The Raven Queen

Princess Kyra leaves Uttara after being denied the throne as firstborn. Takes all the ravens with her, which are black at the time. When blight, famine, and pestilence set upon the land she returns with her daughter, Maeve and the ravens, which are now white. To this day, no one has seen a black raven, they are a myth.

Fable

The ravens in all the lands are white. There is not a person alive who has ever seen a black raven. Legend tells of a time when all ravens were black. It was said that Kyra, firstborn and daughter of King Bradach II was passed over for the throne, which was given to her brother King Bradach III. King Uttara himself, hundreds of years before, had set the edict that the throne is passed to the first-born child, boy or girl. Kyra became so angry when her father announced Bradach III as his heir, she threatened to leave the castle and take the ravens from the whole land with her, so the insects would take over and there would be no food. This was about 800 years ago. Kyra had a way with the ravens, and they did her bidding, almost like dogs. When the king died, and her mother did not stand up for Kyra's right to rule, her brother became king and she left Rivergarden and the Kingdom of Uttara and took the ravens with her into the Dakkur Bodden mountains. 15 years of blight, insects, famine, and the new queen's inability to conceive a child threatened to put an end to King Bradach III's rule, so he was counseled to beg Kyra to return with the ravens. He sent 500 men into the mountains to look for her, but the only one to return was Kyra with her 13-year-old daughter Maeve and a flock of white ravens. It was said that Maeve was conceived by The Raven King and had white hair and black eyes. Kyra was revered as the Raven Queen and the price of her return was that her daughter would inherit the throne. She became Queen Maeve I and designed the improvements and expansions to the gardens that kept the kingdom alive, even to this day. The gardens and canals were as Queen Maeve I designed them. And the ravens have been white ever since. It is said there were once temples to the Raven Queen, but those sights are now ruins with no real hint that they ever belonged to the Raven Queen. It remains a revered legend throughout the three kingdoms.

Can be found written in the Old Tongue

story

warning

Fable

800 years before present

The necessity of animals in nature. Moral values.

Most of it is true.

Kyra did not leave willingly. King Bradach III kicked her out and she said if she left, she'd take the birds with her.

People know that the ravens are the main bird that keeps Rose Lice at bay. They eat the bugs and keep this deadly disease away. Without the birds, crops and people die.

Keep your word, don't be mean, don't mess with nature.

Several People have tried to pretend they are the returned Raven Queen, but could not prove it. Caitriona will also pretend.

Ravens are revered as messengers of the gods.

A lot of people put out birdbaths and feeders hoping to attract the ravens. Rivergarden Castle keeps ravens in the royal garden.

Some people would like to see the lands reunited under the Raven Queen. Some people tell it as a warning about not keeping your word, or what happens when you mess with the natural order of things.

Everyone knows the tale

No one has ever seen a black raven, so why would it be true?

Calling someone a "Black Raven" is like calling them a unicorn.

Oral traditions pass it down. It is written as lore in some books.

The first lore book containing the story was written by a scribe of King Tombus, grandson of Queen Caitriona I.

I have an affinity for ravens. I thought wouldn't it be cool if raven were white and not black. Black was a myth until one day one appeared. Then it should be the main character who has something to do with their changing color. And there has to be a history of some kind.

The people in this lore are actual Kings and Queens recorded in history.

Oral traditions and books.