Chronepsis

Greyhawk Divinity

Chronepsis
Chronepsis the Watcher, as depicted in the Planescape Campaign Setting boxed set (1994). Art by Tony DiTerlizzi.
Names and titles
Title(s):	The Silent, the Watcher
General information
Portfolio:	Fate, Death, Judgment
Home:	Concordant Domain of the Outlands
Alignment:	Neutral
Gender:	Male
Class:	Wizard 14/Priest 22 (avatar)
Superior:	Io
Rules items
Domains:	Death, Destiny, Fate, Dragon, Knowledge, Planning, Repose, Time

Chronepsis is the draconic deity of Fate, Death, and Judgment. His symbol is an unblinking draconic eye.

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 Io. 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.

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.

Worshipers

While all dragons respect Chronepsis, very few worship him, and even fewer become his clerics.

Rituals

An example holy symbol of Chronepsis.

Chronepsis's 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.

Worshipers of Chronepsis do not pray, as they know their prayers will go unanswered and unheeded. Instead, they contemplate the nature of death and life.

Worshipers 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.

Creative origins

The name Chronepsis is probably derived from the Greek words chronos, meaning "time" and opsis, meaning "view."

References

Bibliography

• Collins, Andy, Skip Williams, and James Wyatt. Draconomicon. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
• 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:[1]
• Grubb, Jeff. A Player's Primer to the Outlands. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
• Kestrel, Gwendolyn FM, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, and Kolja Raven Liquette. Races of the Dragon. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
• McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
• Redman, Rich, and James Wyatt. Defenders of the Faith. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
• Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image
Chronepsis (Dragon)	Deity		DMGR4 - Monster Mythology	3, 97, 106
Chronepsis (Dragon)	Deity		Defenders of the Faith, D&D 3.0e	94, 95