Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Dionysus Encounters, Part I

Followers of Dionysus

DIONYSIAN PHILOSOPHY
Though his followers might end up abiding by all his tenets, some may emphasize one over all the rest. Such circumstances not only focus their approach, but it can also adjust the mysteries, magical side-effects, and divine test results available to them from Volume I.

Main Emphasis (d12)
1. Live a wild life (Agrios)
2. Don’t let yourself be held back by Authority, man! (Liber)
3. Lose yourself in wine (Akratophoros)
4. Lose yourself in music & dance (Enorches)
5. Lose yourself in theatre (Ekstasis)
6. 
Lose yourself in passion (Auxites)
7. 
Help others to lose themselves too! (Eleutherios)
8. Mystery tradition (son of Zeus, rebirth, old age/ youth, Orpheus)
9. Totemic tradition (bulls, serpents, leopards, or goats, and their mythic counterparts)
10-12(No emphasis- why would you push it??)

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Athena Encounters, Part III


Quests of Athena
Athena is the patron for many adventures. Each can be incorporated into general campaigns or even used as alternate divine tests for her cleric-types with variations based on how difficult they need to be. Roll 1d20.

1. The moral course of action is always the best (Boulaia): A great prize is available, but it obviously doesn't belong to the party. The treasure even has a specific person's name labelled on it.

2. Seek justice, especially for those who cannot seek it themselves (Areia): Beset by brutal followers of Ares, a nearby hamlet seeks to hire the party to help with what little funds they have left. Accepting such treasure might be as immoral as not helping them at all.

3. Work with your skills: true talents will reveal themselves (Ergane): An excellent seamstress, who is claimed to be divinely talented, has taken up shop nearby. She will need to either be supported (if she's humble) or chastised (if not). An Arachne spirit (see Part II) will be dispatched by Athena's temple if things aren't resolved soon.

4. Stand bravely in the manner of Athena, fear no evil! (Pallas): With signs of mass destruction and crushed citizens, it is made known that a gigante is terrorizing the area (link). If outmatched, Athena will lend some protective magic items to help defeat (and skin) it.

5. Remain chaste, temperate, & obedient (Parthenos): A lucky party member is visited by an avatar of Athena to remind him of the importance of chastity and temperance. Unlucky for him, an avatar of Aphrodite visits him the next night.

6-7. Hone one's tactics for victory (Nike): Rumors abound of a follower of Athena who is skilled in the way of tactics. Investigation will show him to be a palladium guard (see Part II), and he will only grant assistance to those who would assist in his charge.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Athena Encounters, Part II

Temples of Athena

Style (d6)
1-2. Ionian: smooth, orderly
3-4. Dorian: practical, orderly, 50% chance of having a historical metope
5. Corinthian: exotic, orderly
6. Reroll 1d5 twice, combine both styles
(All temples of Athena are also almost always very clean.)

Form (d6)
1. Shrine
2-6. Rectangular

Number of Columns: 2d6 at ends of temple, or outside if a shrine

Temple's Access is Forbidden to (d6)
1. Law-breakers
2. Foreigners
3. The Chaotic
4. Defilers
5. Those wearing footwear.
6. Reroll twice

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Athena Encounters, Part I

Followers of Athena

ATHENIAN PHILOSOPHY
Though Athena's followers often dutifully abide by all her tenets, some emphasize one over the rest. Such choices not only focuses their approach, but it can also adjust the mysteries, magical side-effects, and divine test results available to them from Volume I.

Main Emphasis (d20)
1. The moral course of action is always the best (Boulaia)
2. Seek justice, especially for those who cannot seek it themselves (Areia)
3. Work with your skills: true talents will reveal themselves (Ergane)
4. Stand bravely in the manner of Athena, fear no evil! (Pallas)
5. Remain chaste, temperate, & obedient (Parthenos)
6-7. Hone one's tactics for victory (Nike)
8. Encourage good citizenship
9. Support owls & wisdom (Glaukopis)
10. Local emphasis: horses, prophecy, diving, etc.
11. Vengeance upon transgressors (Medusa, Arachne, etc.)
12-20. (No emphasis- all must be espoused equally!)

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Artemis Encounters, Part III

Quests of Artemis
There are many ways to honor Artemis, some merciful, some done out of vengeance.  Each can be incorporated into general campaigns for all characters, or even as alternate divine tests for her cleric-types. The number that need be affected, their relative power, and the trials to reach the quest's destination can all be taken into account in order to gauge its difficulty. Roll 1d10.

1. Care for animals (Potnia Theron): Save a Calydonian boar from mistreatment, even if it is itself hazardous. See Volume I for its stats.

2. 
Assist expectant mothers (Eileithyia): Rescue a mother and child from a fell gang of bandits.

3. 
Protect children, innocence (Brauronia): A dangerous cult has come to power, wishing to rob youth of their innocence with their perversity.

4. 
 Protect wild places - honor barriers (Britomartis): A nearby wildland is in dire need of patrol, not only to keep the local denizens safe, but also to keep any interlopers out, including men who would wish to help.

5.
Enjoy the hunt (Agrotera): Giving into primal ways, but yet resisting any other primal urges, a wild hunt is called for!

6.
 Savor the liberating light of the moon, transformation (Selene): An individual has gone missing, last seen on a night of the full moon. There's a good 25% chance that he hasn't been changed into something unnatural.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Artemis Encounters, Part II

Temples of Artemis

Sacred Space (d20)
Reflecting Greek harmony with nature, such places are often replete with (roll 1d10):
1. Animals
2. Expectant mothers
3. Children
4-9. Wilderness
10. Hunting
11. Elements of the moon
12. Revenge
13-16. Another aspect of Artemis (see Part I)
17-20. Reroll twice

Style (d4)
1. Ionian: smooth, natural, 75% chance of being somewhat painted
2. Dorian: practical, natural, 25% chance of being somewhat painted
3. Corinthian: exotic, natural, 75% chance of being somewhat painted
4. Aeolian: primitive, natural, 5% chance of being somewhat painted