Raven (Pentan) iv
Stormbringer, Wing-giver
Brother to West King Wind and North War Wind, Raven honors Storm Tribe shamans by giving them the power to become his kin.
I. MYTHOS AND HISTORY Before Time
Raven sits on the shoulder of West King Wind, his brother, to whom he whispers advice. He is also known to have helped his other brother, North War Wind, to find the power of True Death.
After Time
Raven was generally unknown to the Solar Tribes before the Third Age, except as an enemy air spirit to be avoided or attacked.
In the Third Age, after the Battle of the Nights of Horror, the Pentan shamans found and listened to Raven, who told them of the powers of the Storm gods. He introduced them to West King Wind, North War Wind, and other air gods and beings. For this, the Storm Tribes honor Raven by worshipping him through a spirit cult and Raven honors their shamans by giving them his magic.
Life After Death
Raven worshipers retain their Pentan beliefs about life after death, and follow Pentan funerary rituals.
Runic Associations
Raven is associated with the runes of Illusion and Mobility.
II. CULT ECOLOGY Raven was the first friendly contact between the Pentans and the Storm Gods. Raven's magic provides a way for Pentan shamans to turn themselves into ravens. His spirit children are said to provide such spells as Disruption, Mobility, and Shimmer.
III. THE CULT IN THE WORLD Raven can only be contacted in Pent. Some Pentan Storm tribe shamans say that the hated Praxian shamans also know Raven, but that he does not help them in the same way.
IV. WORSHIPERS Requirements: Pentan shamans will only allow someone from their own tribe to join them in worship. Outsiders always must have joined the tribe before they are allowed to worship Raven.
V. SHAMANS Requirements: The shaman rules for RuneQuest describe the correct practices for Gloranthan shamans.
The spirit cult rules for RuneQuest describe the correct way for shamans to contact and worship Raven. He provides the Divine Magic spell Become Raven as a one use spell (which is thus only available to his shamans). If Raven's worship service is a special success, he provides his shaman and worshippers with the Divine Magic spell Scram reusably.
When summoned, Raven appears as a large blue-black raven with a twinkle of mischief in his dark eyes.
VI. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES Although not at all recognized by the Pentans, in gaming terms Raven is an incarnation of the Shapechanger aspect of Trickster (as defined by the Trickster cult description in Gods of Glorantha). Pentan Raven shamans and worshipers may not automatically sacrifice for magic at any other Trickster shrine. However, any Trickster initiate who manages to successfully worship Raven can sacrifice for the Become Raven Divine Magic spell (and possibly Scram ) on a reusable basis.
Also note that there is a Solar Pentan Trickster, Hare. He provides the Solar tribes with other spells, including the Shapechanger spell Become Horse Dung.
I think Hare's worship is much more culturally integrated into the Pentan culture than Raven's, and may take a form similar to the Hopi or Zuni clown societies. Ritual costume of black and white body paint, with grass "bunny ears."
Peace,
Peter
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