Steven S. Long Editing and Developing

The Atlantean Age

a setting book for fantasy hero Author: Steven S. Long Editing and Developing: Darren Watts Layout & Graphic Design: Andy Mathews Cover Illustration: Storn Cook Interior Illustration: Mitch Byrd, Storn Cook, Keith Curtis, Brendon and Brian Fraim, Fredd Gorham, Aaron Jefferson, Elizabeth Jones, Sam Kennedy, Ted Kim, Patrick McEnvoy, Cara Mitten, Greg Smith Cartography: Keith Curtis. John Lees

Hero SystemTM ® is DOJ, Inc.’s trademark for its roleplaying system. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, Hero System © 1984, 1989, 2002 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or computerization, or by Champions is a trademark of Cryptic Studios, Inc. Used with permission. any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Fantasy Hero ©Sample 2003 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Publisher: DOJ, Inc., 226 E. 54th Street, #605, New York,file NY 10022-48541. Dark Champions © 2004 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. First printing May 2008. Printed in Canada Pulp Hero © 2005 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Produced and distributed by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. Atlantean Age © 2008 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. Stock Number: DOJHERO515 Star Hero, Justice Inc., Danger International, Danger International, Western ISBN: 978-1-58366-110-9 Hero © 2002 by DOJ, Inc. d/b/a Hero Games. All rights reserved. http://www.herogames.com Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...... 4 CHAPTER FOUR: Atlantean Enchanted Items...... 124 DAILY LIFE IN ATLANTIS Weapons...... 124 CHAPTER ONE: A HISTORY OF Armor...... 127 THE ATLANTEAN AGE Atlantean Life...... 64 Other Enchanted Items...... 128 The Calendar...... 64 Other Types of Magic...... 129 A History of Atlantis...... 6 Family Life...... 65 The Ten Brothers...... 6 Lemurian Magic...... 129 Social Life...... 66 Lemurian Enchanted Items...... 130 The Age of Exploration...... 6 Government and Laws...... 67 The Age of Conquest...... 10 Kaphtoran Magic...... 131 Technology and Magic...... 68 Tellat Magic...... 131 The Anger of the Gods...... 13 Trade...... 68 The First Lemurian War...... 13 Other Magics...... 132 Reign of the Atlan...... 14 Atlantis at War...... 69 Atlantean Forces...... 69 CHAPTER EIGHT: CHAPTER TWO: THE PEOPLES Weapons and Armor...... 70 GAMEMASTERING THE OF THE ATLANTEAN AGE Riding Beasts and Vehicles...... 72 ATLANTEAN AGE The Atlanteans...... 16 CHAPTER FIVE: ATLANTEAN The Later Histories...... 134 Other Atlantean Races...... 16 CHARACTER CREATION Sharna-Gorak the Destroyer...... 136 Lemurians...... 18 Gamemastering the Atlantean Age.... 138 Empyreans...... 18 Package Deals...... 78 Background Package Deals...... 78 Atlantean Age Campaigns...... 138 Deogharans...... 19 Atlantean Combat...... 139 Hazarians...... 20 Professional Package Deals...... 79 Kaphtorans...... 20 Priest Package Deals...... 79 The GM’s Vault...... 140 Northlanders...... 21 Rogue Package Deals...... 81 Arcadia...... 142 Pelasgarans...... 22 Warrior Package Deals...... 83 Lemuria at War...... 144 Saravonans...... 22 Wizard Package Deals...... 86 Lemurian Soldiers...... 145 Tellats...... 22 Miscellaneous Package Deals...... 87 Lemurian Soldier...... 145 Game Elements...... 89 Mole-Man...... 146 CHAPTER THREE: Character Creation...... 89 Lemurian Weapons and Armor...... 147 LANDS AND REALMS OF Characteristics...... 89 Personal Weapons And Armor...... 147 THE ATLANTEAN AGE Skills...... 89 Battle Magiconstructs...... 149 Perks...... 90 Chala-Lion...... 149 Atlantis...... 24 Talents...... 90 Crystallocolossus...... 150 Atlan’elos...... 24 Disadvantages...... 90 Lemurian Golem...... 151 Vondarien, Atlan of Atlantis...... 28 Equipment...... 92 Lemurian Vehicles...... 152 Anthele...... 31 Flynq-Shark...... 152 Aratolia...... 31 CHAPTER SIX: THE GODS Gullop-Steed...... 153 Argolis...... 32 Hepatizon Giant...... 154 Evoia...... 33 The Gods of Atlantis...... 94 Mole-Man Tunneler...... 155 Laconia...... 34 Cosmology...... 96 Ornithopter...... 156 Messania...... 35 Religion...... 97 Piscireme...... 157 Paros...... 36 The Gods of Other Lands...... 99 Quattropede...... 158 Sephailios...... 36 Lemuria...... 99 Zanthinus...... 37 Hazaria...... 99 CHAPTER NINE: ATLANTEAN Mount Oeranos...... 38 Kaphtor...... 99 ADVERSARIES Lands of the Dominion...... 38 The Serpent-Men...... 99 VILLAINS...... 160 The Pelasgaran Dominion...... 39 Tellat...... 100 Haliris Tal...... 160 The Sangobaran Dominion...... 43 Gerilah Nask...... 163 The Southern Dominion...... 46 CHAPTER SEVEN: Cormar the Mighty...... 165 MAGIC IN THE ATLANTEAN AGE ATLANTEAN MONSTERS...... 169 Beyond the Dominion...... 49 The Anthelean Worm...... 169 The Empire of Hazaria...... 49 Atlantean Magic...... 102 Tellat Battledon...... 171 Kaphtor...... 51 The Basics of Atlantean Magic...... 102 Atlantean Dragon...... 172 The Empire of Tellat...... 53 Atlantean Magic in Game Terms...... 102 Elemental Demons...... 174 Orichalcum...... 105 The Empire of Lemuria...... 56 . Air Demon...... 175 Atlantean Spells...... 106 Lemuria, the Land Beneath the Waves...... 56 eArth Demon...... 176 Spells Of Air...... 106 Lemuria’s Empire...... 59 fire Demon...... 177 Spells Of Earth...... 110 SampleThe Lands Of Deoghar...... 59 . Watfileer Demon...... 178 Spells Of Fire...... 113 The Lands of Saravon...... 60 . Chaos Demon...... 179 Spells Of Water...... 115 shadow Demon...... 180 Spells Of Light...... 117 . Arcane Demon...... 181 Spells Of Order...... 119 Tellat War-Ape...... 182 Spells Of Arcane...... 121 Atlantean Divine Magic...... 122 4 Hero System 5th Edition Revised

Chapter Five, Atlantean Character Creation, reviews the HERO System game elements you need to create an Atlantean character. It has Package Deals, notes on Skills and Disadvan- INTRODUCTION tages, and a section on equipment. Chapter Six, The Gods Of Atlantis, discusses the ten major gods wor- shipped by the Atlanteans, and their religious customs and practices. In a any have heard the story evolves from the year 35000 BC, when world where the gods sometimes inter- of Atlantis, the island that the god Poseidon gives the island to his fere in the affairs of mortals, proper sank beneath the waves, followers Evenor and Leucippe, until the worship is a must! whose people have ever year 32098, when Vondarien takes the Chapter Seven, Atlantean Magic, sinceM lived underwater. But few know of throne for good. presents a comprehensive description of the time before the Cataclysm, when the Chapter Two, The Peoples Of The Atlantean magic, which is the founda- Dominion of Atlantis used its powerful Atlantean Age, covers not just the Atlan- tion of Atlantis’s power. In addition to enchantments to rule most of the world, teans, but the other races that inhabit the system itself, it includes dozens of and its armies clashed with those of the the world: the dangerous Lemurians; spells and enchanted items for Atlan- rival empire of Lemuria. It was a time of the dark men of Kaphtor; the Hazari- tean characters. The second section magic high and deep, when wizards were ans and the Tellat, who maintain their of the chapter covers the magic of the like unto gods and the gods themselves own empires in defiance of Atlantis; the Lemurians, the Kaphtorans, and other mingled with mortal men. swarthy Saravonans; the fur-clad North- civilizations. But for all its wonders, this is still a landers; and more. Chapter Eight, Gamemastering The world in need of heroes. Powerful magic Chapter Three, Lands And Realms Atlantean Age, is for the GM only. It dis- begets powerful monsters, and only a true Of The Atlantean Age, reviews the world cusses the history of Atlantis after 32098 hero can hope to oppose and slay them. Atlantis rules (or at least dominates). C (including Atlantis’s decline, Cormar’s The Lemurian Empire plots and schemes, First it describes Atlantis itself, in all its rebellion, and the war between Sharna- hoping to steal the magical secrets of glory and wonder. Next it describes the Gorak and Atlan Vondarien that leads to Atlantis for itself and wrest control of the lands of the Dominion. Then it goes on the Cataclysm), provides a “GM’s Vault” world away from Atlan Vondarien and to cover the other empires that exist in of secret information for GMs, and has his nine brothers. Demons and dark gods the world, and to describe the distant suggestions and advice on running cam- view the world from without, hoping to frontier lands that even the Atlanteans paigns in the Atlantean Age setting. corrupt or conquer it. Without heroes, the barely know about. Chapter Nine, Atlantean Adversar- Atlantean Age may quickly crumble from Chapter Four, Life In The Atlantean ies, provides the GM with character the heights of mystical power and sophis- Age, discusses what it’s like to live in sheets for Atlantean villains and mon- tication into ruin and despair. Atlantis in the year 32098 BC — casual sters to challenge the PCs with. The Atlantean Age describes this but important details about family and So get ready for magic and wonder wondrous setting for your Fantasy Hero social life, technology, and more. It unlike any you’ve ever experienced in games. Chapter One, Before The Cata- includes a lengthy section about how a Fantasy Hero campaign. It’s time to clysm: A History Of The Atlantean Age, Atlantis fights and the military devices it enter... The Atlantean Age! discusses how the Dominion of Atlantis uses to maintain its empire. Sample file SampleCHAPTER ONE file A HISTORY OF THE ATLANTEAN AGE 6  Before The Cataclysm: A History Of The Atlantean Age Hero System 5th Edition Revised

As the sons of Poseidon, each was mighty, far stronger and more powerful than other Men. They could wield pow- A HISTORY erful magics, and were immortal. Poseidon made Vondarien King over all the others, though each received a tenth of the island as his birthright. OF ATLANTIS Their word for “first among equals” was Atlan, and so the island became known as Atlantis, “the land ruled by the Atlan.” But n a time beyond time, long before THE TEN BROTHERS in those early days, there was little need the Earth took its modern form, for kingship. Poseidon brought the other magic existed in the world. The Soon Leucippe gave birth to a cultists from the distant land to Atlantis, greatest empire of this time was daughter, Cleito, whose beauty outshone that his sons might have wives and fol- Ithe realm of Valdoria, though it was that of all other women in the world. lowers, but there were still few people on but a small thing compared to the far The small family lived easily in the para- the island. For centuries the Ten Brothers greater empires to come. Valdoria’s wiz- disical land, raising or hunting the food hunted the wild beasts and monsters of ards possessed much power and lore, yet they needed. They discovered the mysti- the island, and studied those things that far less than those who had once trod cal metal orichalcum and learned some interested them; each also took several the world and those who would tread of its properties. wives and sired children. They mastered it in later years. Its priests worshipped Sadly, Evenor and Leucippe died the use of oricalchum, and using the mys- many gods, but those gods were cold not long after Cleito reached adult- terious metal built weapons and devices and distant powers who did little to help hood. Bereft, and all alone on the powered by their own divine energies their followers. island, she called upon Poseidon to and the mighty magics Poseidon himself All things must pass, and over help her. The god responded... and taught them before Cleito died and he the course of years Valdoria’s power when he saw how beautiful she was, once again departed the mortal world. weakened. The world became a place he instantly fell in love with her and of petty kingdoms and cruel tyrants. proposed marriage. When she agreed, But despite these mean circumstances, he used his powers to create a home THE AGE OF a wondrous thing began to occur — for them on a small hill several miles magic slowly but surely arose in the from shore. He raised up hills and EXPLORATION world once more. No Man knew it at lakes around the house to ensure But in time even the wonders of the time, but the gods did. some measure of privacy (and protec- fair Atlantis paled, and the Ten Broth- One of the most powerful gods tion from wild beasts), and he created ers began to wonder what lay beyond of that time was Poseidon, a sea-god two freshwater springs — Thernos, the shores of their island home. They worshipped by a small cult that lived whose water was always hot, and went forth on voyages of exploration in a distant land. Poseidon decided Krios, whose water was always icy and adventure, to experience what the the time had come to reward his fol- cold. Today those springs exist still, wide world had to offer. Even Vondarien lowers for their devotion. He appeared at the center of the city of Thermiom, himself traveled the world, appointing before the leaders of the cult — a and are one of the most sacred places one of his brothers (usually Mestor) to farmer named Evenor and his wife on all of Atlantis. serve as Atlan in his stead for decades Leucippe — and bade them accom- At Poseidon’s command, abundant or centuries. Even today, tales of the Ten pany him. With bowed heads and crops sprang from the Earth to feed Brothers’ adventures in the lands before humble hearts, they agreed, and in a him and his bride, and soon they had the coming of the Dominion are told rush of power Poseidon whirled them a rich and pleasant household. But a reverently around hearths and camp- up and away from their homes. house without children is a sad place, fires throughout the Atlantean realms. When at last they could see and and so Poseidon and Cleito filled their Some of the best-known include: hear again, they were on the shore of home with offspring. They had five a green and wondrous land of rolling pairs of twin sons, each a strong war- VONDARIEN AND THE CLEVER hills, deep forests, and sun-dappled rior and commander. Their first pair QUEEN fields. The very air smelled sweet, was Vondarien and Gadrius; the second During one of his many journeys of and game was plentiful. “This island pair Ampheres and Euaemon, the third exploration, Vondarien came to a land I have created for you,” Poseidon Mneseus and Autochthon, the fourth ruled by a queen tall and proud. Esharra said. “Here you will dwell for long Elasippus and Mestor, and the youngest was her name, and her beauty was sur- and long, and worship me. Gifts of twins Azaes and Diaprepes. passed only by her guile and wit. Yet she wondrous power shall be yours, and Each of Poseidon’s sons grew to was not the most lovely woman in the if you use them aright great power in be tall and handsome, and a master of land, for she had a daughter, Alita, more the world shall follow. Remain true whatever interested him. Vondarien, the beauteous still than she. to the gods,Sample and fortune shall be your eldest and greatest of the Ten Brothers, When Vondarienfile presented himself constant companion.” seemed skilled in all things, but particu- to the queen as a suitor for her daughter’s larly leadership; Mestor and Diaprepes hand, Esharra scorned him. “Never have were great scholars; Autochthon a I heard of this “Atlantis” that you claim to farmer and miner; Ampheres a hunter; rule, adventurer. I see little about you that Azaes and Elasippus warriors; Euaemon suggests the nobility of a king, only the a mariner and trader; Mneseus a smith. trappings and bluster of a wanderer.” Atlantean Age n Chapter One 7

Now at that time, Vondarien had to hunt long for the Ram, which soon The next morning Vondarien arose not yet come into his full power, but sensed his presence and came against early and went once more in search of even then he was mighty enough to him. Gigantic it was, with terrible the Ram. When he found it, it charged destroy the queen’s palace and every- round horns and sharp-edged hooves. him, eager to destroy him once and one in it as repayment for her inso- Casting aside his sword, for to kill the for all. But he deftly stepped out of the lence and foolery. Yet he knew if he Ram was not his desire, Vondarien path of the charge and threw the ribbon did that, Alita would nevermore look leapt forth to grapple the beast and over the Ram’s neck. Instantly the Ram upon him with favor. So he bethought bring it to ground. Great was his sur- became tame and docile, ready to obey himself of another way to win through prise when the fearsome beast threw his commands. to his goal. “If you doubt me, majesty, him aside like a dog shaking water Vondarien was well-satisfied, but set for me tasks, that I may prove my from its fur, and then charged him! he knew he could not bring the Ram value to you and my worthiness for For the rest of that day, Vond- to Queen Esharra this way, lest she your daughter’s fair hand.” arien and the Ram fought, neither learn her daughter had given him the The queen gave some thought to able to defeat or elude the other. The ribbon. So he built himself a forge, this. Many monsters and perils men- beast resisted both strength and spell melted down his orichalcum sword, aced her land, defying the efforts of her alike, but Vondarien’s cleverness and and crafted from the metal a set of mightiest warriors. Surely this outlander speed kept it from scoring a telling heavy chains. Then he crafted himself could do no better! And even if he did blow against him. As night fell the two a chariot from the wood of nearby succeed, other ways could be found to parted, knowing they would rejoin trees, placed the chains on the Ram, dispose of him. “Very well, if you insist battle the next day. and removed the ribbon. As power- on meeting your doom in my lands. As he rested by his campfire that ful as it was, the Ram could not break Three tasks I will set you, each more night, Vondarien had a visitor: the orichalcum chains... and so Vondarien difficult than the last. An you complete Princess Alita! “Listen carefully,” she forced it to pull his chariot all the way them all, my daughter’s hand in mar- said, “for I have not much time. As back to the queen! “Here, my lady, is riage you shall have.” you now know, the Sharakkian Ram the Ram that you requested, for the The Task Of The Sharakkian Ram is a magical creature, created by the betterment of your herds. I await your “The first task is this: go forth gods of these mountains. To defeat next task.” And standing next to her from this place, to the mountains it, you must have a special magic.” mother’s throne, Princess Alita smiled Sampleof the north, and capture alive the She pressed into his hand a length of a secretfile smile. Sharakkian Ram and bring him back ribbon, slender and fragile-looking. The Task Of Slaying The Giant to my herds.” Vondarien scoffed when “Use this, which I have taken from “As your second task,” said Queen he heard this, for how difficult could it my mother’s hoard. Cast it about the Esharra, “you must slay the three- be to catch one mountain-ram? He set Ram’s neck and it shall bend readily to headed Giant of Naxonnath, who has out with a will, and reached the moun- your will.” With that she departed and ravaged the southern parts of our realm tains in but two days. Nor did he have returned to her home. for many years.”