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Achilles

Myths & Legends #1: Achilles

alike. Often driven by an all-consuming rage in battle, and at other times

a stubborn, petulant recluse, Achilles was an enigma but none denied
his leadership skills and his unequalled battle prowess. His early years
were spent learning at the feet of the centaur Chiron on Mount Pelion,
sent there by his father Peleus.
A proud man, Achilles would seek out the strongest enemy warrior he
could find on the field of battle and engage him in a duel to the death. He
usually initiated combat with a cast of his spear, Old Pelion, before
closing with swords and shield, clearing out of his way all those who
stood between him and his chosen enemy.
Achilles was often difficult to work with often arrogant to the point of
disrespect even to those who outranked him; he famously quarrelled with
Agamemnon, King of Kings, during the Trojan War and withdrew his
Myrmidons from the battle, almost costing the Greeks a permanent
defeat, but the death of his beloved comrade Patrocles caused him to enter
such a rage that he donned his armor and sought the Trojan hero Hector
on the battlefield, slaying him in single combat. The Wrath of Achilles
became legendary.
Achilles armor and shield were forged by the gods at the request of his
nymph mother, Thetis, and became the subject of a feud between the wily
leader Odysseus and the mighty warrior Ajax after his death; Odysseus
won the contest, and Ajax went mad before committing suicide.
So great is the legend of Achilles that even Alexander the Great claimed
to be descended from him.

My rage, my fury would drive me now to hack your flesh away and eat
you raw such agonies you have caused me!
Achilles was the greatest hero of the Trojan War. Fleet of foot, and
strong in body, and godlike in battle, legend has it that he was
invulnerable, a gift from his mother, the nymph Thetis; however he was
finally slain in the closing battle of the war by a poisoned arrow.
The leader of the Myrmidons, a body of elite Greek warriors, Achilles
was in equal parts loved, respected, and feared by allies and enemies

Sing, Goddess, of the rage, of Peleus' son Achilles the accursed rage,
which brought pain to thousands of the Achaeans.

EN World
Achilles
Medium immortal humanoid

www.enworld.org
Level 20 Solo Soldier (Leader)
XP 14,000

Initiative +20
Senses Perception +20
Courage aura 5; allies within the aura gain +2 to all their defences
HP 977; Bloodied 488
Regeneration 5 (if Achilles has taken poison damage in the encounter, he is no longer
able to regenerate until the end of the encounter.)
AC 42; Fortitude 36; Reflex 34; Will 32
Resist 10 all; Vulnerable 10 poison
Saving Throws +5
Speed 8 Action Points 2
m Battleaxe (standard; at-will)
+27 vs AC; 2d6 + 16 damage
The Depths of Melee (standard; at-will)
Achilles makes two battleaxe basic attacks.
r Old Pelion (standard; at-will)
Range 10; +27 vs AC; 2d6 + 16 damage
C Clear The Way (standard; recharge 5 6)
Close Burst 1; +27 vs AC; 2d6 + 13 damage and target is pushed one square
C Mark of the Duel (minor; encounter) Fear
Close burst 5; one creature; target is marked by Achilles until the end of the encounter.
M Shield Bash (minor; at-will) Weapon
+27 vs AC; 1d8 + 8 damage; Achilles pushes the target 1 square and shifts into the
square the target vacates.
The Crush of Melee (immediate reaction; at will)
Whenever Achilles becomes flanked.
Achilles uses Shield Bash on one of the creatures flanking him.
C The Wrath of Achilles (immediate reaction; encounter) Fear
Used when first bloodied.
+27 vs AC; 2d6 + 13 damage and Achilles shifts one square and attacks another target.
He continues to do this until he misses or finds himself more than one square from a
valid target. Achilles may not target the same enemy twice with this attack.
Alignment Unaligned
Languages Common
Skills Acrobatics +20, Athletics +23, Endurance +20, Intimidate +21
Str 26 (+18)
Dex 20 (+15)
Wis 20 (+15)
Con 20 (+15)
Int 20 (+15)
Cha 23 (+16)

Myths & Legends #1: Achilles

Equipment Old Pelion, Bronze Plate Armor, Battleaxe, Shield of Achilles

Tactics Achilles marks the most powerful warrior he can, and uses Clear the Way and
Shield Bash to force his way directly to that target.

Myrmidons
The Myrmidons were Achilles' legion of elite warriors, supposedly
descended from Myrmidon, a son of Zeus. The Myrmidons were known
for their loyalty to their king, Achilles.

Myrmidon
Medium humanoid

Level 18 Minion Soldier

XP 500

Initiative +15
Senses Perception +13
HP 1 (a missed attack never damages a minion)
AC 34; Fortitude 31; Reflex 30; Will 30
Speed 6
m Spear (standard; at-will)
+25 vs AC; 12 damage
M Shield Bash (minor; at-will)
+25 vs AC; the target knocked prone.
Disciplined Legion (no action; at-will)
When a Myrmidon is adjacent to two or more other Myrmidons, he gains a +1 bonus
to attack rolls and defences.
Alignment Unaligned
Languages Common
Str 25 (+16)
Dex 19 (+13)
Wis 14 (+6)
Con 19 (+13)
Int 14 (+6)
Cha 14 (+6)
Equipment: Spear. Bronze Armor, shield

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Russell Morrissey is the owner of EN World (www.enworld.org), the
world's largest unofficial D&D website. He lives in Southampton,
England, with his wife and dog, Jango.