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Age of Legends
By James foster & Mark Foster

Thanks
James and Mark would like to thank Jenny Lee for first sending them to Indiecon2011 and starting this
odyssey. They’d also like to thank their parents for all the great parenting. Martin Grey and Toby Hunt get
thanks for being early idea listeners. Richard Gowland, James Carpenter, Jonathan Whiting, David Walker,
Maria Walker and Joanne Humphries were the first campaign playtesters and their input was appreciated.
Additional thanks to all those who played Age of Legends at conventions.

This work is licensed under a


Creative Commons Attribution -
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

All text (c) James Foster, Mark Foster, all rights reserved. Art by Chris Tregenza and Jack Door, based on
a variety of Greek pottery, mosasics and statues in the public domain. All art (c) Chris Tregenza, all rights
reserved. Layout and editing by Chris Tregenza. Logos, trademarks, graphic design and other elements (c) Chris
Tregenza, all rights reserved.
Age of Legends [Front Matter]
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3
Contents
7 Mortals 95 Protagonists
8 Introduction 96 Character Background
11 Politics & War 97 Character Creation
14 Travel, Trade & Law 99 Archetypes
15 Life 103 Divine Favour
20 Death 106 Mortal Concerns
24 The Olympic Games 107 Signs
26 Central / Mainland Greece 110 Oaths
28 Peloponnese 111 Magic
30 Northern Greece 113 Magic Examples
32 Colonies & Outposts 114 Paths & Lists
34 Persia & Other Lands 115 Battle Veteran
38 Intelligent People & Monsters 115 Cavalry
40 Notable Mortals 116 Champion of Aphrodite
116 Champion of Apollo
43 Immortals 117 Champion of Ares
44 Olympic Legends 117 Champion of Artemis
46 Aphrodite 118 Champion of Athena
48 Apollo 118 Champion of Demeter
50 Ares 119 Champion of Dionysus
52 Artemis 119 Champion of Hades
54 Athena 120 Champion of Hecate
56 Demeter 120 Champion of Hera
58 Dionysus 121 Champion of Hephaestus
60 Hades 121 Champion of Hermes
62 Hecate 122 Champion of Hestia
64 Hephaestus 122 Champion of Poseidon
66 Hera 123 Champion of Zeus
68 Hermes 123 Con Artist
70 Hestia 124 Craftsperson
72 Poseidon 124 Divine Ancestry
74 Zeus 125 Hero from Another Legend
76 Titanic Struggle 125 Hoplite
77 Coeus 126 Hunter
78 Crius 126 Labourer
79 Cronus 127 Leader
80 Hyperion 127 Martial Upbringing
81 Iapetus 128 Mentored
82 Mnemosyne 128 Merchant
83 Oceanus 129 Noble Birth
84 Phoebe 129 Organised Crime
85 Rhea 130 Panhellenic Athlete
86 Tethys 130 Pankration
87 Theia 131 Peltast
88 Themis 131 Performer
89 Lesser Immortals 132 Philosopher

Age of Legends
132 Politician 143 Antagonists
133 Poverty 144 Game Leader's Advice
133 Priest(ess) 146 Plot Hooks
134 Raised By Animals 148 Monsters, Agents, NPCs & Mooks
134 Reincarnated 150 Human Mooks
135 Sailor 151 Amphisbaean
135 Scout 152 Amazon, Hunter
136 Sole Survivor 153 Arean Bird, Greater
136 Sorcerer 154 Basilisc
137 Spy 155 Carcinos, Large
137 Thief 156 Catoblepas
138 Traveller 157 Centaur, Hunter
138 Wanted 158 Chimera
139 Melee Weapons 159 Cyclops, Alpha
139 Ranged Weapons 160 Eidolon
139 Shields and Armour 161 Ethiopian Dragon
140 Hellenic Hazards 162 Ethiopian Pegasus, Flock Elder
163 Faun, Trickster
164 Golden Sheep, Ram
165 Gorgon
166 Harpy
167 Hippocamp
168 Hydra
169 Leucrocota
170 Minotaur
171 Nymph
172 Ophis Pteretos, Large
173 Satyr
174 Siren
175 Skeleton Soldier
176 Stymphalian Bird, Leader
177 Tanagran Triton
178 Agent Paths
182 Monster Paths

183 Appendix
188 Index

5
Age of Legends
Mortals

7
Header
Introduction

Everyone knows the names, the people History Re-imagined


In Age Of Legends it is encouraged that the
of legends whose lives were aided and players and Game Leader immerse themselves in
vexed by the gods in equal measure. Ancient Greek culture and mythos. Part of this
involves an understanding of the Greeks' morality and
Mortals who fought the cyclops and their motives. Unfortunately, this involves bigotry,
Minotaur; men and women who struggled misogyny, racism and rape. It is neither required nor
expected for these aspects of Ancient Greek culture
against the machinations of Zeus and his to be any part of this game.
family and far too often succumbed to the The version of Ancient Greece imagined in Age
Of Legends is one where men and women are equal.
very human failings of love, hubris, pride Barring a few specific exceptions people of either
and vanity. These are the heroes from gender can be found in any line of work or position
in society. Historically, Greece was a multi-cultural
the first age of legends whose actions society with trade routes stretching from northern
and stories defined Hellenic culture for a Europe to Sub-Saharan Africa and east at least as far
as India. Though slavery existed and is included in
thousand years. the game it is not racially based. In Hellenic culture
It is has been four centuries since Homer wrote slavery is the result of poverty and the ebb and flow
the Iliad and the Odyssey in 800 BCE when those leg- of the inter-polis warfare, and as many native Greeks
ends were already centuries old. Though the Greeks as non-Greeks were slaves. Champions can be of any
are divided amongst fiercely independent city states gender, class or ethnic background and any mortal
they share the tales and myths from the first age of chosen by the Olympic gods is accepted as a true
heroes. These form the foundation of a common cul- Greek by all Greeks.
ture. Even when the gods withdrew to their Olympic Similarly the mythology presented in this book is
home the legends served as object lessons, teaching a retelling of ancient stories with a more modern take
the people ideas of honour and bravery - ideas which on social issues. Groups wishing to use legends and
have helped propel Hellenic society to become the myths from other sources should discuss the tone
premier civilisation of the Mediterranean. and content of their planned game. The entire group
Now in the 4th century BCE Greece is a melting pot must be in agreement about the game's subject mat-
of new ideas and philosophies. Despite the march ter before a single dice is rolled. What was accept-
of logic and the progress of reason Greece finds able to an Ancient Greek may not be acceptable now,
itself once again plagued by conflict and strife. War even as an imaginary act around a gaming table.
between the city states ravages the country, foreign As much as possible the authors have kept in
gods are making inroads and mighty Greece is being historical events to underpin the game with a strong
challenged by new rivals on the Mediterranean. sense of the Hellenic culture. Due to the nature
Into this dynamic world the gods have returned the real Ancient Greek society and how history is
and they are choosing a new generation of heroes. recorded a lot of the historical figures mentioned are
A handful of men and women are being selected as male. It is the authors' expressed desire that players
champions and destined for fame and glory. These populate their game world with a much greater vari-
mortals are both blessed and damned by the gods as a ety of personages and not to be held back by histori-
new age of legends begins. cal fact or verisimilitude.

About this Game The Gods


Age Of Legends is a setting for the fast and flexible On Mount Olympus dwell the court of Zeus. They
6d6 RPG. To play this game you require the 6d6 Core are fifteen of the most powerful beings in existence
rule book. The game is of an epic nature and players who control everything from the crops to the wind,
and Game Leaders are encouraged to think big. Heroes from the sea to the sun. They are the most capri-
should be heroic but the legends are also full of trag- cious, scheming and vain individuals a hero might
edy. A hero of Greece is much more likely to die young, meet. Some love the world and mankind, some love
betrayed by someone (or some god) they trust than they only themselves and all of them are dangerous.
are to die of old age. The individual fate of a champion Just one branch of a large and gnarled fam-
is irrelevant compared to the legend they leave behind. ily tree, the Olympian court consists of Zeus, his

Age of Legends
Introduction
Header

siblings and their children. Zeus became King of a pleasant afterlife of indulgences and easy living.
the Gods when he led the Olympians to victory over The ones who lead blameless, simple or boring lives
his father Cronus in a rebellion against the Titans' can expect nothing but toil and drudgery. Those who
absolute rule and tyranny. Fearing their power even offend the gods or are judged as evil are plunged into
in defeat, Zeus imprisoned the Titans in deepest Tar- Tartarus for an eternity of torment. Tartarus is nigh-
tarus, sealed away far from the light of day. But the inescapable but not the rest of the Underworld. Leg-
prison is imperfect, allowing the Titans a possibility ends talk of people escaping or being freed to rejoin
for escape. They are empowering mortals to become the living, and some speak of reincarnation.
agents who work to undermine the Olympians. The The new heroes not only live at the whim of the
Titans spread chaos and all should fear their return, gods but also of prophecy. It is a mysterious force
for a full scale war between Olympus and Titans which even the gods are subject to. Prophecies
would devastate the world. tell of things that are true or will be true. It was a
Titanic wrath and encroaching foreign gods are prophecy that convinced Cronus to eat his children
forcing the Olympians to reassert themselves in to protect his power, which drove the Olympians to
the mortal world. To do this, they pick mortals to usurp him. Destiny cannot be dodged but may be
be their champions and fight in their name. manipulated if its subject can decipher the proph-
ecy before it is too late.
The gods on Olympus have a great many uses
Champions of the Gods for their champions. These range from defending
Players take on the role of a new generation of
the whole of Greece, to satisfying divine vanity or
heroes. They begin their adventures in 370 BCE,
being mere playthings. Heroes set out on quests to
long after legendary events like the Trojan War or the
seek out artefacts to gain their power and keep them
journey of the Argo. That heroic age ended when
from enemies. Foreigners are pressing in on Greece
Zeus forbade mating between mortals and gods and
from all sides creating many wars to join. Meanwhile
the Olympians stepped back out of the world.
agents of the Titans are at work and the heroes must
A few champions may have divine blood
foil their schemes. These tasks will take them all over
diluted by hundreds of generations of mortals but
Greece and beyond, into the mystery-riddled deserts
most are chosen for their personal virtues or just
of Egypt and the dark forests of the barbarians lands
on a whim. Hermes favours the sticky-fingered,
to the north. They will meet fantastic creatures like
Zeus prefers the strong and courageous whilst Ares
proud centaurs, clever little nymphs or devious djinn.
chooses the bloodthirsty. The gods choose who
The gods take on champions to be their servants,
they wish to be champions and the mortals have
so their favour must be maintained. Heroes who flat-
no right to refuse. The reactions of the chosen are
ter their patron and display the qualities they like will
as diverse as the heroes themselves. Some greet it
be blessed and keep the god's attention. Heroes who
as a challenge and throw themselves at their tasks
fail them, or worse, bore them, will face divine wrath.
while others view it as a solemn duty to be under-
They will suffer curses, impossible missions or even
taken in worship of their patron. A few see it as a
simple attempts to kill them.
burden and carry out their tasks fearing reprisal
should they refuse.
Champions go into the world to make legends The Heroic Life
of themselves in the name of their gods and will Greek champions lead unique lives as they go
gain great power and fame, the ambition of any about Greece undoing the machinations of the Titans.
red-blooded Greek. However a price must be paid, The less power-hungry gods also set their champions
as those who fight for the gods burn brilliantly but to work as protectors of other mortals against the
briefly. Being a champion is a curse and a bless- monsters that roam the land. Sometimes a champion
ing. Great adventures contain great danger and is picked for a single task though it is rare for a god
not all heroes will survive to the end. Wise mortals to withdraw their patronage on completion of the
will remember Odysseus lost his ship’s crew as he labour. They may have reason to call on an experi-
returned home and many of the Argonauts never enced and successful champion in the future.
saw Jason find the fleece. The gods are not serene beings. They are fickle,
For those who do meet their fate, death is not subject to the failings and faults of mortals but with
the end. They travel to the Underworld, the domain of far greater power. Some use their champions to set-
Hades, to be judged on their worth. Great people who tle old scores with enemies both mortal and divine.
fought hard and achieved all they could are granted Others gods send champions out with the goal of

9
Header
Introduction

increasing how much mortals worship them. Cham- Divination and Prayer
pions may be called upon to commit unpleasant acts The heroes' communication with the gods
in the name of their patron and a champion may be is subtle. The gods talk as they please through
used simply for entertainment. omens, sometimes as quietly as an encounter
with an owl or as loudly as an earthquake. Mortals
may ask the gods questions, divining answers by
Being Selected examining the organs of a sacrifice or by visiting
Champions come from all parts of Greek soci-
an oracle, though rarely will the gods give a clear
ety, rich and poor, powerful and weak, urban and
answer. It amuses them to see mortals attempt to
rural. The only prerequisite for selection is that the
understand the divine.
person embodies some trait associated with the god
Thus many heroes rely on oracles for guidance.
in question. A typical hero will receive the knowl-
There are oracles across Greece, with their accuracy
edge that they have been chosen in a wild and vivid
and usefulness increased greatly with the return
vision. No two champions tell of experiencing the
of the gods' attention to the mortal world. Oracles
same vision as everyone interprets the power of the
are blessed with a better understanding of the ways
gods in their own way.
of the gods and sometimes will even deliver direct
Between them, the Olympians have perhaps a
messages from god to champion.
few dozen champions at a time. The first in this new
The gods are not omniscient. They only have
age was picked five years ago and news of real divine
their attention in one place at a time and they must
champions is widespread as tales of their deeds have
rely on mortal eyes and ears to tell them everything
reached throughout the islands. The life of each
else. They do have a greater presence in their realm
champion is unique. Some are constantly called upon
than elsewhere - for example Poseidon is god of the
and wander Greece in pursuit of one labour after
sea and gains some knowledge of all that happens
another. Others are lucky enough to be only used
in this realm, though not the details.
occasionally and have time to settle down, becoming
famous warriors, athletes or rulers.

Power and Rewards


The gods do not send their champions against
the world unaided, instead they grant them some
influence over their realms and the power of their
symbols. For instance, Zeus is the god of Law and
Order, so his champions have uncanny wisdom when
judging a crime. His symbols are the Oak and the
Eagle, so his champion could draw on the strength
of an oak or the keen eyes of the eagle. A champion
who serves their god well could be rewarded with
wondrous gifts from the god themselves.
Mortal heroes who want to maintain divine
favour should pay attention to the politics on Olym-
pus. The gods are not unified, and pleasing one god
will annoy another. For example, Athena hates Ares
and takes every opportunity to undermine his inter-
ests, sending her champions to kill his children and
mortal allies. The Olympian web of alliances and
hatreds is so complex that it is almost impossible to
avoid annoying somebody. But heroes should have
heart while they have the support of a god. After all,
Athena guided Odysseus through many of the traps
set by Poseidon and Ares and personally defended his
supporters against Herakles, her own hero.

Age of Legends
Politics
Header
& War

Just as the geography of Greece is tribes and the mysterious djinn. Egypt is decrepit and
dying, clinging to empty monuments to gods and
divided by rivers, rugged mountains rulers long forgotten. Along the coast of North Africa
and seas, its peoples are split. They are the power of Carthage grows as it increases its naval
strength and forms armies that field war elephants.
governed by independent city-states To the north of Greece in the forests and mountains
(poleis) and the cities are linked by a are the tribes of Dacia. These barely-civilised barbar-
ians are slow to trust and quick to fight. In the west
complex network of treaties. Sometimes the upstart city of Rome is stealing territory and even
several poleis will form leagues to oppose a Greek customs with alarming aggression.
powerful rival or support a common cause
but these leagues seldom last long in the Politics
For thirty years Sparta dominated Greece.
face of competing goals. This complexity They secured their position by defeating Athens
in the Peloponnesian War of 404BC but then lost it
is central to Greek life and is reflected in by stretching themselves too thin. The Spartan
the hearts of the Greeks and their gods. King Agesilaus became overconfident and took his
army into Persia. He left General Lysander behind to
Yet despite the fierce independence of the organise the occupation using puppet governments
city-states they all share the notion of a and garrisons, all of which became personally loyal
to Lysander.
single Greek nation; one people with one Political intrigue began to undermine the Spar-
religion and one culture. tans, with Lysander's rivals growing jealous of his
empire. The infighting weakened Spartan rule and
The age of new legends begins in the 370s BCE.
four years ago Thebes was liberated. A small band of
The once-mighty Spartan Hegemony that controlled
exiles sneaked into the city at night and overthrew
the Peloponnese and kept the Persians at bay has
the puppet government. Thebes rose in open revolt
fallen. An alliance led by Thebes, Athens and Corinth
and pushed the outnumbered Spartans out. Despite
checked Sparta's northward advance by attacking
repeated campaigns against them the Thebians held
when the Spartan army was in Anatolia. The alliance
on to their freedom, buying time for other cities to
quickly fell apart as the victors quarrelled over the
overthrow their Spartan rulers. The liberated cities
spoils. There now exists a precarious balance of
grouped around Thebes to form the Boetian League
power between the major poleis. Democratic Athens
which broke the back of Spartan Hegemony at the
looks to the Aegean Sea to expand its trading empire.
Battle of Leuctra.
Thebes plots to become the new superpower of
Now there is no superpower dominating Greece,
Greece. The oligarchy of Corinth seeks to control all
though Thebes wishes to claim the title. They are
trade across the isthmus and the monarchy of Thessaly
the ascending power and wield great influence over
watches its northern border for Macedonians and
their former allies. However, they now spend much of
Dacians. Martial Sparta nurses its wounded pride and
their time bickering with fellow victor Athens over the
rebuilds. The many smaller poleis and Greek colonies
prestige of winning the war.
throughout the Mediterranean look out for themselves
Though beaten and much reduced, Sparta
and the interests of their citizens. These colonies
remains a considerable power and most of its army
have no political ties to their mother cities as many
escaped Leuctra. Whilst Sparta’s star may have fallen
are home to political exiles.
for now, it will rise again.

Foreign Lands Civic Government


Civilisation flourishes beyond Greece's borders.
The basic political unit is the polis, or city state
To the east the Greeks' old enemy, the Persians, are
consisting of a central city surrounded by the rural
rebuilding their strength after taking back their hold-
hinterland that sustains it. All Greeks are one peo-
ings in Anatolia from the Spartans. Persia’s massive
ple, but it is their polis that defines their culture and
land army now has its eyes on expanding the borders
loyalty to the home city is fierce.
of the already huge empire. One such border is with
The organisation of a city varies greatly. Ath-
the scorching deserts of Arabia, a place of nomadic
ens and Thebes lead the way in giving power to the

11
Header & War
Politics

people. They are the only poleis where policy and The nearest Greece ever comes to a national
laws are made by massive meetings of citizens. This government is when a league spreads over most of
system was created in Athens a few hundred years the country. This is a hegemony and may appear in
ago to curtail the power of a corrupt aristocracy and many forms. The Spartan Hegemony was built by
the constant rise and fall of tyrants. The aristocracy victories and held together by force. Currently Athens
has been deposed by political bosses and wealthy and Thebes are competing to dominate a cultural
merchants but citizens, a fraction of the Athenian hegemony built by wealth and held together by more
population, can vote. Athenian-style democracy is ephemeral links. Instead of occupying cities with
seen to be an aberration in the eyes of traditional garrisons they fill them with merchants and artists
Greeks in other cities. spreading Athenian or Thebian ideas over all Greece.
Sparta and Thessaly represent the other extreme,
with traditional kings wielding supreme power. Sparta
is unique in that it has two royal lines with one, the
Warfare
It has been over a century since the last
Agiads, senior to the other, the Eurypontids. The rea-
attempted invasion by a foreign power, leaving the
son for this has been lost to time but it means there
cities to fight among themselves. The cause and
is always a legitimate and strong king in the city
scale of these wars has ranged from grand alliances
while the other wages war afield.
to overthrow hegemony down to ownership of mines.
In other cities there is a monarch but they are
Whilst much of Greek culture is shaped by war,
ceremonial figures. True power is held by a council of
there are few professional soldiers beyond small
elders, called an oligarchy. These are a mix of priests,
mercenary bands, city guards and Spartans. At times
patriarchs of old families and wealthy traders. They
of war all ranks of society become soldiers and each
provide stability because while a king can easily turn
has to provide their own equipment and thus their
to tyranny, a council is less prone to do so. Periodi-
wealth dictates what role they fulfil. The richest with
cally councillors, nobles or even entire governments
their horses become cavalry while the poorest without
are forced into exile by a disaffected population.
armour serve as skirmishers.
All three forms of government have failed before,
leading to the rise of tyrants. These opportunists use
a moment of weakness or chaos to seize power and Hoplites
rely on force and populism to hold on to it. Almost The phalanx of hoplites was a Spartan innova-
all tyrants try to pass power on to their children to tion and now forms the basis for all Greek warfare.
become a new monarchy but most heirs lack the Armed with a dory spear and a short sword, hoplites
popular support of their parent. Tyrants are not by are named after the hoplon shield they carry. Each
their nature evil or oppressive, they just came to one is decorated with symbols of their polis and per-
power by unconventional means. The most powerful sonal motifs. A few phalanxes use the longer sarissa
tyranny in currently in Greece is Syracuse, ruled by spear, but their greater training and expense makes
Dionysius the Elder. them rarer.
The basic phalanx formation is of 500 to 1500
men in a shield wall eight rows deep. Each row has
Leagues and Hegemonies a leader and the unit has commanders at the front
Greece has no national government and has never
and rear to maintain order.
been unified. Power at a national level is wielded by
With only limited and infrequent training the
the strongest and most influential poleis which build
simplicity of the phalanx makes it an appealing
leagues around themselves. This formal alliance of
formation, though they lack speed because of the
poleis binds them to mutual defence and free trade.
density of men, weight of their armour and the
Leagues are formed over the long term to build trade
length of the spears. With only protection at the
or to contain the spread of a competing league but
front, the formation is vulnerable to attacks from the
short-term leagues may form to fight a war with
sides and rear.
specific aims. Mostly they coalesce around a single
With their shield on their left arm, hoplites usu-
powerful polis trying to spread its power, and these
ally seek cover under their neighbour's shield and
leagues can be very one-sided. However, leagues may
phalanxes have a tendency to drift rightwards. The
involve a number of small poleis banding together to
more experienced troops are placed on the right
protect themselves from the bigger powers and these
edge, where their discipline helps maintain the for-
leagues are more balanced.
mation. This makes it a position of prestige in each
phalanx and on the battlefield at large.

Age of Legends
Header
Politics & War

Skirmishers the combatants because neither side has any interest in


Skirmishers harass phalanxes trying to break slaughter. With so many of the working population of a
their formation. The most common skirmisher is the polis forming the army, large casualties can deal signifi-
peltast, named after their wicker pelte shields, who are cant economic damage even to the victor. Badly weak-
armed with javelins. With only thick leather armour they ened losers are less able to pay tribute, giving the victor
focus on mobility around the battlefield and avoid direct no desire to pursue a fleeing enemy. Pursuit is only done
contact with the enemy. The poorest of society, the to capture slaves or to prevent the fleeing hoplites from
conscripts and the slaves, serve as psiloi - unarmoured reforming their phalanxes and returning to the battle.
troops without a shield and equipped with simple, often The greatest shame in combat is to flee the bat-
ineffective, missile weapons. tlefield, abandoning your brothers-in-arms by dropping
your hoplon and running. The hoplon is not just for
personal defence, it is for the defence of your neigh-
Cavalry bour, your phalanx, and your polis. Throwing away
Cavalry are the rarest force on the battlefield due
such a symbol of unity and kinship earns the title of
to the expense, and only the richest cities are able to
ripsaspis - one who threw his shield. Only social ruin
field more than 500 at a time. Each rider is equipped
awaits these cowards. The weakness of the wooden,
with a xyston (spear), a xyphos (short sword) and
bronze and iron weapons means that it is common for
cuirass (light armour) but no shield. While cavalry do
equipment to break during battle. Returning home
perform drills and lead peacetime processions, their
with a broken weapon shows a soldiers bravery as they
use on the battlefield is limited by their low numbers
have clearly been deep in the fighting.
and simple saddles. With no stirrups and only basic
tack, most of a rider's attention is spent trying to stay
in the saddle. Rather than charge the enemy, cavalry Naval Warfare
are used to harass skirmishers, screen phalanxes and Despite the prosperity the sea brings to many of
pursue the fleeing. Because of this limited role, many the cities, navies are small. Triremes are expensive
wealthy Greeks prefer to serve as hoplites where there to build, crew and maintain. Until the Persian wars,
is more honour and glory to be gained. Greek navies consisted of fewer than 30 ships and
these were used for moving land troops.
Ship-to-ship fighting is about ramming and
Battles boarding. Poor communication limits fleet tactics to
The short campaign season combined with a desire
lining up side by side (periplus) or forming up line
for decisive outcomes leads to large set piece battles,
astern (diekplus). Captains then attempt to manoeu-
sometimes on prearranged battlefields. Greek generals
vre their ships to strike the side of the enemy while
look for flat battle sites with uncomplicated terrain and a
trying to avoid being struck themselves. However, no
good surface. The more interesting the terrain, the more
matter what the opening gambit, combat descends
chance there is that the hoplite phalanxes will lose for-
into close-quarters fighting and boarding attempts as
mation which could cause disaster. Generals lead from
oars became smashed and ships lose mobility.
the front, boosting the morale of the troops and proving
their bravery. However, by placing themselves at the
heart of the melee they are unable to direct the battle Pankration
once it begins. Pankration is a martial art composed of strikes with
Tactically, many battles are identical. The phalanxes fists and legs, counters, arm locks, choke holds and
form up side by side, presenting a continuous shield wall throws. The preferred stance is with the knees bent and
across the battlefield. Cavalry is placed on the flanks to the hands at eye level, palms towards the opponent.
protect the phalanxes' vulnerable sides while the skir- The fighting style requires space for movement and is
mishers start in front of the shield wall trying to disrupt of little use in phalanxes and large battles. When used
the approaching enemy formation. As the gap closes the in competitions, the only rules are that eye gouging
skirmishers retreat through gaps between phalanxes and and biting are forbidden and that bouts last until one
the decisive clash of shield walls begins. fighter surrenders. This is signalled by raising an index
After the battle the dead are ransomed back to finger. Competition referees are armed with big sticks to
the losing side for proper burial at home. Unclaimed enforce the rules.
bodies are given the most basic of burials but always
with the proper rites and respect for the dead. Despite
the brutal and close quarters nature of the combat, it
is rare for a battle’s casualties to be greater than 5% of

13
Header Trade & Law
Travel,

Despite the Greeks' trade networks, Accommodation


Travellers will seek to stay with family, even quite
travel is always slow and uncertain distant relatives they have never met. Those on busi-
in the Hellenic world. There is little ness expect their clients to provide them with a small
room to stay in. There are a few options for strangers
infrastructure and navigation techniques new in a city. Larger private houses sometimes have
are crude. small rooms to rent, perhaps in the roof space. There
are inns, though these rooms are small, dark and not
well maintained. Free public shelters called leschai
Roads can be found at the centre of most cities though
In the important areas of cities and the richer they are mostly no more than covered courtyards.
districts the roads are cobbled or of paved stone. Eve- Strangers are expected to provide their own food and
rywhere else roads are no more than persistently-used a slave to cook for them. Those without servants can
dirt tracks cut with deep wheel ruts. These tracks find food in a tavern, the quality of which depends on
are dusty during the summer and turn to mud during price. Greek custom expects guests to share break-
the winter months making them near-unusable. The fast with their host before they leave.
road network is poor since routes are focused on the
moving of goods from farms and ports into the near-
est city. There is little traffic between poleis meaning
Pirates and Bandits
With large amounts of goods and people mov-
inter-city paths are rarely used.
ing along predictable routes close to land, piracy is
The pack animals of choice for the poor are
common. Pirate ships lurk in coves or on beaches,
oxen and mules which are used to pull carts. Their
waiting for a slow-moving merchant ship to come into
harder hooves and tougher constitutions make them
range. The faster pirates row out and attempt to board
ideal for use in the mountainous and difficult terrain
and capture the vessel. As crews are worth more alive
of Greece. As horses are faster-moving but more
as slaves than dead, pirates often fight with nets and
fragile they are used by the rich. The wealthiest can
frequently offer the chance to surrender. Highwayman
afford a team of horses to pull a chariot.
on land are less common as there are fewer travellers,
so bandits tend to focus on raiding farms or villages.
Sailing
With overland travel being slow and tiring, the
Greeks prefer to travel by sea. Not only is it faster
Trade
The most accepted form of Greek currency is
but a boat can carry far more cargo than an ox cart.
silver coin, and cities mint their own. Those with
Sea travel has its dangers and is only attempted
the highest silver content are most valued, partic-
between June and September as the seas are too
ularly coins from Aigina (an Aegean island), Kyzikos
unpredictable the rest of the year. With no charts,
(a city in Anatolia) and Athens. The most famous is
buoys, lighthouses or compasses, ships follow the
the owl from the silver mine at Laurium in Attica
coast for fear of getting lost. At night the lack of
which had Athena's symbol stamped on it. With
visibility makes it very dangerous to attempt sail-
all the different currencies, money traders are
ing close to shore, though good sailors can use the
prevalent and they charge such high interest rates
stars to maintain a steady heading between islands.
that some retail merchants have formed guilds to
Instead, it is good practice to beach the ships and
survive. Sparta, as always, does things differently
sleep on land. Most Greek ships are designed to
and uses heavy iron ingots for barter.
be beached and only the largest cities have stone
The majority of trade is overseas, with Greek
harbours or wooden docks.
cities importing grain, timber, metals, slaves and
Most overseas trade is conducted using very
luxuries such as perfumes and ointments, while
simple ships. They have a rounded bottom and
Greece exports olive oil, wine, silver and pottery.
a single mast with a square-rigged sail. A pair of
Grain imports are vital since the Greek soil is of
large rudder oars at the stern are used for steering.
such poor quality it can't produce enough food
The largest have a few rowers to supplement the
to feed the larger cities. The wheat mostly comes
sail. Greek boats are slow, unsafe and small - at
from the Black Sea and Egypt though some is
most 20m in length by 6m across the beam. With
shipped from Gaul, the barbarian land far to the
a favourable wind their top speed is five knots and
north and west of Greece. Trade is taxed by the
they offer no protection from the elements.
city authority, at a rate not higher than 5%.

Age of Legends
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Life

Law Birth in Ancient Greece is a dangerous


The application and enforcement of the law varies
affair for both mother and child. A woman
between poleis but aspects are common across Greece.
The poleis employ guards - sometimes slaves in labour must rely on the help of close
but often mercenaries - as sentries. Other duties
relatives, friends and the midwife. Within
include crowd control or moving on idle people but
not the pursuit of criminals or investigating crime. the privacy of the mother’s home the
Pursuing criminals is done by private citizens and
midwife uses a mix of herbs and olive
investigations are carried out by a citizen appointed
by the civic government. During times of major oil to help sooth the pain and speed the
unrest, the poleis' guards are supplemented by an
delivery. Votive offerings are made to
army of citizens for the task.
Organised crime is in the control of compa- Artemis for the child and to Hera for the
nies. A step up from street gangs, companies are
mother. Smaller superstitions are rife,
often made up of respectable citizens looking to
make lives easier from themselves by bribery and such as removing all knots from the home
coercion. They've even been know to lend money to
tyrants in exchange for support and access.
lest they delay the birth, and burning the
A captured criminal can expect a trial. In tyran- mother's clothes as a sacrifice to the gods.
nies and oligarchies, the court has an appointed
official or officials who hear evidence and pass down
A successful birth is signalled by hanging
a sentence. In democracies it is far more compli- a piece of wool over the door if it's a girl or
cated. A court in Athens relies on a jury, selected
at random that morning from a pool of citizens and
an olive branch for a boy.
rarely fewer than five hundred people. Presiding
over the trial is an appointed official whose role is
to maintain order. The accuser and the defendant
Education
Education in Greece is given to children between
speak in turn for an equal and measured amount
the ages of four and fourteen. It is arranged privately
of time, presenting what evidence and witnesses
with no provision from the polis and teachers are
they have. No advocates are allowed, as both must
regarded as the lowest level of society. They are poorly
speak for themselves. Once the evidence is heard,
paid but still only the richest can afford to hire them
the jury then votes on the verdict. If a guilty verdict
so most Greeks have no formal education.
is reached, the accuser and the defendant both
Once hired, a teacher will give lessons in the
suggest a suitable punishment, which the jury then
home wherever space can be found and usually with
votes on. Typically, the trial takes less than a day.
the assistance of a household slave. Lessons are slow-
Greek cities do not have prisons so punishments
paced and rely on rote learning to teach basic literacy
include death (by hemlock poisoning in Athens), a
and to commit poems and writings to memory. Once
fine, forced labour for a time, slavery, mutilation and
these are mastered, lessons then focus on teaching
the stripping of assets, though many other inventive
morality and civil behaviour. Mathematics, music and
punishments have been used.
physical activity are taught where deemed necessary
for a healthy mind and a moral outlook.
In recent years a new type of education is being
pioneered by the sophist philosophers of Athens. The
wealthiest pay them to take children into schools to
be taught maths, geometry, architecture, philosophy
and other intellectual subjects. This is controversial as
it instils the children with a desire to ask questions of
the world and develop new ideas of their own.

Apprenticeships
Skilled tradesmen take on apprentices, either
funded by the family or the work the child itself

15
Header
Life

produces. There is no formal process to apprentice- land and have no vote in democracies. In theory they
ships but they last until the child comes of age. are protected by the law as much as a citizen would
A form of apprenticeship exists in the upper be but in reality most non-citizens lack the resources
class of Athenian society which features a very close to defend themselves. The process of becoming a
emotional bond between the teacher and the stu- full citizen varies from city to city but it involves the
dent. Instead of being taught a manual trade by a support of a current citizen and spending gold. Not
skilled worker, the child is taught how to be a "per- all non-citizens seek to join the city. Some rich and
fect Greek" by a mentor. The mentor is an unmarried powerful traders have found it useful to be independ-
aristocrat between twenty and twenty five, who takes ent of a city and beyond the normal political process.
on a charge aged between thirteen and seventeen. It
is the mentor who approaches the family and must
prove their abilities and trustworthiness before being
Slavery
Slavery is practised all over Greece and only the
allowed to teach the youngster. The mentor takes
poorest citizens do not possess a domestic slave.
the charge into their home and becomes a trusted
Richer households, such as merchants and tradesmen,
teacher. Lessons focus on striving to become an ideal
will own more and use them to support the business.
Greek who is well-versed in logic, ethics and moral-
The richest own hundreds of slaves and lease them out
ity. Fitness and physical training are also considered
to work on farms and in mines and quarries.
essential, with the mentor becoming a coach in all
Slavery is seen as natural and economically
aspects of life.
essential but the status of slaves is complex. Slaves
are just as likely to be Greek as they are non-Greek
Social Strata and come from any level of society. The foolish, the
The Greeks pride themselves on being a meri- unlucky and the criminal may all find themselves
tocracy with the Olympic games held up as an example condemned to a life of slavery.
where anyone can enter and win, regardless of gender Making up the majority of the labour force, slaves
or background. The reality is somewhat less ideal but are used for all sorts of work, from domestic labourers
the basic principle remains. Regardless of gender or to clerks, city guards and soldiers. The highest status
race people are judged and respected on their abili- slaves are the eunuchs who are used by royal fami-
ties. The exception to this is in social classes where lies as officers of state since they cannot breed and
there is a clear difference between the aristocracy, so pose no dynastic threat. Regardless of their work
the citizens, the non-citizens and slaves. slaves are seen as the bottom of the social order.
The aristocracy are the monarchs and rulers of cit- They are treated with disrespect by their supposed
ies with a strong family history. If an upstart general or betters but are part of Greek society. They worship
a commoner raises themselves to a position of power the same gods and those fated for fame and fortune
they would never be considered as part of the ruling receive no less adoration because of their humble
class. However, their child, and certainly their grand- birth. Greeks prize bravery and brilliance no matter
children, will be assumed into the aristocracy if the where it comes from.
family has managed to maintain its position of power.
Members of the aristocracy have access to great
wealth and influence and, even in democratic cities,
Sources of Slaves
People enter slavery through three routes:
money talks. Though not immune to the law or above
military defeat, piracy and bad debt. In the first
the anger of the mob, an aristocrat enjoys a huge
case a polis loses a war and some of the population
amount of freedom.
is enslaved and sold on. This practice is rarer now
Citizens of a polis are the property-owners and
and regarded as morally wrong, but whole peoples
the middle class of Greek society. They are men and
have lived as slaves for centuries. The Helots were
women who have land, own slaves and often run a
conquered by Sparta generations ago and until very
business though they shy away from anything close
recently were a slave race supporting the Spartan
to physical labour. In democracies each citizen has
martial society.
a vote, may acquire government positions and enjoys
Piracy is now the most common source of slaves,
equal rights under the law. Though lacking the
where pirates capture a ship and attempt to ransom
resources of the aristocracy, citizens can find security
whoever is aboard. Anyone who cannot afford the
and influence by working with like-minded individuals.
ransom is sold as a slave and markets exist through-
Non-citizens are foreigners which means anyone
out Greece and the Mediterranean to trade in them.
from outside the city. They are barred from owning
Pirates do not discriminate in who they catch so

Age of Legends
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Life

many slaves in Greece are Greeks, but the slave trade Furniture
brings in people from all over the world including Ancient Greek furniture is sparsely used and lim-
Persians, Egyptians and Nubians. ited to tables, chests for storage and seating in the
Some Greeks end up as slaves because they form of chairs, stools and couches. A bed is at best a
could not repay a debt. The creditor can seize the couch with several thick woollen blankets on it. Cook-
debtor and sell them as a slave to recover the money. ing is done over an open fire using metal or ceramic
A court may also condemn someone to slavery when pots. The poorest houses have little if any furniture,
exile or death is seen as too lenient or too extreme. and most of life takes place out of doors with the
house serving as little more than a sleeping shelter.
Life As A Slave
The conditions of a Greek slave depend on their Diet
employer and work. Slaves in mines face the most A typical Greek eats three to four meals a day with
brutal conditions and always die young. Domestic a breakfast of bread, wine and olives; a light lunch
slaves are treated as a part of the family, worshipping around midday; and a larger supper at nightfall. Occa-
with them and taking part in their rituals and special sionally a second lunch is eaten in the late afternoon.
occasions. Those of the highest status, serving as There is no fork, only a knife, and food is eaten off
public officials or guards, can expect to lives as rich either terracotta bowls or loaves of flat bread.
and full as many citizens. The food itself varies widely based on location
Slaves are still property so while they can marry and wealth but is always underpinned by wheat, wine
and have children, the family is also the property of and olive oil. Fruits and vegetables are common yet
the owner and can be sold as they see fit. Slaves can difficult to get fresh in the cities. Fish is ubiquitous
be freed by buying their freedom, especially those around the coast and salted for sale inland. The eat-
enslaved by creditors. In some cases masters let slaves ing of meat is rare since fresh meat is expensive in
work on their own account to earn money. This ensures the cities and the playwright Aristophanes recalled
a better-motivated and harder-working slave. A slave paying three days wages (three silver drachma) for a
can buy their freedom from their master in a public single piglet. Fresh meat must also be eaten with the
ceremony of manumission where the slave is emanci- correct religious observances, with the fat and bones
pated. This is known as being "sold to the gods". being burnt as a sacrifice to the gods. Meat is often
reserved for important occasions and religious feasts.
Cooked or dried meats do not require this ceremony
Houses and so are more commonly eaten. The drinking of
The houses of the poor are modest and small
milk, both cow and goat, is a barbaric practice and
affairs, made of sun-baked bricks on a hard stone
instead milk is used to make cheeses. However, ani-
foundation. The blank, flimsy outer walls face directly
mal blood is a common drink.
on to the street, serving little purpose other than
Spices and salt are very expensive, being brought
holding up the roof. With floors of beaten dirt and
to Greece over great distances from all around the
high small unglazed windows, it is rare that the
world. The only source of sweetness is honey which is
house is more than a single storey, though the tiled
a prized luxury so bee hives are valuable.
roof gives the houses a high ceiling.
Middle class houses are larger, having multiple
rooms and sometimes a second storey. They are built Drink
around a central well and courtyard with all rooms The most common drink is water, especially
leading off this space. The two largest rooms are the clean spring water which is highly valued. In the cit-
andron where the guests are entertained and the ies, public fountains fed by aqueducts and leats are
loom-room where the household work takes place. The the common source of clean water.
rest of the house is small bedrooms and storerooms. Greeks are very fond of their wine and use it for
If the house also contains a shop there is a separate a range of purposes. Greek wine is very strong and
entrance to the street. drinking it neat is considered barbaric. The worst
The houses of the rich are much larger and well- wines are cheap enough for any but the very poorest.
appointed. They can be large enough for a cloister The best wines are kept for recreational and religious
around the courtyard plus private bathrooms and a purposes. Both whites and reds are available, with
gymnasium. The rooms are airy and spacious and the the best produced on the islands of Lesbos, Thasos
stone or wooden floors are detailed mosaic decorations. and Chios. These fetch a high price and are highly
Tapestries and statues decorate the interior walls.

17
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Life

desirable everywhere in the civilised world. Wine working on crafts is time which could be spent hon-
often plays an important part in religious ceremonies. ing the mind or body. In the worst case, being stuck
Wine is also drunk for its medicinal qualities. working can leave someone with no free time to visit
Examples include wine from Arcadia, said to make friends resulting in uncivilised social skills and bad
men amorous and women fertile, and Achaean wine political sense. This attitude filters down and many
is thought to induce miscarriages. A common drink Greeks view having to work as an infringement of their
amongst the poor is kykeon, a barley gruel with liberties and liable to distract them from a true Greek's
herbs, wine and sometimes with added honey or obligation to improve themselves.
grated cheese. It is drunk for its sustaining proper- Aristocrats and elite citizens never work, instead
ties and used as a part of an army's rations thanks drawing their income from owning businesses and
to its low cost. land. Poorer free citizens do work but restrict them-
selves to being merchants or skilled craftsmen. This
work is carried out at home, either in the main room
Dinner Parties or a dedicated outbuilding. There are few larger
Dinner parties, called symposia, are a key part of
workshops, dedicated to projects that require a team
Greek high society and regular events in the houses
of workers. Skilled workers can expect to earn one
of the rich. Attending a symposium is regarded as the
drachma a day, enough to feed a family and to buy the
highest act of civility and conduct there defines how
occasional luxury. With so few citizens being willing to
civilised and Greek a person is. This has given rise to
work, the majority of the unskilled labour force comes
intricate rules of etiquette and formality.
from slaves.
Guests arrive wearing garlands of flowers and are
admitted to the reception room which is decorated
with blossom, vines and ivy. Reclining couches are Sickness & Health
arranged along the walls, along with chairs and tables Effective medical knowledge is almost unknown
holding the wine and food. Wine is served by the host in the Hellenic world. Theories about humours and
in rounds and the order of serving indicates favour and blood letting do little to improve a patient's survival
perceived status, which can change dramatically over chances. Surgery in Ancient Greece is basic and bru-
the evening. The wine itself is served only in shallow tal. A few surgeons have the finesse to remove a cata-
and wide bowls which the guests are expected to drink ract but most are just butchers. An average surgeon
from whilst reclined, one-handed and without spilling can close a wound, stitch a deep cut or stop bleeding
a drop. Failure to do so gracefully is seen as uncouth with a bandage but it is just primitive first aid.
and bad etiquette. Food is not served as a meal, but Each Greek village has a healer though their level
picked at over the course of the evening. of expertise will vary wildly from place to place. In
The guests are expected to entertain one another the larger towns and cities there may be a doctor,
with the highest conversation or prepared speeches i.e. someone who has taken the Hippocratic Oath.
on a wide range of topics. Failure to meet a high While doctors claim to be scientific they lack any
standard of conversation can see one's social stand- understanding of how the human body works and
ing fall overnight. Poems and songs are recited, frequently give out bizarre prescriptions such taking a
either composed by the guests or well-known popular mud bath or finding a dog to lick their wounds
verse. The well-off host pays for a comedian or for Recovery from illness or injury is, like all things in
some children to dance, sing and perform gymnastic the Greek world, in the hands of the gods. The follow-
tricks. As the evening wears on, games amongst the ers of Asclepius whose temples are centres of healing
guests become popular. One favourite is kottabos follow a few basic medical practices (e.g. cleanliness)
where the dregs of wine in the bottom of a bowl are offer the desperate some hope. Only the gods have
flicked at a target. Guests are judged as much on the true healing power and it may be granted to those who
grace of their action as their aim. pray and make suitable sacrifices but it is hubris for
any mortal to expect it. On a whim, the gods may cure
a foreign slave while letting the devout monarch die.
Work
Greek high society sees work as a dirty business
and while they understand the worth of crafts and Worship
industry to a polis, they do not value work for its own The Greeks believe in a pantheon of dozens
sake. Instead, it is seen as a drudgery that is best of powerful gods and hundreds of smaller divine
avoided and prefer to do something that brings either beings. A few radical philosophers question the
glory or simple enjoyment. After all, time spent indoors gods' existence or a mortal's need for them, but to

Age of Legends
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Life

everyone else they are real beings to be loved and the columns and walls) and the pteron (anywhere
feared in equal measure. outside the columns but still under the roof).
Worship is focused at the temple complexes and The solid base of the temple is at least one storey
the large altars they contain. Despite the beautiful above ground level with the more important temples
buildings to house the exquisite carved altars and being up to three storeys high. This ensures a signifi-
statues, most of the ceremonies are performed out- cant flight of stairs at the temple's front - a promi-
side on the temple steps. Only a temple's priests and nent place for the clergy to perform their public rites.
priestesses may enter the central chamber contain- The heavy stone temple base extends to at least half
ing the god’s statue. From a patio at the top of the a storey below ground level. On this solid foundation
temple stairs the clergy lead the prayers and songs of temples as high as twenty metres can be built.
worship which are always offered with a sacrifice. Temples are painted in bright blues and rich reds
Worship in the home is with simple votive offer- that work with the white stone to create an impres-
ings to small statuettes of the gods most often asso- sive artistic effect. Important and richer temples have
ciated with the home and family life: Hestia, Hephaes- carvings and reliefs on all the available stone work,
tus, Hera and Hecate. These offerings are personal and, with lots of sculpture adorning the edges and sur-
while forming a key part of daily life, are generally rounds. Some sanctuaries charge an admission fee to
kept private within families. support the cost of the temples while others enjoy the
Special occasions are marked by animal sacrifice patronage of a wealthy sponsor.
with larger or more important occasions demanding
larger, more expensive sacrifices. For a god's blessing
on a banquet or special dinner, offal is burnt in a bra-
Cults
The Ancient Greeks are not ones for conformity,
zier. To request the god's favour on an army marching
and their forms of worship are no different. It is com-
to war, one or more prize animals will be slaughtered
mon for a Greek to join a cult that worships a par-
on the temple steps and burnt at the altar. The
ticular aspect or story of a god. For example, Cretan
expense of animal sacrifice makes it the purvey of the
worshippers of Zeus tend to focus on an image of him
rich, with the poor making do with offerings of simple
before he became King of the Gods, celebrating the
foods and wine.
potential of youth. Cults are not exclusive, allowing
worshippers to choose the cult and ritual that best
Priests & Priestesses suits their divine needs.
Mortal religions reserves certain roles and rites Several of the gods have a polis with which they
for particular sexes. All priests of Zeus, and the High are associated. Each city has a large temple complex
Priest of Apollo, are always male while the Oracle of dedicated to their patron which houses important
Delphi is always female. Only women can be priests of shrines and the clergy of more popular cults. Exclu-
Hera or Demeter and their deeper rituals, known as the sivity is not practised but a patron god expects their
Elusian Mysteries, cannot be witnessed by men. polis to turn to them first.
None of these restrictions apply to champions.
On Olympus there are eight gods and seven god-
desses and they choose their champions as they see
Other Religions & Atheism
Greece is a cosmopolitan place, at least in the
fit for their own purposes. The opinions of mortals on
major port cities like Athens. Jews, Zoroastrians and
matters of gender and race mean nothing to the gods.
worshippers of many other religions live at peace with
their Greek neighbours. Their existence is tolerated
Temples though their power and influence are limited by laws
The layout of Greek temples follows a standard and prejudice.
pattern. The exterior is formed by one or two rows of The existence of the gods is self-evident, but
columns that support the bulk of the roof structure. there are still those who reject them. These may be
Inside, a series of walls separate the interior into inquiring philosophers or those whose prayers are not
rooms. The naos is the core of the temple, which answered. Other accept the gods' existence but reject
in smaller sites contains the divine statue. In larger their worship and espouse a belief that it is human
and more important temples, the statue is kept in a endeavour which is important. Atheists walk a dan-
separate adyton or shrine, where no-one, not even the gerous path and find themselves hunted by agents of
priests, is allowed. The rest of the building is divided the more conservative gods. Atheists are also blamed
up into the pronaos (the entrance way), the opistho- by their fellow mortals when a god's displeasure is
domos (storage room), peristatis (the space between manifested in the form of a natural disaster.

19
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Death

Honour and prestige are paramount in a cremation. Short speeches are made about the great
deeds of the deceased or how their loved ones will
Greek's daily life and there is no escaping miss them. This is considered indispensable for those
them even in death. The deceased’s killed in battle. It has recently become popular to
give ever longer orations.
actions in life as well as the treatment of
their physical remains all shape the soul's The Underworld
reception in the Underworld. After death, the soul of the deceased travels to the
Underworld, the final resting place of the souls of the
dead. Consisting of Tartarus, Erebus and the Isles of the
Mortal Remains Blessed, this vast and sprawling place deep below the
To die in battle for one's polis is considered the earth is ruled with absolute authority by Hades.
highest honour. Greeks will respect the bodies of the
dead regardless of which side they were on. Those
with rich family or friends willing to carry them are
Entry to the Underworld
Once freed from its mortal confines, the soul
returned to the city for their funerals.
travels to the Underworld and awakens as if from a
Travellers who die far from their home are buried
deep slumber to find itself on the banks of the river
cordially, with the required rites carried out by local
Acheron. The only way to cross safely is to pay Charon
professional mourners. It is good practice to notify
for passage on his ferry. If the deceased has been
local officials of any dead encountered in the wild or
properly buried they will have an obolus coin, oth-
to complete a simple funeral for them. Leaving the
erwise they must wait a hundred years on the river
body for scavengers condemns the soul to wait on
banks before Charon will allow them passage. A vast
Acheron’s banks for 100 years.
city of makeshift tents is found downriver from the
Sailors lost at sea have little hope of a proper
crossing point, where the coinless wait and wait.
funeral unless they are washed up on the shore. It is
No true buildings exist, just approximations built
common for sailors to wear a valuable jewel or carry a
for a semblance of privacy or as attempts to connect
little silver to pay whoever finds them for the cost of a
to their past life. The mud bricks are made from the
funeral. If bodies are not recovered there is little that
oppressive dark grey silt of the river and add to the
those left behind can do to ease the dead’s passage
melancholic atmosphere of the camps. The coinless
through the Underworld beyond praying to the gods.
are listless, without purpose, and newcomers will
The poor and forgotten, if they are lucky enough
find them apathetic and cold. All they do is wait. The
to have someone to mourn their passing, end up in
impatient may attempt to cross the River Acheron
an unmarked grave. For urban dwellers this grave
without Charon's ferry. The river is marshy and foetid,
will not be close to the city, since such places are at
and unpleasant creatures lurk beneath its placid
a premium. Those who die alone are dealt with by
surface. Souls attempting the crossing risk becoming
the local authorities with the minimum of ceremony.
stuck in the mud, swept away out to sea or devoured.
Criminals or who have fallen far below the stand-
Very rarely the coinless return to the surface as
ards of civilisation are left to the gods. They are not
shades (Eidolon) to observe the mortal world as life
interred near the honoured dead and their corpses
continues without them.
are treated as refuse.

Funeral Rites Judgement


Once across the river, the soul stands before the
Funeral rites are practised the same way across
Judges of the Dead. If a soul is judged to have performed
Greece, and respect for the dead is considered vital
great acts of heroism or service to either man or god,
by mortals and gods. Denying someone their funeral
they are deemed virtuous and allowed into the Isles
rites in considered a grave sin worthy of harsh pun-
of the Blessed. Those which have committed vile
ishment. Prothesis is the laying out, washing and
crimes against man or defied the gods are damned
dressing the body. Ekphora is the transport of the
and sent to Tartarus for punishment. Any soul that
dead to their final resting place where the final rite is
has done neither of those things, or just led a blame-
giving the dead two coins to pay Charon for passage to
less mediocre life, is sent to Erebus.
the Underworld.
It is common in Greek funerals that someone
close to the deceased speaks of them at the burial or

Age of Legends
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Death

Tartarus needs but the soil is hard, the forests have little
The great pit of Tartarus is located in the south game and the lakes have few fish. Such unproductive
of the underworld, surrounded by mountains. The work leaves no time for art, joy or rest. The gods think
lowest point in the world, Tartarus is the final resting that it is fitting to give dull people a dull afterlife.
place of those souls damned by the Judges or pun- Erebus is, however, the only place where a soul
ished by Zeus. A place of torment and suffering, it is can begin the process of reincarnation which starts
dark and gloomy with no natural light and a persis- with a pilgrimage to the waters of the river Lethe.
tent cold mist. The third creation of Chaos, Tartarus
is ancient and primordial and none knows its full
extent or what might lurk in its abysses. Those who
The Isles of the Blessed
The north of the underworld is covered by the
stay there long enough say that passageways move
Akineteo sea. Just off the coast are the Isles of the
over time and that the shape of Tartarus twists and
Blessed, home of the Elysian Fields, the final resting
flows as it it were a living being. Tartarus is guarded
place of the virtuous dead and initiates of the ancient
by the Hecatonchires who answer to the court of the
mysteries. The isles are a blissful winterless paradise
Olympic Gods rather than just to Hades. As the
that abounds in fruits and birds of every kind. The
sons of Uranus, these three powerful divine beings
wind gently blows only from the south and the west,
are amongst the few strong enough to cope with the
bringing the occasional soft shower of rain. Game and
conditions in Tartarus.
fish are plentiful and the soil is rich.
Punishment of a damned soul in Tartarus typi-
Here the dead remain in a blessed and happy
cally matches the crimes committed by the soul.
life, indulging in whatever activities they had enjoyed
There are many famous examples of the creative
in life. Those who live here dwell in small villages
nature of the Olympic gods in meting out these
scattered along the coasts that are filled with art and
punishments. Greek children are told of King Tanta-
song. Souls judged to be virtuous are free to travel
lus who was damned for his greed to never have his
the rest of the Underworld.
desires fulfilled. For eternity he stands in a pool of
water beneath a tree with low hanging fruit, forever
tempted and denied. When he reaches for the fruit, The Five Rivers
the branches rise out of reach. When he stoops to The Underworld has five rivers which form its
drink, the water drains away. Above him towers a borders and separate its regions. Each rivers flows
precarious rock, which will never fall to grant him the from the mountains around Tartarus and empties into
release of death. the Akineteo sea.
In the darkest and furthest depths of Tartarus For most of its length the river Acheron is a
is the prison of the Titans. Imprisoned in collapsed slow-moving river with thick marshes along its shal-
caves, the usurped gods sit alone, feeding only on low banks. At Charon’s crossing point it is almost a
their desire for revenge against the Olympians. The swamp and its banks are vast fetid marshes. Languid
Titans' prison is so deep that the scribe Hesiod and torpid, its dark waters hide its depths and what-
asserts that it would take an anvil nine days to fall ever lurks in the reeds and algae. Attempting to swim
there from the surface of the Earth. across the Acheron to avoid paying the ferryman is
the very height of foolishness.
The river Cocytus is a fast-flowing river that
Erebus crashes down through the mountains around Tartarus
Forming the middle of the underworld, this
and speeds its way across the landscape. Flowing
region is a mildly pleasant place of rolling hills,
down steep gulches and through narrow ravines, the
meadows, forests and small villages. At its centre
incessant noise of the waters sounds like a constant
stands the great court of Hades, a formidable temple
lament to the fates. The Cocytus joins the Acheron,
complex made of dark stone and standing tens of feet
many miles upstream of the ferry crossing.
tall. Surrounding the building are the Asphodel Mead-
Pouring out of a hot spring, the river Phlegethon
ows, a carpet of small flowers that stretches for many
keeps its heat as it flows. The steam that rises from
miles in all directions.
river shrouds it in foul-smelling mists. Nothing grows
Erebus is the destination of those souls judged to
or lives in the Phlegethon and the waters are not safe
be neutral so it is home to the great majority of the
to drink, even when cooled. The river plunges over a
dead. This place is for those who made little impact
tall escarpment where it joins the Styx, resulting in a
on the world, and they are condemned to tedious
plume of noxious steam.
and endless toil. They must work to provide for their

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Death

The river Lethe meanders slowly through the cen- Souls sent to the Isles of the Blessed or Erebus
tre of Erebus and the wide broad delta at its mouth may choose to follow the difficult path of rebirth.
separates the Isles of the Blessed from the mainland. The Forgetting Pool is a spring in the mountains that
The waters of this river are uniquely dangerous since encircle Tartarus. Its waters wipe clean the memories
those who drink them suffer increasing forgetfulness. of a soul's past life, preparing the soul for re-entry
The Lethe has two sources, both springs deep in the into the mortal world. From the pool the waters
mountains above Tartarus. One spring is the true form the River Lethe as it cuts an unnavigable course
Lethe which gives the river it its forgetful proper- through canyons and over waterfalls. The mountain's
ties and drinking directly from it will wipe a soul's cliffs and canyons are treacherous and require great
memories of its life. This is the first step towards skill to traverse. No servant of Hades will oppose
reincarnation. The other spring causes the drinker to such a journey, for rebirth is a noble thing. But the
remember every moment of their lives. mountains are part of Tartarus, formed during the pri-
The river Styx forms the far boundary of the mordial times and in them lurk creatures that answer
underworld. Beyond its far bank is nothing but desert to no Olympian.
wastelands empty of even the dead. Muddy and Once the mind is cleared by the Forgetting Pool,
opaque with silt, the river flows unerringly straight for the soul must travel to Mount Targos. The River Phleg-
the sea as if its path has been cut into the landscape. ethon emerges from the side of this volcano but the
boiling caldera of lava at its heart is what souls seek.
Upon throwing oneself into the lava the fires free the
Return To The Mortal World soul from the Underworld, returning it to the mortal
Hades does not suffer the dead to leave his
world as a newborn babe.
realm, feeling that this upsets the balance of the
world he protects with his laws. Escape is thus nearly
impossible without divine help and only the greatest Appeal
of the ancient heroes have entered the underworld Mortals may appeal their fate to the Queen of
alive and successfully left. the Dead, Persephone, wife of Hades. She is more
Perhaps the most famous rescue attempt was compassionate than her husband and it was she that
that carried out by Orpheus. A wonderful musician granted the requests of the two best known escap-
and companion of heroes, he lost his wife Eurydice ees, Orpheus and Psyche. Tales of love, separation and
after she was bitten by a snake. Distraught, he sang the pain of grief may move her to grant a measure
such a powerful song of despair that the Olympian of clemency but conditions are attached to her gifts.
Gods took pity on him and showed him the way to These are challenging and difficult to meet as Perse-
an entrance to the underworld. He gained passage phone tests the devotion of petitioners with trials of
from Charon and subdued Cerberus with his beauti- willpower and courage.
ful singing and lyre music. Making his way to the Despite his hard heart and cold reputation,
court of Hades and Persephone, he pleaded in song Hades will hear those who wish to see him. A man
for the return of his beloved. Persephone, moved by of reason, he cannot be persuaded to bend the rules
his love, allowed him to retrieve Eurydice from the which ensure order and balance in the world. In
Asphodel Meadows. The condition was that Orpheus Hades' court, a petitioner must convince the god and
would have to reach the world of the living without the Judges of the Dead that their death unbalanced
looking over his shoulder at his wife. They made the world. A death before time, with unfinished fate
their way across the underworld, but at the last and unmet prophecy, is one which upsets the bal-
minute Orpheus panicked when he suddenly couldn’t ance of the world. Such a death needs correction but
hear her footsteps. Looking around, he caught a last Hades does not tolerate challenges to his authority.
fleeting glimpse of her sorrowful face before she A soul failing to prove their death was untimely will
faded forever back into the Underworld. face his wrath and will be lucky to spend eternity toil-
ing in Erebus.
Rebirth
For those sentenced to Tartarus, no chance of Escape
reprieve exists - the punishments of the gods are not To escape the Underworld and return to life
escaped. The Hecatonchires who guard the deep and without divine help is a feat that no dead soul has
twisted caves are loyal to the Judges and Hades. reportedly managed. Though any soul achieving this
Tartarus is for eternity. feat would be wise to remain hidden, so hope exists.

Age of Legends
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Death

An escape from the western edge of the Under-


world involves crossing back across the Acheron.
Besides the dangers facing those crossing the river
without Charon's ferry, Cerberus stalks the east bank.
The three-headed hound of Hades has an uncanny
sense of smell which he uses to hunt down souls on
the forbidden east bank. A captured soul is taken
to Hades for punishment. Cerberus is not the only
guardian of the river bank and an unlucky soul may
encounter Hades or Hecate on their irregular patrols.
A soul which crosses the river will find the coin-
less on the west bank attempting to block their way
in the hope that Hades will reward them. Finally,
before returning to true life, the escaping soul must
find their way to the surface and sunlight. The
caverns west of the river are believed to lead to the
surface but no mortal knows the route.
The eastern edge of the Underworld is marked
by the River Styx. Beyond it lies a great desert. A
path leads through the flat, featureless desert and
into the mortal world, though no one knows where it
starts or where it goes. The desert is hot and dry and
beset by winds carrying the despair of souls lost in
the desert.
Any caught attempting an escape are punished
by Hades for upsetting the balance of the world.
Souls from the Isles of the Blessed are sent back
there with a warning that further attempts to escape
will meet greater punishment. They are granted leni-
ency just once in mark of their heroic deeds in life.
Escapees from Erebus and repeat escapees from the
Isles of the Blessed are sent to Tartarus to endure
pain and imprisonment for a century.
A soul succeeding in an escape from the
Underworld must continue to evade the notice of
the gods or risk the wrath of Hades. Any mortal
will be in awe of the escapee's accomplishment
but will fear what Hades will do if they provide
aid. Souls who return face shunning by those who
knew them. The escapee's old life is gone and they
must forge a new existence.

Failure
A soul trying but failing to escape may be much
worse off because a soul is eternal but not inviolate.
They can feel pain and be driven mad by the tor-
ment. Souls who get stuck in the mires of the River
Acheron or are washed out to sea are repeatedly
drowned. Anyone who falls into the boiling waters of
the Phlegethon burns continuously and those lost in
the desert wander for eternity. Not even Zeus himself
can help a soul lost to madness.

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The Olympic Games

The Olympic games are a quadrennial During the Olympic games a truce is observed
so that the athletes and delegations may travel to
athletic festival honouring Zeus and are and from the games safely and without hindrance.
named for Olympia where they are held. Legal disputes are also suspended and the use of the
death penalty is forbidden. The truce also focuses the
They are one of four panhellenic games, the minds of the Greeks on celebrating the Gods rather
others being the Nemean games at Nemea than on mortal matters.
Much prestige is placed on victory at the games.
in honour of Herakles, the Pythian games at Many champions turn victory into power and become
Delphi in honour of Apollo and the Isthmian figureheads and leaders in their later lives. With such
high stakes, competitors are not above intrigue and
games in Isthmia in honour of Poseidon. Each trickery to ensure their victory.
follows a similar programme to the Olympic
games and is held on different years to form The Programme
Registering the competitors takes up most of
a four year cycle. the first day. Every participant and their trainers are
required to stand before the statue of Zeus, swear an
oath that they have been in training for ten months
Origins and vow to uphold the rules. The second day of the
The games were founded by Herakles who wished
games sees the events start. After a great proces-
to create a festival combing worship of Zeus with
sion of the competitors the chariot races take place,
victory itself. As the intensely argumentative Greeks
followed by the five events of the pentathlon in the
and their gods would often settle disputes by con-
afternoon. The evening is dedicated to feasting and
tests of strength and skill, he decided to follow that
celebrating the day’s winners.
example and start a formalised athletic competition
The morning of the third day is dominated by
at Olympia, a major religious site in the west of the
the most important religious event of the game.
Peloponnese peninsula. Elis and Pisa are the nearest
A hundred white oxen and all the dignitaries and
cities, though Olympia is now almost a city in its own
athletes form a procession that circles the Olym-
right. The site is home to many of the largest impor-
pic site. It passes the temple of Hera and finishes
tant temples. Almost all of the Olympian gods have
at the temple of Zeus. Here all one hundred oxen
a sanctuary at Olympia, with the largest belonging to
are sacrificed to the King of Gods. The afternoon's
Zeus. Inside is a 13m high statue of the King of the
events are the running races, starting with the
Gods, made by the sculptor Phidias in 440 BCE.
diaulos followed by the stadion and the dolichos.
The games are held in an oval arena, the length
More feasting takes place in the evening and
set by the running track in the centre, which is one
includes the ambassadors' reception.
stadion (about 180m) long. The arena floor is bare
Day four is the pankration, wrestling and boxing.
earth but the running track itself is made of unfired
They last until late in the afternoon when the finals
clay with a covering of sand. This is a soft but firm
of each event are held in turn. The final event of this
surface on which to run barefoot.
day is the hoplitodromos.
Only citizens who speak Greek and worship the
There are no sporting events on the last day,
Olympian gods may be competitors. They are the
which is focused on the winners and on worship of
finest athletes of each polis who train for years and
the gods. A procession around the Olympic site starts
battle through local heats for the honour of represent-
at noon and is led by the winning athletes. It ends
ing their city. Victorious athletes are honoured, feted
outside the temple of Zeus where the winners are
and praised for the rest of the games and perhaps for
presented with their laurels and olive branches. A
the rest of their lives. Their deeds at the games are
food festival marks the end of the final day and the
chronicled and heralded so that all Greece will know
following day the delegations leave Olympia.
of their achievements, now and forever.

Politics Culture and Festival


While the games started out as a festival of
Attracting powerful people to one place encour-
athletics and worship, their popularity and their ris-
ages politics and intrigue. It is common for treaties
ing importance to Greek society has added a strong
and trade agreements to be negotiated and signed
cultural element. Sculptors and poets congregate each
while the festival is in progress. Politics spills into
olympiad to display their works of art to would-be
competitions and events can become decidedly
patrons, dedicate their work to the gods and honour
unfriendly depending on the relations between states.
that year’s champions. The feasting and celebrations
Athletes will strive to beat rival cities. Victory at the
of each evening inspire and require new works of
games is seen as an indicator of the strength of a
poetry, song and music. It is considered a great honour
Age of anLegends
state and omen for future battles.
for an artist to collaborate with a victorious athlete.
Events
There are eleven events - four foot races, three fighting events, three chariot races and the pentathlon.
Most cities will enter a competitor in each event and a series of heats are held before the victor is
decided in a final. Except for in the hoplitodromos the athletes compete in the nude as celebration of
the achievements of the human body and to mitigate the heat of the Greek summer.

Stadion Pentathlon
A simple foot race over a distance of 180m (200yds), the length of the stadium. The pentathlon involves a
stadion race, a long jump,
a javelin throw, a discus
throw and wrestling.
Diaulos
The middle three events
Another foot race, this time over two stadia (about 260m or 400yds). This involves feature only in the
running the length of the Olympic stadium and then turning around to come back. Pentathlon and are not
separate events. Victory
is given to the athlete who
wins the most events.
Dolichos
If an athlete wins all of
The longest of the three foot races, covering a distance of distance is 5km the first three events,
(3 miles). Rather than perform laps the race leaves the stadium. It winds around the other events do not
the Olympic grounds passing by a statue of Nike which marks the halfway point. take place. If after the
fourth event there is still
not an athlete with three
wins, the pentathlon is
Hoplitodromos awarded to the winner of
the wrestling.
A race over four lengths of the stadion, 700-800m (760-880yds) run in full
hoplite bronze armour. This comprises a torso piece, greaves and a helmet with
the runners also carrying a hoplon (shield). The armour and equipment weigh up
to 27kg (60lbs) and the race emulates the speed and stamina needed in warfare.

Pankration Wre\stling Boxing Chariot Racing


A tournament in which Combat where the goal Combat between athletes This consists of races
the competitors use the is to force the opponent where only strikes with the around a separate chariot
pankration martial art. to touch the ground fists are allowed. Beyond arena with a ground
Spartans are not allowed with shoulder, back or this, there are no rules. more suitable for running
to compete in this event, hip, without striking Athletes wear hardened horses. Three classes of
as training in pankration him. Points are also leather gloves that are race are run, in which
is given to all Spartan scored by compelling weighted with metal. different numbers of
citizens as part of their the opponent to submit There are no rest periods horses are used: two,
martial upbringing. using holds or by forcing or rules against striking a four and ten. In these
him out of the arena. competitor when they are races, honour goes to the
Wrestling was the first down. Bouts continue until steerer of the chariot and
non-running event a competitor surrenders or the owner of the team
added to the games. It is rendered unconscious. of horses. An owner can
is regarded as the truest In the event of death, the enter more than one
expression of strength deceased is declared the team in each race.
of all competitions at winner and his opponent
the games. disqualified from the
tournament.
Header / Mainland Greece
Central

Athens When Athens lost the Peloponnesian War, Sparta


Athens is a large and wealthy city that dominates imposed a pro-Spartan oligarchy known as the Thirty
the Attica region of south-eastern Greece. The city Tyrants. Their rule last just thirteen months before a
sits just inland on a large plain and is centred around popular revolt saw the return of democracy..
a rocky mount that bears its famous acropolis. This Like other Greek cities, Athens' diplomacy is
encloses the old palace, the agora and the Parthenon. very complicated. Athens allied with Thebes to defeat
As the greatest temple to Athena in existence the Par- the Spartan Hegemony only a year ago, but now the
thenon holds a special place in Athenian hearts and ally looks to be the rising threat. Tensions between
is where they honour the patron and protector of their Thebes and Athens developed as the two cities
city. The glory of the Parthenon is visible throughout wasted no time in asserting their power as victors.
the city and for miles around. Athens now controls one of the larger leagues of cit-
A few miles away on the coast is the Port of ies, rivalling those of Sparta, Thebes and Olynthus.
Piraeus that gives Athens access to the sea. A cobbled
road connects city and port, carrying food and luxuries
from all over the Mediterranean to Athens' population.
Culture
Athens is famous for its learning, literature and
Whilst the Spartans are famous warriors and
arts. Socrates, the greatest mind of the last genera-
the Corinthians are famous traders, the Athenians
tion, lived here and his student Plato is clearly a
are famous thinkers. Their democratic government
worthy successor. Thinking is a serious business
encourages free thinking and dissent, and the most
in the city and a common sight is groups of phi-
influential philosophers are taught in Plato's school in
losophers squabbling, and even brawling, in the
Athens. The city still fields a strong army and their
streets. Famously, Diogenes the Cynic has made
wealth is envied throughout much of the world.
philosopher-baiting into something of a profession.
He hates Plato, calling him an inflated authority
Politics and Diplomacy figure, and takes pleasure in humiliating and taunting
Since the overthrow of the Hippia Tyranny, him. Another branch of Athenian philosophy is the
Athens is a democracy in which the citizens elect great surgeon and healer Hippocrates. He is living
an assembly who make the major decisions. Day-to- in Athens and has founded a school to pass on his
day running of the city is done by the civil service knowledge.
whose officers are selected by lot from the citizens.
The assembly makes its decisions in the open, using
public debates and a vote by the citizens who place
coloured stones in jars. This method is even used in
criminal trials turning the whole citizenry into a jury.

Age of Legends
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Central / Mainland Greece

Poetry flourishes in Athens and has a political war against Sparta. The Band is an elite force made
role as well as an artistic one. Comic poets and play- of 150 pairs of lovers in the belief that warriors will
wrights put on shows which satirise either a policy, fight harder for those they are close to. Considerable
an individual or society at large. Hugely popular with authority is held by The Band's leader, General Pelop-
anyone who likes to hate their betters, these satires idas who helped establish democracy in the city.
shape public opinion and many a politician has found
their power waning after being lambasted.
Culture
Thebes is a market city, selling the goods from
Thebes the plains to its north and the highlands to its
To the south of Thessaly, Thebes sits on the south. Individual wealth brings status and author-
southern edge of the Boetian Plain. The city itself ity, but perhaps not so much as in Corinth. Citizens
lies between the courses of three rivers. Walls run guard the idea of democracy more fiercely than
between the rivers to form the northern and south- Athenians who they say are bored with it.
ern ends of the city, while the west and east are The city's wealth allows many artists to flour-
protected by the rivers themselves. Being a wealthy ish, the most famous of which is Aristides whose
city, the roads through the walls are paved and many paintings of human expressions are unrivalled. Less
buildings in the city are stone and brick. famous, and bitter about it, is Nicomachu who
Thebes is the rising power on the Greek main- paints gods and boasts that he is the fastest painter
land and dominates the Boetia region. Nearby towns in Greece.
and villages are under its direct control. The Boetian
League spreads much wider and is the single largest
hegemony in Greece at the moment. Athens is jeal-
Thessaly
Occupying the centre of the Greek mainland,
ous of this power and ancient rivalry between these
Thessaly is a large territory controlled by a loose alli-
poleis looks like it will come to a head.
ance of cities and aristocratic families. The families
Thebes' position of power was enhanced by their
hold power by right of descent from the ancient kings
victory over Sparta at the battle of Leuctra. It drove the
of Thessaly. There is no clear capital since each fam-
Spartan army from the field and caused the Spartan
ily has its court in a different city, though the busiest
Hegemony to break apart. Since then Sparta negoti-
city is Larissa. The surrounding lands are bountiful
ated terms to end the war, leaving Thebes and Athens
making it an agricultural exporter, and the city is
as the pre-eminent powers.
also famed for the quality of its horses. Larissa lies
Opportunistic, Thebes will ally with anyone
amongst the wide open plains of Thessaly but sits in
to further its own ends. Decades ago when Persia
a small depression that shelters it from the weather.
invaded under Xerxes, Thebes sided with them so
Thessaly features a great deal in the old stories
it could attack Athens. Other Greek cities have not
as the original home of Jason and Achilles. The latter's
forgotten this unpatriotic attitude, especially Sparta
famous band of warriors, the Myrmidons, were drawn
whose 300 warriors died at the Battle of Thermopylae
from a tribe that still lives on the edge of the terri-
to keep the Persians out of Greece. Not surprisingly,
tory. Many centaurs live in the region, far more than
rumours say Thebes used Persian gold to pay for the
anywhere else in Greece, and they are a feature of
victory over Sparta. Now a power in Greece, Thebes
the local politics.
can expect alliances to be built up against it, just like
Whilst most of the wealth and power is in the
the one Thebes used to destroy Spartan power.
hands of the aristocracies, during an emergency they
will come together to elect a high magistrate or Tagus
Politics and Military to lead until the danger has passed. The Tagus has
Like Athens, Thebes is a democracy. It turned extensive powers, including the right to raise levies
democratic a few years ago when the old oligarchy from all the cities and lead them into battle.
allowed the citadel to be taken by Spartan soldiers to The present Tagus is called Jason of Pherae who
assure their own power. The Spartans were expelled got himself elected Tagus by claiming there was a
by a popular revolt that freed the city and the oligar- threat from barbarians. He has been Tagus for three
chy was swept from power. A few family members of years now and has gained nearly absolute power
the oligarchs still remain and they would like nothing through cunning politics and has almost achieved a
more than a return to power. tyranny. Unsurprisingly many local aristocrats resent
The army of Thebes is formidable and its centre- this usurpation of power.
piece is the Sacred Band which proved itself in the

27
Header
Peloponnese

Corinth Elis
Corinth sits on the Isthmus of Corinth, the sole Elis is a second tier power in Greece but not to
link between the Peloponnese and the Greek main- be dismissed. As the the leading city in the west of
land. The isthmus narrows to only five miles wide the Peloponnese it controls the surrounding lands
and the city occupies this strategic point. The heart indirectly through treaties and pacts. The fame of
of the city is a huge monolithic rock, on top of which Elis derives from its control of Olympia, the site of
sits the Acrocorinth containing the key temples and the Olympic games. Since this is where worship of
oligarchs' palaces. The ports of Leachaeum on the Zeus reaches its climax, the god favours the city and
ismthus' western edge and Cenchreae on the east keeps it from harm.
link the city to sea. Much of Elis' considerable wealth comes from
The city thrives on trade and its fleets dominate the visitors and pilgrims to the games' site. This
in the Mediterranean as far as Sicily. A great deal of income makes Elis much richer than any other city
silver is earned by controlling the isthmus, a short- its size and it enjoys paved plazas and fine stone
cut saving traders a dangerous journey around the buildings. When the games are not running, Elis
Peloponnese. Goods can be unloaded at one port, is the centre for local trade and is connected to a
carried over the isthmus to the other side and then harbour by the river it sits on.
loaded on to a ship. There is a road made of grooved Elis is built at the bottom of a wide river valley
stone that can carry an entire ship on a special cart and is dominated by the large theatre at its heart.
across the isthmus. The city is walled, but more effort was placed into
constructing the theatre and the huge market that
surrounds it. Gymnasia and other training buildings
Leadership and Military adjoin the market, along with the House of the Hel-
Authority is held by a council of oligarchs
lanodikai who judge the games themselves.
made up of the richest merchants and nobles,
The oligarchy of Elis comprises a few noble
but there is a strong democratic movement grow-
families who squabble over the games' revenue.
ing in the city. The city has the most powerful
There is an open council of citizens who decide on
navy in Greece but also fields a strong army. They
civic matters.
wear the distinctive Corinthian helmet now being
Many victors of the games come from the city.
adopted by other Greek states.
The very first winner of any game was Coroebus, a
humble Elean baker who won the stadion race. The
Culture city also gave the world Troilus, who gained infamy
The nearby city of Isthmia is home to the Isth- by winning two chariot races whilst being the referee.
mian games, a panhellenic championship set up by Other famous names include the philosopher Phaedo
Sisyphus to honour his nephew who died in a divine of Elis, who runs the Elean School of philosophy
machination. Events held there mirror the Olympic and was a close friend of Socrates. Yet Phaedo is no
games but they include poetry and musical competi- friend of Plato and the two spar when the Athenian
tions. Like the Olympics they draw in competitors comes to visit the games.
and spectators from throughout the world. The games The dialect of Greek spoken in Elis is hard to
are devoted to Poseidon instead of Zeus, in hope of understand for other Greeks, who call them barbaro-
protection for the vital Corinthian fleets. phones or the ones who sound like barbarians.
Corinth's largest temple is similarly dedicated to
Poseidon and is the god's largest in Greece. The city
also boasts the largest temple to Aphrodite which is
famous for its temple sex workers (hetairas). Most
Greek sex workers are marginalised but these men
and women enjoy a high status and their trade is part
of worshipping Aphrodite.

Age of Legends
Peloponnese
Header

Sparta Culture
Sparta lies on the banks of the Evrotas River, Sparta is unique as it divides it citizens into two
in the Peloponnese. The river valley it occupies is castes - warriors and land-owners. Citizen warriors
surrounded by high mountains, providing Sparta are full-time soldiers trained from the age of seven,
with superb natural defences. The city itself is quite but they may not own land or property. This focus on
small and houses about thirty thousand Spartans military training makes the Spartans the strongest
and many more slaves. Sparta is one of the very few fighting troops in the known world. Citizen land-
cities that has no walls, relying instead on its armies owners control property, lead households and receive
for defence. basic military training so they may defend their lands
Sparta was until recently the pre-eminent power when the warrior caste is away fighting wars.
in Greece until it was brought low by the Boetian Spartan citizens avoid manual labour which is
League, led by Thebes and Athens. The city has been the job of the Helot serf caste. The Helots are a con-
stripped of its full political might and has lost most quered people from Messenia brought to Sparta cen-
of its slaves. However, Spartan diplomats are already turies ago. Compared to slaves elsewhere in Greece
building a new league, the army is still intact and the the Helots have a better lot, being allowed to marry,
city itself was never attacked. There is great potential worship and keep half of their earnings. There are
to rebuild its power. fewer Helots in the city for the time being because
victorious Thebes released them as an economic
attack on Sparta.
Leadership Spartan citizens are forbidden to trade and
The city is ruled by an oligarchy of rich men and
manufacture so they leave this to an another caste,
women, with influence wielded by the most power-
the Perioikoi. Their trade is hampered by Sparta's
ful warriors. Unusually, Sparta has two kings. Whilst
lack of precious metals and its disdain for currency.
both claim descent from Herakles, the Agiad family is
They rely on barter - the nearest Sparta has to coins
superior to the Eurypontid family. The current kings
are large iron ingots, which most other cities will not
are Agesipolis II and Agesilaus II.
trade in. Like the Helots the Perioikoi are a con-
Civil power has slowly moved from the kings to
quered people but they are granted freedom to do
the oligarchs and they are now a kind of permanent
business and are the only people allowed to travel to
general, with military power and little else. Citizen-
other cities. Perioikoi fight supporting the true Spar-
ship is restricted to those who can trace their line-
tans and are growing more powerful in the city.
age back to the first inhabitants of the city and only
citizens can undergo the famous agoge training
programme. For political purposes a small number of
foreigners are allowed to go through the training as
"foster children".

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Header
Northern Greece

Macedon Olynthus
To the north of Thessaly and the west of Thrace This eponymous city is named after its founder
lies the small kingdom of Macedon. Situated on the Olynthus, son of Herakles. The city is in the far north-
alluvial plain of the rivers Haliacmon and Axius, Mac- east of Greece and its territory borders Macedon. It
edon has access to that rarest of Greek commodities - originally occupied the southern of two large hills
a large amount of flat fertile land. Macedonian power that dominate the local landscape. Over the last fifty
is built on its ability to grow crops and to farm cattle. years many people from other towns and cities have
been persuaded to move to Olynthus. The newcomers
built a new city on the northern hill, making Olynthus
Greeks in the North a city of two halves. The older parts on the southern
Macedon is Greek in culture and worship, hav-
hill contain the civic areas such as the agora while
ing been founded by exiles from the Peloponnese five
the northern hill is residential including the richest
hundred years ago. It is ruled by a powerful royal
villas in the region. Perched on high hills and pro-
family and has seen none of the social changes
tected by walls, the polis is easy to defend.
that have developed in the poleis of their southern
A growing population has been turned into power.
cousins. Access to the palace and court government
The city is the leader of the Chalkidian League, a
is restricted to those of royal or noble bloodlines. Far
group of thirty cities in the surrounding region that
from Athens in many ways, the southern Greeks con-
have allied themselves against outside interference.
sider the Macedonians to be backward and uncouth,
What few people know is that the migration that
a view not helped by the thick Macedon accent.
Olynthus enjoys began at the behest of the previous
Macedonian king Perdiccas II. He arranged it as part
City and Rulers of his plotting against Athens, aiming to create a
The capital city, Pella, is on the southern edge of powerful city for him to control and prevent the poleis
the alluvial plain. The city is new, built just fifty years of the east coast from unifying. This backfired as the
ago. Before then the capital was the coastal town of power of the enlarged city grew rapidly and he was
Aegae where the exiles first landed. The town proved never able to dominate it.
too vulnerable to attack from the sea so the more
defensible Pella was built.
The current ruler is King Amyntas III. After his
father ended a brief period of Persian rule, Amyntas
has worked to expanded and improve his kingdom.
He has expanded its lands far into the mountains
that surrounded Macedon’s plains through careful
marriage alliances with the local tribes. An expan-
sionist king, he uses diplomacy and war in equal
measure. The Athenian colony of Methone is feeling
the pressure of his ambition though it has not yet
submitted to his rule.
Amyntas’ wealth comes from an alliance with the
Chalkidian League led by Olynthus which allows the
use of their ports to export timber. However, rumours
abound that once the Macedonians control the deep
harbour at Methone they will seek to end the alliance
by force. Macedon emissaries are common sights in
the courts of the powerful southern poleis as they
seek allies to make this plan possible.

Age of Legends
Northern Header
Greece

Border Lands Military


The kingdoms of Dacia and Thrace are to the Dacians may be under pressure from foreign
north of Greece. Both countries are mountainous and incursions, but they are a potent force. They prefer to
densely forested, crossed by rivers running through fight in ambushes and skirmishes and will always try
fertile plains to the sea. The people are tribal but to avoid a decisive battle. They rely on their fortified
dwell in large fortified cities. Fighting between tribes cities as a base whilst striking fast against an invad-
is common and they are willing to attack Greek colo- ing army until it falls apart from attrition. Anyone
nies on the Black Sea or raid into Greece itself. who fights in Dacia should beware the falx, their
favoured weapon. It is a forward-curving scythe blade
on a pole, the length of which varies if it is held in
Colonisation one or two hands. Its sharp edge and substantial
Several Greek colonies exist in Dacia and Thrace,
weight make it capable of severing an arm or leg in a
blurring the border between Greece and its neigh-
single stroke.
bours. Dacians and Thracians emulate Greek culture
and styles and relations are peaceful but traditional-
ists resent the incursions by Greek colonists. Persia Religion
has colonial interests along the Black Sea coast of The native religion revolves around Zalmoxis,
Thrace and these are equally disliked thanks to Per- who was once a man but Dacians now call their
sian King Darius' failed attempt to invade Thrace. god. No individual champions have been seen but
The biggest change in Dacia in recent decades is every Dacian or Thracian warrior fights in his name.
the Gaulish migration. The Gauls are a less civilised Dacians believe in immortality and treat death as a
people driven here by pressure from Rome and are journey to Zalmoxis' country. Greek religion is spread-
now attempting to settle the western region of Dacia. ing into the south of the two countries with the cults
of Zeus and Ares gaining converts. A few temples
exist but converts are attacked by adherents of Zal-
moxis. The Gauls have also brought their druids with
them who have been teaching the locals about their
gods. There are converts but the civilised Dacians
and Thracians are appalled by the Gauls' use of
human sacrifice.

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Header & Outposts
Colonies

Knossos and Crete left alone by the invaders and are allowed to worship
The southernmost part of the Greek homelands, Greek gods. Only a little trade now flows through
Crete is the largest Greek island and separates the Miletus and there is an air of laziness in the city with
Aegean Sea from the Mediterranean. It was once citizens reputed to enjoy debauched parties.
the home of the Minoans who built the grandest
palaces, sailed the biggest fleet and controlled the
largest empire in hundreds of years. No-one knows
Rhodes
Rhodes is the largest and most easterly of the
what brought the Minoans to their knees but there
Aegean islands, close to the Anatolian coast. Forests of
are stories about earthquakes, thunder and flooding
pine and cypress fill its interior and it takes two days
by massive waves. Clearly they offended the gods
to walk across the island.
through an act of hubris.
The polis is made up of six cities which merged
That was centuries ago and now the island is a
a few years ago. The unification treaty includes the
mess of small town-states and its people are a spent
construction of a new capital city named Rhodes on
force. Lacking any central government, the small
the northern tip of this island. A grand artificial har-
states fight each other for primacy. Poverty has driven
bour forms the city's heart and the harbour walls are
the populace to piracy and banditry and the area is
part of the city. The landward side of the city is pro-
now lawless.
tected by a wall and the harbour's mouth is guarded
The Minoan capital city was Knossos, an opulent
by a chain which is raised to keep enemies at bay.
city of pale stone built around its palace. Centred on
The new polis is democratic and has suffered no
a square courtyard with a fountain, the palace started
major political splits between the constituent cities.
out as small collection of buildings. Over the years
Its diplomatic position is strong since Rhodes counts
it grew outwards and engulfed the rest of the city,
Athens as an ally, having together driven Persians off
turning Knossos into one huge tangled building. That
the island a generation ago. Rhodes has strong trade
proved to be its downfall when a fire swept through
links with the eastern powers due to its location and
hundreds of years ago and forced its abandonment.
much of the Greece-Egypt grain trade passes through.
Now Knossos is one massive ruin that looms over
The big threat to Rhodes is Persia itself, since the
the landscape, the pale stone turned dark with moss
island is closer to Anatolia than Greece.
and soot. Rooms have collapsed and fallen into the
Standing by the new harbour is a true wonder.
famous labyrinth beneath. A handful of locals live in
The cult of Helios has always been strong in Rhodes
the ruin and prey on travellers.
and the polis has just built a massive statue of him.
Travellers and adventurers are still drawn to the
Made of bronze it stands over a hundred feet tall and
city to explore the labyrinth built by Daedalus to hold
is the greatest work of the sculptor Chares.
the Minotaur, born from the Minoan queen and a
bull. That monster was slain long ago by the Athenian
hero Theseus but stories persist of other things living Syracuse
down there and of the lost treasures of the Minoans. Commanding a headland on the south-east coast
of Sicily, Syracuse is one of the largest and most pow-
erful Greek colonies. Originally founded by Corinthi-
Miletus ans and Teneaens it gained its independence cen-
Sitting on a natural harbour on the southern
turies ago. The city has grown wealthy from a strong
entry to a large bay in Anatolia, Miletus is built around
trading position and the fertile soil of the island
its port and the mouth of the Maeander River. High
itself. It is in direct competition with Carthage and the
mountains rise on either side of the river and a small
two are locked in a bitter war over Sicily. Carthage
island protects the harbour. From the port the city
invaded a generation ago and now controls roughly a
stretches inland and up into the surrounding hills in
third of the cities on the island.
a grid pattern. Having the major port in the region
Power in Syracuse has changed hands multiple
has made Miletus the richest Greek city in Anatolia,
times between despots and democracy. At present
rivalling Corinth and Athens in wealth.
the city is ruled by the tyrant Dionysius. He overthrew
Miletus is under Persian occupation and has
a democratic government and rules with an iron fist,
been for a decade. Authority is wielded by a gover-
his sole policy being to drive the Carthaginians off
nor appointed by the local satrap who maintains a
Sicily. To do this, Dionysius has established a large
small garrison to hold the city. The population are
standing army of mercenaries and a navy equipped
still strongly Greek and they wait for an opportunity
with the most powerful ships ever seen, quinque-
to throw the Persians out. In the meantime they are
remes with five sets of rowers instead of three.

Age of Legends
Colonies & Outposts
Header

Syracuse is focused around the little island of The tyrant himself writes many poems, but they are
Ortygia which has a causeway leading to the main- badly received and draw hisses at the Olympic games.
land, creating two natural harbours. The city started Philosophers and poets live in Dionysius' court, such
on the little island but has since spread inland and as Philoxenus and the famous Plato. At one time he
now Dionysius is building a massive fortress there to arrested Philoxenus for criticising his poetry and sent
protect the city and cement his power. him to slave in the quarries. Later, Dionysius had him
Whilst the city has become highly militarised, brought back to court so he could read him his latest
Dionysius has pushed cultural growth. The massive poem. He asked how he liked it and the poet replied
ancient theatre in the city rings with poetry and plays "Take me back to the quarries."
attracting many famous artists and poets to the city.

33
Header& Other Lands
Persia

Persia
Persia is the greatest empire on Earth, stretching
as far east as the Indus River. Though it has internal
problems it remains the greatest threat to the the
Greek way of life. Persia has several times tried to
absorb Greece but has always been repelled. It occu-
pies much of Anatolia and threatens the few Greek
cities which remain free.

Politics
The current emperor is Artaxerxes II who rules
from the great city of Babylon, home to the famous
Hanging Gardens. The empire is divided into satrapies,
semi-autonomous states that pay tribute to the
Emperor and receive his protection in return. These
conquered nations are allowed to keep their own ways
and laws as long as they don't revolt. Rulers of satraps
are appointed by the Emperor and are often local
royalty who have surrendered to Persian rule.
Between the satraps and the Emperor is the civil
service. This powerful body consists of thousands
of scribes, tax collectors and officials who run the
empire day to day. They are aided by a vast web of
roads which carries messengers, taxes and soldiers at
great speed from region to region.
As well as the direct military threat Persia poses to
Greece it sows discord by meddling in Greek politics.
The Spartan Hegemony ended when Corinth, Thebes and
Athens revolted, but these revolts were funded by Per-
sian gold. Artexerxes did this to distract Sparta from an
invasion of Persian lands in Anatolia. It was an effective
strategy and has kept Greece from being fully united
under Spartan rule. In recent years, Persian influence
can be seen by the adoption of their ways into Greek
culture. Athenians with their strong trade links to Persia
are the leaders in this cultural shift.
An empire as large as Persia always has internal
threats as well as international ones. A rebellion is
growing in the satrapy of Cappadocia in Anatolia.
The satrap, Datames, was a respected general sent to
reconquer Egypt but machinations in the Emperor’s
court forced him into rebellion. He took his army to
Cappadocia and is trying to rally support. This war
and the rebellion in Egypt has created the great-
est moment of weakness the Empire’s enemies can
expect for a long time. Artexerxes has abandoned any
hope of invading Greece as a whole and now focuses
on political interference.

Age of Legends
Header
Persia & Other LAnds

Military Power
Persia is able to raise a million man army from
across the Empire. Tactically they rely on massed
ranks of archers behind shield walls to whittle down
their enemies. Persia breeds the finest horses in
the world and their sophisticated metalwork allows
them to field frightening cataphracts. These heavily
armoured men and horses thunder across the bat-
tlefield to exploit weaknesses made by the archers.
The only foot soldiers of note are the Immortals, the
personal troops of the Emperor. There are exactly ten
thousand of them and they are skilled in archery and
with the spear. Their presence on the battlefield can
show the Emperor's personal interest and their fear-
some reputation is well deserved.

Religion and Culture


Persians are unusual and recognise only one
god: Ahura Mazda, the "Bringer of light, wisdom and
truth." He is the creator spirit, source of truth and
order in the world, worshipped through fire and with
a flame as his symbol. Telling the truth is a religious
duty for his worshippers and liars have been killed
as heretics.
The lone god created seven lesser beings known
as spenta to serve him. They appear as brilliant lights
and are seen at the borders of the empire, acting as
protector spirits. Persians also believe in a trickster
spirit named Angra Mainyu. He is the antithesis of
Ahura Mazda and the king of lies and chaos.
Neither god or trickster has champions in the way
of the Greek pantheon. However, Ahura Mazda did
once have a prophet called Zoroaster who walked the
Earth a century ago. He was imbued with incredible
persuasive power which focused Persian worship on
Ahura Mazda. Though long-dead, the order of priests
he founded aggressively spread the religion. Con-
quered lands may not be forced to adopt the religion
by the Emperor but most quickly convert when faced
with the priests of Zoroaster.

Judea & Levant


The ancient land of the Jews is a satrap called
Yehud Medinata. Under a Persian governor, the Jews are
controlled by a line of high priests ruling through Jewish
religious law. The land is fertile with wide coastal plains
and highlands further inland, but sparsely populated.
The city of Jerusalem houses only a few thousand people
and is based around the temple. Most people live in
small villages dotted about the land.

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Header& Other LAnds
Persia

Egypt Carthage
Egypt is a river kingdom, dependant on the Nile Carthage is a Phoenician colony made up of politi-
for its very life. Once the strongest kingdom in the cal exiles from Tyre. The Greeks and the Phoenicians
civilised world it is now old and decrepit. The Egyp- have fought wars on and off for centuries and the
tians built wonders and temples envied by the whole current war is between Syracuse and Carthage over
world but the relationship between the people and control of Sicily.
their gods failed.
The ancient Egyptian Pharaohs were mortal men
worshipped as gods. As each died a great monument
History and Politics
Carthage is a young city, founded a few hundred
was built and distracted the faithful from the true
years ago by Queen Dido. She was the Queen of Tyre,
gods who grew weak and withdrew from the world.
the Phoenician capital which lay on a small island
Egypt eventually succumbed to the rising power of
just of the coast off the Levant. Deposed by her own
Persia, beginning a century of Persian rule.
brother, Dido fled Tyre with hundreds of supporters.
That rule was ended a generation ago by King
Landing in North Africa she faced a local king keen
Amyrtaeus who freed the kingdom but the aged king-
to force her back into the sea. She pleaded with him
dom has turned in on itself again. Amyrtaeus died at
to allow her people to settle, and he agreed that she
the hands of another Egyptian and in the few years
could have as much land as she could cover with
since then there have been five kings. The current
the skin of a single cow. Dido took the skin and cut
king, Nectanebo, spends his days fighting against
in into thin strips, laying them in a huge circle big
internal rivals and Persian attempts at reconquest.
enough to build a city. Unable to break his word,
In this he is assisted by Athens and Sparta who are
the king allowed her people to settle and the rise of
keen to keep the Persians distracted.
Carthage began.
The land of Egypt itself is desert, vast, harsh and
Soon the city came to dominate the other Phoe-
unforgiving, interrupted by the thin line of the River
nician colonies in the region, then took over nearby
Nile. The river feeds Egypt's cities that line its banks
African kingdoms by force. When the old mother city
and is always busy with traders going deep in Africa.
Tyre fell to the Persians a century ago it left Carthage
as the centre of the Phoenician world. It controls
Arabia much of north Africa, the Balearic Islands and half of
The Arabian peninsula is a land of burning Sicily, and has colonies along the east coast of Hispa-
deserts and terrifying creatures. Its northern coastline nia. Out of this melting pot, a distinctive, carthagin-
is controlled by Persia but the Empire's influence is ian culture has arisen.
constrained by the harshness of the desert and the
tribes who make their homes there. The kingdoms of
Ma'in, Saba, Hadhramaut, Qataban all sit along the
City and Military
Carthage is larger than any city in Greece with
southern end of Arabia and vie for control over the
only Athens coming close. It is centred around a mas-
trade routes carrying frankincense, myrrh and spices
sive harbour through which flows most of the trade
to the Mediterranean.
in the western Mediterranean. In the middle of the
Travellers to this place should be well-prepared
harbour is a wonder of architecture, the Admiralty of
to face djinn, an entire race of spirits who live partly
Carthage, raised on piles driven into the harbour floor.
in this world and partly in another. They appear as
The navy is the pride of the city. It protects their
columns of smoke or scorching flames and frequent
trade and carries armies, with their much-feared
desert caves and mountains. The most powerful are
elephants, to war. Carthaginian sailors are amongst
capable of feats almost equal to that of the gods
the best in the world and they alone sail to far north-
themselves. Whilst there is no organised religion sur-
ern islands beyond the Gauls to buy tin and gold. The
rounding the beings, there are tribal cults dedicated
navy is so central to their culture and survival that
to local djinn.
the men and women of its crews must be native, free-
born Carthaginians.

Age of Legends
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Persia & Other LAnds

Religion Etruscan, like the rest of Italy, but they also have a
Carthage has a large pantheon of gods but by fascination with Greek ways, modelling most of their
far the most powerful are the couple Ba'al Hammon art, dress and architecture on Greek designs.
and Tanit. Ba'al Hammon is the god of the sun and Roman society has rigidly-defined classes and
Tanit is the goddess of the moon, war and moth- people are expected to know their place. The three
ers. The third most powerful god is Dido herself. classes are the lowly but free plebeians, the equites
She died defending her people from invaders and who make up the civil service, and the aristocratic
is worshipped as the city's patron. This lifted her to patricians. The patricians control the senate and con-
godhood. suls are elected from their number. The plebeians are
Like the Greek gods, the carthaginian gods are the most numerous by far, so civic politics in Rome
active and the central three take on champions. The is a power struggle between the two groups. Unrep-
gods have always done this but in the past focused resented in Roman politics are the huge number of
too much on expanding their culture through colo- slaves in the city.
nisation. They did not pay enough attention to their
home city of Tyre and lost it to the Zoroastrian
Persians. Champions of Tanit are active in Sicily and
City
Rome itself sprawls over a hill on the bank of the
whilst she focuses on the war there, Ba'al Hammon
River Tiber, a large and sophisticated modern city.
sends his champions to found new colonies else-
Their architecture and engineering are impressive
where. Dido obsessively protects Carthage itself and
but imitations of Greek designs. The Senate and the
her champions are forbidden to roam far from its wall
Forum, where the rulers and people debate current
and port.
affairs, are the heart of the physical city and centre
of it politics.
Rome
Rome is the most powerful of the many cities
in Italy and named after Romulus who founded the
Military
Roman military power is confined to the land
City. Romulus and his brother Remus were the sons
and was based on Greek military thinking, but they
of mortal queen and Ares. By a twist of fate the new
have adopted a sword-based style. They fight in
born infants were thrown in the River Tiber and
three ranks dictated by the Roman class system. The
nursed by a she-wolf until a peasant couple found
youngest and poorest go to the front and the oldest
the babies. When they were grown men Ares revealed
and richest towards the rear. Light troops with slings
their true heritage and commanded them to found a
and bows give the Roman armies a modicum of reach
new city in his honour.
but they rely on the ranks of swordsmen to break the
Romulus gained the honour of naming the city
enemy. Roman horsemen are rare and used for scout-
by murdering Remus in an argument over where the
ing and as messengers.
city should be placed. This tendency towards direct-
ness seems to have become a trait of the city itself,
probably due to the influence of Ares. When Romu- Religion
lus wanted to obtain slaves for his people he simply Religion in Rome is defined by the circum-
invited local tribesfolk into the city for a feast and stances of its founding and the hidden role of Ares.
then imprisoned them. Whilst founded by brothers who were unknowingly
champions of Ares, he did this in the guise of the
Etruscan war god Mars. This masked his identity
Politics and prevent raising Athena's suspicions. As such, the
The city is a republic ruled by a pair of Consuls
Etruscan gods worshipped in Rome can be identi-
who are elected every year, not by the people but by a
fied with the Greek gods. This affinity becomes ever
Senate of the richest and oldest families.
closer as Rome further adopts Greek ways. Many
Rome has taken control of much of the Ital-
mortals believe the Greek and Etruscan gods are the
ian peninsula by assimilating the peoples around
same deities.
it as much as by military conquest. Their culture is

37
Header
Intelligent People & Monsters

Amazons Centaurs
The famous warrior women live in far Hyperbo- Centaurs are half-civilised, half barbarian horse-
rea, well north of the Scythians. Theirs is a place of people. They have the body of a horse, with the
extremes, with a hot summer and biting winter, which horse's head replaced by the upper torso and head
has made them a harsh and warlike people. For of a human. Their tribes can be found across Greece
this reason Ares favours them and sired two of their and larger Mediterranean islands. They rely on hunt-
queens during the age of myths. The current queen is ing and gathering for food so they keep to the wilder
a very distant descendent of one of these queens. places, staying away from cities where they cannot
Essentially classless, wealth and renown among hunt. Centaur tribes are semi-nomadic, preferring to
the Amazons is gained by acts of war and courage live in simple tent villages that can be easily moved
rather than politics or inheritance. Amazons are to follow the seasons and the herds.
otherwise equal in society and trained in the arts of Centaurs speak their own tongue and local
war, hunting and farming. The Amazons rule a vas- human languages but lack literacy, preferring an
sal tribe of men called the Gargareans and once a oral tradition of teaching and history. Their minds
year the two tribes meet. The resulting children are keep to practical things and they do not dwell on
brought up by the tribe matching their own gender. the higher abstract topics of human philosophers.
Amazon woman are as athletically built as any This does not mean they are stupid, and only a fool
games competitor and wear leathers or furs, but go underestimates them.
to war in metal armour. They are capable archers Trade between centaur tribes and human set-
and skilled swordswomen. Their preferred tactic is tlements is good. When conflict occurs, it is often
to advance whilst shooting volleys of arrows, until caused by drunken centaurs abducting human
the enemy is within sword reach. women or humans settling on a centaur tribe's
The Amazons fulfil most of their needs from hunting grounds. In combat centaurs prefer to use
their farms and the wild forests. Certain supplies their speed to harry the enemy with spears and their
such as gold, bronze or iron need to be traded or strength to charge down opponents.
stolen. The Amazons leave their forest home to sell
amber to the merchants who work the routes to the
south. If trade is not sufficient they start raiding.
Fauns
A people native to the wild mountains and
Cities as far south as Olynthus are targets for the
highland forests of Greece, they lack any permanent
Amazons. Beyond these excursions Amazons are
settlements and prefer to roam in small groups.
rare beyond Hyperborea, as their culture values lit-
They resemble humans with goats' feet, horns
tle of the outside world. The occasional Amazon is
and beards. Fauns take what they need from the wilds
found amongst mercenary companies or on pilgrim-
and do not trade with humans much though they can
age to an important shrine of Ares.
speak Greek and their own tongue. Their contact with
humans is limited to travellers or shepherds and is for
their own amusement rather than for serious mat-
ters. More primitive human peoples treat the fauns as
nature spirits or guardians of flocks.
Travellers should be wary of Fauns although they
are peaceful and not aggressive. They have a robust
sense of humour and take pleasure in others' misfor-
tunes. If threatened a faun will just move on as they
consider life more important than pride and see no
point in fighting.

Age of Legends
SELENE STILBON PHOSPHOROS
(Moon) (Mercury) (Venus)
Intelligent People & Monsters
Header

Fauns are friendly with nymphs, satyrs and cen- Satyrs


taurs, and worship the Greek gods. Their worship is Descended from several of the rustic minor
less reverential in nature and more companionable gods, the free-spirited satyrs were a repeated source
than human worship but the gods tolerate this. The of antagonism and trouble for the Olympians. They
gods of nature even have fauns in their trains when lacked any responsibilities and followed no deity,
they walk the world. instead filling their time with mischief and mer-
rymaking. This ceased when Dionysus returned to
Greece from the far east.
Nymphs In the god of wine and ecstasy they found a
Nymphs are minor divine beings who are the lit-
worthy patron and are now the core of his retinue.
tle goddesses (they are exclusively female) of natural
Satyrs appear as men with a horse's legs, tail, ears
places. Essentially these places are a nymph's realm and
and phallus. Standing, they are over seven feet
can be anywhere: the tallest tree in a forest, the source
tall. When not with Dionysus, satyrs may be found
of a river, or even a cooling breeze. Nymphs are deities
travelling by themselves or in small groups in search
associated with nature and are responsible for the health
of diversion and entertainment. They are friendly
and flourishing of these little realms.
to mortals but have a strong intolerance of rules
Nymphs are welcome on Olympus and many of
and orders which makes them unpopular with some
them populate the entourages of the gods. Poseidon's
humans. Their indiscipline and partying leads many
court is filled with sea nymphs whilst Demeter keeps the
to underestimate them but satyrs are both physically
company of flower nymphs. Artemis travels with a band
strong and skilled with magic.
of hunting nymphs and the travelling orgy that is Dio-
nysus' unending party attracts the more social nymphs.
There are many nymphs and they communicate Shades
freely with mortals. Often nymphs are the only divine Shades are spirits of the dead buried without
being a mortal meets during their life. For this reason coin to pay Charon. Most remain by the banks of the
they serve as the eyes and ears of Olympus and occa- Acheron but a handful revisit the mortal world. Their
sionally deliver messages for the gods. Nymphs have place among mortals is weak and are only capable
agendas of their own and no real loyalty to the Olym- of invisibly observing their loved ones. Anyone with
pians but obey out of deference for their power. The magical or divine powers can see a shade and even
nymphs' true goal is to protect and oversee their own talk to them, but the dead are not very communi-
small parts of nature. cative. Dying leaves people detached and remote,
With mortals, a nymph's attitude depends on of the though the shades talk among themselves - some-
mortal. If treated with respect and deference nymphs thing a few magically-inclined mortals have used as a
will respond haughtily but well. A mortal who is disre- way of gathering information or sending messages.
spectful or dangerous will be threatened or attacked. If More powerful shades may influence the
the nymph is feeling mischievous they may play with mortal world, either by appearing as apparitions or
mortals by scaring children or sending adults on mean- by controlling a mortal's dreams. These are called
ingless errands. phantasms. The rarest and most feared shades are
Nymphs appear as human females of any shape, the eidolons, which can possess a living person.
size or age they choose but there will be signs of their These abominations subvert nature and only exist
realm. Tree nymphs have foliage for hair, a sea nymph's when powerful magic is at work. A god may endow
skin is scaly and wind nymphs have a gossamer-like a shade with power so it may fulfil an oath or seek
transparency. Nymphs are immortal - though their physi- revenge on those who failed to bury them. Alter-
cal form can apparently die, the spirit of the nymph lives natively, the fates may drive the eidolon to ensure
on and will soon re-form its body. prophecies are fulfilled.

HELIOS PYROEIS PHAETHON PHAINON


(Sun) (Mars) (Jupiter) (Saturn)
Header Mortals
Notable

Philosophers Rulers
Aristotle – A 14 year old student being taught phi- Amyntas& Eurydice of Macedon – Amyntas’ marriage to
losophy in the Macedonian court. Already noted Eurydice, a princess from the north of Macedon,
for his intelligence and well-versed in almost any formed the first unified Macedonian state. He
subject, gossip and rumours of his potential have came to the throne in 393BC ending ten years of
spread far from Macedonian. He lives with his political chaos following the death of King Ache-
father Nicomachus who is the personal doctor to laus. Queen Eurydice is active in politics, hold-
King Amyntas III. ing as much sway as her husband. Together they
established Macedon’s alliance with the Olynthus
Plato – An Athenian aristocrat and the most famous and the Chalkidian League to protect Macedon
philosopher alive. Plato’s philosophy says that from the Illyrian threat.
knowledge is divine inspiration and does not
come from observation or study. This is because Dionysius of Syracuse – The elderly tyrant of Syracuse.
the world we see is a shadow of what is real. His He was elected military leader in 406BC but
Academy, the first organised school, teaches amassed a personal army of mercenaries and
philosophy and science to the youth of the politi- took total control of the city. The army keeps
cal elite. This access to powerful families and his him in power and is never far from the Tyrant.
knowledge has made Plato a powerful figure and Dionysius is the worst kind of tyrant; cruel, para-
he regularly speaks at public votes. noid and vindictive. A decade ago, he sold the
entire population of Rhegium, a Greek city, into
Arete of Cyrene – A philosopher educated by her slavery. He surrounds himself with learned men
father, who was taught by Socrates himself. She and is himself a capable engineer. Syracuse is
has written many books, holding that happiness defended by siege catapults and quinqueremes
is the primary goal of moral action with virtue (five decked ships) of Dionysius’ design. How-
the secondary goal. Arete is one of the original ever, he is an atrocious poet.
hedonists and believes that physical enjoyment
is the supreme good in life. She lives in Cyrene Artaxerxes II of Persia – Aged King of Persia and the
with her young son Aristippus, who she teaches most powerful man in the world. He succeeded
along with many other students. his father Darius, but had to defend his throne
against his brother Cyrus, who invaded with a
Diogenes the Cynic – A middle-aged philosopher mixed army of Persians and Greek mercenaries.
notorious for his cynicism. He regards society as He is proud of this victory, even claiming he killed
an artificial growth that hinders the happiness Cyrus himself, after executing the men who actu-
and morality of being natural. His philosophy is ally did. Since then, he has been busy trying and
that action has greater virtue than words and he failing to suppress revolts in Egypt and rebellious
lives an austere life of poverty as a satire on the governors across his bulky empire. This internal
society around him. It includes deliberate home- conflict has led to a pragmatic approach to the
lessness and defecating in theatres. This is done Greeks and he always works against whoever is
without shame for he has risen above shame. A the strongest poleis. He sponsored Corinth and
citizen of Athens but he was born in Sinope and Thebes in their liberation from Sparta, but then
exiled for defacing the currency. A barrel serves betrayed them and allied with Sparta once the
as his home and he fills his time by writing crude other two cities became too powerful. Artaxerxes
poetry and sabotaging Plato’ lectures. hopes this divide and weaken policy will prevent
Greece becoming a threat.
Hecataeus – Young historian and philosopher who
moves amongst the cities around the Black Sea. Mago III of Carthage – The recently-crowned King of
As a sceptic philosopher, he believes that state- Carthage, taking over the war with Syracuse in
ments and ideas should be backed up with hard Sicily from his father. An unknown to the Greeks,
facts and rigorous arguments. Hecataeus writes he is rumoured to a ruthless leader and relent-
books about the histories of Greece, its neigh- less in pursuit of his goals.
bouring countries and places even more distant.

Age of Legends
Notable Mortals
Header

Sports & Arts Champions of the Gods


Euryleonis – A young spartan princess and recent vic- Arete – A native of Olynthus and the daughter of a
tor in all three Olympic chariot races. A capable potter whose beautiful singing voice attracted
fighter and athlete, she owns and trains a large Persephone’s attention when Arete began to sing
stable of horses for use by her and her retinue. delicate and moving songs at funerals. The Queen
of the Dead saw that a distant ancestor of Arete
Apelles – An Ionian painter living in Sicyon, regarded had been a child of Apollo and his gift of music
as one of the best in Greece. His ambition is to had arisen in the girl. Persephone chose Arete as
travel to Macedon and become the court painter a champion sending her to travel the world, bring-
there because of the strength of the royal family ing comfort to those grieving for lost souls. Arete
and the court’s reputation as a place of intellect. can be found at battles and disasters where there
Apelles is a rather competitive man, who takes is large scale loss of life. She sings and works
pains to display the high quality of his work. In to ensure that the mortals know Persephone is
one incident, he went to Rhodes to meet fel- sympathetic to their loss.
low artist Protogenes who he admired. When he
arrived, Protogenes was out so Apelles announced Eidothee – An elderly woman who has served as an
himself by painting a single fine line in colour, itinerant priest for Hestia for so long that her
then leaving. When Protogenes found this, he birth place is forgotten. Eidothee works tirelessly
realised that only Apelles could do such fine work to resolve disputes, ministers to believers and is
and then painted a finer line above it. Apelles exceptionally good at tending to sacrificial fires.
returned, again when Protogenes was absent, Hestia’s choice of a champion surprises some
and realised he had been outdone. Instead of people. Yet the wise point out how this frail old
admitting defeat, he drew a third even finer line woman travels alone through the most dangerous
between the two, so there was no room left to parts of Greece and its cities.
outdo him again. When Protogenes returned he
admitted that Apelles was the greater artist and Gelon – The work of most champions takes them
the two became friends. all over Greece and beyond but Gelon has never
left the Athenian polis since assuming his role.
Lysippus – A sculptor who heads a school of sculpture Athena, his patron goddess, has commanded him
in Argos. Working in bronze, he achieves incred- to stay and defend the city. Prior to this Gelon
ible detail which is remarkable as he is self became a skilled hoplite by constantly volunteer-
taught. Before settling down to teach, he worked ing for patrol duty. His experience fighting bandits
all over Greece making hundreds of statues for and protecting villages from monsters has made
wealthy clients. Now he is being eclipsed by him a skilled leader of defensive actions. Athena
his star pupil Chares who is building a colossal has used his cunning and intelligence in defense
statue of Helios in Rhodes. of her patron city and Gelon has already uncov-
ered several plots by agents of the Titans.
Praxiteles – An Athenian sculptor in his middle years.
Renowned for his skill in marble, his greatest Krokinos – Nicknamed the chain breaker, Krokinos
work is also a source of controversy. When the was once just a simple sailor until his capture
polis of Kos commissioned a statue of Aphrodite, by pirates. He was sold into slavery but could
he sculpted one clothed and one nude, the first not cope with the captivity and prayed nightly to
sculptor to dare to do so. Shocked by the nudity, Dionysus for freedom. When Dionysus sobered up
Kos kept only the clothed one while the more enough to hear the pleas, he approached Kroki-
liberal people of Knidos bought the nude and it nos and made a deal. Krokinos would be granted
has pride of place in their temple to Aphrodite. the power to free himself only if he uses it to
free others. The mortal accepted and freed three
ship’s companies worth of slaves as he made his
escape. Krokinos’ slave freeing activities have
made him unpopular across much of Greece and
he has become adept at avoiding notice.

41
Age of Legends
Immortals

43
Header Legends
Olympic

The history of the Olympian gods is the The Rule of Cronus


Cronus with his eleven sibling Titans formed
dark tale of a troubled family; a story filled a new court. This was a golden age with no need
with patricide, infanticide and betrayal. for law, and immorality was impossible. Yet Cro-
nus' betrayal of his father was the first violent
act between the gods and it sowed the seeds of
The Beginning discord. New gods emerged - Momus (blame),
First there was nothing but uncontrolled form Nemesis (retribution), Apate (deception) and the
and motion. This lasted for aeons until the first god, powerful Eris (strife).
Chaos, became bored. In an act against his nature, Cronus became haunted by his father's curse
he imposed order on to the void, creating the Earth, and obsessed with defending his crown against
the night and the pit of Tartarus. From the Earth real and imagined threats. Despite his promise
rose the goddess Gaia and out of the night emerged to his mother he kept many of his siblings - the
the goddess Nyx and they filled the gap between cyclopes, the hecatonchires and the gigantes - in
Earth and the blackness with the sky. Out of it Tartarus and set the dragon Campe to guard them.
came Uranus, and Gaia lay with the sky god. In time The children he fathered with his sister-wife Rhea
she gave birth to the three elder cyclopes, the three fared worse and five were swallowed whole by Cro-
hecatonchires, the 100 gigantes and the twelve Titans nus at birth. Angered and distraught by these acts,
- Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Rhea found an ally in Gaia who was also dismayed
Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys and Cronus. Of her by Cronus' actions. Gaia smuggled the newborn
children Cronus was the wiliest, youngest and most Zeus to Crete while Rhea tricked Cronus into eating
terrible with a deep hated for his father Uranus. a rock wrapped in swaddling cloth.
Chaos, unfathomable even to other gods,
showed no interest in ruling the pantheon and so
Uranus assumed the mantle of leader. His rule
The Rise of Zeus
Zeus remained hidden on Crete until he could
maintained the divine balance, but Uranus's own
challenge his father's might. Ambushing his father,
children posed the biggest threat to the world.
Zeus struck a deep wound into Cronus' belly and
Except for his favourites, the twelve Titans, Uranus
Zeus' five siblings fell from the bloody gash. Zeus
imprisoned his children in the pits of Tartarus.
took his siblings to Gaia who arranged for their
Upset by the treatment of her children, Gaia
care and then hid from Cronos's wrath. Slowly,
plotted the downfall of her king and husband.
Zeus gathered allies by freeing the hecatonchires,
She forged a sickle out of nothing but her malice
the cyclopes and the gigantes from Tartarus and
and hated, creating a weapon powerful enough to
waiting until his siblings had reached adulthood.
hurt Uranus. Recruiting Cronus to her cause, Gaia
At last Zeus declared himself in rebellion against
placed the sickle in the young god's hands on con-
his father and made war upon Cronus and his Titan
dition that he would free her children once he was
siblings. The Titanomachy was a brutal and lengthy
ruler. Cronus ambushed his father, castrating him
conflict and laid waste to most of the world.
to remove his power. Uranus cursed Cronus for his
Victorious after ten years of bitter conflict, Zeus
betrayal, predicting that just as he had usurped
sought to cement his new rule. He imprisoned Cronus
his father, so would Cronus’ son usurp him.

Age of Legends
Olympic Legends
Header

and his closest allies deep in the bowels of Tartarus, the Olympic court changed in nature from a council of
guarded by the hecatonchires. Exile awaited those war to palace of art and culture.
Titans who remained neutral or abandoned the fight. In the early part of the Olympic Age, the gods
Zeus founded his realm on Mount Olympus, starting often interfered with the affairs of mortals. The entire
the age of the Olympians. Dividing up the realms of Trojan war was caused by a quarrel between the god-
power, Zeus took control of the sky, Poseidon the sea desses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite over who was the
and Hades the Underworld. The Earth they returned to most beautiful. The constant meddling of the gods led
their grandmother, Gaia. to the adventures of the great heroes of old, such as
Herakles, Odysseus and Jason.
Growing bored with the mortal world the gods
The Anger of Gaia retreated to Olympus and tended to their realms. The
This was not enough to satisfy Gaia, for she
greatest change came when Zeus ruled that Aphro-
desired that all of her children and all their children
dite should no longer cause or permit love to flourish
should be free, even Cronus and the Titans. Gaia
between mortal and god. He feared the growing power
called upon the giants to support her and she began
of the demigods but was tiring of the conflict with
the Gigantomachy. Intending to cast down Zeus they
his wife Hera over his many affairs and sought to end
assaulted Olympus with a ferocity even the Olympi-
them without taking personal responsibility. Around
ans could not resist. Only when Herakles, the mortal
1000 BCE, Greece entered a period without great
son of Zeus, came to fight by his father’s side did the
heroes and divine interference.
tide of battle turn. For the first time, a father and son
At first the Greeks entered a dark age as they
were allies in a struggle for ultimate power, breaking
struggled to cope with the loss of divine and semi-
Uranus' curse. The Olympians came down the slopes
divine support. They took to writing great epics to cap-
of Mount Olympus and massacred the giants. The sole
ture the glory days of old with the works of Homer the
surviving giant Aristaios escaped thanks to his trans-
most prized. Mass migrations, natural disasters and
formation into a dung beetle by his mother Gaia.
conflict with vast foreign empires forged a new Greece.
Such slaughter drove the already angry Gaia into
a maddened fury. She descended into the depths of
the worlds where she birthed the monsters Typhon and The Olympian Revival
Echidna. Raising these great beasts in secret until their Around 370 BCE the Olympic gods ended their
power was great, she sent them against Zeus. At first retreat when they discovered the Titans were not as
they were victorious, bringing the king of the gods low dormant or as isolated as they thought. The Titans are
but Zeus' son Hermes came to the rescue and together now using mortal agents to strengthen their position
they drove off the monsters. and to sow discord in the mortal world. The increase
in Titanic activity has coincided with a rise in the
number of monsters plaguing the world. Foreign gods
The Olympic Age are also pressing on Greece’s border, eager and keen
With his rule secured, Zeus now ushered in the
to expand their influence.
Olympic Age. This was an age of prosperity and
Seeing the mortal world below them increasing
growth for mortals and gods alike. Mortals benefit-
in turmoil, the Olympic gods have responded to the
ted from the many demigods and heroes of divine
prayers of their followers. A return to all-out war with
blood who walked the world performing great deeds
the Titans would destroy everything the mortals have
and founding cities. As the gods increased in number
created since the Titanomachy. Instead they are copy-
ing the Titans' example and creating mortal champi-
ons. A war by mortal proxy has developed and a new
age of legends has begun.

45
Header
Olympians

Aphrodite
The Vain Beauty
Love, Beauty, Sexuality, Pleasure, Grace

Rose, Scallop Shell, Myrtle, Dove,


Girdle, Mirror

"Men thought that you had


come with a gift from golden
Aphrodite. But the gift ... becomes
a most painful burden for men
to bear, if she does not grant
release from the pain."
Theognis, lyric poet

History ber of followers, her influence reaching even to the


Aphrodite is the oldest of the Olympians and distant east.
is Zeus' aunt. After Cronus cut off Uranus' testicles When the Olympians rebelled against Cronus and
he threw them into the sea near Cyprus. The surf's his Titans, Aphrodite joined their cause and earned
thrashing and the orbs’ power mixed with the fertile a place on Olympus. However, Zeus suspected the
sea. Such was the power of Uranus that a giant goddess' passion and demanded she choose a god to
scallop shell formed and washed up on the Cypriot marry. Aphrodite accepted the condition but sub-
shore, opening to reveal an adult Aphrodite. Beau- verted Zeus' will by delaying her choice as long as
tiful and graceful, she took dominion over love, possible. When the King of the Gods' patience finally
beauty and passion. ran out he forced her to choose, but once again Aph-
Aphrodite rejected the absolute rule of Cronus rodite's cunning came to the fore. She selected the
arguing that all should be free to do as their hearts newly arrived Hephaestus although the smith-god did
pleased. Barred from the court and exiled she wan- not meet her standards of beauty, choosing him to
dered the mortal realm, revelling in the freedom it annoy the rest of the pantheon.
gave her. Travelling far she attracted a huge num-

Age of Legends
Olympians
Header

Hephaestus, delighted with his bride, made her Pygmalion and the Statue
a magnificent girdle which did the impossible and Aphrodite is capable of mercy and is moved by
enhanced the already beautiful goddess' looks. Sadly, expressions of true love. The sculptor Pygmalion
Aphrodite became bored with the smith. Her frequent declared he could not find a woman beautiful enough
dalliances with mortals and Ares forced Hephaestus to to take as a wife. Insulted, the women of his city
accept the divorce she wanted. prayed to Aphrodite to make him marry. She went
Aphrodite inspired many loves between mortals to him and they struck a deal: if she modelled for a
and gods whose unions produced numerous demi- statue of herself, he would find a wife after finishing
god heroes including Herakles and Bellerophon. Each it. Pygmalion intended to cheat and never complete
time a demigod was born her power grew and Zeus the statue but fell in love with his creation and could
became worried. He forbade the mating of gods and not help but finish it. Aphrodite returned and asked
mortals, signalling the withdrawal of the gods from him to choose his wife. Pygmalion choose the statue
the mortal world. and when Aphrodite would not assent, he begged to
be turned to stone. In pity, Aphrodite relented and
brought the statue to life, naming her Galatea.
Adonis
The vanity of Aphrodite has been the ruin of
many and she fiercely guards her reputation. She Goals and Champions
became enraged when the mother of Myrrha declared Aphrodite opposes the return of Cronus' rule of
her daughter to be more beautiful than Aphrodite. absolute law and is fearful for what the Titans might
The goddess cursed the young woman with an do to her. Her champions are directed to work against
indecent lust for her father, King Cinyras of Cyprus. the Titans and to promote her personal goal of free
Disgusted by his daughter the King threw her out, but love. Her champions also aid her in instilling love or
Myrrha sneaked back into his bed chamber disguised lust in mortals she wishes to bless or curse.
as a prostitute. After consummating her love her
father discovered the truth, forcing her to flee into a
forest pursued by the King’s men. Demeter took pity
Personality and Appearance
She appears as a beautiful young woman in her
on Myrrha and changed her into a tree, while King
prime, flawless and awesome. Often going about
Cinryas took his own life to erase the stain of sin on
naked, she sometimes wears a simple robe and her
his family. Nine months later, a baby boy fell out of
girdle. Though generally pleasant when in a good
the heart of the tree. Aphrodite discovered the child
mood, those who cross her discover someone vain,
and gave him to Persephone to tend.
ill-tempered and easily offended. Aphrodite uses her
The baby grew up to be Adonis, whose handsome
physical attributes to get what she wants, adores the
features captivated both Persephone and Aphro-
worship of her beauty by mortals and is swift to pun-
dite. Zeus intervened to quell the continual fighting
ish any who deny it.
between the goddesses. His decree placed Adonis
with Aphrodite one third of the year, one third with
Persephone and one third as Adonis chose. Much Worship
to Persephone’s displeasure Adonis spent his third Aphrodite’s most important festival celebrates
of a year with Aphrodite, but the goddess became spring's arrival in April and is held throughout
so besotted that she neglected her duties. Zeus Greece. Major temples can be found on the islands
forced her to attend court and she left Adonis with a of Cythera and Cyprus. Her largest temple is in
warning not to hunt any animal that shows no fear. the city of Corinth. The temples are known for the
Arrogant Adonis ignored her, finding a great boar beauty of their priests and priestess, many of whom
which stood its ground and mortally wounded him. engage in ritual sex in worship of their goddess.
Aphrodite returned to find Adonis dying. Persephone, Votive offerings are commonly a garland of flowers,
however, was overjoyed to have Adonis arriving at her incense, or goats, hares and young cows (but never
home in Hades. Aphrodite refused to give him up and pigs) during festivals.
the two goddess resumed their bickering. Zeus was
forced to intervene again and now the soul of Adonis
spends half a year with each goddess. Persephone
and Aphrodite have talked little since Zeus' decision.

47
Header
Olympians

Apollo
The Divine Example
Music, Poetry, Oracles, Medicine,
Light, Knowledge

Lyre, Laurel wreath, Python, Raven,


Bow and arrow

"Of you, even the swan sings


with clear voice to the beating
of his wings."
Homer, epic poet and historian

History Apollo fought the dragon, shooting it dead on the


Apollo and his twin sister Artemis resulted from steps of the Oracle’s temple. The overjoyed citizens
Zeus' love affair with the Titan Leto. Angered by the of Delphi forever pledged allegiance to the young
affair, Zeus' wife Hera cursed Leto so she could not Olympian and sang songs praising his greatness as a
give birth on solid ground. The heavily pregnant Leto ward against evil. A flattered Apollo rebuilt the ruined
wandered until Poseidon took pity on her and showed temple in his name and gave prophetic powers to the
her to the floating island of Delos. She first gave birth streams that ran through it. In doing this he claimed
to Artemis and then, after a night-long struggle, the Oracle of Delphi as his own.
Apollo was born at dawn. The children were strong Python was a child of Gaia, the grandmother of
and beautiful to behold and in celebration Hephaestus the gods, and she demanded Apollo be punished.
made silver bows for both of them. Knowing the trouble she could cause, Zeus passed
judgment on his son but handed down a lenient pun-
ishment. Apollo was made mortal for nine years while
Delphi, Music & Poetry he guarded the divine cattle in the valley of Ida. Such
The young Apollo travelled across the world.
work was easy and gave the young god much free
When he reached Delphi he found the town burnt and
time which he spent on learning philosophy.
ruined by the dragon Python. The creature had been
While Apollo was keeping watch, the young
summoned by the Titan Phoebe to silence the Oracle.
Hermes stole some of the divine cattle. Outraged,

Age of Legends
Olympians
Header

Apollo hunted down the culprit. To calm his older and singing at the same time. Marsyas inevitably lost
half-brother’s anger, Hermes played him a song on and Apollo punished his hubris by flaying the satyr
the lyre, an instrument he had invented. Apollo was alive before the terrified nymphs.
struck by the music and he accepted the instrument
in exchange for the cattle. The lyre never left his
hand during his remaining time as a mortal and Zeus
Goals and Champions
Apollo sees the rise of the Titans as a threat
gave to him the realms of music, poetry and knowl-
to his harmonic orders. He sees them as inferior,
edge when his punishment was complete.
despising them for lacking what he calls the essential
divine beauty and grace. Champions of Apollo are
The Passionate God always beautiful and athletic mortals who oppose
Passionate to the core of his nature, Apollo is anyone who challenges Olympian power. He also
celebrated for his beauty and artistic ability. However, likes his champions to be well-educated and skilled
such passion can become destructive. During the in music so they embody his ideals. The number
Trojan war the Greeks sacked one of his temples that of Apollonian champions is low since few meet his
lay near to the landing site. From then on Apollo sup- standards and much of his effort is invested in the
ported the Trojan side in the war, firing plague-ridden Delphic Oracle.
arrows into the Greek camp to punish them. At the
end of the ten-year conflict he took his revenge upon
Achilles. As the city fell to Odysseus' trick, Apollo lent
Appearance and Personality
Apollo appears as a handsome young man with
Paris, the last Prince of Troy, his silver bow and guided
long hair, wearing a travelling cloak and sandals. The
the Prince's hand. The arrow struck Achilles upon his
god is best defined by his passion and his devotion
heel, felling the Greek hero.
to working towards harmony and order through his
His passion was the undoing of several would-be
realms. He is quick to anger and very proud.
lovers who did not return his advances. The Trojan
princess Cassandra rejected Apollo in favour of a mor-
tal love. In anger Apollo cursed her with prophecy, Cult and Worship
bestowing her with the ability to predict tragedy but Apollo is worshipped throughout Greece and has
dooming her to have her warnings ignored. Driven significant temples in every city and town. The most
mad by her curse she leapt to her death. The Spar- prominent sites dedicated to him are the Oracle’s
tan prince Hyacinthus was another victim of Apollo temple at Delphi and his temple on Delos which
who became besotted with the beautiful and athletic sits at the centre of the island where he was born.
young man. One day the lovers were practising the Worship of him has three focuses. Firstly, appeal-
discus when Apollo’s throw was blown off course, ing to him for blessings within his realms. Secondly,
striking Hyacinthus a mortal blow to the head. Apollo celebrating Apollo as the pinnacle to which Greeks
denied Hyacinthus' soul its rightful place in the should strive towards. Thirdly, avoiding his anger and
Underworld and made the flower hyacinth from his his plagues or flayings.
blood so the Spartan's beauty might live on. The number seven is important in worship of
Apollo as his birthday is on the seventh day of the
seventh month. Observances and ceremonies to
A Furious God Apollo are held on the seventh of each month and
With his passion comes a fierce pride and a quick
large festivals are held across Greece to celebrate the
anger. He regards the gods, including himself, as the
day of his birthday. Varying slightly between cities,
peak of existence and there is no room in his vision
the core of the celebration is a procession led by a
of harmony for those that challenge him. He despises
youth of beauty and noble bearing whose parents are
hubris, as Marsyas found out. He was a satyr, a semi-
both still alive. Finishing at the altar of Apollo, a lau-
divine half-man / half-horse, who had invented the
rel branch wrapped with the first fruits of the season
pan pipes and travelled Greece delighting everyone
is presented to replace last year's offering. The even-
with the music they made. His popularity grew until
ing is filled with musical contests between choirs,
someone claimed that his music was even sweeter
gymnastic games and dances. The birthday festival
than Apollo's. Insulted, the furious god decided to
on Delos is the largest and it is a honour to be invited
shame the satyr by challenging him to a contest, his
to the island's celebrations.
lyre against the pipes. The judges were a panel of
nymphs who awarded victory to Marsyas. Infuriated
further, Apollo challenged him to a contest of music

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Olympians

Ares
The Unforgiven Soldier
War, Chaos, Destruction, Fear

Warhound, Boar, Spear

"Insatiable in battle, blazing life


the light of burning fire"
Hesiod, poet and mythologian

History Love with Aphrodite


Ares is the patron of the bloody slaughter and Ares' only friend is Aphrodite who loves him for
looting of war. He delights in battle for the chaos his beauty and manful courage and has borne most
and confusion it brings. This has not endeared him of his children. Amongst these children are Phobos
to mortal Greeks or to other gods. and Deimos, known as Fear and Terror, who are most
often seen in horse form drawing Ares’ chariot into
war. Ares jealously guards his relationship with the
The Lonely God goddess. Aphrodite once took a demigod lover named
Ares is despised for his self-aggrandisement
Adonis and in a fit of jealousy Ares took the form of a
and love of chaos and killing. During the Trojan War
boar and killed Adonis during a hunt.
he joined Aphrodite in siding with Troy, setting him
His relationship with Aphrodite has created
against Athena, the goddess of strategy, who sup-
more enemies. Hephaestus caught Ares and Aphrodite
ported the Greeks. During the war Athena proved
together and entangled them in a net before dragging
her superiority by knocking Ares flat with a thrown
them in front of the Olympian court demanding jus-
boulder.
tice. None of the other gods paid attention and it fell
Ares’ actions are shaped by his loneliness and
to Poseidon to persuade Hephaestus to let them go.
isolation amongst the gods. When he is not dis-
In shame, Ares fled to Thrace for a time and the affair
tracted by a war he strikes out at the other gods,
ended Aphrodite's marriage to Hephaestus.
jealous of the love they receive. His relationship
with Athena is especially bad as they rule con-
tradictory aspects of warfare. She is not innocent Loyal Father and Loyal God
in this conflict and has sponsored champions to Ares had numerous children with Aphrodite and
oppose his plans, including Herakles who wounded with other goddesses, nymphs and mortals. He
Ares himself and killed the god's son Kyknos. installed many of them as kings and queens and
they enjoyed his support for their entire lives. A
few of these royal lines are still extant in Thrace

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and the Amazonian tribes. He is fiercely loyal to his Ares loves strength and those that use it. He
children and almost died attempting to defend his wants Greece to gain strength through victory. Win-
son Kyknos. Another time, Ares caught Poseidon's ning external wars builds that strength and wars
son attacking his daughter Alkippe and killed the between Greek poleis expunge the weak. This phi-
demigod for it. A trial was held and Ares was acquit- losophy applies to his champions who should seek
ted but this incensed Poseidon and gained Ares one battle and become even stronger. Ares is sore that
more enemy. Athens and Thebes beat his beloved Spartans and will
Ares is loyal to his supporters, giving them never miss the chance to use a champion to under-
armour and chariots to make war. To his daugh- mine those two poleis.
ter, Queen Hippolyte of the Amazons, he gave his Champions of Ares can expect material support,
own armour to aid her in attacking her neighbours. but to a lesser extent than in the Olympic Age. He
Athena's champion Herakles later stole the belt from gifts weapons and armour to his followers but the
the armour. In another gift the Amazons were pro- flesh-eating horses are rare now. Mortals are chosen
vided with a flock of arrow-shooting birds to defend for their devotion to warfare for its own sake, and are
their own lands. A gift to another daughter, Amazo- often Spartans, barbarians or mercenaries.
nian Queen Penthesileia, was one of every weapon in
the world.
The Thracian king Diomedes's gift was a herd of
Personality and Appearance
Ares appears as a tall, muscular adult man with
man-eating mares to guard his family. These were
a thick, close-shaven beard. His skin is tanned and
later stolen from him by Herakles under Athena's
rough from exposure to the harsh sunlight of Greek
orders. Another Thracian king, Tereus, was given the
battlefields. He is always dressed for war in an ornate
chance to avenge his son after his wife and sister-in-
panoply along with his sword and shield. In battle
law killed and cooked the boy. The women fled and
he rides his flaming chariot drawn by his children
were transformed into a swallow and a nightingale by
Phobos and Deimos in their horse forms, flanked by
sympathetic gods. Ares responded by turning Tereus
his packs of massive warhounds.
into a hawk so he could hunt them.
In the Olympic Age Ares had few champions
besides his children. One exception is Cadmus, a Cults and Worship
wandering Phoenician prince. An oracle told him to Unlike Athena who is loved by mortals, Ares'
find a cow with a half-moon on its flank and to found worshippers come from the more warlike people.
the new city of Thebes wherever the cow lay. Cadmus Ares is feared and mortals everywhere pray that
intended to sacrifice the cow to Athena and sent he will stay away from their homes.
friends with it to a temple. A water dragon killed his Ares' most fervent followers are the Amazons
companions and seized the temple until Cadmus slew whose line of queens are descended from him.
the monster. However, the dragon was sacred to Ares The warrior women derive their fighting spirit
who demanded eight years of service from Cadmus as from Ares and erect temples in his honour. They
payment. During this time Cadmus fell in love with invoke his name when fighting, especially when
Ares' daughter Harmonia and at the end of his service against Athenians.
the two married. Thebes' new demigod queen Har- Ares is worshipped in Sparta as the ideal to
monia brought a measure of peace to Theban lands, which every Spartan man should strive. Young
though she inherited part of her father's taste and Spartans will sacrifice a puppy, his sacred animal, to
would ride into battle alongside Cadmus. him before engaging in ritual combat in the arena. A
great statue of Ares, depicting him in chains, stands
outside the city of Sparta. This symbolises the spirit
Goals and Champions of war being bound to the polis and never leaving the
Ares was born after the Titanomachy and there
city or its people.
is no quarrel between him and Cronus. The war god
He is actively worshipped by the barbaric people
doesn't fear the Titans escaping and relishes the con-
of Thrace and Scythia, who believe that he lives there
flict their freedom will unleash. Champions are not
and not on Olympus. Ares is the first god to have
therefore sent on missions to track down individual
extended their worship into the north like this.
agents of the Titans. Ares prefers they wait until the
Titan agents have subverted an entire city and trig-
gered a full-scale battle which the god can enjoy.

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Artemis
The Chaste Hunter
The hunt, Wild animals, The wilderness,
Virginity, Young girls

D e e r , B e ar , B ow and arrow,
Hu nt i n g d o gs, Palm tre e

"Whose study is the bow and


the shooting of hares and the
spacious dance and sport upon
the mountains.”
Callimachus, poet and scholar

History forest and how to survive away from the trappings


Artemis is the daughter of Leto and Zeus and the of civilisation. Pan gave her seven bitches and six
older twin sister of Apollo. On her birth Hephaestus dogs as a hunting pack, which helped capture the
gifted her a golden bow which she played with for six golden-horned deer she uses to pull her chariot.
most of her childhood. She learnt how to hunt and With her training and equipment complete, Artemis
decided to become the greatest hunter in history. ascended to Olympus.
This goal has taken her whole life to achieve. Zeus greeted her there and praised her achieve-
She began by visiting the Greater Cyclopes, who ments. She lives there now in a modest palace, a
work deep in their forges under volcanic isles. They large wooden hunting lodge set into a forest grove.
made her arrows of gold and a quiver to hold them, There she resides with her choir of sixty ocean
and she spent countless hours practising her archery nymphs who appear as nine-year-old girls. Artemis is
against trees and beasts of every size. Once confident attended by twenty nymphs who serve as her hand-
of her aim the goddess travelled far into the wild to maidens and hunting party.
find Pan, the forest god. He taught her the laws of the

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The Proud Hunter killing him instantly. After Apollo paid up the wager
Artemis is proud of her ability as a hunter and and left, Artemis went out to recover her arrow. Find-
has a touch of her twin's pride. She will stand no ing the dead Orion, Artemis was left in deep despair
challenges from any mortal or lesser being. over the tragedy of her own making. Determined to
She once took vengeance on the great King honour him, she placed Orion in the stars so that he
Agamemnon of Mycenae when he killed a stag in a grove could hunt forever. The episode left Artemis distrust-
sacred to her. Standing over the body, he boasted he ful of love and she vowed to remain chaste so that no
was a mightier hunter than even Artemis. Angered others may suffer the fate of Orion.
by this insult, Artemis cursed the Greek fleet when
it attempted to set out for Troy and demanded
Agamemnon sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia in
Goals and Champions
Like her brother, Artemis is a firm believer in the
that same grove. True to form Agamemnon placed
supremacy of the Olympic gods. Her champions are
politics ahead of family, but Iphigenia's life was
directed to hunt down the schemes and followers of
spared when Artemis rescued the princess from
the Titans. Other common tasks for her champions
the knife, replacing her with a boar. She lifted her
involve the protection of wildernesses from encroach-
curse but took Iphigenia to Tauros to become her
ing civilisation and protecting maiden women.
priestess. Yet Agamemnon should consider himself
lucky. Many others have sought to claim themselves
a greater hunter than Artemis and all have met Personality and Appearance
unpleasant ends. Artemis appears as a tall woman in her late teens
The vain and beautiful Adonis boasted how his with her dark hair tied back. She always carries her
hunting prowess rivalled Artemis. Unable to stand bow and a quiver of arrows. Her normal dress is a
such hubris, Artemis told a jealous Ares where Adonis practical knee-length chiton and heavy sandals but in
was hunting. Ares took the form of a massive boar more formal settings she wears a long robe with a veil
and gored to death his rival to Aphrodite's heart. over her hair.
Broteas was a famed hunter who refused to Unlike her twin brother she is focused but can
worship Artemis and do her honour. As punishment, be just as prideful with a hint of the same spite. She
Artemis cursed him so every arrow he fired missed. takes her realms seriously and expects her retinue
This drove him mad and he ended his life by throw- and champions to be chaste.
ing himself into a fire.
Worship
A Chaste Goddess Worship of the huntress god happens all over
The Theban hero Actaeon was famed as a Greece in sacred groves and temples near moun-
breeder of hunting dogs. To prove his animals' ability tains, forests and the wilds. She is invoked by
he set out to track Artemis. He succeeded, finding hunters wishing success and by parents wishing for
her bathing naked in a spring. Angered to find a man protection for their daughters. At her temples and
watching her she turned him into a feeble stag. His sacred groves a chaste female priest attends to her
dogs did not recognise their master and killed him. worship, making sacrifices of boar. Deer and bears
Artemis’ first and sole love was the giant Orion, a are sacred to Artemis and are never sacrificed in her
brilliant hunter and the only person who could keep name. At her festivals it is common for young girls
up with the goddess. They found much in common, to dance in bear costumes.
grew close and spent a lot of time together away The greatest site of her worship is at Ephesus in
from the hunt. Apollo became suspicious of Orion’s Anatolia. This huge temple, almost equal in size to the
motives. Determined to protect his sister, or maybe Parthenon of Athena, was the first built out of marble.
out of jealousy, he waited until Orion was swimming The temple is also a sanctuary for those fleeing from
far out at sea with just his head visible. Going to his persecution, mortal or divine, and is protected by a
sister, Apollo challenged her to hit the small dark circle of dense trees.
object in the water. He shot first and deliberately
missed and then calmly watched on as Artemis drew
her bow and sent an arrow flying at her lover. Her
shot was true and the arrow struck Orion in the head,

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Athena
The Heroic Strategist
Wisdom, Strategy, Heroes, Mathematics

Owl, Olive Tree, Helmet

"It is she who saves the people


as they go out to war and
come back"
Homer, epic poet and historian

egy and heroic endeavour. A war-god like her brother


History Ares, she focuses on using thought in war, in contrast
It is prophesied that the daughter of Metis,
to her brother's delight in violence and bloodshed. She
goddess of deep thought and cunning, will be
dislikes wrongful wars and needless fighting, preferring
greater than her father and will depose him. When
wisdom and intelligence to resolve conflicts. Her focus
Metis became pregnant with Zeus' child the god
on cleverness and thoughtful action makes her the
panicked and swallowed the goddess, attempting
favourite of artisans, politicians and philosophers.
to subvert the prophecy. Months later, Zeus was
Athena is fond of heroes and their courage and will
struck by terrible headaches and complained con-
help them in their endeavours, though she is not above
stantly about the pain. Ares tired of the noise and
as using them for her own ends. She was a sponsor of
took his axe to Zeus' head. From the wound a fully-
Odysseus who earned her favour with his cunning and
armed adult Athena leapt with a mighty battle cry.
resolve. With the wise counsel she gave him throughout
Born after the Titanomachy, Athena proved herself a
his voyage he escaped Poseidon's schemes and traps.
powerful god and a capable fighter during the Gigan-
When Odysseus arrived home Athena came to him in
tomachy. The most powerful of the giants, Enceladus,
disguise and help him reclaim his throne. Through this
shrugged off assaults from the other gods. Seeing
benevolent meddling she ensured that the island of
this, Athena picked up the Aegean island of Milos
Ithaca retained its wisest and cleverest king.
and dropped it on Enceladus, trapping the giant
Herakles enjoyed her assistance throughout his
beneath the rocks.
tasks, proving himself to the gods. When an oracle
at Olympus had prophesied that the war with the
Goddess of Wisdom and Heroes giants could not be won by gods alone, Herakles
Coming from the mind of a god and the body of was summoned to Olympus. Once more Athena
a goddess, Athena is the embodiment of thought and provided wise counsel as Herakles battled the giant
the patron goddess of art, inspiration, law and wise Alkyoneus. They defeated Alkyoneus together, thus
counsel. She is also the goddess of just warfare, strat- ending the Gigantomachy.

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Athena and Athens Appearance and Personality


Athena raised an adopted son called Erichthonius Athena always appears as a young adult
who became the founding king of Athens. Throughout woman with a toga draped over her body. A shield
his reign the goddess intervened to protect her king bearing her owl symbol sits on her left arm, a
and city and Athens grew strong. Through this link, spear in her right hand and a helmet on her head.
Athens gained its name and its love of philosophy Athena comes close to embodying her realms.
and new ideas. She always displays intelligence and is quick
to reward mortals who do so too, encouraging
behaviour she wants to see in the world. This is
Modesty evident in her sponsorship of mortal heroes. As
Unlike most of her relatives, Athena is sexu-
goddess of wisdom she is stern but fair in her
ally conservative, preferring modesty to lust. To her,
punishments. She is also an arch-manipulator,
wanton sexual passions dulls the mind and leads to
with many heroes finding their paths altered to
unwise acts. Desecrating the modesty of her temples
suit her long-terms goals.
is one of the few ways to provoke the goddess' anger.
Most of the other Olympians get on well with
A priestess of Athena called Medusa took an oath to
Athena and she is one of Zeus' closest advisors.
remain chaste whilst in her service. She was seduced
She is respected for her strength by Apollo but
by Poseidon and lay with him on the altar in the tem-
clashes with Ares over his bloodthirsty approach
ple of Athena. The breach of the divine oath and the
to war. The relationship is full of spite and malice
sullying of the altar infuriated Athena, and she turned
and is the greatest blight on Athena's character.
the young woman into a gorgon for her crimes.
She is not afraid of direct confrontations, most
notably during the Trojan war when the two came
Divine Beauty to actual blows on the battlefield. Her champions
All Greeks praise Athena for her beauty and she are often used to carry out plots against Ares. It
revels in the adulation. This vanity led her to start the was Athena's hero Herakles who killed Ares' Ama-
Trojan War alongside Hera and Aphrodite. The goddess of zonians and Thracian kings.
discord, Eris, put the three goddesses at loggerheads Relations between her and Aphrodite are still
over who was the most beautiful. Zeus refused to get tense. The goddess of love likes to remind Athena
involved, so they turned to the Trojan prince Paris to of Paris' judgement and mocks her stance of sex-
make a judgement. Each goddess attempted to bribe ual modesty. The only other god she clashes with
him. Aphrodite won by promising Helen of Sparta to is Poseidon, whose claim to Athens she denied,
Paris, so Athena supported Helen's husband Mene- and whose pride she wounded by getting Odysseus
laus in the subsequent war. However, she attacked past him to Ithaca.
the Greek fleet with a storm for failing to punish the Neither Athena nor Zeus have forgotten the
Greek hero Ajax for desecrating her shrine in Troy. prophecy that she will overthrow him. Only Athena
Whilst Athena was keen to show her beauty to knows if she will ever take direct action against
Paris, she punished another mortal for glimpsing her her father or if in her wisdom she will find subtler
bathing. The man, Tiresias, was struck blind as a ways to surpass the king of gods.
punishment. She displayed mercy on the poor man
by allowing him to understand the language of birds
which he used to foretell the future.
Cult and Worship
Athena is celebrated across Greece, though
less so in Sparta, Corinth and Macedon. She is not
Goals and Champions a household goddess like Hestia or Hecate but is
Athena emerged long after her father's genera- worshipped through ceremonies and parades rather
tion deposed the Titans. Whilst she doesn't fear their than small household shrines.
wrath should they return, she will still fight against The cult of Athena is centred on Athens where
them. She has a sense of loyalty to her fellow Olym- the greatest temple in Greece is in her name.
pians and knows that Cronus' rule of absolute law The Parthenon towers above the city on its outcrop
would obliterate any original thought or innovation. and attracts worshippers from all over the world.
Her champions are selected based on their cleverness Smaller temples can be found throughout Greece.
and courage and are used to improve the world.

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Olympians

Demeter
The Mourning Teacher
Teaching, Agriculture, Harvest,
Fertility, Plants

Grains, Bread, Cornucopia, Poppy

”Demeter, greatly hail! Lady


of much bounty, of many
measures of corn.”
Callimachus, poet and scholar

History the babies nectar and the ambrosia of the gods as


The decade-long Titanomachy left Demeter weary of she prepared to burn away their mortals souls in
battle and she wandered the mortal world in dis- an altar fire.
guise. Travelling far and wide she found the world As she placed the younger boy into the fire, their
upturned and the early works of man destroyed. mother came into the room. In fear for her child
Feeling guilty for her part in their suffering, Demeter the mother knocked Demeter aside and pulled her
wanted to help the starving mortals who clung on to unharmed son from the flames. Summoned by the
life. She declared herself the goddess of agriculture King to explain her actions the goddess became
and teaching, setting out to return the fruits of the insulted by the mortal's disrespectful tone. She
harvest to the mortal world. dropped her mortal disguise and revealed herself
to the court. At once Keleus begged forgiveness for
their rudeness as they had not known Demeter's true
Teacher of Mortals nature. Accepting the King's grovelling apologies,
Demeter travelled in disguise to Eleusis where
Demeter granted the King’s request that she still help
the King Keleus was generous in his hospitality
humanity recover.
and she became a nurse for his sons Triptolemos
Demeter taught the people of Eleusis many
and Demophon. In thanks for the King's welcome
secrets: how to cultivate fruits and grains, the art of
she decided to make his sons minor gods. She fed
the harvest, grinding wheat and turning it into bread,

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and crop rotation. With this knowledge, Keleus' son Goals and Champions
Triptolemos went forth into the world, bringing agri- Demeter fought against the Titans in the
culture to the rest of Greece. In honour of her teach- Titanomachy though her motivation was more pre-
ing, farmers plant poppies in fallow fields. venting Cronus from eating any more children than
hatred for the elder god. She fears the Titans'
revenge and the damage a new war among the
Grieving Mother gods would do to the mortal world. Her cham-
Persephone, Demeter's daughter with mighty Zeus,
pions are tasked with finding the agents of the
is her most treasured possession. When Persephone
Titans and interfering with their plans, espe-
eloped with Hades, Demeter was overcome with woe.
cially in rural places. This work is on top of the
The offerings of the people to her went unanswered
champions' role of promoting Demeter's worship,
and crops everywhere failed. She turned away the
protecting her sacred places and spreading the
entreaties of the gods and in her grief she refused
knowledge of farming.
any counsel save her own sadness. Though Zeus did
negotiate the return of Persephone, for part of the
year at least, Demeter curses the months her daugh- Appearance and Personality
ter spend with Hades. During these times she returns Demeter appears as a middle-aged woman
to Earth, disguising herself as a beggar woman, in full courtly robes with long blonde hair and a
and no crops will grow. In this way Demeter created poppy brooch. Seen as compassionate and caring,
winter. Demeter is the most approachable of the older
Olympians and the least likely to take insult.
However, she can be just as stubborn and proud
Kind Heart, Proud Heart as her siblings, traits which make rousing her
Though she may care what happens to human-
anger a poor choice. Demeter is incredibly pro-
ity and have compassion towards man, Demeter
tective of what is hers and is unwilling to share,
should not be angered. Erysichthon, a noble man,
which is evident in the goddess' grudge against
wished to build a new roof for his hall of the fin-
Hades over Persephone.
est wood. He took his axe and struck a blow to a
Mortals most often encounter her during the
tree at the centre of a grove sacred to Demeter.
winter months when she neglects her duties and
The nymphs of the grove warned Demeter, who
wanders the mortal world pining for her daugh-
appeared in disguise and asked Erysichthon what
ter. During this time she loses some of her divine
he was doing. Mocking the old woman before him,
bearing and becomes distracted, short-tempered
Erysichthon struck again at the tree. Enraged,
and whimsical.
Demeter shed her disguise to reveal her true
power. She cursed the noble with an insatiable
hunger so he would never know the satisfaction Cult and Worship
of food. The nobleman’s hunger broke his family Demeter has major temples in glades near
apart and left him destitute. every city of Greece and numerous sacred groves
Demeter considers hospitality to be very in the countryside. Her worship is widespread
important, especially towards strangers, and fail- since everyone depends on her good favour and
ure to show it always annoys her. One winter as the harvest it brings. The greatest festivals are
Demeter travelled the world she came to Argolis. Thesmophoria and Eleusinia. Thesmophoria is a
The hospitality of the city pleased her as did their mid-autumn festival where the women attend a
autumn offerings. However, one man, Kolontas did private ceremony at the nearest temple. They give
not acknowledge Demeter with respect and made thanks to Demeter for the harvest and make offer-
no offerings. His daughter recognised the god and ings of sows and honeycakes. Additionally the first
tried to prevent her father's insulting behaviour fruits of the year's harvest are presented at the
but he ignored her. Angered by such hubris Dem- temple and given up to the goddess. Eleusinia is
eter set fire to Kolontas’ house, saving just his a bi-annual festival held in the city of Eleusis in
daughter from the flames. On another occasion, a Attika. Here there are games, contests and cer-
thirsty and road-weary Demeter stopped at a vil- emonies in honour of Demeter. The site of Eleusis
lage well. As she gulped down the water without itself is sacred to the goddess as where she first
decorum, a small boy laughed at the goddess and gave agriculture to humanity, and there is a per-
mocked her lack of dignity. Without hesitation manent temple with a large priesthood.
Demeter turned the boy into a gecko.

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Dionysus
The Dancing Outsider
Wine, Dance, Ecstasy, Freedom, Theatre

Grapevine, Leopard, Thyrsus

"He holds this office, to join in


dances, to laugh with the flute,
and to bring an end to cares,
whenever the delight of the grape
comes at the feasts of the gods,
and in ivy-bearing banquets the
goblet sheds sleep over men."
Euripides, tragedian

History Dionysus. Hera discovered the child had survived,


Dionysus is the youngest Olympian, the out- so she disguised herself as a nurse and infiltrated
come of an affair between Zeus and Demeter. This Semele's household. After gaining the princess'
incensed Hera, Zeus' wife, who vented her rage trust she sowed seeds of doubt that her lover was
on the baby god. She created monsters hungry Zeus. Desperate to know the truth, Semele called
for flesh and lured the godling into a trap with on Zeus to honour his sworn oath to obey her wishes
toys. The creatures ripped the child apart and ate and demanded he show his divinity. Forced by the
his flesh before Zeus could save his son. Sifting oath Zeus appeared but the power of his form over-
through the remains, Zeus found that only the whelmed Semele and killed her.
heart of Dionysus remained intact. Semele's death left Dionysus vulnerable, but he
To give his son a second chance at life, Zeus was saved from Hera's anger by Demeter. She smug-
secretly gave the heart to his latest mortal love, gled the baby away from Thebes and asked Hermes to
Semele, princess of Thebes. Eating the heart, she take him far east to Mount Nysa. Beyond even the
became pregnant and gave birth to a reformed reach of Hera's spies, the rain nymphs raised the

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child on milk and nectar. On Mount Nysa Dionysus The libertarian god fears the return of Cronus whose
discovered how to cultivate the vine and create wine rule is one of absolute law and regulation. The
from its fruits. As an adult he took this knowledge champions of Dionysus work ceaselessly to prevent
and shared it with mortals as he travelled the far the return of the Titan and his despotic rule. They
east holding celebrations and festivals. During these also fight against oppressive regimes and promote
travels he learned foreign mannerisms which have the ideas of free will and determination.
stayed with him throughout his life.
Personality and Appearance
Return to Greece The young god appears as a beardless, sensu-
On return to his homelands of Greece he contin- ous and androgynous youth wearing just a leopard
ued his endless travelling festival but found himself skin across his shoulders. Dionysus' foreign man-
dismissed as a foreigner and stranger in his own ners appear strange to most Greeks. His detractors
land. Many even doubted his divinity since they had consider him to be indolent and troublesome, an
never heard of him as the child of Zeus and Dem- opinion he cares little for. Freedom-loving, wild-
eter. Chief among the doubters were those leaders spirited, impulsive and cheerful, Dionysus is easy
who found his festivals disruptive to their lands. going and light-hearted. It is the denial of his
King Lycurgus of Thrace saw Dionysus as a threat divinity or the curtailing of his freedom which will
and imprisoned his worshippers. Unwilling to ask provoke the god's wrath. Dionysus has no fixed
Zeus for help, Dionysus resolved to prove his divinity abode, preferring to wander Greece and the wider
himself. He fled out to sea and cursed Thrace with world, attending and hosting festivals. These inter-
a drought which would continue until Lycurgus was est him much more than the squabbles between
dead. The people of Thrace revolted once an oracle the gods on Olympus. Only pressing business or
revealed the cause of the drought and they deposed the occasional party will force him to the mountain
the oppressive king. With Lycurgus drawn and quar- home of the gods.
tered, Dionysus lifted the curse and demonstrated
his power.
Moving on from Thrace, Dionysus entered Athens
Worship
The worship of Dionysus with its energetic
and again found his divinity denied. The city was
festivals, is popular throughout Greece. His cult
less oppressive than Thrace, with no king to kill, so
has a very different feel from the staid and serious
rather than punish them Dionysus taught the Athe-
followers of other gods. All members of society are
nians winemaking.
welcome, particularly those marginalised or ren-
The last doubters were pirates who mistook him
dered powerless by society, such as slaves, outlaws
for a prince as he sat at the shore of the Mediter-
and foreigners. The Dionysian priesthood is small
ranean. They tried to throw a net over him, plan-
and many functions are filled by eager volunteers.
ning to ransom the supposed prince. At first he
The temples welcome anyone who wishes to be a
took offence but began laughing when no rope nor
priest no matter what their background and there
binding could hold him. The pirates resorted to
is no hierarchy of status among the priesthood.
manhandling him on to their ship and Dionysus ran
Dionysus' temples are found in many major
out of patience with those attempting to curtail his
cities and sacred groves throughout Greece. The
freedom. He turned into a leopard and killed any
relaxed nature of the cult makes anywhere suitable
who had dared to touch him. Driving the remaining
for a site of worship. Unlike the temples of the
pirates into the sea Dionysus mercifully transformed
other gods, Dionysus' temples are round and open
them into dolphins to save them from drowning. The
to the sky, to facilitate dancing.
only survivor was the helmsman, who had recog-
The celebrations of Dionysus start with a
nised Dionysus and tried to stop his fellow pirates.
procession to the festival site which is deliberately
He carried this story far and wide and the people of
disorganised and chaotic, mimicking Dionysus's
Greece recognised Dionysus as a god.
own arrival at Olympus. Once at the temple the
worshippers dance to drums and flutes and make
Goals and Champions small offerings of ivy, grapes, wine and honey to
Dionysus sees himself as the champion of the the altar. The dancing carries on through the day
alternative and the unconventional. He works to and night as the worshippers lose themselves in
release people from their constraints, using wine revelry and shed their mortal cares.
and ecstatic dance to free them from their worries.

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Olympians

Hades
The Unyielding Justice
Underworld, Necromancy, Funerals,
Mineral Wealth

Darkness, Cypress, Keys

"Why do we loathe Hades more


than any god, if not because he is
so adamantine and unyielding?"
Agamemnon, ancient King of Mycenae

History Once, King Kreon, ruler of Thebes, failed to bury


As the eldest brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades the bodies of enemies killed while attacking his city.
was acutely aware of his father Cronus' merciless A furious Hades sent a plague to Thebes. To free the
nature. At the start of the Titanomachy, Hades freed city from its curse, two noble maidens defied their
the Elder Cyclopes from Tartarus and in return they king and tried to bury the dead soldiers themselves.
crafted for him the Helm of Darkness which made They died of exhaustion, hauling the fallen on to the
him invisible. Over the next ten years of warfare he funeral pyres. The city lamented their deaths and
used the helm again and again, serving Zeus as a came out in droves to finish the task. Hades now
spy and a raider. With the Olympians' victory secured deemed the city punished enough and lifted the
the realms of the Titans were divided up and Hades plague. He raised the two maidens to be comets in
gained dominion over the dead. the sky, honouring their bravery and dedication.

King of the Dead Judgment of the Dead


Hades found his new realm in chaos. By the River When he arrived in the Underworld, Hades found
Acheron were huge camps of souls who lacked the souls being judged by their still-living peers. This
coin to pay Charon and were doomed to wait for a hun- determined whether the soul spent eternity in tor-
dred years. Despairing at this unjust suffering, Hades ment, in toil or in paradise. The process had become
instructed his priests and worshippers to tell all to corrupted by the rich and noble-born who paid each
honour the dead with proper burial. Rites were to be other to judge them worthy of paradise irrespective
carried out for everyone, even hated enemies, and of their actual lives. Worse still, money could buy an
any mistreatment of the dead risks invoking Hades' enemy's damnation.
wrath.

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Hades successfully petitioned Zeus to change must spend a third of the year in the Underworld,
the law, handing the judgment to three great kings allowing the lovers to be united, and a third with
already in the Underworld. The long-dead kings are Demeter. The final third she can spend where she
free from the trappings of mortal life and can see likes, and she chooses to spend it with Hades. He
the worth of each soul. Dead mortals standing trial dotes on his part-time spouse and has an extensive
can now speak to defend themselves before the three garden for her next to their palace.
kings give their verdict.
Goals and Champions
A Dark and Lonely Life Hades is the jailer of the Titans in Tartartus and
With the Underworld in order Hades settled a champion of Hades is tasked to work against the
into his new realm, but soon found himself lonely. schemes of the Titans. They also see that the dead
He spent as much time as he could spare back are honoured and occasionally represent Hades at
on Olympus and there he learned of Persephone, important funerals. His champions also mete out jus-
the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She had been tice to those who do not give proper rites to the dead.
courted by Hermes,
Ares, Apollo and Hephaestus but her over-pro-
tective mother drove the suitors away and exiled
Appearance and Personality
Hades appears as a thin man in middle age with
her daughter to protect her from the other gods'
short hair and a close-cropped beard, described by
attentions. Persephone found her exile boring with
others as stern and unpitying, yet just. Unlike his
only nymphs and satyrs for company. It was through
fellow gods he is not prone to mood swings or emo-
these lesser beings that she began a correspond-
tional outbursts, preferring to be coldly calculating
ence with Hades and the two fell in love. Aware that
in his responses. He carries a long staff of office and
Demeter would never allow her precious daughter
wears full robes and sandals. His residence is a large
to be with anyone, the lovers plotted to free Perse-
palace complex at the centre of Erebus, a blunt and
phone from her prison. Under the cover of a flower-
functional structure whose sheer outer walls hide a
picking trip she escaped into the mortal world and,
large inner courtyard containing a map of his realm
as planned, Hades burst forth from the ground and
made of precious jewels. Through the map any soul
carried her to the Underworld.
in the Underworld may be found.
When news reached Demeter that Perse-
Hades works to maintain the balance of the
phone was missing she searched the world for her
world and this means to him that the dead stay in the
beloved daughter. Helios the Titan sowed discord
Underworld. His anger and wrath are only aroused
among the Olympians and told Demeter that
when mortals attempt to cheat death, escape from
Hades had carried off Persephone. Wound up to
his realm or ignore his rules. When in a bad mood or
a state beyond worry and fury, Demeter cursed
missing Persephone he puts on his helm and patrols
the soil of the mortal world to be barren until her
the borders of the Underworld. He tends to Perse-
daughter was returned to her.
phone’s gardens while she is away and holds court
At first Zeus did nothing, seeing little wrong
with her when she returns. Ever loyal to his love,
with his brother's deeds, but in time he was forced
Hades has never betrayed her trust.
to act. An attack on his elder brother would bring
about a devastating civil war so instead he exploited
Hades’ devotion to order, pointing out the chaos in Cults and Worship
the mortal world caused by the famine. Hades rec- As god of the Underworld and the dead, living
ognised his brother was right and asked Persephone mortals fear him. Though he is not the god of death
to return to Olympus. itself, the inevitability of being his subject scares
With her daughter restored to her, Demeter people. Greeks are reticent to swear oaths in his
rescinded the curse and the crops grew again. name, for fear of what he might do should they break
However, Persephone had eaten pomegranate seeds a vow. Many will not speak his name, finding poetic
from the Underworld and become a part of that metaphors and similes instead. Temples to Hades are
realm. The Fates had long since decreed nothing small but well-looked-after, and found in most major
of the Underworld may leave it. Demeter appealed cities throughout Greece. A typical sacrifice to him
to Zeus and threatened famine, forcing the King is a black sheep whose blood is drained into a pit
of Gods into a compromise. Persephone had only beneath the altar.
eaten a few seeds and Zeus decreed Persephone

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Hecate
The Nightwatcher
Crossroads, Entranceways, The Night,
Magic, Herbology, Edges

Torches, Keys, Dogs, Polecats

"Pleased with dark ghosts that


wander through the shade ...
nightly seen."
Orpheus, poet and Argonaut

History night. Hecate came to love the role of protec-


Hecate might have fought with the Titans tor and liked to descend into the mortal realm
against Zeus and the Olympians as her father to protect mankind from the restless shades and
was Perses, the Titan god of destruction, and monsters created in the chaos of the war. The
her mother was Asteria, the Titan goddess of creatures were slipping across the borders between
falling stars. Yet she stayed away from Cronus the spiritual and physical worlds so she patrolled
and his court, well aware of how the Titan was where the two worlds met. This work honed her
cursed by his father. She sided with Zeus when magical abilities and she taught this knowledge to
the Titanomachy began as his campaign was a just mortals. Under her guidance many women become
cause against Cronus' tyranny. Perses and Asteria witches and sorceresses strong enough to guard
avoided the war. Her father ascended to the sky, their own borders. Hecate is now the patron of all
becoming the Dog Star, and her mother flung her- mortal magic.
self into the sea to form the island of Ortygia. For her work, loyalty and unparalleled control
In the war she served the Olympians as the of magic, Zeus holds Hecate in the highest regard.
nightwatcher and developed a strong affinity with To honour her, he and his brothers granted her
night, particularly the transition between day and control and guardianship of wherever two realms

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meet. This often places her between two rival Goals and Champions
gods and this has made her few friends. She has Cronus and his court in Tartarus see Hecate as
a strong working relationship with Hades and helps a traitor and she can expect no mercy if he regains
him maintain the distinction between the living power. She is also on the front line of the conflict
and death. as the Titans use the dark to conspire and spread
chaos. Her champions are chosen for their ability
to keep watch in the dark and hear the secrets the
The Nightwatchmer night keeps. Most of her champions are granted
Hecate sees it as her duty to patrol in the night
magic abilities to help them, and they work with
so she might help those in need and protect the
the champions of Hades, tackling those threats
vulnerable. One night she encountered a warrior
which bridge the gap between life and death.
called Teutamos, praying at a statue of Hecate on
the way to Thebes. From his prayer she learned he
was travelling to defend the honour of his noble Appearance and Personality
house despite knowing the champion of Thebes Hecate is most unusual and appears to mor-
would best him in combat. Teutamos was asking tals not with one form but as three identical
for Hecate to guide his way for he had lost his bodies standing back-to-back. Each bears a pair
torch and did not want to suffer the dishonour of of torches at night and is dressed in a hunting
arriving late for the challenge. skirt, tunic and boots. Her three sets of eyes give
Hearing his plight and observing the respect her all-round vision and the dog or polecat which
he paid her, Hecate relit his torch with an eternal accompanies her sniffs at the air and senses what
flame. She then sent a polecat to guide him to cannot be seen.
Thebes by the quickest route. Teutamos died as The three bodies speak with one mind but
expected at Thebes but Hecate herself bore wit- each mouth expresses a different aspect of the
ness to his bravery at his judgment in the Under- same idea. One mouth may order a champion to
world, assuring his entry to the Isles of the Blessed. slay a monster, another may warn that the mon-
ster is the child of a god who will be angered and
the third mouth may suggest an alternative way
Proud Goddess to solve the problem. This can confuse those who
If anyone seeks the protection of Hecate, it is
meet her.
always wise to do her due honour. The nobleman
Hecate maintains an aura of mystery, even
Kameirus had the hubris to believe he did not need
amongst the other gods. Private and quiet, she
Hecate's protection, despite having made enemies
has little interest in the loud parties and gather-
of the other noble families in his polis. He moved
ings and tends not to appear at court. Instead she
his household from the city to a hilltop and built
keeps to her duties, patrolling through the night
a stone hall, surrounded by several layers of stone
and turning away whatever lurks in the darkness
walls. The hall was fitted with heavy doors and he
from the edges of civilisation.
paid a mercenary company to keep watch day and
night. Overconfident, he boasted that he did not
need the Nightwatcher's help. He set no idols of Cult and Worship
Hecate at his doors and offered her neither worship Worship of Hecate lacks the grand parades or
nor sacrifice. massive temple complexes devoted to other gods
Offended at such action, Hecate found the but she is worshipped in every household. A small
restless spirits of those which Kameirus had killed three-faced idol of her is placed at the entrance-
or wronged during life. She told them where he way and larger statues are found at crossroads,
could be found and in the night they swept through particularly three way meetings, to invoke her pro-
his stone walls and past his guards. They came to tection. Food offerings are left at the statues on
his bed chamber and gave him dark and terrible each new moon, when the night is darkest, seeking
nightmares. Unable to sleep and driven mad by the the goddess' continual protection. Her major tem-
torment, Kameirus threw himself from a cliff. ple is at Lagina, a theocratic city state controlled
by her priests and run by an order of eunuchs. The
city hosts a great festival in her honour on the first
full moon of November.

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Olympians

Hephaestus
The Lame Smith
Wo r ki n g f i r e , M e talw o r k ,
Ma s o n ry, S c u lp t u r e

Forge, Hammer, Anvil, Quail

"Hephaestus went the way of


these in the pride of his great
strength limping, and yet his
shrunken legs moved lightly
beneath him."
Homer, epic poet and historian

History forge. Hephaestus settled in the heart of a vol-


Hephaestus was a child born out of spite. His canic island and built mechanical handmaidens to
mother Hera conceived him by herself in revenge aid him.
for Zeus' many affairs and illegitimate children.
The last straw was Zeus giving birth to Athena, and
Hera formed Hephaestus from her rage and oaths,
The Binding of Hera
His skill in crafting wondrous items gained him
leaving the child with lame legs and an unpleas-
fame and attracted the attention of the Olympian
ant face. Repulsed by what she had wrought, Hera
gods. They commissioned him to forge new thrones
threw the infant from Olympus, whereupon the sea
befitting their station in the world. Hephaestus gladly
nymph Thetis saved the baby and took him to a sea
undertook such an honour until Helios told him the
grotto.
identity of his mother and the story of his birth. The
The god grew to adulthood in the grotto igno-
truth filled Hephaestus with a cold hatred of Hera
rant of his heritage but loved and cared for by
and he fashioned a trap. When she sat on the throne,
Thetis. He travelled to the isle of Lemnos to learn
thousands of tiny chains emerged from from the
the art of metalwork from the ancient Sintain tribe
chair, entrapping the goddess. Hera cried out for help
before moving on when his skills surpassed his
but the other gods could not set her free.
teachers'. Riding a donkey to compensate for his
weak legs he searched for a place to make his own

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Zeus sent Ares to bring Hephaestus to Olympus Goals and Champions


but the smith rejected his threats and refused to Hephaestus was born after the Titanomachy. He
come. Ares tried to force the issue but Hephaestus has no hatred for the Titans but fears how they
beat him with his hammer and threw Ares off the would treat a lame god. The smith's champions
volcano. Hephaestus refused to treat with the Olym- work to prevent the Titans' return and to spread
pians and sealed himself in his forge. knowledge. They are sent across Greece to develop
As Hera’s distress became greater, Zeus asked the metalwork and sculpting skills of mortals loyal
Dionysus, the god of wine, to bring Hephaestus to to the Olympian court. The smith god chooses his
Olympus. The smith had heard good things of Dio- champions for their strength and skills but favours
nysus, and being locked in his mountain forge had people who have suffered as outcasts. To mark
given him a terrible thirst. He opened the door and them as his champions and to aid them in their
soon both gods were inebriated. They laughed and work they are equipped with an item made by the
traded stories until Hephaestus' strength failed god himself.
him and he slumped over his forge in a stupor.
The hungover Hephaestus was placed before
Zeus, who asked what Hephaestus wanted in return
Appearance and Personality
Despite his lame legs and plain features,
for freeing Hera. Hephaestus asked to be accepted
Hephaestus is an imposing sight. He supports his
as the son of Hera and be allowed to take his place
muscular upper body on crutches made of bronze
in Olympus. Zeus granted the request and Hera
with gold inlays, and when he travels he rides a
begged forgiveness for the wrong she had done.
stout donkey. His hair and beard are closely cut
Kind-hearted Hephaestus forgave his mother and
against the heat of the forge and he wears a plain
soon became a firm friend of Dionysus.
chiton and cap.
A talented and kind man, Hephaestus is gener-
Marriage ous except to those who have wronged him. Even
When Aphrodite selected Hephaestus to be her then he does not hold grudges for long. Forever
husband he was overjoyed and showered her with aware that his lameness marks him as weaker and
fantastic gifts. This and his tenderness earned inferior in the eyes of some, he strives to prove his
the love of his new wife. Yet Aphrodite soon found worth through his crafts. Though he has a magnifi-
herself bored and unable to see past Hephaestus’ cent palace on Olympus clad in copper, Hephaes-
lameness and the crude form of his face. Her gaze tus spends his time in his volcano forge.
wandered and she betrayed him. Helios revealed to
Hephaestus that Aphrodite and Ares were having
an affair. Disappointed and betrayed, he plotted
Cult and Worship
Larger cities have a temple dedicated to
his revenge.
Hephaestus and the annual festival in his name
With the golden chains he set a trap around
takes place in late autumn. The festival's main
Aphrodite's bed where he caught his wife and
event is a relay race in which competing teams
Ares. The cuckolded husband dragged the cap-
of youths compete to bring a burning torch from
tured pair to Olympus, intending to humiliate and
the city walls to the temple. A torchlight proces-
shame the adulterous gods. The other gods were
sion to the temple follows and a bull is sacrificed
amused by the nude lovers but Poseidon alone
over an open fire. Day-to-day worship is by those
showed the lame god any sympathy. He asked
who work with fire. It is common for a small figu-
Hephaestus to release the pair in return for Ares
rine of Hephaestus to be placed next to hearths
paying a fine and a divorce from Aphrodite.
and forges.
Depressed, the god threw himself into his
work. He crafted armour worthy of the gods and
gave it to the mortal heroes Herakles, Achilles and
Aeneas, but nothing he created eased his unhappi-
ness and loneliness. Aphrodite, who had genuinely
loved Hephaestus, felt sorrow for her actions and
arranged for Aglaia, the youngest Grace, to meet
the smith. The two fell in love and married.

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Olympians

Hera
The Honest Queen
Oaths, Marriage, Fertility, Childbirth,
Heirs, Truth

Cuckoo, Peacock, Pomegranate, Lioness,


A lotus-topped staff

"Gods have loved their sisters; yes,


indeed! Why Cronus married
Rhea, his kin by blood . . . and
Zeus, married Hera. But the gods
above are laws unto themselves."
Unknown

History dess Metis. The product of this affair was the goddess
When Zeus became King of the Gods, he Athena, though in odd circumstances.
attempted to woo his sister Hera to be his queen. Despite the deep fractures his first affair had
She was not interested but this did not deter him. on their marriage, Zeus continued to philander. He
He transformed himself into a handsome cuckoo and fathered many children with deities and mortals
allowed himself to be caught by Hera. The goddess alike. Each betrayal was a blow for Hera and she
intended to train the bird as a pet but when she real- lashed out to punish Zeus through her actions to oth-
ised who the bird was she found herself in love over ers. She worked to spite the children of Zeus' affairs,
such a humble act. Hera and Zeus married in a glade most famously Herakles. Hera sent snakes to kill him
near the city of Knossos and a small temple to their as an infant and set obstacles and traps for him dur-
vows now stands on the site. ing his twelve tasks. Zeus was furious at Hera for her
To begin with, Hera’s marriage was a happy one attempts on his favourite son's life, and punished her
that gave her Ares, Hebe, Enyo and Eileithyia as her by hanging her upside-down from the sky.
children. However, it was not long before Zeus grew This act broke their marriage and Hera declared
tired of monogamy. He first slept with the Titan god- herself divorced. To continue to call Zeus her hus-

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band was a betrayal of herself and the worship given agents and to attack on sight. She believes that order
to her as the goddess of marriage and oaths. Zeus has protects the gods and mortals and maintains it by
no power to force her to stay married and no moral promoting stable loving marriages and keeping peo-
authority to banish her. She has retained her title as ple to their oaths.
Queen of the Gods. Hera uses her champions to promote her realms,
either as midwives or punishers. Some of her cham-
pions are wise women who roam the land assisting
Jason and Hera in births, especially royal births or those where the
Hera's most famous champion was Jason. He
mother has been wronged. Her other champions have
was a prince of the kingdom of Iolcus but he nearly
a fearsome reputation as agents of Hera's wrath who
died as boy when his uncle Pelias stole the throne.
hunt oath-breakers on behalf of the slighted party.
Pelias killed Jason's mother and sisters in a temple of
Hera, outraging the goddess. She saved the boy and
planned a suitable punishment for Pelias. Appearance and Personality
When an adult Jason returned to Ioclus, Hera Hera appears as a middle-aged women of grace
ensured the downfall and punishment of Pelias for his and beauty, wearing courtly robes. Flighty and prone
crimes. The goddess made an oracle tell Pelias of his to mood swings and temper tantrums when she was
impending death by a man wearing one sandal. Hera younger, Hera has mellowed and become wiser. After
came to Jason disguised as an old woman wishing to her divorce she reinvented herself, promoting the
be carried across a river. As he did so, he told her his image of the powerful and dignified goddess befit-
story and she advised him not to reveal his identity. ting the title Queen of the Gods. While still disposed
Just before reaching the river bank, he stumbled to anger she prefers carefully planned revenge over
under Hera's weight and lost a sandal in the mud. tantrums but has no tolerance for those that break
As he arrived at Pelias' court, Jason remembered their vows. Having spent so long troubled by her lying
the old woman's advice and refused to give his name. husband, Hera has now also chosen to take on the
The usher announced Jason simply as a man with realm of truth, to better enforce honesty in others.
one sandal. A terrified Pelias attempted to buy time
by agreeing to relinquish the throne if Jason could
return with the golden fleece of Colchis. With Hera's
Cult and Worship
As Queen of the Gods, Hera commands great
aid he recovered the fleece, regained his kingdom
respect. Worship of her is common all over Greece and
and married his love, the sorceress Medea.
her temple at Olympia is one of the oldest of any god.
Hera is invoked during childbirth in her role as protector
Heraean Games of the mother and marriages are carried out in her name.
The Heraean games are dedicated to the god- Hera's most prestigious temple is on Samos, dedicated
dess Hera and are open to girls aged twelve to as the place of her birth. The site is a pilgrimage, not
sixteen. They are held at the stadium of Olympia. The just across Greece, but across the eastern Mediterra-
games are organised by a council, called The Sixteen nean. It open to the sky and features 155 stone columns
Women, after the original founders who were peace- arranged with the altar in front of them.
makers from Pisa and Elis. The city of Argos is considered to be her favourite
The girls compete in three age groups, on a track city. It is where Jason began his expedition and it has
in the Olympic Stadium that is five-sixths the length remained loyal to her. Her temple outside the city was
of the adult track. Rather than compete nude as the destroyed in an unexplained fire a few years ago. A new
adults do they wear a tunic that reaches to a little temple is under construction and Argos is sparing no
above the knee, and they bare the right shoulder as expense in the name of their patron goddess.
far as the breast. The champions win olive crowns At Stymphalia in Arcadia, a triple shine exists that
and statues or portraits of themselves are placed in worships Hera as the girl, as the married woman and as
Hera's temple. the separated divorcee. The shrine is sited on the spring
Hera used to ritually cleanse herself of her marriage and
start anew. In commemoration of the event the cult here
Goals and Champions is dedicated to renewal and it is where Hera's champi-
As someone who personally fought in the
ons are ordained. Anyone who wishes to serve Hera may
Titanomachy Hera has no desire to see the Titans freed,
come here and supplicate for her acceptance. If she
knowing that Cronus would imprison her in return. Her
accepts them they are led by a cuckoo to the spring for
champions are commanded to watch for the Titans'
their bathing and renewal.

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Hermes
The Lying Messenger
Travellers, Shepherds, Commerce,
Heralds, Theft

Rooster, Tortoise, Purse, Winged Sandals,


Goat, Palm Tree, Incense

"Surely hereafter this shall


be your title amongst the
deathless gods, to be called the
prince of robbers"
Homer, epic poet and historian

History When Apollo discovered his cattle were miss-


The second youngest Olympian is known for ing all he found were tracks leading out of the sea.
accomplishing two great feats when still a baby. Confounded by the mystery Apollo went to his ora-
While being raised in a cave by his mother Maia, cle at Delphi whose visions sent him to Mount Cyl-
daughter of the Titan Atlas, he encountered a tor- lene and Maia's cave. Maia showed him her infant
toise crossing its entrance. Marvelling at such a boy, denying that such a child could steal. Unde-
beast who lives in its shell and moves so leisurely, terred, Apollo brought the babe before Zeus who
Hermes killed it. He hollowed out the shell, adding saw through Hermes' deceptions and ordered the
a wooden neck and strings made from sheep guts, infant to return the cattle. Angry at being deceived
and thus created the first lyre. by one so young, Apollo was going to seek revenge
His second feat was stealing Apollo's cattle. To when Hermes enchanted him with music from his
cover his tracks he reversed the cattle's feet so lyre. Enamoured with the instrument, Apollo hap-
their prints led in the wrong direction. Once they pily traded his cattle for the lyre.
reached the water off a sandy beach he put boots
on the cattle's feet to leave no tracks. Now he
could safely lead the cattle deep into his cave and
Friend of Heroes
Throughout the heroic age, Hermes gave
hide them. With his prize secured, Hermes settled
heroes he deemed worthy powerful gifts and
down to play his lyre.

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advice. It was Hermes who aided Perseus on his an old man saw Hermes but promised to remain
quest to slay Medusa. He foresaw that Perseus silent. When the god found the mortal was willing
faced great dangers before even reaching the gor- to betray him for two cows he turned a man into a
gon's lair. To aid the demigod he gave him golden boulder so he could not speak.
winged sandals, a cloth sack woven by Demeter's Hermes is always seen as a well-built and
nymphs and the Helm of Hades. With the sandals blond-haired youth, naked except for a cloak
Perseus was able to fly past the dangerous cliffs draped over one shoulder. He wears a pair of
around Medusa's lair. The Helm of Hades enabled golden sandals with wings at the heels and has
him to be invisible and approach Medusa unseen. golden wings in his hair. In his right hand he car-
The sack held the monster’s severed head as no ries his staff which he uses to identify himself
mortal weave would be strong enough to contain it. when carrying divine messages, and which can put
His task complete, Hermes returned the sack and mortals to sleep.
helm to their true owners before they noticed that Hermes has a long streak of vanity in him,
the items were missing. trusting his good looks but still being fastidious
When Hermes encountered Odysseus looking over his appearance. This differs from the rug-
for his crew along the shores of Aeaea island, he gedness of Ares' brutal masculinity or the careless
recognised a hero of near-equal cunning and wit to beauty and grace of Apollo. His looks and easygo-
his own. Hermes was on the island to steal moly, ing nature has given him string of lovers includ-
a white flowering herb pickable only by the gods. ing his half-sister Aphrodite, and he has many
Odysseus' crew had been transmogrified into pigs children.
by the witch Circe. Hermes gave Odysseus the
herb so he could resist the magic and rescue his
crew and warned the hero how the witch would
Cults and Worship
As the traditional messenger of the gods to
attack. He counselled that she lacked fighting
mortals, Hermes is worshipped in the hope that he
skills and told him to hold his nerve for the witch
will bring good news. He is a bringer of good luck and
would surrender once overpowered. For his own
many charms are dedicated to him.
amusement Hermes omitted to mention the herb's
The Hermaea is held every year in Arcadia, where
other magical property which made Odysseus
there are sacrifices and gymnastic competitions.
incredibly attractive to Circe.
The games are open to children too young for other
games but seeking honour and initiation as athletes.
Goals and Champions Sacrifices at the festival are honey, cakes, pigs,
Whilst Hermes doesn't care for order as much as goats and lambs. Hermes is taken as the patron of
Apollo, Hera or Zeus, he hates the authoritarianism gymnastic games throughout Greece through his
of Cronus. He shudders at the thought of the Titans association with speed and nimbleness. He is also
returning to power, knowing he will be imprisoned or the god of commerce, and marketplaces have stat-
worse for being a delinquent and usurper. Hermes is ues or small shrines dedicated to him. In Thebes a
the messenger of the gods and his champions can statue of Hermes guards Apollo’s temple as a mark
expect to be delivering important messages to power- of the gods' friendship.
ful mortals. Yet such is Hermes' fear of the Titans that Hermes is the god of boundaries and travellers
he often distracts his heroes from their courier duties and it is traditional to build cairns on borders or
to battle the agents of the Titans and their plots. along roads in his name. Each traveller adds a stone
Hermes selects his champions for athleticism until a large cairn is built as a monument both to
and cleverness and is fond of conmen and anyone Hermes and to the travellers themselves. Two hun-
with a quick wit. He does not make his champions dred years ago the cairns marking the midway points
work constantly, instead expecting them to promote on roads between villages and Athens were replaced by
his realms by embodying them. This includes theft, herms dedicated to Hermes. They are square carved
not for personal gain but for the glory of stealing. stone pillars with a bearded bust on top and an erect
penis halfway up its length. These herms spread
around Greece, and in the Arcadia region the statues
Personality and Appearance omit the bearded bust and are large carved penises.
Hermes is a light-hearted god who lacks the
Herms of Hermes can be found outside Athenian
bouts of rage which infect the other members
houses for good luck, especially when the family liv-
of his family, except when there is a threat of
ing there has a relative travelling far away.
betrayal. During the theft of his brother’s cattle

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Hestia
The Domestic Diplomat
Hearth, Home, Bread, Sacrifice,
Domestic Arts

Kettle, A flower-wrapped branch

"For without you mortals hold


no banquet ... where one does
not duly pour sweet wine in
offering to Hestia both first
and last"
Homer, epic poet and historian

interest the goddess and she turned them both


History down. When her suitors went to Zeus with their
Hestia was horrified by the destruction inflicted
objections, he ruled that Hestia and all women
on the mortal world by the Titanomachy. To aid the
were free to choose their own husbands. To rein-
mortals cowering in caves she taught them how to
force her power, Zeus made his sister the keeper
build houses and hearths as well as instructing them
of the Olympic court and responsible for its
in the domestic arts. It was Hestia who showed the
upkeep and those who serve at it. In this role she
Greeks how to use fire in their sacrifices to the gods.
has earned the respect of the rest of the Olympi-
In doing this she earned their love and ensured
ans by remaining outside of their squabbling.
widespread worship. She is called the keeper of the
hearths and every sacrificial flame is sacred to her.
Alongside Demeter, who introduced farming, the two The Sacrificial Flame
goddesses rebuilt the mortal world. Like the other gods, Hestia has a jealous streak
When Hestia returned to Olympus both Apollo and passionately defends the worship she has earned.
and Poseidon pursued her hand in marriage. The Once, the priests of Hera in Argos had arrogantly
aggressive Apollo and arrogant Poseidon did not declared that the city give praise to Hera alone. They

Age of Legends
Olympians
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denied Hestia her rightful share of worship as god- Goals and Champions
dess of the sacrificial flame. An angry Hestia sought As one of the original six Olympians, Hestia
to show the priests the price for neglecting the due knows she will suffer if the Titans are freed to wreak
rights of a goddess. She extinguished the hearth fires their vengeance. Her champions work against the
of every home in the polis and prevented any new plots of the Titans wherever they discover them.
fires from lighting. There was no heat for cooking or Hestia sees the proper ordering of society as key to
light to fend off the dark and for ten days the people averting the chaos of the Titans. This starts in the
ate raw food and feared the night. home and she expects her champions to promote
On the dusk of the eleventh night an oracle order and routine.
arrived at the city and delivered Hestia’s reckoning.
Every household should contribute both fuel and
sacrifice for a great pyre to be built in the centre
Appearance and Personality
Hestia appears as a homely middle-aged woman,
of the city and the population must worship Hestia
wearing a simple toga and sometimes a veil. Mild
through the night. Though the priests of Hera tried
mannered, her more introverted temperament sets
to stop them, the people built their pyre and prayed
her apart from the other Olympians. She likes to
through the night. Hestia, pleased at the devotion
remain neutral in their disagreements, giving her
and sacrifice by the people, removed her curse from
attention to tending her realms. Prone to forgiveness
the city. Those who took an ember from the great
and patience, she is the most merciful of the gods.
pyre to relight their hearths did not need to add fuel
to the fire for ten days.
Cult and Worship
Worship of Hestia focuses on her key realm, the
Mercy and Pity for Mortals hearth. Each hearth in a home serves as a potential
It is rare for Hestia to come into conflict with the
place of worship to her. A hearth is the sacred centre
other Olympians, but it has happened. The people
of domestic life and it is common for small idols of
of the island of Skyros attracted the greed of Posei-
Hestia to be placed around them. Whenever a hearth
don. He wanted them to declare that he was the
is lit a small sacrifice is made to her to ensure it
most important god and make him their patron. The
stays hot and bright. The first part of every sacrifice,
island's small population did not want to become so
the primitiae, is offered to her as the goddess of the
involved with Olympian politics and rejected him.
sacrificial flame.
This wounded Poseidon's pride and roused his anger.
The goddess of the hearth has few large scale
He whipped the sea around Skyros into a frenzy. The
temples dedicated to her alone. The centre of her
water was so rough that the islanders were unable to
worship in each polis is the prytaneum, a public
launch any of their boats and no other boats dared
hearth at the centre of each community, found in the
approach. Without fish or trade, the people began to
civic hall. The fire serves as a heart for the com-
suffer. They prayed to Poseidon to forgive them and
munity and a place where ambassadors can meet
to leave them be but the god of the sea was too furi-
in safety. When a voyage to establish a new colony
ous to listen.
sets out it takes a piece of the fire with it to form the
Desperate, the people of Skyros prayed to Hestia
first piece of the new polis. If the fire ever goes out
who heard their pleas for help. She took pity on
it cannot be lit again from another fire. Only the use
them and travelled to the coral palace of Poseidon
of friction or by using a glass lens to draw the heat of
under the Aegean sea to plead for mercy. The god-
the sun is permitted. During the depths of winter a
dess argued that the people had suffered enough but
sacrifice of a cow less than a year old is made at the
Poseidon wished to make an example of Skyros. This
prytaneum in Hestia's honour.
forced Hestia to deal with Poseidon on his terms and
invoke her power over worship itself. She threatened
that if Poseidon killed these mortals for the sake of
his pride then no sacrificial flame would light in any
Greek temple to him. Without the flame it would be
impossible to make sacrifices to Poseidon and in
the face of the threat he relented to his older sister.
When the seas calmed, the grateful islands built a
new civic hearth in Hestia’s honour.

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Poseidon
The Proud Horseman
The Sea, Horses, Earthquakes

Trident, Fish, Dolphins, Horses

"Hear, Poseidon, ruler of the sea


profound, whose liquid grasp
begirds the solid ground; who, at
the bottom of the stormy main,
dark and deep-bosomed holdest
thy watery reign."
Homer, epic poet and historian

History Founding of Athens


Poseidon served his younger brother Zeus in the After the Titanomachy's devastation the Greeks
Titanomachy sitting astride his mighty war horse and in Attica needed to found a new capital city and
wielding his cyclopes-forged trident. The ground to decide which god to honour. The people were
shook and mountains fell when he charged the split between Athena or Poseidon so the priests of
enemy. When the Olympians were victorious over each processed through Attica until they came
the Titans he kept the horse as his symbol, to to the port of Eleusis. They petitioned their gods
remind everyone of his role in the war. Zeus and for a single gift and the city would honour the
his brothers divided the realms between them by gift the people most valued. Athena struck a rock
drawing lots. Poseidon gained dominion over the with her spear and there sprang a bountiful olive
sea and its contents but he was not content. He tree. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident
covets Zeus' authority and the respect given to and a spring arose, but it was salty and brack-
Hades. ish. The people chose the olive tree and the city
became Athens with Athena as its patron. Poseidon
was angered and sent a tidal wave at the city. The

Age of Legends
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flooding served as a warning to the Athenians that his dolphins bring him news. The sea mirrors his
though they had chosen Athena they could not moods, becoming agitated and rough when Posei-
ignore the God of the Sea. don is angry and smooth when he is calm.

Monsters and Troy Cult and Worship


When King Laomedon of Troy built his city Scattered over many islands and coasts the
he requested divine help in raising the defensive Greeks are forever at the mercy of the sea, and
walls. Promised a great reward, Poseidon and shrines to Poseidon are common sight. Sacrifices
Apollo set to work building magnificent and majes- to him are a black or white bull for the rich or
tic defences, but were dismayed when Laomedon a ram or wild boar for the less wealthy. Before
reneged on the deal. Apollo left in disgust but the most important sea journeys horses, or even
Poseidon did not let the matter rest. To punish complete chariot teams, are cast into the sea to
Laomedon's deceit he sent a monster from the ensure Poseidon’s protection against rough seas
depths of the sea to blockade the city. For months and storms.
the beast ravaged the coastline around Troy, let- Poseidon is the patron deity of Corinth. Sit-
ting no ships leave or come close to the shore. It ting on the narrow land of the isthmus and with
even seized Laomedon's daughter as a hostage. harbours on either side, the Corinthians know the
Herakles freed Troy when he killed the beast to save value of worshipping Poseidon. The temple of Isth-
the girl's life. mia, located 10 miles east of Corinth, is the largest
religious site dedicated to Poseidon in Greece. The
central temple is in its third incarnation after the
Goals and Champions two previous buildings were destroyed by fire. It
As someone who fought in the Titanomachy,
is also the site of the Isthmian games, one of the
Poseidon wants to keep the Titans imprisoned.
four great panhellenic games. These were founded by
However, in another war there may be opportunities
Theseus and are dedicated to Poseidon. The games
for him to gain the power and respect he desires.
are shorter than the Olympic games with a focus on
Poseidon is too proud to fear the Titans but does not
events linked to Poseidon - horse racing, chariot
dismiss their threat, in particular Oceanus. He lurks
racing, sailing and swimming. The winners of each
in the Atlantic and his children are the river and
event are given a crown made of wild celery.
lake nymphs. Seeing threats everywhere, Poseidon
keeps a close court and often sends champions to
check on the nymphs or patrol the entrance to the
Mediterranean. His realm is the bedrock on which
he builds his ambition to become King of Gods and
he is relentless in its defence.

Appearance and Personality


A proud man, Poseidon considers himself to
be at least the equal of his brothers. This brings
him into conflict with Zeus when Poseidon feels
his younger brother has not shown him enough
respect. In truth, Poseidon is angry with Zeus for
being King, yet he recognises that though he is
Zeus' equal in many ways he cannot match Zeus'
raw power.
His normal appearance is as a heavy set mid-
dle-aged man with a long beard and hair. Posei-
don lives in a palace under the Aegean Sea made
of coral, gemstones and sea shells, and travels
to Olympus when needed. His palace is a better
place to tend to his realm and it has forged a deep
connection between the god and the sea. He can
hear almost anything that happens in the sea and

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Olympians

Zeus
The Sky King
Sky, Order, Law, Justice

Eagle, Oak, Bull, Thunderbolt

"That Zeus is king in heaven is a


saying common to all men"
Pausanias, Spartan general

The King of Gods Athena is just one of the many children Zeus has
Son of Cronus, grandson of Uranus, Zeus is King of fathered to swell the ranks of Olympus. Zeus is fond
the Gods as were his father and grandfather before of seducing mortal women and many of the ancient
him. Just as Cronus usurped his crown from Uranus, royal houses of Greece were founded by his offspring.
Zeus took the crown from Cronus in the bitter fight- This and many other unworthy acts enraged his wife
ing of the Titanomachy. When the Titans were beaten Hera and led to his divorce.
and Cronus imprisoned in Tartarus, Zeus divided the
realms of his father between himself and his broth-
ers by drawing lots. Zeus took dominion of the sky
Hubris
Zeus despises hubris and there is no mercy in his
and the air, while Poseidon gained the sea and Hades
punishment of those who dare challenge his rule,
the Underworld. Claiming the title King of the Gods for
as Prometheus discovered. The Titanomachy had left
himself, Zeus founded his court on the summit of
humanity in ruins and Zeus was pondering whether
Mount Olympus.
to do away with them and start afresh. This appalled
Not long after the founding of the Olympian
Prometheus, a distant relative of Zeus, and he
court Zeus' grandmother, Gaia, incited the Gigantoma-
resolved to help humanity with the gift of fire. The
chy to overthrow him. Zeus defeated the giants and
thief stole the secret of fire from Olympus and passed
the victory made his position much stronger and his
it on to mortals. Zeus was furious and summoned
rule absolute. Yet Zeus is learning from the mistakes
him for judgment, but Prometheus was unrepentant
of his father and grandfather whose downfalls were
and Zeus let fly his fury. The thief was bound to a
prophesied and who were both overthrown by their
boulder and condemned to have his liver torn out by
children rebelling against tyranny. It is prophesied
an eagle each dawn for eternity.
that Athena will surpass Zeus in power and Zeus made
Zeus killed his nephew Bellerophon for hubris
one panicky attempt to kill her before her birth. After
when he tried to ride to Olympus on Pegasus and take
she survived he took a more measured approach,
his place amongst the gods. The King of the Gods
befriending her and she is now among his most
decided Bellerophon had not proven himself worthy
trusted counsellors.

Age of Legends
Olympians
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and sent a gadfly to bite his winged horse, who reared Cults and Worship
and threw Bellerophon off. Feared and respected, Zeus is worshipped across
Another victim of Zeus' judgement was King Greece. His temples and shrines occupy prominent
Salmoneus of Elis. The king declared he must be places and are found at the centre of most Greek
worshipped as if he were Zeus himself and had a cities. He is invoked to watch over the proceedings
great chariot built. Salmoneus rode it through the of government, the making of new laws and in trials.
city, trailing drums to imitate thunder and throwing Kings and oligarchs call on him to give themselves
torches to mimic the lightning. This weird spectacle credibility and it is a common belief that to defy a
angered Zeus and a bolt of lightning struck the king, ruler is to defy Zeus himself.
melting him into his chariot. When Salmoneus came At his temples the ritual sacrifice is of a white
to the Underworld Zeus intervened in the judgment animal over a raised altar, followed by the crema-
and doomed him to eternal torment in Tartarus. tion of the remains. His largest temple complex is at
Olympia where a huge statue to him has been formed
from the ash of the countless animals sacrificed in
Goals and Champions his name. Olympia is also the home of the Olympic
As King of the Gods and the leader of the rebel-
games held there every four years in his honour. These
lion that ended their rule, Zeus is the Titans' target.
games are an important part of Zeus' strategy of
Zeus knows he must keep the Titans imprisoned or
encouraging unity amongst Greeks.
scattered in exile because united they threaten his
rule. He must never show weakness or let his grip on
power slip for the mortals might be drawn to worship Cults
Cronus and the Titans instead. Zeus and his cham- Zeus grew up on the island of Crete, in hiding
pions must protect the law and order that define his from Cronus who wished to kill him. The people of
rule over the chaos of the Titans. Crete worship Zeus in the form of the boy and focus
After the wars of the early days of Zeus' reign, the on stories of his time on the island.
external threats were replaced by the internal fighting A stranger cult is Zeus Lycaeus who worship
amongst the Olympians. A major source of this was the god as a wolf and believe that he grants special
Aphrodite causing mortals and gods to mate, creat- blessing for a chosen few. The cult is on the sum-
ing the demigods. Zeus banned the mating of mortals mit of Mount Lycaeon. Its founder was a madman
and gods and withdrew the Olympian court from named Lycaon, who built a shrine, offered human
the mortal world. That was centuries ago, but now sacrifices and pleaded to be granted part of Zeus'
the Titans are stirring and foreigners are threatening power. When this failed Lycaon sacrificed his own
Greece, so Zeus needs a new generation of heroes. son. Zeus was appalled by this vile act in his name
Unwilling to create more demigods, he has decreed and cursed Lycaon, turning him into a wolf as pun-
that heroes will be chosen from mortals. Those which ishment. His followers mistook this as a blessing
Zeus picks are commanded to protect Greek society and continue making sacrifices, believing that when
from internal strife, crime and disorder by enforcing the stars are aligned Zeus will change them into
Zeus' law and from external threats by leading Greek wolves for seven years.
armies and fleets.
Oracles
Appearance and Personality Zeus has two major oracles who he uses to com-
Zeus appears as a middle-aged man with thick hair municate his will. The first is at Dodona in Epirus, in
and a full beard, a sign of gravitas that mortal rulers like a temple surrounding a sacred oak tree. Divination is
to emulate. He wears sandals and full court robes edged performed by barefoot priests listening for his words
with gold befitting his role as king and has a crown of in the rustle of the leaves and branches. His other
laurels on his brow. In his right hand he carries a bundle oracle is at Siwa in the western desert of Egypt in a
of thunderbolts and in his left an oak staff. temple of Amun, an Egyptian god the locals identi-
The King of Gods displays a carefree attitude, some- fied with Zeus. He now speaks there with Amun's
times even being whimsical when bored. He is quick to voice, who hopes to save his own dying pantheon.
decide issues and faster to let loose his wrath. This has The temple is decorated with a ram motif, the old
made him appear unpredictable, yet his quick decisions symbol of Amun, and is attended by a mixture of
are still well thought out. He carefully maintains enough Egyptian and Greek priests.
gravitas for his word to be trusted and obeyed.

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Titanic

Out of the void Chaos created Gaia,


goddess of the earth, and Uranus, god of
the sky. The gods of sky and earth had
numerous children but Uranus confined
them to Tartarus, except for twelve who
became known as the Titans. Of these,
Cronus was the youngest and the most
rebellious in temperament. Prompted
by his mother, Cronus overthrew Uranus
and imposed his rule on the divine and
mortal worlds.
At first it was a golden age but Cronus became
more tyrannical and paranoid. A prophecy of his
children rebelling as he did to his father haunted Cro-
nus, so he ate each child soon after birth. Appalled
by this, his wife Rhea hid the youngest boy, Zeus, from
Cronus and in time Zeus went to war with his father.
With help from those oppressed by Cronus the Olym-
pians came to power and the Titans were defeated.
Zeus declared himself King of the Gods and
stripped the Titans of their realms of power. Some
of the realms were given as rewards to Olympi-
ans for their service in the war but others fell into
abeyance. To avoid conflict among the Olympians,
Cronus' realms were drawn as lots by Zeus, Hades
and Poseidon.
The new king handed harsh sentences to the
Titans. Those who fought in the war were imprisoned
in Tartarus while those who remained neutral or
surrendered faced exile. The Titans have grievances
against the Olympic court and against individual
Olympians. However, the Titans are not a unified
force. Each has their own goals, friendships and
enmities with other Titans. The biggest faction are
those in Tartarus who still follow Cronus. Their goal
is to win freedom and restart the war. Other Titans'
goals are smaller in scale, such as confining their
ire to a single Olympian or regaining power over a
particular realm.
Worship of the imprisoned and exiled Titans is
illegal and considered blasphemous wherever the
Olympians gods rule. Yet the gods and their priests
cannot be everywhere and small Titanic cults exist
across Greece. They have meeting places and tem-
ples, hidden inside a city's walls or far into the coun-
tryside away from passers by. The cults draw to them
men and women who feel the Olympian gods have
failed them in some way.

Age of Legends
Titans

Coeus
Deep Thinker
The grand strategist of the Titans
Arrogant, patient and scheming
Exiled to the far north
Coeus is the eldest and most intelligent of the Coeus works to undermine the Olympians who he
Titans. He is prone to spending weeks in thought and sees as his intellectual inferiors. He has built up a
his counsel is valued by the other Titans. Though not powerful cult amongst the northern barbarian tribes.
gifted with prophecy he has remarkable foresight and With his guidance, channelled through his priests
the ability to predict the behaviour of his opponents. and agents, the tribes have prospered and carried
This is very different from his wife Phoebe who has the cult of Coeus southward and it will soon arrive on
the gift of prophecy but cannot put her visions and Greece’s northern borders.
thoughts into order. Neither of them ever compre- Coeus' surrender before the end of the war
hends the other and the relationship, lukewarm at soured relations between him and Cronus. He
best, ended when Coeus left the Titanic court. receives no support from Cronus’ faction of impris-
Despite Coeus' intelligence he undervalues mat- oned Titans. The sole Olympian for whom he has
ters of the heart. He foresaw the rebellion incited respect is his successor as god of wisdom, Athena.
by Cronus' increasingly tyrannical rule yet missed the She is a worthy adversary and he believes in time she
catalyst, Rhea’s love of her children. Coeus fought will overthrow Zeus.
in the Titanomachy, serving as the Titans' strategist.
Through his scheming the Titans held off the Olympi-
ans for ten years of near-constant warfare. When Theia
Power, Appearance and Agents
Coeus appears as a thin man of above-average
revealed Zeus had enlisted the hundred-handed Heca-
height wrapped up in the heavy furs worn by north-
tonchires for the next battle, Coeus predicted the final
erners. His realms were of wisdom and farsight and
defeat of the Titans. Cronus refused to accept this
his symbols are the axis and the pole. The patient
last piece of advice and banished him for cowardice.
Coeus is never rash and his actions often involve long
Seeing no point in resisting, Coeus left the Titanic
and complex plots.
fort on Mount Othrys and surrendered to the Olympians
Coeus’ agents are northern tribespeople who see
before the battle began.
Greeks as weak and coddled by their mild climate.
Always planning ahead, Coeus has recruited Greek
Banishment exiles and uses their knowledge to enhance the bar-
For his part in the war, Coeus was stripped of barians' strength. The cult of Coeus worships him as
his realms and banished to the far north. He had the provider of wisdom. His cultists are fervent and
expected both exile and losing his realms but he was dedicated, as Coeus' advice has never been proven to
unprepared for the harsh and bitter climate of the be wrong. His rituals are small in scale and to avoid
frozen lands. He dreams of returning to Greece and pointless waste of expensive livestock the sacrifice is
resuming his musings in luxury and warmth. of small fruits.

77
Titans

Crius
Prophecy from the Stars
Former god of constellations
Master of long, slow prophecies
Exiled to the African Deserts

The Titan god of Constellations has prophetic siblings confronts him over his inaction, he simply
powers but only over the long term. He cannot says "It doesn't matter that the captain of the ship
prophesy the actions of one man but foresees what has changed, the ship is the same and the same
Greece will do in a century's time. Crius' long view storms will still come, I alone know this".
makes him detached from current events. To him,
the present day is simply how the inevitable future
takes place and not how the future is decided. He
Exile
Cronus lost patience with Crius and exiled him
dismissed the Titanomachy as a pointless war with
to the Libyan desert during the Titanomachy. He
victory for the Olympians as inevitable. The other
remains there and Zeus considers him to be no threat,
Titans were infuriated by this fatalistic view and
even a little mad. Crius doesn't care as he can still
the smug demeanour with which he delivered it.
see the sky. He was stripped of his realm when exiled
Crius sees the transfer of power
but he can still read prophecies in the stars.
down the generations as
His long-term view gives him no desire to force
inevitable. When-
his way back into Greece and he doesn't care that
ever one of his
Zeus is in power. He isn't even waiting for the next
frustrated
generation of gods to take power. He awaits the fall
of Greece to a foreign power in which he has been
cultivating influence. A few hundred years will see
his plans bear fruit.

Power, Appearance and Agents


Crius' realms were the constellations and his
symbols are the ram and a star. He appears as
a young man who is carelessly dressed and
ungroomed. In temperament he seems very
detached, never speaks directly on a topic
and is bored by details.
No agents claiming to be loyal to
Crius are in Greece but a few are found
in Libya and Rome. He doesn't seem to
favour any particular type of mortal
except perhaps ones prepared to wait
their whole lives for a single mission.

Age of Legends
Titans

Cronus
Deposed Tyrant of the Gods
The father of the Olympic court
The god of authority, order and rules
Imprisoned in Tartarus
Cronus is the youngest of the Titans and always Titans and promised them freedom for their support.
despised his Father for his careless and wasteful rule Theia, Themis, Hyperion and Mnemosyne agreed, though
over the world. It was easy for Gaia, seeking retribu- each has their own agenda besides escape. He has
tion for her husband's imprisonment of her children, taught them how to subtly exert their influence into
to push Cronus into rebellion. She gave him a sickle the mortal world, enabling them to find willing mor-
with which Cronus castrated his Father. With the last tals to be their agents.
of his power Uranus cursed Cronus to be overthrown by Cronus seeks to regain his throne and impose his
his own children in turn. absolute order on the world once again. The goal that
drives him though is revenge on Zeus, who he can-
not forgive for his betrayal. He is equally unforgiving
Rule and Fall and vengeful to those Titans who did not fight in the
On seizing power, Cronus broke his promise to
Titanomachy, such as Helios and Oceanus. Cronus is
Gaia and refused to free the hecatonchires, the cyclo-
oblivious to his role in triggering the rebellion or the
pes or the gigantes. He ruled with absolute law and as
irony for condemning Zeus for doing what he himself
time passed his golden age became a tyranny. Cronus
did to Uranus.
was cruel to anyone outside his court and became
paranoid over his father’s curse. He married Rhea but
was fearful of their children and swallowed them at Realms, Appearance and Agents
birth. Cronus’ power was the realms of order and
Despite Cronus' authority, rebellion threw his rule authority and his symbol a sickle, a weapon which
into chaos. Rhea tricked Cronus when his young- his agents carry. He appears as a strong, muscular
est son Zeus was born and the boy grew up in secret man in late middle age with greying hair wearing a
helped by agents of Gaia. Zeus returned and forced thick leather skirt and sandals. His persistence and
his father to vomit up the other children. With the bravery are tempered by his paranoia and intoler-
aid of Gaia and Rhea, Zeus and the other children ance of disorder.
began the war against Cronus. The Titanomachy ended Agents of Cronus are well organised and have
in Cronus’ defeat, the fall of the Titanic court and the a natural authority. They control large numbers of
fulfilment of Uranus' curse. cultists and are often found leading bands of Titanic
agents. Following the example of their patron, the
agents deal harshly and brutally with dissent and
Imprisonment challenges to their power.
Cronus sits in a dark prison in the depths of Tar-
The cult of Cronus is promised a better world
tarus plagued by his defeat to the chaotic Olympians.
under his strong leadership. Its practices and rituals
Unlike his father Uranus, Cronus retains his godly
are bound by rigid rules that govern all the aspects
powers in defeat. After centuries of captivity and soli-
of their lives.
tude he has gathered his wits and focused them on
revenge. He has reached out to the other imprisoned

79
Titans

Hyperion
Mad God of Light
Father of Helios and Selene
Titan god of light
Imprisoned in Tartarus
Hyperion, Titan god of light, loved to enjoy the hot Power, Appearance and Agents
Greek sunshine during the day and admire the moon- Hyperion’s realm was that of light and his symbol
light at night. His children with Theia became the is the mirror. Before his imprisonment Hyperion
Sun god Helios and Moon goddess Selene. During the appeared naked but now he has many layers of rag-
Titanomachy he stayed loyal to his brother Cronus and ged cloth over his shivering body. His once bronzed
fought by his side. His children refused to take sides, skin is pale and sickly, his hair unkempt and dirty.
though Helios sunlight became a weapon as Hyperion This changed appearance fills the vain god’s mind
used his mirrored shield to dazzle enemies, leaving with self-loathing.
them vulnerable to Cronus' sickle. Addicts and desperate people from the edges
of society and civilisation become his agents. He
promises them great things and a release from their
Imprisonment cravings in return for their service. They are as unsta-
After the final battle Hyperion was captured with
ble and irrational as their patron but also dangerous.
the other Titans, and has not coped well with impris-
Hyperion's instructions are not always sane and he
onment. He lost the realm of light to Apollo, and the
believes his agents are powerless without light. Plans
deep darkness of Tartarus deprives him of the Sun's
are contrived so there is always plenty of light when
warmth and the light of the Moon. He is cold down to
they act, either from the sun, a full moon on clear
his to soul and cannot stop shivering.
night or the light of a large fire.
Hyperion has become obsessed with the idea
Hyperion’s cult is fragmented and disjointed but
that he must defeat Apollo to reclaim his realm. With
dedicated. Greek society is hard on those it rejects,
his full power restored he will grasp the Sun itself
instilling a deep anger in those who do not meet its
and become warm once again. His deep yearning for
ideals. The cult's worship of Hyperion as the true god
light and warmth has made Hyperion unpredictable
of light over Apollo drives away casual worshippers
and desperate; he is an addict in need of a fix. His
who fear Apollo’s wrath. Cultists can be identified by
madness drives him, making him unstable, but he is
the layers of warm fur they wear at all times, regard-
still powerful and able to work with others. He is part
less of the weather. The cult’s distinctive roofless
of Cronus’ faction of Titans and they work together
temples are designed to let in the sun and moon.
towards freedom.

Age of Legends
Titans

Iapetus
Hidden Champion of Humanity
Former Titan of death
God of humanity
Secretly walks the mortal world
In the golden age of Cronus' rule Iapetus brought Iapetus rejects ideas of divine superiority. The
death to the mortal world as a warrior god known as Titans and the Olympians destroyed the world in the
The Piercer. He ensured that every living thing died name of power but mortals rebuild it, trying to make
at the right time and destroyed those who tried to a better life for their families. Iapetus uses influ-
cheat death. His actions were without malice or spite ence and patronage to drive mortals forward so one
- death was important and someone had to ensure day they will not need the gods. He plans to place
it applied to everyone. Iapetus was a part of life and humans in control of their own destiny and works not
during this time he fathered several children includ- just against the other gods but against their funda-
ing Prometheus, Epimetheus and Atlas. mental concept. He wants to show humanity they
As Cronus' rule descended into tyranny and the can understand and control the world, removing their
Titanomachy began, Iapetus found doubts growing in need for gods and saving humanity from the vain,
his heart. Despite them he stayed loyal to his brother destructive whims of divine creatures.
Cronus and never abandoned his allies, but between
battles he saw the devastation inflicted upon the
mortal world. People were dying before their time
Secrecy and Subtly
Both the Olympians and the Titans are threat-
and it saddened him. When the hecatonchires joined
ened by Iapetus so he stays in the shadows. His work
with the Olympians and began their bombardment,
is carried out through mortals oblivious to his true
Iapetus knew the war was lost and he chose not to
identity and many philosophers, engineers and great
fight a pointless battle. He fled, and no immortal has
artists have unknowingly enjoyed his aid and protec-
seen him since.
tion. Now, with both the Titans and Olympians taking
champions or agents, Iapetus has recruited a few
Escape mortals to oppose the schemes of all other agents,
Iapetus escaped by hiding amongst humanity. In champions and gods. He changes his appearance to
his millennia of contact with mortals, he had seen avoid detection and reveals a different face to each
both the living and the dying at their most human of his agents. These are ambitious and driven peo-
aspects. He used this experience to adopt a human ple, often atheists who desire to prove their physical
form so convincing that not even a god could see might or their intellectual powers. With a deft hand
though it. Iapetus has now lived amongst the people Iapetus steers these agents so their actions interfere
of Greece for many generations and hides his immor- with the plots of others gods. Few of them realise
tality by staying on the move. In doing so his realms their schemes have been upset by an agent of Iape-
of power have shifted and he has become the god of tus and not the random action of a mortal.
humanity.

81
Titans

Mnemosyne
Betrayed Mother of The Muses
Goddess of memory and language
Mother of the Nine Muses
Exiled in Erebus
As the Titan goddess of memory, language and lives in exile in the mountains around Tartarus. Her
words, Mnemosyne entertained the court with her songs dwelling is little more than a cave overlooking the
and tales of legend. She loyally fought alongside her source of the River Lethe.
siblings in the Titanomachy but in defeat she threw Bitter and grieving, she eagerly became part of
herself on Zeus' mercy. The idea of imprisonment Cronus' faction of Titans. She hates Zeus for taking
away from the songs and stories of humanity terrified her children, the Muses, and banishing her far from
the Titan. the living and their tales. In the Underworld she has
Knowing of Zeus' fondness for the pleasures of much greater freedom than the Titans in Tartarus but
the flesh, Mnemosyne struck a bargain. She promised Hades has spies which keep a close watch on her.
Zeus nine nights of pleasure for a sentence of exile
and not imprisonment. Zeus agreed but discovered
Mnemosyne's cunning when he came to her room on
Power, Appearance and Agents
Her realms are memory and language and her
the first night. The Titan distracted him by creating
symbol is the written word. She appears as an attrac-
songs, poems, dances and plays about Zeus and his
tive young woman with long flowing hair and a simple
mighty deeds. Zeus laughed and cheered as Mnemos-
toga. Once she was someone joyous and relaxed but
yne performed, never noticing the passage of time
her exile has left her sad and lost in memories. Her
and the arrival of dawn.
recall is perfect and it can take days for her to escape
In the morning light Mnemosyne told Zeus she
from her nostalgic reverie, while the grief over her
was tired and that he must return the next night.
lost children often reduces her to tears.
Zeus could not deny it was a night of pleasure and
Unlike the other Titans, who have focused their
left. He returned the next evening expecting this time
efforts on the living, Mnemosyne has agents and fol-
to enjoy the flesh, but once more Mnemosyne dis-
lowers amongst both the living and the dead. Many
tracted him with works of art. The Titan entertained
enter her service seeking lost memories. The living
Zeus for nine nights until the dawn of the tenth day.
may wish to recall where something precious was
Then she gave birth to the nine Muses, formed out of
lost or a forgotten secret. The dead of Erebus seek
the creativity of Mnemosyne and the power of Zeus'
memories of loved ones and happy days to distract
appreciation of her arts.
them from their endless toil. Her agents are blessed
with good memories and are often skilful orators,
Banishment and her cult includes politicians and philosophers in
Zeus honoured his agreement with Mnemos- its numbers.
yne and did not imprison her in Tartarus. However, Mnemosyne’s cult works to preserve ancient
he could not ignore how she had tricked him with songs and stories through performance. The tales
her promised nights of pleasure. He took the nine of the golden age of Cronus attract many who are
Muses away from Mnemosyne and banished the unhappy with the Olympians, notably amongst the
Titan to the lands of the dead. Mnemosyne now dead of Erebus.

Age of Legends
Titans

Oceanus
God of the Distant Seas
Titan god of the sea
Father of nymphs
Exiled to the western ocean
Oceanus, child of Uranus and Gaia, was the court. He judges, possibly correctly, that the sea
Titan god of the sea. His wife Tethys was goddess god’s unpopularity amongst the other Olympians
of water sources and clouds. The couple were will prevent a unified response to his unseating.
happy under the rule of Uranus and their children Oceanus works with Tethys, ignoring the other
became the thousands of nymphs found in the Titans. He blames the Titans in Tartarus, and in
Greece's rivers, ponds and streams. When Cronus particular Cronus, for his downfall and will cheer-
mounted his coup against Uranus, Oceanus did fully let them rot. However, he does not oppose
not side with him for he had no quarrel with his their plots as they keep the Olympians distracted.
father. Out of respect to his mother he did not
fight for Uranus either, and the ocean god joined
the victorious Titanic court. Oceanus is as wild
Power, Appearance and Agents
Oceanus' symbols are the fish and the oar and
and untameable as the sea and his conflict with
he sometimes appears with his lower half in the
Cronus' ever-growing tyranny was inevitable.
form of a fish or serpent. He also has crab claws
emerging from his brow. Oceanus is known for
Exile his sea-like qualities, being deep, merciless and
Distrustful of both sides in the Titanomachy without master.
and seeing no value in joining the war, Oceanus His agents are sailors who have sailed too far
chose neutrality. This proved a disaster as it from land and met with danger. Those that curse
was impossible for Zeus to leave a powerful Titan Poseidon and call for the help of Oceanus are
free when they had not proven their personal saved in return for their service. The sailors and
loyalty. The King of the Gods stripped the Titan merchants who become his agents are diverse in
of his realms, and dominion over the sea passed background and come from any culture. The cult
to Poseidon after the Olympians drew lots. Zeus is based on the coastline where they worship the
exiled Oceanus, along with Tethys, to the deep. unfathomable size and depths of their deity. Fish
The couple now live alone in the great western feature prominently in their rituals.
ocean beyond the Mediterranean, separated from
their children.
Oceanus plans to regain his realm and re-enter
the Mediterranean where he can connect with his
children once again. The focus of his hatred is not
Zeus, but just Poseidon. The Titan believes that
Poseidon persuaded Zeus to grant Oceanus’ realms
to the Olympian and Oceanus intends to supplant
Poseidon rather than overthrow the entire Olympic

83
Titans

Phoebe
Blinded Old Prophet
Former goddess of oracles
Sworn enemy of Apollo
Imprisoned in Tartarus
Phoebe was the Titan goddess of prophecy and she found her realms and respect usurped by Apollo.
acted as the patron of oracles in Titanic times. She Worse still, the arrogant young Olympian had killed
was not the source of prophecies and her power her loyal dragon that guarded Delphi.
manifested as an ability to see snapshots of the Phoebe's goal is the downfall of Apollo and
future. This left her disjointed from the present and the retaking of her realm, so that she might regain
it took formidable willpower for her to regain compo- her lost power. She targets Apollo's oracles which
sure after a vision. Her glimpses of the future were makes her own oracles more popular and damages
cryptic and often confusing, but unlike full proph- the ability of the Olympians to communicate with
ecy her visions did not always come true and even their champions. A deeper, secret goal is to escape
contradicted each other. This is in stark contrast with the limitations of her fleeting glimpses of the
her husband Coeus who has no powers of prophecy future and take full control of prophecy. With total
but whose ordered mind can find truth in the most knowledge of the future she will never again be
fragmentary of information. Though the husband and blindsided by events such as Zeus' victory or her
wife team were very effective together, the difference husband's abandonment.
in personality proved too difficult to bridge and the
relationship never deepened to true love.
As part of Cronus' court, Phoebe combined her gift
Power, Appearance and Agents
Phoebe's symbol is the laurel tree. To mortals she
with her husband’s intellect to help Cronus enforce
appears as a young adult woman wearing expensive
his vision of order. Yet neither Phoebe nor Coeus
jewellery and with an arrogant attitude. Her agents
foresaw Zeus' escape and rise to power. Her prophe-
are those who have fallen foul of Olympic oracles.
cies revealed nothing about Zeus, as if an unknown
These mortals do not fault the Fates or themselves
power shielded the Olympian from her sight. When
for their predicaments but blame the Olympians.
the Titanomachy began Phoebe and her husband joined
They take up Phoebe's cause to seek revenge and
with Cronus to oppose the Olympians and stayed with
to right whatever wrong they feel has been done to
him during the long war. On the eve of the final battle
them. Agents of Phoebe gain a better understand-
her husband abandoned the cause, but she remained
ing of omens and a limited sense of prophecy. This
true to Cronus until their defeat.
gives them abnormally fast reactions and an uncanny
knowledge of people's plans.
Imprisonment Phoebe's cult is based around a small number of
Zeus cast Phoebe into Tartarus, stripping her oracles who conduct elaborate rituals. Those seeking
of her realms. This left her confused and disorien- prophecies must sit through many hours of religious
tated. Without her oracles she has no contact with services which praise Phoebe and denounce the false
the present and her visions of the future are obscure prophet Apollo.
and vague. Cronus saved her by teaching her how to
reach out into the mortal world with her mind. There

Age of Legends
Titans

Rhea
Rejected Mother
Mother of Zeus
Shunned by the Titans
Imprisoned in Tartarus
When Rhea married her brother Cronus to become
Queen of the gods, it marked the start of the golden
Imprisonment
Facing Zeus after defeat, Rhea expected leni-
age of the Titans. The situation soured with the birth
ency as the mother of the Olympians, but her
of Hestia, her first child. The curse Uranus placed on
children partly blamed her and there was no mercy.
Cronus, to be overthrown by his children, became a
Condemned to Tartarus, her situation got worse. The
real threat and Cronus seized the infant and swal-
other Titans blamed Rhea for their downfall because
lowed her whole. Cronus' rule became stricter and
she let Zeus escape and they ignored her, leaving
his golden age slipped into tyranny.
her isolated.
The heartbroken Rhea endured the sight of
For a long time the pain caused by the Olym-
four more of her children being devoured. Each
pians and the Titans overwhelmed her but the
time, Cronus simply seized the child and swal-
inner strength of the Queen of the Titans is again
lowed it whole as the baby was presented to him.
evident. Her goals are unique amongst the Titans
The goddess turned to her mother, Gaia, who had
for she wants to escape but not to return to power.
faced similar pain and loss at the hands of Uranus.
Rhea has accepted that Uranus' curse and not
Together the women devised a plan to save Rhea's
Zeus' uprising is to blame for the Titans' downfall.
sixth child, Zeus.
At peace with her past she no longer desires power
Gaia acted as midwife during a long, hard
and wishes only to walk through the fertile lands of
labour. Eventually Rhea emerged from the birth-
Greece. She is the most reasonable and rational of
ing room and, as tradition dictated, she presented
the imprisoned Titans.
an impatient Cronus with the infant wrapped in
swaddling cloth. The god grabbed the infant and
swallowed it whole, failing to notice the child was Agents
nothing more than a large stone. In truth the labour Her agents come from those who have been
had been easy and Gaia, along with the infant Zeus, rejected by their family. They wear black cloaks
escaped to Crete. adorned with feathers and cut lonely figures as they
Rhea's intentions were for Zeus to grow up and travel the world. They avoid agents of the other
leave Greece, never intending for the young god to Titans and each other, preferring to work alone as
become the vehicle of Uranus' curse. She felt joy they promote the notion of family unity and forgive-
when Zeus cut open Cronus and freed his broth- ness. The agents also help protect and promote
ers and sisters, her love blinding her to the threat Rhea's cult. It is matrilineal, having only priest-
the children posed to the Titanic court. Not until esses, and predominantly female followers. Their
the Titanomachy began did she realise the danger. As rituals focus on the sanctity of motherhood and the
much as she loved her children and despite Cronus' comfort of a complete family.
tyranny, she was Queen of the Gods. By her hus-
band's side she fought the Olympians until the end.

85
Titans

Tethys
Queen of Clouds
Mother of the nymphs
Surrogate mother to Hera
Exiled to the western ocean
Tethys was the Titan goddess of clouds and of Exile
water sources. Along with her husband Oceanus, When Tethys discovered that Poseidon had
Tethys gave birth to thousands of nymphs to protect claimed her husband's realms as his own, she
the rivers and springs their mother created. This nur- realised who was responsible for their exile. In her
turing instinct helped drive the goddess from Cronus. mind Poseidon had manoeuvred Zeus into banish-
When Zeus freed the infant Hera and her siblings from ing the couple and she formed a deep hatred for the
Cronus' belly, Tethys took Hera as a ward and raised Olympian. She strives to return to the Mediterranean,
the child as her own daughter. Hera grew up and destroy Poseidon and reconnect with her children.
when the Titanomachy began she left Tethys to fight Her plan is to isolate Poseidon from his fellow
alongside her brothers and sisters. The idea of fight- Olympians. Many beings have come into conflict
ing against Hera appalled the cloud goddess but nei- with the proud sea god, and Tethys aids those facing
ther could she fight against her own brother Cronus. the him. She is limited in power and cannot face
Tethys and her husband Oceanus choose neutrality in Poseidon directly but her children, the river nymphs,
the war. are numerous. Among gods, demigods and mortals,
Tethys watched as the war destroyed springs Tethys is quietly building a faction who favour her
and disrupted the flow of rivers. The fauna and flora and dislike, or even hate, the sea god.
dependent on the water faltered and died along with Hera is key to Tethys' plan and she works hard to
the nymphs. She despised both sides for the destruc- maintain good relations with her former ward. When
tion and felt simple relief when it was over. Sum- Tethys and her husband can challenge Poseidon
moned before the new King of the Gods for the first directly it is inevitable that Zeus and Hades will come
time, Tethys desired a chance to mend the damage to their brother's defence. Only Hera, Queen of the
caused by the war. The surprise when Zeus stripped Gods, can keep the brothers out of the fight.
her of the her realms and banished her to the far
ocean was total. She protested and Zeus' wife, Hera,
spoke in Tethys' favour. Zeus began to reconsider but
Power, Appearance and Agents
Tethys appears as an older woman in modest
Poseidon spoke up, warning Zeus that mercy maybe
clothes with small grey wings on her brow. Unas-
mistaken for weakness. The King of the Gods, uncer-
suming for a god, she is quiet unless angered or her
tain of his new position, dared not risk any sign of
children are threatened, at which point she shows a
weakness and confirmed his original sentence. Tethys
vengeful and violent part of her personality.
lost her realms and went with Oceanus into exile.
Her cult builds its temples around fresh springs
and enjoys a reputation as sanctuaries for children.
The agents of Tethys are active around the coastline
where those with a grudge against Poseidon are likely
to be found. Tethys and her cult are tolerated by the
Olympians within Greece as a favour to Hera.

Age of Legends
Titans

Theia
Goddess of Spies
Titan spymaster
Patron of secrets
Imprisoned in Tartarus
To the uninformed in the court of Cronus, the ment have gone and once more she eagerly serves
goddess Theia was simply a hanger-on, someone with Cronus. She is the most enthusiastic of the Titans,
no interest in politics who was not involved in the claiming numerous mortals as agents and creating
machinations which bedevil any court. It was this a spy network. Once more she is Cronus’ spymaster,
detachment and unimportance which appeared to keeping him informed on events in both the mortal
keep her safe as Cronus' rule slipped into tyranny. and divine world. Driven by naked ambition for a
Her presence was forgotten by many when they made return to power and a fear she will once again miss a
plans or spoke disparaging words about Cronus. In vital plot, she is relentless in her work. Her ambitions
reality, Theia was Cronus' spymaster keeping track of is strengthened by desire for revenge on the Olympi-
the gods and their plots. ans for her husband’s descent to near-madness.
As the tyranny worsened, the game's stakes
became higher and higher. To protect herself and her
husband Hyperion Theia developed a real understand-
Power, Appearance and Agents
Theia appears as a young woman with piercing
ing of the power of information and an obsession
sky-blue eyes. Her clothing adapts to match those
with gathering it. However, she did not uncover Rhea's
around, helping her to blend in and pass unnoticed.
deception or Zeus' hiding place and the Titans went
The only mortals who will ever notice her presence
to war with the upstart Olympians. During the war
are those who she wishes to see her.
she became one of Cronus' most trusted allies. Her
Her agents are not combatants but scouts and
spy network delivered vital intelligence and her own
spies. They range from diplomats and merchants
missions as a scout proved her personal bravery and
to serving staff who pass unnoticed through the
loyalty to Cronus. It was Theia's work which kept the
houses of the rich and powerful. They trade in
Olympians from winning much earlier.
secrets and maintain their own information net-
works. If more direct action is need to support a
Imprisonment Titanic plot they use influence, bribery and black-
Defeated, Theia went with Cronus into Tartarus mail. Any situations requiring force are handed
and a deep despair took the goddess. Without her over to agents of other Titans.
network of spies she felt blind and deaf. Worse, she Theia’s cult is based around her spy networks
feared that Cronus would never forgive her failure to and is hard to find. They worship her in small inde-
forewarn him of Rhea and Zeus' plots. Yet when he pendent cells, and their rituals are secretive and
called, she eagerly went to him and Cronus never never held in the same place twice.
said a word. Past failures were forgotten as the two
began planning their return to power.
With Cronus' aid Theia is able to take agents
among the mortals and she is reconnected to the
outside world. Her feelings of isolation and abandon-

87
Titans

Themis
Absolute Law
Unbending and Inflexible
Fanatic devotee of Cronus
Imprisoned in Tartarus
Themis was the Titan goddess of law and the Power, Appearance and Agents
judge of Cronus' court. She dealt out absolute Themis’ symbols are a sword and a set
judgement to those brought before the court, of scales. To mortals she appears as an adult
divine or mortal. As Cronus became more tyran- woman in her late 30s wearing a plain white
nical she willingly helped him build stricter and robe and a blindfold. Her stern manner can be
stricter laws in the belief that justice is impartial unfriendly but it softens for those she judges
and through law comes peace. Over time Themis' trustworthy and righteous.
realm grew to incorporate the traditional rules Her agents are inflexible and unyielding in
of conduct and the customary laws that govern their tasks and rigid in their adherence to custom.
social interaction. They openly walk the mortal world, to act as para-
She fought bitterly against the Olympians' gons of justice and enforcers of an impartial and
illegal coup against the Titanic Court. Even unyielding law. She believes the mortals will see
in defeat she refused to accept Zeus as King reason and reject the Olympians. Unsurprisingly
of Gods and rejected his authority. Of all the this often brings them into conflict with supporters
Titans, only Themis had to be dragged into Tar- of Hermes and Dionysus. Though her agents are not
tarus by the Olympians. loveable people they are well received by mortals.
Themis is right about mortals appreciating impar-
tial justice. Many of her agents serve as travelling
Imprisonment judges in otherwise lawless areas.
Themis abhors Zeus’ liberal and whimsical
Themis’ cult is dedicated to the truth. Cult
interpretation of law. She believes the law must
members refuse to lie or disguise their allegiance,
be separate from personal power and she despises
but operate quietly in large poleis. Ceremonies
how the Olympians deal out punishments on a
within the cult call upon Themis as the saviour
whim. Their abuse of the law is just another rea-
from Olympic whim and its followers are those
son to bring the Olympians to justice and Themis
who have suffered at the hands of the Olympians'
burns with the absolute cold of the law. Her zeal
arbitrary justice and lax laws.
outstrips even Cronus' but she also refuses to com-
promise on her principles. No laws or social cus-
toms are to be broken in the quest to arrest Zeus.
To Cronus she is a stout ally but difficult to use,
as spies, deceit and murder are the Titans' main
weapons against Zeus. So whilst she may be part
of Cronus’ faction, she operates independently and
is never told what Cronus and the others are doing.

Age of Legends
Lesser Immortals
Header

Asclepius Charon
Healing God Ferryman of the Dead
Orphaned by Apollo, the infant Asclepius was Charon takes souls across the river Acheron if they
saved by Hermes. The god named the child and placed have the coins to pay. Without his aid it is near-
him with the centaur Chiron who taught him the heal- impossible to cross the marshes and mud of the
ing arts. Whilst examining a dying patient, Asclepius turgid Acheron. He does not allow the dead to make
saw a snake crawling up his wooden walking staff. the trip back and will only suffer the living to cross if
In fear Asclepius struck the snake dead, but to his they have permission from Hades’ court.
amazement another snake entered the room bearing Steadfast and humourless, Charon cannot be
a herb in its mouth. With the herb the second snake bribed or cajoled though he does like to collect work-
revived the first. Apologising for his rash action, ing songs which he sings in a deep whispery voice as
Asclepius befriended the serpents and used the he pulls the ferry along. The craft was once a punt
herb they brought to him to heal the patient. Hades propelled by a single oar or pole. As the population of
objected to Asclepius helping a mortal cheat death, the world increased he enlarged the ferry and it now
but when he treated Ares' wounds at Troy, Zeus made seats a hundred, pulled across the river on a chain
him the god of medicine. suspended between the river banks.
Asclepius appears as an older man with a thick Charon appears as a human seven feet tall,
beard, wearing a simple toga. Around his staff he car- dressed in unkempt ragged clothes. Over these he
ries his two serpent attendants who gather his herbs wears a deep hooded, heavy, reddish-brown cloak
for him. Asclepius is kind and compassionate, caring that hides everything except his glowing eyes and
for all forms of life and nearly impossible to anger. crooked, broken nose. There are small shrines to Cha-
ron in Hadean temples for those wishing a smooth
passage to the Underworld. Charon ignores them, since
Temples of Healing that's his job anyway.
Asclepius’ temples are called asclepeia and are
centres of healing as well as worship. Many mortals
come to these temples sick or injured and make Deimos and Phobos
sacrifices and offerings at the altar. Afterwards the
patient spends the night in the holiest part of the Terror & Fear
temple, the abaton. Come the morning, the patient
The twin sons of Ares and Aphrodite, Deimos and
reports any dreams and these guide the priests to
Phobos, are the gods of terror and fear respectively.
the cure for the patient. If the cure works, the nature
They appear where these emotions are strong and
of the malady, the cure and details of the patient
inspire more, turning a tense situation into total
are recorded on stone tablets and the patient makes
chaos. Their father enjoys their company and in bat-
another sacrifice to Asclepius.
tle they take the form of horses to draw his chariot.
The largest and most famous temple dedicated to
Their aunt Enyo has become their guardian of sorts
Asclepius is at Epidaurus in the north-eastern Pelopon-
and tries to moderate their behaviour.
nese. Positioned in the middle of a large grove, the
Deimos and Phobos appear as youths not more
temple complex is centred around a shrine featur-
than twelve years old and are always together, holding
ing a large statue of Asclepius in ivory and gold.
hands and staring. In contradiction to their realms
Asclepeia are found across Greece, though they are
the twins themselves are impassive and unemotional,
never situated inside the walls of a city as cities are
simply standing and watching.
considered too dirty.
Small blood-covered shrines to the twins can be
Most rituals at an asclepeion involve using non-
found in the larger temples of Ares, alongside shrines
venomous snakes. These are not sacrificed but crawl
to Enyo. Mortals wishing to summon them must
freely around the dorms where the sick and injured
sacrifice a live animal which suffers and thrashes as
sleep. They are considered to be his servants or mes-
it dies, spraying the petitioners with blood. The oaths
sengers and their movements are frequently invoked
to complete the ritual are said while fist-deep in the
as omens.
animal's entrails.

89
HeaderImmortals
Lesser

Elder Cyclopes Eros


Craftsmen To The Gods Obsession
The three Cyclopes, Brontes the Thunderer, Ster- The son of Aphrodite and Ares, Eros is the god of
opes the Lightening and Agres the Bright, are chil- passion and obsession. His wife Psyche is an elevated
dren of Uranus and Gaia. They suffered under both mortal who won the right to marry the god.
Uranus' and Cronus' reigns and were imprisoned in Eros' realms include every form of passion and
Tartarus before being freed by Zeus. In return, these obsession whether they are romantic or not. He acts
master metalworkers gave exquisite gifts to Zeus (the on his Mother's instructions, which gives his actions
Brightest Thunderbolt), Poseidon (the Trident of Seas) a particular slant. With his bow and a quiver of
and Hades (the Helm of Darkness). These weapons enchanted arrows he shoots mortals, and occasionally
made victory in the Titanomachy possible and the immortals. Anyone struck by his arrows falls into love
Cyclopes still enjoy a friendly relationship with Olym- with the next person they see.
pus. They serve as craftsmen and builders for the Eros appears as a well-built young adult male
Olympians and make lightning and thunder for Zeus. with a large pair of white birds' wings growing from
The Cyclopes are giants of enormous size with a his back. Mischievous and wilful he amuses himself
single large eye instead of the more usual two. They with pranks that have a sadistic streak. Those who
prefer to remain undisturbed and react poorly to cross him find themselves obsessed with the most
unannounced guests, so mortals petitioning them for inconvenient person (or animal or object). The only
aid should pray to Hephaestus first. They are no rela- authority he listens to is his mother, but he exercises
tion to the lesser cyclopes whose much smaller body restraint with his antics. He may not respect the
was modelled after the Elder Cyclopes. elder Olympians but they are more powerful than he
and there is little fun in provoking them too far.

Enyo Gaia
Violence Personified Earth Mother
The daughter of Zeus and Hera is the sister of Gaia is the goddess of the Earth and and ances-
Ares but was born long after her elder brother. She tor to all the Titan and Olympic gods. Through her
is the goddess of bloodlust and violence who seeks union with Kaos, Uranus was created. She then wed
battle even more than Ares. During her early years Uranus and gave birth to the Titans, the Gigantes and
she was a fair-cheeked beauty robed in saffron the Cyclopes.
but over time her savage nature won out. Now she She cannot stand to see any of her children
is obsessed with bloodshed for its own sake. Her imprisoned or punished. So when Uranus imprisoned
divine face is splattered in blood and contorts in a the Gigantes and the Cyclopes, she gave Cronus
terrifying grin as she fights. the weapon he needed to castrate his father. When
The goddess' skin is alabaster white, even under Cronus became tyrannical, she helped Rhea to smug-
the constant sun of a Greek summer. Aside from the gle away her youngest son, Zeus, helping to fulfile
mud and blood on her armour she wears no col- Uranus’ curse. When, in turn, Zeus imprisoned and
ours, only shades of grey. When she enters a mortal exile the Titans, Gaia first riled up the Gigantes into
battlefield the greys change to fit the colours of her rebellion and then gave birth to the monster Typhon.
chosen side. Failing to defeat Zeus and free the Titans, Gaia
has left the Olympic court and resides in a palace
hidden deep within the forests of Greece. There she
Worship waits, seeking a being powerful enough to unseat
Feared by mortals, she has small shrines in the
Zeus and see all her children freed. She pays particu-
larger temples of Ares. Sacrifices to her are per-
lar attention to Athena and waits for her to surpass
formed on the eve of battle, either to ask for her
Zeus as the prophecy predicts.
favour or begging her not to attend. These rituals
always require a sacrifice of blood.

Age of Legends
Lesser Immortals
Header

Hebe Hundred-Handed
Honoured Youth Giants
Hebe is the youngest daughter of Zeus and Hera,
the wife of hero-turned-god Herakles and the goddess Warrior Guards
of youth, pardons and forgiveness. In the Olympic
The Hecatonchires - Briareus the Vigorous, Cottus
court she is the master of ceremonies and organises
the Striker and Gyges the Vaulter - are three mas-
entertainment for the gods at court. She appears as
sive giants with one hundred arms each. Like the
a young woman wearing a simple sleeveless dress. In
Elder Cyclopes they were imprisoned by Uranus and
formal situations Hebe is regal with gravitas worthy of
freed by Zeus. Their incredible strength and numer-
a ceremony of gods, but she is playful and talkative
ous arms can hurl an endless stream of boulders at
outside these occasions. Her personality and position
foes. In the final battle against the Titans this hail of
keep her abreast of the gossip amongst the power-
rocks pinned down Cronus and his allies, allowing the
ful immortals and mortals. Both popular and well-
Olympians to overwhelm them.
informed, Hebe is frequently consulted by other gods
After being imprisoned in Tartarus for most of
in need of information.
their existence, victory left the giants with no purpose
or goal. Zeus, eager not to repeat his father's mis-
Patron of Prisoners take, found good use for them. With their knowledge
As goddess of forgiveness and pardons, Hebe of the caves of Tartarus they are the perfect jailers for
is popular among prisoners awaiting their punish- the captured Titans and will gladly keep Cronus and
ments. Hebe has a few temples dedicated to her, his allies in prison forever as revenge for their own
the most important of which is her sacred grove at treatment. Despite their strength the Hecatonchires
her sanctuary at Philus. are good-natured and slow to anger, but are just as
slow to forget it.

Helios Judges of the Dead


Divine Light Cold Justice
Helios' birth came during the golden age of Cro- Rhadamanthys, Minos and Aiakos were three great
nus' rule, before the tyranny began. He is the son of kings and mortal sons of Zeus and were appointed
Hyperion and Theia. Nervous of Uranus' curse, Cronus by Hades to judge the souls of the dead. They see
made Helios god of the Sun. He sent him to dwell in each soul goes where it should: Tartarus for the evil,
the palace on the Sun, thus distancing him from the the Elysian Fields for the glorious and Erebus for all
Titanic court, but from where Helios can see nearly all others.
that occurs during the day. The judges sit upon the audience steps of a
The sun god declined to fight in the Titanomachy stone amphitheatre while the soul being judged
and Zeus left Helios with his realm but Helios' loyalty stands alone in the centre of the arena. Through the
is to his parents imprisoned in Tartarus. He dare not power granted to them the judges know the soul's
openly move against the Olympians but causes trouble worth, but they do not know what deeds led to its
amongst them whenever he can. It was Helios who value. Therefore, they allow all souls to state their
told Demeter that Persephone was with Hades and told case and account for their actions before decid-
Hephaestus that Aphrodite was betraying him with ing their destinations. Both judges and the judged
Ares. Through these acts of mischief he disrupts the may call witnesses from amongst the dead to give
plans of the Olympians and their champions, but this is testimony, though it is rare for anything to influence
the limit of his involvement in politics. the judges. There is no appeal against their deci-
His worship is legal in all of Greece and his wor- sion other than to Hades himself, and he only sees
shippers use open-air temples to hold midday ceremo- exceptional cases.
nies, the most important one occuring at the summer
solstice. He has a small temple at the Acrocorinth, but
his largest following is in Rhodes where he is the patron
deity.

91
HeaderImmortals
Lesser

Pan Persephone
Playful God Queen of the Dead
Chaos created Pan at the same time he formed Co-ruler of the Underworld, Persephone is equal
Gaia, Nyx and the mortal world. Unlike Gaia he has sovereign with her husband Hades for the four
kept out of divine politics and lives in relative peace months of the year she spends there. Her mother,
amongst the forests and the wood-nymphs. Pan Demeter, is bitterly jealous of Persephone's love for
choose for himself the realms of forests, mountains, Hades and Persephone is forced to spend a third
rustic music and bees. of the year with her mother to placate her wrath.
Pan sees himself as a god at leisure and spends Persephone's arrival at Demeter's court is marked by
his time chasing after nymphs and annoying shep- a lavish celebration hosted by her doting mother. It
herds. He spends the heat of day sleeping in a shady signals the start of spring and heralds the return of
spot though waking him will rouse his anger. The pan warmth to the world.
flute is his own invention, having as single mouth- Persephone is more approachable and romantic
piece but two open ends for the sound. He used to than her stoic husband. Hades listens to her advice
sing to himself but his half-goat voice was rough and on affairs of the heart, most famously allowing
drove the nymphs away. So when he found reeds Orpheus to attempt to free his lover on her insistence.
that made a pleasant sound he fashioned them into She does not patrol the Underworld, preferring to
a flute and quickly became an expert. His beautiful maintain a beautiful garden of exotic and rare flow-
melodies are charming and can entrance any mortal ers in the centre of Hades’ court. It was she who
and many gods but his repertoire also includes dis- brought the asphodel flower to the Underworld and
cordant tunes which violently assault the senses. it now grows in huge numbers across the fields of
Pan never attends court on Olympus and has Erebus.
no interest in scheming or fighting the Titans. He Persephone appears as a young woman in the
was made out of the void and considers himself full bloom of life but is pale compared to the other
far above such petty rivalries. The only gods he gods who spend the whole year in the sun. While
spends time with are Artemis, who he goes hunting in the Underworld she typically wears simple black
with, Dionysus, whose parties he enjoys, and Hermes robes adorned with jewellery from Hades' mines. On
with whom he plays music. It was Hermes who jok- Olympus she favours robes of white decorated with
ingly suggested that the half-goat Pan became god spring flowers.
of shepherds. Pan found kinship with these people
living on the edges of civilisation and adopted the
realm.
Fear and Love
There are shrines to Persephone in the temple
He is the god most seen by mortals, not because
of Demeter and Hades but the worship differs wildly.
he cares for them but because he finds it greatly
She is loved and praised as the bringer of spring
amusing to play practical jokes on travellers. Mortals
in temples of Demeter. In temples of Hades fearful
in a hurry will often find themselves captivated by
offerings are made to her in the hope of staving off
Pan's music and forced to spend an afternoon chas-
death or to help a soul avoid the darker parts of the
ing nymphs through the forest. Pan is also encoun-
Underworld. Whilst she prefers to be loved she does
tered by those threatening the herds or forests under
accept the offerings made in fear, but will still rarely
his protection. These meetings are less pleasant for
intercede in anyone's judgment.
the mortals concerned.

Grottos and Glades


Pan lives in the forests of Arcadia where he has
his most sacred sites. There are no temples to Pan
but instead he is worshipped in sacred glades, grot-
tos and caves. These are simple affairs, marked by a
statue to the god at the centre. Sacrifices of milk and
honey are made by shepherds who want protection
and hunters seeking a bountiful trip.

Age of Legends
Lesser Immortals
Header

Selene Thanatos
Moon Goddess Underworld Guide
Cronus gave Selene, daughter of the Titans Thanatos' normal duty is to direct souls from the
Hyperion and Theia, the realm of the Moon. Like her newly dead into the Underworld and to the bank of
brother Helios she was not trusted by Cronus and the the Acheron. From there, Charon carries the souls
Moon was a ploy to remove Selene from his court. across the river. When required, Thanatos' role
She took the role, as eager to escape as Cronus was changes. If the gods themselves condemn a being
to be rid of her, and thanks to her mother’s advice to Tartarus it is Thanatos who collects them, living
to stay out of war she kept the realm after the rise of or dead, divine or mortal. The being is taken to the
the Olympians. abyss and handed over to its wardens, the Hundred-
Selene has become intimately involved in the Handed Giants. Thanatos is not without fault in the
affairs of mortals and deities. There have been execution of this work. He has been outwitted and
several romantic affairs, including a torrid affair with beaten in combat on more than one occasion, neces-
Pan and a relationship with Zeus which resulted sitating the intervention of higher powers.
in three daughters. The true love of her life was Thanatos appears as a bearded older man
Endymion, Prince of Elis and together they had 50 clothed in black robes, with thin skeletal wings. He
children, but as a mortal, Endymion grew old. Selene carries a sword and an extinguished torch which is
appealed to the King of the Gods to make her lover his symbol. Slow-witted and simple he speaks bluntly
immortal but a jealous Zeus denied the request. and without pity, but he has a dedication to his job
Unable to face his death the goddess placed End- and is motivated by a desire to serve Hades. There
ymion into an eternal sleep and every night she visits are no worshippers of Thanatos but some temples
the sacred cave where he rests. of Hades have small shrines to him. The living leave
Zeus' denial of her request cut deep, and Selene offerings to ward him off, which perplexes him.
has given up her neutrality and now sides with the
Titans. In return, Cronus promises to grant Endymion
eternal life. The goddess' position is too vulner-
able for her to openly attack the Olympians and she
adopts a more passive and subtle approach. From her
lunar palace she watches the world below and feeds
information on what she sees back to her mother’s
spy network. She also ensures her realms favour the
Titans' agents so that tides and moonlight are perfect
for the agents' needs.
Selene appears as a pale young woman wearing a
large crescent crown and a shining cloak which does
little to hide the pair of working birds' wings on her
back. She is passionate and temperamental and her
moods and desires wax and wane. Her cult is legal in
Greece and she is worshipped at small shrines across
the land, each adorned with her symbol - the moon.
Important ceremonies and sacrifices are held on the
night of the full moon and lesser ceremonies mark
each stage of the lunar cycle.

93
Age of Legends [Front Matter]
Protagonists

95
Header
Character Background

A Greek hero is more than just a sum with wealth and power, whether the polis is democratic
or otherwise. Citizens are property owners and impor-
of their advantages. To turn the bones of tant members of the polis with greater freedom in
the character into a living legend their exchange for greater responsibilities. The commoners
and the foreigners lack the right to own property and
story must be fleshed out. have no influence in the city's politics but are other-
wise free to be as poor or rich as they wish. Slaves
are the property of their owners and are limited to as
Home City much freedom as their owner grants them.
The polis a person grew up in or is loyal to is
As champions of the gods, the player characters
an important part of their character. Each city has a
are prominent and respected individuals. While most
subtly different outlook on life and preferences for
Greeks will treat them with deference, a few with
different gods, with some cities having strong ties
power, wealth and conviction will see things differ-
to a single patron god. To all Greeks, service to their
ently. No one will risk the anger of a god by obviously
polis is how a person gains glory and this doesn't
insulting a champion but there are many subtle ways
change when a character becomes a champion. Char-
for the high-born to snub the low-born. Conversely,
acters can expect to be especially lauded and praised
being low born may open doors and loosen tongues
in their home polis but in return they are expected to
among those who fear the higher reaches of society.
support and assist the polis' goals and ambitions. The
inevitable clash between the needs of their polis and
the needs of the hero's patron deity is just part of a Family & Work
champion's life. What was the character's life like before becom-
ing a champion? Who did they live with, who did they
love and how did they earn a living? A mortal's life
Social Status is shaped by these questions and the answers speak
Social status is very important in Greek society.
volumes about the character's personality. Players
From top to bottom the strata of social status are
should consider how being chosen changed the char-
aristocracy, citizens, commoners, foreigners and, at
acter's life. Champions receive no payment from their
the bottom, slaves. The aristocracy come from families

Patron Cities
Aphrodite – Cyprus Hecate – Aegina, Lagina
Apollo – Thebes, Delphi, Hephaestus – Lemnos
Delos
Hera – Argos, Stymphalia,
Athena – Athens, Syracuse Samos
Ares – Sparta, Thrace Hermes – Arcadia
Artemis – Ephesus in Ionia, Poseidon – Corinth
Delos
Zeus – Elis, Olympia, Crete
Demeter – Megara, Eleusis
Dionysus – Larissa

Neither Hades nor Hestia are associated with specific


locations. Both gods have realms (death and the hearth)
which are central parts of Greek life and their worship is
on a smaller scale but practiced universally.

Age of Legends
Character Creation
Header

patron (though they can expect help in extremis from Characters in Age Of Legends use the
the god's temples) so they must still support them-
standard 70 character point / 9 meta-
selves and their loved ones.
character points covered in the 6d6 RPG
Becoming a Champion Core rulebook. Specific Age Of Legends
The gods select champions who have both the
archetypes and paths are provided on the
skills they need and a similar personality to their
own. Players should consider carefully why the god following pages.
chose their character to be a champion. Which skills
One important difference between stand-
does the god value and what type of behaviour does
ard and Age Of Legends characters is that each
the god expect from the character?
character must have one, and only one, Champion
Every champion has a moment when they ceased
path. These are the paths associated with the
to be an ordinary mortal and became a hero. How this
character's patron god.
happened is unique to each champion. It ranges from
a direct encounter with their god, possibly undergo-
ing a series of trials to prove their worth, to simply Creating Characters with Archetypes
waking up one morning knowing they are now the Creating a character with archetypes in Age Of
personal servant to a deity. Legends uses a slightly different method from the
The player should consider how the character 6d6 RPG Core.
was selected and the character's reaction to it.
Some people are born heroes, others have heroism
thrust upon them.
Step 1 - Archetype
Examine the list of archetypes for the setting and
pick one. Once done, select the variant of the archetype
Finishing Touches you wish to play. For example: Demagogue / Aristocrat
Every hero needs a name. There are many lists of
Greek names available on the internet and players are
encouraged to select one they can pronounce. Greeks
Step 2 - Character Background
All characters start with a motif or distinguishing
tend to only have a first name and are known by their
feature. Maybe it's a particular weapon they use, how
polis, for example Xeros of Athens.
they look or speak, an ethical code or a personality trait
such as being pious or affable. This is the starting point
for the character and everything flows from this idea.
Each detail added to a character's background
is a nugget of role playing opportunities and helps
everyone visualise the character. Players are free
to choose their character's back-story and narrative
details but these choices may have unseen conse-
quences - for example, a character from Athens may
not have a friendly reception in Sparta.

Step 3 - Archetype Paths


Each archetype variant is made up of two char-
acter paths (purple advantages). Write these down
in the first column of the character sheet. Also note
down that these advantages are static advantages by
writing Static or a large S next to the dice value.
The archetype will identify eight advantages,
of which three will be life advantages (green). The
remaining five will be blue ability advantages and
occasionally equipment (yellow). Write the life advan-
tages in the second column of the character sheet
and the ability advantages in the third. Make note of
each advantage's name, its keywords and any perti-

97
Header
Character Creation

nent details from the advantage's description. If the and write 1d6+2 as the dice value with a CP value
advantage is static, note this down as well. of seven. Then pick four advantages and give them
Also note the variant's recommendation for the dice values of 1d6+1 and a CP of five. The remain-
character's Free Resist. This will be an advantage ing advantages will be 1d6+0 with a CP of four.
already added but the name needs to be added to the Hint: Advantages which are likely to be used
details section in the top left of the character sheet. often are good candidates for higher dice values,
as is the advantage selected for the Free Resist.
The green life advantages represent the character's
Step 4 - Champion Path health, and higher dice values allow them to take
Using the list of Champion paths, choose the char-
more damage.
acter's patron god. Perhaps the most important path,
the Champion path will be the character's connection to
divine power and politics. Gods select champions which Step 7 - Mundane Equipment
suit their personality and needs so the player's aim is Players should make a note of any significant
to pick a god which ties into the character's back-story. mundane equipment they have at the start of the
Add the chosen path to the character sheet. game, checking with the Game Leader that they
From the Champion path, select a life advantage are acceptable. Obvious things like clothes do not
(green) and two abilities (blue). Do not pick advan- need to be written down as a character is always
tages which are already on the character sheet, and assumed to have everyday, common sense items.
aim to add diversity to the character's abilities.
Hint: It is especially useful to add variety to the
character's green life advantages. Before picking
Step 8 - Finishing Off
On the character sheet there are a few more
one from the third path, look at the keywords on the
details to be filled in. These are the same for all char-
life advantages already selected. They will be Body,
acters created using the quick-start process:
Mind or Soul depending on whether they are physi-
cal, mental or metaphysical. Characters with a mix of •  Dynamic Potential: 4
Body, Mind and Soul keywords are more flexible and •  Static Potential: 2
can apply themselves to a wider range of actions. •  Recoup: 2
•  MCP: 9
•  CP: 70
Step 5 - Additional Advantage
Checkpoint: By this step characters will have
14 advantages: three character paths (purple),
four life advantages (green) and seven ability
Custom Characters
Players are free to ignore the archetypes and
advantages (blue).
create their own characters by selecting paths and
The player may now pick one more advantage
advantages. Archetypes offer a quick way to build
from any of the three paths already selected. Alter-
balanced heroes but custom characters give the
natively they may pick a single equipment advantage
player more freedom. Care is needed in the cus-
from the equipment lists. This item will become char-
tom creation process or a hero may become over-
acter equipment, i.e. a defining part of the character.
specialised or too diverse in their advantages. It
Other, mundane, equipment is chosen in step seven.
is recommended only for experienced players. See
the character creation section in the 6d6 RPG Core
Step 6 - Add Dice Values rulebook for more details and remember each hero
Each of a character's advantages have a minimum must have a single Champion path.
CP of 4 and a dice value of 1d6+0. Pick two advantages

Keywords Magic – A magical power or ability.


The Age Of Legends paths and advantages intro-
Realm – An advantage linked to a god’s realm of
duce new keywords to the 6d6 RPG.
power and influence.
Champion – Identifies that a path brings with it the
Symbol – A symbol of a god’s power. The advan-
sponsorship of a god.
tage can be used to call upon characteristics of
Deity’s Name – The advantage is closely tied to a the symbol.
specific god.

Age of Legends
Archetypes
Header

The Demagogue
An agitator, rabble rouser and leader of the common people.

Aristocrat - A rich person looking to harness the power of the crowd.


Free Resist | Toughness
Organised Crime • Agorawise • Command • Toughness • Urban
Politician • Heckle • Oratory • Quick Wits • Will Power

Philosopher - A thinker who challenges the accepted wisdom.


Free Resist | Cunning
Con Artist • Cunning • Feint • Persuade • Self-Confidence
Philosopher • Debating • Focus • Gather Thoughts • Natural Philosophy

Preacher - Someone enthusiastically spreading the word of their god.


Free Resist | Willpower
Leader • Imagination • Inspiration • Embolden • Optimistic
Priest(ess) • Divine Favour • Oratory • Will Power

The Exile
Cast out from their polis, an exile is a foreigner wherever they go and is denied the protection and rights
granted to a citizen.

Criminal - After what you've just done, leaving town is for the best.
Free Resist | Dodge
Organised Crime • Concealed Weapons • Criminal Underworld • Toughness • Violent
Poverty • Dirty Fighting • Dodge • Scavenging • Wiry

Cultist - Exiled for your religious beliefs.


Free Resist | Will Power
Priest(ess) • Oratory • Patience • Prayer • Rites • Will Power
Wanted • Disguise • Paranoid • Ready To Run

Displaced Noble - After several attempts to gain power, your enemies sent you far away.
Free Resist | Healthy
Noble Birth • Healthy • Political Manoeuvring • Ride (Specify)
Spy • Beguile • Conversation • Keen Senses • Paranoid

99
Header
Archetypes

The Famous Athlete


The great panhellenic games combine politics and religion and only the very best are chosen to represent
their polis.

Boastful Winner - You were victorious in your event and you've made sure everyone knows it.
Free Resist | Speed
Panhellenic Athlete • Event Expertise (Specify) • Fame • Speed • Stamina
Performer • Command Attention • Expressive • Fashion • Projection

Cheat - A desire to win overcame good sense and you were caught cheating.
Free Resist | Swift
Pankration • Brawn • Painful Kick • Striking • Swift
Wanted • Beguile • Free Spirit • Paranoid • Ready To Run

Pedigree Winner - Child of a Olympic winner and mentored to maintain the family honour.
Free Resist | Speed
Mentored • Apprenticeship (Specify) • Loyalty • Toned • Well-Educated
Panhellenic Athlete • Event Expertise (Specify) • Fame • Inexhaustible • Speed

The Lowly
Some are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them, and some have to seize greatness however
they can.

Farmer - A life on a rural farm is all you knew before a god came calling.
Free Resist | Toughness
Craftsperson • Appraise • Craft (Specify) • Problem Solving • Tool Expertise (Specify)
Labourer • Animal Handling • Brawn • Tool Use • Toughness

Refugee - Someone who has fled the destruction of their home and is now forced to seek a new life.
Free Resist | Toughness
Sole Survivor • Get Up and Move • Scavenging • Tenacious • Toughness • Survival
Traveller • Alert • Adaptable • Engender Trust

Thief - Stealing is the way you avoided starvation.


Free Resist | Manual Dexterity
Poverty • Dirty Fighting • Scavenging • Urban • Wiry
Thief • Backstab • Greed • Lockpicking • Manual Dexterity

Age of Legends
Archetypes
Header

The Royal
Even in this age of democracy and oligarchies there are still powerful and noble bloodlines.

Dainty - Hard work is for the poor and fighting is for the bodyguards.
Free Resist | Healthy
Noble Birth • Etiquette • Family Wealth • Healthy • Political Manoeuvring
Philosopher • Analytical • Debating • Focus • Law

Devious - Politics and the arts of subterfuge are the best way to get what you want.
Free Resist | Cunning
Con Artist • Beguile • Cold Reading • Cunning • Persuade
Politician • Diplomacy • Heckle • Quick Wits • Will Power

Dirty - No future sovereign can be respected unless they've spilt blood.


Free Resist | Reflexes
Battle Veteran • Courage • Fame • Read the Battle • Reflexes
Divine Ancestry • Charismatic • Inheritance [Specify] • Luck • Unstoppable

The Soldier
War is a constant in Greece and there is always a need for competent warriors.

Hoplite - A veteran of many wars who always come back with their shield.
Free Resist | Shield Expertise
Martial Upbringing • Drilled • Selfless • Shield Expertise • Toned
Hoplite • Armour Use • Brawn • Defensive Stance • Weapon Expertise [Specify]

Skirmisher - A peltast or an archer who keeps away from the enemy's spear tips.
Free Resist | Dodge
Hunter • Speed • Stamina • Stealth • Track
Peltast • Dodge • Ranged Expertise [Specify] • Reflexes • Retreat

Officer - An experienced soldier who now commands his fellows on the field.
Free Resist | Weapon Expertise
Battle Veteran • Battle Plan • Courage • Reflexes • Shield Ally
Cavalry • Manual Dexterity • Mounted Charge • Ride (Specify)

101
Header
Archetypes

The Sorcerer
True magical abilities are rare and inspire fear and suspicion in the common people.

Witch - A sorcerer adept at changing the fortune of others.


Free Resist | Manual Dexterity
Sorcerer • Arcana • Curse • Focus • Sensitive Ward
Thief • Bully • Manual Dexterity • Stealth

Potion master - One who is capable of gathering their own ingredients for their powerful potions.
Free Resist | Falx
Sorcerer • Arcana • Curiosity • Herbology • Sensitive
Merchant • Appraise • Bargain • Falx • Shrewd

Mystic - A seer of hidden and strange truths.


Free Resist | Will Power
Sorcerer • Focus • Invokation • Rites
Priest(ess) • Devotion (Specify) • Divine Favour • Prayer • Seer • Will Power

The Traveller
For some, the fates conspire to keep them constantly on the move.

Forest Dweller - A nomad from the wild forests of Arcadia.


Free Resist | Ferocity
Hunter • Patience • Speed • Track • Weapon Expertise [Specify]
Raised By Animals • Animal Dominance • Climb • Keen Senses • Sprint

Porter - Hauling goods overland is hard and dangerous work.


Free Resist | Weapon Expertise
Scout • Keen Senses • Sure Footed • Weapon Expertise [Specify]
Traveller • Adaptable • Alert • People and Places • Stamina • Wayfinder

Explorer - One who has travelled great distances and got involved in many wondrous stories.
Free Resist | Brawn
Hero from Another Legend • Achilles' Heel • Arrogance • Dramatic Sense • Shrewd
Sailor • Brawn • Pilot Craft • Tiller Hands • Weather Sense

Age of Legends
Divine Favour
Header

A champion must be aware of how their Gaining Favour


There are many ways to gain the favour of the
actions are seen, both by their own patron divine beings but certain gods are attracted to certain
and by other gods. Gaining favour from types of deeds. The gods will favour any who ful-
fil their plans and foil the plans of their enemies.
one or more gods will inevitably earn the However, the way mortals go about their tasks is
displeasure of other gods. important and each god favours specific ways of
doing things. Actions such as defending a city loved
by a god will always gain mortals favour. If all else
What the Gods Know fails, the gods are not above flattery through prayer
Olympians and other divine beings are not omnis- and sacrifices. Mortals who pray often and observe
cient nor omnipresent. Their powers allow them to be religious festivals are more likely to have their pleas
present at, or to witness remotely, almost anywhere for help heard.
but their attention is limited. Much of their knowl-
edge comes from the prayers of their followers and a
god will only know of harm done against them if there
Losing Favour
All gods have symbols, things sacred to them.
are witnesses to report it. However, everybody prays
Showing proper respect to these things is important
to the gods. Any evidence the heroes leave behind,
and defiling them will incur a great deal of wrath. The
even the news of their presence in an area, will end
same applies to realms and each god guards their
up in someone's prayers. Mortals will be wise to
part of the world. The gods each have favoured cities
remember that whilst the gods are many things, they
and attacking, betraying or otherwise endangering
are not stupid. They can easily infer a connection
them will draw down the god's wrath.
between the characters arriving in a polis and the
Favour can also be lost by not displaying the
mysterious disappearance of a high priest.
virtues the gods prefer. Champions are chosen based
on their personal qualities and gods do not appreci-
Inter-deity Relationships ate those abilities being wasted. Wise mortals will
The web of friendships and allegiances in the avoid the hubris of speaking for their god. Failure to
divine world is important to the champions. Their complete a god's mission is not tolerated, though a
patrons' enemies become their enemies though their few gods may be more forgiving than others depend-
patrons' friends are not guaranteed to be friendly. As ing on how the failure happened. Finally, all of the
the characters progress through adventures, the twists gods are arrogant and will not tolerate impudence or
of fate may earn them favour from their divine enemies any challenge to their authority.
and displeasure from their patrons and friends.
The gods each have their own agenda beyond
the shared goal of keeping the Titans and foreign
Benefits of Favour
Being in the favour of other gods and not just
gods at bay. These plans revolve around defending
their patron will bring great boons to the heroes. The
their realms or gaining more power and are why the
scale of the benefit depends on the extent of the
Olympians have champions. A god's plan may be
favour and how the characters have attracted it. The
as significant as Hades ordering a blasphemer to be
gods alone choose how they show their good favour.
killed for mutilating corpses or as frivolous as getting
Heroes can ask for help, information or items, but
a whole city drunk in the name of Dionysus. Yet if the
must not appear pushy or demanding. A hero who
drinking leads to the city burning down or the mutila-
always needs assistance is of no use to a god.
tor of corpses was a skilled general holding back the
northern hordes, the champions may earn the disfa-
vour of many gods and the favour of just one. Blessings and Gifts
A blessing is a gift from the gods. It operates as a
status effect (see 6d6 RPG Core), and the value (CP) of
Keeping Tally the blessing and its duration are decided by the Game
Game Leaders do not need a detailed log of the
Leader. The blessing will take a form appropriate for the
ebb and flow of the gods' favour. It is too capricious to
realms and symbols of the god granting the boon.
be quantified. However, do keep notes of the charac-
It was common in the Age of Heroes for the
ters' actions. A god likes nothing better than to deny a
gods to give powerful or mysterious items to mortals.
favour to a mortal who has previously slighted them.
Hephaestus and Ares both have a history of this in

103
HeaderFAVOUR
Divine

particular. Game Leaders are encouraged to send


the heroes strange items which add interest to the
game. For example, a slightly better spear is less
interesting than a rope which comes to the owner's
hand when called, or a bottle of glue capable of
joining any two objects.
The gods choose their champions based
on their natural qualities. It is unwise to
ask the gods for the blessings of being
beautiful, strong or clever. Mortals should
strive to achieve these themselves and to
impress their patron with the great deeds
using these abilities.

Protection
A hero who enjoys the favour of a god
(their own patron or another) is protected
from the direct threats of other Olympians.
Often champions are unaware of how their
patron is protecting them as threats are dealt
with long before they trouble the character.
Sometimes the simple knowledge that a mortal
has the favour of a god will prevent others from
taking direct action. To circumvent such protection,
divine plans are often carried out at arm's length Smiting and Scheming
using mortals and other pawns. Rarely will a god to appear in person to smite a
character and even the most direct of gods prefers
to send a champion to kill an offending mortal. Less
Consequences of Disfavour brazen gods will arrange an accident, such as send-
The fate of a hero who falls into disfavour with
ing a fly to sting a horse while crossing a mountain
their patron varies depending on how it was earned.
pass so the rider is thrown from a cliff. Such direct
A hero who bores a patron god through inactivity or
attacks on a hero will force their patron to respond,
by not making use of their virtues can expect their
either to protect the mortal or to revenge their
god's power to be withdrawn. There will be omens
death. This makes it a dangerous course of action
indicating the god's displeasure and warnings that
for weaker gods.
further failure to be interesting will not be tolerated.
A god wishing to avoid direct confrontation with
Alternatively, a hero who defies or fails their patron
another god will revert to scheming against their
will find their god choosing a more direct and physi-
target. They will secretly undermine a hero so they
cal way to express their anger.
fail in their appointed tasks, forcing the champion's
own god to punish the mortal. The gods can be
Curses patient and malicious in their revenge, for example,
A curse is an unpleasant status effect, a haz- letting the hero witness the slow destruction of their
ard advantage, given by a god to a character. When reputation and wealth as part of a scheme to drive
cursing mortals the gods get creative. Cassandra's them to suicide. Surviving a god's spiteful scheme
famous curse was the 'gift' of accurate prophecy is the stuff of legend and nothing is more befitting
which no-one would ever believe. Others have been of a champion than outwitting a god. Champions
cursed to lie or tell the truth, or simply inflicted are however wise to avoid deliberately provoking the
with a disease. Rather than actively curse someone gods merely for an opportunity to outsmart them.
a god may remove a blessing bestowed by them- The gods hold grudges and a hero who earns
selves or another god. It does not have to be obvious the disfavour of a god can expect that god to keep
when this has happens as it amuses the gods to see interfering for a long time. Hera hounded Herakles for
mortals discovering the absence of a blessing at an years and Poseidon spent a whole decade trying to
inopportune time. kill Odysseus.

Age of Legends
Divine FAVOUR
Header

Winning Favour Losing Favour


Aphrodite • Loving with wanton passion. • Challenging her beauty.
• Getting revenge through manipulation. • Defianing of her schemes of love.

Apollo • Making a great work of art in his name. • Displaying hubris.


• Destroying a powerful servant of the • Damaging something beautiful.
Titans.
Ares • Winning a glorious battle. • Avoiding a fight through talking.
• Humiliating a champion of Athena. • Showing a lack of willpower.
Artemis • Protecting the honour of a child. • Challenging her hunting prowess.
• Conducting a glorious hunt for a • Damaging a place of natural beauty.
powerful beast.
Athena • Humiliating a champion of Ares. • Challenging her virtue.
• Using cunning to succeed in a • Choosing a blunt solution over an
desperate situation. original idea.
Demeter • Showing hospitality to enemies. • Scheming to take someone away from
• Defending the natural world. their mother.
• Destroying crops.
Dionysus • Freeing slaves from a cruel master. • Acting autocratically.
• Deliberately shunning local laws. • Being inhospitable to outsiders.
Hades • Ensuring funeral rites are observed even • Attempting to escape from the
when in danger. Underworld.
• Putting personal feelings aside to • Desecrating the dead.
ensure that fair justice is delivered.
Hera • Honouring a commitment at great • Breaking an oath.
personal risk. • Committing adultery.
• Aiding someone in fighting for what is
rightfully theirs.
Hecate • Saving someone through an act of • Crossing a border without the right to
vigilance. do so.
• Paying due honour to those that provide • Causing someone to become lost.
protection.
Hephaestus • Completing an exceptional work in • Mocking the lame.
metal or stone. • Denying someone their birthright.
• Being generous with skill and
possessions.
Hermes • Outwitting a god, especially Hermes • Betraying his trust.
himself. • Claiming moral authority.
• Humiliating someone who is very
pompous.
Hestia • Choosing diplomacy over violence. • Extinguishing a hearth fire, especially
• Bringing peace and order to a chaotic the city’s sacrificial flame.
place. • Interfering with worship of an Olympian.
Poseidon • Swearing an oath to worship him alone. • Putting another god before him.
• Punishing those who speak ill of him. • Claiming mastery over the sea.
Zeus • Performing an exceptionally dangerous • Aiding someone condemned by a
task to honour him. judgment of Zeus.
• Humiliating a Titanic agent. • Attempting to climb Mount Olympus.

105
Header Concerns
Mortal

Characters are susceptible to the Healing


Recovery for injury and illness is a slow process
physical wounds of battle and the self- and the Healing Throttle is set to once a week (see
inflicted damage of an enlarged ego. Page 38, 6d6 RPG Core).

Hubris Magic Healing


The wild magic of the Hellenic world is unsuita-
Hubris is excessive pride, tending towards arrogance
ble for healing. Magic is temporary, so a ward might
and a severe overestimation of one's own abilities, worth
stop or slow the effects of injury or disease but
and place in the world. What makes an act of hubris
never cure the causes. A hero affected by an injury
depends on individual circumstances but Greek mortals
no-one else can cure must travel to the nearest
and the gods regard it as a grave offence.
asclepeion and throw themselves on the mercy of
Ancient Greece values personal greatness. Pride
the compassionate Asclepius. Alternatively a cham-
and self-confidence are a big part of a hero's identity
pion could look to their god for healing, expending
and failing to celebrate one's own greatness is seen
their divine favour for a return to full health. While
as a weakness. The challenge for heroes is exhibit-
it might be in the patron god’s interest to keep their
ing greatness and self-confidence without falling into
hero alive, the gods do not offer healing lightly.
hubris. Many heroes have failed this challenge and
The hero is there to solve the god’s problem, not to
suffered for it; such a fate is part of Greek tragedy and
become a problem for the god.
almost expected of heroes. The gods want mortals to
do great deeds in their name but heroes must remem-
ber their place as mortals. Recovery Actions
Few character advantages in Age of Legends are
directly applicable to healing. Champions will often
Mortals, Gods and Hubris be relying on advantages such as Manual Dexterity
To mortals, an act of hubris is an act of contempt
for stitching wounds and Problem Solving for treat-
– the belief that other mortals are below them and the
ing diseases. Recovery actions commonly involve
justification for their ill-treatment. This is a particularly
only 2d6 or 3d6.
common problem amongst rulers and the rich. These
Characters will be at the mercy of local heal-
acts of hubris centre on shaming and humiliating oth-
ers who are little better than the characters. Their
ers. The offender believes they are so far above their
skills range from 1d6+1 to 3d6+3. A healer's skill
victim that the rules of honour and decency no longer
is often related to the size of settlement they are in
apply. In the eyes of immortals, hubris is when a
but there are exceptions. The wizened hag in the
mortal aspires beyond their station. Icarus claimed he
tiny hamlet could prove to be a 3d6+3 expert while
could fly, a power the gods have not granted to mortal
the charismatic healer treating the king may be a
man, so Helios melted his wings.
1d6+1 butcher. Characters who reach an asclepeion
Acts of hubris will attract the unwanted attention of
will find their treatment better. Senior priests may
both mortals and gods, though it is the gods who are a
be as good as 4d6+4 but people of this skill level
hero's biggest worry. When Achilles considered himself
are almost unique.
above the mortal Hector it was not enough for him to kill
Situation bonuses to recovery actions are
the Trojan, but in hubris he sought to humiliate him too.
allowed. Anyone who enjoys complete bed rest for a
Achilles defiled Hector's body and dragged it behind his
week will gain a 1d6+0 bonus. Special effort placed
chariot, earning the hero the anger of both mortals and
into gathering the best and rarest herbs also justifies
immortals. The gods ensured Achilles received a painful
a bonus.
death while mortals gave Hector's body a proper burial.
The lack of skilled healing coupled with the
Mortals who aspire to greatness are lauded by the
slow healing throttle results in characters carrying
gods and rewarded with an afterlife in the Isles of the
injuries for long periods. The toll of lots of small
Blessed. Mortals who place themselves above other mor-
injuries gained during a long odyssey often proves
tals or who claim the power of immortals are committing
fatal for a character.
hubris and are condemned to Tartarus. This is a fine line
to tread but players and Game Leaders should revel in
the rise of a Champion and their fall into hubris. The
gods are always happy to use Champions as a morality
tale for mortals.

Age of Legends
Header
Signs

Communication with the gods is Omens


Omens are messages from the gods used to
indirect and relies on the art of divination. make simple points. An omen may show disfavour,
A god's power is so great that even seeing point the champions in a particular direction, warn
of a great danger, or indicate whether the champions
them can kill a human and the gulf of are on the right course. The role of priests is to read
understanding between mortals and the these omens and interpret them, which makes them
the mouthpieces of the gods.
divine precludes direct communication. The nature of the omen depends on which god
The gods also thrive on intrigue and is speaking and what they are saying. A god will use
their own symbols and realms to identify them-
scheming, preferring to be obtuse and let selves, so Zeus may communicate by having an eagle
mortals struggle to understand them. circle the city and Hermes might make a herd of
goats disobey their shepherd. How subtle the omen
is depends on the message and the god's opinion of
Divination is used for communication with
the mortals. Hera might send a peacock to peck a
the gods. Priests skilled in it may ask questions
champion in the night to show disfavour, Apollo could
through rituals and interpret the responses which
have a python eating a doll to warn a character of
come in the form of omens. Divination works in
a dragon and Poseidon might use an earthquake to
the following ways:
show displeasure.
An omen may be sent by any divine being,
•  Omens: The gods influence the environ- including the Titans or the Primordial gods such as
ment to communicate their opinions or wishes. Gaia. The primordials are even further removed from
Omens may be sent by a god unprompted or in mortals than the Olympians and Titans, so their
response to a question. omens are more metaphysical. Omens from Titans
depend on the god and can range from taunts to
•  Portents: These are always present in the outright deceptions.
environment and show the overall mood of the
gods. They indicate whether the future will be
positive or negative.
Omens in Play
The Game Leader should place omens into their nar-
rative and not rely on a character's action to spot them.
•  Rituals: These involve a ceremony to
It is left to the players to notice the omen in the Game
attract the gods attention and a prayer to
Leader's words. While interpretation of the omen is best
ask the question. The gods respond with
done through role playing, players may call on suitable
omens either during the ritual or afterwards.
advantages to take a character action as a player cannot
be expected to have such a keen sense of omens as a
•  Consulting Oracles: A few mortals can read
native of Ancient Greece. A successful action gives the
fates and deliver prophecies. Their other func-
champion the omen's message, and good rolls and role
tion is to act as a channel to allow the gods to
playing should be rewarded with extra detail. Poor rolls on
have a brief conversation with mortals without
the action will cause a misinterpretation.
killing them.
For example, a comet streaks over the city from the
north and smashes a farmhouse to pieces. A successful
•  Visitation: The gods can disguise themselves
interpretation action will reveal a warning from Zeus that a
to talk to mortals in person without reveal-
battle is coming the next day. If the roll was very good the
ing who they are. An example of this is Hera
characters will realise Zeus is warning that barbarians will
appearing to Jason as an old women, just to
raid the city tomorrow and the king will die in the fighting
make sure he lost his sandal and to manipu-
unless protected. A poor roll leads to the conclusion that
late a prophecy into playing out her way.
Zeus favours the city but hates that farmer.
Nothing compels a person interpreting an omen
to tell the truth. They can lie about the omen's mean-
ing or use it to manipulate people, but consequences
can be dire if the gods find out someone has had the
hubris to speak in their name.

107
Header
Signs

Portents Rituals
Portents differ from omens as they don't commu- A ritual is an attempt to forge a direct connec-
nicate a specific message or refer to a particular per- tion between the divine and mortal worlds. It is the
son or place. Instead, they communicate the general only form of divination where champions can directly
mood of a god and a vague idea of the future. Whilst ask questions of the gods. Each ritual consists of two
omens are sent specifically by a god for a reason, elements: the ceremony to attract the god's atten-
portents are always present and may be read at any tion and the prayer to ask the question. The ritual
time. They are divine mood music. Greeks seek out will take several hours and involve dance, sacrifices
portents when making important decisions, however of food or animals, and prayers. The more elaborate,
the answers they find will always be in vague terms time-consuming and costly the ritual is, the bet-
such as 'the future bodes well' or 'the god is angry'. ter. It may be performed anywhere, though a temple
Portents are not sent by the gods but occur natu- or shrine to the god is the most appropriate place.
rally as a minor form of prophecy. They are small, Game Leaders may award situation bonuses to the
apparently unimportant events which indicate a larger champion's attempt at divination based on the loca-
trend. Game Leaders should weave minor details into tion and nature of ritual employed.
the narrative which may or may not be portents of the During the ritual the champion may impart
future. The portents are linked to a god's realms or information to their god and the climax is asking the
symbols. A bright sunny sky means Zeus is content; a question. Champions are wise to avoid asking any-
roiling sea shows that Poseidon is angry again; and a thing which they should know or be able to work out
festival which falls flat shows Dionysus is upset. themselves as the gods take a dim view of lazy cham-
Players wishing to read the portents for a glimpse pions. Likewise, repeatedly asking for information will
of the future may take a suitable action or pay a irritate the god.
priest to do likewise. The future can be seen in the Carrying out rituals with due decorum is a skill
behaviour of animals, e.g. birds scratching at the and some characters can do it, or they may rely on
ground and finding nothing can indicate a future of priests. Players may increase the chance of a ritual
poverty. Extispicy uses the colour, smell and shapes working though good role playing (e.g. appropriate
of a sacrificial animal's entrails to divine the future. behaviour during the ritual) or by sacrificing some-
Alternatively, the stars can be studied. Planetary thing important to the character. A well-performed
alignments and equinoxes are signs of great events, ritual will please the god who will provide an answer
while comets, eclipses and meteor showers foretell to the question. A failed ritual might fail to attract
something dramatic. Regardless of the method used the god's attention or fail to engage them sufficiently
the portent will always be vague. to answer the question.
Once the ritual is complete, the god will
respond over the next few hours with an omen. A
better ritual will provide a clear, more easily under-
stood omen. Portents may also give hints to the
gods take on the question.

Age of Legends
Header
Signs

Consulting Oracles Consultation and Channelling a God


An oracle is a seer chosen by a god as a To consult an oracle the champions must gain
conduit for prophecies and their divine voice. an audience with them. In principle any Greek
An oracle can read the fates of some mortals or can visit an oracle, but the servants of the gods
places as a form of a prophecy. They may be used who control access to the oracle favour those with
by their patron god as a direct channel allowing wealth and power. Of course the priests have their
mortals a brief conversation with the divine before own agendas which may alter how soon the oracle
the oracle is exhausted. When not dealing with can grant an audience.
prophecies or channelling the thoughts of a god, A simple consultation with an oracle, to draw
the word of an oracle is still valued. They speak to on their mortal knowledge, takes the form of a cer-
mortals at all levels of society, are told numerous emony where the attending priests announce the
secrets and have a great deal of insight into affairs champions and the oracle accepts their question.
of the world. The oracle will give the sagest answer they can
Oracles are revered for their direct connec- without using any divine power or prophecy.
tion to their patron god and temples are built to Those seeking prophecy must likewise seek an
provide protection and control access. The most audience but the ceremony is a direct appeal to
famous oracle is at Delphi and dedicated to Apollo, the god. It is a longer, more elaborate ritual and
god of prophecy. Kings and Tyrants are drawn to another way for the oracle's guardians to control
Delphi by the power of Apollo's patronage and con- the flow of information. A poorly performed service
sult the oracle before they make the most impor- will offend the god and no information is likely
tant decisions. Consultations may involve talking to be forthcoming. If the ritual is successful the
to Apollo through the oracle, or just talking to the oracle will make a single prophecy, answering the
oracle herself for guidance. Any message the gods appellant's question.
wish the whole world to hear is delivered through The final form of consultation involves chan-
Delphi. nelling the god. An even more expensive and
elaborate ritual is required before the oracle may
attempt to become the voice of their god. If it is
Prophecy successful the characters can converse with the
Prophecies are predictions of the future and
god, though only briefly, and even these answers
their delivery is part of an oracle's role. The gods
will be vague or ambiguous. Speaking directly to
do not create or control prophecies and have no
a god is not without risk and the wrong word may
more power to defy them than mortals. It is the
insult them and earn their wrath.
gods who choose who can be a conduit for proph-
The delivery of prophecies and the channelling
ecies. While they often choose a famous oracle,
of a god's thoughts are powerful tools in the game.
sometimes a prophecy may be delivered by a ram-
Their use relies on the whim of gods and the fates
bling madman or talking animal.
so Game Leaders decide when they work and what
A prophecy is an exceptionally powerful force
information is revealed. Oracles are a tool with
in the world. Yet prophecies are subtle, rarely fully
which the Game Leader can enrich the game, not
understood and frequently fulfilled by someone's
an easy way for players to solve an adventure.
attempts to avoid them. The rise of Zeus came
about due to Cronus' attempt to subvert a prophecy.
It is this subtlety which makes them so interesting Visitations
and a rich source of good role play opportunities. The sight of a god in their true form kills mortals
They are an excellent way to frame an adventure in an instant, so when a god wishes to appear before
and to foreshadow its events. The prophecy should a person they must do so in disguise. The gods like to
be phrased vaguely so that the champions will test mortals' true characters and appearing incognito
only understood each part when it has already is a good way to do achieve this. Often a character
come true, or at least when it is too late to change will never realise the old hag they insulted or the
much. Gods may take advantage of prophecies lame man they helped was a god until much later.
to manipulate events as Athena did with Jason
and the sandal. The champions may try to do this
themselves.

109
Header
Oaths

In a society which values personal Oaths are sworn on something precious, such
as the honour or life of the swearer. This is the
honour and achievement, swearing an oath ante or bet the oath-taker is staking and it will be
is a serious undertaking. Oaths invoke the forfeit if they fail. The oath-taker can put anything
of value to themselves at stake in the oath but the
gods and have a magic of their own which higher its value the more likely the gods will listen.
applies to both mortals and immortals. The consequences of failing the oath and losing
their stake must be significant. This is not a game
Anyone deliberately breaking an oath mechanic but something to be role played and the
becomes a social pariah and angers the Game Leader must make the oath-taker's failure a
real price to the character.
gods. Champions who break an oath are Oaths are magical and the oath-taker can
reviled for betraying everything a Greek, swear on something they value but do not control.
For example, swearing an oath on the honour of
mortal or immortal, values. However, oaths their home city. Even if the oath was secret, those
bring power and those who uphold their affected will know through omens and portents of
the champion's failure. The people of the city will
oaths are loved by the gods and the people. turn their backs on the champion, banning them
By swearing an oath a person declares they are from the city on pain of death, and their name will
dedicated to completing a task, with great cost to become a curse word. As the city they love loses
themselves if they fail. Each oath is sworn in the honour and prestige through disasters and defeats,
name of a god, either to complete the task in their the helpless champion can do nothing but watch.
name or to ask the god for their aid in the task. If Oaths only have power because the personal conse-
the cause is worthy and the god is paying atten- quences for the oath-taker are meaningful.
tion the mortal will be granted aid. In the game an
oath becomes a status effect usable as an advan-
tage or as a hazard against the character if they
Suitable Oaths
The task the oath-taker commits themselves to
betray the oath.
must be something important and on a grand scale.
It must be above and beyond what is expected of
Swearing an Oath an ordinary citizen. A caravan guard cannot swear
See 'Love, Oaths & Missions' on page 92 of the to kill the bandit shooting at the traders, as that's
6d6 RPG Core for the rules on taking an oath (Haz- already their job. However, if she loves the lead
ards & Dangers). This section covers how oaths work trader's son who has been taken as a slave, the
in the Hellenic world. guard can swear an oath to track down the bandits
Oaths consist of three parts: the name of a god, and free him.
the price the oath-taker is willing to pay if they fail To be meaningful the task must be possible but
and the task to which the oath-taker is committing very difficult. Swearing to do something that is easy
themselves. The gods whose name is invoked may will be mocked by mortals and by the gods who will
be the champion's patron or the god within whose judge, and may punish, the swearer for taking oaths
realm the task falls. A hero swearing to defend lightly. Impossible tasks such as exterminating the
the borders of a city may call on Hecate while one Persian Empire are similarly ridiculed.
swearing to slay their enemies may call on Ares. The Mortals who wish to please the gods must
more appropriate the god, the more likely the god is avoid hubris in their oaths and not attempt actions
to take notice of the oath. reserved for divine beings. Hubris is despised by all
The swearing of an oath can take any form and gods, so an oath to serve Ares by killing Athena will
be as public or private as the champion wishes. anger both of them - mortals cannot kill gods. Any-
Oaths taken in an elaborate ceremony performed in one taking such an oath will find the gods have very
a temple attended by priests are no different from inventive ways of punishing hubris.
oaths shouted across a noisy battlefield in the heat
of the moment.

Age of Legends
Header
Magic

Completing an Oath Ancient Greece is a magical place


Once the sworn task is completed the character
where mortal sorcerers and magicians work
loses the status effect granted by swearing the oath.
They gain the favour of whichever god was named in their arts. They are few in number but all
the oath and attract the favour of Hera, goddess of
immortals, from gods to nymphs, are capable
oath keepers. Oracles and portents will spread the
news of the success quickly throughout Greece and of magic. Champions cannot afford to ignore
the champion will win renown as a person of honour
or be ignorant of magic. It is a wild, natural
and skill whose word can be trusted. Stories will be
told of their great deeds and even their enemies will force, totally separate from the divine power
respect them.
of the gods, but the two can be combined.

Failing an Oath
Failure to complete an oath brings shame, but Game Magic
this is mitigated if the champion made an hon- Age Of Legends uses an open magic system
est attempt to fulfil it. Dying in a failed attempt is without fixed lists of possible spells. The only limit
always considered an honourable act and will count on using magic is the inventiveness of the player and
favourably when the mortal is judged in the Under- the character having appropriate advantages to use
world. in an action. However, at least one advantage with
Regardless of how honest the character's efforts the Magic keyword must be used and these are quite
to fulfil the oath were, whatever was staked on the rare. Although the game allows characters to do any-
oath is forfeit. How this occurs is up to the Game thing with magic, the gods have their own ideas. The
Leader and the loss may not be immediate. A cham- full force of Zeus' anger will come down on anyone
pion who swore on their life that barbarians will not using magic to raise the dead, grant immortality or
breach the city gate might not die when the city is aspire to godly levels of power.
invaded. In Greek culture someone who has sworn Actions using magic obey the same rules as any
on their life but didn't die is expected to take their other action. Without keywords like Range (x) or
own life. Alternatively, fate will find a fitting end for Area (x) it is difficult to affect more than one person
the champion in the near future. or anyone at a distance. The effect of time, both
The final consequence of failure is that the time spent casting the magic and the duration of its
oath will be unfulfilled and count against the hero effects, also follows the standard rules. See 'Action
when they stand before the Judges of the Dead. It will Scope' and 'Time for Actions' on pages 28-31 of the
hamper entry into the Isles of the Blessed, perhaps 6d6 Core RPG.
condemning the soul to Erebus. The success or fail- The magical advantages included in the charac-
ure of an oath will have repercussions after a hero's ter paths focus on placing status effects on friends
death. and enemies (see Status Effects, 6d6 RPG Core page
40). Helpful effects are known as wards and harmful
effects are curses. The advantages' keywords limit
Giving up an Oath the magic's range, area and duration but two advan-
To give up or renege on the terms of an oath
tages - Invokation and Herbology - may change this.
invokes the wrath of mortals and gods alike. The
god invoked in the oath will curse the mortal and
other gods are likely to make the champion's life Casting
difficult. Hera the goddess of oath keepers will be When a character attempts to perform magic
most angered and will seek to make an example of they must roll against the resistance. The degree
the champion. Mortals everywhere will reject the of success sets the CP and dice value of the status
oath-breaker and they will find every door and gate effect. An opponent targeted by magic sets the resist-
slammed in their faces. On their death, oath-break- ance by the advantages they use in their resistance
ers are destined for Tartarus. action plus any situation bonuses they gain for range,
area and other factors. Spells targeted at inanimate
objects or helpless creatures have a base resistance
of one plus any dice for situation bonuses.

111
Header
Magic

The Wards and Curses advantages have the Time like curses, only last a single scene unless the caster
(Round) keyword, meaning casting magic requires a extends it with a suitable increase in the resistance.
full round action (see 6d6 RPG Core). This leaves the
caster exposed while working the magic. As per the
6d6 RPG Core rules the casting time can be short-
A Magical World
Wards and curses can be placed on objects and
ened or lengthened, granting situation bonuses to
locations. This is no different from using it on people
one side or the other. Similarly, the duration of a sta-
except that inanimate objects never resist but do gain
tus effect is a single scene but this can be increased
situation bonuses. Placing a curse or a ward on an
or decreased with a corresponding change in situa-
object being used or carried by a creature is the same
tion bonuses.
as targeting the creature themselves. A curse or ward
placed on an area or object will automatically affect
Curses everyone using or passing through it. Making a ward
Curses are detrimental status effects, also known or curse selective increases the inherent difficulty of
as hazards. A list of common hazards is provided in the magic and raises the resistance.
this book, and players are encouraged to create their Any character with magical skills or an innate
own. Attempting to place a curse on a target provokes magical or divine nature can sense the presence of
a resistance action from the target. The defender may a ward or curse with a suitable action. The CP of the
use their own magic to defend themselves, disrupt ward determines the difficulty in detecting it.
the caster's magic by attacking them, call on their Wards and curses are not opposites and do not
divine power as a champion or rely on the strength cancel each other out. The status effects stack up and
of their soul to shake off the danger. What type of continue to afflict and aid the character accordingly.
advantages are useful when resisting magic depends
on the characters and the situation and is left to the
group to decide.
Herbology
Herbology is the use of plants and minerals
Successfully placing a curse on a target does not
to create wards or curses. The advantage is much
cause any harm directly. The consequences of the
slower than casting magic thanks to its Time (Scene)
curse depend on the hazard placed on the target but
keyword. The resulting potion must be consumed
in general the curse either attacks the target during
or spread on the target and thus is of little use in
their turn or impedes their ability to act.
combat. However herbology is very powerful for two
Curses can be removed or undone before their
reasons: there is no resistance to its effects and the
duration is complete by an action that overcomes
potions can be stored, ready for use.
the hazard's CP value (as per 6d6 RPG Core). What
To create a potion, salve, poultice or other herbal
type of action is needed to remove a curse is left to
remedy the character takes an action, playing advan-
the imagination of the players. Unless the caster of
tages and potential as normal. They must specifically
the curse specified otherwise when placing the curse
declare the nature of the potion (i.e. the hazard / sta-
(and accepted the situation bonuses for this), curses
tus effect it will impart to the victim). Any changes to
disappear at the end of a scene. Curses placed on
the normal duration of the status effect or other situ-
characters by gods or other divine beings may have
ation bonuses such as the inherent difficulty add to
longer durations or even be persistent (see 6d6 RPG
the resistance against the action. The action's degree
Core, page 91).
of success sets the potion's CP and dice value.
Anyone who uses the potion will automatically gain
Wards the ward or curse at that CP / dice value. There is no
Wards are the reverse of curses. They are posi- resistance to this. The 'shelf-life' of a potion is usu-
tive status effects which add temporary advantages to ally one week. The character may extend this when
a character. These can be used in actions or in other creating the potion but it adds to the resistance. See
ways, exactly like an advantage paid for with CP. This Time Scale in the 6d6 RPG Core.
includes the need to use potential on the advantage NOTE: The magical effects of the potion are
when making use of them. automatic, however tricking a creature into consum-
A person willingly accepting a ward offers no ing a potion or applying a salve to a hostile foe is not
resistance other than the minimum of one. This is easy. This always requires an action against which
increased by situation bonuses for range, area and the victim can defend with a resistance action. If the
other factors. Anyone may choose to resist a ward action fails (i.e. the victim successfully resists) the
just as they can resist a curse, but normally placing potion is ruined and the action cannot be attempted
wards is a lot easier than cursing someone. Wards, again without a new potion.

Age of Legends
Magic Examples
Header
Signs

Curses
Androbulos launches a horrible itching curse at the thief Melegros using his Arcana, Curse,
Sorcerer and Willpower advantages. Melegros uses his Divine Aura, Spear and Brawn to resist the curse.
Androbulos rolls a 14, beating Melegros' nine, and the curse is successful. The degree of success
is 5, so the curse has a CP of 5 and a dice value of 1d6+1. Unless Melegros removes the curse,
his actions will be hampered by the 1d6+1 of distracting itches.

Marpessa wants to punish the people of a village who have forsaken her patron god by inflicting
nightmares on them. That evening she sneaks down to the edge of the village and uses her Curse,
Discipline, Focus, Champion of Aphrodite and Invokation advantages for an action worth 5d6+3. Because
the Invokation advantage has the Time (Session) keyword it takes her an entire evening to cast the
curse. Normally she would not be able to cast a curse targeting the whole village without massive
situation bonuses resisting her, but the Invokation advantage allows her to ignore this. The Game
Leader rules that to be an effective punishment the night terrors must last all night. In game terms
this is a session, which is longer than the scene a curse normally lasts, so the resistance increases
by 2d6+0. Everyone in the village is a 1d6+0 mook (adding 1d6+0 to the resistance) and the
Game Leader decides to roll once for the entire settlement. The Game Leader also adds 1d6+0 for
the difficulty of such subtle magics, giving a total resistance of 4d6+0. With a roll of 23 Marpessa
beats the resistance of 10. Everyone in the village is terrorised by CP 13 / 1d6+3 nightmares. This
is enough to give most of the 1d6+0 mooks the worst night's sleep of their lives. In the morning
the villagers begin building a new shrine to Aphrodite.

Wards
Phanias knows that he is about to go into a dangerous ice cave. Unused to the cold, he casts
a ward on himself using Focus, Sorcerer and Ward for 3d6+3. Suspecting the cave is very deep, he
extends the duration of the ward from a scene to a session which adds 2d6+0 to the resistance.
Obviously Phanias is not resisting the ward himself and there are no situation bonuses for range
or area so the total resistance is 2d6+0. The Game Leader only rolled four on the two dice but
Phanias scored 11 on his. This is a degree of success of 7. He now has a Resist Cold advantage
worth 1d6+2 which will last for the next few hours.

Rhodope does not want anyone passing through the door to the guest quarters where she
and her daughter will be sleeping that night. She casts a ward on the doorway with her Cunning,
Champion of Hecate, Magic (Realm) and Sorcerer advantages. The door is the size of a normal human and
there is no range so there is no resistance except for the 2d6+0 for extending the duration to the
entire night (a session). Rolling 16 against 6, the ward is worth CP 10 / 1d6+3. Now anyone trying
to open the door (including Rhodope) will find it is jammed and it needs an action to overcome the
1d6+3 of warding.

Herbology
Parthenope wants to subtly remove a guard who is in her way. Using her Herbology, some herbs
(mundane equipment) and her Natural Philosophy she creates a potion that will give the guard
hideous stomach cramps represented by the Pained hazard. Rolling 3d6+1 she gets a 12 CP
potion. Drunkenly staggering up to the guard, waving a bottle, she attempts to trick the guard into
accepting a drink. The guard's 1d6+0 is no match for Parthenope's Bluff and he is tricked into
drinking. Moments later the guard is doubled over in agony as the CP 12 / 1d6+3 hazard takes
effect. Parthenope steps past the guard and heads into the temple.
Header
Paths & Lists

Character Paths
Battle Veteran
Cavalry
Champion of Aphrodite
Champion of Apollo
Champion of Ares
Champion of Artemis
Champion of Athena
Champion of Demeter
Champion of Dionysus
Champion of Hades
Champion of Hecate
Champion of Hera
Champion of Hephaerstus
Champion of Hermes
Champion of Hestia
Champion of Poseidon
Champion of Zeus
Con Artist
Craftsperson
Divine Ancestry
Hero from Another Legend
Hoplite
Hunter
Labourer
Martial Upbringing
Mentored
Merchant
Noble Birth
Organised Crime
Panhellenic Athlete
Pankration
Peltast
Performer
Philosopher
Politician
Poverty
Priest(ess)
Raised by Animals
Reincarnated
Sailor
Scout
Sole Survivor
Sorcerer
Spy
Thief
Traveller
Wanted

Lists
Melee Weapons
Ranged Weapons
Shields and Armour
Hazards

Age of Legends
Battle Veteran Static Courage Reflexes
Path Life, Soul Body, Life

A survivor of more than one battle- Unflinching in the face of danger. You are possessed of superior speed
field, either by retreat or victory. when reacting.
Fame Static
Battlefield Static Feat Shield Ally Static
Environment Aid Resist
Word of your deeds has spread
A site of combat between many throughout Greece. If an adjacent ally is attacked and you
people. are carrying a shield, you may contrib-
Not Quite Dead Static ute to their defence.
Battle Plan Free, Opportunity, Recovery
Aura (2), Skill, Status [Body]

Help others fight by giving them an When the last Life card is lost a
effective battle plan. Success creates recovery action may be attempted,
a Mission advantage. but only on Body advantages.

Cautious Read the Battle


Life, Mind Free, Opportunity+

Careful assessment of risk before tak- Experience allows anticipation of


ing action. people's moves. This advantage may
be used for free in Opportunity, Aid
Resist and Aid Other actions.

Cavalry Static Mounted Charge Static Ride (Specify)


Path Melee Free [Specify], Movement, Skill

A fighter trained for combat on the Use a mount's speed and size as part Control and direct a particular type of
back of a mount. of a melee attack. Move a minimum mount (horse, camel etc). The Free
of MR3 and a maximum of MR6, end- keyword applies to the equipment
Animal Empathy ing at the target, as part of the attack. advantage for the specified mount.
Skill
Mounted Jump Weapon Expertise [Specify]
Sense emotions and intent from
Movement, Skill Dice, Skill
animals.
Leap over obstacles as part of a move. Skilled in using a particular type
Balance The Movement Resistance of obsta- of weapon such as bows, swords or
Body, Life cles is reduced by 3 to a minimum knives. Reroll ones on the dice.
of 1.
Senses of balance and proprioception.

Overrun Static
Brawn
Skill
Body, Life
Your mount's speed and size enables
Physical strength.
you to enter and leave an opponent's
square without provoking a resistance
Manual Dexterity
action.
Body, Life

Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-


ness.

115
Champion of Aphrodite Static Love Static Quip Static
Champion, Path, Realm Opportunity, Range (1),
Status
A hero of the goddess of vain beauty. The love and affection for people,
things and concepts is part of Aphro- A cutting remark designed to belit-
Beauty Static dite's domain. tle someone. Use when someone has
Realm just failed in an action, to inflict the
Manipulation Enraged status on the target.
All things of beauty are part of Aphro-
Skill, Control
dite's domain.
Rose
Force someone to act against their
Symbol
Dove will by using their emotions and
Symbol desires. A fragrant flower whose beauty con-
ceals a threat.
A gentle creature, representative of
Mirror
peace and calm.
Symbol Wilful
Life, Mind
Grace Reflections do not lie, showing things
Body, Life as they truly are. Having or showing a stubborn and
determined intention to do as one
Poised and smooth in movement.
wants, regardless of the conse-
quences.

Champion of Apollo Static Overreact Restoring Performance


Champion, Path Double [Passion] Aura (5), Recovery [Status]

A devout hero of the god known as the Passion and a hot temper leads to A performance so glorious it lifts
divine example. rash actions of excessive emotion and status effects from all nearby.
violence.
Knowledge Static Snakes
Realm Passion Symbol
Life, Soul
All knowledge is part of Apollo's Sinuous reptiles that are silent
domain. Strong and barely-controlled emotion. ambush predators.

Lyre Physical Beauty


Symbol Life, Body

An eloquent stringed instrument, sub- Possessing an athletic beauty.


tly giving both rhythm and nuance.
Raven
Music and Poetry Static Symbol
Realm
The black bird of portent is a cunning
The power to touch others through eater of carrion.
music and verse is the power of
Apollo.

Age of Legends
Champion of Ares Static Destruction Static Shock Charge Static
Champion, Path Ares, Realm Movement, Blast (2d6)

A heroic servant of the god known as Ares empowers acts that destroy and Move with such speed and violence
the unforgiven soldier. bring about the end of people and the very air shatters. The blast occurs
objects. at the end of the movement.
Aggression
Life, Mind Fear Static Vulture
Realm Symbol
Feelings of anger or antipathy result-
ing in hostile or violent behaviour. All fear belongs to Ares. A large opportunistic carrion bird
which preys upon the helpless, the
Bloodlust Hounds dying and the dead.
Life, Soul Symbol

A love of violence and battle. Aggressive dogs of war, causing panic


and relentlessly pursuing their prey.
Chaos Static
Realm Rend
Weapon Exp.+, Double (Melee
The domain of Ares includes the
Weapon)
absence of order and control.
Cleave, rip, lacerate and tear an
enemy's flesh.

Champion of Artemis Static Focus Trick Shot


Champion, Path LIfe, Mind Feat

A hero serving Artemis, the chaste The ability to concentrate and block The ability to use the environment to
hunter. out distractions. perform an otherwise impossible shot.

Bear Hunting Static The Wild Static


Symbol Realm Realm

A large and powerful predator which Artemis' power is in the thrill of the Artemis is at home far from the works
applies its strength with dexterity and chase and the glory of the kill. of man and empowers her champions
brains. to protect the natural world.
Keen Senses
Buzzard Body, Life
Symbol
Accurate and effective perception of
An opportunist bird of prey which the world around.
elegantly swoops down on its prey.
Stalk
Deer Movement
Symbol
Stealthy movement. Movement
A beast of the woods known not only actions using this advantage while
for its excellent perception, fast hidden do not incur the normal situa-
reflexes and grace but also for its tion bonuses for Run actions.
fearsome antlers.

117
Champion of Athena Static Inspiration Owl
Champion, Path Life, Soul Symbol

A devout follower of Athena, the Being suddenly possessed by an A silent twilight hunter, known for its
heroic strategist. impulse or idea. great wisdom.

Aegis Leadership Strategy Static


Aid Resist, Range (1) Aura (2), Status Realm

Always ready to help in the defence Able to motivate followers, giving Athena blesses those who are well-
of allies. them a Mission advantage to aid them prepared and focused on their goals.
in their task.
Analytical
Life, Soul Mathematics Static
Realm
Rigorous in the use of logic.
The world of numbers and trigonom-
Heroism Static etry is part of the domain of Athena.
Realm
Olive Tree
The power of Athena runs through
Symbol
selfless acts of bravery.
A stout tree that is hardy against heat
and drought.

Champion of Demeter Static Growth Static Seasons Static


Champion, Path Realm Realm

A hero serving the goddess known as The power to influence the growth of Demeter's power is in the rhythms
the mourning teacher. living things is imbued in Demeter's and changes of cycles which cannot
champions. be stopped.
Cornucopia
Symbol Harvest Static Plant Anima
Realm Range (3)
A goat's horn overflowing with fruit,
flowers and grain which indicates The power of Demeter is in those who The spirit of Demeter floods into
a blessed future of prosperity and collect the fruits of their labour. nearby plants which whip at and
growth. strangle a target.
Poppy
Endurance Symbol
Body, Life
A symbol of peace, this delicate
The ability to exert great effort over a blood-red flower rises from ruin and
prolonged time. brings with it relief from suffering.

Force Cycle Static Protective


Feat, Range (2), Status Life, Soul

Force a living thing to move into the The desire to protect those you care
next stage of its life, either growth or about.
decay.

Age of Legends
Champion of Dionysus Static Freedom Static Leopard
Champion, Path Realm Symbol

Heroic champion of the god known as All those who choose liberty from An agile predator of great speed and
the dancing outsider. social constraints are blessed with stealth.
Dionysus' power.
Cheerful Theatre Static
Life, Soul Foreigner Realm
Skill
A positive and lively approach to life. Dionysus' domain encompasses all
Different from those about you but those who perform, write or stage
Dance Step able to use those cultural differences plays, and the places they work their
Movement to your benefit. art.

To move with speed, grace and


Impulsive Wine
rhythm.
Life, Soul Symbol

Ecstasy Static An instinct to act and react without A sweet liquid that removes inhibi-
Realm forethought. Use this advantage for tions and sorrows.
Free with any Opportunity or Aid
All those seeking or enjoying over-
Resist advantage.
whelming happiness are in Dionysus'
domain.

Champion of Hades Static Just Stern


Champion, Path Life, Soul Life, Mind

The god of unyielding justice is served Honourable and fair in one's words Severe in manner. Firm, unyielding
by steadfast followers. and actions. and uncompromising in character.

Darkness Keys See Soul


Symbol Symbol Skill

The absence of light and knowledge. Devices which can secure or open Able to sense the presence of souls
A place where dangers lurk and fears portals. and some of their qualities.
grow.
Underground Static
Funerals Static Realm
Realm
Hades' domain is everywhere under
Hades empowers those who treat the the earth and his power is great.
dead with respect and send souls to
the Underworld in a proper manner. Necromancy Static
Realm
Judge
The dead are subjects of Hades and
Skill
he has dominion over them.
Assessing a person or object and
knowing its true worth.

119
Champion of Hecate Static Magic Static Torch
Champion, Path Realm Symbol

A heroic guardian serving the goddess All magic is in the domain of Hectate. The bringer of light into the darkness
known as the Nightwatcher. and a starter of fires.
The Night Static
Block the Way Realm Vigilant
Opportunity Life, Mind
Hecate fears not the night and her
Resist enemies' movement through champions are empowered by it. Watchful and alert.
adjacent squares. This advantage is
Free when used on a threshold or Observation
border. Dice, Skill

Able to discern details and notice that


Edges Static
which is hidden. Reroll ones.
Realm

Hecate's power is greatest at the Polecat


boundary between this and that. Symbol

A thick-skulled and strong-toothed


Endurance
animal which savagely defends its
Body, Life
family and home.
The ability to exert great effort over a
prolonged time.

Champion of Hera Static Oaths Static Truth Static


Champion, Path Aid Other, Realm Realm

A steadfast champion of the goddess All oaths and oath-takers are in Hera's Those which speak or expose the truth
known as the honest Queen. domain and subject to her power. are blessed with Hera's protection and
power.
Discern Lies Peacock
Dice, Skill Symbol Vengeance Static
Opportunity
Detecting signs that someone is A large brightly-coloured bird famous
speaking falsely. Explode sixes on the for its display, whose flesh does not When an attack causes a loss of life
dice. decay after death. advantages, strike immediately back
at the attacker.
Family Static Regal Bearing
Realm Life, Body

All those who are related by love The poise and movement of one born
or blood are in Hera's domain and to the very highest station.
blessed by her power.
Spite
Lioness Life, Soul
Symbol
Pleasure and satisfaction in other
A fierce beast who works with her sis- people's suffering.
ters to hunt and defend their young.

Age of Legends
Champion of Hephaestus Static Generous Perfectionist
Champion, Path Life, Soul Life, Soul

A hero serving the god known as the Happy to give away time, wealth or The inability to leave anything unfin-
lame smith. property for the benefit of others. ished. All things must be the best
that they can be.
Artifice Static Gift of Hephaestus (Specify)
Realm Dice, Equipment Traps Static
Skill, Time (Scene), Poten-
The heart of Hephaestus' forge This item was forged by the god
tial
embraces all those who toil in the himself and is of great power. Explode
creation or understanding of new sixes rolled on the dice. Skilled at setting traps, such as
inventions. snares or nets.
Hammer
Fire Static Symbol
Realm
A heavy tool with great impact but
Fire is the servant of Hephaestus lacking subtlety.
and ally of those who serve the lame
smith. Stone Static
Realm
Forge
Stone is hard to work and equally
Symbol
hard to damage, yet it can contain
A place of great heat where metal can metals, minerals and great wealth. All
be shaped and reshaped. stone is in Hephaestus' domain.

Champion of Hermes Static Leap Silver Tongue


Champion, Path Movement Life, Mind

A servant of Hermes, the lying mes- Moving to another point through the Exceptionally good at telling false-
senger. air. Treat all squares as Movement hoods.
Resistance 1.
Commerce Static Theft Static
Realm Liar Realm
Dice, Skill
Hermes smiles on the trading of The act of stealing is an act of wor-
goods and money to create wealth. Well practiced in verbal deceits. ship dedicated to Hermes who blesses
Reroll ones when being mendacious. those engaged in it.
Goat
Symbol Nimble
Body, Life
Obstinate and cantankerous, this
horned animal will eat anything. Quick and light in movement and
action.
Gymnastics Static
Realm Rooster
Symbol
Those practicing physical agility and
coordination are in the domain of When not strutting and preening this
Hermes. bird demands attention with its loud
call.

121
Champion of Hestia Static Empathy Sacrifice Static
Champion, Path Life, Soul Realm

A hero of the goddess known as the Understanding and insight into others' All acts of sacrifice, to whichever god,
domestic diplomat. emotional and physical wellbeing. are also acts of devotion to Hestia.
Her power runs through all sacrificial
Bread Etiquette rites.
Symbol Dice, Skill
Patience
The cornerstone of meals for the rich Knowing how to behave in any kind
Life, Soul
and poor alike. The act of baking and of social situation. Reroll ones on the
sharing is common to all Greeks. dice. The good things in life come to those
who wait.
Diplomacy Static Hearth
Realm Symbol

Hesita's spirit permeates all acts of The fireplace is the heart of the home
honest negotiation and those who and the focus of the family. It pro-
partake in them. vides warmth, light and comfort.

Move as One Static Community Static


Movement, Opportunity Realm

When an adjacent ally moves, you Hestia empowers and protects those
may also move. who build strong communities.

Champion of Poseidon Static Ground Pound Static The Sea Static


Champion, Path Aura (2), Potential Realm

Hero of Poseidon, the Proud Horse- Strike the ground so hard that shock- The domain of the sea was won by
man. waves knock those around you off Poseidon at the end of the Titanoma-
balance. chy and is now the centre of his
Dolphin power.
Symbol Stallion
Symbol Storms
An intelligent sea creature, friend of
Symbol
sailors and the top predator in the A proud and noble horse bred for
Mediterranean. speed and stamina. Unpredictable and devastating
weather with high winds and violent
Earthquakes Static Inscrutable seas.
Realm Life, Mind

Poseidon is master of the sudden Difficult for others to read or interpret.


uncaring violence of earthquakes.
Pride
Free Diving Life, Soul
Movement
A strong, perhaps excessive, opinion
The ability to swim to great depths of one's own self-worth, importance
with a single lungful of air. and merit.

Age of Legends
Champion of Zeus Static Might Thunderbolt
Champion, Path Life, Body Symbol

A heroic servant of the greatest Olym- Physical power and strength. A sudden powerful discharge of power
pian, the Sky King. from the sky generating great heat
Oak and noise.
Charismatic Symbol
Life, Soul Weather Static
A tree known for its strength and abil-
Realm
A personality which attracts attention ity to stand resolutely against storms
and inspires confidence. and time. The skies and the fickle weather they
bring are the domain of Zeus.
Eagle Political Manoeuvring
Symbol Skill

A majestic beauty and deadly preda- The acquisition and use of power to
tor with keen vision. exert influence over others.

Law and Order Static Presence


Realm Aura (2), Aid Resist

All mortal law and authority comes A commanding and dominating aura
from Zeus' rule of Olympus. His serv- which reassures allies and demoral-
ants are empowered to ensure the law ises enemies.
is respected.

Con Artist Static Cunning Persuade


Path Life, Mind Skill

Someone who makes their living by A knack for deviousness, scheming Changing people's minds by discus-
tricking others out of their property. and exploiting weaknesses. sion and debate.

Adaptable Feint Static Self-Confidence


Life, Mind Potential Life, Soul

The knack of moulding one's persona Giving an opponent a false impression Strong belief in one's own judgement.
to fit into a situation. of your next move, making them lose
potential.
Appraise Static
Knowledge Forgery & Counterfeiting
Skill
An understanding of the value of
things. The art of creating and detecting fake
documents and goods.
Beguile
Dice, Skill Cold Reading
Skill
Use smooth words and artful gestures
to convincingly present a lie as the The art of gleaning information from
truth. Reroll ones on the dice. someone without them knowing,
mostly through body language.

123
Craftsperson Static Imagination
Path Life, Mind

A person skilled with their hands. A vibrant creative brain.

Appraise Static Manual Dexterity


Knowledge Body, Life

An understanding of the value of Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-


things. ness.

Art Mechanical Devices


Free [Soul], Skill Skill

The creation of art to express oneself. Working with and fixing mechanical
equipment.
Bargain
Skill Problem Solving
Life, Mind
Negotiation and haggling.
Analytical and adaptable.
Craft (Specify)
Skill Tool Expertise (Specify)
Skill, Double (Equipment)
Carpentry, basket making, fletching,
pottery and similar crafts. Highly skilled with the tools of your
trade.

Divine Ancestry Static Divine Familiarity Unstoppable


Path Skill Feat, Dice

A very distant ancestor was a god. Familiarity and experience with how It is nearly impossible to prevent you
the minds of divine beings work. from acting. Reroll ones and twos
Arrogance in resistance actions to potential
Life, Soul Divine Immunity Static attacks.
Skill
Overbearing belief in your own self-
importance. Your divine blood makes it easier for
you to remove status effects.
Physical Beauty
Life, Body Inheritance [Specify] Static
Feat
Possessing an athletic beauty.
A small fraction of your divine ances-
Charismatic tor's power over a realm has been
Life, Soul passed down to you. Specify one of
your ancestor's realms.
A personality which attracts attention
and inspires confidence.
Luck Static
Feat
Divine Aura
Life, Soul An uncanny knack for getting a
favourable outcome, no matter what
An intangible, barely perceptible aura
the statistical reality.
of divine power surrounds you.

Age of Legends
Hero from Another Legend Static Cool Under Pressure Shrewd
Path Life, Mind Life, Mind

Someone who already has a heroic Able to stay calm when the pressure Possessing excellent judgement.
tale to tell. is on.
Sprint Static
Achilles' Heel Static Divine Familiarity Movement
Knowledge Skill
A burst of speed over short distances.
Everything has a weak spot, no matter Familiarity and experience with how
how monstrous or divine. When you the minds of divine beings work.
attack a creature, ignore a free resist
of your choice. Dramatic Sense
Skill
Arrogance
The ability to make your words and
Life, Soul
actions appear dramatic and porten-
Overbearing belief in your own self- tous.
importance.
Fame Static
Bestiary Static Feat
Knowledge
Word of your deeds has spread
Familiar with the legends and reputa- throughout Greece.
tions of beasts and monsters.

Hoplite Static Disciplined Weapon Expertise [Specify]


Path Life, Mind Dice, Skill

A fighter in a Greek army. Conscientiously follows orders and Skilled in using a particular type
rules. of weapon such as bows, swords or
Armour Use knives. Reroll ones on the dice.
Skill Manual Dexterity
Body, Life
Trained in donning and moving in
armour Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-
ness.
Battle Cry Static
Aid Resist, Range (5) Push Forward Static
Feat
Stiffen the resistance of an ally with a
rallying battle cry. Force an enemy backwards. The tar-
get and character move one or more
Brawn squares as per the success + 4 scale.
Body, Life
Toughness
Physical strength.
Body, Life

Defensive Stance Static Hardiness and resilience.


Stance

Adopting a posture that protects the


body and makes use of cover.

125
Hunter Static Speed Traps Static
Path Body, Life Skill, Time (Scene), Poten-
tial
One who pursues living things for food Swift in action.
or pleasure. Skilled at setting traps, such as
Stamina snares or nets.
Climb Body, Life
Dice, Movement Weapon Expertise [Specify]
Able to perform physical actions
Dice, Skill
Skilful movement across vertical or without tiring.
near-vertical surfaces. Reroll ones Skilled in using a particular type
on the dice when used in movement Stealth of weapon such as bows, swords or
actions. Skill knives. Reroll ones on the dice.

Skilful in avoiding being seen or


Patience
heard.
Life, Soul

The good things in life come to those Track


who wait. Skill

Finding, identifying and following


Rural Static
tracks.
Environment

Farmland, parks and similar managed


landscapes.

Labourer Static Mud Step Static Toughness


Path Movement Body, Life

A person employed for hard physical Adept at moving over muddy, slip- Hardiness and resilience.
work requiring little skill. pery or broken surfaces. Treat difficult
(MR2) terrain as level ground (MR1). Wood Working
Animal Handling Skill
Skill Tenacious
Skilled at cutting and shaping wood,
Life, Soul
Controlling and caring for domesti- from felling the tree to fine carpentry.
cated animals. A determination to keep going even in
the face of adversity.
Brawn
Body, Life Stoneworking
Skill
Physical strength.
The skill of cutting and shaping
Co-operative Static stone.
Aid Other
Tool Use
Good at working in a team. Help
Skill, Dice
another character in an action without
adding situation bonuses. Knowledge of, and skill in the han-
dling of, tools. Reroll ones on the
dice.

Age of Legends
Leader Static Inspiration Static Problem Solving
Path Aid Other, Range (2), Life, Mind

A motivator and visionary. Motivate an ally in their action with Analytical and adaptable.
inspiring words.
Diplomacy
Skill Imagination
Life, Mind
Careful use of word and action to
present a situation in the best pos- A vibrant creative brain.
sible way.
Innovation
Embolden Skill
Aura (2), Freq. (Day), Status (Ses-
The art of turning new ideas into
sion), Time (Scene)
practical benefits.
Give people greater confidence. Target
gains the Self-Confidence advantage Optimistic
as a status effect. Life, Soul

An expectation of success.
Estimate Static
Skill
Planning Ahead
Good at estimating distances, quanti- Skill
ties, time and other quantifiable
Skilled at anticipating what will be
concepts.
needed.

Martial Upbringing Static Selfless Summon Courage Static


Path Life, Soul Feat, Recovery (Soul)

A childhood dedicated to battle and A willingness to put others ahead of Dig deep to keep going in the face of
fighting. the self for the greater good. adversity. Recover Soul advantages
only but this action does not count
Drilled Shield Ally Static towards the Healing Throttle.
Skill Aid Resist
Toned
Practice off the battlefield has made If an adjacent ally is attacked and you
Body, Life
fighting familiar and easier to face are carrying a shield, you may contrib-
calmly. ute to their defence. Years of training have have made your
muscles responsive and strong.
Eager Shield Expertise
Life, Soul Skill, Dice

Interested and keen. The use of a shield in combat. Reroll


ones on the dice.
Martial Theory Static
Knowledge Survival
Skill
Well-versed in the facts, history and
philosophy of war. Finding food and shelter in extreme
conditions.

127
Mentored Static Geography Static Toned
Path Knowledge Body, Life

A close mentor raised you to be a fine Knowledge of land masses, countries, Years of training have have made your
Greek. oceans and rivers. muscles responsive and strong.

Apprenticeship (Specify) Static Loyalty Well-Educated


Knowledge Life, Soul Skill, Free [Knowledge]

Training from a mentor in their profes- A sense of loyalty to friends and Possessing a wide a breadth of knowl-
sion. allies. edge. Use one Knowledge advantage
for free.
Contacts Refined
Skill Life, Mind

Finding and dealing with business An elegant and cultured way of think-
and social contacts. ing.

Co-operative Static Rhetoric


Aid Other Skill

Good at working in a team. Help The art of discourse and discussion.


another character in an action without
adding situation bonuses.

Merchant Static Fake Sincerity Static Self


Path Dice, Skill Life, Soul

Making a living through trade and the Sound sincere in what you say, Personal gain above all else.
movement of money. regardless of the reality. Reroll ones
on the dice. Shrewd
Ambitious Life, Mind
Life, Soul Foreign Knowledge Static
Possessing excellent judgement.
Knowledge
A strong urge to push on to bigger and
better things. A wide knowledge of foreign peoples,
languages and places.
Appraise Static
Knowledge Hyperbole Static
Skill
An understanding of the value of
things. Absolutely the best skill ever! The
ability to exaggerate and dramatise to
Bargain make things appear more exciting and
Skill urgent.

Negotiation and haggling.


Organise Static
Aid Other

Making sure everyone knows what


they should be doing.

Age of Legends
Noble Birth Static Family Wealth Static Self-Confidence
Path Wealth Life, Soul

Born into a wealthy or aristocratic Born and raised in a family with Strong belief in one's own judgement.
family. ample wealth.
Social Status Static
Contacts Healthy Skill
Skill Body, Life
Respected in the community.
Finding and dealing with business Well-nourished and disease free.
and social contacts.
Political Manoeuvring
Distinctive Looks (Specify) Skill
Body, Life
The acquisition and use of power to
Remarkably beautiful or ugly or just exert influence over others.
different.
Ride (Specify)
Etiquette Free [Specify], Movement, Skill
Dice, Skill
Control and direct a particular type of
Knowing how to behave in any kind mount (horse, camel etc). The Free
of social situation. Reroll ones on the keyword applies to the equipment
dice. advantage for the specified mount.

Organised Crime Static Loyalty Urban Static


Path Life, Soul Environment

Belonging to one of the 'companies', a A sense of loyalty to friends and Comfortable and at home in built-up
criminal gang. allies. areas and cityscapes.

Agorawise Command Violent


Movement Skill, Status (Day), Time (Scene) Life, Mind

Adept at moving though the busy mar- Set objectives and organise people A natural understanding of violence
kets, streets and alley of a Greek city. towards those goals. Grant a mission and a tendency to use it.
status effect lasting one day.
Concealed Weapons
Skill Spite
Life, Soul
Practised at using and hiding small
weapons. Pleasure and satisfaction in other
people's suffering.
Criminal Underworld Static
Knowledge Toughness
Body, Life
Understanding of the customs and
practices of criminals. Hardiness and resilience.

129
Panhellenic Athlete Static Inexhaustible Improvise Event
Path Frequency (Scene), Recovery (Body) Feat, Event Expertise+

An athlete who has represented their Deep reserves of energy. Use in recov- Any object that resembles the tool of
polis at a Panhellenic Game. ery actions to regain Body advantages. your sport may be used as one, count-
This does not count towards the Heal- ing as 1d6+0 instead of 0d6+2.
Event Expertise (Specify) ing Throttle.
Skill Speed
Manual Dexterity Body, Life
Expertise in all aspects of a particular
Body, Life
athletic event. Allows the use of body Swift in action.
advantage for free. Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-
ness. Stamina
Fame Static Body, Life
Feat Professional Foul Static
Able to perform physical actions
Opportunity
Word of your deeds has spread without tiring.
throughout Greece. Tripping, jogging or otherwise
physically disrupting someone else's
Grandstand action.
Feat

Appealing to onlookers for support


and applause and then drawing from
it.

Pankration Static Defensive Stance Static Swift


Path Stance Body, Life

The martial art of hitting and grap- Adopting a posture that protects the Quick reflexes and fast muscle con-
pling people. body and makes use of cover. trol.

Brawn Grapple Throw Enemy Static


Body, Life Skill, Potential Skill

Physical strength. Restrict an opponent's ability to act. Pick up and throw an opponent to
the ground. The distance thrown is
Choking Blow Static Painful Kick determine by the degree of success +
Status Skill, Status 4 scale.

A strike to an opponent's throat, dam- A powerful strike with the sole of the
aging their trachea. The target gains foot to a soft part of an opponent's
the Asphyxia status effect. anatomy. The target gains the Pained
status effect.
Competitive
Life, Soul Striking
Skill
You have a strong drive to prove your-
self by beating others. Trained in the unarmed strikes used
during the standing phase of pankra-
tion.

Age of Legends
Peltast Static Harry Retreat Static
Path Potential, Skill Movement, Opportunity

A lightly-armed soldier who engages Attacking the enemy with intent to Move after a creature has moved
the enemy at distance. disrupt their activities rather than towards you but the move must
harm them. Deals potential damage. increase the range between the crea-
Battlefield Static ture and the character.
Environment Ranged Expertise [Specify]
Range (1), Skill Speed
A site of combat between many
Body, Life
people. Your expertise at ranged attacks with
a specific weapon improves your Swift in action.
Dodge range.
Skill Sprint Static
Reflexes Movement
Avoid attacks and sudden danger.
Body, Life
A burst of speed over short distances.
Disciplined You are possessed of superior speed
Life, Mind when reacting.

Conscientiously follows orders and


rules.

Performer Static Fashion Projection Static


Path Skill Range (1), Skill

Making a living by performing plays, The art of dressing with style and The technique of making your voice
dances, music or stage magic. panache. heard over a distance.

Art Fine Art Static


Free [Soul], Skill Knowledge

The creation of art to express oneself. Knowledge and appreciation of art.

Command Attention Static Grace


Aura (5), Skill, Status Body, Life
(Round)
Poised and smooth in movement.
You are able to draw anyone's atten-
tion on to yourself and distract them, Imagination
giving them the Rapt status effect. Life, Mind

A vibrant creative brain.


Expressive
Life, Soul
Perform (Specify)
Thoughts, ideas and emotions are writ Skill
large through gestures, facial expres-
Expertise in performing the arts in
sions, vocabulary and voice.
front of an audience.

131
Philosopher Static Gather Thoughts Static Religious Lore Static
Path Recovery (Mind), Time Knowledge
(Scene)
Extensive study and the pursuit of Having an encyclopedic knowledge of
learning. Enjoy some peace and quiet to put the gods and their history, relation-
your mind back together. A recovery ships and actions.
Analytical of mind advantages that does not
Life, Soul count towards the healing throttle. Surgery Static
Dice, Recovery (Body),
Rigorous in the use of logic.
Law Static Skill, Time (Session)
Knowledge
Debating Skilled in the art of repairing the
Skill Knowledge of the legal system. physical form. Successful actions
recover Body advantages. Reroll ones
Skilled in the art of formally present-
Memory on the dice.
ing (and winning) an argument.
Life, Mind

Focus The ability to store and recall informa-


LIfe, Mind tion.

The ability to concentrate and block


Natural Philosophy
out distractions.
Skill

A wide understanding of how the


natural world is made and how it
works.

Politician Static Heckle Static Society


Path Potential, Range (2) Life, Soul

A politician or functionary who works Distract, intimidate or anger oppo- Belief in the importance of the many
for the city. nents with a stream of insults. Use as over the individual.
a potential attack.
Beguile Will Power
Dice, Skill Law Static Life, Mind
Knowledge
Use smooth words and artful gestures Focus and determination.
to convincingly present a lie as the Knowledge of the legal system.
truth. Reroll ones on the dice.
Oratory
Debating Skill
Skill
The art or practice of formal speaking
Skilled in the art of formally present- in public.
ing (and winning) an argument.
Quick Wits
Diplomacy Life, Mind
Skill
Fast in thought and word.
Careful use of word and action to
present a situation in the best pos-
sible way.

Age of Legends
Poverty Static Rural Static Urban Static
Path Environment Environment

Living in poverty, on the streets or in Farmland, parks and similar managed Comfortable and at home in built-up
the wild. landscapes. areas and cityscapes.

Contacts Scavenging Wiry


Skill Skill Body, Life

Finding and dealing with business The art of finding things and putting Small with a thin build, but still
and social contacts. them to good use. strong.

Dirty Fighting Strong Stomach


Melee, Skill Body, Life

Underhand techniques for when win- Happy to eat what would make other
ning is more important than honour. people retch.
Mundane equipment used as an ad-
hoc weapon counts as 1d6+0 rather Survival Instinct
than 0d6+2. Life, Soul

A harsh life has given you a sharper


Dodge
desire to protect yourself and those
Skill
close to you.
Avoid attacks and sudden danger.

Priest(ess) Static Patience Seer


Path Life, Soul Skill, Free [Rites]

A life devoted to serving the gods. The good things in life come to those Messages from the gods are hard for
who wait. mortals to understand. Only those
Devotion (Specify) versed in the arts can correctly deci-
Life, Soul Prayer pher dreams, omens and portents.
Skill, Double [Champion]
A strong desire to serve a particular
Will Power
god and their ideals. The gods hear all who pray but some
Life, Mind
are heard more clearly than others.
Divine Favour Static Focus and determination.
Feat Religious Lore Static
Knowledge
The art of currying favour from a god
by well-chosen words and deeds. Having an encyclopedic knowledge of
the gods and their history, relation-
Oratory ships and actions.
Skill
Rites Static
The art or practice of formal speaking
Knowledge
in public.
An extensive understanding of the
correct form of worship, sacrifice and
ritual needed for each god.

133
Raised By Animals Static Insensitive Survival
Path Skill Skill

As a child you were adopted by ani- Ignorant of social norms, pressures Finding food and shelter in extreme
mals and lived as they did. and cues. conditions.

Animal Dominance Static Keen Senses Wilderness Static


Control Body, Life Environment

With noises and body language, force Accurate and effective perception of At home in rugged, untamed terrain.
an animal to obey your commands. the world around.

Climb Loyalty
Dice, Movement Life, Soul

Skilful movement across vertical or A sense of loyalty to friends and


near-vertical surfaces. Reroll ones allies.
on the dice when used in movement
actions. Sprint Static
Movement
Ferocious
A burst of speed over short distances.
Life, Soul

Savage determination and aggression,


clearly focused on a target.

Reincarnated Static Comfortable in (Specify) Static Knack for (Specify)


Path Environment Skill

Your soul has already passed through A seemingly natural affinity for a A strange knack for a particular skill,
the Underworld and been reborn. particular environment, even if you've despite having never been trained in
never lived there. it in this life.
Death Friend Static
Feat Conduit (Specify) Uncanny (Specify) Static
Skill Knowledge
An affinity with all things related to
death such as dead bodies, souls and The character channels a mysterious An uncanny knowledge of a subject
the Underworld. and unpredictable phenomenon. you can't remember learning about.

Ambitious Faith
Life, Soul Life, Soul

A strong urge to push on to bigger and A confirmed and solid belief in the
better things. Olympian gods.

Calm Hardy Soul


Life, Soul Feat, Recovery (Soul)

At peace with the world and untrou- Your soul has been through this all
bled by extreme emotions. before. Regain Soul advantages with a
successful recovery action.

Age of Legends
Sailor Static Navigation Toughness
Path Skill Body, Life

A life spent on boats. Use of landmarks, stars, maps and Hardiness and resilience.
devices in navigation.
Act In Time Static Weather Sense
Aid Other Pilot Craft Skill
Dice, Skill
Synchronising actions makes the most An uncanny or simply knowledgeable
of everyone's efforts. Steering, rowing and sailing a water ability to read the sky and predict the
vessel. Reroll ones on the dice. weather.
Brawn
Body, Life Tiller Hands Static
Stance
Physical strength.
Only those with the strongest grip,
Fatalistic surest feet and unshakeable nerves
Life, Soul are trusted with the tiller.

A belief that what will happen, will


Swim
happen, and there is no sense in wor-
Dice, Movement
rying too much.
Movement through water. Reroll ones
and twos on the dice.

Scout Static Ride (Specify) Weapon Expertise [Specify]


Path Free [Specify], Movement, Skill Dice, Skill

Trained to observe, gather informa- Control and direct a particular type of Skilled in using a particular type
tion and report back on foot or with mount (horse, camel etc). The Free of weapon such as bows, swords or
signals. keyword applies to the equipment knives. Reroll ones on the dice.
advantage for the specified mount.
Communication Wilderness Static
Skill Stamina Environment
Body, Life
Able to make yourself understood effi- At home in rugged, untamed terrain.
ciently, no matter what the method. Able to perform physical actions
without tiring.
Keen Senses
Body, Life Sure Footed
Movement
Accurate and effective perception of
the world around. Adapt at moving over difficult terrain.
Treat rough terrain (MR2) as flat
Memory ground (MR1).
Life, Mind
Survival
The ability to store and recall informa-
Skill
tion.
Finding food and shelter in extreme
conditions.

135
Sole Survivor Static Get Up and Move Static Tenacious
Path Free, Movement, Opportu- Life, Soul
nity
The only survivor of a climactic event To keep on going in the face of adver-
that left everyone else dead. When two or more Life advantages are sity.
lost to a single attack, you may move
Dissociation away from danger. Toughness
Life, Mind Body, Life
Scavenging
The ability to mentally detach yourself Hardiness and resilience.
Skill
from unpleasant experiences and
emotional stress. The art of finding things and putting
them to good use.
Dangerous Ground Static
Environment Sprint Static
Movement
Able to survive in areas where the
environment itself is a source of A burst of speed over short distances.
danger.
Survival
Luck Static Skill
Feat
Finding food and shelter in extreme
An uncanny knack for getting a conditions.
favourable outcome, no matter what
the statistical reality.

Sorcerer Static Focus Rites Static


Path LIfe, Mind Knowledge

Experienced in magic and its uses. The ability to concentrate and block An extensive understanding of the
out distractions. correct form of worship, sacrifice and
Arcana ritual needed for each god.
Life, Magic, Soul Herbology
Magic, Time (Scene) Sensitive
A fundamental connection with magic
Range (10), Skill
and its use. The use of plants and their extracts
for medicinal uses. Potions and salves You can feel the presence of wards
Curse made with this ability will last one and curses.
Magic, Range (2), Status, Time week before becoming useless.
(Round) Ward
Invokation Static Magic, Range (2), Status, Time
Using magic to harm a person, object,
Champion Path+, Magic, (Round)
place.
Time (Session)
Using magic to protect another, an
Curiosity Calling on a greater being to lend object, or place.
Life, Mind their power. Allows a caster to negate
the effect of one limitation: Range,
An inquisitive mind.
Duration or Area.

Age of Legends
Spy Static Disguise Keen Senses
Path Skill Body, Life

Finding out information by stealth Use of body language, hair styles, Accurate and effective perception of
and subterfuge. make-up, clothes and props to dis- the world around.
guise yourself.
Beguile Paranoid
Dice, Skill Follow Life, Soul
Double [Hide], Skill
Use smooth words and artful gestures Convinced that someone is out to get
to convincingly present a lie as the Trail a suspect on foot or in a vehicle you.
truth. Reroll ones on the dice. while staying out of sight.

Conversation Foreign Knowledge Static


Skill Knowledge

The art of conversation is getting what A wide knowledge of foreign peoples,


you want from the discussion without languages and places.
the other person noticing.
Hide
Cunning Skill
Life, Mind
The art of staying out of sight.
A knack for deviousness, scheming
and exploiting weaknesses.

Thief Static Dirty Fighting Self


Path Melee, Skill Life, Soul

Long experience in stealing things Underhand techniques for when win- Personal gain above all else.
using force or stealth. ning is more important than honour.
Mundane equipment used as an ad- Stealth
Backstab Static hoc weapon counts as 1d6+0 rather Skill
Melee, Opportunity than 0d6+2.
Skilful in avoiding being seen or
The character can make a melee heard.
Greed
attack against an enemy who has just
Life, Mind
taken an action targeting someone
else. The sense that whatever you have is
not enough.
Bully
Skill, Status Lockpicking
Skill
Forcing others to do your will through
intimidation and fear. Apply a mission Being able to open locks without the
or a status effect on the target. key.

Criminal Underworld Static Manual Dexterity


Knowledge Body, Life

Understanding of the customs and Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-


practices of criminals. ness.

137
Traveller Static Engender Trust Static Stamina
Path Skill, Status Body, Life

A person who spends their time mov- Convince the other person you are Able to perform physical actions
ing from place to place. trustworthy. Targets gain the Friendly without tiring.
status effect.
Adaptable Wayfinder
Life, Mind Etiquette Skill
Dice, Skill
The knack of moulding one's persona Being able to maintain a sense of
to fit into a situation. Knowing how to behave in any kind direction and find the best route.
of social situation. Reroll ones on the
Alert Static dice.
Skill
Linguistics
Watchful and wary of what is happen-
Life, Mind
ing.
Adroit at words and languages.
Contacts
Skill People and Places Static
Knowledge
Finding and dealing with business
and social contacts. An eclectic selection of knowledge
about people and places, both current
and historical.

Wanted Static Disguise Ready To Run Static


Path Skill Movement

Someone is pursuing you and the con- Use of body language, hair styles, You are twitchy and observant, mak-
sequences of being found are dire. make-up, clothes and props to dis- ing you ready to move at the slightest
guise yourself. sign of a threat.
Adaptable
Life, Mind Free Spirit Stealth
Skill Skill
The knack of moulding one's persona
to fit into a situation. A difficult person to restrain, figura- Skilful in avoiding being seen or
tively or literally, who is well versed heard.
Alert Static in escaping ropes, manacles, rooms,
Skill nets and arm-locks.

Watchful and wary of what is happen-


Forgettable
ing.
Life, Soul

Beguile Some people are so non-descript that


Dice, Skill they are hard to remember.

Use smooth words and artful gestures


Paranoid
to convincingly present a lie as the
Life, Soul
truth. Reroll ones on the dice.
Convinced that someone is out to get
you.

Age of Legends
Melee Weapons Ranged Weapons Shields and Armour
Close quarter weapons. Weapons that attack from a dis- Defensive equipment for the pre-
tance. vention of harm to the user.

Axe
Melee Bow Aspis
Prepare (2), Range (3) Shield
A heavy cutting edge on the end of a
short handle, capable of cutting into A simple device of horn and leather A small convex circular shield.
wooden shields. strings which fires arrows.
Panoply
Cestus Gastraphetes Armour, Armour Use+, Free [Armour
Free (Pankration), Melee Reload (3), Range (3) Use]

A leather glove with metal inserts A large crossbow shaped for brac- Heavy bronze armour comprising hel-
which are ideal for striking people. ing against the abdomen and not the met, breastplate, greaves and bracers.
Easily concealed. shoulder.
Clipeus Static
Dory Javelin Brawn+, Opportunity,
Melee, Reach (1), Two-Handed Range (2) Shield

A two to three metre polearm with a A short metal-tipped spear for throw- Large circular shield with a central
simple point for thrusting. ing. metal point that can be thrust at an
enemy immediately following a melee
Falx Mesangylon attack.
Melee, Potential Dice, Range (2), Skill+
Hoplon
A scythe-like sword, capable of hack- A spear with a throwing strap. Reroll
Shield, Brawn+, Free [Brawn]
ing deeply into exposed tissue. ones on the dice.
A large oval shield made of wood with
Knife Net leather coverings. It is strapped to the
Melee, Range (1) Range (1), Potential wearer's arm, leaving both hands free.

A small blade that can be thrown. A large net with small weights built
Peltarion
into its edge.
Shield
Sarissa
Reach (2), Skill+, Two-Handed Oxybeles A lightweight crescent-shaped wicker
Double [Skill], Prepare (7), Reload shield.
A polearm between 4 and 7 metres
(5), Range (3)
long with a sharp metal point. Its
Spolas
length prevents its use nearer than its A large crossbow with a stand and a
Armour
maximum reach. trigger. Tiresome to reload.
Thick cloth or leather armour, cover-
Trident Sling ing most of the body.
Melee Range (2), Skill+
Thorax
A three-pronged spear, capable of Lengths of cord attached to a pouch
Armour, Brawn+, Dice
catching a sword blade. for throwing projectiles.
Short-sleeved upper body armour,
Xiphos comprising a bronze breastplate or
Melee scales. Reroll ones.

A straight double-edged short sword.


Thureos
Brawn+, Double [Shield Ally], Shield
Xyston
Melee, Reach (1) A large oval shield made of wood and
leather, large enough to easily shield
A cavalry spear up to 4 metres long
another person.
with a metal tip.

139
Hellenic Hazards
Diseases, illnesses, environmental
hazards and forms of attack.

Amputee Chronic Anxiety Encumbered


Hazard, Persistent Hazard, Persistent Hazard

Missing either an arm or a leg. This Long-term mental health issues from The character is overloaded with
hazard works against any character traumatic events. Aids the resistance a heavy or awkward burden. The
action normally requiring both limbs. against any action in a stressful character can only move via a
situation and also against any mosey and all physical activities are
Potential recovery actions. hindered.
Acute Stress Reaction
Hazard (Day), Potential, Start-Of-
Scene Confused Enraged
Hazard Hazard
Also known as Acute Shock, the
victim is dazed and detached after Mentally confused and disorientated. An apoplectic fit of anger aimed at
surviving a horrific experience. The hazard resists against any actions someone or something. Resists all
involving Skill or Mind keywords. actions involving Skill advantages
except aggressive actions against the
Asphyxia anger's cause.
Hazard, Potential, Start-of-Turn Desperate (Specify)
Hazard
An inability to breathe. When the
Entangled
victim runs out of potential they pass A powerful and desperate need
Hazard, Potential, Start-of-Turn
out and begin dying. for something which overwhelms
common sense. Resists against any Caught up in something, making
action which is not working towards it hard to move. This hazard does
Baffled that goal. potential damage.
Hazard, Potential, Start-of-Turn

Struggling to get to grips with the


Diseased Fatigued
situation. At the start of each turn
Hazard (Week), Start-Of-Day Hazard (Day)
the hazard makes a potential attack
against the character. General sickness and malady Exhausted through lack of sleep or
attacking the body's systems. May be excessive exertion. All mental activity
lethal. Patient is also physically weak and fine motor control is resisted by
Blindness and the hazard adds to the resistance this hazard.
Hazard of any strenuous activities.

Vision is impaired to a greater or


Fear
lesser extent. The hazard is added to
Eaten Whole Hazard
the resistance of any action where the
Hazard, Start-of-Turn
victim is relying on their sight. Sphincter-tightening terror leaving
Swallowed by a creature. It is difficult it hard to act. This hazard resists all
to move and you are being crushed actions except movement away from
and dissolved. the source of the fear.

Age of Legends
Friendly (Specify) Nightmares Petrification
Hazard Hazard Hazard, Start-Of-Turn

Well-disposed to a particular person. Terror invades your sleep, preventing Flesh turns into a hard, stone-like
The hazard resists any hostile action you from resting. substance. The hazard both resists
against the person and makes actions requiring physical activity and
resisting actions by the person harder. attacks each turn as the victim's flesh
On Fire and organs turn to stone.
Hazard, Start-Of-Turn
Hyper/Hypothermia
Flames and heat.
Hazard (Day), Start-Of-Scene Poisoned
Hazard (Day), Start-Of-Scene
Dangerously high or low core
body temperature due to extreme Pained Suffering the effects of toxic
environments. Hazard, Potential, Start-Of-Turn substance.

Pain and discomfort makes it


very hard to act. This hazard does
Horrible Itching Traumatised
potential damage.
Hazard Hazard, Persistent

Intense discomfort of the skin, Horrific events leave deep emotional


making it difficult to concentrate and Paralysed scars. Triggered by exposure to more
perform physical actions. Hazard trauma. The character gains the Fear
status effect.
Unable to properly control muscles.
The hazard is added to the resistance
Intoxicated
of any action that is not 100%
Hazard (Session) Tongue Tied
mental.
Hazard
High as a kite; drunk as a skunk.
Almost any action gains this hazard in Difficulty speaking. Resists any
its resistance. The hazard lasts for a Parasite Host verbal actions or attempts at
session. Hazard (Month) communication.

A parasite has invaded your body and


is living off your flesh. The hazard
Irritant Rapt
adds to the resistance against all
Hazard Hazard
recovery (healing).
It is hard to breathe and see. The Attention focused on one thing alone.
effect adds resistance to any action This hazard resists all actions apart
except movement but characters must Personality Disorder from moving towards the object of
run. Hazard, Persistent attention.

Mental illness resulting in strange


and unusual behaviour that makes
Winded
the victim difficult to communicate
Hazard
with. Adds to the resistance on any
interactions between people. The stunning effects of having the air
knocked out of your lungs. Resists all
movement and Body advantages.

141
Age of Legends
Antagonists

143
Header
Game Leader's Advice

Age of Legends is a game of heroes Population of Champions


The players' champions are not the first heroes
in Greek mythology, so the best piece of since the return of the gods. Champions of the Olym-
advice for Game Leaders is to make it pians have walked through Greece for several years
and they are welcomed with a mixture of adulation,
large. Focus on epic adventures, giant respect and caution. Adulation because heroes are
monsters and incredible feats with a paradigms for the best of Greek civilisation, respect
as these are powerful people endorsed by immortal
constant stream of interfering gods. The beings and caution as danger and strife follow wher-
minutiae of game play, such as equipment ever a hero goes.
The number of living champions is small, no
lists or strict adherence to the rules, is more than fifty at one time. A champion’s authentic-
best kept at a minimum. The heroes' epic ity can be checked through a temple ritual or the
word of a respected oracle. Beings with divine or
story matters more than how the game magical heritage such as nymphs or cyclopes will be
plays and Game Leaders should keep able to sense the divine in a true hero. As champions
are involved in the conflicts of the gods they fre-
things flowing and avoid becoming slowed quently encounter and become known to each other.
down by details. Through their epic feats they quickly become famous
(or infamous) to the general population.

Tone Adventures & Plots


Epic does not mean lighthearted and the game's
The overarching theme for Age Of Legends is
tone is serious, since death is the heroes' constant
the relationship between mankind and gods, and
companion. Remember that not all the Argonauts
which need the other more. A god gains their power
returned home and Odysseus was one of the few
from followers and competition between the gods
survivors from the Odyssey. The fate of thousands of
is the source of much of the conflict in the world.
ordinary lives will depend on the heroes' actions. This
For their part, mortals are just beginning to under-
is a world where cities are destroyed by vengeful gods
stand their own world and the power that knowledge
and war is just a misplaced word away.
brings. In time their power will threaten entire
Greeks were great lovers of tragedy and Game
pantheons of gods.
Leaders are advised to learn from their plays. Terrible
The champions are emblems of the conflict
things should befall the family, friends, helpers and
between the mortal and divine. The gods grant
servants of the heroes. Failure and the despair and
champions great power yet they may die serving a
destruction it brings is part of being a hero. A Game
petty minded god on a mission they don't under-
Leader's aim is to present the heroes with genuinely
stand. However, by choosing heroes the gods reveal
difficult challenges. A player should feel a real sense
how much they need mortals for problems which raw
of accomplishment when completing a quest.
power alone cannot solve. The balance between gods
and mortals is changing and the champions are the
Narrative Development pivot point. Which way the balance tips is for Game
The characters are the primary source of nar- Leaders and players to decide.
rative development. It is they who must push the
adventure forward by solving their own problems and
not relying on NPCs to provide easy answers. Gods
The Titans In Tartarus
Adventures involving Cronus and his loyalists
do not appear before the heroes at the start of each
focus on their attempts to break free of Tartarus. If
legend with a plot hook. They send messages through
they succeed, the subsequent war amongst immor-
oracles, omens and portents. Heroes who ignore or
tals will devastate the mortal world. Cronus and his
misinterpret such signs do not deserve the title of
faction lack the strength to take on the Olympic
champion. Gods, other immortals and mortal villains
pantheon directly. Instead, they act through agents to
will interfere with the characters' plans but this is
undermine the power of Zeus by highlighting Olym-
done indirectly. The ability to realise the old farmer
pian weaknesses. Cronus wants mortals to reject Zeus
giving directions is a god in disguise is an important
and his brood for someone strong enough to protect
survival skill for a character.
them (i.e. Cronus). Combating these agents is why

Age of Legends
Game Leader's Header
Advice

the Olympians have heroes and defeating Cronus' It is essential to remember that the heroes are
plots is the mainstay of heroic adventures. the protagonists of the game. The Olympic gods are
An agent is the equal of an Olympic champion antagonists who occasionally help the heroes and
though driven by different motivations. They work their infighting creates the framework for adventures.
as provocateurs, priests and soldiers, depending on The Game Leader should never railroad the cham-
their Titanic patron, but all aim to build support for pions down a path because "the gods say so". Both
the Titans and sow dissent amongst believers of the players and their characters must navigate their own
Olympians. They conduct assassinations, build cults path through the hellenic world.
among the fringes of society and corrupt the high-
born and powerful. Agents never miss a chance to
create infighting amongst the Olympic gods because
Divided Loyalties
It is best for each character in a group to have a
no Titan can win against a united force of Olympians.
different patron deity. With simple adventures the rel-
As well as creating agents, Cronus' Titans have
evant champion will see the omens from their patron
enough power to summon monsters into the mortal
and the other characters will assist in the mission.
world. These attack Olympic supporters and cause
Though not their own deity, the others champions are
mortals to question the power of the Olympic gods.
wise to earn favour from as many deities as possible
The monster also serve as distractions, covering up
by helping other champions.
the work of Titanic agents.
More complex adventures and campaigns are
achieved by delving into the politics of Olympus. The
The Titans in Exile Olympic gods squabble and display the full range of
The exiles' motivations have little to do with human vices and virtues (the gods are just people
Cronus' aims though they will cause trouble for the writ large). Their rivalry is normally limited to sniping
Olympians if opportunity presents itself. The Titan at each other, subtly stealing worshippers or currying
Iapetus is unique because he rejects the concept of favour with Zeus. The gods find their heroes excel-
gods being superior to mortals and works to sup- lent tools for these tasks. This leads to adventures
port humanity. Adventures around Iapetus are a where the characters face hard moral choices as their
way for Game Leaders to explore the substance missions take them against fellow Greeks whose only
of the relationship between mortals and the gods. crime is to worship a different god.
Through drama, role playing and combat the players In longer campaigns the characters' actions
can explore the philosophical battle at the heart of will affect the relationships between gods, resulting
Greek culture. in new alliances or new grudges. They could even
provoke outright war between two gods, an event with
serious repercussions for the conflict with the Titans.
Gods of Olympus Adventures where the players' champions are
The Olympian gods use omens and portents to
set on each other should be avoided unless agreed
give the heroes tasks which further their own and the
in advance by players and Game Leader. The tension
Olympic cause. These tasks can be tests of worthi-
between the different gods, and therefore their cham-
ness, acts that strengthen a god's cult or enforcing
pions, is a way to provide role playing opportunities
a god's will on the mortal world. Individual tasks are
and not player-versus-player combat. A good Game
good for episodic adventures, having clear beginnings
Leader chooses their plots carefully so the characters'
and endings. Their simplicity is a useful change of
patron gods are not in direct competition.
pace in more complex ongoing campaigns, and sev-
eral tasks might combine to form a longer story (e.g.
the labours of Herakles). Other Dangers
Central to any champion's story is their relation- The Greek Olympians and Titans are not unique
ship to their patron. The vain, petty, hot-blooded and the gods worshipped in other lands seek power in
Olympic gods will think nothing of punishing or Greece. No foreign pantheon will try a direct chal-
killing their champions. This adds a level of complex- lenge to the Olympians but rely on opportunities
ity to any adventure. The champions must appear to created when the Olympians are distracted by the
act within the limits imposed by their patron but the Titans or each other. Preoccupied, the Olympians
gods are not omnipresent. The tension between what have failed to notice how the number of foreign cults
a character tells their patron and what they actually in their lands is growing.
do is a core part of the game.

145
Header
Plot Hooks

Aphrodite Athena Dionysus


• Two people are prophesied to • Manipulate the politics of a • A tyrant has banned dancing in
become lovers but live in different polis to remove a demagogue their polis. The champions must
poleis. The champions must bring from power. resist the ruler by organising a
them together. • Aid a young hero in completing festival of dancing.
• The heart of a city's ruler their task, without the youth • Pirates are getting rich by
broke when their lover left them. realising it. taking prisoners to sell into
Now the city is falling into ruin • Lead a polis in war and ensure slavery. Stop them.
and the champions must solve its victory. • A victorious polis placed
the problem. Atlas thousands of fellow Greeks
• Aphrodite is holding a party • A group of Titanic agents from the losing city into slavery.
for all the Olympians and their are attempting to free Atlas by Punish the polis for this
champions. Each champion must lessening his load. dishonourable behaviour.
find a gift suitable for the goddess Cerberus Elder Cylopes
of love. • The beast is enraged by a • They need something from the
Apollo thorn in its paw and Hades is not mortal world in order to forge a
• The Phoenix has not been seen around to calm the dog. Can the powerful item.
at the Temple of Apollo this year. characters do it? Enyo
• Why has Apollo has not Charon • Enyo has arrived on a battlefield
stopped a plague ravaging a • The ferryman has business and the characters must survive
mighty city? to attend to and requires the the ensuing slaughter.
• A new oracle is needed. It falls characters to man the ferry while Eros
to the champion of Apollo to find he is away. • One of Eros' golden arrows is
a true seer among the hundreds Coeus missing and he needs help to
who claim to have the power. • Barbarian worshippers of Coeus find it.
Artemis are raiding northern Greece. Gaia
• Hunt a creature, corrupted by • Coeus has sent his agents to • Agents of Gaia are working
Titanic power, that is destroying outwit Athena's champion. to destabilise the Olympians
a forest. Crius by encouraging worshippers of
• Protect a sacred grove from a • Crius' followers are building an Athena to proclaim her Queen of
a planned aqueduct which would unusually-shaped temple in the the Gods.
cut straight through it. Libyan desert. Hades
• Defend a persecuted youth • Conflict between Rome and • A shade has returned to the
who is taking refuge in a temple Syracuse is being fomented by mortal world and must be stopped.
to Artemis. Crius' agents. • Far into the wilds the fallen of a
Ares Cronus major battle require proper burial.
• Take a gift from Ares to the • The champions must prevent • A mortal is attempting to cheat
Amazons and win their loyalty. an agent of Cronus from finding death by imprisoning Thanatos.
• Start a war overseas. Cronus' sickle. Hebe
• Protect a mortal descendant of • An agent of Cronus is • A prisoner faces execution in
Ares from an Athenian champion. attempting to establishing a the morning unless the characters
Asclepius tyranny in a powerful polis. can deliver the pardon in time.
• A tyrant has destroyed an Demeter Hecate
asclepeion for failing to save • The Sirens, which Demeter • A village is being terrorised by
their child's life. Asclepius needs created, are preying on a busy a monster which attacks in the
the help of champions to revenge shipping land and they need to be dead of night.
this travesty. driven away. • A Titanic spy-ring has infiltrated
• A polis failed to honour a polis and the champions must
Demeter for its bountiful harvest find and destroy it.
and must be punished. • A secret way out of Hades
• Help Demeter prevent is being used by the dead to
Persephone returning to the escape and the champions must
Underworld in Autumn. seal the exit.

Age of Legends
PlotHeader
Hooks

Hephaestus Hyperion Phobe


• The god needs a rare metal from • Hyperion has sent an agent to • Phoebe's agents are protecting
a cave leading into the Underworld. burn a sacred grove of Apollo. an oracle whose prophecies favour
• A mortal has boasted they • An agent of Hyperion is the Titans.
can make machines as well as protecting a cult of Helios and • By secret means, Phoebe has
Hephaestus. The god wishes the Selene from the champions. taken control of the Oracle of Delphi
mortal to be brought to his forge Iapeatus from Apollo and is creating false
for a contest. • A famous philosopher prophecies.
• Who has stolen the golden espousing atheism is an agent Rhea
chains with which Hephaestus of Iapeatus. • An agent of Rhea is spreading
once bound Hera? • No god has seen Iapeatus the cult of the "wronged goddess".
Helios since the fall of the Titans. Can • A high priest of Zeus has
• Helios saw an Olympian in the characters find him? acted dishonourably towards their
a compromising situation. An • Iapeatus's agents are mother and Rhea's agent is using
agent of Helios is spreading the attempting to climb Mount Othrys it as propaganda to cause dissent.
information and must be stopped. and free Prometheus as a symbol of Selene
Hera humanity's power over the gods. • By the light of the full
• A powerful man is flagrantly Judges of the Dead moon, Selene's spies track the
cheating on his spouse. Hera • A complex case requires characters' movement.
wants him punished for breaking mortals to gather evidence from Theia
his marriage oath. the living. • Theia's spies are blackmailing
• Two young people are in love Mnemosyne important citizens into helping
and wish to marry but their • An agent of Mnemosyne is the Titans.
families oppose the union. Hera stealing specific memories from • The champions are tasked to
wishes the marriage to go ahead. famous scholars. unearth Theia's network of spies.
• A prophecy predicts a mortal • Artists inspired by the Muses Tethys
vital to the future of the Olympian are making works that decry the • There is conflict amongst the
gods is being born to slave girl. Olympian gods. river nymphs who are caught
The characters must see the child Muses between loyalty to their mother
is born fit and healthy. • A writer has imprisoned a Muse Tethys and their lord Poseidon.
Herakles and the remaining eight need help • Distrust and loathing for
• A war has left numerous to free her. Poseidon is being spread by
orphans who are falling victim Persephone Tethys' agents.
to unsavoury persons. Herakles • The goddess seeks a plant Thanatos
needs mortals to find homes for which will flower even in deepest • He needs the champions to find
the children. winter and promises favour to any a mortal who has outwitted him.
Hermes who finds one. Themis
• Deliver a message to someone Poseidon • The characters are hunted by
who is dead. • The champion of Poseidon agents of Themis.
• Demonstrate the champions' is ordered to take revenge on • A character needs help from an
prowess by taking a relic from someone who has offended the agent of Themis to escape bogus
one god's temple and placing in god's pride. criminal charges.
another god's temple. • A wild sea monster threatens Zeus
• Free the rebels held in a the shipping leaving Corinth and • A distant descendent of one of
tyrant's prison. needs corralling. Zeus' affairs has become famous.
Hestia • Poseidon wants a small port Hera plots to turn the descendent
• Two poleis are at war and the town bullied into worshipping him. into an embarrassment for Zeus
champions must find a peaceful Oceanus and the characters must prevent
solution to the conflict. • Oceanus has released a sea this from happening.
• A long-abandoned temple to monster into the Aegean. • A polis has fallen into anarchy
Hestia needs to be rebuilt exactly • An agent of Oceanus seeks to and the characters must enforce
as it was in the time of Homer. kill priests of Poseidon. Zeus's will and return the rule of
• The living flame of a hearth fire law to the city.
must be guarded on its way to a • Zeus has dropped a
new colony. thunderbolt from the heavens and
wants it retrieved.

147
Header
Monsters, Agents, NPCs & Mooks

Every protagonist needs an antagonist conflict with the characters when their god's ambitions
run up against the characters' plans.
and part of the skill in being Game Leader NPC agents and champions must have a Champion
is choosing the right one for the characters or Agent path and at least 70 CP, though it is recom-
mended that they be substantially tougher. A 150 CP
and the adventure. Within Age Of Legends agent supported by a large gang of mooks will pose a
there are four broad types of antagonist serious threat to a group of new champions.
to choose from: monsters, Titanic agents,
archetypes and mooks. These may be Frenemies
Though agents and NPC champions are the
combined in adventures and fights at will characters' enemies, they are the people with most
in common with the characters. No mortal has such
but Game Leaders are advised to keep a strong connection to the gods as a champion or
encounters manageable. Battles should be agent. Game Leaders should encourage players to see
the agents as other human beings experiencing the
swift and death sudden which is difficult same highs and lows as themselves. The two sides
to do if the Game Leader is managing too may be rivals and trying to kill each other but they all
do so at a god's whim. Like troops in the trenches,
many creatures at once. the opposing sides may share wine and a game of
dice between bouts of mortal combat.
Greek society is one where honour is important,
Monsters and there is none in an assassination or the murder of
The bestiary contains a variety of well-known and
a disarmed foe. The gods need witnesses to their tri-
more obscure monsters from Ancient Greek legends. The
umphs over rivals, and to see it done with honour. The
term monster is pejorative as some creatures may be
fate of Achilles is an object lesson in the consequences
friendly or at least neutral towards the characters. What
for a champion who angers a god by dishonouring an
makes them monsters is that they are never found in
opponent. An unspoken accord exists between cham-
human poleis. They are encountered in the wilderness,
pions and agents that combat between them will only
in old ruins or in similar remote locations. Though few
occur as part of a formal challenge, giving mortals and
humans have seen a monster and lived, everyone in the
gods alike to chance to observe it. This allows cham-
Hellenic world believes in their existence.
pions and agents to mix in social situations without
killing each other and for the Game Leader to introduce
Intelligent Peoples the more subtle and deeper elements to the game.
Intelligent beings such as Amazons, Centaurs and
Fauns populate the fringes of the Hellenic world. They
live far from human civilisation but have their own com-
NPC Archetypes
There are many humans who are too powerful to
plex cultures. They are as wily and strong as humans
be mooks but who are not champions. These include
and they fight with reason rather than animal instinct.
the leader of a polis, an important general or an
As with humans, they are capable of mercy, justice and
influential philosopher. If the Game Leader needs one
cruelty. The Game Leader can create monster sheets
of these NPCs to use advantages and make a dice roll
for these creatures by combining character paths with
they can use an NPC Archetype.
monster paths found in the 100 Monster Bestiary.
An NPC Archetype is easy to create. Select the
character path which most closely fits the NPC.
Titanic Agents & NPC Champions Assign each advantage (including the Path advan-
The characters not only face monsters in their tage) 4 CP / 1d6+0 to create a 40 CP character. By
adventures but humans equal in power to themselves. increasing the CP spent on each advantage to 5 CP
Titanic agents are the characters' opposite numbers, / 1d6+1 it creates a 50 CP character; 7 CP / 1d6+2
serving the Titans as the characters serve the Olympi- creates a 70 CP NPC and so on. The player charac-
ans. Finding and killing agents should not be an easy ters, who start with 70 CP, are exceptional humans
task and they work best as the mastermind or 'boss fit to be champions of the gods. Use this benchmark
monster' behind a fiendish plot. There are also Olym- to decide how many points the NPC archetype needs.
pian champions serving other gods. Though nominally Archetypes have three dynamic potential, one static
on the same side, NPC champions may come into potential, one recoup and one free resist.
Monsters, Agents, NPCs & Header
Mooks

Mook Traits Flank Attack – Melee attack an Resilient (x) – Extra hard to kill.
opponent and gain a 1d6+0 Add (x) to all resistance
Blast – One or more adjacent
situation bonus for each mook actions.
mooks combine to unleash an
on the opposite side of the
explosion or blast of fire. The
defender. Sneak – Make a run movement
Range (x) and Blast (xd6) are
but without making noise.
set by the number of mooks,
Flight – The mook can fly as a run
e.g. two mooks equals Range
action treating all terrain as Spring Leap – A leaping (run
(2) with Blast (2d6).
MR1. action) movement which
allows them to jump over
Charge – Move and attack as a
Ghostly – Move as per a Run but opponents and obstacles with-
single action. The movement
treat all obstacles (including out hindrance. Treat all terrain
cannot exceed a movement
solid walls) as MR1. as MR1.
resistance of 3 and must
involve an attack at its end.
Heckle (x) – Mock and annoy Stone Skin – Being made of stone
an opponent to attack their makes it hard to damage and
Curse (x) – One or more mooks
potential. the mook’s dice value is dou-
try to place any Hazard as a
bled in resistance actions.
Status Effect on a target as a
Melee – Attack an opponent using
range (x) attack.
the mook’s dice value. Suppressive Fire (x) – Adjacent
mooks combine to hinder an
Chorus – Two or more mooks com-
Mob Attack – Two or more adja- opponent by making a poten-
bine to inflict the Rapt status
cent mooks can combine to tial attack at range.
effect on their target.
make a single attack, adding
their advantages together into Shield Wall – When any individual
Crush – One or more mooks com-
a single roll. mook in a unbroken line of
bine to make a single potential
mooks is attacked, the dice
attack, adding their advan-
Mob Defence – Mooks gain a values of all the mooks in
tages together into a single
1d6+0 situation bonus for the line are combined in the
action.
each adjacent mook. resistance.
Disease – One or more mooks
Mob Fear (x) – Adjacent mooks Tail Swipe – Melee attack with
combine to inflict the Dis-
combine their attacks to inflict Reach (1).
eased status effect on the
the Fear status effect as a
victim. The status effect lasts
range attack. Unbearable Heat – The heat from
a week.
one or more adjacent mooks
Mob Grapple – Adjacent mooks ignites an adjacent target. The
Disembowel – An aimed blow at
combine their attacks to hin- victim gains the On Fire status
the victim’s soft underbelly
der an opponent by making a effect.
(or other weak spot). A melee
potential attack.
attack but sixes explode, i.e.
Volley Fire (x) – Massed ranged
if a six is scored on the dice,
Mob Trip – Two or mooks combine attack against a single target
reroll and add to the total.
to trip an opponent. This does by combining the attacks of all
no damage but the opponent adjacent mooks.
Double Movement – A run move-
is knocked prone.
ment where the dice value
Vile Cloud (x) – A miasma sur-
is counted twice, as per the
Poison – One or more mooks com- rounds the creature delivering
keyword Doubled.
bine to inflict the Poisoned a status attack against nearby
status effect on the victim. foes as per the Aura (x) key-
Double Strike – A melee attack at
The status effect lasts a day. word. Targets gain the Irritant
twice the normal dice + modi-
status effect.
fier value.
Run – The mook can run using
their mook advantage dice Ward (x) – Mooks combine their
Drag – One or more mooks
value. abilities to defend one of their
combine to move an adjacent
own with magic. The mooks
foe. If successful the foe and
Range Attack (x) – Attack an do not need to be adjacent
mooks move a maximum of
opponent at range using the and the range is the maximum
MR3.
mook’s dice value. distance between any two
mooks.
Header
Monsters, Agents, NPCs & Mooks

Human Mooks Hunter Slinger


Mook Mook
In cities and in civilised lands,
nearly everyone the characters meet A tracker and killer of animals. A soldier armed with a sling and
and fight will be human. A number Traits: Flank Attack, Ranged Attack stones.
of human mooks with differing traits (3), Sneak Traits: Range Attack (4), Run, Volley
are provided to ensure variety in Fire (3)
combat. Game Leaders should use Oarsman
large numbers of them in fights as Mook Sorcerer
Age Of Legends is designed for epic Mook
Someone with muscles hardened by
adventures. The slaughter of count-
powering a trireme and armed with A wielder of minor magics who seeks
less mooks illustrates the power of
makeshift weapons. to curse enemies and ward allies.
the champions but players cannot
Traits: Mob Attack, Mob Defence, Run Traits: Curse (3), Run, Ward (3)
take it easy. A gang of mooks is
capable of hurting the characters.
Peltast Spy
Mook Mook

A lightly-armoured soldier carrying a By cunning or stealth they gather and


Bandit
small shield and several javelins. protect information.
Mook
Traits: Range Attack (5), Run, Sup- Traits: Poison, Run, Sneak
A thief, marauder and general anti- pressive Fire (7)
social person. They prefer to ambush Tribal Warrior
with swords and slings. Philospher Mook
Traits: Melee, Mob Trip, Sneak Mook
From the far parts of the world, their
A person of knowledge and words who appearance is as bizarre as their
Cultist
knows how to use them well. behaviour.
Mook
Traits: Heckle (3), Mob Defence, Run Traits: Melee, Run, Suppressive fire
Fervent believers in a god they are (6)
willing to die for. Pirate
Traits: Drag, Melee, Mob Defence Mook

Lawless hostage-taker of the sea,


Guard
attacking with nets and tridents.
Mook
Traits: Melee, Mob Grapple, Suppres-
Armed with a sword and small shield, sive Fire (3)
with light leather armour.
Traits: Melee, Mob Grapple, Run Slave
Mook
Horseman
A person who is someone else's
Mook
property.
A soldier mounted on horseback and Traits: Mob Defence, Mob Grapple,
armed with a heavy spear. Run
Traits: Charge, Double Movement,
Melee

Hoplite
Mook

Operating in a formation, this soldier


carries a large shield, fights with a
long spear and wears full panoply.
Traits: Double Strike, Run, Shield Wall

Age of Legends
Amphisbaean Camouflaged 1d6+2 Ambush 1d6+3
Body, Life CP: 7 Dice, Skill CP: 10
A five-foot long snake with a head
at each end, commonly found in Hard to notice in its natural environ- Planning and executing attacks from
hot, dry and sandy locations. When ment. concealment. Reroll ones and twos on
moving it chooses a head to be the the dice.
front and moves in that direction. Fangs 1d6+2
Its two independently-moving heads Body, Life CP: 7 Pounce 1d6+0
make this creature difficult to Skill Static
Sharp teeth which are useful for grip-
surprise. CP: 4
ping prey, injecting venom or sucking A sudden leap or drop on
DP | 4 MCP | 10 blood. to a target. At the end of a successful
SP | 2 CP |
115 attack, move into the victim's square
Rcp | 2 Keen Senses 1d6+4 and the victim is knocked prone.
Body, Life CP: 14
FR | 2 - Scales, Speed
Reflex Attack 1d6+2
Accurate and effective perception of
Opportunity Static
the world around.
CP: 7
Make a melee attack
Legendary 1d6+0
Neurotoxins 1d6+2 against a target whose move action
Monster, Path Static
Body, Life CP: 7 ends in a square adjacent to the
CP: 4
A powerful creature of character.
Venom contains potent neurotoxins
magic and myth.
that ravage the victim's nervous
Scales 1d6+2
system.
Predatory 1d6+2 Feat CP: 7
Monster, Path Static
Speed 1d6+3 Thick overlapping areas of natural
CP: 7
A monster that predates on Body, Life CP: 10 armour.
other animals.
Swift in action.
Scent Track 1d6+0
Serpentine 1d6+0 Skill CP: 4
Multi-Headed 1d6+3
Monster, Path Static
Body, Life CP: 10 Locating a target by its smell and the
CP: 4
A monster that behaves like scent trail it leaves.
This creature has multiple independ-
a snake.
ent heads, allowing it to bite with
Slither 1d6+0
several heads at once or keep watch
Venomous 1d6+1 Movement CP: 4
in all directions.
Monster, Path Static
The creature uses lateral undulation
CP: 5
Injects venom into its prey. to move, letting it go through small
gaps and across difficult terrain. Treat
terrain up to MR3 as MR1.

Stealth 1d6+0
Skill CP: 4
Skilful in avoiding being seen or
heard.

151
Amazon, Hunter Climb 1d6+0 Net 1d6+0
Dice, Movement CP: 4 Range (1), Potential
A member of an Amazonian hunting
or raiding party. Skilful movement across vertical or A large net with small weights built
near-vertical surfaces. Reroll ones into its edge.
DP | 4 MCP | 10
on the dice when used in movement
SP | 2 CP | 81
actions. Bow 1d6+0
Rcp | 2
Prepare (2), Range (3)
FR | 2 - Pankration, Speed Not Quite Dead 1d6+0
A simple device of horn and leather
Free, Opportunity, Recovery Static
strings which fires arrows.
[Body] CP: 4
Hunter 1d6+5 When the last Life card is lost a Makharia 1d6+0
Path Static recovery action may be attempted, Melee
CP: 19 but only on Body advantages.
One who pursues living A short sword with a single curved
things for food or pleasure. cutting edge.
Pankration 1d6+0
Skill CP: 4
Martial Upbringing 1d6+0
Path Static A blend of boxing and wrestling that
Mooks
CP: 4 only ends when someone submits.
A childhood dedicated to Amazon Warrior
All is permitted except biting and eye
battle and fighting. Mook
gouging.
A female warrior from the frozen north
Battle Veteran 1d6+0
Read the Battle 1d6+0 who is armed with a sword and bow.
Path Static
Free, Opportunity+ CP: 4 Traits: Charge, Melee, Ranged attack
CP: 4
A survivor of more than one (5)
Experience allows anticipation of
battlefield, either by retreat or victory.
people's moves. This advantage may
be used for free in Opportunity, Aid
Courage 1d6+0
Resist and Aid Other actions.
Life, Soul CP: 4
Unflinching in the face of danger. Stealth 1d6+1
Skill CP: 5
Eager 1d6+0
Skilful in avoiding being seen or
Life, Soul CP: 4
heard.
Interested and keen.
Survival 1d6+0
Patience 1d6+0 Skill CP: 4
Life, Soul CP: 4
Finding food and shelter in extreme
The good things in life come to those conditions.
who wait.
Wpn Exp. (Bow) 1d6+2
Speed 1d6+1 Dice, Skill CP: 7
Body, Life CP: 5
Skilled in using a particular type
Swift in action. of weapon such as bows, swords or
knives. Reroll ones on the dice.
Stamina 1d6+1
Body, Life CP: 5
Able to perform physical actions
without tiring.

Age of Legends
Arean Bird, Greater Diminutive 1d6+2 Dodge 1d6+2
Body, Life CP: 7 Skill CP: 7
Created by Ares, these birds
originally guarded his shrines in Physically small. Avoid attacks and sudden danger.
the northern lands but have spread
widely. The birds have exceptionally Feathers 1d6+3 Environment (Air) 1d6+0
hard feathers that deflect blows. Body, Life CP: 10 Environment Static
These can be fired as darts and are CP: 4
Being covered in feathers, which Experienced in and well-
able to pierce the toughest armour.
provide excellent flight characteristics suited for a particular habitat.
DP | 5 MCP | 12 and also insulation.
SP | 2 CP | 99 Feather Darts 1d6+5
Rcp | 3 Sharp Eyes 1d6+1 Range (5), Dice CP: 19
Body, Life CP: 5
FR | 2 - Dodge, Feather Darts Feathers hard enough to pierce
This creature has excellent vision. armour and resist blows. Reroll ones
on the dice.
Talons 1d6+0
Avian 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 4 Flight 1d6+2
Monster, Path Static
Movement CP: 7
CP: 4 Sharp talons on the feet for grasping
A feathered, winged and
and attacking. The action of moving through the air.
egg-laying creature.

Hover 1d6+0
Flying 1d6+0
Skill CP: 4
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4 Being stationary while in flight.
Capable of self-powered
flight.
Knockback 1d6+1
Skill Static
Hellenic Legendary 1d6+0
CP: 5
Monster, Path Static Due to a low mass, impacts
CP: 4 knock you back one 5' square directly
Legendary monsters have
away from the blow, helping dissipate
legendary powers.
the kinetic energy and lessening the
impact damage.
Small 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
Song 1d6+0
CP: 4
Around half the size of a Skill CP: 4
human.
Communication by singing and call-
ing.

Swoop 1d6+2
Double [Talons], Skill CP: 7
Dive down to attack. Move up to MR
3 and make a melee attack on a
target.

Mooks
Arean Bird, Lesser
Mook

Vicious dive-attack birds with sharp


dart-like feathers.
Traits: Flight, Mob Attack, Ranged
Attack (5)

153
Basilisc Black Bile 1d6+3 Bile Spray 1d6+3
Body, Life CP: 10 Area (1), Opportunity, Static
A small serpent no more than
Range (1) CP: 10
twelve inches in length that inhabits A noxious bodily fluid.
the northern coast of Africa. Green When injured, a spray of caustic bile
with a small white diamond-shape Diminutive 1d6+0 erupts from the wound.
on its forehead, its gaze is deadly Body, Life CP: 4
and can kill any man or animal that Stone Gaze 1d6+4
Physically small.
meets it. Worse is its breath that Range (3), Status CP: 14
poisons animals, scorches plants
Eyes of Doom 1d6+3 The gaze of this creature turns flesh
and splits small rocks. It is said
Body, Life CP: 10 to stone. Victims gain the Petrification
the stench of weasels is fatal to
status effect.
them though how this helps anyone Terrible, magical, powerful eyes.
unlucky enough to encounter a
Dodge 1d6+2
basilisc is unclear. Fangs 1d6+0
Skill CP: 7
Body, Life CP: 4
DP | 4 MCP | 14
Avoid attacks and sudden danger.
SP | 4 CP |
131 Sharp teeth which are useful for grip-
Rcp | 3 ping prey, injecting venom or sucking
Poisonous Breath 1d6+3
blood.
FR | 3 - Nimble, Scales, Dodge Aura (2), Status Static
CP: 10
Nimble 1d6+2 A breath so vile and foul
Body, Life CP: 7 that it scorches plants, poisons ani-
Hellenic Legendary 1d6+1 mals and can split rock.
Fast of action and deft of balance.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 5 Scales 1d6+3
Legendary monsters have Tail 1d6+0
Feat CP: 10
legendary powers. Body, Life, Reach (1) CP: 4
Thick overlapping areas of natural
A flexible appendage extending from
Reptile 1d6+1 armour.
the base of the spine.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 5 Silent 1d6+2
A scaly, cold-blooded, egg- Tremor Sense 1d6+2
Skill CP: 7
laying creature. Body, Life CP: 7
Staying silent and unheard.
Sensitivity to vibration and the ability
Serpentine 1d6+1
to interpret its meaning.
Monster, Path Static Slither 1d6+2
CP: 5 Movement CP: 7
A monster that behaves like
a snake. The creature uses lateral undulation
to move, letting it go through small
Small 1d6+1 gaps and across difficult terrain. Treat
Monster, Path Static terrain up to MR3 as MR1.
CP: 5
Around half the size of a
human.

Age of Legends
Carcinos, Large Exoskeleton 1d6+6 Crushing Bite 1d6+4
Body, Life CP: 25 Skill, Status Static
A giant land-dwelling crustacean
CP: 14
over four feet in size. An external structure that protects Powerful jaws crack bones.
and supports the creature. Successful attacks do damage and
DP | 4 MCP | 9
add a Winded status effect to the
SP | 2 CP | 95
Nimble 1d6+0 target with a CP equal to the damage.
Rcp | 2
Body, Life CP: 4
FR | 1 - Exoskeleton Hide 1d6+0
Fast of action and deft of balance.
Skill CP: 4
Pincers 1d6+4 The art of staying out of sight.
Small 1d6+0 Body, Life CP: 14
Monster, Path Static Many Legs 1d6+3
Large claws on the ends of limbs,
CP: 4 Movement CP: 10
Around half the size of a capable of grasping and crushing.
human. Numerous legs provide excellent sta-
bility and grip. All terrain (including
Arthropod 1d6+0 vertical surfaces) treated as MR 1.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4 Stealth 1d6+0
An external skeleton and a
Skill CP: 4
segmented body.
Skilful in avoiding being seen or
Marine 1d6+0 heard.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4 Swim 1d6+0
Creatures living in water.
Dice, Movement CP: 4
Swimming 1d6+0 Movement through water. Reroll ones
Monster, Path Static and twos on the dice.
CP: 4
A creature at home in
liquid. Mooks
Carcinos, Small
Mook

A land-dwelling crustacean which


grows up to four feet in size.
Traits: Disembowel, Melee, Mob Trip

155
Catoblepas Bite 1d6+2 Block 1d6+1
Body, Life CP: 7 Opportunity Static
An African bull-like creature with a
CP: 5
downward-hanging face and down- Nasty, big pointy teeth. Hinder the movement of a
ward-looking gaze. They eat poison- creature going into, passing through
ous plants and breathe out noxious Fur Coat 1d6+2 or leaving adjacent squares as if they
fumes which choke and eventually Body, Life CP: 7 were passing though your square.
cause fatal spasms in victims. The
A thick coating of packed hairs which
catoblepas are creatures of sor- Gaze of Sadness 1d6+5
offers protection and retains heat.
row which hide their faces out of Skill, Potential, Range (6) CP: 19
shame. Their gaze is so tragic, if it
Mass 1d6+2 This creature looks at the world so
falls upon a human it will sap their
Body, Life CP: 7 sadly that it drains the life out of all
soul away.
it sees. A successful attack does both
Using your weight and mass to good
DP | 4 MCP | 12 potential damage and life damage.
effect.
SP | 3 CP |
117
Rcp | 3 Reach 1d6+1
Stubborn 1d6+2
Reach (1), Skill CP: 5
FR | 2 - Toughness, Tough Hide Life, Mind CP: 7
Able to attack things further away.
Unwilling to change their behaviour or
back down.
Tough Hide 1d6+2
Hellenic Legendary 1d6+3
Feat CP: 7
Monster, Path Static Toughness 1d6+3
CP: 10 Body, Life CP: 10 A thick skin that protects the creature
Legendary monsters have
from harm.
legendary powers. Hardiness and resilience.

Toxic Fumes 1d6+4


Herbivore 1d6+0 Tragic Life 1d6+2
Skill, Status, Area (3) CP: 14
Monster, Path Static Body, Life CP: 7
CP: 4 A breath of toxic fumes which choke
A creature which only eats Existence is misery and sadness given
a victim and rob them of their voice.
plants. living form. Sigh...
Target gains the Asphyxia status
effect.
Large 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
Twice the size of an average
human.

Mammal 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
Creatures that have live
young and warm blood.

Age of Legends
Centaur, Hunter Animal Handling 1d6+1
Mooks
Skill CP: 5
A member of a centaur tribe. Centaur, Villager
Controlling and caring for domesti- Mook
DP | 4 MCP | 10
cated animals.
SP | 2 CP | 87 A horse-person armed with a spear.
Rcp | 2 Traits: Melee, Mob Defence, Run
Charge 1d6+2
FR | 2 - Brawn, Speed Melee CP: 7
Centaur, Archer
Close with the enemy and attack. Mook
Make a movement of no more than
A horse-person armed with a bow.
Hunter 1d6+2 MR 3 which ends in a melee attack.
Traits: Double Movement, Range
Path Static
Attack (5), Suppressive Fire (7)
CP: 7 Kick 1d6+2
One who pursues living
Skill CP: 7
things for food or pleasure. Centaur, Spear Carrier
Attacking with the feet. Mook
Labourer 1d6+0
A horse-person armed with a spear.
Path Static Retreat 1d6+1
Traits: Charge, Mob Attack, Run
CP: 4 Movement, Opportunity Static
A person employed for hard
CP: 5
physical work requiring little skill. Move after a creature has
moved towards you but the move
Herbivore 1d6+0 must increase the range between the
Monster, Path Static creature and the character.
CP: 4
A creature which only eats
Rural 1d6+1
plants.
Environment Static
CP: 5
Brawn 1d6+2 Farmland, parks and similar
Body, Life CP: 7 managed landscapes.

Physical strength.
Wpn Exp. (Mesangylon) 1d6+2
Dice, Skill CP: 7
Patience 1d6+1
Life, Soul CP: 5 Skilled in using a particular type
of weapon such as bows, swords or
The good things in life come to those
knives. Reroll ones on the dice.
who wait.

Mesangylon 1d6+3
Speed 1d6+2
Dice, Range (2), Skill+ CP: 7
Body, Life CP: 7
A spear with a throwing strap. Reroll
Swift in action.
ones on the dice.

Stamina 1d6+1
Body, Life CP: 5
Able to perform physical actions
without tiring.

Stubborn 1d6+1
Life, Mind CP: 5
Unwilling to change their behaviour or
back down.

157
Chimera Bite 1d6+3 Charge 1d6+3
Body, Life CP: 10 Skill Static
A legendary beast which has a
CP: 10
lion's body and head, but a goat's Nasty, big pointy teeth. Close with the enemy and
head and neck grows from its back. attack. Make a movement, no more
Instead of a tail the chimera has Claws 1d6+1 than MR 3, and make a melee attack.
the body and head of snake. This Body, Life CP: 5
terrifying beast moves and acts Disembowel 1d6+2
Sharp, retractable appendages.
quickly as well as breathing fire. Dice, Skill CP: 7
One was killed by Bellerophon in
Elemental Creature (Fire) 1d6+3 An aimed blow at the victim's soft-
Lycia, but there are others out in
Life, Soul CP: 10 underbelly (or other weak spot).
the wildest places.
Explode sixes on the dice in actions
A creature born of one of the four ele-
DP | 6 MCP | 17 using this advantage.
ments: Fire, Water, Air and Earth.
SP | 4 CP |
155
Rcp | 4 Fire Breath 1d6+2
Fur Coat 1d6+2
Area (6), Double [Elemental Static
FR | 3 - Multi-Headed, Speed, Body, Life CP: 7
Creature] CP: 7
Tough Hide
A thick coating of packed hairs which
A blast of flame bursting forth from
offers protection and retains heat.
the mouth.

Legendary 1d6+3 Keen Senses 1d6+3


Follow-Up 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static Body, Life CP: 10
Movement, Opportunity Static
CP: 10
A powerful creature of Accurate and effective perception of CP: 4
Move when someone moves
magic and myth. the world around.
away from you but your movement
must decrease the range.
Mammal 1d6+1 Multi-Headed 1d6+4
Monster, Path Static Body, Life CP: 14
Sprint 1d6+2
CP: 5
Creatures that have live This creature has multiple independ- Movement Static
young and warm blood. ent heads, allowing it to bite with CP: 7
A burst of speed over short
several heads at once or keep watch
distances.
Predatory 1d6+1 in all directions.
Monster, Path Static
Tough Hide 1d6+4
CP: 5 Patience 1d6+0
A monster that predates on Feat CP: 14
Life, Soul CP: 4
other animals.
A thick skin that protects the creature
The capacity to accept or tolerate
from harm.
Reptile 1d6+1 delay.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 5 Speed 1d6+4
A scaly, cold-blooded, egg-
Body, Life CP: 14
laying creature.
Swift in action.

Tail 1d6+2
Body, Life, Reach (1) CP: 7
A flexible appendage extending from
the base of the spine.

Age of Legends
Cyclops, Alpha Tribal Warrior 1d6+0 Tough Hide 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static Feat CP: 4
Lesser Cyclopes are a primitive tribe
CP: 4
of one-eyed giants living mostly Fighting for a tribe. A thick skin that protects the creature
in Sicily, and are not to be con- from harm.
fused with the Greater Cyclopes, Brawn 1d6+6
the off-spring of Uranus and Gaia. Body, Life CP: 25 Hurl 1d6+0
The Lesser Cyclopes are distant Range (5), Skill CP: 4
Physical strength.
descendants of a half-son of Posei-
The ability to throw large objects great
don. They are 10' tall and herd
Divine Blood 1d6+0 distances.
sheep in the mountains. They also
Life, Soul CP: 4
raid small settlements for anything
Magic Resistance 1d6+0
else they need. Cyclopes are lawless A creature distantly related to divine
Skill CP: 4
people with limited intelligence. beings.
They rely on strength to get their An uncanny resistance to magic.
way, have no culture and their Manual Dexterity 1d6+0
battle tactics don't extend beyond Body, Life CP: 4 Reach 1d6+0
crushing things. Reach (1), Skill CP: 4
Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-
DP | 3 MCP | 11 ness. Able to attack things further away.
SP | 2 CP |
101
Rcp | 3 Mass 1d6+3 Rural 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 10 Environment Static
FR | 3 - Tough Hide, Magic
CP: 4
Resistance, Manual Dexter- Using your weight and mass to good Farmland, parks and similar
ity effect. managed landscapes.

Stride 1d6+0 Stunning Blow 1d6+3


Body, Life, Movement CP: 4 Brawn+, Melee CP: 10
Divine 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static A long stride makes travel over rough A powerful, disorientating blow. In
CP: 4 terrain easier. Treat difficult terrain addition to dealing damage, the
A creature of a divine
(MR 2) as normal terrain (MR 1). attack does one potential damage.
master.

Toughness 1d6+2 Tree Trunk 1d6+1


Large 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 7 Melee, Two-Handed CP: 5
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4 Hardiness and resilience. A large, heavy chunk of tree.
Twice the size of an average
human.

Mundane Equipment 1d6+0

Boulder
Blast (3d6)

A very large lump of rock which


smashes when thrown, sending frag-
ments and debris flying in all direc-
tions.

Mooks
Cyclops, Beta
Mook

A one-eyed, 9' tall humanoid.


Traits: Crush, Double Strike, Range
Attack (5)

159
Eidolon Chilling Aura 1d6+2
Aura (3), Potential Static
The soul of someone buried without
CP: 7
the proper rites and left to spend A rapid temperature drop.
100 years on the banks of the Successful attacks deal potential
Acheron. Some magical power has damage.
driven it into the mortal world to
seek revenge. Ghost Walk 1d6+1
Movement CP: 5
DP | 4 MCP | 12
SP | 4 CP |
171 Floating in the air and passing
Rcp | 2 through walls. Treat all terrain as
MR1.
FR | 2 - Intangible, Telekinesis

Intangible 1d6+6
Magic CP: 25
Incorporate 1d6+1
Lacking a physical form, physical
Monster, Path Static
attacks often pass right through.
CP: 5
A disembodied soul.
Possess 1d6+6
Malevolent Spirit 1d6+3 Control, Range (1) CP: 25
Monster, Path Static
Temporarily inhabit a target’s mind
CP: 10
A soul that seeks to do and body. A successful attack with
harm. this advantage has a control effect on
the target.
Self 1d6+1
Life, Soul CP: 5
Telekinesis 1d6+4
Personal gain above all else.
Range (3), Skill CP: 14
Spite 1d6+6 The ability to manipulate objects at a
Life, Soul CP: 25 distance with your mind.

Pleasure and satisfaction in other


people's suffering. Mooks
Terror 1d6+6 Phantasm
Life, Soul CP: 25 Mook

The very essence of fear. A soul which has not crossed the river
Acheron.
Wail 1d6+6 Traits: Curse (3), Ghostly, Resilient (5)
Body, Life CP: 25
A haunting sound that chills the
heart.

Age of Legends
Ethiopian Dragon Fangs 1d6+4 Height Advantage 1d6+2
Body, Life CP: 14 Dice, Skill CP: 7
A massive serpent reaching up
to 180' in length which hunts Sharp teeth which are useful for grip- Towering above foes makes attacks
elephants. It is an ambush preda- ping prey, injecting venom or sucking easier. Reroll ones and twos.
tor and hides beneath loose soil or blood.
sand. Despite its size it is adept at Kick Up Sand 1d6+1
concealment. Heat Vision 1d6+2 Skill, Potential CP: 5
Body, Life CP: 7
DP | 4 MCP | 19 Kick up or throw sand to distract and
SP | 3 CP |
234 Being able to see using only heat. hamper the target.
Rcp | 8
Mass 1d6+5 Magic Resistance 1d6+5
FR | 4 - Magic Resistance,
Body, Life CP: 19 Skill CP: 19
Mass, Super-Thick Skin,
Scales Using your weight and mass to good An uncanny resistance to magic.
effect.
Scales 1d6+5
Patience 1d6+1 Feat CP: 19
Colossal 1d6+2
Life, Soul CP: 5
Monster, Path Static Thick overlapping areas of natural
CP: 7 The capacity to accept or tolerate armour.
Over ten times the size of
delay.
a man.
Scent Track 1d6+2
Speed 1d6+4 Skill CP: 7
Desert 1d6+1
Body, Life CP: 10
Monster, Path Static Locating a target by its smell and the
CP: 5 Swift in action. scent trail it leaves.
Critters that live in very dry
places.
Tremor Sense 1d6+1 Silent 1d6+2
Body, Life CP: 5 Skill CP: 7
Legendary 1d6+2
Monster, Path Static Sensitivity to vibration and the ability Staying silent and unheard.
CP: 7 to interpret its meaning.
A powerful creature of
Strike 1d6+3
magic and myth.
Ambush 1d6+2 Reach (2), Melee CP: 10
Dice, Skill CP: 7
Predatory 1d6+1 Lash out at a target.
Monster, Path Static Planning and executing attacks from
CP: 5 concealment. Reroll ones and twos on Super-Thick Skin 1d6+5
A monster that predates on
the dice. Dice, Free [Different Scale] CP: 19
other animals.
An incredibly thick protective cover-
Colossal Step 1d6+1
Serpentine 1d6+0 ing. Reroll ones and twos on the dice.
Dice, Movement CP: 5
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4 Movement is easy when you are this Swallow 1d6+2
A monster that behaves like
big. All terrain is MR 1, reroll ones, Status Static
a snake.
twos and threes, and a Mosey moves CP: 7
The target is seized and
five squares.
Camouflaged 1d6+4 swallowed whole. The attack does no
Body, Life CP: 14 damage but the target is trapped and
Colossal Sweep 1d6+1
gains the Eaten Whole and Asphyxia
Hard to notice in its natural environ- Area (Special), Skill Static
status effect.
ment. CP: 5
Arcing melee attacks sweep
across the battlefield. Any foe within Under the Sand 1d6+3
Different Scale 1d6+1
reach and within a 180 degree arc is Skill Static
Body, Life CP: 5
attacked. CP: 10
Hiding and lurking beneath
Bodily organs and system are on such
the surface to avoid the heat.
a different scale they are difficult to
damage.

161
Ethiopian Pegasus, Horns 1d6+2 Environment (Air) 1d6+0
Body, Life Environment Static
Flock Elder CP: 7
CP: 4
Long, sharp horns protruding from the Experienced in and well-
A winged white horse which resem-
top of the head. suited for a particular habitat.
bles the legendary Pegasus but
which has a pair of horns. They are
Speed 1d6+1 Flight 1d6+2
native to East Africa and the Levant
Body, Life CP: 5 Movement CP: 7
but can be seen in India or Anatolia
as they migrate to find new graz- Swift in action. The action of moving through the air.
ing areas. The creatures are highly
sought after as mounts although Stride 1d6+1 Kick 1d6+2
they are no more intelligent than a Body, Life, Movement CP: 5 Skill CP: 7
normal horse and far more stub-
A long stride makes travel over rough Attacking with the feet.
born. This makes them dangerous
terrain easier. Treat difficult terrain
and exceptionally difficult to train,
(MR 2) as normal terrain (MR 1). Rear Strike 1d6+0
let alone ride.
Opportunity Static
DP | 4 MCP | 11 Stubborn 1d6+1 CP: 4
Attack a foe behind you
SP | 2 CP | 71 Life, Mind CP: 5
who acts and is within reach of a
Rcp | 3
Unwilling to change their behaviour or melee attack.
FR | 2 - Speed, Toughness back down.

Toughness 1d6+0
Mooks
Body, Life CP: 4
Large 1d6+0 Ethiopian Pegasus
Monster, Path Static Hardiness and resilience. Mook
CP: 4
Twice the size of an average A winged, white, horned horse.
Wings 1d6+2
human. Traits: Flight, Melee, Mob Defence
Body, Life CP: 7
Herbivore 1d6+0 Two or more limbs that provide flight.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4 Block 1d6+0
A creature which only eats
Opportunity Static
plants.
CP: 4
Hinder the movement of a
Flying 1d6+0 creature going into, passing through
Monster, Path Static or leaving adjacent squares as if they
CP: 4 were passing though your square.
Capable of self-powered
flight.

Age of Legends
Faun, Trickster Appraise 1d6+0 Sprint 1d6+0
Knowledge Static Movement Static
A wild but intelligent being found
CP: 4 CP: 4
in the deep forests and mountains. An understanding of the A burst of speed over short
Half man, half goat and beholden value of things. distances.
to none.
Alert 1d6+1 Stealth 1d6+0
DP | 3 MCP | 15
Skill Static Skill CP: 4
SP | 4 CP |
121
CP: 5
Rcp | 6 Watchful and wary of what Skilful in avoiding being seen or
is happening. heard.
FR | 2 - Speed, Tough Hide

Beguile 1d6+3 Traps 1d6+1


Dice, Skill CP: 10 Skill, Time (Scene), Poten- Static
Herbivore 1d6+1 tial CP: 5
Use smooth words and artful gestures
Monster, Path Static
to convincingly present a lie as the Skilled at setting traps, such as
CP: 5
A creature which only eats truth. Reroll ones on the dice. snares or nets.
plants.
Climb 1d6+0 Tough Hide 1d6+4
Con Artist 1d6+1 Dice, Movement CP: 4 Feat CP: 14
Path Static
Skilful movement across vertical or A thick skin that protects the creature
CP: 5
Someone who makes their near-vertical surfaces. Reroll ones from harm.
living by tricking others out of their on the dice when used in movement
property. actions. Knife 1d6+1
Melee, Range (1) CP: 5
Hunter 1d6+1 Feint 1d6+2
A small blade that can be thrown.
Path Static Potential Static
CP: 5 CP: 7
One who pursues living Giving an opponent a false
things for food or pleasure. impression of your next move, making
Mooks
them lose potential.
Faun, Lesser
Adaptable 1d6+1
Mook
Life, Mind CP: 5 Kick 1d6+1
Skill CP: 5 A goat-man from the wilder places.
The knack of moulding one's persona
Traits: Melee, Mob Defence, Spring
to fit into a situation. Attacking with the feet.
Leap

Cunning 1d6+2 Persuade 1d6+2


Life, Mind CP: 7 Skill

A knack for deviousness, scheming Changing people's minds by discus-


and exploiting weaknesses. sion and debate.

Horns 1d6+0 Retreat 1d6+0


Body, Life CP: 4 Movement, Opportunity Static
CP: 4
Long, sharp horns protruding from the Move after a creature has
top of the head. moved towards you but the move
must increase the range between the
Speed 1d6+4 creature and the character.
Body, Life CP: 14
Rural 1d6+1
Swift in action.
Environment Static
CP: 5
Farmland, parks and similar
managed landscapes.

163
Golden Sheep, Ram Bite 1d6+1 Charge 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 5 Melee CP: 4
An aggressive male of the legend-
ary and rare golden sheep whose Nasty, big pointy teeth. Close with the enemy and attack.
wool contains gold threads. The Make a movement of no more than
sheep are kept by centaurs but a Cute 1d6+0 MR 3 which ends in a melee attack.
few wander wild. They are particu- Life, Soul CP: 4
larly hostile during the day as the Follow-Up 1d6+0
Awwwww, look at it, it's soooo ador-
sun heats the golden threads which Movement, Opportunity Static
able!
burn the sheep's skin. Their poison- CP: 4
Move when someone moves
ous bite reveals their omnivorous
Fur Coat 1d6+2 away from you but your movement
nature and though not deadly hunt-
Body, Life CP: 7 must decrease the range.
ers they will happily attack anything
they perceive as weak. A thick coating of packed hairs which
Jump 1d6+0
offers protection and retains heat.
DP | 3 MCP | 9 Dice, Movement, Skill CP: 4
SP | 3 CP | 67
Diminutive 1d6+1 High jump, long jump, running jump,
Rcp | 2
Body, Life CP: 5 standing jump and every other type of
FR | 1 - Speed jump. Reroll ones on the dice.
Physically small.

Reflex Attack 1d6+0


Paralytic Venom 1d6+3
Opportunity Static
Hellenic Legendary 1d6+0 Body, Life, Potential CP: 10
CP: 4
Monster, Path Static Make a melee attack
Inhibits foes' ability to move. A suc-
CP: 4 against a target whose move action
Legendary monsters have cessful attack with this advantage
ends in a square adjacent to the
legendary powers. deals potential damage.
character.

Predatory 1d6+0 Speed 1d6+0


Monster, Path Static Body, Life CP: 4 Mooks
CP: 4
A monster that predates on Swift in action.
Golden Sheep, Ewe
other animals.
Mook

Small 1d6+0 A female sheep with a fleece contain-


Monster, Path Static ing strands of gold.
CP: 4 Traits: Mob Attack, Poison, Run
Around half the size of a
human.

Mammal 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
Creatures that have live
young and warm blood.

Age of Legends
Gorgon Brawn 1d6+3 Diplomacy 1d6+3
Body, Life CP: 10 Skill CP: 10
Gorgons are mortal women cursed
by a god. The hideous transforma- Physical strength. Careful use of word and action to
tion is punishment for those who present a situation in the best pos-
reneged on oaths or defiled places Demonic Aura 1d6+3 sible way.
of worship. The curse makes the Life, Soul CP: 10
poor creatures nearly immortal, Protective Reflexes 1d6+0
Exudes power and terror from every
doomed to suffer until a hero is Feat Static
fibre of their being.
strong enough to slay them. A CP: 4
A range of reflexes that
gorgon retains the upper body of a
Fangs 1d6+2 helps protect the creature from harm.
woman but has the lower body of
Body, Life CP: 7
a snake and serpentine facial fea-
Scales 1d6+3
tures. Her hair is a mass of writhing Sharp teeth which are useful for grip-
Feat CP: 10
snake heads that hiss and taste the ping prey, injecting venom or sucking
air for prey. Part of the curse on blood. Thick overlapping areas of natural
the Gorgon is that looking into its armour.
eyes will turn a victim to stone. This Linguistics 1d6+0
leaves the gorgon isolated, bitter Life, Mind CP: 4 Silent 1d6+2
and angry. Skill CP: 7
Adroit at words and languages.
DP | 5 MCP | 14 Staying silent and unheard.
SP | 3 CP |
179 Manual Dexterity 1d6+3
Rcp | 3 Body, Life CP: 10 Slither 1d6+2
Movement CP: 7
FR | 3 - Corruption, Man. Dex., Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-
Scales ness. The creature uses lateral undulation
to move, letting it go through small
Opposable Thumbs 1d6+2 gaps and across difficult terrain. Treat
Body, Life CP: 7 terrain up to MR3 as MR1.
Demonic 1d6+4
Monster, Path Static Able to grip and manipulate objects.
Scent Track 1d6+2
CP: 14
A hellish creature with Skill CP: 7
Problem Solving 1d6+0
unpleasant and evil purpose.
Life, Mind CP: 4 Locating a target by its smell and the
scent trail it leaves.
Humanoid 1d6+0 Analytical and adaptable.
Monster, Path Static
Stone Gaze 1d6+6
CP: 4 Quick Wits 1d6+2
Walks on two legs, with two Range (3), Status CP: 25
Life, Mind CP: 7
arms for manipulating objects.
The gaze of this creature turns flesh
Fast in thought and word.
to stone. Victims gain the Petrification
Intelligent 1d6+0
status effect.
Monster, Path Static Schadenfreude 1d6+3
CP: 4 Life, Soul CP: 10
A creature that uses tools Strike 1d6+2
and has a recognisable language and Joy in the suffering of others. Reach (2), Melee CP: 7
culture.
Lash out at a target.
Tremor Sense 1d6+0
Serpentine 1d6+2 Body, Life CP: 4
Monster, Path Static
Sensitivity to vibration and the ability
CP: 7
A monster that behaves like to interpret its meaning.
a snake.

165
Harpy Brawn 1d6+2 Environment (Air) 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 7 Environment Static
Harpies have the upper torso and
CP: 4
head of a woman and the lower Physical strength. Experienced in and well-
body of a vulture. Their upper limbs suited for a particular habitat.
are part wing, part arm giving the Keen Senses 1d6+1
harpy some dexterity but making Body, Life CP: 5 Flight 1d6+3
them poor flyers when not glid- Movement CP: 10
Accurate and effective perception of
ing. They are notionally servants
the world around. The action of moving through the air.
of the gods, sent to retrieve errant
mortals or to torment those in need
Manual Dexterity 1d6+2 Swoop 1d6+3
of punishment, but spend most of
Body, Life CP: 7 Double [Talons], Skill CP: 10
their time residing on distant island
peaks. Harpies are mean-spirited Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble- Dive down to attack. Move up to MR
beings who mercilessly torment ness. 3 and make a melee attack on a
people or communities for sport and target.
like their meat to be still alive when Opposable Thumbs 1d6+0
they eat it. When hunting, harpies Body, Life CP: 4
prefer to stay out of reach and harry
Able to grip and manipulate objects.
their target with swoops and dives.

DP | 4 MCP | 13 Speed 1d6+3


SP | 2 CP | 93 Body, Life CP: 10
Rcp | 4
Swift in action.
FR | 3 - Flight, Speed, Talons
Talons 1d6+4
Body, Life CP: 14
Avian 1d6+0 Sharp talons on the feet for grasping
Monster, Path Static and attacking.
CP: 4
A feathered, winged and
Wings 1d6+0
egg-laying creature.
Body, Life CP: 4
Flying 1d6+1 Two or more limbs that provide flight.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 5
Capable of self-powered
flight.

Humanoid 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
Walks on two legs, with two
arms for manipulating objects.

Predatory 1d6+1
Monster, Path Static
CP: 5
A monster that predates on
other animals.

Age of Legends
Hippocamp Bite 1d6+1 Block 1d6+1
Body, Life CP: 5 Opportunity Static
A marine creature with the head
CP: 5
and forelegs of a horse but the rear Nasty, big pointy teeth. Hinder the movement of a
body and tail of a fish. Their entire creature going into, passing through
body is covered in scales with a Buoyancy 1d6+1 or leaving adjacent squares as if they
translucent fin in place of a mane. Body, Life CP: 5 were passing though your square.
Hippocamps are tameable and ride-
Control over the creature's natural
able but only underwater. Environment (Water) 1d6+4
buoyancy and how it floats.
Environment Static
DP | 4 MCP | 10
CP: 14
SP | 2 CP | 89 Divine Aura 1d6+0 Experienced in and well-
Rcp | 2 Life, Soul CP: 4 suited for a particular habitat.
FR | 2 - Toughness, Magic An intangible, barely perceptible
Magic Resistance 1d6+2
Resistance sense that divine power surrounds the
Skill CP: 7
creature.
An uncanny resistance to magic.
Fins 1d6+1
Divine 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 5 Reach 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
Reach (1), Skill CP: 4
CP: 4 Thin appendages used for swimming.
A creature of a divine
Able to attack things further away.
master.
Healthy 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 4 Reflex Attack 1d6+1
Large 1d6+0
Opportunity Static
Monster, Path Static Well-nourished and disease free.
CP: 5
CP: 4 Make a melee attack
Twice the size of an average
Toughness 1d6+1 against a target whose move action
human.
Body, Life CP: 5 ends in a square adjacent to the
character.
Marine 1d6+0 Hardiness and resilience.
Monster, Path Static
Ride the Currents 1d6+1
CP: 4
Creatures living in water. Double [Fins], Skill CP: 5
Use the dynamic nature of water to
Mammal 1d6+0
move and strike more effectively.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
Creatures that have live Swim 1d6+1
young and warm blood. Dice, Movement CP: 5
Movement through water. Reroll ones
and twos on the dice.

Mooks
Hippocamp, Minor
Mook

Sea creatures that have the front half


of a horse and the rear half of a fish.
Traits: Mob Attack, Mob Defence, Run

167
Hydra Serpentine Head 1d6+0 Environment (Water) 1d6+0
Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 4 Environment Static
A hydra is a massive water serpent
CP: 4
with nine heads which quickly A large snakelike head with fangs and Experienced in and well-
regrow if severed. The skin is teeth, on the end of a long slender suited for a particular habitat.
made of rough scales with a fine neck.
slime over them and give hydras Crushing Blow 1d6+6
a distinctive aroma of rotting fish. Serpentine Head 1d6+0 Skill CP: 25
They lurk in large sea caves and in Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 4
An overwhelming impact. A success-
deep waters eating whatever marine
A large snakelike head with fangs and ful attack does life damage, a point
life they can, including humans. A
teeth, on the end of a long slender of potential damage and knocks the
preferred tactic is to use their size
neck. target prone.
to capsize a boat and then devour
the crew. If attacked by a group a
Serpentine Head 1d6+1 Magic Resistance 1d6+6
hydra will keep most of them busy
Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 5 Skill CP: 25
with a head each and will focus the
remaining heads on a single victim. A large snakelike head with fangs and An uncanny resistance to magic.
teeth, on the end of a long slender
DP | 8 MCP | 16
neck. Reek 1d6+3
SP | 3 CP |
256
Aura (2), Potential Static
Rcp | 3
Serpentine Head 1d6+1 CP: 10
The creature has a foul
FR | 2 - Scales, Unnatural Flesh Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 5
stench which is hard to stomach.
A large snakelike head with fangs and
teeth, on the end of a long slender Regrow 1d6+6
Huge 1d6+2 neck. Dice, Recovery CP: 25
Monster, Path Static
Heads, legs, arms and other bodily
CP: 7 Serpentine Head 1d6+2
A monster that is about five parts magically regrow. Explode sixes
Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 7
times the size of a human. on the dice.
A large snakelike head with fangs and
Marine 1d6+2 teeth, on the end of a long slender Scales 1d6+1
Monster, Path Static neck. Feat CP: 7
CP: 7
Creatures living in water. Thick overlapping areas of natural
Serpentine Head 1d6+3
armour.
Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 10
Serpentine 1d6+2
Monster, Path Static A large snakelike head with fangs and Scent Track 1d6+2
CP: 7 teeth, on the end of a long slender Skill CP: 7
A monster that behaves like
neck.
a snake. Locating a target by its smell and the
scent trail it leaves.
Serpentine Head 1d6+4
Legendary 1d6+2
Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 14
Monster, Path Static Slither 1d6+2
CP: 7 A large snakelike head with fangs and Movement CP: 7
A powerful creature of
teeth, on the end of a long slender
magic and myth. The creature uses lateral undulation
neck.
to move, letting it go through small
gaps and across difficult terrain. Treat
Serpentine Head 1d6+5
terrain up to MR3 as MR1.
Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 19
A large snakelike head with fangs and Unnatural Flesh (Fire) 1d6+6
teeth, on the end of a long slender Skill CP: 25
neck.
Unnaturally resilient to damage.
Attacks with the specified substances
Serpentine Head 1d6+6
totally ignore this ability.
Body, Life, Reach (3) CP: 25
A large snakelike head with fangs and
teeth, on the end of a long slender
neck.

Age of Legends
Leucrocota Camouflaged 1d6+3 Ambush 1d6+2
Body, Life CP: 10 Dice, Skill CP: 7
A creature with the body of a stag,
cloven hooves, and the head and Hard to notice in its natural environ- Planning and executing attacks from
neck of a lion. Its teeth are a sharp ment. concealment. Reroll ones and twos on
bony ridge ideal for consuming its the dice.
favourite meat, human. Leucro- Expressive 1d6+2
cota are native to thick woods and Life, Soul CP: 7 Command Attention 1d6+0
use the cover they provide to lure Aura (5), Skill, Status Static
Thoughts, ideas and emotions are writ
humans away from safety by imitat- (Round) CP: 4
large through gestures, facial expres-
ing the sounds of human voices.
sions, vocabulary and voice. You are able to draw anyone's atten-
The creatures learn languages
tion on to yourself and distract them,
quickly and when one finds travel-
Linguistics 1d6+2 giving them the Rapt status effect.
lers whose tongue is unfamiliar, it
Life, Mind CP: 7
stalks them until the sounds of the
Perform (Mutterings) 1d6+2
speech are learnt. Adroit at words and languages.
Skill CP: 7
DP | 7 MCP | 12
Patience 1d6+1 Expertise in performing the arts in
SP | 2 CP |
118
Life, Soul CP: 5 front of an audience.
Rcp | 2
The capacity to accept or tolerate
FR | 1 - Speed Pounce 1d6+4
delay.
Skill Static
CP: 14
Speed 1d6+4 A sudden leap or drop on
Intelligent 1d6+0 Body, Life CP: 14 to a target. At the end of a successful
Monster, Path Static attack, move into the victim's square
Swift in action.
CP: 4 and the victim is knocked prone.
A creature that uses tools
and has a recognisable language and
Projection 1d6+2
culture.
Range (1), Skill Static
CP: 7
Performer 1d6+0 The technique of making
Path Static your voice heard over a distance.
CP: 4
Making a living by perform-
Stealth 1d6+4
ing plays, dances, music or stage
Skill CP: 14
magic.
Skilful in avoiding being seen or
Predatory 1d6+4 heard.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 14
A monster that predates on
other animals.

169
Minotaur Brawn 1d6+4 Charge 1d6+3
Body, Life CP: 14 Melee CP: 10
A massive, bull-headed man (no
female minotaur has ever been Physical strength. Close with the enemy and attack.
seen). The very first minotaur was Make a movement of no more than
the result of Queen Pasiphae of Horns 1d6+3 MR 3 which ends in a melee attack.
Crete coupling with a bull, and Body, Life CP: 10
the resulting offspring was killed Kick 1d6+4
Long, sharp horns protruding from the
by Theseus in the labyrinth. Now Skill CP: 14
top of the head.
the creatures frequent ruins across
Attacking with the feet.
the region. Minotaurs are neither
Mass 1d6+2
truly man nor truly bull and their
Body, Life CP: 7 Protective Reflexes 1d6+4
behaviour is equally confused. They
Feat Static
try to graze but do it clumsily and Using your weight and mass to good
CP: 14
hate the taste of grass. However effect. A range of reflexes that
they are too big and noisy to hunt helps protect the creature from harm.
which leaves the minotaur reliant Opposable Thumbs 1d6+0
on scavenging to find meat. Body, Life CP: 4 Reach 1d6+2
Reach (1), Skill CP: 7
DP | 6 MCP | 14 Able to grip and manipulate objects.
SP | 2 CP |
146 Able to attack things further away.
Rcp | 3 Stride 1d6+0
Body, Life, Movement CP: 4 Throw 1d6+0
FR | 3 - Brawn, Horns, Tough
Range (1), Skill CP: 4
Hide A long stride makes travel over rough
terrain easier. Treat difficult terrain Accuracy with thrown objects and
(MR 2) as normal terrain (MR 1). weapons.

Herbivore 1d6+2
Stubborn 1d6+4 Tough Hide 1d6+4
Monster, Path Static
Life, Mind CP: 14 Feat CP: 14
CP: 7
A creature which only eats
Unwilling to change their behaviour or A thick skin that protects the creature
plants.
back down. from harm.

Humanoid 1d6+0
Toughness 1d6+4
Monster, Path Static
Body, Life CP: 14
CP: 4
Walks on two legs, with two
Hardiness and resilience.
arms for manipulating objects.

Large 1d6+1
Monster, Path Static
CP: 5
Twice the size of an average
human.

Age of Legends
Nymph Arcana 1d6+4 Divine Immunity 1d6+0
Life, Magic, Soul CP: 14 Skill Static
A minor nature goddess whose
CP: 4
realm is a landmark like a large A fundamental connection with magic Your divine blood makes
tree, a river or a lake. and its use. it easier for you to remove status
effects.
DP | 4 MCP | 10
Physical Beauty 1d6+2
SP | 2 CP |
219
Life, Body CP: 7 Herbology 1d6+0
Rcp | 3
Magic, Time (Scene) CP: 4
Possessing an athletic beauty.
FR | 1 - Magic Resistance
The use of plants and their extracts
Charismatic 1d6+2 for medicinal uses. Potions and salves
Life, Soul CP: 7 made with this ability will last one
Divine 1d6+4 week before becoming useless.
A personality which attracts attention
Monster, Path Static
and inspires confidence.
CP: 14 Immortal 1d6+0
A creature of a divine
Free, Recovery, Time (Day) CP: 4
master. Divine Aura 1d6+4
Life, Soul CP: 14 Immune to death. Perform recovery
Sorcerer 1d6+4 actions even if 'dying'.
An intangible, barely perceptible
Path Static
sense that divine power surrounds the
CP: 14 Luck 1d6+1
Experienced in magic and creature.
Feat Static
its uses.
CP: 5
Divine Blood 1d6+3 An uncanny knack for get-
Divine Ancestry 1d6+4 Life, Soul CP: 10 ting a favourable outcome, no matter
Path Static what the statistical reality.
A creature distantly related to divine
CP: 14
A very distant ancestor was beings.
Magic Resistance 1d6+6
a god.
Skill CP: 25
Focus 1d6+3
LIfe, Mind CP: 10 An uncanny resistance to magic.

The ability to concentrate and block


Rites 1d6+2
out distractions.
Knowledge Static
CP: 7
Healthy 1d6+3 An extensive understanding
Body, Life CP: 10 of the correct form of worship, sacri-
fice and ritual needed for each god.
Well-nourished and disease free.

Seer 1d6+0
Curse 1d6+4
Skill, Free [Rites] CP: 4
Magic, Range (2), Status, CP: 14
Time (Round) Skilled at interpreting messages from
the gods and portents of the future,
Using magic to harm a person, object,
through dreams or extispicy, for
place.
example.

Divine Familiarity 1d6+2


Unstoppable 1d6+3
Skill CP: 7
Feat, Dice CP: 10
Familiarity and experience with how
It is nearly impossible to prevent you
the minds of divine beings work.
from acting. Reroll ones and twos
in resistance actions to potential
Divine Healing 1d6+2
attacks.
Recovery, Skill CP: 7
Channel divine powers to produce Ward 1d6+4
miraculous healing. Magic, Range (2), Status, CP: 14
Time (Round)

Using magic to protect another, an


object, or place.

171
Ophis Pteretos, Large Fangs 1d6+4 Dodge 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 14 Skill CP: 4
The ophis pteretos are serpents
native to Arabia. They are around Sharp teeth which are useful for grip- Avoid attacks and sudden danger.
the size of normal vipers, venom- ping prey, injecting venom or sucking
ous, and fly by means of two sets of blood. Flight 1d6+0
wings along their length. They thrive Movement CP: 4
where frankincense trees grow and Many Vertebrae 1d6+1
The action of moving through the air.
impede the harvesting of this valu- Body, Life CP: 5
able material. Every year the popu-
A spine consisting of a large number Lingering Poison 1d6+3
lation of ophis pteretos increases
of vertebrae giving the animal incred- Status (Day) Static
wildly until many thousands of
ible flexibility. CP: 7
them take to the air and migrate to A deadly poison which
Egypt. There the snake-eating Black takes hours to kill its victim. Target
Neurotoxins 1d6+3
Ibis bird helps keep the population gains the Poisoned status effect.
Body, Life CP: 10
down.
Venom contains potent neurotoxins Roll With It 1d6+0
DP | 4 MCP | 12
that ravage the victim's nervous Movement, Opportunity Static
SP | 2 CP | 90
system. CP: 4
Rcp | 4 Roll with a hit, dissipat-
ing the blow's energy. After taking
FR | 2 - Dodge, Scales Speed 1d6+3
damage, use this advantage to make
Body, Life CP: 10
a movement directly away from the
Swift in action. attack, cutting the damage by the MR
Tiny 1d6+0 travelled.
Monster, Path Static Wings 1d6+0
CP: 4 Body, Life CP: 4 Scales 1d6+1
Creatures with a size
Feat CP: 5
between half that of a human body Two or more limbs that provide flight.
and that of a human hand. Thick overlapping areas of natural
armour.
Flying 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static Strike 1d6+2
CP: 4 Reach (2), Melee CP: 7
Capable of self-powered
flight. Lash out at a target.

Serpentine 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
Mooks
CP: 4
A monster that behaves like Ophis Pteretos, Small
a snake. Mook

A flying venomous snake.


Venomous 1d6+0
Traits: Flight, Melee, Poison
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
Injects venom into its prey.

Age of Legends
Satyr Healthy 1d6+3 Immortal 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 10 Free, Recovery, Time (Day) CP: 4
The offspring of a minor deity, these
part-human, part-horse creatures Well-nourished and disease free. Immune to death. Perform recovery
are loyal companions of Dionysus. actions even if 'dying'.
They stand upright like a human Manual Dexterity 1d6+4
but their legs and genitals are like a Body, Life CP: 14 Kick 1d6+3
horse's. While intelligent, tough and Skill CP: 10
Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-
dangerous, satyrs are dedicated to
ness. Attacking with the feet.
frivolity and fertility.

DP | 8 MCP | 20 Arcana 1d6+1 Magic Resistance 1d6+5


SP | 4 CP |
216 Life, Magic, Soul CP: 5 Skill CP: 19
Rcp | 4
A fundamental connection with magic An uncanny resistance to magic.
FR | 4 - Dodge, Manual Dex- and its use.
terity, Magic Resistance, Sprint 1d6+2
Tough Hide Quick Wits 1d6+1 Movement Static
Life, Mind CP: 5 CP: 7
A burst of speed over short
Fast in thought and word. distances.
Divine 1d6+6
Monster, Path Static Stubborn 1d6+2 Tough Hide 1d6+4
CP: 25 Life, Mind CP: 7 Feat CP: 14
A creature of a divine
master. Unwilling to change their behaviour or A thick skin that protects the creature
back down. from harm.
Herbivore 1d6+1
Monster, Path Static Toughness 1d6+2 Wpn Exp. (Javelin) 1d6+2
CP: 5 Body, Life CP: 7 Dice, Skill CP: 7
A creature which only eats
plants. Hardiness and resilience. Skilled in using a particular type
of weapon such as bows, swords or
Intelligent 1d6+1 Curse 1d6+5 knives. Reroll ones on the dice.
Monster, Path Static Magic, Range (2), Status, CP: 19
CP: 5 Time (Round) Javelin 1d6+2
A creature that uses tools
Range (4) CP: 7
and has a recognisable language and Using magic to harm a person, object,
culture. place. A short metal-tipped spear for throw-
ing.
Tribal Warrior 1d6+1 Diplomacy 1d6+1
Monster, Path Static Skill CP: 5
CP: 5
Fighting for a tribe. Careful use of word and action to
present a situation in the best pos-
Sorcerer 1d6+1 sible way.
Path Static
CP: 5 Divine Favour (Dionysus) 1d6+3
Experienced in magic and
Feat CP: 10
its uses.
A creature favoured by and important
Divine Aura 1d6+2 to a god.
Life, Soul CP: 7
Dodge 1d6+4
An intangible, barely perceptible
Skill CP: 14
sense that divine power surrounds the
creature. Avoid attacks and sudden danger.

173
Siren Performer 1d6+4 Art 1d6+2
Path Static Free [Soul], Skill CP: 7
The sirens were once sea nymphs
CP: 14
and handmaidens of Persephone. Making a living by perform- The creation of art to express oneself.
In her madness when Persephone ing plays, dances, music or stage
went missing, Demeter twisted their magic. Command Attention 1d6+0
forms into bird-like shapes and sent Aura (5), Skill, Status Static
them out as a flock to search for Divine Blood 1d6+0 (Round) CP: 4
her daughter. Demeter gave them Life, Soul CP: 4
You are able to draw anyone's atten-
such single-minded purpose that
A creature distantly related to divine tion on to yourself and distract them,
they forgot who they once were. The
beings. giving them the Rapt status effect.
trauma of this, their transforma-
tion and their abandonment after
Expressive 1d6+3 Dodge 1d6+0
Persephone was found, has forever
Life, Soul CP: 10 Skill CP: 4
altered them into vicious monsters.
Appearing as sea birds with the Thoughts, ideas and emotions are writ Avoid attacks and sudden danger.
neck and head of a human woman, large through gestures, facial expres-
they live now as nomadic flocks sions, vocabulary and voice. Entrancing Song 1d6+5
that gather on remote islands. Still Aura (10), Control Static
immortal, they hunt only for sport. Feathers 1d6+0 CP: 19
A song so beautiful it
They act out their malcontent by Body, Life CP: 4
bewitches the listener into obedience.
luring passing ships on to rocks
Being covered in feathers, which
with their enchanting songs and
provide excellent flight characteristics Immortal 1d6+0
then eating any survivors alive. As
and also insulation. Free, Recovery, Time (Day) CP: 4
they are not physically imposing
their preferred weapon is their song Immune to death. Perform recovery
Imagination 1d6+3
which they use to enrapture their actions even if 'dying'.
Life, Mind CP: 10
prey.
A vibrant creative brain. Magic Resistance 1d6+4
DP | 6 MCP | 16
Skill CP: 14
SP | 5 CP |
157
Linguistics 1d6+3
Rcp | 3 An uncanny resistance to magic.
Life, Mind CP: 10
FR | 2 - Dodge, Magic Resist-
Adroit at words and languages. Projection 1d6+2
ance
Range (1), Skill Static
Quick Wits 1d6+1 CP: 7
The technique of making
Life, Mind CP: 5
Avian 1d6+0 your voice heard over a distance.
Monster, Path Static Fast in thought and word.
CP: 4 Song 1d6+2
A feathered, winged and
Sharp Eyes 1d6+0 Skill CP: 7
egg-laying creature.
Body, Life CP: 4
Communication by singing and call-
Divine 1d6+0 This creature has excellent vision. ing.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4 Talons 1d6+3
A creature of a divine
Body, Life
Mooks
CP: 10
master.
Sharp talons on the feet for grasping Siren Chorister
Hellenic Legendary 1d6+0 and attacking. Mook
Monster, Path Static
Sea nymphs with the bodies of birds.
CP: 4 Wings 1d6+0
Legendary monsters have Their songs are entrancing and their
Body, Life CP: 4
legendary powers. talons sharp.
Two or more limbs that provide flight. Traits: Chorus, Drag, Mob Attack
Intelligent 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
A creature that uses tools
and has a recognisable language and
culture.

Age of Legends
Skeleton Soldier Brawn 1d6+4 Death Blow 1d6+4
Body, Life CP: 14 Double [Brawn], Melee CP: 14
Skeletons are created by scatter-
ing the teeth of dragons like seeds. Physical strength. A physical attack with supernatural
Wherever the teeth land, skeleton strength.
soldiers break out of the ground Manual Dexterity 1d6+5
a few moments later. They are Body, Life CP: 19 Jump 1d6+3
almost mindless, but once directed Dice, Movement, Skill CP: 10
Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-
to attack they will do so until
ness. High jump, long jump, running jump,
destroyed.
standing jump and every other type of
DP | 4 MCP | 13 Toughness 1d6+4 jump. Reroll ones on the dice.
SP | 3 CP |
149 Body, Life CP: 14
Rcp | 3 Push Forward 1d6+1
Hardiness and resilience.
Feat Static
FR | 3 - Aspis, Undead Tough-
CP: 5
ness, Xiphos Disciplined 1d6+3 Force an enemy backwards.
Life, Mind CP: 10 The target and character move one or
more squares as per the success + 4
Conscientiously follows orders and
scale.
Humanoid 1d6+0 rules.
Monster, Path Static
Sprint 1d6+1
CP: 4 Spite 1d6+3
Walks on two legs, with two Movement Static
Life, Soul CP: 10
arms for manipulating objects. CP: 5
A burst of speed over short
Pleasure and satisfaction in other
distances.
Undead 1d6+0 people's suffering.
Monster, Path Static
Undead Toughness 1d6+1
CP: 4
Once living, now dead but Dice, Feat CP: 5
still moving.
It's harder to die when you can't feel
pain. After nightfall only - reroll ones
Hoplite 1d6+0
and twos on the dice when used in a
Path Static
resistance action.
CP: 4
A fighter in a Greek army.
Weapon Expertise [Specify] 1d6+4
Dice, Skill CP: 14
Skilled in using a particular type
of weapon such as bows, swords or
knives. Reroll ones on the dice.

Aspis 1d6+3
Shield CP: 10
A small convex circular shield.

Xiphos 1d6+2
Melee CP: 7
A straight double-edged short sword.

Mooks
Skeleton
Mook

A moving skeleton that is armed with


a sword and shield.
Traits: Melee, Shield Wall, Spring
Leap

175
Stymphalian Bird, Beak 1d6+2 Distraction Attack 1d6+2
Body, Life Opportunity Static
Leader CP: 7
CP: 7
A mouth made of two bony parts, Take advantage of an
A man-eating bird that loosely
used for feeding and fighting. opponent when they are distracted.
resembles a heron or crane. They
Triggered when a foe is attacked or
live in flocks that migrate about
Communication 1d6+0 otherwise engaged by an ally.
the land looking for large bodies
Life, Soul CP: 4
of water, but always return to Lake
Flight 1d6+2
Stymphalis in Arcadia to breed. The ability to communicate.
Movement CP: 7
Their prey is routinely young or frail
humans but anyone alone is a target Sharp Eyes 1d6+0 The action of moving through the air.
for a flock of stymphalian birds. At Body, Life CP: 4
the first sign of danger the birds Follow-Up 1d6+2
This creature has excellent vision.
flee, which makes it difficult to Movement, Opportunity Static
hunt them. CP: 7
Speed 1d6+1 Move when someone moves
DP | 4 MCP | 11 Body, Life CP: 5 away from you but your movement
SP | 2 CP | 70 must decrease the range.
Swift in action.
Rcp | 4
Pack Attack 1d6+1
FR | 1 - Speed Wings 1d6+0
Skill CP: 5
Body, Life CP: 4
Skilled in working as a pack. Gain a
Two or more limbs that provide flight.
1d6+0 situation bonus for each ally
Avian 1d6+0
adjacent to the target up to a maxi-
Monster, Path Static
mum of 3d6+0.
CP: 4
A feathered, winged and
egg-laying creature. Swoop 1d6+0
Double [Talons], Skill CP: 4
Flying 1d6+0
Dive down to attack. Move up to MR
Monster, Path Static
3 and make a melee attack on a
CP: 4
Capable of self-powered target.
flight.

Predatory 1d6+0
Mooks
Monster, Path Static
Stymphalian Bird
CP: 4
A monster that predates on Mook
other animals.
A man-eating heron-like bird with a
long, sharp beak.
Social 1d6+0
Traits: Flight, Melee, Mob Attack
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
Critters that live in complex
social environments such as hives or
packs.

Age of Legends
Tanagran Triton Buoyancy 1d6+0 Environment (Water) 1d6+0
Body, Life CP: 4 Environment Static
A sea monster with the lower body
CP: 4
of a fish and the upper body of a Control over the creature's natural Experienced in and well-
human. Their skin is scaly like a buoyancy and how it floats. suited for a particular habitat.
shark's and their red eyes are visible
through their luxuriant green hair. Brawn 1d6+2 Ride the Currents 1d6+0
They are an aggressive omnivore Body, Life CP: 7 Double [Fins], Skill CP: 4
that eats seaweed, fish and crabs
Physical strength. Use the dynamic nature of water to
and they are intelligent enough to
move and strike more effectively.
capsize fishing boats to steal their
Fins 1d6+2
catch. The creatures are also territo-
Body, Life CP: 7 Swim 1d6+4
rial and tend to attack swimmers or
Dice, Movement CP: 14
bathers who stray too far from the Thin appendages used for swimming.
shoreline. A preserved triton can Movement through water. Reroll ones
been seen in the town of Tanagra, Manual Dexterity 1d6+4 and twos on the dice.
whose people caught it by getting Body, Life CP: 14
the creature drunk and then decapi- Throw 1d6+1
Hand-to-eye coordination and nimble-
tating it. Range (1), Skill CP: 5
ness.
DP | 4 MCP | 9 Accuracy with thrown objects and
SP | 2 CP | 89 Opposable Thumbs 1d6+0 weapons.
Rcp | 2 Body, Life CP: 4
Turbulence 1d6+3
FR | 1 - Manual Dexterity Able to grip and manipulate objects.
Aura (2), Potential, Skill CP: 10
Make the water rough and chaotic,
causing the victims to lose potential.
Half Human 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
A creature that is half Mundane Equipment 1d6+0
human and half something else.

Rock
Intelligent 1d6+0
A hefty lump of stone.
Monster, Path Static
CP: 4
A creature that uses tools Short Spear
and has a recognisable language and Long, thin and very pointy at one end.
culture.

Marine 1d6+0
Monster, Path Static
Mooks
CP: 4
Creatures living in water. Tanagran Triton
Mook
Swimming 1d6+0
A sea monster with the torso of a
Monster, Path Static
human and the lower body of a fish.
CP: 4
A creature at home in Traits: Melee, Mob Attack, Run
liquid.

177
Agent Paths

Agent of Coeus Static Agent of Crius Static Agent of Cronus Static


Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent

A pawn in service to the Titan of One who serves Crius, the patient An agent of Cronus, the imprisoned
grand strategy. god. authority.

Axis Battle Plan Arrogance


Symbol Aura (2), Skill, Status Life, Soul
The centre line around which rotat- Help others fight by giving them Overbearing belief in your own
ing objects spin. an effective battle plan. Success self-importance.
Cold Static creates a Mission advantage. Authority Static
Environment Consequences Static Realm
Where there is little warmth. Dice, Skill Cronus, the rightful king, claims
Deep Thought Seemingly small actions have large dominion over all decisions.
Life, Mind results. Explode sixes on the dice. Violent
A mind capable of maintaining Detachment Life, Mind
complex and long thought pro- Life, Soul A natural understanding of vio-
cesses. A state of being objective and lence and a tendency to use it.
Farsight Static aloof. Commanding Voice Static
Realm Future Imperfect Static Control, Range (2)
Coeus considers all possible out- Realm Speak with such force that the
comes of an action and lends his All things which might be are in target is compelled to obey.
knowledge to those who serve him. Crius' realm and the Titan allows Crippling Blow
Terminus his agents to see into it. Melee, Potential
Symbol Patience Make a strike against a target to
The point after which there is no Life, Soul limit their ability to act and move.
more. The good things in life come to Methodical
Predict Behaviour those who wait. Life, Soul
Status (Day), Time (Scene) People and Places Static An orderly and systematic
Spend time observing someone Knowledge approach to life.
or something to learn their likely An eclectic selection of knowledge Order Static
actions. Gain an Uncanny status about people and places, both cur- Realm
effect specific to that target. rent and historical. The realm of Cronus is one of order
Toughness Ram and the Titan grants his agents
Body, Life Symbol power to spread and defend his
Hardiness and resilience. An outwardly docile creature which domain.
Wisdom Static is stubborn and aggressive when Sickle
Realm threatened. Symbol
Exceptional understanding and Stars The instrument of Cronus' betrayal
common sense are the gifts from Symbol has a small, sharp and cunning
Coeus to his agents. Beautiful points of light that are edge.
Wit unmoving, distant and prophetic. Vengeance Static
Life, Mind Toughness Opportunity
A clever sense of humour. Body, Life When an attack causes a loss of
Hardiness and resilience. life advantages, strike immediately
back at the attacker.

Age of Legends
Agent Paths

Agent of Hyperion Static Agent of Iapetus Static Agent of Mnemosyne Static


Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent

One who serves the Shivering Titan. One who serves the atheist god. One who serves the betrayed mother.
Ambitious Ambitious Command Attention Static
Life, Soul Life, Soul Aura (5), Skill, Status
A strong urge to push on to bigger A strong urge to push on to bigger (Round)
and better things. and better things. You are able to draw anyone's
Blind Static Bravery attention on to yourself and dis-
Skill, Status Life, Soul tract them, giving them the Rapt
Obscure the vision of an opponent. Courage in the face of danger. status effect.
Applies the Blindness hazard. Death Static Diplomacy
Daylight Static Realm Skill
Environment Iapetus was once master of death Careful use of word and action to
Well-lit environments, particularly and still has some power over the present a situation in the best pos-
outdoors in sunlight. dead and dying. sible way.
Dazzle Disguise Eidetic Memory Static
Potential, Skill Skill Skill
Turn the sun against your enemy, Use of body language, hair styles, You never forget.
preventing them from acting. This make-up, clothes and props to Grace
attack does potential damage. disguise yourself. Body, Life
Light Static Humanity Static Poised and smooth in movement.
Realm Realm Inspiration
All things illuminated by sun or Iapetus rejects all divine authority Life, Soul
flame are in Hyperion's domain. over mortals. He is a guardian and Being suddenly possessed by an
Mirror servant of mankind, granting pow- impulse or idea.
Symbol ers to his agents who also serve Language Static
Reflections do not lie, showing humanity. Realm
things as they truly are. In The Thick Of It Words have great power and Mne-
Obsession Static Area (4), Skill mosyne allows her agents to draw
Realm You are at your best when sur- on and influence that power.
Hyperion's power flows through all- rounded by your enemies. Memory Static
consuming desires and addictions. Scheming Realm
His agents may use this power. Skill All memories are in Mnemosyne's
Unpredictable Skilled in the art of influence, dominion and access to or destruc-
Life, Soul deal-making and betrayal. tion of those experiences is within
Even you don't know what you're Spearpoint the Titan's control.
going to do next. Symbol Pure Song
Vain The tip of the spear which leads Dice, Skill
Life, Soul the thrust and drives deep into the In song your voice can inspire any
Obsessive over how others see you. body. emotional response desired. Reroll
Uncanny (Specify) Static ones and twos.
Knowledge The Alphabet
An uncanny knowledge of a sub- Symbol
ject you can't remember learning The snallest part and foundations
about. of all language.

179
Agent Paths

Agent of Oceanus Static Agent of Phoebe Static Agent of Rhea Static


Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent

An agent of the Atlantic Titan. One who serves the Titan called the An servant of the Titan called the
Old Prophet. Rejected Mother.
Calm the Water
Dice, Skill Dragon Cautious
A calming influence wherever there Symbol Life, Mind
is trouble and turbulence. Reroll A massive and eons-old beast Careful assessment of risk before
ones on the dice. known for its violence and divine taking action.
Fish abilities. Comfort
Symbol Flash Forward Static Realm
Fish come in a huge variety of Aid Resist Rhea, the rejected mother, empow-
shapes and forms, from the fast A glimpse of the future helps ers her agents to ease mental or
and streamlined to the strange and protect an ally. physical suffering.
ponderous. Laurel Tree Empathy
Ruthless Symbol Life, Soul
Life, Soul An evergreen tree with aromatic Understanding and insight into
Able to ignore other people's suf- leaves which are used to crown the others' emotional and physical
fering in pursuit of goals. victorious and powerful. wellbeing.
Oar Prophecy Static Cymbals
Symbol Realm Symbol
Oars are a way of converting Those who look into the future are A simple percussion instrument
human strength into motion, a way in Phoebe's domain. capable of both great noise and
of steering and useful as a tool to Reflexes subtle sound.
reach things or to keep them away. Body, Life Escape Artist
Navigation You are possessed of superior Skill
Skill speed when reacting. Skilled in escaping ropes, mana-
Use of landmarks, stars, maps and Smug cles and similar restraints.
devices in navigation. Life, Soul Flexible
Ocean An excessive satisfaction in your- Body, Life
Realm self and your achievements. Capable of bending joints and
Oceanus lost the shallow seas to Will Power limbs to extreme positions.
Poseidon but retains mastery of Life, Mind Lioness
the deep waters out of sight of Focus and determination. Symbol
land. Seer A fierce beast working with her
Bottomless Depths Skill, Free [Rites] sisters to hunt prey and defend the
Feat Messages from the gods are hard young.
Striking at you is like striking at for mortals to understand. Only Prestidigitation
the ocean. The blow is absorbed those versed in the arts can cor- Dice, Skill
and disappears into the endless rectly decipher dreams, omens and Fine movements of the hands that
deeps. portents. deceive the eye. Reroll ones on the
Unfathomable Spite dice.
Life, Mind Life, Soul Sense Motive
Your thoughts leave no trace in Pleasure and satisfaction in other Double [Empathy], Skill
your manner which remains placid, people's suffering. Discerning a person's intentions
no matter what is happening below by paying close attention to their
the surface. words, tone of voice and body
Water Static language.
Environment
Experienced in and well-suited for
a particular habitat.

Age of Legends
Agent Paths

Agent of Tethys Static Agent of Theia Static Agent of Themis Static


Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent Path, Titanic Agent

One who serves the Source of Water. An agent of Theia, the Titan goddess An agent of Themis, the lawmaker
of secrets and spies. and enforcer of the Titans.
Clouds Static
Realm Cynical Arrogance
Tethys' domain stretches from thin Life, Soul Life, Soul
wisps high in the sky down to thick Distrusting of and disparaging the Overbearing belief in your own
mists which cling to the ground. motives of others. Exploitative of self-importance.
Cloak others' standards. Etiquette
Symbol Eye Dice, Skill
A piece of hardy material that Symbolic Knowing how to behave in any kind
protects the wearer from harm and The part of the body that collects of social situation. Reroll ones on
the weather, and can also hide or light and allows a person to see the dice.
disguise them. the world. Devotion (Specify)
Diplomacy Keen Senses Life, Soul
Skill Body, Life A strong desire to serve a particu-
Careful use of word and action to Accurate and effective perception lar god and their ideals.
present a situation in the best pos- of the world around. Interrogation
sible way. Memory Skill
Dissent Static Life, Mind The subtle and not-so-subtle arts
Aura (5), Skill, Status The ability to store and recall infor- of extracting information from
A clever use of words that erodes mation. people.
loyalty and trust. The target gains Overhear Justice Static
the Enraged status effect directed Skill, Range (20) Realm
at their allies. Exceptional aural perception. In Themis' domain everyone gets
Divide Static Secrets Static what they deserve and the Titan's
Movement Realm agents are granted the power to
Move with an enemy, away from Everything kept secret by one see that this happens.
their allies, one square per the or more people can be found in Law Static
Success +4 scale. Theia's domain. Realm
Empathy Sight Static A system of rules that defines
Life, Soul Realm acceptable behaviour and punish-
Understanding and insight into When people look, Theia sees. The ments for those who breach the
others' emotional and physical Titan grants her servants access to rules.
wellbeing. her dominion. Pride
Modest Trackless Life, Soul
Life, Soul Skill A strong, perhaps excessive,
Humble and unostentatious. Leave no indication of your pres- opinion of one's own self-worth,
Rain Static ence or path. importance and merit.
Realm Vanish Scales
Tethys is in every raindrop and Dice, Status (Session) Symbol
grants her servants access to this Disappear from view. Reroll ones A bronze device that shows the
domain. and twos on the dice and gain the relative weights of two things using
Spite Invisible advantage as a status a pivot point.
Life, Soul effect with the Free keyword. Subdue
Pleasure and satisfaction in other Skill, Status
people's suffering. A well-placed strike can put an
end to a fight. The target gains the
Winded status effect.

181
Monster Paths

Half Human Static Hellenic Legendary Static Poisonous Breath Static


Monster, Path Monster, Path Aura (2), Status
A breath so vile and foul that it
A creature that is half human and half Legendary monsters have legendary
scorches plants, poisons animals
something else. powers.
and can split rock.
Brawn Black Bile Stone Gaze
Body, Life Body, Life Range (3), Status
Physical strength. A noxious bodily fluid. The gaze of this creature turns
Culture (Specify) Static Bile Spray Static flesh to stone. Victims gain the
Knowledge Area (1), Opportunity, Petrification status effect.
Language, customs, art and his- Range (1) Toxic Fumes
tory. When injured, a spray of caustic Skill, Status, Area (3)
Diplomacy bile erupts from the wound. A breath of toxic fumes which
Skill Divine Rays choke a victim and rob them
Careful use of word and action to Double [Devotion], Potential, of their voice. Target gains the
present a situation in the best pos- Range (3) Asphyxia status effect.
sible way. Bright rays of light dazzle the Tragic Life
Manual Dexterity target with divine light. Body, Life
Body, Life Entrancing Song Static Existence is misery and sadness
Hand-to-eye coordination and Aura (10), Control given living form. Sigh...
nimbleness. A song so beautiful it bewitches
Opposable Thumbs the listener into obedience.
Body, Life Feather Darts
Able to grip and manipulate Range (5), Dice
objects. Feathers hard enough to pierce
Protective Reflexes Static armour and resist blows. Reroll
Feat ones on the dice.
A range of reflexes that helps pro- Gaze of Sadness
tect the creature from harm. Skill, Potential, Range (6)
Sprint Static This creature looks at the world
Movement so sadly that it drains the life out
A burst of speed over short dis- of all it sees. A successful attack
tances. does both potential damage and
Swim life damage.
Dice, Movement Paralytic Venom
Movement through water. Reroll Body, Life, Potential
ones and twos on the dice. Inhibits foes' ability to move. A
Throw successful attack with this advan-
Range (1), Skill tage deals potential damage.
Accuracy with thrown objects and
weapons.

Age of Legends
Appendix
Acheron, River Arabia Attica
A river in the Underworld on whose A harsh and hot desert land beyond The southern most tip the Greek
banks the newly dead gather. the Levant. mainland which is not part of the
Peloponnese. Home to the city of
Acropolis Arcadia Athens.
The highest part of a polis, typically A wild and mountainous region in
a citadel containing fortifications the centre of the Peloponnese. Battle of Leuctra
and temples. In 371 BC, the armies of Athens,
Ares Corinth and Thebes defeat the Spar-
Adonis Olympic god of war and chaos. tans and ended their hegemony.
An exceptionally good looking mor-
tal male whose soul was fought over Argos Bellerophon
by Aphrodite and Persephone. City state on the east coast of the An ancient hero brought low by hubris.
Peloponnese.
Aegean Boetia
The sea east of mainland Greece Artaxerxes II of Persia A region of the Greek mainland
and home to an Archipelago of Aged King of Persia and the most that separates Attica from the lands
around fifty islands including Rho- powerful man in the world. east. It gives its name to the Boet-
des, Aigina, Karpathos and Kasos. ian League, a group of poleis in the
Artemis region led by Thebes.
Aegina The Olympic goddess of the hunt
A once powerful island state in and the wilderness. Carthage
the Aegean Sea, near to the Greek The most powerful of the Phoeni-
mainland. Asclepius cian city states. Situated on the
The Olympic god of healing whose North African coastline it is famed
Aeneas temples are centres of healing for the strength of its navy.
A noble and general who led the known as Asclepeia.
survivors of Troy to Italy. Cassandra
Asphodel Meadows A mortal who rejected Apollo's
Agamemnon Rolling hills covered in small flowers advances and in punishment was
A powerful king before the time of in Erebus. cursed to receive true visions of the
Homer times. future but no one would listen to
Athena her warnings.
Agora Olympic god of wisdom.
A clear area in a city which acts as a Centaur
marketplace and gathering place. Athens A mortal with top half of a man and
A polis in Attica and one of the the lower-half of a horse.
Anatolia largest, most influential city states
The lands east of Greece, over the in Greece. Cerberus
Aegean sea and largely controlled by The monstrous three headed hound
the Persian Empire. Atlas that guards the Underworld.
Atlas is a minor Titan and the god of
Aphrodite strength who holds up the celestial Chaos
Olympic god, daughter of Uranus. sphere in punishment for his part The primeval void and the very first
in the Titanomachy. His prison is in thing to exist. A god of sorts but
Apollo North African mountain range which far beyond the understanding of
Olympic god of music and knowl- bear his name. mortals.
edge.

183
Charon Delos Epidaurus
The immortal ferryman who takes A floating island in the Aegean sea Small city state in the Peloponnese,
souls across the river Acheron into secured by four giant metal chains. close to Argos. It is home to the
the Underworld. largest asclepeia and famous as a
Delphi centre of healing across the Medi-
Chiton A temple complex dedicated to terranean.
A long garment held in place by on Apollo and home to the famous
the shoulders by broaches or pins, oracle. It is on the southern coast Epirus
and around the waste by a belt or of the Greek mainland, north of the The western most region of the
girdle. Peloponnese peninsula and midway Greek mainland, bordering the Ion-
between the Aegean and Ionian ian Sea. The city of Dodona is its
Coeus coastlines. largest polis.
The Titan god wisdom who was
banished by Zeus at the end of the Demeter Erebus
Titanomachy. The Olympic goddess of teaching Part of the Underworld where souls
and agriculture. who have not distinguished them-
Corinth selves are sent to toil.
A narrow isthmus connecting the Dionysius of Syracuse
Greek mainland to the Peloponnese Ruler of Syracuse. Also known as Eris
and the rich polis situated on it. Dionysius the Elder and Dionysius The primordial goddess of discord
the Tyrant. and strife.
Crete
The largest and most southerly of Dionysus Eros
the Greek islands. The Olympic god of wine and free- A minor Olympic god of passion and
dom. obsession.
Crius
The Titan god of Constellations Djinn Gaia
exiled to the north African deserts. Immortal creatures of fire, air and Primordial goddess of the earth and
trickery. mother / grandmother / great-grand-
Cronus mother to the Titans and Olympians.
Leader of the Titans, former god of Echidna and Typhon
order and authority and currently Legendary monsters who sired many Gigantes
imprisoned in Tartarus. monsters including hydras, chime- The 100 gigantes were off-spring of
ras and Cerberus. Gaia and Uranus. They were killed
Cyclopes, Elder when they challenged the Olympi-
Three lesser immortals and the Egypt ans in the gigantomachy.
craftsmen of the gods. They are An ancient, dying kingdom in the
named Brontes, Steropes and Agres. hot desert lands of north Africa. Gorgon
A cursed woman with a serpentine
Cyclops, Lesser Eleusis form and snakes for hair.
A primitive tribe of mortal, 10' tall, A town in the Attica region of cen-
one-eyed humanoids. tral Greece. Greece
Ancient Greece is a concept, a
Cyprus Elis collection of people who share the
A large island to the south of Ana- A second tier city state on the west same language and gods. Mainland
tolia. of the Peloponnese. Olympia, the or Central Greece consists of Attica,
site of the Olympic games, falls Boeotia, Epirus and Thessaly. To
Dacia within its territory. its south, connected by a narrow
A land of barbarian tribes to the isthmus is the Peloponnese which
north west of Greece. Enyo contains Corinth, Elis, Sparta, Mes-
The goddess of bloodlust and senia, Epidaurus and Argos.
Deimos violence. North of central Greece is Thessaly
Child of Ares, twin of Phobos and and north-west of it is Macedon.
the Olympic god of terror. Ephesus East of Macedon is Thrace. Across
A town on the west coast of Anatolia the hellespont (the narrow channel
with the largest temple to Artemis in separating the continents of Europe
Greece.

Age of Legends
and Asia) is Anatolia which is partly Hermes Knossos
Greek and partly Persian. Olympic god of lies and heralds. The ancient capital of the Minoan
Greece also includes the islands in empire on Crete and now a ruin.
the Ionian Sea (the waters between Hestia
Greece and foot of the Italian penin- Daughter of Cronus and Rhea, eld- Lagina
sula) and islands in the Aegean Sea est of the Olympian gods. A religious site in Anatolia dedi-
which separates Greece in the west cated to Hecate.
and Anatolia in the East. The island Homer
of Crete, marking the border of the The most famous of the ancient Larissa
Aegean and Mediterranean is also Greek writers. He wrote the Iliad Capital and largest city of the Thes-
considered Greece as is the island and the Odyssey around 800 BCE. saly region of central Greece.
of Rhodes.
Hoplite Lemnos
Hades Any soldier armed with a large An island in the north east corner of
Olympic god of funerals and the shield (a hoplon) and a long spear. the Aegean sea.
Underworld.
Hubris Lethe, River
Hebe Excessive pride which becomes A slow moving and meandering river
The Olympic goddess of pardons arrogance. in the Underworld.
and forgiveness.
Hyperion Leto
Hecate The imprisoned Titan god of light. A minor Titan goddess who is the
The Olympic goddess of magic and mother of Apollo and Artemis.
edges. Iapetus
The vanished Titan god of mortal Levant
Hecatonchires death, now god of humanity. Broad term for costal lands at the
The hundred-handed giants who eastern end of the Mediterranean,
guard Tartarus. They are named Isles of the Blessed north-east of Egypt and south of
Briareus, Cottus and Gyges. Islands in the north of the Under- Antolia, which include Judea.
world. A blissful winterless paradise
Hector of Troy which incorporate the bountiful Lysander
The Trojan prince and general who fields and orchards of the Elysian Spartan general and soldier of
led the defence of Troy against the Fields and home to the souls of the exceptional skill instrumental in
Greeks, he now resides on the Isles the greatest Greek heroes. Sparta's victory over Athens in the
of the Blessed. Peloponnese war. He was killed in
Isthmia 395 BC.
Helios A city located on the isthmus con-
Titan god of the Sun. nection mainland Greece to the Macedon
Peloponnese, about ten miles from An kingdom to the north of central
Helots Corinth. It is home to the Isthmian Greece whose people are Greek but
A people who have been slaves to Games, one of the four panhel- often considered barbarians by more
the Spartans for hundreds of years lenic games and held in honour of southerly Greeks. Its capital is Pella.
that gripped has weakened with Poseidon.
the defeat of Sparta in the Battle of Medusa
Leuctra. Judges of the Dead A priestess turned into a gorgon for
The souls of three ancient kings betraying her oaths to Athena.
Hephaestus who judge all those who enter the
The Olympic god of smiths and fire. Underworld. Megara
Part of the Attica region of mainland
Hera King Amyntas III of Greece but sitting at the most north-
The Olympic goddess of Oaths and erly point of isthmus connecting the
Truth.
Macedon Peloponnese to central Greece.
The ageing Macedonian king and
father of the unified Macedonian
Herakles state.
Messenia
A demigod son of Zeus who after The south west region of the Pelo-
a lifetime of hardship and heroism ponnese peninsula.
was elevated to full godhood.

185
Metis Odysseus Pegasus / Ethiopian
A minor Titan goddess and the Hero of Homer's The Odyssey, King
mother of Athena. of Ithaca and called the most cun-
Pegasus
The legendary Pegasus was a horse
ning Greek who ever lived.
god, son of Poseidon and daughter
Miletus of the gorgon Medusa. The Ethio-
A major port city and the richest Olympia pian Pegasus is a mortal breed of an
Greek city on Anatolia. The site of the largest temple to
unintelligent winged horses.
Zeus and where both the Olympic
Mnemosyne and Heraean games are held. It is
Peloponnese
The banished Titan goddess of near the city of Elis in the Pelopon-
The large peninsula to the south of
language and memory. nese peninsula.
the Greek mainland and connected
to it by a narrow isthmus.
Mount Olympus Olympic Games
The highest mountain in Greece and A athletic festival held in honour of
the home of the Olympian gods. Zeus at Olympia every four years.
Peloponnesian War
A series of conflicts fought between
One of the cycle of panhellenic
431 and 404 BC between Athens
Mount Othrys games.
and its empire against the Pelopon-
A high peak in central Greece; the
nesian League led by Sparta. Final
base of Cronos and the Titans dur- Olynthus victory was achieved by Sparta
ing the Titanomachy; birthplace of A city on the coast of Thrace Greece
when General Lysander destroyed
Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and and leader of the Chalkidiki league.
the Athenian navy and cut the city
Poseidon; and the prison of Pro-
off from its vital grain supplies.
metheus. Oracle
A person cursed / blessed with the
Muses art of prophecy. The most famous
Persephone
Olympic goddess of flowers and
Nine sisters in the court of Apollo, and most accurate is the Oracle of
springtime.
who are the goddess of artistic Delphi who is under the protection
inspiration: Calliope; Clio; Erato; of Apollo.
Euterpe; Melpomene; Polyhymnia;
Persia
A powerful empire dominating lands
Terpsichore; Jolly Thalia; Urania. Orpheus to the east of Greece. In addition to
A famous poet and singer in ancient
its heart lands around Babylon and
Nemea times who tried to rescue his wife
the River Tigris, it controls much of
A small city situated in the north Eurydice from the Underworld.
Anato;ia and the Levant.
east of the Peloponnese. It is home
to the Nemean games which are in Pan Phalanx
honour of Herakles who slew the The primordial god of the forest and
A rectangular formation of soldiers
legendary Nemean Lion. more recently shepherds.
that all face the same direction.
Nymph Panhellenic Games Phlegethon, River
A lesser immortal associated with a A sequence of four annual games,
A river of hot sulfurous water in the
place of natural beauty. held in a four-yearly cycle. The
Underworld.
games are the Olympic Game,
Nyx the Nemean Games, the Phythian
Phobos
The primordial goddess of the night. Games and the Isthmian Games.
The Olympic god of fear.
Oath Pankration Phoebe
A solemn vow taken in a god's A Greek unarmed martial art.
The imprisoned Titan goddess of
name.
Prophecy.
Paris
Oceanus The last Prince of Troy and the mor-
Phoenicians
Once the Titan god of the sea but tal cursed to start the Trojan war.
A diaspora of people renown for
now lives in exile as god of the
their sailing and trading across the
Atlantic ocean. Parthenon mediterranean. Originally from the
The largest temple to Athena in the
Levant, they have settlement along
world, located in the acropolis of
the North African coast, the largest
Athens.
of which is Carthage.

Age of Legends
Plato Socrates Themis
A philosopher in Athens who has a Athens most famous free-thinker. The imprisoned Titan goddess of
lot to say about nearly everything. Executed for treason in 399BC. justice.

Poseidon Sparta Theseus


Olympic god of horses and the sea. A small polis in the Peloponnese An Athenian hero who killed the
famed for its warrior caste. It legendary minotaur.
Prometheus dominated Greece with the Spartan
A minor Titan who sided with the Hegemony after defeating Athens Thessaly
Olympians but whose constant defi- in the Peloponnese war but lost it An region of Greece between Mac-
ance of Zeus has earned him eternal after defeat in Battle of Leuctra of edon and central Greece govern over
torture. 371BC. by an alliance of aristocrats.

Psyche Stymphalia Thrace


A heroine who endured great trials A small town in the Arcadia region The region to the north and east of
fighting for her lover, Eros. She now of the Peloponnese fames as the Greece. Part of its borders consist
lives on Olympus as the goddess of location where Heracles slew of the of the Bosphorus and the Helles-
willpower. Stymphalian birds. pont, across which is the region of
Anatolia.
Rhea Styx, River
The imprisoned Titan goddess of A river of the Underworld that is Titanomachy
motherhood. opaque with silt. The war between the Titans and the
Olympians.
Rhodes Syracuse
An island polis consisting of several The largest Greek polis in Sicily. Trojan War
cities. In 408BC they combined A decade long war before the time
to build the city of Rhodes on the Tartarus of Homer between Troy and Greece
islands north-east tip. The darkest and deepest part of over trade routes and princesses.
the Underworld. It is where mortal
Rome judged evil are punished and im- Troy
An upstart city of little importance mortals who have displease Zeus A city on the north west corner of
on the Italian peninsula. are imprisoned. Anatolia, overlooking the Helles-
pont. Before the time of Homer it
Samos Tethys was the destroyed (as described in
An Aegean island close to the coast The exiled Titan goddess of the the Iliad) but rebuilt. It is a Athe-
of Anatolia renowned for its wines clouds. nian vassal state but under constant
and its red pottery. threat from the Persian empire.
Thanatos
Satrap A minor god who works for Hades as Underworld
The governor or ruler of part of the a guide. Hades' kingdom, the final resting
Persian Empire, answerable only to place of mortal souls and a prison
the Emperor himself. The regions The Argo for immortals who displease Zeus.
they ruled are known as satrapies. The hero Jason and his crew, the
argonauts, sailed aboard the Argo. Uranus
Selene They searched for the fleece of a The first King of the Gods, castrated
The Titan goddess of the moon. golden sheep, a symbol of authority and deposed by his son Cronus.
and kingship.
Shade Xerxes the Great
A soul that has returned to the mor- Thebes King of Persia until his murder in
tal world whilst waiting for entry into Currently the largest, most domi- 465 BCE. His invasion of Greece
the Underworld. nant city state in Greece. It is situ- was thwarted in part by the defiance
ated in Boetia on the central Greek of 300 Spartans.
Sicily mainland, west of Attica.
A large island at the western toe of Zeus
the Italian peninsula. The city of Theia Olympic god the sky and current
Syracuse and other Greek settle- The imprisoned Titan goddess of King of the Gods.
ments are on the island. secrets and shadows.

187
Index
A Artifice 121 Bread 122
Asclepius 18, 89, 146, 183 Bully 137
Acheron, River 20, 39, 60, Asphodel Meadows 21, 92, 183 Buoyancy 167, 177
89, 183 Aspis 139, 175 Buzzard 117
Achilles’ Heel 125 Athena 10, 26, 37, 45, 50, 53, 54,
Acropolis 26, 183 64, 66, 72, 74, 77, 110,
Act In Time 135 146, 183 C
Adaptable 123, 138, 163 Athens 11, 14, 26, 34, 36, 51, 55,
Adonis 47, 50, 53, 183 59, 69, 72, 183 Calm 134
Aegean 11, 14, 73, 147, 183 Atlas 68, 81, 146, 183 Calm the Water 180
Aegina 183 Attica 14, 72, 183 Camouflaged 151, 161, 169
Aegis 118 Authority 178 Carcinos, Large 155
Aeneas 65, 183 Avian 153, 166, 174, 176 Carcinos, Small 155
Agamemnon 53, 60, 183 Axe 139 Carthage 11, 32, 36, 183
Aggression 117 Axis 178 Cassandra 49, 104, 183
Agora 26, 183 Catoblepas 156
Agorawise 129 Cautious 115, 180
Alert 138, 163 B Cavalry 115
Amazon, Hunter 152 Centaur 38, 89, 183
Amazon Warrior 152 Backstab 137 Centaur, Archer 157
Ambitious 128, 134, 179 Balance 115 Centaur, Hunter 157
Ambush 151, 161, 169 Bandit 150 Centaur, Spear Carrier 157
Amphisbaean 151 Bargain 124, 128 Centaur, Villager 157
Analytical 118, 132 Basilisc 154 Cerberus 23, 146, 183
Anatolia 11, 14, 32, 34, 53, Battle Cry 125 Cestus 139
183 Battlefield 115, 131 Champion of Aphrodite 116
Animal Dominance 134 Battle of Leuctra 11, 27, 183 Champion of Apollo 116
Animal Empathy 115 Battle Plan 115, 178 Champion of Ares 117
Animal Handling 126, 157 Battle Veteran 115, 152 Champion of Artemis 117
Aphrodite 45, 46, 50, 55, 65, Beak 176 Champion of Athena 118
89, 113, 146, 183 Bear 117 Champion of Demeter 118
Apollo 48, 52, 55, 61, 68, 73, 80, Beauty 116 Champion of Dionysus 119
84, 107, 146, 183 Beguile 123, 132, 137, 138, 163 Champion of Hades 119
Appraise 123, 124, 128, 163 Bellerophon 47, 74, 183 Champion of Hecate 120
Apprenticeship (Specify) 128 Bestiary 125 Champion of Hephaestus 121
Arabia 11, 183 Bile Spray 154, 182 Champion of Hera 120
Arcadia 18, 69, 92, 183 Bite 156, 158, 164, 167 Champion of Hermes 121
Arcana 136, 171, 173 Black Bile 154, 182 Champion of Hestia 122
Arean Bird, Greater 153 Blind 179 Champion of Poseidon 122
Arean Bird, Lesser 153 Block 156, 162, 167 Champion of Zeus 123
Ares 9, 10, 37, 47, 50, 53, 54, Block the Way 120 Chaos 21, 44, 76, 92, 117, 183
61, 65, 66, 69, 89, 110, Bloodlust 117 Charge 157, 158, 164, 170
146, 183 Boetia 11, 27, 183, 187 Charismatic 123, 124, 171
Argos 67, 70, 183 Bottomless Depths 180 Charon 20, 39, 60, 89, 146, 184
Armour Use 125 Boulder 159 Cheerful 119
Arrogance 124, 125, 178, 181 Bow 139, 152 Chilling Aura 160
Art 124, 131, 174 Bravery 179 Chimera 158
Artaxerxes II of Persia 34, 183 Brawn 115, 125, 126, 130, 135, Chiton 53, 65, 184
Artemis 15, 52, 92, 146, 183 157, 159, 165, 166, 170, Choking Blow 130
Arthropod 155 175, 177, 182 Claws 158

Age of Legends
Climb 126, 134, 152, 163 Cynical 181 Divine Immunity 124, 171
Clipeus 139 Cyprus 46, 184 Divine Rays 182
Cloak 181 Djinn 9, 11, 184
Clouds 181 Dodge 131, 133, 153, 154, 172,
Coeus 44, 77, 84, 146, 184 D 173, 174
Cold 178 Dolphin 122
Cold Reading 123 Dacia 11, 31, 184 Dory 139
Colossal 161 Dance Step 119 Dove 116
Colossal Step 161 Dangerous Ground 136 Dragon 180
Colossal Sweep 161 Darkness 119 Dramatic Sense 125
Comfort 180 Daylight 179 Drilled 127
Comfortable in (Specify) 134 Dazzle 179
Command 129 Death 179
Command Attention 131, 169, Death Blow 175 E
174, 179 Death Friend 134
Commanding Voice 178 Debating 132 Eager 127, 152
Commerce 121 Deep Thought 178 Eagle 123
Communication 135, 176 Deer 117 Earthquakes 122
Community 122 Defensive Stance 125, 130 Echidna and Typhon 45, 90, 184
Competitive 130 Deimos 50, 89, 184 Ecstasy 119
Con Artist 123, 163 Delos 48, 184 Edges 120
Concealed Weapons 129 Delphi 19, 24, 48, 68, 84, 109, Egypt 9, 11, 14, 32, 75, 184
Conduit (Specify) 134 147, 184 Eidetic Memory 179
Consequences 178 Demeter 19, 39, 47, 56, 58, Eidolon 160
Contacts 128, 129, 133, 138 61, 69, 70, 146, 184 Elemental Creature (Fire) 158
Conversation 137 Demonic 165 Eleusis 184
Cool Under Pressure 125 Demonic Aura 165 Elis 28, 67, 75, 93, 184
Co-operative 126, 128 Desert 161 Embolden 127
Corinth 11, 26, 34, 47, 55, 73, Destruction 117 Empathy 122, 180, 181
147, 184 Detachment 178 Endurance 118, 120
Cornucopia 118 Devotion (Specify) 133, 181 Engender Trust 138
Courage 115, 152 Different Scale 161 Entrancing Song 174, 182
Craft (Specify) 124 Diminutive 153, 154, 164 Environment (Air) 153, 162,
Craftsperson 124 Dionysius of Syracuse 12, 32, 184 166
Crete 44, 75, 85, 184 Dionysus 39, 58, 65, 88, 92, Environment (Water) 167, 168,
Criminal Underworld 129, 137 103, 108, 146, 184 177
Crippling Blow 178 Diplomacy 122, 127, 132, Enyo 66, 89, 146, 184
Crius 44, 146, 184 165, 173, 179, 181, 182 Ephesus 53, 184
Cronus 9, 44, 46, 51, 55, 57, 59, Dirty Fighting 133, 137 Epidaurus 89, 184
60, 62, 67, 69, 74, 76, 77, Discern Lies 120 Epirus 75, 184
78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, Disciplined 125, 131, 175 Erebus 20, 61, 82, 91, 184
85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 109, Disembowel 158 Eris 44, 55, 184
144, 146, 184 Disguise 137, 138, 179 Eros 90, 146, 184
Crushing Bite 155 Dissent 181 Escape Artist 180
Crushing Blow 168 Dissociation 136 Estimate 127
Cultist 150 Distinctive Looks (Specify) 129 Ethiopian Dragon 161
Culture (Specify) 182 Distraction Attack 176 Ethiopian Pegasus 162
Cunning 123, 137, 163 Divide 181 Ethiopian Pegasus, Flock Elder
Curiosity 136 Divine 159, 167, 171, 174 162
Curse 136, 171, 173 Divine Ancestry 124, 171 Etiquette 122, 129, 138, 181
Cute 164 Divine Aura 124, 167, 171, 173 Event Expertise (Specify) 130
Cyclopes, Elder 44, 60, 90, Divine Blood 159, 171, 174 Exoskeleton 155
146, 184 Divine Familiarity 124, 125, Expressive 131, 169, 174
Cyclops, Alpha 159 171 Eye 181
Cyclops, Beta 159 Divine Favour 133 Eyes of Doom 154
Cyclops, Lesser 8, 184 Divine Favour (Dionysus) 173
Cymbals 180 Divine Healing 171

189
F Gigantes 44, 54, 74, 79, 90, Hermes 9, 45, 48, 58, 61, 68, 88,
184 89, 107, 147, 185
Faith 134 Goat 121 Hero from Another Legend 125
Fake Sincerity 128 Golden Sheep, Ewe 164 Heroism 118
Falx 139 Golden Sheep, Ram 164 Hestia 19, 147, 185
Fame 115, 125, 130 Gorgon 55, 69, 165, 184 Hide 137, 155
Family 120 Grace 116, 131, 179 Hippocamp 167
Family Wealth 129 Grandstand 130 Hippocamp, Minor 167
Fangs 151, 154, 161, 165, 172 Grapple 130 Homer 8, 147, 183, 185
Farsight 178 Greece 8, 184 Hoplite 12, 125, 150, 175, 185
Fashion 131 Greed 137 Hoplon 139
Fatalistic 135 Ground Pound 122 Horns 162, 163, 170
Faun, Lesser 163 Growth 118 Horseman 150
Faun, Trickster 163 Guard 150 Hounds 117
Fear 117 Gymnastics 121 Hover 153
Feather Darts 153, 182 Hubris 8, 32, 49, 53, 57, 63, 74,
Feathers 153, 174 106, 107, 110, 185
Feint 123, 163 H Huge 168
Ferocious 134 Humanity 179
Fine Art 131 Hades 9, 20, 45, 47, 57, 60, 63, Human Mooks 150
Fins 167, 177 69, 72, 74, 76, 86, 89, Humanoid 165, 166, 170, 175
Fire 121 103, 146, 185 Hunter 126, 150, 152, 157, 163
Fire Breath 158 Half Human 177 Hunting 117
Fish 180 Hammer 121 Hurl 159
Flash Forward 180 Hardy Soul 134 Hydra 168
Flexible 180 Harpy 166 Hyperbole 128
Flight 153, 162, 166, 172, 176 Harry 131 Hyperion 44, 79, 80, 87, 91,
Flying 153, 162, 166, 172, 176 Harvest 118 147, 185
Focus 117, 132, 136, 171 Healthy 129, 167, 171, 173
Follow 137 Hearth 122
Follow-Up 158, 164, 176 Heat Vision 161 I
Force Cycle 118 Hebe 66, 91, 146, 185
Foreigner 119 Hecate 19, 23, 55, 62, 113, 146, Iapetus 44, 81, 145, 147, 185
Foreign Knowledge 128, 137 185 Imagination 124, 127, 131, 174
Forge 121 Hecatonchires 21, 22, 44, 77, 79, Immortal 171, 173, 174
Forgery & Counterfeiting 123 81, 91, 185 Improvise Event 130
Forgettable 138 Heckle 132 Impulsive 119
Free Diving 122 Hector of Troy 106, 185 Incorporate 160
Freedom 119 Height Advantage 161 Inexhaustible 130
Free Spirit 138 Helios 32, 61, 64, 79, 80, 91, Inheritance [Specify] 124
Funerals 119 106, 147, 185 Innovation 127
Fur Coat 156, 158, 164 Hellenic Hazards 140 Inscrutable 122
Future Imperfect 178 Hellenic Legendary 153, 154, Insensitive 134
156, 164, 174 Inspiration 118, 127, 179
Helots 16, 29, 185 Intangible 160
G Hephaestus 19, 46, 48, 50, 52, Intelligent 165, 169, 173,
61, 64, 90, 147, 185 174, 177
Gaia 44, 48, 74, 76, 79, 83, 85, Hera 15, 19, 24, 45, 48, 55, 58, Interrogation 181
90, 107, 146, 184 64, 66, 69, 70, 74, 86, 90, In The Thick Of It 179
Gastraphetes 139 107, 111, 147, 185 Invokation 136
Gather Thoughts 132 Herakles 10, 24, 29, 45, 47, Ionian Sea 184
Gaze of Sadness 156, 182 50, 54, 65, 66, 73, 91, Isles of the Blessed 20, 63, 106,
Generous 121 104, 145, 147, 185 111, 185
Geography 128 Herbivore 156, 157, 162, Isthmia 24, 73, 185
Get Up and Move 136 163, 170, 173
Ghost Walk 160 Herbology 136, 171
Gift of Hephaestus (Specify) 121

Age of Legends
J Lysander 11, 185 Necromancy 119
Nemea 24, 186
Javelin 139, 173 Net 139, 152
Judge 119 M Neurotoxins 151, 172
Judges of the Dead 20, 91, 111, Nimble 121, 154, 155
147, 185 Macedon 30, 55, 185 Noble Birth 129
Jump 164, 175 Magic 120 Not Quite Dead 115, 152
Just 119 Magic Resistance 159, 161, Nymph 39, 64, 171, 186
Justice 181 167, 168, 171, 173, 174 Nyx 44, 92, 186
Makharia 152
Malevolent Spirit 160
K Mammal 156, 158, 164, 167 O
Manipulation 116
Keen Senses 117, 134, 135, Manual Dexterity 115, 124, Oak 123
137, 151, 158, 166, 181 125, 130, 137, 159, 165, Oar 180
Keys 119 166, 173, 175, 177, 182 Oarsman 150
Kick 157, 162, 163, 170, 173 Many Legs 155 Oath 24, 39, 55, 58, 67, 110,
Kick Up Sand 161 Many Vertebrae 172 147, 186
King Amyntas III of Macedon 30, Marine 155, 167, 168, 177 Oaths 120
185 Martial Theory 127 Observation 120
Knack for (Specify) 134 Martial Upbringing 127, 152 Obsession 179
Knife 139, 163 Mass 156, 159, 161, 170 Ocean 180
Knockback 153 Mathematics 118 Oceanus 44, 73, 79, 83, 86,
Knossos 32, 66, 185 Mechanical Devices 124 147, 186
Knowledge 116 Medusa 55, 69, 185 Odysseus 8, 45, 49, 54, 69,
Megara 185 104, 144, 186
Melee Weapons 139 Olive Tree 118
L Memory 132, 135, 179, 181 Olympia 24, 28, 67, 75, 186
Mentored 128 Olympic Games 16, 24, 28,
Labourer 126, 157 Merchant 128 73, 75, 186
Lagina 63, 185 Mesangylon 139, 157 Olynthus 26, 30, 38, 186
Language 179 Messenia 29, 185 Ophis Pteretos, Large 172
Large 156, 159, 162, 167, 170 Methodical 178 Ophis Pteretos, Small 172
Larissa 27, 185 Metis 54, 66, 186 Opposable Thumbs 165, 166,
Laurel Tree 180 Might 123 170, 177, 182
Law 132, 181 Miletus 32, 186 Optimistic 127
Law and Order 123 Minotaur 170 Oracle 10, 19, 48, 51, 54, 59, 67,
Leader 127 Mirror 116, 179 68, 71, 75, 109, 144, 147,
Leadership 118 Mnemosyne 44, 79, 82, 147, 186
Leap 121 186 Oratory 132, 133
Legendary 151, 158, 161, 168 Modest 181 Order 178
Lemnos 64, 185 Mounted Charge 115 Organise 128
Leopard 119 Mounted Jump 115 Organised Crime 129
Lethe, River 21, 22, 82, 185 Mount Olympus 8, 45, 74, Orpheus 22, 62, 92, 186
Leto 48, 52, 185 186 Overhear 181
Leucrocota 169 Mount Othrys 77, 147, 186 Overreact 116
Levant 36, 183, 185 Move as One 122 Overrun 115
Liar 121 Mud Step 126 Owl 118
Light 179 Multi-Headed 151, 158 Oxybeles 139
Lingering Poison 172 Muses 147, 186
Linguistics 138, 165, 169, 174 Music and Poetry 116
Lioness 120, 180 P
Lockpicking 137
Love 116 N Pack Attack 176
Loyalty 128, 129, 134 Painful Kick 130
Luck 124, 136, 171 Natural Philosophy 132 Pan 52, 92, 186
Lyre 116 Navigation 135, 180 Panhellenic Athlete 130

191
Panhellenic Games 24, 28, 73, Predatory 151, 158, 161, Rites 133, 136, 171
100, 186 164, 166, 169, 176 Rock 177
Pankration 13, 130, 152, 186 Predict Behaviour 178 Roll With It 172
Panoply 139 Presence 123 Rome 11, 31, 37, 78, 146, 187
Paralytic Venom 164, 182 Prestidigitation 180 Rooster 121
Paranoid 137, 138 Pride 122, 181 Rose 116
Paris 49, 55, 186 Priest(ess) 133 Rural 126, 133, 157, 159, 163
Parthenon 26, 53, 55, 186 Problem Solving 124, 127, Ruthless 180
Passion 116 165
Patience 122, 126, 133, Professional Foul 130
152, 157, 158, 161, 169, Projection 131, 169, 174 S
178 Prometheus 74, 81, 147, 187
Peacock 120 Prophecy 180 Sacrifice 122
Pegasus / Ethiopian Pegasus 74, Protective 118 Sailor 135
186 Protective Reflexes 165, 170, Samos 67, 187
Peloponnese 11, 24, 30, 89, 186 182 Sarissa 139
Peloponnesian War 11, 26, 186 Psyche 22, 90, 187 Satrap 32, 34, 35, 187
Peltarion 139 Pure Song 179 Satyr 173
Peltast 131, 150 Push Forward 125, 175 Scales 151, 154, 161, 165, 168,
People and Places 138, 178 172, 181
Perfectionist 121 Scavenging 133, 136
Performer 131, 169, 174 Q Scent Track 151, 161, 165, 168
Perform (Mutterings) 169 Schadenfreude 165
Perform (Specify) 131 Quick Wits 132, 165, 173, 174 Scheming 179
Persephone 22, 47, 57, 61, 91, Quip 116 Scout 135
147, 186 Seasons 118
Persia 27, 36, 186 Secrets 181
Persuade 123, 163 R Seer 133, 171, 180
Phalanx 12, 186 See Soul 119
Phantasm 160 Rain 181 Selene 80, 147, 187
Philosopher 132 Raised By Animals 134 Self 128, 137, 160
Philospher 150 Ram 178 Self-Confidence 123, 129
Phlegethon, River 21, 22, 186 Ranged Expertise [Specify] 131 Selfless 127
Phobos 50, 89, 186 Ranged Weapons 139 Sense Motive 180
Phoebe 44, 48, 77, 84, 147, 186 Raven 116 Sensitive 136
Phoenicians 36, 51, 186 Reach 156, 159, 167, 170 Serpentine 151, 154, 161,
Physical Beauty 116, 124, Read the Battle 115, 152 165, 168, 172
171 Ready To Run 138 Serpentine Head 168
Pilot Craft 135 Rear Strike 162 Shade 39, 62, 146, 187
Pincers 155 Reek 168 Sharp Eyes 153, 174, 176
Pirate 150 Refined 128 Shield Ally 115, 127
Planning Ahead 127 Reflex Attack 151, 164, 167 Shield Expertise 127
Plant Anima 118 Reflexes 115, 131, 180 Shields and Armour 139
Plato 26, 187 Regal Bearing 120 Shock Charge 117
Poisonous Breath 154, 182 Regrow 168 Short Spear 177
Polecat 120 Reincarnated 134 Shrewd 125, 128
Political Manoeuvring 123, 129 Religious Lore 132, 133 Sicily 28, 36, 187
Politician 132 Rend 117 Sickle 178
Poppy 118 Reptile 154, 158 Sight 181
Poseidon 10, 24, 28, 39, 45, Restoring Performance 116 Silent 154, 161, 165
48, 50, 54, 60, 65, 70, 72, Retreat 131, 157, 163 Silver Tongue 121
74, 76, 83, 86, 90, 107, Rhea 44, 76, 77, 79, 85, 87, 90, Siren 174
147, 187 147, 187 Siren Chorister 174
Possess 160 Rhetoric 128 Skeleton 175
Pounce 151, 169 Rhodes 32, 91, 187 Skeleton Soldier 175
Poverty 133 Ride (Specify) 115, 129, 135 Slave 150
Prayer 133 Ride the Currents 167, 177 Sling 139

Age of Legends
Slinger 150 Swift 130 Toughness 125, 126, 129,
Slither 151, 154, 165, 168 Swim 135, 155, 167, 177, 182 135, 136, 156, 159, 162,
Small 153, 154, 155, 164 Swimming 155, 177 167, 170, 173, 175, 178
Smug 180 Swoop 153, 166, 176 Toxic Fumes 156, 182
Snakes 116 Syracuse 12, 32, 36, 146, Track 126
Social 176 187 Trackless 181
Social Status 129 Tragic Life 156, 182
Society 132 Traps 121, 126, 163
Socrates 26, 187 T Traveller 138
Sole Survivor 136 Tree Trunk 159
Song 153, 174 Tail 154, 158 Tremor Sense 154, 161, 165
Sorcerer 136, 150, 171, 173 Talons 153, 166, 174 Tribal Warrior 150, 159, 173
Sparta 11, 14, 16, 26, 34, 51, 97, Tanagran Triton 177 Trick Shot 117
187 Tartarus 9, 20, 44, 60, 63, Trident 139
Spearpoint 179 74, 76, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, Trojan War 9, 45, 50, 55, 187
Speed 126, 130, 131, 151, 152, 85, 87, 88, 90, 106, 111, Troy 49, 50, 53, 55, 73, 89,
157, 158, 161, 162, 163, 187 187
164, 166, 169, 172, 176 Telekinesis 160 Truth 120
Spite 120, 129, 160, 175, 180, Tenacious 126, 136 Turbulence 177
181 Terminus 178
Spolas 139 Terror 160
Sprint 125, 131, 134, 136, 158, Tethys 44, 83, 86, 147, 187 U
163, 173, 175, 182 Thanatos 93, 147, 187
Spy 137, 150 The Alphabet 179 Uncanny (Specify) 134, 179
Stalk 117 The Argo 9, 27, 45, 67, 107, Undead 175
Stallion 122 144, 187 Undead Toughness 175
Stamina 126, 130, 135, Theatre 119 Underground 119
138, 152, 157 Thebes 26, 34, 51, 58, 60, 63, 69, Under the Sand 161
Stars 178 187 Underworld 9, 20, 45, 49, 60,
Stealth 126, 137, 138, 151, 152, Theft 121 63, 74, 82, 89, 111, 147,
155, 163, 169 Theia 44, 77, 79, 80, 87, 91, 187
Stern 119 147, 187 Unfathomable 180
Stone 121 Themis 44, 88, 147, 187 Unnatural Flesh (Fire) 168
Stone Gaze 154, 165, 182 The Night 120 Unpredictable 179
Stoneworking 126 The Sea 122 Unstoppable 124, 171
Storms 122 Theseus 32, 73, 187 Uranus 21, 44, 46, 74, 76, 79, 83,
Strategy 118 Thessaly 11, 30, 187 85, 90, 187
Stride 159, 162, 170 The Wild 117 Urban 129, 133
Strike 161, 165, 172 Thief 137
Striking 130 Thorax 139
Strong Stomach 133 Thrace 31, 50, 59, 187 V
Stubborn 156, 157, 162, Throw 170, 177, 182
170, 173 Throw Enemy 130 Vain 179
Stunning Blow 159 Thunderbolt 123 Vanish 181
Stymphalia 67, 187 Thureos 139 Vengeance 120, 178
Stymphalian Bird 176 Tiller Hands 135 Venomous 151, 172
Stymphalian Bird, Leader 176 Tiny 172 Vigilant 120
Styx, River 22, 23, 187 Titanomachy 44, 51, 54, 56, 60, Violent 129, 178
Subdue 181 62, 65, 67, 70, 72, 74, 77, Vulture 117
Summon Courage 127 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84,
Super-Thick Skin 161 85, 86, 90, 187
Sure Footed 135 Toned 127, 128 W
Surgery 132 Tool Expertise (Specify) 124
Survival 127, 134, 135, Tool Use 126 Wail 160
136, 152 Torch 120 Wanted 138
Survival Instinct 133 Tough Hide 156, 158, 159, Ward 136, 171
Swallow 161 163, 170, 173 Water 180

193
Wayfinder 138
Weapon Expertise [Specify] 115,
125, 126, 135, 175
Weather 123
Weather Sense 135
Well-Educated 128
Wilderness 134, 135
Wilful 116
Will Power 132, 133, 180
Wine 119
Wings 162, 166, 172, 174, 176
Wiry 133
Wisdom 178
Wit 178
Wood Working 126
Wpn Exp. (Bow) 152
Wpn Exp. (Javelin) 173
Wpn Exp. (Mesangylon) 157

X
Xerxes the Great 27, 187
Xiphos 139, 175
Xyston 139

Z
Zeus 8, 19, 21, 23, 24, 31, 44,
46, 48, 54, 57, 58, 60, 62,
64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76,
77, 78, 79, 82, 83, 84, 85,
86, 87, 88, 89, 107, 111,
144, 147, 187

Age of Legends
Spent

1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+ Mundane


CP: CP: CP: Equipment
1d6+0

1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+


CP: CP: CP:

1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+


CP: CP: CP:

Dynamic | MCP | 1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+


Static | CP |
CP: CP: CP:
Recoup |

Free Resist |

1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+


CP: CP: CP: CP:

1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+


CP DICE
CP: CP: CP: CP:
1 0d6+1
2 0d6+2

1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+ 3 0d6+3

CP: 4 1d6+0
CP: CP: CP:
5 1d6+1
7 1d6+2

1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+ 1d6+ 10 1d6+3


14 1d6+4
CP: CP: CP: CP:
19 1d6+5
25 1d6+6

BANK
Age of Legends

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