Persephone — Queen of the Underworld, Goddess of Spring and Return

Persephone, Greater Deity — Medium Celestial, Lawful Neutral; suggested CR 32.

Armor Class	26	Hit Points	640
Speed	50 ft.	Proficiency Bonus	+9
STR	22 (+6)	DEX	24 (+7)
CON	28 (+9)	INT	28 (+9)
WIS	30 (+10)	CHA	30 (+10)

Saving Throws Con +18, Int +18, Wis +19, Cha +19. Damage Resistances cold, radiant, psychic. Damage Immunities necrotic, poison. Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned. Senses truesight 300 ft., passive Perception 29. Languages all languages she chooses, telepathy 300 ft.

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Persephone fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Queen of Two Seasons. At the start of her turn Persephone chooses Bloom or Descent. In Bloom, allies within 60 feet regain 10 hit points at the start of their turns. In Descent, hostile creatures within 60 feet cannot regain hit points unless they succeed on a DC 26 Constitution saving throw.

Underworld Authority. Undead and unbound souls within 120 feet have disadvantage on saving throws against Persephone’s effects and cannot pass through a doorway or gate she has explicitly forbidden without succeeding on a DC 27 Charisma saving throw.

Multiattack. Persephone makes three Queen’s Torch attacks: +19 to hit, range 120 ft.; 27 (4d8 + 9) radiant or necrotic damage plus 18 (4d8) psychic damage.

Pomegranate Oath (Recharge 5–6). One creature within 120 feet makes a DC 27 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, Persephone binds it to one clearly stated condition until the end of its next turn: it cannot leave a named area, cannot attack a named creature or cannot cross a named threshold. On a success, it is immune to this use for 24 hours.

Return from Below (1/Day). Persephone restores one willing creature that died within the last hour to life with half its hit points, provided its soul has not been judged, imprisoned or consumed by a power of equal or greater rank.

Mythic Trait — Spring Returns. The first time Persephone is reduced to 0 hit points, she instead regains 320 hit points. Flowers erupt through stone within 120 feet, allied creatures regain 30 hit points and hostile Undead take 27 (6d8) radiant damage.

Persephone, Queen of Spring and Descent

Medium celestial (deity), lawful neutral

Armor Class 26 (divine protection); Hit Points 580 (40d10 + 360); Speed 50 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
22 (+6)	24 (+7)	28 (+9)	28 (+9)	30 (+10)	30 (+10)

Saving Throws Con +18, Int +18, Wis +19, Cha +19; Skills Insight +19, Nature +18, Perception +19, Religion +18; Damage Resistances cold, psychic, radiant; Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned; Senses truesight 300 ft., passive Perception 29; Languages all, telepathy 300 ft.; Challenge 32 (original epic divine encounter beyond the published 2014 CR range); Proficiency Bonus +9 (epic extension).

Traits

Divine Immortality. Persephone does not age and has no need for air, food, drink or sleep. Reducing her manifested form to 0 hit points ends the manifestation but does not destroy the goddess or release souls committed to the Underworld.

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Persephone fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. Magic Resistance. Persephone has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Queen of Two Seasons. At the start of her turn Persephone chooses Bloom or Descent, lasting until she changes it. In Bloom, allied creatures within 60 feet of her regain 10 hit points at the start of their turns while they have at least 1 hit point. In Descent, enemies within 60 feet cannot regain hit points unless they succeed on a DC 27 Constitution saving throw at the start of their turns.

Underworld Authority. Undead and unbound spirits within 120 feet have disadvantage on saving throws against Persephone’s spells and abilities. Any such creature attempting to cross a passage that she has forbidden must succeed on a DC 27 Charisma saving throw to pass through it.

Innate Spellcasting. Persephone’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 27, +19 to hit with spell attacks). She requires no material components. At will: detect magic, speak with dead, plant growth; 3/day each: death ward, greater restoration, mass suggestion; 1/day each: foresight, mass heal, true resurrection.

Actions

Multiattack. Persephone makes three Queen’s Torch attacks.

Queen’s Torch. Ranged Spell Attack: +19 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (4d8 + 9) radiant or necrotic damage (Persephone’s choice) plus 18 (4d8) psychic damage.

Pomegranate Oath (Recharge 5–6). One creature Persephone can see within 120 feet makes a DC 27 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure it is bound, until the end of its next turn, to one clearly stated prohibition: it cannot leave a named area, cannot attack a named creature, or cannot pass through a named doorway. On a success it is immune to this ability for 24 hours. This ability does not force a creature to take harmful actions.

Return from Below (1/Day). Persephone restores one willing creature that died within the last hour to life with half its hit points, provided that its soul has not been judged, imprisoned or consumed by an equal or greater divine power. The creature returns to a space within 30 feet of Persephone that she can see.

Legendary Actions

Persephone can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the following options. Only one option can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. She regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

Seasonal Step. Persephone teleports up to 30 feet to a space she can see. Unseal a Gate. She opens or closes one unattended nonmagical door or gate she can see within 120 feet. Queen’s Torch (Costs 2 Actions). Persephone makes one Queen’s Torch attack. Royal Reprieve (Costs 2 Actions). One creature within 60 feet ends the charmed or frightened condition, or gains 20 temporary hit points.

Divine Estate

Within her own consecrated Underworld estate, on initiative count 20 (losing ties), Persephone can make a barred doorway impassable until the next round (DC 27 Charisma save to cross), cause roots to restrain enemies in a 20-foot-radius area (DC 27 Strength save), or grant up to three allies 20 hit points of healing. She cannot use the same estate action in consecutive rounds; her estate is not the entirety of Hades’s domain.

Cleric Domains and Domain Spells

Life and Nature are appropriate published 2014 cleric domains. Life domain spells: cleric level 1—bless, cure wounds; level 3—lesser restoration, spiritual weapon; level 5—beacon of hope, revivify; level 7—death ward, guardian of faith; level 9—mass cure wounds, raise dead. These are domain spells available to her clerics, not additional uses of Persephone’s innate magic.

Persephone, Queen of the Two Realms CR 31/MR 10

XP custom divine encounter; LN Medium outsider (extraplanar, lawful, mythic); original Pathfinder 1e epic manifestation.

Init +11; Senses true seeing 300 ft., darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +53; Aura Queen of Two Seasons (60 ft.).

Defense

AC 46, touch 27, flat-footed 39 (+7 Dex, +19 natural, +10 deflection); hp 580 (40d10+360); Fort +33, Ref +31, Will +34; DR 20/epic; Immune poison, fear, death effects; Resist cold 20, electricity 20; SR 43.

Offense

Speed 50 ft.; Melee +5 quarterstaff +51/+46/+41/+36 (1d6+11 bludgeoning); Ranged touch Queen’s Torch +47 (12d6 force, range 120 ft.); Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; Special Attacks pomegranate bond, seasonal return, two-world sovereignty.

Spell-Like Abilities CL 31st, concentration +41; Charisma-based save DC 20 + spell level. At will—deathwatch, gentle repose, speak with dead; 3/day—death ward, control plants, greater restoration; 1/day—resurrection, mass heal, gate (passage to or from her Underworld only).

Statistics

Str 22, Dex 24, Con 28, Int 28, Wis 30, Cha 30; Base Atk +40; CMB +46; CMD 63; Feats Combat Casting, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Knowledge [religion]), Skill Focus (Perception), Skill Focus (Sense Motive), Spell Focus (enchantment), Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, Toughness, Alertness, Improved Counterspell, Magical Aptitude, Quicken Spell, Extend Spell, Spell Focus (necromancy), Greater Spell Focus (necromancy); Skills Diplomacy +53, Knowledge (nature) +52, Knowledge (religion) +52, Perception +53, Sense Motive +53, Spellcraft +52; Languages all; SQ ageless, divine manifestation, mythic power 10/day (surge +1d12).

Special Abilities

Queen of Two Seasons (Su). As a swift action, Persephone chooses Bloom or Descent; the aspect remains until she changes it. In Bloom, allies within 60 feet gain fast healing 5. In Descent, enemies within 60 feet take a –4 penalty on saving throws against death effects, but not against unrelated effects.

Pomegranate Bond (Su; 3/Day). A creature within 120 feet must succeed on a DC 40 Will save or be affected as geas/quest to enforce a clearly stated promise concerning sanctuary, burial, return or passage. An equal or higher-ranking divine power can contest the bond. The save DC is Wisdom-based.

Seasonal Return (Su; 1/Day). Persephone can use resurrection or greater restoration without material components. She cannot retrieve a soul held by an equal or greater divine power without that power’s consent.

Two-World Sovereignty (Su). Within her own Underworld court, Persephone knows when any living creature or unbound soul enters or leaves; she can close an unattended portal there as a standard action until the start of her next turn.

Cleric Domains and Domain Spells

Domains: Plant, Repose, Death, Protection. Plant domain spells (levels 1–9): entangle, barkskin, plant growth, command plants, wall of thorns, repel wood, animate plants, control plants, shambler. Domain spells are spells available to her clerics, not additional uses of her innate spell-like abilities.

Divine Estate and Regional Effects

Inside her own Underworld estate, flowers may grow from graves without disturbing the dead, sealed gates refuse uninvited souls, and offerings of grain and pomegranate remain fresh. These effects mark her authority; they do not function as a universal control of all Underworld realms.

Persephone, Queen of the Underworld

Lawful Neutral Medium Outsider (extraplanar, lawful); Divine Rank 16 (greater deity); Portfolio spring, return, the Underworld, sacred descent, divine oaths; Domains Death, Plant, Protection; Favored Weapon quarterstaff. Original epic manifestation built with 3.5e divine rules.

Combat Statistics

Hit Dice: 20d8 outsider + 20d8 cleric + 360 (680 hp; divine maximum per die). Initiative: +11 (+7 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative). Speed: 60 ft. Armor Class: 72 (+7 Dex, +29 natural, +10 deflection, +16 divine), touch 43, flat-footed 65. Base Attack/Grapple: +20 base, +10 epic attack / +52 grapple. Attack: +5 divine quarterstaff +57 melee (1d6+27 bludgeoning) or +5 divine torch +58 ranged (6d8 force plus 16 divine damage). Full Attack: +5 divine quarterstaff +57/+52/+47/+42 melee. Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.

Special Attacks: cleric spells, rebuke undead 13/day, salient divine abilities, Pomegranate Bond, Seasonal Return. Special Qualities: Divine Rank 16, divine aura, immortality, portfolio sense, remote sensing, godly realm, DR 30/epic, SR 48, immunity to death effects, energy drain, ability damage, mind-affecting effects, disease, poison, paralysis, polymorphing and petrification. Saves: Fort +49, Ref +47, Will +50 (base outsider save +12, epic save +10, ability modifier, +16 divine rank and relevant +2 save feats). Abilities: Str 22, Dex 24, Con 28, Int 28, Wis 30, Cha 30.

Skills: Diplomacy +69, Knowledge (nature) +68, Knowledge (religion) +68, Listen +69, Sense Motive +69, Spot +69, Survival +69 (43 ranks, appropriate ability modifier, +16 divine bonus; class skill where applicable). Feats: Combat Casting, Extend Spell, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Quicken Spell, Spell Focus (necromancy), Spell Penetration, Skill Focus (Knowledge [religion]), Toughness, plus appropriate epic and divine feats. Languages: all.

Spells and Divine Abilities

Cleric Spells Prepared: CL 20th; spell save DC 20 + spell level (Wisdom). Representative prepared spells by level: 0—detect magic, guidance, light, resistance; 1st—bless, command, sanctuary; 2nd—aid, gentle repose, lesser restoration; 3rd—dispel magic, prayer, speak with dead; 4th—death ward, freedom of movement, restoration; 5th—raise dead, righteous might, true seeing; 6th—greater dispel magic, heal, word of recall; 7th—greater restoration, resurrection, repulsion; 8th—holy aura, mass cure critical wounds, shield of law; 9th—gate, miracle, mass heal, true resurrection. Additional preparation is available as a 20th-level cleric with Wisdom 30.

Plant Domain Spells (levels 1–9): entangle, barkskin, plant growth, command plants, wall of thorns, repel wood, animate plants, control plants, shambler. These domain spells are available to a cleric of Persephone with this domain; they do not replace her other spell slots.

Salient Divine Abilities: Alter Reality, Gift of Life, Know Death, Life and Death, and a setting-specific Two-World Sovereignty. Pomegranate Bond (Su; 3/Day): as geas/quest (Will DC 36) to enforce a promise involving burial, return or a sacred threshold; divine rank equals 16 and equal or higher divine rank may resist this authority. Seasonal Return (Su; 1/Day): one willing soul that died within the previous day can be returned as true resurrection if no equal or greater deity holds it.

Greater Deity (Ex): For checks, saving throws, attack rolls and damage rolls, Persephone receives the greater deity’s best possible result under divine rules; a d20 is still rolled to test for a critical threat. This is a greater-deity rule, not a general mortal ability.

Godly Realm

In her own realm within the Underworld, Persephone controls an outer-planar radius up to 100 miles. She can change permitted environmental and planar traits by the normal divine-realm rules; rites of safe passage, seasonal growth and the binding of sacred oaths are particularly potent there. She cannot simply overrule Hades in his own separate areas of authority.