Matthew the raven
Context
These are super-old notes (mostly stats, really) since I loved Sandman comics so much during the 1990s. Well, I still do, but “during the 1990s” establishes when the notes were taken.
And it explains why this entry assumes that anyone reading it has a copy of the 1993 Who’s Who in the DC Universe run.
Matthew Cable was originally a Swamp Thing supporting character. He then became a raven – specifically, the magical bird assisting the Lords of Dream, the Shaper – the Sandman. It’s a bit like Odin had these two ravens helping him.
Background
- Real Name: Matthew Cable.
- Marital Status: Now inapplicable.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Servant of Dream.
- Base Of Operations: The Dreaming.
- Height: 1’2” Weight: 17lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Feathers: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Matthew is just a raven, does whatever a raven can. His role as Dream’s raven seems more symbolic than anything else.
However, as he adapted to his new existence, and he’s become cannier and more knowledgeable.
History
Please refer to the description in DC’s loose leaves Who’s Who.
Description
Matthew is just a large, coal-black raven.
Personality
Matthew is a normal guy thrown in the middle of lots of mystical stuff after having been reincarnated in the body of a talking raven. While he’s not extremely bright, he managed to remain almost completely sane despite this.
He’s now totally adapted to his life as a raven, eating carrion and treating other birds like a crow would.
Just play him as a normal, somewhat grumpy guy. He sometimes complaint that he doesn’t understand anything, but this is now more an habit than an actual complaint. Apparently, his courage, skill and aggressiveness are slowly coming back.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Matthew the Raven
| Dex: 06 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Unwanted Power |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Servant of Dream |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 2 |
| Init: 13 | HP: 20 |
Powers:
Flight: 04, Shrinking: 05, Speak with animals: 05, Systemic antidote: 04
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Shrinking is Always On (-1).
- Shrinking reduces STR (effective STR is -3) and weight, but not movement speed (-1).
Skills:
Detective: 02, Occultist (occult knowledge): 06
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Dreaming. Note that, due to the protean nature of the Dreaming, this is more a general knowledge than an area knowledge as such).
Connections:
Dream (High, whether it’s Morpheus or Daniel), the Endless (esp. Death and Destruction, Low), the Corinthian II (Low), Eve (Low), Lucien (High), Marvin (Low).
Drawbacks:
MPR (he’s a raven). While I formerly hypothesized he might have had Traumatic Flashbacks relative to his human life, this has been proved wrong. He recently simply mentioned that he hated hospitals, without any irrational emotional response.
Helper(s): Sean McDonald, Perry Holley.
Source of Character: Sandman / The Dreaming comics (DCU).