![[Cryonax.png|400]] **Archomental, Prince of Evil Cold Creatures** **Alignment:** Neutral Evil **Home Plane:** Paraelemental Plane of Ice (Frostfell) **Realm:** The Chiseled Estate **Also Known As:** Prince of Evil Ice Creatures, Bringer of Endless Winter, the Bleak Monarch ### Overview Cryonax, the Prince of Evil Cold Creatures, is a powerful archomental who commands the destructive forces of ice and supernatural cold. Among the Princes of Elemental Evil, he is distinguished by his dominion over the paraelement of ice rather than one of the four fundamental elements. While Imix, Ogrémoch, Olhydra, and Yan-C-Bin embody fire, earth, water, and air respectively, Cryonax seeks to elevate ice above them all. His ultimate ambition is to transform the multiverse into a frozen realm under his absolute dominion. Cryonax resembles an enormous, white-furred yeti, standing approximately fifteen feet tall and weighing around 2,800 pounds. His hulking humanoid body possesses two long, sucker-covered tentacles in place of arms, capable of inflicting grievous wounds and freezing his enemies into immobility. An aura of supernatural cold continually radiates from his body, threatening creatures that venture too close. Despite his monstrous appearance, Cryonax possesses formidable intelligence and pursues his ambitions through elaborate schemes, the accumulation of powerful servants, and the conquest of territories beyond his immediate control. Cryonax is among the most powerful inhabitants of the Paraelemental Plane of Ice, where he maintains a vast fortress and commands numerous creatures adapted to extreme cold. His strength is comparable to that of the other great evil archomentals, and his influence extends throughout the Inner Planes and into the frozen regions of the Material Plane. Although he receives worship from several mortal and elemental peoples, Cryonax is not a true deity. Nevertheless, his immense supernatural power allows him to grant limited divine magic to priests who acknowledge him as their patron. Unlike the other principal evil archomentals, Cryonax possesses no recognised good-aligned counterpart. No Prince or Princess of Good Ice is known to oppose him, leaving Cryonax without the direct elemental rivalry that constrains several of his counterparts. His position is not entirely secure, however, for powerful inhabitants of the Plane of Ice continue to resist his authority. ### Domain and Influence Cryonax resides within the Paraelemental Plane of Ice, a vast frozen realm formed where the Elemental Planes of Air and Water meet. Also known as the Frostfell, this plane consists of enormous glaciers, frozen plains, towering mountains, and immense expanses of solid ice. Its surface borders the Precipice, the region where the frozen plane meets the endless air beyond, while its depths extend into the solid heart of the paraelemental realm. Cryonax's seat of power is the Chiseled Estate, an immense fortress constructed from ice, quartz, and glass. The structure rises more than a mile above the frozen surface and extends at least four miles into the depths beneath it. Its vast crystalline chambers contain Cryonax's palace, where he oversees his dominion and devises his plans for conquest. The fortress is exceptionally cold, although the Mountain of Ultimate Winter possesses temperatures even more severe than those found within Cryonax's stronghold. Within the deepest chambers of the Chiseled Estate, Cryonax maintains the centre of his growing military power. Accounts from the fortress describe a coven of mortal wizards and priests, including water and ice genasi, who have been enslaved and compelled to create new cold-adapted creatures for his armies. Rumours speak of frost-covered umber hulks, creatures resembling frozen ropers, and enormous birds formed from razor-sharp ice. Such creatures are believed to be products of magical experimentation intended to strengthen Cryonax's forces. Cryonax commands numerous inhabitants of the Plane of Ice, including ice paraelementals, ice mephits, chraals, frost salamanders, frost worms, yetis, and shivhads. These creatures form the principal forces through which he attempts to establish his supremacy. His armies are considerable, but his dominion does not encompass every inhabitant of the plane. Some creatures remain independent, while others openly reject his claim to rule all beings associated with ice. Among those who oppose Cryonax are the immoths and certain independent groups of ice paraelementals. His most formidable rival is Albrathanilar, a female great wyrm white dragon who is also a powerful and cunning wizard. Albrathanilar maintains her own influence within the Plane of Ice and opposes Cryonax's ambitions. Their struggle has developed into a prolonged conflict involving spies, saboteurs, and covert manoeuvres, with both preparing for a more decisive confrontation. Cryonax's ambitions extend far beyond the boundaries of his fortress. He seeks first to bring the entire Paraelemental Plane of Ice under his authority, then to increase its power until it becomes equal to the four primary Elemental Planes. Ultimately, he intends to surpass those planes entirely, expanding the influence of ice into Air, Water, and the other elemental realms. His plans reach even further, for Cryonax desires to freeze the multiverse itself and establish ice as the supreme elemental force. ### Symbols and Icons  Cryonax possesses two recognised symbols: a blue-white circle enclosed within a square and a silver snowflake. Both emblems are associated with the Prince of Evil Cold Creatures and are used to identify his allegiance and elemental authority. The two symbols represent Cryonax's connection to ice and supernatural cold. They are recognised among those who venerate him, particularly creatures and spellcasters who acknowledge his power over frozen environments. No single symbol has been established as exclusively representing his worship throughout the planes. ### Worship and Tributes Cryonax receives worship from creatures that inhabit frozen environments and from those who seek power through the manipulation of supernatural cold. His followers include frost giants, malasyneps, evil arctic druids, and spellcasters specialising in cold magic. Yetis also worship Cryonax as a god, as do the amitoks, a people of arctic hobgoblins who acknowledge his elemental authority. The worship of Cryonax is closely associated with his immense power and his ambitions to establish the supremacy of ice. His followers are drawn from a variety of peoples and creatures, ranging from powerful spellcasters to inhabitants of remote frozen wildernesses. Some acknowledge him as a divine patron, while others serve his interests because of his strength and his ability to command creatures associated with cold. Within the Paraelemental Plane of Ice, Cryonax's position is maintained through both allegiance and subjugation. Numerous creatures serve in his armies, although their obedience does not always arise from religious devotion. Some submit because of his overwhelming strength, while others remain outside his control and resist his attempts to extend his dominion. The worship of Cryonax is also found beyond the Inner Planes, particularly among inhabitants of arctic regions on the Material Plane. His influence among yetis and amitoks demonstrates that his following is not confined to elemental creatures, while his attraction to druids and practitioners of cold magic gives him a presence among mortal spellcasters. ### Clergy and Cults Cryonax's religious following includes priests, shamans, druids, and other spellcasters who recognise him as a supernatural patron. His status as an archomental does not prevent him from granting limited divine spells to his worshippers, an ability shared by the other great elemental princes. Although such powers fall short of those possessed by true deities, they allow Cryonax to sustain a priesthood among those who acknowledge his authority. Among the amitoks, shamans serve Cryonax and maintain his worship within their communities. Evil arctic druids and spellcasters specialising in cold magic are also associated with his cult. These followers represent different traditions of devotion rather than a single established religious order. The extent of Cryonax's religious organisation varies among his followers. His worship is known among several distinct peoples, but accounts of his cults provide little evidence of a common hierarchy or a unified system of temples extending across the planes. His influence is more clearly demonstrated through the creatures who acknowledge him and the elemental powers he commands. ### Powers and Abilities Cryonax possesses extraordinary supernatural abilities derived from his command over ice and cold. His physical strength, elemental magic, and resistance to injury make him an exceptionally dangerous adversary. Although his powers are particularly effective within his frozen domain, he remains formidable beyond the Paraelemental Plane of Ice. - **Aura of Supernatural Cold:** Cryonax continually radiates an aura of intense cold extending approximately fifteen feet from his body. Creatures entering this area suffer the effects of his freezing presence, while those possessing resistance to cold are better able to withstand it. The aura is an inherent aspect of Cryonax's being and does not require him to cast a spell. - **Freezing Tentacles:** Cryonax possesses two enormous tentacles covered in suction cups, each capable of delivering powerful physical attacks. Creatures struck by these appendages can become frozen in place, temporarily paralysed by the supernatural cold accompanying his blows. His tentacles are among his most dangerous weapons in direct combat. - **Elemental Ice Magic:** Cryonax can create powerful walls of ice, unleash devastating ice storms, and produce destructive blasts of freezing energy. He can also immobilise enemies through magical means. These abilities allow him to inflict severe injuries while controlling the movement of opponents attempting to confront him. - **Summoning Cold Creatures:** Cryonax can summon ice paraelementals, white dragons, frost giants, and yetis to aid him. These creatures supplement the substantial forces already under his command and allow him to call upon powerful servants when confronted by dangerous enemies. - **Absorption of Cold:** Cryonax is unharmed by magical cold and possesses the extraordinary ability to absorb freezing energy. Cold-based magical attacks restore his vitality rather than injuring him, making such powers ineffective against his elemental nature. - **Supernatural Resilience:** Cryonax's body is exceptionally resistant to physical harm. Ordinary weapons are unable to injure him effectively, and weapons striking his frozen form may become so brittle that they shatter. He is also immune to poison and petrification. - **Vulnerability to Fire:** Fire is particularly effective against Cryonax. Unlike cold, which strengthens or restores him, flames and magical fire can inflict considerable harm upon his elemental form. This vulnerability is one of the few known weaknesses associated with his otherwise formidable defences. - **Planar Magic:** Cryonax possesses magical abilities shared by the great archomentals, including teleportation, telekinesis, the detection of invisible creatures, the ability to dispel magic, and supernatural influence over other beings. He can understand and communicate with intelligent creatures, allowing him to direct servants and deal with beings from beyond his native plane. Cryonax's abilities place him among the most dangerous elemental beings in existence. Nevertheless, his strength does not grant him absolute authority over every creature associated with cold, and his continued struggles against rival powers demonstrate that his ambitions remain incomplete. ### Myths and Legends Cryonax's history extends into the ancient conflicts of the Inner Planes, where his presence has been associated with elemental rivalries, primordial powers, and attempts to expand the dominion of ice. Several accounts surrounding him remain uncertain, particularly those concerning his origins and his relationships with other ancient beings. - **The Elder Elemental Eye:** Cryonax believes himself to be an offspring of the Elder Elemental Eye, a mysterious power associated with the Princes of Elemental Evil. The truth of this claim remains uncertain. Some accounts suggest that the belief may have originated through the deception of Tharizdun, who sought to manipulate Cryonax through his supposed ancestry. Whether Cryonax is genuinely descended from the Elder Elemental Eye has never been conclusively established. - **The Age Before Ages:** Cryonax existed during the ancient era preceding the great conflicts between Law and Chaos. When the obyriths first ventured into the Inner Planes, Cryonax was already present and openly hostile toward them. His opposition to these primordial demons has led to speculation that he may have supported the Wind Dukes of Aaqa during their ancient wars. No definitive account of such an alliance has survived. - **The Tear of Winter:** Cryonax created a powerful artifact known as the Tear of Winter, fashioned from the essence of a winter goddess associated with the birth of a monstrous abomination. He intends to use this artifact to command a xixecal, an immense creature embodying destructive supernatural winter. By bringing the creature under his authority, Cryonax hopes to acquire a weapon of extraordinary power capable of leading his armies during future conquests. - **The Imprisonment of Levistus:** Cryonax secretly seeks to free Levistus, the archdevil imprisoned within a vast mass of ice in Stygia, the fifth layer of the Nine Hells. The purpose behind Cryonax's interest in the imprisoned archdevil remains unknown. Whether he seeks an alliance or intends to exploit Levistus for some other objective has not been established. - **The Rivalry with Albrathanilar:** Cryonax's struggle against Albrathanilar is among the most significant conflicts within the Paraelemental Plane of Ice. The great white dragon opposes his attempts to establish complete sovereignty and maintains sufficient power to challenge his influence. Their conflict is conducted largely through espionage and sabotage, with both sides gathering information and preparing for a confrontation that has yet to occur. - **The Creation of New Elemental Realms:** Cryonax has long desired to transform ice into a dominant elemental force. Among his ambitions is the creation of additional paraelemental realms of snow and slush along the boundaries of his own plane. Such territories would further expand the influence of ice and contribute to his greater objective of replacing the existing elemental order. - **The Power Beneath the Chiseled Estate:** Ancient accounts describe Cryonax's palace as drawing power from the Negative Energy Plane. The precise nature and purpose of this connection remain unknown. Although the fortress is already a place of immense elemental power, the forces supposedly drawn into it have never been fully explained. ### Encounters with Cryonax's Influence Cryonax's influence extends throughout the Plane of Ice and into the frozen territories of other worlds. His followers, armies, and ongoing schemes present numerous dangers to those who venture into regions where his authority is recognised. - **The Armies of Ice:** Cryonax commands forces consisting of ice paraelementals, ice mephits, chraals, frost salamanders, frost worms, yetis, and shivhads. These creatures serve his attempts to expand his territory and strengthen his dominion over the Plane of Ice. - **The Chiseled Estate:** Cryonax's fortress is among the most dangerous locations within the frozen plane. Its immense crystalline structure contains his palace, numerous servants, and the spellcasters reportedly responsible for creating new cold-adapted monsters. The supernatural cold surrounding the fortress presents a danger even before its inhabitants are encountered. - **The Worshippers of Cryonax:** Frost giants, yetis, amitoks, evil druids, and spellcasters devoted to cold magic may acknowledge Cryonax as their patron. His worship among these creatures extends his influence beyond the Paraelemental Plane of Ice and into the frozen regions of the Material Plane. - **The Conflict with Albrathanilar:** The rivalry between Cryonax and Albrathanilar continues through the actions of spies and saboteurs. Both seek to weaken the other's position while gathering the information necessary to gain an advantage in their struggle for control of the frozen plane. - **Independent Inhabitants of Ice:** Certain immoths and groups of ice paraelementals refuse to recognise Cryonax's authority. Their continued independence creates opposition to his expansion and prevents him from establishing unquestioned control over the entirety of his home plane. - **The Tear of Winter:** Cryonax's plans involving the Tear of Winter and the xixecal remain among his most dangerous ambitions. The successful release and control of such a creature would provide him with an immense source of destructive power and strengthen his ability to threaten territories beyond the Plane of Ice. ### Conclusion Cryonax is one of the most formidable archomentals of the Inner Planes, commanding supernatural cold and numerous creatures that inhabit frozen environments. His dominion over the Paraelemental Plane of Ice, combined with his immense magical abilities and growing armies, makes him a powerful force among the Princes of Elemental Evil. His ambition to elevate ice above the four fundamental elements distinguishes him from his counterparts, while the absence of a recognised good-aligned archomental rival allows him to pursue his goals without an equivalent opposing elemental prince. Despite his extraordinary power, Cryonax has not achieved complete control over his native plane. Albrathanilar and numerous independent inhabitants continue to resist his authority, while his schemes involving the Tear of Winter, the imprisoned Levistus, and the expansion of the Plane of Ice remain unresolved. From the depths of the Chiseled Estate, Cryonax continues to strengthen his forces and pursue his ultimate ambition: the transformation of the multiverse into an everlasting frozen realm beneath his rule.