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Theseus

Theseus victor of the Minotaur, Charles-Édouard Chaise, oil on canvas, circa 1791. Theseus
Theseus victor of the Minotaur, Charles-Édouard Chaise, oil on canvas, circa 1791.

Theseus is one of the most famous hero’s of Greece. His mother was Aethra, daughter of King Pittheus of Troezen. His father was King Aegeus

  • Gender – Male
  • Race – Human
  • Occupation –
  • Religion – Hellenic Pantheon
  • Allies – 
  • Enemies – Ariadne, Minos,
  • Abode/Base of operations –  
  • Nationality –
  • Alignment –
  • Affiliation (s) –
  • Significant others – 

King Aegeus was unable to have children from his first two wives. He consulted the Oracle at Delphi for an answer to his problem. Aegeus did not understanding the oracle’s answer which was in the form of a riddle. Aegeus went to the wise King Pittheus to find the understanding. Pittheus understood the riddle but did not reveal it to Aegeus. Instead, he got Aegeus drunk and took him to his daughter Aethra to lay with. That same night, unknown to Aegeus or Pittheus, Poseidon also shared the bed of Aethra.

When Aegeus left, he put a sword and sandals under a rock. He left instructions with Aethra to tell his son about them when he was older. She was to tell him to move the rock and bring the sword and sandals to Athens so Aegeus would recognize his son.Theseus grew up to be a strong and witty young man. When he was old enough, he attempted to move the stone under which his father had buried the sword. He was unable to move it, so he built a pulley system to lift the rock. With the pulley system, Theseus was able to retrieve the sword and sandals.

He set out for overland. He was advised to take the much safer boat route but refused. Instead, he traveled through the dangerous Isthmus of Corinth. On his journey, he encountered many evil men who preyed on travelers. He defeated them all, making them suffer the same fate theywould bestow on their victims. By the time he reached Athens, he was famous for his deeds.

King Aegeus did not yet recognize Theseus as his son, and he was worried that this popular young man might try to steal his throne. To prevent this, he sent Theseus on a mission to kill the Marathonia Bull and bring it back to Athens. Theseus caught the bull and returned it to the king. The king’s wife Medea, who was a sorceresses, recognized Theseus and suggested poisoning the young hero. King Aegeus recognized the sword Theseus was wearing just before the poisoned wine was given to his son. Medea and her son were banished from the kingdom for their part in the plot kill Theseus.

Several years earlier, Minos attacked Athens. To ward off the attack, the Athenians had agreed to pay a yearly tribute of seven boys and girls to sacifice to The Minotaur of Crete.Theseus offered to be one of the men to be given to the monster. When Theseus arrived in CreteAriadne, the daughter of the king fell in love with him at first sight. She gave him a sword and spool of string he could use to find his way back out of the labyrinth which the Minotaur lived. Theseus went into the maze and found the Minotaur sleeping near the center. He battled the monster and escaped with the others from Greece.

Theseus, along with his fellow Athenians and Ariadne, escaped to their ship and headed back to Athens. On their way, they stopped at the island of Dia .Where Theseus abandoned Ariadne on this island.

Theseus had forgotten a promise he had made to his father. The ship carrying the fourteen Athenians always flew a black flag. Theseus had promised his father to change the flag to white on the voyage home if he had survived. Aegeus, seeing the black flag threw himself into the sea, believing that his son had died on his mission.

Due to his father’s death, Theseus now became king of Athens. He was credited with moving the government to a democratic style of governing.

As a king of Athens, Theseus was a just and wise ruler who laid the foundations for its democratic government. Then are some who say he developed a self-running government just so he would have time to go away on adventures.

Despite his wisdom, however, Theseus was not a faultless ruler. He was the man who raped Helen of Troy, an incident that touched off the terrible Trojan war.

Used with permission from Paolo

As seen in Paolo’s thread at Dicefreaks

Theseus
Fighter 16, Ranger 6, Rogue 2
DvR0 (hero-deity)
Medium humanoid
Hit Dice16d10 + 6d8 + 2d6 + 144 (265 hp)
Initiative+9 (+4, +5 Dexterity)
Speed40 feet
AC17 (+2 leather armor, +5 Dexterity), touch 15, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple+21/37
Attack+37 shortsword (1d6 + 15, 17-20 x2), or +28 ranged
Full Attack+ 37/32/27/22 shortsword (1d6 + 15, 17-20 x2) or +35/30/25/22 shortsword (1d6 + 15, 17-20 x2) and + 31/26 punch (1d3 + 10, x2) or + 33 touch attack melee, or +28/23/18/13 ranged
Space/Reach5 ft. x 5 ft./5 ft.
Special AttacksFavored enemy (giant, monstruous humanoid), sneak attack +1d6,
Special QualitiesDivine blood, Evasion, Fast movement, Son of the waves, Trapfinding,
SavesFort +21, Ref +18, Will +8.
AbilitiesStrength 30, Dexterity 21, Constitution 22, Intelligence 16, Wisdom 10, Charisma 23
SkillsBalance +13, Bluff +12, Diplomacy +12, Disable Device +7, Disguise +11, Gather Information +16, Handle Animal +9, Heal +5, Hide +16, Intimidate +11, Jump +17, Knowledge (dungeoneering)+9, Knowledge (local)+11, Listen+10, Move Silently +16, Open Lock +10, Ride+10, Search +8, Sense Motive +5, Spot +10, Survival +7, Swim +30, Tumble +10, and Rope Use+10
FeatsBlind Fight, Cleave, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Endurance, Improved bull rush, Improved critical (shortsword), Improved GrappleImproved Initiative, Improved Trip, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Overrun, Improved unharmed strike, Mobility, Power Attack, Stunning Fist, Track, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (shortsword), Weapon Specialization (shortsword)
Epic featsBlinding Speed, Epic Prowess x2, Epic Reputation
Climate/Terrainwandering around the mediterranean sea, or in Athens
OrganizationSolitary, or with Pirithous
Challenge Rating27
Treasurein Athens, half standard, and see possessions.
AlignmentChaotic good

Divine blood immune to polymorphing, petrification or any form-altering attack, energy drain, ability drain and ability damage; +10 vs disease, poison, Paralysis, death effects, disintegration; +5 vs binding, soul bind, Temporal Stasis, Trap the Soul; Spell Resistance 25

Favored enemy: Theseus has a +4 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot and Survival, and a +4 bonus on damage rolls, against Giants. Those bonuses are at +2 versus Monstruous humanoinds.

Evasion:  If Theseus makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if Theseus is wearing light armor or no armor.

Fast movement:  when wearing medium armor or lighter, Theseus’ speed is +10 feet.

Son of the waves: Given is divine ancestry, Theseus has a +10 to Swim checks (accounted for),and may hold his breath ten times his normal capacity.

Trapfinding:  Theseus can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a Difficulty Class higher than 20. He can use the Disable Device skill to disarm magic traps.

Possession +3 shortsword

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