After Death Encounter

Encounter with the Raven Queen

Upon the death of a character or NPC in Aeloria, their soul is guided by the enigmatic Raven Queen before they pass into the afterlife. This encounter offers clarity and closure, ensuring a smooth transition between the realms of the living and the dead.

The Raven Queen’s encounters with the deceased are designed to offer comfort and clarity as they transition from life to death. The following tables provide a structured yet flexible way to determine various aspects of these encounters.

The text below is a template for creating a unique encounter with The Raven Queen. The tables provide a series of prompts to help you generate a detailed and engaging scene. You can use these tables to create a memorable and meaningful encounter for your players or NPCs.

For more information on the myth and lore of why this happens you can read the myth: The Raven Queen’s Duty to the Departed

“You (how the dead person arrived) in (location of the encounter). You are (what the dead person is doing when they meet The Raven Queen). As you look around, you see (how The Raven Queen presents herself). She appears as (The Raven Queen’s appearance). She (The Raven Queen’s demeanor). You feel (the dead person’s feelings) as you see her. The conversation proceeds (how the conversation proceeds). She asks you (what The Raven Queen asks), you also (additional details).”

1. How the Dead Person Arrived

Roll (d6)	Method of Arrival
1	They simply awake in the new location.
2	They fall gently through the ground and land softly.
3	They walk towards a warm, inviting light.
4	They follow the song of a raven.
5	They feel a gentle pull guiding them to the location.
6	They float upwards as if rising from their body.

2. Location of the Encounter

Roll (d6)	Location
1	A familiar room or location from the deceased’s life.
2	An unfamiliar but serene and comforting place.
3	The location of their death, with time frozen.
4	The location of their death, with time moving as they watch as spectators.
5	A beautiful and timeless landscape, like a meadow or a peaceful forest glade.
6	A reflective, mirror-like realm where memories and moments from their life are visible around them.

3. What the Dead Person is Doing When They Meet The Raven Queen

Roll (d6)	Activity
1	Standing quietly, taking in their surroundings.
2	Sitting calmly, deep in a memory of their life.
3	Engaged in an activity they enjoyed during their life (e.g., painting, reading, playing an instrument).
4	Doing something they always wanted to do (e.g., flying, swimming, kissing someone).
5	Simply lost in thought, distracted by something familiar or comforting (e.g., a pet, a meaningful object).
6	Reenacting a cherished memory from their life.

4. How The Raven Queen Presents Herself

Roll (d6)	Presentation
1	The sound of crows cawing announces her presence before she materializes.
2	She appears silently, waiting for the deceased to notice her.
3	A soft, comforting whisper precedes her arrival.
4	A gentle, glowing light surrounds her as she fades into view.
5	She steps out of the shadows, her appearance gradual and calming.
6	A subtle shift in the atmosphere marks her presence before she becomes visible.

5. The Raven Queen’s Appearance

Roll (d6)	Appearance
1	A masked humanoid figure in dark, elegant robes with feathers.
2	A masked humanoid, with shepherding staff and a cloak of raven feathers followed by a dark wolf.
3	She looks like the deceased but wears a mask.
4	She appears as a loved one of the deceased.
5	A simple but beautiful human with gentle features, yet within their beauty their eyes show an incredible sadness beneath it. So young yet somehow so very old.
6	Another person of the same race as the deceased, exuding calm and grace.

6. The Raven Queen’s Demeanor

Roll (d6)	Demeanor
1	She acts like a long-lost friend.
2	She behaves like a nurturing mother.
3	She interacts as if they have always known each other.
4	She behaves like a gentle, wise stranger.
5	She acts like a guide or mentor.
6	She remains neutral and calm.

7. The Dead Person’s Feelings

Roll (d6)	Feeling
1	They feel immense relief.
2	They feel a deep sense of peace.
3	They feel a mix of sadness and acceptance.
4	They feel happiness and gratitude.
5	They feel no specific emotion, only clarity.
6	They feel a brief moment of fear that quickly dissipates.

8. How the Conversation Proceeds

Roll (d6)	Conversation Style
1	She tells them directly what is happening.
2	She asks them questions to help them understand.
3	She shows them images from their life and lets them figure it out.
4	She explains gently and answers any questions they have.
5	She tells a story that parallels their own, making the truth clear.
6	She allows them to remember their life’s highlights naturally.

9. What The Raven Queen Asks

Roll (d6)	Question/Request
1	She asks if they have any final wishes.
2	She inquires if they enjoyed their life or have any regrets.
3	She asks if they want to do anything before moving to the afterlife, such as a prayer or a question they want to ask her.
4	She asks about their happiest memory.
5	She asks if there’s anyone they need to forgive or be forgiven by.
6	She does not ask anything but listens if they wish to speak.

10. Additional Details

Roll (d6)	Additional Detail
1	The deceased remembers vividly how they died.
2	They recall meeting the goddess at their birth.
3	They immediately understand who she is upon seeing her.
4	They remember key moments of their life with new clarity.
5	They feel a sense of completeness and understanding about their life’s purpose.
6	They experience a brief, poignant memory of a loved one just before the encounter.

This table helps to further personalize the encounter, grounding the experience in the deceased’s memories and personality.