Cronus, the Deposed Titan King
At a Glance
| Tradition | Hellenic Titan |
|---|---|
| Titles | The Deposed King; Lord of Mount Othrys |
| Parents | Uranus and Gaia |
| Consort | Rhea |
| Principal rival | Zeus |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Portfolio | Titans, tyranny, ambition, imprisonment and resentment |
| Symbol | A downward-pointing black sickle |
| Divine prison | Tartarus (the Tarterian depths of Carceri) |
| Domains | Chaos, Knowledge, tyranny and the darker harvest cults |
| Favoured weapon | Sickle |
Cronus (Kronos) is the Titan king who swallowed his children to keep his crown. Zeus escaped and overthrew him. Behind the wards of Carceri, the old king offers his followers the one promise he cannot fulfill for himself: power that no successor can take away.
What Is Happening Right Now?
The Deposed King’s priests court rulers who fear their own heirs. A harvest feast offers relief from rank and hunger; its inner circle offers a darker bargain. The cult seeks Olympian relics, Titan allies, and the names of the wardens who keep the Palace of Titans sealed. Its immediate objective is a breach through which a bound manifestation can act, not the destruction of Olympus in a single night.
The Fall of the Titan King
The youngest of the Titans born to Uranus and Gaia, Cronos was the ambitious one who attacked his father and then assumed the throne to become ruler of the world.
However, when his mother Gaia prophesied that one of his children would overthrow him as he had his father, Cronos proved just as despotic as Uranus. As his wife, Rhea, gave birth to the Olympian gods, he seized them and swallowed them up. His plan might have worked, had Rhea not tricked him into swallowing a stone instead of her sixth child. This god, Zeus, eventually returned to lead the successful revolt against him.
Because of his past actions, Cronus was imprisoned in Tartarus.
Cronus may be the most powerful being imprisoned. Simultaneously, he is the most powerless, as true to the nature of the Prison, no being is more thoroughly shackled through the memories of their own greatness than he is, there is no being anywhere that may have lost as much as Cronus has.
In terms of Cronus’ appearance, one look at him reveals only a slight measure of the formerly incredible power which he once possessed, and how much power even a weakened Cronus still possesses. Cronus stands eighty feet tall and typically wears a grey toga; from a distance every feature of his body appears to be utterly perfect.
As soon as he speaks it begins to become clear that there is something wrong with him, as although his voice is melodious and quite beautiful, allowing him to manipulate others, his own desperation and ambition drip from his honeyed tongue, revealing only the slightest fraction of the calculating and ancient evil within him. Rarely does Cronus allow anyone to behold his visage; those beings which have claim that his eyes are a deep brown.
Because Kronus remains penned in Tartarus, he is unable to influence events on earth except through his followers. Therefore, at least cult members are constantly moving about the world, promising men great rewards in return for worshipping Cronos and turning their backs on the Olympian gods. On occasion, these cults rise to a position of power, and the result is invariably war as they attack the power bases of Cronus’ rivals.
Because of his imprisonment, Cronus cannot send omens or portents.
Used with permission from Palindrome
The Cult of the Deposed King
Duties of the Priesthood Cronus has no widespread public cult. Small sects of priests dedicated to him hide in major cities who are constantly trying to recruit worshipers through the promise of power or money. The priests organize large harvest-time festivals in which class distinctions are abolished. Their intention is to use the festival as a recruiting tool.
The Palace of Titans
Cronus holds court within his prison on Othrys, in Carceri’s Tarterian depths. His palace preserves the gestures of a lost kingship: retainers announce an emperor whose roads lead nowhere, and petitioners offer tribute to a throne that cannot cross its own threshold. His agents on Midgard carry messages and arrange bargains; imprisonment prevents him from freely sending portents or travelling to his worshippers.
Chaotic Evil. Cronus prizes his own sovereignty above every bond. He rewards useful service, sets rivals against one another, and treats even his siblings as expendable. His mortal followers choose their crimes; their allegiance does not make them fiends.
Divine Manifestations
The powers below govern bodies encountered within the prison or at a seal deliberately breached by mortal agents. Defeating a body can rescue captives and close a breach. Releasing the Titan king requires breaking the prison itself.
Cronus, the Deposed King
Gargantuan Celestial (Titan), Chaotic Evil
AC 26 Initiative +14 (24)
HP 900 (40d20 + 480)
Speed 60 ft.
| Ability | Score | Mod | Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | 40 | +15 | +25 |
| DEX | 18 | +4 | +4 |
| CON | 34 | +12 | +22 |
| INT | 30 | +10 | +20 |
| WIS | 28 | +9 | +19 |
| CHA | 32 | +11 | +21 |
Skills Deception +31, History +20, Insight +19, Intimidation +31, Perception +19
Resistances Cold, Fire
Immunities Acid, Poison, Thunder; Charmed, Frightened, Poisoned
Senses Truesight 120 ft.; Passive Perception 29
Languages All; telepathy 120 ft.
CR 35 (original epic estimate; PB +10)
Traits
Prison of the First King. This body can appear in the Palace of Titans or through a deliberately breached Titan seal. Teleportation and planar travel cannot carry it across an intact ward of Carceri. Destroying the body frees its swallowed captives; it does not destroy or release the imprisoned god.
Legendary Resistance (5/Day). Cronus can turn a failed saving throw into a successful one.
Magic Resistance. Cronus makes saving throws against spells and magical effects with Advantage.
Regeneration. Cronus regains 30 Hit Points at the start of his turn if he has at least 1 Hit Point. If he took Radiant damage since his last turn, this trait has no effect that turn.
Devouring Monarch. Cronus occupies a 30-foot square. He can hold four Large creatures, sixteen Medium creatures, or an equivalent volume in his stomach. Swallowed creatures have Total Cover against effects originating outside him.
Actions
Multiattack. Cronus makes three Sickle attacks. He may replace one with Grasp or Swallow.
Sickle. Melee Attack Roll: +28, reach 30 ft. Hit: 32 (4d6 + 18) Slashing damage plus 40 (9d8) Necrotic damage. The target cannot regain Hit Points until the start of Cronus’s next turn.
Grasp. Strength Saving Throw: DC 33, one Large or smaller creature within 30 feet. Failure: The target takes 37 (4d10 + 15) Bludgeoning damage and has the Grappled condition (escape DC 33). Cronus has two hands and can grapple one creature in each.
Swallow. Cronus swallows one creature he is grappling. The grapple ends, and the target has the Blinded and Restrained conditions inside him. At the start of each of his turns it takes 45 (10d8) Acid damage and makes a DC 29 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure it also has the Incapacitated condition until the start of his next turn. An attack from inside uses AC 20; 60 damage dealt from inside during a single turn forces Cronus to regurgitate all captives into unoccupied spaces within 15 feet. Incapacitation never prevents the next saving throw.
Broken Crown (Recharge 5–6). Wisdom Saving Throw: DC 29, each enemy Cronus can see within 90 feet. Failure: 66 (12d10) Psychic damage and the Frightened condition until the end of its next turn. Success: Half damage only.
Spellcasting. Cronus casts one of these spells, requiring no Material components and using Charisma (spell save DC 29, +21 to hit). Normal casting times and Concentration apply: at will—Detect Magic, Dispel Magic, Detect Thoughts; 3/day each—Dominate Person, Wall of Stone; 1/day each—Dominate Monster, Foresight, Imprisonment. A permanent prison created by Imprisonment can end when its caster’s manifested body is defeated; this is an additional release condition.
Bonus Actions
Step of the Titan. Cronus moves up to 30 feet. This movement cannot cross an intact prison seal and provokes Opportunity Attacks normally.
Reactions
The King’s Due (3/Day). When a creature within 30 feet damages Cronus with an attack, it makes a DC 29 Charisma saving throw. On a failure it takes 27 (6d8) Psychic damage and cannot take Reactions until the start of its next turn.
Legendary Actions
Cronus can use 3 Legendary Actions per round, spending one at a time after another creature’s turn and regaining all uses at the start of his turn. He cannot use them while Incapacitated.
Reaping Stroke. Cronus makes one Sickle attack.
Claim the Heir (Costs 2 Actions). Cronus uses Grasp or Swallow.
Voice of the Old Throne (Costs 2 Actions). One creature within 90 feet makes a DC 29 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure it has the Charmed condition until the end of its next turn. While Charmed in this way, it cannot willingly attack Cronus. Damage from Cronus or his allies ends the effect.
Palace of Titans: Lair Actions
On Initiative count 20, after ties, Cronus chooses one option. He cannot repeat an option on consecutive rounds or act while Incapacitated.
- Fallen Columns. A 20-foot-radius area within 120 feet collapses. Creatures there make a DC 29 Dexterity saving throw, taking 35 (10d6) Bludgeoning damage and falling Prone on a failure, or taking half damage on a success. The area becomes Difficult Terrain.
- Prisoner’s Chain. One creature within 120 feet makes a DC 29 Strength saving throw or has the Restrained condition until the next Initiative count 20.
- Sealed Gate. A doorway within 120 feet closes behind a slab of stone (AC 20; HP 60; Immunity to Poison and Psychic damage). The slab crumbles on the next Initiative count 20.
Regional Effects
Within 6 miles of the Palace, the ground is Difficult Terrain for creatures hostile to Cronus unless they travel along a marked prison road. Within 1 mile, unattended nonmagical crops wither after 24 hours and a creature finishing a Long Rest makes a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or gains no benefit from that rest; success grants immunity to this effect for 7 days. These effects end 7 days after the body is defeated. They cannot open the wards around Cronus.
The Black Sickle: Artifact
The Sickle is a +3 weapon requiring attunement by a Titan; its bonus, Necrotic damage, and healing suppression are included in Sickle. It ignores Resistance to Slashing damage and is effective against objects as Adamantine. An attuned bearer other than Cronus gains the +3 bonus and deals an extra 9 (2d8) Necrotic damage per hit; healing suppression lasts until the start of that bearer’s next turn. It resizes to the bearer. Breaking it requires Gaia’s willing intervention at the wound where Uranus fell.
War Domain
Cronus’s armed priesthood teaches the War Domain.
| Cleric level | Domain spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Guiding Bolt, Magic Weapon, Shield of Faith, Spiritual Weapon |
| 5th | Crusader’s Mantle, Spirit Guardians |
| 7th | Fire Shield, Freedom of Movement |
| 9th | Hold Monster, Steel Wind Strike |
Original epic manifestation for D&D 2024. CR and Proficiency Bonus extend beyond the published CR 30 benchmark; determine encounter rewards for the campaign.
Cronus, the Deposed King
Gargantuan celestial (titan), chaotic evil
Armor Class 25 (natural armor)
Hit Points 860 (40d20 + 440)
Speed 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 (+14) | 18 (+4) | 32 (+11) | 30 (+10) | 28 (+9) | 32 (+11) |
Saving Throws Str +24, Con +21, Int +20, Wis +19, Cha +21
Skills Deception +31, History +20, Insight +19, Intimidation +31, Perception +19
Damage Resistances cold, fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities acid, poison, thunder
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 29
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 34 (original epic estimate; proficiency bonus +10)
Bound Sovereign. Cronus occupies a 30-foot square. This manifestation exists within the Palace of Titans or at a Titan seal broken by others. No spell he casts can carry him across an intact prison ward. Its death releases swallowed captives without releasing or permanently destroying the god.
Legendary Resistance (5/Day). Cronus may replace a failed saving throw with a success.
Magic Resistance. Cronus has advantage when saving against a spell or other magical effect.
Regeneration. At the start of his turn, Cronus regains 25 hit points if he has at least 1 hit point. Radiant damage stops this recovery on his next turn.
Innate Spellcasting. Cronus’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 29, +21 to hit with spell attacks). He needs no material components; normal casting times and concentration apply.
- At will: detect magic, detect thoughts, dispel magic, suggestion.
- 3/day each: dominate person, wall of stone.
- 1/day each: dominate monster, foresight, imprisonment. Any imprisonment he creates also ends when this manifestation dies.
Actions
Multiattack. Cronus makes three Sickle attacks, or two Sickle attacks and one Grasp.
Sickle. Melee Weapon Attack: +27 to hit, reach 30 ft., one target. Hit: 31 (4d6 + 17) slashing damage plus 36 (8d8) necrotic damage. Until the start of Cronus’s next turn, the target cannot regain hit points.
Grasp. Melee Weapon Attack: +24 to hit, reach 30 ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: 36 (4d10 + 14) bludgeoning damage, and the creature is grappled (escape DC 32). Cronus can hold one creature in each hand.
Maw of the Father. Cronus swallows one grappled creature. The grapple ends; the creature is blinded and restrained inside him and has total cover from attacks and other effects originating outside. At the start of each Cronus turn it takes 36 (8d8) acid damage and makes a DC 29 Wisdom saving throw or becomes incapacitated until the next start of his turn. It repeats this save every round even while incapacitated. If he takes 50 damage from within during one turn, he regurgitates every captive into spaces within 15 feet. His interior has AC 20 and can hold four Large creatures, sixteen Medium creatures, or equivalent volume.
Fear of the Usurper (Recharge 5–6). Each enemy he can see within 90 feet makes a DC 29 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it takes 55 (10d10) psychic damage and is frightened for 1 minute. On a success, it takes half damage and is not frightened. A frightened target repeats the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the fear on a success.
Reactions
Refuse the Blow (3/Day). Cronus adds 5 to his AC against one attack that would hit him. He must see the attacker and wield his Sickle.
Legendary Actions
Cronus has 3 legendary actions each round. He uses one option after another creature’s turn, one at a time, and recovers all spent actions at the start of his turn. He cannot use them while incapacitated.
- Sickle. Cronus makes one Sickle attack.
- Advance. Cronus moves up to half his speed; opportunity attacks apply normally.
- Devour (Costs 2 Actions). Cronus uses Maw of the Father.
- Command (Costs 2 Actions). Cronus casts suggestion, using his normal concentration and innate spellcasting limits.
Lair Actions — Palace of Titans
On initiative count 20 after ties, if not incapacitated, Cronus chooses one effect, without repeating the previous round’s option:
- Stone falls in a 20-foot-radius area within 120 feet. A DC 27 Dexterity save halves 35 (10d6) bludgeoning damage; failure also knocks the creature prone.
- Chains grasp one creature within 120 feet. It makes a DC 27 Strength save or is restrained until the next initiative count 20.
- A stone door closes a passage within 120 feet (AC 20, 60 hit points, immune to poison and psychic damage), then crumbles on the next initiative count 20.
Regional Effects
Within 6 miles, terrain outside marked prison roads is difficult terrain for Cronus’s enemies. Within 1 mile, unattended nonmagical crops die after 24 hours. A creature completing a long rest there must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom save to benefit from it; success grants immunity to this effect for 7 days. The effects end 7 days after the manifestation’s defeat.
The Black Sickle — Artifact
A +3 weapon requiring attunement by a titan, resizing to its bearer. Its bonus is included above. For a bearer other than Cronus it deals the weapon’s normal damage plus 9 (2d8) necrotic damage and prevents the target regaining hit points until the bearer’s next turn. It counts as adamantine against objects. Gaia can destroy it willingly at the place where Uranus was overthrown; mortal weapons cannot destroy it.
War Domain
Cronus’s armed priesthood teaches the War Domain.
| Cleric level | Domain spells |
|---|---|
| 1st | divine favor, shield of faith |
| 3rd | magic weapon, spiritual weapon |
| 5th | crusader’s mantle, spirit guardians |
| 7th | freedom of movement, stoneskin |
| 9th | flame strike, hold monster |
Original epic manifestation for D&D 2014. CR 34 and proficiency +10 are campaign extensions above the published CR 30 range; set rewards for the campaign.
Cronus, Bound Manifestation — CR 33
CE Colossal outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar, titan)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 120 ft., true seeing; Perception +55
Aura terror (120 ft., DC 44)
DEFENSE
AC 55, touch 20, flat-footed 51 (–8 size, +4 Dex, +14 deflection, +35 natural)
hp 820 (40d10 + 600); fast healing 20
Fort +42, Ref +24, Will +41
DR 20/epic and good; Immune acid, disease, mind-affecting effects, petrification, poison, sonic; Resist cold 20, fire 20; SR 44
OFFENSE
Speed 60 ft.
Melee Black Sickle +58/+53/+48/+43 (6d6+25/19–20 plus 2d6 against good creatures), bite +47 (4d8+10 plus grab)
Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft.
Special Attacks crushing grip, swallow whole, voice of the usurper
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 40th; concentration +54)
- Constant—true seeing
- At will—bestow curse (DC 28, treated as a 4th-level spell), detect thoughts (DC 26), greater dispel magic, suggestion (DC 27)
- 3/day—dominate person (DC 29), greater teleport (self plus 50 lb. only), wall of stone (DC 29)
- 1/day—dominate monster (DC 33), foresight, imprisonment (DC 33)
STATISTICS
Str 50, Dex 18, Con 40, Int 36, Wis 34, Cha 38
Base Atk +40; CMB +68 (+72 bull rush and sunder, +72 grapple); CMD 96 (98 bull rush or sunder)
Feats Awesome Blow, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Casting, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Great Cleave, Greater Bull Rush, Greater Sunder, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (sickle), Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Improved Sunder, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Lunge, Power Attack, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (sickle)
Skills Bluff +57, Diplomacy +57, Intimidate +57, Knowledge (arcana, history, planes, religion) +56, Perception +55, Sense Motive +55, Spellcraft +56; Racial Modifiers none
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Giant, Infernal; telepathy 120 ft.
SQ bound immortality, divine sovereignty
Gear Black Sickle (major artifact)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Bound Immortality (Su). Cronus’s body appears in the Palace of Titans or at a deliberately breached Titan seal. His teleportation cannot cross intact prison wards. Killing it releases swallowed captives. A new manifestation forms inside the Palace after 7 days; this is no escape from Carceri.
Divine Sovereignty (Su). The listed +14 deflection bonus and +5 resistance bonus on saves are inherent divine effects. Cronus needs no food, air, or sleep. Holy damage suppresses his fast healing for 1 round. These are original divine powers, not mythic tiers or spell buffs.
Terror (Su). On first entering the aura in an encounter, a creature makes a DC 44 Will save. Failure leaves it shaken for 1 minute; success prevents further aura checks for 24 hours. This fear effect does not stack with itself.
Crushing Grip (Ex). Cronus can use grab against a Huge or smaller creature struck by his bite. His grab bonus is included in CMB +72 for grapple. A maintained grapple deals 4d8+20 bludgeoning damage or allows swallow whole.
Swallow Whole (Su). Cronus may swallow a grappled creature with a successful grapple check as a standard action. The interior holds one Huge, two Large, eight Medium, or equivalent volume; swallowed creatures take 8d6 bludgeoning and 8d6 acid damage at the start of his turn. Interior AC 27; cutting free requires 82 damage. Each swallowed creature makes a DC 44 Will save at the start of its turn or is dazed until the start of its next turn; the next save still occurs. Killing Cronus releases all captives.
Voice of the Usurper (Su). Three times per day as a standard action, Cronus forces one creature within 120 feet that can hear him to make a DC 44 Will save. On a failure it is confused for 1d4 rounds. This is a language-dependent, mind-affecting compulsion. The DCs of his supernatural abilities are Charisma-based.
PALACE OF TITANS
Within the throne hall, every passage is subject to dimensional lock (CL 40th); Cronus is equally bound. Once per round as a swift action he may raise a 20-foot-long stone barrier within 120 feet (hardness 8, hp 60 per 5-foot section) that lasts 1 round. Creatures in its path choose either adjacent side. This is a supernatural estate power.
Within 1 mile, nonmagical crops wither in 24 hours and enemies have a –4 penalty on saves against fear. These regional effects end 7 days after the manifestation’s defeat; they never remove prison wards.
BLACK SICKLE — MAJOR ARTIFACT
Aura overwhelming necromancy and transmutation; CL 40th; Slot none; Weight varies. A +5 unholy sickle that resizes to its wielder and counts as adamantine and epic for overcoming hardness and damage reduction. In Cronus’s hands its base damage is 6d6; the enhancement is included above. A hit also prevents magical healing until the start of the wielder’s next turn unless the healer succeeds on a DC 35 caster level check. The unholy damage applies only against good creatures and is not multiplied on a critical hit. Destruction: Gaia must willingly break it at the place of Uranus’s overthrow.
Cleric Domains and Domain Spells
This priesthood grants Chaos and Knowledge. The crueler Hatred and Cannibalism traditions remain in the separately credited epic profile.
| Spell level | Chaos | Knowledge |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | protection from law | comprehend languages |
| 2nd | align weapon (chaos only) | detect thoughts |
| 3rd | magic circle against law | speak with dead |
| 4th | chaos hammer | divination |
| 5th | dispel law | true seeing |
| 6th | animate objects | find the path |
| 7th | word of chaos | legend lore |
| 8th | cloak of chaos | discern location |
| 9th | summon monster IX (chaotic only) | foresight |
Domain powers. Mortal clerics use Touch of Chaos, Chaos Blade, Lore Keeper, and Remote Viewing at their cleric level. These are class powers, separate from the manifestation’s supernatural attacks.
Original Pathfinder 1e divine manifestation. CR 33 is an epic encounter estimate; determine rewards for the campaign. The listed defenses and attacks include its artifact and inherent divine bonuses.
Cronus, Bound Manifestation
Colossal Outsider (Chaotic, Evil, Extraplanar); Virtual Divine Rank 11
| Hit Dice | 40d8+600 (920 hp; maximized divine Hit Dice) |
|---|---|
| Initiative | +8 (+4 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative) |
| Speed | 60 ft. (12 squares) |
| Armor Class | 66 (–8 size, +4 Dex, +35 natural, +11 divine, +14 deflection), touch 31, flat-footed 62 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +40/+87 |
| Attack | Black Sickle +73 melee (6d6+27/19–20 plus 2d6 against good) |
| Full Attack | Black Sickle +73/+68/+63/+58 melee (6d6+27/19–20 plus 2d6 against good) |
| Space/Reach | 30 ft./30 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Divine aura, Maw of the Father, sovereign command, spell-like abilities |
| Special Qualities | Darkvision 120 ft., true seeing, DR 20/epic and good, fast healing 20, SR 43, virtual divinity, bound immortality |
| Saves | Fort +48, Ref +37, Will +45 |
| Abilities | Str 50, Dex 18, Con 40, Int 36, Wis 34, Cha 38 |
| Skills | Bluff +68, Concentration +69, Diplomacy +68, Intimidate +68, Knowledge (arcana, history, the planes, religion) +67, Listen +66, Search +67, Sense Motive +66, Spellcraft +67, Spot +66 |
| Feats | Awesome Blow, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (sickle), Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Weapon Focus (sickle) |
| Epic Feats | Epic Weapon Focus (sickle), Overwhelming Critical (sickle) |
| Environment | Palace of Titans, Othrys, Carceri |
| Organization | Unique, often with Titan retainers |
| Challenge Rating | 40 (original epic estimate) |
| Treasure | Black Sickle |
| Alignment | Chaotic evil |
| Advancement | — |
| Level Adjustment | — |
Combat
Cronus bargains through his retainers, keeps captives close, and turns on isolated opponents. He uses greater dispel magic before closing with the Sickle. His prison prevents retreat to another plane.
Virtual Divinity (Ex). This bound manifestation receives +11 divine bonuses to attack rolls, AC, saves, skill checks, ability checks, and grapple checks, included where listed. It uses full outsider racial base attack and save progressions. Confinement suppresses automatic results of 20, remote communication, and unlisted divine-rank powers. It is immune to acid, disease, mind-affecting effects, petrification, poison, sonic damage, energy drain, ability drain, and ability damage; it has cold and fire resistance 20. It does not age, eat, sleep, or breathe.
Bound Immortality (Su). The body can appear only inside the Palace or at a Titan seal breached by others. Intact prison wards defeat its planar travel. If slain it reforms in the Palace after 7 days, releasing its swallowed captives immediately. This does not release Cronus from Carceri.
Salient Divine Powers
Aura of the Fallen King (Su). Each enemy first coming within 120 feet makes a DC 55 Will save or is shaken for 1 minute. Success grants immunity for 24 hours. This mind-affecting fear effect does not stack with itself.
Maw of the Father (Su). As a standard action after establishing a grapple, Cronus may attempt another grapple check to swallow one Huge or smaller opponent. His stomach holds one Huge, two Large, eight Medium, or an equivalent volume. A captive takes 8d6 bludgeoning and 8d6 acid damage on each Cronus turn. At the start of each of its turns it makes a DC 55 Will save or is dazed until its next turn; the next save always occurs. A captive may cut free by dealing 92 damage to the interior (AC 27). Death releases all captives.
Sovereign Command (Su). Three times daily, as a standard action, Cronus issues a command to one creature within 120 feet that hears and understands him. A DC 55 Will save negates; failure produces confusion for 1d4 rounds. This is a language-dependent, mind-affecting compulsion. All three powers use Charisma, half Hit Dice, and virtual divine rank for their DCs.
Spell-Like Abilities
Caster level 40th; Charisma-based save DC 35 + spell level, including virtual divine rank. These are spell-like abilities, not a wizard’s prepared spells.
- Constant: true seeing.
- At will: bestow curse (DC 39; 4th-level version), detect thoughts (DC 37), greater dispel magic, suggestion (DC 38).
- 3/day each: dominate person (DC 40), greater teleport (self plus 50 lb. only), wall of stone (DC 40).
- 1/day each: dominate monster (DC 44), foresight, imprisonment (DC 44). His imprisonment also ends when this manifestation is slain.
Black Sickle — Major Artifact
A +7 unholy sickle, resizing to its wielder. For Cronus its damage is 6d6+27, its threat range is 19–20 because of Improved Critical, and its critical multiplier is ×2. Overwhelming Critical adds a separate 1d6 on a critical hit. Its unholy 2d6 applies only against good creatures and is not multiplied. It counts as adamantine and epic. A struck creature cannot receive magical healing until the wielder’s next turn unless the healer succeeds on a DC 40 caster level check. Gaia alone may willingly break it at the place of Uranus’s overthrow.
Divine Estate — Palace of Titans
The throne hall is under dimensional lock (CL 40th), binding Cronus as well as visitors. As a swift action once per round he can raise a stone barrier 20 feet long within 120 feet (hardness 8, 60 hp per 5-foot section); it crumbles at the start of his next turn. Creatures in its path choose an adjacent side. Within 1 mile, nonmagical crops wither in 24 hours and enemies take a –4 penalty on fear saves. These supernatural regional effects end 7 days after the body’s defeat.
Cleric Domains and Domain Spells
Cronus grants Chaos and Knowledge to this priesthood. Chaos grants +1 caster level for chaotic spells; Knowledge makes every Knowledge skill a cleric class skill and grants +1 caster level for divinations.
| Spell level | Chaos | Knowledge |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | protection from law | detect secret doors |
| 2nd | shatter | detect thoughts |
| 3rd | magic circle against law | clairaudience/clairvoyance |
| 4th | chaos hammer | divination |
| 5th | dispel law | true seeing |
| 6th | animate objects | find the path |
| 7th | word of chaos | legend lore |
| 8th | cloak of chaos | discern location |
| 9th | summon monster IX (chaotic only) | foresight |
Original D&D 3.5e encounter manifestation using a defined virtual-rank adaptation. The distinct Rank 11 epic treatment by Palindrome follows under its own attribution.
Adventures in the Deposed King’s Shadow
- The Feast Without Masters. A harvest celebration feeds a starving district. Its sponsor demands that the ruler’s heir join a private supper beneath the granary. The characters must expose the bargain before the guests vanish.
- The Prisoner’s Ransom. A Titan envoy offers to release captives swallowed long ago if the characters recover the name of an Olympian warden. The name is also the missing element of a prison-breaking rite.
- The False Golden Age. A deposed noble returns with wealth and accurate knowledge of buried ruins. Every success removes a rival; every failure sends another family member into the cult’s keeping. The final payment falls due at the next harvest.
Sources and Credits
The mythology follows the Titan succession tradition: Uranus, Cronus, and Zeus. Theoi’s Cronus collection gathers the ancient passages. The active cult, prison encounters, original manifestations, and Black Sickle powers are campaign adaptations.
The Goya painting is public domain. The following epic treatment is used with permission from Palindrome, with its original Dicefreaks attribution retained. It is a separate epic interpretation with its own virtual-rank conventions; it is not the source of the newly written manifestation profiles.
Hellenic Pantheon · Rhea · Zeus · Saturn
Palindrome’s epic Cronus — complete credited profile
Used with permission from Palindrome. Original Dicefreaks discussion. This profile retains its separate CR 57 and Virtual Divine Rank 11 conventions.
Legacy Divine Profile
Cronus
The Deposed King, Lord of Mount Othrys, Patron Cosmic Entity of Titans
Symbol Black sickle pointing downwards and to the left
Home Plane The Palace of Titans (Tartarus)
Alignment Chaotic Evil
Portfolio ambition, bygone creatures, embittered prisoners, resentment, titans,
Worshippers Titans, tyrants
Cleric Alignment NE, CE
Domains Chaos, Cannibalism, Hatred, Knowledge
Favored Weapon sickle
D&D 3.5e — Legacy Divine Statistics
| Cronus | |
|---|---|
| Virtual Divine Rank 11 | |
| Colossal outsider (Chaotic, Evil, Extraplanar) | |
| Hit Dice | 95d8 (outsider) plus +1615 (2375 hp) |
| Initiative | +12 (+4 Dexterity, +8 Superior Initiative) |
| Speed | 450 ft. |
| Armor Class | 78 (-8 size, +35 natural, +24 divine, +4 Dexterity, +13 deflection), touch 47, flat-footed 74 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +95/+132 |
| Attack | sickle of Castration +122 melee or +112 melee touch or +91 ranged touch |
| Full Attack | sickle of Castration +122/+117/+112/+107 melee (6d6 plus +3d6 (chaotic power) and 1 negative level (Fort save DC 23 to remove) plus +32/19-20/x2 plus 1d6 (Overwhelming Critical) plus +6d6 (chaotic power) and 2 negative levels (Fort save DC 23 to remove) and Fort save DC 82 or die) or +112 melee touch or +91 ranged touch |
| Space/Reach | 30 ft./30 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Bitter Harvest, Emnity, Historical Revision, Maw of the Father, spells, spell-like abilities |
| Special Qualities | Cosmic Divinity (vDR 11), Cosmic Presence, Cosmic Realm (Palace of Titans), immunities (cold, sonic), Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Patron Omniscience, Patron Qualities, resistances (cold, fire) 20, SR 72, Unprincipled |
| Saves | Fort +62, Ref +52, Will +60 |
| Abilities | Strength 60, Dexterity 18, Constitution 45, Intelligence 44, Wisdom 42, Charisma 36 |
| Skills | Bluff +111, Climb +123, Concentration +64, Decipher Script +64, Diplomacy +135, Escape Artist +101, Intimidate +119, Jump +98, Knowledge (all) +115, Listen +114, Search +115 (+121 find secret doors/hidden compartments), Spellcraft +123 (+127 use spells on scrolls), Sense Motive +114, Spot +114, Use Magic Device +60 (+74 scrolls) |
| Feats | Awesome Blow, Blind-Fight, Cleave, Empower Spell, Extend spell (B), Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Heighten Spell, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (sickle), Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Power Attack, Quicken Spell, Twin Spell, Weapon Focus (sickle) |
| Epic Feats | Automatic Quicken Spell(x4), Devastating Critical (sickle), Dire Charge, Epic Fortitude, Epic Spellcasting (B), Epic Weapon Focus (sickle), Improved Heighten Spell, Improved Metamagic, Improved Spell Capacity (10th), Improved Spell Capacity (11th), Improved Spell Capacity (12th), Improved Spell Capacity (13th), Multispell, Overwhelming Critical (sickle), Superior Initiative |
| Enviroment | Palace of Titans (Tartarus) |
| Organization | Troupe (Cronus, Iapetus, and 4-6 Elder Titans) |
| Challenge Rating | 57 |
| Treasure | Scythe of Castration |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Advancement | N/A |
Combat
The first impediment in terms of combat with Cronus is that he almost always, invariably, knows that it is coming unless very precise preparations have been made in advance in order to cloak plans with deities or cosmic entities of higher rank than him. Cronus typically handles such situations by casting soul dominion in order to use one of his opponents to lead the rest of their group into an ambush where Iapetus and several allies or Hyperion can have them slaughtered or incinerated respectively.
Bypassing this first layer of defense, Cronus, as the most paranoid (and potent) of the Ancient Titans will have at least two or three spells to improve his armor class, Spell Resistance, or already fearsome combat prowess in effect before the first blow is struck, assuming that potential combatants have defeated Iapetus and several other Elder Titans first since Cronus is invariably never alone. Although incredibly powerful, Cronus regards his own brethren as sacrifices to preserve himself and he additionally has no hesitations about Calling them in order to buy time, either for his personal escape, or for him to cast epic spells such as Cronus Fury, hopefully dissolving his opponents.
Should Cronus actually successfully be cornered, he tends to open combat with a mage’s disjunction followed by a twinned disintegrate and mass destruction. If his opponents are of mixed gender, he will attack with the sickle of Castration in combination with Whirling Blade in order to cut a swath through as many of his male opponents as possible simultaneously, either slicing them completely in half with it due to his Devastating Criticals, or forcing other members of the group to stop and heal them while he also attacks them, even while he continues to unleash quickened spells upon them until they are defeated.
Possessions
Cronus is armed with the Sickle of Castration, an ancient and powerful Artifact formed from the will of Gaea herself as a result of her fury at the betrayal and viciousness of her husband Ouranous, and forged by the Cyclopes that Cronus would later betray. Male opponents must make a successful Fort save DC 41 or else be nauseated for 1d20 rounds, and mortals attacked with the Sickle of Castration take 6d6 points of damage from blood loss per turn unless healed.
Males, including deities, attacked by the Sickle of Castration must make a Fort save DC 10 + damage dealt or else become permanently incapable of fathering offspring by any means unless healed by a deity or cosmic entity of greater divine ranking than it’s wielder. The Sickle of Castration is treated as a +7 chaotic power colossal sickle that does damage as a weapon of one size class larger than itself, with a wicked-looking and serrated black blade, and a handle of a dark brown wood.
Cronus never allows any other being to touch his sickle, viewing all other beings as inherently unworthy (particularly his lesser brethren) and seeing it as a symbol of the power that rightfully ought to be his, as it was previously. The other aspect of the Sickle of Castration’s power is that as it was formed from the matter of Gaea herself, it is not so much made of metal, as it is made of the archetype of metal and alloys in general. As such, it is treated as whatever special metal (silver, adamantine, mithral, or cold iron) would be most damaging to whatever creature it is used against at any given time.
Besides Cronus’ Sickle of Castration, Cronus is believed to have access to an incredibly wide array of magical items, many of which are tribute collected from his lesser brethren, and many of which are irreplaceably unique due to the fact that they date from a configuration of the Planes that has long since disappeared from existence.
Cosmic Presence (Ex): The physical presence of Cronus is so powerful and awe-inspiring that it causes lesser creatures to succumb to his magnificence. All creatures within 1000 feet of Cronus must succeed in a Will save 70. Failure indicates that the creature succumbs to an emotion of Cronuss choosing. Cronus will typically choose to inspire fear in those around him, preparing them to be persuaded by the sound of his voice.
Patron Qualities (Ex)
- Cronus is immune to acid and sonic damage.
- Cronus possesses fire and cold resistance 20
- Damage Reduction: Cronus possesses DR 30/epic and mithril and DR 20/good
- Cronus has fast healing 32/holy and mithril
- SR 72
- Watchful Eye: Cronus can sense anything within one mile around the mentioning of his name, titles, an item of importance to him, or something which triggers his Patron Omniscience ability, for up to one hour after the event. This power is barred from places associated with beings with divine ranks or virtual divine ranks of higher than Cronus.
- Divine Rank 11: Cronus is immune to polymorphing, petrification, or any other attack that alters his form. Cronus is not subject to energy drain, ability drain, or ability damage. Cronus is immune to mind-affecting effects. Cronus is immortal and cannot die from natural causes. Cronus does not age, and he does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe. They only way for Cronus to die is through special circumstances.
- For the purpose of gate and similar spells, Cronus is treated as a unique creature.
Patron Omniscience (Ex) Cronus may sense any event involving the Ancient Titans, ambition, or creatures from a bygone era if it involves 500 or more individuals.
Call Titans (Sp) Six times a day Cronus may call an Elder Titan to aid him. Cronus may also call one of the Ancient Titans to him, but this uses up all of his usages of his power to Call his brethren for that particular day.
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp)
- At will: alter self, analyze dweomer, animate objects, bestow curse, blasphemy, chaos hammer, clairaudience/clairvoyance, commune with nature, create undead, cure critical wounds, desecrate, detect secret doors, detect thoughts, dispel good, dispel law, divination, doom, eyebite, find the path, freedom of movement, fly, fog cloud, forbiddance, identify, imbue with spell ability, legend lore, magic circle against good, magic circle against law, produce flame, protection from energy, protection from good, protection from law, read magic, remove curse, righteous might, sanctuary, scare, sending, shatter, soften earth and stone, song of discord, speak with animals, speak with plants, summon monster VI, greater teleport, true seeing, unholy blight, wind wall, word of chaos.
- 6/day: antipathy, cloak of chaos, discern location, foresight, summon monster IX (chaotic and evil monsters only), unholy aura, wail of the banshee
- 3/day: antilife shell, astral projection, greater dispel magic, greater scrying, invisibility purge, plane shift.
Caster level 95th; save DC 22 + spell level. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Domain Powers Cronus casts chaotic and evil spells at 96th level; treats all Knowledge skills as class skills; gains a +2 bonus on attacks, saves, and AC v. 1 opponent for 1 minute/day.
Wizard Spells (Sp) (0th-13th level) 4/8/7/7/7/7/6/6/6/6/2/2/2/2 Cronus casts spells as a 47th level Wizard. Saving throws against his spells is DC 27 + spell level. Cronus may cast 12 epic spells a day with a maximal Spellcraft DC of 133. All of Cronus non-epic spells through 12th level are quickened, and he may cast two quickened spells per round.
Typical Spells Prepared
- 0th level: arcane mark, mage hand, mending, prestidigitation.
- 1st level: alarm, magic missile(x2), Fist of Stone (x2), ray of enfeeblement, shocking grasp(x2).
- 2nd level: acid arrow, blindness/deafness, mirror image, resist energy, Whirling Blade (x3), zone of truth.
- 3rd level: protection from energy(x2), rage(x2).
- 4th level: anticipate teleportation (x2), detect scrying, discern lies, Orb of Force, poison, stoneskin.
- 5th level: empowered fireball, empowered Orb of Force, passwall, persistent image, telepathic bond, transmute rock to mud, wall of force.
- 6th level: antimagic field, mages lucubration(x3), mislead, heightened poison.
- 7th level: forcecage, instant summons, twinned poison, reverse gravity, spell turning, vision.
- 8th level: clenched fist, demand, heightened flesh to stone, moment of prescience, heightened reverse gravity, temporal stasis.
- 9th level: mage’s disjunction, twinned disintegrate(x2), dominate monster, time stop, wish.
- 10th level: empowered greater shout, extended time stop.
- 11th level: empowered meteor swarm, heightened Mindrape.
- 12th level: heightened dominate monster, heightened hold monster (mass).
- 13th level: heightened imprisonment, heightened Temporal Stasis.
epic spells known: Cronus’ fury, Cronus’ mettle, epic greater mage armor, epic spell resistance, eviction, future sight, mass destruction, soul dominion, soul scry, spell worm, superb dispelling, temporal ward
Bitter Harvest (Ex):By giving homage to Cronus, mortals may acquire knowledge of the ancient past where Cronus once ruled…and where he desires to rule again. However, such knowledge does not come without a price; this price is that mortals are intended to sacrifice in order to take actions to help restore the glory of Cronus Golden Age. Not surprisingly, these sacrifices to be made to Cronus are to come from the ranks of the Olympian usurpers and their worshippers. The following benefits can be derived by aiding Cronus in the following manners:
Crimson Fields A worshipper of the Olympians must be sacrificed to Cronus and their blood spilled upon the ground in a particular location. This area becomes unhallowed, however, the individual that has sacrificed to Cronus in this manner receives a +5 permanent profane bonus to a single skill. Greater bonuses can be derived by sacrificing even more important worshippers of the Olympians such as clerics or other beings that have received divine bonuses from the Olympians; in such cases, not only is the location where one is sacrificed not only unhallowed, but the worshipper of Cronus gains one vision that shall aid them.
Gift of the Son Cronus has come to epitomize the lengths to which certain individuals will go in order to maintain their personal power at all costs. Many of the worshippers of Cronus that know precisely who they are worshipping will do literally anything in order to retain their personal power and eliminate those individuals most likely to wrest their power from them. This includes sacrificing their own offspring if that is what is required to hold power for themselves.
As a result, any individual who sacrifices their most powerful son or daughter (not necessarily firstborn) to Cronus receives one wish in response. This wish takes place in such a way as to help the being making the sacrifice to maintain their own power at all costs, and is usually a series of fortuitous coincidences.
Benefitting from either version of Cronus’ Bitter Harvest, however, carries a horrible curse. Upon the death of the beneficiary, their soul is guaranteed to go to where ever on Tartarus that best matches their personality. Naturally, Cronus fails to tell them about this aspect of this power. In fact, Cronus would greatly prefer that such beings became his petitioners in Tartarus, and it is part of the curse laid upon him and the rest of his brethren that those beings that benefit from his influence do not do so.
Emnity (Ex): For hundreds of thousands of years, Cronus has resided in Tartarus, driven onwards only by his thoughts of escape and doing to his offspring what was done to him. As a result, the hatred festering within Cronus has been transformed into his Emnity. Should Cronus be facing an opponent that he particularly despises, such as an Olympian, a worshipper of an Olympian, or a Titan that he thinks has betrayed him, his attacks are infused with unholy power against them.
As a result, any natural or wielded weapons that he possesses becomes unholy, and his spells become Corrupted as if he had taken the Corrupt Spell feat; spells affected by Cronus’ Emnity take no longer to cast than normal. Cronus Emnity lasts for 13 rounds before he calms down, and Cronus may express his bitterness in this manner three times a day.
Historical Revision (Ex): Although practically all of Cronus’ influence over time was removed due to his defeat in the Titanomachy and forced exile to Tartarus along with his brethren, such was Cronus’ power that his defeat was not total. As a result, Cronus has retained some of his former powers over time, and may make limited reversals in the order in which events take place.
As a result, Cronus may force all beings within a 110 foot burst of himself to repeat one action that they have repeated within the previous round, or he may reverse their spatial positionings, forcing them to teleport back to where they started at the beginning of that round, or even forcibly planeshifting or gating them to their original destinations. Cronus may additionally revise the positions of physical objects, but he may only do so for 11 objects at any given time. The First King must choose one of the three variants of this power, but he may not combine their effects simoultaneously.
If Cronus attempts to alter the positions of sentient beings, they receive a Fort save DC 70 in order to avoid the effects of Cronus’ power. Cronus may use Historical Revision seven times a day.
Maw of the Father (Ex):
Although much weakened from his time as the First King, Cronus still retains the power to consume beings smaller than himself in order to prevent them from interfering with his plans. Cronus may devour any being that is two or more size classes smaller than himself that he has successfully grappled.
Those swallowed in this manner must make a Fort save DC 70 or else find themselves frozen in time from the moment that Cronus finished swallowing them as the spell Temporal Stasis. They may additionally not be scryed upon successfully by any being of lower divine rank than Cronus. Cronus’ stomach holds 1 Huge, 2 Large, 8 Medium, or 32 Small beings simultaneously.
Cronus may also choose to liberate any being that he has devoured in this manner by vomiting them up. It is exceptionally rare for him to do this, but when it does occur, it takes him a full-round action in order to release those that he has imprisoned in his Maw.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Ex): Cronus may choose to deny others knowledge of a single being of lower deific rank than himself. Should he choose to enact this power, then only Cronus may discover information about the being that he has altered in this manner. The duration of Cronus’ power lasts for 4 plus 1d6 years, and Cronus may only enact this power once every hundred years, such is it’s incredibly taxing price upon him. The deity or entity involved must willingly agree to this offer by Cronus, although if they can be deceived either through the power of Cronus’ voice, or incredibly, magically manipulated either circumstance provides sufficient consent for the use of this power.
During this period it is practically impossible for any being to acquire information about the beneficiary (or victim) of Cronus’ power. All Gather Information checks have their DC raised by 10 points. Similarly, divination spells must succeed at a caster level check DC 95 in order to be effective.
Cronus will never use this power lightly, and there is always a high price for Cronus assistance in this manner if Cronus intends to use it to aid another being. It may not be immediately evident, but it always exists.
Like much about Cronus, however, it is against the gods that he considers to have wrongfully usurped him that this power is at its most damage. If Cronus manages to victimize a deity in this manner, the target that has been affected by it must make a Will save DC 70 or take 1d4 damage to their divine ranking per year. Should a deity be reduced in this manner to Divine Rank 0, or is already at Divine Rank 0 when the power begins, then the power ends at the end of that particular month.
Persistent rumors claim that not only was Cronus capable of using this power originally against cosmic entities and that he has tried upon multiple occasions to use it to challenge a deity from within his prison.
Unprincipled (Su) As a full round action, Cronus may concentrate on any one being that is within range of his voice, forcing them to make a Will save DC 70. Should they fail the save, then Cronus has acquired the details of one being that has betrayed them or threatened their personal ambitions through betrayal in the past.
From that time forward, should Cronus decide to speak to the same being of the betrayal as a full round action, they must make a Will save at the same DC or else become slightly more unprincipled as a result and convinced that they must take any action, no matter how extreme or unethical, in order to protect themselves from betrayal. Should a victim fail three successive saves in a row, then their alignment switches to Chaotic Evil, and they may only be returned to their previous state through the casting of wish followed by Atonement by a 31st level caster.
The consequences for a being that is already Chaotic Evil are far more dire, however. Playing on paranoia and fear, Cronus may dominate beings that fall prey to his Unprincipled power, turning them into tools of his own machinations, out of their fear of the machinations of others.
New Epic Spells
Cronus’ Fury
Evocation, Divination
Spellcraft DC 131
Components V, S
Casting Time 1 minute
Range Line of sight
Target One creature
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw Ref half
Spell Resistance Yes
To Develop 1,179,000 gp; 24 days; 47,160 XP. Seed: energy (DC 19) reveal (DC 25) Factors: add 30d6 damage (+60 DC), increase HD two steps (+20 DC), cast spell from sensor with touch or greater range (+6 DC), change from target to area (+10 DC), change area to 20-ft. radius (+2 DC), increase area by 100% (+4 DC). Mitigating factor: burn 500 XP (-5 DC), 10d6 hit points backlash (-10 DC).
Through the use of this spell, Cronus may cause to erupt from any being within his line of sight a hideous cloud of acid that swirls around them and envelops anything within a 40 foot radius of his target, doing 40d10 points of acid damage as a result.
Cronus’ Mettle
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC 133
Components V, S
Casting Time 11 minutes
Range 0 feet
Target Personal
Duration 20 hours
Saving Throw None (harmless)
Spell Resistance None (harmless)
To Develop 1,197,000 gp; 24 days; 47,880 XP. Seeds: fortify (DC 17) fortify (DC 17) fortify (DC 17) Factors: add +9 enhancement to Fort, Ref, and Will saves. (+54 DC) add +25 to caster level against dispelling attempt (+50 DC) Mitigating factors: increase casting time by 10 minutes (-20 DC), personal (-2 DC)
After an 11 minute casting, Cronus may boost all his saves to better prepare himself for combat. As a result, upon the completed casting of this spell, all of Cronus saves possess a +10 enhancement bonus. This spell is treated as 25 levels higher for the purposes of avoiding dispelling and lasts for 20 hours.
Eviction
Enchantment [Compulsion]
Spellcraft DC 133
Components V, S
Casting Time 1 minute
Range 75 ft.
Target One creature
Duration Permanent
Saving Throw Will negates
Spell Resistance Yes
To Develop 1,197,000 gp; 24 days; 47,880 XP. Seeds: compel (DC 19) Factors: increase saving throw by 30 (+60 DC), permanent (x5 DC). Mitigating factors: burn 20,000 XP (-200 DC), 7 minute casting (-14 DC), 48d6 backlash damage (-48 DC).
One of the means that Cronus uses to maintain control over the other Ancient Titans that fought on his side in the Titanomachy is through the threat of banishment. With this powerful spell, Cronus implants in the mind of one of his siblings a powerful compulsion for them to planeshift away from Tartarus, and then never return to Tartarus, or seek to lift the compulsion that has resulted in their eviction. Beings that are the victims of Cronus eviction must make a Will save DC 50 + spellcasting modifier (in Cronus case, Will save DC 67) in order to avoid their fate.
Future Sight
Divination
Spellcraft DC 98
Components V, S
Casting Time 11 minutes
Range Personal
Target Personal
Duration Concentration
Saving Throw Fort save
Spell Resistance Yes
To Develop 936,000 gp; 19 days; 37,440 XP. Seeds: foresee (DC 23) reveal (DC 25) Factors: gain +30 on caster level check (+60 DC). Mitigating factor 10 minute casting time (-10 DC).
Through the use of this spell, Cronus may pose ten specific questions to unknown powers of other planes, receiving answers in a language that he understands that are always one word long. All questions answered are 90% likely to be answered truthfully, and this spell is so potent that it may only be cast once every five weeks. Future Sight penetrates epic spells based on the conceal seed, and is treated as 30 caster levels higher in terms of caster level checks against such epic spells.
Mass Destruction
Transmutation
Spellcraft DC 133
Components V, S
Casting Time 1 quickened action
Range Caster outwards
Target 320 ft. cone
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw Fort half
Spell Resistance Yes
To Develop 1,197,000 gp; 24 days; 47,880 XP. Seed: destroy (DC 29) Factors: quickened (+28 DC), change from target to area (+10 DC), change area to 40-ft. cone (+2 DC), increase area by 700% (+28 DC), additional 40d6 damage (+80 DC) Mitigating factor: burn 3,000 XP (-30 DC), backlash 14d6 points of damage (-14 DC).
With but a wave of his hand, and a word, Cronus may send a cone of powerfully destructive energy forward from his person, doing 60d6 to all creatures and physical objects within a 240-ft. cone. Anything reduced to 10 hp or less is utterly destroyed as if disintegrated, leaving behind only a trace of fine dust. This spell affects even magical matter, energy fields, and force effects that are normally only affected by the disintegrate spell.
Temporal Ward
Abjuration, Conjuration
Spellcraft DC 128
Components V, S
Casting Time 11 minutes
Range Personal
Target Personal
Duration 24 hours
Saving Throw N/A (Harmless)
Spell Resistance N/A (Harmless)
To Develop 936,000 gp; 19 days; 37,440 XP. Seeds: ward (DC 14) transport (DC 27) Factors: ward against Temporal Stasis (+16 DC), contingency (+25 DC), transport into different time stream (+8 DC), gain +20 on caster level check against dispel (+40 DC). Mitigating factor: Personal spell (-2 DC).
Cronus uses this spell to protect himself against two different effects once it is cast:
First, the spell is activated the instant that someone within his vicinity casts the spell time stop. As soon as this occurs, the spell activates, transporting Cronus into the same time stream as the opposed caster for the next 5 rounds and allowing him to act freely.
The second effect of this spell is that it protects the caster against the effects of Temporal Stasis, making the spell useless against him for the next 24 hours after each casting.
This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. The newly written divine manifestations and Black Sickle powers are original adaptations. Palindrome’s separately credited work retains its existing permission terms.
Keep this reference growing
If this page helped with your reading or game, you can support its upkeep or explore the curated books.
Explore the Bookshop — epics, classics and stories behind imagined worlds.