Difference between revisions of "The Raven"

Revision as of 08:51, 3 July 2022

Introduction

"Balefire burning low

I live in the dusk for now

Until called again"

A duty to keep going, which is both reluctant and fanatical at the same time - depending on the moment, even though he is done with this world and is aware no one will thank him for protecting it but also aware history and his masters will let his soul burn for not is The Raven.

Description

Like many Fae The Raven can take different forms but unlike many Fae The Raven has spent so much time on Earth Realm that he prefers to confirm to his Earthly appearance even in The Otherplace. He appears as a tall, reasonably built Human male who for the most part wears his hair long. He tends to hide his eyes wherever possible for reasons unknown. The Raven is many things, above all, and before all, he is a protector having cut his teeth in Fae life and pageant as an Edge Walker whose role was simply to defend the edges from bad things, and "very bad things" (as he would say in reference to The Nothing). It was during the War of the Dreaming and after the death of his commander, the Lord of Dwarves, that The Raven finally ascended through the Fae ranks first becoming a Captain, and then a General for The Treaty, and then after the war being elevated by the God-Emperor himself to Kingship - mastery of his own Kingdom was never aspirational for The Raven and is clear that some reluctance existed to this new role; the Raven is never referred to as "His Highness" (as is his technical right) preferring simply "Lord", "General", or "Your Grace" if a strict formality must be adhered to ("Your Grace" being a term usually associated with Dukes, not Kings).

The Raven never formed a house even when in control of The Endless City (by merit of being the commander of the Emperor's chosen garrison before the arrival of The Queen of Rats), instead, his controlling faction is a Hoat; A Warband, an army of misfits and collected heroes loyal to the God-Emperor which specializes in the exploration of the deep Umbra and, at times, rebel hunting. The Host was a highly decorated operational force during the War of The Dreaming and is feared and respected from Wonderland to The Endless City. The Raven personally leads the 51st Rangers, a sub-division of The Host. The insignia of the 51st is a simple Square on black. The insignia of the Host is the Raven's characteristic logo of squares.

It is extremely important to note that for the majority of their existence before and during The War in the Dreaming that The Fox and The Raven operated as a single entity spanning Earth Realm (The Raven) and The Otherplace (The Fox and the Raven both made appearances in this realm but almost always together) - they were "joined Fae", a type of symbiatic relationship (interpreted by Human folklore as "a changeling") difficult to describe to non-Fae the relationship is one where two entities are so close within the Fae hive mind that they are for all intents and purposes a single individual. It is very rare that "joined Fae" are separated (as this is almost always fatal to one or both of the involved Fae and considered a cruel and unusual fate) but this is exactly what happened to The Raven and The Fox. The seperation was political, although perhaps arguably a form of punishment (or self-preservation on the part of other noble Fae; the act of God nature for The Fox/Raven union was one worthy of historical note and their power growing when the action was demanded) - the end goal of the separation was explained as a means to allow The Fox to marry and cement a lasting structure within the Shadow Order and The Treaty, without which it is hinted The Emperor could not have enacted the barrier and defeated The Nothing. In this way The Raven was pivital by proxy to the events of the War in The Dreaming, not by his actions (which were notable) but by his complete sacrifice to the cause. It is because of this that The Fox will always run from The Raven, and The Raven will always chase her - it has become a playful dynamic underpinned by absolute tragedy. What would happen if he were to "catch" her is unknown - but it would almost certainly jeopardise whatever deal was struck with her marriage. The Fox will chase the Moon, which she will never reach, The Raven will chase The Fox, who he can never be allowed to catch. No matter what tasks they are otherwise performing the universe seems to ensure that this dynamic always plays a part in their fate and their have been multiple near miss situations since The War in the Dreaming ended. The situation makes many Fae uncomfortable and it is thought that The Raven was asked to bend the knee to the Queen of Rats so she could directly monitor, and prevent the "worst" from ever happening although this has never been officially confirmed.

The mark of speration is something that all Fae notice on both The Fox and The Raven and something which command respect and a strong empathy with other Fae who find it difficult to grasp the pain such a speration would cause both parties. It is clear that most Fae are hugely surprised that The Raven is still alive because of this and the event certainly brought the Trickster in him to the fore which has previously been tapered by The Fox.

The individual that remains is a curious mix of King, Warrior and Trickster - officially one of the first to swear allegiance to the God Emperor and join the Treaty the truth is actually more profound that even that, The Raven was one of the first of the stronger Fae to stop running from The Nothing and turn and fight even when he thought he would lose. It was for this he was rewarded with his Kingship.

In that role he is offered refere to as The Shadow King, a reference to may things including his slight alligence to The Shadow Court before The War in The Dreaming, but also a reference to the covert nature of many of the missions he is tasked with by The Emperor and also finally to the fact his Kingdom he run largely by his Host and he takes a back seat in most of the day to day decisions.