All heroes need foes to vanquish. Myths from a variety of ancient cultures involve people overcoming great odds to save their loved ones, to fight against the whims of gods, and to defeat the minions of those gods. This article introduces foes from classic tales of Greek mythology to Green Ronin’s Dragon Age system. Some will seem familiar. Some will have a different twist than you may have seen previously in other fantasy roleplaying games. They can be used as is for many campaign settings or you can re-skin them for use in Thedas.

I have tried to keep to the classical characteristics of the monsters described below as opposed to regurgitate characteristics shown in other roleplaying games. However, the recorded myths involving these monsters vary, and in some cases I have taken some poetic license in combining or leaving out some of the characteristics from myth.

The Nemean Lion awaits you beyond the jump.

Nemean Lion

Twice the size of an African lion, the Nemean Lion is the son of the titans Typhon and Echidna: the “father and mother of all monsters.”  Although not equipped with great intelligence, the Nemean Lion is cunning and has attacked lone women to drag away them to his cave. This lures prospective heroes to the cave with the intention to rescue the damsels in distress. Some stories say that the Nemean Lion can shapeshift into a woman and fake injury to lull the rescuers into a false sense of security before turning back into its primary form and killing them.

The Nemean Lion’s fur is impervious to harm from normal weapons (though its own claws can cut its skin). Instead, crushing the lion or attacking the soft flesh in its mouth are the only ways to damage it. Once dead, it can be skinned (but only with its own claws) and have its fur made into an armored cloak.

Abilities (Focuses)

Combat Ratings

Attacks

Powers

Favored Stunts: Knock Prone (1 SP), Dual Strike (3 SP)

Impervious Pelt: The Nemean Lion can only be hurt by penetrating damage or with the Mouth Attack stunt.

Mouth Attack: As a 4 SP stunt, an attacker can strike at the Nemean Lion’s mouth, bypassing its Impervious Pelt.