WHO ARE THE AMAZONS?
The Amazons are a secretive matriarchy that, since the time of Atlantean dominance on Earth, have lived and thrived in a series of interconnected pocket dimensions scattered across the globe. They were devoted allies of the Olympians in the war against Atlantis. When the Olympians withdrew from Earth, they rewarded the staunch support of the Amazons with the hidden communities in which they thrive to this day.
The cities of the Amazons are inhabited almost entirely by women, and most of them are so ancient that they witnessed first hand the Great Wars between Atlantis and the Olympians. There is roughly one male per 150 females in Amazonian society, and most of these males reside in and guard the points where the Amazon enclaves intersect with the rest of the world or connect to each other.
Amazon society is a meritocracy where knowledge and skill is respected and valued above all else. It is, however, also a strict matriarchy where only women can hold positions of political power, and all decisions are made by the Queen and her Council of Mothers. Due to the male-dominated nature of most civilizations that have surrounded the Amazon cities, their men have, more often than not, served as go-betweens and ambassadors to the outside world. (The words "male" and "female" does not exist in the Amazon language; females are Amazons while males are Consorts.)
When within their cities, male and female residents both are un-aging, physically immune to the passage of time. When in the outside world, however, they age and die at the rate of any normal human being.
Amazons have kept up with the world as it developed and evolved outside their enclaves for thousands of years, adopting the best they found into their own culture. In most areas, their science and technology is equal to the most advanced on Earth, while in some areas they are more advanced.
The rest of the text in this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. (As is usually the case in these parts, this material is designed with d20 Modern in mind, but it easily adaptable to other versions of D&D.)
NEW RACIAL TEMPLATE: AMAZON
During character creation, a player may choose to be an Amazon by adding the following template (with GM permission, of course).
Prerequisite: Female Human
Benefit: May choose Amazon feats in place of class bonus and starting feats. +1 Strength, +1 Constitution. The character is automatically fluent and literate in Amazon, as well as a number of additional languages equal to her Intelligence bonus.
NEW RACIAL TEMPLATE: CONSORT (Male Amazon)
During character creation, a player may choose to be an Amazon by adding the following template (with GM permission, of course).
Prerequisite: Male Human
Benefit: May choose Amazon feats in place of class starting and bonus feats. +1 Strength, +1 Charisma. The character can automatically speak, read and write Amazon, as well as a number of additional languages equal to his Intelligence bonus.
NEW STARTING OCCUPATIONS
The following starting occupations are available for Amazons and Consorts.
Amazon Ambassador
These members of Amazon society are trained to deal with the outside world. They frequently dwell away from the hidden Amazon enclaves. They are equal parts ambassadors (to those who are aware of the existence of the Amazons) and spies (to keep the Amazon leadership appraised on what is happening in the outside world.
Prerequisite: Consort Racial Template, Age 20+
Skills: Gain a +1 bonus to all Charisma-based skill. Gain an additional bonus to Sense Motive skill checks equal to your Charisma. Choose three languages that the character is able to speak, read and write.
Bonus Feat: Choose two feats from the following list. Attentive, Confident, Deceitful, Diligent, Defensive Martial Arts, Endurance, Favored of Harmonia, Foresight, Investigator, Light Armor Proficiency, Persuasive, Specialty Martial Artist, Stealthy.
Amazon Healer
These individuals serve as doctors, nurses, medics, and even sometimes mystical healers. They are only rarely found outside Amazon enclaves, and always on a specific, short-term mission when they are.
Prerequisite: Amazon or Consort Racial Template, Age 16+
Skills: Gain +1 bonus to all Wisdom-based skills. with Heal becoming a permanent class skill. (If it is already a class skill, gain 2 ranks.)
Bonus Feat: Choose two feats from the following list. Faithful, Favored of Artemis, Confident, Defensive Martial Arts, Light Armor Proficiency, Selfless, Specialty Martial Artist
Amazon Scholar
These are keepers of knowledge and history in Amazon society. They help everyone remember the past, so they can build a better future. Depending on their areas of expertise, they may spend more time away from the Amazon settlements than in them, oftentimes working with the ambassadors to gather or analyze specific information.Like the Amazon Ambassadors, they spend a good deal of time outside
Prerequisite: Amazon or Consort Racial Template, Age 16+
Skills: Gain a +1 bonus to all Knowledge-based skill checks. The character can Read/Write Ancient Greek script, Ancient Norse runes, and Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Bonus Feat: Choose three feats from the following list. Diligent, Dodge, Educated, Endurance, Investigator, Favored of Artemis, Light Armor Proficiency, Specialty Martial Artist,
Amazon Warrior
The are the most honored members of Amazon society.
Prerequisite: Amazon Racial Template, Age 16+
Skills: Gain +1 bonus to all Strength-based skill checks.
Bonus Feat: Choose two feats from the following list. Acrobatic, Combat Martial Arts, Combat Reflexes, Confident, Endurance, Educated, Favored of Ares, Foresight, Light Armor Proficiency, Specialty Martial Artist,
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| Art by Sergio Santos |
AMAZON FEATS
When gaining feats, Amazons (male or female) may pick ones from the following list in addition to the selections from character classes. The character must still meet all prerequisites before a feat can be selected.
Existing Feats
Acrobatic, Alertness, Athletic, Diligent, Educated, Exotic Weapons Proficiency, Faithful, Fortune Telling, Light Armor Proficiency, Martyr, Selfless, Specialty Martial Artist, Stealthy
New Feats
The Favored of... feats are meant to reflect that the character special--and perhaps even personal--connection to the gods who are patrons of the Amazons. Players who wish to select one or more of these feats at character creation should be encouraged to explain how the character came to the attention of the god or goddess. (Maybe we'll create a random table at some point to help you along, since we love doing those here at NUELOW Games!)
Favored by Ares [Amazon]
You have a special relationship with Ares, and he has granted you a special power.
Prerequisite: Amazon or Consort Racial Template
Benefit: You have divine favor as a spell-like ability. Your effective caster level is your total character level, and you may use the ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma bonus.
Favored by Athena [Amazon]
You have a special relationship with Athena, and she has granted you a special power.
Prerequisite: Amazon or Consort Racial Template
Benefit: You have resistance as a spell-like ability. Your effective caster level is your total character level, and you may use the ability a number of times per day equal to your Wisdom bonus.
Special: Unlike the actual spell resistance, this effect cannot be made permanent.
Favored by Artemis [Amazon]
You have a special relationship with Artemis, and she has granted you a special power.
Prerequisite: Amazon or Consort Racial Template
Benefit: You have calm animals and purify food and drink as spell-like abilities. Your effective caster level is your total character level, and you may one, the other, or both, a total number of times per day equal to your Constitution bonus.
Favored by Harmonia [Amazon]
You have a special relationship with Harmonia, and he has granted you a special power.
Prerequisite: Amazon or Consort Racial Template
Benefit: You have message as a spell-like ability. Your effective caster level is your total character level, and you may use the ability a number of times per day equal to your Charisma bonus.
Favored by the Muses [Amazon]
The Nine Muses have watched over you since childhood, and they granted you special gifts.
Prerequisite: Amazon or Consort Racial Template
Benefit: Gain a +1 bonus to all Perform skills.
Special: You may summon a specific Muse for assistance without suffering the initial 500XP drain.
(For more d20 System rules and information about the Nine Muses, click here.)
Foresight [Amazon]
You have the ability to see a fraction of a second into the future.
Benefit: You gain a permanent +2 adjustment to all initiative rolls.
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| Art by Bruce Timm |
ARTIFACTS OF THE AMAZONS
When the Olympians departed Earth, the three whom the Amazons had provided the greatest service to--Ares, Artemis, Athena and Harmonia--each gifted them with a powerful artifact. These items are kept in a shrine, deep beneath the Queen's palace Themiscyra, the oldest of the Amazonian enclaves. They are considered the greatest treasures of the Amazons. In the more than 10,000 years since their creation, the items have only been removed from their shrine four times, each time to defend the world against grave danger.
The Bracers of Artemis
These golden armguards only provide benefits to a character with the Amazon racial template. They give the wearer a +2 bonus to AC/DR. In addition, if the wearer has initiative, she can take a full round action and deflect any incoming ranged attacks specifically targeted at her. She can even deflect attacks that otherwise might be unavoidable, such as the bolts of a magic missile spell, a lightning bolt, or a ray of disintegration.
The wearer of the bracers may also deflect ranged attacks directed at other characters within melee range by taking a 5-foot adjustment in their direction and standing between them and the incoming projectile or spell.
Drawbacks: None for Amazons and Consorts. If a non-Amazon (a character who doesn't have either the Amazon or Consort racial templates) wears the Bracers of Artemis, he or she must roll a Fortitude save every time projectiles are deflected. If the saving throw fails, the character is knocked to the ground and stunned for 1d4 rounds.
The Diadem of Athena
A sturdy piece of golden headgear that is inset with rubies and a five-pointed star symbolizing Athena grants its wearer a +2 bonus to all mind-affecting magic and spell-like abilities and effects.
The wearer can also use the Diadem of Athena as a thrown weapon, with a +2 magical bonus to hit and damage (Weight 1 lb; Damage 1d4+2 (small), 1d6+2 (medium); Critical x2; Type bludgeoning; Range Increment 30 ft. (projectile); Category ranged; Proficiency simple weapon.). The diadem can strike a number of targets equal to the wielder's attack bonus. The targets must be declared when the character throws the diadem, and a separate attack roll is required for each target). The diadem unerringly returns to the hand of person who threw it at the end of the round, or falls to the ground near his or her feet if the character is unable to catch it for some reason.
It is possible for someone to grab the diadem from the air using the snatch arrow feat (or other abiltilies), but if the attempt is successful, the character who caught it suffers 2d6+2 points of electrical damage (DC22 Fortitude save for half).
Drawback: None, but the item confers no magical bonuses nor protection to non-Amazons (characters without the Amazon or Consort racial templates). It likewise does not function as a magical thrown weapon
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The Shield of Harmonia
This front of this bronze buckler is decorated with symbols that resemble snakes and lightning bolts twisting around each other and a five-pointed star. In addition to the normal features of a buckler, the Shield of Harmonia grants the user an additional +4 bonus to all saving throws made against poisonous or acidic gasses and damage-dealing area of affect spells.
Drawbacks: None, but the item confers no magical bonuses nor protection to non-Amazons (characters without the Amazon or Consort racial templates).
The Sword of Ares
This short sword was forged from an otherworldly metal that is so black its blade seems to absorb light rather than reflect it. When wielded by an Amazon or Consort, it is a magic weapon with a +4 bonus to-hit and damage. In addition, as the sword is first drawn during an encounter, the wielder may use fear as a spell-like ability against a number of targets equal to his or her Charisma bonus. The effective caste level is equal to the wielder's total character level.
Drawbacks: When non-Amazons (characters without the Amazon or Consort racial templates) use the Sword of Ares, they must roll a successful Will (DC12) save each time they deal damage to a target. If the roll fails, the wielder is blinded. The character remains blind until subjected to a remove curse (cast at 20th level), or a wish spell.
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Article reads " It is, however, also a strict meritocracy where only women can hold positions of political power."
ReplyDeleteShouldn't that be a matriarchy instead of a meritocracy?
Yep... that was a question of the Fingers Being Faster Than the Brain. Edit Incoming!
ReplyDelete