Portunus at a Glance
| Tradition | Roman |
|---|---|
| Divine standing | Lesser Deity |
| Alignment | Lawful Neutral |
| Portfolio | Harbours, river ports, landing places, gates, keys and controlled passage |
| Principal festival | Portunalia, 17 August |
| Sacred places | Tiber harbour, river landings, gates, warehouses and the Temple of Portunus |
| Emblems | Key, harbour gate, ship’s mooring and river landing |
| Favoured weapon | Spear |
| Related Roman powers | Janus · Mercury · Neptune |
Roman Pantheon · Harbours · River Ports · Gates · Keys · Passage
Portunus is the Roman god of harbours and port access, later strongly associated with keys and gateways. His name belongs to the Tiber port and Portunalia, making him a god of practical passage whose concern is the vessel and landing under his care.
Portunus in Roman Religion
Portunalia was celebrated on 17 August in honour of Portunus, god of harbours. Ancient testimony places his temple at the Tiber harbour.
The later key association fits a god whose power is about access and controlled passage. Janus governs beginnings and thresholds in a broader cosmic sense; Portunus keeps the chain across the harbour mouth, the narrow landing and the last open gate before a storm.
What Is Portunus Doing Right Now?
River commerce, fortified ports and customs houses make Portunus increasingly important. A closed gate or blocked quay can starve a city as effectively as a siege.
He becomes active when officials weaponise access—locking food outside a city, trapping ships in unsafe water or claiming a public landing as private property.
Worship in 1454
Harbour workers, boatmen, warehouse keepers, customs officials and gatekeepers maintain Portunus rites.
Keys offered to him are often symbolic rather than literal: the important question is who controls passage and under what terms.
Domains, Spells and Divine Gifts
Water, travel, protection and the keeping of a safe threshold shape the cult. Priests tend the half-drowned, bless new moorings and carry keys in the Portunalia procession. Those who knowingly trap a helpless crew behind a closed chain lose the welcome of his shrines.
The four rules panels below give follower domain spells and the Keeper’s Key boon separately from the god’s personal magic.
Relationships
Janus governs the threshold as a cosmic principle; Mercury movement and trade; Neptune the water through which ships travel. Portunus governs the practical opening that makes passage possible.
Use Portunus Tonight
The Grain Fleet at Portus Tiberinus
The emergency. Captain Aurelia Varra brings three river barges laden with grain up the Tiber. Before the city can unload them, every harbour chain rises from the water and closes its passage. A sudden current is dragging the last barge beneath a stone bridge. The crew can reach the quay only by abandoning the grain.
The discovery. The chains are moving in answer to the theft of the Tiber Key, not to the captain’s cargo. The thief is aboard the middle barge, using a copied harbour seal to conceal a child rescued from a wreck at sea; the child has been marked by a river spirit that fears being returned downstream.
The choice. Save the trapped crew first, dive for the genuine key, negotiate with the spirit, or force the chain mechanism and risk the bridge. If the party preserves both lives and passage, Portunus grants one safe night mooring at his shrine. If they sell the key to the highest bidder, the chains begin to close on their own vessel at sunset.
A Door beneath the Temple of Portunus
The emergency. The Tiber drops overnight, exposing a sealed stone stair below the temple’s riverbank. Inside are dozens of ancient votive keys, and a living dockworker trapped behind a gate that opens only while the tide is rising.
The discovery. A forgotten maintenance channel connects the stair to a flood chamber. The oldest key seals an outlet into Cloacina’s waters. Breaking the seal will rescue the worker quickly but pour fouled water into the city’s lower quays; operating the ancient lifting wheel will take time the trapped worker may not have.
The choice. Reach the wheel through rising water, free the worker with controlled magic, or negotiate a temporary passage with the waters below. The outcome changes whether the temple’s riverbank remains a haven or becomes a dangerous landing for weeks.
The Last Berth at Ostia
The emergency. A squall drives two vessels towards the same shattered quay: a fishing boat carrying a dozen exhausted survivors and a larger ship whose hold contains medicine for a nearby fever-struck settlement. Only one intact mooring bollard remains. The temple’s Mooring Ring can secure one craft, not both.
The discovery. The second ship’s ropes have been weakened by hurried repairs. Keeping both ships afloat requires a repair crew working in the surf while another group controls the helm, or a risky spell cast into the breaking waves.
The choice. Decide where to place the Ring, rescue the vessel left exposed, or build an improvised anchor under pressure. Survivors remember who was helped; Portunus judges the safe passage achieved, not the rank or wealth of those carried.
Divine Mechanics
Portunus — D&D 2024
Medium Celestial (Deity), Lawful Neutral
AC 25 (divine panoply) · HP 540 (40d8 + 360) · Speed 40 ft., Swim 60 ft.
CR 32 (original epic campaign encounter; unplaytested) · PB +9 (campaign extrapolation) · Divine Tier 28
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 (+8) | 26 (+8) | 28 (+9) | 26 (+8) | 28 (+9) | 28 (+9) |
Saving Throws Dex +17, Con +18, Wis +18, Cha +18 · Skills Insight +18, Perception +18, Persuasion +18, Religion +17
Resistances Cold, Force, Radiant; Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing from nonmagical attacks · Immunity Poison damage; Charmed, Frightened and Poisoned conditions
Senses Truesight 90 ft., Passive Perception 28 · Languages Latin, Greek and languages learned from river traders; Telepathy 90 ft.
Traits
Legendary Resistance (5/Day). When Portunus fails a saving throw, he succeeds instead.
Divine Keyholder. Nonmagical port locks, gates and chains within 30 feet cannot be opened or shut against his will while he is conscious. He knows whether a visible vessel can fit and safely berth in a passage, allowing for its actual dimensions and present tides.
Waterborne. Portunus can breathe air and water, ignores swimming movement penalties and can move through creatures in water without provoking Opportunity Attacks once on each of his turns.
Divine Spellcasting
Charisma is Portunus’s spellcasting ability (save DC 26; +18 to hit). These are personal spells, not a worshipper’s cleric-domain list. He needs no Material components; all other casting times and Concentration rules apply. Uses are per spell.
- Cantrips (At Will): Guidance, Mending, Message, Thaumaturgy.
- 1st (3/Day each):Alarm, Create or Destroy Water.
- 2nd (3/Day each):Arcane Lock, Knock.
- 3rd (3/Day each): Water Breathing, Dispel Magic.
- 4th (2/Day each): Control Water, Freedom of Movement.
- 5th (2/Day each): Commune, Teleportation Circle.
- 6th (1/Day each): Forbiddance, Word of Recall.
- 7th (1/Day each):Teleport, Plane Shift.
- 8th (1/Day each): Control Weather, Antimagic Field.
- 9th (1/Day each):Gate, Foresight.
Actions
Multiattack. Portunus makes three Key-Spear attacks.
Key-Spear.Melee Attack Roll: +20, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (3d10 + 11) Piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) Force damage. The +20 includes a +3 divine weapon enhancement beyond Strength and Proficiency.
Open the Harbour (Recharge 5–6). Portunus opens a corridor 60 feet long and 15 feet wide, beginning at a point within 30 feet he can see, for 1 minute. Allies he designates ignore Difficult Terrain in the corridor and do not provoke Opportunity Attacks there. When a hostile creature enters it for the first time on a turn, it makes a DC 26 Charisma saving throw or has Speed 0 until the end of that turn. Portunus loses Concentration on the effect if incapacitated; this effect requires Concentration as if on a spell.
Bonus Actions
Turn the Key. Portunus opens or seals one unattended mundane door, hatch, lock or gate within 120 feet. Magical or artefact locks resist this action.
Reactions
Close the Harbour. When a visible enemy within 60 feet tries to teleport across a threshold or passes through an open gate, Portunus forces a DC 26 Charisma saving throw. On a failure the creature remains on the near side in the closest available space. The triggering teleport expends its spell or limited use.
Legendary Actions
Portunus has three Legendary Action uses. He can use one option at the end of another creature’s turn and recovers all uses at the start of each of his turns. He cannot use them while Incapacitated.
- Advance. Portunus moves up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
- Key-Spear. Portunus makes one Key-Spear attack.
- Safe Berth (Costs 2). Up to two willing creatures or one unattended vehicle within 60 feet cannot be moved against their will until the start of his next turn, unless moved by a spell of level 9 or an artefact.
Counterplay. Magic seals remain useful against Turn the Key; incapacitating Portunus drops his corridor. He favours a protected harbour over indiscriminate combat.
Rules status. Original, unplaytested rules for Portunus himself. Challenge 32 and proficiency +9 extend the published challenge scale; no official XP value is assigned.
Follower Domain: Life
Harbour-rescue priests can choose the Life Domain, tending shipwreck survivors and keeping the landing a place of refuge. Water, travel and protection remain the cult’s sacred concerns. Use the Life Domain’s features for this edition; its domain spells below are always prepared once the indicated cleric level is reached and do not count against prepared spells.
| Cleric level | Always-prepared domain spells |
|---|---|
| 3 | Aid, Bless, Cure Wounds, Lesser Restoration |
| 5 | Mass Healing Word, Revivify |
| 7 | Aura of Life, Death Ward |
| 9 | Greater Restoration, Mass Cure Wounds |
Gift of the Keeper’s Key (optional divine boon). A priest entrusted with a landing can use a Magic action to open or lock one nonmagical lock they touch without tools, once per Long Rest. Magical seals and another deity’s wards resist normally. This boon is separate from the subclass.
Portunus — D&D 5e (2014)
Medium celestial (deity), lawful neutral
Armour Class 25 (divine panoply) · Hit Points 540 (40d8 + 360; average) · Speed 40 ft., swim 60 ft.
Challenge 32 (original campaign epic; unplaytested) · Proficiency Bonus +9 (campaign extrapolation)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 (+8) | 26 (+8) | 28 (+9) | 26 (+8) | 28 (+9) | 28 (+9) |
Saving Throws Dex +17, Con +18, Wis +18, Cha +18 · Skills Insight +18, Perception +18, Persuasion +18, Religion +17
Damage Resistances cold, force, radiant; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks · Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned · Senses truesight 90 ft., passive Perception 28
Languages Latin, Greek and several river and harbour languages learned from sailors; telepathy 90 ft.
Traits
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Portunus fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Keyholder. Portunus knows whether he can safely pass through a gate or berth a vessel he can see within 120 feet. Mundane locks and barred doors within 30 feet cannot be opened against his will while he is conscious.
Waterborne. Portunus can breathe water and air. Nonmagical underwater movement does not impose disadvantage on his melee attacks.
Innate Spellcasting (2014)
Portunus uses Charisma for innate spellcasting (spell save DC 26; +18 to hit). His innate spells require no material components; their casting times and concentration are otherwise unchanged. Uses are per named spell, not a pooled resource. His repertoire is distinct from follower domains.
- Cantrips (at will): Guidance, Mending, Message, Thaumaturgy.
- 1st (3/day each):Alarm, Create or Destroy Water.
- 2nd (3/day each):Arcane Lock, Knock.
- 3rd (3/day each): Water Breathing, Dispel Magic.
- 4th (2/day each): Control Water, Freedom of Movement.
- 5th (2/day each): Commune, Teleportation Circle.
- 6th (1/day each): Forbiddance, Word of Recall.
- 7th (1/day each):Teleport, Plane Shift.
- 8th (1/day each): Control Weather, Antimagic Field.
- 9th (1/day each):Gate, Foresight.
Actions
Multiattack. Portunus makes three Key-Spear attacks.
Key-Spear.Melee Weapon Attack: +20 to hit (including a +3 magical weapon bonus), reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 27 (3d10 + 11) piercing plus 14 (4d6) force damage.
Open the Port (Recharge 5–6). For 1 minute, Portunus creates a 60-foot-long, 15-foot-wide corridor starting within 30 feet of him. Chosen allies in the corridor ignore difficult terrain and do not provoke opportunity attacks. A hostile creature that enters the corridor for the first time on its turn must make a DC 26 Charisma saving throw or its speed becomes 0 until the end of the turn. The corridor requires concentration, as if concentrating on a spell, and ends if Portunus is incapacitated.
Bonus Actions
Turn the Key. Portunus opens or shuts one unattended, nonartifactual mundane lock, door, hatch or gate within 120 feet. He does not automatically suppress a spell sealing the target.
Reactions
Close the Harbour. When a hostile creature Portunus can see within 60 feet teleports or moves across a doorway, Portunus forces it to make a DC 26 Charisma saving throw. On a failure the movement stops at the nearest unoccupied space on the near side; a teleport’s spell slot or limited use is expended.
Legendary Actions
Portunus can take 3 legendary actions, choosing one option at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Portunus regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn and cannot take them while incapacitated.
- Move. Portunus moves up to half his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Key-Spear. Portunus makes one Key-Spear attack.
- Safe Berth (Costs 2). One willing creature or an unattended vehicle within 60 feet cannot be forcibly moved until the start of Portunus’s next turn.
Encounter counterplay. A sealed door can be defended with magic rather than a mundane latch, and the corridor vanishes if Portunus is incapacitated. The god’s purpose is safe and controlled passage, not the conquest of all thresholds.
Rules status. Original, unplaytested rules for Portunus himself. Challenge 32 and proficiency +9 extend the 2014 challenge scale; no official XP value is assigned.
Follower Domain: Life
Harbour-rescue priests can choose the Life Domain, tending shipwreck survivors and keeping the landing a place of refuge. Water, travel and protection remain the cult’s sacred concerns. Use the Life Domain’s features for this edition; its domain spells below are always prepared once the indicated cleric level is reached and do not count against prepared spells.
| Cleric level | Always-prepared domain spells |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bless, Cure Wounds |
| 3 | Lesser Restoration, Spiritual Weapon |
| 5 | Beacon of Hope, Revivify |
| 7 | Death Ward, Guardian of Faith |
| 9 | Mass Cure Wounds, Raise Dead |
Gift of the Keeper’s Key (optional divine boon). A priest entrusted with a landing can use an action to open or lock one nonmagical lock they touch without tools, once per long rest. Magical seals and another deity’s wards resist normally. This boon is separate from the subclass.
Portunus — Pathfinder 1e
CR 32 (original campaign epic); XP by campaign award · LN Medium outsider (divine, extraplanar, lawful, water)
Init +12; Senses darkvision 60 ft., divine truesight 90 ft. (as true seeing within this range), Perception +50
AC 51, touch 28, flat-footed 42 (+8 Dex, +23 natural, +9 deflection, +1 dodge)
hp 551 (38d10 + 342) · Fort +21, Ref +29, Will +30 · SR 43 · DR 20/epic · Immune poison, water pressure, drowning
Speed 40 ft., swim 60 ft. · Melee +4 divine key-spear +51/+46/+41/+36 (3d10+16 piercing plus 4d6 force; critical 19–20/x3) · Reach 10 ft. (divine reach; natural reach 5 ft.)
Str 26, Dex 26, Con 28, Int 26, Wis 28, Cha 28
BAB +38; CMB +46; CMD 74; Languages Latin, Greek, tongues learned from port and river workers; telepathy 90 ft.
Feats (19; one per odd HD): Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Weapon Focus (spear), Improved Critical (spear), Critical Focus, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Step Up, Following Step, Stand Still, Improved Bull Rush, Greater Bull Rush, Blind-Fight, Quick Draw, Improved Sunder.
Skills (38 ranks each; 532 ranks total): Bluff +50, Craft (shipwright) +49, Knowledge (planes) +49, Perception +50, Sense Motive +50, Stealth +49, Diplomacy +50, Profession (sailor) +50, Knowledge (geography) +49, Disable Device +49, Swim +54, Knowledge (engineering) +46, Linguistics +46, Survival +47. The first ten listed are class skills; Swim includes the +8 bonus for a swim speed.
Divine Key-Spear. This unique two-handed +4 weapon deals 3d10 base damage for Portunus and grants 10-foot reach without a penalty against adjacent targets. Its damage and reach are divine weapon properties; an ordinary Medium spear retains its normal statistics. Improved Critical gives the listed 19–20 threat range.
Maneuver feats. His bull rush CMB is +50 and sunder CMB +48; CMD is 76 against either maneuver. The values above apply to other maneuvers. Power Attack and Combat Reflexes use their ordinary adjustments.
Divine Abilities
Safe Passage (Su). At the beginning of his turn Portunus chooses up to six allies within 60 feet. Until his next turn they can move through threatened squares without provoking attacks of opportunity, but not through solid obstacles.
Keeper of the Chain (Su). As a swift action Portunus locks or opens one mundane barrier within 120 feet. A magically sealed barrier instead requires the spell-like ability dispel magic or an equivalent effect.
Closed Harbour (Su). Once each round as an immediate action when a creature he can see crosses a threshold or attempts to teleport within 60 feet, he can force a Will DC 38 saving throw. On failure it remains on the departure side of the threshold, and the teleport resource is spent. The save DC is Charisma-based: 10 + half his 38 Hit Dice + 9 Charisma.
Divine Ward (Su). The DC of Portunus’s spell-like abilities increases by +7. This is an original campaign divine trait, not an outsider type rule.
Spell-Like Abilities
CL 38th; concentration +47; save DC 26 + spell level (Charisma +9 and Divine Ward +7); spell resistance applies as normal. Spells below are Portunus’s personal powers, not his follower domain grants. Unless noted otherwise, they require a standard action and are subject to ordinary spell-like ability rules; listed uses are per named ability.
- At will (0): create water, guidance, mending, message.
- 3/day each (1st): obscuring mist, sanctuary.
- 3/day each (2nd): arcane lock, knock.
- 3/day each (3rd): water breathing, dispel magic.
- 3/day each (4th): control water, freedom of movement.
- 2/day each (5th): teleport, plane shift.
- 2/day each (6th): forbiddance, heal.
- 2/day each (7th): greater teleport, greater restoration.
- 1/day each (8th): dimensional lock, greater planar binding.
- 1/day each (9th): gate, miracle.
Open the Harbour (Su; 1/1d4 rounds). Standard action; a 60-foot-long, 15-foot-wide line of navigable water or quay within 120 feet becomes safe passage for one round. Allies ignore difficult terrain and gain +4 dodge AC against attacks of opportunity there. Enemies entering it must make a Will DC 38 save or stop moving for the round. This is a mind-affecting compulsion; creatures immune to such effects are unaffected.
Rules status. Original, unplaytested rules for Portunus himself, using Pathfinder outsider statistics and bespoke divine traits. Challenge 32 is a campaign estimate; divine rank from 3.5e does not apply.
Follower Domains: Water, Travel and Protection
A cleric chooses two of these domains and prepares domain spells in the class’s domain slots. Spell level is shown below; these are follower grants, separate from Portunus’s personal powers.
| Spell level | Water | Travel | Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obscuring Mist | Longstrider | Sanctuary |
| 2 | Fog Cloud | Locate Object | Shield Other |
| 3 | Water Breathing | Fly | Protection from Energy |
| 4 | Control Water | Dimension Door | Spell Immunity |
| 5 | Ice Storm | Teleport | Spell Resistance |
| 6 | Cone of Cold | Find the Path | Antimagic Field |
| 7 | Elemental Body IV (water only) | Greater Teleport | Repulsion |
| 8 | Horrid Wilting | Phase Door | Mind Blank |
| 9 | Elemental Swarm (water only) | Astral Projection | Prismatic Sphere |
Granted powers. Water grants Icicle and Cold Resistance; Travel grants increased movement, Agile Feet and Dimensional Hop; Protection grants saving-throw resistance, Resistant Touch and Aura of Protection. Apply the native domain rules and level limits.
Gift of the Keeper’s Key (optional divine boon, Su). Once per day, a priest entrusted with a landing may use a standard action to open or lock one nonmagical lock they touch without tools. It cannot defeat a magical seal.
Portunus — D&D 3.5e Lesser Deity
Lawful Neutral Medium outsider (extraplanar, lawful, divine); Divine Rank 7
HD 40d8 + 360 (680 hp; deities have maximum hit points per Hit Die) · Initiative +19 (+8 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative, +7 divine) · Speed 60 ft., swim 60 ft.
AC 54, touch 34, flat-footed 46 (+8 Dex, +20 natural [rank+13], +7 divine, +9 deflection) · DR 20/epic · SR 39 · Divine Aura up to 700 ft., Will DC 26
Base Attack +20; epic attack bonus +10 (40 outsider HD); Grapple +45 (BAB +20, epic +10, Str +8, divine rank +7, size +0)
Attack +4 divine spear +50 melee (3d10+16 piercing plus 4d6 force; 19–20/x3) · Full Attack +50/+45/+40/+35 with the same spear; Space/Reach 5 ft./10 ft. (divine reach)
Fort +38, Ref +37, Will +38 (+22 epic-adjusted good base saves, +9/+8/+9 ability, +7 divine)
Str 26, Dex 26, Con 28, Int 26, Wis 28, Cha 28
Feats (14): Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (spear), Improved Critical (spear), Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Blind-Fight, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Quick Draw. 3.5e epic deities may have additional bonus feats from character classes, which this 40-HD outsider build does not add.
Skills (688 ranks; 43 in each listed skill). Diplomacy +63 (includes +4 Sense Motive synergy), Profession (sailor) +59, Sense Motive +59, Spot +59, Listen +59, Knowledge (geography, religion, the planes, architecture and engineering) +58 each, Craft (shipwright) +58, Swim +66, Use Rope +58, Hide +58, Move Silently +58, Search +58, Spellcraft +58. All are outsider class skills. Totals include +7 divine; Swim includes +8 for his swim speed. Other conditional synergy bonuses apply when relevant. Languages: Latin, Greek and languages learned at harbour shrines; divine comprehension of spoken, written and signed languages; telepathy 90 ft.
Divine Spear. The unique two-handed +4 spear deals 3d10 base damage and has 10-foot reach without losing adjacent attacks. These are bespoke divine weapon properties. Dodge grants another +1 AC against its designated opponent; Improved Bull Rush and Improved Sunder add their normal situational modifiers.
Divine Qualities
Divine station. Rank 7 adds +7 to attacks, saves, checks and caster-level checks. Portunus may take 10 on checks and never automatically fails attacks or saves on a natural 1. He is immortal but can be slain. Cold, acid and electricity cannot harm him; fire resistance 12. He is immune to mind-affecting effects, poison, disease, stunning, paralysis, sleep, death effects, disintegration, energy or ability drain, ability damage and involuntary alteration of form. Lesser-deity imprisonment and banishment protections also apply; consult Divine Ranks and Powers for divine-rank exceptions.
Senses and passage. His senses extend seven miles, obeying line of sight. He may remotely observe five worship-linked locations; retargeting takes a standard action. He can greater teleport himself and 700 pounds at will, or plane shift himself and 100 pounds, at caster level 20.
Divine Aura. Free action to choose a radius from 0 to 700 feet and Daze, Fright or Resolve. Resolve gives allies +4 morale on attacks, saves and checks and imposes −4 on enemies. Will DC 26 negates the mind-affecting aura for one day. Equal or higher divine rank is immune.
Keeper of the Threshold (Su). Once per round as an immediate action he can prevent one unattended gate or mundane lock within 60 feet from being opened; the effect lasts until the start of his next turn.
Harbour of Refuge (Su). Standard action; allies in a 60-foot radius gain a +7 divine bonus against forced movement and may move through enemy threatened squares without provoking attacks of opportunity for one round. This is an original campaign divine portfolio power.
Personal Divine Spell-Like Abilities
At will by level (CL 17; DC 26 + spell level; Charisma +9, Divine Rank +7). Spells below are his personal campaign repertoire, separate from the domain options of worshippers; action cost, spell resistance and other SLA rules apply. He also uses every spell in his Water, Travel and Protection domains at will at CL 17, with their granted powers functioning at effective cleric level 7. Domain spell lists appear below.
- 0: create water, guidance, mending, message.
- 1st: obscuring mist, sanctuary.
- 2nd: arcane lock, knock.
- 3rd: water breathing, dispel magic.
- 4th: control water, freedom of movement.
- 5th: teleport, plane shift.
- 6th: forbiddance, heal.
- 7th: greater teleport, greater restoration.
- 8th: dimensional lock, greater planar binding.
- 9th: gate, miracle.
Nine Salient Harbour Powers (Original Campaign)
Portunus has seven salient abilities for his divine rank and two extra for lesser-deity standing. Instead of assigning unrelated printed powers, this campaign uses these nine new portfolio-limited salient abilities. All are supernatural unless noted, have save DC 26 when a save is permitted, and take a standard action unless another action is stated.
- True Berth. Learn exactly which of ten vessels within sight can fit at a given quay in the current tide.
- Key’s Memory. Read the last three creatures to open a touched lock within the past 24 hours.
- Safe Crossing. Give one vessel within 120 ft. immunity to ordinary wind and current for one hour.
- Closed Channel. Seal a mundane channel or port gate in sight for ten minutes; creatures may counter it with a successful caster level check against DC 27.
- Returning Tether. Teleport one loose rope or chain he can see within 120 ft. to his hand.
- Harbour’s Warning. Alert all willing sailors within one mile to immediate approach hazards.
- Grant Landing. Give a touched vessel a +7 divine bonus on Profession (sailor) checks for one hour.
- Hold Fast. As an immediate action, prevent one unattended vessel or floating object within 120 ft. from being moved by nonmagical forces until the start of his next turn.
- Let Pass. End his own Closed Channel and similar seal abilities without an action, allowing a designated creature through.
Counterplay. Equal-ranked divine rivals contest his aura; magical seals, deception outside his sight and deliberate destruction of the quay do not yield to a mere ordinary key. His divine rank is real in this campaign, while the listed harbour-specific abilities are original adaptations. The numerical combat expression is unplaytested.
Follower Domains: Water, Travel and Protection
A cleric chooses two of these domains and prepares domain spells in the class’s domain slots. Spell level is shown below; these are follower grants, separate from Portunus’s personal powers.
| Spell level | Water | Travel | Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obscuring Mist | Longstrider | Sanctuary |
| 2 | Fog Cloud | Locate Object | Shield Other |
| 3 | Water Breathing | Fly | Protection from Energy |
| 4 | Control Water | Dimension Door | Spell Immunity |
| 5 | Ice Storm | Teleport | Spell Resistance |
| 6 | Cone of Cold | Find the Path | Antimagic Field |
| 7 | Acid Fog | Greater Teleport | Repulsion |
| 8 | Horrid Wilting | Phase Door | Mind Blank |
| 9 | Elemental Swarm (water only) | Astral Projection | Prismatic Sphere |
Granted powers. Water turns fire creatures and rebukes water creatures; Travel grants limited freedom of movement and Survival as a class skill; Protection grants a daily saving-throw ward. Apply the native domain rules and level limits.
Gift of the Keeper’s Key (optional divine boon, Su). Once per day, a priest entrusted with a landing may use a standard action to open or lock one nonmagical lock they touch without tools. It cannot defeat a magical seal.
Artifacts and Relics
The Tiber Key
Major Divine Relic · Wondrous Item (key). The Key answers only to a harbour keeper entrusted to protect the people and vessels using that landing. It cannot manufacture authority, open another god’s sealed sanctum, or make a rotten quay safe.
The Tiber Key — D&D 2024
Wondrous Item, Artifact (Major Divine Relic), Requires Attunement. Attunement is available only to a creature entrusted with protecting a harbour by its recognised keeper. If that trust is revoked for good cause, attunement ends at the end of the bearer’s next Long Rest.
Entrusted Gate. As a Magic action while holding the Key, open or lock one nonmagical port gate, chain lock, hatch or quay barrier you can touch that its keeper has entrusted to you. It remains physically possible to force, damage or block the closure.
Harbour Passage (3/Day). While touching an authorised, nonartifact port barrier, cast Knock without a spell slot or Material component. The spell has its normal effect only if the keeper would grant the passage, but still makes its normal noise.
Safe Berth (1/Day). Touch one moored vessel. For 8 hours, the vessel’s pilot has Advantage on checks to hold its berth and the vessel has Advantage on any saving throw it actually makes against ordinary wind, current or failed mooring. This does not defeat magical storms or deliberate towing.
The Tiber Key — D&D 5e (2014)
Wondrous item, artifact; requires attunement by a creature legitimately placed in charge of a harbour, quay or port gate. This is an original campaign magic item.
Keeper’s Authority. While attuned and holding the Key, the bearer uses an action to open or lock a nonmagical harbour closure within reach that falls within the authority entrusted to them. This does not overcome an arcane lock or another magical seal.
Passage by Consent (3/Day). The bearer uses an action to cast Knock on a port barrier it touches. The spell works only if the person entrusted with that barrier would permit the passage, but otherwise follows the spell’s ordinary 2014 rules, including its loud knock.
Steady Berth (1/Day). After using an action to touch a moored vessel, for 8 hours its pilot has advantage on ability checks made to hold the berth, and the vessel has advantage on any saving throws it makes against nonmagical weather and currents. It remains vulnerable to enemy spells, towing, damage to lines and destruction of the quay.
Violation of Trust. If the bearer knowingly opens a harbour to raiders attacking the community it serves, the Key becomes permanently mundane. Recovering a lost key does not restore that magic.
The Tiber Key — Pathfinder 1e
Major divine relic (slotless wondrous item); CL 16th; aura strong abjuration and transmutation; weight negligible. The Key functions only for a bearer who holds entrusted harbour authority. It uses a standard action to activate.
Entrusted Gate (at will). Touch a mundane port gate, chain lock or hatch over which the bearer has legitimate custody to open or close it. Magical seals resist normally.
Harbour Passage (3/day). Use knock (CL 16th) as a spell-like ability on an authorised port barrier. If the responsible keeper refuses entry, the effect fails and a daily use is expended.
Safe Berth (1/day). Touch a moored vessel. For 8 hours its pilot receives a +4 sacred bonus on Profession (sailor) checks made to hold berth, and the vessel gains a +4 sacred bonus on saving throws against nonmagical weather and currents when those saves are applicable. Deliberate towage, magic and broken moorings remain effective.
The Tiber Key — D&D 3.5e
Major divine relic; CL 16th; weight negligible; wondrous item (slotless). Only a bearer invested with authority to keep a given port can use its powers; this is a campaign item, not a published named relic.
Entrusted Gate (at will). Standard action while touching a legitimate harbour gate, chain closure or port lock. The bearer can unlock or secure the mundane closure; arcane lock and stronger magic require their usual counters.
Authorised Knock (3/day). Reproduce knock (CL 16th) against a nonartifact port closure where the responsible keeper consents. This command-word effect uses a standard action and does not function without the keeper’s consent.
Haven of Ropes (1/day). Touch a moored vessel. Its pilot gains a +4 sacred bonus on Profession (sailor) and Use Rope checks to maintain the berth for 8 hours. The vessel receives a +4 sacred bonus on saves against nonmagical winds and currents, when applicable. No bonus applies against magical forced movement.
Breaking the Key
The Key loses its magic permanently if its recognised bearer uses entrusted authority to open a harbour deliberately to raiders or saboteurs attacking the community that granted that authority.
The Mooring Ring
Lesser Divine Relic · Wondrous Item (mooring ring). Once set into a sound mooring point and used to fasten a vessel, the Ring holds a berth against natural wind and current. It cannot protect a broken hull or quay, prevent deliberate towing, or defeat supernatural force.
The Mooring Ring — D&D 2024
Wondrous Item, Rare; no Attunement. With a Utilize action, secure the Ring to a sound quay and tie a suitable vessel to it. Ordinary wind and current cannot move the vessel out of its berth while the fastening remains sound. The Ring never prevents the destruction of a rope, ship or quay; any spell or deliberate towing works normally. Removing the Ring takes a Utilize action and releases its protection.
The Mooring Ring — D&D 5e (2014)
Wondrous item, rare; no attunement. A creature uses an action to secure the Ring to a stable mooring point and fasten a vessel of a size the ropes and bollards can actually support. Natural wind and currents alone cannot move the vessel from that berth. The Ring grants no protection against a creature deliberately towing or cutting the line, magical currents, hull damage or destruction of the quay. An action detaches the ring.
The Mooring Ring — Pathfinder 1e
Minor wondrous item; CL 9th; moderate abjuration; weight 1 lb. Standard action to fasten. A ship tied to the Ring on a sound fixed point remains at berth against natural currents and winds so long as the rope and mooring support its normal load. The pilot gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Profession (sailor) checks to hold the berth in such weather; the Ring never protects against deliberate towage, spells, sabotage or structural destruction. Detaching it takes a standard action.
The Mooring Ring — D&D 3.5e
Minor wondrous item; CL 9th; weight 1 lb. A standard action fastens the Ring to a quay and a vessel by a sound rope. Ordinary wind or current alone cannot pull the ship from its berth; the pilot receives a +10 circumstance bonus on Profession (sailor) and Use Rope checks to hold the mooring in such weather. Magical currents, deliberate towage, severed ropes and failing harbour structures bypass the protection. A standard action removes it.
Divine Estate and Regional Effects
Where Portunus’s presence is strong, a major sanctuary can project the following effects across roughly six miles. A small shrine normally manifests only one effect in a smaller area. Unless another divine power contests them, the effects fade over 1d10 days after the sanctuary is abandoned or desecrated.
Harbour Mouths Warn
Changes in tide, current and submerged debris produce visible patterns before they become dangerous to incoming vessels.
Keys Fit True Locks
A legitimate key used on the lock it was made for cannot be jammed by ordinary corrosion or sabotage while the harbour remains under Portunus’s protection.
Lanterns Find the Landing
A small gold light appears above the nearest sound landing when a boat in distress approaches by night. It fades if the crew turns towards a wrecking light, then kindles again when they regain the safe channel.
Deep Dive
Continue through the Roman Pantheon, Janus, Mercury, Neptune. Follow the cult into Rome and wider Italy, or use the Cleric and Cleric Domains pages for player-facing worship.
Historical Sources and Rules Compatibility
- Portunalia — festival of Portunus.
- Portunium — Tiber harbour temple tradition.
The cult history draws on ancient testimony; the encounters, relics and combat statistics are original campaign material.
Rules licensing. Rules references: D&D SRDs 5.1 and 5.2.1 (CC BY 4.0), Pathfinder First Edition and the 3.5e SRD (Open Game License 1.0a). Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e deity statistics on this page are original campaign conversions rather than official published deity stat blocks.
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