The Apple of Discord

[Anders]

What kind of powers would the famous Apple of Discord, the Eris Apple, from Greek myth have? The apple looks like a normal specimen, apart from being made of gold and having the words "ΤΗΙ ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΗΙ" (for the fairest [female]) on it. Presumably any woman who sees the apple is struck by desire to have it, and only the fact that three of the greatest Olympian goddesses wanted it prompted other women at Peleus's wedding to shut up and complain about it on the way home. (On a side note, if Eris is still active I expect her to be the goddess of Internet trolls - this was an epic* act of trolling).

* in the true sense of the word

[mr beer]

Grants the 'Delusion: Must attain this Apple!'? Would have modifiers Cosmic (Affects Even the Gods Themselves!) which must be +300% and then Affects Female Only.

Not sure Delusion is right though.

[mikeejimbo]

Obsession might be a better fit. Though I think maybe the Apple doesn't have any powers, but everyone in the myth has Jealousy and Delusion: I'm the Fairest.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by mikeejimbo

Obsession might be a better fit. Though I think maybe the Apple doesn't have any powers, but everyone in the myth has Jealousy and Delusion: I'm the Fairest.

As a holy object of a goddess I would give it powers. I think these interpretations are a little on the nose though. Personally I'd make the focus of an always on Suggestion "I have to win!" and an inscription that shifts to match circumstances to whatever would cause the most conflict. For the strongest. For the fastest. For the most brilliant...

[PTTG]

I'd say the apple inflicts a heavy (but not extreme) will penalty that ignores all defenses.

Thus, mortal women would certainly feel whatever Greed, Overconfidence, or Vanity disadvantages they might happen to have, but wouldn't think they could overcome goddesses for it.

As a special effect, the GM may rule that it also inflates quirks to full-blown disadvantages for its effects.

[whswhs]

I don't believe that the apple had any special magical qualities. It was an extremely beautiful apple, perhaps Transcendent, but the important thing about it was the label, "Kallisti," "for the most beautiful." That was brilliantly calculated to stir up dissension among the three goddesses, but I think all that took was Eris's special psychological insight.

[sir_pudding]

It causes you to reincarnated as a precious Mao button in the region of Thud.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

It causes you to reincarnated as a precious Mao button in the region of Thud.

But only if you collect all 23 of them.

[Andrew Hackard]

Originally Posted by whswhs

I don't believe that the apple had any special magical qualities. It was an extremely beautiful apple, perhaps Transcendent, but the important thing about it was the label, "Kallisti," "for the most beautiful." That was brilliantly calculated to stir up dissension among the three goddesses, but I think all that took was Eris's special psychological insight.

I'm with Bill on this. I'm also not a fan of saying "everything must have stats"; that way lies AD&D and gods who could be killed by parties nowhere near the peak of their potential. Eris' golden apple was a plot device, not a collection of numbers.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Andrew Hackard

I'm with Bill on this. I'm also not a fan of saying "everything must have stats"; that way lies AD&D and gods who could be killed by parties nowhere near the peak of their potential. Eris' golden apple was a plot device, not a collection of numbers.

Possibly even a later plot device. The oldest surviving reference to this myth (two lines about a page into Book 24 of the Illiad) doesn't mention the setup story, just Paris humiliating two goddesses by preferring the bribe offered by the third, with no mention of the apple (or Eris for that matter). One assumes this was a story well known to the audience of the Illiad, or it wouldn't be that casual a reference, but with more than half a millennium for the details to have changed before there are any other sources, which conflict anyway, who knows what they thought the story was.