Phthonos, God of Envy and Jealousy

Phthonos was the Greek god of envy and jealousy, known for his malicious nature and his tendency to incite feelings of resentment in others.

• Pantheon: Greek Pantheon
• Deity Title: Phthonos, God of Envy and Jealousy
• Deity Symbol: An eye with a green pupil, symbolizing Phthonos’ envious gaze
• Home Plane: The Plane of Envy, a realm of constant strife and conflict
• Deity Level: Greater Deity
• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
• Aliases: Zelus
• Superior: None
• Traditional Allies: Eris (Goddess of Strife), Nemesis (Goddess of Revenge)
• Traditional Foes: Aphrodite (Goddess of Love and Beauty), Apollo (God of Sun and Light)
• Divine Artifact: The Eye of Envy, a cursed artifact that causes those who possess it to become consumed by jealousy and envy
• Servants: The Envious Ones, humanoid creatures with green eyes and serpent-like tongues, who delight in causing misery and strife
• Servitor Creatures: Envy Demons, demonic beings that thrive on the envy and jealousy of others
• Sacred Animal: The Serpent, a symbol of deception and temptation
• Manifestations: Phthonos often manifests as a dark, shadowy figure with glowing green eyes, or as a serpent-like creature with multiple heads.
• Signs of Favor: Those who are favored by Phthonos often display an unhealthy level of envy and jealousy towards others.
• Worshipers: Those who seek to gain power and advantage over others through envy and jealousy.
• Cleric Alignments: Chaotic Evil, Chaotic Neutral
• Specialty Priests: Envy-mongers, who specialize in inciting jealousy and envy in others.
• Holy Days: The Night of Envy (February 13th) and the Day of Jealousy (September 7th)
• Portfolio: Envy, jealousy, discord, strife, temptation
• Domains: Chaos, Evil, Envy, Trickery
• Favored Weapon: The Whip, a symbol of control and domination
• Favored Class: Sorcerer, who can manipulate the emotions of others to incite envy and jealousy
• Favored Race: Tieflings, who are often ostracized and mistreated due to their demonic heritage
• Duties of the Priesthood: The priesthood of Phthonos is tasked with spreading envy and jealousy throughout the world, as well as protecting the cursed artifacts associated with the god.
• Major Cult/Temple Sites: The Temple of Envy in the city of Thasos, Greece
• Benefits: Those who worship Phthonos gain the ability to incite envy and jealousy in others, as well as access to powerful spells and artifacts associated with the god. However, they must also be constantly vigilant against the envy and jealousy of others, as Phthonos is known to turn on those who become too powerful or successful.

Phthonos is a tall and slender figure wearing a mask, beneath piercing envious eyes that seem to constantly rove over the world around him. His skin is a sickly pale shade, almost as if drained of life and vitality. Phthonos is draped in dark robes, intricately woven with intricate patterns of black and green that seem to writhe and pulse of their own accord. He carries himself with a regal bearing, as if he is constantly evaluating and judging those around him.

As the personification of jealousy and envy, Phthonos delights in stoking the fires of discontent and malice in the hearts of mortals and gods alike. He is a master manipulator, expertly weaving his way into the thoughts and emotions of those around him in order to incite feelings of jealousy and bitterness. Phthonos is driven by a deep-seated desire to see the downfall of those he deems to be more fortunate or blessed than himself. He relishes in the misery of others and takes pleasure in causing pain and strife.

Despite his malevolent nature, Phthonos sees himself as a necessary force in the world. He believes that envy and jealousy are natural human emotions that must be allowed to flourish in order to maintain balance and order. He takes great pride in his ability to sow discord and discontent, and revels in the chaos that ensues.

Phthonos is not worshiped in the traditional sense, but his influence can be felt throughout the world. Those who find themselves consumed by jealousy or envy may find themselves inadvertently calling upon Phthonos, who is always watching and waiting for opportunities to strike.

Currently in the World

Phthonos, the malevolent deity of envy and jealousy, has existed since the dawn of time. He was born out of the chaos and darkness of the primordial void, a manifestation of the negative emotions that course through all beings. From the moment of his creation, Phthonos has reveled in sowing discord and stirring up the flames of envy in mortals and gods alike.

In the ancient times, Phthonos was feared and respected by all who knew of him. He was one of the most powerful and influential gods, and his reach was felt throughout the world. Mortals would sacrifice to him in hopes of gaining favor or protection from his malevolent influence, while other gods would tread carefully around him, knowing that his wrath could be devastating.

As the centuries passed, Phthonos’ power began to wane. The other gods grew stronger and more numerous, and the world began to shift away from the darkness and chaos that Phthonos embodied. He found himself cast aside, a relic of a time long past.

Despite this, Phthonos has not given up on his desire to see the downfall of those he deems more fortunate than himself. In the 1450s, he has turned his attention to the mortal world once again. With the rise of powerful empires and kingdoms, Phthonos sees an opportunity to sow discord and strife on a grand scale.

He manipulates the minds of kings and queens, whispering words of envy and jealousy into their ears. He stokes the flames of war and conflict, urging nations to rise up against each other. He delights in the misery and suffering that he creates, reveling in the chaos and destruction that ensues.

Phthonos’ motivations are simple: he wants to see the world burn. He desires to bring about the downfall of all those he deems more fortunate than himself, whether mortal or god. He is driven by a deep-seated sense of envy and malice, and his powers are formidable.

Despite his strength, Phthonos is not invincible. He has weaknesses that can be exploited, and there are those who stand against him. The other gods may have cast him aside, but some still remember his power and fear what he is capable of. Mortals who have been touched by his influence may also seek to resist him, knowing the destruction that he can bring.

In the end, Phthonos’ fate is uncertain. He may continue to spread his malevolent influence, or he may eventually be defeated and cast back into the darkness from which he emerged. Whatever the future holds, one thing is clear: Phthonos will always be a force to be reckoned with, a deity of envy and jealousy who seeks to bring about the downfall of all those he deems more fortunate than himself.

Envy Demon

Large fiend (demon), chaotic evil

Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 120 (16d10 + 32)
Speed 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)

Skills Deception +7, Insight +4, Intimidation +7
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Abyssal, Common
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Magic Resistance. The envy demon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Innate Spellcasting. The envy demon’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The envy demon can cast the following spells innately, requiring no material components:

• At will: detect thoughts, invisibility (self only)
• 1/day each: dominate person, suggestion

Actions

Multiattack. The envy demon can use its Frightful Presence. It then makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) piercing damage.
• Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.

Frightful Presence. Each creature of the envy demon’s choice within 30 feet of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the envy demon’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.

Envy Aura. The envy demon exudes an aura of envy in a 20-foot radius around itself. Any creature that starts its turn in the aura or enters it for the first time on its turn must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or become overwhelmed with feelings of envy and self-doubt, gaining disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the end of its next turn. The envy demon is immune to the effects of its own aura.

Lair Actions

The envy demon can take lair actions on initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), but only if it’s in its lair. It can use one of the following options:

• The envy demon targets one creature it can see within 60 feet of it. That creature must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 11 (2d10) psychic damage as it’s assailed by feelings of envy and jealousy.
• The envy demon creates an illusory duplicate of itself within 30 feet of itself. The duplicate is indistinguishable from the envy demon and lasts until the end of the envy demon’s next turn or until it takes damage.

Legendary Actions

The envy demon can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The envy demon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Attack. The envy demon makes one claw attack or bite attack.
• Envy Bolt (Costs 2 Actions). The envy demon releases a bolt of psychic energy at a creature it can see within 60 feet of it. The target must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 16 (3d10) psychic damage and be affected by the envy demon’s Envy Aura for 1 minute.
• Illusory Escape (Costs 2 Actions). The envy demon creates an illusory duplicate of itself within 30 feet of itself and switches places with it, teleporting to the duplicate’s location.

Physical Description

The envy demon stands at a towering height of 10 feet and has a muscular, yet slender build. Its skin is a sickly green color, and its eyes are a piercing yellow with vertical pupils. Its sharp claws and fangs are stained a dark red, and it exudes a foul, acrid odor. The demon’s form seems to shift and contort with the emotions of those around it, making it difficult to look at for too long.

The Envious Ones

Medium humanoid, any alignment

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
14 (+2)	16 (+3)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	8 (-1)

Skills Deception +3, Intimidation +3
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages any one language (usually Greek)
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. The envious one’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 11). The envious one can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

• At will: vicious mockery
• 1/day each: charm person, disguise self, invisibility

Multiattack. The envious one makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
• Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.

Serpentine Tongue. As a bonus action, the envious one can extend its tongue to a length of 15 feet. The tongue can be used to grapple a creature within range. While grappled, the envious one can use its bite attack against the creature.

Envy’s Gaze. When the envious one sees a creature within 30 feet of it that has a magical item or object of value, it can use a bonus action to focus its gaze upon the creature. The creature must succeed on a DC 11 Wisdom saving throw or become overwhelmed with feelings of envy and self-doubt, gaining disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the end of the envious one’s next turn.

Physical Description

The Envious Ones are humanoid creatures with pale, sickly skin and green, serpentine tongues that constantly flicker in and out of their mouths. They have narrow, slitted green eyes that seem to glow with a sinister light, and their faces are twisted into cruel, mocking grins. They wear tattered and ragged clothing, often adorned with stolen trinkets and jewelry. They move with a lithe and sinuous grace, their bodies coiling and uncoiling like serpents as they stalk their prey. These creatures are known to delight in causing misery and strife, using their innate spellcasting abilities and sharp claws and teeth to sow discord and envy wherever they go.