We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow
The hammer of the gods
W’ell drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde, and sing and cry
Valhalla, I am coming!
-
The Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin
The Mythic is perhaps the broadest category we’ve covered so far. From Athena to Odin, there are any number of gods that fit this classification. However, it’s important not for forget the more inhuman characters of comics such as Medusa, Sasquatch, Ulik, and Wendigo.
Powers Unframed
Because of the breadth of various mythological creatures that can make potential characters we’re going to take a step back to focus more on three classic creatures, the centaur, phoenix, and troll.
The Centaur
With the lower half of a horse and upper body of a human, they are often depicted as a representation of the wild as well as bearers or wisdom. Our Framework will focus on both their biology and how the Centaur has been used to represent the unknown world.
Centaur
- Parent Attribute: Constitution
- Primary Role: Support: Wisdom
- Added Support: Strength
- New Movement: Thoroughbred Speed
- Secondary Role: Offense
Fighting Style: Battle Bred
- Parent Attribute: Dexterity
- Primary Role: Offense
- Secondary Role: Defense
- Specialty: Combos
- Specialty: Heavy Blow
General Boons
- Combo: Charge: Move – Strike
- Survival Supports Offense
- Movement Supports Defense
Drawback
- Horse’s Size: Confined spaces are difficult for the character to maneuver (-20 in small or enclosed environments).
The natural gifts of the Centaur gift them with speed and strength. Strength that they can naturally use to an advantage in battle. Their link to nature grants them a supernatural Wisdom which can be used across any Talent roll using this Attribute.
Their upbringing prepares them for battle, with specialties that capitalize on their speed and strength.
The Phoenix
Perhaps best known as a representation of life, death, and rebirth, the Phoenix is a flaming bird that upon death is consumed in fire only to be reborn.
Phoenix
- Primary Attribute: Constitution
- Primary Role: Defense
- Absorption: Fire
- Evasion
- Painful (Boost Pain)
- Passive Defense
- Resist: Fire (Immunity)
- Secondary Role:Â Support: Outlast
- New Movement: Flight (Boost Speed, Rapid Acceleration)
- Healing: Self (Resurrection)
- Secondary Role: Offense
- Limited: Healing only applies to Resurrection.
We oscillated between a primary Support Role and Defense Role. Ultimately, we opted to push Defense as being the primary focus. As a burning bird, the Phoenix is immune to fire, and should someone be foolish enough to attack them with the very element they embody, they will only grow stronger, gaining free Willpower thanks to Absorption. Additionally, touching the Phoenix will burn those getting to close. Evasion is used to represent their speed and ability to avoid harm.
Should they be harmed though, the Phoenix has no fear of death as should they fall they heal automatically, and have a chance to be resurrected.
The Troll
There are many different interpretations of what trolls might look like, our Troll is going to stick closer to the Norse mythology, veering away from the box and Poppy variety. Larger than humans, they are strong and tough, and often depicted as a bit dim.
Troll
- Parent Attribute: Constitution
- Primary Role: Defense
- Armor (Boost Armor)
- Passive Defense
- Secondary Role: Offense (Full Role)
- Devastating (Boost Devastation, (Total Devastation or Dwarf Stopper đ ))
- Secondary Role: Support: Strength
- Additional Support: Constitution
- Specialty: Heavy Blow
General Boons
- Brawn Supports Heavy Blow
- Extra Stamina
Drawback
- Overbearing: Trolls lack finesse and always use the Heavy Blow Maneuver, taking at least a -30 to hit.
- Power Loss: Sunlight
Incredibly tough, and strong the Troll wades into battle with little regard for their own life. While not Invulnerable, it is hard to deal enough damage to really slow down the Troll. Their Specialty in Heavy Blow reinforces their raw power, while they may not be the most accurate.
The world of superheroes has room for myths and legends. Due to the nature of legends, it’s to have your own take. During the Three River’s Academy play test we danced with Norse and Greek myth thanks to characters like Soren and Mina. To try and create something different than the traditional Dwarf we looked at the myth they emerged from and found this:
The Poetic Edda poem Völuspå details that the dwarfs were the product of the primordial blood of the being Brimir and the bones of Blåinn (generally considered to be different names for the primordial being Ymir). The Prose Edda, however, describes dwarfs as beings similar to maggots that festered in the flesh of Ymir before being gifted with reason by the gods.
Now, can someone explain to we went from sentient maggots to Sleepy, Dopey, and Doc? This description, along with a little extra reading was enough to inspire a series of extremely memorable beings. Our Dwarves, or Dvergr lead by their beheaded sorcerer king Regin served as a revitalize a mythology that players had seen in at least a few other places.
Here is the write up for the Dwarven Soldiers. (One might describe them as Steampunk nightmare fodder, so a warning there.)
The Dvergr are something akin to a black maggot with thick tentacles and a split tail.
The body is bolted into a metal frame that allows it to walk upright and manipulate objects. Glass shards have been wedged into the head and appear to act as eyes. Underneath the glass is a swarming while mass of white and bloody tissue.
The frame is grafted directly to the dwarfâs body. The flesh is inflamed and secrets puss where the bolts lock it into place. This frame allows the dwarf to move like a human, but is stilted and jerky. However, the frame is also incredibly strong and eases their burdens allowing the Dvergr to endure hours of extended labor.
Power Level Classic Dwarf Miner Solider + 6 templates (GM Notes don’t state which Templates were used.)
Basic Rolls 12 + 3d6
Stamina 9
Defense 18 Dice 2 Armor 6
Offense Ranged: Steam Powered Rivets 18 Dice 5 Range Long Damage 12 Wounds
Offense Melee Hammers and Saws 24 Dice 5 Range Close Damage 12 Wounds
For an example of a Mythic PC, take a look at Mina from the Three River’s Academy, sadly, the play test ended before we could really dig into her origins. However, you can see the clear influences in the character.
