ATLAS OF MythIKA

THE THREE CITIES

GLORIOUS BASTIONS OF CIVILIZATION

The contents of this supplement for the Mazes & Minotaurs RPG were originally published
in the Minotaur webzine and were updated in 2012 for the Silver Jubilee Edition of M&M.

Written by Olivier Legrand & Emmanuel Roudier

Cover map and some original illustrations by Emmanuel “Croquefer” Roudier
Some illustrations © Clipart.com – 2012

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 ATLAS OF MythIKA

The Three Cities

Glorious Bastions of Civilization in a Perilous World

“ (…) this rich and civilized coastal country is divided into three independent (and
rival) city-states: Thena, Heraklia and Argos. Each of these city-states is a major
political power with its own culture, economy and armed forces. In the past, the strong
rivalry of the Three Cities has caused several wars but they have been in peace for
more than 100 years now, thanks to the efforts of the Thenan monarchs…”
Maze Masters Guide (p 8)

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 Each City is a major political, commercial and
The Three Cities cultural center, with an intra muros population of
approximately 50,000 citizens (counting women, but
This issue, we take a closer look at the glorious
excluding children and slaves). As an element of
Three Cities: Argos, Heraklia and Thena, homes of
comparison, fourth century BC Athens had a
many Mazes & Minotaurs heroes (well, at least the
population of around 30.000 male citizens.
civilized ones). But fear not, gentle reader! We shall
not inflict on you lengthy, pseudo-scholarly exposés
Over the centuries, each of the Three Cities has
full of superfluous facts, this article presents each
also established various colonies outside its original
city-state in a practical, no-nonsense, player-friendly
territory. Most of these colonies are located on small
manner, using the following format:
islands of the Middle Sea ; the farthest ones can be
found on the northern Charybdian shores. Such
settlements (which are beyond the scope of this
Cultural Overview article) are a testimony of the Cities’ cultural,
A short presentation of the city’s cultural economic and military vigor.
identity, including its patron deities.
Current Affairs Culture & Religion
The present-day political situation (including, of
course, the current monarch) ; for the purposes The Three Cities share a common language
of this article, ‘present-day’ means circa the (Minean) and cultural heritage, which is very similar
year 340 of the Age of Heroes. to that of legendary Greece as shown in movies like
Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans
Founding Myth (as if you didn’t know that…).
How the city came to be.
While all Olympian deities are worshipped and
Places of Interest honored in the Three Cities, each city-state has two
The city’s most famous sites. or three divine protectors, who are especially
revered by the local population and nobility.
Notable Personages
The local celebrities. These gods or goddesses usually played an
important part in the ancient history of the city, or
even in its foundation. The high priests of these
Before we detail each city’s specific profile, let us deities usually wield great political influence, often
examine a few common, basic facts about the acting as the king’s advisors. In the Three Cities,
culture and society of the Three Cities: temples are places of spiritual and temporal power.

Rulership Laws & Customs

Warning: before you read the next two paragraphs,
Each of the Three Cities is an independent state,
please keep in mind that there is NO such thing as
ruled by its own king.
Political Correctness in the world of Mythika – no, even
the Philosophers haven’t invented that yet.
The Nobles of each City belong to extended families
known as the Great Houses, which assist the king in While each of the Three Cities has its own set of
the rulership, administration and defense of the laws, all their institutions are based on the same set
state. Note that the city of Thena has recently of ancestral laws, known as the Minean Law.
become an exception to this long-standing political
tradition, as detailed in its description below. Under Minean Law, male citizens are known as
« free men » ; as far as law is concerned, women
The successor of a king is usually his eldest son – and children are not considered « free » and are
unless the monarch selects another heir to the placed under the authority of their father (or his
throne in his family or among the local aristocracy. heirs) or husband (for married women), unless they
When a king dies without a designated heir, the become Priestesses. This, of course, does not apply
successor is usually elected by (and chosen from) to foreign women – such as the dauntless Amazons,
the local Nobles (which may, of course, cause all who tend to see Minean Law as just another typical
sorts of power struggles and family feuds). example of blatant phallocracy.

Population Slavery is perfectly legal in the Three Cities – it is an

accepted and essential component of their social
The city-state as a whole includes the City itself as system, cultural ethics and economic prosperity.
well as many smaller towns, villages etc. The That being said, slaves in the Three Cities (and in
inhabitants of a City are known as its citizens, a Seriphos) are treated with much more humanity
broad denomination which encompasses common than anywhere else in Mythika. Speaking of this, the
citizens as well as local nobles but obviously only people in Mythika who do not practice slavery
excludes slaves, transients etc. are Centaurs, to whom personal freedom is sacred.

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 The Athenon, the greatest temple ever built for Athena, on the Thenan Akropolis

For fifteen years, the Assembly of the People

Thena the Golden (farmers, craftsmen, merchants…) have been
deciding of the politics of Thena, as well as of the
Cultural Overview use of an important part of the treasury… and for
fifteen years, many local Nobles have been plotting
As befits to a city dedicated to the goddess Athena, against Theseos, to stop once and for all this
Thena is a true center of civilization, learning and « democratic nonsense ».
art. It is also a very well-defended city-state, with
one of the finest armies in all Mythika. The favorite So far, thanks to the vigilance of Theseos and his
color of Thenan Nobles is gold – the color of light plebeian supporters - including the entire army of
and grandeur. Their favorite patron deities are Zeus, Thena, whose soldiers have always shown a
Athena, and Apollo. complete and unwavering loyalty toward their king -
these plots have always been foiled before they
came to fruition. So far…
Current Affairs
For the last fifteen years, Thena has been living an Founding Myth
unprecedented political experience, at the initiative
(and under the protection) of its current monarch, According to its historians, the city of Thena was
King Theseos, a hero of legendary stature… and a founded more than three centuries ago, at the dawn
very atypical ruler. of the Age of Heroes, by the great hero Letos, who
became its first king. At that time, Letos was in his
During his early years of adventuring, Theseos had late fifties, with a lifetime of heroic exploits, quests
a reputation as a very ambitious and merciless and adventures behind him. His greatest deeds
warrior. Yet, when he was crowned after the death were recorded by his friend Cleos, himself a Lyrist
of his father King Aegeus, Theseos soon made of extraordinary talent, in his epic poem the Letiad,
himself known as a very liberal and bold ruler often one of the most famous works of Minean literature.
favoring the interests of the common people over
those of the local aristocracy. According to the city’s oldest records, the first
citizens of Thena were refugees from an older city
Three years after his coronation, Theseos did the known as Thuria. The great city of Thuria had been
unthinkable: he abdicated most of his royal charges destroyed during the Age of Magic and whose ruins
(except for the leadership of Thena’s army) and had become infested with Lamiae, Sons of Cecrops,
withdrew most of the authority of the local Nobles, Serpent Folk and other evil ophidian creatures
leaving the reins of political power to the free under the rule of a very powerful Serpent Sorcerer
citizens of Thena… known as Thulsos.

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 The Akademia of Thena, probably the greatest library and place of learning in all Mythika

Under the protection and command of Letos, the Olympus itself, where the great king joined the
Thurian survivors eventually managed to defeat and goddess’ personal honor guard. His old friend Cleos
exterminate Thulsos’ reptilian minions and build a the Lyrist composed his last song, the Eulogy for
new city on the ruins of Old Thuria. Letos, which he performed at the King’s funeral and
died peacefully the following day, just before dawn.
Letos named the new city Thena in homage to his
patron deity, the goddess Athena, whose divine
intervention had played a decisive part in the final Places of Interest
defeat of Thulsos. In return, Athena placed a special
blessing upon the city, granting « wisdom in peace The Akropolis is the name of the hill where the
and war » to all its future rulers. most important buildings of the city are located,
including the palace and the temples of Athena,
So far, all Thenan kings have lived up to the Apollo and Zeus. This majestic site is one of the
reputation of this divine prophecy… but King great architectural wonders of the Three Cities.
Theseos’ bold political reforms have given a new,
controversial dimension to this old story: while The two most impressive buildings on the Akropolis
Theseos’ fervent supporters take Athena’s blessing are the Royal Palace, with its magnificent statues,
as a guarantee and proof of their king’s wisdom mosaics and frescoes, and the temple of Athena,
(some of them even think that the goddess herself called the Athenon, the greatest (in every sense of
inspired Theseos’ decisions as a way of testing the the term) temple ever dedicated to this goddess.
possibility of a “new society”, built on wisdom and
freedom), some of his detractors are using Athena’s The Poets’ Plaza is a special agora located near
prophecy as a propaganda tool, implying that the temple of Apollo, on the Akropolis: here, Lyrists
Theseos’ “unwise” rulership will soon attract and poets from the Three Cities congregate to swap
Athena’s divine anger on the city… unless someone stories, recite their latest compositions or even take
stops this nonsense right now. part in oratory jousts, musical contests and poetic
duels – before one of the most attentive and
But let’s get back to the distant, legendary past. demanding audience of the known world.
During his reign, King Letos the Just was often
advised by Cleos the Lyrist, who proved to be the The Akademia is a unique place of learning and
wisest of counselors and helped to make Apollo knowledge where young men study literature, law,
one of the three tutelary deities of Thena. philosophy and other liberal arts under the tuition of
some of Mythika’s wisest scholars. In other words, it
King Letos died at the very venerable age of 110, is the University of Thena – as well as the only
after more than half a century of peace. It is said university in Mythika. Its great white buildings are
that Athena herself descended from the heavens to located at the foot of the Akropolis, overlooked by
escort his soul not to the Elysian Fields but to the majestic temples of Athena and Apollo.

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 King Theseos does have a legitimate heir: his son
Prince Hippolytos (now in his mid-teens), born to
his first wife, the Amazon princess Antiope, who
died giving him birth a few years before Theseos
met Phaedra (and Ariadne!) on Seriphos.

Those who have known Theseos in his childhood

say the young prince looks exactly like him. He also
seems to have inherited his father’s bravery and
prowess, along with his Amazon mother’s reckless
and bellious temper.

His relationship with his stepmother is stormy (to

say the least, especially since Queen Phaedra has
begun to develop an (unwilling) crush on her
stepson (who looks so much like his father when he
was young…), a guilty, shameful feeling which she
tries to conceal behind a mask of cold contempt for
Hippolytos. Since Theseos himself has little time to
devote to his son, Hippolytos spends most of his
time in the outdoor, riding and charioteering.

Prince Hippolytos

Bilitis, the greatest female Lyrist of Mythika

Notable Personages
King Theseos is the current ruler of Thena – a
great hero, a superb warrior…and a somewhat
controversial ruler (see above for more details about
Theseos’ democratic reforms and next page for his
full description and game stats, plus a summary of
his adventuring career).

Thena is also home to many illustrious personages,

such as General Periklos, military commander and Level 1 Noble, age 16, Royal Heir of Thena
strategist extraordinaire (as well as Theseos’ most
Personality: Proud, dynamic, reckless; eager
loyal supporter), the venerable philosopher Zenon,
to prove his valor on the battlefield or on some
whose bold theories about the true nature of the
heroic quest; wishes his father would show him
Universe have caused much agitation within the
more attention.
Akademia, or the divinely-inspired Bilitis, Mythika’s
greatest female Lyrist and poetess, famous for her Attributes: Might 12, Skill 18, Luck 17, Wits 14,
melancholic elegies and erotic poetry. Will 16, Grace 15.
Queen Phaedra, Theseos’ second wife, is in her Combat: Initiative 17, Melee +6, Missile +7,
early thirties. Born on the island of Seriphos, Basic Defense Class 15, Hits Total 12.
Phaedra has never felt at home in Thena and rarely
appears in public ; her distant and haughty ways Weapon of Choice: Bow.
have not made her very popular with commoners,
who often see her as a cold, aloof queen. Phaedra Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess +6, Danger
has been married to Theseos for more than 10 Evasion +7, Mystic Fort +6, Physical Vigor +5.
years but has never given birth to a child ; according
Personal Charisma: +7 (+8 to Thenans).
to some rumors, the queen’s sterility has poisoned
her marriage with Theseos and there is now little Background Talents: Equestrian, Tactician.
love left between them. Those who are better
informed know that, back in his adventuring days, Mythic Items: Bow of Artemis (a gift from his
Theseos had a crush on Phaedra’s sister, princess Amazon mother Antiope).
Ariadne of Seriphos, but nobody talks about these
things anymore (at least not in the royal palace).

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 Theseos has a weakness for women and wagers
and seems to have a really hard time resisting one
or the other. These days, the love of strong wines
seems to have become another problem of his. With
all these Nobles in the surroundings plotting against
him and Phaedra looking so much like her older
sister, beautiful Ariadne, whom he stupidly and
cruelly abandoned so long ago, the hero nowadays
indulges in drinking more and more often (which
may eventually lead to many problems, like, say,
accepting the wager of entering Hell to abduct
Persephone herself because "she's a smasher"...

King Theseos
Level 5 Noble, age 38, King of Thena
Theseos slaying the Minotaur of Minea
Personality: Fearless and self-assured (to the
Theseos of Thena point of overconfidence); loves to take risks and
accept crazy wagers; loves beautiful women
The present king of Thena, Theseos is a tall, and strong wines; may have an unconscious
athletic, handsome man in his late thirties, with curly death wish; truly heroic and immensely popular.
blond hair and a short beard. His career as monarch
of Thena is detailed in this issue’s Mythika Attributes: Might 19, Skill 21, Luck 20, Wits 15,
Gazetteer, which also contains information about his Will 15, Grace 15.
wife, Queen Phaedra and his son Prince Hippolytos.
Combat: Initiative 21, Melee +13, Missile +11,
The son of King Aegeus of Thena and princess Basic Defense Class 16, Hits Total 32.
Aethra (daughter of Pittheus, lord of Sphaeros),
Weapon of Choice: Sword.
Theseos was rumored to be the child of Poseidon
himself – something which his mother has always Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess +13, Danger
refused to discuss with anybody. To this day, the Evasion +11 (+13 with Aegis shield), Mystic Fort
true identity of the hero’s father remains uncertain, +8 (+10 with Aegis shield), Phys Vigor +10.
even to Theseos himself.
Personal Charisma: +8 (+13 to Thenans).
During the course of his adventures, Theseos has
defeated an impressive number of enemies, Background Talents: Tactician, Wrestler.
including hordes of beastmen, evil lords, giants,
dark sorceresses, giant boars, magical bulls and Mythic Items: Aegis, Sword of Aegeus (Sword
many others. He also waged war against the of Ruse with a hilt wrought like a serpent),
Amazons and abducted one of their princesses, the Spear of the Pallantides (Spear of Athena),
proud Antiope… whom he married shortly Crown of the Nereids (same powers as the
afterwards. Antiope then died in childbirth (perhaps Amulet of the same name, worn as a diadem-
as a result of some terrible curse bestowed upon like headband), Ariadne’s ball of twine, Spear of
her for having forsaken her Amazon heritage), Conquest, pair of Magical Horses (see Creature
giving the hero his only son, Hippolytos. Compendium, p 58). Theseos also owns the
Mace of Perphestes, a non-magical, enormous
But his most famous adventure remains his journey bronze mace (see Players Manual, p 22).
to Minea on the island of Seriphos, where he
His breastplate, helmet and Aegis shield give
defeated the huge minotaur Asterion (also rumored
Theseos a total EDC of 24. His Sword of Ruse
to be a child of Poseidon) and managed to come out
gives him a total Melee mod of +15, while his
alive of the gigantic Maze of Minea. This he could
Spear of Athena adds +4 to his damage rolls.
accomplish only with the help of Ariadne (and her
famous ball of twine), princess of Minea and During his training years, Theseos developed two
priestess of Demeter, whom he later abandoned on unique unarmed combat styles: the Crane, a patient,
an island during his flight from Minea (since then, fast strike-to vital-spots technique, and the Dancer, a
she has reportedly been taken as a bride by swirling and unbalancing sweeps-and-throws
Dyonisos, but this may be just another wild rumor). technique. They work like Pugilism, with the same
restrictions but with different effects: a Crane attack
He later married Ariadne’s younger sister, princess
does 1d6+Might mod subdual Hits instead of the
Phaedra of Minea, now queen of Thena. usual d3+Might mod, while a Dancer attack works like
a Bashing attack (M&M Companion). As their
Recently, King Theseos, along with mighty Tharsus inventor, Theseos is advantaged when using these
of Heraklia, has led a difficult yet victorious battle in techniques. They can only be learned by Wrestlers
the mountains against a savage tribe of Centaurs. with 13+ in Skill, Will and Grace under the tuition of
To this day, both Amazons and Centaurs still feel a someone who already masters them (and Theseos is
bitter grudge toward Theseos, whom they tend to unlikely to share such secrets).
see as an enemy of their respective kins.

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 aristocracy has been the theatre of a constant
Heraklia the Red political struggle between two rival factions,
respectively known as the Sword and the Shield.
Cultural Overview Members of the Sword faction are Hegemonists,
who think that Heraklia should conquer Argos,
According to Heraklians, Heraklia is the mightiest of Thena and unite the whole Land of the Three Cities
the Three Cities. It is certainly the most martial. into a single Heraklian monarchy, while members of
the Shield faction think that the Three Cities should
The favorite color of Heraklian Nobles is crimson, stay united against outside enemies (such as
the color of blood and strength. Their favorite patron warlike Umbria) but that the Thenan Peace should
deities are Zeus and Ares, the god of war. be replaced by a more militant coalition. Each
faction is (more or less officially) supported by one
of the two great cults of Heraklia: the cult of Ares for
Current Affairs the Sword and the cult of Zeus for the Shield.

The current king of Heraklia is Thalos the Strong, Both sides are now turning a very curious eye
(see the next pages for more details about this towards the unprecedented political changes that
character, including his complete stats). have recently occurred in Thena – a situation which
could well be used by the more warlike Heraklian
As most of his predecessors, King Thalos dreams of nobles to persuade their King of taking military
uniting the Land of the Three Cities into a single action against the current Thenan monarchy “for the
nation, but that nation would (of course) be Heraklia, greater good” of the Three Cities. Even in times of
with his own dynasty as the only royal family. These peace, Heraklia is always preparing for war…
dreams will probably remain just that, since King
Thalos lacks the political shrewdness and diplomatic
patience that such a formidable endeavour would Founding Myth
require… unless Heraklia decides to go to war
(once again) with Argos, but this would shatter the The founding myth of Heraklia is quite simple and
Thenan Peace which has guaranteed economic reflects the no-nonsense, martial culture of its proud
prosperity and political stability in the Land of the nobility. According to this tale, Heraklia was founded
Three Cities for more than 60 years - see the Maze at the dawn of the Age of Heroes – just like Thena
Masters Guide, p 13, for more details about the and Argos, but (of course) before them – by a great
diplomatic tensions between Argos and Heraklia. warrior hero called Heraklion. Blessed with
superhuman strength of body and mind, Heraklion
For the last six decades (ie since the end of the war was a champion of Ares as well as the general of an
against Argos and the establishment of the Thenan invincible army who had won many victories against
Peace, see Maze Masters Guide p 13), Heraklian the sorcerous Autarchs and their monstrous hordes.

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When Heraklion saw that he had defeated and
conquered all his foes and there were no enemies
left to fight, he decided to settle down with his army
and build a great fortress in the honor of Ares… but
Heraklion proved (quite unsurprisingly) a very
warlike ruler, as befits to all true devotees of Ares,
and found himself unable (or unwilling) to maintain a
lasting peace with his neighbors - including the
fledgling cities of Thena and Argos. This greatly
upset Athena (patron goddess of Thena) and
Hermes (patron god of Argos), who eventually
called for the arbitration of Zeus himself. After
hearing their pleas, Zeus admonished Ares for his
constant warmongering and ordered Heraklion and
his followers to take a solemn oath.

Under this oath (known in Heraklian lore as the

Oath of Zeus), the king of Heraklia and his warriors
promised that they would only ever take up arms to
defend their lands and that they would devote the
rest of their lives to build a great city around their
fortress: thus was the city of Heraklia founded,
under the joint tutelage of its two major patron
deities: Ares, lord of war and Zeus, god of rulership. The legendary Heraklion after one of his many victories
As every Heraklian boy is taught from the earliest
age, the Oath of Zeus only bound Heraklion and his
men – but not their sons and other descendants, for
Notable Personages
Zeus, in his divine wisdom, knew full well that “the
King Thalos the Strong is a worldly warrior-king
arts of war and the love of battle run in the very
blood of all Heraklians”. whose might in battle is as legendary as his fiery
temper. He is also known for his largesse; Heraklian
poets and courtiers often say their king is as
Places of Interest generous with war and anger as he is with gifts and
rewards. Despite being in his mid-fifties, King Thalos
The Colossus of Heraklia is an impressive, 100- is still one of the strongest men (Might 19) of his
foot tall bronze statue of an Heraklian warrior, kingdom. He is usually very hospitable with
complete with helmet, breastplate, shield and adventurers (especially warriors) and takes great
sword. He stands guard near the Hexagon (see delight in hearing a good tale of Minotaur-slaying or
below), as a solid symbol of Heraklia’s unconquered Manticore-hunting while drinking the finest vintage
military might. Some legends say that the Colossus from his royal vineyards.
is actually a Titanic Statue (Creature Compendium,
p 117) who will animate itself to defend Heraklia Prince Herion is King Thalos’ eldest son and heir
should the city be in direct danger of being captured apparent. Despite being fanatically loyal to his father
by enemy forces – something which, according to all and monarch, Herion has a very different temper:
Heraklian warriors, will never happen. while Thalos is a proud, short-tempered, larger-
than-life king, Herion is a very dignified and austere
The Heraklium is the name of the royal palace, a warrior, believing in military discipline above all
massive, fortified building which looks more like a things. Unlike his father (who has somehow always
citadel than a palace – but this is the way the Kings managed to maintain a form of political balance
of Heraklia like it. Indeed, the Heraklium is the within the local aristocracy), Herion is a staunch
original fortress of King Heraklion (see Founding supporter of the Shield faction. He is in his mid-
Myth above), around which the city itself was thirties and already has several sons. He also has
established. six younger brothers, stalwart warriors all; together,
the sons of Thalos are often known as the
The House of Thunder is the name of the local Magnificent Seven of Heraklia.
temple of Zeus, while the equally magnificent
temple of Ares is known as the House of War. Both King Thalos is also the uncle of Tharsus of
buildings face the Heraklium – a pretty impressive Heraklia, one of Mythika’s greatest living heroes.
sight, all in all. Rumored to be the son of Zeus himself, Tharsus is
even stronger than his uncle (Might 21!); he has
The Hexagon is the name of a large, vaguely six- been described by various Lyrists of Heraklia as
sided plaza bordered by the Heraklium, the House “the epitome of might”, “the living embodiment of
of Thunder and the House of War. It acts as the strength” or “the Lion of Heraklia”. Argosean Lyrists
city’s agora and is filled with huge statues of and Nobles also often refer to him as “the boar of
Heraklian kings and heroes of the past. Hexagons Heraklia”, an ironic allusion to his brutish demeanor,
are often used by Heraklian artists and architects as uncouth manners and hairy body. See this issue’s
abstract representations of might and power. Maze Master’s Lore for more about Tharsus.

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 King Thalos the Strong Prince Herion of Heraklia

Level 3 Noble, age 35, Royal Heir of Heraklia

Level 5 Noble, age 57, Monarch of Heraklia
Personality: Stern and resolute; fearless in
Personality: Proud, fearless, generous and battle and rigorous in peace; Herion leads a
short-tempered; Thalos is a worldly warrior-king very austere, almost ascetic life, devoting all his
with a larger-than-life personality, quick to anger time to martial exercises and political duties.
but easy to amuse. Loves battles, songs and
stories (especially those about his own exploits Attributes: Might 15, Skill 20, Luck 18, Wits 11,
and victories or those of his ancestors). Will 17, Grace 12.
Attributes: Might 19, Skill 17, Luck 19, Wits 13, Combat: Initiative 17, Melee +9, Missile +7,
Will 19, Grace 10. Basic Defense Class 15, Hits Total 22.
Combat: Initiative 18, Melee +11, Missile +8, Weapon of Choice: Sword.
Basic Defense Class 16, Hits Total 32.
Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess +9, Danger
Weapon of Choice: Sword. Evasion +7, Mystic Fort +6, Physical Vigor +8.
Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess +11, Danger Personal Charisma: +5 (+8 to Heraklians).
Evasion +8, Mystic Fort +9, Physical Vigor +12.
Background Talents: Equestrian, Tactician.
Personal Charisma: +8 (+13 to Heraklians).
Mythic Items: Aegis, Sword of Ares.
Background Talents: Tactician, Wrestler.
When wearing his helmet, breastplate and
Mythic Items: Sword of Hephaestus, Spear of Aegis, Herion has an EDC of 23.
Conquest, Aegis, Breastplate & Helmet of Ares.
His Aegis also raises his Danger Evasion to +9
When fully clad for war, wearing his Breastplate and his Mystic Fortitude to +8.
of Ares, Helmet of Ares and Aegis, Thalos has
an EDC of 29, making him virtually invulnerable. His Sword of Ares allows him to add his Skill
bonus (+4) to his damage rolls.
These items also raise his Danger Evasion to
+10, his Mystic Fortitude to +13 and his Melee Prince Herion of Heraklia is the eldest of seven
attack to +14. brothers. Next in line are his two brothers Alios
nd
and Orios, 2 level Nobles who often act as
When using his Spear of Conquest, his Melee is Herion’s lieutenants on the battlefield. The other
raised by a further +2, while his huge Sword of st
four, younger btothers are all 1 level Nobles
Hephaestus gives him a +4 bonus to damage. and could well include a player-character (a
great way to have a connection with the Royal
King Thalos is a formidable foe and often fights House of Heraklia).
without any magical armament “for sport”.

10
Tharsus of Heraklia
One of the mightiest living heroes (perhaps THE
mightiest living hero) of Mythika, Tharsus of Heraklia
is also known as “Herakleos”, a nickname which can
directly be translated as “the Lion of Heraklia”.

Birth & Origins

Believed by many to be the son of Zeus himself,
Tharsus was born to Princess Alcidia, daughter to
King Leos of Heraklia. The unmarried, young and
beautiful Alcidia had been impregnated in her sleep
by the King of the Gods and became extremely
nervous when she found out that she was with child;
more than anything, the princess feared the wrath of
her father King Leos, who at that time was away
from Heraklia with Alcidia’s brother, Prince Thalos
the Strong, waging war against an allied horde of
beastmen in the Helicon Mountains.

How would her father and brother react when they’d

return victorious, only to discover her unexplainable
pregnancy? Blinded by shame, fear and despair,
Alcidia ordered a trusty servant to take the baby to
the wilderness and leave him to die there…

But the newborn child, who was incredibly vigorous,

did not die (he even strangled two serpents all by
himself!) and managed to survive before being Big, mighty Tharsus of Heraklia
found by a Centauride named Tharsa, who, having
lost her own child, decided to keep and raise this Heroic Career
strange, hairy “man-cub” as her own son. The boy
was named Tharsus and was quickly adopted by A new life now awaited the boy Tharsus as a royal
the Centauride’s tribe. prince of Heraklia – a new life full of weird things like
palaces, clothes and baths… but his feral education
Family Ties had shaped him forever and Tharsus always
remained a Centaur at heart – as reckless, proud,
Meanwhile, back in Heraklia, a true tragedy was short-tempered, turbulent and, well, feral as any
unfolding. Mad with grief and guilt, Princess Alcidia self-respecting man-horse.
took her own life by plunging a knife into her breast.
At the age of 15, the restless Tharsus left Heraklia
The day after Alcidia’s suicide, her father’s army to lead a heroic life full of adventures, dangerous
came back, carrying their dying leader. King Leos, journeys and fights with monstrous creatures. Over
who had been treacherously hit by a beastman’s the following years, he completed various quests
poisoned arrow, only had the time to hear the (including the famous Ten Tasks of Tharsus), many
sorrowful tale of his daughter’s death before of which were given to him by Zeus to test his might.
succumbing to his wounds. The crown passed to his
only son, Prince Thalos. Tharsus is especially renowned as a monster slayer,
having slain various Monsters of Large or Gigantic
A few days after his coronation, the young king was size during his long adventuring career – as well as
visited by Zeus in person, who told him that he was an impressive quantity of magical beasts, beastmen
the true father of his sister’s son… and that the child and creatures of all sorts. The Heraklian hero also
has survived. Thalos then took a solemn oath to find maintains a deep friendship with Centaurs (in fact,
his sister’s child, no matter how long this quest some Thenan Lyrists have even hinted at his carnal
would keep him away from his throne. knowledge of at least two Centaurides).

The young monarch took five of his most valorous On more than one occasion, his friendship for
companions with him and went in search of his lost Centaurs (as well as his short temper and loud
nephew; thus began seven long years of travels, mouth) has caused Tharsus to publicly express his
adventures and perils... brutish contempt for King Theseos of Thena, who
has led several campaigns against some Centaur
Then, one day, King Thalos and his men eventually tribes during the last few years… In return, King
stumbled upon the Centaurs who had adopted the Theseos himself has expressed his own disdain for
young boy as one of their own, teaching him the arts “the Boar of Heraklia”. Surely the two great heroes
of combat and archery. will square it out one day or another…

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 The Ten Tasks of Tharsus
Tharsus of Heraklia
The most glorious episodes of Tharsus’ impressive
heroic career are known collectively as “the Ten
Tasks of Tharsus”. Even though Tharsus is still alive
and his heroic career seems to be far from over,
many Heraklian Lyrists are already celebrating their
national champion’s Ten Tasks as the most glorious
and spectacular deeds every accomplished during
the entire Age of Heroes – an assertion which is, of
course, regularly refuted by Thenan Lyrists and
scholars (who like to point out that, like Tharsus’
own career, the Age of Heroes is far from over –
and will probably last longer anyway).

Here is the list of the Ten Tasks of Tharsus, known

in Heraklia as the Dekathlon. Each of these heroic
feats was accomplished single-handedly by Tharsus
Level 6 Noble, age 38, Mythic Hero, nephew of and Tharsus alone.
King Thalos, “the Lion of Heraklia”

Personality: Immensely proud and utterly fearless; 1) Slaying a magical, reputedly invincible lion
brutish and uncouth, Tharsus behaves more like an known as the Nemean Lion.
uneducated Barbarian than a royal-blooded Noble;
his personal hygiene could also be improved. 2) Slaying the dreaded nine-headed Hydra of
the Helicon Mountains.
Attributes: Might 21, Skill 16, Luck 20, Wits 9, Will
21, Grace 8. 3) Capturing a magical, reputedly uncatchable
stag known as the Artemisian Stag.
Combat: Initiative 17*, Melee +14*, Missile +7*,
Basic Defense Class 17*, Hits Total 39*.
4) Slaying a giant, magical and reputedly
Weapon of Choice: Club. unkillable boar known as the Boar of Doom.

Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess +14*, Danger 5) Capturing a magical, reputedly indomitable
Evasion +7*, Mystic Fort +10*, Phys Vigor +17*. bull known as the Bull of Death.

* Include the effects of Tharsus’ Tunic of Fortune (which he 6) Slaying the entire Minotaur Clan of Brutos.
never takes off) and Girdle of Strength (+2 to Melee,
Athletic Prowess, Phys. Vigor and Hits Total).
7) Slaying of the Twin Chimeras of Traxos.
Personal Charisma: +9* (+15* to Heraklians).
8) Uprooting all the Stichios trees of the Forest
Background Talents: Sailor, Wrestler. of Terror (which was subsequently known as
the Vale of Tranquility or “the Big Clearing”).
Mythic Items: Big Club, Nemean Lion Pelt, Bow of
Herakles, Girdle of Strength, Tunic of Fortune. 9) Slaying the Great Royal Manticore of the
Thanatari Mountain (and some of its offspring).
Tharsus’ Nemean Lion Pelt (which he usually
wears as a cloak / headdress, encumbrance 1) 10) Slaying the two Two-Headed Gigantic
allows him to add his Might mod to his Defense Cyclops of Magon (for a total of four heads).
Class, for an EDC of 22. Tharsus never uses shields
or breastplates because “it’s no fun”.
Some Thenan satirists have found nothing better to
Tharsus’ Big Club looks like a huge, crude wooden
do than coining cheap, offensive parodies of the
club better suited for a Large being than for a man.
Dekathlon, which include highly ludicrous Tasks like
It is actually a mythic item, which Tharsus gained
wooing the Queen of the Amazons, stealing some
during an early quest. It is indestructible and allows
apples in a garden, killing non-magical livestock,
Tharsus to add his Might mod of +7 (+5 from his
honoring twenty Centauride brides in a single night,
natural Might and +2 from his Girdle of Strength) to
carrying the whole world of Mythika on his shoulders
his damage rolls when he wields it single-handed.
for a whole day or single-handedly cleaning the
Using his Club as a two-handed weapon gets him
royal stables of his uncle King Thalos of Heraklia.
an extra damage die, for a monstrous damage roll
of 2d6+7 but striking at half-normal Initiative (8).
According to some rumors, Tharsus would currently
That being said, Tharsus can also be very be contemplating the completion of two more titanic
dangerous in missile combat, using his Bow of tasks, feeling that twelve would make a more iconic
Herakles (who he?) with a Missile mod of +12 and (and impressive) total. Who knows what mighty
for a damage roll of 1d6+7. deeds still await the Heraklian living legend?

12
 Argos has two great loves: commerce (which, as shown above, does include slave trade) and, of course, the Sea

Argos the Blue Since then, Argon’s other son, the (very) ambitious
Prince Kyros has been playing the part of the heir
Cultural Overview apparent and has gained growing political support
from some of the most prominent members of the
It is often said that every Argosean has two Argosean aristocracy.
mistresses: the sea and commerce. Argos is the
wealthiest of the Three Cities and takes great pride Yet, despite his absence and his obvious lack of
in her material riches. It also has the best navy of interest for rulership, the valorous Prince Argan still
the Middle Sea ; every noble or soldier from Argos has staunch supporters among the local nobles and
is a seasoned sailor. The favorite color of Argosean has always been immensely popular with the
Nobles is blue – the color of the sea and the open common people of Argos…
sky ; their favorite patron deities are Hermes, god of
trade, and (of course) Poseidon, king of the sea. Given his ambition and love of power, Kyros could
well persuade his declining father that Argan is
dead, which would logically make him the legitimate
Current Affairs heir to the crown of Argos. But what would happen if
Argan did return to Argos to find his dear brother
The current king of Argos is Argon the Proud, a sitting on the throne?
very old (and slightly senile) monarch who has sired
more than twenty daughters in his life – but only two In the meantime, Argos continues to busy itself with
sons: the reckless and romantic Prince Argan and its two great passions: trade and the sea. Under
the more practically-minded Prince Kyros. Argon’s long reign, Argos has established several
overseas colonies on the shores of Midia and has
King Argon’s rulership is now purely symbolic ; the become the first commercial power of the Middle
affairs of the realm are firmly in the hands of his Sea. Under the joint protection of Hermes and
various advisers and ministers. Argon’s eldest son Poseidon, Argosean merchants even manage to
and heir apparent, Prince Argan became an trade with the isolationist Sea Princes of Tritonis
adventurer some ten years ago, gaining glory in and have become a common sight in the fabled city
various heroic quests and ventures. Nobody has of Kandaria, cosmopolitan gateway to the Land of
heard from Prince Argan since he sailed away two the Sun… Meanwhile, bold Argosean explorers
years ago, on yet another heroic expedition to the venture into the Typhon Sea and the great Western
faraway shores of Charybdis … Ocean in search glory, wonder and gold.

13
 Places of Interest
The soul of the city, the Great Market of Argos is
found on the city’s southern edge, just inland from
the docks. It is here that business reigns, and
anything that can be bought or sold can be found in
at least three of the market stalls.

The House of Athena, located on a hill high above

Argos, is an unexpected facet of the city. Though
Athena’s influence is relatively weak in Argos, her
priests maintain this temple and university here at
the vanguard of Minean commerce so that new
ideas and discoveries may be added to the general
wisdom as soon as they become available.

The Temple of Asclepius, the most advanced

“hospital” in all of Minea is located on the city’s
eastern edge. Priests of Asclepius, the true doctors
of the Age of Heroes, tend to the diseased and
dispossessed within the temple walls and house
those unfortunates in fine marble dormitories
located through the spacious and well-tended
A typical scene on the streets of Argos the Blue grounds. A hero can find no better hope for
recovery than in the care of these healers.

Founding Myth Argos is home to the Vineyards of Ione, whose

wines are renowned throughout all of Mythika. The
Unlike the “us first!” primacy of the other two cities, grand estate of Lady Ione and her three sons is
Argoseans are happy in the belief that Argos was found on the hill that dominates the city’s centre.
the last of the Three Cities to be founded. Legend Untold wealth lies its these halls, but the grounds
has it that Argos it came into being the day that a are guarded by a pair of trained Griffins, a fabulous
philosopher from Thena and a warrior from Heraklia gift from Emperor Baraxis of the Land of the Sun.
happened to meet one morning at the seashore.

The two entered into a discussion about which city

Notable Personages
was superior and argued for hours. It was well into
the afternoon, with no end in sight, when a Princess Niobe is the first woman to be named the
merchant named Argo happened by the pair. By Admiral of the Argosean Fleet. An excellent warrior
then both the philosopher and the warrior were and sailor, she is the « widow » of Prince Argan.
thirsty and hungry, and each offered to buy wine Rather than adventure with him as normal, she
and food from the merchant. Seeing that he had remained in Argos when the prince began his
two enemies who wanted the same goods, Argo apparently ill-fated expedition due to the illness of
played the two against each other and turned a tidy her father, Lord Syagros. When the previous
profit while managing to tweak the egos of both. Admiral was killed in battle under somewhat
mysterious circumstances, Niobe was elevated to
Argo used a portion of these profits to establish a the position at the behest of Prince Kyros, who
small trading centre at the site of his “victory” over desires her both for her beauty and, perhaps, as a
Thena and Heraklia. As word of his triumph spread, way to lend legitimacy to his own ambitions.
more and more merchants who sought a neutral
place to conduct their business came to Argo’s to Heirax the Churgeon is a disgraced priest of
trade. In time, many of these merchants opened Asclepius who now maintains a private « hospital »
their own businesses and soon the city grew to in the city’s warehouse district. Heirax caters to the
include the surrounding farms and fields. shadier individuals who might require the attention
of a healer with less than entirely sound scruples.
Yet always was the sea the focus of Argos, as every
merchant worth his salt knows that goods from Bacchios the Vintner, is the fourth son of Lady
distant lands bring the most return on investment. Ione. Unlike his three elder brothers, he has struck
out on his own and is determined to create a wine
The grandson of Argo, Avatos the Blue, was the that is superior even to the best vintages produced
first King of Argos. He made it his primary goal to by his family’s label (the 294 being considered the
form a strong navy to defend the sea trade that had finest, due to a perfect mix of warm, sunny days and
lead to the success of his grandfather’s little village. light rain during the growing season). Bacchios can
The blue-sailed ships of the Argosean imperial fleet often be found in the Great Market, seeking barrels
first appeared during his reign and continue to plow of unique foreign woods to use for experimental
the waters to this day, blessed by Poseidon himself. ageing processes.

14
 Prince Kyros of Argos Princess Niobe

Level 2 Noble, age 26, Captain of the

Level 3 Noble, age 29, would-be Royal Heir Argosean Fleet and “widow” of Prince Argan

Personality: Ambitious and cunning ; thinks he Personality: Resolute and clever; has a deep
is “destined for greatness” (ie become King of love for Argos, the Sea and Argan; dislikes
Argos). Despises adventurers, so-called heroes toadying courtiers as well as reckless hotheads.
and other “romantic fools”. Hides a deep hatred
Attributes: Might 12, Skill 17, Luck 17, Wits 16,
for his elder brother Argan, who has always
eclipsed him in the eyes of their father (who, like Will 16, Grace 14.
most Argoseans, think there is only “friendly Combat: Initiative 18, Melee +6, Missile +8,
brotherly rivalry” between the two princes). Basic Defense Class 16*, Hits Total 16.
Attributes: Might 12, Skill 15, Luck 18, Wits 18, Weapon of Choice: Sword.
Will 16, Grace 13.
Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess +6, Danger
Combat: Initiative 14, Melee +7*, Missile +8, Evasion +9*, Mystic Fort +8*, Physical Vigor +5.
Basic Defense Class 15, Hits Total 18*.
Personal Charisma: +6 (+8 to Argoseans).
Weapon of Choice: Sword.
* Includes the bonus from her Amulet of Protection.
Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess +7*, Danger
Evasion +8, Mystic Fort +8, Physical Vigor +7*. Background Talents: Sailor, Tactician.

Personal Charisma: +6 (+9 to Argoseans). Mythic Items: Sword of Ruse, Amulet of

Protection (a gift from Argan).
Background Talents: Orator, Tactician.

Mythic Items: Girdle of Strength (see below).

* Includes the +2 bonus granted by Kyros’ Girdle of

Afterword for Maze Masters
Strength. Nobody in Argos knows that Kyros’ Might
is boosted by this item, which he obtained some 9 The information presented in this Gazetteer can
years ago during his first (and only) adventure with be used either as a simple collection of
his brother Argan, on a Mysterious Island. background elements to add a breath of life to
your Mazes & Minotaurs campaign or as a more
Kyros has recenty grown impatient and has direct way to send your players on the paths of
begun to move his pieces across the board of adventure. The quest for the absent Prince
Argosean politics to seize his father’s throne. As Argan, for instance, could be a great way to
part of his cunning (and complex) plans, Kyros send a party of adventurers on a perilous sea
arranged the previous Admiral’s murder, killing voyage, full of wonders and dangers…
two birds with a single stone: this ridded him of
one of Argan’s most influential political Or perhaps Prince Hippolytos, the only son and
st
supporters in the local nobility and allowed him heir of King Theseos, could actually be a 1
to appoint his sister-in-law Niobe as the new level Noble player-character (and why not?).
commander of the Fleet, much to everyone’s
surprise since Niobe had never shown much And, of course, the power struggles of
love for Argan’s brother. This brilliant move also Heraklian lords could form the basis of a great
created confusion and dissent among Argan’s series of scenarios to save the fragile Thenan
loyal supporters. Niobe herself has begun to Peace, complete with diplomatic incidents,
think she might have misjudged Kyros, who secret plots, rumors of war… and, perhaps, a
intends to use her as a useful political pawn in few games of intrigue between the Gods.
his bid for power (and perhaps even marry her
The only limit is, as usual, your imagination.
when the death of Argan becomes a certainty).

15