King Priam

Priam is the king of Troy, son of Laomedon and Strymo, and has been for many years.

• Gender – Male
• Race – Human
• Occupation – King
• Religion – Hellenic Pantheon 
• Allies – Trojans and allies, 
• Enemies – Greeks and allies
• Abode/ Base of operations – Troy
• Nationality – Trojan
• Languages – Greek
• Alignment – Lawful Good
• Affiliation (s) –
• Significant others – Hecuba (Wife), Hector (Son), Paris (Son)

Trojan War: Roleplaying in the Age of Homeric Adventure

A Mythic Vistas Sourcebook for the d20 System

Written by Aaron Rosenberg

He is a tall, slender old man with snow-white hair and deep blue eyes. In his prime he was an able charioteer, but now he is too old to fight, and stays within the city walls. He is a wise man, and a gentle one, who loves his people and his city dearly and would do anything to save them. Priam is a talented orator, and uses his words to soothe conflicts among his people and their allies. He relies upon his sons for military support.

Priam had a number of wives; his first was Arisbe, who bore him a son Aesacus, who met a tragic death before the advent of the Trojan War. Priam later divorced her in favor of Hecabe, daughter of the Phrygian king Dymas. By his various wives and concubines Priam was the father of fifty sons and several daughters. Hector was Priam’s eldest son by Hecuba, and heir to the Trojan throne. Paris, another son, was the cause of the Trojan War. Other children of Priam and Hecabe include the prophetic Helenus and Cassandra; Deiphobus; Troilus; Polites; Creusa, wife of Aeneas; Laodice, wife of Helicaon; Polyxena, who was slaughtered on the grave of Achilles; and Polydorus, his youngest son.

When Hector is killed by Achilles, Achilles treats the body with disrespect and refuses to give it back. Zeus sends the god Hermes to escort King Priam, Hector’s father and the ruler of Troy, into the Achaean camp. Priam tearfully pleads with Achilles to take pity on a father bereft of his son and return Hector’s body. He invokes the memory of Achilles’ own father, Peleus. Deeply moved, Achilles finally relents and returns Hector’s corpse to the Trojans. Both sides agree to a temporary truce, and Hector receives a hero’s funeral. Achilles further goes on to give Priam leave to hold a proper funeral for Hector complete with funeral games. He promises that no Greek will engage in combat for 11 days, but on the 12th the war would resume.

In the sack of Troy, Priam was brutally murdered by Achilles‘s son Neoptolemus.

Priam
Male human Charioteer 5/Orator 5
Medium humanoid
Hit Dice	4d10 plus 5d6; hp 39
Initiative	+0
Speed	30 ft.
Armor Class	10, touch 10, flat-footed 10;
Base Attack/Grapple	+7/+7
Attack	+8 melee (1d8+1, +1 heavy mace);
Full Attack	+8/+3 melee (1d8+1, +1 heavy mace)
Space/Reach	5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	lull, sideswipe, suggest, taunt
Special Qualities	captive audience, chariot expertise, charmer, gauge skill, glib, skilled horseman
Saves	Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +8;
Abilities	Strength 10, Dexterity 11, Constitution 10, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 17, Charisma 16.
Skills	Appraise +6, Bluff +9 (+14 against an audience, +18 against commoners), Concentration +5, Diplomacy +9 (+11 against an audience, +15 against commoners), Drive +5, Intimidate +13 (+18 against an audience, +22 against commoners), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +6, Perform (oratory) +12 (+16 against an audience, +20 against commoners), Sense Motive +7;
Feats	Chariot Attack*B, Distinctive*, Drive-By Attack*B, Favored*, Noble*, Persuasive.
Environment	–
Organization	–
Challenge Rating	10
Treasure	–
Alignment	Lawful Good

Possessions: royal robes, crown, sandals, +1 heavy mace (scepter).

In popular culture

Peter O’Toole plays Priam in the 2004 movie Troy as a good king and father, who is killed by Agamemnon in the gardens of Troy during the sacking towards the movie’s end.