START A: Odeon

When the party reaches the starting point on the map, A large wooden building in the shape of a pyramid. Each read the following text: side of the pyramid has bronze double doors which are closed during performances. The roof is supported by three concentric squares of pillars. Each square of pillars You are next to pyramid-shaped wooden build- is on a lower step, and the center stage is lowest of all. ing. It is 200ʼ wide, 100ʼ tall, and the doors On the center stage is an 12ʼ bronze statue of a god with are open. a grape vine and an amphora. During performances the portion of the stage with the statue on it is lowered by a To the east is the road youʼve been travel- system of pulleys. The resulting pit is then covered with ing on. It took you through hilly countryside planks. where goats graze. If the party first arrives during the day, a performance is To the south are fields and pasture, and further about to begin and an audience of 100–400 people has off a forest of pines, oaks, and cypresses. gathered. The bronze statue is already stowed away. Behind the wooden pyramid to the northwest A system of windows and mirrors is used to illuminate is an open air theater built into a hillside. the center stage with natural light. Determine the per- formance randomly: The hill behind the theater has on it. The upper portion of the hill has a retaining 1. male playing pan pipes wall so steep only a thief could climb it. 2. female singler accompanied by male on lyre 3. trumpet 4. typanum and 4 female dancers DISTRICT At night, the statue is on the stage surrounded by 1–4 of- Names are often provided for buildings in encounter de- ferings. Each turn the party stays in the building without scription. The party will not know these names unless they making an offering, there is a 1 in 6 chance that 3–12 learn them from the locals, however. women with 1–4 HP each arrive. The women always ar- THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN rive if any of the offerings are stolen. Males in the party sleeps with the character. A character can sleep in a cell are asked to join the women in the woods. Each woman at most once. has CHA 12 + 1–6 and NPCs should make a reaction roll to determine if they are willing to go into the woods. Each If the person is a player character, the character is out of woman can cast charm person once a day for use on play for the rest of the session. At the next session if the males who are unwilling. player remembers a dream he or she had between ses- sions, Asclepius the 12th LVL high partriarch HP 47 arrives If the party joins the women in the woods, a circle of bon- to hear an account of the dream. Depending upon Ascle- fires is lit and an amphora of wine is passed around. Any- piusʼ interpretation of the dream, he will either prophesy one who drinks the wine must save vs. charm person the future of the invalid or cast a clerical spell of healing if they are not charmed already. Each woman has sex on him or her. with a male who is charmed or willing. After the orgy, a male is chosen randomly and the women attack him with ∆: Propylea their bare hands, doing 1–4 HP of damage with each hit. Charmed individuals will not resist. If the chosen male is At the west of the hill is a wide stair case of 80 steps which killed, the women tear him apart, roast him on the fires, provides the only easy access to the top of the hill. Two and eat him. guardhouses face each other at the base of the steps. The guardhouses are always manned by two hoplites HP B: Theater 6 chain, shield, spear. During the day the hoplites will al- low anyone who is unarmed to climb the stairs. At night Behind the orchestra is a stage. Behind the stage is a only someone with the robe and seal of a cleric is permit- skene of wood with six half columns and a door in the ted through. center. Behind the skene is a long building used by the actors. In the event of a disturbance, 10 more hoplites appear from the guardhouses at the top of the stairs, lead by a During the day the play Medea by Euripides is per- 3rd LVL fighter HP 16. The hoplites fight on the stairs. formed. Download the script from Project Gutenberg and In any round, there is a 1 in 4 change they will make a and read it to players. charge attack with the shield. The attack always makes At night the theater is deserted. contact, and the opponent must save vs. vertigo or be thrown down the stairs, taking 1–6 HP of damage. Fur- Γ: Asclepeion thermore the hoplite will get a free attack at +2 before the opponent can get back on his or her feet. The party The long front room contains an 8ʼ statue of a woman. can adopt this same tactic against the hoplites, but they She holds a bowl in her left hand, and a golden snake is get a +2 on their saves because of their experience. twined around her right hand. At the top of the stairs is a narrow passage which connect If water is poured into the bowl and an offering is made with long rooms to the north and south. The occupants of to Apollo, the water will be transformed into one of the each room is determined randomly. following potions: 1. 10 male acolytes HP 4, staves 1. healing potion 2. 10 female acolytes HP 2, daggers 2. forgetfulness 3. 6 male adepts HP 7, maces 3. holy water 4. 6 female acolytes HP 5, spears 4. delusion 5. 3 male priests HP 9, morning stars 5. invulverability 6. 3 female priests HP 8, swords 6. longevity In the back room on the north side is a cleric LVL 3 + 1–6 One potion can be made by the party. +1 mace, +1 ring of protection. The cleric is female on 4–6 in 6. Two female adepts HP 8, 6 are in attendance in the front room. If someone asks for assistance, an adept takes the E: Temple of Victory invalid into a cell. The walls are pocked with holes but otherwise bare. Each cell contains a tub and a bed. The A temple with 4 ionic columns on either size. The E frieze adept instructs the invalid to disrobe and step into the tub. shows an army of hoplites fighting against and army with The adept fills the tub with water. After the bath, the in- pointed helmets, bows, and curved swords. The W frieze valid is put to bed. During the night 3–12 serpents issue shows a winged goddess adjusting her sandals. from the holes in the wall. For each serpent there is a 1 in 6 chance it will sleep in bed with the invalid. The WIS The cella of the temple contains a 11ʼ bronze statue of of the character will increase by 1 for each snake which a winged goddess. At the base are 1–6 offerings deter-

2 THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN mined randomly. The temple is built at the edge of the Around the main statue are 20 6ʼ tall votive statues with 20ʼ drop without a protective rail. archaic smiles. The naos contains 20–80 regular offer- ings and 10 special offerings. If the party makes a special Z: Brauroneion offering, the high matriarch will cast a commune spell, in effect allowing the party to ask the goddess a question. The complex is entered at the NE corner. It is an arcade The goddess cannot predict the future, but can answer around a grove of trees. During the day if one walks the most questions about the present and the past. If the god- arcade to the end, one finds 1–6 pregnant supplicants dess cannot answer the question, but the offering is worth around a 12ʼ wooden statue of a huntress with 1–6 offer- 2000 GP or more, the goddess will bestow one of the ings. party members with a magical weapon. At night the grove is brightly illuminated by the moon. As Sekos one walks around the arcade the pillars become trees. At the end of the arcade is a pool with a goddess and two The high matriarch is a 12th LVL cleric HP 50. nymphs bathing in the nude. If the party does not take precautions against being seen or heard, the goddess will 1. is medusa be angered. She will polymorph the party into deer with 2. athena is spider goddess HD 2 and 1–4 HP butting attack. She will then send 1–6 3. athena giving birth to werewolves HP 19 after the party. If the party flees into 4. judgement of paris (Hera, Aphrodite, Athena) the grove, they will find that it now connects with the for- 5. athena fell from sky as meteorite est and rest of the temples on the hill are nowhere to be 6. athena is dead seen. I: Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus H:

A 30ʼ tall bronze statue of a female with crested helmet, Priest of Zeus 3rd level. He says come back on midsum- shield and spear. She is posed as if about to throw the merʼs eve for the ox sacrifice. spear. The high matriarch of Athena can turn the statue into a bronze golem with 120 HP at will. K: Altar of Athena

Θ: Knife and lit brazier. Level of spell granted depends on sacrifice. The largest temple on the hill has a 45ʼ high roof sup- ported by Doric columns. The E frieze shows and army 1. 10 fowl of hoplites battling centaurs, satyrs, and Amazons. The 2. 10 goats W frieze shows 6 gods and 6 goddesses eating ambrosia 3. 20 sheep and nectar. 4. 50 pigs 5. 100 cattle A priestess HP 12 and two male adepts HP 10, 8 are 6. 1 human present on the E steps. If the party wishes to make an offering, the priestess will do it for the party here. There Λ: are already 2–12 offerings on the steps. (Poseidon) of caryatids. Rock with three holes If the party wishes to make an offering of 500 GP or from which salt water flows. Olive tree. greater value, the high matriarch will be summoned and she will take party into the naos. Inside is a 38ʼ statue of M: a goddess made of ivory and gold. The goddess holds a shield in her left hand and in her right hand is a 5ʼ tall partially in ruin 3rd level priestess prevents entrance. In- statue of the winged goddess of victory. side a .

THE AGORA zons. The middle shows the hoplites and the Amazons engaged in battle. If the middle mural is seen during the α: Painted Porch day, the hoplites are winning, with most of the Amazons fallen or on their knees and about to be dispatched by During the day 1-6 shopkeepers will have tables set up a spear. If the middle mural is seen during the night, here. the Amazons are winning and it is the hoplites who are fallen or at a disadvantage. The right mural shows Ama- The back wall is covered with three large murals. The left- zons naked and in chains during the day, but the hoplites most shows an army of hoplites facing an army of ama-

3 THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN

4 THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN naked and in chains at night. The painted porch is not il- The eastern frieze shows five hoplites. The leftmost hoplite luminated at night, so the party must bring their own light stands at attention with shield and spear. To the right a source to see the Amazons winning. hoplite has set down his shield and spear and taken off his helmet. To the right is a hoplite, also with helmet off, β: Temple of Aphrodite Urania who has drawn a dagger. To the right of that is a hoplite drawing a dagger down the length of his left forearm. Temple in antis. Middle-aged priestess LVL 3 50after sun- The rightmost hoplite is letting his blood drip onto an al- down. For 100 GP will take a single male supplicant be- tar. hind the red curtains to see the clamshell. If a character of the fighting class wounds himself or her- γ: Stoa of Zeus self so as to cause at least 1 HP of damage, lets the blood drip on the altar of Ares, and calls out to Ares asking for During the day 1-6 shopkeepers will have tables set up courage in battle, then Ares will grant character the gift here. See THE MORTALS section below for a table of of beserker rage, meaning that the character will get a +2 shopkeepers. bonus to hit in battle, but can never retreat from melee.

The back rooms contain cult images of Zeus (S) and Hera The naos contains a 12ʼ tall bronze statue of a hoplite (N). with a sword. The naos also contains thousands of skulls neatly stacked around the wall. If the party enters the δ: Temple of Apollo Patroos naos, the god expects the decapitated head of an enemy defeated in battle. If the party does not present a head on Ionic temple. the 3rd round they are inside the naos, the statue will ani- mate and attack. The statue strikes as LVL 14 fighting man, ϵ: Temple of Hephaisteion and does 4–24 HP of damage when it successfully hits. If the party attempts to flee the naos, they discover that the Doric. Cyclops priest LVL 7 and 7 dwarf acolytes. Black- exit shows an inky blackness. Any character which steps smiths. bloomery furnace. charcoal kiln. firing kiln. into the inky blackness is lost in a plane without gravity, light, or solid form. The party can only escape by defeat- Offerings are ore, wood, and clay. The ing the statue in combat or using spells such as dimen- Pomegranates, myrtle, and laurel. During the day 1-6 sion door, pass-wall, teleport, transmute rock to potters at work here. mud. If the statue takes 80 HP of damage, it breaks into two pieces and de-animates. If the statue kills one of the ζ: Metroon characters, the statue is considered to have chopped off the head of the character with its final blow. The statue dedicated to Demeter (tho some say Cybele, others Rhea) takes the head, stacks it on the other skulls against the wall, resumes its former position in the center of the room η: Bouleuterion and then de-animates.

θ: Tholos λ: Monument of Eponymous Heroes

ι: Altar of the Twelve Gods Ten square posts about 4ʼ tall in a line, with a lintel stones forming a rail on top of them. Each post has one of the Low wall with entrances on W and E. Inside a simple altar. eponymous heroes written on it.

The male gods are Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, Hephestus, 1. Erectheus Ares, and Hermes. 2. Aegeus 3. Pandion The goddesses are Hera, Demeter, Athena, Artemis, 4. Leos Aphrodite, and Hestia. 5. Acamas 6. Oeneus κ: Temple of Ares 7. Cecrops 8. Hippothoon Red columns with Doric capitals and a black entablature. 9. Aias Yellow tape with the text ”Polis line: do not cross” re- 10. Antiochus peated on it is stretched around the temple and the altar to the east. The western frieze of the temple shows a Every citizen of the city claims descent from one of the ten small number of hoplites in a mountain pass surrounded tribes founded by one of the eponymous heroes. on both sides by a mass of Asiatic soldiers. The temple emits a stench of decay. Daily at 3pm a slave auction is conducted here. The gen-

5 THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN der of the slave is male on 1–3 and female on 4–6. The 1. 1 sophist (recites which retroclones are OSR) age of the slave is 10–69. A male slave in his 20s will 2. 1–6 fishermen usually fetch about 100 GP, and a female slave in her 3. 1–6 farmers 20s about 50 GP. Subtract 1 GP for each year under 20 4. 1–6 tradesmen or over 30. If the attributes of the slave are rolled, strong 5. 1–4 slaves men and beautiful women will fetch a premium. Male 6. 1–6 wives slaves have a skill on a 1–2 in 6. These slaves also fetch 7. 1–8 hoplites: plate, shield, spear a premium. 8. 1–2 aristrocrats 9. 1–4 shopkeepers µ: Middle Stoa 10. 1–6 metics

During the day 3–18 shopkeepers set up here. See THE City encounters will usually ignore the party. If interro- MORTALS section below for a table of shopkeepers. gated, citizens will provide directions to an inn, tavern, or the agora. Citizens will also give the name and pur- ν: Monopteros pose of any of the buildings on the hill. ξ: Bema At referee discretion the following table can be used for philosopher discoursing on the nature of reality 3, 5 or 9 small talk. alignments? Gygaxes and his theory of the planes 1. Have you come to receive the blessings of the third o: Stoa of Attalos born? 2. You speak well for a barbarian. During the day 2–12 shopkeepers are set up here. See 3. Do you prefer boys or girls? THE MORTALS section below for a table of shopkeep- 4. May the cloud-gatherer bring rain. ers. 5. The square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the sides as I shall demonstrate. π :. Library of Pantainos 6. Deucalion the tailor can provide you with proper ρ: Nymphaion raiment for a fair price.

A semicircular building with an entrance on the west side In the forest. and an exit on the east. In the afternoon an impresario HP 1. shepherd 4 will allow anyone who pays 5 GP a chance to enter and 2. shepherdess see the nymph show. The interior of the building is open 3. woodcutter to the sky at the top. The circular portion of the wall is 4. satyr decorated with two levels of half columns. In between the 5. 1–6 centaurs half-columns are niches containing marble statues. The 6. stag lower level contains nymphs, faeries, dryads, and mer- 7. 1–6 elves maids, and the upper level contains harpies, medusae, 8. dryad succubi, and type V demons. Beneath the semicircular 9. 1–6 amazons wall is a pool of water about 3ʼ deep. In the center is a 10. one-eyed ogre bronze statue of a man with a pan flute and the legs and horns of a goat. On the temple hill during the day.

The impresario will let at most 6 people in at a time. When 1. cynic (identifies false OSR enthusiasts in party with the entrance door closes, a sullen, naked nymph HP 13 absolute certainty) emerges from behind a screen. She wades about in the 2. 1–6 pilgrims water which comes up to her midriff. Her long wet hair 3. 2–12 acolytes discretely covers her breasts. Occasionally she applies 4. 1 priest of (athena/poseidon/zeus/artemis) water to her hair to keep it in place. If onlooker attempts 5. 1–6 roman tourist to enter the pool, the nymph tells him to ”think twice about 6. 1–6 supplicants it, pervert.” If an onlooker enters the pool, the nymph strikes him blind and dimension doors away. Other- On the temple hill at night wise, after 10 minutes the nymph goes back behind the screen and the impresario shoos everyone out. 1. 1–4 ghouls

THE MORTALS Shopkeepers.

1–3 encounters occur every turn when the party is in the 1. apothecary city.

6 THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN

2. armorer 3. the daughter of Leto 3. baker 4. the archer goddess 4. blacksmith 5. she of the golden distaff 5. butcher 6. chandler 1. Artemis Daphnaie 7. farmer 2. Artemis Phosphoros 8. fishmonger 3. Artemis Agrotere 9. potter 10. rope maker Athena: 11. sandle maker 1. the shining one 12. tailor 2. the warrior maiden 13. tanner 3. the third born 14. vintner 4. the gray-eyed one 15. weapon maker 5. she whose shield is thunder 16. weaver 6. daughter of [periphrastic phrase for zeus] THE IMMORTALS 1. Pallas Athena Temple offerings. 2. 3. Athena Polias 1. wool chiton 4. Athena Tritogenia 2. linen peplos 5. Athena Promachos 3. 10–120 GP 4. 1–6 ivory tusks worth 10 GP each Demeter 5. wine amphora 6. alabaster Priapus figurine 1. Demeter Chloe (the blooming one) 2. Demeter Chrysoar (the golden one) The locals will not utter the names of any of the gods un- 3. Demeter Chthonia (the subterranean one) der normal circumstances. If asked which god a temple 4. Demeter Eleusinia is dedicated to, periphrastic phrases are used: 5. Demeter Sito

Apollo: Dionysius

1. the radiant one 1. the unshorn one 2. the hunter 2. the singer 3. the laureate one 3. the flesh-eater 4. the dolphin rider 4. the inspired one 5. the deliverer from plague 5. he who frees men from care 6. the prophet of Pythius Hades 1. Apollo Phoebus 2. Apollo Phanaeus Not one of the twelve Olympans, as he does not live on 3. Apollo Didymaeus Mount Olympus. No shrines or temples are consacrated 4. Apollo Delphinius to him. 5. Apollo Pythius 1. Hades Agesilaos 6. Apollo Acesius 2. Hades Agesander (he who carries away all) 7. Paean Apollo 3. Hades Cthonius (of the underworld) 8. Apollo Apotropaeus Funeral rites are performed by women. On the first day Ares the body of the deceased is anointed with aromatic oil 1. Ares Polypalmeros (many handed) and crowned with a wreath. A coin is placed in the mouth 2. Ares Alloprosallos (double faced) of the deceased. On the second day the body is put on 3. Ares Gynaikothoinas (feasted by women) display in the home of the deceased. Women rend their 4. Ares Polydakros (bringer of weeping) hair and clothes. On the third day a funeral procession takes the body of the deceased to a pyre or a tomb. In Artemis: the former case the body is burned and the ashes placed in an urn. A sacrifice is made to Hades and then a feast 1. the huntress is held. Finally the home of the deceased is cleaned with 2. the light bringer

7 THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN seawater and hyssop. 5. the cloud-gatherer 6. the patron of guests Hera 1. Zeus Olympios 1. the white-armed goddess 2. Zeus Panhellenios 2. the cow-eyed goddess 3. Zeus Xenios 3. the queen of the gods 4. Zeus Horkios 5. Zeus Agoraeus 1. Hera Parthenos 6. Zeus Mellichios 2. Hera Chere 3. Hera Basileia When a oath is made or a favor is asked of a god, the 4. Hera Aigophagos name of the god is used. Normally a priest performs the 5. Hera Teleia pronunciation of the name. The name is used with epi- 6. Hera Akraia thet. The god will always hear its namne in a temple con- 7. Hera Leukolenos sacrated to it. Otherwise the chance of hearing is 5%. If the god hears its name used unadorned or without a Hephaestus correct epithet the god will be unfavorably disposed. 1. Hephaestus Krataios (the mighty) CONDESCENDING NOTES TO THE REFEREE 2. Hephaestus Khalkefs (worker of copper) 3. Hephaestus Polyolvos (rich in gifts) This adventure assumes the players will try to rob one of 4. Hephaestus Omvrimothymos (the indomitable) temples. The text to be read aloud to players at the start Hermes of the session comes right out and says as much. If you feel this infringes on player agency, you may of course Hermes has no temples. Phallic pillars are erected at omit that portion of the read aloud. crossroads, and this is where offerings are made. The marketplace and the temple on the hill are the most 1. Hermes Psychopompos (guide of the dead) interesting places in the city. Keyed encounters are pro- 2. Hermes Agoraios (of the marketplace) vided for both locations. The rest of the city consists of 3. Hermes Phallos (the copulator) largely indistinguishable residences—the provided floor- 4. Hermes Logos (the interpreter) plan can be used for any of them.

Hestia The referee should familiarize himself or herself with the sections on mortals and immortals. In the section on mor- Hestia has no temples or shrines. Offerings to the god- tals are random tables for generating NPCs that the play- dess are made at a hearth in ones own home. ers meet. If the players ask questions of these NPCs, they will find most of them to be helpfully informative, and will 1. Hestia Aidios (eternal) describe how to get food, lodging, or other incidentals 2. Hestia Khloomorphos (green formed) the party might need. NPCs will also details the sights 3. Hestia Polymorphos (many formed) and customs of the city. 4. Hestia Potheinotati (beloved) The section on the immortals is also import to read be- Poseidon: fore play since it details the beliefs and taboos of the mortals, knowledge of which is necessary to act out the 1. earth shaker NPCs faithfully. The gods are powerful, contemptuous, 2. tamer of horses unpredictable, and hence frightening. The players will 3. the master of waters probably regret encountering one of them. 4. the lord of the labyrinth There are two ways that a god might be summoned. The 1. Poseidon Hippios first is by speaking the name of the god. The natives of 2. Poseidon Soter the city will not normally say the name of the god. In- 3. Poseidon Erechtheus stead they use one of several periphrastic phrases. They will say that a temple is consacrated to ”the queen of the Zeus: gods” instead of to Hera, for example. The name of the 1. the keeper of oaths god is only used when an offering is made to god. Some- 2. the father of gods and men times also a favor is asked of a god at this time. Usually 3. the wide-seeing one priest trained in the proper ritual is entrusted with making 4. the loud-thundering one an offering. When the name of the god is called out it is done so as part of a larger phrase. For example a priest

8 THE GODS MUST BE GRECO-ROMAN will ask ”Hera Basileia” to accept an offering of fine linen. Calling out the name of a god has a 5% chance of at- The unadorned use of a godʼs name is offensive. tracting notice. In a temple consecrated to the god the chance increases to 25%.

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