dream. The adventurers must uncover the necromancer responsible and stop them before the town is lost.
• A Soul Stolen (High Level): A powerful noble’s soul has been stolen before it could pass into the Dream, leaving the body in a state of living death. The Ravens suspect a necromancer or a dark spirit is responsible.