Pthonus

Phthonos/Phthonus was the personified spirit (daimon) of jealousy and envy. He was particularly concerned with the jealous passions of love. In one ancient Greek vase painting he appears as an Erote, winged godling of love, accompanying Aphrodite. In Nonnus's Dionysiaca, he is by proxy the cause of Semele's death, having informed Hera of Zeus's affair with the princess. He also appears in Callimachus's Hymn to Apollo, goading the god into an argument.

When Children of Phthonos are claimed, a holographic green serpent slithers up their arm and bites their upper bicep, disappearing shortly after. This bite is accompanied by a brief sharp pain as if they were bitten, but it does not actually affect them.

His emoji is 💚

Phthonos children live in Deme 10 in the Phthonos cabin.

### Major

*Zelokinesis* (Major)

* Children of Phthonus are able to force feelings of jealousy and envy onto another person for a time. They can twist someone’s feeling of jealousy or envy similarly to Charmspeak, though not to the same degree, only nudging them in a specific direction. They can even go as far as inflicting their jealousy on objects, causing them to perform better or worse depending on the views of the Child of Phthonus.
* Level 1-3 - Children of Phthonus can inflict someone with slight jealousy, just enough to make them a bit more competitive or resentful. At this level they cannot inflict weapons with their jealousy. These effects last 2 turns.
* Level 4-6 - Children of Phthonus can inflict someone with “common” jealousy, causing them to be disdainful towards those who are superior to them until they can prove they’re better. They can also cause a weapon to be slightly less effective, such as a less rigid structure, or cause it to become even harder to allow stronger attacks. These effects last 4 turns.
* Level 7-8 - Children of Phthonus can inflict someone with pure envy, causing them to either feel defeated from inferiority or bloodthirsty to prove themselves better. They can also cause a person's blade to become dulled and rusty and thus become unusable in combat or cause it to become razor sharp. These effects last 6 turns.
* Level 8 - Children of Phthonus can become an embodiment of envy, creating a powerful aura around them in a 12 foot radius that causes all individuals to be more competitive or resentful towards those who are superior to them. This lasts 3 turns.

*Power Mimicry* (Major/Minor)

* Children of Phthonus are able to temporarily mimic the abilities of an individual by making physical contact with them. This is indicated by a green light flowing out of the targeted individual and into the Child of Phthonus’ point of contact. For the duration of this power, the copied power “replaces” this one, meaning that only one (1) power can be copied at a time. Upon copying the power, the Child of Phthonus has a basic understanding of how to use it, however creating effective use of it would require multiple days or even months of training with copying this power. Copied powers cannot level up. The drain of energy from this power does not come from copying the power, but instead the usage of the copied power. If you do not use the copied power, you feel no drain, but using the copied powers causes you to feel the side effects of that power twice as strongly.
* Passive - Children of Phthonus can sense the overall power of an individual who is actively using one of their powers, represented by a spectral aura that only they can see with a color that depends on their Godly Parent. This tells them what the level of the power is and how skilled they are with said power. This ability cannot detect the level of shapeshifting or illusionary powers, and instead it just shows the evidence of the power being used (the aura of it).
* Level 1 - Children of Phthonus can copy a Minor power at Level 1 for one (1) turn at a time. If the target has no Minor powers, they cannot copy anything.
* Level 2 - Children of Phthonus can copy a Minor power at Level 1 for two (2) turns at a time. If the target has no Minor powers, they cannot copy anything.
* Level 3 - Children of Phthonus can copy a Minor power at Level 1 for three (3) turns at a time. If the target has no Minor powers, they can copy one of the Minor powers from their Godrents’ power list, but they can only copy it for one (1) turn at a time.
* Level 4-6 - Children of Phthonus can copy a Minor power at Level 2 for three (3) turns or a Major power at Level 1-3 for one (1) turn. If the target has either no Minor power or no Major power, they cannot copy anything.
* Level 7-8 - Children of Phthonus can copy a Minor power at Level 3 for three (3) turns or a Major power at Level 4-6 for two (2) turns. If the target has either no Minor power or no Major power, they cannot copy anything.
* Level 8 - Children of Phthonus can create a constant bond between them and another individual, lasting 6 turns, which replaces this power with an exact copy of the specified power from the target. This copied power is the same level as the copied power, which does not affect the duration of the power like previous levels.

*Envious Stare* (Major/Minor)

* Children of Phthonus are able to amplify their power by a certain margin using their envy, empowering them and their powers by using their desire to be better than their opponents. This power does work on powers copied by Power Mimicry despite them not being able to permanently level up. This power can only be used effectively when in proximity with an opponent who has a power leveled higher than the Child of Phthonus’ highest power. When used without this situation met, the Power can only be used at Level 1 if it’s Minor and Level 3 if it’s Major.
* Level 1 - Children of Phthonus can amplify their power strength by one (1) level for 3 turns. If this would boost a power above its maximum level, then it would cap off at the maximum level. This level has a cooldown of 1 turn.
* Level 2 - Children of Phthonus can amplify their power strength by one (1) level for 3 turns. If this would boost a power above its maximum level, then it would cap off at the maximum level. This level has a cooldown of 2 turns.
* Level 3 - Children of Phthonus can amplify their power strength by one (1) level for 3 turns. If this would boost a power above its maximum level, then it would cap off at the maximum level. This level has a cooldown of 3 turns.
* Level 4-6 - Children of Phthonus can amplify their power strength by two (2) levels for 5 turns. If this would boost a power above its maximum level, then it would cap off at the maximum level. This level has a cooldown of 4 turns.
* Level 7-8 - Children of Phthonus can amplify their power strength by three (3) levels for 7 turns. If this would boost a power above its maximum level, then it would cap off at the maximum level. This level has a cooldown of 6 turns.
* Level 8 - Children of Phthonus can cause all of their powers to function at maximum possible level for 3 turns, meaning any Major/Minor powers function at Level 8 even if they’re considered Minor. This puts immense strain on the body of the Child of Phthonus, causing their bodies to feel like they’ve been doing a full body workout for hours. This can only be used once a week.

*Envy Empowerment* (Major)

* Children of Phthonus are able to focus the envy of themselves and others into empowering themself. Doing this amplifies the feeling of envy while the power is active.
* Level 1-3 - Children of Phthonus are able to increase their power and physical strength by 1.5x by channeling the envy of those around them. This does not work if nobody around them is feeling envious. This lasts 3 turns and can only be used every 9 turns.
* Level 4-6 - Children of Phthonus are able to increase their power and physical strength by 3x by channeling the envy of those around them. This does work if nobody around them is feeling envious, but it doesn’t work as well, only amplifying strength by 1.5x. This lasts 6 turns and can only be used every 12 turns.
* Level 7-8 - Children of Phthonus are able to increase their power and physical strength by 4x by channeling the envy of those around them. This does work if nobody around them is feeling envious, but it doesn’t work as well, only amplifying strength by 2.5x. This lasts 9 turns and can only be used every 15 turns.
* Level 8 - Children of Phthonus are able to direct their increased power into one attack, amplifying it by 10x instead. This can only be used every 9 turns.

### Minor

*Envy Absorption* (Minor)

* Children of Phthonus are able to absorb the envy felt by others, allowing them to counteract the effects of their siblings’ powers and the effects of basic human instinct. In turn, these feelings affect them instead, which can both improve the effectiveness of some of their powers and detriment their psyche.
* Level 1 - Children of Phthonus are able to absorb 50% of the envy in one target, preventing them from being entirely envious for 3 turns.
* Level 2 - Children of Phthonus are able to absorb 75% of the envy in one target, preventing them from being entirely envious for 4 turns.
* Level 3 - Children of Phthonus are able to absorb 100% of the envy in one target, preventing them entirely from being envious for 5 turns.

*Inconspicuous* (Minor)

* Children of Phthonus are capable of blending into any crowd as if they belong there. While blending in, nothing can pick them out from the crowd unless by magical means. If they’re already discovered, this power does not work.
* Level 1 - Children of Phthonus can blend in for up to 3 turns. If they conceal their face, they can blend in for up to 5 turns.
* Level 2 - Children of Phthonus can blend in for up to 5 turns. If they conceal their face, they can blend in for up to 7 turns.
* Level 3 - Children of Phthonus can blend in for up to 7 turns. If they conceal their face, they can blend in for up to 9 turns.

*But It’s My Turn!* (Minor)

* Children of Phthonus are able to utilize their envy to telekinetically steal the weapons and objects held by other people. The stronger the opponent is, the harder it is to take, requiring higher levels of the power. If the user has no feelings of envy, they cannot use this power.
* Level 1 - Children of Phthonus can snatch one object held by someone similar in strength to a mortal or demigod, except those with enhanced strength.
* Level 2 - Children of Phthonus can snatch one object held by someone similar in strength to a monster or demigod with enhanced strength.
* Level 3 - Children of Phthonus can snatch one object held by someone similar in physical strength to a Giant or God, but they must make a roll of 19 or higher.

*Toxigenesis* (Minor)

* Children of Phthonus can produce a minor toxin which they can then use to coat weapons or put into beverages. Overall the substance has minor effects, though it can certainly give a “Onyx with a strand of String Shot still on it” type of situation in a battle. The poison is, however, nonlethal in all of its forms, no matter the dosage.
* Passive - Children of Phthonus’ blood carries the same toxin that they can produce, giving them minor resistances to poison and causing their blood to produce the same effects (albeit unorthodox to use and diluted by one level).
* Level 1 - Children of Phthonus can produce up to one (1) fluid ounce of poison. This is enough to coat one (1) sword, two (2) daggers, or six (6) arrow/dart tips. The poison at this level has minor tranquilizing effects, causing targets to become slightly disoriented. This does not work on monsters. The poison’s effects last 3 turns, and weapons coated with the poison inflict the effects for one successful attack.
* Level 2 - Children of Phthonus can produce up to two (2) fluid ounces of poison. This is enough to coat two (2) swords, four (4) daggers, or twelve (12) arrow/dart tips. The poison at this level has minor tranquilizing effects, causing targets to become slightly disoriented, and it also causes minor nausea. This does not work on monsters. The poison’s effects last 5 turns, and weapons coated with the poison inflict the effects for one successful attack.
* Level 3 - Children of Phthonus can produce up to three (3) fluid ounces of poison. This is enough to coat three (3) swords, six (6) daggers, or eighteen (18) arrow/dart tips. The poison at this level has minor tranquilizing effects, causing targets to become slightly disoriented, and it also causes moderate nausea and vomiting. This does work on monsters. The poison’s effects last 7 turns (only 3 on monsters), and weapons coated with the poison inflict the effects for one successful attack.

*Jealous Amokinesis* (Minor)

* Children of Phthonus are able to direct their jealousy into a twisted form of Amokinesis, bent on ruining relationships rather than directly creating them. This power is inherently weaker while the Child of Phthonus is actively in a relationship, causing it to function at one (1) level lower (at Level 1 not functioning at all) than usual.
* Level 1 - Children of Phthonus can cause a minor rift in a relationship; creating a small argument or disagreement, maybe sparking negative thoughts in the mind of one of the individuals. These aren’t very notable at all, but they can create a tinge of doubt within a relationship. This works on both platonic relationships and romantic relationships.
* Level 2 - Children of Phthonus can cause a more significant rift in a relationship; causing more serious arguments that could result in “let’s just take a few hours to cool off and talk about this later, okay?” types of scenarios. This works on platonic relationships, but romantic relationships still have the Level 1 effect (though at a Level 2 strength).
* Level 3 - Children of Phthonus can cause a major rift in a platonic relationship, forcing a “break up” in the platonic sense, causing two individuals to have spite towards each other. This effect isn’t permanent, but it doesn’t have a “time limit”, the two people must work it out themselves if they want to recuperate, though once the Child of Phthonus is not present it is easy for them to do so as the force driving the breakup is no longer there. Romantic relationship rifts now produce the Level 2 effect.

### Given

*Zoolingualism* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus are able to speak with animals associated with jealousy and love, including but not limited to: snakes, dogs (Jealousy), swans, penguins, doves, cows, flamingos, lovebirds, starfishes, horses, and dolphins (Love).

*Covetous* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus are inherently very jealous people. They wish to have things the same or better as other people, and if they aren’t better than someone, they have a strong drive to become better than them.

*Predictable Flaw* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus tend to all have the Tragic Flaw of Jealousy. How this manifests can be different from child-to-child, though it’s usually something along the lines of jealousy or envy.

*Jealous Rage* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus are very prideful, competitive, and strong-willed. They carry a distaste for losing, and tend to take any competition-esque scenario seriously, and if they lose a battle, they will make sure to win the war.

*Air of Superiority* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus naturally carry the aura of taunt and superiority, which makes others naturally feel jealous. This is amplified in competitive situations, especially when others are being outperformed by the Child of Phthonus.

*Imprinting* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus tend to be very easily imprinted on, causing them to mimic and emulate the tendencies of others, especially those they look up to and those they are jealous of. They dress and act similar to them, and even pose as them sometimes, even if only in private.

*Trickster’s Physicality* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus can fake being dead by masking their heart rate to avoid drawing attention or detection.

*Graphologist* (Given)

* Children of Phthonus are experts at forging handwriting, and as long as they’ve seen it before, they can replicate a person’s handwriting or signature. They, however, can only replicate it in languages that they know how to write in.