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ARES

The archetypical ideal of the warlords, tall, dark, handsome, with well-groomed sideburns, a swaggering walk, and wearing black studded leather that leaves his muscular arms bare.
   Despite the often chaotic results of his worshipers actions, Ares sees himself as a subtle strategist, as befits the god of war, rather than the god of brawling. He also comes across as a curious mix of sportsman and cheater.
   In his relations with the other Olympians, he relies on the fact that they need him, so he usually runs his own agendas with little regard to the wishes of his colleagues.
   He’s genuinely fond of his sister Aphrodite, though he seldom lets it show.
   Discord and Deimos (and his predecessor Strife before his death) are his junior partners, whom he bullies and directs.
   His relationships outside the Olympians include competitive rivalry with Kal and a treasonous pact with Dahak.
   And, finally, he’s obsessed with the two greatest heroes of Greece: Hercules (whom he wants to destroy), and Xena (whom he wants back). Most of his schemes these days are centred on those.

Dogma
“War, war, war, doesn’t matter what it’s for!” as the chorus sings in The Bitter Suite. And that’s about it. While Ares routinely uses worshipers as pawns (and as routinely sacrifices them) in his personal vendettas and aspirations, he rarely tells them more than they need to know. Thus, apart from promoting wars and feuds, obedience to Ares is the primary part of the dogma.
   But to truly gain the favour of the god of war, you have to show initiative and maybe even irreverence to him. And that’s a perilous path to walk with the belligerent Ares. Then again, if there ever was a god of Darwinism, it would be him.

Clergy and Temples
As with the other gods in the Xenaverse, clerics of Ares with supernatural abilities (sometimes called emissaries) are very rare. But even mundane priests are uncommon in temples of Ares. Instead, they’re frequented by warlords and troublemakers who boast, ask favours, make vows, and waylay each other as often as not. This suits Ares just fine.
   There are some priests, at major temples, and they’re invariably skilled combatants.
   He has a lot of temples throughout the Greco-Roman areas, some in cities, some in remote locations. Red colours predominate; the iconography is about weapons, skulls, the spoils of war and the means to get them.

Temple list
Greece: Amphipolis, Argos, Athens, Greek Amazons, Sparta, Thebes
Roman Empire: Rome
 
 

Cleric Alignments: Chaotic evil, neutral evil, lawful evil
Domains: Protection, Strength, War

40th-level Fighter, 13th-level God (Greco-Roman)
 

Strength	23	+6	Fort. Save	+24	Armour Class	22
Dexterity	20	+5	Ref. Save	+21	Flat-footed AC	17
Constitution	15	+2	Will. Save	+17	Touch AC	22
Intelligence	15	+2	Alignment	neutral evil	Initiative	+5
Wisdom	13	+1	Speed	30	Mêlée Damage	1d8+14
Charisma	20	+5	Size	M
Hit Points	434	Mêlée Attack	+42/+37/+32/+27	Ranged Attack	+35/+30/+25/+20

Special: Proficient with all simple and martial weapons, all armour, and shields. Name sense, immortal traits, damage reduction deicide/30
 

Spells/hour	Spells
39	Alter Self, Enlarge Person, Fireball, Greater Magic Weapon, Greater Teleport, Lightning Bolt, Mass Bull's Strength, Permanency, Plane Shift, Rage, Raise Dead, Scorching Ray, Wall of Force

Skills: Appraise +14, Balance +31, Bluff +31, Craft (armoursmith) +26, Craft (bowmaking) +6, Craft (weaponsmithing) +27, Diplomacy +7, Disguise +9, Estimate Experience +50, Forgery +4, Gather Information +7, Handle Animal +5, Hide +7, Intimidate +47, Jump +38, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (religion )+5, Knowledge (history) +4, Listen +24, Massage +5, Move Silently +6, Perform (dancing) +9, Perform (singing) +9, Profession (siege engineer) +23, Ride +8, Search +4, Sense Motive +6, Spellcraft +4, Spot +23, Tumble +55.
Feats: Cleave, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Combat Tumble, Deceitful, Deflect Arrows, Dodge, Empower Spell, Encouragement, Enlarge Spell, Epic Presence, Far Shot, Great Cleave, Greater Weapon Focus (longsword), Greater Weapon Specialization (longsword), Heighten Spell, I Have Many Feats (13),  Improved Deflect Arrows, Improved Feint, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (longsword), Improved Disarm, Improved Snatch Arrows, Improved Sunder, Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Trip, Massive Bull Rush, Maximize Spell, Mobility, Mounted Combat, Overwhelming Critical, Persuasive, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Power Critical, Power Throw, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Ride-By Attack, Snatch Arrows, Spirited Charge, Spring Attack, Steel Surprise, Stunning Fist, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (battleaxe), Weapon Focus (longsword), Weapon Specialization (longsword), Weapon Twist, Whirlwind Attack, Widen Spell.
Cosmic Feats: Alter Time, Archetype (channelling of aggression into war), Continuity Device (longsword +4), Create Pocket Universe, Favourite (Xena), Grant Immortality, Lend Ability, Omens, Revelations, Sacrifice, Soul Exchange, Temples (250), Undo.
Possessions: Self-repairing black studded leather +4, longsword +4 (his continuity device), ear-pendant in the form of a sword.