Atropus is a powerful, ancient Elder Evil from the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) universe. It is a world-born, cosmic being of death and decay, known for its immense power and terrifying role in the cosmos. Atropus is often depicted as a dead world, a hollow, decaying entity that embodies the end of life, and its presence in a campaign setting is associated with death, destruction, and an eerie, unnatural stillness.
Atropus is often described as a massive, shadowy, and decaying sphere, a celestial body whose surface is covered in cracks and craters, where no life exists. The entity is entirely hollow, with the remnants of its past civilization scattered across its barren surface. Atropus does not possess traditional physical forms; rather, it manifests as a powerful, malignant force that influences the material world. Its eyes, sometimes described as stars or voids, gaze down upon the planes with a sense of insatiable hunger.
History and Origins[]
Some scholars speculated that Atropus was created when Ao formed the first gods, although there was no consensus on its origin. Some theorized that Atropus was the decaying amniotic fluid of the first god of death, while others believed it to be a divine error by Ao—the last god created, arriving dead upon its formation. Another theory posited that Atropus was one of the primordials.
Atropus was first observed in the rings of the planet Glyth, where it was drawn to the devastation caused by the mind flayers' destruction of other life on their world. Atropus ravaged the planet, leaving it lifeless and ruined.
A few sages aware of Atropus believed that it was slowly making its way toward Faerûn on Toril, its gaze turning toward the life-abundant planet. They remained vigilant for signs of its approach, such as the intensification of necromantic magic and the sudden rise of undead creatures.
Appearance and Nature[]
Atropus was both a location and an entity: an undead being the size of a planetoid, with a surface that was rocky and desolate, yet populated by various horrifying undead creatures. It appeared as a massive chunk of black stone, pocked and coated in repulsive black slime. Viewed from certain angles, Atropus resembled a large, hairless head with glassy eyes, spanning roughly 40 miles (64 km) across, and its moonlet had an approximate diameter of 700 miles (1,100 km).
Atropus’s form, or central focus, was a headless, vaguely humanoid figure with fossilized flesh, similarly covered in the same revolting slime that covered its surface.
As an undead entity, Atropus does not require sustenance in the traditional sense, but it can drain life force from other worlds, turning them into barren, lifeless husks. It can summon hordes of undead minions, which are used to propagate its influence and spread death across the planes. These undead are often remnants of the ancient inhabitants of Atropus’ dead world, reanimated by its lingering power.
Abilities and Powers[]
Atropus is a being of incredible power, with abilities that go beyond those of typical undead creatures. Some of its most notable powers include:
- Death and Decay: Atropus can manipulate the forces of death and entropy, causing rapid decay in living beings and objects. This extends to entire regions of space, warping reality around it and rendering once-thriving worlds into nothing but husks of their former selves.
- World-Born Undead: Atropus commands a vast army of undead creatures, including revenants, liches, and other aberrations that were once native to its dead world. These creatures serve it with unwavering loyalty, spreading its corruption throughout the universe.
- Necrotic Aura: Atropus’ presence is enough to cause life to wither and die. Any creature within a certain radius of the entity will feel its necrotic energy draining their life force, leading to disease, decay, and death.
- Planar Influence: Atropus can affect not only its own world but also distant worlds and planes. Its very presence can warp reality, turning once-vibrant places into death-filled, desolate wastelands.
- Dark Vision: Atropus possesses the ability to see into the hearts of other beings, understanding their fears, desires, and weaknesses. This makes it a terrifying and manipulative foe, capable of exploiting the vulnerabilities of adventurers and civilizations alike.