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 phoenix awaits you beyond the jump.

Phoenix

The phoenix is a beautiful, eagle-like bird with wings of red and gold. Although it looks like a bird of prey, the phoenix actually eats frankincense and other odoriferous gums from trees.

There is debate about whether the phoenix is immortal or merely very long lived, but every 500 years or so at the end of its life cycle, the phoenix gathers a nest of cinnamon, spikenard, and myrrh to act as its funeral pyre. As it gets ready to die, the phoenix turns toward the sun and uses its reflective wings to concentrate the sun’s light on the pyre. As the pyre ignites, the phoenix flaps its wings to intensify the conflagration and then lies down to die.

The phoenix then is reborn from the ashes of its father and, once it has regained its strength, it carries the nest and ashes to the city of Helipolis in Egypt and lays the remains to rest in the temple of the Sun.

Although the phoenix is not aggressive, it has been sought out by fortune seekers and treasure hunters who desire the phoenix’s feathers, which are rumored to have mystical and magical properties.

Abilities (Focuses)

Combat Ratings

Attacks

Powers

Favored Stunts: Defensive Stance (1 SP), Taunt (1 SP), Lightning Attack, Blinding Light (3 SP).

Sunbeam: By concentrating the sun’s light with its golden feathers, the phoenix can use Sunbeam as a ranged attack with a short range of 12 yards and a long range of 24 yards.

Blinding Light: The phoenix can try to blind its target as a 3 SP stunt when attacking with Sunbeam. Unless the target succeeds on a Dexterity (Initiative) test vs. the phoenix’s Magic, the target is blinded for 1d3 rounds. While blinded, the target has a –2 penalty to all attacks and a –2 penalty to defense.

Metallic Feathers: The metallic feathers covering the phoenix provide it with an Armor Rating of 4.