Charon

Charon

Externally hosted image

(Deity)

Titles

Rider of Death
Horseman of Death
The Boatman
The Boatman of the Styx
Lord of Death

Realm

Drowning Court, Abaddon

Alignment

Neutral evil

Areas of Concern

Death

Worshipers

Ferrymen, grave robbers, undertakers, undead, urdefhans, would-be immortals

Edicts

End all mortal life, exploit those who fear death

Anathema

Offer anything for free, extend mortal lifespans, grant true salvation to the doomed or dying

Follower Alignments (1E)

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Domains (1E)

Death, Evil, Knowledge, Water

Subdomains (1E)

Daemon, Ice, Memory, Undead

Follower Alignments (2E)

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Sanctification (2E)

Must choose unholy

Domains (2E)

Death, knowledge, soul, water

Favored Weapon

Staff

Symbol

Skull with coins on eyes

Sacred Animal

Horse, raven

Sacred Colors

Pale green

Images of Charon

Source: Book of the Damned, pg(s). 36–37 (1E)
Divine Mysteries, pg(s). 172, 300–301 (2E)

Also described in Lost Omens Gods & Magic 86, 128–129.

Ⅰ

Ⅱ

Charon

(Creature)

Type

Outsider
(daemon, evil, extraplanar)

CR

30

Environment

Any (Abaddon)

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Images of Charon

Source: Bestiary 6, pg(s). 162

Ⅰ

The Apocalypse Riders ride out with Charon on the far left.

Charon (pronounced KAIR-unn) is the Rider of Death, an ancient and the most powerful Apocalypse Rider of Abaddon. He is the lord of the River Styx, and the ferryman for lost souls to the Outer Rifts. Charon is served by his deacons: the thanadaemons.

History

Charon was one of the four original Riders who betrayed their creator, the Bound Prince, and is the only original Rider who has retained his title since the creation of the first daemons. He was responsible for signing the daemons' deal with Urgathoa and Zyphus that gave them the realm of Bloodrot in Abaddon.

Home

The citadel of Charon is the Drowning Court, which consists of hundreds of floating buildings tethered together, slowly revolving around a massive whirlpool. This whirlpool is both the source of the River Styx and the entrance to Charon's personal, secret domain. The Drowning Court itself is already the biggest of the Apocalypse Riders's domains, but Charon's reach is extended further by the River Styx, which pushes into the realms of other daemonic demigods; unclaimed areas in Abaddon; and parts of Hell, the Outer Rifts, the Maelstrom, and Axis, all while retaining its link to Abaddon.

Appearance

Charon's typical form resembles that of a thanadaemon. However, since he is ancient enough to have predated humanoids, it is speculated that this is simply a form he adopted after discarding his original one, or is the mouthpiece for an alien creature below the waters of the Styx. Visitors to his personal demesne only feel Charon's looming, oppressive presence inside their mind, seeing nothing physical.

Relationships

Charon sees the newer Riders as junior colleagues, but once saw Lyutheria, the original Rider of Famine, as a sister until Trelmarixian deposed and replaced her. He is most concerned with Trelmarixian's erratic behaviour and obsession with his own origins. Charon actively ensures that no one but the Riders are aware of any friction or disagreement among them, ensuring that they present a godlike, perfectly unified, and unassailable front to their subjects.

Barzahk despises Charon due to how he represents the perversion of travel by leading souls into corruption and destruction, and always seeks to undermine him when possible.