Enemies: Sirens, Poseidon (indirectly, due to his involvement with Aphrodite)
Abode/ Base of operations: Originally Thessaly or Iolcus in Greece, later Lilybaeum (modern-day Marsala, Sicily); also associated with his kingdom in Sicily
Nationality: Greek
Languages: Greek
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Affiliation(s): Argonauts, Aphrodite
Significant others: Aphrodite
Butes is a mortal hero who walks the edge between myth and mystery. Though he stands among the legendary Argonauts, it is not brute strength or cunning that defines him — it is desire, wonder, and the cost of listening too closely to beauty. He is not the loudest name in myth, but his story echoes with power: a man who chooses temptation, falls into the sea, and rises into the arms of a goddess.
Background and Story
Butes grows up in a noble household, possibly in Athens or Thrace, where he learns the arts of war and the weight of legacy. He trains in combat and earns his place among the greatest heroes of his time, joining Jason’s crew aboard the Argo. He does not seek fame, but something deeper — an answer to the quiet longing he feels every time he looks to the horizon.
On the voyage for the Golden Fleece, Butes faces dangers alongside his brothers-in-arms. He proves himself in trials of strength, endurance, and courage. But unlike some of the other Argonauts, Butes listens more than he speaks. He observes. He reflects. There is something in him that searches for more than victory — he searches for meaning, for a voice that calls to him from beyond the world of men.
That voice finds him when the Argo sails near the island of the Sirens. Their song pierces the sea air — beautiful, terrible, impossible to ignore. The crew plugs their ears or turns away, but Butes listens. He hears what no one else dares to hear, and it touches something in him too deep to name. He leaps from the ship, drawn not by madness, but by a yearning so honest it overcomes his sense.
He falls into the sea — not to drown, but to be caught. Aphrodite, goddess of love, sees him. She lifts him from the waves, not as a broken fool, but as something precious. She carries him to the shores of Sicily, where he becomes her lover, perhaps her priest, maybe something even stranger — a mortal who understands the language of gods.
Character and Motivation
Butes is quiet, introspective, and deeply sensitive to the unseen world. He hears what others ignore. He feels what others fear to name. His strength lies not in resistance, but in openness — a rare kind of courage that allows beauty to break him.
He fears a life without meaning — the emptiness of victory for its own sake. He does not fear death, but he fears living without having touched the divine, even once.
He acts not out of ambition or pride, but because he is called — by music, by mystery, by the ache of something forgotten. He listens to the world and follows what moves him, even when it leads him to danger.
He wants to know beauty, to be changed by it, to dissolve the barrier between the mortal and the eternal. He wants to become more than a man who swings a sword. He wants to become someone who understands why songs make us weep.
Legacy
Butes lives in the quiet myths — the kind whispered by poets and sung to the sea. He does not conquer kingdoms or slay monsters for glory. He offers something rarer: the image of a man who listens to his heart, falls into the unknown, and rises changed. His tale becomes a symbol — of temptation, of divine love, and of what waits for those who say yes to the call no one else dares to answer.
Psychic, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from nonmagical attacks (while in water)
Condition Immunities
Charmed, Frightened
Senses
Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 19
Languages
Common, Celestial, Sylvan, Ancient Greek
Challenge
CR 13 (10,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5
Mythic Trait – Aphrodite’s Embrace (1/Day)
When Butes is reduced to 0 hit points, a divine aura of seafoam and golden mist surrounds him. He immediately regains 75 hit points, ends all conditions affecting him, and begins singing a celestial hymn. While singing (1 minute or until concentration ends), all hostile creatures within 30 feet have disadvantage on saving throws against charm effects and cannot take reactions.
Legendary Equipment & Magic Items
Item
Effect
Breastplate of Glimmering Foam
A +1 breastplate that shimmers with sea-light. Grants advantage on Charisma (Performance) checks and resistance to thunder damage.
Spear of the Sirens’ Fall(Magic Weapon)
A +2 spear. On a hit, deals an extra 2d6 psychic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom save or be charmed until the end of Butes’ next turn.
Pendant of the Lover’s Oath(Wondrous Item)
Once per long rest, allows Butes to cast charm monster or dominate person without a spell slot. While worn, Butes knows if a creature nearby harbors romantic feelings (true or false).
Traits
Siren’s Influence
Butes’ voice is magically enhanced by Siren enchantment. His verbal abilities have a +2 bonus to DCs, and all charm effects last 1 additional round.
Favored of Aphrodite
Butes has advantage on saving throws against divine magic. Celestial creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls against him if they can see him.
Ethereal Swim
Butes can swim through other creatures’ spaces as difficult terrain and does not provoke opportunity attacks while in water.
Actions
Multiattack
Butes makes two melee attacks with the Spear of the Sirens’ Fall, or one melee attack and one Voice of Longing use, if available.
Spear of the Sirens’ Fall(Melee Weapon Attack)
+9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d8 + 7) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) psychic damage. Effect: The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the end of Butes’ next turn.
Voice of Longing(Recharge 5–6)
Butes sings a fragment of divine melody. Each creature of his choice within 60 feet who can hear him must succeed on a DC 18 Charisma saving throw or be stunned until the end of their next turn. Creatures immune to being charmed have advantage on this save.
Seductive Glance(Bonus Action)
Butes targets one creature within 30 feet that can see him. The creature must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be incapacitated until the end of its next turn, lost in an overwhelming emotional trance.
Echoes of the Deep(1/Day)
Butes calls forth echoes of the Sirens’ ancient song. Each creature within 30 feet who has ever experienced love must make a DC 18 Charisma saving throw.
Fail: Takes 6d10 psychic damage, and is blinded and deafened for 1 minute.
Success: Half damage, no additional effects.
Reactions
Songbreaker Parry
When a melee attack hits Butes, he may raise his spear and invoke Siren magic.
Reduces the damage by 1d10 + 4
The attacker must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be silenced (unable to speak or cast verbal spells) until the end of their next turn.
Lair Actions – Temple of the Sirens(Coastal Ruin or Sea Cavern)
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Butes can invoke one of the following lair effects:
Seafoam Mirage: Illusory figures of lovers and gods swirl through the chamber. All hostile creatures must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on all attack rolls until the start of their next turn.
Echoes Resound: A melody reverberates through the lair. All enemies must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be deafened and slowed (as the slow spell) for 1 round.
Aphrodite’s Veil: Butes is lightly obscured in divine mist until the start of the next round. Ranged attacks against him have disadvantage, and he has advantage on all saving throws.
Tactics
Opener: Begins combat with Voice of Longing to disrupt the party’s formation.
Mid-fight: Uses Spear of the Sirens’ Fall and Seductive Glance to manipulate key threats. Plays defensively near water.
Mythic Trigger: Once Aphrodite’s Embrace activates, Butes becomes more dangerous, emotionally overwhelming his enemies while impossible to pin down.
Retreat Conditions: Butes may withdraw if convinced he has failed Aphrodite’s will — or if the players present him with a vision of love or truth that pierces his enchantment.
Roleplaying Butes
Butes speaks with poetry, often in verse, and his voice carries unnatural resonance.
He is tragic but not hostile unless provoked.
He may warn, tempt, or even aid the party if approached with compassion or honesty.
His core dilemma is whether he still has free will — or if his entire existence now belongs to Aphrodite and the sea.
Brave. He has advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Heroic Resilience. When he takes damage from a creature he can see, he can use his reaction to reduce the damage by 10 (3d6 + 4). He can use this ability twice per short or long rest.
Divine Intervention. Once per long rest, he can call upon Aphrodite’s favor to cast the greater restoration spell without material components.
Actions
Multiattack. Butes makes three attacks with his spear.
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d8 + 6) piercing damage.
Charm of Aphrodite (Recharge 5–6). As an action, Butes can invoke the charm of Aphrodite to cast charm person at 4th level. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by Butes for 1 hour. The target regards Butes as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. The effect ends if Butes or his allies do anything harmful to the target.
Rescue from the Sea (1/Day). As an action, Butes can summon a divine wave of water to wash away enemies in a 30-foot line that is 10 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 16 Strength saving throw, taking 36 (8d8) bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Creatures that fail the save are knocked prone.
Reactions
Shield of Divine Favor. When a creature Butes can see attacks him, he can use his reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll. If the attack misses, the attacker is pushed 10 feet away from Butes.
Equipment
Spear +1. This +1 spear grants him a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. Additionally, once per day, Butes can use the spear to cast water walk on himself and up to six willing creatures he can see within 30 feet of him.
Leather Armor of the Sea. This armor grants him resistance to cold damage and allows him to breathe underwater and swim at a speed of 30 feet.
Charm of Aphrodite. An amulet that allows Butes to use the charm person spell as described in his Charm of Aphrodite action.
Legendary Actions
Butes can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Butes regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
Attack. Butes makes one attack with his spear.
Charm of Aphrodite (Costs 2 Actions). Butes uses his Charm of Aphrodite.
Divine Shield (Costs 3 Actions). Butes creates a protective aura around himself and all allies within 10 feet. Until the end of the next turn, all affected creatures have advantage on saving throws against being frightened and gain 10 temporary hit points.
Description
Butes is depicted as a tall, muscular hero with a commanding presence. His attire and equipment blend practicality with symbolic elements, reflecting his divine favor and heroic nature. His abilities highlight his connection to the sea, his charm, and his role as a resilient and influential figure in both myth and local affairs.
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