History[]
In Irish Mythology, Badb meaning "Crow"—was a war goddess who took the form of a crow, and was thus sometimes known as Badb Catha ("battle crow"). She often caused fear and confusion among soldiers in order to move the tide of battle to her favoured side. Badb would also appear prior to a battle to foreshadow the extent of the carnage to come or to predict the death of a notable person. She would sometimes do this through wailing cries, leading to comparisons with the Banshee. In Irish legends, Badb was associated with war and death, appearing either to foreshadow imminent bloodshed or to participate in battles, where she created confusion among the soldiers and fed on the discord of the conflict. As a harbinger of doom, she appears in a number of different guises.
Following the defeat of the Formorians by the Tuatha De Danann in the Second[1]Battle of Mag Tuired , Badb sings a prophecy celebrating the victory and a time of peace.
" Peace to the sky. Sky to the earth. Earth under sky, strength in us all, a
Badb scouting warground
cup so full, full of honey, mead in plenty. Summer in winter, spear over shield, shield over stead. A stead prepared; prepared for turf-wars, turf for lambs, woods for beasts antlers high, grain fields flowing. Mast on branches, branches drooping, drooping with fruits, wealth for a son, a son for a home, strong back of a bull, a bull and a boar, wood from trees, trees for fire. Fire on the cliffs. The cliffs so bright, fish in the rivers, by the river, a hostel. A hostel so lengthy, green grass in spring, fat horses in fall. A bond to the land, land of long hills. And rugged headlands, ever flowing, “What news have you?” Peace to the sky, I say"
Powers[]
- Banshee Physiology
- Corvid Physiology
- Death Sense
- Shapeshifting
- War inducement