Jason - Leader of the Argonauts

Male Human Fighter 5 / Expert 2

Hit Dice: 5d10+2d6+14 (51 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+4 breastplate, +2 Dex, +2 shield), touch 12, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+8
Attack: Longsword +9 melee (1d8+2/19–20) or javelin +8 ranged (1d6+2)
Full Attack: Longsword +9/+4 melee (1d8+2/19–20) or 2 javelins +8 ranged (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Leadership presence
Special Qualities: Heroic resolve, sailor’s instincts, divine favor (minor)
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +3
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 16
Skills: Balance +6, Climb +8, Diplomacy +11, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (geography) +6, Knowledge (nobility) +6, Profession (sailor) +10, Sense Motive +6, Swim +10
Feats: Leadership, Weapon Focus (longsword), Iron Will, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Endurance
Environment: Any coastal or maritime
Organization: Solitary or with Argonaut crew (15–40 sailors and warriors)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: Standard (includes masterwork longsword, breastplate, heavy steel shield, cloak, navigational tools)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: —
Languages: Common, one regional dialect (GM’s choice)
Possessions: Masterwork longsword, heavy steel shield, breastplate, 4 javelins, cloak of rank, signet ring of lineage, navigational charts, sea-worn pack, 75 gp

Special Abilities:

• Leadership Presence (Ex): Jason gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when addressing groups of at least 5 individuals. Allies within 30 feet who can see and hear him gain a +1 morale bonus on Will saves against fear.
• Heroic Resolve (Ex): Once per day, Jason may reroll a failed saving throw against fear or enchantment effects. He must take the second result.
• Sailor’s Instincts (Ex): Jason gains a +2 bonus on Balance, Profession (sailor), and Swim checks. These bonuses double while aboard a ship.
• Divine Favor (Su): Jason is subtly favored by higher powers (often interpreted as Hera). Once per day, he may gain a +1 luck bonus to attack rolls, saves, and skill checks for 5 rounds.

Physical Description:

Jason is a broad-shouldered man in his early prime, bearing the look of a seasoned traveler rather than a pampered noble. His hair is sun-lightened and worn longer than courtly fashion would dictate, often tied back loosely. His face carries the marks of wind, salt, and strain - a man shaped by long voyages and hard choices. His armor is functional rather than ornate, bearing scratches and wear from real combat rather than ceremony.

His eyes are steady and searching, often fixed on horizons rather than people, as though he is always measuring distance - not just across land or sea, but toward destiny itself. When he speaks, however, that distance collapses; his voice carries clarity and conviction that draws others inward.

Lore:

Jason is the rightful heir to a stolen throne, raised in exile and tempered by hardship rather than privilege. Unlike many legendary heroes, his strength lies not in overwhelming might, but in his ability to inspire and unify. He is the kind of man who gathers greatness rather than embodies it alone - assembling the Argonauts not through force, but through belief.

His voyage for the Golden Fleece is as much a test of endurance and leadership as it is of combat. Jason survives encounters that would destroy lesser men - harpies, hostile kings, divine trials - not because he is the strongest in the room, but because he refuses to yield when others would falter.

There is, however, a quiet tension in his tale. Jason’s success is never entirely his own. The gods watch him, guide him, and at times manipulate the path before him. Whether he is a chosen hero or merely a useful instrument remains an open question - one that lingers beneath every triumph.

In the end, Jason represents a particular kind of heroism: not the unstoppable force, but the man who stands anyway. The one who leads not because he is destined to win, but because others would be lost without him.

From Jason and the Argonauts (1963)