Queen Cassiopeia

“Arrogant Queen’s Vanity Triggers Divine Wrath: The Mythical Tale of Cassiopeia’s Cosmic Punishment!”

• Alias: None
• Gender: Female
• Race: Human
• Occupation: Queen of Aethiopia
• Religion: Greek Mythology (Hellenic Pantheon)
• Allies: King Cepheus, Andromeda, Perseus (eventually)
• Enemies: Poseidon
• Abode/Base of Operations: Aethiopia
• Nationality: Greek (Aethiopian)
• Languages: Ancient Greek
• Alignment: chaotic neutral (due to her arrogance)
• Affiliation(s): Royalty of Aethiopia
• Significant Others: King Cepheus (Husband), Andromeda (Daughter), Perseus (Son-in-law)

The enigmatic Queen Cassiopeia stands as a significant figure, her story a tapestry woven with arrogance, beauty, and downfall. Once adorned with the crown of Aethiopia, Cassiopeia held court as a queen of unparalleled elegance and regal presence. Her marriage to King Cepheus was a union that held both power and promise.

Yet, beneath her noble exterior, a shadow of vanity cast its spell upon Cassiopeia’s heart. She saw herself and her daughter, the radiant Andromeda, as rivaling the very nymphs of the sea, the Nereids, in beauty. This audacious claim stirred the waters of Poseidon’s ire, the tempestuous sea god affronted by such insolence. His wrath manifested as a storm that swept over the kingdom of Ethiopia, a kingdom ruled by Cassiopeia and Cepheus.

Poseidon’s fury, however, was not satiated by mere natural calamities. His punishment was both inventive and cruel. He decreed that Cepheus and Cassiopeia must offer their cherished daughter, Andromeda, as a sacrifice to appease the sea’s wrath. Stricken with anguish, the royal couple sought counsel from the wise oracle, desperate to avert the impending doom.

Their daughter, Andromeda, was bound to a desolate rock by the ocean’s edge, left to the mercy of the savage sea monster Cetus. As the impending fate cast its shadow, a heroic figure emerged from the horizon. Perseus, a figure of destiny and courage, came to the rescue. Armed with determination and divine aid, he faced the monstrous Cetus and vanquished the beast.

Perseus’ intervention was the catalyst for a transformation in Cassiopeia’s narrative. Andromeda was saved, and in gratitude, she was united in marriage with her savior. But Poseidon’s justice was unyielding. The celestial heavens became the stage for his retribution. Cassiopeia, chained by divine decree, was placed among the stars. Her constellation, a chair reminiscent of a torture instrument, served as a reminder of her arrogance and the consequences that followed.

Thus, Queen Cassiopeia’s story weaves a tapestry of pride and humility, beauty and reckoning, in the grand tapestry of Greek mythology. Her tale serves as a timeless lesson, a reminder that even the most regal hearts can be swayed by hubris, leading to a fall that echoes through eternity.

Queen Cassiopeia, The Starlit Monarch

Medium humanoid (human), chaotic neutral

Armor Class 15 (natural armor) Hit Points 108 (16d8 + 32) Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)	20 (+5)

Skills History +7, Persuasion +9 Senses passive Perception 14 Languages Common, Celestial Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Cassiopeia fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Innate Spellcasting. Cassiopeia’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

• At will: thaumaturgy
• 3/day each: divine favor, command
• 1/day each: augury, beacon of hope

Actions

Celestial Gaze. Cassiopeia’s presence shines with a celestial radiance. All creatures within 30 feet of her must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. A charmed creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.

Regal Authority. Cassiopeia can use her action to assert her regal authority, granting her allies advantage on all Charisma-based checks and saving throws for 1 minute.

Heavenly Words. Cassiopeia speaks an incantation, creating a zone of celestial energy. All creatures within a 20-foot radius sphere centered on her regain 3d6 hit points at the start of their turns while inside the zone. This effect lasts for 1 minute.

Legendary Actions

Cassiopeia can take 2 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. Cassiopeia regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

• Healing Light. Cassiopeia targets a creature within 60 feet

that she can see. The target regains hit points equal to 1d6 + her Charisma modifier.

• Astral Command. She utters a command, directing an ally within 60 feet to take immediate action. The ally can make one weapon attack or cast a cantrip as a reaction.
• Divine Inspiration. Cassiopeia imparts celestial guidance to an ally within 60 feet, granting them advantage on their next ability check, attack roll, or saving throw.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Cassiopeia can take a lair action to cause one of the following magical effects:

• Celestial Radiance. The area within 30 feet of Cassiopeia becomes bathed in soft celestial light. All creatures in the area have advantage on Wisdom saving throws until initiative count 20 on the next round.
• Astral Echoes. Cassiopeia’s voice resonates through the surroundings, bolstering her allies. Allies within 60 feet gain temporary hit points equal to her Charisma modifier.
• Ethereal Resilience. Cassiopeia’s presence grants protection to her allies. All allies within 30 feet have resistance to radiant damage until initiative count 20 on the next round.

Equipment

• Regal Robes: Cassiopeia wears elegant robes adorned with celestial patterns that shimmer in the light, granting her a +1 bonus to AC.
• Starlit Tiara: A jeweled tiara graces Cassiopeia’s brow, allowing her to cast command once per day.
• Scepter of Celestial Authority: This ornate scepter is a symbol of Cassiopeia’s divine rule. It grants her advantage on Charisma-based checks when interacting with her subjects.

Roleplaying Notes

Queen Cassiopeia is a regal and commanding figure, radiating an otherworldly aura. Her deep wisdom and sense of responsibility drive her to protect her kingdom and ensure the well-being of her people. She values her lineage and the celestial connections that have shaped her fate. Despite her past arrogance, she now carries the weight of her choices and seeks redemption through benevolent rule and celestial guidance.

Lair Description

Cassiopeia’s celestial palace stands at the heart of her kingdom, an ethereal monument to her lineage. The palace shimmers with astral patterns that dance across its surfaces, and soft celestial music echoes through its halls. A grand celestial observatory atop the palace allows her to gaze at the stars and seek divine insights. The air is imbued with a sense of tranquility and hope, reflecting the queen’s commitment to lead with compassion and wisdom.

Personality and Goals

Cassiopeia is wise and level-headed, driven by her desire to protect her people and make amends for her past mistakes. She believes in the power of redemption and seeks to ensure a bright future for her kingdom. Her celestial encounters have instilled in her a sense of duty to maintain cosmic balance and inspire her subjects with her example.

Currently in the World

Queen Cassiopeia, a regal figure of ethereal beauty, sits upon her ornate throne within the grand chamber of her palace. Her noble presence is marked by an air of elegance and pride, with a countenance that reflects the wisdom and authority befitting a ruler. Her flowing robes cascade in rich, deep hues, adorned with intricate patterns that echo the patterns of stars and constellations. Her dark hair is adorned with jewels, shimmering in the soft candlelight, and her piercing eyes carry a mix of determination and a hint of melancholy.

In this moment, Queen Cassiopeia is engaged in a moment of reflection, her gaze fixed upon the night sky visible through the open balcony. The celestial bodies seem to hold a special significance for her, a reminder of her own place in the intricate tapestry of fate. The room is adorned with opulent tapestries and intricate carvings, a testament to the grandeur of her rule, yet there’s a sense of isolation that surrounds her.

Her mood is one of contemplation, a mixture of regret and resolve. Memories of past choices weigh heavily upon her, particularly the arrogance and vanity that once led her to boast of her daughter’s beauty above that of the sea nymphs. The consequences of her hubris reverberated through the kingdom, inviting the wrath of Poseidon and leading to the perilous fate of her daughter Andromeda. As she gazes upon the stars, Cassiopeia seeks solace and perhaps redemption, haunted by the choices that have shaped her destiny.

The room is adorned with opulent tapestries and intricate carvings, a testament to the grandeur of her rule, yet there’s a sense of isolation that surrounds her.

In Myth

Cassiopeia’s downfall began when she boldly claimed that she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than the Nereids, the sea nymphs. This arrogant assertion enraged Poseidon, the sea god, resulting in dire consequences for the kingdom of Ethiopia.

Furious at her audacity, Poseidon devised a punishment. He unleashed the sea monster Cetus to wreak havoc on Ethiopia’s shores. To quell the divine wrath, Cassiopeia and King Cepheus sought counsel from a wise oracle. The oracle’s grim advice mandated the sacrifice of their own daughter to appease the sea gods.

Desperate to save their land and people, Andromeda was tethered to a rocky precipice by the sea. There she awaited a grisly fate at the hands of the monstrous Cetus. However, fate intervened in the form of Perseus, who valiantly slew the beast, rescued Andromeda, and claimed her as his bride.

Poseidon, unwilling to let Cassiopeia escape retribution, immortalized her story in the heavens. Chained to a celestial throne, her form became a constellation resembling a torture device. Some portrayals show her holding a mirror, a symbol of her vanity, or a palm frond, alluding to her ultimate redemption. The stars forever narrate the tale of a queen’s arrogance, her daughter’s rescue, and the enduring consequences of her actions.