Ravens

The Ravens are an infamous mercenary group led by Bolverk Bloodaxe, a Varl Berserker. The Ravens become a playable caravan in the second part of The Banner Saga, during Chapters 9, 11 and 13.



Information
Traveling under a distinctive black banner, the Ravens are merciless and often cruel, considering their oath the one unbreakable rule. The company has a reputation for complete reliability, and is willing to do anything necessary to fulfill their contracts. The ranks of the the company are often filled with wanted criminals and ruthless cutthroats, and their leader, Bolverk, is a deadly berserker for whom violence is second nature. The iconoclastic leader commands unshakeable respect from his troops.

Bolverk's second in command is a shieldmaiden known as Folka, a powerful warrior whose clear thinking and tactical prowess functions as a crucial counterpoint to Bolverk's rage-driven battle style. Folka is the only human to ever stand up to Bolverk, and the only human to ever earn his respect and trust.

For the Ravens, singing and chanting is seen as a purely martial art. Unlike most of the other characters in the saga, who break into song at each godstone, and during camp, the Ravens only sing when they engage in battle. This practice is often related to the resident skald of the group, Sparr.

Recent Events
During the events of The Banner Saga, the Ravens are first encountered in Boersgard by Rook, where the Governor (Rugga) has hired them to defend the city, keep the order in its streets and more practically to protect the unpopular governor from the wrath of his people!

As the situation in the city became more dire, with the Dredge siege tightening, the Ravens were responsible for dismantling structures around the docks and hastily constructing makeshift boats to flee the city. The citizens realized they were being left behind, and rioted. Bolverk showed the cool willingness of a hired mercenary to put down the insurrection with easy violence.

After the fall of Bellower and the lifting of the siege, the Ravens' contract with Rugga comes at an end, so they depart together with the Skogr caravan on longboats heading west towards Arberrang. Upon reaching the ruin of Ormsdalr, the Ravens split from the Skogr caravan as Bolverk accepts a new contract from Juno: They must carry a mysterious huge crate through the mountain pass of Bindal and cast it into the depths of the Blue River...

Members
Notable members of the Ravens include: After the split at Ormsdalr, several Heroes will leave the Skogr caravan for the Ravens: Heroes that join the Ravens along the way:
 * Bolverk - A Varl Berserker, leader of the band.
 * Folka - A Shieldmaiden, vice-captain to Bolverk.
 * Sparr - A Skald, the oldest member of the mercenary group.
 * Sigbjorn - A Varl Warrior with a taste for mead.
 * Krumr
 * Bersi
 * Ekkill
 * Mogun
 * Oli (Chapter 9)
 * Bak (Chapter 9, optional)
 * Gudmundr (Chapter 11, optional)
 * Zefr (Chapter 11)
 * Nikels (Chapter 11)
 * Dytch (Chapter 11)
 * Fasolt (Chapter 13)

Trivia
Information about the Ravens was presented in Update #2 of The Banner Saga 3 Kickstarter campaign, "Who Are The Ravens?"