Chronepsis
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Chronepsis is the dragon
deity of Fate, Death, and Judgment. His symbol is an unblinking draconic eye.
In many campaign setting
s, the draconic pantheon of gods consists of the leader Io
, as well as Aasterinian
, Bahamut
, Chronepsis
, Faluzure
, and Tiamat
. Other draconic gods may be present in different campaign settings.
words chronos, meaning "time" and opsis, meaning "view."
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
Chronepsis appears in 3rd edition in Defenders of the Faith
(2000). His priesthood and his role as a draconic deity are further detailed for this edition in Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons
(2003), and in Races of the Dragon
(2006).
The Watcher, as Chronepsis is known, appears as a colorless dragon with dull, decaying skin through which yellowed bones poke, making him an outsider in the struggle between metallic and chromatic dragonkind. A magical brass harp hovers above his head.
. The two gods are represented together as a dragon with nine heads consuming its own nine tails. In some draconic myths, Chronepsis is seen as a re-enfolding that mirrors and perfectly balances Io's extension of being into the worlds. As Io becomes all things, Chronepsis draws all things back to himself.
Chronepsis counts other faiths neither as allies nor as enemies. Boccob
has a similar outlook to his, but they are not allied.
Worshippers of Chronepsis do not pray, as they know their prayers will go unanswered and unheeded. Instead, they contemplate the nature of death and life.
Worshippers of Chronepsis may go on quests to retrieve the corpses of dead dragon-blooded creatures to inter them in temples, or protect a dying dragon from molestation by others.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Chronepsis is the dragon
Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
deity of Fate, Death, and Judgment. His symbol is an unblinking draconic eye.
In many campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s, the draconic pantheon of gods consists of the leader Io
Io (Dungeons & Dragons)
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Io is the chief deity worshipped by dragons, god of dragonkind, balance, and peace. He is seen by his people as the creator of all things. He is neutral in alignment, but he also contains within him all other alignments...
, as well as Aasterinian
Aasterinian
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Aasterinian is the draconic deity who serves as Io's messenger. Her symbol is a grinning dragon's head....
, Bahamut
Bahamut (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Bahamut is a powerful draconic deity, who has the same name as Bahamut from Arabic mythology....
, Chronepsis
Chronepsis
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Chronepsis is the dragon deity of Fate, Death, and Judgment. His symbol is an unblinking draconic eye....
, Faluzure
Faluzure
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Faluzure is the dragon deity of Energy Draining, Undeath, Decay, and Exhaustion. "Faluzure" is also sometimes spelled "Falazure". His symbol is a draconic skull....
, and Tiamat
Tiamat (Dungeons & Dragons)
Tiamat is the name of a powerful draconic goddess in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The name is taken from Tiamat, a goddess in ancient Mesopotamian mythology who is substantially different ....
. Other draconic gods may be present in different campaign settings.
Creative origins
The name Chronepsis is probably derived from the GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
words chronos, meaning "time" and opsis, meaning "view."
Publication history
Chronepsis was first detailed in the book Monster MythologyMonster Mythology
Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996).
Chronepsis appears in 3rd edition in Defenders of the Faith
Defenders of the Faith (Dungeons & Dragons)
Defenders of the Faith: A Guidebook to Clerics and Paladins is an optional rulebook for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and notable for its trade paperback format.-Contents:...
(2000). His priesthood and his role as a draconic deity are further detailed for this edition in Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons
Draconomicon
The Draconomicon is an optional sourcebook for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, providing supplementary game material focusing on dragons. Different versions of the Draconomicon have been printed for different editions of Dungeons & Dragons...
(2003), and in Races of the Dragon
Races of the Dragon
Races of the Dragon is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:This book contains info on two new races...
(2006).
Description
Chronepsis is truly neutral in all things, dispassionate and unconcerned with the unfolding of events. He observes, but does not act except to guide the spirits of dragons into the afterlife. While he is a god of "eternal law," he cares nothing for justice, as Lendys does. Chronepsis never speaks or communicates. Chronepsis is said to know the future and how all things will end, but he will not reveal this knowledge to others.The Watcher, as Chronepsis is known, appears as a colorless dragon with dull, decaying skin through which yellowed bones poke, making him an outsider in the struggle between metallic and chromatic dragonkind. A magical brass harp hovers above his head.
Relationships
Chronepsis is variously described as the son or brother of IoIo (Dungeons & Dragons)
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Io is the chief deity worshipped by dragons, god of dragonkind, balance, and peace. He is seen by his people as the creator of all things. He is neutral in alignment, but he also contains within him all other alignments...
. The two gods are represented together as a dragon with nine heads consuming its own nine tails. In some draconic myths, Chronepsis is seen as a re-enfolding that mirrors and perfectly balances Io's extension of being into the worlds. As Io becomes all things, Chronepsis draws all things back to himself.
Chronepsis counts other faiths neither as allies nor as enemies. Boccob
Boccob
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Boccob is the god of magic, arcane knowledge, balance, and foresight. He is known as the Uncaring, the Lord of All Magic, and the Archmage of the Deities...
has a similar outlook to his, but they are not allied.
Realm
The Mausoleum of Chronepsis lies within a great cave found in hidden ruins on the Outlands and serves as the realm of the dragon power of fate. Within, Chronepsis watches the multitudes of hourglasses that can be found throughout. Each hourglass represents the life of a dragon and every dragon throughout the multiverse has an hourglass somewhere in the Mausoleum, slowly dropping its grains of sand, counting down the life of that dragon.Worshippers
While all dragons respect Chronepsis, very few worship him, and even fewer become his clerics.Rituals
Chronepsis' faithful each own a small hourglass, which they turn at least once a day in order to remind themselves of the passing of their lives. Often they turn the glass before sleeping, and spend a moment or two contemplating the emptied glass when they wake.Worshippers of Chronepsis do not pray, as they know their prayers will go unanswered and unheeded. Instead, they contemplate the nature of death and life.
Worshippers of Chronepsis may go on quests to retrieve the corpses of dead dragon-blooded creatures to inter them in temples, or protect a dying dragon from molestation by others.
Additional reading
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
- Grubb, JeffJeff GrubbJeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...
. A Player's Primer to the Outlands. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.