Philoctetes, the Wounded Archer

Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good

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Armor Class 16 (Studded Leather Armor)

Hit Points 138 (12d10 + 72)

Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	20 (+5)	22 (+6)	14 (+2)	18 (+4)	16 (+3)

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Saving Throws Dex +11, Con +12, Wis +10

Skills Acrobatics +11, Perception +10, Survival +10, Insight +10

Damage Resistances Poison; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 20

Languages Common, Sylvan

Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)

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Proficiency Bonus +5

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Abilities

Keen Senses. Philoctetes has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or hearing.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Philoctetes fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Inspiring Presence. As a bonus action, Philoctetes can inspire an ally within 30 feet who can see or hear him. The ally gains 1d10 inspiration die, which can be used once before the end of their next turn to add to an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw.

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Actions

Divine Bow (Longbow). Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (2d10 + 12) piercing damage. The bow is magical and grants advantage on attack rolls against creatures that are above half health.

Deadly Shot (Recharge 5-6). Philoctetes can make a single attack with his Divine Bow that deals an additional 28 (8d6) piercing damage. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn.

Inescapable Shot. When Philoctetes makes an attack with his Divine Bow, he can choose to ignore half cover and three-quarters cover.

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d6 + 6) piercing damage. This shortsword is a finely crafted weapon that Philoctetes uses for close combat.

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Reactions

Quick Reflexes. When a creature Philoctetes can see attacks him with an attack that he can see, he can use his reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll.

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Legendary Actions

Philoctetes can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Philoctetes regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Attack. Philoctetes makes one attack with his Divine Bow or Shortsword.

Move. Philoctetes moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Aim. Philoctetes takes aim, granting advantage on his next attack roll before the end of his turn.

Stunning Shot (Costs 2 Actions). Philoctetes makes one attack with his Divine Bow. On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn.

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Equipment

• Divine Bow: A magical longbow that provides advantage on attack rolls against creatures that are above half health and deals 2d10 + 12 piercing damage on a hit.
• Shortsword: A finely crafted weapon that deals 1d6 + 6 piercing damage.
• Studded Leather Armor: Provides an AC of 16.

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Description

Philoctetes is a seasoned warrior marked by his heroic stature and the visible signs of his suffering, including a notably wounded foot that bears his past trauma. His piercing eyes and resolute demeanor reflect both his past betrayals and his undying commitment to justice. Driven by a desire to avenge his abandonment and restore his honor, Philoctetes is fiercely dedicated to protecting his allies and seeking redemption. Despite his pain, he remains a formidable force on the battlefield, wielding his bow with unmatched skill and precision. His past experiences have left him wary of trust but loyal to those who earn his respect.

Philoctetes was the son of King Poeas of Meliboea in Thessaly. He was famed as an archer, an Argonaut and was a participant in the Trojan War. He was exiled on the island of Lemnos, when wounded by snake-bite, and his eventually recalled by the Greeks.

The story

Philoctetes was stranded on the Island of Lemnos by the Greeks before the start of the Trojan War. He received a wound on his foot that festered and had a terrible smell. After being bitten by a snake that Hera sent to molest him as punishment for his service to Heracles. (As he was the only one who would light Heracles’ funeral pyre, Heracles bestowed on Philoctetes his magical bow and arrows.)

Philoctetes remained on Lemnos, alone, for ten years.

Helenus, son of King Priam of Troy, was forced to reveal, under torture, that one of the conditions of the Greeks winning the Trojan War, was that they had to use the bow and arrows of Heracles. Upon hearing this, Odysseus then retrieved Philoctetes from Lemnos. Philoctetes’ wound wash healed by a son of the gods’ physician Asclepius. Philoctetes then killed many Trojan heroes, including Paris, son of Priam and husband of Helen. After the war, he went to Italy and founded the town of Petilia in Calabria.

Trojan War: Roleplaying in the Age of Homeric Adventure

A Mythic Vistas Sourcebook for the d20 System
Written by Aaron Rosenberg

Former Argonaut, suitor of Helen, and now leader among the Achaeans, Philoctetes kills Paris with Heracles’ bow and arrows. Philoctetes also joins Odysseus and hides inside the Trojan Horse to end the war. The lord of Olizon, Meliboea and other locales throughout Thessaly, he is bound by the Oath of Tyndareus, like many other Achaean lords. When the Greeks raise the war cry, Philoctetes answers.

Unfortunately, he does not immediately join the war. While making the journey to Troy, Achilles kills King Tenes despite warnings from his mother Thetis. To assuage the anger of the gods, Achilles makes an offering to Apollo, but a water snake emerges from the altar and bites Philoctetes, incapacitating him with a wound leaking a terrible stench. Unable to bring the injured lord along for the stink of the injury, the Achaeans leave Philoctetes on the isle of Lemnos to recover. There, Philoctetes survives by shooting birds from the sky.

Eventually, the seer Calchas prophesized the city could only be taken if the Achaeans had the bow and arrows of Heracles. And so Odysseus and Diomedes return to Lemnos to retrieve the great archer and his weapons. Healed by a son of Asclepius, Philoctetes rejoins the war and slays Paris with a poisoned arrow.

Philoctetes
Male human Fighter 8/Ranger 6/Assassin 2;
Medium humanoid
Hit Dice	8d10+16 plus 6d8+12 plus 2d6+4; hp 93;
Initiative	+5
Speed	25 ft.
Armor Class	26, touch 15, flat-footed 21.
Base Attack/Grapple	+15/+19
Attack	+20 melee (1d6+5/19- 20, +1 short sword) or +28 ranged (1d8+12/x3 and poison, +5 composite (+4) longbow of distance);
Full Attack	+20/+15/+10 melee (1d6+5/19- 20, +1 short sword) or +26/+26/+21/+16 ranged (1d8+12/x3 and poison, +5 composite (+4) longbow of distance);
Space/Reach	5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	combat style (archery), death attack, favored enemies (humans) +4, improved combat style (archery), poison use, sneak attack +1d6;
Special Qualities	animal companion, poison save +1, uncanny dodge, wild empathy +7;
Saves	Fort +15, Ref +15, Will +5;
Abilities	Strength 18, Dexterity 20, Constitution 14, Intelligence 11, Wisdom 12, Charisma 8.
Skills	Climb+5, Disguise +3, Handle Animal +8, Hide +17, Jump +5, Knowledge (nature) +8, Listen +11, Move Silently +15, Ride +9, Spot +11, Survival +7 (+9 aboveground natural environments);
Feats	Alertness, Diehard, Dodge, EnduranceB, Far Shot, Greater Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Great Fortitude, ManyshotB, Mobility, Point Blank, Precise Shot, Rapid ShotB, Shot on the Run, TrackB, Weapon Focus (composite longbow), Weapon Specialization (composite longbow).
Environment	–
Organization	–
Challenge Rating	16
Treasure	–
Alignment	Neutral Evil

Assassin Spells Known (Cast per Day 1; save DC 10 + spell level):

1st –Detect Poison, cat’s grace, true strike.

Ranger Spells Prepared (Cast per Day 2; sav DC 11 + spell level):

1st–delay poison, longstrider.

Possessions: +1 bronze panoply, bronze round shield, +1 short sword, +5 composite (+4) longbow of distance, 20 arrows, 8 doses of poison (as deathblade, Injury DC 20; 1d6 Constitution/2d6 Constitution)

Osprey Animal companion;
Tiny animal
Hit Dice	3d8; hp 13;
Initiative	+4
Speed	10 ft., fly 60 ft. (average);
Armor Class	20, touch 16, flat-footed 16;
Base Attack/Grapple	+2/ -8;
Attack	+8 melee (1d4-2, talons);
Full Attack	+8 melee (1d4-2, talons);
Space/Reach	–
Special Attacks	–
Special Qualities	Evasion, Low-Light Vision, share spells, tricks (fighting, hunting);
Saves	Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +3;
Abilities	Strength 7, Dexterity 18, Constitution 10, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 14, Charisma 6.
Skills	Listen +2, Spot +14;
Feats	Weapon Finesse.
Environment	–
Organization	–
Challenge Rating	–
Treasure	–
Alignment	Neutral