NAME: Valravn (Pl: Valravne)

NAME: Valravn (Pl: Valravne)

RARITY: ★★☆☆☆

THREAT LEVEL: ★★☆☆☆ | Primarily a concern if they’re after you. But don’t look them in the eyes or you’ll share in their vengeance quest.

HABITAT: Most frequently the woods and in mountainous forests.

DESCRIPTION: Valravne were once ordinary ravens or other corvids. Only after they feed on the heart of someone who was murdered will they become something else – a vengeful bird with eyes that glow red or purple with fury. Though still technically ravens, these birds now have part of the deceased person’s will inside of them, and in addition to playing deadly tricks on unsuspecting people, they will stalk and torment their killers, driving them insane and eventually to their death. They’ll stop at nothing to meet this goal and may even force you into helping with the task by staring into your eyes. Since it isn’t unusual for several birds to pick at a dead person’s body, there are cases where a whole flock of valravn are created from a single person’s heart; these are the most deadly for the murderer to contend with. 

Because valravne are live, mundane animals with the essence and desires of the dead corrupting them, they themselves are not spectral. It’s more akin to possession. As such, both rangers and mediums will be able to feel their presence. Once a valravn slays its killer, the spirit will be at peace and disappear, leaving behind a confused raven. While valravne were originally observed as being ravens or less commonly crows, every once in a while another related bird species will end up becoming one, such as a blue jay or grackle. These smaller birds pose somewhat of a less physical threat.

ABILITIES: Valravne are, in many ways, ordinary ravens. They just have an insatiable desire for revenge, and that drives their actions even when beyond their own understanding. They have animal intelligence, but the spirit inside of them guides them in clever ways. Some misinterpret this as the valravn having supernatural intelligence, but that’s not quite the case. Valravne can feel the presence of their killer, though this grows weaker with greater distance; as such it can take them a while to find their target. Meeting a valravn’s eyes for a prolonged stare will fill you with vengeance for their killer, though you won’t know their identity. Valravne have stirred people into violence with their gaze, even making them commit murder themselves, but that anger is only directed toward the killer or killers. 

WEAKNESS: There are ways to be rid of valravne, such as striking them with a silver weapon, but they’re crafty and swift, making this a difficult task. They can be killed like an ordinary bird, but again, this is difficult in practice. Certain charms may prevent valravne from attacking, but this is a temporary measure, and as soon as the targeted person removes the charm or it becomes worn out, they are vulnerable again. The best solution for a valravne problem is to get help from an exorcist who can pull the volatile spirit out of the bird – forcing the spirit to move on and allowing the raven to live. Not all exorcists would find this ethical considering it’s helping a killer over their victim; they might not see it as helping the living over the dead. 

OTHER VARIANTS:

Vilde valravn: Sometimes the killer of a valravn will die in another way, or their lifespan will reach its natural conclusion. So what happens to a valravn that doesn’t get the opportunity to achieve vengeance? The hatred in the spirit’s heart continues to fuel its existence, leaving the valravn stuck on the earthly plane. These valravn grow incredibly angry and wild, and eventually stop caring about distinguishing between their killer and others who just happen to have killed anyone in the past. They’ll read someone’s heart and, if assessed to be murderous, come at them with all of the fury they reserved for their killer.