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Ravens are black-feathered scavenger birds. They are used as symbols of the Raven Queen.

Description

Ravens are small avian scavengers with a sharp beak and black-feathered wings that enable them flight. They are able to mimic various simple sounds.[1]

Abilities

Ravens are tiny-sized, unaligned beasts with an armor class of 12, an average of 1 hit point, a walking speed of 10 feet, and a flying speed of 50 feet. They have proficiency in Perception, a passive Perception of 13, and a challenge rating of 0.[1]

Ravens have an ability called Mimicry, allowing them to mimic simple sounds they have previously heard; others are able to determine the raven's sounds as mere imitations with an Insight check. Ravens can also deal piercing damage with their beaks.[1]

History

Tal'Dorei

Fan art of '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000015-QINU`"'Vax flying with a flock of ravens, by '"`UNIQ--nowiki-00000016-QINU`"'

Fan art of Vax flying with a flock of ravens, by Marcela Medeiros.[art 2]

Ravens are very common near a special tree planted by Keyleth in Zephrah. One of those ravens, particularly big, usually visits the Voice of the Tempest,[4] although the cast has speculated about whether it is a messenger from the Champion of the Matron of Death, or the celestial warrior himself in animal form.[5]

Wildemount

In an adventure set in 836 PD, a swarm of ravens flies out of the Brokenveil Marsh and away from Fort Venture.[2]

Issylra

During the apogee solstice of 843 PD, Prism Grimpoppy was transported to Issylra with her raven companion, Mother.

As a symbol

Fan art of '"`UNIQ--nowiki-0000001D-QINU`"' and a giant raven sent by her goddess, by '"`UNIQ--nowiki-0000001E-QINU`"'

Fan art of Lieve'tel Toluse and a giant raven sent by her goddess, by Nikki Dawes.[art 3]

Many temples in Tal'Dorei use the raven as a symbol of the blessing of the Raven Queen, the goddess of death. Few depict her as anything else, and she is alternatively called the "Matron of Ravens".[6] The raven is also the form taken by Vax'ildan, her champion.[7]

From as early as the Divergence, people saw ravens as agents of fate.[8]

Celestial giant ravens at the service of the Matron of Death can be summoned through spells such as Planar Ally,[9] even taking more supernatural traits, such as unusual coloration or multiple heads.[10]

Behind the scenes

The swarm of ravens stat block was suggested for the black gulls that occupied Olc Skerry.[11]

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 DDB Raven on D&D Beyond (backup link)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 253, Unwelcome Spirits.
  3. ↑ See "Fight for the Bloody Bridge" (3x114) from 1:01:39 through 1:03:52.
  4. ↑ See "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) at 4:18:05.
  5. ↑ See "4-Sided Dive: Kiss and Tell" (4SDx16) at 0:30:39.
  6. ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 17.
  7. ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, pp. 5–7.
  8. ↑ See "By Heart Alone" (E4x04) at 1:22:49.  Garen asks a random raven if it was responsible for Nia finding her parents.
  9. ↑ See "The Search For Grog" (Sx42) at 3:50:40.
  10. ↑ See "Assault on the Malleus Key" (3x113) at 3:34:01.
  11. ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 156, Ol' Bucket Helm.
  12. ↑ See "Breaking and Entering..." (3x20) at 0:05:01.

Art:

  1. ↑ Depiction of a raven atop a skull from D&D: Player's Handbook, page 118. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
  2. ↑ Fan art of Vax flying with a flock of ravens, by Marcela Medeiros (source). Used with permission.
  3. ↑ Fan art of Lieve'tel Toluse and a giant raven sent by her goddess, by Nikki Dawes (source). Used with permission.

External links