Gods and Goddesses: The Morrigan

Aligned on the side of Chaotic Evil, the Morrigan, as she is properly referred to, is somewhat a black sheep among the gods. She is the pure embodiment of evil amongst them, and although she is well respected, she is also feared and resented. As chaos itself, she does as she pleases, always acting towards her own goals with little to no care for those around her. On her part, any bargain she strikes up with another is merely a means to an end; while, yes, she will always uphold her end of the deal, as she is bound to do, her Ladyship always manages to come out on top. Her motives are unknown, though likened to the belief that she seeks only power; there is no way to know and she never answers when questioned.

Despite popular belief amongst her more extremist followers, summoning her is simple. She is drawn to the desires of others, always hoping to help them in order to better help herself. One needs only to call upon her with the intent of seeking aid for her to answer. If she does not feel that a proper bargain may be struck, she is likely to merely speak within one's head rather than actually making an appearance.

Manifesting alternatively as a raven or crow (often hooded), the Morrigan is known as a shapeshifter. Her raven is her watcher, always a neutral party in any event she appears in, or a speaker. On the other hand, her crow signifies an ill-omen; those that it insights fear within are doomed, most often with death. Hooded (meaning a white crow with a distinctive black coloring on his head and the front of his breast), she brings hope to the side that will come out victorious, letting them know that their foes have seen her omen, This aside, she can take on any appearance, though others are almost never seen. Very rarely does she show herself in her mortal form, and it is considered a deadly insult to look upon her when she does. When she chooses to truly approach a mortal in his or her realm, the Doorway to Incarnation will first appear. This gateway, one that no mortal should dare step into until after death, manifests first as an arch of silver branches before the portal itself, always different in appearance, shows within. This portal shows as a warning to those around of what is to come: The Phantom Queen. Those that have seen her, the last sight their eyes would ever lay upon, have described her as many things. She is known to take on the forms the goddess trinities, represented by a maiden, a mother, and an old croon. Almost without fail, she seems to always present herself as a croon; only when she feels the occasion calls for it will she appear as any other woman, though it is not beyond her to tempt a man as a gorgeous maiden. As such, the Morrigan is always presented as an elven mortal, or has the appearance of an elven descendent.

The Morrigan is known by many names, The Phantom Queen, Lady of the Lake, and the Goddess of Water and Magic among them. Most commonly, however, she is known simply as the Goddess of War, ruling over the battlefield, strife, and fertility. To those in her good graces, she is considered a protectress, and rightfully so, despite her inherent evil. If she feels she can use someone, she will protect them, guiding them to their fate like a mother leading its child, but there is always a price. Never will she offer her aid without wanting something in return, however minor the deed or her request may be or seen. She will always collect what she sees is due. Her most common deed lies in her unique ability to pull out the strength of a being so that they may use their full potential, though every ounce of the person's strength is used, and normally to surpass ever-stacking, impossible odds.

On the flip side of the coin, the Morrigan does have duties unattached to her normally brutal nature. She is the harloder of death, known to fly above a battlefield bringing fear or hope and rest on the bodies of the fallen. As such, it is she that guides the dead to what awaits them, and she that resides of incarnation. It is for this reason that the Doorway comes with her always, for it is the realm in which she resides. It is through this realm, also, that she is granted the favor of having a ruling hand in areas of magic. Worships of her are often blessed with chaotic, at times unreliable, elements of the Gift. Her followers are almost always chaotic, often evil, and rarely good. Any paladin blessed by her is actually known as an Anti-paladin, for her worship goes against the usual capabilities of the lawful-good counterpart. A typical good or lawful child of her would claim her for the sake of warding her off; she is the announcer and bringer of death, and represents not only bad luck but ill fate. Her crow is nearly always an ill omen, for those who rightfully see it.

With the gods, her ultimate enemy is the creator god, Albiorix. It was she who prevented him from having a mortal vessel through which he could manifest, as he was forced to transform himself into a blinding light to defeat her. She is the bringer and essence of darkness, unable to enter the Divine Light or be in the presence of anything that is both good and holy. It is for this reason that only a true follower of Albiorix is able to dull her wrath, though only he himself is able to wholly defeat her.