Amazons
- Bestiary ~&~ Liber Monstrorum ~&~ MONSTRI VOLUMEN
Introduction
Amazons are mighty female warriors, originally
associated with Greek legend. Warrior women similar to
the original tribe of Greek Amazons exist elsewhere in
the World as well. The Norse sagas speak of the skjalmö,
women who served as shield-maidens to the heroes
of legend. African warrior women served in special
divisions of the kingdoms of Dahomey and Ashanti
until the end of the 19th century, and European soldiers
often referred to these warriors as “amazons.”
The characteristics of an amazon are identical to those of an experienced soldier save that the amazon is invariably female and begins with one extra dot in Strength, Dexterity and Stamina, as well as two extra dots in Appearance. Amazons age normally, but they retain their stunning looks for almost the entirety of their lives. Most amazons have the Virtues associated with the Greek pantheon (most commonly with Valor or Vengeance as primary). However, those who descend from the skjalmö or the Dahomey amazons have the Virtues associated with the Norse or Voodoo pantheons, respectively.
In terms of personality, amazons can best be described as bisexual misandronists. Amazons are perfectly willing to breed with men and are capable of showing appreciation for both attractive male forms and skillful lovemaking. Furthermore, all amazons are eventually expected to become pregnant and bring another amazon child into the World. Most amazons consider men to be intellectually and spiritually inferior, though, and they view long-term heterosexual relationships with a degree of disgust.
Amazons also practice a form of controlled breeding. All amazon offspring are invariably female, but the children of more powerful fathers are themselves more powerful. In particular, the amazon daughter of a male Avatar is notably more powerful than a typical amazon (gaining one additional Attribute point for each point of Divinity her father possessed at the time of the mating). Accordingly, some amazon tribes have actively attempted to capture and enslave male Avatars for breeding purposes. Some Avatars might even volunteer for such “slavery,” but even the most virile of Avatars will eventually balk at spending a lifetime as a stud horse for a collective of insatiable warrior women.
Although Greek legend suggests that amazons live in remote areas away from the prying eyes of men, modern amazons are fully integrated into Western society. Surprisingly, given their feminist leanings, amazons thrive in societies that view beautiful women as sex objects. (They consider such attitudes as a weakness in the patriarchy to exploit.) Many of the “trophy wives” of some of the World’s richest and most powerful men are actually amazons who control their husbands either through sexual domination or outright intimidation. Today, the amazons move through the highest levels of mortal society, either twirling men around their fingers with sex appeal or snapping their necks like twigs. Whatever the situation calls for. They are women—hear them roar.
