Titan (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, a titan is an enormous, powerful, and godly outsider
. Though titans are supposedly of both chaotic good and chaotic evil alignments, the majority of them seem to be good, and hence, those are the ones which will be described here. In appearance, a good titan resembles an enormous (25 feet tall) humanoid, with perfect beauty and strength. They are hardy and muscular, but nonetheless extremely handsome/beautiful. Every aspect of them (teeth, hair, etc.) is also perfect. Clearly based on the Titans of the Greek and Roman pantheons, they dress themselves in traditional Greek garb such as toga
s and loincloth
s. They also dress themselves in rare and valuable jewellery to make themselves seem even more overpowering and beautiful.
(1974), the Greyhawk
supplement (1975), and the Eldritch Wizardry
supplement.
The titan appeared in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual
(1977). The sea titan appeared in Dragon
#116 (December 1986).
The titan appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Immortal Rules
(1986), and the Wrath of the Immortals set (1992).
The titan appeared in the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix (1991), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) with the greater titan.
The titan appeared in the third edition Monster Manual
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). The elder titan appeared in the Epic Level Handbook
(2002). The titan was further detailed in Dragon #357 (July 2007).
and Elysium
, to act as servants, consorts, advisors, representatives, and avatars. They are only one step down from the gods as rulers of the universe, and not even the greatest celestials
can match their might. Titans are not omnipotent or omniscient. The gods are and always have been the true rulers of the planes and titans are beneath them. They can still, however, cause god-like things to happen, and are incredibly powerful.
Titans have strange personalities. They are wild and chaotic, and have a lot of alternate selves and aspects. They display emotions more openly and powerfully than mortal races, and are fiery and passionate. Titans are quick to anger, but quicker to forgive, and are known to be the most lawful and devoted creatures in existence. They have enormous tempers, often getting angry with mortal followers and unleashing war, disease, and disaster upon them, but they never stay angry for long and try to make amends. Titans are also vain, and some titans establish themselves as gods and live the luxury of mortal worship and admiration for centuries. Titans develop and lose obsessions frequently. They may discover something which interests them, and focus on it for weeks at a time, only to lose interest and move onto something else. They may also get into arguments and debates with other Titans and celestial beings, and quarrel for weeks, only to forget and forgive.
Titan culture is similar to that of their god masters. They wear similar clothing, have similar personalities, eat similar food, play similar music, etc. So close are they, in fact, to the gods, that when gods are off on whatever errand, they will leave a titan to watch in their place, who in turn will be almost exactly the same in power and personality to that god.
Titans also seem to have a kinship with giants
, storm giants and cloud giants in particular. Storm giants, who are the closest to titans ecologically, are often accepted by titans as peers and consorts, and in a group of titans, there is a 35% chance of there being a storm giant accompanying them. They can speak each of the six main dialects of giant.
Titans are devastating in combat. They can conjure up volcanoes, locusts, lightning storms, and the like at the snap of a finger, and can focus them to be apocalyptic. Though a bare-handed punch is enough to cause a mortal to explode, they prefer to fight with enormous warhammers of adamant
ine. An impact from one of these weapons can cause an earthquake, and the strikes are nearly unstoppable. Virtuous defenders of gods, good, and the planes, Titans seek out those who would disrupt them wherever they are, and can eliminate them at a whim. They would never break an oath or a vow, and are strongly lawful. Titans both regenerate and are ageless. They cannot be harmed by mortal weapons, and only magic can damage them.
Algorn, a titan that has influence over the seas, has the ability to create water whenever he chooses to. This water can be vast as he desires, up to the volume of a medium-sized lake. Algorn can simply cause the water to flow, he can cause it to jet out from his hands (washing away everything in its path away), or he can even cause the water to be frozen.
Mane, a titan with dominion over felines, has the ability to change into a giant form of any cat. When he transforms, he is instantly cured of all wounds, poisons, and diseases. Mane may change into a cat and back again five times per day.
Porphyl is a titan with the power of growth. He may cause any immature life to grow to maturity. Thus, he can cause crops to grow, he can make a boy grow to manhood, etc. Porphyl is very wise and would never abuse his ability.
Malephus, a titan with influence over law and justice can unerringly detect any spoken lie and any bad intention. He is often used by many greater powers in trials of justice. Malephus is totally honest; he is incapable of lies or deception.
Syllia, a titan with power over love, can remove any negative feelings from any being (except deities and powers). She has the ability to remove hatred, unhappiness, depression, etc. Syllia cannot remove the feeling permanently, but for at least a day or so. The deities of the upper planes often employ her power when trying to stop wars.
Girzon, a titan with dominion over death, can take the life from any living being. Girzon has only used this ability when commanded to by a deity. Girzon's restraint and self-control is revered by other titans.
The Greater Titans:
Rumors exist of a race of titans more powerful still than common titans. These greater titans are said to be very close to the gods and always accompany one (with some deities and powers being attended by more than one greater titan). Perhaps greater titans were formally common titans who have grown so great in power that the gods brought them closer to themselves. Such matters are not common knowledge.
----
Titans can speak Abyssal, Common, Celestial, Draconic, and Giant.
They are regarded as chaotic in alignment, either chaotic good or chaotic evil, despite distinctly lawful habits. The ones described here are good.
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...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
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...
, a titan is an enormous, powerful, and godly outsider
Outsider (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an outsider is a type of creature, or "creature type". Outsiders are at least partially composed of the essence of a plane other than the Prime Material Plane....
. Though titans are supposedly of both chaotic good and chaotic evil alignments, the majority of them seem to be good, and hence, those are the ones which will be described here. In appearance, a good titan resembles an enormous (25 feet tall) humanoid, with perfect beauty and strength. They are hardy and muscular, but nonetheless extremely handsome/beautiful. Every aspect of them (teeth, hair, etc.) is also perfect. Clearly based on the Titans of the Greek and Roman pantheons, they dress themselves in traditional Greek garb such as toga
Toga
The toga, a distinctive garment of Ancient Rome, was a cloth of perhaps 20 ft in length which was wrapped around the body and was generally worn over a tunic. The toga was made of wool, and the tunic under it often was made of linen. After the 2nd century BC, the toga was a garment worn...
s and loincloth
Loincloth
A loincloth is a one-piece male garment, sometimes kept in place by a belt, which covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks.-History and types:Loincloths are being and have been worn:*in societies where no other clothing is needed or wanted...
s. They also dress themselves in rare and valuable jewellery to make themselves seem even more overpowering and beautiful.
Publication history
The titan was introduced in the earliest edition of the game, appearing in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" setDungeons & Dragons (1974)
The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1974), the Greyhawk
Greyhawk (supplement)
Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax and Robert J. Kuntz for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
supplement (1975), and the Eldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry is a supplementary rulebook by Gary Gygax and Brian Blume, written for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which included a number of significant additions to the core game.-Contents:...
supplement.
The titan appeared in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(1977). The sea titan appeared in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#116 (December 1986).
The titan appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Immortal Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1986 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-Publication history:...
(1986), and the Wrath of the Immortals set (1992).
The titan appeared in the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix (1991), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) with the greater titan.
The titan appeared in the third edition Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). The elder titan appeared in the Epic Level Handbook
Epic Level Handbook
The Epic Level Handbook is a rulebook by Wizards of the Coast for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:This books contained rules for Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition characters to attain levels above 20, the limit in the core rulebooks...
(2002). The titan was further detailed in Dragon #357 (July 2007).
Characteristics and habits
The titans are a godlike race. They were originally created by gods in the lawful and chaotic good aligned outer planes, such as Mount CelestiaMount Celestia
In Dungeons & Dragons, the fantasy role-playing game, Mount Celestia or more fully, the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia, or even the Seven Heavens is a lawful good-aligned plane of existence...
and Elysium
Elysium
Elysium is a conception of the afterlife that evolved over time and was maintained by certain Greek religious and philosophical sects, and cults. Initially separate from Hades, admission was initially reserved for mortals related to the gods and other heroes...
, to act as servants, consorts, advisors, representatives, and avatars. They are only one step down from the gods as rulers of the universe, and not even the greatest celestials
Celestial (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestials are a class of creatures and monsters known as outsiders who are of wholly good alignment....
can match their might. Titans are not omnipotent or omniscient. The gods are and always have been the true rulers of the planes and titans are beneath them. They can still, however, cause god-like things to happen, and are incredibly powerful.
Titans have strange personalities. They are wild and chaotic, and have a lot of alternate selves and aspects. They display emotions more openly and powerfully than mortal races, and are fiery and passionate. Titans are quick to anger, but quicker to forgive, and are known to be the most lawful and devoted creatures in existence. They have enormous tempers, often getting angry with mortal followers and unleashing war, disease, and disaster upon them, but they never stay angry for long and try to make amends. Titans are also vain, and some titans establish themselves as gods and live the luxury of mortal worship and admiration for centuries. Titans develop and lose obsessions frequently. They may discover something which interests them, and focus on it for weeks at a time, only to lose interest and move onto something else. They may also get into arguments and debates with other Titans and celestial beings, and quarrel for weeks, only to forget and forgive.
Titan culture is similar to that of their god masters. They wear similar clothing, have similar personalities, eat similar food, play similar music, etc. So close are they, in fact, to the gods, that when gods are off on whatever errand, they will leave a titan to watch in their place, who in turn will be almost exactly the same in power and personality to that god.
Titans also seem to have a kinship with giants
Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
, storm giants and cloud giants in particular. Storm giants, who are the closest to titans ecologically, are often accepted by titans as peers and consorts, and in a group of titans, there is a 35% chance of there being a storm giant accompanying them. They can speak each of the six main dialects of giant.
Titans are devastating in combat. They can conjure up volcanoes, locusts, lightning storms, and the like at the snap of a finger, and can focus them to be apocalyptic. Though a bare-handed punch is enough to cause a mortal to explode, they prefer to fight with enormous warhammers of adamant
Adamant
Adamant and similar words are used to refer to any especially hard substance, whether composed of diamond, some other gemstone, or some type of metal. Both adamant and diamond derive from the Greek word αδαμας , meaning "untameable"...
ine. An impact from one of these weapons can cause an earthquake, and the strikes are nearly unstoppable. Virtuous defenders of gods, good, and the planes, Titans seek out those who would disrupt them wherever they are, and can eliminate them at a whim. They would never break an oath or a vow, and are strongly lawful. Titans both regenerate and are ageless. They cannot be harmed by mortal weapons, and only magic can damage them.
Types of Titan
Because titans are so diverse and chaotic, many individuals have special powers that others do not have. Such examples of this uniqueness exist in the form of:Algorn, a titan that has influence over the seas, has the ability to create water whenever he chooses to. This water can be vast as he desires, up to the volume of a medium-sized lake. Algorn can simply cause the water to flow, he can cause it to jet out from his hands (washing away everything in its path away), or he can even cause the water to be frozen.
Mane, a titan with dominion over felines, has the ability to change into a giant form of any cat. When he transforms, he is instantly cured of all wounds, poisons, and diseases. Mane may change into a cat and back again five times per day.
Porphyl is a titan with the power of growth. He may cause any immature life to grow to maturity. Thus, he can cause crops to grow, he can make a boy grow to manhood, etc. Porphyl is very wise and would never abuse his ability.
Malephus, a titan with influence over law and justice can unerringly detect any spoken lie and any bad intention. He is often used by many greater powers in trials of justice. Malephus is totally honest; he is incapable of lies or deception.
Syllia, a titan with power over love, can remove any negative feelings from any being (except deities and powers). She has the ability to remove hatred, unhappiness, depression, etc. Syllia cannot remove the feeling permanently, but for at least a day or so. The deities of the upper planes often employ her power when trying to stop wars.
Girzon, a titan with dominion over death, can take the life from any living being. Girzon has only used this ability when commanded to by a deity. Girzon's restraint and self-control is revered by other titans.
The Greater Titans:
Rumors exist of a race of titans more powerful still than common titans. These greater titans are said to be very close to the gods and always accompany one (with some deities and powers being attended by more than one greater titan). Perhaps greater titans were formally common titans who have grown so great in power that the gods brought them closer to themselves. Such matters are not common knowledge.
----
Titans can speak Abyssal, Common, Celestial, Draconic, and Giant.
They are regarded as chaotic in alignment, either chaotic good or chaotic evil, despite distinctly lawful habits. The ones described here are good.