Buy me a coffeeAtalanta “the divine huntress”
“Meet Atalanta: The Mythical Huntress Who Defied Tradition and Fought for Independence!”
- Alias: The Huntress of Arcadia
- Gender: Female
- Race: Human
- Occupation: Huntress, Warrior
- Religion: Devotee of Artemis, Hellenic Pantheon
- Allies: Meleager, the Argonauts
- Enemies: Toxeus, Plexippus, the Calydonian Boar
- Abode/Base of Operations: Nomadic, roams the wilderness
- Nationality: Greek
- Languages: Ancient Greek
- Alignment: Chaotic Good
- Affiliation(s): None specific, but aligned with heroes and defenders of justice
- Significant Others: Meleager, Hippomenes
In the rugged expanse of ancient Greece, Atalanta’s story begins with a cruel twist of fate. Abandoned by her father, Schoeneus, in the heart of the wilderness, she was left to perish. Yet, fate intervened in the form of Artemis, who sent a motherly bear to nurture the infant, ensuring her survival. Raised by hunters, Atalanta grew into a formidable huntress, honing her skills amidst the untamed forests.
Years later, the Calydonian Boar terrorized the land, prompting King Oeneus to call upon heroes to vanquish the beast. Among them stood Atalanta, now a skilled warrior, and Meleager, the king’s valiant son. Bound by destiny, they formed an unbreakable bond, united by their shared prowess and mutual affection.
During the hunt, Atalanta’s arrow drew first blood, marking her as a vital participant in the perilous endeavor. However, victory soon turned to chaos as jealousy and rage ignited among the hunters. Assaulted by centaurs and insulted by insolent foes, Atalanta faced adversity with unwavering resolve, supported by Meleager’s steadfast defense.
But tragedy struck with the wrath of familial discord, as Meleager’s uncles, Toxeus and Plexippus, coveted the prize bestowed upon Atalanta. Their envy sparked a deadly feud, culminating in their demise at Meleager’s hands. Yet, the cycle of vengeance spiraled further when Meleager’s own mother, Althaea, sought retribution for her slain brothers, sealing her son’s tragic fate.
Grief-stricken and burdened by loss, she sought solace in the arms of her estranged father, who sought to secure her future through marriage. However, Atalanta could not fathom betraying her love for Meleager. In a desperate bid to appease her father, she agreed to a perilous challenge: a footrace with a deadly consequence for those who dared to challenge her.
Many suitors met their demise at Atalanta’s swift hand, until Hippomenes, enraptured by her beauty, dared to compete. Armed with divine aid from Aphrodite, he cunningly used golden apples to distract Atalanta, securing victory against all odds. United in love, they embarked on a journey fraught with peril, joining the Argonauts in their legendary quest.
Yet, their happiness was fleeting, as divine wrath intervened once more. Consumed by their passion within a sacred temple, Zeus condemned Atalanta and Hippomenes to eternal transformation, casting them as lions forever bound by their love. Thus, their tale, woven with triumph and tragedy, echoes through the annals of history, immortalized in the stars above.
Atalanta 5e
Atalanta 5e
Atalanta, the Swift Huntress
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good
Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 110 (13d8 + 52)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 (+1) | 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 14 (+2) |
Saving Throws Dex +9, Wis +7
Skills Acrobatics +9, Perception +7, Survival +7
Senses passive Perception 17
Languages Common, Sylvan
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Actions
- Multiattack. She makes two attacks with her longbow or two attacks with her shortswords.
- Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.
- Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 5) piercing damage.
Reactions
- Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker Atalanta can see hits her with an attack, she can use her reaction to halve the attack’s damage against her.
Legendary Actions
Atalanta 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. Atalanta regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.
- Attack. She makes one attack with her longbow.
- Evasive Maneuvers. Atalanta can take the Dash action.
- Keen Eye. Atalanta makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Equipment
- Studded Leather Armor
- Longbow
- Shortsword (x2)
- Quiver of Arrows
- Explorers Pack
- Potion of Healing
- Dagger
Magic Items
- Boots of Elvenkind. While attuned to these boots, Atalanta moves silently and with exceptional grace. She has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks that rely on moving silently.
- Bracers of Archery. These bracers grant Atalanta a +2 bonus to damage rolls with ranged weapons.
Lair Actions
- Forest Camouflage. Atalanta blends seamlessly into her surroundings, gaining advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks until the start of her next turn.
- Eagle-Eyed Focus. Her keen senses become heightened, allowing her to make a Wisdom (Perception) check to detect hidden or invisible creatures within 60 feet of her lair.
- Swift Retreat. She utilizes her knowledge of the terrain to swiftly retreat to a concealed location within 60 feet, moving without provoking opportunity attacks.
Description
Atalanta is a formidable huntress, renowned for her speed, agility, and keen instincts. With her trusty longbow and shortswords, she navigates the wilderness with ease, ever vigilant for threats and opportunities alike. Clad in studded leather armor and equipped with magical items that enhance her prowess, she is a force to be reckoned with.
Despite her prowess in battle, Atalanta is driven by a sense of justice and compassion. She fights not for personal glory, but to protect the natural world and those who dwell within it. With her legendary actions and lair abilities tailored to her unique skills, Atalanta is a formidable opponent capable of outmaneuvering even the most cunning foes.
Originally Posted by Mike Myler on the Enworld forums.
This is one of Ancient Greece’s righteous ladies—both because she was a devout follower of Artemis and because she was a badass. This woman survived in the wilds as a baby after her father (Iasus the King of Argos) angrily abandoned her for not being a boy, she was the first to bleed the Calydonian Boar, the only female to sail with the Argonauts, and resisted a suitor by beating them all in footraces until Hippomenes distracted her with three enchanted golden apples.
They have a son (Parthenopaios) but not long after are cursed by Zeus, transformed into lions for doing the dirty in one of his temples (note that the popular belief at the time was that lions could only mate with leopards, forever keeping them from having intercourse again).
Atalanta
Medium humanoid (any), neutral ranger (hunter) 8
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 68 (8d10+16)
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
| 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +7
Skills Athletics +5, Nature +4, Perception +5, Stealth +7, Survival +5
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Background: Wildborn. Atalanta never forgets the geographic arrangement of terrain, settlements, and areas of wilderness. In addition, she can forage fresh water and food each day for as many as 6 people as long as the environment nearby can support it.
Defensive Tactics: Multiattack Defense. When a creature hits Atalanta with an attack, she gains a +4 bonus to AC against all subsequent attacks made by that creature for the rest of the turn.
Favored Enemy. Atalanta has advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to track beasts and monsters, as well as on Intelligence checks to recall information about them.
Feat: Superb Aim. Atalanta ignores half cover and three-quarters cover when making a ranged weapon attack, and she doesn’t have disadvantage when attacking at long range. When Atalanta makes her first ranged weapon attack in a turn, she can choose to take a -5 penalty to her ranged weapon attack rolls in exchange for a +10 bonus to ranged weapon damage.
Hunter’s Prey: Colossus Slayer (1d8, 1/Turn). When Atalanta hits a creature with a weapon attack, the creature takes an extra 1d8 damage if it’s below its hit point maximum.
Ranger Features. Atalanta has the Land’s Stride, Natural Explorer (forest or grassland), and Primeval Awareness ranger class features.
Spellcasting. Atalanta is an 8th-level spellcaster that uses Wisdom as her spellcasting ability (spell save DC 13; +5 to hit with spell attacks). She knows the following spells from the ranger’s spell list:
1st-level (4 slots): detect poison and disease, jump, longstrider
2nd-level (3 slots): darkvision, pass without trace
ACTIONS
Extra Attack. Atalanta can attack twice, instead of once, whenever she takes the Attack action on her turn.
Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) slashing damage.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8+4) piercing damage.