Goddess Nike, Styktide (Victory)
Nike personifies triumph, a daughter of Pallas and Styx, sister of Cratos, Bia and Zelus. Nike and her siblings are close companions of of Zeus. Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling allies for the coming Titan War. Nike assumed the role of the Zeus’s personal charioteer.
Worship
Worship of Nike includes processions, libations, or sacrifice that were performed to bring the favor of Nike. Petitions in the form of prayers are presented to the priestesses who would communicate them to the goddess. If an answer was received from the goddess it would be presented to the petitioner. Temples were also used like banks and could store coins for safekeeping.
The great statue of Athena in the Parthenon in Athens, depicted her standing in the hand, made of solid gold. Is the Athenian state’s official gold deposit in the form of a “sacred treasury”. The Parthenon complex included a Temple of Nike. The Athenians also dedicated a statue to Nike at Delphi. The statue of Zeus at Olympia also depicts Nike. Nike is also in the hand of Zeus in the temple of Zeus in Athens.
Deities & Demigods
By Rich Redman, Skip Williams, James Wyatt
- Pantheon: Greek Pantheon
- Deity Title: Nike, Goddess of Victory
- Deity Symbol: A pair of wings, a laurel wreath, or a chariot drawn by four white horses
- Home Plane: Olympus
- Deity Level: Intermediate deity
- Alignment: Chaotic Good
- Aliases: Victoria, Nice, Nicnevin
- Superior: Zeus
- Traditional Allies: Athena, Ares, Hera, Hermes, and the other gods of Olympus
- Traditional Foes: Nemesis, Bia, Zelus, Kratos
- Divine Artifact: A golden laurel wreath that enhances the wearer’s abilities
- Servants: Winged Victory, the Nikephoroi (Greek soldiers who carried the goddess’s image into battle)
- Servitor Creatures: Pegasi, Hippocampi, and other winged creatures
- Sacred Animal: The eagle
- Manifestations: A sudden gust of wind, the sound of trumpets or cheers, a sense of inspiration or motivation
- Signs of Favor: A sense of confidence or courage, success in athletic competitions or battles, the appearance of eagles or other winged creatures
- Worshipers: Athletes, soldiers, warriors, coaches, and anyone seeking victory or success in their endeavors
- Cleric Alignments: Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Good
- Specialty Priests: The Champions of Nike, who are skilled in combat and wear her sacred laurel wreath
- Holy Days: The Nike Games, held every four years in honor of the goddess
- Portfolio: Victory, success, athletics, competition, courage, motivation
- Domains: War, Trickery
- Favored Weapon: Longsword
- Favored Class: Fighter
- Favored Race: Aasimar
- Duties of the Priesthood: Encouraging others to strive for victory, organizing athletic competitions and military campaigns, promoting the worship of Nike
- Major Cult/Temple Sites: The Temple of Nike in Athens, the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on Samothrace
- Benefits: Followers of Nike gain a bonus to their attack rolls and saving throws in combat, as well as enhanced speed and agility. They also have access to her divine magic, including spells that enhance their abilities and grant them victory in battle. In addition, her champions are blessed with incredible skill and courage, and are often chosen for leadership roles in battle.
She is the personification of the spirit of victory. As such, she is a somewhat shallow being who thinks only of conflict and ultimate triumph. If a problem or situation can’t be described in terms of conflict, with definite conditions for declaring victory, Nike considers it beneath her notice. Nike appears as a tall, winged woman, though she can take other forms. She is not a very popular deity except among victorious people.
Dogma
To Nike, victory is the only thing that matters. However, as a lawful deity, she does not approve of deceit or subterfuge. Victory comes to the deserving: the brave, the noble, and the forthright. A victory ignobly won is no victory at all.
Clergy and Temples
Nike has very few clerics, though various fanatical cabals and factions often include clerics of Nike. Such clerics are convinced that their particular faction or philosophy is destined for ultimate victory.
Nike’s shrines and temples are built to commemorate great victories and thus can be found nearly anywhere. Winning armies often build shrines on battlefields to thank Nike for their victory. Likewise, many generals and noble families build shrines to Nike to commemorate their victories.
Nike, Goddess of Victory
Medium celestial, chaotic good
Armor Class: 20 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 225 (30d8 + 90)
Speed: 50 ft., fly 120 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 (+7) | 30 (+10) | 22 (+6) | 26 (+8) | 28 (+9) | 30 (+10) |
Saving Throws: Dex +18, Con +16, Wis +17, Cha +19
Skills: Athletics +14, Acrobatics +18, Perception +17
Damage Resistances: radiant; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities: thunder, force, radiant
Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses: truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 27
Languages: all
Challenge: 27 (1,220,000 XP).
Divine Aura. Nike emanates a divine aura in a 30-foot radius that grants her and her allies advantage on all ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws.
Innate Spellcasting. Nike’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 27). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
- At will: fly, gust of wind, thunderwave
- 3/day each: chain lightning, heal, wall of force
- 1/day each: prismatic spray, storm of vengeance
Legendary Resistance (3/day). If Nike fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Nike has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. Nike’s weapon attacks are magical.
Actions
Multiattack. Nike can use her Frightful Presence. She then makes three attacks: one with her longsword, one with her short sword, and one with her shield bash.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d8 + 9) slashing damage plus 18 (4d8) radiant damage.
Short Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) piercing damage plus 18 (4d8) radiant damage.
Shield Bash. Melee Weapon Attack: +19 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d4 + 8) bludgeoning damage plus 18 (4d8) radiant damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 27 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of Nike’s choice within 120 feet of her and aware of her must succeed on a DC 27 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 Nike’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Legendary Actions
Nike 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. Nike regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.
Move. Nike moves up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Divine Strike (Costs 2 Actions). Nike imbues her weapon with divine energy and makes a single weapon attack against a target within her reach. On a hit, the target takes an additional 18 (4d8) radiant damage.
Call to Victory (Costs 3 Actions). Nike calls upon the power of victory, granting herself and up to five allies within 60 feet resistance to all damage until the start of her next turn.
Equipment
+3 longsword, +3 short sword, +3 shield, divine cloak of victory
Divine Cloak of Victory. This magnificent cloak is made of shimmering white silk, adorned with gold embroidery depicting various symbols of victory. While wearing the cloak, Nike gains the following benefits:
- Her speed increases by 20 feet.
- She has resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks.
- She has advantage on all saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
- Once per long rest, she can use an action to activate the cloak’s special ability, causing her next successful attack to deal an additional 36 (8d8) radiant damage.
Goddess Nike,
Nike | |
Fighter 20/Cleric 20 | |
Large outsider | |
Divine Rank | 5 |
Hit Dice | 20d8+200 (outsider) plus 20d10+200 (Fighter) plus 20d8+200 (Cleric) (1,120 hp) |
Initiative | +14 (+10 Dexterity, +4 Improved Initiative) |
Speed | 80 ft., fly 240 ft. perfect |
AC | 56 (-1 size, +10 Dexterity, +5 divine, +18 natural, +7 +5 large steel shield, +7 deflection) |
Attacks | Large +5 speed lawful wounding heavy mace +66/+61/+56/+51 melee; or spell +60 melee touch or +54 ranged touch |
Damage | Large +5 speed lawful wounding heavy mace 2d6+23; or by spell |
Face/Reach | 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft. |
Special Attacks | Domain powers, salient divine abilities, spell-like abilities. |
Special Qualities | Divine immunities, DR 40/+4, fire resistance 25, spontaneous casting of divine spells, understand, speak, and read all languages and speak directly to all beings within 15 miles, remote communication, godly realm, teleport without error at will, SR 37, divine aura (50 ft., DC 22). |
Saves | Fort +47, Ref +47, Will +44. |
Abilities | Strength 42, Dexterity 31, Constitution 30, Intelligence 24, Wisdom 24, Charisma 24. |
Skills | Bluff +32, Climb +40, Concentration +35, Craft (armorsmithing) +52, Craft (bowmaking) +52, Craft (weaponsmithing) +52, Diplomacy +38, Intimidate +34, Jump +40, Knowledge (arcana) +52, Knowledge (history) +32, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +32, Knowledge (religion) +52, Listen +42, Profession (lawyer) +42, Scry +32, Search +37, Sense Motive +52, Spellcraft +42, Spot +42, Swim +41, Use Magic Device +32. |
Feats | Blind-Fight, Blindsight 5-ft. Radius, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Divine Might, Dodge, Empower Spell, Combat Expertise, Great Cleave, Hold the Line, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (heavy mace), Improved Disarm, Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Improved Trip, Improved Unarmed Strike, Knock-Down, Maximize Spell, Mobility, Power Attack, Power Critical (heavy mace), Sacred Spell, Spring Attack, Stunning Fist, Sunder, Superior Expertise, Weapon Focus (heavy mace), Weapon Specialization (heavy mace), Whirlwind Attack. |
Divine Immunities | Ability damage, ability drain, acid, cold, death effects, disease, disintegration, electricity, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, Paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning, transmutation. |
Salient Divine Abilities | Alter Form, Alter Size, Annihilating Strike, Divine Battle Mastery, Divine Inspiration (dread), Sunder and Disjoin. |
Domain Powers | Cast law spells at +1 caster level; 5/day inspire allies (+2 morale bonus for 7 rounds). |
Spell-Like Abilities | Nike uses these abilities as a 15th-level caster, except for law spells, which she uses as a 16th-level caster. The save DCs are 22 + spell level. blade barrier, calm emotions, demand, dictum, discern lies, dispel chaos, divine favor, divine power, enthrall, flame strike, geas/quest, greater command, hold monster, magic circle against chaos, magic vestment, magic weapon, order’s wrath, power word blind, power word kill, power word stun, protection from chaos, repulsion, shield of law, spiritual weapon, storm of vengeance, summon monster IX (as law spell only). |
Organization | Unique (Solitary) or with Zeus or Athena or siblings Zelus, Nike, Cratos and Bia, |
Cleric Spells/Day: 6/8/8/8/7/7/6/6/5/5; base DC = 17 + spell level.
Other Divine Powers
As a demigod, she treats a 1 on an attack roll or saving throw normally and not as an automatic failure. She is immortal.
Senses: She can see, hear, touch, and smell at a distance of five miles. As a standard action, she can perceive anything within five miles of her worshipers, holy sites, objects, or any location where one of her titles or name was spoken in the last hour. She can extend her senses to up to two locations at once. She can block the sensing power of deities of her rank or lower at up to two remote locations at once for 5 hours.
Portfolio Sense: She is aware of any battle, competition, or other contest that involves one thousand or more people.
Automatic Actions: Nike can use any Craft (armorsmithing), Craft (bowmaking), Craft (weaponsmithing), Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nobility and royalty), Knowledge (religion), or Profession (lawyer) as a free action if the DC for the task is 15 or lower. She can perform up to five such free actions each round.
Create Magic Items: Nike can create any type of weapon or armor, as long as the items market price does not exceed 4,500 gp.