Arevay, The Silent Arbiter
“When the stars are silent and the winds are still, judgment speaks in the shadow of fate.”
Alignment: True Neutral
Realm of Influence: The Feywild, Shadow Realms
Current Status: One of the Three Witch-Goddesses of Kol; Second Lady of the Black Church
Arevay and the Forest of Dolls
Summary
Arevay is a true neutral goddess of fate, death, silence, and judgment who rules from the Feywild alongside Mekhila and their divine sisterhood. She was once the second goddess of the Black Church, taking over the mantle from Auriel when the Primordial Serpent sought to fight Ahriman more directly. Her dominion, though rooted in shadow and death, has always maintained a deep sense of karmic balance—Arevay does not judge with cruelty, but with inevitability. Mortals and gods alike who encounter her know that she sees the strings of destiny clearly, and that none may hide from her gaze. She is feared and revered alike, especially by those who walk paths of consequence.
Arevay's place among the coven of goddesses—alongside Mekhila, Ceslida, Ansil, and Auriel—is one of stoic wisdom. She offers the quiet guidance of endings and transformation, often representing the stillness before rebirth. In the cosmic tapestry of Kol, she is the weaver who knots the ends of threads with precision and care. Though she rarely intervenes directly, Arevay is believed to guide the hands of judges, morticians, and those who commit to karmic retribution. Her silence is not absence, but presence beyond the veil.
Her former tenure as the Second Lady of the Black Church shaped many of the rites still followed in the Black Church today. While Ansil now holds that title, Arevay’s influence endures through inherited customs, philosophical texts, and her many incarnate seers. She is one of the few gods to have walked both the Feywild and the Shadow Realms, treating neither as her domain but using both as places of power. Those who call on her name in desperation often do so when no other god will listen—when fate is sealed, and all that remains is judgment.
Though she has withdrawn from the politics of Kol’s divine courts, Arevay’s prophecies and warnings still echo among the clergy. Her role in the downfall of Teàrrachar Analach and Ahriman’s alliance during the Carcosa Catastrophe has become legendary. It is said she forged armor from Dalaghthanach’s fallen body and sent forth warriors blessed with her shadow. Now, as the Age of Ruby trembles under the threat of the prophesied Annwn Tân Parhaol, whispers return to Arevay and her forested sanctuaries—for when the gods fall silent, it is she who speaks.
Binding of Det, Rule in the Shadow Realm
Arevay, once a mortal Nephal and now a true neutral goddess of fate and death, holds Det—the Neutral Evil god of the Shadow Realm—in magical bondage through a forgotten contract sealed at the end of the previous age. This divine binding was achieved with the assistance of Auriel’s stolen magic and an act of cunning that outwitted both Det and Ahriman. Though Det still claims power in the afterlife, he is spiritually and metaphysically beholden to Arevay, forced to serve her judgmental decrees and maintain karmic balance within the Shadow Realm. Arevay uses this tether not to dominate, but to ensure Det cannot sway the scales of fate unjustly or broker soul-deals outside of her oversight. Through him, she channels forbidden knowledge and controls one of the darkest veins of necromantic energy in Kol. To most mortals and even many deities, Det appears autonomous—but those closest to Arevay know that his leash, though long, remains firmly in her grasp.
The Blood War In The Feywild
The spillover of the Blood War into the Feywild has fractured its ancient beauty, twisting parts of its dreamlike wilderness into nightmarish battlegrounds. Arevay, alongside Mekhila, Regean, and Yan, stands as one of the few anchors holding back the tides of madness. As Udrim, Malthor, and Saint Krajevi wage relentless campaigns for dominance, once-neutral courts are forced to choose sides or be destroyed. Ethereal groves now bloom with cursed blossoms, and once-harmonious spirits turn against their nature, whispering secrets of war and vengeance. Arevay’s role as a goddess of judgment and death has become more crucial than ever—guiding lost souls, sealing rifts, and imposing karmic balance where chaos reigns. Though her magic weaves silence and order, the roar of war threatens to unravel the very essence of the Feywild.
The Serpent War
The Serpent War is a brutal, ongoing divine conflict that splits the Feywild into clashing factions of light and shadow, order and ambition. On one side stand Arevay, Mekhila, Regean, and Yan—witch-goddesses, ascended heroes, and protectors of balance—seeking to preserve what remains of the Feywild’s harmony. On the other side are Udrim, Malthor, and Saint Krajevi, whose ambitions, betrayals, and bloodlust have corrupted vast regions of the plane into domains of tyranny, chaos, and fire. The war is called the Serpent War not only for the involvement of dragons and serpent-blooded deities, but also as a reference to the ancient ouroboros—a symbol of the eternal struggle between creation and destruction, one that all divine beings in the Feywild are now caught within.
Arevay serves as the quiet but unshakable force behind her faction’s strategies, weaving fate and death into battle lines. She dispatches reapers and karmic judges to the worst of the corrupted territories, ensuring that twisted souls are bound or purged before their influence can spread. Her sister Mekhila commands the Silver Temple’s armies, while Regean leads dragonkin who have turned against Malthor, and Yan rallies fae, spirits, and changelings to the cause with both wit and wisdom. Though victories come at great cost, their forces hold the line—sometimes barely—against the Serpent Lords’ terrifying manifestations and summoned horrors. The Serpent War rages with no end in sight, but Arevay's quiet determination continues to shape the tides of fate, one soul and battle at a time.
Ascension to Godhood
Arevay’s path to godhood began in the First Age of Kol, during the era known as the Nigredo Age. She and her twin sister Mekhila were born among the Nephals, the first generation of demihumans—beings of immense magical and spiritual power. While others sought dominion, Arevay immersed herself in the mysteries of death, judgment, and fate, mastering them with peerless clarity. Together, the sisters helped lead a revolt against the tyrannical First Pantheon. In a moment of cosmic upheaval, Arevay and Mekhila slew two gods and took their place upon the Divine Council.
Their ascent was aided by Auriel, the former Black Lady of Citragadda, who saw in the twins not rivals, but worthy successors and potential allies in the greater war to come. By quietly relinquishing her position, Auriel allowed Arevay to become the second Black Lady, freeing herself to counter Ahriman more directly. This alliance set in motion a new era of divine cooperation that would eventually form the backbone of the coven of witch goddesses. Arevay’s rule brought clarity, judgment, and precision to the Black Church. She codified karmic law, streamlined rites, and expanded the spiritual justice that would one day shape Kol’s entire metaphysical structure.
The Carcosa Catastrophe
During the Carcosa Catastrophe, Arevay stood among the most pivotal defenders of Kol. Ahriman’s machinations, and the uprising of Outer Gods like Teàrrachar Analach, nearly destroyed the world. It was Arevay who foresaw the breaking of the Dreamer's Anchor and helped shield the remnants of Kol long enough for the new pantheon to take shape. She personally forged weapons and armor from the slain body of Dalaghthanach, crafting them into sacred tools to counter the influence of the enemy gods.
Her involvement in the final stand at the ruined citadel of Carcosa is whispered in near-holy reverence among her followers. Arevay moved like a shadow between burning realities, binding the last oaths and closing shattered ley lines with her own divine blood. With her coven, she helped usher in Oog as the new Dreamer and assisted in restoring the balance of the Court of Citragadda. Her actions directly contributed to the survival of Kol and the exile of several chaotic entities that threatened to consume it.
The Black Church and the Forest of Dolls
Even after stepping down as the Black Lady, Arevay’s presence has lingered in the hearts of the faithful. One of her most sacred sites is the Forest of Dolls, a haunting woodland filled with lifelike dolls that hang from trees and wander its groves. Each doll is said to contain the memory of a soul lost to judgment, suspended in waiting for karmic reconciliation. Her priests guard this forest fiercely, ensuring its sanctity is never disturbed. The site serves as a holy place for meditation, sacrifice, and absolution.
In recent years, as chaos grows and reality bends, the Black Church has begun looking once again to the Forest of Dolls. Priests and adventurers from across Kol seek answers in the whispers of its trees. Arevay’s rituals remain one of the only spiritual countermeasures to the forces of unraveling prophecy, divine silence, and the growing shadows tied to Annwn Tân Parhaol. The Church speaks softly, but carries daggers forged in Arevay’s name. In this rising age of dread, her silence is not absence—it is readiness.
Tenets of the Church of Arevay
Fate Is the Final Thread – All things end in accordance with their karmic path. One must walk in awareness of consequence.
Silence Is the Gateway to Truth – In silence, the deepest truths are heard. Words must serve wisdom, or not be spoken at all.
Judgment Is Not Vengeance – True justice is measured, not emotional. Weigh the balance of the world before acting.
Honor the Dead, Guide the Living – The dead must be remembered, and the living guided to their rightful ends.
Stand Vigil at the Edge of Darkness – Be the watcher at the threshold. Hold back chaos until it is time to let it through.
Structure of the Church of Arevay
The Silent Matron – The highest spiritual leader of Arevay’s church, the Silent Matron serves as an oracle, judge, and anchor to the goddess's will. She speaks rarely, often using hand signs or intermediaries. Her pronouncements are treated as divine fate, and her visions shape church doctrine.
Daughters of the Veil – These priestesses serve as guides between life and death. They officiate funerals, maintain tombs, and deliver karmic judgments. Each is trained in shadow-magic and seercraft.
The Loomguards – Holy warriors dedicated to protecting sacred grounds and executing divine judgments. They carry enchanted spears and wear armor inscribed with prophecy.
Shadow Readers – Monks and scribes who interpret fate through signs, dreams, and omens. They maintain Arevay’s libraries and record karmic ledgers of major souls.
Mournkeepers – Lay clergy who support the spiritual needs of the grieving. They are often community leaders who perform rites of cleansing and maintain vigil during festivals of the dead.
The Church of Arevay in the Age of Ruby
In the Age of Ruby, the Church of Arevay has regained quiet prominence. Though not as visible as the Golden Clemency or Black Church, her followers have taken on the mantle of preserving the remnants of Kol’s balance. They are drawn to the borders of collapsing worlds, to cities where time frays, and into swamps where forgotten gods whisper. Many Black Church agents receive training or blessings from Arevay’s Daughters of the Veil before taking on major missions.
Since the fall of Rhaglunieath and the expansion of the Exclusion Zones, Arevay's influence has spread into areas plagued by memory distortion and reality instability. Her rituals are among the few divine tools that remain effective in unraveling the strange enchantments tied to the Crawling Chaos and Teàrrachar Analach. While she does not directly challenge the Outer Gods, her followers often clean up the devastation they leave behind—silently mending the fraying edges of Kol.
The Black Church still honors Arevay as a predecessor to Ansil, and many of its rites preserve elements from her time as the Black Lady of Citragadda. During the Age of Ruby, it is whispered that Arevay is preparing new Watchers—souls touched by death and fate—to stand against what comes after. She does not prophesy victory, only that when the end arrives, judgment will be made. Her servants await that moment with still breath and steady blades.
Rituals and Dogma of the Church of Arevay
The Veil-Cutting Rite: Performed during the passage from life to death, this ritual allows a priest to guide a soul safely across the veil. A strand of black thread is cut with a consecrated blade while the name of the deceased is whispered. The soul’s karmic path is sealed with the blessing of Arevay, preventing it from being intercepted by unnatural forces. This rite is essential in Black Church funerals and battlefield prayers.
The Judgment Watch: A vigil kept for those accused of divine crimes. A priest sits in silence across from the accused, reading no scroll, speaking no words, and eating no food. The presence of the priest is believed to invite Arevay’s gaze. If the accused confesses, they are offered a more merciful karmic path.
Dollbinding: Priests carve and bless dolls in Arevay’s name to represent major souls—either allies, enemies, or unresolved debts. These dolls are sometimes used as magical vessels to store memory, pain, or prophecy. Others are planted in the Forest of Dolls as memorials.
Prayers of the Church of Arevay
The Silent Litany: “O She Who Waits Beyond the Stars, grant me the silence to see, the stillness to know, and the judgment to act.” This is whispered three times during the moments before sleep, death, or fateful choices. Followers believe it steadies the soul and aligns it to the weave of fate.
Prayer of the Last Thread: Said for dying loved ones or fallen comrades. “Your thread ends not in fire or storm, but in her hands. May she weigh you justly, and return you in time.” This prayer is offered with the touch of a black ribbon or candle.
Prayer of the Shadow’s Grace
“O Watcher in the Folded Dark, grant me the grace to pass unseen, the wisdom to choose my steps, and the mercy to forgive the debts I carry. Let the shadows protect me, not from the light, but from the lies cast by it. Where I walk, let your thread guide me. Where I fall, let your hand catch me. I ask not for certainty, only balance.” This prayer is often spoken before espionage, confessions, or journeys into unknown lands. Black Church agents, especially those operating in the field, whisper it under their breath when approaching danger or doubt.
Hymns of the Church of Arevay
“Whispers Beneath the Willow”: A slow, minor-key chant that is sung around mourning fires or during funerals. Its lyrics tell the story of a soul crossing the veil and being judged with kindness. The hymn brings comfort and invokes Arevay’s presence among grieving families.
“The Black Thread Runs True”: A hymn of pride and endurance, sung by warriors before heading into battle. It recognizes that fate is unyielding but not cruel, and that to act with integrity is to honor Arevay.
“Threadbare is the Path”
Threadbare is the path I walk,
Woven tight by deeds and talk,
Soft the footfall, slow the turn,
Each misstep a lesson earned.
Judge me not for where I fell—
But where I rose, and how I dwell.
This hymn is sung by initiates of the Black Church at the end of their training and induction. It reflects the vulnerable, imperfect nature of those who serve Arevay and their commitment to spiritual growth through hardship
Sermons of the Church of Arevay
“The Weight of Silence”: A sermon delivered during winter or eclipses, when the veil is said to be thinnest. It teaches that silence is not void, but full of possibility. “In your quiet, you do not disappear—you become more visible to the divine.” Clergy often ask the congregation to sit in total silence for a period, guided only by thought and breath.
“The Mirror Is Never Empty”
This sermon focuses on the dual truths of reflection and karma. “Every act, every word, every glance—these are stones cast into still water. The ripples always return.” Priests use this sermon to remind the faithful that Arevay’s justice does not forget, but it does forgive when balance is restored. The mirror symbolizes self-examination: the soul must confront its image before it can evolve. It is often delivered on the eve of the solstice or during karmic disputes.
“In the Grove of Dolls”
This sermon is reserved for holy days or moments when the veil is weak. It recounts the myth that every soul forgotten by the world is remembered by Arevay. “We bury bones, but she keeps memories alive, walking in the husks of dolls, whispering through trees, watching through the eyes of judgment.” The sermon comforts the grieving, warns the unjust, and speaks of the inevitability of fate. It ends with the words: “You may forget them. She never will.”
