contents

adrian bott
Credits Contents
development and layout Introduction 2
Richard Neale
Characters 8
additional text
Alejandro Melchor Ancient Skills 47
cover art
Ancient Feats 79
Scott Clark
cartography Equipment 94
Jesus Barony Combat 117
interior illustrations
Adventuring 154
Jesus Barony, Eric Bergeron, Andrew Dobell,
Martin Hanford, Jon Netherland, Tony Parker, Magic and Miracles 160
Phil Renne, Ronald Smith & Jason Walton
Timeline of the 190
studio manager
Ancient World
Ian Barstow
production manager Religions and 199
Alexander Fennell Philosophies
playtesting Death And Beyond 226
Mark Gedak, Kent Little, Murry Perry, Patrick A.
Kossmann, Tammy Gedak, Mark Howe, Mark Artifice 232
Sizer, Daniel Scothorne, Mark Billanie, Micheal
Bestiary 244
Young, Alan Moore, Daniel Haslam, Jamie
Godfrey, James Sparling, Shannon Sparling, Character Sheet 254
Shannon Sparling, Jimi Braun, Jason Thornton,
Bill 'Urklore' Schwartz Licences 256

proof reading
Mark Quennel
OGL Ancients is 2004 Mongoose Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduction of non-Open Game Content of this work
by any means without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden. OGL Ancients is presented under the
Open Game License. See page 256 for the text of this licence. With the exception of boxed story text and character names,
character creation rules detailing the mechanics of assigning dice roll results to attributes and the character advancement rules
detailing the effects of applying experience, all text within OGL Ancients is declared as open content. Printed in China.

1

Introduction
Welcome to the past that never was.
OGL Ancients is a roleplaying game set in a world long
introduction
past, where Greek heroes do battle with horrendous
monsters and Egyptian priests pray to weird, animal-
headed divinities. This is an environment that many
roleplayers will not have ventured into before. Instead
of taverns, castles and dungeons, the environment is one
of great columned temples, amphitheatres, pyramids and
hanging gardens, where wise or corrupt kings rule over
their sprawling empires and wars are fought for generations
over the hand of one beautiful queen. The world of OGL
Ancients is one where true heroes are remembered forever
after, where a man favoured by the Gods can rise from the
humblest of beginnings to command the world.
OGL Ancients is set before the rise of the Roman Empire
and focuses on the two most influential civilisations of the
ancient world, the Egyptians and the Greeks, though other
cultures also appear. Those who wish to play the game as
a straight re-enactment of history may do so, drawing
upon accurate historical depictions of weapons, armour,
equipment and societal structure. Others, who may prefer
the more fantastical may include such mythic elements as
the wrangling of the Gods, the emergence of heroes with
divine blood and the appearance of monsters truly worthy
of the name.
If youve never played
a roleplaying game
before
Then welcome to OGL Ancients and the shortest
explanation of roleplaying ever written. One
participant the Games Master describes the
scene, and the players decide how their characters
will react. You pull back the sheets of your bed and
find an angry cobra waiting for you, says the Games
Master, the cobra rears, baring its fangs, ready to
strike. What do you do? Run? Hide? Call for
assistance? Throw it out a window? The Games
Master, using the rules as a guideline, decides what
results your actions have. Repeat all that over the
course of a few hours, mixing in mythic creatures,
cryptic texts, intrigues and conspiracies, tragic
heroes, madness, death and pain, and you have a
session of OGL Ancients.
2
The world of OGL Ancients is one of strong fantasy, in
keeping with the heroic golden age of the history of that
time. Although it can be played without the fantastic
elements, with such sections as the Gods being used as a
cultural reference for added realism rather than a catalogue
of beings who actually exist, many players will prefer the
larger-than-life feeling of the myths.
To walk in the Ancient world is to live in a time when magic
is a fact, when witches weave spells in secret glades under
the full moon. The spirits of the dead really do revisit the
living and wicked spectres lurk in the pestilent places of the
earth. Sometimes, even the dead arise and walk again. In
a world without technology, the strange and marvellous are
dominant. There is no science yet; instead, artificers work
mechanical miracles, while priests petition the Gods for
their divine intervention.
In OGL Ancients, the Gods are always close at hand.
Choose your deity carefully and be sure to heed them well,
for their support can literally be your salvation and their
displeasure, your annihilation. Those who the Gods love
may prosper, even going so far as to have the use of the
Gods own weapons and equipment, for use in their own
divine cause.
If you have ever wished to sail with Jason on the Argo, to
dare the labyrinth in the footsteps of Theseus or to twist
mens bodies into the shapes of swine like Circe; if you
would besiege the white walls of Troy or fly amid the clouds
on winged sandals. If you would walk in columned halls
and practice the magic that ibis-headed Thoth teaches, or
learn the secrets buried in the hearts of the pyramids; if
you would leave your body and, in spirit form, meet with
the witches on lonely mountains. If you long to spread
your wings with the artificer Dedalus and hunt with silver
Artemis, listen to the Orphic melodies and aspire to the
feast that awaits a true hero in Olympus... then read on!
ogl ancients
system and other
ogl games
The basic system used in OGL Ancients is fundamentally
similar to those used in the other Core books from
Mongoose Publishing. The skills and feats are similar, as are
the combat and task resolution systems, though there are
some important changes. If you are familiar with other
games using this same system, then feel free to skip right
over this chapter.
 characters in the
ancient world
Players in OGL Ancients take the role of heroes, characters
who stand a head and shoulders above ordinary men
and women. Each players character, even at the lowest
level of experience, is an exemplar in his field, capable of
performing tasks far out of reach of ordinary folk. They
are the warriors, sages and artificers whose deeds will
eventually enter the realm of legend or be commemorated
in epic poems.
There are two styles of play available in OGL Ancients. If
you wish to recreate the atmosphere of heroic legends in
which the Gods walked the earth and terrible monsters
lurked in forsaken places, then you can play in the Mythic
Age. This kind of game is essentially a fantasy world built
on a Graeco-Egyptian theme. The Gods are real, there is
such a thing as witchcraft and magic and the powers of
heroes and their ilk are supernatural. When the strength
of Heracles is spoken of, people mean that he genuinely
can tear a tree up by the roots or hurl a boulder for a mile.
Monsters such as the Gorgons or the Minotaur are very
real. This is the recommended option for players who want
magic, adventure and the broadest range of powers. Films
such as Jason and the Argonauts or Clash of the Titans
typify this style of play.
Alternatively, you may play in the Classical Age. This is
a recreation of ancient Greece and Egypt as they were,
incorporating a measure of poetic licence to allow for easy
game play. In this version of the game, miracles do not
occur and the myths are only stories. Those creatures that
the legends record as monsters are exaggerations of the
truth; the Cyclops was only a brutish human with one eye
and the Minotaur was the deformed son of King Minos,
hidden away in a labyrinth. You may prefer to play in the
Classical Age if you like a more realistic campaign or if you
introduction
want to tie events in world history into the adventures.
Characters and Dice
When an Egyptian archer draws back his bowstring and
looses a shot at a charging barbarian, he may hit or he may
miss. In a movie, his success or failure would be part of the
script. In a roleplaying game, this is determined by random
chance based on the skill of the archer in question. Since
there is a variable involved, dice become a necessary part of
the roleplaying medium. This is part of the excitement of
roleplaying; you can never be certain that what you have in
mind will come to pass, and you are always taking a chance
whenever you do anything dramatic. The story of your
character is not written in advance and even the Games
Master respects the results of the die rolls. Strange though
it may sound, dice make a game more realistic and enrich
the challenge of the game. Just as in the real world, you
never know quite what is around the corner.
When a person fires arrows at a straw target, the variance
of their shots is mostly based on their skill but can also be
influenced by luck, timing and a thousand other factors.
These are summed up by rolling a d20 (that is a 20 sided
die) with a high number representing more of these factors
aligning in a favourable way and a low number representing
the opposite. Dice are used to determine success when
using your characters skills, when deciding how enduring
3
 or intelligent they might be and when determining whether
the swing of a sword has severed the hissing head of the
Gorgon or not.
Dice Terminology
Dice in roleplaying games go by a series of shorthand codes
introduction
that are very easily to learn but look confusing at first
glance. A four-sided die (the singular form of dice) is also
called a d4. In this book, dice will be referred to by this
code preceded by the number of them needed for any given
roll required by the rules.
For example, if the ghastly Chimera were to open one of
its three mouths and breathe a cone of flame at a band of
unfortunate heroes who had woken it from its sleep, they
would need to roll Reflex saving throws on 1d20. (Do
not despair; terminology like Reflex saving throws will
be explained soon.) Note that the 1 is simply assumed if
no other number is listed or needed, so rolling d20 is the
same as rolling 1d20. If this d20 check is successful, the
heroes would only suffer half the amount of damage.
The flaming breath of the Chimera inflicts 4d8 damage
to any victims within the area of effect. 4d8 means the
Games Master would roll one eight sided die, note the
number, then roll it again three more times and add the
results to the first roll. Alternatively, if he happened to own
four eight-sided dice, he could roll them all at once for a
quicker calculation. Out of 4d8, a player can get a range
of numbers from 4 (all dice roll a 1) to 32 (every die rolls
an 8). When multiple dice are indicated by this shorthand
code, the values of the rolls are always added together.
One last dice note concerns the idea of a d100, also called
a d%. This is also called a percentile roll in roleplaying
parlance. To do this, roll a d10 twice. The first roll is for
the tens; the second roll is for the digits. If you were to
roll a 4 and then a 2, that generates the number 42. When
rolling a percentile, two 0s count as the number 100.
Some dice sets have a special d10 with a two-digit number
(10,20,30 and so on) stamped on each of its faces to make
this easier, but such dice are certainly not essential.
Multipliers
Certain modifications to dice rolls exist within the rules;
these, instead of adding a set number or an additional die or
dice to a roll, multiply the result. These are listed as x2 or
some other multiplication value. Multipliers apply to every
numeric modifier and the basic dice involved in the roll but
not to additional dice added as a modifier to the roll. For
example, if the hero Theocles (being especially favoured of
Apollo, God of the Sun) has been provided with a searing
arrow which inflicts 2d6 additional fire damage and
he inflicts a critical hit when he smites a foe with
4
it, the attack would deal the arrows normal 1d8 damage
rolled twice (for the critical hit) plus the 2d6 fire damage
rolled once, for a grand total of 2d8 piercing damage plus
2d6 fire damage.
Note that multipliers mean you roll a die or dice multiple
times, not that you roll a result and then multiply that. A
multiplier of x2 applied to a d6 roll does not mean that you
would roll, say, a 5, then double that to 10. Instead, you
would roll 2d6 and total the results.
Multipliers can stack but regardless of their values, they
stack in a specific way. When a check or value has two or
more multipliers, the highest value multiplier is kept and
every additional multiplier increases the first ones value by
1. For example, if Ankh-af-na-Menthu successfully scored
a critical hit with a spear (for x3 damage) against a Serpent
of Set that was trapped in a Temple to Osiris and suffering
x2 damage from all attacks, the attack would inflict 4 (x3
modified to x4 by the additional x2 modifier) times the
normal damage, not 5 times.
Actions
Once you have a character worked out and some dice, you
have all the tools you need to begin playing OGL Ancients.
Most play usually consists of the Games Master, the person
guiding the story and the action of a game, describing
scenes and filling in details, then asking the players what
they are doing next or listening to any spontaneous
declaration from a player that he wishes to do something.
Everything a character wishes to do, from waking up and
putting on his socks to filling a band of street thieves full
of arrows, is an action. Actions come in different types and
have different rules associated with them.
Simple actions are things that do not require rolls
except in the most adverse of conditions. Under normal
circumstances, a character is allowed to sit down at a table,
eat a loaf of bread and hold a rational conversation without
needing to make a die roll for success. If that same character
were to swim across the Nile, with scorpion venom in his
veins, a bleeding wound in his thigh and have had no sleep
in three days, it might be a different story. Whenever a
character needs to make a simple action, something they
can normally do everyday with no special skill or talent
required, the Games Master will generally simply declare
success or, like in the example just given, require a roll (also
called a check) or simply declare failure. Players have a
realistic idea of what their characters can do, so most of the
time there will be no absurd statements or challenges to the
consensual reality of the game.
Contested actions make up the largest part of the rule
mechanics for combat and skills. Everything that a

The Core Mechanic
When in doubt about how to resolve any given
action, keep this simple piece of advice in mind.
Any attempted action that has some chance of
failure can be handled by rolling a twenty-sided die
(d20). To determine if a character, be it a player or a
character controlled by the Games Master, succeeds
at a task, use the following simple steps:
Roll a d20.
Add any relevant modifiers.
Compare the result to a target number.
If the result equals or exceeds the target number, the
character succeeds. If the result is lower than the
target number, the character fails.
character does that might have a chance of failing because
of someone elses actions, skills or abilities, is called a
contested roll. Shooting an arrow at a thief is an example
of a contested action; your attack roll is contested by the
thief s Active Defence, representative of his ability to
avoid being hit. Contested checks are never guaranteed
and even the most masterful of archers can miss his mark
once in a while. Saving throws, which are a special type of
check made to see if a character can escape the effects of an
adverse condition, are another kind of contested roll.
A term used during contested rolls is DC, short for
Difficulty Class. The DC of a contested check is the
minimum number a d20 check, plus or minus modifiers,
must roll to succeed. A roll that is lower than the given
DC for an action fails. The d20 is the most common type
of die rolled during an average gaming session, making it
crucial to the system and the single most important die for
any player to own.
Astute players may have realised at this point that if
contested checks have to beat a listed DC and they are all
made using a single d20, then actions with a DC of 21 are
considered impossible. On the surface, this is correct, that
is where characters come in. Characters and the skills and
abilities they possess come with modifiers that are added to
or subtracted from certain kinds of checks. These modifiers
can theoretically make any check possible, no matter how
high the DC might be.
Though it is often a convention with games usingthe d20
rules to allow all rolls of 20 on a d20 to be an automatic
success, this is not always the case. By the same token, a
roll of 1 (called a natural 1 because it is the actual result on
the die roll, just as with a natural 20) is not an automatic
failure. Instances in the rules where a natural 1 or 20
indicate automatic success or failure will be clearly marked
in the text of the rules themselves.
ability scores
Every character in OGL Ancients has six basic abilities.
Each one represents different aspects of that characters
introduction
mental or physical prowess. Some types of creature may
possess a non-ability, such as undead monsters which
do not truly possess a Constitution score, this being the
ability governing health. In most cases, a character will
have a positive value of some kind in each of the six scores,
indicating some development or lack thereof in that
area.
Ability Modifiers
Each ability, after changes brought about by age or other
campaign factors, generally has a modifier ranging from 5
to +5. The Ability Modifiers Table shows the modifier for
each score. Ability score modifiers can range higher than
+5, but they cannot go lower than -5 because the status of
a creature or object changes when its ability scores drop to
0. See below for further details.
The modifier is the number you apply to the die roll when
your character tries to do something related to that ability.
You also use the modifier with some numbers that are
not die rolls. A positive modifier is called a bonus and a
negative modifier is called a penalty.
The Abilities
Each ability partially describes your character and affects
some of their actions. Abilities are not the sum total of
a characters personality or capabilities; these are up to
the player to determine. They do, however, provide the
framework around which skills and checks are typically
made, making them a very important part of the characters
description.
Strength (STR)
Strength encompasses your characters muscle or body
development and physical power. Strength also measures
the amount of equipment your character can carry.
Characters with high Strength are often labourers or
warriors, as they have built up their bodies over years of
hard work.
You apply your characters Strength modifier to:
Melee attack rolls.
Damage rolls when using a melee weapon or a thrown
weapon, including a sling. (Exceptions: Off-hand
attacks receive only one-half the characters
5
 Strength bonus, while two-handed attacks receive
one and a half times the Strength bonus. A Strength
penalty applies to attacks made with a bow that is not a
composite bow.)
Climb, Jump and Swim checks. These are the skills that
have Strength as their key ability.
introduction
Fortitude saving throws, for resisting poison and similar
degenerative threats.
Concentration checks. Concentration is a skill, highly
important for spellcasters, which has Constitution as its
key ability.

Strength checks (for breaking down doors and the like). If a characters Constitution score changes enough to alter
their Constitution modifier, the characters hit points also
increase or decrease accordingly.
Dexterity (DEX)
Dexterity measures hand-eye co-ordination, Ability Modiers Table
agility, reflexes and balance. This ability is Intelligence (INT)
Score Modifier Intelligence determines how well your
the most important for characters who
typically wear lighter armour or none at all 1 5 character learns and reasons. It is
and for anyone who wants to be a skilled 23 4 important for any character who wants to
shot. have a wide assortment of skills.
45 3
67 2 You apply your characters Intelligence
You apply your characters Dexterity
modifier to: 89 1 modifier to:
10 11 +0
Ranged attack rolls, including those 12 13 +1 The number of languages your
for attacks made with bows, thrown character knows at the start of the
14 15 +2
knives, hurled spears and other ranged game.
16 17 +3
weapons. The number of skill points gained
18 19 +4
Active Defence, provided that the with each level. Note that your
character can react to the attack. 20 21 +5 character always gains at least 1 skill
22 23 +6 point per level.
Reflex saving throws, for avoiding
explosions and other attacks that you 24 25 +7 Appraise, Craft, Decipher Script,
can escape by moving quickly. 26 27 +8 Debate, Forgery, Hekau, Knowledge,
Medicine, Search and Solve
Balance, Escape Artist, Hide, Move 28 29 +9 Conundrum checks. These are the
Silently, Ride, Sleight of Hand, Tumble 30 31 +10 skills that have Intelligence as their
and Use Rope checks. These are the key ability.
32 33 +11
skills that have Dexterity as their key
ability. 34 35 +12
An animal has an Intelligence score of 1
36 37 +13 or 2. A creature of humanlike intelligence
Constitution (CON) 38 39 +14 has a score of at least 3.
Constitution represents your characters 40 41 +15
health and stamina. A Constitution Wisdom (WIS)
42 43 +16
bonus increases a characters hit points, Wisdom describes a characters willpower,
so the ability is important for all classes. 44 45 +17
common sense, perception and intuition.
Combat-oriented characters need While Intelligence represents ones ability
hit points to survive wounds, while to analyse information, Wisdom represents
spellcasting characters use up hit points to fuel their spells. being in tune with and aware of ones surroundings. If you
A high Constitution also lessens your chance of suffering a want your character to have acute senses, put a high score
grievous wound. in Wisdom. Every creature has a Wisdom score.
You apply your characters Constitution modifier to: You apply your characters Wisdom modifier to:

Each roll of a Hit Die (though a penalty can never drop Will saving throws, for negating the effect of mind-
a result below 1 that is, a character always gains at least altering phenomena or spells.
1 hit point each time he or she advances in level).

6
 Heal, Listen, Prayer, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot and
Survival checks. These are the skills that have Wisdom
as their key ability.
Charisma (CHA)
Charisma measures a characters force of personality,
persuasiveness, personal magnetism, ability to lead and
comeliness. This ability represents actual strength of
personality, not merely how one is perceived by others in a
social setting. Every creature has a Charisma score.
You apply your characters Charisma modifier to:
Bluff, Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal,
Presence, Perform, Rhetoric and Witchcraft checks.
These are the skills that have Charisma as their key
ability.
Checks that represent attempts to influence others.
When an ability score changes, all attributes associated
with that score change accordingly. Most of
these changes are also retroactive; a character
receives or loses additional hit points for
previous levels if an increase or decrease
in Constitution occurs. One important exception to this
retroactive rule regards Intelligence. A character does not
retroactively get additional skill points for previous levels
if she increases her intelligence, nor are skill points lost if
Intelligence is lowered for any reason.
introduction
Grievous Wound Threshold
Your Grievous Wound Threshold is the average of your
Strength and Constitution ability scores, rounded down.
It determines how serious a given wound is for you. If
an attack deals damage in one blow that is less than your
Grievous Wound Threshold, then it is recorded as a normal
wound. If the damage scores equal to or higher than
your Grievous Wound Threshold, then it is recorded as
a grievous wound. Grievous wounds are more disabling
than ordinary wounds and will not heal without medical
attention.
Ability Score Loss
Various attacks can cause ability score loss, in the form of
either ability damage or ability drain. Points lost to ability
damage return at the rate of one point per day, or double
that if the character is able to take complete bed rest to each
damaged ability. Certain chemical or mechanical effects
can also offset ability damage. Ability drain, however, is
permanent, though some effects can restore even those lost
ability score points.
While any loss is debilitating, losing all points in an ability
score can be devastating.
Strength 0 means that the character cannot move at
all. He lies helpless on the ground.
Dexterity 0 means that the character cannot move
at all. He stands motionless, rigid and helpless.
Constitution 0 means that the character is dead.
Intelligence 0 means that the character cannot
think, is unconscious in a coma-like stupor and is
helpless.
Wisdom 0 means that the character has withdrawn
into a deep sleep filled with nightmares and is
helpless.
Charisma 0 means that the character has withdrawn
into a catatonic, coma-like stupor and is helpless.
Keeping track of negative ability score points is never
necessary. A characters ability score cannot drop below 0.
Having a score of 0 in an ability is different from having no
ability score whatsoever. Some effects and abilities impose
an effective ability score reduction, which is different from
ability score loss. Any such reduction disappears at the
end of the effect or abilitys duration and the ability score
immediately returns to its former value.
7

Characters
Your character is your alter ego in a game of OGL Ancients,
defined by his ability scores, background, class features and
other variables.
To generate a set of ability scores for a character, roll 4d6
characters
and discard the die with the lowest face value. This will
create a score between 3 (all four dice rolling 1s) and 18
(three of the four dice coming up as 6s). Being able to
remove the lowest number inclines the average value of
each score and tends to create characters with higher than
average abilities. Repeat this procedure five times. Once
you have generated six values in this way, either assign them
in the order rolled or place them in any order desired into
the six corresponding ability scores.
backgrounds
All characters must select a background, showing where
they came from geographically and socially. Your
background limits your choice of character class and
modifies your ability scores. It may also apply background
modifiers to certain skill checks that can affect a characters
chances of success. For example, all slaves are deemed to
be uneducated, so although they are physically robust, they
have little in the way of intellectual knowledge.
The first thing to decide is where your character comes
from. OGL Ancients is focussed on the Greek and Egyptian
cultures, so the options available for characters from those
cultures are significantly greater than others. You may
be Greek, Egyptian or a foreigner, such as an Assyrian.
Having done that, you must select one background for
your character. If you are playing in a mythic campaign,
then you may choose to select a mythic background.
If you are Greek or Egyptian, you may then further
customise your character by specifying your city of origin.
OGL Ancients is oriented around the Greek and Egyptian
cultures and, as a result, these civilisations have more
options available, though players need not play characters
from these civilisations.
If you are not Greek or Egyptian, then your background
is simply your region of origin as a foreigner, such as
Nubian or Assyrian. Foreigners may not take the Greek
Priest, Egyptian Priest, Hetaera or Noble Warrior character
classes, as these are specific to the Greek and Egyptian
cultures.
Gender
You must decide whether your character is male or female.
This is not a trivial issue. The ancient world is run
along very clear lines of gender division. Women,
8
for example, are not allowed to become warriors, much
less noble warriors, though they may serve as priestesses.
Men are not allowed to enter the secret cult of the witches,
nor may they become hetaerae. Your gender does not
affect your ability scores at all, though it does restrict the
character class you may take.
At the Games Masters discretion, a female character
from a civilisation other than Greece or Egypt could be
allowed to become a warrior or noble warrior. There were
indeed some examples of warrior queens in ancient times.
However, such examples were far from being the rule.
The prohibition here is not intended to restrict anyones
enjoyment of the game, but simply to keep to historically
sound conventions. A mythic campaign can always look
to the Amazons to balance things out, while a historical
campaign can draw inspiration from the likes of Queen
Artemisia of Halicarnassus or Queen Samsi the Midianite.
There may have been more female warriors than records
indicate; men, after all, wrote the records. Ultimately, it is
your game and you can decide which restrictions to apply.
Social Class
If you have a Greek or Egyptian nationality, then your next
background choice is your social class within that society.
Your social class determines how others react to you and
how much regard they have for you. In the ancient world,
there is no political correctness and there are no equal
opportunities. The aristocracy are in control. They look
down on the merchants, who in turn look down on the
workers and slaves. In OGL Ancients, all social classes have
their advantages and disadvantages but those who are born
to the nobility are always entitled to respect and deference
from those of a lower social class.
If you are a foreigner, then how others regard you depends
entirely on the standing your country has at the time.
Nobody cares what your social rank was back in your own
land. If your country is well regarded, then you will be
treated well; if you are an enemy, then you can expect to
be treated as such. For example, the Spartans in Greece
were either the enemy or the ally of the Persian Empire,
depending on what Persia was doing at the time and how it
influenced Spartas main rival, Athens.
Greek And Egyptian Social
Classes
These backgrounds apply to any character who was raised
in the Greek or Egyptian culture or who has rank in that
culture, such as by marrying into it. They do not have
anything to do with your race. In OGL Ancients, the racial
origin of a character is irrelevant. It is cultural background
that counts.
Slave
As a slave, you are socially the lowest of the low, even if you
appear to be groomed and well dressed. Another person,
who may or may not treat you fairly, owns you. Much
like a household pet, you are property. It is recommended
that any slave characters are owned by other players, as this
makes integrating them into the game much easier. If a
slave character is owned by a Non-Player Character, it sets
greater limits on what he can do.
Slaves benefit from a +2 increase to Constitution, as only
robust slaves last for any length of time and suffer from
a 1 penalty to Intelligence, as they do not benefit from
education. For the same reason, all Knowledge skills are
automatically cross-class skills to them. Slaves are limited
to the Warrior, Bard, Thief and Artificer character classes.
One of the most famous storytellers of ancient times, the
bard Aesop, was a slave.
Slaves start play with no wealth of their own at all. If one of
the other players owns a slave character, he may choose to
give the slave some possessions. Slaves are very challenging
characters to play but the rewards of starting right at the
bottom and working your way to the top are immense.
Worker
Workers are the largest class of society. They are the
common people, the hoi polloi, who do all of the work
and are allowed no say in their own government. In times
of war, they are drafted into military service if they are male,
whether they know how to fight or not. They enjoy more
rights than slaves do and are counted as citizens, though
this only means that they have certain basic freedoms, such
as the freedom to own property and earn a living, that
slaves do not. They cannot vote, nor can they take any
character class that requires noble birth.
If you wish, you can take the Worker background and
start the game as an ex-slave, who has earned his freedom.
This nets you no advantages other than having no owner.
Socially, you are still looked upon as a slave in essence until
you make something more of yourself. Some ex-slaves have
gone on to amass fortunes for themselves, so there is no
reason to suppose you could not do likewise.
As workers live by their skills, they gain an additional skill
point per level. Each worker is a specialist in one of the
Craft skills, so he or she may choose one Craft skill and
receives a +2 background bonus to all checks made with
that skill. Workers are not eligible for the priesthood, nor
may they take any character class that requires noble birth.
Workers begin play with 1d4x5 silver drachmas or goods to
that value in a campaign set before the advent of coinage.
They are also allowed a number of bonus items of the kind
that are made by their Craft skill, to a total value of no
more than 30 silver drachmas, to represent goods that the
character has made for himself. For example, a blacksmith
might own a bronze-headed spear, an iron pot or a metal
shield.
Middle Class
characters
The educated members of this social class are likely to
be merchants, traders and slave-owners. They may take
any character class except those that require noble birth.
Socially, they are superior to the workers and slaves but still
far beneath the nobility. For all their riches, they cannot
hope to achieve noble rank unless it is conferred upon
them or they marry into it. Nobles have more contempt
for middle class characters than for workers; as the middle
classes have had to work for their wealth. At least the
workers know their place, while the middle classes are
determined to rise above theirs through trade.
Trade is not seen as a fit occupation for a hero; nonetheless,
many middle class characters become warriors, simply
because they can afford to. Armour and weapons made
from more robust materials than leather and wood cost
a lot of money and not every level of society can afford
them.
All members of the middle class gain a bonus feat at first
level, resulting from their broad experience of life and their
determination to improve their lot.
The starting wealth for a middle class character is 5d4x10
silver drachmas. A middle class character also owns 1d3
slaves, who may be brought along on adventures if the
character sees fit; if they are killed, the character will have
to buy new ones.
Noble, Female
Of highborn blood yet assigned to a lower station because
of her gender, the female noble is widely educated and
eloquent and may even be a secret practitioner of magic.
Female nobles may take the Greek Priest, Egyptian Priest,
Courtesan, Witch or Aristocrat character classes.
The starting wealth for a female noble is 5d4x20 silver
drachmas. She also owns 1d3 slaves, who may be brought
on adventures or left behind as the player sees fit. The
slaves of a female noble are more likely ladies in waiting or
handmaidens than burly bearers.
Noble, Male
The top of the social pyramid, male nobles take part
in government or lead armies in the field. They are
disadvantaged by the expectations their families place
upon them (in their way, they are more indentured
than some slaves) and by their lack of practical,
9
 worldly experience. Male nobles may take the Greek Priest,
Egyptian Priest, Noble Warrior or Aristocrat character
classes. Some nobles enter the priesthood but these are
considered an oddity.
Greek and Egyptian Warriors
Warriors from a Greek background, irrespective of social
characters
rank, are proficient with all martial weapons. For their
Weapon Focus, they may choose between the spear, the
javelin, the sarissa, the xiphos and the kopis.
Warriors from an Egyptian background, irrespective of
social rank, are proficient with all martial weapons except
the kopis, the sarissa, the labrys and the Cretan stabbing
sword. For their Weapon Focus, they may choose between
the composite self bow, the composite recurved bow, the
kopesh or the mace.
Foreign Backgrounds
These backgrounds may only be taken by characters who
come from lands other than Greece or Egypt. They are
included for the Games Masters use in creating Non-Player
Characters. Players may take these backgrounds, though
they will be at a distinct disadvantage in Greece or Egypt
unless the civilisation from which they hail is an ally or at
least neutral. Refer to the Timeline Of The Ancient World
on pg. 190 to see the standings of the various ancient
civilisations at a given point in time.
Some foreign backgrounds are not available at certain
points in time, as the civilisation concerned collapsed.
10
For example, the Hittites were a spent force after around
1200 BC, while the Assyrians were no longer a power to
be reckoned with after the destruction of Nineveh by the
Medes in 612 BC.
Amazon (Mythic)
The Amazons were said to be a tribe of ferocious warrior
women encountered by several of the Greek heroes. One
of Heracles most notable achievements was to retrieve the
girdle of Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen, while Theseus is
said to have married her.
If you are from the tribe of the Amazons, you may be
female and a warrior or noble warrior. This is the easiest
way to have a female warrior character in OGL Ancients.
Amazons are unfortunately mythical, so you may only take
this option in a mythic campaign.
Amazon warriors are proficient with all martial weapons
and have the composite self bow as their Weapon Focus.
Assyrian
Assyrians dominate the Fertile Crescent and occupy
Egypt around 700 BC. Initially a people without cavalry,
they were pushed into learning the arts of fighting from
horseback when horse-mounted invaders kept assaulting
their lands. Assyrians were among the best archers of the
ancient world, rivalling the Egyptians in their expertise
with the bow and using the chariot as a mobile archery
platform, much as the Egyptian forces did. Special armour
was developed to protect the archers, who could not carry a
shield to defend themselves.
 Assyrian characters benefit from the Chariot Combat feat
for free, even if they do not meet the usual prerequisites to
qualify for this feat. Assyrian warriors are proficient with
all axes and spears and have the composite recurved bow as
their Weapon Focus.
Barbarian
Barbarian is a catch-all term for those who come from
uncivilised lands. For the purposes of OGL Ancients,
barbarians are a brawny, tribal people whose main interest is
in fighting and gaining both land and riches for themselves.
Barbarians are illiterate and may not take any character
class other than warrior or thief, as the culture does not
allow for more sophisticated roles. They are looked down
upon as scum by civilised societies and are believed to have
no regard for learning at all.
As they are accustomed to running for long distances, they
have a base Speed of 40 feet, so long as they are wearing
only light armour. If they wear heavier than light armour,
they lose this ability.
Barbarians treat all Knowledge skills as cross-class skills,
except for Knowledge (nature) and Knowledge (local).
They receive a +2 background bonus to all Survival skill
checks, as they are half-wild and accustomed to living in
the natural world.
Barbarian warriors are proficient with all axes and spears
and have the hand axe as their Weapon Focus.
Nubian
The Nubians, a people from the region of Africa south of
Egypt, are admired among the Egyptian soldiery for their
courage and strength. The elite core of many a Pharaohs
troops was a force of Nubian mercenaries, who could
be relied upon to terrify the enemy with their vicious,
relentless fighting.
characters
Nubians benefit from a +1 background bonus to Strength
and to Will saving throws. They are, however, limited in
their choice of equipment. Nubians dislike armour and
are uncomfortable fighting in it, as they are accustomed to
fighting with bare skin. Any body armour (but not shields)
worn by a Nubian has its armour check penalty increased
by +1.
Nubian warriors are proficient with all axes and spears and
have the hand axe as their Weapon Focus.
Persian
Originally vassals of the Assyrians, the Persians expanded
their empire to become one of the most splendid and
mighty civilisations in world history. The Persian character
is noble, magnanimous, strict and absolutely convinced of
its own superiority. Like other empires in later years, they
believe that expanding their territory by taking new cities is
the best thing for the conquered as well as the conquerors.
Persians never forget a slight and they will always go out of
their way to avenge insults upon their honour. They are a
patient people, capable of nursing a grudge for years, but
they will always act upon it eventually.
11
 Persians benefit from a +1 background bonus to their
Charisma ability scores. In addition, their natural
expressiveness and concern with appearance means that
Presence is always a class skill for a Persian character, even if
it is not among the listed class skills.
Persian warriors are proficient with all martial weapons and
may choose from the bow (any), the akinakes or the spear
characters
as their Weapon Focus.
Hittite
The Hittites were capable warriors, the first to exploit
iron weapons to any significant degree. Opponents of the
Egyptians for many years, they eventually made an alliance
with the marriage of an Egyptian king to a Hittite princess.
Hittite characters are not available from around 1200 BC
onwards, however, owing to the collapse of their empire in
previous years.
Hittite warriors are proficient with all martial weapons and
have the spear as their Weapon Focus.
Phoenician
The Phoenicians are a constant presence for almost two
millennia in the ancient world. As so many of their cities
are coastal, they were one of the first civilisations to develop
an extensive naval force. Rather than becoming military
aggressors, they became sailors and traders. In the time
period around 1000 BC, the cities of Tyre and Sidon were
renowned for their wealth and prosperity throughout the
ancient world. The Phoenicians were the founders and
occupants of Carthage, which would in time come to
be a dominant power in the region, so much so that a
lengthy war would result between the Phoenicians and the
Romans.
All Phoenicians are adept traders and sailors. They receive
a +2 background bonus to all Appraise, Bluff and Swim
skill checks and receive Profession (sailor) as a class skill,
irrespective of their character class.
Phoenician warriors are proficient with all swords and
spears and have the javelin as their Weapon Focus.
Scythian
Hailing from the regions of northern Iran, the Scythians
were a frequent thorn in the side of the Medes. They
perfected the recurved composite bow and became adept
at using it from horseback, becoming one of the only
early civilisations to use mounted archer units. The
Scythians have a reputation for being savage, aggressive and
implacable, dominating others ruthlessly and celebrating
their victories with drinking binges that last many days.
All Scythians receive a +2 background bonus to Ride
skill checks and have the Mounted Archery feat for
12
free, even if they do not meet the usual prerequisites for
this feat. They suffer from a -2 background penalty to
Intelligence, owing to their disdain for learning and study
applied to anything other than conquest. Scythian warriors
are proficient with all axes, spears and bows and have the
composite recurved bow as their Weapon Focus.
City and Regional Backgrounds
Characters of the ancient world often have loyalty to their
city or region and identify themselves by referring to it, such
as by calling themselves Timmaeus of Athens or Ankh-f-
n-khonsu the Theban. This is especially important for
Greek characters, as ancient Greece was not a unified
country but a land in which numerous city-states fought
for space and resources. See the Ancient World chapter for
more details on how ancient Greece functioned.
Your city gives you certain advantages and disadvantages.
Athenians, for example, are trained in philosophy and
the arts, giving them bonuses to Rhetoric and Debate
skill checks, while Spartans are taught to discipline their
bodies and become more resistant to pain, giving them the
Athletic feat for free and an increased Constitution.
Spartan
The citizens of the city-state of Sparta belong to a strong
warrior culture. Education is structured around the
body and mind in harmony, developing both to their
highest possible peak. Spartans are trained to be tough
and unsentimental, disdaining soft or luxurious things in
favour of a hard-bitten warrior life. To this day, the word
spartan is used to mean simple, plain and functional.
Spartan methods of education were designed to produce
a warrior citizenry. At the time of their greatest glory,
their military power dominated most of the Greek lands.
Spartan athletes were the finest in the ancient world and
Spartan fighting men the most feared.
Spartans are physically tough and disciplined but have a
harsh, forbidding manner about them. Any male Spartan
character benefits from a +1 bonus to Constitution and
suffers from a -2 penalty to Charisma. All Spartans have a
base Speed of 40 feet, as they are trained in physical fitness.
They also receive the Athletic feat for free.
Female Spartans do not benefit at all from being brought
up in the city. Their ability scores are not modified, nor do
they receive any free feats. Their Charisma is assuredly not
modified at all, as the most beautiful human being of all
time was a female Spartan.
Athenian
Citizens of the city-state of Athens, the holy city of the
Goddess Athene, are trained to follow the culture of the

mind. In keeping with the nature of the citys patron
Goddess, wisdom is prized. Every action has to be prefaced
with a proper degree of thought. Athens was a great centre
of philosophy in the ancient world and provided human
civilisation with the earliest known form of democracy.
Eventually, Athens would come to dominate the whole
of Greece, creating one of the most profound, widespread
and lasting cultural influences in the history of the planet.
Athenians place great value on justice and fairness,
believing that if everyone fulfils their allotted role without
trying to break the rules, their society would work. They
are, in conventional terms, fundamentally lawful.
Athens and Sparta are often in a state of intense rivalry and
mutual apprehension. The Athenian society is dedicated to
the cultivation of intellect while the Spartan is dedicated to
the cultivation of the physical body; the Spartan is naturally
the stronger of the two when their rivalry comes to blows,
a perception that worries many Athenians.
Characters from Athens with anything other than a slave
background receive a +2 background bonus to all Rhetoric,
Debate and Knowledge checks.
Thessalian
Thessaly is a region well known for its witches. The cult
of Hecate thrives in Thessaly, images of the triple-faced
Goddess stand at every crossroads and it is said that one
woman in every ten is secretly a witch. Whether this
legend is true or not, the women of Thessaly are well suited
to the pathes of the witch or the more persuasive aristocrat.
characters
They are not as well educated as the males, but have learned
to succeed via guile and keen perception.
The women of Thessaly receive a +1 background bonus to
their Charisma ability score and a +2 background bonus to
all Sense Motive checks, but a -2 penalty to all Knowledge
checks. The men of Thessaly are not especially remarkable
and tend to be under the thrall of their womenfolk.
Cretan
The folk of Crete are said to be cunning and wily. Like the
famous labyrinth that is rumoured to lie beneath the palace
of old Minos, one-time ruler of the island, their minds are
full of twists and turns. It is said that one should never trust
a promise made by a Cretan unless it is recorded in writing
and that even then, one should bring ones own scribe.
All Cretans receive a +2 background bonus to Bluff and
Sense Motive checks made against anyone but another
Cretan or a person who has spent more than three years
living in Crete. Those who grow up on the island learn
to recognise each others ways. Cretans also receive a +2
background bonus to all Solve Conundrum checks. They
are, however, handicapped by a rather insular approach to
life; though they are very persuasive, they are not well liked.
They therefore suffer from a -2 penalty to any Charisma
based skill check made to influence anothers attitude.
Cretan warriors are proficient with all bows, all spears and
the kopis. Their Weapon Focus is the composite recurved
bow. Cretans are well renowned for their bowmanship.
13
 Theban
Thebes in Egypt (not to be confused with the city of the
same name in Greece) is the sacred city of the God Horus.
Those who dwell in Thebes partake of the Gods nature,
becoming strong in both mind and body. They are more
likely to become warriors for Pharaoh than the denizens
of any other city. The Thebans are sometimes called the
characters
Spartans of Egypt. Together with the Nubian mercenary
forces, they make up the cutting edge of the ancient
Egyptian army.
Thebans receive a +1 background bonus to all Will and
Fortitude saving throws and a +1 background bonus
to all melee attacks and ranged attacks with a thrown
weapon made against human infantry. They also gain the
Toughness feat for free. The strong military ambience of
their city does make them less concerned with learning and
spiritual matters; accordingly, they receive a -2 penalty to
all Intelligence-based skill checks.
Karnak
Karnak was the centre of Ancient Egyptian society for
many generations. Those raised there are exposed to all
manner of political discussions, theological debates and
demonstrations of Pharaonic power. Nobles of Karnak are
well educated, but are spared any manual work or fighting,
as a result of which they are less physically developed than
they otherwise could be. A character of noble origin who
comes from Karnak receives a +2 background bonus to all
Presence and Hekau checks, but a -1 penalty to Fortitude
and Reflex saving throws. Characters of any other origin
than noble do not receive any modifiers.
14
Mythic Backgrounds
This section allows players to create heroic characters
along the lines of the ancient myths. Mythic characters
are those whose powers must either be explained away
as the exaggerations of myth or who genuinely do have
superhuman ability, depending on the kind of campaign
being run. Many mythic characters fates are directly
bound to the Gods. They are either agents of the Gods
or are related to them in some way. Mythic character
backgrounds may only be used with the agreement of the
Games Master.
There are three ways to create a mythic character. They
may have divine blood, divine patronage or a divine boon.
Divine Blood
Like the Pharaohs of Egypt or the demigod heroes of
ancient Greece, the character is directly descended from a
deity. The character may, for example, be the son of Zeus
like Heracles. Such a character has one divine parent and
one mortal parent, they are never the child of two Gods.
Having divine blood guarantees the character considerable
advantages. You gain an inherent bonus to at least one of
your ability scores, as you take after your divine parent,
you are beloved by them automatically (see Religions and
Philosophies) and you also gain a +2 background bonus to
any Prayer skill check that involves your parent.
There are, however, disadvantages to being the progeny of
a deity; these come in the shape of other deities. As the son
or daughter of one deity, you automatically gain the hatred
of another deity, who then despises you. This may never be
removed with atonement, as the deity hates you for who
 you are rather than what you have done. A good example
of this kind of character is Heracles, who was hated by the
Goddess Hera for having been fathered by her adulterous
husband Zeus.
There are some Gods and Goddesses who you may not
choose as parents, simply because they did not interbreed
Divine Boon
The character received a single boon from the Gods in the
early years of his life, with a concomitant vulnerability.
The example here is Achilles, who was almost invulnerable
with a single fatal flaw, namely that a blow dealt to the
one vulnerable part of his body would kill him. Similar
boons are available to players, granting an across-the-board,

characters
with mortals, or in some cases with anyone. Athene and supernaturally heroic benefit with an accompanying flaw.
Artemis are virgin Goddesses, who have no children by any The Games Master has the final say on which divine boons
male, divine or mortal. Hephaestus and Asclepius are also a player may have, as they represent a level of power that
not known to have sired any children. only the key figures of the legends ever had, second only
to the Gods themselves. A player may choose from the
Having a divine parent is, traditionally, an attribute of following four divine boons:
Greek heroes rather than Egyptian ones. The only notable
Egyptian who is said to be of divine parentage is Pharaoh, Astounding Beauty: The character is possessed of the
who is the son of Ra. If the Games Master wishes to allow kind of beauty that launches ships in their thousands. They
players to be the children of other Egyptian gods, then have a Charisma score of 25.
suitable benefits can be derived by using the table below as
a guideline. Godlike Accuracy:
Divine Parentage The character
The Divine Parentage Parent Benefit Hated By practically never misses
table shows the benefits a target. They receive
Aphrodite +2 Charisma Ares
and disadvantages of a +10 divine bonus
having a divine parent. Apollo +1 Strength, +1 Charisma Hermes to all melee or ranged
Ares +1 Strength, +1 Constitution Aphrodite attack rolls. You must
Divine Patronage Demeter +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma Poseidon choose at character
The character has the generation whether the
Dionysus +1 Wisdom, +1 Charisma Apollo
ongoing support of a character will excel at
deity. These favoured Hecate +1 Wisdom, +1 Charisma Apollo melee attacks or ranged
individuals receive Hera +1 Wisdom, +1 Dexterity Zeus attacks.
the ongoing help Hermes +1 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence Apollo
and advice of a deity, Invulnerability: The
while they in turn Poseidon +1 Strength, +1 Constitution Demeter character is practically
benefit from having Ra +1 Strength, +1 Wisdom Apophis immune to damage
an agent on the world Zeus +2 Strength Hera from weapons and
of mortals. The most other physical sources.
readily recognisable Magical sources of
character of this kind is Jason, who received the advice and damage such as drain life still affect him normally, as does
aid of Hera throughout his Quest for the Golden Fleece. drowning. They are treated as having natural armour that
ignores 30 points of damage of any kind and successfully
Divine Patronage gives the player the favour of the deity wards off a blow with any Coverage check result other than
at the start of the game, see the Religions and Philosophies a 1. The character may of course wear ordinary armour in
chapter for more details. This deity need not be the same addition to this.
as the one who the player personally follows. The character
may communicate with the deity once per level for a period Uncanny Luck: The character is blessed with supernatural
of one minute. The deity reserves the right to give the power to avoid misfortune. He benefits from a +5 divine
character instructions, such as travel to this land and slay bonus to all saving throws.
this monster. A character with divine patronage is a pawn
in the chess games of the Gods, often sent on quests or set Along with a divine boon, the character must choose a
tasks as the patron deity requires. If the character has not tragic flaw from the following list:
lived up to the deitys expectations or has angered the deity
in any way, assistance may be refused and the disfavour of Vulnerability: The character suffers triple damage from
the deity may be earned. any attack that penetrates armour and causes a wound.

15
 Friend-Slayer: Whenever the character rolls a 1 on an
attack roll, irrespective of whether it is a ranged or melee
attack, they have struck a friend. This can only happen
if there is an ally within range. If there are no allies, then
they strike an innocent bystander with the attack. If
there are no innocent bystanders, they strike and wound
themselves.
characters
Loathed From On High: The character is the subject of the
hatred of more than one of the Gods. The Games Master
chooses three deities, all of whom despise the character (see
Religions and Philosophies). He may do nothing to atone
for this, ever and the condition is irreversible.
Misfortune: The character brings bad luck and misery to
those around him. Any allies within 30 feet of the character
suffer a 3 penalty to all saving throws and skill checks.
This flaw has no effect on the character themselves.
character classes
Players may select character classes from those listed here.
Every class uses certain similar terminology, when reading
about the capabilities of each class, keep the following
terms in mind.
Hit Die
The die type used by characters of the class to determine
the number of hit points gained per level. A player rolls
one die of the given type each time their character gains a
new level. The characters Constitution modifier is applied
to the roll. Add the result to the characters hit point total.
Even if the result is 0 or lower, the character always gains at
least one hit point. A 1st level character gets the maximum
hit points rather than rolling and their Constitution
modifier is still applied.
Class Skills
This section of a class description provides a list of class
skills, the number of skill points the character starts with at
1st level and those gained each level thereafter. A characters
Intelligence modifier is applied to determine the total
number of skill points gained each level. Characters always
gain at least one point per level, even for a character with a
negative Intelligence modifier.
A 1st level character starts with four times the number of
skill points they receive upon attaining each level thereafter.
The maximum ranks a character can have in a class skill is
the characters level +3.
A character can also buy skills from the skill lists of other
classes, unless that skill is exclusive to that class, a Greek
priest cannot buy skill ranks in Hekau, for example. Each
skill point buys a half rank in these cross-class skills and
16
a character can only buy up to half the maximum ranks of
a class skill.
Exclusive Skills
Certain skills are exclusive to one class. These are as
follows:
Hekau is exclusive to Egyptian priests.
Witchcraft is exclusive to witches.
Nobody but the designated class may ever gain ranks in
these skills, with one exception. A sage can purchase ranks
in exclusive skills as cross-class skills as they are broadly
educated and have travelled extensively. As a result they
may have picked up knowledge that others have never had
a chance to acquire.
Class Table
This table details how a character improves as they
attain higher levels in the class. It includes the following
information.
Level: The characters level in the class.
Base Attack Bonus: The characters base attack modifier
and number of attacks.
Shield Defence Bonus: The characters base shield defence
modifier and number of uses per round, if applicable.
Fort Save: The base save modifier for Fortitude saving
throws. The characters Constitution modifier also
applies.
Ref Save: The base save modifier for Reflex saving throws.
The characters Dexterity modifier also applies.
Will Save: The base save modifier for Will saving throws.
The characters Wisdom modifier also applies.
Class Features: Level-dependent class features or abilities,
each explained in the section that follows.
Class Level Bonuses
An attack roll or a saving throw is a combination of
three numbers, each representing a different factor: a
random element (the number you roll on the d20), a
number representing the characters innate abilities (the
ability modifier) and a bonus representing the characters
experience and training. This third factor depends on the
characters class and level. Each class table summarises the
figures for this third factor.
Base Attack Bonus
Check the table for your characters class. When making
an attack, apply the number from the Base Attack Bonus
column to the roll. Use the bonus that corresponds to the
Characters level. Numbers after a slash indicate additional
attacks at reduced bonuses: +12/+7/+2 means that a
character of this level makes three attacks per round, with
Experience and Level Dependent Benets
Character Class Skill Max Cross-Class Skill Max Ability
Level Experience Ranks Ranks Feats Increases
1st 0 4 2 1st , 2nd -
2nd
1,000 5 2.5 - -
3rd
3,000 6 3 3 rd
-

characters
4th
6,000 7 3.5 - 1st
5th 10,000 8 4 - -
6th 15,000 9 4.5 4th -
7th
21,000 10 5 - -
8th
28,000 11 5.5 - 2nd
9th 36,000 12 6 5th -
10 th
45,000 13 6.5 - -
11 th
55,000 14 7 - -
12th 66,000 15 7.5 6th 3rd
13 th
78,000 16 8 - -
14 th
91,000 17 8.5 - -
15 th
105,000 18 9 7 th
-
16 th
120,000 19 9.5 - 4th
17th 136,000 20 10 - -
18th 153,000 21 10.5 8th -
19 th
171,000 22 11 - -
20 th
190,000 23 11.5 - 5th

a base attack bonus of +12 for the first attack, +7 for the
second and +2 for the third. Ability modifiers apply to all
these attacks.
When a characters base attack bonus reaches +6, they are
entitled to make an extra attack at a +1 base attack bonus.
However, if the characters attack bonus reaches +6 or
higher as a result of applying modifiers, no extra attacks
are gained.
For example, a 6th level thief has a base attack bonus of +4.
When using a sling or other ranged weapon, she adds her
Dexterity modifier. Even if this increases her attack bonus
to +6 or higher, she does not gain an additional attack.
Shield Defence Bonus
Warriors and noble warriors receive an increasing bonus
to their Shield Defence checks. When making a Shield
Defence check, roll 1d20 adding any positive Wisdom
modifier as well as the shields coverage bonus plus the
Shield Defence bonus. If your shield defence bonus
contains two figures, such as +6/+1, then you may make
two Shield Defence checks per round, the first at the
higher bonus and the second at the lower in a similar way
to making additional attacks as detailed above.
Base Save Bonuses
Check the table for your characters class. It lists the base
saving throw bonuses for the three types of saves: Fortitude,
Reflex and Will. Use the bonuses that correspond to the
characters level to modify these rolls.
Level-Dependent Benefits
In addition to attack bonuses and saving throw bonuses, all
characters gain other benefits from advancing in level. The
following summarises these additional benefits.
Class Features
This entry details special characteristics of the class,
including bonus feats and unique talents that are gained as
a character attains higher levels in the class.
Experience: This column shows the experience point total
needed to achieve a given character level. As a character
accumulates experience points through game play or by
Games Master allowance, their level increases to match
the one given on this chart. Unless specific campaign
rules dictate otherwise, a new level is gained as soon as a
characters experience point total equals or exceeds that
levels threshold.
17
 Class Skill Max Ranks: The maximum number of ranks
a character can have in a class skill is equal to his character
level +3. A class skill is a skill associated with a particular
class. Class skills are listed in each class description in this
chapter.
Cross-Class Skill Max Ranks: For cross-class skills those
characters
to a rival city-state with her noble warrior brother as her
escort.
It is important to distinguish between an aristocrats personal
wealth and the wealth that she can access. Aristocrats may
draw funds or resources from their investments or family
holdings, above and beyond any personal fortunes she

skills not associated with a characters class the maximum might have. They do not gain any Reputation bonus from
number of ranks is one-half the maximum for a class skill. her societal role, even though the amount of money that
Maxing out a cross-class skill costs the same amount of she could access over the months could exceed the amount
points as buying the maximum rank in a class skill. (For necessary to gain a Reputation bonus.
example, at 1st level, a character can pay four points for 4
ranks in a class skill or spend the same four points for 2
ranks in a cross-class skill.) The half ranks (.5) indicated on
the table dont improve skill checks; they simply represent
partial purchase of the next skill rank and indicate that the
character is training to improve that skill.

Feats: This column indicates the levels at which a character

gains feats (two at 1st level, one more at 3rd level and one
more at every three levels thereafter). See the Feats Chapter
for feat descriptions.

Ability Increases: This column indicates the levels at which

a character gains ability score increases. Upon attaining
4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th level, a character increases one
of their ability scores by one point. The player chooses
which ability score to improve. The ability improvement
is permanent.

Example: Illa, a witch with a starting Charisma of 16,

intends to move up the ecclesiastical ladder might wish to
improve her Charisma to 17 at 4th level. At 8th level, Illa
might improve her Charisma again, from 17 to 18, as this
would increase her ability modifier for Charisma to +4.

aristocrat
These noble-blooded politicians achieve their ends through
resources, persuasion and movement in the circles of
power. Though they are born into their rank, they choose
not to invest in armour and weapons. Instead, they devote
themselves to rulership and verbal politics. An aristocrat
does not fight; she has servants and allies to do that for
her.

Aristocrats have many roles in the ancient world. They

act as ambassadors to other countries or city-states, raise
forces to invade their neighbours, fund expeditions, hatch
plots and conspire in the circles of power. Aristocrats are
the natural spokesmen for a group of characters and often
assume a leading role when the group is engaged in social
combat. An aristocrat will often go adventuring with a
noble warrior of the same family. For example, a female
Greek aristocrat might go on a diplomatic mission

18
The Aristocrat
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Access Resources
2nd
+1 +0 +3 +3 Requisition Entourage
3rd
+1 +1 +3 +3 Diplomatic Significance

characters
4th
+2 +1 +4 +4 Authority
5th
+2 +1 +4 +4 Evasive +1
6th
+3 +2 +5 +5 Native Land +1
7th +3 +2 +5 +5 Aura of Importance
8th
+4 +2 +6 +6 Resolute +1
9th
+4 +3 +6 +6
10 th
+5 +3 +7 +7 Evasive +2, Divine Audience
11 th
+5 +3 +7 +7
12 th
+6/+1 +4 +8 +8 Native Land +2
13th +6/+1 +4 +8 +8
14 th
+7/+2 +4 +9 +9 Resolute +2
15 th
+7/+2 +5 +9 +9 Evasive +3
16 th
+8/+3 +5 +10 +10 Voice of Command
17 th
+8/+3 +5 +10 +10
18th +9/+4 +6 +11 +11 Native Land +3
19 th
+9/+4 +6 +11 +11
20 th
+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 Evasive +4, Majesty, Resolute +3

Each aristocrat is part of a household or organisation of
some sort. The player must specify what this is. The
household may, for example, be that of a wealthy family
or a royal personage. The organisation may be the
government of a Greek city-state or an extended alliance of
Egyptian nobles.
Marrying well is very important for an aristocrat. All
characters start the game unmarried; there is an especial
pressure on an aristocrat character to find a husband or
wife of suitable background. Examples of aristocrats from
the myths include the Grand Vizier of Luxor, King Aeetes,
King Minos, Hecuba, Clytemnestra and Helen of Troy.
Deity: Any. Aristocrats who are also governors follow
Zeus, Athene or Ra.
Hit Die: d4.
Class Skills
The aristocrats class skills (and the key ability for each skill)
are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Debate (Int), Forgery (Int),
Jump (Str), Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Presence
(Cha), Prayer (Wis), Profession (Wis), Perform (Cha),
Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (n/a), Ride (Dex) and
Rhetoric (Cha).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the aristocrat.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: An aristocrat is
proficient with all simple weapons and one martial weapon
of her choice. She is not proficient with armour or with
shields.
Access Resources: The aristocrat may draw upon an
assured supply of wealth. Alone of all the character classes,
the aristocrat does not need to adventure to gain riches.
Once per month, an aristocrat may garner funds from his
familys holdings of 2d6x10 silver drachmas.
Requisition Entourage: From 2nd level onwards, the
aristocrat may requisition slaves, warriors and noble
warriors allied to her house, region or city-state. See
the table below for details of how big an entourage the
aristocrat can request.
Modifiers: Several factors can affect an aristocrats ability to
requisition an entourage, causing it to vary from the base
Requisition score (Character level + Cha modifier).
19
 A characters reputation (from the point of view of those When the aristocrat tries to recruit an entourage, use any of
she is trying to attract) raises or lowers her Requisition the following modifiers that apply.
score:
Requisition Score: An aristocrats base Requisition score
Aristocrats Reputation Modifier equals her level plus any Charisma modifier. In order to
Great renown +2 take into account negative Charisma modifiers, this table
Fairness and generosity +1 allows for very low Requisition scores. Outside factors
can also affect the aristocrats Requisition score, as detailed
characters

Special power +1
above.
Failure 1
Aloofness 1 Level: The aristocrat can requisition a slave, warrior or noble
Cruelty 2 warrior of up to this level. The Games Master has the final
say on which is assigned to the character. Regardless of a
The Aristocrat . . . Modifier characters Requisition score, she can only recruit a warrior
Has a stronghold, base of operations, +2 or noble warrior who is two or more levels lower than
guildhouse, or the like herself. The entourage member should be equipped with
Moves around a lot 1 gear appropriate for its class and level.
Has caused the death of other 2*
The entourage member does not count as a party member
entourage members
when determining their experience points. Entourage
* Cumulative per entourage member killed. members earn experience points as follows:
Requisition Slave Numbers by Level
Score Level
Divide the entourage members
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th level by that of the aristocrat with
1 or lower whom they are associated.
2 1st
Multiply this result by the total
3 2nd
experience points awarded to the
aristocrat and add that number of
4 3rd

experience points to the entourage
5 3rd
members total.
6 4th If an entourage member gains
7 5th
enough experience points to bring
8 5th it to a level one lower than that
of the aristocrat, the entourage
9 6th

member does not gain the new
10 7th
5 level its new experience points
11 7th 6 total is one less than the amount
12 8th
8 needed attain the next level.
13 9th
10 1 Slave Numbers by Level: The aristocrat
14 10 th
15 1 can also requisition up to the indicated
number of slaves of each level. Slaves are
15 10 th
20 2 1 similar to warriors and noble warriors,
16 11 th
25 2 1 except that they are generally low-level
17 12th 30 3 1 1 Non-Player Characters. Because theyre
generally five or more levels lower than
18 12 th
35 3 1 1
the aristocrat they follow, they are rarely
19 13 th
40 4 2 1 1 effective in combat.
20 14 th
50 5 3 2 1
21 15 th
60 6 3 2 1 1 Slaves do not earn experience and thus
dont gain levels. However, when the
22 15th 75 7 4 2 2 1 aristocrat attains a new level, the player
23 16th 90 9 5 3 2 1 consults the table above to determine if
24 17 th
110 11 6 3 2 1 she has acquired more slaves, some of
which may be higher level than the her
25 or higher 17 th
135 13 7 4 2 2
existing entourage.
20
Diplomatic Significance: An aristocrat of 3rd level is
recognised as a person of importance by aristocrats of other
city-states or countries. This is a campaign detail rather
than a game benefit. If the aristocrat is injured, captured
or killed, there will automatically be reprisals. An aristocrat
who has earned diplomatic significance can expect her
household or city-state to look for her if she goes missing,
rescue her if she gets into trouble and bail her out if she
should run into trouble with the law.
Authority: At 4th level, the aristocrat begins to acquire
the steely tone of voice and steady eye that characterises a
person who is used to being obeyed. She benefits from a +2
competence bonus to all Bluff and Presence checks.
Evasive: The aristocrat learns to stay out of the way of
trouble. As she is not a combatant by nature, she has to
make sure that she can survive if combat should find her.
She receives the indicated bonus to all Active Defence
checks.
Native Land: The aristocrat has ties with her native
land that steel her against the magic of foreigners and
the followers of other Gods. As a noble, she has a bond
to the earth that others do not. Aristocrats are ultimately
protectors of their land and their land protects them
in turn. When an aristocrat is on her native soil, she
becomes resistant to the magical effects of those who are
not themselves native to that region. She benefits from
the indicated bonus to saving throws against such effects.
Region is here defined as city-state or home province for flees as fast as they can go away from the source of their
a Greek character. For an Egyptian character, the native
region is extended to all of Egypt.
Aura of Importance: The aristocrat is now self-evidently
a person of power and influence, so much so that lesser
characters find it hard to countenance the idea of harming
her. Any character of lower level than the aristocrat must
succeed at a Will saving throw in order to attack her at all.
If a character fails their saving throw, they cannot summon
up the courage to attack the aristocrat. The DC of the
saving throw is 10 plus the aristocrats level of experience.
The saving throw may be made afresh with each passing
round. Only other human beings are affected by the aura
of importance, animals and undead creatures have no such
compunctions about attacking such individuals and are not
affected by this ability.
Resolute: As the aristocrats power grows, so too does her
confidence. It becomes harder to unseat her by appealing
to the Gods. The most entrenched of aristocrats come
to consider themselves as constant as the northern star,
coming dangerously close to risking the ire of the Gods
with their faith in their own powers. The aristocrat with
this feature gains indicated bonus to Prayer checks made
in concert with spending divine points, whether to oppose
anothers attempt to reduce her own die rolls or to reduce
those of another.
Divine Audience: The aristocrat is a figure of influence in
the mortal world, which makes her very interesting to the
Gods. She may open a direct channel to her deity. So long
characters
as the aristocrat is not in disfavour with her deity, she may
take an automatic result of 20 on a single Prayer check once
per day. If playing a less mythic setting, Games Masters
may prefer to represent this ability by replacing the deity
with the ear of a powerful public figure. Doing so grants
the aristocrat an automatic result of 20 once per day to any
single Presence check.
Voice of Command: The aristocrats inherent authority
strengthens as she gains experience. The competence
bonus she gains to Bluff and Presence checks is now +4.
Majesty: Only those who become kings and queens of
legend gain this ability. The characters aura of importance
has developed to mythic proportions. An aristocrat with
majesty has such presence that lesser characters fear to
approach her, let alone attack him. A character who
attempts to attack the aristocrat and fails their saving throw
may not simply try again next round. Instead, they are
stricken with panic for 1d6 rounds plus the aristocrats
Charisma ability score modifier.
A panicked character drops whatever they are holding and
fear, avoiding obstacles in the way. They can take no other
actions and suffer a 2 penalty on saving throws, skill
checks and ability score checks. If a panicked character is
cornered, they cower and will use the total defence option
if forced to fight.
artificer
The artificers are the inventors of the ancient world, learned
and creative men who create some of the most memorable
and enduring structures of legend. They marry ingenuity
and patient experimentation to create weapons and armour
that are not only beautifully, but specially crafted, balanced
and shaped to suit the requirements of one and only one
user. The most famous of artificers was Dedalus, who built
the labyrinth of Crete for King Minos.
An artificer is essentially a craftsman with a gift for creating
incredible things. It is not so much the quality of his
work as its creativity that is the key to the artificers skill.
Master craftsmen can produce items of astounding beauty
and precision, but only an artificer can make a wondrous
construct or a truly unique bow.
21
 The Articer
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1 st
+0 +0 +0 +2 Artifice, Evasive +1, Make Plans
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3
3 rd
+1 +1 +1 +3
4 th
+2 +1 +1 +4
characters

5 th
+2 +1 +1 +4 Evasive +2
6 th
+3 +2 +2 +5
7 th
+3 +2 +2 +5
8th +4 +2 +2 +6
9 th
+4 +3 +3 +6
10 th
+5 +3 +3 +7 Evasive +3
11 th
+5 +3 +3 +7
12 th
+6/+1 +4 +4 +8
13th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8
14 th
+7/+2 +4 +4 +9
15 th
+7/+2 +5 +5 +9 Evasive +4
16 th
+8/+3 +5 +5 +10
17 th
+8/+3 +5 +5 +10
18 th
+9/+4 +6 +6 +11
19th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11
20 th
+10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Evasive +5

Artificers who can build the more outlandish mechanical
wonders belong entirely in mythic games. Their abilities
rely on the laws of physics operating differently to the
way they work in the real world. No craftsman of history
could genuinely create wings that let a man fly too close
to the sun. An artificer in a historical game would be able
to build marvellous weapons and armour and create such
mechanical wonders as the Archimedes screw or a bronze-
age crane, but would not be able to build bronze men that
walked and talked. The Games Master must be the final
arbiter of what a given artificer in a historical campaign
may build. The best approach is to limit historical artificers
to what logically could have been achieved by a craftsman
at the time. Wings might not be allowable but a primitive
hang-glider could certainly have been designed and built,
as could a very basic diving bell.
Class Skills
The artificers class skills (and the key ability for each
skill) are Craft (any) (Int), Debate (Int), Forgery (Int),
Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Search (Wis) and
Solve Conundrum (Int).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the artificer.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: An artificer is
proficient with the club, dagger and quarterstaff, but not
with any type of armour or shield.

Artificers specialise in the Craft skills, repairing and Evasive: The artificer learns to stay out of the way of
improving armour and weapons as well as making trouble. As he is not a combatant by nature, he has to make
enchanted items and can even create constructs. What the sure that he can survive if combat should find him. He
sage is to Knowledge skills, the artificer is to Craft skills. receives the indicated bonus to all Active Defence checks.

Deity: Usually Hephaestus or Ptah. Artifice: Artifice is the ability whereby these legendary
Hit Die: d6. inventors of the ancient world created their marvels.
You can design plans from which marvellous items and
personalised pieces of equipment can be built. These

22
designs ensure an artificers creations can feasibly be
realised.
Make Plans: If and only if an artificer is literate,
he can prepare plans as he creates a marvellous item or a
mechanical wonder. Having plans to hand means that he
can create a similar item more easily in future. Using plans
gives an artificer a +2 insight bonus into any Craft skill
checks that he might need to make in order to build his
creation. Artificers can also work from each others plans,
so long as they can decipher them; artificers plans are
notoriously abstruse, full of shorthand notes and scrawlings
that only the artificer himself can easily understand,
despite his protestations that it is all perfectly simple. If
the artificer who created the plans is not present to explain
them, a Solve Conundrum skill check at DC 20 is needed
to understand them.
Artificers often live in a state of servitude to monarchs as
resident designers and inventors. They are little more than
prisoners, although they are always well looked after and
characters
treated with respect. These artificers are expected to build
up a stockpile of plans, from which the kingdoms other,
lesser artificers can work. Such plans are important military
secrets and are kept under careful guard. To a monarch of
the ancient world, a talented artificer is a research scientist
who can win wars for him. Famous artificers are therefore
often hesitant to reveal themselves as such, in case they
should be hauled off to do important private work for one
despot or another.
Only another artificer can use an artificers plans. Ordinary
craftsmen simply cannot make the plans work, no matter
how hard they try. They are lacking that essential spark of
creative genius mingled with insanity that allows the artificer
to perform his feats of invention. As artificers are so scarce
and have no means of passing on their insights other than
to each other, there are many incredible inventions of the
ancient world whose secrets are doomed to be lost. This
is, of course, exactly what happened and nobody is quite
certain how some of the engineering marvels of the ancient
world were achieved. This region of historical uncertainty
gives players and Games Masters a good deal of freedom
when artificers are dreaming up their inventions. There is
no reason why an artificer should not invent gunpowder,
the hot air balloon or the submarine centuries before these
discoveries were accessible to the other civilisations of the
world. Such innovations are limited to the lifespan of their
creator and, therefore, will not change the course of human
history.
Bard
Friezes in Greece and Egypt alike depict bards, musicians of
supreme skill roaming freely between the cities and earning
a living from their talents or engaged in service to the
nobility or military. Ancient cultures understood the power
of music on the battlefield and a Greek phalanx would have
an accompanying bard who would sing inspiring songs for
the warriors. Spartans, on the other hand disdained song
but understood the value of percussion, so their bards beat
drums to raise the spirits of their warriors and to keep them
marching in time.
The musicians of the ancient world use music to serve their
Gods. Music not only has magical powers in its own right,
it assists magical activities such as use of the Prayer skill.
Such bards as the legendary Orpheus can play music so
powerful as to lull dragons to sleep.
23
 Bards are the heralds and messengers of the ancient world,
travelling from city to city, bringing with them gossip,
song and the legends of civilisation. Each bard can hold in
his memory many thousands of verses and it needs to be.
The tales of old are always learned by rote and very rarely
written down, as writing is still a comparatively rare skill.
characters
these abilities fall under the category of bardic music and
the descriptions discuss singing or playing instruments,
they can all be activated by reciting poetry, chanting,
singing lyrical songs, singing melodies, whistling, playing
an instrument or playing an instrument in combination
with some spoken performance. Each ability requires both
a minimum bard level and a minimum number of ranks

Deity: Usually Apollo, Dionysus, Bastet or Hathor.
Hit Die: d6.
Class Skills
The bards class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are
Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str),
Craft (Int), Debate (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist
(Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str),
Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex),
Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis),
Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (n/a), Rhetoric
(Cha), Swim (Str) and Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the bard.
in the Perform skill to use. If a bard does not have the
required number of ranks in at least one Perform skill, he
may not use the bardic music ability until he acquires the
needed ranks.
Utilising a bardic music effect is a standard action. Some
bardic music abilities require concentration, which means
the bard must take a standard action each round to
maintain the ability.
Fascinate: A bard with three or more ranks in a Perform
skill can use his music or poems to cause one or more
creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to
be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear
the bard and able to pay attention to him. The bard must
also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby
combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working.
For every three levels a bard attains beyond 1st, he can target
one additional creature with a single use of this ability.

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A bard is proficient To use the ability, a bard makes a Perform check. His
with all simple weapons and one martial weapon of his check result is the DC for each affected creatures Will save
choice. He is not proficient with armour or shields. against the effect. If a creatures saving throw succeeds,
the bard cannot attempt to
Bardic Knowledge: A bard fascinate that creature again
may make a special bardic Bardic Knowledge DCs
for 24 hours. If its saving
knowledge check with a DC Type of Knowledge throw fails, the creature
bonus equal to his bard 10 Common, known by a substantial number sits quietly and listens to
level plus his Intelligence of the populace, such as common and local the song, taking no other
modifier to see whether legends. actions, for as long as the
he can recall some relevant bard continues to play
20 Uncommon but available, known by only a
information about local and concentrate (up to a
few people.
notables, legendary items maximum of one round
or places. If the bard 25 Obscure or hard to come by, known by few.
per bard level). While
has five or more ranks in 30 Extremely obscure, known by very few, fascinated, a target takes a
Knowledge (history), he possibly forgotten by most who once -4 penalty on skill checks
gains a +2 synergy bonus knew it or known only by those who do made as reactions, such as
on this check. not understand the significance of the Listen and Spot checks.
knowledge. Any potential threat
A successful bardic requires the bard to make
knowledge check will not another Perform check and
reveal the powers of a divine item but may give a hint as allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal
to its deity of origin. A bard may not take 10 or take 20 to the new Perform check result.
on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random.
Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon,
Bardic Music: Once per day per bard level, a bard can use casting a spell or aiming a ranged weapon at the target,
his song or poems to reproduce magical effects on those automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is a bewitchment
around him, often including himself, if desired. While (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.

24
The Bard
Base Attack Fort Ref Will
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Bardic music, Bardic Knowledge,
Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1
2nd +1 +0 +3 +3 Song of Devotion +1

characters
3rd +2 +1 +3 +3 Inspire Competence
4th +3 +1 +4 +4
5th +3 +1 +4 +4 Evasive +1
6th +4 +2 +5 +5 Dominate Will
7th +5 +2 +5 +5 Song of Pleading
8th +6/+1 +2 +6 +6 Inspire Courage +2, Song of Devotion +2
9th +6/+1 +3 +6 +6 Inspire Greatness
10th +7/+2 +3 +7 +7 Evasive +2
11th +8/+3 +3 +7 +7
12th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8 Song of Freedom
13th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8
14th +10/+5 +4 +9 +9 Inspire Courage +3, Song of Devotion +3
15th +11/+6/+1 +5 +9 +9 Inspire Heroics, Evasive +3
16th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10
17th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10 Song of Slumber
18th +13/+8/+3 +6 +11 +11 Mass Domination
19th +14/+9/+4 +6 +11 +11
20th +15/+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 Inspire Courage +4, Evasive +4, Song of Devotion +4

Inspire Courage: A bard with three or more ranks in a
Perform skill can use song or poems to inspire courage in
his allies, including himself, bolstering them against fear
and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an
ally must be able to hear the bard sing. The effect lasts
for as long as the ally can hear the bards song and for five
rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +1 morale
bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and
a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At
8th level and every six levels thereafter, this bonus increases
by +1 (+2 at 8th, +3 at 14th and +4 at 20th). Inspire Courage
is a mind-affecting ability.
Song of Devotion: A bard of 2nd level or higher with four or
more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poems
to assist another persons religious observances. To be
affected, an ally must be able to hear the bard sing. The
effect lasts for as long as the bard continues singing. All
Prayer checks made by allies of the bard who can hear him
sing are made at a +1 morale bonus. At 8th level and every
six levels thereafter, this bonus increases by 1 (+2 at 8th, +3
at 14th and +4 at 20th). The Song of Devotion is a mind-
affecting ability.
Inspire Competence: A bard of 3rd level or higher with six or
more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poems to
help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30
feet and able to see and hear the bard. The bard must also
be able to see the ally.
The ally gets a +2 competence bonus on skill checks with
one particular skill, to be determined before any rolls are
made, as long as they can hear the bards music. Certain
uses of this ability are infeasible. The effect lasts as long as
the bard concentrates, up to a maximum of two minutes.
A bard cannot inspire competence in himself. Inspire
Competence is a mind-affecting ability.
Dominate Will: A bard of 6th level or higher with nine or
more ranks in a Perform skill can dominate the will (as
the spell, see pg. 167) of a creature that he has already
fascinated (see above). Using this ability does not break
the bards concentration on the fascinate effect, nor does it
allow a second saving throw against the fascinate effect.
Dominating anothers will does not count against a
bards daily limit on bardic music performances.
25
 A Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 bards level + bards Cha
modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single
creature (but see Mass Domination, below). Dominate Will
is a bewitchment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language
dependent ability.
Song of Pleading: A bard of 7th level or above with 10 or
characters
more ranks in a Perform skill can play his music so as to
move a persons heart and persuade them to grant the bards
request. This is done on such occasions as making an
appeal for mercy on another persons behalf, petitioning a
ruler to let a captive go free or begging a conqueror to show
mercy. The most spectacular use of this class feature was
when Orpheus successfully used his music to persuade grim
26
Hades to let the shade of Euridyce leave the underworld
and have a second chance at life.
The bard makes a Perform skill check to represent his
petition, to which he also adds his Rhetoric skill ranks as a
circumstance bonus. The total is then treated as if it were
the result of a Rhetoric skill check.
Inspire Greatness: A bard of 9th level or higher with 12 or
more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poems to
inspire greatness in himself or a single willing ally within
30 feet, granting them extra fighting capability. For every
three levels a bard attains beyond 9th, he can target one
additional ally with a single use of this ability (two at 12th
level, three at 15th, four at 18th). To inspire greatness, a
bard must sing and an ally must hear his song. The effect
lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for five
rounds thereafter. A creature inspired with greatness gains
(2d10 + the characters Constitution modifier) temporary
hit points, a +2 competence bonus on attack rolls and a +1
competence bonus on Fortitude saves. Inspire Greatness is a
mind-affecting ability.
Song of Freedom: A bard of 12th level or higher with 15 or
more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poems to
free a single creature from the effects of a single magical
effect. The bard must succeed a Perform check the DC of
which is equal to the casting roll of the being who originally
enchanted the target creature. Using this ability requires
one minute of uninterrupted concentration and music
and functions only on a single enchantment placed on a
target within 30 feet. A bard cannot use Song of Freedom
on himself.
Inspire Heroics: A bard of 15th level or higher with 18 or
more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poems to
inspire tremendous heroism in himself or a single willing
ally within 30 feet. For every three bard levels the character
attains beyond 15th, he can inspire heroics in one additional
creature. To inspire heroics, a bard must sing and an ally
must hear the bard sing for a full round. A creature so
inspired gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws and a
+4 dodge bonus to Active Defence. The effect lasts for as
long as the ally hears the bard sing and for up to five rounds
thereafter. Inspire Heroics is a mind-affecting ability.
Song of Slumber: A bard must be of 17th level or higher with
20 or more ranks in a Perform skill to use this ability. The
bard may use soothing music and/or song to lull a creature
to sleep. The creature must first be fascinated by the bards
performance. For every round that the bard continues
playing, the creature must make additional saving throws
against the musics effect. As soon as it fails, it falls into
an enchanted sleep where it remains for as long as the bard
continues to play. The creature automatically wakes 1d4+1
rounds after the music ceases.
Mass Domination: This ability functions as Dominate Will,
above, except that a bard of 18th level or higher with 21 or
more ranks in a Perform skill can simultaneously dominate
the will of any number of creatures that he has already
fascinated (see above). Mass Dominate is a bewitchment
(compulsion), mind-affecting, language-dependent ability.
Evasive: The bard learns to stay out of the way of trouble.
As he is not a combatant by nature, he has to make sure
that he can survive if combat should find him. He receives
the indicated bonus to all Active Defence checks.
courtesan
One of the few roles available to women, the courtesan is
a trained companion to men, whose skills are ostensibly
dedicated to providing men with pleasure and relaxation.
As well as this socially prized function, courtesans are expert
information gatherers, manipulating those less intelligent
than themselves and engaging in intrigue. Courtesans
in the ancient world often took on the role of spies and
tactical seducers. Some may even function as assassins.
The Greek hetaera is an elite courtesan, specially trained
to be expert not only in the amatory practices but also in
the other arts of civilisation. A hetaera is far from being a
mere prostitute; she is more akin to a classical version of
the geisha. In the ancient world, hetaera are exclusively
female and a product of the Greek civilisation, but a Games
Master who wished to broaden the definitions at the
expense of historical accuracy could allow characters with
other backgrounds to take the class.
Deity: Usually Aphrodite or Hecate.
Hit Die: d6.
Class Skills
The Courtesans class skills (and the key ability for each
skill) are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Craft
(Int), Debate (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex),
Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str),
Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex),
Perform (Cha), Presence (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense
Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language
(n/a), Rhetoric (Cha) and Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the courtesan.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A courtesan is
proficient with the club, dagger and quarterstaff, but not
with any type of armour or shield.
Evasive: The courtesan learns to stay out of the way of
trouble. As she is not a combatant by nature, she has to
make sure that she can survive if combat should find her.
She receives a bonus of the degree indicated to all Active
Defence checks.
Exhaust: The courtesan is especially good at wearing
characters
down the physical strength of those with whom she has
intimate relations. This ability is used slyly in order to
weaken people, such as making sure that a person stays
asleep for a long time, sapping the energy of a warrior
before a fight or lowering a persons defences prior to an
assassination attempt. The target of an exhaust effect must
make a Fortitude saving throw after spending private time
with the courtesan (the DC is 10 plus the courtesans level
plus her Dexterity modifier) or become exhausted. If he
successfully saves, he is fatigued. Note that this ability may
only be used if the target is willingly submitting to the
courtesans embraces. It cannot be imposed forcibly. The
courtesan must also make a Fortitude saving throw against
DC 10 or become fatigued herself.
An exhausted character moves at half speed and takes a
6 penalty to Strength and Dexterity; after an hour of
complete rest, he becomes fatigued. A fatigued character
cannot run or charge and takes a penalty of 2 to Strength,
Dexterity and Shield Defence.
Crippling Blow: The courtesans familiarity with tender
spots in the male body allows her to make an unarmed
attack that deals a large amount of non-lethal damage. If
the courtesan makes a successful unarmed attack of which
none of the damage is obstructed by armour or a shield,
then she may add the additional dice of non-lethal damage
shown.
Sneak Attack: If a courtesan can catch an opponent when
he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack,
she can strike a vital spot for extra damage. The courtesans
attack deals extra damage any time her target would be
denied a Dexterity bonus to Active Defence (whether the
target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not) or when the
courtesan flanks her target. Should the courtesan score a
critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not
multiplied. Ranged attacks cannot count as sneak attacks
for courtesans.
Fascinating Dance: A courtesan of 5th level or above has
the power to cause one or more male onlookers to become
fascinated with her, by performing a beguiling dance. Each
person to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see
and hear the courtesan, interested in women in principle,
which not all males are, especially in Classical Greece, and
able to pay attention to her. The courtesan must also
be able to see her targets. The distraction of a nearby
27
 combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working.
The courtesan may target one person per courtesan level.
To use the ability, a courtesan makes a Perform (dance)
check. If the courtesan has five or more ranks in her
Presence Skill she gains a +2 synergy bonus to this check.
Her check result is the DC for each affected persons Will
characters
Extract Information: Courtesans are able to do interesting
things to mens minds as well as their bodies, teasing
their secrets out of them without them even realising. A
courtesan may attempt to extract information that her target
would otherwise have kept secret. To do this, she makes a
Presence check opposed by the targets Sense Motive check
for each piece of information that she is trying to extract.

saving throw against the effect. If an observers saving
throw succeeds, the courtesan cannot attempt to fascinate
that person again for 24 hours. If his saving throw fails,
the creature enthusiastically watches the dance, taking no
other actions other than to cheer and clap, for as long as
the courtesan continues to dance and concentrate, up to
a maximum of one minute per courtesan level. While
fascinated, a target takes a 4 penalty on skill checks made
as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential
threat requires the courtesan to make another Perform or
Presence check and allows the creature a new saving throw
against a DC equal to the new check result.
Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon,
casting a spell or aiming a ranged weapon at the target,
automatically breaks the effect. Fascinating Dance is a
bewitchment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.
Success indicates that the target reveals the information,
thinking that there is no harm in it. Failure means that he
does not reveal the information and becomes suspicious of
the courtesans duplicity. If the target is off guard, such as
in a state of intoxication or dreamy reverie, he makes his
check at a 2 penalty.
Assist Recovery: Courtesans were employed to boost the
spirits of weary soldiers and aid the recovery of those who
have been wounded. A courtesan can help sick or ill people
to hold on to life. The ministrations of a courtesan add a +2
circumstance bonus to any Medicine check made to tend
grievous wounds or help a person recover from disease.
Death Attack: Having had plenty of chances to study men
when they are off their guard, the courtesan now knows
how to kill with a single stroke. If the courtesan studies

The Courtesan
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st
+0 +0 +2 +2 Evasive +1, Exhaust
2nd +1 +0 +3 +3 Crippling Blow +1d4
3rd
+1 +1 +3 +3 Sneak Attack +1d6
4th
+2 +1 +4 +4
5th
+2 +1 +4 +4 Fascinating Dance
6th
+3 +2 +5 +5 Crippling Blow +2d4
7th
+3 +2 +5 +5 Extract Information
8th +4 +2 +6 +6 Evasive +2
9th
+4 +3 +6 +6 Sneak Attack +2d6
10 th
+5 +3 +7 +7 Crippling Blow +3d4
11 th
+5 +3 +7 +7 Assist Recovery
12 th
+6/+1 +4 +8 +8
13 th
+6/+1 +4 +8 +8 Death Attack
14th +7/+2 +4 +9 +9 Crippling Blow +4d4
15 th
+7/+2 +5 +9 +9 Sneak Attack +3d6
16 th
+8/+3 +5 +10 +10 Evasive +3
17 th
+8/+3 +5 +10 +10 Under The Thumb
18 th
+9/+4 +6 +11 +11 Crippling Blow +5d4
19th +9/+4 +6 +11 +11
20 th
+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 Withering Scorn

28

her victim for three rounds and then makes a successful
sneak attack with a melee weapon that deals damage, the
sneak attack has the additional effect of possibly either
paralysing or killing the target; the courtesan chooses
which. While studying her victim, the courtesan may take
other actions (such as flirting or dancing) so long as her
attention stays focused on the target and the target does
not detect or recognise the courtesan as an enemy. If the
victim of such an attack fails his Fortitude saving throw
(DC 10 + the courtesans level + the courtesans Intelligence
modifier) against the fatal version of this death attack, they
die. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis effect, the
victims mind and body become enervated, rendering him
completely helpless and unable to act for 1d6 rounds plus
one round per level of the courtesan class. If the victims
saving throw succeeds, the attack is resolved as a normal
sneak attack. Once the courtesan has completed the three
rounds of study, she must make the death attack within
the next three rounds. If a death attack is attempted and
fails (the victim makes his saving throw) or if the courtesan
characters
does not attempt the attack within the three rounds
of completing the study, the courtesan must start this
manoeuvre again.
Under The Thumb: The courtesan can cause a male to
fall in love with her through guile, mental manipulation
and physical ability. This ability can only be used on a
person who is voluntarily engaging in intimacies with the
courtesan. When the courtesan targets a willing subject
with this ability, they must make a Will saving throw
against a DC equal to 10 plus the courtesans level plus her
Charisma modifier after every visit. Once they have failed
three such saving throws in a row, they fall completely in
love and act accordingly. Only the most irrefutable of
evidence of the courtesans lack of genuine feelings for the
target can change their mind.
Withering Scorn: Courtesans know how to build up
the male ego and they also know how to crush it like an
eggshell. The courtesan may insult a male character as a
standard action. Unless he makes a Will saving throw (DC
equal to 10 plus the courtesans level plus her Charisma
ability modifier) he suffers humiliation and despair, giving
him a 4 morale penalty to all skill checks and saving
throws for 1d10+Charisma modifier days.
egyptian priest
The mysterious priests and priestesses of Egypt learn the
skill of Hekau or Egyptian magic, as well as the rites of
prayer. They are able to produce magical effects, craft
scarabs and engrave tablets with mystic powers, as well as
calling down the wrath or blessing of their Gods. As with
their Greek equivalents, they are affiliated with a particular
temple of their deity.
Egyptian priests are also charged with the onerous
responsibility of embalming the dead and making sure
that their remains are interred with proper ceremony. The
dead must be carefully tended to or the soul (ka) of the
deceased will suffer. In OGL Ancients, this is not merely
a superstitious belief, it is a fact of life. See Death and
Beyond for a description of how these beliefs work in game
terms.
All Egyptian priests begin play with a consecrated image
or symbol of their deity. See the Magic chapter for more
details on these items.
29
 Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.
PRIESTS OF ANHUR also have Ride (Dex) and Presence (Cha)
as class skills.
PRIESTS OF ANUBIS also have Survival (Cha) and Search
(Wis) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF APOPHIS also have Move Silently (Dex) and Hide
characters

(Dex) as class skills.

PRIESTS OF BASTET also have Tumble (Dex) and Perform
(Cha) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF HATHOR also have Presence (Cha) and Perform
(Cha) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF HORUS also have Presence (Cha) and Knowledge
(strategy and tactics) as a class skill.
PRIESTS OF ISIS also have Medicine (Int) and Knowledge
(architecture and engineering) as a class skill.
PRIESTS OF PTAH also have Craft (any) and Knowledge
(architecture and engineering) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF RA also have Presence (Cha) and Rhetoric (Cha)
as class skills.
PRIESTS OF SET also have Survival (Wis) and Sense Motive
(Wis) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF THOTH also have Debate (Int) and Knowledge
(mysteries) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF WEPWAWET also have Survival (Wis) and
Knowledge (nature) as a class skill.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Egyptian
priest.

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: An Egyptian priest is

proficient with the club, dagger and quarterstaff, but not
with any type of armour or shield.

Literate: Egyptian priests receive the Literate feat free

at 1st level. They learn to read and inscribe Egyptian
hieroglyphs.

Request Miracle: An Egyptian priest may use the Prayer

skill to petition his deity for miracles. See the Magic chapter
for more information on this use of the Prayer skill.

Cast Hekau Spell: At 3rd level, the Egyptian priest learns

Deity: Any Egyptian.
Hit Die: d4.
Class Skills
The Egyptian Priests class skills (and the key ability for
each skill) are Concentration (Con), Heal (Wis), Hekau
(Int), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (religion,
Egyptian) (Int), Listen (Wis) and Prayer (Wis).
how to use the skill of hekau to produce magical effects.
See the Magic chapter for details.
Lower Casting Cost: The Egyptian priest gains an
increasing mastery of spellcasting. At 10th level, it costs an
Egyptian priest 25% less than the stated amount to cast any
spell with Prayer. The cost to sustain a spell remains the
same. Only the initial casting becomes easier. When an
Egyptian priest reaches 20th level, the cost to cast any spell
for him is 50% less than the stated amount.

30
The Egyptian Priest
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Request Miracle, Literate
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Cast Hekau Spell

characters
4th +2 +1 +1 +4
5th +2 +1 +1 +4
6th +3 +2 +2 +5
7th +3 +2 +2 +5
8th +4 +2 +2 +6
9th +4 +3 +3 +6
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Lower Casting Cost 25%
11th +5 +3 +3 +7
12th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8
13th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8
14th +7/+2 +4 +4 +9
15th +7/+2 +5 +5 +9
16th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10
17th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10
18th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11
19th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11
20th +10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Lower Casting Cost -50%

greek priest Class Skills

The priest or priestess of any of the Olympian deities
focuses on the use of the Prayer skill, the making of
necessary sacrifices and the interpretation of the will of the
Gods. Such characters are vital for ensuring the success of
a venture, as to offend the Gods is to invite chaos. The
priesthood is essential to ancient Greek society, as the Gods
are believed to watch the deeds of mankind constantly.
The Greek Priests class skills (and the key ability for each
skill) are Concentration (Con), Heal (Wis), Knowledge
(history) (Int), Knowledge (religion, Greek) (Int), Listen
(Wis), Prayer (Wis) and Rhetoric (Cha).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Each priest or priestess is affiliated to a temple. They are PRIESTS OF APHRODITE also have Bluff (Cha) and Presence
expected to take part in rituals of worship, accept sacrifices (Cha) as class skills.
from worshippers and defend the faith from the assaults PRIESTS OF APOLLO also have Climb (Str) and Jump (Str) as
of foreigners or even from those who follow other deities, class skills.
should their interests clash. Travelling priests must make PRIESTS OF ARES also have Knowledge (tactics & strategy)
sure that their deities are properly propitiated when they as a class skill.
need to be. See the Sacrifice section in the Religions and PRIESTS OF ARTEMIS also have Survival (Wis) and Ride
Philosophies chapter for more details. (Dex) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF ATHENA also have Debate (Int) and Sense Motive
All Greek priests begin play with a consecrated image or (Wis) as class skills.
symbol of their deity. See the Magic chapter for more PRIESTS OF ASCLEPIUS and Hera also have Medicine (Int) as
details on these items. a class skill.
PRIESTS OF DEMETER also have Knowledge (nature) (Int) as
Deity: Any Greek. a class skill.
Hit Die: d6. PRIESTS OF HECATE also have Craft (Herbalism) (Int)
and Hide (Dex) as class skills.
31
 PRIESTS OF HEPHAESTUS also have Craft (any) and Knowledge
(architecture and engineering) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF HERMES also have Bluff (Cha) and Disguise
(Cha) as class skills.
PRIESTS OF POSEIDON also have Ride (Dex) and Swim (Str)
as class skills.
PRIESTS OF ZEUS also have Presence (Cha) and Search (Wis)
characters
as class skills.
32
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Greek priest.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A Greek priest is
proficient with the club, dagger and quarterstaff, but not
with any type of armour or shield.
Literate: Greek priests receive the Literate feat free at 1st
level. They learn to read and inscribe their own language.
Request Miracle: A Greek priest may use the Prayer skill
to petition his deity for miracles. See the Magic chapter for
more information on this use of the Prayer skill.
Free Miracle: Upon reaching 4th level, the Greek priest
is allowed to appeal his deity for one free miracle a day.
This miracle does not increase the DC of the next miracle
for which the priest appeals, whether or not it is successful.
Ordinarily, a successful miracle raises the DC of the next
miracle that day by +2 and a failed miracle raises the DC of
the next miracle by +1. A free miracle is, however, subject
to the DC modifier incurred by previous appeals that day.
The Greek priest is entitled to a further free miracle
per day at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th level.
noble warrior
A class only available to those of noble birth, the noble
warrior benefits from courtly training as well as military
discipline. Noble warriors are expected to be heroes in
the truly classic sense. They crave glory on the battlefield,
testing their mettle against worthy foes and spurning those
that they consider to be beneath them. To a noble warrior,
a battle is a blessed chance to seek out an equally famous
enemy and challenge him to single combat. In mythic
battles, such as those recorded in the siege of Troy, the clash
of champions would decide who won the day, rather than
having ranks of warriors fighting with each other. Many
ordinary warriors prefer the heroic ideal of combat, as it
means that there is less wastage of life. The nobles settle the
matter between themselves in single combat and the rank
and file do not need to be committed to the fray.
Noble warriors have the best in armour and equipment
because they can afford to. Coming from a noble
background means that you can invest in a good bronze
corselet and a helm instead of a set of stiff leather bands.
This link between independent wealth and equipment
quality is the main reason why the noble warrior exists as a
character class at all. Aristocrats place nobles into positions
of military responsibility because they have the tools to do
the job, whether they have the skills or not.
The Greek Priest
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st
+0 +0 +2 +2 Literate, Request Miracle
2nd
+1 +0 +3 +3
3rd
+2 +1 +3 +3

characters
4th
+3 +1 +4 +4 Free Miracle
5th
+3 +1 +4 +4
6th +4 +2 +5 +5
7th
+5 +2 +5 +5
8th
+6/+1 +2 +6 +6 Free Miracle
9th
+6/+1 +3 +6 +6
10 th
+7/+2 +3 +7 +7
11 th
+8/+3 +3 +7 +7
12th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8 Free Miracle
13 th
+9/+4 +4 +8 +8
14 th
+10/+5 +4 +9 +9
15 th
+11/+6/+1 +5 +9 +9
16 th
+12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10 Free Miracle
17 th
+12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10
18th +13/+8/+3 +6 +11 +11
19 th
+14/+9/+4 +6 +11 +11
20 th
+15/+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 Free Miracle

The noble warrior is expected to be a leader of men as well
as a fighter. Their background means that noble warriors
have fewer practical skills than ordinary warriors, as they
are accustomed to paying their way rather than roughing it;
consequently, they are not used to fending for themselves.
Examples of noble warriors from history would be Achilles,
Theseus, Agamemnon and Hector.
Deity: Greek: Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Hera, Zeus. Egyptian:
Anhur, Horus, Ra, Wepwawet, Sekhmet, Set, Apophis.
Hit Die: d10.
Class Skills
The noble warriors class skills (and the key ability for each
skill) are Debate (Int), Climb (Str), Handle Animal (Cha),
Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Presence (Cha), Rhetoric (Cha),
Ride (Dex) and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4+Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4+ Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the noble warrior.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A noble warrior is
proficient with all simple weapons, light armour, medium
armour, heavy armour and shields. He is proficient
with one or more martial weapons, as determined by his
background. The weapon specifications for warriors in the
backgrounds above apply equally to noble warriors.
Bonus Feats: At 1st level, a noble warrior gets a bonus
combat-oriented feat. The noble warrior gains an
additional bonus feat at 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th,
16th, 18th and 20th level. These bonus feats must be drawn
from the following list:
Blind-Fight, Cleave, Chariot Combat, Combat Expertise,
Combat Reflexes, Combat Sense, Deflect Projectile, Dodge,
Far Shot, Great Cleave, Greater Weapon Focus, Greater
Weapon Specialisation, Improved Bull Rush, Improved
Critical, Improved Decapitate, Improved Disarm,
Improved Feint, Improved Grapple, Improved Hamstring,
Improved Initiative, Improved Overrun, Improved Precise
Shot, Improved Shield Bash, Improved Trip, Improved
Unarmed Strike, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Mobility,
Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat, Point Blank Shot,
Power Attack, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Rapid Shot,
Ride-By Attack, Shield Another, Shoot on the Run,

33
 The Noble Warrior
Base Attack Shield Defence Fort Ref Will
Level Bonus Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +1 +1 +2 +0 +0 Bonus feat, Officer Rank,
Weapon Focus
2nd +2 +1 +3 +0 +0 Bonus feat
characters

3rd
+3 +1 +3 +1 +1
4th
+4 +2 +4 +1 +1 Bonus feat
5th
+5 +2 +4 +1 +1
6th +6/+1 +2 +5 +2 +2 Bonus feat
7th
+7/+2 +3 +5 +2 +2
8th
+8/+3 +3 +6 +2 +2 Bonus feat
9th
+9/+4 +3 +6 +3 +3
10 th
+10/+5 +4 +7 +3 +3 Bonus feat
11 th
+11/+6/+1 +4 +7 +3 +3
12th +12/+7/+2 +4 +8 +4 +4 Bonus feat
13 th
+13/+8/+3 +5 +8 +4 +4
14 th
+14/+9/+4 +5 +9 +4 +4 Bonus feat
15 th
+15/+10/+5 +5 +9 +5 +5 General Rank
16 th
+16/+11/+6/+1 +6/+1 +10 +5 +5 Bonus feat
17 th
+17/+12/+7/+2 +6/+1 +10 +5 +5
18th +18/+13/+8/+3 +6/+1 +11 +6 +6 Bonus feat
19 th
+19/+14/+9/+4 +7/+2 +11 +6 +6
20 th
+20/+15/+10/+5 +7/+2 +12 +6 +6 Bonus feat

Spirited Charge, Spring Attack, Stunning Fist, Trample,
Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialisation,
Whirlwind Attack.
A noble warrior must still meet all prerequisites for a
bonus feat, including ability score and base attack bonus
minimums.
These bonus feats are in addition to the feats gained through
character advancement. A noble warrior is not limited to
this list of bonus feats when choosing those feats.
Officer Rank: The noble warrior is of officer rank from
1st level onwards. He is entitled to command a group
of warriors on behalf of his family, city-state or ultimate
overlord. At 1st level, the noble warrior commands a
retinue of five 1st level warriors. The Games Master shares
limited control of these warriors as Non-Player Characters
with the player. At 5th level, his retinue is increased to ten
1st level warriors. These warriors advance in level as the
noble warrior does, gaining one experience level for every
three levels gained by the character. So, at 11th level, the
noble warrior commands ten 3rd level warriors.
Although these warriors are available to the noble warrior,
they are not automatically present wherever he is. If
he takes them away from their home region, they must
be provided for. If the warriors are killed, they are not
automatically replaced. The noble warrior must return to
his home in order to be issued with more.
The noble warrior must provide the basic provisions and
equipment for his subordinates out of his own pocket. He
is allowed to name their unit and decide which formation
feats they have. An example of such a unit from the myths
is the Myrmidon retinue of Achilles.
Weapon Focus: All noble warriors have a culturally
preferred weapon. At first level, any noble warrior
character gains the Weapon Focus feat as a bonus feat, with
the weapon determined by his background. The weapon
specifications for warriors in the backgrounds above apply
equally to noble warriors.
General Rank: The noble warrior is entitled to command
an army in service to his city-state or overlord. The size
of the army is left to the Games Master to determine,

34

dependent upon the campaign background. As a rule of
thumb, assume that the noble warrior can call upon five
hundred 1st level warriors in the course of his duties.
sage
The sage is a walking encyclopaedia, a one-man library of
the ancient world. He is well-travelled and has studied in
many halls of learning. Aristocrats and noble warriors,
who want to make sure that their actions are backed up
by the best information available, turn to sages as advisors.
Young or inexperienced sages are almost always scribes
characters
by profession; they are automatically literate and this is
the easiest way to earn a living. It is in fact their early
acquisition of literacy that allows the sage to develop such a
broad base of knowledge.
A sage receives more skill points than any other class. Sages
may also gain ranks in the Witchcraft and Hekau skills, as
cross-class skills.
Deity: Usually Zeus, Hermes or Thoth.
Hit Die: d4.
Class Skills
The sages class skills (and the key ability for each skill)
are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Debate (Int),
Forgery (Int), Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Prayer
(Wis), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Rhetoric (Cha),
Solve Conundrum (Int) and Swim (Str).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (8 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 8 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the sage.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A sage is proficient
with the club, dagger and quarterstaff, but not with any
type of armour or shield.
Evasive: The artificer learns to stay out of the way of
trouble. As he is not a combatant by nature, he has to make
sure that he can survive if combat should find him. He
receives the indicated bonus to all Active Defence checks.
Literate: The sage gains the Literacy feat free at 1st level.
Profound Knowledge: The sage receives a +2 competence
bonus on all Knowledge skill checks.
Sages Knowledge: The sages studies give him a similar
broad, general knowledge to that which the bard has. A
sage may make a special sages knowledge check with a
bonus equal to his sage level plus his Intelligence modifier
to see whether he can recall some relevant information
about local notables, legendary items or places. If the sage
has five or more ranks in any one Knowledge skill, he
gains a +2 synergy bonus on this check.
35
 The Sage
Base Attack Fort Ref Will
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st
+0 +0 +2 +2 Evasive +1, Literate, Profound Knowledge
2nd
+1 +0 +3 +3
3rd
+1 +1 +3 +3 Sages Knowledge
characters

4th
+2 +1 +4 +4 Secret Lore
5th +2 +1 +4 +4 Bonus Feat
6th
+3 +2 +5 +5 Evasive +2
7th
+3 +2 +5 +5
8th
+4 +2 +6 +6 Secret Lore
9th
+4 +3 +6 +6
10 th
+5 +3 +7 +7 Bonus Feat
11th +5 +3 +7 +7
12 th
+6/+1 +4 +8 +8 Evasive +3, Secret Lore
13 th
+6/+1 +4 +8 +8
14 th
+7/+2 +4 +9 +9
15 th
+7/+2 +5 +9 +9 Bonus Feat
16 th
+8/+3 +5 +10 +10 Secret Lore
17th +8/+3 +5 +10 +10
18 th
+9/+4 +6 +11 +11 Evasive +4
19 th
+9/+4 +6 +11 +11
20 th
+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 Bonus Feat, Secret Lore

A successful sages knowledge check will not reveal the Secrets of Inner Strength: The seer gains a +2 bonus to all
powers of a divine item but may give a hint as to its deity Will saves.
of origin. A sage may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; Weapon Trick: The seer gains a +1 bonus to their Base
this sort of knowledge is essentially random. Attack Bonus.

Secret Lore: At 4th level and every four levels thereafter (8th, Bonus Feats: At 5th level, a sage gets a bonus feat in addition
12th, 16th and 20th), the sage chooses one piece of secret lore to the feats gained by normal character progression. The
from the table below. Sages may not choose the same secret sage gains an additional bonus feat at 5th level and every
lore twice.

Applicable Knowledge: The seer may select one additional Sages Knowledge DCs
feat. This may be selected from any of the feats listed in the DC Type of Knowledge
Feats chapter. The seer must meet all of the prerequisites
10 Common, known by a substantial number
for the selected feat as normal.
of the populace, such as common and local
Dodge Trick: The seer gains a +1 competence bonus to their
legends.
Active Defence checks.
The Lore of True Stamina: The seer gains a +2 bonus to all 20 Uncommon but available, known by only a
Fortitude saves. few people.
Secret Knowledge of Avoidance: The seer gains a +2 bonus 25 Obscure or hard to come by, known by few.
all Reflex saves. 30 Extremely obscure, known by very few,
Mastery: The seer gains four ranks in one skill in which they possibly forgotten by most who once
currently have no ranks. knew it or known only by those who do
Secret Health: The seer gains an additional three hit not understand the significance of the
points. knowledge.

36

five levels thereafter (10th, 15th and 20th). These bonus feats
must be drawn from the following list;
Alertness, Animal Affinity, Diligent, Investigator, Meditate,
Negotiator, Keen Mind, Self-Sufficient and Skill Focus.
A sage must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat.
seer
The seer specialises in augury, prediction and divination.
He has a magical connection with the world around him
that becomes stronger with each passing year. At an early
age, the seer learns the art of soothsaying and is able to
interpret the will of the Gods by reading their signs and
omens. As he ages, he begins to understand the languages
of wild creatures and wield enough power to pronounce a
doom upon a person or place.
The seer is able to influence another persons destiny by
foretelling it. If a seer foretells a grim event or happening
to another person, then that is the equivalent of a curse
of sorts; although the seer interprets only what the fates
already have in store for a person. Players are encouraged
to decide and roleplay the exact nature of the destiny their
character foresees for others.
Deity: Any.
Hit Die: d4.
Class Skills
The seers class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are
Debate (Int), Forgery (Int), Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen
(Wis), Prayer (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis) and Rhetoric
characters
(Cha).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the seer.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A seer is proficient
with the club, dagger and quarterstaff, but not with any
type of armour or shield.
Interpret Divine Will: The seer receives the Interpret
Divine Will feat free as a bonus feat. He does not need to
have the usual prerequisites.
Evasive: The seers connection to the divine and limited
ability to foretell the future makes it much more easy
for him to avoid blows. He gains a bonus of the degree
indicated to his Active Defence checks.
Personal Reading: The soothsayer may prepare a personal
forecast for a character. With a successful Intelligence
check (DC 10) he may assign one day in the next seven as
auspicious and one other as inauspicious. He must make
each assignation (the foul and the fair) and may not pick
only one day. On the auspicious day, the player in question
receives a +1 morale bonus to all attack rolls, saving throws
and checks; on the inauspicious day, he receives a 1
morale penalty to the same rolls. This reading may only be
undertaken with the consent of the character in question.
Tongues Ability: At the levels indicated, the seer gains
a new tongues ability as listed below. These may be
taken in any order. Abilities that allow communication
with creatures that are other than human must take into
account the Intelligence of the creature. An animal does
not become more intelligent just because you are able to
speak to it.
Tongues of all men: The seer is gifted with the magical
power to make sense of anything that anyone ever says
to him, such is the depth of his comprehension. He can
understand and speak any human language. He may not,
however, read or write it unless he has the Literate feat.
Tongues of the beasts: The seer may understand and
communicate with any animal or mythical beast.
37
 Tongues of the seas: The seer may understand and
communicate with any ocean or water-dwelling creature,
such as a fish or dolphin.
Tongues of the birds: The seer may understand and
communicate with any avian creature.
Tongues of the trees: The seer may understand and
communicate with any living plant larger than a bush.
characters

Pronounce Doom: The seer may use his divinatory

readings to spell doom for a target. Once per day, he may
make a pronouncement of doom upon a given person or
group of people, conditional upon a given date or event
that is not currently occurring. For example, he might
pronounce doom upon an aristocrat on a certain day in
March or pronounce doom upon a warrior if he should face
a man wearing only one sandal. (You may not pronounce
doom upon the same target more than once in a month.)
This requires a successful Rhetoric check. The DC of the
check depends upon the size of the group, for which see
the table below. A person upon whom doom has been
pronounced automatically receives a result of 1 for their
first Active Defence check or saving throw when the date
or event comes to pass. They cannot spend divine points
to alter this result.

Group Size Rhetoric Check DC

One person 10
2-5 people 15
6-20 people 20
21-40 people 25
40-100 people 30
Army 35
City 40

Cast Augury: The seer can divine what the fates have in
store. Each augury takes half an hour of work. An augury
can tell the seer whether a particular action will bring good
or bad results for them in the immediate future. The base
chance for receiving a meaningful reply is 70% + 1% per
seer level, to a maximum of 90%; this roll is made secretly
by the Games Master. A question may be so straightforward
that a successful result is automatic or so vague as to have
no chance of success. If the augury succeeds, the seer may
one of four results:
Weal (if the action will probably bring good
results).
Woe (if the action will probably bring bad results).
Weal and woe (if the action will probably bring
both).
If the augury fails, result is nothing. A seer who divines
nothing has no way to tell if their augury was successful
or not.
The augury can see into the future only about half an hour,
so anything that might happen after that does not affect
the result. Thus, the result might not take into account
the long-term consequences of a contemplated action. All
auguries produced by the same person about the same topic
use the same dice result as the first casting.
Avoid Calamity: The seer is aware of hazardous events
before they happen. Once per day, he may add a +10
divine bonus to any Active Defence check or saving throw.

Nothing (if the action will not have especially good Auspicious Event: The seer may, in studying a proposed
or bad results). undertaking, such as an invasion, a wedding or a festival,
38
The Seer
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st
+0 +2 +2 +2 Interpret Divine Will, Evasive +1
2nd
+1 +3 +3 +3 Personal Reading
3rd
+1 +3 +3 +3 Evasive +2

characters
4th
+2 +4 +4 +4 Tongues Ability
5th +2 +4 +4 +4 Pronounce Doom
6th
+3 +5 +5 +5 Evasive +3
7th
+3 +5 +5 +5 Cast Augury
8th
+4 +6 +6 +6 Tongues Ability
9th
+4 +6 +6 +6 Evasive +4
10 th
+5 +7 +7 +7 Avoid Calamity
11th +5 +7 +7 +7
12th +6/+1 +8 +8 +8 Evasive +5, Tongues Ability
13 th
+6/+1 +8 +8 +8
14 th
+7/+2 +9 +9 +9 Auspicious Event
15 th
+7/+2 +9 +9 +9 Evasive +6
16 th
+8/+3 +10 +10 +10 Tongues Ability
17th +8/+3 +10 +10 +10
18th +9/+4 +11 +11 +11 Evasive +7
19 th
+9/+4 +11 +11 +11 Prophecy
20 th
+10/+5 +12 +12 +12 Tongues Ability

determine the most and least favourable times on which to
commence it. (The Games Master should determine these
dates randomly.) A successful Intelligence check (DC 15)
is required to use this ability; failure wastes a days work
and the check may not be undertaken again for a week.
Any person engaged in the undertaking who is aware of the
seers proclamation receives either a +1 morale bonus to all
attacks, checks and saving throws or a 1 morale penalty to
the same, depending on whether the date is auspicious or
inauspicious for them.
of the offices of thief and assassin. A thief is one who can
be trusted to be untrustworthy. Many thieves are little
better than hired thugs and most thieves will happily put
their conscience to one side in return for hard cash.
In Egypt, thieves are likely to be tomb robbers. There is a
fortune to be made plundering royal tombs and stripping
their occupants of their grave-goods. This is of course a
capital crime in Ancient Egyptian society, punishable by
death.

Prophecy: At 19th level, the seer receives the Prophecy feat Deity: Usually Hermes, Hecate, Apophis or Set.
free as a bonus feat. Hit Die: d6.

thief
A class that is not available to noble characters, the lowly
thief lives by his wits. He makes a living stealing what he
can. Advanced thieves can become highly prosperous,
acquiring the status of robber kings in their home region.
Undesirable as they are, thieves do have their place.
Generals of armies employ thieves as scouts. Sometimes,
a thief will be commissioned by a rich patron to steal an
item for him. It is quite common for thieves to be hired as
assassins, too. In the ancient world, there is no separation
Class Skills
The thief s class skills (and the key ability for each skill)
are Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int),
Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather
Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge
(any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform
(Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of
Hand (Dex), Rhetoric (Cha), Swim (Str) and Tumble
(Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier.
39
 The Thief
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Evasive +1, Sneak Attack +1d6
2nd
+1 +0 +3 +3
3rd
+1 +1 +3 +3 Backstab +2
characters

4th
+2 +1 +4 +4 Sneak Attack +2d6
5th
+2 +1 +4 +4 Evasive +2
6th +3 +2 +5 +5 Backstab +4
7th
+3 +2 +5 +5
8th
+4 +2 +6 +6 Sneak Attack +3d6
9th
+4 +3 +6 +6 Backstab +6
10 th
+5 +3 +7 +7 Evasive +3
11 th
+5 +3 +7 +7
12th +6/+1 +4 +8 +8 Backstab +8, Sneak Attack +4d6
13 th
+6/+1 +4 +8 +8
14 th
+7/+2 +4 +9 +9
15 th
+7/+2 +5 +9 +9 Backstab +10, Evasive +4
16 th
+8/+3 +5 +10 +10 Sneak Attack +5d6
17 th
+8/+3 +5 +10 +10
18th +9/+4 +6 +11 +11 Backstab +12
19 th
+9/+4 +6 +11 +11
20 th
+10/+5 +6 +12 +12 Evasive +5, Sneak Attack +6d6

Class Features (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or

All of the following are class features of the thief.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A thief is
proficient with the club, dagger, quarterstaff
and one martial weapon of his choice and
with light armour. He is not proficient
with heavier armour or with shields.
Evasive: The thief learns to stay out of the
way of trouble. As he is not a combatant
by nature, he has to make sure that he can
survive if combat should find him. He
receives a bonus of the degree indicated
to all Active Defence checks.
Sneak Attack: If a thief can catch an
opponent when he is unable to defend
himself effectively from his attack,
he can strike a vital spot for extra
damage. The thief s attack deals
extra damage any time his target
would be denied a Dexterity
bonus to Active Defence
not) or when the thief flanks his target. Should the
thief score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra
damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can be
made as sneak attacks within a range of 30 feet.
Backstab: A thief can attempt to place a blow
so that it lands on a part of the opponents
body that is not covered by armour. A thief
may take a full-round action to make a single
attack against an opponent, which must be
made with a small melee weapon that does
piercing damage. If the attack hits, the
DC of the coverage check that the target
makes for his armour is increased by the
factor indicated. A backstab may be
combined with the bonuses of a sneak
attack.

40
 warrior of their kind; while noble warriors fight alone. The noble
warrior really represents a much older style of combat,
Warriors are the staple members of the armies of the ancient
in which the clash of two champions would decide the
world. More than just armed commoners, they have had
day. The ordinary warrior sets the example for what is to
military training. Unlike the noble warrior, however, the
come, for a historical era in which ranks of fighting men
ordinary warrior has had no special privileges and has
would eclipse the old heroic standard, leading ultimately
made his way in the world through bravery, ferocity and
to the Roman legions and their domination of much of
dedication to his fighting prowess. Such famous figures

as the Greek Hoplite or the Egyptian chariot archer are
examples of these warriors. A warrior makes his living
by fighting when there is fighting to be done, either as a
mercenary or as a member of a household guard. Some
warriors have a second career that they pursue in peacetime,
such as basket weaving or brewing, only donning their
armour and taking up their spear when the call to arms is
sounded.
The crucial difference between the warrior and the noble
warrior is that the warrior fights in groups, relying on
formation tactics, while the noble warrior engages in single
combat with other socially elevated opponents. Warriors
are most effective when fighting side by side with others
characters
the world.
A warrior can rise through the ranks, acquiring prestige,
renown and authority. This can make him the equal in
rank (though not in social class) of a noble warrior. It is not
unknown for a warrior of humble origins to sit side by side
with a noble warrior, both of them generals, discussing the
plan of battle. In the siege of Megiddo led by the Pharaoh
Tuthmosis, one of his generals was born to the nobility
while another was of common stock, yet both were treated
with equal respect.
Deity: Greek: Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Zeus. Egyptian:
Anhur, Horus, Ra, Wepwawet, Sekhmet, Set.
Hit Die: d12.

The Warrior
Base Attack Shield Defence Fort Ref Will
Level Bonus Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st
+1 +1 +2 +2 +0 Weapon Focus, Formation
Feat
2nd +2 +1 +3 +3 +0
3rd
+3 +1 +3 +3 +1
4th
+4 +2 +4 +4 +1 Bonus Feat
5th
+5 +2 +4 +4 +1 Formation Feat
6th +6/+1 +2 +5 +5 +2
7th +7/+2 +3 +5 +5 +2
8th
+8/+3 +3 +6 +6 +2 Bonus Feat
9th
+9/+4 +3 +6 +6 +3
10 th
+10/+5 +4 +7 +7 +3 Formation Feat, Officer Rank
11th +11/+6/+1 +4 +7 +7 +3
12th +12/+7/+2 +4 +8 +8 +4 Bonus Feat
13 th
+13/+8/+3 +5 +8 +8 +4
14 th
+14/+9/+4 +5 +9 +9 +4
15 th
+15/+10/+5 +5 +9 +9 +5 Formation Feat
16 th
+16/+11/+6/+1 +6/+1 +10 +10 +5 Bonus Feat
17th +17/+12/+7/+2 +6/+1 +10 +10 +5
18th +18/+13/+8/+3 +6/+1 +11 +11 +6
19 th
+19/+14/+9/+4 +7/+2 +11 +11 +6
20 th
+20/+15/+10/+5 +7/+2 +12 +12 +6 Bonus Feat, Formation Feat,
General Rank

41

characters
Class Skills
The warriors class skills (and the key ability for each skill)
are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Jump
(Str), Listen (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis),
Swim (Str) and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.
42
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the warrior.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A warrior is proficient
with all simple weapons, light armour, medium armour
and shields. He is proficient with one or more martial
weapons, as determined by his background.
Weapon Focus: All warriors have a culturally preferred
weapon. At 1st level, any warrior character gains the
Weapon Focus feat as a bonus feat, with the weapon
determined by his background.
Bonus Feats: At 4th level, a warrior gets a bonus combat-
oriented feat. The warrior gains an additional bonus feat
at 8th level, 12h level, 16th level and 20th level. These bonus
feats must be drawn from the following list;
Armour Proficiency (Heavy), Blind-Fight, Cleave, Chariot
Combat, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Combat
Sense, Deflect Projectile, Dodge, Far Shot, Great Cleave,
Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialisation,
Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical, Improved
Decapitate, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved
Grapple, Improved Hamstring, Improved Initiative,
Improved Overrun, Improved Precise Shot, Improved
Shield Bash, Improved Trip, Improved Unarmed Strike,
Martial Weapon Proficiency, Mobility, Mounted Archery,
Mounted Combat, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack,
Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Rapid Shot, Ride-By Attack,
Shield Another, Shoot on the Run, Spirited Charge, Spring
Attack, Stunning Fist, Trample, Weapon Finesse, Weapon
Focus, Weapon Specialisation, Whirlwind Attack.
A warrior must still meet all prerequisites for a bonus feat,
including ability score and base attack bonus minimums.
These bonus feats are in addition to the feats gained
through character advancement. A warrior is not limited
to this list of bonus feats when choosing those feats.
Formation Feat: At the levels indicated, the warrior
gains a formation feat. This reflects the additional
expertise he has gained from fighting alongside
other warriors with similar training to himself.
Groups of warriors with the same formation feat can fight
much more effectively than single heroes. For formation
feats, see the Feats chapter.
Officer Rank: The warrior is of officer rank from 10th
level onwards. He is entitled to command a group of
warriors on behalf of his family, city-state or ultimate
overlord. At 10th level, the warrior commands a retinue
of ten 3rd level warriors. The Games Master shares control
of these warriors as Non-Player Characters with the player.
These warriors advance in level as the warrior does, gaining
one experience level for every three levels gained by the
character. So, at 16th level, the warrior commands ten 5th
level warriors.
Although these warriors are available to the warrior, they are
not automatically present wherever he is. If he takes them
as Medea and Circe, who have power to transform men
into pigs or create ointments that turn aside sharp blades,
represent the heights of what may be attained by these dark
devotees. Such women are, however, obliged to be ruthless
and uncompromising. They are not always actively evil,
even if such a term could be applied to them, though they
are merciless. For example, when she was helping Jason

away from their home region, they must be provided for. If
the warriors are killed, they are not automatically replaced.
The warrior must return to his command headquarters in
order to be issued with more.
General Rank: The warrior is entitled to command an
army in service to his city-state or overlord. The size of the
army is left to the Games Master to determine, dependent
upon the campaign background. As a rule of thumb,
assume that the warrior can call upon five hundred 1st level
warriors in the course of his duties.
characters
escape aboard the Argo, Medea slashed her brother into
pieces and threw the bits overboard in order to delay her
royal father, who stopped to gather the fragments up so that
he could be properly buried. This should be a good guide
for anyone thinking of playing a witch.
The witch depicted here is very much the Greek version.
Witches could be allowed from other cultures, such as the
Persian Empire; such a witch would be more akin to those
depicted in the Sinbad tales. The template below may,
however, be used as the basis for other types of witch.

Witch All Greek witches are members of an secretive sisterhood.

A class that is only available to women (unless the Games
Master specifically allows exceptions), the witch deals solely
with the darker energies. Unwelcome in civilised places, she
uses her powers to befuddle the wits, to bewitch the senses
and to transform the very shape of creatures. Witches such
They are honour-bound to help one another and defend
the secrets of their organisation. Any witch who betrays
a sister will be tracked down and slain by her vengeful
colleagues.

The Witch
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st
+0 +0 +0 +2 Evasive +1, Witchcraft
2nd
+1 +0 +0 +3
3rd
+1 +1 +1 +3 Use Witches Herbs
4th
+2 +1 +1 +4 Evasive +2
5th +2 +1 +1 +4
6th +3 +2 +2 +5
7th
+3 +2 +2 +5
8th
+4 +2 +2 +6 Evasive +3
9th
+4 +3 +3 +6
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Lower Casting Cost -25%
11 th
+5 +3 +3 +7
12 th
+6/+1 +4 +4 +8 Evasive +4
13 th
+6/+1 +4 +4 +8
14 th
+7/+2 +4 +4 +9
15 th
+7/+2 +5 +5 +9
16th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 Evasive +5
17 th
+8/+3 +5 +5 +10
18 th
+9/+4 +6 +6 +11
19 th
+9/+4 +6 +6 +11
20 th
+10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Lower Casting Cost -50%, Evasive +6

43
 Deity: Any female or Dionysus. Witches frequently Class Features
favour Hecate. Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A witch is proficient
Hit Die: d4. with the club, dagger and quarterstaff, but not with any
type of armour or shield.
Class Skills
The witchs class skills (and the key ability for each skill) Evasive: The witch learns to stay out of the way of trouble.
are Bluff (Cha), Craft (any) (Int), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), As she is not a combatant by nature, she has to make sure
characters

Knowledge (any) (Int), Listen (Wis), Presence (Cha), that she can survive if combat should find her. She receives
Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Swim (Str) and a bonus of the degree indicated to all Active Defence
Witchcraft (Cha). checks.

Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x 4. Witchcraft: At 1st level, the witch learns how to use the
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier. skill of witchcraft to produce magical effects. See the
Magic chapter for details.

Use Witches Herbs: The witch gains the ability to

employ special herbs in her casting. These are detailed in
the Equipment chapter. Casting spells with herbs allows
the witch to draw upon the potency of the herbs instead of
using up her own hit points.

Lower Casting Cost: The witch gains an increasing

mastery of spellcasting. At 10th level, it costs a witch
25% less than the stated amount to cast any spell with
Witchcraft. The cost to sustain a spell remains the same.
Only the initial casting becomes easier. When a witch
reaches 20th level, the cost to cast any spell for her is 50%
less than the stated amount.

character
advancement
As characters in OGL Ancients have adventures, go on
quests and overcome foes, they gain experience. This
new experience translates into advancement in character
level. There are five recommended ways to determine level
advancement. Players can start at whatever level the Games
Master deems appropriate for the campaign.

Advancement by Experience Points

Experience for advancing in level rests in the hands of
the Games Master. There are no hard and fast rules for
awarding experience in OGL Ancients, however, typical
characters should gain experience quite slowly. Gaining
between 400 and 600 experience points per four to eight
hour game session is reasonable. Particularly combat-
intensive sessions, multiple conundrums, intrigues and
mysteries uncovered and survived in a session and the
conclusion of a story arc should all reward the characters
with increased experience for their successful endeavours.

Advancement by Game Session

This is the easiest of the options to use. Characters below
10th level advance one level after every five game sessions,
while characters above 10th level advance after every ten
44
 game sessions. This progress takes no account of the
relative contribution made by each character to the groups
goals but has the advantage of being simple to calculate.
Advancement by Legend
This method calls for a good deal of work on the part of
the players but is the closest akin to the ancient system
of renown. After every game session, the player records
notable and only the notable activities of their
character. Once the characters notable activities cover as
many pages as his current experience level, he gains a new
level of experience. So, a 6th level character would have to
fill six pages with their heroic deeds and recent adventures
in order to advance to 7th level. A character may never
go up more than one level at a time by this method. If
this method is used, the style should be one of report
rather than narrative and extensive dialogue should not be
counted towards the final page count.
Advancement by Games Master Fiat
In this method, the Games Master awards levels of
experience as and when they see fit. The Games Masters
decision determines who advances and who does not.
Judgement can therefore be exercised as to who has engaged
with the various challenges the most and who has made the
most significant contributions to the game sessions. If
you are using this system, it is legitimate to make level
advancement one of the stated rewards for achieving a set
goal, such as fulfilling a quest. If the players know that
a new level awaits them if they succeed, then they have
something definite to work towards.
Advancement by Deity
This method places level advancement in the hands of the
characters deity, as played by the Games Master. The deity
allows level advancement as they see fit. This is very similar
to the Advancement By Games Master Fiat method, with
the exception that the characters deity sets the conditions
for advancement. This means that the conditions of level
gain need not be the same for all players. Every character
can have their own private agenda as set by their deity,
fulfilment of which will result in the gaining of a new
level. This is one of the better options to use if the players
are interested in high levels of character interaction and
roleplaying and are comfortable in a situation in which
everyone has a different set of objectives.
multiclassing
Multiclassing is very unusual in OGL Ancients. In general,
a character can have levels in as many different classes as he
likes, though it is rare for characters of the ancient world to
have more than one class, having more is rarer still.
Most of the legendary characters of the ancient world, while
being distinctly individual, are easy to box into a single one
of the classes listed here, so multiclassing is uncommon for
a great many characters as they develop.
Each time a multiclass character attains a new level, he either
increases one of his current class levels by one or picks up a
new class at 1st level. When a multiclass character increases
one of his class levels by one, he gains all the standard
characters
benefits that characters receive for attaining the new level
in that class: more hit points, possible bonuses on attack
rolls, Defence and saving throws (depending on the class
and the new level), a new class feature (as defined by the
class) and new skill points. Other level-dependent bonuses
are also accrued normally. A character advancing from 5th
to 6th level will gain a bonus feat regardless of which class
he advances in.
Skill points are spent according to the class that the
multiclass character has just advanced in (see the individual
class descriptions for skill points per level). Skills are
purchased at the cost appropriate for the class level that
grants them to the character.
How Multiclassing Works
Ixion, a 4th level Aristocrat, is required by an impending
invasion to expand his repertoire by improving some of his
combat abilities. When Ixion accumulates 10,000 XP, he
becomes a 5th level character. Instead of becoming a 5th
level Aristocrat, however, he decides to become a 4th level
Aristocrat/1st level Noble Warrior.
Now, instead of gaining the benefits of a new level of
Aristocrat, he gains the benefits of becoming a 1st level
Noble Warrior. He gains hit points from a 1st level Noble
Warriors Hit Die (d10 plus his Constitution modifier),
+1 bonus to their attacks, +1 bonus to Shield Defence, +2
Fortitude save bonus, the Noble Warriors Officer Rank,
Bonus Feat and Weapon Focus and their skill points (4 +
his Intelligence modifier). When purchasing skills for this
new level, Ixion uses the Noble Warriors class skill list to
determine whether a skill point buys 1 rank or .5 rank. If
he wants to add ranks to one of the Aristocrats class skills,
that skill is considered cross-class for him at this level.
The benefits described above are added to the scores Ixion
already had as a Aristocrat. Will and Reflex save bonus do
not increase because these numbers are +0 for a first level
Noble Warrior. He does not gain any of the benefits a 5th
level Aristocrat gains. He could spend some of his new
skill points to improve his Aristocrat class skills, but some
of them (such as Bluff ) would be treated as cross-class skills
for this purpose these skill points would each buy only .5
rank. He also gains a Bonus feat chosen from the Noble
Warrior class list.
Upon accumulating 15,000 XP, Ixion becomes a 6th
level character. Having found glory and renown
45
 in the recent battles to turn back the invaders to continue
the path of the Noble Warrior, so he increases his Noble
Warrior level once more instead of increasing his Aristocrat
level or picking up a level in a third class. Again he gains
the Noble Warriors benefits for attaining a new level rather
than the Aristocrats. At this point, Ixion is a 6th level
character: a 4th level Aristocrat/2nd level Noble Warrior.
characters
When dealing with those who know them, a character is
entitled to their full Reputation rating automatically. In
order to use this Reputation rating when dealing with
those who do not have cause or reason to know them,
the character must wear, wield or have with them some
tangible proof of their wealth. A minimum amount of
wealth (Reputation bonus x100 sd) must be worn for

a character to benefit from their full Reputation bonus

At each new level he attains, Ixion must decide whether to when dealing with strangers. If they are only wearing, or
increase his Aristocrat level or his Noble Warrior level. Of otherwise displaying, enough to earn them a lesser bonus,
course, if he wants to have even more diverse abilities, he then that is all they gain, rather than the full one. It does
could acquire an additional class. not matter if they are a king in their own country; if they
arrive shipwrecked on a foreign shore with none of their
finery or slaves with them, no one will have cause to believe
moral conduct their outlandish claims. The most powerful figures in the
Characters select a patron deity, who then defines his moral ancient world make sure they received foreign guests in
conduct. For example, followers of Horus are obliged to be audience chambers that displayed their wealth, so that they
heroic, fearless and stalwart, while followers of Set may be benefit from their full Reputation bonus.
as treacherous as they please. A character who acts in a way
that his deity finds offensive will find himself punished by The principal advantage of Reputation for a hero of the
that deity; if he pleases his deity, he will attract the enmity mythic era is that they may use it to augment their Presence
of that deitys foes. There are no abstract morals involved. checks, especially when intimidating foes on the battlefield.
A character simply picks a God and acts accordingly. The richer and more resplendent a characters armour and
shield are, the more Reputation they can draw upon.
A character may choose to reject all of the Gods. If he does For this reason, heroes strive to gain as much precious
so, he is not eligible for divine feats (see the Feats chapter) equipment and wearable wealth as they can. A character
nor may he spend divine points or use the Prayer skill. He must have their wealth with them in a form that is clearly
is, however, just as likely to encounter divine interference as designed to be demonstrative of their status. They cannot
a character who accepts one of the Gods as a patron. carry a statue of themselves around and expect to be taken
seriously, but if they were to wear a mask of pure gold, then
reputation that is another matter altogether.
Reputation is a measure of how well known a character is
The other way to for a character benefit from their wealth
and how significant they are in the ancient world. It is
when interacting with strangers is to have it accompany
based on how much that person owns. Renown gained
them directly; wives, daughters and slaves all count as
from heroic deeds is already covered
wealth. Unpleasant though this might
by a characters level of experience and
Reputation from Wealth be to a modern audience, it was a fact
the skill points invested in such skills
of the heroic age. The Trojan War was
as Rhetoric and Presence. Only goods Total Wealth Reputation fought over a stolen wife.
acquired from heroic activity count
500 1
towards a heros Reputation rating, a
1,000 2 Gifts given or loaned by the Gods do
traders stock would, therefore, have
not count towards a characters overall
no bearing on his social standing. If 5,000 3 wealth. They are not their property;
they lose such goods, they also lose 10,000 4 these are merely entrusted to them.
the Reputation that those goods grant.
20,000+ 5
Noble characters start with a certain Ransom: A characters reputation
amount of wealth and thus benefit determines the amount an enemy will
from a small bonus to their starting demand in ransom to release them if
Reputation. they are captured in a battle or turn over their body if they
are killed. The more renowned and wealthy a character is
A character may add their Reputation rating as a reputation
known to be, the more their people can afford, so the more
bonus to the following skill checks: Bluff, Diplomacy,
will be demanded. A characters ransom is one tenth of
Prayer, Presence and Rhetoric. They may also add their
the minimum total wealth needed to reach their reputation
reputation bonus to Charisma checks made to change
score. For example, if they had a reputation of three,
other peoples attitudes towards them.
their ransom would be wealth to the value of 500 silver
drachmas.
46
 and does so between levels of advancement. Of course, a
Ancient soldier trying to find someone to teach him could make for
a great story.

Skills
Skills represent the different arts, sciences, branches of
For your convenience, the number of skill points gained
by acquiring levels in the various classes is revisited

learning, crafts and physical disciplines that a character has
learned. The characters class has a major influence on the
skills they can learn. A character has a certain number of
ranks in each skill, with a minimum of zero.
ancient skills
here. Remember that only at the first character level, the
value listed is multiplied by 4 to simulate the amount of
experience gained before play begins.

If buying a skill from a characters list of class skills, they using a skill
gain one rank equal to a +1 bonus on checks with that Various points in the game call for the use of skills. For
skill for each skill point they attribute to it. If you buy example, if the witch Callaia has been tied hand and foot
other classes skills (cross-class skills), you gain half a rank by brigands and her friend Xeno the thief (temporarily
per skill point. The character class descriptions in the without a knife) is trying to untie the knots and free her, he
Characters chapter indicate which skills can be purchased would make a Use Rope skill check to achieve this. When
as class skills and how many skill points (modified by a a character uses a skill, the player makes a skill check to
characters Intelligence modifier, to a minimum of one see how well they do. The higher the result of the skill
per level) are gained when a character takes a level in that check, the higher the degree of their success. Based on the
class. circumstances, the result must match or beat a particular
number (a DC or the result of an opposed skill check) for
Your maximum rank in a class skill is your character level the check to be successful. The harder the task, the higher
+ 3. Your maximum rank in a cross-class skill is one-half the number a player needs to roll.
of this number; do not round this figure up or down. Half
ranks do not improve your skill check, but two ranks Circumstances can affect this check. A character that is free
make 1 rank. You cannot save skill points to spend later. to work without distractions can take their time making a
careful attempt and avoiding simple mistakes. A character
that has lots of time can try over and over again, thereby
acquiring skill ensuring the highest possible chances of their success. If
others help, the character may succeed where they would
ranks otherwise have failed.
Ranks indicate how much training, experience or innate
talent a character has with a given skill. Each skill has a
number of ranks, from 0 (for a skill in which a character
Skill Checks
A skill check takes into account a characters training (skill
has no training at all) to 23 (for a 20th-level character who
rank), natural talent (ability modifier) and luck (the die
has increased a class skill to
its maximum rank). Skill
modifiers can be much
Skill Points per Level
higher than 23 once ability Class 1st-Level Skill Points Higher-Level Skill Points
bonuses, enhancements and Aristocrat (6 + Int modifier) x4 6 + Int modifier
other factors are added in, Artificer (6 + Int modifier) x4 6 + Int modifier
but skill ranks themselves
can never be higher than Bard (6 + Int modifier) x4 6 + Int modifier
23. When making a skill Courtesan (6 + Int modifier) x4 6 + Int modifier
check, a character adds their Priest (Egyptian/Greek) (4 + Int modifier) x4 4 + Int modifier
skill ranks to the roll as part
Noble Warrior (4 + Int modifier) x4 4 + Int modifier
of the skill modifier.
Sage (8 + Int modifier) x4 8 + Int modifier
Unless a Games Master Seer (6 + Int modifier) x4 6 + Int modifier
wishes to roleplay this Thief (6 + Int modifier) x4 6 + Int modifier
process out and set his
own prices for training, Warrior (2 + Int modifier) x4 2 + Int modifier
the OGL Ancients assumes Witch (4 + Int modifier) x4 4 + Int modifier
that a character can always
find a way to learn any skill
47
 roll). It may also take into succeeds, while the lower
Difculty Class Examples
account their background result fails. In case of a tie,
training in performing Difficulty (DC) Example (Skill Used) the higher skill modifier
certain tasks (background Very easy (0) Notice something large in plain wins. If these scores are the
bonus) or what armour they sight (Spot) same, roll again to break the
are wearing (armour check Easy (5) Climb a knotted rope (Climb) tie.
penalty) or certain feats the
ancient skills

Average (10) Hear an approaching temple

character possesses.
guard (Listen) Trying Again
In general, a character can
To make a skill check, roll Tough (15) Rig a chariot wheel to fall off try a skill check again if
1d20 and add the characters (Craft) they fail and can keep trying
skill modifier for that Challenging (20) Swim in stormy water (Swim) indefinitely. Some skills,
skill. The skill modifier Formidable (25) Find a single tiny bloodstain in however, have consequences
incorporates the characters a large temple (Search) of failure that must be taken
ranks in that skill and the into account. A few skills are
ability modifier for that skills Heroic (30) Leap across a 30 foot chasm
virtually useless once a check
key ability, plus any other (Jump)
has failed on an attempt
miscellaneous modifiers Nearly Unpick the legendary Gordian to accomplish a particular
that may apply, including impossible (40) knot without cutting it (Solve task. For most skills, when a
background bonuses and Conundrum) character has succeeded once
armour check penalties. The at a given task, additional
higher the result, the better. successes are meaningless.
Unlike with attack rolls and saving throws, a natural roll of
20 on the d20 is not an automatic success, in turn a natural Untrained Skill Checks
roll of 1 is not an automatic failure. Some skills do not require formal training, because
everyone has a certain degree of basic competence in them.
Difficulty Class For example, anyone can use the Balance skill to try to
Some checks are made against a Difficulty Class (DC). balance on a narrow ledge; they do not automatically fall
The DC is a number (set using the skill rules as a guideline) off just because they have not received training in a Spartan
that you must score as a result on your skill check in order gymnasium.
to succeed a given task.
Generally, if a character attempts to use a skill they do
Opposed Checks not possess, they make a skill check as normal. The skill
An opposed check is a check whose success or failure modifier does not have a skill rank added because the
is determined by comparing the check result to that of character has no ranks in the skill. Any other applicable
another characters. In an opposed check, the higher result modifiers, such as the modifier for the skills key ability, are

Example Opposed Checks

Task Skill (Key Ability) Opposing Skill (Key Ability)
Persuade someone to believe a lie Bluff (Cha) Sense Motive (Wis)
Convince someone else that you are right Debate (Int) Debate (Int)
Pretend to be someone else Disguise (Cha) Spot (Wis)
Create a false map Forgery (Int) Forgery (Int)
Hide from someone Hide (Dex) Spot (Wis)
Awe an aggressor with your beauty Presence (Cha) Special1
Sneak up on someone Move Silently (Dex) Listen (Wis)
Steal a coin pouch Sleight of Hand (Dex) Spot (Wis)
Tie a prisoner securely Use Rope (Dex) Escape Artist (Dex)
1
A Presence check is opposed by the targets level check, not a skill check. See the Presence skill description
for more information.

48
applied to the check. Many skills, referred to as Trained
Only skills, can be used only if a character actually has
ranks in them; they cannot attempt a check using a skill
that cannot be used untrained. For example, you cannot
use a Knowledge skill untrained, because Knowledge skills
represent an awareness of facts that have to be taught. A
skill that is both Trained Only and is not available to a
given character class represents a kind of skill check that
the character will never be able to make. A warrior, for
example, will never have access to the Witchcraft skill.
Favourable and Unfavourable
Conditions
Some situations may make a skill easier or harder to use,
resulting in a bonus or penalty to the skill check or a change
in the DC of the skill check. The chance of success can
be altered in four ways to take into account exceptional
circumstances.
Give the skill user a +2 circumstance bonus to represent
conditions that improve performance, such as having
the perfect tool for the job, gaining help from another
character (see Combining Skill Attempts) or possessing
unusually accurate information. For example, if
Imhotep the artificer is looking for a secret entrance to
a tomb and has been told what to look for, he receives a
+2 circumstance bonus to his Search check.
Give the skill user a 2 penalty to represent conditions
that hamper performance, such as being forced to use
improvised tools or having misleading information.
For example, if Melissa the hetaera, having listened to
inaccurate gossip, has dressed herself entirely in blue
silks in the hope of impressing a local merchant whose
real preference is for girls in red, she would receive a 2
penalty to her Presence skill check.
Reduce the DC by 2 to represent circumstances that
make the task easier, such as having a friendly audience
or doing work that does not have to be done to a basic
standard. For example, if the bard Lucius is playing
for the entertainment of the customers in his regular
tavern, they already know him and are appreciative of
his talents, so he does not have to work so hard to make
them happy.
Increase the DC by 2 to represent circumstances that
make the task harder, such as having an uncooperative
audience or doing work that must be flawless. For
example, the traps devised by a long-dead artificer
to guard his lieges burial chamber are of exceptional
quality and Xeno the thief must work especially hard to
deactivate them with his Disable Device skill.
Conditions that affect your characters ability to perform
certain tasks change the skill checks modifier. Conditions
that modify how well the character has to perform the skill
to succeed change the DC. A bonus to the skill modifier
and a reduction in the checks DC has the same ultimate
result, namely a better chance of success. However, they
represent different circumstances and sometimes that
difference is important.
ancient skills
time and skill
checks
Using a skill might take, take no time, a round, several
rounds or even longer. Most skill uses are standard actions,
move actions or full-round actions. Types of actions define
how long activities take to perform within the framework of
a combat round (6 seconds) and how movement is treated
with respect to the activity. Some skill checks are instant
and represent reactions to an event or are included as part
of an action. These skill checks are not actions. Other skill
checks represent part of a characters movement.
Checks without Rolls
A skill check represents an attempt to accomplish some
goal, usually while under some sort of time pressure or
distraction. Sometimes, though, a character can use a
skill under more favourable conditions and eliminate the
luck factor, as he either does a completely standard job,
unmodified by luck or gives his whole attention to the task
and does the best he possibly can. These two possibilities
are called taking 10 and taking 20.
Taking 10: When a character is not threatened or
distracted, they may choose to take 10. Instead of rolling
1d20 for the skill check; calculate your result as if you had
rolled a 10. For many routine tasks, taking 10 makes them
automatically successful, as indeed they would be in real
life. It is not necessary to make a rolled skill check for
every little thing. Distractions or threats (such as combat)
make it impossible for a character to take 10. In most
cases, taking 10 is purely a safety measure. A player knows
or expects that an average roll will succeed but fears that a
poor roll might fail, so they elect to settle for the average
roll (a 10).
Taking 10 is especially useful in situations where a
particularly high roll would not help. For example,
Telemachus the warrior wants to moor a boat to a quay,
which will require a Use Rope skill check. Tying up a ship
is not especially difficult and there are no rewards for doing
it well, but if it is done badly, the knot could come loose
and the boat would drift away. If Telemachus takes 10 on
his Use Rope skill check, he is certain to succeed, whereas if
he rolled the check, he might roll low and lose his boat.
Taking 20: When a character has plenty of time,
generally two minutes for a skill that can normally
49
 be checked in one round, one full-round action or one
standard action, are faced with no threats or distractions
and the skill being attempted carries no penalties for
failure, they can take 20. In other words, eventually they
will roll a 20 on 1d20 if they roll enough times. Instead of
rolling 1d20 for the skill check, just calculate your result as
if you had rolled a 20.
ancient skills
Aid Another
You can help another character achieve a successful
skill check by making the same kind of skill check in a
co-operative effort. If you roll a 10 or higher on your
check, the character you are helping gains a +2 bonus to
their check, as per the rules for favourable conditions. A

character cannot take 10 on a skill check to aid another.

In many cases, a characters help will not be beneficial or
Taking 20 means a character is trying until they get it right only a limited number of characters can help at once. In
and assumes they will fail many times before succeeding. cases where the skill restricts those who can achieve certain
Taking 20 takes twenty times as long as making a single results, characters cannot aid another to grant a bonus
check would take. Since taking 20 assumes that the to a task that the character could not achieve alone. For
character will fail many times before succeeding, if they example, even if they have the Perform skill, they cannot
attempt to take 20 on a skill that carries penalties for help a bard perform bardic music unless they are a bard
failure, the character would automatically incur those yourself.
penalties before they could complete the task. Common
take 20 skills include Escape Artist, Search and Solve
Conundrum.
Skill Synergy
It is possible for a character to have two skills that work well
together. In general, having five or more ranks in one skill
Ability Checks and Caster gives the character a +2 synergy bonus on skill checks with
Level Checks
The normal take 10 and Skill Synergies in Brief
take 20 rules apply for Five or more ranks in Gives a +2 bonus to
ability checks. Neither
rule, however, applies to Bluff Diplomacy, Presence, Sleight of
caster level checks. Hand and Disguise checks
Craft (any) Appraise checks
Combining Escape Artist Use Rope checks
Skill Checks Handle Animal Ride
When more than one Jump Tumble
character tries the same skill Knowledge (any) Debate checks
at the same time and for the
Knowledge (agriculture) Prayer checks
same purpose, their efforts
may overlap. This can be Knowledge (architecture and engineering) Search checks
done in several different Knowledge (art and literature) Rhetoric checks
ways; each combination is Knowledge (geography) Survival checks
adjudicated using its own
set of rules. Knowledge (history) Sages and Bardic Knowledge checks
Knowledge (local) Gather Information checks
Individual Knowledge (nature) Survival checks
Events Knowledge (nobility and royalty) Presence checks
Often, several characters Knowledge (philosophy) Solve Conundrum checks
attempt some action
and each succeed or fail Knowledge (religion) Prayer checks
independently. The result Knowledge (tactics and strategy) Initiative checks
of one characters Climb Search Survival checks
check, for example, does
Sense Motive Rhetoric checks
not influence the results
of anothers Climb checks. Solve Conundrum Use Rope and Sense Motive checks
Each is working for Survival Knowledge (nature)
themselves alone. Tumble Balance and Jump checks
Use Rope Climb and Escape Artist checks

50
each of its synergistic skills, as noted in the skill description.
In some cases, this bonus applies only to specific uses of the
skill in question and not to all checks made with it. Some
skills provide benefits on other checks made by a character,
such as those checks required to use certain class features.
Check individual skill descriptions for full details of skill
synergies.
Ability Checks
Sometimes a character tries to do something for which no
specific skill really applies. In these cases, they must make
an ability check. An ability check is a roll of 1d20 plus the
appropriate ability modifier. Essentially, they are making
an untrained skill check, since using a skill that a character
does not have any skill ranks in is effectively an unmodified
ability check.
In some cases, an action is a straight test of ones ability
with no luck involved. Just as characters would not make
a height check to see who is taller, they would also not
make Strength checks to see who is stronger. The Games
Master is responsible for determining what situations call
for ability checks, which ones have skill checks as a more
appropriate method of adjudication and when rolls are not
required at all.
skill descriptions
This section describes each skill, including common uses
and typical modifiers. Characters can sometimes use skills
for purposes other than those noted here. The following is
the format in which the skill descriptions are presented.
Skill Name
The skill name line includes (in addition to the name of the
skill) the following information.
Key Ability: The abbreviation of the ability whose
modifier applies to the skill check. Speak Language has
None as its key ability because the use of this skill does
not require a check.
Trained Only: If this notation is included in the skill
name line, you must have at least one rank in the skill
to use it. If it is omitted, the skill can be used untrained
(with no ranks). If any special notes apply to trained or
untrained use, they are covered in the Untrained section
(see below).
Armour Check Penalty: If this notation is included
in the skill name line, an armour check penalty applies
(when appropriate) to checks using this skill. If this
entry is absent, an armour check penalty does not
apply.
The skill name line is followed by a general description of
what using the skill represents. After the description are
several additional pieces of information:
Check: What a character (you in the skill description)
can do with a successful skill check and the checks
ancient skills
suggestedDC.
Action: The type of action using the skill requires or the
amount of time required for a check.
Try Again: Any conditions that apply to successive
attempts to use the skill successfully. If the skill does
not allow you to attempt the same task more than once
or if failure carries an inherent penalty (such as with the
Climb skill), you cannot take 20. If this paragraph is
omitted, the skill can be retried without any inherent
penalty, other than the additional time required.
Special: Any extra information that applies to the skill,
such as special effects deriving from its use or bonuses
that certain characters receive by way of class, feat
choices or background.
Synergy: Some skills grant a bonus to the use of one or
more other skills because of a synergistic effect. This
entry, when present, indicates what bonuses this skill
may grant or receive from others.
Restriction: The full utility of certain skills is restricted
to characters of certain classes or characters that possess
certain feats. This entry indicates whether any such
restrictions exist for the skill.
Untrained: This entry indicates what a character
without at least one rank in the skill can do with it.
If this entry does not appear, it means that the skill
functions normally for untrained characters if it can
be used untrained or that an untrained character
cannot attempt checks with this skill for skills that are
designated as Trained Only.
Appraise (Int)
Whether it be an urn of dubious merit or a mysterious
fleece of gold, you can use this skill to determine the quality
of items that come into your possession.
Check: You can make an informed appraisal of the value
and quality of common or well known objects with a DC
12 Appraise check (see the Quality of Items table in the
Equipment chapter). Failure means that you estimate the
items quality at either 1d2 ranks lower or 1d2 ranks higher
(roll randomly) than it actually is. The quality of an item is
indicative of its likely trade value. You automatically know
what the base value of a common item is. The quality rank
of the item determines any modifier applied to the base
value.
51
 Note that a wholly forged item, such as a counterfeit coin,
has no value. Success when appraising a forged item means Balance DC Modiers
that you not only estimate the true quality of the item, but Narrow Balance Difficult Balance
also identify it as a deliberate forgery. The DC to identify Surface DC1 Surface DC1
a cleverly made forgery may be higher than 12 (see the 712 inches 10 Uneven 102
Forgery skill for details). wide flagstone
ancient skills

26 inches 15 Hewn stone 102

Appraising a rare or exotic item requires a successful check
wide floor
against DC 15, 20 or higher. If the check is successful,
you estimate both the quality and the base value correctly; Less than 2 20 Sloped or 102
failure means you cannot estimate the items quality, as you inches wide angled floor
cannot identify its base value. 1
Add modifiers from Narrow Surface Modifiers, below,
as appropriate.
A ground lens, a very hard item to come by, can give a +2 2
Only if running or charging, failure by four or less
equipment bonus on Appraise checks involving any item means the character cannot run or charge but may
that is small or highly detailed, such as a piece of ritual otherwise act normally.
jewellery. A merchants scale can also give a +2 equipment
bonus on Appraise checks involving any items that are Narrow Surface Modiers
valued by weight, including anything made of precious
metals. These two bonuses stack. Surface DC Modier1
Lightly obstructed +2
Action: Appraising an item takes 1 minute (ten consecutive Severely obstructed +5
full-round actions).
Lightly slippery +2
Try Again: No. You cannot try again on the same object, Severely slippery +5
regardless of success. Sloped or angled +2
1
Add the appropriate modifier to the Balance DC of
Special: A character with the Diligent feat gains a +2 a narrow surface.
bonus on Appraise checks.
Being Attacked while Balancing: You are considered flat-
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in any Craft skill, footed while balancing, since you cannot move to avoid
you gain a +2 bonus on Appraise checks related to items a blow and thus you may not add your Dexterity bonus
made with that Craft skill. to Active Defence checks. You may make a single Shield
Defence check per round at a 4 penalty; to do so while
Untrained: For common items, failure on an untrained balancing counts as a move action, so you may not do
check means no estimate. For rare items, success means an this if you have already taken a move action in the round.
estimate of 1d3 ranks more or less than actual quality. If you have five or more ranks in Balance, you are not
considered flat-footed while balancing. If you take damage
Balance (Dex; Armour while balancing, you must make another Balance check
against the same DC to remain standing.
Check Penalty)
Whether sliding across rooftops or walking the deck of a
Accelerated Movement: You can try to walk across a
pitching ship, characters often find themselves in situation
precarious surface more quickly than normal. If you accept
where maintaining equilibrium is the best alternative to
a 5 penalty, you can move your full speed as a move action.
falling to a gruesome end below.
Moving twice your speed in a round requires two Balance
checks, one for each move action used. You may also accept
Check: You can walk on a precarious surface. A successful
this penalty in order to charge across a precarious surface;
check lets you move at half your base speed along the
charging requires one Balance check for each multiple of
surface for one round. A failure by four or less means
your speed or fraction thereof that you charge.
you cannot move for one round. A failure by five or more
means you fall. The difficulty varies with the surface, as the
Action: None. A Balance check does not require an action;
following table indicates.
it is made as part of another action or as a reaction to a
situation.
Apply any modifiers applicable to the circumstances.
These modifiers stack.

52
Special: If you have the Agile feat, you gain a +2 bonus on
Balance checks.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Tumble, you
gain a +2 bonus on Balance checks.
Bluff (Cha)
Convince an angry cyclops that you would not make a
tasty meal or use misdirection to convey a secret message.
This skill encompasses all the traits that go with being a
convincing liar and teller of tall tales.
Check: A Bluff check is opposed by the targets Sense
Motive check. See the accompanying Bluff Examples table
for examples of different kinds of bluffs and how they affect
a targets Sense Motive check for each one.
Favourable and unfavourable circumstances weigh heavily
on the outcome of a bluff. The two most common
circumstances to weigh against you are as follows: If the
bluff is hard to believe or the action that the target is asked
to take goes against its own self-interest, nature, personality
or orders. If its important, you can distinguish between
a bluff that fails because the target does not believe it and
one that fails because it just asks too much of them. For
instance, if the target gains a +10 bonus on its Sense Motive
check because the bluff demands something risky and the
Sense Motive check succeeds by 10 or less, then the target
did not so much see through the bluff as prove reluctant to
go along with it. A target that succeeds by 11 or more has
seen through the bluff.
A successful Bluff check indicates that the target reacts as
you wish, at least for a short time (usually one round or
less) or believes something that you want them to. Bluff,
however, is not a dominate will spell.
A bluff requires interaction between you and the target as
creatures that are unaware of you cannot be bluffed.
Feinting in Combat: You can also use Bluff to mislead an
opponent in melee combat so that they cannot dodge
your next attack effectively. To feint, make a Bluff check
opposed by your targets Sense Motive check, but in this
case the target may add its base attack bonus to the roll
along with any other applicable modifiers.
If your Bluff check result exceeds this special Sense Motive
check result, your target is denied its Dexterity bonus to
Active Defence for the next melee attack you make against
it. This attack must be made on or before your next turn.
Feinting in this way against a non-humanoid, such as a
ravening harpy, is difficult because it is harder to read a
Bluff Examples
Example Circumstances Sense Motive
Modifier
The target wants to believe you. 5
No, the armour is not stolen; it was
ancient skills
a family heirloom. Alas, I am now
too fat to wear it and I need the
money.
The bluff is believable and does +0
not affect the target much. I saw
nothing, sir. I have been tending the
temple flame all night.
The bluff is a little hard to believe +5
or puts the target at some risk.
The Greeks have all gone home,
Trojan. They left this enormous
wooden horse as a present.
The bluff is hard to believe or puts +10
the target at significant risk. We
are not plotting the death of the
Pharaoh. We are rehearsing a play.
These daggers are only real because
they have to look right.
The bluff is almost too incredible +20
to believe. I warn you, mortal, I
am Zeus in disguise! Let me pass or
I shall call down the very lightning
to smite you!
strange creatures body language; you take a 4 penalty on
your Bluff check. Against a creature of animal Intelligence
(1 or 2) such as a chimera, the task is even harder; you take
a 8 penalty. Against a non-intelligent creature, such as an
animated skeleton, it is impossible to feint.
Feinting in combat does not provoke an attack of
opportunity.
Creating a Diversion to Hide: You can use the Bluff skill
to help you hide. A successful Bluff check gives you the
momentary diversion you need to attempt a Hide check
while people are aware of you. This usage does not provoke
an attack of opportunity.
Delivering a Secret Message: You can use Bluff to gain
a message across to another character without others
understanding it. The DC is 15 for simple messages or 20
for complex messages, especially those that rely on gaining
across new information. Failure by four or less means you
cannot gain the message across. Failure by five or more
means that some false information has been implied or
inferred. Anyone listening to the exchange can make a
53
 Sense Motive check opposed by the Bluff check you made
Climb DC Example Surface or Activity
to transmit in order to intercept your message (see the
Sense Motive skill for more details). 0 A slope too steep to walk up or a
knotted rope with a wall to brace
Action: Varies. A Bluff check made as part of general against.
interaction always takes at least one round and is at least 5 A rope with a wall to brace against or
a full-round action, but it can take much longer if you a knotted rope.
ancient skills

try something elaborate. A Bluff check made to feint in
combat or create a diversion to hide is a standard action. A
Bluff check made to deliver a secret message does not take
an action; it is part of normal communication.
Try Again: Varies. Generally, a failed Bluff check in social
interaction makes the target too suspicious for you to try
again in the same circumstances, but you may retry freely
on Bluff checks made to feint in combat. Retries are also
allowed when you are trying to send a message, but you
may attempt such a retry only once per round. Each retry
carries the same chance of miscommunication.
Special: If you have the Persuasive feat, you gain a +2
bonus on Bluff checks.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Bluff, you gain
a +2 bonus on Diplomacy, Presence and Sleight of Hand
checks, as well as on Disguise checks made when you
know youre being observed and are attempting to act in
character.
Climb (Str; Armour Check
Penalty)
Use this skill to steal a rocs last egg from its cliff-top nest or
simply scale an inconvenient wall.
Check: With a successful Climb check, you can advance
up, down or across a slope, wall or some other steep
incline, even a ceiling with handholds at one-quarter your
normal speed. A slope is considered to be any incline at an
angle measuring less than 60 degrees; a wall is any incline
at an angle measuring 60 degrees or more.
A Climb check that fails by four or less means that you
make no progress and one that fails by five or more means
that you fall from whatever height you have already
attained.
The DC of the check depends on the conditions of the
climb. Compare the task with those on the following table
to determine an appropriate DC.
A perfectly smooth, flat, vertical surface cannot be
climbed
You need both hands free to climb, but you may cling
to a wall with one hand while you cast a spell or
54
10 A surface with ledges to hold on to
and stand on, such as a very rough
wall or a ships rigging.
15 Any surface with adequate handholds
and footholds, natural or artificial,
such as a very rough natural rock
surface, a tree or an unknotted rope
or pulling yourself up when dangling
by your hands.
20 An uneven surface with some narrow
hand and footholds, such as a typical
wall in a dungeon or ruins.
25 A rough surface, such as a natural
rock wall, brick wall, overhang
or ceiling with handholds but no
footholds.
Climb DC
Modifier1 Example Surface or Activity
10 Climbing a chimney, artificial or
natural or other location where you
can brace against two opposite walls.
5 Climbing a corner where you can
brace against perpendicular.
+5 Surface is slippery.
1
These modifiers are cumulative; use any that apply.
take some other action that requires only one hand. While
climbing, you cannot move to avoid a blow, so you cannot
make Active Defence checks at all. You also cannot make
Shield Defence checks while climbing.
Any time you take damage while climbing, make a
Climb check against the DC of the slope or wall. Failure
means you fall from your current height and sustain the
appropriate falling damage.
Accelerated Climbing: You try to climb more quickly than
normal. By accepting a 5 penalty, you can move half your
speed instead of one-quarter your speed.
Making Your Own Handholds and Footholds: You can make
your own handholds and footholds by pounding spikes into
a wall. Doing so takes one minute per spike and one spike
is needed per three feet of distance. As with any surface
that offers handholds and footholds, a wall with spikes in it
has a DC of 15. In the same way, a climber with a handaxe
or similar implement can cut handholds in an ice wall.
Catching Yourself When Falling: It is practically impossible
to catch yourself on a wall while falling. Make a Climb
check (DC = walls DC + 20) to do so. It is much easier to
catch yourself on a slope (DC = slopes DC + 10).
Catching a Falling Character While Climbing: If someone
climbing above you or adjacent to you falls, you can
attempt to catch the falling character if they are within your
reach. Doing so requires a successful melee attack against
the falling character, who can of course avoid making an
Active Defence check. If you hit, you must immediately
attempt a Climb check (DC = walls DC + 10). Success
indicates that you catch the falling character, but their total
weight, including equipment, cannot exceed your heavy
load limit or you will automatically fall. If you fail your
Climb check by four or less, you fail to stop the characters
fall but do not lose your grip on the wall. If you fail by
five or more, you fail to stop the characters fall and begin
falling as well.
Action: Climbing is part of movement, so it is generally
part of a move action and may be combined with other
types of movement in a move action. Each move action
that includes any climbing requires a separate Climb check.
Catching yourself or another falling character does not take
an action.
Special: You can use a rope to haul a character upward or
lower a character through sheer strength. You can lift
double your maximum load in this manner.
If you have the Athletic feat, you gain a +2 bonus on Climb
checks.
Some creatures can climb as a natural ability. A creature
with a climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb
checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb
any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can
always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened
while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses
an accelerated climb (see above), it moves at double its
climb or at its land speed, whichever is slower and makes
a single Climb check at a 5 penalty. Such a creature may
make Active Defence checks while climbing and opponents
gain no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot,
however, use the run action while climbing.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Use Rope, you
gain a +2 bonus on Climb checks made to climb a rope, a
knotted rope or a rope-and-wall combination.
Concentration (Con)
You possess the gift of being able to focus your mind,
maintaining your thoughts against all external pressures.
Check: You must make a Concentration check whenever
you might potentially be distracted, by taking damage,
ancient skills
harsh weather and so on, while engaged in some action that
requires your full attention. Such actions include praying
for a miracle, casting a spell, concentrating on an active
spell, directing a spell, using a spell-like ability or using
a skill that would provoke an attack of opportunity. In
general, if an action would not normally provoke an attack
of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check
to avoid being distracted.
If the Concentration check succeeds, you may continue
with the action as normal. If the check fails, the action
automatically fails and is wasted. If you were in the
process of casting a spell, the spell is lost. If you were
concentrating on an active spell, the spell ends as if you had
ceased concentrating on it. If you were directing a spell,
the direction fails but the spell remains active. If you were
using a spell-like ability, that use of the ability is lost. A skill
use also fails and in some cases a failed skill check may have
other ramifications as well.
The table below summarises various types of distractions
that cause you to make a Concentration check. If the
distraction occurs while you are trying to pray for a
miracle or cast a spell, you must add the save modifier
of the magical effect you are trying to produce to the
appropriate Concentration DC. If more than one type
of distraction is present, make a check for each one; any
failed Concentration check indicates that the task is not
completed.
Action: None. Making a Concentration check does
not take an action; it is either a free action, if attempted
reactively or part of another action if attempted actively.
Try Again: Yes, though a success does not cancel the effect
of any previous failure, such as the loss of a spell you were
casting or the disruption of a spell you were concentrating
on.
Special: You can use Concentration to cast a spell, use a
spell-like ability or use a skill defensively, so as to avoid
attacks of opportunity altogether. This does not apply to
other actions that might provoke attacks of opportunity.
The DC of the check is 15, plus the magical effects save
modifier if praying for a miracle, casting a spell or using
a spell-like ability defensively. If the Concentration check
succeeds, you may attempt the action normally without
provoking any attacks of opportunity. A successful
55
 Concentration DC1 Distraction
10 + damage dealt Damaged during the action.2
10 + half of continuous Taking continuous damage during the action.3
damage las dealt
Distracting spells save DC Distracted by non-damaging spell.4
ancient skills

10 Vigorous motion (on a moving mount, taking a bouncy wagon ride, in a small boat in
rough water, below decks in a storm-tossed ship).
15 Violent motion (on a galloping horse, taking a very rough wagon ride, in a small boat
in rapids, on the deck of a storm-tossed ship).
20 Extraordinarily violent motion (earthquake).
15 Entangled.
20 Grappling or pinned. (Only eye spells may be cast with Witchcraft or Hekau while
pinned.)
5 Weather is a high wind carrying blinding rain or sleet.
10 Weather is wind-driven hail, dust or debris.
Distracting spells save DC Weather caused by a miracle or spell, such as storm of devastation.4
1
If you are trying to pray for a miracle or cast, concentrate on or direct a spell when the distraction occurs, add the
magical effects save modifier to the indicated DC.
2
Such as during the casting of a spell with a casting time of 1 round or more or the execution of an activity that takes
more than a single full-round action. Also, damage stemming from an attack of opportunity or readied attack made
in response to the spell being cast (for spells with a casting time of 1 action) or the action being taken (for activities
requiring no more than a full-round action).
3
Such as from acid.
4
If the spell allows no save, use the save DC it would have if it did allow a save.

Concentration check still does not allow you to take 10 on
another check if you are in a stressful situation; you must
make the check normally. If the Concentration check
fails, the related action also automatically fails with any
appropriate ramifications and the action is wasted, just as if
your concentration had been disrupted by a distraction.
A character with the Combat Casting feat gains a +4 bonus
on Concentration checks made to cast a spell or use a
spell-like ability while on the defensive, while grappling
or pinned.
Craft (Int)
Like Knowledge, Perform and Profession, Craft is actually
a number of separate skills. You could have several Craft
skills, each with its own ranks, each purchased as a separate
skill. Artificers usually have several Craft skills, representing
their broad range of talents. The Craft skills available in the
ancient world are:
Carpenter (makes statues and carvings, typically of wood)
Embalmer (makes mummies from dead bodies)
Fletcher (makes arrows from wood or rushes)
Herbalist (brews herbal concoctions including poisons)
Jeweller (makes items from precious metal and gems)
Potter (makes items in clay)
Reed Presser (makes papyrus)
Shipwright (builds boats and ships)
Tanner (makes leather goods and parchment)
Vintner (makes wine)
Weaver (spins and weaves cloth and turns it into
garments)
Wheelwright (makes wheeled vehicles such as chariots)
Woodworker (makes wooden items and weapons such as
bows)
A Craft skill is specifically focused on creating something.
If nothing is created by the endeavour, it probably falls
under the heading of a Profession skill.

Blacksmith (makes armour, shields, tools, weapons and Check: You can practice your trade and make a decent
other metal items) living, keeping yourself alive and healthy. You know how
Brewer (makes beer) to use the tools of your trade, perform the crafts daily
Builder (makes buildings, monuments and carvings, tasks, supervise untrained helpers and handle common
typically of stone) problems relating to it. Those who depend on their craft

56
for a living are seen as lower-class citizens in the ancient
world, especially potters and reed pressers. Those with
noble blood may learn a craft but are expected to make
their way in the world by other means. Only artificers are
seen as an exception to this rule, because of the ingenuity
of their work.
If you fail a check by four or less, you make no progress
this week.
If you fail by five or more, you ruin half the raw materials
and have to acquire half the original amount of raw
materials again.

ancient skills
The basic function of the Craft skill, however, is to allow Progress by the Day: You can make checks by the day instead
you to make an item of the appropriate type. The DC of by the week. In this case your progress (check result
depends on the complexity of the item to be created. The times DC) is in oboli instead of silver drachmas.
DC, your check results and the base value of the item
determine how long it takes to make a particular item. The Creating Masterwork Items: You can make a masterwork
items base value also determines the cost of raw materials item a weapon, suit of armour, shield or tool that conveys
required to manufacture such items. a bonus on its use due to its exceptional craftsmanship.
To create a masterwork item, you create the masterwork
All crafts require artisans tools to give the best chance of component as if it were a separate item in addition to the
success. If improvised tools are used, the check is at a standard item. The masterwork component has a value
2 penalty. On the other hand, masterwork artisans tools of 50% of the items base value and a Craft DC of 20.
provide a +2 equipment bonus on the check. Once both the standard component and the masterwork
component are completed, the masterwork item is
To determine how much time and money it takes to make finished.
an item, follow these steps;
Sabotaging Items: If you know how to build something,
Find the items value in silver drachmas, whether coins you know how to dismantle or cripple it so that it will not
are in use or not. function properly. Use this function of the Craft skill to
sabotage any item that you have the skill to make. You can
Find the DC from the table below. also sabotage any item with a simple Intelligence ability
Acquire raw materials worth one-third of the items base score check against the same DC. For example, if you had
value. ranks in the Craft (blacksmith) skill, you could make a skill
check to tamper with a persons armour so that it would
Make an appropriate Craft check representing one fall off after being worn for a few rounds. Without ranks
weeks work. If the check succeeds, multiply your check in that skill, you could make an Intelligence ability score
result by the DC. If the result times the DC equals check to achieve the same thing.
the value of the item in silver drachmas, then you have
completed the item. If the result times the DC equals The Craft check to sabotage an item is made secretly,
double or triple the price of the item in silver drachmas, so that you will not necessarily know whether you have
then you have completed the task in one-half or one- succeeded. The DC depends on how complicated the item
third of the time. Other multiples of the DC reduce is. Disabling, rigging or jamming a fairly simple device
the time in the same manner. If the result times the DC has a DC of 10; more intricate and complex devices have
does not equal the price, then it represents the progress higher DCs.
youve made this week. Record the result and make a
new Craft check for the next week. Each week, you If the check succeeds, you sabotage the device, so that it
make more progress until your total reaches the value of must be repaired before it can be used again. If it fails
the item in silver drachmas. by four or less, you have failed but can try
Device Time Craft DC1 Example again. If you fail by five or more, something
Simple 1 round 10 Make a leather helmet goes wrong. If the device is a trap of some
unwearable kind, you spring it. If youre attempting
some sort of sabotage, you think the device
Tricky 1d4 rounds 15 Sabotage a chariot is disabled, but it still works normally.
wheel
Difficult 2d4 rounds 20 Cripple an ancient crane You also can rig simple devices such as
Wicked 2d4 rounds 25 Cleverly sabotage a pair saddles or wagon wheels to work normally
of mechanical wings for a while and then fail or fall off some
time later, usually after 1d4 rounds or
1
If you attempt to leave behind no trace of your tampering, add 5 to
minutes of use.
the DC.
The amount of time needed to 57
 value of 1% of the items base value, so you will need that
amount of raw materials of the same kind used to make
the item. If you cannot gain the raw materials, you cannot
repair the item.

Repairing items is dangerous, as the item is already broken

and may possibly be damaged yet further. If you fail a Craft
ancient skills

check by more than 10 when repairing an item, you ruin it

so that it cannot be repaired in future. The item can still be
broken down to recover some of the raw material (see the
Wealth section in the Equipment chapter).

When you use the Craft skill to make a particular sort of

item, the DC for checks involving the creation of that item
are typically as given on the table below.

Herbalism: Craft (herbalism) checks are not made in

the same way as ordinary Craft checks. Herbalism is the
art of extracting the essence of herbs and making them
into useful treatments or concoctions. You make a Craft
(herbalism) check to turn a unit of herbs of a given type
into a herbal item of a given type. For example, you could
turn a unit of soporific herbs into a sleeping draught. The
DC of the check is usually 15 and the process takes ten
minutes. Failure to make the check destroys the unit of
herbs. You may also attempt a Craft (herbalism) check to
identify a given herb or herbal product.
make a Craft check to disable a device depends on the task,
as noted above. Disabling a simple device takes one round
Embalming: Craft (embalmer) checks are also not made
and is a full-round action. An intricate or complex device
in the same way as usual. Embalming a body and turning
requires 1d4 or 2d4 rounds.
it into a mummy is a straightforward process. The DC
is 10 and the cost is five silver drachmas worth of spices,
Repairing Items: Generally, you can repair an item by making
unguents and preservatives, which will usually be paid for
checks against the same DC that it took to make the item
by the family of the deceased. Embalming one person takes
in the first place. To do this, you craft a repair component
eight hours of work. If you fail the Craft check, the body
as if it were a separate item. The repair component has a

Item Craft Skill Craft DC

Armour or shield (metal) Blacksmith 10 + Coverage bonus
Armour (leather) Tanner 10 + Coverage bonus
Shield (wood based) Woodworker 10
Recurved bow or self bow Woodworker 12
Composite recurved bow or composite self bow Woodworker 15
Composite recurved bow or composite self bow with Woodworker 15 + (2 rating)
high strength rating
Simple melee or thrown weapon Blacksmith or Woodworker 12
Martial melee or thrown weapon Blacksmith or Woodworker 15
Very simple item (wooden spoon) Varies 5
Typical item (iron pot) Varies 10
High-quality item (statue of a God) Varies 15
Complex or superior item (chariot) Varies 20

58
is not properly embalmed and decays, meaning that the ka
of the dead person cannot return to the world. You cannot
try again if you fail such a check. Your skill as an embalmer
determines how many hit points the ka of the deceased
may have; the better a job of mummification you do, the
stronger the resultant spirit will be.
Assembling more complicated creations, such as composite
mummies, is more difficult. Such creations have their own
DC to manufacture.
Action: Does not apply. Craft checks are made by the day
or week, as noted above.
Try Again: Yes, but each time you fail the check by five or
more, you ruin half the raw materials and must find some
more to the same value.
You may voluntarily add +10 to the indicated DC to craft
an item. This allows you to create the item more quickly
since you will be multiplying this higher DC by your
Craft check result to determine progress. You must decide
whether to increase the DC before you make each weekly
or daily check.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in a Craft skill, you
gain a +2 bonus on Appraise checks related to items made
with that Craft skill.
Debate (Int)
Debate is the art of using cold logic and reasoned argument
to convince another person of something. You use Debate
to talk your way out of a situation with an appeal to
common sense, draw upon established textual authority
to justify your position or to argue a point. Debate is
very different from Rhetoric, though they seem similar at
first glance. While Debate is an intellectual course such
as philosophers use when conversing with one another,
Rhetoric is a poetic appeal to the emotions of the audience.
Debate encourages people to set their feelings aside and
think clearly, while Rhetoric encourages them to act out
of emotion and ignore rational objection. Debate works
best on one person at a time, while Rhetoric can be used
with crowds.
Check: You can convince others that your point of view
is correct with a Debate check; the other person does not
necessarily like you any better than they did before, but
they are forced to admit the sense of your words. They
may alter their planned course of action to take account of
this. You can only attempt to convince another person of
something that you honestly believe yourself; attempting
to convince another person of an untruth involves a Bluff
check.
Circumstance DC
Other person is willing to engage Opposed
in debate Debate check
Other person is initially 10
indifferent
ancient skills
Other person is initially sceptical 15
Other person is initially 20
contemptuous
Other person is in an extreme +5 to DC
emotional state, such as anger or
sorrow
Opposed Debate checks resolve situations when two
advocates or diplomats argue opposite cases in a hearing
before a third party, such as in a council meeting or a
symposium. In this case alone, when you are arguing
in order to persuade another person, you may oppose a
Debate check with a Rhetoric check and vice versa.
The following table determines the DC of a Debate check:
Action: Arguing a point with Debate generally takes at
least one full minute, that is, 10 consecutive full-round
actions. In some situations, this time requirement may
greatly increase. A rushed Debate check can be made as
a full-round action, but you take a 10 penalty on the
check.
Try Again: No. If you lose an argument, you cannot try to
argue the same thing again.
Special: If you have the Keen Mind feat, you gain a +2
bonus on Debate checks.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in any Knowledge
skill, you gain a +2 bonus on Debate checks having to do
with that skill.
Disguise (Cha)
You may use makeup, costume and acting to disguise your
appearance, including imitating another person.
Check: Your Disguise check result determines how good
the disguise is and it is opposed by others Spot check
results. If you do not draw any attention to yourself,
others do not gain to make Spot checks. If you come to
the attention of people who are suspicious, such as a guard
who is watching commoners walking through a city gate, it
can be assumed that such observers are taking 10 on their
Spot checks.
You gain only one Disguise check per use of the skill, even
if several people are making Spot checks against it. The
59
 Disguise Check Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Bluff, you gain
Disguise Modifier a +2 bonus on Disguise checks when you know that youre
being observed and you try to act in character.
Minor details only +5
Disguised as different gender1 2
Escape Artist (Dex; Armour
Disguised as different race 1
2
Check Penalty)
ancient skills

Disguised as different age 22 Check: The table below gives the DCs to escape various
category1 forms of restraints.
1
These modifiers are cumulative; use any that apply. Restraint Escape Artist DC
2
Per step of difference between your actual age Ropes Use Rope check at +10
category and your disguised age category. The steps
Net 20
are: young (younger than adult), adult, middle age,
old and venerable. Manacles 30
Tight space 30
Disguise check is made secretly, so that you cannot be sure
Grappler Grapplers grapple check result
how good the result is.
Ropes: Your Escape Artist check is opposed by the binders
The effectiveness of your disguise depends in part on how
Use Rope check. Since its easier to tie someone up than
much youre attempting to change your appearance.
to escape from being tied up, the binder gains a +10 bonus
on their check.
If you are impersonating a particular individual, those who
know what that person looks like gain a bonus on their
Manacles: The DC for manacles is set by their
Spot checks according to the table below. Furthermore,
construction.
they are automatically considered to be suspicious of you,
so opposed checks are always called for.
Tight Space: The DC noted on the table is for squeezing
through a space where your head fits but your shoulders do
Usually, an individual makes a Spot check to see through
not. If the space is long you may need to make multiple
your disguise immediately upon meeting you and each
checks. You cannot gain through a space that your head
hour thereafter. If you casually meet many different
does not fit through.
creatures, each for a short time, check once per day or hour,
using an average Spot modifier for the group.
Grappler: You can make an Escape Artist check opposed
Action: Creating a disguise requires 1d310 minutes of
by your enemys grapple check to gain out of a grapple or
work.
a pinned condition, so that you are only grappling rather
than pinned.
Try Again: Yes. You may try to redo a failed disguise, but
Action: Making an Escape Artist check to escape from rope
once others know that a disguise was attempted, theyll be
bindings, manacles or other restraints except a grappler
more suspicious.
requires one minute of work. Escaping from a net is a full-
round action. Escaping from a grapple or pin is a standard
Special: Magic that alters your form grants you a +10
action. Squeezing through a tight space takes at least one
bonus on Disguise checks; see the individual magical
minute, maybe longer, depending on how long the space
effect descriptions. You must succeed on a Disguise check
is.
with a +10 bonus to duplicate the appearance of a specific
individual using the disguise self spell.
Try Again: Varies. You can make another check after a
failed check if you are squeezing your way through a tight
If you have the Deceptive feat, you gain a +2 bonus on
space, making multiple checks. If the situation permits,
Disguise checks.
you can make additional checks or even take 20, as long as
youre not being actively opposed.
Familiarity Viewers Spot Check Bonus
Special: If you have the Agile feat, you gain a +2 bonus on
Recognises on sight +4 Escape Artist checks.
Friends or associates +6
Close friends +8 Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Escape
Artist, you gain a +2 bonus on Use Rope checks to bind
Intimate +10
someone.
60
If you have five or more ranks in Use Rope, you gain a +2 Readers Forgery
bonus on Escape Artist checks when escaping from rope Check Modifier
Condition
bonds.
Type of document 2
unknown to reader
Forgery (Int)
Forgery lets you prepare forged written documents, Type of document +0

ancient skills
including appropriate seals or counterfeit items. It was somewhat known to reader
a powerful if treacherous weapon in ancient times. Type of document well +2
During the Trojan War, a letter found in a soldiers tent, known to reader
reading The gold that I have sent you is the reward for Handwriting not known to 2
betraying your comrades, resulted in his execution. You reader
must have the Literacy feat in order to use the Forgery
Handwriting somewhat +0
skill.
known to reader
Check: Forgery requires writing materials appropriate Handwriting intimately +2
to the document being forged, enough light or sufficient known to reader
visual acuity to see the details of your writing, wax for seals, Reader only reviews the 2
if appropriate and time. To forge a document on which document casually
the handwriting is not specific to a person, such as military
orders, a governmental decree, a ransom demand or the Special: If you have the Deceitful feat, you gain a +2 bonus
like, you need only to have seen a similar document before on Forgery checks.
to gain a +8 bonus on your check. To forge a persons
individual seal or mark, you need a copy of it and you Restriction: Forgery is language-dependent; thus, to forge
gain a +4 bonus on the check. To forge a longer document documents and detect forgeries, you must be able to read
written in the hand of some particular person, a large and write the language in question.
sample of that persons handwriting is needed.

The Forgery check is made secretly, so that youre not sure

Gather Information (Cha)
You are able to easily discover what the local gossip is,
how good your forgery is. As with Disguise, you do not
whether it be a brave crew sailing to adventure or the
even need to make a check until someone examines the
unfaithfulness of a neglected wife.
work. Your Forgery check is opposed by the Forgery check
of the person who examines the document to check its
Check: An evening spent frequenting drinking houses,
authenticity. The examiner gains modifiers on their check
talking to commoners, asking bards what the news is and a
if any of the conditions on the table below exist.
DC 10 Gather Information check gain you a general idea of
a citys major news, assuming there are no obvious reasons
A document that contradicts procedure orders, previous
why the information would be withheld. The higher your
knowledge or one that requires sacrifice on the part of
check result, the better the information.
the reader can increase that characters suspicion and thus
create favourable circumstances for the checkers opposing
If you want to find out about a specific rumour, item,
Forgery check.
obtain a map or do something else along those lines, the
DC for the check is 15 to 25 or even higher.
Action: Forging a very short and simple document takes
about one minute. A longer or more complex document
Action: A typical Gather Information check takes 1d4+1
takes 1d4 minutes per page.
hours.
Try Again: Usually, no. A retry is never possible after
Try Again: Yes, but it takes time for each check.
a particular reader detects a particular forgery. But the
Furthermore, you may draw attention to yourself if you
document created by the forger might still fool someone
repeatedly pursue a certain type of information.
else. The result of a Forgery check for a particular
document must be used for every instance of a different
Special: If you have the Investigator feat, you gain a +2
reader examining the document. No reader can attempt
bonus on Gather Information checks. You may add your
to detect a particular forgery more than once; if that one
Reputation bonus to a Gather Information skill check,
opposed check goes in favour of the forger, then the reader
but if you do so, you automatically attract attention to
cannot try using his own skill again, even if he is suspicious
yourself.
about the document.
61
 Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge
(local) for an area, you gain a +2 bonus on Gather
Information checks made within that area.
Handle Animal (Cha; Trained
Only)
ancient skills
Attack (DC 20): The animal attacks apparent enemies.
You may point to a particular creature that you wish the
animal to attack and it will comply if able. Normally,
an animal will attack only humanoids, monstrous
humanoids, giants or other animals. Teaching an
animal to attack all creatures, including such unnatural

creatures as undead and aberrations counts as two

Use this skill to drive a chariot, control a rearing horse or
tricks.
tame a fierce wolf.
Come (DC 15): The animal comes to you, even if it
Check: The DC depends on what you are trying to do. normally would not do so.
Defend (DC 20): The animal defends you or is ready
Task Handle Animal DC to defend you if no threat is present, even without any
Handle an animal 10 command being given. Alternatively, you can command
Push an animal 25 the animal to defend one specific character.
Teach an animal a trick 15 or 201 Down (DC 15): The animal breaks off from combat or
otherwise backs down. An animal that does not know
Train an animal for a 15 or 201
this trick continues to fight until it must flee due to
general purpose
injury, fear effect or its opponent is defeated.
Rear a wild animal 15 + HD of animal
Fetch (DC 15): The animal goes and gains something.
1
See the specific trick or purpose below. If you do not point out a specific item, the animal
General General fetches some random object.
Purpose DC Purpose DC Guard (DC 20): The animal stays in place and prevents
Combat riding 20 Hunting 20 others from approaching.
Fighting 20 Performance 15 Heel (DC 15): The animal follows you closely, even to
places where it normally would not go.
Guarding 20 Riding 15
Heavy labour 15 Perform (DC 15): The animal performs a variety of
simple tricks, such as sitting up, rolling over, roaring or
barking and so on.
Handle an Animal: This task involves commanding an
animal to perform a task or trick that it knows. If the
Seek (DC 15): The animal moves into an area and looks
around for anything that is obviously alive or animate.
animal is wounded or has taken any non-lethal damage
or ability score damage, the DC increases by two. If your Stay (DC 15): The animal stays in place, waiting for
check succeeds, the animal performs the task or trick on its you to return. It does not challenge other creatures that
next action. come by, though it still defends itself if it needs to.
Track (DC 20): The animal tracks the scent presented to
Push an Animal: To push an animal means to gain it it. This requires the animal to have the scent ability.
to perform a task or trick that it does not know but is
physically capable of performing. This category also covers Work (DC 15): The animal pulls or pushes a medium or
making an animal perform a forced march or forcing it to heavy load.
hustle for more than one hour between sleep cycles. If the
animal is wounded or has taken any non-lethal damage or Train an Animal for a Purpose: Rather than teaching an
ability score damage, the DC increases by two. If your animal individual tricks, you can simply train it for a
check succeeds, the animal performs the task or trick on general purpose. Essentially, an animals purpose represents
its next action. a predetermined set of known tricks that fit into a common
scheme, such as guarding or heavy labour. The animal must
Teach an Animal a Trick: You can teach an animal a specific meet all the normal prerequisites for all tricks included in
trick with one week of work and a successful Handle the training package. If the package includes more than
Animal check against the indicated DC. An animal with three tricks, the animal must have an Intelligence score of
an Intelligence score of 1 can learn a maximum of three 2.
tricks, while an animal with an Intelligence score of 2 can
learn a maximum of six tricks. Possible tricks and their An animal can be trained for only one general purpose,
associated DCs include, but are not necessarily though if the creature is capable of learning additional
limited to, the following;
62
tricks above and beyond those included in its general
purpose, it may do so. Training an animal for a purpose
requires fewer checks than teaching individual tricks does,
but no less time.
Combat Riding (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a
rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend,
down, guard and heel. Training an animal for combat
riding takes six weeks. You may also upgrade an animal
trained for riding to one trained for combat riding by
spending three weeks and making a successful DC 20
Handle Animal check. The new general purpose and
tricks completely replace the animals previous purpose
and any tricks it once knew. Warhorses are already
trained to bear riders into combat and they do not
require any additional training for this purpose.
Fighting (DC 20): An animal trained to engage in
combat knows the tricks attack, down and stay. Training
an animal for fighting takes three weeks.
Guarding (DC 20): An animal trained to guard knows
the tricks attack, defend, down and guard. Training an
animal for guarding takes four weeks.
Heavy Labour (DC 15): An animal trained for heavy
labour knows the tricks come and work. Training an
animal for heavy labour takes two weeks.
Hunting (DC 20): An animal trained for hunting
knows the tricks attack, down, fetch, heel, seek and
track. Training an animal for hunting takes six weeks.
Performance (DC 15): An animal trained for
performance knows the tricks come, fetch, heel, perform
and stay. Training an animal for performance takes five
weeks.
Riding (DC 15): An animal trained to bear a rider
knows the tricks come, heel and stay. Training an
animal for riding takes three weeks.
Rear a Wild Animal: To rear an animal means to raise a
wild creature, such as a wolf or bear, from infancy so that
it becomes domesticated. A handler can rear as many as
three creatures of the same kind at once. A successfully
domesticated animal can be taught tricks at the same time
as it is being raised or it can be taught as a domesticated
animal later.
Action: Varies. Handling an animal is a move action, while
pushing an animal is a full-round action. For tasks with
specific time frames noted above, you must spend half this
time at the rate of three hours per day per animal being
handled working toward completion of the task before
you attempt the Handle Animal check. If the check fails,
your attempt to teach, rear or train the animal fails and you
need not complete the teaching, rearing or training time.
If the check succeeds, you must invest the remainder of the
time to complete the teaching, rearing or training. If the
time is interrupted or the task is not followed through to
completion, the attempt to teach, rear or train the animal
automatically fails.
ancient skills
Try Again: Yes, except for rearing an animal.
Special: You can use this skill on a creature with an
Intelligence score of 1 or 2 that is not an animal, but the
DC of any such check increases by five. Such creatures
have the same limit on tricks known as animals do.
If you have the Animal Affinity feat, you gain a +2 bonus
on Handle Animal checks.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Handle Animal,
you gain a +2 bonus on Ride checks.
Untrained: If you have no ranks in Handle Animal, you
can use a Charisma check to handle and push domestic
animals, but you cannot teach, rear or train animals.
Heal (Wis)
Heal checks are primarily used to treat individual wounds,
it can also be used to stabilise a dying character or counter
the effects of poison.
Check: The DC of a Heal check to bind a normal wound
or cauterise a grievous wound is equal to the size of the
wound you are treating (see the Wounds section in the
Combat chapter). Binding a wound is a standard action.
Stabilise: You can use the Heal skill to save a dying character.
The DC of the check to do this is 15. If a character is dying
from his wounds and is losing hit points, you can make
them stable. A stable character regains no hit points or
points of Constitution, but stops losing them.
Treat Poison: To treat poison means to tend a single
character that has been poisoned and who is going to take
more damage or suffer some other effect from the poison.
Every time the poisoned character makes a saving throw
against the poison, you make a Heal check. The poisoned
character uses your check result or their saving throw,
whichever is higher.
Action: Stabilising a character, binding or cauterising a
wound or treating poison is a standard action.
Try Again: Varies. You cannot attempt to bind a wound
twice. Cautery checks can be attempted again but the DC
increases with each attempt and further damage is inflicted.
You can always retry a check to stabilise a dying character,
assuming the target of the previous attempt is still alive.
63
 Special: A character with the Self-Sufficient feat gains a +2
bonus on Heal checks. A herbal poultice gives you a +2
circumstance bonus on Heal checks.
Hekau (Int; Trained Only;
Armour Check Penalty)
ancient skills
Hekau is the term given to the Ancient Egyptian arts
of ritual and magic. These depend heavily on the use
of symbols, specifically words and written hieroglyphs.
Hekau magic is entirely verbal; if a person is prevented
from speaking, he cannot cast a Hekau spell, though he
may pray silently. Hekau has a ritual use as well as its active
magical use, in particular, it is used to prepare the dead and
their items.
Characters who have the Cast Hekau Spell class feature
can use the Hekau skill to produce magical effects (see the
Magic chapter for more details).
Funerary Rites: The Hekau skill is used to prepare an
Egyptians body for the grave. This is not the same as
embalming (see the Craft (embalmer) skill). The Hekau
process protects the body from occupation by evil spirits.
A Hekau skill check at DC 10 is needed to perform the
64
proper funerary rites over a corpse and place the right
amulets in specific places on the body. Success means that
wicked spirits such as death-lanterns cannot take possession
of it. This use of the skill takes one hour.
Dedicate Object: The Hekau skill is used to dedicate objects
for the use of the dead in the afterlife (see Death and
Beyond for further details on this use of the skill).
Action: Funeral rites take one hour to perform, while
dedications take 10 minutes.
Try Again: Varies. You cannot attempt to perform funeral
rites twice. Dedicate checks can be attempted again but the
DC increases by one with each attempt.
Hide (Dex; Armour Check
Penalty)
Disappear into the local terrain, be it a dense and
foreboding wood or a Cretan labyrinth.
Check: Your Hide check is opposed by the Spot check of
anyone who might see you. You can move up to one-half
your normal speed and hide at no penalty. When moving
at a speed greater than one-half but less than your normal
speed, you suffer a 5 penalty. It is practically impossible (
20 penalty) to hide while attacking, running or charging.
A creature larger or smaller than Medium takes a size bonus
or penalty on Hide checks depending on its size category:
Fine +16, Diminutive +12, Tiny +8, Small +4, Large 4,
Huge 8, Gargantuan 12, Colossal 16.
You need cover or concealment in order to attempt a Hide
check. Total cover or total concealment usually, but not
always obviates the need for a Hide check, since nothing
can see you anyway.
If people are observing you, even casually, you cannot hide.
You can run around a corner or behind cover so that you
are out of sight and then hide, but the others then know at
least where you went.
If your observers are momentarily distracted, such as by
a Bluff check, you can attempt to hide. While the others
turn their attention from you, you can attempt a Hide
check if you can gain to a hiding place of some kind. As
a general guideline, the hiding place has to be within one
foot per rank you have in Hide. This check, however, is
made at a 10 penalty because you have to move fast.
Sniping: If you have already successfully hidden at least 10
feet from your target, you can make one ranged attack,
then immediately hide again. You take a 20 penalty on
your Hide check to conceal yourself after the shot.
Creating a Diversion to Hide: You can use Bluff to help you
hide. A successful Bluff check can give you the momentary
diversion needed to attempt a Hide check while people are
aware of you.
Action: Usually none. Normally, you make a Hide check
Long Jump: A long jump is a horizontal jump, made across
a gap like a chasm or stream. At the midpoint of the jump,
you attain a vertical height equal to one-quarter of the
horizontal distance. The DC for the jump is equal to the
distance jumped in feet.

as part of movement, so it does not take a separate action.
However, hiding immediately after a ranged attack (see
Sniping, above) is a move action.
Special: If you are invisible, you gain a +40 bonus on Hide
checks if you are immobile or a +20 bonus on Hide checks
if you are moving.
ancient skills
If your check succeeds, you land on your feet at the far end.
If you fail the check by less than five, you do not clear the
distance, but you can make a DC 15 Reflex save to grab
the far edge of the gap. You end your movement grasping
the far edge. If that leaves you dangling over a chasm or
gap, gaining up requires a move action and a DC 15 Climb
check.

If you have the Stealthy feat, you gain a +2 bonus on Hide
checks.
Jump (Str;
Armour Check
Penalty)
Use this skill to cross crevasses,
straddle walls, or win at the
Olympic games.
Check: The DC and the distance
you can cover vary according to the
type of jump you are attempting
(see below).
Your Jump check is modified by
your speed. If your speed is 30 feet
then no modifier based on speed
applies to the check. If your speed
is less than 30 feet, you suffer a 6
penalty for every 10 feet of speed
less than 30 feet. If your speed is
greater than 30 feet, you gain a +4
bonus for every 10 feet beyond 30
feet.
All Jump DCs given here assume
that you gain a running start,
which requires that you move
at least 20 feet in a straight line
before attempting the jump. If
you do not gain a running start,
the DC for the jump is doubled.
Distance moved by jumping is counted against your
normal maximum movement in a round.
If you have ranks in Jump and you succeed on a Jump
check, you land on your feet (when appropriate). If you
attempt a Jump check untrained, you land prone unless
you beat the DC by five or more.
High Jump: A high jump is a vertical leap made to reach a
ledge high above or to grasp something overhead. The DC
is equal to four times the distance
Long Jump Jump DC1 to be cleared.
Distance
5-ft. 5 If you jumped up to grab
10-ft. 10
something, a successful check
indicates that you reached the
15-ft. 15 desired height. If you wish to
20-ft. 20 pull yourself up, you can do so
25-ft. 25 with a move action and a DC
15 Climb check. If you fail the
30-ft. 30 Jump check, you do not reach the
1
Requires a 20-ft. running start. Without height and you land on your feet
a running start, double the DC. in the same spot from which you
jumped. As with a long jump, the
High Jump Distance1 Jump DC2 DC is doubled if you do not gain a
1-ft. 4 running start of at least 20 feet.
2-ft. 8
Obviously, the difficulty of
3-ft. 12 reaching a given height varies
4-ft. 16 according to the size of the
5-ft. 20 character or creature. The
maximum vertical reach height
6-ft. 24
the creature can reach without
7-ft. 28 jumping for an average creature
8-ft. 32 of a given size is shown on the table
below. As a Medium creature, a
1
Not including vertical reach; see below. typical human can reach eight feet
2
Requires a 20-ft. running start. Without without jumping.
a running start, double the DC.
Quadrupedal creatures do not
have the same vertical reach as a bipedal creature as they
can rear up on their hind quarters; treat them as being one
size category larger.
Hop Up: You can jump up onto an object as tall as your
waist, such as a table or small boulder, with a DC 10 Jump
check. Doing so counts as 10 feet of movement, so if your
speed is 30 feet, you could move 20 feet, then hop up
onto a counter. You do not need to gain a running start

65
 Creature Vertical Agriculture (crops, farming, husbandry, soil, fertilisers,
Size Reach domesticated animals)
Colossal 128-ft. Architecture and engineering (buildings, bridges,
fortifications)
Gargantuan 64-ft.
Huge 32-ft. Art and literature (epics, poetic works, heroic myths,
ancient skills

statuary, culture)
Large 16-ft.
Medium 8-ft.
Geography (lands, terrain, climate, people)

Small 4-ft. History (royalty, wars, colonies, migrations, founding of

cities)
Tiny 2-ft.
Diminutive 1-ft.
Local (legends, personalities, inhabitants, laws, customs,
traditions)
Fine -ft.
Mysteries (initiatory cults, witchcraft activity, obscure
beliefs, hidden history)
to hop up, so the DC is not doubled if you do not gain a
running start.
Nature (wild animals, monstrous creatures, plants,
seasons and cycles, weather, vermin)
Jumping Down: If you intentionally jump from a height, Nobility and royalty (lineages, family trees, feuds,
you take less damage than you would if you just fell. The mottoes, personalities)
DC to jump down from a height is 15. You do not have to Philosophy (major philosophies, eternal verities,
get a running start to jump down, so the DC is not doubled questions, paradoxes, the human condition)
if you do not get a running start.
Religion, Egyptian (the Egyptian Gods, the Duat, the
If you succeed on the check, you take falling damage as if rites and rituals)
you had dropped 10 fewer feet than you actually did. Religion, Greek (the Olympians, other deities, mysterious
cults, appropriate sacrifices, the underworld)
Action: None. A Jump check is included in your
movement, so it is part of a move action. If you run out of
Tactics and strategy (military command, military
history, troop deployment)
movement mid-jump, your next action (either on this turn
or, if necessary, on your next turn) must be a move action
Check: Answering a question within your field of study has
to complete the jump.
a DC of 10 for really easy questions, 15 for basic questions
or 20 to 30 for really tough questions.
Special: Effects that increase your movement also increase
your jumping distance, since your check is modified by
In many cases, you can use this skill to identify monsters
your speed.
and their special powers or vulnerabilities. In general, the
DC of such a check equals 10 + the monsters HD. A
If you have the Run feat, you gain a +4 bonus on Jump
successful check allows you to remember a bit of useful
checks for any jumps made after a running start.
information about that monster.
If you have the Acrobatic feat, you gain a +2 bonus on
For every five points by which your check result exceeds the
Jump checks.
DC, you recall another piece of useful information.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Tumble, you
Action: Usually none. In most cases, making a Knowledge
gain a +2 bonus on Jump checks. If you have five or more
check does not take an action. You simply know the answer
ranks in Jump, you gain a +2 bonus on Tumble checks.
or you do not.

Knowledge (Int; Trained
Only)
Like the Craft and Profession skills, Knowledge actually
encompasses a number of unrelated skills. Knowledge
represents a study of some body of lore, possibly an
academic or even scientific discipline. Below are listed
typical fields of study.
Try Again: No. The check represents what you know and
thinking about a topic a second time does not let you know
something that you have never learned in the first place.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge
(agriculture) and your deity is Demeter or Osiris, you gain
a +2 bonus on Prayer checks.

66
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (art and Listen Sound
literature), you gain a +2 bonus on Rhetoric checks. DC
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (mysteries),
you gain a +2 bonus on Witchcraft and Hekau checks. 10 A battle
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (architecture 0 People talking1
and engineering), you gain a +2 bonus on Search checks 5 A person in medium armour walking

ancient skills
made to find secret doors or hidden compartments. at a slow pace (10-ft./round) trying
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (geography), not to make any noise
you gain a +2 bonus on Survival checks made to keep from
10 An unarmoured person walking at a
gaining lost or to avoid natural hazards.
slow pace (15-ft./round) trying not to
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (history), you
make any noise
gain a +2 bonus on Lore checks, if you are a bard or sage.
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (local), you 15 A 1st level thief using Move Silently to
gain a +2 bonus on Gather Information checks. sneak past the listener
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (nature), you 15 People whispering1
gain a +2 bonus on Survival checks made in above-ground 19 A cat stalking
natural environments, such as aquatic, desert, forest, hill,
30 An owl gliding in for a kill
marsh, mountains or plains.
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (nobility and 1
If you beat the DC by 10 or more, you can make
royalty), you gain a +2 bonus on Presence checks. out whats being said, assuming that you understand
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (philosophy), the language.
you gain a +2 bonus on Solve Conundrum checks.
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (religion: Listen DC Condition
Greek or Egyptian), you gain a +2 bonus on opposed Modifier
Prayer checks when reducing anothers die roll result with +5 Through a door
Divine Points. +15 Through a stone wall
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (tactics and
+1 Per 10-ft. of distance
strategy), you gain a +2 bonus on Initiative checks.
If you have five or more ranks in Survival, you gain a +2 5 Listener distracted
bonus on Knowledge (nature) checks.
Try Again: Yes. You can try to hear something that you
Untrained: An untrained Knowledge check is simply an failed to hear previously with no penalty.
Intelligence check. Without actual training, you know
only common knowledge (DC 10 or lower). Special: When several characters are listening to the same
thing, a single d20 roll can be used for all the individuals
Listen checks.
Listen (Wis)
Be it the hissing of a cobra, the creaking of a floorboard or
A fascinated creature suffers a 4 penalty on Listen checks
the knocking of an arrow, this is the skill to call upon to
made as reactions. If you have the Alertness feat, you gain a
prevent such unwanted surprises.
+2 bonus on Listen checks. A sleeping character may make
Listen checks at a 10 penalty. A successful check awakens
Check: Your Listen check is either made against a DC that
the sleeper.
reflects how quiet the noise is that you might hear or it is
opposed by your targets Move Silently check.
Medicine (Int; Trained Only)
In the case of people trying to be quiet, the DCs given on Medicine is the science of assisting recovery from ailments
the table could be replaced by Move Silently checks, in or wounds over time. It is contrasted with Heal, which
which case the indicated DC would be their average check is simple first aid performed in the field. It is most
result. commonly used to treat grievous wounds. Medicine is also
used to treat diseases.
Action: Varies. Every time you have a chance to hear
something in a reactive manner, such as when someone Check: The DC of a Medicine check is usually the size of
makes a noise or you move into a new area, you can make the grievous wound being treated.
a Listen check without using an action. Trying to hear
something you failed to hear previously is a move action. Treat Grievous Wound: Medicine can treat grievous
wounds without resorting to the horrors of cautery

67
 (see Grievous Wounds in the Combat chapter). You can
treat multiple grievous wounds in a day, so long as you have
time. You can treat a grievous wound on your own body at
a 5 penalty to the check. No one grievous wound may be
treated more than once per day.
Treat Disease: To treat a disease means to tend a single
ancient skills
diseased character. Every time they make a saving throw
against disease effects, you make a Medicine check. The
diseased character uses your check result or their saving
throw, whichever is higher.
Action: Treating a grievous wound requires 30 minutes of
intense work.
Try Again: Yes. You can always retry a check to treat
a grievous wound, assuming the target of the previous
attempt is still alive. You may not, however, treat the same
wound more than once in a day.
Move Silently (Dex; Armour
Check Penalty)
For those not inclined to the harsh ways of the warrior,
sneaking around can be rather appealing. Use this skill
to approach a guard unseen or escape the clutches of a
sleeping captor.
Check: Your Move Silently check is opposed by the Listen
check of anyone who might hear you. You can move up to
one-half your normal speed at no penalty. When moving at
a speed greater than one-half but less than your full speed,
68
Check
Surface Modifier
Noisy (scree, shallow or deep bog, 2
undergrowth, dense rubble)
Very noisy (dense undergrowth, deep 5
snow)
you suffer a 5 penalty. It is practically impossible (20
penalty) to move silently while running or charging.
It is difficult to move silently across some surfaces, such as
bogs or undergrowth. When you try to sneak across such
a surface, you suffer a penalty on your Move Silently check
as indicated below.
Action: None. A Move Silently check is included in your
movement or other activity, so it is part of another action.
Special: If you have the Stealthy feat, you gain a +2 bonus
on Move Silently checks.
Perform (Cha)
Like Craft, Knowledge and Profession, Perform is actually
a number of separate skills.
You could have several Perform skills, each with its own
ranks, each purchased as a separate skill.
Each of the nine categories of the Perform skill includes a
variety of methods, instruments or techniques, a small list
of which is provided for each category below.
Act (drama, ritual performance)
Clowning (buffoonery, pratfalls, joke-telling)
Dance (belly dancing, classical dance)
Oratory (epic, ode, storytelling)
Percussion instruments (drum, tambourine, gong)
Satire (mockery, parody, comic impressions, ridicule,
sending up individuals)
String instruments (lute)
Wind instruments (pan pipes, trumpet)
Sing (chant, intone, melody)
Check: You can impress audiences with your talent and
skill.
A masterwork musical instrument earns you a +2
circumstance bonus on Perform checks that involve its
use.
 Perform
DC Performance
10 Routine performance. Trying to
feed yourself by playing in public is
essentially begging. You earn enough
food to feed yourself and a bed for the
night.
15 Enjoyable performance. Your rewards
meet your daily needs adequately.
20 Great performance. You are
rewarded with ample foodstuffs
and offered a choice of comfortable
accommodations. In time, you may
be invited to join a professional troupe
and may develop a regional reputation.
25 Memorable performance. People
compete for your attention. You can
live comfortably for a week. In time,
you may come to the attention of
noble patrons and develop a national
reputation.
30 Extraordinary performance. You can
live comfortably for a month. In time,
you may draw attention from distant
potential patrons or even from the
Gods themselves.
Action: Varies. Trying to earn money by playing in public
requires anywhere from an evenings work to a full days
performance. The bards special Perform-based abilities are
described in that classs description.
Try Again: Yes. Retries are allowed, but they do not
negate previous failures and an audience that has been
unimpressed in the past is likely to be prejudiced against
any future performances. Increase the DC by two for each
previous failure.
Prayer (Wis)
Your ranks in the Prayer skill represent your affinity with
the divine and your ability to contact your deity when you
need to. Characters will mostly be using Prayer to oppose
anothers attempts to reduce their die rolls with divine
points. Priests and priestesses have the Request Miracle
class feature, which enables them to use Prayer to petition
their deity for miracles.
Check: A Prayer check is made against a given DC to
petition a deity for a miracle. This is a standard action
requiring concentration and provokes an attack of
opportunity.
Religious Rituals: You make a Prayer check at DC 10 to
carry out the basic religious rituals of your faith. If you
are a priest, you may use this check to conduct services
and similar rituals. In the Greek traditions, it is also
used to sanctify a corpse after death and prevent wicked
spirits from claiming the body for their use. The Egyptian
ancient skills
traditions use the Hekau skill for similar purposes.
Reducing Anothers Roll With Divine Points: Opposed
Prayer checks made when spending divine points to reduce
anothers die roll are made as free actions.
Warding Off and Dismissing Undead: You can pray to your
deity for protection against the attacks of wicked spirits,
including those that have been bound into a dead body,
such as a composite. For more information on the walking
dead and discarnate entities (see Death and Beyond and the
Bestiary chapter). A more challenging prayer can be made
to banish the corrupt spirit altogether, sending it from the
material world into the afterlife. Discarnate creatures are
dismissed, while creatures with bodies made from dead
matter are destroyed and their animating spirits banished.
Prayer checks made to ward off undead creatures or dismiss
their troubled spirits are made against a DC of 10 plus
the creatures Hit Dice plus its manifestation bonus in
the case of warding off or 15 plus the same variables in
the case of dismissal. A Prayer check made to ward off or
dismiss a creature is made as a standard action that requires
concentration and provokes an attack of opportunity.
Action: Religious rituals take one hour to perform.
Try Again: Varies. You cannot attempt to perform funeral
rites twice. Dedicate checks can be attempted again but the
DC increases by one with each attempt.
Presence (Cha)
Presence is the ability to use your force of personality and
striking appearance to your best advantage. A warrior
bellowing on the field to intimidate foes, a priest speaking
from the temple steps to awe a congregation and a witch
overcoming the willpower of a hero with her beauty are all
examples of Presence in action.
Check: You can change anothers behaviour with a
successful check. The opposing check depends on the
purpose for which you are using Presence.
Intimidation: Your Presence check is opposed by the targets
modified level check (1d20 + character level or Hit Dice +
targets Wisdom bonus, if any). If you are using Presence
to intimidate, your target may add any bonuses against fear
effects; if you are using it to seduce, your target may add
any bonuses against charm effects.
69
 If you beat your targets check result, you may treat the
target as friendly, but only for the purpose of actions taken
while it remains intimidated. While intimidated, the
target retains its normal attitude, but will chat, advise, offer
limited help or advocate on your behalf. The effect lasts as
long as the target remains in your presence and for 1d610
minutes afterward. After this time, the targets default
ancient skills
attitude toward you shifts to unfriendly or, if normally
unfriendly, to hostile.
If you fail the check by five or more, the target provides
you with incorrect and useless information or otherwise
frustrates your efforts.
Seduction: Your Presence check is opposed by the targets
Sense Motive check. If you beat your targets check result,
you may treat the target as friendly. The target is allowed a
new Sense Motive check every hour. He is also entitled to
a Sense Motive check every time you steer him into actions
that involve risk to himself or a challenge to his personal
belief system. Once he has made this check, he resumes his
default attitude towards you.
If you fail the check by five or more, the target becomes one
step less friendly than he was before; an indifferent target
becomes unfriendly and an unfriendly target becomes
hostile.
Demoralise Opponent: You can also use Presence to weaken
an opponents resolve in combat. To do so, make a
Presence check opposed by the targets modified level check
(see above). If you win, the target becomes shaken for one
round. A shaken character takes a 2 penalty on attack
rolls, ability checks and saving throws. You can demoralise
only an opponent that you threaten in melee combat and
that can see you.
Action: Varies. Changing anothers behaviour requires
one minute of interaction. Intimidating an opponent in
combat is a standard action.
Try Again: Optional, but not recommended as retries
usually do not work. Even if the initial check succeeds, the
other character can be impressed only so far. If the initial
check fails, the other character has probably become more
firmly resolved to resist the power of your presence and a
retry is futile.
Special: When you use Presence for intimidation, you gain
a +4 bonus on your check for every size category that you
are larger than your target. Conversely, you suffer a 4
penalty on your check for every size category that you are
smaller than your target.
70
When you use Presence for seduction, you gain a +2 bonus
on your check for every social rank that you are higher than
your target.
A character immune to fear cannot be intimidated with
Presence and a character immune to charm cannot be
seduced. Non-intelligent creatures are not affected by
Presence at all.
If you have the Persuasive feat, you gain a +2 bonus on
Presence checks.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Bluff, you gain
a +2 bonus on Presence checks.
Profession (Wis; Trained
Only)
Like Craft, Knowledge and Perform, Profession is actually
a number of separate skills. You could have several
Profession skills, each with its own ranks, each purchased
as a separate skill. While a Craft skill represents ability in
creating or making an item, a Profession skill represents
an aptitude in a vocation requiring a broader range of less
specific knowledge.
When creating a character, you may only select Profession
skills appropriate to the characters original social class.
Some professions can only be taken by slaves, as they are
not fit to be undertaken by more refined citizens. The
character classes of Warrior, Noble Warrior, Sage and
Courtesan are all Professions in their own right as well
as being character classes. If you are a member of one
of these classes, you automatically have a number of skill
ranks in Profession (character class) equal to your level of
experience.
In the context of the game, a profession also includes an
office, such as governor, judge or commander. Typical
professions are given below. Professions in italics are
available to women; those that are exclusively available to
women are obvious.
Upper Class Professions: Landlord, governor, judge, council
member, commander, functionary
Middle Class Professions: Merchant, scribe (only if literate),
shopkeeper, innkeeper, moneylender, moneychanger, slave
trader, guardsman, messenger, nursemaid, midwife
Lower Class Professions: Farmer, fisherman, reed-cutter,
sailor, herder, water-seller, woodsman, charcoal burner,
beggar
Slave Professions: Servant, handmaid, labourer, digger,
concubine, miner
Women of any social class except slaves may take the
household manager profession, which represents the
organisational skill to organise a household and the slaves
working within it.
Check: You can practice your trade or fulfil the duties of
your office and make a decent living. If you are playing
in the historical era, you earn half your check result in
Guide with Knees: You can react instantly to guide your
mount with your knees so that you can use both hands in
combat. Make your Ride check at the start of your turn. If
you fail, you can use only one hand this round because you
need to use the other to control your mount.

silver drachmas per week for an upper or middle class
profession and half the check result in oboli for a working
class profession. Slave professions do not earn any money;
a successful check means a satisfactory weeks work in the
eyes of your masters, with good treatment as your reward.
In addition to keeping yourself alive, you learn how to
perform the professions daily tasks, how to supervise
helpers and how to handle common problems.
ancient skills
Stay Mounted: You can react instantly to try to avoid falling
when your mount rears or bolts unexpectedly or when you
take damage. This usage does not take an action.
Fight with Warhorse: If you direct your war-trained mount
to attack in battle, you can still make your own attack or
attacks normally. This usage is a free action as it is used
reactively.

Action: Not applicable. A single check generally represents
a week of work.
Try Again: Varies. An attempt to use a Profession skill
to earn an income cannot be retried. You are stuck with
whatever weekly wage your check result has brought you.
Another check may be made after a week to determine a
new income for the next week. An attempt to accomplish
some specific task can usually be retried.
Untrained: Untrained labourers and assistants, characters
without any ranks in Profession, earn an average of one
oboli per week, unless they are slaves, in which case they
earn nothing save good treatment.
Ride (Dex)
The cultures of the ancient world do not use riding saddles;
at most, a cloth is put on the horses back to sit upon.
Stirrups are not invented until later years. Nonetheless,
bareback riding is a skill that many learn.
Check: Typical riding actions do not require checks. You
can mount, ride and dismount from a mount without a
problem.
The following tasks do require checks.
Soft Fall: You can react instantly to try to avoid injury
should you fall off a mount when it is killed, hamstrung
or when it falls, for example. If you fail your Ride check,
you take 1d6 points of falling damage. This usage does not
take an action as it is used reactively.
Leap: You can gain your mount to leap obstacles as part of
its movement. Use your Ride modifier or the mounts Jump
modifier, whichever is lower, to see how far the creature can
jump. If you fail your Ride check, you fall from the mount
when it leaps and take the appropriate falling damage, at
least 1d6 points. This usage does not take an action, but is
part of the mounts movement.
Spur Mount: You can spur your mount to greater speed
with a move action. A successful Ride check increases the
mounts speed by 10 feet for one round but deals one point
of damage to the creature. You can use this ability every
round, but each consecutive round of additional speed
deals twice as much damage to the mount as the previous
round (two points, four points, eight points and so on).
Control Mount in Battle: As a move action, you can attempt
to control a light horse, pony, heavy horse or other mount
not trained for combat riding while in battle. If you fail the
Ride check, you can do nothing else in that round. You do
not need to roll for warhorses or warponies.

Ride Ride Fast Mount or Dismount: You can attempt to mount or

Task DC Task DC dismount from a mount of up to one size category larger
Guide with knees 10 Leap 15 than yourself as a free action, provided that you still have
Stay mounted 10 Spur mount 15 a move action available that round. If you fail the Ride
check, mounting or dismounting is a move action. You
Fight with 10 Control mount 20
cannot use fast mount or dismount on a mount more than
warhorse in battle
one size category larger than yourself.
Soft fall 15 Fast mount or 201
dismount Action: Varies. Mounting or dismounting normally is a
1
Armour check penalty applies. move action. Other checks are a move action, a free action
or no action at all, as noted above.

71
 Special: The Ride skill is a prerequisite for the Task Search DC
feats Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat, Ride-
By Attack, Spirited Charge and Trample. Ransack a chest full of junk to find a certain item 10
Find a word scratched into a wall 15
If you have the Animal Affinity feat, you gain a Notice a typical secret door or a concealed pit 20
+2 bonus on Ride checks. If you attempt to ride
Find a dropped earring on a grass lawn 25
a creature that is ill suited as a mount, you suffer
ancient skills

a 5 penalty on your Ride checks. Notice a well-hidden secret door 30

Find a footprint Varies1
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in
Handle Animal, you gain a +2 bonus on Ride 1
A successful Search check can find a footprint or similar sign of a
checks. creatures passage, but it will not let you find or follow a trail. See
the Track feat for the appropriate DC.
Rhetoric (Cha)
Rhetoric is the art of speaking persuasively in order to Check: You generally must be within 10 feet of the object
influence the emotions of the listener. Whether you are or surface to be searched. The table below gives DCs for
addressing one person or a hundred, you can use body typical tasks involving the Search skill.
language, well-chosen phrases, emotive terms and classical
illusions to move their hearts. Rhetoric is very different Action: It takes a full-round action to search a five foot by
from Debate. Rhetoric appeals to the heart, while Debate five foot area or a volume of goods five feet on a side.
appeals to the mind. You must have the willing attention
of your audience in order to use Rhetoric. Someone who is Special: If you have the Investigator feat, you gain a +2
staring at you with hatred, about to hurl a spear at you, is bonus on Search checks.
giving you their willing attention. Rhetoric is a language-
dependent skill; the audience must be able to understand Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Search, you gain
you in order for it to work. a +2 bonus on Survival checks to find or follow tracks.
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (architecture
Check: You can use Rhetoric to change your audiences and engineering), you gain a +2 bonus on Search checks to
attitude towards you or towards another person known to find secret doors or hidden compartments.
them. For example, you can attempt to make an indifferent
person friendly towards you or you can attempt to make
an indifferent crowd hostile towards a specific person.
Sense Motive (Wis)
Think that the innocent looking merchant in front of you
Rhetoric is the skill used in rabble rousing, in which one
is really an evil king bent on your eventual destruction? Use
person stirs up hatred against others.
this skill to determine whether you are being told the truth,
or whether the person before you is all they claim to be.
Rhetoric can also be used to influence morale on the
battlefield by giving inspiring speeches. A successful
Check: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see
Rhetoric check against DC 10 grants the listeners a +1
the Bluff skill). You can also use this skill to determine
morale bonus to all morale-related checks and saving
when something odd is going on or to assess someones
throws, such as Will saving throws against fear effects.
trustworthiness.
Failure by more than 5 on this check imparts a 1 penalty
to the same checks and saving throws. If the warriors are
Task Sense Motive DC
already dispirited or depressed, the Games Master may raise
this DC to 15 or 20. Hunch 20
Sense enchantment 25 or 15
Special: If you have the Persuasive feat, you gain a +2 Discern secret message Varies
bonus on Rhetoric checks.

Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Bluff, you gain Hunch: This use of the skill involves making a gut
a +2 bonus on Rhetoric checks. assessment of the social situation. You can gain the feeling
from anothers behaviour that something is wrong, such as
when youre talking to an impostor. Alternatively, you can
Search (Int) gain the feeling that someone is trustworthy.
With this skill you can uncover the secrets of your
surroundings, be it a hidden tomb, a deadly trap or a secret
Sense Enchantment: You can tell that someones behaviour
passageway.
is being influenced by a mind-affecting effect, even if that
72
person is not aware of it. The usual DC is 25, but if the Sleight of Hand (Dex;
target is dominated (see dominate will), the DC is only 15
because of the limited range of the targets activities. Trained Only; Armour
Check Penalty)
Discern Secret Message: You may use Sense Motive to detect Use this skill for a spot of thievery or conceal a weapon
that a hidden message is being transmitted via the Bluff within the folds of your cloak to avoid a suspicious sentry.

skill. In this case, your Sense Motive check is opposed by
the Bluff check of the character transmitting the message.
For each piece of information relating to the message that
you are missing, you suffer a 2 penalty on your Sense
Motive check. If you succeed by four or less, you know
that something hidden is being communicated, but you
cannot learn anything specific about its content. If you
beat the DC by five or more, you intercept and understand
the message. If you fail by four or less, you do not detect
any hidden communication. If you fail by five or more,
you infer some false information.
Action: Trying to gain information with Sense Motive
generally takes at least one minute and you could spend a
whole evening trying to gain a sense of the people around
you.
ancient skills
Check: A DC 10 Sleight of Hand check lets you palm a
coin-sized, unattended object. Performing a minor feat
of legerdemain, such as making a coin disappear, also
has a DC of 10 unless an observer is determined to note
where the item went. When you use this skill under close
observation, your skill check is opposed by the observers
Spot check. The observers success does not prevent you
from performing the action, just from doing it unnoticed.
You can hide a small object, including a light weapon or
an easily concealed ranged weapon, such as a sling on your
body. Your Sleight of Hand check is opposed by the Spot
check of anyone observing you or the Search check of
anyone frisking you. In the latter case, the searcher gains a
+4 bonus on the Search check, since it is generally easier to
find such an object than to hide it.

Try Again: No, though you may make a Sense Motive
check for each Bluff check made against you.
Special: If you have the Negotiator feat, you gain a +2
bonus on Sense Motive checks.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Sense Motive,
you gain a +2 bonus on Rhetoric checks.
A dagger is easier to hide than most light weapons and
grants you a +2 bonus on your Sleight of Hand check to
conceal it. An extraordinarily small object, such as a coin,
gem or ring, grants you a +4 bonus on your Sleight of Hand
check to conceal it and heavy or baggy clothing, such as a
cloak, grants you a +2 bonus on the check.
Drawing a hidden weapon is a standard action and does
not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Influencing Attitudes If you try to take

Use this table to determine the effectiveness of Rhetoric or Charisma checks made to influence something from another
the attitude of a character or group of characters. creature, you must make
a DC 20 Sleight of
Initial Attitude New Attitude (DC to achieve) Hand check to obtain it.
The opponent makes a
Hostile Unfriendly Indifferent Friendly Helpful Spot check to detect the
Hostile Less than 20 20 25 35 50 attempt, opposed by the
Unfriendly Less than 5 5 15 25 40 same Sleight of Hand
check result you achieved
Indifferent Less than 1 1 15 30
when you tried to grab
Friendly Less than 1 1 20 the item. An opponent
Helpful Less than 1 1 who succeeds on this
check notices the attempt,
Attitude Means Possible Actions regardless of whether you
Hostile Will take risks to hurt you Attack, interfere, berate, flee got the item.
Unfriendly Wishes you ill Mislead, gossip, avoid, watch suspiciously,
insult You can also use Sleight
of Hand to entertain an
Indifferent Does not much care Socially expected interaction audience as though you
Friendly Wishes you well Chat, advise, offer limited help, advocate were using the Perform
Helpful Will take risks to help you Protect, back up, heal, aid skill. In such a case,

73
 your act encompasses elements of legerdemain, juggling
and the like.

Sleight of
Hand DC Task
10 Palm a coin-sized object, make a
ancient skills

coin disappear
20 Lift a small object from a person

Action: Any Sleight of Hand check normally is a standard

action. However, you may perform a Sleight of Hand check
as a free action by taking a 20 penalty on the check.

Try Again: Yes, but after an initial failure, a second Sleight

of Hand attempt against the same target or while the
same observer is watching you who noticed your previous
attempt increases the DC for the task by 10.

Special: If you have the Deft Hands feat, you gain a +2

bonus on Sleight of Hand checks.

Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Bluff, you gain

a +2 bonus on Sleight of Hand checks.

Untrained: An untrained Sleight of Hand check is simply

a Dexterity check. Without actual training, you cannot
succeed on any Sleight of Hand check with a DC higher
than 10, except for hiding an object on your body.
Solve Conundrum (Int)
This skill covers the ability to unscramble a mental puzzle of
any kind in your mind. The Solve Conundrum skill is used
to overcome deliberate attempts to confuse or bewilder a
person by presenting them with a riddle or paradox. Solve
Conundrum is used to decipher visual puzzles and to
navigate labyrinths. You cannot use it to avoid gaining lost
in the wilderness, as that is a natural hazard, but you can
use it to avoid becoming lost in a maze of passages.
Check: The DC for solving a conundrum varies according
to its complexity.
Conundrum DC
Average conundrum, such as a tavern riddle 20
Difficult conundrum, such as the Cretan 25
labyrinth
Challenging conundrum, such as the riddle 30
of the Sphinx
Legendary conundrum, such as the Gordian 40
Knot
Success when making a Solve Conundrum check to
navigate a maze means that you know exactly where you
are and do not risk becoming lost. Success when using the
skill to solve a physical puzzle, such as opening a locking
mechanism on a tomb door, means that the puzzle is solved
outright. If you successfully use the Solve Conundrum skill
to solve a riddle, the Games Master may choose to give you
a hint rather than giving you the answer outright, for the
sake of roleplaying consistency.
Decipher Glyphs: If you have the Literate feat, you may
make a Solve Conundrum check at a DC of 20 to assess
the general meaning of an inscription written in a language
that you do not understand. You can only ever tell the gist
of the inscription, not the precise meaning.
Action: Attempting to solve a conundrum is a full-round
action.
Special: If you have the Agile Mind feat, you gain a +2
bonus on Solve Conundrum checks.
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Solve
Conundrum, you gain a +2 bonus on Use Rope checks to
untie a knot and on Sense Motive checks made to oppose
uses of the Bluff skill.

74
 Speak Language (None;
Trained Only)
Action: Not applicable.
Try Again: Not applicable. There are no Speak Language
checks to fail.
The Speak Language skill does not work like other skills.
Languages work as follows.
At 1st level you know one language based on your
background plus an additional number of languages
equal to your starting Intelligence bonus.
You can purchase Speak Language just like any other
skill, but instead of buying a rank in it, you choose a new
language that you can speak.
You do not make Speak Language checks. You either
know a language or you do not.
A literate character can read and write any language they
speak.
The available languages in the ancient world are Assyrian,
Greek, Egyptian, Hittite, Nubian, Persian, Phoenician and
Scythian.
Spot (Wis)
Might the mysterious hooded lady before you really be a
dangerous hag intent on turning you into a frog? Us this
skill to see through a disguise, read a persons lips or notice
a creature waiting in ambush.
Check: The Spot skill is used primarily to detect characters
or creatures that are hiding. Typically, your Spot check is
opposed by the Hide check of the creature trying not to be
seen. Sometimes a creature is not intentionally hiding but
is still difficult to see, so a successful Spot check is necessary
to notice it.
A Spot check result higher than 20 generally lets you
become aware of an invisible creature near you, though you
cannot actually see it.
Spot is also used to detect someone in disguise (see the
Disguise skill) and to read lips when you cannot hear or
understand what someone is saying.
Spot checks may be called for to determine the distance
at which an encounter begins. A penalty applies on
such checks, depending on the distance between the two
individuals or groups and an additional penalty may apply
if the character making the Spot check is distracted or
otherwise not concentrating on being observant.
Condition Penalty
Per 10-ft. of distance 1
Spotter distracted 5
Read Lips: To understand what someone is saying by
ancient skills
reading lips, you must be within 30 feet of the speaker,
be able to see them speak and understand the speakers
language. This use of the skill is language-dependent. The
base DC is 15, but it increases for complex speech or an
inarticulate speaker. You must maintain a line of sight to
the lips being read.
If your Spot check succeeds, you can understand the
general content of a minutes worth of speaking, but you
usually still miss certain details. If the check fails by four or
less, you cannot read the speakers lips. If the check fails by
five or more, you draw some incorrect conclusion about the
speech. The check is rolled secretly in this case, so that you
do not know whether you succeeded or missed by five.
Action: Varies. Every time you have a chance to spot
something in a reactive manner you can make a Spot check
without using an action. Trying to spot something you
failed to see previously is a move action. To read lips, you
must concentrate for a full minute before making a Spot
check and you cannot perform any other action other than
moving at up to half speed during this minute.
Try Again: Yes. You can try to spot something that you
failed to see previously at no penalty. You can attempt to
read lips once per minute.
Special: A fascinated creature suffers a 4 penalty on Spot
checks made as reactions. If you have the Alertness feat,
you gain a +2 bonus on Spot checks.
Survival (Wis)
This skill encompasses many outdoor activities, such as
following basic tracks, guiding your fellows across a flat
and barren desert or hunting game for the evening meal.
Also useful for avoiding the dangers of nature, such as a
crocodile waiting in the reeds or shifting sands near an
innocent looking oasis.
Check: You can keep yourself and others safe and fed in the
wild. The table below gives the DCs for various tasks that
require Survival checks.
Survival does not allow you to follow difficult tracks unless
you have the Track feat; see the Restriction section below.
Action: Varies. A single Survival check may represent
activity over the course of hours or a full day. A Survival
check made to find tracks is at least a full-round action and
it may take even longer.
75
 Survival DC Task
10 Gain along in the wild. Move up
to one-half your overland speed
while hunting and foraging (no
food or water supplies needed).
You can provide food and water
ancient skills
for one other person for every two
points by which your check result
exceeds 10.
15 Spend an hour foraging for herbs
(see the Finding Herbs section in
the Equipment chapter).
15 Gain a +2 bonus on all Fortitude
saves against severe weather while
moving up to one-half your
overland speed or gain a +4 bonus
if you remain stationary. You may
grant the same bonus to one other
character for every one point by
which your Survival check result
exceeds 15.
15 Keep from gaining lost or avoid
natural hazards, such as quicksand.
15 Predict the weather up to 24 hours
in advance. For every five points
by which your Survival check
result exceeds 15, you can predict
the weather for one additional day
in advance.
Varies Follow tracks (see the Track feat).
Try Again: Varies. For gaining along in the wild or for
gaining the Fortitude save bonus noted in the table above,
you make a Survival check once every 24 hours. The result
of that check applies until the next check is made. To avoid
gaining lost or avoid natural hazards, you make a Survival
check whenever the situation calls for one. Retries to avoid
gaining lost in a specific situation or to avoid a specific
natural hazard are not allowed. For finding tracks, you
can retry a failed check after one hour, if outdoors or 10
minutes if indoors, of searching.
Restriction: While anyone can use Survival to find tracks
(regardless of the DC) or to follow tracks when the DC
for the task is 10 or lower, only a character with the Track
feat can use Survival to follow tracks when the task has a
higher DC.
Special: If you have five or more ranks in Survival, you can
automatically determine where true north lies in relation to
yourself. If you have the Self-Sufficient feat, you gain a +2
bonus on Survival checks.
76
Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Survival, you
gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (nature) checks.
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (nature), you
gain a +2 bonus on Survival checks in natural environments
such as aquatic, desert, forest, hill, marsh, mountains and
plains.
If you have five or more ranks in Knowledge (geography),
you gain a +2 bonus on Survival checks made to keep from
gaining lost or to avoid natural hazards.
If you have five or more ranks in Search, you gain a +2
bonus on Survival checks to find or follow tracks.
Swim (Str; Armour Penalty)
Always useful if you are thrown from the side of your galley
by a passing god or the far more mundane issue of merely
staying afloat.
Check: Make a Swim check once per round while you are
in the water. Success means you may swim at up to one-
half your speed as a full-round action or at one-quarter
your speed as a move action. If you fail by four or less, you
make no progress through the water. If you fail by five or
more, you go underwater.
If you are underwater, either because you failed a Swim check
or because you are swimming underwater intentionally,
you must hold your breath. You can hold your breath for
a number of rounds equal to your Constitution score, but
only if you do nothing other than take move or free actions.
If you take a standard or full-round action, such as making
an attack, the remainder of the duration for which you can
hold your breath is reduced by one round. Effectively, a
character in combat can hold their breath only half as long
as normal. After that period of time, you must make a DC
10 Constitution check every round to continue holding
your breath. Each round, the DC for that check increases
by one. If you fail the Constitution check, you begin to
drown.
The DC for the Swim check depends on the water, as given
on the table below.
Water Swim DC
Calm water 10
Rough water 15
Stormy water 201
1
You cannot take 10 on a Swim check in stormy
water, even if you are not otherwise being threatened
or distracted.
Each hour that you swim, you must make a DC 20 Swim
check or take 1d6 points of non-lethal damage from
fatigue.
Action: A successful Swim check allows you to swim one-
quarter of your speed as a move action or one-half your
speed as a full-round action.
Special: Swim checks are subject to double the normal
armour check penalty and encumbrance penalty.
Obstructed or otherwise treacherous surfaces, such as
natural cavern floors or undergrowth, are tough to tumble
through. The DC for any Tumble check made to tumble
into such a square is modified as indicated below.
Accelerated Tumbling: You try to tumble past or through

If you have the Athletic feat, you gain a +2 bonus on Swim
checks. If you have the Endurance feat, you gain a +4
bonus on Swim checks made to avoid taking non-lethal
damage from fatigue.
A creature with a swim speed can move through water at its
indicated speed without making Swim checks. It gains a +8
racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action
or avoid a hazard. The creature always can choose to take
10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered when
swimming. Such a creature can use the run action while
swimming, provided that it swims in a straight line.
Tumble (Dex; Trained Only;
Armour Check Penalty)
Be you a gymnast performing for a discerning monarch or
an adventurer dodging swinging axe traps, this is the skill
for you.
ancient skills
enemies more quickly than normal. By accepting a 10
penalty on your Tumble checks, you can move at your full
speed instead of one-half your speed.
Action: Not applicable. Tumbling is part of movement, so
a Tumble check is part of a move action.
Try Again: Usually no. An audience, once it has judged a
tumbler as an uninteresting performer, is not receptive to
repeat performances.
You can try to reduce damage from a fall as an instant
reaction only once per fall.
Special: You cannot use this skill if armour or items that
you are carrying have reduced your speed. If you have five
or more ranks in Tumble, you gain a +3 dodge bonus to
Active Defence when fighting defensively instead of the
usual +2 dodge bonus to Active Defence.

Check: You can land softly when you fall or tumble past
opponents. You can also tumble to entertain an audience,
as though using the Perform skill. The DCs for various
tasks involving the Tumble skill are given on the table
below.
If you have five or more ranks in Tumble, you gain a +6
dodge bonus to Active Defence when executing the total
defence standard action instead of the usual +4 dodge
bonus to Active Defence.
If you have the Acrobatic feat, you gain a +2 bonus on
Tumble checks.

Tumble
DC Task
15 Treat a fall as if it were 10 feet shorter than it really is when determining damage.
15 Tumble at one-half speed as part of normal movement, provoking no attacks of opportunity while doing
so. Failure means you provoke attacks of opportunity normally. Check separately for each opponent you
move past in the order in which you pass them; in case of a tie, the choice of order is yours.
Each additional enemy after the first adds +2 to the Tumble DC.
25 Tumble at one-half speed through an area occupied by an enemy (over, under or around the opponent)
as part of normal movement, provoking no attacks of opportunity while doing so. Failure means you
stop before entering the occupied area and provoke an attack of opportunity from that enemy.
Check separately for each opponent. Each additional enemy after the first adds +2 to the Tumble DC.

Surface Is . . . DC Modifier
Lightly obstructed (scree, light rubble, shallow bog*, undergrowth) +2
Severely obstructed (natural cavern floor, dense rubble, dense undergrowth) +5
Lightly slippery (wet floor) +2
Severely slippery (sheet ice) +5
Sloped or angled +2
* Tumbling is impossible in a deep bog.
77
 Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Tumble, you
gain a +2 bonus on Balance and Jump checks.
If you have five or more ranks in Jump, you gain a +2
bonus on Tumble checks.
ancient skills
Action: Varies. Throwing a grappling hook is a standard
action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Tying a
knot, tying a special knot or tying a rope around yourself
one-handed is a full-round action that provokes an attack
of opportunity. Splicing two ropes together takes five
minutes. Binding a character takes one minute.

Use Rope (Dex)

Use this skill to secure your ship on a quayside or tie up a Special: A silk rope gives you a +2 circumstance bonus on
troublesome bandit Use Rope checks.
If you have the Deft Hands feat, you gain a +2 bonus on
Check: Most tasks with a rope are relatively simple. The Use Rope checks.
DCs for various tasks utilising this skill are summarised on
the table below. Synergy: If you have five or more ranks in Use Rope, you
gain a +2 bonus on Climb checks made to climb a rope, a
knotted rope or a rope-and-wall combination.
Use Rope DC Task
10 Tie a firm knot If you have five or more ranks in Use Rope, you gain a +2
10* Secure a grappling hook bonus on Escape Artist checks when escaping from rope
15 Tie a special knot, such as one bonds.
that slips, slides slowly or loosens
with a tug If you have five or more ranks in Escape Artist, you gain a
+2 bonus on checks made to bind someone.
15 Tie a rope around yourself one-
handed
15 Splice two ropes together
Witchcraft (Cha, Trained
Varies Bind a character Only)
Witchcraft is the ability to manipulate magical energies
* Add two to the DC for every 10-ft. the hook is by the force of will and the use of natural power. It is
thrown; see below. not an exclusively female skill but women are much more
adept at its use than men are; male characters always make
Secure a Grappling Hook: Securing a grappling hook Witchcraft checks at a 4 penalty.
requires a Use Rope check (DC 10, +2 for every 10 feet
of distance the grappling hook is thrown, to a maximum Check: You make a Witchcraft check to produce magical
DC of 20 at 50 feet). Failure by four or less indicates effects or prepare magical objects. A Witchcraft check
that the hook fails to catch and falls, allowing you to try is made as a standard action and provokes an attack of
again. Failure by five or more indicates that the grappling opportunity.
hook initially holds, but comes loose after 1d4 rounds of
supporting weight. This check is made secretly, so that you Special: Other characters can assist a caster to produce
do not know whether the rope will hold your weight. magical effects with Witchcraft; see the Group Casting
entry in the Magic chapter for further details.
Bind a Character: When you
bind another character with a
rope, any Escape Artist check
that the bound character
makes is opposed by your Use
Rope check.

You gain a +10 bonus on this

check because it is easier to
bind someone than to escape
from bonds. You do not even
make your Use Rope check
until someone tries to escape.

78
 Ancient
Feats
Feats are impressive special abilities that characters gain
as they progress. They represent extraordinary ability in a
given region, the knack of pulling off a stunt or the power
to ignore a limitations that other characters have.
Feats are the most important part of customising a character
as each one grants some small advantage that characters
without that specific feat do not have. All noble warriors
have the same class skills, but not every noble warrior has
the ability to Cleave their enemy. The limited nature of
feats, with most characters having no more than eight by
the time they reach 20th level, makes the choice of which
feat to take each time one becomes available a major part of
character progression in OGL Ancients.
Prerequisites
Some feats have prerequisites. Your character must have
the indicated ability score, class feature, feat, skill, base
attack bonus or other quality designated in order to select
or use that feat. A character can gain a feat at the same level
at which they gain the prerequisite. A character cannot use
a feat if they have lost a prerequisite.
Feat Descriptions
All feats in OGL Ancients are presented in the following
format;
Feat Name [Type of Feat]
Prerequisite: A minimum ability score, feat or feats, a
minimum base attack bonus, a minimum number of ranks
in one or more skills or a class level that a character must
have in order to acquire this feat. This entry is absent if a
feat has no prerequisite. A feat may have more than one
prerequisite.
Benefit: What the feat enables the character (you in the
feat description) to do. If a character has the same feat
more than once, its benefits do not stack unless indicated
otherwise in the description.
In general, having a feat twice is the same as having it
once.
Normal: What a character who does not have this feat
is limited to or restricted from doing. If no particular
drawback results from not having the feat, then this entry
is absent.
Special: Additional facts about the feat that may be helpful
when you decide whether to acquire the feat.
types of feat
Divine
As a spellcasters knowledge of magic grows, they can learn
to cast spells in ways slightly different ways. Preparing and
casting a spell in such a way can often be harder on the
ancient feats
caster than normal but, thanks to divine feats, it is possible
to modify spells and their effects.
Formation Feats
A formation feat is a special kind of feat that is available
to warriors only. Formation feats represent the additional
efficiency of a trained unit fighting as such. For any
character to benefit from a formation feat, he must be in
the appropriate formation with at least one other character
who has the same feat. (To be in a formation, the characters
simply have to be in a stated position relative to each other,
such as a line.) If other characters in the formation do
not have the feat, then the benefit is not applied. When
multiple characters with the same formation feat are in
formation, then every character in the formation benefits
from the effects of the feat. You do not have to take any
special action to form a formation. All that matters is
where the various participating characters are standing.
For example, if three warriors have the Form Phalanx feat
and are standing side by side, then they can benefit from a
bonus to all their Shield Defence checks. This is because
the shields in the phalanx are held so as to overlap.
Some formation feats require the characters in the
formation to act simultaneously in order to benefit from
the effects of the formation feat. To do this, characters
must use the delay action option (see Combat) and take
their action when an agreed member of the group does so.
General Feats
Any character class can select any feat designated as a
general feat. This designation, therefore, does not restrict
any particular character class from selecting these feats,
assuming that they meet any prerequisites.
Acrobatic [General]
You are physically lithe and in good shape, capable of
making strong leaps and mid-air flips.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Jump checks and
Tumble checks.
Agile [General]
You have excellent control over your body, knowing what
your muscles are doing at any given time.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Balance checks and
Escape Artist checks.
79
 Alertness [General]
Your senses are exceptionally keen.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Listen checks and Spot
checks.
Animal Affinity [General]
ancient feats
You relate extraordinarily well to animals.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Handle Animal checks
and Ride checks.
Armour Proficiency (Heavy)
[General]
You have been trained in the use of heavy armour and are
comfortable in it.
Prerequisites: Armour Proficiency (light), Armour
Proficiency (medium).
Benefit: See Armour Proficiency (light).
Normal: See Armour Proficiency (light).
Special: Noble warriors automatically have Armour
Proficiency (heavy) as a bonus feat. They need not select
it.
Armour Proficiency (Light)
[General]
You have been trained in the use of light armour and are
comfortable in it.
Benefit: When you wear a type of armour with which you
are proficient, the armour check penalty for that armour
applies only to Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump,
Move Silently, Sleight of Hand and Tumble checks.
Normal: A character who is wearing armour with which
they are not proficient applies its armour check penalty
to attack rolls and to all skill checks that involve moving,
including Ride.
Special: All characters except artificers, courtesans, sages
and witches automatically have Armour Proficiency (light)
as a bonus feat. They need not select it.
Armour Proficiency (Medium)
[General]
You have been trained in the use of medium armour and
are comfortable in it.
Prerequisite: Armour Proficiency (light).
Benefit: See Armour Proficiency (light).
Normal: See Armour Proficiency (light).
Special: Warriors and noble warriors automatically have
Armour Proficiency (medium) as a bonus feat. They need
not select it.
Athletic [General]
You are physically fit and are good at covering ground.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Climb checks and
Swim checks.
80
Blind-Fight [General]
You are accustomed to fending off enemies that you cannot
see properly and are good at guessing where an unseen
assailant might be.
Benefit: In melee, every time you miss because of
concealment, you can re-roll your miss chance percentile
roll once to see if you actually hit.
An invisible attacker gets no advantages related to hitting
you in melee. That is, you do not lose your Dexterity
bonus to Active Defence and the attacker does not get the
usual +2 bonus for being invisible. The invisible attackers
bonuses do still apply for ranged attacks, however.
You take only half the usual penalty to speed for being
unable to see. Darkness and poor visibility in general
reduces your speed to three-quarters normal, instead of
one-half.
Normal: Regular attack roll modifiers for invisible attackers
trying to hit you apply and you lose your Dexterity bonus
to Active Defence. The speed reduction for darkness and
poor visibility also applies.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Blind-Fight
as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Cleave [General]
You can make blows so powerful that when one creature
drops, you move on to attack another.
Prerequisites: Str 13+, Power Attack.
Benefit: If you deal a creature enough damage to make
it drop (typically by dropping it to below 0 hit points
or killing it), you gain an immediate, extra melee attack
against another creature within reach. You cannot take a
five foot step before making this extra attack. The extra
attack is with the same weapon and at the same bonus as
the attack that dropped the previous creature. You can use
this ability once per round.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Cleave as
one of his warrior bonus feats.
Chariot Combat [General]
Prerequisites: Balance 1 rank, Mounted Combat.
Benefit: The penalty you take when using a ranged weapon
while riding in a chariot is halved: 2 instead of 4 if the
chariot is taking a double move and 4 instead of 8 if the
chariot is running.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Chariot
Combat as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Combat Casting [Divine]
You are adept at focusing your mind on higher matters
while in the throes of combat.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus on Concentration checks
made to produce a magical effect or use a spell-like ability
 while on the defensive or while you are grappling or
pinned.
Combat Expertise [General]
You can sacrifice some of the accuracy of your own blows in
return for a better ability to avoid the blows of others.
Prerequisite: Int 13+.
Benefit: When you use the attack action or the full attack
action in melee, you can take a penalty of as much as 5
on your attack roll and add the same number (+5 or less) as
a dodge bonus to your Active Defence. This number may
not exceed your base attack bonus. The changes to attack
rolls and Active Defence last until your next action.
Normal: A character without the Combat Expertise feat
can fight defensively while using the attack or full attack
action to take a 4 penalty on attack rolls and gain a +2
dodge bonus to Active Defence.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Combat
Expertise as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Combat Reflexes [General]
You are quick to take advantage of the opportunities that
combat affords for additional blows against an opponent.
Benefit: You may make a number of additional attacks of
opportunity equal to your Dexterity bonus.
With this feat, you may also make attacks of opportunity
while flat-footed.
Normal: A character without this feat can make only one
attack of opportunity per round and cannot make attacks
of opportunity while flat-footed.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Combat
Reflexes as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Combat Sense [General]
You can tell ahead of time whether an enemys attack is going
to hit its target or not.
Benefit: When you have this feat, you may see the results
of an attackers die roll before deciding whether or not to
react and what reaction to choose. This allows you to avoid
wasting Shield Defence checks or wasting time on such
reactive moves as dropping to the floor to avoid attacks that
would not have hit you anyway. You can also tell when an
attack will strike another character, even if they, themselves,
cannot; this allows you to take defensive action to help them,
if you are capable of doing so.
Normal: A character without this feat must choose his
reaction to an attack without knowing what the opponents
die roll result was.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Combat
Sense as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Command Efficiency [General]
Prerequisite: Officer rank, Intelligence 13+
Benefit: You may deploy your troops with greater tactical
efficiency than they would otherwise have, keeping them
in line and making sure they compensate for each others
weaknesses. If you succeed at a Knowledge (tactics and
strategy) check, you can increase the benefit gained from
any formation feat by +1. If your opponents are also being
led by a commander, you must make your Knowledge
(tactics and strategy) check as an opposed check against
ancient feats
your opposite number. Otherwise, it is made against a
DC of 10. For example, you could increase the benefits
conferred by a Concerted Assault formation feat from +1
to attack and damage to +2. You may only increase the
benefit of one formation feat with Command Efficiency.
Only one person may use Command Efficiency on any one
formation.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Command
Efficiency as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Concerted Assault [Formation]
You are trained in attacking alongside others, forming a
single decisive strike.
Benefit: This formation feat allows multiple characters
to attack at the same time. The inertia of a simultaneous
attack makes the blows harder to block or dodge. Melee
attacks and damage rolls are made at a +1 circumstance
bonus. These bonuses stack with those derived from other
formation feats, such as Meat Skewer.
Formation: The formation necessary for a concerted
assault must contain at least three characters. Each
character involved must be within five feet of another with
this feat. The formation may be of any shape.
Special: All characters in the formation must attack on
the same initiative count for the benefits of this feat to be
applied, which means that some characters must delay their
action (see the Combat chapter for more information on
delaying actions).
Concerted Fire [Formation]
You are especially good at firing missiles at a target that
others are also attacking, thus making it harder for the
target to evade.
Benefit: This formation feat allows several characters with
bows or slings to attack a single target simultaneously,
making it much harder for the target to get out of the way.
It is most often used when a single tactically important
person has to be brought down. Warriors in the mythic era
have also used this formation feat to bring down monsters.
The target of an attack by bows or slings from characters
using this feat suffers from a 4 penalty to Active Defence
checks to evade the projectiles.
Formation: The formation must contain at least three
characters. All characters with this feat must be within ten
feet of each other for the benefits of the feat to apply. The
formation need not be of any particular shape.
Special: All characters in the formation must attack on
the same initiative count for the benefits of this feat to
81
 be applied, which means that some characters must delay
their action(see the Combat chapter for more information
on delaying actions).
Deceitful [General]
You are naturally good at lying and getting away with it.
ancient feats
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Disguise checks and
Forgery checks.
Deflect Projectile [General]
You can slap an incoming projectile aside.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Improved Unarmed Strike.
Benefit: You must have at least one hand free (holding
nothing) to use this feat. Once per round when you would
normally be hit with a ranged weapon, you may deflect it
so that you take no damage from it. You must be aware of
the attack and not flat-footed.
Attempting to deflect a ranged weapon does not count as
an action. Unusually massive ranged weapons, thrown
rocks and ranged attacks generated by magical effects
cannot be deflected.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Deflect
Projectile as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Deft Hands [General]
Your powers of manual manipulation are exceptional.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Sleight of Hand checks
and Use Rope checks.
Diehard [General]
You are exceptionally difficult to kill.
Prerequisite: Endurance.
Benefit: When reduced to 1 or 2 Constitution by wounds,
you automatically become stable. You do not have to roll
d% to see if you lose one hit point each round.
When reduced to 1 or 2 Constitution, you may choose to
act as if you were disabled, rather than dying. You must
make this decision as soon as you are reduced to 1 or 2
Constitution. If you do not choose to act as if you were
disabled, you immediately fall into unconsciousness.
When using this feat, you can take either a single move or
standard action each turn, but not both, and you cannot
take a full round action. You can take a move action
without further injuring yourself, but if you perform any
standard action or any other action deemed as strenuous,
including some free actions you take one point of damage
after completing the act. If you reach 0 Constitution, you
immediately die.
Normal: A character without this feat that is reduced to 1
or 2 Constitution is unconscious and dying.
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Diligent [General]
You are thorough and exacting in your appraisal of an item
or a situation, considering all the possibilities.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Appraise checks and
Solve Conundrum checks.
Divine Connection [Divine]
You have an exceptionally strong bond with your deity,
which helps you to pray for assistance for yourself.
Benefit: You may use Divine Points to influence one of
your die rolls after you know the result. This applies only
to the use of Divine Points to raise your own die rolls, not
to lower those of others.
Normal: Characters without this feat must decide whether
or not to spend divine points before the relevant roll is
made.
Divine Smite [Divine]
You have an exceptionally strong bond with your deity,
which helps you to pray for ill effects to be visited upon
others.
Benefit: You may use Divine Points to lower anothers die
roll result once the roll has been made; this must be done
immediately afterwards. You still have to succeed at an
opposed Prayer check against the person whose die roll you
are attempting to lower.
Normal: Characters without this feat must decide whether
or not to spend divine points before the relevant roll is
made.
Dodge [General]
You are better at getting out of the way of blows than
others.
Prerequisite: Dex 13+.
Benefit: During your action, you designate an opponent
and receive a +1 dodge bonus to Active Defence checks
against attacks from that opponent. You can select a new
opponent on any action.
A condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to
Active Defence (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.
Also, dodge bonuses stack with each other, unlike most
other types of bonuses.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Dodge as
one of his warrior bonus feats.
Empower Magical Effect [Divine]
You can lend additional force to your magical effects, at the
cost of making them harder to produce.
Benefit: You may attempt to produce an empowered
magical effect with Witchcraft, Hekau or Prayer. All
variable, numeric effects of an empowered magical effect
are increased by one-half.
Saving throws and opposed rolls are not affected, nor are
spells without random variables. An empowered magical
effect has its DC to produce increased by +4 and its hit
point cost increased by 150%.
Endurance [General]
Your body is used to punishment; you can just keep on
going for hours, with excellent stamina.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus on the following checks
and saves: Swim checks made to resist non-lethal
damage, Constitution checks made to continue running,
Constitution checks made to avoid non-lethal damage
from a forced march, Constitution checks made to hold
your breath, Constitution checks made to avoid non-lethal
damage from starvation or thirst, Fortitude saves made to
avoid non-lethal damage from hot or cold environments
and Fortitude saves made to resist damage from suffocation.
Also, you may sleep in light or medium armour without
becoming fatigued.
Normal: A character without this feat who sleeps in
medium or heavier armour is automatically fatigued the
next day.
Far Shot [General]
You can fire or throw weapons further than usual.
Prerequisite: Point Blank Shot.
Benefit: When you use a projectile weapon, such as a bow,
its range increment increases by one-half (multiply by 1.5).
When you use a thrown weapon, its range increment is
doubled.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Far Shot as
one of his bonus feats.
Great Cleave [General]
You can fell multiple opponents with the force of your
blows.
Prerequisites: Str 13+, Cleave, Power Attack, base attack
bonus +4 or higher.
Benefit: This feat works like Cleave, except that there is no
limit to the number of times you can use it per round.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Great Cleave
as one of his bonus feats
Great Fortitude [General]
Your body is inherently tough and resilient.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saving
throws.
Greater Weapon Focus [General]
Your familiarity with a chosen weapon is even greater
than before. Choose one type of weapon for which you
have already selected Weapon Focus. You can also choose
unarmed strike or grapple as your weapon for purposes of
this feat.
Prerequisites: Proficiency with selected weapon, Weapon
Focus with selected weapon, warrior or noble warrior level
8th.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you make
using the selected weapon. This bonus stacks with other
bonuses on attack rolls, including the one from Weapon
Focus (see below).
ancient feats
Special: You can gain Greater Weapon Focus multiple
times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat,
it applies to a new type of weapon.
A warrior or noble warrior must have Greater Weapon
Focus with a given weapon to gain the Greater Weapon
Specialisation feat for that weapon.
A warrior or noble warrior may select Greater Weapon
Focus as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Greater Weapon Specialisation
[General]
You are so gifted at the use of your chosen weapon that you
can cause tremendous damage with it.
Choose one type of weapon for which you have already
selected Weapon Specialisation. You can also choose
unarmed strike or grapple as your weapon for purposes of
this feat.
Prerequisites: Proficiency with selected weapon, Greater
Weapon Focus with selected weapon, Weapon Focus with
selected weapon, Weapon Specialisation with selected
weapon, warrior or noble warrior level 12th.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all damage rolls you make
using the selected weapon. This bonus stacks with other
bonuses on damage rolls, including the one from Weapon
Specialisation (see below).
Special: You can gain Greater Weapon Specialisation
multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you
take the feat, it applies to a new type of weapon.
A warrior or noble warrior may select Greater Weapon
Specialisation as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Group Charge [Formation]
You have been trained to charge into combat alongside
others, attacking as a single force.
Benefit: Characters with this formation feat are trained
to charge and attack as one. The overwhelming force of
a group charge enhances the effectiveness of the attack.
When the group charge formation feat is used, the targets
who are attacked by the charging characters suffer a
2 penalty to Active Defence checks made against such
attacks. As with the usual rules for charging, only melee
attacks benefit from any bonus. Charging characters using
this feat still suffer the usual penalty to Active Defence
checks and the bar to Shield Defence checks.
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 Formation: The formation necessary for a concerted
assault must contain at least three characters. Each
character involved must be within five feet of another with
this feat. The formation may be of any shape.
Special: All characters in the formation must move and
attack on the same initiative count for the benefits of
this feat to be applied, which means that some characters
ancient feats
action (see the Combat chapter for more information on
delaying actions).
Improved Bull Rush [General]
You are a master of the art of ramming into people.
Prerequisites: Str 13+, Power Attack.
Benefit: When you perform a bull rush you do not provoke

must delay their action (see the Combat chapter for more an attack of opportunity from the defender. You also gain a
information on delaying actions). +4 bonus on the opposed Strength check you make to push
back the defender.
Hail of Missiles [Formation] Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
You have been trained to work with fellow archers or Bull Rush as one of his warrior bonus feats.
slingers to loose a close-packed shower of projectiles that
are devastating against groups. Improved Critical [General]
Benefit: A group of warriors with bows or slings can attack You know just how to use a weapon so as to strike vital
simultaneously, making it harder for the targets to avoid organs and cause massive tissue damage.
the incoming shower of projectiles. To use this feat, the Choose one type of weapon.
attackers designate a region the same size and shape as their Prerequisite: Proficient with weapon, base attack bonus
own formation. The larger the formation, the larger the +8 or higher.
area it can target. All ranged attacks that round must be Benefit: When using the weapon you selected, your critical
directed at targets within this region. All targets within the threat range is doubled.
region suffer from a 2 penalty to Active Defence checks Special: You can gain Improved Critical multiple times.
against these attacks, as the missiles come thick and fast. The effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it
Formation: The formation to produce a hail of missiles applies to a new type of weapon.
must contain at least three characters. Each character
must be within five feet of another with this feat. The This effect does not stack with any other effect that
shape of the formation is not fixed and may be arranged expands the threat range of a weapon, such as a weapon
as the warriors or their commander prefer. Long linear being of marvellous manufacture.
formations are chosen when an enemy rank needs to be Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
attacked, while close clustered formations are chosen when Critical as one of his warrior bonus feats.
a massed body of warriors needs to be attacked.
Special: All characters in the formation must attack on
the same initiative count for the benefits of this feat to be Improved Decapitate [General]
applied, which means that some characters must delay their You strike off the heads of foes with confidence.
Prerequisite: Base attack
bonus +6 or higher.
Benefit: You do not provoke
an attack of opportunity
when making a Decapitate
attempt, though you do still
incur the 4 penalty to Active
Defence and Shield Defence
checks for the remainder of
the round.
Normal: A decapitation
attempt provokes an attack
of opportunity when made
without this feat.
Special: A warrior or noble
warrior may select Improved
Decapitate as one of his
warrior bonus feats.

A group of Persian Spearmen charge under cover of a hail of missiles from their comrades

84
 Improved Disarm [General]
You are better than most at knocking a weapon from a foes
hands.
Prerequisites: Int 13+, Combat Expertise.
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity
when you attempt to disarm an opponent, nor does the
opponent have a chance to disarm you. You also gain a +4
bonus on the opposed attack roll you make to disarm your
opponent.
Normal: See the normal disarm rules.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Disarm as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Feint [General]
You make your feints much more quickly and
economically.
Prerequisites: Int 13+, Combat Expertise.
Benefit: You can make a Bluff check to feint in combat as
a move action.
Normal: Feinting in combat is a standard action.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Feint as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Grapple [General]
You can launch a grapple attack with such speed and
confidence that your opponent does not have a chance to
strike at you first.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Improved Unarmed Strike.
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity
when you make a touch attack to start a grapple. You also
gain a +4 bonus on all grapple checks, regardless of whether
you started the grapple.
Normal: Without this feat, you provoke an attack of
opportunity when you make a touch attack to start a
grapple.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Grapple as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Hamstring [General]
You are especially competent at disabling creatures by
slashing at their legs.
Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +2 or higher.
Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity
when making a Hamstring attempt.
Normal: A hamstring attempt provokes an attack of
opportunity when made without this feat.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Hamstring as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Initiative [General]
You are exceptionally quick off the mark, assessing a
combat situation in instants.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus on initiative checks.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Initiative as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Overrun [General]
You know just how to barge into an opponent and knock
him over.
ancient feats
Prerequisites: Str 13+, Power Attack.
Benefit: When you attempt to overrun an opponent,
the target may not choose to avoid you. You also gain
a +4 bonus on your Strength check to knock down your
opponent.
Normal: Without this feat, the target of an overrun can
choose to avoid you or to block you.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Overrun as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Precise Shot [General]
You place your ranged attacks with astonishing accuracy.
Prerequisites: Dex 19+, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,
base attack bonus +11 or higher.
Benefit: Your ranged attacks ignore the Passive Defence
bonus granted to targets by anything less than total cover
and the miss chance granted to targets by anything less
than total concealment. Total cover and total concealment
provide their normal benefits against your ranged attacks.
In addition, when you shoot or throw ranged weapons
at a grappling opponent, you automatically strike at the
opponent you have chosen.
Normal: See the normal rules on the effects of cover and
concealment. Without this feat, a character who shoots or
throws a ranged weapon at a target involved in a grapple
must roll randomly to see which grappling combatant the
attack strikes.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Precise Shot as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Shield Bash [General]
You can strike an opponent with your shield and return to
guarding yourself with it in the blink of an eye.
Prerequisite: Shield Proficiency.
Benefit: After making a Shield Bash attack, you may make
your normal number of Shield Defence checks, albeit at a
4 penalty to each check.
Normal: When you make a shield bash attack, you may not
perform any Shield Defence checks at all in the remainder
of the round.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Shield Bash as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Trip [General]
Tripping opponents up in combat is second nature to you.
Prerequisites: Int 13+, Combat Expertise.
85
 Benefit: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when
you attempt to trip an opponent while you are unarmed.
You also gain a +4 bonus on your Strength check to trip
your opponent.
If you trip an opponent in melee combat, you immediately
get a melee attack against that opponent as if you had not
ancient feats
used your attack for the trip attempt.
Normal: Without this feat, you provoke an attack of
opportunity when you attempt to trip an opponent while
you are unarmed.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Trip as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Improved Unarmed Strike
[General]
You are used to fighting with punches and kicks.
Benefit: You are considered to be armed even when unarmed
that is, you do not provoke attacks or opportunity from
armed opponents when you attack them while unarmed.
However, you still get an attack of opportunity against any
opponent who makes an unarmed attack on you.
In addition, your unarmed strikes can deal lethal or non-
lethal damage, at your option.
Normal: Without this feat, you are considered unarmed
when attacking with an unarmed strike and you can deal
only non-lethal damage with such an attack.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Improved
Unarmed Strike as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Interpret Divine Will [Divine]
You can find out what the Gods intend and how they
regard a person.
Prerequisite: Prayer 10 ranks.
Benefit: You may make a Sense Motive check (DC 20)
once per hour to find out what a given God desires in
sacrifice to achieve a given end or what a given persons
status is in terms of divine favour, disfavour, love and
hatred.
Intuitive Grasp [Divine]
You have the kind of mind that intuitively understands
theological and magical matters, making new magical
effects less daunting to you.
Prerequisites: Wis 13+, one or more ranks in Witchcraft,
Hekau or Prayer.
Benefit: All magical effects are automatically familiar to
you. You thus do not suffer from the +4 modifier to a
magical effects DC when you cast it for the first time, nor
from the +2 modifier to the DC when you cast it for the
second time after an initial success.
86
Normal: All characters begin without any magical effects
being familiar to them and suffer from an increased DC
to produce the effect until they have successfully done so
twice in total.
Investigator [General]
You know how to pick up information from all around
you.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Gather Information
checks and Search checks.
Iron Will [General]
You are exceptionally driven and strong-headed.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Will saving throws.
Keen Mind [General]
You know how to pick up on an inconsistency and exploit
it.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Debate checks and
Solve Conundrum checks.
Lightning Reflexes [General]
Your reflexes are catlike, helping you avoid danger.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Reflex saving throws.
Literate [General]
You have been taught the arts of reading and writing.
Benefit: Literate characters can read and write any
language that they can speak.
Normal: No character in OGL Ancients is automatically
literate. A character who cannot read or write must employ
the services of a scribe to write letters for him and read
them back.
Magical Effect Focus [Divine]
You are especially gifted with a certain kind of magical
effect, making it harder for the target to resist it.
Choose a class of magical effect, such as Bewitchments or
Unmakings.
Benefit: Add +1 to the saving throw modifier of all magical
effects from this class when cast by you when calculating
the targets saving throw, though not when calculating the
DC of a Concentration check while casting the spell.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do
not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new
class of magical effect.
Magical Casting Focus [Divine]
You are uncannily proficient with a given class of magical
effect, so that it is much easier for you than for others.
Choose a class of magical effect, such as Curses or
Exorcisms.
Benefit: You gain a +2 insight bonus to uses of Witchcraft,
Prayer or Hekau to produce magical effects of this class.
You must specify which skill this feat applies to when you
first take it.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do
not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new
class of magical effect.
Martial Weapon Proficiency
[General]
You have been trained in the use of a martial weapon.
Choose a type of martial weapon. You understand how to
use that type of martial weapon in combat.
Benefit: You make attack rolls with the selected weapon
normally.
Normal: When using a weapon with which you are not
proficient, you take a 4 penalty on attack rolls.
Special: Warriors and noble warriors are proficient with
selected martial weapons of their nation, they need not
select this feat to use those weapons.
You can gain Martial Weapon Proficiency multiple times.
Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new type of
weapon.
Maximise Magical Effect [Divine]
You can produce magical effects that are of superlative
power, though they are more challenging to produce.
Benefit: All variable, numeric effects of a magical effect
modified by this feat are maximised. Saving throws and
opposed rolls are not affected, nor are magical effects
without random variables. A maximised magical effect has
a DC of +6 to produce.
An empowered, maximised magical effect gains the separate
benefits of each feat: the maximum result plus one-half the
normally rolled result.
Meat Skewer [Formation]
You have been trained to attack from the second rank of a
phalanx or further, past the man in front of you.
This formation feat is only available to Greek warriors.
Benefit: The meat skewer a toned down version of the
original term that the Greeks used for the formation, which
was much more obscene involves the use of long spears to
stab past the man in front of you in a phalanx. A warrior
wielding a spear in a meat skewer formation gains a +1
circumstance bonus to attack rolls.
Formation: A character using a reach weapon from directly
behind an allied character is in meat skewer formation.
Meditate [General]
You can place your body and mind into a trance state,
allowing you to restore energy.
Prerequisite: Concentration 5 ranks.
Benefit: You may enter a trance state that allows you
to recover lost energy at an increased rate. By spending
an hour in meditation and taking no action at all, you
may recover 1d4 hit points. You may not heal wounds
by meditating, so you can only recover hit points up
to your maximum hit points minus your total wounds.
Alternatively, you may spend an hour in meditation and
ancient feats
recover all non-lethal damage that you have suffered. This
feat is primarily used by spellcasters to recover after using
Witchcraft or Hekau. You can only use this feat if you are
within your body.
Mobility [General]
You are not so easy to hit when moving around in a fight
as others are.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Dodge.
Benefit: You gain a +4 dodge bonus to Active Defence
against attacks of opportunity caused when you move out
of or within a threatened area. A condition that makes you
lose your Dexterity bonus to Active Defence (if any) also
makes you lose dodge bonuses.
Dodge bonuses stack with each other, unlike most types of
bonuses.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Mobility as
one of his warrior bonus feats.
Mounted Archery [General]
You are accustomed to using a bow from horseback, as the
Scythian raiders do.
Prerequisites: Ride 1 rank, Mounted Combat.
A Spartan ephor meditates bringing
him closer to the perfection of self
87
 Benefit: The penalty you take when using a ranged weapon
while mounted is halved: 2 instead of 4 if your mount is
taking a double move and 4 instead of 8 if your mount
is running.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Mounted
Archery as one of his warrior bonus feats.
ancient feats
Mounted Combat [General]
You know how to fight from horseback in such a way as to
keep your mount alive.
Prerequisite: Ride 1 rank.
Benefit: Once per round when your mount is hit in
combat, you may attempt a reactionary Ride check to
negate the hit. The hit is negated if your Ride check result
is greater than the opponents attack roll. Essentially, the
Ride check result becomes the mounts Active Defence
check if it is higher than the mounts own Active Defence.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Mounted
Combat as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Negotiator [General]
You have a good grasp of what other people really want.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Rhetoric checks and
Sense Motive checks.
Persuasive [General]
You are extremely good at getting others to believe you,
which lends credibility to your threats and promises.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Bluff checks and
Presence checks.
Phalanx Front Rank [Formation]
You know how to fight alongside a fellow trained warrior so
that your shields defend each other as well as yourselves.
The massed ranks of a Grecian phalanx
88
Warriors trained in phalanx combat can assume a front or a
middle rank position. Selecting this feat gives you Phalanx
Rear Rank for free.
Benefit: The famous phalanx formation allows warriors
to band together side by side for mutual defence. The
large shields used by Greek Hoplites are perfect for this
purpose. You cannot form part of a phalanx if you are
wielding a shield with a Coverage bonus of less than +4.
When in phalanx formation, warriors are tightly bunched
and covered by each others shields, allowing little chance
for an enemy blow to penetrate. Characters in a phalanx
formation receive a +3 coverage bonus to Shield Defence
checks and to coverage checks made against blows that
have not been actively defended against. The person on
the right hand end of a phalanx does not gain this benefit,
though he does contribute to the formation.
Formation: To be in phalanx front rank formation, a
character must be standing alongside another character
with this feat. Such characters must be adjacent to their
neighbours; if they are as much as five feet away from them,
they do not count as part of the formation.
Special: Characters in a phalanx can opt to move as one,
to avoid breaking up the line. In such an arrangement,
characters may take a standard action on their own
initiative counts, then a simultaneous move action on an
initiative count of 1. Any character who leaves himself
unable to take a move action or who is rendered incapable
of doing so, does not move forward with the rest of the
phalanx that round. The commander of the phalanx
may order the warriors not to move forward under such
circumstances. It is up to each individual warrior whether
he chooses to move with the phalanx or not.
Phalanx Rear Rank [Formation]
You have been trained to fight in the rear rank of a phalanx
and are competent to defend the rear against arrows by
raising your spear.
Warriors trained in phalanx combat can assume a front or a
middle rank position. Selecting Phalanx Front Rank gives
you Phalanx Rear Rank for free.
Benefit: When a full phalanx is formed by a large group
of warriors, only the front two ranks of a phalanx have
their spears lowered. Ranks behind the first two have their
spears held upright. Any warrior with his spear upright
in a phalanx rear rank formation gains a +4 cover bonus
to Passive Defence against missile attacks, as the forest of
spears breaks up missile fire.
Formation: To be in phalanx rear rank formation, a
characters must be standing both beside one character
with the Phalanx feats and behind another one. They
must be adjacent to their neighbours; if they are as much
as five feet away from them, they do not count as part of
the formation. The rearmost rank of any phalanx does not
gain any benefit from this feat.
Special: Characters in a phalanx can opt to move as one,
to avoid breaking up the line. See Phalanx Front Rank for
details.
Point Blank Shot [General]
You are especially accurate with ranged weapons at close
range.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls
with ranged weapons at ranges of up to 30 feet.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Point Blank
Shot as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Power Attack [General}
You can make forceful attacks that are less accurate but
more damaging when they hit.
Prerequisite: Str 13+.
Benefit: On your action, before making attack rolls for a
round, you may choose to subtract a number from all melee
attack rolls and add the same number to all melee damage
rolls. This number may not exceed your base attack bonus.
The penalty on attacks and bonus on damage apply until
your next turn.
Special: If you attack with a two-handed weapon or with
a one-handed weapon wielded in two hands, instead add
twice the number subtracted from your attack rolls. You
cannot add the bonus from Power Attack to the damage
dealt with a light weapon (except with unarmed strikes or
natural weapon attacks), even though the penalty on attack
rolls still applies.
A warrior or noble warrior may select Power Attack as one
of his warrior bonus feats.
Prophecy [Divine]
You can make utterances concerning the future that always
come true.
Prerequisite: Interpret Divine Will.
Benefit: Once per game session, you may ask the Games
Master for a prophecy regarding any person, city, object or
anything else you wish. You may not ask specific questions,
such as where is the treasure of Minos? You may only
ask for a prophecy concerning the named subject. This
prophecy always comes true. The Games Master can ignore
ancient feats
any die roll result in favour of the outcome predicted by the
prophecy. The Games Master gives you the prophecy in
secret; it is up to you whether you share it or not. This
prophecy may be cryptic or explicit as the Games Master
chooses. You are not allowed to decide the prophecy
yourself. Note that many prophecies are phrased so as to
be ambiguous, such as the famous one received by Croesus
(see The Ancient World chapter for more information).
Precise Shot [General]
You place your ranged attacks with unusual accuracy.
Prerequisite: Point Blank Shot.
Benefit: You can shoot or throw ranged weapons at an
opponent engaged in melee without taking the standard 4
penalty on your attack roll.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Precise Shot
as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Quick Draw [General]
You can have a weapon in your hand in an instant.
Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +1 or higher.
Benefit: You can draw a weapon as a free action instead of
as a move action. You can draw a hidden weapon (see the
Sleight of Hand skill) as a move action.
A character who has selected this feat may throw weapons
at his full normal rate of attacks, much like a character with
a bow.
Normal: Without this feat, you may draw a weapon as a
move action or, if your base attack bonus is +1 or higher, as
a free action as part of movement. Without this feat, you
can draw a hidden weapon as a standard action.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Quick Draw
as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Rapid Shot [General]
You can loose arrows or other ranged weapons one after
another with exceptional speed.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Point Blank Shot.
Benefit: You can get one extra attack per round with a
ranged weapon. The attack is at your highest base attack
bonus, but each attack you make in that round the extra
one and the normal ones suffers a 2 penalty. You must
use the full attack action to use this feat.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Rapid Shot
as one of his warrior bonus feats.
89
 Repel the Damned [Divine]
You have a gift for keeping malign spiritual and undead
creatures back.
Prerequisites: Prayer 5 ranks.
Benefit: Your invocations against undead creatures and
spiritual creatures are more potent than most. You receive
a +3 competence bonus to all uses of the Prayer skill to keep
ancient feats
such creatures at bay. This bonus does not apply to uses of
the Prayer skill to disrupt such creatures.
Ride-By Attack [General]
You can make an attack from horseback and keep moving.
Prerequisites: Ride 1 rank, Mounted Combat.
Benefit: When you are mounted and use the charge action,
you may move and attack as if with a standard charge
and then move again, continuing the straight line of the
charge. Your total movement for the round cannot exceed
double your mounted speed. You and your mount do not
provoke an attack of opportunity from the opponent that
you attack.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Ride-By
Attack as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Rock Hurler [General]
You are an expert with the hurled boulder as a weapon of
combat.
Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +1 or higher.
Benefit: You are counted as proficient with hurled rocks as
weapons, so you no longer take a 4 penalty to attack rolls
with thrown rocks. In addition, you may throw a Heavy
or Very Heavy rock with both hands, adding one and a half
times your Strength bonus to the damage roll.
Normal: Characters are not ordinarily proficient with
the hurled boulder as a weapon and suffer a 4 penalty to
attack rolls with them.
Rugged [General]
Your body is capable of sustaining worse wounds than it
would ordinarily be able to.
Prerequisite: Endurance.
Benefit: Your Grievous Wound Threshold is raised by
one.
Run [General]
You are a fast runner.
Benefit: When running, you move five times your normal
speed if wearing light or no armour and carrying no more
than a light load or four times your speed if wearing
medium or heavy armour or carrying a medium or heavy
load. If you make a jump after a running start (see the
Jump skill description), you gain a +4 bonus on your Jump
check. While running, you retain your Dexterity bonus to
Active Defence.
90
Normal: You move four times your speed while running
if wearing light or no armour and carrying no more than
a light load or three times your speed if wearing medium
or heavy armour or carrying a medium or heavy loads and
you lose your Dexterity bonus to Active Defence.
Self-Sufficient [General]
You are good at fending for yourself.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Heal checks and
Survival checks.
Shield Another [General]
You are experienced at using your shield to protect other
people next to you as well as yourself.
Benefit: You receive a +2 competence bonus to your Shield
Defence checks when you are protecting another person
with your shield rather than yourself. This feat is most
commonly taken by dedicated shield bearers, such as those
who ride in chariots alongside an archer.
Men wear their helmets and their breastplates for
their own needs, but they carry shields for the men
of the entire line.
- Plutarch, Moralia
Shield Proficiency [General]
You know how to use a shield of a given type.
Benefit: You can use a shield and take only the standard
penalties.
Normal: When you are using a shield with which you are
not proficient, you take the shields armour check penalty
on attack rolls, Active Defence checks and all skill checks
that involve moving, including Ride checks.
Special: Warriors and noble warriors automatically have
Shield Proficiency as a bonus feat. They need not select it.
Shining Example [General]
Prerequisite: Officer rank, Charisma 15+.
Benefit: You can make yourself the focus of attention for
your troops, even more so than that which is normally
enjoyed by a mere commanding officer when leading your
troops into battle. So long as you are on the offensive and
standing, any friendly or allied warrior within 60 feet and
under your command benefits from a +1 morale bonus to
all attack and damage rolls. If you are cut down or retreat,
your troops suffer from a 1 morale penalty to the same
rolls. All troops benefiting from this bonus must be able
to see you. If more than one character in the same area has
this feat only the bonus of the highest ranking officer apply.
These bonuses do not stack.
 Shoot on the Run [General]
You can move, fire and move again.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Dodge, Mobility, Point Blank
Shot, base attack bonus +4 or higher.
Benefit: When using the attack action with a ranged
weapon, you can move both before and after the attack,
provided that your total distance moved is not greater than
your speed.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Shot on the
Run as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Simple Weapon Proficiency
[General]
You know how to use the most basic of weapons.
Benefit: You make attack rolls with simple weapons
normally.
Normal: When using a weapon with which you are not
proficient, you take a 4 penalty on attack rolls.
Special: All characters except for artificers, priests, sages,
seers, thieves and witches, are automatically proficient with
all simple weapons. They need not select this feat.
Skill Focus [General]
You are exceptionally proficient in the use of a given skill.
Choose a skill except for Witchcraft, Hekau or Prayer.
Benefit: You gain a +3 bonus on all checks involving that
skill.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects
do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a
new skill.
Skirmish Defence [Formation]
You have been trained to support other warriors in skirmish
formation, helping defend them even as they defend you.
Benefit: Warriors who have been trained in skirmish
defence watch each others backs, defend each others space
and make it harder for an assailant to score a hit on any
member of the unit. Skirmish defence is used by small
groups of melee combatants in the field. Skirmish defence
adds a +1 dodge bonus to the Active Defence checks made
by characters in the formation.
Formation: Between three and six characters with this feat
can be involved in a skirmish formation. For the formation
to be maintained, every character must be within fifteen
feet of two other characters. A character who is not within
fifteen feet of two other characters no longer counts as part
of the formation.
Smite the Damned [Divine]
You have a gift for disrupting spirits and the undead with
the force of your prayers.
Prerequisite: Repel the Damned
Benefit: Your prayers to banish wicked spirits, including
those that animate undead creatures, are more effective.
You receive a +3 competence bonus to all uses of the Prayer
skill to disrupt undead creatures and spiritual creatures.
Snatch Projectile [General]
ancient feats
You can grab flying projectiles out of the air.
Prerequisites: Dex 15+, Deflect Projectile, Improved
Unarmed Strike.
Benefit: When using the Deflect Projectile feat you may
catch the projectile instead of simply deflecting it. Thrown
weapons can immediately be thrown back at the original
attacker even if it is not your turn or kept for later use.
You must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to
use this feat.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Snatch
Projectile as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Spirited Charge [General]
You make powerful attacks when charging on horseback.
Prerequisites: Ride 1 rank, Mounted Combat, Ride-By
Attack.
Benefit: When mounted and using the charge action, you
deal double damage with a melee weapon or triple damage
with a lance.
Special: A fighter may select Spirited Charge as one of his
fighter bonus feats.
Spring Attack [General]
You are exceptionally mobile in combat, able to combine
moves and attacks with greater freedom than usual.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Dodge, Mobility, base attack
bonus +4.
Benefit: When using the attack action with a melee
weapon, you can move both before and after the attack,
provided that your total distance moved is not greater than
your speed. Moving in this way does not provoke an attack
of opportunity from the defender you attack, though it
might provoke attacks of opportunity from other creatures,
if appropriate. You cannot use this feat if you are wearing
heavy armour.
You must move at least five feet both before and after you
make your attack in order to utilise the benefits of Spring
Attack.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Spring
Attack as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Stealthy [General]
You are good at avoiding the notice of others.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all Hide checks and Move
Silently checks.
91
 Stunning Fist [General]
You can strike a person so hard that he reels and is unable
to concentrate.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Wis 13+, Improved Unarmed
Strike, base attack bonus +8 or higher.
Benefit: You must declare that you are using this feat
before you make your attack roll, thus, a failed attack roll
ancient feats
Benefit: To find tracks or to follow them for one mile
requires a successful Survival check. You must make
another Survival check every time the tracks become
difficult to follow.
You move at half your normal speed; or at your normal
speed with a 5 penalty on the check or at up to twice your

ruins the attempt. Stunning Fist forces a foe damaged by normal speed with a 20 penalty on the check. The DC
your unarmed attack to make a Fortitude saving throw depends on the surface and the prevailing conditions, as
(DC 10 + your character level + your Wisdom modifier), given on the table below:
in addition to dealing damage normally. A defender who
fails this saving throw is stunned for one round until just Very Soft Ground: Any surface (fresh snow, thick dust, wet
before your next action. A stunned character cannot act or mud) that holds deep, clear impressions of footprints.
make Shield Defence checks, loses any Dexterity bonus to
Active Defence and suffers a 2 penalty to Active Defence. Surface DC Surface DC
You may attempt a stunning attack once per day for every Very soft ground 5 Firm ground 15
four levels you have attained (see Special) and no more
than once per round. Spiritual creatures, undead creatures Soft ground 10 Hard ground 20
and similar creatures immune to critical hits cannot be
Survival DC
stunned.
Condition Modifier
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Stunning
Fist as one of his warrior bonus feats. Every three creatures in the group 1
being tracked
Throw As One [Formation] Size of creature or creatures being
You are trained to use thrown weapons in concert with tracked:1
others, to bring down a single target. Fine +8
Benefit: This formation feat allows several characters with Diminutive +4
thrown weapons to attack a single target simultaneously,
Tiny +2
making it much harder for the target to get out of the way.
It is most often used when hunting, when spears thrown Small +1
from several directions at once will transfix a single large Medium +0
animal. Warriors in the mythic era have also used this Large 1
formation feat to bring down monsters. The target of an
Huge 2
attack by thrown weapons from characters using this feat
suffers from a 4 penalty to Active Defence checks to evade Gargantuan 4
the thrown weapon attacks. Colossal 8
Formation: All characters with this feat must be within Every 24 hours since the trail was +1
50 feet of each other. No closer formation than this is made
required.
Special: All characters in the formation must attack on Every hour of rain since the trail was +1
the same initiative count for the benefits of this feat to made
be applied, which means that some characters must delay Fresh snow cover since the trail was +10
their action. For more on delaying actions, see the Combat made
chapter. Poor visibility:2
Overcast or moonless night +6
Toughness [General] Moonlight +3
You are physically tough and can sustain extra damage.
Benefit: You gain +3 hit points. Fog or precipitation +3
Special: A character may gain this feat multiple times. Its Tracked party hides trail (and moves +5
effects stack. at half speed)
1
For a group of mixed sizes, apply only the modifier for
Track [General] the largest size category.
You know how to follow the tracks that other creatures 2
Apply only the largest modifier from this category.
leave behind.

92
Soft Ground: Any surface soft enough to yield to pressure,
but firmer than wet mud or fresh snow, in which a creature
leaves frequent but shallow footprints.
Firm Ground: Most normal outdoor surfaces lawns, fields,
woods or exceptionally soft or dirty indoor surfaces (thick
rush matting and very dirty or dusty floors). The creature
might leave some traces (broken branches or tufts of hair),
but it leaves only occasional or partial footprints.
Hard Ground: Any surface that does not hold footprints at
all (bare rock, indoor floor, most streambeds also fall into
this category, since any footprints left behind are obscured
or washed away). The creature leaves only traces (scuff
marks or displaced pebbles).
Several modifiers may apply to the Survival check, as given
on the table below.
If you fail a Survival check, you can retry after one hour, if
outdoors or 10 minutes if indoors, of searching.
Normal: Without this feat, you can use the Survival skill
to find tracks, but you can follow them only if the DC
for the task is 10 or lower. Alternatively, you can use the
Search skill to find a footprint or similar sign of a creatures
passage using the DCs given above, but you cannot use
Search to follow tracks, even if someone else has already
found them.
Trample [General]
You are good at flattening others under the hooves of your
mount.
Prerequisites: Ride 1 rank, Mounted Combat.
Benefit: When you attempt to overrun an opponent while
mounted, your target may not choose to avoid you. Your
mount may make one hoof attack against any target you
knock down, gaining the standard +4 bonus on attack rolls
against prone targets.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Trample as
one of his warrior bonus feats.
Weapon Finesse [General]
You are quick and deadly with light weapons, substituting
accuracy of placement for brute force.
Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +1 or higher.
Benefit: With a light weapon, you may use your Dexterity
modifier instead of your Strength modifier on attack rolls.
If you carry a shield, its armour check penalty applies to
your attack rolls.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Weapon
Finesse as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Natural weapons are always considered light weapons.
Weapon Focus [General]
You are exceptionally proficient with one type of weapon.
Choose one type of weapon. You can also choose unarmed
strike or grapple as your weapon for purposes of this feat.
Prerequisites: Proficiency with selected weapon, base
attack bonus +1 or higher.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you make
ancient feats
using the selected weapon.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do
not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new
type of weapon.
A warrior or noble warrior may select Weapon Focus as one
of his warrior bonus feats. He must have Weapon Focus
with a weapon to gain the Weapon Specialisation feat for
that weapon.
Weapon Specialisation [General]
You can use a weapon with which you are already
exceptionally proficient to deal extra damage.
Choose one type of weapon for which you have already
selected the Weapon Focus feat. You can also choose
unarmed strike or grapple as your weapon for purposes of
this feat. You deal extra damage when using this weapon.
Prerequisites: Proficiency with selected weapon, Weapon
Focus with selected weapon, warrior or noble warrior level
4th.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all damage rolls you make
using the selected weapon.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do
not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a new
type of weapon.
A warrior or noble warrior may select Weapon Specialisation
as one of his warrior bonus feats.
Whirlwind Attack [General]
You can lash out at all enemies within reach.
Prerequisites: Dex 13+, Int 13+, Combat Expertise,
Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, base attack bonus +4 or
higher.
Benefit: When you use the full attack action, you can give
up your regular attacks and instead make one melee attack
at your full base attack bonus against each opponent within
reach.
When you use the Whirlwind Attack feat, you also forfeit
any bonus or extra attacks granted by other feats, spells or
abilities.
Special: A warrior or noble warrior may select Whirlwind
Attack as one of his warrior bonus feats.
93

Equipment
This chapter deals with the most important possessions a
character in the ancient world could have.
is not practised widely enough or consistently enough to
form the basis of any kind of economy. In the mythic era,
you amass wealth by seizing treasures, such as beautifully
made armour or ornaments. Wealth increases your
reputation, irrespective of what form it is in.

wealth, riches and In the mythic era, it is perfectly all right to raid enemies for
currency in the personal gain or even to carry out piracy against foreigners
equipment

who have not assaulted you personally, but it is not

ancient world considered heroic to engage in trade. In the Iliad, Euryalus
insults Odysseus with the words:
In a game set in the Mythic Era, coinage does not exist.
Coins were introduced in Greece in around 650 BC and
You seem to be like one who plies his trade with a many-
came to Egypt with the Ptolemies in around 285 BC.
locked ship and like a ruler of men who sails to trade. You
Before that time, people relied on the barter system. Goods
appear to be one who is ever mindful of his own cargo and
that were farmed or manufactured were simply traded
what he can get in exchange, with his mind on voracious
from one person to another in exchange, with no abstract
gain. You certainly dont seem like an athlete.
standard to which any deal could be referred. Without a
system of currency, there was no way to formalise exchange
Goods are either given away as presents from those who
rates; it was not a matter of one of these is worth ten of
have them to those who do not or taken from enemies and
those, but instead I will give you this if you give me that.
shared out among the victors. The honour code means that
strangers can ask for hospitality and receive food and drink.
A base value for items is given in the equipment listing. For
Heroes generally ask for what basic requirements they need
convenience, this value is given in silver drachmas, just to
and are given them.
provide an idea of the items value and make Craft checks
possible.
A commander of men in the mythic era must share out
the booty from a raid fairly or he has offended against the
The base value of an item is modified by its quality. The
honour code. A warrior who does not receive his due has
quality of an item is an indication of how well made it is,
just cause for complaint and may refuse to obey further
the condition it is in and its intrinsic excellence. A good
orders.
quality sword, for example, has been competently made
from metals blended together in the proper way, while
The worth of an item in the mythic era is given only so
a good quality animal is healthy, has no wounds and is
that a character can measure his own wealth, which then
obedient.
determines his Reputation (see the Characters chapter).
Characters do not use wealth to buy things. If they need a
An items material is what it is primarily made from. The
service performed, such as having an artificer make an item
materials listing gives an indication of the value of various
for them, they will either demand the service as their right
substances in the ancient world. You can break a ruined
and punish the other character if he refuses or reward the
metal item down into its base components and sell it for
character with an item of the appropriate value from their
scrap value, in which case it is worth the same amount as
hoard.
the same weight of the unworked metal. For example, a
broken iron sword that is no good to anyone could be sold
for 3 silver drachmas as it contains three pounds of iron. Wealth Other Than Items
In the ancient world, whether the campaign is mythic or
Each type of material has a value per pound; when items historical, human beings that are part of your household
are traded in their raw state, weights of roughly equivalent count as wealth. In particular, your spouse, your sons and
value are exchanged. Again, the materials worth is daughters and your slaves (if you have any) count as wealth
measured in silver drachmas in a historical campaign. In a and add to your overall Reputation. You can seriously
mythic campaign, treat the worth as an abstract sum, as it undermine another persons power and authority by taking
is never converted into coins. his goods or members of his household away from him.
You can also reward a character or pay him for a service by
giving him a human being that is yours to give, such as a
Trade in the Mythic Era daughter.
If you are playing a mythic era campaign, there are no
coins to use but this is not a drawback as there is not much The other measure of wealth is your livestock. An
buying or selling to be done anyway. Some cultures abundance of sheep and cattle is the sign of a rich man
use ingots of copper or silver as currency but this
94
 thought to be as much as a typical man of Greece could
Quality of Items
easily carry. The most common unit of currency is here the
Rank Quality Value Example Items silver drachma, for mathematical convenience, although
1 Atrocious 10% Ruined standard armour; the most popular coin in Greece was actually the stater.
cracked pot; massively To give an indication of the relative value of coins, one
adulterated silver; drachma was the set daily wage for a mayor or a member of
mildewed wheat; diseased
Parliament in 5 BC. A craftsman or trader could also earn
or dying animal
about a drachma to a drachma and a half per day.

equipment
2 Very Poor 20% Battle-damaged chariot
with wheel falling off;
blunt but usable axe Egyptian Currency
head; bow that does not The Egyptian civilisation did not use coins until the time
shoot straight; of the Ptolemies, after the reign of Alexander the Great.
3 Poor 50% Battered standard Before that point, grain was the main medium of currency,
armour; edible but gritty with the kingdoms grain reserves acting as banks. Precious
wheat; unhealthy or ill- metals were also used in barter. For the era following Greek
tempered animal control of Egypt in a historical campaign, use the coinage
4 Mediocre 75% Damaged standard system above.
armour, coarsely woven
cloth
Scarcity of Materials
5 Average 100% Mint standard armour;
Value Per
grain of standard quality;
Material Pound
precious metals used as
currency; sharp new axe; Copper 3 so
healthy animal Bronze 2 sd
6 Good 125% Finely woven cloth; fresh Iron 2 sd
spices; fine animal
Silk 60 sd
7 Exceptional 150% Any masterwork weapon
Spices 60 sd
or armour; breeding
quality animal Lapis Lazuli 100 sd
8 Sublime 300% Any marvellous weapon Faience 100 sd
or armour; cloth woven Grain 4 cc
by Arachne
Oil 0.2
9 Legendary - Items fashioned by Gods;
Papyrus 4 cc
the star of ruby; the purest
possible gold Horn 3 so
Cloth 3 so
in the ancient world. There is no dishonour in raiding Wood 4 cc
foreigners to garner such things for yourself. Clay 4 cc
Electrum 1,000 sd
Coins in the Ancient World Silver 200 sd
The ancient Greek currency system is based upon silver
Gold 2,000 sd
and copper coins. This is a great simplification of the
actual situation at the time, with a balance struck between
historical accuracy and game playability. The rate of
exchange is as follows: Combat Fatigue and Hot
8 copper chalkoi (cc) = one silver oboli (so) Weather
6 silver oboli (so) = one silver drachma (sd) Historically, Egyptian warriors rarely wore armour heavier
2 silver drachmas (sd) = one silver stater (ss) than leather bands, simply because of the climate. They
became used to evasive tactics and shield use, rather than
100 silver drachmas = one mina the heavy bronze corselets favoured by the Greeks.
6000 silver drachmas = one talent
You can wear armour in mild weather conditions with
A mina and a talent are both units of weight rather than no ill effects. Wearing armour or wielding a shield in hot
coins. One talent is approximately sixty pounds and was weather while exerting yourself will rapidly exhaust you,

95
 making you sluggish, weak and unable to react quickly.
Worn armour and readied shields apply their armour check
penalty to the Fortitude saving throw that must be made
every 10 minutes against the effects of hot weather when
engaging in strenuous activity, such as fighting, climbing,
running and hard manual work.
A character that fails this saving throw takes 1 point of
equipment
Man-sized Egyptian Shield (Heavy)
This cumbersome shield is a relic of the early days of
Egypt, before the Egyptians had come into conflict with
the Asiatic peoples. It is the height of the wielders whole
body and resembles a primitive version of the modern
day riot shield. It is very efficient at defending against
arrows, which were the primary offensive weapon in that
time. Against hand-to-hand weapons, it is far less efficient.

non-lethal damage and each additional ten minutes of
strenuous activity deals twice the damage taken during the
previous ten minutes, with no save allowed. A character
that takes any non-lethal damage from strenuous activity
in hot conditions becomes fatigued. A fatigued character
cannot run or charge and takes a penalty of 2 to Strength,
Dexterity and Shield Defence. Eliminating the non-lethal
damage also eliminates the fatigue.
egyptian armour
and shields
Egyptians fighting on foot very rarely wear armour,
preferring to use shields alone. The blazing Egyptian sun
makes armour impractical for a foot soldier, who is always
on the move. Egyptians who fight in chariots do not move
around nearly as much and are thus more likely to wear
armour, but even in this case it is likely to be simple banded
leather or scale at the very heaviest. Egyptians do not wear
heavier than scale armour. The Pharaoh and select noble
warriors wear a richer version of scale armour that offers
better protection.
Tall shields fell gradually into disuse during the second
millennium. Smaller shields that were easier to handle
against melee attacks proved a better choice for defending
against swords and battleaxes.
Construction: Wood frame with leather covering.
Cost: 20 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 30.
DR/DA: Piercing 7/3; Slashing 5/6; Bludgeoning 5/10.
Coverage Bonus: +10.
Armour Check Penalty: -5.
Special: A man-sized Egyptian shield gives a 8 penalty
to Shield Defence checks against melee attacks, as it is
extremely hard to move around. It also imposes a 4
penalty on Spot checks, as the characters field of vision is
limited. A character using a man-sized shield can move at
only half his usual speed and cannot run nor charge. You
cannot use a man-sized shield to defend another person
than yourself.
Standard Egyptian Shield
(Medium)
The shield most commonly used by the Egyptians for
hand-to-hand combat is rectangular with a rounded top,

Egyptian Armour and Shields

Armour Max.
Hit Piercing Slashing Bludgeoning Coverage Check Dexterity
Light Armour Cost Points DR/DA DR/DA DR/DA Bonus Penalty Bonus
Leather Armour 15 sd 25 2/2 1/3 3/0 +3 +0
Medium Armour
Standard Shield 15 sd 20 7/3 5/6 5/10 +4 -2
Round Wooden
Shield 15 sd 15 7/3 5/6 5/10 +3 -1
Scale Armour 40 sd 25 3/2 3/3 4/0 +3 -1 +6
Royal Armour 800 sd 25 5/2 5/3 4/1 +3 -2 +6
Heavy Armour
Man-sized Shield 20 sd 30 7/3 5/6 5/10 +10 -5
Hit Piercing Slashing Bludgeoning
Light Helmets Cost Points DR/DA DR/DA DR/DA Listen Penalty Spot Penalty
Leather Helmet 10 sd 10 0/2 0/3 4/0 -1 -0
Heavy Helmets
Metal Helmet 20 sd 25 4/2 4/3 6/0 -2 -0

96

like an archway, as shown on many frescoes and papyri.
This shield is the one used by Egyptian shieldbearers riding
in chariots, with which they defend the archers who ride
alongside them.
Construction: Wood frame with leather covering.
Cost: 15 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 20.
DR/DA: Piercing 7/3; Slashing 5/6; Bludgeoning 5/10.
Coverage Bonus: +4.
Armour Check Penalty: -2.
Round Wooden Shield (Medium)
These shields were not indigenous to Egypt and were
brought into the country by the so-called Sea Peoples, who
fought as mercenaries against the enemies of the Pharaoh.
They were however used in preference to the standard
Egyptian shield by some troops.
Construction: Wood frame with leather covering.
Cost: 15 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 15.
DR/DA: Piercing 7/3; Slashing 5/6; Bludgeoning 5/10.
Coverage Bonus: +3.
Armour Check Penalty: -1.
equipment
Egyptian Leather Armour (Light)
The leather armour worn by charioteers and their ilk was
extremely simple. It was little more than two broad leather
straps, crossing over the torso in a harness arrangement. It
offered little protection but allowed freedom of movement
and did not encumber the wearer very much. The legs were
left completely unprotected, because the wearer would
usually have been in a chariot, the sides of which provide
hard cover as if the occupant were standing behind a wall.
Construction: Leather straps.
Cost: 15 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 25.
DR/DA: Piercing 2/2; Slashing 1/3; Bludgeoning 3/0.
Coverage Bonus: +3.
Armour Check Penalty: 0.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +6.
Egyptian Scale Armour (Medium)
The much rarer scale armour sometimes worn by the
ancient Egyptians was a modification of the leather harness,
in which little metal scales were sewn across the leather in
order to provide an extra layer of protection. The armours
Damage Resistance is thus increased without affecting
97
 its Damage Absorption. As with the basic form of Egyptian
leather armour, the legs are unprotected.
greek armour and
Construction: Leather straps with bronze scales.
Cost: 40 silver drachmas.
shields
The armour detailed here is that which would be available
Hit Points: 25. to a hero in the mythic era or to a warrior or noble warrior
DR/DA: Piercing 3/2; Slashing 3/3; Bludgeoning 4/0. in the historical era. Bronze armour is expensive but
Coverage Bonus: +3. without it one cannot call oneself a Greek warrior of any
Armour Check Penalty: -1. stripe at all. One cannot serve as a Hoplite and guard ones
equipment

Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +6. polis unless one can afford the proper equipment.

Egyptian Royal Armour (Medium) The Hoplite

The finest armour available in Egyptian lands is that which
the Pharaoh himself would wear when riding his chariot
into battle. It is fashioned in the same manner as Egyptian
leather armour, with a layer of inlaid semi-precious stones
covering the leather. This has the effect of toughening the
armour, as the stones are usually harder than the tips and
edges of the weapons that slam into them.
Construction: Leather straps inlaid with semi-precious
stones.
Cost: 800 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 25.
DR/DA: Piercing 5/2; Slashing 5/3; Bludgeoning 4/1.
Coverage Bonus: +3.
Armour Check Penalty: -2.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +6.
Egyptian Leather Helmet (Light)
The standard issue Egyptian helmet looks like a leather cap,
from the top of which emerge cords with pendants at the
end. Most Egyptian troops do not bother with helmets at
all, but those who do wear these.
Construction: Shaped leather with dependent cords.
Cost: 10 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 10.
DR/DA: Piercing 0/2; Slashing 0/3; Bludgeoning 4/0.
Penalty To Listen Checks: -1.
Penalty To Spot Checks: 0.
Egyptian Metal Helmet (Heavy)
The helmets worn by Egyptian nobles and by the Pharaoh
are smooth swept-back head coverings, slightly longer than
the head of the wearer. That worn by Pharaoh is fitted
with the royal Uraeus serpent. No historical examples of
this helmet have been found to exist; it pertains to mythic
campaigns only.
Construction: Bronze.
Cost: 20 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 25.
DR/DA: Piercing 4/2; Slashing 4/3; Bludgeoning 6/0.
Penalty To Listen Checks: -2.
Penalty To Spot Checks: 0.
98
Almost all Greek warriors of the historical era are Hoplites.
A properly equipped Hoplite, fit to form a phalanx
alongside his comrades in arms, needs a bronze corselet,
a Corinthian helmet, a Hoplite shield and a spear. Many
Hoplites also carry a short sword as a backup weapon, in
case an enemy comes too close for the spears reach. This
standardisation of equipment is the key to the phalanxs
effectiveness. If one member of the phalanx did not have a
suitable shield or a long enough spear, the efficiency of the
whole group would be compromised.
A phalanx in the era of Alexander the Great uses a very long
spear called a sarissa for the ranks of the phalanx beyond
the first. This enables even the warriors in the midst of
the phalanx to use their spears against the enemy. The
members of a phalanx using the sarissa will inevitably have
the Meat Skewer formation feat.
Bronze Plate Corselet (Heavy)
This armour is a stiff, bell-shaped cuirass, made from a
breastplate and a back plate. It offers good protection but
is cramped and confining to wear. It is the early version
of the bronze plate armour that was excavated at Dendra
and was in use between the sixth and the fifth centuries BC
until the lighter scale girdle supplanted it. Any Hoplite
active during this time period is expected to outfit himself
with this armour.
Construction: Worked bronze plates.
Cost: 300 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 60.
DR/DA: Piercing 6/2; Slashing 6/3; Bludgeoning 8/1.
Coverage Bonus: +8.
Armour Check Penalty: -8.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +0.
Special: Running speed is reduced in a bronze plate
corselet. (See Chapter 9, Adventuring.) This is the reason
why it was phased out in favour of the bronze scale girdle.
Hoplites opted to forego protection in favour of additional
manoeuvrability.
Bronze Scale Girdle (Medium)
The most popular form of Greek armour during the
Macedonian era was a composite of bronze shoulder pieces,
a girdle of bronze scales sewn on to cloth and a form of kilt
Greek Armour and Shields
Armour Max.
Hit Piercing Slashing Bludgeoning Coverage Check Dexterity
Medium Armour Cost Points DR/DA DR/DA DR/DA Bonus Penalty Bonus
Bronze Scale
Girdle 250 sd 40 5/1 5/2 6/0 +6 -1 +1
Peltast Shield

equipment
(pelta) 60 sd 25 7/3 5/6 5/10 +3 -1
Figure-of-Eight
Shield 20 sd 15 4/2 4/6 4/10 +4 -1
Dipylon
(hourglass) Shield 50 sd 30 6/2 5/6 5/10 +4 -2
Heavy Armour
Plate Bronze
Corselet 300 sd 60 6/2 6/3 8/1 +8 -8 +0
Shaped Bronze
Plate 800 sd 60 6/2 6/3 8/1 +8 -5 +2
Hoplite Shield 80 sd 30 7/3 5/6 5/10 +5 -3
Bronze Shield 500 sd 50 8/3 8/6 8/10 +5 -5
Hit Piercing Slashing Bludgeoning
Heavy Helmets Cost Points DR/DA DR/DA DR/DA Listen Penalty Spot Penalty
Corinthian
Helmet 100 sd 40 4/2 4/3 6/0 -4 -4
Thracian Helmet 120 sd 30 4/2 4/3 6/0 -2 -2
Boars Tooth
Helmet 120 sd 20 3/2 3/3 4/0 -2 -0

made from leather straps. It was the armour of choice for
Hoplites, as it combines good protection (should a blow get
past the shield) with excellent manoeuvrability. Alexander
the Great himself is shown wearing a suit of armour of this
kind.
Construction: Bronze scales and plates sewn on to cloth.
Cost: 250 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 40.
DR/DA: Piercing 5/1; Slashing 5/2; Bludgeoning 6/0.
Coverage Bonus: +6.
Armour Check Penalty: -5.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +1.
Shaped Bronze Plate (Heavy)
The development of the bronze scale girdle did not
entirely do away with the metal plate variety of armour. As
metalworking techniques became more sophisticated, the
blacksmiths of the ancient world developed a technique of
shaping bronze plate to the specific body contours of the
person whom was intended to wear it. This is the beginning
of the fashioned breastplate that resembles a human body,
which reaches its apex with the Roman breastplates of later
years. Shaped bronze plate covers the torso and the upper
part of the thighs, with a front and a back plate lashed
together, as with the earlier bell-shaped cuirass.
Shaped bronze plate is made for one wearer only. The
Coverage bonus, armour check penalty and maximum
Dexterity bonus given below assume that the person using
the armour is the person for whom it was designed. If
anyone else uses the armour, the Coverage bonus is only
+7, the armour check penalty is 8 and the maximum
Dexterity bonus is 0.
Construction: Worked bronze plate made to the
measurements of one person.
Cost: 800 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 60.
DR/DA: Piercing 6/2; Slashing 6/3; Bludgeoning 8/1.
Coverage Bonus: +8.
Armour Check Penalty: -5.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +2.
Corinthian Helmet (Heavy)
The Corinthian helmet is an integral part of the armour
of a Hoplite. It is instantly recognisable as the helmet
most commonly depicted in Greek art, with a high crest of
horsehair and a T-shaped opening in the front, with a long
nose guard. Corinthian helmets are made from a single
sheet of beaten bronze. They offer excellent protection to
the head and face. The trade-off is the limitation they place
upon vision and hearing.

99
 Construction: Beaten bronze.
Cost: 100 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 40.
DR/DA: Piercing 4/2; Slashing 4/3; Bludgeoning 6/0.
Penalty To Listen Checks: -4.
Penalty To Spot Checks: -4.
Special: The great crest that tops a Corinthian helmet was
said to be a terrifying sight by commentators of the ancient
equipment
world. It seems to have been added for intimidation
purposes as much as for decoration. If the Games Master
wants to acknowledge this function of the crest, then it
can be allowed to bestow a +1 circumstance bonus to any
Presence check made to intimidate a foe during combat.
Thracian Helmet (Heavy)
The Thracian helmet comes into use during the 5th century
BC. Its appearance is based on a woollen or leather cap
common in the northern parts of Greece. It consists of
a high dome with a short visor to protect the forehead
and separate cheek pieces, very similar to the later Roman
helmet. The wider gap for the eyes and mouth makes it
easier for the wearer to hear and see. The Macedonian
army of Alexander made extensive use of this design of
helmet.
Construction: Worked bronze.
Cost: 120 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 30.
100
DR/DA: Piercing 4/2; Slashing 4/3; Bludgeoning 6/0.
Penalty To Listen Checks: -2.
Penalty To Spot Checks: -2.
Boars Tooth Helmet (Heavy)
This is a very early variety of helmet, used during the
Mycenaean period (16th to the 14th centuries BC) and also
spoken of by Homer in The Iliad. It is a typical helmet for
heroes of the mythic era to wear. It consists of a leather or
felt cap on to which rows of boar tusks are sewn, forming
a strong protective layer. As 30 to 40 pairs of tusks are
needed to make a single helmet, it is a heavy item to wear.
Construction: Tusks sewn on to leather.
Cost: 120 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 20.
DR/DA: Piercing 3/2; Slashing 3/3; Bludgeoning 4/0.
Penalty To Listen Checks: -2.
Penalty To Spot Checks: 0.
Hoplite Shield (hoplon) (Heavy)
The hoplon or round shield gives its name to the warrior
who bears it in Ancient Greece, the Hoplite. It is a
splendid example of the armourers craft that altered the
nature of battle forever afterwards. A hoplon is made from
wood faced with bronze, is convex in form (allowing blows
to be more easily deflected) and measures approximately
one yard in diameter. Unlike earlier forms of shield, it is
borne upon the whole arm rather than held in the hand.
It is customary to personalise your hoplon by paying the
craftsman to fit metal ornaments to the front. This then
serves to identify you on the battlefield, as your helmet
hides your face.
Construction: Wood frame with bronze facing.
Cost: 80 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 30.
DR/DA: Piercing 7/3; Slashing 5/6; Bludgeoning 5/10.
Coverage Bonus: +5.
Armour Check Penalty: -3.
Peltast Shield (pelta) (Medium)
The pelta is the shield of the medium Greek infantryman
(the Peltast) just as the hoplon is the shield of the heavy
infantryman or Hoplite. A pelta is crescent-shaped, held
so that the tips point upwards. As it is only classed as a
medium shield rather than a heavy one, the Peltast can
run at top speed rather than a reduced speed. Peltasts do
not wear body armour (again, for the sake of manoeuvring
speed) and their shield is their only protection. The Persian
Empire borrowed this design from the Greeks when they
learned of it.
Construction: Wood frame with bronze facing.
Cost: 60 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 25.
DR/DA: Piercing 7/3; Slashing 5/6; Bludgeoning 5/10.
Coverage Bonus: +3.
Armour Check Penalty: -1.
Figure-of-Eight Shield (Medium)
This is a very old variety of shield that belongs to the
Mycenaean period. In design it is essentially a round shield
that has had part of its surface cut away. As blows rarely
land on these parts of the shield, the amount of cover the
shield offers is not seriously reduced, whereas the weight
of the shield is greatly lessened. The result is a trade-off of
cover and structural strength for lightness and ease of use.
The figure-of-eight shield may have fallen out of favour
in Greece because of its lesser effectiveness against missile
attacks.
Construction: Wood frame with leather covering.
Cost: 20 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 15.
DR/DA: Piercing 4/2; Slashing 4/6; Bludgeoning 4/10.
Coverage Bonus: +4.
Armour Check Penalty: -1.
Special: The figure-of-eight shield has only a +2 coverage
bonus against missile attacks such as slings and arrows. It
offers its ordinary coverage bonus against attacks from
thrown weapons such as javelins.
Dipylon (Hourglass) Shield
(Medium)
This is the shield most associated with heroes of ancient
Greece such as Achilles and Ajax. It dates from the
Geometric period of circa 8 BC. It is very probably a later
version or redevelopment of the figure-of-eight shield (see
above) but shaped deliberately into an hourglass form rather
equipment
than resembling a round shield that has been customised.
It was the immediate precursor of the hoplon, which
replaced it around 700 BC. The dipylon shield is stronger
than the figure-of-eight variant, owing to its bronze fittings
but has the same lesser protection against missile attacks.
It is much easier to ward off a swung blow with a diplylon
shield than it is to ward off an incoming arrow.
Construction: Wood frame with bronze facing.
Cost: 50 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 30.
DR/DA: Piercing 6/2; Slashing 5/6; Bludgeoning 5/10.
Coverage Bonus: +4.
Armour Check Penalty: -2.
Special: The dipylon shield has only a +2 coverage bonus
against missile attacks such as slings and arrows. It offers
its ordinary coverage bonus against attacks from thrown
weapons such as javelins.
Bronze Shield (Heavy)
Shields made entirely from bronze did exist but were
extremely rare. In an OGL Ancients game, solid bronze
shields are likely to be from sets of ceremonial armour
or designed to be ornamental rather than practical. Solid
bronze is not as efficient at stopping blows as one might
expect and wood with a leather covering can in fact do the
job more efficiently, as contemporary scientific tests have
demonstrated.
Construction: Worked bronze plate.
Cost: 500 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 50.
DR/DA: Piercing 8/3; Slashing 8/6; Bludgeoning 8/10.
Coverage Bonus: +5.
Armour Check Penalty: -5.
Special: Though they can be carried like any other
item, solid bronze shields are painfully heavy to wield. A
character can only wield a bronze shield for ten minutes
per point of Strength ability modifier. After this point, he
must make a Fortitude saving throw against DC 15 every
passing minute or suffer one point of non-lethal damage
due to fatigue. A character that suffers any non-lethal
damage in this way becomes fatigued. A fatigued character
cannot run or charge and takes a penalty of 2 to Strength,
Dexterity and Shield Defence. Eliminating the non-lethal
damage also eliminates the fatigue.
101
 miscellaneous is still entitled to a Coverage check for his armour, if he is
wearing any.
armour and
Assyrian Scale Armour (Heavy)
shields An unusual design of armour, this garment resembles
This section covers the varieties of armour and shields that a long leather cape or overcoat that is sewn with metal
grew up in regions other than Greece and Egypt. (bronze) scales. It reaches all the way to the ankles. This
was not customarily used by foot troops as it restricted
equipment

Assyrian Helmet
These simple helmets are standard issue for all Assyrian
warriors, irrespective of the weapon they use or their
position on the field. The helmet is a conical cap of metal,
layered over with woven leather cords.
Construction: Layers of woven cord over metal.
Cost: 25 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 15.
DR/DA: Piercing 1/2; Slashing 1/3; Bludgeoning 4/0.
Penalty To Listen Checks: -2.
Penalty To Spot Checks: 0.
Assyrian Wicker Shield (Light)
This is a round shield of woven wicker, good for fending off
hacks and bashes but less useful against arrows and similar
piercing attacks, as its woven substance slows a projectile
down but offers no solid barrier. The impact of a slashing
or bludgeoning attack is however spread across the shield,
which disperses it quite efficiently. The great advantage of
this shield is that it is very cheap and easy to make. It is
the customary shield of Assyrian foot troops, who wear no
additional armour. It stands up very well to hand-to-hand
combat against opponents with simple weapons such as
clubs and axes.
their movements too much. The users of this armour are
the Assyrian archers who need both hands to hold their
bows and therefore cannot defend themselves with a shield.
Although the armour counts as heavy, thus restricting
the running speed of the wearer, it is not so restrictive of
movement that it greatly impedes the archers aim.
Construction: Leather with bronze scales.
Cost: 150 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 30.
DR/DA: Piercing 3/2; Slashing 3/3; Bludgeoning 4/0.
Coverage Bonus: +8.
Armour Check Penalty: -4.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +2.
Persian Iron Scale Armour
(Medium)
Described by Herodotus as looking like the scales of fish,
this armour is that worn by the heavier Persian and Mede
infantry. It is composed of a multicoloured garment with
cloth sleeves, on to whose front and back an array of tough
iron scales are sewn. The most important of the Persian
warriors, such as the Ten Thousand Immortals, have gold-
plated scales.

This variety of shield is commonly used

to defend archers, particularly when the
archer is in a chariot. A dedicated shield
bearer, without a weapon of his own,
uses the shield to fend off attacks against
the archer.
Construction: Interwoven wicker
strands.
Cost: 5 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 10
DR/DA: Piercing 3/1; Slashing 5/3;
Bludgeoning 10/2.
Coverage Bonus: +5.
Armour Check Penalty: -2.
Special: Any piercing damage that
exceeds a wicker shields DR/DA is
applied to the person the shield is
protecting. In this way it is possible
for arrows and similar projectiles to pass
straight through the shield and into the
person on the other side. The wielder

102
Miscellaneous Armour and Shields
Armour Max.
Hit Piercing Slashing Bludgeoning Coverage Check Dexterity
Light Armour Cost Points DR/DA DR/DA DR/DA Bonus Penalty Bonus
Scythian Quilted
Cloth Armour 6 sd 10 2/1 1/3 4/0 +8 -2 +8
Assyrian Wicker

equipment
Shield 5 sd 10 3/1 5/3 10/2 +5 -2
Nubian Shield 8 sd 15 7/3 5/6 5/10 +2 -0
Medium Armour
Persian Iron Scale
Armour 200 sd 50 4/2 4/3 5/0 +6 -3 +2
Hide Armour 3 sd 20 2/2 1/3 3/0 +8 -8 +0
Spara Shield 8 sd 12 3/1 5/3 10/2 +8 -3
Heavy Armour
Assyrian Scale
Armour 150 sd 30 3/2 3/3 4/0 +8 -4 +2
Iron Corselet 900 sd 80 8/2 8/3 12/1 +8 -8 +0
Hit Piercing Slashing Bludgeoning
Light Helmets Cost Points DR/DA DR/DA DR/DA Listen Penalty Spot Penalty
Assyrian Helmet 25 sd 15 1/2 1/3 4/0 -2 -0

Construction: Cloth or leather with iron scales.
Cost: 200 silver drachmas. (Gold plated version 2,000
silver drachmas.)
Hit Points: 50.
DR/DA: Piercing 4/2; Slashing 4/3; Bludgeoning 5/0.
Coverage Bonus: +6.
Armour Check Penalty: -3.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +2.
Scythian Quilted Cloth Armour
(Light)
This armour was ideal for skirmishing in under Bronze Age
conditions. It allowed protection against clubs and allowed
great freedom of movement. In later eras, it became the
garment that metal armour was worn over, rather than
being seen as armour in its own right.
Construction: Quilted linen cloth.
Cost: 6 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 10.
DR/DA: Piercing 2/1; Slashing 1/3; Bludgeoning 4/0.
Coverage Bonus: +8.
Armour Check Penalty: -2.
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +8.
Nubian Shield (Light)
This is the typical shield used by the elite Nubian warriors
who fought under Pharaoh. Structurally it resembles the
standard Egyptian shield but is smaller and rounder. In
keeping with Nubian tactics, it is suited more to hand-to-
hand combat than to defence against ranged attacks.
Construction: Wood frame with leather covering.
Cost: 8 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 15.
DR/DA: Piercing 7/3; Slashing 5/6; Bludgeoning 5/10.
Coverage Bonus: +2.
Armour Check Penalty: 0.
Spara Shield (Medium)
This is the characteristic shield of the Persian front ranks of
infantry. It is about shoulder height, tall and rectangular in
shape and made of light materials. The spara has a unique
feature among shields. A prop on the rear side means that it
can be stood up on its own and sheltered behind as portable
cover. This is especially useful for defending archers. A
defensive barrier can be erected in minutes. Setting up a
spara shield as a freestanding barrier is a full-round action.
Construction: Cane and wood.
Cost: 8 silver drachmas.
Hit Points: 12.
DR/DA: Piercing 3/1; Slashing 5/3; Bludgeoning 10/2.
Coverage Bonus: +8.
Armour Check Penalty: -3.
Iron Corselet (Heavy)
This armour is included for those Games Masters who
wish to set a historical campaign right at the latter end
of the era covered by OGL Ancients, when the Roman
power is beginning to come to the fore. An iron corselet
is the forerunner of the armour that would be worn by the
Roman legionaries.

103
 Construction: Worked iron plates.
Cost: 900 silver drachmas.
weapons
Hit Points: 80. Missile Weapons
DR/DA: Piercing 8/2; Slashing 8/3; Bludgeoning 12/1. In the Greek lands, those warriors who supported the heavy
Coverage Bonus: +8. infantry used missile weapons on the battlefield. Bows and
Armour Check Penalty: -8. arrows were not the most popular choice, though they
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +0. were widely used. The ranged weapon of preference in
equipment

Greece was the sling, with the javelin and the hurled rock
Hide Armour (Medium) used for close-range combat. Archery was nonetheless of
This is extremely crude armour made from ragged skins major importance and many of the victories of Athens were
stitched together. None but the most primitive tribes and attributed to the success of the citizens bow attacks.
the most savage monsters, such as the Cyclops, use it.
Construction: Tough hides sewn together or worn as a In Egypt and Assyria, by contrast, the bow was the master
cape. of the battlefield. The military power of Egypt is attributed
Cost: 3 silver drachmas. to the skill, speed and sheer overwhelming number of its
Hit Points: 20. arrow attacks.
DR/DA: Piercing 2/2; Slashing 1/3; Bludgeoning 3/0.
Coverage Bonus: +8. Egyptian bow technology was inventive and ahead of the
Armour Check Penalty: -8. rest of the world for a long time. The artificers of the
Maximum Dexterity Bonus: +0. Egyptian people used their skill to improve on the simple
curved length of wood, creating a variety of recurve bows
that enabled their archers to fire their arrows further than
before.

Weapons
Range
Simple Weapons Cost Dmg (M) Critical Increment Weight Type
Unarmed strike 1d3 x2 Bludgeoning
Light Melee Weapons
Dagger 4 sd 1d4 1920/x2 10-ft. 1 lb. Piercing or slashing
Mace, stone headed 2 sd 1d6 x2 4 lb. Bludgeoning
Sickle 3 sd 1d6 x2 2 lb. Slashing
One-handed Melee Weapons
Club 1d6 x2 10-ft. 3 lb. Bludgeoning
Flail 4 sd 1d6 x3 4 lb. Bludgeoning
Mace, bronze headed 6 sd 1d8 x2 8 lb. Bludgeoning
Shortspear 5 sd 1d6 x2 20-ft. 3 lb. Piercing
Two-handed Melee Weapons
Crook 1d6 x2 4 lb. Bludgeoning
Longspear 4
10 sd 1d8 x3 9 lb. Piercing
Spear 8 sd 1d8 x3 20-ft. 6 lb. Piercing
Staff 1d6 x2 4 lb. Bludgeoning
Stake, sharpened 1d8 x2 7 lb. Piercing
Ranged Weapons
Dart 1 sd 1d4 x2 20-ft. 1/2 lb. Piercing
Javelin 5 sd 1d8 x2 20-ft. 2 lb. Piercing
Javelin, Mycenaean 6 sd 1d6 x2 30-ft. 1 1/2 lb. Piercing
Rock, throwing Varies x2 Varies Varies Bludgeoning
Sling 1d4 x2 50-ft. 0 lb. Bludgeoning
Stones, sling (10) 5 lb.

104
Horn Bow
The horn bow is made from two antelope horns, joined
by a single piece of wood at the centre. Horn bows are
described by Homer in the Iliad, though we must allow
him some poetic license as some of the bows he mentions
would not actually have worked. A horn bow has very
limited range compared to other types of bow.
the Old Kingdom. It could also be made in the wild with
little difficulty. It is made from a shaped, bent length of
wood and a strand of sinew or other cord.
Composite Self Bow
Composite bows were one of the greatest military
innovations of the ancient world. When a bow is drawn,
the outside face stretches and the inside face is compressed.

equipment
Self Bow Instead of making a bow with the same material all the
This unremarkable bow is the sort that a villager of Bronze way through, ancient artificers made bows with elastic
Age Greece might employ or a common warrior of Egypt in material (such as sinew) on the outside face and springy

Range
Martial Weapons Cost Dmg (M) Critical Increment Weight Type
One-handed Melee Weapons
Axe, throwing 6 sd 1d8 x2 10-ft. 2 lb. Slashing
Hammer 4 sd 1d4 x2 20-ft. 2 lb. Bludgeoning
Axe, hand, cutting 6 sd 1d8 x3 3 lb. Slashing
Axe, hand, piercing 6 sd 1d6 x3 3 lb. Piercing
Net 10 sd 10-ft. Special
Whip 8 sd 1d3 x2 2 lb. Slashing
Shield, light/medium - 1d3 x2 Special Bludgeoning
Sword, short stabbing 10 sd 1d6 x2 2 lb. Piercing
Akinakes 16 sd 2d4 18-20/x2 2 lb. Slashing or piercing
Axe, large 20 sd 2d6 x3 6 lb. Slashing
Sword, Cretan
stabbing 12 sd 1d6 1820/x2 2 lb. Piercing
Kopesh 25 sd 2d6 1920/x2 4 lb. Slashing
Kopis 25 sd 2d6 1820/x2 4 lb. Slashing
Xiphos 20 sd 2d4 19-20/x2 2 lb. Slashing or piercing
Shield, heavy - 1d4 x2 Special Bludgeoning
Trident 12 sd 1d8 x2 10-ft. 4 lb. Piercing
Two-handed Melee Weapons
Greatclub 10 sd 1d10 x2 8 lb. Bludgeoning
Labrys, two-handed 25 sd 3d6 x3 12 lb. Slashing
Sarissa 18 sd 3d6 x3 20 lb. Piercing
Ranged Weapons
Bow, horn 20 sd 1d8 x3 30-ft. 2 lb. Piercing
Bow, self 16 sd 1d8 x3 50-ft. 2 lb. Piercing
Bow, composite self 30 sd 1d8 x3 80-ft. 2 lb. Piercing
Bow, composite,
recurve 40 sd 2d6 x3 100-ft. 2 lb. Piercing
Arrows, bone tipped
(20) 1 sd 3 lb.
Arrows, ivory tipped
(20) 3 sd 3 lb.
Arrows, bronze tipped
(20) 6 sd 3 lb.

105
 material (such as horn) on the inside.
This took advantage of the different
kind of work done by the different
parts of the bow, allowing much more
powerful shots. A character with a
composite bow may add his Strength
ability score bonus to the damage done
by the arrow. Composite bows were in
equipment

use to an extent in the Old Kingdom,

though (for game purposes) the recurve
version does not appear until the New
Kingdom was established.

Composite Recurve Bow

This was the bow that made Rameses
the Great victorious at the Battle of
Quadesh. A recurve bow larger than
a self bow and is made so that it bends
outwards at the ends, adding additional
power and range to the bow shot.

Sling
A sling is a simple leather loop
fashioned for hurling stones. Your
Strength modifier applies to damage
rolls when you use a sling, just as it
does for thrown weapons. You can
fire, but not load, a sling with one
hand. Loading a sling is a move action
that requires two hands and provokes
attacks of opportunity.
It is even possible for a bronze-tipped arrow fired from a
composite bow to punch straight through a shield and into
Bone-tipped Arrow
the arm of the wielder. Bronze-tipped arrows receive a +1
Tipping an arrow with a sharpened bone point is the
enhancement bonus to their damage roll. In addition, they
standard way to make such an article in the ancient world.
are the only weapon that has any effect upon an armour
Bone is plentiful and easy to sharpen, though it is brittle
(but not a shield) Coverage check; the slim, hard bronze
and does not offer the best penetration.
heads are exceptionally good at turning armour aside. The
Bone-tipped arrows are the kind that a primitive tribe (such
DC for the Coverage check to see whether armour has
as barbarians) will be most likely to use. A culture that uses
caught a bronze-tipped arrow or not is 21 rather than 20.
bone-tipped arrows will usually use ivory-tipped arrows as
well, though these will be kept for the best archers, so that
they are not wasted. Thrown Weapons
Throwing Axe
Ivory-tipped Arrow This is a simple bronze-headed axe, designed to be thrown
Ivory is a much better substance for tipping an arrow with at a target.
than bone. It can be filed to a sharper point and is less
likely to shatter on impact. As there is much less ivory Javelin
available than bone, these arrows are only issued to the A javelin is a slender spear, shaped for throwing. It can be
best archers in an army. Ivory-tipped arrows receive a +1 used in hand-to-hand combat as a stabbing weapon without
enhancement bonus to their damage roll. penalty. Standard practice is for a Greek light infantryman
to carry two javelins as well as his spear and short sword.
Bronze-tipped Arrow Egyptian warriors carry javelins in their war chariots, using
Arrows tipped with bronze heads are the best kind available. them for close-up combat in preference to bows.
The needle-sharp bronze can easily rip through all but the
toughest armour and cause horrific internal injuries.

106
Mycenaean Javelin
This variant design of the javelin is slightly lighter than the
regular article and incorporates a throwing loop, so that the
wielder can hurl it to a greater distance. The lesser mass
means that the javelin is easier to throw further but does
not strike with so much force when it reaches its target.
Throwing Stone
edges as well as a keen point, meaning that it can be used
to slash or stab.
Cretan Stabbing Sword
This unusually slim weapon, which is up to three feet long
and made from bronze, is an ancestor of the rapier. It is a
long, slim blade used for stabbing rather than slashing. Its
use should be restricted to Cretans if the Games Master

It may come as a surprise to modern readers to learn that
hurled rocks were an extremely common sight upon the
ancient battlefield. In Homers Iliad, frequent mention
is made of heroes fighting with rocks that they pick up
and throw at one another. This was not seen as any less
honourable than transfixing a person with a spear. Some
warriors even specialised in rock throwing, as the extract
from Tyrtaeus makes plain. In the frenzy of combat,
any warrior would use a stone if he had to. As spears
and javelins frequently shattered on impact, it became
necessary to find other weapons and a flung rock was as
good as anything else.
The table below gives the weapon statistics for thrown
stones. The heavier a rock is, the more mass it has and
the more damage it inflicts upon impact. You must have
a certain minimum level of Strength in order to throw a
stone effectively. You add your Strength ability score bonus
to the damage from a thrown stone.
As thrown stones are not shaped for throwing, all attackers
who do not have the Rock Hurler feat are treated as non-
proficient with them and receive a 4 penalty to their
attack rolls when using them.
Throwing Stones
Minimum Range
Stone Strength Increment
Light (1-5 lb.) - 10-ft.
Medium (6-10 lb.) 12 10-ft.
Heavy (11-15 lb.) 14 5-ft.
Very Heavy (16-20 lb.) 16 5-ft.
Melee Weapons
These weapons are used in hand-to-hand combat in the
ancient world.
Dagger
A dagger is a long knife used for stabbing or slashing,
common to all cultures in the world of OGL Ancients. You
get a +2 bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal
a dagger on your body. See the Sleight of Hand skill for
more information.
Akinakes
This is an iron shortsword used by Persian troops. It is
only eighteen inches in length at most but has sharpened
equipment
wishes to be historically stringent. You may use the
Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity ability score
modifier to your attack roll with a Cretan stabbing sword,
instead of your Strength modifier.
Stone Axe
A stone axe is a primitive cutting tool, made from sharpened
flint bound to a wooden haft. It is more commonly used to
chop wood than to attack other human beings.
Bronze Cutting Axe
The bronze axe is a significant improvement upon the
stone version, with a good metal edge that is used to hack
at the limbs of enemies.
Bronze Piercing Axe
Historically, the piercing axe was developed as a response to
the increased use of helmets. Often, the only armour that
a Bronze Age opponent would wear was a helmet, which
often made the difference between life and death. As a
helmet is more efficient at warding off slashing damage
than piercing damage, a simple weapon was created to take
advantage of this fact. Piercing axes are rather like short-
handled picks.
Wooden Club
Damage A wooden club is simply a length of wood that can be
1d4
swung and used as a weapon.
1d6
Stone Mace
1d8 A stone mace is little more than a club. A heavy,
2d6 shaped rock is bound to a wooden haft with strips of
hide. In the Egyptian version, a disc of stone with a
hole in the centre is fixed to a wooden handle. By the
time of OGL Ancients, only relatively primitive peoples use
stone maces.
Bronze Mace
A very common weapon in the Middle East, the bronze
mace is a heavy sphere of bronze on a wooden haft.
The strength and weight of the bronze mace-head lend
additional force to the wielders blows. A +1 enhancement
bonus is added to the weapons damage rolls.
Sharpened Stake
This crude weapon is simply a length of wood (from two
to four feet long) with the end chopped to a point,
107
 hardened in fire. It is the simplest form of spear there
is. It can be used as a thrown weapon but it is not at
all aerodynamic, so the thrower is automatically treated
as non-proficient with it and receives a 4 penalty to the
attack roll.
Short Thrusting Spear
This simple spear has a point of sharpened bone, flint or
equipment
ivory. A spear can be thrown. If you use a ready action to
set a spear against a charge, you deal double damage on a
successful hit against a charging character.
Bronze Tipped Shortspear
This is the typical spear used for close-up fighting by Greek
warriors. A spear can be thrown. If you use a ready action
to set a spear against a charge, you deal double damage on
a successful hit against a charging character. Bronze tipped
spears have a +1 enhancement bonus to their damage rolls.
Bronze Tipped Long Spear (Reach)
This is the spear used in a phalanx, the primary weapon of a
Hoplite. A long spear has reach. You can strike opponents
10 feet away with it, but you cannot use it against an
adjacent foe. If you use a ready action to set a longspear
against a charge, you deal double damage on a successful
hit against a charging character. Bronze tipped spears have
a +1 enhancement bonus to their damage rolls.
Sarissa (Bronze Tipped)
The sarissa was developed by Alexander the Great to be the
ultimate spear weapon for use in phalanxes. It is essentially
a 20 foot long spear, so huge that it has to be wielded two
handed. A sarissa may be used to attack opponents up
to 20 feet away, but cannot be used against an adjacent
foe or a foe that is closer to hand than twenty feet away.
Bronze tipped spears have a +1 enhancement bonus to their
damage rolls.
Trident
A trident is a three-pronged bronze spear. This weapon
can be thrown. If you use a ready action to set a trident
against a charge, you deal double damage on a successful
hit against a charging character.
Net
A net is used to entangle enemies. When you throw a net,
you make a ranged attack against your target. The defender
cannot use a Shield Defence check to ward the attack off
and must avoid it with Active Defence if he can. A nets
maximum range is 10 feet. If you hit, the target is entangled.
An entangled creature takes a 2 penalty on attack rolls, a
4 penalty on Dexterity, can move at only half speed and
cannot charge or run. If you control the trailing rope by
succeeding on an opposed Strength check while holding it,
the entangled creature can move only within the limits
108
that the rope allows. If the entangled creature attempts to
cast a spell, it must make a DC 15 Concentration check or
be unable to cast the spell.
An entangled creature can escape with a DC 20 Escape
Artist check (a full-round action). The net has 5 hit points
and can be burst with a DC 25 Strength check (also a full-
round action). A net is useful only against creatures within
one size category of you. In order to be thrown effectively,
a net must be folded up. The first time you throw your
net in a fight, you make a normal ranged attack roll that
cannot be warded off with Shield Defence. After the net is
unfolded, you take a 4 penalty on attack rolls with it. It
takes 2 rounds for a proficient user to fold a net and twice
that long for a non-proficient one to do so.
Labrys
A labrys is an axe with two bronze cutting heads shaped
like half-moons. Versions sized for single-handed and
double-handed use exist. The labrys is not often used in
actual combat, being more of a ceremonial weapon. It
dates back to Minoan Crete, where it is believed to have
been the sacred symbol of an ancient Goddess about which
too little is known. The labrys is the traditional weapon for
witches to use.
Kopesh
The kopesh, referred to as the weapon of victory, is the
bronze sickle sword of ancient Egypt. It has a curved blade
and is used for hacking. Unlike an actual sickle, the blade
is sharp on its outer edge. Egyptian troops usually wield a
kopesh for close-up combat.
Short Stabbing Sword
The Greek infantry used this sword before their weapons
and armour were revised and the kopis (see below) replaced
it. It is essentially a long dagger, designed to be shoved
between the joints of the opponents armour.
Kopis
The kopis, or Greek sabre, is a backup Hoplite weapon. It
is a short curved sword used for slashing. Standard Hoplite
fighting strategy is to butcher ones enemies at a distance by
using long spears, then switch to the kopis to finish them
off if they should manage to come closer than the spears
reach.
Xiphos
This is a double-edged, pointed Greek sword, used in the
classical era. Lighter than the kopis, it is most commonly
used by less heavily armoured troops.
Whip
A whip deals non-lethal damage. Any attack with a whip
that connects with armour (following a successful Coverage
check) is blocked altogether. The whip is treated as a melee
weapon with 15 foot reach, though you dont threaten the
area into which you can make an attack. In addition, unlike
most other weapons with reach, you can use it against foes
anywhere within your reach, including adjacent foes. Using
a whip provokes an attack of opportunity, just as if you
had used a ranged weapon. You can make trip attacks with
a whip. If you are tripped during your own trip attempt,
you can drop the whip to avoid being tripped. When using
a whip, you get a +2 bonus on opposed attack rolls made
to disarm an opponent (including the roll to keep from
being disarmed if the attack fails). You can use the Weapon
Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of
your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a whip.
Masterwork Weapons
A masterwork weapon is a finely crafted version of a normal
weapon. Wielding it provides a +1 enhancement bonus on
attack rolls. You cannot add the masterwork quality to a
weapon after it is created; it must be crafted as a masterwork
weapon (see the Craft skill).
Masterwork ammunition is damaged (effectively destroyed)
when used. The enhancement bonus of masterwork
ammunition does not stack with any enhancement bonus
of the projectile weapon firing it.
Even though some types of shields can be used as weapons,
you cannot create a masterwork version of such an item
that confers an enhancement bonus on attack rolls. Instead,
masterwork armour and shields have their armour check
penalties reduced by one or their Maximum Dexterity
Bonus increased by one. Masterworking any item adds
600 sd to its base cost.
Herbs
Herbs are a vital part of life in ancient Greece and Egypt.
They are used in the home, on the battlefield, in the
temples of the Gods and in the secret meeting places of
the witches. This section details the different herbs that a
character may find and the uses to which they are put.
Common herbs usually sell for 1 drachma per bunch unless
otherwise noted. Rarer herbs sell for 30 silver drachmas per
bunch unless otherwise noted. Herbs in italics are never
available for open sale and must be foraged for by the player
or a black market source found.
Foraging For Herbs
A character may make a Survival check at a DC of 15 to
spend an hour foraging for herbs. Herbs are useful to
witches, who use them in spellcasting and to herbalists
who can make healing poultices and other herbal products
from them. When foraging in regions where many herbs
grow, such as forests, add a +2 circumstance bonus to the
Survival skill check. If the forager makes a successful check,
roll once on the Common Herbs table to find out the yield.
If the check succeeds by more than 10, roll once on the
Common Herbs table and once on the Rare Herbs table.
You cannot forage for herbs in arid or drought-stricken
areas. The Games Master has the final say on where you
may forage.
equipment
The word herbs is used here as a catchall term. The actual
plants used would include mushrooms, spices, mosses,
berries, bark, insects and sundry other ingredients. The
Games Master can therefore be fairly lenient in allowing
players to forage for herbs in most places, since many
different plants have similar properties and a herb in this
context is not always something which is green, leafy and
grows in the ground.
The more mysterious herbs are here categorised by use,
such as witches herbs and poisonous herbs rather than
being mentioned by name. Although to do so would be
more historically authentic, we feel that giving the actual
names of such things as hallucinogenic herbs might
encourage people to experiment, so we refrain from doing
so on the grounds of social responsibility. A Games Master
who wishes to give the game true historical accuracy should
consult any reputable text of herbalism to find out which
herbs have which alleged properties, such as Culpepers
Herbal.
Herb Yield: The yield indicates how many units of each
kind of herb the character finds. A single unit of herbs is
enough to prepare a crafted herbal item. For example, you
can use one unit of herbs to make one herbal poultice with
a single Craft (herbalism) check. Witches do not need to
turn units of their herbs into crafted items in order to use
them; a witch can use up a unit of herbs freshly plucked
from the ground in her spellcasting. Herbs in italics are
inherently suspicious to have, as they are used to work ill
in the eyes of most citizens. A person with these herbs is
as good as a criminal or a professional poisoner. If you are
found to be cultivating these, the authorities will confiscate
them, unless you are of high enough rank to talk your way
out of it.
Storing Herbs: You can dry herbs out and keep them for
later use. Common herbs remain usable for up to one year
after they are first picked. Rare herbs are only usable for six
months following picking.
Herb Gardens: A character with their own garden of herbs
may choose three types of herb to cultivate, though they
should bear in mind the likely social reaction to cultivating
forbidden herbs. (A clever character can make a secret herb
garden in a secluded space, which only she knows how
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 to find.) Your herb garden gains one new Common Herbs Fragrant Herbs: These herbs have an
unit of herbs of each type per month, to unusually pleasant smell and are used
d100 roll Herb Yield
a maximum of 10 units of herbs of each in the manufacture of incense. Some of
type. You may harvest these and use 1-30 1d4 Cooking Herbs them are chewed to sweeten the breath,
them as you see fit. If you ever harvest 31-40 1d4 Stinking Herbs an important consideration in an age
all the units of herbs of a given type, that 41-60 1d4 Healing Herbs long before the invention of toothpaste.
kind of herb no longer gains new units, Fragrant herbs have some commercial
61-65 1d4 Cleansing Herbs
as you have used it all up. value, but little use for mortal characters
equipment

66-75 1d4 Witches Herbs beyond that. A packet containing five

Cleansing Herbs: Used instead of soap 76-80 1d4 Soothing Herbs units of fragrant herbs would sell for
in the ancient world, these herbs have a 81-90 1d4 Poisonous Herbs approximately one drachma in the
detergent property and are used to bathe 91-93 1d3Narcotic Herbs marketplace.
people and clothes. Hyssop is the most
94-96 1d3 Soporific Herbs
famous of such herbs. Regular washing Fragrant herbs are of much more
of wounds is important when helping 97-100 1d3 Purgative Herbs significance to spiritual creatures. A Craft
them to heal properly. Cleansing herbs (herbalism) check can be used to turn one
add a +2 circumstance bonus to any Medicine check made unit of fragrant herbs into one unit of incense, which can
to cure a grievous wound through daily care, as opposed to then be burned as an offering to a spiritual creature. Any
cautery. Cleansing herbs are simply added to water and do spiritual creature can absorb offerings of incense made to
not need to be prepared with Craft (herbalism). it and gains hit points by doing so. See the rules covering
spiritual creatures in the Death and Beyond chapter.
Cooking Herbs: These are some of the commonest herbs
and are used to give flavour to cooking. They include such Hallucinogenic Herbs: Powerful narcotics, these herbs
familiar stew ingredients as parsley, sage and rosemary. induce vivid visions of things that are not truly there. A
Cooking herbs are of little practical use in the game and herbalist can use the Craft (herbalism) skill to turn one unit
are included as a better than nothing at all discovery of these herbs into one liquid or solid dose of hallucinogen.
when foraging for herbs; they are the commonest herbs of This is essentially poison that does temporary damage to
all. When freshly picked, they can add a +2 circumstance the ingesters Intelligence and Wisdom ability scores; both
bonus to any Craft (cook) skill check. Herbs do have his ability to think clearly and his perception of the world
some monetary value and herb-gathering can be a means around him are muddled by the swirling apparitions he sees
of raising small amounts of money when it is desperately around him. See the Poisons section in the Adventuring
needed, such as to buy food or a place to spend the night. chapter for more information.
A packet containing ten units of cooking herbs would sell
for approximately one obol in the marketplace. Healing Herbs: These goodly herbs have antiseptic
properties that fight infection and help wounds to heal.
Deadly Herbs: These herbs are Unlocking their healing quality
spoken of with fear and dread, as takes the hand of a learned herbalist.
they are poisonous enough to kill Rare Herbs To be used, they must be made
you outright. One unit of deadly d100 roll Herb Yield into a herbal poultice with a Craft
herbs is enough to prepare a dose 1-10 1d4 Staunching Herbs (herbalism) check. One dose of
(liquid or solid) of toxin whose 11-20 1d4 Hallucinogenic healing herbs is enough to prepare
ingestion will almost always result Herbs one herbal poultice. A single herbal
in death. A Craft (herbalism) skill poultice adds +2 to the Heal check to
check is needed to prepare the herbs; 21-30 1d4 Stimulant Herbs bind any given wound.
the DC for this skill check is 20 31-40 1d3 Witches Herbs
as the herbs are difficult to work (potent) Holy Herbs: Occasionally, a sprig
with. If the skill check is failed by 41-50 1d3 Paralysing Herbs of herbs has an origin in legend that
more than 10, then the herbalist has makes it especially blessed by the
51-60 1d3 Fragrant Herbs
accidentally poisoned himself and Gods; it may be said to have sprung
must make a saving throw against 61-70 1d3 Holy Herbs from the blood of one of them or
the effects of the poison. For the full 71-80 1d3 Visionary Herbs to have been given by them for the
description of deadly poison, see the 81-86 1d3 Witches Herbs benefit of mankind. Holy herbs
Poisons section in the Adventuring (extra potent) are used in religious ritual, where
chapter. they form the basis of the ritual
87-00 1d3 Deadly Herbs
preparations that go on before a

110
major prayer is made. See ritual preparations in the Magic
chapter for additional details.
Narcotic Herbs: Drugs, in a word, these herbs induce
euphoria and detachment from the world. A Craft
(herbalism) check can turn narcotic herbs into a liquid or
resin form that allows them to be ingested. A preparation
made from narcotic herbs is technically a poison that
causes temporary Wisdom ability score damage; see the
Poisons table in the Adventuring chapter. This entry does
not cover those herbs that are used to induce a state of
religious ecstasy, since those do not numb the senses so
much as bring them into harmony with the deity. Herbs
for religious use are covered under holy herbs below.
Paralysing Herbs: These rare herbs induce rigour of the
muscles, making the imbiber unable to move. A lesser dose
leaves the unwise imbiber sluggish and uncoordinated.
You can make a Craft (herbalism) check to turn one unit
of paralysing herbs into a mild draught or two units into a
strong draught. See the Poisons table for the effect of each
kind of draught upon the ingester.
Poisonous Herbs: These plants can be used to make poisons
of varying degrees of severity. A Craft (herbalism) check
can turn a unit of poisonous herbs into a dose of ingestive
poison, in liquid or powder form. See the section entitled
Poisons in the Adventuring chapter for information on
how poisons work. You can use multiple units of herbs to
produce a more concentrated poison. Each unit of herbs
that you add to the brew increases the DC of the saving
throw to resist its effects by 2; you may include a maximum
of 3 units of herbs when brewing a given poison. The
extracts of poisonous herbs are not guaranteed to be fatal,
though those who ingest them often die of the effects.
Purgative Herbs: These bitter herbs cause the ingesters
body to convulse and sweat, provoking vomiting and other
purgative processes, so that poison can be driven from his
system. As usual, a Craft (herbalism) check is required to
turn a unit of purgative herbs into an ingestible pill or phial
of liquid. Many aristocrats carry a small phial of purgative,
in case they should have poison slipped to them in their
food.
When a character ingests purgative, he must make a
Fortitude saving throw at a DC of 15 or vomit up his
stomach contents. He may voluntarily fail this saving throw
if he wishes to, as indeed most users of purgative do. A bout
of purgative-induced vomiting and sweating after ingestive
poison has been swallowed allows the purged individual to
make his next Fortitude saving throw against the secondary
damage of the poison at a +4 herbal bonus to the roll. If,
for whatever reason, he holds on to his stomach and fails
to vomit, then no benefit is derived. Some purgatives work
on a laxative basis rather than an emetic (causing vomiting)
basis but we feel that such modifications are best left to
any Games Master who wishes to add a serious level of
historical authenticity to the game.
Soothing Herbs: These benign herbs help to break fevers
and aid those suffering from disease. A character with Craft
equipment
(herbalism) can use a unit of these herbs to prepare a tonic,
which helps their body to fight off infection. A single unit
of herbs creates one dose of tonic, which when drunk adds
a +2 herbal bonus to the characters saving throw that day
to resist the effects of a disease or recover from it.
Soporific Herbs: These herbs induce drowsiness and
in greater quantity place the imbiber into a deep sleep.
They are used to calm those who suffer from insomnia or
nightmares and to assist those who are wounded to sleep
peacefully and recover their strength. A Craft (herbalism)
check turns one unit of soporific herbs into a mild sleeping
draught or two units of soporific herbs into a strong one.
See the Poisons table in the Adventuring chapter for the
effects of sleeping draughts.
Staunching Herbs: These herbs help to stem the blood
flow from a wound, aiding clotting and thus healing. They
are used in ancient medicine to treat cuts and perforations.
A Craft (herbalism) check can turn a unit of staunching
herbs into a dose of special herbal ointment, which can
be used to treat any wound caused by slashing or piercing
damage. If the Heal check to bind the wound is successful,
an additional point of damage is healed from the wound.
Stimulant Herbs: These herbs have the property of waking
the imbiber up, making him alert and tense. Guards on
duty use stimulants, sages who study for long hours and
scouts who have to keep on the go for long periods of
time. The juice prepared from stimulant herbs by a Craft
(herbalism) check grants a +2 herbal bonus to all Spot and
Listen checks made while the herbs are in effect and allows
the user a +2 herbal bonus to any Fortitude saving throws
made to resist the effects of fatigue, such as from running
flat-out for a long time. A dose lasts for 8 hours, following
which the user suffers 1d8 points of non-lethal damage.
Stinking Herbs: These noxious substances are used in
exorcisms, as the power of their stench can overcome evil
spirits. According to the folklore of the ancient world,
pungent smells can be used to drive evil away (the use of
garlic to ward off vampires is a good example) and foul
preparations such as asafoetida were believed to be effective
at purging a place of demonic infestation. In game terms,
stinking herbs, when burned, add a +2 circumstance bonus
to all attempts to ward off or dispel wicked spirits (though
111
 not incarnate undead) within a 15 foot radius of the burning
herbs and to all Prayer, Witchcraft or Hekau skill checks to
produce exorcism effects directed against discarnate spirits.
A single dose burns for half an hour. The smoke smells
unpleasant to mortals and is readily recognisable but has
no ill effects. You do not have to make stinking herbs into
any kind of a preparation to use them in this way. You can
simply burn them.
equipment
You can use stinking herbs to wake up an unconscious
character. So long as he is not also dying, the smoke from
a dose of stinking herbs held close to the characters nose
allows him to make a fresh Fortitude saving throw at a +2
circumstance bonus in order to wake up.
Visionary Herbs: These extremely rare herbs are similar
to those that induce hallucinations. However, the visions
granted by visionary herbs are genuinely prophetic. Many
seers cultivate small gardens of visionary herbs, as they are
so useful when prophesying. The smoke from a burning
unit of visionary herbs lasts for 30 minutes and assists any
uses of the Interpret Divine Will feat made during that
time. See the Feats chapter for details.
Some natural gases duplicate the effects of visionary herbs;
those in the cavern occupied by the Pythoness, the chief
seer of Apollo, exude constantly from a crack in the earth,
giving her the visions that she then passes on to those who
come and consult her.
Witches Herbs: Steeped in folklore, these herbs are a
source of magical power and can be used by witches to
fuel spells instead of using their own vital energy. (Hekau
casters can use power amulets in the same way.) Witches
herbs are said to soak up the power of the moon, a power
that can then be diverted into witchcraft effects. Ordinary
witches herbs can supply up to five hit points of energy for
casting purposes, which then need not be drawn from the
body of the caster. Witches carry with them a supply of
the herbs, so that they can cast their spells freely without
taxing themselves too much. It is also customary for a
newly initiated witch to be given a small supply of herbs
for her own use.
When you use the herbs to aid in spellcasting, they do not
need to be turned into any kind of preparation; they may
be used in their raw state. A single unit of herbs can only
be used once, even if you do not use up all of the latent
magical energy within it. Herbs can only supply energy
for casting spells in the moment, not for creating magical
objects; that kind of energy must always come from the
body of the caster.
Witches herbs have one other use, which does require
preparation. A Craft (herbalism) check can be made
112
to turn one unit of witches herbs into a dose of so-called
flying ointment. (This does not itself enable witches to
fly, although they can do so with other magics. It helps
them to separate their spirits from their bodies.) This then
suffices for a single casting of the project the soul effect. The
project the soul effect can be cast without the use of the
ointment but the Witchcraft skill check to do so is made
at a 4 penalty.
Witches Herbs (potent): The scarcer witches herbs
are eagerly sought after by followers of the craft, as they
allow even more draining magical effects to be cast with
impunity. A single dose of the potent variety of these
herbs can supply 10 hit points worth of magical energy for
spellcasting purposes. As with the ordinary variety, a dose
of the herbs can be tapped only once, even if the additional
energy is not used.
Witches Herbs (extra potent): The most powerful of
witches herbs, these extraordinary substances contain a
vast reservoir of lunar energy in a very small receptacle.
One dose of these herbs can supply up to 15 hit points
worth of energy for casting with. By using these herbs,
even a young and inexperienced initiate into witchcraft can
safely produce effects so powerful that the energy drawn
from her body would ordinarily kill her on the spot.
miscellaneous gear
A few of the pieces of miscellany found in the Goods and
Services table are described below; along with any special
benefits they confer on the user you.
Caltrops: A caltrop is a four-pronged iron spike crafted so
that one prong faces up no matter how the caltrop comes
to rest. You scatter caltrops on the ground in the hope that
your enemies step on them or are at least forced to slow
down to avoid them. One two-pound bag of caltrops covers
an area five square feet.
Each time a creature moves into an area covered by caltrops
or spends a round fighting while standing in such an area,
it might step on one. The caltrops make an attack roll (base
attack bonus +0) against the creature. For this attack, the
creatures shield, armour and deflection bonuses do not
count. If the creature is wearing shoes or other footwear,
they receive a +2 armour bonus to their Passive Defence.
If the caltrops succeed on the attack, the creature has
stepped on one. The caltrop deals 1 point of damage and
the creatures speed is reduced by one-half because its foot
is wounded. This movement penalty lasts for 24 hours or
until the creature is successfully treated with a DC 15 Heal
check or until it receives at least 1 point of magical curing.
A charging or running creature must immediately stop if
it steps on a caltrop. Any creature moving at half speed or
slower can pick its way through a bed
of caltrops with no trouble. Trade Goods
Cost
Caltrops may not be effective against 6 cc
unusual opponents. 1 so
Candle: A candle dimly illuminates
2 sd
a five foot radius and burns for one
hour. 10 sd
Chain: Chain has hardness 10 and 5 2 sd
hit points. It can be burst with a DC
26 Strength check. 4 sd
Crowbar: A crowbar it grants a +2 6 sd
equipment bonus on Strength checks 3 sd
made for such purposes. If used in
combat, treat a crowbar as a one- 14 sd
handed improvised weapon that deals
bludgeoning damage equal to that of a
20 sd
club of its size.
30 sd
Flint and Steel: Lighting a torch with
flint and steel is a full-round action and
lighting any other fire with them takes 100 sd
at least that long. 1,000 sd
Grappling Hook: Throwing a
grappling hook successfully requires
a Use Rope check (DC 10, +2 per 10-ft. of distance
thrown).
Hammer: If a hammer is used in combat, treat it as a one-
handed improvised weapon that deals bludgeoning damage
equal to that of a spiked gauntlet of its size.
Ink: This is black ink. You can buy ink in other colours,
but it costs twice as much.
Jug, Clay: This basic ceramic jug is fitted with a stopper
and holds one gallon of liquid.
Lock: A lock may be smashed off using a weapon, to do
so roll to hit as in standard combat using the DC 14 to hit
the Diminutive target and work out damage normally. All
locks have a hardness of 10 and a locks hit points depend
on the locks quality: simple (5 hp), average (8 hp), good
(12 hp) or superior (20 hp).
Manacles: Manacles can bind a Medium creature. A
manacled creature can use the Escape Artist skill to slip free
(DC 30 or DC 35 for masterwork manacles). Breaking the
manacles requires a Strength check (DC 26 or DC 28 for
masterwork manacles). Manacles have hardness 10 and 10
hit points.
Most manacles have locks; add the cost
of the lock you want to the cost of the
Item manacles.
One pound of wheat
One pound of flour or For the same cost, you can buy
one chicken manacles for a Small creature. For
a Large creature, manacles cost ten
One pound of iron
times the indicated amount and for a
equipment
One pound of tobacco Huge creature, one hundred times this
or copper
amount. Only specially made manacles
One pound of can hold Gargantuan, Colossal, Tiny,
cinnamon or one goat Diminutive and Fine creatures.
One pound of ginger
or pepper or one sheep Oil: A pint of oil burns for six hours in
One pig a lantern. You can pour a pint of oil on
One square yard of the ground to cover a five feet square,
linen provided that the surface is smooth. If
One pound of salt or lit, the oil burns for two rounds and
silver deals 1d3 points of fire damage to each
creature in the area.
One square yard of silk
or one cow
Rope, Hemp: This rope has 2 hit
One pound of saffron
points and can be burst with a DC 23
or cloves or one ox
Strength check.
One pound of gold
One pound of Rope, Silk: This rope has 4 hit
platinum points and can be burst with a DC
24 Strength check. It is so supple that
it provides a +2 equipment bonus on
Use Rope checks.
Torch: A torch burns for one hour, clearly illuminating a
20 foot radius and provides shadowy illumination out to
a 40 foot radius. If a torch is used in combat, treat it as
a one-handed improvised weapon that deals bludgeoning
damage equal to that of a gauntlet of its size, plus one point
of fire damage.
Vial: A vial holds one ounce of liquid. The stoppered
container usually is no more than one inch wide and three
inches high.
tools and skill kits
Alchemists Lab: An alchemists lab always has the perfect
tool for making alchemical items, so it provides a +2
equipment bonus to Craft (alchemy) checks. It has no
bearing on the costs related to the Craft (alchemy) skill.
Without this lab, a character with the Craft (alchemy) skill
is assumed to have enough tools to use the skill but not
enough to get the +2 bonus that the lab provides.
Artisans Tools: These special tools include the items
needed to pursue any craft. Without them, you have to use
113
 Miscellaneous Gear Item Cost Weight
Item Cost Weight Pouch, belt (empty) 2 sd 1/2 lb.
Papoose (empty) 4 sd 2 lb. Rations, trail (per day) 8 so 1 lb.
Barrel (empty) 4 sd 30 lb. Rope, hemp (50-ft.) 2 sd 10 lb.
Basket (empty) 7 sd 1 lb. Rope, silk (50-ft.) 20 sd 5 lb.
Bedroll 10 so 5 lb. Sack (empty) 10 so 1/2 lb.
equipment

Bell 2 sd Sealing wax 2 sd 1 lb.

Blanket, winter 8 sd 3 lb. Sewing needle 8 so
Bottle, wine, pottery 4 sd Signal whistle 14 sd
Bucket (empty) 8 sd 2 lb. Sledge 2 sd 10 lb.
Caltrops 2 sd 2 lb. Spade or shovel 4 sd 8 lb.
Candle 1 so Tent 20 sd 20 lb.
Canvas (sq. yd.) 10 so 1 lb. Torch 1 so 1 lb.
Case, map or scroll 2 sd 1/2 lb. Vial, ink or potion 2 sd 1/10 lb.
Chain (10-ft.) 60 sd 2 lb. Waterskin 2 sd 4 lb.
Chalk (1 piece) 1 so Whetstone 2 so 1 lb.
Chest (empty) 4 sd 25 lb. Tools and Skill Kits
Crowbar 4 sd 5 lb. Item Cost Weight
Firewood (per day) 1 so 20 lb. Alchemists lab 1,000 sd 40 lb.
Fishhook 10 so Artisans tools 10 sd 5 lb.
Fishing net (25-sq.-ft.) 8 sd 5 lb. Disguise kit 100 sd 8 lb.
Flask (empty) 3 so 1-1/2 lb. Healers kit 100 sd 1 lb.
Flint and steel 2 sd Holy symbol, wooden 2 sd
Grappling hook 2 sd 4 lb. Holy symbol, silver 50 sd 1 lb.
Hammer 8 so 2 lb. Musical instrument 10 sd 3 lb.
Ink (1 oz. Vial) 16 sd Scale, merchants 4 sd 1 lb.
Ink pen 10 so Clothing
Jug, clay 3 so 9 lb. Item Cost Weight
Ladder (10-ft.) 5 so 20 lb. Artisans outfit 2 sd 4 lb.
Lock 1 lb. Priests vestments 10 sd 6 lb.
Very simple 80 sd 1 lb. Cold weather outfit 16 sd 7 lb.
Average 160 sd 1 lb. Courtiers outfit 60 sd 6 lb.
Good 320 sd 1 lb. Entertainers outfit 6 sd 4 lb.
Amazing 600 sd 1 lb. Nobles outfit 150 sd 10 lb.
Manacles 60 sd 2 lb. Peasants outfit 10 so 2 lb.
Mirror, small steel 20 sd 1/2 lb. Royal outfit 400 sd 15 lb.
Mug/Tankard, clay 2 so 1 lb. Scholars outfit 10 sd 6 lb.
Oil (1 pt flask) 10 so 1 lb. Food, Drink and Lodging
Papyrus (sheet) 7 sd Item Cost Weight
Parchment (sheet) 4 sd Ale
Pick, miners 6 sd 10 lb. Gallon 5 sd 8 lb.
Pitcher, clay 2 so 5 lb. Mug 4 so 1 lb.
Piton 10 so 1/2 lb. Banquet (per person) 20 sd
Pole (10-ft.) 4 sd 8 lb. Bread (per loaf ) 2 so 1/2 lb.
Pot, iron 8 so 10 lb. Cheese, chunk of 10 so 1/2 lb.

114
 Disguise Kit: The kit is the perfect tool for disguise and
Item Cost Weight
provides a +2 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks. A
Meals (per day) disguise kit is exhausted after ten uses.
Good 8 so
Common 5 so Healers Kit: It is the perfect tool for healing and provides
Poor 2 so a +2 circumstance bonus on Heal checks. A healers kit is
exhausted after ten uses.
Meat, chunk of 5 so 1/2 lb.

equipment
Wine Holy Symbol, Silver or Wooden: A holy symbol focuses
Common (pitcher) 2 sd 6 lb. positive energy. A priest may use it as the focus for his spells
Fine (bottle) 20 sd 1-1/2 lb. and as a tool for turning undead. Each religion has its own
Mounts and Related Gear
holy symbol.
Item Cost Weight
Musical Instrument: A masterwork instrument grants a +2
Bit and bridle 4 sd 1 lb. circumstance bonus on Perform checks involving its use.
Dog, guard 50 sd
Donkey or mule 16 sd Scale, Merchants: A scale grants a +2 equipment bonus on
Appraise checks involving items that are valued by weight,
Feed (per day) 5 so 10 lb.
including anything made of precious metals.
Horse
Horse, heavy 400 sd
Horse, light 150 sd clothing
Artisans Outfit: This outfit includes a simple shirt, a skirt
Pony 60 sd
or pants with a drawstring, sandals and perhaps a cap or
Warhorse, heavy 800 sd hat. It may also include a belt or a leather or cloth apron
Warhorse, light 300 sd for carrying tools.
Warpony 200 sd
Saddle
Priests Vestments: These ecclesiastical clothes are for
performing priestly functions, not for adventuring.
Military 40 sd 30 lb.
Pack 10 sd 15 lb. Cold Weather Outfit: A cold weather outfit includes a
Riding 20 sd 25 lb. heavy woollen cloak, linen shirt, woollen cap, thick pants
Saddle, Exotic or skirt and strong leather sandals with fur inserts. This
outfit grants a +5 circumstance bonus on Fortitude saving
Military 120 sd 40 lb.
throws against exposure to cold weather.
Pack 30 sd 20 lb.
Riding 60 sd 30 lb. Courtiers Outfit: This outfit includes fancy, tailored
Saddlebags 8 sd 8 lb. clothes in whatever fashion happens to be the current style
Stabling (per day) 8 so in the courts of the nobles. Anyone trying to influence
nobles or courtiers while wearing street dress will have a
Transport
hard time of it (2 penalty on Charisma-based skill checks
Item Cost Weight to influence such individuals). If you wear this outfit
Light Chariot 700 sd 200 lb. without jewellery (costing an additional 50 gp), you look
Heavy Chariot 1,200 sd 300 lb. like an out-of-place commoner.
Assyrian War Chariot 1,800 sd 350 lb.
Entertainers Outfit: This set of flashy, perhaps even
Cart 30 sd 200 lb.
gaudy, clothes is for entertaining. While the outfit looks
Galley 120,000 sd whimsical, its practical design lets you tumble, dance, walk
Rowboat 100 sd 100 lb. a tightrope or just run (if the audience turns ugly).
Oar 4 sd 10 lb.
Nobles Outfit: This set of clothes is designed specifically to
Sled 40 sd 300 lb.
be expensive and to show it. Precious metals and gems are
improvised tools (2 penalty on Craft checks), if you can worked into the clothing. To fit into the noble crowd, every
do the job at all. would-be noble also needs a signet ring (see Adventuring
Gear, above) and jewellery (worth at least 100 gp).

115
 Peasants Outfit: This set of clothes consists of a loose shirt
and baggy breeches or a loose shirt and skirt or overdress.
transport
Chariots: These two-wheeled vehicle can transport two to
Cloth wrappings may also be included to cover the wearer
four people in an open cab. In general, two horses (or other
feet.
beasts of burden) draw it. A chariot comes with the harness
needed to pull it (see the Combat chapter for more details
Royal Outfit: This is just the clothing, not the royal
on chariots).
sceptre, crown, ring and other accoutrements. Royal
clothes are ostentatious, with gems, gold, silk and fur in
equipment

Cart: A single horse or other beast of burden can draw this

abundance.
Scholars Outfit: Perfect for a scholar, this outfit includes
a simple robe, a rope belt, a cap, soft sandals and possibly
a cloak.
mounts and
related gear
Donkey or Mule: Donkeys and mules are stolid in the
face of danger, hardy, surefooted and capable of carrying
heavy loads over vast distances. Unlike a horse, a donkey
or a mule is willing (though not eager) to enter strange or
threatening places.
Feed: Horses, donkeys, mules and ponies can graze to
sustain themselves, but providing feed for them is much
better. If you have a guard dog, you have to feed it at least
some meat.
two-wheeled vehicle. It comes with a harness.
Galley: This three-masted ship has seventy oars on either
side and requires a total crew of 200. A galley is 130 feet
long and 20 feet wide and it can carry 150 tons of cargo or
250 soldiers. For an additional 32,000 sd, it can be fitted
with a ram and firing platforms fore, aft and amidships.
Such modifications make the galley much heavier and
therefore unsuitable for sea voyages, thus forcing them to
stick close to the coastline. It moves about four miles per
hour when being rowed or under sail.
Rowboat: This eight to 12 foot long boat holds two or
three Medium passengers. It moves about one and a half
miles per hour.
Sled: This is a wagon on runners for moving through snow
and over ice. In general, two horses (or other beasts of
burden) draw it.

Horse: A horse, other than a pony, is suitable as a mount

for an adult human. A pony is smaller than a horse and is a
suitable mount for a child or adolescent.

Warhorses and warponies can be ridden easily into combat.

Light horses, ponies and heavy horses are hard to control
in combat.

Saddle, Exotic: An exotic saddle is like a normal saddle

of the same sort except that it is designed for an unusual
mount. Exotic saddles come in military, pack and riding
styles.

Saddle, Military: A military saddle braces the rider,

providing a +2 circumstance bonus on Ride checks related
to staying in the saddle. If youre knocked unconscious
while in a military saddle, you have a 75% chance to stay in
the saddle, compared to 50% for a riding saddle.

Saddle, Pack: A pack saddle holds gear and supplies, but

not a rider. It holds as much gear as the mount can carry.

Saddle, Riding: The standard riding saddle supports a

rider.

116

Combat
Next to the Gods, combat is the single most important aspect
of life in the ancient world. Life is nasty, brutish and short.
There is not enough land, nor food, nor glory to go around.
In order to keep what you have and get your hands on more,
you must fight. Wise voices can sometimes be heard urging
restraint and discussion as a way to reach peace but those who
know that the only way to move forward is to cut a swath
through your enemies and vastly outnumber them. Life in
the ancient world is simple. Gods and country stand above all
else. Death to those who would defile them!
how combat works
Combat is cyclical; everybody acts in turn in a regular cycle of
rounds. Combat follows this sequence:
Each combatant starts out flat-footed. Once a
combatant acts, he or she is no longer flat-footed.
Determine which characters are aware of their
opponents at the start of the battle. If some but not
all of the combatants are aware of their opponents,
a surprise round happens before regular rounds of
combat begin. The combatants who are aware of the
opponents can act in the surprise round, so they roll
for initiative. In initiative order (highest to lowest),
combatants who started the battle aware of their
opponents each take one action (either a standard
action or a move action) during the surprise round.
Combatants who were unaware do not get to act in
the surprise round. If no one or everyone starts the
battle aware, there is no surprise round.
Combatants who have not yet rolled initiative do
so. All combatants are now ready to begin their first
regular round of combat.
Combatants act in initiative order (highest to
lowest).
When everyone has had a turn, the combatant with
the highest initiative acts again and steps 4 and 5
repeat until combat ends.
Combat Statistics
This section summarizes the rules and attributes that
determine success in combat, then details how to use them in
sequential order to resolve any combat situation.
Attack Roll
An attack roll represents your attempt to strike your opponent
on your turn in a round. When you make an attack roll, you
roll a d20 and add your attack bonus. (Other modifiers may
also apply to this roll.) Your opponent responds with an Active
Defence or a Shield Defence check, if he can. If your result
equals or beats the targets Passive Defence, you hit him,
unless his Active Defence or Shield Defence beat your result,
in which case he evaded or blocked your blow. If you hit your
opponent, you deal damage. If he is wearing armour, he is
allowed to make a Coverage check to see if you struck him in
an armoured or an unarmoured spot.
Automatic Misses and Hits: A natural 1 (the d20
comes up 1) on an attack roll is always a miss. A
combat
natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a hit. A
natural 20 is also a threata possible critical hit.
How to Calculate an Attack Check
Your attack bonus with a melee weapon is equal to your base
attack bonus + Strength modifier. With a ranged weapon,
your attack bonus is equal to your base attack bonus +
Dexterity modifier - range penalty.
Damage
When your attack succeeds, you deal damage. The type of
weapon used determines the amount of damage you deal.
Effects that modify weapon damage also apply to unarmed
strikes and the natural physical attack forms of creatures.
Damage is applied in wounds of varying degrees of severity.
See the section on Wounds below. These reduce a targets
current hit points; when he reaches zero hit points, he begins
to suffer damage to his Constitution as well.
Minimum Damage: If penalties reduce the damage
result to less than 1, a hit still deals 1 point of damage.
This may, however, be blocked by armour.
Strength Bonus: When you hit with a melee or
thrown weapon, including a sling, add your Strength
modifier to the damage result. A Strength penalty, but
not a bonus, applies on attacks made with a bow that
is not a composite bow.
Off-Hand Weapon: When you deal damage
with a weapon in your off hand, you add only
1/2 your Strength bonus.
Wielding a Weapon Two-Handed: When you
deal damage with a weapon that you are
wielding two-handed, you add 1-1/2 times
your Strength bonus. However, you do not get
this higher Strength bonus when using a light
weapon with two hands.
Multiplying Damage: Sometimes you multiply
damage by some factor, such as on a critical hit. Roll
the damage (with all modifiers) multiple times and
total the results. Note: When you multiply damage
more than once, each multiplier works off the
original, unmultiplied damage.
Exception: Extra damage dice over and above a
weapons normal damage are never multiplied.
117
 Ability Damage: Certain
Size Modiers to Passive Defence
creatures and magical effects can
cause temporary ability damage Attackers Size
(a reduction to an ability score).

Colossal

Gargantuan

Huge

Large

Medium

Small

Tiny

Diminutive

Fine
Passive Defence
A characters Passive Defence represents
Defenders
how hard it would be to hit him if he
Size
acted normally without taking measures
combat

to defend himself. For example, if you Colossal +0 -4 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -12 -16

were waiting in a tree to ambush a rich Gargantuan +4 +0 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -8 -12
Egyptian merchant who was strolling Huge +6 +2 +0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -6 -10
blithely down a road with no idea that
you were waiting for him, he would have Large +7 +3 +1 +0 -1 -2 -3 -5 -9
only his Passive Defence the intrinsic Medium +8 +4 +2 +1 +0 -1 -2 -4 -8
difficulty of hitting him to protect Small +9 +5 +3 +2 +1 +0 -1 -3 -7
him. Your Passive Defence for any given
attack is equal to 10 plus your Relative Tiny +10 +6 +4 +3 +2 +1 +0 -2 -6
Size modifier for that attack plus any Diminutive +12 +8 +6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +0 -4
circumstantial modifiers. Fine +16 +12 +10 +9 +8 +7 +6 +4 +0

The vast majority of characters have

a Passive Defence of 10 against most attacks, which is the
standard. In terms of size and shape, one human being is
about as easy to hit as another. The most common modifier
to Passive Defence for creatures other than human beings and
for objects is difference in size. Large creatures and objects
have a lower Passive Defence when attacked by human-sized
creatures, while small creatures have high Passive Defence
when attacked by human-sized creatures.
The table below gives the modifier to the defenders Passive
Defence when attacked by a creature of a given size. It applies
for that attack only. Most of the time, characters will be
attacking other characters, so size will not come into it.
As is apparent from the table above, larger creatures have more
trouble hitting medium-sized things than smaller creatures do.
To a huge Cyclops, swinging his club about, the men beneath
are quick little things that it is difficult to hit. A Stymphalian
Bird, which is smaller than human-size, sees its human prey
as large, slow creatures, easy to tear at with its brass beak and
claws.
There are some other factors that can affect your Passive
Defence. Certain spells can alter your Passive Defence rating.
Moving targets have a bonus to Passive Defence, as described
below in Combat Modifiers. As a rule, anything that makes a
target harder to hit but is not done as a response to a specific
attack affects Passive Defence. Cover, such as standing behind
a wall, affects your Passive Defence, because it reduces your
effective size as a target.
Passive Defence assumes that a creature is moving about and
taking ordinary actions. If a creature is standing completely
still or is incapable of movement, it suffers a 2 penalty to its
Passive Defence. Objects, such as a straw archery target, are
thus easier to hit than creatures.
118
Any attack roll made against you that scores lower than your
Passive Defence has missed you outright. No matter how
clumsy you are, if an arrow is fired five feet over your head,
you are not at risk of stumbling into its path.
Characters without the Combat Sense feat (see Chapter 5,
Feats) cannot judge whether or not an incoming attack is
likely to hit them and must decide whether or not to defend
themselves. Characters with Combat Sense can tell what the
result of an opponents attack roll is and can take appropriate
action. They do not risk using up important Shield Defence
checks against attacks that would not have scored a hit anyway.
If you have Combat Sense, you can tell whether an attack
aimed at another person adjacent to you will hit them or not
and can choose to defend them if you are competent to do so;
see the Defending Another section below.
Active Defence
A characters Active Defence is given as a modifier, which is
added to a d20 roll to make an Active Defence check. You
make such a check to get out of the way of an attack aimed
at you. If your Active Defence check scores higher than your
opponents attack roll, you have dodged the attack, even if he
scored higher than your Passive Defence. If your opponent
scores higher than your Passive Defence and your Active
Defence, he has hit you. Making an Active Defence check is
always a free action.
A characters Active Defence modifier is equal to his Dexterity
modifier, plus any bonuses for experience level, class features,
feats or magic. Note that armour limits the maximum
Dexterity bonus to Active Defence that may be applied. The
more encased in armour you are, the more likely it is that you
will survive a hit, but the more likely it is that a hit will land
in the first place. By contrast, the less armour you wear, the
less vulnerable you are, but the easier it will be for you to get
out of the way.
You may not add your Dexterity bonus (if you have one) to
Active Defence checks made while flat-footed. If you are
completely helpless, such as when asleep, you cannot make
Active Defence checks at all. You are also unable to make
Active Defence checks if you are unaware of your attacker.
There are set ways in which any character can boost his Active
Defence. You can choose to fight defensively, which reduces
your attack rolls by 4 in exchange for a +2 dodge bonus to
your Active Defence. You can take a standard action to go on
Full Defence, which adds +4 to your Active Defence checks for
the remainder of the round but prevents you from attacking
at all. You have to wait for your turn to come round to declare
this. See Actions in Combat below.
Shield Defence
Warriors and similar martially inclined characters have a
Shield Defence bonus. A characters Shield Defence is much
like his melee attack bonus, in that it increases from level to
level and eventually progresses into multiple iterations, such
as +6/+1. You may make a Shield Defence check to attempt
to block an incoming attack with your shield. You do this
instead of making the usual Active Defence check. You may
make a Shield Defence check reactively (other than on your
turn) but you are limited to the number of Shield Defence
checks indicated by your Shield Defence bonus.
If your opponent rolls higher than your Passive Defence with
his attack roll but lower than your Shield Defence check, then
your shield takes the blow.
You never have to make a Shield Defence check; they are
always voluntary. The Combat Sense feat is extremely useful
when using Shield Defence, as you can save your Shield
Defence checks to use against those attacks that you know
will hit you unless you block them. Shield Defence checks
are far more efficient at protecting you from damage than
Active Defence checks, as the shields Coverage bonus greatly
increases the chance that the attack will not get through.
Your Shield Defence bonus is that given for your character
class and experience level, plus your Wisdom modifier, plus
the Coverage bonus of the shield you are using, along with any
other modifiers for class features, feats, magic and so on.
Shield Defence checks are always made as free actions if you
are proficient with shields, but you can only make as many
Shield Defence checks per round as your bonus allows. If your
level of experience allows you to have multiple Shield Defence
checks, then the first one in the round is made at the listed
bonus and the second one at the second listed bonus.
Similar actions to those available for boosting Active Defence
can be taken to boost your Shield Defence. You can take a
standard action to fight defensively with your shield, reducing
your attack rolls by 4 in exchange for a +2 cover bonus to
your Shield Defence checks for the remainder of that round.
You can also go on full shield defence, an action equivalent to
hiding behind your shield; this adds a +4 cover bonus to your
Shield Defence checks for the remainder of the round but
prevents you from making any attacks at all.
You may make Shield Defence checks while flat-footed, but
you cannot apply your Wisdom bonus (if you have one) to
combat
the check, as you have not yet gathered your wits to defend
yourself properly. You cannot make Shield Defence checks
if you do not have a ready shield or if you are unaware of the
attack.
Even though you can only use a shield to defend yourself a
limited number of times in a round, it still provides a degree
of protection against any attack that hits you and which you
have not tried to block, as it covers part of your body. See the
section on Coverage below.
A character who is not proficient in the use of a shield but who
has picked one up and is attempting to defend himself with it
may make one Shield Defence check per round (at the cost of
a move action when his turn comes around) at a 4 penalty,
but may not do so if he has moved more than five feet already
in the round.
Defending Others: At any time when you would be granted
your Wisdom bonus to Shield Defence (whether you have
one or not), you may defend an adjacent character or even an
object with your shield, warding off an attack directed against
them. You must be aware of the attack to do this, though they
do not have to be. The character you defend must be directly
adjacent to you and no more than one size category larger than
you are. This takes up one of your Shield Defence uses for the
round. You make a Shield Defence check to defend another
at a 2 penalty, as it is harder to defend others than to defend
yourself.
Armour
Armour in OGL Ancients does not make you harder to hit.
It only comes into play once you have been hit. It is treated
as a second skin that absorbs damage before it reaches you,
assuming the attack strikes the armour rather than your flesh.
The kind of damage you suffer is reduced by varying amounts
according to the type of armour you are wearing.
Whenever an attack scores a hit, your armour may come in
between you and the weapon. The more of your body the
armour covers, the more likely it is that the blow will strike
an armoured part. Make a Coverage check (d20 plus the
armours Coverage rating) against the appropriate DC for the
type of attack. If you fail this check, you take full damage
from the blow and your armour does not intervene at all. If
you succeed, the blow has struck your armour.
Coverage checks made by armour against bludgeoning attacks
are made against a DC of 15, as a blunt impact is spread
119
 across the armoured surface and is consequently less likely to
penetrate a vulnerable area. The DC against slashing attacks
and piercing attacks is 20.
When making a Coverage check, a natural roll of 1(before
modifiers) is always a failure. This is sometimes called the
Achilles Heel rule. No matter how much of your body is
armoured, there is always the chance that an attack will find
its way in through a chink in the armour. Daggers can slip
combat
between armour plates, arrows can pierce between the joints
of harnesses and spears can be driven into the gap under the
arm.
Helmets: Helmets are an armoured covering for the head,
usually made from leather or metal. They provide a small
measure of additional protection but interfere with your
hearing and vision slightly. They function in the same way as
armour does, though they do not have degrees of condition,
only a total number of hit points. All helmets allow you to
add an additional +1 Coverage bonus to your Coverage checks
to see if your armour has protected you when you are hit. If
this bonus means that you reach the DC for the check exactly,
then the helmet takes the damage rather than your armour.
Damage that gets through your helmet to your body is not
increased in any way, nor does it count as a critical hit.
For example, Amenet is wearing an Egyptian leather helmet
and a set of Egyptian leather armour when an arrow hits
him. He must therefore make a Coverage check against a
DC of 20, as arrows inflict piercing damage; he has coverage
of +3 for his leather armour and +1 for his helmet, for a total
Coverage bonus of +4. He rolls a 16, which is exactly enough
to make the Coverage check. The arrow therefore hits his
helmet instead of his leather armour. The arrow inflicts 6
points of damage. The leather helmet ignores 2 and absorbs
2, so Amenet suffers a 2-point wound and his helmet suffers
2 points of damage.
Automatic Shield Coverage Against Ranged Attacks: If
your character is carrying a shield, whether it is readied or not,
then there is a chance for any ranged attack to strike the shield
purely by happenstance, irrespective of how well you might
actively wield it. A large piece of strong material covering part
of your body is going to offer a degree of protection, whether
you are moving it to block blows or not.
120
Unless you have already made a Shield Defence check to block
the ranged attack and failed, whenever an attack hits you,
you may make a Coverage check using the shields Coverage
bonus alone to see whether the incoming ranged attack hits
your shield, before you then go on to make a Coverage check
for your armour. If the Coverage check for your shield is
successful, then apply the damage to the shield as if you had
blocked the attack deliberately (see below). If the Coverage
check for your shield fails, then move on to your armours
Coverage check. You do not add the shields Coverage check
to that of your armour! The checks are resolved sequentially.
For example, the Egyptian warrior Petiese is walking down
a dusty track on a hot day with his shield slung. He does
not notice the Assyrian hiding in the long grass nearby. The
Assyrian fires an arrow at Petiese and easily beats his Passive
Defence. Petiese is not wielding his shield, so he is not allowed
a Shield Defence check; as he was unaware of the attack, he
would not have been entitled to one even if he was aware of it.
However, even a slung shield has a chance to block a ranged
attack. Petiese is carrying a standard Egyptian shield, which
has a Coverage bonus of +4. An arrow deals piercing damage,
so Petiese needs to roll over 20 on his shields Coverage check
to block the arrow. He rolls a 17; the Assyrian arrow embeds
itself in his shield.
Passive Shield Coverage only applies to ranged attacks, never
to melee attacks.
Armour Layers: Under certain, very rare circumstances, a
character can have multiple layers of armour. For example,
the use of Medeas Ointment confers an armouring effect to
the naked skin, with its own coverage rating and Damage
Reduction; a hero could wear armour on top of this, making
for two distinct layers. If an attack hits a character who has
multiple layers of armour, make a Coverage check for each
layer in turn. Apply any damage that gets through the first
layer to the second.
For example, the hero Axamendes is wearing bronze armour
over an Athenas blessing spell. A spear strikes him for 12 points
of damage. The first Coverage check (for the bronze armour)
succeeds, so the armour ignores 6 points of damage and
absorbs one, leaving five points of damage still to be accounted
for. The Coverage check for the Athenas blessing spell fails, so
Axamendes suffers five points of damage.
When a blow strikes armour, a certain amount of the damage
is ignored (the armours Damage Reduction), the armour
suffers some (the armours Damage Absorption) and the rest
is applied to you. The amount of damage that is ignored
depends on the type of weapon and the type of armour. For
example, padded armour is good for reducing bludgeoning
damage but not very useful against piercing damage, while
armour made from metal plates is effective against slashing
and piercing damage but not so good against bludgeoning. If
arrows were flying at a character, he would prefer to wear metal
armour, but if he were falling from a height, padded armour
would be more useful. Heavier armour also encumbers you.
Consult the armours entry in the Equipment chapter to find
the amount of damage that each kind of armour ignores and
absorbs. Armours protection is always listed as DR/DA or
Damage Reduction followed by Damage Absorption. The
first figure is the amount of damage of each type ignored by
the armour, the second the amount absorbed by it.
Once damage reduction has been applied, damage absorption
occurs, in which damage is applied to the armour. The
damage that the armour suffers does not disappear. Armour
does not stay in the same condition indefinitely; sooner or
later, it develops dents, tears and buckles. Like objects, all suits
of armour have hit points. Unlike objects, the armour is not
destroyed outright when its hit points are reduced to zero.
Metal armour never suffers damage from blunt wooden
weapons. If a blunt wooden weapon (such as a stick) strikes
armour, treat the armours damage absorption as if it were
damage reduction. The same rule applies to anything softer
than wood that should happen to strike the armour.
Armour Conditions: Armour has four conditions: mint,
damaged, battered and ruined. Once a suit of armour has
had its hit points reduced to zero, it drops to the next most
dilapidated condition and starts again at full hit points. For
example, a Mint suit of leather armour that suffers a total of 21
hit points of damage is now Damaged. You can find out what
kind of condition a suit of armour is in by using an Appraise
check to assess its quality.
The more dilapidated a suit of armour is, the less effective it
is at protecting the wearer. On a dilapidated suit of armour,
plates hang loose, missing pieces let arrows through and tears
leave vulnerable areas exposed. This is expressed as a penalty
to the armours Coverage checks. Damaged armour has a 1
penalty to Coverage checks; Battered armour has a 2 penalty
combat
and Ruined armour has a 3 penalty. You can still make
Coverage checks with armour that has an effective Coverage
bonus of zero, as there is always the chance (even if it is only a
slim one) that the armour will protect you. If Ruined armour
is reduced to zero hit points, it simply falls to pieces and is no
longer any good for anything.
Armour that has become dilapidated can be repaired with a
Craft (armour) skill check or other appropriate Craft skill, at
the same DC needed to craft the armour in the first place but
without any materials cost. It may not, however, be repaired
to anything better than the next highest condition bracket.
For instance, a Battered suit of leather armour can be repaired
so that it becomes a Damaged suit of leather armour with full
hit points but it could never be made Mint again.
Quick And Easy Armour: If keeping track of the armours
condition is likely to slow down your game, then you
can simply add the Damage Reduction and the Damage
Absorption figures together and treat them as an overall
Damage Reduction figure. This means that armour never
becomes ablated, but it does make combat move slightly
more quickly. The quick and easy rules are recommended
for play in the mythic era more than the historical game, as
the atmosphere of a historical campaign depends on such
(relatively) realistic details as the state of a characters armour
and shield.
This quick method is recommended for normal play when
characters are fighting Non-Player Characters who are wearing
armour, as the Games Master does not usually need to keep
track of how battered the armour of an incidental character
is.
A Greek phalanx awaits its fate
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 Shields
Shields are a vital component of warfare in the Ancient
world. They do not just sit passively on your arm, waiting
to absorb damage. To use a shield properly is to actively seek
to place it in between yourself and an incoming blow. The
Shield Defence rating shows how competent a character is at
defending himself (or others) with a shield.
If you are able to react to an attack and you would not be
combat
denied your Dexterity modifier to Active Defence (whether or
not you actually have one), you may oppose an enemys attack
roll with a Shield Defence roll. You do not make a Coverage
check with a shield. Instead, you add the shields Coverage
rating directly on to your own Shield Defence roll.
If your Shield Defence roll is greater than your opponents
attack roll, then you have successfully blocked the attack with
your shield, unless your opponent rolled less than your Passive
Defence on his attack roll after modifiers were applied, in
which case his attack missed you completely and your shield
suffers no damage. An attack blocked with a shield still does
damage but all the damage is applied to the shield and none
of it reaches the wielder. If his attack roll beats your Shield
Defence roll, then unless he rolled a total of less than your
Passive Defence, the attack hits and you suffer damage from it.
Armour can still absorb some or all of this damage; see above.
Shields suffer damage much like armour does, having hit
points that are steadily reduced. Like armour, shields ignore
a certain amount of each kind of damage. They absorb some
of the rest. Slashing and piercing damage that exceeds the
shields Damage Absorption is applied to the wielder (who
may make a Coverage check for his armour if he is wearing
any) and the shield is destroyed; a breached shield is a ruined
shield. So long as the shield only suffers damage that is within
its Damage Absorption limit, it suffers hit point damage and
remains intact.
If a damaged shield suffers damage in excess of its remaining
hit points, then all the excess damage is applied to the wielder
of the shield. The blow simply punches right through,
destroying the shield in the process. If the shield user is
wearing armour, he is allowed to make a Coverage check to see
if the armour takes any of the excess damage.
Metal shields completely ignore damage from blunt wooden
weapons, such as staves.
Other Defensive Factors
Some other factors come into play when a character is
defending himself against an attack.
Natural Armour: Natural armour is like having
armoured skin, providing a layer of armour beneath
any other that you wear. It covers you all but
perfectly. Natural armour only ever ignores damage;
it does not absorb any, as it is part of you. Ordinary
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mortals can only acquire natural armour as a result
of magic, whereas certain animals and monsters have
natural armour as a feature. Scales and leathery skin
are both examples of natural armour.
Dodge Bonuses: Some bonuses to your Active Defence
represent superior avoidance of blows. These bonuses
are called dodge bonuses. Any situation that denies
you your Dexterity bonus to Active Defence also
denies you dodge bonuses. (Wearing armour,
however, does not limit these bonuses the way it
limits a Dexterity bonus to Active Defence.) Unlike
most sorts of bonuses, dodge bonuses stack with each
other. Many characters and some monsters have
an Evasiveness rating, which is an additional dodge
bonus to Active Defence that is given because the
character or monster is experienced at getting out of
the way of harm.
Speed
Your speed tells you how far you can move in a round and still
do something, such as attack. Your speed depends mostly on
what armour you are wearing. If you use two move actions in
a round (sometimes called a double move action), you can
move up to double your speed. If you spend the entire round
to run all out, you can move up to quadruple your speed or
triple your speed if you are in heavy armour.
Humans have a base speed of 30 feet (6 squares) or 20 feet (4
squares) in medium or heavy armour. Non-human creatures
such as animals and monsters have their speed listed in their
creature descriptions.
Saving Throws
Generally, when you are subject to an unusual or magical
attack, you get a saving throw to avoid or reduce the effect.
Like an attack roll, a saving throw is a d20 roll plus a bonus
based on your class, level and an ability score. Your saving
throw modifier is: Base save bonus + ability modifier.
Saving Throw Types
The three different kinds of saving throws are Fortitude,
Reflex and Will:
Fortitude: These saving throws measure your ability
to stand up to physical punishment or attacks against
your vitality and health. Apply your Constitution
modifier to your Fortitude saving throws. For
example, you make a Fortitude saving throw to avoid
suffering the effects of poison.
Reflex: These saves test your ability to dodge area
attacks. Apply your Dexterity modifier to your Reflex
saving throws. For example, you would make a Reflex
saving throw to dodge a patch of quicksand that
magically appeared under your feet.
Will: These saves reflect your resistance to mental
influence as well as many magical effects. Apply your
Wisdom modifier to your Will saving throws. For
 example, you would make a Will saving throw to
resist becoming charmed by a nymph.
Saving Throw Difficulty Class
The DC for a saving throw is determined by the attack or
effect itself. Various effects, such as feats, ability scores in
the case of special abilities with Difficulty Classes calculated
on a creature by creature basis and other enhancements can
influence DCs dramatically.
Automatic Failures and Successes
A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on a saving throw is always
a failure and may cause damage to exposed items; see Items
Surviving after a Saving Throw. A natural 20 (the d20 comes
up 20) is always a success. This is a notable exception to
the basic rule that natural rolls of 1 and 20 on a d20 do not
automatically indicate failure or success respectively.
Initiative
Initiative is a measurement of how quickly a character gathers
his wits in a combat situation. Those who are quick to react to
a fight breaking out can act first, while those whose reactions
are more sluggish do not get a chance to act until others have
taken a turn.
Initiative Checks
At the start of a battle, each combatant makes an initiative
check. An initiative check is a simple Dexterity ability score
check. Each character rolls a d20 and applies his Dexterity
modifier to the roll.
Characters act in order, counting down from highest result to
lowest. In every round that follows, the characters act in the
same order unless a character takes an action that results in his
initiative changing, for which see Special Initiative Actions. If
two or more combatants have the same initiative check result,
the combatants who are tied act in order of their total modifier
to initiative (their Dexterity modifier plus any additional
modifiers, such as that derived from the Improved Initiative
feat) with the highest going first. If there is still a tie, the tied
characters should roll again to determine which one of them
goes before the other.
Flat-Footed
At the start of a battle, before you have had a chance to act
- specifically, before your first regular turn in the initiative
order - you are flat-footed. This term simply means that you
are not yet fully alert and able to defend yourself. To be flat-
footed is to be caught in that instant of time between an event
happening and your becoming able to react to it purposefully.
You still have automatic reflexes (and can thus make Reflex
saving throws) but you easily cannot take deliberate defensive
action.
While you are flat-footed, you cannot add your Dexterity
modifier to your Active Defence checks or your Wisdom
modifier to your Shield Defence checks. Making a Shield
Defence or Active Defence check does not count as acting for
the purpose of determining whether a character is flat-footed
or not.
A flat-footed character cannot make attacks of opportunity.
Inaction
Even if you cannot take actions, you retain your initiative score
for the duration of the encounter. This may be necessary to
determine when an effect occurs on your character in a given
combat
round or when you may overcome some adverse condition.
Surprise
When a combat starts, if you are not aware of your opponents
and they are aware of you, you are surprised. Careful tactics
or blind luck can provide the opportunity for characters to
achieve surprise on unprepared or unsuspecting opponents.
Generally, surprise does not occur often, as most people are
wary and alert at all times when combat could be a possibility.
When it does occur, it is usually as the result of a deliberate
ambush attempt. The Games Master is the final authority on
when surprise occurs for any given encounter, if at all.
Determining Awareness
Sometimes all the combatants on a side are aware of their
opponents, sometimes none are and sometimes only some of
them are. Sometimes a few combatants on each side are aware
and the other combatants on each side are unaware.
To determine awareness, the Games Master should consider
which senses would give away the presence of one group of
people to the other group. Thus, determining awareness may
call for Listen checks, Spot checks or other checks. If the
checks in question are successful, then those characters are
aware of their opponents.
For example, Acrius the warrior is exploring a labyrinth
underneath an ancient temple. At the heart of the labyrinth,
close at hand, a minotaur is lurking, waiting for its latest victim.
Neither is aware of the others presence. If the minotaur hears
Acrius approaching (a Listen check) or sees him moving in
the passageways (a Spot check) then the minotaur is aware of
Acrius. If Acrius notices the minotaur, which will be a more
difficult Spot check as the minotaur is partially concealed by
shadows, then he becomes aware of it.
The Surprise Round
If some, but not all, of the combatants are aware of their
opponents, a surprise round happens before regular rounds
begin. Any combatants aware of the opponents can act in the
surprise round, so they roll for initiative. In initiative order
(highest to lowest), combatants who started the battle aware
of their opponents each take a standard action during the
surprise round. (Remember that you can take a move action
as a substitute for a standard action, if you want to close with
your enemy; see Actions In Combat below.) You can also take
free actions during the surprise round. If no one or everyone
is surprised, no surprise round occurs.
123
 For example, the minotaur makes its Spot check, sees Acrius
enter its chamber and is now aware of him but Acrius fails his
Spot check and does not see the minotaur. The minotaur may
now start a surprise round, in which it can take a standard
action and Acrius can do nothing. Once the surprise round
is over, regular rounds begin. If Acrius had noticed the
minotaur, then both characters would be aware of each other
and there would have been no surprise round.
combat
Stealth and Surprise: All creatures are considered to become
aware of their opponents once combat breaks out. Most of the
time, this is a straightforward matter. Sometimes, however,
one side or the other will want to use stealth tactics.
If, for whatever reason, all the creatures on one side are still
unaware of the other side at the end of a surprise round, then
a second surprise round starts. You switch to regular combat
rounds as soon as the standard action or move action taken in
a surprise round makes the unaware side aware.
For example, if you are watching from a concealed position
while other characters are moving past you, so that you are
aware of them but they are not aware of you, you can take
one standard action or one move action; if they notice, they
become aware and regular combat rounds start. If they do not
notice, you move to a second surprise round. Under these
circumstances, you could drink a potion, a standard action
that makes no noise and attracts no attention, without moving
to regular combat. If you fired an arrow at one of them, it
missed and he and his friends completely failed to notice, this
would not start regular combat.
You may take advantage of this to sneak up on an unaware
enemy, by taking repeated move actions to approach him
and then a standard action to attack. Naturally, this requires
repeated Move Silently skill checks on your part. If you
completed a move action in a surprise round and your enemy
failed to beat your Move Silently skill check result with his
Listen skill check result, you could move on to a second
surprise round.
Unaware Combatants
Combatants who are unaware at the start of battle do not get
to act in the surprise round. Unaware combatants are not able
to defend themselves with Active Defence or Shield Defence
checks.
Attacks of Opportunity
Sometimes, a combatant in a melee lets her guard down. In
this case, combatants near her can take advantage of her lapse
in defence to attack her for free. These free attacks are called
attacks of opportunity.
The idea behind attacks or opportunity is fairly straightforward
but including them as a combat complication is not. As such,
a Games Master can choose to treat attacks of opportunity
(also called AoOs) as an optional rule. If this is done, the
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operation of several feats, namely ones like Mobility and
Combat Reflexes, may need to be changed to give them new
abilities or removed completely from the campaign, as they
will no longer apply.
Threatened squares
You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee
attack, even when it is not your action. Generally, that means
everything in all squares adjacent to your space, including
diagonally. An enemy that takes certain actions while in a
threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from
you. If you are unarmed, you do not normally threaten any
squares and thus cannot make attacks of opportunity.
Reach Weapons: Most creatures of Medium or smaller
size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that
they can make melee attacks only against creatures
up to five feet (1 square) away. However, Small and
Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten
more squares than a typical creature. In addition,
most creatures larger than Medium have a natural
reach of 10 feet or more.
Provoking an Attack of Opportunity
Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity:
moving out of a threatened square and performing an action
within a threatened square.
Moving: Moving out of a threatened square
usually provokes an attack of opportunity from
the threatening opponent. There are two common
methods of avoiding such an attackthe five foot-
step and the withdraw action, for which see below.
Performing a Distracting Act: Some actions, when
performed in a threatened square, provoke attacks
of opportunity as you divert your attention from
the battle. The table entitled Actions in Combat
notes many of the actions that provoke attacks of
opportunity.
Remember that even actions that normally provoke attacks of
opportunity may have exceptions to this rule.
Making an Attack of Opportunity
An attack of opportunity is a single melee attack. You can
only make one per round. You do not have to make an attack
of opportunity if you do not want to. You make your attack
of opportunity at your normal attack bonus, even if you have
already attacked in the round.
When an attack of opportunity is made against you, you can
use Active Defence to avoid the blow as usual. If you have
any Shield Defence uses left for the round, you may defend
with a shield instead. As ever, this takes up one of your Shield
Defence uses.
 An attack of opportunity interrupts the normal flow of
actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked,
immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue
with the next characters turn or complete the current turn,
if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a
characters turn.
Combat Reflexes and Additional Attacks of Opportunity:
If you have the Combat Reflexes feat, you can add
your Dexterity modifier to the number of attacks of
opportunity you can make in a round. This feat does
not let you make more than one attack for a given
opportunity but if the same opponent provokes two
attacks of opportunity from you, you could make
two separate attacks of opportunity, since each one
represents a different opportunity. Moving out
of more than one square threatened by the same
opponent in the same round does not count as more
than one opportunity for that opponent. All these
attacks are at your full normal attack bonus.
Actions in Combat
The Anatomy of a Combat Round
Each round represents 6 seconds in the game world. A round
presents an opportunity for each character involved in a
combat situation to take an action. Each rounds activity
begins with the character with the highest initiative result and
then proceeds, in order, from there. Each round of a combat
uses the same initiative order. When a characters turn comes
up in the initiative sequence, that character performs his
entire rounds worth of actions. For exceptions, see Attacks of
Opportunity and Special Initiative Actions.
For almost all purposes, there is no relevance to the end of a
round or the beginning of a round. A round can be a segment
of game time starting with the first character to act and ending
with the last, but it usually means a span of time from one
round to the same initiative count in the next round. Effects
that last a certain number of rounds end just before the same
initiative count that they began on.
Action Types
An actions type essentially tells you how long the action takes
to perform (within the framework of the 6-second combat
round) and how movement is treated. There are four types of
actions: standard actions, move actions, full-round actions and
free actions. In a normal round, you can perform a standard
action and a move action or you can perform a full-round
action. You can also perform one or more free actions. You
can always take a move action in place of a standard action.
In some situations, such as in a surprise round, you may
be limited to taking only a single move action or standard
action.
Standard Action: A standard action allows you to do
something, most commonly make an attack or cast a
spell. See Table: Actions in Combat for other standard
actions.
Move Action: A move action allows you to move
your speed or perform an action that takes a similar
amount of time. See Table: Actions in Combat.
You can take a move action in place of a standard
combat
action. If you move no actual distance in a round
(commonly because you have swapped your move for
one or more equivalent actions), you can take one five
foot step before, during or after the action.
Full-Round Action: A full-round action consumes
all your effort during a round. The only movement
you can take during a full-round action is a five foot
step before, during or after the action. You can also
perform free actions; see below.
Some full-round actions do not allow you to take a five foot
step. Some full-round actions can be taken as standard actions,
but only in situations when you are limited to performing
only a standard action during your round. The descriptions of
specific actions, below, detail which actions allow this option.
Free Action: Free actions consume a very small
amount of time and effort. You can perform one
or more free actions while taking another action
normally. However, there are reasonable limits on
what you can really do for free. Some free actions
can only be performed a limited number of times
per round, such as making a Shield Defence check to
ward off a blow.
Not an Action: Some activities are so minor that they
are not even considered free actions. They literally do
not take any time at all to do and are considered an
inherent part of doing something else.
Restricted Activity: In some situations, you may
be unable to take a full rounds worth of actions. In
such cases, you are restricted to taking only a single
standard action or a single move action, plus free
actions as normal. You cannot take a full-round action
(though you can start or complete a full-round action
by using a standard action; see below).
actions in combat
Standard Actions
These are the basic things characters and creatures can do
during a combat round. Basic attacks are covered under this
type of action, as are the activation of normal items, devices
and magical treasures. Most actions taken by combatants are
standard actions, though timing or outside influences might
change this status.
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 Actions in Combat Attack of
Full-Round Action Opportunity1
Attack of
Standard Action Opportunity1 Full attack No
Attack (melee) No Charge5 No
Attack (ranged) Yes Deliver coup de grace Yes
Attack (unarmed) Yes Escape from a net Yes
Aid another Maybe 2 Extinguish flames No
combat

Bind a friends wounds or your own Yes Light a torch Yes

(see Heal skill) Prepare to throw splash weapon Yes
Bull rush No Run Yes
Cast a spell with Witchcraft or Hekau Yes Use skill that takes 1 round Usually
(1 standard action casting time)
Use a touch spell on up to six friends Yes
Concentrate to maintain an active spell/ No
Withdraw 5
No
miracle
Free Action
Dismiss a spell/miracle No
Cease concentration on a spell No
Draw a hidden weapon No
(see Sleight of Hand skill) Drop an item No
Drink a potion or apply an ointment Yes Drop to the floor No
Escape a grapple No Prepare components to cast a Witchcraft No
or Hekau spell6
Feint No
Speak No
Overrun No
No Action
Pray for a miracle Yes
(1 standard action praying time) Active Defence check to dodge a blow No
Read a scroll Yes Delay No
Ready (triggers a standard action) No Shield Defence check to ward off a blow No
Revive an unconscious character Yes Five foot step No
Sunder a weapon (attack) Yes Action Type Varies
Sunder an object (attack) Maybe3 Disarm7 Yes
Total defence No Grapple7 Yes
Use extraordinary ability No Trip an opponent7 No
Use skill that takes 1 action Usually Use feat 8
Varies
Use spell-like ability Yes 1
Regardless of the action, if you move out of a threatened
square, you usually provoke an attack of opportunity. This
Use supernatural ability No
column indicates whether the action itself, not moving,
Move Action provokes an attack of opportunity.
Move Yes 2
If you aid someone performing an action that would normally
provoke an attack of opportunity, then the act of aiding another
Control a frightened mount Yes
provokes an attack of opportunity as well.
Direct or redirect an active spell/miracle No 3
If the object is being held, carried or worn by a creature, yes.
Draw a weapon4 No If not, no.
Open or close a door No 4
If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can
combine one of these actions with a regular move.
Mount a horse or dismount No
5
May be taken as a standard action if you are limited to taking
Move a heavy object Yes only a single action in a round.
Pick up an item Yes 6
Unless the component is an extremely large or awkward
Sheathe a weapon Yes item.
Stand up from prone Yes
7
These attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action.
As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge
Ready or loose a shield4 No action, one or more times in a full attack action or even as an
Retrieve a stored item Yes attack of opportunity.
8
The description of a feat defines its effect.

126
 Attack
Making an attack is a standard action. There are three kinds
of basic attack, namely melee, unarmed and ranged. Melee
covers the use of close-combat weapons. Unarmed attacks
are any offensive use of natural parts of a creatures body;
this covers everything from a labourers fists to a lions claws.
Ranged attacks run the gamut from ray-type spells to more
conventional weapons such as bows and slings.
Melee Attacks
With a normal melee weapon, you can strike any opponent
within 5 feet. (Opponents within five feet are considered
adjacent to you.) Some melee weapons have reach, as
indicated in their descriptions. With a typical reach weapon,
you can strike opponents 10 feet away, but you cannot strike
adjacent foes, i.e. those within 5 feet.
Unarmed Attacks
Striking for damage with punches, kicks and head butts is
much like attacking with a melee weapon, except for the
following complications:
Attacks of Opportunity: Attacking unarmed provokes
an attack of opportunity from the character you attack,
provided she is armed. The attack of opportunity
comes before your attack. An unarmed attack does
not provoke attacks of opportunity from other foes,
nor does it provoke an attack of opportunity from
an unarmed foe. An unarmed character cannot take
attacks of opportunity (but see Armed Unarmed
Attacks, below).
Armed Unarmed Attacks: Sometimes a characters or
creatures unarmed attack counts as an armed attack.
A character with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat,
a spellcaster delivering a touch attack spell and a
creature with natural physical weapons all count as
being armed. Note that being armed counts for both
offence and defence; the character can make attacks
of opportunity if another person attacks them when
unarmed.
Unarmed Strike Damage: An unarmed strike from a
Medium character deals 1d3 points of damage plus
your Strength modifier, as normal. A Small characters
unarmed strike deals 1d2 points of damage, while
a Large characters unarmed strike deals 1d4 points
of damage. All damage from unarmed strikes is
non-lethal damage. Unarmed strikes count as light
weapons.
Dealing Lethal Damage: You can specify that your
unarmed strike will deal lethal damage before you
make your attack roll but you take a 4 penalty on
your attack roll. If you have the Improved Unarmed
Strike feat, you can deal lethal damage with an
unarmed strike without taking a penalty on the attack
roll.
Ranged Attacks
With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target
that is within the weapons maximum range and in line of
sight. The maximum range for a thrown weapon is five range
increments. For projectile weapons, it is ten range increments.
Some ranged weapons have shorter maximum ranges, as
specified in their descriptions.
Attack Rolls
combat
An attack roll represents your attempts to strike your
opponent.
Your attack roll is 1d20 + your attack bonus with the weapon
you are using. If the result is at least as high as the targets
Passive Defence, you have hit them unless they then roll
higher than your result with their Active Defence or Shield
Defence check. An attack that hits deals damage, some or all
of which may be blocked by armour.
Automatic Misses and Hits
A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on the attack roll is always
a miss. A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a hit, in
that it automatically beats any Active Defence check or Shield
Defence check. A natural 20 is also a threata possible
critical hit. This is another notable exception to the natural 1
and 20 rules.
Damage Rolls
If the attack roll result equals or exceeds the targets Passive
Defence and is not itself exceeded by the targets Active
Defence check or Shield Defence check, the attack hits and
you deal damage. (Note that when the attack roll equals the
Active Defence or Shield Defence check, the attacker wins.)
Roll the appropriate damage for your weapon. That amount
of damage is deducted from the targets current hit points
and marked on his character sheet as a wound of that many
points. If the target is wearing armour, he is allowed to make
a Coverage check to see if his armour intercepts any of the
damage.
Multiple Attacks
A character that can make more than one attack per round
must use the full attack action (see Full-Round Actions,
below) in order to get more than one attack.
Shooting or Throwing into a Melee
If you shoot or throw a ranged weapon at a target engaged
in melee with a friendly character, you take a 4 penalty on
your attack roll. Two characters are engaged in melee if they
are enemies of each other and either threatens the other.
An unconscious or otherwise immobilized character is not
considered engaged unless he is actually being attacked.
If your target (or the part of your target you are aiming at,
if it is a big target) is at least 10 feet away from the nearest
friendly character, you can avoid the 4 penalty, even if the
creature you are aiming at is engaged in melee with a friendly
character.
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 Precise Shot: If you have the Precise Shot feat you do
not take this penalty.
Fighting Defensively as a Standard Action: You can choose
to fight defensively when attacking. If you do so, you take a 4
penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 dodge bonus to
Active Defence checks for the same round.
If you have a shield, you may choose to fight defensively with
combat
it. You take a 4 penalty on all attacks in the round to gain a
+2 coverage bonus to all Shield Defence checks made in the
same round. Essentially, you hide more of your body behind
your shield, which makes it harder for you to hit opponents
but harder for opponents to hit you. This coverage bonus also
applies to passive shield coverage that round, for which see
above under Shields.
Critical Hits: When you make an attack roll and get a natural
20 (the d20 shows 20), you hit regardless of your targets
Passive Defence, Active Defence or Shield Defence and you
have scored a threat. The hit might be a critical hit (or crit).
To find out if it is a critical hit, you immediately make a
critical rollanother attack roll with all the same modifiers
as the attack roll you just made. If the critical roll exceeds
the result your opponent rolled for Active Defence or Shield
Defence, your original hit is a critical hit. (The critical roll just
needs to hit to give you a critical hit. It does not need to come
up 20 again.) If the critical roll is a miss, then your hit is just
a regular hit. A critical hit means that you roll your damage
more than once, with all your usual bonuses and add the rolls
together. Unless otherwise specified, the threat range for a
critical hit on an attack roll is 20 and the multiplier is x2.
Exception: Extra damage over and above a weapons
normal damage is not multiplied when you score
a critical hit. This includes additional dice from
magical effects or class features such as Sneak Attack.
Increased Threat Range: Sometimes your threat range
is greater than 20. That is, you can score a threat on
a lower number. In such cases, a roll of lower than 20
is not an automatic hit. Any attack roll that does not
result in a hit is not a threat.
Increased Critical Multiplier: Some weapons deal
better than double damage on a critical hit.
Spells and Critical Hits: A spell that requires an attack
roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires
no attack roll cannot score a critical hit.
Shield Criticals: If you rolled a natural 20 but your critical
roll was exceeded by your opponents Shield Defence check,
you may choose to apply a Shield Critical Hit instead of
an ordinary hit to your opponents body. This is your (the
attackers) choice to make. No additional attack roll or critical
roll is needed. Roll your damage as a critical hit and apply all
of it to your opponents shield. This may result in the shield
being pierced or destroyed.
128
For example, Menelaus, armed with a javelin, has scored a critical
threat against Paris, who is wearing a bronze corselet and carrying
a shield. Menelaus must now see whether the critical threat is a
critical hit or not. He makes an attack roll and scores 19. Paris,
who has the Combat Sense feat, knows that he must now beat a 19
with either Active Defence or Shield Defence. He opts for Shield
Defence, as it gives the better chance of winning. Paris rolls a 22
and thus beats Menelaus attack roll. Menelaus can now decide
whether to inflict a normal hit on Pariss body or a critical hit on
his shield. He chooses the latter course and rolls a total of 27 points
of damage, spearing right through Paris shield (which ignores 10
points of piercing damage and absorbs 3) and continuing on to his
body. Unfortunately for Paris, his armour fails its Coverage check
and he suffers a 14-point wound. This incident, along with the
remainder of the story, is told in Homers Iliad.
Cast a Spell
Most spells require 1 standard action to cast. You can cast such
a spell either before or after you take a move action.
Note: You may make Active Defence checks while
casting Witchcraft or Hekau spells or praying for
miracles. You cannot make Shield Defence checks
while casting Witchcraft or Hekau spells, though you
can make Shield Defence checks while praying for
miracles.
Spell Components
Characters using the Witchcraft and Hekau skills, as well as
characters using the Prayer skill in conjunction with the Work
Miracle class feature, can all work magical effects. When
produced by Witchcraft or Hekau, these are called spells; when
delivered as an answer to prayer, these are called miracles.
Miracles are a form of magic that is delivered directly from
the deity in response to prayer and require no components,
though ritual preparations can improve the chances of the
prayer being answered. See the section on Ritual Preparations
in the Magic chapter for further details.
To pray for a miracle, you do not need to speak aloud, though
it is more efficient. As with the usual modifiers that apply to
a Prayer skill check (see the Ancient Skills chapter for more
details), a silent prayer gives a 2 penalty to the Prayer check,
as the Gods are less likely to hear you. Miracles are prayed for
as a standard action, though you can make ritual preparations
that take longer than the prayer itself.
To cast a spell with Witchcraft or Hekau, you need to be
able to move your hands in arcane gestures and speak in a
firm voice. If your hands are bound or your mouth gagged,
you cannot cast spells with Witchcraft or Hekau, with the
exception of the evil eye spell.
Witchcraft spells can be fuelled with herbs. If the caster of
a witchcraft spell wishes to use herbs, she must have them to
 hand. Occasionally, spells will have large, bulky components,
such as a ritual mask.
Concentration
You must concentrate to cast a spell or pray for a miracle. If
you cannot concentrate you cannot cast a spell or pray for
miracles. If you start casting a spell or praying for a miracle but
something interferes with your concentration, you must make
a Concentration check or lose the spell or miracle. The checks
DC depends on what is threatening your concentration; see
the Concentration skill. If you fail, the spell does not take
effect or the prayer is disrupted and the miracle does not
occur. A failed spell has a variable cost; see the Magic chapter
for more details. A failed prayer for a miracle, as with all such
attempts, has no hit point cost but does increase the DC of
the next attempt.
Concentrating to Maintain a Spell
Some spells require continued concentration to keep them
going. Concentrating to maintain a spell is a standard action
that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Anything
that could break your concentration when casting a spell
can keep you from concentrating to maintain a spell. If your
concentration breaks, the spell ends.
Casting Time
Most spells have a casting time of 1 standard action. A spell
cast in this manner immediately takes effect if the check is
successful.
Attacks of Opportunity
Generally, if you cast a spell or pray for a miracle, you provoke
attacks of opportunity from threatening enemies. The
sustained concentration necessary draws your attention away
from the battlefield, which allows nearby opponents a chance
to take a swing at you. If you take damage from an attack of
opportunity, you must make a Concentration check (DC 10
+ points of damage taken + effect save modifier) or lose the
spell.
Casting and Praying on the Defensive
Casting a spell or praying for a miracle while on the defensive
does not provoke an attack of opportunity. It does, however,
require a Concentration check (DC 15 +effect save modifier)
to pull off. Failure means that you automatically fail the
Witchcraft, Hekau or Prayer skill check.
Touch Spells in Combat
Many spells have a range of touch. To use these spells, you
cast the spell and then touch the subject, either in the same
round or any time later. In the same round that you cast the
spell, you may also touch (or attempt to touch) the target. You
may take your move before casting the spell, after touching
the target or between casting the spell and touching the target.
You can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on
yourself, but to touch an opponent, you must succeed on an
attack roll.
Touch Attacks: Touching an opponent with a touch
spell is considered to be an armed attack and therefore
does not provoke attacks of opportunity. However,
the act of casting a spell does provoke an attack of
opportunity. Touch attacks come in two types: melee
touch attacks and ranged touch attacks. You can score
critical hits with either type of attack. Your opponent
may not defend against a touch attack usefully with
Shield Defence; a touch attack that is intercepted with
combat
a shield actually counts as a hit. He may only evade
the attack with Active Defence. As always, if you
fail to beat his Passive Defence with a touch attack,
you miss. Your opponent does not make a Coverage
check for his armour or passive shield use, as armour
and shields are ineffective against touch attacks. He
may, however, make a Coverage check if he is partly
protected by a deflection effect or physical cover, such
as a wall.
Holding the Charge: If you do not discharge the spell
in the round when you cast the spell, you can hold the
discharge of the spell (hold the charge) indefinitely.
You can continue to make touch attacks round after
round. You can touch one friend as a standard action
or up to six friends as a full-round action. If you
touch anything or anyone while holding a charge,
even unintentionally, the spell discharges. If you cast
another spell, the touch spell dissipates. Alternatively,
you may make a normal unarmed attack (or an attack
with a natural weapon) while holding a charge. In this
case, you are not considered armed and you provoke
attacks of opportunity as normal for the attack. (If
your unarmed attack or natural weapon attack does
not provoke attacks of opportunity, neither does this
attack.) If the attack hits, you deal normal damage for
your unarmed attack or natural weapon and the spell
discharges. If the attack misses, you are still holding
the charge.
Dismiss a Spell
Dismissing an active spell is a standard action that does not
provoke attacks of opportunity.
Use Special Ability
Using a special ability is usually a standard action, but whether
it is a standard action, a full-round action or not an action at
all is defined by the ability.
Spell-Like Abilities: Using a spell-like ability works like
casting a spell in that it requires concentration and
provokes attacks of opportunity. Spell-like abilities
can be disrupted. If your concentration is broken, the
attempt to use the ability fails, but the attempt counts
as if you had used the ability. The casting time of a
spell-like ability is 1 standard action, unless the ability
description notes otherwise.
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 Using a Spell-Like Ability on the Defensive: You may
attempt to use a spell-like ability on the defensive,
just as with casting a spell. If the Concentration check
(DC 15 + spell save modifier) fails, you cannot use the
ability, but the attempt counts as if you had used the
ability.
Supernatural Abilities: Using a supernatural ability is
usually a standard action (unless defined otherwise by
the abilitys description). Its use cannot be disrupted,
combat
Move
The simplest move action is moving your speed. If you take
this kind of move action during your turn, you cannot also
take a five foot step. Many non-standard modes of movement
are covered under this category, including climbing up to
one-quarter of your speed and swimming up to one-quarter
of your speed.
Accelerated Climbing: You can climb one-half your

does not require concentration and does not provoke speed as a move action by accepting a 5 penalty on
attacks of opportunity. your Climb check.
Extraordinary Abilities: Using an extraordinary ability Crawling: You can crawl five feet as a move action.
is usually not an action because most extraordinary Crawling incurs attacks of opportunity from any
abilities automatically happen in a reactive fashion. attackers who threaten you at any point of your
Those extraordinary abilities that are actions are crawl.
usually standard actions that cannot be disrupted, do
not require concentration and do not provoke attacks Draw or Sheathe a Weapon
of opportunity. Drawing a weapon so that you can use it in combat or putting
it away so that you have a free hand, requires a move action.
Total Defence This action also applies to weapon-like objects carried in easy
You can defend yourself as a standard action. You get a +4 reach, such as wands. If your weapon or weapon-like object is
dodge bonus to your Active Defence checks for 1 round. Your stored in a pack or otherwise out of easy reach, treat this action
Active Defence improves at the start of this action. You cannot as retrieving a stored item.
combine total defence with fighting defensively or with the
benefit of the Combat Expertise feat (since both of those If you have a base
require you to declare an attack or full attack). You cannot attack bonus of +1 or
make attacks of opportunity while using total defence. higher, you may draw a
weapon as a free action
Start/Complete Full-Round combined with a
regular move. Drawing
Action ammunition for use
The start full-round action
with a ranged weapon
standard action lets you start
(such as arrows or sling
undertaking a full-round
bullets) is a free action.
action, which you can complete
in the following round by
using another standard action. Ready or
You cannot use this action to Loose a
start or complete a full attack, Shield
charge, run or withdraw. Strapping a shield to your
arm so that you can make
Move Actions Shield Defence checks or
With the exception of specific unstrapping and dropping
movement-related skills, most a shield so you can use your
move actions do not require shield hand for another
a check. As the title of this purpose, requires a move
type of action suggests, action. If you have a base
all move actions centre attack bonus of +1 or higher,
around locomotion you can ready or loose a shield
or body movements, as a free action combined with a
though not all of them regular move.
involve a character
physically moving Dropping a carried (but not worn)
from its current shield is a free action.
location.

130
 Manipulate an Item
In most cases, moving or manipulating an item is a move
action. This includes retrieving or putting away a stored
item, picking up an item, moving a heavy object and opening
a door. Examples of this kind of action, along with whether
they incur an attack of opportunity, are given in the Actions in
Combat table above.
Direct or Redirect a Spell
Some spells allow you to redirect the effect to new targets or
areas after you cast the spell. Redirecting a spell requires a
move action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity or
require concentration.
Stand Up
Standing up from a prone position requires a move action and
provokes attacks of opportunity.
Mount/Dismount a Steed
Mounting or dismounting from a steed requires a move
action.
Fast Mount or Dismount: You can mount or dismount
as a free action with a DC 20 Ride check. Your
armour check penalty, if any, applies to this check.
If you fail the check, mounting or dismounting is a
move action instead. You cannot attempt a fast mount
or fast dismount unless you can perform the mount or
dismount as a move action in the current round.
Full-Round Actions
A full-round action requires an entire round to complete.
Thus, it cannot be coupled with a standard or a move action,
though if it does not involve moving any distance, you can
take a five foot step.
Full Attack
If you get more than one attack per round because your base
attack bonus is high enough, you must use a full-round action
to get your additional attacks. You do not need to specify the
targets of your attacks ahead of time. You can see how the
earlier attacks turn out before assigning the later ones. You
must, however, make the attacks in order, from the highest
bonus to the lowest. The only movement you can take during
a full attack is a five foot step. You may take the step before,
after or between your attacks.
Deciding between an Attack or a Full Attack: After your
first attack, you can decide to take a move action instead of
making your remaining attacks, depending on how the first
attack turns out. If you have already taken a five foot step, you
cannot use your move action to move any distance, but you
could still use a different kind of move action.
Fighting Defensively as a Full-Round Action: You can
choose to fight defensively when taking a full attack action.
If you do so, you take a 4 penalty on all attacks in a round
to gain a +2 dodge bonus to all Active Defence checks for the
same round. You can opt to fight defensively with a shield,
taking a 4 penalty on all attacks in a round to gain a +2 cover
bonus to all Shield Defence checks for the same round. You
may not switch between these two modes of defensive fighting
in the same round, though you may change tactics from round
to round.
combat
Cleave: The extra attack granted by the Cleave feat or Great
Cleave feat can be taken whenever they apply. This is an
exception to the normal limit to the number of attacks you
can take when not using a full attack action.
Cast a Spell
A spell that takes 1 round to cast is a full-round action. It
comes into effect just before the beginning of your turn in the
round after you began casting the spell. You then act normally
after the spell is completed. A spell that takes 1 minute to cast
comes into effect just before your turn 1 minute later (and for
each of those 10 rounds, you are casting a spell as a full-round
action). These actions must be consecutive and uninterrupted
or the spell automatically fails.
When you begin a spell that takes 1 round or longer to cast,
you must continue the invocations, gestures and concentration
from one round to just before your turn in the next round (at
least). If you lose concentration after starting the spell and
before it is complete, you lose the spell.
You only provoke attacks of opportunity when you begin
casting a spell, even though you might continue casting for at
least one full round. While casting a spell, you do not threaten
any squares around you. This action is otherwise identical to
the cast a spell action described under Standard Actions.
Use Special Ability
Using a special ability is usually a standard action, but some
may be full-round actions, as defined by the ability.
Withdraw
Withdrawing from melee combat is a full-round action.
When you withdraw, you can move up to double your speed.
The square you start out in is not considered threatened by
any opponent you can see and therefore visible enemies do not
get attacks of opportunity against you when you move from
that square. (Invisible enemies still get attacks of opportunity
against you and you cannot withdraw from combat if you are
blinded.) You cannot take a five foot step during the same
round in which you withdraw.
If, during the process of withdrawing, you move out of a
threatened square (other than the one you started in), enemies
get attacks of opportunity as normal. You may not withdraw
using a form of movement for which you do not have a listed
speed. Note that despite the name of this action, you do not
actually have to leave combat entirely.
131
 Restricted Withdraw: If you are limited to taking only
a standard action each round you can withdraw as a
standard action. In this case, you may only move up
to your speed rather than up to double your speed.
Run
You can run as a full-round action. (If you do, you do not also
get a five foot step.) When you run, you can move up to four
times your speed in a straight line (or three times your speed
combat
if you are in heavy armour). You lose any Dexterity bonus to
Active Defence unless you have the Run feat. A run represents
a speed of about 12 miles per hour for an unencumbered
human.
You can run for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution
score, but after that you must make a DC 10 Constitution
check to continue running. You must check again each round
in which you continue to run and the DC of this check
increases by 1 for each check you have made. When you fail
this check, you must stop running. A character that has run
to his limit must rest for 1 minute (10 rounds) before running
again. During a rest period, a character can move no faster
than a normal move action.
You cannot run across difficult terrain or if you cannot see
where you are going.
Move Five Feet through Difficult
Terrain
In some situations, your movement may be so hampered that
you do not have sufficient speed even to move five feet (a single
square). In such a case, you may spend a full-round action to
move five feet (1 square) in any direction, even diagonally.
Even though this looks like a five foot step, it is not and thus
it provokes attacks of opportunity normally.
Free Actions
Free actions do not take any time at all, though there may
be limits to the number of free actions you can perform in a
turn. Free actions rarely incur attacks of opportunity. Some
common free actions are described below.
Drop an Item
Dropping an item in your space or into an adjacent square is
a free action.
Drop Prone
Dropping to a prone position in your space is a free action.
Speak
In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform
even when it is not your turn. Speaking more than a few
sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action.
132
Roughly speaking, if a phrase takes longer than 6 seconds to
say, it requires a standard action to complete, but this is a
matter for a Games Masters discretion.
Cease Concentration on Spell
You can stop concentrating on an active spell as a free action.
Miscellaneous Actions
Drop to the Floor
You may drop to the floor as a free action; this makes it harder
for a ranged attack to hit you, though you cannot easily fight
while prone.
If you are attacked at a point in the combat when you are
allowed your Dexterity bonus to Active Defence, you may
drop to the floor in response to an attack, even if it is not your
turn. This action grants you a +4 dodge bonus to your Active
Defence against that one attack alone. Lying prone increases
your Passive Defence against most ranged attacks (see Combat
Modifiers below) but you do not adjust your Passive Defence
until the attack is resolved.
Take Five Foot Step
You can move five feet in any round when you do not perform
any other kind of movement. Taking this five foot step never
provokes an attack of opportunity. You cannot take more than
one five foot step in a round and you cannot take a five foot
step in the same round when you move any distance.
You can take a five foot step before, during or after your other
actions in the round. You can only take a five foot-step if
difficult terrain or darkness does not hamper your movement.
Any creature with a speed of five feet or less cannot take a five
foot step, since moving even five feet requires a move action
for such a slow creature.
You may not take a five foot step using a form of movement
for which you do not have a listed speed.
Use Feat
Certain feats let you take special actions in combat. Other
feats do not require actions themselves, but they give you
a bonus when attempting something you can already do.
Some feats are not meant to be used within the framework of
combat. The individual feat descriptions tell you what you
need to know about them.
Use Skill
Most skill uses are standard actions, but some might be move
actions, full-round actions, free actions or something else
entirely. The individual skill descriptions tell you what sorts
of actions are required to perform skills.
 injury and death does not disappear from your body altogether, it simply ceases
to cause you any pain and trouble. The scabs, bruises and
This section covers the effects of physical trauma on a
other legacies of wounds can linger for weeks before finally
character, such as damage sustained in combat.
disappearing.

Hit Points For example, if a character has two four-point wounds and
All characters and objects have a certain number of hit points, one six-point wound, after a full nights rest he would have
determined by Hit Dice, character levels or construction. two three-point wounds and one five-point wound, recovering
These represent inherent resistance to injury and, in the case three hit points on his total. This assumes that you are able to

combat
of living beings, the ability to avoid critical damage through rest for at least eight hours in relative comfort. If something
exertion and skill. happens to disturb your nights rest, you do not benefit from
natural healing.
Hit points are an abstract concept and do not always reflect
the true physical condition of a creature. Instead, a beings A day spent resting, during which you take no stressful
hit point total is a sum measurement of health, fatigue and activity, allows you to recover an additional number of points
combat awareness. When a characters hit point total reaches from your wounds equal to your level of experience, above and
0, he or she is disabled. Further damage is deducted both from beyond the ordinary deduction of a single point, though you
a characters hit points and from the characters Constitution may heal no more than one extra point from each wound. For
ability score. When a character reaches zero Constitution, he instance, if a fifth-level noble warrior had three eight-point
or she dies. wounds, a night of rest would enable him to reduce each
of them to seven-point wounds (for normal healing) and a
subsequent day of rest would then reduce them to six-point
Wounds wounds, with the two additional points of healing going to
When characters suffer damage and lose hit points, this is
waste.
recorded as a series of wounds, not just as a steady reduction
of the hit point total. Every time damage is dealt, a wound
Some effects cause characters to lose hit points without
of that point size is recorded on the character sheet in the
suffering wounds, such as blood loss, spell casting or falling
Wounds box.
from a height. If a character has no remaining wounds but is
still below his maximum hit point total, he may continue to
Wounds are a way of keeping track of what has happened to
recover hit points at the rate of one per day of normal activity.
the character. Characters are not simply homogenous masses
Resting for eight hours allows him to recover a number of hit
of hit points and all damage is not alike. A single sword slash
points equal to his level of experience plus one.
that inflicts 10 points of damage is much more serious than ten
thrown rocks that each inflict one point of damage. Although
A Heal check can reduce the size of a normal wound by one
the net loss to hit points is the same, the former could plague
point if it is administered within one hour of the wound being
you for days and kill you if it became infected, while the effects
suffered, including healing a one-point wound altogether. The
of the latter would probably wear off overnight. Ten little cuts
DC of such a check is 10 plus the wounds size. If the check
heal much more quickly than one big cut.
is successful by more than 10 points, then the wound is healed
by two points instead of one. See the Ancient Skills chapter,
The amount of damage you take (after reductions for armour,
for more information on the use of the Heal skill. This
if applicable) results in a wound of that size. For example, if
represents the use of bandages, salves and similar treatments to
a character took eight points of damage from a spear thrust,
clean the wound, bind it and help it to heal naturally.
that character would record an eight-point wound as well as
reducing his total hit points by eight.
As detailed in the Craft skill description, a character may use
the Craft (herbalism) skill to prepare a poultice, a one-shot
Most of the time, wounds do not slow a character down. As he
parcel of healing herbs that adds a +2 circumstance bonus to
progresses, he suffers numerous small bumps, scrapes and cuts
any Heal skill check to reduce the size of a wound. Any single
that wear away his hit points but do not in themselves spell
wound may only be bound once with the Heal skill, whether
any particular trouble. Grievous wounds, by contrast, spell
the check is successful or not.
serious danger to the character.

Ordinary Wounds Grievous Wounds

When a character suffers large amounts of damage at once,
Wounds heal up over time. Unless a wound is grievous (see
he may have taken a grievous wound. Grievous wounds are
below) you may reduce it by a point in size after a full nights
traumas such as deep slashes, broken ribs, punctured organs,
rest, restoring that amount of hit points to your characters
extensive third degree burns and the like. They are a stage
total. This applies to all of your ordinary wounds, irrespective
beyond the cuts, scratches and bruises represented by ordinary
of how many wounds you have. All of them heal at the same
wounds.
rate. A wound that has healed completely is still visible; it

133
 Any wound that exceeds the characters Grievous Wound
Threshold counts as grievous. Your Grievous Wound
Threshold is the average of your Strength and Constitution
ability scores, rounded down. For example, if you had a
Strength ability score of 11 and a Constitution ability score of
10, then your Grievous Wound Threshold would be 10 and a
12-point wound would be a grievous wound for you.
If you receive a grievous wound, tick the Grievously
combat
Wounded box on the character sheet. The Heal skill cannot
help with grievous wounds, as they are too severe; Heal only
covers the application of what we would call first aid in the
modern era. You can use the Heal skill to reduce a grievous
wound by a point, but it is still considered grievous. Only the
Medicine skill can assist with grievous wounds.
Note that your base Constitution and Strength
ability scores are used to determine your
Grievous Wound Threshold, not your
current Constitution and Strength ability
scores. For example, even if you have
taken sufficient damage to lower
your Constitution, a wound must
still exceed your Grievous Wound
Threshold to be considered
grievous.
Effects Of Grievous Wounds:
The moment a grievous wound
is received from a bludgeoning
source, the character who has
suffered it must make a Fortitude
saving throw against a DC of
10 or be knocked unconscious.
(See unconsciousness in the
section below for how you
recover from unconsciousness.)
Grievous wounds from slashing
or piercing sources do not have
this effect.
Grievous wounds weaken
characters physically. Every
grievous wound a character sustains
inflicts a point of temporary Strength
damage that cannot be
recovered by resting until the A proud warrior
wound is no longer grievous. displays his scars
If a grievous wound is twice as
large as your Grievous Wound Threshold when inflicted or
deteriorates so that it reaches that size, you suffer an additional
point of Strength damage; a wound three times as large inflicts
a further point and so on.
Recovering From Grievous Wounds: When a character is
grievously wounded, the wound does not heal over time like
ordinary wounds. Instead, the characters condition is liable
to worsen. Wounds severe enough to be counted as grievous
134
begin to fester, widen and mortify if they are not properly
treated. Characters are exposed to infection and other
secondary damage. In the ancient world, you can die from
your wounds days after you actually receive them. This is one
reason why journeying far from civilisation is so dangerous.
At dawn every day, a grievously wounded character must
make a Fortitude saving throw against a DC equal to the
grievous wounds size. This must be done once for each
grievous wound, if he has more than one. Success means
that the characters condition gets no worse, but he does not
improve either. If the saving throw fails, the wound increases
by one point, causing the characters hit points to be reduced
by the same amount. If the saving throw fails by more than
10 points, the wound worsens by 1d4 points instead of only
one. Grievous wounds never heal without medical attention
except in the case of a miraculous recovery, for
which see below. As ever, if the characters hit
points are reduced below zero, he begins
to lose points of Constitution every time
he loses hit points; if he reaches zero
Constitution, he dies.
If the character rolls a natural 20
when making his Fortitude saving
throw to avoid his wounds
worsening, he may have made
a miraculous recovery. He
must immediately make a
Constitution ability score
check with a DC equal to the
size of the grievous wound.
If the check is successful,
the wound is no longer
considered grievous. You
cannot spend Divine Points
to turn the Fortitude saving
throw into a natural 20, as it
must be an unmodified score
of 20, though you may spend
Divine Points to increase your
Constitution ability score check.
A character that receives medical
attention from a barber-surgeon or
similar expert has a chance to recover
from grievous wounds. A Medicine check
can turn a grievous wound into a normal one.
The DC of this check is the size of the wound. If
the Medicine check fails by more than 10 points, the
wound increases in size by one point. For a Medicine check
to be attempted, the patient must have remained in bed for
a whole day and engaged in no stressful activity. A character
may attempt a Medicine check more than once on the same
wound, but no single wound may receive more than one
treatment attempt in any one day.
 Scars
Grievous wounds that have healed often leave scars behind.
When a grievous wound that was received from any damage
source other than bludgeoning is turned into a normal
wound by the use of the Medicine skill or by a miraculous
recovery, roll 1d6. On a roll of 1 to 3, the wound has left a
scar. (Exception: grievous wounds caused by fire always leave
a scar.) It is up to the player to record where on his body the
scar is; refer back to the circumstances in which the wound
was received. For example, an arrow wound might leave a
round scar on the characters shoulder, while a wound received
from a labrys could leave a scar shaped like a broad streak
across an arm or leg.
Scars in the ancient world have two roles. Each scar has a story
attached to it, which can give you credibility when dealing
with warriors and similar fighting men. For every scar that
you can show, you receive a +1 circumstance bonus to any
Charisma-based skill check when interacting with people
whose main concern is with fighting, to a maximum bonus of
+5. Scars prove that you have been in fierce battles and come
away alive and that gains you respect, whether the people you
are talking to like you personally or not.
The other role of a scar is as a means of identification. If a
select few people know that you have a scar in the shape of
a lightning stroke down the back of your left calf, then it
prevents anyone from being able to impersonate you to these
people. Creating a real scar for disguise purposes is possible,
but painful!
Cautery
The treatment of grievous wounds with fire is common
practice in the ancient world; we retain the medical term
cauterise from the old term cautery, the art of healing by inflicting fresh damage with each attempt. However, each
fire.
Cautery is a swift, drastic, risky method of turning a grievous
wound into a normal one. It can only be applied to wounds
that were received with slashing or piercing damage. Hot
metal is applied to the wound in order to seal it. This is
agonising for the recipient but may mean the difference
between life and death. As a substitute for hot
metal, molten pitch is sometimes used. If there
is no fire source to hand, then cautery cannot be
applied. A flaming torch or burning oil is not
sufficient, as intense heat must be applied to a
specific area to achieve cautery.
Cautery has to be applied within an hour of the
grievous wound occurring. A successful Heal or
Medicine check is needed against a DC of 20,
irrespective of the size of the wound; the recipient
of the cautery must make a Will saving throw
against a DC of 15 or fall unconscious because
of the pain, if he was not already unconscious.
Administering cautery is a full-round action that requires
concentration.
When a grievous wound is cauterised, it is worsened by
1d6 points of damage but if the Heal or Medicine check is
successful, the wound is no longer grievous. If the check fails,
the wound is both worsened and remains grievous. In either
case, the additional damage dealt is removed from the patients
hit points (or Constitution, if he is already below zero hit
points), which may kill him even if the check was successful.
If the check fails by more than 10 points, the temporary
Strength damage caused by the grievous wound becomes
combat
permanent, the wound remains grievous and the fire damage
is still suffered. Such a serious failure is a disaster for any
character, as a large grievous wound can make multiple points
of temporary Strength damage permanent. Additional points
of temporary Strength damage resulting from the wounds
worsening do not automatically become permanent, even if
they were caused by the cautery itself.
For example, the hero Temocles has been gored badly by a
wild bull, suffering a 14-point wound from the bulls horns,
which do piercing damage. This is higher than Temocles
Grievous Wound Threshold of 12, so the wound is grievous.
The artificer Xemothrax, who is working in his forge, offers to
use a hot poker to seal the wounds and prevent Temocles from
dying an unpleasant, lingering death. Xemothrax has no ranks
in either Heal or Medicine, but Heal can be used untrained,
so he has a chance of success. The hot poker is applied to the
wound and Xemothrax rolls for additional damage; five points
are applied to the wound, turning it into a 19 point wound.
He then makes his untrained Heal check against a DC of 20
and to his great relief, he succeeds. The point of temporary
Strength damage will be restored as soon as Temocles has had a
chance to rest and he will now recover at the usual rate of one
hit point removed from his wound per day.
Cautery can be attempted more than once on the same wound,
repeated attempt is made against a DC of +2, as it becomes
steadily more difficult to do any good. Botched cautery can
turn a grievous wound into a horrible mess that it is next to
impossible to treat. A wound that has been unsuccessfully
A patient is prepared for cautery
135
 treated with cautery can still be treated with the Medicine
skill.
The great advantage of cautery as a method of dealing with
grievous wounds is that it is quick. Medicine checks to treat
grievous wounds take a whole day and do not allow the
character to do anything other than rest. Cautery requires
only a swift application of hot iron. For this reason, it is used
on battlefields.
combat
Wounds that have been cauterised always leave scars, as
fire damage is added to the damage that caused the wound
already.
Cautery On An Unwilling Patient: For cautery to be
applied at all, the recipient must be stationary. He can either
be holding still because he is willing, because he is unconscious
or because his comrades are holding him in place. Characters
are not always willing to be cauterised, as the treatment has a
chance of making them worse rather than better. A patient
who is being held still but is fighting against this, such as a
patient who is being pinned in a grapple or is tied to a bench,
is considered to be struggling. Administering cautery on a
struggling patient applies a 2 penalty to the Heal or Medicine
check.
Contracting Fever From Wounds
In any other place than a clean, sheltered location (such as
a temple, home of good quality or military hospital tent) a
grievously wounded character is considered to be exposed
to disease because of his wounds and must make a Fortitude
saving throw each morning against a DC of 10 to avoid
catching fever. (See the Diseases section in the Adventuring
chapter.) In areas where pestilence is common, such as
swamps and filthy city districts, the DC of the saving throw is
increased by +4.
Damage Not Recorded As
Wounds
Certain kinds of damage are removed directly from a
characters hit point total, instead of being marked as wounds.
Non-lethal damage never creates a wound.
The following sources of lethal damage always reduce hit
points without creating a wound: damage from falling, heat
and cold damage from exposure to the elements, damage from
inhalation, damage from gas effects, damage inflicted by an
unarmed attack, blast damage, damage from cave-ins and
avalanches, crushing damage and drowning damage. As a
rule of thumb, assume that any damage that would be spread
evenly across the body or that represents general debilitation
does not create a wound. Damage caused by magic, such as
the evil eye, does not cause wounds unless specifically stated in
the spell description.
Hit points lost because of working Witchcraft or Hekau spells
are not wounds. They represent the loss of energy and
physical exhaustion that results from working magic.
136
Wounds and Non-Player
Characters
It is not generally necessary to record individual wounds for
Non-Player Characters unless they have a major part in the
campaign. For instance, if the players mount a raid on an
enemy position and rain arrows down upon their warriors,
the Games Master can simply mark off damage against hit
points instead of recording wounds. However, a sage who
accompanies the group on their journeys and who takes a
thrown javelin in the chest should certainly have this recorded
as a wound, as his survival or demise is important to the
game.
Monsters that present significant threat should have their
wounds recorded. Managing to inflict a grievous wound
on a monster can turn the tide of battle. Multiple ordinary
wounds can wear a monster down but will not dissuade it from
attacking, but a single grievous wound will make it stop and
think. Wounds have an effect on morale (see below) and many
creatures will try to escape when they suffer grievous wounds,
so that they can hide in their lairs and attempt to recover.
Loss of Hit Points
The most common way that your character gets hurt is to take
lethal damage and lose hit points.
What Hit Points Represent
Hit points mean two things in the game world: the ability to
take physical punishment and keep going and the ability to
turn a serious blow into a less serious one.
Massive Damage
If you ever sustain a single attack that deals 50 points of
damage or more and it does not kill you outright, you must
make a DC 15 Fortitude save. If this saving throw fails, you
immediately die regardless of your current hit points. If you
take 50 points of damage or more from multiple attacks, no
one of which dealt 50 or more points of damage itself, the
massive damage rule does not apply. Undead and constructs
of any kind are immune to massive damage death.
Disabled (0 Hit Points or fewer
but 3 or more Constitution)
When your current hit points drop to 0 or fewer, you are
disabled. Any hit point damage you sustain after this point
is both deducted from your hit points and your Constitution
ability score. You must make a Fortitude saving throw at
DC 15 every time you sustain such damage; failure means
that you fall unconscious. You must also make this saving
throw if damage takes your hit point total from a positive to
a negative figure. For example, if you had three hit points
left and you suffered six points of damage, you would be on
3 hit points, would take three points of Constitution ability
damage and would need to make a saving throw to avoid
falling unconscious.
While you are disabled, you can only take a single move or
standard action each turn but not both, nor can you take full-
round actions. You can take move actions without further
injuring yourself, but if you perform any standard action (or
any other strenuous action) you take 1 hit point of damage
and thus one point of Constitution ability damage after
completing the act and must make the usual Fortitude saving
throw or pass out.
You can also become disabled when recovering from dying. In
this case, it is a step toward recovery and you can have fewer
than 0 hit points (see Stable Characters and Recovery, below).
Unconsciousness
If you sustain hit point damage from an attack or effect
(including spellcasting) and are left with less than zero hit
points, you must make a Fortitude saving throw against a DC
of 15 in order to remain conscious. (Damage from worsening
wounds does not force this check.) An unconscious character
may make a Fortitude saving throw every hour against a DC of
15 to recover consciousness, so long as he is not dying.
You can help an unconscious character wake up as a standard
action, but only if he has more than one hit point. Slaps,
shaking, cold water to the face and similar attempts to revive
an unconscious character allow him to attempt an additional
Fortitude saving throw. This may be done once per round.
Dying (1 to 2 Constitution)
When hit point loss has reduced your characters current
Constitution to 1 or 2, hes dying.
A dying character immediately falls unconscious (no saving
throw allowed) and can take no actions.
A dying character loses 1 hit point and thus one point of
Constitution every three rounds. This continues until the
character dies or becomes stable (see below).
Dead (0 Constitution or Lower)
When your characters current Constitution ability score
drops to 0 or lower or if he takes massive damage (see above)
and fails the requisite Fortitude saving throw, hes dead. A
character can also die from taking ability damage (such as from
poison or disease) or suffering an ability drain that reduces his
Constitution to 0.
Stable Characters and Recovery
On the third turn after a character with fewer than zero hit
points is reduced to 1 or 2 points of Constitution and on
every third turn thereafter, roll d% to see whether the dying
character becomes stable. He has a 10% chance of becoming
stable. If he does not, he loses 1 hit point and thus 1 point of
Constitution. A character that is unconscious or dying cannot
delay his death by using any special action that changes the
initiative count on which his action occurs.
If the characters Constitution ability score drops to 0 or lower,
he is immediately dead.
Stabilising Characters With Healing: You can keep a
dying character from losing any more hit points and points
of Constitution and make him stable with a DC 15 Heal
check. If any sort of herbal or magical healing cures the
dying character of even 1 point of damage, such as by
binding a wound, he stops losing hit points and points of
combat
Constitution and becomes stable. Note that ordinary healing
can only restore lost hit points; it cannot restore lost points of
Constitution.
A healing effect that raises the dying characters hit points to 0
exactly makes him disabled and allows him to make a saving
throw to regain consciousness; see Unconsciousness above.
Healing that raises his hit points to 1 or more also allows him
to make a saving throw to regain consciousness; in addition, it
makes him functional again and not disabled when he wakes
up, though as ever it does not restore any lost Constitution.
A stable character who has been tended by a healer or who has
been magically healed eventually regains consciousness. He
does not suffer hit point loss for failing his hourly saving throw
to regain consciousness while he is being tended by a healer,
though any grievous wounds he has still stand a chance of
worsening every day. If the character has no one to tend him,
however, his life is still in danger and he may yet succumb to
his injuries and slip away.
Recovering without Help
A dying character left alone without medical aid almost always
dies. He has a small chance, however, of recovering on his own.
A character who becomes stable on his own (by making the
10% roll while dying) and who has no one to tend to him still
suffers gradual damage to his hit points and his Constitution,
albeit at a slower rate. He may make a Fortitude saving throw
each hour at DC 15 to become conscious; failure to make this
saving throw results in one hit point of damage and one point
of Constitution ability score damage. If he becomes conscious,
he does not lose any more hit points or points of Constitution,
except from grievous wounds becoming worse.
If the character has grievous wounds, he must also make the
usual daily checks to see if these worsen. These can push his
Constitution back below 3, in which case he falls unconscious
(if he was not already) and is dying again.
Healing
After taking damage, you can recover hit points through
natural healing or through magical healing. In any case, you
cannot regain hit points past your full normal hit point total.
Natural Healing
With a full nights rest (8 hours of sleep or more), each of your
normal wounds heals by one hit point, both reducing their size
and restoring that amount to your total. Any significant
137
 interruption during your rest prevents you from healing that
night. If you undergo complete bed rest for an entire day
following a nights rest, you may reduce your wounds (and
thus increase your hit point total) by additional number of
hit points equal to your experience level, though you may not
reduce the size of any one wound by more than one point with
this extra healing.
Magical Healing
combat
Various abilities and spells, as well as ointments and herbal
concoctions, can restore hit points. These usually work
instantly and cannot be further improved by rest conditions or
the use of the Heal skill.
Healing Limits
You can never recover more hit points than you lost. Magical
healing will not raise your current hit points higher than your
full normal hit point total.
Healing Ability Damage
Ability damage is temporary, just as hit point damage is.
Ability damage returns at the rate of 1 point per night of rest
(8 hours) for each affected ability score. Complete bed rest
restores 2 points per day (24 hours) for each affected ability
score. Certain spells and magical preparations can heal ability
damage but no magical or mundane effect does so unless it
specifically states that it affects ability damage.
Non - lethal Damage
Non-lethal damage inconveniences a character but does not
hurt her seriously. It represents fatigue, stunning, concussion
and similar punishments.
Dealing Non - lethal Damage
Certain attacks deal non-lethal damage. Other effects, such
as heat or being exhausted, also deal non-lethal damage.
When you take non-lethal damage, keep a running total of
how much you have accumulated. Do not deduct the non-
lethal damage number from your current hit points and do not
record non-lethal damage as a wound. It is not real damage.
Instead, when your non-lethal damage equals your current hit
points, you are staggered and when it exceeds your current hit
points, you fall unconscious. It does not matter whether the
non-lethal damage equals or exceeds your current hit points
because the non-lethal damage has gone up or because your
current hit points have gone down.
Non-lethal Damage with a Weapon that Deals Lethal
Damage: You can use a melee weapon that deals lethal
damage to deal non-lethal damage instead, but you
take a 4 penalty on your attack roll.
Lethal Damage with a Weapon that Deals Non-lethal
Damage: You can use a weapon that deals non-lethal
damage, including an unarmed strike, to deal lethal
damage instead, but you take a 4 penalty on your
attack roll.
138
Staggered and Unconscious
When your non-lethal damage equals your current hit points,
you are staggered. You can only take a standard action or a
move action in each round. You cease being staggered when
your current hit points once again exceed your non-lethal
damage. When your non-lethal damage exceeds your current
hit points, you fall unconscious. While unconscious, you are
helpless.
Knocking A Character Out
It is possible to knock a character unconscious with non-lethal
damage. A character who suffers non-lethal damage from a
single attack or effect in excess of his base Constitution ability
score must make a Fortitude saving throw against a DC of 15
or fall unconscious. He is allowed a Fortitude saving throw
every hour at DC 15 to recover consciousness as usual and
other characters may attempt to revive him.
Healing Non - lethal Damage
You heal non-lethal damage at the rate of 1 hit point per hour
per character level. When a spell, a miracle or a magical power
cures hit point damage, it also removes an equal amount of
non-lethal damage.
movement, position
and distance
Miniatures are on the 30mm scalea miniature figure of a six
foot tall human is approximately 30mm tall. A square on the
battle grid is 1 inch across, representing a five foot-by-five foot
area. While actual miniatures may not be exactly this scale, as
long as the measurement of a tactical map are attributed five
foot sections and are easily determined as such, the movement
rules below can be easily implemented.
How Far Can A Character
Move?
A characters speed is determined by his background and his
armour (see the Tactical Speed table). A characters speed
while unarmoured is equal to its listed base land speed.
Encumbrance
A character encumbered by carrying a large amount of gear,
treasure or fallen comrades may move slower than normal.
Hampered Movement
Difficult terrain, obstacles or poor visibility can hamper
movement. Certain magical effects, movement rates and class
features can modify or bypass these hindrances.
Movement in Combat
Generally, you can move your speed in a round and still do
something (take a move action and a standard action). If you
do nothing but move (that is, if you use both of your actions
in a round to move your speed), you can move double your
speed.
 If you spend the entire round running, you can move
quadruple your speed. If you do something that requires a full
round, you can only take a five foot step.
Bonuses to Speed
A Spartan or barbarian character has a +10 foot bonus to
his speed, unless he is wearing heavy armour. In addition,
some magical effects and divine items can affect a characters
speed. Always apply any modifiers to a characters speed
before adjusting the characters speed based on armour or
encumbrance and remember that multiple bonuses of the
same type to a characters speed do not stack, in keeping with
the rules governing stacked bonuses and like types.
Tactical Speed
No Armour or Medium or
Background Light Armour Heavy Armour
Spartans and barbarians 40-ft.(8 squares) 20-ft.(4
squares)
All other backgrounds 30-ft.(6 squares) 20-ft.(4
squares)
Measuring Distance on a
Tactical Grid
Diagonals
When measuring distance, the first diagonal counts as 1
square, the second counts as 2 squares, the third counts as
1, the fourth as 2 and so on. You cannot move diagonally
past a corner (even by taking a five foot step). You can move
diagonally past a creature, even an opponent. You can also
move diagonally past other impassable obstacles, such as pits,
assuming there is a route by which you can do so.
Closest Creature
When it is important to determine the closest square or
creature to a location, if two squares or creatures are equally
close, randomly determine which one counts as closest by
rolling a die.
Moving through a Square
Friendly Occupation
You can move through a square occupied by a friendly
character, unless you are charging. When you move through a
square occupied by a friendly character, that character does not
provide you with cover.
Opponents Occupation
You cannot move through a square occupied by an opponent,
unless the opponent is helpless. You can move through a
square occupied by a helpless opponent without penalty.
Some creatures, particularly very large ones, may present an
obstacle even when helpless. In such cases, each square you
move through counts as 2 squares.
Ending Your Movement
You cannot end your movement in the same square as another
creature unless it is helpless.
Overrun
During your movement, or as part of a charge, you can
attempt to move through a square occupied by an opponent.
Tumbling
combat
A trained character can attempt to tumble through a square
occupied by an opponent; see the Tumble skill. Failure
typically ends a characters movement and opens it up to an
attack of opportunity.
Very Small Creature
A Fine, Diminutive or Tiny creature can move into or
through an occupied square. The creature provokes attacks of
opportunity when doing so.
Square Occupied by Creature Three Sizes Larger or Smaller
Any creature can move through a square occupied by a
creature three size categories larger than it is. A big creature
can move through a square occupied by a creature three size
categories smaller than it is.
Designated Exceptions
Some creatures break the above rules. A creature that
completely fills the squares it occupies cannot be moved past,
even with the Tumble skill or similar special abilities.
Terrain and Obstacles
Difficult Terrain
Difficult terrain hampers movement. Each square of difficult
terrain counts as 2 squares of movement. (Each diagonal move
into a difficult terrain square counts as 3 squares.) You cannot
run or charge across difficult terrain. If you occupy squares
with different kinds of terrain, you can move only as fast as the
most difficult terrain you occupy will allow.
Flying and spiritual creatures are not hampered by difficult
terrain.
Forests Of Spears
Part of the effectiveness of the phalanx as a battle formation
is that although the long spear is a reach weapon and cannot
attack adjacent targets, the sheer number of spears sticking out
in front of a phalanx means that an opponent cannot easily
approach without being skewered. There is simply no room
to manoeuvre between the protruding spears. A square that is
filled with spears in front of a phalanx counts as an obstacle,
for which see below.
If a creature is in a square threatened by a reach weapon and
moves towards the wielder, then he still provokes an attack of
opportunity for moving out of the threatened square. In this
way, an opponent can be held at bay by a reach weapon. In a
phalanx, where multiple reach weapons threaten the same
139
 squares, a creature attempting to move towards the Hoplites
provokes multiple attacks of opportunity. This is one reason
why the phalanx is such a devastating formation to use.
A character may attempt to Tumble through a forest of spears
and avoid attacks of opportunity.
Obstacles
Like difficult terrain, obstacles can hamper movement. If an
combat
obstacle hampers movement but does not completely block
it, each obstructed square or obstacle between squares counts
as 2 squares of movement. You must pay this cost to cross
the barrier, in addition to the cost to move into the square
on the other side. If you do not have sufficient movement to
cross the barrier and move into the square on the other side,
you cannot cross the barrier. Some obstacles may also require
a skill check to cross. On the other hand, some obstacles
block movement entirely. A character cannot move through
a blocking obstacle.
Flying and spiritual creatures can avoid most obstacles
Squeezing
In some cases, you may have to squeeze into, or through,
an area that is not as wide as the space you take up. You can
squeeze through, or into, a space that is at least half as wide
as your normal space. Each move into, or through, a narrow
space counts as if it were 2 squares and while squeezed in a
narrow space you take a 4 penalty on attack rolls and a 4
penalty to Active Defence; you may not make Shield Defence
checks.
When a Large creature (which normally takes up four squares)
squeezes into a space thats one square wide, the creatures
miniature figure occupies two squares, centred on the line
between the two squares. For a bigger creature, centre the
creature likewise in the area it squeezes into.
A creature can squeeze past an opponent while moving but it
cannot end its movement in an occupied square. To squeeze
through, or into, a space less than half your spaces width, you
must use the Escape Artist skill. You cannot attack while using
Escape Artist to squeeze through, or into, a narrow space, you
take a 4 penalty to Active Defence and you lose any Dexterity
bonus to Active Defence. You may not make Shield Defence
checks at all.
Special Movement Rules
These rules cover special movement situations.
Accidentally Ending Movement
in an Illegal Space
Sometimes a character ends its movement while moving
through a space where it is not allowed to stop. When that
happens, put your miniature in the last legal position you
occupied or the closest legal position, if theres a legal
position thats closer.
140
Double Movement Cost
When your movement is hampered in some way, your
movement usually costs double. For example, each square of
movement through difficult terrain counts as 2 squares and
each diagonal move through such terrain counts as 3 squares
(just as two diagonal moves normally do). If movement
cost is doubled twice, then each square counts as 4 squares
(or as 6 squares if moving diagonally). If movement cost is
doubled three times, then each square counts as 8 squares (12
if diagonal) and so on. This is an exception to the general rule
that two doublings are equivalent to a tripling.
Minimum Movement
Despite penalties to movement, you can take a full-round
action to move five feet (one square) in any direction, even
diagonally. This rule does not allow you to move through
impassable terrain or to move when all movement is
prohibited. Such movement provokes attacks of opportunity
as normal, since despite the distance travelled, this move is not
technically a five foot step. Note also that this special kind of
movement does not apply to characters that are held immobile
by a magical effect or otherwise completely unable to move
due to some outside force.
Big and Little Creatures in
Combat
Creatures smaller than Small or larger than Medium have
special rules relating to position.
Tiny, Diminutive and Fine
Creatures
Very small creatures take up less than 1 square of space. This
means that more than one such creature can fit into a single
square. A Tiny creature typically occupies a space only two-
and-a-half feet across, so four can fit into a single square.
Twenty-five Diminutive creatures or 100 Fine creatures can fit
into a single square. Creatures that take up less than 1 square
of space typically have a natural reach of 0 feet, meaning
they cannot reach into adjacent squares. They must enter an
opponents square to attack in melee. This provokes an attack
of opportunity from the opponent. You can attack into your
own square if you need to, so you can attack such creatures
normally. Since they have no natural reach, they do not
threaten the squares around them. You can move past them
without provoking attacks of opportunity. They also cannot
flank an enemy.
Large, Huge, Gargantuan and
Colossal Creatures
Very large creatures take up more than 1 square. Creatures
that take up more than 1 square typically have a natural reach
of 10 feet or more, meaning that they can reach targets even if
they are not in adjacent squares. Unlike when someone uses
a reach weapon, a creature with a greater than normal natural
reach (more than 5 feet) still threatens squares adjacent to it. A
creature with greater than normal natural reach usually gets an
 Prone Characters: A prone character has +4 to his Passive
Creature Size and Scale Defence against ranged attacks coming at him horizontally, as
Creature Size Space1 Natural Reach1 he is lying flat and presents less of a target. However, against
Fine 1/2-ft. 0-ft. ranged attacks from above or against melee attacks, he has
Diminutive 1-ft. 0-ft. 4 to his Passive Defence. Note that this does not affect a
character while he drops to the ground reactively, as an evasive
Tiny 2-1/2-ft. 0-ft. move. It only applies once a character has become prone.
Small 5-ft. 5-ft.
Medium 5--ft. 5-ft.

combat
Large (tall) 10-ft. 10-ft. Attack Roll Modiers
Large (long) 10-ft. 5-ft. Attacker is . . . Melee Ranged
Huge (tall) 15-ft. 15-ft. Dazzled 1 1
Huge (long) 15-ft. 10-ft. Entangled 2 1
21
Gargantuan (tall) 20-ft. 20-ft. Flanking defender +2
Gargantuan (long) 20-ft. 15-ft. Invisible +2 2
+22
Colossal (tall) 30-ft. 30-ft. On higher ground +1 +0
Colossal (long) 30-ft. 20-ft. Prone 4 3
1
These values are typical for creatures of the indicated size. Shaken or frightened 2 2
Some exceptions exist. Squeezing through a space 4 4
attack of opportunity against you if you approach it, because 1
An entangled character also takes a 4 penalty to Dexterity,
you must enter and move within the range of its reach before which may affect his attack roll.
you can attack it. (This attack of opportunity is not provoked 2
The defender loses any Dexterity bonus to Active Defence.
if you take a five foot step.) This bonus does not apply if the target is blinded.
3
Ranged weapons cannot be used while the attacker is
Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to
prone.
double their natural reach but cannot strike at their natural
reach or less.
Modiers to Active Defence
Defender is . . . Melee Ranged
combat modifiers Blinded 2 1
21
Basic combat has been covered by the rules above, but there
Concealed or invisible See Concealment
are numerous instances and conditions that can complicate
a battle. Tactically minded players can use these to their Cowering 21 21
advantage, while encountered enemies with the skills or Entangled +02 +02
abilities to do so may impose them against their foes. In any Flat-footed (such as surprised, +01 +01
case, these factors can combine to make nearly impossible balancing, climbing)
battles merely difficult and make an indefacicable enemy
Grappling (but attacker is not) +01 +01, 3
vulnerable to a strategically planned assault.
Helpless (such as paralysed, sleeping Passive Defence
The generals of the ancient world did not crush their enemies or bound) Only
by overwhelming force alone, but by clever tactical use of Pinned 44 +04
their resources. In an OGL Ancients game, you will often find Squeezing through a space 4 4
yourself facing stronger and better armoured opponents than
Stunned 2 1
21
yourself or monstrous creatures from the myths with scales of
iron and a gaze that can turn men to stone. Tactics are the key 1
The defender loses any Dexterity bonus to Active Defence.
to victory. The hero who is clever enough to use a burnished 2
An entangled character takes a 4 penalty to Dexterity.
shield as a mirror is more likely to survive than the one who 3
Roll randomly to see which grappling combatant you strike.
relies on force of arms.
That defender loses any Dexterity bonus to Active Defence.
4
The character has an effective Dexterity of 0, for a 5 penalty
Presenting a Smaller Target to Active Defence. Characters with the sneak attack class
You can change your Passive Defence against certain forms of feature may use it against helpless or pinned defenders.
attack by presenting a smaller target, such as by dropping to
the ground. This, however, only works against attacks coming
from a given direction.

141
 Cover
When a character is behind cover, he presents a smaller target,
which equates to a bonus to his Passive Defence. Cover
provides a +4 bonus to Passive Defence against ranged attacks
and melee attacks.
To determine whether your target has cover from your ranged
attack, choose a corner of your square. If any line from this
corner to any corner of the targets square passes through a
combat
Big Creatures and Cover
Any creature with a space larger than five feet (1 square)
determines cover against melee attacks slightly differently than
smaller creatures do. Such a creature can choose any square
that it occupies to determine if an opponent has cover against
its melee attacks. Similarly, when making a melee attack
against such a creature, you can pick any of the squares it
occupies to determine if it has cover against you.

square or border that blocks line of effect or provides cover or
through a square occupied by a creature, the target has cover.
When making a melee attack against an adjacent target, your
target has cover if any line from your square to the targets
square goes through a wall (including a low wall). When
making a melee attack against a target that is not adjacent
to you (such as with a reach weapon), use the rules for
determining cover from ranged attacks.
Low Obstacles and Cover
A low obstacle (such as a wall no higher than half your height)
provides cover, but only to creatures within 30 feet (6 squares)
of it. The attacker can ignore the cover if he is closer to the
obstacle than his target.
Total Cover
If you do not have line of effect to your target he is considered
to have total cover from you. You cannot make an attack
against a target that has total cover.
Varying Degrees of Cover: In some cases, cover may provide
a greater bonus to Passive Defence and Reflex saving throws.
In such situations the normal cover bonuses to Passive
Defence and Reflex saving throws can be doubled to +8 and
+4, respectively. A creature with this improved cover who
makes a successful Reflex save takes no damage, while a failed
saved allows them to take only half damage from the effect.
Furthermore, improved cover provides a +10 bonus on Hide
checks.

Cover and Attacks of Opportunity

You cannot execute an attack of opportunity against an
opponent with cover relative to you.

Cover and Hide Checks

You can use cover to make a Hide check. Without cover, you
usually need concealment (see below) to make a Hide check.

Soft Cover
Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover
against melee and ranged attacks. However, such soft cover
provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow
you to make a Hide check. A creature that is acting as cover,
whether it means to or not, allows a +4 bonus to your Passive
Defence. The Games Master may allow a greater bonus if the
covering creature is larger than the creature covered or if it is
purposefully trying to provide cover.

Attacking a creature that has cover from another creature gives

an attacker a chance of hitting the covering creature instead. If
an attack roll scores higher than the covered creatures Passive
Defence without the cover bonus but less than that amount
after the bonus, the attack has struck the creature providing
the cover. For this reason, it is highly dangerous to attack an
opponent who is standing behind one of your friends.

For example, Phegeus throws his spear at Diomedes, who is

standing in his chariot behind his charioteer. The charioteer
provides soft cover, so Diomedes Passive Defence is modified
from 10 to 14. Phegeus rolls a 13 with his attack roll. This
is higher than Diomedes Passive Defence but less than his
Passive Defence after the cover bonus, so the unfortunate
charioteer is the one hit by the spear.

142
 Concealment
Concealment makes a target harder to hit by obscuring him
partially or completely, such as with darkness or smoke.
Concealment does not affect your Passive Defence, as it is not
a matter of how small or fast-moving a target you present but
more a matter of an observer being unable to tell exactly where
you are at a given moment.
To determine whether your target has concealment from your
ranged attack, choose a corner of your square. If any line from
this corner to any corner of the targets square passes through
a square or border that provides concealment, the target has
concealment.
When making a melee attack against an adjacent target,
your target has concealment if his space is entirely within an
effect that grants concealment. When making a melee attack
against a target that is not adjacent to you, use the rules for
determining concealment from ranged attacks. In addition,
some magical effects provide concealment against all attacks,
regardless of whether any intervening concealment exists.
Concealment Miss Chance
Concealment gives the subject of a successful attack a 20%
chance that the attacker missed because of the concealment. If
the attacker scores higher than the defenders Passive Defence,
the defender must make a miss chance percentile roll to
see if the attack missed completely. Multiple concealment
conditions do not stack.
Concealment and Hide Checks
You can use concealment to make a Hide check. Without
concealment, you usually need cover to make a Hide check.
Total Concealment
If you have line of effect to a target but not line of sight, he is
considered to have total concealment from you. You cannot
attack an opponent that has total concealment, though
you can attack into a square that you think he occupies. A
successful attack into a square occupied by an enemy with
total concealment has a 50% miss chance instead of the
normal 20% miss chance for an opponent with concealment.
You cannot execute an attack of opportunity against an
opponent with total concealment, even if you know which
square or squares the opponent occupies.
Ignoring Concealment
Concealment is not always effective. Although invisibility
provides total concealment, sighted opponents may still make
Spot checks to notice the location of an invisible character.
An invisible character gains a +20 bonus on Hide checks if
moving or a +40 bonus on Hide checks when not moving;
even though opponents cannot see you, they might be able to
figure out where you are from other visual clues.
Varying Degrees of Concealment
Certain situations may provide more or less than typical
concealment and modify the miss chance accordingly.
Flanking
When making a melee attack, you get a +2 flanking bonus if
your opponent is threatened by a character or creature friendly
to you on the opponents opposite border or opposite corner.
When in doubt about whether two friendly characters flank
an opponent in the middle, trace an imaginary line between
the two friendly characters centres. If the line passes through
opposite borders of the opponents space (including corners of
those borders), then the opponent is flanked.
combat
Exception: If a flanker takes up more than 1 square,
it gets the flanking bonus if any square it occupies
counts for flanking. Only a creature or character
that threatens the defender can help an attacker get
a flanking bonus. Creatures with a reach of 0 feet
cannot flank an opponent.
Helpless Defenders
A helpless opponent is someone who is bound, sleeping,
paralysed, unconscious or otherwise at your mercy.
Regular Attack
A helpless character cannot make Active Defence or Shield
Defence checks at all and must rely on Passive Defence and
any armour he is wearing to protect him. Bear in mind that
most helpless characters are also prone, so they are harder to
hit with ranged attacks. It is very rare for a helpless character
to be standing upright; paralysis is one of the effects that can
cause this, as is being tied to a vertical post or tree, such as for
an execution by bow and arrow. Usually, a character becomes
prone immediately after becoming helpless. Unconscious
characters drop to the floor automatically and sleeping
characters are assumed to be on a horizontal surface.
A helpless defender is treated as if he was disallowed his
Dexterity bonus to Active Defence for the purpose of sneak
attacks and suchlike effects, although he cannot actually use
Active Defence.
Blind
As a full-round action, you can use a melee weapon or a burning
item (such as a hot poker) to blind a helpless opponent. You
automatically hit and deal normal damage. A Coverage check
may be made if the opponent is wearing armour on his head
but the check is at a 10 penalty. If any damage at all gets
through, the resulting wound is considered grievous even if it
is smaller than the characters Constitution ability score and
the character is blinded. Each use of this attack blinds the
character in one eye, so it must be repeated twice to blind the
character completely. These grievous wounds may only be
healed with Medicine skill checks and never with cautery.
In a historical campaign, characters never recover from
blindness, even when the grievous wounds that caused it have
healed. In a mythic campaign, sight can be restored with
magic (such as a miracle) but not until the grievous wounds
that caused it have healed completely, not just been turned
into normal wounds.
143
 Coup de Grace Special Attacks
As a full-round action, you can use a melee weapon to deliver
Special Attack Brief Description
a coup de grace to a helpless opponent. You can also use a bow,
provided you are adjacent to the target. You automatically Aid Another Grant an ally a +2 bonus on attacks or
hit and score a critical hit; your opponent may still make a Active Defence
Coverage check for his armour if he is wearing any, but this is Bull Rush Push an opponent back five feet or
made at a 10 penalty. If the defender survives the damage, he more
must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + damage dealt) Charge Move up to twice your speed and
or die. (If no damage at all gets through armour, then this attack with +2 bonus
combat

check does not need to be made.) Characters who can make

Decapitate Attempt to sever an opponents head
sneak attacks also get their extra sneak attack damage against a with one blow
helpless opponent when delivering a coup de grace.
Disarm Knock a weapon from your opponents
Delivering a coup de grace provokes attacks of opportunity hands
from threatening opponents. You cannot deliver a coup Feint Negate your opponents Dex bonus to
de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits. Active Defence
You can deliver a coup de grace against a creature with Grapple Wrestle with an opponent
total concealment, but doing this requires two consecutive
Hamstring Attempt to sever an opponents
full-round actions; one to find the creature once you have tendons and reduce his Speed
determined what square it is in and one to deliver the coup
de grace. Overrun Plough past or over an opponent as
you move

Aid Another Shield Bash Strike an opponent with your shield

In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend
by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you are
in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is
engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your
friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against a
Passive Defence of 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either
a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or
a +2 bonus to Active Defence against that opponents next
attack (your choice), so long as that attack comes before the
beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the
same friend and similar bonuses stack.
You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other
ways, such as when he is affected by a spell or to assist another
characters skill check.
Bull Rush
You can make a bull rush as a standard action (an attack) or as
part of a charge (see Charge, below). When you make a bull
rush, you attempt to push an opponent straight back instead
of damaging him. You can only bull rush an opponent who is
one size category larger than you, the same size or smaller.
Initiating a Bull Rush
First, you move into the defenders space. Doing this provokes
an attack of opportunity from each opponent that threatens
you, including the defender. (If you have the Improved Bull
Rush feat, you do not provoke an attack of opportunity from
the defender.) Any attack of opportunity made by anyone
other than the defender against you during a bull rush has a
25% chance of accidentally targeting the defender instead and
any attack of opportunity by anyone other than you against the
defender likewise has a 25% chance of accidentally targeting
you. When someone makes an attack of opportunity, make
Throw splash Throw container of dangerous liquid
weapon at target
Trip Trip an opponent
the attack roll and then roll to see whether the attack went
astray.
Second, you and the defender make opposed Strength checks.
You each add a +4 bonus for each size category you are larger
than Medium or a 4 penalty for each size category you are
smaller than Medium. You get a +2 bonus if you are charging.
The defender gets a +4 bonus if he has more than two legs or
is otherwise exceptionally stable.
Bull Rush Results
If you beat the defenders Strength check result, you push him
back 5 feet. If you wish to move with the defender, you can
push him back an additional five feet for each 5 points by
which your check result is greater than the defenders check
result. You cannot, however, exceed your normal movement
limit. (Note: The defender provokes attacks of opportunity if
he is moved. So do you, if you move with him. The two of
you do not provoke attacks of opportunity from each other,
however.) If you fail to beat the defenders Strength check
result, you move five feet straight back to where you were
before you moved into his space. If that space is occupied, you
fall prone in that space.
Charge
Charging is a special full-round action that allows you to move
up to twice your speed and attack during the action. However,
it carries tight restrictions on how you can move.

144
Movement During a Charge
You must move before your attack, not after. You must
move at least 10 feet (2 squares) and may move up
to double your speed directly toward the designated
opponent. You must have a clear path toward the
opponent and nothing can hinder your movement
(such as difficult terrain or obstacles). Heres what
it means to have a clear path. First, you must move
to the closest space from which you can attack the

combat
opponent. (If this space is occupied or otherwise
blocked, you cannot charge.) Second, if any
line from your starting space to the ending
space passes through a square that blocks
movement, slows movement or contains a
creature (even an ally), you cannot charge.
Helpless creatures do not stop a charge.

If you do not have line of sight to the

opponent at the start of your turn, you
cannot charge that opponent. You cannot
take a five foot step in the same round as a A warrior loses his head in battle. Ouch!
charge. If you are able to take only a standard action
or a move action on your turn, you can still charge,
of the blow puts you off guard. You make one (and only one)
but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of
attack against your opponent, which is made at a 4 penalty.
up to double your speed). You cannot use this option unless
Your opponent may attempt to evade the blow with Active
you are restricted to taking only a standard action or move
Defence or Shield Defence if possible and armour may soak
action on your turn.
some of the damage. If you deal your opponent a grievous
wound, you have severed his head and he dies immediately. A
Attacking on a Charge
decapitate attempt cannot be combined with a coup de grace.
After moving, you may make a single melee attack. You get
a +2 bonus on the attack roll and take a 2 penalty to your
Creatures that are not vulnerable to critical hits cannot be
Active Defence until the start of your next turn. You may
decapitated.
not make Shield Defence checks at all until the start of your
next turn. Even if you have extra attacks, such as from having
Exception: Characters with the Improved Decapitate feat
a high enough base attack bonus, you only get to make one
do not provoke an attack of opportunity when making a
attack during a charge.
decapitation attempt, though they still incur the penalty to
Active Defence and Shield Defence.
A charging character gets a +2 bonus on the Strength check
made to bull rush or overrun an opponent; see Bull Rush,
above and Overrun, below. Disarm
As a melee attack, you may attempt to disarm your opponent.
Spears and Charge Attacks If you do so with a weapon, you knock the opponents weapon
A spear deals double damage if employed by a mounted out of his hands and to the ground. If you make the disarm
character in a charge. Certain feats, such as Spirited Charge, attempt while unarmed, you end up with the weapon in your
can affect this damage multiple even more. hand.

Weapons Readied against a Charge
Spears, tridents and certain other piercing weapons deal
double damage when readied (set) and used against a charging
character.
Decapitate
If you are wielding a weapon that inflicts slashing damage
(such as a labrys or a sword) and is not a light weapon, you
may attempt to decapitate an opponent as a full-round action.
A decapitation attempt provokes an attack of opportunity
and gives you a 4 penalty to your Active Defence and Shield
Defence checks for the remainder of the round, as the swing
If you are attempting to disarm a melee weapon, follow the
steps outlined here. If the item you are attempting to disarm is
not a melee weapon, the defender may still oppose you with an
attack roll, but takes a penalty and cannot attempt to disarm
you in return if your attempt fails.
Step 1: Attack of Opportunity. You provoke an
attack of opportunity from the target you are trying
to disarm. (If you have the Improved Disarm feat,
you do not incur an attack of opportunity for
making a disarm attempt.) If the defenders attack of
opportunity deals any damage, your disarm attempt
fails.
145
 Step 2: Opposed Rolls. You and the defender make
opposed attack rolls with your respective weapons. A
person wielding a weapon with two hands gets a +4
bonus on this roll and the wielder of a light weapon
takes a 4 penalty. (An unarmed strike is considered
a light weapon, so you always take a penalty when
trying to disarm an opponent by using an unarmed
strike.) If the combatants are of different sizes, the
larger combatant gets a bonus on the attack roll of +4
combat
per difference in size category. If the targeted item is
not a melee weapon, the defender takes a 4 penalty
on the roll.
Step Three: Consequences. If you beat the defender,
the defender is disarmed. If you attempted the disarm
action unarmed, you now have the weapon. If you
were armed, the defenders weapon is on the ground
in the defenders square. If you fail on the disarm
attempt, the defender may immediately react and
attempt to disarm you with the same sort of opposed
melee attack roll. His attempt does not provoke an
attack of opportunity from you. If he fails his disarm
attempt, you do not subsequently get a free disarm
attempt against him.
Disarm and Grabbing Weapons
You can use a disarm action to snatch an item worn by the
target. If you want to have the item in your hand, the disarm
must be made as an unarmed attack. If the item is poorly
secured or otherwise easy to snatch or cut away the attacker
gets a +4 bonus. Unlike on a normal disarm attempt, failing
the attempt does not allow the defender to attempt to disarm
you. This otherwise functions identically to a disarm attempt,
as noted above.
You cannot snatch an item that is well secured unless you have
pinned the wearer (see Grapple). Even then, the defender gains
a +4 bonus on his roll to resist the attempt.
Feint
Feinting is a standard action. To feint, make a Bluff check
opposed by a Sense Motive check by your target. The target
may add his base attack bonus to this Sense Motive check.
If your Bluff check result exceeds your targets Sense Motive
check result, the next melee attack you make against the
target does not allow him to use his Dexterity bonus to Active
Defence, if any. This attack must be made on or before your
next turn.
When feinting in this way against a non-humanoid you take
a 4 penalty. Against a creature of animal Intelligence (1 or
2), you take a 8 penalty. Against a non-intelligent creature,
it is impossible. Feinting in combat does not provoke attacks
of opportunity.
Feinting as a Move Action
With the Improved Feint feat, you can attempt a feint as a
move action instead of as a standard action.
146
Grapple
All forms of offensive holding, including the ancient art of
wrestling, are considered actions of the grapple type. These
actions can bind up a dangerous opponent or subdue someone
when normal combat methods are ineffective.
Grapple Checks
Repeatedly in a grapple, you need to make opposed grapple
checks against an opponent. A grapple check is similar to a
melee attack roll. Your attack bonus on a grapple check is: Base
attack bonus + Strength modifier + special size modifier
Special Size Modifier: The special size modifier for a grapple
check is as follows: Colossal +16, Gargantuan +12, Huge +8,
Large +4, Medium +0, Small 4, Tiny 8, Diminutive 12,
Fine 16. Add this modifier to your Grapple checks.
Starting a Grapple
To start a grapple, you need to grab and hold your target.
Starting a grapple requires a successful melee attack roll, not a
grapple check. If you get multiple attacks, you can attempt to
start a grapple multiple times, at successively lower base attack
bonuses.
Step 1: Attack of Opportunity. You provoke an
attack of opportunity from the target you are trying
to grapple. If the attack of opportunity deals damage,
the grapple attempt fails. (Certain monsters do not
provoke attacks of opportunity when they attempt to
grapple, nor do characters with the Improved Grapple
feat.) If the attack of opportunity misses or fails to
deal damage, proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Grab. You make a melee touch attack to grab
the target. If you fail to hit the target, the grapple
attempt fails. If you succeed, proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Hold. Make an opposed grapple check as a
free action. If you succeed, you and your target are
now grappling and you deal damage to the target as if
with an unarmed strike. If you lose, you fail to start
the grapple. You automatically lose an attempt to
hold if the target is two or more size categories larger
than you are. In case of a tie, the combatant with the
higher grapple check modifier wins. If this is a tie, roll
again to break the tie.
Step 4: Maintain Grapple. To maintain the grapple
for later rounds, you must move into the targets
space. (This movement is free and does not count as
part of your movement in the round.)
Moving, as normal, provokes attacks of opportunity
from threatening opponents, but not from your
target. If you cannot move into your targets
space, you cannot maintain the grapple and must
immediately let go of the target. To grapple again, you
must begin at Step 1.
Grappling Consequences
While you are grappling, your ability to attack others and
defend yourself is limited. You are using most of your
concentration and every available limb to try and impede your
opponents movements, making it very difficult to spare any
attention or effort against any other foe.
No Threatened squares
You do not threaten any squares while grappling.
No Dexterity Bonus
You lose your Dexterity bonus to Active Defence against
opponents you are not grappling. You can still use it against
opponents you are grappling.
No Movement
You cannot move normally while grappling. You may,
however, make an opposed grapple check (see the rules for
doing so below) to move while grappling.
If You Are Grappling
When you are grappling (regardless of who started the
grapple), you can perform any of the following actions. Some
of these actions take the place of an attack, rather than being
a standard action or a move action. If your base attack bonus
allows you multiple attacks, you can attempt one of these
actions in place of each of your attacks, but at successively
lower base attack bonuses.
Activate a Magic Item: You can activate a magic item
that you are holding or wearing. You do not need to
make a grapple check to activate the item.
Attack Your Opponent: You can make an attack with
an unarmed strike, natural weapon or light weapon
against another character you are grappling. You take
a 4 penalty on such attacks.
Pray For A Miracle: You can attempt to pray for a
miracle while grappling or even while pinned (see
below), provided the praying time is no more than
1 standard action. You must make a Concentration
check (DC 20 + magical effect save modifier) or lose
the prayer. You do not have to make a successful
grapple check to pray for a miracle.
If You Are Pinning an Opponent
Cast An Eye Spell: The only spell you can cast while
grappling is one of the variants on the evil eye, as it
requires no hand gestures or material ingredients. You
must still make a successful Concentration check (DC
20 + magical effect save modifier) or lose the spell.
Damage Your Opponent: While grappling, you
can deal damage to your opponent equivalent to an
unarmed strike. Make an opposed grapple check in
place of an attack. If you win, you deal non-lethal
damage as normal for your unarmed strike (1d3
points for Medium attackers or 1d2 points for Small
attackers, plus Strength modifiers). If you want to
deal lethal damage, you take a 4 penalty on your
grapple check.
Draw a Light Weapon: You can draw a light weapon
as a move action with a successful grapple check.
Escape from Grapple: You can escape a grapple
by winning an opposed grapple check in place of
making an attack. You can make an Escape Artist
check in place of your grapple check if you so desire,
combat
but this requires a standard action. If more than one
opponent is grappling you, your grapple check result
has to beat all their individual check results to escape.
(Opponents do not have to try to hold you if they do
not want to.) If you escape, you finish the action by
moving into any space adjacent to your opponent(s).
Move: You can move half your speed (bringing all
others engaged in the grapple with you) by winning
an opposed grapple check. This requires a standard
action and you must beat all the other individual
check results to move the grapple. Note: You get a
+4 bonus on your grapple check to move a pinned
opponent, but only if no one else is involved in the
grapple.
Pin Your Opponent: You can hold your opponent
immobile for 1 round by winning an opposed grapple
check, made in place of an attack. Once you have an
opponent pinned, you have a few options available to
you (see below).
Break Anothers Pin: If you are grappling an
opponent who has another character pinned, you can
make an opposed grapple check in place of an attack.
If you win, you break the hold that the opponent
has over the other character. The character is still
grappling, but is no longer pinned.
Use Opponents Weapon: If your opponent is
holding a light weapon, you can use it to attack
him. Make an opposed grapple check (in place of
an attack). If you win, make an attack roll with the
weapon with a 4 penalty (doing this does not require
another action). You do not gain possession of the
weapon by performing this action.
You can attempt to damage your opponent with an opposed
grapple check, you can attempt to use your opponents
weapon against him or you can attempt to move the grapple
(all described above). At your option, you can prevent a
pinned opponent from speaking.
You can use a disarm action to remove or grab away a well
secured object worn by a pinned opponent, but he gets a +4
bonus on his roll to resist your attempt (see Disarm).
You may voluntarily release a pinned character as a free action;
if you do so, you are no longer considered to be grappling that
character (and vice versa).
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 You cannot draw or use a weapon (against the pinned
character or any other character), escape anothers grapple, pin
another character or break anothers pin while you are pinning
an opponent.
If You Are Pinned by an Opponent
When an opponent has pinned you, you are held immobile
(but not helpless) for 1 round. While you are pinned, you take
a 4 penalty to your Active Defence checks against opponents
combat
of bringing down huge, unarmoured monsters such as giants.
Even Zeus himself was once hamstrung and his immortal
sinews stolen and hidden away.
Hamstrung characters do not ordinarily recover. In a
historical campaign, they never regain their full speed, even if
the grievous wound is healed. In a mythic campaign, once the
grievous wound is completely healed (not just turned into a
normal wound) the characters speed returns to normal.

other than the one pinning you. At your opponents option,

you may also be unable to speak. On your turn, you can try
to escape the pin by making an opposed grapple check in
place of an attack. You can make an Escape Artist check in
place of your grapple check if you want, but this requires a
standard action. If you win, you escape the pin, but you are
still grappling.
Any creature that is not vulnerable to critical hits cannot be
hamstrung.
Exception: Characters with the Improved Hamstring feat
do not provoke an attack of opportunity when making a
hamstring attempt.

Joining a Grapple Mounted Combat

If your target is already grappling someone else, you can use an Horses in Combat
attack to start a grapple, as above, except that the target does Warhorses and warponies can serve readily as combat steeds.
not get an attack of opportunity against you and your grab Light horses, ponies and heavy horses, however, are frightened
automatically succeeds. You still have to make a successful by combat. If you do not dismount, you must make a DC
opposed grapple check to become part of the grapple. 20 Ride check each round as a move action to control such a
If there are multiple opponents involved in the grapple, you horse. If you succeed, you can perform a standard action after
pick one to make the opposed grapple check against. the move action. If you fail, the move action becomes a full
round action and you cannot do anything else until your next
Multiple Grapplers turn. Your mount acts on your initiative count as you direct it.
Several combatants can be in a single grapple. Up to four
combatants can grapple a single opponent in a given round. A Trojan is Hamstrung
Creatures that are one or more size categories smaller than you
count for half, creatures that are one size category larger than
you count double and creatures two or more size categories
larger count quadruple. When you are grappling with
multiple opponents, you choose one opponent to make an
opposed check against. The exception is an attempt to escape
from the grapple; to successfully escape, your grapple check
must beat the check results of each opponent.

Hamstring
If you are wielding a weapon that inflicts slashing damage, you
may attempt to slash an opponents muscles behind the knee as
a full-round action. A hamstring attempt provokes an attack
of opportunity. You make one (and only one) attack against
your opponent, which is made at a 4 penalty. Your opponent
may attempt to evade the blow with Active Defence or ward it
off with Shield Defence if possible. (If he is wearing armour,
this has a chance to intercept the blow as usual.) If you then
deal your opponent a grievous wound, you have hamstrung
him in one leg. His speed is halved and he can no longer run
or charge. A character with both legs hamstrung cannot stand
upright and falls prone. He can move no more than a five foot
step each round and must take a move action to do so.

Creatures with more than two legs, such as horses, can be

hamstrung, which is in fact much easier than killing them.
This unpleasant practice is, unfortunately, historically
authentic and was used as a means of preventing captives
from escaping. It was also employed in myth as a means

148
 You move at its speed, but the mount uses its action to move.
A horse (not a pony) is a Large creature and thus takes up a
space 10 feet (2 squares) across. For simplicity, assume that
you share your mounts space during combat.
Combat while Mounted
With a DC 5 Ride check, you can guide your mount with
your knees so as to use both hands to attack or defend yourself.
This is a free action. When you attack a creature smaller than
your mount that is on foot, you get the +1 bonus on melee
attacks for being on higher ground. If your mount moves
more than 5 feet, you can only make a single melee attack.
Essentially, you have to wait until the mount gets to your
enemy before attacking, so you cannot make a full attack.
Even at your mounts full speed, you do not take any penalty
on melee attacks while mounted.
If your mount charges, you also take the penalty to Active
Defence and Shield Defence that is associated with a charge.
If you make an attack at the end of the charge, you receive the
bonus gained from the charge. When charging on horseback,
you deal double damage with a lance (see Charge).
You can use ranged weapons while your mount is taking a
double move, but at a 4 penalty on the attack roll. You can
use ranged weapons while your mount is running (quadruple
speed), at a 8 penalty. In either case, you make the attack roll
when your mount has completed half its movement. You can
make a full attack with a ranged weapon while your mount is
moving. Likewise, you can take move actions normally.
Casting Spells while Mounted
You can cast a spell normally if your mount moves up to a
normal move (its speed) either before or after you cast. If you
have your mount move both before and after you cast a spell,
then you are casting the spell while the mount is moving and
you have to make a Concentration check due to the vigorous
motion (DC 10 + magical effect save modifier) or lose the
spell. If the mount is running (quadruple speed), you can cast
a spell when your mount has moved up to twice its speed, but
your Concentration check is more difficult due to the violent
motion (DC 15 + magical effect save modifier).
If Your Mount Falls in Battle
If your mount falls, you have to succeed on a DC 15 Ride
check to make a soft fall and take no damage. If the check fails,
you take 1d6 points of damage.
If You Are Dropped
If you are knocked unconscious, you have a 50% chance to
stay in the saddle, otherwise you fall and take 1d6 points of
damage. Without you to guide it, your mount avoids combat
unless it is of greater than animal intelligence. In that case,
your mount acts like a creature of its abilities and intellect and
is generally controlled by the Games Master.
Overrun
You can attempt an overrun as a standard action taken during
your move or as part of a charge. (In general, you cannot
take a standard action during a move; this is an exception.)
With an overrun, you attempt to plough past or over your
opponent (and move through his square) as you move. You
can only overrun an opponent who is one size category larger
than you, the same size or smaller. You can make only one
overrun attempt per round. If you are attempting to overrun
combat
an opponent, follow these steps.
Step 1: Attack of Opportunity. Since you begin the
overrun by moving into the defenders space, you
provoke an attack of opportunity from the defender.
Step 2: Opponent Avoids? The defender has the
option to simply avoid you. If he avoids you, he does
not suffer any ill effect. If you were attempting the
overrun as part of a charge, you may keep moving.
(You can always move through a square occupied by
someone who lets you by.) In either case, the overrun
attempt does not count against your actions this
round (except for any movement required to enter the
opponents square). If your opponent does not avoid
you, move to Step 3.
Step 3: Opponent Blocks? If your opponent blocks
you, make a Strength check opposed by the defenders
Dexterity or Strength check (whichever ability score
has the higher modifier). A combatant gets a +4
bonus on the check for every size category he is larger
than Medium or a 4 penalty for every size category
he is smaller than Medium. You gain a +2 bonus on
your Strength check if you made the overrun as part of
a charge. The defender gets a +4 bonus on his check if
he has more than two legs or is otherwise more stable
than a normal humanoid. If you win, you knock
the defender prone. If you lose, the defender may
immediately react and make a Strength check opposed
by your Dexterity or Strength check (including the
size modifiers noted above, but no other modifiers) to
try to knock you prone.
Step 4: Consequences. If you succeed in knocking
your opponent prone, you can continue your
movement as normal. If you fail and are knocked
prone in turn, you have to move five feet back the
way you came and fall prone, ending your movement
there. If you fail but are not knocked prone, you have
to move five feet back the way you came, ending your
movement there. If that square is occupied, you fall
prone in that square.
Improved Overrun
If you have the Improved Overrun feat, your target may not
choose to avoid you.
149
 Mounted Overrun (Trample)
If you attempt an overrun while mounted, your mount makes
the Strength check to determine the success or failure of
the overrun attack (and applies its size modifier, rather than
yours). If you have the Trample feat and attempt an overrun
while mounted, your target may not choose to avoid you and
if you knock your opponent prone with the overrun, your
mount may make one hoof attack against your opponent.
combat
Shield Bash
Though shields are designed to provide defence against
blows, you can also use them offensively, slamming them into
opponents to cause additional damage. You can make a shield
bash attack as an attack action or as a free action immediately
following a melee attack.
To make a shield bash attack, you proceed as if you were
making an ordinary melee attack but use your Shield Defence
bonus instead of your base attack bonus; the roll is thus 1d20
plus your Shield Defence bonus plus your Strength modifier.
(You do not add the shields Coverage bonus to the attack roll.)
If your character has no shield defence bonus, then you simply
roll 1d20 plus your Strength modifier.
If you make a shield bash attack, you use up one of your Shield
Defence uses for the round. If you have already used up your
Shield Defence checks, such as by deflecting a blow reactively
before your turn, then you cannot make a shield bash.
Exception: Characters with the Improved Shield Bash feat may
still make their normal number of Shield Defence checks after
they have made a shield bash attack, albeit at a 4 penalty to
the Shield Defence roll.
Throw Splash Weapon
A splash weapon is a ranged weapon that breaks on impact,
splashing or scattering its contents over its target and nearby
creatures or objects. To attack with a splash weapon, make
a ranged touch attack against the target. Thrown weapons
require no weapon proficiency, so you do not take the 4
penalty. A hit deals direct hit damage to the target and splash
damage to all creatures within five feet of the target.
You can instead target a specific grid intersection. Treat this
as a ranged attack against a Passive Defence of 5. However, if
you target a grid intersection, creatures in all adjacent squares
are dealt the splash damage and the direct hit damage is not
dealt to any creature. (You cannot target a grid intersection
occupied by a creature, such as a Large or larger creature; in
this case, you are aiming at the creature.)
If you miss the target (whether aiming at a creature or a grid
intersection), roll 1d8. This determines the misdirection of
the throw, with 1 being straight back at you and 2 through
8 counting clockwise around the grid intersection or target
creature. Then, count a number of squares in the indicated
direction equal to the range increment of the throw. After
150
you determine where the weapon landed, it deals splash
damage to all creatures in adjacent squares.
Trip
You can try to trip an opponent as an unarmed melee attack.
You can only trip an opponent who is one size category larger
than you, the same size or smaller.
Making a Trip Attack
Make an unarmed melee attack against your target. This
provokes an attack of opportunity from your target as normal
for unarmed attacks. If your attack succeeds, make a Strength
check opposed by the defenders Dexterity or Strength check
(whichever ability score has the higher modifier). A combatant
gets a +4 bonus for every size category he is larger than
Medium or a 4 penalty for every size category he is smaller
than Medium. The defender also gets a +4 bonus on his check
if he has more than two legs or is otherwise more stable than
a normal humanoid. If you win, you trip the defender. If you
lose, the defender may immediately react and make a Strength
check opposed by your Dexterity or Strength check to try to
trip you.
Avoiding Attacks of Opportunity: If you have the
Improved Trip feat or if you are tripping with a
weapon (see below), you do not provoke an attack of
opportunity for making a trip attack.
Being Tripped (Prone)
A tripped character is prone. Standing up is a move action.
Tripping a Mounted Opponent
You may make a trip attack against a mounted opponent. The
defender may make a Ride check in place of his Dexterity or
Strength check. If you succeed, you pull the rider from his
mount.
Tripping with a Weapon
Some weapons can be used to make trip attacks. In this case,
you make a melee touch attack with the weapon instead of
an unarmed melee touch attack and you do not provoke an
attack of opportunity. If you are tripped during your own trip
attempt, you can drop the weapon to avoid being tripped.
special initiative
actions
These are ways to change when you act during combat by
altering your place in the initiative order.
Delay
By choosing to delay, you take no action and then act normally
on whatever initiative count you decide to act. When you delay,
you voluntarily reduce your own initiative result for the rest of
the combat. When your new, lower initiative count comes up
later in the same round, you can act normally. You can specify
this new initiative result or just wait until some time later in
the round and act then, thus fixing your new initiative count
at that point. You do not get back the time you spend waiting
to see what is going to happen, nor can you interrupt anyone
elses action as you can with a readied action.
Initiative Consequences of
Delaying
Your initiative result becomes the count on which you took
the delayed action. If you come to your next action and have
not yet performed an action, you do not get to take a delayed
action, though you can delay again. If you take a delayed
action in the next round, before your regular turn comes up,
your initiative count rises to that new point in the order of
battle and you do not get your regular action that round.
Ready
The ready action lets you prepare to take an action later,
after your turn is over but before your next one has begun.
Readying is a standard action. It does not provoke an attack of
opportunity, though the action that you ready might do so.
Readying an Action
You can ready a standard action, a move action or a free action.
To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions
under which you will take it. Then, any time before your
next action, you may take the readied action in response to
that condition. The action occurs just before the action that
triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another characters
activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is
still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you
complete your readied action. Your initiative result changes
as noted below. For the rest of the encounter, your initiative
result is the count on which you took the readied action and
you act immediately ahead of the character whose action
triggered your readied action.
You can take a five foot step as part of your readied action,
but only if you do not otherwise move any distance during
the round.
Initiative Consequences of
Readying
Your initiative result becomes the count on which you took the
readied action. If you come to your next action and have not
yet performed your readied action, you do not get to take the
readied action, though you can ready the same action again.
If you take your readied action in the next round, before your
regular turn comes up, your initiative count rises to that new
point in the order of battle and you do not get your regular
action that round.
Distracting Spellcasters
You can ready an attack against a spellcaster with the trigger
if she starts casting a spell. If you damage the spellcaster, she
may lose the spell she was trying to cast, as determined by her
Concentration check result.
Readying a Weapon against a
Charge
You can ready certain piercing weapons, such as spears, setting
them to receive charges. A readied weapon of this type deals
double damage if you score a hit with it against a charging
character.
combat
chariots
Chariots are an important part of battle in the ancient world.
They are particularly crucial to the Egyptian method of
waging war. An Egyptian chariot was usually a mobile missile
platform, carrying an archer and a shield bearer to defend him;
these made great swooping attacks that allowed the chariots
to come within range of the enemy, slow down to increase
accuracy, shower them with missiles and then depart before
any counter-attack was possible, repeating this move again
and again and thus whittling down the enemys ranks. The
Assyrians seem to have used a very similar approach.
Only the Greeks have no clear tradition of chariot combat,
as the mountainous territory and uneven lands of Hellas
were far less suited to it than the flat sandy plains of Egypt.
Thus, in Greece the phalanx held sway as the decisive method
of combat, with its wall-like structure taking advantage of
the limited fighting space to corner, separate and destroy
enemy forces. The Greek chariot is seen more as a method
of transport than as a war vehicle. Depictions from Ancient
Greece show chariots taking generals to the field, but do not
depict anyone fighting from them.
There are three basic designs of chariot in OGL Ancients,
namely the light chariot, the heavy chariot and the Assyrian
war chariot. A light chariot is a quicker, less robust model
that can achieve higher speeds. An Assyrian war chariot is
more heavily built and incorporates a more sturdy barrier that
provides cover to the lower parts of the occupants bodies.
This is especially necessary if one of the occupants is an archer
and cannot defend himself with a shield. An Assyrian war
chariot is built with large wheels (with eight rather than six
spokes) and has enough room for a driver, an archer and two
shield-bearers.
Horses
This is how many horses are required to pull the chariot. No
other creatures may be used in their place.
Passengers
Chariots are basically simple three-sided carts with space for
two or more passengers. This lists how many people may ride
in a chariot.
151
 Speed
This is the base speed of the chariot when pulled by the
maximum number of horses. As horses are lost through
combat or other means, the chariots base speed moves to the
next number on this line, thus gradually slowing down.
DR
This is how much damage the chariot ignores if
it should be attacked. An attack must be made
combat
through the bodies of warriors to either side, causing terrible
carnage. Fitting these to the side of a chariot cost 600 sd.
Chariot Movement
Chariots move in initiative order in the same way as any
mounted combatant. There are however some important
differences. A chariot may turn once at any point in its move,
up to the amount listed as its turn rate. Any chariot may make
this turn while making a normal or double move but

directly at the chariot in order to damage it. none can normally turn while running.
Attacks aimed at the chariots occupants
that strike the chariots covering In addition, chariots may drift up to ten
wall are not counted. feet left or right for every full thirty feet
they move forwards. This is performed
Hit Points as a free action and in no way impedes
Every chariot has a number any other movement the chariot may
of hit points. When these perform.
are reduced to 0, the chariot is
destroyed. A chariot driver may choose to whip
his horses harder as a full round
Turn Rate action. If he succeeds at a Handle
The lighter a chariot is, the faster Animal check at DC 10, he may
its driver can get it to turn at increase his base speed by ten
speed. The first number here is feet for that round only.
the turn a chariot can make, in
degrees, when moving at normal Tight Turns
speed. The second number lists The driver may also attempt to
how much it can turn when get his chariot to make a much
making a double move. No tighter turn than is entirely safe. A driver
chariot can turn at running may choose to make two turns in a round
speed. instead of just one, though these must be
made at the beginning and end of the move
they may not be made halfway through as a normal
Cargo turn may. This is a full round action and requires the
All chariots may carry cargo driver to make a Handle Animal check at DC 12 if he
instead of or in addition to any is moving at base speed and DC 15 at double speed. A
passengers. This amount is listed single turn may be made at running speed, again with a
in this section. However, a chariot will successful Handle Animal check, this time at DC 25.
always require a driver to control its movement.
If these checks are failed, the chariot will automatically
Overrun overturn at the start of the next turn, as covered below in
This is the base damage caused by the chariot when performing Collisions and Overturning.
an overrun attack.

Base costs and weights of chariots are provided in the

Chariot Combat
All passengers on board a chariot may make their normal
Equipment chapter.
attacks as if they were mounted. (The Mounted Combat feat
does not help here but the Chariot Combat feat does.) The
Persian Scythed Chariots
chariot driver, however, must always dedicate at least one hand
During the reign of Cyrus the Great, iron scythe blades were
to controlling the horses and so may only fully utilise single-
fitted to the wheels of the Persian chariots. These sliced

Type Horses Passengers Speed Hardness Hit Points Turn Rate Cargo Overrun
Light Chariot 2 2 6-ft./50-ft. 5 8 90 /45
o o
150 lb. 2d6
Heavy Chariot 2 3 50-ft./40-ft. 5 15 45o/- 250 lb. 3d6
Assyrian War Chariot 2 4 50-ft./40-ft. 5 20 30 /-
o
300 lb. 4d6

152
handed weaponry. Any passenger may make an attack at any
point in their move; such is the speed of the chariot. This in
no way affects the number of actions they may perform each
round.
All chariots, no matter what their size, are assumed to take up
a space five feet wide and ten feet long, with the horses directly
ahead. Passengers, horses or the chariot itself may be targeted
by an attack if within reach or range, though passengers will
receive the benefit of cover (+4 to Passive Defence; see the
Cover section above) for attacks to the front or sides of their
chariot. This is from a low wood-and-leather barrier running
round the sides and front of the chariot. Passengers receive no
benefit for attacks originating from the rear of their chariot.
A shield bearer may ride in a war chariot and make Shield
Defence checks to protect other passengers. This was standard
practice in the ancient world. See the section on Shields
above.
If any horse is slain whilst pulling a chariot, it must be cut
free within one round, as described under Collisions and
Overturning or the chariot will automatically overturn.
Sideswipes
Any chariot driving moving his vehicle alongside another
chariot may choose to sideswipe it as a full round action.
The drivers of both chariots must make an opposing Handle
Animal check. The winner will cause damage upon the losers
chariot, as listed below:
Damage Critical Type
Chariot with 2d8 19-20/x2 Slashing
scythes Sideswipe
Chariot without 2d4 20/x2 Bludgeoning
scythes Sideswipe
Against Warriors on Foot
The passengers of a chariot may attack any warrior on foot as
if they were mounted. Those on foot may fight back as if the
warriors on the chariot were mounted. However, the driver
of a chariot may either overrun his enemies or make scythe
attacks against them if the chariot is fitted with blades.
Overrun attacks are detailed above. If successful, such an
attack will cause an additional amount of damage to the target
equal to the Overrun score of the chariot, as covered above.
Scythe attacks are made as a chariot moves adjacent to any
suitable target and count as a melee attack action. The driver
must make a Handle Animal check opposed by the targets
Reflex saving throw. If the target succeeds, he manages to
dodge the attack. If the chariot driver wins, the scythes cut
through the target, with devastating results. Use the scythe
damage listed above, doubling the damage if the chariot is
making a double move or faster.
Collisions and Overturning
One of the most impressive sights on the battlefield is that
of a chariot moving at full speed then, for whatever reason,
overturning. Wood, warriors and horses all tumble and break
apart as the entire mess is veiled by a cloud of dust and blood.
Few ever survive such accidents and it is often only the skill of
the charioteer that can avoid such tragedy.
The charioteer must make Handle Animal checks to control
combat
his chariot whenever he attempts an extreme action or when a
collision looms up ahead. The DCs of such checks are listed
below;
There is a +5 bonus to this check if the chariot is moving at
Hazards
Action DC
Cutting free a dead horse before chariot overturns 10
Swapping drivers whilst chariot is in motion 10
Hitting medium-sized creature or object 15
Hitting large sized creature or object 20
Hitting an immovable object such as a stone building 30
base speed or slower and a 5 penalty if it is moving at running
speed.
If the Handle Animal check is successful, the chariot neatly
avoids the obstacle or swerves at the last moment. In the case
of avoiding the arena wall, the chariot is placed alongside the
wall, its driver having brought his horses up short at the last
possible moment.
Games Masters are encouraged to use the above examples as
a base should their players ever attempt an action not listed
here. If the driver passes his check, he succeeds in the action
he was attempting or manages to avoid tragedy, as appropriate.
If he fails the check by 5 points or less, the chariot must move
in a completely straight line for the next round. No turns or
drifts may be attempted. If the chariot cannot move straight
ahead for whatever reason (an immovable object being directly
in front of it for example), then the chariot will automatically
overturn. If he fails by more than 5 points, the chariot will
overturn.
Overturning
If a chariot overturns, the chariot itself, along with all
passengers and horses, take an amount of damage equal to the
Overrun score of the chariot. Passengers may make a Reflex
saving throw at DC 20 to halve this damage.
An overturned chariot, if it survives intact, takes 1d6
minutes to put right and re-hitch any living horses. As
battles frequently last several hours, with brief rests between
engagements, this is quite commonly done on the battlefield.
The combined Strength required is equal to the original hit
points of the chariot.
153
 Adventuring
This chapter deals with the basics of moving around in the
Carrying Capacity
Strength Light Medium Heavy
Score Load Load Load
ancient world.
1 3 lb. or less 46 lb. 710 lb.

carrying capacity 2 6 lb. or less 713 lb. 1420 lb.

adventuring

3 10 lb. or less 1120 lb. 2130 lb.

Encumbrance rules are based largely on a characters Strength
score and determine how much a characters armour and 4 13 lb. or less 1426 lb. 2740 lb.
equipment slow him down. Encumbrance comes in two parts: 5 16 lb. or less 1733 lb. 3450 lb.
encumbrance by armour and encumbrance by total weight. 6 20 lb. or less 2140 lb. 4160 lb.
The former is not truly affected by Strength as it deals largely
with the limits of mobility imposed by the armour itself. The 7 23 lb. or less 2446 lb. 4770 lb.
latter is entirely based on Strength, as the stronger a character 8 26 lb. or less 2753 lb. 5480 lb.
is, the greater the load he she can handle without succumbing 9 30 lb. or less 3160 lb. 6190 lb.
to the slowing effects of heavy and unwieldy burdens.
10 33 lb. or less 3466 lb. 67100 lb.
11 38 lb. or less 3976 lb. 77115 lb.
Encumbrance by Armour 12 43 lb. or less 4486 lb. 87130 lb.
A characters body armour defines his maximum Dexterity
bonus to Active Defence, armour check penalty, speed and 13 50 lb. or less 51100 lb. 101150 lb.
running speed. Unless your character is weak or carrying a 14 58 lb. or less 59116 lb. 117175 lb.
lot of gear, this is all you need to know. The extra gear your 15 66 lb. or less 67133 lb. 134200 lb.
character carries will not slow him down any more than the
armour already does. If your character is weak or carrying a lot 16 76 lb. or less 77153 lb. 154230 lb.
of gear, however, then you will need to calculate encumbrance 17 86 lb. or less 87173 lb. 174260 lb.
by weight. Doing so is most important when your character is 18 100 lb. or less 101200 lb. 201300 lb.
trying to carry some heavy object.
19 116 lb. or less 117233 lb. 234350 lb.
20 133 lb. or less 134266 lb. 267400 lb.
Weight 21 153 lb. or less 154306 lb. 307460 lb.
If you want to determine whether your characters gear is
heavy enough to slow him down more than the armour 22 173 lb. or less 174346 lb. 347520 lb.
already does, total the weight of all the characters items, 23 200 lb. or less 201400 lb. 401600 lb.
including armour, weapons and gear. Compare this total to
24 233 lb. or less 234466 lb. 467700 lb.
the characters Carrying Capacity as determined by Strength;
see the table below. Depending on how the weight compares 25 266 lb. or less 267533 lb. 534800 lb.
to the characters carrying capacity, he may be carrying a light, 26 306 lb. or less 307613 lb. 614920 lb.
medium or heavy load. Like armour, a characters load affects 27 346 lb. or less 347693 lb. 6941,040 lb.
his maximum Dexterity bonus to Active Defence, carries a
28 400 lb. or less 401800 lb. 8011,200 lb.
check penalty (which works like an armour check penalty),
reduces the characters speed and affects how fast the character 29 466 lb. or less 467933 lb. 9341,400 lb.
can run, as shown on the table entitled Carrying Loads. A +10 x4 x4 x4
medium or heavy load counts as medium or heavy armour for
the purpose of abilities or skills that are restricted by armour. round (as a full-round action). A character can generally push
Carrying a light load does not encumber a character. or drag along the ground as much as five times his maximum
load. Favourable conditions can double these numbers and
If a character is wearing armour, use the worse figure (from bad circumstances can reduce them to one-half or less.
armour or from load) for each category. Do not stack the
penalties, as a character can only suffer from one set of
encumbrance penalties at a given time.
Bigger and Smaller
Creatures
The figures on the Carrying Capacity table are for Medium
Lifting and Dragging bipedal creatures. A larger bipedal creature can carry more
A character can lift as much as his maximum load over his
weight depending on its size category, as follows: Large x2,
head. A character can lift as much as double his maximum
Huge x4, Gargantuan x8, Colossal x16. A smaller creature can
load off the ground, but he can only stagger around with it.
carry less weight depending on its size category, as follows:
While overloaded in this way, the character loses any Dexterity
Small x3/4, Tiny x1/2, Diminutive x1/4, Fine x1/8.
bonus to Active Defence and can move only five feet per

154
Quadrupeds can carry hour for a human in a
heavier loads than
Carrying Loads bronze cuirass or other
characters can. Instead Speed heavy combat armour.
of the multipliers given Load Max Dex Check Penalty (30-ft.) (20-ft.) Run Run (x4): Moving four
above, multiply the Medium +3 3 20-ft. 15-ft. x4 times speed is a running
value corresponding to pace for a character in
Heavy +1 6 20-ft. 15-ft. x3
the creatures Strength light, medium or no

adventuring
score from the Carrying armour. It represents
Capacity table by the appropriate modifier, as follows: Fine about 12 miles per hour for an unencumbered human or
x1/4, Diminutive x1/2, Tiny x3/4, Small x1, Medium x1-1/2, 8 miles per hour for a human in scale armour or a leather
Large x3, Huge x6, Gargantuan x12, Colossal x24. harness.

Tremendous Strength Tactical Movement

Some mythical monsters and heroes have Strength scores
beyond even that tabulated here. For Strength scores not
shown on the Carrying Capacity table, find the Strength score
between 20 and 29 that has the same number in the ones
digit as the creatures Strength score does and multiply the
numbers in that for by 4 for every ten points the creatures
strength is above the score for that row.
Armour and Encumbrance
for Other Base Speeds
The table below provides reduced speed figures for all base
speeds from 20 feet to 100 feet (in 10 foot increments).
movement
There are three movement scales, as follows.
Tactical, for combat, measured in feet (or squares) per
round.
Local, for exploring an area, measured in feet per
minute.
Overland, for getting from place to place, measured in
miles per hour or miles per day.
Use tactical movement for combat. Characters generally do
not walk during combatthey hustle or run. A character who
moves his speed and takes some action is hustling for about
half the round and doing something else the other half.
Hampered Movement: Difficult terrain, obstacles or
poor visibility can hamper movement. When movement is
hampered, each square moved into usually counts as two
squares, effectively reducing the distance that a character can
cover in a move. If more than one condition applies, multiply
together all additional costs that apply. (This is a specific
exception to the normal rule for doubling.)
In some situations, your movement may be so hampered
that you do not have sufficient speed even to move five feet
(1 square). In such a case, you may use a full-round action
to move five feet (1 square) in any direction, even diagonally.
Even though this looks like a five foot step, it is not and thus
it provokes attacks of opportunity normally. (You cannot take
advantage of this rule to move through impassable terrain or to
move when all movement is prohibited to you.)
You cannot run or charge through any square that would
hamper your movement.

Modes of Movement: While moving at the different Local Movement

movement scales, creatures generally walk, hustle or run. Each Characters exploring an area use local movement, measured in
type of movement affects the speed of the character and the feet per minute.
types of action that can be performed at the same time. The Walk: A character can walk without a problem on the local
Combat chapter will explain simultaneous actions in greater scale.
detail. Hustle: A character can hustle without a problem on the local
scale. See Overland Movement, below, for
Walk: A walk represents unhurried but movement measured in miles per hour.
purposeful movement at 3 miles per hour Base Speed Reduced Speed Run: A character with a Constitution score
for an unencumbered person. 20-ft. 15-ft. of 9 or higher can run for a minute without
Hustle: A hustle is a jog at about 6 miles a problem. Generally, a character can run
30-ft. 20-ft.
per hour for an unencumbered human. A for a minute or two before having to rest
40-ft. 30-ft. for a minute
character moving his speed twice in a single
round or moving that speed in the same 50-ft. 35-ft.
round that he performs a standard action 60-ft. 40-ft. Overland
or another move action is hustling when
he moves.
70-ft. 50-ft.
Movement
80-ft. 55-ft. Characters covering long distances cross-
Run (x3): Moving three times speed is
a running pace for a character in heavy 90-ft. 60-ft. country use overland movement. Overland
armour. It represents about 9 miles per movement is measured in miles per hour
100-ft. 70-ft.

155
 Movement and Distance Hampered Movement
Speed Additional
15-ft. 20-ft. 30-ft. 40-ft. Condition Movement Cost
One Round (Tactical)* Difficult terrain x2
Walk 15-ft. 20-ft. 30-ft. 40-ft. Obstacle* x2
adventuring

Hustle 30-ft. 40-ft. 60-ft. 80-ft. Poor visibility x2

Run (x3) 45-ft. 60-ft. 90-ft. 120-ft. Impassable
Run (x4) 60-ft. 80-ft. 120-ft. 160-ft. * May require a skill check
One Minute (Local)
Walk 150-ft. 200-ft. 300-ft. 400-ft. Terrain
Hustle 300-ft. 400-ft. 600-ft. 800-ft. The terrain through which a character travels affects how
much distance he can cover in an hour or a day (see Terrain
Run (x3) 450-ft. 600-ft. 900-ft. 1,200-ft. and Overland Movement). A highway is a straight, major,
Run (x4) 600-ft. 800-ft. 1,200-ft. 1,600-ft. paved road. A road is typically a dirt track. A trail is like a
One Hour (Overland) road, except that it allows only single-file travel and does not
benefit a party travelling with vehicles. Trackless terrain is a
Walk 1-1/2 miles 2 miles 3 miles 4 miles
wild area with no paths.
Hustle 3 miles 4 miles 6 miles 8 miles
Run Forced March
One Day (Overland) In a day of normal walking, a character walks for 8 hours.
The rest of the daylight time is spent making and breaking
Walk 12 miles 16 miles 24 miles 32 miles
camp, resting and eating. A character can walk for more than
Hustle 8 hours in a day by making a forced march. For each hour of
Run marching beyond 8 hours, a Constitution check (DC 10, +2
* Tactical movement is often measured in squares on the battle per extra hour) is required. If the check fails, the character
grid (1 square = 5-ft.) rather than feet. takes 1d6 points of non-lethal damage. A character who takes
any non-lethal damage from a forced march becomes fatigued.
or miles per day. A day represents 8 hours of actual travel time. Eliminating the non-lethal damage also eliminates the fatigue.
For rowed watercraft, a day represents 10 hours of rowing. For It is very possible for a character to march into unconsciousness
a sailing ship, it represents 24 hours. by pushing himself too hard on a forced march.

Walk Mounted Movement

A character can walk 8 hours in a day of travel without a A mount bearing a rider can move at a hustle. The damage it
problem. Walking for longer than that can wear him out (see takes when doing so, however, is lethal damage, not non-lethal
Forced March, below). damage. The creature can also be ridden in a forced march,
but its Constitution checks automatically fail and, again,
the damage it takes is lethal damage. Mounts also become
Hustle
fatigued when they take any damage from hustling or forced
A character can hustle for 1 hour without a problem. Hustling
marches.
for a second hour in between sleep cycles deals 1 point of non-
lethal damage and each additional hour deals twice the damage
taken during the previous hour of hustling. A character who
takes any non-lethal damage from hustling becomes fatigued.
Terrain and Overland Movement
A fatigued character cannot run or charge and takes a penalty Terrain Highway Road or Trail Trackless
of 2 to Strength and Dexterity. Eliminating the non-lethal Desert, sandy x1 x1/2 x1/2
damage also eliminates the fatigue. Forest x1 x1 x1/2

Run Hills x1 x3/4 x1/2

A character cannot run for an extended period of time. Jungle x1 x3/4 x1/4
Attempting to run and rest in cycles, which is the preferred Moor x1 x1 x3/4
method for long distance overland travel when time is not an
Mountains x3/4 x3/4 x1/2
important factor or in short supply, effectively works out to a
hustle. Plains x1 x1 x3/4
Swamp x1 x3/4 x1/2
Tundra, frozen x1 x3/4 x3/4

156
 Three Dimensional Mounts and Vehicles
Movement Mount/Vehicle Per Hour Per Day
Once movement becomes three-dimensional and involves Mount (carrying load)
turning in midair and maintaining a minimum velocity to
Light horse or light warhorse 6 miles 48 miles
stay aloft, it gets more complicated. Most flying creatures have
to slow down at least a little to make a turn and many are Light horse (151450 lb.) 1
4 miles 32 miles

adventuring
limited to fairly wide turns and must maintain a minimum Light warhorse (231690 lb.)1 4 miles 32 miles
forward speed. Each flying creature has a manoeuvrability, as
Heavy horse or heavy warhorse 5 miles 40 miles
shown on Table: Manoeuvrability. The entries on the table are
defined below. Heavy horse (201600 lb.) 1
3-1/2 miles 28 miles
Minimum Forward Speed: If a flying creature fails to Heavy warhorse (301900 lb.)1 3-1/2 miles 28 miles
maintain its minimum forward speed, it must land at Pony or warpony 4 miles 32 miles
the end of its movement. If it is too high above the
Pony (76225 lb.)1 3 miles 24 miles
ground to land, it falls straight down, descending 150
feet in the first round of falling. If this distance brings Warpony (101300 lb.) 1
3 miles 24 miles
it to the ground, it takes falling damage. If the fall Donkey or mule 3 miles 24 miles
doesnt bring the creature to the ground, it must spend Donkey (51150 lb.)1 2 miles 16 miles
its next turn recovering from the stall. It must succeed
on a DC 20 Reflex save to recover. Otherwise it falls Mule (231690 lb.) 1
2 miles 16 miles
another 300 feet. If it hits the ground, it takes falling Dog, riding 4 miles 32 miles
damage. Otherwise, it has another chance to recover Dog, riding (101300 lb.)1 3 miles 24 miles
on its next turn.
Cart or wagon 2 miles 16 miles
Hover: The ability to stay in one place while
airborne. Ship
Move Backward: The ability to move backward Raft or barge (poled or towed)2 1/2 mile 5 miles
without turning around. Keelboat (rowed) 2
1 mile 10 miles
Reverse: A creature with good manoeuvrability uses up
five feet of its speed to start flying backward. Rowboat (rowed) 2
1-1/2 miles 15 miles
Turn: How much the creature can turn after covering Sailing ship (sailed) 2 miles 48 miles
the stated distance. Warship (sailed and rowed) 2-1/2 miles 60 miles
Turn in Place: A creature with good or average
Longship (sailed and rowed) 3 miles 72 miles
manoeuvrability can use some of its speed to turn in
place. Galley (rowed and sailed) 4 miles 96 miles
Maximum Turn: How much the creature can turn in 1
Quadrupeds, such as horses, can carry heavier loads than
any one space. characters can. See Carrying Capacity, above, for more
Up Angle: The angle at which the creature can climb. information.
Up Speed: How fast the creature can climb. 2
Rafts, barges, keelboats and rowboats are used on lakes and
Down Angle: The angle at which the creature can rivers.
descend. If going downstream, add the speed of the current (typically 3
Down Speed: A flying creature can fly down at twice its miles per hour) to the speed of the vehicle. In addition to 10
normal flying speed. hours of being rowed, the vehicle can also float an additional
Between Down and Up: An average, poor or clumsy 14 hours, if someone can guide it, so add an additional 42
flier must fly level for a minimum distance after miles to the daily distance travelled. These vehicles cannot be
descending and before climbing. Any flier can begin rowed against any significant current, but they can be pulled
descending after a climb without an intervening upstream by draft animals on the shores.
distance of level flight.
opposed Dexterity checks to see who is the faster over those
Evasion and Pursuit rounds. If the creature being chased wins, it escapes. If the
In round-by-round movement, simply counting off squares, pursuer wins, it catches the fleeing creature.
it is impossible for a slow character to get away from a
determined fast character without mitigating circumstances. Sometimes a chase occurs overland and could last all day,
Likewise, it is no problem for a fast character to get away from with the two sides only occasionally getting glimpses of each
a slower one. other at a distance. In the case of a long chase, an opposed
When the speeds of the two concerned characters are equal, Constitution check made by all parties determines which can
there is a simple way to resolve a chase: If one creature is keep pace the longest. If the creature being chased rolls the
pursuing another, both are moving at the same speed and highest, it gets away. If not, the chaser runs down its prey,
the chase continues for at least a few rounds, have them make outlasting it with stamina.

157
 character. A creature
Manoeuvrability
in an area of shadowy
Manoeuvrability illumination can
Perfect Good Average Poor Clumsy make a Hide check to
Minimum forward speed None None Half Half Half conceal itself. In areas
of darkness, creatures
Hover Yes Yes No No No
are effectively
adventuring

Move backward Yes Yes No No No blinded. In addition

Reverse Free 5-ft. No No No to the obvious effects,
Turn Any 90/5-ft. 45/5-ft. 45/5-ft. 45/10-ft.
a blinded creature
has a 50% miss
Turn in place Any +90/5-ft. +45/5-ft. No No chance in combat (all
Maximum turn Any Any 90 45 45 opponents have total
Up angle Any Any 60 45 45 concealment), loses
any Dexterity bonus
Up speed Full Half Half Half Half
to Active Defence
Down angle Any Any Any 45 45 and any bonus to
Down speed Double Double Double Double Double Sheild Defence, takes
Between down and up 0 0 5-ft. 10-ft. 20-ft. a 2 penalty to Active
Defence, moves at
half speed and takes a
Moving Within a Single Square
4 penalty on Search checks and most Strength and Dexterity-
In general, when the characters are not engaged in round-by-
based skill checks.
round combat, they should be able to move anywhere and in
any manner that you can imagine real people could. A five
foot square, for instance, can hold several characters; they just Breaking Objects
cannot all fight effectively in that small space. The rules for When attempting to break an object, you have two choices:
movement are important for combat, but outside combat they smash it with a weapon or break it with sheer strength.
can impose unnecessary hindrances on character activities. Breaking objects can also be accomplished through the
application of energy other than kinetic, but the basic rules for
doing so are largely unchanged. Exceptions to this principle
Vision and Lighting are noted below when appropriate.
Conditions
Some monstrous entities, such as gorgons, can see in the dark, Smashing an Object
but ordinary humans need light to see by. See the table below To smash an object, make an attack roll against the objects
for the radius that a light source illuminates and how long it Passive Defence. Generally, you can smash an object only with
lasts. In an area of bright light, all characters can see clearly. a bludgeoning or slashing weapon.
A creature cannot hide in an area of bright light unless it is
invisible or has cover. Defence For Objects
Objects are easier to hit than creatures because they usually do
In an area of shadowy illumination, a character can see dimly. not move. An object cannot make Active Defence or Shield
Creatures within this area have concealment relative to that Defence checks; it also has an additional 2 penalty to its
Passive Defence if it is completely immobile. Furthermore,
Light Sources and Illumination if you take a full-round action to line up a shot, you get an
automatic hit with a melee weapon and a +5 bonus on attack
Object Bright Shadowy Duration rolls with a ranged weapon.
Candle n/a 1
5-ft. 1 hr.
Lamp, common 15-ft. 30-ft. 6 hr./pint Damage Reduction
Each object has damage reduction, a number that represents
Lantern, hooded 30-ft. 60-ft. 6 hr./pint
how well it resists damage. Whenever an object takes damage,
Torch 20-ft. 40-ft. 1 hr. subtract its damage reduction rating from the damage. Only
Spell Bright Shadowy Duration damage in excess of the damage reduction rating is deducted
Witchglow 20-ft. 40-ft. One night from the objects hit points.
Create Light 20-ft. 40-ft. 10 min. Hit Points
1
A candle does not provide bright illumination, only shadowy An objects hit point total depends on what it is made of and
illumination. how big it is. When an objects hit points reach 0, it is ruined.
Very large objects, such as wagons or ships, may have separate
hit point totals for different sections or locations.
158
Substance Damage Reduction and Hit Points Object Damage Reduction and Hit Points
Substance DR Hit Points Hit Break
Papyrus or cloth 0 2/inch of thickness Object DR Points DC

Rope 0 2/inch of thickness Hempen Rope (1 inch diam.) 0 2 23

Pottery 1 1/inch of thickness Simple wooden door 5 10 13

adventuring
Ice 0 3/inch of thickness Small chest 5 1 17

Leather or hide 2 5/inch of thickness Good wooden door 5 15 18

Wood 5 10/inch of thickness Treasure chest 5 15 23

Stone 8 15/inch of thickness Strong wooden door 5 20 23

Bronze 9 25/inch of thickness Masonry wall (1-ft. thick) 8 90 35

Iron or steel 10 30/inch of thickness Hewn stone (3-ft. thick) 8 540 50

Chain 10 5 26
Energy Attacks: Acid attacks deal damage to most Manacles 10 10 26
objects just as they do to creatures; roll damage and
apply it normally after a successful hit. Fire attacks Masterwork manacles 10 10 28
deal half damage to most objects; divide the damage Iron door (2 in. thick) 10 60 28
dealt by 2 before applying the damage reduction.
Cold attacks deal one-quarter damage to most destroyed. Damaged (but not destroyed) objects can
objects; divide the damage dealt by 4 before applying be repaired with the Craft skill.
the damage reduction.
Ranged Weapon Damage: Objects take half damage Saving Throws
from ranged weapons. Divide the damage dealt by 2 Unattended items never make saving throws. They are
before applying the objects damage reduction. considered to have failed their saving throws, so they always
Ineffective Weapons: Certain weapons just cannot are affected by spells. An item attended by a character
effectively deal damage to certain objects. (being grasped, touched or worn) makes saving throws as the
Immunities: Objects are immune to non-lethal character, that is, using the characters saving throw bonus.
damage and to critical hits.
Vulnerability to Certain Attacks: Certain attacks are Breaking Items
especially successful against some objects. In such When a character tries to break something with sudden
cases, attacks deal double their normal damage and force rather than by dealing damage, use a Strength check
may ignore the objects hardness. (rather than an attack roll and damage roll) to see whether he
Damaged Objects: A damaged object, other than succeeds. The DC depends more on the construction of the
armour and shields, remains fully functional until the item than on the material. If an item has lost half or more of
items hit points are reduced to 0, at which point it is its hit points, the DC to break it drops by 2.

Larger and smaller creatures get size bonuses and size penalties
on Strength checks to break open doors as follows: Fine 16,
Diminutive 12, Tiny 8, Small 4, Large +4, Huge +8,
Gargantuan +12, Colossal +16.

DCs to Break or Burst Items

Strength Check to: DC
Break down simple door 13
Break down good door 18
Break down strong door 23
Burst rope bonds 23
Bend iron bars 24
Break down barred door 25
Burst chain bonds 26
Break down iron door 28

159

Magic and
Miracles
magic and miracles
This section deals with the use of magical skills to achieve
spectacular ends. The working of magic is exclusive to mythic
styles of campaign, as it involves wonders that are the stuff
of legend, such as staves turning to serpents or men being
transformed into pigs.
There are three skills associated with working magic. These
are Witchcraft, the province of Greek women and occasionally
men; Prayer, common to priests of all kinds; and Hekau,
the ancient Egyptian practice of shaping the astral currents.
Witchcraft specialises in changing things (such as the
perceptions or the forms of other people), invoking spirits and
making magical unguents and potions. Prayer specialises in
blessings, invoking the wrath or benison of a given deity and
fortifying allies. Hekau specialises in making magical objects,
in altering the state of material things and in creating undead
creatures.
Characters using the Witchcraft and Hekau skills, as well as
characters using the Prayer skill in conjunction with the Work
Miracle class feature, can all work magical effects. When
produced by Witchcraft or Hekau, these are called spells; when
delivered as an answer to prayer, these are called miracles.
The magical skills are used to achieve effects, such as induce
fear or create matter. Each effect has a DC, which your skill
check must equal or exceed in order for the effect to happen.
Various influences can alter the DC, such as expanding the
effect of the spell to include more than one creature.
praying and
casting
Praying for a miracle and casting a spell are really very much
alike, in terms of what the petitioner or caster actually does.
The person producing the magical effect takes a standard
action to speak words and sometimes to make gestures, after
which the effect either does or does not happen, depending on
the result of the skill check.
Ordinarily, the Prayer, Witchcraft or Hekau skill check is the
only check that needs to be made. The target of the spell may
make a saving throw if the spell allows for it. Some effects,
however, do not automatically reach their targets. They need
to be combined with a successful attack in order to affect the
target. There are three kinds of magical effect that require
an attack in order to be delivered to the target, namely touch
effects, ray effects and gaze effects.
Touch Effects: A spell or miracle that is delivered by touch,
such as hand of pestilence, needs the caster to make a successful
160
melee attack with an open hand against the target. (Casters
count as armed when trying to deliver a touch effect, so they
do not provoke attacks of opportunity.) Armour and shields
have no power to block such spells, so the only way to oppose
the melee attack is with Active Defence. If the melee attack is
unsuccessful, the spell is lost.
Ray Effects: These effects, such as spitting cobra, produce a
ray that must hit the target in order for the magic to affect
him. Once the spell is cast or the miracle granted, the caster
must make a ranged attack roll to strike the target with the
ray. As with touch effects, armour and shields do not protect a
target from a spell. If the ray misses, then the spell is lost.
Gaze Effects: These effects, which include such well-known
effects as the evil eye, are delivered with eye contact. A gaze
attack always succeeds if the target is within range, has his eyes
open and can see the caster. A person who expects that he
will become the target of a gaze attack can take precautions
to avoid it. He may avert his eyes when interacting with or
fighting the caster. This allows any gaze attack directed at him
a 50% chance of missing, thus wasting the spell. However,
if you avert your gaze from an opponent, they benefit from
concealment against your attacks, giving all of your attacks a
50% miss chance; see the Combat chapter.
Sustaining And Extending
Spells
Some miracles and spells have a set duration. They last for
a set amount of time, after which they expire and the effect
ceases. Other spells can be sustained, meaning that you
continue to expend energy in order to keep the spells effect
running or extended, meaning that you invest more energy
in the spell when it is cast so that it will last for a longer time.
Spells that can be extended cannot be sustained and vice versa.
You decide to sustain a spell with each successive round and
may choose not to, thus ending the spell; you decide to extend
a spell in the moment of casting, not afterwards and may not
recoup hit points invested in the casting.
Sustaining Spells: Some spells (but not miracles) can be
sustained past the first round of effect. By investing further
hit points in the spell, you can continue to benefit from its
effects. For example, you can cast a silvertongue spell in secret
(spending two hit points), sustain it for long enough to talk
your way into a city by spending one point per minute, then
allow the spell to expire. You can only sustain a total number
of spells at once equal to your experience level divided by 3,
rounded down.
Extending Spells: Some spells (but not miracles) can be cast
so as to have a longer lasting effect than usual. For example,
the cloud mind spell costs 2 hit points to cast normally and
lasts for 3 rounds. It has a cost to extend of one hit point per
round, so you can cast a cloud mind spell powered with 5 hit
points that would last for three additional rounds.
Some spells can be extended in space, rather than time, with
the expenditure of more hit points. For example, the change
substance spell alters one cubic foot of material, changing it
into material of a different kind. By expending additional hit
points, you can influence more material.
First-Time Casting
There are no set limits as to which spells can be cast or which
miracles prayed for by a given character. You do not gain
new spells as you advance in level. The DC of some of the
most powerful spells places them out of the feasible reach of a
beginning character but there is no reason why they should not
attempt them if they had managed to garner enough bonuses
to their check. Witches in particular can achieve far more in
a group of three than they can on their own, attempting spells
that would be out of the reach of the individual members
acting alone.
So long as you have the necessary skill to produce a given
magical effect, then you can attempt to produce that effect.
However, you do not necessarily know from experience how to
go about it, so the first couple of times you attempt to produce
the effect are harder than those attempts you make once you
are familiar with the process.
All freshly created characters begin without having cast any
spells or prayed for any miracles before in their lives, except for
any that they mark down as known according to the rules of
character creation. Their knowledge of such things is entirely
technical and not yet practical. Although they know in their
minds that they could probably produce a given effect, they
are not fully confident until they have actually done so. Once
they are used to casting a given spell or praying for a given
miracle, they find it much easier.
Accordingly, the DC of each magical effect is raised by +4 on
the first time a given character ever attempts to produce it. If
he fails, the +4 increase is still in effect the next time he tries
it. If he succeeds, the DC is only raised by +2 on the second
occasion on which he attempts to produce the effect. Again, a
failed check does not lower the DC. If you manage to cast the
spell successfully a second time, then no further DC modifiers
magic and miracles
of this kind apply in future. To keep track of this, mark off
each effect that you successfully produce once with a single
stroke and then make that into an X on the second successful
casting. As you extend your reach further and attempt more
and more challenging effects, they will become easier.
A successfully cast spell is a successfully cast spell irrespective
of how much help you may have had. It does not matter if
you had other people assisting you or had to spend hours on
ritual preparations. So long as you were the caster and you
cast successfully, your familiarity with the spell increases.
Those who assisted you do not gain any additional familiarity;
however, they are not themselves subject to any DC increase
while aiding you.
For example, if a novice witch is attempting to cast silver
tongue for the first time ever, the DC of 10 is increased to
14. If another witch assists her, her aid another use of the
Witchcraft skill is made at the usual DC of 10. However, she
would gain no familiarity with silver tongue even if the first
witch cast the spell successfully. Witches sometimes practice
spells together, taking it in turns to be the chief caster, with the
others helping. In this way, they can increase their repertoire
of known spells.
Divine Points: Divine points can only be used on tasks that
are familiar to you. You may not use divine points to increase
the Prayer, Hekau or Witchcraft skill check made to cast a spell
or produce a miracle for the first or second time. Once you
have succeeded twice and the spell or miracle is known, then
you may increase the relevant skill check with Divine Points.
Intuitive Grasp: Characters with the Intuitive Grasp feat do
not suffer from these DC modifiers. They cast spells or pray
for miracles at the normal DC,
whether or not they have ever
done so before. Their ingenuity
allows them to compensate for
their lack of experience. All
spells and miracles count as
known to them. They may
also spend Divine Points on
spellcasting or praying for
miracles whether or not the
character has ever produced the
magical effect before.
The Cost of
Magic
Spells and miracles cannot be
thrown about willy-nilly. The
ability to work magic does
not mean that you have an
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 inexhaustible supply of it. Even the most accomplished
witches and magicians are limited to what they can achieve;
even the priests most beloved of their deities are not supplied
with miracles whenever they want them.
magic and miracles
Miracles: Miracles are worked at no personal cost to the
caster, but are harder to achieve the more of them you ask for
in a day; the DC of the Prayer check increases based on how
many miracles you have already been granted or have asked
for but have not received. Gods are not inclined to answer
repeated requests from their mortal petitioners.
Your first miracle of the day is always free. Every request for
a miracle after the first increases the DC of the Prayer check
necessary to achieve it by +2. So, your first prayer for a miracle
is made at no penalty, your second is made at +2 DC, your
third is made at a +4 DC and so on. The DC reverts back to
normal with the dawning of the sun, so a day is defined as the
period from one days dawn to the next.
The exception is for those who worship Hecate, Set or
Apophis; their days are defined as the dusk of one day to the
dusk of the next. For this reason, the priests and priestesses
of these deities are at their strongest just as the hours of night
begin.
As priests and priestesses advance in level, they are allowed an
increased number of free miracles per day before the DC of
the Prayer check starts to increase. This represents their deitys
increasing regard for them and willingness to intercede in the
mortal realms on their behalf.
Witchcraft and Hekau: Witchcraft and Hekau spells draw
energy directly from the body of the caster and cost you a
certain amount of hit points to cast. This loss of hit points
does not inflict wounds upon the caster but instead draws
vitality from them, leaving them physically weaker than
before. Both these skills have a method whereby you can
lessen the hit point cost for particular kinds of effect; see
Chapter 5, Feats, for details. Witches and Egyptian priests
also become able to ignore a portion of the hit point cost for
spells as they advance in level, so that they become able to cast
certain simple spells at will.
A witch (and only a witch) can use witches herbs to fuel her
spells instead of drawing from her own body. Even if another
character has skill ranks in Witchcraft, they do not have access
to this class feature and must draw upon their own hit points
for casting purposes. Details of how many hit points worth
of energy can be drawn from a single dose of herbs of each
kind may be found in the section on Herbs in the Equipment
chapter. If herbs are used in a casting and the skill check fails,
the herbs are still used up, as they are scattered and destroyed
in the course of the casting.
An Egyptian priest (and only an Egyptian priest) can use
energy stored in power amulets to fuel his spells instead of
drawing from his own body. Preparation of a power amulet
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is a consecration magical effect that is available to Hekau
wielders only. See the list of magical effects below for details.
Variable Cost: Some magical effects produced by Witchcraft
or Hekau allow the caster to invest a variable number of hit
points beyond a set minimum. This increased investment
amplifies the power or the scope of the spell. For example,
eye of smiting allows the caster to inflict 1d4 points of damage
per hit point invested in the spell with a minimum of 1, so if
you invested 10 of your own hit points, you would cause 10d4
points of damage with a successful gaze attack. If the skill
check to cast the spell fails, then the cost of the spell is deemed
to be that which the caster set. So, if you did invest 10 hit
points in an eye of smiting spell and your check failed, the cost
of the spell would still be 10 hit points, not 1.
Failing Your Skill Check: Failing the necessary skill check to
achieve the effect does not apply the full consequence of the
effect, only half of it. If you were praying for a miracle and
your Prayer check failed, then you only apply a +1 increase
to the DC of the next miracle you pray for that day, instead
of a +2 increase. Your deity is still mindful of the bother you
have caused him, even if it was not as severe as the bother that
would have resulted from granting you the miracle.
If you fail the skill check to produce a Witchcraft or Hekau
effect by less than 10, you incur a loss of half the cost of the
spell in hit points, rounded down, to a minimum of one.
Failed magic is still draining, though not as much so as if you
had channelled your own energy into the spell effect. If you
were using herbs or a power amulet to cast with, then the loss
is drawn from that source as far as is possible. For example,
if a failed check cost you seven hit points and you were using
witches herbs to help fuel the spell, the herbs would account
for five of those points and the remaining two would come
from you.
If you fail a Witchcraft or Hekau spell by 10 or more, then
you pay the full cost of the spell in hit points. This is what
dissuades younger, less experienced casters from attempting
the more spectacular magical effects.
If you lose a spell because you are distracted and fail your
Concentration check, then you proceed as if you had failed
the skill check. Failing the Concentration check by less than
10 causes a loss of half the spells cost, while failure by more
than 10 causes you to lose the full amount.
The Moon
The progress of the moon has a pronounced effect on the
effectiveness of the Witchcraft skill. Different types of magical
effect are easier to produce during certain stages of the moon
and harder to produce during others. For this reason, witches
congregate at those times of the moon when the currents are
in their favour, scheduling their workings to coincide with the
most beneficial lunar phase.
Full Moon: The brilliance of the full moon is the witches
high tide. The full moon is the time when the rational mind
is submerged and lunatics and beasts alike howl to the skies, a
time when madness reigns and clarity of thought is confused.
At this stage, the witch finds it easiest to impose her will on
others, changing the workings of their minds and deceiving
their senses. Witchcraft skill checks to work bewitchment
or seeming effects at the full of the moon are made at a +2
circumstance bonus, while curses and blastings are made at a
2 penalty.
Dark Moon: The time of the moons darkness is when the
most baneful powers of the witch come to the fore. (Some
would, of course, argue that a witch has nothing but baneful
powers but the witches shall have to have the final word on
that here.) The malefic lunar currents lend themselves to
works of damnation and death. Witches attempting curses
and blastings during this phase of the moon do so with a +2
circumstance bonus to their check, while attempts to work
bewitchments or seemings are made at a 2 penalty.
Waxing Moon: The time of the moons growth is the time
to work magics of increase and construction; as the symbol of
Hecates might grows in the night sky, so too do the magical
efforts of her witch followers grow and prosper. Consecration
and making effects are best attempted during the time of the
waxing moon, as they benefit from a +2 circumstance bonus
to the Witchcraft skill check, while exorcism and unmaking
effects suffer a 2 penalty in this time of increase.
Waning Moon: Even as the light of the moon diminishes, the
witches draw upon her radiance to work effects that have to do
with diminution and decay. In witchcraft, nothing is useless
and everything has its place. The currents of slow reduction
given off by the moon in her waning phase can be conducted
and channelled by the witch, fuelling appropriate effects and
making it easier to achieve them. Exorcism and unmaking
effects are made at a +2 circumstance bonus to the Witchcraft
skill check, while consecration and making effects are made at
a 2 penalty.
Other Mitigating Factors
The following section details other influences on the
production of magical effects.
Temples and Images: It is easier to open a channel to the
Gods when you are already in their symbolic presence. Both
temples and images of the deities, once ritually consecrated,
contain their sacred essence and, as such, can be used to make
a Prayer check less challenging. In fact, the main purpose
behind consecrating a permanent temple is to enable easier
access to the deity for the purpose of granting miracles. If
a Prayer check is made to petition a deity to grant a given
miracle while the petitioner is in the presence of a consecrated
image of the deity, the check is made at a +1 circumstance
bonus. If the image of the deity is in a consecrated temple, the
check is made at a +2 circumstance bonus.
A player may take small, consecrated images of his deity with
him, so that he can pray to them when he needs to. For this to
be acceptable to the deity, he must set the image up on an altar
of some sort, even if it is an impromptu one. What he cannot
do is to hold the image in his hand or carry it in a pouch while
magic and miracles
praying to it.
Impressive Prayer: This rule is optional but enhances
roleplaying a great deal. A player may, if desired, improvise
the actual prayer that his character uses to petition the deity
for the miracle in question. If the Games Master rules that the
prayer was exceptionally well phrased, passionately performed
or convincing, an additional circumstance bonus of +1 to +3
may be granted. If the prayer was substandard in any way,
such as being marred by hesitation, repetition or deviation
(or even by such a mundane matter as sneezing halfway
through it) then a penalty should be applied, from 1 to 3
depending on the extent of the gaffe. This rule applies only
to players, never to Non-Player Characters. For the purposes
of assessing a prayer, the player should be allowed up to 30
seconds to make his petition. Players who wish to use this rule
may not consult texts, use memorised material or otherwise
improve their performance with anything other than simple
improvisation.
For example, Ra-Heteru, the priest of Ra, finds himself
surrounded by angry barbarians who are about to tear his
golden ritual jewellery from him and do unspeakable things
with his defiled body. He concludes that a miracle would be
extremely useful at this point and decides to petition Ra to
grant him a miracle of blasting, specifically a solar flare effect.
The player playing Ra-Heteru, immersing himself in the part,
lifts up his voice and cries O radiant solar disk! Golden falcon
of the heavens, who prevaileth daily over the forces of darkness
and is not devoured! Light of the Pharaohs and protector of
the royal line! Let not thy servant fall into perdition; let not
mine eyes be blinded to Thy glory! Smite the heathen with thy
fire, that they may know Thee!
The Games Master winces slightly at this wordy outburst,
notes that it is more grovelling than specifics (Ra being a
God who numbers pride among his virtues, grovelling appeals
are not particularly welcomed by him) but observes that it
is very much in character and has a good Egyptian feel to
it. Ra-Heteru is awarded a +1 circumstance bonus to his
Prayer check because his players actual prayer was notably
good, though it contained some elements that are technically
incompatible with Ra.
Sacred Herbs: Some herbs can give bonuses to skill checks
made to produce magical effects. For example, visionary herbs
assist auguries when burned. For details, see the Herbs section
in the Equipment chapter.
Ritual Preparations: Most Prayer checks are made in the
moment, as a standard action. They do not require any special
preparations; the deity either accedes to the request or does
not. Lengthy rituals observed before praying for a miracle
have a greater chance of attracting the deitys attention.
163
 To benefit from ritual preparations, the person making the
prayer must spend at least one hour in preliminary meditation,
bathing, burning holy herbs (for which see the Equipment
chapter) and making sacrifices. A +1 circumstance bonus is
granted to the Prayer skill check for every hit die possessed by a
magic and miracles
sacrificed creature, to a maximum bonus of +5 from sacrificial
sources.
For ritual preparations to be effective, an altar must be erected
and a five foot square space before or around it kept clear of
all people other than those who are participating in the prayer
for the duration of the preparation. If anyone else enters the
area before the Prayer check is made, the ritual preparations
are not efficacious.
Creating Magical Items
Witchcraft and Hekau can be used to create items, such
as potions or protective seals. Such items are produced as
magical effects, albeit with a higher casting time than normal
and have their own effect listings, such as Medeas ointment.
Some such items require special ingredients, without which
the spell cannot be cast. When a caster prepares such an item,
he invests personal energy in it in the form of hit points, as
if he were casting a spell as normal. Hit points invested in
one-shot items, such as potions, recover at the normal rate,
although the item itself has a limited shelf life and must
be used within a certain time after of preparation. See the
individual effect description for details. It is usually possible
to invest additional hit points in the item at the time of casting
to make it remain potent for a longer period.
When a permanent item such as a power amulet is made,
fewer hit points need to be invested in it but these hit points
may not be recovered until the item is destroyed. If you create
a magical talisman and then lose it, you cannot regain the
hit points invested unless it is discovered and broken. The
talisman remains potent for whoever wears it.
Prayer cannot be used to create magical items. There is,
however, a magical effect that may only be obtained by prayer,
namely the request of one of a deitys items. These are always
far more potent than anything a mortal could create.
It is permissible for a character to petition his deity to lend
them a given divine item for a short time; for example, if
you were a worshipper of Ares, you could ask for the loan of
his spear. This effect may be found in the listing of magical
effects under the title of request item. Only the Greek deities
have a history of lending their equipment to mortals. If the
Egyptian deities ever did something similar, then the legends
do not record it. Divine items are much more powerful than
those unguents and talismans that are created by Hekau and
Witchcraft but they never remain in the mortal realms for
long. The deities always retrieve them once they have served
their purpose. If the item is treated in a disrespectful or
inappropriate manner, such as using the Aegis of Zeus to eat
your dinner off, it will return of its own accord whether you
have finished with it or not.
164
magical effects
Magic is not a straightforward business whereby you can
simply say the words, make the gestures and have the effect
happen automatically. Witchcraft requires focussed will and
imaginative power, Hekau has demanding syllables to recall
and gestures to make and you need to be very careful how you
ask a deity for a miracle with Prayer, as an offhand or clumsy
request will be ignored. To take account of this, each magical
effect has a DC; representing the number your skill check must
equal or exceed in order to produce the effect successfully.
Some effects are easier to achieve with one type of magic than
another, meaning that the effect has a different DC depending
on which skill you use. For example, transforming men into
pigs is much easier with the Witchcraft skill than with the
Prayer skill, while crafting a magic charm amulet is much
easier with the Hekau skill than with Witchcraft. Some effects
may only be achieved by one or two of the skills.
Magical effects also have a hit point cost, representing the
number of hit points the caster uses up to produce the effect if
he is using Witchcraft or Hekau. Effects produced with Prayer
never use the hit point cost.
Magical effects are divided into the following categories:
bewitchments, transformations, manifestations, invocations,
curses, exorcisms, healings, blastings, makings, unmakings,
consecrations, seemings and manipulations. They are
explained in the section below. There is one effect that does
not fit into any category, namely the loose the ka / project the
spirit effect. This is the incantation that allows a spellcaster to
liberate his spirit and send it forth to observe others, speak to
the Gods or even to work magic from the world beyond.
Bewitchments: These effects involve overpowering the will of
another and influencing their actions. Low DC bewitchments
include making suggestions seem more plausible, making
someone forget something that has happened to them or
clouding a persons mind so that they are oblivious to what is
happening to them. Some effects can cause animals to act in
ways contrary to their nature, such as making a mount refuse
to move or calming a savage dog.
Blastings: These effects cause immediate harm to the target.
Magical energies disrupt the targets body, causing him to
suffer a crippling effect of varying severity. Low DC blastings
stun the target by overcoming his nervous system. Medium
DC blastings disrupt the targets body in more catastrophic
ways, such as by striking a person dumb. High DC blastings
can destroy a person completely, such as by scalding them with
magical burns all over their body or striking them dead on the
spot.
Consecrations: These effects imbue an inanimate, prepared
object with magical energy. Consecrations are used to invest
an area or a thing with magical power, turning the area into a
magical zone or the thing into a magical item.
Curses: These effects are similar to blastings but exert their
effects over time, rather than instantaneously. A blasting
happens in the moment and has no further effect (though the
results of the damage may create lasting results) while a curse
lingers upon the target until the conditions of its removal are
fulfilled, the original caster may lift the or another caster may
break it.
Exorcisms: Exorcism effects dispel and break the spells of
other casters. They are also used to drive away such spirits or
spirit-driven creatures as are not wanted in an area. Anyone
can make a Prayer check to ward off or even attempt to dispel
a single undead creature, but an exorcism effect can banish
multiple creatures at once, cutting the ties that allow them to
return to the material world.
Healings: Healings use the power of magic or the Gods to
heal the bodies of the afflicted. Healing magic is extremely
difficult to use on wounds and very rarely results in a complete
cure. Low DC healing effects can soothe ordinary wounds
and help them to heal more quickly. Medium DC effects can
assist recovery from disease or make the blind see again. High
DC effects can even close grievous wounds.
Invocations: Invocation calls a spiritual force into the casters
presence. It is the type of effect used to call down the blessing
of a deity upon a character, to call upon a deitys wrath to
smite an enemy or to conjure the spirits to visible appearance,
including the spirits of the dead. Those who use dark magics
can invoke evil spirits; those who are especially competent
with them can invoke an evil spirit into a prepared vessel, such
as a composite mummy, thus creating an undead monster.
Invoking a spirit does not necessarily give the caster any degree
of control!
Makings: These effects call structured items into being from
raw elements. They do not supply the materials, but instead
arrange the materials to hand into a fashioned form, as if by
the hand of an invisible craftsman. Making effects can do
almost anything that a Craft skill can do, as if invisible demons
were carrying out the work.
Manifestations: A manifestation is the calling forth of
a material (in the broadest sense) thing or creature from
thin air. Manifestation effects are used to produce food
and water, conjure fire into existence or even produce gold.
Manifestations can also produce directed energy, such as a
shaft of light or a flying javelin.
Manipulations: These effects rearrange matter and energy
within the world. Manipulations move things around,
causing them to act in ways that they otherwise would not.
Simple manipulations can work such feats as opening and
closing doors without touching them, while more potent
manipulations can move mounds of earth from place to
place.
Seemings: Seemings create illusions, making things seem
other than they are. Seemings can veil the true nature of a
person, creature or thing, making them one of the more feared
kinds of magical effect in the ancient world; if a person can
magic and miracles
take on your semblance, then they can induce your friends
to betray your secrets or gull them into exposing themselves
to danger.
Transformations: These effects, very hard for any but the
witches to work, change the very nature of things. Instead of
being mere seeming, they transmute one thing into another.
Unmakings: Unmakings unravel the bonds that hold material
things together. The magic of unmaking undoes the craft that
was put into manufactured things, transforming them back
into their simple component parts. Unmaking magic can be
used to counter making effects or manifestation effects, as it
finds the magical structure that keeps the spell running and
dismantles it.
Saving Throws Against
Magical Effects
Characters who are targeted by magic or who are in the area of
effect are often entitled to a saving throw to avoid or diminish
the effect. The saving throw DC is equal to 10 plus the effects
save modifier plus the appropriate ability score modifier of the
caster. Hekau effects use the casters Intelligence ability score
modifier, Prayer effects use his Wisdom ability score modifier
and Witchcraft effects use the casters Charisma ability score
modifier.
An exceptionally good skill check result can make it harder
to resist the effects of a spell. For every five whole points by
which the skill check result exceeds the DC, the saving throw
modifier of the spell is increased by +1. This means that
experienced casters can produce simple magical effects with
more power than less experienced casters can.
For example, the famous witch Medea is casting induce fear
upon the warrior Timocles. Medea has 20 ranks in Witchcraft
and a Charisma ability score modifier of +4. Induce fear is
a DC 15 magical effect when cast with Witchcraft. Medea
rolls a 14, for a total Witchcraft skill check result of 38.
Ordinarily, the Will saving throw DC for Timocles would be
16, calculated as 10 plus the spells save modifier of +2 plus
Medeas Charisma ability score modifier of +4. However,
because the skill check result was 23 points in excess of the
spells DC, the spells save modifier is increased by +4, so the
saving throw DC is 20.
Breaking Witchcraft Spells
It is a curious feature of Witchcraft spells that a person who is
the victim of one can break the effect by shedding the blood of
the witch with an iron weapon. Even an iron nail is enough.
This is often difficult in practice, as you do not necessarily
know who the witch who has affected you is. This method
even works if the witch has not affected you directly but
165
 through a potion. For example, someone who had drunk a
love potion could break the effect by scratching the witch who
brewed it with an iron blade.
magic and miracles
group casting
Multiple spellcasters or miracle workers may work together to
produce a single powerful effect. Each type of group casting
varies in efficiency depending on the skill in use. The rule
governing all cases is that no amount of assistance can increase
the main casters effective skill ranks beyond double their
current skill level. For example, even if two other witches
assist a first-level witch with 3 skill ranks in Witchcraft, she
cannot increase the bonus derived from assistance to more
than +3, as she has only 3 ranks in the skill. For this reason,
witches defer to the most experienced member of the group
to lead the rite.
Witchcraft: Witches like to work in groups of three. A single
person within 10 feet of a caster may use the Aid Another
application of the Witchcraft skill to add a +2 circumstance
bonus to any one Witchcraft skill check made by the caster; if
a second person does the same, she provides a +4 circumstance
bonus, much more than is usually granted for the Aid
Another use of a skill. As with the general rule, the total
bonus granted cannot exceed the casters skill ranks. (Further
assistants provide no additional bonus.) This is difficult to
achieve in combat, as the aiding skill checks must occur in the
same round and come before the main Witchcraft check in
sequence. The additional casters may also contribute their hit
points towards the amount required to work the effect.
Prayer: Prayer can include thousands, as when a high priest
directs huge crowds of the faithful to petition a deity to grant
their request. Vast crowds do not necessarily improve the
chance of a Prayer check to succeed when petitioning for a
miracle. Deities are so inclined that they may favour the prayer
of a single child over that of a temple crowded to capacity with
frantic devotees. For this reason, large numbers of worshippers
do not affect the chance of a Prayer check to succeed at all; the
petitioner makes the check without any additional modifiers.
If the check does succeed, the effective caster level of the spell
is increased by 1 for every 500 additional worshippers praying
for the same result, to a maximum effective level increase of
10. If you make a Prayer check as a group effort, you may not
have made any other prayers for a miracle that day, nor may
you make any further Prayer checks to be granted miracles for
the remainder of the day. Any given temple may only host one
collective Prayer effort per week.
Collective Prayer checks made to a deity while in that deitys
temple are made at a +2 circumstance bonus, as usual, since
the deities are more inclined to answer those who petition
them within their holy house. A collective Prayer check (but
not one made by a single petitioner) that is made on a deitys
festival day while in the course of that deitys festival is made at
a further +2 circumstance bonus.
166
Hekau: The group rites of Hekau require specific numbers
and demanding ritual preparations. Each person engaged in
a Hekau rite, to a maximum of 10, adds a +1 circumstance
bonus to the casters skill check. However, each additional
person also adds 30 minutes to the casting time of the spell.
During all of that time, the casters must be engaged in intense
concentration. If anything happens to distract even one of the
casters and he fails his Concentration skill check (see Chapter
4, Skills) then the whole Hekau spell is wasted and must be
begun again.
The Book of the Dead
This is a manuscript written in Egyptian hieroglyphics,
containing various practical secrets of Hekau magic. The title
is somewhat misleading, as the book is not in fact about the
dead, nor is it a grimoire of necromancy as it is sometimes
believed to be. The book deals with the means whereby the
various different souls of a person may be freed from the body
and allowed to travel on other realms, including returning to
the material plane in insubstantial form. It is essentially a
combination of the rituals and incantations necessary to travel
out of the body in the first place and an atlas of the realms that
the discarnate traveller is likely to encounter.
Living magicians use it all the time, as a large part of the
advanced techniques of Hekau involves separating the souls
from the still living body and travelling forth. (This is known
as Coming Forth By Day in the Egyptian phraseology.) The
Book of the Dead is placed in tombs, not because it is solely
for the use of the dead, but so that the dead person may make
use of it to travel out of his mummified corpse and find his
way around in the afterlife.
A caster who does not have access to a copy of the Book of the
Dead is at a serious disadvantage when casting the loose the ka
spell, as he does not have the necessary (and complicated) ritual
incantations to hand and must rely on memory. His Hekau
skill check is made at a 4 penalty under these conditions.
The Book of Thoth
This is a legendary text whose authorship is credited to the
Egyptian God of magic himself, said to contain the most
potent secrets of the way of Hekau. Thoth of course has the
original Book, which counts as a divine item (see the section
on Divine Items later in this chapter) but those to whom the
book has been lent have been allowed to make copies of some
of the pages. No two manifest copies of the Book are alike,
leading to speculation that the original Book is metamorphic,
too richly magical to be bound up in one single form.
A copy of the Book of Thoth in material form allows a Hekau
caster to produce one type of effect at a +4 circumstance
bonus to his Hekau skill check. One copy of the Book
contains blasting magic, another invocation magic and so on.
However, casting from the Book takes longer than ordinary
casting, as one has to refer to the text instead of uttering
invocations from memory. Any spell cast from the Book is
cast as a full-round action instead of a standard action and
provokes attacks of opportunity as usual. If the caster cannot
see the Book to read from it, he cannot cast from it. As
explained in the Divine Items section, the original Book of
Thoth contains all the various magical effects, a true boon for
any Hekau caster fortunate enough to have been gifted with it
by the Ibis-Headed One.
magical effects list
Bewitchments
Bewitch Animal
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 25, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: 4
Cost To Sustain: 4/hour
Base Duration: 1 hour
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One animal
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +4
You can bewitch an animal and direct it with simple
commands such as Attack, Run and Fetch. Suicidal or self- generally force the subject to perform as you desire, within the
destructive commands (including an order to attack a creature
two or more size categories larger than the bewitched animal)
are simply ignored.
Bewitch animal establishes a mental link between you and
the subject creature. The animal can be directed by silent
mental command as long as it remains in range. You need
not see the creature to control it. You do not receive direct
sensory input from the creature, but you know what it is
experiencing. Because you are directing the animal with
your own intelligence, it may be able to undertake actions
normally beyond its own comprehension. You need not
concentrate exclusively on controlling the creature unless you
are trying to direct it to do something it normally couldnt do.
Changing your instructions or giving a bewitched creature a
new command is the equivalent of redirecting a spell, so it is
a move action.
A witch (and only a witch) can cast a version of this spell
that causes an animal to refuse (or simply cease) to perform
one of its elementary useful functions while otherwise acting
normally. This version of the spell costs 8 hit points to cast and
its effects are permanent. For example, the witch can cause a
horse to refuse to gallop or jump, a dog to refuse to bark, a cow
to cease giving milk or a chicken to cease laying eggs.
Cloud Mind
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 2
Cost To Extend: 1/round
Base Duration: 3 rounds
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +2
This spell makes the targets thoughts foggy and his senses
magic and miracles
confused, as if he was drunk. The target of a cloud mind spell
suffers a 4 penalty to all Spot and Listen checks and a 2
penalty to all attack rolls, Active Defence checks and Shield
Defence checks.
Dominate Will
DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 30, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: 8
Cost To Sustain: 3/day
Base Duration: 1 day
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +7
You can control the actions of any human through a telepathic
link that you establish with the subjects mind.
If you and the subject have a common language, you can
limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, you can
communicate only basic commands, such as Come here, Go
there, Fight and Stand still. You know what the subject is
experiencing, but you do not receive direct sensory input from
it, nor can it communicate with you telepathically.
Once you have given a dominated creature a command,
it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the
exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for
day-to-day survival such as sleeping, eating and so forth. This
limited range of activity attracts suspicion, so a Sense Motive
check against DC 15 (rather than DC 25) can determine that
the subjects behaviour is being influenced by a bewitchment
effect. See the Sense Motive skill description for this.
Changing your instructions or giving a dominated creature a
new command is the equivalent of redirecting a spell, so it is a
move action. By concentrating fully on the spell (a standard
action), you can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the
mind of the subject, though it still cannot communicate with
you. You cannot actually see through the subjects eyes, so it
is not as good as being there yourself, but you still get a good
idea of what is going on.
Subjects resist this control and any subject forced to take
actions against its nature receives a new saving throw with a
+2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried
out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be
exercised is unlimited. If you do not spend at least 1 round
concentrating on the spell each day, the subject receives a
new saving throw to throw off the domination. Failure to
invest the required hit points in sustaining the spell breaks the
control.
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 Enchant
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 3
Cost To Sustain: 3/hour
magic and miracles
Base Duration: 1 hour
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +2
This charm makes a person regard you as his trusted friend
and ally; treat the targets attitude as friendly. If the person is
currently being threatened or attacked by you or your allies,
however, he receives a +5 bonus on its saving throw.
The spell does not enable you to control the enchanted person
as if he were an automaton, but it perceives your words and
actions in the most favourable way. You can try to give the
subject orders, but you must win an opposed Charisma check
to convince him to do anything he would not ordinarily
do. (Retries are not allowed.) An affected person never
obeys suicidal or obviously harmful orders, but he might be
convinced that something very dangerous is worth doing.
Any act by you or your apparent allies that threatens the
enchanted person breaks the spell. You must speak the persons
language to communicate your commands or else be good at
pantomiming.
Enslave
DC: Witchcraft 35, Hekau 40
Cost To Cast: 25
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 full-round action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One person
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +8
This spell shatters the will of the target, making him into
your slave. He no longer has any desire other than to obey
your commands. If you order him to kill his friends, he will
attempt to do so. If you instruct him to leap from a high
tower, he will do that, too. You do not need to expend hit
points to sustain the effect; once it is successfully cast and
the target fails his saving throw, then it is permanent. Only
an exorcise person effect or the death of the caster can lift the
enslave effect. The condition of an enslaved person is obvious.
His glassy-eyed stare and drooping jaw clearly reveal that he is
under the domination of another.
You have to give an enslaved person verbal commands. They
are not directed telepathically, unlike a dominate will spell.
You can, of course, cast dominate will upon an enslaved person
if you wish to control him like a puppet. If this is done, then
the person will carry out self-destructive commands.
Subtle Enslavement: You may attempt a subtler breaking of the
targets will. This version of the spell is made at +5 DC and
may only be attempted with Witchcraft. A target under
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subtle enslavement does not have the obvious signs of thralldom
that the victim of ordinary enslavement does. A Sense Motive
skill check at a DC of 25 is necessary to discern any signs of
bewitchment.
Eye of Alluring (Eye Spell)
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 20, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 3
Base Duration: 1 hour
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Eye contact
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +3
This spell allows you to induce desire in another. They
feel a powerful attraction towards you and strongly wish to
consummate it. If the creature is currently being threatened or
attacked by you or your allies, however, it receives a +5 bonus
on its saving throw. If the spell is used to influence a creature
that would not ordinarily find you desirable (such as a person
of conventional tastes being influenced by a person of the
same gender) then it receives a +5 bonus on its saving throw.
Although this spell induces desire in another, it does not make
the other well intentioned towards you at all. A person who
already had violent thoughts towards you has their magically
induced desire for you added to their current mood; the desire
does not replace the violence. You cannot control anothers
actions with this spell, though you can act in such a way as
to direct them, based on your knowledge of their desire. For
example, you can suggest that they follow you down a dark
street, lure them away from their companions or (if they are
not violent) promise to grant them their wish so long as they
open the door and let you in.
Eye Of Terror (Eye Spell)
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 3
Base Duration: 1 minute
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Eye contact
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +5
This spell strikes terror into the victim. The caster delivers the
spell as a gaze attack. If the target fails his saving throw, he is
panicked. A panicked creature drops whatever it is holding
and flees as fast as it can go away from the source of the fear,
avoiding obstacles in the way. It can take no other actions and
suffers a 2 penalty on saving throws, skill checks and ability
score checks. If a panicked creature is cornered, it cowers and
will use the total defence option if forced to fight.
If the victim successfully makes his saving throw, he suffers no
ill effects.
 Forgetfulness Silver Tongue
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 20, Prayer 25 DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 4 per hour forgotten Cost To Cast: 2
Base Duration: Permanent Cost To Sustain: 1/minute

magic and miracles

Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +3
By means of this spell, you may erase the memory of the last
hour from the targets mind. Try as they might, they cannot
remember what happened. By spending more hit points (if
you are a Witchcraft or Hekau user) you can extend the spells
effect further back, at the cost of four hit points per hour
obliterated.
Extended Forgetfulness: This version of the spell is made at a +5
DC, costs six hit points to cast and is only available to those
casting with Witchcraft. You may erase the memory of an
hour of the targets life that took place longer ago. As with the
regular version of the spell, you can extend the effect to cover
more than one hour at a cost of six hit points per additional
hour erased. You must know that an event happened in order
to erase it; you cannot erase events that you do not know the
target lived through.
Induce Fear
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 3
Base Duration: 1d6 rounds
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One or more persons
Saving Throw: Will partial
Save DC Modifier: +3
This spell strikes panic into the hearts of one or more
creatures. By using the spell as described above you may target
a single creature. The caster may broaden the spells effect to
include other creatures but these must be within close range
(25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels) of the initial target. Each additional
creature included adds +2 to the DC of the spell and 3 to the
casting cost.
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: You
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
This spell lends honey to your words and eloquence to your
phrases. You become persuasive, articulate and convincing.
The lies you tell become magically plausible.
The spell lends a +5 enhancement bonus to all Bluff checks
you make while the spell is sustained. The target may oppose
your Bluff checks with Sense Motive checks as usual. If their
check beats yours by more than 5, they detect the magic you
are using as well as the lie.
Slumber
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 10, Prayer 10
Cost To Cast: 2
Cost To Extend: 1/round
Base Duration: 3 rounds
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: 2d4 Hit Dice of creatures
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +1
A slumber spell causes a magical sleep to fall upon 2d4 Hit
Dice or levels of creatures. Creatures with the fewest HD are
affected first. Among creatures with equal HD, those who are
closest to the spells point of origin are affected first. Hit Dice
that are not sufficient to affect a creature are wasted.
Sleeping creatures are helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens
an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a
creature is a standard action, an application of the aid another
action.
Slumber does not target unconscious creatures, spiritual
creatures or undead creatures.

If the target fails his saving throw, he is panicked. A panicked

creature drops whatever it is holding and flees as fast as it can
Blastings
go away from the source of the fear, avoiding obstacles in the Concussion
way. It can take no other actions and suffers a 2 penalty DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20
on saving throws, skill checks and ability score checks. If a Cost To Cast: Varies
panicked creature is cornered, it cowers and will use the total Base Duration: Instantaneous
defence option if forced to fight. Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
If the victim successfully makes his saving throw, he is shaken Area of Effect: Region 10-ft. across plus 5-ft./level
for one round. A shaken character suffers a 2 penalty on Saving Throw: Fortitude half
attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks and ability score Save DC Modifier: +3
checks. This effect produces a rippling blast of force that stuns living
targets in an area. For every two hit points that the caster
invests, the spell inflicts 1d6 points of non-lethal damage. It
has no effect upon structures, nor does it effect spiritual or

169
 undead creatures. Affected creatures in the region may make a Smite
Fortitude saving throw to suffer half damage. DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 5
Drain Life Base Duration: Instantaneous
magic and miracles

DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20 Casting Time: One standard action

Cost To Cast: 4, only used if spell or touch attack fails Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Duration: Instantaneous Area of Effect: Region 10-ft. across plus 5-ft./level
Casting Time: One standard action Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Range: Touch Save DC Modifier: +3
Target: One person This spell smites opponents in an area with magical damage.
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates The base damage of the spell is 3d4 points, plus 1d4 per 2
Save DC Modifier: +4 additional hit points invested in the spell. This damage is not
The caster must successfully hit the target with a touch attack. recorded as wounds.
Only Active Defence can be used to ward this off, not Shield
Defence. If the attack is successful, the victim must make a Solar Flare
Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 casters level + casters DC: Hekau 30, Prayer 25
spellcasting ability score modifier). If the saving throw fails, Cost To Cast: 10
the caster inflicts 2d6 points of damage on the target (which Base Duration: Instantaneous
is not recorded as a wound) transferring the same number of Casting Time: One standard action
hit points to himself. A successful saving throw draws no hit Range: You
points from the target and instead draws 4 hit points from the Area of Effect: Region 30-ft. across plus 5-ft./level, centred
caster. This spell may be used while a character is venturing on caster
out of his body. In such cases, he must be manifest first. Saving Throw: Reflex half
Save DC Modifier: +6
Eye of Smiting (Eye spell) This effect produces a scorching blast of light and heat that
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20 inflicts 4d8 points of fire damage, recorded as wounds, on all
Cost To Cast: 1 creatures, save the caster, within the area of effect. A Reflex
Base Duration: Instantaneous saving throw is allowed for half damage. Those who fail their
Casting Time: One standard action saving throws are also blinded for 1d6 rounds.
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature Spitting Cobra
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates DC: Hekau 20
Save DC Modifier: +5 Cost To Cast: 7
Eye of smiting inflicts magical damage on a single target with Base Duration: Instantaneous
a gaze attack. For every hit point invested, the target suffers Casting Time: One standard action
1d4 damage, which is not recorded as wounds. You may only Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
invest as many total hit points in the spell as you have levels Effect: Poison stream (ray)
of experience. Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Save DC Modifier: +5
Flay This spell produces a stream of venom from the casters mouth,
DC: Witchcraft 35, Hekau 30 which he directs as a ray attack. If the ray attack strikes the
Cost To Cast: Varies target, they suffer 1d4 acid damage immediately. They must
Base Duration: Instantaneous also make a Fortitude saving throw or suffer the effect of a
Casting Time: One standard action virulent contact poison. The initial damage is 1d6 Dexterity
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level) and Constitution, the secondary damage 2d6 Dexterity and
Target: One creature Constitution.
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Save DC Modifier: +6 Strike Blind/Mute/Deaf
This spell flays the skin from the targets flesh in an agonising DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20, Prayer 20
process. Every hit point invested by the caster inflicts one hit Cost To Cast: 5
point upon the victim, to a maximum number of hit points Cost To Extend: 3 hit points/day (20 permanent)
equal to the casters level of experience. Unlike the usual Base Duration: One day
effects of magic, this damage is recorded as a wound and if Casting Time: One standard action
the damage exceeds the targets grievous wound threshold, the Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
wound is grievous. For every three points of damage suffered, Target: One person
the victim also suffers one point of Charisma ability score Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
damage. Save DC Modifier: +4

170
 magic and miracles
This effect renders a target blind, mute or deaf. Blind targets Consecrate Image/Symbol
fight opponents as if they had total concealment. Mute targets DC: Prayer 15
cannot cast Hekau spells or speak, nor can they pray aloud. Base Duration: Permanent
Deaf targets automatically fail all Listen checks. Casting Time: Three hours plus three hours per size category
of image above medium
The effect can be extended by one day for every 3 additional Range: Touch
hit points invested at casting and made permanent with an Area Of Effect: One image
additional investment of 20 hit points. The caster can remove Saving Throw: None
these effects at will. Save DC Modifier: +3
This effect consecrates an image or symbol of the deity, so that
Consecrations it can be prayed to. Consecrated symbols may also be used in
attempts to dispel spiritual or undead creatures. The image or
Consecrate Area symbol must be three-dimensional (not just a drawing) and
DC: Prayer 20 produced with an appropriate Craft skill check.
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: Eight hours Consecrating an image or a symbol requires sacred anointing
Range: Touch oil worth 50 silver drachmas.
Area Of Effect: One building or region 60 feet in diameter
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +5 Create Greater Power Amulet
This effect consecrates a region or a building to the worship (Item Creation)
of a given deity, so that it then counts as that deitys sacred DC: Hekau 30
ground. For a priest to produce this effect it must be the Cost To Cast: 10 permanent
one and only miracle granted to him that day. He cannot Potency: See below
produce it if he has already petitioned for miracles, nor may Effect Duration: One day/level
he receive any further miracles that day after the consecration Preparation Time: Three hours
has taken place. Consecrating an area requires the presence Effect: One amulet that stores 20 hit points of casting power
of a consecrated image of the deity. If the image is removed, Effect Saving Throw: None
the area is no longer consecrated, though replacing the image Save DC Modifier: +9
reactivates the consecration. This allows the caster to produce a more powerful version of
the basic amulet, storing 20 points of casting energy instead of
Area consecrations require the consumption of sacred oils, 10. The advantage of this is that more can be drawn from a
incenses and libations worth 400 silver drachmas. single amulet, thus fuelling more potent spells.

171
 In order to create a greater power amulet, the caster must Effect: One dose of love potion
possess a material basis for it. This must be made from Effect Saving Throw: Will negates
precious metals and worth at least 500 silver drachmas. Save DC Modifier: +5
This spell creates a single dose of love potion. When drunk,
Create Greek Fire (Item Creation) the victim must make a Will saving throw as if he were saving
magic and miracles

DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20 against a spell cast by the witch who made the potion, using
Cost To Cast: 6 the above save DC modifier. Failure causes him to fall in love
Potency: One week with the first creature he sees, irrespective of whether this is a
Effect Duration: Instantaneous human, animal or even a mythical beast. This effect can be
Preparation Time: Three hours removed with a remove curse magical effect.
Effect: One flask of Greek Fire
Effect Saving Throw: See below Create Power Amulet (Item
Save DC Modifier: +3 Creation)
Greek fire is a viscous, sticky fluid that burns on exposure to DC: Hekau 20
air, used in sieges. You can throw a flask of Greek fire as a Cost To Cast: 5 permanent
splash weapon. Treat this attack as a ranged attack with a range Potency: See below
increment of 10 feet. Effect Duration: One day/level
Preparation Time: Three hours
A direct hit deals 1d6 points of fire damage. Every creature Effect: One amulet that stores 10 hit points of casting power
within 5 feet of the point where the flask hits takes 1 point of Effect Saving Throw: None
fire damage from the splash. On the round following a direct Save DC Modifier: +3
hit, the target takes an additional 1d6 points of damage. If Power amulets are the means whereby Hekau casters amplify
desired, the target can use a full-round action to attempt to their magical strength and become able to produce the most
extinguish the flames before taking this additional damage. devastating effects without draining themselves. A single
Extinguishing the flames requires a DC 15 Reflex save. Rolling power amulet costs the caster 5 permanent hit points to
on the ground provides the target a +2 bonus on the save. create. This hit points cannot be recovered unless the amulet
Leaping into a lake or magically extinguishing the flames, such is destroyed. Even then, they recover at the normal rate rather
as with a water jet from a missile spell, automatically smothers than returning all at once. A Hekau caster may use the energy
the fire. in his amulets to fuel his spellcasting. Only one amulet may
be drawn from in the casting of any one spell. Power amulets
Create Impotence Knot (Item naturally recover their energy at the rate of one hit point per
Creation) hour. You can draw upon amulets that you have prepared
DC: Witchcraft 20 yourself without difficulty. It is possible to draw upon the
Cost To Cast: 10 energy in an amulet that another person has prepared but you
Potency: One day/level must succeed at a DC 30 Hekau skill check, made as a free
Effect Duration: Permanent unless removed action, to do this.
Preparation Time: One hour
Effect: One impotence knot In order to create a power amulet, the caster must possess a
Effect Saving Throw: Fortitude negates material basis for it. This must be made from precious metals
Save DC Modifier: +8 and worth at least 30 silver drachmas.
This spell creates a knotted cord that must be hidden in the
intended victims house or in his clothing. The witch herself Magic Charm (Item Creation)
does not have to do this. As soon as the intended victim comes DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 15
within 5 feet of it, he must make a Will saving throw as if he Cost To Cast: 4 permanent
were saving against a spell cast by the witch who made the Potency: See below
cord, using the above save DC modifier. Failure causes him to Effect Duration: One hour/day
be stricken with impotence. This effect can be removed with Preparation Time: Three hours
a remove curse magical effect or by finding and destroying the Effect: Magical Amulet
knotted cord. Effect Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +3
Create Love Potion (Item This spell allows the caster to create a lucky talisman, amulet,
totem or charm that the recipient can then carry on their
Creation) person in order to benefit from the effect. Some of these
DC: Witchcraft 20
charms are listed below; the Games Master is free to create
Cost To Cast: 10
others along the same lines. A given charm must be made
Potency: One day/level
from worked stone or metal and be worn or carried on the
Effect Duration: Permanent unless removed
body.
Preparation Time: One hour

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CHARM OF EVASIVENESS: +1 insight bonus to Active Defence
checks.
CHARM OF PROTECTION: Natural armour with Coverage of +10
and DR of 2.
EYE OF HORUS (HEKAU ONLY): +2 divine bonus to all saving
are casting the spell. A curse with a condition upon it can still
be removed by means of the remove curse effect.
Blood Malady

magic and miracles

DC: Witchcraft 30, Hekau 35, Prayer 35
throws against curses and all eye spells. Cost To Cast: 20
SUN DISC: +1 divine bonus to saving throws against attacks Base Duration: Permanent until removed
from spiritual or undead creatures. Casting Time: 1 standard action
CHARM OF LOQUACITY: +1 insight bonus to Bluff, Debate and Range: Touch
Rhetoric skill checks. Target: One person
CHARM OF SERPENTS: +1 resistance bonus to saving throws Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
against poison. Save DC Modifier: +8
CADUCEUS CHARM: +1 resistance bonus to saving throws This curse causes the victims blood to turn thin and to flow
against contracting disease. from wounds more readily. It does not clot properly, making
slashing and piercing wounds much more dangerous. The
Medeas Ointment (Item Creation) victims grievous wound threshold is halved when suffering
DC: Witchcraft 35 piercing or slashing damage.
Cost To Cast: 20
Potency: One day Brittle Bones
Effect Duration: One hour DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 30, Prayer 30
Preparation Time: Six hours Cost To Cast: 15
Effect: Enough ointment for one person Base Duration: Permanent until removed
Effect Saving Throw: Fortitude negates (harmless) Casting Time: 1 standard action
Save DC Modifier: +9 Range: Touch
This was the spell used by the sorceress Medea to confer Target: One person
limited invulnerability upon the hero Jason. When applied, Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
it confers invulnerability upon the recipient. Every three Save DC Modifier: +7
additional hit points invested by the creator make the ointment The recipient of this curse has his bones turn chalky and
potent for an additional day. If the wearer of the ointment brittle. It becomes much easier to hurt him seriously by doing
should be immersed in water, the ointment is washed off and bludgeoning damage to his body. The victims grievous wound
the protection is lost. If the wearer is struck by a jet of fluid or threshold is halved when suffering bludgeoning damage.
a full pail of water (or similar), the DR of the magical natural
armour drops by 2d6 points.
Evil Eye (Eye spell)
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 20
Ritual Of Coming Forth By Night Cost To Cast: 8
(Special) Base Duration: Permanent until removed
This is an exceptionally dark ritual available only to Hekau Casting Time: 1 standard action
casters. Uniquely among spells, it can only be cast by a person Range: Eye contact
who has died and been mummified. The DC to cast the Target: One person
spell is 30 and the cost is 25 hit points. It takes eight hours Saving Throw: Will negates
to perform. If you have not been mummified competently Save DC Modifier: +4
enough to give your ka at least 25 hit points, then you cannot This is one of the best-known curses of all. The caster glares
cast this ritual. If you are successful, you force your ka back balefully at the intended victim, who is entitled to a saving
into your mummified corpse and arise as a defiled one. You throw to resist the effect. A failed saving throw leaves the
can never loose your spirit from your body again, but you will victim suffering from a 2 penalty to all his saving throws and
also live forever in your mummified shell unless the hand of skill checks. This spell is more commonly used as an aid to
another destroys you. See the Bestiary chapter for details on intimidation than as a weapon. The threat of the evil eye is
the defiled ones. used to win respect for the caster.

Curses Festering
Any curse effect except for the evil eye can have a condition DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 30, Prayer 30
of expiry set on it by the caster. This allows the victim of Cost To Cast: 15
the curse to remove it themselves by carrying out an action. Base Duration: Permanent until removed
For example, you could curse a person to suffer from midden Casting Time: 1 standard action
stench until they had given away all their money to those less Range: Touch
fortunate than themselves. For this application to work, you Target: One person
must tell the victim what the fulfilment conditions are as you Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Save DC Modifier: +6
173
 This severe curse prevents the victim from healing properly.
He does not benefit from the natural healing rate that other
characters enjoy. No matter how much rest he takes, his
wounds will not heal naturally. They may worsen but they
will not get any better. This spell does not affect his ability to
magic and miracles
The effect of this curse is to cause the victims muscles to waste
away. He suffers one point of Strength ability damage per day
until his Strength ability score is half what it originally was. If
the curse is removed, he regains his Strength at the usual rate
for healing ability score damage.

recover from disease.

Exorcisms
Hand of Pestilence Command Spirit
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 25, Prayer 20
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 8
Cost To Cast: 8
Base Duration: Until victim recovers
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Touch
Range: Touch
Target: One person
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +4
Save DC Modifier: +4
The subject contracts a disease selected from the table below,
This effect allows the caster to dominate a manifest spiritual
which strikes immediately (no incubation period). The DC
creature and give it a single instruction, which the spirit then
noted is for the subsequent saving throws; use this effects
fulfils as best it is able. The Hit Dice and Charisma ability
normal saving throw DC for the initial saving throw.
score modifier of the spirit are added to the DC of the effect.
Some typical instructions are:
Disease DC Damage Avaunt: The spirit leaves the place and does not return
Polio 16 1d4 Str willingly. If it is bound to the place, it returns in 24 hours.
Leprosy 12 1d3 Cha and 1d3 Con Only an exorcise spirit effect can prevent a spirit bound to a
place from returning.
Cholera 15 1d6 Str Observe and report: The spirit goes to spy upon a target for ten
Palsy 13 1d8 Dex minutes, returning to tell the caster what it has seen.
Tuberculosis 14 1d4 Con Divulge information: The spirit is compelled to answer a
question. This is a common application of this effect, as
spirits know a great deal. If it attempts to lie, the caster may
Midden Stench (as usual) make a Sense Motive check to detect this.
DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 30, Prayer 25 Enter prepared corpse: The spirit is forced into a prepared
Cost To Cast: 10 corpse, thus creating an undead creature. See the Death and
Base Duration: Permanent until removed Beyond chapter and the Bestiary for more information on
Casting Time: 1 standard action creating undead.
Range: Touch Bind to object/area: The spirit is no longer free-roaming and is
Target: One person bound to an object or an area. If it is wicked, it will plague any
Saving Throw: Will negates visitors. This command is commonly used to defend a region
Save DC Modifier: +6 by making it haunted.
The target of this spell is wreathed in a terrible stink, as if
he had been bathing in sewage. His effective Charisma is Exorcise Spirit
reduced by 8 when attempting to use Charisma-based skills DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20, Prayer 20
on people within 15 feet. Any creature with the Scent ability Cost To Cast: 10
that attempts to follow his trail has a +4 circumstance bonus Base Duration: Permanent
to their Survival skill check to do so, as the pungent odour is Casting Time: 10 minutes
easy to follow. Range: Touch
Area Of Effect: One building or region 60 feet in diameter,
Slow Withering one person or one object
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 25, Prayer 25 Saving Throw: None
Cost To Cast: 10 Save DC Modifier: +5
Base Duration: Permanent until removed There are three different means of applying this effect. It can
Casting Time: 1 standard action be applied to an area, a person or an object.
Range: Touch
Target: One person Area Exorcism: This effect allows the caster to attempt to
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates remove all recurrent manifestations of spirits or ghosts from a
Save DC Modifier: +6 building or a region. Spirits that were tied to the area, such as
the bind effect of a command spirit spell, are allowed to go free.

174
The Hit Dice of any spiritual creature that is bound to the
area is added to the DC of the effect. If more than one spirit
is bound to the area, then only the highest Hit Dice rating is
used. For example, if a formidable wicked spirit and a death-
lantern were bound to the area, then the DC would be 32.
Exorcise Person: This application of the effect is used to drive
out a wicked spirit or other spiritual creature that is inhabiting
a person. The Hit Dice plus the Charisma modifier of the
spirit in possession of the character is added to the DC of
the effect. If the occupying spirit is successfully driven out,
it is unable to take possession of its former host again for 24
hours. The spirit manifests as it leaves its host, rendering it
susceptible to repulsion and disruption attempts.
Exorcise Object: This application of the effect works as area
exorcism but is applied to a single object into which one or
more spirits have been bound.
Performing an exorcism is easier to achieve if you use stinking
herbs, for which see the Equipment chapter.
Remove Curse
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 15
Cost To Cast: 10
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: One full round
Range: Touch
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +4
This effect removes all curses from the target. The experience
level of the person who placed the curse plus their spellcasting
ability score modifier (Charisma for witches, Intelligence for
Hekau casters and Wisdom for those using Prayer) is added to
the DC of the effect. If this effect is performed with Prayer,
the target cannot be disfavoured or despised by the casters
deity. They are also expected to offer a propitiatory sacrifice
worth at least 30 silver drachmas to the temple of the deity. If
this is not done, the DC of the effect is raised by +4.
Ward Area
DC: Variable, see below
Cost To Cast: 6
Base Duration: Permanent until broken
Casting Time: 1minute
Range: Touch
Effect: One protective inscription
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +5
A literate character may use the Witchcraft, Hekau or Prayer
skill to write a protective inscription, which then serves to
repel spiritual creatures and undead creatures. This use of
the skill takes one minute; the character must have the means
whereby to leave a lasting mark, such as paints, inks or a chisel.
The person making the warding symbol makes a Witchcraft,
Hekau or Prayer check once the symbol is completed and
the result is recorded. Any undead or spiritual creature
approaching within 30 feet of the warding must make a special
penetration check (1d20 plus the Hit Dice of the creature
plus its Charisma modifier) against a DC of the initial check
result. Success means the warding is broken. Failure means
magic and miracles
that the creature cannot approach any further. Each attempt
that a spiritual or undead creature makes to break the warding
costs it three hit points, whether it is successful or not. Once
a single creature has penetrated the warding, the warding is
destroyed. Erasing the warding destroys it.
A character producing this effect with Prayer must expend one
divine point every time a warding symbol is created. Creating
a warding symbol counts as a granted miracle for the purpose
of determining the DC of future petitions that day.
Ward Person
DC: Variable, see below
Cost To Cast: 6
Base Duration: 8 hours
Casting Time: 1minute
Range: Touch
Effect: One protective amulet or mark
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +5
A character may use the Witchcraft, Hekau or Prayer skills to
create a protective amulet or phylactery, designed to keep a
character safe from wicked spirits who might take possession
of him. The character making the check must be literate and
have some means of creating an inscription that the receiving
character can then carry or wear. The inscription may be
painted directly on to the receiving characters skin but if it
should wash off, the protection is lost. The protection takes
one minute to apply. The character creating the protection
makes a Witchcraft, Hekau or Prayer skill check and the
result is recorded. If the character receiving the protection is
the subject of a possession attempt from a spiritual creature,
he may use the check result in place of his own Will saving
throw.
A character producing this effect with Prayer must expend one
divine point every time a warding amulet or mark is created.
Creating a warding amulet or mark counts as a granted miracle
for the purpose of determining the DC of future petitions that
day.
Healings
Close Grievous Wound
DC: Hekau 30, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: Varies
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Touch
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +7
This potent healing spell causes even a grievous wound to
close and heal. Witchcraft and Hekau casters must invest
175
 five hit points per point of wound size. Those who use Prayer
have the DC of their Prayer check raised by 1 per point of the
wounds size. Again, there are no half measures. The wound
either heals completely or it does not. You cannot close a
wound partially by investing less than the necessary amount.
magic and miracles
Close Wound
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 20, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: Varies
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Touch
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +5
This spell causes a single ordinary wound (not a grievous
wound) to close altogether and heal without a trace.
Witchcraft and Hekau casters must invest two hit points per
point of wound size. Those who use Prayer have the DC
of their Prayer check raised by 1 per point of the wounds
size. There are no half measures. The wound either heals
completely or it does not. You cannot close a wound partially
by investing less than the necessary amount.
Eye of Healing
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 4
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Line of sight
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +2
This effect allows the caster to stimulate healing in the
recipient. Any fresh wounds that the target has received
are treated as if they had been bound with a successful Heal
check. This method of healing is quicker and more reliable
than binding wounds manually but is costly for the caster and
uses up important miracles for the day. As with the ordinary
wound binding application of the Heal skill, this effect must
be used no later than one hour after the wound has been
received in order to have any impact.
Purge Disease
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 10
Cost To Cast: 6
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Touch
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +3
This effect purges a disease from a sufferer. The DC of the
saving throw to recover from the disease is added to the DC
of the spell.
176
Restore Sight/Speech/Hearing
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 15
Cost To Cast: 10
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Touch
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +4
This effect restores sight to the blind, speech to the mute and
hearing to the deaf. It can only do one of these at a time. If
the sufferer is afflicted by more than one of these conditions,
separate effects must be used to restore each faculty.
If the condition was produced by magic, such as a strike blind
spell or the dazzle ability of a nymph, the DC of the effect is
increased by the level or Hit Dice of the original caster plus the
modifier for the related ability score for the skill (Witchcraft,
Hekau or Prayer) they used to produce the effect.
Invocations
Deitys Blessing
DC: Prayer 10
Base Duration: 1 minute/level
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One or more people
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +1
This spell calls down the blessing of a specific deity upon a
recipient. No person may carry the blessing of more than
one deity at a time, nor may the blessing of a given deity be
conferred more than once per day. If you have the favour of
the deity or are beloved by him, then you benefit from the
listed bonus +1. If you are disfavoured or despised by the
deity, then the blessing does not work on you at all. Each
additional person that you (the caster) seek to include in the
blessing increases the DC by +2, whether or not the blessing
works on them. For convenience, each of the possible effects
is referred to as if it were a separate effect, so for example a
blessing effect produced by a priest of Athena would be called
Athenas blessing.
The effect of the blessing depends upon the deity invoked.
APHRODITE: +1 divine bonus to all Charisma ability score
checks and related skill checks.
APOLLO: +1 divine bonus to Will and Reflex saving throws.
ARES: +1 divine bonus to all weapon damage rolls.
ARTEMIS: +1 divine bonus to Survival skill checks and Active
Defence checks made in the wilderness.
ATHENA: Natural armour with a Coverage bonus of +10 and
a DR of 3.
ASCLEPIUS: +1 divine bonus to all Fortitude saving throws.
DEMETER: +1 divine bonus to all Fortitude saving throws.
HECATE: +2 divine bonus to all Prayer checks to repel or
disrupt undead.
HEPHAESTUS: +1 divine bonus to all Shield Defence checks.

HERA: +1 divine bonus to all Active Defence checks.
HERMES: +1 divine bonus to all Reflex saving throws.
POSEIDON: +1 divine bonus to all Strength ability score checks
and related skill checks.
ZEUS: +1 divine bonus to all Will saving throws.
ANHUR: +1 divine bonus to all attack rolls.
ANUBIS: +1 divine bonus to all saving throws made during the
night hours.
APOPHIS: +1 to all attack rolls and Active Defence checks made
during the hours of darkness.
BASTET: +1 divine bonus to Will and Reflex saving throws.
HATHOR: +1 divine bonus to all Fortitude and Reflex saving
throws.
HORUS: +1 divine bonus to all weapon damage rolls.
ISIS: +1 divine bonus to all saving throws.
PTAH: +1 divine bonus to Will and Fortitude saving throws.
RA: +1 to all attack rolls and Active Defence checks made
during the hours of daylight.
SET: +2 divine bonus to weapon damage rolls.
THOTH: +2 divine bonus to all saving throws against magical
effects.
WEPWAWET: +2 divine bonus to all Shield Defence checks.
Eye of Benediction (Eye Spell)
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 10, Prayer 10
Cost To Cast: 2
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +3
This spell confers a mild blessing on the target. It is delivered
with a gaze and is intended to assist the target to recover from
a debilitating condition such as fear or nausea. The recipient
of an eye of benediction effect may make a fresh saving throw
against any fear or sickness effect from which he is suffering
(such as that produced by an eye of terror), with a +2 divine
magic and miracles
bonus to the roll. Success at this check means that the target
reacts as if he had made the original saving throw.
Invulnerability
DC: Witchcraft 35, Hekau 35, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: 20
Base Duration: 2d4 rounds
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One or more people
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +8
This spell makes the recipient virtually impervious to harm.
He gains natural armour with a Coverage bonus of +14 and a
DR of 30. Extending the effect to cover more than one person
raises the DC of the spell by +2 for each additional recipient.
Summon Minor Spirit
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 5
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Effect: One minor wicked spirit or similar (see below)
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +3
This effect calls forth a spirit from the unseen realms and
forces it to manifest for one round. This manifestation costs
the spirit no energy, as the power to manifest it comes from
the summoning. The caster always has the chance to attempt
a command spirit effect before the manifestation ceases, though
he may of course be interrupted in this. It is up to the spirit
whether or not it wishes to stay manifest after the first round.
To do so costs it one hit point per round as usual.
The summoning confers no control over the spirit or
protection from it. For controlling and protection effects, see
the Exorcisms section. The caster may choose whether
177
 to summon a generic minor wicked spirit, the ghost or ka of
a dead person of up to 4 levels of experience or Hit Dice or a
specific minor wicked spirit whose name is known and who
has been summoned before.
magic and miracles
Summon Formidable Spirit
DC: Hekau 30, Prayer 40
Cost To Cast: 20
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 full round
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Effect: One formidable wicked spirit or similar (see below)
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +9
This effect calls forth a formidable spirit; see summon minor
spirit for details. The caster may choose whether to summon
a generic formidable wicked spirit, the ghost or ka of a dead
person of up to 12 levels of experience or Hit Dice, a specific
formidable wicked spirit whose name is known and who has
been summoned before or a single lustful one.
Summon Potent Spirit
DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 20, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: 10
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 full round
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Effect: One potent wicked spirit or similar (see below)
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +6
This effect calls forth a stronger spirit to visible appearance;
see summon minor spirit for details. The caster may choose
whether to summon a generic potent wicked spirit, the ghost
or ka of a dead person of up to 8 levels of experience or Hit
Dice, a specific potent wicked spirit whose name is known and
who has been summoned before or a single death-lantern.
Request Item
DC: Prayer 25
Base Duration: Varies, see below; no more than one week
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Target: You
Effect: One divine item
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +5
This allows the petitioner to ask his deity for one of the most
daring favours of all, the loan of one of the deitys items. These
items are listed later in the section. You could, for example,
petition Hermes to lend you the Cap of Invisibility or the
Winged Sandals, request that Zeus allow you to wield one of
his Thunderbolts or ask Hecate to let you use her Torch or
Cauldron. Some items are more difficult to get than others,
as the deities are not fond of allowing mortals to use them.
To reflect this, every item has a DC modifier, which is added
to the Prayer DC for this effect. For example, gaining the
Winged Sandals has an overall DC of 27, while gaining the
Cap of Invisibility has an overall DC of 29.
178
You can only ask a deity for an item in order to perform one
definite task. This task must be in the deitys interest. If you
do not define the task, then you automatically fail. You might,
for example, ask Athena to lend you her sword and shield so
that you can slay a monster that is preying on Athenian
citizens. You could not ask her for these items to wage war
against an enemy, because that task has no definite ending. If
the deity (as determined by the Games Master) believes that
you are not pursuing the task, then it will retrieve the item.
Items are not loaned for more than one week in any case, so
you must complete your task or fail in the attempt in that
time.
If your request is successful, the item appears in your hand
or at your feet. You may request an item for another persons
use (there is no point in petitioning for an item that you are
not qualified to wield!) but that person must either follow the
same deity as you or be favoured or beloved by the deity.
Wrath of the Gods
DC: Prayer 40
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Line of sight
Effect: Varies
Saving Throw: Varies
Save DC Modifier: +9
This is the most potent effect that a priest can call upon. It
petitions the priests deity to send down his wrath to punish
a target. If the petition is successful, then the deity makes
his wrath felt. The exact effects of this vary, depending on
whether the deitys wrath is called down upon a single person,
a group of people or a settlement. A deitys wrath cannot be
called down upon the same person, people or place twice in
one year, nor can one priest call down the deitys wrath more
than twice in one month. Even the Gods have their limits.
The target must be held in disfavour or despised by the deity in
order for this effect to work. A deity will not wrathfully smite
any person who they hold in their favour or who is beloved
by them, even if the rest of the group is targeted, nor will they
smite any people who venerate them within a settlement that
is visited by their wrath.
Gods sometimes produce this effect spontaneously, without
being asked to by a priest. They will usually only do this if
a person goes out of their way to challenge or offend them,
as in the case of Sisyphus who defied Zeus and was struck
by a thunderbolt or if a group or a settlement grievously sins
against them.
Single Person: The victim of this spell is either struck by a
thunderbolt (as the item) that automatically hits or is the
recipient of a permanent change person effect that transforms
him into a beast of an appropriate kind. A saving throw is still
allowed in each case.
Group Of People: The group of people targeted by this and begin to drown when they can no longer hold their
effect are all subject to a permanent change person effect that breath.
transforms them into beasts of an appropriate kind. A saving
throw is still allowed in each case. A larger group of people When a settlement is struck by plague, all of the occupants

magic and miracles

may be subject to an earthquake effect, for which see below. contract a non-contagious wasting disease with a Save DC of
25 and ability damage of 1d4 Constitution.
Settlement: The settlement is struck by an earthquake, by a
tidal wave or by plague.
Makings
If an earthquake occurs, an intense but highly localized tremor Great Mending
rips the ground. The shock knocks creatures down, collapses DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 15
structures, opens cracks in the ground and more. The effect Cost To Cast: 1 point per 10 cubic-ft. of object size
lasts for 1 round, during which time creatures on the ground Base Duration: Instantaneous
cant move or attack. A spellcaster on the ground must make a Casting Time: One standard action
Concentration check (DC 20 + spell save modifier) or lose any Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
spell he or she tries to cast. The earthquake affects all terrain, Target: One object
vegetation, structures and creatures in the area. Each creature Saving Throw: None
standing in the area must make a DC 15 Reflex saving throw Save DC Modifier: +3
or fall down. Fissures open in the earth and every creature on This spell functions like mending, except that great mending
the ground has a 25% chance to fall into one, with a Reflex completely repairs an object made of any substance, even one
saving throw at DC 20 allowed to avoid a fissure. At the end with multiple breaks, to be as strong as new. The spell does
of the spell, all fissures grind shut, killing any creatures still not repair items that have been warped, burned, disintegrated,
trapped within. ground to powder, melted or vaporized, nor does it affect
creatures, including constructs.
Any structure standing on open ground takes 100 points of
damage, enough to collapse a typical wooden or masonry Major Creation
building, but not a structure built of stone or reinforced DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 20
masonry. Hardness does not reduce this damage, nor is it Cost To Cast: Varies, see below
halved as damage dealt to objects normally is. Any creature Base Duration: Instantaneous
caught inside a collapsing structure takes 8d6 points of Casting Time: One standard action
bludgeoning damage, with a Reflex saving throw at DC 15 Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
allowed for half damage and is pinned beneath the rubble. Target: One object of up to 1 lb.
Any creature pinned beneath rubble takes 1d6 points of non- Saving Throw: None
lethal damage per minute while pinned. If a pinned character Save DC Modifier: +1
falls unconscious, he or she must make a DC 15 Constitution This spell functions like minor creation, except that you can
check or take 1d6 points of lethal damage each minute also create an object of mineral nature: stone, crystal, metal
thereafter until freed or dead. or the like. The volume of the item created cannot exceed 1
cubic foot per two points invested. The duration of the created
Rivers, lakes and marshes are affected as follows. Fissures item varies with its relative hardness and rarity, as indicated on
open underneath the water, draining away the water from that the following table.
area and forming muddy ground. Soggy marsh or swampland
becomes quicksand for the duration of the spell, sucking down
Hardness and Rarity Examples Duration
creatures and structures. Each creature in the area must make
a DC 15 Reflex save or sink down in the mud and quicksand. Vegetable matter 2 hr./level
At the end of the spell, the rest of the body of water rushes in Stone, crystal, base metals 1 hr./level
to replace the drained water, possibly drowning those caught
Precious metals 20 min./level
in the mud.
Gems 10 min./level
A settlement can only be struck by a tidal wave if it is next
to the sea. The wave swamps the settlement, inflicting 200
points of damage upon all structures. Any creature caught Mending
inside a collapsed structure is treated as above, with the DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 10
added hazard that a pinned character is underwater and Cost To Cast: 1
may drown. The entire settlement is flooded with water Base Duration: Instantaneous
for five minutes. During this time, all creatures within the Casting Time: One standard action
settlement must make Swim checks at DC 20 every round Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
(as the waters are turbulent) or sink beneath the surface Target: One object of up to 1 lb.

179
 Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
Mending repairs small breaks or tears in objects but not warps,
such as might be found in wood. It will weld broken metallic
objects such as a ring, a chain link, a medallion or a slender
magic and miracles
dagger, providing but one break exists.
Ceramic or wooden objects with multiple breaks can be
invisibly rejoined to be as strong as new. A hole in a leather
sack or a wineskin is completely healed over by mending. The
spell does not affect creatures, including constructs.
Minor Creation
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 10
Cost To Cast: Varies, see below
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Target: One object of up to 1 lb.
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
You create a nonmagical, unattended object of nonliving,
vegetable matter. The volume of the item created cannot
exceed 1 cubic foot per two points invested. You must succeed
on an appropriate skill check to make a complex item.
Attempting to use any created object (such as created witches
herbs) as a material component causes the spell to fail.
Manifestations
Create Base Matter
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: Varies, see below
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Effect: One cubic foot of material
Extended Effect: One cubic foot of material per additional 2
DC and additional HP
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +4
The caster producing this effect may create a quantity of
base, nonliving materials in an inert state. He may not create
precious materials such as gold or gems or energised materials
such as lava or steam. He may however create wood, clay,
stone, sand or coal for 2 hit points per cubic foot and bronze,
copper, iron or tin for 4 hit points per cubic foot. The caster
must create the material in a rough, amorphous mass. If it is
to be turned into anything else, then a Craft skill check must
be made as usual.
Create Energised Matter
DC: Hekau 30, Prayer 40
Cost To Cast: 15
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels).
180
Base Effect: Stream of molten rock or metal
Extended Effect: Increased damage
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Save DC Modifier: +9
This spell calls shaped, heated matter into being and hurls it
in a given direction. The result is a jet of molten iron, molten
bronze, molten lead or lava. This is thrown as a ray attack by
the caster. The jet deals 5d6 fire damage on impact and 3d4
fire damage on each following round, for three rounds, as the
molten matter clings to the target. Immersion in water (or
similar effect) prevents the subsequent fire damage.
For every 5 additional hit points that the caster invests in the
spell, the initial damage of the lava is increased by 1d6 and the
damage on the following round by 1d4.
Create Fire
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 10, Prayer 15
Cost To Cast: 2
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Base Effect: One flame the size of a torch
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +2
This effect causes a flame to spring into being where the caster
touches. If he touches flammable material, then the material
catches fire immediately unless it is damp. If he uses this effect
as an attack, then the flame deals 1d4 fire damage to the target.
The caster must deliver the spell as a touch attack. Witchcraft
and Hekau casters can invest additional hit points to create a
more intense flame. For every 3 additional hit points invested,
an extra d4 of fire damage is added to the effect.
Create Food
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 15, Prayer 10
Cost To Cast: 3
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Base Effect: Enough food for one person
Extended Effect: Food for one more person per additional 2
DC
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
This magical effect brings simple, nutritious food into being;
the default result is bread and fish. One casting of the magical
effect produces enough food to sustain one person for one day.
By increasing the DC by 2 and the casting cost by 1, you can
create enough food for one additional person. If this spell is
cast with Prayer in a given country at a time of drought or
famine for that country, the DC of the spell is increased by
+10, as the Gods have already decided that the people shall
go hungry and are not about to change their minds now.
Egyptian priests usually fall back upon their Hekau skill in
times of want and cast this spell with Hekau to make sure that
they, at least, do not starve.
 Create Light
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 5, Prayer 10
Cost To Cast: 2
Base Duration: 1d8 hours
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Effect: One object
Saving Throw: Will Negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +1
This spell causes a single object to glow as brightly as a torch,
shedding bright light in a 20 foot radius (and dim light for an
additional 20 feet) from the point you touch. The effect is
immobile, but it can be cast on a movable object.
Create Missile
DC: Hekau 10, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 2
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Varies: see below
Base Effect: One or more missiles
Extended Effect: Varies: see below
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +4
This spell calls shaped matter into being and projects it along
a given course. The result is one or more missiles, which are
flung from the casters hand and towards a target. The caster
must succeed with a ray attack in order to strike the target
with the missile. By investing more hit points and raising the
DC, you may either embellish the effect of a single missile or
create multiple missiles. A separate attack roll is required for
each missile. The caster may choose the kind of missile that is
created with each casting, though all missiles must be the same
type for any one production of this effect.
Dart: The missile created is metallic and pointed. It deals
1d6 piercing damage. For a single dart, each additional +2
hit points invested increase the damage by +1; the DC is not
affected. Multiple darts cost +2 hit points and +2 DC to
produce. The dart may be used within Medium range (100-
ft. + 10-ft./level)
Water Stream: The missile is a stream of water that can knock
a target off his feet. The stream has an effective Strength of
16 and you may make a ranged trip attack with it. Every
additional +2 hit points and +2 DC you invest raises the
streams effective Strength by +1. The stream may also be
used for such mundane applications as putting out fires. The
stream may be used within Close range (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels).
Additional streams cost +2 hit points and +3 DC.
Flame Jet: The missile is a jet of flame, dealing 1d4 fire damage
upon the target. For a single jet, each additional +2 hit points
invested and +2 DC increase the damage by +1d4. Multiple
jets cost +2 hit points and +2 DC to produce. The jet may be
used within Close range (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels).
Rock: The missile is a simple rock, dealing 1d6 bludgeoning
damage. For a single rock, each additional +2 hit points
invested increase the damage by +1; the DC is not affected.
Multiple rocks cost +2 hit points and +2 DC to produce.
magic and miracles
The rock may be used within Medium range (100-ft. + 10-
ft./level).
Sharp Disc: The missile is a sharp, spinning metal disc, dealing
1d6 slashing damage. For a single disc, each additional +2
hit points invested increase the damage by +1; the DC is not
affected. Multiple discs cost +2 hit points and +2 DC to
produce. The disc may be used within Medium range (100-ft.
+ 10-ft./level). Those who use this spell sometimes call these
discs chakrams.
Create Water
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 10, Prayer 10
Cost To Cast: 3
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Base Effect: One gallon of water
Extended Effect: One additional gallon of water per 2 DC
and 2 HP
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
This magical effect creates pure water. If cast with Prayer
when within a country that is suffering from drought, the DC
to cast is +10, as the Gods are not inclined to provide water
within a land that they have already decreed shall be dry.
Quicksand
DC: Hekau 20, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: 10
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Effect: Patch of solid ground 10-ft. square turned to
quicksand
Extended Effect: An additional 10-ft. square section per +2
DC and +5 HP
Saving Throw: Reflex avoids
Save DC Modifier: +6
This spell turns solid ground into quicksand. A creature
standing in the region when it is transformed must make a
Reflex saving throw to jump away to safety, if there is a safe
spot within 5 feet. Creatures caught in the quicksand are at
risk from drowning. A character in quicksand must make a
DC 10 Swim check every round to tread water and stay in
place without sinking or a DC 15 Swim check to move 5 feet
in any direction. If a character in quicksand fails his check
by 5 or more, he sinks under the surface and begins to drown
once he runs out of breath. See Drowning in the Adventuring
chapter.
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 Shower Manipulations
DC: Hekau 25, Prayer 35 Alter Weather
Cost To Cast: 10 DC: Witchcraft 30, Hekau 40, Prayer 30
Cost To Extend: 5/round Cost To Cast: 15
magic and miracles

Base Duration: One round
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels).
Area of Effect: Region 60-ft. across
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Save DC Modifier: +9
This magical effect, which may only be cast outside, pelts a
region with small rocks that fall from the sky. Every exposed
creature in the region suffers 5d4 points of bludgeoning
damage per round. A creature may make a Reflex saving throw
for half damage. Instead of a Reflex saving throw, a character
may make a Shield Defence check. If he is successful, his
shield takes the damage instead of him.
Wall
DC: Hekau 20, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: 10
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Effect: Wall, one foot thick, ten feet high and ten feet
across
Extended Effect: An additional section to the same
dimensions per +2 DC and +5 HP
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +6
This spell creates a wall of worked stone blocks. The caster can
shape this wall as it is created, curving it around as he wishes.
The wall must be created at floor level and cannot be called
into being in the air.
Witchglow
DC: Witchcraft 5
Cost To Cast: 1
Base Duration: One night
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Effect: One selected point on the ground
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
This is the spell that witches use to light their meetings. It can
only be cast in a place that is open to the sky. When witchglow
is cast, a shaft of faint light is projected down from the sky to
the chosen spot. Only those who have one or more ranks in
the Witchcraft skill or whose chosen deity is Hecate can see
this shaft of radiance. The chosen spot is surrounded by bright
light to a radius of 20 feet and shadowy light for another 20
feet beyond. Unlike the shaft, the radiance on the ground can
be seen by anyone.
Base Duration: 4d12 hours; see text
Casting Time: 10 minutes; see text
Range: 2 miles
Area: 2-mile-radius circle, centred on you; see text
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +7
You change the weather in the local area. It takes 10 minutes
to cast the spell and an additional 10 minutes for the effects to
manifest. You can call forth weather appropriate to the climate
and season of the area you are in.
Season Possible Weather
Spring Tornado, thunderstorm, sleet storm or hot
weather
Summer Torrential rain, heat wave or hailstorm
Autumn Hot or cold weather, fog or sleet
Winter Frigid cold, blizzard or thaw
Late Hurricane-force winds or early spring
Winter (coastal area)
You control the general tendencies of the weather, such as
the direction and intensity of the wind. You cannot control
specific applications of the weatherwhere lightning strikes,
for example or the exact path of a tornado. When you select
a certain weather condition to occur, the weather assumes that
condition 10 minutes later (changing gradually, not abruptly).
The weather continues as you left it for the duration or until
you use a standard action to designate a new kind of weather
(which fully manifests itself 10 minutes later). Contradictory
conditions are not possible simultaneously.
Alter weather can do away with atmospheric phenomena
(naturally occurring or otherwise) as well as create them.
Control Winds
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 30, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 10
Cost To Sustain: 5 hp/10 minutes
Base Duration: 10 minutes
Casting Time: One full-round action
Range: 40-ft./level
Area: 40-ft./level radius cylinder 40-ft. high
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
You alter wind force in the area surrounding you. You can
make the wind blow in a certain direction or manner, increase
its strength or decrease its strength. The new wind direction
and strength persist until the spell ends or until you choose
to alter your handiwork, which requires concentration. You
may create an eye of calm air up to 80 feet in diameter at the
centre of the area if you so desire and you may choose to limit
the area to any cylindrical area less than your full limit.

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Wind Direction: You may choose one of four basic wind
patterns to function over the spells area.
A downdraught blows from the centre outward in
equal strength in all directions.
An updraught blows from the outer edges in toward
the centre in equal strength from all directions, veering
upward before impinging on the eye in the centre.
A rotation causes the winds to circle the centre in
clockwise or counter clockwise fashion.
A blast simply causes the winds to blow in one
direction across the entire area from one side to the
other.
Wind Strength: For every three additional DC to cast the
spell, you can increase or decrease wind strength by one level.
Each round on your turn, a creature in the wind must make
a Fortitude saving throw or suffer the effect of being in the
windy area.
Base DC: Strong winds (21+ mph) make sailing difficult.
+3 DC: A severe wind (31+ mph) causes minor ship and
building damage.
+6 DC: A windstorm (51+ mph) drives most flying creatures
from the skies, uproots small trees, knocks down light wooden
structures, tears off roofs and endangers ships.
+9 DC: Hurricane force winds (75+ mph) destroy wooden
buildings, sometimes uproot even large trees and cause most
ships to founder.
+12 DC: A tornado (175+ mph) destroys all unfortified
buildings and often uproots large trees.
Hold Door
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 10, Prayer 15
Cost To Cast: 1
Base Duration: One minute
Cost To Extend: 1 hp/minute
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One portal, up to 20 sq.-ft./level
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
This spell magically holds shut a door, gate, window or shutter
of wood, metal or stone. The magic affects the portal just as
if it were securely closed and normally locked. For a portal
affected by this spell, add 5 to the normal DC for forcing open
the portal.
Open/Close
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 10, Prayer 10
Cost To Cast: 1
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: Object weighing up to 30 lb. or portal that can be
opened or closed
Saving Throw: Will negates (object)
Save DC Modifier: +1
You can open or close (your choice) a door, chest, box,
shutter, bag, pouch, jar, barrel or other container. If anything
resists this activity (such as a bar on a door) the spell fails. In
addition, the spell can only open and close things weighing 30
magic and miracles
pounds or less. Thus, doors, chests and similar objects sized
for enormous creatures may be beyond this spells ability to
affect.
Move Earth
DC: Hekau 35, Prayer 35
Cost To Cast: 20
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: See text
Range: Long (400-ft. + 40-ft./level)
Area: Dirt in an area up to 750-ft. square and up to 10-ft.
deep
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Move earth moves dirt (clay, loam, sand), possibly collapsing
embankments, moving hillocks, shifting dunes and so forth.
However, in no event can rock formations be collapsed or
moved.
The area to be affected determines the casting time. For every
150 foot square (up to 10 feet deep), casting takes 10 minutes.
The maximum area, 750 feet by 750 feet, takes 4 hours and
10 minutes to move.
This spell does not violently break the surface of the ground.
Instead, it creates wavelike crests and troughs, with the earth
reacting with glacier-like fluidity until the desired result is
achieved. Trees, structures, rock formations and such are
mostly unaffected except for changes in elevation and relative
topography. The spell cannot be used for tunnelling and is
generally too slow to trap or bury creatures. Its primary use is
for digging or filling moats or for adjusting terrain contours
before a battle. It is also used to bury buildings in sand,
protecting them from discovery.
Seemings
Create Illusion
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 20, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 4
Cost To Sustain: 1/ 10 minutes
Base Duration: 10 minutes, requires concentration
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Long (400-ft. + 40-ft./level)
Effect: Figment that cannot extend beyond four 10-ft. cubes
+ 10-ft. cube/additional 3 HP
Saving Throw: Will negates (interaction required)
Save DC Modifier: +4
This spell creates an illusory creature, object or force. You may
increase the illusions size by investing additional hit points
in it at the point of casting, if you are a Witchcraft or Hekau
caster. By default, the illusion is silent and has no textural
or thermal components. With an increase of +2 to the DC,
you can give your illusion sound. With a further increase of
+4 to the DC, you can give your illusion textural or thermal
elements.
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 If a creature strikes your illusion, it disappears unless you
cause it to react appropriately. If a creature interacts with your
illusion, they are allowed a Will saving throw to recognise that
it is not real.
magic and miracles
Disguise Self
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 25, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 1
Cost To Sustain: 1/ 10 minutes
Base Duration: 10 minute
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: You
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
You make yourselfincluding clothing, armour, weapons and
equipmentlook different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or
taller, thin, fat or in between. You cannot change your body
type. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to
you. You could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an
entirely different person.
The spell does not provide the abilities or mannerisms of the
chosen form, nor does it alter the perceived tactile (touch) or
audible (sound) properties of you or your equipment.
If you use this spell to create a disguise, you get a +10 bonus
on the Disguise check. This bonus stacks with that provided
by mimic voice.
A creature that interacts with your illusory features gets a Will
saving to recognize them as an illusion. You may make your
effect more convincing by investing additional hit points in
the casting. For every two additional hit points you invest, the
saving throw DC is increased by 1.
Mimic Voice
DC: Witchcraft 10, Hekau 15, Prayer 15
Cost To Cast: 1
Cost To Sustain: 1/10 minutes
Base Duration: 10 minutes
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: You
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +1
This effect allows you to mimic the voice of another person
perfectly. In order to use this spell, you must have heard the
intended subject speaking clearly for at least five minutes.
Although you imitate the others voice faultlessly, it is still
possible for another person to become suspicious if you use the
wrong mannerisms, mode of speech or terms of reference. If a
person can only hear your voice, he must make a Sense Motive
skill check at DC 25 on first speaking to you to notice that all
is not quite right and is entitled to a further check every hour
thereafter if you continue talking or resume conversation.
This spell allows a +4 circumstance modifier to any Disguise
check made to pass yourself off as someone else. This bonus
stacks with that provided by disguise self.
184
One Thousand Voices
DC: Witchcraft 30, Hekau 35
Cost To Cast: 8
Cost To Sustain: 3/10 minutes
Base Duration: 10 minutes
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: You
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +8
This spell allows you to mimic the voice of any person
perfectly. You may change your voice at will, so that you can
seem to be two or more different people having a conversation
with each other.
While this effect is running, you can use another application
of it. You can speak to a given target and take on the voice of
the person they love the most, without necessarily knowing
anything about them. You instinctively know who this person
is (mother, wife and so on) so you can act in character. A
person who fails their saving throw against this application
of the effect is captivated. A captivated victim walks toward
the source of the voice, taking the most direct route available.
If the path leads into a dangerous area (through flame, off
a cliff or the like), that creature gets a second saving throw.
Captivated creatures can take no actions other than to defend
themselves. The effect is broken as soon as the creature can
see that the voice is not coming from the person they think
you to be. This effect is said to have been used by Helen of
Troy to lure the Greeks out of the wooden horse, to no avail;
one warrior succumbed and tried to leave the horse but was
choked to death by the others to prevent the whole plan from
falling apart.
Transformations
Animal Feature
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 25, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 3
Base Duration: 1 minute
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +4
This spell changes a single feature of the target person to that
of an animal. For example, it can be used to give the target the
ears of an ass, the eyes of a cat or the horns of a stag. It is most
commonly used as a joke or a mild curse. A person with an
obvious animal feature loses any Reputation bonus and suffers
a 4 penalty to Charisma while the feature lasts. The effect
can be made permanent with a +20 increase to the casting DC.
This was the fate that befell King Minos, according to legend.
It can be removed with a remove curse magical effect.
If the animal feature comes from an animal that has especially
acute senses or could act as a natural weapon, then it can be
useful to cast upon oneself or upon a willing recipient. The
Games Master has the final say on what a given animal feature
conveys, but the following are given as examples:
Bats ears: +2 racial bonus to all Listen checks.
Cat eyes: Low-light vision.
Dogs nose: +2 racial bonus to all Search checks and temporary
use of the Tracking feat.
Goat horns: Natural weapons dealing 1d4 piercing damage.
Lion claws: +2 racial bonus to all Climb checks; natural
weapons dealing 1d6 slashing damage.
Serpent fangs: Natural weapons dealing 1d3 damage plus
poison identical to that of a medium-sized viper.
Change Person
DC: Witchcraft 30, Hekau 40, Prayer 40
Cost To Cast: 15
Cost To Sustain: 2/day
Base Duration: 1 day
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One or more people
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +8
The most feared of all transformation effects, this turns a
person into an animal. The caster may choose what the
animal is. The caster decides whether the victim retains any
memory of his previous life or not. The effect lasts for as
long as the caster chooses to sustain the effect. Sustaining
this effect requires only one minute of concentration per day.
The effect may be extended to target more than one person,
all of whom must be within Close range (25-ft. + 5-ft./2
levels) of the original target. Each additional victim adds +2
to the DC of the spell and +5 to the casting cost and must be
transformed to the same animal as the first. When produced
with Prayer, the effects of this spell are permanent and may not
be removed unless the target finds some means of repenting
and petitioning a deity for assistance.
This spell is a favourite of such witches as Circe, who called
upon Hecates aid in the myths to turn all of Odysseus men
into swine. The priests of Zeus also use it to turn the enemies
of that God into wolves, as a fitting punishment.
Change Substance
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 4
Base Duration: 1 minute
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Effect: One cubic foot of material
Extended Effect: One cubic foot of material per three hit
points expended
Saving Throw: None
Save DC Modifier: +4
This spell transforms one kind of non-living matter into
another. The caster must retain the state of the matter, turning
one solid into another solid, one liquid into another liquid and
a gas into a gas. Energy, such as fire, cannot be transformed
with this spell. For example, you could change wood to clay,
water to blood or air to smoke but you could not change rock
into air, nor may you change the level of heat in the material,
such as by changing water into boiling oil. Living creatures
magic and miracles
may not be affected by this spell. Their possessions may be
affected by it but are entitled to a saving throw as usual. Note
that changing leather armour into bronze does not result in the
creation of useful bronze armour.
When the spells duration ends, the matter turns back into
its original state, with any rearrangement still in place. For
example, you could transform a stone door to wood and smash
through it; when the door turned back into stone, it would
still be smashed.
Create Animal
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 25, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 5
Base Duration: 1d6 minutes
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Effect: One animal
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +8
This spell changes a quantity of lifeless matter into an animal
of approximately the same mass. The most well known
application of this spell is that whereby a staff is changed into
a serpent. The spell can only produce animals, not mythical
beasts or people. The DC of this spell is raised by 2 for every
hit die of the animal to be created. So, creating a wolf from
clay with witchcraft would require a DC 19 spell. You must
have sufficient quantity of material to make the animal from.
You cannot make elephants from pebbles. If the material is
already shaped like the animal, such as a statue of a wolf made
from stone, and then the DC of the check is reduced by 4.
At the expiry of the spell or the death of the animal, the animal
reverts back into the original material.
Animals created by this spell are automatically obedient to the
caster. A Handle Animal skill check may need to be made to
induce the animal to do a given thing. See the Handle Animal
skill description in the Skills chapter.
Enlarge Animal
DC: Witchcraft 20, Hekau 30, Prayer 30
Cost To Cast: 8
Base Duration: 1 minute
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Base Effect: One animal
Extended Effect: One additional animal per three hit points
expended
Saving Throw: Will Negates
Save DC Modifier: +6
One or more animals grow to twice their normal size and
eight times their normal weight. This alteration changes each
animals size category to the next largest, grants it a +8 size
bonus to Strength and a +4 size bonus to Constitution
185
 (and thus an extra 2 hit points per HD) and imposes a
2 size penalty to Dexterity. The size change also affects the
animals base damage. The animals space and reach change as
appropriate to the new size, but its speed does not change.
magic and miracles
The spell also grants each subject magical armour with
coverage +15 and DR of 4, and a +4 resistance bonus on
saving throws. If insufficient room is available for the desired
growth, the creature attains the maximum possible size and
may make a Strength check (using its increased Strength) to
burst any enclosures in the process. If it fails, it is constrained
without harm by the materials enclosing it the spell cannot
be used to crush a creature by increasing its size.
All equipment worn or carried by an animal is similarly
enlarged by the spell, though this change has no effect on the
magical properties of any such equipment. Any enlarged item
that leaves the enlarged creatures possession instantly returns
to its normal size. The spell gives no means of command or
influence over the enlarged animals.
Unmakings
Corrode Metal
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 20
Cost To Cast: 4
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One object
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Save DC Modifier: +7
Any iron or iron alloy item you touch becomes instantaneously
rusted, pitted and worthless, effectively destroyed. If the item
is so large that it cannot fit within a 3 foot radius, then a 3
foot-radius volume of the metal is rusted and destroyed.
You may employ corrode metal in combat with a successful melee
touch attack. Corrode metal used in this way instantaneously
causes the condition of the armour worn by the target to drop
to the next level of repair through corrosion.
Weapons in use by an opponent targeted by the spell are more
difficult to grasp. You must succeed on a melee touch attack
against the weapon. A metal weapon that is hit is destroyed.
Note: Striking at an opponents weapon provokes an attack of
opportunity. Also, you must touch the weapon and not the
other way around.
Disintegrate Matter
DC: Witchcraft 40, Hekau 35
Cost To Cast: 40
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Effect: Ray
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial
Save DC Modifier: +8
186
A thin beam of violet radiance springs from your finger.
You must make a successful ranged touch attack to hit. Any
creature struck by the ray takes 14d6 points of damage,
recorded as wounds, plus 1d6 for every additional 3 hit points
invested in the spell. Any creature reduced to 0 or fewer hit
points by this spell is entirely disintegrated, leaving behind
only a trace of fine dust. A disintegrated creatures equipment
is unaffected.
When used against an object, the ray simply disintegrates as
much as one 10 foot cube of nonliving matter. Thus, the spell
disintegrates only part of any very large object or structure
targeted. Manifest spiritual creatures struck by the ray are
instantly dispelled if they fail their saving throws.
.
A creature or object that makes a successful Fortitude save is
partially affected, taking only 5d6 points of damage. If this
damage reduces the creature or object to 0 or fewer hit points,
it is entirely disintegrated. Only the first creature or object
struck can be affected; that is, the ray affects only one target
per casting.
Dispel Manifestation
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 15, Prayer 15
Cost To Cast: 10
Base Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: One full round
Range: Touch
Area Of Effect: One person
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Save DC Modifier: +4
This effect undoes the work of Manifestation and Making
effects, such as major creation. It causes any solid item
produced by such an effect to vanish before its duration
expires. Dispel manifestation is also effective on Permanent
effects. The experience level of the person who created the
item plus their spellcasting ability score modifier (Charisma
for witches, Intelligence for Hekau casters and Wisdom for
those using Prayer) is added to the DC of the effect.
Shatter Object
DC: Witchcraft 25, Hekau 15, Prayer 25
Cost To Cast: 4 per 10 lb. of target object weight
Base Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Close (25-ft. + 5-ft./2 levels)
Target: One object
Saving Throw: Will negates
Save DC Modifier: +4
This spell targets a single, solid object of any material. Armour
does not count as a single solid object but a shield does. The
object is shattered into pieces.
Weaken Matter
DC: Witchcraft 15, Hekau 10, Prayer 15
Cost To Cast: 4
Base Duration: 1minute
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Medium (100-ft. + 10-ft./level)
Target: One object
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Save DC Modifier: +1
This effect reduces the strength of matter. When cast upon a
nonliving object, it reduces the hardness (or DR) of that object
by 1, making it easier to break. The spell may be cast upon
armour or shields, in which case it lowers their DR. Attended
objects (such as worn armour) use their bearers saving throw
to resist the spell.
Loose the Ka / Project the
Spirit
This is a special magical effect available only to Witchcraft and
Hekau casters. It takes an hour to prepare, after which you
may stay out of your body for as long as you like, though you
risk starving to death if you do not return to your body and
eat. The DC of the check is 20 with a one hit point cost if the
check is failed.
When you project your spirit, you must transfer a number of
hit points into your spirit form (or ka if you are an Egyptian),
which are deducted from your current hit points. These are
not recorded as wounds; they are a draining of vital energy, as
if you had cast a spell with them. You must invest at least one
hit point in your spirit form and must leave at least one hit
point behind in your physical body. Put simply, you choose
how many of your hit points you want to take with you on
your sojourn in the spirit realm. While you are out of the
body, these spiritual hit points can be used for important
activities such as becoming manifest, casting spells and taking
possession of others. They are also your only way to endure
attacks from other spiritual creatures. While out of the body,
you cannot use herbs or power amulets to fuel your spells. You
may however bring with you the spiritual equivalent of any
ordinary items that have been dedicated for use in the spirit
world by use of the Hekau skill.
You can choose how many hit points you bring with you each
time you leave your body; you can choose a different sum on
every occasion but once you are out of the body, you cannot
then increase or decrease that figure. It is up to you to strike a
balance between strengthening your spiritual body and leaving
your physical body with enough vitality to see you through if
you should have any trouble. Remember that as a spiritual
creature, you can be dispelled just like any wicked spirit or
undead monster, reducing your spirit bodys hit points to zero
and catapulting you back into your physical body. If you have
left that physical body with only a handful of hit points, then
you will be in a very sorry state indeed.
If you use up hit points while travelling out of your body (such
as by becoming manifest or casting spells) or lose them (such
as from combat with spiritual creatures) then you cannot draw
more from your physical body, nor can you draw any from
power amulets or herbs. You can only raise the hit points
of your spirit body by casting drain life on a living creature
that has a body and even then you can only raise them to a
maximum of the number that you first took with you. On
returning to the body, you transfer all the hit points from your
spiritual body back into your physical body, to the limit of
magic and miracles
that bodys maximum hit points. You cannot heal wounds by
this method.
If your physical body is killed while you are journeying out of
it, you remain a spiritual creature. You no longer have any way
to restore the hit points of your spiritual body, unless you are
lucky enough to be properly mummified; see the Death and
Beyond chapter for details.
While you are out of your body, your body is not resting
and does not benefit from any natural healing. Furthermore,
it begins to suffer if you are away from it for more than 24
hours. Every day that you are away from your body inflicts
1 point of Constitution damage upon it. Nothing can be
done to prevent this damage. It will not begin to recover itself
until your spirit is back in your body. It is possible that your
wandering spirit could be bound into an item by some angry
rival, which would cause your body to lie in a cataleptic trance
until you wasted away.
divine items
These are the items wielded by the Gods themselves,
occasionally lent to deserving followers. The request item
magical effect above is the standard means of petitioning
a deity to lend you one of his items. All divine items are
indestructible and automatically succeed at any saving throw
they are required to make. They are immune to magic, though
they do not confer this immunity upon the wearer. A deity
can always call one of his items back, irrespective of where it
is or who has it.
If one divine object is employed against another, the defender
always wins the contest. For example, if the Spear of Ares were
smote against the Shield of Athena, the shield would suffer no
damage, despite the swords ability to destroy shields with a
single blow.
If anyone other than the person who first requested the item
or one worthy to bear it (see the effect description) ever picks
the item up, moves it about or even touches it, two things may
happen. The deity may call the item back if it seems that it is
about to be used for a purpose of which the deity would not
approve. This ends the request item effect. Alternatively, the
person handling the item may be dealt a blast of godly ire that
deals 3d6 fire damage to them (recorded as wounds, with no
saving throw) and continues to do so for every round that they
still hold the item.
Aphrodites Necklace
This stunning jewel is a single ruby in the shape of a star,
from which drops of blood constantly fall and fade away. The
wearer may use the one thousand voices magical effect at will,
up to three times a day. The necklace also confers a +5
187
 enhancement bonus to the wearers Charisma ability score.
DC adjustment +8.
Apollos Arrows
These arrows burn with the fire of the sun. They have a +3
magic and miracles
enhancement bonus to the attack and damage roll and deal
an additional 2d6 fire damage when they strike a target. This
damage is doubled against undead creatures. DC adjustment
+5.
Apollos Lyre
The lyre of the God of music is U-shaped in the classic Greek
style, resonant with harmonies too perfect for any but the
Gods. It adds a +5 competence bonus to any Perform check
that the wielder makes with it. DC adjustment +8.
Ares Spear
This spear has a +5 enhancement bonus to attack and
damage rolls. It can also be thrown to any distance,
irrespective of the Strength of the wielder,
with a range increment of 100 feet. If you
can see a target, you can attempt to hit
it. The spear returns to the wielders
hand on the round after it is thrown,
whether it hit the target or not. DC
adjustment +10.
Ares Armour
The armour of the God of War is
a set of shaped bronze plate that
automatically fits the
wearer. It has infinite
damage resistance. Any
attack that is blocked by
the armour is completely
absorbed, passing on no
damage to the wearer. DC adjustment +10.
Artemis Arrows
The arrows of the Goddess Artemis gleam with a silvery light
and strike with deadly accuracy. Each one has a +5 bonus to
attack and damage rolls. In addition, the arrows seem to know
where to strike on the targets body. Coverage checks from
armour of any kind are made at a 5 penalty to the roll. When
this item is given to a petitioner, 3d4 arrows are provided. DC
adjustment +3.
Artemis Hunting Horn
This is a small, pale horn fitted with cold silver. When the
wielder blows it and indicates a target, all attacks against that
target (from whatever source) are made at a +3 enhancement
bonus to attack and damage rolls until dawn the next day. The
horn may only be blown once in any 24-hour period. DC
adjustment +2.
188
Asclepius Staff
The simple oaken staff of the God of healing draws its curative
power from him. When touched to a wound, whether grievous
or ordinary, it heals it immediately without any scarring. A
touch of the staff will also restore blindness, hearing or loss of
speech, purge any poison or cure any disease. The staff may
be used to deliver 10 touches only before Asclepius recalls it.
DC adjustment +10.
Athenas Helm
This is a Corinthian style helmet that confers powers of clear-
headedness and resolve upon the wearer. While the helm is
worn, the wearer is immune to all fear effects. No penalty
applies to Spot or Listen checks. DC adjustment +2.
Athenas Shield
This is an indestructible hoplon with an additional +1
enhancement bonus to its Coverage rating. Unlike
ordinary shields, you may use the Shield of
Athena to make Shield Defence checks
against magical rays. DC
adjustment +2.
Athenas Sword
This sword, called
Harpe, seems to be made
of iron as bright as silver and excels at
severing heads. It was the sword given
to Perseus, with which he severed the
hissing head of Medusa. Harpe is a kopis
(Greek sabre) with a +3 enhancement
bonus to attack and damage rolls. Harpe
benefits from an additional +3 enhancement
bonus to attack and damage rolls when made in
the course of a decapitate attempt. DC adjustment +5.
Demeters Horn
This is a cornucopia or horn of plenty, a twisted horn from
which fruits, grain and good food continually fall. The horn
provides an unending supply of food, enough to feed up to
five hundred people per day. All creatures that feed from
the horn benefit from double their usual healing rate. DC
adjustment +4.
Dionysus Chalice
This is a beautiful golden wine cup, carved with scenes of
frolicking fauns and nymphs and bedecked with grapes and
vines. It is always brimful of wine and can never be emptied.
The presence of Dionyus Chalice can cause a whole army
to become intoxicated in the course of a single night, as
each warrior drinks his fill and passes the cup around. DC
adjustment +1.
Dionysus Thyrsus
This is a ceremonial spear rather like a rod with a pinecone on
the end. As a standard action, the wielder can designate one
target per round to be wreathed by vines and held immobile.
 The creature can break free and move half its normal speed by Craft skill checks. When struck against a nonliving substance,
using a full-round action to make a DC 20 Strength check or it can (if the wielder chooses) shatter up to 10 cubic feet of
a DC 20 Escape Artist check. A creature that succeeds on a material per blow. DC adjustment +5.
Reflex save (DC 25) is not entangled. DC adjustment +6.

magic and miracles

Hecates Cauldron
The steaming cauldron of Hecate is the nexus of all witchcraft.
A witch who has Hecate as her deity may draw casting power
from it just by standing within 10 feet of it. She can draw up
to 20 points of casting power from it per round, to fuel her
spells. DC adjustment +10.
Hecates Torch
This flaming torch burns with an uncanny blue light. No
spiritual or undead creatures may approach the wielder closer
than 30 feet unless the wielder grants them express permission
to do so. Those who are within the torchs radiance are
immune to life drain effects and cannot be possessed by
spiritual creatures, though possessions currently ongoing are
not ended thereby. DC adjustment +4.
Heras Crown
The crown of mighty Hera places the wielder into a state of
divine sanctuary. While he or she wears it, he is immortal.
The wielder is immune to any effect that would lower or drain
hit points or cause any other kind of physical harm, including
petrification. (No immunity is however conferred to mind-
influencing effects.) This protection comes at a price. The
wearer may not cause physical harm to another while they
wear the crown, neither by weapons nor by magic. This
includes non-lethal damage and sleep effects. If they cause
even so much as a single point of damage to another being,
Hera will retrieve the crown. Players who try to cheat will find
that the Goddess is watching them and will not be fooled by
any attempt to bend the definition of harm. DC adjustment
+6.
Poseidons Trident
This barnacle-crusted, seaweed-draped object seems almost
too old and corroded to be useful, as if it had lain for years
at the bottom of the sea. In reality, it is much more potent.
In addition to having a +5 enhancement bonus to attack and
damage rolls, it allows the bearer to summon a terrible sea-
beast or ketos (see the Bestiary) who obeys the wielder as best it
is able. The ketos will fight and endanger itself if necessary. It
will remain on the surface for no more than 20 rounds before
returning to the deep. The wielder cannot summon it again
for 24 hours. If the ketos is killed, Poseidon will retrieve the
trident, unhappy that one of his creatures has been slain while
under your command. DC adjustment +9.
Zeus Thunderbolt
Thunderbolts ready to be thrown resemble jagged iron
lightning bolts, in the typical zap shape. They can be hurled
at any target that the wielder can see. The wielder makes a
ranged attack to hit, with no range increment. A successful
strike inflicts 20d6 points of lightning damage, not recorded as
wounds. This consumes the thunderbolt. When this item is
granted, Zeus gives the petitioner 2d4 thunderbolts to throw.
DC adjustment +8.

Hermes Winged Sandals

These are ordinary sandals from which tiny white wings grow
at the ankle. The wearer can use them to fly at a speed of 100
feet with Good manoeuvrability. Despite their divine origin
they are vulnerable to water, which makes the wings soggy and
less useful. If the bearer is soaked, his flying speed drops to 50
feet. DC adjustment +2.

Hermes Cap Of Invisibility

The wearer of this cap becomes invisible for as long as he wears
it. Invisible characters benefit from total concealment if they
should be attacked. They gain a +2 bonus to the attack roll
when attacking those who cannot see them. The characters
gear and weapons also become invisible but anything he drops
or puts down becomes visible. DC adjustment +4.

Hephaestus Hammer
This gold-fitted hammer can be used in combat and has a +4
enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls. It also guides
the hand of the craftsman, giving a +4 competence bonus to all

189
 Timeline of the Ancient
World
The following section gives an indication of what the various different civilisations of the ancient world were doing at any given
time. As is readily apparent, each civilisation had its time of triumph, some reaching more than one peak of achievement.
timeline

2000 1200 BC
Date Egyptians
2000 Middle Kingdom. Peak of
Egyptian civilisation.
1900
1650 Hyskos invasions. The Hyskos,
a Caananite people, use the
chariot, which the Egyptians
have not met before.
1600
1500
1590
1570 Egyptians learn use of chariots.
Hyskos driven from Egypt and
pursued into Canaan. New
Kingdom begins.
1550 Egyptians form allegiance with
the powerful and unconquered
Mitanni, who they call the
Naharin. Egypt now has
holdings in much of Palestine
and Syria.
1469 The Battle of Megiddo. Egypt
punishes the rebellious chief of
Kadesh and those kings who he
gathered under his banner.
1400
1379 Pharaoh Akhenaten institutes the
worship of the Sun Disk (Aten)
above all other Gods.
1368 Egypt is unable to prevent the
Mitanni from losing lands to
the Hittites and collapsing in
civil war. The Assyrians, former
subjects of the Mitanni, become
an independent power.
Greeks Hittites
Hittites arrive in Asia Minor.
Knossos built in Minoan Crete.
Trade between Minoan Crete &
Egypt.
Peak of Minoan civilization.
Trading domination.
Minoan palaces destroyed, possibly
by volcanic activity. Some claim that
this is a source of the Atlantis myth.
Knossos rebuilt.
Sacking of Babylon. Hittites use iron
weapons to achieve military domination.
Peak of Mycenaean civilisation in Egypt initially allied with Hittites and
mainland Greece. assists them in their assault on Aleppo.
Later Egyptian alliance with the Mitanni
proves disastrous for Hittites. Their
civilisation loses much ground and declines
severely.
Mycenaean civilisation established
throughout Greece.
Knossos destroyed and not rebuilt
this time, ending the Minoan
civilization.
Suppuiluliumas, king of the Hittites,
pulls his nation back from obscurity, first
fortifying the capital city of Hattusas, then
mounting attacks on the Mitanni. The
Mitanni are crushed, the Syrians become
allies and Hittite rule extends as far south as
Damascus. Peak of Hittite civilization.

190
1368-1200 BC
Date Egyptians
1368 Egypt is unable to prevent the
Mitanni from losing lands to
the Hittites and collapsing in
civil war. The Assyrians, former
subjects of the Mitanni, become
an independent power.
1327 Death of Tutankhamun. In an
attempt to improve relations
with the Hittites, his widow
attempts to marry a Hittite
prince, who is assassinated before
the wedding can take place.
1307
1275 Egypt attempts to take Syria,
leading to the battle of Kadesh.
Egyptians under Rameses II
clash with Hittites on the plains
of Syria. The battle ends in a
draw. Relations with Hittites
improve steadily from this point
onward.
1200 Alliance with Hittites in the face
of Assyrian aggression.
1200-722 BC
Date Egyptians
1200 Alliance with the Hittites. Repeated
invasion by the Sea Peoples, which
include warriors of Mycenaean Greece,
beat down Egyptian strength. Hebrew
slaves leave Egypt.
1000 Decline of Egyptian power. From
this point onward, Egypt is repeatedly
invaded, fought over and subjugated in
the name of one conqueror or another.
900
800
776
729
722
Assyrians Hittites
The Assyrians form an alliance with Suppuiluliumas, king of the Hittites,
the Mitanni, who have given up on pulls his nation back from obscurity, first
Egyptian support. The two powers fortifying the capital city of Hattusas, then
turn on the Hittites, their common mounting attacks on the Mitanni. The
enemy. Mitanni are crushed, the Syrians become
allies and Hittite rule extends as far south as
timeline
Damascus. Peak of Hittite civilization.
Peace overtures from the Egyptians cut
short by assassination.
Massive expansion of Assyrian
territory under King Tiglath-Pileser.
Battle of Kadesh (see Egyptians)
Alliance with Egypt in the face of a
common Assyrian enemy. Fading of Hittite
power. Many other civilisations use iron
weapons.
Greeks Assyrians Phoenicians
Raids against Egypt. Siege of
Troy. Barbarian invasions of
Greece. Centres of population
destroyed. Mycenaean civilisation
fragments.
Conquest of Syria Byblos, Tyre and
and Babylon, shortly Sidon have golden
followed by loss of age. Phoenicians
same. masters of trade.
Incursions from Carthage founded.
horse-riding Aryans
prompt Assyrians to
develop cavalry.
Beginnings of Hellene civilisation. Fresh assaults against Trading colonies
Separate, fortified city-states Syrian and Jewish established
emerge, forming the polis system kingdoms.
that will last for centuries.
First Olympic Games.
Babylon seized.
Sparta now boasts the most Obliteration of
capable warriors of any city-state Israel. Deportation
in Greece, owing to its tough code of the ten tribes.
of living and mandatory military Peak of Assyrian
training. civilisation.
191
 715-700 BC
Date Egyptians Greeks Assyrians Medes
715 Around this time, Greeks capture and Daiukku, first recorded king
settle territory in Asia Minor, forming the of the Medes, unites dozens
region known as Lydia. of tribal chiefs to fight
against the Assyrians.
700 Nile Delta Homer produces the Odyssey and the Egypt invaded. The
annexed by Iliad. The Hoplite becomes the standard Assyrian Empire is now
timeline

invading unit of defence for the polis or city-state, established as far as

Assyrians. meaning that those who can afford northern Egypt in the
the armour and weapons can become west and the Persian
important and influential citizens. Gulf in the East.

653-612 BC
Date Assyrians Medes
653 Unsuccessful Mede attack on Nineveh. Medes rally around Khshathrita, the son of Daikukku. While
King Sennacherib of Assyria is off fighting, the Medes mount an
attack on the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, in concert with their
Cimmerian allies and their Persian vassals. The attack fails.
652 The Scythians take advantage of the Medes recent military disasters
and invade.
631 The prophet Nahum foresees the fall of Nineveh Cyraxes, the new King of the Medes, slaughters the Scythian
and the destruction of the Assyrian Empire. chieftains as they lie drunk after a banquet. Free from Scythian
domination, the Medes begin to regain power.
625 Revolt in Babylon. Assyrian power begins to
crumble.
615 Medes capture the Assyrian cities of Arrapkha and Ashur. Nineveh
is surrounded.
612 Nineveh falls, assaulted by the Medes, who are Medes capture Nineveh, with Babylonian assistance.
assisted by the Babylonians. Assyrian empire
collapses and their territory is divided up between
the Medes and Babylonians.

550 525 BC
Date Greeks Persians
550 King Croesus comes to power in Lydia, in Asia Minor. Cyrus the Elder, originally a vassal king under the rule of
Croesus is a satrap under overall Persian command, allowed the Medes, consolidates his power, takes over the empire
to remain in power so long as deference is made to the of the Medes and combines the forces of the Medes and
Persian empire. Persians. He begins to take new territory, expanding the
Persian empire.
546 The Lydian empire has grown immensely rich and Persians conquer Lydia (see Greeks).
powerful. Croesus makes alliances with the Egyptians, the
Babylonians and most importantly the Spartans, who wished Cyrus uses local disaffection to his advantage in Babylon.
to defend Greek interests in Lydia. Although the Persians With the help of the Babylonian general Gobryas, Cyrus
are expanding relentlessly, King Croesus refuses to bow to takes the city of Uruk.
Persian authority any longer. Taking advice from the Oracle
at Delphi, he is told that a great nation will be destroyed if
he goes to war. Thinking this means the destruction of the
Persians, Croesus invades Persian territory, only to be roundly
defeated and cause the destruction of his own great nation.

192
539-525 BC
Date Egyptians Persians
539 With the help of Gobyras, Cyrus conquers Babylon itself and assumes the kingship. Gobyras is installed
as the local satrap in the new province of Babirush. Cyrus allows the Jewish people to return to their
homeland, taking with them the ritual items stolen from their temple by the Babylonians. The Jews call
him the Anointed of God.
538 Cyrus places his two sons in positions of command. Cambyses rules over Babylon, while Bardiya rules
over the provinces to the east.

timeline
529 Cyrus expands his nation east to the edge of India. A tremendous clash between the army of Cyrus and
that of Queen Tomyris of the Massagetae ends in the destruction of most of the Persian army. Cyrus
himself is killed.
525 Invasion of Cambyses has his brother Bardiya assassinated. Left with overall control of the Persian Empire, he
Egypt. Greek chooses to invade Egypt. A general who defected from the Greek army is able to get Cambyses the
mercenaries logistic help he needs to cross the desert and reach Egypt. This help comes from Bedouin people. In
help with the the resulting battle, Greek mercenaries fight on both the Persian and Egyptian sides. The Egyptians are
defence, but to defeated and retreat to Memphis.
no avail. The
Cambyses forces successfully invade Memphis and Egypt falls to the Persians. Cambyses then tries to
Persians take
use Egypt as a staging platform to mount an assault on Carthage, but his Phoenician allies naturally
Egypt.
refuse to fight against their own city.
522 A man claiming to be Bardiya, the assassinated brother of Cambyses, arises back in Persia and attempts
to take over the kingship. Cambyses heads back home but dies on the journey. The prince and
governor Darius, who distinguished himself in the war against Egypt, took the initiative and killed the
false Bardiya within two months. The insurrections and revolts took another two years to suppress fully.
519 Darius crosses the Caspian Sea and invades the Scythian territories.

499-350 BC
Date Greeks Persians
499 Aristagoras, a tyrant governing one of the cities of Lydia who was placed into power
by the Persians, rebels against them. He travels to the Greek mainland for support
in his stand against Persia. Initially he approaches the Spartans, hoping that they will
lend him military strength, but they are not interested.
498 Aristagoras approaches the Athenians. They agree to provide him with twenty ships. Rebellion in Lydia, aided by
The resulting expedition conquers and burns Sardis, the capital of Lydia; all other Athens.
Greek cities in the region join the revolt against Persia. Rather than carry on the
military effort, the Athenians go home.
495 Persian response to the Greek revolt brings the rebellious cities back under control. Control restored in Lydia.
Those cities that had previously been allowed autonomy are now governed by Persia. Persians furious with Athenians
for assisting in the revolt.
They are assisted and advised
by Hippias, a former ruler of
Athens, now deposed.
492 War is initiated between Athens and Persia. First Persian expeditionary force
heads to Greece but is lost when
the ships are wrecked in a storm.
490 Darius of Persia sends envoys to the various Greek mainland cities. These envoys Persia mounts a second
make the traditional demand of the earth and water of submission from the Greeks. expedition against Athens.
The Spartans respond by throwing the envoys down a well, where there is plenty of They are defeated at Marathon.
earth and water. Although the Athenians see this
as a triumph, to the Persians it is
A Persian expeditionary force heads to Greece, landing at the bay of Marathon, some
little more than an annoyance;
five miles from Athens. The Athenians benefit from the advice of Mitilades, a former
such is the size of their
soldier in the Persian army who knows the Persians tactics. The Athenians find
empire. They do not retaliate
the entire Plataian army has arrived to help them, a deed of bravery that they never
immediately.
forget. The Spartans do not arrive until the battle is over.
Darius the Great is defeated at the battle of Marathon. The Athenians see this as
their hour of greatest glory.

193
 486-481 BC
Date Egyptians Greeks Persians
486 Darius campaign against the
Greeks needs funding, which is
taken straight out of Egyptian
money. Incensed at the heavy
taxes imposed upon them, the
Egyptians revolt against their
timeline

Persian occupiers.
485 Xerxes puts down the Egyptian While most Athenians celebrate and
revolt with force. In the years to congratulate themselves following
come, the Egyptians are severely their victory against the Persians,
oppressed. the politician Themistocles warns
that the Persians will be back. He
convinces the Athenians to sink
the profits from a newly discovered
silver mine into a mighty ship
building effort.
482
481 The Athenian fleet that
Themistocles urged them to build
now numbers two hundred ships.
Following the death of Darius, King
Xerxes comes to power. He still takes no
action against Athens. He concentrates on
stabilising Egypt.
There is a revolt in Babylon and the
Persian satrap is killed. Xerxes puts a
stop to the revolt with his usual decisive
force, tearing down the fortifications of
Babylon, destroying the temples and even
going so far as to melt down the huge gold
statue of Marduk the Lawgiver. The name
Babylonian is banned and the people are
called Chaldeans from this point onwards.
Xerxes finally decides to punish the
Athenians properly this time. He gathers
a force of 150,000 men and 600 ships,
intending to conquer not only Athens but
all of Greece. Phoenician and Egyptian
ships contribute to the Persian navy.

480-479 BC
Date Greeks and Persians
480 Xerxes of Persia gathers his vast armada of ships laden with warriors at the Hellespont, the long and narrow sea that
(early) separates Asia Minor from Europe. The majority of Greeks abandon all hope of prevailing against Xerxes and are not
willing to fight. Of the hundred city-states in Greece, only 31 are willing to make a stand against the Persians. Sparta,
Corinth and Athens are in charge of the Greek side, called the Greek League. Sparta, with its military prowess, is
placed in charge of all land and sea operations.
The Persian army consists of warriors from 46 different nations and includes an elite force of the so-called ten thousand
immortals. These were the cream of the Persian and Medean soldiery and were given the privilege of bringing along
their servants and concubines on the campaign. A group of three Greek spies is caught and allowed to return to Greece
and make their report, just so that the Greeks will understand what they are up against.
Themistocles of Athens understands that the Persians are completely dependent upon their fleet for continued supplies
and communications and reasons that the destruction of the Persian ships is the only thing that will give the Greeks a
chance. He keeps the Athenian ships safely at harbour, while storms in the Agaean wreck several of Xerxes ships.

194
 480 The Persian invaders encounter unexpected resistance at the Thermopylae pass, when they meet a defending Spartan
(mid) force that absolutely refuses to give up. A force of 5,000 Greeks, spearheaded by only 300 Spartans, commanded by
King Leonidas inflicts a huge number of casualties on the Persian army, the Spartans fighting, literally, to the last man.
The event is commemorated in later years; a stone tablet is erected that simply reads Tell them in Sparta that we obeyed
our orders. After passing through Thermopylae, the Persian army takes the Greek city of Thebes, whose occupants (in
stark contrast to the Spartans) surrender without a fight. The Persians go on to sack Athens, burning the Acropolis, but
the Athenians have already retreated to the city of Salamis on an island west of Athens.
At the Battle of Salamis, the Greek navy meets the Persian. The Greeks use their boats as fighting platforms, attacking

timeline
the Persian ships in hand-to-hand combat; this tactic has not been used before and it is devastatingly effective. The
Persians lose 200 ships, the Greeks only 40. Xerxes has the Phoenician ship captains executed, which results in both the
Phoenicians and the Egyptians heading back home.
Xerxes then returns to the city of Sardis, leaving the general Mardonius in charge of the army.
479 On the orders of Xerxes, Mardonius of Persia spends the winter in Greece with his army. However, on attempting to
resume the Persian campaign of conquest in warmer months, he encounters the largest Greek army yet assembled, at
Plataea. It turns out that both the Greeks and the Persians have been given prophecies that victory will be theirs, so long
as they remain on the defensive. Mardonius scorns this and attacks instead. The Greeks, who would probably not have
fought (and might well have dissolved their coalition) had the Persians not made the first move, are forced to fight.
The Greek army, led by the Spartan King Pausanias, is victorious and Mardonius is killed. The Persians withdraw their
forces.

478 413 BC
Date Greeks (Athenians and Spartans)
478 In the aftermath of the Persian Wars, the Greek city-states look for leadership. Although Sparta has done most to secure
victory on land, the Greeks look to Athens and her powerful navy to take overall command. The Greek cities in Asia
Minor are especially nervous, as they are right on Persias doorstep and fear retribution. The land-locked military of Sparta
cannot help them, but the mobile Athenian fleet can.
Following a summit meeting on the island of Delos, Athens and other Greek city-states form the Delian League, held fast
by the threat of a possible return by the Persians. This alarms the Spartans, who see Athens becoming much too powerful.
Xerxes of Persia tries to win the Greeks around with bribery and diplomacy instead of military force.
477 The Delian League makes repeated attacks upon Persian holdings, liberating the Greek cities in Asia Minor that had
previously been under Persian rule. In 476, the League attacks Thrace, reducing the Persian presence in Europe to the
single city of Doriscus.
Cities that the League liberates are required to join the League, sometimes against their will; the League demands that
cities join or be destroyed. A decisive victory against Persia finally comes in 467 BC. Shortly after, in 465 BC, the Persian
leader Xerxes is assassinated, succeeded by his son Ataxerxes.
The more powerful the Delian League becomes, the more power Athens gains as leader of the League. As the League
demands tax payments from member cities in order to maintain the fleet, Athens becomes immensely wealthy.
Eventually, a small island city called Thrasos decides that it has had enough of the League and rebels. The rebellion is
swiftly crushed but the example has been set.
461 Pericles takes control in Athens. Immediate alliances made with other Greek city-states make the Spartans very wary,
especially the Athenian alliance with the Megarans, who just happen to be directly in between Sparta and Athens, thus
forming a convenient buffer state and preventing Sparta from reaching Athens in the event of conflict. The Spartans
decide that enough is enough and declare war against Athens. This is known as the First Peloponessian War.
460 Athens is still pursuing its campaign against Persia as well as the war with the Spartans. Inaros of Egypt expels the Persian
tax collectors and asks for help from Athens against the Persians. The Egyptian satrap is killed and most of Memphis is
taken.
Athens makes a disastrous attack against Persian-occupied Egypt, resulting in the decimation of the fleet. This blow to
Athenian power inspires several members of the Delian League to revolution. Shaken by their defeat in Egypt and the
shrinking of the League, the Athenians call a truce with Sparta.
449 Athens makes peace with the Persians. Persia recognises the autonomy of the free Greek cities in Asia, while Athens agrees
not to try to liberate any more, so long as the Persians do not exact too much tribute. The Athenians also agree not to
support any more Egyptian revolts.

195
 445 Several important city-states revolt from the Delian League, including Megarea, the tactically vital buffer state between
Athens and Sparta. This leaves Athens exposed to direct Spartan attack. In a bid to avert all-out war, Pericles of Athens
makes a thirty-year peace treaty with the Spartans. This results in a mutually satisfactory situation. The mainland city-
states are independent of Athens, while Sparta recognises the extensive Athenian Empire as legitimate.
With Sparta placated for the moment, Athens turns its eye to Persia once again. They begin moves against the Persian
empire by accepting a large present of gold and grain from Psamtik, a rebel against Persian rule in Libya. Athens
establishes tribute districts in regions close to Persian control.

441-413 BC
timeline

Date Athenians, Spartans and Persians

441 In a tit-for-tat conflict, the peace treaty between Athens and Persia is broken. Persia takes the island of Miletus, while Athens
captures Samos after Phonecian ships fail to put up a defence.
433 Persia sends the fabulously beautiful courtesan Thargelia and her retinue to Athens, in order to extract information from
lustful Athenian statesmen. This is an excellent example of the role of the courtesan in ancient politics.
431 The power of Athens, which continues to receive taxes from all members of the Delian League, has grown even further.
Unwilling to let this happen, Sparta breaks the thirty-year peace treaty and the Peloponessian War between Athens and
Sparta is declared. Sparta immediately burns Athenian crops, hoping to starve the Athenians into submission.
424 Artaxerxes of Persia and his queen die on the same day.
Xerxes II succeeds to the throne, but is assassinated after only a month and a half. His assassin, Secydianus, is another son of
Ataxerxes, fathered on a Babylonian concubine. Yet another son of Ataxerxes, fathered on a different Babylonian concubine,
soon deposes Secydianus; this new ruler calls himself Darius II and immediately reinstates the peace treaty with Athens that
was broken in 441.
421 After ten years of fruitless conflict and heavy losses on both sides, the war between Athens and Sparta is called off and a new
fifty-year peace treaty agreed. Nicias, the Athenian politcian and military commander, engineers this.
415 Alicibades, a rival of Nicias in the Athenian Democratic Assembly, persuades Athens to go to war once again. This is a
display of the power of the Rhetoric skill to change the minds of a multitude. Alicibades argues that the Athenians should
attack some Greek city-states on the island of Sicily and forcibly incorporate them into the Athenian Empire. The Athenians
agree.
413 The Athenian attack on Sicily is an unmitigated disaster. The army is defeated and the a large part of the fleet destroyed.
Athens is thus left virtually without any kind of military strength but most importantly without a strong navy.

414-350 BC
Date Greeks Persians
413 With Athens severely weakened after the The satrap of Sardis rebels against Persian authority, is compelled to
disastrous attempt to invade Sicily, Sparta seizes surrender and subsequently executed.
the opportunity to attack once again. This time,
Darius II finds that his own son has rebelled against him, with help from
they have the Persians on their side, following yet
the Athenians. This moves him to ally with the Spartans against Athens.
more Athenian meddling in Persian affairs (see
A treaty between Persia and Sparta is signed.
Persians).
Persians join the Spartans in attacking the Athenians, thus taking a
measure of revenge for the defeats inflicted upon them in earlier years.
411 The Spartan politicians find fault with a second The Medes and the Egyptians both try to revolt. A eunuch in the court
Persian treaty. It requires them to recognise land of Darius II tries to set himself up as King but is unsuccessful.
that had once belonged to an ancestor of Darius
II as belonging to the Persians. The Spartans
refuse to accept this and the Persian general
Tissaphernes, who has been brokering the treaties
between Sparta and Persia, storms out of the
assembly in a fury.
409 Athens mounts an invasion of Asia and burns the Cyrus, a 16 year old son of the Persian queen, is appointed commander
stores of grain in Lydia. of the Persian forces in Asia Minor. He finally begins to pay the
Spartans the funding for ships that Persia promised in an earlier treaty.
Before he does this, he keeps the Spartan general Callicratidas waiting
for two days, while he goes on a drinking binge. This does not endear
Cyrus to the Spartans.

196
 405 All the remaining ships of the Athenian navy are
destroyed in a surprise attack.

404-403 BC
Date Egyptians Greeks Persians
404 Egyptians revolt, With financial help from Persia, the Spartans are able to win the Darius II dies. Artaxerxes II
regaining their battle of Aegospotami, which cuts off the Athenian supply of succeeds to the Persian throne.
independence. grain. His brother Cyrus is caught

timeline
planning to assassinate him
Facing inevitable defeat and starvation, the Athenians surrender
and take the throne for himself.
to the Spartans. The Spartans destroy the walls of Athens and
His mothers influence saves
install their own government, which they call the Thirty Tyrants.
him from execution; Cyrus is
Athens is barred from ever having a navy again. This surrender
very much her favourite.
marks the end of the Classical period of Greek history.
403 Spartans assist Cyrus in attempting to claim the throne of Persia. With help from the Spartans,
Cyrus makes a bid for power
against his brother Artaxerxes
II. In the ensuing battle, Cyrus
is killed. The Greeks escape.

395-378 BC
Date Greeks
395 Yet another war between the Greek city-states begins, the Corinthian War, in which Athens, Corinth and Argos stand
against Sparta. Athens refortifies the city and rebuilds its navy.
387 The Corinthian War ends, with a peace treaty arranged by the Persian ruler. Sparta is placed in overall control of Greece.
378 Athens forms the Second Athenian Confederation, composed of city-states in the Agaean Sea, in order to keep the Spartans
from gaining territory there.

371 BC
Date Greeks Persians
371 The Spartan King, Agesilaus, captures Thebes without provocation, then The Persian satrap Pharnabarzus
turns toward Athens. The Athenians ally with the Thebans. The Spartans assembles a vast invasion force,
are defeated at the battle of Leuctra, breaking up the Spartan hegemony. The including 12,000 Greek mercenaries,
Second Athenian Confederation also begins to collapse, as the reason for its to invade Egypt and bring it under
existence (the Spartan threat) is gone and nobody in the Confederation wants to Persian rule again.
pay tribute money to Athens for protection that is not needed.
The army fails to take Memphis and
The Thebans are now in overall charge and the so-called Theban Hegemony has to retreat back into Asia as the
begins. The political map of Greece is redrawn, giving Sparta far less territory waters of the flooding Nile beat them
and (in a radical move) setting free their Helot slaves and allowing them an back.
independent state of their own.

362-343 BC
Date Egypt Greeks Persians
362 King Djedhor of Egypt takes Theban control provokes dissatisfaction
advantage of Persian satrap and the Thebans are defeated, though
revolts in Syria to invade their influence remains. Athenian power
Palestine and Phoenecia, with persists through the Second Athenian
aid from both Spartan and Confederation.
Athenian factions. Unrest
at home forces Djedhor to
abandon his plans of conquest
and return home.

197
 361 On his way back to Egypt,
to Djedhor is captured by
355 a Persian prince, Ochus.
Following negotiations,
Djedhor agrees to act as a
vassal king for Persia but he
dies. His nephew Nekht-har-
hebi rules in Egypt.
timeline
359 BC: Philip is crowned King in Artaxerxes II dies of grief, following the
Macedonia, a kingdom in Northern Greece death of several members of his family in
that will prove significant in coming intrigues. The prince Ochus renames himself
years. His first act is to pacify the tribes Artaxerxes III and sets about killing off any
to the north; his second is to capture gold members of his family who oppose him.
and silver mines and prepare for a major
campaign of conquest.
355 BC: Athens finally abandons the Second
Athenian Confederation, leaving Greece

once more as a group of independent city-

states without allegiances with one another.
349 Philip of Macedonia begins his invasion of Artaxerxes III spends a year in an
Greece. unsusccessful attempt to retake Egypt.
Abortive Assyrian attempt to re-establish an
independent state is crushed by the Persians.
343 Egypt finally falls to Persian Ten thousand Greek mercenaries help Persia Artaxerxes III, having destroyed Sidon on
to reinvasion. Nekht-har-hebi to recapture Egypt. his way, reduced Egypt by bloody conquest
337 retreats to Ethiopia, where he before centralising and strengthening the
continues to claim he is ruler Persian Empire. One of his ministers, finally
of Egypt. poisoned the king and placed Artaxerxes
son, Arses, on the throne in 338. He in turn
was later deposed in 336 in favour of Darius
III.

338 323 BC
Date Greeks
338 Philip of Macedonia conquers Athens and its allies, in a battle in which his son Alexander leads a crucial cavalry charge.
With this decisive victory, he now controls most of the city-states of mainland Greece, with the exception of Sparta. He
creates the Federal League of Corinth, which is essentially a combination of sundry city-states into a Greek kingdom with
Philip at its head.
337 Philip announces that Greece will invade Persia and take revenge for the wars.
336 On the brink of Philips invasion of Persia, he is assassinated. His son Alexander immediately steps into his place.
334 With no funding, no ships and relatively few troops, Alexander sets out to conquer Persia. His strategy is to strike at easy
targets first to garner supplies, then cut off the possibility of naval reinforcements by taking the port cities, finally moving
inland to the enemy strongholds. Alexanders willingness to lead from the front, throwing himself into the fray alongside his
men, earns him the respect of his troops. He quickly overruns Asia Minor.
333 With the coastal cities safely taken, Alexander moves on into Syria. At the city of Issus, he encounters the Persian army
under the command of Darius himself. In the ensuing battle, another spectacular cavalry charge from Alexander sunders the
enemy ranks. The Persians retreat eastwards into Mesopotamia, leaving Alexander to continue south without opposition.
He conquers cities as he goes, with Jerusalem welcoming him as a liberator. The coastal Phoenician city of Tyre falls to him,
causing consternation in Persia, as it is their main sea port and vital for their naval operations.
Alexander conquers Egypt with little resistance. The native Egyptians hail his coming, crown him king and proclaim him
the son of Ra, as they used to do with their own Pharaohs.
331 Darius of Persia recognises that Alexander is not going to be stopped and decides to cut his losses before the situation
becomes unmanageable. He sends an offer to Alexander, proposing that Alexander should be given all Persian territory west
of the Euphrates river, while Persia keeps the northern territory. In return, Alexander is to cease all hostilities.
Alexander does not agree to this. He crosses the Euphrates and heads right into the heart of Mesopotamia. Darius and his
army make a stand at Nineveh, the old Assyrian capital. Despite having the advantage of numbers, the Persians are scattered.
Darius flees with them.
330 Alexander enters the city of Babylon and claims the treasury, which is filled with the wealth garnered from decades of tribute.
The Persian nobles decide that Darius is no longer fit to lead them. Darius brother Bessus kills Darius and leaves his body
where Alexander can discover it, in the hope that this will placate Alexander. It does not; Alexander presses on, catches
Bessus and the other Persian nobles and slaughters all of them. This marks the demise of the Persian empire.
327 Alexander simply keeps on going, pushing eastward through Scythia and on to India and Pakistan. However, his army
becomes weary and he is forced to return to Babylon.
323 Alexander, now an incarnate God in his own eyes, dies of a fever following one of his characteristic bouts of drinking. There
is some speculation that he was poisoned with hellebore as part of a conspiracy. With the death of Alexander, the time
period covered by OGL Ancients comes to a close.
198
Religions and
Philosophies
Playing a character is not a simple matter of doing anything
you feel like. What your character is like on the inside is up
to you; you can play a virtuous warrior or a greedy, corrupt
priest if you choose. There is, however, a limit on what your
character may do with impunity. Characters are bound by
codes of behaviour and transgression from this can land them
in serious trouble. So long as you stay on your deitys good
side, you will receive blessings and prosperity; transgress the
deitys strict code and you can expect trouble. The image of
a lightning bolt striking a wrongdoer comes from Zeus, the
ruler of the Greek Gods and his habit of blasting those whose
sins were especially horrendous.
Characters in the world of OGL Ancients derive the greater
part of their moral codes from their religion. There are very
few people who do not participate in the religion of their
civilization. Greek and Egyptian religion is pantheistic,
meaning that there are multiple Gods and Goddesses. In
addition to paying respects to the main deities of the
pantheon, every character has a patron deity who determines
that characters idea of right and wrong. Your patron deity also
watches over you, takes an interest in your welfare and may
even answer your prayers, so long as you have faithfully kept
to that deitys code. If you offend, the deity will expect you to
make formal atonement.
There are no absolutes of good and evil, nor of law and chaos,
in the system; there is no alignment. What is right and
proper for one deity may be abhorrent to another. Athena
despises lies, whereas Hermes admires them if they are done
well, being something of a silver-tongued entity himself. Hera
prizes fidelity, whereas Zeus himself often fails to practice it
and is given a celestial browbeating when he is found out.
Although the pantheons are all, so to speak, on the same side,
clashes of interest between their followers are inevitable; even
the Gods themselves have their disputes. The myths often tell
of times when Zeus and Hera were at odds, setting all Olympus
in an uproar. Nonetheless, any Greek character is expected to
honour all the principal Olympian deities and any Egyptian
character is expected to honour Ra and the other deities of that
pantheon. In terms of personal conduct, this equates to the
character being generally law-abiding and honourable.
Some characters may wish to worship deities that are not part
of the main pantheon or who would be considered evil by
normal standards. This is appropriate and allowed. Such
deities as Set, Apophis, Typhon and Eris are all antisocial and
their followers suffer no penalty for acts that most other deities
would consider abhorrent.
religion in a
historical game
If you are playing OGL Ancients in the historical setting as
opposed to the mythical, you can proceed as if the Gods were
not real. You do not apply divine favour or disfavour, though
the role of the Gods as determinants of a characters moral
conduct still remains. Whether the Gods were real or not,
religion
people still believed in them and judged their actions by their
standards.
A character who goes against the code of action laid down
for him by the faith to which they subscribe should suffer a
penalty to experience points for that session. A 10% penalty
is appropriate.
changing your
deity
You can change your deity if you choose. Embracing a
new religion is sometimes appropriate for a character. A
noblewoman driven from her home and living in the
wilderness might turn from the worship of Hera to that of
Artemis or Hecate; a thief who gained military rank could
reject Hermes in favour of Ares. However, the Gods do
not look favourably upon those who have fickle faith. You
automatically gain the disfavour of the deity you used to
worship. If you were already in disfavour or you were beloved,
then you automatically become hated. The Gods are proud
and do not forgive the mortals who reject their love.
codes of the deities
This section explains the codes by which a follower of a given
deity is expected to live. Rather than give a full and detailed
account of the religions, each deity has three keywords,
indicating the concepts that the followers revere. From these,
any player will be able to work out his characters attitude in
a given situation. There follows a summary of the particular
moral stance taken by the deitys followers, concluding with
a description of Virtues and Sins, indicating which actions
are praised by the deity and which are punished. The Games
Master taking the part of a God, can refer to this to find out
when a characters actions should incur the favour or disfavour
of a deity.
Virtues: The section describing Virtues is given primarily as
a role-playing aid, so that players know what their characters
values are likely to be. When a character commits a virtuous
act as defined by his deity, there is not necessarily any reward
for it; it is, after all, what is expected of him. To get a reward of
any kind from the deity, you must perform dedicated acts (see
below) and not just virtuous ones. However, when a character
goes out of his way to do a virtuous thing at risk to himself, he
should receive a single Divine Point (up to his maximum) in
recognition of this.
199
 For example, a worshipper of Ares who stands his ground
against three opponents so that his comrades can escape is
clearly being courageous at great personal risk, so he should
receive a Divine Point. By contrast, a worshipper of Hera who
gives a handful of copper coins to beggars when she has a purse
full of gold is being generous at no personal risk, so she should
not receive anything.
Sins: Sins are another matter. A character that commits
religion
a sin (by the standards of his deity) risks earning his deitys
disfavour. If the characters deity is omniscient, he has no
chance to avoid this. Most of the Gods are, however, not
omniscient and do not always notice when sins are committed.
Whenever any character acts contrary to his deitys code and
commits a sin, the Games Master secretly rolls 1d20 plus the
characters experience level.
If the result is 10 or greater, the deity notices the sin as it is
committed; the character gains the disfavour of his deity and
may not spend Divine Points until the sin is atoned for (see
Atonement). If the result is 20 or greater, the deity is angered
by the sin; the character gains the deitys disfavour and loses
one base Divine Point. If he is of 10th level or higher, he is
also punished with the deitys wrath. (See the Magic chapter.)
Otherwise, the sin passes unnoticed and the character is none
the worse for it.
Deities in the ancient world have lives of their own, resulting
in mortals on earth sometimes being able to get away with
crimes that would otherwise be punished. The self-evident
failure of the Gods to avenge every infraction is explained
by this habit of theirs. It is quite possible that Dionysus, for
example, is so busy chasing a nymph in an Arcadian grove that
he simply fails to notice the angry mortal cursing all the Gods
because his house has burned down unexpectedly.
The more renown a character has, the more likely it is that the
Gods will watch and take note of his conduct, which is why it
is harder for a high-level character to misbehave with impunity
than a low-level one. A king or hero is thus more likely to be
punished for his sins than a mere peasant, because kings and
heroes are supposed to be examples for others. Nonetheless,
even heroes sometimes commit sins and get away with it. The
eyes and ears of the Gods are sharp indeed, but they do not
notice every single thing that happens upon Earth. Only the
omniscient Gods, such as Zeus or Ptah, notice and punish
every sin.
Remember that while the deitys code is only binding upon
those who follow the deity, followers of the deity will want
to put their standards into practice whenever they can. For
example, followers of Ares despise all cowardice, not just that
which arises amongst their own numbers. In the ancient
world, there is none of the tolerance between religions that
we find today. The supporters of a deity are as fervent as the
supporters of a modern sports team. If it were not for the
Olympian deities being on the same side, so to speak (the
same goes for the Egyptian pantheon) then there would
200
doubtless be endless feuds between the cults of the different
deities, as each struggles to put its own ideology into practice
at the expense of the others.
Each entry gives a list of the kind of people who is most likely
to take the deity as a personal patron. This list is not at all
exclusive; you do not have to be on it in order to worship
the deity. Artemis, for example, is worshipped by tens of
thousands of ordinary working people, simply because she is
the most prominent deity in their area. Her worship is not
restricted to hunters or dedicated virgins; they are just more
likely to take her as their Goddess in preference to others.
Common Factors: Every one of the twelve Olympian deities
considers breach of a solemn oath to be a sin, so this is not
detailed in their description. Of them all, only Hermes is
likely to be at all flexible, helping his followers to twist the
meaning of their words so that they can truthfully claim not
to have broken the letter of an oath, even if they have clearly
broken it in spirit.
the greek
pantheon
This section is not exhaustive. Only the major Olympian
deities are described, along with Hecate, as these are the
likeliest to be worshipped by the players. There are many
additional deities but these are not significant enough to have
a cult of their own, though they may be propitiated where
appropriate.
Aphrodite
The followers of the Goddess of beauty and love are usually
women, though her cult does attract those men whose
interests and behaviour involve charm, seduction and
glamour. Those who work in the vice business at whatever
level or who manufacture or sell such items as scented oil,
perfumes, cosmetics, hairpieces or jewellery (all vast industries
in the ancient world) are likely to revere Aphrodite.
Keywords: The keywords of Aphrodites devotees are glamour,
desire and beauty.
Cult: Whether or not a worshipper of Aphrodite is female,
they tend to have a classically female attitude to battle and
violence; they prefer to avoid it altogether. Aphrodites cultists
use charm, persuasion, seduction and glamorous wiles to make
their conquests. They do not like to fight openly and rely on
others to provide them with protection.
The temples of Aphrodite range from celebrations of beauty
to little better than bawdy houses. Sacred prostitution is one
of Aphrodites interests. As the Goddess of love, members of
what is called the oldest profession, who depend on attraction
and inflamed desire in order to make a living, most especially
worship her. There is no shame attached to being a temple
prostitute in the ancient world; it is seen as a means of serving
the Goddess and expressing her indiscriminate love for all
creation.
Virtues: Courtesy, cleanliness, shrewdness, honouring beauty,
protecting beautiful things from destruction, kindness to
animals (not including due sacrifice, of course), achievement
of power.
Sins: Cruelty, violence (except in self-defence, the defence of
others or taking revenge), negligence of religious duty, failure
to bathe, defilement of beautiful things, bullying those weaker
than yourself.
Disfavour: Checks to oppose Charisma-based skill checks
made by women.
Dedicated Acts: Acts of seduction, creation of beautiful
objects, winning contests of beauty, acquisition of precious
jewels and ornaments (for oneself or for the temple of
Aphrodite), glorification of the cult of Aphrodite with
paintings (or statuary or similar objects) that you make
yourself
Favoured Checks: Disguise skill checks, Bluff skill checks,
Gather Information skill checks, Presence skill checks,
Charisma checks to change anothers attitude, other peoples
Will saving throws (negative). The followers of Aphrodite
may call upon the Goddess to sap the willpower of another
person, as she has the ability to break the wills of others; she
is the only one of the twelve Olympians to have a negative
favoured check.
Apollo
Golden Apollo is the deity of choice for musicians,
philosophers and athletes. Those who seek perfection of
mind and body alike revere him. He is not an easy deity to
follow, as he insists upon high standards from his devotees;
neglecting your physical health or mental rigour will earn
you his contempt. As he sets such emphasis upon excellence
and winning, he is often the God of those who engage in
competitions, such as sports and contests. Poets look to him
for inspiration, as he is the God whose companions are the
creative Muses. As the God of marine voyages and navigation,
he receives honour from sailors and merchants.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Apollo are discipline,
excellence, manhood and harmony.
Cult: The followers of Apollo are as proud and haughty
as their deity. They tolerate no insult to him or to them.
He is very much a mans God and in many respects, the
bodybuilders of the modern-day world resemble the cult of
Apollo in the ancient time. To follow Apollo is to accept the
burden of being as perfect as you possibly can in all respects.
Those of more earthly or relaxed faiths often see this path as
arrogant and domineering. The cults of Dionysus and Hermes
in particular are likely to smirk at those who revere Apollo and
try to emulate his physical perfection.
Virtues: Health, persistence, grace, self-esteem, courtesy,
winning, honesty, showing respect to those worthy of it.
Sins: Allowing the body to become contaminated, cheating,
telling lies, letting another cheat you and get away with it,
letting offences go unpunished, tolerating insults made against
you or against Apollo, being ruled by your passions.
Disfavour: Active Defence or Shield Defence checks to dodge
religion
or ward off arrows.
Dedicated Acts: Winning contests, feats of athletics, feats
of marksmanship, impressing audiences with a performance,
avenging insults at great risk to yourself.
Favoured Checks: Ranged attack rolls when using a bow,
Grapple attack rolls and checks, Concentration skill checks,
Perform skill checks when using a musical instrument,
Fortitude saving throws made to avoid fatigue when running
for a long time, Climb skill checks.
Asclepius
The God of healing is only worshipped by those who are
themselves healers. Others pay tribute to him and offer
grateful sacrifice once they have been restored to health, but
they do not venerate him on a permanent basis.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Asclepius are healing,
medicine and fire.
Cult: The cult of Asclepius is unusual in that it is both a
religion and a system of therapeutics. Those who follow the
God have an obligation to provide healing to those who ask
for it, though it is a grave dishonour for those who have been
made well to fail to give a donation. A sacrifice is essential
if there is to be any healing at all. There is always a sacred
fountain at a sanctuary of Asclepius, into which the patient is
expected to throw gold once he has made a full recovery.
The secrets of physical healing are handed down from father
to son at the sanctuaries of Asclepius (only very late in the
classical era did the sanctuaries allow outsiders to learn the
medical arts); these sanctuaries are also sanatoriums in which
the sick are nursed back to health.
Virtues: Giving healing to those who need it, generosity,
brevity in speech, compassion, expanding knowledge.
Sins: Harming a serpent (the sacred beast of Asclepius),
killing or causing a wound except in self-defence, ending the
life of an innocent, using medical training for personal profit.
Disfavour: Fortitude saving throws to avoid the effects of
disease.
Dedicated Acts: Saving multiple lives (such as in the event of a
plague outbreak), curing important or noble persons, bringing
201
 a person back to full health from the point of death, restoring
health to multiple warriors wounded on the battlefield.
Favoured Checks: Heal, Medicine, Rhetoric, Solve
Conundrum skill checks and Fortitude saving throws.
Ares
More than half of all warriors in the Ancient Greek world
worship Ares, the youthful God of war. He receives honour
religion
from many men who are not warriors, being very much a
mans deity. Women avoid his cult as a rule, as it takes a
proprietorial attitude towards women. Those few who do
join it are accepted as honorary men and have to behave in
just as austere and aggressive a fashion. Those warriors who
do not worship Ares often follow Athene, Apollo, Artemis or
Zeus instead.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Ares are strength,
dominance and combat.
Cult: Nobody enters the cult of Ares without knowing how
to fight. Physical fitness, aggression and competence with
weapons are valued above all else. Ares has a bad reputation
among the Olympian Gods for being quarrelsome and
truculent, and this reputation passes to his followers. They
are not the most powerful of the cults, as that honour belongs
incontestably to Zeus, but they are one of the most feared.
They take what they want and have no compunctions about
pushing others around. If it were not for the priesthoods of
the other Olympian deities keeping the cult of Ares in check,
it would probably exceed its bounds and grow to dominate
the others.
This troublesome cult does have a strong positive side. As
Ares is the God of War, his followers make the best fighters
and at times of war, they come to the fore. They see war
between nations as an opportunity to gain the favour of their
grim God, who respects few dedicated acts other than those
that take place on the battlefield. Ares cultists are jealous for
glory in war, competing with each other to claim prizes and
slaughter foes. The battlefields of the ancient world ring with
the roars of Ares cultists dedicating enemy after enemy to their
God, striking down one after another as the red rage howls
in their veins and they feel the presence of Ares within them
urging them on. It is standard practice for an Ares cultist
engaged in mass combat to use up his Divine Points hacking
his foes to pieces, then go after a major target (such as an
enemy champion) as a dedicated act.
Virtues: Heroism, courage, obeying orders faithfully even if
it leads to your death, taking pleasure in the good things of
life, respect for the strength of others, taking what you want,
refusal to tolerate insult.
Sins: Cowardice, attacking an unarmed opponent, dereliction
of duty, talking too much, evasiveness, showing weakness,
compromise.
202
Disfavour: Will saving throws to avoid fear effects.
Dedicated Acts: Besting a single powerful opponent in
combat, destroying a set number of foes (such as swearing
to take ten enemy chariots), capturing an enemy position,
capturing a city, avenging a fallen friend, taking prizes for your
home nation, acts of conquest generally.
Favoured Checks: Melee or ranged attack rolls with any
weapon except a bow, Active Defence checks, Presence skill
checks, Fortitude saving throws.
Artemis
The most dedicated worshippers of Artemis are hunters,
farmers, dwellers in the wilderness, consecrated temple
maidens and female warriors.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Artemis are wilderness,
hunting and purity.
Cult: Artemis is worshipped as a Goddess of the moon, the
twin to her solar brother Apollo. She is propitiated with
the first fruits of the harvest and her blessing asked on the
occasion of marriage. Her following is a wild one, more
rural than civic and the places sacred to her are uncultivated
wildernesses and forests ideal places for hunting, in short.
Those who revere Artemis worship her in forlorn and savage
locales. She is renowned for her dark, vindictive nature; the
least negligence in offering her the due tribute is liable to be
punished severely.
Virtues: Chastity, continence, fidelity, sobriety, finishing
what you start, respect for the wilderness. Artemis abhors
the intemperate, sensual behaviour of many men. To follow
her is to renounce the soft pleasures of luxury, drink and
womanising in favour of the hard, punishing joy of a hunt in
harsh territory.
Sins: Excessive indulgence, debauchery, disrespect to the
cult of Artemis, spying on unclothed women or nymphs,
abandoning an enterprise part-way through, sentimentality.
Disfavour: Active Defence or Shield Defence checks to
defend oneself against arrows; Survival checks when in the
wilderness within Ancient Greece.
Dedicated Acts: Hunting and slaying prey of impressive
character (such as a semi-divine boar), feats of archery or
athletics, tracking and killing a human foe, slaying those who
commit atrocities against chaste women.
Favoured Checks: Ranged attack rolls when using a bow,
Concentration, Handle Animal, Hide, Move Silently, Survival,
Spot skill checks.
 Athena
The followers of wise Athena are rulers, counsellors, warriors
(and those who command them) and those who work for a
living, including the majority of working women. She is
an extremely popular deity with many positive attributes, so
she attracts followers from all the different strata of society.
She is most revered by those who have something major to
defend, such as those in positions of great civic responsibility,
householders, parents and advisors.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Athena are wisdom,
protection and craft.
Cult: The followers of Athena believe in putting the gifts of
the Goddess into practice and being useful in society. Athena
is the patroness of the various crafts (especially those to do
with pottery and weaving) and is believed to have taught
mankind many useful arts of civilisation, so her followers
resolve to use these for the greater good of all. Athenas
devotees pride themselves on being hard-working, practical,
skilled and dependable. The influence of the cult and of
the Goddess permeate the bedrock of ancient Greek society,
keeping the working classes proud of their contribution to the
general welfare and ensuring that standards of manufacture are
kept good and high.
Virtues: Caution, economy, listening to advice, taking
responsibility, defending those who need you, giving advice
when applicable, seeking for wisdom, respecting teachers and
education, hard work, persistence, self-control.
Sins: Frivolity, attacking an unarmed opponent, giving in to
passions, laziness, waste, needless destruction, undermining
law and order.
Disfavour: Active Defence or Shield Defence checks against
javelin attacks.
Dedicated Acts: Making crafted items destined for the
temple of Athene, defending a key position during a battle,
undertaking to defend weaker persons than yourself when on
a journey, destroying monsters, averting conflict with wise
counsel.
Favoured Checks: Melee or ranged attack rolls when using
a javelin, Shield Defence checks, Craft skill checks (when
working with materials other than metal), Debate skill checks,
Sense Motive skill checks, Will saving throws, Wisdom ability
score checks, Search skill checks.
Demeter
Demeter, the original earth mother Goddess and queen of the
corn, has her greatest following among farmers, mothers and
dwellers in the country. She is more likely to be worshipped
by the poor than the rich. She represents the cultivated soil,
rather than the primordial raw earth.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Demeter are earth,
fertility, motherhood and mystery.
Cult: Demeter is set over those who practice husbandry and
whose lives depend on the fertility of the earth. As she also
governs the earth underfoot in its role as the gateway between
the world of men and the underworld, she is also the Goddess
associated with the afterlife and the mysteries of initiation.
Hades her brother may govern the underworld, but mortals,
religion
who look instead to Demeter for their death rites, do not
worship him.
Virtues: Generosity, industry, productivity, freeing captives,
producing children, caring for the needy in the area. Followers
of Demeter are expected to nurture those around them just as
the earth herself nurtures those who dwell upon it.
Sins: Demeter abhors defilement of the earth (such as the
destruction of fertile land), wasting resources, separating
children from their parents, refusing food to the needy, cruel
treatment of women or children and wanton destruction.
Disfavour: Survival skill checks when in pastoral regions.
Dedicated Acts: Capturing or clearing farmland; freeing
the enslaved; undergoing torment or trial and emerging
triumphant; defending the cultivated earth.
Favoured Checks: Handle Animal skill checks, Disguise skill
checks, Fortitude saving throws, Knowledge (nature) skill
checks, Survival skill checks, Ride skill checks, Search skill
checks.
Dionysus
The followers of the God of wine and revelling come from rural
areas and from the parts of cities where regular celebration is a
part of life. He enjoys the worship of those who refuse to take
life too seriously and who chafe at the idea of being limited by
too many laws. Dionysus stands for the unpredictable, erratic,
wild side of life; his followers are not likely to be overly fond of
discipline or structure.
Keywords: The keywords of the Dionysus cult are renewal,
wine and celebration.
Cult: Dionysus is celebrated all across Ancient Greece, most
enthusiastically in rural villages where his festivals represent
the most typical image of classical paganism. The women
who follow him are called Maenads, a troupe of wild devotees
who wear ragged clothing and tear living creatures apart with
their bare hands. Dionysus is held in high esteem by the semi-
human creatures of the forest, such as satyrs and centaurs. The
philosophy of a Dionysus follower is to remember that life
is eternally beginning and ending, that everything eternally
devours everything else and that only in the rapture of strong
drink and orgiastic excess do we perceive the world as it truly
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 is; a festival of savage delight. Dionysus followers are very
rarely afraid of anything. Like the God himself, they are hard
to kill and pride themselves on their ability to come through
trials still smiling.
Dionysus is often taken to be the diametric opposite and the
complement of Apollo. While Apollo is orderly, harmonious,
precise and controlled, Dionysus is unrestrained, wild, savage
and drunken. Followers of Dionysus hate bonds and fetters
religion
of any kind and do not submit to them without violent
resistance, seeking to break them or escape them at the earliest
opportunity.
Virtues: Excess (especially sexual), endurance, faith, humour,
over-indulgence, liberating the bound. Dionysus and his cult
represent dangerous departures from the usual Greek ideals of
civilised conduct, but inasmuch as he is an Olympian and an
immortal subject to the rule of Zeus, he is tolerated.
Sins: Humourlessness, pomposity, excessive sternness,
disrespect for nature, harming a satyr, centaur or nymph
except in self-defence, disrupting anothers celebrations,
betraying secrets.
Disfavour: Active Defence or Shield Defence checks against
attacks from drunken opponents.
Dedicated Acts: Massive celebrations, deeds of reckless
bravado, destruction of tyrants (defined as those who impose
unjust and evil rule) on any scale.
Favoured Checks: Fortitude saving throws, Will saving
throws against fear effects, Perform skill checks, Escape Artist
skill checks, Presence skill checks.
Hecate
Owing to her character, the triple-faced Goddess has no
public following; her worshippers adore her in secret. Instead
of having images in temples, she has statues erected at the
junction of roads. She is the characteristic Goddess of witches
and those who are sympathetic to them. Other than the
witch-cults, she has few dedicated worshippers, though very
few citizens will fail to propitiate her image. She is a Goddess
who is more feared than cherished. As she is both a lunar
Goddess and an underworld divinity, her worshippers adore
her beneath the full moon and in secret chambers and caves
under the earth.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Hecate are darkness,
underground and witchery.
Cult: Hecates followers have their place in society, though
they are feared and mistrusted. The cult of Hecate is dedicated
primarily to the defence of female interests, the punishment
of the guilty and the redressing of wrongs against the cult
members themselves. As she is an underworld deity, the cult
204
is a secret one, not because it would be persecuted or banned
if it were uncovered but more for the sake of privacy and the
treatment of secrets per se as sacred things. Darkness, shunned
and lonely places, the tombs of the dead and desolate heaths
are all places that Hecate adores and it is for this reason that
her devotees meet there.
The cultists of Hecate look after each other in everyday life.
Irrespective of the social class of the devotee, she (or he) will
be protected if there is any difficulty. Even slaves who have
pledged themselves to the cult have found themselves freed
from brutal masters after one undeserved beating too many.
This covert punishment of crimes is frowned upon by the
likes of the Zeus and Apollo cults, who prefer due procedure
and formal trial to the cloak-and-dagger business so beloved
of Hecates own but even they understand that the dark sisters
are best left to their work.
Virtues: Endurance, ruthlessness, secrecy, cleverness, adroit
manipulation of others, respect for the dead, payment of what
is due, self-sufficiency.
Sins: Betrayal, carelessness, sentimentality, falling under the
influence of a male.
Disfavour: All Active Defence checks, Shield Defence checks
and saving throws made while the character is in moonlight.
This stacks with the penalty to saving throws against spells cast
by Hecates followers that is incurred if the Goddess should
come to despise the character.
Dedicated Acts: Sacrifice of opponents of the Hecate cult,
consignment of treasures to the earth in tribute, acts of
vengeance, acquisition of personal power.
Favoured Checks: Witchcraft skill checks, Hide skill checks,
Move Silently skill checks, Presence skill checks, other peoples
Coverage checks (negative).
Hephaestus
The astoundingly skilled craftsman of Olympus is,
unsurprisingly, the God of those who create wonderful things
on Earth. Artificers and those who practice a craft to earn
their living often revere him as their patron deity. Blacksmiths
especially honour him, as he himself is a metalworker. He
governs not only the manual skill needed to fashion intricate
and beautiful pieces, but the technical genius needed to make
mechanisms work. He is the patron of artists and artificers
alike.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Hephaestus are skill,
patience and craft.
Cult: Those who follow the lame craftsman are no strangers
to the pleasures of life. Like their God, they enjoy sensual
things; they labour hard and work well so that they may earn
riches and recognition, which will in turn allow them to reap
the rewards of life. Though they appreciate beauty, they are
unlikely to be fooled by it. They have a habit of questioning
those things that seem too good to be true. As Hephaestus
himself is a deformed God and yet still the most skilled creator
of beautiful items under the heavens, they know not to judge
by appearances.
The cult of Hephaestus strongly preaches resignation to the
will of Zeus. Hephaestus followers try to stay out of conflicts
when they possibly can and act as go-betweens if any of the
temples should fall out with one another. Hephaestus has
acted as a mediator between Zeus and rebellious Gods before
and his cultists try to emulate this example.
Virtues: Dedication, ingenuity, persistence, endurance,
hedonism, service, capitulation to due authority,
perfectionism.
Sins: Cutting corners when producing work, impetuousness,
cheating in a transaction, allowing another to dominate you
without taking revenge on them.
Disfavour: Coverage checks made to see whether metal
armour has taken a blow or not.
Dedicated Acts: Crafting jewellery, crafting masterwork
items (which may not then be sold, but only given away),
inventing new mechanical devices, creating marvellous objects
or constructs (with the Artifice ability) of Large size or larger,
such as a wooden horse.
Favoured Checks: Appraise skill checks, Forgery skill
checks, Craft skill checks (when working with metals), Solve
Conundrum skill checks, Sense Motive skill checks, melee
attack rolls when using a bludgeoning weapon.
Hera
Noblewomen and wives mostly worship Hera, the Queen
of the Olympian Gods. She is emblematic of stability and
loyalty, as typified by a well-run home, so her followers also
come from those walks of life that value dependability and
finding things where you left them, such as shopkeepers and
traders. Women who practice a trade for a living (as opposed
to housewives) are more likely to revere Athene than Hera.
Hera is second only to Zeus in the Olympian hierarchy and
is a deity of significant power, so kings and rulers honour
her alongside her husband. She is able to grant terrestrial
might to those she deems worthy. When the three Olympian
Goddesses Hera, Athene and Aphrodite offered the mortal
called Paris different gifts, Hera tempted him with the promise
of power, kingship and conquest.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Hera are compassion,
rulership and order.
Cult: Those who honour the Queen of the Gods place the
welfare of women and children first, though they also insist
on respect for the authority of men. Heras values are those
of the good wife and mother familiar from pre-feminist
history. Encouragement of marital fidelity is important, as
is obedience to parents and maintenance of domestic order.
Hera does not like to see wanton destruction or waste, so her
followers are more apt to find a peaceful solution to differences
when they can. They follow the (allegedly) typically female
religion
path of negotiation rather than confrontation. Where Zeus
blasts with thunderbolts, Hera uses soothing words and a
comforting hand.
Heras devotees should be merciful rather than vengeful,
giving the accused the benefit of the doubt; however, where
an offence has been committed against women or children or
against a family, they are expected to be utterly vicious and
without remorse in avenging it.
Disloyal husbands especially infuriate Hera. She herself has
to tolerate her immortal husbands frequent philandering with
mortal women, nymphs, other goddesses and other female
beings, which is often the cause of lasting resentment and
celestial strife. Hera often hates the children born of Zeus
liaisons for no better reason than that they are a reminder of
his infidelity.
Virtues: Mercy, loyalty, respect for mothers, generosity. Hera
keeps a careful eye on those who are entrusted with power or
born to it and punishes those that use their authority cruelly
or intemperately.
Sins: Infidelity, cruelty, causing unnecessary hurt, comparing
your beauty to Heras.
Disfavour: Bluff and Sense Motive checks when made against
a woman.
Dedicated Acts: Capturing great prizes in warfare, such as
cities; defending women from home; punishing the unfaithful;
destroying disruptions to the social order, such as monsters or
notorious criminals.
Favoured Checks: Rhetoric skill checks, Knowledge skill
checks, Sense Motive skill checks, Heal skill checks.
Hermes
The silvery God of travel and eloquence is the special patron
of messengers, as he himself is the messenger of almighty
Zeus. In the ancient realm, travel is usually undertaken for the
purpose of trading and rarely for any other reason, so Hermes,
as the God of travellers, also becomes the God of traders and
thus of the clever language used by a trader to persuade a buyer
to make a purchase or a seller to lower his price. Those who
depend on fast talking and loquacity for their livelihood, such
as debaters, thieves and marketplace hagglers, are likely to
205
 choose Hermes for their God, while those who prize the more
lofty arts of rhetoric will probably choose Apollo.
Keywords: The keywords of Hermes and his following are
words, travel and swiftness.
Cult: Those who follow Hermes are trustworthy, so long as
one stays on their good side; ultimately, they will act in their
own best interest. The best example of a Hermes follower is
religion
a well-established merchant. He does not necessarily want to
cheat you or to sell you shoddy goods, but he does want to get
what he can out of you and will happily use carefully chosen
words to persuade you to part with your money. If you offend
him or insult him, he will take his revenge on you in subtle
ways rather than through direct confrontation.
Followers of Hermes like to think of themselves as craftier,
more cunning, than others. It is a point of pride with them
to think a situation through rather than charging into it
headlong. They like to come up with ingenious solutions to
problems. They will occasionally steal, though they will use
all the trickery and eloquence they can in order to throw off
suspicion. Their mercurial wit makes them fond of jokes and
pranks, which they will happily play on those less intelligent
than themselves. Gambling is also under the auspices of
Hermes, so those who play games of chance will often invoke
his favour for luck.
A group of people likely to pay respects to Hermes is that
composed of those who heal for a living, though they are more
likely to take Asclepius as their patron deity. The winged staff
of Hermes is still used to this day to signify medicine and
the healing arts. Doctors, like messengers, travel from place
to place and rely on recorded remedies in order to do their
important work.
Virtues: Ingenuity, making a profit, getting away with it,
succeeding through the use of wit rather than force, exploiting
the stupid, completing journeys once begun, keeping to the
letter (if not the spirit) of a solemn oath.
Sins: Laziness, gullibility, stupidity, wasting ones own gifts,
wasting gifts given by others, outright treachery, betrayal of
an ally.
Disfavour: Survival skill checks made when on a journey.
Dedicated Acts: Theft of significant items, gambles for huge
stakes, undertaking long journeys, winning contests of speed,
entering well-defended areas.
Favoured Checks: Appraise skill checks, Bluff skill checks,
Active Defence checks, Disguise skill checks, Heal skill checks,
Reflex saving throws, Sleight of Hand skill checks, Tumble
skill checks.
206
Poseidon
The following of the God of the seas and rivers is made up of
those who live on coastal towns or beside any body of water,
merchants, sailors, farmers (who depend on the life-giving
waters for the fertility of the soil) and some warriors. He
is a God of acquisition, as the sea is forever trying to take
possession of the land, so his followers are also those who seek
great gain and personal power.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Poseidon are increase,
dominion and water.
Cult: Poseidons followers embody endurance, persistence and
weathering the storms of life. They are rarely drawn into petty
conflicts with followers of other Gods and take a strong older
brother stance. It is unusual for them to care about issues
that they deem beneath them; if they concern themselves with
conflicts upon earth at all, it is always because they stand to
gain by it somehow. They are forever consolidating the gains
they have already won and seeking more. They progress not
by outright assault (simply conquering without argument or
explanation) but by making a claim to a region and hotly
debating it with the current owners, finally ending by taking
it by force if necessary.
To a devotee of Poseidon, your strength and your holdings are
everything. They are steady expansionists, never satisfied with
what they have and always seeking to enlarge their borders.
They see themselves as the strongest rivals to the dominion of
Zeus and though they accept his authority at the moment, this
has not always been the case.
Virtues: Endurance, righteous anger, strength, persistence,
parsimony, hoarding, increasing your holdings.
Sins: Waste, theft, attacking an unarmed opponent,
squandering wealth, defiling waters (such as by poisoning
them), giving in too easily, allowing another to take your
goods, humility, lack of ambition.
Disfavour: Swim skill checks.
Dedicated Acts: Capturing and taming wild beasts (especially
horses), swimming long distances, capturing territory, raiding
by sea, gaining material assets such as property and great
riches, enduring the elements.
Favoured Checks: Ride skill checks, Use Rope skill checks,
Swim skill checks, Fortitude saving throws, melee or ranged
attack rolls when using a trident or net.
Zeus
Followers of Zeus come from all walks of life in Greek culture,
as he is the ruler of all the Olympian Gods. Zeus is especially
favoured as a deity by rulers and commanders.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Zeus are authority,
justice and vengeance.
Cult: Devotees of the All-Father respect law and order
and those who embody it. They must give due honour to
monarchs, emperors, princes, potentates and other members
of the governing elite. They are obliged to defend the practice
of religion in general, at least where it pertains to the Greek
pantheon. As Zeus is the king of the Gods, so is his cult the
head of all cults; his worshippers are thus bound to protect the
temples of other allied deities. No follower of Zeus may refuse
to aid a sincere priest or priestess of another of the Olympian
in which they would have a multitude of followers honouring
them as the patron of the metropolis.
All Egyptian deities see the use of Hekau to create undead
creatures as a sin, with the exception of Set and Apophis.
Reverence for the dead is paramount in Ancient Egypt and
the use of part of the dead persons body or one of his souls to
create an undead creature is the worst of imaginable horrors.

religion
Gods or turn a blind eye to blasphemy against any one of
them.
Anhur
The God known as the Good Warrior is worshipped almost
Injustice is abhorrent to followers of Zeus. They are expected
as much as Horus among the ranks of the military. Scouts and
to be firm and fair, erring on the side of severity rather than
charioteers who work in a civil capacity instead of a military
mercy. Zeus is more likely to punish disobedience than to
one also favour him. As he is a God whose blessing is invoked
reward obedience and his followers take after him.
against noxious animals (which he hunts), he is also popular
among those who dwell in less civilised regions and are subject
As Zeus is called the Thunderer and has a strong connection
to attacks from wild beasts.
to weather, the winds and clouds are considered to be omens
of his will. All uses of the Interpret Divine Will feat made by
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Anhur are swiftness,
followers of Zeus during windy or stormy conditions are made
hunting and attack.
at a +2 circumstance bonus.
Cult: Anhurs cult is devoted to combat as a sacred rite. Its
Virtues: Obedience to due authority, acceptance of fate,
devotees all fight, whether they have received formal training as
reverence to the Gods, firm rulership, fathering children,
warriors or not. At the central celebrations, ritual cudgel fights
avenging wrongs. Zeus is biased in favour of men and is more
between the priests and the faithful are arranged to honour the
likely to give his blessing to a good father with a firm hand
God. It is entirely common for many of the worshippers and
than to a wise mother.
the clergy alike to end up bludgeoned into unconsciousness by
the time the rite is over. Endurance is seen as more important
Sins: Self-aggrandizement, rebelliousness, contempt of the
than the retention of ones teeth.
Gods. Zeus especially hates hubris, which is the sin of pride.
He approves of prosperity, but likes mortals to remember their
At times of war, the most honoured members of the cult of
place. The moment a mortal thinks that he has become so
Anhur are usually the ones called upon to lead the chariot
powerful or wealthy that he can safely ignore the Gods, Zeus
assaults. Anhurs faithful are especially proud of their powers of
is liable to cast him down.
endurance. They are not afraid to be wounded while fighting
and see their scars as something to celebrate. A wound taken
Disfavour: Saving throws to avoid damage from
when honouring Anhur by fighting to your utmost is proof
environmental hazards, such as falling rocks, heat or cold.
of your dedication to him. Followers of Anhur are honour-
bound to scorn medical treatment for anything other than a
Dedicated Acts: Conversion of unbelievers to the faith;
large wound and even then will make a fuss, not wishing to
destroying enemies of the Gods, such as the Giants;
seem weak. (Those who bind the wounds of Anhur devotees
punishment of the rebellious; acts of vengeance.
have often found it more sensible to wait until the patient falls
unconscious and then treat him.) Cult members often escort
Favoured Checks: Ranged attack rolls with thrown weapons,
important nobles from place to place, as Anhur is a charioteer
Presence skill checks, Sense Motive skill checks, Strength
God and takes responsibility for protecting those who make
ability score checks, Knowledge skill checks, Will saving
long journeys over land.
throws.
Virtues: Bravery, persistence, optimism, taking charge of a
the egyptian situation, defending those weaker than yourself.

pantheon
As with the Greek, only the key deities are given here. We have
attempted to err on the side of playability rather than historical
accuracy, so the theologically educated player will doubtless
notice the radical simplification of the actual faiths of ancient
time. Deities belonging to different regional groupings or
even different epochs have been placed together for ease of
reference. As in the Greek system, deities had favoured cities,
Sins: Entering into combat with one who is without merit,
cowardice, fleeing the field, showing fear, receiving healing for
wounds smaller than 5 points.
Disfavour: Ride skill checks when in combat.
Dedicated Acts: Fighting multiple enemies until you drop
(victory also counts as success here), defending an important

207
 person who is travelling, destroying a wild beast that is
threatening villagers or travellers, insisting on cautery for
grievous wounds instead of medicine.
Favoured Checks: Ranged attack rolls, Ride and Survival skill
checks, Fortitude saving throws.
Anubis
The jackal-headed God has his following among those who
religion
care for the dead, those who travel long distances and those
who scout in the deserts. He is a deity of finding paths in the
dark, so those who make their living by nocturnal activities
(such as city guards) will often take Anubis as their patron. He
is pre-eminently the God of embalmers, a centrally important
profession in Ancient Egypt and the protector of tombs.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Anubis are embalming,
guidance and finding,
Cult: The members of the cult of Anubis have a special
function to fulfil in the ancient world. They are the defenders
of the dead, making sure that tombs remain sealed, treasures
are not plundered and that the mummies of those who have
gone before remain undisturbed, so that their spirits can
continue to revisit the earth. This special responsibility of
the Anubis cult includes preventing blasphemies against the
dead, such as the creation of animated composites (see the
Bestiary chapter), the use of parts of dead people for casting
maledictions with Hekau rituals and such defilements. They
also take the role of destroyers of the undead, as these represent
souls in torment who need to be shown the way to the world
after life. Anubis is the opener of the ways who guides the
soul on to its proper destiny and, as such, he is also the deity
who assists lost souls to move on from the world in which they
are trapped.
Anubis cultists are honour-bound to care for any dead body
they encounter, ensuring that the dead person is tended for
in the proper way according to his rank and station, with
all appropriate rites. They are the funeral directors par
excellence of Ancient Egypt. As such, they also take note of
the circumstances of death and any suspicious or unlawful
conditions that may be of note. The information assembled
by the Anubis cult concerning the cause of death often helps
the cultists of Horus and Osiris to track down and root out the
activities of Set or Apophis cultists.
Virtues: Tenacity, alertness, helpfulness, protection of the
dead, comforting the grieving, defence of the dead and
their resting places, destroying undead, assisting the lost or
helpless.
Sins: Defiling the dead, speaking ill of the dead, theft, abuse
of authority, using Hekau to create undead, failing to
provide assistance to those in need.
208
Disfavour: Active Defence checks against attacks from
undead creatures.
Dedicated Acts: Creating mummies of important people,
building tombs, cleansing tombs that have been defiled,
conducting important funerary rituals, destroying powerful
undead, freeing tormented souls.
Favoured Checks: Prayer checks to loose the trapped souls
of the undead, Profession (embalmer), Search, Spot, Survival
skill checks to track a creature.
Apophis
The serpent, Apophis, being more of a demon than a deity,
receives worship in secret from those who seek to benefit from
his gifts. Like Set, he is a power of darkness and is opposed
to the Gods of the Egyptian pantheon. Apophis draws his
following from those who work stealthily under cover of
darkness; he is the patron of poisoners and assassins. The
followers of Apophis are few and deadly, unlike the cult of Set,
which depends on numbers.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Apophis are stealth,
venom and treachery.
Cult: Apophis has no formal cult as such. Individuals take
him as a patron deity but he is not worshipped in groups,
nor does he have images erected to his honour. Apophis only
appears in friezes that show the journey of Ra across the sky.
Every day, Ra faces and overcomes Apophis. It is during the
night hours that Apophis may exert his power; he has no
powers during daylight. As a result of this, no follower of
Apophis may spend divine points from that source during
daylight hours. At night, however, each divine point spent on
a favoured check grants a +3 bonus, instead of +2.
What with Apophis being the sworn enemy of Ra, any devotee
of Apophis is not only an enemy of Ra but by extension, an
enemy of Pharaoh too and thus all of Egypt. If the followers of
Set are like wild beasts, spreading destruction by brute strength
and devouring fire, the followers of Apophis are venomous
serpents, making quick precise strikes in vulnerable areas.
Virtues: Ruthlessness, cunning, deception, careful planning,
patience, avenging insults.
Sins: Sluggishness, compassion, sentimentality, excessive
honesty, carelessness, recklessness.
Disfavour: Fortitude saving throws to resist the effects of
poison from snakebite.
Dedicated Acts: Assassination of key figures, causing death
and making it look like an accident, cultivating a sacred
serpent, causing a set number of deaths between dusk and
dawn.
Favoured Checks: Melee attacks with piercing weapons,
Active Defence checks, Bluff, Hide, Move Silently, Rhetoric,
Sleight of Hand skill checks, other peoples Fortitude saving
throws (negative).
Bastet
The cat-headed Goddess Bastet (or Pasht, from whence we
may get the word puss) is often confused with Sekhmet,
though they are not at all alike. Bast is a benevolent and gentle
deity who is more concerned with rejoicing and celebration
than with war. Her followers come from all walks of life,
especially from the middle and lower classes who welcome a
religion that is so concerned with festivity, elegance, pleasure
and drunkenness.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Bastet are grace,
pleasure and harmony.
Cult: Those who follow Bast resent being drawn into other
peoples conflicts. They are welcoming of others when those
others are respectful and willing to participate in those
activities that make life pleasurable, such as socialising and
partying, but when others try to involve them in fighting, they
take severe umbrage. The best way to understand the attitude
of a follower of Bast is to think of them as catlike in their
philosophy. They are independent, proud of their appearance,
fond of frivolity and luxury and dismissive of anything that
they are not interested in.
Socially, the Bastet cult is devoted to promoting pleasure
and goodwill. They stage elaborate performances in which
music and dance go on for days at an end, during which time
the cultists and anyone else who wants to participate enjoy
themselves to the full; this free entertainment is one reason
why the cult enjoys such popularity. Her devotees, both the
male and the female alike, value sensuality and hedonism as
good for the individual, for society as a whole and for the
Goddess. The philosophy is that Bastet rejoices to see her
followers enjoy themselves, so to please oneself is to please
her. The Bastet cult could justifiably be compared to a hippy
ethos of the ancient world, inasmuch as peace and love are
the rule. There is also a certain pride and aloofness about
the Bastet followers, who scorn that which is base, ugly or
disharmonious.
Bastet is said to protect mortals against poison and disease
(see Favoured Checks below) and to offer protection against
wicked spirits, for which see the Bestiary.
Virtues: Affability, tolerance, luxury, independence, self-
indulgence, beauty, persuasiveness, skill, poise.
Sins: Ungraciousness, boorishness, spoiling the spirit of a
celebration, making a fool of oneself in public, dependence on
others, failure to take care of ones appearance on an important
occasion, harming a cat.
Disfavour: Active Defence or Shield Defence checks to
defend yourself against attacks from feline creatures.
Dedicated Acts: Celebrations, performances, feasts, long
journeys, acts of cunning and grace, feats of exceptional
dexterity.
Favoured Checks: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Heal checks to treat
poison or disease, Move Silently, Perform, Prayer checks to
religion
ward off or dispel wicked spirits, Presence, Rhetoric, Tumble
skill checks.
Hathor
The followers of Hathor are mostly women, as the Goddess
specially favours them and acts as their protectress. She is a
Goddess of joy and love, the Egyptian version of Aphrodite
and as such is venerated by those who seek domestic
contentment and pleasure in life.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Hathor are nurturing,
beauty and love.
Cult: Hathors cultists take the role of nurturers in society.
They are at the opposite end of the spectrum to those who
worship the aspect of Hathor called Sekhmet. Where the
lioness-headed Goddess is enraged and bloodthirsty, Hathors
followers are entirely giving and generous, attempting to give
charity, food and healing to those who need it most. They
have a particular mission to look after the needs of women,
caring for widows and for those who have been abandoned or
treated cruelly. Temples of Hathor are especially welcoming to
children, who are looked after by the priestesses of the cult.
Hathors symbol is the mirror, which has to do with her role as
the Goddess of beauty and beautification. Some of her most
select priests and priestesses take the role of sacred courtesans,
manifesting the great mercy and love of the Goddess in the
most direct and physical manner possible.
Virtues: Generosity, mercy, charity, love, tolerance,
compassion, indulgence, intoxication.
Sins: Harming a woman or a child, destroying a loving
relationship, marring beauty, refusing help to those in need,
cruelty.
Disfavour: Presence skill checks made to impress women;
Bluff checks when lying to a woman.
Dedicated Acts: Giving love to the loveless, protecting the
vulnerable, seducing a person of high rank, hosting a major
celebration, giving legendary performances.
Favoured Checks: Bluff, Perform, Presence checks when used
to seduce, Rhetoric, Hekau skills checks when used to cast
bewitchment effects.
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 Horus
Horus the Avenger is the primary war God of Ancient Egypt
and as such is worshipped by warriors of all ranks. He is also
the God of those who wage spiritual and magical war against
the forces of supernatural darkness.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Horus are combat,
light and vengeance.
religion
Cult: The main role of the cult of Horus is to assist that of
Osiris; it stands in relation to the Osiris cult in the role of a son
to his father. Horus cultists defend the sacred shrines of Egypt,
with special emphasis paid to the defence of the Osiris shrines
in remembrance of Horus deeds of vengeance following the
murder of his father. It is also the special responsibility of
the followers of Horus to seek out and annihilate the cult of
Set wherever it springs up, root out his minions and destroy
them and defend others against its machinations. Set himself
is acknowledged as a God, but his worship is not permitted in
regions where Osiris is the chief deity.
Horus cultists are battle-ready at all times, waiting only for
the signal to don their armour and take up their spears. They
form the majority of the foot troops of Ancient Egypt, as the
devotees of Anhur are mostly charioteers. Many of those
Egyptian noble warriors who attack from horseback are
members of the cult of Horus the lancer, a specific subset of
the Horus religion, hearkening back to the story that Horus
preferred the horse over other animals because it would allow
him to catch Set if he tried to flee.
Pharaoh has a special relationship with the Horus cult, in that
every Pharaoh claims to be an earthly avatar or incarnation
of Horus as well as the son of Ra. Only those Pharaohs who
reject traditional worship, such as Ankhenaten, make different
claims.
Virtues: Pursuing enemies, swiftness, taking revenge,
using few words, attacking those who seek to overthrow
you, destroying enemies utterly, making quick decisions,
honouring parents.
Sins: Excessive mercy, prevarication, tolerating weakness in
oneself or others, failing to finish a half-beaten foe, cowardice,
accepting defeat too easily, dishonouring parents.
Disfavour: Active Defence and Shield Defence checks against
spear attacks.
Dedicated Acts: Besting a single powerful opponent in
combat, claiming a precious set of armour or a weapon for
the Horus cult, destroying a set number of foes in battle (such
as swearing to take ten enemy chariots), capturing an enemy
position, capturing a city, acts of vengeance, taking prizes for
Egypt, acts of conquest generally
Favoured Checks: Melee attacks, Active Defence checks,
Heal checks to treat poison, Presence, Ride skill checks.
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Isis
The wife of Osiris is, as is the usual rule with such
arrangements, worshipped more by women than by any
other social group. As the Goddess who taught mankind
the healing arts, she receives the adoration of female healers
and male doctors alike. She is also one of the most potent
magicians among the Gods, second only to Thoth; she stole,
by her cunning, the secret name of Ra and, as such, has far
more magical power than she would ordinarily have been
granted. Spellcasters, thus, take her as a deity. As the mistress
of cities and patroness of builders, she also receives the worship
of those who raise structures. Finally, as the star of the sea
and the guardian of those who sail upon the oceans, she is the
patron deity of travellers.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Isis are protection,
nurturing and civilisation.
Cult: The fellowship of Isis is as abundant in the land
of Egypt as the worship of her husband Osiris. She is an
extremely popular Goddess, owing to her protective and
generous nature and her worship grows throughout the period
of Egypts prominence, absorbing that of other Goddesses.
Like the Greek Demeter, who she resembles in many ways,
she has her own mystery cult and rituals are celebrated in her
honour in Spring and Autumn.
The cult of Isis is dedicated to the preservation of Egypt and
the provision of its citizens. It is the Isis worshippers who
make sure that the sick in the citizenry are tended to, the
hungry are fed and the children are properly educated. Their
role is to be active in society rather than simply to administer
religious rites. They, thus, arrange for the collection and
distribution of alms.
Virtues: Generosity, helpfulness, defending those who
need protection, administering to the sick, tending to the
needy, looking after children irrespective of whose they are,
preventing conflicts where possible, sacrifice, honouring ones
spouse, maintaining domestic order.
Sins: Harming a child, allowing harm to come to a child
through inaction, polluting wells or other public facilities,
needless destruction of property, disrupting a marriage.
Disfavour: Spot and Listen skill checks to notice a hidden
enemy who is about to ambush you.
Dedicated Acts: Protection of others at great personal risk,
founding a settlement, saving the life of an important person
who is in great danger, irrigating land, bringing supplies a
great distance to the needy, acts of fertility in action such as
giving birth to a child.
Favoured Checks: Active Defence checks, Shield Defence
checks, Heal, Hekau (except for the scribing of glyphs or
scrolls or the casting of maledictions), Hide, Medicine,
Presence skill checks.
 Osiris
The green God of death and resurrection receives worship
from all Egyptians, as he is the ruler of the world beyond
death. Egyptian culture is very much involved with death and
the preparations to be taken for it. Those involved in dealing
directly with the dead, such as embalmers and the architects
of tombs, have a special reverence for Osiris. As the God who
is believed to have taught Egyptians the art of civilisation,
including the manufacture of tools, the baking of bread and
the brewing of beer, he is also the patron deity of those who
work a craft.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Osiris are death,
afterlife and fertility.
Cult: The cult of Osiris is embraced by all Egyptians to
some extent, as it assures them a place in a happy afterworld
presided over by a benevolent ruler. It is most strongly
established in Abydos, where the mortal remains of the God
are said to be buried. The rituals of Osiris celebrate his death
and resurrection and the various stages in the seasonal cycle.
They are the template for all dying and risen God faiths that
follow afterward.
The cult of Osiris is pacifistic. Osiris himself was said to have
conquered only through gentleness, the singing of songs and
the playing of musical instruments. Those who are especially
devoted to Osiris are thus unlikely to become warriors; these
will more commonly follow Horus, his warrior son, the solar
deity, Ra, or the charioteer, Anhur. The cult of Osiris strives
to be as benevolent as its deity, preferring peaceful subjugation
to violent conquest and diplomacy over strife. One of
his titles, Onnophris, means the good one. The division
between the ways of Osiris and the ways of Set (his brother)
is significant here; Set stands for all of the aggression, violence
and brutishness that Osiris transcends. In simple terms, Osiris
is goodly and lawful, while Set is evil and chaotic. Both are,
however, understood as necessary to the whole system.
Virtues: Gentleness, moderation, seeking a diplomatic
solution to differences, giving due care and treatment to
the dead, increasing civilisation, assisting inferiors to rise,
educating others, averting violence.
Sins: Causing needless harm, neglecting the dead, moving
boundary stones, defiling the temple of another faith (except
those specifically antagonistic to the cult of Osiris, such as
those of Apophis or Set), disrupting a household or business
without good cause, abuse of authority. Defiling a tomb is
utterly abhorrent for a follower of Osiris and always results in
his anger (and the exercise of his wrath on the evildoer) if it
is noticed.
Disfavour: All saving throws made when within 30 feet of a
dead body. This stacks with the additional penalty to saving
throws against spells cast by followers of Osiris that is incurred
if the God should come to despise you.
Dedicated Acts: Peaceful acquisition of new subjects or lands
for Egypt, acts of fertility in practice (such as sowing a crop or
fathering a child), protection of the dead, bringing law to the
lawless, mummifying an important person.
Favoured Checks: Active Defence, Debate, Heal, Knowledge
(nature), Perform (any), Rhetoric, Survival.
Ptah
religion
As Ptah is the great Architect and Master Craftsman of the
Gods, those who live by a craft and by building structures
revere him. Artificers in the Egyptian system give reverence
to Ptah, who is said to have brought the whole universe into
being. The Greeks identified him with Hephaestus, who he
greatly resembles, even to the degree of being dwarfish and
physically ugly in some representations.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Ptah are artifice,
building and craft.
Cult: The members of the cult of Ptah are also the master
builders of Egypt. Their religious organisation is even said
by some to be the origin of the Masonic Order of the present
day. They are called upon both to design and to assist in
the consecration of any major building, whether for civic or
religious use. The high priest of Ptah, based in Memphis, is
always an artificer of high level and directs the stonemasons
personally during the building of important structures.
The followers of Ptah learn secrets of construction and
mathematics that enable them to dominate the construction
industry. Without their help and participation, the marvels of
architecture that characterise ancient Egypt can never be built.
Fortunately for the other cults, they are always willing to give
assistance and see it as a sacred calling to do so. Ptah is one of
the oldest of the Gods and is seen by some to be the ultimate
father of the whole pantheon, the original being who created
all. As such, he has a grandfatherly view of the other deities,
which is passed on to his devotees.
Virtues: Ingenuity, dedication, service, invention, craft,
ambition, secretiveness.
Sins: Laziness, carelessness, causing damage to a sacred item
or structure, allowing construction secrets to be discovered,
using substandard materials, failing to destroy a flawed item
or construction.
Disfavour: All skill checks when made inside any worked
stone building larger than a house.
Dedicated Checks: Crafting precious armour, crafting
masterwork items (which may not then be sold, but only
given away), creating marvellous items in service to a noble
house or to the military, creating designs for temples and other
marvellous structures (with the Artifice ability) of Large size
or larger.
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 Favoured Checks: Appraise, Forgery, Craft, Solve
Conundrum, Sense Motive skill checks.
Ra
The splendid God of the dawning sun has worshippers
throughout the land of Egypt, with rulers and nobles forming
the most likely adherents of his cult. He is seen as the ultimate
creator of the world; in his form as Ra-Harakte, in which he
has a falcons head, he is the patron deity of Egypt itself. From
religion
the time of the Old Kingdom, he has been the God who the
Pharaohs especially revere, considering themselves sons of Ra.
(It is said that the conception of a Pharaoh marks the occasion
of a visit by Ra to Earth.) Noble warriors may not make this
claim but they nonetheless revere the God along with Pharaoh.
Ra is second only to Osiris in importance.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Ra are majesty, glory
and rulership.
Cult: The strongest cult of Ra is in the city of Heliopolis, also
called the City of the Sun. Those who follow Ra are dedicated
to the destruction of the foes of Egypt and the minions of
Apep, the snake-demon. Ras devotees oppose Apep in the
same manner that the devotees of Osiris oppose Set and his
minions. Priests of Ra enjoy special favour because of their
proximity to Pharaoh. Socially, the cult is set above all others,
with only the cult of Osiris enjoying superior status. Ras cult
is that of the prosperous day and the glorious sun, while the
cult of Osiris has to do with the fertility of the Nile and the
fate of the individual after death. To the ancient Egyptian
mind, the state of the souls after death is of more importance
than even the world itself.
The cult of Ra makes it its special concern to see to the
provision of prayers, miracles and Hekau effects for those who
are in positions of special power or authority. They are, as it
were, the priests to the elite in society. The common people
are still allowed to worship Ra but they do not benefit from
the privileged attention that the high-ranking citizens do.
Virtues: Beauty, pride, strength, humour, sensuality,
magnanimity.
Sins: Procrastination, failure to take decisive action, showing
pity (as opposed to compassion), cowardice.
Disfavour: attack rolls made at dawn and during the hour
afterwards.
Dedicated Acts: Glorification of Egypt through military acts,
capture of slaves, destruction of enemy temples, expansion of
territory, leading others to a victory, destruction of important
servants of Apep.
Favoured Checks: Melee attacks with kopesh, Hekau skill
checks when casting eye spells, Presence skill checks, Rhetoric
skill checks, Will saving throws. A noble warrior or aristocrat
212
who is also a follower of Ra may treat his Coverage check for
armour (and only armour, not for any other protection) to
ward off a blow as a favoured check for his deity, as Ra protects
those of noble blood who fight in his name.
Sekhmet
The lioness-headed Goddess is in fact an aspect of Hathor
(see the description above) but is worshipped as if she were a
separate deity. As the patroness of terrible slaughter and battle
rage, she is the special deity of those who fight in hand-to-
hand combat, with the blood splashing their faces and arms.
Although there are no trained female warriors as such, she
is worshipped by those women who are prepared to fight in
defence of their homes and families. A woman of any social
class who worships Sekhmet is likely to fight with the fury of
that Goddess if those that she is protecting are threatened.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Sekhmet are blood,
slaughter and protection.
Cult: Sekhmets cultists are part of the overall cult of Hathor,
who favour the lioness-headed aspect with its connotations
of war and rage over the cow-headed deity who is more
concerned with beauty, harmony and celebration. They act as
temple guards, keeping the sanctuaries safe and make sure that
the violent, wrathful aspect of Hathor is never forgotten nor
treated lightly. It is their job to propitiate Sekhmet with the
blood of sacrifices, such as that of captured enemies.
In temperament, the followers of Sekhmet tend to be quick
to anger. When pleased, they are extremely affable and fond
of sensual behaviour but when angered, they are very hard
to placate and often leave a trail of destruction behind them
before they calm down, not discerning between friends and
foes in their wanton raging. They are very leonine in their
ways, vicious when provoked but languid and approachable
when content. It is customary for a Sekhmet devotee to drink
part of the blood of a fallen enemy, in honour of the Goddess,
who once drank a lake of beer in the belief that it was the
blood of men.
As Sekhmet is one of the deities who inflict torments on the
damned in the Egyptian afterlife, representing the devouring
fire of the Sun and the agonizing flames of the Egyptian hell,
her followers are expected to show no mercy in inflicting pain
upon those who deserve it. Those who fall afoul of Sekhmets
cult are lucky if they die quickly, as the cult is extraordinarily
inventive when it comes to causing drawn-out agony without
the blessing of death. It is another feline trait of the cult that
they will play with their prey before the final kill.
The cultists of Sekhmet also have a faction attached who
specialise in the curing of fractures. They are thus much in
demand from the allied cult of Anhur, whose devotees are
forever breaking bones as a result of their fervent fighting and
equally violent worship.
Virtues: Tenacity, rage, passion, extremity in fulfilment of
desire (nothing in moderation), loyalty to friends, defence of
those who depend on you.
Sins: Meekness, timidity, moderation, humility, leaving an
insult unavenged, showing mercy to those who have shed the
blood of a loved one.
Disfavour: Active Defence and Shield Defence checks made
when defending yourself against the attacks of a woman.
Dedicated Acts: Causing enormous fires, shedding the
blood of numerous enemies (the bloodshed is important, so
bludgeoning will not do), hunting down, killing and drinking
the blood of a potent adversary, killing an armed enemy with
unarmed combat alone, tormenting an enemy for a long time
before killing him.
Favoured Checks: Melee attacks with piercing or slashing
weapons, Heal, Medicine checks when treating grievous
wounds incurred by bludgeoning damage, Presence, Survival
skill checks to track a creature.
Set
The ass-headed God Set draws his worshippers from the
dissatisfied, the ambitious, the antisocial, the perverse and the
corrupt. Those who chafe under the rule of others or who seek
personal power and are not inclined to care who gets hurt as
they rise to it, will find Sets cult welcoming to them. Set is the
archetypal dark deity that will ultimately form the basis for the
concept of Satan or Shaitan, the opponent. Bear this in mind
when choosing him as a God.
Set promises great things to those who would follow him
and rewards them with his power, but leads their hearts into
rebellion against the just Gods and involves them in his plans
to subvert the dominion of Osiris. Although there is a form
of Set who is benign, this game is only concerned with the
Set who represented destruction and bestial instincts to the
Ancient Egyptians.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Set are destruction,
darkness and corruption.
Cult: The cult of Set is entirely covert. As the murderer of
Osiris and the closest thing in the ancient world to a deity of
out-and-out evil, Set is the subject of hatred, fear and derision
from those who revere other Gods. Sets cultists serve their
master by undermining the work that the other Gods do,
spreading chaos and suspicion wherever they can. It is the
ultimate ambition of Set to destroy the worship of Osiris in
Egypt, cast down the Egyptian civilisation and allow anarchy,
vermin and the dry desert winds to claim the ruins. As Set
is a God of wild beasts as well as a God of destruction, he is
opposed to any law making.
Sets cultists are not only worshippers but also members
of what amounts to a secret army. This underground
organisation (sometimes literally underground, as they meet
in old tombs and ruins) gives healing to operatives who are
wounded in their activities, provides assistance to its members
to assist them to climb to power and punishes betrayal of its
secrets with a cruel and inventive death. It is essentially a
primitive conspiracy as well as a mystery cult. The followers
of Horus are dedicated to uncovering it and thwarting its evil
plans. Unfortunately for them, the promise of power offered
by Set is a temptation for a great many and the cult is quite
religion
capable of swelling its ranks again once defeated.
Historically minded Games Masters should note that this
description of the Set cult is entirely conjectural, based upon
the attributes of Set and the traditions of speculative fiction
set in the ancient period. It is far from certain that there ever
was a cult of Set in the period during which he was cast as the
murderer of Osiris; the theory is that he was an old tribal deity
of the upper kingdom who was cast down by worshippers of
Horus the Elder and turned into a devil figure in the usual
manner. If you wish to have a more historically authentic but
less dramatic campaign, then the cult of Set can be deemed to
be a mere superstition with no real substance to it.
In history, the worship of Set was indeed controversial. Under
the rule of the Hyskos, who identified Set with their own
warrior God Sutekh, he was popular and had a dedicated
temple in Avaris; Rameses II, whose father was called Seti,
the Setian, went on to call himself Beloved of Set. This was
deeply unpopular with the Osiris cultists, who were furious
that a cult should have been devoted to the murderer of The
Good One. Seti decided to have the image of Set effaced from
the walls of his tomb and changed his title from the Setian
to the Osirian. Towards the middle of the tenth century
BC, statues of Set were smashed and even his name had to be
erased if anyone wrote it down. He was finally driven from the
pantheon and turned into a God of the unclean, which is the
role he retains in OGL Ancients.
Virtues: Uncleanness, perversion, breaking the laws laid
down by others, using brute strength, making others afraid of
you, cheating, lying, increasing your own power at all costs,
seducing others, corrupting the innocent.
Sins: Sentimentality, compassion, leaving witnesses alive,
placing another above yourself, betraying the secrets of the
cult, settling for less than your due, failing Set himself.
Disfavour: Fortitude saving throws to avoid or resist disease.
Dedicated Acts: Undermining a well-established household,
destroying major images of the other Gods, causing outbreak
of disease, massacre, bringing the proud and mighty down.
Favoured Checks: Melee attack rolls, Bluff, Hekau skill
checks when casting maledictions, Will, Fortitude and Reflex
saving throws.
213
 Thoth
The ibis-headed God is the patron of all scribes and those who
work with symbols. He is the Egyptian equivalent of Hermes,
the God set over communication and thought. Thoth is also
the master of magic, teaching the arts of Hekau to the Egyptian
priesthood. All Egyptian priests are competent with Hekau, as
it is a class skill of theirs and many of the deities have Hekau
as a favoured skill for one or another purpose but the followers
of Thoth are one of the only two faiths to have Hekau checks
religion
(for all purposes, including the scribing of scrolls, except
bewitchment) as a favoured check of their deity.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Thoth are learning,
writing and magic.
Cult: Devotees of Thoth are usually ascetic people, shunning
fleshly indulgence in order to better cultivate their mental
powers. They enjoy conversation, debate and speculation on
arcane matters. They can be trusted to record conversations
or dictated letters or count up how many coins there are in the
treasury, with meticulous accuracy. The Thoth cult is never
ambitious and always seeks to make itself useful to those in
authority. It disdains physical violence, looking to those it
serves to protect it.
As it is the truth of voice of Thoth that lends force to his
magical incantations, the followers of Thoth are similarly
concerned with truth. As speakers of magical incantations,
they are careful not to defile their mouths with lies, while as
keepers of records and makers of holy hieroglyphs they may
not knowingly record an untruth. The followers of Thoth
have some of the best available favoured checks for a non-
combatant character but the restrictions upon them are very
severe.
Thoth is the God of medicine in the Egyptian system as well
as the God of writing and magic. As such, his priests are the
keepers of the scrolls on which the remedies for diseases and
the proper treatments for wounds are written. Medicine goes
hand in hand with the recording arts, as it is essentially the
science of recording which cures have been known to work on
what kind of symptoms.
Virtues: Temperance, study, intelligence, inquiry, hard work,
honesty, tact.
Sins: Over-indulgence, violence, giving in to anger, acting
stupidly, forgetting important information, allowing records
in your care to be damaged or destroyed, telling outright lies.
Disfavour: Search skill checks to find secret or deliberately
hidden items.
Dedicated Acts: Coming up with cunning plans, solving
complicated problems, healing those of especial value to
Egypt, defeating a formidable opponent in a debate, speaking
the truth although you know it will mean great personal risk.
214
Favoured Checks: Heal skill checks, Medicine skill checks,
Solve Conundrum skill checks, Knowledge skill checks,
Intelligence ability score checks, Hekau skill checks except for
bewitchment effects.
Wepwawet
The wolf-headed one draws most of his worshippers from
those soldiers of Egypt who fight with shields, as his shield
is an important feature of his iconography. He is essentially
a primitive warrior God, dating from the time before Osiris
came to prominence. He is still revered in some of the
outlying fringes of the Egyptian kingdom.
Keywords: The keywords of the cult of Wepwawet are
discipline, conflict and intimidation.
Cult: Wepwawets cult is a small one, made up of soldiers
who keep to old faiths. They favour an old-fashioned tribal
attitude to warfare, in which the object is to annihilate the
opposition and claim their women and property. The wolf s
head borne by their God is indicative of the savage, primordial
actions of his cultists in battle.
Though he resembles Anubis and is often mistaken for him,
he is a different God; Wepwawet and Anubis often fight side
by side under the overall command of Osiris. Soldiers who
follow Wepwawet see themselves as part of an old faith, a
rugged, savage creed that only the toughest warriors adhere
to. Although they use shields, their fighting is unsophisticated
and brutal. In private, they consider the Osiris cult to be
too peaceful for their tastes. Politics is to them just so much
chatter and doubletalk; they do not hold with the practice of
peaceful resolution of differences, seeing a trial of strength as
the only way to see who ought to come out on top. Although
the two cults do not always enjoy good relations, the followers
of Wepwawet have great comradeship with and respect for the
followers of Sekhmet, who are just as enthusiastic fighters as
they are.
Virtues: Aggression, deference to those who command
you, appetite, rage, taking what you need, brevity in speech,
decisive action.
Sins: Talking too much, showing weakness, compromise,
backing down without a fight, letting yourself be tricked,
giving away your weapons.
Disfavour: Active Defence and Shield Defence checks to
defend yourself against attacks from canine creatures.
Dedicated Acts: Conquest, great feasting, plundering enemy
settlements, hunting dangerous animals, defeating enemies in
single combat.
Favoured Checks: Shield Defence checks, Melee attack rolls,
Fortitude saving throws, Will saving throws.
 divine points
A key part of the mythic style of campaign is the interaction
of the Gods with mortals. The flavour of the game demands
a constant awareness of what the Gods have in mind. The
conflicts of mortals in a mythic campaign almost always
originate in some clash of interest in the celestial realms.
The Gods of the ancient world do not sit behind clouds
while human beings wonder whether they exist or not; they
come down to earth and get their hands dirty, siring children,
visiting mortals in disguise and involving themselves directly
in battles.
The heroes in ancient myth are always calling upon their
patron Gods and Goddesses to aid them, which they do in
manifold ways. The battlefields of old rang with cries of
Horus, lord of Light, guide my spear! or Vengeance in the
name of Artemis! If the legends are to be believed, the Gods
often answered those who called upon them. The Divine
Points of a character represent the constant background
presence of a deity who is willing to assist a devotee. By using
Divine Points, you can perform incredible deeds, strike down
powerful adversaries and make seemingly miraculous escapes.
There are two ratings for Divine Points, being base and
temporary. A characters base Divine Points are equal to his
level of experience. Other actions during the campaign can
increase or decrease your base or temporary Divine Points. For
example, if you gain the favour of your deity, your base Divine
Points increase by 2 for as long as the favour lasts.
The following rules cover the use of Divine Points.
You may never have more temporary Divine Points than
your base total. Special Divine Points do not however
count towards your total, as they represent a favour granted
by a different deity than the one you worship.
Your temporary Divine Points are equal to your base
Divine Points at the beginning of each adventure.
You may spend temporary Divine Points to increase the
result of any d20 die roll made by yourself on a one for
one basis or to reduce the result of another persons d20
die roll on the same basis. The only kind of d20 roll you
cannot use Divine Points to influence is a skill check to cast
a spell for the first or second time in your life; see the Magic
chapter.
Divine Points cannot be used to raise a roll made by anyone
other than yourself.
Reducing another persons roll requires an opposed
Prayer check between yourself and the target. Only one
expenditure of Divine Points may affect a single person for
a given action; a group of people may not stand around
someone and pile Divine Points on to him to make him fail
a saving throw catastrophically badly.
You may not spend Divine Points to reduce another
persons use of Divine Points. For example, if you were a
follower of Aphrodite, you could not reduce anothers Will
saving throw result if he had already spent Divine Points to
increase it.
Spending Divine Points is a free action.
If you ever change your deity, you lose all your Divine
Points (except special Divine Points) and must start again.
religion
Whether you are reducing the results of another persons
die roll or increasing your own, you must expend the points
directly before the die roll is made. Divine Points cannot
ordinarily be used to reduce a roll that has already been
made. Only those who have the Divine Connection or
Divine Smite feats (see Chapter 5, Feats) are able to adjust
die rolls after they have been made.
You can only reduce another persons d20 die roll if your
character (rather than the player) is directly aware of the
action as it is unfolding. If the Pharaoh is attempting to
shake off the effects of poison in the chamber next to you,
you cannot spend Divine Points to reduce his saving throw
unless you are aware of the situation. You do not have to
see the events unfold in order to spend Divine Points. As
a rule of thumb, assume that any event concerning which
the character could mutter a prayer to their deity can be
influenced by Divine Points.
You may only spend Divine Points once in any one round.
You may not, for example, spend Divine Points to turn an
ordinary attack roll into a critical threat (see the Combat
chapter) and then spend more Divine Points to increase
the critical threat check in order to be assured of a critical
hit. Similarly, you may not spend Divine Points to increase
both your Witchcraft skill check and reduce the Will saving
throw of your target.
You may not spend Divine Points at all if the deity in
question holds you in disfavour. You must make things
right between yourself and your God before you once
again become able to call on their assistance. You may
not even know that your deity holds you in disfavour
until you attempt to spend Divine Points and find that
nothing happens. As Divine Points are an essential part of
the game, a good tactic to use when overcoming an enemy
is to make trouble between him and his God, so that the
enemy falls into disfavour and is no longer able to call upon
divine aid. The myths recount instances of unintentional
blasphemy that crafty heroes have tricked adversaries into
performing.
For example, the witch Chloe has only one chance to slay the
corrupt King of Crete before the guards seize her; uttering a fervent
prayer to Hecate, she spends all of her current Divine Points (of
which she has seven) to add a +7 bonus to her attack roll, hoping
that she will score a critical hit with her dagger. Alternatively, if
the King had been teetering on the edge of a precipice, Chloe could
have spent her Divine Points to reduce his Balance check result by
215
 7, if she had succeeded in the opposed Prayer check. The religious
character classes, such as Priest and Witch, have Prayer as a class
skill and thus are much better at forcing their deities wills upon
other people.
Your temporary Divine Points are much more likely to
go down than to go up, as you call on your deitys help at
various stages during the course of the adventure. If you end
an adventure with unspent Divine Points left over from the
religion
start, then you have not faced enough of a challenge! Players
can attempt to increase their temporary Divine Point total by
performing dedicated acts, for which see below. Increasing
your base Divine Point total is extremely difficult and can only
be achieved in one of three ways; by advancing an experience
level, by building temples or huge statues to the deity or by
performing a heroic quest in the deitys name.
There is one final rule covering all use of Divine Points. You
must never spend Divine Points to carry out an action of which
your deity would disapprove. The attempt to do so gains you
the disfavour of that deity automatically. For example, if you
were a devotee of Set and were fighting for your life against a
fellow devotee of that grim and terrible God, you could invest
Divine Points to increase your attack roll, as Set approves of
survival of the strongest. However, if you were both followers
of Aphrodite, to do so would be a blasphemy. This rule applies
even if you did not know that what you were trying to do
was offensive to your God. To the Immortals, ignorance is
never an excuse. This is hardly fair by contemporary human
standards; but then, they are the Gods!
Favoured Checks: Each deity has certain specific activities
that they are particularly well able to assist with. For example,
the priestesses of Isis are also healers, bestowing the mercy
of that Goddess on those who suffer. Isis is especially ready
to help those who call on Her name when administering
the healing arts. These realms of patronage are referred to
as favoured checks for the deity. When you spend Divine
Points to influence a die roll for a check that is listed among
the favoured checks for your deity, you gain a +2 bonus per
point instead of the usual +1. For example, a follower of Isis
who spent three temporary Divine Points to heal the son of
Pharaoh of a wasting disease would receive a +6 bonus to her
Heal check, instead of a +3 bonus, as Heal checks are favoured
checks for Her priesthood.
Negative Favoured Checks: Some deities, usually the darker
ones, have negative favoured checks. This means that you
receive no additional value when expending divine points to
influence your own check positively, but you do receive a two-
for-one bonus when influencing anothers check negatively.
For example, followers of Apophis the Serpent have Fortitude
saving throws as a negative favoured check. This means that a
cultist of Apophis could expend two Divine Points to reduce
another persons Fortitude saving throw by 4, assuming he
succeeded on the requisite opposed Prayer check. The sacred
snakes in the temples of Apophis are venomous enough, but
with the priests able to reduce the ability of their victims to
resist the venom, they become truly terrible.
216
Divine Points and Rolls of Natural 20: If you spend
sufficient Divine Points to gain a +20 bonus on a given die
roll, you may instead proceed as if you had rolled a natural 20.
This may mean that you score a critical hit. In this case, the
Divine Points you spent to gain your natural 20 do not give
you any bonus on your critical check roll to see whether you
scored a critical hit or a normal hit.
For example, at a critical point during the siege of Troy,
Menelaus and Paris are fighting with spears and shields.
Menelaus has 10 Divine Points remaining and, like many
kings, is a devotee of Zeus. He hurls his javelin at Paris,
uttering a swift prayer as he does so. Zeus has melee attacks
with thrown weapons as a favoured check; Menelaus chooses
to spend all 10 of his Divine Points, for an effective +20 bonus
to his attack roll. Instead of rolling, he takes a natural 20 as
his result, for a critical threat. This is, at the very least, an
automatic hit, but it remains to be seen whether it is a critical
hit or not. Menelaus now makes a regular attack roll, which
Paris may choose to oppose with Active Defence or Shield
Defence (see the Critical Hits section in the Combat chapter,
for more details).
Special Divine Points: Only your deity may increase your
base or temporary Divine Point pool. Other deities may
approve of your actions and even grant you their favour or
their love, but they cannot do more than grant you additional
Divine Points. These are kept count of separately. Additional
Divine Points may only be used to increase your own die rolls,
not to reduce those of other people. They are like a small
favour from the deity to yourself. You may not use Divine
Points from more than one deity at the same time. If you ever
earn the disfavour of the deity (or worse) then the additional
divine points are lost.
For example, the hero Tychus rescues the priestess Eleni from
the clutches of a barbarian chieftain who had been planning
to ravish her. As Eleni is a priestess of Artemis, this would
have destroyed her ability to function as such, as Artemis only
allows virgins into her priesthood. A grateful Artemis awards
Tychus a blessing of five additional Divine Points. Tychus may
expend these as he chooses and they do not return once spent;
however, if he attempted to ravish Eleni himself, this would
incur the disfavour of Artemis and the points would be lost.
Total Divine Points Spent: Keep a record of the number of
Divine Points your character spends. Those who spend large
amounts over the course of their lives attract the attention of
their deity, as they are clearly especially dedicated followers.
It is impossible to spend a large number of Divine Points
without constantly replenishing your Divine Point pool, so
there is no other way to do this than to perform repeated,
successful dedicated acts.
The table below shows the rewards that a character gains from
spending large numbers of Divine Points over time.
 Dedicating Acts
You will not gain any especial favour from your deity just by
keeping within the limits of the deitys code and avoiding
committing sins. Anyone can do that. Obedience to the code
is the minimum required from any devotee, not the ideal. In
order to attract the deitys attention and increase your Divine
Points significantly, temporary or permanent, you must
deliberately perform suitable acts in the deitys name.
This takes a little explaining, as it is not a concept that a
modern audience is likely to be familiar with. A dedicated act
is one that is performed to give honour to a God. You must
dedicate the act before you begin it; the idea is that your success
in performing the act well and spectacularly is a testament to
your faith in your deity. For example, a follower of Horus
might dedicate the death of a foe to his deity; a follower of
Ptah could dedicate the building of a magnificent palace;
a follower of Dionysus could dedicate a three-day revel; a
follower of Apollo could dedicate a difficult bowshot.
A dedicated act always involves some element of gamble. It is
as if you called your deity to watch what you were about to do,
so that the deity can take pride in your performance. It is also
necessary that other people should see your dedicated deeds,
because in showing your own devotion, you are promoting
your deity in front of those who believe in other Gods. There
is always the possibility that you will fail.
The dedicated act has to be a gamble or a challenge in order
for the deity to appreciate it. If there is no risk, then the act
cannot be a dedicated one. The Gods do not respect those who
make inadequate gestures of devotion. If you were a follower
of Hecate and dedicated the death of a field mouse to Her,
she would spit upon your offering and probably transform
you into a replacement field mouse to boot. The death of a
wild bull, on the other hand, would be an acceptable tribute,
especially if you had to fight it yourself. The more trouble
your dedicated act causes for you, the more the deity is likely
to appreciate it.
For this reason, characters do not go around dedicating every
foe they face or every task they undertake to their deities.
Ordinary deeds do not give any especial glory to a deity. Gods
like to look upon their followers doing great things in their
name. Characters may seek out suitable acts that they can
dedicate; this is in fact one of the reasons why characters go on
quests and look for dangerous opponents on the battlefield.
Increasing your base or current Divine Points is always a good
idea.
The dedicated act must of course be one which the God
applauds. You can dedicate a drinking binge of legendary
proportions to Dionysus and earn his praise, but you would
be ill advised to dedicate such a binge to Apollo. Suitable acts
that you may dedicate are given above in the description of the
codes of the deity.
To make a dedicated act, a character simply announces aloud
in the presence of at least one witness what they intend to do
and the name of the deity in which he does it. This is a free
action. You must define the act in such a way that failure is
a possibility. It is perfectly legitimate to scream Your life for
Hecate! just before you swing a blow at a foe, as you may
miss. Dedicating the slaughter of a helpless creature (where
the possibility of your failing to kill it is remote or nonexistent)
counts as sacrifice rather than dedicated action and has its own
religion
section below.
It is an old saying that the Gods love those most who ask
their help the least. To gain temporary or permanent Divine
Points from an act, you must perform it yourself, without help
from anyone else, mortal or immortal. You are allowed to use
Divine Points to fulfil a dedicated act but if you do this, you
can gain no benefit from performing the act. Using Divine
Points is better than failing outright and is usually done when
a character realises that he is having more trouble than he
expected.
Once you have dedicated an act, you must fulfil it to the letter.
Although there is no time limit on completing dedicated acts,
you may only have one dedicated act before you at once and
you may not begin a new dedicated act until you have either
completed the current one or admitted failure. If you fail in
your dedicated action, the consequences are grim; see below.
You are not deemed to have failed until it would be impossible
for you to perform the act. For example, if during an archery
contest you dedicated the precise striking of a target to Apollo
and you missed, you would have failed. The task was limited
to that arrow and that target. However, if you dedicated a foes
life to Ares but were struck unconscious during the battle, you
would not have failed until the foe was dead by some cause
other than your own hand. You could seek him out, demand
a fight and satisfy Ares by finishing the task. Remember
that the act must be one of which the deity would approve;
in the above example, you could not fulfil the task unless
the opponent agreed to fight you, because striking down an
unarmed opponent is a sin in the eyes of Ares!
You may, at any time, deem yourself to have failed in carrying
out a dedicated act and accept the consequences. The moral
here is to choose your dedicated acts carefully and not swear to
achieve anything that is beyond your abilities.
For example, Memetek, the priestess of Set, declares to her
assembled acolytes that I shall destroy the image of Osiris that
now stands in his temple in Heliopolis, in the name of Set, the
Burnt One! The acolytes cheer and in the world beyond, Set
observes with interest, as his devotee sets out to strike a blow in
his name. While the acolytes might help to storm the temple,
the destruction of the image is Memeteks sole responsibility.
Typical Dedicated Acts: The most common dedicated acts
in ordinary life (that is, when not on an adventure) are creative
works. It is common for craftsmen to dedicate a given labour
to a deity or for poets to dedicate epics to the honour
217
 of their Gods. Other dedicated acts include destroying an
important enemy of your deity or of your country.
The Reward For Dedicated Acts: Completion of a dedicated
act should gain the character 1d6 temporary Divine Points,
up to a maximum of his base Divine Points. Completion of a
dedicated act in which the character faced repeated risks to his
life should gain him 2d6 Divine Points. A dedicated act that
takes several linked adventures to complete should increase the
religion
characters base Divine Points by one or two.
These rewards are quite separate from any experience points
that the character might gain from carrying out his heroic
deeds. Experience reflects what the character has personally
learned from his encounters, while Divine Points are a measure
of how pleased the characters deity is with him. It is possible
to complete a quest set for you by your deity without gaining
any Divine Points at all, if you offend or displease your deity or
do not complete the quest in the right way. For example, the
quest of Heracles to defeat the Lernean Hydra was deemed to
be null and void because he had the help of a henchman (who
sealed the severed stumps of the Hydras heads with a blazing
torch) and did not overcome the monster alone.
Making An Item As A Dedicated Act: All deities will accept
the manufacture of items that glorify them as dedicated
acts, though some deities (such as Athena) are fonder of this
than others. It may seem at first glance that there is no risk
involved, but making an item is a risky business when done in
honour of a deity, as failure by more than 5 ruins the piece and
counts as failure. If you have invested in costly materials, such
as marble or gold, then ruining these adds a financial loss to
your dishonour in the deitys eyes, so to say that this course of
action is not a risky one is untrue.
An item made as a dedicated act to a deity is subject to several
conditions. Only certain types of item are acceptable. You
cannot present a wooden spoon to Osiris and except to be
taken seriously, however well crafted it is. Items made as
dedicated acts must either be ornamental, intended for ritual
use or arms and armour. For example, you could not create a
commonplace item such as a lamp as a dedicated act, as it is an
ordinary household object; however, if it was destined to hang
in the deitys sanctuary and was suitably ornamented, you
could create a lamp for ritual use as a dedicated act.
If at any time you destroy all or part of the raw materials, you
have failed in your task; the item is flawed and may not be
worked on again. The item, once made, may not be sold. It
must be presented to the temple of the appropriate deity or
given in trust to a priest of the deity. To sell an item that you
have made as a dedicated act gains you the deitys disfavour
immediately, as it is a wanton blasphemy.
Finally, an item made for this purpose must be of exceptional
quality. Whether it is useful or ornamental, the item must be
made as a masterwork item.
218
Some items are so large that they are not made, but built;
edifices like temples or enormous statues of the Gods come
into this category. To build such things is the ultimate aim
of the true devotee. Obviously, the character cannot build
whole temples on his own. To count as the builder of a
temple or similar huge edifice, the character must give precise
instructions for its construction and make all the necessary
payments himself. Raising temples to the Gods is the
standard way for an exceptionally powerful character such as
a Pharaoh or a King to gain renown in the eyes of his people
and his celestial patrons. If a temple should ever be sacked, the
character loses the same number of permanent Divine Points
as he gained for building it.
A temple or huge statue counts as finished when the first
sacrifice is made within it to consecrate it for use. Not until
then does any adjustment to Divine Points occur.
The following table gives typical rewards for making an item.
Failure To Perform A Dedicated Act: If you dedicate an
act to your deity and then fail to perform it, you lose 1d6
temporary Divine Points. If the failure results in damage to
the deitys cult, image or good standing (such as a public insult
to the deity going unavenged or a temple being sacked and
burned) then you lose 1 base Divine Point and gain the deitys
disfavour.
Group Dedicated Acts: A group of people who follow the
same deity can jointly pledge themselves to accomplish a task
in the deitys name. Deities approve of individual acts of
heroism more than any other but they will sometimes reward
groups who dedicate acts to them. No deity will ever award
more than three temporary Divine Points to anyone for taking
part in a group effort. A single misdeed on the part of any
participant in the dedicated act is enough to sabotage the
whole operation and the deity will not reward anyone even if
the act succeeds; the whole group is penalised for the failings
of just one person. If you and others are going to undertake
a dedicated act as a group, you need to be very sure that the
other members are wholly trustworthy.
Dedicated Acts In A Game: Dedicated actions are very
useful to the players, as they allow the characters to regain
divine points. They are also useful to the Games Master, as
they provide immediate character motivation and encourage
characters to commence subplots of their own. Players are
always on the lookout for more Divine Points and if they have
a good grasp of what their deity is like, they will be ready to
seize opportunities to please them with dedicated actions. It
does not take long to get the knack of this and it lends flavour
to a gaming session as well as boosting the characters abilities.
Players tend to choose their own challenges and to make
situations dramatic and heroic whenever possible.
For example, if a group of heroes has come to a raging river
and need to get across in order to reach the village where they
will spend the night, there is little honour in turning back and
Divine Points For Making Items As Dedicated Acts
Item Made Divine Point Reward
Item made from clay, cloth or wood, such as a lamp, pot, carving or hanging 1
Item of Large size or larger made from clay, cloth or wood 1d3
Item of Fine or Tiny size made from precious materials (gold, silver, jewels) 1d6
Item of Small size made from precious materials 2d4
Item of Medium size made from precious materials 2d6

religion
Image of the deity (Small sized, such as a portable icon) 1d2
Statue of the deity (Medium sized, such as a standard temple image) 1d6
Statue of the deity (Large sized, such as would be found in a major temple) 2d4
Statue of the deity (Huge sized, such as the image of Amun cut into a cliff side) Base divine points increased by +4
Temple built (ordinary size) Base divine points increased by +2
Especially grand temple built Base divine points increased by +6
Colossal temple built Base divine points increased by +10

returning the way they came, even though this is the safest Stoic: The stoics believe that life is painful and that the
option. A warrior might strip off his armour and declare By moral course of action is to endure that without complaint.
Apollo, I shall swim this flood! and dive in, knowing that such Since life is a series of hard knocks, one should steel oneself
a daring feat of athletics would be bound to impress his God. against them and not whine or complain, as that would be
A different character could declare With Thoth as my witness, degrading. They deliberately cultivate their own ability to
I shall contrive for us a way across, and proceed to solve the endure punishment, giving themselves voluntary wounds
problem with ingenuity instead of physical prowess. purely to demonstrate their powers of endurance and show
contempt for what would be unbearable for others. Stoics
despise those who complain about their circumstances. A
Philosophies true stoic welcomes adversity, because it gives him a chance to
If you are playing a Greek character in a Historical style
show how inured to it he is. Many warriors are stoics, as the
campaign, you may choose a philosophy instead of a religion.
resilient, uncomplaining attitude to lifes woes is particularly
A character does not have to have a philosophy, though
compatible with the lot of a soldier, who is expected to endure
many citizens of the time did. Your philosophy reflects
harsh weather and harsher wounds in the course of fulfilling
your characters attitude to the world, moral conduct and
his duty. Other philosophies condemn the Stoics because of
general personality type and has an effect upon some die
their inability to acknowledge the pleasant side of life and their
rolls. You may choose from the Epicurean, Stoic or Sceptic
apparent masochistic tendencies. They are viewed as grim,
philosophies.
humourless people, lacking in warmth and blind to the joys
that they could be feeling.
Epicurean: The character believes that whatever other
uncertainties there may be in the world, pleasure is at least
Stoics receive a +1 inherent bonus to Will and Fortitude saving
accessible and reliable. Whatever else one might doubt,
throws, as their powers of self-discipline are highly cultivated
physical satisfaction is at least theoretically possible, so it
and they do not surrender control of their minds or bodies
is justifiable to pursue it. The sensible course for a person
readily.
living in the world is therefore to make the most of the
opportunities for pleasure that it affords, while remaining
Sceptic: Sceptics believe in doubting everything as the most
socially responsible. Epicureans believe in living for the
sensible way to view the world. They accept nothing unless
moment, appreciating the delights of the world and not
it can be empirically tested. (While this was not initially a
taking life too seriously, since after all, there is no way of
popular philosophy, it eventually grew to be the foundation
escaping death. Life consists in a variety of experiences, each
of the scientific approach.) Sceptics are prepared to accept
one of which ought to be savoured and appreciated in its own
the possible existence of such artefacts of classical civilisation
right. Other philosophies condemn Epicureanism because it
as Gods and monsters, but will not act as if such things
is seen as shallow and self-indulgent and at worst is simply a
were true without some form of independent validation. It
rationalization and justification of simple hedonism. It does
is not difficult to play a sceptic character. They are forever
not encourage the pursuit of virtue or the advancement of the
questioning, picking holes in peoples assumptions and finding
individual, so it is not seen as a serious philosophy.
alternative explanations for phenomena. Other philosophies
condemn sceptics because they are disrespectful of tradition
Epicureans receive a +1 inherent bonus to all Charisma-based
and because they propose a universe without moral
skills and checks, because of their understanding of desire,
absolutes; if nothing can be assumed to be true, then
attraction and what is pleasing to people.
219
 there is no a priori reason to believe in the essential goodness
of man or in any underlying order to the cosmos.
Sceptics receive a +2 inherent bonus to Sense Motive, Search
and Spot checks, as their questioning minds are sharp enough
to cut through the deceptions of others, including challenging
what they think their senses are telling them.
Divine Favour and
religion
Disfavour
As well as the ongoing goodwill indicated by a characters
divine points, there are more general categories of favour and
disfavour. There is a difference between the reward of divine
points and the reward of favour. To a deity, you are a servant.
If you serve well, you will be well paid; this is what divine
points represent. However, serving well does not mean that
the deity necessarily likes you. The deities of the ancient world
are extremely human-like in their emotions and attitudes. If
a deity decides that they like you personally, then this is what
is meant by favour.
The Games Master decides when a character becomes favoured
or beloved by a deity. Favour and love are not something that
any character has when they start the game, unless they have
a mythic background. As a general guideline, if the character
exposes himself to serious risk numerous times in the interests
of the deity or the deitys followers or carries out a quest on
behalf of the same, divine favour is a likely result.
Favoured Status
If your acts especially please your deity or even a deity who
is not your patron, you may become favoured by him. For
example, a ruler who was consistently just, wise and fair might
well become favoured by Athena, even if his patron deity was
Zeus. If a deity has favoured you, it means the deity has taken
an interest in you, likes your approach to life and considers
you to be an ally.
Being favoured by a deity has distinct advantages. You benefit
more from the blessings of the deity than others do (see
Chapter 9, Magic) and you can call upon the deitys help.
Specifically, you may petition the deity for a miracle once per
day with a Prayer check, as if you were a priest. If you are a
priest, then you gain an additional free miracle per day.
Beloved Status
There is a second stage beyond being favoured. Some rare
individuals are beloved of a given deity. This privilege is
reserved for those who have completed major quests in a
deitys name or for those who are the children of the deity in
question.
Being beloved by a deity is much like being favoured, with
the additional benefit that the deity will bestow its gift upon
you for limited periods without question. In brief, you may
make a request item attempt once per week without needing
to make a check. For example, if you were beloved of
220
Artemis, you could borrow her bow or crown once a week.
This must always be for a purpose of which the deity would
approve. Even if you are beloved of a deity, you cannot borrow
a divine item for a trivial or foolish purpose.
Disfavoured Status
To earn the disfavour of your own deity, all you have to do is
commit sins until the deity notices. To earn the disfavour of
a different deity, you must do something that actively offends
against that deitys cult within the world. Striking a woman
does not earn you the disfavour of Hera automatically, but
striking a priestess of Hera almost certainly does.
You could therefore earn a deitys disfavour by insulting or
damaging the deitys image, attacking a member of the deitys
priesthood, insulting the deity in speech and so forth. It is
a matter of record that the easiest way to earn the disfavour
of a Greek deity is to boast that you are better at something
than they are. Claiming to be better than a God would surely
seem like the most stupid of boasts to make, but this did not
stop Arachne from boasting that she was a better spinner than
Athena (earning her wrath and resulting in her transformation
into a spider, from whence we get the term arachnid) or
Agamemnon from boasting that he was a better shot than
Artemis, which caused that Goddess to demand the sacrifice
of his daughter in atonement. These examples should help the
Games Master reckon up the degree of offence that the Greek
deities take from mortal boasts.
Killing a follower of a deity does not gain you the deitys
disfavour unless the person you killed was favoured (or worse,
beloved) of the deity. So, if you killed an ordinary worshipper
of Apophis, the serpent God would take no notice but if you
killed a worshipper who Apophis favoured, you would risk his
disfavour.
One other way to earn a deitys disfavour is to fail to propitiate
the deity when you should; see below under Sacrifice,
Propitiation and Atonement. No matter which deity you
follow, there are always times when you should pay another
deity their due.
Earning Disfavour: When a character takes any action
that could conceivably earn the deitys disfavour, then the
Games Master rolls d20 in secret and adds the characters
level of experience. (If the character is already disfavoured,
a +5 modifier is added to this check.) If the result is 10 or
greater, the deity notices the affront; the character gains the
disfavour of the deity if he did not already have it. If the
result is 20 or greater, he becomes despised and at the Games
Masters discretion may suffer the wrath of the deity as well.
If the affront involved killing a person who was beloved of the
deity or desecrating a temple of the deity, then the character
becomes despised immediately.
When a given deity disfavours you, phenomena and creatures
in that deitys sphere of influence become more damaging
to you than they otherwise would. For example, if you had

offended Poseidon, then the raging seas would seem more
eager to drown you than usual when you fell into them. In
game terms, this translates to a 2 penalty against certain
attacks and effects that are under the dominion of that deity.
The disfavour entry in the description of the deitys religion
above gives the check or saving throw to which the penalty is
applied in each case.
If you are careful, then you can avoid the circumstances in
which the deitys disfavour would apply to you. For example,
those who earn the disfavour of Ra suffer a penalty to all
attack rolls during the hour of dawn, which is the time of Ras
strength. If you know this, then you can avoid fighting during
the dawn hour.
Note that this is just what happens when an individual earns
the disfavour of a deity. It is possible for deities to hold entire
cities in disfavour. If this happens, then the Games Master
should apply a suitable collective misfortune. For example,
a city that had insulted Bastet could have all its cats leave
overnight, resulting in a plague of rats that devoured the grain
stores.
The most striking examples of divine
disfavour on a large scale are those when
a deity holds the whole world in disfavour,
as when Zeus chose to flood the world and
drown everyone (leaving only Deucalion
and Pyrrha to escape) or when Demeter
refused to renew the earth, plunging the
world into eternal winter.
religion
Despised Status
Those who perform deeds that repeatedly
offend a deity or that grossly violate a
deitys code (such as desecrating of the
deitys temple or slaughtering a person
who the deity loves) may find themselves
despised by that deity. Being despised gains
you the penalties of being disfavoured. In
addition, priestly miracles or Witchcraft or
Hekau spells of a harmful or destructive
kind cast by followers of the deity have a
more harmful effect upon such characters
and their saving throws to avoid the effects
are penalised by -2.
For example, the Pharaoh is the son of Ra;
as such, he is hated by Apophis and suffers
a 2 penalty to saving throws against spells
and miracles thrown at him by the priests
and priestesses of Apophis.
Unknown Status
Players may sometimes be uncertain as
to whether a given act has angered their
deity or not. The Games Master is the
judge of this and also decides whether a
given deity extends their favour or love to a
given character. The Games Master has the final say on these
matters.
As a player, you do not necessarily know how your deity
feels about you. The first you know of your deitys anger
over something that you have done may be a run of apparent
bad luck or an unpleasant omen. For example, if you failed
to pay tribute to Bastet and then suffered a mauling at the
hands of a mountain lion, you might conclude that Bastet had
disfavoured you. Then again, it might just be coincidence.
The people of the ancient world were prone to see omens of
divine disfavour in everything that happened to them.
A character with the Interpret Divine Will feat can attempt
to discover the attitude of a given God to a given character;
see the Feats chapter for details. Once you have discovered
your standing with the deity, you can take appropriate action,
such as offering up a propitiatory sacrifice to regain the deitys
favour or repairing the wrong you have done.
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 sacrifice,
propitiation and
atonement
This section deals with the business of giving the Gods their
due. In the ancient world, sacrifices are made to the Gods
all the time. This can be as a show of devotion, as a means
to placate the deity before venturing into the deitys realm
religion
or taking an action over which the deity has influence or to
compensate for some misdeed committed against the deity in
the past.
Sacrifice
Sacrifices are not so much a daily occurrence as an hourly
occurrence in the ancient world. It is understood by all
cultures that sacrifice is the currency of the spirit. To give
thanks to a deity or make a gift to a spiritual being, you give
something away that you would otherwise have kept and
enjoyed yourself.
Anything material can be offered up in sacrifice if you own
it. The one condition is that what you sacrifice is either
placed directly into the presence of an image of the God or
rendered irretrievable by the act of sacrificing it. You can
never make a sacrifice in such a way as to get the object back
again afterwards. For example, you can slay an animal, throw
a golden statue or suit of armour into the sea, burn an offering
of grain, pour wine over the ground and so forth.
Propitiation
Propitiation is the practice of making a gift to a deity in
order to show respect, so that the deity does not become
offended and place you in its disfavour. There are two types of
propitiation, namely cautionary and thankful.
Cautionary propitiation is when you make an offering to a
deity before you start your activity. You do this when you
are undertaking an activity that brings you into the deitys
sphere of influence or relies upon an assumption of the deitys
goodwill. A good analogy here is the toll. Before venturing on
to a bridge, you have to pay a toll to the bridge-keeper. This
is usually only a token amount but it makes all the difference.
Similarly, if you are a Greek ship commander, then before
venturing on to the seas you take care to make a propitiatory
sacrifice to Poseidon; the seas are his and it is only right to
acknowledge this. To fail to do so would be to risk the wrath
of the sea god, which no sailor wants to do.
Thankful propitiation is when you have already succeeded at
an activity and you offer the deity a sacrifice of some of the
profit from that activity, in order to thank the deity for their
blessing. The assumption is that without the deitys goodwill
you would not have done so well as you did, so you must
offer thanks or appear ungrateful. The best example here is
the harvest. If you are a Greek farmer and your crops are
especially abundant, it is clearly because Demeter herself is
222
blessing you, so when the harvest is brought in, you must offer
a selection of the best of your crops to Demeter in sacrifice.
Similarly, if you have been out hunting and have brought back
a good bounty of game, then the best of it should be offered
to Artemis in thanks for the day you have had. An Egyptian
commander who achieves a marvellous victory in the field
would offer the best of the defeated peoples livestock and
treasure in sacrifice to Ra. For the purposes of game play, it
does not matter whether or not the deity actually did anything
to improve the outcome. It is simply assumed that a good
result must have been down to the deitys goodwill, just as it
was in the ancient world.
If you follow a deity from a given pantheon, then you propitiate
the appropriate deity from that pantheon. For example, if you
are a follower of Horus, then you would propitiate Bastet if
you were to get married, rather than propitiating Hera. Those
who follow foreign Gods are not always expected to propitiate
the native Gods, though some hard-line thinkers have insisted
that they should. It is sometimes a bone of contention in an
army when a foreign mercenary refuses to participate in a
sacrifice to the God that most of the soldiers follow.
The table below shows which deities are to be propitiated
under which circumstances. The proper sacrifice is given
alongside each one. If a character makes the proper sacrifice
under the proper circumstances, then the deity is satisfied and
takes no action. If the sacrifice is substandard or nonexistent,
the deity may notice and become offended.
Festivals: As well as receiving propitiation from individuals
at suitable times, each deity has one or more festival days on
which they receive a great abundance of thankful sacrifices.
This is to cover all manner of miscellaneous occasions on
which the deitys goodwill was important. Deities that do not
often receive sacrifice on a day-to-day basis are remembered
and thanked on their festival days, so that they do not become
offended. The festivals are really little more than a system of
insurance, whereby the civilisation ensures that the deity is
honoured at least once a year, even if they are not honoured on
all the occasions on which they technically should have been.
If you are a follower of a deity, then you are expected to make
a sacrifice on that deitys festival day. If you do not do so,
then you risk disfavour, just as if you had missed any other
necessary sacrifice.
Cult Services: You must also propitiate a deity whenever the
deitys cult provides you with a useful service. Followers of
the deity are not paid any personal fee for the services they
undertake in the name of the deity but they do insist that
the deity is thanked with a sacrifice. For example, those who
receive healing at the hands of the priesthood of Asclepius are
expected to propitiate him with an offering of gold or silver,
thrown into the sacred fountain. Those who receive the advice
of the Pythoness, the priestess of Apollo who officiates at the
oracle at Delphi, are expected to sacrifice a large animal as an
offering.
This rule holds even if you do not personally follow a deity
from the pantheon to which the cults deity belongs. If
another peoples Gods are good enough to help you when you
are in need, runs the argument, then they are good enough for
you to thank with a propitiatory sacrifice.
How To Sacrifice: The easiest way to sacrifice is to take
your offering directly to the temple of the deity you wish to
propitiate. If you have no suitable offering, then if you are
(little more than a column with the Gods head on the top)
so that travellers can leave their offerings there. The followers
of Hecate leave statues of that redoubtable Goddess at places
where the roads cross, so that tribute can be made. Anyone
passing by will understand that the offerings are there for the
deity and are not to be stolen without consequence.
It is not quite so easy to sacrifice to a deity when there is no
temple or image. Animals can always be killed following a

in a civilised region, you can always buy one. (It is better to
sacrifice an animal you have bought for coin than to offer coin
to the deity, if only because coins usually have images of other
deities on them!) Almost all major temples have market stalls
outside selling chickens, pigeons, doves and other fowl, solely
for the purpose of sacrifice.
The priests of the deity then accept your sacrifice and offer it
to the deity for you while you watch. If they think the sacrifice
is too small or has something wrong with it, they will refuse it
then and there, rather than insult the deity with it. Animals
that are killed in sacrifice to a deity are either burned on the
spot or left at the altar until the end of the day, after which the
priests eat them. This is one of the benefits of being a priest.
It is also the reason why priests so often seem to be well fed.
religion
prayer that dedicates them to the deity but goods (such as
treasure) are slightly more complicated. In the absence of
a shrine or altar, it is not easy to tell the difference between
goods that have been left in tribute to a deity and goods that
have simply been abandoned or stashed, which could easily be
stolen. The usual solution is to place the goods in a location
where they cannot be retrieved, such as throwing them into
the sea, into a lake or into a swamp.
A character may make sacrifice on his own behalf alone or on
behalf of all those who are undertaking the activity for which
propitiation is required. For example, a lone traveller may
make sacrifice to Hermes on his own account, while a ship
captain can make sacrifice to Poseidon on behalf of his whole
crew.

Out in the countryside away from the cities, you can make To find out whether or not a deity notices a skimped or
sacrifice at roadside shrines. These are erected for the express substandard sacrifice, proceed as follows. Whenever any
purpose of allowing travellers to sacrifice to their Gods. The character makes inadequate sacrifice, the Games Master
cult of Hermes leaves simple images of him by the roadside secretly rolls 1d20 plus the characters experience level. If the
result is 10 or greater, the deity notices the affront as
Propitiation it is committed; the character and anyone on whose
behalf he is making sacrifice (or should have made
Event Greek Deity Egyptian Deity sacrifice, if he neglected to) all gain the disfavour of
Battle (major) Ares Horus the deity.
Building (large project) Zeus Ptah
In the case of a travelling company, any person who
Childbirth Hecate Hathor
has made a private sacrifice on his own account may
Coronation Zeus Ra resolve this separately. So, if a sailor on a ship noticed
Courtship Aphrodite Hathor that his captain had failed to sacrifice to Poseidon
Funeral Hecate Osiris before setting off and chose to make a sacrifice of his
own, he would not be treated as part of the group who
Games Apollo Horus
had been neglectful.
Government, opening of Athene Thoth
Hunt Artemis Anhur or Wepwawet If you are in a country where the Gods are not your
Gods and there are no temples or shrines for you to
Illness, recovery from Asclepius Isis
make sacrifice at, then the deity is less likely to notice
Journey (Land) Hermes Wepwawet if you skimp. Gods pay most attention to those places
Journey (Sea) Poseidon Hathor where they are worshipped. The check to see if the
Journey (Wilderness) Artemis Wepwawet deity notices negligence is made with a target DC of
20 rather than the usual 10.
Marriage Hera Isis and Bastet
Passing crossroads Hecate - The Economy Of Sacrifice: What a deity expects
Revel Dionysus Bastet or Hathor from you in sacrifice is directly proportional to
Sowing or reaping crops Demeter Osiris your own status in the world. Those who are poor,
insignificant and humble are not expected to sacrifice
Trial (major) Athene Osiris and Thoth prize bulls to their Gods, while those who are famous
Victory Zeus Horus or Sekhmet in the world of men and have prosperous estates
War, declaration of Zeus Ra

223
 cannot get away with offering a straggly chicken and half a
pint of vinegary wine.
When you are propitiating a deity, the appropriate sacrifice is
calculated as follows:
Blood Sacrifice: A creature (or number of creatures) with as
many Hit Dice as you have levels of experience.
religion
Stealing Offerings: Stealing an offering that was left for a
deity is not only a crime by the laws of the civilisation, it is a
direct insult to that deity. Unfortunately, it happens rather a
lot. Hungry people are frequently tempted to steal the bodies
of sacrificed animals or help themselves to a coin or two from
the offering dish at the foot of a statue. Stealing from a deity is
likely to provoke that deitys disfavour. See the section entitled
Earning Disfavour above.

Goods Sacrifice: An object or objects with a

value of 1 drachma per level of experience
you have.

If you have any Reputation bonus from

having excessive wealth, then the Gods
deem you to be prosperous enough to afford
more. The usual tribute is multiplied by the
Reputation bonus. So, if you were required
to make a sacrifice of goods and you were
of 5th level with a Reputation bonus of +3,
you would need to offer an item worth 5x3
silver drachmas; 15 silver drachmas in total.
A living sacrifice would have to have a total of
15 Hit Dice. Usually, a living sacrifice is by
far the more economical option.

You may only sacrifice something that is

yours. You must have earned the money to
buy it, claimed it as a prize, been awarded
it for service or otherwise gained it through
your own efforts. The Gods will not accept
a sacrifice that someone else has given to you
as a present or that someone else retrieved for
you. If they tolerated this behaviour, then
your sacrifice would not represent any effort
on your part. Those who have rich friends
cannot count on them to spare them a bull or
two when they need to make a sacrifice. The
Gods can see right through such attempts at
deception.

Blood Sacrifice: The acceptable creatures for

blood sacrifice are animals, such as livestock.
Unusual creatures such as monsters and the
undead are not acceptable sacrifices, though
semi-divine animals are. Human sacrifices
are not acceptable to the vast majority of
deities under ordinary circumstances. The
only deities that will accept human sacrifice
are Demeter, Hecate, Ra, Horus, Sekhmet,
Set and Apophis. (Sekhmet in particular
may be thanked after a battle by the sacrifice
of captive warriors.) Any deity may however
demand human sacrifice as a form of
atonement; see below.

224
 Atonement
Atonement is the offering of sacrifices in order to make
amends to a deity for offence you have caused to him.
It is much easier to avoid disfavour in the first place by acting
correctly than to undo disfavour once it has happened to
you. To persuade a deity to remove their disfavour from you,
you must make the sacrifice that the deity requires, however
terrible it may seem to you. If the sacrifice is duly made, then
the disfavour is removed. Nothing else will do. To find out
what sacrifice must be made to remove the disfavour, a priest
or seer must employ the Interpret Divine Will feat.
The Gods are liable to demand extremely severe sacrifices,
including the death of a member of your own family; there
are accounts of these in the myths, such as the sacrifice
of Iphigenia by her father Agamemnon before the Trojan
War. Fortunately, in such severe cases, the Gods also have
a tendency to intervene at the last moment, snatching the
human victim away and sending an animal instead, who is
then an acceptable sacrifice. In the case of Iphigenia, the
Goddess Artemis spirited her away from the altar and set a
white stag in her place.
To find a suitable sacrifice of atonement, Games Master may
roll on the table below or select a sacrifice as appropriate. The
check to make is d20 plus the characters level of experience.
The higher a characters experience level, the more of an
example they are for those around him, so the more important
it is that correct action should be followed. If the deity
despises you, then add +10 to the roll. As will be apparent,
some deities require deeds of atonement rather than sacrifices.
The famous twelve labours of Heracles were in fact carried out
as deeds of atonement, as this was what the Gods wished of
him, relaying the message through the Oracle at Delphi, the
most famous of seers.
Five/Ten Times Ordinary Sacrifice: The deity only demands
the usual kind of sacrifice but to a greater order of magnitude.
This is the most fortunate result you can have. All that you
need to do is to gather the necessary resources.
Sacrices Of Atonement
Level Check Required Sacrifice
1-4 Five times ordinary sacrifice
5-10 Ten times ordinary sacrifice
10-14 Named creature or item (rare)
14-19 Named creature or item (unique)
20-25 Most prized creature or item
25-30 Most prized human being
30-35 Permanent self-mutilation
35+ No atonement is possible or ever will be
Named Creature or Item (Rare): The deity demands a
particular creature or item that is very difficult to find but
of which more than one example exists or could exist. The
Games Master must determine what this should be. Suitable
examples are: a completely white bull, an image of the deity
crafted from fine gold, a jewelled ring from the finger of an
Egyptian noble, the robe of a wholly honest man or a sword
that has slain a hundred men.
religion
Named Creature or Item (Unique): The deity demands the
sacrifice of a specific creature or item. This can only be fetched
with a quest of some kind. Suitable examples are: the daughter
of the King of Sparta, the winged horse Pegasus, the heart of
the Lernean Hydra, the crown of the Pharaoh or the flagship
of the Athenian fleet. Most of the time, the item will have to
be claimed forcibly before you can make a sacrifice of it.
Most Prized Creature Or Item: The character making
atonement must sacrifice the creature or item that he values
above all others in his possession. The Games Master must
decide whether or not the character is being sincere. A
character might have to sacrifice his favourite hunting dog,
his best or most expensive weapon, his prized golden armour
or even his house. Human beings are not included in this
evaluation. Creature here only means an animal, not a
person.
Most Prized Human Being: The character must sacrifice the
human being he most loves to the deity. Again, the Games
Master must adjudicate as to how serious the player is. As the
human being in question must be owned by the character,
fellow party members cannot be included unless they are
family members. The character usually has to sacrifice a
parent, child or spouse.
As noted above, deities are wont to intervene in such cases if
they can see that the atoning character is sincere and that he
clearly intends to carry the sacrifice out. Intervention consists
of spiriting the human victim away and leaving an animal in
their place. The story of Abraham and Isaac, though not from
the Greek or Egyptian culture, is exactly the kind of process
at work here.
Permanent Self-Mutilation: The character must sacrifice
part of his own body. What part this is will depend on what
his offence against the deity was and must be determined by
the Games Master. If he killed a person who the deity loved,
he might be required to cut off the hand that dealt the fatal
blow. A character that deeply insulted a deity might have
to offer his tongue. It would be entirely appropriate for a
character that ravished a temple priestess to sever and burn the
bodily organ with which he carried out this crime.
No Atonement Possible: The deity will never forgive the
character for what they have done. It is pointless to offer any
further atonement.
225

Death And
Beyond
death and beyond
This chapter tackles the important issue of death in an
OGL Ancients game. All characters aspire to die well, in
accordance with the precepts of their religion or philosophy.
Some make their entire lives a preparation for death; the
pyramids we associate with Egypt are, let us not forget,
titanic graves.
what happens after
death
What happens to a character after he dies depends on the
Gods he revered during life. The Greek and Egyptian
cultures have very different views on the fate of the dead
persons soul.
Egyptian
A character who followed one of the Egyptian pantheon finds
himself in the Hall of Maat or Truth, when he dies. The
God Anubis weighs the characters heart against a feather in
a pair of scales, thus finding out whether the character was a
good or bad person in life by Ancient Egyptian standards. If
the character had the disfavour of his deity or was a follower
of Set or Apophis, then he is judged an evil person; his heart
is torn out and eaten and he is dispatched to the Egyptian
equivalent of Hell, from whence his spirit may not return
unless called up by potent magic. (This makes him into a
wicked spirit, for which see the Bestiary.) A good person is
allowed to pass on.
A character who passes the judgement stage becomes a
spirit, bound to a body that no longer has any hit points.
Technically, the one of his seven souls known as the ka or
double is what is here meant by spirit; we do not wish the Any character that is duly mummified and interred in a
players of this game to have to undertake a course in Ancient
Egyptian theology before they can play it! Before the body
is mummified, the ka begins with zero hit points, making
it technically dispelled, for which see Spiritual Creatures
below.
Although the characters ka, even while in a dispelled state
of zero hit points, can observe what happens on the material
realm within five feet of its body, it cannot move about,
absorb offerings, manifest or do anything else that involves
interacting with the world unless the body is properly
mummified and the ka made active. This must be carried
out within three days of death or the condition of the body
deteriorates to such as stage that mummification is not
possible.
226
If the body is competently mummified with all the
proper rites, which requires a full day of work and a Craft
(embalmer) skill check at DC 10, then the spirit of the
character gains enough integrity to interact with the material
world once again. He becomes an active spiritual creature
with one hit point. The ka of a dead person cannot travel
more than ten miles from the persons mummified remains.
It can, however, enter the Tuat and attempt to speak directly
with the Gods.
As an active ka, the character can now interact with the
world once again, visiting friends and conversing with them,
but only so long as someone provides him with offerings, so
that he can increase his hit points to more than one and thus
manifest himself. In Ancient Egyptian tradition, it was the
family of a deceased person who made offerings. This was a
very serious responsibility. To fail to do so was to betray your
ancestors, who were counting on you to make their afterlife
a bearable one.
The spirit of a mummified character has a maximum number
of hit points equal to the result of the Craft (embalmer) skill
check that was made to mummify him. The better carried
out the embalming was, the more power the ka of the
character can retain. If the mummy itself is ever smashed,
broken up or otherwise destroyed, then the ka can no longer
gain hit points from offerings. This is one reason why tomb
robbing is seen as such a hateful crime in Ancient Egypt.
Characters who become kas may no longer accumulate or
spend divine points. They now interact directly with the
Gods. Although a ka may converse with the Gods, it is
forbidden to speak of what it learns to those who are still
alive in the world. Any who seek to know the will of the
Gods must do so through the usual channels, namely the
use of the Prophecy skill or the use of Prayer to produce
divination effects.
tomb may draw upon a reservoir of hit points, just as if he
were drawing upon a power amulet. He cannot use these
to raise his hit points higher than the maximum, though
he may take a standard action at any time to transfer hit
points from the reservoir to himself. The amount available
depends on the size of the tomb; see the table below. A tomb
reservoir recovers hit points at the rate of five points per day,
irrespective of size, so long as the tomb remains sealed.
Multiple characters that are interred in the same tomb can
all draw upon the hit point reserve, so long as the tomb is
dedicated to them. Even if you somehow arrange for your
mummified body to be buried in a pyramid that is not yours
by right, you can no more draw upon the stored hit points
than you can consume an offering left for another. Anubis is
not fooled by such mortal schemes.

Hit Points Available to a Ka by Tomb Size
Tomb Size
Burial in sand without tomb
death and the survival of the spirit. This is not to say
that a dead Greek character who did not make the heroic
Hit Points grade is excluded from ever taking part in the game again.
0 Other characters can speak to the shades of dead ones. By
descending into the underworld, a characters former team

death and beyond

Medium (small stone grave) 5
Large (standing tomb, engraved hollow in hill) 10
Huge (noble tomb chamber) 20
Gargantuan (small pyramid) 50
Colossal (pyramid of Gizeh) 500
Once a tomb is sealed, it is supposed to remain so. If a tomb
is ever opened, whatever the ostensible reason for doing so
might be, then it no longer functions as a reservoir of energy.
This, as will be apparent, is yet another reason why tomb-
robbers were seen as the absolute scum of the earth.
Greek
When a Greek character dies, the God Hermes appears to
them and conducts their spirit to the underworld, leaving
them on the banks of the Styx. If the character has the
fare to pay the ferryman (two silver oboli or an offering
to the same value, which must be buried or burned with
the character) he is ferried over the river Styx by Charon
and passes to the underworld, where it lingers among other
spirits in a more or less neutral state of being.
If he cannot pay his fare yet, he must remain as a restless
shade bound to the earth; see below. It is common practice
to place two silver coins on a dead characters eyes, so that
the ferryman will be assured of his price.
Those characters that died with the disfavour of their deity
are placed into torment appropriate to their deeds. For the
majority of souls, there is neither pain nor any pleasure in the
underworld, just a dim grey eternity of waiting. Characters
have the option to drink from the river of Lethe if they so
choose; this obliterates all memories they had of a life before
their underworld existence, which makes the experience
more bearable, since as far as they are now concerned, they
never knew any different. If they retain their memories,
then they have to endure the knowledge that the life they
lived before will never again be theirs.
Heroic characters enjoy a different fate when they die. Upon
death, a heroic character is allowed to make a hero level
check, reckoned as d20 plus his level, with a DC of 25. If he
makes his check, he is reckoned worthy to sit alongside the
Gods and to spend eternity in the blessed Elysian Fields. An
ascended hero becomes a minor deity of sorts. Characters
in future games may take him as a deity and he may become
the focus of a cult.
Ordinary dead Greek characters do not have the option
to revisit the world like Egyptian ones do. This is down
to cultural difference and the Egyptian fascination with
mates can visit the shade and ask him questions. This is
not the straightforward journey that it appears, as descent
into the underworld is fraught with danger; though it is easy
enough to get in, getting out again is next to impossible.
The Greeks also have one possibility open to them that the
Egyptians do not, which is that of retrieval and resumption
into the world of the living. If a dead characters shade is
ever physically taken from the underworld back to the world
above, the character is alive once again. The moment the
light of the sun touches them, they automatically become
solid, fleshly and real, as if they had never died. The Gods
are profoundly opposed to this and have only ever sanctioned
such action once, when the bard Orpheus went to plead for
the release of his dead bride Euridyce. Orpheus succeeded
because of the sweetness of his music and the unbearable
sadness of his song; players might succeed through other
means.
Though the underworld is ruled over by Hades and
Persephone, who refuse to allow any of the shades of the
dead to leave except under very special conditions, the
Goddess Hecate has control over temporary leave of absence
for dead souls. By her authority, a shade can be allowed to
visit the upper world for a short time, so that others can
speak to it and learn things from it. This is the origin of
the story that witches can go to a crossroads (sacred to
Hecate) or to a pagan burial site and call up the shade of a
dead person, who may then be spoken with. This ability is
covered in the Invocation magical effects section.
Offerings to Spirits or The
Dead
It is an accepted fact of life in the ancient world that spirits
can absorb sustenance from offerings. People eat food and
grow strong because of it; it follows that spirits can eat
food, too. Cultures in the real world to this day believe in
making offerings for the dead. Incense is seen as a specially
good offering to make, because the smoke that it makes is
insubstantial and vaporous, like the spirits themselves are;
since it is closer to their natures, it can fortify and sustain
them better than food alone. As an ancient saying has it,
may the dead rise and smell the incense!
In accordance with the strange laws that govern such things,
an offering made to a named spiritual creature can only
be accepted by that creature and not by any other. If you
make an offering of incense to your uncle Ankh-af-na-
khonsu, then the ka of Ta-nech his wife cannot accept it,
however much she might wish to. You may therefore
make offerings to the named dead in the assurance
227
 that they will receive them. The Egyptians explained this by
Hit Points Gained from Ritual Offerings
attributing to the God Anubis the responsibility of making
sure that offerings dedicated to a person actually reached Offering Benefit
them, so we here assume that by the grace of Anubis, all Plate of simple food 1d6 hit points
offerings do indeed reach the person that they are intended Libation of wine 1d6 hit points
death and beyond

for. Hecate, as the Queen of the Dead in the Greek system,

Expensive feast 2d6 hit points
fulfils a similar role.
Burning one unit of incense 2d6 hit points
In the Greek system, you may also make offerings to spirits. Spilled blood of a sacrificed 50% of creatures hit
The Greeks prefer to make animal sacrifices rather than creature points
offering food or incense. Greek witches working with the
darker side of magic often use blood sacrifice as a means of
be manifest in order to do this. Any hit points garnered are
rewarding a wicked spirit that has done as it was supposed
gained by your spiritual body, not your physical body.
to, as the vitality of the blood is absorbed by the spirit and
increases its hit points. The usual deal struck is that the spirit
Once you return to your body, your hit points as a spiritual
goes and observes some event invisibly, an action that costs
creature are (as it were) poured back in to your hit points as
it no hit points, then returns and reports what it has seen to
a physical creature, up to your maximum possible hit points.
the witch, who rewards it with a sacrifice for its trouble. The
You cannot heal wounds by this method, so you may only
spirit thus gains energy and the witch gains information.
regain hit points up to your maximum minus any wounds
No spirit can absorb energy from food or incense
unless it has been specifically dedicated as an
offering. Spirits cannot, for example, hover over
banquets and gorge themselves on energy, though
they can linger at a banquet and sadly observe the
people feasting on food they cannot themselves
eat. (This is where we get the phrase ghosts at the
feast.) If you choose, you may leave offerings for
the dead or the spirits without specifying whom
they are for. Such offerings can be absorbed by
any spiritual creature that happens to be nearby,
except of course the ka or spirit of a living person.
It is considered good manners to do this in places
that you believe may be haunted, as the bodiless
spirits appreciate those who think of them, while
they are inclined to act maliciously towards those
who neglect them. Both the Greek and the
Egyptian cultures have feast days on which it
is customary to make offerings to the dead; the
Egyptians are so concerned with death and the
afterlife that making offerings is a daily concern
of theirs.

Projecting the Spirit /

Loosing the Ka
Even though you can send your ka or spirit out
of your body while you are still alive if you are an
accomplished user of Hekau or Witchcraft (see
the Magical Effects section) you cannot consume
offerings or incense. Your source of vitality is the
living physical body that you have left behind.
You may however attempt to perform a drain life
magical effect on another creature if you have the
ability to do so. As with all spellcasting, you must

228
you have. In brief, draining other people while out of your
body is a very efficient way to recover hit points lost from
spellcasting but no good for healing yourself of physical
wounds. Draining another person is not an acceptable act
by the standards of many of the deities. Apophis and Set
favour it, while Hecate allows it if the victim is deserving.
Spiritual Objects
If those who buried you were considerate enough to provide
you with material objects for your use, then you have such
objects in the spirit world. Such objects cannot be ordinary
examples of their kind; for example, you cannot simply
entomb an ordinary chariot alongside a friend and expect
him to have it in the afterlife. Preparing an object that will
have a spiritual correlate for a dead persons use requires a
Hekau skill check at a DC of 15; the object itself must be
made to at least ordinary standards by a suitable Craft check.
It is permissible to include symbolic objects; if the Hekau
check is effective, these will still become real objects in the
spirit world. For example, if you entombed a gilded spear
made entirely from wood with a friend, then his spirit form
would have an ordinary metal-tipped spear, not a wooden
one. The art of entombing objects alongside people so that
their spirits can make use of them is entirely Egyptian and
has no parallel in Greek practice, hence the use of the Hekau
skill to prepare such objects.
Part of the point of the Hekau check is to dedicate the
objects for your exclusive use. No other spirit can use an
item that has been dedicated to you. If the physical object
should ever be removed from your presence (moved more
than 20 feet away from your mummified form) or altered in
any way, you can no longer use it. Since a dedicated item
must be within 20 feet of the mummified person in order to
be useful, important Egyptian tombs tend to be absolutely
packed with objects that the person might need in the
afterlife, from chariots to spears to hunting dogs.
These objects are only useful in the spirit world; if you
should manifest, you can have them with you but as you
cannot attack physically, they are no especial use to you. In
the spirit world, they are very useful indeed, as they count
as spiritual equipment. You can create a spiritual item as a
magical item but it will only function as such in the spirit
world. A wooden spear consecrated as a spiritual object with
a +2 enhancement bonus is nothing but a wooden spear in
the mortal world, although it functions as a +2 spear in the
spirit world.
A character in the spirit world that has no equipment
is as helpless as a character in the real world in a similar
state. Robbing from the tomb of a dead person is not only
desecration but also burglary to the mind of an Ancient
Egyptian. The objects are still in use and if you steal Bes-
na-mauts silver cosmetics box from her tomb to sell to a
foreigner, she is going to have no kohl for her eyes when she
dines with the Gods.
spiritual creatures
death and beyond
Spiritual or discarnate creatures are those who have no
bodies. This includes such spectral forms as the shades of the
dead, wicked spirits, demons and malefic ghosts, the souls of
witches who have left their bodies and gone wandering or
the kas of Egyptian priests who hover above enemy positions
to spy upon them. Spiritual creatures cannot be attacked
by ordinary physical means, as they are intangible and a
weapon would pass right through them. They may however
be warded off or even banished by prayer.
Spiritual creatures have two modes; dispelled and active. A
dispelled spiritual creature is invisible, incapable of action
and to all intents and purposes, not there. Spiritual creatures
are dispelled when they have zero hit points. After 24 hours,
the spiritual creature gathers its essence back together and
becomes active again, with one hit point. It cannot increase
its hit points any further than this without drawing upon
some outside source of strength. Dispelled spiritual creatures
that are free-roaming reappear in their own preferred realm
once they have become active again; dispelled spiritual
creatures that are bound to the world reappear in the spot to
which they are bound.
Spiritual creatures are real and solid to one another. Two
spiritual creatures may even fight. If they do so, then all
damage is removed directly from their hit points rather than
being suffered as wounds. If a spiritual creature is reduced to
zero hit points by another spiritual creature, it is dispelled.
The following additional rules apply to all spiritual
creatures.
A spiritual creature never suffers damage as wounds,
though it may lose hit points. As with any other
creature that does not suffer damage as wounds, a
spiritual creature is not vulnerable to sneak attacks.
All spiritual creatures can fly at a speed of 50 feet per
round with perfect manoeuvrability.
Spiritual creatures are either bound to the world or
free roaming. The projected spirit of a spellcaster is
bound to the world, as he still has a body. A ghost
that haunts a given area is bound to the world, as
it must remain there. A demonic spirit that was
summoned from the netherworld is free roaming, is
not bound to the world and does not automatically
return to the same spot in 24 hours if dispelled.
The default state of all active spiritual creatures is
invisible and intangible. They may pass through
walls, floors and even people. Any character within
229
 30 feet of a spiritual creature may make a Wisdom
check at a DC of 10 to feel a presence.
Spiritual creatures must manifest themselves in
order to interact with the real world in any way.
death and beyond
Manifestation makes the creature visible, as a
transparent, ghostly figure. While the creature is
manifest, it loses one hit point per round. The only
interaction with the real world that does not require
manifestation on the spiritual creatures part is the
absorption of ritual offerings. Manifestation is a free
action. A spiritual creature can cease manifestation
as a free action, though it may not do so on the same
round on which it has manifested.
A manifest spiritual creature that is reduced to zero
hit points, and thus dispelled, is forced to cease
manifestation. Those that are bound to the world
may not manifest again until they have regained
strength by absorbing offerings or otherwise gaining
power. Those that are free roaming are returned to
their own realm.
Any character may attempt a Prayer check to keep
a spiritual creature at bay. (Characters with ranks
in Hekau may use this skill instead.) This does not
dispel the spiritual creature; it merely wards it off.
A spiritual creature kept at bay cannot approach
within closer than 5 feet of the character keeping
it at bay and will not willingly do so. The Prayer
check to keep a spiritual creature at bay is made
against a DC of 10 plus the spiritual creatures Hit
Dice (or character level) plus its Charisma ability
score modifier plus any resistance modifiers to such
attempts that it may have. Once a Prayer check to
keep a creature at bay has been made successfully,
it need not be made again for 24 hours. A failed
Prayer check to keep a creature at bay cannot be
attempted again for 24 hours.
Any character may attempt a Prayer check to
disrupt a spiritual creature. (Characters with ranks
in Hekau may use this skill instead.) To do this,
the character must successfully touch the manifest
spiritual creature (or the body of the creature that
it is occupying) with a symbol of his deity or with
an open hand. This requires a successful melee
attack. You can make such an attack even though
the manifest creature is insubstantial. (If you are
using a symbol, you may throw it, thus making a
ranged attack instead.) The Prayer check is then
made as a free action. The Prayer check to disrupt
a spiritual creature is made against a DC of 15 plus
the spiritual creatures Hit Dice (or character level)
plus its Charisma ability score modifier plus any
resistance modifiers to such attempts that it may
have. A disrupted spiritual creature is instantly
reduced to zero hit points.
230
Any manifest spiritual creature may attempt to
possess a living creature and control its actions. To
do this, it must move into the targets space. The
target can resist the attack with a successful Will
save (DC 15 + the spiritual creatures Charisma
modifier). A creature that successfully saves is
immune to that same spiritual creatures possession
attempts for 24 hours and the spiritual creature
cannot enter the targets space. If the save fails, the
spiritual creature vanishes into the targets body.
While the spiritual creature is in possession of the
victim, it uses its own Intelligence, Wisdom and
Charisma ability scores, skills and feats and uses
the Strength, Constitution and Dexterity ability
scores of the host. As possession counts as a form
of manifestation, the creature must still expend
one hit point per round to sustain control of the
host creatures actions. Spiritual creatures that are
possessing living creatures may be kept at bay as
above but are not forced out of the creature they
are occupying; the host creature is itself kept at bay.
You may make a Prayer check to disrupt a spiritual
creature while it possesses another person. If you
are successful, the spiritual creature is reduced to
zero hit points but is rendered dormant (see below)
instead of being dispelled.
A spiritual creature that has successfully possessed
a character may voluntarily allow him to regain
control of his actions without ending the possession.
A spiritual creature in this state is referred to as
dormant. A dormant spiritual creature regains
one hit point per hour; drawn from the living
energy of the person it is possessing. The host
does not lose these hit points, as they are taken
from nutrients that his system has not used. The
possessing creature is in this respect a parasite, like
a ghostly tapeworm.
In cases of possession, if the host creature is killed,
the spiritual creature is instantly dispelled. This
also applies to undead in all cases except that of the
death-lantern.
A spiritual creature may cast Hekau or Witchcraft
spells if it has the ability but must manifest in order
to do so. It may not cast spells against any creature
who is keeping it at bay or who it has made a failed
attempt to possess within the last 24 hours. A
spiritual creature in possession of another creature
may cast spells but draws the energy to do so from
its own hit points, not those of the possessed
creature.
A free-roaming spiritual creature that is bound
into a prepared material body (such as a composite
mummy) becomes an undead creature (see below)
and is no longer counted as a spiritual creature.
 undead creatures creatures, as in the case of the thirsty ones. When a thirsty
one feeds on a character and kills him as a result, a form
An undead creature is the result of a spiritual creature
of contagious magic sometimes affects the dead body so
entering and animating a body made from one or more
that the living spirit of the character is trapped within the
corpses. (Some spiritual creatures may enter and animate
corpse, unable to move on to the afterlife. This results in a

death and beyond

a dead body that has not been specially prepared.) The
new thirsty one. The magic that keeps the body animated
spiritual creature possesses the artificial body made from
overrides the better nature of the spirit, meaning that only
dead matter just as it would possess a living person. The
a vestige of the characters original personality remains.
great advantage of this is that it can then move around in
The only way to liberate the spirit of a character who has
the physical realm, move objects and attack with weapons.
become undead is to destroy his tainted body.
Once a spiritual creature has been bound into an undead
body, it cannot then leave of its own accord.
The visits of wholly discarnate
spirits can also create undead
Undead creatures may be kept at
creatures if the victim is killed. For
bay, just like spiritual creatures. It was conceived that the Ka could
example, a character that is drained
They can also be disrupted, though leave the human body during sleep
by the nocturnal visits of a lustful
if this happens, their body crumbles or while the subject lay in a trance.
one arises as an undead monster in
to pieces. An undead creature that It then wandered forth and visited
much the same way as the victim of
is smashed to bits or otherwise people and places and its experience
a thirsty one. The victims of lustful
destroyed with physical damage is survived in memory. Dreams were
ones become stalking shades.
simply destroyed; the animating accounted for in this way as actual
spirit most commonly returns to its happenings. When a man dreamt
Magicians who know the proper
own realm, its job done. of a deceased friend, he believed
Hekau rites for self-animation, a
that his Ka had met with the Ka of
form of truly twisted sorcery, can
Most undead creatures are the result the dead, held converse with it and
avoid the judgement of Anubis by
of corrupt magicians using Hekau engaged in the performance of some
binding their own ka back into
spells to summon wicked spirits, Other-World duty.
their body at the moment of death,
commanding them to obey and then
thus reanimating their own dead
binding them into the body of a dead Sometimes the wandering Ka
corpse. Such walking horrors come
creature. Such undead as composite could be observed at a distance
to resemble the animated mummy
mummies, bowel-eaters and skeletal from where the sleeper reposed.
of horror films, swathed in bandages
gnawers are artificial undead. When It had all the appearance of the
and reliant on preservative fluids to
a wicked spirit takes possession of a individual, because it was attired
keep their bodies from falling to
dead body, it no longer has to expend in the doubles of his clothing and
bits. They dread having their bodies
hit points to remain manifest, unlike might carry the double of his staff.
destroyed, as their liberated spirit
possession of a living creature. This Ghosts, therefore, included the
would then have to face judgement
is because the dead body offers no spirits of the living, which were not
and undoubtedly be consigned
resistance to the spirits presence, recognized to be spirits until they
to damnation, their hearts ripped
whereas a living creatures own vanished mysteriously. They might
out and devoured by Anubis. A
inherent spirit is always fighting to also be simply heard and not seen.
magician who uses Hekau to force
regain control.
his spirit back into his dead body is
Egyptian Myth and Legend, by
called a defiled one.
Some undead creatures arise Donald MacKenzie
spontaneously. The spiritual
Undead Qualities: Undead
creature known as a death-lantern
creatures are immune to mind-
(see the Bestiary) can take possession
affecting magic and critical hits. They do not suffer
of any dead body, so long as it has not been given funerary
grievous wounds, nor do they have a Constitution
rites (see Consecration effects) and animate it. Such a
score. When they are reduced to zero hit points, they
creature is called a prowling corpse and is detailed in the
are destroyed. Some undead, such as defiled ones and
Bestiary. Unlike other undead creatures, a death-lantern
thirsty ones can be decapitated. If it becomes necessary to
may abandon a corpse that it has entered. Destroying the
calculate an undead creatures grievous wound threshold,
corpse does not dispel the death-lantern.
assume that it is identical to the creatures Strength ability
score. Undead do not have divine points.
Creatures that consist of a spirit animating a dead body can
sometimes create others like themselves by slaying living

231

Artifice
Artificers have talents of invention and creation that are
far beyond even the best of ordinary craftsmen. They can
produce finely wrought items whose cunning design improves
on even masterwork quality weapons and armour and can
create mechanical wonders that the population will marvel at
for generations to come. Artificers do not use magic; their skill
is entirely based on mechanical lore and native genius.
artifice
Masterwork And
Marvellous Items
Artificers can produce masterworks in four different ways:
with the normal method available to any other craftsman;
from scratch, with their own personally developed techniques;
from an existing item or by making an existing masterwork
into a marvellous item.
Original Masterworks: To create a masterwork from scratch,
the artificer can roll his Craft check as normal, multiplying his
check result by the items DC for a single week of work, adding
the numbers together until they reach the items market price
in coin. If he draws upon his creative ingenuity, he can attempt
to reduce the time and the money required. The process is
very simple: he can raise the DC for his Craft check by +2 for
every 10 silver drachmas he subtracts from the masterwork
components price. Thus, an artificer can make a masterwork
weapon component (100d, DC 20) as normal or he could opt
to raise the DC to 26, and it would cost him 70d.
Masterworking an Item: Normally, when an item comes
out of a craftsmans workshop, there is nothing else that can
be done to it; it is complete and finished. Artificers, who are
always pondering how an items function could be improved,
know how to add a masterwork component to items that are
already built. The artificer can add +5 to the items original
construction DC and add a masterwork component worth
200 silver drachmas; it takes more work to add masterwork
quality to an item that is already completed. He can use the
techniques described above to reduce the master components
price by increasing its DC. Failing a check by 5 or more ruins
half the masterwork materials, but leaves the original item
intact.
Superior Masterworks: The final and most revered tool in
the artificers collection is the ability to create marvellous items
from items that are already masterworks themselves. The
artificer adds a second masterwork component layer on top
of the original item while he makes additional adjustments
to it to better accommodate the extra work. This second
component is worth double the amount of the original (200
silver drachmas for weapons and 100 silver drachmas for
armour and other items) and it has a DC of 25 to construct. As
with all masterworks, the artificer can reduce the masterwork
components cost by increasing the DC. A marvellous item
provides a further +1 bonus to a normal masterwork. Failing
a check by 5 or more ruins half the masterwork materials, and
there is a flat 50% chance that it will also ruin the original
item.
232
Mechanical Wonders
A technological wonder is handled in a way similar to
how creatures are described in the Bestiary chapter with
some additions and alterations to the required fields.
The construction process fills out these qualities while
determining their cost and difficulty to make.
Name: This is the name of the mechanical wonder, which
should always incorporate the name of the artificer who
made it or the name of the person for whom it was made.
Mechanical wonders always have titles such as The Fountain
Of Xiomedes or The Astounding Chess Player Of King
Hazmath.
Type and Size: All technological wonders are constructs by
definition. These rules present a number of subtypes that
further define the technological wonder: static structure,
vehicle, animated object, portable equipment, personal
weapon and siege weapon, described later. The machines size
depends a lot on the creators wishes as much as it depends
on its function. A vehicle must be able to carry one or more
people, while a personal weapon cannot exceed the intended
users size. As the artificer designs his machine, he finds what
the base size is for a machine with the functions he wishes and
increases or decreases it with additional qualities.
Structure Dice: Machines do not have hit points like ordinary
creatures, nor do they have grievous wound thresholds but
they have structure points. One structure point is equal to
ten hit points.
Hardness: All objects, including machines, have a hardness
rating. Whenever an object takes hit point damage, subtract
its hardness from the damage. Only damage in excess of its
hardness is deducted from the objects hit points. Do not
subtract the hardness from damage dealt by weapons and
attacks able to deal structure damage, such as other machines,
since such attacks are meant to affect objects directly.
Manoeuvrability: If the object can move or be moved, such
as a vehicle or an animated object, it has a manoeuvrability
mode and score. The manoeuvrability mode is the same as
that described for flying creatures in the Adventuring chapter
(clumsy, poor, average, good and perfect) and defines how
well the machine moves. For movement modes other than
flying, simply replace fly with walk, burrow or swim.
For maritime vessels, walk applies to their movement on
the waters surface, since swim is meant for creatures and
machines that can dive underwater. The manoeuvrability
score is the machine equivalent to Initiative, determined by
an artificially implanted Dexterity score, its subtype and any
installed special qualities.
Speed: How fast a mobile machine advances in the different
movement modes. This entry also specifies if the machine is
able to take the run action or not.
Turn Rate: Also for mobile machines, this specifies how much
distance the machine covers before making a 45 turn. It
supersedes the distance given by the manoeuvrability mode.
Attacks: This entry lists all the attacks and attack bonuses of
a machines weaponry. Only if the machine is able to move
by itself does it roll on its own; otherwise, the number is an
accuracy bonus granted to a wielders, operators or crews
attack roll. Attacks listed here are from normal weaponry
or siege weaponry; attacks that stem from emulating a feat or
ability go into the special qualities field.
Damage: Any weapon in a machines arsenal has its damage
listed here. Some attacks may deal structure damage, in which
case this is expressed as two damage types separated by a slash,
the first to indicate hit point damage against creatures and the
second for structure damage against objects.
Special Qualities: Any effect that emulates feats or special
abilities is listed here. Such abilities are very costly to emulate
through machinery and some may not be possible at all at
the Games Masters discretion. The limit of what may be
achieved will depend on the kind of campaign being run. A
mythic campaign should set the limit fairly low; this is a genre
in which flying mechanical horses pulled chariots, after all.
Historical campaigns should have the limit set very high.
Saves: Objects do not have any inherent saving throw. If
unattended, they fail automatically. If a bonus is present here,
it means that the machine is built in such a way as to give its
wielder, operator or crew a bonus to their own save to protect
their machine from harm.
Abilities, Skills and Feats: Machines do not have any inherent
ability scores, skill ranks nor feats, but the creator may emulate
them through installing a function. The cost of doing this is
expressed in Construction Points.
Crew: The minimum number of operators a machine requires
to perform its functions.
Passengers: The number of creatures a mechanical wonder
may accommodate in addition to the crew.
Cost: The final cost in silver drachmas that the creator,
sponsor or crew must spend to make the wonder. All costs
may be split in any proportion amongst all the craftsmen that
collaborate in making the technological wonder.
Construction Points (CP)
The system to build mechanical wonders has a basic building
block: Construction Points, referred to as CP from now on.
Every material, feature and deficiency carries a cost measured
in points. As the player or Games Master make their choices
on size, materials and abilities, they add the points assigned
to each, or subtract points by intentionally introducing
deficiencies. The final CP amount is then used to calculate all
costs, as well as playing a part in the research and construction
process.
Construction Checklist
Making a mechanical wonder is no easy task and these rules
are a simplification of the process at best.
Form and Function: Decide what the object is meant
to do and what is its general shape. This step defines
the wonders subtype and provides the blueprint for
emulating abilities, skills, feats and other effects.
Framework: What the object is made of. This step
artifice
determines the wonders size, its hardness and a base
difficulty for the Craft checks required to make its
frame.
Machine Components: The base technology of the
wonder. Different levels of sophistication affect the
wonders size, power and operation requirements.
Power Sources and Conduits: Not being magical,
machines do not run by themselves. A power source
gives the necessary energy for the technological
wonder to work and the conduits transmit that energy
to the corresponding components.
Extra Parts: The creator of a technological wonder
can find that he ran out of space, or that he needs more
power than was originally foreseen. In this phase he
makes all the necessary adjustments: from adding extra
space for wood-burning engines to installing a more
compact mainspring to power the clockworks.
Additional Features: Unsatisfied inventors can add
additional features to their machine before it is finally
ready. These features are exclusive to technological
wonders and do not depend on emulating skills or
feats.
The Craft: Finally, add all of the wonders qualities
together to determine the final costs as well as the DC
for the different Craft checks that are required to make
it, as well as how long it will take to build.
what is it? what
does it do?
These are the questions an artificer must answer before
sketching the first draft of his blueprints. The main drive
when an artificer creates a mechanical device is need; either
his own need or that of his patron. In response to the needs
of the people, the artificers solved many mechanical problems
in long-ago eras, creating devices that purified water or made
it easy to move huge blocks of stone. Do not worry if an
artificers invention should logically have meant that humans
developed certain technologies sooner than they did; artificers
are always coming up with devices that should not see the light
of day until many years have passed but owing to the inability
of ordinary craftsmen to use an artificers plans, these devices
are always going to be very limited in their production, usually
being one-offs at best.
Construction Target (CT)
The easiest way to code the range of possible machines into
relatively simple rules is the Construction Target, a number
that sums up what the technological wonder is and what
233
 it does. To calculate the Construction Target, simply add the What Is It?
numbers in the following tables for all the criteria that the
wonder meets. Craft Construction
Form SD DC Targets
The structural Construction Target adds the machines subtype Static Structure d12 +0 15
as well as its abilities and installed feats and represents the Vehicle d10 +1 10
machines size and materials. The performance Construction
Target is the result of any skill ranks or special abilities being Animated Object d12 +2 5
applied to the machine and reflects its components, power Portable Equipment d8 +0 2
sources and conduits. Each Construction Target represents
artifice

Personal Weapon d8 +1 1
the minimum amount of Construction Points that a creator
must spend for the machine to work. If the objects CP cost
is less than the Construction Target, the wonder simply will benefit of magic to provide propulsion. However, they are
not work. Extra parts comprise the basic hardware, rods, more manoeuvrable than vehicles, since they are not designed
beams, cogs and pistons necessary to complete the job and to carry others though provision for such has been known and
can reasonably be used to top up Construction Points in can be added as an improvisation or as a special feature.
order to meet Construction Targets, or are components that
grant additional, unforeseen or unusual characteristics to the Vehicles
machine. Turn
Vehicle Size Manoeuvrability Speed Rate
Form: Machine Subtype
As mentioned before, all technological wonders are considered Tiny (it happens) Perfect (+2) 15-ft. 0-ft.
constructs but they have several subtypes that further define Small Good (+1) 20-ft. 5-ft.
them: Medium Average (+0) 30-ft. 10-ft.
Construction Corresponding Large Average (-1) 30-ft. 20-ft.
Target Type Characteristic Elements Huge Poor (-2) 40-ft. 30-ft.
Structural Machine Framework: Size and Gargantuan Clumsy (-4) 40-ft. 60-ft.
Subtype, Shape, Materials;
Colossal Clumsy (-6) 30-ft. 120-ft.
Abilities, Feats. Extra Parts
Performance Skills, Special Machine
Abilities Components, Portable Equipment: Characters can theoretically carry these
Power Sources and items. Portable equipment does not move by itself, though the
Conduits, Extra Parts feature may be added.

Static Structure: These machines are not moved, resting in Animated Objects
place for a reason. Such wonders range from mechanical Object Size Manoeuvrability Speed Turn Rate
statues that open and close palace doors to improved mills that
Diminutive Perfect (-1) 10-ft. 0-ft.
grind corn in a fraction of the time.
Structures have a +2 hardness in addition to their materials Tiny Perfect (+2) 15-ft. 0-ft.
base and have a d12 Structure Dice. Structures do not move Small Good (+1) 20-ft. 0-ft.
and therefore have no manoeuvrability, speed or turn rate. If
Medium Average (+0) 30-ft. 0-ft
a structure is to have mobility, it must be added as a special
quality. Large Average (-1) 30-ft. 0-ft.
Huge Poor (-2) 20-ft. 10-ft.
Vehicle: Vehicles are made to move others. Vehicles have
Gargantuan Clumsy (-4) 20-ft. 20-ft.
a base manoeuvrability, speed and turn rates depending on
their size. The creator can modify these values by installing Colossal Clumsy (-6) 15-ft. 30-ft.
additional features.

Animated Object: Creating an automaton is the dream of

many an artificer. He who can make a machine in imitation
of nature has proven himself to be in possession of talents that
the Gods would envy. These complicated mechanisms are very
hard to manufacture, especially when they are given humanoid
form; mechanical people do not balance as well as organic ones
and do not have enough space inside them for more than the
most fine arrays of cogs, gears and chains. Objects animated
by machinery require either very complicated or very large
limbs and mechanisms in order to move, as they lack the
Personal Weapon: Artificers occasionally build contraptions
that are intended for use as weapons. Most warriors and noble
warriors are very suspicious of such things, preferring the
reliability of a proven sword or bow to some bizarre product of
an artificers brain. Using mechanical equipment to fight with
is seen as dishonourable by many combatants; if one wants the
best in equipment, one should appeal to the Gods to lend their
heavenly weapons and items, not resort to human ingenuity.
A warrior or noble warrior who uses a mechanical personal

234
weapon built by an artificer (as opposed to a masterwork or
marvellous weapon) may not use his Reputation bonus while
he carries the weapon, nor for 1d3 months afterwards.
Movement and Propulsion
Vehicles and animated objects are designed to move and travel.
At the planning stage, the creator must decide what method of
movement the machine will use. Surface movement through
easy terrain and water can be achieved without cost by adding
wheels, legs or by declaring the machine a sailing or oared
ship. If the machine is required to have some form of special
movement, it must be added as a function, either emulating a
skill or requiring a special cost in CP.
A technological wonder may only have one base method of
travel, though more can be added separately. To add surface
movement, simply +1CP to the cost of the base movement.
Any other kind of movement must be added as an extra
function.
The different movement methods have the manoeuvrability,
speed and turn rate defined in their corresponding table and
can be achieved by emulating the following skills, feats and
special abilities:
Movement Requires
Burrow 222 construction points.
Fly under own speed 86 construction points.
(e.g. wings)
Lift off from ground 10 construction points. Device
only (e.g. balloon) can only raise or lower itself and
requires sails or some similar means
of propulsion to move in a constant
direction.
Underwater Emulate Swim skill. The creator
should install a method to allow
breathing and visibility.
Rough or steep Emulate Climb skill.
terrain
Vertical surfaces 10 construction points.
Function
The easiest way to define what a mechanical wonder does
with hard rules is to have it emulate certain character-specific
qualities, such as ability scores, skills and feats. If a player
comes up with an effect not covered by any of the existing
options for the aforementioned qualities, the Games Master
should assign it a Construction Point value using the body of
these rules as a guideline. Write the Construction Target for
each function in its own row before adding it all up and, in
the Craft step, dedicate a number of Construction Points to
pay for effects that would emulate that quality and achieve the
function, thus assigning a machine part for it.
What Does It Do?
Function Construction Target
Reproduce an ability (physical) 2 (per point)
Reproduce an ability (mental) 3 (per point)
Reproduce a skill (Str and Dex) 1 (per 5 ranks)
Reproduce a skill (Int and Wis) 2 (per 5 ranks)
Skill has a user focus +1
artifice
Reproduce a general feat 2
Abilities: It is not common to grant machines an ability
score, although it may come in handy if it is meant to have
multiple purposes or have many skills based on that ability.
Physical abilities are easier to install, since they have a real and
measurable effect. A strong machine is capable of exerting
force on its surroundings like lifting and carrying weight
or attacking, while a dextrous one either moves fast or can
manipulate other objects. As a construct, a technological
wonder cannot have a Constitution score.
Mental scores are trickier to justify and should definitely
remain within the realm of a mythic campaign. Artificers who
create intelligent machines are coming dangerously close to
claiming the Gods own prerogative. Nonetheless, machines
that emulate intelligence do exist in the myths and in more
contemporary retellings thereof, so they may be built. An
intelligent machine is capable of remembering and processing
great amounts of information while a wise one may have acute
sensory features. No machine has a personality and therefore
no Charisma rating.
The Construction Target lists the cost for a single point in a
score; above a certain threshold, the points are more expensive.
Multiply the Construction Target listed for reproducing
an ability by the corresponding factor in the next table to
determine the final Construction Target for each ability score.
For example, an ability score of 13 would cost you 13 points,
while an ability score of 16 would cost you 18 points: 14
points to raise the score to 14, and then 4 points to raise the
score by a further two and reach the target of 16.
Feats: The true genius of artifice lies in this stage, the
application of additional features to an object by granting it
skills and feats as if it were a character. The skills and feats
do not work exactly as they would for characters, but they
certainly make the object behave strangely.
General feats are installed normally. Special feats cannot
be installed, as they depend on a characters special
abilities and cannot be reproduced by a machine.
Combat feats like Weapon Focus and Cleave can usually
only be installed on personal weapons. There are
exceptions, such as a vehicle having Spirited Charge.
The listed Construction Target is for feats with no
prerequisites. Add the Construction Target as many
times as there are prerequisites.
235
 High Ability Costs
Score Construction Target multiplier
1-14 x1
15-16 x2
17-18 x3
19-20 x4
21-22 x5
artifice
23-24 x6
25+ Add 1 to the multiplier for every 2 points
Skills: An artificer can build a mechanical marvel so that it
uses a skill itself, such as a chariot that has the skill of moving
silently, or so that it allows another person to use the skill,
such as a pair of boots that enable the wearer to move silently.
Physical skills are easier to install than mental skills and, if the
machine does have a score in the skills key ability, the ability
modifier applies. Determine if the skill will be used by the
machine (object focus) or by an operator (user focus) and,
while using that function, use the appropriate ability score,
either the one for the machine or the one for the operator.
Mechanical marvels can never be built with Hekau, Prayer or
Witchcraft skills included, neither to use these skills themselves
nor to confer a bonus upon another characters use thereof.
Installing skills follows a similar process to installing an ability
score; the Construction Target in the table lists the cost per
rank for skills with an object focus. Even if a machine cannot
have a Charisma score, it can have Charisma-based skills
installed. The guidelines below explain what the construction
can do with skill ranks.
Balance (Dex): Items with an object focus enhancement
may remain steady by themselves, which is useful for vehicles
moving over uneven surfaces. If a moving vehicle succeeds
in a Balance check (DC 15, or Games Masters discretion),
it remains stable enough so that ranged attacks fired from
it suffer no penalties and spellcasters do not need to roll a
Concentration check to cast.
Climb (Str): Items that can climb by themselves (other than
vehicles) cannot carry other characters while climbing; that
is the function of a user focus skill enhancement, to grant a
bonus to a characters own Climb check.
Concentration (Con): Any item that aids in Concentration
checks (with a user focus) most forcibly cover the users head
somehow. It imposes a penalty to Listen and Spot checks
equal to the bonus it grants to Concentration and a -1 dodge
penalty to Active Defence.
Craft (Int): Items that complement a Craft are even better
than masterwork tools. Artificers will frequently build their
own mechanical lathes, drills and saws so that they can build
even bigger and better marvels. Like the skill itself, an item
made to complement a specific Craft is useless for another,
although the Games Master may give a reduced bonus for
closely related crafts.
236
Disguise (Cha): An item with Disguise ranks is more than
meets the eye. It can disguise itself as another item of the same
size, and the craftsman chooses the seeming at the moment of
creating the enhancement. The disguise form does not work
as if it was a normal object of that kind; it just hides the true
nature of the original. The object rolls its Disguise check at
the moment of transmogrification and casual observers must
beat the result with a Spot check to realise that it is an object
in disguise.
Escape Artist (Dex): The only special provision for such
an item is that it must be close to the source of entrapment,
such as a suit of armour that features retractable blades in
the bracers to cut ropes. The method of escape must be
determined at creation and it may not apply for all situations
that call for an Escape Artist check.
Handle Animal (Cha): An item intended to handle animals
is built for a particular species, suffering a -2 penalty when
dealing with similar creatures, -4 when applied to wildly
different creatures and -6 for members of another creature
type.
Heal (Wis) and Medicine (Int): Healing devices are
frightening. Even if such an item has beneficial effects, the
mere thought of having it touching parts of ones body grants
its user a +2 morale bonus to Intimidate checks.
Hide (Dex): Like the Disguise skill, items equipped with
a Hide enhancement are quite unusual, able to camouflage
themselves and/or their owner, depending on their focus.
While the ability is working, the object cannot move or be
moved without ruining the hide attempt.
Jump (Str): Jumping items are not restricted by their height
for maximum jumping distance. Items that complement a
characters Jump checks add 1 foot to his height for purposes
of determining maximum jumping distance.
Listen (Wis): A character must be actively using the item
in conjunction with Listen checks in order to work; it does
not activate automatically and the character may very well be
surprised by silent enemies.
Move Silently (Dex): Taking the form of padding, carefully
wrought suspension springs or extra grease on the connections
between plates, this enhancement is always active. A vehicle
with this enhancement or a character benefiting from it loses
five feet of its speed.
Perform (Cha): Items enhanced with Perform ranks resemble
musical instruments.
Presence (Cha): An item is either built to incorporate the
intimidating or the seductive use of this skill, never both.
Intimidating items look frightful and ominous and are often
covered in spikes and demonic heads. Mechanical devices can
never help a person make a seduction attempt with Presence,
though mechanical courtesans can have Presence skill ranks
whereby they can make their own seduction attempts.
Stranger things have been known! One legend even tells of
a mechanical courtesan who was given to a king as a gift and
who then proved to be the perfect assassin, killing him with
one stroke and incapable of betraying her builder.
Profession (Wis): Items that complement a Profession are
even better than masterwork tools. Like the skill itself, an
item made to complement a specific profession is useless
for another, although the Games Master may give a reduced
the strain of pulling a character and keeping him afloat, it has
a 5% chance of seizing up altogether and ceasing to function
for every two Swim checks it complements.
Tumble (Dex): Whether their Tumble ranks are focused
on the object or its user, the Tumble check only allows the
character or item to move up to 20 feet while tumbling and
cannot prevent damage from falling.

bonus for closely related professions. Depending on the
Profession, they can have a complexity of 1 though 3, defined
by the Games Master.
Ride (Dex): Riding aids tend to spook a mount, inflicting a
morale penalty on the riders Handle Animal checks equal to
the bonus it gives to Ride checks. Mounts with 6 or higher
Intelligence do not scare so easily but take offence at having
such an item used on them.
Search (Wis): When making an item that helps in Search
checks, the craftsman must specify what the item is good at
searching for. For example, you could have an item that uses a
careful balance of internal salts to look for water deposits, or a
tracking lens that helped find small dropped objects.
artifice
Use Rope (Dex): Objects cannot make special knots
by themselves and are not particularly useful for tying
creatures, suffering a -2 on their checks. When used as tools
to complement a characters Use Rope checks, they work
normally, but they can only make one kind of special knot,
defined at the time of construction.
framework
Now that the basic form and function of the wonder are set,
it is time to get down to details. From now on, all the costs
are expressed in Construction Points that resolve into the
machines real price and are used to meet the Construction
Targets for the overall plan and for individual features.

Sense Motive (Wis): In order to work properly, an item with

Shape and Size
Depending on the machines form, it has a pre-established
Sense Motive ranks must be no further than one inch per skill
shape that a creator may alter at will. The basic shape does not
rank from the subject of the check.
influence the final cost of the machine. The table below lists
the number of space units a machine of a given subtype and
Sleight of Hand (Dex): Items that enhance the users Sleight
size has available for distributing among its three dimensions:
of Hand checks, such as extensible graspers, must be quick,
width, length and height. Each dimension must have at least
precise and sturdy. Ranks for this skill cost double to install
one unit assigned to it. For static structures and vehicles, each
in an item.
unit represents a span of five feet for all size categories. For
animated objects, the same value (1 unit = 5 ft. span) holds
Solve Conundrum (Int): Mechanical devices with this skill as
true for machines of Medium-size or larger, but for Small and
an object focus can only tackle extremely logical, mathematical
smaller machines, each unit equals six inches (1/2 foot). For
conundrums, such as solving a labyrinth or calculating the
personal weapons and portable equipment, one unit equals a
shortest distance between two points. Devices that aid the
span of six inches. No machine may be more than twice as
user to solve conundrums resemble abacuses for calculating
with or helmets covered
in metal struts, designed Frames Space Units
to put pressure on key
Machine Subtype
areas of the thinkers head
according to the principles Static Animated Personal Portable
Size CP SD Structure Vehicle Object Weapon Equipment
of phrenology.
(1) Fine 3 1 3 3 3 3 3
Spot (Wis): Spotting
(2) Diminutive 5 1 4 3 4 4 3
items work like Listen
items; they must be (3) Tiny 9 1 8 4 8 8 3
activated and in use in (4) Small 18 2 16 8 16 16 4
order to work
(5) Medium 36 4 32 16 3 32 8
Swim (Str): Boats (6) Large 72 6 64 32 4 64 16
with Swim ranks are (7) Huge 144 8 128 64 8 128 32
independently powered
(8) Gargantuan 288 10 256 128 16 256 64
and can move by
themselves at 10 feet per (9) Colossal 576 12+ 512 256 32 512 128
round. A swimming device * For Static Structures and Vehicles, 1 unit = 5 feet
that aids the operator is ** For Animated Objects, 1 unit = 6 inches (Fine to Small); 1 unit = 5-ft. (Medium-size and larger)
not very resilient; due to *** For Personal Weapons and Portable Equipment, 1 unit = 6 inches

237
 high as its width. The dimensions Material
obtained are an approximation;
they define a box inside which a CP
machine should fit to qualify for Material Multiplier
that size category. For example, a Wood x1
Large animated object has four space Wood & Leather x2
units to distribute; assigning one
to width, one to length and two to Stoneworks x3
height results in a machine that can Bronze x4
fit a space of five feet by five feet,
artifice
Iron x5
with a maximum height of ten feet.
The number of units also measures
the machines capacity to support
machine components for its special abilities, as described in
its own section.
Personal weapons and portable equipment handle size
differently. Their size category means the size of a creature able
to wield the weapon in one hand. A Medium-size weapon is
not the same absolute size as a Medium-size creature, but such
a creature may hold it in one hand without penalty.
Size defines how many Structure Dice a machine rolls to
determine its structure points and how many Construction
Points it costs in order to meet the structural Construction
Target requirement. The number between parentheses is the
size categorys numerical value; use it when a rule calls for a
number to add, subtract or multiply by the size category.
Reducing space units also reduces the items cost. Subtract 1
CP from the machines total cost for every 2 units deducted
from the total. You cannot take so many units that the
machine drops one size category.
Materials
An important decision to make when planning a mechanical
wonder is what it is going to be made off. Matters of cost and
weight are cons to be considered, but balanced by the pros of
resistance and efficiency. Cheap materials make for relatively
inexpensive and easy construction, but they break down easily
and need a lot of maintenance to keep running. More durable
materials can take quite a beating and are very reliable but they
are ultimately expensive.
This material makes up the majority of the machines body,
which means that it can have parts made of other materials
that do not count towards the final cost. The material defines
the machines hardness and the Difficulty Class for the
appropriate Craft checks to make and repair.
Materials do not have a CP cost, but instead they multiply the
cost of the base shape and size. Cheap materials may not fulfil
the machines structural Construction Target, which means
that the deficit must be met with assorted parts. To calculate
the machines final weight, square the number of space units it
has and multiply it by the materials listed weight modifier.
Wood and Leather: Carpentry is one of the easiest of the
construction methods. Wood is pliable, abundant and
easy to shape and replace in the likely case that it
238
Craft DC Craft DC Weight
(make) (repair) Modifier Hardness
10 10 x 5 lb. 5
12 10 x 8 lb. 6
15 12 x 10 lb. 8
15 12 x 16 lb. 10
18 16 x 14 lb. 12
breaks under the strain of the machines workings. Wooden
cogs and gears pulled by ropes that twist through pulleys and
levers make up the inner workings of a wooden machine.
When wooden and leather components are used in equal
measure, such as for moving parts, the machine gains an extra
measure of flexibility that keeps it from snapping its pieces
apart.
Stoneworks: Machines made out of stone are almost always
structures. Dams, speaking statues of the Gods, chambers
that amplify echoes, or secret passages that can be found but
not opened without a key are just a few of the wonders that
artificers can make with stone. Sometimes it is hard to tell
when a stone structure is actually a technological wonder.
Bronze: The middle point between endurance and cost,
bronze is the most practical metal alloy, resistant but not as
costly as iron. A machine with bronze workings can have parts
made of other metals or even other materials, but they just
serve as support and ornamentation to the main bronze body.
Iron: As it has a higher melting point, iron is harder to process
and shape than bronze but is much more resilient and sturdy.
machine
components
The first of a technological wonders elements whose cost
in Construction Points is used to meet the performance
Construction Target, the machine component is the way an
artificer applies his craftsmanship to make the abilities in
his machine work. A judicious application of each kind of
technology can power almost any kind of ability, if coupled
with the right power source. A mechanical wonder can
benefit from one or more applications of a technology type,
but each entails its own Craft check. Simple technologies can
be completed easily, but it takes much more effort to have
them work as intended, while complex and sophisticated
components are harder to make, but get the job done more
efficiently by comparison.
Take the Construction Target for each skill, ability or feat
that the machine can perform and select one or more
technology types that will make it work. Spend the amount of
Construction Points that will match each Construction Target
and make a note on the Craft DC of each component for each
skill, ability or feat.
 Capacity
Every mechanical wonder has a limited capacity as to how much
machinery it can fit without needing further attachments and
expansions to accommodate extra mechanisms. A machines
size and subtype define its capacity, equalling the number of
units a machine of that subtype has for that size, as defined in
the framework phase of building a technological wonder.
Technology types take space and the simpler it is, the more
space it demands in order to reproduce a skill or ability.
The table lists how many Construction Points can fit in a
single unit. For example, an artificer is building a Large
vehicle (32 units); if he were to use only simple machinery
(2 Construction Points per unit), he can fit 64 Construction
Points-worth of components in order to meet the machines
performance Construction Target. If he were to use
sophisticated machinery (10 points per unit), he would be
able to fit 320 Construction Points-worth of components.
If the Construction Points needed to meet the Construction
Target exceed the machines capacity, the artificer must fit it
with additional parts, which makes the machine more than a
bit ungainly; see the section on extra parts.
A character may add any combination of components as
long as the Construction Points add up to a special abilitys
Construction Target and they do not exceed the capacity. Note
that the power source needed to activate each component also
takes space so a few units should be left open for them.
Minute Crafts
The table considers the capacity for machines where a unit
equals a span of five feet. For small machines where a unit
equals a span of six inches, the artificer must make a conscious
effort to miniaturise the components he is working with. The
machines capacity works as normal but the craftsman suffers
a -6 penalty to the Craft checks to assemble the components,
representing the enormous care and difficulty of working
with smaller machinery. The difficulty involved means that
mechanical marvels tend to be built to a large scale; it is very
much a genre of towering wooden horses and earth-shaking
clockwork giants. Only the very best of artificers can create
devices so elaborate that they fit into a small space.
Technology Types
There are three main types of technology an artificer can use
to make his mechanical wonder operate. Each type contains
Machine Component
Technology Corresponding Crafts
Simple Blacksmithing, carpentry, leatherworking,
Machines pottery, sculpture, shipmaking, stonemasonry.
Complex Blacksmithing, wheelwright.
Machines
Sophisticated Special: see above.
Machines
a wide variety of components that would be nightmarish to
include individually in a rules system, so they are simply
grouped together in the technology type. Each type has
related crafts used in its construction. An artificer must have
at least 5 ranks in any of the corresponding Craft skills in order
to build a mechanism of that type. Also, each technology type
requires a specific drive system, converter or conduit that will
power the technological wonders functions.
artifice
Operating the machinery requires a capable engineer, pilot,
helmsman or member of any profession who would know
how to work it. To activate each ability, regardless of its
duration, an operator makes a Craft or Profession check with
a DC set by the technology type, or a Wisdom or Intelligence
check (whichever is higher) if the operator does not possess
any relevant skill. The machinery for each of the devices
abilities requires one crewman for every space unit that the
components occupy. This operating procedure is independent
of the operation of the power source, which needs its own
crew. Mechanical marvels are always labour-intensive.
Simple Machines: Components that operate through
mechanical force and can be made by the simplest of crafts.
The wedge, screws, pulleys, levers, inclined plane, and wheels
and axles are examples of simple machinery, such as artificers
have been using for centuries.
Complex Machines: These are either a clever combination of
simple machines or operate under more advanced mechanical
principles. Cogs and gears are an example of complex
machinery, as are pistons, coiled springs, conveyor belts,
latches and diaphragms. On the higher scale of advancement,
steamworks, waterworks and clockworks are the pinnacle of
complex machinery research.
Sophisticated Machines: These are the contraptions that
require the application of technical secrets now lost to
humanity, whereby the angles of mirrors, the vibrations
of crystals and the hum of tuning forks were said to work
amazing transformations upon matter. This was not magic
but a form of ancient science no less incredible. An artificer
must use his Craft (blacksmithing) skill to make sophisticated
machines but for the purpose of these skill checks, his Craft
(blacksmithing) skill can be no higher than his Knowledge
(mysteries) skill ranks. Even if an artificer has 16 ranks in
Craft (blacksmithing), if he has a Knowledge (mysteries) skill
ranking of 4, then that is his effective Craft (blacksmithing)
skill for the purpose of building a sophisticated machine.
Construction Points per
Craft DC Operation DC space unit
12 10 2
14 12 6
18 14 10
239
 power sources and
conduits
A technological wonder does not operate by itself; it needs fuel
in the absence of magic to power its abilities. Artificers have
developed several power sources that move different types of
technology and call them engines, whether that power source
is a wood-fired boiler or a great clockwork motor wound up
by a key.
artifice
As each of the technological wonders abilities has its own
Construction Target and, therefore, their own components,
they also have their own power sources. The engines take up
space in the machines capacity as much as the components do.
Some sources are more suited to certain types of technology,
while others need some sort of converter to translate the
energy they give off into the one the components need, thus
increasing the space they require. A power source does not
cost additional Construction Points, since the price is already
included in the machine components it powers, but it has an
effective CP cost for purposes of calculating its space. A power
sources effective Construction Points are one-fifth of the
abilitys total CP cost and, depending on the technology it is
powering and its own nature, takes up a number of space units
indicated in the table. For example, an ability powered by ten
Construction Points-worth of simple machinery (that take five
space units) would have a power source with an effective CP
cost of two. A mechanical power source for such an ability
would take one space unit since, according to the table, a
mechanical power source can fit two Construction Points per
space unit when powering simple machinery.
To make a power source, use the Craft skill for the technology
type it is feeding. The Difficulty Class for making the power
source is equal to the base technology types plus a modifier
for the kind of power source. For example, an elemental
power source feeding complex machinery has a DC 17 (14 for
complex machinery +3 for elemental power source). A power
source for miniaturised components is also miniaturised,
suffering a -6 penalty on the Craft check. The DC to repair
the power source is the same as that to create it.
Most sources require a crew to activate or keep under
operation. Doing so requires a skill check appropriate for the
sources nature and must be defined by the creator at the time
of construction. Most of them will require a Profession skill
such as engineer, siege engineer or even teamster, but it may
require other skills, such as like Handle Animal for a device
that is powered by a pony walking round a turnstile.
Power Sources
Craft Operation Capacity by Technology Type (Construction Points per space unit)
Power Source DC DC Simple
Mechanical +1 10 4 3
Natural +2 12 2 4
Elemental +3 14 2 2
240
Power Source Types
Given the diversity of power methods that artificers can devise,
the following are just guidelines for possible kinds of power
sources and their operation. Players and Games Masters are
advised to be both flexible and creative, coming up with details
as needed or simply leaving the operation to narrative details.
Mechanical Power: Creates energy by movement actively
created by something or someone called an operator.
Mechanical power sources range from oaring to manual-
operation cranks, springs and even the simple act of pushing,
such as on pedals and pulling, such as on ropes or chains. In
order to work, the machine needs constant operation of its
power source and a crew of operators to do so. As a rule of
thumb, one operator can work a mechanical power source for
every two effective Construction Points of its cost. Operating
a mechanical power source requires a skill or ability check with
a DC 10.
Natural Power: Uses the power of natural elements in order
to create energy instead of manual operation, but uses almost
all the same parts as mechanical power sources. Sails and
fans like those on a windmill can harness the power of wind;
the power of water is converted to motion by waterwheels in
static machines and so on. If the Games Master allows the
technology, magnetic charges from lodestones (fallen to earth
as meteorites and very rare) can be used to rotate a magnetised
wheel. A single operator can work a natural power source
for every three effective Construction Points of its cost.
Operating a natural power source requires a skill or ability
check with a DC 12.
Elemental Power: An improvement over natural power,
elemental power sources apply a transforming process to an
inert element in order to create energy. Steamworks are the
best example of this for the application of heat to water; the
ancient Greeks knew full well that engines could be driven
by steam. The Games Master may also wish to allow esoteric
power systems, such as alchemical capsules, dissolved in water,
to provide energy or a system based around an Atlantean
crystal technology. The remains of urns said to be ancient
pottery batteries have been retrieved from the ocean bed, so
even an electric battery is not out of the question. A single
operator can work an elemental power source for every two
effective Construction Points of its cost. Operating an
elemental power source requires a skill or ability check with a
DC 14. Elemental power needs fuel, for which see below.
Complex Sophisticated
2
3
4
 Centralising The Engine
If a technological wonder has more abilities than one, it needs
multiple power sources to feed each mechanism, but instead
of making several engines for each mechanism, an artificer
can instead make a single power source for all the wonders
functions. To do this, add all the Construction Points of all
the functions the machine possesses and divide by five to
obtain the engines effective CP cost. Select the nature of the
engine (mechanical, natural or elemental) and use the highest
DC from the machines components, adding the power
sources DC modifier to calculate the final DC for the Craft
check to construct the engine. As for space, use the lowest
number from the Power Source Size table from the technology
types present and reduce it by one. This last number is the
Construction Points per space unit that the engine takes up.
For example, a self-propelled war-chariot with an automated
fire hurler works off a single steam-powered engine (elemental
power source) to move the wagons wheels (simple mechanism)
and the fire hurler (sophisticated mechanism), which have a
combined CP cost of 24, giving the engine an effective CP
cost of four. The Craft (blacksmithing) check to make the
engine has a DC of 21 (DC 18 for a sophisticated mechanism,
+3 for an elemental power source) and occupies one CP per
space unit (elemental engines take 2 Construction Points per
unit, minus 1), thus requiring that the machine have four
units available for the engine.
Fuel
Elemental power sources require fuel to generate energy. Fuel
is measured in charges, with each charge providing enough
power for a single activation for instantaneous effects and
a ten-minute duration for more sustained effects. At the
creation of the engine, roll 2d4; the resultant number is the
amount of raw materials in pounds needed to provide a single
fuel charge and it does not change until the next repair check,
when modifications to the engine may change its output. The
creator determines the fuel when he creates the engine, which
can be from such a logical source as coal or wood, or may be
more exotic, such as pure gold or concentrated alcohol.
extra parts
Not all of the wonders that the artificers build are graceful,
elegant finished products. Some of them, at least in their early
stages of design, were wobbling top-heavy devices that seemed
to have been built on excessively. When the mechanisms fall
short of their intended function or are found to be too large
to be incorporated into the original design, extra parts come
to the rescue. Taking the form of attachments and extensions,
these extra parts are attached to the main body of the
mechanism to provide those extra few inches of containment
space or keep one important moving part from repeatedly
whacking into another.
In terms of description, players and Games Masters can and
should go wild; the extra parts serve no additional function
nor add benefits or restrictions to the machine, so they can be
anything from structural reinforcement to amazingly sturdy
decoration. Extra parts are provided to serve two purposes in
the creation of a mechanical wonder:
Meeting the Construction Target: When the machines
Construction Points for the chosen frame do not complete the
form and functions Construction Target, the artificer may add
reinforcements, counterweights and other parts to complete
the frames Construction Points.
artifice
Extending the Frames Capacity: When an artificer has spent too
long locked away in his workshop, he will often include special
functions that a machines original design was not prepared
to support, adding extra parts like platforms, rigging, beams
and other protrusions that extend a frames capacity. Extra
parts for this function do affect the machine. Add the number
of Construction Points by which the extra parts exceed the
capacity of the machines final cost; divide this excess by the
technologys Construction Points-per-space unit as listed in the
corresponding tables and add those size units to the machines
frame. If the expanded spaces now take the frame to the next
size category, it acquires all the characteristics of its new size. A
-1 size penalty is applied to all operation and activation checks,
as well as the rolls for all special abilities such as attack rolls,
saving throws and the like. The machine was not meant to be
this size and its performance suffers as a result.
additional
features
After calculating all the costs, the creator may still not be
satisfied with the fruits of his labours and may wish to install
additional features. The following features affect the way that
machines operate but do not require their own components or
power source, so they do not affect a machines size. Their cost
in Construction Points is added in the Extra Parts phase. The
Craft skill required to make such additions is the same as the
one used to build the frame, with the same DC.
Agility: The base movement characteristics provided for
vehicles and animated objects may not suit the creators tastes.
Through this feature the machines speed, manoeuvrability or
turn rate may be improved. For each instance of this feature
that the artificer installs, the machines speed increases by ten
feet, its manoeuvrability is now one category higher with a +1
modifier or its turn rate decreases by ten feet. Only one of the
characteristics can be enhanced at a time, but this feature may
be added up to three times to each characteristic. Cost: 2 CP.
Appendage: An appendage is fitted at the end of an arm
and gives the mechanical wonder the ability to grab things.
Whether hand, tentacle, clamp or pincer, the machine can use
it to take things without needing a crew to secure it to the
arm, or can change weapons of its size without having them
mounted. An appendage needs the Extremity (arm) feature
before it is installed. Cost: 1 CP x half the size value.
241
 Automated: The machine components or the power sources
are built in such a way that they require fewer crewmembers
than normal. Reduce the number of operators required by
one for every CP spent on this feature, to a minimum of
one operator (someone must pull the lever). The number of
operators for a power source can be reduced to zero if the
machine has a piloting cockpit or a control bridge. Cost:
varies.
Control Bridge: Like a piloting cockpit, a control bridge
artifice
Piloting Cockpit: The machine has a chamber just the size of
an intended pilot. The pilot, who must have ranks in a specific
Profession (pilot wonder) skill, can activate all the functions
and power sources of the technological wonder from levers,
buttons and panels within arms reach. Only machines whose
space units equal five foot spans can have a cockpit. Unlike
other features except the control bridge, a piloting cockpit
occupies space, requiring three space units to fit Small and
Medium-size pilots, four for Large pilots and eight for Huge
pilots. This space can be added with extra parts. Cost: 3 CP.

concentrates the activation and operation of all the machines

functions in the same space, in this case a room to contain
the machines controllers and operators. One console sits a
single operator and controls one of the machines functions.
Only machines whose space units equal five foot spans can
have a control bridge. Unlike other features except the
piloting cockpit, a control bridge occupies space, requiring
a base three space units, plus an additional space unit per
console. This measure assumes that the crewmen are Small or
Medium-size creatures. Double the space units required for a
bridge designed for Large creatures and triple it for Huge crew
members. This space can be added with extra parts. Cost: 2
CP per console.
Extremity: The machine has either an arm or a leg. An arm
grants the technological wonder a reach as if it was a creature
of the same size category (determine if it is long or tall); this
arm may be used for manipulation (such as a mechanical cargo
arm) or for attack if it has a weapon mounted. A leg grants
the machine some measure of walking mobility with the same
movement characteristics as a vehicle of its same size; note
that a machine with only one leg needs to have at least five
ranks installed in the Balance skill. Adding this feature more
than once either adds another extremity (each arm needs an
operator, all legs can work under the same operator) or doubles
the length of an installed extremity (double the reach for arms,
add ten feet to the machines speed for legs). Cost: 1 CP x size
value.
Single Switch: The machine components that make an ability
work and their power source are linked. A single crewman
can activate both at once, using the highest DC to activate.
This feature only applies to a single ability; to install a single
switch to the rest of the abilities, add it to each separately. If
a machine has a single power source for all of its abilities, the
machine components cannot have the single switch installed,
as the power source definitely needs its own crew. Cost: 1 CP.
the craft
Now the real fun begins: actually building the machine. The
crafting of the machine occurs in three steps:
Build the frame.
Add the machine components and power sources.
Add extra parts and additional features.
If the creator is working alone, he proceeds in order but if
there is a team involved, they can perform steps two and three
at the same time. What happens in each
step is that the player tallies the
Construction Points of the
creation at that stage.
If all went well, the

Improved Handling: Some artificers remember that they will

not be the only ones to operate a machine and take pains to
ensure that it will be usable by others. This feature is applied
to a single function, which now grants a +2 bonus to any skill
check or other roll used to activate it. The features bonus
applies to attack rolls if installed on a personal weapon, or
to a mounted weapon that is not a technological wonder
itself, but is mounted on one. Cost: 3 Construction
Points.

Mobility: Only vehicles and animated objects are

designed to move, but other kinds of technological wonders
can have their own propulsion methods. This feature grants
the machine the movement characteristics of an animated
object of its size if the machine is a personal weapon or
portable equipment, and the characteristics of a vehicle
if the machine is a structure. Like vehicles and animated
objects, the creator must choose the form of movement and
implement it by adding functions as normal. This feature only
offers the possibility of movement, not the exact method.
Cost: 2 CP.

242
CP amount equals the Construction Target, but sometimes
it goes over.
Each CP is worth 500 silver drachmas, so multiply the final
CP cost by that amount to obtain the technological wonders
final market price. After this, all normal rules for making
items with the Craft skill apply. The market price multiplied
by ten becomes the target value that all accumulated Craft
checks must reach to consider the machine completed, with
round that it moves. In combat situations, the pilot should roll
a check for each round of movement, with failure meaning that
the machine does not move as intended; roll 1d8 to determine
the actual direction that the machine moves. One represents
forward and going clockwise (two is forward and right, three
is right, etc.) if the result is the desired direction, the machine
does not move, but can still perform other actions.
Attack: Combat requires that the machine has weapons or

artifice
one check per week of work and with the cost of raw materials attack modes. Large machines have a crew operating each
being one-third of the final market price. weapon and it is that crew that makes their skill check as if it
was an attack roll. Profession (engineer, siege engineer) is ideal
for this task, but a Games Master may allow the existence of
Deficiencies Profession (gunner). A weapon gives a bonus to attack to its
If a Craft checks fails, no progress is made for that week of
crew if it has the Improved Handling feature or the emulated
work. If any of the checks fail by 5 or more, half the raw
Weapon Focus feat. A weapon can only attack once per turn,
materials are ruined and must be paid for again. If any of the
which is why multiple weapon mountings are valuable in a
checks fail by 10 or more, or in the case of a natural 1, not only
war machine.
are half the materials ruined, the craftsmen also introduced
a deficiency in the construction. During any activation, or
Abilities and Functions: Machines have special attacks or
once per hour of constant activation, there is a 5% chance that
abilities if they have them installed as emulated feats. Using
the machine will malfunction. A malfunctioning mechanical
them requires that a crew activate their mechanism along with
wonder seizes up completely; a suitable Craft check must be
their power source as described under machine components
made to repair it, for which see below.
and power sources. Reloading time should be 1d4 rounds, but
the Games Master can increase this or set the number.
Loss of raw materials due to a failed check only affects the step
in which the failure occurred. Failing to build the machines
frame does not affect the materials for the mechanical
components. Also, loss of material and malfunction chances
repairs and
that occur during the second step of construction only affect
the ability that the failed components are meant to support.
maintenance
Proud inventors almost always have a team of craftsmen to
Failure while adding extra parts only entails loss of material provide regular or emergency maintenance for their creations,
and cannot introduce or increase malfunction chances. sometimes even as part of the regular crew. Living beings heal
damage naturally, but machines need to be repaired. Only an
operation artificer can safely direct repairs on a mechanical wonder. If
a craftsman without the Artifice special ability attempts to do
Operating the mechanical wonder is a matter of skill checks.
so, his Craft skill checks are made at a 4 insight penalty.
The skills that work best for machinery are the Craft skills
used to make the different components. Ad hoc Profession
A repair check is a Craft check of the same kind and with
skills may be created to cover the operation of different
the Difficulty Class given for the material used to build
abilities, such as Profession (pilot wonder), although others
the technological wonders frame, modified by the amount
may apply if the item resembles more mundane equipment;
of damage it has suffered. The Craft check represents one
such as a sailor being able to work the riggings of a flying ship.
week of work in which the craftsmen spend one-tenth of
Most DCs in a machines operation appear in the component
the machines final market price in replacement parts and
and power source tables, but the Games Master can determine
materials. Subtract the checks DC from the final roll result
that using a machine requires an overall skill check, or the
and multiply by two. This is the amount of structure points
machine can have the Automated feature that allow it to be
that the construct recovers in that week. Machines reduced
activated by use.
to zero structure points are destroyed and useless except for
scrap material.
Movement: The operation of a moving machine depends on its
method of movement. Vehicles need a pilot or helmsman to
move and this special operator makes skill checks as if he were Repair Modiers
operating a normal, similar movement. Maritime vehicles
Damage Condition DC modifier
and ships that fly by the power of the wind would need the
Profession (sailor) skill, while an animal-drawn vehicle would 1 hit point remaining +6
need the Handle Animal skill. The Profession (pilot wonder) 25% of total hit points remaining +4
skill is a catchall skill, usually only gained by artificers and 50% of total hit points remaining +2
the children of artificers, that allows characters to control
the movement of any mobile technological wonder. Routine 75% of total hit points remaining +1
movement should not need skill checks except during the first

243

Bestiary
This section covers some of the monsters of the ancient
world. Monsters in OGL Ancients are very rare and will not be
encountered in most game sessions. Unless otherwise detailed,
each of these monsters is solitary.
Monsters are not necessarily good or evil, with the exception
of wicked spirits who are always utterly malicious and intend
bestiary
nothing but harm to humanity. Monsters have deities just
as ordinary people do. If you worship the same deity that a
monster does, the monster may be less inclined to do you ill.
Of course, this consideration is not necessarily extended to
anyone who is accompanying you.
Statistics Block
This portion of a monster description contains basic game
information on the creature.
Name
This is the name by which the creature is generally known.
The descriptive text may provide other names.
Size and Type
This line describes the creatures size. A relative size modifier
affects the creatures Passive Defence and attack bonus; see the
Combat chapter. A creatures size also determines how far
it can reach to make a melee attack and how much space it
occupies in a fight (see Space/Reach, below).
The size and type line continues with the creatures type. Type
determines how magic affects a creature. Type determines
certain features, such as Hit Die size, base attack bonus, base
saving throw bonuses and skill points.
Hit Dice
This line gives the creatures number and type of Hit Dice
and lists any bonus hit points. A parenthetical note gives
the average hit points for a creature of the indicated number
of Hit Dice. A creatures Hit Dice total is also treated as its
level for determining how spells affect the creature, its rate of
natural healing and its maximum ranks in a skill.
Initiative
This line gives the creatures modifier on initiative checks.
Speed
This line gives the creatures tactical speed on land, the amount
of distance it can cover in one move action. If the creature
wears armour that reduces its speed, the creatures base land
speed follows.
If the creature has other modes of movement, these are given
after (or in place of ) the land speed. Unless noted otherwise,
modes of movement are natural (not magical).
Active Defence
The Active Defence line gives the creatures Active Defence
bonus for normal combat and includes a parenthetical
244
mention of the modifiers contributing to it, most usually
Dexterity and inherent evasiveness.
Active Defence/DR
This describes any natural armour that the creature has. If it
wears the same kind of armour that player characters do, the
type of armour is given here.
BAB/Grapple
The number here is the creatures base attack and grapple
bonuses before any modifiers are applied, and the creatures
grapple check modifier.
Attack
This line shows the single attack the creature makes with an
attack action. In most cases, this is also the attack the creature
uses when making an attack of opportunity as well. The attack
line provides the weapon used (natural or manufactured),
attack bonus and form of attack (melee or ranged). The attack
bonus given includes modifications for Strength (for melee
attacks) or Dexterity (for ranged attacks). A creature with
the Weapon Finesse feat can use its Dexterity modifier on
melee attacks. If the creature uses natural attacks, the natural
weapon given here is the creatures primary natural weapon. If
the creature has several different weapons at its disposal, the
alternatives are shown, with each different attack separated by
the word or. A creature can use one of its secondary natural
weapons when making an attack action, but if it does it takes
an attack penalty, as noted in the Full Attack section below.
The damage that each attack deals is noted parenthetically.
Damage from an attack is always at least 1 point, even if a
subtraction from a die roll reduces the result to 0 or lower.
Full Attack
This line shows all the physical attacks the creature makes
when it uses a full-round action to make a full attack. It gives
the number of attacks along with the weapon, attack bonus
and form of attack (melee or ranged). The first entry is for
the creatures primary weapon, with an attack bonus including
modifications for size and Strength (for melee attacks) or
Dexterity (for ranged attacks). A creature with the Weapon
Finesse feat can use its Dexterity modifier on melee attacks.
The remaining weapons are secondary and attacks with them
are made with a 5 penalty to the attack roll, no matter how
many there are. Creatures with the Multiattack feat take only
a 2 penalty on secondary attacks. The damage that each
attack deals is noted parenthetically. Damage from an attack
is always at least 1 point, even if a subtraction from a die roll
reduces the result to 0 or lower.
A creatures primary attack damage includes its full Strength
modifier (1-1/2 times its Strength bonus if the attack is
with the creatures sole natural weapon) and is given first.
Secondary attacks add only 1/2 the creatures Strength bonus
and are given second in the parentheses.
If any attacks also have some special effect other than damage,
that information is given here.
Unless noted otherwise, creatures using natural weapons deal
double damage on critical hits.
 Manufactured Weapons: Creatures that use swords, bows,
spears and the like follow the same rules as characters do. The
bonus for attacks with two-handed weapons is 1-1/2 times the
creatures Strength modifier (if it is a bonus) and is given first.
Space/Reach
This line describes how much space the creature takes up on
the battle grid and thereby needs to fight effectively, as well as
how close it has to be to threaten an opponent. The number
before the slash is the creatures space or how many feet one
side of the creature occupies. The number after the slash is the
creatures natural reach. If the creature has exceptional reach
due to a weapon, tentacle or the like, the extended reach and
its source are noted in parentheses at the end of the line.
Special Attacks and Special Qualities
Many creatures have unusual abilities. A monster entry breaks
these abilities into special attacks and special qualities. The
latter category includes defences, vulnerabilities and other
special abilities that are not modes of attack. Additional
information (when needed) is provided in the creatures
descriptive text. When a special ability allows a saving throw,
the kind of save and the save DC is noted in the descriptive
text. Most saving throws against special abilities have DCs
calculated as follows: 10 + 1/2 the attackers racial Hit Dice +
the relevant ability modifier.
The save DC is given in the creatures description along with
the ability on which the DC is based.
Saves
This line gives the creatures Fortitude, Reflex and Will save
modifiers.
Abilities
This line lists the creatures ability scores, in the customary
order: Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha.
Strength: Quadrupeds can carry heavier loads than bipeds
can. Any creature with four or more motive limbs can carry a
load as a quadruped, even if it does not necessarily use all the
limbs at once.
Non-abilities: Some creatures lack certain ability scores.
These creatures do not have an ability score of 0they lack
the ability altogether. The modifier for a non-ability is +0.
Skills
This line gives the creatures skills, along with each skills
modifier including adjustments for ability scores, armour
check penalties and any bonuses from feats or racial traits. All
listed skills are class skills. A creatures type and Intelligence
score determine the number of skill points it has. The Skills
section of the creatures description recaps racial bonuses and
other adjustments to skill modifiers for the sake of clarity; these
bonuses should not be added to the listed skill modifiers.
An asterisk (*) beside the relevant score and in the Skills section
of the descriptive text indicates a conditional adjustment, one
that applies only in certain situations.
Natural Tendencies: Some creatures simply are not made
for certain types of physical activity. If it seems clear that a
particular creature simply is not made for a particular physical
activity, that creature takes a 8 penalty on skill checks that
defy its natural tendencies.
In extreme circumstances the creature fails the check
automatically.
bestiary
Feats
The line gives the creatures feats. A monster gains feats just
as a character does.
Deity
This shows the deity that the creature worships, if any. Any
monster that has a deity also has a number of divine points
equal to its base Hit Dice, which it may use just as a character
could. Monsters of animal intelligence never have deities.
Challenge Rating
This shows the average level of a party of adventurers for
which one creature would make an encounter of moderate
difficulty.
Gorgon
Medium Mythical Beast
Hit Dice: 12d8+6 (33 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30-ft. (6 squares), fly 60-ft. (poor)
Active Defence: +2 (+2 Dex)
Active Defence/DR: +18/10
BAB/Grapple: +12/+22
Attack: Bite +22 melee (1d6+10) or snakes +22 melee (1d4
plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +22 melee (1d6+10) or snakes +17 melee
(1d4 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Poison, petrifying gaze
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft, immortal (except
Medusa), fast healing 1
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +9
Abilities: Str 30, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 15
(22 Medusa)
Skills: Listen +9, Presence +12 (+16 Medusa), Move Silently
+10, Spot, +9, Survival +11
Grievous Wounds: 22
Feats: Rugged, Combat Sense, Improved Initiative, Dodge,
Track
Deity: Hecate
Challenge Rating: 12
The Gorgons are three sisters, each one of which is a ghastly
monster. They are covered in scales the colour of gold, as
strong as iron. Their hair is a mass of hissing snakes and great
wings sprout from the back of each. The faces of two of the
sisters are grotesque, with huge tusks protruding from their
mouths. These are called Stheno and Euryale.
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 The third of the sisters, Medusa,
resembles a beautiful human woman,
apart from her hair of snakes. The Graeae, Gorgon and
sisters always live together. There are Hound of Hecate
several mountain caves in Greece where
they are said to dwell.
Gorgon Blood: If a Gorgon ever suffers
a grievous wound, a quantity of blood
bestiary
or ichor splashes the ground. This has
powerful magical properties. Gorgon
blood either causes the growth of 2d6
extra potent witches herbs, acts as a
restorative powerful enough to cure
all of a persons wounds (grievous or
otherwise) in one round or causes a
Pegasus to be born fully-grown from
the spot.
Immortality: Stheno and Euryale are
immortal, with ichor in their veins
instead of blood. They are immune to
decapitation attacks, critical hits and
petrifaction effects. Even if they are
reduced to below 0 Constitution, they do
not die. They fall senseless and recover as soon
as their wounds close. Medusa can be killed if she is
reduced to below 0 Constitution or if she is decapitated.
Even then, her slayer still has the other two Gorgons to
contend with. In the myths, Medusa was slain by the hero
Perseus, who escaped with the help of the winged sandals
of Hermes. The Games Master may of course rule that the
accounts of her demise were exaggerated.
Fast Healing: Gorgons recover from wounds quickly. All
wounds, even grievous ones, heal at the rate of one hit point
per round. This applies to all three of the Gorgons.
Petrifying Aspect: Contrary to popular belief, it is not the
Gorgons gaze but their appearance that turns the victim to
stone. Anyone who can see a Gorgons face is instantly turned
to stone, unless they make a successful saving throw. The
Gorgons face has this effect even if the Gorgon is asleep or
has her eyes shut. The only way to avoid it is to look at the
Gorgon indirectly, such as in a reflective surface. This effect
has a range of 60 feet. A Will saving throw at DC 22 negates
this effect. The saving throw must be made on any round
on which the character can see the Gorgon. The save DC
is Charisma-based. In Medusas case, this ability remains
even if her head is severed. If the head is removed and used
as a weapon for any end of which the Gods do not approve,
the Gods may intervene personally and take the head up to
Olympus with them.
A character may attempt to fight without looking into
the Gorgons face; this is handled as if the character were
attempting to avoid a gaze attack, for which see the Magic
chapter.
246
Poison: Injury, Fortitude DC 14,
initial damage 1d6 Str, secondary
damage 2d6 Str. The save DC is
Constitution-based.
Graeae
Sisters of the Gorgons, the Graeae
or Grey Sisters are three immortal
hags who have legendary powers of
prophecy. Each one is a 20th level seer
in her own right. They have a peculiar
disability, in that they are all blind and
toothless. They have one eye (that is a
wet, living human eye in all respects)
that they pass between them, popping
it into an eye socket as required and
one tooth that can be set into a jaw in a
similar fashion.
The Graeae are renowned for their
knowledge of secrets. They often hold
the key to an otherwise invincible
creatures vulnerability. If they are
shown respect, they may give their aid
to a hero, though they are notoriously
uncooperative. They are fiercely defensive
of their sole eye and tooth and will not take
kindly to attempts to remove them.
Hound of Hecate
Medium Mythical Beast
Hit Dice: 4d8+4 (22 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40-ft. (8 squares)
Active Defence: +5 (+1 Dex, +4 evasive)
BAB/Grapple: +4/+5
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+1)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+1)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Howl
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60-ft., scent
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +13, Jump +12, Listen +7, Move Silently +13,
Spot +7, Survival +7*
Grievous Wounds: 13
Feats: Concerted Assault, Run, Track
Deity: Hecate
Challenge Rating: 3
The Hounds of Hecate are sleek, dark, wolf-like dogs that are
sent up from the underworld to assist witches or hunt down
and devour those who oppose the witch-goddess. They are
always encountered in groups of three or more. Packs of more
than twenty have been reported.
Howl: A hound can emit a blood-chilling howl as a standard
action. All living creatures within a 30 foot area must succeed
on a Will saving throw (DC 15) or become panicked for 2d4
rounds. A creature that successfully saves against the howl
cannot be affected by the same hounds howling for 24 hours.
Skills: Hounds of Hecate have a +5 racial bonus on Hide and
Move Silently checks.
*They also receive a +8 racial bonus on Survival checks when
tracking by scent, due to their keen sense of smell.
Minotaur
Large Mythical Beast
Hit Dice: 6d8+12 (39 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30-ft. (6 squares)
Active Defence: +0
Active Defence/DR
BAB/Grapple: +6/+14
Attack: Labrys +9 melee (3d6+6/x3) or gore +9 melee
(1d8+6)
Full Attack: Labrys +9/+4 melee (3d6+6/x3) and gore +4
melee (1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10-ft./10-ft.
Special Attacks: Powerful charge 4d6+6
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60-ft., natural cunning, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +5
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 10, Con 15, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 8
Skills: Listen +7, Presence +2, Search +2, Spot +7
Feats: Great Fortitude, Power Attack, Track
Deity: Poseidon
Challenge Rating: 4
Minotaur, Werewolf
Minotaurs have the bodies of burly humans and Nymph
and the heads of bulls. They are always male.
The original minotaur was based on the island
of Crete and lived at the centre of a labyrinth
designed by the artificer Daedalus in service
to King Minos. It was said to be the child of
Queen Pasiphae and a sacred bull. Although
only one such creature is mentioned in the
myths, it is reasonable to assume that such a
horror reproduced itself. As Poseidon sent
the bull that fathered the first minotaur
from the sea, the minotaurs follow him.
A minotaur stands more than 7 feet tall
and weighs about 700 pounds.
Powerful Charge: A minotaur
typically begins a battle by charging
at an opponent, lowering its head to
bring its mighty horns into play. In
addition to the normal benefits and
hazards of a charge, this allows the
beast to make a single gore attack
with a +9 attack bonus that deals
4d6+6 points of damage.
Natural Cunning: Although
minotaurs are not especially
intelligent, they possess innate
cunning and logical ability. This prevents them from ever
becoming lost and enables them to track enemies. Further,
they are never caught flat-footed.
Skills: Minotaurs have a +4 racial bonus on Search, Spot and
Listen checks.
Nymph
Medium Fey
Hit Dice: 6d6+6 (27 hp)
bestiary
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30-ft. (6 squares), swim 20-ft.
Active Defence: +7 (+3 Dex, +4 Dodge)
Active Defence/DR: Total/10
BAB/Grapple: +3/+3
Attack: Dagger +6 melee (1d4/1920)
Full Attack: Dagger +6 melee (1d4/1920)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Blinding beauty, stunning glance
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, unearthly grace, wild
empathy
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +12, Will +12
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 17, Cha 19
Skills: Escape Artist +12, Handle Animal +13, Heal +12, Hide
+12, Listen +12, Medicine +13, Move Silently +12, Rhetoric
+6, Ride +5, Sense Motive +12, Spot +12, Swim +8, Use Rope
+3 (+5 with bindings)
Feats: Combat Casting, Dodge, Weapon Finesse
Deity: Poseidon
Challenge Rating: 6
A nymph is about the height and weight of a girl of
fourteen. Nymphs are native to Greece and are inhabitants
of the streams, rivers and lakes. Mortals have
sometimes been known to marry them. Paris,
the shepherd responsible for stealing Helen
of Sparta and causing the Trojan War, was
initially wed to the nymph Oeone.
Blinding Beauty: This ability affects all
humanoids within 30 feet of a nymph.
Those who look directly at a nymph
must succeed on a DC 17 Fortitude
save or be blinded permanently as
though by the blindness spell. A
nymph can suppress or resume this
ability as a free action. The save DC
is Charisma-based.
Stunning Glance: As a standard
action, a wrathful nymph can stun a
creature within 30 feet with a look.
The target creature must succeed
on a DC 17 Fortitude save or be
stunned for 2d4 rounds. The save
DC is Charisma-based.
Unearthly Grace: A nymph adds
her Charisma modifier as a bonus on
all her saving throws and as a dodge
247
 bonus to her Active Defence. The statistics block already
reflects these bonuses.
Wild Empathy: A nymph can make a Charisma ability score
check to change the attitude of a wild animal or mythical beast
as if she were using the Rhetoric skill. She has a +6 racial
bonus on any Charisma-based check when dealing with wild
animals.
Skills: A nymph has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. She can
bestiary
In Egypt, the situation is altogether different. The Egyptian
werewolf is noble and defensive of humanity, blessed by the
Gods (who themselves display animal traits) rather than cursed
by them. In Mythic Era Egypt, a famous clan of werewolves
called the Children of Wepwawet existed, fighting alongside
their human kinsmen against the minions of Set. They believe
that Wepwawet himself is literally the father of their line, in
the same way that Ra is the father of the Pharaoh. Another
line, the Anubi or children of Anubis, are were-jackals, using

always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted the same statistics as above.
or endangered. She can use the run action while swimming,
provided she swims in a straight line. Werewolves in humanoid form have no distinguishing traits.

Werewolf
In Greece, the condition of lycanthropy is always inflicted
as a curse. The most famous of all is King Licao of Arcadia,
who killed his own son and tried to serve the flesh up to
Zeus when the God was disguised as a human. Licao was
turned into a werewolf for his horrible deed and is said to
have fathered a line of similar creatures. Greek werewolves
are completely rapacious, hungry and savage. At the Games
Masters discretion, a character following the Greek Gods who
eats human flesh may be transformed into a werewolf as divine
punishment.
In wolf form, a werewolf can trip just as a normal wolf does.
A werewolf in hybrid form usually dispenses with weapon
attacks, though it can wield a weapon and use its bite as a
secondary natural attack.
Alternate Form: A werewolf can assume a bipedal hybrid
form, with humanoid body and wolf head or the form of a
wolf.
Trip: A werewolf in animal form that hits with a bite attack
can attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free

Werewolf, Human Form Werewolf, Wolf Form Werewolf, Hybrid Form

Medium Humanoid (Human, Medium Humanoid (Human, Medium Humanoid (Human,
Shapechanger) Shapechanger) Shapechanger)
Hit Dice: 1d8+1 plus 2d8+6 (20 hp) 1d8+1 plus 2d8+6 (20 hp) 1d8+1 plus 2d8+6 (20 hp)
Initiative: +4 +6 +6
Speed: 30-ft. (6 squares) 50-ft. (10 squares) 30-ft. (6 squares)
Active Defence: +0 +2 (+2 Dex) +2 (+2 Dex)
Shield Defence: +1 - +1
Active Defence/ Any light or medium - Any light or medium
DR:
BAB/Grapple: +2/+3 +2/+4 +2/+4
Attack: By weapon Bite +5 melee (1d6+3) Claw +4 melee (1d4+2)
Full Attack: By weapon Bite +5 melee (1d6+3) 2 claws +4 melee (1d4+2) and
bite +0 melee (1d6+1)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft. 5-ft./5-ft. 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Trip -
Special Qualities: Alternate form, wolf empathy, low- Alternate form, wolf empathy, Alternate form, wolf empathy,
light vision, scent low-light vision, scent low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +2 Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2 Fort +6 Ref +5, Will +2
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 10, Str 15, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 10, Str 15, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 10,
Wis 11, Cha 8 Wis 11, Cha 8 Wis 11, Cha 8
Skills: Handle Animal +1, Hide +1, Handle Animal +1, Hide +6, Handle Animal +1, Hide +6,
Listen +1, Move Silently +2, Spot Listen +1, Move Silently +6, Spot Listen +1, Move Silently +6,
+1, Survival +2 +1, Survival +2* Spot +1, Survival +2*
Feats: Improved Initiative, Iron Will, (same as human form) (same as human form)
Stealthy, Track, Weapon Focus
(bite)
Deity: Hecate Hecate Hecate

248
action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack
of opportunity.
If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the
werewolf.
Wolf Empathy: A werewolf can communicate with wolves
and receives a +4 racial bonus on Charisma-based checks when
dealing with wolves and dire wolves.
Skills: *A werewolf in hybrid or wolf form gains a +4 racial
bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.
round from the creatures gizzard. A swallowed creature can
cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to
deal 25 points of damage to the gizzard. (Blows aimed at the
gizzard automatically hit; it has natural armour with a DR of
3.) Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole;
another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. A
Gargantuan beasts interior can hold 2 Large, 8 Medium, 32
Small, 128 Tiny or 512 Diminutive or smaller opponents.
Skills: A ketos has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check

bestiary
to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can
always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted
Ketos (sea monster) or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming,
Gargantuan Mythical Beast provided it swims in a straight line.
Hit Dice: 16d10+112 (200 hp)
Initiative: 2 Siren
Speed: 20-ft. (4 squares), swim 40-ft. Ketos, Triton and Medium Mythical Beast
Active Defence: -2 (-2 Dex) Siren Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Active Defence/DR: +5/10 Initiative: +2
BAB/Grapple: +16/+40 Speed: 20-ft. (4 squares),
Attack: Bite +25 melee (2d8+18) fly 80-ft. (average)
Full Attack: Bite +25 melee Active Defence: +2 (+2
(2d8+18) Dex)
Space/Reach: 20-ft./15ft. BAB/Grapple: +1/+1
Special Attacks: Improved grab, Attack: Dagger +1 melee
swallow whole (1d4/1920)
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +4 Full Attack: Dagger +1
Abilities: Str 35, Dex 6, Con 25, melee (1d4/1920)
Int 1, Wis 8, Cha 8 Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Skills: Listen +18, Swim +20 Special Attacks:
Grievous Wounds: 30 Captivating Song
Feats: Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Saves: Fort +0, Ref +3,
Improved Decapitate, Power Attack, Will +3
Weapon Focus (bite) Abilities: Str 10, Dex 15,
Challenge Rating: 12 Con 10, Int 7, Wis 12, Cha
17
The ketos is an immense, serpentine Skills: Spot +1
creature with a body like that Grievous Wounds: 10
of a fish or eel and a head Feats: Improved Disarm
shaped somewhat like Deity: Poseidon
a dogs. Poseidon and Challenge Rating: 1
other Gods send ketoi
to destroy coastal cities, Sirens look like tall,
accept sacrifices and wreck beautiful Greek women.
ships. The most famous of all the ketoi was They stand on the rocks wearing
the one that came to devour Andromeda, only to be slain by translucent gowns and sing to passing ships, calling them
Perseus. In some legends, Perseus slays the monster with his to a promised paradise, then watching the ships wreck
sword, while in others he shows the ketos the head of Medusa themselves and sink. If a sailor ever made it to their shores
and turns it into stone. without drowning, they would stab him to death. Nobody
knows why they do this; the most likely explanation is that
Improved Grab: To use this ability, a ketos worm must hit
a deity cursed them.
with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a
free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it
Captivating Song: The only real weapon that the siren has is
wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can attempt
its song. When a siren sings, all creatures (other than sirens)
to swallow the foe the following round.
within a 300 foot area must succeed on a DC 16 Will save or
Swallow Whole: A ketos can try to swallow a grabbed
become captivated. This is a mind-affecting charm effect. A
opponent of a smaller size than itself by making a successful
creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the
grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes 2d8+18
same sirens song for 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma-
points of crushing damage plus 8 points of acid damage per
based.
249
 A captivated victim walks toward the siren, taking the most
direct route available. If the path leads into a dangerous area
(through flame, off a cliff or the like), that creature gets a
second saving throw. Captivated creatures can take no actions
other than to defend themselves. (Thus, a warrior cannot run
away or attack but takes no defensive penalties.) A victim
within 5 feet of the siren stands there and offers no resistance
to the monsters attacks. The effect continues for as long as
the siren sings and for 1 round thereafter. If a bard is playing
bestiary
music within 30 feet of the captivated creature, this allows him
to attempt a new Will save.
Skills: Sirens have a +4 racial bonus on Bluff and Listen
checks.
Triton
Medium Mythical Beast
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 5-ft. (1 square), swim 40-ft.
Active Defence: +0
Active Defence/DR: +5/5
BAB/Grapple: +3/+4
Attack: Trident +4 melee (1d8+1)
Full Attack: Trident +4 melee (1d8+1)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60-ft.
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +4
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 11
Skills: Craft (any one) +7, Debate +2, Hide +6, Listen +7,
Move Silently +6, Ride +6, Search +7, Sense Motive +7, Spot
+7, Survival +7 (+9 following tracks), Swim +9
Grievous Wounds: 12
Feats: Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack
Deity: Poseidon
Challenge Rating: 2
Tritons are the children of the God of the same name. As
worshippers of Poseidon, they are friendly toward those who
honour him and offer their protection to those ships whose
crews have made generous sacrifice. A triton has silvery skin
that fades into silver-blue scales on the lower half of its body.
A tritons hair is deep blue or blue-green. A triton is about the
same size and weight as a human.
Skills: A triton has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check
to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can
always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted
or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming,
provided it swims in a straight line.
Wicked Spirit
Wicked spirits are bodiless entities (spiritual creatures) that
have evil intentions towards humanity. They may be the
ghosts of especially unpleasant people, some form of demon or
even a part of the natural order that is just fond of bloodshed
and destruction. Wicked spirits traditionally haunt the kinds
of places that people fear, such as dark forests, abandoned
250
dwellings, old ruins, desecrated tombs and lonely hilltops.
They have a plethora of names: the Sumerians called them
utuk xul, the Greeks larvae.
Hekau spellcasters and witches call up wicked spirits for
various reasons. The most common one is to ask a service
of the spirit, most commonly a question. Wicked spirits are
knowledgeable on various matters and often have access to
information that the spellcaster does not. A Hekau spellcaster
may also call up spirits in order to bind them into prepared
corpses and make an undead creature.
Wicked spirits abide by the usual rules regarding spiritual
creatures; see Death and Beyond. Their appearance when
manifest or when viewed on their own plane is usually
transparent, vaguely humanoid and pale, with empty eye
sockets and long talons. The abilities of a given wicked spirit
depend on the subtype. Those listed below are generic spirits
of evil, of the kind that are most commonly called up by
casters.
Attack: This is the wicked spirits mode of attack against
creatures on its own plane. Even when manifest, it cannot
attack physical creatures or objects.
Drain Life: Wicked spirits can drain the vitality from living
people. The spirit must be manifest in order to do this. The
spirit must successfully hit the target with a touch attack.
Only Active Defence can be used to ward this off, not Shield
Defence. If the attack is successful, the victim must make a
Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 spirits HD + spirits
Charisma modifier). If the saving throw fails, the spirit inflicts
2d6 points of damage on the target (which is not recorded as
a wound) transferring the same number of hit points to the
spirit. A successful saving throw draws no hit points from
the target and inflicts 1d4 points of damage on the spirit. A
wicked spirit can only attempt this attack once against any
given target in any 24-hour period.
If a wicked spirit has taken possession of a living victim, then it
may make a drain life attempt without making an attack roll,
as it is already inside the victims body. However, most spirits
will not do this, as they are instantly dispelled (reduced to 0 hit
points) if their host dies.
Wicked Spirit Powers: Every wicked spirit has one of the
powers listed below. It cannot use these powers against a
person who is holding it at bay. It must be manifest first to
use any of them.
Corrupting Gaze: When manifest, the wicked spirit can
blast living beings with a glance, at a range of up to 30 feet.
Creatures that meet the wicked spirits gaze must succeed
Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 spirits HD + spirits
Charisma modifier) or take 2d10 points of damage and 1d4
points of Charisma damage. The spirit must expend 5 hit
points and take a standard action to do this.
 Medium Spiritual Creature
Minor Wicked Spirit Potent Wicked Spirit Formidable Wicked Spirit
Hit Dice: 4d12 (12 hp) 8d12 (48 hp) 12d12 (72 hp)
Initiative: +0 +0 +0
Speed: Fly 50-ft. (10 squares)(perfect) Fly 50-ft. (10 squares)(perfect) Fly 50-ft. (10 squares)(perfect)
Active Defence: +0 +0 +0
Base Attack: +2/+2 +4/+4 +6/+6

bestiary
Attack: Claw +2 melee (1d4) Claw +2 melee (1d4) Claw +2 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: 2 claws +2 melee (1d4) 2 claws +2 melee (1d4) 2 claws +3 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft. 5-ft./5-ft. 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Possession, drain life Possession, drain life Possession, drain life
Special Qualities: Spiritual Spiritual Spiritual
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +5 Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +9 Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +11
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 10, Con -, Int 17, Str 10, Dex 10, Con -, Int 17, Str 10, Dex 10, Con -, Int 17,
Wis 13, Cha 14 Wis 13, Cha 15 Wis 13, Cha 16
Skills: Bluff +11, Knowledge (any three) Bluff +15, Knowledge (any three) Bluff +20, Knowledge (any three)
+10, Move Silently +17, Spot +8, +14, Move Silently +21, Spot +18, Move Silently +25, Spot
Presence +11 +12, Presence +15 +16, Presence +20
Feats: Persuasive Persuasive, Iron Will, Improved Persuasive, Iron Will, Improved
Initiative Initiative, Weapon Focus (claw)
Challenge Rating: 2 4 6

Frightful Moan: The wicked spirit can emit a frightful moan
as a standard action. All living creatures within a 30 foot area
must succeed on a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 spirits HD + spirits
Charisma modifier) or become panicked for 2d4 rounds. A
creature that successfully saves against the moan cannot be
affected by the same wicked spirits moan for 24 hours. It costs
the spirit 5 hit points to do this and it must take a standard
action to do so.
Dreadful Form: Any living creature within 60 feet that views
the wicked spirit must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 +
1/2 spirits HD + spirits Charisma modifier) or immediately
take 1d4 points of Strength damage, 1d4 points of Dexterity
damage and 1d4 points of Constitution damage. A creature
that successfully saves against this effect cannot be affected by
the same wicked spirits horrific appearance for 24 hours.
Skills: All wicked spirits receive a +10 racial bonus to all Move
Silently skill checks.
Death-lantern
Small Spiritual Creature
Hit Dice: 8d12+3 (51 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: Fly 50-ft. (10 squares)(perfect)
Active Defence: +4 (+4 Dex)
BAB/Grapple: +4/+0
Attack: Slam +5 melee (1d3 fire)
Full Attack: 2 slams +4 melee (1d3 fire)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Drain life, possess dead
Special Qualities: Spiritual
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +6
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con -, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 12
Skills: Hide +14, Spot +5, Listen +6
Feats: Dodge, Toughness
Challenge Rating: 5
This form of spiritual creature resembles a cold, hovering
blue flame when manifest. It can understand speech but
cannot respond unless it has taken a body for itself. Unlike
other spiritual creatures, death-lanterns do not have the
ability to possess living creatures. They are said to haunt
plague pits, scenes of massacre and similar sites of mass death
without proper burial. Death-lanterns are said by some to be
emanations from the flaming torch of Hecate, the great Queen
of the Dead.
Drain Life: Death-lanterns can drain the vitality from living
people. They must be manifest in order to do this. The
death-lantern must successfully hit the target with a touch
attack. Only Active Defence can be used to ward this off, not
Shield Defence. If the attack is successful, the victim must
make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 death-lanterns
HD + death-lanterns Charisma modifier). If the saving throw
fails, the death-lantern inflicts 1d4 points of damage on the
target (which is not recorded as a wound) transferring the
same number of hit points to the spirit. A successful saving
throw draws no hit points from the target and inflicts 1 point
of damage on the spirit. A wicked spirit can only attempt this
attack once against any given target in any 24-hour period.
Possess Dead: A death-lantern can move into a dead body,
animate it and then abandon it, if it chooses, for a more
251
 intact vessel. (While the death-lantern is merged with the
cadaver, the resultant undead is known as a prowling corpse,
for which see below.) This takes a standard action and does
not require a check. A death-lantern may not occupy a body
that has been given funerary rites of the deceaseds religion,
nor may it occupy a body that has been dismembered, burned
or reduced to a skeleton. If the dead vessel is destroyed, the
death-lantern is not automatically dispelled.
bestiary
Death-lanterns occasionally ally themselves with Hekau
workers who worship Set or Apophis or with
witches working with Hecate in her darkest
aspect; these will make sure that there is a
plentiful supply of freshly slain victims
for the death-lantern to use. A single
death-lantern can occupy one dead
shell after another and can only
be stopped by being disrupted
or having no available vessel
nearby.
Prowling Corpse
Medium undead
Hit Dice: 4d12 (24 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 20-ft. (4 squares)
Active Defence: -1 (-1 Dex)
BAB/Grapple: +2/+2
Attack: Slam +2 melee (1d3
plus Strength drain) or by
single weapon
Full Attack: 2 slams +2 melee
(1d3 plus Strength drain) or
single weapon
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Strength drain
Special Qualities: Undead
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +5
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 18, Con -, Int 7,
Wis 10, Cha 12
Skills: Hide +9, Spot +5, Listen +6
Feats: Dodge
Challenge Rating: 3
These creatures result when a death-lantern takes possession
of a dead body. The only sign that the jerkily animated body
is being controlled by anything sentient is the blue light that
shines from its empty eyes, the light of the death-lantern.
Strength Drain: While they are in their original form, death-
lanterns can drain life like wicked spirits do but once they
have occupied a dead body and become a prowling corpse,
they may drain the very strength from their victims. As this
is a much more efficient way to feed, they prefer this. If a
prowling corpses slam attack succeeds in doing damage to
the target (i.e. is not soaked by a shield or by armour) then
the target suffers 1d4+1 points of temporary Strength damage
as well as hit point damage. The death-lantern (not
252
the prowling corpse) gains 2 hit points for each point of
Strength drained, up to its maximum allowable.
Thirsty One (Akhkaru)
These are the vampires of the ancient world, written of in
Sumerian texts as the Akhkaru and feared since the first
structures were built in ancient Mesopotamia. The thirsty
ones are always created from human beings who have been
fed upon to the brink of death by other thirsty ones. Rather
than being a set monster, they use the statistics of the original
human being, with modifications and additional
abilities.
When a human being becomes a thirsty
one, his Creature type changes to
Undead. If he served any deity
other than Hecate, Apophis or
Set, the deity abandons him. He
is no longer subject to grievous
wounds, hamstringing or
critical hits, though he can
still be decapitated. To do
so is in fact one of the only
reliable methods of slaying a
thirsty one.
Active Defence: The base
creatures Active Defence
is increased by +2 due to
evasion, as thirsty ones are
very quick.
Natural Armour: The thirsty
one gains natural armour from
its supernaturally toughened
skin. This has a Coverage bonus
of +16 and a Damage Resistance of
Death Lantern, 10. Divine weapons ignore this natural
Prowling Corpse armour completely.
and Defiled Drain Blood: Thirsty ones can drink the
One blood from a living creatures veins by making
a successful Grapple check. If the foe is pinned,
the thirsty one drains 1d4 points of Constitution
each round the pin is maintained. Each such attack gives the
thirsty one 5 temporary hit points.
Domination: A thirsty one may use the dominate will magical
effect at will, without having to make a skill check to cast it, as
if it were a 12th level caster. It must still expend the necessary
hit points to produce the effect. Using this ability requires a
standard action.
Reproduce: If a thirsty one chooses, it can cause a victim of
its blood draining to rise as a new thirsty one. This does not
happen automatically. The victim rises 1d3 days after death.
If the body is decapitated or burned, it does not rise.
Magical Effects: Thirsty ones may still cast spells with
Witchcraft or Hekau if they have the ability. If their Gods
have abandoned them, they may no longer pray for miracles if
they had the ability before.
Abilities: The thirsty ones ability scores are modified as
follows: Strength +6, Dexterity +4, Intelligence +2, Wisdom
+2, Charisma +4. He no longer has a Constitution ability
score.
Resistance To Repulsion/Disruption: A thirsty one receives
a +4 resistance bonus to all attempts to repel or disrupt it with
Prayer or Hekau.
Lustful One (Lilit)
Medium Spiritual Creature
Hit Dice: 12d12 (72 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: Fly 50-ft. (10 squares)(perfect)
Active Defence: +0
BAB/Grapple: +6/+6
Attack: Claw +7 melee (1d4)
Full Attack: 2 claws +7 melee (1d4)
Space/Reach: 5-ft./5-ft.
Special Attacks: Possession, strength drain
Special Qualities: Spiritual, resistant
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +11
Abilities: Str 10, Dex 10, Con -, Int 17, Wis 13, Cha 16
Skills: Bluff +20, Knowledge (any three) +18, Move Silently
+25, Spot +16, Presence +20
Feats: Persuasive, Iron Will, Improved Initiative, Weapon
Focus (claw)
Challenge Rating: 6
Lustful ones, the lilit of Sumerian legend, are discarnate spirits
who visit men in their sleep and bestow voluptuous dreams
upon them. Delightful though these dreams are, they drain
the life force of the victim until he eventually withers and
dies. The lustful ones resemble longhaired women, whose
feet (usually concealed beneath long gowns) are like the claws
of birds.
Strength Drain: The lustful one may only use this ability
against a sleeping or unconscious male target and must
manifest in order to do so. The lustful one must enter
the targets space and take a full-round action to attempt a
strength drain. The target makes a Will saving throw (DC
10 + 1/2 spirits HD + lustful ones Charisma modifier). If
he fails, he has intensely pleasurable dreams but is drained
of 1d4 points of Strength and 2d6 hit points, which are not
recorded as wounds. The drained hit points are transferred to
the lustful one, up to her maximum. On waking, the victim
is fatigued and cannot recover from this fatigue other than
by resting for eight hours without interruption; a further visit
from a lustful one certainly counts as interruption. A fatigued
character cannot run or charge and takes a penalty of 2 to
Strength, Dexterity and Shield Defence.
Defiled One
Defiled ones are humans who have undergone the ritual
of coming forth by night and forced their ka back into their
mummified bodies, animating them and continuing to live
as undead creatures. The template below is applied to any
person who has undergone this ritual successfully or had it
applied to them.
Size and Type: The persons creature type changes to undead.
Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves or skill points. Size
is unchanged.
Hit Dice: Increase all current and future Hit Dice to d12s.
Natural Armour: A defiled one has natural armour with total
coverage and a DR of 15.
Attack: A defiled one has a touch attack that it can use once
per round. If the base creature can use weapons, the defiled
one retains this ability. A defiled one fighting without weapons
bestiary
uses either its touch attack or its primary natural weapon, if it
has any. A defiled one armed with a weapon uses its touch or
a weapon, as it desires.
Full Attack: A defiled one fighting without weapons uses
either its touch attack (see above) or its natural weapons (if it
has any). If armed with a weapon, it usually uses the weapon
as its primary attack along with a touch as a natural secondary
attack, provided it has a way to make that attack either a
free hand or a natural weapon that it can use as a secondary
attack.
Damage: A defiled one without natural weapons has a touch
attack that uses malignant spiritual energy to deal 1d8+5
points of damage to living creatures; a Will save (DC 10 +
1/2 defiled ones HD + defiled ones Cha modifier) halves the
damage. A defiled one with natural weapons can use its touch
attack or its natural weaponry, as it prefers. If it chooses the
latter, it deals 1d8+5 points of extra damage on one natural
weapon attack.
Special Attacks: A defiled one retains all the base creatures
special attacks and gains those described below. Save DCs
are equal to 10 + 1/2 defiled ones HD + defiled ones Cha
modifier unless otherwise noted.
Fear Aura: Defiled ones are shrouded in a dreadful aura of
death and evil. Creatures of less than 5 HD in a 60 foot radius
that look at the defiled one must succeed on a Will save or be
affected as though by an eye of terror magical effect. A creature
that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same
defiled ones aura for 24 hours.
Paralysing Touch: Any living creature a defiled one hits with
its touch attack must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or
be permanently paralysed. A remove curse magical effect is all
that can remove this paralysis. Anyone paralysed by a defiled
one seems dead, though a DC 20 Spot check or a DC 15 Heal
check reveals that the victim is still alive.
Spells: A defiled one can cast any Witchcraft or Hekau spells
it could cast while alive, though it can no longer pray for
miracles.
Special Qualities: A defiled one retains all the base creatures
special qualities and gains those described below.
Resistance To Repulsion/Disruption: A thirsty one receives
a +4 resistance bonus to all attempts to repel or disrupt it with
Prayer or Hekau.
Immunities: Defiled ones have immunity to cold, lightning,
transformation and mind affecting attacks.
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Int
+2, Wis +2, Cha +2. Being undead, a defiled one has no
Constitution score.
Skills: Defiled ones have a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Listen,
Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive and Spot checks.
Otherwise, its skills are the same as those of the base
creature.
253
 Ability Ability Temp. Temp. Base Ability Magic Misc. Temp.
Score Modifier Score Modifier Total Save Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
STR FORT
Strength CON

DEX REF
Dexterity DEX
ogl ancients

CON WILL
Constitution WIS

INT
Intelligence Current Maximum Temp. Subdual Hit Dice Misc.

HIT POINTS
WIS
Wisdom

CHA GREVIOUS WOUND

Charisma

Misc. Misc. WOUNDS

Total Modifier Modifier

INITIATIVE = +

Base Strength Size Misc. Misc. Misc. Misc. Misc. Temp.

Total Attack Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
MELEE = + + + + + + + +
Attack Bonus
Total Attack
Weapon Bonus Damage Critical Range Type Size Hardness Notes

Base Dexterity Size Misc. Misc. Misc. Misc. Misc. Temp.

Total Attack Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier Modifier
RANGED = + + + + + + + +
Attack Bonus
Total Attack
Weapon Bonus Damage Critical Range Type Size Hardness Notes

ACTIVE DEFENCE SHIELD DEFENCE

Total when Dexterity Misc. Misc. Base Wisdom Coverage Misc. Misc. Misc.
Flat-Footed Total Modifier Modifier Modifier Total Modifier Modifier Bonus Modifier Modifier Modifier
+
= + + + + +

DR/DA DR/DA DR/DA Armour Armour Max Dex.

Armour Type Slashing Slashing Bludgeoning Coverage Penalty Bonus

254
 PLAYER:
PLAYER: EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
CHARACTER:
CHARACTER:
LEVEL:
LEVEL: CLASS:
CLASS:
HOMELAND:
HOMELAND:
REGION:
REGION:
GENDER:
GENDER:

ogl ancients
AGE: HAIR:
AGE:
EYES: HAIR:
HANDED:
EYES:
HEIGHT: HANDED:
WEIGHT:
HEIGHT: WEIGHT:
FEATS DESCRIPTION
FEATS DESCRIPTION

KEY CROSS MODIFIERS

SKILL NAME ABILITY CLASS TOTAL ABILITY RANKS MISC.
Appraise INT
Balance DEX
Bluff CHA
CLASS ABILITY DESCRIPTION Climb STR
Concentration CON
Craft ( ) INT
CLASS ABILITY DESCRIPTION Craft ( ) INT
Craft ( ) INT
Debate INT
Disguise CHA
Escape Artist DEX
Forgery INT
Gather Information CHA
Handle Animal CHA
Heal WIS
Hekau INT
Hide DEX
Jump STR
Knowledge ( ) INT
Knowledge ( ) INT

LANGUAGES Knowledge ( ) INT

Knowledge ( ) INT
Knowledge ( ) INT
Listen WIS
Medicine INT

LANGUAGES Move Silently DEX

Perform CHA
Prayer WIS
Presence CHA
Profession ( ) WIS
Ride DEX
Rhetoric CHA
Search INT

REGIONAL ABILITIES Sense Motive

Sleight of Hand
WIS
DEX
Solve Conundrum INT
Speak Language None
Spot WIS
Survival WIS
Swim STR
REGIONAL ABILITIES Tumble DEX
Use Rope DEX
Witchcraft CHA
These Skills may be used with 0 ranks. TOTAL
Armour check penalties apply to these skills. SKILL POINTS
Double the normal armour check penalties apply to these skills.
MAX. SKILL RANKS MAX. X-CLASS SKILL RANKS
(Level + 3) ((Level + 3)2)

255
 OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
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15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of
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Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002,
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