The Ionian villages that would become Tiryns had sent an emissary to the oracle at Delphi. The oracle uttered these words: I see a couple of people walking together towards greatness. One of these people is a hulking man, stronger by far, than anyone else in the world. The others number about five.
One of them may be extremely smart and good looking, another has the relationship of the gods, another might have the potential to be a good fighter, and another could be wily and shadowy.
Hercules is the muscle-bound man, a son of Zeus who has incurred the Wrath of Hera, Zeus' Wife. She drove the Theban to madness and he killed his wife and children. Since that fateful day, he has traveled around Greece, doing good deeds to atone for his evil.
The others are the Player Characters. They have their destinies and stories intertwined with that of Hercules. They will become heroes of renown and one day may have some of the Immortals call them friends.
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This campaign isn't an adventure path, it's a T.V. series. The PCs write their own destinies by questing and monster hunting; however their destinies are entwined with that of Hercules. They will encounter Hercules the most while he does his Twelve Labors.
Adventurers will be able to go all over the Greek World (southern Mediterranean, really) and venture to far off places like the Hesperides (America), and Geryon's island (I thought of the Azores being a good fit, but the Canary Islands could also work, the Balearic Islands, and also Sardinia or Corsica). The world is a high fantasy world with a Greek aesthetic.
The psuedo-Greece means Wizards that throw fireballs, gruff dwarves, and pretty stand-offish elves. These elements didn't exist in Greek Mythology as the New Argonauts Campaign tends to illustrate.
Campaign specifics:
Formula: The characters live in a pseudo-Greece land. They adventure through the land because their fates are entwined with that of Hercules.
Theme: Questing and monster hunting.
Tone: Fun adventuring through the lands that are based on Greece, but not exactly like Greece.
Players can also provide an actor's face that would work in playing their character.
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PRODUCTION DESIGN
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys -- the Wrong Path
Ancient Greek House
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys -- The Road to Calydon
Jason and the Argonauts (2000)
The Odyssey (1997)
Age of Bronze comic site
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Campaign Outline
1. The Need for a Hero Ensemble -- Premise: Monsters (a band of gnolls) attacks Tiryns before Eurystheus -- an intelligent, good looking, pacifistic man, shows up to be Tiryns' King. The pcs get mixed up in it, and are sent to Thebes to retrieve Hercules. Encounters -- 1 combat encounter, and 2 social encounters.
2. Leandros: Focus on Lycaneus -- Premise: Leandros, Lycaneos' twin, is working with Samoleus on a business deal selling -- da, da, da! Togas. He's encountered after the group leaves Tiryns. Despite his reputation, however, he runs into trouble with a few orcs from Cimmeria.
3. Trouble with Bullies: Focus on Myrrin -- Premise: Myrrin encounters an old bully from her past. Only this time, the bully is the one being bullied by goblins from Argolis. What could have attracted the Argive goblins?
4. Anteus the Brute: Continuity -- Premise: Outside Megarea, the PCs encounter Anteus, who demands money. If they refuse the bully, Anteus will attack them. Can they figure out his weakness? Encounters -- 1 social, 1 combat, 1 puzzle.
5. The Cyclops of Megarea: Continuity -- Premise: The people of Megarea has one of their streams blocked, and they blame it on one of the Cyclopes (pronounced cy-clop-EEZ), who grew up with many of their bullying. Can the PCs find the actual cause? Encounters -- 1 social, 1 puzzle, 1 combat.
6. The Corinthian Bull Ensemble -- Premise: Diverted to Corinth at Glaucus' insistence, the PCs are enlisted to stop a rampaging bull. Only problem is, the Bull is rumored to be sacred to Tyche. Can the PCs find a way to stop the bull without incuring the wrath of the Goddess of Fortune? Encounters -- 1 social, 1 combat.
7. But for the Grace of a Sister: Focus on Agraxus -- Premise: While in Corinth, the PCs receive word that Agraxus' has a half sister in Corinth. But she denies the resemblance. Can Agraxus' father prove that they are kin? Also, the Gnolls of Queen Nago dog the heroes' steps.
8. The Pythian Games: Focus on Antikytheros -- Premise: Its time for the Pythian games, which celebrates Philosophy, and sacred to Apollo. Antikytheros is invited to attend, not to debate on Philosophy, but to provide Entertainment. What would Antikytheros do?
9. The Maenads: Continuity -- Premise: Stopping at Eleusis to grab a bite to eat, the townspeople enlist the PCs to do something about one of the daughters of Proteus of Mycenae. They have gone crazy with drink and are terrifying the citizens. Can the PCs stop the daughters of Proteus? Encounters 1 social, 1 puzzle, 1 combat(??)
10. Hercules the Theban, pt 1: Continuity -- Premise: The PCs have arrived in Thebes, where they meet up with Hercules. Hercules is helping a band of Cyclopes rebuild a wall when they meet. Two nights after arriving, though, Hercules kills his sons and he must stand trial, can the PCs save Hercules' life? Encounters 1 social, 1 political.
11. Hercules the Theban, pt 2. Continuity -- Premise: Hercules must travel back with the PCs to Tiryns to make his penance at the feet of his cousin Eurystheus. While Hercules is sleeping, however, the PCs face a raid of Kobolds sent by Hera. Encounters 1 social, 1 combat.
12. The Cycionese Boar: Ensemble -- Premise: A traveler enlists the PCs' help in defeating a rampaging giant boar at Cycion. Hercules thinks that the boar isn't worth his talents to slay, so he stays out of it when they reach Cycion. The PCs must deal with the boar. But it's no ordinary boar -- it's a Razor Boar!!! Encounters 1 Social, 1 Combat.
13. Elves and Half-Elves: Focus on Draco -- Premise: An Elf from Arcadia is being harrassed for being different in Cycion. People will charge her higher prices and men just want to date her without forming a longlasting relationship. Can Draco find out the reason for the racism in Cycion?
14. Nado's Wrath: Continuity -- Premise: Queen Nado attacks the PCs, for revenge. Things look grim, even with Hercules at their side. Can they defeat Queen Nado?
15. Innocence: Focus on Myrrin -- Premise: Hades' wife has not returned when expected. Hades asks the PCs and Hercules to go find Demeter. When the PCs find Demeter, they find that the earth goddess is distraught. Persephone has been captured by Tydereus of Epidareus. Can the PCs free her? And what will Hades do to Tydereus? Encounters 2 Social, 1 Combat.
16. Fast Times in Hollywood: Change of Pace - Premise: The PCs are actors in a Fantasy T.V. show based on the Twelve Labors of Hercules. The actor who plays Hercules spends more time at the Gym than anything else. When the PCs go to the gym to talk to the actor, everything turns upside down as a temptress tries to get the actor's attention. Encounters: 3 social. Yes, this does require d20 Modern characters.
17. The Test: Focus on Antikytheros -- Premise: Pergamos the Apostate wants to test what Antikytheros has learned. All he has to do is to retrieve a gem from a cave. Only problem is, the cave is guarded by a monstrous python.
18. The King of Thieves: Focus on Agraxas -- Premise: Another man has stolen Celes heart, and it's Autolycus. Can Agraxas expose Autolycus as something other than the pilferer of women's hearts?
19. Eurystheus Continuity: Having returned to Tiryns, they find the Cyclopes working on the walls of Tiryns. Hercules complains about the city. However, the PCs lead Hercules to Eurystheus, who informs Hercules that he has twelve labors for his cousin to perform.
20. Trouble in Tiryns Ensemble: the PCs must protect a woman in Tiryns from a Satyr who is making amorous advances on the woman. However, the Satyr is fully in love if the PCs ever ask him. But the woman is kidnapped by Demetrius of Rhodes. Encounters: 2 social, 2 combat
21. The Twelve Labors of Hercules: Continuity: Eurystheus pronounces that Hercules is in his service and he must perform twelve labors for his cousin. Ashamed of his past, Hercules leaves Tiryns to slay the Nemean Lion. However for the PCs, the Gnoll Queen, Queen Nado, is back from the dead and is wreaking havoc in Tiryns. Encounters 1 Social, 1 combat.
