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Adonis, God of Beauty and Desire

Adonis, God of Beauty and Desire
Midjourney
  • Pantheon: Greek Mythology
  • Deity Title: The Divine Adonis
  • Deity Symbol: Anemones, Lettuce, and Fennel
  • Home Plane: Mount Olympus
  • Deity Level: Intermediate
  • Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  • Aliases: None
  • Superior: No specific superior deity
  • Traditional Allies: Aphrodite, Eros, Dionysus
  • Traditional Foes: Ares, Artemis, Persephone
  • Divine Artifact: The Mirror of Desire
  • Servants: Charites (Graces), Cupids, Nymphs
  • Servitor Creatures: Doves, Swans, Rabbits
  • Sacred Animal: Doves
  • Manifestations: Blooming flowers, gentle breezes, shimmering lights
  • Signs of Favor: Abundance of flowers, serendipitous romantic encounters
  • Worshipers: Lovers, artists, poets, gardeners
  • Cleric Alignments: Chaotic Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Neutral
  • Specialty Priests: Envoys of Desire, Keepers of Passion
  • Holy Days: Adonia Festival (midsummer), Feast of Blooms (spring)
  • Portfolio: Love, beauty, desire, nature’s cycles
  • Domains: Charm, Love, Plant, Sun
  • Favored Weapon: Shortbow
  • Favored Class: Bard
  • Favored Race: Humans, Elves
  • Duties of the Priesthood: Celebrating nature’s beauty, fostering love and desire, tending gardens
  • Major Cult/Temple Sites: Paphos (Cyprus), Athens (Greece), Cyrene (Libya)
  • Benefits: Enhanced charm, heightened senses, the ability to inspire love and attraction

Physical Description: In the realm of divine aesthetics, Adonis stands as an embodiment of ethereal allure and striking grace. His form is a harmonious fusion of youthful vigor and timeless charm, evoking desire with every glance. Cascading locks of golden hair frame a countenance that radiates an otherworldly magnetism. His azure eyes are as deep and mesmerizing as the endless sky, reflecting the mysteries of both mortal and immortal realms. Adonis’ skin, kissed by the sun’s gentle touch, boasts a flawless complexion that rivals the pristine petals of the most exquisite bloom.

Adonis’ physique is a masterpiece sculpted by the gods themselves. His stature exudes an air of athleticism, every muscle honed to perfection yet softened by a captivating gentleness. His lithe form is adorned with the delicate grace of a dancer, his every movement a symphony of elegance and vitality. Clad in flowing robes that seem woven from the threads of desire itself, Adonis emanates an aura of irresistible charm that draws all eyes upon him.

Bio: In the annals of Greek mythology, Adonis takes his place as the immortal emblem of beauty and desire. Born of mortal lineage, his life was intricately entwined with the passion and devotion of both the goddess Aphrodite and the queen of the Underworld, Persephone. Adonis’ very existence exemplified the cycles of nature, the allure of love, and the eternal dance between life and death.

Fated to be the beloved of Aphrodite and Persephone, Adonis’ purpose transcended his mortal origins. His allure ignited fierce devotion and rivalry among the goddesses, for he embodied the essence of youthful vitality and sensuality that stirred the hearts of both gods and mortals alike. His tragic end, mauled by a wild boar, marked a pivotal point in the seasonal rhythm—a metaphor for the fleeting nature of existence and the eternal interplay between life’s vibrancy and death’s inevitability.

Adonis’ dual presence within the realms of life and death symbolized the perennial cycle of nature’s rejuvenation. His legacy is a reminder that even in the face of mortality, the spark of desire and beauty persists, forever intertwined with the shifting tides of time. Adonis’ story resonates as a testament to the transformative power of love and the perpetual cycle of life’s bloom and withering.

In his role as a deity, Adonis personifies the delicate balance between desire and decay, life and death. He is the embodiment of beauty that captivates and enchants, a reminder that even as the seasons change, the allure of the divine remains constant. Adonis’ purpose lies in inspiring mortals to embrace the passions that course through their veins, to find ecstasy in every fleeting moment, and to recognize the symphony of life that weaves the tapestry of existence.

Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617) Venus and Adonis. Date 1614
Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617) Venus and Adonis. Date 1614

Armor Class: 25 (Divine Armor)
Hit Points: 600 (30d10 + 300)
Speed: 60 ft., fly 120 ft.

StrDexConIntWisCha
28 (+9)30 (+10)28 (+9)24 (+7)24 (+7)30 (+10)

Skills: Insight +15, Persuasion +20
Saving Throws: Wis +15, Cha +20

Damage Resistances: radiant, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Senses: Truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 17
Languages: All

Divine Aura: Adonis’ divine presence grants advantage on Charisma saving throws to allies within 30 feet of him.

Actions

  • Divine Strike: Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 34 (4d10 + 9) radiant damage plus 24 (4d8 + 10) necrotic damage.
  • Charm: Adonis can use an action to focus his irresistible charisma on a creature he can see within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 25 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by Adonis for 1 minute. The charmed target regards Adonis as a trusted friend and may be influenced by his persuasive allure. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Legendary Actions

Adonis can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Adonis regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

  • Divine Presence: He exudes an aura of divine beauty. All creatures within 30 feet of him must make a DC 25 Charisma saving throw or be charmed until the end of their next turn.
  • Healing Touch: He touches a creature within 5 feet of him, restoring 4d10 + 18 hit points.
  • Mesmeric Gaze: He targets a creature within 60 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 25 Wisdom saving throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Divine Artifact

The Anemone Crown: This ornate crown is adorned with anemone flowers and grants Adonis the power to control the forces of beauty and desire. It allows him to cast spells related to charm, love, and beauty at will, and enhances his natural abilities.

Lair Actions

Adonis’ presence warps reality in his lair. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Adonis can take a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

  • Beauty’s Grace: All creatures within the lair regain hit points equal to Adonis’ Charisma modifier.
  • Desire’s Whispers: He chooses one creature within the lair. The chosen creature must succeed on a DC 25 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by Adonis for 1 minute.
  • Enchanted Surroundings: The lair becomes magically enhanced, granting Adonis advantage on Charisma-based ability checks while inside.

Regional Effects

The region around Adonis’ domain is imbued with his divine influence. The following effects occur in the area:

  • Eternal Spring: The climate is mild and flowers bloom year-round.
  • Charm of Beauty: All creatures within the region have advantage on Charisma saving throws.
  • Love’s Inspiration: All artistic endeavors receive a bonus, reflecting Adonis’ influence on creativity and beauty.

Currently in the World

Adonis, God of Beauty and Desire
Midjourney

In the realm of gods and mortals, the enigmatic Adonis emerges as a figure of irresistible allure, whose presence is a tapestry woven with desire and destiny. From his very birth, his fate is interwoven with the goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone, igniting a rivalry that mirrors the eternal dance of life and death.

Born of mortal lineage, Adonis enters the world as a beacon of beauty that captures the hearts of all who cross his path. The goddess Aphrodite, bewitched by his radiance, claims him as her own, igniting a passionate flame that burns in the heart of the divine. But Persephone, queen of the Underworld, also lays her claim, drawn to his captivating allure. Adonis becomes the emblem of love’s eternal duality—its power to unite and divide.

As Adonis grows, his beauty flourishes like the most delicate bloom, captivating not only goddesses but mortals as well. His very presence shapes the ebb and flow of desire, inspiring poets and artists to immortalize his image in their works. The cycles of nature reflect his essence—the blossoming of flowers in spring and their withering in winter mirror the rhythm of Adonis’ life and death.

With each passing year, the goddesses’ rivalry intensifies, their affections driving a cosmic symphony of emotion. The heavens themselves seem to reflect their passions—storms and sunlight alternate in a dance that mirrors their love’s complexity. Yet, even in their rivalry, a profound truth emerges: Adonis symbolizes the delicate balance between life’s joys and its inevitable end.

As time marches forward, his legacy continues to shape the mortal realm. In distant lands, cultures tell tales of a divine youth who personifies the transient nature of beauty. Paintings, poems, and sculptures immortalize his visage, a reminder that even as generations come and go, the allure of his image remains timeless.

Amidst the rise and fall of empires, Adonis’ presence is felt like a whisper in the wind. His beauty serves as a catalyst for both love and conflict, driving mortals and gods to deeds of greatness and folly alike. He becomes a symbol of passion and longing, a guiding star that leads souls through the labyrinth of desire.

As the world approaches the 1450s, Adonis’ legacy endures, woven into the very fabric of history. His story transcends time, inspiring mortals to embrace their desires while accepting the inevitability of change. And so, Adonis stands as a testament to the eternal dance between love and loss, beauty and decay—a reminder that even as the stars shine brightly, they are fated to fade, leaving only the echoes of their brilliance in the hearts of those who gaze upon them.

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