Achilles, the Indomitable Hero of the Achaean Army

“The Invincible Warrior: Unleash the Fury of Achilles, the Greatest Hero of Greek Mythology!”

• Alias: None
• Gender: Male
• Race: Demigod (Human with divine heritage)
• Occupation: Warrior, Hero
• Religion: Worshiper of the Greek pantheon
• Allies: Patroclus, Odysseus, Ajax, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Diomedes, Hector (brief alliance)
• Enemies: Hector, Paris, Trojans, Apollo
• Abode/Base of operations: Various Greek encampments during the Trojan War
• Nationality: Greek
• Languages: Ancient Greek
• Alignment: Lawful Good
• Affiliation(s): Achaeans (Greeks)
• Significant others: Briseis (captured Trojan princess), Deidameia (wife), Patroclus (beloved companion)

Achilles, the Demigod Hero of the Trojan War, possesses unparalleled strength and unwavering determination. As the son of the sea nymph Thetis and the mortal king Peleus, he is blessed with divine heritage and destined for greatness. Raised by the centaur Chiron, Achilles receives rigorous training and guidance, molding him into a fearsome warrior.

Driven by a burning desire for glory and immortality, he fights with unmatched skill and valor. His ambition stems from a prophecy that foretells he will gain eternal fame but perish young. Seeking to leave a lasting legacy, he eagerly embraces the chance to distinguish himself in battle, earning his place among the ranks of legendary heroes.

Clad in gleaming armor and wielding his iconic spear and shield, Achilles charges into the midst of the fray with unmatched ferocity. His presence alone inspires his comrades and instills terror in his enemies. His ultimate goal is to become a hero of such renown that his name will be celebrated throughout the ages, transcending the mortal realm.

Yet Achilles is not solely driven by personal glory. Deeply loyal to his fellow Greeks and fiercely protective of his comrades, he fights to defend his homeland and ensure victory for his allies. His exploits on the battlefield become the stuff of legends, but his journey is also marked by moments of doubt and internal struggle as he grapples with the weight of his fate and the consequences of his actions.

Despite his prowess, Achilles is not invincible. His vulnerability lies in his heel, the only part of his body that remains mortal. This vulnerability becomes his tragic flaw, leading to his downfall when struck by an arrow in the heel during the Trojan War.

Achilles is a complex character, embodying both the virtues and flaws of a legendary hero. His unyielding determination, unmatched skill in combat, and insatiable thirst for glory make him an indomitable force on the battlefield. However, his journey is also one of self-discovery and grappling with the limitations of his mortality, highlighting the human aspect of even the mightiest heroes.

Achilles, The Myrmidon

Medium humanoid (human), Chaotic Good

Armor Class: 21 (divine armor) Hit Points: 300 (30d10 + 150) Speed: 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	20 (+5)	22 (+6)	16 (+3)	18 (+4)	22 (+6)

Saving Throws: Str +13, Dex +11, Con +12 Skills: Athletics +13, Perception +10 Damage Immunities: Piercing, Slashing Senses: Passive Perception 20 Languages: Common, Ancient Greek Challenge: 20 (25,000 XP)

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

Achilles’ Armor: He wears the legendary Armor of Achilles, created by Hephaestus. It grants him an additional +4 bonus to his AC and immunity to critical hits.

Actions: Multiattack: Achilles makes four attacks: two with his Pelian spear, one with his sword, and one with his shield.

Pelian Spear: Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (1d8 + 10) piercing damage.

Sword of Peleus: Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (1d6 + 9) slashing damage.

Shield Bash: Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (1d4 + 9) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature of Large size or smaller, it must succeed on a DC 20 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Legendary Actions: Achilles 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. Achilles regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Spear Thrust: He makes one Pelian spear attack.

Second Wind (Costs 2 Actions): Achilles regains 30 hit points.

Phalanx Formation (Costs 3 Actions): He raises his shield, granting himself and all allies within 30 feet a +2 bonus to AC until the start of his next turn.

Equipment:

• Armor of Achilles (provides additional +4 AC and immunity to critical hits)
• Shield of Peleus
• Sword of Peleus
• Pelian Spear
• Golden Chariot

Legendary Resistance: He can succeed on saving throws.

Divine Armor: He wears the Armor of Achilles, granting him additional AC and immunity to critical hits.

Shield Master: He is skilled in using his shield to bash his enemies and knock them prone.

Warrior’s Arsenal: He wields his Pelian spear, sword, and shield with unparalleled skill and precision.

Unyielding Hero: He possesses exceptional strength, speed, and durability, making him a formidable opponent on the battlefield.

Noble Bloodline: He is of divine lineage, carrying the legacy of his father Peleus and the goddess Thetis.

Incomparable Steed: He rides into battle on his immortal horses, Xanthus and Balius, further enhancing his mobility and striking power.

Note: The CR level of Achilles would be determined by the DM based on the campaign and the desired level of challenge.

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Currently in the World

Achilles stands tall and imposing, his muscular frame exuding power and strength. He possesses a chiseled face with sharp features, framed by golden, unruly locks cascading down his broad shoulders. His eyes, glimmering with intensity, are the shade of a stormy sea.

Currently, Achilles finds himself on the battlefield of Troy, amidst the chaos and clash of weapons. He is clad in gleaming bronze armor, crafted by the divine Hephaestus himself, and his famous shield, emblazoned with scenes of war and heroism, is held firmly in his grip. His spear, a lethal extension of his arm, is poised for action.

Surrounded by the turmoil of war, Achilles is consumed by a mix of fierce determination and unrestrained wrath. His heart beats with the desire for glory and vengeance, as he seeks retribution for the death of his beloved comrade, Patroclus. The air crackles with a palpable energy, fueling his unstoppable drive to carve a path of destruction through the Trojan ranks.

As he moves across the battlefield, his movements are a symphony of grace and precision. His every strike is swift and deadly, guided by a mastery of combat honed through years of training and divine favor. His mere presence inspires awe and fear in both friend and foe, his name whispered in hushed tones as a legendary figure of unmatched valor.

Amidst the clash of swords and the cries of the fallen, Achilles is a force to be reckoned with. His singular focus is to leave an indelible mark upon the annals of history, to achieve immortal glory that will echo through the ages. In his heart burns a fervent desire to be remembered as the greatest warrior of his time, his deeds forever etched in the memories of men and gods alike.

In Myth

Achilles, is a hero and greatest warrior of the Trojan War he is known for being the most ‘powerful’ of the heroes assembled at Troy, as well as the fleetest. He has a relationship with Patroclus of deep friendship and love.

Birth

Achilles was the son of the mortal Peleus, king of the Myrmidons in Phthia (southeast Thessaly), and the sea nymph Thetis. Zeus and Poseidon had been rivals for the hand of Thetis until Prometheus the fire-bringer prophesied that Thetis would bear a son greater than his father. For this reason, the two gods withdrew their pursuit, and had her wed to Peleus.

When Achilles was born Thetis tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx. However, she forgot to wet the heel she held him by, leaving him vulnerable at that spot. Peleus entrusted Achilles to Chiron the Centaur, on Mt. Pelion, to be raised. Achilles in the Trojan War Rage “sing, goddess, the rage of Achilles, the son of Peleus, the destructive rage that brought countless griefs upon the Achaeans…

Achilles is the only mortal to experience consuming rage. His anger is at some times wavering, at other times absolute. The humanization of Achilles by the events of the war is an important theme of the story.

Troilus

While Troilus, the youngest son of Priam and Hecuba (who some say was fathered by Apollo), was watering his horses at the Lion Fountain outside the walls of Troy, Achilles saw him and fell in love with his beauty. The youth rejected his advances and took refuge inside the temple of Apollo. Achilles pursued him into the sanctuary and decapitated him on the god’s own altar. At the time, Troilus was said to be a year short of his twentieth birthday, and the legend goes that if Troilus had lived to be twenty, Troy would have been invincible.

The Iliad

Homer’s Iliad is the most famous narrative of Achilles’ deeds in the Trojan War. The Homeric epic only covers a few weeks of the war, and does not narrate Achilles’ death. It begins with Achilles’ withdrawal from battle after he is dishonored by Agamemnon, the commander of the Achaean forces. Agamemnon had taken a woman named Chryseis as his slave, her father Chryses, a priest of Apollo, begged Agamemnon to return her to him.

Agamemnon refused and Apollo sent a plague amongst the Greeks. The prophet Calchas correctly determined the source of the troubles but would not speak unless Achilles vowed to protect him. Achilles did so and Calchas declared Chyrsies must be returned to her father. Agamemnon consented, but then commanded that Achilles’ slave Briseis be brought to replace Chryseis. Angry at the dishonor (and as he says later, because he loved Briseis) and at the urging of Thetis, Achilles refused to fight or lead his Myrmidons alongside the other Greek forces.

As the battle turned against the Greeks, Nestor declared that had Agamemnon not angered Achilles, the Trojans would not be winning and urged Agamemnon to appease Achilles. Agamemnon agreed and sent Odysseus and two other chieftains to Achilles with the offer of the return of Briseis and other gifts. Achilles stubbornly refused and urged the Greeks to sail home as he was planning to do.

Eventually, however, hoping to retain glory despite his absence from the battle, Achilles prayed to his mother Thetis, asking her to plead with Zeus to allow the Trojans to push back the Greek forces. The Trojans, led by Hector, subsequently pushed the Greek army back toward the beaches and assaulted the Greek ships. With the Greek forces on the verge of absolute destruction, Achilles consented to Patroclus (sometimes considered Achilles’ lover) leading the Myrmidons into battle, though Achilles would remain at his camp. Patroclus succeeded in pushing the Trojans back from the beaches, but was killed by Hector before he could lead a proper assault on the city of Troy.

Hector versus Achilles

After receiving the news of the death of Patroclus from Antilochus, the son of Nestor, Achilles grieved over his friend and held many funeral games in his honor. His mother Thetis came to comfort the distraught Achilles. She persuaded Hephaestus to make new armor for him, in place of the armor that Patroclus had been wearing which was taken by Hector. The new armor included the Shield of Achilles.

Enraged over the death of Patroclus, Achilles ended his refusal to fight and took the field killing many men in his rage but always seeking out Hector. Achilles even got in a fight with the river god Scamander who became angry that Achilles was choking his waters with all the men he killed. The god tried to drown Achilles but was stopped by Hera and Hephaestus.

Zeus himself took note of Achilles’ rage and sent the gods to restrain him so that he would not go on to sack Troy itself, seeming to show that the unhindered rage of Achilles could defy fate itself as Troy was not meant to be destroyed yet. Finally Achilles found his prey. Achilles chased Hector around the wall of Troy three times before Athena, in the form of Hector‘s favorite and dearest brother, Deiphobus, persuaded Hector to fight face to face. Achilles got his vengeance, killing Hector with a blow to the neck. He then tied Hector‘s body to his chariot and dragged it around the battlefield for thirteen days.

With the assistance of the god Hermes, Priam, Hector‘s father, went to Achilles’ tent and convinced Achilles to permit him to allow Hector his funeral rites. The final passage in the Iliad is Hector‘s funeral, after which the doom of Troy is just a matter of time.

Memnon

Following the death of Patroclus, Achilles’s closest companion was Nestor’s son Antilochus. When Memnon of Ethiopia killed Antilochus, Achilles was once again drawn onto the battlefield to seek revenge. The fight between Achilles and Memnon over Antilochus echoes that of Achilles and Hector over Patroclus, except that Memnon (unlike Hector) is also the son of a goddess (like Achilles).

Achilles, after his temporary truce with Priam, fought and killed the Amazonian warrior queen Penthesilea.

As predicted by Hector with his dying breath, Achilles was thereafter killed by Paris by an arrow to the heel while visiting Polyxena, a princess of Troy the god Apollo guided Paris’ arrow.

Showing Paris was a coward and not the man his brother Hector was, and Achilles remains undefeated on the battlefield. His bones are mingled with those of Patroclus, and funeral games are held.

Paris was later killed by Philoctetes using the enormous bow of Heracles.

The fate of Achilles’ armor

Achilles’ armor was the object of a feud between Odysseus and Telamonian Ajax (Achilles’ older cousin). They competed for it by giving speeches on why they were the bravest after Achilles and the most deserving to receive it. Odysseus won. Ajax went mad with grief and vowed to kill his comrades; he started killing cattle or sheep, thinking in his madness that they were Greek soldiers. He then killed himself.