Athreos

All mortals are destined to face Athreos, the River Guide, when their lives come to an end. The god of passage ferries the dead across the Tartyx River, conveying each mortal soul to its destiny in the Underworld. For most people, Athreos embodies the greatest mysteries of existence-the terror and wonder of life's last moment and the revelation of one's ultimate fate in the afterlife. Athreos is no judge, though. The veiled, silent god undergoes no deliberations and makes no exceptions. The River Guide reads the truth of each soul and bears it unfailingly to its proper place in the Underworld. There is no haggling and no sympathy on Athreos's skiff, the god having heard and denied every conceivable mortal plea.

Athreos appears as a gaunt figure cloaked in ragged robes and a collection of golden masks. What little can be seen of his body is unsettling, its gray flesh stretched thin over a barely human skeleton. The River Guide is never without his ancient staff, Katabasis, which he transforms into the ferryboat he uses to ply the Rivers That Ring the World. Though the deity's shrouded form gives no clue, many mortals consider Athreos to be male, but the River Guide cares for terms or labels no more than any other force of nature. Athreos can change shape but rarely, if ever, takes on other forms

Athreos is often invoked as the god of passage, as well as the deity with dominion over borders, boundaries, and that which is "neither." Those who undertake journeys, especially dangerous ones, often drop a coin into a fountain or a body of water in apotropaic acknowledgment of the River Guide. Bridges and borders are also places where Athreos is commonly remembered, with many such sites being marked by motifs of rivers or spirits. Additionally, phenomena that are neither one thing nor another, defying simple classification, are often considered to be within Athreos's province--most notably the state between life and death, but also echoes, phantom sensations, and the feeling of deja vu.

Alignment. Lawful Neutral

Realm. the Underworld

Allies. Erebos, Thassa

Enemies. Heliod

Edicts. lay bodies to rest and provide coins for the slain, ensure the preservation of the deeds and knowledge of the dead, destroy the Returned and their eidolons

Anathema. denying a dying person their final rites, removing wealth from a corpse or defiling a tomb, aiding those who seek to escape from the Underworld, or who already have

Areas of Concern. borders, passage, phenomena that are neither one thing nor another, space between life and death

Worshipping Athreos and his Champions

Worshipping the God of Passage comes in many forms, and most funeral traditions include small offerings and words of reverence to Athreos. Predominant among these traditions is burying or burning the dead with a clay funerary mask, to "frame" the identity of the dead for Athreos, and with at least one coin, so a soul might pay Athreos to ferry them to the Underworld. Some people are laid to rest with large amounts of grave goods. Memorial practices vary widely by culture, from tearful, somber affairs to lively celebrations. These rituals serve more as catharsis for the living than as meaningful boons to Athreos, though. The River Guide cares only for the single coin he's owed by any who board his skiff.

During the feast of the Necrologion, which gives its name to the eighth month in the calendar of Meletis, pious souls silently spend the day reading ancient memoirs or writing messages for their own descendants.

Champions of Athreos

Follower Alignments. usually lawful, often neutral

Suggested Classes. Cleric, Monk, Rogue, Wizard

Suggested Cleric Domains. Death, Grave

Suggested Backgrounds. hermit, sage, sailor, urchin

Most worshipers of Athreos believe death is a natural part of life, to be neither rushed toward nor run from. They seek to do their part in fulfilling the natural order, easing the passage of the living into death. Most also respect their ancestors and honor them through tradition, ritual, and memory.

Athreos's Favor

As all mortals eventually bow before him, the River Guide doesn't seek worship. When mortal agents are necessary, though, Athreos often seeks the descendants of those who impressed him during their journey to the Underworld. The Athreos's Favor table offers several suggestions for the nature of your connection to the god.

Athreos's Favor

d6	Circumstance
1	A family member died bringing you into the world.
2	You don't think or feel as others do, finding emotions messy and confusing.
3	In a brazen or desperate moment, you dared death to take you--and in a way, it has.
4	You sent a Returned back to the Underworld, restoring a measure of order to the cosmos.
5	Serving Athreos is your family tradition, a responsibility honored for countless generations.
6	You have died before, and in that moment, you glimpsed the mists that surround Athreos's skiff.

Devotion to Athreos

Servants of Athreos facilitate the passage from life into death. As a follower of Athreos, consider the possibilities on the Athreos's Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.

Athreos's Ideals

d6	Ideal
1	Devotion. My devotion to my god is more important to me than what he stands for. (Any)
2	Tradition. Honor the dead through rites of respect and by continuing their ways. (Lawful)
3	Dread. Mortals put their fear out of mind, but through me, they will remember the inevitable. (Evil or neutral)
4	Apathy. Life is but a rehearsal for death, and it's best not to grow too attached to it. (Neutral)
5	Succor. I offer balm to the dying--which, to varying degrees, includes all of us. (Good or neutral)
6	Judgment. Violations against the order of life and death must be set right. (Lawful)

November 30th, 2023 December 1st, 2023

Piety with Athreos

You increase your piety score to Athreos when you honor him or the cycle of life and death through acts that enforce his edicts.

Your piety score to Athreos decreases if you diminish the River Guide's influence in the world, impede his work, or disrespect the dead through acts in his anathema.

Athreos's Devotee

Piety 3+ Athreos trait

Your life is intertwined with the fate of the dead. You can cast gentle repose with this trait, requiring no material components, a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Athreos's Votary

Piety 10+ Athreos trait

You can cast speak with dead with this trait, requiring no material components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Athreos's Disciple

Piety 25+ Athreos trait

You can cast false life with this trait, requiring no material components. When you do so, you gain an additional 25 temporary hit points. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Champion of the Passage

Piety 50+ Athreos trait

You can increase your Intelligence or Wisdom score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.

December 1st, 2023 December 1st, 2023