The Court of Ravens

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In life, we are scattered. In death, we are one*.*

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## *Overview*

The Court of Ravens is the primary power that worships the Raven Queen, located in the Paludal Weald. Out of all of the eight powers in Andake, the Court of Ravens is the smallest by population, but not by territory. There are only about a dozen different villages total in the Court of Ravens, with populations ranging from fifty to just over three-hundred people. Wetlands, stillwaters, forests, and streams flow freely throughout the Court, teeming with plant, insect, and -- most of all -- bird life.

### Blackspire

The Capital of the Court of Ravens is Blackspire, located on the western coast upon a windy bluff overlooking the frigid Sigyrny Sea. It is the smallest Capital in Andake by far, with only a humble village at the base of a huge, black stone castle that spirals into the sky, build amongst the largest tree in the realm.

The Court derives its name from its unique political system. There are four Courts of the Raven Queen, each one corresponding to a different stage of life. Each court makes decisions regarding matters specific to their age group, but the Courts come together frequently to discuss topics that affect them all. The Court of Spring is ruled by children between the ages of six and twelve. The Court of Summer is ruled by youths between the ages of thirteen and twenty. The Court of Autumn is the most populous court, and is ruled by adults between the ages of twenty-one and fifty. Finally, the Court of Winter is ruled by elders older than fifty-one years of age. Leaders within each court are called Dukes (with no differentiation by gender), followed by the Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and finally Baron.

### Culture

Almost everyone who lives in the Court is a devout follower of the Raven Queen. Standing in stark difference to the rest of Andake, living in the Court is often a self-imposed choice, as opposed to a hereditary one. Children who are uninterested in the teachings of the Raven Queen are encouraged to find their own destiny outside of the Court once they come of age. Those who venerate the Raven Queen respect the sanctity of death, spurn necromantic magics, and value the wisdom of children and elders, whom they see as closest to the Raven Queen. Children are raised primarily by their parents and grandparents, but other able members of the village are expected to help raise children as well. The elderly are similarly taken care of by the entire village. The autonomy of children and the elderly are deeply respected, making those who grow up in the Court of Ravens free-spirited, and particularly excellent caregivers.

Worshippers reside in villages comprised of humble shacks elevated above swampy bayous, or treehouses built into the canopy of forests. Communities are built with physical accessibility as a given, thanks to the Court’s veneration of children and elders who often have mobility and sensory issues.

## *Landmarks*

### The Boundary Waters

The Boundary Waters is the vast saltwater inlet that separates the Court of Ravens from the rest of the main continent. This feature also contains what is known as the Raven's Eye, which is a massive and mythic whirlpool that funnels into the depths of the inlet.

### The Weavespun Nest

The most holy site in the Court, the Weavespun Nest is a huge swath of branches and mangroves woven into one another to form, as its name suggests, a giant nest. It is a favored nesting spot of migratory birds, and it is said that the Raven Queen herself roosts there when her spirit reaches into the Now. This is where the Godshard of The Raven Queen resides after the Cataclysm.