Bellerophon's Bargain
For 6 level 10 PCs, 3 to 3.5 hours, 3 encounters. Drive off the Chimera; pride is the trap.
📜 Session Summary
| Style Mythic mountain chase about humility, teamwork, and staying mounted while fire fills the sky. |
| Win Condition Pegasus trusts mortal riders, the Chimera is driven from Lycia, and Bellerophon keeps his pride in check. |
| Loss Condition The hunt becomes a trophy boast; Pegasus bolts, the Chimera survives, and Lycia remembers vanity before rescue. |
| Players 6 × Level 10 · 3–3.5 hrs · 3 encounters |
| Key Ally Half-Tamed Pegasus (recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2) · Maguffin: Humble Bridle |
| Setting Lycian highlands — roadside shrine of Athena through switchback cliff-paths to the volcanic Bragging Crag, 3,000 ft above the Xanthos valley; thorn meadows, hot updraft vents, and a basalt spire where three goat-skulls serve as Chimera trophies no hero has collected. |
| Atmosphere Borrowed glory and divine judgment above the clouds; the mountain arena strips away rank and reputation and leaves only the question of whose hands are open and whose are clutching a trophy they haven't earned yet. |
| Materials Tooled leather, bronze votive pins, ash-baked clay tablets, goat-horn hooks, old olive-smoke, charred rope, and the faint smell of sulfur where the vents breathe. |
| Tone Epic and fated — the sky rewards the humble rider without explanation and punishes the boastful one without apology; Pegasus is not a weapon, it is a witness with wings. |
Description
The priestess Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine intercepts the party at the crossroads before they reach Lycia. She is not asking for help with the Chimera — she is intercepting the wrong kind of help. Three hunters tried the mountain before this party: one is dead, one is mad from the fire, and the third came back unable to remember his own name. The common thread is that all three claimed the kill before Pegasus trusted them. Melanippe presses the Humble Bridle into the nearest hand and says the mountain is listening, and it started listening the moment they stepped off the road.
The Chimera of the Bragging Crag has been expanding its territory for two full seasons. The fire it breathes is not merely burning crops — it is scorching the inscribed names off roadside hero-stones, literally erasing the legacies of everyone who climbed the mountain and boasted. The cult of Goatfire has grown around each new erasure, feeding the Chimera's legend by ensuring no mortal account of the hunt survives. Lycia is running out of myths to shelter under. If the party fails, the next honest account of what lives on that mountain dies with them.
The olive grove shrine is small and old, choked with bronze votives that catch no light because the trees are too thick overhead. The bridle hangs on a peg worn smooth from reverent touch. Above the treeline the mountain's basalt spire is always visible — dark against the morning sky — and Pegasus has been seen circling it for three days without landing, which Melanippe says is not a good sign but also not a hopeless one. The thermal vents hiss between cliff-faces like something large breathing in its sleep. The smell is sulfur and old ash and distant goat-hide.
DM — Humble Bridle Payoffs Across Acts: The bridle's inside strap carries a short inscription. In Enc. 1, a PC who studies it (DC 12 Religion) reads encouragement: "ask and it comes." In Enc. 2, the same inscription has changed (or they misremember it) — it now reads as warning: "take and it leaves." In Enc. 3, the metal bit turns cold exactly once, at the moment of the killing blow. A rider who ignores the cold and strikes anyway acts on pride — the Chimera heals 25 HP and Pegasus demands a DC 17 Persuasion apology before it will fly again.
Major Beats
- The Shrine Intercept. Melanippe gives the party the Humble Bridle and the bad news at the same time. Investigation DC 14: she has a second bridle in her satchel — the original three heroes each refused this one. DC 17: the refused bridles are corroded as if burned from the inside. RP Hook: she refuses to say whether Bellerophon will be at the summit because she doesn't want to influence the party's behavior.
- Bellerophon on the Path. The hero himself shadows the party from Enc. 1 onward — visible but not engaging. He smiles like a man one compliment away from ruin. Insight DC 14: he is afraid, not arrogant; the fear presents as pride. DC 17: he has already lost Pegasus's trust once and was re-granted it on conditions he does not share. If the party humbles him in Enc. 2 (DC 16 Persuasion), he arrives in Enc. 3 as limited aid instead of dangerous liability.
- The Three-Headed Argument. The Chimera's three heads disagree over priority targets — goat-head wants fire, lion-head wants the mount, dragon-head wants the one holding the bridle. Parties that avoid boasting during the fight cause enough internal argument that the Chimera acts at Disadvantage on its first initiative.
- The Cold Bit Moment. Pegasus communicates through the bridle's metal bit — it goes cold at the killing blow. The party has one breath to decide. The best victory is loud in the sky and quiet at the feast afterward, and the hero-stones at the bottom of the mountain start warming.
Session Rewards
Keepable prizes earned by completing (or excelling at) this session. One character claims each reward unless noted. Full cards are under Reward Cards.
| Reward | Description | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Humble Bridle | Plain moonlit tack that asks before ascent and steadies flying mounts. | Drive off the Chimera without claiming the kill for pride, bridle still in hand. |
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Easy | Med | Hard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goatfire Cultist | — | med | hard | CR 3 · Ranged fanatic |
| Ash-Mane Lion | — | med | hard | CR 5 · Pouncing brute |
| Serpent of the Thermal Vents | — | med | hard | CR 6 · Terrain controller |
| Chimera of the Bragging Crag | — | med | hard | CR 10 · Boss, three-headed aerial terror |
| Half-Tamed Pegasus | — | 1 | 1 | Recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2 |
Encounter 1 — The Bridle Shrine
Overview
The shrine grove is quiet but watched — two Goatfire Cultists lurk in the rocks above to sabotage any hero's recruitment attempt (they feed the Chimera's legend by ensuring heroes fail, humiliated). Pegasus has been circling three days and has not landed; it is testing the ground-level intention of anyone below. The party must earn its trust and deal with the cultist threat, ideally without creating new pride-claims in the process.
🗺 Terrain
Olive grove shrine (heavy shade, bronze votives, soft ground — hoofprints visible), dry streambed below (cover, DC 12 Stealth), thorn-snare meadow above (difficult terrain, trapped birds), high meadow ledge (Pegasus circles here, 60 ft elevation), and a cracked boast-stone — an old hero inscription already scorched clean by the Chimera.
Non-Combat Options
- Path A — Shrine Offering & Open Hands: Lay a tribute (any item worth 5+ gp) on the shrine altar, then approach the thorn-snare meadow without weapons visible (DC 14 Persuasion or Religion; DC 12 with the Humble Bridle presented openly, not worn). On success, Pegasus descends to 30 ft and studies the group — counts as 1 recruitment success and Pegasus's first Attitude shifts to Neutral.
- Path B — Free the Snared Birds: The thorn-snare meadow has several birds trapped in old cultist wire. Freeing them without startling Pegasus (DC 12 Nature to identify the approach angle; DC 14 Sleight of Hand / Thieves' Tools to clear snares quietly) counts as 1 recruitment success; Pegasus steps closer and grazes — a visible display of trust. On failure, the birds scatter noisily and Pegasus retreats — next recruitment attempt Disadvantage.
- Path C — Expose the Cultist Saboteurs: A DC 15 Insight (or passive Perception 14) spots the two Goatfire Cultists watching from the rocks. Driving them away without bloodshed (DC 15 Deception, DC 16 Intimidation, or a Thunderwave that doesn't hit Pegasus's flight path) removes their interference mechanic entirely and counts as 1 recruitment success. Killing them works but the noise imposes Disadvantage on the next Animal Handling check.
Mechanics
- Recruit Pegasus: 4 successes before 2 failures. Skills: Animal Handling DC 15, Religion DC 14, Acrobatics DC 15 (showing balance and grace), Persuasion DC 16 (verbal only — Pegasus does not speak but reads intent). Each Non-Combat path above grants 1 automatic success if completed.
- Drawn weapons or unsheathed trophy-claims impose Disadvantage on the current check and require a DC 15 Persuasion apology-roll before Attitude resets to the previous value.
- The Humble Bridle may be offered, not placed — looping it around Pegasus without consent triggers a chase sequence (DC 15 Athletics each round to keep pace; 3 failures loses Pegasus until Enc. 2).
- If Bellerophon is watching (DM's call — he is) and a party member credits him publicly with any success here, Pegasus retreats a full stage (1 automatic failure) and Bellerophon looks genuinely alarmed.
Creature Cards
Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine
Priestess of Athena, keeper of a dangerous favor
Motivation. Make sure the Chimera is stopped by disciplined heroes rather than another glorious fool. She has watched three heroes die or break and she cannot stop caring about the next one.
Secret. Bellerophon has already been warned that claiming the kill will cost Pegasus's trust — Melanippe warned him herself three days ago. He thanked her politely and climbed the mountain anyway. She kept the second bridle. DC 15 Insight to notice she holds something back about Bellerophon. DC 17: the name of the first hero who refused the bridle is carved on the corroded shrine post — it is Bellerophon's father.
RP Hook. She speaks in short declarative sentences and treats questions about the mountain as confirmation of readiness — the more precise the question, the more forthcoming she becomes. She will not comfort anyone. If a PC asks what happens if they fail, she answers literally: "The stone gets another blank face. Lycia survives. The next generation of hunters learns the wrong lesson."
Hard rule. She refuses to bless any plan that treats Pegasus as loot or a god-given siege engine. If pressed, DC 16 Persuasion to get her to explain why: Pegasus chose to be here. It did not have to come back after the last three failures. That choice is the miracle, not the wings.
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Goatfire Cultist
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Ranged fanatic
AC 14 | HP 49 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Wants a hero to boast so the Chimera's legend grows.
Attack. Fire javelin +6 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 fire.
Encounter 2 — Lessons Above Lycia
Overview
The mountainside above the shrine is a training ground the party doesn't know it's in. Three zones — each one a natural hazard, a civilian in danger, and a temptation to take credit — test whether the party and Pegasus have genuinely learned the lesson of the bridle or only performed it. An Ash-Mane Lion spawned from Chimera-influence stalks the shepherd ledges. A Serpent of the Thermal Vents coils through the updraft channels. Bellerophon is still here, and he is very close to doing something heroic and glory-claiming and ruinous.
🗺 Terrain
Zone 1 — Switchback Cliffs: 60 ft high, 10 ft ledges, rope-bridges, updraft vents every 20 ft (DC 14 Athletics to ride the updraft up; DC 15 Acrobatics to ride it mounted). Zone 2 — Shepherd Ledges: Three occupied shelters, a trapped shepherd family, Ash-Mane Lion at the far end (100 ft elevation, difficult terrain). Zone 3 — Cloud Gap Ravine: 40 ft gap, visibility 30 ft in cloud (heavy obscure), a Serpent of the Thermal Vents coiling the bridge supports. Thermal vent bursts on initiative 20: DC 15 Dex or 10 fire + lifted 20 ft.
Non-Combat Options
- Path A — Shepherd Beacon: A shepherd's fire-beacon signal (DC 14 Survival to read the smoke correctly; DC 15 Athletics or Arcana to light a counter-signal in the updraft) marks the Chimera's thermal route. Counts as 1 automatic skill challenge success and drops Zone 3's Stealth DC by 3.
- Path B — Humble Bellerophon: Bellerophon is about to announce the kill to a shepherd family who are watching in terrified admiration. Confronting him before he speaks (DC 16 Persuasion, or DC 15 Intimidation if the party is currently mounted on Pegasus) + showing the Bridle's second inscription ("take and it leaves") neutralizes his boast. If this succeeds, Bellerophon arrives in Enc. 3 on Round 3 as limited aid (Help action once, DC 14 to direct). If it fails, he arrives on Round 2 as a liability (risk of boasting mid-combat, triggering the Chimera's 25 HP heal).
- Path C — Drive Off the Lion Without Bloodshed: The Ash-Mane Lion can be scared away (DC 16 Intimidation from high ground, or DC 14 Athletics to drop a ledge-stone behind it for noise + DC 14 Survival to predict its retreat path). Success saves the shepherd family, removes the Lion from the skill challenge, and grants the party Advantage on the first initiative roll in Enc. 3.
Mechanics
- Run as a 5-success skill challenge before 3 failures. Each zone offers multiple paths (above). Standard skills: Acrobatics DC 15, Athletics DC 15, Animal Handling DC 15 (for Pegasus cooperation), Arcana DC 14 (thermal reading). Persuasion/Intimidation DCs as noted above.
- Each failure: separate a rider (DC 14 Acrobatics to stay mounted or fall 20 ft for 2d6), OR cost Pegasus 10 HP (if it takes an unguided updraft), OR allow the Ash-Mane Lion to threaten one shepherd family (possible hostage complication in Enc. 3).
- Saving shepherds without claiming credit (Insight DC 14 — they will try to name-praise the party; gently redirecting this counts as a roleplay beat) grants a free supply cache: 2 Potions of Healing + knowledge of the safe landing zone on the Bragging Crag's eastern face.
- If Pegasus was fully recruited in Enc. 1, it performs two aerial assistance moves per zone without a check; if recruitment was partial, it requires DC 12 Animal Handling each zone to stay cooperative.
Creature Cards
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Ash-Mane Lion
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Pouncing brute
AC 15 | HP 102 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. A Chimera-spawned omen; can be driven away with water, thunder, or superior high ground.
Attack. Bite +7 to hit, 15 piercing; pounce knocks prone on DC 15 Strength.
Serpent of the Thermal Vents
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Terrain controller
AC 16 | HP 118 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Coils around vents that launch flyers upward or burn grounded creatures.
Attack. Venom bite +8 to hit, 12 piercing plus 14 poison; vent flare recharges on 5-6.
Encounter 3 — The Bragging Crag
Overview
The Bragging Crag is a 200 ft basalt spire rising above the cloud layer — the summit is a 60×40 ft platform of black rock strewn with hero-sculptures the Chimera has erased, broken statues with blank faces. Three thermal vents punctuate the platform edges. The Chimera circles at 80 ft, descending to attack; it does not land unless the party creates an opening. The three heads are visibly arguing — goat-head wants to breathe fire on the platform, lion-head wants the mounted target, dragon-head wants the Humble Bridle specifically. This argument is the party's primary non-combat lever.
APL 10 — Deadly encounter (≈16,800 XP threshold for 6×L10). Chimera of the Bragging Crag: CR 10 (5,900 XP) + Serpent of the Thermal Vents: CR 6 (2,300 XP) × 2 + 2× Goatfire Cultist CR 3 (700 XP each) = ~11,600 XP × 1.5 multiplier (aerial environment) ≈ 17,400 XP effective. Tune down by removing one Serpent or one cultist wave for Hard.
🗺 Terrain
Summit Platform (60×40 ft): Broken hero-statues (half cover, DC 10 Athletics to overturn as action for partial wall). Three Thermal Vents (10 ft diameter each): Initiative 20 — DM chooses: (a) lift 30 ft (ride DC 15 Acrobatics or fall), (b) fire burst 2d8 fire in 10 ft radius DC 15 Dex, or (c) smoke plume (heavy obscurement 20 ft radius, 2 rounds). Cloud Shelf Edge: Creatures pushed to the edge DC 14 Dex or fall 80 ft (8d6); on a fall, DC 12 Athletics to grab an outcrop (half damage, hanging). Hero Inscription Stones: Still-legible stones grant DC 12 Religion for +1d4 on next attack vs. the Chimera — the hero's virtue briefly manifest.
Non-Combat Options
- Path A — The Bridle Drive-Off (Preferred Mythic Win): When the Chimera is at 50% HP or below, a rider holding the Humble Bridle may refuse the killing blow (requires a DC 15 WIS save to resist the instinct to finish it — the bridle bit goes cold as a physical prompt). On success, Pegasus charges the Chimera with a mythic wing-buffet — the Chimera must succeed DC 17 CHA save or retreat permanently from Lycian territory. This ends combat, preserves the hero-stones, and is explicitly the best outcome.
- Path B — Three-Head Wedge: If no party member has made a boast-claim during the encounter, the three-head argument reaches the breaking point around Round 3. A DC 15 Persuasion or Performance check (calling out the contradiction in the heads' priorities) forces the Chimera to skip its Multiattack this turn and use its Reaction to settle the internal argument instead. Usable once per combat.
- Path C — Bellerophon's Sacrifice: If Bellerophon was humbled in Enc. 2, he arrives on Round 3 and can be directed (DC 14 Persuasion) to deny the kill publicly — shouting that the credit belongs to Pegasus and the bridle. This prevents the 25 HP heal if anyone accidentally boasts, and grants the party one free retry on the DC 15 WIS save for the Bridle drive-off.
Mechanics
- At initiative 20, choose a vent effect (DM selects most dramatically appropriate): lift 30 ft, fire burst DC 15 Dex 2d8 fire, or 20 ft smoke (heavy obscure). Mounted PCs on Pegasus may use its fly speed to avoid a vent but must succeed DC 14 Animal Handling to keep Pegasus from shying.
- Mounted PCs can spend their Action to steady another rider (DC 12 Athletics; on success the rider avoids a fall triggered by vent lift or the Chimera's wing gust).
- Boast Penalty: Any open boast-claim ("the kill is mine," trophy-grabbing, or loudly declaring victory mid-combat) heals the Chimera 25 HP and forces Pegasus to DC 15 Animal Handling check — on failure it bucks the rider (prone, 30 ft away) and won't re-approach until a DC 17 Persuasion apology is made.
- Hero-Stone Resonance: A PC who reads a surviving inscription aloud (DC 12 Religion as a Bonus Action) channels a slain hero's virtue — one attack roll against the Chimera this turn has Advantage. Each stone usable once.
Creature Cards
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Serpent of the Thermal Vents
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Terrain controller
AC 16 | HP 118 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Coils around vents that launch flyers upward or burn grounded creatures.
Attack. Venom bite +8 to hit, 12 piercing plus 14 poison; vent flare recharges on 5-6.
Chimera of the Bragging Crag
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss, three-headed aerial terror · Boss
AC 17 | HP 188 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss, three-headed aerial terror
Note. Boss last. It can be slain as a monster, but best victory drives it off without a pride-claim.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite, horns, and claws; fire breath recharges on 5-6 for DC 16 Dexterity, 45 fire.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.
⚖️ Difficulty Scaling
As Written ★ — 6 Players, Average Level 10
- Baseline for this guide. Encounter 1–2 are Hard; the final encounter is Deadly for six PCs at average level 10.
- XP budgets (6×L10 thresholds): Hard ≈ 10,800 · Deadly ≈ 16,800. Prefer adding elite pressure, legendary actions, or terrain danger over bloating minion counts past the choke.
Library Standard — 6 Players, Average Level 8
- Dial back: reduce boss HP ~20–25%; cut one legendary action option or recharge breath to 6 only; Favor/track thresholds −1 where present; skill DCs −1; drop one minion wave or −2 CR1–2 creatures from Hard openers.
Easier
- APL 8–9: use the Library Standard (6×L8) box, then shave one more minion wave or remove one recharge ability.
Harder
- APL 11–12: boss HP +20%; +1 legendary; final encounter gains one extra elite or lair pulse; skill DCs +1.
📋 Appendix — Cards
Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine
Priestess of Athena, keeper of a dangerous favor
Motivation. Make sure the Chimera is stopped by disciplined heroes rather than another glorious fool. She has watched three fail and cannot stop caring about the fourth.
Secret. She warned Bellerophon three days ago. He thanked her and climbed anyway. She kept the second bridle. DC 15 Insight: she's holding back about him. DC 17: the first hero who refused the bridle's name is his father's.
RP Hook. Short declarative sentences. Treats precise questions as proof of readiness. If asked what happens if the party fails: "The stone gets another blank face. Lycia survives. The next generation learns the wrong lesson."
Hard rule. She refuses to bless any plan that treats Pegasus as a siege engine. DC 16 Persuasion to get the full explanation: Pegasus chose to return after three failures. That choice is the miracle, not the wings.
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Goatfire Cultist
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Ranged fanatic
AC 14 | HP 49 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Wants a hero to boast so the Chimera's legend grows.
Attack. Fire javelin +6 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 fire.
Ash-Mane Lion
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Pouncing brute
AC 15 | HP 102 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. A Chimera-spawned omen; can be driven away with water, thunder, or superior high ground.
Attack. Bite +7 to hit, 15 piercing; pounce knocks prone on DC 15 Strength.
Serpent of the Thermal Vents
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Terrain controller
AC 16 | HP 118 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Coils around vents that launch flyers upward or burn grounded creatures.
Attack. Venom bite +8 to hit, 12 piercing plus 14 poison; vent flare recharges on 5-6.
Chimera of the Bragging Crag
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss, three-headed aerial terror · Boss
AC 17 | HP 188 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss, three-headed aerial terror
Note. Boss last. It can be slain as a monster, but best victory drives it off without a pride-claim.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite, horns, and claws; fire breath recharges on 5-6 for DC 16 Dexterity, 45 fire.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.
Reward Cards
Post-session keepables. Reward is the first tag. Mechanics below are for ongoing use after this oneshot.
Humble Bridle
Reward · Wondrous · 1/Long Rest
Mechanics. While holding the bridle, you have advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving a flying mount or celestial beast per short rest. Once per long rest, when you or a mount you ride reduces a creature to 0 hit points, you can choose to knock it unconscious instead and force it to use its movement on its next turn to flee if able (it won't attack until it has left your sight).
Appearance. Plain leather tack with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked aloud.
Lore. Pegasus-blessed restraint: a bargain that rewards open hands more than applause.
Quote. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause." — Humble Bridle
Earn when: Drive off the Chimera without claiming the kill for pride, bridle still in hand.