This Could Get Dicey

This story was found in the Mistfall Library by Ellis Vendove. It is an old folk tale called “The Man and the Raven” 

A man who was once visited in his dream by a raven, the raven granted him powers beyond measure, and in return the man would do the raven’s bidding. At first the raven’s tasks were easy, go forth and have fun, learn this power, and do what you want with it.

But then the raven’s tasks became more demanding. In the night you are to cause trouble. Visit the farmer and release the cattle. The raven cawed to the man saying “Cause trouble, but not too much! Create problems please, it will put me at ease.” The man was apprehensive to do this bidding, knowing collecting the cattle would be a hassle. “I can’t do this, the farmer needs the cattle. It would cause quite a fuss. I don’t want to hear him prattle.” The raven looked at the man, the man seemingly sinking into the raven’s eyes, “if it is too much of a fuss, perhaps I will take what you have grown to love. If it is too much of a fuss, perhaps I will visit the ones you love from above.” The man felt a feeling of overwhelming worry and anxiety, “no no, I will release the cattle.”

The man went in the night and released the cattle. The farmer woke to his cattle missing, and so for days he went around searching for them across the fields.

The raven soon visited the man again “I see you did what was asked. I have another task for you. I want to hold a party you see and the only one who can help me is thee. Upon this earth we want to bring trickery, but we will need a special delivery.” The man again feared for his loved ones and his powers and decided to help. Soon after he helped the raven summon demons to the world.

Together the man and the raven, and the demons they spawned spread across the country. They brought trickery, destruction, sadness, and more. The man hated himself for what he had done. The home he once knew was different, covered in demons of all sorts. He tried to reason with the raven, to no avail. Eventually he gave up his powers, but it was no use. The deeds had been done, the demons released. Once raven’s begun, the world will cease.