Lyncion (Leen-see-own)

Description

Lyncion is often depicted as a tall, gaunt figure, shrouded in dark robes that seem to absorb the light around him. His most distinguishing feature, a single, glowing blue eye, is set squarely in the center of his forehead. This eye possesses a piercing quality, capable of seeing through any deception or illusion. The eye's luminous glow is visible through the gloom and darkness of his robes, giving it an almost ethereal, floating appearance. This eerie, disembodied eye is often the first and only thing people see when encountering an avatar of Lyncion, causing those who look upon him to shudder and sometimes even become paralyzed in fear.   The rest of Lyncion's visage is equally unsettling. His skin is a ghastly shade of gray, adding to the aura of otherworldliness that surrounds him. Instead of normal eyes, he has two empty eye sockets where his eyes should be, dark voids that hint at a past filled with sacrifice and dark rituals. These empty sockets, combined with the glowing eye in his forehead, make him a figure of dread and fascination. His face, cold and calculating, rarely shows emotion, embodying the malevolent intellect and vast, otherworldly knowledge he possesses. Lyncion's expression is perpetually stern, as if he is constantly scrutinizing the world around him, searching for hidden truths and weaknesses.   Typically, Lyncion remains shrouded in his robes, maintaining an aura of mystery and menace. The robes conceal his true form, allowing him to project an image of power and control. However, on the rare occasions when he does take them off, his appearance is shockingly different. He is emaciated and frail. His skeletal frame, visible beneath his thin, gray skin, makes him look more like a specter than a god.

Personality

Lyncion is the embodiment of cunning and manipulation, his intelligence unmatched among the lesser deities. He takes great delight in uncovering secrets, prying into the hidden corners of the world to extract the information he can exploit. Whether it's to gain more power for himself or to sow discord among his enemies and rivals, Lyncion uses every piece of knowledge to his advantage. His enjoyment of manipulating events and people from the shadows is evident in his every action. Each revelation he uncovers is another tool in his arsenal, another means to tighten his grip on those who dare to oppose him.   Often aloof, Lyncion views mortals as mere pawns in his intricate, grand schemes. To him, they are tools to be used and discarded once their usefulness has ended. This cold detachment makes him an unsettling presence, as he can appear indifferent to the suffering and struggles of those around him. However, Lyncion is not entirely isolated in his machinations. He is pragmatic enough to form temporary alliances if they serve his purposes. These alliances are always formed with his own gain in mind, and he never invests emotionally or loyally in these relationships. His partners, whether they are deities or mortals, are always aware that they are dealing with a being who will betray them the moment it becomes advantageous.   Lyncion's demeanor is consistently cold and distant, further enhancing his reputation as a deity devoid of empathy or compassion. He sees emotions as weaknesses that can be exploited in others but meticulously avoids displaying them himself. This detachment allows him to maintain a clear focus on his ultimate goal: the accumulation of knowledge. To Lyncion, knowledge is the ultimate form of power, particularly when it is forbidden or dangerous. He seeks out the darkest secrets and the most arcane truths, reveling in the danger and the potential power they represent. His relentless pursuit of knowledge, regardless of the cost or the consequences, defines his existence and cements his status as a formidable and feared deity.

Abilities

Powers

Lyncion possesses cast and formidable magical abilities, particularly excelling in the realms of illusion, divination, and necromancy. His mastery of illusion allows him to bend reality to his will, creating phantasms and falsehoods that can deceive even the most perceptive minds. These illusions are not mere tricks of the light; they are intricate, multi-layered deceptions that can mislead, confuse, ensnare, and break his enemies. His power in divination is equally impressive, allowing him to peer into the minds of others, uncovering their deepest secrets and fears with ease. This ability to read and manipulate throughts gives him a significant advantage, allowing him to anticipate his does' actions and exploit their weaknesses before even they understand what they will do next.   In the art of necromancy, Lyncion's knowledge is unparalleled. He comands the forces of life and death with an expert hand, calling down frightful curses on any who would cross him. Similarly, he has immense strength in the school of conjuration, but only in respect to demons. These entities are bound to his will through ancient and arcane rituals, their allegiance enforced by the sheer strength of his magic. Lyncion's necromantic prowess rarely extends to raising the dead, as he finds their mindless natures boring and uninteresting.   Beyond his command over illusions and demons, Lyncion's ability to manipulate shadows and darkness marks him as a master of stealth and subterfuge. He can merge with the shadows, becoming virtually invisible as he moves through the darkness. This control over shadows allows him to strike unseen, assassinate his targets without a trace, and escape from any situation undetected. His mastery of subterfuge means that he can infiltrate even the most secure locations, gather intelligence, and plant seeds of discord without ever revealing his presence.

Combat

In combat, Lyncion prefers to remain shrouded in the shadows, using the cover of darkness to his advantage. He employs a combination of illusions and mind control to confuse and manipulate his enemies, creating chaos and disarray on the battlefield. His illusions can make it seem as if he is attacking from multiple directions, or even make his enemies see allies as foes, turning them against each other. This psychological warfare is one of his greatest strengths, as it undermines his enemies' morale and sows discord within their ranks.   Lyncion's weapon of choice is a finely crafted dagger, which he wields with deadly precision. He is an expert in striking from unexpected angles, using the element of surprise to deliver lethal blows. His attacks are swift and calculated, often targeting vital points to incapacitate or kill his foes quickly. The dagger itself is said to be capable of inflicting wounds that sap the strength and willpower of those it cuts. Each strike from Lyncion's blade is not just a physical attack but also a magical assault, draining his opponents of their resolve and energy.   While Lyncion is a formidable combatant in his own right, he rarely engages in direct confrontation. Instead, he prefers to rely on his magical prowess to do his bidding. He often summons powerful demons and dark entities to fight for him, commanding them with unerring authority. These summoned creatures act as his frontline warriors, dealing with the brunt of the physical combat while Lyncion manipulates the battle from the shadows. His dark magic can cripple opponents, weakening them with curses and hexes that drain their life force and render them vulnerable. By combining his skills in illusion, mind control, and necromancy, Lyncion orchestrates battles like a grand puppet master, ensuring that he remains untouchable while his enemies fall before him.

Possessions

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Realm

Relationships

Enemies and Allies

Worshipers

Symbols

The primary symbol of Lyncion is a blue eye, often depicted on amulets, banners, and tattoos. This eye represents his unending quest for hidden knowledge and his ability to see through deception. Occasionally, the eye is displayed with two horns sprouting from the top of it.

Notable Worshipers

Lyncion is worshiped by those who seek power through knowledge, such as wizards, spies, and scholars of forbidden lore. His most devout followers often engage in secretive and nefarious activities, seeking to uncover and exploit the hidden weaknesses of others. Notable worshipers include powerful archmages and cult leaders who use Lyncion's teachings to amass personal power and influence.

History

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Most champions of Lyncion are scholars of the forbidden, manipulators of truth, and wielders of power drawn from darkness and obscured knowledge. They move unseen through societies, cults, and courts, quietly guiding events to serve hidden agendas.

Earning and Losing Piety

You increase your piety score to Lyncion when you expand the god's influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these:

• Uncovering a dangerous or forbidden secret and using it to shift power dynamics
• Binding a demon or extraplanar entity and extracting knowledge or service from it
• Teaching or preserving arcane lore that most would destroy or conceal

Your piety score to Lyncion decreases if you diminish the god's influence in the world, contradict his ideals, or make him look ridiculous through acts such as these:

• Publicly revealing a dangerous secret without care for its consequences
• Rejecting power or arcane knowledge out of fear, humility, or moral or ethical constraint
• Refusing to exploit a weakness once it is discovered

Lyncion's Devotee

Piety 3+ Lyncion Trait   As a devotee of Lyncion, you have proven yourself a worthy potential champion of the god of secrets and forbidden knowledge. You can cast Disguise Self once using this trait. Once you do so, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Lyncion's Votary

Piety 10+ Lyncion Trait   You have begun to master the art of bargaining with entities beyond the mortal veil. You can cast Summon Lesser Demons once with this trait. When cast in this way, you can choose to summon a different creature type, abiding the same rules, chosen from among fiends, celestials, or fey, and this spell does not require Concentration, but you cannot cast another Summoning spell until this spell ends. Once you cast this spell in this way, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting modifier for this spell.

Lyncion's Disciple

Piety 25+ Lyncion Trait   You can cast Arcane Eye once using this trait. Once you do so, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting modifier for this spell.   Additionally, you are hidden from Divination magic. You can't be targeted by such magic or perceived through magical scrying sensors.

Champion of Secrets

Piety 50+ Lyncion trait   You can increase your Dexterity or Intelligence score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.

Divine Steed

A paladin of Lyncion can summon the following creature when casting Find Greater Steed in addition to his or her other choices.   The mount of Lyncion is a whispering mare—a gaunt, shadowy steed with pupilless blue eyes, faintly glowing runes along its flank, and hooves that make no sound. {STATBLOCK}