THE PERSIAN MYTHOSby Jerome Arkenberg
(Dragon #12)
The ancient Persian religion, Zoroastrianism, is a dualist system.
This means that the Persian Gods are either Good (Lawful), or Evil
(Chaotic). Ahura Mazda, the Archangels, and the Yazatas are opposed
to Ahriman and the Archdemons, who try to destroy Ahura Mazda’s
creations.
THE FORCES OF GOODAHURA MAZDA or
OHRMAZD — The Wise Lord
Armor Class: -2 Magic Ability: Unlimited Spells
Move: 20” Fighter Ability: Lord — 40th
Hit Points: Unlimited Psionic Ability: Class 6
Ahura Mazda is characterized by his great Wisdom. He is bounteous and perfect goodness. He is the Creator and is eternal, but is not
omnipotent for he is limited by his Arch-enemy, Ahriman. Ahura Mazda wears a star-decked robe. The “swift-horsed sun” is his eye. His
throne is in the highest heaven, in celestial light.
The Archangels — These are the sons and daughters of Ahura Mazda,
and usually take the form of beautiful young men and women in their
twenties.
VOHU MANAH — Good Mind
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18" Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Vohu Manah sits at the right hand of Ahura Mazda. He protects
useful animals in the world and also deals with men. He keeps a daily
record of Men’s thoughts, words, and deeds.
ASHA — Truth
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18’ Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Asha is the most beautiful of the Archangels. Those who do not
know Asha can never enter heaven. Asha preserves order on Earth for
he smites disease, death, fiends, sorcerers, and other evil creatures.
KSHATHRA VAIRYA — the Desired Kingdom
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18’ Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Kshathra Vairya represents the might, majesty, dominion and
power of Ahura Mazda. He helps the poor and weak and protects
metals. Through him Ahura Mazda allots final rewards and punishments.
ARMAITI — Devotion
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18” Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Armaiti sits at the left hand of Ahura Mazda. She represents faithful obedience, religious harmony and worship. She rejoices when the
righteous cultivate the land and rear cattle, or when a righteous son is
born.
HAURVATAT & AMERETAT — Integrity & Immortality
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18" Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Haurvatat, Integrity, is associated with water. Her gift is wealth.
Ameretat, Immortality, the other half of this closely entwined pair, is
associated with vegetation. Her gift is herds of cattle.
SRAOSHA — Obedience
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18" Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Sraosha is a warrior in armor, armed with a Battle Axe (+3).
Sraosha protects the world at night when the demons are on the prowl.
He rides a chariot drawn by four beautiful white horses.
MITHRA — Contract
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18” Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Mithra preserves Truth and Order in the world by fighting against
Deceit. He is a strong warrior with a pike of silver (+1), gold armor
(+3), and strong shoulders. He judges the dead.
The YazatasVAYU — The Wind
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 14th
Move 18”/36” Fighter Ability: 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 2
Vayu rides in a swift chariot drawn by 1000 horses. He produces
lightning and makes the dawn appear. Vayu is a fearsome, broadbreasted warrior and carries a sharp spear (+1), and weapons of gold
(all +2 to hit). If properly propitiated, he will deliver those who call
upon him from all evil assaults.
TISHTRYA — The Rain
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 14th
Move: 15” Fighter Ability: Lord — 14th
Hit Points: 225 Psionic Ability: Class 2
Tishtrya is a beneficent force. He can take three forms: that of a
young boy of fifteen, that of a bull, and that of a horse. In any form,
he is a great fighter, but only if animal sacrifices are made to him, for
they sustain him.
ARDVI SURA ANAHITA — The Strong, Undefiled Waters
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 14th
Move: 15" Fighter Ability: Lord — 11th
Hit Points: 175 Psionic Ability: Class 2
This goddess is the source of all waters, and thus of fertility. She is
strong and bright, tall and beautiful. She wears a golden crown, and a
golden necklace.
VERETHRAGNA — Victory
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 14th
Move: 15" Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 2
Verethragna is the aggressive, irresistible force of victory. He has
ten forms: 1.) A strong wind; 2.) A bull with yellow ears and golden
horns; 3.) A white horse; 4.) A burdenbearing camel; 5.) A sharptoothed male boar; 6.) A fifteen year old boy; 7.) A raven; 8.) A wild
ram; 9.) A fighting buck; 10.) A man with a golden sword.
RAPITHWIN — Lord of the Noon-Day Heat
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 14th
Move: 15” Fighter Ability: Lord — 14th
Hit Points: 225 Psionic Ability: Class 2
Rapithwin is the Lord of the ideal world. It was at Noon that the
world was created, and it will be Noon when Ahriman is destroyed.
Rapithwin’s chief enemy is the Demon Winter.
ATAR — Fire
Armor Class: 1 Magic Ability: Wizard — 14th
Move: 18" Fighter Ability: Lord — 14th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Atar is the Son of Ahura Mazda, the sign of His presence. He is 10
feet tall, has a head of blue-white flames, but looks like a young man of
fifteen in all other respects.
HAOMA — Plant & God
Armor Class: 3 Magic Ability: Wizard — 12th
Move: 15" Fighter Ability: Lord — 10th
Hit Points: 175 Psionic Ability: Class 3
Haoma is both plant and god. When, as a plant, he is pressed, he
dies and causes the defeat of evil for the faithful. Those who have
pressed Haoma before, have been blessed with a great son. As a God,
Haoma makes offerings to the other gods, and is present at every offering of the faithful.
The Heroes — The following Heroes have the following statistics in
common.
Armor Class: As a Magic Ability: Nil
Normal Man
Move: 12”
Hit Points: 100
Fighter Ability: Lord — 12th
Psionic Ability: Nil
YIMA — STR: 1885; INT: 17, WIS: 9, CON: 17, DEX: 17, CHA: 17.
Yima is the ideal prototype of all Kings. But he was too proud and
sinned before Ahura Mazda, so he died.
HOSANG — STR: 18
90, INT: 17, WIS: 13, CON: 18, DEX: 17, CHA:
16. Before the might Hoshang all sorcerors and demons flee.
TAKHMORUW — STR: 18
50, INT: 16, WIS: 12, CON: 16, DEX: 16,
CHA: 16. Takhmoruw attacks idolatry, wizards and witches, and demons, and is usually successful.
THRITA — STR: 15, INT: 17, WIS: 18, CON: 15, DEX: 12, CHA: 12.
Thrita drives away sickness, fever, and death from Man.
FARIDUN — STR: 18
55, INT: 14, WIS: 8, CON: 17, DEX: 17, CHA:
15. Faridun is invoked against the itch, fevers, and incontinency.
KERESASPA — STR: 1875, INT: 14, WIS: 12, CON: 17, DEX: 17,
CHA. 17. Keresaspa is destined to kill the Archdemon Azhi Dahaka
and save all Mankind at the end of the world.
THE FORCES OF EVILAHRIMAN or
ANGRA MAINYU — The Wicked One
Armor Class: -2 Magic Ability: Unlimited Spells
Move: 20” Fighter Ability: Lord — 40th
Hit Points: 300 Psionic Ability: Class 6
Ahriman’s aim is the ruin and destruction of the world. He dwells
in the “abode of wickedness”. Ahriman is the Archdemon of Archdemons and the arch-rival of Ahura Mazda. Ahriman can appear as a
lizard, a snake, or a 15 year old boy.
The ArchdemonsAESHMA — Fury
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18" Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Aeshma is the demon of wrath, fury, and outrage, constantly trying to stir up strife and war. He accompanies those influenced by intoxicants. His Arch-rival is Sraosha.
AZHI DAHAKA — Deceit
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18" Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
Azhi Dahaka has three heads, six eyes, and three jaws. His body is
filled with lizards and scorpions, so that if he is cut open the world
would be filled with these creatures. His chief desire is to depopulate
the world.
Other Archdemons — The following Archdemons have the following
statistics in common. No more is known about them than their name
and what they represent.
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 20th
Move: 18” Fighter Ability: Lord — 15th
Hit Points: 250 Psionic Ability: Class 1
AZ — Wrong-mindedness;
AKAH MANH — Vile Thoughts;
INDRA — Apostasy;
SAURA — Misgovernment, Anarchy, and Drunkenness;
TAROMAITI — Crooked-mindedness; HUNGER: THIRST:
The Demons — The following Demons have the following statistics in
common. In some cases, not even the Persian names are known.
Armor Class: 2 Magic Ability: Wizard — 14th
Move: 15" Fighter Ability: Lord — 14th
Hit Points: 200 Psionic Ability: Class 2
DRUJ NASU — The Corpse Demon;
JAHI — Debauchery; JEALOUSY; ARROGANCE; LETHARGY;
