Helga

"Don't look up." -First mate of the Dread Crawler. If you travel to Tya's southern shores, take note of the ravens that circle above. If their numbers rapidly swell and the air begins to taste of ash, chances are high that you've drifted into the black domain of Helga, the Carrion Queen… and you're already dead. Centuries ago in a castle by the sea, king and queen ruled in unison, beloved by the subjects they watched over. They had no known enemies, and were regarded throughout Tya as the most just of rulers. They were also madly in love. While both were proficient in many crafts, the queen's favorite hobby was birdkeeping. In a dazzling aviary situated at the highest point of her castle, she'd spend countless hours tending to her myriad collection of winged companions. Ravens were her favorites. She reveled in their cleverness and nurtured their curious minds. In time she was able to train them as messengers, and would keep correspondences with the other regions of Tya, sharing news of the southern shores while noting the happenings of neighboring lands. But the king and queen were naive of their vulnerable position. Though none in Tya would dare attack their respected land, trouble brewed from the sea itself as pirates infiltrated their vulnerable docks one moonless night. While they savagely tore through the castle's defenses, the king did all he could to rally his men while the queen took to the atrium to call for aid. Just as she'd sent a raven into the night, the pirates stormed the atrium, tossing the king's head at her feet. Her cry rang out against the dark, bolstered by the shrieks of her fowl. Realizing what she'd done, the raiders became enraged, knowing their time to plunder would be quite limited before the king's bannermen arrived. As a result, they set fire to the atrium, burning the queen and all of her winged children alive. What happened next has never been explained. After quickly plundering the castle, the pirates took to the sea to avoid any who might come to lend aid. When their ships were found several days later, aimlessly colliding with one another, each and every man aboard was found clawing at eyes which had been plucked from their sockets. Raven feathers were scattered across the decks… Many believe the Carrion Queen haunts her lost coastal kingdom to this day, gouging the eyes from any who infringe upon its borders.