Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta 5.5e / 2024

Medium Humanoid, Neutral

Armor Class: 14
Initiative: +3
Hit Points: 110 (17d8 + 34)
Speed: 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus: +4

Saving Throws: Dex +7, Wis +8, Cha +11
Skills: Deception +11, History +7, Insight +12, Persuasion +15, Performance +11, Religion +7
Senses: Passive Perception 14
Languages: Greek, Trojan, courtly dialects, and three additional diplomatic or royal languages
Challenge: 9 in social/political scenes; 4 or lower in direct combat
Role: Legendary social NPC, queen, and mythic political force

Mythic Social Traits

The Most Beautiful Woman in the World

Helen’s beauty is a divine condition, not ordinary attractiveness. Creatures that can see her do not automatically love, obey, or desire her. Instead, her presence forces the truth of their reaction into the open.

When a creature that can see Helen begins a hostile social or physical action against her, it must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the creature acts normally and is immune to this trait for 24 hours.

On a failure, the creature hesitates until the end of its current turn and must choose or reveal one response from the table below. The response is obvious to Helen and to any creature within 30 feet that can see the creature.

This trait does not make the creature friendly, Charmed, obedient, or magically infatuated. It exposes the emotional truth behind the hostile action and gives witnesses something real to act on.

Once a creature fails this saving throw and suffers one revealed response, it is immune to this trait for 24 hours.

Witness Pressure

Helen is strongest when others are watching.

When at least three non-hostile creatures can see and hear Helen, she gains the following benefits:

• Helen has Advantage on Charisma checks made to delay violence, expose hypocrisy, demand testimony, or force a public answer.
• A creature that fails a saving throw against The Most Beautiful Woman in the World cannot hide its revealed response without succeeding on a DC 17 Charisma (Deception) check.
• If a creature attacks Helen in front of witnesses after failing that save, Helen may immediately use Name the Cost without spending a Legendary Action.

Queen Beneath Accusation

Helen has Advantage on Charisma checks made in royal courts, treaty halls, marriage negotiations, ransom scenes, hostage exchanges, and trials involving honour, legitimacy, desire, betrayal, or blame.

In addition, when Helen succeeds on one of these checks by 5 or more, she may choose one neutral witness who heard her. That witness becomes unwilling to support immediate violence against Helen unless threatened, bribed, magically compelled, or presented with new evidence.

Divine Entanglement

Magic that would compel Helen’s love, rewrite her memory, alter her appearance, bind her by oath, magically determine her guilt, or reveal her destiny is unstable.

The caster must succeed on a DC 17 spellcasting ability check. On a failure, the spell does not function cleanly. Instead, the DM chooses one result:

Blame Cannot Hold One Shape

Once per scene, when a creature publicly accuses Helen of causing war, betrayal, ruin, or dishonour, Helen may force the accuser to make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw.

On a failure, the accuser must name one king, god, oath, army, law, ambition, bargain, or political interest that profited from blaming her. If the accuser refuses or cannot answer, it has Disadvantage on Persuasion checks against neutral witnesses for 1 hour.

On a failure by 5 or more, one neutral witness openly questions the accusation.

Social Encounter Engine: The Room’s Mood

For important scenes involving Helen, the DM may track The Room’s Mood. This is optional, but it makes Helen’s scenes feel distinct from ordinary Persuasion checks.

Start the room at 0.

Changing the Room’s Mood

The Room’s Mood shifts by +1 when:

• Helen succeeds on a Persuasion, Performance, or Insight check in a public exchange.
• A hostile creature fails its save against The Most Beautiful Woman in the World.
• A creature fails its save against Blame Cannot Hold One Shape.
• The party presents credible evidence that another person benefited from blaming Helen.
• A witness publicly admits doubt.

The Room’s Mood shifts by –1 when:

• Helen is caught in a lie.
• A credible witness accuses her with evidence.
• A divine sign appears to condemn her.
• A creature harmed by the war speaks truthfully and movingly against her.
• The party silences witnesses or uses obvious coercion in her favour.

Effects of the Room’s Mood

At +2 or higher, creatures have Disadvantage on checks made to justify immediate violence against Helen.

At +3, any attempt to seize, execute, or forcibly remove Helen in public triggers outrage, division, or political consequence.

At –2 or lower, Helen has Disadvantage on Charisma checks made to gain mercy unless the party introduces new evidence, divine intervention, or a credible witness.

At –3, violence becomes likely unless someone changes the scene immediately.

Actions

Silver Dagger

Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage.

Unanswerable Question

Helen asks one creature within 60 feet a question that exposes desire, guilt, fear, or ambition.

The target must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, it cannot knowingly lie to Helen until the end of its next turn. If the target takes a hostile action before then, it has Disadvantage on the first attack roll, ability check, or saving throw made as part of that escalation.

If this occurs before witnesses, the Room’s Mood shifts by +1.

Command the Room

Helen chooses up to three creatures within 60 feet that can see and hear her. Each target must make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw.

On a failure, the target cannot interrupt Helen, shout her down, or physically approach her until the end of Helen’s next turn. This effect ends early for a creature if Helen or her allies attack it.

If at least one hostile creature fails this save in front of witnesses, the Room’s Mood shifts by +1.

Name the True Cause

Helen names a person, oath, god, army, law, ambition, bargain, or political interest that has benefited from blaming her.

One creature within 60 feet that has publicly accused Helen must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, the creature has Disadvantage on Persuasion and Deception checks against witnesses for 10 minutes.

If the target fails by 5 or more, the Room’s Mood shifts by +1.

Reactions

Do Not Pretend This Is Honour

When a creature within 60 feet justifies violence in Helen’s name, Helen may force it to make a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw.

On a failure, the creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll or Charisma check before the end of its next turn. If the action occurs before witnesses, the creature must also reveal whether it is acting from duty, desire, fear, pride, vengeance, obedience, or ambition.

The Room Turns With Her

When Helen is targeted by an attack while at least three non-hostile creatures can see her, she may move up to half her Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks. The crowd shifts, hesitates, blocks sightlines, or instinctively makes space.

If the attack misses, the attacker has Disadvantage on its next Charisma check made before those witnesses.

Let Them Hear You

When a creature within 60 feet lies about Helen, speaks for her without permission, or claims to know what she wants, Helen may force that creature to repeat the claim clearly before all witnesses.

The creature must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, it either corrects itself or has Disadvantage on its next Deception or Persuasion check before the end of the scene.

Legendary Actions

Helen can take 2 Legendary Actions, choosing from the options below. Only one Legendary Action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn.

Look Toward the Witness

Helen looks at one creature she can see. Until the start of Helen’s next turn, she has Advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks against that creature.

Name the Cost

Helen names one personal, political, or divine consequence of the current conflict. One creature that hears her must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or lose Advantage on its next attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made to escalate the conflict.

Step Behind the Claimant

Helen moves up to 15 feet toward a creature that has claimed to protect, rescue, possess, avenge, judge, or speak for her. Attacks against Helen have Disadvantage until the start of her next turn if that creature stands between Helen and the attacker.

Turn the Witness

Helen chooses one neutral witness within 60 feet. That witness must be able to see and hear her. Until the end of Helen’s next turn, that witness will not support immediate violence against her unless directly threatened, bribed, magically compelled, or shown new evidence.

Mythic Social Lair Actions

Use these only in a major court, treaty hall, royal camp, temple hearing, siege negotiation, or public accusation scene.

On initiative count 20, Helen may take one of the following lair actions. These are not physical lair powers. They represent the pressure of witnesses, reputation, beauty, divine attention, and public blame.

The Silence After Her Name

A hush falls after Helen is named, accused, defended, or claimed. Until initiative count 20 on the next round, the first creature to speak a direct accusation or claim over Helen must succeed on a DC 17 Charisma saving throw or reveal an emotional motive behind the claim.

Every Eye Turns

One creature Helen can see becomes the centre of attention. Until initiative count 20 on the next round, that creature has Disadvantage on Deception checks and cannot benefit from being hidden in a social sense. Its body language, hesitation, or appetite is too visible.

The Gods Are Listening

A divine pressure enters the room. Until initiative count 20 on the next round, the first spell or magical effect used to compel, expose, disguise, judge, or bind Helen triggers Divine Entanglement, even if it would not normally qualify.

Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta, Pathfinder 1e / 3.5e

Female human aristocrat 5 / expert 5
N Medium humanoid
Init +3; Senses Perception +14

Defense

AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 13; Dodge, courtly grace
hp 68 (10 HD; 5d8+5d8+20)
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +13
Defensive Abilities divine beauty, queen beneath accusation, witness pressure

Offense

Speed 30 ft.
Melee silver dagger +9/+4 (1d4+1/19–20)
Special Attacks command the room, name the true cause, unanswerable question

Statistics

Str 10, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 24
Base Atk +7; CMB +7; CMD 21
Feats Deceitful, Dodge, Iron Will, Negotiator, Persuasive, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Skill Focus (Sense Motive)
Skills Bluff +24, Diplomacy +29, Disguise +12, Knowledge (history) +16, Knowledge (nobility) +21, Knowledge (religion) +16, Linguistics +8, Perception +14, Perform (oratory) +20, Sense Motive +25
Languages Greek, Trojan, and three additional courtly or diplomatic languages
SQ blame cannot hold one shape, divine entanglement, royal education

Special Abilities

Divine Beauty (Su)

Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta is the most beautiful woman in the world. This is not a charm effect and does not force love, obedience, or desire.

When a creature that can see Helen attempts to begin a direct hostile action against her in a social, courtly, or non-battlefield scene, it must succeed at a DC 22 Will save or hesitate for 1 round. During this hesitation, the creature reveals one visible response from the table below. The response is obvious to Helen and to any creature within 30 feet that can see the creature.

A creature that succeeds at the save is immune to Helen’s divine beauty for 24 hours. A creature already engaged in open combat with Helen or her allies gains a +4 bonus on the saving throw. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Witness Pressure (Ex)

When at least three non-hostile creatures can see and hear Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta, she gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (oratory), and Sense Motive checks made to delay violence, expose hypocrisy, demand testimony, or force a public answer.

A creature that fails a save against Helen’s divine beauty before witnesses takes a –4 penalty on Bluff checks to conceal the emotional response it revealed.

Queen Beneath Accusation (Ex)

Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta gains a +4 insight bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (oratory), and Sense Motive checks made during royal hearings, marriage negotiations, hostage exchanges, treaty scenes, trials of honour, accusations of betrayal, or disputes over legitimacy.

If Helen succeeds on one of these checks by 5 or more, one neutral witness becomes unwilling to support immediate violence against her unless threatened, bribed, magically compelled, or shown credible new evidence.

Divine Entanglement (Su)

Spells and supernatural effects that would compel Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta’s love, alter her appearance, rewrite her memory, force an oath, magically determine her guilt, or reveal her destiny must overcome her divine entanglement.

The caster must succeed at a caster level check against DC 22. If the check fails, the spell does not function cleanly. The GM chooses one result:

Blame Cannot Hold One Shape (Ex)

Once per scene, when a creature publicly accuses Helen of causing war, betrayal, ruin, or dishonour, Helen may force the accuser to attempt a DC 22 Will save.

On a failure, the accuser must name one king, god, oath, army, law, ambition, bargain, or political interest that benefited from blaming her. If the accuser refuses or cannot answer, it takes a –4 penalty on Diplomacy and Perform checks against neutral witnesses for 1 hour.

If the accuser fails by 5 or more, one neutral witness openly questions the accusation.

Unanswerable Question (Ex)

Three times per day, Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta may ask one creature within 60 feet a question that exposes desire, guilt, fear, or ambition.

The target must succeed at a DC 22 Will save or be unable to knowingly lie to Helen for 1 round. If the target attempts hostile action before the end of its next turn, it takes a –2 penalty on its first attack roll, skill check, or saving throw made to escalate the scene.

Command the Room (Ex)

Three times per day, Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta may command attention through royal presence rather than magic.

Up to three creatures within 60 feet that can see and hear her must succeed at a DC 22 Will save or be unable to interrupt, shout over, or physically approach Helen for 1 round. This effect ends for a creature if Helen or her allies attack it.

Name the True Cause (Ex)

Once per scene, Helen may name one person, oath, god, army, law, bargain, or ambition that has profited from blaming her.

One creature within 60 feet that has publicly accused Helen must succeed at a DC 22 Will save or take a –4 penalty on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Perform checks against witnesses for 10 minutes.

Royal Education (Ex)

Helen treats Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nobility), Knowledge (religion), Perform (oratory), and Sense Motive as class skills.

Encounter Rule: The Court’s Mood

For important courtly, diplomatic, legal, or public accusation scenes involving Helen, the GM may track The Court’s Mood. This optional rule makes Helen’s scenes feel distinct from ordinary Diplomacy checks and gives the table a clear way to measure whether the court is turning against her, listening to her, or beginning to question her accusers.

Start the court at 0.

Changing the Court’s Mood

The Court’s Mood shifts by +1 when Helen succeeds on a Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (oratory), or Sense Motive check made before witnesses, when a hostile creature fails its save against Divine Beauty, when an accuser fails its save against Blame Cannot Hold One Shape, when the party presents credible evidence that someone else benefited from blaming Helen, or when a witness publicly admits doubt.

The Court’s Mood shifts by –1 when Helen is caught in a lie, when a credible witness accuses her with evidence, when a divine sign appears to condemn her, when a creature harmed by the war speaks truthfully and movingly against her, or when the party silences witnesses or uses obvious coercion in her favour.

Effects of the Court’s Mood

At +2 or higher, creatures take a –4 penalty on Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Perform checks made to justify immediate violence against Helen.

At +3, any attempt to seize, execute, or forcibly remove Helen in public creates immediate political backlash. Guards hesitate, witnesses object, rival factions intervene, or a formal challenge is demanded.

At –2 or lower, Helen takes a –4 penalty on Diplomacy checks made to gain mercy unless new evidence, divine intervention, or a credible witness changes the scene.

At –3, violence becomes likely unless the party changes the situation immediately.

Helen of Troy, Queen of Sparta 3.0

Helen is the daughter of Leda, queen of Sparta, and Zeus. Sister to Polydeuces and half-sister to Castor and Clytemnestra. Wife of Menelaus, Helen was abducted by Paris, and this event contributed to the start of the Trojan War.

Trojan War: Roleplaying in the Age of Homeric Adventure

A Mythic Vistas Sourcebook for the d20 System

Written by Aaron Rosenberg

Helen is the most beautiful woman in the world, tall and shapely with long golden hair and lovely blue eyes. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leda and the wife of Menelaus of Sparta. Paris seduced her and convinced her to run away to Troy with him, where she lives as his wife. Her departure was the cause of the Trojan War.

Helen is very soft-spoken and very tenderhearted. She feels a great deal of guilt for her part in the war, and constantly berates herself for giving in to Paris’ entreaties. Helen does her best to stay out of the way of the other Trojan women, who despise her for what she has caused. Her only real allies are Priam and Hector, who are both kind to her, and of course, Paris himself.

Bard Spells Known (Cast per Day 3/3/1; save DC 13 + spell level):

• 0 – daze, detect magic, light, lullaby, mending, Song of Serenity;
• 1st – Allure, charm person, remove fear;
• 2nd – Beguile, eagle’s splendor.

Possessions: elegant robes and girdle, beaded sandals, ivory-handled dagger.