Cethlenn of the Crooked Teeth, Prophetess of the Fomorians
Cethlenn of the Crooked Teeth, Balor’s queen and the mother of Ethniu, is a prophetess and warrior of the Fomorians. She foresaw the danger to her people and wounded the Dagda in the battle of Mag Tuired. Her visions still guide the bargains and threats made from her stronghold.
At a Glance
- Alias – Cethlenn of the Crooked Teeth
- Gender – Female
- Race – Fomorian
- Occupation – Prophetess, warrior
- Religion – Worshiper of the Fomorian gods
- Allies – Balor, her husband and king of the Fomorians, and other Fomorian warriors
- Enemies – The Tuatha Dé Danann, who opposed the Fomorians in the mythological battles of Ireland
- Abode/ Base of operations – The Fomorian stronghold of Tory Island, off the coast of Ireland
- Nationality – Fomorian (Irish mythology)
- Languages – Old Irish
- Alignment – Chaotic Evil
- Affiliation(s) – The Fomorian army, led by Balor
- Significant others – Balor, her husband and the father of her daughter Ethniu
Cethlenn is a powerful figure in Irish mythology. She is the wife of the fearsome Fomorian king, Balor, and the mother of Ethniu. Cethlenn is known for her prophetic abilities and played a key role in the second battle of Magh Tuiredh. She was a fierce warrior who was feared by her enemies, and even managed to wound the Dagda with a projectile weapon.
Physically, Cethlenn was a striking figure. She was tall and slender, with long black hair that flowed down her back like a river. Her eyes were a piercing blue, and her skin was as pale as the moon.
Cethlenn was driven by a deep desire for power and influence. She knew that the Fomorians were losing their grip on Ireland, and she was determined to do everything in her power to keep her people on top. Cethlenn was fiercely loyal to her husband and kin, and would stop at nothing to protect them.
Throughout her life, Cethlenn faced many challenges and obstacles. She fought in numerous battles, both on land and at sea, and was known for her cunning tactics and sharp mind. Despite her fierce reputation, Cethlenn was also a skilled diplomat and was able to negotiate with other tribes and factions to further her goals.
Cethlenn is a fierce and imposing female warrior, with a tall and muscular build, crooked teeth, and piercing eyes that seem to glow with an otherworldly intensity. Her long black hair is often braided and adorned with feathers and beads, and her skin is marked with intricate tattoos that seem to writhe and twist with a life of their own. She wears a suit of dark armor adorned with sharp spikes and carries a variety of deadly weapons, including a wickedly curved sword and a powerful bow.
Overall, Cethlenn was a complex and multifaceted character who was driven by a deep desire for power and influence. She was a fierce warrior, a wise prophetess, and a skilled diplomat, and her legacy lives on to this day in Irish mythology.
Game Statistics — Cethlenn
Medium humanoid (Fomorian), chaotic evil
Armor Class 19 (breastplate, shield)
Hit Points 287 (23d8 + 184)
Speed 30 ft.
| Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 (+9) | 16 (+3) | 26 (+8) | 24 (+7) | 22 (+6) | 20 (+5) |
Skills Arcana +14, History +14, Insight +13, Perception +13, Religion +14
Damage Resistances Cold, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 23
Languages Common, Fomorian, Giant, Draconic
Challenge 22 (41,000 XP)
Innate Spellcasting. Cethlenn’s innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 22). She can innately cast the following spells:
- At will: detect magic, detect evil and good, detect thoughts
- 3/day each: cone of cold, fireball, lightning bolt, teleport
- 1/day: control weather, earthquake
Magic Resistance. Cethlenn has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Legendary Resistance (3/day). If Cethlenn fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Actions
Multiattack. Cethlenn makes three melee attacks or uses her Longbow.
- Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (1d8 + 15) piercing damage.
- Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) slashing damage.
- Warhammer. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (3d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Reactions
Parry. Cethlenn adds 5 to her AC against one melee attack that would hit her. To do so, Cethlenn must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Cethlenn can take one of the following lair actions while in her lair. She cannot do so while incapacitated or otherwise unable to take actions. If surprised, she cannot use a lair action until after her first turn in the combat.
- Cethlenn casts fog cloud centered on herself.
- Cethlenn causes her Longbow to glow with a magical aura, giving her attacks with it an extra +5 to hit and damage until the end of her next turn.
- Cethlenn targets one creature within 120 feet of her that she can see. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 22) or become frightened of Cethlenn until the end of its next turn.
Equipment
- Breastplate
- Shield
- Glaive
- Warhammer
- Longbow
- 20 arrows
- Potion of healing
- Ring of protection
- Rod of the pact keeper +3
Cethlenn is a powerful Fomorian prophetess and warrior, known for her prophetic visions and her ability to control the weather. She wears a breastplate and wields a glaive and warhammer in battle, but is also skilled with a longbow. Cethlenn has a ring of protection and a rod of the pact keeper +3, which she uses to enhance her spellcasting abilities. She carries a potion of healing in case of emergency. Her lair is often shrouded in fog, and she can use her magical abilities to frighten and manipulate her enemies.
What Is Cethlenn Doing Now?
Cethlenn, the fearsome sorceress, stands atop the highest tower of her stronghold, gazing out over the rolling hills and forests that stretch out before her. She is a proud and commanding figure, her long dark hair flowing down her back, her piercing blue eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger.
As she stands there, she thinks back on the long centuries that have passed since she first emerged from the Otherworld. Back then, she was a young and eager warrior, eager to make her mark on the world. Over time, however, she has become more cautious and strategic, learning to bide her time and wait for the right moment to strike.
In 1454, Cethlenn watches coastal merchants, rival temples and ambitious princes carry new ideas into lands the Fomorians once controlled. She studies alchemy, mathematics and the craft of the new workshops, seeking knowledge that will keep her people feared. Any invention that escapes her notice is an advantage she has surrendered to an enemy.
But even as she studies, she is also preparing for war. She knows that the kingdoms of Europe are becoming more powerful and more aggressive by the day, and she is determined to defend her people and her lands from their encroachment. With her powerful magic and her army of loyal warriors, she stands ready to face any foe.
Cethlenn will negotiate when a bargain preserves Fomorian power. She welcomes useful inventions, purchases inconvenient discoveries and demands that neighbouring rulers pay dearly for the peace she offers. Those who mistake her restraint for kindness usually learn the difference when their tribute falls due.
For Cethlenn, this is the ultimate goal – to create a world where she and her people can thrive, where they can be free to pursue their dreams and live their lives as they see fit. And so she continues to study, to prepare, and to wait for the moment when she can make her move and claim her rightful place in the world.
Adventure Hooks
A Ransom Paid Tomorrow
Cethlenn demands payment for a ship she predicts will wreck next week. Its captain hires guards to prove her wrong; her agents quietly buy the lighthouse oil. Exposing the sabotage might save the crew, but the wreck she foresaw may be a different vessel.
The Prophecy’s Missing Line
A copied prophecy names a village as the birthplace of Balor’s next enemy. Cethlenn orders its inhabitants seized. The scribe who copied it admits to omitting a line and disappears before saying which one. Finding the original means entering the prophetess’s guarded archive.
A Crown on Credit
A coastal claimant accepts Fomorian soldiers in exchange for a promised throne. Cethlenn’s contract makes the first harvest hers, the second Balor’s and the third negotiable. The claimant needs help escaping the bargain before the soldiers arrive to collect.
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