Fantasy AGE: Trojan War Is © 2021 Green Ronin Publishing, LLC

Sample file Fantasy AGE Trojan War revives the classic 3rd Era histori- cal fantasy supplement in streamlined form, for Fantasy AGE. This book explores the Homeric Age: a period that’s half history, half myth, and all about dramatic action, where gods and heroes battle each other…and the inescap- able judgment of destiny. Enter the Iliad and other ancient tales in Fantasy AGE, using a host of new options: • Play Achaean Greeks, Trojans, and other ancient peoples, from Amazons to the divine offspring, with new backgrounds appropriate to the era. • New talents and specializations, from the Swift-Foot- ed fighting style to Amazon ferocity and the strange magic of the Pharmakeus. • New magical Arcana, items, and discussions of the role of magic in Homeric mythology. • Weapons, armor, and other gear appropriate to the Homeric Age, including rules for hit locations and partial armor in combat. • Chariots and ships of the Homeric Age, and how to use them. • Rules for divine intervention which let gods and heroes meaningfully interact without compromis- ing divine immortality. Fall under the eye of a deity through a Divine Bond, or feel the wrath of their manifestations. • Advice for Game Mastering the Homeric Age, from changing mythology to suit you to interpreting Fantasy AGE monsters through the lens of Greek Mythology. The forces arrayed against you are both mortal and divine. Do you have what it takes to prevail in the Trojan War?

Green Ronin Publishing, LLC Sample3815 S. Othello St., Suite 100 #311 file Seattle, WA 98118 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.greenronin.com

Fantasy AGE: Trojan War is © 2021 Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material. Green Ronin, Fantasy AGE, Adventure Game Engine, and their associated logos are trademarks of Green Ronin Publishing.

Original Design: Aaron Rosenberg Fantasy AGE Design: Malcolm Sheppard and Steve Kenson Development: Owen K.C. Stephens Editing: Malcolm Sheppard Proofreading: Skylar Mannen Art Direction And Graphic Design: Hal Mangold Cartography: Shawn Brown Cover Art: james Ryman Interior Art: Drew Baker, KenT Burles, Caleb Cleveland, Jonathan Kirtz, Britt martin, Beth Trott, and lisa Wood Publisher: Chris Pramas Team Ronin: Joseph Carriker, Crystal Frasier, Jaym Gates, Kara Hamilton, Troy Hewitt, Steve Kenson, Ian lemke, Nicole lindroos, Hal Mangold, Chris Pramas, Evan Sass, Malcolm Sheppard, Owen K.C. Stephens, Dylan Templar, Fantasy AGE: Trojan War is © 2021 Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material. GreenSample Ronin, Fantasy AGE, Adventure Game Engine, and their associated logos are trademarks of Greenfile Ronin Publishing. Green Ronin Publishing 3815 S. Othello St. Suite 100, #311 Seattle, WA 98118 www.greenronin.com Table of Contents

Introduction: Neutral Arcana...... 24 Libations...... 53 The Trojan War & New Arcana...... 24 Meat...... 53 Homeric Age...... 4 Charm Arcana...... 24 Animal Sacrifice...... 53 Bringing the Trojan War to Cursing Arcana...... 26 Human Sacrifice...... 53 Fantasy AGE...... 4 Poison Arcana...... 27 Other Offerings...... 54 Running a Trojan War Campaign...... 4 Magic Items...... 28 Piety: An Optional Rule ...... 54 Before the War...... 4 Temporary Magic Items...... 28 Piety Points...... 54 The War...... 5 Arms and Armor...... 28 Pious and Impious Acts...... 54 Other Permanent Magic Items...... 31 Notes on Pious and Impious Acts...... 56 Chapter One: Piety Awards...... 56 Homeric Character Chapter Three: Homeric Equipment...... 33 Effects of Piety...... 56 Creation...... 8 Piety and New Divine Bonds...... 56 Ancestry...... 8 Bronze Age Materials ...... 33 Piety and Increased Divine Bonds.....56 Human...... 8 Currency...... 33 Piety and Divine Attitudes...... 56 Playing a Human...... 8 Precious Metals...... 33 Piety and Magic...... 56 Divine Offspring...... 9 Metal by Measure...... 33 Personality...... 9 Weapons ...... 34 Chapter Five: Physical Description...... 9 Weapon Details...... 34 The Homeric Campaign....57 Tiers of Inherited Power...... 9 Armor ...... 36 Epic Conventions...... 57 Playing Divine Offspring...... 10 Armor Materials...... 36 Epic Origins...... 57 Homeric Backgrounds...... 10 Hit Locations and Armor...... 36 Epic Problems...... 57 Social Class...... 10 Humanoid Location Descriptions...... 36 Epic Emotion...... 57 Homeric Social Class Descriptions....10 Creature Location Descriptions...... 36 Epic Game Mastering...... 57 Homeric Focuses...... 13 Armor and Location...... 37 Stock Phrases and Epithets...... 58 Focuses of Note...... 13 Armor Descriptions...... 37 Feel Over Restrictions...... 58 Homeric Talents...... 14 Homeric Goods...... 38 Homeric Motivations...... 58 Unavailable Selected Goods Descriptions...... 39 Spoils of War...... 58 and Modified Talents...... 14 Food and Drink...... 40 Divine Approval...... 59 New Talents...... 14 Wine...... 40 Game Mastering the Gods...... 59 Homeric Specializations...... 16 Homeric Vehicles...... 41 The Gods, Restrained by Fate...... 59 Available Specializations...... 16 Chariots ...... 41 The Gods as Visions Fantasy AGE Basic Homeric Ships...... 41 and Metaphors ...... 59 Rulebook Specializations...... 16 Rules for Vehicles...... 42 Building Homeric Adventures...... 60 Fantasy AGE Companion Vehicle Statistics...... 42 Before the Iliad...... 60 Specializations...... 16 Vehicular Combat...... 43 Before the War...... 60 New Specializations...... 17 Crashes...... 43 To Troy...... 60 Amazon...... 17 Chapter Four: At War...... 61 Charioteer...... 17 Religion & the Gods...... 44 Beyond the Walls of Troy...... 61 Using History and Mythology...... 61 Dedicated Warrior...... 18 When Gods War ...... 44 The Role of History...... 61 Demigod...... 19 The Gods in the War...... 44 Opening Mythology Pharmakeus...... 20 When the Gods Appear...... 45 to Your Group...... 61 Priest...... 21 The Nature of the Gods...... 46 Adventure Hooks...... 62 Divine Bonds...... 22 Divine Forms...... 47 Homeric Monsters...... 63 Gaining Divine Bonds...... 22 Subtle Form...... 47 Using Divine Bonds...... 22 Intervention Form...... 47 Immortals...... 63 Immortal Animals...... 63 Recovering Divine Bond Points...... 22 Manifestation Form...... 47 Lesser Immortals...... 63 Divine Bond Stunts...... 23 Moderate Divine Manifestation...... 49 Major Divine Manifestation...... 50 Creatures from Other Chapter Two: Fantasy AGE Dire Divine Manifestation...... 50 Books...... 63 Homeric Magic...... 24 The Fantasy AGE Existing Arcana...... 24 Legendary Divine Manifestation...... 50 Basic Rulebook...... 63 Suitable Arcana...... 24 Religion in Life...... 53 The Fantasy AGE Bestiary...... 64 SampleOfferings ...... 53 file Unsuitable Arcana...... 24

2 Table of Contents Sample file

Table of Contents 3 Introduction: The Trojan War & Homeric Age mmortalized in Homer’s epic poem the Iliad and in a bit more, to support traditional fantasy adventures. Finally, dozens of lesser works, it is perhaps the most famous this is a shorter work by design, better suited to gamers on battle of all time. Few people in the modern world have a budget and those who want to casually use its informa- not heard of Helen of Troy, whose face could launch a tion instead of completely retooling their campaign for the thousand ships, and of the Trojan Horse, settling the decade- Homeric Age. Ilong conflict. Most people who have read any literature have As this book is designed to be used as easily as possible, we’ve encountered references to Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) taken some liberties with both mythology and history, inter- and Achilles. Adaptations of the epic can be found in plays, preting unknown, vague, or contradictory information in what- novels, movies, and television series. ever way fits adventure games best. This includes stretching And now, through Fantasy AGE, you can play a part in that the sources to address some of the classic elements of fantasy epic struggle. adventure. The Trojan War wasn’t about fighting monsters, but we do talk about which Fantasy AGE monsters suit the era. The This book converts the war into a campaign setting, offering classic mage, who philosophically studies the secrets of the new Fantasy AGE options based upon the conflict and its cosmos, never really appears in early Greek mythology, but wider mythology. Inside, you will find suggestions on how to we’ve included Hecate, goddess of magic, and a framework enter that story, both as players and as GMs, so you can carve for more traditional magic use in campaigns inspired by the a space for your own adventures. Greek epics. Similarly, some names have multiple spellings The most important thing to remember when playing the depending on the Romanization method, but we’ve simply Trojan War, however, is that the battle was not among mortals selected whichever seemed most distinctive or easy to use. alone. The gods took sides, often stepping in to protect their Perhaps the biggest change from the original in how you favorites or target their enemies. Because all combatants might use it is that its source material is much easier to find worshipped the same gods, this war was not a clash of ideolo- than it used to be, thanks to an explosion of Wikis and other gies. Both sides prayed to Zeus, Apollo, Athena, and others, web resources about Greek mythology and ancient history. and the gods quarreled amongst themselves as to which side Therefore, this version of Trojan War doesn’t provide a crash should win. Some gods even switched sides during the war, course on those subjects, and we encourage you to do your or helped indiscriminately, even capriciously. Zeus, the king own research to flesh out Homeric campaigns. of the gods, switched sides more than did any of the other gods. One day, he defended an army, only to attack it the next. In many ways, though, the Trojan War involved thousands of warriors and others, the Iliad was really a battle among a Running a handful of powerful heroes, a chess game where even those Trojan War Campaign warriors proved mere pieces in the hands of their gods. The most important elements of a Trojan War campaign are So, if you want to play in a world where the gods answer constant conflict, the frequent intercession of the gods, the prayers directly, and where a hero can win fame by sweeping hunger for wealth and glory, and the sense that this was a through the enemy ranks, and where honor and wits are just moment when the greatest heroes could shine. If your game as important as strength and size, start reading. includes these aspects, and the general feel of the era, it will be a proper Trojan War campaign. Do not build a story about merchants or common sailors—that is not the essence of the Bringing the Homeric story. Focus on heroes, with all the mythic complica- Trojan War to Fantasy AGE tions that entails. First, let us summarize the events described in the various This book is roughly based on Green Ronin’s original Trojan epics, including the war, the events leading up to it, and the War, which was designed for the OGL/3e system prevalent consequences. in the early 2000s. This edition of Trojan War uses the original, including some of its text, for inspiration, but isn’t a direct conversion, for several reasons. Fantasy AGE has different Before the War rules, and many things which required complex game systems in the original version don’t need them here. This book also We have all heard how Paris’ theft of the beautiful Helen uses historical and mythological sources a bit differently than started the Trojan War, but it really began with an apple. its predecessor, prompting various changes in how wealth Of course, the apple was no normal piece of fruit. The goddess and equipment work, and it refers to sources outside the Iliad Eris, or Discord, who had not been invited to the nuptials of

Journeyman is Now Expert OneSample change used throughout this book is that the Journeyman degree is now referred to as the Expertfile degree when refer- ring to talents here and in previous Fantasy AGE books. This makes the language more inclusive and conforms to a stan- dard in newer AGE games, such as Modern AGE.

4 introduction Slavery and Discrimination in Homer Homeric epics aren’t historically accurate, but they reflect both the period they describe and the period they were created in. In both eras, the Greeks and peoples of Asia were divided into numerous nations whose wars and alliances were deter- mined by kinship ties, oaths, and political marriages. Agamemnon’s fleet was a raucous coalition of many small kingdoms, bound by an oath to protect Menelaus’ marriage to Helen: a promise that was originally a political maneuver to secure Odysseus’ marriage to Penelope. While even princes and princesses married for love, the politics of marriage proceeded from the Achaeans’ patriarchal culture, which objectified woman as political tools and spoils of war. Achilles’ dispute with Agamemnon puts women in both roles. However, you don’t need to bring the enslavement of figures like Briseis into a Trojan War campaign to main- tain its basic outline. The root of the dispute between Agamemnon and Achilles is political, with enslaved women acting as pawns, and can be substituted for another premise. Furthermore, as aristocrats themselves, Briseis and Chryseis are political figures who may have influenced events in ways Homer never recorded. In any event, for game purposes, the GM should only include the extreme patriarchal elements of the epics if the rest of the group would be amenable, and it’s perfectly possible to change the myths to produce an enjoyable campaign. Historical Troy wasn’t mythic Troy, legend changes to suit storyteller and listener, and it’s no different now. One critical difference between the Homeric era and our times remains: The idea of biological race, a doubtful idea in our time, is foreign to the Achaean or Trojan mindset. Discrimination is based on tribal and cultural affiliation, not general differences in appearance. Both groups know of Egyptians and other Africans, and would certainly be aware of differences in appearance, but treat them based on their political affiliations, legends surrounding them (the gods were said to visit Aethiopia), and so on, not their looks.

Thetis, the water nymph daughter of Poseidon, and Peleus, niece Penelope, offered a solution: in exchange for Penelope, chose to attend anyway. And as a sign of her displeasure at Odysseus instructed the king to demand all the suitors being slighted, she threw a golden apple among the guests swear to defend the marriage rites of the chosen man. Thus, at the reception banquet. The apple bore an inscription: “For when Paris abducted Helen, Menelaus and Agamemnon, his the Fairest.” brother and king of Mycenae, gathered their troops. They rallied the former suitors, whose oaths bound them to support The goddesses in attendance fell victim to their own vanity the venture against Troy, and their soldiers. This combined and argued about who most deserved the apple. Hera, Athena, force is referred to collectively as the Achaeans—other names and Aphrodite all claimed it, and their bickering filled the include the Danaans or the Argives, though, for simplicity’s hall. Since they could not agree, and no one else present dared sake, this text uses Achaeans. to displease the deities by choosing one of the others, the goddesses decided to select an impartial observer: the mortal When the people of Troy saw this massive navy approach, Paris, a shepherd and prince of Troy. Troy’s King Priam ordered his people to prepare their defenses. The nine dynasties recognizing him as their over- The three goddesses approached Paris, and demanded he lord joined Priam’s army. chose the most beautiful among them. Each goddess offered him a reward in turn. Hera promised him wealth and It took over two years for Menelaus to muster his forces for the dominion over the world. Athena promised him wisdom and trip to Troy, and many things happened along the way, nearly victory in war. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, promised him all involving the gods. At one point on the voyage, Artemis Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. Naturally, becalmed the Achaeans’ ships because Agamemnon had Paris awarded Aphrodite the apple. offended her. To appease her, he sacrificed his own daughter, Iphigenia, and though he appeased the goddess, the act Aphrodite led Paris to Sparta and helped him seduce Helen offended many of the other captains, including Achilles, and away from her husband, King Menelaus. For nine days, unrest between the two continued throughout the coming Menelaus entertained his royal guest, but then the King left days. Achilles, however, was not free from blame, for later, for Crete to attend the funeral of his grandfather Catreus. at Tenedos, Achilles slew King Tenes, the son of Apollo. In After Menelaus’ departure, Paris persuaded Helen to accom- response, the god sent a snake to bite the archer Philoctetes. pany him to Troy, and the two lovers fled into the night. Philoctetes’ wound refused to heal, forcing his companions to When the King returned home and discovered the betrayal, leave him behind on an island, where he would survive for he swore to avenge himself and to retrieve Helen. As king of years by shooting birds from the sky. Sparta, a city of warriors even then, he marshaled his army, and prepared to set sail. But that was not the extent of the matter. The War Everyone believed Helen, the daughter of Zeus and Leda, When the Achaeans finally reached the Troad, the region around to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Because of Troy, Odysseus and Menelaus went ahead as ambassadors to this, Samplemany men sought her hand in marriage, including convince the Trojans to return Helen orfile face attack. Their mission numerous kings. Helen’s foster father, King Tyndareus, failed. Odysseus and Menelaus returned to the fleet and sailed worried selecting one man among the suitors would cause the rest of the way with their forces to Troy, beaching their war between all. But Odysseus, who had desired Tyndareus’ ships along the shore not far from the city itself. Even as the introduction 5 Trojans assailed them with hurled stones, they dashed across did not stop him, but announced he would no longer fight the plain, laying siege to the walled city. in the war, and he and his warriors refused to take part in The Achaeans had attacked many other lands on their way to further conflict. This weakened the Achaeans but heartened Troy. Few could stand against them, and when they reached the Trojans. Odysseus, Nestor, and several others begged Troy, the captains had won many treasures. At Thebes, Achilles to reconsider, but the young warrior stubbornly Agamemnon abducted the woman Chryseis, while Achilles refused to yield. To make matters worse, he complained to captured the maiden Briseis. his mother Thetis, who then complained to Zeus. Owing Thetis his life, the king of the gods offered to repay her by These two women proved deadly to many of the Achaeans. making the Achaeans suffer until they had no choice but to Chryseis was the daughter of Chryses, a priest of Apollo, appease Achilles fully. and after years of travel, he reached Troy seeking the Achaean captains. He begged them to return his daughter to The Achaeans continued to fight, even without their greatest him, and even offered handsome treasure as compensation. champion, not realizing the gods had turned against them. Other kings felt his request was reasonable and ought to be Hector, a prince of Troy and the commander of their forces, granted, since he was a priest, but Agamemnon refused, proposed a truce, suggesting a duel be fought to settle the going so far as to threaten the man. Humiliated, Chryses left, matter. Paris agreed to fight for the Trojans, since he had ulti- praying to Apollo for revenge. The archer god, enraged at mately caused the war, and Menelaus insisted on fighting for this treatment of his priest, set a plague upon the Achaeans. the Achaeans. Menelaus would have killed his former guest The contagion wreaked havoc among the Achaeans, killing had Aphrodite not rescued Paris and spirited him to safety. many of them and jeopardizing their war effort, until finally, Then Athena encouraged the archer Pandarus to shoot at the seer Calchas explained the cause of the plague. He urged Menelaus, thus breaking the truce. Agamemnon to return the girl and offer additional sacrifices Despite Zeus’s decree that the Achaeans suffer, Athena and as an apology to the god. Though this angered the arrogant Hera, the Achaeans’ two greatest supporters, continued to king,Sample Agamemnon finally agreed, but on one condition. If he aid them. Athena encouraged Diomedesfile to charge into battle. had to give up the girl, he would take someone else’s prize The warrior would have single-handedly routed the Trojans in return. Achilles denounced the king for his greed, and in if Apollo had not intervened. Then Ajax and Hector faced one reply, Agamemnon took Briseis as compensation. Achilles another in single combat, but neither could defeat the other.

6 introduction A Homeric Setting Throughout this book, the Trojan War’s era and the setting is referred to as Homeric. This is for three reasons. First, histo- rians argue over when the Trojan War occurred (if it really happened at all), and so no fixed date can be offered. Second, this book focuses upon the Trojan War itself but also touches upon the events in the Odyssey, and to a lesser extent, Virgil’s Aeneid, and the lands many of those invaders came from. Third, describing something as Trojan only covers the city of Troy and its neighboring lands, while calling something Achaean only applies to the invaders, yet the two forces had many common traits and features. The term Homeric, however, encompasses everyone involved in the battle, the lands associ- ated with the story, and the plains before Troy and those distant kingdoms of the many Achaean leaders.

When night fell, they agreed to call the battle a draw, and Achilles did not live long enough to savor his victory, though. exchanged gifts to show respect. The gifts, however, proved Patroclus’ death had been the first in a series, and shortly after ill for both. Hector gave Ajax a sword, which Ajax later used Hector’s corpse returned to Troy, Paris shot Achilles with an to kill himself, and Ajax gave Hector a purple belt, with which arrow, piercing his ankle, the one place where Achilles was Achilles later used to drag Hector’s body behind him. vulnerable. Apollo had guided the shaft, and thus avenged The conflict continued, and with Zeus’s aid, the Trojans swept the death of his own son. the battlefield and stormed the Achaean camp. Many of the Following Achilles’ death, the army presented his armor to the mightiest Achaeans suffered wounds, and the Trojan Hector next best warrior in the camp. Ajax and Odysseus vied for the and his troops burned many of their ships. Poseidon stepped honor. When Odysseus won, Ajax went mad, and only Athena in to aid the Achaeans—Zeus’s attention had wandered—but prevented him from slaughtering his own allies, turning his the king of the gods soon noticed and helped the Trojans carry wrath mistakenly on the cattle, seeing them as soldiers. When the day. he saw what he had done, shame overtook him, and he killed Agamemnon finally agreed to appease Achilles. He offered himself, falling upon the very sword Hector had bestowed to not only to return Briseis but to give him a great amount of him. Thus, the Achaean army lost its two mightiest warriors in treasure as well. Achilles stood fast, refusing the gifts, even rapid succession. though his friends Odysseus and Ajax carried the message. Odysseus suggested a new stratagem. The Achaeans Still, Achilles relented enough to allow his lover Patroclus to constructed a massive, hollow, wooden horse, and engraved put on his armor and lead the Myrmidons to the Achaeans’ upon it the inscription: “For their return home, the Achaeans aid, believing that by wearing Achilles’ armor, everyone would dedicate this thank-offering to Athena.” Odysseus and several think he had returned to the battle, unnerving the Trojans, and of the Achaeans’ best warriors climbed inside the horse. The heartening the Achaeans. Achilles insisted his friend drive the rest took their boats and other belongings and emptied the Trojans back from the ships and nothing more, but Patroclus let camp. The next day, finding the camp deserted and the horse victory distract him, and pursued the Trojans across the battle- standing in its midst, the Trojans assumed the Achaeans had field, almost to Troy’s walls. Again, the gods intervened. Apollo finally fled. They dragged the horse into the city and setit stunned Patroclus, Euphorbus wounded him, and Hector before Priam’s palace while they debated what to do with it. finally killed him. He took Achilles’ armor from Patroclus’ body. The seeress Cassandra saw the truth, but her curse was no one When Achilles learned of his lover’s death, anger swept ever believed her visions. through him, burning away his stubbornness. The greatest That night, the Achaean Sinon lit a beacon lamp in the Achaean warrior swore revenge, and with new armor bestowed unto camp, guiding their ships back to shore, while Odysseus and him by his mother, fashioned at the hands of the god Hepha- his crew crept out of the horse, overpowered the sentries, and estus, Achilles rejoined the battle. The Achaeans crushed the opened the city’s gates, allowing their comrades into the city. Trojans. Though a mighty warrior himself, Hector was no The Achaeans swept through the sleeping Trojans, killing match for Achilles, and he soon fell to the man’s wrath. Not Priam and his remaining sons, and killing or taking the king’s content with this victory, Achilles desecrated his opponent’s daughters as slaves. They even slew Hector’s son Astyanax, a corpse, dragging the body behind his chariot all the way back little boy. Of the royal family, only Aeneas, his father Anchises, to the boats. King Priam approached the Achaean camp alone and his son Ascanius escaped, and only with Aphrodite’s aid. and made a personal appeal to Achilles to take back Hector’s After killing everyone and dividing the spoils, the Achaeans body for proper burial. Achilles, always honorable, allowed set fire to the city. Victors, they gathered in their ships and set the TrojanSample king his request, and so was Trojan’s hero buried. sail for their respective homes and filewaiting families.

introduction 7